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bigtiddygothgf's reviews
265 reviews
Damned If You Do by Alex Brown
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
i was not a fan of the narrator which really pulled me out of the story. the plot was interesting but didn't quite manage to capture my interest, and i could feel a reading slump coming on so i decided to dnf. the writing was also a bit to cringe for me and the characters would say the most generically online things T-T
i will try to come back and finish this one day when i am in the mood for it tho!
i will try to come back and finish this one day when i am in the mood for it tho!
Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this is the fourth and final book in the stalking jack the ripper and follows for the last time audrey and thomas's adventures through love, chicago, and the realization that jack the ripper may not be done with them yet.
this book is split into two parts. part one is set in new york city, where audrey rose and thomas attempt to get married while bits of the murder plot is sprinkled throughout. i actually really loved this section as it was so fun to read about and i loved following the relationship. i actually believe i blew through this part in one sitting, and it's my favorite part of the book.
part two follows audrey rose and thomas in chicago as they hunt down the white city devil. this was the part of the book i had problems with. i think the writing in this section is quite rushed and choppy, which made me sad because i enjoyed the writing of the other books very much. i didn't find the ending with the villain very satisfying and it felt rushed to close. i found this was also the case with the book as a whole. while i thought the ending was cute, we did not get any follow up on characters who had conflicts later in the book such as audrey rose's cousin liza and thomas's sister. i think the author didn't know how to end it so she just did what she could, leaving a lot of open endings that weren't satisfying.
my two major problems with this book were the writing and the pacing. the writing took a decline in this one which made me really sad because it was so good in the other one! the writing turned cringe and very emo tumblr 2016 era. audrey rose would say how deep down she was "a mistress of darkness" (THAT'S AN ACTUAL QUOTE) to the devil and other stuff along those lines that made me cringe and pulled me out of the story. girl, you are a forensic scientist not a fallen angel. the writing sounded like something out of a fantasy novel and not historical fiction. i know it was supposed to cause angst and to be "powerful" one liners but really it gave me the ick lol. my other problem was with the pacing which was so sporadic throughout the book. the first part was pretty consistent but when we got the second part suddenly it was rushed and shallow. i feel like the author could have connected the romance plot and the murder plot and intertwined them together like she did with the other three books instead of making them into different parts. it pulled me out the the story and was not my favorite. it was janky.
a smaller problem i had was the focus on the romance instead of the murder. in these books that author has done a great job of keeping the romance a subplot and the murder as the main plot. that doesn't happen in this book though. the romance is the main plot. now i like romance as much as the next person, but it didn't fit with the other books and seemed to be differently entirely. i missed the more murder focused plots even though i enjoyed the romance. i also was sad to see that audrey rose's character did not get better from escaping houdini, she got worse. i LOVED audrey rose in the first two books but in the last two books i couldn't STAND her. she was whiny and just unlikeable to me which is again, SO SAD. i was sad to see this change with her especially because i loved her so much earlier in the series.
despite my complaints though i think this was a decent book. i think about rating it anything lower than a four star and my heart hurts because i really did love this series. thomas and audrey roses's banter had been my favorite thing and i love them and their lil gothic relationship a lot (also loving how audrey rose's disability did not immobilize her!!). i think realistically this is a three star book for me but in my heart and soul it's a four so-
so sad to have finished this series because it was so good! the balance of history and fiction was done excellently in this series and i hope to find something like it.
this book is split into two parts. part one is set in new york city, where audrey rose and thomas attempt to get married while bits of the murder plot is sprinkled throughout. i actually really loved this section as it was so fun to read about and i loved following the relationship. i actually believe i blew through this part in one sitting, and it's my favorite part of the book.
part two follows audrey rose and thomas in chicago as they hunt down the white city devil. this was the part of the book i had problems with. i think the writing in this section is quite rushed and choppy, which made me sad because i enjoyed the writing of the other books very much. i didn't find the ending with the villain very satisfying and it felt rushed to close. i found this was also the case with the book as a whole. while i thought the ending was cute, we did not get any follow up on characters who had conflicts later in the book such as audrey rose's cousin liza and thomas's sister. i think the author didn't know how to end it so she just did what she could, leaving a lot of open endings that weren't satisfying.
