crystalleighwrites's reviews
336 reviews

Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark

4.0

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I hate how fucking quickly I devoured this book. I thought I didn’t like shifter romance but like… maybe I do? 

Caution: this book may cause existential crises. 

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

emotional 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

5.0

Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff

5.0

False Confidence by Sophie Snow

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

Sophie Snow is one of my favorite indie authors and FALSE CONFIDENCE is just the latest example of why. Continuing with characters introduced in her prior novel, LEGALLY BINDING, FALSE CONFIDENCE is about … well… I’ll just share her tagline because it’s brilliant:

She’s a brat who can’t come.

He’s a pleasure dom who’s wanted her  for years.

They’re a match made in chaos.

-Sophie Snow, FALSE CONFIDENCE

It’s no secret that Snow’s books are high spice, but there’s way more to them than Ao3 style porn-with-plot (nothing wrong with that for when you want it). The characters in Snow’s love stories are fully rounded with complete and complex histories and inner lives. They have their own issues they have to contend with and work through to get to their happily every afters (because these are romances, after all). Jazz and Liam’s story in FALSE CONFIDENCE is witty, sexy, sweet, and rewarding (especially since there’s no 3rd act breakup). I love a messy, imperfect female protagonist, especially when they’re a feisty redhead, so Jazz had me at hello.

Snow’s books, FALSE CONFIDENCE included, do address weighty topics and often include kink in their spiciness. You can find content warnings at her website.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

4.0

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

4.5

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Did you ever want to fall into the perfect world of your favorite TV show and live there forever? That’s the premise of Kate Robb’s sophomore novel PRIME TIME ROMANCE. Robb writes what I’ve realized might be my favorite subgenre of romance: contemporary magical realism. Her characters are people living in our very normal, ordinary world who find themselves suddenly confronted with strange happenings that lead them to the right path in their lives. In PRIME TIME ROMANCE, a 30th birthday wish transports Brynn into the world of her favorite show so she can create the perfect ending for the prematurely cancelled series and maybe for herself.

Brynn craves a perfect ending for her comfort show because she’s had exactly the opposite in her life, with her marriage ending suddenly and her having to rent out her spare room to pay her mortgage. Her roommate, Josh, gets pulled through to the fictional Carson’s Cove with her, and he’s got his own baggage to overcome. Robb writes her characters with empathy and heart, drawing you in so you genuinely want the best for them. This is one that I can already tell is going to be a comfort read I come back to again and again.

If you were terminally addicted to the WB in your high school years, you’ll love the references and easter eggs to Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and their predecessors like 90210 and Saved By The Bell.