Scan barcode
booksandbesitos's reviews
56 reviews
The Apartment House on Poppy Hill by Nina LaCour
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I didn’t have any expectations for this one. I’m not a big middle grade reader but I really like Nina LaCour’s writing and this audiobook was only about an hour long and had no wait times on Libby so I figured why not give it a go. The book is three separate acts. each with its own little plot. The first one was cute, and a sweet introduction to the building and characters. As Ella gave Cleo and Leo a tour, the reader also gets one. The second one was so well done. It reminded me a bit about growing up in my grandmother’s apartment complex, where all the neighbors knew each other and the kids were raised communally. It made a bit emotional as I thought back to my own Matilda. I also liked the way Ella’s character struggles with being patient as she waits to have her tea party. The last act was the one that really shone for me. The wedding, the neighbors coming together and something about Ella, the littlest one in the building and the Robinson’s, the eldest in the building , befriending each other just made me emotional. I wasn’t expecting to tear up while folding my laundry but the part where they used their rose bushes for the wedding really got me. Overall a lovely book with a lovely setting and main character I’m sure curious and excited young readers will both relate to and love
In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.
I feel like I just wasn’t the target audience for this. I loved the premise and the characters and mostly picked it up because I am a sucker for sapphic holiday novels. but I don’t know something about this just didn’t click for me. The main characters were fine, but I just wish the relationship had developed a little bit more instead of having like two conversations and then them immediately forgiving each other and starting over again. there’s also sometimes when the writing just seemed kind of off for me?? I don’t really know how to pinpoint what I didn’t love but there was just an essence of something. I might pick it up again next holiday season because I really want to know how it’ll end but pushing through the last 30% is just not happening for me this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.75
I listened to the audio version of this And right off the bat, I got to say the cast was fantastic. They did a wonderful job narrating, voicing the characters and bringing them to life.
And speaking of, the characters were all great. The amount of representation in here was phenomenal. Our two main characters were fun. Every time there was a point of view change I was excited to see what the other one was getting into. And it was so interesting to see their friendship grow, while their online rivalry was also growing. I also liked the side characters a lot. They really helped the story and the plot be more in engaging. Since the plot involves so much social media, you really needed that social aspect for the characters out of their online personas too, like they needed an audience.
The plot did move a little bit faster than I was expecting like there was a few times where I was like “Oh wow, we’re doing this now.” but it was still enjoyable.
Dear Wendy was a nice read, I laughed, I learned, I related to the characters a little too much at certain points. And I’ll definitely come back to read to read more Ann Zhao.
And speaking of, the characters were all great. The amount of representation in here was phenomenal. Our two main characters were fun. Every time there was a point of view change I was excited to see what the other one was getting into. And it was so interesting to see their friendship grow, while their online rivalry was also growing. I also liked the side characters a lot. They really helped the story and the plot be more in engaging. Since the plot involves so much social media, you really needed that social aspect for the characters out of their online personas too, like they needed an audience.
The plot did move a little bit faster than I was expecting like there was a few times where I was like “Oh wow, we’re doing this now.” but it was still enjoyable.
Dear Wendy was a nice read, I laughed, I learned, I related to the characters a little too much at certain points. And I’ll definitely come back to read to read more Ann Zhao.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual content
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow, this was so good. I’m usually not big on science-fiction or fantasy or anything with heavy world building, but I really liked cemetery boys so I chose to pick this one up. It was a great choice because this was phenomenal.
I actually really liked the world building. Both my parents are from Mexico and the world in the book included a lot of Mexican culture and folklore so I think that helped a lot. Things like alebrijes, la chupacabra and some Nahuatl words make an appearance.
The characters are so good, even the ones that are “bad” at first, have you rooting for them by the end.
I’m so excited to read Celestial Monsters, but I gotta wait two weeks till my hold at the library comes in. Guess I’ll wait it out eating Pan Dulce and Masapan.
I actually really liked the world building. Both my parents are from Mexico and the world in the book included a lot of Mexican culture and folklore so I think that helped a lot. Things like alebrijes, la chupacabra and some Nahuatl words make an appearance.
The characters are so good, even the ones that are “bad” at first, have you rooting for them by the end.
I’m so excited to read Celestial Monsters, but I gotta wait two weeks till my hold at the library comes in. Guess I’ll wait it out eating Pan Dulce and Masapan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Classism
Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
IM SOBBING WHY WOULD YOU WRITE THIS BOOK
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death
Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I’ve been a big fan of Natalie Naudus since I first got into audiobooks a couple years back. And this time around it was so nice to hear her narrating her own book. The writing is beautiful, a lot of it is Valerie‘s internal monologue, but it works because she’s lonely in a cult. Who else is she gonna talk to? What else is she gonna do except think? (The cult she’s in is very fundie, 19 kids and counting, happy smiley people so please look at the content warnings before picking it up)
When Val picks up a queer book at the library, she begins to question a lot of things. And when Val meet Riley, her whole world changes. She’s able to realize how wild her situation is and how her church is more than just a church. It’s a cult.
The romance is a little Insta lovey, but when I had my first girlfriend at age as a teen, I also rushed into it. That being said, I do wish there was an epilogue. I feel like their story ended a little too soon and it was a good ending but I just wanted more.
One last stop was mentioned bonus points for that I loved the “the narrator was okay” line. This Is How You Lose the Time War was also mentioned, love that. Also the way that Val uses the library and gets support from the librarian was so heartwarming, I really liked that.
