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sophiesometimesreads's reviews
259 reviews
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
emotional
funny
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
3.5
This was a sweet little romcom about two Vietnamese girls falling in love in Sài Gòn. Overall, I thought it was quite adorable, but it did fall into some of the usual romance traps for me.
Firstly, the things I loved and enjoyed. The descriptions of food were DIVINE, so much so that I literally made my partner drive us to get bánh mì yesterday because this book made me crave it. I loved the atmosphere of being in Sài Gòn, too, it made me feel like I was back there even though it's been years since I last went. The sapphic element was fun too, and I enjoyed how the story didn't centre around "coming out" and instead focused on their backgrounds and family.
It was a bit of insta-love, l could mostly write that off as young love but it was a little bit cringey towards the end, though I read the book quickly so maybe the timeline isn't right in my head and they were supposed to have known each other longer. I also think the resolution was way too rushed, it felt like the first half of the story was focused on the family and writing aspects of the story so the romance and third-act conflict/resolution felt a bit squished into the second half, particulalry given this wasn't a huge book in the first place. I would've loved to see a bit more resolution and some more time with them together post-conflict, though that last line did make me smile.
Overall, this was a cute, fun read, though it did delve into some deeper topics at time when talking about generational and familial trauma.
Firstly, the things I loved and enjoyed. The descriptions of food were DIVINE, so much so that I literally made my partner drive us to get bánh mì yesterday because this book made me crave it. I loved the atmosphere of being in Sài Gòn, too, it made me feel like I was back there even though it's been years since I last went. The sapphic element was fun too, and I enjoyed how the story didn't centre around "coming out" and instead focused on their backgrounds and family.
It was a bit of insta-love, l could mostly write that off as young love but it was a little bit cringey towards the end, though I read the book quickly so maybe the timeline isn't right in my head and they were supposed to have known each other longer. I also think the resolution was way too rushed, it felt like the first half of the story was focused on the family and writing aspects of the story so the romance and third-act conflict/resolution felt a bit squished into the second half, particulalry given this wasn't a huge book in the first place. I would've loved to see a bit more resolution and some more time with them together post-conflict, though that last line did make me smile.
Overall, this was a cute, fun read, though it did delve into some deeper topics at time when talking about generational and familial trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Medical content
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Wow. What a powerful memoir. A deep dive into the impact of sexual assault and the justice system on victims. A must-read for everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Seven Devils by Elizabeth May, L.R. Lam
adventurous
emotional
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'm going to need 5-10 business years to just process what I read, I think 🤯😭😬😅🥵😰
Okay, okay, I think I've processed enough now (maybe?). This was a wild, fun time and I loved it!
I loved and felt so strongly for the cast of strong, diverse, queer, female characters who supported each other. They were probably the strongest part of the book. I was hesitant about the number of POVs but I think it really worked to develop all the core crew of characters.
The plot was twisty and intriguing, and every time I thought that something needed to happen to keep this plot moving, something happened immediately after, so the pacing was great in my opinion. I guessed a couple of plot points but not too far ahead and I had so many feelings for the characters that it didn't bother me at all and still had an emotional impact on me.
I thought the world was really cool, and how the storyline reflected similar events in the real world today.
I had a great time with this, thank you Rhys (readswithrhys) for encouraging me to pick up this book! I can't wait to read the sequel 🙏🏼
Okay, okay, I think I've processed enough now (maybe?). This was a wild, fun time and I loved it!
I loved and felt so strongly for the cast of strong, diverse, queer, female characters who supported each other. They were probably the strongest part of the book. I was hesitant about the number of POVs but I think it really worked to develop all the core crew of characters.
The plot was twisty and intriguing, and every time I thought that something needed to happen to keep this plot moving, something happened immediately after, so the pacing was great in my opinion. I guessed a couple of plot points but not too far ahead and I had so many feelings for the characters that it didn't bother me at all and still had an emotional impact on me.
I thought the world was really cool, and how the storyline reflected similar events in the real world today.
I had a great time with this, thank you Rhys (readswithrhys) for encouraging me to pick up this book! I can't wait to read the sequel 🙏🏼
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Colonisation
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist by Sophie Gonzales
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was a silly, goofy, fun time and made me nostalgic for my fandom days. I thought it was a good balance of poking fun at fandom and how cringe we were as teenagers in fandom, but also paying respects to it. I found the miscommunication (surprisingly) believable and think it helped to have the past timeline to establish that it was a long term miscommunication (or lack of communication) and honestly it was really relatable given I went through something similar, where communication on both sides of a friendship was lacking paired with young adult insecurities and anxieties. I enjoyed this, it was a quick and easy read.
