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ellelainey's reviews
2401 reviews
Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss! Vol. 1 by Gamoko Tsuyu
4.0
Kota Fukuhara, age 20, is extremely unlucky. Like, ceilings literally fall on his head, unlucky. He just happens to be rescued one day by the college hottie, Shinomaya, who happens to be extremely lucky. Kota figures that if he can just get Shinomaya to stick around long enough, maybe his good lucky will counteract Kota's rotten - often dangerous - bad luck. Only, Shinomaya misunderstands and...they start dating!
The dating twist definitely took me back to [book:My Love Mix-Up!, Vol. 1|57147089] but I love that this one ended up far more honest, much quicker and that left Shinomaya and Kota more time to explore who each other really were, beyond the misconceptions.
I love that we got to see all the frankly surreal stuff that happened to Kota and how the accidental confession came about completely organically and not at all through deliberate manipulation. I loved his inner turmoil, as he started to have feelings for Shinomaya, and even before when he just felt bad about using a friend for nefarious purposes.
Naoya Shinomaya was adorable! He's like a loyal puppy at times, but then he's a bit of a pushy, protective guard dog at others. I loved that their luck often counteracted each other, so that although Kota's bad luck mojo faded when they were together, it never entirely disappeared and Naoya's good luck was only minimally affected.
The dating twist definitely took me back to [book:My Love Mix-Up!, Vol. 1|57147089] but I love that this one ended up far more honest, much quicker and that left Shinomaya and Kota more time to explore who each other really were, beyond the misconceptions.
I love that we got to see all the frankly surreal stuff that happened to Kota and how the accidental confession came about completely organically and not at all through deliberate manipulation. I loved his inner turmoil, as he started to have feelings for Shinomaya, and even before when he just felt bad about using a friend for nefarious purposes.
Naoya Shinomaya was adorable! He's like a loyal puppy at times, but then he's a bit of a pushy, protective guard dog at others. I loved that their luck often counteracted each other, so that although Kota's bad luck mojo faded when they were together, it never entirely disappeared and Naoya's good luck was only minimally affected.
Hate Me, but Let Me Stay Vol. 2 by Hijiki, Hijiki
4.0
This was so cute!
Tsuchiya was such a scared, nervous first-time dad, but he was super cute with baby Minato. I loved that Shizuku only got more feisty as she got older, and Koga more adorable.
I loved seeing Koga defend himself and his family, but I loved it even more when Tsuchiya did. Justice for Koga! Finally!
The bonus story was just like a sprinkle of sugar on top of an already great story.
Tsuchiya was such a scared, nervous first-time dad, but he was super cute with baby Minato. I loved that Shizuku only got more feisty as she got older, and Koga more adorable.
I loved seeing Koga defend himself and his family, but I loved it even more when Tsuchiya did. Justice for Koga! Finally!
The bonus story was just like a sprinkle of sugar on top of an already great story.
Hate Me, but Let Me Stay Volume 01 by Hijiki
4.0
Omega Koga Naoto was attacked in high school by a group of upperclassmen, ending up with an unexpected pregnancy. Despite having been looked down on all his life for being an omega, Koga doesn't blame his daughter for how she came into the world. He's left with a terrifying fear of all alphas, who have only ever mistreated him, berated him for being omega, and tried to hurt him.
So when his mother arranges for Koga to attend a matchmaking event, he's afraid but goes for his daughter's sake. He can't get a job, because he's omega and people think he's unreliable and only going to cause trouble for the alphas in the workplace with his hormones, so he has to do something drastic if he's to give little Shizuku a good life. As she's already been bullied at one school for having an omega mummy – her choice of words, not Koga's – it's understandable why he wants to do anything he can to protect her.
Enter Tsuchiya. Working as a waiter at the event, he walks up to Koga, professes his love and claims that Koga is his fated mate...and Koga runs!
Thus begins the start of a cute but complicated tale of how a terrified omega finds his way to love.
This was such a sweet and lovely story. I loved Koga – emotionally fragile, afraid of himself and alphas and life really – and his precious daughter Shizuku. Despite their hard life, they don't look down on others and Koga actively tries to be as unobtrusive in life as possible, often to his own detriment. I loved his mother, who took such good care of him and Shizuku, and who was so deeply understanding of his situation, even his fear.
