allyareads's reviews
382 reviews

Fall In Love, You False Angels by Coco Uzuki

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley.
I made a mistake. I assumed there would be actual angels in this just based on the title (there wasn't any *sad face*). Listen I was intrigued by the cover and didn't even bother with the synopsis and that's on me.
The lead couple were very cute but honestly I wanted more villainy, wickedness, and menace. I also desperately need her narcissism  turned up to an 11 and then real fun could be had.
But I am invested and I'm curious to see where the story goes from here.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

 First the Pros:
+The depth and multitudes in every single character was fantastic.
+I adored the subversion of every single cliche that have become synonymous with the fantasy genre It was deeply refreshing to get away from the usual themes in high fantasy *cough* misogyny *cough*
+This was a great use of the amnesia trope and having a protagonist lie and fumble their way through will never not be funny.
+Genuinely hilarious at times.
+Loved the direction the ending went.
+This is a petition for more middle aged main characters please!

The Cons:
-Whoever formatted the paperback version of this book we need to talk. I'm not angry but putting the lines that close together WITH that font size was a choice.
-This could have been 50-75 shorter. At times the self reflection did get a bit repetitive.

All in all, this was a solid debut from Rozakis and I’m excited to see what comes next. 
Thank you NewSouth for the readers copy. You spoil me.

A Curse of Fate by Jaymin Eve

 Hmmmmm I immediately forgot a lot about the plot of this book after finishing it. It was fine. Nothing great enough to be noteworthy and nothing bad enough to make me remember either. The only highlight I had saved was a quote about potatoes (?) Huh.
End of review I guess. *shrug*

That Time I Took Down A Cult by Rebel Carter

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? No

4.0

 Do you also love the idea of a Demon/God partner enthusiastically supporting your insatiable, bloodthirsty need for vengeance and will stand behind you (literally) and cheer you on (also literally) while you kill your way through the cult that tried to sacrifice you to said Demon/God.
He just wants to be a supportive husband! 😭

I had the best time reading this. It definitely could have been fleshed out a little bit more in parts but maybe that’s my bias for wanting more pages. I’m very excited for the sequel.
Makes a lot of sense Kimberly Lemming helped come up with the title for this book. Fans of Lemming will love this. 

The Desire Variable by Ana D'Arcy

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Someone explain to me why this was FIVE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE PAGES!!!
Any contemporary romance book over 350 pages deserves jail time.
I'm not gonna lie it was a slog at times and the ending (minor spoiler)

being a cliffhanger (?!)  There's more!?

add some extra jail time.

What's A Girl Gotta Do To Get On The Naughty List? by Kimberly Lemming

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

I read this on Christmas morning and almost spat my coffee everywhere.
Kimberly, I love you but girl WHAT?!?!?
Obviously this was funny but also absolutely unhinged and dear I say against the laws of physics
 (I could not figure out where limbs and other parts were meant to go).
Read at your own discretion and preferably not anywhere too public.

A Love Most Fatal by Kath Richards

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

5.0

Give me all the gender swap mafia books. Immediately! *grabby hands*
This was perfect. No notes.

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Grace Draven writes God Tier level romantacy and that's just a fact. 

The artful way she balances character and plot is perfect and a testament to her skill. Let alone the beautiful writing! *swoon* Her worldbuilding is effortless for a fantasy book and at no point did I miss a map (stay with me fantasy reader, I know you love a map but I promise you'll be ok) . The pacing was fantastic and at no point do you feel like the story drags. Also 399 pages!? Perfect 🥹 

This is for all the people lamenting the death of yearning in romance books on social media. 
Shhhhh that's enough. This is for for you.
I'm excited to read more of her writing, dare I say 2025 is the year of Grace Draven (?)

Model Home by Rivers Solomon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

 Thank you NetGalley for the readers' copy but unfortunately I had to DNF this book quite early into the story. Let me be clear, Rivers Solomon is incredible and this book is I have no doubts fantastic but this is a question of bad timing. I did not have the mental fortitude for these particular trigger warnings. Pausing reading this was self-care.

I have every intention of finishing it but right now in this current climate I’m gonna take a beat. 

👍

 

Grimstone by Sophie Lark

dark mysterious

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

2.5

 Thank you Netgalley for the readers' copy in exchange for an honest review. 

My feelings about this book could not be more polarising. On one hand I was drawn in by the mystery and enjoyed the plot twists. I loved the quietly sinister small town with its malicious gossip and mysterious history. Almost like an uncanny Stars Hollow.

But on the other hand I felt the chemistry between the two mains a bit cringe and I don’t know if I could call it chemistry per se but they had good lust (?). They’re connection and bonding felt like an imitation of deep. There were definitely jumps (leaps even) from them meeting to being vulnerable to being in love in that time frame (and flipping a house as well ?!?!)

Also why did I think this book had ghosts (potentially vampires) in it? Just me? 

I think going into this book as blind as possible would definitely heighten the mystery and spooky atmosphere, I would recommend reading the trigger warnings. The dubious consent part of this book also left a bad taste in my mouth but that’s on me for not checking.

Regardless, I read the whole thing and I’ve come away with the opinion that I like the idea of Sophie Larks books more than the actual experience. I think she’s an awesome person publicly and undeniably talented as an author but there seems to be something in all the books I’ve tried to read. A je ne sais quoi. An ick. A mental block. Something.