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gi_reads30's reviews
282 reviews
Not in My Book by Katie Holt
medium-paced
4.75
WHAT A DELIGHT!!!!!!
First and foremost, thanks to Netgallery and Alcove Press for the ARC of Not In My Book, in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't had the best of lucks with ARCs recently, BUT oh HOW I LOVED, this one! Such a sweet story with lovable characters and a very interesting premise, because while the whole "academic rivals turned lovers" has been done a million times, I don't think I've read a book like this one, where theres a story within a story, one that is used to not only make the very stubborn main characters communicate, but also to let the reader know what the mmc is thinking and feeling without actually having his POV throughout the book. Am I making sense? maybe not, but what is important is that you give this book a chance ones it is out on December 10, 2024! It's sweet, lighthearted without feeling empty! Characters that are FLAWED, STUBBORN, but with a need to grow and make their happy ever after a reality. I truly enjoyed this one!!!!
First and foremost, thanks to Netgallery and Alcove Press for the ARC of Not In My Book, in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't had the best of lucks with ARCs recently, BUT oh HOW I LOVED, this one! Such a sweet story with lovable characters and a very interesting premise, because while the whole "academic rivals turned lovers" has been done a million times, I don't think I've read a book like this one, where theres a story within a story, one that is used to not only make the very stubborn main characters communicate, but also to let the reader know what the mmc is thinking and feeling without actually having his POV throughout the book. Am I making sense? maybe not, but what is important is that you give this book a chance ones it is out on December 10, 2024! It's sweet, lighthearted without feeling empty! Characters that are FLAWED, STUBBORN, but with a need to grow and make their happy ever after a reality. I truly enjoyed this one!!!!
A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thanks St, Martin's Press and Netgallery for the ALC of A Legend in The Baking, book 2 of the Fake It Till You Bake it Series, in exchange for an honest review.
READ IF YOU LIKE:
- Second Chance -ish romance
- Brother's Best Friend
- SLOW burn
Review:
Reviewing this book is kinda hard for me because while I enjoyed some of the playfulness of the story, it felt SO flat for me. The reason as to why they were not together, or they didn't communicate their feelings were just not enough for me to believe the sloooooow burn of this book. It's a very low stakes book that had potential to be extremely sweet, but sadly it is forgettable. However, I did love the narrators and how they told the story, as well as the writing! Will be looking forward to read more from Jamie.
READ IF YOU LIKE:
- Second Chance -ish romance
- Brother's Best Friend
- SLOW burn
Review:
Reviewing this book is kinda hard for me because while I enjoyed some of the playfulness of the story, it felt SO flat for me. The reason as to why they were not together, or they didn't communicate their feelings were just not enough for me to believe the sloooooow burn of this book. It's a very low stakes book that had potential to be extremely sweet, but sadly it is forgettable. However, I did love the narrators and how they told the story, as well as the writing! Will be looking forward to read more from Jamie.
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Reviewing this book is hard for me, for many reasons. The main one being that I was so excited for it, and was really disappointed. The characters had no growth and the relationship was extremely superficial. The way this book was set up had the potential to go more in depth with things like grief and dealing with trauma, but I think it was not fully fleshed out. Especially with the FMC. When she finally comes to terms with her singleness, and it was happy to be her and live a life she chooses...welp then the mmc and her get together. There was no gradual growth or anything like that, it all came to a rushed conclusion.
While the banter of this book is one of the best I've read in a while, it became too repetitive for my taste. I wished there was more to the whole story than the FMC going on dates, and having feeling for what she thought was a married man for more than half of the book. And don't get me started on the situation that happened in one of her last dates...The mmc was cute and all but sometimes that is not enough for me to think of him as a "good book boyfriend." ALSO, miscommunication is a "Trope" that sometimes get a bad reputation. I used to hate it, but have learned to actually understand it and see how REAL it can be, but the miscommunication in this book is STUPID. You are telling me that you are going out with a man you think is married, you are seeing and flirting with him WEEKLY, you call him YOUR FRIEND, and you don't ask ANYTHING about his wife? NOTHING? And with him, YOU SEE A GIRL DATING AROUND A BUNCH OF TRASH MAN, YOU ARE DEVELOPING FEELINGS, AND NOT ONCEEEEEEEEEEE you want to idk TRY to tell her you like her? NOT ONCEEEEEE? until you get jealous and territorial for no reason at all? There is miscommunication and this is just annoying immaturity.
With that out of the way, I did like the writing style a lot, and again, the banter was amazing. The side characters were fun (the fmc and the mmc have both great group of friends that I would to read more from), but it was not enough for me to overlook some aspects of this book.
I really wanted to love it, but this story in particular was not for me.
While the banter of this book is one of the best I've read in a while, it became too repetitive for my taste. I wished there was more to the whole story than the FMC going on dates, and having feeling for what she thought was a married man for more than half of the book. And don't get me started on the situation that happened in one of her last dates...The mmc was cute and all but sometimes that is not enough for me to think of him as a "good book boyfriend." ALSO, miscommunication is a "Trope" that sometimes get a bad reputation. I used to hate it, but have learned to actually understand it and see how REAL it can be, but the miscommunication in this book is STUPID. You are telling me that you are going out with a man you think is married, you are seeing and flirting with him WEEKLY, you call him YOUR FRIEND, and you don't ask ANYTHING about his wife? NOTHING? And with him, YOU SEE A GIRL DATING AROUND A BUNCH OF TRASH MAN, YOU ARE DEVELOPING FEELINGS, AND NOT ONCEEEEEEEEEEE you want to idk TRY to tell her you like her? NOT ONCEEEEEE? until you get jealous and territorial for no reason at all? There is miscommunication and this is just annoying immaturity.
With that out of the way, I did like the writing style a lot, and again, the banter was amazing. The side characters were fun (the fmc and the mmc have both great group of friends that I would to read more from), but it was not enough for me to overlook some aspects of this book.
I really wanted to love it, but this story in particular was not for me.
Hexed by Emily McIntire
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Love in Bloom by Lucy Eden
3.0
Thanks to Netgallery for the ARC of Love in Bloom in exchange for an honest review.
Release Day: Nov 12, 2024
Read if you like:
- Small Town Romance
- Black FMC x Indian MMC
- A Mystery?
Review:
This is a sweet story, it might be one dimensional, and it might not have a lot of character development but it was cute nonetheless. I enjoyed the town, and the whole "secrets/drama" aspect of the book but the sad truth however, is that although I understand a lot of people can like this story, I can't recommend it. The pace and how "flat" the characters were for me, make this book forgettable. I didn't feel the connection between them, I guess because it is KINDA "insta lust" and I don't love that trope, but the fmc had a boyfriend at the beginning of the book and that always throws me off. Its a me problem, I know...however, if you enjoy stories with drama, and a small town romance, give this one a try. The writing is not bad, and I do think I will read another book by this author, it's just that this one was not for me.
Thanks again to Forever for this ARC.
Release Day: Nov 12, 2024
Read if you like:
- Small Town Romance
- Black FMC x Indian MMC
- A Mystery?
Review:
This is a sweet story, it might be one dimensional, and it might not have a lot of character development but it was cute nonetheless. I enjoyed the town, and the whole "secrets/drama" aspect of the book but the sad truth however, is that although I understand a lot of people can like this story, I can't recommend it. The pace and how "flat" the characters were for me, make this book forgettable. I didn't feel the connection between them, I guess because it is KINDA "insta lust" and I don't love that trope, but the fmc had a boyfriend at the beginning of the book and that always throws me off. Its a me problem, I know...however, if you enjoy stories with drama, and a small town romance, give this one a try. The writing is not bad, and I do think I will read another book by this author, it's just that this one was not for me.
Thanks again to Forever for this ARC.