_beccareads's reviews
68 reviews

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

emotional lighthearted sad medium-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

4.0

What an adorable and easy read! Meredith is in midst of dealing with the loss of her big sister Claire and a breakup with her longtime boyfriend Ben, when her cousin Sarah's wedding comes around.

As the entire family gathers at the farm for the wedding and the annual game of assassin, Meredith finds herself forming an unexpected alliance with the groom's step-brother, Wit. Over the course of the week, their alliance evolves into something truly special.

One of my highlights of this book was the vibrant family dynamic. After reading about the close-knit family on the farm, I couldn't help but dream about hosting my own annual game of assassin. The varied relationships Meredith shares with her family members were so touching and genuine. Each instance of her seeking guidance and support from different family members tugged at my heartstrings.

And who can resist the allure of a summer romance? I adored witnessing the gradual unfolding and growth of Meredith's relationship with Wit, I just wish we could’ve caught a glimpse of their journey after the wedding.

All in all, this book is the perfect heartwarming comfort read. If you're still crafting your summer reading list, I highly recommend adding "The Summer of Broken Rules" to it. 

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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

This is a beautiful honest story about love, life and relationships, and I think it’s going to one of my all time favourites.

Lauren and Ryan have been together since they were teenagers, and after a decade together they realise they’re no longer in love, in fact, they can’t stand each other. In an attempt to fix their relationship they make the difficult decision to separate for a whole year, without any contact.

We follow Lauren as she navigates the breakdown of her marriage, the loneliness that follows and her attempt at rebuilding her life without Ryan in it.

It was so refreshing to read such an honest love story. This book isn’t you’re classic lovely dovey romance, but a beautiful heart-wrenching one that delves into the harsh reality of a broken down relationship, and I think what makes this so great is that, whether you’ve been married or not, it’s wholeheartedly relatable.

In a world of instant gratification it’s so easy to discard a relationship that’s not instantly gratifying anymore, but this book goes to show that love isn’t that simple, you have to work at it.

Overall, what I loved most was that Lauren and Ryan’s story wasn’t perfect, but it was real and they worked hard for it. 

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Wow wow wow I loved this book.

The concept just gives off major gossip girl vibes and the drama had me hooked, so much so that I couldn’t put this book down. 

The story follows the messy lives of Londons socialites, centring on Magnolia and BJ’s toxic on/off relationship. Madly in love, but entirely wrong for each other their romance definitely isn’t one I would pine after, but for me, the book was not about their love, but Magnolia. 

Magnolia’s relationship with BJ was completely relatable for me, he’s her first love and deep down she knows he’s hurting her, but for some reason she can’t seem to let him go. I think this is commonplace for a lot of first loves, and I really felt for Magnolia as she tried to navigate these complicated feelings for the first time.

Throughout the entire book, much like a little sister, I was routing for Magnolia, hoping she’d finally be able to get over him, let him go and move on, and whilst the back and forth got a little tedious I was completely strapped in for the ride. 

Overall this was a captivating easy read, it’s not a wholesome romance, it’s definitely a toxic one, but the drama sucked me in, and the twist at the end has me so excited about binge reading the next book.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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

3.0

This book just didn’t hit like other TJR books for me.

Set in Malibu, we follow the story of the Riva family and their infamous annual party. 

The first half of the book really dives into the Riva family’s history, unveiling everything that’s happened up until the annual party of 1983. Honestly, I struggled with this part as it felt a bit slow, and the third-person narration kept me from fully connecting with the characters.

The second half of the book is a break down of the Riva annual party, hour-by-hour. I definitely found this part of the book more enjoyable as we watched all of the drama unfold, however, I found the never ending side stories completely distracting and irrelevant. It was really hard to keep track of everything that was going on, which again, made it difficult for me to develop a strong emotional connection to any character. 

Overall this was quite a disappointing read for me as I’ve loved every other TJR book, so this just felt like a bit of a let down. It’s not a bad book, but it’s not a great one either, if you’re wanting to read something TJR please don’t make this your first one! 

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Wow I think I’ve just discovered a new favourite author in Sarah Adams!

This has to be one of the most comforting romances I’ve ever read. Sweet Annie Walker is looking for her happily ever after but first she needs some serious help in the dating department, and who’s the perfect person to help her? Will Griffin, the sexy, mysterious, serial dater, commitment-phobe who’s just moved to town to protect her superstar friend before her upcoming wedding.

There’s only one rule for their dating lessons, remember that they can never be anything serious. Seems easy right? They want completely different things, so they’d never work. But there’s one problem, they can’t stop gravitating towards each other.

This is a cute wholesome romance that’ll have you kicking your feet and blushing at the ground. I completely fell in love with Will, it was so refreshing to read about a man that isn’t completely toxic, actually communicates his feelings and is willing to unpack his trauma, all whilst letting the women he loves be exactly who she is.

Overall, I really loved their little love story, and I’m excited to read more of Sarah Adams books! 

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I'm in for a treat, and Maybe in Another Life had me absolutely HOOKED from the start.

Hannah finds herself stuck in a rut, tired of constantly moving from one city to another. So, she decides to pack up and move back home to LA. On her first night back, something pivotal happens, and the story splits off into two into parallel universes, showing us how Hannah's life could unfold based on a single choice.

I couldn't put this book down; the concept is fascinating, like a literary version of the butterfly effect, and Taylor Jenkins Reid beautifully portrays the fragility of life. It's a powerful reminder that even the smallest decision can completely change the course of our lives. This story made me reflect on my own life and how every decision has got me to where I am today. 

