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bitsandbobsdivination's reviews
217 reviews
Here's to Us by Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m gonna be honest, I expected to not love or even like this books since typically second books go downhill in series where the first book I only gave a 3… but this one surprised me?
I found that the characters had grown since the first book and you could tell they had lingering feelings for sure, but it didn’t feel like they just blew off their feelings for others because of that like some stories do. It was interesting to see a story where it shows different dynamics between ex’s, ex’s who get back together (then apart again… sorry Mikey 😅), a relationship without a label on it, a 2 year relationship leading the marriage and a baby on the way, and eventually an epilogue with another marriage.
I don’t see many books tackle so many with such variety in levels of love of emotions tied to them between the characters in a way that felt real and not staged up for a love triangle/square. Also to see no cheating (or I mean a bit of emotional suppressing cheating idk?? Depends on your definition) and a more mature reaction to it all was really amazing too! Things don’t have to end in chaos to be a good love story.
Plus, who doesn’t love Dylan! Definitely my favorite character 🥰✨
Overall, I still didn’t think it was perfect, but it definitely improved from book one and I was pleasantly surprised. 🦋✨
I found that the characters had grown since the first book and you could tell they had lingering feelings for sure, but it didn’t feel like they just blew off their feelings for others because of that like some stories do. It was interesting to see a story where it shows different dynamics between ex’s, ex’s who get back together (then apart again… sorry Mikey 😅), a relationship without a label on it, a 2 year relationship leading the marriage and a baby on the way, and eventually an epilogue with another marriage.
I don’t see many books tackle so many with such variety in levels of love of emotions tied to them between the characters in a way that felt real and not staged up for a love triangle/square. Also to see no cheating (or I mean a bit of emotional suppressing cheating idk?? Depends on your definition) and a more mature reaction to it all was really amazing too! Things don’t have to end in chaos to be a good love story.
Plus, who doesn’t love Dylan! Definitely my favorite character 🥰✨
Overall, I still didn’t think it was perfect, but it definitely improved from book one and I was pleasantly surprised. 🦋✨
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
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
Wow… just wow… this book has got to be in the top (if not the top so far?) book I’ve read this year?!
I learned so much, laughed a ton, wanted to cry, felt crazy ranges of emotions that changed from page to page, and I loved the story so so deeply in how it also evolved and I never could predict what would happen really at all. Such a ride!
Would reread for sure and hope to read more from Andy in the future!! Highly recommend!! 🚀💫☀️
I learned so much, laughed a ton, wanted to cry, felt crazy ranges of emotions that changed from page to page, and I loved the story so so deeply in how it also evolved and I never could predict what would happen really at all. Such a ride!
Would reread for sure and hope to read more from Andy in the future!! Highly recommend!! 🚀💫☀️
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
It’s been a long time since a book took me a month to read, not because of the length, and not because I couldn’t read it faster, but because it felt like one of those special books that are meant to be savored. Each time I thought about devouring the book in one go, or a few hours, I felt I was going to spoil it, like it was the last bite of my food and I wasted it watching a show at the same time not giving it the full attention and time it deserved.
I enjoyed it right from the first page too, which typically books take me at least 50 pages to get fully invested in, but the found family of these characters hooked me in from the start. They felt so rooted and whole, I loved them!
And then there is obviously the mystery subway girl and her story with August which was both a spark and a nice slow steady burn which made the pacing even more the reason to savor it. Their chemistry is so… I don’t know, so present in each scene, and not always in the same way, but equally there.
There really isn’t much to critique?? I feel so whole after reading it, as the community support and care element was a thread throughout that makes it feel like it didn’t end, just threaded itself into my story as a queer person as well. I also loved the historical elements too!
Where I definitely devoured Red, White, and Royal Blue in one sitting, a book of passion and intensity in a time when I needed it most, this book brought me comfort and belonging in ways I deeply appreciated and understood so personally.
Beautiful and lovely read! Highly recommend!
I enjoyed it right from the first page too, which typically books take me at least 50 pages to get fully invested in, but the found family of these characters hooked me in from the start. They felt so rooted and whole, I loved them!
And then there is obviously the mystery subway girl and her story with August which was both a spark and a nice slow steady burn which made the pacing even more the reason to savor it. Their chemistry is so… I don’t know, so present in each scene, and not always in the same way, but equally there.
There really isn’t much to critique?? I feel so whole after reading it, as the community support and care element was a thread throughout that makes it feel like it didn’t end, just threaded itself into my story as a queer person as well. I also loved the historical elements too!
