Genevieve

This was my first Riley Sager book, and I really enjoyed it! It was a slow start, but I found myself suspicious of every character. Once the twists started rolling in, I was genuinely shocked. There was even a moment when I gasped, and had to close the book. Sager did a great job building tension towards the end, and keeping you engaged until the very last page.

Wow!! Just finished this book, and it was absolutely amazing. I listened to the audiobook while reading, and having Trevor Noah narrate his own story brought it to life in such a powerful way. He gives a raw, honest glimpse into his life growing up in South Africa towards the end of apartheid. I knew a little about the topic, but hearing about colorism and systemic injustice from his perspective opened my eyes in a way I didn’t expect. And can we talk about his mom?! She’s hilarious, strong, and had me laughing out loud more than once. This memoir is both heartbreaking and beautiful. One of the best I’ve read, and one I’ll be recommending to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC!

Our Vicious Oaths started strong, the storyline had great potential and really pulled me in. That said, the spice was a little too heavy for my personal taste, and at times it pulled me away from the depth of the story. I found myself wanting more focus on the plot and the magical elements. This was my first N.E. Davenport book, and overall an okay read. I’m still excited to check out Blood Trial and Blood Gift!

I went into this book completely blind, just trusting a friend’s recommendation and wow. I was hooked from the very first chapter. This story took me on an emotional roller coaster I did not see coming. It’s beautifully written, and as my first Jennifer Hartmann book, it absolutely won’t be my last. The way it explores healing and finding love after deep trauma is both powerful and unforgettable.

This was one of my book club’s June picks, and honestly I did not enjoy this as much as I wanted. The book started off decent, but the pacing was way too slow to be classified as a thriller. The storyline got pretty confusing at times, and by the end, I was just kinda over it. This is a no for me.

This book was beautifully written, and the premise was powerful. However, the writing style didn’t fully click for me. I got to Chapter 10 and realized I wasn’t fully grasping it, so I started over and even bought the audiobook to help me through. I appreciated the emotion and depth, but overall, it just didn’t land for me the way I hoped. Still, I’m glad I gave it a chance.

Just finished Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell, thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the early ARC 🙌🏾⁣ in exchange for an honest review. This book is told in different POVs and sometimes was confusing. I really wish the chapters were labeled by character, so that we could keep up with their POV. This seemed more like a dramatic lifetime movie rather than a psychological thriller. Immediately after reading, I gave it a 4⭐️, but after waiting to post my review I’m dropping it down to 3.5⭐️. The plot was a little predictable, but her writing pulls you in, definitely still worth the read.

“The Black God’s Drums” was an outstanding read. A short novella that captivates you from the start. The author blended magic, history, and Afro-Caribbean spirituality together with great detail. This short book has amazing characters and world-building. I read the physical book as I listened to the audiobook. The narrator bought everything to life. If you’re into fast-paced fantasy, with rich cultural roots and a powerful voice, this is 100% worth the read.

A powerful read. It follows nine or ten characters connected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and each POV adds something emotional and real. The writing was beautiful, and the grief felt so raw. Myriam J. A. Chancy did a great job showing the grief and despair the Haitian people went through.

I stumbled across this book in a bookstore, and since it focused on Haiti, I knew I had to pick it up to learn more about my culture. It’s definitely a heavy and intense read. At times, it felt a bit too long and slow-paced, but the writing was beautiful, especially the vivid scenes and descriptions of the war. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the historical context, even if the pacing didn’t fully hold me the entire way through.

This book was the first book I read in verse, and at first I was like I’m not going to like this. This was such a powerful story, Ibi Ziboi and Yusuf Salaam have truly written a masterpiece that opens your eyes to the injustices that black and brown people of color deal with. It’s raw, inspiring, and beautifully written. I 100% recommend it if you're looking for something that truly moves you.

This was a chill and cute read. I liked how it blended humor with real-life struggles, especially the pressure of being a first-gen Haitian American teen dealing with money, expectations, and figuring out love. Overall a good read.

