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domesticatedbrat's reviews
146 reviews
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
3.0
I really truly wanted to give this book 5 stars. The foreground is promising. The premise, the characters, even the early plot— it’s all high quality. The author uses familiar tropes, themes, and concepts but slips in enough alternative elements that it maintains your attention and your not left feeling you’ve read this 10 times before cloaked in various pastel cartoon covers.
FMC is a ginger, Jewish woman working in media living with mental illness & mommy-issues. MMC is a guarded but polite plus-sized sports media personality (minus the toxic masculinity) & young father. While the handling of the MMC’s body size is fumbling, I’m thankful it is included. Speaking of size, I appreciate that he does not have an ‘unprecedented’ monster penis like many other male leads in the genre. Nearly all of the characters are well developed & defined and, to top it off, they’re all nuanced! The early plot points are intriguing. The numerous awkward & intimate situations cultivate tension that gives way to heartwarming moments that will MELT you. This is a romcom essential. It starts off so, so well.
As someone with bipolar disorder, I appreciated the exploration of unlearning generational patterns of mental illness, striving not to cower in the shadows of those who made you, both through nature and nurture. This is executed well, for the most part, especially within the bounds of her relationship with her mother. However, I think her conclusions of how it impacts her relationship & future with Russell leave a lot to be desired. In fact, this misstep is the downfall of the whole story, for me.
This book was (nearly) ruined in the final conflict. The whole situation was jarring and completely random, in my mind. It invalidated a lot of the character building that had been done and it felt rushed and sloppy. The behavior of the main characters, especially Ari, in these moments is bizarre and inconsistent. Even the resolution follows similar patterns of feeling undeveloped and lazy. The conclusion was sweet but I still had a bitter taste in my mouth from the whole affair. It may have taken an extra 50-100 pages and some extensive rewriting to execute this final conflict well but it would’ve been worth it— because the book would’ve been absolutely a must-read. However, I’m left feeling pretty majorly unsatisfied and reluctant to recommend the book knowing it’ll likely leave much to be desired for others as well.
FMC is a ginger, Jewish woman working in media living with mental illness & mommy-issues. MMC is a guarded but polite plus-sized sports media personality (minus the toxic masculinity) & young father. While the handling of the MMC’s body size is fumbling, I’m thankful it is included. Speaking of size, I appreciate that he does not have an ‘unprecedented’ monster penis like many other male leads in the genre. Nearly all of the characters are well developed & defined and, to top it off, they’re all nuanced! The early plot points are intriguing. The numerous awkward & intimate situations cultivate tension that gives way to heartwarming moments that will MELT you. This is a romcom essential. It starts off so, so well.
As someone with bipolar disorder, I appreciated the exploration of unlearning generational patterns of mental illness, striving not to cower in the shadows of those who made you, both through nature and nurture. This is executed well, for the most part, especially within the bounds of her relationship with her mother. However, I think her conclusions of how it impacts her relationship & future with Russell leave a lot to be desired. In fact, this misstep is the downfall of the whole story, for me.
This book was (nearly) ruined in the final conflict. The whole situation was jarring and completely random, in my mind. It invalidated a lot of the character building that had been done and it felt rushed and sloppy. The behavior of the main characters, especially Ari, in these moments is bizarre and inconsistent. Even the resolution follows similar patterns of feeling undeveloped and lazy. The conclusion was sweet but I still had a bitter taste in my mouth from the whole affair. It may have taken an extra 50-100 pages and some extensive rewriting to execute this final conflict well but it would’ve been worth it— because the book would’ve been absolutely a must-read. However, I’m left feeling pretty majorly unsatisfied and reluctant to recommend the book knowing it’ll likely leave much to be desired for others as well.
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
5.0
Things I learned from Penelope Douglas’ Birthday Girl.
1. Backsplash is fucking hot.
2. Taco pizzas are, apparently, a real thing and not just a sixth grader’s wet dream
3. Men can be anything, even secretaries.
I don’t think I will ever be as giddy as I was when “Father Figure” started playing on her phone when he put in his number. I may have blacked out for a few minutes. My husband came and checked on me because he couldn’t tell if I was laughing or screaming for help. This book is unbearably funny. I was giggling and squirming about once every five minutes. It may be a taboo romance but it isn’t heavy. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read.
One of the major feats of this story is the characters. The precise details woven into each are endearing and memorable. The plot was believable but not predictable. There were so many things, especially about Pike, that were hot but also uncomfortable and that’s just the whole vibe, right? Alongside the characters, you’re learning how to engage with the what you may be intrigued by and not condemn it but be curious about it. When they freeze/repress/ignore, that’s when things fall apart. They have to acknowledge and explore what they really want, but at the same time not recklessly chase their whims.
One of my favorite elements of this book is the way their relationship develops. The build up is excruciating; half the time you’re panting along with them. The complexity of their relationship at each phase of development— it’s both wholesome & problematic in a way that has you musing until the end.
This is my first read from Penelope Douglas and I am eager to dive in to more. Her style is enchanting and I’m thankful for every page.
1. Backsplash is fucking hot.
2. Taco pizzas are, apparently, a real thing and not just a sixth grader’s wet dream
3. Men can be anything, even secretaries.
I don’t think I will ever be as giddy as I was when “Father Figure” started playing on her phone when he put in his number. I may have blacked out for a few minutes. My husband came and checked on me because he couldn’t tell if I was laughing or screaming for help. This book is unbearably funny. I was giggling and squirming about once every five minutes. It may be a taboo romance but it isn’t heavy. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read.
One of the major feats of this story is the characters. The precise details woven into each are endearing and memorable. The plot was believable but not predictable. There were so many things, especially about Pike, that were hot but also uncomfortable and that’s just the whole vibe, right? Alongside the characters, you’re learning how to engage with the what you may be intrigued by and not condemn it but be curious about it. When they freeze/repress/ignore, that’s when things fall apart. They have to acknowledge and explore what they really want, but at the same time not recklessly chase their whims.
One of my favorite elements of this book is the way their relationship develops. The build up is excruciating; half the time you’re panting along with them. The complexity of their relationship at each phase of development— it’s both wholesome & problematic in a way that has you musing until the end.
This is my first read from Penelope Douglas and I am eager to dive in to more. Her style is enchanting and I’m thankful for every page.
Wretched by Emily McIntire
I will say, I enjoyed Eveline. While her archetype has been thoroughly explored in the romance world as of late, this iteration of it is nuanced and fresh. The one-liners in her internal monologue are definitely the best writing this book has to offer. “It’s hard to find someone I can tolerate long enough to get me off” & “he doesn’t have much but he does have the fucking audacity” being right at the top. Nick, on the other hand, is flat but has a supernaturally effective penis, I guess, so that’s something. I have absolutely no idea why anyone finds this MMC intriguing. I hear he’s good in bed (or on pool table) but he’s pretty thoroughly a letdown in every other area of his life. He’s a loser with a gun. The book would have been better exclusively from Eveline’s perspective. Seeing inside his head didn’t add much of anything. All of the other characters are little more than cardboard, flavorless and lacking in dimension. Their motivations are shallow and it’s almost as if it’s assumed we will take for granted their attachments. All of this lackluster interpersonal development means that, in the end, I’m not rooting for them: I’m rooting for her.
The plot is sloppy, unsurprising, and uninteresting. Even the HEA, if we’re calling it that, left me shrugging. This is unlike the others in the Never After series. I am super disappointed. It was just fine. Outside of Eveline, Wretched doesn’t seem very thoughtful or well-developed. There isn’t much going for it. I’ll definitely keep reading the series to see if we get back to the good stuff but for now I’m left starving for more.
2.0
I will say, I enjoyed Eveline. While her archetype has been thoroughly explored in the romance world as of late, this iteration of it is nuanced and fresh. The one-liners in her internal monologue are definitely the best writing this book has to offer. “It’s hard to find someone I can tolerate long enough to get me off” & “he doesn’t have much but he does have the fucking audacity” being right at the top. Nick, on the other hand, is flat but has a supernaturally effective penis, I guess, so that’s something. I have absolutely no idea why anyone finds this MMC intriguing. I hear he’s good in bed (or on pool table) but he’s pretty thoroughly a letdown in every other area of his life. He’s a loser with a gun. The book would have been better exclusively from Eveline’s perspective. Seeing inside his head didn’t add much of anything. All of the other characters are little more than cardboard, flavorless and lacking in dimension. Their motivations are shallow and it’s almost as if it’s assumed we will take for granted their attachments. All of this lackluster interpersonal development means that, in the end, I’m not rooting for them: I’m rooting for her.
The plot is sloppy, unsurprising, and uninteresting. Even the HEA, if we’re calling it that, left me shrugging. This is unlike the others in the Never After series. I am super disappointed. It was just fine. Outside of Eveline, Wretched doesn’t seem very thoughtful or well-developed. There isn’t much going for it. I’ll definitely keep reading the series to see if we get back to the good stuff but for now I’m left starving for more.
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
3.0
I think it’s best if you head into this book with clear expectations. If you’re expecting an epic tale, you will be disappointed. This is a 200 page epilogue. That’s what it wants to be. Does it seem a little self indulgent to write a 200+ page epilogue? Sure! Do we still gobble it up like ravenous animals, thankful for whatever scraps our lady SJM will give us? Absolutely! It’s not poorly written, by any means, but it isn’t ambitious either. It’s meant to be a comfortable little snack. She is holding our hand and building a bridge from one love story into another. On balance, I think we can all agree it was absolutely the right choice to not jump from ACOWAR with an extended epilogue to ACOSF with some kind of elaborate prologue. We needed to take a moment on a park bench and watch the sunset and sigh a few times. That’s what’s here.
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
5.0
This book makes me want to squeal and jump and twirl in circles.
Anthony Bridgerton is irresistible & insufferable in all the right ways. Before you begin, you must know that he is quite unlike many of the pseudo-feminist cinnamon rolls in contemporary romance novels. These men can also be desirable, of course, but he is not like them and unapologetically so. He occasionally says things that are blatantly misogynistic & insulting to women. He honors women in some ways, but dishonors them in others. As a dark romance reader, his behavior is so hilariously mild that I wouldn’t normally mind or mention it but I see a lot of folks here complaining so it’s worth saying. If you require that the men in romance novels be “enlightened”, this book is not for you.
Kate is everything I want her to be. She’s not so obviously diamond. She’s subtle. She’s genuinely loving. She’s clever & humble but not in an obnoxiously self deprecating way. She is simply practical and I love her for it. I was rooting for her from the minute we met her.
Julia Quinn is spectacular & hilarious. I want to devour this series and I already know it will be my go-to comfort reading list for years to come.
I’m a little miffed that they had the audacity to make so many changes for Bridgerton Season 2. I’m not the kind of person who loudly proclaims the book is always better than the movie, HOWEVER, in contrast to this story the TV series is insulting. They turn Anthony into a nonsensical buffoon whose motivations are completely puzzling. They turn Kate into a mocking caricature who is completely self obsessed. They completely rework their love story until it’s essentially unrecognizable. It’s a big yikes from me. All that to say, if you did not like Bridgerton season 2 and wonder if that will transfer to the book— it’s very possible you will love it just as much as I do and I think you should give it a shot.
Anthony Bridgerton is irresistible & insufferable in all the right ways. Before you begin, you must know that he is quite unlike many of the pseudo-feminist cinnamon rolls in contemporary romance novels. These men can also be desirable, of course, but he is not like them and unapologetically so. He occasionally says things that are blatantly misogynistic & insulting to women. He honors women in some ways, but dishonors them in others. As a dark romance reader, his behavior is so hilariously mild that I wouldn’t normally mind or mention it but I see a lot of folks here complaining so it’s worth saying. If you require that the men in romance novels be “enlightened”, this book is not for you.
Kate is everything I want her to be. She’s not so obviously diamond. She’s subtle. She’s genuinely loving. She’s clever & humble but not in an obnoxiously self deprecating way. She is simply practical and I love her for it. I was rooting for her from the minute we met her.
Julia Quinn is spectacular & hilarious. I want to devour this series and I already know it will be my go-to comfort reading list for years to come.
I’m a little miffed that they had the audacity to make so many changes for Bridgerton Season 2. I’m not the kind of person who loudly proclaims the book is always better than the movie, HOWEVER, in contrast to this story the TV series is insulting. They turn Anthony into a nonsensical buffoon whose motivations are completely puzzling. They turn Kate into a mocking caricature who is completely self obsessed. They completely rework their love story until it’s essentially unrecognizable. It’s a big yikes from me. All that to say, if you did not like Bridgerton season 2 and wonder if that will transfer to the book— it’s very possible you will love it just as much as I do and I think you should give it a shot.