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bookedwithsylvia's reviews
96 reviews
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
I don’t think there are enough words for me to express how important it is to read Minor Detail and other books by Palestinian authors. But I’m going to do it anyways because it really is important to keep talking about Palestine!
Minor Detail focuses on the generational impact and trauma that the occupation has had on Palestinians and the struggles they have and continue to face in the West Bank.
The story Adania Shibli tells through her writing is intense and full of minor details on how the past and present continue to be connected by the violence of the occupation. How it impacts Palestinians, the land and time…
Minor Detail focuses on the generational impact and trauma that the occupation has had on Palestinians and the struggles they have and continue to face in the West Bank.
The story Adania Shibli tells through her writing is intense and full of minor details on how the past and present continue to be connected by the violence of the occupation. How it impacts Palestinians, the land and time…
Be Still My Heart by Sav R. Miller, Emily McIntire
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Ok! So hear me out! I listened to this one as I followed along with the physical copy which is usually my favorite way to read books… with this one though I think I should’ve just read my paperback copy.
I enjoyed the audiobook but there were some inconsistencies that bugged me every now and then soooo yeah! But that’s just a me thing lol.
Now for the actual book! I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of it and the fact that it had smut just made it so freaking good 🥵🔥 I think it flowed well and I need more books that are mystery/smut lol if that’s a thing give me all the recs!
Lincoln was the perfect grump, a true grump in my opinion lol and the progression of his relationship with Sloane was very true to character in my opinion!
I could kind of tell who it was very early on in the book, but personally I love being right so this wasn’t a bad thing for me 😂💀
• Murder mystery
• Small town 🏠
• Everybody knows every bodies business 👀
I enjoyed the audiobook but there were some inconsistencies that bugged me every now and then soooo yeah! But that’s just a me thing lol.
Now for the actual book! I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of it and the fact that it had smut just made it so freaking good 🥵🔥 I think it flowed well and I need more books that are mystery/smut lol if that’s a thing give me all the recs!
Lincoln was the perfect grump, a true grump in my opinion lol and the progression of his relationship with Sloane was very true to character in my opinion!
I could kind of tell who it was very early on in the book, but personally I love being right so this wasn’t a bad thing for me 😂💀
• Murder mystery
• Small town 🏠
• Everybody knows every bodies business 👀
Promises and Pomegranates by Sav R. Miller
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
After reading this book the words “why not?” are very present in my vocabulary and that’s all thanks to Kal Anderson 😂💀
I think this book is one of those books where you really feel like you’re getting to meet these characters lol I’m pretty sure many of y’all have heard of that sometimes after spending time with someone you start to say things similar to that person and this book felt that way. It’s weird to explain lol it just makes sense to me 😂!
It should not have taken me as long as it did to pick up this book, as soon as I bought it I should’ve read it because it was so fun and crazy to read, but in the best way when it comes to dark romance 💀🔥
The spice gave everything it was supposed to give, my favorite scene being the apple scene or the plane scene, I honestly don’t know what everyone calls it, but if you’ve read it you know, and if you haven’t read it… you should do that as soon as possible 😉🔥
• Forced marriage 👀💀
• Mafia romance 🔥!
• Blood and knife play 🔥🥵
• Hades and Persephone
I think this book is one of those books where you really feel like you’re getting to meet these characters lol I’m pretty sure many of y’all have heard of that sometimes after spending time with someone you start to say things similar to that person and this book felt that way. It’s weird to explain lol it just makes sense to me 😂!
It should not have taken me as long as it did to pick up this book, as soon as I bought it I should’ve read it because it was so fun and crazy to read, but in the best way when it comes to dark romance 💀🔥
The spice gave everything it was supposed to give, my favorite scene being the apple scene or the plane scene, I honestly don’t know what everyone calls it, but if you’ve read it you know, and if you haven’t read it… you should do that as soon as possible 😉🔥
• Forced marriage 👀💀
• Mafia romance 🔥!
