#louisa onomé

[judgingbooksbycovers]

Pride and Joy: A Novel

By Louisa Onomé.

[bookish-black-girl]

quiet, spoliery thoughts on The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé

Before sitting down to write up these thoughts, I read a review somewhere about how this book was the perfect embodiment of ‘sad girl summer’. On one hand, I agree and I’m glad I didn’t see that before diving in. On the other hand, I feel like it scratches up the surface and can’t peer below to see the rest.

I mean, let’s break this down. The title literally has the word melancholy, and if anything, that should have clued me in to what I was getting into. Our girl Summer (during the season of summer, funny enough--purposefully enough I suspect) is dealing with something no teen has any business dealing with: abandonment. Her parents skip out on her and are on the run from law enforcement and we find Summer where her solitude is interrupted by a case worker who sets her up with a cousin she’s never met. 

It took me a while to read this book because I requested an arc around the holidays and had too much chip on my dip. But once I sat down to read, I finished faster than I thought I would. 

Summer is a cocktail of anger, sadness, and that itchy feeling of not feeling like you belong. Where everyone leaves you so before you can let pain smack you, you punch up and leave first. This book is mostly a character study, so those who prefer action and plot and ~things~ happening will be disappointed. This ain’t that kind of book. 

Out of all of Louisa’s books so far, Like Home is still my favorite, but Melancholy has it’s own merits and got a strong 4 stars out of me. We spend most of our time in Summer’s head, feeling her hurts, running away with her, watching her struggle to deal how to navigate a world where she feels she won’t be truly free until she’s 18. Not once does it feel oppressive or does the story drag; if anything, it was just me holding my breath until the very last page of the very last chapter. 

[bookaddict24-7]

12 Books By Black Authors I've Recently Read & Recommend:

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

When it All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw

The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown

Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon

The Getaway by Lamar Giles

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

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Have you read any of these books? Would you recommend them?

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Happy reading!

[richincolor]

We have seven new books to share with you this week. It's a great way to wrap up the month. Which ones are on your TBR list?

The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé Feiwel Friends

Doesn’t she see? I can do this on my own.

Summer Uzoma is fine. Sure, her parents went on the run after they were accused of committing a crime, leaving her behind. Sure, she’s been alternating stays with her friends’ families. Sure, she sometimes still secretly visits her old home. And sure, she has trouble talking about any of this. But she’s fine. She has her skateboard and her bus pass. She just has to turn eighteen in a few weeks and then she’ll really and truly be free.

So it’s extra annoying when a nosy social worker gets involved. Summer doesn’t expect any relative to be able to take her in, so she’s very surprised to hear that she’ll now be living with her cousin Olu—someone she hasn’t seen in years, who’s a famous singer in Japan last she heard, and who’s not much older than Summer.

Life with Olu is awkward for many reasons—not least of all because Olu has her own drama to deal with. But with her cousin and friends’ efforts, maybe Summer can learn to trust people enough to let them in again? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown Quill Tree Books

Darren Johnson lives in his head. There, he can pine for his crush–total dream girl, Delia Dawson–in peace, away from the unsolicited opinions of his talkative family and showboat friends. When Delia announces a theme song contest for her popular podcast, Dillie D in the Place to Be, Darren’s friends–convinced he’ll never make a move–submit one of his secret side projects for consideration.

After the anonymous romantic verse catches Dillie’s ear, she sets out to uncover the mystery singer behind the track. Now Darren must decide: Is he ready to step out of the shadows and take the lead in his own life? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker Joy Revolution

A riveting, swoon-worthy teen romance centered on two high achievers fighting for the title of high school valedictorian and falling in love along the way, from debut author Danielle Parker.

Sasha Johnson-Sun might not know everything—like how to fully heal after her dad’s passing or how many more Saturdays her mom can spend cleaning houses. But the one thing Sasha is certain of? She will graduate this year as Skyline High’s class valedictorian.

