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71 reviews
White Desert Bloom by Maddi Ferrara
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I wanted to love this book. The cool semi-modern dystopian setting, mysterious enemies, and even the cover drew me in. However, I could not find myself attached to the characters or the world. I gave the book a fair shot, but at 100 pages/25% in, I find myself avoiding my eReader just so I don’t look at it. If a book cannot capture my attention at 100 pages of investment, I don’t want to spend more time trying to continue.
The author clearly knows what they want their world to be like and the overarching character tropes they want to include. I think with further guidance, more development, and just more time, the book could be amazing. Specifically what I found hard to attach to was the main character’s grief for her brother.He dies like 5 pages in. The reader does not care about him. We know nothing about him! The FMC needs more motivation than just his death, otherwise readers will not be able to feel with her.
I wanted to love this book. The cool semi-modern dystopian setting, mysterious enemies, and even the cover drew me in. However, I could not find myself attached to the characters or the world. I gave the book a fair shot, but at 100 pages/25% in, I find myself avoiding my eReader just so I don’t look at it. If a book cannot capture my attention at 100 pages of investment, I don’t want to spend more time trying to continue.
The author clearly knows what they want their world to be like and the overarching character tropes they want to include. I think with further guidance, more development, and just more time, the book could be amazing. Specifically what I found hard to attach to was the main character’s grief for her brother.
Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. Sticking your foot in your mouth on national television to the extreme that Brynn does in the first few pages is enough to give secondhand anxiety. I was eagerly waiting for what would come next!
Sebastion, who I was curious about from his first chapter, took me a bit longer to want to know. But as the banter between him and Brynn grew from containing animosity to something like friendship, I started to fall for him as well.
A lovely story with a cute main couple, I easily rate this book a 4.5/5. I only wish the author had taken more time to give us more history on Sebastian! There is a really touching scene towards the end of the book where we get a look at the intense past he carries with him. I would have enjoyed a deeper dive.
I recommend this book to romance readers who enjoy the burn more than the payoff.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. Sticking your foot in your mouth on national television to the extreme that Brynn does in the first few pages is enough to give secondhand anxiety. I was eagerly waiting for what would come next!
Sebastion, who I was curious about from his first chapter, took me a bit longer to want to know. But as the banter between him and Brynn grew from containing animosity to something like friendship, I started to fall for him as well.
A lovely story with a cute main couple, I easily rate this book a 4.5/5. I only wish the author had taken more time to give us more history on Sebastian! There is a really touching scene towards the end of the book where we get a look at the intense past he carries with him. I would have enjoyed a deeper dive.
I recommend this book to romance readers who enjoy the burn more than the payoff.
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cleat Cute is probably my favorite romance read of the year so far! Our two female leads are so adorable and have such big personalities in different ways. I have loved watching Pheobe and Grace fall in love from page 1 and their chemistry is insane. By far, my favorite part of this book was seeing characters speak about ADHD and autism diagnoses. Slight spoiler but won’t ruin your read:as a reader with ADHD (and potentially autism haha)Pheobe’s neurodivergency was plainly obvious in a refreshing way. Same with Grace’s! Reading the two of them fall in love with each other’s quirks made this book all the more endearing.
I rate this book a 4.5/5 only because I would have loved to see more development on the side characters! Perhaps the author is setting up for other books in the same universe, but I especially would love to see more about the other characters as they relate to the various soccer teams.
Cleat Cute is probably my favorite romance read of the year so far! Our two female leads are so adorable and have such big personalities in different ways. I have loved watching Pheobe and Grace fall in love from page 1 and their chemistry is insane. By far, my favorite part of this book was seeing characters speak about ADHD and autism diagnoses. Slight spoiler but won’t ruin your read:
I rate this book a 4.5/5 only because I would have loved to see more development on the side characters! Perhaps the author is setting up for other books in the same universe, but I especially would love to see more about the other characters as they relate to the various soccer teams.
Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.25
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first 30% of this book is nearly pure exposition and very slow-paced. We are introduced to a small cast of characters with some quirks, but overall could be a realistic friend group. I feel as though the summary for this book paints a picture of mystery and intrigue, but the plot is fairly realistic. Men lie to their partners, and their partners find out. This happens in fiction and real life regularly.
The most important part in this book to me is that no female character wants to hurt another female character. There is no girl on girl violence, only a deep understanding that women have a bond that runs deeper than men can often grasp.
I would recommend this book to readers who have felt lied to by close relations and wish they had closure.
The first 30% of this book is nearly pure exposition and very slow-paced. We are introduced to a small cast of characters with some quirks, but overall could be a realistic friend group. I feel as though the summary for this book paints a picture of mystery and intrigue, but the plot is fairly realistic. Men lie to their partners, and their partners find out. This happens in fiction and real life regularly.
The most important part in this book to me is that no female character wants to hurt another female character. There is no girl on girl violence, only a deep understanding that women have a bond that runs deeper than men can often grasp.
I would recommend this book to readers who have felt lied to by close relations and wish they had closure.
The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Elle Kennedy and it definitely won’t be my last. I will admit that at first I found the main characters difficult to enjoy despite being of similar age. There was one comment about a “hard life” in St Simons Island in Georgia, one of the wealthiest places to live in the Southeast, that really threw me off. But after that, the characters pretty quickly became relatable and loveable.
I very much enjoyed reading about Cassie and Tate falling in love while also maturing in their emotions and families. Cassie’s revelations about her family was very validating on a personal level as a reader.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a vanilla short and easy romance read. You will love these characters but it won’t break your heart to say goodbye at the end.
This was my first book by Elle Kennedy and it definitely won’t be my last. I will admit that at first I found the main characters difficult to enjoy despite being of similar age. There was one comment about a “hard life” in St Simons Island in Georgia, one of the wealthiest places to live in the Southeast, that really threw me off. But after that, the characters pretty quickly became relatable and loveable.
I very much enjoyed reading about Cassie and Tate falling in love while also maturing in their emotions and families. Cassie’s revelations about her family was very validating on a personal level as a reader.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a vanilla short and easy romance read. You will love these characters but it won’t break your heart to say goodbye at the end.