babsreads18's reviews
779 reviews

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

 Charlotte has a stalker and has been doing her best to stay hidden and safe. Her neighbor, Seth, is an arborist, who loves sharing random facts about trees. They find themselves trapped together over Valentine’s Day when the stairs to their apartments are unexpectedly removed. They start hanging together to pass the time and soon sparks start flying.

This was an adorable read, that was really well developed for being a short novella! I loved both Seth and Charlotte’s characters, the fun banter that they shared.  Seth was so attentive to Charlotte’s needs without judging her, and Charlotte was such a strong female main character. The forced proximity was perfection, and it was adorable that their friends had a little side romance. It was also really informative because I learned that male trees are responsible for my terrible allergies and I’d like to start a petition for everyone to start planting more female trees. 

 

Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.25

Cursebound is book two in the Faebound series and is a gorgeously written romantasy. The world building was vivid and so well done. I loved the new POVs that were included. The new characters introduced really enhanced and added depth to the story. The overall plot was engaging, with plot twists, betrayal, and multiple romances. This book tackled political topics like class systems and rebellion. I thought the inclusion of the ruling family's response to those issues was also really important. There were multiple romances, but they never overtook the main storyline. Each romance was nuanced and there was plenty of conflict and angst between the characters. I absolutely adored the new romance that was introduced. The obeah continue to be one of my favorite elements of this series, and there was a plot twist related to them that literally shocked me. I can't wait to read book three when it is available. 

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC. 

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

2.0

Wyatt has decided he's ready to become a single dad via surrogate. He runs into issues with his plan when the surrogacy agency drops him as a client after he declined 12 potential surrogates. Everly, Wyatt's 18 year old niece decides she is going to find him the perfect surrogate...and when she goes to hang up fliers, she meets Trista outside the surrogacy agency.  Trista is looking to become a surrogate to fund an animal rescue, but was turned away by the agency because of her weight...Everly decides she is perfect, Wyatt actually agrees, and soon Trista and Wyatt are living in close proximity while on a life changing journey. 

This book was a really fast read, but there were a lot of things that didn't work for me. I don't feel like the surrogacy piece was handled the way that it should have been. The way surrogacy was depicted seemed really unethical. Wyatt and Trista both had a ton of baggage that they needed to work through, but that never really happened.  Trista's baggage and trauma is related to her childhood and Wyatt's is related to an experience when he and his brothers all

slept with the same woman who was actually already married and pregnant

.  Wyatt was way too controlling of both Trista and his brothers. Trista also just seemed really immature in her actions, like continuing to bring more animals to the mountain despite Wyatt saying no. Overall, it's a quick read, but just didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours and Wednesday Books for the gifted copy!

Rebel Witch is the second and final book in the Crimson Moth duology. It wastes no time, and jumps right into fast paced action. There are plenty of plot twists that kept me guessing throughout the book. Rune’s character continued to be one of my favorites. She’s such a strong, intelligent, and calculating FMC. I also loved Gideon, and his stubbornness, in this book. The enemies to lovers romance that ensued was full of tension and was just so good. I could literally feel the yearning they had for each other at times! The ending did feel a little bit rushed to me, but overall it was a really enjoyable read! 

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

3.5

We Could Be Rats is a complex coming of age story about Sigrid and Margit, two sisters who have grown apart over time. This book has an unreliable narrator, a POV swap, and a lot of emotions. I wouldn't say it was an enjoyable read because it was full of dark and complex emotions, but I did find it intriguing and thought provoking. I listened to the audio and Candace Thaxton was fantastic and really helped convey the emotions of the story. 

Many thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

Dinosaur Day by Diana Murray

funny lighthearted

5.0

Dinosaur Day is such a fun and engaging read! The rhyming text flows well and is fun for kids The illustrations are detailed, bright, and just amazing. My six year old is a big fan of Unicorn Day and loved this one as well even though she isn't a big fan of dinosaurs. She thought the duck was such a funny addition to the story! 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the ARC!

Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters

3.5

Kingdom of Claw is the sequel to The Road of Bones which I absolutely loved. I really enjoyed a new POV was included in this one. I also loved the politics and court dynamics. However, there was a lot going on and the plot started to get pretty complicated and tricky to follow. In addition to all of the action storylines, there were also two romances to keep track of. I really enjoyed Saga's POV. Her storyline was really interesting and held my attention more than Silla's. There were some pacing issues, specifically in the middle of the book, but things picked up towards the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC! 

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

I enjoyed this book overall. While it technically fits into the typical genres that I enjoy, it also has thriller vibes which is a bit outside of my comfort zone. The writing was pretty typical TJ Klune which I really enjoyed, but some parts were definitely repetitive. It was intense with high stakes and anxiety inducing action, while still being somewhat cozy and full of found family. Art's character was strange, but endearing. Nate and Alex were both characters who grew on me as the story progressed. I do wish there was a little bit more romance between the MMCs because that piece felt a bit rushed. Overall, it was an interesting read that kept me invested in the storyline. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC. 

That Friend by Sabrina Brier

lighthearted

3.0

That Friend follows Sabrina, a girl who is just trying to figure out life with her friends in NYC. She's a bit of a hot mess, self-centered, and generally just frustrating. While she has great insights and advice for people on her new podcast, she seems to struggle to apply that to her own life. I enjoyed the strong female friendships and that Sabrina was able to learn and grow. Jack was probably my favorite character. I probably would have enjoyed this one more if I were younger (mid-30s over here), but still found myself enjoying the humor sprinkled throughout. The audiobook quality is absolutely fantastic and I adored the full cast! 

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC! 

The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow

dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a stunning dystopian fairy tale. Shrike is the town storyteller. Her wife, May, has turned into a demon, but Shrike is unwilling to believe that she is now a total monster. When a knight arrives to hunt the demon, Shrike does everything she can to keep May safe - and finds out the knight is hiding secrets too. 

This was a wild ride that had me feeling all of the emotions. The writing was absolutely fantastic and so descriptive. The story was both beautiful and hauntingly sad. It may be a short story, but it had the perfect amount of plot and world building. 

Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the ARC.