Ranking all the books I read this month aka My March 2020 Wrap Up

Hi everyone! It’s time for my March wrap up, which includes 17 books! I read a lot at the beginning of the month but by the end I was not reading as much because everything that was going on in the world. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe during this time!

Anyway, I’m excited with the new format that I’m using where I rank all the books I read from my least favorite to my favorite book of the month. The ranking is not enterily dependent on rating, so there can be books with lower ratings that are higher on the list than books with higher ratings and that has to do with my enjoyment of the books.

In terms of my March tbr, I did ok considering everything that was going on, I read 6 of the books in my tbr and I’m halfway through another, so I only missed 2 out of the 9 books. I read 6 books that were on my tbr and 11 that were not.  Here’s how I ranked them:

*Click the book titles to go to the Goodreads page*

My Least Favorite Book of the Month

In March, I only read one book that I really disliked and that I had big issues with:

17. To Drink Coffee with Ghosts by Amanda Lovelace (2,8 stars): None of the poems in this collection left a lasting impression. I feel like Lovelace’s poetry is starting to feel very repetitive to me mainly because she maintains the same structure and style and does nothing to make it feel different or new in comparison with the her other collections.

The”Just Ok” Books

These can be books that 1) I had issues with, but I don’t have a strong negative opinion about them 2) had good elements but bored me or didn’t really impact me in any way, the meh books.

16. Song of Myself by Walt Whitman (3,4 stars): This book felt self-congratulatory to me at the beginning and I didn’t really enjoyed reading it for the most part, I understand what he was doing with his list-like poems but they became repetitive and boring. There were a few sections, a few lines that really resonated with me and made me stop and think, so there were definitely parts of this that I appreciated.

15. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (3,5 stars): This was entertaining and interesting. I was very intrigued the entire time, but the ending was confusing and kind of sad. Honslty, I think I missed a lot of the big themes in this story and that’s why it was only ok for me.

The “I Mostly Liked Them, But…” Books

These are books that I had significant issues with, but they had redeeming qualities that made me mostly enjoy them:

14. Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (3,5 stars): Braden was a great hero, but Liv was judgemental and rash and her character development was too last minute. I liked seeing the characters go from dislike to friendship, but the transition from friendship to love didn’t feel organic. The whole storyline about sexual harrasment could have been better incorporated into the story and resolved in a more realistic way.

13. Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne (3,6 stars): This book has two of my favorite tropes: friends to lovers + fake relationship. I loved the main characters friendship and how they were always there for each other. But I felt like this kept me at a distance from the characters and that didn’t allow me to feel invested in their story and I think it’s because the characters never felt three dimentional. The ending felt a little bit rushed.

12. A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano (3,5 stars): This was cute and I really liked the relationship between the sisters. The idea of mixing magic and baking is really interesting and it’s well executed. This reads a lot younger than most of the middle grade I have read and because of that it didn’t work so well for me personally.

11. Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras (3,6 stars): The main characters had so much chemistry, the physical attraction was evident from the beginning, but it took me a while to actually buy into their romantic relationship. I really liked the complicated family dynamics that both characters are dealing with: the development of Sara’s relationship with her family and the way eveything was resolved was satyisfing, but the resolution to Luis’ conflict with his brother was a bit rushed.

The Ones I Liked

The ones I liked are books that I had really small issues with, but after I finished them I had mainly positive feelings towards them:

10. Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (3,7 stars): Miss Marple is an interesting character and I really wish she was a bigger part of this book, because she solves the mystery at the end but she is barely in the book. Anyway, I really liked the narrator, I was really invested in the mystery and Christie totally deceived me with that ending, I wasn’t expecting it at all.

9. Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne (3,7 stars): I really liked the two main characters and the chemestry they had, which wasn’t only physical, they understood each other. I really liked seeing them go from dislike to friendship to love. I also really liked the female friendship. Claire’s character development was amazing, I loved getting to see her find herself again. My main problem with this is that the ending is SO RUSHED

8. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone (3,7 stars): It took me a long time to get into this book, the writing took me out of the story all the time and I had to re-read passages a few times to really understand what they were saying. But once I got used to the writing, I was able to enjoy this a lot. Also, once the book got into the angsty romance, I was invested and I LOVED the final part of the book.

7. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (3,8 stars): I had fun reading this, I love Sherlock and Watson and their relationship. I liked that in most of the nine shorts stories that are part of this collection, the author gives enough clues to solve the mystery or come close to guessing what happened.

The Ones I Really Liked

I consider books I really liked the ones I really enjoyed, but they are not new favorites:

6. A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert (3,8 stars): This book has a black, autistic main character and the representation is #ownvoices, which it’s amazing. I really like Ruth, she was an amazing protagonist and I loved seeing her confront her fears and stand up for herself. The hero is so sweet and amazing, the chemestry between the main characters is off the charts and there are some very steamy scenes.

5. b.b. free by Gabby Rivera (4 stars): This book has beautiful art, an interesting premise, a lot of fascinating worldbuilding in this first issue and really lovable characters.

4. Pastillas y Cheesecakes de Limón by La Rubia Inmoral (4 stars): This is a book by a Colombian instagramer that talks about feminism, mental illness, sex and relationships. This book is written in the honest, raw and even a little vulgar tone that characterizes her. The only small issue I had was that it’s a bit jumpy, sometimes it’s hard to see how or why she goes from one idea to the next.

My Favorite Books of the Month

My favorite books of the month can have different ratings depending on how good a particular reading month was. This month I didn’t rate anything higher than 4 stars, but I still read some brilliant books:

3. We Unleash the Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Mejia (4 stars): I LOVE Carmen and Dani and I really enjoyed reading the conclusion to their story. This was a quick read, there were things happening all the time so it was very entertaining. I feel like the stakes were a little low, I never felt any real worry over the fate of the main characters and a few very convenient things happened.

2. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski(4 stars): This was a very quick, interesting and entertaining read, but since it’s a collection of short stories not a lot of time was spent explaining the world or the magic system. Still, this book is defintely a great introduction to Geralt as a character, to the different creatures he faces, his adventures and his main companions. I only wish there was more Yennefer in this book.

1.Gods of Jade and Shadows by Silvia Moreno- Garcia (4 stars): I loved the writing in this book, it was really engaging. The Mayan mythology was captivating and lush and the mix of the mythological elements and the ‘modernity’ of the Jazz Age worked really well and gave this story an even more unique touch. I loved the main characters and the dynamic between them. My only issue with this was that the romance felt a little forced at the beginning. But by the end, I was invested in the relationship and that ending was so angsty and poetic that I couldn’t help but be on board with the romance.

What were your favorite and least favorite books you read this month? Have you read any of the books on this wrap up? Do you agree with my opinions about them?

Add me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter  | Pinterest 

9 Books with Fat Representation

Hi everyone! Today, I bring you a new installment of a series that I write here on my blog. 9 Books Monday is a feature where I talk about 9 books that have positive representation of diverse experiences including the experiences of people of the LGBTQIA community, Native people, people of color, people with physical and cognitive disabilities or mental illnesses, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.

In the past, I have done posts about 9 book with: 

Bisexual female main characters | Latinx main characters | Black main characters | Muslim main characters | Lesbian main characters | Asian main characters | Trans main characters | Anxiety representation | Autism representation | Depression representation

This time I talking about 9 books with Fat Representation:

5 BOOKS I READ AND LOVED

The Summer of Jordi Pérez by Amy Spalding

This book is about Abby, a pink-haired, fat, lesbian girl, who runs a  plus-size style blog. This is a cute story of summer jobs, friendship and first love. An interesting aspect of this book is that, while Abby is confident and comfortable with the way she looks for the most part, she still has her moments of insecurity because she knows how harsh the rest of the world can be. That aspect of the book felt very realistic.

Analee, in Real Life by Janelle Milanes

This is the story of Analee, a fat girl who has self-esteem issues and social anxiety, and who is going through a difficult time dealing with her mother’s death. Throughout the book, Analee learns to appreaciate and love the people she has in her life and she also learns to accept and love herself more. If you like books centered around character development and growth, you will like this one.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

This book is about Chloe, a fat, chronically ill, Black computer geek and this is the story of Chloe being brave, loving herself and falling in love. Chloe’s weight is barely even mentioned, it’s not something she wants to change and it’s never presented as something negative. This book includes important discussions about chronic pain and abusive relationships, but it was also adorable, steamy and fun.

Soft on Soft by Mina Waheed

This book tells the love story between two fat, women of color. One of them is a really anxious makeup artist and the other is a model and actress, who is completely comfortable with the way she looks. This is an adorable and short novella, that doesn’t include homophobia or fatphobia. If you are looking for something low on the angst and high on the fluff, you will enjoy this.

b.b. free by Gabby Rivera

This is an amazing comic about a fat, queer, Latinx girl living in a post-apocalyptic world. While there are no comments about b.b. being fat, it’s amazing just to see a fat girl in a comic being brave and smart and fighting against the beliefs and conventions that other people want to imposse on her.

2 BOOKS ON MY TBR

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

This book is about Mila, a fat, Latinx girl, who practices Wicca and who ends up bringing a bunch of murdered teenagers back to life while trying to discover who killed her best friend. While this book has a strange premise, it also portraits some of the real daily microaggressions that fat people have to deal with.

If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann

This book is about Winnie, a fat, queer, Black girl, who’s trying to win a televised cooking competition to save her grandmother’s dinner. In this book, Winnie doesn’t let anyone make her feel ashamed about her weight, even when people feeling compelled to give her weight loss advice for “her own good”

2 UPCOMING RELEASES

I’ll be the One by Lyla Lee

This book is about Skye, who wants to become a K-Pop star, and to do that, she’s about to break all the rules that society, the media, and even her own mother, have set for fat girls. While Skye is comfortable in her body, the fatphobic beauty standards of the Korean pop entertainment industry still affect her and she has to deal with that. 

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

This book is about April, who posts a plus-size cosplay of a character from a beloved tv show that goes viral and after that she has to deal with trolls and supporters alike. Thanks to the attention, she gets to go on an unexpected date with the star of the tv show, who’s secretly posting fanfiction of his own.

What books with Fat rep have you read and loved? Which ones are on your tbr?

Add me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter  | Pinterest | Letterbox

Latinx Book Bingo & Latinxathon + October 2019 Wrap Up | Blogmas Day 3

Hi everyone! I’m trying to catch up on wrap ups after my hiatus, so today I bring you what I read for the Latinx Book Bingo and the Latinxathon that took place from September 15 to October 15 and also what I read the last two weeks of October. I was planning on including my November wrap up in this post as well but I read 19 books in November and I think the post would end up being way too long.

Latinx Book Bingo & Latinxathon

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria (3,6 stars): I loved the unique premise of this book (a dance competition tv show), the main characters (a pro dancer and a reality tv star hero who lives in Alaska) and the relationship between them (so steamy!).

Dance With Me by Alexis Daria (3,7 stars): A puerto rican pro dancer and an Ukranian coreographer are friends with benefits who end up living together. I loved how each character had their own fears and insecurities and how they supported each other to get pass them.

News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (4,3 stars):  this is about the kidnapping of 9 journalist organized by Pablo Escobar in the 90s in Colombia and it’s incredibly well-written and a really fascinating book.

Ripped Pages by M. Hollis (3 stars): This is a short rapunzel retelling with a f/f relationship between princesses. The writing wasn’t great, the characters weren’t as three dimentional as I wanted and it was a novella so everything happened a bit too fast.

America Vol. 2 by Gabby Rivera (4 stars): This is a comic about a Latinx lesbian superhero, what else could I ask for?! I loved getting to know a bit more about America’s past and where she comes from.

American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera (4 stars): The cuteness of the relationship in this book has no limits and I loved it! This has a m/m relationship between a food truck owner and a sexy librarian.

American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera (3,8 stars): An m/m romance between a Cuban-Jamaican social worker and a Dominican-American businessman with a cute daughter. This book was heartwarming and adorable.

American Love Story by Adriana Herrera (3,6 stars): This is a m/m romance that I enjoyed, but it’s my least favorite of the series because while it dealt with really important subjets, it became repetitive and it dragged a bit.

OCTOBER

Parental Guidance by Avery Flynn (3,6 stars): This has an interesting concept (a dating app that let’s parent choose the dates) and a great relationship between the main characters.

Tomboy by Avery Flynn (3,7 stars): I love a grumpy hero and this had a great one and I also love when the grumpy hero falls in love with a great woman, which this also has!

Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray (4 stars): I loved this book as much as I loved the first two in the series. It has the same creepy vibe that the other two and the plot just keeps getting more complex and interesting. Also, I’m rooting for Evie and Sam so hard!

Cosas que piensas cuando te muerdes las uñas by Amalia Andrade (4 stars): a mixed media book about fears and anxiety by a Colombian author and artist. If you speak spanish, I would totally recommend this!

Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Did you enjoy them? Do you want to read any of them?

Add me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter  | Pinterest | Tumblr 

 

My 5 Favorite YA Books by Latinx Authors | Latinx Heritage Month 2019

Hi everyone! Since it’s Latinx Heritage Month, I thought a great way to celebrate was talking about some of my favorite book by Latinx authors. This is the first post of  the series and since I read so many YA books I decided to start with those.

Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno (YA CONTEMPORARY)

It’s not often that a book breaks my heart and makes me sob, but this book managed to do just that. This book has beautiful writing, complex but lovable characters, a community that’s like a huge family, but the most special thing about it is the brilliant and bittersweet way it explores the feelings of a granddaughter of immgrants: the feelings of confusion and guilt for belonging to two places at onces, for speaking biligual words, for not knowing exactly where she comes from and what happened to the family that stayed behind.

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia (YA FANTASY)

This book captured my heart with two beautifully complex main characters, a forbidden love story, fascinating mythology, an infuriating world and a flawed but commited rebelious group. This bookfeels Latinx, it IS unapologetically Latinx and it has the respectful and wonderful Latinx representation that we need in fantasy. Beyond all those amazing things, the strengh of this book lays in the way it addresses immigration, privilege, poverty and opression, because it manages to evoke so many emotions and be incredibly thought provoking.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera (YA CONTEMPORARY)

This book holds a very special place in my heart, it was one of the first YA books with a Latinx main character that I ever read and I fell completely in love with it.  This book has amazing writing, complex, messy and vulnerable characters, it talks about feminism and about being queer in a thought-provoking way, and it shows the different perspectives that exist in these broader movements and the importance of intersectionality. This book is insighful and provocative and I think it’s incredible important for teens, because it’s a great introduction to femenist and queer ideas.

When the Moon was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (YA MAGICAL REALISM) 

This book is magical, mysterious and captivating and it’s probably my favorite magical realism book of all time and a book I’d recommend to anyone that wants to start reading this genre. This book has beautiful, flowery and poetic writing, an intriguing plot, an alluring atmosphere and complex and fascinating villains. It’s has a dark and dangerous vibe that underlies the story and that makes the reader feel unease and worry and that adds a compelling and engrossing element to the book.

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova (YA URBAN FANTASY) 

Witches, fairies, an all latinx cast of characters and great bisexual rep … there was no way I wasn’t gonna love this one. The mythology and magic in this book are rooted in Latinx traditions and beliefs in such big and profund way that it can’t be confused with anything else but a love letter to Latinx magic and that’s the most amazing thing about this book. Another great thing about it is that the unveiling of Los Lagos, the magical world where part of this book takes place, is done in such a slow and delibareted way that you can’t help but be completely captivated by it.

Have you read any of this books? Do you want to read any of them? What YA books by Latinx author do you love? 

Add me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter  | Pinterest 

My TBR for the Latinx Book Bingo & the Latinxathon| Latinx Heritage Month 2019

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be writing this post to let you know what I’ll be reading for Latinx Heritage Month and especifically for the Latinx Book Bingo and the Latinxathon. I used the same books to fullfil the prompts of both readathons, because as much as I wish to read  one book for each prompt, the truth is that I’m traveling to Denmark to study for 2 weeks during Latinx Heritage Month and that means that reading 17 books is just out of the question. Nonetheless, I’ll still try to read 12 books during the month.

For the Latinxaton there are 5 prompts:

1. VOICES: Read a book written by an Indigenous or Afro-Latinx author.
2. LATINIDAD: Read a book written by an intersectional Latinx author. 
3. ROOTS: Read a translated book or a book that features more than one language
4. HERITAGE: Read a book written by an author from a non-Spanish speaking Latin American country/heritage
5. #LatinxLitTakeover: Read the group Book

And for the Latinx Book Bingo, the idea is to read books that fit the prompts of this bingo board:

Without further ado, here are the books that I chose to fullfill the challenges (books 2, 3, 8, 11 and 12 on this list count towars both readathons, in each case I especify what prompts they fulfill):

1. Any book by a Latinx author: Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.

The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.

But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them. Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.

2. Intersectional MC + Read a book written by an intersectional Latinx author: More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera 

Sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto is struggling to find happiness after a family tragedy leaves him reeling. He’s slowly remembering what happiness might feel like this summer with the support of his girlfriend Genevieve, but it’s his new best friend, Thomas, who really gets Aaron to open up about his past and confront his future.

As Thomas and Aaron get closer, Aaron discovers things about himself that threaten to shatter his newfound contentment. A revolutionary memory-alteration procedure, courtesy of the Leteo Institute, might be the way to straighten himself out. But what if it means forgetting who he truly is?

3. Afro-Latinx MC + Read a book written by an Indigenous or Afro-Latinx author: American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera 

For Nesto Vasquez, moving his Afro-Caribbean food truck from New York City to the wilds of Upstate New York is a huge gamble. If it works? He’ll be a big fish in a little pond. If it doesn’t? He’ll have to give up the hustle and return to the day job he hates. He’s got six months to make it happen—the last thing he needs is a distraction.

