my parents call me books

nalijah, 24, from oklahoma, live in nyc, here to talk about books

[naljiahreads]

booklr introduction, a fresh start

hi! my name is nalijah [na-lie-juh] (you can also call me nali or oklahoma if you want) and i’m here for good in the booklr community. i have been in and out of the book community since sixth grade on instagram, tumblr, even wordpress.

i’ve loved reading since i was a kid but school got in the way. as i’m getting more personal time, i’m rediscovering my love for reading. i wanted to make this blog to write book reviews, participate in challenges, discuss book related topics, reblog pictures of books and possibly post my own, and more.

some of my favorites include:

books:

- a court of thorns and roses series by sarah j. maas - to all the boys i’ve loved before trilogy by jenny han - the invisible life of addie larue by v. e. schwab

young/new adult fantasy and contemporary romance

enemies to lovers, love triangles, villain turns good (i love a good character arc!!), forbidden love

check out my goodreads here

a few non-book related things to know:

19

third year at ohio state university this fall (2021). i’m studying english with a focus in creative writing with minors in fashion and psychology

from oklahoma but live in ohio for school

virgo: future-orientated, planner, imaginative

black woman

learning to sew, love all things fashion, and am focusing on my writing

some favorites include:

- [tv] shondaland, avatar: the last airbender, 9-1-1 - [music] ariana grande, billie eilish, lewis del mar

[academic-vampire]

𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔱𝔢𝔰𝔶 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔬𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔢

[naljiahreads]

On the Come Up book review

by Angie Thomas Rating: 2/5 stars Find on Goodreads

I wanted to rate this book higher, but the characterization was so off to me that I couldn’t bear reading half of it. It’s so interesting to me that a story about stereotypes uses very meme-ified ideas of young black girls circa 2015. I shared this frustration when I read Angie Thomas’s debut novel, The Hate U Give, but I was much closer to the target demographic at the time, so I forgave it more easily.

The naïve, headstrong, stubborn teen who needs to learn a critical coming-of-age lesson is one of my favorite character tropes, but it only works when done well and with care. I fell in love with this character arc in Dumplin’ and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before because the authors didn’t make excuses for their protagonists. If they were horrible to their family because their insecurities were too much to handle that day—as is often the case for adolescents—they put them on a path towards reckoning and are very honest about what that process looks like. It’s not fun, and it definitely can’t be explained as it’s happening.

Although Bri’s arc gets much better as the book progresses, it started in a very narrow place that it was hard for me to be on board as she (achingly) slowly grows. I wish the entire book had the same depth that came when Bri processed her crush on Curtis. There was interiority as she realized the disconnect between what she thought she knew and what she was actually feeling. The rest of the narrative reads as, “Bri thinks this, I’m me, Bri, and she/I think that cause well, I’m Bri. Rap culture is like this, cause well, that’s what rap culture is,” and on and on including the grief of her father, the relationship with any member of her family, and even her closest friendships. We know from the first few pages tha she had a crush on Malik, but don’t know why besides “that’s my homie but I felt different around him.”

The subplots didn’t provide more interiority either. Trey’s work and love story, Jay’s work and addict community, and Sunny’s first gay relationship all just feel like attempts to make a fuller novell for the sake of reaching a word count, instead of providing context to the main plot. Kayla only joins the family at the end, Jay’s community is only used once for Bri to eavesdrop on, and Miles being Supreme’s son doesn’t ever become a real obstacle. I would’ve enjoyed knowing more, but it just didn’t give since Bri was so selfish that even those situations were about her somehow.

Overall, the main reason this book was written, was to show injustices and how those impacted overcome it for their dreams. Bri’s dedication to her rap career is admirable and I want there to be more stories about teenagers reaching for their dreams and not giving up until they attain it. That was the ultimate saving point—Bri got what she wanted, which every young Black girl deserves.

[gabeofcrows]

im so obsessed with the idea that kaz just reads everything for wylan, but in such a natural way that everyone forgets that it's because wylan can't read, and kaz kind of forgets that everyone else can read

kaz bringing in the newspaper saying 'look at this', slamming the paper down on the table for for everyone to see and announces the headline 'pekka rollins shits himself in the harbour'. it's just instinctual to read it out, even though everyone else at the table can read what it says

kaz going to restaurants with the crows and handing wylan a menu saying 'they've got that herb chicken you like'. then he scans it again and points to a couple of things that he also knows wylan likes, and it's so causal and conversational and wylan doesn't feel scrutinised, or as though he's being looked after

(kaz also starts point out things the others like before remembering that they can read the menu and then just stops talking)

kaz and wylan going to coffee shops and kaz goes 'what do you think you're gonna get' before they get there so that wylan doesn't panic inside the shop. and he doesn't leave room for wyan to ask him to read things out, because kaz knows he hates doing that. so they go and kaz just says 'you want syrup in your coffee? they've got vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut'

and it's just so easy and instinctual. it makes wylan feel normal, because being read to isnt a big part of what's going on. kaz just manages to easily slip it into conversation without thinking, as though he does it with everyone

