_loveonpages_'s reviews
91 reviews

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

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

1.0

I don’t know what it is with the books I’m reading recently, but I simply cannot find one that isn’t severely lacking in something. 

Now before I rage about how much this book disappointed me, I want to mention that I did enjoy parts of it. The atmosphere for example was very much up my alley and the writing also wasn’t half bad. 

But onto the problems that I had with this book: 
First of all Effy (FMC) was insufferable, the amount of times my eyes rolled back because of her behaviour is astronomical. Now I did feel sorry for her especially with what happened to her, but that doesn’t excuse her racism and prejudice towards Preston (MMC). The things she threw at him in conversations had my jaw on the floor. She does apologise at around page 200, but that truly doesn’t make her behaviour okay. 
Preston also was quite bland. The love story did not make any sense, as there was no chemistry whatsoever between these two and I know this book is marketed as “enemies to lovers” but it was more of a one-sided prejudiced rivalry. 

The world building also lacked severally and the storyline did not make sense in the slightest, I always had a feeling something very crucial was missing in this story. And wtf was that ending… i have no words 

This was my first Ava Reid book, so I’m hoping a different book of hers might have a better reading experience.
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

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

2.0

Puck Mates: Gabe & Connor by Alessia Gold

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

3.0

Never Kiss a Villain by Andreas Dutter

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emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

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

5.0

Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5