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dedicated_reader's reviews
46 reviews
The Long Game by Elena Armas
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Liked ✅
- Slow burn, enemies to lovers
- Soccer kids, specifically Maria
- Banter
Didn't Like ❌
- Frustration of a slow burn 😂
Thoughts 💭
Slow burn romance novels are the best and most frustrating type of book. I spent an unholy amount of time arguing with these characters to finally make a move and get together. But I find they form deeper and stronger bonds because of how well they get to know each other.
By the time the book is starting to sizzle Cam is able to pinpoint Adalyn and her quirks. Initially I found Adalyn the queen of pity parties, by the end of the book she redeemed herself greatly in my eyes. The banter between the characters was phenomenal, and the U10 soccer team girls were next level with their antics. Maria being my absolute favourite, her 9 year old wisdom was a perfect voice of reason.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cam & Adalyn's love. Giggling and smiling while reading made me very excited to start The Fiancee Dilemma!
- Slow burn, enemies to lovers
- Soccer kids, specifically Maria
- Banter
Didn't Like ❌
- Frustration of a slow burn 😂
Thoughts 💭
Slow burn romance novels are the best and most frustrating type of book. I spent an unholy amount of time arguing with these characters to finally make a move and get together. But I find they form deeper and stronger bonds because of how well they get to know each other.
By the time the book is starting to sizzle Cam is able to pinpoint Adalyn and her quirks. Initially I found Adalyn the queen of pity parties, by the end of the book she redeemed herself greatly in my eyes. The banter between the characters was phenomenal, and the U10 soccer team girls were next level with their antics. Maria being my absolute favourite, her 9 year old wisdom was a perfect voice of reason.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cam & Adalyn's love. Giggling and smiling while reading made me very excited to start The Fiancee Dilemma!
Love at first spill by
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Liked ✅
- Lily’s personality
- Emotional
- Relatable
- Andrew’s growth
Thoughts 💭
As someone who comes from a professional background in fostering, this story brought back reminders of the stresses that take place when fighting for the rights of the children in your care, and how I never understood how families could turn their backs on their people. Reading about Lily's struggles made me feel understood and seen in a way I've never before.
There were moments throughout this book that I was reading through brimming tears. Lily's strength, determination and drive to succeed for her siblings was beautiful. At a point where I feel my own life is spinning out of control, it was a well needed boost to read how Lily handles herself with people taking away her control.
I was worried throughout the beginning that we wouldn't experience Andrew taking control and fighting back instead of laying down, while everyone walked all over him. I really enjoyed how their relationship morphed into more.
- Lily’s personality
- Emotional
- Relatable
- Andrew’s growth
Thoughts 💭
As someone who comes from a professional background in fostering, this story brought back reminders of the stresses that take place when fighting for the rights of the children in your care, and how I never understood how families could turn their backs on their people. Reading about Lily's struggles made me feel understood and seen in a way I've never before.
There were moments throughout this book that I was reading through brimming tears. Lily's strength, determination and drive to succeed for her siblings was beautiful. At a point where I feel my own life is spinning out of control, it was a well needed boost to read how Lily handles herself with people taking away her control.
I was worried throughout the beginning that we wouldn't experience Andrew taking control and fighting back instead of laying down, while everyone walked all over him. I really enjoyed how their relationship morphed into more.
It's Our Turn by D.C. Kile
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Liked ✅
- Quick
- No third act break up
- Heartwarming
- Epilogue 🥰
Thoughts 💭
Sometimes the perfect read is a quick and light book that has all the ingredients to make you feel warm and fuzzy. Add a romance read with no third act break up and it's the cherry on top to an already great book.
The spice was the perfect amount. I loved the chemistry between the main characters. The way they respected, loved and took care of one another was so heartwarming.
The epilogue is hands down my favourite part of the whole book. It was a cuteness overload and brought the story full circle in a way.
- Quick
- No third act break up
- Heartwarming
- Epilogue 🥰
Thoughts 💭
Sometimes the perfect read is a quick and light book that has all the ingredients to make you feel warm and fuzzy. Add a romance read with no third act break up and it's the cherry on top to an already great book.
The spice was the perfect amount. I loved the chemistry between the main characters. The way they respected, loved and took care of one another was so heartwarming.
The epilogue is hands down my favourite part of the whole book. It was a cuteness overload and brought the story full circle in a way.
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Liked ✅
- Plot
- Conflicting feelings
- Emotional
Didn't Like ❌
- Emma’s choices
Thoughts 💭
TJR’s book plots are so unique and she is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy authors. Her writing style is easy to follow and she knows how to write her characters in a way that you are truly invested in the outcome of their lives.
I went into this book hoping that there would be a personal relatability with highschool sweethearts overcoming all the bad. What I did not expect was to experience how complex life can be. How experiences, traumas, choices, etc will all shape people so differently. How sometimes it's about loving that person from a far and nothing more.
I think the main point I take from finishing this book is the amount of life lessons sprinkled throughout and the understanding I had while reading it. I felt the grief that Emma was experiencing through the pages, I cried with her.
This book puts you on a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions. It makes you feel deeply for Emma and her life. Although, there were many choices that she made that I questioned. One True Loves is a beautiful story of growing, changing and loving differently throughout it all.
- Plot
- Conflicting feelings
- Emotional
Didn't Like ❌
- Emma’s choices
Thoughts 💭
TJR’s book plots are so unique and she is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy authors. Her writing style is easy to follow and she knows how to write her characters in a way that you are truly invested in the outcome of their lives.
I went into this book hoping that there would be a personal relatability with highschool sweethearts overcoming all the bad. What I did not expect was to experience how complex life can be. How experiences, traumas, choices, etc will all shape people so differently. How sometimes it's about loving that person from a far and nothing more.
I think the main point I take from finishing this book is the amount of life lessons sprinkled throughout and the understanding I had while reading it. I felt the grief that Emma was experiencing through the pages, I cried with her.
This book puts you on a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions. It makes you feel deeply for Emma and her life. Although, there were many choices that she made that I questioned. One True Loves is a beautiful story of growing, changing and loving differently throughout it all.
The Couple at the Lake House by James Caine
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Liked ✅
- Fast paced
- Quick
- Thrilling / Enthralling
- Sideny’s growth
Didn't Like ❌
- Less impactful death
Thoughts 💭
The length of this book gave me mixed feelings. I was excited because it would be a quick read but also concerned that it wouldn’t be enough time to make this a good thriller. Oh boy! Was I completely wrong!
The prologue digs its claws into you by jumping right to the fall off of madness, leaving you craving more and needing to know what happens next. Chapter 1 takes you back a few days and progresses the story from there. It’s the perfect concoction for an alluring thriller! Thanks to the length of the book, there are no drawn out parts that you wish you could skip. I found it thrilling and suspenseful from the first page! All my extra time went into following Sidney on this journey of terror and paranoia.
I can’t forget to mention… those TWISTS! Holy, WOW! James Caine knows how to write characters in such a way that even while questioning everyone’s motives and intentions, you are blind sided by how everything plays out. Sideny’s evolution from panic ridden to courageous is one of my favourite plot points. I do wish that we got to experience the impact that a certain death had on her. Overall, I am highly interested in reading more from James Caine!
No Way Back by Robin Mahle
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Liked ✅
- Becca’s awesome
- Light, easy mystery
- Pulled on the heartstrings 🥹
Didn't Like ❌
- 2+ POV’s
Thoughts 💭
I would consider No Way Back an anthology series, the majority of the plot was resolved within the pages of this book. If I had my time back I would have preferred to read the series from the beginning and not jump in part way through. I say that only because there were very small moments peppered throughout that made me curious about the different characters' backstories, and I'm a completionist! 😆
For readers that like a darker, intense detective series like In Death, this is the opposite. The intimacy moments fade to black, the language is cleaner and the death is less gruesome. If that's something you prefer, I would recommend this series!
I enjoyed my experience while reading. There were a few interesting character twists that I didn't see coming, which kept me engaged. Becca has a lot of grit, her instincts are on point and she is very perceptive. I liked reading Bevin’s POV, and getting more out of his story. By the end I was the most invested in Bevin’s and Becca’s storylines. In turn it made me feel like the rest of the POV’s weren't necessary, and overshadowed the two main story arcs.
- Becca’s awesome
- Light, easy mystery
- Pulled on the heartstrings 🥹
Didn't Like ❌
- 2+ POV’s
Thoughts 💭
I would consider No Way Back an anthology series, the majority of the plot was resolved within the pages of this book. If I had my time back I would have preferred to read the series from the beginning and not jump in part way through. I say that only because there were very small moments peppered throughout that made me curious about the different characters' backstories, and I'm a completionist! 😆
For readers that like a darker, intense detective series like In Death, this is the opposite. The intimacy moments fade to black, the language is cleaner and the death is less gruesome. If that's something you prefer, I would recommend this series!
I enjoyed my experience while reading. There were a few interesting character twists that I didn't see coming, which kept me engaged. Becca has a lot of grit, her instincts are on point and she is very perceptive. I liked reading Bevin’s POV, and getting more out of his story. By the end I was the most invested in Bevin’s and Becca’s storylines. In turn it made me feel like the rest of the POV’s weren't necessary, and overshadowed the two main story arcs.
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Liked ✅
- Suspicions & motive everywhere
- Quick chapters
- Whodunnit murder mystery
Didn't Like ❌
- POV’s
Thoughts 💭
I was recommended this book by a fellow reader to help kick myself out of a reading slump.
The beginning pulled me in without any second thoughts. Right off the start we learn the parents were murdered and spend the rest of the book trying to figure out who did it.
I wasn’t a fan of the anti-climatic ending, I felt like there could have been more consequences. Although the chapters are quick they are full of different POV’s from all the characters; that took some getting used to when I first started reading.
The characters are written in such a unique way that they all have motive and act suspicious. They are always pointing fingers at one another, adding a layer to the mystery. I quickly wanted to learn who had committed the murders, spending every minute deep diving into their intentions. The name was perfectly fitting for this book, the outside perception and reputation does nothing to help what’s happening within the Merton family.
A Lethal Game of Trust by Evelyne Sperring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Liked ✅
- Time jumping
- Mafia ruthlessness
- Unexpected twists
Didn't Like ❌
- Issy
Thoughts 💭
With an enemies to lovers trope, I always find myself expecting that miscommunication will be at the center of it. I was pleasantly surprised when that wasn’t the case with this book.
As the two heirs to their respective Mafia family names, Leonie and Dom have deeply woven ties to each other. Throughout the periodic time jumps to the past from both POV’s, we get to see what caused these childhood best friends to drift and morph into the enemies they are now.
Romance, spice and relationship building is the main focus for the majority of the book. Towards the end we have a lot of our questions answered, and the Mafia business is very much the center of the plot. It was really interesting to see the shift in characteristics between Leonie and Dom from the beginning to the end of the novel. The murders and ruthlessness made this to be a really enticing read, I wish we got more of the HEA at the end.
- Time jumping
- Mafia ruthlessness
- Unexpected twists
Didn't Like ❌
- Issy
Thoughts 💭
With an enemies to lovers trope, I always find myself expecting that miscommunication will be at the center of it. I was pleasantly surprised when that wasn’t the case with this book.
As the two heirs to their respective Mafia family names, Leonie and Dom have deeply woven ties to each other. Throughout the periodic time jumps to the past from both POV’s, we get to see what caused these childhood best friends to drift and morph into the enemies they are now.
Romance, spice and relationship building is the main focus for the majority of the book. Towards the end we have a lot of our questions answered, and the Mafia business is very much the center of the plot. It was really interesting to see the shift in characteristics between Leonie and Dom from the beginning to the end of the novel. The murders and ruthlessness made this to be a really enticing read, I wish we got more of the HEA at the end.
Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
5.0
Liked ✅
- Character Development
- Smut with action
- Plot was super interesting
- Character interactions were fun
- Now Lucy Score Fan!
Didn't Like ❌
- Typical breakup that has to happen in Romance books
- Character Development
- Smut with action
- Plot was super interesting
- Character interactions were fun
- Now Lucy Score Fan!
Didn't Like ❌
- Typical breakup that has to happen in Romance books
My Husband's Daughter by Emma Robinson
4.5
"Sometimes it’s the stuff you don’t plan for that brings you the most happiness.”
Liked ✅
- Character development
- Maternal vs Non-Maternal bonds
- Mother & Step-Mother relationships
- Powerful messages
- Beautiful/emotional read
Didn't Like ❌
- Jack's lack of involvement
Liked ✅
- Character development
- Maternal vs Non-Maternal bonds
- Mother & Step-Mother relationships
- Powerful messages
- Beautiful/emotional read
Didn't Like ❌
- Jack's lack of involvement