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alliery15's reviews
41 reviews
girl, isolated: poems, notes on healing, etc. by Trista Mateer
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
This was a very quick and easy read which I enjoyed. It was a nice reset between novels and I found the poetry to be well written and relatable. Were there some pretentious parts? Yes, but if you look at this as a reflection of a woman’s time in isolation rather than Nobel prize poetry I think it holds up well. There were many lines that really stuck with me and I think they were beautifully written.
Hands Down by Mariana Zapata
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am so in love with this book I don’t even know where to begin. I think Bianca and Zac might be my favorite couple ever. Obviously, in the real world I would probably be a little skeptical that their relationship was ethical (I mean he’s seven years older and has known her his whole life) but I think you have to have a certain level of suspension of disbelief to read romance novels. Other than that their relationship was overwhelmingly wholesome. To be fair, there were a few things written in this book that I elected to ignore for my own sanity (see: fart attacks and wedges as a serious choice of footwear), but I loved everything else so much it made up for it. I think the one thing this book did better than any other I have ever read is grand romantic gestures, the final 20% of this book had me melting. Also, the abundance of nicknames Zac and Bianca had for each other killed me, and don’t even get me started on Zac’s southern drawl (darlin’ are you kidding me).
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
funny
hopeful
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Fantasy football has taken over my life these past few months and this was the perfect book to end the season with. Aiden's character development was one of my favorite character arcs ever. I never would have expected the characters to grow and unfold the way they did, but I have zero complaints. This book is also the slow burniest of all slow burns but somehow doesn't have too much drawn-out angst (but it's there don't get me wrong). It's exactly what it's marketed as; a cliche sports rom-com. There were some chapters that were a bit repetitive but this was a very easy feel-good read while also having the perfect balance of whump and romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I picked this book up on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised; it was the queer bachelor rom-com I didn't know I needed! I was laughing out loud from the very first chapter and continued to until the very end. Charlie and Dev's journeys were very real and I found myself relating to both of them. I was glad that there was minimal angst and a sappy, happy ending. It was very reminiscent of Red, White, and Royal Blue (which is always a good thing).
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Finally! A book that did the fake relationship trope justice! I couldn't put this book down, which is what made my rating go from a 4 to a 4.75. I can not encapsulate what made this book so good. I have a hard time reading romance when the main character's inner dialog is so full of "woe is me, I need a big strong man ugh". But Olive and Adam's relationship is the perfect buildup with a very satisfying conclusion. Also the way Adam treated Olive made me melt. His concern for her was unwavering and endearing.
P.S. the spicy scenes in this book are unmatched in my opinion
P.S. the spicy scenes in this book are unmatched in my opinion
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Oh god, how I wanted to love this book. I had heard such good things about it, but I was left somewhat disappointed. Lucy is yet another quirky main character who has trouble making friends and Joshua is a tall dark and handsome asshole to the extreme. His jealousy and cruelty make him hard to sympathize with (until about 80% through the book). I also think it's fair to say I'm tired of reading books where the main character works in publishing. How many times am I going to have to read about a girl "who just knew she wanted to work in the magical world of publishing". Also, the amount of cringing I did while reading this was insane (see: "le sigh."). The ending of this book also seemed a bit rushed. promotion (which takes up about 30% of the book and is the main conflict) is resolved in one paragraph, which felt very unsatisfying.
Now for the good parts. The end of this book made up for a lot of the aforementioned complaints. Josh is redeemed in the final chapters and Lucy's inner monologue becomes a lot more bearable. The tenderness exhibited in this book is also unmatched.