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_onemorechapter_'s reviews
580 reviews
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
King of Greed by Ana Huang
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? No
4.0
The Ever Queen by LJ Andrews
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
𝑻.𝑾: murder, gore, cannibalism, child sexual assault (past), parental loss (not depicted), parental neglect and abuse (past).
Check the author's TW before reading.
“Maybe I was right. We’re not normal people. We are monsters. But if we’re monsters, we’ll thrive in the dark. Together.”
💭I NEVER expected to become so obsessed with this book. It was supposed to be a dark romantic comedy, and I devoured it—in one sitting. The story revolves around two notorious serial killers, Sloane and Rowan, who organize an annual murder competition. Yes, you read that right. They meet every few months to kill their chosen victim. It sounded so good that I could hardly believe it would turn out to be anything other than amazing. And I was right—it was amazing.
Imagine two serial killers falling in love while holding an *annual murder competition*. Yeah, Sloane and Rowan are on a whole other level, and I was HERE for it.
Let’s talk about Rowan Kane—aka my new hyperfixation. This man is *everything*. A serial killer with golden retriever energy? Check. Motorcycle-riding, tattooed, and a top-tier chef who names his restaurants after the woman he loves? Check, check, and check. And the best part? He was obsessed with Sloane from day one. Like, insane, crazy, a bit nuts obsessed—but in the best way possible. The man had a "permanently reserved booth" for her after meeting her once. If that’s not peak romance, I don’t know what is.
And Sloane? She’s a menace. Chaotic, clever, and the definition of "I don't chase, I attract." She made Rowan "wait"—four years of best friendship before she finally caught up to what he already knew. And did he stray? Nope. This man was loyal to his homicidal queen from day one. We love to see it.
Now let’s address the *Accidental Cannibalism* (yes, you read that right). Rowan unknowingly ate… let’s just say, an unfortunate ingredient. The second time? Well, neither of them actually ate it, THANKFULLY. But the fact that this even needed clarifying? Wild.
💘 WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ Dark rom-com
✔️ Serial killer MCs
✔️ Gruesome meet cute
✔️ Annual murder games
✔️ He falls first & HARD
✔️ Touch her and die
✔️ Witty banter
✔️ Filthy smut (Rowan is not shy)
✔️ Found family & ride-or-die friendships
✔️ HEA One of my favourite things? The way they see each other —the good, the bad, the completely unhinged—and love it all. No "fixing," no changing, just pure, psychotic devotion. Sloane had Lark, her ride-or-die bestie, while Rowan had his equally stabby brothers, and I LOVED the found family dynamic.
Now, if I had one tiny gripe, I wish we got more backstory on Sloane’s past. There are vague hints about SA at her boarding school, but I wanted more depth into how it shaped her. Other than that? This book was *everything* I wanted—dark, hilarious, a little deranged, and completely addictive.
💬 Would you date a serial killer if they *only* killed other serial killers? Asking for a friend… 👀
𝐏.𝐒 Don’t even get me started on book 2 — Lark and Larsan?? I NEED IT IMMEDIATELY.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Dark comedy, Contemporary Romance, Erotic literature
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: The Ruinous Love Trilogy (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes
If you liked "Mindf*ck" by S.T. Abby but want something lighter and funnier, 'Butcher & Blackbird' is IT.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you. I don’t just like you, Sloane, and you fucking know it.”
“There's art in our scars. There's wonder in the way we can heal.”
“Because I ‘like you’...?” Rowan cackles an incredulous laugh. “Like. You. Seriously…? Christ, Sloane. You are fucking brilliant but also the most willfully oblivious person I have ever met. Do you really think I just like you when I framed a drawing you left for me on a scrap of paper you tore from a notebook? The one I hung it in the kitchen so I can look at it every day and think of you? Do you think I just like you when I tattoo it on my skin? I play this fucking game every year and tear my heart out watching you walk away, only to do it all over again, and I like you? You think I just like you when I fuck you like this?”
“Being a serial killer who kills serial killers is a great hobby… Until you find yourself locked in a cage.”
“You might be psycho,” I say with a grin as her eyes narrow, “but you’re my psycho, and I’m yours. Got it?”
“You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you'll let me.”
“I want to ruin her so that she’s mine, my beautiful disaster. My wild creature. My goddess of chaos.”
“You’ll love me one day,”
“But finding someone who could understand me for all the shattered pieces beneath the mask? I needed that. Before you came along, something was missing. You, Rowan. You were missing. You made it safe to feel seen. Safe to play on our terms. Safe to have fun, even though our fun might not be everyone’s idea of a good time.” “Did I get the raven you left on the table tattooed on my back?” His smile is teasing, but there’s a hint of shyness in it as he finishes my thought. “Yeah. Appears to be the case.”
“I thought I told you once not to let your prettiness get to your head,” she says. “Just had to check that you still think I’m pretty.”
“I’m not taking the most beautiful girl of the night to the social event of the year in a fucking Honda Accord.”
“Something caught your eye, pretty boy?” I whisper. “Yes,” he says, his voice pained. “God, yes, Sloane. All of you.”
“I love you, Rowan,” I blurt out. I take only a moment to register the shock in Rowan’s expression before I barrel into him, wrapping his solid body in my embrace. His heart hammers beneath my ear as I press my face to his chest. His arms fold around me, one hand threading into my hair as he lays a kiss to the crown of my head. “I love you too, Sloane. So fucking much. But the restaurant was probably a giant clue.”
Check the author's TW before reading.
“Maybe I was right. We’re not normal people. We are monsters. But if we’re monsters, we’ll thrive in the dark. Together.”
💭I NEVER expected to become so obsessed with this book. It was supposed to be a dark romantic comedy, and I devoured it—in one sitting. The story revolves around two notorious serial killers, Sloane and Rowan, who organize an annual murder competition. Yes, you read that right. They meet every few months to kill their chosen victim. It sounded so good that I could hardly believe it would turn out to be anything other than amazing. And I was right—it was amazing.
Imagine two serial killers falling in love while holding an *annual murder competition*. Yeah, Sloane and Rowan are on a whole other level, and I was HERE for it.
Let’s talk about Rowan Kane—aka my new hyperfixation. This man is *everything*. A serial killer with golden retriever energy? Check. Motorcycle-riding, tattooed, and a top-tier chef who names his restaurants after the woman he loves? Check, check, and check. And the best part? He was obsessed with Sloane from day one. Like, insane, crazy, a bit nuts obsessed—but in the best way possible. The man had a "permanently reserved booth" for her after meeting her once. If that’s not peak romance, I don’t know what is.
And Sloane? She’s a menace. Chaotic, clever, and the definition of "I don't chase, I attract." She made Rowan "wait"—four years of best friendship before she finally caught up to what he already knew. And did he stray? Nope. This man was loyal to his homicidal queen from day one. We love to see it.
Now let’s address the *Accidental Cannibalism* (yes, you read that right). Rowan unknowingly ate… let’s just say, an unfortunate ingredient. The second time? Well, neither of them actually ate it, THANKFULLY. But the fact that this even needed clarifying? Wild.
💘 WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ Dark rom-com
✔️ Serial killer MCs
✔️ Gruesome meet cute
✔️ Annual murder games
✔️ He falls first & HARD
✔️ Touch her and die
✔️ Witty banter
✔️ Filthy smut (Rowan is not shy)
✔️ Found family & ride-or-die friendships
✔️ HEA One of my favourite things? The way they see each other —the good, the bad, the completely unhinged—and love it all. No "fixing," no changing, just pure, psychotic devotion. Sloane had Lark, her ride-or-die bestie, while Rowan had his equally stabby brothers, and I LOVED the found family dynamic.
Now, if I had one tiny gripe, I wish we got more backstory on Sloane’s past. There are vague hints about SA at her boarding school, but I wanted more depth into how it shaped her. Other than that? This book was *everything* I wanted—dark, hilarious, a little deranged, and completely addictive.
💬 Would you date a serial killer if they *only* killed other serial killers? Asking for a friend… 👀
𝐏.𝐒 Don’t even get me started on book 2 — Lark and Larsan?? I NEED IT IMMEDIATELY.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Dark comedy, Contemporary Romance, Erotic literature
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: The Ruinous Love Trilogy (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes
If you liked "Mindf*ck" by S.T. Abby but want something lighter and funnier, 'Butcher & Blackbird' is IT.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you. I don’t just like you, Sloane, and you fucking know it.”
“There's art in our scars. There's wonder in the way we can heal.”
“Because I ‘like you’...?” Rowan cackles an incredulous laugh. “Like. You. Seriously…? Christ, Sloane. You are fucking brilliant but also the most willfully oblivious person I have ever met. Do you really think I just like you when I framed a drawing you left for me on a scrap of paper you tore from a notebook? The one I hung it in the kitchen so I can look at it every day and think of you? Do you think I just like you when I tattoo it on my skin? I play this fucking game every year and tear my heart out watching you walk away, only to do it all over again, and I like you? You think I just like you when I fuck you like this?”
“Being a serial killer who kills serial killers is a great hobby… Until you find yourself locked in a cage.”
“You might be psycho,” I say with a grin as her eyes narrow, “but you’re my psycho, and I’m yours. Got it?”
“You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you'll let me.”
“I want to ruin her so that she’s mine, my beautiful disaster. My wild creature. My goddess of chaos.”
“You’ll love me one day,”
“But finding someone who could understand me for all the shattered pieces beneath the mask? I needed that. Before you came along, something was missing. You, Rowan. You were missing. You made it safe to feel seen. Safe to play on our terms. Safe to have fun, even though our fun might not be everyone’s idea of a good time.” “Did I get the raven you left on the table tattooed on my back?” His smile is teasing, but there’s a hint of shyness in it as he finishes my thought. “Yeah. Appears to be the case.”
“I thought I told you once not to let your prettiness get to your head,” she says. “Just had to check that you still think I’m pretty.”
“I’m not taking the most beautiful girl of the night to the social event of the year in a fucking Honda Accord.”
“Something caught your eye, pretty boy?” I whisper. “Yes,” he says, his voice pained. “God, yes, Sloane. All of you.”
“I love you, Rowan,” I blurt out. I take only a moment to register the shock in Rowan’s expression before I barrel into him, wrapping his solid body in my embrace. His heart hammers beneath my ear as I press my face to his chest. His arms fold around me, one hand threading into my hair as he lays a kiss to the crown of my head. “I love you too, Sloane. So fucking much. But the restaurant was probably a giant clue.”
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.5
“I don’t think marriage is hard. I think, in fact, if you do it right, marriage is the thing that makes everything else easier.”
💭Okay, so WHY did no one tell me that Katherine Center writes the kind of rom-coms that make you laugh, swoon, and low-key rethink your entire outlook on life? And who gave Katherine Center the right to be this good at writing rom-coms? Because *The Rom-Commers* had me grinning, snorting, and full-on cackling like a lunatic at 2 AM. I devoured this book like it was a limited-edition dessert, and honestly? No regrets. This was my first book by her, and now I need to read everything she’s ever written. Immediately.
The Rom-Commers is a love letter to rom-coms, but with a twist—our heroine, Emma, dreams of writing the perfect one. The only problem? She gets stuck working with Charlie Yates, a grumpy, rom-com-loathing screenwriter who thinks happy endings are a joke. Naturally, their banter is electric, the tension is delicious, and the slow-burn romance had me screaming into my pillow.
But here’s what I didn’t expect: beneath all the witty dialogue and swoony moments, there’s a heartfelt story about believing in yourself, chasing your dreams, and figuring out what your version of a happy ending looks like. It’s got all the humor and charm of a classic rom-com, but with an emotional depth that sneaks up on you in the best way.
Emma? An icon. A comedic genius. A relatable, slightly chaotic queen. She was sharp, hilarious, and just the right amount of unhinged to make me want to be her best friend. Her inner monologue? Gold. Her banter? Perfection. The way she bulldozes into Hollywood and takes no nonsense? Chef’s kiss.
Now, Charlie. Oh, Charlie. I miss his POV *so much*. Like, I wanted to crack his head open (lovingly) and see his thoughts on everything. But even without it, his presence was top-tier. He’s the classic grump-with-a-heart-of-gold, and I ate it up like my favorite trope-filled snack. Their chemistry? SPARKS. The way they challenge each other? Delicious. The rom-com energy of it all? Peak serotonin.
Also, the pacing?? Fast. Engaging. Zero skimming required. One minute, I was just casually starting a new book. The next? Boom—three hours later, I’m fully obsessed, and my responsibilities are nonexistent. And the humor? Some moments had me laughing so hard I had to put the book down and just breathe.
Final thoughts? If this is what Katherine does, consider me obsessed. Katherine really said, “Here’s your next comfort read,” and I happily accepted.
𝐏.𝐒 If someone could invent a time machine so I can experience this book for the first time again, that’d be great.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 Can we petition for an extended Charlie POV? Just a little something, for the emotionally deprived among us.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆:Romance & Humor
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:Oh Yes!
If you love rom-coms about rom-coms, banter that crackles, and main characters with undeniable chemistry, this book is it.
💘 Now, drop your favorite Katherine Center book in the comments because I clearly have catching up to do. 👀
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“Well, you're lucky. Because love is something you can learn. Love is something you can practice. It's something you can choose to get good at. And here's how you do it. Appreciate your person.
That's it.
Well—first be sure to choose a good person. But we're all good people here.
Choose a good, imperfect person who leaves the cap off the toothpaste, and puts the toilet paper roll on upside down, and loads the dishwasher like a ferret on steroids—and then appreciate the hell out of that person. Train yourself to see their best, most delightful, most charming qualities. Focus on everything they're getting right. Be grateful—all the time—and laugh the rest off.
And that goes for kids, too, by the way—and pets, and waiters, and even our own selves. There it is. The whole trick to life. Be aggressively, loudly, unapologetically grateful.”
“I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we are looking for- adventure, excitement, emotion, connection-we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we’re struggling with- sometimes ones so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them- we look for answers in stories.”
“Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that's the one that'll be true.”
“If you wait for other people to light you up, then I guess you're at the mercy of darkness.”
“That's just life.
Tragedy really is a given.
There are endless human stories, but they all end the same way.
So it can't be where you're going that matters. It has to be how you get there.
That's what I've decided.
It's all about the details you notice. And the joys you savor. And the hope you refuse to give up on.
It's all about writing the very best story of your life.
Not just about how you live it—but how you choose to tell it.”
“I fell in love all the time. Just... nobody fell in love with me back. Fiction really kind of was all I had in the romance department. But that wasn't a weakness. That was a strength. I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we're longing for—adventure, excitement, emotion, connection—we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we're struggling with—sometimes ones so deep, we don't even really know we're asking them—we look for answers in stories.”
“Poor happy endings. They're so aggressively misunderstood. We act like "and they lived happily ever after" is trying to con us into thinking that nothing bad ever happened to anyone ever again. But that's never the way I read those words. I read them as "and they built a life together and looked after each other and made the absolute best of their lives.”
“happiness is always better with a little bit of sadness.”
“A great rom-com, I said, is just like sex. If you’re surprised by the ending, somebody wasn’t doing their job. We all know where it’s headed. The fun is how we get there.”
“We don't get to know the whole story all at once. And where we're headed matters so much less than how we get there.”
“You had to maximize joy when it fluttered into your life. You had to honor it. And savor it. And not stomp it to death by reminding everyone of everything you'd lost.”
“Stick with me. We'll get through it—and we'll be stronger on the other side, as all of us always are, for facing hard things and finding ways to keep going.
Plus: Bearing witness to the suffering of others? I don't know if there's anything kinder than that. And kindness is a form of emotional courage. And I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but emotional courage is its own reward.”
“But it was one thing to live your dreams in theory—and it was absolutely another thing to clumsily, awkwardly, terrifiedly do it for real.”
“She argued with me," Charlie went on, "and she made fun of me, and she told me I was wrong so relentlessly... that of course I had no choice but to fall in love with her.”
“Believing in things that aren’t real? Making something out of nothing? Connecting dots that don’t need or want to be connected? That’s what all the best writers do.”
“There's something about a kiss that brings all the opposites together. The wanting and the getting. The longing and the having. All those cacophonous emotions that usually collide against one another teaming up at last into a rare and exquisite harmony.”
“A rom-com should give you a swoony, hopeful, delicious, rising feeling of anticipation as you look forward to the moment when the two leads, who are clearly mad for each other, finally overcome all their obstacles, both internal and external, and get together.”
“You're not going to believe this," Charlie went on, "but I knew on that first day that I was going to fall in love with you. You hadn't been yelling at Logan in my front yard for even sixty seconds before I knew. I felt it. I called it! It was so predictable."
He took a minute to rub his eyes. Then he went on. "I like you like crazy, Emma. I didn't even know it was possible to like another person this much." He shook his head. "And up until today, I wanted nothing more than to make you like me, too." He frowned, like he was thinking. "Maybe this is my punishment. Maybe you were right about self-fulfilling prophecies. All I know is, I really don't want to die. And the reason I don't want to die is because I just want more time with you.”
“I lied to you today," he went on. "And I'm going to keep lying to you. I'll never tell you about any of this. I'm going to push you away for your own good while I'm still strong enough to do it. And you know why—and you know I'm right. If I don't, you'll take care of me just like you did with your dad—and I refuse to be another thing that stops you. You need somebody in your life who lifts you up—not drags you down.”
💭Okay, so WHY did no one tell me that Katherine Center writes the kind of rom-coms that make you laugh, swoon, and low-key rethink your entire outlook on life? And who gave Katherine Center the right to be this good at writing rom-coms? Because *The Rom-Commers* had me grinning, snorting, and full-on cackling like a lunatic at 2 AM. I devoured this book like it was a limited-edition dessert, and honestly? No regrets. This was my first book by her, and now I need to read everything she’s ever written. Immediately.
The Rom-Commers is a love letter to rom-coms, but with a twist—our heroine, Emma, dreams of writing the perfect one. The only problem? She gets stuck working with Charlie Yates, a grumpy, rom-com-loathing screenwriter who thinks happy endings are a joke. Naturally, their banter is electric, the tension is delicious, and the slow-burn romance had me screaming into my pillow.
But here’s what I didn’t expect: beneath all the witty dialogue and swoony moments, there’s a heartfelt story about believing in yourself, chasing your dreams, and figuring out what your version of a happy ending looks like. It’s got all the humor and charm of a classic rom-com, but with an emotional depth that sneaks up on you in the best way.
Emma? An icon. A comedic genius. A relatable, slightly chaotic queen. She was sharp, hilarious, and just the right amount of unhinged to make me want to be her best friend. Her inner monologue? Gold. Her banter? Perfection. The way she bulldozes into Hollywood and takes no nonsense? Chef’s kiss.
Now, Charlie. Oh, Charlie. I miss his POV *so much*. Like, I wanted to crack his head open (lovingly) and see his thoughts on everything. But even without it, his presence was top-tier. He’s the classic grump-with-a-heart-of-gold, and I ate it up like my favorite trope-filled snack. Their chemistry? SPARKS. The way they challenge each other? Delicious. The rom-com energy of it all? Peak serotonin.
Also, the pacing?? Fast. Engaging. Zero skimming required. One minute, I was just casually starting a new book. The next? Boom—three hours later, I’m fully obsessed, and my responsibilities are nonexistent. And the humor? Some moments had me laughing so hard I had to put the book down and just breathe.
Final thoughts? If this is what Katherine does, consider me obsessed. Katherine really said, “Here’s your next comfort read,” and I happily accepted.
𝐏.𝐒 If someone could invent a time machine so I can experience this book for the first time again, that’d be great.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 Can we petition for an extended Charlie POV? Just a little something, for the emotionally deprived among us.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆:Romance & Humor
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:Oh Yes!
