alreadsbooks's reviews
239 reviews

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill

4.0

i really enjoyed this one! i love edward underhill’s writing, so i had high hopes for this one and it satisfied what i wanted! 

i loved getting a deep dive into not only darby’s past but even seeing some of michael’s as well through the flashbacks, to really get to know them. and i loved the ending

in how we may not have gotten the romantic perfect ending that was expected, but the ending that we need for our souls

my only complaint is that it maybe fell a little short - i would have loved more conversations with darby and his mom, or even some with some of the other people in Oak Falls that Michael stayed friends with. i loved all the characters and would have really enjoyed seeing more dynamics between different people!

Spell on Wheels, Vol. 2: Just to Get to You by Kate Leth

3.0

again enjoyed the characters in this one but the story honestly got a little confusing and felt all over the place, so while i felt like it had a lot of potential i just was feeling kind of lost at times 

Spell on Wheels, Vol. 1 by Kate Leth

3.75

enjoyable, i liked the characters but nothing else really captured me into the story like i’d hoped 

Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Adiba Jaigirdar

4.75

i really enjoyed this one! i loved all the characters, the feeling of the end of your high school years and trying to figure out what you want in life is all too real. i LOVED Said and Tiwa, and also really enjoyed the audiobook as well! 

Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly

5.0

this was an adorably sweet, spicy, and surprisingly deep romance for a novella! i loved how deeply i was able to get to know the characters in such a short time, and my only complaint is that i would like to continue watching their relationship bloom. incredible fat rep, figuring out what non-binary means to you and how to navigate that in your fashion, career, life, etc. i really enjoyed this novella and can’t wait to read the rest!

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre

3.75

as a cute fiction found family novel with a romance side plot, the vibes were amazing. had fun, loved the characters, the found family and lessons of learning to accept that you don’t have to have it all together to be succeeding in life - really loved that! the third act break up / conflict was a little annoying and easily avoidable so i was frustrated by that. 

HOWEVER. if you’re going into this book looking for an intricate magic system with a decent amount of world building, this ain’t it. there’s next to no explanation for most of the magic systems in this world, which in a cozy novel about found family i don’t even really need THAT Much but SOME kind of world building would have raised the score on this book by probably a whole point. 

overall, cute and worth a read if you’re looking for a diverse crew of misfits finding their place in the world alongside each other, not the book for you if you’re looking for an in depth look at the magic and paranormal aspects 

Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel

5.0

i can’t express just how much i loved this book, so i’ll do my best!! 

let me start with the characters - i felt like i knew them so deeply, their personalities, their interests, their quirks and flaws. it was so refreshing to see so much of the character building on page!

the whole setting and vibe was also incredible - as a girl who considers herself a gamer (even if it’s just of the cozy and goofy variety) the vibes we’re actually immaculate the entire time. board game nights with friends are one of my favorite ways to fill my cup in my own personal life, so i loved living through theirs as well! 

now for the romance - the PINING!!!!

the tension started so early on, and while it was a fun grumpy sunshine trope, it was nice because William was like the epitome of “grumpy except when they’re alone” kind of energy. their tension was amazing, their banter was incredible, their relationship was beautiful to watch blossom. and also huge shout out for him protecting her from her creep ass boss no matter what - he DESERVED IT IDC

I also really liked the family aspect - both in Williams and Shaun’s relationship with their father and with each other, as well as arose and her parents and getting to know more about their upbringings. 

last thing… the proposal?! MY GOD MY HEART. sobbed. so cute!!!

thank you Forever for the eArc of this novel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

2.75

this one hurts. this one stings. 

i LOVE ahb’s writing style and her character work. the found family in her books is absolutely some of my favorite. however… this one, the main characters pissed me off more than they didn’t LMAO. 

personally,

i think this book should have ended when charlotte left brighton in Colorado - and still gotten the therapy and maybe they could rekindle their friendship and somehow in the future maybe work it out (even though i am not sold on them ever working as a couple) but to go from the colorado trip to being engaged 10 months later is bananas and i’m struggling to believe it was enough time for all the healing these two needed to do separately and also as friends before they even rekindled a relationship

All I Want is You by Falon Ballard

4.5

one thing about me is that if falon ballard writes it, i’m reading it. 

i loved this one! second chance holiday romance between romance authors? loved it. forced proximity, one bed, tension, exactly what i wanted wrapped up in this short little novel!

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

4.5

i loved this one! one of my favorites in this series for sure. neighbors who are secretly pining for each other, sweet christmas admirer, learning to heal from grief that fundamentally changes your life, it was such a great one! could have read a full novel of this one tbh!