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bigbuttandabook's reviews
1121 reviews
Almost Maybes by Anna P.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
I love when a book has be grinning like a goofball even in public. This was such a fun read. I love a story with two odd characters find their person, it’s one of the best things about romance stories. This was moderately paced with a small slow down towards the end. It was a feel good romance with some heavier issues that were well done but emotionally to read. Overall I think Anna is an author I’m be reading more of. 3.5
Heat of The Moment by BriAnn Danae
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
This was a good, short read. A nice little smex and fall in love situation. I loved the energy and personality of the characters. I’m gonna call this a good vibes read. Something short, a little spicy, and sweet.
Mama: An Urban Novel by K Nicole
lighthearted
slow-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? It's complicated
2.5
The concept was cool but a lot of it felt unnecessary. I’m not a fan of all of a sudden things happening that weren’t happening before. To me it feels forced when it would make the events make sense if they were on going issues. I also didn’t see the point of having her act like she didn’t like him, I would have enjoyed it more with more on page time together instead of all the back and forth and play dates with Si. Savage was an ok character but it all felt under developed. Kind of like a bunch of random events thrown together.
The Book Of Cin by H.M. Wolfe
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I struggled really hard with how to rate this book because the moments I enjoyed I really enjoyed but then I had to stop and ask myself what was the split and it was about 80/20 of didn’t enjoy to did enjoy. I didn’t think the romantic aspects were done well, I found the plot to be overall weak and that it didn’t complement the richness of the would the author built. I think the plot issues were obvious and that she “corrected” them by chalking them up to bad decision making on the character’s part. I don’t understand the reason for having the fmc be ignorant of the real history of her world when she was raised and mentored by a person who was alive during the period of the missing history. I don’t understand. The fmc’s development felt choppy and didn’t seem to be a result of any real growth. And I feel sad by the choice to make the fmc Brown skinned and then surround her with white presenting people and make the only non white person in her life her abuser.
Saving Sunflower by Rae Lyse
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
Played by Naima Simone
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have been waiting on this book since the first time I saw Naima teasing it. Cause I love me some hockey romance and the number of them out there with Black MMCs and FMCs is minuscule. And Solomon’s swagger and confidence did not disappoint, but my guy played in my girl Adina’s face for too much and for far too long. While this was a good read, I didn’t feel like the relationship development was there. It was giving a mix of love at first sight and eff and fall in love. Which is fine if there was something outside of the way Kahlil took to Dina that would have explain Solomon’s willingness to let go of his grief and embrace love. The author told me how the characters felt but I couldn’t tell you what or where those feelings came from, outside of attraction. I know she gave him a sense of peace by being around but how does that translate to love? Overall the banter, Dina’s internal monologue, Solomon’s alphahole nature, and her hilarious bestie Nina carry the story but the romance didn’t
The Secret Keeper of Main Street by Trisha R. Thomas
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.5
3.5 I think this needs a different title. Like Heartstrings or The Trouble With Love or Unraveling Threads. Either way I don’t feel like calling Bailey a secret keep is all that accurate. Anyways this book was a little slow developing and took some time to get into but I am more than happy I stuck with it. Cause I’m a romance girl so I’m a happy endings person, and that ending was well worth it. I think because of the time period and the topics I wasn’t expecting a satisfying outcome at all, so I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the narrative voice and getting all the different POVs I would have liked a little bit from Matty, to actually hear from him on his choices. I feel like there are some deeper ways of looking at all the characters behaviors they whys of who they are and what they did, so I can’t wait to discuss this one with my book club.
Santa Claus Is Going To Town On Me by M.L. Eliza, Marie Lipscomb
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Off top this had me glued to the pages from the opening scene to that whack conversation with her family, to the moment I realized this was going to be friends to lovers. The anticipation of when Ahmad was going to stop playing and start flirting with Aliyah was killing me. I loved this new fresh version of He Just Not That Into You. A few things bugged me though, like him implying she was picking whack dudes, like men aren’t better at hiding their flaws and flags than anyone. I also think he could have used a little more outside the bar action and legit flirtation, and I loathed the fact that it was single POV. Overall though I really enjoyed this story, at times I felt a little long, but I’m always here for a good curvy girl romcom!