Perfect on Paper
8.0
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A bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her school friends is hired by the hot new kid to...
Are We There Yet?
8.0
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A breezy yet affecting read filled with struggle and hope.--People Among fake Instagram pages,...
One Bullet Away
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The most eloquent and personal story of a young man at war since Geoffrey Wellum's FIRST LIGHT ...
The Flight of the Garuda: The Dzogchen Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism
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Dzogchen, a tradition of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, is considered by many to be an...
Fallen Academy: Year One: Volume 1
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Brielle Atwater isn't sure of much, but she knows a few things: 1. Having black wings is not normal....
Hard To Let Go (Haven's Cove #1)
10.0
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Owen Richards lives a quiet life in his small hometown of Haven’s Cove. He has a rewarding life...
5 stars first time author male/male romance darker/grittier second chance romance
Dopesick : Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America
9.0
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In this masterful work, Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of America’s twenty-plus year...
ClareR (6241 KP) rated Sweetness in the Skin in Books
Mar 18, 2025
Pumkin has a dream to follow her aunt to live in Paris and open a Patisserie. She just has to get the grades at the school paid for by her aunt. But things conspire against Pumkin, and she has to work harder to get what she wants. She works hard at school, and on top of that, she has to make money by baking and selling her frankly delicious sounding cakes.
I couldn’t help but cheer Pumkin along and hope that she would achieve what she wanted. She’s such a strong character, with some of that fiery teenage attitude (particularly towards her French teacher!).
I listened to this and read it in parts, too, which I’m glad I had the opportunity to do. The spoken Jamaican English was much easier to understand when I listened to it, spoken by Deja Bowens (the narrator). I think it’s important, when possible, to hear the rhythm and cadence of a language and/ or dialect to really understand it.
This was a really strong story with some serious themes - if it’s a YA book, I would be inclined to keep it to older teenagers. Pumkin does suffer some physical abuse at the hands of her mother.
I loved reading about Pumkin’s determination to leave a difficult life behind her - she’s an admirable, courageous character.