anisyrah's reviews
87 reviews

On the Same Page by Haley Cass

emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

If you liked this one then, well, we’re ON THE SAME PAGE!

I had to, sorry hehe.

This book in total was about three times longer than the average romance book—and yet, it sure as hell didn’t feel like it. I was actually just left wanting more! The slow burn was absolutely slow burning in this one. I really, really just wanted more scenes and more time with these characters actually dating. Realizing they love each other was at the 90% mark of the book! And then to get married in the epilogue?! It just felt so quick.

Seriously, I’d read another two or three books of this length to get more development from the two as a couple. I loved the established core friendship and their found family. I loved the development from best friends to best friends with benefits. But I was just left craving more. More please!!!

The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean by Ann Rose

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Reading this one felt like trying to untangle a mystery, given the premise of the book is that you have no clue who’s the right one for Mandy. That aspect was both a kinda fun take on a romance book and mildly annoying because all of the jumping around between timelines left me wanting more time to develop the several romantic partners Mandy has. Two of the main ones blended together and I was confused as to who was who because they weren’t very well defined due to time constraints and the jostling between their scenes.

Big fan of the grief representation in act three. Very, very realistic as someone who’s on that journey right now. 

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

Folks, Ashley Herring Blake once again writes THE most compelling romance books!!! Spicy scenes that have you kicking your feet? Check. Emotional growth that has you feeling proud of the characters and gives their stories meaning? Check. Relationship development and tribulations with a third act conflict that actually makes sense? Check. 

She even sprinkled in an amazing ensemble cast that just left me wanting more! I really, really hope she turns these characters into a series like the Bright Falls cast. I absolutely loved every second of this book and cried at their happy ending! Nobody does it like AHB. 

In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad slow-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

3.5

In The Event of Love was slow-moving for a large portion of the book. Compared to other holiday romances, I feel as if the plot development of the characters was better than average but still lacking compared to my favorites. At points, Morgan’s internal and external dialogue come off as incredibly whiny. Even after all she’s gone through, which was rather well-developed, I still found myself getting annoyed with her.

The town built around the main characters was incredibly sweet, with adorable characters I would enjoy following further into the series. The ending had me literally crying and the steamy scenes were indeed blush-worthy steam, so extra points to the book and author for those high emotion moments. 

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This novella was so immersive!! Pressing play on this audiobook was like diving headfirst into a 1940s film noir, quirky detective phrases and fun Trans-Atlantic accent and all!! While the twists and turns were rather predictable, I fully enjoyed my time in this fun novella outside of my typical genres. Hearing 1940s wlw flirting and pining was exquisite!

Sacred Hospitality by Olivie Blake

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

This mainly just felt unnecessary, maybe even to the point of slice-of-life AU fan fiction. 

I can’t lie though: the Libby and Nico bickering is always so much fun. They’re my faves, so I’ll take the extra scenes happily. 

Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.5

Another amazing addition to the series! I love how all of the relationship dynamics feel so real in these novels. Although their bare bones are tropes, every character and both their platonic and romantic relationships are so incredibly fleshed out. Tara and Holly’s dynamic was so believable, including their ups and downs. I laughed, cried, and blushed throughout their love story. 

Although the first in the series is still my favorite, it’s so amazing to see the characters in this world expand and grow throughout all three books. Despite having different main protagonists in all three, this cast of characters is so immersive that you just end up rooting for all of them! They’re so realistic, I almost feel like I know them in real life. They’re absolutely my comfort characters.

I would read 100 more romance novels set at Carrigan’s!

For Never & Always by Helena Greer

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.0

For Never & Always was a very realistic romance, grounded in sensible relationship issues, genuine dynamics, and an incredibly comforting display of complex grief as someone new to the complex grieving process. That being said, it may have leaned a little too realistic into the back and forth nature of difficult times in persistent relationship flaws. I did feel as if we rounded the issues a few too many times before tackling them, but the at the same time, the tug of war really did add to how real Levi and Hannah felt. Absolutely adored their dynamic and the complexities! And getting to see the larger cast of returning characters felt like coming home. 

Rouge by Mona Awad

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

This book’s premise was incredibly promising: taking the societal concept of “cult of beauty” and transforming it into a physical beauty cult. The novel also incorporated in some very interesting and layered mother-daughter relationship complexities that did have me in tears at several points. Lots of very good things going on, especially in the first third and the last third of this book. 

The middle, however, was convoluted. It ran rather long and really could have been condensed in several areas, as it took away from the building suspense in the beginning and truly delayed the resolution longer than necessary. 

Overall, willing to give this author another swing but this one isn’t one I’d really recommend. 

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

Umm okay? What was that?

I’m just feeling left completely underwhelmed and yet a little lost as to why we ended where we did. I do appreciate this book for being exactly what I needed: a whacky hot girl lit fic novel that was both grounded in an off putting reality and entertaining enough to distract from a shitty life week.

But what even was that ending? Maybe I’m not hot enough or lit fic enough to see the symbolism in it. 

The only basis of comparison I have when I’ve dipped into this genre before is A Certain Hunger, which I enjoyed significantly more. There were lots of good creepy moments, but big reveals in this one just fell flat. I’m left with that feeling of investing time and energy into a weird thriller tv show and feeling bleh and empty by the end of it. Unsatisfied is the best label I can place on this one.