I think this is a very great trope but I will admit there is a way this is done right and a way it’s done wrong. If it’s used as someone leeching the other’s spirit, or being toxically positive, then that’s when the relationship is unhealthy and I would ‘nope’ out of a book. Also I don’t like seeing the sunshiney character being babied or being patronized, treated like they’re inferior or inadequate because of their optimism.
The way it’s done right is when the grumpy has a tough exterior but a soft and caring and charismatic interior, and the sunshiney one has more value as a character, and is more defined and has more depth than just being a happy-go-lucky character. Of course this is one way it can be done right and I’m sure there are many more, but overall I’d give this trope a 7/10. Maybe an 8.
Enemies to Lovers
There’s a big divide on the internet about Enemies to Lovers versus Friends to Lovers, and I am definitely on the Enemies to Lovers side.
I love the idea of meeting someone new, starting off maybe on the wrong foot, and then figuring out where you stand with each other (pun sort of intended?) and making things up to each other in the end, figuring out everyone’s true selves despite the bad first start, and the drama and tension that comes with Enemies to Lovers is so perfect and intriguing!
This is a 10/10 trope, but there is a problem with it when it condones toxic behaviour, or is controlling, or any other bad behaviour is glorified with the label of “Enemies To Lovers”. Generally, though, awesome trope.
Right Person, Wrong Time
I’ll be completely honest, I haven’t read very many books with this, or really come into contact with this trope much, but I love the idea, but not in the moment, I love when it comes back to haunt the characters later. Say, they bump into their old love when they’re older, in different stages of life, etc.
I recently watched “Almost, Maine”, a play by my local theatre, and it was mostly made of small romantic vignettes, and it was so cute! This one scene that I think featured this trope was when there was this one woman and she was proposed to when she was younger, and then she went out into the world without answering, and then she came back years later to accept the proposal, and then the man she loved was already married to another woman, it was so cute and so sad.
9/10 trope only because of “Almost, Maine”, you guys did amazing and I have a new love for the trope.
Friends to Lovers
As mentioned before, I am on the Enemies to Lovers side of this debate. However, I can appreciate the Friend to Lovers trope, with the pining, and the wondering “where is the line, how do I be careful so as not to ruin the relationship, do they feel the same”, etc.
However since the relationship of friends is already established, it brings it a couple points down. I like when you have to establish the relationship throughout the book.
I’ve read some Friends to Lovers books and they were really good, but it’s not my trope of choice to write or read.
6/10 trope, very good, I get the appeal, but not my vibe.
Slow Burn
Who doesn’t like a slow burn? Gotta be careful that it’s not too slow or it gets boring, there needs to be PROGRESS over the course of the book. I haven’t read a very good slow burn in a long time but I love this trope, and while I don’t write it very much, I think it definitely works to build tension.
8.5/10 trope.
Age Gap
…no. Sorry.
0/10.
Tragic Past
Yes. Very much so yes. Not so much that I love the trauma that these characters endure but I love how it makes me empathise and it’s very effective as a trope. I use it a lot, I read a lot of authors who use this trope, and it’s very much used in fantasy or in sci-fi and it’s beautiful.
9.5/10 trope because I don’t like when people hurt characters. Me as a writer? Sure, I’ll give my characters a tragic past. Me as a reader? Don’t hurt that character or I will come for your bones (this is a joke, for legal reasons).
We’re done! Part 3 to come, I just don’t know when.
Do you agree with my opinions? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!
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With the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, I thought I’d merge the two since June didn’t give me much time to read but July definitely did! I wanted to read a lot of romance and just live a little vicariously through these books and I of course had to include a lot of LGBTQ+ books since it was Pride Month in June. So, without further ado, here goes!
Gulliver’s Travels – Johnathan Swift
Gulliver’s Travels is a book about a man named Gulliver who travels around the world to fantasy lands of all sorts. First he goes to a place called Lilliput where everyone there is essentially human but really tiny, like only six inches in height. They treated Gulliver like a god and were very accomodating. Gulliver also had to help them with a neighbouring land who was an enemy of Lilliput.
The second land he went to, called Brobdingnag, was the complete opposite: everyone there were huge: something around 60 feet tall. Again, Gulliver was accomodated for and was well respected, but since he was small compared to the Brobdingnags, he couldn’t do much.
In all honesty I didn’t end up paying much attention to the end of the book because it was almost the same thing just different font, so to speak. Another new land with another new people, and not much plot just explanations, infodumping of how everything worked.
I gave this book a 3 stars because I really enjoyed the first half but then the second half was pretty boring.
The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass – Adan Jerreat-Poole
This is a book about a girl named Eli, who isn’t quite human. She may look human, but she was actually made by witches to hunt ghosts.
One day, she’s supposed to be dealing with a ghost but ends up just murdering a living man, and now she’s worried she’s going to be unmade. Teaming up with humans who know just a little too much about the witch world and who have some special plans of their own, Eli learns a strong message about what makes you human, what makes you alive.
I give this book a 4/5 stars. It didn’t hook me as much as I thought it would but it was a great read nonetheless and I greatly enjoyed it.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Sàenz
This book is a reread but it’s the first time I’m writing about it here on my blog. I LOVE IT.
This is a masterpiece of writing, philosophy, romance, existentialism, coming-of-age, self-acceptance and personal growth… I cannot say enough good things about this book.
It’s about two Mexican-American boys, one named Aristotle (but he goes by Ari) who lives with his mom, a professor, and his father, a Vietnam war veteran. Ari has two older sisters who have already moved out, and an older brother in prison that his family doesn’t talk about. He’s bit of a loner, doesn’t trust anyone very much and isn’t ready for adulthood.
Dante, on the other hand, has two very loving parents, lives in a safe household, and is a very optimistic, loving boy.
When the two meet at a community swimming pool, Dante starts teaching Ari to swim and the two of them become fast friends… and even more.
5/5 stars. Beautiful writing, an incredible plot, amazing characters, and lots of great life lessons while not being preachy or moralising, set in Texas, 1970s. Will recommend to just about anybody. Do look up content warnings though.
Ophelia After All – Raquel Marie
Ophelia After All is a book about a girl named Ophelia Rojas, a Cuban-American high school girl. She likes boys, Cuban food, and her garden of roses.
But then as prom season rolls around, she meets Talia, and the two friend groups start slowly merging. Ophelia finds herself falling for Talia, and doesn’t know really how to deal with this newfound sexuality: after all, she’s always thought she was straight.
This is a book about self-discovery and acceptance, and it’s very cutely written with characters you can’t help but love. And a surprise at the end of the book (or at least my copy)? Two playlists that match the vibes of the book. If this book wasn’t already a 5/5 stars, that made it even better.
Now Entering Addamsville – Francesca Zappia
I won this book the second time I won the Ghost Story Contest, and it was the first book I annotated. (I didn’t actually write in it, I just put sticky notes. I can’t handle writing in a book with ink or graphite.)
Zora Novak already lives a pretty troubled life. Her mother is gone (likely dead, but there wasn’t any body or anything when Dasree Novak ran away into the Addamsville woods, so as far as we know she could be alive). Her father is in prison. Her older sister and her boyfriend are essentially in charge of raising her and getting enough money to support the family in their small town of Addamsville.
To make matters worse, Addamsville has ghosts in it. Not everyone can see them, and most think it’s just a hoax for tourists to come and be spooked (“ooh, haunted small town”). But Zora can see them. A while ago, a special kind of ghost called a firestarter, burned down a house and killed some people. Zora went to help, but ended up losing two of her fingers in the process.
So after more firestarters arrive on the scene and start causing drama, people are accusing Zora of arson, who now has to team up with her rich cousin Artemis to solve who is actually doing the murders. And to add to the problems, a film crew is in Addamsville to shoot a silly ghost-hunting show.
This book is 5/5 stars, I normally don’t read mystery, much less murder mystery, but I really enjoyed this one and it was pretty tame. (Also as a side note, Zora is canonically asexual and it’s the perfect kind of casual representation we love to see!)
