Home Again (2017) Movie Review

~ Alyxwrites ~ 1 Comment

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Summary: Life for a single mom in Los Angeles takes an unexpected turn when she allows three young guys to move in with her.
This is going to be a short review.
Pros:
Cast and Characters. Honestly everyone in this movie is fine.  They’re just fine.
  • Reese Witherspoon as Alice Kinney. She is a mother of two who is recently separated from her husband. She wants to start and interior design business. She starts off being sad and lonely but when she meets three young guys trying to make it in LA, she lets them stay in her home and she is a bit awkward about it at first, but she opens up to them more. They become ingrained her life, for different reasons and as always Reese Witherspoon is cute in her role. She’s just fine and her character is likable as she is trying to just continue her life, while also doing the best she can for her daughters.
  • Pico Alexander as Harry Dorsey. He is one of the three aspiring filmmakers. He was the director and seems to be the one who tries to keep the other two on their path. Harry is Teddy’s older brother and the one who Alice meets first, and they hit it off. He seems like a nice guy, it’s implied that he might be a lady’s man but ya know, we only see that one time. He really has a thing for Alice, enough to the point where he really tries to do right by her in other instances. I liked this guy, he’s super cute and sweet, and he had great chemistry with Reese Witherspoon.
  • Jon Rudnitsky as George Appleton. He is the screenwriter of their film. He has a talent and he bonds with Isabel over writing. He also is amazed to learn that one of his favorite filmmakers is Alice’s father, so he bonds with her over that. George also is worried about taking future jobs, he wants to, but he doesn’t want Harry to think it’ll effect their own film. George is nice too, he apparently is in love with Alice, but I didn’t see that. I’ve never seen Jon Rudnitsky in anything but he’s a likable guy.
  • Nat Wolff as Teddy Dorsey. He is the youngest, Harry’s younger brother and he’s the lead actor in their film. An aspiring actor. Teddy really connects with the family. I think it’s implied that maybe he and Harry didn’t have a great connection with their parents, so he really takes to Alice’s, especially Rosie, the youngest daughter. When Austen comes into the picture, he’s really upset because he thinks he’s upsetting the balance in the family they’ve created. I really like Nat Wolff as an actor, and he’s good in this role. I hope to see more from him.
It’s Cute. It’s a really cute and harmless movie. I don’t think it’s terrible or anything, but it just a cute rom-com where we see people navigate through life, and whatever other obstacles might arise. I still would have preferred to see the movie through the guys’ point of views, they were more interesting but still a cute movie.
It has Heart. It does have a nice little heart going on in it. The relationship between Alice and her daughters, or the ones the guys create with Alice and her daughters, even Alice’s mom is nice. So, while the movie is just cute, I think it has a lot of heart as well.
Looks Good. The film had a really nice, upbeat and colorful look to it. The movie is set in LA which allows for some bright set pieces, a lot of colors and the house the film is set, was a beautiful house.
Cons:
The Story. I mean it doesn’t really have one. There are things happening, but I don’t think there is a main through line for the film. Yeah. Alice is going through things but to fairly honest, it doesn’t seem like the main point of the film. I actually would have rather followed the group of young guys. Alice could have just been a plot point in one of their story instead of being the main character.
No Conflict.It tries to create conflict, but it could have just been a cute little rom-com without trying to be super dramatic about Harry not showing up for Alice’s dinner party, which is why she gets mad at him. Plus, the whole thing with the Michael Sheen’s character. Who cares lol. Then you have the whole thing where George also likes Alice, but people keep saying that and I never really got that, maybe a little crush or something since she’s the daughter of a filmmaker he admired, but otherwise, whatever lol. They just kept trying to create problems where they didn’t need to be any.
Overall, Home Again is a cute romantic comedy. Don’t expect a ton out of it because it’s not going to surprise you or anything but it’s sweet. The actors do great in their roles, their characters are all likable, and the movie is pretty harmless. I do think the story is really weak and I think the movie would have benefitted from following Harry, George and Teddy instead of Alice, but it works fine here too. Also, there isn’t any conflict even though they try to create some. It’s fine.
Rating: 2.90 out of 5 stars.
Have you seen Home Again?What were your thoughts on it? Was it Bland? Was it cute? Let me know in the comments below!
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The Incredibles 2 (2018) Movie Review