(now imagine wylan isn't there and kaz begrudgingly gets waffles with another member of the dregs (he's getting soft) and immediately goes 'what sort of syrup do you like? because they've got apple, strawberry or chocolate, but it does say you can get a mix' and the dreg is like 'i know? the menu is right in front of me?' and kaz just kind of realises that he doesn't even think about doing it anymore)

(also imagine him getting a letter and some of the higher ranked dregs need to know about it, and instead of just giving them it to read, kaz starts just reading it out, and all of the other dregs are like 'isn't it easier is we just read it ourselves?' and kaz just pauses and wonders when he actually started hanging out with wylan so much that he's the only person he knows how to talk to)

[o0kawaii0o]

Decora Himiko! 💗💖💕

[naljiahreads]

The Inheritance Games book review

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Rating: 2/5 stars Find on Goodreads

I could not get past this writing—and it was particularly disappointing because the genre demands more elusiveness. It’s a mystery/riddle novel, and the thing I have always loved the most about the genre is being able to put the pieces together myself. Having the details overexplained throughout the narrative ruined the appeal. It also made me despise the main character because she then repeated the concept out loud, again.

Another crucial element of a riddle-based plot is that the riddles should actually be difficult to solve. Each Hawthorne brother knew some very specific detail that led them to the answer within moments. Avery didn’t even have to figure out who knew it; they either came to her or she just happened to be engaged in conversation with them.

Avery was quick-witted as well, but there wasn’t much interiority to prove why that was the case. We were told that she really liked chess and saw extremely brief flashbacks to her mother setting up puzzles, but we never see her play them. Despite everything we’re told, we don’t actually feel how it makes sense. We’re just expected to believe it.

Relationships are at the center of how we find out information, dependent on who Avery was entangled with at the moment, as I mentioned earlier. The problem is that a lot of the relationships are… odd. Two brothers on opposing sides of a love triangle will always be uncomfortable, but this one had an extra layer (that forms the basis of the additional mystery) that made it a lot less fun.

Putting that together, the super-convenient answers made the relationships feel like they were built for convenience rather than attraction. They were supposed to be formed from the unfortunate fate of this distressing and chaotic time. Instead, it read like an easy way to add drama, allowing the author to do less work.

I won’t be continuing the series unless I read a review that says the voice and style (and plot) are completely overhauled. It’s not my style, and I have to break the habit of reading storylines that I don’t want to read. I was excited by the fun concept, and hope to read another book similar, but this one fell flat for me.

[lunafay]

coffee & cavendish

[estelleslibrary]

Hello! A start to a bookblr reblog game where we rate our last five reads from best to worst

1. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes

2. Leap

3. Gideon the Ninth

4. Mister Magic

5. The Weight of the Stars

@bookswithdenise @thebookverdict @the-dead-readers-society @imgunnagetyou @thelastsentencesblog (any one else+ not forcing anyone who I tagged)

[a-book-bug]

Oh this looks fun, I’m gonna jump in!

Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson (5⭐️)

Hazelthorn by CG Drews (4⭐️)

As Old as Thyme by Alix Nicoud (3.5⭐️)

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (3.5⭐️)

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill (3⭐️)

I’ll tag @mannys-library and anybody else who wants to join !

[mannys-library]

1. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (fantastic novel that's very different than what I usually read)

2. Dead First by Johnny Compton (loved the characters, but I had hoped for a bit more)

3. The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica (thought it was just average)

4. The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles (book club read that really wasn't for me)

5. Vigil by George Saunders (has a bunch of good reviews so I went in with high expectations and ended up not enjoying it)

Tagging @chloebookvibes @naljiahreads @rosegardendeprofundis & anyone else who sees this!

[naljiahreads]

My only 5 reads of 2026 so far!

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Game Changer by Rachel Reid

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

A Song of Wraith and Ruins by Roseanne A. Brown

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Tagging @jems-library @aretherebooksahead @tatithetinybooktuber and whoever would like to join!

[jems-library]

1. Rites of the starling by Devney Perry

2. Dread nation by Justina Ireland

3. Namesake by Adrienne Young

4. Fable by Adrienne Young

5. Shade of magic vol 1 the steel prince by V.E.Schwab and illustrated by Andrea Eames

Tagging anybody who would like to do it

[joyslibrary]

It took me two days but I finally reorganised my book collection. Non-fiction is loosely grouped by major themes like science, language, politics and social sciences, biography/memoir/very specific event, occult, and history/geography, and fiction is split into crime/mystery/thriller, horror, classics, lit fic, Blak fiction and poetry, sci-fi/fantasy, and childhood faves.

My favourite room in the house ❤️

[happyheidi]

[cpericardium]

hey everyone "I" have something to show "you"

[cpericardium]

[cpericardium]

[star-studded-whales]

I wish people would post more positive memes about writing. I feel like the more we bitch about our hobbies the more we start to resent them. Is writing hard work? Yes. But is that necessarily a bad thing? No. If people dislike writing, why do it? I personally don’t want to resent my hobbies.

[softheartedsuggestion]

it’s okay to forgive yourself. you didn’t know any better. and even if you did, forgive yourself. we’re human. use it as a way to grow and move forward, don’t allow it to hold you back from healing

[vio---let]

A fun bookshop stop. The coolest lady was playing sax right at the corner, and you can smell all the glorious street foods from the market nearby.

[wonkyreads]

February Reads

[naljiahreads]

Game Changer book review

by Rachel Reid Rating: 4.5/5 stars Find on Goodreads

I knew immediately that it took me longer to read this original Game Changer series installment because it’s a much sadder story than Heated Rivalry, which I read first. Don’t worry, it’s not a faux pas––the two books cover different player relationships in the fictional hockey world. Specifically, Episode 3 of the adapted series, and a few scenes in each episode after. This is the story of Kip and Scott.

The dynamics of this novel have a much more mature tone, but it’s also a heart-wrenching one. Kip and Scott have fun, and the sex scenes still made me giggle, but I also felt a deep sense of sorrow for our two main characters through a majority of the book. How could someone not? Scott is this grown, accomplished man, but the only thing he’s self-assured about is that he’s closeted. Kip is a caring, struggling history lover who wants to love Scott, but also knows that he needs to love himself. The question surrounding where that line is—how willing you are to give yourself up in the name of love—is never simple, and Rachel Reid did a phenomenal job with it.

I’m steadfast in my belief that Reid is an incredibly empathetic person. Even when I started reading Heated Rivalry, I was nervous about how many cliches I was going to encounter. Our society has these grand ideas about queer folk who haven’t “braved the spotlight,” that adds to the pressure. Those stereotypes weren’t really present here. The internal and external difficulties that were faced made complete sense for each man and their lifestyles before and during this narrative. And I love fully formed, infallible details.

Even the side characters had the same respect—every time Kip speaks to his friends, they have a love for him that dates back long before we ever met them. We don’t need a flashback to when they first met to literally show us, because the way they speak to each other does that work. When Scott comes out to his agent, the reaction isn’t solely work, it’s understanding that is built in a close-knit work relationship. Although the outcome seems optimistic (which isn’t a bad thing to be), it would’ve been bizarre for him to recoil from Scott’s words when he had already concluded that on his own. If the agent’s own suspicions didn’t stop him before, this should be no different.

I was giggling and squealing and screaming outloud, which always tells me that I’m reading heat. Reid’s ability to get a reaction is amazing and I think the most simple explanation is that she gets it. She has the head-in-the-clouds imagine of a top charting Wattpad fanfic (I couldn’t help but imagining myself as Kip with my superstar athletic boyfriend that I can’t fathom why he’d be with little ol’ me despite all of the true love that we share), with the groundedness of a mass-published novel.

Sidebar: Ilya was mentioned once and I screamed despite knowing it would happen. I proceeded to giggle every time he was mentioned after that. The fact that everyone comments on him being gay is just the cherry on top.

[estelleslibrary]

Hello! A start to a bookblr reblog game where we rate our last five reads from best to worst

1. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes

2. Leap

3. Gideon the Ninth

4. Mister Magic

5. The Weight of the Stars

@bookswithdenise @thebookverdict @the-dead-readers-society @imgunnagetyou @thelastsentencesblog (any one else+ not forcing anyone who I tagged)

[a-book-bug]

Oh this looks fun, I’m gonna jump in!

Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson (5⭐️)

Hazelthorn by CG Drews (4⭐️)

As Old as Thyme by Alix Nicoud (3.5⭐️)

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (3.5⭐️)

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill (3⭐️)

I’ll tag @mannys-library and anybody else who wants to join !

[mannys-library]

1. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (fantastic novel that's very different than what I usually read)

2. Dead First by Johnny Compton (loved the characters, but I had hoped for a bit more)

3. The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica (thought it was just average)

4. The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles (book club read that really wasn't for me)

5. Vigil by George Saunders (has a bunch of good reviews so I went in with high expectations and ended up not enjoying it)

Tagging @chloebookvibes @naljiahreads @rosegardendeprofundis & anyone else who sees this!

[naljiahreads]

My only 5 reads of 2026 so far!

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Game Changer by Rachel Reid

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

A Song of Wraith and Ruins by Roseanne A. Brown

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Tagging @jems-library @aretherebooksahead @tatithetinybooktuber and whoever would like to join!