I loved that cover and the synopsis sucked me in, so I was pretty excited to get to this.

I liked Nala. She’s loving and loyal. I liked how she wasn’t sure of herself or her future. There are a lot of characters here and while this is firmly Nala’s story, a lot of her story revolves around family. Oh, and Grandma and TJ stole every scene they were in.

Plot wise, it was a mostly good. There isn’t a lot of intention for the story, so it just meanders. It’s said to take place in the summer, but the time references are few and all of a sudden, it’s mid August. I would have liked more backstory into Nala’s relationship with her mom and just a hint at more growth for her and Imani’s relationship.

Overall, this was a quick read with characters that kept me interested. Of course, I wasn’t a fan of the lying for a boy, but the friendships felt realistic.

**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**

This book gives a great look at love: loving yourself and loving those around you for who they are. Read this book if you're a fan of Fat Chance, Charlie Vega and There's Something About Sweetie.

First, I love all the lists in this book! Nala, the main character, makes lists for different situations and things she's thinking about and they were always so funny. They're also a good insight into what she's thinking at any given moment.

This book also has great conflict. There's conflict in the relationship between Nala and her love interest and there's conflict in her family unit. As Nala struggles to figure out who she is and who she wants to be, she also finds that she's been acting like someone else around everyone else. She's dishonest in her interests and her life and it affects a lot of people she cares about. She must come to terms with who she really is and learn to love that person. This is somewhat of a catalyst for the conflict in her relationships with everyone.

Another thing I liked was the family situation she has. Nala lives with her Aunt and her family. She doesn't live with a parent and I liked that this representation was given. There are many young people who can relate to this situation and perhaps don't see it enough in the books they read. I'm glad they're able to see it here.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but didn't love it. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I didn't love it, but once I figure it out, I'll add it here to my review. In the end, however, I was glad I read this book.

I started this book last month, because I wanted to try and get it reviewed before release date, but I put it down to focus on other things besides reading in my life that took precedent. Now, in a better headspace, I've heard some more reviews from early readers and I just don't think this will be a book I would enjoy. This is strictly personal preference, as I don't typically gravitate towards books, especially YA, where the entire premise is built upon a lie the main character tries to uphold. I do see the merit in these stories, as often they lead to personal growth and lessons to be learned, but I don't want to move ahead and risk giving the book a bad rating strictly because I know I won't like that aspect. I will say the writing was great (this was my first book by Renee Watson, and I'm interested to pick up more of her work) and I think it's great to have a Black, plus-sized, female main character who isn't entirely comfortable with her appearance, but is learning better ways to be. I look forward to reading other reviews from people picking this up now that it's out in the world, as it is certainly a book that will generate discussion and conversation among readers. While it wasn't the perfect book for me, I know it will be for some.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun, thoughtful, and beautiful look at how people engage in community differently. Nala is ready for a summer of fun and relaxation, while her cousin Imani is dedicated to her activism group. And when Nala meets a cute new boy Tye, she misrepresents her interests to have something in common with him. I don't think the romance was the focus of the story, or even Nala's relationships with her family (though I would have appreciated more with her estranged mother), but it's really a look at yourself, your interests, and what you want to do. And for that, I think it succeeded. I was a little disappointed by the ending - I felt it was a bit abrupt, and I wanted a bit more, but I did like the story overall.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Love Is A Revolution" is a young adult contemporary romance book centered around a teenage girl named Nala, who falls in love with a teenage boy named Tye after meeting him at an event that a close family member invited her to. Tye is an activist who hosts events to help his community, and although Nala isn't really interested in that, she lies about her interests and spends time with Tye, doing things that she doesn't really want to do in the hopes that she'll be able to impress him. Eventually, he finds out about her lies, and the two of them take a break from their relationship, which is where the message and underlying theme of learning to love yourself comes in.

Something that I really liked about the book was the way it was written, and I thought that the various lists within each chapter of the book was a nice touch.

I absolutely loved this book and it's definitely one of my favorites of 2021 so far.

