KJK Reads

Rating:  5 Stars  Themes: Non-Fiction, LGBTQ+ Thoughts: This is a really great little book, it is concise but detailed with many different terms all across the community. I liked that it covered multiple terms that mean the same thing but are the correct term for different people like having lesbian and women loving women while addressing the ethnocentrism of the term lesbian and AFAB but also things such as CAFAB addressing the different people living on the trans spectrum. I also like the quick clarifications at the beginning like sex vs gender and romance vs sexuality to support the right thought processes before going through all the different attractions. Overall, it was a helpful book and I learnt some things about my own community I didn’t know before picking this up. Favourite Quote: “Identity is, after all, personal and not for anyone else to decide.”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Cookbook, Alcohol Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I saw this book after having Tiki drinks at a family meal not too long ago and thought this could be perfect for me to be able to make some at home too. It’s a great collection and there’s definitely some in here I can add to my repertoire. I liked the photos with each picture and found them appetising, making me want to try them more. I liked that the author put the tip after each drink where the ingredient is used (like homemade grenadine) instead of at the end so I don’t need to keep flipping back and forth and lose track of what I’m supposed to be doing. I also liked having the bit about rum and barware at the beginning so I can make sure I’m equipped before I start. Having an index makes short cutting to a specific drink easier in the future so I’ll be able to go back to it without searching.

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I picked this up today since I was struggling to decide what to watch next and thought regardless of what types of shows are featured I’m sure there’d be something for me. I did find quite a few shows I’ve really enjoyed recently on the list and some very high so it gave me the confidence that the other shows I picked from here would also be right up my street. I appreciated that the author acknowledges how subjective it all is right from the off rather than making out like they have superior media taste. I liked that the author provided the average duration for the episodes in each series recommended since I like to have shows I can fit in at different times. I also liked having the original network being provided but it would be nice to know where it’s available now since I don’t have all the streaming networks but they sometimes cross such as Yellowston...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: True Crime, Graphic Novel  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is an interesting story and the author takes quite an interesting theory to what happened after the men left Alcatraz island. I thought the graphics were great although I did struggle with the female character that was constantly referred to as black since it was integral to her storyline but aside from characters mentioning it, it wasn’t made obvious in the images themselves aside from one page right at the beginning that shows her mother if you pay close attention to the bank scene. I also liked the romantic angle with LGBTQ+ representation as a sweet touch to a dramatic and dangerous story and having it same sex allows for an exploration of the attitudes to them in the 1960s. Favourite Quote: “I mean, once you jump off Alcatraz island … where can you really go?”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Historical Fiction, Holocaust  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.  This book is a fictional story based on the actual events many in the Baltics experienced during World War 2 and the Holocaust and some characters are based on real people, as explained at the end. It’s an important story to tell as I didn’t know much about the Baltic experiences and I read a lot from this time period so I’m sure there’s others who don’t know enough either. The story grabbed me right from the off and I found the characters amazing and I really felt for them and everything they had to go through. The narration was great and really helped to immerse me in the story even more. I also appreciated the notes being at the end as the author said, it avoided taking me out of the story.

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Psychological Fiction, Romance, Christmas  Thoughts: When I picked this book up I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into as I went in blind and at first couldn’t decide if it was a romance or psychological fiction and it turns out to be the perfect blending of both. The story around the town and the characters own lives holds its own and doesn’t lose anything to the main characters developments. The FMC is a strong and independent individual but still manages to maintain strong connections to her family and the town which is great to read. The premise of it being Christmas everyday is such a cool idea but I have a feeling I would end up the same way as Holly after too long of it. I like how the romance felt slow and natural with the first meeting really setting us up and then the conflict of their needs turning them almost into enemies with moments that gave us hope. I also think that the (real Christmas in the book is just perfect with what Christmas me...