Take a photo of a barcode or cover
amandas_reading_nook's Reviews (372)
This is undoubtedly the best book in the trilogy. I thought the author’s writing improved dramatically, and the plot was significantly more interesting than Reckless.
That being said, I did guess all of the plot twists and the ending. Which I don’t necessarily consider to be a bad thing, but I did think it got a little convoluted. I also felt like the pacing in the final third of the book started to drag, and I could have done without the second epilogue entirely 🤷🏻♀️
That being said, I did guess all of the plot twists and the ending. Which I don’t necessarily consider to be a bad thing, but I did think it got a little convoluted. I also felt like the pacing in the final third of the book started to drag, and I could have done without the second epilogue entirely 🤷🏻♀️
I really loved this book! It felt like all of my favorite parts of Jane Austen’s novels- a modern classic if you will. Very fitting considering Anna’s own love of Austen. All of the romance and drama was so addictive, that I flew through this book. I couldn't pull myself away from Anna's foray into the life of the comfortably wealthy, even as I knew eventually all of her little deceptions would catch up with her.
I would recommend this book if your interests also intersect at Georgian Era romances, coming-of-age stories, and Gossip Girl (but make all the characters in their twenties) 😅
I would recommend this book if your interests also intersect at Georgian Era romances, coming-of-age stories, and Gossip Girl (but make all the characters in their twenties) 😅
This just might be my favorite time loop book I've ever read.
One night on her way home from work, Noelle uncharacteristically stops at a night market where she eats some dumplings that the owner of the stall promises will give her exactly what she needs. But when Noelle continues to wake up on June 20, she can't imagine why she could have possibly needed to be stuck in a time loop. Eventually, Noelle finds another woman, Avery, who is also stuck reliving the same Friday after eating from the dumpling stall. She also keeps running into a very handsome man at different locations and points in the day, which leads her to believe that he may be the key to breaking out of this loop. Either way, Noelle is forced to put aside her orderly life and workaholic tendencies and put herself out there to get him to notice her. But as she becomes more infatuated with him, Noelle can't help but wonder what will become of them if she ever wakes up on June 21.
I love a little magical realism or sci-fi element in a book, though I often find them riddled with plot holes, but I actually thought the author did an excellent job of setting the parameters for this world and sticking to them. In the end, I was satisfied with the explanation we're given for both why the loop started and ended. She also tackled just about every question and concern I had when it came to Noelle's relationship with Cam. I loved watching him fall for Noelle every time they met, but it was also heartbreaking every time he didn't remember who she was.
I loved the inclusion of Avery's character in this story. I don't think I've ever read a time loop book where it isn't just the main character who is stuck in the loop, and I thought that made the story both more interesting and unique.
I was hoping that the epilogue was going to be the first June 20 from the old woman's perspective- it would have been cool to get some concrete answer for why she chose Noelle and Avery to be in a time loop, but alas, I'll just have to speculate like characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
One night on her way home from work, Noelle uncharacteristically stops at a night market where she eats some dumplings that the owner of the stall promises will give her exactly what she needs. But when Noelle continues to wake up on June 20, she can't imagine why she could have possibly needed to be stuck in a time loop. Eventually, Noelle finds another woman, Avery, who is also stuck reliving the same Friday after eating from the dumpling stall. She also keeps running into a very handsome man at different locations and points in the day, which leads her to believe that he may be the key to breaking out of this loop. Either way, Noelle is forced to put aside her orderly life and workaholic tendencies and put herself out there to get him to notice her. But as she becomes more infatuated with him, Noelle can't help but wonder what will become of them if she ever wakes up on June 21.
I love a little magical realism or sci-fi element in a book, though I often find them riddled with plot holes, but I actually thought the author did an excellent job of setting the parameters for this world and sticking to them. In the end, I was satisfied with the explanation we're given for both why the loop started and ended. She also tackled just about every question and concern I had when it came to Noelle's relationship with Cam. I loved watching him fall for Noelle every time they met, but it was also heartbreaking every time he didn't remember who she was.
