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literaryintersections's reviews
254 reviews
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
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? Yes
4.0
This book is actually so cute omg. I really had fun - a short quick hot read. Can’t wait for Gus and Teddy.
Outfield Assist by Cat Giraldo
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
So fun and hot. A little long but really enjoyed this book.
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A super fun, gory, unique, sexy romantasy set in New Orleans that surprised me, shocked me, and was a lot of freaking fun. If you love:
🩸 - blood and violence
🩸 - blood and making out lol
🩸 - devils and demons and phantoms and ghosts and ghouls
🩸 - thinking about haunted mansions and how you would escape while wearing a lacy nightgown
READ. THIS.
*I just wish it was gayer lol
🩸 - blood and violence
🩸 - blood and making out lol
🩸 - devils and demons and phantoms and ghosts and ghouls
🩸 - thinking about haunted mansions and how you would escape while wearing a lacy nightgown
READ. THIS.
*I just wish it was gayer lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny
Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Just not for me. This book starts with graphic assault (dub con seeming) and it is just not hot. Plus Krisjen????? Idk that name is BANANAS
Sabbatical by Katrina Jackson
emotional
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 will read anything Katrina Jackson writes omg. First Office Hours and then this????? Mike and Toni????? Good. Lord. I am sold on these two. They are hot and funny and their relationship was beautiful to witness. How Mike knew what Toni needed because he knew HER. He took the time to get to know her and watch her and understand her. He was so in love and it was just wonderful to see him offer help, encourage help, have Toni ask for help without it being contigent on him being the one providing that help. I loved seeing Deja and Alejandro in love. I can't wait for Marie's lesbian story like I need it NOW. I just would die for Mike lol.
Also the "Jim Crow omelet" scene sent me I am still laughing.
Also the "Jim Crow omelet" scene sent me I am still laughing.
Find Me At The Disco by Diahanna Aurora Hampton
emotional
slow-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
3.0
It's tough to rate this book. I will start by saying that this is a debut and I will 100% read more from Diahanna. I think her ideas, her history, her ideas are all there but the execution in this book... I needed more.
There are some great books about young people passing, not realizing or fully conscious, and I always find them intriguing. Find Me at the Disco was even more so because Liza didn't know that she was passing, that her mother was Black. And that really sends her down a spiral. I do think that there could have been more people to challenge her and her understanding of Blackness, especially with how she used her privilege and her money in ways that others couldn't. She was also SO YOUNG which I think made her whole storyline so sad - there is no positive resolution so the reader is just left with this utter sadness with no hope.
Liza's dad absolutely sucked and he can rot. I did enjoy the multi-narration and hearing from different characters throughout. But some of the characters were very one-dimensional (like the step-mother) and I would've liked more.
This is ultimately a story about a young girl who is being used: by her dad, her friends, her significant others and lovers. And I wish that there was more shining lights, more joy wrapped up in there.
There are some great books about young people passing, not realizing or fully conscious, and I always find them intriguing. Find Me at the Disco was even more so because Liza didn't know that she was passing, that her mother was Black. And that really sends her down a spiral. I do think that there could have been more people to challenge her and her understanding of Blackness, especially with how she used her privilege and her money in ways that others couldn't. She was also SO YOUNG which I think made her whole storyline so sad - there is no positive resolution so the reader is just left with this utter sadness with no hope.
Liza's dad absolutely sucked and he can rot. I did enjoy the multi-narration and hearing from different characters throughout. But some of the characters were very one-dimensional (like the step-mother) and I would've liked more.
This is ultimately a story about a young girl who is being used: by her dad, her friends, her significant others and lovers. And I wish that there was more shining lights, more joy wrapped up in there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Abortion
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have to be honest. This book was tough. I almost didn't finish but I had to continue. I think the good is that it is the first indigenous romance trad published and the incorporation of Native American, Cherokee, and Chicksaw culture was really beautiful to see - plus the way that Danica incorporated real lie frustrations like marginalization, racism against Native people, missing and murdered indigenous women, and bias was wonderful.
Unfortunately, the main character is horrible. She lies for literally no reason. Her entire basis for this book, that Ember has to lie on her application because she isn't getting jobs because she is Native is, although true in real life not true in this case. She literally doesn't have the degree needed for the job. It feels like a minimization of the real life bias - Ember could have had an associates and still not be getting jobs and I would be like "yup makes sense" but she is actually not qualified? So it's not even about her checking the "white" box, it's more that there was actual reason why she wasn't getting interviews. The lie about the cats, the lie about where she lived like how could Danuwoa STAND HER? Idk she is a red flag if I have ever heard one and I struggled with her so badly. I understand her lying came out of her being abandoned and feeling like she had to lie for people to love her.... but I think that needed to be fleshed out more AND addressed more.
Now Danuwoa? He was the real deal. The whole Native Daddy thing seemed ACCURATE and I loved him.
Overall I would read more of Danica's books but this was a frustrating miss for me.
Unfortunately, the main character is horrible. She lies for literally no reason. Her entire basis for this book, that Ember has to lie on her application because she isn't getting jobs because she is Native is, although true in real life not true in this case. She literally doesn't have the degree needed for the job. It feels like a minimization of the real life bias - Ember could have had an associates and still not be getting jobs and I would be like "yup makes sense" but she is actually not qualified? So it's not even about her checking the "white" box, it's more that there was actual reason why she wasn't getting interviews. The lie about the cats, the lie about where she lived like how could Danuwoa STAND HER? Idk she is a red flag if I have ever heard one and I struggled with her so badly. I understand her lying came out of her being abandoned and feeling like she had to lie for people to love her.... but I think that needed to be fleshed out more AND addressed more.
Now Danuwoa? He was the real deal. The whole Native Daddy thing seemed ACCURATE and I loved him.
Overall I would read more of Danica's books but this was a frustrating miss for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
Bananapants by Penny Reid
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Idk what to say, being back in the KiTC world was absolutely stellar and Ava and Desmond broke my heart. Seeing them both interact with their parents, seeing their parents flaws, especially when they struggled with being parents. Desmond and Quinn especially because we know what he is like, we know he loves Desmond, we know he is just scared and we know how he is when he's scared. The panic attack scene was particularly beautiful and heartbreaking. It's fun because as the reader you know so much more about their parents than the kids do. Greg and Desmond as well was beautiful to read. And then Ava and Quinn: "Like why complicate it? You're his dad. He's your kid. Isn't that enough?" GOOD LORD.
"Thank you for loving me, Mom. And thank you for taking time out of your life to help me." - WHEW
But the best parts were how Reid wrote about bipolar disorder. How the characters supported Desmond while also weighing him down. How Desmond grew with and around Ava and how they loved each other. Idk how Reid did it but it was wonderful. I also think that Ava is ace or demi and I loved how that was written (even if not 100% stated) in how she approached love and sex. I just absolutely loved this story.
"Thank you for loving me, Mom. And thank you for taking time out of your life to help me." - WHEW
But the best parts were how Reid wrote about bipolar disorder. How the characters supported Desmond while also weighing him down. How Desmond grew with and around Ava and how they loved each other. Idk how Reid did it but it was wonderful. I also think that Ava is ace or demi and I loved how that was written (even if not 100% stated) in how she approached love and sex. I just absolutely loved this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
Y'all I have FUN with this book. The second someone said a Mulan inspired fantasy I said LFG IM SOLD. I love Mulan (I'll make a man out of you is probably the second best Disney movie song second only to I2I) and I was excited for this. The beginning starts off a little slow but once they get to the war camp it is full speed ahead. There are great twists and turns in this book and there was a lot I didn't predict. I loved many of the comps back to the movie (the dress scene!) and I loved the overall magic world. I do think it was a little long and there was some back and forth between Meillin and Sky that was a bit annoying and juvenile BUT overall I really enjoyed it and can't wait for book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and War