bipoc_reading's reviews
419 reviews

Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories by Amparo Ortiz, Yamile Saied Méndez

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

Rep: multiple Latin American stories. Mostly female characters and a few queer characters.

Overall it was an okay read! Obviously with anthologies some stories are really good while others miss their mark. I did not think it was particularly horrific…
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

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funny informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Rep: yt gay man and yt bisexual man

Okayyyy cyute! And realistic and queer and actually recommending this as a must read.

4 stars honestly because I expected more drama from the whole ~police~ thing 
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Rep: yt gender MC, yt bisexual LI, Black SC

Cute 🥰 but why did they treat Feta so poorly!
For One Night Only by Jessica James

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
DNF @ 4%

Bisexuals are valid in all forms—I’m not a fan of reading straight passing stories however.
Women's Hotel by Daniel M. Lavery

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

0.25

Rep: all white women…

Imagine you’re narrating walking down the stairs and all the thoughts you have during that. Now stretch that out for five paragraphs. 

Congrats you’ve read this book.

Was there a plot ? Also, why tag it queer…
It's All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango

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challenging emotional informative inspiring fast-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

Rep: Puerto Rican WLW disabled MC, Cuban Lesbian LI

I think this was such an important beginner book for disability awareness. There were important talking points in this book such as “disabled enough” and some things I had never thought of before such as “all bodies are either disabled or presidabled”
The Last Bookstore On Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Rep: all yt cast (mc and LI are lesbians)

DNF at 37% because nothing has happened, it’s clear from other reviews that nothing will happen. Honestly, this should’ve stayed a little headcannon story because it had zero plot and no logic. 
Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Rep: yt (assuming) transfemme they/them pronoun MC

Okay well, I have a soft spot for trans book as a tranny myself. And 😭🥲 this one was crazy and wild and beautiful. Take care of yourself just like this graphic novel tells you to!
We Came to Welcome You by Vincent Tirado

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Rep: Afro-Latina Butch lesbian MC, Korean SC

Wow okay! From the get go I was nervous for this book because damn if that representation wasn’t SPOT ON. Like Afro-latine struggles of how society treats you, anxiety bred from a rough upbringing, the dad. Ugh the dad. The hierarchy in BIPOC oppression. So much. So relatable.

Was it scary? Yes. Am I a wuss? Also yes. But I had to have my partner read one scene cause I couldn’t handle it (mind the light gore trigger warnings)

I loved all of it. The ending was a weeeee bit abrupt and honestly feed me a lore drop daddy 😩 but no it’s fine it’s okay. Love to see that ending.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Rep: All yt cast. MC is yt lesbian and SC are range of lesbian or straight (one gay man)

Honestly, I kind of fucked with it. The whole thing was crazy and the characters were so realistic because they were young and selfish and fucking batshit.

The downsides: the ending fell a little flat. I just think had it been a little stronger this book would’ve made more sense. The book that Cate Kay wrote? That’s the supposed best seller? Sounded super boring 🥱 also, there are so many best selling authors out there with pseudonyms that no one cares about so I found this strange. If not a little…try hard? Mary Sue?

Also “my mom says we’re Black Irish” said the yt girl who tanned…