Joya Goffney

Listen. Goffney is one of my favorite authors. Her characters always feel human, and she gets the big emotions teens have very well. The stories are refreshing and usually include a unique facet.

Here, we have a mother with very toxic parenting, but it’s not black and white. The mom, who is horrid no joke, isn’t a caricature. You see how some parts of her love her kids, but she’s very barbed and her relationships aren’t healthy.

The book also doesn't make excuses for her poor parenting either. It just acknowledges her as a fully dimensional character. In real life, there are problematic people that we still love. I liked how the book handles it. The resolution: Nikki decides to give her mom another chance after her mom tries to be emotionally vulnerable. But she hasn't forgiven her and knows she has Mal's family and her singing career as a back-up. How it goes now all hinges on the mama.

I loved Mal! I was concerned the book would have him lead on a girl, but that loose end is resolved quickly. He’s who the book boyfriend girlies should be looking at. You can see it wasn’t just physical, his connection to Nikki. He put his money, his words, and his heart with her. He STOOD ON BIDNESS this whole book. He's almost too good to be true. Also, The book doesn't go here nor did I want it to, honestly. But Mal likes to feel needed. I think he genuinely likes being able to take care of Nikki emotionally and financially.

In the future, when she gets on her feet and can take care of herself, I wonder if he'll feel unwanted and act out, especially when she's a big star. Or maybe he's mature and if they break up it ends amicably

Not that i'm wishing that on these very sweet fictional characters, but i've seen it in IRL"

Often a main character is a singer (or loves books/a writer), and it falls flat. But I truly believed in Nikki’s connection to music. I also enjoyed the sister relationship and the tense family dynamics.

5 STARS, BABY!… (altro)

A Quinn le gusta hacer listas de todo: de los días que ha llorado como una magdalena, de las cosas que nunca reconocería en voz alta y de todos los chicos a quienes le gustaría besar. Sus listas la mantienen cuerda. Plasmar sus miedos en un papel es su vía de escape para no tener que enfrentarse a ellos en la vida real. Hasta que su diario desaparece… y una cuenta anónima publica una de sus listas en Instagram, donde todo el instituto puede leerla. Por si eso fuera poco, quienquiera que esté tras la cuenta la chantajea con publicar su diario entero si no se enfrenta a siete de sus mayores temores. Desesperada, Quinn se une a Carter Bennett (la última persona que tuvo el diario) en una carrera contrarreloj para descubrir quién está detrás del chantaje. Juntos transitarán por todas las cosas que Quinn no se ha atrevido a afrontar; y, por el camino, ella encontrará el coraje para sincerarse, vivir el momento e incluso enamorarse. «Una historia sobre encontrar el valor para ser honestos, asumir riesgos y abrazar esa libertad que se consigue cuando somos auténticos. Una mezcla perfecta de humor y romance; una fuente de inspiración para ser valientes». Kirkus Reviews… (altro)

I honestly enjoyed this one a lot! Quinn is lovely with a tendency for list-making to soothe anxiety, remember memories, or spew out her innermost thoughts, sexual fantasies included. I love making lists and being super organized, so we were on the same wavelength there. The cast of characters are great, and the Texan setting is nice. This book is in the running for one of the best “MC’s best friend” characters too. Dialogue was fun and felt natural.

This story touches on self-imposing limitations on yourself, making unhealthy coping methods, experiences with questioning of Blackness (being the stereotype, defying the stereotype, just being yourself), and acknowledging assumptions are the lowest form of knowledge.

I also love the romance in here isn’t predictable and the importance of boundaries. I don’t know how I feel about the Destany redemption. Eh, that’s a “to each their own” type of thing. Some Black people are patient enough to walk nonblack people through microaggressions and racism, but not I said the cat. I personally don't have time for that, but, in the context of the story, I'm glad Quinn was able to make her own decision for closure.

Ending spoiler:Oh my gosh, her parents’ marriage got better! ;__; I was just waiting for their divorce and Quinn coming to accept it. BUT NAH! Again, this story wasn’t super predictable. I love that her parents put forth effort to make things work.

I’m excited to read more from this author.… (altro)