wren_rainbow's reviews
423 reviews

This story is brief but does a great job of showing us the readers, the youth of the world different worlds that black people and white people walk and what that looks like when they come together in a romantic relationship. Jeremiah and Ellie’s romance was the typical first love: they see nothing but each other and can’t see past that. I wasn’t convinced about the love they claimed to have but can understand it from the youthful place it comes from. I knew the ending was coming but it still hurt when it did. 

A lot of what she says is repetitive. Which could the intention but it’s rephrased within the same few minutes and repeatedly throughout. At about 60% through I just wanted to be done. I didn’t know about the Maroon community (enslaved Africans who escaped slavery and created communities in resistance). I’ll definitely look into them after this book. 

After experiencing extreme burnout I realized how important rest is. Rest saved my life. Before and after being on medical leave I had numerous coworkers encourage me to work and study during my time of rest. “You shouldn’t just be resting” when that’s what I needed! My body was giving up on me. Two months of nothing but rest was rejuvenating and healing and I came out of that not caring about “the grind culture”. I prioritize rest. Rest is resistance. 

This needs to be on KU so I can read the second book in the trilogy 

I wish we were taught this side of the Harlem Renaissance in school. The Black queer representation would have eye opening and beneficial. George M. Johnson did a wonderful job of telling the story of many black queer folks of that time. I truly learned so much!

A nice introduction to this author. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work 

This book could have used a bit of editing- between numerous spelling errors (even misspelling characters name), grammar (I’m not a person who is picky but it was obvious), and the pace and flow of the story was off as well as the  dialogue f. I kind of skimmed after the 65% mark. 

No real plot but incredibly spicy 🥵 🌶️