Book Nook

Books and Co. I post reviews every Sunday. Currently not posting

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Book Review Masterlist

(I will continue to update as time goes on)

My Rating System

Online Book links

All Books

Romance Books

YA Books

LGBTQIA+ Books

Fantasy Books

Books by BIPOC Authors

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Books by BIPOC Authors

Last Night at The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Off the Record by Camryn Garrett

LegendBorn by Tracy Deonn

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

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Off the Record by Camryn Garrett

Off the Record by Camryn Garrett is an amazing novel that I really enjoyed.

Josie is a seventeen-year old journalist who has just won a contest to do a portfolio on you up and coming actor Marius Canet. Josie goes to spend 2 weeks on the press tour for Marius Canet's new movie, where she will be interviewing him multiple times and other cast members of the movie. When she get's the opportunity to interview Roy Lennox cast member Penny Haywood tells her not to. Penny tells Josie a huge secret of Hollywood and Josie feels she has to say something, but with the fear of being ignored and her growing feeling for Marius she has no idea where to start.

i loved this book the character were incredibly likeable and the important and relevant subject matter was handled perfectly. Josie was an incredible easy character to feel for and sympathise with. The romance was good but I preferred the bits where we got to see Josie interviewing people and writing. I also enjoyed Josie's dynamic with her sister Alice. I highly recommend this book to anyone especially if they are looking for a good fast paced book with an interesting plot.

4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“sometimes it's hard to remember that your voice is important until the world reminds you”

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On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

I loved On the Come Up by Angie Thomas. Angie Thomas is an incredible writer who I love and has written amazing novels and this one was no different in high quality and great content.

Bri is an inspiring rapper who hopes to make it big, but with her dad, a underground hip hop legend who died before he made it big she has big shoes to fill. When her mum loses her job and Bri is labelled a hoodlum at school she channels all her energy into making her first song. When the song goes viral Bri finds herself in the middle of huge controversy and being labelled a menace by the media but with her family on the edge of being evicted Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

This book was incredible and had me turning the page constantly. Bri was an amazing character and i loved seeing her interact with her friends and family. The plot was incredible and had a really great ending. I highly recommend this book as Angie Thomas has once again done something amazing by writing this book. And great news! its getting a movie, which I can't wait to see when it comes out.

“There's only so much you can take being described as somebody you're not.”

4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

This is a good fast paced Romance novel that I really enjoyed,

Cal is a successful online journalist with half a million followers but when his pilot dad gets picked to go on the highly publicised mission to mars, Cal has to move from Brooklyn to Houston changing his entire life. When Cal meets another 'Astrokid' Leon he quickly falls head over heels, but as the tensions grow higher for the mission to mars so does the stakes for Ca and Leon’s relationship

I enjoyed this book it is an easy read and fast paced. The characters were likeable and there was good suspension built up throughout the book. There was also good character development throughout the book that was good to see. I was very happy to see Cal and Leon get together and see Cal’s mentality about his future change throughout the book. There’s not much to say other than I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to you, it’s a good book to get out of a reading slump with and an easy read.

3/5 Stars

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LegendBorn by Tracy Deonn

LegendBorn is the first book in a fantasy series by Tracy Deonn that I absolutely loved!!

This novel is about Bree Matthews who shortly after her mother dies goes to an Early College program at UNC with her best friend Alice to escape her family home and childhood memories. When Bree witnesses a demon attack her first night on campus. Another teenager called a 'merlin' attempts to wipe Bree's mind and make her forget the event but fails. This awakens Bree's own magic and a memory of another Merlin at the hospital the night after her mother died. Bree discovers a secret society 'the order' of 'LegendBorn' students that the merlin who tried to wipe her memory is part of and decides to infiltrate the society. With the help of Nick who is a self-exiled member of the group. When Bree discovers the members of this group are descendants of Arthur and the knights of the round table fighting off a magical war. Should Bree continue the search for the truth about her mother's death or leave this society and it's magical war behind?

