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128 reviews
Havenwood by Katherine Belle
When I saw the cover of this book and read the blurb, I was desperate to read it, I thought it was going to be a book that I was going to love from the get go - unfortunately, it wasn't.
Don't get me wrong, Katherine Belle is an incredible writer and certainly has a talent, but this book did nothing for me, and as much as I hate to admit it, I went to DNF it just because I was struggling to get through it, but I powered through because I wanted to know more about Martha's story.
You meet Courtney when she's in a situationship with a complete idiot who should've treated her better. She goes through the motions of not feeling good enough and comes across an email that showcases a cheap place to rent in Havenwood, obviously her breakup partly pays homage to why she makes the move.
As soon as Courtney and Finn meet, an insta love trope is presented, but I struggled to find the chemistry between them, I couldn't understand where any of the attraction to one another spanned from, and if anything, it felt forced. I can honestly say that I feel as though Courtney and Elsie had more chemistry with their friendship than Finn and Courtney with their relationship.
More often than not, I felt as though Courtney threw herself a pity party that actually did my head'in. I understand she's upset over some idiot (I've been there, I know it hurts), and I understand that he said some things that really sucked, but girl... STOP WITH THE PITY PARTY! She spoke about how she had moved on, gained strong feelings for Finn, but then would constantly have Carter in the back of her mind, almost as if she were comparing Finn to Carter at times?
Also, can we just talk about the fact that Finn isn't even a green flag? Within the first chapter, you see Finn talking about how he wants to break his situationship off with Starr, BUT THEN, he goes and sleeps with her KNOWING she's drunk? Like I'm sorry, BUT WOULDN'T A GOOD GUY BE RESPECTFUL ENOUGH TO SAY NO AND JUST WALK HER HOME? That was just gross to me, why are you taking advantage of someone when they're drunk and you've even said to yourself that they're drunk?
THEN you have the whole process of how while Finn and Courtney are getting to know one another (I honestly can't even remember anything Finn told her about himself), but he's failing to come clean about how her being in Havenwood isn't a coincidence which means their relationship is just going to continue to struggle. I don't understand how the mayor could continue to lie / put off telling the truth when he had so many chances to come clean; and even when the truth, came to light... he couldn't even man up! There's just not one single green flag about him. Courtney deserved better when she found out, and when she forgave him. I don't think she got a decent enough apology or amount of grovelling for her to warrant forgiveness and a clean slate.
The smut also put me off to a degree because Finn wasn't respectful in those situations, and while Courtney claimed it "turned her on", it just gave me the ick. I really just wanted to skip past the smutty parts. While some may enjoy this, I don't want to read about a man who pushes himself in without any warning and doesn't care about whether the other person is okay in that moment or not. YUCK.
Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I even bothered to give this story two stars if all I've done so far is complain... Despite the above complaints, I did enjoy the little story about Martha and the element that she was burned at the stake. I liked the way she was involved within the story and how Courtney's findings allowed Martha's story to come to light and in some ways, receive closure. I think Martha was reincarnated into the bat that was known as Olive. Those little moments had my heart, and I feel like Martha got to have peace in the end.
All in all, this book did not live up to my expectations. I think plenty of people will enjoy it, but I personally think the characters lacked chemistry, and that too much was repeated consistently via the main character and her issues. We never got to see Courtney improve as a person, we never got to see the town truly hit rock bottom before things improved, and we never truly got to know Finn behind his mayor persona.
Thank you to Katherine Belle for allowing me this ARC, I'm truly sorry for my negative review, you're a lovely person, and I wish you nothing but the best for the future.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"Havenwood might hold my past but you are my future and I promise to prioritize you, like I should have from the beginning, until forever."
When I saw the cover of this book and read the blurb, I was desperate to read it, I thought it was going to be a book that I was going to love from the get go - unfortunately, it wasn't.
Don't get me wrong, Katherine Belle is an incredible writer and certainly has a talent, but this book did nothing for me, and as much as I hate to admit it, I went to DNF it just because I was struggling to get through it, but I powered through because I wanted to know more about Martha's story.
You meet Courtney when she's in a situationship with a complete idiot who should've treated her better. She goes through the motions of not feeling good enough and comes across an email that showcases a cheap place to rent in Havenwood, obviously her breakup partly pays homage to why she makes the move.
As soon as Courtney and Finn meet, an insta love trope is presented, but I struggled to find the chemistry between them, I couldn't understand where any of the attraction to one another spanned from, and if anything, it felt forced. I can honestly say that I feel as though Courtney and Elsie had more chemistry with their friendship than Finn and Courtney with their relationship.
More often than not, I felt as though Courtney threw herself a pity party that actually did my head'in. I understand she's upset over some idiot (I've been there, I know it hurts), and I understand that he said some things that really sucked, but girl... STOP WITH THE PITY PARTY! She spoke about how she had moved on, gained strong feelings for Finn, but then would constantly have Carter in the back of her mind, almost as if she were comparing Finn to Carter at times?
Also, can we just talk about the fact that Finn isn't even a green flag? Within the first chapter, you see Finn talking about how he wants to break his situationship off with Starr, BUT THEN, he goes and sleeps with her KNOWING she's drunk? Like I'm sorry, BUT WOULDN'T A GOOD GUY BE RESPECTFUL ENOUGH TO SAY NO AND JUST WALK HER HOME? That was just gross to me, why are you taking advantage of someone when they're drunk and you've even said to yourself that they're drunk?
THEN you have the whole process of how while Finn and Courtney are getting to know one another (I honestly can't even remember anything Finn told her about himself), but he's failing to come clean about how her being in Havenwood isn't a coincidence which means their relationship is just going to continue to struggle. I don't understand how the mayor could continue to lie / put off telling the truth when he had so many chances to come clean; and even when the truth, came to light... he couldn't even man up! There's just not one single green flag about him. Courtney deserved better when she found out, and when she forgave him. I don't think she got a decent enough apology or amount of grovelling for her to warrant forgiveness and a clean slate.
The smut also put me off to a degree because Finn wasn't respectful in those situations, and while Courtney claimed it "turned her on", it just gave me the ick. I really just wanted to skip past the smutty parts. While some may enjoy this, I don't want to read about a man who pushes himself in without any warning and doesn't care about whether the other person is okay in that moment or not. YUCK.
Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I even bothered to give this story two stars if all I've done so far is complain... Despite the above complaints, I did enjoy the little story about Martha and the element that she was burned at the stake. I liked the way she was involved within the story and how Courtney's findings allowed Martha's story to come to light and in some ways, receive closure. I think Martha was reincarnated into the bat that was known as Olive. Those little moments had my heart, and I feel like Martha got to have peace in the end.
All in all, this book did not live up to my expectations. I think plenty of people will enjoy it, but I personally think the characters lacked chemistry, and that too much was repeated consistently via the main character and her issues. We never got to see Courtney improve as a person, we never got to see the town truly hit rock bottom before things improved, and we never truly got to know Finn behind his mayor persona.
Thank you to Katherine Belle for allowing me this ARC, I'm truly sorry for my negative review, you're a lovely person, and I wish you nothing but the best for the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Dishonestly Yours by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie
Firstly, I just want to thank Chloe at Pan Mac for allowing me the honour of being able to read this book, without you, I wouldn’t have been introduced to such amazing characters and authors.
I’ve read books about con artists, but I’ve never had the pleasure of being able to watch them pine for one another and avoid a relationship. Rocky and Phoebe are true soulmates, thin matter what you try to do, they will always find their way back to one another, and they will always fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
I love that their romance is a slow burn and that there’s so much angst and wanting between them. It allows you to see just how much they mean to one another while also showing how difficult things could get for them if they were to give in. Krista and Becca allow you to live each and every emotion through the characters, and that is what makes their writing incredible.
One of my favourite things about this book is the Inertia pact. Hailey and Phoebe deserve something that is theirs and allows them to have a safe place. I loved the plot twist that came along with it, and I think Inertia was the PERFECT way for their future selves to start.
At first, I found the flashbacks a little hard to keep up with when it came to the cons, but then I grew to love them and I wanted more. I love that we got to see a different side to the characters and still see how they were also themselves in certain moments, and I really enjoyed knowing that the marks deserved the cons happening to them.
Now let’s talk about the second plot twist, the MAJOR one. EXCUSE ME? I am literally questioning EVERYTHING I know about the characters and the fact that everything I currently know as a reader could be twisted? I did not see it coming at all, and I want to kick myself because there were so many Easter eggs! But maybe I should’ve listened to Rocky after all.
Finally, Rocky. Oh how I am in love with him. I loved his jealousy, I loved him caring side when he allowed Phoebe to see him, the real him, and I just loved him in general. That man could con me in a hundred different ways and I’d thank him. To be honest, I’d thank Phoebe as well, she’s one strong bean who deserves the world.
I cannot wait for the next book, I need it desperately. For anyone who loves a good romance that leaves you desperate and frustrated; this is the perfect book for you. It really was, love at first book for me.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
“We’re together. Fuck everything else. I want to be with you, Phoebe.”
Firstly, I just want to thank Chloe at Pan Mac for allowing me the honour of being able to read this book, without you, I wouldn’t have been introduced to such amazing characters and authors.
I’ve read books about con artists, but I’ve never had the pleasure of being able to watch them pine for one another and avoid a relationship. Rocky and Phoebe are true soulmates, thin matter what you try to do, they will always find their way back to one another, and they will always fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
I love that their romance is a slow burn and that there’s so much angst and wanting between them. It allows you to see just how much they mean to one another while also showing how difficult things could get for them if they were to give in. Krista and Becca allow you to live each and every emotion through the characters, and that is what makes their writing incredible.