As Hannah wisely puts it, "You can't just change one part, can you? When you sit there and wish things had happened differently, you can't just wish away the bad stuff. You have to think about all the good stuff you might lose too."

Throughout the book, I fell in love not only with Hannah but also with the different loves she encounters. Whether it's with Ethan or Henry (Team Henry all the way! 💗) or Gabby, the friendships and relationships felt so genuine. The bond between Hannah and Gabby was especially heartwarming, and witnessing their friendship grow during the toughest times in their lives was incredibly moving. It goes to show that even though life might take various paths, there are certain constants that are destined to happen in every reality - like Hannah and Gabby.

This has easily become one of my all-time favorite books. It made me laugh, cry, and contemplate my own life choices. Taylor Jenkins Reid once again delivers a truly captivating story that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. 

The Storyteller of Casablanca by Fiona Valpy

emotional informative inspiring 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? No

5.0

This was a heart-wrenching and beautiful read.

Zoe and Tom's marriage is on the rocks as they move across the world from Bristol to Casablanca, with Tom being relocated for work. They hope that this fresh start in a foreign country will bring the change their marriage needs.

As they settle into their new home in Casablanca, Zoe discovers a box of treasures hidden away under a floorboard in her baby Grace's room. Amongst this seemingly random collection of items, she finds a journal belonging to Josie—a little girl who lived in the exact same house during the Second World War.

Alternating between two timelines, we follow Zoe as she struggles to adjust to life in Casablanca in 2010 and Josie's experiences in 1941, as her half-Catholic, half-Jewish family flees their native France to escape the Nazi invasion. They find refuge in Casablanca with the hope of resettling in America.

This book is exceptionally well-written, and the beautiful descriptions of Casablanca transported me there, allowing me to see and experience it through Zoe and Josie's eyes. I fell in love with the characters, the bonds they formed, and their individual struggles that tugged at my heartstrings, leaving me yearning for both Zoe and Josie to have the happy endings they deserved.

The Storyteller of Casablanca is a poignant tale of love, loss, strength, grief, and friendship, and it’s a powerful read that everyone should add to their tbr.

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

dark medium-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

1.0

Strap in for this one, because I have some seriously strong feelings about this book.

*Spoiler warning* 

Let's address the elephant in the room: Alex Volkov. What a vile human being. I truly can't fathom why people find this man attractive... He's a compulsive liar, he's controlling, manipulative, and he literally stalked Ava for a year and a half, even after she had finally moved on and started doing something for herself. Oh, and let's not forget, he's a murderer who used her brother and attempted to kill her dad... sexy x

Can we please put an end to the romanticisation of men who have an insatiable desire to control women to the point of threatening to kill anyone they try to move on with?

Not only was the love interest absolutely horrific, but the actual plot itself was clumsy. There was too much going on;
it felt like the author was trying to fit absolutely every trope into this book. Consequently, nothing was executed well and it just fell flat. The sex scenes had me physically cringing (why anyone let “sacrificial lamb waiting to be defiled” be printed is beyond me) and the weird lengthy descriptions about Alex’s d*ck honestly had me baffled that this was written by a women.

All in all, this book just wasn’t for me, if you like toxic men and cringey sex scenes then you’ll probably enjoy it more. 

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional 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

3.0

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that I didn't fall head over heels for this book. Back in school, I was obsessed with Greek mythology, so I was convinced that "The Song of Achilles" would easily earn five stars from me. Sadly, it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Let me start by saying that Madeline Miller's writing style is undeniably beautiful. She skillfully captures the essence of Achilles and Patroclus' love, and it genuinely tugged at my heartstrings. Their love story is a force to be reckoned with, and one that left me utterly devastated by the end.

However, I found myself losing interest in the rest of the plot, which is why I had to settle on three stars. Don't get me wrong, the way she portrayed their relationship was exceptional, but the other elements of the story just didn't captivate me as much.

Maybe greek mythology just isn’t for me anymore and honestly, I’m sad about that.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow.

Let me start by saying that I'm not usually a huge Colleen Hoover fan, but Verity had me completely hooked from the beginning to the end. 

The story follows Lowen, a struggling writer who receives an offer she can't refuse: the opportunity to co-write with the renowned best-selling author, Verity Crawford. Lowen moves into the Crawford household to sort through Verity's extensive notes and conduct research for the remaining three novels. But amidst the mountains of notes, Lowen stumbles upon Verity's unpublished autobiography, and the horrifying revelations within its pages leave her utterly disturbed.

The narrative alternates between Lowen's perspective and chapters from Verity's manuscript. This had me at the edge of my seat as we delved deeper into the disturbing truths about Verity's life. A palpable sense of unease permeates the book, creating a gripping atmosphere that refuses to let go, this combined with the mounting tension that was almost unable left me unable to put the book down.

I've truly never encountered anything quite like this before. Verity is twisted in so many ways that I can't help but be astounded by Colleen Hoover's dark and captivating imagination. The twists and turns took me by surprise on multiple occasions, and as the truth gradually unraveled, growing darker and more twisted with each revelation, I just couldn't get enough.

And can we talk about the ending, sometimes an ambiguous end can completely ruin a book, but that certainly wasn’t the case here. Much like Lowen, my intense loathing for Verity was so strong and I’d built up such a clear version of who she was in my head that I have to believe she was a manipulative twisted person right until the very end, and she was just trying to deceive us one final time.

Overall, this was a great thiriler and I can’t believe it’s Colleens first. It was an absolute page turner that left me completely emotionally invested. If you’re going to read any Colleen Hoover book, make it this one.