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charleys_bookshelf's Reviews (252)

The 7-10 Split

Karmen Lee

3.0

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Yours, Finally

Leonor Soliz

4.0

emotional funny hopeful 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

Yours, Finally by Leonor Soliz was a fun, flirty, friends-to-lovers romance with long-term pining, and did I mention he is her brother's best friend? This was so much fun! First, I want to say I love that this book has two fat main characters; I love both the women and men being bigger. It was the first thing that drew me in immediately!

I loved the open communication and reassurance in this book and the active representation of a man in therapy working on his past trauma. This relationship was so sweet and such a slow burn with all of the mutual pining! Jake being a big softy for his found family was heartwarming, and I think that Leonor wrote Jake; you can feel his love pour off the page. I will say that the story got a bit redundant in the middle, waiting for them to figure things out and having the same fight for two months, but wrapped it up nicely.

Overall, I really enjoyed this storyline, characters, writing, and representation in all forms in this book. I highly recommend picking up this book, and I know I will be reading more books by Leonor Soliz!

*ARC Review

Cash

Mary Warren

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

Cash by Mary Warren is the second book in the Glendale Magic Series. I have been obsessed with Mary Warren's books and hot female plus-sized main characters! This hockey romance was fun and flirty!

"Evie Masterson is a plus-size figure skater and a disappointment to her family. She was supposed to marry her college boyfriend and settle into the life that had been laid out for her, but none of that had ever interested her. She had never been one to simply do as she was told. Cash Hawthorn is the bad boy of the Glendale Magic. He plays the game he loves and has a different woman on his arm every night."

What is meant to be a one-night stand with simple ground rules until Cash realized that one night was enough! I love it when men fall first, and Cash falls hard and fast. This was a little twist on the normal fake dating trope. Evie gets cornered by her mother and uses Cash's crush to get her mother off her back. What Evie keeps calling a platonic/fake date, Cash is taking it all seriously to win her over. I loved that pressure and conflict were coming from external and family issues in this book and that Cash handled everything in stride and with patience. Their relationship is hot, and this book was a fun and quick read. If you haven't picked up Mary Warren's books, I highly recommend them.

*ARC Review

The Next Best Fling

Gabriella Gamez

4.5

emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing tense 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

Rein Me In

Kayla Grosse

4.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

A Little Kissing Between Friends

Chencia C. Higgins

3.5

challenging emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Stupid Cupid

Maeve Black

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-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

How Dare You

Jasmine Grace

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

How Dare You by Jasmin Grace was fun, flirty, and hot! I loved Jasmin Grace's debut novel, Voyeur Cafe, so I had extremely high hopes, and this book did not disappoint! How Dare You is technically the second book in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone.

Devon Blake is a high-strung interior designer who never does anything wrong, While Rhett McCoy is looking for his passions, and he thinks he just found it. I loved this spicy grumpy(her) x sunshine(him) rom-com. The banter between Devon and Rhett had me blushing and on, waiting with bated breath to see if she would ever give him a chance. I absolutely love the way that Jasmin Grace writes her character's chemistry, with all of the snark and banter. I appreciate that she writes strong female main characters with confidence and attitude that these men can't resist. This story has low angst, and there is also no third-act break in this story, which I love.

Overall, Jasmine Grace has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I loved this book, and I would highly recommend reading How Dare You!

*Also, the maps she creates for her romance novels are everything!

🦩 He falls first
🦩 Grumpy(her) x Sunshine(Him)
🦩 Trailer Daddy!
🦩 Workplace romance (Carpenter/Interior Designer)
🦩 Only one bed
🦩 No 3rd act breakup

*ARC Review