One of my favourite things about this book is the Inertia pact. Hailey and Phoebe deserve something that is theirs and allows them to have a safe place. I loved the plot twist that came along with it, and I think Inertia was the PERFECT way for their future selves to start.
At first, I found the flashbacks a little hard to keep up with when it came to the cons, but then I grew to love them and I wanted more. I love that we got to see a different side to the characters and still see how they were also themselves in certain moments, and I really enjoyed knowing that the marks deserved the cons happening to them.
Now let’s talk about the second plot twist, the MAJOR one. EXCUSE ME? I am literally questioning EVERYTHING I know about the characters and the fact that everything I currently know as a reader could be twisted? I did not see it coming at all, and I want to kick myself because there were so many Easter eggs! But maybe I should’ve listened to Rocky after all.
Finally, Rocky. Oh how I am in love with him. I loved his jealousy, I loved him caring side when he allowed Phoebe to see him, the real him, and I just loved him in general. That man could con me in a hundred different ways and I’d thank him. To be honest, I’d thank Phoebe as well, she’s one strong bean who deserves the world.
I cannot wait for the next book, I need it desperately. For anyone who loves a good romance that leaves you desperate and frustrated; this is the perfect book for you. It really was, love at first book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Hard to Fake by Piper Lawson
NOW THIS IS A FAKE DATING ROMANCE AND MORE! HOLY CRAP. This is the first book I have read by Piper Lawson and I am OBSESSED! I've recently been in a massive slump and this was the perfect book to get me out of it. I truly can't get over how much I loved it.
Brooke is someone who lives up to the expectations of others, and while it sometimes breaks my heart that she does that, I like that she becomes a completely different person when she starts to let go. I love how much of a girls girl Brooke is while also being seen as 'family' within the basketball team. She is someone who's trying to make her own path in life and I admire her for that. Truth be told, if Brooke wasn't just a fictional character, I do think she'd make a massive difference in the world that we live in, and I'm left wishing that I could meet her.
Miles is a handsome man with a devilish smirk that'll make you want to drop your panties as soon as you see it, but he's also more than that. He's a man who has a past that needs to remain hidden, and a life that he enjoys. The way he cares for his teammates and his grandmother is beautiful and warms my heart. There's a lot of depth to his character that leaves you wanting to know more each and every time.
The chemistry between Brooke and Miles had me DESPERATE. I was begging for the author to finally let these two kiss for ages and when it finally happened, it was like I could hear "hallelujah"
being sung around me by tiny little romance book angels. It was the moment you could finally do a little happy dance in your seat and just enjoy it. In my opinion, the book was more of a slow burn which I think was needed especially since Brooke and Miles's story is said to span over a total of three books. Piper Lawson clearly knows how to leave a reader on a good cliffhanger, and while most people may hate cliffhangers, I LOVE them.
The only reason I would bring the rating down for this book was because of slight miscommunication trope. The trope makes me want to scream more often than not, and it was really frustrating to have a moment where Brooke assumed something rather than simply communicating with Miles. It would've been much better, and I feel like it would've made more sense for Brooke's character, considering the type of person she is.
Finally, I love that their was clear diversity in this book. I love that one of the main characters was a person of colour and that it was mentioned regarding realistic things then related to everyday life. It makes me see how things can be different for people of colour and how those people often have to work harder for something. It made the story that bit better, and it made Brooke's character more loveable.
I cannot thank Piper Lawson and Valentine PR enough for allowing me this ARC. I CANNOT wait for the next book, you can bet your ass I'll be seated to learn about why Miles did what he did, and how Brooke's going to react to finding out everything. I'll be protecting Brooke's heart, and silently rooting for their happy ever after always.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.75
"Act like I'm in head over heels for you? Like I have been for a while?" His smile is heart-stoppingly sexy. "Game on, Princess."
NOW THIS IS A FAKE DATING ROMANCE AND MORE! HOLY CRAP. This is the first book I have read by Piper Lawson and I am OBSESSED! I've recently been in a massive slump and this was the perfect book to get me out of it. I truly can't get over how much I loved it.
Brooke is someone who lives up to the expectations of others, and while it sometimes breaks my heart that she does that, I like that she becomes a completely different person when she starts to let go. I love how much of a girls girl Brooke is while also being seen as 'family' within the basketball team. She is someone who's trying to make her own path in life and I admire her for that. Truth be told, if Brooke wasn't just a fictional character, I do think she'd make a massive difference in the world that we live in, and I'm left wishing that I could meet her.
Miles is a handsome man with a devilish smirk that'll make you want to drop your panties as soon as you see it, but he's also more than that. He's a man who has a past that needs to remain hidden, and a life that he enjoys. The way he cares for his teammates and his grandmother is beautiful and warms my heart. There's a lot of depth to his character that leaves you wanting to know more each and every time.
