bookobsessedmommy's reviews
1074 reviews

Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

Our two people pleasers get together and live happily ever after. The beginning was a little slow, but I really enjoyed this story. Certain parts struck me right in the chest and have me thinking about what dream I've given up on that it might be time to revive.

Only for the Holidays by Abiola Bello

emotional funny 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

4.5

Tia trying desperately to salvage her relationship, when her mom announces a country vacation. She's hunting for a way out when handsome Quincy makes her the perfect offer, pretend to be his girlfriend in exchange for a ride back to the city. The deal seems perfect until they start to fall for each other, and Tia has to decide if the relationship she has is actually the one she wants. I love Abiola's writing. She has a way of making what could be a predictable small town romance into a captivating and feel good story about young love, friendship, and honesty. Tia's struggle to see Mike for who he actually was instead of who she imagined him to be, and Q's path to honesty and forgiveness really hit home. 

I'll Have What He's Having by Adib Khorram

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.5

I loved these guys so much. The chemistry is electric, the sex is hot, and their anxieties and obsessions felt so real. Farzan's friend are the absolute best, and his family is so sweet. David is so singularly focused that he sometimes felt a little boring and flat, but when he comes out of his stupor he's such a delight. I loved all the side characters too, and would love to see more from this universe.

Wrapped Up in Beau by Mia Heintzelman

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Not my favorite. 

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

dark funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

A little boring, a little gross, extremely interesting overall. 

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

These stories run the gamut from truly horrifying, to confusing, to funny, to gut wrenching. I nearly quit a couple of times, but im glad I stuck it out. There's at least on author that Im excited to read from again. Pepper, eulogy, collections, long street, snakes, white hills😱

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

emotional funny reflective sad fast-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? No

4.5

While parts of this story were horrifying, I enjoyed mix of history and found family from a child's perspective. I loved seeing way Bud conceptualized his reality and how he kept finding good people along the way. The fact that he needed to find them made me want to spit nails, but I'm glad they were there. 

A Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

 Sunny and Isaac are both in a creative rutt, but start to find their groove, sexually and artistically, as they share a mansion in the idyllic town of Christmas Notch. They are perfect for each other, but they're struggling to see a future through their fear and grief. I loved both of these characters so much. How filthy they were and how caring they were. Isaac is completely obsessed with Sunny and Sunny is incredibly patient. I love how committed they are to the Christmas Miracle and the way everything comes full circle. Getting the bonus scenes with Teddy were really cute, so we get to see the whole motley crew. True to form, the story is sex positive and queer normative. The 3rd act conflict is a little ridiculous but it's all in good fun in the spirit of a Hallmark movie. This book is so hot and simultaneously sweet, and I want to know this nutty cast of porn stars and pop idols in real life. I will read everything these ladies write.

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

Ember is in desperate need of a new job, so she bends the truth a bit to get it. Her secrets are safe until she falls for the IT guy and pisses off the wrong manager, then Ember finds herself stuck between love and hard place. I haated all the lying in this, but I felt for Ember. She emobdies her eldest sister status and tries to do everything herself all the time, which is what ultimately gets her into trouble. The secondary characters were a little flat, but I loved Danuwoa and his sister. I love seeing more representation in romance stories, and I think this would be a great movie adaptation. Hearing the author's personal story at the end really resonated with me, and I would definitely pick up more of her work in the future. 

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

Liz is fixated on getting her perfect prom, and that requires the prefect date, but she can't make it happen without the help of her nemesis neighbor, Wes. They work out a deal and everything is going to plan, but Liz starts to wonder if the boy she's been pining over isn't the one she actually wants. This was so stinking sweet! Lynn Painter has a way of writing about teens that makes me feel like I'm back in high school (minus the nightmares over forgotten projects) and falling in love. (I didn't actually fall in love in high school, but if America can revise history, then SO CAN I!) Liz's grief as she navigates Senior year without her Mom and her fixation on living out a rom-com are heartfelt and silly and relatable all at once. Wes is the perfect book boyfriend (for a teenager, not me. Ew), except for the fact that he's a little cowardly. (Let's see if book 2 can give him a little character growth.) I'm so excited to read all the rest of the books in this series, cause I need more Liz and Wes. 😍