You Should See Me In A Crown – Leah Johnson
This book follows the story of Liz Lighty, a girl living in a small town in Indiana where the one thing that almost everyone is obsessed with in school is prom season. It’s been the highlight for generations. Liz, living with her grandparents and sick younger brother, wants to go to Pennington for university and is relying heavily on getting a certain scholarship.
She doesn’t get it.
Now she has to run for prom queen, because whoever wins gets money, so she’s not completely without hope. Except Liz had zero intention of running before this catastrophe, and she’d almost rather do anything else. But at this point, it’s worth a shot.
Liz’ campaign goes pretty well, but there’s soon a bit of a catch. She starts falling for her competition, a new girl named Mack. Will this hurt her chances of winning in this small high school… or boost them?
This was a 5/5 star read, with a satisfying ending and a plot that just keeps you hooked from page 1 till the end.
Some Girls Do – Jennifer Dugan
Morgan: star track athlete, forced to move out of her Catholic School after coming out as a lesbian.
Ruby: following her mother’s footprints being a pageant queen, but doesn’t want to be. She prefers working on her 1970 Ford Torino.
Both fall for each other, but while Morgan wants a fresh start at her new school, Ruby isn’t ready to come out. How will they resolve their issues? Will the relationship survive?
This was a great book. The ending is satisfying, the writing is easy to follow and it keeps you hooked, but the only reason I’m giving this a 4/5 stars is that I felt there were a lot of issues that could have been avoided, and some parts made me really annoyed. But overall it was a great book!
Red, White, and Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston (Reread)
Yes, I reread RW&RB because I heard of the movie coming out, as I assume a lot of people did. Sue me.
If you’re new and want to know my opinions on it, you can find that information here.
Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster – Andrea Mosqueda
It’s almost time for Maggie Gonzalez to find a date for her younger sister’s quinceañera, but there are three problems.
One: Her on-and-off boyfriend, Matthew, who he’s still kinda-sorta friends with.
Two: Her best friend Amanda, who Maggie has been crushing on essentially forever.
Three: The new girl, Dani, who’s cute, and Maggie’s starting to develop new fun feelings.
For her end of year art project, Maggie decides to make a collection of private Instagram posts (her medium of choice being photography, of course) to decide on a date. What could possibly go wrong?
This was a 5/5 star read. I loved how it presented the problem of ‘too many feelings for too many people’ and didn’t make it a horrible cliché. Maggie herself even expresses concern about it, and about her friend’s boundaries. And while the issues definitely show up throughout the book, it’s resolved in a respectful and satisfying manner.
I also didn’t think I was going to enjoy the friends-to-lovers arc (I’m an enemies-to-lovers girl myself) but it was very well-written.
The Red Scrolls of Magic – Cassandra Clare
Part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this book tells the tale of Magnus Bane and Alec Lightowod on vacation in Europe… until they get word of a cult called the Crimson Hand that Magnus may or may not have started by accident, and said cult is wreaking havoc. What a way to have a vacation.
I gave this book a 4/5 stars because while the world is great and I love the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this one didn’t hit as much as I thought it would. I’m also reading it for the second time so maybe that affected my rating.
Iron Widow – Xiran Jay Zhao
Xiran Jay Zhao is a wizard with words. I am still reeling with awe from having read this book.
Wu Zetian wants revenge for the death of her sister in a Chrysalis, a metal monster that is piloted by men to defeat Hunduns, invaders of the land of Huaxia. When the Chrysalises go to fight, the men essentially suck up the spirit energy from the girls and use that to kill Hunduns, but that ends up killing the girls, called concubines, as well.
When Zetian enlists, she ends up taking over her Chrysalis and killing the male pilot instead of the other way around, she gets the title of an Iron Widow. She is now piloted with one of the most powerful yet controversial pilots, Li Shimin, nicknamed the Iron Demon.
In a Hunger-Games-esque series of events, the two of them have to work together to defeat Hunduns and maybe, just maybe dismantle the sexist system along the way.
A sci-fi retelling of the story of the real Wu Zetian, the first female Chinese Empress, this book is everything I wanted it to be and more, infused with feminine rage and power. I am in love with this book. 5/5 stars. Do look up content warnings for this book, however.
Final Ranking:
5/5 stars:
Aristotle And Dante (Benjamin Alire Sàenz)
Ophelia After All (Raquel Marie)
Now Entering Addamsville (Francesca Zappia)
You Should See Me In A Crown (Leah Johnson)
Red, White, and Royal Blue (Casey McQuiston)
Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster (Andrea Mosqueda)
Iron Widow (Xiran Jay Zhao) ❤ ❤ ❤
4/5 stars:
The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass (Adan Jerreat-Poole)
Some Girls Do (Jennifer Dugan)
The Red Scrolls of Magic (Cassandra Clare)
3/5 stars: Gulliver’s Travels (Jonathan Swift)
I noticed I was reading a lot of books about intersectionality, unintentionally, but then as June and July went on, I decided to seek out books that had intersectionality in them. Intersectionality is a concept that is basically when a person fits into two marginalized groups and has different types of discrimination. For example, Liz Lighty (You Should See Me In A Crown) is black, poor, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Ari and Dante are Latino boys who are also gay.
It’s important to read stories from people who have different lived experiences. That way you can get to understand people better and open your mind to different worldviews. I’m not an expert, but books are a great way to learn and share stories.
Let me know how your summer is going and how your reading or writing is going, down in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out my novel, Scarred!
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You know the drill by now, let’s get right into my five reads in March 2023! This will bring us to 12 out of 54 total books read this year.
Ballet Shoes – Noel Streatfeild
This book was a re-read. I’ve owned this book since I was quite young, and I decided to come back to it as I waited for my books that I put on hold at my local library to be ready. The book was released in 1936 which makes me think it is set in the 1920s.
This book features three sisters, orphaned separately but adopted by a man called Great-Uncle Matthew who collects fossils. The three sisters, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy are left in the care of Great-Uncle-Matthew’s (G.U.M’s) niece Sylvia, and Sylvia’s nurse Nana. They are given the last name of Brown (Sylvia’s last name) but then since they are ‘of no real relation’ they choose the name of Fossil after GUM refers to them as such in a letter.
GUM left the girls money to live on, enough for five years since he’s on a big adventure to collect fossils with some friends. But once the money starts running out, Sylvia decides to take in boarders — people who will live in the house and pay them.
One of the boarders is a woman named Theo Dane, who works at the Children’s Academy of Dancing And Stage Training. Theo suggests that Sylvia send the three Fossil sisters to train there, because when they are older they can work in the theatre and get money to support their families.
At first, Sylvia is hesitant but once she is properly persuaded, the Fossil sisters work hard and prepare for a marvelous life on the ballet scene…
I love this book. I definitely have a different perspective on it as I did in the past, but the core of the story and the plot is still engaging and fun. The characters are all very intriguing, and the sisters have such different personalities – Pauline, being the oldest, is the more responsible mature one, Petrova is a tomboy, and Posy is the light-hearted determined youngest.
I give this book a five stars. For a book that came out in 1936 its quite easy to read and a great experience overall.
The Inheritance Games (Book 1) – Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Inheritance Games has been on my TBR for a while, but when I finally got to read it, I found it strangely underwhelming.
TIG follows the story of Avery Grambs, a high school girl who is suddenly left a vast fortune and a mansion (among many other rich-people things) from a guy named Tobias Hawthorne. She’s of no relation to the Hawthorne family, she barely knows they exist, and she’s been living with her older sister for a while.
But when she gets this inheritance, her life is suddenly turned upside down. The entire Hawthorne family (who all expected to get Tobias’ fortune) hates her. She moves into Hawthorne House, where live the four Hawthorne brothers and their family. She now has a lawyer, a security team, media coverage… all the works.
But… why?
Avery teams up with many various characters – the Hawthorne brothers, her lawyer, etc – and try to figure out why she is suddenly and viciously thrown into this new life?
I give this book a 3 star rating. There were many (almost two many) twists, and too much drama, not enough plot. The romance was not romance-ing, and also there were WAY too many red flags in the love interests. I know there’s a trope about brooding bad boy and how people find that interesting, but I can’t handle romance if the love interest is just going to end up being toxic.
And the ending definitely should’ve been way more interesting and clever than it was. It had a very ‘is that it?’ ending which left me disappointed, I’ll admit.
The writing is good and easy to follow, but these key plot devices brought the experience down for me. I don’t think I’ll finish the series.
Crier’s War (Book 1) – Nina Varela
Crier’s War: I cannot say enough good things about this book.
This book is told in two points of view: Ayla, a regular human girl, and Lady Crier, an Automa (essentially an automaton, a human being, but inorganic). Lady Crier is the daughter of the Sovereign, and Ayla is a servant. They live in the kingdom of Rabu.
Lady Crier is about to be engaged to Scyre Kinok, another Automa who plans to change the way their world and societal system is run (and he’s growing quite a following). Ayla wants nothing more than to kill Lady Crier as revenge, since Automae killed her family, ages ago.
After an unexpected situation in which Ayla ends up as Crier’s handmaiden, the two start realising how much they have in common, and how much they are falling for each other. On Ayla’s side, it’s a bit of an enemies-to-lovers situation. She’s supposed to kill Crier. She’s supposed to hate her and her entire kind… but it’s turning out to be quite the opposite. On Crier’s side, it’s a pining situation. Automa are supposed to be superior to humans, not fall in love with them.
I love this book. Well written, almost poetic in a way, similar to the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s easy to follow and immersive.
Sometimes I don’t like it when people add timelines and history/backstory of their world (infodumping) in the beginning, but Nina Varela does it so well! She has only the important points, short and understandable, and it actually adds to the story rather than distract from it: and it takes a really good author to do that. It gives a feel like the world has always existed even before this book was written, and the timeline in the beginning of the book isn’t even that long!
Five stars, easy peasy. Emotional and interesting, and fun. I can’t wait to read book 2!
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
This was a wild ride!
The Great Gatsby is told from the POV of Nick Carraway, a man who just moved into West Egg – somewhere near New York, USA. His next door neighbour is a mysterious, successful young man named Jay Gatsby who lives in a mansion and has parties every night with a bunch of different people!
Jay is in love with one of Nick’s friends, Daisy Buchanan, but she already has a husband: a man named Tom., as well as a daughter. Jay and Daisy used to be lovers, and apparently he never got over her.
Most of the action following this plot, however, takes place closer to the end of the novel; say, around the second half is where things get really interesting and a bit unhinged. I really liked it and I can see why people in the 1920s as well as today would enjoy this book. It’s one of those books that I would really consider to be a timeless classic. Some books are incredibly outdated and boring, yet revered, and The Great Gatsby is really not the case.
Apart from the Jay x Daisy romance plot, there isn’t much of a clear storyline for the first half or so of the book, however the events are fun and interesting enough that you can forget about plot. The first half of this book is essentially the definition of “no plot, just vibes” and I can really appreciate it!
I gave this book a 4 stars, simply because of the lack of plot. I enjoyed reading it but I was kinda waiting for there to be an actual storyline. A great book nonetheless that I think everyone should read!
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
This was a new style I was not used to reading, but the story was fun and twisted in ways I never expected.
Hamlet is about the Prince of Denmark (Hamlet himself) who’s father was killed. The Prince plans revenge, and after the ghost of his father appears, Hamlet speaks to him and learns that it was Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, who killed his father.
Hamlet ends up killing a man named Polonius (Claudius’ counsellor) thinking it’s his uncle, so Polonius’ son Laertes ends up plotting revenge against Hamlet. It’s a whole revenge triangle – no, not a triangle, a revenge web. There’s some romance, some family issues, some things that would be considered incredibly problematic in the modern world, and of course, everyone ends up dying in the end.
I gave this book 4 stars. I enjoyed the plot and thought the story was intriguing, but I deducted points because the copy I got from the library had explanations and stuff in the margins and it annoyed me so much! My eyes were jumping from the story to the explanations and it was very distracting. It made my reading very choppy.
But still a fun read! Note to self: find a better copy next time if you want to read more Shakespeare.
Catherine Khaperska 