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aurslde's reviews
30 reviews
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
just for the summer was such a pleasant surprise !! after finishing book lovers, i wasn't sure if anything would live up to that; however, this book lived up to that !! i would say this is the perfect book to follow up a emily henry novel. it's just as emotional and balanced with other plots that isn't solely romance focused. it had moments that made me laugh, swoon, annoyed, and emotional for each of the characters. i hate forced in third act conflicts, but this book made it sensical and earned. there are moments where it can get cheesy and insta-lovey but those are completely drowned out by everything good in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
Lore Olympus: Volume Six by Rachel Smythe
*puts on clown outfit* well i guess i'm continuing this series after all.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
now this is the emily henry book. i feel like book lovers does the best job of balancing the romance along with the family/friendship dynamics compared to her other novels.
i loved our main characters. you hardly ever see a fmc like this especially centered in a romance book and i absolutely loved her !! i like the way that the mmc doesn't feel the need to change her or feel intimidated by her. he mirrors her really nicely. i like that the author does a flip on the "two city people coming to a small town" romance with these cynical type of characters, definitely made it more funny and entertaining instead of formulaic. her relationship with her sister was really well done. nora reminded me a lot of fiona gallagher from shameless in regards to that dynamic. it's just so refreshing when a novel has a good romance plot AND good side plots !!
ugh it's hard to put my full thoughts into words (as it usually is for me when i like a book), but i love this book sm.
i loved our main characters. you hardly ever see a fmc like this especially centered in a romance book and i absolutely loved her !! i like the way that the mmc doesn't feel the need to change her or feel intimidated by her. he mirrors her really nicely. i like that the author does a flip on the "two city people coming to a small town" romance with these cynical type of characters, definitely made it more funny and entertaining instead of formulaic. her relationship with her sister was really well done. nora reminded me a lot of fiona gallagher from shameless in regards to that dynamic. it's just so refreshing when a novel has a good romance plot AND good side plots !!
ugh it's hard to put my full thoughts into words (as it usually is for me when i like a book), but i love this book sm.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
a really solid read !! i think for me, set up and romance trope wise, this isn't something i would really reach for. fake dating and second chance? ehhh not really my thing. however, i will say that emily henry does a really good job at keeping me invested outside of romance plots.
typically, authors put all their thought into the main characters, leaving the side characters lacking and suffering. but not emily henry !! she creates characters that feel genuine and tangible, including side characters. i liked how happy place tackled the message of relationships growing and evolving over time, leading to people drifting from each other due to new changes in life. it's such a common issue that every person has. the friendship dynamic is definitely what kept me hooked. romance wise, besides the tropes, i just wasn't FULLY feeling it. i loved our fmc, but i personally felt the mmc was lacking for me in that department. i can't really put my finger on what i didn't like about him but it's still good otherwise.
typically, authors put all their thought into the main characters, leaving the side characters lacking and suffering. but not emily henry !! she creates characters that feel genuine and tangible, including side characters. i liked how happy place tackled the message of relationships growing and evolving over time, leading to people drifting from each other due to new changes in life. it's such a common issue that every person has. the friendship dynamic is definitely what kept me hooked. romance wise, besides the tropes, i just wasn't FULLY feeling it. i loved our fmc, but i personally felt the mmc was lacking for me in that department. i can't really put my finger on what i didn't like about him but it's still good otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy
Older by Jennifer Hartmann
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
Unsteady by Peyton Corinne
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
for me, i just knew this was gonna be an “okay” book (a 3 star) and i’m just over that lately. the couple is just not properly paced. it feels very insta-lovey to me.
Insatiable by Leigh Rivers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
the format and writing was so infuriating to me. chapters would end on one scene, some tense and traumatic, and then progress as if it didn’t happen??? no explanation or anything. plus the writing is so cringy to me and clunky.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ace of spades is one of my favorite books; so, i was excited to get my hands on where sleeping girls lie. safe to say that i was not disappointed. i feel like my only reason why this wasn't a five star in my eyes was because of the pacing. i feel like a majority of the book is pretty slow but then gives you a page turner of a third act. however, for me, i wish those reveals were more spread out because it did feel a tad bit rushed to me. the story itself and the characters are fantastic though!! i was constantly intrigued and wanting to solve the mystery myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Murder and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
felt the urge to pick this up and buddy read it because of it getting picked up for an adaptation. it was pretty good!! i will say what did take me out was the mustache twirling villain in the third act. that was so goofy. but it's so passionflix, so of course they'd pick this up just based on that alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Stalking and Emotional abuse