christinareadsontheroad's reviews
614 reviews

Take Me Home by Melanie Sweeney

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

 

Thank you @prhaudio for the free audiobook. 

I downloaded this book on a whim and then let it sit on my audio shelf for months, waiting for the day when I needed something a little different to shake things up. What I wasn’t expecting was to be shown a mirror into my soul and parts of my personality that ended up being topics in therapy (lol). Jokes aside (even though, I did really bring up this book in therapy), I absolutely loved the road trip, the returning to the hometown, the years of pining, the reckoning of family relationships, and overall vulnerability displayed throughout the story by Ash & Hazel. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t moved to tears at a few points as well. The audiobook, performed in 10 hours 28 minutes, went by quickly because of how immersive the story was from start to finish. While the timeline spans over the holiday season, this book can really be enjoyed at any time of year. 

 

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

emotional funny 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? No

4.5

 Thank you Avon and Netgalley for the ARC.  I really enjoyed Dream Girl Drama - forbidden romance is one of my favorite tropes to read (IRL? Maybe not so much…). Sig and Chloe had such electric chemistry, and following along as they tried to deny their feelings for the sake of their parents made me sympathetic for their experience. Sig was so protective of Chloe which was charming AF, and Chloe was brave in trying to move to a big city and pursue a career outside of the country club lifestyle she was used to. I alternated between ebook & audiobook, narrated by Callie Dalton & Teddy Hamilton, because I wanted to see how the story would unfold. While not my favorite of the series (Not much can top Fangirl Down), I found this to be a really enjoyable and quick read. 

By The Letter by Julia Wolf

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny reflective 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? No

4.0

 

Thank you @prhaudio for the free audiobook. 

Does the world need another Deep End review/hot take? Probably not. I pride myself on being a romance reader that reads the full range of spiciness (the door at all stages of ajar, if you will). I know lots of people had things to say about whether or not this book was too spicy, or not spicy enough, but I thought that overall it was just a spicy romance between Lukas, elite swimmer and a MMC who enjoyed control in his personal pursuits, and Scarlett, exceptional diver who perfectly complemented Lukas behind closed doors. I’m pretty neutral in my fandom of Ali’s work – however as a person & girl’s girl, she is absolutely a queen (just check out threads). If you are a fan of college-age sports romance, this will 1000% be your jam. It’s a “me” thing, but it takes a special author/couple/story for me to be obsessed with romance stories featuring this particular age group. 

So - if you haven’t read it yet, I do think it’s worth checking out – the audio is performed in duet narration, which is really a treat for listeners. In fact, the audio experience really made the book enjoyable.

 

When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

Five perfect stars. 

Cupid Must Be Crazy by Xander Collins

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.5

When You Renovate a Grump by Lia Huni

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

The Roommate Mistake by Pippa Grant

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Love In The Time Of Conversation Hearts by Hannah Bird, Allie Samberts

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Designated Hitter by Megan Cousins

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

 

Thank you to the author for the review copy. It’s pub day for Designated Hitter, the final book in the Unwritten Rules series and I know I say this every time, but I really think Megan outdid herself with this story. 

Words I’d use to describe Luca and Charlotte:

-Tender

-Vulnerable

-Complimentary

-Reverent

-Inevitable

It’s that last word that really underscores the whole energy of the story. Sure, they were two kids in love when they were both on a trajectory to start their respective careers. Life and baseball reunited them after they ventured on their own solo journeys, learning other tough lessons that come with careers and personal relationships. There was also a deep level of respect for each other that comes with maturity in adult relationships, and Megan captured their dynamic beautifully. Seeing the crew from not only the Unwritten Rules series but also Hutchinsons from Wild Pitches and Francine from Center Ice (the hockey novellas) added to the coziness of found family I’ve come to love in these overlapping worlds.