a_libra_library's reviews
253 reviews

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I loved the idea. How the story of Cinderella was used as political propaganda and our main character was ready to dismantle a throne and centuries of ideals.  
However the addition of magic and history and plot twists were too many and muddled the story. Too many lines that kind of lead nowhere. 
I loved the sapphic, black romances and our main character staying true to herself and her people- Sophia is a strong lead and I wish I could read more about her and her love interest after the story was over. 

Kalynn is such an amazing author and building a world or a scene I'm excited for her other works. She's so good at writing gore and haunting moments! 


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Help Me Remember by Corinne Michaels

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

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funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.0


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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5


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The Scottish Billionaire: A Forbidden Boss-Nanny Romance by Vivian Wood

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0


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Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

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emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0


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The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you to  Katherine Tegen Books and Harper Collins and Epic Reads  for this ARC 

This was my first ever Tiffany Jackson book that wasn't a collection of other authors and I loved it. Her writing style, her character felt real and whole through the entire story. I love that she took the story of Carrie and added her voice to it. The plot, the themes, the format- it was so amazing.

A five star read that should be on High school teachers radars! 

This story follows the structure of Carrie (which added to the horror, if you know you know) with a twist. Tiffany  sets our story in a small town in Gregoria in 2014. Maddy Washington is our main character and she's been keeping a few secrets her entire life.  One being she's biracial. After a video of Maddy getting bullied goes viral on twitter the media takes a closer look at the town of Springville, its high school and its history of racism since its one of the few high schools that still hosts segregated Proms. 
In an effort to make peace and prove that Springville isn't as bad as the media makes them out to be   The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date to Prom. 

This story is told  in a sort of a then/now format. There is a podcast that speculates about the event of the prom, Maddy's life, her secrets and the town history, but then you go back in time to read what actually happens. 

Like I said if you know the story of Carrie you may have an idea of what happens next. I truly believe that knowing the story of Carrie and the background of racism in high school will have you on the edge of your seat while reading. I cried, laughed, awhed and threw my arc copy around because I was watching the story unfold. 


P.S, I will be preordering so I can get the epilogue to know what happened after prom. (and the sash) 


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The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

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emotional funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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