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captaincogs's Reviews (310)
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
We are SO back with the "A Love in Galway" series with Ivy Fairbanks' new book. This second chance romance dives into Cielo Valdez, Lark's cousin, and Aidan O'Toole, Callum's best friend, relationship from the past and what is looks like now. She's in medical school. He's a musician. Their relationship didn't work the first time, so will it be worth it to try again?
Heart Strings is a fantastic sequel to Morbidly Yours. Cielo and Aidan's relationship is so different compared to Lark and Callum. One couple is very sweet to each other and took the time to develop their relationship, while the other one loved quickly and ended heartbroken, but reignited that spark even faster when seeing each other years later. I can't wait to see where the next book takes Saoirse's relationship.
Thank you, Putnam and Penguin Random House, for sending me an eARC for Heart Strings!
Heart Strings is a fantastic sequel to Morbidly Yours. Cielo and Aidan's relationship is so different compared to Lark and Callum. One couple is very sweet to each other and took the time to develop their relationship, while the other one loved quickly and ended heartbroken, but reignited that spark even faster when seeing each other years later. I can't wait to see where the next book takes Saoirse's relationship.
Thank you, Putnam and Penguin Random House, for sending me an eARC for Heart Strings!
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
This is a fantastic graphic novel. It's very different compared to your average queer graphic novel, exploring religion and acceptance that not a lot of people in the LGBTQ+ community is used to, which can make it difficult for some readers. (With that being said, please ready the Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book before reading.)
Dan in Green Gables feels like subtly different take on Anne of Green Gables, almost like it's about a someone else completely, but happens to have a really similar story to Anne. For comparison, Dan's Mom leaves him with his grandparents in Green Gables while Anne is an orphan and is sent to live with a pair of elderly siblings. They both work around the house and garden, go to a new school, meet new friends, and face bullies. He's navigating being queer in religious household and she's proving herself and everyone around her that she is worth it. Last, but not least, they're both ginger with a temper.
This story is definitely worth the read if you want to get into graphic novels.
Thank you, Penguin Teen, for my copy of Dan in Green Gables!
Dan in Green Gables feels like subtly different take on Anne of Green Gables, almost like it's about a someone else completely, but happens to have a really similar story to Anne. For comparison, Dan's Mom leaves him with his grandparents in Green Gables while Anne is an orphan and is sent to live with a pair of elderly siblings. They both work around the house and garden, go to a new school, meet new friends, and face bullies. He's navigating being queer in religious household and she's proving herself and everyone around her that she is worth it. Last, but not least, they're both ginger with a temper.
This story is definitely worth the read if you want to get into graphic novels.
Thank you, Penguin Teen, for my copy of Dan in Green Gables!
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
I had a very hard time getting through this book. The story felt slow, taking forever to build up the exposition before hitting the rising action. The details dragged on and I was waiting for the big “Ah-ha!” moments to happen, and it did, but a lot later in the book.
I’m quite fond of the relationship between Jaq, Margot, and Henry. It’s a weird relationship between them that I’m not entirely sure they understand. Personally, I think it would be a fantastic polycule, but it’s more of a queer platonic relationship with two of the three people actually dating each other. They make it work, though, so that’s all that matters.
There were a couple parts in the book where I couldn’t keep track of the magic and characters involved with it. I was too far in to figure it out, so I kept going and tried my best to pick it up along the way, which I did! Yay! It became much easier to follow as I pushed through the book, which I’m very grateful I did.
Thank you, Simon Teen, for sending me a copy of the book! And apologies for taking so long to read and review it . . .
I’m quite fond of the relationship between Jaq, Margot, and Henry. It’s a weird relationship between them that I’m not entirely sure they understand. Personally, I think it would be a fantastic polycule, but it’s more of a queer platonic relationship with two of the three people actually dating each other. They make it work, though, so that’s all that matters.
There were a couple parts in the book where I couldn’t keep track of the magic and characters involved with it. I was too far in to figure it out, so I kept going and tried my best to pick it up along the way, which I did! Yay! It became much easier to follow as I pushed through the book, which I’m very grateful I did.
Thank you, Simon Teen, for sending me a copy of the book! And apologies for taking so long to read and review it . . .
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
It took me an embarrassing long time to realize what the “Out-With” house was actually called . . .
Anyways, first time reading the book, watched the movie years ago, still a very heartbreaking story
Anyways, first time reading the book, watched the movie years ago, still a very heartbreaking story
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I made the unfortunate decision to listen to a fantasy audiobook while reading multiple fantasy books in a row, so I did not enjoy this story as much as I wish that I did (and I think I'd like to revisit this book in my future to give it a second chance).
With that being said, this book started out very slow and made me feel like I was out of the loop, which yeah, that's the point due to not knowing the context to their friendship ending until later on, but it made it hard to follow along. However, I really liked the concept and ideas of the book with these people reuniting ten years later to go on another "quest" and that whole dynamic.
I have to say though, my favorite part of the book was the Clare Convention. Everything about that part of the book had me giggling, because that is such a funny situation to happen to someone. I need more of that in books with famous people going to conventions where people dress up.
With that being said, this book started out very slow and made me feel like I was out of the loop, which yeah, that's the point due to not knowing the context to their friendship ending until later on, but it made it hard to follow along. However, I really liked the concept and ideas of the book with these people reuniting ten years later to go on another "quest" and that whole dynamic.
I have to say though, my favorite part of the book was the Clare Convention. Everything about that part of the book had me giggling, because that is such a funny situation to happen to someone. I need more of that in books with famous people going to conventions where people dress up.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
I have to say, Mason Deaver has done a fantastic job with their first adult romance book. I can't be more pleased with the writing, the pacing, and the chapters being titled after some really great movies. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't watched all of them, which I absolutely need to do. (Especially with some of them being true classics like When Harry Met Sally and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.)
I adore Peter Park with all of my heart. Like yeah, his first impression was one of the worst things I've ever read, but the redemption in this book makes him rank extremely high on my book boyfriend list. Now, I don't think Eli Francis deserves all the credit for his ranking, but wow, he does a damn good job.
Speaking of Eli, I adore him. He's probably my favorite Mason Deaver character (don't tell Ben De Backer I said that). Eli is such a fun character, who loves movies, his friends and family, and has so much passion for his journalism work. I see a lot of myself in him, which is maybe the reason why I love him so much, but I can't help it.
And to make my last comment as safe-for-work as possible, I thought the book's more explicit scene was some of the best I've ever read in an adult romance book. That's probably a crazy sentence to say in a review, but I needed it to be said with my full chest. I had to turn off my iPad and take a moment after finishing the chapter. Beyond impressed.
Thank you, Avon, for the digital ARC of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project!
I adore Peter Park with all of my heart. Like yeah, his first impression was one of the worst things I've ever read, but the redemption in this book makes him rank extremely high on my book boyfriend list. Now, I don't think Eli Francis deserves all the credit for his ranking, but wow, he does a damn good job.
Speaking of Eli, I adore him. He's probably my favorite Mason Deaver character (don't tell Ben De Backer I said that). Eli is such a fun character, who loves movies, his friends and family, and has so much passion for his journalism work. I see a lot of myself in him, which is maybe the reason why I love him so much, but I can't help it.
And to make my last comment as safe-for-work as possible, I thought the book's more explicit scene was some of the best I've ever read in an adult romance book. That's probably a crazy sentence to say in a review, but I needed it to be said with my full chest. I had to turn off my iPad and take a moment after finishing the chapter. Beyond impressed.
Thank you, Avon, for the digital ARC of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project!
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was very excited to read this book when receiving it from Simon Teen, but quickly learned that I was in over my head regarding the world building. I had a hard time keeping up with rules for wielding spellfire and being bound to patrons in order to keep their magic "composed". I wish there was more exposition before diving straight into Pandora's story as it felt like I was missing context to the information I was reading.
Unfortunately, I knew I wasn't going to enjoy this book as much as I wanted to upon reading the title of the first chapter "Literally Not Like Other Girls" and continued to describe the main character as small and demure (which is ironic as Pandora's last name is Small). I try not to pick up on repetitive descriptive words in books to save me from my own sanity, and as you can see, I did not do a very good job.
I thought the story had an engaging plot with some twists I didn't expect. I always look forward to the discovering the mysteries with the characters, and I think the story did a great job with that.
ARC from Simon Teen Romantasy Summer 2025 Book Box.
Unfortunately, I knew I wasn't going to enjoy this book as much as I wanted to upon reading the title of the first chapter "Literally Not Like Other Girls" and continued to describe the main character as small and demure (which is ironic as Pandora's last name is Small). I try not to pick up on repetitive descriptive words in books to save me from my own sanity, and as you can see, I did not do a very good job.
I thought the story had an engaging plot with some twists I didn't expect. I always look forward to the discovering the mysteries with the characters, and I think the story did a great job with that.
ARC from Simon Teen Romantasy Summer 2025 Book Box.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought the plot twist in the first book was crazy? Apparently, I wasn’t prepared for what else Chloe Gong would bring to the table because my GODS.
This book has a completely different vibe compared to the first one, and I think it worked really well. I am SO looking forward to the third book in this trilogy.
This book has a completely different vibe compared to the first one, and I think it worked really well. I am SO looking forward to the third book in this trilogy.