exteenawreads's reviews
366 reviews

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.25

My feelings on this kept going up and down throughout reading, and I think it just was just too inconsistent in its delivery for a higher rating for me. I think the concepts and magic were really interesting, but some aspects are poorly explained and others are beaten over your head over and over. I wanted to love the FMC Rune, but I don't think enough was done to build her up into the clever badass we were supposed to believe she was - she spends most of the book showing her lack of skill and poor judgement, despite her reputation being extreme enough to be hunted by the upper echelons of authority. I also don't think there was enough buildup of the romance, and I had a hard time rooting for the enemies-to-lovers when there's an inarguably better choice for her waiting on the sidelines. The ending wasn't too surprising to me, I think the clues left made what had to happen to further the plot a bit too obvious. All that said - the world and base concepts I still find compelling, and I'd be willing to read the next book and hope it answers some questions and gives Rune a chance to actually show her power. 

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.5

As is the way with all romcoms in Tessa Bailey's repertoire, this is mostly okay but really just comes down to "Did I like the collection of tropes enough to giggle and blush and kicky feet, or did it give me the ick?". Unfortunately in this case, it gave me the ick. It doesn't help that I generally don't like the stereotypical male athlete type, but my LEAST favorite trope is probably the inappropriate boss/employee romance. Especially when the female employee has a history of sexual violence and trauma, the LAST thing I'd believe is that she'd be okay being groped by her live-in angry male boss. Nah thanks. ✋🏻

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

3.25

(ARC Review - thank you Netgalley!) 
This book has such a compelling concept - it's sapphic dystopian Hunger Games, but the "tribute" - here called "Lambs" - are hunted by Cyberpunk'ed hot assassin girls - the "Angels". I found myself wanting to like it more, but there were some truly weird choices made in the world building that just didn't land in the way I think the author intended. It made it hard to trust the world or take it seriously, and it made a lot of the world seem half-baked conceptually (I'm sorry, but being a taxidermist when you can barely afford to survive makes absolutely no sense. And hunting the last remaining non-mutated animals to "preserve" them?? Is an absolute waste?? Why not ..idk, farm and breed them?). 
A lot of this patchy world building made the first half of the book a bit of a struggle - I had to basically edit bits in my head to make the story make sense. Especially the moments that lead to our Lamb and Angel coming together, it was so quick/insta-lovey and the reasoning held together with string. One moment they are literally strangling each other, and the next they are like "well I guess we need to work together". I feel like this was missing a lot of the pressure and strain this kind of partnership deserved. 

The last fourth or so of the book, though, nearly redeemed itself for me. The main characters fighting to survive and discovering more secrets to the world finally starts to feel compelling. ...and then the ending happens, which was not at all satisfying or logical. Bummer. 

So overall, a cool concept with some entertainment value, but frustratingly falls flat in its world building. I do love Ava Reid's writing, but this isn't her best work.  

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

You would never guess from the cutesy colorful cover that this is full-on-Omegaverse-knotty-smut, but it sure is. And it was...fine. if you're into that sorta thing.
The plot otherwise was fun mostly - it's fake dating / grumpy sunshine / fated mates, so wants not to like? - but the tension and drama was very generic and I got a little bored near the end.
Mackenzie and Noah are both doctors in a world shared by humans and shifters, but apparently also don't fully understand/believe the basics of their own Omega x Alpha biology, which I found a lil silly. But regardless, it's a silly stupid easy listen good time. 

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

Classic fun Tessa Bailey romcom, though I liked IHOS a little more. Hannah's journey to become her own "leading lady" was relatable, but I found Fox's whole "tragic backstory" to be a bit silly - oh no, poor guy, everyone thinks you're just a hot guy who bangs a lot... because...you...are? I do love a Reformed Rake type though. Decent spice, low stakes, some frustrating miscommunication but mostly handled maturely eventually. 

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-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

3.75

I'd recommend this for someone interested in a YA highschool romance with a STEM focus. I loved our FMC Bel and her journey of discovering her talent and worth as an engineer. I have too much personal trauma from my own college engineering club - where I was the only girl and I dated the pretentious prick team lead - to enjoy the romance though 😅

All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us about Women's Bodies and Why It Matters Today by Elizabeth Comen

challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

The top review of this book is something like "Do you want to be very ANGRY and INFORMED????", and I think that pretty much sums it up. 

This was excellent and should be required reading for anyone in the medical field or anyone making policy about women's bodies. Also, just, all women - so they understand how we've been systematically dealt a horrible hand from the start and how to better advocate for our health so that the next generation hopefully gets better.