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raethereviewer's reviews
828 reviews
The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes
5.0
I started reading the poetry of Langston Hughes in middle school and it’s what inspired me to start writing my own poetry. It was nice to pick up this collection and read some familiar pieces while also finding some new favorites. I love the rhythm Hughes imbeds into his writing.
Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young
4.25
This was so cute! I love the found family dynamics and how they grew together. The romance was so sweet but the co-parenting was really where their relationship shined.
The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy
4.5
This was so much fun! The tension was done really well and I enjoyed seeing the romance between these two blossom. It was great having a strong-willed female lead and a man who isn’t afraid of that. The banter was so good!
Rebel by Beverly Jenkins
5.0
How is her pen still this fire over 25 years later?! Beverly Jenkins is legendary, iconic, a literary treasure. I loved how modern this felt while still being grounded in its time period. The LeVeq men and the women they love will always have my heart.
Alex Wise vs. the End of the World by Terry J. Benton-Walker
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I enjoyed this a lot. I think it would be a really good bridge book between MG and YA. It’s perfect for tweens and young teens making that transition into more complicated themes.
Ready or Not by Andi Porretta
adventurous
lighthearted
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
I loved this concept and it was gorgeously illustrated. It really captures the complicated feelings that come with graduating and having that one last summer before your friend group splits up for college. This is one I’ll be recommending to teens.
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
3.25
This book reminded me so heavily of Wattpad. I can see why it’s so popular, especially with people who are just getting back into reading. The pacing was disjointed in the beginning and predictable in the second half. The bad boy/innocent girl bit is heavy handed but not the worst I’ve seen. It was an okay, easy read.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
5.0
This was so heartbreaking yet fascinating. To be in the mind of this nameless character, filled only with questions, was difficult. Some of the scenes were horrifying. The way the narrator uses an objective and sometimes seemingly callous lens to view the only world she’s ever known broke me.
Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
5.0
The audacity of this book to actually make me enjoy the accidental pregnancy trope. This was such a lovely romance and I found myself rooting for the two of them in a way that made it all feel so real.
Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe
slow-paced
3.5
The illustrations are beautiful but the plot is really slow and sometimes a little convoluted. The age gap discourse was done in a way that felt weird to me and didn’t add to the story in an effective way. I wish it was done better.