If you love rom-coms about rom-coms, banter that crackles, and main characters with undeniable chemistry, this book is it.
💘 Now, drop your favorite Katherine Center book in the comments because I clearly have catching up to do. 👀
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“Well, you're lucky. Because love is something you can learn. Love is something you can practice. It's something you can choose to get good at. And here's how you do it. Appreciate your person.
That's it.
Well—first be sure to choose a good person. But we're all good people here.
Choose a good, imperfect person who leaves the cap off the toothpaste, and puts the toilet paper roll on upside down, and loads the dishwasher like a ferret on steroids—and then appreciate the hell out of that person. Train yourself to see their best, most delightful, most charming qualities. Focus on everything they're getting right. Be grateful—all the time—and laugh the rest off.
And that goes for kids, too, by the way—and pets, and waiters, and even our own selves. There it is. The whole trick to life. Be aggressively, loudly, unapologetically grateful.”
“I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we are looking for- adventure, excitement, emotion, connection-we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we’re struggling with- sometimes ones so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them- we look for answers in stories.”
“Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that's the one that'll be true.”
“If you wait for other people to light you up, then I guess you're at the mercy of darkness.”
“That's just life.
Tragedy really is a given.
There are endless human stories, but they all end the same way.
So it can't be where you're going that matters. It has to be how you get there.
That's what I've decided.
It's all about the details you notice. And the joys you savor. And the hope you refuse to give up on.
It's all about writing the very best story of your life.
Not just about how you live it—but how you choose to tell it.”
“I fell in love all the time. Just... nobody fell in love with me back. Fiction really kind of was all I had in the romance department. But that wasn't a weakness. That was a strength. I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we're longing for—adventure, excitement, emotion, connection—we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we're struggling with—sometimes ones so deep, we don't even really know we're asking them—we look for answers in stories.”
“Poor happy endings. They're so aggressively misunderstood. We act like "and they lived happily ever after" is trying to con us into thinking that nothing bad ever happened to anyone ever again. But that's never the way I read those words. I read them as "and they built a life together and looked after each other and made the absolute best of their lives.”
“happiness is always better with a little bit of sadness.”
“A great rom-com, I said, is just like sex. If you’re surprised by the ending, somebody wasn’t doing their job. We all know where it’s headed. The fun is how we get there.”
“We don't get to know the whole story all at once. And where we're headed matters so much less than how we get there.”
“You had to maximize joy when it fluttered into your life. You had to honor it. And savor it. And not stomp it to death by reminding everyone of everything you'd lost.”
“Stick with me. We'll get through it—and we'll be stronger on the other side, as all of us always are, for facing hard things and finding ways to keep going.
Plus: Bearing witness to the suffering of others? I don't know if there's anything kinder than that. And kindness is a form of emotional courage. And I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but emotional courage is its own reward.”
“But it was one thing to live your dreams in theory—and it was absolutely another thing to clumsily, awkwardly, terrifiedly do it for real.”
“She argued with me," Charlie went on, "and she made fun of me, and she told me I was wrong so relentlessly... that of course I had no choice but to fall in love with her.”
“Believing in things that aren’t real? Making something out of nothing? Connecting dots that don’t need or want to be connected? That’s what all the best writers do.”
“There's something about a kiss that brings all the opposites together. The wanting and the getting. The longing and the having. All those cacophonous emotions that usually collide against one another teaming up at last into a rare and exquisite harmony.”
“A rom-com should give you a swoony, hopeful, delicious, rising feeling of anticipation as you look forward to the moment when the two leads, who are clearly mad for each other, finally overcome all their obstacles, both internal and external, and get together.”
“You're not going to believe this," Charlie went on, "but I knew on that first day that I was going to fall in love with you. You hadn't been yelling at Logan in my front yard for even sixty seconds before I knew. I felt it. I called it! It was so predictable."
He took a minute to rub his eyes. Then he went on. "I like you like crazy, Emma. I didn't even know it was possible to like another person this much." He shook his head. "And up until today, I wanted nothing more than to make you like me, too." He frowned, like he was thinking. "Maybe this is my punishment. Maybe you were right about self-fulfilling prophecies. All I know is, I really don't want to die. And the reason I don't want to die is because I just want more time with you.”
“I lied to you today," he went on. "And I'm going to keep lying to you. I'll never tell you about any of this. I'm going to push you away for your own good while I'm still strong enough to do it. And you know why—and you know I'm right. If I don't, you'll take care of me just like you did with your dad—and I refuse to be another thing that stops you. You need somebody in your life who lifts you up—not drags you down.”
Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
4.5
“I could find a hundred different ways to tell her I care enough to choose her, but none of them matter unless I find a way to show her.”
💭A Swoon-Worthy, Banter-Packed Delight
Lauren Asher really said, "Let me sprinkle some second-chance romance, forced proximity, and delicious angst into a mixing bowl and create the perfect book boyfriend while I’m at it." And you know what? She ATE.
Love Redesigned is giving HGTV meets heartbreak, and I was living for every single moment.
We’ve got Julian — Mr. Ice King, architect extraordinaire, emotionally constipated but secretly a mushy mess. And then there’s Dahlia—our sunshine girl turned independent queen, out here trying to avoid the walking heartache that is Julian. Too bad fate (and a shared project) had other plans. Their history is woven with childhood rivalry, a constant dance of competition and one-upmanship. Little did they realize that, beneath the teasing and rivalry, a profound connection was quietly taking root.
This book had me feeling things. The tension? Immaculate. The yearning? Gut-punching. The romance? Fireworks-level stunning. Julian and Dahlia’s history is tangled, messy, and oh-so-addictive. Every glance, every touch, every flashback had me gripping my Kindle like my life depended on it. And don't even get me started on the "banter" between Julian and Dahlia. It was *mind-blowing.*
Every conversation, every sharp remark, every teasing exchange? Peak entertainment.
Their chemistry was flawless—flirty, fiery, and fun in all the right ways. I couldn’t get enough. Their romance felt like a perfectly mixed cocktail: "one part sexual tension, one part deep emotional connection, and a whole lot of chaotic flirting."
The romance was the best part of this book because when you get a man like Julian, it's bound to be amazing.
But what truly made me love this book? The character growth. Julian, the man who once fumbled the bag, is out here WORKING for it. And Dahlia? She’s not just sitting around waiting—she’s thriving, demanding better, and making sure she gets what she deserves. We love a self-respecting queen.
And I have officially found the "best" book boyfriend in Julian. I don’t care that he exists in a fictional world; I am 'in love' and fully prepared to fight for this man. This man embodies the dream partner for any girl. His love and devotion to Dahlia had me genuinely giddy, kicking my feet in the air. Despite his personal struggles, he never allowed them to overshadow his unwavering love for Dahlia. He went above and beyond for her – brought her dream house and made a pro-con list for 12 years where the only "con" was the fear she might not love him back. His unwavering commitment and patience during her struggles showcased a profound dedication. It's not an exaggeration; this man genuinely revered the ground she walked on. The way he spends an 'insane' amount of money on Dahlia without blinking?? "Take my heart, sir." Billionaires in books usually make a whole speech about not wanting to spoil their love interest, but Julian? No hesitation. No guilt-tripping. Just pure, unfiltered, "Here, take everything I have because I adore you" energy. We love a thoughtful, financially reckless king.
The pacing? Absolute perfection. I ate this book up in two days because putting it down wasn’t an option. Every chapter had me fully hooked, and if I could have devoured it faster, I would have. Lauren knows exactly how to keep a story moving without sacrificing character depth, and I am forever grateful.
Also, can we talk about the side characters? Because they were serving. I love the moms. The friendships, the banter, the found-family vibes? Chef’s kiss. I need spinoffs, novellas, deleted scenes—ANYTHING.
Final thoughts - If you love billionaire romances with a hero who actually 'deserves' the title of best book boyfriend, "read this immediately." If you enjoy fast-paced, swoon-worthy, *banter-filled* stories, this book is calling your name. And if you, like me, find yourself wishing Julian was real…well, we suffer together.
𝐏.𝐒 Julian Lopez, if you’re out there, please come ruin my life.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If I see anyone slandering this man, I will be taking legal action.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Lakefront Billionaires (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:Absolutely!!
If you love second-chance romance with sizzling chemistry, emotional depth, and a hero who has to grovel (and does it WELL), Love Redesigned is calling your name. Answer it. 📞💘
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“When did we go from wanting to murder each other to wanting to murder for one another?”
“Turns out I’d rather build a home with you than a thousand houses by myself.”
“If you have to change yourself to fit someone’s ideal version of you, then that’s not love.”
“He stares up at me like one does the sun—in equal parts pain and wonder.”
“Life without you was a series of pros and cons. Risks and rewards. Black and white with very few shades of gray. But then you came back and flipped a switch inside me, flooding my world with color after a ten-year blackout, and I don’t plan on giving that up. Not now. Not ever.”
“To those whose love language is words of affirmation. Your praise kink is safe with me (and Julian Lopez).”
“I’m falling in love with you, Dahlia. I don’t expect you to say it back after everything you’ve been through this year, but I didn’t want to go another night without you knowing how I feel. Just like I can’t go another day with you thinking I’m okay with us keeping things casual.” Por Dios. His eyes shimmer from the moon peeking through the clouds. “I missed out on a chance to make you mine before, but I don’t plan on making the same mistake again. We’re the real deal, sweetheart, and I’m done letting you believe anything else.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll fix it.
Whoever hurt her, I’ll ruin them.
And whenever she needs someone to lean on, I will be there.”
“I scowl. “You know what happens when you tell an anxious person to relax?” “What?” I squeeze his hand harder. “The complete freaking opposite!”
“Julian interlocks our fingers and tucks my hand against his chest. “Breathe.” He demonstrates, and I follow along. “Everything will be fine because you have me, and I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you,” he responds between deep inhales.”
“Julian won’t hurt you.” I rear back. “How do you know?” “The answer is obvious every time I catch him staring at you.” My heart misses a beat. “What do you mean?” “That man would rather hurt himself before putting you in true harm’s way.” I lock my knees together to stop myself from toppling over. “Mami.” “It’s been that way since you were kids.”
“Your issue isn’t depending on people but rather finding the right people to depend on.”
“Funny how I spent ten years searching for someone to make me feel a fraction of the way Dahlia did, only to end up here, hoping I get to spend the rest of my days with her.”
“You only have one negative.” Con: She may never love me back. “Little by little, your cons annoyingly started making their way over to the pros column.” Her laugh comes out like a half sob. “That’s ridiculous.” “No, Dahlia, that’s love.” “Experiencing Julian’s love for a moment is far better than me spending a lifetime without it, wondering what might have happened had I given him a chance.”
“I love the little ways he shows he cares, like giving me the last piece from his favorite sushi roll or only stealing a single bite of dessert before handing it over, although I know we both suffer from the same unfortunate sweet tooth.”
“There was nothing I wanted more than my mom’s hugs and her unwavering belief that Vicks VapoRub will cure everything, including a broken heart.”
“Dahlia, I'm not going to give up because you expect me to.”
“Because you like a challenge?”
“Because I like you enough to know you're worth fighting for.”
“Her smile rivals the brightest gem, and I’ll be damned if anyone threatens her happiness again. She is more valuable to me than anything else, and it’s only a matter of time before she realizes that. And it’s my job to help get her there.”
“If he keeps talking that way, I might do something incredibly stupid and fall in love with him.”
“But I know this will be good for him.”
“How so?”
“Because this is what life is all about.”
“Decorating?”
“Living rather than going through the motions.”
“What do you say about making this place ours?” I drop a kiss on the base of her neck. “Tempting, but you know how my mom feels about living with someone before marriage.” “That can easily be arranged.” Her eyes roll. “Ask me again in a year.” “I’ll hold you to that.” Until then, I plan on making this woman mine in every sense of the word. Mine to love. Mine to marry. Mine to cherish for as long as we live.”
“Julian doesn’t wait for a reply before he bends down and captures my mouth with his. I bask in the afterglow of his admission as he kisses me, making me feel the truth behind his words. Every kiss feels like a promise. Every touch an oath. A vow that Julian will love me, cherish me, and protect me—no matter if I choose to believe it or not.”
💭A Swoon-Worthy, Banter-Packed Delight
Lauren Asher really said, "Let me sprinkle some second-chance romance, forced proximity, and delicious angst into a mixing bowl and create the perfect book boyfriend while I’m at it." And you know what? She ATE.
Love Redesigned is giving HGTV meets heartbreak, and I was living for every single moment.
We’ve got Julian — Mr. Ice King, architect extraordinaire, emotionally constipated but secretly a mushy mess. And then there’s Dahlia—our sunshine girl turned independent queen, out here trying to avoid the walking heartache that is Julian. Too bad fate (and a shared project) had other plans. Their history is woven with childhood rivalry, a constant dance of competition and one-upmanship. Little did they realize that, beneath the teasing and rivalry, a profound connection was quietly taking root.
This book had me feeling things. The tension? Immaculate. The yearning? Gut-punching. The romance? Fireworks-level stunning. Julian and Dahlia’s history is tangled, messy, and oh-so-addictive. Every glance, every touch, every flashback had me gripping my Kindle like my life depended on it. And don't even get me started on the "banter" between Julian and Dahlia. It was *mind-blowing.*
Every conversation, every sharp remark, every teasing exchange? Peak entertainment.
Their chemistry was flawless—flirty, fiery, and fun in all the right ways. I couldn’t get enough. Their romance felt like a perfectly mixed cocktail: "one part sexual tension, one part deep emotional connection, and a whole lot of chaotic flirting."
The romance was the best part of this book because when you get a man like Julian, it's bound to be amazing.
But what truly made me love this book? The character growth. Julian, the man who once fumbled the bag, is out here WORKING for it. And Dahlia? She’s not just sitting around waiting—she’s thriving, demanding better, and making sure she gets what she deserves. We love a self-respecting queen.
And I have officially found the "best" book boyfriend in Julian. I don’t care that he exists in a fictional world; I am 'in love' and fully prepared to fight for this man. This man embodies the dream partner for any girl. His love and devotion to Dahlia had me genuinely giddy, kicking my feet in the air. Despite his personal struggles, he never allowed them to overshadow his unwavering love for Dahlia. He went above and beyond for her – brought her dream house and made a pro-con list for 12 years where the only "con" was the fear she might not love him back. His unwavering commitment and patience during her struggles showcased a profound dedication. It's not an exaggeration; this man genuinely revered the ground she walked on. The way he spends an 'insane' amount of money on Dahlia without blinking?? "Take my heart, sir." Billionaires in books usually make a whole speech about not wanting to spoil their love interest, but Julian? No hesitation. No guilt-tripping. Just pure, unfiltered, "Here, take everything I have because I adore you" energy. We love a thoughtful, financially reckless king.
The pacing? Absolute perfection. I ate this book up in two days because putting it down wasn’t an option. Every chapter had me fully hooked, and if I could have devoured it faster, I would have. Lauren knows exactly how to keep a story moving without sacrificing character depth, and I am forever grateful.
Also, can we talk about the side characters? Because they were serving. I love the moms. The friendships, the banter, the found-family vibes? Chef’s kiss. I need spinoffs, novellas, deleted scenes—ANYTHING.
Final thoughts - If you love billionaire romances with a hero who actually 'deserves' the title of best book boyfriend, "read this immediately." If you enjoy fast-paced, swoon-worthy, *banter-filled* stories, this book is calling your name. And if you, like me, find yourself wishing Julian was real…well, we suffer together.
𝐏.𝐒 Julian Lopez, if you’re out there, please come ruin my life.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If I see anyone slandering this man, I will be taking legal action.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Lakefront Billionaires (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:Absolutely!!
If you love second-chance romance with sizzling chemistry, emotional depth, and a hero who has to grovel (and does it WELL), Love Redesigned is calling your name. Answer it. 📞💘
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“When did we go from wanting to murder each other to wanting to murder for one another?”
“Turns out I’d rather build a home with you than a thousand houses by myself.”
“If you have to change yourself to fit someone’s ideal version of you, then that’s not love.”
“He stares up at me like one does the sun—in equal parts pain and wonder.”
“Life without you was a series of pros and cons. Risks and rewards. Black and white with very few shades of gray. But then you came back and flipped a switch inside me, flooding my world with color after a ten-year blackout, and I don’t plan on giving that up. Not now. Not ever.”
“To those whose love language is words of affirmation. Your praise kink is safe with me (and Julian Lopez).”
“I’m falling in love with you, Dahlia. I don’t expect you to say it back after everything you’ve been through this year, but I didn’t want to go another night without you knowing how I feel. Just like I can’t go another day with you thinking I’m okay with us keeping things casual.” Por Dios. His eyes shimmer from the moon peeking through the clouds. “I missed out on a chance to make you mine before, but I don’t plan on making the same mistake again. We’re the real deal, sweetheart, and I’m done letting you believe anything else.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll fix it.
Whoever hurt her, I’ll ruin them.
And whenever she needs someone to lean on, I will be there.”
“I scowl. “You know what happens when you tell an anxious person to relax?” “What?” I squeeze his hand harder. “The complete freaking opposite!”
“Julian interlocks our fingers and tucks my hand against his chest. “Breathe.” He demonstrates, and I follow along. “Everything will be fine because you have me, and I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you,” he responds between deep inhales.”
“Julian won’t hurt you.” I rear back. “How do you know?” “The answer is obvious every time I catch him staring at you.” My heart misses a beat. “What do you mean?” “That man would rather hurt himself before putting you in true harm’s way.” I lock my knees together to stop myself from toppling over. “Mami.” “It’s been that way since you were kids.”
“Your issue isn’t depending on people but rather finding the right people to depend on.”
“Funny how I spent ten years searching for someone to make me feel a fraction of the way Dahlia did, only to end up here, hoping I get to spend the rest of my days with her.”
“You only have one negative.” Con: She may never love me back. “Little by little, your cons annoyingly started making their way over to the pros column.” Her laugh comes out like a half sob. “That’s ridiculous.” “No, Dahlia, that’s love.” “Experiencing Julian’s love for a moment is far better than me spending a lifetime without it, wondering what might have happened had I given him a chance.”
“I love the little ways he shows he cares, like giving me the last piece from his favorite sushi roll or only stealing a single bite of dessert before handing it over, although I know we both suffer from the same unfortunate sweet tooth.”
“There was nothing I wanted more than my mom’s hugs and her unwavering belief that Vicks VapoRub will cure everything, including a broken heart.”
“Dahlia, I'm not going to give up because you expect me to.”
“Because you like a challenge?”
“Because I like you enough to know you're worth fighting for.”
“Her smile rivals the brightest gem, and I’ll be damned if anyone threatens her happiness again. She is more valuable to me than anything else, and it’s only a matter of time before she realizes that. And it’s my job to help get her there.”
“If he keeps talking that way, I might do something incredibly stupid and fall in love with him.”
“But I know this will be good for him.”
“How so?”
“Because this is what life is all about.”
“Decorating?”
“Living rather than going through the motions.”
“What do you say about making this place ours?” I drop a kiss on the base of her neck. “Tempting, but you know how my mom feels about living with someone before marriage.” “That can easily be arranged.” Her eyes roll. “Ask me again in a year.” “I’ll hold you to that.” Until then, I plan on making this woman mine in every sense of the word. Mine to love. Mine to marry. Mine to cherish for as long as we live.”
“Julian doesn’t wait for a reply before he bends down and captures my mouth with his. I bask in the afterglow of his admission as he kisses me, making me feel the truth behind his words. Every kiss feels like a promise. Every touch an oath. A vow that Julian will love me, cherish me, and protect me—no matter if I choose to believe it or not.”
King of Pride by Ana Huang
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
“It’s about love, and there’s nothing reasonable about love.”
💭𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 - 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴.
Okay, but why does Ana Huang always deliver when it comes to sizzling tension and swoon-worthy romances?!
King of Pride gave me everything I wanted—grumpy/sunshine, forbidden romance, and just the right amount of angst to keep me hooked.
Let’s talk about Kai Young—a man so perfect, I need Ana Huang to issue a formal apology for making me believe men like him exist in the wild. He is the definition of aristocratic charm—sophisticated, refined, effortlessly elegant, controlled, lethal in the boardroom and the bedroom (probably), disciplined, poised, and basically allergic to fun. An Asian Brit with a sharp mind, he’s the kind of man who unwinds by translating books into Latin (because, apparently, that’s *relaxing* for him). He’s all poise and control… until jealousy hits, and suddenly, we’ve got a full-fledged territorial caveman on our hands. 🤭 And honestly? It’s *hot*.
He’s the future CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire and carries himself like royalty and somehow still the softest green-flag cinnamon roll? Sir, I am in love.
Beyond the tailored suits and polished demeanor, Kai is incredibly thoughtful and deeply caring, but that softness? It’s reserved for Isa alone. Unlike Ana Huang’s usual morally grey MMCs, Kai prefers handling things with diplomacy—except when it comes to the bedroom, where *civility* is very much off the table. And let’s not even start on his British accent or the way he calls Isa *love* and *my love*—because, quite frankly, that’s the only thing holding me together at this point.
Someone, please check on my delusions because I need this man in my life.
And then there’s Isabella - a bartender with big dreams, zero patience for snobs, and an unshakable ability to get under Kai’s skin. The firecracker to Kai’s ice, the rule-breaker to his rule-follower tendencies. She came in like a hurricane, flipping his carefully curated world upside down, and I lived for it. Their chemistry? 🔥. The tension? Exquisite. Every stolen glance and lingering touch had me internally screaming. Watching Kai try (and fail) to resist her was like watching a slow-motion car crash—you know what’s coming, but you’re still holding your breath.
One thing Ana Huang always nails is character development. Kai starts off as the ultimate ice king, but watching Isabella slowly melt his walls? Chef’s kiss. Isabella, on the other hand, is a total firecracker—bold, ambitious, and unapologetically herself. She’s exactly the kind of heroine I love to root for.
The romance is a slow burn, but when it burns, IT BURNS. 🔥 The push and pull, the longing, the undeniable attraction—ugh, perfection. And the way Kai softens for Isabella? Somebody sedate me.
I absolutely love how Isa and Kai are complete opposites, yet they never once tried to change each other. They’re both unapologetically themselves—Isa, the vibrant, purple-streaked social butterfly, and Kai, the ever-composed, effortlessly confident enigma. And somehow, in the hidden corners of secret libraries and the exclusive walls of the Valhalla club, they found something real. Their chemistry? 'Electric.' Their tension? *Off the charts.*
Their banter had me grinning the entire time—especially Isa’s apparent *hobby* of casually discussing sex in public just to fluster Kai. And the way he never once made her feel embarrassed about it? Swoon. Beyond the teasing and stolen glances, what made their love story so special was how they pushed each other to grow. They stepped outside their comfort zones, but never at the expense of who they were.
What I adored most was their communication. No unnecessary miscommunication tropes, no pointless doubts—just two people choosing each other, despite everything and everyone against them. They both had their walls, built in different ways, but instead of breaking them down, they found the space *between* them—a place where they loved each other fiercely, flaws and all. It was messy, passionate, and utterly beautiful.
The only thing that didn’t sit right with me was the last-minute breakup. Ana threw in a completely unnecessary separation just to add some final-act drama, and honestly? It felt forced. I get that it was probably meant to push the story forward, but the execution didn’t quite land. It lacked the emotional depth needed to make it feel organic, and instead, it came across as a plot device rather than a natural conflict. I just wish their journey had reached its peak without resorting to a breakup that didn’t feel entirely *earned.*
The pacing? Chef’s kiss. Fast, fun, and so damn addictive that I devoured this book in 1.5 days flat. It had me in a chokehold, refusing to let go, and honestly? I didn’t want it to. Ana Huang has truly mastered the art of delivering a romance that’s equal parts angsty, sexy, and swoon-worthy.
Overall, this was an addictive, steamy, and heartfelt read. I can't wait for Dominic and Alessandra's book!
Tropes : Opposite Attracts 🔥
Forbidden love
Billionaire Hero with glasses 🤓
Bartender Heroine with a secret
𝐏.𝐒 Kai Young, if you’re real, please meet me at the nearest luxury hotel bar. I’ll be waiting.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If anyone needs me, I’ll be adding “Owns a multi-billion-dollar company and is secretly a romantic” to my list of non-negotiables.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Kings Of Sins (Book 2)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:Absolutely!!
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“For all the girls who think smart is sexy. (And who know the quiet ones are the freakiest).”
“I never really lived before you … And I don’t want to imagine living after you.” I dropped my forehead to hers, my chest aching with need and want and a thousand other emotions only she could make me feel. “Stay with me, love. Please.”
“How does he look at me?”
“Like he never wants to look away.”
“And she looked so damn beautiful it made my heart stop for a second, just long enough to confirm she owned every beat.”
“I’d never fallen in love before her. Once I did, I did it the way I did everything else. Completely. Totally. Irrevocably.”
“You have five minutes, sweetheart, or you’ll find out firsthand that I’m not always the gentleman you think I am.”
“I remember everything when it comes to you.”
“In that moment, I wanted to hunt down every person who’d ever made her feel like she was a failure, a disappointment, or anything less than fucking perfect.”
“trying to stay away from her was like asking the ocean to stop kissing the shore. Impossible.”
“I love you, Isabella Valencia.” Simple and raw, stripped of all pretense except for the naked truth that had been staring me in the face all this time. “Every single part of you, from your laugh to your humor to the way you can’t stop talking about condoms.” One of those laughs I loved so much slipped out, thick with emotion. A smile flashed across my face before I sobered again. “You think you’re broken, but I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. Smart. Strong. Beautiful. Imperfect by your own standards but so wonderfully perfect for me.”
“Come on. Live a little, Young. I promise it won’t kill you.” “No, but you might,” he muttered.”
“She was everything I shouldn’t want, but it didn’t matter.
I wanted her anyway. So much so, I couldn’t breathe.”
“We’ve been through some dark times, but you were always the brightest part of my life.”
“She’d touched down in my life like a tornado, gotten my drink wrong during her first shift at Valhalla, and hadn’t left my thoughts since.”
“That there’s no going back after this.” His admission was a warm breath on my skin. “You should’ve never let me take you, Isabella. Because now that I have, I won’t be able to let you go.”
“Isabella.” I forced a swallow down my throat. “Yes?” “Shut up and let me kiss you.”
“Here’s the thing about humans. We’ll almost always throw aside common sense in favor of instant gratification.”
“I’m never going to stop being me, Kai, and I don’t want you to stop being you. So how can we be together when we belong to separate worlds?”
“By building one of our own,” I said simply.”
💭𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 - 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴.
Okay, but why does Ana Huang always deliver when it comes to sizzling tension and swoon-worthy romances?!
King of Pride gave me everything I wanted—grumpy/sunshine, forbidden romance, and just the right amount of angst to keep me hooked.
Let’s talk about Kai Young—a man so perfect, I need Ana Huang to issue a formal apology for making me believe men like him exist in the wild. He is the definition of aristocratic charm—sophisticated, refined, effortlessly elegant, controlled, lethal in the boardroom and the bedroom (probably), disciplined, poised, and basically allergic to fun. An Asian Brit with a sharp mind, he’s the kind of man who unwinds by translating books into Latin (because, apparently, that’s *relaxing* for him). He’s all poise and control… until jealousy hits, and suddenly, we’ve got a full-fledged territorial caveman on our hands. 🤭 And honestly? It’s *hot*.
He’s the future CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire and carries himself like royalty and somehow still the softest green-flag cinnamon roll? Sir, I am in love.
Beyond the tailored suits and polished demeanor, Kai is incredibly thoughtful and deeply caring, but that softness? It’s reserved for Isa alone. Unlike Ana Huang’s usual morally grey MMCs, Kai prefers handling things with diplomacy—except when it comes to the bedroom, where *civility* is very much off the table. And let’s not even start on his British accent or the way he calls Isa *love* and *my love*—because, quite frankly, that’s the only thing holding me together at this point.
Someone, please check on my delusions because I need this man in my life.
And then there’s Isabella - a bartender with big dreams, zero patience for snobs, and an unshakable ability to get under Kai’s skin. The firecracker to Kai’s ice, the rule-breaker to his rule-follower tendencies. She came in like a hurricane, flipping his carefully curated world upside down, and I lived for it. Their chemistry? 🔥. The tension? Exquisite. Every stolen glance and lingering touch had me internally screaming. Watching Kai try (and fail) to resist her was like watching a slow-motion car crash—you know what’s coming, but you’re still holding your breath.
One thing Ana Huang always nails is character development. Kai starts off as the ultimate ice king, but watching Isabella slowly melt his walls? Chef’s kiss. Isabella, on the other hand, is a total firecracker—bold, ambitious, and unapologetically herself. She’s exactly the kind of heroine I love to root for.
The romance is a slow burn, but when it burns, IT BURNS. 🔥 The push and pull, the longing, the undeniable attraction—ugh, perfection. And the way Kai softens for Isabella? Somebody sedate me.
I absolutely love how Isa and Kai are complete opposites, yet they never once tried to change each other. They’re both unapologetically themselves—Isa, the vibrant, purple-streaked social butterfly, and Kai, the ever-composed, effortlessly confident enigma. And somehow, in the hidden corners of secret libraries and the exclusive walls of the Valhalla club, they found something real. Their chemistry? 'Electric.' Their tension? *Off the charts.*
Their banter had me grinning the entire time—especially Isa’s apparent *hobby* of casually discussing sex in public just to fluster Kai. And the way he never once made her feel embarrassed about it? Swoon. Beyond the teasing and stolen glances, what made their love story so special was how they pushed each other to grow. They stepped outside their comfort zones, but never at the expense of who they were.
What I adored most was their communication. No unnecessary miscommunication tropes, no pointless doubts—just two people choosing each other, despite everything and everyone against them. They both had their walls, built in different ways, but instead of breaking them down, they found the space *between* them—a place where they loved each other fiercely, flaws and all. It was messy, passionate, and utterly beautiful.
The only thing that didn’t sit right with me was the last-minute breakup. Ana threw in a completely unnecessary separation just to add some final-act drama, and honestly? It felt forced. I get that it was probably meant to push the story forward, but the execution didn’t quite land. It lacked the emotional depth needed to make it feel organic, and instead, it came across as a plot device rather than a natural conflict. I just wish their journey had reached its peak without resorting to a breakup that didn’t feel entirely *earned.*
The pacing? Chef’s kiss. Fast, fun, and so damn addictive that I devoured this book in 1.5 days flat. It had me in a chokehold, refusing to let go, and honestly? I didn’t want it to. Ana Huang has truly mastered the art of delivering a romance that’s equal parts angsty, sexy, and swoon-worthy.
Overall, this was an addictive, steamy, and heartfelt read. I can't wait for Dominic and Alessandra's book!
Tropes : Opposite Attracts 🔥
Forbidden love
Billionaire Hero with glasses 🤓
Bartender Heroine with a secret
𝐏.𝐒 Kai Young, if you’re real, please meet me at the nearest luxury hotel bar. I’ll be waiting.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If anyone needs me, I’ll be adding “Owns a multi-billion-dollar company and is secretly a romantic” to my list of non-negotiables.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Kings Of Sins (Book 2)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:Absolutely!!
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“For all the girls who think smart is sexy. (And who know the quiet ones are the freakiest).”
“I never really lived before you … And I don’t want to imagine living after you.” I dropped my forehead to hers, my chest aching with need and want and a thousand other emotions only she could make me feel. “Stay with me, love. Please.”
“How does he look at me?”
“Like he never wants to look away.”
“And she looked so damn beautiful it made my heart stop for a second, just long enough to confirm she owned every beat.”
“I’d never fallen in love before her. Once I did, I did it the way I did everything else. Completely. Totally. Irrevocably.”
“You have five minutes, sweetheart, or you’ll find out firsthand that I’m not always the gentleman you think I am.”
“I remember everything when it comes to you.”
“In that moment, I wanted to hunt down every person who’d ever made her feel like she was a failure, a disappointment, or anything less than fucking perfect.”
“trying to stay away from her was like asking the ocean to stop kissing the shore. Impossible.”
“I love you, Isabella Valencia.” Simple and raw, stripped of all pretense except for the naked truth that had been staring me in the face all this time. “Every single part of you, from your laugh to your humor to the way you can’t stop talking about condoms.” One of those laughs I loved so much slipped out, thick with emotion. A smile flashed across my face before I sobered again. “You think you’re broken, but I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. Smart. Strong. Beautiful. Imperfect by your own standards but so wonderfully perfect for me.”
“Come on. Live a little, Young. I promise it won’t kill you.” “No, but you might,” he muttered.”
“She was everything I shouldn’t want, but it didn’t matter.
I wanted her anyway. So much so, I couldn’t breathe.”
“We’ve been through some dark times, but you were always the brightest part of my life.”
“She’d touched down in my life like a tornado, gotten my drink wrong during her first shift at Valhalla, and hadn’t left my thoughts since.”
“That there’s no going back after this.” His admission was a warm breath on my skin. “You should’ve never let me take you, Isabella. Because now that I have, I won’t be able to let you go.”
“Isabella.” I forced a swallow down my throat. “Yes?” “Shut up and let me kiss you.”
“Here’s the thing about humans. We’ll almost always throw aside common sense in favor of instant gratification.”
“I’m never going to stop being me, Kai, and I don’t want you to stop being you. So how can we be together when we belong to separate worlds?”
“By building one of our own,” I said simply.”
King of Wrath by Ana Huang
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
💭You ever pick up a book expecting some classic billionaire romance shenanigans, only to get absolutely *wrecked* by how much you *care* about the characters? Yeah, that was me with *King of Wrath*. Ana Huang said, “Let’s take an arranged marriage trope, sprinkle in some *actual emotional depth*, and make everyone suffer a little,” and I ate it up.
Plot? Oh, it’s giving drama.
Dante Russo —cold, calculating, richer than God. A man with all the power in the world, except when it comes to escaping a forced engagement. *Tragic.*
Meanwhile, Vivian Lau—poised, independent, the kind of FMC who knows her worth—finds herself shackled to a man who views marriage as nothing more than a business deal. Except… plot twist! Forced proximity has a way of *ruining* a man’s ironclad control, and watching Dante go from “I don’t do love” to “I will burn the world for her” was "delicious".
Now, here’s where it gets fun. Forced to play the perfect couple in public, Dante and Vivian start catching feelings—aka, the worst possible thing that could happen to a man who swore off love. Cue the slowest of slow burns, the steamiest tension, and a whole lot of Dante losing his mind whenever another man so much as looks at her.
Let’s talk tropes, baby:
✔️ Arranged marriage (but make it angsty)
✔️ Billionaire romance (obviously)
✔️ Grumpy x Sunshine (Dante is allergic to happiness, and Vivian is his cure and with a side of sizzling tension)
✔️ Slow burn (or rather, slow suffering because Dante fights his feelings like a fool)
✔️ Steam. SO MUCH STEAM.
✔️ Possessive hero (but in a way that made me feral, not annoyed)
Things I Ate Up:
🔥 The pacing was perfect. I read this in 1.5 days because I physically could not stop. Every chapter had something happening—tension, drama, steamy glances, boardroom power moves, groveling (oh, the groveling).
🔥 Dante was exactly the kind of morally gray hero I love—dangerous, powerful, yet completely *feral* for the woman he refuses to admit he loves. Dante being an unhinged simp in denial. He swears he’s just in this for business, but every time Vivian walks into a room, his entire brain malfunctions. He thinks she’s a distraction when really, she’s the only thing keeping him from imploding.
🔥 Vivian being a queen. She wasn’t some pushover heiress. She had goals, dreams, and an entire life beyond Dante. She challenged him at every turn and made him work for her love. We respect that.
🔥 The tension. The angst. THE MOMENTS. The accidental touches? The forced domesticity? The jealousy? Yeah, I lived for it.
#HeBeggedAndWeLovedIt
𝐏.𝐒. I cannot wait to get my hands on Kai and Isabella’s story—because if this book was this good, I already know King of Pride is going to destroy me.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If a man ever looks at me the way Dante looks at Vivian by the end of this book? Yeah. I’m done for.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐.25
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: King Of Sins (Book 1)
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes
If you love your romance with a side of power struggles, scorching chemistry, and a hero who "begs" (yes, BEGS), King of Wrath delivers.
Now excuse me while I go reread all the favorite scenes.😉
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
"The insults with a grain of truth always cut the deepest."
"feelings didn’t disappear just because people parted ways.
They did, however, dull with time."
"The sight of a laughing, unguarded Dante was utterly catastrophic for my ovaries."
“You forget.” I pressed my fingers against her nape, forcing her to look up at me. “You’re my fiancée. Not Kai’s. Not anyone else’s. I don’t give a fuck how handsome they are or what type of accent they have. You’re mine, and no one…” I dipped my head, my lips brushing hers with each word. “Touches what’s mine.”
Vivian’s breathing shallowed, but a hint of fire returned to her voice when she spoke again. “I’m not yours. Our engagement is, as you’ve told me many times, just business. Or are you the one who’s forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten anything.”
"You can support someone without fixing everything for them. They have to learn from their own mistakes."
“Yes, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” She ran the last dirty dish under the water. “It’s not about business.”
“How does he look at me?”
Janis smiled. “Like he never wants to look away.”
"Trust me,” I said quietly. “Of all the things you do to me, putting me to sleep isn’t one of them.”
“Cowards always pick on people who can’t fight back.”
"I’d spent my life honing my control. Enzo Russo had drilled its importance into me since I was a child. Even when I occasionally lost my temper, I never lost sight of the bigger goal.
But I’d also never met anyone like Vivian.
Of all the people in my life, she was the only one who could make me lose control."
“I don’t give a fuck how long you and Vivian have known each other or how long ago you dated.” Dante’s soft snarl sent ice skittering down my spine. “You don’t touch her. You don’t talk to her. You don’t even fucking think about her. If you do, I’ll break every fucking bone in your body until your own mother won’t recognize you. Understand?”
"I’d kissed my fair share of men over the years, but none had ever kissed me like this.
Like they were a conqueror hellbent on breaching my defenses.
Like they were trapped in the desert and I was their last hope for salvation."
“Because you’re mine.” His teeth scored my neck. “You wear my ring. You’ve come on my face and hand. You live in my head all the fucking time, even if I don’t want you to...” His palm slid to my hip, where his fingers dug grooves into my skin. “And God, I want to punish you for driving me so damn crazy. Every. Single. Day.”
"Once upon a time, I’d loved him, and I felt guilty for the way things had ended between us. But it’d been two years. I wasn’t the same person I’d been when we dated, and I hadn’t felt anything except surprise, sadness, and a bit of annoyance when we talked.
All this time, I thought I’d missed Heath, but I missed the idea of him. I missed having a partner. I missed being loved and being in love.
Unfortunately, I could no longer find those things with him."
"There’d been a moment yesterday when I thought I might lose her. The prospect had unlocked a level of fear I hadn’t experienced since I was five."
"My head and heart waged civil war against each other and, for the first time in my life, my heart was winning."
“You can’t see the stars in New York,” Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.”
"Sometimes, it was the simple things in life that kept us going."
"Moving on didn’t always involve big gestures or heavy talks. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments were the small ones—a softening glance here, a simple but sincere apology there."
"Like I said, I’d been to Paris many times.
But this was the first time I was actually falling in love in the City of Love."
“No one’s perfect. Sometimes, our partners will do things that drive us mad. I know I have habits Gunnar can’t stand. But the difference between the couples who make it and those who don’t is one, understanding what your dealbreakers are, and two, being willing to stick it out through the issues that aren’t dealbreakers.”
"Admitting weakness, much less desperation, was unheard of for a Russo. Hell, I didn’t even admit when I had a cold. But denying my feelings had landed me in my current hell, and I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
Not when it came to Vivian."
“That I needed to fight for you. And he was right.”
"Love wasn’t always about the big moments. More often, it was tucked in the small moments connecting the major ones."
"A part of me would always find my way to her. She was my North Star, the brightest jewel in my sky
Plot? Oh, it’s giving drama.
Dante Russo —cold, calculating, richer than God. A man with all the power in the world, except when it comes to escaping a forced engagement. *Tragic.*
Meanwhile, Vivian Lau—poised, independent, the kind of FMC who knows her worth—finds herself shackled to a man who views marriage as nothing more than a business deal. Except… plot twist! Forced proximity has a way of *ruining* a man’s ironclad control, and watching Dante go from “I don’t do love” to “I will burn the world for her” was "delicious".
Now, here’s where it gets fun. Forced to play the perfect couple in public, Dante and Vivian start catching feelings—aka, the worst possible thing that could happen to a man who swore off love. Cue the slowest of slow burns, the steamiest tension, and a whole lot of Dante losing his mind whenever another man so much as looks at her.
Let’s talk tropes, baby:
✔️ Arranged marriage (but make it angsty)
✔️ Billionaire romance (obviously)
✔️ Grumpy x Sunshine (Dante is allergic to happiness, and Vivian is his cure and with a side of sizzling tension)
✔️ Slow burn (or rather, slow suffering because Dante fights his feelings like a fool)
✔️ Steam. SO MUCH STEAM.
✔️ Possessive hero (but in a way that made me feral, not annoyed)
Things I Ate Up:
🔥 The pacing was perfect. I read this in 1.5 days because I physically could not stop. Every chapter had something happening—tension, drama, steamy glances, boardroom power moves, groveling (oh, the groveling).
🔥 Dante was exactly the kind of morally gray hero I love—dangerous, powerful, yet completely *feral* for the woman he refuses to admit he loves. Dante being an unhinged simp in denial. He swears he’s just in this for business, but every time Vivian walks into a room, his entire brain malfunctions. He thinks she’s a distraction when really, she’s the only thing keeping him from imploding.
🔥 Vivian being a queen. She wasn’t some pushover heiress. She had goals, dreams, and an entire life beyond Dante. She challenged him at every turn and made him work for her love. We respect that.
🔥 The tension. The angst. THE MOMENTS. The accidental touches? The forced domesticity? The jealousy? Yeah, I lived for it.
#HeBeggedAndWeLovedIt
𝐏.𝐒. I cannot wait to get my hands on Kai and Isabella’s story—because if this book was this good, I already know King of Pride is going to destroy me.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If a man ever looks at me the way Dante looks at Vivian by the end of this book? Yeah. I’m done for.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐.25
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: King Of Sins (Book 1)
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes
If you love your romance with a side of power struggles, scorching chemistry, and a hero who "begs" (yes, BEGS), King of Wrath delivers.
Now excuse me while I go reread all the favorite scenes.😉
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
"The insults with a grain of truth always cut the deepest."
"feelings didn’t disappear just because people parted ways.
They did, however, dull with time."
"The sight of a laughing, unguarded Dante was utterly catastrophic for my ovaries."
“You forget.” I pressed my fingers against her nape, forcing her to look up at me. “You’re my fiancée. Not Kai’s. Not anyone else’s. I don’t give a fuck how handsome they are or what type of accent they have. You’re mine, and no one…” I dipped my head, my lips brushing hers with each word. “Touches what’s mine.”
Vivian’s breathing shallowed, but a hint of fire returned to her voice when she spoke again. “I’m not yours. Our engagement is, as you’ve told me many times, just business. Or are you the one who’s forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten anything.”
"You can support someone without fixing everything for them. They have to learn from their own mistakes."
“Yes, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” She ran the last dirty dish under the water. “It’s not about business.”
“How does he look at me?”
Janis smiled. “Like he never wants to look away.”
"Trust me,” I said quietly. “Of all the things you do to me, putting me to sleep isn’t one of them.”
“Cowards always pick on people who can’t fight back.”
"I’d spent my life honing my control. Enzo Russo had drilled its importance into me since I was a child. Even when I occasionally lost my temper, I never lost sight of the bigger goal.
But I’d also never met anyone like Vivian.
Of all the people in my life, she was the only one who could make me lose control."
“I don’t give a fuck how long you and Vivian have known each other or how long ago you dated.” Dante’s soft snarl sent ice skittering down my spine. “You don’t touch her. You don’t talk to her. You don’t even fucking think about her. If you do, I’ll break every fucking bone in your body until your own mother won’t recognize you. Understand?”
"I’d kissed my fair share of men over the years, but none had ever kissed me like this.
Like they were a conqueror hellbent on breaching my defenses.
Like they were trapped in the desert and I was their last hope for salvation."
“Because you’re mine.” His teeth scored my neck. “You wear my ring. You’ve come on my face and hand. You live in my head all the fucking time, even if I don’t want you to...” His palm slid to my hip, where his fingers dug grooves into my skin. “And God, I want to punish you for driving me so damn crazy. Every. Single. Day.”
"Once upon a time, I’d loved him, and I felt guilty for the way things had ended between us. But it’d been two years. I wasn’t the same person I’d been when we dated, and I hadn’t felt anything except surprise, sadness, and a bit of annoyance when we talked.
All this time, I thought I’d missed Heath, but I missed the idea of him. I missed having a partner. I missed being loved and being in love.
Unfortunately, I could no longer find those things with him."
"There’d been a moment yesterday when I thought I might lose her. The prospect had unlocked a level of fear I hadn’t experienced since I was five."
"My head and heart waged civil war against each other and, for the first time in my life, my heart was winning."
“You can’t see the stars in New York,” Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.”
"Sometimes, it was the simple things in life that kept us going."
"Moving on didn’t always involve big gestures or heavy talks. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments were the small ones—a softening glance here, a simple but sincere apology there."
"Like I said, I’d been to Paris many times.
But this was the first time I was actually falling in love in the City of Love."
“No one’s perfect. Sometimes, our partners will do things that drive us mad. I know I have habits Gunnar can’t stand. But the difference between the couples who make it and those who don’t is one, understanding what your dealbreakers are, and two, being willing to stick it out through the issues that aren’t dealbreakers.”
"Admitting weakness, much less desperation, was unheard of for a Russo. Hell, I didn’t even admit when I had a cold. But denying my feelings had landed me in my current hell, and I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
Not when it came to Vivian."
“That I needed to fight for you. And he was right.”
"Love wasn’t always about the big moments. More often, it was tucked in the small moments connecting the major ones."
"A part of me would always find my way to her. She was my North Star, the brightest jewel in my sky
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.25
“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand.”
💭🏊♂️💦 Forbidden waters, Olympic-level tension, and a whole lot of missed potential… Let’s dive into this one.
𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗾𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁: Olympic gold medalist, swim captain, and walking definition of ‘I’ve been waiting for you’ energy. This man? Obsessed. Blunt. Hot. The way he sees Scarlett, understands her, and pushes her to be her best? Swoon. The tattoos, the dirty talk, the yearning—10/10, no notes. He was the highlight of this book, and I will not be taking questions.
𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗲𝗿: I adored her passion for diving. Her struggle to overcome a career-threatening injury felt raw and real, and I ate that up. But when it came to personal relationships? Girlie had the backbone of a wet noodle. Lukas would go MIA, then waltz back in, and she’d just… melt. Stand up for yourself, queen!! The moments where she actually shined? Perfection. But I needed more of that fire.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: For the first 60%, I was ready to stamp a solid 4-star rating on this. Their chemistry? ELECTRIC. The physical attraction? Off the charts. But somewhere along the way, their relationship started feeling more like a well-curated kink checklist than an actual romance. Where were the deep emotional beats? The big swoony moments?
𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 (𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵): This is where it lost me. Lukas is fresh off a SEVEN-YEAR relationship with Scarlett’s best friend, Penelope. At first, Pen was cool with them hooking up—hell, she encouraged it. Then BOOM, the last 40%? She’s suddenly clingy, throwing shade, and acting like Lukas is hers on demand. This plot twist was unnecessary, messy, and a total buzzkill.
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: The book hypes itself up like it’s about to serve us gourmet BDSM… but it’s giving mild spicy mayo. Not bad, but not what was promised.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: Rushed. Sloppy. I wanted to see Lukas and Scarlett as an actual couple, without third-party interference, but the book didn’t give me that. I feel ROBBED.
𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁: Bingeable? Yes. Unforgettable? No. Lukas carried this book on his broad, tattooed swimmer’s back. But the miscommunication, OW drama, and lack of emotional depth? Oof.
𝐏.𝐒 If you’re into sports romance, this still might be worth checking out for Lukas alone. Just... prepare for frustration.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 Can someone PLEASE give us a dual POV? I need to be in Lukas’s head ASAP.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐.25 (𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 40% 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰)
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: If you love a possessive, obsessed hero and don’t mind unnecessary conflict, you might love this. For me? Meh.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“That’s where it lives, my love for him. In the space between the things he could do, and what the chooses instead.”
“I’m afraid of the unpredictability of existing. I’m afraid of not being able to control the direction of my life. I’m afraid that no matter how much I plan, I won’t be able to avoid hurtful and sad things. But above all…” I take a deep breath and laugh softly, because what I’m about to say is ridiculous, even if it’s true. Even if it’s me. “Mostly, I’m afraid of attempting something and not being perfect at it.”
