Quick Take: Explore my End of Year Book Tag, diving into unread gems on my shelves, and my 2023 TBR priorities, including a book I’ve owned for ten years!
(more…)The End of Year Book Tag: 2023
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Frustrating and Unconvincing: Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: June 14, 2020
<strong>Synopsis</strong>
In this charming and poignant novel, teenager Emmie Blue releases a balloon with her email address and a big secret into the sky, only to fall head-over-heels for the boy who finds it; now, fourteen years later, the one thing Emmie has been counting on is gone for good, and everything she planned is up in the air.
At sixteen, Emmie Blue stood in the fields of her school and released a red balloon into the sky. Attached was her name, her email address…and a secret she desperately wanted to be free of. Weeks later, on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau discovered the balloon and immediately emailed the attached addressed, sparking an intense friendship between the two teens.
Now, fourteen years later, Emmie is hiding the fact that she’s desperately in love with Lucas. She has pinned all her hopes on him and waits patiently for him to finally admit that she’s the one for him. So dedicated to her love for Lucas, Emmie has all but neglected her life outside of this relationship—she’s given up the search for her absentee father, no longer tries to build bridges with her distant mother, and lives as a lodger to an old lady she barely knows after being laid off from her job. And when Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask her, she’s convinced this is the moment he’ll reveal his feelings for her. But nothing in life ever quite goes as planned, does it?
Emmie Blue is about to learn everything she thinks she knows about life (and love) is just that: what she thinks she knows. Is there such thing as meant to be? Or is it true when they say that life is what happens when you are busy making other plans? A story filled with heart and humor, Dear Emmie Blue is perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Evvie Drake Starts Over.
<strong>Ending</strong>
HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Biracial supporting character
• Lesbian supporting character
• Lesbian supporting character
<strong>Possible Triggers:</strong> Yes
• Sexual assault (referenced and inferred but never described)
• Death of loved one from cancer
• Bullying
• Parental abandonment
• Betrayal (A trusted person saying that the Heroine is to blame for her assault)
• Death of loved one from cancer
• Bullying
• Parental abandonment
• Betrayal (A trusted person saying that the Heroine is to blame for her assault)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exception
• No cheating
• Does have OM drama (kind of a love triangle situation)
• Does have OW (both the love interests have significant others… so the Heroine is kind of the OW in this big 😅)
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing each other away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Does have OM drama (kind of a love triangle situation)
• Does have OW (both the love interests have significant others… so the Heroine is kind of the OW in this big 😅)
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing each other away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3/5 stars
(more…)Crucial and Authentic: Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: January 21, 2020
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles spotlights the consequences of societal pressure, confronts toxic masculinity, and explores the complexity of what it means to be a “real man.”
Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge.
His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del’s not about to lose his dream girl, and that’s where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers’ questions…about sex ed.
With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can’t think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it’ll all sort itself out. Right?
<strong>Ending</strong>
HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Black main character
• Black supporting characters
• Black side characters
• Gay supporting character
• Black supporting characters
• Black side characters
• Gay supporting character
<strong>Possible Triggers:</strong> Yes
• Slut-shaming
• Discussion of r@pe and sexual assault
• Discussion of r@pe and sexual assault
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Sex, including unprotected sex
• Masturbation
• Porn
• Teen pregnancy
• Underaged drinking
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Masturbation
• Porn
• Teen pregnancy
• Underaged drinking
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4/5 stars
(more…)Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: June 10, 2017
<strong>Synopsis</strong>
Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas.
The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional.
Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect.
What she didn’t count on was falling in love with the guy.
<strong>Ending</strong>
HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Hispanic main and supporting characters
• Gay side characters
• MM side couple
• Attempts to address fatphobia… but doesn’t do it successfully.
• Gay side characters
• MM side couple
• Attempts to address fatphobia… but doesn’t do it successfully.
<strong>Possible Triggers:</strong> No
• No abuse.
• No OTT sad parts.
• No OTT sad parts.
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama:
– Hero has had 20+ ex-lovers (so he was very promiscuous in the past)
– Hero and Heroine weren’t a couple ’til the end, so OW would constantly flirt with the Hero and he wouldn’t put a stop to it. The Heroine would get very upset and jealous as a result.
– Heroine was hung up on her brother’s BFF–they had sex but the OM said it was a mistake and to not tell her family the next day. The Heroine, as a result, has not dated or had sex since.
– The Hero convinced the Heroine to date in their letter exchanges. Those dates with OM never went further than a first date and kiss.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a significant separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Does have OW/OM drama:
– Hero has had 20+ ex-lovers (so he was very promiscuous in the past)
– Hero and Heroine weren’t a couple ’til the end, so OW would constantly flirt with the Hero and he wouldn’t put a stop to it. The Heroine would get very upset and jealous as a result.
– Heroine was hung up on her brother’s BFF–they had sex but the OM said it was a mistake and to not tell her family the next day. The Heroine, as a result, has not dated or had sex since.
– The Hero convinced the Heroine to date in their letter exchanges. Those dates with OM never went further than a first date and kiss.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a significant separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 1.5/5 stars
(more…)Getting Over Your Ex… Teen Edition
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Breaking up and getting over your ex is very common. However, it’s especially difficult when you’re still in love with them. Here are some fabulous books featuring unrequited love and self-love that centre moving on and prioritizing yourself.
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