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clairemurray's reviews
92 reviews
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m so glad i read this so close to the holidays!! It’s definitely one of those grumpy meets sunshine books for sure. I really enjoyed the golden retriever christmas energy Hall was bringing to the table and how his joy brought Bertie’s family together. Towards the end i was SO sad bc i knew a conflict was eventually going to show up (bc that romance genre rlly loves to play with our hearts) and i just wanted these two to end up together. The growth Bettie has in this book was admirable and she worked through a lot of relatable issues & once she did, her & hall were better for it. I love this book and can definitely see myself rereading next christmas to get me in the spirit!
Omens by Kelley Armstrong
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
SYNOPSIS:
Olivia Taylor-Jones is living the life of a socialite but at the drop of a hat finds out she is not only adopted, but her biological parents are serial killers. With the rug ripped out from underneath her - Olivia escapes Chicago to escape the tabloids and finds herself in Cainsville.
REVIEW:
This was a slow start for me, but half way through the book the ball starts rolling and I couldn’t put this book down. Seeing Olivia figure out who she is, and try to uncover whether or not she believes her parents are serial killers was SUCH a journey. All the welsh fairy culture looming in the background was interesting and i hope to see how that intertwines with this story in the rest of the series. This was such a good mystery and i actually liked how all my questions weren’t answered at the end of this book, it just makes me more excited to read the next one!
Olivia Taylor-Jones is living the life of a socialite but at the drop of a hat finds out she is not only adopted, but her biological parents are serial killers. With the rug ripped out from underneath her - Olivia escapes Chicago to escape the tabloids and finds herself in Cainsville.
REVIEW:
This was a slow start for me, but half way through the book the ball starts rolling and I couldn’t put this book down. Seeing Olivia figure out who she is, and try to uncover whether or not she believes her parents are serial killers was SUCH a journey. All the welsh fairy culture looming in the background was interesting and i hope to see how that intertwines with this story in the rest of the series. This was such a good mystery and i actually liked how all my questions weren’t answered at the end of this book, it just makes me more excited to read the next one!
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
OH MY GOODDDDDDD!!! Aaron Blackmore is my new favourite book boyfriend.
SYNOPSIS:
Catalina is the maid of honour for her sister’s wedding and can’t face the newly engaged best man, her ex boyfriend. Determined to avoid pity from her family, she tells them she is bringing her boyfriend as her date to Spain. Only one problem, she’s single. When her coworker who is a total jerk offers to make a deal with her, she is left with no choice to pretend they’re in love.
REVIEW:
This book was SO GOOD. It had all my favourite tropes and the characters were so easy to fall in love with. The tension between these two characters was INTENSE and i was screaming at the book “JUST KISS ALREADY!!”. And once the ball started rolling between these two, it never stopped. Watching Lina’s character growth was amazing, seeing that history doesn’t have to repeat itself when you choose a man who respects you and wants to protect you. Aaron is everything i want in a male love interest. God this book just had it all for me.
Read if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- ONE BED!!!
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Workplace Romance
SYNOPSIS:
Catalina is the maid of honour for her sister’s wedding and can’t face the newly engaged best man, her ex boyfriend. Determined to avoid pity from her family, she tells them she is bringing her boyfriend as her date to Spain. Only one problem, she’s single. When her coworker who is a total jerk offers to make a deal with her, she is left with no choice to pretend they’re in love.
REVIEW:
This book was SO GOOD. It had all my favourite tropes and the characters were so easy to fall in love with. The tension between these two characters was INTENSE and i was screaming at the book “JUST KISS ALREADY!!”. And once the ball started rolling between these two, it never stopped. Watching Lina’s character growth was amazing, seeing that history doesn’t have to repeat itself when you choose a man who respects you and wants to protect you. Aaron is everything i want in a male love interest. God this book just had it all for me.
Read if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- ONE BED!!!
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Workplace Romance
Let's Not be Friends by Phoebe MacLeod
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
DNF at 40%. I just couldn’t get into this book. I also don’t really understand why this is marketed as a romance, it seems more like a self discovery for the main character. Not a bad book, just not my thing!
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5/5
SYNOPSIS:
Rose and Lissa have been caught in the human world by their academy’s guardians after fleeing. The school is determined to find out why but Rose isn’t keen on giving up their secrets just yet. Springing them back into the world of Moroi and Dhampirs, more secrets about Lissa and her powers begin to unfold and Rose is determined to protect her.
REVIEW:
Honestly, it took me a minute to be able to get into this book but I’m so glad i continued reading!! I really enjoyed this different take on vampires. The differences between moroi, dhampirs, and strigoi were really intriguing to me, as a person who has pretty much strictly read vampire romances where’s it mostly the typical vampire and maybe a werewolf here and there.
I’m a sucker for a book held at a boarding school, but i felt like this book could have benefit from more world building? Since it’s a series I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt because there’s still 5 more books to accomplish this. ALSO i did not see the plot twist coming AT ALL!
Overall, I think a lot of people would enjoy this book. I wish I had have read this when I was a teenager because I know I would have been completely obsessed, but as a 24 year old I’m not sure it really hits the same.
SYNOPSIS:
Rose and Lissa have been caught in the human world by their academy’s guardians after fleeing. The school is determined to find out why but Rose isn’t keen on giving up their secrets just yet. Springing them back into the world of Moroi and Dhampirs, more secrets about Lissa and her powers begin to unfold and Rose is determined to protect her.
REVIEW:
Honestly, it took me a minute to be able to get into this book but I’m so glad i continued reading!! I really enjoyed this different take on vampires. The differences between moroi, dhampirs, and strigoi were really intriguing to me, as a person who has pretty much strictly read vampire romances where’s it mostly the typical vampire and maybe a werewolf here and there.
I’m a sucker for a book held at a boarding school, but i felt like this book could have benefit from more world building? Since it’s a series I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt because there’s still 5 more books to accomplish this. ALSO i did not see the plot twist coming AT ALL!
Overall, I think a lot of people would enjoy this book. I wish I had have read this when I was a teenager because I know I would have been completely obsessed, but as a 24 year old I’m not sure it really hits the same.
Crave by Tracy Wolff
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I went into this book with not a lot of expectations. Me & my friend did a themed christmas advent book calendar and the theme for this week was “It’s Giving Twilight”. & honestly this book certainly “gives” twilight. But I don’t necessarily think it’s a copy and paste formula I’ve seen other reviewers say.
SYNOPSIS:
Grace moves to Alaska to attend boarding school with her cousin Macy after her parents pass away suddenly in a tragic accident. Once she arrives a tall handsome and mysterious boy rescues her from a cruel “prank” and she instantly feels a connection, or attraction to him.
The longer Grace stays at the school, the more mishaps and accidents that nearly take her out altogether occur. The more danger Grace is in, the more often Jaxon shows up to save the day. Grace knows there’s something not right about this school, but can’t quite put her finger on. Probably aliens.
REVIEW:
I honestly enjoyed this book way more than i thought I would. It was fast paced and an easy read. A lot happens in the short time Grace has been at the school which kept me hooked throughout the story.
In my opinion, Grace is a more lovable although naive version of Bella Swan and I enjoyed her as a character WAY more. Jaxon had the typical brooding self hatred sexy vampire vibes going on but what i really enjoyed was the royalty aspects of this universe. It was a different take I haven’t read in typical vampire YA novels. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, and there’s a lot of different mystical lore that is unique to this series!
The only thing that kind of annoyed me was terms like “SEXY AF” and “FML”, bc it felt dated and will become worse and time passes. I also wish there had have been more Jaxon POV’s throughout the book instead of at the end after the story was already over? That didn’t make any sense to me. Also i feel like i would have given this 5 stars if the book didn’t end on a cliff hanger, like i get its setting up for the sequel but it still annoyed me LOL. Guess i’ll have to make my way through my TBR quickly to see what happens next!
Read if you like:
- instalove
- grumpy/sunshine
- twilight and/or TVD universe
SYNOPSIS:
Grace moves to Alaska to attend boarding school with her cousin Macy after her parents pass away suddenly in a tragic accident. Once she arrives a tall handsome and mysterious boy rescues her from a cruel “prank” and she instantly feels a connection, or attraction to him.
The longer Grace stays at the school, the more mishaps and accidents that nearly take her out altogether occur. The more danger Grace is in, the more often Jaxon shows up to save the day. Grace knows there’s something not right about this school, but can’t quite put her finger on. Probably aliens.
REVIEW:
I honestly enjoyed this book way more than i thought I would. It was fast paced and an easy read. A lot happens in the short time Grace has been at the school which kept me hooked throughout the story.
In my opinion, Grace is a more lovable although naive version of Bella Swan and I enjoyed her as a character WAY more. Jaxon had the typical brooding self hatred sexy vampire vibes going on but what i really enjoyed was the royalty aspects of this universe. It was a different take I haven’t read in typical vampire YA novels. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, and there’s a lot of different mystical lore that is unique to this series!
The only thing that kind of annoyed me was terms like “SEXY AF” and “FML”, bc it felt dated and will become worse and time passes. I also wish there had have been more Jaxon POV’s throughout the book instead of at the end after the story was already over? That didn’t make any sense to me. Also i feel like i would have given this 5 stars if the book didn’t end on a cliff hanger, like i get its setting up for the sequel but it still annoyed me LOL. Guess i’ll have to make my way through my TBR quickly to see what happens next!
Read if you like:
- instalove
- grumpy/sunshine
- twilight and/or TVD universe
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Calling the Shots by Kelly Farmer
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
DNF at 40%. This just wasn’t my type of sports romance. I couldn’t really relate to the characters as they were a good bit older than I am. This normally isn’t a problem for me but in combination with the big hockey jobs I just couldn’t connect with them. The story also goes into a lot of detail of the hockey games which honestly kind of bored me. I’m not saying this is a bad book, but it just wasn’t for me!
Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review
From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
I love when sequels surpass my expectations!! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED Payback’s a Witch. But that enemies to lovers trope.. it gets me every single time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a perfect spooky romance read for October, and it’s only fitting that I finished it on Halloween night. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Thistle Grove and exploring more of the characters and I especially enjoyed learning more about the tense dynamic between Thorns and Avramovs!
Isodora was an easy to love character. She’s a bad ass witch that summons demons to blow off steam for crying out loud! & even with all that, she’s relatable? She holds on to grudges, she has dreams that conflict with her families expectations, and above all else - she’s an astrology enthusiast.
I really enjoyed the difference between her and Rowan, who is very much a square in comparison LOL but i think that’s what makes it interesting? Seeing how such an impulsive dramatic person interacts with someone who is so serious. And the tension between these two… unmatched. There were certainly times where i felt like screaming “FOR THE LOVE OF GODDESS JUST KISS ALREADY!!!”.
As usual, Lana Harper paints the perfect picture of Thistle Grove. Truly a master of world building. Props to Harper once again! Can’t wait to read Back in a Spell!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a perfect spooky romance read for October, and it’s only fitting that I finished it on Halloween night. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Thistle Grove and exploring more of the characters and I especially enjoyed learning more about the tense dynamic between Thorns and Avramovs!
Isodora was an easy to love character. She’s a bad ass witch that summons demons to blow off steam for crying out loud! & even with all that, she’s relatable? She holds on to grudges, she has dreams that conflict with her families expectations, and above all else - she’s an astrology enthusiast.
I really enjoyed the difference between her and Rowan, who is very much a square in comparison LOL but i think that’s what makes it interesting? Seeing how such an impulsive dramatic person interacts with someone who is so serious. And the tension between these two… unmatched. There were certainly times where i felt like screaming “FOR THE LOVE OF GODDESS JUST KISS ALREADY!!!”.
As usual, Lana Harper paints the perfect picture of Thistle Grove. Truly a master of world building. Props to Harper once again! Can’t wait to read Back in a Spell!!
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Ivy Lovely, a scaldron maid gets kicked out of castle plum into the slurry fields with no where to go. Once out of the slurries, hiding her magic, she is invited to the Halls of Ivy to attend school to study scrivenry.
While at school, Ivy finds trouble at every turn and with the help of many mysterious characters, discovers a huge secret about her past, present, and future.
My Review: 3.5/5
I really enjoyed this book so much! The world building D. E. Knight created was something to be applauded for. The imagery Knight creates was amazing, I could picture every setting in this book which I appreciate a lot in fantasy novels.
The Crown’s of Croswald was similar to Harry Potter in a lot of ways. The main character was “the chosen one” but in a different way. The adults in her life all lied to protect her from a terrifying destiny, but her curious nature allows her to find out these secrets on her own. A young teenage protagonist breaking the rules along with her friends to slowly bring all the pieces together.
I really enjoyed Ivy as a main character, she was curious, determined, and couldn’t care less about the rules - which is all great qualities for a character on an adventure.
Thank you to the publisher for reaching out to me on Instagram who encouraged me to request the novel on Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley and Stories Untold for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ivy Lovely, a scaldron maid gets kicked out of castle plum into the slurry fields with no where to go. Once out of the slurries, hiding her magic, she is invited to the Halls of Ivy to attend school to study scrivenry.
While at school, Ivy finds trouble at every turn and with the help of many mysterious characters, discovers a huge secret about her past, present, and future.
My Review: 3.5/5
I really enjoyed this book so much! The world building D. E. Knight created was something to be applauded for. The imagery Knight creates was amazing, I could picture every setting in this book which I appreciate a lot in fantasy novels.
The Crown’s of Croswald was similar to Harry Potter in a lot of ways. The main character was “the chosen one” but in a different way. The adults in her life all lied to protect her from a terrifying destiny, but her curious nature allows her to find out these secrets on her own. A young teenage protagonist breaking the rules along with her friends to slowly bring all the pieces together.
I really enjoyed Ivy as a main character, she was curious, determined, and couldn’t care less about the rules - which is all great qualities for a character on an adventure.
Thank you to the publisher for reaching out to me on Instagram who encouraged me to request the novel on Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley and Stories Untold for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.