Love Is a Revolution was a sweet book but I do not think I was the target audience. The message of Love Is a Revolution is about self-love is the most powerful love of all. as the main character, Nala said to herself
Self-love is radical love.
Self-love is radical love.
Self-love is radical love.
Today, I've started my own revolution.

Love Is a Revolution was a book I read in one day, so it was very consumable. I enjoyed the plus-size MC and how she didn't have any qualms about her body image (it was stressed multiple times throughout the book that she loved being "thick, curvy, big" etc.) I loved the family drama and how it unfolded, especially how it's okay to not be okay with each but to still have love for each other.
"I see all of that. She is still that person too. I'll hold on to that, hope she has some good memories about me to hold on to."

The love and romance in Love Is a Revolution was a bit too insta-love for me. However it was sweet and refreshing life from some of the heavier books I've been reading. All of the adult characters in here I enjoyed!! I love when books have Caribbean grandmas because they always mean business. One of my favourite quotes came from Nala and Imani's grandmother.

"You two are family. Family. That alone ought to be enough for you to respect each other. You're also two women. Black women. The most radical thing you can do is love yourself and each other."
Grandma is spitting hard facts right there.

The songs at the beginning of the chapters was a nice touch but I skimmed through them. Another thing that irrated me was the "lying about who I am to get a guy to like me" trope. It's over played and do people actually do this?? Over all I can tell I was not the target audience for Love Is a Revolution but it was sweet fast read.

One last quote that I enjoyed was

1. Remember Yourself.
2. Honor Yourself.
3. Critique Yourself.
4. Love Yourself.
This is how I plan to grow.


P.S. this is a serious question, is sweet potato pudding a Jamaican sweet treat ?? It feels very AA to me

Nala Robertson is fabulous. She loves with her whole heart, will always go the extra mile for her family and friends, and has amazing taste in music. But comparison is truly everyone’s worst enemy.

LOVE IS A REVOLUTION is the story of young love but most importantly: the radical notion of SELF-LOVE. Sometimes we have to lose ourselves to realize we need to find ourselves.

I loved the message behind this book--that the most defiant thing you could do in this world is to love yourself and be 100% yourself without reservations. At times, I was a bit frustrated at how much Nala was lying in order to make herself match with Tye, but I think this is pretty realistic for a lot of tweens/teens who want to be loved. What matters, is how you own up to those lies you tell and how you repair the damage you've done to those involved. The lessons that Nala learns from her grandmother and her grandmother's friends really brought this novel home for me. Sometimes we all need a reminder that the way we see ourselves is very critical and probably not who we truly are. And that we also owe it to ourselves to work on ourselves and be selfish with how we spend our time.

Another aspect I loved in this book was the strong bonds of family. Nala has a rocky relationship with her mom, to the point where they don't live together. But Nala has parental figures in her aunt and uncle. I loved all the scenes when her family would get together for a big meal or when she was planning her aunt's birthday with her uncle. These instances truly show how strong the bonds of family can be when you make time for them.

Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson was a delightful book aimed toward young adults, and it definitely hit its mark. The book was easy to read and enjoyable and I loved the character representation and inclusion of teen activists. Nala’s character in the book comes off as a true teen character complete with flaws and some flawed decision making. While Nala’s summer relationship was problematic, I felt that it was portrayed by the author as a situation teens may find themselves in, and was thus a relatable way to develop inspiring messages of the importance of loving yourself and being confident in yourself. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. This did not affect the contents of my review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.

Love is a Revolution is a story about family, friendship, and community, but most of all, it is a story about self-love.

This book is the story of Nala Robertson, a plus-sized Black high schooler who is excited to spend her summer doing a whole lot of nothing with her cousin-sister-friend Imani.

When she meets handsome activist Tye at an open mic night, she finds herself stretching the truth (and then some) to impress him. But as the image she’s created to win Tye over becomes harder and harder to maintain, Nala is forced to choose between being true to herself and her relationship.

If there’s one thing that crushes my soul in fiction and real life, its girls and/or women feeling like they need to lie about or change who they are to impress a guy… So I was really nervous when this book started out with Nala lying about literally everything about herself so that Tye would be interested in her. Major yikes.

But the longer I read, the more I fell in love with this book. Renée Watson has such an incredible voice for YA, and I love that she allows her stories to be messy and complicated and for her protagonists to be equally imperfect.

This is a story about real, genuine growth, and eventually Nala learns the important lessons that we all must learn - that you cannot build a relationship on a lie, and that you have to be true to yourself and love yourself before you can love anyone else.

I’m not usually one to quote books but Nala’s plan for loving and being true to herself was so perfect and important that I literally want to write it on a sticky note and put it on my mirror.

“Remember yourself. Honor yourself. Critique yourself. Love yourself. This is how I plan to grow”

If I had one wish for this story, it’s that Nala had actually been able to give back to the elderly community at the living center. They were all so kind and welcoming to her, and played such an important role in the story… they deserved a happy ending too!

In all, I thought Love is a Revolution was an incredibly uplifting and joyful YA read… and it was a powerful reminder to love ourselves and embrace who we are.

Moving, motivational, inspirational, and love. Watson develops strong female characters who are on a self discovery. This book focuses on a young black girl tries to find love but discovers she doesn't know who she is. The book should have focuses more on Nala's relationship with her mom. This is a good YA book. Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for the E-ARC.

This book was such a fun, quick read and focused more on family and self-love than romance between two partners. The writing was a bit young for me, but I think it will be perfect for it's intended audience of younger YA readers.

I would have liked to see more of Nala's relationship and issues with her mother. It felt like a big part of her story that we never really got explained, I also didn't love the idea that Nala looked down on others around her, especially other girls, that were "woke" in her mind when they just wanted to be as involved as possible in working for their future and community.

All in all, this books was cute and fun with great characters that I think just needed to be a bit more fleshed out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for m ARC!

I first became a fan of Renee Watson's books after reading Piecing Me Together. She always develops strong female characters who are on a journey of self discovery. There's also a strong sense of family with complicated but loving relationships. Her new release did not disappoint! The main character, Nala, hopes to find true love during her summer break and what she finds is a radical love for not only herself but others.

3.5 Stars

I was a little disappointed with this book. The cover is so fantastic and I'm definitely a big fan of Renee Watson's other books, but this just didn't hit as much as I wanted.

Nala expects to spend her summer before her senior year of high school with her cousin-sister-friend Imani, catching up on Netflix and eating ice cream, but that all changes when she meets Tye at one of Imani's activism group—she falls head over heels. The big problem is that Tye's whole identity is wrapped up in social justice and local activism, something Nala is just not into, but Tye doesn't have to know. With a few tiny lies—saying she's a vegetarian and having a job in community outreach—Nala and Tye spark a relationship. As the summer carries on, Nala and Tye become close, her lies slowly unravel, and her relationship with Imani is in trouble.

I always cringe big time when I read about people lying so blatantly, because I know it won't end up good and as Nala's lies unfolded, ending up affecting other parts of her life, it just made me feel so stressed. I really liked Nala as a person. While I definitely didn’t agree with how she acted or went about things, I felt bad that people wouldn’t let her just be herself. So what if she doesn't know the name of every single black activist in history or liked to listen to rap music, she shouldn't be judged or shamed for that, especially from someone like her cousin. I thought we were going to see this great relationship of pseudo sisters, but Imani was kind of awful to her. Nala is trying to find her place in the world and with that she makes a few mistakes. She told all those lies to not feel like such an outsider.

I did enjoy Nala's relationship with her grandmother and their puzzle hang-outs at her assisted living facility. I also really appreciated that the body positivity wasn't shoved down the reader's throat, it was rarely ever commented on because Nala was so confident in her body. I wished we learned more about her relationship with her mother and what what exactly went wrong to have Nala move into her cousin's house. The event is always alluded to but never actually explained.

This was in no way a bad book, I guess I was just expecting more.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Everyone should have self love and be comfortable with who you are. And I loved going on the journey with Nala!
.
If you are looking for a quick and fun ya romance that has a great cast of supporting characters, check out Love is a Revolution. Release date: February 2nd!

3.5 stars

While I do appreciate the premise and message of Love Is a Revolution, it tends to fall flat. Conflict is introduced and never quite resolved, and the history of messy relationships isn't fully explored despite being mentioned several times. Based on the synopsis of the book, I was expecting more solidarity between the main character and other girls, but it's consistently a me vs. them approach. I think Love Is a Revolution brings up important topics and themes but could have benefited from a deeper dive in almost every area.

⭐⭐⭐🌠

Full review is on the blog (www.acourtofbooksandbrews.com)!

We follow Nala as she tries to find love for the summer. Unfortunately, the romance didn't really work for me, but I loved the body positivity and self love message of this book! We also got to embrace the warmth and love between Nala and her family (even when there are issues). I liked that the characters are flawed, because it tends to make them more relatable. Nothing is perfect, and inevitably Nala is forced to come clean about some lies and figure out how to truly love herself.

Overall, while there are a few minor plot lines I wasn't a fan of (disclaimer: YA books are hit or miss for me), books with messages of love, activism, acceptance are important and I hope every young girl gets to read this book!

I received an ARC of Love is a Revolution thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not sure how to start this review. I had this book on my NetGalley TBR for quite some time and kept putting it off. I kept telling myself there was plenty of time before release day. Then there wasn’t plenty of time and I started reading it anxious and a bit... reluctant. I’ve read some absolute bangers over the past month or two and the book hangover is real! But after chapter one, I was in. I expected to bounce from this book to the next one on my TBR but that didn’t happen at all.

Nala I was not a huge fan of, but I loved Tye and her grandma and they were such a part of the story that I kept coming back for more until Nala grew on me. About a third in I loved everything about the characters and their conflict. Watching Nala discover herself was eye-opening. I really wish I had gone through some of her process when I was her age.

The writing was lovely and flowed so well. The storyline was paced just right that there were ends of chapters where you could put the book down for a bit and be happy and others where you had to read the next chapter. It was a really good book to cure my book hangover!

I didn’t love this one. It seemed a little childish in my opinion which is so sad becuase this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future... maybe.

"Self-love is radical love." is the message that Watson wants to come through loud and clear in her newest novel. Nala is good at loving everyone, except herself. It is the summer before her senior year, a summer of love, of breaking away, of learning who she really is. A powerful, necessary story that needs to be read and promoted.

“The most radical thing you can do is love yourself and each other.” — Grandma

Love is a Revolution by Renée Watson is a true YA novel written for its target audience and well executed, I might add. I say this because oftentimes young adult novels appear to appeal more so to an adult audience than the teenaged group.

It is a love story at heart and a coming of age tale following seventeen year old Nala, who has learned to give love to everyone and everything but herself. And in doing so, she hasn’t truly given consideration to herself and what she wants. Her confidence, at best, is fleeting. Nala has been living with her cousin-sister-friend, Imani and her Aunt Ebony and Uncle Randy for several years and they are not without their own issues. But when Nala attends an event with Imani and cross paths with Tye Brown, she decides to become exactly who she thinks he needs her to be in order to get to her happily ever after. Checking off one of her to-do activities for the summer: to find love.

We see Nala morph into many things she is not, mostly to her own detriment because more than anything Tye does not like a liar. Who does? One white lie turns into another and another and involves friends and family who are initially oblivious to her schemes. The bigger problem is that Nala tells so many lies that it’s beginning to frustrate her that she’s not comfortable enough with her own truths to reveal them. And then one day the inevitable happens and she’s forced to confront the lies she’s told and the people hurt by them. Leaving her bare to do the soul searching she so desperately needs.

It is a beautiful struggle of belonging and a tale of friendship, love, family, and forgiveness. The cast of characters worked for me.

I was initially drawn to the cover, synopsis, and the author’s previous work. Thanks to NetGalley and
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Book for the e-arc!

4.5 stars!

Publication Date: February 2, 2021