Take a photo of a barcode or cover
auroralovesbooks's reviews
413 reviews
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria
- 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
4.5
I love them, your honor! 🥹
This was the perfect ending to the Primas of Power. It was funny, sexy, and emotional. This book had me BLUSHING, giggling, smiling, and tearing up.
Ava is our perfectionist people-pleaser with a huge heart and a very thorough planner. Roman is our millionaire workaholic who fixes everything for those he loves. When these two meet and throw caution to the wind (very unlike both of them), they never imagined this one night stand would change their lives. Not only that, but that they'd be Maid of Honor and Best Man for the same wedding.
Ava working through her feelings and speaking up for herself was such an emotional journey. Her fears and emotions felt raw to read. I think this is going to be a really important book for people pleasers to read and process.
Roman was an absolute delight. His patience, understanding, and respect were everything that a partner should have and aim for. His Spanish nicknames for Ava... I melt!
At some point, Ava realized that she didn't know how a healthy relationship and communication looked because she hadn't seen it modeled. Pheww that hit right in the chest.
I loved this so much, and I'm excited to get my hands on a physical copy.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are absolutely my own. ✨️
This was the perfect ending to the Primas of Power. It was funny, sexy, and emotional. This book had me BLUSHING, giggling, smiling, and tearing up.
Ava is our perfectionist people-pleaser with a huge heart and a very thorough planner. Roman is our millionaire workaholic who fixes everything for those he loves. When these two meet and throw caution to the wind (very unlike both of them), they never imagined this one night stand would change their lives. Not only that, but that they'd be Maid of Honor and Best Man for the same wedding.
Ava working through her feelings and speaking up for herself was such an emotional journey. Her fears and emotions felt raw to read. I think this is going to be a really important book for people pleasers to read and process.
Roman was an absolute delight. His patience, understanding, and respect were everything that a partner should have and aim for. His Spanish nicknames for Ava... I melt!
At some point, Ava realized that she didn't know how a healthy relationship and communication looked because she hadn't seen it modeled. Pheww that hit right in the chest.
I loved this so much, and I'm excited to get my hands on a physical copy.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are absolutely my own. ✨️
Get Real, Chloe Torres by Crystal Maldonado
4.0
A fun, queer, coming-of-age story!
I really enjoyed this one. This is a YA story, and it definitely reads like one, as is described. It met the expectations it set!
This book has 3 queer friends who drifted apart reunite for a road trip full of fun stops. I think this was a beautiful story on friendship and how meaningful it can be to work to keep your friends in your life.
I also really appreciated Chloe being conflicted with all the changes happening in her life and growing up. I think this can be really important representation for young adults transitioning into college or adult life overall.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
I really enjoyed this one. This is a YA story, and it definitely reads like one, as is described. It met the expectations it set!
This book has 3 queer friends who drifted apart reunite for a road trip full of fun stops. I think this was a beautiful story on friendship and how meaningful it can be to work to keep your friends in your life.
I also really appreciated Chloe being conflicted with all the changes happening in her life and growing up. I think this can be really important representation for young adults transitioning into college or adult life overall.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton
3.0
I wanted to love this so much, but it was okay.
What I liked:
The NASA / stars talk
A very romantic, thoughtful picnic
What could have been better:
The FMC was not super likable. I love a sassy, witty FMC, but she came off kind of hot and cold and a bit ungrateful. She also goes from "fake dating" to getting upset that Vincent has to go do his JOB. I just couldn't get behind her.
I think we would have benefitted from Vincent's POV. I didn't really catch when the flip from fake dating to real, raw emotions if I'm being honest. While I enjoyed Vincent, I didn't get enough of him to actually love him as our MMC.
This is good for people who like:
Fake dating
Slow burn romance
What I liked:
The NASA / stars talk
A very romantic, thoughtful picnic
What could have been better:
The FMC was not super likable. I love a sassy, witty FMC, but she came off kind of hot and cold and a bit ungrateful. She also goes from "fake dating" to getting upset that Vincent has to go do his JOB. I just couldn't get behind her.
I think we would have benefitted from Vincent's POV. I didn't really catch when the flip from fake dating to real, raw emotions if I'm being honest. While I enjoyed Vincent, I didn't get enough of him to actually love him as our MMC.
This is good for people who like:
Fake dating
Slow burn romance
Love in Focus by Lyla Lee
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the eARC.
This is a fun, second-chance romance with great spice!
What I loved: The Asian queer representation was so great to come across. The elder queer couple that was mentioned and how they commented on how important that representation is. Oh, that got to me! 🥹❤️
What could have been better: Maybe the final copy will be different from the ARC, but I did get some disconnect with Gemma's POV being written in 1st person vs Celeste's POV being written in 3rd person. The ending also felt super rushed, in my opinion.
Overall, I still recommend this as a fun, queer romance book! There are a lot of things I still loved and enjoyed.
This is a fun, second-chance romance with great spice!
What I loved: The Asian queer representation was so great to come across. The elder queer couple that was mentioned and how they commented on how important that representation is. Oh, that got to me! 🥹❤️
What could have been better: Maybe the final copy will be different from the ARC, but I did get some disconnect with Gemma's POV being written in 1st person vs Celeste's POV being written in 3rd person. The ending also felt super rushed, in my opinion.
Overall, I still recommend this as a fun, queer romance book! There are a lot of things I still loved and enjoyed.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
4.5
Knocking half a star because it did have its slow moments, but I truly enjoyed it!!
The audiobook was great and made it seem all the spookier.
The audiobook was great and made it seem all the spookier.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Murder
When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa
3.0
This was one of my most anticipated ARCs, considering I love Mia Sosa's other books! This was not my favorite.
This is a great book if you are looking for a second-chance, right person - wrong time, "I wanted to be better for you" type of story.
I can be a bit picky with my second chance romances, so keep that in mind. So Javi doesn't "dump" Mari, more like ghosts her after college after being friends for the entire time after kissing once. Six years later, Javi and Mari run into each other again. Mari immediately forgives him for ghosting her with no explanation. Girlllll, STAND UP.
Skipping forward, they've decided to just be friends after hooking up, and then eventually Mari moves on and gets engaged to someone else. Instead of telling her how he feels immediately, he goes on this journey to find a flaw with her fiance and break up the engagement. Of course, the plot resolved last minute, and they get their happy ending, but I just didn't get a big gesture moment from him. He didn't grovel. Javi just didn't do nearly enough to win Mari over in my opinion.
This was very predictable. It's an easy read for anyone that's interested in reading it, I just wish there would have been more to it.
This is a great book if you are looking for a second-chance, right person - wrong time, "I wanted to be better for you" type of story.
I can be a bit picky with my second chance romances, so keep that in mind. So Javi doesn't "dump" Mari, more like ghosts her after college after being friends for the entire time after kissing once. Six years later, Javi and Mari run into each other again. Mari immediately forgives him for ghosting her with no explanation. Girlllll, STAND UP.
Skipping forward, they've decided to just be friends after hooking up, and then eventually Mari moves on and gets engaged to someone else. Instead of telling her how he feels immediately, he goes on this journey to find a flaw with her fiance and break up the engagement. Of course, the plot resolved last minute, and they get their happy ending, but I just didn't get a big gesture moment from him. He didn't grovel. Javi just didn't do nearly enough to win Mari over in my opinion.
This was very predictable. It's an easy read for anyone that's interested in reading it, I just wish there would have been more to it.