At least, she was sure before the principal calls Sasha and her cute, effortlessly gifted ex–best friend, Ezra Davis-Goldberg, into his office to deliver earth-shattering they’re tied for valedictorian and the scholarship attached…

This outcome can’t be left to chance. So, Sasha and Ezra agree on a best-of-three, winner-take-all academic bet. As they go head-to-head, they are forced not only to reexamine why they drifted apart but also to figure out who they’ve become since. With her future hanging in the balance, Sasha must honor her family’s sacrifices by winning (at all costs) or give her heart a shot at finding happiness? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon Razorbill

Sixteen-year-old Bethany Greene, though confident and self-assured, is what they call a late-bloomer. She’s never had a boyfriend, date, or first kiss. She’s determined to change that but after her crush turns her down cold for Homecoming–declaring her too inexperienced–and all her back-up ideas fall through, she cautiously agrees to go with her best friend’s boyfriend Jacob. A platonic date is better than no date, right? Until Saylor breaks up with said boyfriend.

Dumped twice in just two months, Jacob Yeun wonders if he’s the problem. After years hiding behind his camera and a shocking summer glow up, he wasn’t quite ready for all the attention or to be someone’s boyfriend. There are no guides for his particular circumstances, or for taking your ex’s best friend to the dance.

Why not make the best of an awkward situation? Bethany and Jacob decide to fake date for practice, building their confidence in matters of the heart.

And it works–guys are finally noticing Bethany. But things get complicated as their kissing sessions–for research of course!–start to feel real. This arrangement was supposed to help them in dating other people, but what if their perfect match is right in front of them? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

When the Vibe is Right by Sarah Dass Balzer & Bray

There are two things Tess Crawford knows for sure:

• She’s destined to be a great Trinidadian Carnival costume designer like her renowned uncle, Russell Messina, and will one day inherit leadership of the family’s masquerade band, Grandeur. • Her classmate, the popular social media influencer, Brandon Richards, is the bane of her existence. Everything about him irks her, from his annoying nickname for Tess (Boop) to his association with David, her awful ex.

But when the future of Grandeur nears the brink of collapse in the face of band rivalry, Tess finds to her chagrin that she must team up with Brandon in a desperate attempt to revive the company.

As Tess and Brandon spend more time together, Tess begins to wonder if everything she thought she knew might not be so certain after all. . . .

Set in lush, gorgeous Trinidad, this is a novel about finding love in the most unexpected places. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Moonlit Vine by Elizabeth Santiago Tu Books

Fourteen-year-old Taína just learned that she is a descendant of a long line of strong Taíno women, but will knowing this help her bring peace and justice to her family and community?

Despite her name, Taína Perez doesn’t know anything about her Taíno heritage, nor has she ever tried to learn. After all, how would ancient Puerto Rican history help with everything going on? There’s constant trouble at school and in her neighborhood, her older brother was kicked out of the house, and with her mom at work, she’s left alone to care for her little brother and aging grandmother. It’s a lot for a 14-year-old to manage.

But life takes a wild turn when her abuela tells her she is a direct descendant of Anacaona, the beloved Taíno leader, warrior, and poet, who was murdered by the Spanish in 1503. Abuela also gives her an amulet and a zemi and says that it’s time for her to step into her power like the women who came before her. But is that even possible? People like her hardly make it out of their circumstances, and the problems in her home and community are way bigger than Taína can manage. Or are they?

A modern tale with interstitial historical chapters, The Moonlit Vine brings readers a powerful story of the collective struggle, hope, and liberation of Puerto Rican and Taíno peoples.

Also available in Spanish! — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Books of Clash Volume 1: Legendary Legends of Legendarious Achievery by Gene Luen Yang illustrated by Les McClaine and Alison Acton First Second

Based on Clash of Clans and Clash Royale and penned by superstar graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, this first volume of this action-packed eight-volume series brings the characters from everyone’s favorite mobile gaming sensation to life!

SEE! The illustrated exploits of one young Hog Rider and his trusted companion in an unpredictable tale of fantasy and adventure!

READ! Their journey from no-good warriors on the battlefield to true heroes of the Royal Arena!

BATTLE! When danger strikes the village of JazzyPickles and its colorful cast of characters in this heartwarming and hilarious graphic novel based on two of the world’s most popular video games.

