As you all know, I've officially joined Threads.

And yes... I still stand by my original opinion: it feels like the Wild West over there. 😅 A lot of people lose all nuance and become the meanest, least understanding versions of themselves.

That said, I did come across a conversation that genuinely made me think.

Someone argued that the protagonist in Daggermouth "wasn't Black enough." They compared it to books like Legendborn and Our Vicious Oaths, saying those stories keep Black culture at the center in a way Daggermouth doesn't. Their point was that you could change the protagonist's race and the overall story would stay the same, so they didn't consider it a book "for the culture."

It made me wonder:

Does a book by a Black author have to center Black culture or racial dynamics in order to be considered a meaningful Black book?

It also reminded me of a post I made a while back about BookTok, where people seemed determined to "check" whether Black creators were reading enough books by Black authors.

Why do we keep moving the goalposts?

Daggermouth is a dystopian fantasy. It's set in a world with its own social structure, economy, and rules. It's not trying to mirror our reality in the same way contemporary fiction might.

So why do we sometimes expect every Black author to write stories that explicitly center Blackness?

Now, I know there's another layer to this conversation.

H.M. Wolfe has been controversial. She's spoken about being mixed and not identifying exclusively with one side of her heritage. More recently, when readers questioned why the protagonist appeared noticeably lighter in the traditionally published artwork, she said the character was always intended to resemble herself. That explanation didn't sit well with a lot of readers, and some decided they no longer wanted to support the book.

I understand why representation matters and why readers have strong feelings about how Black characters are depicted. Those conversations are worth having.

But I also keep coming back to this question:

Can a Black story simply exist without having to constantly prove its Blackness?

Or are we putting expectations on Black authors that we don't place on anyone else?

I'm genuinely curious where everyone lands on this, because I don't think there's an easy answer.

Love to hear your thoughts below!

I finally read The Secret World of Maggie Gray, and honestly… I have very mixed feelings about this one.

Disclaimer: this is a longer book review than usual because I was so conflicted.

First, I want to talk about what I loved because there were definitely things that worked for me. I enjoyed the HBCU setting, and I thought the book felt Black, like Blackiety, Black, Black. The dialogue, the way the characters interacted, and the overall vibe reminded me of conversations with cousins or friends. It had that familiar, lived-in feeling that I love.

Also, the talking cat? Absolutely hilarious. The fact that a cat was out here cussing people out made me laugh because, well… it’s a cat. A magical cat that sounds like a black man in his 30's telling someone to shut the fuck up is funny. Context matters, because a talking cat being chaotic works. A grown man speaking to women that way? Not so much.

And that’s where a lot of my issues came in.

I enjoy enemies-to-lovers and bullying tropes when they’re done well, but there’s a difference between playful rivalry and just straight-up disrespect. My biggest issue with the romance was the way the men spoke about and to the women. Once we got into calling women “bitches,” “ugly hoes,” and using degrading language, it became really hard for me to view the relationships as romantic. The tension stopped feeling like chemistry and started feeling mean.

The book also surprised me because I expected more yearning. There wasn’t necessarily a lot of spice, which isn’t a problem by itself, but when a romance is less spicy, and has a bully trope, I need that emotional build-up. You know, the longing, the tension, the feeling that these people can’t help but be drawn to each other. I just didn’t feel that here.

I also struggled with how male-centered some of the conversations felt. There were moments where friendships felt more like competition, especially around male attention. I found myself wondering why we were focusing so much on men, when these characters had just gotten to campus. I wanted more exploration of the women themselves, their friendships, their powers, their goals, and their identities outside of romance.

Plot-wise, I think the book had a lot of interesting ideas. Maggie’s background, the experiments, the First Family mystery, the ghosts, the magical world, and the different character arcs all had potential. But sometimes it felt like the story introduced ideas without giving them enough time to fully develop. I wanted more depth and more answers. I know it's a series, so I'm sure the author will find her footing and things will develop better and better as the author writes.

Overall, I don’t think this was a bad book. It was fun, chaotic, funny at times, and I actually think the world has a lot of potential. I might continue the series because I’m curious to see where things go.

But if you’re looking for a fantasy that is feminist-forward, deeply explores womanhood, or gives you complex conversations about female relationships, I don’t think this is that book. This is more of a messy, raunchy, magical college drama with a lot of chaos and deeply problematic.

For me, this was probably a 3–3.5 star read. I had fun, but I wanted more emotional depth, stronger character development, and more intentionality behind some of the choices.

Okay, we all love a good book boyfriend...but these men?

They're the cream of the crop. 😌

Archer from Archer's Voice

Archer is adorable.

What I love about him is that he doesn't have the toxic masculinity you sometimes see in romance heroes. He grew up isolated and was basically ostracized from society, but that never stopped him from being kind, generous, and gentle.

He's sweet, patient, and such a good listener.

My heart broke learning what he had been through because he truly felt like my baby. 🥹

But what I also loved is that Archer was still able to bring the spice. Those scenes were HOT, even as he was learning and experiencing things for the first time.

Von from Church Girl

I said it once, and I'll say it again.

Von?

Baby...

That's a MANNNN.

Every time my girl tried to dismiss her own feelings or minimize herself, he validated her.

Even when they weren't together, he didn't tolerate people disrespecting her. He listened to her, uplifted her, and made her feel safe being vulnerable.

He didn't try to change her. He just loved her.

He gave me Nipsey Hustle vibes. 😂

Noah from The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

I know some people think this book series is basic...

But I loved Noah.

If you've ever watched Zoey 101, this relationship gave me Logan Reese and Quinn Pensky vibes. The quirky, introverted girl with the outgoing guy who brings a little more fun into her life.

But what I loved most was that he never tried to dim who she was.

He admired her exactly as she was.

And she was just shocked that someone she admired could love her back.

I love when two characters don't realize how deeply the other person loves them. When they both feel lucky to be chosen by someone they adore.

Xaden from Fourth Wing

I couldn't make this list without talking about Xaden.

"My house. My chair. My woman."

Need I say more?!?!

He's a shadow daddy in every way, but what makes him stand out is that he isn't threatened by her strength.

Her opinions, thoughts, and ideas matter.

He sees her as his equal, and honestly, most of the time, her better.

He's not competing with her. He's supporting her.

Like ughhhhh.

We all need a morally gray man who would tear the world apart for us but also loves to cuddle and listen. 😂

Malachi from Our Vicious Oaths

Babyyyyyyy...

A Fae who wears grills?!

Sign me up, honey!!!

This man is literally sex personified.

He knows what he wants, he likes control, but he also recognizes when he's met his match.

He's stubborn, strong-willed, and sometimes absolutely unbearable.

But he's also caring, thoughtful, and loyal to the people he loves.

He's just trying to do his best with the tools he has.

It was such a good example of she falls first, but he falls HARDER.

And I loved Kadeesha and Malachi's dynamic. The banter, the court politics, the culture.

UGH. They had everything.

Johnny from Binding 13

This feels a little illegal to say because of their age in this book...

But Johnny was so patient.

And patience is a quality that goes very far with me.

If you've read the book, you know Shannon has been through so much at home. Her father is...not it.

And Shannon doesn't see herself the way she should.

But Johnny does.

He's patient as he helps her come out of her shell, and he loves her before she fully knows how to love herself.

OMGGG. I love their story.

Looking back at this list, I realized every single one of these men has one thing in common:

They make their women feel safe.

They don't just want them. They see them. And I think that's what most women want.

To feel seen, validated, respected, and loved for exactly who they are.

Who are your book boyfriends, and do they also fit that pattern?

Okay, have y'all read Kennedy Ryan's novella The Close Up?

Because it was SO good!

It was around 200 pages, so I was able to finish it quickly, and the best part? It's free on Audible!

At first, I was confused because I was like...wait, do I know these people? Iris? Why does she feel familiar?

And then I realized...Kennedy Ryan brought back characters from across her universe.

We get appearances from Iris and August, Lotus and her husband from Reel & Block Shot, other characters from the Hoops series, and even characters from the Grip series.

It honestly felt like a little reunion.

All of these characters come together for a two-week cruise celebrating Keanan's 40th birthday, and as someone who has read some of Kennedy Ryan's other books, it was so much fun seeing these characters again.

Reading about Iris again felt nostalgic, and it honestly made me want to go back and finish more of Kennedy Ryan's catalog because clearly...I have been missing out.

This is a second chance romance and our FMC is sexually confident and knows what she wants, while our MMC is a man who knows exactly what he wants and isn't afraid to pursue her.

Together? These two are explosive.

And let me tell you...

Mrs. Ryannnnn.

The spice.

The spice was SPICY. 😂

There are multiple kinks explored, and at times I will admit the spice almost overshadowed the plot because whew...Kennedy came to play.

But overall, this was such a fun, quick read. It was entertaining, nostalgic, and a great addition to Kennedy Ryan's interconnected universe.

Highly recommend!

Have y'all read The Close Up? Or do you have a favorite Kennedy Ryan book?

Tropes are the currency of books nowadays.

In today's publishing and BookTok landscape, it feels like books are expected to be packaged around 1-3 major tropes before readers even pick them up.

And honestly?

I hate it.

Why can't we just let a book exist without immediately labeling every single thing about it?

I remember reading the back of a book and getting excited because it said the main characters hated each other and were eventually going to fall in love. It was exciting because I didn't know exactly how it would happen.

But now, sometimes I feel like knowing the trope before reading takes away some of the mystery.

Instead of a synopsis, we get a list of tropes.

Enemies to lovers.
Found family.
Grumpy/sunshine.
Forced proximity.

And while those things can be fun, sometimes I think they make us focus more on the ingredients than the actual meal.

I also think some of the best books are the ones where the author isn't trying to hit a checklist. They're just writing characters who feel real.

Like...what happened to themes?! I feel like tropes have flattened the way we talk about books. It used to be about more than just "enemies to lovers." It was about the way an author could take a character who was nothing more than ink on a page and make you feel like they were a real person with fears, flaws, dreams, and a heartbeat.

I think that's what makes books by authors like Kennedy Ryan and Abby Jimenez so special. Their books transcend the tropes.

They don't just have an enemies-to-lovers storyline. They have characters with trauma, friendships, fears, dreams, and entire lives who just happen to fall into that dynamic.

The trope is there, but it's not the point.

And I think we've lost a little bit of that in the way we talk about books now.

But...this is coming from someone who absolutely searches "enemies to lovers fantasy recs" on TikTok when I'm looking for my next read. 😂

So maybe tropes aren't the problem.

Maybe it's when the trope becomes the entire identity of the book.

What do you think? Have tropes helped readers find books they love, or have they changed the reading experience?

Okay, so I did NOT realize this book was going to be this wild!!

We have our main protagonist, who became deaf after getting sick when she was young. One thing I think this book does incredibly well is explore how Black communities sometimes navigate disability without making the story feel like a lecture or an obvious critique.

Our MFC's parents never learned sign language. Instead, they got her hearing aids when she started school and taught her that the world wasn't going to make accommodations for her disability, so she needed to learn how to navigate it.

And honestly...as a Black woman, I understand the complexity of that. It's already hard navigating the world as a Black person, but being Black and disabled adds another layer entirely. Sometimes it feels like there is no room to be vulnerable.

But also...they should have done better. They should have taken the time to support their child and learn ASL instead of placing the responsibility solely on her to be "strong" and adapt.

And I think that's a difficult conversation we sometimes have to have in the Black community. Sometimes the survival skills that helped previous generations navigate the world can unintentionally become the same things that prevent us from giving our children the support and softness they deserve.

What I love is that the author doesn't force the reader to view this through one specific lens. She just tells this character's story, and the commentary is there if you're willing to sit with it. Which I did lol 

Currently, our MFC is engaged to a man who is not treating her the way he should be. And his parents?! HORRIBLE. This book will have you wanting to jump into the pages and wring someone's neck.

What I was NOT expecting was our MMC.

Because this man is...a lot. 😂

He is confident, unapologetic, sexually liberated (this man is spicy friends), he's friends with illegal drag racers, and a successful business owner who truly does not care what people think of him.

And when I first found out about his lifestyle, I was genuinely shocked because the contrast between him and our MFC is so interesting.

We have this bubbly, sensitive Black woman who has spent so much of her life allowing people to overstep her boundaries.

And then we have this man who says exactly what he thinks, knows exactly who he is, and refuses to apologize for it.

This book has been the BEST surprise, and I'm so happy my Instagram audience picked it for me to read.

I'm about 50% through the audiobook, and I am addicted.

At first, the pacing was really fast, but then the author slowed things down and gave us time to truly understand both the MFC and MMC. That slower section was needed because now that we know these characters, the story is about to pick back up with some new information coming to light.

Anywho...what are y'all currently reading?