caseythereader's reviews
1744 reviews

Dinner on Monster Island: Essays by Tania de Rozario

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Thanks to Harper Perennial for the free copy of this book.

 - DINNER ON MONSTER ISLAND is a knockout essay collection. De Rozario fills this short book with rage, love, and thoughtfulness.
- De Rozario speaks not on just being queer, but being fat, brown and queer in a society that actively works to suppress or eliminate all these things. I think we in the U.S. often think of Singapore as being an incredibly strict society, and while that’s true, a lot of what is described isn’t so far off from the way we treat each other here.
- A good chunk of this book centers on self-policing and what to do when your fellow citizens are the ones doing the surveillance and reporting. I’m not sure there is an answer since it’s such a big thing to grapple with, but it’s something to open our eyes to for sure. 

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The Fetishist by Katherine Min

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challenging dark emotional funny sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thanks to Putnam Books for the free copy of this book.

 - When I finished THE FETISHIST, I thought, “What the heck just happened? That was awesome!”
- If you’re looking for a book that is slightly unhinged, funny, and yet filled with deep emotions, this is the book for you. It’s also a weirdly fast paced for a character-based story; I couldn’t put it down.
- I heard about this book because it was published by Min’s daughter after Min’s death. I wish we’d been able to see more from her, and I also hope people will pick up this strange little book and appreciate what she did give us. 

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Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Thanks to Pride Book Tours for the free copy of this book.

 - The world Kacen Callender has built in INFINITY ALCHEMIST is one of the best YA fantasy settings I’ve seen in a long time. It’s complex without being overly complicated, and explores hard topics alongside some really cool visuals.
- This book gets deep into classism, racism and power the way the best fantasy books can: it’s parallel to our world, but not didactic.
- I love how deeply queerness is woven into this book. The main characters are a trans boy and a person who shifts gender and pronouns at will, and it’s done in a way that I can’t imagine the book featuring any other characters. Plus - and I won’t give total spoilers here, but - fans of the love story in IRON WIDOW will also want to check out INFINITY ALCHEMIST. 

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The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 - THE LESBIANA’S GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL deserves all the praise I’ve seen for it. Everything you’ve heard is right - it’s funny and sad and so wonderful.
- Yamilet is a great character with a unique voice, and you will root for her even when she’s making mistakes.
- Nearly everyone makes mistakes - both big and small - in this book, and that’s part of what makes it great. Everyone is just trying to get through all the hard things happening to them, and no one is doing it perfectly but they figure out how to love each other regardless. 

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How You Get The Girl by Anita Kelly

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the free copy of this book.

 - Anita Kelly continues to be the best with HOW YOU GET THE GIRL. Kelly brings their signature wit and heart to this sapphic sports romance. I swooned, I cried, I cheered.
- Where this book punched me in the heart, though, is Julie’s character. Julie is me and I am Julie. I think I’m ace, but maybe not, because this person has knocked me off my feet? Am I pathetic for being “behind” everyone in terms of experience? Do I need a label? What if I never sort it out? NO, YOU’RE CRYING! (this is me saying thank you for bringing this character into existence, truly.)
- Characters from Kelly’s previous two books feature pretty heavily in this one (I squealed every time), so I would recommend reading those first to get the full background and experience. And you should read them anyway because they’re great! 

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The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Thanks to Tordotcom Publishing for the free copy of this book.

 - I’m so happy to be back with Mossa and Pleiti for another cozy mystery on Jupiter! I could honestly read an endless number of books set in this universe.
- These books are so clever, both in the worldbuilding and in the actual mystery.
- And I love watching Mossa and Pleiti slowly work their way back into each others’ lives. They don’t always understand each other, but they’re so tender and thoughtful. 

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The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

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

4.25

Thanks to Little Brown Young Readers for the free copy of this book.

 - Y’all! SO LET THEM BURN is so good! Dragons! Queerness! Jamaican history and gods! Life or death stakes! Love!
- I loved Faron and Elara and crew. I love a prickly girl protagonist, and SO LET THEM BURN delivers that and shows us exactly why they feel that way.
- This book blends the joy of fantasy with a close look at the destructive effects of colonization. The plot is fast and engaging, the world is detailed, and the issues it explores are real and important. 

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How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

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

4.25

 - HOW MOON FUENTEZ FELL IN LOVE WITH THE UNIVERSE is kind of an under the radar YA book, but it’s one that we should all be shouting from the rooftops about. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and funny - a stellar example of how YA can tackle the hardest topics in a loving way.
- And there is a lot of *really* hard stuff in this book. This is a slight spoiler, but I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever read a YA novel that has an abusive mom character. It was tough to read but I’m so glad this book exists.
- This book also includes characters who are fat, disabled, and sapphic, as well as all the main characters being people of color. Love it. 

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