TL;DR: A Goth Girl’s Guide to Reading: Classics. Philosophy. Dark Academia. Fantasy. Magic. Gothic Lit. And everything in between.
My name is Kayla, and reading saved my life. A strong statement to be sure, but my love affair with books started at a very young age, as a means of preservation and escapism. By the 5th grade, I was reading at college-level, otherwise known as a hyperlexia kid. I discovered Narnia and the Shire that year….I also made friends with and related to Matilda, critiqued and condescended the patriarchy with Jane Austen, and solved mysteries with Nancy Drew, my favorite girl detective.
No matter where I went, or how much older I got, the pages of a book were my solace, and the authors and their characters my confidants. My love of reading also ignited my passion for writing, and it quickly became the way I coped with and released any hardships I faced growing up.
Fast-forward to the present, and to no one’s surprise but my own, I have had a manuscript published, and become an educator. Reading is PURE MAGIC, and I feel a responsibility to keep that passion for reading that saved my life, ignited in future generations.
This blog is dedicated, not only to my love of reading, but to the memory my childhood friend Rachel Grace Sanchez, whose life was cut far too short by the evil that is Breast Cancer. Rachel was a humanities major like myself, whose love for reading and writing was just as fierce as my own. Rachel had a long TBR that she was working on, on her very own review blog, and I have decided to pick up where she left off. Always remembering, that though she is no longer with us, our love of reading and writing about the human experience is something that transcends time and space, and in that way, she will always be with me. As above, so below. Fuck Cancer.
My Review Style & Rating System:
My reviews will range from academic style writing, to shorter and more concise depending on the genre and themes of the book, and how prevalent my ADHD is that day. I will be honest in my reviews, but I am not into being cruel just for clicks. If that is your preference, I am not the one for you!
My rating style is much in line with my grading style as an educator and academic:
⭐️ : This almost NEVER happens. I generally will only give 1 star if I just cannot finish a book. I have to REALLY dislike the writing or themes represented in the book/by the author to give 1 star.
⭐️⭐️: I finished the book, it was okay, but not for me. I probably will avoid the author/genre in the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: I liked it a lot! Some issues with the story elements (plot, themes, characters), but was enjoyable overall.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: This is my most used review. The book was amazing, story elements on point. 10/10 recommend for everyone. Finished the book feeling satisfied.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Life-changing read. Connection to the story and characters was so strong, the onset of PBD (post-book depression) was immediate. The story and characters could not have gotten any better, and I would not change a single thing.
Emo Academia 