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bookishboujeeandbossbabe's reviews
245 reviews
It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Okay, I get it now, I get the Hoover love. You all nearly lost me with book one. Atlas made me love this book. I loved the background you gained on Atlas through this story. A boy who was so devoid of love from his mother and faced so many hardships in his first 17 years turned out to be such a fantastic man.
This is an example of 'if he wanted to, he would'; Atlas is such a stark contrast to Ryle. Ryle cannot keep his shit together when he gets upset, is an absolute dumpster fire of a partner compared to Atlas who quite literally thanks the universe for ever having Lily in his life and cherishes any time he gets with her. THE MAN STOPS BY FOR DRIVE BY HUGS!
If you too have lived under a rock - these books are worth the read for Atlas alone. Although, I am still judging Lily for the name she chose for her daughter...Emmerson Dory (like the fish). I just cannot.
This is an example of 'if he wanted to, he would'; Atlas is such a stark contrast to Ryle. Ryle cannot keep his shit together when he gets upset, is an absolute dumpster fire of a partner compared to Atlas who quite literally thanks the universe for ever having Lily in his life and cherishes any time he gets with her. THE MAN STOPS BY FOR DRIVE BY HUGS!
If you too have lived under a rock - these books are worth the read for Atlas alone. Although, I am still judging Lily for the name she chose for her daughter...Emmerson Dory (like the fish). I just cannot.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
We need to bring attention to the elephant in the room before I can even finish my review - but what are with the names?! Ryle?
Maybe I started with the wrong Hoover book as my first; but I didn't love this. Her writing is phenomenal, and she is great at what she does - don't get me wrong... But I hated Ryle so viscerally that any time he was in the book I found myself rolling my eyes at this gigantic man-child. I suppose she did her job - I devoured it and felt all sorts of things.
But Atlas? That man is the new standard for all book boyfriends. My new scale shall be scum of the earth (1 out of 10 if you're boring) to Atlas (clearly a 10); I refuse to be swayed otherwise.
Maybe I started with the wrong Hoover book as my first; but I didn't love this. Her writing is phenomenal, and she is great at what she does - don't get me wrong... But I hated Ryle so viscerally that any time he was in the book I found myself rolling my eyes at this gigantic man-child. I suppose she did her job - I devoured it and felt all sorts of things.
But Atlas? That man is the new standard for all book boyfriends. My new scale shall be scum of the earth (1 out of 10 if you're boring) to Atlas (clearly a 10); I refuse to be swayed otherwise.
The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
I was a huge fan of The Ex Hex and knew I would likely enjoy The Kiss Curse too; and it did not let me down! It's witchy, it is sarcastic and hysterical, the characters are fabulous. Sir Purrcival is still one of my favorite characters, and he was even more adorable in book two.
Book two follows Gwyn, Wells Penhallow, and a trio of baby witches that are the perfect touch of chaos. If you liked Practical Magic and haven't given this series a go, I 100% recommend it. You will not regret it.
Book two follows Gwyn, Wells Penhallow, and a trio of baby witches that are the perfect touch of chaos. If you liked Practical Magic and haven't given this series a go, I 100% recommend it. You will not regret it.
Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
Olivia is out of luck after being laid off from her job, dumped by her boyfriend (he was cringe-worthy), and losing her home after an incident involving one confused possum, some old love letters and a match goes horribly wrong.
I couldn't put this one down. I was laughing out loud at the banter between Liv and Colin and their shenanigans. The inner monologues, the texts, the characters themselves - I loved it all. The off limits, older brother trope isn't something I've really enjoyed before but this was done so well.
I couldn't put this one down. I was laughing out loud at the banter between Liv and Colin and their shenanigans. The inner monologues, the texts, the characters themselves - I loved it all. The off limits, older brother trope isn't something I've really enjoyed before but this was done so well.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really thought I wasn’t going to finish this one based off the first few chapters; but I stuck through and I’m glad I did. When the plot kicks off- hot damn…the chaos and the lies really pile up.
I will say, the sheer number of POVs does get a bit confusing at times. More than once I found myself flipping back to the first page of the chapter to double check which POV I was in; but the characters are truly messed up…like seriously fucked up.