In this epic new series set in the world of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale , experience a laugh-out-loud tale of friendship and fun! –– Cover image and summary via Goodreads

[musingsofmonica]

March 2024 Diverse Reads

March 2024 Diverse Reads:

•”The Great Divide” by Cristina Henriquez, March 05, Ecco Press, Literary/Historical/Sagas/Hispanic & Latino

•”Anita de Monte Laughs Last” by Xochitl Gonzalez, March 05, Flatiron Books, Literary/Historical/Coming of Age/Hispanic & Latino/Multiple Timeliness

•”Thunder Song: Essays” by Sasha Lapointe, March 05, Counterpoint, Essays, Anthropology/ Ethnic Studies/Indigenous Studies/Popular Culture/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/Native American & Aboriginal

•”James” by Percival Everett, March 19, Doubleday Books, Literary/Historical/Satire

•”Parasol Against the Axe” by Helen Oyeyemi, March 05, Riverhead Books, Literary/Magical Realism/Friendship

•”36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem” by Nam Le, March 05, Knopf Publishing Group, Poetry, Asian American/European/English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh

•The Moon That Turns You Back: Poems” by Hala Alyan, March 12, Ecco Press, Poetry, Middle Eastern/Family/Places

•”Ward Toward: Volume 118” by Cindy Juyoung Ok, March 05, Yale University Press, Poetry/Asian/Women/Spaces/Mental Health/Hospitalization/Cultural & Social Themes

•”There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension” by Hanif Abdurraqib, March 26, Random House, Personal Memoir/Ethnic Studies/African American Studies/Basketball

•”You Get What You Pay for: Essays” by Morgan Parker, March 12, One World, Essays/Ethnic Studies/African American Studies/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/African American & Black

•”Pride and Joy” by Louisa Onomé, March 12, Atria Books, Contemporary/Women/Family Life/African American 

•”Like Happiness” by Ursula Villarreal-Moura, March 26, Celadon Books, Literary/Coming of Age/Feminist/LGBT/Hispanic & Latino

•”Memory Piece” by Lisa Ko, March 19, Riverhead Books, Literary/Women/Asian American

•”The Angel of Indian Lake” by Stephen Graham Jones, March 26, S&S/Saga Press, Horror/Thriller/Suspense/Native American & Aboriginal

•”Women of Good Fortune” by Sophie Wan, March 05, Graydon House, ContemporaryWomen/Crime/Friendship/Feminist/World Literature/Asia/China

•”Victim” by Andrew Boryga, March 12, Doubleday Books, Literary/Satire/Humorous/Black Humor

•”The Emperor and the Endless Palace” by Justinian Huang, March 26, Mira Books, Historical/Fantasy/Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology/Romance/LGBT/Asian American/Cultural Heritage

•”Until August” by Gabriel García Márquez & Anne McLean (Translator), March 12, Knopf Publishing Group, Literary/Women/Family Life/Marriage & Divorce

•”A A Year of Last Things: Poems” by Michael Ondaatje, March 19, Knopf Publishing Group, Poetry/Death, Grief, Loss/Love & Erotica/America/World Heritage

•”Green Frog: Stories” Gina Chung, March 12, Knopf Publishing Group, Short Stories/Family Life/Folktales/Fantasy/American/Korean American

Happy reading!

Monica ✌️

[feyres-divorce-lawyer]

Top 5 books from 2023!

uhhhh

1. Bloodmarked ~ Tracy Deonn

2. The Burning God ~ R. F. Kuang

3. Iron Widow ~ Xiran Jay Zhao

4. Twice As Perfect ~ Louisa Onomé

5. A Magic Steeped in Poison ~ Judy I. Lin

man this year has been terrible for me😭

top 5 ask game

[weirdo09]

top five books?

the hate u give by angie thomas

the coming up by angie thomas

the sun is also a star by nicola yoon

dear haiti, love alaina

like home by louisa onomé

[publishedtoday]

Twice as Perfect - Louisa Onomé

For seventeen-year-old Adanna Nkwachi, life is all about duty: to school and the debate team, to her Nigerian parents, and even to her cousin Genny as Ada helps prepare Genny’s wedding to Afrobeats superstar Skeleboy (“Skeleboy me, Skeleboy this money, everything na Skeleboy…that Skeleboy!”). Because ever since her older brother, Sam, had a fight with their parents a few years ago and disappeared, somebody has to fill the void he left behind. Ada may never know what caused Sam to leave home, but the one thing she’s certain of is that it’s on her to make sure her parents’ sacrifices aren’t in vain. One day, chance brings the siblings back together. Although she fears how their parents will react if they find out she and Sam are back in touch, Ada’s determined to get answers about the night Sam left—Sam, who was supposed to be an engineer but is now, what, a poet? The more she learns about Sam’s poetry, the more Ada begins to wonder if maybe her own happiness is just as important as doing what’s expected of her. Amid parental pressure, anxiety over the debate competition, a complicated love life, and the Nigerian wedding-to-end-all-weddings, can Ada learn, just this once, to put herself first?

[curlyhairedbibliophile]

Cover Art | Like Home by Louisa Onomé

Fans of Netflix's On My Block, In the Heights, and readers of Elizabeth Acevedo and Ibi Zoboi will love this debut novel about a girl whose life is turned upside down after one local act of vandalism throws her relationships and even her neighborhood into turmoil. Chinelo, or Nelo as her best friend Kate calls her, is all about her neighborhood Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, ride-or-die sense of community, and her memories of growing up there. Ginger East isn't what it used to be, though. After a deadly incident at the local arcade, all her closest friends moved away, except for Kate. But as long as they have each other, Nelo's good. Only, Kate's parents' corner store is vandalized, leaving Nelo shaken to her core. The police and the media are quick to point fingers, and soon more of the outside world descends on Ginger East with promises to "fix" it. Suddenly, Nelo finds herself in the middle of a drama unfolding on a national scale. Worse yet, Kate is acting strange. She's pushing Nelo away at the exact moment they need each other most. Nelo's entire world is morphing into something she hates, and she must figure out how to get things back on track or risk losing everything⁠—and everyone⁠—she loves.

Artwork by Bex Glendining

Release date | Feb 23, 2021 Goodreads

[lifeofafemalebibliophile]

Book Review: "Like Home" by Louisa Onomé

Book Review: “Like Home” by Louisa Onomé

“Like Home” by Louisa Onomé (2021) Genre: Contemporary, YA, Fiction Page Length: 416 pages (electronic review edition) Synopsis: Chinelo, or Nelo as her best friend Kate calls her, is all about her neighborhood Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, ride-or-die sense of community, and her memories of growing up there. Ginger East isn’t what it used to be, though. After a deadly incident at…

[2021ya]

LIKE HOME

by Louisa Onomé

(Delacorte, 2/23/21)

9780593172599

Add to Goodreads

Purchase from Bookshop

Preorder Campaign: Preorder or request from your library to receive a signed bookplate, bookmark, postcard, and a  "LIKE HOME: The Arcade" short story (sent digitally)! (INTL)

Chinelo, or Nelo as her best friend Kate calls her, is all about her neighborhood Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, ride-or-die sense of community, and the memories she has growing up there with her friends. Ginger East isn't what it used to be though. After a deadly incident at the local arcade, most of her friends' families moved away. Kate, whose family owns the local corner store, is still there and as long as that stays constant, Nelo's good. When Kate's parent's store is vandalized and the vandal still at large, Nelo is shaken to her core. And then the police and the media get involved and more of the outside world descends upon Ginger East with promises to "fix the neighborhood." Suddenly, Nelo finds herself in the middle of a drama unfolding on a national scale. Worse yet, Kate is acting strange. She's pushing Nelo away at the exact moment they need each other most. Now Nelo's entire world is morphing into something she hates and she must figure out how to get things back on track or risk losing everything--and everyone--she loves.

[bookish-black-girl]

A reader's self check-in!!

Goals/Interesting Stats

37/28 books read ✅ 0 rereads 😭 3 "read whatcha got" books 7 ARCs 1 nonfiction 3 transfemme reads 7 sapphic reads 2 middle grade reads 5 "Read Disable" challenge

So...not terrible, but not amazing either.

I have yet to really tackle translated works, my kindle library, or give myself a moment (or a blog post) to dissect the books I have read and make good on my IG goal to write more longform reviews. I know it's only March, but for some reason I still feel a lot of guilt. (I shouldn't have had so many "goals" but it's so hard when you want to read allllllllllllll the books.)

Currently Reading/Last Read

I finished Louisa Onomé's adult fiction debut, Pride & Joy which released today (I read the arc). I've also been on a huge manga kick and have been catching up on Komi Can't Communicate (vol. 21) and Ima Koi: Now I'm In Love (vol. 5). I have a hybrid read going with Surpassing Certainty by Janet Mock, and I'm f i n a l l y tackling the rest of the Crave books that I just decided to buy all of the series of BEFORE I read them 🤦🏽‍♀️ (Covet, 172 pages in).

