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booksbytheglass's reviews
883 reviews
The Risk by Elle Kennedy
funny
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
4.5
this entire series is my guilty pleasure, and every time I finish, I wonder why I waited so long to read the next in the installment 😭 sports romance is THAT girl I swear
focusing on brenna, the daughter of briar’s hockey coach, and jake connolly, the captain of their rival school harvard, I immediately was all in 😮💨 there’s something about a forbidden romance mixed with enemies to lovers that is an automatic win for me!!!
I fell in love with brenna from THE CHASE, and I’m so happy she was able to get her own HEA 🥲 she deserves the world!! and delving deeper into her relationship with her dad and her own checkered past was just the growth I needed to see from her
and jake, woo boy, he’s the perfect supportive boyfriend! we stan MCs who aren’t toxic masculine and put their significant others on a damn pedestal 👏🏼👏🏼 as they should!!!! I just loved watching the two of them grow together pls
what I didn’t love was their ability to forgive and forget - which I get it, but come on, you’re just gonna let people back in your life that legitimately express they want to cause you harm? no thanks
BUT! I would read an entire series just about the two of them and their future, they were THAT couple 🥹
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
focusing on brenna, the daughter of briar’s hockey coach, and jake connolly, the captain of their rival school harvard, I immediately was all in 😮💨 there’s something about a forbidden romance mixed with enemies to lovers that is an automatic win for me!!!
I fell in love with brenna from THE CHASE, and I’m so happy she was able to get her own HEA 🥲 she deserves the world!! and delving deeper into her relationship with her dad and her own checkered past was just the growth I needed to see from her
and jake, woo boy, he’s the perfect supportive boyfriend! we stan MCs who aren’t toxic masculine and put their significant others on a damn pedestal 👏🏼👏🏼 as they should!!!! I just loved watching the two of them grow together pls
what I didn’t love was their ability to forgive and forget - which I get it, but come on, you’re just gonna let people back in your life that legitimately express they want to cause you harm? no thanks
BUT! I would read an entire series just about the two of them and their future, they were THAT couple 🥹
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-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
3.5
a few days later & I’m still sitting with my thoughts on this one!! I enjoyed it way more than sarah’s last solo thriller, but there was something about this that didn’t execute well for me 🥲🤔
the first half of the book focused mostly on stella, a child advocate lawyer for parents going through a divorce, and her client rose, who suffers from traumatic mutism after witnessing her nanny die in front of her. the mystery behind the nanny’s death and how rose was involved was a key component of the plot, and while I figured out the plot twist quite early on, it was a very entertaining ride!
the second half of the book did a 180 for me, focusing more on stella’s backstory and her own experience with traumatic mutism after her mother’s death. I thought that “mystery” of sorts was pretty obvious and didn’t need to be as fleshed out as it was - especially since it ultimately didn’t connect to the present day mystery at all.
and can we talk about that random side romance? it came completely out of the blue and felt very trauma bonding rather than an actual relationship. also, what was the point? 🤔
TDLR: an entertaining fast-paced bingeable thriller but ultimately not my favorite. thank you to netgalley and st martins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! you can get this one early through BOTM 🫡
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
the first half of the book focused mostly on stella, a child advocate lawyer for parents going through a divorce, and her client rose, who suffers from traumatic mutism after witnessing her nanny die in front of her. the mystery behind the nanny’s death and how rose was involved was a key component of the plot, and while I figured out the plot twist quite early on, it was a very entertaining ride!
the second half of the book did a 180 for me, focusing more on stella’s backstory and her own experience with traumatic mutism after her mother’s death. I thought that “mystery” of sorts was pretty obvious and didn’t need to be as fleshed out as it was - especially since it ultimately didn’t connect to the present day mystery at all.
