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clairemurray's reviews
92 reviews
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tate moves into her brother’s apartment while she is completing her masters. But when she shows up to the door there is a broken man at her door. She has no idea on the emotional roller coaster she’s going to ride with this man.
Miles refuses to let himself fall in love with anyone since his heartbreak 6 years ago. He’s intrigued by Tate but he has two rules:
1. Dont ask him about his past
2. Never expect a future
Tate thinks she can handle these rules and have a strictly physical relationship with Miles, but her curiosity really starts to get the best of her and she finds herself in a seriously toxic situationship waiting to see if time is what Miles needs to accept he loves her.
Oh my god, there is nothing ugly about how colleen hoover wrote this book. This story is BEAUTIFUL. This book may be one of my favourites I’ve read.
Some people may have had a problem with the back and forth between the present and Mile’s past but I actually loved reading his past. I was invested in learning what could have possibly happened to him that he would be so against falling in love again and when it’s revealed.. I get it. I can’t imagine what that kind of grief can do to a person and I think the way Colleen wrote it was accurate to what some people’s experiences are like.
As much as I wanted to hate Miles for how he was treating Tate, I mostly just felt sorry for him.
This book was sad at times and had me in tears towards the end, but it’s so worth the read! Such a great love story again by Colleen Hoover! I am hopping on the hype train and never getting off. READ THIS BOOK!!!
Tate moves into her brother’s apartment while she is completing her masters. But when she shows up to the door there is a broken man at her door. She has no idea on the emotional roller coaster she’s going to ride with this man.
Miles refuses to let himself fall in love with anyone since his heartbreak 6 years ago. He’s intrigued by Tate but he has two rules:
1. Dont ask him about his past
2. Never expect a future
Tate thinks she can handle these rules and have a strictly physical relationship with Miles, but her curiosity really starts to get the best of her and she finds herself in a seriously toxic situationship waiting to see if time is what Miles needs to accept he loves her.
Oh my god, there is nothing ugly about how colleen hoover wrote this book. This story is BEAUTIFUL. This book may be one of my favourites I’ve read.
Some people may have had a problem with the back and forth between the present and Mile’s past but I actually loved reading his past. I was invested in learning what could have possibly happened to him that he would be so against falling in love again and when it’s revealed.. I get it. I can’t imagine what that kind of grief can do to a person and I think the way Colleen wrote it was accurate to what some people’s experiences are like.
As much as I wanted to hate Miles for how he was treating Tate, I mostly just felt sorry for him.
This book was sad at times and had me in tears towards the end, but it’s so worth the read! Such a great love story again by Colleen Hoover! I am hopping on the hype train and never getting off. READ THIS BOOK!!!
Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis by Melanie Munton
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Olivia Knight gets an unpleasant surprise when her long time nemesis, Ben Crawford returns to Shell Grove as sheriff after 12 years of being gone. As the long time saying stands, “there’s a thin line between love and hate”.
This book is an enemies to lovers DREAM. The tension between the two main characters in this book is beautifully written. The progression from enemies to just hooking up to in love felt so natural.
The backstory of what happened between Ben and Olivia’s family was tragic and the anticipation leading up to Ben’s secret was KILLING me.
Overall, loved this book and i will be purchasing the first of the series!!
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC in return for my honest review.
This book is an enemies to lovers DREAM. The tension between the two main characters in this book is beautifully written. The progression from enemies to just hooking up to in love felt so natural.
The backstory of what happened between Ben and Olivia’s family was tragic and the anticipation leading up to Ben’s secret was KILLING me.
Overall, loved this book and i will be purchasing the first of the series!!
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC in return for my honest review.
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kenna Rowan finishes her prison sentence determined to reunite with her 4 year old daughter. She packs up and moves to a town full of people who hold her responsible for the death of her late boyfriend, Scotty.
Feeling down in the dumps, Kenna walks to and old bookstore her and scotty liked, except.. now it’s a bar? At the bar she gets the hots for the bartender, but after seeing his truck she realizes this bartender is Scotty’s best friend, Ledger Ward. Her only hope now is that Ledger can find it in his heart to forgive her and hopefully she can reunite with her daughter after all this time.
WOW, this book gave me all the intense feelings a book can give. For the longest time, I really didn’t think this book would have a happy ending for Kenna.
I think I enjoyed the Ledger’s perspective the most as he was working through all his emotions towards a girl he once hated. Ledger is a very lovable character because he is very only human. The character development he goes through trying to work through his own grief while also accepting that Kenna was also a victim in the tragedy of his best friend’s death was fantastically wrote.
