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alexatthelake's reviews
722 reviews
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
5.0
Absolute perfection. That's all this review needs because it was just SO GOOD. I love Christina Lauren's writing and her characters more than most. Even though the tropes in this book weren't my favourite and I'm pretty over the fake dating plots, this book blew me away and will receive a top notch review for the year.
Dare I say this is now my favourite Christina Lauren book!
Dare I say this is now my favourite Christina Lauren book!
The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
4.0
I will openly admit that I was worried about starting this book at this time because I was in a serious romance burnout/slump. I assumed I'd be rolling my eyes and skimming pages, because I was just over the romances and the tropes. I'm so happy that this book blew my expectations away, it was so cute and sweet and sassy. Sarah Adams is a gem!
Always Only You by Chloe Liese
4.0
I started this series a long time ago, and for whatever reason didn't continue with it. I don't remember much from the first book in the series, except that I did quite enjoy it. This one remind me why I love Chloe Liese's writing and her characters. However, there were definitely a few things that nagged at me and bothered me, but nothing enough to not continue with this family series!
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Truly, how do you review books you just love? All I want to do is talk about how much I loved it and tell others to go read it, but I know I need to try to explain WHY I feel this way. I will say this I think this will slot into third spot on my Carley Fortune favourites list BUT!!! I think that's just because I loved her previous books so unbelievably much and I think I didn't read this book at the best time when I could sit down and properly focus on it. I have the audio and I look forward to experiencing it again through that format.
Firstly - I was very honestly relieved when this book took a different path than her other two. For those who have read all 3, you know what I'm talking about and if you don't know, read all her books. It was just refreshing. In saying that, I did feel like the story was a little repetitive and I understand why we needed it to build the story, but I just wanted to get to the juicy bits, you know? Because we all know Carley knows how to break us down and put us back together in all the best ways. This book really explores the beauty of female friendships, but also the hardships we experience throughout adulthood in our friendships/relationships. It just touched on a topic that really isn't covered much for whatever reason in romance novels and it was beautiful.
Now - the romance. It was just glorious. There was so much tension and build up throughout the whole thing, I needed to know every single thing about both of them and their journey immediately. I won't go into detail over it because we all know it'll be amazing. My favourite part though - the BEAUTIFUL and incredible description of Prince Edward Island. A piece of my heart will always live on that little island as well and reading this book was like a little secret trip there. Loved everything.
Firstly - I was very honestly relieved when this book took a different path than her other two. For those who have read all 3, you know what I'm talking about and if you don't know, read all her books. It was just refreshing. In saying that, I did feel like the story was a little repetitive and I understand why we needed it to build the story, but I just wanted to get to the juicy bits, you know? Because we all know Carley knows how to break us down and put us back together in all the best ways. This book really explores the beauty of female friendships, but also the hardships we experience throughout adulthood in our friendships/relationships. It just touched on a topic that really isn't covered much for whatever reason in romance novels and it was beautiful.
Now - the romance. It was just glorious. There was so much tension and build up throughout the whole thing, I needed to know every single thing about both of them and their journey immediately. I won't go into detail over it because we all know it'll be amazing. My favourite part though - the BEAUTIFUL and incredible description of Prince Edward Island. A piece of my heart will always live on that little island as well and reading this book was like a little secret trip there. Loved everything.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack
3.0
Such an original concept for a book! Initially, I was obsessed and loving it! While I still very much enjoyed it, the characters were all terrible and it seemed to really drag for a lot of it. I think the audiobook is the way to go for this one, as I think some of the footnotes and such that are included would have been difficult to read through.
The cover definitely through me off, even though I knew it wasn't a cozy happy book, the cover got me. It's definitely more of a cozy, fun mystery than a thriller by any means. I did laugh a lot through the book, at the silly characters, and I was caught off guard a few times, so I did enjoy it and will definitely continue with it if it's a series (which I think it is), but it just wasn't my absolute favourite.
The cover definitely through me off, even though I knew it wasn't a cozy happy book, the cover got me. It's definitely more of a cozy, fun mystery than a thriller by any means. I did laugh a lot through the book, at the silly characters, and I was caught off guard a few times, so I did enjoy it and will definitely continue with it if it's a series (which I think it is), but it just wasn't my absolute favourite.
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
5.0
Stick with me through this review, because it's not going to start out glowing as it should. I'm going to admit that the beginning and much of the middle felt slow and dragged out, with a few things that didn't hit the mark for me. This is HIGHLY unusual for an Elsie Silver book, so I'm wondering if it was a timing thing for me or if this just wasn't the cowboy rodeo I know and love. NEEDLESS TO SAY - I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters. The last half of the book blew me away and reminded me just how much I adore Silver's writing and her love stories. This is why I sometimes have a hard time abandoning a book, because I just LOVE when the ending of a book turns the whole thing around and makes me reflect on the other half I didn't love as much and changes my opinion on it all.
The banter between the two main characters in this book is pretty much what sets my world on fire.
The banter between the two main characters in this book is pretty much what sets my world on fire.
One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan
4.0
I think it's funny, but interesting how differently I'll rate thrillers versus romance or historical fiction. It sounds terrible but it's almost like I don't expect as much from them, which isn't fair. But here we are. This book is getting 4 stars, even though it wasn't anything life changing or overly memorable in the world of thrillers, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and was interested throughout the whole book. It didn't really have my heart racing much and I wasn't super on the edge of my seat, but I was consistently interested in finding out the end and had me guessing for much of it.
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
5.0
Look at me writing a review for a book immediately after I finish it! I can't tell you how or why I JUST got around to reading this one, but it didn't disappoint, as expected. For a while, I thought it would be my favourite Abby book, but I don't think it'll quite take that crown from Yours Truly.
A quick note before I just gush about the book - I was a little tired of the back and forth in the middle of the book, even if I understood the point of it. I just felt as though it could have been wrapped up a bit better instead of the same back and forth over and over.
NOW - this book was heartbreakingly beautiful. The idea of your dog finding your soulmate for you resinates deep in my soul. The grief and how it was dealt with was beautiful. I have adored every single one of Abby Jimenez's male main characters because they're all literally just perfect. I love the banter between the friends in her books, both hilarious and equally supportive with tough love. I could probably sit here and continue gushing forever over how much I adore her characters and her stories and her writing but I'll just say this was a hit - a really really beautiful one.
A quick note before I just gush about the book - I was a little tired of the back and forth in the middle of the book, even if I understood the point of it. I just felt as though it could have been wrapped up a bit better instead of the same back and forth over and over.
NOW - this book was heartbreakingly beautiful. The idea of your dog finding your soulmate for you resinates deep in my soul. The grief and how it was dealt with was beautiful. I have adored every single one of Abby Jimenez's male main characters because they're all literally just perfect. I love the banter between the friends in her books, both hilarious and equally supportive with tough love. I could probably sit here and continue gushing forever over how much I adore her characters and her stories and her writing but I'll just say this was a hit - a really really beautiful one.
Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese
4.0
While I definitely enjoyed this book, it won't be my favourite Chloe book and I don't think it'll be super memorable either. The first in this series didn't super vibe for me either, but I still very much enjoy Liese's writing. I will say that I loved this one more than the first in the series because of the communication that clearly improved from the last. LOL. I do think that maybe my opinion is a little swayed because I've read so many amazing romances lately.
She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica
She's Not Sorry is a quick, top notch thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole book! Funny enough I usually don't love thrillers that have a bunch of storylines, but this book really connected together perfectly. It seemed so chaotic and confusing through a lot of it, but it made my mind spin in such a good way! I did love that it wasn't based on an unstable narrator at all.