chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)

The Key to My Heart

4.0

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of The Key to My Heart 🎹 {partner}

Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 12.6.2022
Pages: 352
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“It’s not selfish to want something, but what I often forget is that we can’t really expect other people to know what we want without saying it out loud. People are barely tuned into what they want from themselves, let alone what other people want.”

This makes my second book from Lia Louis - my first was Dear Emmie Blue and, my gosh, I love that book! Sometimes I find that authors will change their writing styles slowly with each book that they write. But Louis is a constant. She writes each book with so much heart and her books are always filled with characters to love and cheer on.

The Key to My Heart was a beautiful story about dealing with the pain of navigating grief, but also learning how to live and, possibly, love again. I loved reaching and listening along as Natalie’s character grew. Don’t get me wrong, there were definitely times that I was left sad, but the beauty of Louis’ writing is that the sadness is never for long.

🚫 Not a holiday book
🎧 Love that audiobook narrator
💞 Story about friendship
🐌 A bit slow in places
🤭 Fun character banter

I recommend reading The Key to My Heart if you enjoy reading character driven stories.

______
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A Very Merry Bromance

Lyssa Kay Adams

4.5

emotional lighthearted fast-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

🎄 A Very Merry Bromance 🎄

Genre: Romance
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 11.1.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

"When we go home, we're forced to deal with our past. And once we deal with our past, we realize why we ran away in the first place."

Leave it to Lyssa Kay Adams to take my two least favorite characters from the Bromance series and make me fall head-over-heels in love with them. Colton and Gretchen were always supporting characters in my mind - I was anxious to start reading A Very Merry Bromance because I didn't feel like I would enjoy the two being the book's focus. But, look at me, admitting I'm wrong. I might like Colton more than Gavin, and he's my OG Bromance crush.

I loved Colton because he seemed so pure and unselfish in all areas of his life. He looked after Gretchen in such a fierce way, but he knew that she could handle things on her own, and he let her. All why slowly melting her heart.

But, at the heart of this story are some heavy topics that I didn't anticipate coming from the holiday Bromance book. Some topics include - sibling abuse, parental neglect, gaslighting, and immigration reform. But LKA handled them so thoughtfully without making me feel overwhelmed. She added her classic banter and humor to the story, which helped lighten the book's overall tone.

The Bromance men were, as always, a delight. I love the family created through these books, even though they aren't related. That darn found family aspect always messes with my heart. I was surprised to be moved as much as I was by this book; I was left feeling very misty-eyed towards the end.

I recommend reading A Very Merry Bromance if you've read the other books of the Bromance series. While they could be standalone books, you would miss out on a lot of the character growth.

______

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Belladonna

Adalyn Grace

4.5

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Belladonna || Book Review

Genre: YA
Trope: Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.20.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

"I am many things, but I am not ashamed."

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is the best YA fantasy book I've read in a long time. It has a bit of romance, historical fiction, and mystery mixed into the storyline, making it a unique book. I never felt like I was reading something from the YA genre, either.

What I fell in love with first was the author's beautiful writing. It was so perfectly atmospheric and provided some of the most beautiful details. There's only one date given throughout the book, which kept me from associating it with a specific period - which I've found I often enjoy about a book.

The mystery aspect was hands down one of the most fun I've ever read. Because of the author's attention to detail, I was right there with Signa as she attempted to figure out what was happening inside the mansion. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another clue would be revealed, which sent me straight back to square one. It was so so much fun to read.

😍 Beautifully detailed
🔎 Gothic murder mystery
🤩 Gave me all the Addie Larue vibes
💯 Character development
🤯 Cliffhanger ending

I can't wait for the next book, Foxglove, which will be published in 2023. I recommend reading Belladonna if you enjoyed reading The Invisible Life of Addie Larue or the Stalking Jack the Ripper series.

______
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Kiss Her Once For Me

Alison Cochrun

3.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of Kiss Her Once For me {partner}

Genre: Romance
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 11.1.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

"We all experience attraction differently, Some of us fall in and out of love easily. Some of us don't experience romantic love at all. Some of us have to fight to let ourselves be vulnerable enough to fall in love. Some of us have to fight to let other people love us. Some of us need emotional intimacy in order to experience sexual attraction. All love and ways of loving are love."