The further you get the more dirty laundry is aired, and it quickly becomes a train wreck that you cannot look away from. Once I hit the halfway point, I will say I was hooked. The ending was a twist I didn’t see coming. Overall- really enjoyable thriller.
‼️TW: sexual harassment, sex work, domestic violence, suicide, self-harm, murder
I will say, the sheer number of POVs does get a bit confusing at times. More than once I found myself flipping back to the first page of the chapter to double check which POV I was in; but the characters are truly messed up…like seriously fucked up.
The further you get the more dirty laundry is aired, and it quickly becomes a train wreck that you cannot look away from. Once I hit the halfway point, I will say I was hooked. The ending was a twist I didn’t see coming. Overall- really enjoyable thriller.
‼️TW: sexual harassment, sex work, domestic violence, suicide, self-harm, murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Murder, and Sexual harassment
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about this one...and I'm not entirely sure where to even begin. Sager books have played the line of is it supernatural or is the person just psychotic before...so I'm no longer shocked when there is a hint of the unknown. But, this book took a hard turn and went from hint to absolute insanity in a matter of sentences.
The characters went from 'I don't believe this' to 'nothing weird here - just a normal day at the cabin' like your dead husband overtaking the body of your neighbor is a normal Tuesday evening event. LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!
I had to re-read the last few chapters because I felt like the wrap up was so quick that I missed it and didn't fully understand how we got from one moment to the next. I'm usually a huge fan of Sager's work but I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this one other than...confused? I will say it was one hell of a wild ride from beginning to end.
I had to re-read the last few chapters because I felt like the wrap up was so quick that I missed it and didn't fully understand how we got from one moment to the next. I'm usually a huge fan of Sager's work but I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this one other than...confused? I will say it was one hell of a wild ride from beginning to end.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was such an adorable read - I was not expecting to alternate between laughing out loud and crying so much throughout the book. Nora is perfectly and believably flawed; and her relationship with her sister was just so sweet.
Can we take a moment to appreciate how Henry wrote about something that a majority of women deal with often? Being considered a shark, or a bitch, or 'hard to work with', career-focused, emotional... all because they have a hard work ethic, or have created boundaries for themselves, or simply because we as humans have feelings too...Whatever the reason and whatever the name used to describe them - we hear it used, we understand the connotation, and we often pretend to be unbothered by that bullshit. But, our male counterparts - functioning similarly in the same environment are praised.
It was fantastic to see light shed on that, and how it truly affects women. Just because we do or don't show emotion in the workplace - doesn't mean that those cutting nicknames or comments don't affect us too.
Can we take a moment to appreciate how Henry wrote about something that a majority of women deal with often? Being considered a shark, or a bitch, or 'hard to work with', career-focused, emotional... all because they have a hard work ethic, or have created boundaries for themselves, or simply because we as humans have feelings too...Whatever the reason and whatever the name used to describe them - we hear it used, we understand the connotation, and we often pretend to be unbothered by that bullshit. But, our male counterparts - functioning similarly in the same environment are praised.
It was fantastic to see light shed on that, and how it truly affects women. Just because we do or don't show emotion in the workplace - doesn't mean that those cutting nicknames or comments don't affect us too.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I flipped back and forth between the book and the audiobook while reading this one. I really enjoyed the voice acting that came with the audiobook and soon found myself reading it in their brogues.
Guests arrive for a wedding weekend on a small remote island off the cost of Ireland- the views and scenery are gorgeous. The weather starts out perfect. While each of them are escaping something back at home - kids, work, relationships…they soon realize their secrets are something they cannot run from.
At first, I was a bit concerned over the very many POVs you’re thrown into from the start- but I really enjoyed how the author put it together. Each POV gave you a bit of the present and the history, each chapter would have you suddenly realizing what was occurring. While, I was pretty certain how the book would end- the delivery was fantastic.
Guests arrive for a wedding weekend on a small remote island off the cost of Ireland- the views and scenery are gorgeous. The weather starts out perfect. While each of them are escaping something back at home - kids, work, relationships…they soon realize their secrets are something they cannot run from.
At first, I was a bit concerned over the very many POVs you’re thrown into from the start- but I really enjoyed how the author put it together. Each POV gave you a bit of the present and the history, each chapter would have you suddenly realizing what was occurring. While, I was pretty certain how the book would end- the delivery was fantastic.