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
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
I liked this! I enjoyed the mixture of African culture in a futuristic, space setting, with aliens. I enjoyed the overarching storyline, but I felt like some bits of the story and the background behind it all (eg treeing) could've been explained a bit more deeply. It is a novella/short story so I didn't expect a deep dive into the world but I think it could've done with a little bit more. I am excited to read the next book, though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Blood
Minor: Suicide and War
It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.75
I was actually really surprised by this book! I didn't expect to relate to it so much, having never been a marching band kid (I don't even know if we have them in Australia?), but aside from that I resonated with Yasmín's journey so much and saw my younger self in her. I think I would've loved this a lot if I'd read it at the age Yasmín is in the novel and may have helped me understand myself and my outlook on the world a bit better. I despised Sofia from the start, though, and it did get a bit painful and frustrating to see Yasmín constantly go out of her way to try and appease her, but it was understandable as I'd definitely done similar things for "friends" at the same age. I liked how that part of the story all resolved, though, but I won't say more so I don't give too much away.
I really liked the aro ace rep. I maybe would've liked some more explicit language or more obvious understanding of these by Yasmín, though I was glad we got explicit use of those labels through Bloom. I think the little romance storyline was a bit out of the blue, though, and maybe the nuances of this needed to be explained more. I also loved the casual queerness of a lot of the characters, too, and how everyone was able to be themselves.
The writing was a little cringey at times, but only in the way that teenagers are inherently cringe so I think if I were closer to the target demographic, I wouldn't have noticed it so much. It read a little on younger end of YA but that didn't really bother me as I enjoyed the storyline, but might factor into some peoples' enjoyment.
I noticed a few (ARC) reviews mentioned Quidditch references in this book, but I don't recall any so these may have been edited out for those that don't want those references in their books.
I think this is a great coming-of-age novel for teenagers, particularly those who are band or music kids, questioning their sexuality, or looking for good queer rep (or all three!).
I really liked the aro ace rep. I maybe would've liked some more explicit language or more obvious understanding of these by Yasmín, though I was glad we got explicit use of those labels through Bloom. I think the little romance storyline was a bit out of the blue, though, and maybe the nuances of this needed to be explained more. I also loved the casual queerness of a lot of the characters, too, and how everyone was able to be themselves.
The writing was a little cringey at times, but only in the way that teenagers are inherently cringe so I think if I were closer to the target demographic, I wouldn't have noticed it so much. It read a little on younger end of YA but that didn't really bother me as I enjoyed the storyline, but might factor into some peoples' enjoyment.
I noticed a few (ARC) reviews mentioned Quidditch references in this book, but I don't recall any so these may have been edited out for those that don't want those references in their books.
I think this is a great coming-of-age novel for teenagers, particularly those who are band or music kids, questioning their sexuality, or looking for good queer rep (or all three!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Transphobia
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I was really excited to read this as I had heard some good things about it. Overall, I really liked the premise of the tea shop turned blood house, and the ending was great, it was my favourite part of the whole book. Unfortunately, I felt like I didn't wholly connect with the characters and the pacing at the start felt a little off, with a lot of time spent in the build up to the heist and a lot of talking, which took me out of the story a bit and meant I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to (but I did overall have a good time with it). I got into the story and characters more within the last 50 to 100 pages, and some of the reveals and twists did surprise me, so I will be picking up the sequel and possibly rereading this beforehand. The story was well-written so I think I'll pick up Hafsah Faizal's other series at some point too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death
Minor: Racism
Being Ace: An Anthology of Queer, Trans, Femme, and Disabled Stories of Asexual Love and Connection by Madeline Dyer
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed quite a few of these, moreso ones towards the start, though a couple fell flat for me. I liked to see the ace representation woven through, but I felt at times that ace and aro were used or represented interchangeably and I would have loved to see more representation of asexual romantic relationships (though there were one or two shown). Overall, good representation, not just in terms of ace rep but also other LGBTQIA+ identities, race and disability. I think it's a good read if you like short story collections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death
Jade City by Fonda Lee
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Turns out I'm a big fan of political intrigue because this was so interesting to me, despite a lot of it being rooted in the politics of the world and clan interactions.
It was slower paced at the start than some fantasies but I loved getting to know the characters, which are arguably the strongest part of this book, as well as the world and magic system. As the book progresses, we get more action, but the core of this book is rooted in the politics of the world, so this may not be for everyone but it was for me.
A deep and complex world, a fleshed-out magic system and an interesting and real cast of characters. I cannot wait to dive into the rest of this series!
It was slower paced at the start than some fantasies but I loved getting to know the characters, which are arguably the strongest part of this book, as well as the world and magic system. As the book progresses, we get more action, but the core of this book is rooted in the politics of the world, so this may not be for everyone but it was for me.
A deep and complex world, a fleshed-out magic system and an interesting and real cast of characters. I cannot wait to dive into the rest of this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.5
The writing was wonderful and so much felt like it happened in such a short number of pages, with such good characterisation. One of the best short stories I’ve read recently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: War