YoungAdultFiction

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Picked this book up as a quick read, and couldn‘t put it down. Once I started the author pulled me into Ellie‘s world and I was encapsulated.

peanutnine

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

pick

Read last month for #riseupreads @Catsandbooks
I really liked the lyricism of this story and how the folklore tales were used as metaphors for dealing with mental health struggles. Just a beautiful book!
This was also my #doublespin for April @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 3w

Catsandbooks Wonderful! ✊🏼💜 2w

33 likes2 comments

Bookwormjillk

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

pick

Wow, this book was something. The teenage experiences of two Black children living with depression, trauma, and being different all told in verse. Through it all fairy tales were woven in. I loved it. #RiseUpReads @Catsandbooks

TheBookHippie One of my top reads last year! 3w

Bookwormjillk @TheBookHippie amazing. I don‘t know what took me so long. 3w

BooksandCoffee4Me Added! 3w

Catsandbooks Wonderful! ✊🏼❤️ 2w

64 likes1 stack add4 comments

rachelsbrittain

A Banh Mi for Two | Trinity Nguyen

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This was an adorable foodie NA / YA romance about a food blogger in Saigon and the college freshman studying abroad to try to reconnect with her culture and family. Sweet and full of mouthwatering descriptions of food.

40 likes

Jari-chan

A Banh Mi for Two | Trinity Nguyen

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Listening to the audiobook was absolutely the right choice, because I got to hear the Vietnamese words and sentences how the really sound. And it's a beautiful language. I loved the glimpse of Vietnamese culture (and food!) I got through this book. The plot itself is a typical romance, also exactly what I wanted and needed (escape is needed right now).

Kenyazero Good to know about the audiobook! Thanks for sharing. I‘m looking forward to this one, it looks adorable. 1mo

Jari-chan @Kenyazero It is adorable 🥰 Hope you'll like it too 1mo

31 likes2 comments

rachelsbrittain

A Banh Mi for Two | Trinity Nguyen

Two romance audiobook holds just came in at the same time 😂

peanutnine 🩷🩷🩷 1mo

38 likes1 comment

Singout

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

“Black boys don‘t get to be sad and feel their feelings.”
#RiseupReads

21 likes

Catsandbooks

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

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I really enjoyed this fantasy told in verse about depression, trauma, and the journey to heal.

For me I noticed that they finally could heal when the truth was revealed and everyone started communicating with each other. While the truth isn't always accessible, communication and talking through things instead ignoring or trying to forget about them is necessary to work through issues.

#riseupreads

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin 2mo

Catsandbooks @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll @librarybelle @mimi28 @ElizaMarie @AbigailJaneBlog @DebinHawaii @Kristy_K
2mo

Melismatic I enjoyed this - I definitely think it‘s the type to lend itself to a reread to spot all of the hidden metaphors at play. 2mo

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ElizaMarie I agree - I think the fact that they weren't able to heal initially is because they are hiding the truth from themselves. Pain/grief/emotional turmoil doesn't go away when we ignore it, and I think this book does a great job at reminding its readers that they must go “through“ it in order to heal. I loved this narrative. I listened to this one (which was read beautifully), but I feel like re-reading at a slower pace may be in order soon. 2mo

lil1inblue Totally agree re: revealing the truth to heal. That part really hit home for me. The parts about the forgetting spells were really powerful for me. 2mo

peanutnine I waited til the last minute to read this one and then devoured it in like two days. I really loved it! I thought it stressed beautifully how memory plays a big role in grief, and how trauma can warp your understanding of what really happened. Confronting the truth can be difficult but ultimately promotes healing 2mo

41 likes6 comments

lil1inblue

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

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Every so often, accidental themes start emerging with the books I'm reading. Lately, it is "books that I wish were in existence during my adolescence." What a unique, yet painfully accurate, approach to discussing depression and trauma. This one is going to stick with me for a while.

#riseupreads @catsandbooks

TheBookHippie I adored this book I read it last year from the library and promptly bought a copy. I agree with your sentiment. I wish books like this existed when I was a teen. 2mo

lil1inblue @TheBookHippie 🩵🩵🩵 2mo

Catsandbooks Glad you enjoyed it! ✊🏼❤️ 2mo

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ElizaMarie I think this book definitely falls into that theme for me too - “books I wish were in existence during my adolescence“ ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 2mo

lil1inblue @Catsandbooks 💓 💓 💓 2mo

lil1inblue @ElizaMarie 💙 💙 💙 2mo

36 likes1 stack add6 comments