I'd really like to get back into the 'blogging' aspect of this blog, just for me, and I hope to return to my middle grade read posts + reviews.

[bookaddict24-7]

New Young Adult Releases! (May 30th, 2023)

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Have I missed any new Young Adult releases? Have you added any of these books to your TBR? Let me know!

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New Standalones/First in a Series:

Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon

When the Vibe is Right by Sarah Dass

The Girl Next Door by Cecilia Vinesse

The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé

You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker

Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown

No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore

Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko

The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro

The Moonlit Vine by Elizabeth Santiago

The Map of William by Michael Thomas

New Sequels: 

The Night in Question (The Agathas #2) by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson 

Earth Called: Tales of a New World #4 by P.C. Cast

Cherish (Crave #6) by Tracy Wolff

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Happy reading!

[ourravenboys]

a mostly queer list of 2022 book releases that im excited for

kiss & tell by adib khorram

about the openly gay member of a hit boy band navigating fame, breakups, and being a queer role model

icebreaker by a.l. graziadei

about two rival hockey players battling to be the top draft pick & maybe falling in love

(im currently reading the ARC of this book and really enjoying it!)

love somebody by rachel roasek

a rom-com about a popular high-school girl, her ex-boyfriend-turned-best-friend, and the girl they both fall for

portrait of a thief by grace d. li

a heist novel that follows chinese-americans stealing back looted art. about diaspora, unlikely friendships, the colonization of art, and the complexity of identity

 we deserve monuments by jas hammonds 

a biracial teen moves to small-town Georgia to live with her estranged grandmother and becomes entangled in a web of family secrets, the town's racist history, and her growing feelings for the girl next door

she gets the girl by rachael lippincott & alyson derrick  two college freshmen set out to help each other get the girl of their dreams. but as they work together, they begin to fall for each other. also the authors are a married couple 💖💗💘💗💖💖💗 dauntless by elisa a. bonnin

in this sapphic, philipines-inspired fantasy, a teenage girl must bring together two broken worlds to save her nation

only a monster by vanessa len

in this urban fantasy, there are monstrous families that have powers gained by stealing life from humans. joan is half-monster, and when the boy she loves turns out to be a monster slayer, she is forced to go on the run with the heir to a monster family that hates her own

flip the script by lyla lee

about a bi girl starring in a kdrama and falling for her on-screen rival!! 

twice as perfect by louisa onomé

a nigerian-canadian girl deals with her estranged brother and the planning for her cousin's Crazy Rich Asians-style Nigerian wedding

one for all by lillie lainoff

a gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love

hell followed with us by andrew joseph white

post-apocalyptic horror about a trans boy escaping from the cult that unleashed Armageddon and teams up with a queer youth centre fighting for survival

gloria buenrostro is not my girlfriend by brandon hoàng

about a Vietnamese American boy who befriends the most beautiful girl in school to gain acceptance from his peers. when she finds out, he’s forced to confront how he's allowed his friends' toxic masculinity sabotage the best friendship he's ever had

boys i know by anna gracia

a high school senior navigates messy boys and messier relationships in this look into the overlap of asian american identity and teen sexuality

the loophole by naz kutub

follows a queer Indian-Muslim boy travelling the world for a second chance at love after a magical heiress grants him three wishes

home field advantage by dahlia adler

sapphic romance between the school’s newest quarterback and the aspiring captain of the cheerleading squad

ophelia after all by racquel marie

follows a biracial, self described “boy crazy” teenage girl who starts to question her sexuality during prom season

[blackchildrensbooksandauthors]

📢NEW YA Book Alert

📖Twice as Perfect

Louisa Onomé

July 26, 2022

Ages: 14 and up

Pages: 416

Feiwel & Friends

[feyres-divorce-lawyer]

🥺 for the ask!

bookish ask game

🥺 what’s a truly underrated book/series you recommend and wish the whole world would read?

ooh yay twice now! radiance by grace draven, political marriage where the mc and mmc think the other the ugliest thing to walk the earth, i loved it. and also twice as perfect by louisa onomé, made me cry