What do you think?
Rate this book
Lighter
After a bad breakup, Rasheed is determined to spend his last year of high school focused on his course work and to finish it with as little drama as possible. But when disaster strikes and his grandma ends up in the hospital, the threads holding his life together start to slowly unravel. Now, Rasheed has to deal with the return of his absent mother and sharing a home with her despite their strained relationship.
With old hurts surfacing and family dynamics shifting, Rasheed finds comfort and humor from his best friends, the Herman twins he’s tutoring, and his crush, Adam Herman, who’s not as unavailable as Rasheed had once thought. With more time spent together, Rasheed finds his feelings for Adam may never have gone away. And the feelings may not be as one-sided. Except, Rasheed has to confront old mistakes and come to terms with his own issues first, and a relationship may just complicate everything.
With old hurts surfacing and family dynamics shifting, Rasheed finds comfort and humor from his best friends, the Herman twins he’s tutoring, and his crush, Adam Herman, who’s not as unavailable as Rasheed had once thought. With more time spent together, Rasheed finds his feelings for Adam may never have gone away. And the feelings may not be as one-sided. Except, Rasheed has to confront old mistakes and come to terms with his own issues first, and a relationship may just complicate everything.
ebook
Published January 11, 2021
1 person is currently reading
228 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 23, 2021
3.5 stars
This was the unexpected highlight in a recent batch of YA arcs. I picked it up on a whim, but I was really impressed with how much I liked it.
It's a very gentle coming-of-age romance with likable characters that feel very grounded and realistic. The plot and relationship developments all moved at a realistic pace, and it maintained a pretty positive, uplifting atmosphere even when the MC was dealing with unpleasant circumstances. He has a couple of smart, steady women (his grandmother and her younger best friend, who has kids his age) watching over him, providing an environment that remains consistent and caring regardless of anything else going on around him. It made for a pleasant change of pace and a nice balance to the issues he has with his mother.
The romance and friend group were still the highlight (the friends don't get a ton of page time, but they make the most of it), and I really liked the little glimpses of their history and the way the ups and downs of the MC and his love interest played out. They ended up being a very sweet pairing, and I much prefer it when that's something they grow into over time, like these two did.
Highly recommended if you like YA, especially if you're looking for POC characters. The MC and his grandmother immigrated from Africa when he was 8, and I loved how the cultural details are woven into the background without ever becoming a plot point. I think that was a big part of keeping the story grounded.
**This book was provided for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley**
This was the unexpected highlight in a recent batch of YA arcs. I picked it up on a whim, but I was really impressed with how much I liked it.
It's a very gentle coming-of-age romance with likable characters that feel very grounded and realistic. The plot and relationship developments all moved at a realistic pace, and it maintained a pretty positive, uplifting atmosphere even when the MC was dealing with unpleasant circumstances. He has a couple of smart, steady women (his grandmother and her younger best friend, who has kids his age) watching over him, providing an environment that remains consistent and caring regardless of anything else going on around him. It made for a pleasant change of pace and a nice balance to the issues he has with his mother.
The romance and friend group were still the highlight (the friends don't get a ton of page time, but they make the most of it), and I really liked the little glimpses of their history and the way the ups and downs of the MC and his love interest played out. They ended up being a very sweet pairing, and I much prefer it when that's something they grow into over time, like these two did.
Highly recommended if you like YA, especially if you're looking for POC characters. The MC and his grandmother immigrated from Africa when he was 8, and I loved how the cultural details are woven into the background without ever becoming a plot point. I think that was a big part of keeping the story grounded.
**This book was provided for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley**
January 14, 2021
Initially i gave this 5 stars, and then after sitting on it for a while I've settled on 4 stars, because there were a few things i didn't love.
First things first though, i was provided a copy of Lighter through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lighter was your classic YA coming of age romance, with just the right about of family drama and parental presence.
We follow Rasheed as he deals with a poor break up (on his part), a poorly grandmother, the return of his estranged mother, and a reconnection with an old friend, that might just be more.
like i said, its a classic story and while for some that may make it seem a bit forgettable, but personally i had a lot of fun reading Lighter and i think it will be one that i revisit.
It was written with a very straightforward writing style, and Rasheed's friendship group were very one dimensional and surface level for me. That's why i decided on 4 stars and not 5. It seemed as though we could have erased them from the story and it would not have impacted a single event.
On the other hand, while i thought Adam (the estranged friend) could have had a bit more depth, i did really like his character and enjoyed his storyline and interactions with Rasheed.
The thing i loved the most about Lighter was the seamless incorporation of Swahili and African culture. It was funny, just before reading Lighter i watched a booktuber discuss authors having to overexplain and spoon feed their audiences knowledge of their culture, to the point of impacting their writing, due to publishers completely disregarding the fact that the authors intended audience may not be white/western etc.
Then i read Lighter and Aduma incorporated Rasheed's culture in a way that wasn't intended to teach the audience every aspect, or followup every sentence with an explanation. it was so natural, and while i didn't understand the Swahili, i didn't have to. it was written in such a way where the context of the situation was all i needed, or the next sentence really cleverly gave the context. and there was a glossary at the back.
