Mini Reviews II & Trip to the Bookshop

Becky and I have discussed adding more posts based on the lifestyle style of the book-lover so today, as well as doing a second part to this post of mini reviews, I'll be adding a few photos of my trip to the bookshop today and my very mini haul. So here is some of the books I've read in the past few days and what I thought about them in a few sentences and some shots of my favourite place in Swansea.

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Yes, it's a Christmas July miracle. I finally read this book after attempting twice. This is always recommended on book Twitter and seeing as the sequel is around the corner, I thought I'd make an effort and I.Loved.It. Jessica Tran is now one of my favourite characters, Abby is amazing, Bells is a badass. If you love anything superhero and more importantly, diverse, then definitely pick up this book. Our main character is Chinese/Vietnamese and Bells is trans (and the sequel is based on him!!) Go!

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

This was one of those books that I just knew I was going to love as soon as I read the synopsis. A high school girl who makes it her mission to end sexism in her school by distributing Moxie zines anonymously and gradually, all the girls - from every clique and every belief - come together and fight back! I could have cried from anger and happiness throughout this entire book (which I read in one sitting!) It reminded me a lot of the Holly Bourne Spinster series, especially What's a Girl Gotta Do? and I think they both should be required reading in secondary schools. This book is dedicated to teenage girls, showing that their voices are just as important as anybody else. Overall, read this book. Spread the word. #moxiegirlsfightback

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee

I loved this book! I loved Genie from pretty much the beginning when her reaction to Quentin screaming 'you're mine!' at her made her want to teach him that there are certain things you don't say to women. Despite this book being full of Chinese mythology and Genie being thrown into a world of demons, she still manages to maintain her worry over finishing school and getting into a good college. This is so important and realistic, especially in YA. Another thing that stood out to me was the humour. Genie came out with hilarious one-liners that made me laugh out loud. So if you're looking for a YA fantasy that's diverse, funny and realistic (other than the demons), then I'd definitely recommend this!

Thank you to Orenda Books for sending me a copy for review.

Exquisite by Sarah Stovell

Another case of a 'psychological thriller' that I found neither psychological or thrilling but I seem to be in the minority here. I did complete this book in one sitting. Despite my rating, I did find the story very addictive which I think is one of the key elements of a psychological thriller. I wanted desperately to know what happened next, how everything would end, etc. It's just when I closed the book, I felt disappointed. However, this book is based around a lesbian relationship (albeit a toxic one) but I think it could have been handled better. Overall, I wouldn't recommend.

My local bookshop (Waterstones for U.K. people) isn't the largest and sometimes finding a new release in there is like finding a needle in a haystack but it is my favourite place in Swansea. Despite recovering from agoraphobia and struggling to leave the house, I always feel safe in here amongst the books. 

However, today they had two amazing tables on display. One featuring Trump's Small Hand Soap (along with other piss-taking books) and two books that won the Women's Prize for Fiction - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Power by Naomi Alderman. 

Overall, despite the fact that I'm supposed to be on a book-buying ban, I bought these two at buy one, get one half price! I got The Power because of the Women's Fiction Award it won. I've seen mixed reviews but the premise sounds very interesting and the cover was so striking as soon as I walked into the shop. The Crow Girl has been on my TBR for a while but this cover's edition looks so different from the original that I've been walking past it for ages! It's a psychological thriller and I am so excited for it! 

And that's it! I hope you guys liked this post as it is something a bit different. Becky is planning on a post where she matches clothes/outfits to books and their characters so stay tuned for that. We hope you're all well and have the best weekend.

Love Angharad @

Diverse Recs: Books with Trans Characters

Goodreads | Book Depository

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

We follow the story of Amanda, a transgender girl who goes to live with her father. She falls in love, makes new friends and learns to love the body she should have been born with. The novel switches between present day and flashbacks all the way through Amanda's childhood to her attempted suicide and finally, her transition. This is a YA contemporary with all our much-loved themes but having it told by a transgender woman makes the story so much more relevant.

Goodreads | Book Depository

Dreadnought by April Daniels

Dreadnought is the first book in the Nemesis series by April Daniels. We follow the story of Danielle, a superhero who just happens to be transgender. This is a world where superheroes are a part of everyday life and when Danny is confronted by a dying Dreadnought, one of the world's best superheroes, it isn't long until her life is completely changed when with his dying breath, he gives her his powers and changes her from the boy she was born into the girl she has always been. Faced with her new appearance and blossoming superpowers, Danielle is drawn into the world of heroes and villains alongside her fellow class-member/masked vigilante, Sarah/Calamity as they work together to stop Utopia, a super-villain hell bent on controlling the world. 

