Scan barcode
_chrstnlvly's reviews
213 reviews
Glimmers of You by Catherine Cowles
After reading each book in this series, I find myself falling more in love with the Hartley family. I must admit that the constant reminder of Grae's Type 1 diabetes sometimes irritated me a bit, but aside from that, I really enjoyed reading Glimmers of You.
I loved how sweet Caden was. He was broken, but he learned to be fully transparent with Grae because he didn’t want to jeopardize their relationship. They truly deserve all the good in the world and belong together. Grae's heart is so pure; she is incredibly kind and full of love and hope.
I liked Aspen in book 2, but I started to love her in book 3. I hope we learn more about her in the upcoming books (I don’t read the synopses of future installments to avoid spoilers). I do know that each of the Hartley siblings will have their own book, and I cannot wait to read Roan's. He has been my favorite since the beginning, and I’m eager to learn more about his backstory.
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? Yes
4.25
I don’t think grief is linear. Some days are easier. Others will take you out at the knees.
After reading each book in this series, I find myself falling more in love with the Hartley family. I must admit that the constant reminder of Grae's Type 1 diabetes sometimes irritated me a bit, but aside from that, I really enjoyed reading Glimmers of You.
I loved how sweet Caden was. He was broken, but he learned to be fully transparent with Grae because he didn’t want to jeopardize their relationship. They truly deserve all the good in the world and belong together. Grae's heart is so pure; she is incredibly kind and full of love and hope.
I liked Aspen in book 2, but I started to love her in book 3. I hope we learn more about her in the upcoming books (I don’t read the synopses of future installments to avoid spoilers). I do know that each of the Hartley siblings will have their own book, and I cannot wait to read Roan's. He has been my favorite since the beginning, and I’m eager to learn more about his backstory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
Catherine Cowles is truly the queen of romantic suspense. I started reading her books last year, and I have yet to be disappointed. Her novels are so engaging that you can easily finish them in one or two sittings. They are quick to read and effective at pulling you out of a reading slump.
I really felt the betrayal when the killer was finally revealed. Catherine Cowles has a unique ability to draw you in and make you care about the characters, allowing you to truly experience their emotions.
I'm thrilled that I have many more of her books to read because it means I have plenty to look forward to!
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Life doesn’t guarantee grand movie endings. But every once in a while we get one.
Catherine Cowles is truly the queen of romantic suspense. I started reading her books last year, and I have yet to be disappointed. Her novels are so engaging that you can easily finish them in one or two sittings. They are quick to read and effective at pulling you out of a reading slump.
I really felt the betrayal when the killer was finally revealed. Catherine Cowles has a unique ability to draw you in and make you care about the characters, allowing you to truly experience their emotions.
I'm thrilled that I have many more of her books to read because it means I have plenty to look forward to!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
funny
slow-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
Secrets are everywhere. Some humans are crammed full of them. How do they not explode? It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills. Not that any other species are much better, mind you, but even a herring can tell you which way the school it belongs to is turning and following accordingly. Why can humans not use their millions of words to simply tell one another what they desire?
At 24% into the book, I realized it would be the heartwarming and emotional story I never knew I needed. If you enjoy anything by Fredrik Backman, especially A Man Called Ove, you'll love Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use
When We Were by Diana Elliot Graham
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Finished this book after almost 5 months because I was too bored with it and I refuse to DNF books especially series that I have complete physical copies of. 😑
Rhys still showed that what he's feeling towards Feyre is lust rather than love.
Feyre was a bit more bearable in the second half (finally, after 3 books 🙄).
4 books in, and I still don't get the hype. 🤷🏻♀️
Rhys still showed that what he's feeling towards Feyre is lust rather than love.
Feyre was a bit more bearable in the second half (finally, after 3 books 🙄).
4 books in, and I still don't get the hype. 🤷🏻♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
My December Darling by Lauren Asher
Catalina came across as somewhat self-centered, especially whenLuke didn’t arrive at their planned meet-up at the hospital. She really should not have assumed that his absence meant he didn’t like her. After all, he’s a doctor! She should have known that emergencies in hospitals can occur, particularly since 1) she is a nurse and 2) it was Luke’s shift. I found it irritating that her thoughts quickly turned to the idea of Luke getting cold feet because they had kissed the night before.
As for Luke, I found him to be a rather bland character—the typical swoon-worthy type you often find in romance novels.
The epilogue also bothered me. Since this is only a novella, I questioned whether an epilogue was even necessary.
Overall, I can't really recommend this story, as it didn’t bring anything new to the table. If you're interested in holiday romances, there are certainly better novellas and full-length novels out there.
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What I know is that opinions are just that. Opinions, not facts.
Catalina came across as somewhat self-centered, especially when
As for Luke, I found him to be a rather bland character—the typical swoon-worthy type you often find in romance novels.
The epilogue also bothered me. Since this is only a novella, I questioned whether an epilogue was even necessary.
Overall, I can't really recommend this story, as it didn’t bring anything new to the table. If you're interested in holiday romances, there are certainly better novellas and full-length novels out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Some say this book lacks a traditional plot and relies solely on atmosphere, but I disagree. While the plot unfolds slowly, Erin Morgenstern's writing is so enchanting that you often don’t realize how much the story has progressed. I ended up tabbing many pages because there are so many mesmerizing quotes I want to remember.
Although I’m not particularly a fan of the central characters (I felt their romance was a bit forced and was too convenient for the plot) the supporting characters are incredibly lovable, especially Poppet and Widget.
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
It usually takes me about 30 to 50 pages to become fully captivated by a book. However, The Night Circus grabbed my attention right from page one. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced that.
Some say this book lacks a traditional plot and relies solely on atmosphere, but I disagree. While the plot unfolds slowly, Erin Morgenstern's writing is so enchanting that you often don’t realize how much the story has progressed. I ended up tabbing many pages because there are so many mesmerizing quotes I want to remember.
“I am tired of trying to hold things together that cannot be held,” Celia says when he approaches her. “Trying to control what cannot be controlled. I am tired of denying myself what I want for fear of breaking things I cannot fix. They will break no matter what we do.”
Although I’m not particularly a fan of the central characters (I felt their romance was a bit forced and was too convenient for the plot) the supporting characters are incredibly lovable, especially Poppet and Widget.
“Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There’s magic in that. It’s in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words.”
The Night Circus left me feeling book-drunk; I savored every page and was completely absorbed in the story, unaware of how quickly I read through it until it was done.
I understand this book might not appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy atmospheric writing, beautiful prose, and reading as an escape from reality, then this book is definitely for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
funny
medium-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
5.0
If there's one thing Marissa Meyer excels at, it's breaking your heart.
Cinder is the second book I've read by her (the first was Heartless), and just like before, her dialogues and scenes tug at your heartstrings. I lost count of how many times I felt enraged by Adri and Queen Levana. I blushed and kicked my feet every time Kai spoke to Cinder. I felt genuine pain when Cinder was sad and when people were unkind to her. Meyer has a remarkable ability to make readers feel the emotions of her characters. As a reader, I know that's a challenging feat for an author, but Meyer consistently achieves it.
I also enjoyed the concept of a fairy tale retelling with a sci-fi twist. I love retellings because they allow me to explore different possibilities and scenarios based on the original story. I've read many Cinderella retellings, but this was my first experience with a sci-fi version. I wasn't sure how it would work, but Meyer pulled it off brilliantly.
I'm eager to read the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series. I audibly gasped when I turned the page and instead of a new chapter, I saw the acknowledgments. Meyer is a talented storyteller, and I have high hopes that I won't be disappointed with the upcoming books (here's to hoping!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
All by My Elf by Olivia Dade
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
2.75
Dialogue was a bit cringey. Nice novella to pass the time, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
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
1.25
Thoughts while reading:
5% Oh look. Another male main character that is more than 6 feet tall.
11% This is starting to get cringey.
28% A Tessa Bailey book is not complete without sexual content, but right now it just reads like 🌽
40% At this point this novella is just laughable. I don't know if it's trying to be unserious on purpose, but it is.
56% I'm sorry, what?! You'll marry her on the basis of her guessing how many grilled cheeses can you eat in one sitting? Aside from the lust you feel for her?
86% Glad they had their happy ending. Glad to know they proved it was love. It doesn't take away the fact that what they initially portrayed during the earlier chapters was only plain, old lust. I also stand by my earlier statement that it was a 🌽 novella.
11% This is starting to get cringey.
28% A Tessa Bailey book is not complete without sexual content, but right now it just reads like 🌽
40% At this point this novella is just laughable. I don't know if it's trying to be unserious on purpose, but it is.
56% I'm sorry, what?! You'll marry her on the basis of her guessing how many grilled cheeses can you eat in one sitting? Aside from the lust you feel for her?
86% Glad they had their happy ending. Glad to know they proved it was love. It doesn't take away the fact that what they initially portrayed during the earlier chapters was only plain, old lust. I also stand by my earlier statement that it was a 🌽 novella.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content