Blackout

I loved this collection of short stories by a selection of amazing authors, I was highly anticipating this book for a long time and it did not disappoint, there are a number of tropes in this book and the diversity is fantastic too! Plus I love the fact that all the stories entwined and characters from individuals stories knew each other, and the little round up in Seymour and Grace was wonderful!The Long Walk by Tiffany D Jackson⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This story features an ex to lovers trope, and this was my favourite in the collection, I loved the way this story was staggered throughout the book too, it was always a short intermission between the other stories, and I adored this one!Mask Off by Nic Stone⭐⭐⭐⭐This short story features two former friends who explore the possibility of a relationship after they begin opening up to one another. I found that this story had the most to take away from it as a lot of topics were explored from toxic masculinity, public breastfeeding, homosexuality and stereotypes surrounding this in school and sports, I really liked this story, and I found Nic Stones writing amazing again!Made To Fit by Ashley Woodfolk⭐⭐⭐So this story has the instalove trope which is one of my least favourite tropes it just feels so unbelievable, however the author has carried it well in this story, plus I love the fact it was more of a set up from the main characters grandad, I thought that was a great touch, I really liked this sorry more than I thought I would!All The Great Love Stories..and Dust by Dhonielle Clayton⭐⭐I love the fact that Dhonielle had the amazing idea to create this book and compile these stories, however this short story is my least favourite, it didn't flow as well as the others in my opinion. This story centres two friends who have grown up together admitting their feelings for one another, and it was a lovely little read, it just didn't have the flow the others did.No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas⭐⭐⭐This book centres a good old love triangle and it was a different kind of read from Angie Thomas, who admitted she doesn't really write love stories, but this one was pretty awesome. Plus I love the ending and the feeling of empowerment that the author is giving away in this story, it's completely different to what I was expecting but I loved it all the same!Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon⭐⭐⭐This story features the chance meet trope, in which Seymour and Grace happen upon in each other when Seymour is Grace's Ryde driver. I really like the conversation the two characters had and I loved the way Grace was made to question herself, another great read.On average 3.3 ⭐

Holy moly this was a good book. A feel good. If you are on the edge then definitely go for it, you will not regret. Some chapters are really long but keep reading, it is good. So good

Short stories interwoven with each other about common theme of love and to date relationships covering LGBT+

Really good story and writing. It captures you and makes you not want to put the book down. Wouldn’t mind if there was a sequel lol

I loved how it was all the different stories weaved into the main one.

“Blackout” is a collection of YA love stories told against the backdrop of a blackout in New York City. The stories are told by Black authors, featuring predominantly Black characters, given their time to shine. All the major tropes are covered and there is also LGBTQ representation.I’m not gonna lie, the major draw for me was the New York setting and the beautiful sprayed edge to the book. I’d read Angie Thomas’ books so I trusted that her story at least would be good and I’ve heard good things about Tiffany D Jackson so I thought why not give it a try.I’m so, so glad I picked this up. What a wonderful collection of stories this is. It has genuinely been a delightful read. I love the way the characters are kind of loosely connected, I think in the author notes Jackson mentions when she heard the idea she pictured it as being a bit like “Love Actually” and I can kind of see the resemblance. I loved that Jackson’s story was split up with Tammi and Kareem’s journey from Harlem to Brooklyn being mixed in between the other stories.The writing throughout is brilliant, we’re plunged straight into the stories with no space being wasted for unnecessary explanations. I’m not a big romance fan but these stories were so beautifully written that I got swept away and really found myself caring about the characters and their relationships.I absolutely adored the New York setting. As Tammi and Kareem are making their way across the city I found myself picturing all the places being mentioned and it made me miss it even more then I already did. The City itself almost became like another character in the story and I could only imagine how strange and slightly magical it would be to see the City in the midst of a blackout, especially somewhere like Times Square.I hate picking favourites of anything so I’m not even gonna try because there were elements of each story that I loved so it’s just too hard to choose, although as well as Jackson’s story I did have a bit of a soft spot for Nic Stone’s “Mask Off” about a closeted basketball star trying to come to terms with and understand his sexuality.My one tiny complaint would be that in the last section of Jackson’s story we find Kareem and Tammi on Brooklyn Bridge when the lights come back on but then at the end of the last story, Nicola Yoon’s “Seymour and Grace”, the character Grace mentions seeing them at the block party in Brooklyn just before the lights come back on. Up to that point though everything had knitted together so well and it really is only a small thing.