Month: Aug 2020

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson review

Thank you for Edelweiss/publishers for sending early review E-arc copy

Review below

Trigger warnings for sexual abuse,assault,Child abuse, opioid addiction, kidnapping, rape

Ooo I need to just have a little think On this one wether it’s a 4 or a 5 because damn this book was so good, I didn’t really know anything going into it (my fav thing to do with books) but when I started reading and got further and further into it, wow what a book this one is.

Grown is definitely full of trigger warnings and I would not go into this novel lightly this features some very upsetting themes and scenes throughout and for sure when I first read the beginning of this book and how it’s path was taking a dark turn I was shocked and definitely caught off guard and from then the story gets darker and darker.

This novel also definitely dealt with issues and themes that are very important and Tiffany D Jackson wrote and dealt with these with care and also showing what does happen when someone with a higher status can and will try and control and manipulate everything.

As our main character is an aspiring singer I loved the songs that get mentioned throughout this book because most of these Songs are some of my all time faves and for sure I had to listen to them once I had finished the novel 🙂 can’t go wrong with the classics.

A very challenging plus flinching story that is not to be taken lightly!! Definitely if you want to read this one please check the trigger warnings on reviews or that feature inside the book before the novel starts.

The death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi review

Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for review

Review below

wow wow wow!!! what a book this one was, powerful from start to finish, so emotional and no spoilers but I just can’t get over that ending 😦 as it states in the synopsis we know that something terrible happens to Vivek Oji and that’s how we start the novel. from the first page I was sucked into this story and with what Emezi does best and we follow few different characters significant to the story and the switch between before and after of this incident that happens. Yes it is about the death of Vivek Oji but its not just that is explores the life of Vivek Oji and the company he kept (his family and friends) and how they treated Vivek with the ongoings of so many societal issues being put into these characters day in and out.

The way that Emezi can just write these stories is mind blowing and they are a force to be reckoned with from their writing and the beautiful prose to the characters and you can feel the emotion just rolling of the page with every novel Emezi writes, and this one did not disappoint. Auto buy author forever and always!!

this book deals with many subject matters that many readers could not want to read about but if you feel you are up for this novel I would recommend so so much!!!

Cemetery boys by Aiden Thomas Review

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Thank you to netgalley/publishers for sending me a E-Arc in exchange for review

Review below

4.5/5 stars

Oh this was everything and more!!

This is a story about a Latinx Trans boy called Yadriel from a Brujxs family who when he came out as trans are not accepting and find it hard to come to terms with. Especially his Father who doesn’t let Yadriel take the ceremony to be come a fully fledged Part of the Brujxs community.

So Yadriel takes it into his own hands to prove to his family that he is ready and why shouldn’t he be aloud to be apart of the community while being the person he wants to be too.

So this starts the trials and tribulations of a long adventure ahead with Yadriel’s best friend Maritza where once they summon a Ghost named Julian a short tempered/caring person under his exterior things get more complicated as Julian wants Yadriel and Maritza to help him find out what happened to him to become a ghost.

This really is such a beautiful book and has some of the best trio of characters (our main three) and the bloom of such a precious friendship. There is a scene with Yadriel and Julian where they share a heart to heart and oh it’s just 😭😭🥰🥰 i can’t deal.

Everyone pick this book up on September 1st and let’s read more and more books about trans character written by Trans author and let’s celebrate and admire these beautiful stories and Authors.

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The black kids by Christina Hammonds Reed review

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK for sending me a copy in exchange for review

Review below

this book was so powerful from start to finish!!! the books message and story is so very important and significant for now and for years to come and stories like these need to be read not just today but everyday, this book was a work of fiction but with real life events and issues that are weaved into this novel.

it explores issues of race, class and violence in the midst of the 1992 Rodney King riots that happened in L.A. when Rodney king was a victim of police brutality and was beaten by the LAPD.

the writing was beautiful and this book does hit you right in the feels for what happening in the book but alongside that what is happening and continuing to happen in the world today! we see Ashley our main character come to terms with everything that is happening and I loved how Christina wrote about Ashleys friendship group and the question of when is the right time to leave a friendship group that is toxic and who don’t actually care about you much. Christina really questions the reader and it just makes you sit and think for so long about certain things/actions.

this book was just amazing and like I said its such an important read that It needs to get read and be given all the love it deserves!! this is one that could impact everyone and now I’ve finished this book I’m going to be sending this book to everyone I know.

4/5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham. Blog tour Review post

Thank you to canongate publishing for the copy in exchange for review and for letting me on the blog tour

Review below

TW: Sexual assault and Abuse

Black Sunday follows four Yoruba siblings in Lagos, Nigeria through the years of 1996-2015 so we are with these characters as they all grow up and stick together when everything around them falls apart. we see our siblings care for each other and try and make a stable life for themselves after Their mother loses her job and Their father makes a huge bet that leaves the family broke and bankrupt.

The siblings are then sent to live with their Yoruba Grandmother and from this we see how our four siblings soon have to become the adults of the house for themselves but also to the siblings too, left with nearly nothing we see all four siblings go through some low times but by being together they all know that when one needs help the other will always be their to help them.

this was a Debut book that packed a lot into its 270 pages size and its definitely not a light and happy Read either. I would recommend this one very much and excited to see what the author does next

4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