lklitup's reviews
303 reviews

Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton

Go to review page

dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

5.0

It’s weird to use the word “enjoy” so maybe I’ll say this book had me hooked. The research and reporting is well done, and I like the author’s technique of weaving in personal experiences (herself, and Crownsville employees and families). Might be because of the density of info or that I read it via audio but I had trouble keeping track with the timeline. Id absolutely recommend this book. 
The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

Go to review page

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

2.0

Unfortunately I would not recommend this book. The issues with the character development and the plot so far outweighed the bright spots.

Ben first was this god-like human for Marcela (which we never see or quite understand, just are told and have to believe) but then
Marcela “realizes” over the course of the book to a super villain who also may have physically injured his brother’s knee on purpose?!


Marcela and Theo have so many conversations about what they are to each other that have no development or movement. Marcela hides her true motivations, Theo doesn’t share the whole story, etc etc. It’s boring and didn’t do anything for either their individual development or their relationship together. Don’t get me started on the timing issue— they’re ready to drop the L word amongst all this mess after maybe only a couple weeks?? Their entire relationship was still being centered on Alice and Ben! (I get that was the premise but the point is there was no movement beyond that.)

We barely see anything about Marcela’s career as a librarian except for one scene with the book club despite how important her position and involvement is to her.

There are other issues I could list but suffice to say I was disappointed, would not recommend, and will not pick up the rest of the series.
Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Go to review page

emotional funny 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

4.0

I looove Kennedy Ryan’s romances!
A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson

Go to review page

emotional medium-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? Yes

2.5

Friends-to-lovers is just not the trope for me. It undermines everything— trust, communication, growth, etc. To boot, Laniah needs some serious therapy to address her insecurities and Isaac needs to give her some damn space! I was infuriated at how often he DID NOT listen to her?! It could’ve been cute except for how disrespectful it was. And to not give us a Bridget + Wilma reunion?! For shame!
Saints of the Household by Ari Tison

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

I love how this book was arranged—a mix of vignette chapters in prose and short poetry, alternating between Jay and Max, respectively. I still felt and saw these characters so strongly, and the emotions were riiight there bringing the reader into the story. This book could be unassuming because it’s labeled as YA and arranged in very digestible notes, but this novel was about personal growth, identity, goals and disappointments, family, sense of self, love… it had everything. A definite contender for top book of the year. I’m really blown away and thankful I saw this book featured somewhere.
Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I will always reach for a book written by Akwaeke Emezi. The sensory details, the story-telling, the depth of characters. It’s complicated and human and loving and gross, too. Little Rot was difficult to read but was demanding to be read. 
One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

Go to review page

emotional sad medium-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? Yes

4.0

NOT A ROMANCE!!! Holy smokes what a perspective shift I needed to do on this one once I started reading it!!! I loved the friendships between Natalie and Gabby, and Rob and Angus, to the point that the “subplot” (if you can call it that) of Natalie and Rob was a great premise but borderline distracting. There were a lot of threads being woven and pulled at once: expectations from life and love; career trajectory; friendship growth; maturity; and goddamn that bittersweet aging out of your young 20s. 
The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

Go to review page

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

3.0

This book was okay. It was a quick, easy read. I don’t quite understand how Daphne and Chris came to be. They were two lonely people in vulnerable moments who happened to cross paths, and then suddenly they were in love. Not sure if being a huge baseball fan elevates the experience but I’m not so it didn’t. I wouldn’t push this book into anyone’s hands but I wouldn’t smack it down either. 
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-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? Yes

5.0

Carley Fortune is a must-read, auto-buy author. Her setting and scenery are characters in the book as much as Lucy, Bridget, and Felix. I most appreciate how the relationship between Lucy and Bridget was given perhaps even more importance than Lucy and Felix. I did find flaws with some of the characters’ actions, but I was drawn in by how they grew as individuals and amongst themselves. 
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0