my two major problems with this book were the writing and the pacing. the writing took a decline in this one which made me really sad because it was so good in the other one! the writing turned cringe and very emo tumblr 2016 era. audrey rose would say how deep down she was "a mistress of darkness" (THAT'S AN ACTUAL QUOTE) to the devil and other stuff along those lines that made me cringe and pulled me out of the story. girl, you are a forensic scientist not a fallen angel. the writing sounded like something out of a fantasy novel and not historical fiction. i know it was supposed to cause angst and to be "powerful" one liners but really it gave me the ick lol. my other problem was with the pacing which was so sporadic throughout the book. the first part was pretty consistent but when we got the second part suddenly it was rushed and shallow. i feel like the author could have connected the romance plot and the murder plot and intertwined them together like she did with the other three books instead of making them into different parts. it pulled me out the the story and was not my favorite. it was janky.
a smaller problem i had was the focus on the romance instead of the murder. in these books that author has done a great job of keeping the romance a subplot and the murder as the main plot. that doesn't happen in this book though. the romance is the main plot. now i like romance as much as the next person, but it didn't fit with the other books and seemed to be differently entirely. i missed the more murder focused plots even though i enjoyed the romance. i also was sad to see that audrey rose's character did not get better from escaping houdini, she got worse. i LOVED audrey rose in the first two books but in the last two books i couldn't STAND her. she was whiny and just unlikeable to me which is again, SO SAD. i was sad to see this change with her especially because i loved her so much earlier in the series.
despite my complaints though i think this was a decent book. i think about rating it anything lower than a four star and my heart hurts because i really did love this series. thomas and audrey roses's banter had been my favorite thing and i love them and their lil gothic relationship a lot (also loving how audrey rose's disability did not immobilize her!!). i think realistically this is a three star book for me but in my heart and soul it's a four so-
so sad to have finished this series because it was so good! the balance of history and fiction was done excellently in this series and i hope to find something like it.
Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
GUYS I JUST CANNOT STAND LOVE TRIANGLES BE LOYAL OR GET OUT
____________
this is the third book in the stalking jack the ripper series that follows audrey rose and thomas's deadly escapades on a cruise liner with a mysterious carnival. as fellow passengers start to be murdered and placed in tarot card positions audey rose goes undercover into the carnival troupe to deduce who is guilty.
....well
i'll start with the positives. i really liked the vibes of this book! it reminded me of a favorite series of mine, miss peregrine's home for peculiar children, with the carnival and tarot readings. this book also has my favorite murder plot in the series. the killings were so interesting and horrific, with the bodies being placed in positions mimicking different tarot cards. i thought that was so cool and added to the intensity and fear of the killer which added to my enjoyment and investment while reading.
now to the negatives. I HATED THE LOVE TRIANGLE. after reading the author's note i understand what she was trying to do. in her author's note, kerri maniscalo mentions how in undercover investigations the undercover agents can get caught up in their own fantasy and fall too deep into it, which was she tried to show with audrey rose. just because i understand it though, doesn't mean i like it. the choice to make audrey rose grow closer to the ringmaster of the carnival and pretend to like him to get information was a shit plan in the first place (THAT DIDN'T EVEN HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY MIND YOU) and completely threw away the romantic developments that have been worked on and strengthened in the last two books. i just also did not like audrey rose in this book at all, she seemed completely different and would say and do things that seemed out of character.
overall, liked the vibes and the murder, not so much anything else. it is unfortunately my least favorite book in this series. rip.
(ALSO HOUDINI HAS SO LITTLE STAGE TIME EVEN THOUGH HE IS IN THE TITLE WHICH IS SO FUNNY TO ME. HE WOULD BE ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE LMAOOOO)
____________
this is the third book in the stalking jack the ripper series that follows audrey rose and thomas's deadly escapades on a cruise liner with a mysterious carnival. as fellow passengers start to be murdered and placed in tarot card positions audey rose goes undercover into the carnival troupe to deduce who is guilty.
....well
i'll start with the positives. i really liked the vibes of this book! it reminded me of a favorite series of mine, miss peregrine's home for peculiar children, with the carnival and tarot readings. this book also has my favorite murder plot in the series. the killings were so interesting and horrific, with the bodies being placed in positions mimicking different tarot cards. i thought that was so cool and added to the intensity and fear of the killer which added to my enjoyment and investment while reading.
now to the negatives. I HATED THE LOVE TRIANGLE. after reading the author's note i understand what she was trying to do. in her author's note, kerri maniscalo mentions how in undercover investigations the undercover agents can get caught up in their own fantasy and fall too deep into it, which was she tried to show with audrey rose. just because i understand it though, doesn't mean i like it. the choice to make audrey rose grow closer to the ringmaster of the carnival and pretend to like him to get information was a shit plan in the first place (THAT DIDN'T EVEN HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY MIND YOU) and completely threw away the romantic developments that have been worked on and strengthened in the last two books. i just also did not like audrey rose in this book at all, she seemed completely different and would say and do things that seemed out of character.
overall, liked the vibes and the murder, not so much anything else. it is unfortunately my least favorite book in this series. rip.
(ALSO HOUDINI HAS SO LITTLE STAGE TIME EVEN THOUGH HE IS IN THE TITLE WHICH IS SO FUNNY TO ME. HE WOULD BE ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE LMAOOOO)
The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5
satisfying conclusion to the ellingham trilogy i believe!
the murder caught me off guard but it made sense.
this series was the first i ever listened to as an audiobook and enjoyed and as such it has a special place in my heart. i really like the characters (stevie bell is one my fav protagonists) and the narrator and this is for sure a comfort series for me!
plan is to listen to the other two in the series eventually
satisfying conclusion to the ellingham trilogy i believe!
the murder caught me off guard but it made sense.
this series was the first i ever listened to as an audiobook and enjoyed and as such it has a special place in my heart. i really like the characters (stevie bell is one my fav protagonists) and the narrator and this is for sure a comfort series for me!
plan is to listen to the other two in the series eventually
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
*happily does a pirouette*
_____________
this is the second book in the stalking jack the ripper series that follows audrey rose and thomas on their adventures at a prestigious forensic school in romania. when murders occur that have people thinking perhaps vampires aren't so dead after all, audrey rose and thomas have to learn to juggle sleuthing and their fight for the two spots in the academy's ranks.
after reading the entire series, i can safely say that this is my favorite one. the vibes were in fact my favorite. the book takes place in dark castle and serves gothic dark academia. the writing was particularly wonderful in portraying this.
i loved how audrey rose's trauma was dealt with in this book and how she seemed to grow as a person and learn to deal with her triggers. her and thomas's relationship and banter was top tier. these guys had me giggling and kicking my feet every interaction between them. i also loved the deeper talks they had and how they talked to each other and learned how they could best be there to support and comfort one another. TOP TIER WONDERFUL
the conflict with the villain was cool, but as with all the endings in this series, quite rushed. I LOVED THIS ONE THO
_____________
this is the second book in the stalking jack the ripper series that follows audrey rose and thomas on their adventures at a prestigious forensic school in romania. when murders occur that have people thinking perhaps vampires aren't so dead after all, audrey rose and thomas have to learn to juggle sleuthing and their fight for the two spots in the academy's ranks.
after reading the entire series, i can safely say that this is my favorite one. the vibes were in fact my favorite. the book takes place in dark castle and serves gothic dark academia. the writing was particularly wonderful in portraying this.
i loved how audrey rose's trauma was dealt with in this book and how she seemed to grow as a person and learn to deal with her triggers. her and thomas's relationship and banter was top tier. these guys had me giggling and kicking my feet every interaction between them. i also loved the deeper talks they had and how they talked to each other and learned how they could best be there to support and comfort one another. TOP TIER WONDERFUL
the conflict with the villain was cool, but as with all the endings in this series, quite rushed. I LOVED THIS ONE THO
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
WAIT WAIT WAIT I CAN EXPLAIN THE FIVE STARS
this book was gaslighting: a how to guide
__________
"caraval" follows the main character scarlet on her adventure through the mysterious game called caraval, after her sister (tella) is taken. to get her sister back safe and sound, scarlet must play the game solve all the clues. joining her on her journey is the attractive sailor julien who she can't stand. scarlett has five days to find her sister and has to remember to not get swept away, after all, it's just a game.
__________
*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*
okay so this five star rating is purely because of vibes. i listened to the audiobook version and while the narrator doing accents was weird, i eventually got into it and really enjoyed myself. the book is set in this carnival/circus like setting (or at least that was the vibe i got) and i ATE that shit up. along with julien and scarlet's romance? ARGH SIGN ME UP. this book was entertaining and you know what i can give this book five stars because i had fun.
this book was so confusing, but in a good way. the confusion made sense with the story, and we were being gaslit because scarlet was and i was truly not grasping what was real. this book is trippy but i thought that worked well in its favor and served the plot well. we know it's all just a game, and so does scarlet, but you still find yourself struggling to grasp what is the game and what is real.
this isn't the best book i've ever read but damn did i have fun.
**SPOILER SECTION (also called the rant section)**
i HATE tella with the passion of a thousand suns. SHE LITERALLY GASLIT AND LIED TO HER SISTER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK. we learn at the end that tella basically orchestrated the whole plot, and fucked her sister over SO MANY TIMES. SCARLET HAD TO WATCH HER DIE AND TELLA IS JUST LIKE HEHEEHE LET'S GO TO A PARTY NOW. WHAT????? i CANNOT stand her and teenage mutant ninja turtle name (donatella) and the fact that she is the protagonist of the next book? kill me. i DONT CARE ABOUT HER. its no wonder she sold her soul the dumbass
JULIEN π i just thought he was hot okay. and the ANGST with scarlet at the end?? WOOOOO iwas eating that up. it turns out julien was a performer for caraval the whole time, which leaves scarlet wondering if their relationship was even real in the first place. it was of course because this a ya romance but the angst itself got to me. the romance was basic but i found it so sweet and i smile every time i think of it so five stars.
this book my jaw dropped as i washed the dishes with all the twists that came up, and while i rolled my eyes and cackled far too much to be healthy i think we are all entitled to enjoy some good trash every once in a while.
my thirteenth reason is my library doesn't have the last two books in the series BUT HAS ALL OF THE SPIN OFF SERIES. KILL ME
this book was gaslighting: a how to guide
__________
"caraval" follows the main character scarlet on her adventure through the mysterious game called caraval, after her sister (tella) is taken. to get her sister back safe and sound, scarlet must play the game solve all the clues. joining her on her journey is the attractive sailor julien who she can't stand. scarlett has five days to find her sister and has to remember to not get swept away, after all, it's just a game.
__________
*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*
okay so this five star rating is purely because of vibes. i listened to the audiobook version and while the narrator doing accents was weird, i eventually got into it and really enjoyed myself. the book is set in this carnival/circus like setting (or at least that was the vibe i got) and i ATE that shit up. along with julien and scarlet's romance? ARGH SIGN ME UP. this book was entertaining and you know what i can give this book five stars because i had fun.
this book was so confusing, but in a good way. the confusion made sense with the story, and we were being gaslit because scarlet was and i was truly not grasping what was real. this book is trippy but i thought that worked well in its favor and served the plot well. we know it's all just a game, and so does scarlet, but you still find yourself struggling to grasp what is the game and what is real.
this isn't the best book i've ever read but damn did i have fun.
