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bookmarkedtbr's reviews
433 reviews
Just Drive by Devyn Sinclair
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Tropes: fated mates, OV, vaguely workplace romance, sports romance, secret relationship, why choose
I really loved this book! Whenever I pick up a Devyn Sinclair book, I know I will be getting lovable characters, incredible passion and yearning, and spice on spice on spice. The FMC in JUST DRIVE was very relatable as she makes her way through a career dominated entirely by men. I really resonated with her battle between being strong and independent in public, but wanting to be vulnerable and cared for in private. The way her pack immediately understands the nuisances of her personality and public persona really endured them to me. The conflict throughout was two-fold and well executed. Devyn did a great job balancing the characters and their relationships with the ongoing F1 season and logistics. As someone who is only vaguely aware of Formula 1, it was incredibly easy to keep up with the racing and honestly, I now want to start watching in real life! This book is one you will feel in your bones. The scene after the photo shoots when Grayson grabs Vanessa and tugs her against a wall???? Visceral reaction!! I really love all five of them.
FMC: Vanessa - Omega, first female F1 driver, always has to be perfect and independent, loves her grandfather, secretly yearned for a pack
MMCs:
Grayson - Alpha, owner of Vanessa's F1 team, professional, confident, passionate
River - Alpha, F1 driver on another team, fun-loving, lighthearted, driven
Beck - Alpha, race engineer, dominant, stoic, self-assured
Elias - Beta, mechanic, sweet, yearns for a family
Lots of spice!
I really loved this book! Whenever I pick up a Devyn Sinclair book, I know I will be getting lovable characters, incredible passion and yearning, and spice on spice on spice. The FMC in JUST DRIVE was very relatable as she makes her way through a career dominated entirely by men. I really resonated with her battle between being strong and independent in public, but wanting to be vulnerable and cared for in private. The way her pack immediately understands the nuisances of her personality and public persona really endured them to me. The conflict throughout was two-fold and well executed. Devyn did a great job balancing the characters and their relationships with the ongoing F1 season and logistics. As someone who is only vaguely aware of Formula 1, it was incredibly easy to keep up with the racing and honestly, I now want to start watching in real life! This book is one you will feel in your bones. The scene after the photo shoots when Grayson grabs Vanessa and tugs her against a wall???? Visceral reaction!! I really love all five of them.
FMC: Vanessa - Omega, first female F1 driver, always has to be perfect and independent, loves her grandfather, secretly yearned for a pack
MMCs:
Grayson - Alpha, owner of Vanessa's F1 team, professional, confident, passionate
River - Alpha, F1 driver on another team, fun-loving, lighthearted, driven
Beck - Alpha, race engineer, dominant, stoic, self-assured
Elias - Beta, mechanic, sweet, yearns for a family
Lots of spice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Car accident
Minor: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Consider Me by Becka Mack
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tropes: golden retriever, simp, off limits, he falls first, hockey romance
FMC: Olivia - gym teacher, closed off, loves deeply, sarcastic, caring
MMC: Carter - playboy, over the top grand gestures, wants all of Olivia's attention 24/7, goofy
Spice: open door
Narrators: amazing job! 10/10
Oh Carter. I can't help but adore him and his eccentricities. I so relate to Olivia and how read she gets every time he dedicates a goal to her. Watching him work to crack open her shell was so fulfilling. I was kicking my feet and yelling every other scene. We can all only wish for such a devoted SO. Looking for unending adoration? Carter Beckett is here to provide all of the simp behaviors you could ever need. And Olivia! I want to be her best friend (and Cara's!). I just love them so much. I wish I could insert myself into this friend group more than any other book I've read recently.
FMC: Olivia - gym teacher, closed off, loves deeply, sarcastic, caring
MMC: Carter - playboy, over the top grand gestures, wants all of Olivia's attention 24/7, goofy
Spice: open door
Narrators: amazing job! 10/10
Oh Carter. I can't help but adore him and his eccentricities. I so relate to Olivia and how read she gets every time he dedicates a goal to her. Watching him work to crack open her shell was so fulfilling. I was kicking my feet and yelling every other scene. We can all only wish for such a devoted SO. Looking for unending adoration? Carter Beckett is here to provide all of the simp behaviors you could ever need. And Olivia! I want to be her best friend (and Cara's!). I just love them so much. I wish I could insert myself into this friend group more than any other book I've read recently.
Fall With Me by Becka Mack
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Tropes: Forced proximity, hockey romance, fwb, vaguely workplace romance, spicy
MMC: Jaxon - hockey player, longs for a sense of belonging, untrusting of others, playboy
FMC: Lennon - burned by her fiance, looking to establish a new life, doesn't want to get hurt again
Spice: Open door
Narrators: Both did an amazing job & brought the characters to life
I ADORE Jaxon and Lennon!!! How does Becka Mack keep writing some of the best couples in contemporary romance? The character growth for both of them was amazing!! The pace was realistic, and I was rooting for them the entire way. One of the best parts of this series is how much the past couples continue to play a role in the current storylines. I love the MCs friend group and the fun they get into and chaos they cause. They make me yearn for a similar dynamic. Because of this, I would highly recommend reading the books in order! Otherwise, you'll be missing out on a lot of laughs.
MMC: Jaxon - hockey player, longs for a sense of belonging, untrusting of others, playboy
FMC: Lennon - burned by her fiance, looking to establish a new life, doesn't want to get hurt again
Spice: Open door
Narrators: Both did an amazing job & brought the characters to life
I ADORE Jaxon and Lennon!!! How does Becka Mack keep writing some of the best couples in contemporary romance? The character growth for both of them was amazing!! The pace was realistic, and I was rooting for them the entire way. One of the best parts of this series is how much the past couples continue to play a role in the current storylines. I love the MCs friend group and the fun they get into and chaos they cause. They make me yearn for a similar dynamic. Because of this, I would highly recommend reading the books in order! Otherwise, you'll be missing out on a lot of laughs.
The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book has been on my TBR for a while and honestly, it was a bit underwhelming. First off, the MMC had me mad from the jump and I clearly hold a grudge longer than the FMC lol Second, the drama with the side characters took up so much space, I didn't feel like I was super invested in the MMC & FMC's relationship as much. It felt more like a HFN and not an HEA.
My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
I love this series. It's so unserious in the best way. I would consider this cozy paranormal romance and I'm obsessed. The main characters and side characters are so fun and relatable, and the conflicts are honestly so unserious. I need more books in this series!! I also loved the narrators. They did a great job bringing this book to life.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This story was good, but not my favorite of Katherine Center’s. A bit of a heavier topic, and not very much romance. It was very realistic and I wanted to scream at what the FMC was experiencing multiple times throughout. It was just a lot of trauma all in one book. I like the narrator, but something about the sound quality was way off.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Offside by Avery Keelan
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Gah. I’m so conflicted about my rating for this book. On the one hand, the MMC is what dreams are made of. A confident hockey player who doesn’t give up on his loved ones and hoists them up when they’re feeling down. The FMC wasn’t a slouch either, sticking up for herself when needed and making the best out of bad situations.
The book just felt a little long and drawn out. It seems like the conflict will be that the FMC is into her ex’s rival, but that’s resolved relatively quickly and there’s not really any conflict outside of the ex being an ass until close to the end. The entire video situation is built up so much and then the conclusion is so fast you’re like wait what. We’re past this now?
This is random but it really bothered me how often the author referred to if the characters were feeling hot or cold? At one point I thought someone was going to end up with a disease because why else would it be important to keep reiterating that she’s always freezing and he runs hot? It just felt super weird and was unnecessary.
Also, the entire question behind why was it the FMC’s fault the parents had to remortgage the house was so dumb. They built it up like a big secret and you find out in like the last chapter or two and it’s literally nothing. It adds exactly 0 to the story.
Overall I liked the characters and the general outline, I think it needs to be refined more for it to be an amazing book.
The book just felt a little long and drawn out. It seems like the conflict will be that the FMC is into her ex’s rival, but that’s resolved relatively quickly and there’s not really any conflict outside of the ex being an ass until close to the end. The entire video situation is built up so much and then the conclusion is so fast you’re like wait what. We’re past this now?
This is random but it really bothered me how often the author referred to if the characters were feeling hot or cold? At one point I thought someone was going to end up with a disease because why else would it be important to keep reiterating that she’s always freezing and he runs hot? It just felt super weird and was unnecessary.
Also, the entire question behind why was it the FMC’s fault the parents had to remortgage the house was so dumb. They built it up like a big secret and you find out in like the last chapter or two and it’s literally nothing. It adds exactly 0 to the story.
Overall I liked the characters and the general outline, I think it needs to be refined more for it to be an amazing book.
Once Upon a Crime by Brynn Kelly
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
The narrators did a really good job, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the storyline. Parts of it felt so obvious while others were unnecessarily convoluted. The main characters were also a little one dimensional. It was more of an adventure with some romance as opposed to a romance with some adventure.
Once Upon A Pack by Ari Wright
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
Received an e-arc as part of Ari Wright's Cheer Squad.
Wow. I really loved this book. There’s something so deliciously indulgent about the premise. Maybe it’s my latent Cinderella fantasies from when I was younger, but there’s something about the juxtaposition of innocence & debauchery, and this fairytale of a prince (or princes) coming to save you that just hit me in the exact right way. Sometimes I feel like we as a society overcorrected after the era of the Disney princess. Sometimes I want to indulge in this fantasy of fated love, of your soulmate coming to save you, of being able to lay down all of life’s stresses and hardships and allowing yourself to be pampered and loved and cared for.
I say it all the time, but Ari Wright creates some of the best characters I’ve ever read. They’re so fully fleshed out and each so distinct, it truly feels like you could pick up the phone and talk to one of them. I really enjoyed the pacing of this story, which is a credit to Ari and her OV world. Had this been a non-OV world, I could see it being dragged out for most of the book "who is the girl behind the mask?" But because of scents and mates and all kinds of fun things, that is quickly nipped in the bud. Thank GOD. I would have simply perished otherwise from stress. I don't want to part with them! Can we please get a fluffy book of them being Queen & Kings and raising heirs?? I
Tropes: Cinderella, evil stepmom/aunt, childhood friends, bad boy biker, golden retriever, simps, FMC befriends all of the animals, maid x prince, mistaken identity kind of?
Lots of spice! Nothing too k!nky if you’re familiar with OV
Ivy: maid, sweet, innocent, befriends animals, overworked, emotionally abused at home, kind, wants to help everyone and everything, latent omega
Ash: crown prince, duty bound, kind of a nerd, shunned by other kids growing up, completely & utterly devoted to Ivy
Bastan: gorgeous athlete turned goofball, holding onto his pack with two hands, lightens every situation, Ivy’s (eventual) best friend
Dair: bad boy, playboy, rides a motorcycle, covered in tattoos, impulsive, hard shell with a gooey inside, pretends he doesn’t care, #1 simp
Highlighted SFW Quotes
-Does she ever go anywhere for fun? Does she have someone to tell her how beautiful she looks in the sunshine? Or kiss her until she can’t breathe?
-Maybe I just… love her. How could I not? It would be like not appreciating sunsets or springtime or the stars she likes to wish on.
-Now, there’s just silence. Peace. The rain. And her. Her hair sliding through my fingers. The warm skin between her collarbones. The drops clinging to her lashes as her lips part around my name. There’s only her. And me. Until suddenly, in the space of half an instant, there’s us.
-The sweet omega bites her glossy lip and darts a timid look at the landing situated between both sets of curved stairs. Because she doesn’t want everyone to look at her when she steps out into the light? Why does that make my heart hurt?
-She can have as little or as much of me as she wants. I’m hers either way.
-“If you’re the same girl I knew,” I murmur, “then you are the one I’ve loved and missed every d*mn day since I made the mistake of letting you go. And that makes you my queen.”
-My hand snaps up from her legging-covered a** to cup her chin. Scowling, I demand, “Baby, what the f*ck? You haven’t eaten? Or rested?” This girl might be good at taking care of us, but she’s obviously abysmal at looking after herself. F*ck it. That will be my job now.
Wow. I really loved this book. There’s something so deliciously indulgent about the premise. Maybe it’s my latent Cinderella fantasies from when I was younger, but there’s something about the juxtaposition of innocence & debauchery, and this fairytale of a prince (or princes) coming to save you that just hit me in the exact right way. Sometimes I feel like we as a society overcorrected after the era of the Disney princess. Sometimes I want to indulge in this fantasy of fated love, of your soulmate coming to save you, of being able to lay down all of life’s stresses and hardships and allowing yourself to be pampered and loved and cared for.
I say it all the time, but Ari Wright creates some of the best characters I’ve ever read. They’re so fully fleshed out and each so distinct, it truly feels like you could pick up the phone and talk to one of them. I really enjoyed the pacing of this story, which is a credit to Ari and her OV world. Had this been a non-OV world, I could see it being dragged out for most of the book "who is the girl behind the mask?" But because of scents and mates and all kinds of fun things, that is quickly nipped in the bud. Thank GOD. I would have simply perished otherwise from stress. I don't want to part with them! Can we please get a fluffy book of them being Queen & Kings and raising heirs?? I
Tropes: Cinderella, evil stepmom/aunt, childhood friends, bad boy biker, golden retriever, simps, FMC befriends all of the animals, maid x prince, mistaken identity kind of?
Lots of spice! Nothing too k!nky if you’re familiar with OV
Ivy: maid, sweet, innocent, befriends animals, overworked, emotionally abused at home, kind, wants to help everyone and everything, latent omega
Ash: crown prince, duty bound, kind of a nerd, shunned by other kids growing up, completely & utterly devoted to Ivy
Bastan: gorgeous athlete turned goofball, holding onto his pack with two hands, lightens every situation, Ivy’s (eventual) best friend
Dair: bad boy, playboy, rides a motorcycle, covered in tattoos, impulsive, hard shell with a gooey inside, pretends he doesn’t care, #1 simp
Highlighted SFW Quotes
-Does she ever go anywhere for fun? Does she have someone to tell her how beautiful she looks in the sunshine? Or kiss her until she can’t breathe?
-Maybe I just… love her. How could I not? It would be like not appreciating sunsets or springtime or the stars she likes to wish on.
-Now, there’s just silence. Peace. The rain. And her. Her hair sliding through my fingers. The warm skin between her collarbones. The drops clinging to her lashes as her lips part around my name. There’s only her. And me. Until suddenly, in the space of half an instant, there’s us.
-The sweet omega bites her glossy lip and darts a timid look at the landing situated between both sets of curved stairs. Because she doesn’t want everyone to look at her when she steps out into the light? Why does that make my heart hurt?
-She can have as little or as much of me as she wants. I’m hers either way.
-“If you’re the same girl I knew,” I murmur, “then you are the one I’ve loved and missed every d*mn day since I made the mistake of letting you go. And that makes you my queen.”
-My hand snaps up from her legging-covered a** to cup her chin. Scowling, I demand, “Baby, what the f*ck? You haven’t eaten? Or rested?” This girl might be good at taking care of us, but she’s obviously abysmal at looking after herself. F*ck it. That will be my job now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy
A Pack for Autumn by Emilia Emerson
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Story: 5 stars
Narrators: 3 stars
The narrators were fine, they just weren't particularly good at doing other voices. It was more like 2 people reading you a book instead of performing one, if that makes sense?
Narrators: 3 stars
The narrators were fine, they just weren't particularly good at doing other voices. It was more like 2 people reading you a book instead of performing one, if that makes sense?