I read Remembrance for Haitian Heritage Month, and I appreciated that it featured Haitian characters and language, especially how the author wove Haitian Creole into the story. I liked the use of four different POVs, but the overall plot was hard to follow. I wasn’t always sure how or when the storylines were supposed to connect, and I found Gaelle’s storyline particularly confusing. I wanted to love it more, but something just felt like it was missing.

The Moulite sisters have done it again. This story was so powerful, beautifully written, and deeply moving. One of the Good Ones tackles important social issues like police brutality, racism, and family grief with so much care. The characters felt real, the twists kept me hooked, and the message will stay with me. The premise of “being one of the good ones” is something we hear far too often when discussing Black lives, and this book challenges that idea in such a thoughtful way. A must-read that will stay in my heart and mind for a while.

This was my second book by Ibi Zoboi, I truly enjoy her writing style. This story had me hooked from start to finish and took me through a whirlwind of emotions. This book will have you going through Fabiola’s journey, from leaving Haiti, and being separated from her mother, to the culture shock of living in Detroit. With the heart breaking story of love, family, lost, belonging and beliefs, this felt so real and powerful. The drama and raw glimpse into street life added intensity and depth to the story. I highly recommend this one!

The mix of real life social issues, mystery, and supernatural stuff made it a pretty interesting read. The book kept me guessing the whole time trying to figure out who was involved, and what was really going on. The supernatural twist caught me off guard at first, but it worked and added to the tension.

Loved the concept and unique take on dreams, but I wished it went a little deeper. Still worth checking out if you're into intuitive dreamwork.

Really enjoyed Dear Haiti, Love Alaine! She was so real and very funny. The diary, emails, news article format was different but I enjoyed it. Maybe because I’m a little nosey and it felt like I was peeking into her life! 🤣 I loved the way Haiti was described, and I could really picture the scenery. The touch of magic, and all the family drama, had me wanting to know more. I couldn’t put the book down. Overall a great read!

Overall, this was an incredible story full with history. Vanessa Riley did a great job capturing the time period with her writing. It started off kinda slow, mainly because there’s so much history packed in, but once I got into it, I was drawn into the lives of these two heroic women. We so often hear about the men of the Haitian Revolution, so it was powerful to learn about the roles Gaou Adbaraya Toya and Marie-Claire Bonheur Dessalines played.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. You could really feel how much Nigeria missed her mom. Her father frustrated me through most of the story, and it hurt to see how much she had to grow up before her time. She had to grow up fast, but watching her find her own path was powerful. I also loved how the Haitian culture was included, it made the story even more special to me. Seeing her break away from what others expected and choose her own path made this story unforgettable.

First read for Haitian Heritage Month, and it delivered! I absolutely loved The Rings of Revolution! It’s such a creative and powerful fantasy that shows the history of the Haitian Revolution. Emmanuel Jean-Pierre combines real history with magic, resistance, and Haitian culture. I could really imagine everything as I read. The characters were strong and unforgettable, and the story kept me hooked from start to finish. As a Haitian-American, it was amazing to see this part of history reimagined with pride and power. If you love historical fantasy with purpose, magic, and heart, this is a must-read!

I really wanted to like this book,it was one of my most anticipated reads, and I’d been searching for a copy for a while. When it became our book club pick, I was excited and jumped in with both the Kindle and audiobook versions. But honestly, it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, the pacing felt slow, and I kept waiting for something to pull me in. It finally started picking up toward the end,but by then, I was already over it.

I was really looking forward to this book, but it turned out to be just okay. While The Perfect Marriage hooked me from the start, this one felt a bit underwhelming. There were a few twists that grabbed my attention, but overall, it lacked the depth I was hoping for. Disappointed, because I really wanted to love it.

This audiobook made me feel as if I was watching a crime drama movie. Very fast paced action packed. Wasn’t my favorite S.A. Cosby book, but still definitely worth listening to.

Some books don’t just tell a story, they remind you how it feels to feel. How it feels to love and be loved. How to deal with grief, heal, and grow. And that even in life’s mess, we are all still worthy of love! This book will be one of my top recommendations for romance!!