booksamongstfriends's reviews
738 reviews

3.5 Rounded up.

“Who could grasp the present without understanding the past?” What an incredible concept for a book! Imagine taking a drug as a young person to see your future or as an older person to revisit your past. It sounds so intriguing—then add a mystery involving the death of a long-lost friend, and using this drug to uncover the truth? The potential is immense. Unfortunately, it felt like a misuse of really great material.

The main problem is the lack of connection between the characters. At no point does the story establish enough depth for me to care about where it was heading. I kept reading, hanging on to discover how this girl died, but by the time we reach the reveal, it’s underwhelming. The conclusion isn’t shocking or particularly revealing, and the explanation is poorly executed.

It feels like the book wants to be both philosophical and an exploration of time—how it shapes us, how the past and present interact, and how time might not follow a linear path but instead exist in a cyclical or layered form. And while there are moments where it does this decently, the main premise of solving the murder gets lost. You don’t get a clear understanding of how this group of friends came together or why they’re reconnecting now. The stakes never feel high, and the urgency to solve the mystery just isn’t there.

What really could have elevated the story is a deeper exploration of the drug itself and the characters’ addiction to it. These kids are taking the drug to see their futures, but it’s so extreme that they’re caught in this disorienting loop, constantly questioning whether they’re in the past or the present. The whole time I was reading, I couldn’t help but think, “This is just a group of addicts.” If the author had leaned into this aspect—showing the effects of the drug, the compulsion to use it, and how it influences their decisions—the story could have been far more compelling.

As it stands, nothing about this book came together in a way that I found enjoyable. It’s wild to me that such a cool idea ended up being this boring. I really only gave it 2 stars because I loved the foundation, but sadly, nothing strong was built on top of it.

Honeysuckle and bone is a YA paranormal mystery. It’s got mess, teenage angst, young desires, and of course, we can’t ignore the ghost in the room. This story is definitely a slow brewing page turner, where voices and eerie vibes aren’t the only thing haunting its characters. And as more and more secrets come out, the messier, and even more entertaining, the book becomes.

Now, if you’re like me, you love a book with a good setting. Honeysuckle and Bone gives us all that and more. We meet Carina and follow her adventures of reinvention and escape, we do so in a very vivid Jamaica. Even amongst the spooky happenings, the warmth and tropical beauty is truly captivating. I can see why Karina decided to go

This is an extensive, deeply powerful, and personal exploration of generational and societal cause and effect. Hawkins offers so much more than a family portrait; instead, he presents an impactful reminder of the importance of knowing where one comes from to better understand where they stand today. He lays bare the ways that legacy is woven not only into Black pride and culture but also into the deep roots of enslavement and destruction that have, for so long, worked to manipulate and minimize the lineage and worth of the Black body, spirit, and family.

This book is a journey of healing and processing—an acknowledgment that one cannot heal a wound without knowing its depth or cause. I truly appreciated and enjoyed this compilation of historical and personal accounts. It’s hard to imagine anyone reading this and not feeling inspired to look more intentionally into their own family’s history.

This book feels timely, especially as Black history faces erasure and diminishment. Now more than ever, it is our duty to learn and share the lives, stories, suffering, and triumphs of our ancestors. I Am Nobody’s Slave is a testament to that responsibility and a crucial reminder of the work still left to do.

Thank you to Netgalley & Amistad for this e-galley.

Like many others, the cover of this book immediately grabbed my attention. Then I read the description and thought, This has to be a must-read! Or so I thought

4.5

2.5

4.5/5 A vast, pure, and tender epic.

When I first read the description for this book, I was immediately intrigued and requested it on NetGalley. Then I saw the cover, and my anticipation grew even more. Now, after finishing it, I’m genuinely excited that I loved the story as much as I did. It reminded me of how I felt after finishing Cinema Love by Jiaming Tang—so layered and rich that you constantly walk away with something to hold onto.

While I don’t typically gravitate toward character-driven stories, Homeseeking struck the perfect balance between historical elements, romance, and a broader look at family and relationships. I think what many will appreciate about this book is how beautifully it’s written and how immersive each layer of storytelling feels. Especially giving credit to keeping a clear distinction between past and present being told in different sequence.

At its heart, this is a love story—one of second chances, sacrifice, longing, and resilience. But on the historical side, it also opens doors to learning about the varied aspects Chinese culture and history, blending fiction with lived experiences in a way that feels deeply authentic. I’m still in awe that this is a debut novel! The author did an incredible job with the historical research and character development, capturing Haiwan and Suchi’s history and the invisible thread connecting them across a lifetime.

What I really appreciated was how the novel gives readers so many stories to look forward to—so many threads you want to see resolved—while subtly disguising the fact that there isn’t a traditional plot. Instead, it’s an exploration of two people whose lives have been shaped by the world around them, by the magnetism of childhood love in a dangerous time. Beyond Haiwan and Suchi, we also get the stories of their friends, families, and children, further enriching the narrative.

I especially loved how both Haiwan and Suchi experienced life, love, and self-discovery outside of each other, each taking vastly different paths. Haiwan clings to the past, not just in his love for Suchi, but in the choices he made that affected his family. His journey toward reconciling with his loved ones is deeply moving. Meanwhile, Suchi has spent her life committed to duty, leading her to marry someone she knew wasn’t right for her, forcing herself to shrink into a version of herself that wasn’t truly her own. Watching her step into her identity, particularly as her values shift over time—especially in relation to her sister and the exploration of her sister’s sexuality—was incredibly powerful.

Reading this felt like listening to an elder recount their life story, which is why I was so captivated—even though the book was long as all get out. Maybe not in page count, but in weight. This is a story that lingers. You feel the pain of every choice made, the longing to be seen, the desire to hold onto something that feels fleeting yet eternal.

Having the audiobook truly made the experience twice as engaging. The narrator did an incredible job capturing both the intimate, heavy moments and the ones that felt sharp and direct. I know many readers will fall in love with this story and be inspired by the deep respect, admiration, and passion between Haiwan and Suchi—love that echoes through their lives and decisions.

And honestly? This would make a stunning film. I kept thinking about how electric it would feel on screen. One of my favorite book-to-film adaptations is Atonement, and Homeseeking definitely reminded me of it—the way external forces work against two people, yet they always find a way back to each other.

Thanks to NetGalley & G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this e-galley.