Where I definitely devoured Red, White, and Royal Blue in one sitting, a book of passion and intensity in a time when I needed it most, this book brought me comfort and belonging in ways I deeply appreciated and understood so personally.
Beautiful and lovely read! Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
This was so sweet and lovely but also a bit tense at times. The colors were so beautiful to look at and her dress at the end I love it!! Beautiful story about coming to terms with showing your full self and also standing up for what is right. Really enjoyed, but took off a star for the pacing as it felt like it needed just a bit more to fully flesh it out. Lovely read nonetheless and stunning illustrations!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Loveless by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.75
Wow! Such a beautiful book! Alive never disappoints and I can’t wait to read more of her books moving forward! They are so amazing at hitting my heartstrings!
This one taught me so so much about aro ace identities and experiences in ways I hadn’t thought about before. I knew of people in my life who were and knew by definition what they meant but not really a more human way of viewing the experiences those who are might have in a world saturated by romantic and sexual love. That friendships can be just as (and are!) deep and loving as a romantic relationship. That family and society can it such a stigma and pressure on those who dint fall in those neat boxes. That you can grieve the life you saw the majority of people around you having that you physically couldn’t have. How hard that is to accept but also how liberating too!
This book also had such a wide range of queer people and experiences (non-binary, aro, ace, pan!!, bisexual, gay, lesbian) to explore and how vast the queer community is! How we all can have similar experiences that thread us together, but also still be just as clueless or uneducated about distinctly different queer experiences than our own!
The only thing that made me knock this book down from 5 stars fully is that I wish we had a bit more structure to the book in terms of line uni life. Yes, it’s definitely got the social side going for it but they like never study for classes, never even really mention the classes they have, hardly talk about school at all, and I mean Georgia is so worried about being in drama classes but then never mentions it again or a single class like it just fine?? Seemed weird… would have enjoyed more of that side of the story cause uni wasn’t all social life you know? But I also get that wasn’t really the main point of the story, but it would have added a more realistic uni experience I suppose.
Overall though, I lovedddd this book!! I will definitely be rereading it in the future and recommending it to friends! Such an eye opening and beautifully loving read! 🤍🖤💜💛🤍💙
This one taught me so so much about aro ace identities and experiences in ways I hadn’t thought about before. I knew of people in my life who were and knew by definition what they meant but not really a more human way of viewing the experiences those who are might have in a world saturated by romantic and sexual love. That friendships can be just as (and are!) deep and loving as a romantic relationship. That family and society can it such a stigma and pressure on those who dint fall in those neat boxes. That you can grieve the life you saw the majority of people around you having that you physically couldn’t have. How hard that is to accept but also how liberating too!
This book also had such a wide range of queer people and experiences (non-binary, aro, ace, pan!!, bisexual, gay, lesbian) to explore and how vast the queer community is! How we all can have similar experiences that thread us together, but also still be just as clueless or uneducated about distinctly different queer experiences than our own!
The only thing that made me knock this book down from 5 stars fully is that I wish we had a bit more structure to the book in terms of line uni life. Yes, it’s definitely got the social side going for it but they like never study for classes, never even really mention the classes they have, hardly talk about school at all, and I mean Georgia is so worried about being in drama classes but then never mentions it again or a single class like it just fine?? Seemed weird… would have enjoyed more of that side of the story cause uni wasn’t all social life you know? But I also get that wasn’t really the main point of the story, but it would have added a more realistic uni experience I suppose.
Overall though, I lovedddd this book!! I will definitely be rereading it in the future and recommending it to friends! Such an eye opening and beautifully loving read! 🤍🖤💜💛🤍💙
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Acephobia/Arophobia
Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.5
I really enjoyed this one! I’d been meaning to read it for awhile now, but then the pandemic hit and reading about a boy stuck inside didn’t sound as good… But! I feel it was the perfect time for me to read it!
I’ve been learning more about my own mental health lately and how it has limited me in this pandemic in similar ways to him in the book and just like him I’m finding more reasons to push myself to go out more. To take the risk despite my brain screaming at me not to.
I’m seeing friends, going to book stores, getting out and testing the waters. His story really has inspired me and also made me feel less crazy about it all and seen a bit more.
I took one half star off for just wishing it was longer and that the two other characters got more time to be better fleshed out especially with the mom.
Either way though, I truly enjoyed and got a lot out of it. Would definitely recommend 💛✨
I’ve been learning more about my own mental health lately and how it has limited me in this pandemic in similar ways to him in the book and just like him I’m finding more reasons to push myself to go out more. To take the risk despite my brain screaming at me not to.
I’m seeing friends, going to book stores, getting out and testing the waters. His story really has inspired me and also made me feel less crazy about it all and seen a bit more.
I took one half star off for just wishing it was longer and that the two other characters got more time to be better fleshed out especially with the mom.
Either way though, I truly enjoyed and got a lot out of it. Would definitely recommend 💛✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Car accident
Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Beautifully done!! Alice makes difficult topics not something of a breeze and shows they are definitely not easy to navigate, but they aren’t impossible.
There is support for mental illness, and that romantic love isn’t a cure. Sure, it helps sometimes, but you can’t fix someone with it and you can’t do it yourself and try to hold someone who is suffering up when they don’t want to be held in the first place.
This book definitely goes deeper for both boys and their relationship. I’m very excited to see how the next and final book goes for the two of them!
The first two books were so wholesome and reminded me a lot of my queer experiences growing up making me feel so s e e n !
While the last two have also but in a much different way. I’m currently learning more about my own mental health and things like OCD so this has given me more space to explore that with Charlie.
Overall, a beautiful book and series! Definitely one I plan to reread many times in my life! Excited for the final volume!! :D
There is support for mental illness, and that romantic love isn’t a cure. Sure, it helps sometimes, but you can’t fix someone with it and you can’t do it yourself and try to hold someone who is suffering up when they don’t want to be held in the first place.
This book definitely goes deeper for both boys and their relationship. I’m very excited to see how the next and final book goes for the two of them!
The first two books were so wholesome and reminded me a lot of my queer experiences growing up making me feel so s e e n !
While the last two have also but in a much different way. I’m currently learning more about my own mental health and things like OCD so this has given me more space to explore that with Charlie.
Overall, a beautiful book and series! Definitely one I plan to reread many times in my life! Excited for the final volume!! :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Mental illness
Moderate: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Self harm, and Outing
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
2.75
I really enjoyed Openly Straight and it’s Sequel but this one just didn’t hit right.
The friend groups I felt really uncomfortable with right from the beginning and they never really redeemed themselves by the end. The “wives” especially as they felt so over the top and stereotyped. I know it was to make a point of GBF’s but one tiny mention at the end that it changed and suddenly all was good now was weird.
That being said, most of the plot if this book felt so strange and out of order at times too. Especially since there were a ton of plots mixing together for a climax that never really got solved… It just kinda did an after school special introspection about the title for a moment and then ended?? Plus the mom clearly needed help the whole time and then just got shoved under the bus? It could have been handled so much better!
That all being said, the way in which rape, dissociation, toxic masculinity, and self-esteem were covered were done much better but still, kinda clunky, like it could have been expanded upon in less choppy ways.
I’m sure I could go on about how Jordan and Max’s relationship was built up without any real chemistry, or how we had random chapters that were full on filler, but I’m gonna end it here by saying it wasn’t all bad, but I don’t plan on reading it again…
That being said, most of the plot if this book felt so strange and out of order at times too. Especially since there were a ton of plots mixing together for a climax that never really got solved… It just kinda did an after school special introspection about the title for a moment and then ended?? Plus the mom clearly needed help the whole time and then just got shoved under the bus? It could have been handled so much better!
That all being said, the way in which rape, dissociation, toxic masculinity, and self-esteem were covered were done much better but still, kinda clunky, like it could have been expanded upon in less choppy ways.
I’m sure I could go on about how Jordan and Max’s relationship was built up without any real chemistry, or how we had random chapters that were full on filler, but I’m gonna end it here by saying it wasn’t all bad, but I don’t plan on reading it again…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Grief
Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.5
This book has characters that took me awhile to warm up to but I enjoyed seeing them grow and learn together. I would say I wish they went deeper though! Some conversations went quick or resolved so quickly it felt like I missed something, not because I didn’t understand, but because the characters we thought were not gonna understand, did in like .05 seconds. So yeah, just wished everyone and the plot was more fleshed out especially near the last 20 pages were it just flies by! Other than that though, I really enjoyed it! Reminded me of Sarah Dessen but more queer! Would have been cool if there was another book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s a solid book, but I found it took ages to have her notice the toxic nature of the relationship that I just was so frustrated! It also reminded me of being the person looking in and seeing someone close to me hurting but blinded by love too much to end it. It’s an important story but I was so frustrated for most of the book to appreciate it fully.