Goodreads | Amazon

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

This beautiful magic-realism story follows the story of a lost girl who has roses growing from her wrists and Sam, a transgender boy with a Pakistani heritage whose culture is explored through his paintings. Sam and his mother have always followed the practice of Bacha posh, the cultural practice in Afghanistan and Pakistan of families without sons picking one of their daughters to live and behave as a boy, in order to accept his identity. Although this book is heavily metaphorical and magical, it still manages to deal with many intense issues - such as gender and race. Overall, this is the story of the friendship between Sam and Miel.

Goodreads | Amazon

George by Alex Gino

A middle-grade novel incorporating what it means to be transgender and how it is manifested in children. When people look at George, they see a boy but inside, she knows she's not. Despite the heavy issues, this book being narrated by 10 year old George allows it to remain a lighthearted and heartwarming, especially George's blossoming friendship with Kelly who accepts her without question. Female pronouns are used throughout the entire book and during one scene, George renames herself as Melissa and from that point on, that is her name. I think it's so important to have a middle-grade novel that focuses on the positivity of a trans character and the acceptance that should always be in their lives.

Goodreads | Amazon

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Beautiful cover? Check. Beautiful story? Check. Own Voices? Check. Diversity? Double check. Just checks everywhere for this amazing retelling of Peter Pan. Despite (unfortunately) being quite short, this story definitely packs a punch as we follow the story of Pan who returns to Neverland after resigning to live his life as Wendy Darling. However, growing up has only fuelled his true identity as a boy. Coming back to the Lost Boys who have now become men and his old rival, Captain Hook isn't what Pan expected. What is extra unexpected is the attraction he now feels towards Hook leaving a new question, who the real villain is. This book is cute and fun and Pan and Hook could have been SO toxic but Austin nailed it. Definitely pick up this adorable retelling!

Goodreads | Book Depository

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

This young-adult fantasy novella is packed full of diversity despite being so small. Our main character is asexual (whose identity is confirmed and discussed), there is a trans boy whose identity is discussed in a wonderful and fascinating way and there are also secondary characters, one of Japanese descent and the other is Latino. This story takes place in a home for 'wayward children' and all is seemingly normal, except for the disappearing children who end up in magical lands. Heartbreakingly beautiful, reminiscent of Narnia and yet jam-packed with diversity. Despite the trans character being a secondary character, his identity is still treated with respect so we thought it was worthy to mention in this list. Also, the sequel Down Among the Sticks and Bones is out in June!

Goodreads | Book Depository

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Upon delving into the world of book Twitter, you will probably come across this novel almost immediately. A superhero story packed with diverse characters including a bisexual Chinese-Vietnamese main character, a lesbian love interest and a trans boy called Bells whose identity is only confirmed when he is casually asked about his binder. The best news? The sequel, Not Your Villain, gives us Bells as our main character! This series is set in a world where superpowers are the norm but who is to say that they are more powerful than their sidekicks? This book is fun, full of the good kind of tropes but most of all, full of diversity. Also, who wouldn't want that cover on their shelves?

Lots of love,

Angharad @

The Diverse Books Tag

Sticking with our theme of looking into diverse books, we thought that it was about time that we had a go at the diverse books tag, by Read Diverse Books. This tag is a great way to discover new diverse books, as it works sort of like a scavenger hunt - you basically have to find a book that fits into each category! 

We tag anyone reading who wants to have a go at this tag!  

FIND A BOOK STARRING A LESBIAN CHARACTER 

Goodreads | Book Depository

Released in May 2017, this is the story of two WoC (I'm unsure of their ethnicity which is why I haven't mentioned it, if you know, please let us know in the comments) who fall in love. Sana and Jamie, two sixteen-year old girls with their fair share of problems - Sana is worried her father may be having an affair and she is surrounded by friends who constantly leave her out. Jamie has an established group of friends but they don't accept Sana into them and a boy named Caleb is definitely making more than friendly advances towards her. Battling with their own problems, they find solace in each other and realise that loving a girl is the easy part.

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FIND A BOOK WITH A MUSLIM PROTAGONIST

Goodreads | Book Depository 

Yes, you've read that correctly. A Muslim superhero in a comic/graphic novel who goes by the name of Kamala Khan. Kamala, seemingly just a normal girl from Jersey City suddenly develops extraordinary gifts but is she ready for the legacy that she is about to create? However, developing superhuman powers doesn't come without discovering a secret behind them. Volume 1 in an ongoing series, Ms. Marvel is a definite must-read.

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FIND A BOOK SET IN LATIN AMERICA

Goodreads | Book Depository

A fantasy story full of Latinx culture, by an author originally from Ecuador! Not only is the main character Alex a WoC, she is also a bisexual character, and the majority of characters in this book are PoC as we discover Latinx culture. Alex is what is known as a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation but it is power she doesn't want. At her Deathday celebration, she performs a spell to rid herself of her powers but instead, she vanishes into thin air with nothing but the company of Nova, a brujo boy. This begins their journey to Los Lagos, an in-between land just as strange as Wonderland.

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FIND A BOOK ABOUT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY

Goodreads | Book Depository

Six of Crows is a is a young-adult fantasy duology following a gang of six misfits about to complete a series of impossible heists in the criminal town of Ketterdam. Their leader, Kaz Brekker, is a criminal prodigy with a no-price-is-too-high attitude - he is smart, clever and ruthless and he just happens to have a disability - Kaz walks with a cane due to an accident damaging his leg a few years back. Occasionally crippled with pain and walking with a limp, it is just another part of him and he doesn't let it hinder him in any way. This series is also diverse with a bunch of PoC characters who also show us their individual cultures and gay and bisexual characters. Must read duology!

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FIND A SCIENCE-FICTION OR FANTASY BOOK WITH A POC PROTAGONIST

Goodreads | Book Depository

A reimagining of One Thousand and One Nights with a fantasy twist. E.K. Johnston tells the story of Lo-Melkhiin, a ruler who has killed over three-hundred girls before coming across our protagonist. When he takes her to his court instead of her sister, she vows she will not be the next to die. The court is a creepy and atmospheric place and each night, she tells him a story and every morning she wakes up is another day she has survived. Amongst the palace walls, she gradually discovers that Lo-Melkhiin may not have always been a cruel man. All the female characters are unnamed throughout it, including the MC showing us the magnitude of Lo-Melkhiin's reign. 
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FIND A BOOK SET IN (OR ABOUT) ANY COUNTRY IN AFRICA

Goodreads | Book Depository

A beautiful story that not only gives voice to Nigerian culture and folk tales but also to its LGBTQ community. Written by an own voices author, the wonderful Chinelo Okparanta, this tells the story of Ijeoma, only eleven during the outbreak of civil war in the young republic of Nigera as she is sent to safety and meets a girl who she falls in love with. However, in a country where this is a sin, the two must keep it secret and remain star-crossed lovers. It is the story of two women, their struggles and their triumphs set against a dangerous backdrop. 
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FIND A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN INDIGENOUS OR NATIVE AUTHOR

Goodreads | Book Depository

A novel following numerous characters who are trying to find the balance between their Native American traditions and the modern world. Written by a Cherokee author, Thomas King erases common stereotypes about Native Americans in his works. This story tells the story of Alberta, a university professor who would happily trade her boyfriends for a baby but no husband, Lionel, a forty year old television-salesman and finally Eli, whose log cabin home stands in the way of a profitable dam project. These three come together at the Blackfoot reservation for the Sun Dance and what follows will leave the small town of Blossom forever changed.
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FIND A BOOK SET IN SOUTH ASIA (AFGHANISTAN, INDIA, PAKISTAN, SRI LANKA ETC.)

Goodreads | Book Depository

When Naila falls in love with Saif, despite her parents strict rules that they would choose her husband, they travel to Pakistan so that Naila can get in touch with her roots and rediscover her culture. However, upon arriving in the country, Naila discovers that her parents have found her a husband in Pakistan and expect her to marry him during their stay. This is a book that isn't afraid to delve into Pakistani culture, and showcase the forced marriages that so many girls are involved in to this day. 
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FIND A BOOK WITH A BIRACIAL PROTAGONIST

Goodreads | Book Depository

Jess is a bisexual Chinese-Vietnamese girl living in a world where having superpowers is just the norm, except for her... she is completely normal despite having two famous superheroes as parents. She's still struggling with everyday issues, such as trying to find an internship that isn't for a super villain and doesn't require her to be more than human. When she does find one, she finds out she'll be working alongside her longtime crush, Abby who may just have a secret of her own. Not only does this book have a diverse cast of lesbian and bisexual characters but there's Bells, Jess' friend who is trans. This book needs to be talked about a lot more. Superheroes and diversity is the best combo.

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FIND A BOOK STARRING A TRANSGENDER CHARACTER OR ABOUT TRANSGENDER ISSUES

Goodreads | Book Depository | Our Review

This book follows the story of Amanda, a transgender woman as she moves across country to live with her father. Starting at a new school requires her to fit in but she soon finds a diverse group of friends and even love with a student called Grant. This book not only deals with transgender issues - we hear from Amanda from a young age when she realised she was born in the wrong body, all the way up to her starting her transition - it is also written by a transgender author. It is a very important YA novel and Amanda has a very strong and memorable voice. 
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So that is our list. We hope we have chosen books appropriate to its topic and if you would like to see any posts featuring more, let us know!
Love,