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carlisbookshelf's Reviews (169)
Read this as a novel study with my 7th grade students.
A++++, obviously I enjoyed it more than about 90% of my students. Shocker /s
A++++, obviously I enjoyed it more than about 90% of my students. Shocker /s
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 out of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
YALL, I can’t believe it took me a month to read this. I fell into a big reading slump for like 90% of June (I am #teachertired and was ready for summer break, both mentally and physically).
But! I am so stinking happy I have my kindle because being able to bring this book with me essentially wherever I go (including to the outer banks on vacation and to the many places I dogsat at) because I always have something to read. And yeah, I freakin’ loved this book. Shocker! (/sarcasm)
I hate that I’m such a sucker for a good queer rom com with LOVABLE characters. But, I expect nothing less from Alexandria Bellefleur, high key. Fake dating (engagement) trope? Check! But I loved the spin that this book took on that trope and I was rooting for Tansy and Gemma (our main characters) LITERALLY the whole time. What I loved about this book is that so many of the side characters had their moment to grow on top of watching Tansy and Gemma grow and change and develop. This is a great, fun summer read if youre a fan of queer-centered rom-coms!!
And on a side tangent, where on planet Earth can I find my own real life Gemma Van Dalen? Pls lmk.
YALL, I can’t believe it took me a month to read this. I fell into a big reading slump for like 90% of June (I am #teachertired and was ready for summer break, both mentally and physically).
But! I am so stinking happy I have my kindle because being able to bring this book with me essentially wherever I go (including to the outer banks on vacation and to the many places I dogsat at) because I always have something to read. And yeah, I freakin’ loved this book. Shocker! (/sarcasm)
I hate that I’m such a sucker for a good queer rom com with LOVABLE characters. But, I expect nothing less from Alexandria Bellefleur, high key. Fake dating (engagement) trope? Check! But I loved the spin that this book took on that trope and I was rooting for Tansy and Gemma (our main characters) LITERALLY the whole time. What I loved about this book is that so many of the side characters had their moment to grow on top of watching Tansy and Gemma grow and change and develop. This is a great, fun summer read if youre a fan of queer-centered rom-coms!!
And on a side tangent, where on planet Earth can I find my own real life Gemma Van Dalen? Pls lmk.
3.5 out of 5 stars
I’m a sucker for a good thriller. I enjoyed this book well enough, but Local Woman Missing was so much better and more well written that, in comparison, makes this one fall flat for me.
The story concept is super interesting, and while I’m a sucker for a good dual-POV narrative, the characters were so flat and one-dimensional (and when I say characters, I mean ALL of the characters) which made this book less exciting to get through. I would have loved more depth overall, in the setting, in the characters, and in their interactions. It left me wanting more, but not in a good way.
I’m a sucker for a good thriller. I enjoyed this book well enough, but Local Woman Missing was so much better and more well written that, in comparison, makes this one fall flat for me.
The story concept is super interesting, and while I’m a sucker for a good dual-POV narrative, the characters were so flat and one-dimensional (and when I say characters, I mean ALL of the characters) which made this book less exciting to get through. I would have loved more depth overall, in the setting, in the characters, and in their interactions. It left me wanting more, but not in a good way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I felt that the The Spanish Love Deception is one of those books that you could not escape from on Booktok/booktube/Bookstagram, so I finally caved and bought it.
I’m a sucker for a good rom-com (despite me quickly and frequently denying this fact when asked in public 100% of the time by feigning having a heart of stone) and this one has a lot of popular tropes and qualities that should scream my name: Enemies to Lovers romance , Fake Dating, a diverse cast of characters. This was a quick and easy read, but I’m not rating it higher because I didn’t love this one as much as I hoped.
So much of this book I enjoyed, sure. But I had a major issue with the pacing of the book. The big ole conflict and makeup didn’t seem to happen until the last maybe ~40-60 pages? So it felt like the major “breakup” and “makeup” conflict was rushed and didn’t really impact me as much as if probably could have been if the pacing of the story was more evened out. The actual story started out slowly and continued to build up super slowly. The “inciting incident”/catalyst that gets the plot/rising action really moving happened what feels like so much later in the book than I anticipated. Again… like I said: pacing was a little wonky.
Some of the characters felt one dimensional and I think the plot and pacing affected that to some degree. There were definite qualities about Lina that I admired but I think the biggest thing I had an issue with was how overplayed the damsel in distress trope was when it came to Lina. For a character that others described as a “firecracker,” there were so many times where I felt like shaking her and telling her to stand up for herself and get a grip.
Overall, this was a quick easy read. I had fun with it, for sure, despite the flaws I did find within the book.
I felt that the The Spanish Love Deception is one of those books that you could not escape from on Booktok/booktube/Bookstagram, so I finally caved and bought it.
I’m a sucker for a good rom-com (despite me quickly and frequently denying this fact when asked in public 100% of the time by feigning having a heart of stone) and this one has a lot of popular tropes and qualities that should scream my name: Enemies to Lovers romance , Fake Dating, a diverse cast of characters. This was a quick and easy read, but I’m not rating it higher because I didn’t love this one as much as I hoped.
So much of this book I enjoyed, sure. But I had a major issue with the pacing of the book. The big ole conflict and makeup didn’t seem to happen until the last maybe ~40-60 pages? So it felt like the major “breakup” and “makeup” conflict was rushed and didn’t really impact me as much as if probably could have been if the pacing of the story was more evened out. The actual story started out slowly and continued to build up super slowly. The “inciting incident”/catalyst that gets the plot/rising action really moving happened what feels like so much later in the book than I anticipated. Again… like I said: pacing was a little wonky.
Some of the characters felt one dimensional and I think the plot and pacing affected that to some degree. There were definite qualities about Lina that I admired but I think the biggest thing I had an issue with was how overplayed the damsel in distress trope was when it came to Lina. For a character that others described as a “firecracker,” there were so many times where I felt like shaking her and telling her to stand up for herself and get a grip.
Overall, this was a quick easy read. I had fun with it, for sure, despite the flaws I did find within the book.
4.5 out of 5 stars
I totally understand the hype around Riley Sager, now. I hella enjoyed this book. I loved the perspective/take on the unreliable narrator trope, with our main character, Casey, being a disgraced actress with an alcohol problem. It made me root for her even more.
I loved that this book felt like a nod to movies like Rear Window and Disturbia, because that’s definitely the vibe the author wants you to believe the story is. So when we get not one, but 2 crazy plot twists towards the end of the book, you don’t see it coming.
I felt like I was in the thick of the investigating with Casey (and later Boone), and was rooting for them even when they (aka Casey) made questionable AF decisions for the sake of finding proof of her theories on her neighbors across the lake. There was a {spoiler} paranormal plot twist that I didn’t see coming and while at first it felt jarring, I eventually did love how it all came together and tied up all the remaining questions and what ifs still left hanging at that point.
Again, I really enjoyed the book and cannot wait to read more from Riley Sager!
I totally understand the hype around Riley Sager, now. I hella enjoyed this book. I loved the perspective/take on the unreliable narrator trope, with our main character, Casey, being a disgraced actress with an alcohol problem. It made me root for her even more.
I loved that this book felt like a nod to movies like Rear Window and Disturbia, because that’s definitely the vibe the author wants you to believe the story is. So when we get not one, but 2 crazy plot twists towards the end of the book, you don’t see it coming.
I felt like I was in the thick of the investigating with Casey (and later Boone), and was rooting for them even when they (aka Casey) made questionable AF decisions for the sake of finding proof of her theories on her neighbors across the lake. There was a {spoiler} paranormal plot twist that I didn’t see coming and while at first it felt jarring, I eventually did love how it all came together and tied up all the remaining questions and what ifs still left hanging at that point.
Again, I really enjoyed the book and cannot wait to read more from Riley Sager!
