bekkasbookclub's reviews
210 reviews

Love and Other Flight Delays by Denise Williams

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

 ✈️The Love Connection- I adored this story! Ollie & Bennett's meet cute was adorable. Their romance was a fun slow burn filled with sweet tension. My only negative was Ollie was able to walk away too easily at the first sign of conflict. Also, I wish it had been a full blown novel. 4.5⭐️
✈️The Missed Connection- This was such a fun strangers to lovers, rivals to lovers story. I liked that Gia (Bennett's best friend) was back and we're introduced to straight-laced Felix. Their second meeting was so awkward, I felt the second-hand embarrassment. I liked that they balanced each other out and the epilogue was fantastic! 4⭐️
✈️The Sweetest Connection- This friends to lovers story was sweet but also 🤦🏻‍♀️ Silas and Tegan have been best friends for years but are clueless to the fact that both are in love with each other. I understand their hesitation to move into a relationship but still, I got frustrated with them at time. 4⭐️
Overall, I thought this was a cute and fun collection of novellas. I enjoyed how they were all somehow connected and woven together seamlessly. I would recommended this to anyone who has an upcoming flight and wants some fun romance in and around the airport. 

Ellie Is Cool Now by Faith McClaren, Victoria Fulton

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think the premise of this book was really cool. Ellie, a TV writer, is challenged by her boss to go home for her 10 year high school reunion and complete a to-do list featuring her classmates. Ellie didn’t enjoy high school and is still very jaded by her experiences. I think what really made this book enjoyable was seeing Ellie, with the help of Mark (her high school crush), complete her list. While doing this, she’s also able to show how “cool” she is now with her job in Hollywood on a hit TV show. This book was fun and quirky but also a bit messy at times. The romance between Ellie and Mark was sweet with it being second chance(ish), however complicated because Mark is coming out of an engagement. Their chemistry was awkward, like teenagers, but became sweet and gentle. The subplot of Ellie reconnection with her high school best friend, Roxie, felt raw and real. It really makes the reader realize that friendships need work in order to be maintained. I’m a little disappointed with Ellie’s actions at the end of her week home, but I understood she was trying to protect herself. The ending was a surprise and fun, event if it may have been a bit unrealistic. I would definitely recommend this if high school wasn’t your jam, and you want a cute love story.
Thank you Forever for my gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Infidelity

Ana Takes Manhattan by Lissette Decos

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I was really looking forward to this but just had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. Mostly because no one is really likeable. Ana loves to makes lists, so it's no surprise she has a list for her Mr. Right. However, I don't understand why she took each bullet point from this list and found different guys that only fit one point. Therefore, making up her Mr. Right. I also didn't agree with her seeing multiple men, but she didn't tell them that's what she was doing. Ana's best friend, Gia, was just the worst. She was self-centered and manipulated Ana into apologizing for something when they were both in the wrong. As far as for the romance, I wish it would have developed sooner. I knew which guy she would end up with fairly quickly but it didn't happen until almost the very end. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes of Ana as a reality show producer. It was cool to see how everything worked and came together. Overall, it had some strong points but its characters brought it down for me. I would recommend this is you prefer women's fiction where romance takes the back seat.
Thank you Forever for my gifted copy and NetGalley for my digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity

Off the Map by Trish Doller

adventurous emotional fast-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

4.5

This book was absolutely beautiful. Carla and Eamon meet, and their connection is instant. I’m not usually into insta-love but they are an easy couple to love. Their chemistry is 🔥 and the steam is a little more than mildly spicy 🥵 . I loved the imagery Doller created when discussing their adventures throughout the Ireland countryside. One aspect I really loved was the secondary storyline of Carla and her dad, Biggie’s, relationship. They had some heartfelt and tear-jerking moments. I also loved that her love of traveling came from him and the adventures they took together. This book packs so much in for being less than 300 pages. It makes you feel all the feels but also makes you want to take your own adventure⛰. I highly recommend this for romance readers who want to feel some wanderlust.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

adventurous 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

4.0

This book was such a cute YA and I think Hibbert knocked it out with loveable characters and wonderful character development. This book was so fun and cheeky, it had me smirking and laughing several times while reading. The banter between Celine and Bradley was so well developed, which I think comes from Hibbert’s previous writing of adult romances. That being said, the romance was sweet and innocent and definitely fit what I like in a YA romance. I loved how Hibbert wrote about mental health and Bradley’s struggles with OCD. I felt that it was written with care not presented as something he “struggles” with but something he is trying to overcome. Seeing that felt very empowering, even though I do not have OCD myself. I really enjoyed when the story was from Bradley’s POV, he was just so warm and in tune with his feelings and emotions. Celine is a completely different story. She is very guarded with her feelings due to the abandonment she experienced from her father. This played a key role in her development because she spends a lot of time trying to understand how this abandonment affects her day to day life. A really fun element of this book were the expeditions they took while participating in The Explorer program. I loved the shenanigans that happen, and it reminds the reader that these are kids. Overall, this was a great read. I would recommend this if you're looking for a cute YA romance with fun adventures but also touches on deeper subjects. 

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

4.0

I can't believe everyone was in their early 20s! They read so much older and I couldn't believe they are still in college. Kiki was likeable for the most part. She had a pretty bleak perspective on dating and men in general. However, we lean why she feels the way she does about men and female friendships as we get to know Kiki. Kai won me over the minute he read Kiki's favorite book series. This book was longer than I think it needed to be but was still enjoyable. The third act break-up came a little late to me and their reconciliation felt rushed. I learned that Babalola is writing a sequel, which will be a second chase trope. I'll definitely read it to see how Kiki & Kai reconnect and reignite their chemistry 

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

funny 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? Yes

4.5

This was such a cute rivals-to-lovers, opposites attract, and he falls first romance! I really liked Olivia and Bennett and how their rivalry grew into a relationship. Their chemistry at the bakery was undeniable and it was almost instantaneous. When it is revealed that Bennett is jumping into the matchmaking business with his new app featuring the Chinese zodiac, Olivia’s crush turns to her wanting to crush him. The bet made between Olivia and Bennett was a fun plot point, but it really pushed them more and more together. I felt the rivalry in the story was mostly from Olivia. She is fiercely protective of her family and its business. Bennett only seems to go along with the rivalry and bet because he’s trying to get to know her more and likes spending time with her. While Olivia’s stubbornness about compatibility was frustrating at times, it didn’t take away from the story and how it played out. However, I did wish I could grab her, shake her, and tell to wake up and to get out of her head. Besides romance, this book had really loveable side characters and heartwarming family relationships. I would recommend this if you want a cute slow-burn love story. 

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

dark medium-paced

4.0

The Villa is a slow burn mystery/thriller, with almost gothic feel, involving a past crime that lingers into present day. At first, Mari's 1970s storyline is more interesting than Emily's present day one. Mari is an aspiring writer and is surrounded by rock stars. Emily is also a writer but her stay at the villa is more calm, even though she's sharing a space with her "best friend" Chess. It wasn't until the last 25% of the book that Emily's story began to pick up. It then became very hard to put down with a few intriguing twists. I was anticipating for the villa to play more into a dark, creepy vibe. Instead it was just a place where things happened and not a place that caused things to happen. Overall, I loved the idea of the murder house. If you enjoy more of a domestic drama with a gothic vibe, this one is for you. 

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

dark mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

WOW!!! This book has definitely lived up to the hype after reading A Flicker in the Dark. Willingham was able to create such creepy and unsettling vibes involving Isabelle’s sleepwalking past and her present insomnia. This played into the fact that Isabelle could no longer trust herself and really blended into the psychological thrill of it all. This becomes more apparent when we learn of something that happened in Isabelle’s past that she can’t seem to quite remember what actually happened. This one is a slow burn but definitely pays out in the end. The twist was not something I expected but well worth trying to play detective. I highly recommend this if you are into true crime and like an unreliable narrator.
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 

A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan

lighthearted 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

3.5

I was really looking forward to this because I love a cute friends-to-lovers trope. However, I was just left with wanting more. Wes and Hailey have a fun and awkward meet cute, which turns into them deciding to become friends. We then get about 75% of the book of them being just friend. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for SOMETHING to happen between them. Then, they FINALLY kiss and they say it was a mistake and go back to being friends.

With the relationship taking so long to develop, I felt the third act break up was completely unnecessary.

This is the third book in the Jansen Brothers series but it can be read on it's own. I'm intrigued to read the others in the series but I'm not in a big rush based on this book. Overall, it was a little better than okay and I recommend if you like a really slow burn romance.