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bookswithbrielle's reviews
367 reviews
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
5.0
A wonderful book about forgiveness. And how it looks different for everyone. I loved it. Well done COHO!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
5.0
OMG I loved ACOTAR but ACOMAF has completely stolen my heart. I was naturally nervous about this series because it was so hyped all over social media but at this point I never want it to end. I loved how Sarah developed the characters and storyline. I wanted to live inside this book. Incredible.
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
5.0
DAYUMMMM. *brain explosion emoji*
That's how I feel after finishing this book. I was in a thriller slump before I read this one. I was reading MEH thrillers. I will tell you one thing: there is NOTHING meh about Samantha Downing's writing when it comes to My Lovely Wife .
A story about your typical family next door. A seemingly ordinary couple. But really? It's a whole brand of crazy. Millicent's character is absolutely BONKERS and CRAZY and KEEPS YOU GUESSING until the last page. If you read a lot of thrillers and you're finding yourself guessing the ending quickly: pick this one up and I promise you'll be shocked. It truly does have all the Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs Smith vibes. You find yourself appalled at the characters but also you can't get enough of them.
This one is coming to the big screen. Amazon Studios and Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films have partnered to produce a feature film based off the novel. WHAT A MOVIE THAT WILL BE.
FINAL THOUGHTS: A fast paced thriller fill with all the creeps. You'll never guess what's coming and when you finally find out you'll be BLOWN. AWAY.
That's how I feel after finishing this book. I was in a thriller slump before I read this one. I was reading MEH thrillers. I will tell you one thing: there is NOTHING meh about Samantha Downing's writing when it comes to My Lovely Wife .
A story about your typical family next door. A seemingly ordinary couple. But really? It's a whole brand of crazy. Millicent's character is absolutely BONKERS and CRAZY and KEEPS YOU GUESSING until the last page. If you read a lot of thrillers and you're finding yourself guessing the ending quickly: pick this one up and I promise you'll be shocked. It truly does have all the Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs Smith vibes. You find yourself appalled at the characters but also you can't get enough of them.
This one is coming to the big screen. Amazon Studios and Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films have partnered to produce a feature film based off the novel. WHAT A MOVIE THAT WILL BE.
FINAL THOUGHTS: A fast paced thriller fill with all the creeps. You'll never guess what's coming and when you finally find out you'll be BLOWN. AWAY.
Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
5.0
Things We Never Got Over is worth all the hype it's getting from Bookstagram. I've had this book sitting on my shelf since my birthday (s/o Amanda for the gift) and I'm upset I waited this long to read it. She's a THICCCC girl but she's worth it.
The book starts out with Runaway Bride vibes as Naomi ends up in Knockemout, VA and runs smack dab into Knox the Viking. And the rest is history. It's got a Sweet Home Alabama with the small town drama and romance. It's a novel complete with family drama and some mystery.
THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THE BANTER. If you're a fan of Ashley Winstead and Abby Jimenez character banter then this book is for you. I was CACKLING through most of this book thanks to the grumpy/sunshine dynamic of Knox and Naomi. All of the characters in this book are really wonderful. I loved them all. I teared up at points. Just a chef's kiss type of story.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Lucy Score sold me with this novel. I immediately added three more books by her to my wishlist. I will alway and forever hype up books with the best banter. You can have all the romance and spice, but a really good novel has the banter to keep you turning the pages. The ONLY downside was a scene at the end, but the overall story was a freakin' great. PICK IT UP and don't be intimidated by the length.
The book starts out with Runaway Bride vibes as Naomi ends up in Knockemout, VA and runs smack dab into Knox the Viking. And the rest is history. It's got a Sweet Home Alabama with the small town drama and romance. It's a novel complete with family drama and some mystery.
THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THE BANTER. If you're a fan of Ashley Winstead and Abby Jimenez character banter then this book is for you. I was CACKLING through most of this book thanks to the grumpy/sunshine dynamic of Knox and Naomi. All of the characters in this book are really wonderful. I loved them all. I teared up at points. Just a chef's kiss type of story.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Lucy Score sold me with this novel. I immediately added three more books by her to my wishlist. I will alway and forever hype up books with the best banter. You can have all the romance and spice, but a really good novel has the banter to keep you turning the pages. The ONLY downside was a scene at the end, but the overall story was a freakin' great. PICK IT UP and don't be intimidated by the length.
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier
5.0
"I've learned not to make comparisons. Hell is hell, in all it's incarnations."
My second Jennifer Hillier book and WHOA. I finished this one in 48 hours. I couldn't put the book down. This is a true thriller through and through. The book sucks you in from the very first chapter. I can actually feel the intense pain that Marin feels the second she knows her little boy was kidnapped.
I loved Marin as a character. I think she was raw and honest about all her emotions. I understood her blind rage when she finds out about Derek's affair. I love how Jennifer almost makes you get why Derek does what he does and makes you feel actually anger towards Kenzie. I loved how it switched back and forth between Marin's story and Kenzie's story through the book. It helped really develop Kenzie's character & you even start to feel sorry for her.
There was a part during the book that I figured out what was going on, but it didn't ruin it for me because there were some big twists at the end that I didn't see coming. I am a big fan of Jennifer Hillier and she's 100 percent an auto-buy author for me.
You want a tried and true thriller from start to finish? PICK THIS ONE UP!
My second Jennifer Hillier book and WHOA. I finished this one in 48 hours. I couldn't put the book down. This is a true thriller through and through. The book sucks you in from the very first chapter. I can actually feel the intense pain that Marin feels the second she knows her little boy was kidnapped.
I loved Marin as a character. I think she was raw and honest about all her emotions. I understood her blind rage when she finds out about Derek's affair. I love how Jennifer almost makes you get why Derek does what he does and makes you feel actually anger towards Kenzie. I loved how it switched back and forth between Marin's story and Kenzie's story through the book. It helped really develop Kenzie's character & you even start to feel sorry for her.
There was a part during the book that I figured out what was going on, but it didn't ruin it for me because there were some big twists at the end that I didn't see coming. I am a big fan of Jennifer Hillier and she's 100 percent an auto-buy author for me.
You want a tried and true thriller from start to finish? PICK THIS ONE UP!
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
4.0
Well.... I knew this review was going to be hard to write & even the rating I gave it could be considered controversial. And honestly I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. When I had to finally figure out what I was going to rate it, I found myself wondering if I was allowed to even say I liked this book.
However, despite the storyline BASICALLY being about a pedophile, it is hard to give it anything less than 4 stars. This book will not be for everyone. The subject matter is dark and complex, but because of how insanely good Bryn Greenwood is at writing there were times I found myself overlooking Kellen and Wavy's age gap. But then I would remember the age gap... and having to grapple with how to even feel about the book.
I loved how almost all the characters in the book got a chapter. Being able to get different POVs made you understand, maybe not agree with, the 'love' story of these two people.
It is true what everyone says, no matter how you end up feeling about this book, it will stick with for a long time after.
However, despite the storyline BASICALLY being about a pedophile, it is hard to give it anything less than 4 stars. This book will not be for everyone. The subject matter is dark and complex, but because of how insanely good Bryn Greenwood is at writing there were times I found myself overlooking Kellen and Wavy's age gap. But then I would remember the age gap... and having to grapple with how to even feel about the book.
I loved how almost all the characters in the book got a chapter. Being able to get different POVs made you understand, maybe not agree with, the 'love' story of these two people.
It is true what everyone says, no matter how you end up feeling about this book, it will stick with for a long time after.
The Resurrection of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer
4.0
3.5 rounded up to 4
Sometimes saying nothing is just as meaningful as saying everything
SO! I immediately picked up this book after finishing The Confidence of Wildflowers because I had to figure out how Thayer and Salem's (AND EVERYONE ELSES) story ends. I have to say this one wasn't as good to me as the first one. The second book seemed to drag on with Thayer and Salem's story. There were parts of it that had me tearing up & I did appreciate feeling that I got answers and closure.
Book 1 was definitely the book that broke your heart and this one focused more on the growth of all the characters. You really don't have a choice but to pick up the duet after being emotionally destroyed by book 1.
FINAL THOUGHTS: The series deserves to be read even if book 2 felt like a bit of a long epilogue. I went through all the emotoins with this duet. If you're in the mood for an spicy, age-gap trope romance I'd stick this on your TBR. Make sure you do your trigger warning research (but not too much or you'll spoil it for yourself).
Sometimes saying nothing is just as meaningful as saying everything
SO! I immediately picked up this book after finishing The Confidence of Wildflowers because I had to figure out how Thayer and Salem's (AND EVERYONE ELSES) story ends. I have to say this one wasn't as good to me as the first one. The second book seemed to drag on with Thayer and Salem's story. There were parts of it that had me tearing up & I did appreciate feeling that I got answers and closure.
Book 1 was definitely the book that broke your heart and this one focused more on the growth of all the characters. You really don't have a choice but to pick up the duet after being emotionally destroyed by book 1.
FINAL THOUGHTS: The series deserves to be read even if book 2 felt like a bit of a long epilogue. I went through all the emotoins with this duet. If you're in the mood for an spicy, age-gap trope romance I'd stick this on your TBR. Make sure you do your trigger warning research (but not too much or you'll spoil it for yourself).
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
4.0
This was so close to a perfect age gap trope by Penelope Douglas . We follow Jordan as she moves into her boyfriend's father's house and well you just have to read it to figure out the rest. Birthday Girl was a quick & spicy read for me.
This has all the forbidden love, slow burn you might be looking for. It even has some depth to it. Age gap tropes can be tough to write, but I really do think that the author was able to turn a taboo subject into something relatable. All of the characters in this novel had a pretty deep back story & you felt real empathy for Jordan. And then you felt it for Pike, Cole & some secondary characters. There is enough of a storyline going on outside of the romance scenes that you become fully invested.
My ONLY real downsides were some of the banter was a little awkward between the ages & some parts of it dragged on a little long.
FINAL THOUGHTS : If you're looking for a well done spicy age gap look no further. This story has really relatable characters you will learn to care for & throws some heat in there to keep you turning the pages.
This has all the forbidden love, slow burn you might be looking for. It even has some depth to it. Age gap tropes can be tough to write, but I really do think that the author was able to turn a taboo subject into something relatable. All of the characters in this novel had a pretty deep back story & you felt real empathy for Jordan. And then you felt it for Pike, Cole & some secondary characters. There is enough of a storyline going on outside of the romance scenes that you become fully invested.
My ONLY real downsides were some of the banter was a little awkward between the ages & some parts of it dragged on a little long.
FINAL THOUGHTS : If you're looking for a well done spicy age gap look no further. This story has really relatable characters you will learn to care for & throws some heat in there to keep you turning the pages.