**SPOILER SECTION (also called the rant section)**
i HATE tella with the passion of a thousand suns. SHE LITERALLY GASLIT AND LIED TO HER SISTER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK. we learn at the end that tella basically orchestrated the whole plot, and fucked her sister over SO MANY TIMES. SCARLET HAD TO WATCH HER DIE AND TELLA IS JUST LIKE HEHEEHE LET'S GO TO A PARTY NOW. WHAT????? i CANNOT stand her and teenage mutant ninja turtle name (donatella) and the fact that she is the protagonist of the next book? kill me. i DONT CARE ABOUT HER. its no wonder she sold her soul the dumbass
JULIEN π i just thought he was hot okay. and the ANGST with scarlet at the end?? WOOOOO iwas eating that up. it turns out julien was a performer for caraval the whole time, which leaves scarlet wondering if their relationship was even real in the first place. it was of course because this a ya romance but the angst itself got to me. the romance was basic but i found it so sweet and i smile every time i think of it so five stars.
this book my jaw dropped as i washed the dishes with all the twists that came up, and while i rolled my eyes and cackled far too much to be healthy i think we are all entitled to enjoy some good trash every once in a while.
my thirteenth reason is my library doesn't have the last two books in the series BUT HAS ALL OF THE SPIN OFF SERIES. KILL ME
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
"i cut open dead bodies for fun **NOT CLICKBAIT**"
__________
'stalking jack the ripper' is a ya thriller/mystery about our main character audrey rose wadsworth who is into forensics (despite the bias against her gender of the time) and decides to find infamous serial killer jack the ripper to stop him from harming more women. together with this guy named thomas cresswell they search the streets of 1800's london for any clues.
this book was a good mystery with wonderful banter and chemistry between audrey and thomas (had me giggling and kicking my feet ngl). i was able to guess the killer pretty early on but the reveal still made me sick to my stomach. the inclusion of 1800's forensics was really cool and added to the whole creepy vibe in a good way. overall very good! i can understand the hype.
now to read the next three books from my school's library before i graduate! let's see if i can manage to pull that off lol
__________
'stalking jack the ripper' is a ya thriller/mystery about our main character audrey rose wadsworth who is into forensics (despite the bias against her gender of the time) and decides to find infamous serial killer jack the ripper to stop him from harming more women. together with this guy named thomas cresswell they search the streets of 1800's london for any clues.
this book was a good mystery with wonderful banter and chemistry between audrey and thomas (had me giggling and kicking my feet ngl). i was able to guess the killer pretty early on but the reveal still made me sick to my stomach. the inclusion of 1800's forensics was really cool and added to the whole creepy vibe in a good way. overall very good! i can understand the hype.
now to read the next three books from my school's library before i graduate! let's see if i can manage to pull that off lol
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
AFTER FIVE MONTHS I'VE FINALLY FINISHED!!!!
i actually have no words to express how i feel about this book rn, but i really really enjoyed. even though circe was a god, she was by no means static and we got to grow along with her through her formative experiences. miller's writing is so good and it made reading this book feel like a meander through the hundreds of years of circe's existence without growing boring.
definitely recommend this for anyone who is a fan of miller's work or of greek mythology! this is a book i can see myself rereading many a time.
i actually have no words to express how i feel about this book rn, but i really really enjoyed. even though circe was a god, she was by no means static and we got to grow along with her through her formative experiences. miller's writing is so good and it made reading this book feel like a meander through the hundreds of years of circe's existence without growing boring.
definitely recommend this for anyone who is a fan of miller's work or of greek mythology! this is a book i can see myself rereading many a time.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
*hits βsuper!β button repeatedly* THIS IS HOW YA FANTASY SHOULD BE
_________
the story follows kiva, a healer at a brutal and horrific prison, who has a pledge to save anyone who comes through her doors. when the rebel queen is sent to the prison and forced to serve in a series of deadly trials, kiva takes her place due to the queen's condition (she's like, two steps away from death from injuries sustained on her way to the prison). now kiva has to survive trials nobody has before to save those she cares in the prison, and prays those outside of it will come save her in time.
