ellieschaben's reviews
623 reviews

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

I thought the premise of this book sounded like straight trash, and I was proven SO WRONG.

I usually hate an accidental pregnancy. I listened to the audiobook and immediately was charmed by Eve, the FMC. Audiobook was phenomenally well done with the perfect inner thoughts of Eve. As someone that hopes to be pregnant one day (and has a nephew on the way), this book made me so excited. Every plan is the right plan. 

Filthy Rich Vampire by Geneva Lee

tense medium-paced

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

3.25

This was trashy reality tv and I love trashy reality tv so you know I will be continuing after that cliffhanger

Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was some queer joy. No drama, just working through some familial trauma, and doing it with the girl you’ve loved your whole life and your family. I loved Clara’s queer awakening - I thought it was funny and sweet. This was pure holiday spirit!

Also Evan and Clara are horny af 

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

A slow start, and quite dark, but I really did enjoy it by the end! Leaves perfectly off with you wanting the next book, and you know I will be there. Wren was a very likeable MC, and Jeremy is the perfect person to hate. I do wish you got more with the relationships and the effect this trauma has had on them.

Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

This would’ve been 5 stars if the baby hadn’t taken the photos. 

I literally listened to this ALL DAY today. It was so action filled - I loved it. Unfortunately, it was a bit predictable towards the end and there is a HIGHLY unrealistic part that just really changed my feelings. 

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

This YA romance was adorable! Wonderful Christmas vibes, perfect amount of YA drama, and such good feelings. Bit late on timing - should’ve read before Christmas, but that’s alright.

I wanted to kill Trey when he believed his gf when it was so obvious she was the villain! Reminder that all boys are the worst!!

Where the Heart Is by Jenni Simonis, Jenni Simonis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.

Thank you to Jenni Simonis for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

This is DNF for me. I like friends to lovers, I like small town, I like MH representation, but none of this was working for me this time. I felt like the characters were one dimensional, and so many people around the FMC die and she’s just sad. And the MAIN reason the two MCs aren’t with each other is miscommunication, which is my least favorite trope. The chapters felt choppy, I didn’t like the journal entries. Overall, just not the book for me!

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.25

I did not watch all of Gilmore Girls, but listening to Kelly makes me want to. She has led a fascinating life that made me tear up multiple times. Big rec to the Gilmore Girls fanatics but also the ones that resonated with Emily Gilmore at least once!

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh this was fabulous. It started off slow, but I was interested and my god, it got so good. Glad I kept with it and fell in love with these TRUE enemies to lovers. Definitely will be reading the next and sad it took me so long to get to this! The audiobook of this was a GEM.

A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

Thanks to Harper Voyager and AK Mulford for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m thoroughly obsessed with this series! Navin and Sadie’s story is so good, and the magic system that is revealed in this book is NEXT LEVEL. The ending action scene got me good (and bad, if you know what I mean), but that last line in the book has got me REELING for book 3. Also Navin and Sadie are insatiable for this entire book and I really think they deserve that for all they go through.