ariannaisbooked's reviews
416 reviews

The Highland Escape by Emily Silver

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

3.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed the plot of fixing up the old inn & falling in love with the hot Scot in a kilt! The characters were so fun, especially Angus & Mr. Peep 🤭

I applaud Emily Silver for writing accurate Scottish English dialogue & taking the care to have it sensitivity / beta read. But because I don’t consume much or any books, film, or tv with Scottish English, it’s difficult for me to read because it pulls me out of the story trying to imagine how it would actually be said. It’s 100% a me problem. I’m sure that I would have loved the book more had there been an audio version to listen to, rather than just eyeball reading it. 

I would absolutely recommend the book, it just wasn’t the perfect fit for me. 

Thank you to Emily Silver for sending me an early copy to read! 

Dark Restraint by Katee Robert

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Going into this one, I knew it wouldn't end up being my favorite of the series because I wasn't particularly interested in Ariadne or the Minotaur. But the book didn't really convince me to like either of them very much either. We got the "I've loved you since I was a teen" thing but didn't really get to see flashbacks or anything. Just the Minotaur being extremely obsessed with her and unwilling to let anyone else have her. It also didn't feel like Ariadne was a strong female lead either. She didn't feel like she had much of a personality compared to many of Katee Robert's other characters in this series, which I'm sure what at least partially intentional because of her upbringing. The spicy scenes were fine but they didn't feel like they were particularly special or overly hot like what we've typically seen for this series.

Overall, my favorite part was the overarching plot with the downfall of Olympus getting closer & closer. I think there's three or four more books in the series & I just can't imagine what's going to happen next with this big plot. 👀

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Katee Robert for sending me an early copy!

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

adventurous emotional funny 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

Casey McQuiston is the GOAT of writing the best characters & friend groups! I'm obsessed every time. Kit, Theo, & the rest of their European tour companions were no different. They were all so much fun, especially Fabrizio! This book truly felt like a love letter to food & drinks. I don't think I've ever been more hungry while reading a book lol. The push and pull between Kit & Theo had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I felt like I was turning each page faster than the last. I felt every single emotion so strongly & really related to both Theo & Kit in many ways. I literally stared at the wall for 20 minutes after finishing the book because I just didn't know what to do with myself now that I was done. 

I really felt like I was traveling through Europe with their group & it made me so nostalgic for my own tour through Spain & Italy a decade ago. 

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Casey McQuiston for sending me an early copy! 

Best of the Best by Emily Silver

lighthearted 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? No

5.0

I am so in love with Nick & Bexley's story! They were truly so perfect for each other in every way possible. Bexley brought out Nick's confidence while Nick allowed Bexley to be fully herself with *and* without hockey in the mix. Lesser men were intimidated by Bexley's career but Nick did everything he possibly could to support her & lift her even higher. 

You won't believe my excitement when I got to the "let's help each other date" proposal. I eat that up every single time! Because you KNOW it's never just learning. I was giggling, kicking my feet every time they had a talk with themselves about their crush & how they're just "helping" each other. 

I've read half of Emily Silver's backlist so far, and this book is for sure in my top 5 favorites! 

Features: 
- 10+ year age gap 
- She's older
- Team GM x starting goalie
- "helping" each other date
- Secret forbidden relationship
- No third act breakup

Thank you to Emily Silver for sending me an early copy! 

The Good Girl by Nikki Sloane

4.0

This is a hotttt forbidden romance to conclude the Nashville Neighborhood series! I enjoyed the mutual attraction & pining between Preston & Sydney, even when they hadn't seen each other in over a year. I wasn't super into the major conflict of the book, but it does make sense for the plot especially with Sydney's family life throughout the book.While this wasn't my favorite book of the series, I still thoroughly enjoyed it as I have with every other Nikki Sloane book I've read. It was nice to see Preston finally get his HEA after the traumaaaa from The Doctor (book one). I also thought it was fun to see all the cameos of previous couples from the series so many times in The Good Girl!

The Awakening of Ivy Leavold by Sierra Simone

5.0

I started reading this book because I needed to confirm if it ties in with the Thornchapel series or not. While I *think* it is, I haven’t came across anything that 100% confirms it. 

But I don’t usually reach for historical romances so I just assumed I wouldn’t love this series like the rest of Sierra’s books. For how short the book is, it’s a wildddd and hot time! I had a great time with this book & can’t wait to continue the series!

Selah Gothic by Kat Blackthorne

5.0

Funny Story by Emily Henry

4.0

Door of Bruises by Sierra Simone

5.0

∞ stars / 5 stars 

THE Sierra Simone has done it again! I genuinely had no idea where this entire series was actually going, but I was along for the ride. And what a ride it was! There's just something that she puts in her series that make them impossible to put down. Thornchapel was no exception to that. I fell in love with all 6 of the main characters and I just couldn't get enough of their storylines. 

The last quarter of this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! It was so chaotic and it felt like everything had the potential to go completely wrong. But the plot and each character's storylines are wrapped up in a pretty little bow by the end of the book! I do still have so many questions about the "after" portion in the epilogue. 

I would absolutely recommend this entire series to anyone who loves a little dark academia & polyamorous love!

Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 ⭐️ out of 5 ⭐️

I am obsessed with how Catherine Cowles crafts masterpieces! I seriously thought I had the villain mapped out this time. But naturally, I was wrong yet again. I loved the chemistry between Anson and Rho, but especially the way they helped each other through grief & trauma. The fates were so determined to bring them together & both of them deserved this HEA! Rho’s determination to live the fullest life for her family members that couldn’t hit so close to home for me. Of course I fell in love with all the side characters just as much as the main characters. It wouldn’t be a true CC  reading experience if I didn’t! 

I highly recommend listening to this one on audio! Andi Arndt & Zachary Webber absolutely smashed it, as always. 

Thank you to Catherine Cowles & team for sending me an early copy!