The biggest thing being certain views that are mentioned and discussed in regard to autism and ADHD. Certain characters seem to think that those disorders are 'problems' or something that needs to be cured. And there are two different people who think like that, and that viewpoint is just incorrect. That's not to say that autistic and ADHD people don't have their challenges, and it's not to say that they don't sometimes struggle because of their diagnosis, but it's not something that needs a cure, ~ I came across a very important quote at the end of the book. "However you feel about who you are is okay. It's not for other people to decide your worth or how much space you take up." And I think that encapsulates a key point. If the individual wants medication or therapy to manage their neurodivergent traits, then they can. But it isn't necessary if the individual doesn't want it. And it's okay to have moments when you wish you didn't have autism or ADHD. And it's okay if sometimes you wish you functioned differently. I have those moments myself. But you don't have to change yourself for people to like you. The people who matter will accept, understand and love you exactly as you are. The way that Adrien and Cora do. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #middlegrade #sciencefiction #scifi #contemporary #childrensfiction #youngadultfiction #autism #asd #autismspectrumdisorder #autisticcharacter #neurodivergentcharacter #autisticauthor #showuswhoyouare #ellemcnicoll #blues2024reads
I really enjoyed this book and got absorbed by it very quickly despite my initial uncertainty as to what I was going to make of it as it's not a genre I tend to read very often, though not through lack of enjoyment of it. I didn't notice any spelling or grammar related issues with regard to its editing. Within a chapter I knew I wanted to continue reading, I got drawn in by the lovably confused, jock-type who is our main character, Ethan. I was intrigued to see where it could go and I also wanted to find out more about the backgrounds to each of these characters, the ways that they could interplay and work with each other. I can't say I was disappointed with what I found. Sometimes the dialogue was alright, it took a little getting used to personally, however, that isn't a bad thing. I found the plot to be engaging and it was like a physical hook at times, taking me along for the ride. There were scenes where the team were bonding with each other, and outside of work where Buck would be with his husband, or when Ethan was with his family, and those I found to be a little slow, but it didn't take away from the story as it was separate to the main investigation that was occurring in the workplace. Sometimes slow scenes can enhance the pacing within other aspects. ~ Ultimately, I became thoroughly immersed in the story and invested in the lives of the characters, and I eagerly await the next instalment of the antics of these characters and their next adventures. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookblogger #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #queerread #lgbt #gay #achillean #mystery #darkcomedy #satiricalfiction #adultfiction #NRDS #nationalrecentlydeceasedservices #jprindfleisch #jeffelkins #blues2024reads
I enjoyed this one a lot, but I expected nothing less because I've enjoyed every book I've read from this author before. ~ The outcome of the plot was something I saw coming. It was slightly predictable in that regard, but that's not a mark against the book or any real problem, it's just something I've seen a lot before. That doesn't make it a bad concept though. ~ I did really like that there was a range of neurodivergent characters though, several of whom were autistic and presented that in different ways. I also liked that there were various different queer identities represented too. ~ Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was a very enjoyable experience and a lovely light-hearted read. • Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #netgalley #queerread #lgbt #sapphic #transgender #transgenderauthor #autism #youngadult #yaromance #romance #contemporary #thesummerlovestrategy #raystoeve #blues2024reads
There are a multitude of trigger warnings associated with this poetry collection, so I would advise finding them on the author's Instagram page rather than me trying to list them all. ☆ ☆ Sometimes with novels and works of prose, I find that if there are trigger warnings, instead of warning me against picking the book up, I'm more likely to read them. And I think the reason behind this is that certain topics and ideas make me feel seen, validated and understood in my experiences. ~ One particular poem really stuck with me, and that's the 'Who Can I Talk To' poem. And one particular verse really made sense to me. "Typing a text, my fingers hover over the screen, maybe they’re busy they probably don’t want to hear from me they won’t care about my random thoughts they might get annoyed by my question" ~ Overall, I think these poems were well worth the read, and for anyone who has experienced similar things, you may relate to some of these poems. • Thank you to BookSirens and author M.D Robins for sending me an ARC copy of this book.. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #booksirens #queerread #lgbt #mentalhealth #poetry #poetrycollection #freeversepoetry #transgenderauthor #therapysession #mdrobins #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Not Here to Stay Friends include: divorced parents, infidelity, manipulation, drowning, toxic relationships. ☆ ☆ The book starts with our main character Sloane going to visit her best friend Luke in LA. And there is a reality TV show being filmed starring an actor from an already popular fictional show. And Luke has been forced into being a PA on the show. And suddenly Sloane is now one of the contestants because of a mix up. ~ The concept is similar to that of The Bachelor or Love Island, only for young adults and therefore it's more family friendly. ~ Sloane is very awkward, and who wouldn't be when they're a) meeting an actor from their favourite TV show, and b) when their first interaction with said actor is calling them names when they don't know the other person has heard them. ~ I don't quite know what my thoughts are with this book. It was good, and as someone who doesn't watch reality TV because I don't find it realistic and don't enjoy it, this was alright. Similarly, this was a book where I liked the friends to lovers trope. However, that being said, I think it relied a lot on Sloane and Luke's knowledge and understanding of each other, and barely explored those deeper feelings as a shared experience. And it annoyed me a little that her show love interest (who's name I just cannot remember for the life of me) constant asks Liam for ways to win Sloane over rather than talking to Sloane herself and getting that information from her. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #yaromance #youngadult #contemporary #romance #contemporaryromance #realisticfiction #audiobook #notheretostayfriends #kaitlynhill #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Keedie include: ableism, institutionalised ableism, bullying and arguments. ☆ ☆ I apologise in advance for how potentially terrible this review may be, words are a little tricky at the moment. My feelings about Keedie as the book aren't much different to what I expressed about A Kind of Spark, and as of writing this I'm eagerly awaiting the release of series two of the TV programme. There were several points over the course of this book where I felt emotions, either because of the events themselves, or because of my own similar experiences. ~ By the end of this book, I was definitely thinking Mr Allison is the kind of teacher, and the kind of person who just seems to inherently understand autism, and ways to understand and motivate autistic people. He gave Keedie the book and told her to do her speech on the founder because he saw what other teachers perhaps didn't want to see. And again as I mentioned in my review for AKOS, Mr Allison felt really familiar, like a teacher I had in school, who I felt understood me, and could joke with me and we got on well. ~ I'm very glad that more autistic characters and more diverse neurodivergent representation exists in the literary space. I think that regardless of the age someone is diagnosed, or even whether they get diagnosed, that representation still matters. Being able to see an aspect of your identity within the literature you choose to read is important, whether that's younger children or teenagers or adults. Representation never stops being important. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #fiction #contemporary #autisticcharacters #disability #autism #autismspectrumdisorder #autisticauthor #ownvoices #youngadult #middlegrade #realisticfiction #akindofspark #keedie #ellemcnicoll #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Shadowless include: instances of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, anxiety, depression, fatphobic comments; concerns about body weight; vomiting, blood, violence, death, and near-death experiences. ☆ ☆ I can only apologise to the author for how long it's taken me to read this book. It's nothing to do with the book and everything to do with me. That being said, once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. ~ “The two are on the same level of importance to me.” I love this quote from Marcus. It's the same way I feel too. Romantic relationships and platonic friendships for me are on the same plane for me. I value my friends the same as I would any potential relationship. ~ I can also relate to Adrianne in terms of her mental health struggles, and Rin to an extent too. It made me feel I guess validated, but also seen, because when it comes to attempts, or self injury, whether it's a current or past struggle with it, it can affect someone for a long time, and it felt nice to see that represented. • QOTD: Do you read books with mental health content? • Thank you to author B Joyce for sending me an ARC copy of this book. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #arcreview #arcreader #youngadult #lgbt #queerread #contemporary #mentalhealth #shadowless #bjoyce #blues2024reads
This book is interesting, and it covers things that people might not necessarily think about. The tone means that it explains things in a way that means academic people and non-academic people can understand what's being said. ~ I do agree that thinking about autism and neurodivergent conditions as being a deficit can be detrimental, and using pathologising language can sometimes be harmful. But at the same time I think that we need to allow people to identity in whatever way feels right for them. ~ Some people do consider autism or ADHD or other neurodivergent diagnoses to be disabilities because it impaires their functioning ability in their day to day life. The CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) defines a disability as " any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions)." Therefore things like Autism, ADHD, OCD all do fall into that definition. Not everyone is going to consider those things to disable them, and some people will, and I personally think that people should have the information to decide for themselves how they identify and how they define their experience. • QOTD: What's a fact you know about autism? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #nonfiction #science #psychology #psychiatry #autismrepresentation #autismacceptance #worldautismmonth #neuroqueerheresies #nickwalker #blues2024reads
