bookishlysimsy's reviews
241 reviews

Her Own Happiness by Eden Appiah-Kubi

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Disclaimer: I was provided a digital galley by the author in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Rating: Starred

Her Own Happiness was a story I have not yet read, in every sense of meaning. Unique, open, touching, and relatable in several aspects, author Eden Appiah-Kubi pulls readers in and has us hanging onto each paragraph.

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!
ASAP by Axie Oh

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Disclaimer: I was provided a digital galley via Edelweiss+ in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Final Rating: Starred

ASAP by Axie Oh was like stepping back into the wonderland you had been missing. A companion to XOXO, but unique and full of its own quirks and loves.

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive, available February 2024!
Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Disclaimer: I was provided a physical ARC by the publisher in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Rating: Starred

Cool for the Summer was an unexpectedly relatable and fun read. Filled with teenage angst, discovering one's identity and changes in sexuality, the changing of friendships and relationships, and more, this book is sure to take you on an emotional ride.

Check out my full review, available on my blog now!
Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

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Did not finish book.
The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Disclaimer: I was provided a physical galley by the publisher in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores had so much potential and anticipated hype. Unfortunately, it did not deliver on any of it.

Rating: Non-Starred (not recommended)

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!

Please note: antisemitic tropes were found by several readers, including myself, throughout the book. If you ultimately decide to read, tread carefully.
A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
This book started off good but got increasingly frustrating.
  • Main character's mom increasingly hated on a woman that had done absolutely nothing to her just because she was married to the celebrity she was obsessed with
  • Eye shape was described using food, didn't sit right with me
  • One thought would sometimes spiral across several pages and take forever to get to the point
Starting Over on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
I am not the readership for this book for the following reasons:
  • Gave a very pro-life feeling throughout
  • Main character is Hawaiian but would be no different if she was white. Save for the occasional cringe dialogue from a relative, there was no detailing of her being Hawaiian except for the mention of it and her skin tone.
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
This book was incredibly boring. Slowly paced with a dry sense of humor that does not come across the page well makes for a bad mix of ingredients in the story. That, combined with the every now and again random inserts of morally/politically correct arguments that happen (and not to say that these can't happen, but again, they were random and didn't fit into the story), it was not a good reading experience.
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The Weight of Blood is a brilliant masterpiece that will leave you questioning for days to come.

Rating: Starred

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!
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Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Disclaimer: I was provided a physical copy by the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. This does not affect my opinion.

Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo is an imaginative, intriguing story.

Rating: Starred

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!