The Beach Trap by Ali Brady
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
I’m going to bring you back to your tween years at camp- the sun, the fun, hanging out with your summer bestie.
Blake and Kat are the best of friends, until twelve year old Kat discovers Blake is her half-sister and their worlds begin to fall apart. Fast forward to their twenties, their father has passed away and left them a beach house. They haven't spoken since that summer at camp, and there is certainly been no love lost between the two.
Right off the bat, I came really close to DNFing because of Kat. The entire book she whines on and on about how Blake is out to get her, out to make her life hell, how it’s all her fault that Kat’s life has fallen apart. She can't see beyond her own selfishness to realize that her half-sister's life hasn't been glitz and glam...that once Blake's grandfather passes she will be all alone. Every time the sisters make any progress at repairing their relationship - Kat’s immaturity damages it.
Alas- I did stick it through, and can admit the ending won me over. I fully understand Kat was suppose to irritate the reader but my desire to smack sense into her was overwhelming. The ending and the epilogue were well worth the pain of Kat's personal growth. I really enjoyed the following both sisters as they faced their grief, their hang ups, through their growth, overcoming scars- the changes, and undeniable anger - everything it took for both sisters to become whole once again. In the end, the summer made the difference.
Blake and Kat are the best of friends, until twelve year old Kat discovers Blake is her half-sister and their worlds begin to fall apart. Fast forward to their twenties, their father has passed away and left them a beach house. They haven't spoken since that summer at camp, and there is certainly been no love lost between the two.
Right off the bat, I came really close to DNFing because of Kat. The entire book she whines on and on about how Blake is out to get her, out to make her life hell, how it’s all her fault that Kat’s life has fallen apart. She can't see beyond her own selfishness to realize that her half-sister's life hasn't been glitz and glam...that once Blake's grandfather passes she will be all alone. Every time the sisters make any progress at repairing their relationship - Kat’s immaturity damages it.
Alas- I did stick it through, and can admit the ending won me over. I fully understand Kat was suppose to irritate the reader but my desire to smack sense into her was overwhelming. The ending and the epilogue were well worth the pain of Kat's personal growth. I really enjoyed the following both sisters as they faced their grief, their hang ups, through their growth, overcoming scars- the changes, and undeniable anger - everything it took for both sisters to become whole once again. In the end, the summer made the difference.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
I was genuinely not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Nick Earls' After Summer has always been a book that reminds me of my summers in Cape May - immediately taking me back to my time there...the smells and sounds. Fortune's book did the same for me- immediately I felt transported back to cool sand and the sounds of the water lapping against the shoreline. While Every Summer After takes place on a lake - the feelings were the same.
I enjoyed the back and forth between the present and the past - seeing Sam and Percy's story through the years; and how, even though they both attempted to put the other in the past...their connection was too much to ignore. The infidelity didn't strike me as it has other readers - they were teenagers, both trying to figure out a serious relationship while still being kids on the brink of huge changes. While it broke their relationship at the time - it was a mistake and a learning opportunity for them both. Neither was perfect, neither handled anything the best way...but what more can you expect from 17 year olds? We all sucked at 17.
The way they found their way back to each other, and the ending felt natural and believable. I thought it was the perfect way to wrap up a romance- it didn't erase the messy parts of two people coming together and re-learning each other. It didn't wrap everything up in a neat bow - it felt like you were reading a true story about two people. Which, quite honestly, is my favorite type of story- the believable ones.
I enjoyed the back and forth between the present and the past - seeing Sam and Percy's story through the years; and how, even though they both attempted to put the other in the past...their connection was too much to ignore. The infidelity didn't strike me as it has other readers - they were teenagers, both trying to figure out a serious relationship while still being kids on the brink of huge changes. While it broke their relationship at the time - it was a mistake and a learning opportunity for them both. Neither was perfect, neither handled anything the best way...but what more can you expect from 17 year olds? We all sucked at 17.
The way they found their way back to each other, and the ending felt natural and believable. I thought it was the perfect way to wrap up a romance- it didn't erase the messy parts of two people coming together and re-learning each other. It didn't wrap everything up in a neat bow - it felt like you were reading a true story about two people. Which, quite honestly, is my favorite type of story- the believable ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent