Author: Zakiya N. Jamal

Zakiya N. Jamal was born in Queens, raised in Long Island, and currently resides in Brooklyn. In other words, she’s a New Yorker through and through. She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and a MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School. She has been published in Romper, BuzzFeed, People.com, Thought Catalog, and more. Her non-fiction essay about her "Cuban Impostor Syndrome" can be found in the Latinx anthology, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed. You can find her on Twitter at @ZakiyaNJamal.

Book Review: November 9

Posted on February 10, 2016February 9, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Hey friends! Once again this obviously isn’t a Woman Crush Wednesday post. It’s a bonus book review! Yay! I’m switching up the schedule right now (hence why there was no WCW last week either). Please bear with me during this time of change. 🙂

Synopsis from Amazon:

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

Honestly, I’d never even heard of Colleen Hoover until I joined #bookstagram. But literally almost every person I follow on Instagram was reading one of her books so I got curious and requested a bunch of her books from the library.

Well now I get the hype. I instantly fell in love with Ben, kind of like Fallon does. Ben is cute, funny, honest, and so genuine. He’s pretty unbelievable but in the best possible way. I also really like that he’s a writer and Fallon loves romance novels because they constantly talk about fiction and typical cliches that occur in romance novels.

It was interesting reading a novel about a guy who was trying to write a novel about what was happening in his life. It was very meta and also funny. The story is told in Fallon and Ben’s point of views, which is perfect because they not only keep things from each other but also from the reader, making the novel pretty surprising. I was definitely shocked by some twists although there were some things I suspected.

Still, this book kept me on my toes and Fallon and Ben’s chemistry and wit made me laugh and swoon. They’re so incredibly cute together and the use of November 9 as the focal point for this book was really interesting. The date has different meanings to both Ben and Fallon and the way Hoover uses that to drive the plot is fantastic.

I am now fully on board the CoHo train and have no intention of getting off anytime soon. Now I get to dive in and read all her books and I can’t wait. If you haven’t read any of her books yet definitely give her a try. She’s a phenomenal writer.

Borrow or Buy: Buy it and reread it multiple times. I need this on my shelf permanently.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“I thought I was tougher than a word. But I just discovered that having to say goodbye to you is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

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Book Review: How to be Bad

Posted on February 9, 2016February 3, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Borrow

Synopsis from Amazon:

Jesse, Vicks, and Mel each has her own reason for wanting to get away from their nowheresville Florida town. Add in a hot (and harmless) hitchhiker, an impending hurricane, and a close encounter of the gator kind, and the result is one sizzling road trip where the journey is far more important than the destination.

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2016 Reading Challenge.*

Out of the three authors of this book I’ve read books by two of them (Sarah Mylnowski and Lauren Myracle). Based on that I figured I’d give this book a try. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.

Told in alternating point of views, Jesse, Vicks, and Mel embark on a road trip to Miami under the guise of getting Vicks to see her boyfriend, Brady, who just started school at the University of Miami. Although truthfully Jesse and Mel have their own reasons for wanting to leave their small Florida town.

My main issue with this novel is that I didn’t like the characters. Jesse is a holier than thou Christian who attempts to push her beliefs on everyone and is very judgmental. As a Christian myself I couldn’t stand this type of character because that’s not how most Christians are, in my opinion. Of course, this is part of her issues that she needs to work through on this road trip but it was just painful reading the way she treated her mother and Vicks.

Although Vicks isn’t innocent. Her whole dilemma with her boyfriend Brady stems from Vicks not being honest about how she feels. Throughout most of the novel I wanted to slap her and tell her to get over herself and stop pretending to be such a “bada**”.

If I had to say who my favorite was out of the three I’d have to go with Mel. Even though she definitely had some insecurities I felt more sorry for her than annoyed by her. I cheered for her when she finally stepped out of her comfort zone and started speaking up for herself. I also really liked the character, Marco, who the girls meet on the road. He was cute, funny, and added some more adventure to the story.

Overall, I thought the girls got into some pretty funny situations and the plot was good but I can’t say I loved this novel. I probably won’t ever reread it so for me it’s just not worth the buy.

Borrow or Borrow: Borrow

Stars:

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15 Bookstagram Accounts You Need To Follow

Posted on February 8, 2016February 8, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog, Books

Hey guys! I know today is Monday and this is obviously not a Man Crush Monday post. However, I’m currently trying out a different posting schedule so just bear with me. Thanks!

For those of you that don’t already know I recently joined the #bookstagram community and I’m loving it. If you’re not following me on Instagram yet please do! It’s so fun and I love posting pics of my books. Besides myself there are SO many amazing bookstagram accounts you should be following. Here’s just a few of my faves.

1. Celine (@celinereads)

2. Saskiareads (@saskiareads)

3. The High Ladies (@thecourtofbooksandreaders)

4. Bookcrastinators in Wonderland (@bookcrastinators)

5. Seth (@seth.the.reader)

6. Leanne (@leanne_bibliomaniac)

7. Ryza Lorraine (@stylereads_)

8. Ashlynn (@bookishqueen)

9. Carlos (@abookishdreamer)

10. Linnie (@beyondtheblurb)

11. Emily (@book.happy)

12. Fiderly (@readsleepfangirl)

13. Kath (@kath_reads)

14. Tenn (@ten_art_books)

15. Kay (@thebookannex)

And here’s a bonus pic from yours truly.

Do you have a bookstagram account? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to follow you! 🙂

Book Review: Making Her His

Posted on February 4, 2016February 3, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

For almost five years, Alex has had one obsession. Her name is Elynn.

Alex Hanas couldn’t believe that after so many years as a widower, his father was getting remarried. To make matters worse, the American gold digger had a kid—a daughter named Elynn. After months of avoiding it, Alex goes to brunch with every intention of giving his father’s new family the deep freeze. But he can’t pull it off with Elynn’s anxious green-grey eyes locked on him.

That was the day his life changed.

Four years later, Alex is as close to Elynn as a stepbrother can be. But that’s not enough for him. He wants more…and he’s done waiting.

I blame BookBub for my dive back into erotica.

Making Her His by Lucy Leroux was in my daily deals email from BookBub and ordinarily I may not have purchased it if it wasn’t for the fact that the Kindle version was free that day. Intrigued by the low low price of zero dollars and zero cents I took the bite and “bought” it.

And let me just say that was a great decision. This relatively short novel follows Alex, a 31-year-old control freak business man, and his stepsister Elynn, a quiet, shy 21-year-old. I’m never sure how to feel about the step siblings thing but in this novel it worked since Alex and Elynn’s parents didn’t get together until Elynn was 17 so Alex and Elynn never even lived together.

Alex reminded me a little bit of the infamous Christian Grey from Fifty Shades. Alex is a successful business man who likes to be in control and often tells Elynn what to do. What makes Alex a more likable character to me, however, is his controlling tendencies are just enough to be considered pushy and not abusive. When Elynn puts her foot down Alex respects that and always makes sure Elynn’s comfortable in their relationship, no matter what they were doing. He doesn’t push her to do anything she’s not ready for and is very conscious of keeping her safe, which I liked a lot.

I also really liked Elynn’s character. She has this interesting fascination with mushrooms that I thought was a little weird but also such a funny and quirky trait, especially in comparison to Alex. Elynn and Alex are the definition of opposites attract. I do think they get over the step siblings issue way too easily. The fact that Alex doesn’t see any issue with it at all and Elynn is easily persuaded seems a bit unrealistic.

Even so, I thought Alex and Elynn were really cute together and the erotica aspects were very steamy. The novel is very fast paced, which made their relationship seem a bit rushed but overall I really enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read and has now made be curious about Leroux’s other novels.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“I already got what I wanted. What I’ve always wanted.”

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12 Books To Read During Black History Month

Posted on February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog, Books

Despite Stacey Dash’s nonsensical statements, Black History Month (BHM) is in fact still happening this year and what better way to celebrate than with some reading. Check out this list of books, both fiction and nonfiction, to help you feel empowered, make you laugh, and get motivated to change the world.

1. How to Be Black by Baratunde Thurston

Start your BHM right by learning “how to be Black”. Thurston’s book of satirical essays that discuss how to be the best Black person you can be will keep you laughing and shaking your head at it’s realness.

2. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

51YFdzbd-lL._SX344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg — Source: Simon & Schuster

Queen of Shondland, Shonda Rhimes has found success in a medium that has never been that open to women of color. Learn about how for one year Rhimes said yes to every opportunity that came her way and how it changed her life.

3. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah centers around a young Nigerian couple who are separated but come back togethers 15 years later and rediscover their love for each other and their homeland.

4. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

150709_SBR_Coates-COVER.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg — Source: Spiegel & Grau

Written as a letter to his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates dives into what it means to be Black in America, both in the present and in America’s history. Looking at his life experiences, Coates takes a hard look at race in America and what could be improved for the future.

5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

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Filled with heart wrenching moments that will make you both angry and sad, Maya Angelou tells the story of her life with honesty and understanding. However, this book isn’t a sad story about what happened to her but instead an uplifting story about how she was set free.

6. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

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From his childhood to his time in jail to his full dive into Islam, Malcolm X fully opens up about his ideals and how the American Dream doesn’t really include Black people. Whether you think his ideas are too extreme or not, they’ll definitely make you think.

7. Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Written as a screenplay, this novel follows Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention awaiting trial. Winner of multiple awards, this shocking story demonstrates how one decision can completely alter someone’s life.

8. The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

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In this collection of hilarious essays, Issae Rae, creator of the YouTube hit, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, discusses her experiences as a creator of a YouTube show, dealing with people’s unwanted commentary, and rocking her natural hair.

9. Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan

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Before it became an amazing film, Waiting to Exhale was a bestselling novel. Centered around four black women, each of whom are going through their own relationship trials, this book tells the story of the undeniable bonds that friends share.

10. Beloved by Toni Morrison

This classic novel tells the story of Sethe, a woman who escaped slavery 18 years ago but is still running from the ghosts she thought she left behind there. Filled with suspense, this isn’t just a story about slavery but a story about a mother who’s still being haunted.

11. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

A tale about two sisters that are separated for years, The Color Purple is a classic that has since been turned into a movie and musical. Thought provoking, heart breaking, and inspiring this story is worth a read, and even a second if you’ve read it before.

12. Dear White People by Justin Simien

Answering questions such as, “Am I the token Black friend?” or “Was that a microaggression?” Dear White People is the ultimate guide to living in “post-racial” America.

Book Review: The Steep & Thorny Way

Posted on February 2, 2016March 22, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in ARC Reviews, Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten.

1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.

The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night.

*I received a free advanced reader’s copy of this book from Amulet Books. This did not influence my review of this book in anyway. This is an honest review of the novel as I saw it. This novel will be released on March 8, 2016.*

In all honesty I’m always hesitant to read books about a person of color written by a white person and historical fiction isn’t really my genre but this book interested me so I gave it a try.

It was slow in the beginning and it took me a little while to get into but I’d say about 40 pages in the pace picked up. I either forgot or skipped over the part of the blurb that mentioned this was inspired by Hamlet but I immediately got that vibe and because of that I thought I knew what was going to happen. I was worried this book would be very predictable but as the book went along the author, Cat Winters, hit me with more twists and surprises. Some I began to suspect as I read but others really took me by surprise.

I also really enjoyed the relationship between Hannalee and Joe, the suspected murderer of Hannalee’s father. Their relationship, at least to me, seems to teeter the line between just friends and more than friends, which is interesting once you learn more about Joe.

Over all, I think Winters did well with this novel. She definitely did her research and I liked how she touched on a lot of issues in just one book. One thing I could’ve done without was the pictures between chapters. If there were just a few photos at the end to show the history of everything that would’ve been cool but having the images between every few chapters didn’t really add anything for me.

I’d say this book is definitely worth a read. The ghost story and mystery aspect made this book way more interesting, as did the relationship between Joe and Hannalee. Although I’m not sure how it’d be done I’d be interested in a sequel to this novel. I want to know what happens to the characters next. Even so, I think this book had a satisfying ending so I’m fine with this being a stand alone. But if Winters wants to throw us another book and make this a series I wouldn’t mind.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Stars:

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Man Crush Monday: Etienne St. Clair

Posted on February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

*Spoiler alert: I don’t think I can do St. Clair justice without spoiling all the books in the Anna and the French Kiss trilogy. Therefore, read at your own risk.*

I can’t believe I haven’t talked about St. Clair yet. He’s amazing!

Admittedly, he’s not the best at first. When he meets Anna, who’s perfect for him, he’s in a relationship with someone else and he doesn’t handle that whole situation well at all. But once he does work that out he’s a great boyfriend to Anna. I honestly believed I loved Lola and the Boy Next Door more than Anna and the French Kiss because we got to see Anna and St. Clair being so coupley and it was adorable.

The way he tells Lola that Anna’s the one and he knows that he’ll marry her one day made my heart sing. Or the fact that he works in the movie theater with Anna even though he doesn’t have to (his dad is rich) just so he can buy Anna an engagement ring with his own money. *happy tears*

And then when he proposes at their spot in Paris and has all their friends there too. So cute! St. Clair is seriously boyfriend goals and I absolutely love him. Honestly, you should too.

Swoonworthy Line:

“My fiancée and I are headed out for a celebratory dessert. I’d ask you all to join us, but I don’t want you there.”

Dreamcast: Tom Sturridge

10 Box Subscriptions Every Book Lover Needs

Posted on January 29, 2016January 28, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Have you guys heard of #bookstagram? It’s this community of wonderful people on Instagram who take gorgeous pictures of books. I’m just getting into it and I love it so much already, even though there’s so many accounts that fill me with book envy (I want your shelf!).

Through #bookstagram I’ve discovered there’s so many different book box subscriptions, most of which I’ve never heard of before. I haven’t signed up for any yet because unfortunately they’re usually not cheap but I’m hoping one day I can at least sign up for one. Here’s a list of some that I’m obsessed with. Check them out if you haven’t already.

*Note: These prices do not include shipping. Please check the site to get the exact price.*

OwlCrate ($167.94/6 month subscription)

thedarkestpartsofsnow_DEC — Source: @thedarkestpartofsnow

If you love young adult novels as much as I do you’ll love OwlCrate. Each month you get a new YA novel along with other amazing literary goodies that vary each month. I want this box SO badly that I’ve entered multiple giveaways and rep searches just to get one.

2. MyBookBox ($39.95/monthly)

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 9.39.07 PM — Source: @mybookboxus

The awesome thing about this box subscription is you have your choice of two different genres and then you get a book from each of those. If you want only books this is the perfect box for you.

3. Once Upon a BookCase ($26/month)

1fb2ed6cbd81494c8c9a4b89e80c706b — Source: Once Upon a BookCase

Addicted to books? Addicted to your phone? Why not combine the two? With Once Upon a BookCase each month you get a new book inspired phone case, a literary accessory, and a 5″ x 7″ quote print. It’s the perfect way to show of your love for all things book related.

4. Lit-Cube ($29.99/month)

Sent out each month this fun box, funded with Kick Starter, includes a book and a book themed accessory each month. This includes all different genres so you’ll always be surprised by what you find inside.

5. The Best Damn Book Box ($169.99/6 month prepay)

NICOLE_-_15_-_3 — Source: The Best Damn Book Box

The name of this box doesn’t lie. Not only do you get a book and awesome swag each month, but for each box purchased the company donates a $1 to a charity chosen each month by subscribers. What’s better than getting a good book and also giving back?

6. The Bookish Box ($321.99/12 month prepay)*

Do you have enough books? Who am I kidding, you can never have enough books. But maybe you don’t want a book coming to you in the mail every month. Maybe you just want to get cute book items to pump up your style. If so, this box is perfect with you. Each month you get a t-shirt along with other cute and fun book accessories to keep you looking bookish and stylish all year long.

*Note: Prices vary for plus size options.

7. BooklyBox ($20.99/monthly)

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The first online book club, BooklyBox offers nine different genres to choose from guaranteeing you get a box with a book you actually want. Besides getting a great book and bookish accessories each month, for every box purchased a book is donated to a child/teen/adult in a developing country.

8. Fandom of the Month Club ($120.00/12 month prepay)

If you love jewelry and fandoms, the Fandom of the Month club is perfect for you. With each box you get 3-4 handpicked pieces of jewelry for one fandom. The only thing is you have to like surprises because you never know beforehand which fandom you’ll get each month. But, hey, what’s life without a little surprise, right?

9. Illumicrate ($43.06/1 quarter plan)

Getting a box each month might be a bit too much for you and that’s totally fine. Instead with Illumicrate you only get a box every three months. Still filled with a book and the bookish accessories you love, just less frequently. For the people in the UK this is the perfect box for you (free shipping!) but if you don’t live in the UK it might not be the best plan.

10. The Monthly Prophet (prices vary)

Source @themonthlyprophetbox — Source: @themonthlyprophetbox

The Monthly Prophet is all about magic and mystery. You can either subscribe to a book box for Magic where you’ll get a *magical* book or a mystery box that provides a book from a different fandom each month. Or, if you would prefer jewelry, you can sign up for a jewelry box, also with the choice of magic or mystery. If you’re into fantasy, Harry Potter, and like surprises this may just be the box for you.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Smart Girl

Posted on January 28, 2016March 22, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in ARC Reviews, Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

Brilliant designer Miko Jin is a hopeless romantic. She’s spent most of her life falling in love over and over again…with the men she finds in the pages of her favorite novels.

When Miko meets Liam Ashton, it’s love at first sight. At least, for her. Sure, the two of them are polar opposites, and yes, he seems to be dating someone new each week. But Miko knows what true love is and that you can’t rush it—after all, what she lacks in real-world experience, she makes up for in book smarts. With novels as her guide, and her best friends by her side, she knows she can get Liam to love her back. But just like any good romance novel, fate has a few plot twists in store. Will Miko get her own happy ending? Will she find the strength to stand up for what she deserves even if it means breaking her own heart?

*I received a free digital advanced reader’s copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing. This did not influence my review of this book in anyway. This is an honest review of the novel as I saw it. This novel was released on January 26, 2016.*

Full disclosure, I didn’t read the first two books in this series before I dived into Smart Girl. Party Girl has been on my wish list for way too long and when I saw the opportunity to read Smart Girl I just had to read it because it sounded so good. And it was!

If you’re like me and haven’t read the first two books in this series, don’t worry. You don’t have to. You should, and I have every intention of going back and reading them as soon as possible, but you definitely don’t have to read them to dive into this novel. The author, Rachel Hollis, writes these novels in a way that they can also be stand alone books. Of course if you do choose to read this before the other two there will definitely be spoilers for the first two books. But it’s not like you need to know what happens in those books to read this one. Got it? Good.

Moving on, I absolutely loved this novel! The main character, Miko, is every fangirl’s dream. She references so many books I love like The Lunar Chronicles, The Hunger Games, and classics like Emma and Sense and Sensibility. But not only does she reference them she actually uses them to try to get the guy of her dreams, Liam, to love her back.

As one could expect this has varying results creating the perfect combination of hilarity and heartbreak when Miko’s plans occasionally failed. What’s more, though, is I just loved Miko as a character. I think anyone can relate to loving someone, especially for a long time, and struggling to find out if they feel the same way or if you should just call it quits. Unrequited love is the worse but sometimes getting what you want isn’t always what it seemed and Miko figures this out the hard way.

I really loved this novel, which is why I know I have to read the first two books. Smart Girl was funny, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and filled with so many life lessons about friendship, family, and love. It took me about a day to finish this novel because once I started reading I was immediately hooked. Miko is a great narrator and I loved her sense of style and the way she got so into her designing.

I also really liked the side characters as well. Landon and Max were perfect, as were Miko’s assistant, Casidee, and her brother, Tosh. Also, although I think this is the perfect end to this series, I’d be interested in seeing two more books about Casidee and Liam and Max’s younger sister, Malin, finding love. Hollis kind of left that open ended in the epilogue, which jumps three years forward, so I think there’s room for that but I’d be totally fine if the series ended here. It’s a really great ending.

Last quick thing but did anyone else notice that Party Girl and Sweet Girl are amongst the pile of books on the cover of Smart Girl? I just noticed them and that’s so cool! Such a nice touch.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! Buy all three books. I plan to.

Stars:

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Woman Crush Wednesday: Theresa “Tessa” Gray

Posted on January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Tessa is amazing. She loves to read, adventure, and is insanely loyal, even when she probably shouldn’t be. She cares about her family to a fault and looks for the good in people.

Of course, she’s also beautiful, because what heroine isn’t? But I really like the fact that she loves to read. I love reading about characters who also love to read. It’s kind of meta but also fun to see them fangirl over a book while you’re in the middle of fangirling over a book. It was also interesting to see her love books during the 19th century, books that to me are considered classics and truthfully, not something I’d read voluntarily.

She made me want to do a book challenge of books Tessa Gray has read. Maybe I will one day.

The point is Tessa is great. She has this quick wit that makes her conversations with the infamous Will Herondale very funny to read and her kindness and love for Jem is heartbreakingly beautiful.

If you haven’t read The Infernal Devices trilogy yet, make sure you do. They’re a great read.

Favorite Moment:

“They’re not hideous,” said Tessa.
Will blinked at her. “What?”
“Gideon and Gabriel,” said Tessa. “They’re really quite good-looking, not hideous at all.”
“I spoke,” said Will, in sepulchral tones, “of the pitch-black inner depths of their souls.”
Tessa snorted. “And what color do you suppose the inner depths of your soul are, Will Herondale?”
“Mauve,” said Will.

Dreamcast: Anna Popplewell