Oooof, this is painful for me because I know this will be a very unpopular opinion, but I didn't love Kiss Her Once For Me. It may be because I had such high expectations after reading (and LOVING) The Charm Offensive last year.

A lot was going on within this book, but one of the most significant issues is that I struggled with the whole instalove thing. I can't understand how someone could fall in love with someone else in one day and spend the next year pining over them. I also didn't feel the chemistry between Ellie and Jack - something was there, but I needed more to keep me invested in their story.

But because I refuse not to have anything positive to say - I loved Meemaw and Lovey. Those two ladies were an absolute hoot, and they had me giggling/rolling with laughter almost every time they were present in the book. I would happily read their stories any day because they were a delight.

Again, I understand that my review is unpopular, and I have no issue with that. I want you to read Kiss Her Once For Me and love it because I think Alison Cochran is a phenomenal writer, and I will happily read her next book.

______
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A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman

5.0

emotional reflective 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

Thank you, Atria Books, for my gifted copy of A Man Called Ove. {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 8.27.2012
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if'."

Hi, it's me late to the game on yet another Fredrik Backman book 👋🏼

There's something so wonderful about a book that makes you remember just why you love someone - quirks and all and that's what Ove made me do. There were numerous times while reading A Man Called Ove that I had this feeling of unconditional love in my heart.

For the serious nature of this book, it didn't feel like it weighed me down. It uplifted me as it encompassed one of my favorite tropes - Found Family. Don't get me wrong, I cried several times, but the overwhelming feeling Ove left me with was comfort.

It's rare to find a book like this, and I'm so glad I finally read A Man Called Ove. Now, I can't wait for the movie with Tom Hanks because I can think of no better actor to play Ove/Otto ❤️

______

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Content Warnings

All the Dangerous Things

Stacy Willingham

5.0

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the gifted copy of All the Dangerous Things {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Trope: Missing Child
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 1.20.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“I like to think of our memories like a mirror: reflecting images back to us, something familiar, but at the same time, backward. Distorted. Not quite as they are.”

It has been such a long time since I’ve read a mystery that surprised me; I mean genuinely kept me guessing from start to finish. At one point, I thought I had figured it all out, but I was not even close - making me so happy. There’s one detail about the reveal at the end that I LOVED, but I can’t go into any details, or that would give some key plot points away.

I can’t get enough of Stacy Willingham’s writing style in All the Dangerous Things - she has this remarkable capability to describe the most basic of things and make them sound sinister. In the same context - I also loved Willingham’s pacing. With many mysteries, they start off strong but then seem to slow down and lack traction towards the middle of the book. But, with this book? I spent an entire afternoon reading because I had to know how it ended. It was all so perfectly paced.

I also encourage you to read the Author’s Note, but only AFTER you have finished All the Dangerous things, or you will ruin a crucial part of the book.

💯 Perfect pacing
📍 Parts set in my favorite - Beaufort, SC
✌🏼 Dual Timeline
❓ Who can the MC trust?

If you plan to read All the Dangerous Things (which you should, btw), stick with the story and let me know your thoughts via DM.

______
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Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake

Mazey Eddings

4.0

funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy of Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake {partner}

Genre: Romance
Trope: Accidental Pregnancy
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 9.6.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“For anyone who’s been told they’re too loud. Too emotional. Too much. You are the perfect amount of enough”

I decided to go into Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake without reading the synopsis. Because of this, there are two things that I did not expect:

1. That it would be SO steamy right off the bat (I mean 23 pages in and 🥵)
2. I did not realize it was an unplanned pregnancy trope. This particular trope is one that I often avoid (but don’t ask why because I don’t know), but this book was honestly not bad.

My most significant criticism (and I’ve only seen one review that mentions it) is that the author villainized Rake’s ex for her decision not to have a child. I thought this storyline aspect was completely unnecessary, and the author could’ve had Rake and his ex separate for various reasons.

I thoroughly enjoyed Lizzie Blake’s character growth; she went from someone who seemingly lacked confidence or ambition to someone who had a lot of things going for her. I genuinely believe she would’ve been okay in the end, no matter what happened between her and Rake.

👏🏼 Fun, quirky characters
🚪 Open-door romance
🤔 Hard-to-believe aspects
👹 Villianizing a character unnecessarily
❤️ MC character growth
✌🏼 Dual narrative
🧠 ADHD Representation

For my first accidental pregnancy trope, this one wasn’t too bad! I recommend reading Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake if you want a quick read with some fun characters.

_____

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Content Warnings

Merry Ex-Mas

Courtney Walsh

4.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Merry Ex-Mas

Genre: Holiday Romance
Trope: Second Chance (and a few others)
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 10.1.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

"The pain you don't deal with always finds a way to come back. It will demand attention."

Another fun book from Courtney Walsh! When Courtney says that she loves writing holiday books, she means it; and it shows throughout her books. Last year, I read and loved A Cross Country Christmas, and this year it's Merry Ex-Mas which is the perfect romance trope mash-up (second chance, fake dating, forced proximity).

Merry Ex-Mas focuses a lot on what it means to forgive someone, even if you aren't sure you're ready to let your feelings go. My only complaint from this book is that Marin is a teeny tiny bit too moody. I understand why she's upset with Max, but there were times that I genuinely felt bad for the guy. But that also might've been as I was privy to his side of the story through his chapters.

So many times, this book had me rolling with laughter from either the character's witty banter or the seemingly endless, awkward situations Marin and Max found themselves in on countless occasions. One that was incredibly hilarious involved a deflating parade float 🦌

📍Small town setting
🗓️ Days leading up to Christmas
✌🏼 Dual POV
🤶🏼 Fun holiday traditions
💖 Romance trope mash-up
🚪 Closed-door romance

I recommend reading Merry Ex-Mas if you enjoyed reading A Cross Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh!

______
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Lovelight Farms

B.K. Borison

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Lovelight Farms 🎄

Genre: Romance
Trope Best-friends to Lovers & Fake Dating
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 11.10.2021
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“It’s hard to love someone without restraint. To give yourself over to the swell and pull of it without fear of what might happen. I think it’s only natural to hold a part of yourself back and protect what you can.”

Why, oh, why did it take me THIS long to read Lovelight Farms? I’ve been mentally kicking myself since finishing the book because I have no good reason for not reading it months and months ago. I think part of me thought it was a holiday book? Which it is, but it’s also really not. So I just kept telling myself I’d read it closer to December.

Luka is pure bookish boyfriend gold. I loved that he let Layla find her way to him under the circumstances that she was most comfortable with. I think the beauty of this story is that Layla doesn’t immediately jump into something with Luka - she’s reserved, doubtful, and suspicious of Luka’s feelings. To me, this felt so natural because she has been through a lot in her life. Layla has seen how love can hurt and doesn’t want to risk losing Luka because he is, after all, her only family left.

There were so many times that I felt like the author was speaking directly to me and my experiences — I flagged lots of quotes, and I wish I could share them all with you and explain why they meant something special to me. But know that Lovelight Farms is an exceptional book, and I loved every minute of it.

😍 Luka (book boyfriend)
🥰 Perfect amount of steam
❤️ Love all the side characters (Beckett + those kittens 🤩)
🎄 Christmas Tree Farm setting

I recommend adding Lovelight Farms to your reading list TODAY!
______

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Keep Me Warm at Christmas

Brenda Novak

4.0

lighthearted medium-paced

Thank you, Brenda Novak Book Box, for the gifted copy of Keep Me Warm at Christmas {partner}

Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 9.28.2021
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"We all do stupid stuff when we're hurting,"

Keep Me Warm at Christmas was the perfect book to kick off my seasonal reading!

It was also my first read from the Silver Springs series from Brenda Novak - Keep Me Warm at Christmas is the 9th book from the series!! However, it makes for a perfect standalone, and I didn't feel lost from not reading any previous books.

While the book's overall theme is the two main characters trying to find a way through their grief and the extent that they are willing to go to give their lives a second chance, the book doesn't feel overwhelmingly heavy. It was heartfelt and full of tender moments, making it an easy book to listen to or read.

🥰 Hallmark but not overly cheesy
❤️ Characters to care about
🎭 Some family drama
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Romance and happy ending
📖 Stand-alone or part of the series (you pick!)

I recommend reading Keep Me Warm at Christmas by Brenda Novak if you're looking for a lighthearted read to put you in the holiday spirit!

______
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