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fangirljeanne's reviews
1174 reviews
Dirty Little Secret by Kendall Ryan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
DNF
I enjoyed the writing and characters, but the anti-sex work slurs and sentiment is just so distracting. It’s so hypocritical considering the main characters are actively in sex work. But of course the story perpetuates misinformation about sex work that’s based more in classism and misogyny that actual fact. That’s a huge pet peeve of mine. Condemning sex work in a book about sex workers, that pins it’s entire “sexy scenario” on the titillating thrill of being a sex worker while looking down on sex work and sex workers.
I enjoyed the writing and characters, but the anti-sex work slurs and sentiment is just so distracting. It’s so hypocritical considering the main characters are actively in sex work. But of course the story perpetuates misinformation about sex work that’s based more in classism and misogyny that actual fact. That’s a huge pet peeve of mine. Condemning sex work in a book about sex workers, that pins it’s entire “sexy scenario” on the titillating thrill of being a sex worker while looking down on sex work and sex workers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Classism
How to Date Your Dragon by Molly Harper
Did not finish book. Stopped at 80%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 80%.
DNF
I was really enjoying this book, despite the dragon shifter love interest being a cop (he felt more like a community protector than a tool of the state) then it had to go and make the shifters fucking Confederates. One of the calls the Civil War “The war of Northern aggression.” Seriously? You’d think that people who had to live in secret, under the thumb of powerful governing body that never had a say in creating wouldn’t side with enslavers.
So disappointing.
I was really enjoying this book, despite the dragon shifter love interest being a cop (he felt more like a community protector than a tool of the state) then it had to go and make the shifters fucking Confederates. One of the calls the Civil War “The war of Northern aggression.” Seriously? You’d think that people who had to live in secret, under the thumb of powerful governing body that never had a say in creating wouldn’t side with enslavers.
So disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Vomit, Xenophobia, Classism, Death, Gore, Murder, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Galatea by Madeline Miller
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Audio Arc from LibroFM
TW: Medical abuse, intimate partner abuse, rape, sexual abuse
This was gorgeous and devastating. One of the things I love about Miller’s work is how in grounding mythology in a pragmatic reality the subtext becomes text. The brutal reality of being a woman literally created by a man resonates deeply and reflects the harrowing reality of women’s relationships with men.
Ruth Wilson’s narration was (as always) beautifully nuanced, breathing life into Galatea.
TW: Medical abuse, intimate partner abuse, rape, sexual abuse
This was gorgeous and devastating. One of the things I love about Miller’s work is how in grounding mythology in a pragmatic reality the subtext becomes text. The brutal reality of being a woman literally created by a man resonates deeply and reflects the harrowing reality of women’s relationships with men.
Ruth Wilson’s narration was (as always) beautifully nuanced, breathing life into Galatea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Drug use, Incest, Violence, Fatphobia, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
DNF
This feels undercooked, like a first draft in need heavy developmental editing. The set up has so much potential and the campy tone is unique, and something I’ve wanted to see more of in Romance Fantasy. But sadly the execution failed to deliver on all the promises the premise and tone made.
Here’s the thing about campy takes on fantasy settings (and camp in general), you have to know the rules of the genre before you break them into rainbow confetti. The world building in this story is practically nonexistent. It’s eluded to as if the reader is supposed to know, which is fine in a fan fiction or a derivative work that’s clearly aping on existing tent poles of a genre, but the little we see of this world more closely resembles a contemporary Billionaire Boss Romance than a fantasy world. Which wouldn’t be a problem if it were to fully commit to being an Urban Fantasy or went full throttle in to parody, but it doesn’t really commit to anything. There are elements of High fantasy and even fairy tale retellings, along side mundane contemporary language and social behavior.
It utilizes genre conventions from YA the inept clumsy girl who’s the sole breadwinner of her family with only one (kind of close) female friend. The only other woman with a name is a gorgeous mean girl bully who seems to be jealous of the heroine.
Fairytale/folklore (anime-esque) elements like a sentient animal sidekick who communicates via one word signs. *cue the Ranma flashbacks*
Fantasy elements like magical powers that aren’t really explain. Magical creatures like orcs, castles and mysteries.
Then of course the contemporary employee/boss office grumpy/sunshine RomCom straight of a billionaire Romance of the 2010’s.
All these disparate elements could work together to create something unique and fun, but they failed to coalesce into something that could stand on its own. Instead I felt like a bunch of ideas (arguably funny and novel ones that I’d love to see better executed) thrown at a canvas with little rhyme or reason, beyond filling pages.
This feels much more like a gimmick than an actual book.
This feels undercooked, like a first draft in need heavy developmental editing. The set up has so much potential and the campy tone is unique, and something I’ve wanted to see more of in Romance Fantasy. But sadly the execution failed to deliver on all the promises the premise and tone made.
Here’s the thing about campy takes on fantasy settings (and camp in general), you have to know the rules of the genre before you break them into rainbow confetti. The world building in this story is practically nonexistent. It’s eluded to as if the reader is supposed to know, which is fine in a fan fiction or a derivative work that’s clearly aping on existing tent poles of a genre, but the little we see of this world more closely resembles a contemporary Billionaire Boss Romance than a fantasy world. Which wouldn’t be a problem if it were to fully commit to being an Urban Fantasy or went full throttle in to parody, but it doesn’t really commit to anything. There are elements of High fantasy and even fairy tale retellings, along side mundane contemporary language and social behavior.
It utilizes genre conventions from YA the inept clumsy girl who’s the sole breadwinner of her family with only one (kind of close) female friend. The only other woman with a name is a gorgeous mean girl bully who seems to be jealous of the heroine.
Fairytale/folklore (anime-esque) elements like a sentient animal sidekick who communicates via one word signs. *cue the Ranma flashbacks*
Fantasy elements like magical powers that aren’t really explain. Magical creatures like orcs, castles and mysteries.
Then of course the contemporary employee/boss office grumpy/sunshine RomCom straight of a billionaire Romance of the 2010’s.
All these disparate elements could work together to create something unique and fun, but they failed to coalesce into something that could stand on its own. Instead I felt like a bunch of ideas (arguably funny and novel ones that I’d love to see better executed) thrown at a canvas with little rhyme or reason, beyond filling pages.
This feels much more like a gimmick than an actual book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Lords of Pain by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
DNF
The TW says dub-con, but it’s right up against the line. To me it read as full on rape and I couldn’t read further. Otherwise I like the writing. May try one of the other series by these writers.
The TW says dub-con, but it’s right up against the line. To me it read as full on rape and I couldn’t read further. Otherwise I like the writing. May try one of the other series by these writers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Bullying
The Last Final Girl by Stephen Graham Jones
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
The Art of Scandal by Regina Black
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Audio Arc from LibroFM
TW: Cheating, Racism, classism, sexism, panic attack/disorders, cancer
TW: Cheating, Racism, classism, sexism, panic attack/disorders, cancer
We have so many coming of age stories, perpetuating the misconception that we cease to develop as a person once we reach an arbitrary age. Adulthood isn’t so much a destination as an era in our lives. One of many we will change us in social and psychological as well as physical ways. This is a truth anyone over the age of 25 can confirm.
Which makes the fact that so many of us are pressured either socially or economically to make huge decisions about our lives and relationships at such a young age, often only just as we are becoming “adults.” It’s natural that living in those lives, relationships, and careers for decades would wreak change upon our younger selves in many unforeseen ways.
People in their 30’s and 40’s rarely resemble who they were when they was 18 or 20.
Despite their age difference Rachel and Nathan find themselves similarly dissatisfied and lost in the lives shaped by choices they made when they were young. Meeting each other has caused them both to question who they are and could be if they take chances now they weren’t able or were too afraid to take when they were younger.
A couple’s chemistry is always what makes or breaks a romance for me. These two are amazing together. Not just sexy, but they genuinely connect. Their vulnerability with each other is a big key to what makes their romance believable.
While this book is a Romance that spend lot of time on the relationship, it spends as much of not more time on Rachel’s journey toward self discovery and growth. She’s a wonderful example of the wider range of feminine experiences we miss out on when so many Romances focus only on women in their teens and 20s. Women do not stop deserving love and sex after they turn 25. People can fall in love more than once in their life, especially as they grow older, change, and want different things in life.
The book also explores the subtle racial politics that happen within interracial relationships, especially when one of the partners is a rich white man. This story pulls all the nastiest forms of micro aggressions women of color (especially Black women) deal with on a daily basis even within their own homes and family.
While Nathan is Latino he has to come to terms with his own privilege and prejudices in order to grow into a man worthy of Rachel’s trust and love. But most importantly Rachel has to learn and grow into some one brave enough to be safe for and love herself.
This isn’t always an easy read (check the TW), but it was so worthy it. Love this this always is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, and Cancer
Syndicate of Sins by Marie Maravilla
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
DNF
CW: misogyny, sexist slurs, ableism, misrepresentation of mental illness.
This was a fun violent romp, and enjoyed the dark humor. But the misogyny was too distracting for me. It suffers from the “not like other girl syndrome.” All the other women in the story are antagonistic or sexist stereotypes. I don’t mind the FMC being competent and aggressive, that’s what drew me to the story. But shit talking other women who are poorly written punching bags irritates me and alienates me from the FMC.
Too bad. I like the polyamorous relationship dynamic and an FMC be as violent as the men.
CW: misogyny, sexist slurs, ableism, misrepresentation of mental illness.
This was a fun violent romp, and enjoyed the dark humor. But the misogyny was too distracting for me. It suffers from the “not like other girl syndrome.” All the other women in the story are antagonistic or sexist stereotypes. I don’t mind the FMC being competent and aggressive, that’s what drew me to the story. But shit talking other women who are poorly written punching bags irritates me and alienates me from the FMC.
Too bad. I like the polyamorous relationship dynamic and an FMC be as violent as the men.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Ableism, Confinement, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Alcohol, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual content, Vomit, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Torture
Dirty Player by Mira Lyn Kelly
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Cursing
Moderate: Pregnancy
Complicated Hearts by Ashley Jade
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
DNF
Huge trigger warning for sexual assault/rape that is not addressed as either and perpetuated by a gay boy. Entangling the sexual abuse with blossoming queer desires is disgusting and wholly unnecessary to the plot. Adding in the use of anti-gay slurs in a way that cast them as “fighting back” and the antagonist is a closet gay boy (they’re all teenagers when this occurs) is especially egregious imo.
We should be able to tell queer stories without perpetuating anti-gay propaganda about gay men being predators.
Huge trigger warning for sexual assault/rape that is not addressed as either and perpetuated by a gay boy. Entangling the sexual abuse with blossoming queer desires is disgusting and wholly unnecessary to the plot. Adding in the use of anti-gay slurs in a way that cast them as “fighting back” and the antagonist is a closet gay boy (they’re all teenagers when this occurs) is especially egregious imo.
We should be able to tell queer stories without perpetuating anti-gay propaganda about gay men being predators.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Rape, Sexual harassment, Classism, Biphobia, Bullying, and Sexual content