“Sometimes, when she's in deep sleep, a thoughtful little frown furls on her brow. Lukas cannot physically get out of bed until he has smoothed it over with his lips.
He used to want to prove to himself that he could thrive, even without her.
He has given up on that. Now he just wants her.”
“Scarlett. I can’t be without you. And for the first time in my life, I don’t care. I think of you all the time, and I want to make plans with you, I want to talk about the future, and I’m fucking happy about it—”
“Scarlett.” His fingers come up to my chin. Grab it gently, but tight. “The only time wasted is time we are apart.”
“Stay home for long weekends and have morally bankrupt amounts of sex with someone I’m in love with. Kinky, vanilla, I want it all. I want to adopt rescue animals with her. I want to take care of her, and watch her be cold in Sweden, and marvel every day at how much smarter than me she is, and . . . Scarlett.” His thumb swipes under my eye. “Why are you crying?”
“Sometimes I’m afraid that this is the best thing I’ll ever have. For the rest of my life.”
“It takes him a while to answer. When he does, he’s not looking at me. “Because sometimes I can’t breathe when you’re around.”
“A minute later she's asleep. The entire universe is here, in his arms.”
“The thing is, I love reading Mafia erotica as much as the next girl with daddy issues, and my attraction for fictional guys making scenes in iconic, over-the-top ways is among my most virulent traits.”
“That’s nice of you to say, because I live in fear of you seeing through my daily charades and realizing that I’m so numbingly boring, dentists inject me into gums before root canals.”
“His renamed contact reads 'Lukas Scarlett'.”
“I may be at my worst, but I can masquerade as someone who’s doing perfectly fucking fine.”
“but the way he looked at you . . . I don’t think he’s ever wanted anything or anyone the way he wants you.”
“There's no reason for him to be here.
No reason for me to let him in.
No reason to take his hand and guide him to my bedroom.
no reason for any of this, but I still burrow into the curve of his throat, and fall asleep with his scent in my lungs after just a few seconds.”
💭🏊♂️💦 Forbidden waters, Olympic-level tension, and a whole lot of missed potential… Let’s dive into this one.
𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗾𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁: Olympic gold medalist, swim captain, and walking definition of ‘I’ve been waiting for you’ energy. This man? Obsessed. Blunt. Hot. The way he sees Scarlett, understands her, and pushes her to be her best? Swoon. The tattoos, the dirty talk, the yearning—10/10, no notes. He was the highlight of this book, and I will not be taking questions.
𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗲𝗿: I adored her passion for diving. Her struggle to overcome a career-threatening injury felt raw and real, and I ate that up. But when it came to personal relationships? Girlie had the backbone of a wet noodle. Lukas would go MIA, then waltz back in, and she’d just… melt. Stand up for yourself, queen!! The moments where she actually shined? Perfection. But I needed more of that fire.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: For the first 60%, I was ready to stamp a solid 4-star rating on this. Their chemistry? ELECTRIC. The physical attraction? Off the charts. But somewhere along the way, their relationship started feeling more like a well-curated kink checklist than an actual romance. Where were the deep emotional beats? The big swoony moments?
𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 (𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵): This is where it lost me. Lukas is fresh off a SEVEN-YEAR relationship with Scarlett’s best friend, Penelope. At first, Pen was cool with them hooking up—hell, she encouraged it. Then BOOM, the last 40%? She’s suddenly clingy, throwing shade, and acting like Lukas is hers on demand. This plot twist was unnecessary, messy, and a total buzzkill.
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: The book hypes itself up like it’s about to serve us gourmet BDSM… but it’s giving mild spicy mayo. Not bad, but not what was promised.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: Rushed. Sloppy. I wanted to see Lukas and Scarlett as an actual couple, without third-party interference, but the book didn’t give me that. I feel ROBBED.
𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁: Bingeable? Yes. Unforgettable? No. Lukas carried this book on his broad, tattooed swimmer’s back. But the miscommunication, OW drama, and lack of emotional depth? Oof.
𝐏.𝐒 If you’re into sports romance, this still might be worth checking out for Lukas alone. Just... prepare for frustration.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 Can someone PLEASE give us a dual POV? I need to be in Lukas’s head ASAP.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐.25 (𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 40% 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰)
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: If you love a possessive, obsessed hero and don’t mind unnecessary conflict, you might love this. For me? Meh.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“That’s where it lives, my love for him. In the space between the things he could do, and what the chooses instead.”
“I’m afraid of the unpredictability of existing. I’m afraid of not being able to control the direction of my life. I’m afraid that no matter how much I plan, I won’t be able to avoid hurtful and sad things. But above all…” I take a deep breath and laugh softly, because what I’m about to say is ridiculous, even if it’s true. Even if it’s me. “Mostly, I’m afraid of attempting something and not being perfect at it.”
“Sometimes, when she's in deep sleep, a thoughtful little frown furls on her brow. Lukas cannot physically get out of bed until he has smoothed it over with his lips.
He used to want to prove to himself that he could thrive, even without her.
He has given up on that. Now he just wants her.”
“Scarlett. I can’t be without you. And for the first time in my life, I don’t care. I think of you all the time, and I want to make plans with you, I want to talk about the future, and I’m fucking happy about it—”
“Scarlett.” His fingers come up to my chin. Grab it gently, but tight. “The only time wasted is time we are apart.”
“Stay home for long weekends and have morally bankrupt amounts of sex with someone I’m in love with. Kinky, vanilla, I want it all. I want to adopt rescue animals with her. I want to take care of her, and watch her be cold in Sweden, and marvel every day at how much smarter than me she is, and . . . Scarlett.” His thumb swipes under my eye. “Why are you crying?”
“Sometimes I’m afraid that this is the best thing I’ll ever have. For the rest of my life.”
“It takes him a while to answer. When he does, he’s not looking at me. “Because sometimes I can’t breathe when you’re around.”
“A minute later she's asleep. The entire universe is here, in his arms.”
“The thing is, I love reading Mafia erotica as much as the next girl with daddy issues, and my attraction for fictional guys making scenes in iconic, over-the-top ways is among my most virulent traits.”
“That’s nice of you to say, because I live in fear of you seeing through my daily charades and realizing that I’m so numbingly boring, dentists inject me into gums before root canals.”
“His renamed contact reads 'Lukas Scarlett'.”
“I may be at my worst, but I can masquerade as someone who’s doing perfectly fucking fine.”
“but the way he looked at you . . . I don’t think he’s ever wanted anything or anyone the way he wants you.”
“There's no reason for him to be here.
No reason for me to let him in.
No reason to take his hand and guide him to my bedroom.
no reason for any of this, but I still burrow into the curve of his throat, and fall asleep with his scent in my lungs after just a few seconds.”
The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
💭"The Nothing Man" – More Like "The Meh Man" for Me..
You know that feeling when you pick up a book expecting to be *blown away*—ready for the suspense, the mind games, the edge-of-your-seat intensity—only to find yourself... skimming? Yeah, that was me with *The Nothing Man*. Maybe the timing was off, maybe my thriller brain was just craving something more, but this one just didn’t hook me the way I’d hoped.
The concept? Fantastic. A survivor of a serial killer writing a true-crime book *about* the man who murdered her family—while said killer is reading it? Genius. But the execution? Meh. Some chapters felt repetitive, some dragged on, and honestly, I was *bored* at times. The pacing was all over the place—slow, slow, slow, then suddenly an intense moment, back to slow again. It was like driving a car that kept stalling.
And the ending? Way bad. I saw the “big twist” coming 'miles' away, which killed any suspense the book had left. And then—just when there was 'one' thing that could’ve saved it—nope, too dull. If you’ve read this and feel the same way, you 'know' exactly what I’m talking about. But I’ll keep it spoiler-free.
Overall: Had high expectations, but this fell flat. A solid premise, but the execution lacked tension, and the ending didn’t hit the way it should have. If you love true crime-inspired thrillers and don’t mind a slow pace, maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did. But for me? It just didn’t deliver.
𝐏.𝐒. Maybe the timing was wrong when I picked this up, but I had to skim through a few parts. Some chapters were *straight-up boring*, though they ended with a few ups.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you guessing till the very end—this probably isn’t it.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐ ⭐.5
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Fiction
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes
Some good moments, but not enough to keep me fully invested.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
"Grief doesn’t follow any pattern. In reality it’s MESSY and CONFUSING."
You know that feeling when you pick up a book expecting to be *blown away*—ready for the suspense, the mind games, the edge-of-your-seat intensity—only to find yourself... skimming? Yeah, that was me with *The Nothing Man*. Maybe the timing was off, maybe my thriller brain was just craving something more, but this one just didn’t hook me the way I’d hoped.
The concept? Fantastic. A survivor of a serial killer writing a true-crime book *about* the man who murdered her family—while said killer is reading it? Genius. But the execution? Meh. Some chapters felt repetitive, some dragged on, and honestly, I was *bored* at times. The pacing was all over the place—slow, slow, slow, then suddenly an intense moment, back to slow again. It was like driving a car that kept stalling.
And the ending? Way bad. I saw the “big twist” coming 'miles' away, which killed any suspense the book had left. And then—just when there was 'one' thing that could’ve saved it—nope, too dull. If you’ve read this and feel the same way, you 'know' exactly what I’m talking about. But I’ll keep it spoiler-free.
Overall: Had high expectations, but this fell flat. A solid premise, but the execution lacked tension, and the ending didn’t hit the way it should have. If you love true crime-inspired thrillers and don’t mind a slow pace, maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did. But for me? It just didn’t deliver.
𝐏.𝐒. Maybe the timing was wrong when I picked this up, but I had to skim through a few parts. Some chapters were *straight-up boring*, though they ended with a few ups.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you guessing till the very end—this probably isn’t it.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐ ⭐.5
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Fiction
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes
Some good moments, but not enough to keep me fully invested.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
"Grief doesn’t follow any pattern. In reality it’s MESSY and CONFUSING."