and can we talk about that random side romance? it came completely out of the blue and felt very trauma bonding rather than an actual relationship. also, what was the point? 🤔
TDLR: an entertaining fast-paced bingeable thriller but ultimately not my favorite. thank you to netgalley and st martins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! you can get this one early through BOTM 🫡
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
DNF @ 20% - this story is all over the place, jumping from timeline to timeline, without really connecting the dots from one to the next… I would have liked to see a more cohesive balance between the multiple timelines and POVs since it’s not explained how they connect at all (right now, it seems like completely different stories just in the same book) 😩😩 and I love his writing so this is just a disappointing mess for me… I got roped in by the prologue and intrigue of the characters, but lost me when we decided to take a deep dive back in time without any true correlation. a big thank you to netgalley and doubleday for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Examiner by Janice Hallett
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
anytime I need a binge worthy thriller, I know I can always count on janice hallett!! her writing style, a mix of text messages, emails, and police reports, is unmatched and really makes me feel like a detective reading between the lines! 🙌🏼
each one of her stories I’ve read is a little different from the previous, and this one is no exception! it’s a chaotic inward look at art, climate change, and eco-terrorism, all told from misleading and unreliable narrators 🤠 it’s a recipe for success, and yet, I felt it was a bit too drawn out…
I’m normally one for red herrings and plot twists going opposite directions, but it didn’t quite work here. I felt that the entire plot was leading the readers in one direction and took a last minute turn at the end, which felt more like a cop out and less like a major twist…
the characters themselves were a hot mess!! the chaos surrounding all of them was slightly unbelievable, and to set the backdrop as a masters program made it seem even more unbelievable 🥴 I think the story would have been more successful not in an academic setting like her other stories…
overall, a fun unique read, and major thank yous to atria and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
each one of her stories I’ve read is a little different from the previous, and this one is no exception! it’s a chaotic inward look at art, climate change, and eco-terrorism, all told from misleading and unreliable narrators 🤠 it’s a recipe for success, and yet, I felt it was a bit too drawn out…
I’m normally one for red herrings and plot twists going opposite directions, but it didn’t quite work here. I felt that the entire plot was leading the readers in one direction and took a last minute turn at the end, which felt more like a cop out and less like a major twist…
the characters themselves were a hot mess!! the chaos surrounding all of them was slightly unbelievable, and to set the backdrop as a masters program made it seem even more unbelievable 🥴 I think the story would have been more successful not in an academic setting like her other stories…
overall, a fun unique read, and major thank yous to atria and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5
did I binge this on my sick day because I could? I absolutely did!!!! and this was a wild ride from start to finish 😳😳
there’s something about a red herring … or multiple … that gets me so excited and impatient to get to the ending! and I was completely thrown pretty much the entire time!
following cleo on her search for her missing mother, she comes across so many details about her mother’s life that she had no idea about, from what she really does for work to how she grew up in foster care. and while I was a bit disappointed in the ultimate resolution, I loved the back and forth timeline format to keep the reader guessing!
I did guess the ultimate whodunnit at the end, mostly because I felt it was the most obvious choice, but the ride was so worth it!
the pacing and format was spot on, and I’d highly recommend this one for a quick bingeable popcorn thriller! thank you to penguin random house and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley pinot noir
there’s something about a red herring … or multiple … that gets me so excited and impatient to get to the ending! and I was completely thrown pretty much the entire time!
following cleo on her search for her missing mother, she comes across so many details about her mother’s life that she had no idea about, from what she really does for work to how she grew up in foster care. and while I was a bit disappointed in the ultimate resolution, I loved the back and forth timeline format to keep the reader guessing!
I did guess the ultimate whodunnit at the end, mostly because I felt it was the most obvious choice, but the ride was so worth it!
the pacing and format was spot on, and I’d highly recommend this one for a quick bingeable popcorn thriller! thank you to penguin random house and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley pinot noir
The Unraveling by Vi Keeland
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
what a dark and twisty debut thriller! I’m usually all in for a psychological thriller, but there was something about this one that kept me from diving all in - and that was the stupidity of the main character 🙄
meredith, a therapist reeling from recent traumatic events, is questioning her entire life and letting the intrusive thoughts win 🥴 from stalking people to not admitting when her prescription pad is stolen to SLEEPING WITH PATIENTS, she was unhinged and not in a good way … especially because she kept saying “I know it’s wrong but” … NO! there’s no buts! it’s not that hard!
I do feel like the plot itself was trying too hard to be multiple other thrillers at once, which led to the ending feeling rushed and out of left field. and normally, I love a good last minute twist but I didn’t really see the point of this one 😩
the cast of characters was intriguing, and the fast paced nature of the story worked well - but overall, I think I’ve just read too many thrillers in my life to be caught by surprise anymore 😶🫠
thank you to atria and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: burgundy rosé blend
meredith, a therapist reeling from recent traumatic events, is questioning her entire life and letting the intrusive thoughts win 🥴 from stalking people to not admitting when her prescription pad is stolen to SLEEPING WITH PATIENTS, she was unhinged and not in a good way … especially because she kept saying “I know it’s wrong but” … NO! there’s no buts! it’s not that hard!
I do feel like the plot itself was trying too hard to be multiple other thrillers at once, which led to the ending feeling rushed and out of left field. and normally, I love a good last minute twist but I didn’t really see the point of this one 😩
the cast of characters was intriguing, and the fast paced nature of the story worked well - but overall, I think I’ve just read too many thrillers in my life to be caught by surprise anymore 😶🫠
thank you to atria and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: burgundy rosé blend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Car accident
Moderate: Addiction, Medical trauma
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
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? Yes
4.0
this was one of the cutest romcoms I’ve read in a longgggg time! it had everything from the one bed trope, enemies to lovers, fake dating, and of course the swoony moments!!!
I’m so obsessed with quirky main characters, and delphie was the perfect FMC to root for! at first, I felt bad for her in her lonely life (even though she really did it to herself), but seeing her grow throughout the story was beautiful 🥹🥹
and cooper? my lil broody author dark-haired man? as soon as he stepped on the scene, I said “ok let’s go” 🥵 I loved that he wasn’t THE moment of the book but instead went along with delphie’s journey and helped with her self discovery!!! we love a healthy couple!!
and that plot twist at the end had me shrieking!
I can’t really put my finger on why this wasn’t a higher rating for me, other than I wanted more! I wanted more depth to all of the characters and their backstories - especially those from delphie’s past that clearly caused so much trauma for her!
a huge thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! 🫧 this one’s out now!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: provence rosé
I’m so obsessed with quirky main characters, and delphie was the perfect FMC to root for! at first, I felt bad for her in her lonely life (even though she really did it to herself), but seeing her grow throughout the story was beautiful 🥹🥹
and cooper? my lil broody author dark-haired man? as soon as he stepped on the scene, I said “ok let’s go” 🥵 I loved that he wasn’t THE moment of the book but instead went along with delphie’s journey and helped with her self discovery!!! we love a healthy couple!!
and that plot twist at the end had me shrieking!
I can’t really put my finger on why this wasn’t a higher rating for me, other than I wanted more! I wanted more depth to all of the characters and their backstories - especially those from delphie’s past that clearly caused so much trauma for her!
a huge thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! 🫧 this one’s out now!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: provence rosé
A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
3.5
if I was rating this based on vibes alone, this would have a million stars ❤️ issac and laniah have a love story for the ages, truly soulmates in every definition of the word, and it was a blessing to read
which is so crazy that I just typed those words because friends to lovers is so not my jam 🤡 perhaps (most definitely) I’m speaking from my own personal trauma when I say that friends to lovers is never as seamless or easy as it is in real life, and while that’s quite literally the point of fiction, it gives me a feeling of regret and panic just by reading it
that being said!! I loved the stolen glances, the fake dating turned real feelings, the mutual pining - it was all written so beautifully 🥹 and after reading the author’s note, I feel even more connected to these characters
the pacing was glacier slow in the beginning where I kept having to set it down for days to get back in the mood to read again, but once the drama kicked in about halfway, I was invested and finished it in one sitting! the third act breakup, of course, was predictable based on the character’s inner thoughts and personalities, but still had me groaning at how avoidable it was with a single conversation 🙃🙃
the author’s writing was so beautiful and her text paragraphs felt like prose - I’m so glad I stuck through this one 🩷 thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet sauvignon
which is so crazy that I just typed those words because friends to lovers is so not my jam 🤡 perhaps (most definitely) I’m speaking from my own personal trauma when I say that friends to lovers is never as seamless or easy as it is in real life, and while that’s quite literally the point of fiction, it gives me a feeling of regret and panic just by reading it
that being said!! I loved the stolen glances, the fake dating turned real feelings, the mutual pining - it was all written so beautifully 🥹 and after reading the author’s note, I feel even more connected to these characters
the pacing was glacier slow in the beginning where I kept having to set it down for days to get back in the mood to read again, but once the drama kicked in about halfway, I was invested and finished it in one sitting! the third act breakup, of course, was predictable based on the character’s inner thoughts and personalities, but still had me groaning at how avoidable it was with a single conversation 🙃🙃
the author’s writing was so beautiful and her text paragraphs felt like prose - I’m so glad I stuck through this one 🩷 thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet sauvignon
It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-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
3.0
“I would die for her, I think, I might even let her kill me”
OKAY TOXIC ROMANCE GIRLIES UNITE! we ride at dawn with this thriller romance that gives mr and mrs smith meets butcher and blackbird 😮💨
this wasn’t my favorite by this author, but it was such a wild ride I was here for it!! two assassins-for-hire meet by chance on a mission, only to pick up a hit on each other six months later 🫨 and you know I love a good dramaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
the pacing was all over the place which kept me from getting super invested in the story - it kept switching from so much action to total description based writing that made me want to skip entire chapters 🫡🙃
overall, the story itself had good bones, but it was a one and done shot for me 🤠 the characters were a total hot mess, especially for their trauma filled past (which they super glossed over??? give me flashbacks!!)… and the 360 they both did at the end? made zero sense I swear
I did binge it in one night so that was a fun time, but I think I’d rather just watch mr and mrs smith or re-read the butcher and blackbird series!!! thank you to berkley for the gifted advanced and gifted copies in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: provence rosé
OKAY TOXIC ROMANCE GIRLIES UNITE! we ride at dawn with this thriller romance that gives mr and mrs smith meets butcher and blackbird 😮💨
this wasn’t my favorite by this author, but it was such a wild ride I was here for it!! two assassins-for-hire meet by chance on a mission, only to pick up a hit on each other six months later 🫨 and you know I love a good dramaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
the pacing was all over the place which kept me from getting super invested in the story - it kept switching from so much action to total description based writing that made me want to skip entire chapters 🫡🙃
overall, the story itself had good bones, but it was a one and done shot for me 🤠 the characters were a total hot mess, especially for their trauma filled past (which they super glossed over??? give me flashbacks!!)… and the 360 they both did at the end? made zero sense I swear
I did binge it in one night so that was a fun time, but I think I’d rather just watch mr and mrs smith or re-read the butcher and blackbird series!!! thank you to berkley for the gifted advanced and gifted copies in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: provence rosé
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
I went into this one with mixed expectations because it sounded like something SO up my alley, but the reviews made me nervous 🥺 and I definitely feel like this is a love it or hate it type of book … but WOW! I was unprepared at how bingeable and addicting the story was!!
was it the best romantasy book ever? not by a long shot. while it’s advertised as an adult read, it writes more in a YA style, and the pacing could use some work… however, this one was FUN! if I rated it based vibes alone, it would have a million stars 🥳🥳
the amount of times I giggled and squealed throughout this story should be illegal!!! I absolutely adored the FMC, evie, and the villain’s constant banter - as well as the workplace atmosphere with evie and her coworkers
and the villain himself? totally darkling and loki vibes which had me swooning the entire time 😮💨😮💨 I wanted more from his backstory though! it was built up to be this tragic affair with the king, and when we found out the truth behind his past and what caused him to be the villain, I said “oh that’s it” 🙃
I’m low key glad I waited a bit before reading this one because I cannot wait to grab the next installment!! I have high hopes that a lot of the plot holes and pacing issues were due to an introductory novel and will be adjusted in the sequel 😌
KINGSLEY STOLE THE SHOW THX 🐸👑
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
was it the best romantasy book ever? not by a long shot. while it’s advertised as an adult read, it writes more in a YA style, and the pacing could use some work… however, this one was FUN! if I rated it based vibes alone, it would have a million stars 🥳🥳
the amount of times I giggled and squealed throughout this story should be illegal!!! I absolutely adored the FMC, evie, and the villain’s constant banter - as well as the workplace atmosphere with evie and her coworkers
and the villain himself? totally darkling and loki vibes which had me swooning the entire time 😮💨😮💨 I wanted more from his backstory though! it was built up to be this tragic affair with the king, and when we found out the truth behind his past and what caused him to be the villain, I said “oh that’s it” 🙃
I’m low key glad I waited a bit before reading this one because I cannot wait to grab the next installment!! I have high hopes that a lot of the plot holes and pacing issues were due to an introductory novel and will be adjusted in the sequel 😌
KINGSLEY STOLE THE SHOW THX 🐸👑
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel