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destdest's reviews
2696 reviews
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon: The Graphic Novel by Paula Danziger
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fresh Start: A Graphic Novel by GALE. GALLIGAN
lighthearted
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
3.0
The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn: Volume 1 by Tri Vuong
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The premise is very interesting of a dead-undead floating skeleton head possessed by a ghostly starving octopus, and his misadventure helping others close to death or grieving.
But this is too wordy in the worst way. I don’t think this comic relies enough on its artwork to tell the story.
But this is too wordy in the worst way. I don’t think this comic relies enough on its artwork to tell the story.
The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield
Be aware that the beginning is full of cringe and secondhand embarrassment. I’m so glad I waded through that to get to one of my favorite books so far in 2025.
But as Whitney, the main character, dials down the too-muchness, I really connected with her admiration of Josephine Baker. She's so creative and confident but still has doubts of her place in the world.
Thierry was also a fun male lead. I'm glad he wasn't a butthole. Yeah, he was blunt and serious, but he wasn't unreasonable. It's rewarding when a stoic character begins to melt or be vulnerable. As we see Thierry defrost, it felt earned. I also like that the book didn't exotify him if that makes sense. He's more than the "French lover."
There are so many scenes that I couldn't stop smiling at. And Black American history, Parisian facts, and a little conversation about being Black in France 🇫🇷 expertly weaved in.
If you love sunshine x grumpy pairings, you will love this. One of the most absolutely adorable moments is when Whitney goes to the chocolate shop. Worth the price of admission *wink* This little book will make you swoon.
Please someone adapt this into a YA movie. I’d love for Black girls to have a sweet, lighthearted movie. Completely feel-good!
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is such a cutie-patootie book!
“The only way to do Paris is not by list, but by love."
Be aware that the beginning is full of cringe and secondhand embarrassment. I’m so glad I waded through that to get to one of my favorite books so far in 2025.
But as Whitney, the main character, dials down the too-muchness, I really connected with her admiration of Josephine Baker. She's so creative and confident but still has doubts of her place in the world.
Thierry was also a fun male lead. I'm glad he wasn't a butthole. Yeah, he was blunt and serious, but he wasn't unreasonable. It's rewarding when a stoic character begins to melt or be vulnerable. As we see Thierry defrost, it felt earned. I also like that the book didn't exotify him if that makes sense. He's more than the "French lover."
There are so many scenes that I couldn't stop smiling at. And Black American history, Parisian facts, and a little conversation about being Black in France 🇫🇷 expertly weaved in.
If you love sunshine x grumpy pairings, you will love this. One of the most absolutely adorable moments is when Whitney goes to the chocolate shop. Worth the price of admission *wink* This little book will make you swoon.
Please someone adapt this into a YA movie. I’d love for Black girls to have a sweet, lighthearted movie. Completely feel-good!
Dances by Nicole Cuffy
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This story gets the isolating nature and constant struggles of being a Black ballerina well. Ballet in itself has always been restrictive and rigid.
The threat of being constantly replaced, a token, and having to prove your worth to others and yourself constantly are themes. Ballet can be such a rampant breeding ground for body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and internalized self-hatred.
Even more, Celine "Cece’s" lack of family and community weighs on her more heavily. She has few people who have her best interests in mind. There is a deep, subtle pain when your parents don’t believe in you or accept you fully.
Every moment Cece is waiting to fail. Constant stress. The reading experience was very stressful for me because every moment I was waiting for her to ruin her ballet career irreparably. Then, I was getting squeamish with her medical issues.
With added pressure, Cece becomes a prominent Black ballerina and is thrust overnight into a status symbol for young Black children and people. She wrestles with hating and understanding the value of an unasked symbolism.
Then, of course, the potential career-ending situation pops up. Bruh. she gets pregnant. How do you trust in the pull-out method??? But she was young with no guidance, so I guess. Ain’t bout ish men gon do it every time.
I don’t know how to phrase this correctly. But this felt like watching a fictional movie about enslavement. You’re always left feeling drained, but you understand the execution and the hard truths. It’s just the reality. I don’t believe every story has to make you feel good or uplifting. Sometimes, a story has to lay bare the dirt and grit of a thing, an industry.
Overall, I believe the author effectively showed the tense environments many of these dance studios operate under, but it’s a dampening read. I understood Cece but never really liked her as a character. But I liked the connection and sorrow Cece had for her brother Paul as a positive. The fifth section was my favorite when it went unexpectedly Southern.
Not enjoyable but not bad!
2.5 stars
The threat of being constantly replaced, a token, and having to prove your worth to others and yourself constantly are themes. Ballet can be such a rampant breeding ground for body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and internalized self-hatred.
Even more, Celine "Cece’s" lack of family and community weighs on her more heavily. She has few people who have her best interests in mind. There is a deep, subtle pain when your parents don’t believe in you or accept you fully.
Every moment Cece is waiting to fail. Constant stress. The reading experience was very stressful for me because every moment I was waiting for her to ruin her ballet career irreparably. Then, I was getting squeamish with her medical issues.
