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A review by theespressoedition
Crush by Tracy Wolff
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tracy Wolff, we have to talk. I need to know what kind of substance you laced in this series that makes it so addictive!!!! Okay, maybe I already know. It's good, old-fashioned, nostalgic YA paranormal romance reminiscent of the pinnacle 2010s.
I'm not sure I've ever listened to an eighteen-hour audiobook so quickly. I genuinely could.not.stop. Once I picked it up, it was all I could think about. I'm basically making these books my entire personality at this point and I will sit here, hyping them up until everyone reads them.
There's something so incredibly satisfying about reading pure fluff. There's nothing about these books that makes me have to work. That might sound terrible, and don't get me wrong, I love a book with a deep plot point, political intrigue, and thought-provoking dialogue. However, because I read so many other fantasy books with those elements, having one that just allows me to enjoy without effort is divine!
Just like Crave, this installment in the series had all the tropes. I mean seriously, it's like the author had a list of the most popular tropes in YA books and just decided to add each and every one of them at random - or not at random, but at the perfect places so that it's obnoxiously satisfying to be like "of COURSE that person died now" or "of COURSE he's in love with her now" at any given moment. These books are simultaneously predictable and surprising and I just love it so freaking much.
I mentioned that I listened to the audiobook and I just have to touch on that a little bit. I try to avoid fantasy on audio because I tend to listen while I'm doing other things and fantasy can be so intricate and full of so many unique words and worlds, etc. that I can find myself losing focus and entirely missing critical plot points. Usually, I only listen to contemporary romance on audio so that if I miss a little fight or whatever, it doesn't feel catastrophic. Needless to say, this book felt like listening to a fluffy romance. Yes, there are a couple of crazy tournaments (because it's the sequel in a cliche fantasy series so of course there is) and even some really "scary" fights, but I never felt like I missed an important detail!
ANYWAYS, all I want to do now is dive into the next book. Actually, just like with Crave, I want to drop everything and read the entire series in one sitting, not doing anything but drinking coffee as I go. Alas, I have to wait a bit, but I can't wait to see what comes next!!!
I'm not sure I've ever listened to an eighteen-hour audiobook so quickly. I genuinely could.not.stop. Once I picked it up, it was all I could think about. I'm basically making these books my entire personality at this point and I will sit here, hyping them up until everyone reads them.
There's something so incredibly satisfying about reading pure fluff. There's nothing about these books that makes me have to work. That might sound terrible, and don't get me wrong, I love a book with a deep plot point, political intrigue, and thought-provoking dialogue. However, because I read so many other fantasy books with those elements, having one that just allows me to enjoy without effort is divine!
Just like Crave, this installment in the series had all the tropes. I mean seriously, it's like the author had a list of the most popular tropes in YA books and just decided to add each and every one of them at random - or not at random, but at the perfect places so that it's obnoxiously satisfying to be like "of COURSE that person died now" or "of COURSE he's in love with her now" at any given moment. These books are simultaneously predictable and surprising and I just love it so freaking much.
I mentioned that I listened to the audiobook and I just have to touch on that a little bit. I try to avoid fantasy on audio because I tend to listen while I'm doing other things and fantasy can be so intricate and full of so many unique words and worlds, etc. that I can find myself losing focus and entirely missing critical plot points. Usually, I only listen to contemporary romance on audio so that if I miss a little fight or whatever, it doesn't feel catastrophic. Needless to say, this book felt like listening to a fluffy romance. Yes, there are a couple of crazy tournaments (because it's the sequel in a cliche fantasy series so of course there is) and even some really "scary" fights, but I never felt like I missed an important detail!
ANYWAYS, all I want to do now is dive into the next book. Actually, just like with Crave, I want to drop everything and read the entire series in one sitting, not doing anything but drinking coffee as I go. Alas, I have to wait a bit, but I can't wait to see what comes next!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Gore