This book had me in tears multiple times and the ending was no exception. I’m not jumping on the Colleen Hoover train because this book about love and grief was perfect.
Kenna Rowan finishes her prison sentence determined to reunite with her 4 year old daughter. She packs up and moves to a town full of people who hold her responsible for the death of her late boyfriend, Scotty.
Feeling down in the dumps, Kenna walks to and old bookstore her and scotty liked, except.. now it’s a bar? At the bar she gets the hots for the bartender, but after seeing his truck she realizes this bartender is Scotty’s best friend, Ledger Ward. Her only hope now is that Ledger can find it in his heart to forgive her and hopefully she can reunite with her daughter after all this time.
WOW, this book gave me all the intense feelings a book can give. For the longest time, I really didn’t think this book would have a happy ending for Kenna.
I think I enjoyed the Ledger’s perspective the most as he was working through all his emotions towards a girl he once hated. Ledger is a very lovable character because he is very only human. The character development he goes through trying to work through his own grief while also accepting that Kenna was also a victim in the tragedy of his best friend’s death was fantastically wrote.
This book had me in tears multiple times and the ending was no exception. I’m not jumping on the Colleen Hoover train because this book about love and grief was perfect.
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THIS TRILOGY IS THE SERIES THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!!
Pip returns for another adventure but this time she starts by swearing she won’t go back on old habits. She’s going to be good and stay out of trouble… that is until Connor’s brother Jamie goes missing and the police won’t help find him. With Pip’s new podcast following she had a duty to tell her audience what was happening to find tips quicker to find Jamie.. but as well all know from A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Pip is great at digging up secrets which in return causes problems for her, her friends, and family.
First of all I’m so glad they tied in why stanley was talking to the drug dealer in the first book.. I was confused as to why they never mentioned it again in the first one. But the twists??? My god I seriously didn’t see ANY of this happening.
The catfish plot line was really interesting because I feel like this happens more often than not in modern day mysteries. By the end, I just felt so bad for Pip. I hope the next book starts with Pip in therapy bc girl… that ending is going to take a while to get over
THIS TRILOGY IS THE SERIES THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!!
Pip returns for another adventure but this time she starts by swearing she won’t go back on old habits. She’s going to be good and stay out of trouble… that is until Connor’s brother Jamie goes missing and the police won’t help find him. With Pip’s new podcast following she had a duty to tell her audience what was happening to find tips quicker to find Jamie.. but as well all know from A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Pip is great at digging up secrets which in return causes problems for her, her friends, and family.
First of all I’m so glad they tied in why stanley was talking to the drug dealer in the first book.. I was confused as to why they never mentioned it again in the first one. But the twists??? My god I seriously didn’t see ANY of this happening.
The catfish plot line was really interesting because I feel like this happens more often than not in modern day mysteries. By the end, I just felt so bad for Pip. I hope the next book starts with Pip in therapy bc girl… that ending is going to take a while to get over
The Naughty Or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Lyla and Klaus run a toy making company together and despise each other while doing it. It’s nearly the holidays and the scrooge himself cancels the Christmas party and 12 days of holidays for the factory workers. After receiving some disheartening news Mr. Klaus convinces Lyla he needs her to return home with him to deal with family stuff only to learn when she arrives that she has to pretend to be fiancée.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am in no way an author so I’m finding it hard to describe how much i LOVED this book. It was everything I wanted and more. This book has all the tropes, enemies to lovers? CHECK ! Fake dating? CHECK! Kate Callaghan has mastered the writing of these tropes. This book gives MAJOR the proposal meets Noelle vibes.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this book, I seriously didn’t want to put it down and cursed my job for making me work instead of reading the masterpiece that is The Naughty or Nice Clause.
The tension between the two characters as they are starting to warm up to each other and discover their feelings was so captivating. I seriously wanted to throw my iPad at the wall when the conflict between them happens. This book was perfect, I have no complaints. It left me wanting more of their story and in the end, I think that’s what we all look for in a good book.
I will recommend this book to every person I see, and come November 8th on the release date I’ll be stomping over to my book store to ensure they have it stocked. SERIOUSLY EVERYONE GO READ THIS NOW!
Read this book if you enjoy:
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating (engagement?)
- protective angry love interest
- christmas feels <3
- lonely main character finding a family
Thank you to Netgalley and to Kate Callaghan’s publisher for allowing to read this book in return for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am in no way an author so I’m finding it hard to describe how much i LOVED this book. It was everything I wanted and more. This book has all the tropes, enemies to lovers? CHECK ! Fake dating? CHECK! Kate Callaghan has mastered the writing of these tropes. This book gives MAJOR the proposal meets Noelle vibes.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this book, I seriously didn’t want to put it down and cursed my job for making me work instead of reading the masterpiece that is The Naughty or Nice Clause.
The tension between the two characters as they are starting to warm up to each other and discover their feelings was so captivating. I seriously wanted to throw my iPad at the wall when the conflict between them happens. This book was perfect, I have no complaints. It left me wanting more of their story and in the end, I think that’s what we all look for in a good book.
I will recommend this book to every person I see, and come November 8th on the release date I’ll be stomping over to my book store to ensure they have it stocked. SERIOUSLY EVERYONE GO READ THIS NOW!
Read this book if you enjoy:
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating (engagement?)
- protective angry love interest
- christmas feels <3
- lonely main character finding a family
Thank you to Netgalley and to Kate Callaghan’s publisher for allowing to read this book in return for an honest review.
Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
As a self proclaimed witch romantic comedy enthusiast, I can say for sure that this book is amazing! I will this book to be a best seller and i will promise 3 times that I’ll recommend it to everyone I meet (that means i have to do it)!
Kate Johnson is fantastic at world building and if I could write a spell and drop my own blood on it for her to write a sequel to this book I would. The chemistry between the main characters was electric and i also enjoyed the side characters.
I don’t normally enjoy the 3rd person point of view but this book was written so well it didn’t bother me at all! I still felt as though I could connect to the characters.
Read this if you enjoy:
- witchy romantic comedies (such as paybacks a witch or go hex yourself)
- strong female leads who don’t realize how powerful they are
- quirky side characters that make you laugh
- cozy autumn vibes
Thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and One More Chapter for giving me an ARC for an honest review.
Kate Johnson is fantastic at world building and if I could write a spell and drop my own blood on it for her to write a sequel to this book I would. The chemistry between the main characters was electric and i also enjoyed the side characters.
I don’t normally enjoy the 3rd person point of view but this book was written so well it didn’t bother me at all! I still felt as though I could connect to the characters.
Read this if you enjoy:
- witchy romantic comedies (such as paybacks a witch or go hex yourself)
- strong female leads who don’t realize how powerful they are
- quirky side characters that make you laugh
- cozy autumn vibes
Thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and One More Chapter for giving me an ARC for an honest review.
Payback's a Witch 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
3.5
I really enjoyed this book! It was like a mixture of triwizard tournament vibes with the adult version of sabrina the teenage witch? This book has the perfect fall vibes i just want to be there irl
The Lost Witch by Paige Crutcher
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Not a bad read, but not exactly my type of fantasy genre.
This book starts out strong with an independent and strong female lead who wants to be a mother and will go to any lengths to be one. This part of the story had me hooked and honestly disappointed me that it was my favourite part.
Brigid wakes up 100 years in the future with loss of her memories. I just wish that the memory loss storyline could have sped up a little faster as it was 40% of the book.
I feel like this book could have benefitted from a different point of view. I found it hard to connect to the characters with a 3rd person omniscient POV and maybe i would have understood them more if the story was told from their perspective.
Also i found the way the story was written as well as brigid and luc’s tone was from 100 years ago when the story began so it seemed like it didn’t fit with the way ophelia and finola spoke. Also i could have done without the podcasts and news articles, i mostly skimmed these parts to get to the main storyline.
Overall this story wasn’t bad by any means, it just had A LOT going on and it couldn’t keep me interested.
Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book starts out strong with an independent and strong female lead who wants to be a mother and will go to any lengths to be one. This part of the story had me hooked and honestly disappointed me that it was my favourite part.
Brigid wakes up 100 years in the future with loss of her memories. I just wish that the memory loss storyline could have sped up a little faster as it was 40% of the book.
I feel like this book could have benefitted from a different point of view. I found it hard to connect to the characters with a 3rd person omniscient POV and maybe i would have understood them more if the story was told from their perspective.
Also i found the way the story was written as well as brigid and luc’s tone was from 100 years ago when the story began so it seemed like it didn’t fit with the way ophelia and finola spoke. Also i could have done without the podcasts and news articles, i mostly skimmed these parts to get to the main storyline.
Overall this story wasn’t bad by any means, it just had A LOT going on and it couldn’t keep me interested.
Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Christmas Cupid by Jennifer Joyce
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
Quirky Zoey Beake finds herself in a peculiar situation and ends up travelling back in time with the job of setting up 6 new love matches. While this should be the priority, as it could give her a second chance at life, she consumes herself with the idea of saving her relationship with man child Scott.
This story was good, but i endured a mixture of emotions while reading that i can only explain in a bullet point pros and cons list.
PROS:
- The christmas vibes. Zoey’s job as an elf in a toy shop gave me all the “ELF” feels while reading. I think the way Jennifer Joyce described the main characters workplace gave me great imagery. I could literally picture the toy shop in my head! I enjoyed the other christmassy places like the market, and the christmas karaoke, and the famous hot chocolate stand!
- The christmas cupid match-making Zoey was doing. Although most of her attempts were duds, it was cute to see her finding a match for her best friend who was in a toxic relationship, as well as the couple on the bus. Small actions of kindness like giving up your seat can have great results!!
- Her relationships with the people she cares about and the lengths she would go to sacrifice their happiness for her own. ie, giving eloise good advice instead of steering her towards annie, while knowing it could result in a heart and save her life.
CONS:
- The entire Scott storyline. It was so painful to read how Zoey was trying to save such a toxic relationship. It was so clear as a reader he was cheating on her the entire time. He was a man child. He clearly only went on the dates to steer the bake shop girl away from milo and didn’t care to spend the extra time with his GIRLFRIEND. I wanted to shake zoey and tell her what i could see. I guess this storyline could be relatable to readers but to me, i was just frustrated at how poorly the sweet protagonist was being treated by 30 year old man who can’t use a dishwasher.
Anyways, this was a cute christmas novel and I did enjoy it aside from the scott storyline. I genuinely think i would have enjoyed this more if she was a single gal matching up people and then stumbling upon love with one of her coworkers in the end but im sure others would feel a connection with the part that i didn’t enjoy. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a hallmark christmas vibe!
This story was good, but i endured a mixture of emotions while reading that i can only explain in a bullet point pros and cons list.
PROS:
- The christmas vibes. Zoey’s job as an elf in a toy shop gave me all the “ELF” feels while reading. I think the way Jennifer Joyce described the main characters workplace gave me great imagery. I could literally picture the toy shop in my head! I enjoyed the other christmassy places like the market, and the christmas karaoke, and the famous hot chocolate stand!
- The christmas cupid match-making Zoey was doing. Although most of her attempts were duds, it was cute to see her finding a match for her best friend who was in a toxic relationship, as well as the couple on the bus. Small actions of kindness like giving up your seat can have great results!!
- Her relationships with the people she cares about and the lengths she would go to sacrifice their happiness for her own. ie, giving eloise good advice instead of steering her towards annie, while knowing it could result in a heart and save her life.
CONS:
- The entire Scott storyline. It was so painful to read how Zoey was trying to save such a toxic relationship. It was so clear as a reader he was cheating on her the entire time. He was a man child. He clearly only went on the dates to steer the bake shop girl away from milo and didn’t care to spend the extra time with his GIRLFRIEND. I wanted to shake zoey and tell her what i could see. I guess this storyline could be relatable to readers but to me, i was just frustrated at how poorly the sweet protagonist was being treated by 30 year old man who can’t use a dishwasher.
Anyways, this was a cute christmas novel and I did enjoy it aside from the scott storyline. I genuinely think i would have enjoyed this more if she was a single gal matching up people and then stumbling upon love with one of her coworkers in the end but im sure others would feel a connection with the part that i didn’t enjoy. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a hallmark christmas vibe!
The Christmas Sneak by Marie Harte
emotional
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
3.5
3.5 / 5
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main characters had great chemistry and the side characters were well written as well.
Marie Hart does a phenomenal job at writing sexual chemistry but one thing that took me out of the plot was how fast everything moved. The characters went from “hating” eachother to engaged in the manner of what? a month? I enjoyed the characters and their romance but the time frame took me out the story a little bit.
As unrealistic as the pacing of the story was, I still enjoyed it. This book was sexy, interesting and a great quick read!
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main characters had great chemistry and the side characters were well written as well.
Marie Hart does a phenomenal job at writing sexual chemistry but one thing that took me out of the plot was how fast everything moved. The characters went from “hating” eachother to engaged in the manner of what? a month? I enjoyed the characters and their romance but the time frame took me out the story a little bit.
As unrealistic as the pacing of the story was, I still enjoyed it. This book was sexy, interesting and a great quick read!