alouette's reviews
258 reviews

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

the author has a beautiful way of writing prose that clicks with me, and finds a way to bring mundane plots to life. while the side characters fell kind of flat, the main romance was still very sweet- though, i do wish it started earlier in the novel so we actually got to see more scenes of them together! the ending was also kind of inconclusive and not super satisfying, but i really liked emilie and was glad to see her having finally found the starts of an identity and passion carved out for herself.

Content Warnings

Present by Leslie Stein

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.5

a navigation of finding emotional and physical well-being as a young adult in a capitalist world. the author's art style is unique and fun, making this a relaxing short read with small gems of advice scattered within.

The Complete Doc Unknown by Fabian Rangel

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

i had not heard of doc unknown before picking this book up off the library shelf so i had 0 expectations for this. it wasn't something groundbreaking but it was a pretty cool romp with a good ending and nazi ass-kicking, wahoo!

Content Warnings

Butter Honey Pig Bread by francesca ekwuyasi

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

a deeply emotional, insightful, powerful novel. the three women of the family who offer their perspectives are fully fleshed out people that felt like they were speaking with me as the story unfolded. the choices the author makes in revealing more about them are artful, carefully and perfectly executed. despite knowing what Kehinde's trauma would be based on all the clues, i still cried when she fully explained it. i sympathized with her while also feeling myself in the shoes of Taiye, scared and feeling helpless.

as they grew up through the time-swapping narrative, and Kambirinachi's complicated love for them was illustrated through her own upbringing, i felt each piece of them fall into place. they grew bold, bright, unique and independent- and then still found their way back to being sisters. not the same as they were, as no relationship in this novel was stagnant, but eventually loving each other in new ways and loving the lives they'd built for themselves.

bind that with the surrealist folklore elements, the importance of a home to come back to and a culture to cherish and food that represents love, queer content, faith, and many other lovely, nuanced themes and you have an unforgettable book. this is what human nature is- the ability to change and grow.

i can't remember enough to accurately attach them to this review but be mindful of content warnings <3

Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful fast-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

4.25

fever trip! a good one!

Content Warnings

Night Bus by Zuo Ma

Go to review page

hopeful mysterious relaxing slow-paced

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

3.5

few of the stories had a narrative, they were more like an artsy adventure sequence, which is a shame because there were some thematic gems in there. the synopsis is a bit misleading (i wasn't even aware this was an anthology at first, not sure if i was supposed to be following characters from story to story or not) but it's spot on with the magical realism.

Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced