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chloe_liese's reviews
232 reviews
The Makeup Artist by Sophie Sinclair
Oh the cuteness!! Lex and Sarah took my heart for a rollercoaster ride and left me feeling that exhilarating thrill of the wild ride to happily ever after.
Kiki and TJ are comedic dynamite. I loved the antics, the friendship, and the ridiculously adorable nicknames. Lex’s family was so realistic, loving, and sweet. Sophie’s descriptions of Ireland were vivid and completely drew the mental picture for me. I swear when this pandemic nonsense is over I am getting my arse to the UK!
If you loved Coffee Girl, The Makeup Artist will not disappoint—more smiles, delightful romantic comedy, swoontastic love, and such an endearing cast of characters. Can’t wait for Cam’s story next in The Social Hour!! Thank you Sophie for this advance copy—The Makeup Artist is out May 1! Pre-order now and prepare to fall in love
Kiki and TJ are comedic dynamite. I loved the antics, the friendship, and the ridiculously adorable nicknames. Lex’s family was so realistic, loving, and sweet. Sophie’s descriptions of Ireland were vivid and completely drew the mental picture for me. I swear when this pandemic nonsense is over I am getting my arse to the UK!
If you loved Coffee Girl, The Makeup Artist will not disappoint—more smiles, delightful romantic comedy, swoontastic love, and such an endearing cast of characters. Can’t wait for Cam’s story next in The Social Hour!! Thank you Sophie for this advance copy—The Makeup Artist is out May 1! Pre-order now and prepare to fall in love
Coffee Girl by Sophie Sinclair
This was just the lighthearted, swoony, sweet romance I needed after reading a really emotionally heavy story. I don't often read rockstar romances, and I don't follow country music, so I was nervous that out of my own lack of background in this story world I might fail to connect, but wow was I wrong, and that to me is a true sign of good storytelling: the power to draw a reader into a book, to build a world that's inviting and relatable, even if the reader has very little baseline knowledge in the story's subject.
This was such a fantastic example of a rockstar romance done well. The pacing flowed, the story sucked me right in, the chemistry was sparkling but not overwrought, the writing descriptive enough without getting longwinded or redundant, and I felt the representation of the challenges of love between the famous star and the "ordinary" girl was realistic for its depiction of insecurity, public scrutiny, and the duplicity that often plagues stardom.
Kiki and Sarah's solid woman supporting woman friendship was also a star of this story. They have each other's backs, they bring out the best in each other, and they don't break each other's trust. Yay!
Hats off to Sophie for sucking me into the Coffee Girl World. I'm looking forward to reading Sarah's story in The Makeup Artist, coming this spring!!
This was such a fantastic example of a rockstar romance done well. The pacing flowed, the story sucked me right in, the chemistry was sparkling but not overwrought, the writing descriptive enough without getting longwinded or redundant, and I felt the representation of the challenges of love between the famous star and the "ordinary" girl was realistic for its depiction of insecurity, public scrutiny, and the duplicity that often plagues stardom.
Kiki and Sarah's solid woman supporting woman friendship was also a star of this story. They have each other's backs, they bring out the best in each other, and they don't break each other's trust. Yay!
Hats off to Sophie for sucking me into the Coffee Girl World. I'm looking forward to reading Sarah's story in The Makeup Artist, coming this spring!!
Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd
This read like a delightful Christmas version of Josh and Hazel meets The Hating Game. Olivia’s enthusiastic love of Christmas and all things jolly was lovable, entertaining, and original. Asher is your classic grump with a soft side, and I’m all about it. I was laughing out loud and grinning nonstop the first half of the book. The second half of the book, though, brought the book down for me, because the level of miscommunication seemed repetitive and inauthentic to the characters. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it wholeheartedly! This is a clever, funny, sexy holiday read, that touches on some very real issues like assault, the #metoo movement, and familial pain and loss. It’s available on Kindle unlimited and only $2.99 for the kindle version. Snatch it up today and get in the Christmas spirit
Down Too Deep by J. Daniels
I loved the topics this romance tackled--blending families, dealing with grief and mourning death by suicide. J. Daniels' characterization of the kids was adorable and endearing; they're probably my favorite characters honestly. I think I found both Nathan and Jenna a little flat as people. Nathan ran a restaurant but I didn't get a sense that he has any real interests or his skills beyond looking hot and throwing a football; Jenna just loves children and wants to be with them all the time. I saw how their characterization serves the narrative of making them well-suited to become a blended family, but I wouldn't have minded seeing them fall for more of each other as people besides as parents or having sexual chemistry. It felt a bit flat and slow in that sense, and I had to set it down for about a week then pick it back up. I thought it finished pretty strong and loved the very ending with all that love in one room.