Highly recommend!
First things first though, i was provided a copy of Lighter through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lighter was your classic YA coming of age romance, with just the right about of family drama and parental presence.
We follow Rasheed as he deals with a poor break up (on his part), a poorly grandmother, the return of his estranged mother, and a reconnection with an old friend, that might just be more.
like i said, its a classic story and while for some that may make it seem a bit forgettable, but personally i had a lot of fun reading Lighter and i think it will be one that i revisit.
It was written with a very straightforward writing style, and Rasheed's friendship group were very one dimensional and surface level for me. That's why i decided on 4 stars and not 5. It seemed as though we could have erased them from the story and it would not have impacted a single event.
On the other hand, while i thought Adam (the estranged friend) could have had a bit more depth, i did really like his character and enjoyed his storyline and interactions with Rasheed.
The thing i loved the most about Lighter was the seamless incorporation of Swahili and African culture. It was funny, just before reading Lighter i watched a booktuber discuss authors having to overexplain and spoon feed their audiences knowledge of their culture, to the point of impacting their writing, due to publishers completely disregarding the fact that the authors intended audience may not be white/western etc.
Then i read Lighter and Aduma incorporated Rasheed's culture in a way that wasn't intended to teach the audience every aspect, or followup every sentence with an explanation. it was so natural, and while i didn't understand the Swahili, i didn't have to. it was written in such a way where the context of the situation was all i needed, or the next sentence really cleverly gave the context. and there was a glossary at the back.
Highly recommend!
January 7, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Lighter in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really cute, family focused queer YA romance which made me really happy since normally family in queer romance is only there to a) be the best most accepting people ever or b) be homophobic/make the characters worry that they're homophobic. It was really nice to see the protagonist's relationship with his Grandmother given equal weight to his romance arc.
There's nothing particularly new about Lighter, but its a well written, enjoyable MLM romance so if you're looking for a lighter queer read, give this one a go.
This was a really cute, family focused queer YA romance which made me really happy since normally family in queer romance is only there to a) be the best most accepting people ever or b) be homophobic/make the characters worry that they're homophobic. It was really nice to see the protagonist's relationship with his Grandmother given equal weight to his romance arc.
There's nothing particularly new about Lighter, but its a well written, enjoyable MLM romance so if you're looking for a lighter queer read, give this one a go.
January 11, 2021
Lighter is a lovely queer YA romance about Rasheed and Adam.
It was a fun read despite containing some heavier topics. I really enjoyed the chemistry and interactions between Rasheed and Adam. They made for a very sweet couple to follow.
I also enjoyed the different family dynamics going on throughout the story, especially the situation between Rasheed, his grandmother and his absentee mother.
The inclusion of Swahili phrases and discussions of the food that Rasheed and his family had enjoyed back in Kenya were a nice touch and I liked learning about their culture.
When I first started reading it took me some time to adjust to Aduma’s writing style. I also found the book to be quite slow paced at times and that perhaps the story could have been condensed into 300 or so pages rather than the 400+ that it was.
Overall this was a nice read and I’m thankful to NetGalley and Nine Star Press for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was a fun read despite containing some heavier topics. I really enjoyed the chemistry and interactions between Rasheed and Adam. They made for a very sweet couple to follow.
I also enjoyed the different family dynamics going on throughout the story, especially the situation between Rasheed, his grandmother and his absentee mother.
The inclusion of Swahili phrases and discussions of the food that Rasheed and his family had enjoyed back in Kenya were a nice touch and I liked learning about their culture.
When I first started reading it took me some time to adjust to Aduma’s writing style. I also found the book to be quite slow paced at times and that perhaps the story could have been condensed into 300 or so pages rather than the 400+ that it was.
Overall this was a nice read and I’m thankful to NetGalley and Nine Star Press for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2021
the publisher kindly provided me with an arc through netgalley
This was such a fun, lighthearted and quick read. While there were some serious topics it was mostly just funny and easy. I love family dynamics but often with lgbt books the family is only there to cause drama with a coming out so this was refreshing that this wasn't the focus of the book. I love Rasheed he's a lovely guy and his thought process made a lot of sense to me and his dynamic with his grandma was heartwarming. Also the way his friendship with Adam happened and their tension was just so fun to read about. While this wasn't anything new or extraordinary I do recommend it if you want a fun, quick, lgbt read. They don't have to always be full of drama, the gays love cute and fluff too.
This was such a fun, lighthearted and quick read. While there were some serious topics it was mostly just funny and easy. I love family dynamics but often with lgbt books the family is only there to cause drama with a coming out so this was refreshing that this wasn't the focus of the book. I love Rasheed he's a lovely guy and his thought process made a lot of sense to me and his dynamic with his grandma was heartwarming. Also the way his friendship with Adam happened and their tension was just so fun to read about. While this wasn't anything new or extraordinary I do recommend it if you want a fun, quick, lgbt read. They don't have to always be full of drama, the gays love cute and fluff too.
October 27, 2021
This is a cute story that explores family, culture, and romance in one teen's life. There's some great representation, with most of the characters being POC and the main romance between a bi male and a gay male. There are a few coming of age moments that were touching and overall I thought this was a good read.
Rasheed is dealing with a lot, he's been through a bad breakup, his grandma is unwell, and his absent mother is back at home. The scenes between Rasheed and his mom really got me and I felt so bad that he carried guilt that maybe he drove her away. I think a lot of kids who's parents leave probably feel similar to that and I was glad that Rasheed got some closure on his feelings.
The romance between Rasheed and Adam was cute, though I wish we could have seen more of it developing. It seemed to go quickly and I would have liked to see a slower progression of their relationship. I also didn't love Rasheed's friends because we didn't get to know much about them. I think a longer book would have given the author time to flesh out these side characters and bring them to life.
Rasheed is dealing with a lot, he's been through a bad breakup, his grandma is unwell, and his absent mother is back at home. The scenes between Rasheed and his mom really got me and I felt so bad that he carried guilt that maybe he drove her away. I think a lot of kids who's parents leave probably feel similar to that and I was glad that Rasheed got some closure on his feelings.
The romance between Rasheed and Adam was cute, though I wish we could have seen more of it developing. It seemed to go quickly and I would have liked to see a slower progression of their relationship. I also didn't love Rasheed's friends because we didn't get to know much about them. I think a longer book would have given the author time to flesh out these side characters and bring them to life.
January 12, 2021
Ah the feelings about this book. What a delightful and beautiful story. This book was very much needed at these times. The story was about a teen named Rasheed whose grandma suffered a stroke and his mom arrived back in his life. Juggling his feelings of anger, anxiety and love towards an absentee mom and an ill grandma, he had to figure out what to do with those feelings. Adam was the former friend, and current love interest that was amazing for him. Rasheed needed hope and love. Adam’s family members and Paul were great side characters that allowed us to see what a beautiful and supportive family looks like for Adam and Rasheed. And I really loved Rasheed’s friends. They were loyal, funny, and compassionate people that truly cared for each other. Overall, this was a cute, quick and delightful YA romance story. Definitely pick this book up.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. Thank you for my copy!
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. Thank you for my copy!
February 18, 2021
I received this arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lighter by A. Aduma is a very quick read - it sweeps you up into the story and keeps you drawn in the entire way through. The characters are loveable, even if they are a bit stagnant for me. Neither Adam nor Rasheed change much throughout this novel, they start out at one spot and ultimately, end up in a similar place.
There are a lot of beautiful bounding moments in this novel, which I cannot help but praise the book for, situations were handled with the respect that they deserved, the epilogue was a beautiful conclusion to something set up early on in the novel and I enjoyed it majorly.
The only feeling I cannot help shaking is that I just read a fanfiction somewhere on the internet and sadly, that I have already read the fanfiction. While this is a great little novel for young readers, I feel like it falls very deeply into a specific format -.
I think there is a lot of room to grow in this author, but I do look forward to seeing more of their work.
Lighter by A. Aduma is a very quick read - it sweeps you up into the story and keeps you drawn in the entire way through. The characters are loveable, even if they are a bit stagnant for me. Neither Adam nor Rasheed change much throughout this novel, they start out at one spot and ultimately, end up in a similar place.
There are a lot of beautiful bounding moments in this novel, which I cannot help but praise the book for, situations were handled with the respect that they deserved, the epilogue was a beautiful conclusion to something set up early on in the novel and I enjoyed it majorly.
The only feeling I cannot help shaking is that I just read a fanfiction somewhere on the internet and sadly, that I have already read the fanfiction. While this is a great little novel for young readers, I feel like it falls very deeply into a specific format -.
I think there is a lot of room to grow in this author, but I do look forward to seeing more of their work.
January 19, 2021
I smiled through this entire book. It's exactly what I was looking for in an escapist romantic read: delightful POC and LGBTQIA+ representation, a simple and genuine writing style, and a plot that explores difficult topics (CW: ) without becoming too heavy.
It was pure delight to see the world through Rasheed's eyes for a time. A. Aduma did a wonderful job of imbuing him with both charming adolescence and a deep sense of compassion for others. It can sometimes be a struggle to read about teenage protagonists as an adult because of their self-centeredness; not so with Rasheed and the other young folks in this book. I was sad to leave their corner of the world when the story was over.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
It was pure delight to see the world through Rasheed's eyes for a time. A. Aduma did a wonderful job of imbuing him with both charming adolescence and a deep sense of compassion for others. It can sometimes be a struggle to read about teenage protagonists as an adult because of their self-centeredness; not so with Rasheed and the other young folks in this book. I was sad to leave their corner of the world when the story was over.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
January 13, 2021
Lighter is a wonderful novel about Rasheed, an incredible own voices story about a young adult struggling with the aftermath of losing his father as a child and being raised by his grandmother due to neglect. In this story his grandmother has a stroke and this causes Rasheed’s mom to come home, stirring troublesome feelings and present trauma and emotional distress, while he witnesses his grandmother find love after an abusive relationship and how he deals with feelings for his ex crush.
