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13rebecca13's reviews
510 reviews
Offside Rule by Maeve Hazel
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is the cutest novella! I love a sports romance anyway so I knew this would be right up my street.
Nineteen-year-old Xavier Kavalle plays for a European football team. He is good enough to be captain but that role has gone to his cousin (who isn't the best player on the team) just because his dad is the team's coach. Despite this, he stays positive and confident in his team's ability.
Arianna Esposito is a twenty-five-year-old widow and mum to four-year-old Giulia. She is also a football referee who takes her job very seriously. The two cross paths one evening after she makes a football comment to Xavier whilst he's watching replays, then he realises she actually knows her stuff when he discovers she is refereeing his next match.
There is an instant spark between the two of them but with their age gap, the fact that a ref cannot get involved with a player and the fact that Arianna has a child, could their relationship work?
The character of Xavier was so lovely for someone so young and I really enjoyed the scenes between Xavier and Giulia. Arianna's feelings regarding being torn between her career and her family were written very well and you could feel her turmoil. I love novellas because I can just fly through the story but at the same time I feel sad when I am loving them because I just want to read about these characters forever.
This is a sweet, short read that any romance lover will enjoy!
Nineteen-year-old Xavier Kavalle plays for a European football team. He is good enough to be captain but that role has gone to his cousin (who isn't the best player on the team) just because his dad is the team's coach. Despite this, he stays positive and confident in his team's ability.
Arianna Esposito is a twenty-five-year-old widow and mum to four-year-old Giulia. She is also a football referee who takes her job very seriously. The two cross paths one evening after she makes a football comment to Xavier whilst he's watching replays, then he realises she actually knows her stuff when he discovers she is refereeing his next match.
There is an instant spark between the two of them but with their age gap, the fact that a ref cannot get involved with a player and the fact that Arianna has a child, could their relationship work?
The character of Xavier was so lovely for someone so young and I really enjoyed the scenes between Xavier and Giulia. Arianna's feelings regarding being torn between her career and her family were written very well and you could feel her turmoil. I love novellas because I can just fly through the story but at the same time I feel sad when I am loving them because I just want to read about these characters forever.
This is a sweet, short read that any romance lover will enjoy!
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Chain-Gang All-Stars is a dystopian fiction novel that follows prisoners in America who compete in a gladiator-style reality TV show run by the Criminal Action Penal Entertainment league. They fight to the death and eventually earn their freedom. There are different groups or "links" that compete against each other, hence the title of the novel.
There are so many characters to follow along with so it took me a while to understand all of them. I did listen to this on audio which has a full cast so that definitely did help. Our main two protagonists and the most prominent members of Chain-Gang All-Stars are Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker. The two women are teammates in the same link but are also romantic partners which obviously bodes a problem when they will end up competing against each other.
This was a very interesting read with a big focus being on the de-humanisation of inmates and the examination of the prison system in America, violence and injustice, particularly towards people of colour. There are a lot of statistics peppered throughout the book which are just shocking to hear.
There are so many characters to follow along with so it took me a while to understand all of them. I did listen to this on audio which has a full cast so that definitely did help. Our main two protagonists and the most prominent members of Chain-Gang All-Stars are Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker. The two women are teammates in the same link but are also romantic partners which obviously bodes a problem when they will end up competing against each other.
This was a very interesting read with a big focus being on the de-humanisation of inmates and the examination of the prison system in America, violence and injustice, particularly towards people of colour. There are a lot of statistics peppered throughout the book which are just shocking to hear.
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
4.0
I wanted to read this simply because I'd heard so much about it over social media. I feel like it gets mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it.
I decided to listen to the audiobook version, narrated by Julia Whelan as I love how she brings characters to life, which works well with Really Good, Actually as it is a character based novel rather than plot.
Maggie is in her twenties and is separating from her husband John. They got married young so she feels embarrassment at being divorced before she's even hit 30 and the fact that her marriage has failed.
I read that this was loosely based on the author's own experience and although I have never been divorced myself, I, now in my early thirties, have been with my partner since I was seventeen, so it got me thinking how I would navigate that situation when all I knew was that life with him. It follows Maggie in all aspects of her life after her separation from dating, her career and her friendships.
It feels very honest and raw, Maggie does have her flaws and Heisey's humour really shines through too. I especially loved the little "Google search" chapters as I could definitely relate!
I decided to listen to the audiobook version, narrated by Julia Whelan as I love how she brings characters to life, which works well with Really Good, Actually as it is a character based novel rather than plot.
Maggie is in her twenties and is separating from her husband John. They got married young so she feels embarrassment at being divorced before she's even hit 30 and the fact that her marriage has failed.
I read that this was loosely based on the author's own experience and although I have never been divorced myself, I, now in my early thirties, have been with my partner since I was seventeen, so it got me thinking how I would navigate that situation when all I knew was that life with him. It follows Maggie in all aspects of her life after her separation from dating, her career and her friendships.
It feels very honest and raw, Maggie does have her flaws and Heisey's humour really shines through too. I especially loved the little "Google search" chapters as I could definitely relate!
Dear Santa, Send Me a Cowboy by Remi Rose
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I understand that it is a novella but it was very insta-lovey and I couldn't understand why Diana would put up with a man who came into her house and spoke the way he did as soon as they first met.
Loved Diana and her relationship with her son, but a lot of the dialogue and story with her and Lawson made me cringe a little.
Loved Diana and her relationship with her son, but a lot of the dialogue and story with her and Lawson made me cringe a little.
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Gillian McAllister is that author that I will autobuy without even knowing the plot of the book because I know it will be fantastic. Famous Last Words is no different.
Cam, a literary agent, is due to go back to work after maternity leave but that first day is thrown into turmoil when she discovers that her husband Luke, a ghostwriter, is caught up in a hostage situation. But he is the one controlling the siege.
Cam, Luke and baby Polly lived a normal life. How can their lives have upturned like this?
The novel is told in dual POV from Cam and also Niall, the hostage negotiator (hooray for a Northern Irish character) and over a few timelines too. The present when the siege is taking place, seven years following the siege then another which I won't talk about too much as you just need to read to find out what happens.
The characterisation is fantastic and I really enjoyed Niall's background too as it gave us a chance to understand him and why he was the way that he was.
What I loved about this is that I could not guess where it was going. All McAllister's novels are intricately plotted so I expected that, but when the realisation of what was happening hit me, my jaw literally dropped and my husband asked if I was okay.
This is an absolute fantastic new book from Gillian McAllister, joining her already incredible backlist. Wonderful and thrilling.
Cam, a literary agent, is due to go back to work after maternity leave but that first day is thrown into turmoil when she discovers that her husband Luke, a ghostwriter, is caught up in a hostage situation. But he is the one controlling the siege.
Cam, Luke and baby Polly lived a normal life. How can their lives have upturned like this?
The novel is told in dual POV from Cam and also Niall, the hostage negotiator (hooray for a Northern Irish character) and over a few timelines too. The present when the siege is taking place, seven years following the siege then another which I won't talk about too much as you just need to read to find out what happens.
The characterisation is fantastic and I really enjoyed Niall's background too as it gave us a chance to understand him and why he was the way that he was.
What I loved about this is that I could not guess where it was going. All McAllister's novels are intricately plotted so I expected that, but when the realisation of what was happening hit me, my jaw literally dropped and my husband asked if I was okay.
This is an absolute fantastic new book from Gillian McAllister, joining her already incredible backlist. Wonderful and thrilling.
How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is brilliant. It's like a mix between Made In Chelsea and Dexter.
Kitty Collins is a London-based influencer who spends her time around other influencers from a wealthy background. Her life involves being invited to events and promoting things online.
Oh, and she also kills men. Certain ones. She has rules and will only kill those who truly deserve it, mostly men who have raped or sexually assaulted women.
Right from the start I was drawn in by the humour of this book and I just flew through it. It was super entertaining and although it's funny, it tackles a serious topic too. One that all women feel strongly each and every day.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of dark humour!
Kitty Collins is a London-based influencer who spends her time around other influencers from a wealthy background. Her life involves being invited to events and promoting things online.
Oh, and she also kills men. Certain ones. She has rules and will only kill those who truly deserve it, mostly men who have raped or sexually assaulted women.
Right from the start I was drawn in by the humour of this book and I just flew through it. It was super entertaining and although it's funny, it tackles a serious topic too. One that all women feel strongly each and every day.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of dark humour!
Can you take it? by S.C. Arlette
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a wild ride.
When Izel's roommate is murdered, seemingly by a serial killer known at the Ghostface Killer, SSA Agent Richard Reynolds called onto the case and instructed to keep an eye on Izel because she may know more than she lets on. It turns out that her background and upbringing may bring her closer to the case than anyone could expect.
This book is a dark romance and for me, the thriller aspect of this book was absolutely fantastic. The twists were incredible and blew my mind. It was a slow starter and I did have to suspend belief for a little bit all for the purpose of entertainment but I found that I didn't care about that because I was enjoying the story so much. It was dark, emotional and heartbreaking.
When it came to the romance part between Izel and Richard I just wish there was a bit more build up and I could FEEL their feelings develop but I appreciate that there wouldn't be enough time for that. The scenes that we got between them were beautiful.
I am a thriller lover first and foremost and what I usually dislike when it comes to dark romance, is that a lot (or at least the majority of the ones I've read!) focus more on the romance and not the plot of whatever crime etc is going on. This was a brilliant combination of both and I am excited to read more by this author.
When Izel's roommate is murdered, seemingly by a serial killer known at the Ghostface Killer, SSA Agent Richard Reynolds called onto the case and instructed to keep an eye on Izel because she may know more than she lets on. It turns out that her background and upbringing may bring her closer to the case than anyone could expect.
This book is a dark romance and for me, the thriller aspect of this book was absolutely fantastic. The twists were incredible and blew my mind. It was a slow starter and I did have to suspend belief for a little bit all for the purpose of entertainment but I found that I didn't care about that because I was enjoying the story so much. It was dark, emotional and heartbreaking.
When it came to the romance part between Izel and Richard I just wish there was a bit more build up and I could FEEL their feelings develop but I appreciate that there wouldn't be enough time for that. The scenes that we got between them were beautiful.
I am a thriller lover first and foremost and what I usually dislike when it comes to dark romance, is that a lot (or at least the majority of the ones I've read!) focus more on the romance and not the plot of whatever crime etc is going on. This was a brilliant combination of both and I am excited to read more by this author.
Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was surprisingly fun!
I wanted to read this book based solely on its name. I didn't do any reading up on what it was about before I dove in and I opted to listen to the audiobook. That was a fantastic decision because there is a whole cast of narrators which really helped because there are quite a few characters to keep track of.
The story follows the filming of television dating show, The Catch, and we get POVs on the contestants and crew members, learning so much about them and their characters. The show takes them to a place called Otter's Island but they discover that there is more to the area than anyone thought. I really recommend going in blind because it feels like a wild ride.
It's like a cross between dating reality shows like The Bachelor and teenage slasher movies. Just add in lesbian romance, female sasquatch, comedy horror and a sense of community as well!
I wanted to read this book based solely on its name. I didn't do any reading up on what it was about before I dove in and I opted to listen to the audiobook. That was a fantastic decision because there is a whole cast of narrators which really helped because there are quite a few characters to keep track of.
The story follows the filming of television dating show, The Catch, and we get POVs on the contestants and crew members, learning so much about them and their characters. The show takes them to a place called Otter's Island but they discover that there is more to the area than anyone thought. I really recommend going in blind because it feels like a wild ride.
It's like a cross between dating reality shows like The Bachelor and teenage slasher movies. Just add in lesbian romance, female sasquatch, comedy horror and a sense of community as well!
The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I am loving festive romances at the minute and I'm sure we have all read our fair share of the fake dating trope where they go to one of their families homes for Christmas and end up falling in love for real.
The Christmas Swap is a slight twist on that. Ben is one of Margot's clients and she playing the role of doting girlfriend at Ben's family's country estate over Christmas. Ben doesn't want to be dealing with the questions about why he is still single in his mid-30s and Margot was due to go on holiday with her girlfriend but they have since broken up.
When they arrive at Ben's family home, his sister Ellie instantly thinks Margot is lying. She's heard hushed conversations and thinks that Margot may be a gold digger, not that they aren't really in relationship. A romance does blossom between the two women and the whole story is just so interesting to read. Ellie's sleuthing and misunderstanding was brilliant to follow because you could absolutely see how it all made sense to her but was totally off the mark.
There is so much depth to both Ellie and Margot, and Margot's emotionally abusive past relationship was tackled really well. This is a really refreshing take on the fake dating trope!
The Christmas Swap is a slight twist on that. Ben is one of Margot's clients and she playing the role of doting girlfriend at Ben's family's country estate over Christmas. Ben doesn't want to be dealing with the questions about why he is still single in his mid-30s and Margot was due to go on holiday with her girlfriend but they have since broken up.
When they arrive at Ben's family home, his sister Ellie instantly thinks Margot is lying. She's heard hushed conversations and thinks that Margot may be a gold digger, not that they aren't really in relationship. A romance does blossom between the two women and the whole story is just so interesting to read. Ellie's sleuthing and misunderstanding was brilliant to follow because you could absolutely see how it all made sense to her but was totally off the mark.
There is so much depth to both Ellie and Margot, and Margot's emotionally abusive past relationship was tackled really well. This is a really refreshing take on the fake dating trope!
Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love Irish authors and was very intrigued by the premise of this book.
One November day, a middle class mother of two leaves her home in Ireland. Not knowing where she is going just that she is done with that life. She emails into work to say she will not be in that day, texts her husband to say that she is going on a trip but is safe and will return soon then buys a one way ticket on a ferry to Wales.
I found the main character to be very unlikeable by but the prose and story is very provocative and interesting. She tells the story of people she meets along the way, her life with her family and reflecting back on herself as a mother and what society seems a good mother should be.
Moving to the cottage in Wales feels like she has freed herself from her former life but she still thinks about what her leaving has done to her family back home. Life will still continue. It is quite a bleak story and is undoubtedly written very well, but it just unfortunately felt a bit too pessimistic for me.
One November day, a middle class mother of two leaves her home in Ireland. Not knowing where she is going just that she is done with that life. She emails into work to say she will not be in that day, texts her husband to say that she is going on a trip but is safe and will return soon then buys a one way ticket on a ferry to Wales.
I found the main character to be very unlikeable by but the prose and story is very provocative and interesting. She tells the story of people she meets along the way, her life with her family and reflecting back on herself as a mother and what society seems a good mother should be.
Moving to the cottage in Wales feels like she has freed herself from her former life but she still thinks about what her leaving has done to her family back home. Life will still continue. It is quite a bleak story and is undoubtedly written very well, but it just unfortunately felt a bit too pessimistic for me.