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mesy_mark's reviews
739 reviews
Gender Euphoria by Laura Kate Dale
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This book looks at a diverse community that is the trans community and those feel joy experience as trans. The essays each one contributed she there is more than trans pain in a trans person. A good book for the community or anyone to read.
Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington, from FDR through Clinton by James Kirchick
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Boy is this a long volume. Covering mainly male homosexuality with the flare of bisexuality as occasion, the 20th century of USA presidents is looked through the queer eye. From president to president, we get exhaustingly detailed aspects of the administration and the climate of gays in America. This 26-hour audiobook is quite a lot to get through and did have me lulled with some boredom at points but I think that is more how political readings tend to bore me more so than the queer content. In the audiobook edition of this book, the narrator's masculine voice has an even and pleasant flow reading over the text. Overall, it was a good deep dive into the gay Washington for me though political reads can only have my interest to a point.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Lara is back in school after her summer with Jasmine catching the eye of Chase after years of crushing. But now Jasmine attends Lara's school and Lara must come to terms with her feelings for Chase and Jasmine.
This is a quick read of bisexual representation. The process of seeing where the heart lies, coming to terms with sexuality, and feeling pulled in two directions. As I listened to this book I felt for Lara questioning what her summer was like and why Chase is finally taking an interest in Lara after so many years of not. Props for the bi rep.
This is a quick read of bisexual representation. The process of seeing where the heart lies, coming to terms with sexuality, and feeling pulled in two directions. As I listened to this book I felt for Lara questioning what her summer was like and why Chase is finally taking an interest in Lara after so many years of not. Props for the bi rep.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an interesting book. For me not knowing latnx history or culture I had difficulties with the use of Spanish having to pick up clues in the English. Overall this book is paced a little slow in the beginning but once hitting that climax I couldn't get enough of this book. Heavily drawn into that portion of the book I made through the rest of it. Overall it was good.
Those Who Wait by Haley Cass
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
3.25
Sutton wants to finish school and find love so as she completes college she joins an app for sapphic relations. In comes Cholette who has been meaning to delete the app and focus on he political campaign. As the two women connect and talk an FWB relation starts.
This is a slow romance. It is well paced for its long length although I thought some of the narrator's voice irritate my ears. i like how it was given a long length to really not make the book feel rushed or a quick insta love component as many romance books go. You really get a look into the characters and motives.
This is a slow romance. It is well paced for its long length although I thought some of the narrator's voice irritate my ears. i like how it was given a long length to really not make the book feel rushed or a quick insta love component as many romance books go. You really get a look into the characters and motives.
Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you want a sex-positive book you found it. Jack is convinced to write a Dear Jack Of Hearts column on his friend's blog about sex and sexuality. At the same time, Jack starts receiving pink notes from a stalker, and the stalker is getting demeaning.
I loved how sex-positive this book was. How confronting stereotype types I was eager with each Jack Of Hearts letter. And wondering how far the stalker will go. The flow of the masculine-sounding narrator's voice was easy to understand. Overall I really liked how this book got into the sexuality of high schoolers, this one being more everyone is doing it end of the spectrum compared to other ya books that hint at sex to have occasional interactions. This book focuses on a teen's active sex life but not in a creepy way.
I loved how sex-positive this book was. How confronting stereotype types I was eager with each Jack Of Hearts letter. And wondering how far the stalker will go. The flow of the masculine-sounding narrator's voice was easy to understand. Overall I really liked how this book got into the sexuality of high schoolers, this one being more everyone is doing it end of the spectrum compared to other ya books that hint at sex to have occasional interactions. This book focuses on a teen's active sex life but not in a creepy way.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
2.0
For a memior, this just doesn't work as one. Yes, the author is going into her abusive relationship but I didn't get a sense of her through the text. We got the second person You... when recounting the abuse back to the first person. We get that the loo in on abusive relationships in the queer community is lacking (and she just sticks to the L of the spectrum as that is what she went through) Dream House as a metaphor for the relationship as a whole was interesting along with the other flowery langue used in this book. With a memoir I want tit feel for the author's experience and this book did not provide.
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Art and Gwen are poised to marry each other whether they like it or not. This queer duo finds out each other secrets and uses them as cover for them to pursue their same-sex desires. Set in the times of King Arthur it is a historical rom=com.
I listened to this book through the audiobook and found it cute. You get to see the pair slowly start to care for each other as each pursues the love they want kept secret. Ye old closet for protection. This book has many light components to it as the torment for the knights are competing in being watched by the village and King and Queen along with their daughter Gwen who is in love with the only female knight. As the tournament progresses so does the tension.
I liked how Briddgett kept to her passion and defied the norm of only male knights. And her acknowledgment that she liked Gwen. I liked how Aurther and Gwen had this banter and antagonized each other throughout the book but still cared for each other in the end. The narrators' voices were distinct (one was masculine and the other feminine) to separate the POVs from each other.
All and all a good listen to queered up knights in the distant past
I listened to this book through the audiobook and found it cute. You get to see the pair slowly start to care for each other as each pursues the love they want kept secret. Ye old closet for protection. This book has many light components to it as the torment for the knights are competing in being watched by the village and King and Queen along with their daughter Gwen who is in love with the only female knight. As the tournament progresses so does the tension.
I liked how Briddgett kept to her passion and defied the norm of only male knights. And her acknowledgment that she liked Gwen. I liked how Aurther and Gwen had this banter and antagonized each other throughout the book but still cared for each other in the end. The narrators' voices were distinct (one was masculine and the other feminine) to separate the POVs from each other.
All and all a good listen to queered up knights in the distant past
Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A slow burn romance of a nonbinary Mexican American and an undocumented Mexican. As I listened to this book, I thought not much was going to happen, but then it picks up in areas before going back to a slow burn.
Ander is nonbinary artist who took a gap year off before college. They meet Santi who works in Ander (aka Aj) family's restaurant. Aj is warned by his mom not to get involved with Santu but he does anyway. ICES is making rounds and so AJ finds out that the young man they love is undocumented. They keep up the romance.
The cast of characters shows strong family/community ties, love in hard circumstances, and tough choices as much as I liked the book I am not a huge fan of what AJ does. And at other times I thought the story dragged on too much at other points. But I was glad to get through it as it was a touching book.
Ander is nonbinary artist who took a gap year off before college. They meet Santi who works in Ander (aka Aj) family's restaurant. Aj is warned by his mom not to get involved with Santu but he does anyway. ICES is making rounds and so AJ finds out that the young man they love is undocumented. They keep up the romance.
The cast of characters shows strong family/community ties, love in hard circumstances, and tough choices as much as I liked the book I am not a huge fan of what AJ does. And at other times I thought the story dragged on too much at other points. But I was glad to get through it as it was a touching book.