With added pressure, Cece becomes a prominent Black ballerina and is thrust overnight into a status symbol for young Black children and people. She wrestles with hating and understanding the value of an unasked symbolism.
Then, of course, the potential career-ending situation pops up. Bruh.
I don’t know how to phrase this correctly. But this felt like watching a fictional movie about enslavement. You’re always left feeling drained, but you understand the execution and the hard truths. It’s just the reality. I don’t believe every story has to make you feel good or uplifting. Sometimes, a story has to lay bare the dirt and grit of a thing, an industry.
Overall, I believe the author effectively showed the tense environments many of these dance studios operate under, but it’s a dampening read. I understood Cece but never really liked her as a character. But I liked the connection and sorrow Cece had for her brother Paul as a positive. The fifth section was my favorite when it went unexpectedly Southern.
Not enjoyable but not bad!
2.5 stars
Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure by Emma Steinkellner
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
Loving the character arcs Gil and Nell go through here. This story acknowledges the flaw of “toxic positivity” smoothly and learning to be content with change/loss of control (with other people).
The art is still so adorable, and everyone has a cute, wide nose.
No Rules Tonight: A Graphic Novel by Ryan Estrada, Kim Hyun Sook
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"The world tells me I'm not useful unless I'm producing. But the world doesn't change unless I'm fighting. And if I can't fight, I don't know what to do. But I can't stop doing something.
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I knew from page one this was the book for me. It’s delicious, and it delivers on the dark and intrigue. The plot turns kept me turning as well as the worldbuilding. Nothing was introduced that didn't have meaning. Also, I like that the academy was set in a college/university.
Kidan was complex, twisted, and lovable. She was willing to get gutter for her goals. But really love was her driving force if you think about it. Kidan goes through several arcs here, and they feel earned. She was constantly self-destructive and cared too much.
Susenyos was irresistible, arrogant, frustrating, and scary all at the same time. A bronzed Adonis! Undeniably debonair once he becomes fonder of Kidan. When he starts being soft with her ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! when he undid her braids in the steamy bathhouse. my heart! when he wrecked the house in anger because he faced retribution but still saved her. when he started desiring her. when she started calling him Yos .
Something that favorably stood out for me was the vampiric characters felt otherworldly and dangerous. They didn’t give ‘human being with fangs.’ They truly felt like ancient beings who could bend the world to their will. You feel Kidan’s trepidation when she’s erred too far with one of these beings. This is why Kidan’s headstrongness/attitude despite it, thrilled me.
This girl has done dark things, but even she gets to feel soft, at times. Kidan's relationship with death is played with masterfully.
I enjoyed the whole cast of the characters. The humans and vampires (draniacs).
Things get steamy (yes, pun intended) here, which is to be expected with the sensuality of vampires and bloodsucking in general, but it’s well done. It's giving Isley Brother's music, okay. With this in mind, this is definitely for the oldest of YA readers.
One nitpick: I was very tired of seeing “their mouth turned into a stretch.” It’s repetitive but probably a distinct trait of this author, I suppose.
Overall, I’m so here for this series, and I’d love to see a Netflix adaptation with East African actors. Tempted to draw fan art. This is for the girlies who like anti-heroes and when the girl falls in love with the villain. GIVE ME BOOK TWO!
Kidan was complex, twisted, and lovable. She was willing to get gutter for her goals. But really love was her driving force if you think about it. Kidan goes through several arcs here, and they feel earned. She was constantly self-destructive and cared too much.
Susenyos was irresistible, arrogant, frustrating, and scary all at the same time. A bronzed Adonis! Undeniably debonair
Something that favorably stood out for me was the vampiric characters felt otherworldly and dangerous. They didn’t give ‘human being with fangs.’ They truly felt like ancient beings who could bend the world to their will. You feel Kidan’s trepidation when she’s erred too far with one of these beings. This is why Kidan’s headstrongness/attitude despite it, thrilled me.
This girl has done dark things, but even she gets to feel soft, at times. Kidan's relationship with death is played with masterfully.
I enjoyed the whole cast of the characters. The humans and vampires (draniacs).
Things get steamy (yes, pun intended) here, which is to be expected with the sensuality of vampires and bloodsucking in general, but it’s well done. It's giving Isley Brother's music, okay. With this in mind, this is definitely for the oldest of YA readers.
One nitpick: I was very tired of seeing “their mouth turned into a stretch.” It’s repetitive but probably a distinct trait of this author, I suppose.
Overall, I’m so here for this series, and I’d love to see a Netflix adaptation with East African actors. Tempted to draw fan art. This is for the girlies who like anti-heroes and when the girl falls in love with the villain. GIVE ME BOOK TWO!
Belinda the Unbeatable by Lee Nordling
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
Cute! I really liked the fantastical aspect of how musical chairs look here. Everything looks 10x bigger and the stakes are high. It plays into the stressful uncertainty that the game prides itself on lol.
The artwork was cartoony and conveyed action and expression well without written dialogue.
The artwork was cartoony and conveyed action and expression well without written dialogue.