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thedailydiva's reviews
788 reviews
Stone Deep by Tess Oliver, Anna Hart
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Meh. Harder story to get into. Meh.
Model Home by Rivers Solomon
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 stars. Point Blank. Insta-buy Author!
Ummmm, dear Rivers Solomon, please forward a billing address for my next three therapy sessions! Please and thank you!!
I will read ANYTHING Rivers Solomon deigns to write. I will read the scraps from their writing room floor. I will happily puzzle together the ripped offal from their literary mind! I think I have found my literary spirit person!!
Ok. After all that praise, I cannot recommend this book.
It is dark. It made me uncomfortable. It made me cry. It made my stomach churn. It made me ask, ‘Why tf did I read this?’. It made me sit uncomfortably in my non-understanding of gender nonconformity. It made me hurt for any character this broken, and haunted. I have never encountered characters like these and I’m ok for a good long while. They hurt me. I couldn’t handle their trauma.
This book is one of the best and most chilling haunted house stories I’ve read. It’s giving demonic, ‘the call is coming from inside the house’ vibes.
I need to read a comedy now…
Ummmm, dear Rivers Solomon, please forward a billing address for my next three therapy sessions! Please and thank you!!
I will read ANYTHING Rivers Solomon deigns to write. I will read the scraps from their writing room floor. I will happily puzzle together the ripped offal from their literary mind! I think I have found my literary spirit person!!
Ok. After all that praise, I cannot recommend this book.
It is dark. It made me uncomfortable. It made me cry. It made my stomach churn. It made me ask, ‘Why tf did I read this?’. It made me sit uncomfortably in my non-understanding of gender nonconformity. It made me hurt for any character this broken, and haunted. I have never encountered characters like these and I’m ok for a good long while. They hurt me. I couldn’t handle their trauma.
This book is one of the best and most chilling haunted house stories I’ve read. It’s giving demonic, ‘the call is coming from inside the house’ vibes.
I need to read a comedy now…
Heart of Stone by Tess Oliver, Anna Hart
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Stone Cold Bad by Tess Oliver, Anna Hart
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Cute easy palette cleanser…
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
This is the book that ‘Jim’ deserved!
Before reading what I knew was going to be a book that satisfied me, I needed to revisit Twain’s classic duo; Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. While reading those books I paid close attention to everything Twain gave us about Him, the Slave. And I had SO MANY QUESTIONS!
Immediately after beginning this book, I found myself exclaiming aloud as my questions previously asked were answered neatly and in a row.
Everett’s work gave a deserved spotlight and an existence we the reader of Twain’s novel could only dream of! I love Everrett’s James! He’d exactly who I thought him to be and more. His intelligence and wit, resilience and commitment to his freedom and that of his family, is exactly how I pictured the unknown story of Twain’s Jim. And it overwhelmed me and filled me with joy!
Everrett threw in some really good twists that I wasn’t expecting and didn’t know I needed! That reveal!!! And Everrett’s side characters live in my heart; George, Norman, and Sweet Sammy! Just a strong and diverse cast of characters.
So why four stars? I had only one real issue with this story and I found myself having the same issue with Twain’s tale, the pacing! I’m tired after reading this book. I feel as if I’ve been on the journey too, and in this case, that’s not my greatest compliment. The pacing dragged in places. Perhaps I’m just not a grand adventure kinda reader? 🤷🏽♀️ But I found myself needed something to happen. And even, when things did begin to happen they kinda came outta left field. It didn’t settle for me. But that didn’t detract from the brilliance of this story too much.
Thematically, this story covered all I wanted it to. I nodded my head and grinned like the Author and I shared a secret. That was really fulfilling. Then I read the authors final quote from his Author’s Word, and I knew… yea, he knew what he was about! Thank you, Professor Everrett, thank you! ☺️
Before reading what I knew was going to be a book that satisfied me, I needed to revisit Twain’s classic duo; Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. While reading those books I paid close attention to everything Twain gave us about Him, the Slave. And I had SO MANY QUESTIONS!
Immediately after beginning this book, I found myself exclaiming aloud as my questions previously asked were answered neatly and in a row.
Everett’s work gave a deserved spotlight and an existence we the reader of Twain’s novel could only dream of! I love Everrett’s James! He’d exactly who I thought him to be and more. His intelligence and wit, resilience and commitment to his freedom and that of his family, is exactly how I pictured the unknown story of Twain’s Jim. And it overwhelmed me and filled me with joy!
Everrett threw in some really good twists that I wasn’t expecting and didn’t know I needed! That reveal!!! And Everrett’s side characters live in my heart; George, Norman, and Sweet Sammy! Just a strong and diverse cast of characters.
So why four stars? I had only one real issue with this story and I found myself having the same issue with Twain’s tale, the pacing! I’m tired after reading this book. I feel as if I’ve been on the journey too, and in this case, that’s not my greatest compliment. The pacing dragged in places. Perhaps I’m just not a grand adventure kinda reader? 🤷🏽♀️ But I found myself needed something to happen. And even, when things did begin to happen they kinda came outta left field. It didn’t settle for me. But that didn’t detract from the brilliance of this story too much.
