georgia_sara93's reviews
341 reviews

Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Freya and Aiden have been married for coming up 10 years but their marriage is in the worst state their relationship has ever been in. Freya, eldest Bergman is ready for kids, her husband Aiden is so consumed by anxiety he can’t seem to communicate about his anxiety around having kids whilst trying to better them financially as a couple. When the Bergman parents have a wedding anniversary and the family decide to take the opportunity for a family holiday, the brothers swiftly intervene to help Freya and Aiden’s marriage. 

Once again Liese does it just right!!!! I loved getting to better know Freya and Aiden and having a couple who experience difficulties in their marriage and not being a couple just getting together! I loved getting to know Aiden more closely as well after book 1! The challenges faced by the couple I felt were doing with lovely sensitivity and the comoradery of the siblings never fails to warm my heart! 
Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

Paris Hilton is well known world wide due to her largely self made branding. I honestly can’t remember if I had always wanted to read this when it came out or was interested after comedian Sofie Hagen mentioned on a podcast episode that they had read it and had enjoyed it. Nonetheless, Paris Hilton proved my 00s taught assumptions very wrong. Paris has gone through a number of horrible traumas, revenge porn that went viral - no she never wanted that video published - severe abuse at a “behavioural reformen” school - which she now is publicly supporting as an advocate and is supporting legal bills to prevent these schools from being continued, drugged and sexually assaulted, facing a termination of pregnancy. She also found ways through her platform of privilege to build a brand name for herself and claim her own wealth and safety network permanently for herself. 

Paris openly shares she has ADHD and it’s seen in the writing style, which is also very conversational, both of which are things I love in a memoir. Paris has lead an incredible life so far and is nothing like the assumptions made of her by tabloids when I grew up. I’m so glad I read this memoir and was forced to once again reconcile with the fact that para social relationships on provide a wanted slither of someone’s story. 

Will I find myself now following Paris Hilton on socials? Not likely. Will I desperately try and find a way to watch The Simple Life and curiously engage in some of her docos? Absolutely!
The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This a short story by Moreno-Garcia. Judith’s sister Alice has the husband and is still in charge of Judith. During a cold winter Judith begins an affair with Alice’s sister and meets with a stranger who promises strange things with a kiss. 

This was a bit of a strange short story as there were lots of themes that came in and it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. This is my first Moreno-Garcia story I’ve read but I still intend on reading Mexican Gothic as I’ve only heard incredible things!
Because of Her by Devon May

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

10 years ago Cassidy and Callum were best friends and then feelings happened and the friendship fell apart. Now Cassidy runs a florist shop and is living with her best mate, and Callum has moved across the hall from her following the breakdown of his marriage and settling into being a single dad.

This is a debut novel by Devon May a fellow bookstagrammer who was kind enough to provide me an ARC! This was a sweet romance and addresses big topics like infertility and making decisions around what family looks like to us when that happens, which I felt Devon approached with sensitivity as someone who doesn’t have that lived experience. For spice fans it is there, but it’s not a heavy theme of the book. For those who love second chance romances - I reckon this is one you’ll love! 
Always Only You by Chloe Liese

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Frankie has been working for a famous hockey team that Søren Bergman is a player of for the last 3 years. Over the last 3 years Søren who only goes by Ren (with an exception for Frankie) has been pretty smitten on Frankie the whole time. But things are changing and romantic tensions are growing! But will Frankie’s determination that she’s unloveable due to being autistic and having arthritis get in the way? Or can Ren win her over with his Shakespearean love? 