This story was short and beautiful. While the writing style was simple, the dialogue flowed effortlessly with great character. The characters developed well, and although since there were so many side characters un many situations, I later came to adore them as much as I did our MC.
The MC reminds me of how I have felt for years, after feeling neglected by my own mother. I understood the experience of seeing abuse, experiencing trauma, and being somewhat in denial and angry. I completely resonated with the character and his story and adored seeing how it played out.
I adored the cute relationship Rasheed formed, how he righted his wrong, due to neglect, realizing he was running away. These choices, feelings and experiences are natural and often the first response. I love how the author handled it so well and carefully.
This was a splendid novel, i recommend it for everyone, and I hope you all can enjoy it as much as I did! I look forward to reading anything else this author puts out.
This story was short and beautiful. While the writing style was simple, the dialogue flowed effortlessly with great character. The characters developed well, and although since there were so many side characters un many situations, I later came to adore them as much as I did our MC.
The MC reminds me of how I have felt for years, after feeling neglected by my own mother. I understood the experience of seeing abuse, experiencing trauma, and being somewhat in denial and angry. I completely resonated with the character and his story and adored seeing how it played out.
I adored the cute relationship Rasheed formed, how he righted his wrong, due to neglect, realizing he was running away. These choices, feelings and experiences are natural and often the first response. I love how the author handled it so well and carefully.
This was a splendid novel, i recommend it for everyone, and I hope you all can enjoy it as much as I did! I look forward to reading anything else this author puts out.
January 11, 2021
Rasheed is a Kenyan teenager living in the Dallas-area with his grandma, who has raised him. His mother is a filmmaker, and she's been largely absent in his life, even before she got them out of Kenya. Grandma had been abused by her husband, and they had been in flight from his wrath before they were brought to the US. He's always felt less than, because his mom never seemed to take an interest in him.
Rasheed is out to his grandma and friends, and has been for several years. It was the reason he pulled away from his close friendship with Adam Herman, a boy his own age and at his high school, for whom Rasheed had his first love. Adam is the fourth of six kids in a tight-knit family, with younger twin sisters and three older brothers. Adam's mom and Rasheed's grandma are good friends, and that is how he and Rasheed developed a friendship as children. When Rasheed's grandma has a stroke the Herman's take Rasheed in for a couple of nights, so he doesn't have to be alone.
And, that was when his mom returned.
Rasheed's world is in a tailspin, it seems, as he struggles with his fears over his grandma's health, her deepening relationship with a local man called Paul, when his mom will take off again, and what's up with his reconnection with Adam. The whole family seems to embrace Rasheed, and he's grateful for the space and connection--what he's been lacking at home. It's a sweet story, with Rasheed being so awkward about most things, dodging an ex that he did wrong, and fearing the growing attraction that he feels for Adam--at least until Adam confesses his own secrets.
This is a YA romance and the physical affection between Rasheed and Adam is commensurate with the genre. It's really a lot about figuring out the struggles and giving Rasheed the ability to mend relationships that should have been more strong to begin with. I love Rasheed, his cultural roots, and how he gains the strength to hold himself and others accountable for their actions. The Herman's are an awesome family, and a great support, as is grandma and Rasheed's other close friends: Mo and Peep. It's a fun story and I loved it from start to finish.
Rasheed is out to his grandma and friends, and has been for several years. It was the reason he pulled away from his close friendship with Adam Herman, a boy his own age and at his high school, for whom Rasheed had his first love. Adam is the fourth of six kids in a tight-knit family, with younger twin sisters and three older brothers. Adam's mom and Rasheed's grandma are good friends, and that is how he and Rasheed developed a friendship as children. When Rasheed's grandma has a stroke the Herman's take Rasheed in for a couple of nights, so he doesn't have to be alone.
And, that was when his mom returned.
Rasheed's world is in a tailspin, it seems, as he struggles with his fears over his grandma's health, her deepening relationship with a local man called Paul, when his mom will take off again, and what's up with his reconnection with Adam. The whole family seems to embrace Rasheed, and he's grateful for the space and connection--what he's been lacking at home. It's a sweet story, with Rasheed being so awkward about most things, dodging an ex that he did wrong, and fearing the growing attraction that he feels for Adam--at least until Adam confesses his own secrets.
This is a YA romance and the physical affection between Rasheed and Adam is commensurate with the genre. It's really a lot about figuring out the struggles and giving Rasheed the ability to mend relationships that should have been more strong to begin with. I love Rasheed, his cultural roots, and how he gains the strength to hold himself and others accountable for their actions. The Herman's are an awesome family, and a great support, as is grandma and Rasheed's other close friends: Mo and Peep. It's a fun story and I loved it from start to finish.
January 13, 2021
Title: Lighter
Author: A. Aduma
Publisher: NineStar Press
ISBN: 978-1-64890-188-1
Buy Link: https://ninestarpress.com/product/lig...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
After a bad breakup, Rasheed is determined to spend his last year of high school focused on his course work and to finish it with as little drama as possible. But when disaster strikes and his grandma ends up in the hospital, the threads holding his life together start to slowly unravel. Now, Rasheed has to deal with the return of his absent mother and sharing a home with her despite their strained relationship.
With old hurts surfacing and family dynamics shifting, Rasheed finds comfort and humor from his best friends, the Herman twins he’s tutoring, and his crush, Adam Herman, who’s not as unavailable as Rasheed had once thought. With more time spent together, Rasheed finds his feelings for Adam may never have gone away. And the feelings may not be as one-sided. Except, Rasheed has to confront old mistakes and come to terms with his own issues first, and a relationship may just complicate everything.
Total Score: 5/5
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Summary:
Rasheed’s life has never been easy. From his absentee mother to his crush on Adam, his oldest friend, Rashed is determined to keep his head down until after high school is finished. Things were going alone well until his grandmother suddenly got sick changing everything. Rasheed’s mother returned and Rasheed’s grandmother’s male friend stepped up when they needed him in ways Rasheed never expected.
Suddenly Rasheed is forced to deal with buried, but not forgotten family issues that force him to face his past to hopefully get beyond them. School continues in spite of everything going on, but with the help of his friends, past and present, things might change for the better. Rasheed and Adam have along way to go, but if they are willing to trust their past friendship who knows where they could go.
This was an inspiring Y/A story about family, high school, friendship and all the complications that young adults may face.
Author: A. Aduma
Publisher: NineStar Press
ISBN: 978-1-64890-188-1
Buy Link: https://ninestarpress.com/product/lig...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
After a bad breakup, Rasheed is determined to spend his last year of high school focused on his course work and to finish it with as little drama as possible. But when disaster strikes and his grandma ends up in the hospital, the threads holding his life together start to slowly unravel. Now, Rasheed has to deal with the return of his absent mother and sharing a home with her despite their strained relationship.
With old hurts surfacing and family dynamics shifting, Rasheed finds comfort and humor from his best friends, the Herman twins he’s tutoring, and his crush, Adam Herman, who’s not as unavailable as Rasheed had once thought. With more time spent together, Rasheed finds his feelings for Adam may never have gone away. And the feelings may not be as one-sided. Except, Rasheed has to confront old mistakes and come to terms with his own issues first, and a relationship may just complicate everything.
Total Score: 5/5
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Summary:
Rasheed’s life has never been easy. From his absentee mother to his crush on Adam, his oldest friend, Rashed is determined to keep his head down until after high school is finished. Things were going alone well until his grandmother suddenly got sick changing everything. Rasheed’s mother returned and Rasheed’s grandmother’s male friend stepped up when they needed him in ways Rasheed never expected.
Suddenly Rasheed is forced to deal with buried, but not forgotten family issues that force him to face his past to hopefully get beyond them. School continues in spite of everything going on, but with the help of his friends, past and present, things might change for the better. Rasheed and Adam have along way to go, but if they are willing to trust their past friendship who knows where they could go.
This was an inspiring Y/A story about family, high school, friendship and all the complications that young adults may face.
January 17, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very cute read! This book follows our main character Rasheed as he navigates his way through some hard times in his life. His Granma being hospitalized, his absent mother returning to his life, and a childhood crush rekindling.
Overall, I thought this book was sweet and very feel-good-y. I found myself smiling a lot and once even cracking up (it's very rare a book makes me LOL). I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and I felt like it was done really well in this book. I also really liked that there was a bit of a found family aspect to it. I also appreciate that coming out was not a main plot point for our main character, Rasheed. The topic was discussed a bit later on in the book, but not a major plot point. It was really nice to read about someone who was so certain and comfortable with their sexuality. I also HIGHLY appreciated the content warnings at the start of this book! Petition for all books to include those!!!
Now, the things I didn't enjoy so much. I had a hard time with the characters, mostly the side characters. It's not exactly that I couldn't connect with them, I just felt like I didn't know them, if that makes sense. I felt like descriptions weren't really offered for them so I had a hard time picturing pretty much all of the characters. Personally, when I read a book, it plays out in my head like a movie (I saw on TikTok that not everyone experiences this?), so having detailed visuals for the characters is a must for me. And finally, I felt like there was a little bit of an emotional block with the heavy subject matters. I felt like when an emotional scene was happening, the level of emotional intensity that puts me over the edge was allllmost there, but not quite. I think this is another issue with just not going into enough detail for my tastes.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot, and the positives outweigh the negatives. I would definitely be willing to read Aduma's work in the future!
This was a very cute read! This book follows our main character Rasheed as he navigates his way through some hard times in his life. His Granma being hospitalized, his absent mother returning to his life, and a childhood crush rekindling.
Overall, I thought this book was sweet and very feel-good-y. I found myself smiling a lot and once even cracking up (it's very rare a book makes me LOL). I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and I felt like it was done really well in this book. I also really liked that there was a bit of a found family aspect to it. I also appreciate that coming out was not a main plot point for our main character, Rasheed. The topic was discussed a bit later on in the book, but not a major plot point. It was really nice to read about someone who was so certain and comfortable with their sexuality. I also HIGHLY appreciated the content warnings at the start of this book! Petition for all books to include those!!!
Now, the things I didn't enjoy so much. I had a hard time with the characters, mostly the side characters. It's not exactly that I couldn't connect with them, I just felt like I didn't know them, if that makes sense. I felt like descriptions weren't really offered for them so I had a hard time picturing pretty much all of the characters. Personally, when I read a book, it plays out in my head like a movie (I saw on TikTok that not everyone experiences this?), so having detailed visuals for the characters is a must for me. And finally, I felt like there was a little bit of an emotional block with the heavy subject matters. I felt like when an emotional scene was happening, the level of emotional intensity that puts me over the edge was allllmost there, but not quite. I think this is another issue with just not going into enough detail for my tastes.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot, and the positives outweigh the negatives. I would definitely be willing to read Aduma's work in the future!
Read
January 17, 20213.5 stars
'Lighter' is a really lovely book about Rasheed, who emigrated from Kenya to the US with his mother and grandmother when he was a child. At the beginning of the story, we find him grappling with several big issues. His granma, who raised him, has a stroke; his estranged mother returns home; and his former crush, Adam, reappears in his life just when he has more than enough to handle.
This gentle book shines in its portrayal of relationships. Rasheed's affection for his granma, and the parallel hurt he feels around his mother, are very touching. His chemistry with Adam feels real and their slow dance towards each other, as Adam deals with his own issues, is super romantic and heartfelt.
I also love Rasheed's connection to his Kenyan roots. It's a very powerful aspect of the book, with lots of swahili, food, clothes and memories of life in Mombasa. Rasheed's realisation that he is losing his swahili is sad. But he has made a place for himself in the US too.
I haven't seen much promotion around this book so I'm here to say it is really worth seeking out if you like heartwarming fiction featuring black boys in love.
My review is based on an ARC. I hope the finished book went through a final round of editing for a bit more polish. Thanks to Netgalley and Nine Star for the copy.
'Lighter' is a really lovely book about Rasheed, who emigrated from Kenya to the US with his mother and grandmother when he was a child. At the beginning of the story, we find him grappling with several big issues. His granma, who raised him, has a stroke; his estranged mother returns home; and his former crush, Adam, reappears in his life just when he has more than enough to handle.
This gentle book shines in its portrayal of relationships. Rasheed's affection for his granma, and the parallel hurt he feels around his mother, are very touching. His chemistry with Adam feels real and their slow dance towards each other, as Adam deals with his own issues, is super romantic and heartfelt.
I also love Rasheed's connection to his Kenyan roots. It's a very powerful aspect of the book, with lots of swahili, food, clothes and memories of life in Mombasa. Rasheed's realisation that he is losing his swahili is sad. But he has made a place for himself in the US too.
I haven't seen much promotion around this book so I'm here to say it is really worth seeking out if you like heartwarming fiction featuring black boys in love.
My review is based on an ARC. I hope the finished book went through a final round of editing for a bit more polish. Thanks to Netgalley and Nine Star for the copy.
January 21, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing company for this eARC!
I really enjoyed this book, I believe that it depicts the LGBTQ+ community very well and it was refreshing to read a story that wasn't centered around the main character coming out while still having some of that play into the storyline. I also thought that it handled the challenges of having an estranged mom come back into your life, high school, past trauma, etc. in a realistic and not annoying way that you can sometimes find with YA books that have a high school aged lead. I also thought the interlacing of both Rasheed's cultures was seamless and taught me a bit more about Kenyan culture which is always a positive for me! I also didn't think this book was too slow or fast paced, it felt like a natural flow and ending.
However, I did debate between rating 4 or 5 stars because the characters outside of Rasheed, Adam, and the family seemed a bit one dimensional. I often found that I was forgetting which friend was which and aside from one scene they just weren't that memorable. I think the friends should've played a bigger role because the times where they were really involved (like the hospital scene) it made an impact for me! In the end though I went with 5 stars because I would reread this book, I would recommend it to others, and it did keep me up wanting to keep reading and find out what happened!
I really enjoyed this book, I believe that it depicts the LGBTQ+ community very well and it was refreshing to read a story that wasn't centered around the main character coming out while still having some of that play into the storyline. I also thought that it handled the challenges of having an estranged mom come back into your life, high school, past trauma, etc. in a realistic and not annoying way that you can sometimes find with YA books that have a high school aged lead. I also thought the interlacing of both Rasheed's cultures was seamless and taught me a bit more about Kenyan culture which is always a positive for me! I also didn't think this book was too slow or fast paced, it felt like a natural flow and ending.
However, I did debate between rating 4 or 5 stars because the characters outside of Rasheed, Adam, and the family seemed a bit one dimensional. I often found that I was forgetting which friend was which and aside from one scene they just weren't that memorable. I think the friends should've played a bigger role because the times where they were really involved (like the hospital scene) it made an impact for me! In the end though I went with 5 stars because I would reread this book, I would recommend it to others, and it did keep me up wanting to keep reading and find out what happened!
January 11, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed how Rasheed's story had a lot of nuance. Lighter really explored his relationships with different people in his life whether than was romantic, friendships, or familial. It added a lot more complexity to Rasheed's story that isn't always seen in YA queer romance novels. I particularly enjoyed the small, slice of life scenes A. Aduma captured in this book such as the everyday moments between friends and cooking with grandmothers. These weren't always critical to the plot, but they added more to the characters. Every character felt like they had their own story and not just like they revolved around the main character. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will probably get my own copy to include in my classroom library.
I enjoyed how Rasheed's story had a lot of nuance. Lighter really explored his relationships with different people in his life whether than was romantic, friendships, or familial. It added a lot more complexity to Rasheed's story that isn't always seen in YA queer romance novels. I particularly enjoyed the small, slice of life scenes A. Aduma captured in this book such as the everyday moments between friends and cooking with grandmothers. These weren't always critical to the plot, but they added more to the characters. Every character felt like they had their own story and not just like they revolved around the main character. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will probably get my own copy to include in my classroom library.
January 12, 2021
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
There was so much to love about this book. Rasheed is a very relatable teen, struggling with the reality of his grandmothers health and the sudden return of his absentee mother. The way that both relationships play out on the page -- plus the inclusion of Paul -- is painfully real. Families are imperfect, and not everyone can be the person you need them to be, and this book shows this wonderfully while still giving Rasheed the support he needs through his Granma.
The romance plot is well done, too. The way Adam's side of things is revealed is perfect for a mutual pining where the MC is oblivious. I was expecting more drama to be thrown at them for the sake of drama, but was pleasantly surprised that the focus remained on both Rasheed and Adam's familial journeys.
There was so much to love about this book. Rasheed is a very relatable teen, struggling with the reality of his grandmothers health and the sudden return of his absentee mother. The way that both relationships play out on the page -- plus the inclusion of Paul -- is painfully real. Families are imperfect, and not everyone can be the person you need them to be, and this book shows this wonderfully while still giving Rasheed the support he needs through his Granma.
The romance plot is well done, too. The way Adam's side of things is revealed is perfect for a mutual pining where the MC is oblivious. I was expecting more drama to be thrown at them for the sake of drama, but was pleasantly surprised that the focus remained on both Rasheed and Adam's familial journeys.
January 31, 2021
*4.25
This was such a beautiful story! I loved learning more about the Kenyan culture through Rasheed’s experiences as an immigrant. I thought this novel did really well as it portrayed Rasheed and Adam’s relationship, but also showed his familial struggles and the way that trauma affected him. This novel was the perfect balance of light and serious. By the end, the characters all felt really distinct and fleshed out and I never felt like the story moved to quickly, even though this is a short novel.
My only critique is that sometimes I felt that the characters were speaking word by word from a self-help book and not speaking like their characters, but I understand why the author did this as well.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and I hope to read more from A. Aduma in the future!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC*
This was such a beautiful story! I loved learning more about the Kenyan culture through Rasheed’s experiences as an immigrant. I thought this novel did really well as it portrayed Rasheed and Adam’s relationship, but also showed his familial struggles and the way that trauma affected him. This novel was the perfect balance of light and serious. By the end, the characters all felt really distinct and fleshed out and I never felt like the story moved to quickly, even though this is a short novel.
My only critique is that sometimes I felt that the characters were speaking word by word from a self-help book and not speaking like their characters, but I understand why the author did this as well.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and I hope to read more from A. Aduma in the future!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC*
January 12, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! I just hope there is a sequel because of how it ended. The best representation I have seen. I loved the gay and bisexual representation. I thought it was very well written!
January 26, 2021
It was okay, and definitely a hidden-gem in the YA book genre. I love those little imprints of culture through the entire story, and how lighthearted the mood felt as I read more about Rasheed's journey through the woes of High School. Full review on this to follow!
January 31, 2021
It is a very entertaining, funny and enjoyable book. Reminded me of "Whatever by S.J. Goslee”
April 2, 2021
I was happy to discover this title by A. Aduma via netgalley, as I’m always looking for diverse YA reads (and I’ll admit, as I’ve been soothing pandemic stress with fun romance books these days). Lighter is a queer YA M/M romance with a very likable main character, Rasheed, and a range of well-drawn supporting characters. Rasheed and his grandmother live together in Texas after emigrating from Kenya earlier in his childhood; he’s since adjusted to his new home and has also had an overall positive experience coming out as gay to his family and friends. Aduma gives us a story that absolutely is enriched by the specificity of Rasheed’s experience as an immigrant and a gay teen, but I liked that we meet Rasheed at a point in his life when he’s already comfortable and confident in his identities. He’s had a few romantic relationships already and is on the cusp of true adulthood; he’s a mature teen character who is turning his attention to some nuanced, difficult issues in his personal relationships.
In the story, Rasheed navigates renewed romantic feelings for his former best friend, Adam, who’s recently been brought back into his life. He’s also dealing with a complex family situation, with several issues coming to a head all at once following his grandmother’s hospitalization for a stroke. Her new romantic relationship with a man named Paul brings up traumatic memories for Rasheed of her abusive ex-husband, whose threats were the main reason she and Rasheed fled Kenya for the United States when he was a child. His perennially absent mother is also back in the picture all of a sudden, and he has to fight to move past the silence surrounding all the hurt she has caused in his life. As Rasheed works through these challenges, he must confront painful moments from his past and determine the lessons he’ll take from them in shaping his future.
Ultimately, Rasheed’s hard-won insight feeds back into his romantic life, leading him to interrogate his own toxic behavior in recent relationships. This, along with Rasheed’s growing attachment to Adam, brings about a transformation in him. By book’s end, he is a more emotionally courageous young man, not only able to claim the love that he deserves, but also willing to acknowledge his own agency in his relationships - his responsibility towards others.
As a romance, Lighter provided some steaminess in a way that was authentic to the characters and that tied in seamlessly with the other parts of Rasheed’s personal journey. Rasheed and Adam are imperfect but genuinely likable, fun characters and the chemistry is definitely there; their romance makes sense. I love a good friends-to-lovers storyline, and this one was extra cute due to the way they were already close with each others’ families.
Although I enjoyed this book overall, a couple of things led me to lower my rating from a full five stars. First, some of Rasheed’s internal monologue as he ogles Adam in the first half of the book didn’t sit right with me. I understand that he’s a teenager and obviously it’s a romance, but at times his comments crossed the line from good-natured appreciation to a kind of over-the-top objectification, which didn’t quite match the tone of the rest of the book.
Another issue I had with the book concerns the pacing. I liked all the author’s choices for wrapping things up, plot-wise, but the ending itself came very abruptly and felt underdeveloped. Again, I had an advanced reader’s copy of this book, so hopefully it’s something the author was able to rectify in the final draft.
Overall, I think this book was fun, sweet, and it also had some important things to say. The issues I had with it are things that could easily be resolved with further revision. I appreciate the author’s point of view and I hope he continues to hone his craft. I look forward to seeing more of his work!
In the story, Rasheed navigates renewed romantic feelings for his former best friend, Adam, who’s recently been brought back into his life. He’s also dealing with a complex family situation, with several issues coming to a head all at once following his grandmother’s hospitalization for a stroke. Her new romantic relationship with a man named Paul brings up traumatic memories for Rasheed of her abusive ex-husband, whose threats were the main reason she and Rasheed fled Kenya for the United States when he was a child. His perennially absent mother is also back in the picture all of a sudden, and he has to fight to move past the silence surrounding all the hurt she has caused in his life. As Rasheed works through these challenges, he must confront painful moments from his past and determine the lessons he’ll take from them in shaping his future.
Ultimately, Rasheed’s hard-won insight feeds back into his romantic life, leading him to interrogate his own toxic behavior in recent relationships. This, along with Rasheed’s growing attachment to Adam, brings about a transformation in him. By book’s end, he is a more emotionally courageous young man, not only able to claim the love that he deserves, but also willing to acknowledge his own agency in his relationships - his responsibility towards others.
As a romance, Lighter provided some steaminess in a way that was authentic to the characters and that tied in seamlessly with the other parts of Rasheed’s personal journey. Rasheed and Adam are imperfect but genuinely likable, fun characters and the chemistry is definitely there; their romance makes sense. I love a good friends-to-lovers storyline, and this one was extra cute due to the way they were already close with each others’ families.
Although I enjoyed this book overall, a couple of things led me to lower my rating from a full five stars. First, some of Rasheed’s internal monologue as he ogles Adam in the first half of the book didn’t sit right with me. I understand that he’s a teenager and obviously it’s a romance, but at times his comments crossed the line from good-natured appreciation to a kind of over-the-top objectification, which didn’t quite match the tone of the rest of the book.
Another issue I had with the book concerns the pacing. I liked all the author’s choices for wrapping things up, plot-wise, but the ending itself came very abruptly and felt underdeveloped. Again, I had an advanced reader’s copy of this book, so hopefully it’s something the author was able to rectify in the final draft.
Overall, I think this book was fun, sweet, and it also had some important things to say. The issues I had with it are things that could easily be resolved with further revision. I appreciate the author’s point of view and I hope he continues to hone his craft. I look forward to seeing more of his work!
February 28, 2021
Thank you to A.Aduma and NetGalley for the free review copy of Lighter in return for an honest review.
This is the kind of family-focussed LGBTQ+ YA Romance that I'm really happy to see, It falls a little into the trap of the one narrative that all LGBTQ+ books of fiction falls into with the obvious tropes. The weight of these tropes isn't given the bulk of the content luckily. It's a cute little MLM romance read.
This is the kind of family-focussed LGBTQ+ YA Romance that I'm really happy to see, It falls a little into the trap of the one narrative that all LGBTQ+ books of fiction falls into with the obvious tropes. The weight of these tropes isn't given the bulk of the content luckily. It's a cute little MLM romance read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews