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ourxstorybegins's reviews
582 reviews
There Are Trans People Here by H. Melt
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
This book of poetry has a big focus on trans joy (in the afterword, Melt mentions how challenging this was as most trans literature they’ve read focuses more on pain/violence that trans people experience). Melt spends a good chunk of this book imagining what a fully liberated trans world would look like, from the politics to interpersonal relationships and communities to how individuals feel about themselves. It’s so full of hope for what the future could look like despite the oppression that has been faced in the past and continues to be faced presently by trans people. There’s also a study guide at the end along with lots of other recommended works that I’ll definitely be looking in to!
The Anti-Hero by Sara Cate
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
So while I did ultimately come around to caring about Adam (MMC), I never really...started to like him? As a Christian, he was super judgmental and then while it’s framed as him figuring out who he was, I think that he really just shifted to finding his value through Sage (FMC) instead of God/his dad? And it’s fine, this is a romance not actually a book about deconstruction, but the struggle with Adam and his religion was SUCH a huge part of his story that I wish he could’ve come to a conclusion that wasn’t just “All that matters is Sage.” That + him realizing he’s into some kinky stuff being viewed as him accepting that he’s “not good” and stuff just felt weird. Still had fun and will keep reading this series though! Lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual violence and Injury/Injury detail
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was fantastic and gut-wrenching. A generally challenging read as the author takes us to Nickel Academy, a fictional juvenile reform school based on a very real school in Florida. I had to take this so much slower than a lot of the books that I read simply to make sure I could actually take in all of the information without any kind of overload. The story details Elwood, a black boy who was unfairly sentenced to Nickel Academy, and the abuse that he and the other boys there experienced during their time. One thing I very much didn’t expect was for there to be a plot twist at the end, and even THAT was hard to read. Just, all around incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Racism, and Violence
The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
Okay okay so the only reason that this didn’t get 5 stars from me is because it had a really slow start and was hard to get into. But once I was in, I was IN. This is book one in a series about a girl who was chosen to be the royal Name-Bearer but when it’s time for her to do said bearing, things do not go well and she ends up having to run away, change her identity, etc. etc. for a variety of reasons. From there, this book really focuses on the friendships she makes (and after 10 years of living in basically seclusion where she isn’t allowed to HAVE an identity of any sort, that’s huge) and her starting to figure out who she is when she can’t be the Name Bearer. I finished this and IMMEDIATELY started book 2 because I simply must know more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Regarding the Duke by Grace Callaway
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Gabby was overall happy with her 8 year marriage to Adam even though he didn’t really show affection, but then he gets amnesia and then absolutely falls HEAD OVER HEELS for her once all the other stuff he’s focused on is out of his head?? This man basically becomes an “I LOVE MY HOT WIFE” bumper sticker personified and it’s fantastic. I probably would’ve given it a higher rating BUUUUT I don’t like the overusage “quim” and “cunny” and then Gabby and Adam get into this like sultan/slave roleplay and those things made me just a LITTLE too uncomfy lmao. Issues were very specific to this couple so I think I’ll enjoy the other books in the series more tbh. But wow give me more of the amnesia trope please and thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
Behold Her by Emily Antoinette
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
THIS WAS SO FUN okay so this is a “stalker romance” without the ick because Max (MMC) isn’t actually stalking Mona (FMC) -- she just thinks he is for a minute? So she goes off on him and is like LEAVE ME ALONE but then she’s like “wait...am I into this?” and a new kink is unlocked. Once they’ve settled any confusion in that area there’s a LOT of the two of them having their scenes together and they just have a lot of fun pretending he’s her stalker who catches her and kidnaps her and such lmao. And this is the ONLY way I could ever enjoy that because...they talked about it first!!! All that said there’s lots of CNC but I also actually believe their romance and the side characters are all very fun and this was all-around just FUN.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Animal death, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Fatphobia: Mona is fat and while she's working on loving herself more there's still a lot of internalized fatphobia there (mainly about what she assumes other people think of her)
Animal Death: Mona's pet dog died before the book started and it's referenced a few times. Also, her dog's spirit is present in her apartment and Max ends up giving her an enchanted collar that makes the dog's spirit visible !
Through the Storm by Beverly Jenkins
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
Ohhhh my gosh okay so this book was WAY heavier than I expected it to be. The book literally opens with Sable (FMC) finding out she’s been sold to a man who she is certain plans to SA her, finding out how her mom died (absolutely gruesome), and then her great aunt burns down the house she lives in so she can run away. She meets up with HARRIET TUBMAN who takes her to a camp where she meets Raimond (MMC) and like...the first half of the book is BLEAK. Once we move into the Reconstruction period of the book and she has her chance with Raimond things do get better but when things are bad they are BAD. But! They’re bad in a very compelling and well-written way. I just wish a little more time could have been dedicated to the romance.
Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was cute! I think we had some missing development in this that made it hard to ever feel fully in. There were a few times where our FMC ran into an abusive ex and while I don’t want DETAILS about that, something just felt off about it? I don’t know.
On the flip side, every time we got to a spicier scene I ended up skimming cuz it felt like there was too much flowery language. Aside from those issues, the story itself and the characters were cute and it was overall a fun little read! I could’ve just used more in some areas and less in others (I love a Star Wars reference I really do but by the time we got to her dressing up as Leia I was TIRED).
I had fun, but I also probably won't read another book by Meadows unless I'm super intrigued by the storyline or something.
On the flip side, every time we got to a spicier scene I ended up skimming cuz it felt like there was too much flowery language. Aside from those issues, the story itself and the characters were cute and it was overall a fun little read! I could’ve just used more in some areas and less in others (I love a Star Wars reference I really do but by the time we got to her dressing up as Leia I was TIRED).
I had fun, but I also probably won't read another book by Meadows unless I'm super intrigued by the storyline or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
RE: Toxic Relationship/Emotional Abuse: Millie has an (emotionally? It's never completely clear but that's the vibe) abusive ex-boyfriend who makes multiple appearances in this book in an effort to force himself back into her life. Details of the relationship are hinted at, but not explicit. Being around Finn's parents in one scene trigger the panic that came with being with that boyfriend.
Reel by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Yo why did I not know this book was going to be sad??? I cried a non-zero number of times while listening to this audiobook and I was not prepared for that. The love story between Neevah and Canon is just...beautiful? It was such a good balance of serious and lighthearted scenes. We had a solid romantic storyline, but the plot regarding filming the movie as well as Neevah’s relationship with her mom and sister were also so stinkin good? This was longer than what I’m used to in a romance novel, but there also wasn’t a moment in the book where I felt like something should’ve been cut out. The hype makes SO much sense for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
The Seven Month Itch by Tanvier Peart
emotional
funny
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
4.5
OH MY GOSH I spent so much of this book freaking out because it is just SO messy?! We’ve got a married but separated couple who discover each other at the same singles retreat. Oh, and the husband’s ex-girlfriend who’s still pining for him is ALSO at this retreat. The wife ends up connecting with the retreat’s bartender but also the owner of the hotel?! And both of their best friends are there and are having their own will-they-won’t-they moment. And the married couple is still so obviously in love with each other that every time they try to make a different connection it is all for nothing lol. OH AND! The retreat is over around halfway through the book and since they STARTED broken up we don’t have to worry about a third act breakup!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit
Re Sexual Assault: There's a scene where the FMC is groped and threatened by a stranger at a party. Another character comes in and stops things before it goes too far.
Miscarriage occurred twice in the past with FMC/MMC; when FMC becomes pregnant in the book, there is fear of a repeat.