I'm not normally a fan of Fantasy but this was an incredible novel that I went through so quickly. I am anxiously waiting for the release of the next novel in the series. I loved reading about journey that Bree goes on to understand her magic and what choices she should make throughout the book. I loved the character Sel (who was the merlin that tried to wipe Bree's memory) and the other characters who were in the order. The ending was really satisfying and the build up was really well done. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like fantasy/contemporary fantasy.

“Don't make your life about the loss. Make it about the love.”

5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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“Don't make your life about the loss. Make it about the love.”

-LegendBorn by Tracy Deonn

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Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is the prequel to Angie Thomas's other novel The Hate U Give that I loved.

This book sets place seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give. Maverick Carter is the son of a former Gang Legend and dealer for the King Lords to help his mom, who works two jobs to keep the family afloat. Maverick is getting by but that all changes when he finds out he's a father. He has no idea how to look after a kid or how this will change his relationship with his girlfriend.

I loved this book, Angie Thomas is an incredible writer and it is clear to see in this book. Maverick was an incredibly likeable character who's story I really enjoyed reading and learning about. The side characters were also amazing to read like Mr Wyatt who took on a mentor-like role to Maverick an Dre who was Mavericks cousin. I really liked seeing Maverick and his dad interacting when Maverick visited him in prison. The plot kept me intrigued the entire way through and had a really satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book, it was fast paced and I will definitely read again.

“It's kinda like how we have to do with ourselves. Get rid of the things that don't do us any good. If it won't help the rose grow, you've gotta let it go.”

5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera is a sad romance novel that I really liked. It was a bit slow at times but still had me wanting to know what happened next.

History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera is a novel centring around Griffin a teenager grieving the death of his ex-boyfriend Theo. At Theos funeral, Griffin sees Jackson who was Theos boyfriend before he died. With Jackson as the only person who seems to understand what he's going through, Griffin ends up getting to know the one person he hates most. This is told throughout the story alternating from when Theo and Griffin started dating continuing on "History" to from when Theo died onwards "Today".

This book was sometimes slow and the alternating times is something i always feel slows a book down more. I did enjoy the story and the ending was good as well as how you were piecing together what happened as you went along. Griffin was definitely a flawed character who made a few wrong choices but so did Theo and i liked how their relationship was portrayed while and after they were dating. Wade who was Griffin and Theo's friend is awesome and a great character who i enjoyed reading about and seeing his relationship with Theo and Wade. This story definitely had an accurate portrayal of grief and loss and what it feels like to lose someone. I highly recommend this book especially if you've liked Adam Silveras other novels, as well as if you enjoy reading contemporary romance or novels centring LGBTQIA+ characters without it being about them being LGBTQIA+. This was a story of love and loss and it was really good.

“History remains with the people who will appreciate it most.”

3/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐

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I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson is a really great book that even though it had a slow start I immensely enjoyed.

This book centres around Noah and June who are twins with an alternating POV from the both of them, with June's POV taking place a few years after Noah's. Noah and June were inseparable until a tragedy that causes them both to change drastically which results in them barely speaking to each other. When June needs a new mentor and Noah meets a neighbour who becomes his friend, the story puts itself together through the eyes of these two.

I really enjoyed this book, it did have a slow start but the characters were intriguing and the story had me wanting more throughout. I was curious off the ending and it filled in all the gaps. This isn't a story for someone who wants an exciting action filled book. It's a medium paced modern contemporary story with side plots of romance but mainly about the relationship between Noah and June and how it changed after what happened that caused them to stoop speaking to each other. I would recommend this if you enjoy books like History is all You Left Me by Adam Silvera or They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera.

4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I gave up practically the whole world for you,” I tell him, walking through the front door of my own love story. “The sun, stars, ocean, trees, everything, I gave it all up for you.”

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every english class ive ever had has reaffirmed my belief that english is one of the most necessary classes we have actually

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actually most classes, and in general seeing people interact with media make me believe english classes are probably the most important ones i took

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there really isnt a single walk of life where learning to analyze the written and spoken word (of any language) isnt important. this is how you learn to understand harmful implications in fictional media. news media. how you learn to dissect propaganda. how certain word choices (intentional or unintentional) can cause irreparable damage. how you learn to see through advertisements. how you learn the weight of people’s words. how you learn to exercise empathy if that is not something that comes naturally to you. i know im a bit insane academically but this is definitely one of the hills i willingly choose to die on

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One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

This Magical-Realism, Romance novel by Casey McQuiston had me hooked from the first page. I loved Red, White and Royal Blue and I'll be honest loved this even more.

This novel centres around August who's a twenty-three-year-old who's been moving around her entire college career. When she moves in with her new roommates and starts working at a 24-hour pancake diner, her life is pretty simple. That is until Subway Girl aka Jane (A super cool Punk Lesbian with tattoos down her arm and a signature leather jacket). August started changing her commute on the Q to make sure she was on the same cart as Jane (who has become the best part of August's day), and continue getting to know each other. When August finds out that Jane is actually from the seventies and stuck on the Q, she'll do anything to help her. But with the difficulty of finding a solution and the risk of never seeing Jane again, what will happen?

As I said before, I loved this book! The Writing was amazing and the characters were incredibly loveable. August and Jane's relationship was awesome to read and see grow. As well as August's relationship with her roommates and see how they become closer throughout the book and how she becomes a part of their found family. I enjoyed the extracts at the beginning of chapters of different people talking about their different interactions with Jane. I highly recommend this book to everybody especially, if you liked Casey McQuiston's last novel or enjoy contemporary fantasy/magical realism.

5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Sometimes the point is to be sad, August. Sometimes you just have to feel it because it deserves to be felt.”

“When you spend your whole life alone, it's incredibly appealing to move somewhere big enough to get lost in. Where being alone looks like a choice.”

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“Sometimes the point is to be sad, August. Sometimes you just have to feel it because it deserves to be felt.”

- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

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Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan was a book that I got because of John Green and stayed because of David Levithan.

This book is about two Will Grayson's who both live very different lives but when they cross paths one cold evening things start to change for the both of them. One Will Grayson (written by David Levithan); a gay depressed teenager has gone to meet his online boyfriend Isaac and the other Will Grayson (written by John Green) who is ignoring his feeling for the girl he likes. After Will Grayson's meeting with Isaac going terribly he starts dating Tiny Cooper who happens to be other Will Grayson's best friend.

I thought this book was okay, I preferred Will Grayson a lot more to other Will Grayson. other Will Grayson was more of an oblivious a-hole but because his side of the story was written from his perspective was not shown fully. Will Grayson was actually quite funny and easier to sympathise with. The story was good and had a nice message that I enjoyed. I would recommend it if you liked Paper Towns by John Green but if your looking for something more like Turtles all the Way Down or the Fault in our Stars maybe not.

3/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐

“maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure out if you want to fall, or how and when you're gonna land, and i gotta tell you, friends, to stop thinking about the landing, because it's all about falling.”

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“maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure out if you want to fall, or how and when you're gonna land, and i gotta tell you, friends, to stop thinking about the landing, because it's all about falling.”

-Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

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Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan is a wlw Romance that is a wonderful book that I loved reading. Also the cover is stunning.

This story centres around Morgan and Ruby. After Morgan gets kicked out of her private catholic school for being Lesbian, she's staring at a new school, out and proud about her sexuality. Ruby loves working on cars. Ruby would probably spend all her free time in the shop if it wasn't for her mother, who wants Ruby to be Miss America and enters her in beauty pageants almost every week. When Ruby almost hits Morgan with her car that's where everything begins to change.

I really loved this book, I loved how Moran and Ruby were really well rounded characters besides their sexuality. Ruby was a really easy character to like and her character development was visible throughout the book. Morgan was a bit more hard headed but still fixed her mistakes in the end. The plot was good and the book tackled issues like homophobia and abuse while still remaining light hearted, without taking away from the seriousness of these issues. There was Bi, Lesbian, Gay and Trans representation which was good to see.

4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I’m not spending my life pretending I’m something I’m not, or making myself smaller and quieter, just because someone else thinks I should.”