Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan Trigger warning: Homophobia, toxic relationships, trauma. Age rating: 13+ Overall rating: 5 out of 5 Genres Contemporary romance. A spoiler free summary Morgan is track athlete forced to transfer after her private catholic school after being told being gay is against the school’s principles. Starting a new school, Morgan is ready to be proud and out. Ruby loves working on automobiles, especially her baby blue 1970 ford torio, but most of time she is stuck living out her mother’s dreams of becoming a pageant queen by regularly competing in pageants. When Morgan and Ruby “accidentally” meet they are dawn to each other instantly and soon Ruby imagines a future she never thought could be possible, but Morgan is determined to be her true self and doesn’t want to hide a secret relationship, the very thing she promised she would be proud of. With both girls at different stages of their journey, will they be able to work it out or will it be something that will never work between the two of them? Review Some Girls Do was such a sweet romance filled with many emotions from anger at the world, frustrated love, and happiness. Although many cliches were used it did not make the story awkward or hard to read. It explored the experience of some queer people while still making the story engaging and not only about the dark side of society. The way it was written was really engaging and some hilarious bits said by the characters, many of the characters were so sweet, the type of characters you would want to be friends with, and the emotional journey of the characters was amazing. Even though I knew how it would end I was kept at the edge of my seat and rooting for a happy relationship, but the struggles only made the ending that much better. I enjoyed the toxic relationships it explored and how the homophobia from close family can create immense internal homophobia and the extreme battles that come with. The author explored heavy topic like the ongoing bullying of queer children and the struggles of grown adults and the world telling people it is wrong and disgusting to be true. It was wonderful to see the characters blossom against the hardships that were thrown at them, yet they thrived in their queerness listening to the people in support. I enjoyed the aspects of both the disproving parents and the supportive parents of lgbtqia+ youth as those are both very real situations. Overall, I loved the cute romance and the heavy topics in which many lgbtqia+ youth face explored simultaneously. Quotes “Oh, nothing. Just your daddy issues showing.” “It’s kind of your one-stop shop when it comes to the gay.” “Because you look miserable as I do today, and I think only love can do that to you.” “…love is a trap. Love is getting knocked up and abandoned. Love is a handprint on a check and your entire childhood unwrapped in tulle. Love is letting someone have the power to hurt you in ways you haven’t even though of yet.” Recommendations If you are looking for a cute sapphic romance that is written from two perspectives. May be relatable to many queer people in some way and as there is a closeted person and an openly queer one. It will take you on a small emotional rollercoaster and by the end it will make your heart flutter. Pros Queer representation! Not only are the main characters queer but so are some of the side characters. Cons Nothing particularly, maybe seeing a couple queer pocs side characters at least would have been nice, since those are very few and far between.
Category: Uncategorized
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.
These violent delights by Chloe Gong Trigger warning: violence, guns, knives, trauma, death, insects, gore, discrimination. Age rating: 14+ Overall rating: 5.6 out of 5. Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Retelling. A spoiler free summary In 1920’s Shanghai the streets run red with blood between two gangs: the scarlet gang and the white flowers. A constant blood feud beginning generations ago is stronger than ever. Juliette Cai is at the heart of the scarlets, the eighteen-year-old, a former flapper returns to assume her role as the heir. The Scarlet gang’s only rival is the white flowers whose heir, Roma Montagov is Juliette’s first love and betrayal… But when people show signs of madness and start clawing at their own throats, death stacks up but when both gangs are affected, Juliette and Roma must put their weapons and resentments aside to stop this chaos or there will be no city left for either of them to rule… Review These violent delights was such an amazing read! It was written elegantly; the descriptions flowed and carried the story. The author’s writing style reminded me a little of the way classic authors write but take out the bad parts, modernise it to fit young adult and she added her own unique spin. I loved everything about this novel, the characters, the relationships, the chemistry, the setting, the atmosphere, and I was extremely excited to read the sequel. There was a time when this book was circulating the media and I would say it deserves the hype it got. This book really takes you on an emotional rollercoaster in a way you may not expect, the chemistry between every single character was spectacular. This novel was written in third person with dual perspectives of Roma and Juliette which really showcased their enemies to lover’s trope, as well as other occasional sections written from the semi-main/side characters contributing unexpectedly well to the overall story line. This book [and our violent ends] particularly stood out to me because of its Asian rep and the in-depth personalities of those characters showed me I was capable of being just as strong as them. This is one of the first books I read with Asian main characters\protagonists [especially in the historical, fantasy] which is extremely sad I wasn’t able to find novels with people who looked like me without it fitting into stereotypes. The unforgettable characters made it impossibly hard to leave their world behind [especially after the sequel]. The fact that it was a fantasy novel with a large Asian cast made me feel so happy to be seen represented. There were many lovely characters, even the smaller side ones made sense to the story and added impacted to the over arcing storylines and character development. The mix of cultures added something that is very real in today’s age, the fact where everywhere you go there is a diverse range of people. I really enjoyed the use of multiple languages, there were some moments where I had to reread over a bit but the author cleverly wove them in and when the characters spoke those languages in a loving way it made it such a large impact. The list of characters I loved were endless, so I won’t be naming them. There was lgbtqia+ rep found in the side characters, but it wasn’t the characters’ main personality, it was just a part of them which I loved and appreciated. Overall, I loved this book, and it gave me the best sense of emotions, Chloe gong’s writing style is something I wish to explore more and am very excited for Chloe’s future works. This novel also made me feel represented in the fantasy/historical fiction realm and it just makes you feel like anything is possible with the Asian representation I have lacked in literature. Quotes “We stay quiet about the injustice of all this simply because it hurts his feelings?” “Too many kind hearts turn cold every day.” “You destroy me, and you kiss me. You give me reason to hate you and then you give me reason to love you. Is this a lie or the truth? Is this a ploy or your heart reaching for me?” “Hope was the most vicious evil of them all, the thing that had managed to thrive in a pandora’s box among misery, and disease, and sadness – and what could endure alongside others with such teeth if it didn’t have ghastly claws of its own?” “It is a sound that exists incongruous with the rest of the anxiety seeping along this city’s arteries.” Recommendations An enemies to lovers duology in an intensity filled environment with rebellion, gangsters and a blood feud set in an imaginative world and ribboned in by the author’s incredible beautiful writing ready to take you on an emotional roller-coaster. Pros: Asian and lgbtqia+ (side characters) rep. How much the novel took me on an emotional rollercoaster, how uniquely well the novel/s were written and the Romeo and Juliet retelling. Cons Nothing, absolutely nothing, it is perfect as it is.
Is there Queer Rep in These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong?
Yes, in the first couple chapters a character is introduced and hinted at being trans in a creative way, Kathleen is semi-main character and her queerness it is not mentioned much after that, it is just a part of her not her “only” personality trait which is unfortunately commonly done by numerous authors.
More lgbtqia+ characters are introduced as being queer in the thrilling sequel, “Our Violent Ends.”
Anxiety, please stop by Enna Mari
No one understands you, No one cares about you, Everything hates you. No one likes you, No one wants to know about you, Everyone despises you, Those little thoughts Cause large accidents, Spiralling down, As shadows wrap Around and around The brain never stops A light laughter Can be seen as cruel, Harsh, ruthless, callous Just words and so is this. Anxiety, please stop.
Anxiety, please stop was written a couple months ago after an anxiety attack and it clearly explores something many people unfortunately go through with self-sabotaging thoughts. After I wrote I didn’t edit it that much since I thought it would be best to be left as it was giving it the property of how it felt in those moments.
I hope you enjoyed the poem and the simple structure of it, perhaps you might have found it relatable.
Is there Queer Rep in Little Thieves by Margaret Owen?
Is there Queer Rep in Little Thieves by Margaret Owen?
Yes, there is queer rep. There are two side-main characters who are lgbtqia+. The characters’ personality wasn’t just being queer, both had complex history\back story and they greatly contributed to the story.
MILD SPOILERS!
There is even a relationship between the two lgbtqia+ characters and the romance is sweet, fitting and captivating, the type of ship you root for.
MAJOR SPOILERS!
Gisele comes out to a lesbian, and it even explores realistic unfortunate conversations many queer people must have when coming out to homophobic parents. After all the struggles she faces her relationship is just that much more special with Ragne who I believe is bisexual but am not sure.
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Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen Trigger warning: Provided by the author! Here’s a condensed down one: abuse, sexual assault, child neglect, trauma, abusive environment. Age rating: 14+ Overall rating: 5 out of 5. Gernes: Fantasy, mystery, retelling. A spoiler free summary Vanja Schmidt is the thirteenth daughter of a thirteenth daughter; from a young age her mother abandons her and leaves her with fortune and death who adopt her. She knows gifts aren’t given freely especially after never receiving love from her mother and godmothers. Vanja trudges her way through life and was a devoted servant to Princess Gisele, well until just a year ago. When Vanja’s demanding godmothers claim a payment because they have taken care of her, she decides to take control of her own life by steal Gisele’s. With help from an enchanted pearl necklace Vanja transforms to look like Gisele, leaving the real princess to be a nobody. Now she lives a double life, one as Princess Gisele and the other as a jewel thief. Vanja charms the nobility and swipes riches from right under their noses to fund her escape, but when she’s one heist away from freedom, she crosses the wrong God who curses her to break out in jewels until she becomes them. Now Vanja races against the clock having just two weeks to fight free of the curse or she will not only lose her freedom but her life too. But Vanja also has an uncontrollable half-god guardian, Gisele’s evil fiancé and a persistently overenthusiastic junior detective on her tail. With all odds against her, Vanja must statically think, or she will lose her life… Review Little thieves is a fantasy retelling of the goose girl. As it was s fantasy it took about a hundred pages to truly immerse myself and understand the world it was set in. There is a lot of German influence and many of the words are German, fortunately the author provides a glossary at the end of the novel but only three quarters of the words are there. The novel is written in one point of view from Vanja, who is a “villain,” while the writing is smooth, easy to understand yet not too simple. I enjoyed the author exploring and displaying Vanja’s complicated past and how trauma still affects her. This aspect of the story makes it to relatable to many people if they have gone through exactly what Vanja has gone through. The trauma responses used in this novel was very realistic and the combination of serious subject matter with a lovable storyline and characters was a harmonious union. The personification of fortune, death, truth and justice were not only unique to the story but made it easy to understand since they were things everyone widely knows about. The characters and storyline had so much depth. Each of the main characters had incredible character development that not only made sense to the character but the over arcing storyline. Throughout the novel there was a perfect amount of predictable plot points and completely unexpected ones, from expected connections to guest appearances and untold history. The chemistry was executed immaculately and the romances in the tale was not the main plot line but added significantly to the overall storyline. There were characters who were introduced so you might dislike them, like Gisele, but then you realise they are just damaged and broken as everyone else. I found all the main/semi main characters extremely likeable by the end of the novel, the few I enjoyed included Ragne, Gisele, Emeric. I enjoyed the lgbtqia+ representation even if it wasn’t the central plotline, they played an important role in the story and in the characters. I thought the author did a delightful job in writing the personalities of the lgbtqia+ without making it their only trait, which is unfortunately done quite often. There may or may not be a queer relationship… Overall, I enjoyed the novel and the way the author ended makes me believe there could be a second book, but if there isn’t it ends fine as a standalone as well. [I really hope there is a sequel though. 😉] Quotes “You’re what happens when an encyclopedia wishes on a star to be a real boy, if that encyclopedia was also an absolute prick.” “Just because you can survive without someone doesn't mean they're unwanted.” “In the world I knew, there were three reasons a person would be wanted: for profit, pleasure, or power. If you could satisfy only one, they used you. Two, they saw you. Three, they served you.” Recommendations A fantasy novel written from the perspective of the “villain” with an incredibly intriguing back story and realistic character development set in a wonderful descriptive world and exciting characters with juxtaposing personalities that go unexpected well. Pros: explores trauma responses quite accurately, combines fantasy and mystery with the perfect selection of characters. Cons: I wished the author had put the author’s note/trigger warning on the left side of the book since I missed it when I first read, it was on the right side.
They Know Nothing as They Tell Lies by Enna Mari
They tell me I’m fine, They think I am not, They comment on parts that matter a lot, From struggles of health to unsolicited advice, They think they have rights to tell me what’s what, The surface of tension and other things right, They give me a smile with no one in sight. From lovesick stares to stolen moments, They took what they thought were just more tokens, Not a thought about the others, They didn’t consider the people involved. A rose so red it couldn’t be friendship, They told me it was nothing to do with relationships, Then many weeks later they declared their love, I was confused with the man in the house, Yet here I am walking beside them, While some hatred still lingers and festers inside me, Although they don’t know the secrets I’ve learnt, Or the [long held] words of despair so deeply burnt, They think I’m still an ignorant little “girl” With tears spent out and the lows forgotten. They are not ready for the person they’ve given, They don’t know the secrets I’ve hidden, Or the setting feeling of impending doom, And it’s just while I sit in my room, I know that I will never say those words, But I can't say I dying to know, Why they would say such a thing, To hide the lies and miscommunication, Although some many deny, It’s clear there was a dalliance all along.
Happy Hinamaturi/雛祭り!
March 3rd, Hinamaturi/雛祭り.
Hinamaturi/雛祭り is a festival and day celebrated by Japanese people. It is also known as girls’ festival or the festival of dolls, its deep-rooted tradition goes all the way back to the Heian period [794 to 1185], although it may have started with more simple decorations such as paper dolls this day is still celebrated in modern society. Hinamaturi symbolises growth, happiness and prosperity of young girls, mainly through decorations and food. Hina Ningyo [Dolls] are set on platforms, they are usually over three tiers depending on the set and the dolls itself symbolise the imperial family. The top platform has the Odarisama\お内裏様 [emperor] and the Ohinasama/お雛様 [empress], and on the lower platforms there are usually over three court ladies. There may also be other decorative pieces such as carriages, gift boxes, omochi on stands, mandarin and Sakura trees.The women are usually in red while the man in a rich navy blue, even by the clothing status can be clearly seen.
During Hinamaturi雛祭り there are certain foods that are eaten, the most common are: Hishimochi, a three-tier rice cake usually in a white, pale pink and green, Hina Arare sweet puffy rice crackers the size of marbles, but can vary in shape commonly in yellow, white, pale green, Sakura pink, Hamaguri-no-osuimono is a delicate clam soup and Chirashi-zushi a scattered sushi rice with lotus root, shitake and carrot.
![My favourite Books of 2021, part seven [last part]. How we fall apart by Katie Zhao.](https://ennamari.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/screenshot_20220120-204740_gallery.jpg?w=825&h=510&crop=1)
My favourite Books of 2021, part seven [last part]. How we fall apart by Katie Zhao.
HOW WE FALL APART BY KATIE ZHAO
How we fall apart is a dark academia novel focusing on Asian American characters and the experiences of these people going through a prestigious high school while their secrets are being exposed and the murder of the queen bee. This novel displays the pressure many immigrant families and children feel as well as the hardship and the reality of always being seen as a perfect student. Not only is this book a murder mystery but it shows the world of many Asian Americans [not limited to] especially students. I loved this novel because of how much I related to the main characters, I have never felt so seen or understand from a piece of incredible writing. From the backhanded complaints rooted in racism to each character on the brink of breaking down, this novel is perfect for anyone who is Asian and wants to relate to any other who wants to learn about the experiences many Asians’ face to maybe even relating to the hard-working students with dark secrets hiding in plain sight hoping to never be caught.
Fortunately, a trigger warning was provided by the author but here’s a condensed down one: mental illness, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, abuse, self-harm, racism, parental neglect, violence, drug use, an inappropriate teacher and student relationship.
My favourite Books of 2021, part six. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.
LEGENDBORN BY TRACY DEONN
Legendborn is an Arthurian retelling. Not only is it a well written fantasy but it also explores heavy themes such as grief and racism. After Bree’s mother dies in an accident, she wants nothing more than to escape her hometown and a perfect chance arises, Bree leaves her home. After witnessing a magic incident everything changes for Bree. This novel follows Bree as she discover a whole another world of magic and how she might even be involved. Legendborn is unlike the usual retelling, instead of having characters who are reimaged or children of well-known tales they are ancestors of the characters of King Arthur. I loved this novel for several reasons, from the fantasy side, the many complex characters, the slow budding romance, the writing style, the BIPOC representation, the LGBTQIA+ rep and of course the overall storyline. I have to say a lot happened in the last couple chapters and it was left on an incredibly exciting cliff-hanger. The sequel, Bloodmarked, is coming out in July 2022. The author also explored grief of a loved one quite in depth and it feels as if many people were\could\have\can relate. It brought together a heavy theme and put it together with an unexpected fantasy which worked comfortably. Overall, a wonderful novel and am excited to see more of the characters again soon.
Trigger warning: Racism, grief, death, anxiety, car crash, attacks.
Enna Mari 