Thematically, this story covered all I wanted it to. I nodded my head and grinned like the Author and I shared a secret. That was really fulfilling. Then I read the authors final quote from his Author’s Word, and I knew… yea, he knew what he was about! Thank you, Professor Everrett, thank you! ☺️
fast by Millie Belizaire
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
OMG!!!
This book destroyed me! Oprah Cry! Heart bright! Deep breaths! Laughs! Anger! A whole ass roller coaster!! Perfection! Best read of the month!
MY HEART!!!!
This book destroyed me! Oprah Cry! Heart bright! Deep breaths! Laughs! Anger! A whole ass roller coaster!! Perfection! Best read of the month!
MY HEART!!!!
Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3 stars
Ok. In defense, three stars isn’t a bad review. It’s a mod review.
This book has some really cute elements, but in a short story it must be a challenge to get the pacing right. This story’s pacing didn’t work for me. Insta romance and then HEA in a wrap it all up in a bow epilogue! Meh. Not my preferred formula. But again, some heart warming moments.
I’d read more from this author.
Ok. In defense, three stars isn’t a bad review. It’s a mod review.
This book has some really cute elements, but in a short story it must be a challenge to get the pacing right. This story’s pacing didn’t work for me. Insta romance and then HEA in a wrap it all up in a bow epilogue! Meh. Not my preferred formula. But again, some heart warming moments.
I’d read more from this author.
Take a Chance by Miyeko May
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Adorable and sweet lil short story.
Emancipating James by Joan Vassar
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
4 stars
Still loved, but these stories are getting a lil formulaic. Don’t get me wrong, I still adore them, but this one took me longer to read, esp during the ‘revenge’ part of the book which takes up the last half of the book. I was as weary as the men were, that was exhausting to read.
These stories are absolutely fantastic! I love the world Vassar has built. I love the emotional and soulful ties between this knit family, that brotherhood! 😍 I LOVED Jeremiah’s story and was so worried for his character arc. 🫣 But that ending did it for me!! 🥰
I was a bit disappointed in the death in this book. They deserved more. 😔
These stories are the perfect blend of historical fiction, true history and sizzling Black love! They are so wonderful. Anyone who enjoys this troupe and hasn’t read these, I’m jealous you get to experience it for the first time. Cuz there’s nothing like that first time! 😍
I will read Anthony, the fourth book in this series. Than I may take a lil break from Ms. Vassar. But I will be back. I look forward to reading more of this author.
Still loved, but these stories are getting a lil formulaic. Don’t get me wrong, I still adore them, but this one took me longer to read, esp during the ‘revenge’ part of the book which takes up the last half of the book. I was as weary as the men were, that was exhausting to read.
These stories are absolutely fantastic! I love the world Vassar has built. I love the emotional and soulful ties between this knit family, that brotherhood! 😍 I LOVED Jeremiah’s story and was so worried for his character arc. 🫣 But that ending did it for me!! 🥰
I was a bit disappointed in the death in this book. They deserved more. 😔
These stories are the perfect blend of historical fiction, true history and sizzling Black love! They are so wonderful. Anyone who enjoys this troupe and hasn’t read these, I’m jealous you get to experience it for the first time. Cuz there’s nothing like that first time! 😍
I will read Anthony, the fourth book in this series. Than I may take a lil break from Ms. Vassar. But I will be back. I look forward to reading more of this author.
The Monkey by Stephen King
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am a fan of King. With over 50 novels and 200 short stories I’ve only scratched the surface and much more so with his novels. I picked up this new to me short story in prep to see the new motion picture it’s based on.
I went in blind, only knowing it had something to do with a possibly evil toy monkey. I’ve thought those things creepy since my childhood when I discovered one in a beloved video game. So it was no surprise that King’s tale creeped me out. But more than frightening me, it had me asking so many questions. Which is always a highlight of reading for me. I don’t like to be spoon fed. Leave me with something to ponder, which King usually always does. But this time, my head is spinning. Yay!
King is a master of atmosphere. His descriptions are like a paintbrush. I tend to read King slower, allowing his words to paint his story as intended. Our MC, Hal, intrigued me, and I’m unsure if I like him! As we only have his voice to rely on, I asked myself is this real? Or is this trauma?
King’s portrayal of family life and dynamic gives us so much food for thought. We are a product of our upbringing, family structure and the family itself. Hal has quite a bit of trauma in his childhood, did he influence the monkey, or vice versa. I still don’t know and that fascinates me.
I really hope the movie doesn’t answer that question. 😓
I went in blind, only knowing it had something to do with a possibly evil toy monkey. I’ve thought those things creepy since my childhood when I discovered one in a beloved video game. So it was no surprise that King’s tale creeped me out. But more than frightening me, it had me asking so many questions. Which is always a highlight of reading for me. I don’t like to be spoon fed. Leave me with something to ponder, which King usually always does. But this time, my head is spinning. Yay!
King is a master of atmosphere. His descriptions are like a paintbrush. I tend to read King slower, allowing his words to paint his story as intended. Our MC, Hal, intrigued me, and I’m unsure if I like him! As we only have his voice to rely on, I asked myself is this real? Or is this trauma?
King’s portrayal of family life and dynamic gives us so much food for thought. We are a product of our upbringing, family structure and the family itself. Hal has quite a bit of trauma in his childhood, did he influence the monkey, or vice versa. I still don’t know and that fascinates me.
I really hope the movie doesn’t answer that question. 😓