Jude Fuller is proud of the life he’s built on the banks of Cayuga Lake. He has a job he loves and good friends. It’s safe. It’s quiet. And it’s damn lonely. Until he tries Ithaca’s most-talked-about new lunch spot and works up the courage to flirt with the handsome owner. Soon he can’t get enough—of Nesto’s food orof Nesto. For the first time in his life, Jude can finally taste the kind of happiness that’s always been just out of reach.

An opportunity too good to pass up could mean a way to stay together and an incredible future for them both…if Nesto can remember happiness isn’t always measured by business success. And if Jude can overcome his past and trust his man will never let him down.

4. Out of your confort zone: Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda

Lost to time, Tuck Morgan and his crew have slept in stasis aboard the USS John Muir for centuries. Their ship harbors a chunk of Earth, which unbeknownst to them, is the last hope for the failing human race.

Laura Cruz is a shipraider searching the galaxy for the history that was scattered to the stars. Once her family locates the John Muir and its precious cargo, they are certain human civilization is saved.

When Tuck’s and Laura’s worlds collide―literally―the two teens must outwit their enemies, evade brutal monsters that kill with sound, and work together to save the John Muir . . . and the whole human race.

5. On cover rep: Take the Lead by Alexis Daria

Gina Morales wants to win. It’s her fifth season on The Dance Off, a top-rated network TV celebrity dance competition, and she’s never even made it to the finals. When she meets her latest partner, she sees her chance. He’s handsome, rippling with muscles, and he stars on the popular Alaskan wilderness reality show Living Wild. With his sexy physique and name recognition, she thinks he’s her ticket to the finals—until she realizes they’re being set up.

Stone Nielson hates Los Angeles, he hates reality TV, and he hates that fact that he had to join the cast of the The Dance Off because of family obligations. He can’t wait to get back to Alaska, but he also can’t deny his growing attraction to his bubbly Puerto Rican dance partner. Neither of them are looking for romantic entanglements, and Stone can’t risk revealing his secrets, but as they heat up the dance floor, it’s only a matter of time until he feels an overwhelming urge to take the lead.

When the tabloids catch on to their developing romance, the spotlight threatens to ruin not just their relationship, but their careers and their shot at the trophy. Gina and Stone will have to decide if their priorities lie with fame, fortune, or the chance at a future together.

6. New to you author: Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

Sierra Santiago was looking forward to a fun summer of making art, hanging out with her friends, and skating around Brooklyn. But then a weird zombie guy crashes the first party of the season. Sierra’s near-comatose abuelo begins to say “Lo siento” over and over. And when the graffiti murals in Bed-Stuy start to weep…. Well, something stranger than the usual New York mayhem is going on.

Sierra soon discovers a supernatural order called the Shadowshapers, who connect with spirits via paintings, music, and stories. Her grandfather once shared the order’s secrets with an anthropologist, Dr. Jonathan Wick, who turned the Caribbean magic to his own foul ends. Now Wick wants to become the ultimate Shadowshaper by killing all the others, one by one. With the help of her friends and the hot graffiti artist Robbie, Sierra must dodge Wick’s supernatural creations, harness her own Shadowshaping abilities, and save her family’s past, present, and future.

7. Fat Rep: Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson 

Mila Flores and her best friend Riley have always been inseparable. There’s not much excitement in their small town of Cross Creek, so Mila and Riley make their own fun, devoting most of their time to Riley’s favorite activity: amateur witchcraft.

So when Riley and two Fairmont Academy mean girls die under suspicious circumstances, Mila refuses to believe everyone’s explanation that her BFF was involved in a suicide pact. Instead, armed with a tube of lip gloss and an ancient grimoire, Mila does the unthinkable to uncover the truth: she brings the girls back to life.

Unfortunately, Riley, June, and Dayton have no recollection of their murders, but they do have unfinished business to attend to. Now, with only seven days until the spell wears off and the girls return to their graves, Mila must wrangle the distracted group of undead teens and work fast to discover their murderer…before the killer strikes again.

8. Backlist book + Read a book  by an author from a non-Spanish speaking Latin American country/heritage: Iron Cast by Destiny Soria

In 1919, Ada Navarra—the intrepid daughter of immigrants—and Corinne Wells—a spunky, devil-may-care heiress—make an unlikely pair. But at the Cast Iron nightclub in Boston, anything and everything is possible. At night, on stage together, the two best friends, whose “afflicted” blood gives them the ability to create illusions through art, weave magic under the employ of Johnny Dervish, the club’s owner and a notorious gangster. By day, Ada and Corinne use these same skills to con the city’s elite in an attempt to keep the club afloat.

