The representation in this book is unmatched. Let me list off just the things I *remember* being represented through the series… (‼️Some of these thingsThe representation in this book is unmatched. Let me list off just the things I *remember* being represented through the series… (‼️Some of these things are self discoveries the characters have throughout the series. If you haven’t read them yet, this may be spoilers. Though I don’t think someone’s sexuality should be considered a spoiler but that’s a conversation for another day…)
Charlie is gay, has an ED and extreme anxiety. Nick is bisexual. Tao is Chinese, straight and dating a trans woman. Tori is asexual and heteroromantic. Elle is half Egyptian and a trans woman. Tara is Black and a lesbian. Darcy is a lesbian. Aled is demisexual. Sahar is Arabian, plump and bisexual. Michael is pansexual. Mr. Farouk is Arabic and gay. Mr. Ajayi is Black and gay. Coach Singh is a lesbian (not stated but I believe she is of Indian decent). Otis is Black. Aleena wears a hijab. Jay is nonbinary.
This being my first read of 2024 was such a fantastic idea. I love these characters and this world and the art style and the vibes and EVERYTHING. It’s just so heartwarming.
I can’t recommend this series enough to any and everyone. This will mend your broken heart. I’m a doctor and I know this to be true ...more
I had never heard of this graphic novel before but one of my lovely Patrons sent it to me and wowowowowow do they know me better than myself.
I didn't I had never heard of this graphic novel before but one of my lovely Patrons sent it to me and wowowowowow do they know me better than myself.
I didn't read the summary, just dove right in and I'm so glad I did. The summary spoils too much and I was genuinely surprised by so much of what the summary gives away.
A rich clique of girls that resemble Bunnies or Heathers? Okay, cool, whatever. But they turn out to be werewolves that kill insidious frat boys??? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP! I'm already head over heels. But then you add to that sapphic elements? I'm signed, sealed, delivered.
This had me smiling, gasping, laughing, and clapping.
I adored it and I can't believe it's a standalone. I need MORE!...more
I love rivals to lovers. Angry mutual respect is my SHIT!!
This takes it to a new extreme. Our main character is Nicholas and his life's goal is to beat Seiji (a fencing prodigy) at an epee (battle). No seriously. It's like all he thinks about. He has dreams of winning 'one' game to this guy. Of course Seiji doesn't remember Nicholas at all and continues to discount his entire existence even when they are accepted to the same school and are competing for positions on the fencing team. Oh wait though, it gets so much better. THEY'RE ROOMMATES! Bitch, I can't make this shit up. It's groundbreaking. So hot. So hateful. So good. It IS slow. But I'm loving it so far. I can't wait to continue with the series and see where it goes and how hot it's gonna be when they eventually make out!!! ...more
I adored this. It is so long and I kept entertained and committed the whole way through which I was not anticipating.
The queer representation in this book blew me away. I swear every single character that got a name was queer in this book in some capacity. And it's POLY??? Yes! You heard that right. Polyamory. We truly love to see it.
The illustrations in the book are stunning. The prose are stunning. The narrator is so quirky and intelligent and fun. It felt like an adult version of Lemony Snicket....more
This is so damn cute. I love Frances so damn much. And Sebastian deserves the world. What a beautiful drag queen. They are the sweet cinnamon roll⭐4.5
This is so damn cute. I love Frances so damn much. And Sebastian deserves the world. What a beautiful drag queen. They are the sweet cinnamon rolls this world doesn't deserve but needs.
The illustrations are cozy and beautiful. The characters are poignant and relatable. The storyline is so needed. It resonates so hard with today's societal prejudices that it's astonishing that the setting is Victorian. ...more
This book has been collecting dust on my tbr shelf for over a year. I finally picked it up and binged it in oneI'm giving a YA contemporary 5 stars?!
This book has been collecting dust on my tbr shelf for over a year. I finally picked it up and binged it in one day. I adore it. It has humor, romance, acceptance, compassion, intelligence, friendship, family and independence. It has it all. Also, there is cute little mixed media elements that didn't serve the plot but did make it fun to keep flipping the pages.
If you haven't picked this up yet, it's PRIDE month! Now is your chance!...more
4.5* Loved it. This is the IT/Raven Cycle/Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants story I needed. The representation was BEYOND! This is easily my favorite fem4.5* Loved it. This is the IT/Raven Cycle/Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants story I needed. The representation was BEYOND! This is easily my favorite female/female relationship I’ve ever read (mind you, there aren’t many out there and I have read very few) but I was enamored. Then there is an asexual character written with such understanding and kindness. The horror and the adventure took me for a RIDE. I would love to see this get adapted to a movie or to a series like Stranger Things. ...more
Wow. Wooow. Woooooow. Let's talk about some hard hitting YA fiction! Good lord. The topics in this book go so much deeper and grittier than you'll firWow. Wooow. Woooooow. Let's talk about some hard hitting YA fiction! Good lord. The topics in this book go so much deeper and grittier than you'll first imagine. AHB really dove down into the emotions and realities of what it means to be believed. Do you believe someone because you love them? What if you don't believe someone you love? What then? How much does the truth mean to you? Would you uproot a life you've built and loved for the truth? What if the truth will destroy one person you love but NOT telling that same truth will destroy another person you love? It is complicated and messy and heartbreaking.
Friendship is handled beautifully here. I had so much respect for the characters. The representation is also so solid. The biggest of which being nonbinary, bisexual and lesbian.
I knocked it down half a star because the writing was overly YA to the point of middle grade at times. Namely, how often Harry Potter was discussed or thought about. I mean, WHY? This book was written in 2018. There is plenty of other pop culture references she could have made but she reeeeally stuck to her guns and only mentioned HP. Also, why do so many YA authors choose to rely so heavily on pop culture references? It's like they believe that the only way we'll know what age they are is by their obsession with Lady Gaga or what Hogwarts house colors their wearing. ANYWAY, rant aside...
✨Favorite Quote: "But I was wrong, thinking I can't move on. I can - we all can. I just won't move through the world like I did before. Some parts of me are gone. Some others have come alive, woken by the need to fight, to matter, to be heard. Some parts are wary, others angry, others heartbroken. But I'm still me. I'm still moving. We all are, in some way or another....more
2021: Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/uxymoWMr3QE I reread this for Pride Month and for the release of the fourth volume and OH DEAR LORD am I in absolu2021: Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/uxymoWMr3QE I reread this for Pride Month and for the release of the fourth volume and OH DEAR LORD am I in absolute love with this graphic novel. Have you read it? WHY NOT????!!!!! It's free on Webtoon. So you legitimately have NO EXCUSE. My heart is owned by Nick and Charlie and I owe them everything.
*AUDIO IS THE BEST* An absolute FAVORITE. The inclusion alone had me reeling. It is simple and heartbreaking and beautiful. I couldn’t believe how real*AUDIO IS THE BEST* An absolute FAVORITE. The inclusion alone had me reeling. It is simple and heartbreaking and beautiful. I couldn’t believe how real the characters, situations and conversations were to me. I felt like I knew them. I cared about them. I loved this book....more
2022 January: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This slapped even harder the second time around. Evelyn is THAT bitch. I’m obsessed with her. And Cecelia. They’re so messy and2022 January: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This slapped even harder the second time around. Evelyn is THAT bitch. I’m obsessed with her. And Cecelia. They’re so messy and beautiful. Evelyn is the most loveable unlikeable character. We’re lucky to have her.
2020 August: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Am I the one person on Earth that had no idea what this book was actually about??! Holy shit. I feel like this is what A Little Life was supposed to do to me....more
Put this book in my coffin and bury me with it. This book just GOT me. It hit every note with perfection. I felt seen and heard and rooted for. I have Put this book in my coffin and bury me with it. This book just GOT me. It hit every note with perfection. I felt seen and heard and rooted for. I have never cared about characters so much. I will take a bullet for the lot of them. This might also be the funniest book I’ve ever read. The love story is hands down phenomenal. There are no words to describe it. This is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time. It filled up every space in my heart and will never be far from my mind. Two highlighters went dry while reading this. There are more highlighted sentences than not. I wrote all over this book. I can’t wait for everyone I know to read it. ...more
I have never related to a character as I did with Elio. It shocked and thrilled me. “I lived in the dark so as not to be blinded when darkness came. RI have never related to a character as I did with Elio. It shocked and thrilled me. “I lived in the dark so as not to be blinded when darkness came. Rehearse the pain to dull the pain. Homeopathically.” I can’t believe André Aciman really read me to filth like that. I will say that the romance did not strike me as it has with others. I was not in *love* with this relationship. But I was in love with Elio. So, on a personal level, it deserved at least a 4.5 stars....more
2021: It exceeded all of my expectations. I reread this thinking that it couldn't possibly be a 5 star, much less a favorite. I must have been young a2021: It exceeded all of my expectations. I reread this thinking that it couldn't possibly be a 5 star, much less a favorite. I must have been young and ignorant. No. And yes. I'm trash for this book. This is the fanfiction I always needed. Simon/Baz are EVERYTHING. Natasha and Feona are EVERYTHING. This is a warm apple pie a la mode. This is my type of enemies to lovers. I would highly suggest the audiobook as well because the narrators accent is so fitting for the feelings/tone of this book,
2017: I devoured this book. Good thing it was so long because I didn't want it to end. If you love Harry Potter (and that better be a resounding YES) and you're desperate for another installment, read Carry On. It IS another Harry Potter book in a sense. Technically a knock off but brilliant in its own right. The book is a Harry Potter fan fiction that a character in another Rainbow Rowell book was writing. The idea got such friction that she published it as its own work. And thank god for her. It has just enough blatant Harry Potter references with all the modernism and gay love stories that you never knew you needed. It made me nostalgic for something old but also hopeful for something new. The book might have showed other authors that this kind of story is not beyond their reach and that perhaps someone will attempt to fill our Potter shaped hole. The only complaint I have, and this is not an insult to the author in any way, is Agatha. I didn't like her from start to finish. I got the feeling we were supposed to see ourselves in her because she was indecisive and played things safe. For me, however, she just felt like something to hold all the other characters back. Especially for the fact that none of them seemed to like her very much. They don't speak to her toward the end or follow up with her later in life. The only one that does is Penny and even that relationship didn't make sense to me. Agatha was like a fanfiction's Mary Sue that got booted out of her own story. Which now that I say that, is hilarious and ingenious and thank you Rainbow Rowell....more
This is my second reading of this book and years later it is still absolutely fantastic. It's heart warming and heart breaking. It can be a challenge This is my second reading of this book and years later it is still absolutely fantastic. It's heart warming and heart breaking. It can be a challenge to find a coming of age story that isnt cliche and overly hormonal. This book was realistic to the ages of the characters but that didnt make them difficult to connect with at all. You fall for each weird and wound-up one of them. It has a lot of great life lessons in it that the characters grow from and you get to see that growth with satisfaction....more
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