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garbage_mcsmutly's Reviews (1.74k)
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I'm enjoying this series. It's cool getting to see more facets of the Winstons and the other characters. I like how the timeline of this story overlapped with the previous book.
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators. The male narrator is a repeat for the MMCs in this series.
🌶️ 4/5 A handful of explicit scenes, they were decently done. Not particularly out there or anything, kinda vanilla, but still a good time.
🏳️🌈✊ The FMC has OCD. This is central to her character as it's pretty severe and she is working hard to control her actions/compulsions. I think the author did a really good job of showing what life with OCD can be like and still respecting the FMC as a full person with many different sides to her, who is capable and deserving of loving and being loved.
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators. The male narrator is a repeat for the MMCs in this series.
🌶️ 4/5 A handful of explicit scenes, they were decently done. Not particularly out there or anything, kinda vanilla, but still a good time.
🏳️🌈✊ The FMC has OCD. This is central to her character as it's pretty severe and she is working hard to control her actions/compulsions. I think the author did a really good job of showing what life with OCD can be like and still respecting the FMC as a full person with many different sides to her, who is capable and deserving of loving and being loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I always like Alexis Hall's books and this was no exception. This is book 2 in a series and it could serve as a standalone but you understand a bunch of things in context better by reading book 1 first. I really liked the voice of this book, and the narrator character was delightful
POV: Sometimes 3rd person observation/narration, sometimes 1st person meta commentary, but still supposedly all coming from one character.
🌶️ 1.5/5 Certain intimacies are referenced as having happened but it's all essentially closed door.
🏳️🌈✊ Many of the characters in this book were queer and/or Black, it was great. Our MCs are gay and Black. The one MC's family, who feature quite a bit in the story, are a Black father and white mother, plus his two sisters. There is a gender queer friend of the other MC who's a side character but around most of the time.
POV: Sometimes 3rd person observation/narration, sometimes 1st person meta commentary, but still supposedly all coming from one character.
🌶️ 1.5/5 Certain intimacies are referenced as having happened but it's all essentially closed door.
🏳️🌈✊ Many of the characters in this book were queer and/or Black, it was great. Our MCs are gay and Black. The one MC's family, who feature quite a bit in the story, are a Black father and white mother, plus his two sisters. There is a gender queer friend of the other MC who's a side character but around most of the time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Medical content, War, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
I liked this one. It dealt with both MCs' issues over time and the solutions made sense. There were a lot of emotional scenes that made me tear up. Both MCs were relatable and flawed people and I was invested in their journeys. Also this gets a slight bump up on the star rating just for being pro therapy (my kryptonite lol)
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators
🌶️ 4.5/5 Explicit scenes featuring light/medium kink--rope play and some spanking. There were a handful of scenes, but the explicit stuff definitely wasn't the point of the book (it's still romance, not erotica).
🏳️🌈✊ As far as I can tell there wasn't much racial or ethnic diversity in the characters. One of the ranch hands had a possibly-Hispanic sounding name, but like tbh... it's Texas, shouldn't there be more than a single Hispanic person in town? This book does get points for decent/realistic mental health rep for the depression and alcoholism that the MMC deals with.
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators
🌶️ 4.5/5 Explicit scenes featuring light/medium kink--rope play and some spanking. There were a handful of scenes, but the explicit stuff definitely wasn't the point of the book (it's still romance, not erotica).
🏳️🌈✊ As far as I can tell there wasn't much racial or ethnic diversity in the characters. One of the ranch hands had a possibly-Hispanic sounding name, but like tbh... it's Texas, shouldn't there be more than a single Hispanic person in town? This book does get points for decent/realistic mental health rep for the depression and alcoholism that the MMC deals with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Okay for some reason this book didn't hit as hard as Chloe Liese books usually hit me? It felt like something was lacking, or maybe it was too short? I can't pinpoint exactly what it is.
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators
🌶️ 4.25/5 Definitely a few explicit scenes. But nothing really wild.
🏳️🌈✊ FMC is bisexual and has a chronic illness (mixed connective tissue disease). MMC is autistic. Both are white. Side characters are generally white and in m/f pairings, although there are two same sex couples in the friend group. It's possible some of the side characters are BIPOC (ex. one is named Hamsa) but nothing was explicitly stated about race/culture.
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators
🌶️ 4.25/5 Definitely a few explicit scenes. But nothing really wild.
🏳️🌈✊ FMC is bisexual and has a chronic illness (mixed connective tissue disease). MMC is autistic. Both are white. Side characters are generally white and in m/f pairings, although there are two same sex couples in the friend group. It's possible some of the side characters are BIPOC (ex. one is named Hamsa) but nothing was explicitly stated about race/culture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia
Good conclusion to the series. Went places I didn't necessarily expect.
🌶️ 4.25/5 There are some explicit scenes, including one or two 3some scenes.
🌶️ 4.25/5 There are some explicit scenes, including one or two 3some scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Terminal illness, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Another good action packed installment in the series. Still no resolutions/we're ending on cliffhangers. The spice factor has ramped up from the last book.
🌶️ 3.75/5 only a few explicit scenes, but they did get a bit adventurous towards the end. But also the scenes are treated in a sort of rushed way? Like there are actions described, but you don't get the tension of them? IDK they were mid.
🌶️ 3.75/5 only a few explicit scenes, but they did get a bit adventurous towards the end. But also the scenes are treated in a sort of rushed way? Like there are actions described, but you don't get the tension of them? IDK they were mid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Xenophobia, Trafficking, War
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
A decent book 2. Nothing gets resolved really, everything just gets more dramatic, so the series continues.
🌶️ 3.5/5 Just a couple steamy scenes
🌶️ 3.5/5 Just a couple steamy scenes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was fine but a little too tame/juvenile for my taste.
🎧 The audio really bothered me because all the younger characters are meant to be Irish, yet the narrator (single POV, 1st person, female) had like an American accent? That she used for the FMC and one of the FMC's love interests? But she gave Irish accents to the Irish people who were white? This was especially bothersome as one of the subplots is specifically about how even though they're the children of immigrants, they are still fully Irish as well, despite what the trolls are saying. So it would've been good if the narration had been on the same page there.
🌶️ 1/5 Two chaste kisses.
🏳️🌈✊ Decent demographic rep. FMC likes girls. Her ex gf (who plays a significant role in the story) is a lesbian. Her female friend from the show is into girls too. FMC is fat (and surprisingly there's basically no fatphobia in the story!). Her parents are Bengali & Bangladeshi. Ex gf's parents are Taiwanese. One of the three show judges is Indian Irish. The story does involve a fair amount of casual racism towards FMC and her ex gf, as they are the only non white contestants on the show, but I think it was dealt with well by the author.
🎧 The audio really bothered me because all the younger characters are meant to be Irish, yet the narrator (single POV, 1st person, female) had like an American accent? That she used for the FMC and one of the FMC's love interests? But she gave Irish accents to the Irish people who were white? This was especially bothersome as one of the subplots is specifically about how even though they're the children of immigrants, they are still fully Irish as well, despite what the trolls are saying. So it would've been good if the narration had been on the same page there.
🌶️ 1/5 Two chaste kisses.
🏳️🌈✊ Decent demographic rep. FMC likes girls. Her ex gf (who plays a significant role in the story) is a lesbian. Her female friend from the show is into girls too. FMC is fat (and surprisingly there's basically no fatphobia in the story!). Her parents are Bengali & Bangladeshi. Ex gf's parents are Taiwanese. One of the three show judges is Indian Irish. The story does involve a fair amount of casual racism towards FMC and her ex gf, as they are the only non white contestants on the show, but I think it was dealt with well by the author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia
Minor: Abandonment
emotional
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
This was an emotional journey. The FMC is a widow before she's 30 and is still deep in grief and self blame/punishment as the story begins. The MMC is a loner who has stopped trying to make friends or meet new people. They click and they quickly become close friends and they are able to bring out the best in each other. There's a whole thing where she is trying to help him find a wife for Reasons but won't marry him because of her own Reasons, but it's believable how they both are stuck on these tracks, even if it took them a little too long to finally derail their negative thinking.
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators. I really liked them both. American FMC and Irish MMC.
🌶️ 3.75/5 There were a few explicit scenes. They were steamy by normal standards but nothing exceptional or kinky or anything.
🏳️🌈✊ Not bad representation wise, considering both MCs are white. FMC is American/Texan and MMC is Irish/galwegian. FMC's cousin/best friend is Latine, and FMC has a non binary coworker and a South Asian coworker who she becomes friendly with. Most of the other supporting characters are white and I don't think we ever get solid info about anyone's sexualities. The MMC has a speech difficulty (stutter) and is very introverted.
🎧 Dual POV with two narrators. I really liked them both. American FMC and Irish MMC.
🌶️ 3.75/5 There were a few explicit scenes. They were steamy by normal standards but nothing exceptional or kinky or anything.
🏳️🌈✊ Not bad representation wise, considering both MCs are white. FMC is American/Texan and MMC is Irish/galwegian. FMC's cousin/best friend is Latine, and FMC has a non binary coworker and a South Asian coworker who she becomes friendly with. Most of the other supporting characters are white and I don't think we ever get solid info about anyone's sexualities. The MMC has a speech difficulty (stutter) and is very introverted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Violence, Car accident, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
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:
Yes
I really liked this one! I've enjoyed all the books in the Palace of Rogues series, and this was another hit. I liked the characters. I liked that the FMC wasn't a young woman (she's not "fresh out of the school room," as they might say) and, while still innocent, is not completely ignorant. I liked the MMC's personality and flaws (I particularly liked the "muscle vs scar tissue" motif in relation to him). The progression of their story was sweet and a little spicy. Oh also this book has jokes! There were multiple funny turns of phrase and banter. Lastly, we get glimpses into some of the other characters we have come to love throughout the series, I enjoyed those little check-ins.
🎧 Dual POV but only one female narrator (Justine Eyre). JE is always great, she can do no wrong in my eyes.
🌶️ 3.5/5 There were a few explicit scenes but they weren't particularly adventurous or kinky.
🏳️🌈✊ My one issue with this series continues to be its lack of diversity. There is a bit of class diversity, but we never encounter any characters who are POC or queer or disabled or neurodivergent.
🎧 Dual POV but only one female narrator (Justine Eyre). JE is always great, she can do no wrong in my eyes.
🌶️ 3.5/5 There were a few explicit scenes but they weren't particularly adventurous or kinky.
🏳️🌈✊ My one issue with this series continues to be its lack of diversity. There is a bit of class diversity, but we never encounter any characters who are POC or queer or disabled or neurodivergent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Grief, Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail