#there is a horrifying lack of diversity in lesbian media

[whipitgod]

fuck the concept that one partner has to be a bottom and one partner has to be a top! and while im at it, fuck the idea that in order for a pairing to work you need to twinkify/feminize one of of the characters! that just isnt how gay relationships work 95% of the time! most real gay couples are verse, and most gay couples dont follow the stereotype that one person has to be fem and the other has to be masc! stop trying to apply heteronormative relationship dynamics to queer couples!

[transrightsjimin]

I'm asking as a confused trans and gay person regarding some of your recent posts saying aphobia doesn't exist, etc. Do you consider asexual people to be inherently LGBT even if they are cisgender and straight (heteroromantic)? I don't want to discriminate at all, I'm just confused because I see people fighting on here all the time about whether aces are part of the LGBT community or not. Do you have some insight for me as an ace nonbinary person? Thanks in advance!

no it’s fine lol dw!

i’m not sure how to explain this w/o being too extensive in what i say bc i’ve talked about this before but more in private conversations (and maybe some rants in tumblr posts) nd i tend to ramble abt it.

first of all i do not actually like the common conception that there is one way to define LGBT or the idea that everyone should fall within that category term or not, for example because the English language is colonial and rigid and does not reflect on experiences of all cultures, bc being gay or trans are not distinctly different experiences everywhere while they would be divided into different categories. so whereas i was more insistent on saying ‘you must be gay / bi / lesbian / trans to be LGBT / suffer from homophobia or transphobia’ i’ve come to realize now that this argument is rather exclusive of many gender diverse identities that do not correspond to all experiences or cultures. so i will stay away from using that argument.

however, i am speaking from my experience with online LGBT and asexual communities and have seen how the latter has tried to force itself into the other. i think a large issue with the asexual and aromantic communities is that they are partially based upon the creation of AVEN, an online forum founded by a homophobic and antisemitic man, and partially (though related to the former) by just blatantly made up statistics and history. not once have i seen a good argument or research or even personal accounts that illustrate very well why aphobia is a thing. i am asexual myself but do not want to take the lack of discrimination i faced for it as proof. there have been accounts of ‘aphobic’ discrimination that are either 1. much more a general concern with the OP facing misogyny and girls being sexualized, 2. someone making a remark based on a misconception of OP’s experiences or 3. misappropriation of terms and applying them to asexuality, e.g. ‘corrective rape’ was coined to refer to (African) lesbians who were assaulted under the presumption that it would turn them straight. asexuals have appropriated this term years ago to claim asexual people face rape on a large scale because perpetrators try to force them into liking sex. some people don’t even know the original meaning of the term because of this. i’m also not a big fan of this new interpretation of the term anyway, because legit sexual attraction is not the main reasons people commit rape; it is to seek power. this kind of mindset of asexual people being inherently vulnerable to sexual violence due to lack of feeling sexual attraction is seriously harmful; in the crime show Law and Order SVU, a suspect was let off because some main character said the suspect was asexual and this couldn’t have done it. people can be and sometimes are raped by an asexual person, because it is about taking advantage of someone and not attraction. the sole fact that so many authors of overly fetishistic fanfiction are asexual should prove this much, but instead the lack of attraction is used to distance oneself from the harm one can still cause.

and yes, asexual people can face discrimination, especially if you’re a girl you’re expected to be sexually submissive, which is pretty horrifying on its own. but this is not the same as targeted discrimination on a mass scale or institutional whatsoever. we are not thaught as we grow old that asexuals are disgusting, are a joke, or need to be violently murdered. my biggest issue with the asexual and aromantic community that we (as i have removed myself from it years ago) keep telling it that anecdontal accounts of being mildly discriminated is nowhere near the same as risking being kicked out of your house, being violently attacked due to the way you appear or having a partner of the same gender, being systematically discriminated by all sorts of institutions in society and being thaught that what you are is bad from an early age on. and then the counterargument is that LGBT is more recognized but asexual and aromantic isn’t, so ‘ace / aro’ people deserve to be included because they are underrepresented in media. but that is not the case at all. the speed at which asexuality has suddenly been incorporated and included into LGBT spaces, also offline, has been ridiculously fast. nowadays when you see a bunch of LGBT flags you see the asexual one being included a lot, sometimes in 3 different versions, while the lesbian flag is nowhere to be seen. lesbians are consistently excluded from their supposedly own community and they are not included in LGBT due to a need to change underrepresentation or lack of awareness, but because they face their own version of homophobia. the most mind-boggling thing about cis / cishet asexual and aromantic people being told that they are not oppressed, is that the response is not relief (’oh i’m glad i don’t face systematic oppression for this thing’) but anger (’how dare you not let us into your group!’). LGBT is seen as a fun party that is unnecessarily mean to anyone it gatekeeps, as if it is not actually necessary to keep out cishet people who benefit from their privilege and can use that against the rest in the group if they join.

my largest issue with the asexual community however, and i’ve touched upon this a bit before in the post, is that it victimizes itself, to such a degree where it puts itself oppositional to ‘allosexuals’. the whole idea that people who experience sexual attraction to another person are inherently privileged over abd hold power over asexual people is just not true (and the same goes for this rethoric for aromantic people). this idea is so wrong and the whole concept of the ‘allosexual’ as oppressor collapses once you consider that people who are attracted to the same gender are actually in danger and oppressed for their very attraction. not only are those who experience attraction (that isnt platonic) to other people portrayed as oppressors, but also as perverted freaks. once i decided to stop associating myself with acearo people and instead interact with LGBT people with other experiences, i realized just how much stigmatizing abd frankly, homophobic and transphobic bullshit i’ve adopted within the spaces i used to be in and that i still see gather a lot of traction (now their harmful points are also used on twitter and IRL in the public domain). the community has a huge issue where it teaches you to be puzzled and grossed out by people who want to date / kiss / have sex with other people, and this results in GSAs that now include asexuals to prohibit kissing your partner per request of asexual / aromantic members, asexual people showing up at pride with ‘can we just hug?’ signs, the common serophobic jokes (’at least we dont get hiv!!’ blergh), and for me it led to a great discomfort with kissing and sex imagery and it wasn’t until i left the community that this was in fact subtle homophobia because so much content on here is lgbt themed and to combine that with the increasing aversion to romance or sex without critically looking at that is... very toxic to say the least.

so where it’s standing right now, i don’t think including asexual or aromatic people in LGBT spaces on the basis of those identities is a good idea. one community advocates for the acceptance of sex, whereas the other is stigmatizing it and painting off those who are in fact oppressed for their transness or homosexuality, as the oppressors. it clashes and it doesn’t work. the ‘ace / aro’ community (quote unquote bc i see ‘ace’ being used a lot to imply superiority over ‘allosexuals’ like, theyre being the ace at something) has too many issues, which it is largely based on, to figure out. it can be a community on its own and i do not think you need to join LGBT to have a valid identity that has something to do with sexuality or gender and deals with a form of stigma.

it woukd be a rant, i warned you lol

[sol1056]

My ask box continues to fill up, and I have no answers for any of this. I’ve gotten comments that @dreamworksanimation is good about things like fair representation in other shows when it comes to disability, queer relationships, racial diversity, and just plain solid storytelling. Why was @voltron the exception? 

Or you can just have the questions from my asks:

I really, really wanted [Dreamworks execs] to address the situation, to tell us why VLD took that enormous shitty turn and to apologize and do us better. But I'm guessing we already know the answer (arrogant inexperienced EPs) and I think they won't do anything about it, just try to fade Voltron to the background as it's ending and focus on She-ra, if they ever decide to apologize, they're just gonna focus on the LGBT rep as if its the worst problem of their story.

You know what, I hope someone makes an extensive list of all the morally questionable messages Voltron has sent with all its characters (Shiro & Kuron everything, and Lotor as abuse victim in particular), all in detail and shove them in their faces saying, but to you it's 2 guys in love and in a healthy relationship that is wrong, instead of ableism, racism, homophobia, etc. When I think of what the kids will take from Voltron I feel sick. But queer love is the problem here, right. I’m disgusted.

Us: can we get a happy ending too like the het people and couples in the show?

VLD: no, not a happy or even semi-happy ending, you'll get a miserable ending but get this, we're going to write the last survivor of the 4 queer characters we killed off to be totally on board with this. We'll write him and animate him as if he's happy and got resolution, growth, and catharsis and not as if he got demoted, sidelined, isolated, discarded by his family, worst of all by Keith. We'll say a monster like him can’t be a paladin.

Let’s also go back to talking about how they not only made Lotor, a victim of child abuse not to mention biracial character who grew up with everything against him: suddenly evil, be the same as his abusive "father" and "mother" (who even after remembering who he is pulled the same crap as before), took every happiness away from him and had the nerve to mock his abuse in S7?! As a child abuse survivor I'M HORRIFIED.

The messages in the Shiro/Adam scene is disgusting, this is such a difficult subject, even for adults show with plenty time to explore and be fair to both characters while being explicit about it all. I was worried: in a kids’ show? how can they write this in a way they'll get it? With barely time for it? but look what they wrote, Adam gave an ultimatum instead of support and died, then they blamed the disabled guy for everything. Message: you’re gay so your relationship and your life are worthless, you'll be miserable and alone.

For a team that is all about working together, voltron members after 7 seasons still don't feel like a family and more like colleagues from work. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It feels odd knowing that they weren't actually battling homophobic higher ups. It feels more tactical and greedy for social justice points than out of genuine desire to showcase diversity. Is it coincidence that the character they dislike the most is the one selected for this honor? As a lesbian fan i'm skeptical and angry and refuse to watch anything else by these two.

People keep trying to excuse this stuff with "Voltron is a kids' show", but you know what? There are gay kids out there. There are disabled kids out there. Much as we may wish it otherwise, there are kids out there experiencing trauma. Do we REALLY want to teach those little kids that they are broken and tainted forever and nothing good is waiting for them in the world from here on out? People need to know how damaging it is to have ZERO stories in media showing realistic healing of trauma.

The lady who betrayed them got a proper send off scene even tho she send Adam & the others like pigs to slaughter & betrayed them & caused them all to almost lose and die. Got screentime & some characterization. But sure why respect Adam that way too. I will never forget the dread I had for him when I saw he was with the fighters who were sent to die, then watched them one by one lose their lives until he too, was killed. I still feel sick thinking about it. We never even learned his last name.

I know it's been a while but I'm not over how they treated Lotor in s6. I'm from a broken and dysfunctional home and this show I watch for escapism told me I'm doomed to repeat the same mistakes of my parents, end up just like them. ... Are they even aware of the messages they send to their audience? Not all of us had good childhood like Allura.

From a chronically ill perspective, I felt downright insulted by the choice they made to give Shiro a degenerative illness. The idea of a chronically ill hero is cool but they pull the cure narrative, they don't give him a real illness, and it's just used for cheap irrelevant drama. Plus the whole "Has to choose between loved ones and goals" thing was pretty insensitive, we're already expected to sacrifice so much as ill people so the reinforcement of that was unpleasant to watch and read meta on.

Even if everyone was white cishet abled guy the messages sent to kids were awful: One who fought to carve his own path was forced to become someone else, one who suffered and fought till the end was told he’s a monster that can’t be a paladin, the insecure one will never be worthy as himself and he'll always be someone else’s replacement, one who survived genocide and suffered loss upon loss until reduced to nothing, one who suffered by his parents’ hand became like them, the whole Kuron thing. You cant brush off all THAT.

going into the new semester with the horrible messages of s7 on my mind...i’m lethargic. i have been since the “retired paladin” interview. it was bad for me to balance my mental health on the state of a fictional character, but it was really effective. Until that awful message that disabled people are helpless in controlling their own lives. I’m trying to disconnect and thrive anyway, out of spite against ableism if nothing else.

I had this horrible realization: you know how Shiro is a victim of abuse and him getting the Black Lion was him regaining the control the lack of he suffered in his capture? I think they gave him the illness and handwaved it with the clone, so as to argue for his removal from the Black Lion. They claim that the reason he wanted control was the illness and not the victimization in the Galra hands. They're essentially erasing his trauma.

Writers: so we'll write endearing multidimensional characters with many layers, we'll have them subvert stereotypes, especially those that characters like them usually are written with, ie. Keith isn't a loner nor is he angry just 'cause, but a lonely abandoned kid with trust issues due to his mom leaving him, thus has poor emotional control and anger management, struggles to connect and open up, he is the one whose arc embodies the found family theme more than anyone. 

EPs: nah we want stereotypes loool

We talk about Shiro and all the ableism in his story but we don't talk nearly enough about how horrifying the message is that Keith is the one to take it all from him and kick him aside. Keith chose to discard Shiro because he's broken and useless, so he can take his place. I've been through things they both have and I find all that horrifying. S7 sent terrible messages to kids watching.

They had the chance to let Shiro overcome and be a hero. To defeat his own abuser (Sendak) except Keith takes over everything and fixes everything for him while he lies helpless on the ground without a new arm yet. They had the budget. The animation. They could have empowered Shiro. They saw how many people saw themselves in Shiro's struggle. They must have seen the concerns. And they actively chose to go against that.

The Bury Your Gays trope is even worse this season when you consider the heavy lesbian subtext with Lotor's former generals who get blown up on screen. And naturally, it's the one with a crush on Keith who turns good and survives.

Was there a minority that hasn't been screwed over? Bury Your gays was merely the last shocking straw, because the whole season was chockful of terrible messages and proved they would never treat their characters right and address stuff from before. Homophobia, racism, ableism, sexism, mocking of abuse, excusing abandonment & so on.

I’m adding my voice because I'm so, so tired. None of the characters i see on screen are the characters we got to know in s1/2. The character i most related to was beaten down out of spite for 4 seasons and now may as well be a cardboard cutout. DW and the EPs don't seem to give a single shit about how badly this season has affected people. i don't know whether to jump ship or spit fire over everything. i'm just... exhausted.

I want a transparent statement & apology from DreamWorks. I want to know THEIR stance & role in this, ALL the events that ended up with us getting a show that is not only homophobic but also ableist, racist, mocks child abuse and so much more. I want them to acknowledge & explain why they allowed the marketing team to bait fans with ship content in their videos, thumbnails and even that EP interview about shipping. I want to know who and why allowed the show to to take a worse direction in recent seasons.

I have no answers for any of this, @dreamworksanimation. If there are any explanations, any reassurances that you’ll work hard to prevent any repeat, you need to say so. The longer you’re silent, the more it looks like you’re fine with the story and all its horrific messages. Are you?

[soul-music-is-life]

Homophobia IRL

I’ve seen the word homophobia being thrown around a lot these days. I certainly understand that context is everything (ie, I know it’s used as sarcasm a lot, and in the right form of dank/dark comedy it does work. I also know that there are people in the community who consider their battle with their sexuality to be a form of internalized homophobia because of their valid fears and emotions, and I don’t discount the use of the word in that context either). I also know that true homophobia, the one fueled by hate...the one that kills, it runs deep. That’s the word I’m talking about here.

I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not to say anything, but given the extremely vocal dissent and the hate that I’ve seen in the PLL fandom and the fact that I’ve seen that hate spill over to several friends/writers, as well as myself, I decided to clear the air about some things.

Before you accuse someone of homophobia, understand the connotations of that word. I’m aware that there are varying degrees of homophobia that exist. I’m aware that there truly are people out there who both consciously and subconsciously oppress and abuse the LGBTQ community.

I’m also aware that sometimes people throw the word homophobic at people who are not homophobic. I’ve seen it happen to The Perfectionists cast and crew (namely Sasha, Janel, and Marlene), as well as other content creators of different shows, and now some of the writers who write fics for that particular fandom.

I understand the frustration when it comes to lack of positive representation in media. I’m not someone who is going to downplay the fact that people have a right to speak up and civilly debate, airing their grievances and opinions about something they disagree with.

But the problem comes when people start accusing other people of being homophobic when they have no idea what that person’s journey has been like. The problem comes when you accuse someone of hate and bigotry who are not hateful or bigoted.

I am in my early 30s. Never once in my life have I been accused of being bigoted in any way. I grew up in a diverse neighborhood and have always seen humans. Not race. Not sexuality. Not gender. People. I see people. My actions have always reflected that. My writing reflects that. In fact, I don’t talk about it often, but in speaking out against things like racism in my writing, I gained the attention of the creators of Queen Sugar and I met the cast and crew, including Oprah (and Bianca Lawson/Maya, for all my PLL people out there). I have never been one to shy away from a controversial topic, especially when it comes to speaking up for people who are hated and oppressed.