The chemistry between Brooke and Miles had me DESPERATE. I was begging for the author to finally let these two kiss for ages and when it finally happened, it was like I could hear "hallelujah"
being sung around me by tiny little romance book angels. It was the moment you could finally do a little happy dance in your seat and just enjoy it. In my opinion, the book was more of a slow burn which I think was needed especially since Brooke and Miles's story is said to span over a total of three books. Piper Lawson clearly knows how to leave a reader on a good cliffhanger, and while most people may hate cliffhangers, I LOVE them.
The only reason I would bring the rating down for this book was because of slight miscommunication trope. The trope makes me want to scream more often than not, and it was really frustrating to have a moment where Brooke assumed something rather than simply communicating with Miles. It would've been much better, and I feel like it would've made more sense for Brooke's character, considering the type of person she is.
Finally, I love that their was clear diversity in this book. I love that one of the main characters was a person of colour and that it was mentioned regarding realistic things then related to everyday life. It makes me see how things can be different for people of colour and how those people often have to work harder for something. It made the story that bit better, and it made Brooke's character more loveable.
I cannot thank Piper Lawson and Valentine PR enough for allowing me this ARC. I CANNOT wait for the next book, you can bet your ass I'll be seated to learn about why Miles did what he did, and how Brooke's going to react to finding out everything. I'll be protecting Brooke's heart, and silently rooting for their happy ever after always.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use
Fake As puck by Sarah Smith
*~*~*~*~*
The disappointment I felt when reading this book is hard to put into words, especially when I was so excited to read this ARC. The author left me yearning for more constantly.
Fake dating is one the of my favourite tropes, I love watching two people have a secret between them fall in love while they try their best to deny their feelings to themselves. There's something beautiful about something starting out fake and becoming more real as the days drag on. Unfortunately, I feel that the fake dating trope was used as a way to get the ball rolling rather than to play a valuable part. I understood why the trope was present, but it wasn't executed well enough for me, or needed to be something that continued.
Sophie and Xander are two lovely people, but when they're together, I struggle to find the chemistry between them. Not once, did I feel any fireworks between the two and their story while I was reading, and I was forever left waiting for their romance to feel more genuine. I think part of the issue was the fact that aside from Xander being a hockey player, he had NO personality of his own.
It was constantly mentioned that Xander would send things like flowers and cute text messages to Sophie, she would then rave about how wonderful and thoughtful he was... but this is the BARE MINIMUMN a guy should be doing anyway? It got to the point where this WAS his personality alongside his sexual ways. There was nothing outside of hockey, his mum and going to the pub that said he had any type of life. No hobbies were mentioned or saw within the story. He was an extremely flat character all the way through.
Unfortunately, the same has to be said for Sophie. Aside from being someone who got through school faster than others and not having much of a 'life' outside of that, Sophie did not have a personality. She was simply known as being Xander's girlfriend or for being a doctor at such a young age. Once again, she was a very flat character. The one thing I did like about Sophie, however, was the way that she grew confidence in the bedroom. I think this allowed her to grow into herself a little more, and left me feeling happy for her.
Truth be told, I wanted to put this book down every time I picked it up, and I feel terrible for saying that, but I could not find anything within this book that could leave me wanting more. Even when it got to the dramatic climax of the story, I felt dissatisfied; the only good thing was the little plot twist it gave, but even then, it felt like it happened as a filler for the story.WHY WOULD A DOCTOR HACK INTO SOMEONE'S PHONE AND LEAK A SEX TAPE? IT'S LESS BELIEVEABLE THAN AN ENEMY DOING IT.
All in all, this story left much to be desired and I don't think I'll be reading the next one or any of the authors work. I was hoping I could sink my teeth into this, but there was just nothing for me to love. I wish the author the best of luck in her future, and I am truly sorry for this sad review.
Please note, I received "Fake as Puck" as an ARC, and my review is my own thoughts and completely unbiased.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"Yeah. Home. That's what it feels like when you're with me, Sophie."
*~*~*~*~*
The disappointment I felt when reading this book is hard to put into words, especially when I was so excited to read this ARC. The author left me yearning for more constantly.
Fake dating is one the of my favourite tropes, I love watching two people have a secret between them fall in love while they try their best to deny their feelings to themselves. There's something beautiful about something starting out fake and becoming more real as the days drag on. Unfortunately, I feel that the fake dating trope was used as a way to get the ball rolling rather than to play a valuable part. I understood why the trope was present, but it wasn't executed well enough for me, or needed to be something that continued.
Sophie and Xander are two lovely people, but when they're together, I struggle to find the chemistry between them. Not once, did I feel any fireworks between the two and their story while I was reading, and I was forever left waiting for their romance to feel more genuine. I think part of the issue was the fact that aside from Xander being a hockey player, he had NO personality of his own.
