sareidle's reviews
152 reviews

Sure, I'll Be Your Black Friend: Notes from the Other Side of the Fist Bump by Ben Philippe

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emotional funny medium-paced

3.0

I liked the essays at the beginning of the book about being the only Black friend someone has and the microaggressions that well-meaning white people still make. Ben's perspective as a Haitian-Canadian who moved to the United States was enlightening and made me re-examine America's structural racism and how unnatural it is. The narrative dragged in the middle, and I wish Ben unpacked some of his loaded experiences with friends and acquaintances who used him as a pawn to act out their racial fantasies. Overall, this is a fine book but I prefer All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson. 
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Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

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emotional funny hopeful 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

3.75

It took me some time to get invested in this story, partially because it was over-hyped as essential reading for girls and young women. I did enjoy Anne's wonder of the world and Marilla's internal dialogue when she thought Anne was justified in her response but still showed poor manners. I was surprised at the time span of the story; it is truly a coming-of-age tale. I am more familiar with The Little House on the Prairie which spends more time on the Ingalls girls' youth and I thought this series would have similar pacing.

I will start Anne of Avonlea soon and look forward to reading more of Anne's adventures!
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All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I think it is a great shame that I learned of this title because of its status as a banned book rather than the quality of the writing. I'm so glad I listened to George's story and I hope LGBTQ+ teens can read it, too. George's maternal family is truly special and shows the benefits of accepting all family members, regardless of their identities and personal lives. George's tribute and apology to their trans cousin was touching.
White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg

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dark informative slow-paced
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Sovietistan by Erika Fatland

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adventurous informative reflective slow-paced

4.75

I enjoyed learning about Soviet Central Asia through Erika Fatland's eyes. The prose was very readable and propelling. I liked how the history of each country was woven in to the travel diary style of writing. I was most interested in the Soviet era history, but each country has a long and rich history that is often unknown by westerners. 
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Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

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challenging informative medium-paced

4.25

This book helped me place all of the puzzle pieces together of things that I observed and criticized in American Evangelicals for years. Seeing the bird's eye view of how mainstream Christianity has shifted in response to societal changes demonstrates how Evangelicals care more about power and influence than Christ's message. There are many factors that have led to the current predicament of the United States in 2025 and Kristin Kobes Du Mez did an excellent job presenting her research on the white evangelical side.

That said, the misogyny and dog whistle racism was hard to listen to repeatedly. I felt myself getting angry when quotations from evangelical leaders and conservative politicians were read because it was so divorced from the actual teachings of the Bible. While this is a very important book to read, based on my experience, I recommend reading it in moderation.
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One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In by Kate Kennedy

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emotional funny reflective slow-paced

3.75

An enjoyable reflection and reminiscence on life in the '90s and 2000s. I liked Kate's voice and how she played with words - their sounds, double-meanings, etc. While the narrative did drag a bit at the 60% mark, I appreciated Kennedy's honesty about her struggles with infertility and her advocacy for reproductive healthcare.
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Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup

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adventurous funny 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? Yes

3.75

This was a fun read - I liked how the author (Caroline) and the main character (Rosamund) helped each other find courage and happy endings to their respective stories. Robin was my favorite character and the plot moved in interesting ways that kept me engaged. However, the pacing was inconsistent and the fantasy world-building was very confusing. I had to give up on understanding the political aspects of Bevoria and Abrenia and decide to focus on the character's relationships instead.
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The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
The premise was interesting, but the prose over explained things. The royal decree at the start of the book provided a great, in universe explanation for the role of the name-bearer and how they are cut off from their parents. It was not necessary to re-explain that process at length just a few chapters later. While the main character is young, it took her such a long time to realize what was going on, plus the narrator's high pitched voice for her was grating. Once I realized I wasn't enjoying the story, I decided to cut my losses and move on to something else.
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The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

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emotional funny inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A very charming follow-up to The Guncle. Each of the characters has a distinct voice and personality that rings true to my experiences with family and taking care of children. Maisie and Grant are very endearing and I loved reading about their adventures across Europe with their GUP. The author handles difficult topics of grief, a parent's remarriage, and self-sabotaging relationships very tactfully and I was tearing up at the end.
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