So, being called homophobic (which happened this week), as you can imagine, draws a bit of ire in me. But there’s a first time for everything, I guess.

However, I’m putting that shit to rest. Right here. Right now. You want a story about the real life ramifications of homophobia and how it’s affected my life and the lives of my loved ones? I could write a book on the homophobia I’ve seen and spoken out against.

I had my wrist and three ribs broken defending my gay best friend in high school. And I’d go back and do it again if I could (maybe I’d try to get a few more licks in). Those bullies were homophobic.

When my best friend came out to his parents and was kicked out by his abusive father and crackhead mother, he snuck through my window. And he stayed the night. We cried together almost all night (I later found out that my mom knew he’d snuck in and didn’t say a word because she knew he needed his best friend, bless that woman for raising me the way she did). His parents were homophobic.

I saw another friend get fucking shot because of who he loved... (the gunman was homophobic).

...and yet another put a gun in her mouth because of the torment she endured for being gay. All I could do was talk her down, pleading for her not to pull the trigger. The people who pushed her to the brink of suicide with taunts about her sexuality were homophobic.

I held my lesbian friend’s hand as she sobbed about the fact that her parents thought she’d “grow out” of her phase and talked about sending her to conversion camp if she didn’t. Her family was homophobic.

When the Pulse Nightclub shooting happened, it hit doubly hard, not only because it was close to home and the LGBTQ community was attacked, but because my cousin had a friend inside. And for 24 hours we had no idea if he was dead or alive. Fortunately, he lived. The gunman who left him with three gunshot wounds was homophobic.

I watched two family members, knowing both were lesbian/gay, try to come to terms with how to come out...how to tell people they loved, people they feared may stop loving them, for who they were.

And going back to my best. fucking. friend, whose boyfriend died and he wanted to jump off a damn bridge because he knew no one would ever love him the way his boyfriend did...the hours and days I logged assuring him that he would find love again...only to lose him to an aneurysm months later and see that none of his family showed to his funeral because his sexual orientation, all I could do was be there.

I have many friends and family in the LGBTQ community and I’ve watched the struggles they've endured, only able to offer a friendly ear and a shoulder to cry on. All I could do was offer my number to call, any time...day or night. All I could do was offer my love, which sometimes was enough, and tragically, sometimes wasn’t.

All I have EVER done for my LGBTQ friends and family has been to be there. And while I may not understand what the struggle is like, I damn sure understand what it fucking feels like to see people I love suffering. I know what it feels like to continuously claw and fight for a better tomorrow.

Because it is not just the LGBTQ community who suffers at the hands of bigots. It is everyone who loves them, who sees what they go through, who knows their pain...who holds their hands when they cry, who stands up for them when no one else will, who loves them unconditionally...it is everyone who understands their plight, who is with them no matter what feels they feel. It is the people who continue to fight for a better tomorrow with and for their loved ones who truly get what this is about.

I’m not saying that I can put myself in the shoes of my LGBTQ family and friends. I’m simply saying that I’ve run next to them the entire time. And I will continue to do so, simply because Love. Is. Love.

The LGBTQ community means so much to me. I’ve lost people, people I loved, to bigotry and homophobia. I see people suffer every day solely because of who they are and who they love.

Homophobia is not a word that should be used lightly. Homophobia is a horrifying action that is the cause of real physical and emotional suffering. Homophobia, in terms of hatred does not mean fear. It means bigoted. It means hateful. So please, save that term for the actual homophobes.

I do know the difference between seeing the word used in jest on social media (predominantly tumblr where people make light of a shitty fictional situation) and seeing real life people who are not homophobic being accused of it. Don’t do the second one. If you do the second one, you’re an asshole.

One of my friends stopped writing fanfic over it. And I’ve got to say, I’m on the fence about doing any more of my own fics, though a majority of my fans are lovely and I adore them. The truth is, I’ve got too much going in my own life to be browbeaten online for content that I write for free for entertainment.

Don’t kill artists (or anyone) with hate. That’s all I’m saying. Because you have no idea what they’ve been through in life.

People have asked me how I am able to write violence and death so realistically.

It’s because I’ve lived it.

[taylorfennersbookishworld]

The Saturday Review is back! I know, I need to keep up better with this but my reviews keep piling up instead. What have you been reading lately bookdragons? These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling Publisher: Razorbill Release Date: May 28, 2019 Genre: Young adult, Paranormal, Witches, LGBTQ+ Blurb Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day. Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really like the tarot card style theme of the cover. It looks like you placed objects on a purple table cloth and turned it into a book cover. I really like the simplicity. Summary/Tagline: n/a Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 One of the things that drew me to this book was the LGBTQ+ rep during Pride month and I think the author executed it perfectly. The emphasis of the story isn't on the main character being a lesbian, just that she's a witch who also happens to be a lesbian. Hannah's struggles with her feelings for her ex-girlfriend and her crush on the new girl are relatable to all readers. Overall, the characters are all well developed with distinct personalities. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I felt like I had stepped onto the streets of Salem while reading this book. It's always been my dream to visit there during the fall and this book really encompassed the small, eclectic town vibe I get from looking at brochures and photos. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Again, the theme of this story is not on the character finding out she's a lesbian, its about witches and family pressure, moving on from your exes and starting something new with someone new all while dealing with a witch hunter bent on the deaths of the local witch population. I thought the story was well balanced overall, but I did have to take a star away because I figured out who the witch hunter was about halfway through the book.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.75 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟 🌟🌟🌟 4.75 of 5 Stars! Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian Published by: Balzar + Bray On: June 4, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, "Historical Fiction," Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance Blurb: It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS.Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart--and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The cover is the initial thing that drew me to this book. It's gorgeous, it's colorful, and it's the kind of cover that if you saw it on a shelf at the bookstore you'd stop and take a closer look. Summary/Tagline: N/A Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Do I think each of the three main characters are well-developed, unique voices, and that their struggles were clearly displayed on the page? Yes, yes I do. Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with any of them. Reza was probably the most likable of the three, but his paranoia about getting AIDS just because he had thoughts about other boys was a little melodramatic for me to read. I know that perhaps during the time period people thought they could get the disease from the smallest thing but I just found the paranoia annoying. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Again, the worldbuilding is well conveyed. You feel as if you have stepped back into the 1980s. Unfortunately for me there were just so many references that I couldn't understand being a 90s baby that I couldn't enjoy the setting and worldbuilding more. Story: 🌟🌟 I could rate this book higher, but I just couldn't connect with any of it. I went in wanting to get a YA take on the AIDS craze of the 1980s and while it did go into the fears each character had or the connection to people that had the disease, I could have done entirely without the romance between Reza and Art. This book will give you the feels and will tear at your heart, but if you weren't a teenager+ in the 80s you'll miss a lot of the references. Overall: 🌟🌟🌟 3.75 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 3.75 of 5 Stars! Bird Box  by Josh Malerman Published by: Ecco On: March 12, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic Blurb: Now a Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar and John Malkovich!Written with the narrative tension of The Road and the exquisite terror of classic Stephen King, Bird Box is a propulsive, edge-of-your-seat horror thriller, set in an apocalyptic near-future world—a masterpiece of suspense from the brilliantly imaginative Josh Malerman.Something is out there . . . Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey—a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motely group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside—and confront the ultimate question: in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?Interweaving past and present, Josh Malerman’s breathtaking debut is a horrific and gripping snapshot of a world unraveled that will have you racing to the final page. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Yes, I had to have the media tie-in edition of Bird Box. I'm one of those people. Don't judge me. 🤣 Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 “Something is out there..."  - I like it! It definitely gives you an eerie vibe of what's inside. Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 As a main character, Mallorie is definitely a survivor who has become strong because she had no other choice. But she lacks heart. She's so cold toward "Boy" and "Girl" - especially Girl - that you feel sorry for the children. The rest of the characters are a diverse cast of characters who have such differing personalities that you know they would have never crossed path if not for their need for survival.  Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Imagine a world in which sight in the outside world can drive you mad. Where survivors will hide behind covered windows and blindfolds. Where those driven crazy do terrible things to themselves and to others. It's this terrifying world that Malerman brings you in Bird Box. It's frightening, it's unexplainable, it's a living nightmare. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book is as good as it is frightening. There's a scene when Tom goes looking for supplies and seeing eye dogs where he comes across a dead person who gauged their own eye out and plucked it into a bowl that is grotesquely but fantastically described that really got to me. And even though I saw the movie first, this book still took turns that gave me chills.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.6 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.6 of 5 Stars! Paranoid by Lisa Jackson Published by: Kensington On: June 25, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Thriller Blurb: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes a new novel of nerve-jangling suspense as a woman haunted by guilt realizes that nothing can be trusted—not even her own memory …There are people in Edgewater, Oregon, who think that twenty years ago, Rachel Gaston got away with murder.Rachel still has no idea how a foolish teenaged game turned deadly—or who replaced her soft pellet air gun with a real weapon. When a figure leapt out at her from the darkness, she fired without thinking. Too late, she recognized her half-brother, Luke, and saw blood blooming around his chest.Despite counseling, Rachel’s horrifying dreams about that night continue. Her anxiety contributed to her divorce from Detective Cade Ryder, though he blames himself too. But as Rachel’s high school reunion nears, she feels her imagination playing tricks, convincing her that objects in her house have moved. That there’s a hint of unfamiliar cologne in the air. That someone is tailing her car. Watching her home.She’s right to be scared. And as connections surface between a new string of murders and Luke’s death, Rachel realizes there’s no escaping the past, and the truth may be darker than her worst fears … Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 This cover is dark, and somewhat simplistic. A decaying set of stairs, faded typography of the title, and an overall creepy vibe. Summary/Tagline: n/a  Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Rachel is a character haunted by a past event that has forever changed her life, her ex-husband Cade is a detective who hates himself for giving into the affair that torpedoed his marriage to Rachel. On top of that, Cade's father is married to one of Rachel's high school friends, a girl whose son is the child of Rachel's late half-brother who died all those years ago. Oh what a tangled web we weave. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The beginning of this book reminded me of the setting of Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie's The Rules. I really enjoyed that book so I was hooked on the beginning of this book. Then we move forward twenty years and Rachel is still living in the same small Oregon town. You definitely get the small town feel and the small town mindset, gossip and grudges. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I liked this book, but after reading so many of Lisa Jackson's books you start to realize they all have similar themes; especially when it comes to dark family secrets and bombshell revelations.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 of 5 Stars! Finale by Stephanie Garber Published by: Flatiron Books On: May 7, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Blurb: A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end… Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 All of the covers of the books in this trilogy are eye-catching. This one and Legendary are definitely tied for my favorites. Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 "A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for." - Such a perfect way to sum up this book. Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5 I really think Scarlet and Tella grow so much in this final book and I liked having chapters in both their perspectives. Julian was charming as always and I loved seeing more of Jacks (I only wish he would have his own spin off). The only character I wanted more of was Legend. It feels like we mostly encounter him in Tella's dreams. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 As always, this book has fantastical worldbuilding where the strange and impossible become possible realities on the page. I love the clothing, the locations, and the Fates.  Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved Legendary, liked Caraval, but Finale is my favorite of the three. It was a great way for the trilogy to end, the only thing I was missing was the fantastical Caraval games played out in the previous two books.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.9 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.9 of 5 Stars! Making Up by Helena Hunting Published by: St. Martin's Press On: July 16, 2019 Genre: Contemporary, Romance Blurb: A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Ah yes, give me all the sexy man candy!! 😍😍😍 Summary/Tagline: n/a Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really loved Cosy and Griffin. Griffin definitely fits into the sexy, mogul, billionaire trope and Cosy is this cool, sassy girl who is used to holding everything together. Together the pages scorch with their chemistry. And I also loved Cosy's sister! Is there any chance she will get her own book or novella someday? She so deserves to find love! Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟.5 The clearest image we get in this book is of the adult store Cosy works in when she and Griffin initially meet. The rest of the book doesn't stand out too much with the fancy set-ups Griffin puts together for Cosy, the diner that Cosy loves, the Grand Canyon, and Cosy's apartment being all pretty standard. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book is so funny and sexy I couldn't get enough of it! Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.4 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.4 of 5 Stars!

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