obscurepages's reviews
396 reviews

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales

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challenging funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

SCREAMING. This is reality tv alright. And mind you, I'm not that fond of reality tv shows 😭😂 But the drama? The scripted shenanigans? The ridiculousness of it all? Very spot on.

Also this has the same style and vibe I came to love in a Sophie Gonzales novel. She just knows how to create a story that sucks you right in, characters that stay with you, and plot twists that either hurt you and make you laugh. And I love how everything works out in the end. 

Have to say, I did not like girl on girl hate on the first part of the story. But I also understand that this is what the story intended, especially for a "reality tv".

Love Maya and Skye. Though, I wanted to see more chemistry between them. I wish them all the beat tho, wrap them up in a blanket and protect them from the world.

And yes, Jordy fcking Miller is a true as$hole lmaoooo

Exact rating: 3.5 

Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>

Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

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

4.5

HOLY SHT. This is one of the wildest rides I've ever been on.

This part horror, part science fiction is a masterpiece. It takes you on a damned journey to find the truth about about a ship and the creatures that attacked it. But it also takes you on a journey to know more about people, about humans, our environment, and both the known and unknown history and mysteries of our world. 

This was just so so good. Atmospheric, poetic, dark, gritty. Also I loved the diversity in the cast. 

Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire is a blessing in literature 🤧

Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>

Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
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Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

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

4.0

Okay this was good 🥺 Hilarious and heartwarming all at the same time, and highlighted Chinese culture and traditions so well. 

Have to admit some parts were already a bit predictable (especially if you're a fan of Crazy Rich Asians 😂), some themes could have been explored more, and the romance could have had more to it, but I just enjoyed reading this a lot. I think it's because the writing style and the humor was just excellent. 

Big thanks to Fully Booked PH and Get Underlined for sending over an e-arc my way! (This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.)

Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>

Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
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She Gets the Girl by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-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? Yes

3.5

Okay so I had high hopes for this book, and although I enjoyed it, it felt like something was missing for most part of the story 😅 

Like I liked the writing style, and I loved the rep, I loved the two MC's own individual character arcs. But the two of them together? The romance? The chemistry? I wasn't that convinced 😭 I mean up until 60-70%, I didn't love them as much as I imagined, and their chemistry was lacking (altho I did swoon in a few lines/scenes back there). I guess I wanted more?

Still a solid read tho. I definitely stayed for the character arcs and back stories 😆

Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>

Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
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Forward March by Skye Quinlan

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

TOP TIER 😭😭

Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>

Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
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Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta

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challenging funny reflective tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

Well this was certainly entertaining at best. But unlike The Black Flamingo, I did not got invested unfortunately 🤧

I loved the themes of gender and identity in this story, as well as friendship. But as for the romance, it's a no for me 😅 I can also appreciate that Mack is a messy character (YA characters are allowed to be messy and learn from it ofc). But this whole thing overall just did not work for me. 
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Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

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emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

 Not even 30 minutes into this book and I already felt like crying because of how I could relate to this book and the author's thoughts 😭 Not everything, no. But I see parts of me so clearly every time I flip the page.

Figuring out your gender and sexuality is confusing and exciting and comforting and messy. It's all those things all at once. And the journey's not a simple and fast one too. It's a constant learning process. This book shows that so perfectly well. I am so glad I read this book 🥹

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Marking this book as part of reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2023. 
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

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

5.0

 Okay? I loved this?? Fall of the House Usher retelling, fungal horror, and trans/nonbinary MC??? Perfection.

CW: body horror, graphic violence, fatal injuries, injuries due to war, PTSD, amputation, animal death, mild transphobia

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Marking this book as part of reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2023. 
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Kites in the Night by Blaise Campo Gacoscos

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

3.0

 This book is a good glimpse into the life of a Filipino/Ilocano, from childhood to adulthood–navigating through young love, family conflicts, sexuality, friendship.

I do wish there could have been more? Like I wanted to see and feel more emotion. I also felt like it would have been good to see the story to expand more on discovering sexuality, and family themes and conflicts (specifically, the estranged father/brother). I do get that this is the author's writing style though, and of course, considering this is literary fiction, it definitely focused more on the character and his experiences.

Overall, Kites in the Night is a solid read.

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Marking this book as part of reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2023. 
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Into the Light by Mark Oshiro

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 Goosebumps. Goosebumps all over. This book is a dark and haunting journey into light of a boy broken and betrayed by the very people who claim they give love and healing. This speaks so much of what queer trans people (especially QTPOC) go through in real life, and how dangerous/destructive others' religious bigotry and dogma can be. I think I'm going to need a few days to process all of this tbh.

Also, I have to commend Mark Oshiro once again. If there's one thing they can do, it's to pull you in with masterful storytelling and riveting perspectives. This book did just that and more.

Full review on my blog soon.

CW: religious bigotry, religious abuse, conversion therapy camps, techniques and forms of conversion therapy, parental abuse (especially from adoptive parents), predatory adults, mentions of sexual assault/harassment, homophobia 
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