~ Alyxwrites ~ 1 Comment

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Summary: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to care for the kids while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world.
FINALLY IT IS HERE! WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOVIE FOREVER! I didn’t ask for Finding Dory and it was fine. NO ONE WANTED MORE CARS MOVIES! Cars 2 is terrible and Cars 3 was cute. BUT FINALLY!! I love the first movie, it’s my favorite Pixar film and I love it to pieces. Finally. I do have to say I wanted them to age up the characters 14 years to match those of us who were kids when it came out, but I’m okay with what they gave us because it was great!
Pros:
Cast and Characters. We have a lot of characters in this film, we meet a lot of new supers and there are of course returning characters, but I’m not really going to get into all of them because ya know, that’s a lot lol. But I think all of the new supers were really cool and had awesome powers, that were put to good use in the film.
  • Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible. He possesses super strength and limited invulnerability. He’s been wanting to be super again for so long, that when the movie starts, and they go up against the Underminer, he expects a better reception than what they received from governmental people. But when they get to chance to prove them wrong, he’s excited to get back out there, but he feels slighted when they choose Helen instead of him, but he wants to prove that he can also be a stay at home dad. Bob really does try, he does a good job for a while, but it’s easy to see that he needs something else to be doing too, at least in his mind. He really tries though, he reads through Dash’s math book, he tries to help Violet out, and he of course discovers Jack-Jack’s powers and takes the initiative to do something about it. He just has to slow down every now and then. Craig T. Nelson has some great moments where he can just be all over the place and controlled. His voice is great for Bob.
  • Holly Hunter as Helen Parr / Elastigirl. Let’s be real, Helen is the MVP, she was my favorite in the first (alongside of Dash) but she is so freaking cool. The way she uses her powers is just so unique and done in ways I haven’t seen other heroes with this power do. She has the ability to stretch her body into many shapes and forms and she does just that. In the first movie, we got a taste of what she can do, but they really go to town with her, she creates less of a mess than Mr. Incredible and is more tactical about how she solves problems, which serves her well in the film. She is also still a mother and have been a stay at home mom for a long time that this new job of hers, is different and she’s worried, however, she also is having so much fun. I love Helen because she is so protective of her family, but she is still a superhero, no matter how long it’s been since it’s been illegal, and she still kicks butt. Holly Hunter’s voice is perfect and that is all.
  • Sarah Vowell as Violet Parr. She is the oldest and the only girl, her powers are to become invisible and project force field. In this movie, she is definitely being a teenage daughter, who is dealing with her feelings about boys, and about who she is, and she spends a lot of the movie questioning a lot of things that’s happening or being decided. All of that is understandable considering she is what 14 maybe? Her powers allow for a lot of cool moments, but also some really funny visual gags, like the one where she goes into the kitchen to get ice cream (lol). However, Violet is the oldest, so she does step up quite a bit. Sarah Vowell’s voice is still great for the character, it could be really annoying but it’s not.
  • Huck Milner as Dashiell “Dash” Parr. Who doesn’t love Dash?? Along with his mother he is my favorite. He is a bit of a troublemaker, the oldest son and has superhuman speed. He is outgoing, he is always willing to run head first into anything. Dash hates being left out and he wants to always be involved. He always has funny jokes to say. His powers are also really cool.
  • Eli Fucile as Jack-Jack Parr. I have always loved Jack-Jack, but he really owns a lot of this movie. A lot of the humor comes from him because of his reactions to things and his powers. Even though he’s a baby, he obviously knows what’s going on because when Dash said, “We want to fight bad guys”, Jack-Jack repeated but in baby talk, plus the whole time he was in Edna’s house. I mean, this kid is just gold. He has an assortment of powers, and we get to experience them all. Whether or not he’ll keep all of them, I doubt it, they’re all used hilariously.
  • Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Best / Frozone. Similar to the first one, he’s not in it that much, but we definitely get to see him use his powers way more in this one. He is Bob’s best friend and he can create ice from humidity and he help out in the beginning with the Underminer, but when the police come, he ducks out because he knows it’s still illegal. He encourages Helena and Bob to join him at the meeting with Deavor, but we don’t see him for a while after that until Violet calls him to help Bob out and then of course during the climax of the film he’s more present. I think Frozone is super cool, I wonder what all he can do with his powers, but the fact that he’s always willing to come when the Parrs need him speaks a lot to him friendship with them. Plus, Samuel L. Jackson is his voice and he’s always cool.
  • Bob Odenkirk as Winston Deavor. He is a superhero fan who leads a telecommunications company with his sister Evelyn and wants to bring back the “supers” by revamping the public’s perception of them. He is very earnest, and he wears AWESOME suits. He has a lot of ideas and he just wants supers to have their days again, because he believes in what his father believes in, which was that supers were necessary. He’s a nice guy, and he truly believes in the mission. I don’t really know the actor, but his voice has this innocence and hopeful tone to it which works for the character.
  • Catherine Keener as Evelyn Deavor. She is Winston’s sister and a technological genius who has never encountered a problem she could not solve. Evelyn is smart, and Helen sees a bit of coolness in her since she builds all of the technology for the company and for all of Helen’s new jobs. She is always cool, calm and collected and I think her, and Helen would become great friends. Catherine Keener’s voice is also always great, it’s soothing.
  • Brad Bird as Edna Mode. She a fashion designer to the “supers” and a close friend of the Parrs. She’s not in the movie as much as she’s in the first one, I don’t think, but she’s still always great. ALWAYS.
The Story. The story is very smart, this movie is animated but it has a lot of adult themes, and there is a lot of moments of exposition but the not the wasteful kind. Just as there are adventure and action moments, there are quiet moments that are just characters talking. I think that’s a strong aspect, especially when you have a movie set in the 60s or 70s, with a family and dealing with the law. There is talk about the law, and it being unfair and just but having to follow it. How to run a family, how to deal with perception, and ignorance… there is a lot of great stuff in there that will help stimulate the mind and that’s very relevant to what’s going on today. Plus, it can get really tense when it comes down to the villain and what their goal is. It makes sense, which makes it so good.
Family Dynamic. The Parr family feels like a family. The movie is set in the 60s-70s, not really sure the exact time, but considering the time period and how everyone is worried about how society will react to certain things, such as them being supers. Helen is worried about her family, Bob wants to basically relive his glory days and be a super again. The kids just want to be part of the team and Jack-Jack is growing up with powers. I love how they interact with each other, the love and trust that Helen and Bob share (even the worry about Bob being able to handle the kids on his own, or Helen being able to hero on her own). Also, the sibling relationship between Dash and Violet, is believable and how they fight with each other but then lean on each other whenever they need to. The Parr family is a great family!
The Villain. Without going too much into it, the villain is really cool. Also, kind of justified. I thought it was a little predictable which I will mention later on, but otherwise, I really liked them as a character and how intelligent they were. It was kind of scary lol.
Action and Adventure. Obviously since it’s a continuation from the first movie, we see them tackle the Underminer which is a very cool action piece and as the movie continues, the missions we see Elastigirl go on, which allows for her to use her powers in ways we haven’t seen yet, just makes it even more cool. The movie definitely takes the action and adventure to the next level from the first film, the stakes are a little higher, and there are more supers involved so we see more. It’s fun!
Cons:
Violet and Dash’s Inclusion/Potential. I think my biggest gripe with the movie is that Dash and Violet doesn’t really get the chance to do much. Particularly for Violet, she spends a lot of the movie worrying about things with Tony, and how she feels about being a superhero and of course being suspicious of her parents lol, but we don’t really get to see her use her powers the way she was able to in the first film. She has a really cool part in the beginning with the Underminer, and then a pretty cool fight with another super but that’s kind of it. As for Dash, during the climax he either spends it holding the baby, or he’s waiting to be told to press a button. I know that in the first film, there’s more going on, kind of, but we got to see him run on water, and what not, but we see him really fight one person and that’s it. I was disappointed that he didn’t get to do more because he loves it so much. It was kind of lame. It was definitely something I was looking forward to seeing but the movie didn’t deliver it for me.
Predictable Villain. So, I don’t think they were a bad villain, I thought they were pretty awesome. I was just a little disappointed that I was able to figure it out so quickly. But that’s a really small gripe.
Overall, I very much enjoyed The Incredibles 2, I don’t think it’s as good as the first one, I think the first one was all around a better movie but this one does up the ante in a lot of ways. All of the characters are likable and are cool in their own right. Elastigirl owns this movie, the way she uses her powers to accomplish things and just how cool she is. SHE IS SO COOL!!! I quite liked the story, of trying to bring supers back into the forefront and make them legal once more. Plus, the idea of using a superhero who doesn’t make a lot of mess and trouble, be the face of that opportunity, that’s really smart and I loved how much Helen loved doing it. The action and adventure were also handled really well, even with the slower parts, the movie never lags, it never slows down. It’s awesome. The family dynamic is also great. My only real problem with the movie is that Dash and Violet don’t really get the chance to be awesome like they were in the first movie. We don’t really see them use their powers or really be part of the story which is really sad since they’re both so cool. Otherwise, The Incredibles 2 is a great movie.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Have you seen The Incredibles 2 yet? What did you think about it? Let me know your thoughts below!
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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) Movie Review

