bookish_frog's reviews
234 reviews

Burn for Me by Sara Cate

dark fast-paced

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

3.5

🏉This was more taboo than I realised going into it so I didn’t love that (but my love of Sara Cate made up for it)

🏉Both main characters were in desperate need of therapy

🏉Can’t actually see them lasting as a couple

🏉Really good spice as always

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.

Really didn’t like the writing style, was super confused about the world building and I was never really enjoying it but I tried giving it the benefit of the doubt but I’m giving up now 

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

🧬Loved this for the most part

🧬I would have loved to have Jack’s POV

🧬The science was definitely sciencing but idc for Ali Hazelwood I would read so much science stuff

🧬Classic Ali Hazelwood plot so it’s getting a little predictable but I eat it up every time idc

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

🖌️Loved this as much as I loved Pet, though I definitely wished that I had read this first so if you are planning on reading both I would 100% recommend starting with this one
🖌️As with Pet, the MC was so flawed yet so relatable and I’m so glad she found the courage to fight with her friends and stand up for what she believes in
🖌️Loved the friendships in this! And the romance was so cute! But it didn’t take away from the main message which was lovely!

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

adventurous lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

3.0

🪻One issue I have with this book is that it’s labelled as a fantasy but it’s just not? There is no magic, no magical creatures of any kind, no portal, no powers etc.  There is literally nothing about this which makes it a fantasy
🪻The characters were nice and likeable but I’m not invested enough to keep going 
🪻The lack of diversity in this was really disappointing given the diversity in her cursebreaker world
🪻Some of the plot twists were predictable but I still had fun with them!
🪻Ending on a high - I adore Brigid’s writing style. It’s why I keep going back to her (this is my fifth novel of hers that I’ve read) despite my generally low ratings

PET by Akwaeke Emezi

challenging hopeful reflective fast-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

4.5

🪶This is such a unique book which I absolutely adored. I now regard this as a must read for fantasy lovers because it’s such a fresh take on the genre and I think it’s so well done
🪶Jam was such a realistic and relatable main character. Her desperation for things to go back to normal and to protect her best friend, and her courage and fear with Pet was done so well and felt so real
🪶I loved her friendship with Redemption! I’m a sucker for ride-or-die friendships😂
🪶I loved the names in this and I think more fantasy authors need to start having more creativity and fun when it comes to characters
🪶Finally, I love the world. Akwaeke’s portrayal of a ‘perfect’ world was so refreshing to read about, especially considering how pretty much all fantasy books rely on a world built on oppression it was so refreshing to see the opposite

The Atlas Complex: The Devastating Conclusion to the Story That Started with the Atlas Six - Now an International Bestseller by Olivie Blake

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

💥This was a wild ride from start to finish, and I’ve come to expect no less from Olivie Blake
💥This book is all about the characters so that’s what I’m gunna talk about
💥Despite all odds, Callum became my favourite. I just love how pathetic he is around Tristan
💥I also love the pathetic gays that are NicoGideon. They’re perfect for each other 
💥Loved loved loved Reina in this one. She is the aroace character I deserve

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the best romcoms I’ve ever read. It could be argued that this is a romance and not a romcom but I think that Ali Hazelwood is funny enough to turn any book into a comedy so I’m sticking with romcom.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

4.0

I read ‘You should see me in a crown’ by Leah Johnson back in April 2023, and it’s still my favourite sapphic romcom. I absolutely loved Liz and her group of friends, and seeing her grow as a character was amazing. I feel I should confess that I didn’t ship her with her love interest though.

This is because her LI basically assumed that Liz hadn’t come out because she feared peoples reactions, which was part of Liz’s reason, but her main reason was that she just wasn’t ready. And then her LI found this out and got kind of mad, which really pissed me off,

but apart from that I loved this book, and I def need to read more from Leah Johnson soon.

Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

🗡️The beginning was pretty slow and I almost didn’t finish, but ultimately I’m glad I continued

🗡️I really didn’t like the ending, and the epilogue was completely unnecessary - I think this should have been left as a standalone

🗡️The romance was ok, but we didn’t see them interact enough for me to truly root for them as a couple

🗡️I wasn’t particularly drawn to any characters but they weren’t bad either, and I appreciated the queer rep in the side characters