_beccareads's reviews
68 reviews

Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was truly one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. 

Mia seems to have it all figured out, the perfect house, a good husband, a great job, and her loyal companion, Pigeon - but slowly everything starts to unravel, and Mia’s life is flipped upside down.

This book was a real emotional rollercoaster for me, it had me laughing out loud, sobbing  and in awe of how a bout of bad luck can end with things turning out to be more incredible than you ever could’ve imagined.

I’m not sure I quite have the words to explain how it made me feel, but its books like this that remind me why I love the contemporary genre so much. This book is a beautiful reminder that, we all have a multitude of rules that we play, and it’s oh so easy to neglect the cat lady we all have hiding inside, but we should let her out, and live our lives the way we want to.

Overall, this book is incredible - it’s easily one of the best books I’ve ever read and it’s going to be my go to recommendation for a long time.

Do No Harm by Jack Jordan

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What an incredible thriller! In a genre where plotlines can often feel a little far-fetched, this one was absolutely believable, and that's what made it so much more enjoyable.

Renowned surgeon Dr. Anna Jones finds herself in a traumatic dilemma while preparing for surgery on an up-and-coming political figure. Her son has been kidnapped, and the only way she can hope to see him again is by committing the ultimate crime - and getting away with it.

Told from the multiple perspectives of Rachel, Anna, and Margot, this book had me utterly captivated. Every element weaved together seamlessly, leaving me eager to discover what would happen next, especially if and how Anna would reunite with her little boy.

Jack masterfully crafts a tense dynamic that had me on the edge of my seat, nervously biting my nails and racing through pages. If you're in search of a gripping thriller with a unique yet entirely plausible plot, then this is the book for you.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I devoured this book in just a couple of hours. Seriously, is there anything better than a good thriller?

Millie’s fresh out of prison and on the job hunt like there's no tomorrow. She lands an interview for the live-in housemaid gig with the Winchesters and quickly moves into their attic, thinking she's struck gold. But soon, things take a turn, and this dream job becomes more of a nightmare.

This book had me hooked from the very start. Sure, it had some predictable bits, but I couldn't put it down. I was dying to find out what was really happening.

All in all, it's a compelling, quick read that I'd definitely recommend if you're in a reading slump. It's a real page-turner!

The Radleys by Matt Haig

dark lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Radleys are your typical suburban family, complete with a white picket fence, who happen to have a rather unusual family secret - they're vampires.

Helen and Peter decided to abstain to keep their children safe, and they’ve been keeping the truth about their blood-sucking urges a secret from their kids. But when their daughter Clara is attacked after a party, her instincts take over, and she ends up tasting some not-so-vegan blood.

This book is a breeze to read and refreshingly different from your typical vampire tale. Matt Haig's writing, as per usual, transports you to another world.

That being said, when compared to Matt's other works, I found "The Radleys" a bit disappointing. What I often love about Matt's books are the deeper underlying messages and meanings in his works, but this one didn't quite seem to have that (or I just completely missed it).

Still, it's an enjoyable read, even though it's not my top pick among Matt Haig's works. And honestly, I can't help but wonder if I would've enjoyed it more if I hadn’t known he was the author.

Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home by Jessa Hastings

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve got to admit, that at the end of the first book I really thought I was over Magnolia and BJ, but I’m officially obsessed with them again. The context this book provided was much needed.

Is it weird to say I’m really proud of them? It took a while, but I think they’ve both had a decent amount of growth, especially BJ. He was really putting in the work, trying to work on their issues rather than just being stuck in the same old cycle, which made me love him and her together so much more. 

The will they, won’t they, did feel a little tiring towards the end of the book, and I was mentally screaming at BJ for slipping into their old ways and not just dumping Jordan.

But I’ve got to say, while I do love BJ and Magnolia together a big part of me was really hoping for Julian and Magnolia to really give it a go - that would be an epic love story.

Overall this was a great book, I definitely enjoyed it more than the first Magnolia book, and I’m excited to read the next. The lil twist at the end honestly had me sobbing and I’m going to need at least 10 working days to recover.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Honestly, I didn't think I'd be so into this book, especially after reading the blurb, which kind of gave off a cringey vibe. But, wow, was I pleasantly surprised!

This book isn't just your typical romance; it's this beautiful dive into grief, love, and loss that I can't quite put into words. My review probably won't do justice to how much I ended up loving it and how it's now become a book that means a lot to me.

Ashley Poston's depiction of grief hit me hard. I've never been able to describe what my own grief felt like, but she nailed it. If you've ever lost someone, this book will hit you right in the feels, and in the most gorgeous way possible. Reading it felt like I was grieving alongside Florence, and it brought tears to my eyes more than a few times.

Florence's journey dealing with her grief is, hands down, the most powerful part of the book. That alone would earn it a solid 5 stars from me. But, man, Florence and Benji's love story is something else, and just solidified how incredible the book is.

There is so much love in this book, it seeps through every page of this book, and without reservation, I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. If you've wrestled with grief, I believe this book will carve out a special place in your heart.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I’m very conflicted about this book. 

If you strip all of the smut out, I actually think it would be way more powerful, probably only 100 pages, but powerful.

I loved the idea of Henry and Alex’s romance, and the exploration of what a relationship like that would really do if it were to happen in reality.  

It made me super hopeful for a world where we have a strong female president, and openly gay royals. As a British person, I can’t say I fully understand American politics, but a world where die-hard red states like Texas turn blue is a world I want to live in.

I just wish Casey didn’t make the book so much about sex, and aggressive sex at that. I mean it’s no secret that I’m definitely a closed door romance girly, but it’s not just because it was HUGELY open door that I had such an issue with the dominating undertone of sex in this book. I think the aggressive-ness of their sexual relationship was low key giving toxic masculinity, and I just wish we could’ve seen more of a focus on the soft and sensitive side of their love.

Overall I’d say this book was pretty good, not for the romance, but for the hope it gave me that one day I’ll live in a more accepting and loving world.

Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, just wow! This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I was totally strapped in for the entire ride. It's a gripping tale that delves into the lives of the notorious Haites family gang. What truly stands out is the beautifully imploding relationships between Daisy, Romeo, and Christian (I love you, Christian x).

Daisy and Christian have easily taken a spot in my top five fictional couples as their relationship literally had me screaming “JUST TELL HER YOU LOVE HERRRRR”. The will-they-won’t-they dynamic was perfectly executed, and it had me at the edge of my seat, racing to reach the end and hopefully get a glimpse of them together.

Jessa perfectly developed the characters throughout the book, giving us thoughtful glimpses into the depths of who the really are, all whilst leaving us in suspense, dying  to know more. . And that cliffhanger at the end—oh my, I’m not going to okay until I’ve read the next book.

Overall this was an incredible read that surpassed my love Magnolia Parks by a country mile. I’m so excited to find out what happens next with Julian, Daisy and Christian (fingers crossed Christian gets everything his heart desires).

When in Rome by Sarah Adams

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sarah has undoubtedly secured her place as one of my favorite authors, she consistently crafts cozy romances that manage to captivate me every single time. I loved this book so much that I devoured it in under 24 hours.

Can we just take a sec to fangirl over Amelia and Noah? I'm telling you, these two have won my heart like no other book couple ever has. If you're all about those small-town romances and the whole grumpy-meets-sunshine vibe, seriously, this book was practically made for you.

The renowned superstar Rae Rose (aka Amelia) finds herself seeking solace in the quaint town of Rome, Kentucky. Escaping the clutches of her chaotic life, one where she no longer recognizes herself, proves to be more intricate than she ever imagined. Stranded with a malfunctioning car, fate leads her to the doorstep of a striking stranger - Noah.

After some convincing that he’s not a murderer, Amelia spends the night in Noah’s guest room with the view of leaving in the morning when he car is fixed, but fate has other plans. 

This book is a complete slow burner, but I was completely sucked in from the very first page. I loved watching their romance unfold as they tried to untangle their own personal issues and as they did they ended up hopelessly in love and tangled together.

Overall I really loved this book, it’s the perfect fluffy romance that’ll have you blushing and kicking your feet. And let's not forget that sneaky twist at the end – it completely caught me off guard and had me all heartbroken. 

 Everyone should add this to their tbr.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This has to be the most beautifully complicated books I’ve ever read, and I was super conflicted about how I could review or even rate it. 

This is one of those books that you can’t fully appreciate the first time you read it, and I say that without having read it a second time. 

Hopping between multiple POVs and timelines, we follow the captivating story of The Night Circus. The circus is built to act as a stage for a deadly duel between two magicians, Celia and Marco, without a clear understanding of why or how, The Night Circus leaves a lasting imprint on anyone that stumbles across it.

Much like the attendees of the circus I’ve found myself completely hooked by the wonder and enigma of it all.  It's like there's a magic woven into the words that I can't quite grasp – and honestly, I'm not even mad about it.

Trying to explain what makes The Night Circus tick without becoming a walking spoiler alert is a challenge in itself. The book is a treasure trove of wonder, romance, heartbreak, and pure magic. If you're up for diving headfirst into a world that's as complicated as it is captivating, trust me, this one's for you.