~ Alyxwrites ~ Leave a comment

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Okay, so full disclosure, when they announced this, I was fine because they never said “remake”, I always assumed it was going to be a sequel regardless. The people who were upset, I was mostly like “chill, it’s a sequel, it’s probably harmless” and it was, and I had a lot of fun watching it. I’m late, but I very much enjoyed this movie. Onwards to the review!
Mild spoilers ahead, but I’m sure you’ve seen the movie already.
Summary: Four teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game.
Pros:
Cast and Characters. Okay, we have our young versions which are the kids who get sucked into the story. I’m going to include them with their avatars as it just seems right.
  • Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Smolder Bravestone. He is the leader of the team, kind of like Indiana Jones. He’s an archaeologist and explorer who is just an epic brave, person. Being that he is being controlled by a 16-year- old nerdy and neurotic kid, he maintains those personality traits as well. We’re so used to seeing Dwayne Johnson play macho characters who are so sure about themselves, but in this, he’s saving the world, but he’s freaked out, or worried about how he’s going to do it. It’s great and great comedy. To be honest, we learn things about the character and the cool things he can do, his strengths and what not, but he’s an avatar so it really just comes down to the performance which is great because he’s so funny. The way he allows his voice to crack when he’s scared, it’s some great stuff.
    • Alex Wolff as Spencer Gilpin. He is a nerdy gamer at Brantford High School. He is afraid of EVERYTHING. His mother does not help with that either. He has anxiety and being Dr. Bravestone helps him overcome those problems. From what we see of Alex Wolff, he’s fine in the role he has to play before and after the game, though I do think it’s clear at the end, that he’s bit more confident and probably in ways, still the leader of the new group of friends.
  • Jack Black as Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon. He is a cartographer, cryptographer, archaeologist, and paleontologist, making him probably the smartest in the group. But what’s great, is that Bethany is the gamer, so Jack Black playing a 16-year-old girl made for great comedy and Jack Black was great at doing it. Almost a little too great but I expect nothing less lol. His dialogue is funny but the way he delivers the lines, perfection.
    • Madison Iseman as Bethany Walker. She is a pretty, popular, self-centered teenage girl at Brantford High School. There’s not much more to say than that lol. She isn’t really mean or anything, but she’s just into herself and doesn’t really realize that there are other people around her as well.
  • Kevin Hart as Franklin “Mouse” Finbar. He is a zoologist and weapons specialist, and ultimately Bravestone’s sidekick hehe. Obviously, Fridge isn’t happy that he is a small, petit avatar, or that he has a lot of weaknesses and not a lot of strengths, so throughout the movie, we see him being a bit antagonistic. But when push comes, he does what he needs to do, like with the snake and the plan at the climax of the film. Kevin Hart is great in this film. Sometimes I find him small, very yelly and not funny but I think this was a great part for him. He got to have some great physical comedic moments, as well as great lines. I wonder how much he ad-libbed but his chemistry with Dwayne Johnson, and they’re the ones with the most “connection” before the game, is great.
    • Ser’Darius Blain as Anthony “Fridge” Johnson. He is a Brantford High School football jock, who cares way more about football and doing other things than his grades. He and Spencer were friends back in the day, but as they got older, they went in different directions and he’s kind of a jerk to Spencer. He gets put into detention because he had Spencer write a paper for him to pass a class to stay on the team. Which is obvious he doesn’t pay attention because he thought it said “Moose”, but the name is indeed “Mouse” lol.
  • Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse. She is like Lara Croft, a martial artist, and dance fighter. I think it’s pretty great because Martha isn’t anything like how Ruby might be in a game like this, but Karen Gillan gets to really play up that awkwardness. It’s obvious that she can do some cool physical stuff, with how she runs or how she can randomly do something cool, but Martha isn’t like that, so she keeps trying to cover up her exposed skin because, I mean why would she be wearing that kind of outfit in the jungle lol. I knew Karen Gillan was funny because I liked that short lived show Selfie she was in, and she’s pretty funny sometimes as Nebula, and she was funny here as well. I have to say, watching her kick butt, was AWESOME, especially her dance fighting.
    • Morgan Turner as Martha Kaply. She is a shy and cynical intellectual at Brantford High School who believes that physical education is needless and dislikes popular peers like Bethany and Fridge. Martha is a loner and she doesn’t really want to play at first, but after encouragement from the others gets into it. She definitely becomes more confident as she plays the game, and by time we get to the end, there is a little change in her.
  • Nick Jonas as Jefferson “Seaplane” McDonough. He is a young aircraft pilot, who has been playable in the game for 20 years. His weakness is mosquitos, which is pretty funny considering he’s in a jungle. He’s been on his own without his team, so he’s pretty much failed at getting past a certain point, but thanks to the others arrival, they are finally able to move forward in the game. I’ve always liked Nick Jonas and I think he was great in his role. This young, kind of earnest pilot, but who is also playing a teenage gamer from the 90s, with his lingo and swagger, was cute.
    • Mason Guccione as Alex Vreeke. We meet him at the beginning of the film, after his father brings him the Jumanji board game. He is turned off by it but the game turns itself into a game cartridge which entices him to play. He gets trapped in the game for 20 years and thinks he’s been in the game for a few months. It’s kind of sad when he finds that it’s been a way longer time.
    • Colin Hanks plays the adult Alex when he appears 20 years later.
The Action. Set in the jungle and it’s a video game, there’s a lot of action going on. All of the fight scenes are choreographed well. The part in the bazaar, where Bravestone fights the bad guys, he’s basically calling out all of his moves, just like Spencer did at the beginning while playing a video game, but that didn’t make it any less cool to see if happen. Karen Gillan’s fight scene at the Transportation hanger was already choreographed really well, at first, she’s dancing with the guys, as one of her specialties is “dance fighting” but when the actual fighting happens, I was like “Yasss kick butt!!”
A Fun Adventure. If anything, the movie is just a fun adventure. I think all of the characters are likable and you want to see them succeed in the game, but you probably also want to see them lose lives as well, just to see what outrageous ways they can die in the game. But it’s just fun. The hippo scene, the snake scene, helicopter scene and the entire climax is a lot of fun. This movie knows exactly what it is and it just enjoys itself doing just that, being a fun, silly, action/adventure movie.
Core Story. While I don’t think the movie is trying to be that serious, the core message is teamwork and to basically get over yourself lol. Everyone basically starts off with some kind of chip on their shoulder, or something they’re dealing with, no matter how self-absorbed it might be (Bethany lol) but they have to learn to work together. Poor Alex has been stuck for 20 years because he didn’t have a team, and even though he doesn’t know them, and they don’t know him, they have to trust each other. That’s a pretty good for them to learn while playing this game. It’s pretty fundamental.
Really funny. I laughed quite a bit through the movie. Everyone has their moments, I don’t think anyone overdoes anything, no one is annoying, no one is trying to hard, it works for their characters and they all work well together and their comedic timing works. The fact that Dwayne Johnson is playing a 16-year-old, awkward teenager in a giant man’s body, or that Kevin Hart is playing a 6’1 athlete who is upset that he is “missing the top two feet of his body”, or Jack Black who is great at playing a self-absorbed teenage girl, and Karen Gillan playing a socially awkward girl who now is wearing showy clothes and is a badass lol. It all just works.
Cons:
The Villains. There’s this whole story with Bobby Canavale’s character being a friend of Dr. Bravestone and he turned of them, or something, but let’s be real, who cares? He’s just a game antagonist and I just want to watch the team make it through the jungle with their shenanigans. I mean, yeah, he can control the animals because of something he does with the green jewel, but I mean, I just think he didn’t really have to be there. The jewel could have just been missing in general.
CGI Issues. It wasn’t all bad, but it was mostly like the elephants and jaguars that looked pretty bad. Plus, it looked really dark in the climax, I don’t know if it was just my tv or not, I don’t know, but it was dark, and the jaguars didn’t look good running through the forest and I was like just meh.
Overall, I quite liked Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, there is a lot about it to enjoy and to like. I didn’t expect a lot, but I didn’t think it was going to be terrible or anything, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the movie and liked it the entire way through. All of the characters are likable, all of the actors do a great job, they are clearly having fun and it shows. Their comedic timing and chemistry with each other worked really well on screen. The action was well choreographed, and the adventure was fun to watch, and I’d actually play this game if it was a real game (I don’t want to be an avatar though, like in real life lol). I think the villains were pretty useless and sometimes the CGI wasn’t very good or at least consistent with other parts of the movie, but overall, I had fun. Great fun!
Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars. 
Have you seen Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle? What did you think of it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Tyler Johnson Was Here (2018) Book Review

~ Alyxwrites ~ 4 Comments

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Summary: When Marvin Johnson’s twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid.
The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it’s up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean.
Pros:
Colorful Characters. We meet a lot of characters in this story. They all stand out on their own I think, with their own usefulness, nicknames and what they mean in Marvin’s, and by extension, Tyler’s life.
  • Marvin Johnson. He is our narrator and he’s just a regular teenager in Alabama. He’s considered an “oatmeal creme pie” because he’s black but “acts white”, whatever that means lol, along with his two best friends. He’s smart, but unlike his brother, he’s the less popular one and maybe more awkward. Marvin wants to go to MIT, he knows that life is challenging due to the color of his skin and he tries to make sure he’s never in the position where his life is threatened, sometimes it just happens. When they have an encounter with an officer in the beginning, he watches his twin become increasingly distant and he worries. He often thinks he should do or say more than what he does, so when Tyler dies, he feels a tremendous guilt that he should have done something to help Tyler. As the book continues, we learn more about his anger, his extreme pain as he feels like his life has been taken away from him because his brother was taken away from him. Marvin is likable, and you really feel for him, but you also root for him to find peace. The fact that the book is told in his point of view, really allows for an up-close and personal look.
  • Tyler Johnson. Yes, he does die, but in the beginning of the book, we get to meet him and love him, and feel conflicted the same way Marvin does. Tyler and Marvin are close, but after an encounter with an officer in the beginning, Tyler becomes distant and we learn that he gets involved with a group of kids who he really shouldn’t. He says that it’s because he wants to help their mother out more around the house, but I think, that he was doing it because he wanted to feel safe or feel that he could protect himself if the time came down to it with another encounter. We don’t really know for sure, but I feel like, from what we’re told about him, that I really do like this kid and I wished he could have lived to live out his life.
  • Mama Johnson. You really feel for their mother. I believe they live in Alabama so she’s constantly worried that something will happen to her two black sons. When Tyler first “goes missing” she believes Marvin’s lie that he was at a friend’s house, and she’s hopeful, especially with the nonsense that happened at the party that everyone heard about. She breaks when Tyler’s body is discovered, and you really hope that she doesn’t remain broken throughout because Marvin needs her as much as she needs him. It’s sad watching her through Marvin’s eyes and how he feels like he can’t do anything for her, but she remains a strong presence for him, especially at the end.
  • Ivy & G-Mo. I put them together, but they are Marvin’s best friends and they complete the “Oatmeal Creme Pie Group”. They are ride or die friends, no matter how much Marvin might push them away in the story, they understand which I liked. They didn’t turn on him in his time of need which showed the strength of their friendship. Anytime Marvin called them and needed them, they answered and came. It was really sweet. Plus, whenever all three of them together, know there might be some corniness going on.
  • Faith. She starts out at this mysterious girl Marvin sees at the party. I at first thought, she was just going to serve a purpose and never show up again, but she becomes a large part of Marvin’s life. She starts out affiliated with Johntae (the gang member Tyler started hanging around) and Marvin goes to her for help, she at first refuses, but his persistency causes her to get more involved. She becomes another lifeline for Marvin and she’s really sweet to him. I wouldn’t have minded if she wasn’t in the story, but I saw the purpose she served, she was someone who entered his life because of the tragedy and remained.
The Story. The idea of a teenaged black boy being killed by a police officer is unfortunately nothing new, especially now. This book is very relevant considering its nature and I think that’s what makes it so powerful and emotional. It’s told from Marvin’s point of view, and we get to see him experience atrocities such as having guns pointed at him, dealing with his wrongfully incarcerated father, his brother who he feels pulling away from, not to mention his brother missing for a large chunk of the book, and worrying about where his life will head next. I think all of this is something that most people, especially young black people will experience and relate to. The principal in the school was absolutely ridiculous and I think people experience that in real life. I just think the story, at its core will hit very close to home.
Powerful Message. The book talks a lot about grief, loss, police brutality, blackness, among other things. I don’t think it rushes past anything, I think the grief is handled as realistically as possible. Marvin is in pain from losing his brother, but he feels a strong guilt as well that he should have done something. Justice, hatred and racism is a large part of the story as well, and Marvin gets to experience it first-hand. Just be prepared to go through a lot during this book, but it’s not preachy. It doesn’t feel heavy handed.
Realistic/Emotional. I teared up in quite a few places while reading. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record in the nature of the book, but I think it’s imperative to know that this isn’t an easy book to read. I mean, what it’s talking about should be something that’s acknowledged and talked about in society period, and Marvin often shares his feelings, I mean it’s in his point of view, but he doesn’t shy away from his anger, confusion or frustration. Reading about him watching his mother fall apart, or reading Marvin trying to make sense of his feelings, or his reaction when he finally sees the video of Tyler’s final moments. It’s pretty heartbreaking.
The Ending. So, I’m going to kind of mention this later, but the actual ending of the book was beautiful. I know what it’s like to have to spread ashes of a family member, it’s kind of weird experience, so I can relate to Marvin in that way. However, while there are still a few things that need to be tidied up, we get a sense of “moving on” for everyone, even Tyler.
The Cover. I mean just look at it. It’s beautiful. I love the flowers and the softness of the black boy. I just like that it’s not aggressive or sensual or any of the typical covers with black teens on the cover. I like that a lot of these young adult covers with black characters are going this route. It shows that our young people can be soft too.
Cons:
Starts off Slow. Because you pretty much know that Tyler dies at some point thanks to the description, you’re waiting for that moment while reading the book. It’s like you’re tense for most of the story, which is a good thing in ways, but it’s also a bad thing, because it takes a while to really gain some traction. I didn’t really get sucked into the story until a bit later, the first few chapters were for setting up, but it did really slowly.
Drawn Out. There are a lot of moments in the book, mostly towards the end, where it felt like it should have concluded many times. There was a part where it was damn near a perfect ending and I don’t think I would have been upset with that being the ending. The actual ending is great, don’t get me wrong, but I got the sense that Jay Coles tried to wrap everything up as best he could, but he could have done it many times.
Overall, I liked Tyler Johnson Was Here, the cover is beautiful, and I wanted to read it from the moment I saw it. I love the cover with the flowers and the soft, handsome black boy on the cover. I like all of the main characters, we definitely get some hated characters like the principal, and Johntae, and of course the police officer, but mostly all of the characters are likable. Especially Marvin and his friends. Marvin is our narrator and he tells the story with an emotional connection that keeps you invested once the story really picks up. It’s a realistic and emotional story that hits close to home with the tragedy of a black boy being murdered by a police officer, not to mention the many encounters of police brutality. I think the dialogue is pretty witty and sounds like black southern teenagers haha, I never felt like they were just characters in a book because some teens talk like that in real life. My only negatives are that the book takes a while to pick up, it starts off with a bang but then it slows down for a while. It kind of does that throughout as it feels like it’s being drawn out, there were many moments where the book should have ended, but it kept going. Don’t get me wrong, the ending was great but there were a lot of moments where it could have ended well. WITH THAT SAID, this is a great read and a great experience. Check it Out.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
What I’m Reading Next:
Scott Pilgrim– Bryan Lee O’Malley (but I’m not going to review these)

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The Last Black Unicorn– Tiffany Haddish (might review this, dunno)

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Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now (2018) Book Review

~ Alyxwrites ~ Leave a comment

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Summary: I’ve got seven days to come clean to my new dad. Seven days to tell the truth…

For sixteen-year-old Tiffany Sly, life hasn’t been safe or normal for a while. Losing her mom to cancer has her a little bit traumatized and now she has to leave her hometown of Chicago to live with the biological dad she’s never known.

Pros:
Characters. We actually met a LOT of characters in this book but I think going through all of them or even mentioning would kind of ruin you getting to know them as Tiffany does so I’m not going to do that.
  • Tiffany Sly. She is our protagonist and our narrator. She just turned 16 and is traveling to California to live with a father she’s never met. In the first chapter, we learn that she is terrified of flying, and also terrified to meet Anthony Stone. She has anxiety and she’s always worried about things that could possibly kill her. Irrational fears and what not. She is very nervous about meeting her father, but she’s also a bit in doubt since not long before she departed, another man came to her home, thinking he might be her father and he wants her to take a DNA test. So she’s thinking about that, plus, the other man is going to serve her father a court order so she has to take a DNA test and she’s thinking about that time frame. Seven days to confirm who might be her father. She marches to the beat of her own drum, she doesn’t conform, at least not completely, she does try not to test the waters, but she can’t help but to speak out against certain things she finds ridiculous that her new family does. She’s easy to befriend Marcus, even though he did come off as weird in the beginning and everyone freaks out about him, but she was pretty easy about it. She’s from Chicago, so she tries really hard not to be a stereotype in this new place, that’s also majority white. I really liked Tiffany, there wasn’t anything about her I didn’t like. She’s super tall, so of course people assume she likes and/or plays a sport but she’s into music. I loved her “nerdiness” and just how it was just natural and a part of her and not something shocking because she’s a black girl into what she’s into.
  • Anthony Stone. He is a potential father for Tiffany, but he is the one she’s going to live with. We don’t really get to meet him until the second or third chapter, and he’s interesting but also seems very detached and I did not like him, mostly in the beginning. I softened up to him more towards the end, but it was a hard journey. I felt like Tiffany when it came to him. She was kind of awkward with him, but unsure if he could be her father, especially once she meets him and sees what he looks like. There are moments where it feels right, where you wonder “Wow, maybe he is her father” but then he does something outrageous and you’re like “NO! He can’t be her dad!” I mean this dude has some pretty ridiculous moments, but he’s also kind of tragic in ways. A lot of things that dealt with him made me cry, especially at the end. Oh man. I had so much whiplash with him but I think Dana L. Davis wrote an interesting man.
  • Marcus McKinney. Definitely my favorite character of the book, he’s definitely a secondary leading character but I loved every bit with him. When we first meet him, I was a little unsure to what he was doing, or what he looked like because of his description but it becomes clear later. It does take a while to learn what is up with him but I think that’s part of his charm as well. He doesn’t care anything about what other people think about him and he just lives his life because it’s his to live. There is something different about him and Tiffany doesn’t really pick up on it until later, but she never makes a big deal about anything. Marcus doesn’t either. He became a great friend for Tiffany and she for him. He wrote a book in the book and I actually want to read his book.
Realistic Dialogue. I definitely have to give Dana L. Davis praise, because the dialogue in this book was very realistic. Especially for the teenage characters. I always complain when I read certain young adult books because it seems like the authors don’t really understand how teenagers respond to things, or how they speak to each other. Sometimes it comes off really pretentious or childlike and just ugh, but Dana L. Davis does it so well. Tiffany sounded like a true 16-year-old teenage African-American girl. The conversations she would have with her grandmother on the phone, with her best friend, even the conversations she would have with London and her other sisters. It just really flowed well and it sounded genuine instead of generic and awkward. I mean outside of Tiffany being awkward in general.
Humorous. I laughed quite a lot reading this book. The dialogue is so funny, and the interactions between characters is always entertaining. The book is told in Tiffany’s point of view, so we get a lot of her inner thoughts and her reactions to things, her irrational fears, her though processes, or her telling us how other characters are looking at her, or reacting was very funny. Also, Marcus being so enigmatic as he was, was also pretty funny too and he did it without trying it was just part of his character. Also, Neveah is maybe where most of the humor comes from when it comes to dialogue. That little girl will say whatever it is she wants and doesn’t find the problem with it.
The Family Dynamic. Tiffany’s mother passed before the events of the book, she is still very hurt from it, but she has hope, since she is going to live with her father in California. She’s never met him so it’s a first anyway, but I think we see of the family is pretty interesting. I don’t necessarily agree with what the Stones do, or even believe in, I think it’s a little extreme, but that’s how it is for some families and I appreciate that the book really touched on that. Their family was dysfunctional and they tried to pretend like they weren’t. I always find that very interesting because there is so many options to explore. Also, when Tiffany gets added to the mix, it’s very weird and awkward at first, but as the book progresses, the women of the family, well some of them, really become a strong lifeline for her, or her for them. It was a great natural progression.
Very emotional. I cried. A lot actually. The book deals with death and grief, and loneliness and family, and abandonment and I can understand a lot of that. I’m definitely not going to get into anything, but I do think if you’ve lost a parent, or someone you were close to, this would really hit home for you. Also, Tiffany has anxiety, among other things and seeing her deal with that, or dealing with her father who doesn’t believe in that kind of stuff, it’s hard and challenging but the way it’s handled is really beautiful. I think the end, the last few chapters are what really got me, especially after the trip in Malibu. Oh man, I can imagine if you don’t cry but don’t be surprised if you do.
Thought provoking. Marcus McKinney is a fantastic character, probably my favorite in the story but he is so smart and his beliefs are truly amazing. I’ve never met anyone like him but I can imagine I’d befriend him as well. He’s a bit odd at first glance, sure, but the way he thinks about God and energy, I was like “he’s legit” and I actually feel the same way in some instances. I talked about it with my coworker the other day and we both were like “so deep”. I mean, I really thought about it while he would explain it to Tiffany. Plus, there was something special about him anyway, so he felt like a pure person.
Cons:
Unfinished Plotlines. I do think there is a lot that happens in this book. We get a lot of information and while I do think the book handles a lot of it really well, I do wish it would have gone a bit deeper, particularly with Pumpkin. She apparently she’s on the spectrum and at first I thought it was just something the mom made up, or they thought because they didn’t know how to really parent her outbursts, but the mom does try but nothing else really comes of that. Not that it had to be a big part of the story, but since it was brought up and since it was something Tiffany was around, I thought we should have seen more of that. Also, with London, there is something that happens with her and it does kind of become a little big something, but it kind of just ends. It was kind of strange to be honest.
Overall, I really loved Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now because it felt like an authentic story. Tiffany was a realistic teenager, she didn’t feel like an adult’s view of a teenager which I appreciated. I loved her interactions with other characters, and how she just marched to the beat of her own drum, she didn’t care because it was who she was. She loved her music, she loved the idea of what a father would be like to her and I think that’s all beautiful and so realistic for a teenage girl whose never had a father. I thought while complicated, Anthony Stone was a great character and someone who I ended up really liking and thinking was tragic by the end. Marcus was my favorite and I just want to sit and speak with him and also read his book. It’s funny, it’s emotional, it made me go “TELL EM AGAIN GIRL” and I finished it in a day so I loved it. My only real negative was that I felt there were a few storylines that didn’t get wrapped up as easily and I thought about it afterwards. But regardless, fantastic story.
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.
What I’m reading Next:
Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

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Ocean’s 8 (2018) Review

~ Alyxwrites ~ 3 Comments

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I have actually never seen any of the other Ocean’s movies. I know, I know. They’ve always been on my list, but I just never got around to them. So, now that I’ve seen this and let me say up front, I HAD SO MUCH FUN!!! I think they’ve been bumped up a bit. So with that said, I don’t have any frame of reference nor can I compare this to the others.
Summary: Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala.
Pros:
Cast and Characters. It’s actually kind of funny how I went with two my best friends and we were sitting there assigning who would be who from our friend group in the movie. It was a mutual agreement that I was Debbie Ocean but don’t worry, nothing’s safe. I mean, everything’s safe. There are a lot of characters in the film, but I’m only going to touch on the main women of the film.
  • Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean. She starts out the film getting released from jail on parole, she lets us know in the beginning what she plans on doing when she’s released. She is Danny Ocean’s estranged sister and a professional thief as it runs in the family. She is a planner, she is particular, quick on her feet, and a natural leader. I mean, what she does when she gets out of jail was amazing. AMAZING. She gets the plan started, and she is so in control it’s kind of inspiring lol. She recruits the others and has the ability to get them to believe in her plan, and to get them to follow her when they really could have said no. Nothing bothers her, she is so under control, that even when things don’t seem to go as planned, she either has planned for that, or she regroups so it can go according to plan. Sandra Bullock was great, she’s always great, LOOKS great. She was so suave in the role, like a natural and she had such great chemistry with EVERYONE ON SCREEN!!
  • Cate Blanchett as Lou. She is Debbie’s best friend and partner in crime, she is the first person that Debbie goes to once she’s out of jail and it’s clear that they’ve been friends for a long time and Lou trusts Debbie. There are maybe two times when she doubts the plan, but she always comes back around because of Debbie’s unwavering confidence. She is literally the right hand, and while she’s not like super hands on with the main plot when we actually get to the Met Gala, it’s clear that the job she has, no one else but her could do it. Cate Blanchett is always great. She had great friendship chemistry with Sandra Bullock, they worked so well together and just the choices she made for the character, with how COOL she was, from how she walked, to how she sat, or reacted to her friend’s ideas. If I saw her walking down the street, I would go “Wow, she’s so cool”.
  • Anne Hathaway as Daphne Kluger. She is a celebrity, I’m assuming either an actress or a model, but someone important as everyone knows her and she’s the face for a lot of things. She partly the target of the heist and her character is just a mean, selfish and that “typical celebrity” and I think Anne Hathaway just has so much fun in this role because she gets to be so dramatic. A good amount of humor comes from her as she’s just ridiculous but so much fun to watch. I don’t care what anyone says, I love Anne Hathaway.
  • Mindy Kaling as Amita. She is a jewelry maker, who is single and still living with her mother and working in her mother’s employ. She is ready to be out on her own, and she takes the opportunity to get from under her mother’s thumb. Now, I do think she knew Debbie previously, I don’t think we learn how exactly, but they know each other which helps when it came to her trusting Debbie. I think she really gets to do some fun stuff when she’s with Helena Bonham Carter looking at the necklace.
  • Sarah Paulson as Tammy. Poor thing, she is a suburban mom with I think three children, who are just some evil little things. One was just kicking a ball inside, the other whining about being hungry (but like… I WANT IT NOW type thing) and the youngest who wasn’t so evil. But she is bored in her life and at first refuses but considering what she has in her garage (lol), she gets involved and she actually has a pretty large role in the heist. A lot of their intel banked on her and she played her role really well. Sarah Paulson is also always a win and she was great. She has this innocent demeanor about her in the film, no matter what she was doing, I would always trust her face.
  • Awkwafina as Constance. Lou finds her working some people on the streets of New York and she gets involved after they tell her plan. She is a thief/pickpocket, sleight of hand in ways and she is pretty funny. She has a pretty big job in the heist, even though it’s probably the quickest. I only saw her in Neighbor’s 2: Sorority Risingand she was okay then, but I very much enjoyed her in this. She was a joy to watch, she was energetic, funny and I couldn’t help but watch what she would do in a scene with the others because she was always reacting.
  • Rihanna as Nine Ball. She is a technical genius and her real name is a secret. To be fairly honest, she was pretty much Rihanna which is probably why I enjoyed her so much because Rihanna is fun. She is a master hacker and is pretty much the best at all computers and she show her prowess so much throughout the film. She has a great scene when she is researching about this guy on Facebook, that entire scene was hilarious and pretty much one of my friend’s in a nutshell lol, especially if she was a master hacker lol.
  • Helena Bonham Carter as Rose Weil. She is a fashion designer and one of the first ones they recruit for their heist. She is awkward, and her designs have been a bit laughable for most people in recent years, but as she is designing Daphne’s dress for the gala, everyone is curious. She is a bit awkward lol, but she gets the job done and she creates a beautiful look for Daphne, I mean really, it’s beautiful. Helena Bonham Carter was great in the role, I can’t even think of someone who I would have chosen instead. She plays kooky very well.
The Fashion. Sarah Edwards does the costume design in the film, and I looked her up to see what else she might have done and it’s not really that impressive but THIS MOVIE RIGHT HERE! Literally everyone’s outfits were amazing. All of Sandra Bullock’s outfits I wanted. Cate Blanchett looked FANTASTIC and then everyone in their Met Gala outfits at the end, everyone looked so beautiful. I just can’t. If you think this movie is dumb, that’s fine, but it has to be acknowledged that the fashion was absolutely amazing. I love watching movies like this, where the people look great doing what they do. Everyone had their own style, it fit their characters and was amazing.
The Team. I liked that even if the women came together to commit a crime, they trusted each other. There were no moments of cattiness. When Debbie first met Nine Ball and Constance, she was skeptical, I mean they are the youngest of the group, but after her initial wariness about them, they became a team. There was trust, there was humor and teasing but nothing that made me think they didn’t like each other. I’m interested to see if they will keep the same group in the next one. They should so we can see them become more of a friendship.
It’s Hilarious. It’s very clever, witty and funny. It’s not always the dialogue, sometimes it’s just a character making an expression in a scene, them reacting which is great. A lot of the dialogue is funny, but it also can be attributed to the actor’s comedic timing. Of course, James Corden shows up in the last act of the movie and he’s a joy to watch, Rihanna was actually really great as well.
Looks Beautiful. The direction and the cinematography were both very good in the film. There were some really cool transitions throughout the film and it has a very smooth and crisp look. If anything, this film knows how to give you a movie that looks good, with characters who also look good.
Cons:
The Friendship. So, while I think they worked well together and didn’t become catty towards each other, I don’t think the movie ever really allows them to really be together. Yes, they become a team and yes, they work well together, but we never really see them become friends other than the clear friendship between Debbie and Lou. Even Tammy who they seemed to know, didn’t really get to feel like friends with Debbie and Lou. I hope, if there are more films, that they allow the women to really become friends.
The Script. Even though I haven’t seen the others, I do think this script is pretty weak. I mean, the biggest praise is probably the characters and enjoying watching them plan the heist but the story itself is weak, and lacking and I’m sure that there are moments where people will check out because it’s not that engaging outside of the whole heist aspect. They try to make that the most important but with the other stuff around it, it’s kind of… meh. Ya know?
The Last Act. It’s always more fun to see the set up and the heist than after the heist. I do have to say that the last act is probably the weakest in the film. As soon as the heist is over, it does slow down quite a bit and kind of feels like a bit of a different film, even though it’s still enjoyable to watch.
Overall, I really liked Ocean’s 8. It was a lot of fun and I would definitely watch it again. All of the main women are likable, and I think people can see themselves in a character, or what role they would play if they were part of a team of criminals lol. I think they all work well together and that they become a great team who at least trust each other enough to get the job done. The movie also looks great, the transitions are cool and the film itself has a very smooth and clean look to it. It’s a really funny movie as well, all of the characters have moments when they get to be hilarious, some more than others, but I don’t think there isn’t a time where the humor doesn’t land. The fashion is also amazing, literally all of the clothes in this movie, gah so jealous of everything. The outfit that Debbie wears at the end of the film, those PANTS *swoons* so amazing. It’s a fun movie and harmless. My only real negatives are that while I think the actresses had great chemistry together, they didn’t really get the chance to become friends. I believe they became a team but not friends, since they didn’t really get a chance to just be together. I know they were planning a heist, but it’s always great to see the team become friends. I also think the last act is the weakest in that it feels weird compared to the rest of the movie, I’m glad that some of what happened happened as it’s realistic, but it just slowed the movie down. BUT if you’re looking for a fun, polished, fashionable movie, then definitely check out Ocean’s 8. 
Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars.
Have you seen Ocean’s 8? What did you think of it? Let me know your thoughts down below!
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When It’s All Over

~ Alyxwrites ~ Leave a comment

Read the other parts before part four.

I. One and Only

II. Falling Fast

III. Hello Heartache

When Its All Over

“I met my soul mate today.”
 Those were really not the words he was expecting her to say. He didn’t know why but he couldn’t react. Not at first. He just stood there. Silent. Say something. But he couldn’t, he didn’t know what to say. What should he even say? He knew this day would come, he didn’t know when and he didn’t know what it would do to her and just by looking, he could tell it was killing her inside.
What should he do?
“Steve?”
Hearing his name snapped him out of whatever he just disappeared in. He cleared his throat and took a step back trying to regain his balance. Theo moved forward but stopped herself, her eyes darting away from him. He could see on her face that she was confused. He could see on her face that she was in pain.
This is why. This is why he never put stock in the whole “soul mark” thing because of reasons like this. She’s hurting, and he knows he can’t do anything to help her, not really. This is why he admired his parents for making it through this society full of matching soul marks because they are still in love. He never knew if they met their soul mates or not, but regardless they’re together. They’re in love. He wanted that regardless of matching soul marks. He knew Theo didn’t care either, she always wanted to make her own way. So why was this so hard? Especially for her?
“Steve…”
“Just…” He waved his hand asking her to stop. Just don’t. He wasn’t angry, not really. Steve didn’t really know what he felt. It was confusing. He turned his back on her and gripped the back of her navy-blue couch trying to stable himself. What does this mean for them? He wanted to move in together. He loves Theo. He doesn’t want to lose her to… “What is his name?”
“What?” Her voice was shaky, almost a whisper. He didn’t want to see the look on her face because who know what he’d see.
“What is his name?”
Silence. Steve turned to look at his girlfriend. She stood there, her head lowered, her arms crossed, like she was trying to close herself in. Theo had walls up before, he worked hard to get through them, but it was like she was trying to pull them back up.
“Theodora… what is his name?”
“Michael.”
Michael. He wanted to know what he was like. She was gone for a long time, perhaps they got better acquainted. That burned him up inside, it felt like something red-hot was trying to claw its way out of his chest. Jealousy maybe? He never thought he would feel this way. Theo looked at him, her brown eyes wet. Was she crying? Oh god, he can’t handle a crying Theo. She is always so strong so tears were a rarity.
“Tell me about him.”
“There’s nothing to tell Steve. He doesn’t… I mean, we didn’t… it wasn’t like a full conversation. We just talked.”
She stepped towards him again and he would have moved away but he forced himself to stay. He could smell her perfume as she moved closer. The honey lavender scent wafted into his nose and it centered him. He always loved the way she smelt. The smoothness of her hands, touched his arms that tightly gripped the back of the couch behind him. He watched as her hands moved up his arms, rising to his shoulders…his heart beat so painfully in his chest but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to kiss her. Her hands moved to his neck, they rested on his face and she stood on her toes. Her full lips touched his and he didn’t know if the sharp intake of breath was his or hers.
Steve released the couch and pulled her closer to him. Her body touching his…but something was wrong. Something was off. There was an alarm going off somewhere in his mind. When they pulled away, his breath was heavy, her eyes stared into his eyes and he knew something was wrong.
“Theo I-”
“Something’s wrong Steve.” She pulled away completely, her movements frantic as she began to pace back and forth. She touched her fingers to her lips, her brow furrowed as it did when she was in thought.
“It’s the soul mark.” His voice was quiet. It was the only explanation. But why would they feel different just because Theo met her soul mate. Nothing changed when he met Ebony. Why has it changed now?
“No. Why would it be different for the both of us and not just me? I don’t understand any of this. It’s so annoying and I hate it. I love you Steve. I know I do but I just feel… so confused that I don’t know what to do.” He watched as her pacing picked up speed. Her face was full of agony and she occasionally stopped to look at him her brown eyes wide.
“No one truly understands how soul marks work Theo.”
“Maybe not but I don’t… I hate this. I hate it. When I heard my words…” No. I don’t want to hear this. “…I, I wanted to fight it. I did fight it, but it wasn’t good enough. I’m so sorry Steve. I never want to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“You know I never wanted to meet my soul mate. I just… I want to be with you. I just can’t decide what’s going on inside of me. If you meet your soul mate you’ll know exactly…”
“I’ve already met her.”
Theo stopped moving, her body rigid. She turned to look at Steve even more confused then she already was. Steve looked away. Today has been ruined. He shouldn’t have said anything, he should have kept everything to himself. He shouldn’t have asked in the first place.
“What? You have? When?”
“About six months ago.”
Theo’s eyes grew large. Steve wasn’t sure what that expression was, but he knew her mind was going through all kinds of scenarios. She stood still. She was so silent. He felt like he should have moved forward, maybe he should reach for her, maybe he should reassure her that it meant nothing. Yeah, he thought about Ebony, but not like constantly. It just happens every now and then.
“That’s why.”
What? It was so quiet that he almost didn’t hear what she said. He asked her to repeat what she said, but she finally looked at him. Her brown eyes watery once more but soft.
“Is she pretty?”
What? 
“Tha- that doesn’t… that doesn’t matter Theo.”
“Is she pretty Steve?”
He sighed. This is so painful, and he didn’t want to make it worse. Why should it matter if his “soulmate” was pretty? It didn’t matter.
The woman of his dreams stood there in front of him. Her eyes a beautiful light brown, seeming brighter because of her tears. Her beautiful brown skin always glowed from the light she carried inside her body. Her large curly hair styled in one of her favorite “go-to” styles of a fro-hawk. Her dark jeans and blue tank top. Everything about her was what he wanted. She was perfect.
But… there were times when he thought of Ebony James. It happened randomly. Not often but randomly. He remembered how she looked when he stopped her dog from running too far.
Ebony had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, it was black and straight with wisps escaping and curling around her forehead. Her skin was dark, he imagined it was beautiful in the moonlight. She had almond eyes, dark as well and a beautiful smile with full lips. She was beautiful and sometimes her face appeared, and he always pushed it away.
Sometimes it lingered for too long though.
Ebony doesn’t look a thing like Theo. But he couldn’t deny his own confusion, but he could push it away a lot easier than Theo apparently could. He didn’t know Ebony. She seemed nice, but he didn’t know her.
Shit. He’s been quiet for too long.
“Yeah, she was pretty.”
There was a sharp intake of breath, but he didn’t see anything accusing or hurt in her eyes. There was understanding, and he hated that. She was perfect and he’s sitting here upset that she met her soulmate, like she planned it.
He sighed and moved towards her.
She wrapped her arms around him and they just stood there entwined. He could feel her heartbeat against his chest, and he really wished everything before this moment could be erased but he knew it was going to be different.
At the end of the day, it’s Theo’s choice.
Isn’t it?