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babsreads18's reviews
779 reviews
The Wildest Things by Andrea Hannah
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advance copy!
First, I actually adored this book. It's a dark, twisty, YA retelling of Snow White that was really interesting. The world building was well done, and I am obsessed with Snow, who was strong, fierce, and brave. I loved the magic and the woodland creatures and was so intrigued by the blight and the relationships between the ruling families. It was also really fun that we got the mirror's perspective!
However, I feel like this book was really mismarketed, which threw off my expectations. This is advertised as a sapphic romance, but there is almost no romance in the book. Honestly, for most of the book I kept expecting Snow and Henrick to have a romance. There were two kisses toward the end, but they seemed to come out of nowhere since Snow and Iliana had very little interactions.
There are some hints that there will be additional books, and I would definitely pick them up!
First, I actually adored this book. It's a dark, twisty, YA retelling of Snow White that was really interesting. The world building was well done, and I am obsessed with Snow, who was strong, fierce, and brave. I loved the magic and the woodland creatures and was so intrigued by the blight and the relationships between the ruling families. It was also really fun that we got the mirror's perspective!
However, I feel like this book was really mismarketed, which threw off my expectations. This is advertised as a sapphic romance, but there is almost no romance in the book. Honestly, for most of the book I kept expecting Snow and Henrick to have a romance. There were two kisses toward the end, but they seemed to come out of nowhere since Snow and Iliana had very little interactions.
There are some hints that there will be additional books, and I would definitely pick them up!
An Alchemist's Vow by Helen Scheuerer
3.0
This is a short introduction into the world in The Legends of Thezmarr. I enjoyed getting to learn about Thea and Wren. Their sisterly bond seems really sweet and I'm excited to read more about them.
Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!
Luce is the youngest daughter of a wealthy ship owner and dreams of one day joining a ship's crew. Her sisters are quite different than her, and only her best friend Samuel seems to understand her need to be near the sea.
This book was a stunning and dark blend of the Little Mermaid and Cinderella. It's beautifully written with fantastic world building. The character development and relationships were thoughtful and I loved that each character had depth to them. The pace was a little bit slow at times, but that somehow added to the intrigue, and there were enough plot twists to keep me engaged. I was full immersed in this one and enjoyed every minute of it.
I listened to the audio and the narrator, Esther Wane, was absolutely wonderful.
Luce is the youngest daughter of a wealthy ship owner and dreams of one day joining a ship's crew. Her sisters are quite different than her, and only her best friend Samuel seems to understand her need to be near the sea.
This book was a stunning and dark blend of the Little Mermaid and Cinderella. It's beautifully written with fantastic world building. The character development and relationships were thoughtful and I loved that each character had depth to them. The pace was a little bit slow at times, but that somehow added to the intrigue, and there were enough plot twists to keep me engaged. I was full immersed in this one and enjoyed every minute of it.
I listened to the audio and the narrator, Esther Wane, was absolutely wonderful.
Only in Your Dreams: A Novel by Ellie K. Wilde
3.0
Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted copy!
Melody finds herself living with her twin brother, Parker, in their hometown of Oakwood Bay after her boyfriend breaks up with her. Even worse, she's heading on a camping trip with her brother's best friend, Zac, who she has been avoiding for a decade. As they slowly start reuniting, and discussing what happened all those years ago, Melody and Zac start realizing the feelings they used to have might still be there...and they might finally be ready to act on them.
This was a quick easy read, but it felt a little bit YA with spice to me. I loved that Melody's hometown friends were able to help her see how toxic her former boyfriend had been. While Zac was sweet, the decade long obsession he had for Melody was kind of a turn off for me (don't get me started on his chest tattoos...). I did appreciate that there wasn't a third act breakup!
I listened to the audio and Teddy Hamilton and Carly Robins were fantastic. They were both easy to understand, even when sped up, and definitely brought the characters to life.
Melody finds herself living with her twin brother, Parker, in their hometown of Oakwood Bay after her boyfriend breaks up with her. Even worse, she's heading on a camping trip with her brother's best friend, Zac, who she has been avoiding for a decade. As they slowly start reuniting, and discussing what happened all those years ago, Melody and Zac start realizing the feelings they used to have might still be there...and they might finally be ready to act on them.
This was a quick easy read, but it felt a little bit YA with spice to me. I loved that Melody's hometown friends were able to help her see how toxic her former boyfriend had been. While Zac was sweet, the decade long obsession he had for Melody was kind of a turn off for me (don't get me started on his chest tattoos...). I did appreciate that there wasn't a third act breakup!
I listened to the audio and Teddy Hamilton and Carly Robins were fantastic. They were both easy to understand, even when sped up, and definitely brought the characters to life.
As You Wish by Nashae Jones
3.5
Birdie is determined to find a boyfriend in 8th grade. She just doesn't expect her best friend, Deve, to be so against her plan, and soon they are fighting for the first time ever. Anansi, a West African god appears and allows Birdie to make up to 3 wishes to fix everything...but wishes can be tricky to get right.
This is a really cute coming of age story with just the right amount of fantasy and romance. The storyline was really well done and the author did a great job portraying that awkward, hopeful 8th grade phase that so many of us go through. I appreciated that the wishes Birdie made impacted the relationships that she had with her family and other friends, as well as her relationship with Deve. Birdie and Deve's friendship was super cute and I loved that there was a happy ending. I listened to the audio which was fantastic.
Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted copy.
This is a really cute coming of age story with just the right amount of fantasy and romance. The storyline was really well done and the author did a great job portraying that awkward, hopeful 8th grade phase that so many of us go through. I appreciated that the wishes Birdie made impacted the relationships that she had with her family and other friends, as well as her relationship with Deve. Birdie and Deve's friendship was super cute and I loved that there was a happy ending. I listened to the audio which was fantastic.
Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted copy.
The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Patch is determined to find a boyfriend before prom, but there aren't many options in his small town. He's definitely a drama king, with a huge personality. I thought this book was fun and lighthearted, but had a few cringeworthy moments. While Patch was spending his time looking for a boyfriend, romance didn't really take center stage in this story. All of the characters were really well done, and its a fantastic read for teens.
I listened to the audio - The author also did the narration and was really able to bring Patch's big personality to life in a fun way.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!
I listened to the audio - The author also did the narration and was really able to bring Patch's big personality to life in a fun way.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!
Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee
4.0
Swoon. This book was one that I just could not put down once I started. The writing style, plot, and romance all had me totally invested. I loved that Lachlan Gage was morally grey and I also really enjoyed Cate's character. They are both such likable characters and their banter was perfection. The cliffhanger ending has me SO ready to read the next book in this series!
Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for the ARC!
The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich
3.0
This was a cute read inspired by The Princess Diaries. Jamie's world is turned upside down when he finds out he's the heir to the throne in Mitanor. When he travels there to meet his father, he is introduced to Erik, a prince from another kingdom and sparks fly. While the plot is pretty unrealistic, it was still fun. Jamie's character was really sweet and Erik was also a fun character. They had adorable chemistry and I loved that their parents were supportive of them. Overall, its a really cute young adult romance. I listened to the audio and thought the narrators were fantastic and at expressing the characters emotions.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy!
All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally
2.0
This one just didn't quite hit right for me. The author did a great job at bringing me into the setting of London in the early 1800's, but I found the overall plot to be long and drawn out. I also felt like there were just too many characters to keep track of and there wasn't enough mystery solving. I listened to the audio and thought the narrator was fantastic and did a great job adding to the historical vibes of the book.
Truly Madly Magically by Hazel Beck
4.0
Truly Madly Magically is book three in the Witchlore series. This one follows Ellowyn, a half witch who doesn't feel quite equal to the rest of the witches in her coven. When she is personally threatened by another coven, she learns to trust and lean on help of others, including Zander. This series is so cozy and fun. Ellowyn is a fantastic FMC and it was a joy to read about her journey. The romance is sweet and there isn't a ton of world building, so its an easy read. This book gives off perfect witchy vibes and would be perfect for the fall.
Thank you to The Hive for the gifted copy!
Thank you to The Hive for the gifted copy!