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craftysnailtail's reviews
82 reviews
Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was cute. I never get as invested in contemporary romance as I do with other romance subgenres, but I really enjoy Solomon's writing style. What I think I appreciate the most, is her ability to not fall into the "mind blowing sex despite these two people never having done this together before" trope. Her spice is realistic and sometimes sex can be awkward and/or unsatisfying. The plot was fine- not the strong point of the book for me, but I liked both Chandler and Finn as characters. Overall, it was sweet brain candy and I enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abortion
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
To say this book tugged at my heartstrings is an understatement. I love Shaffer's writing style so much. It pulls you in and keeps you there. You care deeply about the main characters. It's all very raw and emotional- with an undercurrent of something purely magical.
The book is mysterious, so I don't want to give anything away about the plot progression, but it's extremely well done. It's the perfect length, too. I can't wait to read more from her. If you're into magical realism, I highly recommend her.
The book is mysterious, so I don't want to give anything away about the plot progression, but it's extremely well done. It's the perfect length, too. I can't wait to read more from her. If you're into magical realism, I highly recommend her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Such an odd plot that I had to try it. It's one of those books where I enjoyed the ride, but if you asked me what happened a week after I read it, I could not tell you.
Despite the plot being slightly convoluted, I absolutely remember how I felt when reading this. The immersion into a steampunk mixed with magic Victorian England felt whimsical and vibrant. I wasn't entirely sold on the romance, but it wasn't distracting either. The whole thing felt like a mysterious adventure and I enjoyed it overall.
Despite the plot being slightly convoluted, I absolutely remember how I felt when reading this. The immersion into a steampunk mixed with magic Victorian England felt whimsical and vibrant. I wasn't entirely sold on the romance, but it wasn't distracting either. The whole thing felt like a mysterious adventure and I enjoyed it overall.
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Although I think I prefer the first novel, I also greatly enjoyed this. It's so wonderful to find romance novels with older characters. Why don't we have more romance with women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s? This perspective felt so refreshing.
I love the universe of Tanria and was happy to see more of it here. It's very slice of life meets a classic friends to lovers romcom. Watching Twyla learn to set boundaries and Frank's soft and open communication style was incredibly satisfying. They compliment each other so well and the ending is perfection. This breaks the mold of your typical happily ever after in a way that I adored. Let's normalize not all relationships looking exactly the same!
I love the universe of Tanria and was happy to see more of it here. It's very slice of life meets a classic friends to lovers romcom. Watching Twyla learn to set boundaries and Frank's soft and open communication style was incredibly satisfying. They compliment each other so well and the ending is perfection. This breaks the mold of your typical happily ever after in a way that I adored. Let's normalize not all relationships looking exactly the same!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Misogyny and Toxic relationship
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If you're into the type of romance novel that draws out conflict that's entirely blown out of proportion and is fueled by the couple's inability to communicate like adults- then you'll love this. I personally hate the miscommunication trope. I also hate when there's a complete lack of respect from one of the partners. Sure, Alexis is going through some shit, but the way she lied to and used Daniel was gross. I felt tense and unhappy for almost the entire novel and that's just not how I want to feel when reading romance.
Daniel was nice and all- very much the overly good, small town hero stereotype. Alexis was beyond frustrating. This woman made the same mistakes over and over and over. She's not dumb. She just wanted to have her cake and eat it too. If their behavior had been switched, I think people would've hated this book because she treated Daniel like actual trash for 99% of this novel.
I appreciated the message about domestic violence and I thought the author did a good job with it. The general plot was also a cute concept.
Again, this wasn't a bad book, I actually really enjoyed the writing style, but it's very much not for me. I'll try a different book by her in the future.
Daniel was nice and all- very much the overly good, small town hero stereotype. Alexis was beyond frustrating. This woman made the same mistakes over and over and over. She's not dumb. She just wanted to have her cake and eat it too. If their behavior had been switched, I think people would've hated this book because she treated Daniel like actual trash for 99% of this novel.
I appreciated the message about domestic violence and I thought the author did a good job with it. The general plot was also a cute concept.
Again, this wasn't a bad book, I actually really enjoyed the writing style, but it's very much not for me. I'll try a different book by her in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Mental illness
A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I love this series. There's a reason it's on every single cozy fantasy book recommendation list. It's very low stakes, fast action, and sweet (sometimes spicy) romance.
The corn levels are high, but I'm a sucker for a terrible pun. Plus there are badass female pirates. It's an easy and relaxing read that lets me escape reality into an adventurous and abundantly queer world, and I love it for that.
The corn levels are high, but I'm a sucker for a terrible pun. Plus there are badass female pirates. It's an easy and relaxing read that lets me escape reality into an adventurous and abundantly queer world, and I love it for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I actually picked this one up by accident when I misremembered the name of a book recommendation. But I'm glad I still read it, because it was really fun. Sally is one of the most realistic women I've encountered in a romance novel. I loved her character and found her extremely relatable. I've never thought about what working for SNL would be like before this, but the insight into the bts was fascinating. This is also my first novel that incorporates the pandemic, so that was a bit odd, but well done.
Noah wasn't over the top, but was a respectable amount of dreamy. He ended up being down to earth despite his social status. It was a relief that they communicated very well, so any tension was either quickly addressed, or boundaries were set because someone crossed a line and hurt the other. I love when relationships feel mature and the author doesn't lean on horrendous miscommunication to create conflict. The character growth was excellent- probably the aspect of the book I enjoyed the most.
Overall, this was a fun and relaxing read. It's sweet, humorous, and has several unique dynamics that kept me interested the whole time.
Noah wasn't over the top, but was a respectable amount of dreamy. He ended up being down to earth despite his social status. It was a relief that they communicated very well, so any tension was either quickly addressed, or boundaries were set because someone crossed a line and hurt the other. I love when relationships feel mature and the author doesn't lean on horrendous miscommunication to create conflict. The character growth was excellent- probably the aspect of the book I enjoyed the most.
Overall, this was a fun and relaxing read. It's sweet, humorous, and has several unique dynamics that kept me interested the whole time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I'm sure I'm biased because I'm a fan of Klune, but I really enjoyed this sequel. It honestly wasn't what I expected, but who he dedicated this novel to immediately told me my assumption that this would be another extremely cozy, funny fantasy, was incorrect.
It's been a very difficult few years, as so many politicians, authors, etc have been extremely vocal about their disdain for specific members of the LGBT+ community. And I really felt like Klune was fed up and ready to use his skills as a writer to express this. That's what this book is. The politics are heavy, the analogy to real life is no longer charmingly blurred, and Klune does not mince words. I can understand why some people might find this repetitive and too in your face, but as someone who has watched friends suffer and fear for their own safety, some even having to leave their homes due to discriminatory laws- I didn't think it was over the top at all.
I laughed, I cried, and in the end, I'm left with the hope that change can happen if we fight for it. The children were just as delightful as the first book and their growth was realistic and sweet. There wasn't much romance in this one, but the little bits we did get were sappy and adorable.
It's a difficult read, which I didn't expect prior to starting. But I hope people will still give it a shot, because it's good. We need books like this. And I'm so happy it was Klune who took on the challenge.
It's been a very difficult few years, as so many politicians, authors, etc have been extremely vocal about their disdain for specific members of the LGBT+ community. And I really felt like Klune was fed up and ready to use his skills as a writer to express this. That's what this book is. The politics are heavy, the analogy to real life is no longer charmingly blurred, and Klune does not mince words. I can understand why some people might find this repetitive and too in your face, but as someone who has watched friends suffer and fear for their own safety, some even having to leave their homes due to discriminatory laws- I didn't think it was over the top at all.
I laughed, I cried, and in the end, I'm left with the hope that change can happen if we fight for it. The children were just as delightful as the first book and their growth was realistic and sweet. There wasn't much romance in this one, but the little bits we did get were sappy and adorable.
It's a difficult read, which I didn't expect prior to starting. But I hope people will still give it a shot, because it's good. We need books like this. And I'm so happy it was Klune who took on the challenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexism, Abandonment, and Colonisation
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
This took me far too long to get through. I wouldn't say this book is bad, but neither is it good. The plot drags on so slowly that I was convinced this book was over 500 pages, but it's actually a perfectly normal length.
Wes and Margaret as characters are just... fine. Wes is described in extreme detail as having ADHD and Margaret struggles with PTSD. While I appreciate the representation, I disliked the execution. Their neurodivergence and mental illness were presented as if that was all they were as people and that really bothered me. However, there was some character development and the romance was sweet and angsty.
Every once in a while I'd notice prose that were beautifully written, so it's a shame the rest of the writing didn't stand out to me. For a book that claims to be about a magical hunt, I got 90% of the way through and it STILL hadn't started. The pacing was all wrong. I also found the religious parallels to real life a bit unnecessary. As a background kind of book, it was fine. But it's not one that I'll be recommending to friends.
Wes and Margaret as characters are just... fine. Wes is described in extreme detail as having ADHD and Margaret struggles with PTSD. While I appreciate the representation, I disliked the execution. Their neurodivergence and mental illness were presented as if that was all they were as people and that really bothered me. However, there was some character development and the romance was sweet and angsty.
Every once in a while I'd notice prose that were beautifully written, so it's a shame the rest of the writing didn't stand out to me. For a book that claims to be about a magical hunt, I got 90% of the way through and it STILL hadn't started. The pacing was all wrong. I also found the religious parallels to real life a bit unnecessary. As a background kind of book, it was fine. But it's not one that I'll be recommending to friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Classism
Magical Midlife Madness [Dramatized Adaptation] by K.F. Breene
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Normally I hate dramatized audiobooks, but this was the only audio version of this book I could find. The sounds were mostly distracting for me, but it wasn't too bad. Thankfully, the voice acting was great. I'm not sure I would've found this book as funny as I did without the skill in the delivery.
It's refreshing to get a female lead who is 40 and pretty much sick of everyone's shit. Sometimes it was a bit heavy handed, which felt off because the target audience for this book doesn't need a drawn out explanation of the trials of being a woman in modern society. Let us laugh and cry WITH the protagonist, not sit through a misogyny 101 lesson.
I'd recommend this book if you're looking for a light and funny romance that doesn't try to be something it's not. It's brain candy with magic thrown in. And really, who doesn't want to inherit a creepy magical house‽
It's refreshing to get a female lead who is 40 and pretty much sick of everyone's shit. Sometimes it was a bit heavy handed, which felt off because the target audience for this book doesn't need a drawn out explanation of the trials of being a woman in modern society. Let us laugh and cry WITH the protagonist, not sit through a misogyny 101 lesson.
I'd recommend this book if you're looking for a light and funny romance that doesn't try to be something it's not. It's brain candy with magic thrown in. And really, who doesn't want to inherit a creepy magical house‽
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder