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booksandbesitos's reviews
56 reviews
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book has been a favorite since we brought it home from Powell’s books.
I had moderate expectations for it. I’m a huge Nina LaCour fan and I was excited about her children’s book because I could finally share my favorite author with my nieces.
But I was blown away after the first read.
The book has so much emotion written in a way that’s easy for kids to feel and understand.
We see our main character’s go through a week in her life without her Mommy. Some things stay the same, like errands and her playgroup. But something’s are different. Like two cups instead of three and returned blueberries.
Her and her Mama try to make the best of it while waiting for Mommy to return. The video call mommy and watch movies.
And when she does return , it’s not the reunion they were expecting, and that’s okay. Her mommy doesn’t force hugs, they talk about it and wait until she’s ready.
Keylani Juanita did a wonderful job bring the words and feelings to life.
Every time we reread it there’s new details we notice. Like Chloe’s cat out at night. And baby pictures of the family on the walls. And fruit motifs throughout the story.
This book is perfect for anyone who is missing someone.
I had moderate expectations for it. I’m a huge Nina LaCour fan and I was excited about her children’s book because I could finally share my favorite author with my nieces.
But I was blown away after the first read.
The book has so much emotion written in a way that’s easy for kids to feel and understand.
We see our main character’s go through a week in her life without her Mommy. Some things stay the same, like errands and her playgroup. But something’s are different. Like two cups instead of three and returned blueberries.
Her and her Mama try to make the best of it while waiting for Mommy to return. The video call mommy and watch movies.
And when she does return , it’s not the reunion they were expecting, and that’s okay. Her mommy doesn’t force hugs, they talk about it and wait until she’s ready.
Keylani Juanita did a wonderful job bring the words and feelings to life.
Every time we reread it there’s new details we notice. Like Chloe’s cat out at night. And baby pictures of the family on the walls. And fruit motifs throughout the story.
This book is perfect for anyone who is missing someone.
Archie Celebrates an Indian Wedding by Mitali Banerjee Ruths
I was so lucky in getting to read this book early through Netgalley.
The book starts off with Archie and her family preparing for a wedding.
Archie is a lovable character and she helps plenty throughout the book. We see her helping her new cousin, Emma, learn about Indian wedding traditions. She watches over Krishna, her little brother. And even helps the bride fix her mehndi, in a touching bathroom scene. That scene is one of my favorites, there’s something magical about restrooms that brings women together.
In the end of the story, Archie and Emma dance and celebrate their auntie and uncles wedding. The girls are friends and cousins now.
It’s a perfect story to not only teach Indian wedding traditions, but also celebrate family and culture.
And of course, this is a picture book, and the illustrations were beautiful! I loved how happy and colorful they were. So much detail was put into it; Like the mehndi on the brides hands and the bangles and jewelry on many of the characters. I also liked the patterns on the clothes and even the bits of gray hair on some of the characters.
I can’t wait to read this book with my nieces.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I was so lucky in getting to read this book early through Netgalley.
The book starts off with Archie and her family preparing for a wedding.
Archie is a lovable character and she helps plenty throughout the book. We see her helping her new cousin, Emma, learn about Indian wedding traditions. She watches over Krishna, her little brother. And even helps the bride fix her mehndi, in a touching bathroom scene. That scene is one of my favorites, there’s something magical about restrooms that brings women together.
In the end of the story, Archie and Emma dance and celebrate their auntie and uncles wedding. The girls are friends and cousins now.
It’s a perfect story to not only teach Indian wedding traditions, but also celebrate family and culture.
And of course, this is a picture book, and the illustrations were beautiful! I loved how happy and colorful they were. So much detail was put into it; Like the mehndi on the brides hands and the bangles and jewelry on many of the characters. I also liked the patterns on the clothes and even the bits of gray hair on some of the characters.
I can’t wait to read this book with my nieces.
The Flower Girl Wore Celery by Meryl G. Gordon
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.25
This is one of the cutest books I’ve ever read. I picked it up to kill time waiting for my niece in the children’s corner and I was happily surprised. It’s a Jewish lesbian wedding and a flower girl who is experiencing a wedding different than what she’d imagined. Super cute, pretty illustrations, might add it to my book shelf
You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour, David Levithan
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
This is a really sweet read. It’s been on my Tbr for years. And I regret not reading it a lot sooner I love how it has two points of view. and the opening chapter was so fun, I was immediately hooked. I was rooting so hard for both of the main characters, this book has such lovable characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Nina Lacour is my favorite author and I had really high expectations for this. I loved the storytelling and the dual points of view. It took me a long time to get through it because the content is pretty heavy, especially for Sarah’s story. The ending was a little surprising, not bad just not what I was expecting. But I think that in this book it’s more closure than endings. Overall I really liked it, I think I’ll definitely reread it in one go now that I got through it the first time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood
The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
Wow wow wow!! I picked this up after having it on my tbr for MONTHS.
She Gets The Girl has been on my favorites list for I while and I was bit nervous to read this because I was scared of being let down (you know when something is really good and you feel nothing can compare?) but ohmygosh I was blown away!
It definitely is right up there with it.
It has romance, it’s sweet, it feels like cup of chamomile tea. I’d definitely recommend this book to my younger self.
The relationship with her dad felt so real!! I honestly have nothing bad to say
She Gets The Girl has been on my favorites list for I while and I was bit nervous to read this because I was scared of being let down (you know when something is really good and you feel nothing can compare?) but ohmygosh I was blown away!
It definitely is right up there with it.
It has romance, it’s sweet, it feels like cup of chamomile tea. I’d definitely recommend this book to my younger self.
The relationship with her dad felt so real!! I honestly have nothing bad to say
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Maybe I’m a little biased because every time I hear Natalie Naudus narrating I love the book just a little bit more. But ohmygod this book was amazing. I haven’t been left with a book hangover in a while and this book did it for me.
I’m not usually a fan of instant love or holiday stories but it worked here. The meet-cute in Powell’s (which made the Portlander in me so happy!!) and then fake dating gone wrong made it have such a hallmark Christmas movie feel, Especially with the boozy grandmas and holiday tradition scenes.
But the anxiety scenes and Ellie’s relationship with her parents made it feel a little less hallmark and a little more real. It was a perfect balance.
I have to go buy the physical version of this book now! It had me kicking my feet and rooting for the characters and silently screaming at alllllllll the cute scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Biphobia and Abandonment
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
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
1.0
Oh my God I don’t even know where to start with this book I actually read it twice to make sure I wasn’t imagining things the first time. OK first off literally in the first chapter the best friend character Dana (a high schooler) ends up sleeping with a full on adult during a wedding- excuse me what the actual fuck.
Then there is B.T.B and listen I appreciate in an attempt of Nurodivergent representation but honestly this character came off so poorly researched that it didn’t feel like representation it felt like a stereotype.
The writing wasn’t bad but it felt like the author wasn’t sure of what a teenager sounds like and it was kind of awkward at some points
Then there is B.T.B and listen I appreciate in an attempt of Nurodivergent representation but honestly this character came off so poorly researched that it didn’t feel like representation it felt like a stereotype.
The writing wasn’t bad but it felt like the author wasn’t sure of what a teenager sounds like and it was kind of awkward at some points
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death