• Blood and knife play 🔥🥵
• Hades and Persephone
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
I think the only right way to start this review is by saying that Delilah Green is so freaking HOT 😉🔥
Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system lol I gotta say the thing I loved the most about this book was definitely the character development of both Delilah and Claire, it was very much one of those books that makes you feel seen in so many different ways 🥹❤️
Another one of my favorite things was the collective understanding that Spencer needed to go 🙄🙃 lol because he was just so annoying with his stupid leather shoes and quite frankly no woman should have to put up with such a sh!t boot!🙄
It was in third person which isn’t my personal favorite, but that’s a me thing, and I’m still going to read the rest of the series because I am definitely invested in the lives of these wonderful and strong group of friends 🥰❤️
• Small town romance 🏠❤️
• Sister’s best friend
• Sapphic romance!💜
Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system lol I gotta say the thing I loved the most about this book was definitely the character development of both Delilah and Claire, it was very much one of those books that makes you feel seen in so many different ways 🥹❤️
Another one of my favorite things was the collective understanding that Spencer needed to go 🙄🙃 lol because he was just so annoying with his stupid leather shoes and quite frankly no woman should have to put up with such a sh!t boot!🙄
It was in third person which isn’t my personal favorite, but that’s a me thing, and I’m still going to read the rest of the series because I am definitely invested in the lives of these wonderful and strong group of friends 🥰❤️
• Small town romance 🏠❤️
• Sister’s best friend
• Sapphic romance!💜
The Labor Day Chronicle by Lee Jacquot
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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? N/A
4.5
At this point I don’t know which Holinight Novella is supposed to be my favorite because I enjoyed this one so freaking much!
This is truly one of those reads that is just spicy and fun to read!🔥🥵 I think Lee Jacquot has taken workplace romance to a new level with the PRINTER SCENE!🔥 that scene was just something I had never read before in a workplace romance, she just did an amazing freaking job!
I can’t find enough ways to describe how much I recommend this novella and every novella in the Holinight Novellas Seried to be honest with y’all cause they’re all so good 😍🔥
I did want to talk about the pacing because sometimes when it comes to a novella it can be difficult for it to not seem too rushed or like there’s something missing, but this one just felt right in every aspect lol so there’s no complaints there!
• Workplace romance
• Forced proximity!🔥
• Dislike to lovers 🥵🔥
• Holiday romance
This is truly one of those reads that is just spicy and fun to read!🔥🥵 I think Lee Jacquot has taken workplace romance to a new level with the PRINTER SCENE!🔥 that scene was just something I had never read before in a workplace romance, she just did an amazing freaking job!
I can’t find enough ways to describe how much I recommend this novella and every novella in the Holinight Novellas Seried to be honest with y’all cause they’re all so good 😍🔥
I did want to talk about the pacing because sometimes when it comes to a novella it can be difficult for it to not seem too rushed or like there’s something missing, but this one just felt right in every aspect lol so there’s no complaints there!
• Workplace romance
• Forced proximity!🔥
• Dislike to lovers 🥵🔥
• Holiday romance
Desires by Lee Jacquot
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
I think I’m in love with another fictional man 😍🔥 lol I am not kidding when I say that Nikolai Babin is literally perfect… sure he unalives people but the way he loves is just on another level! And he’s definitely got a way with words!🥵
I loved Dominique too and found her feelings to be extremely relatable, definitely cried during some of her chapters! I loved to see the way both her and Nikolai complimented each other and their banter was just some of the best I’ve read 😂💀
Oh! And I gotta say that the pacing in this book felt so natural, nothing felt like it was forced, in my opinion. Everything felt like it was written for a reason and I can say that this one is one of those books that will be living rent free in my mind for quite a while lol
Also, one of my favorite aspects of this book was the way that the stalker trope was written cause it made Nikolai so freaking HOT 🥵🔥
• Stalker 😏🔥
• Forced proximity!
• Brat FMC
• Obsessed hero!🔥
I loved Dominique too and found her feelings to be extremely relatable, definitely cried during some of her chapters! I loved to see the way both her and Nikolai complimented each other and their banter was just some of the best I’ve read 😂💀
Oh! And I gotta say that the pacing in this book felt so natural, nothing felt like it was forced, in my opinion. Everything felt like it was written for a reason and I can say that this one is one of those books that will be living rent free in my mind for quite a while lol
Also, one of my favorite aspects of this book was the way that the stalker trope was written cause it made Nikolai so freaking HOT 🥵🔥
• Stalker 😏🔥
• Forced proximity!
• Brat FMC
• Obsessed hero!🔥
Crossed by Emily McIntire
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have a confession to make 🙏🏼👀 this is my first priest romance book!
I do agree with the consensus that this book is darker than other books that are part of the Never After Series so make sure you read trigger warnings!
Personally, I don’t read them, but that’s a risk I take and if I get triggered than that’s on me!🤷🏻♀️
I definitely did cry, as I do in the majority of books that I love, as Emily has mentioned Cade is an extremely tortured MMC and I just felt for him so much 😭🫶🏼 I wanted to wrap him up in a hug, cause the things he went through just weren’t fair!
Amaya in my opinion did an amazing job at being there for him in the second half of the book, which I personally read a lot faster than the first half. It was great to see them taking care of each other after both had suffered so much in the past.
Crossed is definitely a slow-burn, but once it’s starts burning it burns 🔥🥵 they were just absolutely consumed by each other! Oh and don’t even get me started on the stalking, Father Cade was wild for that 🔥 but I loved every second of it lol.
• Forbidden romance
• Secret romance 🫢🔥
• Stalker!👀
• Bad boy falls first
• Tortured lead
I do agree with the consensus that this book is darker than other books that are part of the Never After Series so make sure you read trigger warnings!
Personally, I don’t read them, but that’s a risk I take and if I get triggered than that’s on me!🤷🏻♀️
I definitely did cry, as I do in the majority of books that I love, as Emily has mentioned Cade is an extremely tortured MMC and I just felt for him so much 😭🫶🏼 I wanted to wrap him up in a hug, cause the things he went through just weren’t fair!
Amaya in my opinion did an amazing job at being there for him in the second half of the book, which I personally read a lot faster than the first half. It was great to see them taking care of each other after both had suffered so much in the past.
Crossed is definitely a slow-burn, but once it’s starts burning it burns 🔥🥵 they were just absolutely consumed by each other! Oh and don’t even get me started on the stalking, Father Cade was wild for that 🔥 but I loved every second of it lol.
• Forbidden romance
• Secret romance 🫢🔥
• Stalker!👀
• Bad boy falls first
• Tortured lead
Wreck My Plans by Emilia Brook, Elizabeth Muse
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Soooo I cried for the majority of this book 😗👀
Just kidding! I just cried for a lot of it lol but because I am Elizabeth Muse’s PA I also sent her voice messages of me ugly crying because I can 😂💀
And some of y’all might be thinking “how is crying a good thing?”
It just is lol for me at least it means that I am so in tune with my emotions while I’m reading that I feel everything and I love it! I cried, sure. But I also laughed a lot when Layton was being dumb, laughed so hard I couldn’t stop sometimes!
And for those of you wondering, Layton has a filthy mouth and it is so hot 🔥🥵 the spice is everything that it needs to be and I hope y’all enjoy this one as much as I did!
Also, it goes without saying that I hate Preston and hope he’s rotting in a ditch or something cause fu¢k that guy!🙄
But back to Layton, he’s the hottest freaking drummer ever and deserves the world. You literally cannot help but root for him the entirety of the book, he’s the best!
• Forbidden romance 🔥🥵
• Age gap!
• Angsty
• Opposites attract
• Meet cute
• Rockstar 🔥😌
• The Kraken 🍆😉
Just kidding! I just cried for a lot of it lol but because I am Elizabeth Muse’s PA I also sent her voice messages of me ugly crying because I can 😂💀
And some of y’all might be thinking “how is crying a good thing?”
It just is lol for me at least it means that I am so in tune with my emotions while I’m reading that I feel everything and I love it! I cried, sure. But I also laughed a lot when Layton was being dumb, laughed so hard I couldn’t stop sometimes!
And for those of you wondering, Layton has a filthy mouth and it is so hot 🔥🥵 the spice is everything that it needs to be and I hope y’all enjoy this one as much as I did!
Also, it goes without saying that I hate Preston and hope he’s rotting in a ditch or something cause fu¢k that guy!🙄
But back to Layton, he’s the hottest freaking drummer ever and deserves the world. You literally cannot help but root for him the entirety of the book, he’s the best!
• Forbidden romance 🔥🥵
• Age gap!
• Angsty
• Opposites attract
• Meet cute
• Rockstar 🔥😌
• The Kraken 🍆😉
The Anti-Hero by Sara Cate
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sara Cate has done it again! That’s it. That’s the review 😌!
Just kidding! I have a lot more to say than that, that’s for sure! Cause damn this book was spicy 🥵🔥 As usual though it was more than that, and every single time I pick up one of Sara Cate’s books I know I’m going to be having all of the emotions lol.
We saw Adam deal with a lot of internal battles and a war within himself and it was so emotional to see him go through all of that, and Sage! I think I fell in love with her from the start! I do gotta say I agree with Adam about ketchup on eggs 🙃! I bring up that point to say this book felt like I was literally getting to meet these characters and all their habits and I LOVED IT ❤️😌
Honestly all the characters in The Anti-Hero were impossible not to love, (except Truett, he can rot 😒) and I cannot wait to see more from them!❤️
I also feel like I need to say The Anti-Hero was so freaking good I bought the audiobook because I plan on re-reading it once I get my physical copy so I can highlight and tab all the HOT AF spice 🥵🔥
• Age gap!
• Fake dating😉!
• Opposites attract
• Sex tapes😏🔥
• Preachers son
• Degradation kink
Just kidding! I have a lot more to say than that, that’s for sure! Cause damn this book was spicy 🥵🔥 As usual though it was more than that, and every single time I pick up one of Sara Cate’s books I know I’m going to be having all of the emotions lol.
We saw Adam deal with a lot of internal battles and a war within himself and it was so emotional to see him go through all of that, and Sage! I think I fell in love with her from the start! I do gotta say I agree with Adam about ketchup on eggs 🙃! I bring up that point to say this book felt like I was literally getting to meet these characters and all their habits and I LOVED IT ❤️😌
Honestly all the characters in The Anti-Hero were impossible not to love, (except Truett, he can rot 😒) and I cannot wait to see more from them!❤️
I also feel like I need to say The Anti-Hero was so freaking good I bought the audiobook because I plan on re-reading it once I get my physical copy so I can highlight and tab all the HOT AF spice 🥵🔥
• Age gap!
• Fake dating😉!
• Opposites attract
• Sex tapes😏🔥
• Preachers son
• Degradation kink
Chances by Lee Jacquot
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It took me a good minute to make this review because I LOVE books written by Lee Jacquot I just found it a bit difficult to enjoy this one 😅
That being said! I do think it was more of a personal thing, and I did enjoy some parts of it, just had difficulty enjoying others if that makes sense! As always the spice was written to perfection 🔥🥵 and I enjoyed the way Lucian made Sabreena feel wanted!
Again, there were just other things in the story that were a bit much for me lol. I would’ve enjoyed it a bit more if maybe Alexi had been made slightly more tolerable, not likable, because he’s a horrible fictional being lol but just small things here and there.
I do however, want to emphasize that that’s just my opinion and though I might’ve not enjoyed some parts of this book other readers might have no issue with it!
• Forbidden romance 🔥🥵
• Forced proximity!
• Clay scene 😉!
That being said! I do think it was more of a personal thing, and I did enjoy some parts of it, just had difficulty enjoying others if that makes sense! As always the spice was written to perfection 🔥🥵 and I enjoyed the way Lucian made Sabreena feel wanted!
Again, there were just other things in the story that were a bit much for me lol. I would’ve enjoyed it a bit more if maybe Alexi had been made slightly more tolerable, not likable, because he’s a horrible fictional being lol but just small things here and there.
I do however, want to emphasize that that’s just my opinion and though I might’ve not enjoyed some parts of this book other readers might have no issue with it!
• Forbidden romance 🔥🥵
• Forced proximity!
• Clay scene 😉!