The Loki: A Bad God's Guide series is a middle grade series following, as you'd expect, Loki, who is a god of lies, trickery and mischief. In these stories you will also find Thor, who is a god of thunder and storms. There are also Heimdall (god of brightness) and Hyrrokkin (a giantess) who act as Thor (Thomas) and Loki's (Liam's) parents while they are on Midguard (which we know as Earth). ~ In this book Loki goes rouge. His 'parents' go on a holiday, so Thor's brother comes down from Asgard to babysit them. This causes Loki to feel envy over the fact that Thor gets on with his brother Baldur, so he stops trying to be good and make better choices. ~ The story then progresses into a tale of Loki trying out for the school play, and being upset and hurt that he gets cast as the bad character, and deciding that if no one believes he can change anyway what's the point in trying to. This then spirals into chaos and Loki making a lot of bad decisions. • QOTD: Do you know any statistics about autism? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #belessloki #lokibooks #childrensbooks #middlegrade #norsemythology #lokiabadgodsguide #louiestowell #blues2024reads
While I didn't exactly relate to this book, I really understand why it was written and I love that these children were funded to tell their story. ~ One element that stood out to me was the fact that M socially changed her name and while people didn't necessarily understand why, they accepted it at the point where she stopped responding to anything else. ~ I can to some degree understand how M's autism affected the family and the strain it put on her relationship with her mother. However, there are definitely ways to work with the things M doesn't like so that the mother still gets the same comfort and M doesn't get made to feel discomfort. ~ I also to some extent agree with what M's counsellor said about how autism labels people, and that while for some people that label is important, it isn't the whole of them. They are autistic and so much more than that. There are so many more aspects to someone's identity and personality than just being autistic. • QOTD: What's your favourite piece of autism representation in books? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #autismrepresentation #autismacceptance #worldautismmonth #misforautism #vickymartin #blues2024reads
One thing I'll note is that I listened to this as an audiobook, and when I check the tags on Goodreads and saw it was an adult book I was quite confused. To me it read more like a middle grade or young adult book than an adult one, but that's my perspective. ~ Enjoyed is an interesting word to use when it comes to murder mystery books, but I did. I was surprised by every element, I didn't see any of it coming (that may have something to do with the frequency at which I read thrillers and mystery books though). ~ I do sometimes like having morally grey characters, and having Ernest be the narrator really helped with the how clues could be pieced together. In some mystery books and crime shows the investigator just comes to the conclusion of who committed the crime but doesn't really explain how. Whereas here Ernest explained it before he revealed it in a way that I really liked. ~ I also just really liked the pacing and the scene setting, both for the ski resort and also every other murder scene, and the characters made it all fun. • QOTD: Do you read thrillers? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #mystery #thriller #crime #mystery #everyoneinmyfamilyhaskilledsomeone #benjaminstevenson #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Real Queer America include: Mormonism, alcohol, cursing, drugs, discussions around homophobia, transphobia & racism; self harm & suicide attempts & politics. ☆ ☆ This book was enlightening. I'll admit I don't know a great deal when it comes to American politics or the political system. But in saying that, I don't exactly understand the British political system either. What I do know however, is that neither country is particularly politically safe for transgender or queer people. ~ Something that came up quite frequently in this book was bathroom bills trying to be pushed into law. This is something the UK is also attempting to do too, and it's scary. Everyone deserves the right to use the bathroom in peace and not be harassed. And as someone commented in the book, many women would prefer a transgender woman be in the bathroom with them than a predatory man, which is what some politicians and anti-lgbt people are trying to paint it as. ~ Something I did find quite interesting is where religion plays a role in this book. Some of the transgender people the author met and spoke to were still an active part of their faith, and others, including the author herself, were not. Often people who are very religious can feel like a threat for queer people, and sometimes they legitimately are, but that's not always the case and that's something this book showed quite nicely. • QOTD: What topic do you read in non fiction? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #queer #adult #nonfiction #queernonfiction #transgenderauthor #realqueeramerica #samanthaallen #blues2024reads
Well, first off, this book made me ugly cry over the last few chapters, so I'd definitely say that it's a well written book, and very emotive. I really got attached to the characters, and invested in their lives. ~ I really liked the relationships in here, and how realistic they felt. How Aerys felt hurt by Flint and stopped speaking to him. How September got so consumed by her work and burying her feelings that she fell off the grid with her friends. ~ The Half-Life of Love takes this rather depressing and morbid thought and tells the story of two young people, who are facing the challenges of this interesting and unusual phenomenon and deals with it in a bittersweet emotional yet heartfelt manner that leaves an ache in your heart, thankful for the time we could have and remorseful for all the time that could have been. • QOTD: What would you do if you knew exactly how long was left of your life? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #yaromance #youngadult #contemporary #sciencefiction #scifi #fantasy #death #family #mentalhealth #highschool #thehalflifeoflove #briannabourne #blues2024reads
I recently read Pride and Prejudice and The City, and I feel that the message this story was trying to convey was similar to that of that one. The idea that the person you want or think that you want probably isn't the person you're supposed to be with. It's the person you're not considering, or the person you don't think you're meant to have. ~ This story focuses on the life of Tommy who works at a retirement home serving food for the residents. Through the story we also learn a little about his best friend Ava, and about his crush Gabe. ~ Tommy enjoys spending his free time baking, which was something he used to share with his father before he died. His dad also went to a famous cooking school, but didn't finish his time there, so it's something Tommy also wants to do for his dad. ~ This story had a lot of moments of either miscommunication or just bad communication, or sometimes, no communication. I did enjoy the way the book ended, but there were definitely parts that could've been avoided or fixed more easily with more efficient communication. • QOTD: What are your thoughts on soulmates? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #queerread #gay #yaromance #youngadult #lgbt #contemporary #highschool #loseyoutofindme #erikjbrown #blues2024reads
The Loki: A Bad God's Guide series is a middle grade series following, as you'd expect, Loki, who is a god of lies, trickery and mischief. In these stories you will also find Thor, who is a god of thunder and storms. There are also Heimdall (god of brightness) and Hyrrokkin (a giantess) who act as Thor (Thomas) and Loki's (Liam's) parents while they are on Midguard (which we know as Earth). ~ In this book Loki learns of the emotion of envy. He feels envious of his friend Valerie having other friends. ~ When Thor has a birthday party at their mortal house, he forgets to hide his hammer properly and it gets taken. He then (of course) blames Loki for stealing it, it's in his nature after all. Only Loki is telling the truth this time, he really didn't take it. ~ The story then progresses into a tale of Loki and Valerie trying to figure out who took Thor's hammer. And Loki tries to understand why he's feeling envious of Valerie's new friend. • QOTD: Do you read middle grade? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #belessloki #lokibooks #childrensbooks #middlegrade #norsemythology #lokiabadgodsguide #louiestowell #blues2024reads
The one slightly negative thing I'll say about this book is that I wish there was more to it. I wish that there was a better conclusion to Grayson's story. ~ Something I personally feel is that there needs to be more stories generally that feature or focus on trans characters, but I think there definitely needs to be more of that in middle grade, because queer people aren't a concept that needs to be kept away from, or hidden from a children, it can be talked about, just in an age appropriate fashion. ~ One thing I will say is that I to some extent agree with Grayson's aunt about Mr Finnegan, and the fact that he did perhaps cross the line and blur the boundaries. However, within theatre and the history of it, males were cast for female roles all the time, I think it was more uncommon to see females cast in those roles. I think perhaps there did need to be more discussion around Grayson taking on that role, and that it wasn't solely his decision, but it wasn't wrong to see how much Grayson enjoyed it, and be more inclined to allow that child to do it. ~ Sometimes teachers do get to see both the academic and personal sides of their students lives, and that isn't a problem. Sometimes the lines do get slightly blurred. As long as nothing inappropriate or illegal is going on, it isn't inherently wrong. • QOTD: Do you read books with trans characters? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #queerread #transgender #middlegrade #lgbt #contemporary #middleschool #transrightsreadathon2024 #gracefullygrayson #amipolonsky #blues2024reads
The Loki: A Bad God's Guide series is a middle grade series following, as you'd expect, Loki, who is a god of lies, trickery and mischief. In these stories you will also find Thor, who is a god of thunder and storms. There are also Heimdall (god of brightness) and Hyrrokkin (a giantess) who act as Thor (Thomas) and Loki's (Liam's) parents while they are on Midgard (which we know as Earth). ~ This series is just a light-hearted children's series of books about gods trying to fit in as mortal children in school. It is also about Loki trying to reform himself and be a better god and person and at least reduce his trickery. ~ I enjoyed this book rather a lot. It didn't make me have to think very hard, which is sometimes a quality I prefer in books. Sometimes I want a book that has very simple concepts that don't make my brain work. • QOTD: Do you know much about Norse mythology? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #belessloki #lokibooks #childrensbooks #middlegrade #norsemythology #lokiabadgodsguide #louiestowell #blues2024reads
I truly don't understand why I read this book quite honestly. It was a book I just picked up off the main bookshelf and decided to read it when my phone wasn't working. ~ The main premise of it is a girl who is a little wild, and her step-mother and her father don't know what to do with her anymore, so they send her to Christian week camp so they can go away on holiday. ~ It was a quick read for me, but I didn't really enjoy it exactly. I'm not religious and I can't personally understand being religious at all, therefore the whole book just didn't make sense and I don't know why I even picked it up after I read the blurb synopsis. • QOTD: What’s your astrological sign? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #youngadult #romance #contemporary #realisticfiction #religion #disability #chicklit #everythingbeautiful #simmonehowell #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Queens of Geek include: ableism & ableist language; biphobia, misogyny, fatphobia & body shaming; slut shaming, aphobic language, gaslighting, cheating (infidelity), anxiety & panic attacks; alcohol consumption and bullying. ☆ ☆ There's been a quote I found while reading this book that's just been repeating on a loop in my head since I finished it. That quote is: “People need to know that it's called a spectrum for a reason. Everyone on it is different and is affected differently. I'm what some would call 'high functioning' or 'mild', but I can tell you, it certainly doesn't feel mild to me.” ~ This book isn't solely about being autistic, however that's all I've been thinking about in connection to it. The quote above feels very similar to one in A Kind of Spark: “It's mild to you and every other heartless soul in this village, Nina, it's not mild to me. It's not mild to Addie! It's mild to you because we make it so, at great personal cost!” ~ Something that I think some neurotypical and allistic people find difficult to understand is that an autistic person's experience of their autism doesn't feel the same as what's shown to others. Queens of Geek uses the term Asperger's, which is no longer used in the diagnosis of autism, which felt a little uncomfortable for me personally, however it was published several years ago at a time when it was used, which makes sense. I really related to this book and that scene in particular because I would be considered 'mild' or 'high-functioning' to people who don't know me because I'm high masking and lived for a long time not knowing I was autistic. • QOTD: Do you know anyone who is autistic? Or are you autistic yourself? (It's perfectly okay for the answer to be no.) * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #yafiction #youngadult #youngadultfiction #contemporary #autisticcharacters #autisticbooks #queensofgeek #jenwilde #blues2024reads
This book was very different to anything I've read before. And this is also the first time I'm reading from this author too, though I have other books from them on my TBR. ~ I don't know whether I actually understood much of what was being said throughout the book, I won't lie. I think sometimes this is why I don't find nonfiction books to be entirely accessible for me because I don't always understand the content in them. But that's not the fault of the book nor the author, that's an issue with myself. ~ Overall, I think that this book was very informative about issues I personally don't have a lot of knowledge on. • QOTD: Who is your favourite musician? (It can be a band or solo artist) * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #nonfiction #essays #autobiography #memoir #creativeessay #2spirit #transgenderauthor #makinglovewiththeland #joshuawhitehead #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for This is How You Lose the Time War include: animal killing, gore, rape, self harm, suicide, torture, war & violence. ☆ ☆ Science fiction is not in my repertoire of typical genres. And that tends to be because I don't find them very easy to follow. And that's definitely true of this book. ~ I got to halfway through it and still didn't understand what was actually happening. And by the end of the book I just just as lost as I was in chapter one. ~ All I know of this book is that there are two agents, Blue and Red. And eventually they come to fall in love with each other, and the story is largely told in letters to each other. But that's as much as I could tell you about it. ~ I'm glad I read it, it allowed to me branch out from what I usually read, which is a good thing. Would I read more of this style of sci-fi, probably not. But it was interesting nonetheless. • QOTD: What are your thoughts on science fiction as a genre? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #romance #sciencefiction #scifi #sciencefictionfantasy #scififantasy #fantasy #romance #timetravel #thisishowyoulosethetimewar #amalelmohtar #maxgladstone #blues2024reads
I think personally, I'd have to read the rest of the series to be able to understand this novella honestly. ~ This book is the first of the Wicked Six series. It was very intriguing and I kinda wish it was longer so I could find out more. ~ I really enjoyed the mystery element and the journalistic slant that this book had. I was very impressed with it. I got really invested in the characters for such a short book. • QOTD: What are your thoughts on murder mystery books? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #murder #murdermystery #novella #thriller #miaisthefirsttodie #margotdrewdelaney #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for All Tea, No Shade and a Bit of Murder include: immigration systems, oppression, financial crime, death, transphobia, queerphobia and queer hate. ☆ ☆ I finished this book in the early hours of this morning because I just couldn't put it down. ~ When the reveal happen, I was shocked. It didn't feel like that person could have done what they did, except that that's exactly what happened. ~ As with every book I've read from this series, I still get surprised that these women are capable of what they do. They're all in their later years, and typically when you think of someone of that age, you think of kind natured, lovely grannies, you maybe think of them slipping money into your hand, or giving you sweets. You don't think of murder. ~ The one character I particularly want to focus on here is Madge. She's lovely. She can be a little intense, she never has bad intentions, but she sometimes puts her foot in it. In this book, when it came to the drag artists, she really had difficulty with getting the pronouns correct, which I can somewhat understand as it depends on the person, and some drag performers use the same pronouns both in and out of drag, and some use different ones. And when it came to Baz, there were a couple of moments where she didn't necessarily say the right thing, but apologised for it, and learnt from what she was told. ~ Ultimately, for a series where murder is one of the forefront elements of it, I've loved every single book. And this one was no exception • QOTD: What's your best memory? • Thank you to BookSirens for sending me an ARC copy of this book. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #queerread #lgbt #mystery #murdermystery #yafiction #youngadult #vigalauntiejustice #allteanoshadeandabitofmurder #elliotthay #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Lost in the Never Woods include: alcohol, anxiety, trauma & flashbacks; blood, grief & loss; death of a children; murder, gun violence, kidnapping, children disappearing and a car accident. ☆ ☆ This was an intriguing book. Until it happened, I had no idea what was really going on. The plot was engaging, the characters were likeable for the most part. I liked it. ~ The ending and what happened to Wendy's brothers really took me off guard. But the way that it was portrayed how Wendy had no memory of what happened felt very true to how repressed memory works. Sometimes flashes of events come up in dreams, or when you're in the place that it happened. And it can feel really scary when you don't understand what's going on. ~ I felt a lot of things about this book, but I don't seem to be able to put any of that into words, or do the book justice. • QOTD: What fantasy world would you live in if you could? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #fantasy #youngadult #retellings #mystery #fiction #youngadultfantasy #audiobook #contemporary #lostintheneverwoods #aidenthomas #blues2024reads
A gay mermaid romance, with a non-binary character. ~ I think the discussion around body image and size was good, but I'm not really sure what I thought about it otherwise. ~ One of the tropes I've always felt a little weird about is fake dating. Because typically, in terms of straight romances, it's never executed well, and when it comes to queer romances, it never ends at it being fake. ~ There were a few phrases that were repeated throughout the book which just felt weird to me. Once or twice would've been acceptable, but the amount of times they came up was a bit excessive. • QOTD: Can you swim? If yes, do you enjoy it? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #queeread #lgbt #queer #romance #queerromance #yaromance #contemporary #gay #mermaids #outoftheblue #jasonjune #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Ander and Santi Were Here include: anxiety, deportation, death of a parent (implied); kidnapping, underage drinking and violence. ☆ ☆ This book hurt me emotionally. There were multiple points throughout this book where I cried. ~ As someone who was born and raised in the same country and who is a citizen of that same country, I couldn't relate to Santi's experience. But that doesn't mean to say I'm not aware that it happens, and that the process is correct. Sometimes the life a person has in the country they were born in isn't safe for whatever reason, and staying isn't really an option. And there are some countries where the legal route for them to leave is either made very difficult to access, or is impossible. ~ I was a little confused by the way the book ended, and I do wish that more was written about Ander and Santi's life and how things went. ~ Ultimately it was a very emotional book, and it really went into detail about things that more people should understand even if they haven't experienced it for themselves. • QOTD: What's your favourite animal? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookblogger #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #audiobook #queeread #lgbt #queer #romance #queerromance #yaromance #contemporary #transgender #gay #anderandsantiwerehere #jonnygarzavilla #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for What Magic is This? include: self harming, and cutting. ☆ ☆ Young girls a little too into witchcraft. One is self harming. One feels unloveable. One is grieving a dog she hates. Spells ensue. ~ Essentially this story is about young people who still have a lot to learn about the world, and everything. By the end of the story, they have learned a lot. They're still friends, things are in a better place than they were at the start of the story. And maybe things do turn out okay sometimes. • QOTD: What's your favourite emoji? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #youngadult #contemporary #yacontemporary #fantasy #feminism #mentalhealth #fiction #novella #shortstory #whatmagicisthis #hollybourne #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for And a Happy New Year include: alcohol abuse and emesis (vomiting). ☆ ☆ This was a fun little short story rounding out the lives of Evie, Lottie and Amber. It's almost the new year, and things aren't necessarily going as well as they were hoping. ~ Each of them is keeping things from their friends, things they really need to share. It goes through the hours leading up to the party and the difficulties each friend is having. And then they come together at the party. ~ It culminates in an argument when Lottie finds out what Amber has been keeping from them, which leads to a break up, and the friends all leaving the party and making up, talking to each other, and sharing the things they should've told each other. • QOTD: How do you like to spend your free time? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #youngadult #contemporary #yacontemporary #feminism #romance #yaromance #mentalhealth #fiction #novella #shortstory #andahappynewyear #hollybourne #blues2024reads
For me this book was alright. It wasn't amazing and it wasn't terrible. It did what I was wanting it to do. It was a light-hearted fantastical graphic novel and I enjoyed my time reading it. ~ I will say, there were a couple of points within the story where I didn't exactly follow what was going on, but that's more an issue with me than with the book. ~ Nimona was an interesting character, and I enjoyed the background information provided on her and other characters. I also liked the queerness of the whole thing. ~ Overall, I don't have a great deal to say about this book. It was a good time. I'd probably read it again. Personally, I wouldn't say that the audiobook is worth trying, the book itself is a fast enough read. • QOTD: Do you tab or annotate your physical copies? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #graphicnovel #comic #fantasy #youngadult #yafiction #queerread #lgbt #humour #adventure #nimona #ndstevenson #blues2024reads
This book is described as a mystery thriller. And personally, I didn't really get that vibe much at all across the scope of the book. There were definitely elements that leant that way, but for the most part I wouldn't have said it was a thriller. ~ I enjoyed the plot and the characters, though the amount of times that past events and mistakes were brought up, even after everyone has forgiven each other felt a bit weird to me. It felt as though despite them saying they'd forgiven each other, they were still holding grudges. ~ The ending felt kind of off to me. It felt like a bit of a let down after the excitement and the stakes of the rest of the book. Maybe that's just me though. Overall, it was a good book, and I enjoyed it, but I just wish it might've leant into the thriller aspect a bit more. • QOTD: What's your favorite soda/ fizzy drink? • Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #bookstagramfeature #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #arcreview #arcreader #thriller #youngadultcontemporary #contemporary #mystery #survival #suspense #10hourstogo #keelyparrack #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Skater Boy include: explicit language, bullying, alcoholism, underage drinking, racism, past domestic abuse and childhood trauma. ☆ ☆ I'm not sure what to tell you about this book to be honest. And that seems to be a recurring theme at the moment. I did enjoy it so that's not the problem, I just don't know how to adequately put my thoughts about it into words to explain that. ~ This book follows Wesley MacKenzie, otherwise known as Big Mac. He's a punk, and always in trouble for one thing or another. And he's gay. ~ This tells the story of Big Mac and his friends. It goes into the idea of first impressions, and how image and assumptions can cause big problems for people. People see Wes and his punk image, and assume that he's going to cause trouble. And that isn't always the case. Sometimes he just needs someone to believe in the good inside him. ~ There's more to this book than that, but I don't want to give any spoilers. • QOTD: What is your favourite book? And who is the author? • Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #readerslife #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #arcreview #arcreader #lgbt #queerread #contemporaryfiction #yacontemporary #highschool #gaycharacters #skaterboy #anthonynerada #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for How Hard Can Love Be? include: alcohol abuse, alcoholism and emesis (vomiting). ☆ ☆ This book was the definition of a wild ride. There was so much to process that happened, both within the story, but also as backstory and Lottie's past. ~ There was one thing that felt very weird in here to me. The way Lottie's mum defends her actions by deferring to her past alcoholism. ~ I understand that addiction isn't easy, and it affects everyone around you as much as it affects you. And it will colour your actions too. But being addicted to something doesn't negate the effects of your actions, nor does it excuse them. And you can't use the fact of the addiction to get out of accountability or get out of the impact it had on others or the emotions they're feeling as a result. ~ To me, the main point of the book is Lottie and her relationship with her family. While her romantic relationship is in the forefront, it felt less important to me than everything else. • QOTD: What author for you is an auto-buy author? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #contemporaryfiction #youngadult #yacontemporary #feminism #mentalhealth #family #love #youngadultromance #howhardcanlovebe #hollybourne #blues2024reads
This book was informative if nothing else. I've never seen any of the films or TV shows that Elliot Page has started in, therefore until he came out I had genuinely no clue who he was. Without the context of his celebrity and him being an out and proud queer celebrity I don't think I'd have ever picked this up. However, it was an interesting read. ~ I think one of the things it shows is how the coming out process isn't easy or simple, and it can take years from your realisation to coming out to anyone. ~ One thing that bothers me a little bit, not because I'm not happy for him, but because of my own circumstances, is how he came out as trans and already had undergone top surgery. And I understand that medical procedures of any description are somewhat easier to access when you have status and/or money, that doesn't make it feel better knowing that those are things you want for yourself but can't yet access. ~ Ultimately this book was insightful into Page's life, both prior to and post coming out. It gave me more understanding of his life and the things he went through from a young age due to his acting career, and regardless of their status or career no one should have to go through the things he did. • QOTD: Do you read biographies or memoirs? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #queer #lgbt #nonfiction #memoir #biography #biographymemoir #transgender #gay #adultnonfiction #audiobook #pageboy #elliotpage #blues2024reads
This book first and foremost is a fantasy and inspired by fairy tale. For some that can be appealing, and it was for me to some extent too. ~ Personally I skipped over the passages at the end of each chapter. Maybe I'd have got more out of the story if I'd read them too, but I enjoyed it well enough without reading them. ~ Eva and Frankie were really engaging characters and watching their relationship unfold was very entertaining. ~ Overall, this story was very fun, and a good time. Not necessarily my cup of tea, and not one I'd likely read again, but it was fun while I was in it. • QOTD: What are your thoughts on fantasy as a genre? Do you like reading fantasy, or do you prefer other genres? • Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #arcreview #arcreader #contemporaryfiction #fantasy #youngadult #youngadultfantasy #fairytales #onceaqueen #saraharthur #blues2024reads
This is Our Rainbow is a collection of short stories about queer characters. ~ Honestly, these stories for me were just forgettable. I don't remember a title or the content of a single one of them and I didn't really connect with any of them. ~ That's not to say they're bad stories, or that other people shouldn't try them for themselves, but I didn't really get them. ~ One thing I don't always like about short stories in general, but also with anthologies is that you don't get much time to get into it or understand the character before you're moving onto the next one. • QOTD: Do you read anthologies or short stories? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #queerread #youngadult #lgbt #contemporary #fiction #anthology #middlegrade #fantasy #poetry #thisisourrainbow #katherinelocke #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow include: gun violence (explicit); death, grief, homophobia, drug use & alcohol; borderline abusive relationship; medical amputation; abortion (minor) and suicide (minor). ☆ ☆ I'd seen some reviews and people talking about this book so I had a vague idea of what it was about before I started it. And I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't say that it's a favourite or anything, but it was a good time. ~ I enjoyed the relationships within this book, both platonically and romantically. I think it also did a pretty good job of highlighting the inequality that women can face in some workplaces. I mean that in the sense of often they have to work twice as hard to gain the same respect that is afforded to men automatically. Similarly, it also demonstrates how in situations where a man has a position of authority over a women they can sometimes abuse that position. ~ Furthermore, while I'm not someone who is into gaming, or really has much knowledge of video games or that industry, I found the book intriguing. It gave me a little insight into just how much work can go into making a video game. • QOTD: What color book do you own the most of? Or the least of? Or what's your favourite colour? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #contemporary #fiction #romance #audiobook #paperback #literaryfiction #adultfiction #historicalfiction #comingofage #tomorrowandtomorrowandtomorrow #tomorrowx3 #gabriellezevin #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Evergreen include: assault, blood, illness, loss of a loved one, cancer, anxiety, panic attacks, profanity (swearing), fire, nightmares of traumatic events, hospitalisation, terminal illness, and mind control. ☆ ☆ I really enjoyed this book. The concept was very intriguing, and well thought out. I think it was also executed very well. ~ I enjoyed the relationship between Liam and Quill, and his family. I found it really fun reading about Quill breaking his mother's rules, and learning how to live and exist in the wider world. ~ The last few chapters were really strange and unexpected, but nice in the the way that the story culminated. ~ There is definitely more I should be saying about this book, but I also can't actually formulate any concrete thoughts or words about it. • QOTD: Do you have dyed hair? • Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #arcread #arccopy #arcreview #arcreader #lgbt #queerread #youngadult #fantasy #lgbt #queer #youngadultfantasy #retellings #urbanfantasy #gayromance #romance #fiction #evergreen #devingreenlee #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Mooncakes include: talk of abusive parental figures, captivity, and loss of loved ones in the past. ☆ ☆ This graphic novel for me was just a bit of light hearted fun. There was definitely plot, and character development and the typical things you'd find within any novel, but I was mostly reading it for the vibes. ~ It was subtly queer, with paranormal elements, but even without those it would've still been a fun time. ~ It was also a quick read. I finished it within a few hours when I actually concentrated and prioritised it. • QOTD: Do you enjoy reading graphic novels or comics? * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bookaholic #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #youngadult #fantasy #lgbt #queer #graphicnovel #romance #comics #fiction #witches #paranormal #mooncakes #suzannewalker #wendyxu #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Date Me Bryson Keller include: racism, homophobia, coming out themes; outing & public outing; blackmail, car accident and bullying. ☆ ☆ This is one of those books where I haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished it and put it down. And it's also a book where I wish I could have the experience of reading it again like it was the first time. ~ There were a few times throughout this reading experience where either the vibes or the actual words made me feel like crying, or it actually made me cry. ~ Bryson Keller is the most wholesome person ever. Kai Sherringham blushes so damn much it's not even funny. ~ All of that being said, I did really enjoy it. However, I was also unaware of the issues with this book and its author and where the inspiration for this book came from until I read some of the reviews on it. And while I don't agree with authors stealing works from other authors, and I don't have the full information of the exact situation, the fact remains that I did enjoy the story. * * #bookwormproblems #bookchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerslife #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #readmorebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #youngadult #lgbt #romance #fiction #contemporary #datemebrysonkeller #kevinvanwhyte #blues2024reads
Trigger warnings for Transmogrify include: misgendering, transphobia, body horror and fantasy violence. ☆ ☆ I liked the first story in this anthology, but that was the only one I liked. ~ I thought maybe I'd really like them because they centred around trans people and there were trans or non-binary characters in every story. But it wasn't necessarily a highlight book for this year. * * #bookwormproblems #bookstagram #booksaremagic #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #bestbooks #bookaholic #bookstagramfeature #bookaccount #readinglife #bookishlife #bookblogger #booklover #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #lgbt #queerread #youngadult #fantasy #lgbt #queer #youngadultfantasy #shortstories #anthology #transgender #romance #fiction #contemporary #transmogrify #gharondavis #blues2024reads