When a “job” goes awry and Ada is imprisoned, she realizes they’re on the precipice of danger. Only Corinne—her partner in crime—can break her out of Haversham Asylum. But once Ada is out, they face betrayal at every turn.

9. Non-traditional Format: America Vol. 2: Fast and Fuertona

It begins with the story you’ve been waiting for: the origin of America Chavez! But everyone’s favorite no-nonsense powerhouse soon meets her match — in the form of the deadly and exotic Exterminatrix! Can America stand against this vile villainess, backed by the full power of the ominous Midas Corporation? America gains all-new but untested abilities — and she’ll need them against the oncoming horde! But what does Exterminatrix want with Sotomayor University? With America in lockup, it’s up to Prodigy to find out — and that won’t be easy when campus queen X’Andria is working for the enemy! As the Midas Corporation reignites a decades-old danger, America’s newly discovered home comes under threat — but they’re about to learn that you don’t mess with a Fuertona. And you definitely don’t mess with a Chavez!

 10. Recommended by a Latinx reader :  Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (This book was recommended to me by the lovely Alicia @A Kernel of Nonsense)

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.

11. Group book + Group book: The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante

Seventeen-year-old Marisol has always dreamed of being American, learning what Americans and the US are like from television and Mrs. Rosen, an elderly expat who had employed Marisol’s mother as a maid. When she pictured an American life for herself, she dreamed of a life like Aimee and Amber’s, the title characters of her favorite American TV show. She never pictured fleeing her home in El Salvador under threat of death and stealing across the US border as “an illegal”, but after her brother is murdered and her younger sister, Gabi’s, life is also placed in equal jeopardy, she has no choice, especially because she knows everything is her fault. If she had never fallen for the charms of a beautiful girl named Liliana, Pablo might still be alive, her mother wouldn’t be in hiding and she and Gabi wouldn’t have been caught crossing the border.

But they have been caught and their asylum request will most certainly be denied. With truly no options remaining, Marisol jumps at an unusual opportunity to stay in the United States. She’s asked to become a grief keeper, taking the grief of another into her own body to save a life. It’s a risky, experimental study, but if it means Marisol can keep her sister safe, she will risk anything. She just never imagined one of the risks would be falling in love, a love that may even be powerful enough to finally help her face her own crushing grief.

12. Non Fiction + Read a translated book or with more than one language: Noticias de un Secuestro (News of a Kidnapping) by Gabriel García Márquez

This astonishing book by the Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez chronicles the 1990 kidnappings of ten Colombian man and women–all journalists but one–by the Medellín drug boss Pablo Escobar. The carefully orchestrated abductions were Escobar’s attempt to extort from the government its assurance that he, and other narcotics traffickers, would not be extradited to the United States if they were to surrender.

Are you participating in these readathons? What are you reading for them? If you made a tbr post, leave me a link in the comments! 

Add me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter  | Pinterest |

Latinx Book Bingo Wrap Up: Books I Read During Hispanic Heritage Month

Hi guys! This post is a bit late, it’s my first post in a while because my life completely changed (in a good way!) about a month ago and just now I’m starting to get the time and energy to get back into blogging and reading.

The Latinx Book Bingo took place from September 15th to October 15th, the first week of the readathon everything was going great, but then I moved from Colombia to Spain on September 23rd and I had so much to do and I was so jet lagged, that reading wasn’t my priority. Honestly, I wanted to read so much more than the 7 books I ended up reading, but I’m still so happy because I read some incredible books and so many people participated in the readathon and  we got to highlight amazing latinx authors and books. 

Now, without further ado, here are the books I read for the Latinx Book Bingo:

Peluda by Melissa Lozada- Oliva (3,5 stars) 

I really liked the ways in which this short poetry collection makes visible the relationship between femininity, body hair, the immigrant experience and Latina identity. This themes really resonated with me. This didn’t get a higher rating because the poetry style wasn’t my favorite, I felt like sometime the message got a bit lost in the writing choices.

My Wicked Wicked Ways by Sandra Cisnero (3,5 stars) 

I liked the poetry style in this collection, but I felt like the poems were a bit incohesive and the way some of the themes were explored didn’t resonate with me that much. I actually found this collection not to be memorable.

America Vol. 1: The Life and Times of America Chavez by Gabby Rivera (4 stars) 

I really like the art style and the characters in this comic, I liked the diversity and the representation, but I do feel like the world building and the storyline were very choppy. Nonetheless, I had a lot of fun reading this, I’ll keep reading it and I would totally recommend it.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi (4 stars)

It took me a bit of time to get used to the main character in this book, Zuri, she was extremely judgmental and sometimes plain rude. But she changed as the book went on, not completely, but enough to let me enjoy the story. I liked the relationship between Zuri and Darius, with their banter and bickering, but I feel like there were some conflicts between them at the end that were solved too easily or just abandoned. Nonetheless, the reason why I ended up really liking this book and my favorite part of this book was the way it dicussed gentrification and class. I think inlcuding these subjects added to the original story and made it more relevant to our time. I also loved the representation of a Haitian-Dominican family, in terms of the religion, the food and the family dynamics.

Analee, In Real Life by Janelle Milanes (4 stars)

This book features one of my favorite tropes, which is fake dating, Analee’s relationship with Seb was so entertaining and they had a lot of chemestry. On the other hand, I thought there was gonna be a lot more of Analee’s online life in the book and that Harris (her internet friend/crush) was gonna show up a lot more. Nonetheless, I was pleasently surprise by the fact that even when those relationships were important to the story, the real focus was family. I loved the way Analee learned to accept, appreaciate and love the people she had in her life.  Watching Analee’s relationship with her dad, her stepmom and stepsister become stronger and more honest was amazing. Another thing I really liked was seeing Analee’s Cuban culture highlighted, as well as the way her social anxiety and low self-esteem were handled.

Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova (4 stars)

This book is set in New York City and not in some other realm like the first book, so it felt a little less magical, but there were a lot of new and interesting elements in terms of the worldbuilding, which I really liked. We were introduced to hunters, vampires, new brujas, casimuertos (similar to zombies) and even the goddess of death made an apperance. I really loved the main character, Lula, she was going through so much and she was struggling with her mental health, but she was resilient, strong and she grew so much in this book and learned to love herself again, and I couldn’t help but root for her. Also, with this series, family is such an important part and I love the portrait of uncondicional love and sisterhood.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-García (3,4 stars)

I found the mythology in this book fascinating because there were different species and subspecies of vampires that came from all around the world and had there own histories, powers and apperances. Nonetheless, I didn’t found the main two characters interesting at all, one of them actually annoyed me quite a bit and I would have liked the book to focus on some of the secondary characters. Also, there was a lot of action and violence in this book, a lot of explicit content when it comes to injuries and death, which it’s not my thing.

The Final Results

 

I didn’t get a bingo, but I think I did an okay job. I read books that counted towards 9 of the squares and I’m happy with that!

 

 

 

 

If you participated in the Latinx Book Bingo and you posted wrap up posts, leave me a link because I would love to check them out! If you have read any of these books, let me know your thoughts, so we can chat about them!  

Add me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter  | Pinterest | Tumblr 

9 Books with Lesbian Main Characters

Hey guys! I’m finally out of my blogging slump and I couldn’t be happier. To get back into schedule, I decided to start with 9 Books Monday, which is a feature here on Bookish Wanderess where I talk about books that are focused on marginalized group (Here are the 9 Books Monday posts I have written so far). The idea is that on Mondays, I’ll talk about 9 books that have positive representation for a minority/marginalized group.

This series is not only to recommend books that I have read to you and to talk about books I want to read, this series is also a reminder to me that I need to expand my reading and search for books that allow me to know other cultures, perspectives and ways of life. Today, I will talk about 9 books with lesbian main characters.

3 Books I Read and Loved

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

A lesbian biracial girl + references to the movie industry: things about set design, location scouting, casting, shooting + a small mystery +  a lovely and quiet romance. I had so much fun when I read this and I have heard nothing but good things for #ownvoices reviewers. Maybe that has to do with this being an #ownvoices book!

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera 

This is one of my favorite books of all times. The main character in this book is Latinx and queer (#ownvoices!) and I love the fact that this books deals with a lot of important subjects related to intersectional feminism.  Also, this is #Ownvoices.

Future Leaders of Nowhere by Emily O’Beirne

This book has two main characters: an Australian-indian lesbian girl and a bisexual girl. The book is about a competition- where both girls meet- that’s similar to a model UN but it takes place in a summer camp. This book not only has great representation, it also has a very interesting concep and it’s not that well known, so you should check it out!

3 Books on my TBR 

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie

Lesbian pirates + giant sea animals + intriguing plot = what more could I need? I can’t wait to read this, it sounds like something I would love and I have heard nothing but good things from #ownvoices readers.

As I Descended by Robin Tally

A Macbeth retelling that has Hispanic characters and folklore, an f/f romance, an m/m romance and a disabled character. I can’t not wait to read this, I’m really intrigued!

We are Okay by Nina LaCour

This is a slow and  quiet story about grief and at the center of it are two girls that used to be in a relationship and that haven’t seen each other in a while. I have heard great things about the way the representation. Honestly, I liked Everything Leads to You so much that I’m really excited to read another Nina LaCour book.

3 Books Releasing Soon 

The Love Song of Sawyer Bell by Avon Gale (September 25th 2017 )

An indie rock band that’s going on tour + a female lead singer + a classically trained female violinist + kisses and lots of chemestry = the perfect contemporary that I want to read RIGHT NOW! That’s all I have to say about this one.

A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo (October 17th 2017 )

This is a phycological thriller with various queer female characters and a Chinese main character. I’m really intrigued by the synopsis of this book and especially by the cover. I have never read any book by Malinda Lo, but I have heard amazing things about all of them and about the representations in them. I can’t wait to read this one.

Spinning by Tillie Walden (September 12th 2017)

A graphic novel about figure skating and coming out, but also about outgrowing a passion. It sounds fascinating, especially because I have never read anything about figure skating. I haven’t hear that much about it, so I’m not sure about the representation but I’m hoping is good.

Have you read any of these books? did you enjoy them? Are you planning on reading any of them? Do you have recommendations for books with lesbian main characters? 

Add me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter 

Diversity Spotlight Thursday #2

I really enjoyed participating in this meme last week, so I’m back with more diverse books! Diversity Spotlight Thrusday is a weekly meme hosted by Aimal from Bookshelves and Paperbacks. Every week, the participants are suppost to choose one book for each of the three categories: a diverse book you have read and enjoyed, a diverse book on your tbr, and a diverse book that has not yet been released. 

I have decided to pick  books that have  less than a thousand ratings on Goodreads, because I want to promote less known diverse books and authors, and I will try to choose only #ownvoices books, because I want the authors that I promote to be members of minorities and marginalized groups.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff. 

Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Is that even possible? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle?

With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself.

Goodreads | Amazon 

I don’t know how many times have I talked about this book in the last 2 months, but I don’t think I will be stopping any time soon. I will say this again, just in case you don’t know, this was my favorite book of 2016 and it’s now one of my favorite books of all times. Because of that, I want everyone to read it. So this is the weekly reminder that if you haven’t read this, you should. This book talks about feminism, queerness and intersectionality in a perfect way. Also, it has a main character that I want to protect at all cost, because she is precious.

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza 

Empress

Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he’s forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.

Goodreads | Amazon 

This book was one of my most anticipated books of 2017 and it was released a few days ago. I’m a big fan of fantasy, so I’m always in the lookout for diverse fantasy books and this book has an asian main character, as well as a black main character . The synopsis of Empress of a Thousand Skies intrigued me and the cover captivated me. Also, I participated in a twitter chat with the author and she is incredibly nice. This is the kind of fantasy book that I want to see more of.

How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake

All seventeen year-old Grace Glasser wants is her own life. A normal life in which she sleeps in the same bed for longer than three months and doesn’t have to scrounge for spare change to make sure the electric bill is paid. Emotionally trapped by her unreliable mother, Maggie, and the tiny cape on which she lives, she focuses on her best friend, her upcoming audition for a top music school in New York, and surviving Maggie’s latest boyfriend—who happens to be Grace’s own ex-boyfriend’s father.

Her attempts to lay low until she graduates are disrupted when she meets Eva, a girl with her own share of ghosts she’s trying to outrun. Grief-stricken and lonely, Eva pulls Grace into midnight adventures and feelings Grace never planned on. When Eva tells Grace she likes girls, both of their worlds open up. But, united by loss, Eva also shares a connection with Maggie. As Grace’s mother spirals downward, both girls must figure out how to love and how to move on.

Goodreads| Amazon

This book sounds both adorable and incredible sad at the same time. I just got an arc through Netgalley, so I’m super excited to be able to read it before release date, which is May 2nd 2017. The LGBTQ+ characters are one of the main reasons I’m looking forward to reading this.

Follow me on

Goodreads | Bloglovin | Twitter 

Have you read any of these? Did you like them? Can you recommend me some diverse books you love?