blackgurlreader's reviews
590 reviews

Summer After Summer by Lauren Bailey

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Summer After Summer is a book about missed loved again and again. Olivia and Fred meet on the beach as teenagers in the Hamptons. They have a wonderful time together and then it falls about before the Summer ends and this happens over and over again. So Olivia marries Wes, who at present day she is currently separated from. The book goes back and forth from the present and the past every other chapter. So you get slow glimpses of their love story unfolding. I really enjoyed this book, except I felt the climax could have been extended and some more foreshadowing would have helped the plot along. I had a great time listening to this book and would definitely recommend it as your next beach read, especially because it takes place on a beach and during the Summer. 

I received an audiobook arc via NetGalley. 
Animal Farm by George Orwell

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Mind Your Manners: How to Be Your Best Self in Any Situation by Sara Jane Ho

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informative medium-paced

5.0

Mind Your Manners is a great book on etiquette. She divides the book up into 5 sections - Social Life and Friendship, Work, Dating and Relationships, Food and Travel. I learned so many things about how to handle yourself in different situations. I would highly recommend this book to all my girlfriends. I learned new things and it was also reminders on how to handle myself in different situations. I enjoyed this book a lot and it wasn’t boring to read at all. Sara included many great stories and examples, she’s funny and smart and doesn’t make you feel looked down upon if you don’t know the correct way to handle a situation. She was also vulnerable talking about situations from her own life. This was a great book.

I received this book as an arc via NetGalley.
Doves & Demons by Clio Evans

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Demons & Doves by Clio Evans

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Love You, Mean It is an adorable fake dating rom-com. I typically love books that are told from multiple points of view, so it took me a bit to get into this book, but once I did I absolutely loved it. Ellie just gets herself into pickle after pickle and Theo is a guy that knows what he wants. They are both equally opinionated and have strong personalities, which suits them well. They do make a great team, even though they aren’t supposed to be falling in love for real, just acting like a couple in love that have a whirl romance and proposal. I would definitely recommend this book to people.

I received an ebook as an arc via NetGalley.
You're the Only One I've Told: The Stories Behind Abortion by Meera Shah

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emotional informative slow-paced

4.0

Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Love in Tandem is a very cute, sweet and heartwarming love story. The story follows Zach and Charlotte as they go on a 500 mile bike ride to win money for Charlotte‘s school music program. The awkward part is that Zach is the brother of Charlotte’s ex fiancé and Charlotte is his brother‘s ex fiancé. The book has lots of cute and funny moments. Charlotte is pretty funny and so is her sister Sophia. Sophia also has her own cute little storyline as well. I wish there was more Sophia and Joshua in the book. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite romance book because at times the story does seem a bit juvenile for an adult romance book, even if it is Christian. I guess I would recommend it with the caveat that it can seem a bit juvenile at sometimes otherwise I’d give this 3 1/2 stars. I did enjoy all the different points of view that were involved in the book, not just the two main characters but you heard the thoughts from supporting characters as well. I haven't read many books like that and I really enjoyed that. 

I received this book as an arc from NetGalley. 
Barbarian's Choice by Ruby Dixon

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emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I do love these IPB stories but sometimes I wished they were more fleshed out especially at the end. 

**SPOILERS**

I wish there was more story after Mardok decided to stay and you could see how he fit into the tribe. I hope that we get to see that in some of the future books. 
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

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funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75