robin1b's reviews
184 reviews

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

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challenging emotional informative inspiring sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

4.25✨ Overall, I really enjoyed this book by the author of Black Cake. The first half completely captivated me—Ebby, who witnessed her brother’s murder as a child and was then left at the altar, has such a compelling story. The narrative weaves between her journey and the history of her ancestors, and I could see so many exciting directions the story could take. There was even a “thriller” element that I was eager to see unfold. However, the second half took a different turn, focusing more on the family jar. While this was intriguing and historically important, it left many of the other storylines unfinished. Another note: I appreciated the multiple POVs, though staying focused was important since it’s easy to get a little confused.
Version: Audiobook via Spotify

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

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dark mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

4.5✨ - Jackal was a wild ride! Liz Rocher, a Black woman from a small, predominantly white town, returns home for a wedding, expecting just a quick weekend trip. But things quickly spiral into something far more complicated and far worse. The pacing dragged a bit in the middle, and while the ending had plenty of twists, it felt rushed and somewhat disjointed. Despite its flaws, the book offered a lot of depth and complexity. Is it about racism, sexism, classism, or the criminal justice system—or all of the above? As a thriller lover this book kept me on my toes until the very end! 
Trigger warning: Child abduction, abuse, some horror (abuse only mentioned but no visual)
Version: Audiobook via Audible 
Twists: 🌪️🌪️🌪️/5
Spice: .5🔥/5

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My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

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

3.0

3✨ Another book that I really wanted to love but just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t have much connection with the characters and while the narrator was good her deadpan style didn’t give much energy to the audiobook. This book just didn’t feel like a thriller. 
Version: Audiobook via Libby 
Twists: 🌪️/5
The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce

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

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel inspired by a true story! The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander takes us back to the 1920s and 1940s, exploring the intersection of race and class at the heart of a “scandalous” interracial marriage and its subsequent, highly public and painful divorce. It’s a powerful tale of love, wealth, and shattered hearts.
Bemused by Farrah Rochon

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.25

4.25✨ I absolutely adored this YA novel inspired by Disney’s The Muses. Hercules is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies, so I was thrilled to dive into the story of these incredible young women! The way Greek mythology is woven into the plot is fantastic. The only thing I missed was the music! Highly recommend for a dose of joy!
Protecting Whitney: The Memoir of Her Bodyguard by David Roberts

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

4✨ Books about people who are no longer with us are often difficult for me to read. However, when I had the chance to pick up this one, I couldn’t resist. The book treated Whitney with kindness and respect, and it was clear that David genuinely cared for her and wanted the best for her. As he shared personal moments with Whitney, I could truly feel his pain and, in turn, gained a deeper understanding of her. She was an extraordinary artist, but more than that, she was a woman let down by those who were supposed to protect her and prioritize her well-being. While the book was short and easy to read, it did have a somewhat dry tone.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

This is a review of the audiobook.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

4.5✨ WOW. Just wow! Absolutely loved this third installment to the Fourth Wing series. Yarros does a great job making you get attached to these characters and especially the dragons. Oh, my dear Andarna! I must say I needed some help remembering all the characters as many background characters came into the foreground. This was also a really long book! Looking forward to the final two books in the series! I hope we don’t have to wait too long!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Twists: 🌪️🌪️🌪️/5
#Blackreadingjoy
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4✨I had a hard time getting into this book the first time I tried to read it, which is why I DNF it originally. But when I heard it was being adapted into a movie, I decided to give it another go. Unfortunately, I still struggled. It took me a full week to get through it. I think that’s mostly because fantasy isn’t really my genre.

That said, when I rate this book, I’m focusing on the storyline, the action, and the characters. The characters are easy to love, and you definitely end up feeling for them. Also, don’t skip the epilogue—it’s worth reading to understand why the author wrote the book.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, I think you’ll rate this book closer to 5 stars! I hope you enjoy it!
Things We Never Say by Caitlin Weaver

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

4.25

4.25✨ This psychological drama really kept me on my toes! Three women with kids in a very wealthy high school become friends. All three of these women have secrets and the secrets are juicy and jaw dropping!! This book drew me in from the beginning and kept me going until the last page! Highly recommend! 
TW: domestic violence
Version: audiobook via hoopla
Twists: 🌪️🌪️🌪️/5
The Guest List by Lucy Foley

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

3.0

3✨. I love a good thriller but this just wasn’t great for me. The first 80% of the book was forming the background of the story and there were no twists until that point. The book could have given more action and twists early on. The ending was somewhat satisfying but it didn’t make up for the first 80%. #Blackreadingjoy
Version: Audiobook via Libby 
Twists: 🌪️🌪️/5