I loved the inclusion of Avery's character in this story. I don't think I've ever read a time loop book where it isn't just the main character who is stuck in the loop, and I thought that made the story both more interesting and unique.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A (kind of) second-chance romance with a dual timeline is normally a sure thing for me, but this one didn't quite make the mark.
Maeve and Finn have just signed a huge contract for their sex and relationship podcast, Tell Me How You Really Feel, which should have them over the moon, but it's hard to celebrate, let alone record a podcast, when they can barely stand being in the same room. Maeve is set on fulfilling their contract with as little contact as possible, but when an opportunity to become the highest-paid podcast hosts requires them to keep their ratings at an all-time high, she has to find a way to let Finn back into her life. Meanwhile, Finn is determined to do whatever it takes to win Maeve back, even if they never move past friends.
Let's start with what I enjoyed about this book. I thought the author did a great job of tackling some difficult/controversial topics, like the pay gap, mental health (specifically anxiety), impostor syndrome, therapy, sex positivity, and generally the double standards that women face. My favorite parts of this book were when they were filming the podcast episodes, regardless of whether they were solo or with a guest. Maeve's character always gave great advice, and these scenes are where Finn and Maeve have the best banter.
Now let's talk about what I didn't enjoy so much. I wouldn't say that I love miscommunication in a romance, but I typically don't mind it. As someone who has a hard time expressing myself sometimes, I actually find it very human. That being said, the level of miscommunication in this book was incredibly frustrating, considering that the two main characters literally make a living talking about sex and dating. I found it a little confusing how they could go from having such a great conversation for the podcast and then shut each other out irl. Also, both characters had some behaviors that gave me the ick and made it hard for me to even root for them to work things out.
Overall, I do enjoy this author's writing, but I hope that her next novel will feature characters who are capable of having productive conversations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maeve and Finn have just signed a huge contract for their sex and relationship podcast, Tell Me How You Really Feel, which should have them over the moon, but it's hard to celebrate, let alone record a podcast, when they can barely stand being in the same room. Maeve is set on fulfilling their contract with as little contact as possible, but when an opportunity to become the highest-paid podcast hosts requires them to keep their ratings at an all-time high, she has to find a way to let Finn back into her life. Meanwhile, Finn is determined to do whatever it takes to win Maeve back, even if they never move past friends.
Let's start with what I enjoyed about this book. I thought the author did a great job of tackling some difficult/controversial topics, like the pay gap, mental health (specifically anxiety), impostor syndrome, therapy, sex positivity, and generally the double standards that women face. My favorite parts of this book were when they were filming the podcast episodes, regardless of whether they were solo or with a guest. Maeve's character always gave great advice, and these scenes are where Finn and Maeve have the best banter.
Now let's talk about what I didn't enjoy so much. I wouldn't say that I love miscommunication in a romance, but I typically don't mind it. As someone who has a hard time expressing myself sometimes, I actually find it very human. That being said, the level of miscommunication in this book was incredibly frustrating, considering that the two main characters literally make a living talking about sex and dating. I found it a little confusing how they could go from having such a great conversation for the podcast and then shut each other out irl. Also, both characters had some behaviors that gave me the ick and made it hard for me to even root for them to work things out.
Overall, I do enjoy this author's writing, but I hope that her next novel will feature characters who are capable of having productive conversations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Idk what magic B.K. Borison put in this book, but I'd like to bottle it up and sprinkle it over every mundane part of my life.
This is the first book that I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed her writing style! I loved Aiden and Lucie's characters- they were so well developed that they genuinely felt like real people. I also appreciated that while Aiden was skeptical of love he wasn't a cynical asshole. It was more that he was scared of being hurt by it than it was that he didn't believe in it, which made it very easy for me to root for him and Lucie to end up together.
Ok, bye, I gotta go watch Sleepless in Seattle for the first time now!
This is the first book that I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed her writing style! I loved Aiden and Lucie's characters- they were so well developed that they genuinely felt like real people. I also appreciated that while Aiden was skeptical of love he wasn't a cynical asshole. It was more that he was scared of being hurt by it than it was that he didn't believe in it, which made it very easy for me to root for him and Lucie to end up together.
Ok, bye, I gotta go watch Sleepless in Seattle for the first time now!
This is probably the most unique and fun thriller that I've read in a while. (Can I call a book about violent, serial murders fun?)
I picked this book up from a staff member's pick at an indie bookstore that described it as a cross between Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and a Saw movie, and that is honestly a perfect description. This was so wildly entertaining, I finished it in a day. I thought the author did a great job constructing this story. We have a relatively large cast of characters, each with not only their own backstories but also lives that intersect with the other characters', and I never felt confused about who was who or what was going on. I did correctly guess the identity of Alastor, but there were still parts of the ending that surprised me.
I picked this book up from a staff member's pick at an indie bookstore that described it as a cross between Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and a Saw movie, and that is honestly a perfect description. This was so wildly entertaining, I finished it in a day. I thought the author did a great job constructing this story. We have a relatively large cast of characters, each with not only their own backstories but also lives that intersect with the other characters', and I never felt confused about who was who or what was going on. I did correctly guess the identity of Alastor, but there were still parts of the ending that surprised me.
And this journey through grief... It's what we do for the great loves of our lives.
Yeah, this one got me right in the feels.
I loved everything about this book! The author had such beautiful words on grief, life, and love, and she somehow managed to balance that with humor and the sweetest of romances. I was worried that the relationship would feel imbalanced or too codependent for me to enjoy it, but that was not the case at all. I thought Lenny and Miles had a very natural progression from strangers to friends to lovers. And while Miles does make it clear that his sole mission is to bring Lenny back to life, he never makes their relationship feel transactional. Rather, I found that he needed Lenny's friendship just as much as she needed his.
This just might be my favorite romance of the whole year.
A well-awaited return to Castle Knoll!
Since inheriting her Great Aunt Frances' estate, Annie has been adjusting to life in Castle Knoll, and just when she was starting to feel like things were getting a little dull, she receives a surprise visit from Peony Lane, the fortune teller who predicted Frances' murder. She has a new mystery for Annie to solve involving a long-ago car crash that killed three members of the Gravesdown family, but before she can give Annie all the details, she's found dead in Annie's solarium. Now Annie will have to race to figure out what really happened the day of that crash, before whoever took out Peony Lane can silence Annie too.
I loved revisiting these characters, and I was glad to see the return of France's journal entries, as they were my favorite part of How to Solve Your Own Murder. I especially enjoyed all of the interactions between Annie and Detective Cane and can only hope that their relationship will continue to develop throughout the series. This book had plenty of twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, but most I didn't. Try as I might, I did not solve the mystery before Annie.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, I would highly recommend this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Dutton Books, for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Since inheriting her Great Aunt Frances' estate, Annie has been adjusting to life in Castle Knoll, and just when she was starting to feel like things were getting a little dull, she receives a surprise visit from Peony Lane, the fortune teller who predicted Frances' murder. She has a new mystery for Annie to solve involving a long-ago car crash that killed three members of the Gravesdown family, but before she can give Annie all the details, she's found dead in Annie's solarium. Now Annie will have to race to figure out what really happened the day of that crash, before whoever took out Peony Lane can silence Annie too.
I loved revisiting these characters, and I was glad to see the return of France's journal entries, as they were my favorite part of How to Solve Your Own Murder. I especially enjoyed all of the interactions between Annie and Detective Cane and can only hope that their relationship will continue to develop throughout the series. This book had plenty of twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, but most I didn't. Try as I might, I did not solve the mystery before Annie.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, I would highly recommend this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Dutton Books, for the opportunity to read and review this title.
I live for a teen drama filled with petty (or in this case, deadly) revenge, and this one is no exception. This was wildly entertaining, and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, as for the final 1/3 of the book, I was convinced that I was going to hate it. I really enjoyed the author's writing style, and I will definitely be reading more by her!
I think I would have liked this book more if it had been longer. I'm sure plenty of readers have arguments for why it works better as a novella, but I wanted more of an explanation of how the two different agencies came to be and how all the different time travel worked. There was plenty of beautiful prose about what it means to be obsessively in love, but weirdly enough, I didn't feel that deep of a connection between Red and Blue.