I utterly adored Tsuchiya, who is hard working, sweet and loving, caring and protective and all the things that Koga needs. HOWEVER, in this story Koga is already 21 and Tsuchiya is ONLY 17! That is a huge issue for me. Maybe if he'd been 19 or Koga had only been 19 it would have felt like such a big distance, but I did have to take a star off my rating for the fact it made me feel a bit icky.
Unlike a lot of other mangas, especially alpha/omega ones, there was a strong supporting cast here. I loved that both MC's had strong relationships with their mothers, who were both strong women and not only supportive but working women. There was a lot of positive female power here, which I loved.
I would absolutely have given this a 5* if not for the age disparity feeling unbalanced and Tsuchiya being SO young that it didn't feel right.
Delivery Hug Therapy by Toworu Miyata
5.0
Sakuraba - or Kiichi - isn't good with relationships and his only long-lasting friendship just stuttered when his bestie got married. Kiichi can't figure out why he feels so desolate...until he gets drunk one night and ends up innocently letting the part-time bar worker, Nao Kijima stay over. Not only does Nao see how much Kiichi must have loved his friend, but he offers free hug therapy to help him recover.
What begins as a really super-cute, innocent hug therapy eventually evolves into catching feelings for each other. Except, Nao has some issues after being hurt in the past.
There's definite hurt/comfort, bi-awakening and a really sweet, lovely story.
"This whole time I probably wanted someone to give me a hug."
What begins as a really super-cute, innocent hug therapy eventually evolves into catching feelings for each other. Except, Nao has some issues after being hurt in the past.
There's definite hurt/comfort, bi-awakening and a really sweet, lovely story.
"This whole time I probably wanted someone to give me a hug."
Takara's Treasure by Minta Suzumaru
5.0
Taishin - Tai - came to college in search of one person, a boy who consoled and took care of him a year ago. Only, their first meeting doesn't exactly go to plan - Takara rightfully points out how (borderline?) creepy Tai's behaviour is.
Tai is very innocent, a little country naive in the big city. I like how he navigates the city life, including a stalker incident. Takara might not have wanted to get closer, but he took care of him, took control, and reminded Tai that being stalked isn't his fault.
Overall, this was an utterly adorable, double first-time, with two slightly awkward and unusual MC's coming together by coincidence.
Tai is very innocent, a little country naive in the big city. I like how he navigates the city life, including a stalker incident. Takara might not have wanted to get closer, but he took care of him, took control, and reminded Tai that being stalked isn't his fault.
Overall, this was an utterly adorable, double first-time, with two slightly awkward and unusual MC's coming together by coincidence.
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 4 by 945
5.0
Eeek! OMG!
There was so much going on in this volume. And we got another side story to show Beom's POV, which was awesome.
"You've erased everything I had...becoming...the only thing I valued."
What an ending! I can't wait for the next volume, but I wish I'd waited until the series was done so that I could binge it from start to finish.
There was so much going on in this volume. And we got another side story to show Beom's POV, which was awesome.
"You've erased everything I had...becoming...the only thing I valued."
What an ending! I can't wait for the next volume, but I wish I'd waited until the series was done so that I could binge it from start to finish.
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 3 by 945
5.0
We FINALLY find out why Beom is avoiding all those phone calls.
Eui-joon is just precious and he has these great, supportive friends who just want him to be happy.
I loved everything about this volume.
Eui-joon is just precious and he has these great, supportive friends who just want him to be happy.
I loved everything about this volume.
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 2 by 945
5.0
Eui-joon just gets more adorable and I love how he faced the reality of Hyunwoo. I also kind of love his conviction not to give Beom false hope. It's just too adorable.
I LOVED the bonus side story, where we get to see everything from Beom's POV.
I LOVED the bonus side story, where we get to see everything from Beom's POV.
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 1 by 945
5.0
This was so much fun!
Yeo Eui-joon is a college student who had to take some time off college to make money. He works nights at a convenience store that has a suspicious amount of mobsters nearby, and puts up with a lot from the customers just to make ends meet. He not only had to afford living alone, but he has a sick brother whose medical care he needs to pay for.
Eui-joon has an unrequited crush on fellow college student Hyunwoo, who was in a relationship with a girl at the time, so he didn't confess. Then Hyunwoo dated a guy and Eui-joon had hope, except he had to take time off school and didn't see Hyunwoo until...now. Now, Hyunwoo is getting close to him, but when Eui-joon takes the risk of confessing, Hyunwoo admits he's seeing someone. Only, he wants BOTH Eui-joon and his boyfriend, which is something Eui-joon isn't comfortable with - especially as it doesn't mean dating both openly, but the suggestion is that Hyunwoo wants to have his cake and eat it too!
I instantly disliked Hyunwoo - as I suspect I'm supposed to - because the guy is an absolute airhead and selfish. He talks over Eui-joon, doesn't take him seriously or seem interested or to care in whatever he says.
Then in walks Beom Gunwoo - tall, built, HUGE in every way, and a mobster. He takes care of Eui-joon one night, at the convenience store, and it becomes a meet cute that leads to...interesting things. Beom isn't interested in guys...but he soon becomes interested in Eui-joon!
I find Eui-joon to be utterly adorable, the best kind of sunshine and naive innocence. Beom is amazingly protective, the silent and broody type, who speaks with his actions. They make an incredible pair.
My favourite quotes:
"Why weren't you there today?"
"You can call me pretty if you want."
This is 5* of adorable overload with a spicy "one-night stand" trope.
Yeo Eui-joon is a college student who had to take some time off college to make money. He works nights at a convenience store that has a suspicious amount of mobsters nearby, and puts up with a lot from the customers just to make ends meet. He not only had to afford living alone, but he has a sick brother whose medical care he needs to pay for.
Eui-joon has an unrequited crush on fellow college student Hyunwoo, who was in a relationship with a girl at the time, so he didn't confess. Then Hyunwoo dated a guy and Eui-joon had hope, except he had to take time off school and didn't see Hyunwoo until...now. Now, Hyunwoo is getting close to him, but when Eui-joon takes the risk of confessing, Hyunwoo admits he's seeing someone. Only, he wants BOTH Eui-joon and his boyfriend, which is something Eui-joon isn't comfortable with - especially as it doesn't mean dating both openly, but the suggestion is that Hyunwoo wants to have his cake and eat it too!
I instantly disliked Hyunwoo - as I suspect I'm supposed to - because the guy is an absolute airhead and selfish. He talks over Eui-joon, doesn't take him seriously or seem interested or to care in whatever he says.
Then in walks Beom Gunwoo - tall, built, HUGE in every way, and a mobster. He takes care of Eui-joon one night, at the convenience store, and it becomes a meet cute that leads to...interesting things. Beom isn't interested in guys...but he soon becomes interested in Eui-joon!
I find Eui-joon to be utterly adorable, the best kind of sunshine and naive innocence. Beom is amazingly protective, the silent and broody type, who speaks with his actions. They make an incredible pair.
My favourite quotes:
"Why weren't you there today?"
"You can call me pretty if you want."
This is 5* of adorable overload with a spicy "one-night stand" trope.
Cowboy Seeks Husband by Indra Vaughn, Leta Blake
2.0
Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. DNF'd at 10%.
I actually had a feeling that this wasn't going to be a book for me by the end of page one. I don't normally get that feeling, but it has happened once or twice. I felt like the writing wasn't to my taste and that the story felt oddly bland, not able to draw me into the story with any real interest.
I definitely think the story had potential, but it just never went anywhere interesting. Combined with the odd phrasing choices, which I'll go into in a minute, I also felt like the plot itself was illogical and suspended belief.
For a start, both MC's sign up to a new Queer version of the Bachelor reality TV show, both with the intention to earn money and then disappear without any interest in the romance. Now, to start with, both are supposedly in DIRE financial need. I can't even fathom WHY this was their choice of how to get money, when it takes months or auditions, interviews and planning for a TV show to get off the ground and begin filming, then it takes weeks-to-months for the filming to happen and then appear on TV. Most reality stars don't see much financial award until the show is over and it airs, because they get appearance options of talk shows and magazines. Yes, the authors made a per-episode fee, which means they could make $5,000 per episode, but even then, there is a huge emphasis on how badly both the MC's need money NOW.
My other issue with this is that there's a huge emphasis on how Walker desperately needs the money to save his ranch, while Roan desperately needs the money to save his dying mother. Let me repeat that...DYING mother. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have the time to waste for Roan to go on a TV show, when he undoubtedly has other methods of getting money: a loan, a second or third job, or even hitting up a rich ex that he makes a point of mentioning. Those options are FAR quicker methods of getting money than a reality TV show, which was where I had to really question the plot choices made here, to make it necessary for these two MC's to end up on the show.
In reality, I would have believed it MORE if Walker was desperate for money - maybe with a loan or debt due to be called in after six months to a year. If he'd been the only one who needed money, that would have been fine. But the heavy emphasis on how neither of them were taking part in the show for any legitimate, logical reason ruined the concept for me.
Worse, either one or both of the authors contributing to this book had a serious issue with reality shows that meant every time the process was discussed, there was a strong sense of distain and disapproval. Which is fine. That's their opinion, but maybe don't make that the focus on your book if you hate the concept and have such strongly negative views.
Before I'd even finished Chapter 1, I knew I would end up DNF'ing, but I gave it my usual 10% - until I'd seen a bit of each MC - before giving up. Sadly, I hated half the characters I saw and disliked the other half. Walker was very woe-is-me and reluctant to the entire process of the TV show that he agreed to, becoming a bit of a stereotype of the grumpy trope. On the other hand, Roan was a stereotypical sunshine, overly exuberant and he liked to think he was funny (though I didn't find any of his jokes funny).
I absolutely HATED Molly. She was such a huge red-flag, and I don't really understand the comparison of her being as young and attractive as a 17-year-old. If that was supposed to juxtapose how vicious and unnecessarily cruel she was to Walker, it was pointless. It didn't work for me.
I also wasn't overly keen on how Marlon was described. He was a side character who was barely on page within the 10% I read, but the method of describing his appearance was:
"His hat hid most of his dark face but Walker could tell from the white glint of his teeth that he was grinning." 😕 I'm sure there were other ways to say that he was black.
There were info dumps within the first chapter that really put me off, because it felt more like the information was being thrown into the story where it didn't feel natural. It felt like everything was trying to be explained as soon as possible, but it took all the interest out of the story.
As I mentioned before, the phrasing felt off, for example:
"made it out like" - when "made out like" feels more natural
"forcing another roll of his eyes" - just feels clunky and, again, unnatural
"getting ready to begin to start" - way too many ways of saying the same thing; "getting ready to", "begin to" and "start" all mean the same thing and only one is needed, at most "getting ready to start"
"a wealthy cowboy of means" - again, two ways of saying the same thing; "wealthy" and "of means" mean exactly the same thing. It's unnecessary repetition.
Sadly, these phrasing issues are just an example of what is wrong with the book - taking too many words to "tell" us what's going on, without actually showing us much. After 10% I should be invested in at least one character and intrigued by the plot, but neither was true here. I think the biggest problem was the one or neither of the authors felt convinced by their own plot device - the reality TV show.
Knowing I was going to DNF, I read some 1-2 star reviews for spoilers, in the hope of finding out if it got better or not, but they all mentioned the same problems I'd noticed and even added some more. Specifically, the fact that Roan is the ONLY contestant of the 11 on the TV show who is given any real on-page time and attention. I would have found it FAR more interesting if we spent at least half of the book not knowing which of the contestants was due to be the winner. That's the whole point and fun of these kind of shows.
A book that took the most advantage of this concept would be [book:Stable Hand|55648443]. This managed to have a super interesting MC, a cowboy, in a situation he was uncomfortable with, without making him feel whiny and grumpy all the damned time. This book also managed to have the uncertainty of who the MC would end up with, without sacrificing any depth or interest in the other possible MC's. That was what I'd hoped for and expected of this book - one MC's POV, with a half dozen or more potential matches, all of whom were interesting and engaging. Sadly, I didn't get that.
I actually had a feeling that this wasn't going to be a book for me by the end of page one. I don't normally get that feeling, but it has happened once or twice. I felt like the writing wasn't to my taste and that the story felt oddly bland, not able to draw me into the story with any real interest.
I definitely think the story had potential, but it just never went anywhere interesting. Combined with the odd phrasing choices, which I'll go into in a minute, I also felt like the plot itself was illogical and suspended belief.
For a start, both MC's sign up to a new Queer version of the Bachelor reality TV show, both with the intention to earn money and then disappear without any interest in the romance. Now, to start with, both are supposedly in DIRE financial need. I can't even fathom WHY this was their choice of how to get money, when it takes months or auditions, interviews and planning for a TV show to get off the ground and begin filming, then it takes weeks-to-months for the filming to happen and then appear on TV. Most reality stars don't see much financial award until the show is over and it airs, because they get appearance options of talk shows and magazines. Yes, the authors made a per-episode fee, which means they could make $5,000 per episode, but even then, there is a huge emphasis on how badly both the MC's need money NOW.
My other issue with this is that there's a huge emphasis on how Walker desperately needs the money to save his ranch, while Roan desperately needs the money to save his dying mother. Let me repeat that...DYING mother. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have the time to waste for Roan to go on a TV show, when he undoubtedly has other methods of getting money: a loan, a second or third job, or even hitting up a rich ex that he makes a point of mentioning. Those options are FAR quicker methods of getting money than a reality TV show, which was where I had to really question the plot choices made here, to make it necessary for these two MC's to end up on the show.
In reality, I would have believed it MORE if Walker was desperate for money - maybe with a loan or debt due to be called in after six months to a year. If he'd been the only one who needed money, that would have been fine. But the heavy emphasis on how neither of them were taking part in the show for any legitimate, logical reason ruined the concept for me.
Worse, either one or both of the authors contributing to this book had a serious issue with reality shows that meant every time the process was discussed, there was a strong sense of distain and disapproval. Which is fine. That's their opinion, but maybe don't make that the focus on your book if you hate the concept and have such strongly negative views.
Before I'd even finished Chapter 1, I knew I would end up DNF'ing, but I gave it my usual 10% - until I'd seen a bit of each MC - before giving up. Sadly, I hated half the characters I saw and disliked the other half. Walker was very woe-is-me and reluctant to the entire process of the TV show that he agreed to, becoming a bit of a stereotype of the grumpy trope. On the other hand, Roan was a stereotypical sunshine, overly exuberant and he liked to think he was funny (though I didn't find any of his jokes funny).
I absolutely HATED Molly. She was such a huge red-flag, and I don't really understand the comparison of her being as young and attractive as a 17-year-old. If that was supposed to juxtapose how vicious and unnecessarily cruel she was to Walker, it was pointless. It didn't work for me.
I also wasn't overly keen on how Marlon was described. He was a side character who was barely on page within the 10% I read, but the method of describing his appearance was:
"His hat hid most of his dark face but Walker could tell from the white glint of his teeth that he was grinning." 😕 I'm sure there were other ways to say that he was black.
There were info dumps within the first chapter that really put me off, because it felt more like the information was being thrown into the story where it didn't feel natural. It felt like everything was trying to be explained as soon as possible, but it took all the interest out of the story.
As I mentioned before, the phrasing felt off, for example:
"made it out like" - when "made out like" feels more natural
"forcing another roll of his eyes" - just feels clunky and, again, unnatural
"getting ready to begin to start" - way too many ways of saying the same thing; "getting ready to", "begin to" and "start" all mean the same thing and only one is needed, at most "getting ready to start"
"a wealthy cowboy of means" - again, two ways of saying the same thing; "wealthy" and "of means" mean exactly the same thing. It's unnecessary repetition.
Sadly, these phrasing issues are just an example of what is wrong with the book - taking too many words to "tell" us what's going on, without actually showing us much. After 10% I should be invested in at least one character and intrigued by the plot, but neither was true here. I think the biggest problem was the one or neither of the authors felt convinced by their own plot device - the reality TV show.
Knowing I was going to DNF, I read some 1-2 star reviews for spoilers, in the hope of finding out if it got better or not, but they all mentioned the same problems I'd noticed and even added some more. Specifically, the fact that Roan is the ONLY contestant of the 11 on the TV show who is given any real on-page time and attention. I would have found it FAR more interesting if we spent at least half of the book not knowing which of the contestants was due to be the winner. That's the whole point and fun of these kind of shows.
A book that took the most advantage of this concept would be [book:Stable Hand|55648443]. This managed to have a super interesting MC, a cowboy, in a situation he was uncomfortable with, without making him feel whiny and grumpy all the damned time. This book also managed to have the uncertainty of who the MC would end up with, without sacrificing any depth or interest in the other possible MC's. That was what I'd hoped for and expected of this book - one MC's POV, with a half dozen or more potential matches, all of whom were interesting and engaging. Sadly, I didn't get that.