Recent Reads #42

I’ve linked here the Black Lives Matter Carrd to support, but also here is a list of resources to aid Anti-Racism work in the UK, as well as UK specific places to donate to. I will be doing this on every post. If you have the funds to donate, please do but if not, please support and uplift Black voices and sign the petitions. Also, here are links to Carrds talking about many of the world’s current events and how you can help.

Last year, I renamed ‘Weekly’ Wrap-Ups to Recent Reads, as I feel like that reflects the timescale between posts more accurately!

As ever, today I will be briefly reviewing all the books I’ve read since my last post in approximately fifty words. This post also explains my concept of ‘The Chosen Ones’ to highlight my favourite books in each post!

Some of these books either aren’t released yet or I want to write a full review of in the future, so I’ll just have a quick thought with the full review to come!

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Five Little Liars by Amanda K Morgan

⭐️ 🧠🏳️‍🌈

Morgan pulls out some interesting twists and turns throughout the story, but she still leaves room for character exploration and development. These two factors are always kept well balanced, as while the central mystery is explored, the individual mysteries of each character are gradually pulled back and revealed. 

However, I did have some issues with the depiction of mental illness and bisexuality, as I felt like they perpetuated harmful stereotypes.

Full review here.

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

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Something To Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

⭐️ 🏳️‍🌈

I really enjoyed this slow burn contemporary romance. The writing was really engaging and enjoyable to read, making me fly through the pages. I also really liked how Wilsner handled sexual harassment in the industry. Generally, it was an entertaining read and I’d be on the lookout for what Wilsner writes next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

⭐️ 🧠

You absolutely need to pick up this incredible book this summer, with its sadly timely and relevant coming of age tale that delves into family, police brutality, racism and friendship. It’s such a character-driven story (which is always my kryptonite).

Full review here.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao

⭐️ 🏳️‍🌈

I absolutely loved American Panda and when I discovered that Chao had a new book, I had to pick it up!

This has such a gorgeous romance, but the primary focus is on Ali and the complex relationships she has with her family. Identity is the key theme of the book and the way Ali’s story intertwines with that of The Butterfly Lovers (a Chinese folktale retold here through the lens of the 19th century) is just so beautiful.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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What Happened That Night by Deanna Cameron

I went into this expecting a dark murder mystery and while I got some interesting twists and turns, it really underwhelmed me. The motives and twisted love triangle were really not good and some of the scenes were incredibly hard to read. Huge trigger warnings for abuse, stalking and rape.

⭐⭐

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

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This Is My America by Kim Johnson

⭐️ 🧠

This was an incredibly gripping and impactful book, with an incisive, searing look into the unjust nature of the justice system, balanced with a really good whodunnit. A true powerhouse of a book.

Full review here.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee

⭐️ 🧠🏳️‍🌈

I really, really loved this uplifting YA contemporary, but it tackles tough issues like fatphobia and the rocky road to body positivity in such a frank and inspiring fashion. Skye is such a brilliant MC and the romance that blossoms is so adorable & very shippable. I also loved how both Skye and her LI were bi and their relationship made them no less bi, which was so affirming and positive to read. A real burst of sunshine that you should definitely add to your shelf.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

⭐️ 🧠🏳️‍🌈

This is a book that you will be thinking about long after the final page. It’s insightful, powerful, emotional and deeply raw, creating an intense and brilliant memoir-manifesto that is sorely needed. Johnson writes in such a beautiful way that leaves such an impression on the reader.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

⭐️ 🧠

This is another slow burning, quietly unsettling Gothic tale that gradually dials up the creepiness to horrifying reveals. This dark and twisted tale is wrapped up in some of the most sumptuous writing, where you can really tell that Silvia has seriously honed her craft to near perfection.

Full review here.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan

🧠🏳️‍🌈⭐️

I will start this review by clarifying that this is not some fluffy, cute romance. This is a heavy book, focusing a lot on co-dependency issues and mental health, which takes it to some tough and dark places at times. Dugan has created a really good story though, with a fresh and interesting take on Romeo and Juliet. Also, the sheer amount of LGBT+ characters and the way that this is normalised is just exquisite.

Full review here.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala

⭐️

This is essential reading.

It tears apart the insidious racism within Britain and across the world, often discussing how class and race intersect and influence one another. It dissects the systematic racism prevalent in our country and places it within the historical context of imperialism, fact-checking many of our upheld myths of liberalism along the way.

A fantastic, educational and insightful book that everyone should read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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Loveless by Alice Oseman

⭐️ 🧠🏳️‍🌈

I am a massive fan of Oseman’s work and have been for a while, but Loveless is her best book yet for me.

Full review to come.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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The Chosen Ones:

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