a_libra_library's Reviews (267)

Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Dear Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

You have just become one of my new auto buy authors.

This book is full of suspense, mystery and a true look at what dark academia means in young adult fiction. To critique and comment on educational institutions and the system and structure.
The audiobook was amazing as well, I love when extra production is put into an audiobook to make them more engaging.

If you love a story that keeps you guessing, full of puzzles and anagrams and unreliable narrators then this is the perfect book to recommend. This is so much more than a YA mystery thriller and I hope that anyone picking this title up can see that once they're done.

Also there is a cute animal sidekick so, bonus points.

Content Warnings

Done and Dusted

Lyla Sage

4.5

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

A fun and refreshing small town romance. I know the "cowboy" part of this cowboy romance is what draws people in but I think the cowgirl really steals the show!
Perfect balance of the two character outside of the relationship and their stories with spice mixed in.

Emmy is coming home to find herself and think about her next phase in life when she sees Luke Brooks, her older brothers best friends and torn in her side her whole life. As Emmy is overcoming huddles that has taken her out of her career with Lukes help they can't help but find comfort in each other.

There is so much that happens in the little romance but I couldn't help loving every moment, The audiobook was STUNNING.

A few tropes
Brother best friends
Hate to like/love
Small town
ADHD and anexity rep
Rediscovering yourself
overcoming family drama

*I will be reading Swift and Saddled - I don't care what anyone says. It cant be that bad.

Swift and Saddled

Lyla Sage

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Perfect sequel to Done and Dusted! Better than DND if I may say.

I loved Ada and Wes so much that I read this book in a week!
Audiobook was stunning and I fell in love even more with the town of Meadowlark.

Ada is a big city gal looking for her big break to do more work in her field of interior design and working on a huge project for the Rebel Blue Ranch is the perfect opportunity to flex more of her talent. Only true obstacle is she didn't think her boss to be the charming cowboy she just meet in the local bar and can't stop day dreaming about.
Wes Ryder is the middle Ryder and has spent his entire life looking for his place in the families legacy, he decides that blazing his own path is the only way to do it which means no getting distracted by his heart or the painfully familiar tug Ada seems to have on it.

I think the character were even more fleshed out and brought to life in this book. I related to Ada so much I found myself annotating and crying at times.
Also Wes's relationship with his depression and how he treats and talks about it was BEAUTIFUL.

Tropes:
Small town
forced proximity
work place-ish romance
Big city girl small town boy
Black cat/ golden retriever
Anxiety rep
Depression rep

This is a 10/10 in my book

Content Warnings

Outdrawn

Deanna Grey

5.0

If I could rate a book 6 ⭐️ I would, absolutely would.

The fact these characters are people outside of their relationships is just *chefs kiss*

A Tempest of Tea

Hafsah Faizal

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

First off.
⭐ 5
I loved the story and characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and FSG for this audio arc.

Maya Saroya, Thank you for bringing these characters to life.

This feels beautiful and fun and very fresh! Vampires, twists and tea. I love Arthie and I need every main character to be as fiery as she is. I am a huge found family lover and this book DELIVERS!

This is a very character driven book and the heist does take a backseat in act two and three, if you’re here for a heist you might not be happy. IF YOU WANT DRAMA AND PLOT TWIST… You want this book.

Spindrift is not just a tea house, it’s a home for everyone she loves and is afraid to love.

NOW Spoiler

FLICK’S MOM BEING THE RAM!? Why? Who is the Wolf? Has he been there the entire time?? Also Penn shouldn’t have died- at all.
Arthie being a vampire is very much in your face but it makes sense to distract you from other twists.
Jin turning into a vampire?? Trauma on trauma. I just want to give him a huge and find his parents.