_________
i have missed good fantasy ya so much T-T this book was such a rare treat and i loved it. the environment was intriguing and very well written, the main character had believable motives and thoughts, and the romance was actually a subplot and not a major plot point! THIS IS HOW FANTASY SHOULD BE IMO the romance was there and it was cute but it did not take over the story and was able to develop naturally.
ALSO THE TWISTS??? IN THIS BOOKK????? my jaw was dropped on the floor, and i wanted to yank the second one of the shelf right away.
overall- very good ya fantasy! vv solid.
_________
the story follows kiva, a healer at a brutal and horrific prison, who has a pledge to save anyone who comes through her doors. when the rebel queen is sent to the prison and forced to serve in a series of deadly trials, kiva takes her place due to the queen's condition (she's like, two steps away from death from injuries sustained on her way to the prison). now kiva has to survive trials nobody has before to save those she cares in the prison, and prays those outside of it will come save her in time.
_________
i have missed good fantasy ya so much T-T this book was such a rare treat and i loved it. the environment was intriguing and very well written, the main character had believable motives and thoughts, and the romance was actually a subplot and not a major plot point! THIS IS HOW FANTASY SHOULD BE IMO the romance was there and it was cute but it did not take over the story and was able to develop naturally.
ALSO THE TWISTS??? IN THIS BOOKK????? my jaw was dropped on the floor, and i wanted to yank the second one of the shelf right away.
overall- very good ya fantasy! vv solid.
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
πππ
REYLO WRITERS U LET ME DOWNNNN
this book is about a bisexual woman named ari who has major commitment issues to not only relationships but also her career and an uptight man named josh who wants to be a chef but has a fear of failure. they meet various times over eight years before finally becoming friends which leads to something more.
*spoilers in rest of review if you care about that*
i really liked the first half of this book. the two characters developed a really good authentic friendship and i appreciated the look at their characters individually too.
my problem with the book started when the romance started, which is a shame 1) because this is a ROMANCE book and 2) im always down for a friends to lovers romance. josh seemed to put ari in a corner and essentially force her to be in a relationship with him because they slept together. he then got angry when the emotionally unavailable woman who he slept with who HE KNEW was emotionally unavailable acted emotionally unavailable. then insisted she was the bad person??? thats like getting mad at a person with depression because they act sad. then SHE had to apologize to HIM??? NAHHHHHHHHHH ari frustrated me to no end but it was frustrating to see her being up front about her issues to josh and him getting upset when those issues still apply with him.
beside that it was alright but that third act conflict left me with a bad taste in my mouth and soured the rest of my reading experience. the writing was good as well, THAT ENDING JUST ANGERED ME
REYLO WRITERS U LET ME DOWNNNN
this book is about a bisexual woman named ari who has major commitment issues to not only relationships but also her career and an uptight man named josh who wants to be a chef but has a fear of failure. they meet various times over eight years before finally becoming friends which leads to something more.
*spoilers in rest of review if you care about that*
i really liked the first half of this book. the two characters developed a really good authentic friendship and i appreciated the look at their characters individually too.
my problem with the book started when the romance started, which is a shame 1) because this is a ROMANCE book and 2) im always down for a friends to lovers romance. josh seemed to put ari in a corner and essentially force her to be in a relationship with him because they slept together. he then got angry when the emotionally unavailable woman who he slept with who HE KNEW was emotionally unavailable acted emotionally unavailable. then insisted she was the bad person??? thats like getting mad at a person with depression because they act sad. then SHE had to apologize to HIM??? NAHHHHHHHHHH ari frustrated me to no end but it was frustrating to see her being up front about her issues to josh and him getting upset when those issues still apply with him.
beside that it was alright but that third act conflict left me with a bad taste in my mouth and soured the rest of my reading experience. the writing was good as well, THAT ENDING JUST ANGERED ME