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
This is my first Eloisa James, and if the book in its entirety were as sharp and fast-paced-witty as the first third, I’d have been in love. This book started so strong, with a compelling premise and plenty of cultural commentary zinging one-liners. I just felt once Piers and Linnet came together the sparkle faded in this story. Without getting into spoilers, the ending redeemed a lagging middle, and I enjoyed this story’s morals that come out of the big near-end drama. Overall an enjoyable read, but not one I’ll need to revisit.
A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
5.0
Classic swoony, witty, Tessa Dare. Historical Romance’s version of a road trip romance, this definitely entertained me, with all their shenanigans along the way. I enjoyed the heck out of it, loved their snarky banter, the sweet and sexy layers of intimacy exploration, and how much Colin delights in Min’s nerdiness. I can’t wait for Thorne and Kate’s story!
Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves
This was a heartfelt, intelligent exploration (a la Taylor Jenkins Reid) of the breakdown and rebuilding potential of a marriage when it’s strained by external and internal circumstances. It hit that women's fiction/romance hybrid right on the mark, and I found the personal lives of the secondary characters relatable and engaging. There was a maturity and poise to the main female character that I loved; she wrestled through her choices while struggling with her heart, and that felt deeply believable. Real and difficult issues of marital discord, alcoholism, workaholism, and health issues were intelligently and sensitively touched on too, which I appreciated; the world TGG builds is real and accessible. The ending was touching, just enough closure and feel-good resolution; it left me feeling at peace. If you're new to Tracey Garvis Graves, this is a lovely introduction to her storytelling!
Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
Girl Gone Viral does a lot of things well: portrays historically underrepresented backgrounds and nationalities with (as far as my knowledge extends) sensitivity, authenticity, and nuance, placing them in main character prominence, showing their beauty and desirability. Both Katrina's and Jas' lives involve a good bit of coping; they both carry baggage and scars from their past. I appreciated again how complex psychological and emotional challenges were portrayed: thoughtfully, intelligently and sensitively. I also appreciated how the main characters empathize deeply with each other and make each other feel safe. In complementary ways, Katrina and Jas love each other in such a pure, giving, manner. They support each others' growth and healing. That's a true love story right there.
For me, this started off and stayed quite slow well into the book. Pacing was not the book's strong suit. Not until at least 50% was I invested and drawn in and if I hadn't felt a sense of obligation and a desire to push through since having been given an advance copy, I may well have shelved this book before I hit the point that finally drew me in. I'm a firm believer that a book needs to hook you, and I would say Girl Gone Viral spent too much time laying the background for the viral situation, as well as explaining Katrina's anxiety.
All in all, while I felt this story lacked somewhat in its structure and pacing, it makes a solid contribution to the romance genre; portraying diversity and mental health issues with sensitivity, intelligence, and nuance. The world needs books that show us bodies and backgrounds beyond Western and white and never a personal problem. I love how Rai writes delightful, original and diverse characters. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my complimentary advance copy. All opinions are my own.
For me, this started off and stayed quite slow well into the book. Pacing was not the book's strong suit. Not until at least 50% was I invested and drawn in and if I hadn't felt a sense of obligation and a desire to push through since having been given an advance copy, I may well have shelved this book before I hit the point that finally drew me in. I'm a firm believer that a book needs to hook you, and I would say Girl Gone Viral spent too much time laying the background for the viral situation, as well as explaining Katrina's anxiety.
All in all, while I felt this story lacked somewhat in its structure and pacing, it makes a solid contribution to the romance genre; portraying diversity and mental health issues with sensitivity, intelligence, and nuance. The world needs books that show us bodies and backgrounds beyond Western and white and never a personal problem. I love how Rai writes delightful, original and diverse characters. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my complimentary advance copy. All opinions are my own.