jkreads's reviews
67 reviews

adventurous challenging dark tense 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

5.0

I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book. It was everything I wanted it to be and more, I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It is absolutely my new favourite ‘trial-centric’ book. I cannot wait to start The Blood Gift!

Content Warnings

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was a fun time! Not for most of the characters, but for me. I’m not a huge horror reader so this book was a great, relatively light (if such a thing is possible with horror) foray into the genre for me. Parts of the plot were predictable, some felt a little random and some took me by surprise!

The writing was descriptive but not overly so, it was easy for me to picture the setting and the characters. I really liked the cast of characters, including the FMC Charity.

This would be a good intro to horror/slasher for anyone wanting to try it out as it’s not super full on or gory.

Content Warnings

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5⭐️

Kindred is a sci-fi/historical fiction/speculative fiction mashup and those genres blended together aren’t something I would normally choose, but I’m glad I picked this book up! It’s a classic for a reason. The time jumps between 1976 and the early 1800s were well-executed, they felt jarring and I as the reader felt a sense of dread and panic for Dana each time she was pulled back to the “antebellum South”.

This book deals with some heavy themes given the setting - racism, slavery and rape just to name a few. Kindred unpacks some big issues but what struck me was the idea of what it means to be a ‘good person’ and how this has evolved over the years. Actions that were considered kind or good in the flashback portions of this book are now (rightfully) understood as cruel and heinous by most.

Kindred is such a well-crafted book that even though it was set in the mid-70s and this was mentioned frequently throughout the story, I kept forgetting that Dana wasn’t living in 2024. Nothing about the writing or the references felt dated, which is no mean feat for a book written almost 40 years ago! This book encompasses so many different genres, I honestly think just about anyone could read and enjoy it (and by enjoy I mean scream into your pillow every two seconds).

Content Warnings

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

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challenging 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

4.5

This was such a wonderful book! I adored the relationships that formed over the course of this story, both romantic and platonic. I felt that this book handled some incredibly sensitive topics with grace and care, not dancing around them but also not falling into trauma porn.

It was so refreshing to read a book written from the perspective of an autistic person with selective mutism, I’ve read books in the past with an autistic MC but I think this is the first one I’ve read that had that added mutism/nonverbal component. I’m not part of the autistic community however I’m always looking for more stories with good rep! There was some ADHD rep and this is a community I AM a part of, I felt the small glimpse we got to see of that was pretty well done.

There were also a range of different sexualities and gender expressions represented throughout the book and I felt these were weaved in well - they didn’t feel tokenistic or forced, just realistic and representative of a typical high school and of society as a whole.

Overall I adored this book, the audio narration was a wonderful easy listen and I fell in love with the characters very quickly. The way they loved and looked out for each other was so beautiful.

Definitely be mindful of content warnings going in to this one, as I mentioned earlier it addresses some topics that may be triggering for some.

Content Warnings

Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

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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

3.0

There was a lot that I liked about this book. Firstly, I love a book where the FMC finds herself and stands up for what she wants and deserves which is what happened throughout this book. I especially liked the portrayal of Hannah’s journey of rediscovery after having a baby and going through a breakup, two major life-altering events. Her confidence in her own abilities grew so much throughout the story and it was so satisfying to go on that journey with her. I loved that although River supported and encouraged her, all of Hannah’s growth and self-belief came from within - she didn’t need a guy to ‘save’ her. I appreciated the LGBTQI+ rep too especially for a book set in the South.

Now, for what I didn’t like. This book was SO millennial. And I’m saying that AS a millennial. I can’t even pinpoint what it was exactly, but it just felt like every millennial stereotype was unironically crammed in here somehow and there were parts that made me cringe. There were also waaaaay too many lactation references, and again I’m saying that as someone who has personal experience there.

Overall this was a nice easy read, the cast of side characters were quirky and loveable and the journey that the FMC went on was satisfying and rounded out nicely.

{ARC review - huge thanks to Union Square and Co for the early copy in exchange for my honest review}

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

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3.0

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

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emotional mysterious 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

{ARC review - huge thanks to Quercus Books for this early copy}

This book was a lush, beautiful experience that has convinced me that I would read Tia Williams’ grocery list if she published it. This book had elements that I was not expecting at all (which I won’t go into here because I don’t want to spoil it, I think it’s best to go into this one blind!), but I ADORED the journey I went on throughout it.

Tia Williams sets a scene SO beautifully and her writing is descriptive without being unnecessarily flowery (pardon the pun). I felt like I was walking through the streets of Harlem alongside Ricki. This book also features quite possibly my favourite side character ever in Ms Della. I fell in love with her instantly and ate up every single scene she was in. And for the Seven Days in June fans, there’s an Eva Mercy/Shane Hall cameo!

I literally didn’t know anything about the history of New York and the Harlem Renaissance going into this, but this story inspired me to read up about it and it is such a rich, interesting piece of history.

And can we talk about this COVER for a hot sec?! I was firmly anti-real people on covers until recently, and thank god I’ve changed my mind so I can fully appreciate this absolute BEAUTY of a cover. The vibes match the story so perfectly, I cannot.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is out on February 6 and I highly recommend picking it up if you’re after an immersive, gorgeous romance.

Content Warnings

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

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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

4.0

This was such a sweet romance! It had me giggling and kicking my feet so many times. I really enjoy when a fat character is appreciated for their beauty in a non-fetishy way. I also love when a MMC is a huge simp for his girl and that was definitely the case here.

This book had fibromyalgia representation- I can’t say whether it was good or not since I don’t have fibromyalgia but what I will say is that it is always so refreshing to see a disabled main character framed as desirable and capable. Chloe’s illness obviously had a huge impact on her life and her relationships, and this impact was not minimised but it also wasn’t the defining thing about her.

I didn’t love the audiobook narration for this one - the story was good enough for me to push through but I think it would have been so much better with two narrators rather than just the one.

Coach by Devney Perry

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lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I wanted to love this SO BADLY. I really enjoyed the Edens series, especially Juniper Hill, so I was hopeful this would be similar. There were certainly similarities but I just did not vibe with this one. The MMC (Ford) had very possessive alpha “touch her and die” vibes which works in mafia/dark romances but just felt a little over the top in this situation. You’re a college football coach my guy, settle down. The FMC (Millie) was likeable enough but a little flat as a character.

Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

Dropbear is a collection of poetry and essays by Bundjalung poet Evelyn Araluen. It is a searing commentary on modern-day Australia, weaving through the common tropes and iconography that Australia is known for and contextualising them through the lens of settler-colonialism. There is so much beauty, reverence and hope intertwined with pain, rage and generational trauma in Araluen’s words, and to me these poems and essays are such a beautiful example of the deep connection that Aboriginal culture has with the land and how important it is for this to be centred and celebrated. This feels like an especially important read as we approach Invasion Day on Jan 26. This would make a wonderful introduction to poetry, I highly recommend it!

My favourite works in this collection are:
- Learning Bundjalung on Tharawal
- PYRO
- Malay
- Acknowledgement of Country
- See You Tonight

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jkreads's reviews 67 reviews

jkreads's reviews
67 reviews