chloek608's reviews
245 reviews

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-YA fantasy novels
-slow burn romance / love triangle
-chosen one trope

I watched the first season on Netflix before I read the first book and personally I think it helped me understand the new language and terminology of the Grishaverse. Otherwise it could have been a bit overwhelming and difficult to follow.

I liked how we read through Alina’s eyes and her journey at being discovered as the Sun Summoner, her time at the Little Palace, her feelings towards Mal and the Darkling, her escape, her capture and that cliff-hanger ending.

There are differences between the book and the show, the book is only what Alina sees but it also gives you more depth as to what Alina goes through and is thinking.

I disliked the long chapters and the unnecessary descriptive text. But once I got into the story it was hard to put down!

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-NA contemporary romance
-switching timeline between past and present
-covering heavy/dark themes (domestic abuse/violence)

Lily is starting her new life in Boston. She meets a very charming, smart, handsome surgeon called Ryle and she also reflects about her teenage crush, Atlas. Lily reads through her old journals from her teen years where we learn about Atlas, the homeless boy crashing in the empty house next door and about how Lily’s home life was not as great as it seemed from the outside looking in.

Lily struggles between her current love and a teenage love and trying not to go down the same path as her mother.

With an unexpected baby on the way, this complicates Lily’s decision but ultimately she decides that the domestic abuse cycle ends with us (her baby and her).

Content Warnings

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-adult contemporary romance
-real life struggles
-chapters flick between past and present

This was a different read for me considering it wasn't YA or NA. This book focuses heavily on character flaws (infertility) which was difficult to get through at times but I enjoyed reading the 'past' chapters where the start of their relationship was very engaging and full of amazing chemistry.

I have enjoyed Colleen Hoover's writing and look forward to reading more of her books.

Content Warnings

Verity by Colleen Hoover

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I would recommend this book if you like:
-thriller
-dark themes
-romance

This is a very different genre for me. I devoured this book in a week which is not like me. Every chapter left me wanting to find out more. This book is very dark and shocking.

We follow Lowen, a writer, who needs to co-write a book series and practically moves in with the writer’s family. The original author is called Verity and she is unresponsive due to a bad car accident.

So many parts of this book were spooky and gave me the chills (Verity’s autobiography for one). Hoover’s way of writing has you completely immersed in the story.

Verity was actually more mobile than anyone knew. She was faking her injuries to get away with murder, well it was actually an accident (her daughter drowned) but her husband had read her fictional, dark autobiography and thought it was intentional.

Well we really don’t know what to believe in the end. It leaves you to make your own mind up. Believe the manuscript or Verity’s final letter.

I can’t wait to read more from Colleen Hoover.

Content Warnings

Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

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emotional tense medium-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

5.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-YA high school contemporary
-slow burn romance
-drama and scandal

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maegan and Rob's stories. Both Rob and Maegan go to the same High School, both have very different social circles and both have heavy family drama to deal with. When they become project partners, they start to understand each other's struggles in life. They form a nice connection and become each other's confident and eventually more.

This book tackles heavy topics like teen pregnancy, rich vs poor, crime, attempted suicide and struggling friendships.

Content Warnings

A Legacy of Storms and Starlight by Victoria J. Price

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-action and adventure
-Faeries and magic
-strong female lead

We follow Zylah on her action-packed adventure after the incident with the king’s son changes her life forever.

Zylah has to leave behind her family and friends and start a new life in which she discovers things about herself and her world that she never knew before.

Zylah was on the run from the king because she accidentally killed the king’s son. She was about to face the ultimate punishment of hanging but somehow Zylah made herself disappear at the last moment, saving herself and discovering she had magic abilities.

Out in the wild she was saved and taken in by mystical Holt.

I enjoyed Zylah and Raif’s relationship but I was questioning Zylah’s authenticity and wondered if Raif liked her more than she liked him but I was glad that it was cleared up at the end of the story.

I can’t wait to read the sequel. I wonder where Zylah’s adventure will lead her to next. Will she find her real family? Will Raif return somehow? Will she ever see Holt again? Why has she got that piece of metal in her back? Is she Pallia’s decedent? Is Zylah more powerful than she thinks? So many questions that I want answered!

Thank you to Victoria for this ARC, it was a fantastic, thrilling, magical and mysterious read.

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-mystery
-teen detective
-A Good Girls Guide to Murder

This sequel, in my opinion, was even better than the first.

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of missing Jamie Reynolds and Pip and Ravi on the case to find him.

There was so much depth in this storyline, it was fantastic. I couldn’t have predicted the way it ended.

Jamie had been catfished by Charlie Green to find out who Child Brunswick was. It turned out it was Stanley Forbes. In the end Pip couldn’t save him and watched him die after being shot with six bullets.

I think the next book will continue on the Charlie Green storyline with Pip on the hunt to track him down so that he can be jailed for what he did.

Content Warnings

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-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

5.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-YA mystery
-page turner
-plot twists

Wow, this book blew my mind! I had read mixed reviews, so I was apprehensive. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book and the best part was near the end when the plot becomes clear. I had made my own theories throughout the book but I did not see that ending coming.

Although this is a YA book, it has deep and meaningful themes (wealth, privilege, family feuds, crimes). There are a lot of characters at first but this wasn’t an issue for long. I loved the map of Sinclair Island at the start of the book.

The story about Cadence, her two cousins and Gat will be one I won’t forget in a hurry.

Content Warnings

The Never Have I Ever Club by Mary Jayne Baker

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funny inspiring lighthearted slow-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

2.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-contemporary
-slow plot
-minimal romance

I would describe this as an easy, light read. Robyn and the twins Will and Ash are the main characters of this story. We see a love triangle with lots of drama, moral dilemmas and side stories.

This book wasn't bad, it just isn't the genre for me.

Forever & Ever by Trinity Lemm

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-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

5.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-the sequels
-college romance
-addressing mental health issues

This third and final instalment of the Forever series was highly anticipated as the last book ended with intense drama and a cliff-hanger.

We follow Tate and Axel on an emotional journey. Due to events that happened in the second book, Tate is struggling with her mental health and has to make some difficult decisions including spending some time working on herself and recovering from traumatic events. This is admirable and although it was a difficult time for both Tate and Axel, it was all worth it to return to her normal self and have the chance to make peace with the past.

My absolute favourite part of the book was the last quarter. It just filled me with so much joy. It was so romantic and I loved how it ended. Trinity wrapped up the series incredibly well, leaving no loose ends. I have thoroughly enjoyed following these characters and their stories. Trinity is a very talented writer, she ensures you are fully emersed into the story, the characters’ lives and the surroundings.

Content Warnings

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chloek608's reviews 245 reviews

chloek608's reviews
245 reviews