Overall, it was a definite five star read. I didn’t grow up in a fundamentalist cult, but I did grow up with Mexican evangelic tias and could relate to several points in the book. It made me touch some scars I didn’t even realize I had. This is another YA book. I wish I could’ve read when I was younger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Abortion, and Alcohol
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Wow, the journey my mind went through well reading this book is wild. I didn’t know I could feel hung over from reading a book.
The plot is so fun and I’m not even a fan of soccer (although I might start watching it now)and watching the character development, especially Grace’s, was so touching.
The book does contain quite a bit of sex scenes, and like yeah, it’s totally fun to read, but they also helped develop the relationship and I really liked that. I’ve never really been a huge fan of sex scenes, but I don’t know, this book made it not only palatable, but enjoyable.
I think that the dynamic between the two characters helped with that too. I wouldn’t say it’s like grumpy and sunshine because Grace isn’t grumpy. She’s just Grace, but Phoebe is definitely the opposite of her in way that compliments her.
The dialogue was so nice, the characters both main and side were so fun. And the neurodivergent representation was also so good. A couple of graces scenes made me tear up a little bit. Not because they were sad, or meant to be super emotional, just because I saw myself in her.
Definitely a five out of five read. Also, I love the representation for all the useless lesbians🫶🏼🫶🏼thanks Grace and thanks Meryl Wilsner
The plot is so fun and I’m not even a fan of soccer (although I might start watching it now)and watching the character development, especially Grace’s, was so touching.
The book does contain quite a bit of sex scenes, and like yeah, it’s totally fun to read, but they also helped develop the relationship and I really liked that. I’ve never really been a huge fan of sex scenes, but I don’t know, this book made it not only palatable, but enjoyable.
I think that the dynamic between the two characters helped with that too. I wouldn’t say it’s like grumpy and sunshine because Grace isn’t grumpy. She’s just Grace, but Phoebe is definitely the opposite of her in way that compliments her.
The dialogue was so nice, the characters both main and side were so fun. And the neurodivergent representation was also so good. A couple of graces scenes made me tear up a little bit. Not because they were sad, or meant to be super emotional, just because I saw myself in her.
Definitely a five out of five read. Also, I love the representation for all the useless lesbians🫶🏼🫶🏼thanks Grace and thanks Meryl Wilsner
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
This book meant so much to 16-year-old me. Reread it now at 22 years old, and it still holds up. The writing isn’t like extraordinary, but the story is so intriguing, you get invested in the mystery of who Blue could be.
The cast of friends is fun, the sisters are sisterly, the dog really felt like his own side character and not just a dog.
The cast of friends is fun, the sisters are sisterly, the dog really felt like his own side character and not just a dog.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
4.25
I tried reading this but had trouble getting into it. So I switched to an audiobook. I didn’t know Avi Roque was narrating part of it so it was a nice surprise. (I had just finished listening to Cemetery Boys two days prior and had listened to the Julian books earlier that day!)
The audio definitely helped bring the story to life. The writing is really beautiful and almost musical so I liked having it read to me.
The way that Bastian and Lore meet at first connects them to the lake, and it almost feels like the lake is the third main character.
When they meet again it is less of meeting and more finding each other. Their friendship formed very quickly and the dialogue between them feels kinda awkward but in a way that complements one another. And when it startsbec a relationship it didn’t feel forced at all. the dynamic between the characters was just so good.
Like I said, I had trouble understanding it at first but The further I got into the book, the easier it was to understand how the lake and magic exists in the story. And it made me want to keep going and see what would happen between the characters and the lake. I can’t really explain it but it didn’t feel like there was much of a plot, but not in a negative way, more in a way where the characters lead the story. They don’t have a major goal, or a thing they are trying to accomplish. They are just existing in a world with lake magic and each other.
The characters are both neurodivergent and I liked the representation but I did feel like a lot of their inner thoughts turned into explaining their brains to the reader. I wish that it would’ve been shown in a different way rather than just “saying” it to the reader. There’s a few times where it’s shown in conversations between the characters, in things they do, or in experiences they have, and I liked those moments better. The telling made it hard to pinpoint if this was a YA book or a Middle Grade book. I enjoyed it either way though.
The characters are both neurodivergent and I liked the representation but I did feel like a lot of their inner thoughts turned into explaining their brains to the reader. I wish that it would’ve been shown in a different way rather than just “saying” it to the reader. There’s a few times where it’s shown in conversations between the characters, in things they do, or in experiences they have, and I liked those moments better. The telling made it hard to pinpoint if this was a YA book or a Middle Grade book. I enjoyed it either way though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Misogyny
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Wow just wow. Wow wow wow wow! I just finished it and it was a long read, I’m not gonna lie, but it was so worth it. I’m a queer Latina and anytime I see queer Latine characters my heart feels so full. And this book has plenty of them. I also loved amount of culture in this book! Outfits and food and traditions were described so beautifully. I read this book in the summer, and It got me really excited for the fall and for cempasúchil y pan de muerto.
Okay now onto the actual book review. Like I said, it’s a long read, but I really enjoyed it. I liked how even the side characters had personalities and stories. I loved the dialogue and the conversations between characters. Julian was a perfect “class clown” and Maritza reminded me so much of my own prima. The conversations between Yadriel and his dad were also full of emotion.And his growth in the end was very sweet to see. While this is a fantasy book, it’s full of so many coming of age elements, that I think even non-witchy people will be able to relate to it.
Okay now onto the actual book review. Like I said, it’s a long read, but I really enjoyed it. I liked how even the side characters had personalities and stories. I loved the dialogue and the conversations between characters. Julian was a perfect “class clown” and Maritza reminded me so much of my own prima. The conversations between Yadriel and his dad were also full of emotion.