cleoreads's reviews
94 reviews

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

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emotional informative reflective sad 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? No

4.5

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

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

3.0

a bit underwhelming. not bad but i just didn’t feel anything for the main couple. their relationship happened so fast, it didn’t feel developed enough.
Here Again Now by Okechukwu Nzelu

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

2.0

oh my god. it’s a miracle i didn’t dnf. what a drag. 
reading ekene and achike’s conversations was so exhausting. how many “i love you but…” convos can one have????! also, this editor needs to be fired - spotted a few mistakes. i liked the conversations surrounding grief/fatherhood/alcoholism. wish it was explored more instead of the romantic almost-relationship.
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi

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

3.5

Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir by Natasha Trethewey

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Terrifying and devastating. 
Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham

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emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

3.75

Really beautiful writing. It made my heart ache at times. I just wish the characters (especially Andrew and Peter)  were developed enough  so that they were more distinguishable from each other. 
Luster by Raven Leilani

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reflective 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? Yes

3.75

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

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challenging emotional informative sad 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? No

4.0

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Gorgeous writing that had my eyes teary throughout. Just gut-wrenching. 
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

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emotional reflective fast-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? It's complicated

3.75