This book is so damn cute! And I loved it more than Only Always You, but I think the consistent love of Harry Potter, despite characters acknowledging the disappointment that the author became as a TERF and for me aspects of the ending brought it down for me a touch. The things that made me love it more?? The own voices aspect of Frankie being autistic!! And Ren’s beautiful Shakespeare loving mouth! So many great and cute aspects that were worth it for me! 😍 and dear Lordy I cannot WAIT to get amongst the rest of the series because I ADORE it! 😍😍
Will I Ever Have Sex Again? by Sofie Hagen

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emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

This is a second memoir by Danish comedian Sofie Hagen and it misses no marks! Sofie shares that they have not had sex in 8 years. But across the book they share about some parts of their personal life looking at fatness, bodies, trauma, queerness and neurodivergence. And the raw honesty is life changing. Sofie had a survey up for 48 hours asking followers to share about their experiences with not having sex - they received 1,800 responses. That’s a lot of people in the same boat! And what I love in this book, is that Sofie shows no one experience is the same - but somehow their experience feels like a warm hug from a reassuring friend that you’re not alone and someone else feels these things too. I’m so grateful to Sofie for giving me access to an advanced reader copy. This book broke me and put me back together in the best ways. Wolf pack for life. 🐺
Intermission by Phyllis R. Dixon

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challenging dark hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Diamonds were one of the biggest girl groups in the 90s who disbanded right at their peak. 20 years have passed and a lot has changed for each of them. But is a reunion a possibility? Angel’s seeking to kick start her solo career, Carmen’s family fall into trouble, Jade’s hoping for more recognition this time around and Doreen wants a second chance to enjoy the life without the drugs. Will things help or hinder reconnecting?

This book was definitely different to what I initially anticipated - a fluffy story about an old girl group of the 90s like Destiny’s Child or TLC. Instead I got something much better - 4 women with real life complexities! The pacing was generally good but felt a bit rushed at the end for me. Overall enjoyable, but something just missed the mark to rate it higher.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
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Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Willa has never met someone so rude as Ryder. Their lecturer instructs her to get the class notes of him, but he won’t give her a chance to grab them. She’s busy training as a hopeful professional soccer player, balancing college and spending time with her unwell mum. As things progress miscommunications become clearer and completely valid and so do connections progress.

Ooft! This is cute, cute, cute!!!! The relationship? Beautiful! The miscommunication trope? Actually well done for a change! The diversity? Loved it! If you’re looking for your next diverse romance author - I think Liese seems to be where it’s at! Thank you so much my friend for getting me to read this one already for my 12 books recommended by 12 friends! I fear how much longer it would’ve sat on my TBR unread for longer when all I need is all the other 6 Bergman Brothers books! 🙊🙊

Also don’t feel it’s not AMAZING at a 4⭐️ rating. This appears to be Liese’s first novel. The themes approached are some heavy, all complex and are beautifully done! Were there a lot of obstacles? Maybe! But at least the story had a realistic timeline and story to it! In all other aspects a heavy 5⭐️ and DEFINITELY a new favourite book! 😍😍
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The Improbable Life of Ricky Bird by Diane Connell

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dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Ricky Bird is 12, but nearly 13. Her parents are separated and thanks to her mums new boyfriend they’re moving across London to Camden live closer to him. It’s the summer before going back to school and in a bid for something to do, Ricky applies to a community writing course. Finally! A chance for Ricky to put her storytelling skills to good use! Although if you ask her 6 year old brother Ollie, she’s pretty great at telling stories already! If you ask adults however, they just tell her to stop making up stories and lying.

Wow! I read someone suggest this has a flavour of Eleanor Oliphant Is Perfectly Fine and they were right! Our protagonist Ricky is great at creating all kinds of stories to make a preferred sense of the world around her and man I wish I had the imagination she does for story telling! It’s so creative and inspiring! This story does have some heavy themes so look into them if need be but I don’t want to share too much here just in case! 🙊
Lovely War by Julie Berry

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

During World War 2 the Greek Gods sit in an apartment and tell the story of four people, a British pianist Hazel, British Architect James, Black American Jazz Musician Aubrey and a young Belgian woman whose just lost her family, Colette. The four stories eventually will overlap to help Greek Goddess Aphrodite to escape punishment on Mount Olympus. Can Aphrodite prove that love can conquer all?

This was an interesting story and way to tell the story of 4 individuals told through Greek Gods. The stories were lovely done and I read the book within 2 days. But it was a more average read for me. I think fans of historical and war time romances will ADORE this book as can be seen by all the huge 5 star ratings! This was definitely fun for me to read something different