cosmicwillow's reviews
632 reviews

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

Go to review page

challenging dark tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

this was breathtaking. utterly gripping and intense, this book wouldn’t leave my mind even when i had to put it down. the writing was so good, too, and i just loved every aspect of this. it would make a spectacular a24 film too. highly highly recommend!!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Go to review page

emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

this was so powerful. really emotional and tells a brutally real story with such a bittersweet ending. very powerful commentary on america and what the corruption and horror of it’s systems can drive people to.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

whew this book deals with a lot of really tough and real topics that aren’t normally touched on to this extent in ya. i really enjoyed it, though jordan did annoy me a ton many times. and god i wanted to punch his mom lol. i know she’s sick and is struggling with addiction but god she infuriated me. and honestly the whole food truck aspect was pretty unrealistic with the money making part, but overall i did really enjoy this.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

this was a solid read! there were some times where what was happening and what the characters were saying was so melodramatic that it felt like satire, and im sure that wasn’t intentional, which was funny but also added an odd best to the story. ultimately, this was a decent read.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi

Go to review page

2.5

the premise of this book is so cool and interesting but my god this did not capture me at all. the characters felt so flat and i just couldn’t connect with them. i like how they all wove together in the end but idk this just didn’t grip me in the slightest. sad about that, since again i love the concept!
Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith

Go to review page

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

2.0

while a lot of very real things happen in this story, and teenagers are in fact very annoying, this book was excruciatingly annoying and it did a disservice to the very real and tough shit that went down in it. these things deserve more nuance, and the fact that it was missing entirely made this book fall so so flat for me. super disappointing. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli, Aisha Saeed

Go to review page

hopeful reflective medium-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

3.75

a really interesting read! i loved the way politics and identity were depicted in this, especially with both authors’ lived experiences. the romance definitely got a bit too cliche at times and i thought the ending was rushed, but this was a  dynamic and impactful story.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon

Go to review page

2.0

this started out cute and had a lot of cute moments throughout but god twinkle was so fucking annoying and sahil accepted her apology way too easily. the pacing was super off and the whole book was pretty unrealistic.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Go to review page

reflective 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

4.0

this was wonderful. really made me feel a lot about being a creator and fandom, and the imperfect awkwardness that comes with being a teenager who is immersed online and in their own head. i found the book after the fall out to not be as strong and tied up a bit too fast but i enjoyed this a lot overall.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

Go to review page

emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

this was gorgeous. utterly sweet and heart wrenching, it was beautiful to get to know ben and get to follow their journey coming out and finding love. more nonbinary mc books pls!!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings