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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My most anticipated release of the year did not disappoint! Rachel Harrison proves, yet again, why she is an auto-buy author for me; she consistently delivers excellently crafted (gothic) settings, relatable characters and satisfying endings. The female friendship central to the story is beautiful and tragic, raw and honest. When reading Harrison's books, I often feel like she must've been a fly on the wall during some of my conversations with childhood friends, or we've lived the same lives. Her books are always full of painfully cozy nostalgia, and this one is no different.
If you like spice, you're in luck- I wouldn't call this smut territory, but it's definitely RH's spiciest book yet! Unfortunately for me, I do not like spice lol... that is most of the reason for the 4 star rating rather than the 5 stars I typically give to RH. It's almost certainly a personal thing, but the inclusion of sex made the story feel a little more shallow than what we usually get in the relationship subplot, or maybe I just didn't connect as much to this particular love interest because vampires aren't really my "thing." However, the main character's relationship with their love interest is really the least interesting dynamic we have going on in this story, being overshadowed by their relationships with other side characters that range from endearing to traumatic in nature.
Emotional abuse and dependency are strong themes throughout the book, so be aware if you find those topics triggering.
Highly recommend reading if you want to chant "Girl Power!" through your tears. <3
Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
If you like spice, you're in luck- I wouldn't call this smut territory, but it's definitely RH's spiciest book yet! Unfortunately for me, I do not like spice lol... that is most of the reason for the 4 star rating rather than the 5 stars I typically give to RH. It's almost certainly a personal thing, but the inclusion of sex made the story feel a little more shallow than what we usually get in the relationship subplot, or maybe I just didn't connect as much to this particular love interest because vampires aren't really my "thing." However, the main character's relationship with their love interest is really the least interesting dynamic we have going on in this story, being overshadowed by their relationships with other side characters that range from endearing to traumatic in nature.
Emotional abuse and dependency are strong themes throughout the book, so be aware if you find those topics triggering.
Highly recommend reading if you want to chant "Girl Power!" through your tears. <3
Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a good time. Fun and easy little vampire palate cleanser. Just what I needed to chill between all the fantasies I've been getting myself into. 🧛♀️
There were quite a few points that had me giggling out loud.
"No sips!"
There were quite a few points that had me giggling out loud.
"No sips!"
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish I could give this 4.5 stars, just because the ending seemed like maybe an additional chapter or two would have made it feel not so... abrupt. But I loved it! Read it in 3 days and am having a hard time getting why some people say it took them months!
I feel crazy reading the reviews here because I really enjoyed this book! I connected with Sloane-- she's a woman nearing or at middle age and she's coming to terms with that. Absolutely realistic depiction on how it feels to age out of your twenties and just dip your toe into that realm of being unnoticed/unneeded by society.
Sloan and Naomi's relationship was not as far fetched as some people make it out to be. After being friends that long sometimes all you DO is bicker. They loved each other, cared for each other, and I don't think there was ever a point where I really questioned that.
The cast of characters may have been a bit broad. Fewer vampires and a bit more depth to them all would have been interesting, but that's not what the story was about. It was about Sloan and Naomi's friendship and navigating their new life together and them determining if 'best friends forever' can really mean... forever. If you're going into this with the intention of a purely vampy romance you're not going to get what you're looking for.
As for instalove... Meh. Wasn't an issue for me. If I'd been through all Sloane was through and a hot vampire guy seemed interested, I'd probably toss all caution to the wind too.
I wasn't going to write a review but I NEEDED to based off of the others I peeked at. I flew through this and that's saying a lot -- I never finish anything!
I feel crazy reading the reviews here because I really enjoyed this book! I connected with Sloane-- she's a woman nearing or at middle age and she's coming to terms with that. Absolutely realistic depiction on how it feels to age out of your twenties and just dip your toe into that realm of being unnoticed/unneeded by society.
Sloan and Naomi's relationship was not as far fetched as some people make it out to be. After being friends that long sometimes all you DO is bicker. They loved each other, cared for each other, and I don't think there was ever a point where I really questioned that.
The cast of characters may have been a bit broad. Fewer vampires and a bit more depth to them all would have been interesting, but that's not what the story was about. It was about Sloan and Naomi's friendship and navigating their new life together and them determining if 'best friends forever' can really mean... forever. If you're going into this with the intention of a purely vampy romance you're not going to get what you're looking for.
As for instalove... Meh. Wasn't an issue for me. If I'd been through all Sloane was through and a hot vampire guy seemed interested, I'd probably toss all caution to the wind too.
I wasn't going to write a review but I NEEDED to based off of the others I peeked at. I flew through this and that's saying a lot -- I never finish anything!