Book Review: The Beginning Of Everything

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Rep: One of Erza’s friends is questioning himself and later is stated to have a boyfriend. So he could be Bi/Pan/Gay
Trigger Warnings: There is animal on animal abuse leading to the death of an animal, towards the end, i don’t want to spoil it but fyi

This book i’m salty about for one reason, I thought it was going to be cute and fluffy, and then last four or so chaptures it throws you into a sad book. Still, I love it and never saw the twist coming.

I loved Cassidy all the same. I have switched to my chosen name (I’m Trans) to Charlotte/Charlie, and it’s so cool finding my chosen name in books but it does seem Charlotte is used often for bitchy snobby girls so, yay me for chosing it ( lol).

Totally get this book tho! Cover is a yuck ( The paper back is blue on blue) but don’t let that stop you.

Book Review: Technically, You Started It

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Rep: Haley is Demisexual with anxiety; Martin is Bisexual with anxiety
Trigger Warnings: None that i can think of

Can I just say Demisexual rep? Like? OMG. Finding people like me is super hard! The anxiety she displays is spot on. She is me but with pink hair and a richer family.

The format of just txt messages was super cute and so easy to follow. This book was sweet. cute and fluffy yet with just enough Teenager “who am i?” to ground it. Get this book!

Book Review: How to make friends with the dark

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Rep: One of the girls at the grief group is Bisexual; One of the foster mothers could be New Age or Witch but it is seen as a positive trait and not a negative one
Trigger Warnings: Acholo abuse, Thoughts of suicide & self harming, Boyfriend on girlfriend abuse, Child abuse

This book was super sad but also so so so good. The names were abit odd such as Cake and Tiger but over time I got over it.

A raw looking into foster care, so it does have intense themes.

I totally rec the book however, just try to not do what I did and read it after 4 sad books before it, lol.

Book Review: Georgia Peaches And Other Forbidden Fruit

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Rep: Lesbian romance; Autistic Character; Pro-Queer Christians
Trigger warnings: Mention of miscarrying; Drugs and acholo abuse, Homophobic language

Joanna has to move when her father remarries and she agrees to play straight for him. Dana is a walking mess and somewhat bothered me as that stereotype Queer. Always drinking, doing drugs and sleeping around. Mary loves Jesus and struggles to balance her devotion with being Queer. George has two mothers. Mary’s brother has autism.

This book made me long for the same love Joanna and Mary have with religion and being Queer. Often I feel like I can’t be both but this book made me wish for the same options. Youth groups and church trips,ect.

There are some rude Christians in the book but 97% of them start out Queer positive and a few rethink their beliefs when Mary comes out.

I would love to find more books like this one. Queer and Religion Positive. Totally get on this book!

Book Review: The Love And Lies of Rukhsana Ali

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Rep: Gay And Lesbian; Muslim characters
Trigger Warning: Rukhsana is drugged and has her passport stolen by her own parents and is trapped in a foreign country; Rukhsana’s Mother is revealed later in the book to have been raped by her father; Rukhsana’s Grandmother had her husband killed

I loved 99% of the book. One thing super bothered me in terms of eye rolling. Her parents are homophobic for 99% of the book but one death and suddenly they are going to pride rallies in Settle like they were always fine with it. I don’t find that turn around realistic at all.

I do love that the book doesn’t bash Islam. I’m not Muslim but sometimes when a book deals with super religious families, the religion is blamed for all the woes.

I would 100% recommend this book. It’s not a fully hopeful Queer book but not fully sad either.

Book Review: Everything Everything

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Rep: Olly’s friend in Hawaii is Gay;
Trigger Warnings: Olly’s dad is a drunk who hits his wife and sometimes fights with Olly; The Twist could be triggering but I don’t wanna spoil said twist even tho this is an older book

Note: I can’t remember if Maddy and her Mom are POC in the book, I am not reviewing the movie

Maddy is allergic to everything, Olly moves next door and the teenagers strike up a forbidden romance.

I am so late to this and The Sun Is Also A Star but to be fair, I *hate* romance. So I passed them over again and again. I’ve been looking for light, warm and fuzzy books so I snag the box set of both books for $15.

Not much in the way of rep really. The Gay friend doesn’t own much page time. I would still recommend this book however. You can get both hardcovers in a box set from Amazon for $15. Great deal on price!

Book Review: Rules We’re Meant To Break

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Rep: Not much aside from random Bisexual Sister of the love interest
Recommend: Yes!

I’m not normally one for romance. I would say I *hate* romance actually but I’ve been looking for something soft,warm and fuzzy.

As the child of a devoiced Mother who remarried when I was four, I totally could relate. my Mom was 2 and done. She got it right the second marriage. So I didn’t get thrown around like Amber did.

Her set of rules make sense, and I could see where they came from. Most of the friendship fights between Amber and Hannah was classic just not talking to one another and keeping secrets. Alittle tired of the trope but for the age group, it fits.

If your looking for rep, you gonna be unhappy. Jordan’s sister is Bisexual and has a girlfriend, but that’s all the rep you’ll find here. If your here for romance that isn’t force or gross, you’ll be just fine with this book.

Book Review: Hungry Hearts

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Title: Hungry Hearts by Elsie Chapman
Rep: Only Anna-Marie’s story has Queer Rep ( Her story has FTM Trans character)
Recommend: Yes!

I was hoping for more Queer rep but only one story had such rep. There really isn’t a story in here I truly disliked. I could have done without the rude remarks about white people food or cooking style. That was unneeded.

If your here for Queer rep, your out of luck until the final story. It *is* a diverse book however. I’m just tired of little to no queer rep in my books. It’s 2019, it’s not something I’m willing to over look anymore.

Would I recommend it anyways? Yes *but* I want casual queer rep more often, and let it finally be Pansexual, Transgender, Non-Binary, Genderfluid, Asexual and or Aromantic rep at that.

Book Review: Like A Love Story

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Title: Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Rep: Queer Rep; Reza is an Iranian Immigrant
Recommend: Yes!

Warnings for the story: This story does deal with AIDs, so there is some graphic talks on how it changes the body

Reza struggles to come to terms with being Gay as he believes all Gay people will get AIDs at some point. His family isn’t the most supportive.

The book leans alot on madonna music, so if your not into her or don’t know her, you might be atad lost. I ended up loading some of the songs on YouTube to see why Reza or the writer felt so strongly. I couldn’t feel the same way.

Totally get this book tho.

Book Review: Patron Saints Of Nothing

Posted on by Charlotte (Xe/Hirs/Hirself)

Title: Patron Saints Of Nothing by Randy Ribay
Rep: F/F Couple
Recommend: Yes!

Warnings for story: Drug use and abuse; Talks of what long term drug use does to a person

I have some faint awareness of the issues bought up in this novel. I’m someone who reads alot of news. So I wasn’t as in the dark as I feared I would be.

The book deals with family wounds, and I’m always drawn to such books. I don’t think there is a single family not touched by illegal drugs in some form.

I totally rec this book.