It was constantly mentioned that Xander would send things like flowers and cute text messages to Sophie, she would then rave about how wonderful and thoughtful he was... but this is the BARE MINIMUMN a guy should be doing anyway? It got to the point where this WAS his personality alongside his sexual ways. There was nothing outside of hockey, his mum and going to the pub that said he had any type of life. No hobbies were mentioned or saw within the story. He was an extremely flat character all the way through.
Unfortunately, the same has to be said for Sophie. Aside from being someone who got through school faster than others and not having much of a 'life' outside of that, Sophie did not have a personality. She was simply known as being Xander's girlfriend or for being a doctor at such a young age. Once again, she was a very flat character. The one thing I did like about Sophie, however, was the way that she grew confidence in the bedroom. I think this allowed her to grow into herself a little more, and left me feeling happy for her.
Truth be told, I wanted to put this book down every time I picked it up, and I feel terrible for saying that, but I could not find anything within this book that could leave me wanting more. Even when it got to the dramatic climax of the story, I felt dissatisfied; the only good thing was the little plot twist it gave, but even then, it felt like it happened as a filler for the story.
All in all, this story left much to be desired and I don't think I'll be reading the next one or any of the authors work. I was hoping I could sink my teeth into this, but there was just nothing for me to love. I wish the author the best of luck in her future, and I am truly sorry for this sad review.
Please note, I received "Fake as Puck" as an ARC, and my review is my own thoughts and completely unbiased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
You're On Your Own Kid by Cora Dalley
First of all, I would just like to thank the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this story as an ARC. Please note, all views are my own and are completely honest.
I’m a sucker for a best friend’s brother trope, but I was curious about the age gap considering George is five years older. By concern, I was worried that George would be a weirdo to confess he felt something for Hydie while he was twenty and she was fifteen (thank goodness that wasn’t the case!)
At first, I liked Hydie, I thought she was slightly relatable and deserved much better than the card she was dealt growing up, and while I still believe she deserved better, I grew to dislike her not long after a chapter or two. I understand that getting your feelings hurt as a fifteen year old is a really rubbish thing, especially by the guy you’re in love with - but to then pretty much cut your best friend and the rest of her family off for ten years because of that moment is ridiculous. That family because Hydie’s and I just feel that Hydie was a really crappy friend, and if anything, not truly held accountable for it. I’m not sure if it was for character development or what, but if it wasn’t for the way she started to make such an effort, I would’ve continued to dislike her.
Frannie is an absolute SWEETHEART! Let me cuddle this woman, spoil her with whatever she loves and be an incredible best friend to her because she is so loyal and kind, she has a heart of gold.! I think the way she still loved Hydie despite her lack of effort and flaws was beautiful, and it just showed how good of a person Frannie is. I also love how she reacted with her wedding. She is a queen. We totally need a love story for Theo and Frannie.
George is pretty much a workaholic in my mind, but he has such a kind heart like his sister and the rest of his family that he would drop anything if you was in need for him. I think the way he handled things with fifteen year old Hydie was fairly good, and I think the respect he gave her was remarkable. The only thing that disappointed me with George was the fact that he knew he was someone who was a helper and needed to put himself first, yet I don’t think we ever really saw that happen?
I think my favourite thing within this story was the well thought out diversity and how different cultures and ethnicities were shown within the book. It warmed my heart to learn little things, and then when you get to know George and Frannies family, you can’t help but admire them. Their parents deserve so much love and praise for the way they treated Hydie as their own and continue to do so. A found family trope is always a wonderful thing to read and I truly think Cora did a brilliant job incorporating it into the story.
Finally, I feel that there was a big plot hole with Hydie and her parents. We learn she wasn’t treated well, but we never saw just how bad it was to make other adults concerned, and then we never saw how things worked out in the end with the mum, nor the dad. Did the dad’s secret ever get revealed? Did Hydie see her mum again? It seemed to play such a big part in Hydie’s life that it left me feeling underwhelmed.
I understand I’ve made a few negative points within this review, but I don’t want those to take away from the fact that this book is a lovely read and something that would get people out of a slump easily. You fall in love with the family, you admire the little stories that you read alongside Hydie’s, and you dream of being in Spain. I would happily read this again if I was in the mood for it, and I think many people could find this to be a cute little comfort read!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂."
First of all, I would just like to thank the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this story as an ARC. Please note, all views are my own and are completely honest.
I’m a sucker for a best friend’s brother trope, but I was curious about the age gap considering George is five years older. By concern, I was worried that George would be a weirdo to confess he felt something for Hydie while he was twenty and she was fifteen (thank goodness that wasn’t the case!)
At first, I liked Hydie, I thought she was slightly relatable and deserved much better than the card she was dealt growing up, and while I still believe she deserved better, I grew to dislike her not long after a chapter or two. I understand that getting your feelings hurt as a fifteen year old is a really rubbish thing, especially by the guy you’re in love with - but to then pretty much cut your best friend and the rest of her family off for ten years because of that moment is ridiculous. That family because Hydie’s and I just feel that Hydie was a really crappy friend, and if anything, not truly held accountable for it. I’m not sure if it was for character development or what, but if it wasn’t for the way she started to make such an effort, I would’ve continued to dislike her.
Frannie is an absolute SWEETHEART! Let me cuddle this woman, spoil her with whatever she loves and be an incredible best friend to her because she is so loyal and kind, she has a heart of gold.! I think the way she still loved Hydie despite her lack of effort and flaws was beautiful, and it just showed how good of a person Frannie is. I also love how she reacted with her wedding. She is a queen. We totally need a love story for Theo and Frannie.
George is pretty much a workaholic in my mind, but he has such a kind heart like his sister and the rest of his family that he would drop anything if you was in need for him. I think the way he handled things with fifteen year old Hydie was fairly good, and I think the respect he gave her was remarkable. The only thing that disappointed me with George was the fact that he knew he was someone who was a helper and needed to put himself first, yet I don’t think we ever really saw that happen?
I think my favourite thing within this story was the well thought out diversity and how different cultures and ethnicities were shown within the book. It warmed my heart to learn little things, and then when you get to know George and Frannies family, you can’t help but admire them. Their parents deserve so much love and praise for the way they treated Hydie as their own and continue to do so. A found family trope is always a wonderful thing to read and I truly think Cora did a brilliant job incorporating it into the story.
Finally, I feel that there was a big plot hole with Hydie and her parents. We learn she wasn’t treated well, but we never saw just how bad it was to make other adults concerned, and then we never saw how things worked out in the end with the mum, nor the dad. Did the dad’s secret ever get revealed? Did Hydie see her mum again? It seemed to play such a big part in Hydie’s life that it left me feeling underwhelmed.
I understand I’ve made a few negative points within this review, but I don’t want those to take away from the fact that this book is a lovely read and something that would get people out of a slump easily. You fall in love with the family, you admire the little stories that you read alongside Hydie’s, and you dream of being in Spain. I would happily read this again if I was in the mood for it, and I think many people could find this to be a cute little comfort read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Finding Marianne by Sarah Louise Smith
Firstly, I just want to thank Sarah for contacting me directly and asking me if I would like to read this as an ARC. It was an honour to be trusted by you, especially when you had only seen my reviews and posts, and it was an honour to know that you wanted to be on my page.
Finding Marianne is slightly different to what I usually read, I’m not someone who reads a story that focuses on someone healing themselves and trying to find their purpose in live while also falling in love; but I’m glad I gave it a chance because of how happy and content my heart felt as times.
Sometimes a story that involves a timeline going back and forth can be stressful and unenjoyable, but to discover the story of Nora’s alongside Marianne’s? I was in awe. They never met one another, but were connected in more ways than one, and I loved how despite their similarities, they were both so different too. Nora was a beautiful woman with a kind soul, one that deserved to be loved, and the way she was loved by Tom is a way I wish to be loved by a man in my lifetime. Her story was both lovely and sad, yet it was one I fully immersed myself into and when it came to an end? I got goosebumps and had to focus on the fact that I didn’t want it too. If anything, I wanted a whole other story that focused even more on her and Tom!
Marianne is someone going through the motions of life, and while it’s not turning out the way she expected, I think she’s an incredibly brave woman for taking a chance the way she did. I think the representation of depression and anxiety was done fairly well, and it felt comforting to be able to relate to Marianne at times, and to know that I’m not the only one who hits rock bottom and panics about what will happen if I do so again. To be able to relate to a character is a wonderful thing, and I truly believe that the author will help other readers feel heard and understood when reading about Marianne and her mental health.
The story has made me want to visit Scotland, it also made me fall in love with the possible scenery that I could expect if I was to do so, and some of the places visited are now places on my bucket list. Scotland sounds like a magical place, and I hope I get to experience the love for it that Tom, Nora, Marianne, Finn and Iona have for it.
Finn is an absolute sweetheart, and I love that his single dad story strayed from the cliche. His story made my respect for him increase massively, and the way he treated Marianne? He’s a sweetheart. Unfortunately, I do feel that at times we did see and learn more of Marianne than we did of Finn, and if we did learn about him, it was usually elaborating a little more on what we knew rather than something different. Despite this, his relationship with Marianne was one I was desperate to have a happy ending for, their chemistry was incredible and present through the entirety of the story!
Finally, there was a plot hole regarding Marianne’s Spiritual Guide, I expected that to be elaborated on a little more as that scene seemed of importance at the time, but it kind of just disappeared into thin air. There was also the case of miscommunication / lack of communication with Finn and Marianne. They’re two adults getting to know one another, communicating really well yet they’re constantly failing to communicate properly about their feelings and the child situation? It could’ve been cleared up at 75% if anything, and it was dragged on for too long.
Either way, negatives aside, I really enjoyed this book and I would love to have it on my bookshelf one day, I would also really like to read more of Sarah’s work as it left me feeling happy and somewhat relaxed. If you’ve made it this far into my review, I certainly recommend giving the book a go, even if it’s different from your usual reads, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how much you enjoy it!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
"𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗼𝗻𝗮. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄."
Firstly, I just want to thank Sarah for contacting me directly and asking me if I would like to read this as an ARC. It was an honour to be trusted by you, especially when you had only seen my reviews and posts, and it was an honour to know that you wanted to be on my page.
Finding Marianne is slightly different to what I usually read, I’m not someone who reads a story that focuses on someone healing themselves and trying to find their purpose in live while also falling in love; but I’m glad I gave it a chance because of how happy and content my heart felt as times.
Sometimes a story that involves a timeline going back and forth can be stressful and unenjoyable, but to discover the story of Nora’s alongside Marianne’s? I was in awe. They never met one another, but were connected in more ways than one, and I loved how despite their similarities, they were both so different too. Nora was a beautiful woman with a kind soul, one that deserved to be loved, and the way she was loved by Tom is a way I wish to be loved by a man in my lifetime. Her story was both lovely and sad, yet it was one I fully immersed myself into and when it came to an end? I got goosebumps and had to focus on the fact that I didn’t want it too. If anything, I wanted a whole other story that focused even more on her and Tom!
Marianne is someone going through the motions of life, and while it’s not turning out the way she expected, I think she’s an incredibly brave woman for taking a chance the way she did. I think the representation of depression and anxiety was done fairly well, and it felt comforting to be able to relate to Marianne at times, and to know that I’m not the only one who hits rock bottom and panics about what will happen if I do so again. To be able to relate to a character is a wonderful thing, and I truly believe that the author will help other readers feel heard and understood when reading about Marianne and her mental health.
The story has made me want to visit Scotland, it also made me fall in love with the possible scenery that I could expect if I was to do so, and some of the places visited are now places on my bucket list. Scotland sounds like a magical place, and I hope I get to experience the love for it that Tom, Nora, Marianne, Finn and Iona have for it.
Finn is an absolute sweetheart, and I love that his single dad story strayed from the cliche. His story made my respect for him increase massively, and the way he treated Marianne? He’s a sweetheart. Unfortunately, I do feel that at times we did see and learn more of Marianne than we did of Finn, and if we did learn about him, it was usually elaborating a little more on what we knew rather than something different. Despite this, his relationship with Marianne was one I was desperate to have a happy ending for, their chemistry was incredible and present through the entirety of the story!
Finally, there was a plot hole regarding Marianne’s Spiritual Guide, I expected that to be elaborated on a little more as that scene seemed of importance at the time, but it kind of just disappeared into thin air. There was also the case of miscommunication / lack of communication with Finn and Marianne. They’re two adults getting to know one another, communicating really well yet they’re constantly failing to communicate properly about their feelings and the child situation? It could’ve been cleared up at 75% if anything, and it was dragged on for too long.
Either way, negatives aside, I really enjoyed this book and I would love to have it on my bookshelf one day, I would also really like to read more of Sarah’s work as it left me feeling happy and somewhat relaxed. If you’ve made it this far into my review, I certainly recommend giving the book a go, even if it’s different from your usual reads, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how much you enjoy it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Sexual content
Play for Keeps by Lily Miller
Excuse me, who doesn’t have this book in their TBR? I am telling you right now, you NEED this book in your life.
The first book of the series was enjoyable, it was a book that had beautiful characters that I enjoyed getting to know, and a small town that I wanted to visit. Something else the first book had was Jake Matthews. When I found out that Lily was bringing out a second book, I was jumping for joy (and crying on the inside because I was going to have to read about Jake falling in love with a woman that wasn’t me).
Play For Keeps is full of wholesome moments involving a sing,e mum and her precious daughter. Everly is an incredible mother who would do anything for her daughter, even if means she has to suffer a little bit. I found Everly to be some type of role model in my opinion as I don’t think I would be able to allow my child to continue to see a father who only puts in so much effort, yet she put her pride and feelings aside and allowed just that. Grant was someone who never deserved Everly, he treated her poorly and when Jake came along? I was overjoyed to see her get the love that she deserved from him, and the same goes for Birdie.
Jake is possibly one of the grumpiest men I have ever met. He has his life the way he wants it, and he doesn’t care about much apart from work and those close to him. I think the way he developed from a character like that to a character who was so kind and caring towards a child was something that left me falling in love with him. You see him turn into someone mature and ready for a family despite never thinking about that kind of future.
Jake and Everly together leave you jealous and wanting what they have (especially if you’re single). They may start off as friends who have a spark, but that’s what makes their relationship more beautiful. You see two people stray away from tropes that ruin a relationship before it’s started, and watch them fall into a relationship full of trust, communication and respect. The respect they both have for one another on and out of the bedroom is remarkable, and you can’t help but love the way Lily has written their story. They work as a team and they soon become a family, even if it’s not said out loud at first.
Sometimes authors can write books with children in really badly, but Birdie has a precious soul. I love that her and Jake hit things off instantly over a cat fact. That she has more of a father figure in Jake rather than her own father. Truthfully, my heart hurt at times when you read about how heartbroken or let down Birdie was because of Grant, but that little girl never allowed things to get in her way, and the way she approached life had me wanting to take her out for ice cream with her mother and buy her anything she wanted. She was just ADORABLE.
Unfortunately, there were two things that cringed me out a little, but it wasn’t enough to bring my rating down. At the start of the book, the way Jake and his friends talk to one another is a little off putting, it feels immature for their age and it’s just a little off putting. The second thing that cringed me out was Grant’s ending. I feel as though he was let off easily for the shit he did, aid anything, he wasn’t really held accountable for things. This small issue just left me disappointed.
Despite everything, I really did love this book. Jake made my top five book boyfriends list, Everly is someone I wish I knew in person, and I’m majorly excited for the next book in the series, especially when I can’t think of how it’ll turn out!
emotional
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
5.0
"𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗘𝘃. 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲. 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹."
Excuse me, who doesn’t have this book in their TBR? I am telling you right now, you NEED this book in your life.
The first book of the series was enjoyable, it was a book that had beautiful characters that I enjoyed getting to know, and a small town that I wanted to visit. Something else the first book had was Jake Matthews. When I found out that Lily was bringing out a second book, I was jumping for joy (and crying on the inside because I was going to have to read about Jake falling in love with a woman that wasn’t me).
Play For Keeps is full of wholesome moments involving a sing,e mum and her precious daughter. Everly is an incredible mother who would do anything for her daughter, even if means she has to suffer a little bit. I found Everly to be some type of role model in my opinion as I don’t think I would be able to allow my child to continue to see a father who only puts in so much effort, yet she put her pride and feelings aside and allowed just that. Grant was someone who never deserved Everly, he treated her poorly and when Jake came along? I was overjoyed to see her get the love that she deserved from him, and the same goes for Birdie.
Jake is possibly one of the grumpiest men I have ever met. He has his life the way he wants it, and he doesn’t care about much apart from work and those close to him. I think the way he developed from a character like that to a character who was so kind and caring towards a child was something that left me falling in love with him. You see him turn into someone mature and ready for a family despite never thinking about that kind of future.
Jake and Everly together leave you jealous and wanting what they have (especially if you’re single). They may start off as friends who have a spark, but that’s what makes their relationship more beautiful. You see two people stray away from tropes that ruin a relationship before it’s started, and watch them fall into a relationship full of trust, communication and respect. The respect they both have for one another on and out of the bedroom is remarkable, and you can’t help but love the way Lily has written their story. They work as a team and they soon become a family, even if it’s not said out loud at first.
Sometimes authors can write books with children in really badly, but Birdie has a precious soul. I love that her and Jake hit things off instantly over a cat fact. That she has more of a father figure in Jake rather than her own father. Truthfully, my heart hurt at times when you read about how heartbroken or let down Birdie was because of Grant, but that little girl never allowed things to get in her way, and the way she approached life had me wanting to take her out for ice cream with her mother and buy her anything she wanted. She was just ADORABLE.
Unfortunately, there were two things that cringed me out a little, but it wasn’t enough to bring my rating down. At the start of the book, the way Jake and his friends talk to one another is a little off putting, it feels immature for their age and it’s just a little off putting. The second thing that cringed me out was Grant’s ending. I feel as though he was let off easily for the shit he did, aid anything, he wasn’t really held accountable for things. This small issue just left me disappointed.
Despite everything, I really did love this book. Jake made my top five book boyfriends list, Everly is someone I wish I knew in person, and I’m majorly excited for the next book in the series, especially when I can’t think of how it’ll turn out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity
All My Love by Morgan Elizabeth
Who doesn’t love a beautiful quote and a story by Morgan Elizabeth? Crazy people, that’s who! All My Love is a story full of heartbreak, lies, betrayal and more; it’ll leave you wanting to cuddle the person who supports you during your darkest times while also making you want to appreciate the little things in life a whole lot more.
As someone who enjoys Morgan’ work, I know that her books are usually funny, light hearted and entertaining, which is why I love this story so much. All My Love hones in on mental health and how a mental illnesses like depression can leave you feeling as though you’ve hit rock bottom and that you’re drowning in the ocean that is no longer gently lapping at your feet. As someone who has depression, the representation meant a lot to me, and made me feel less alone in a world where I often feel lonely. Stella Hart deserves the world, and I will forever wish that those hard days she experiences, continue to become easier for her (even if she is fictional).
Another reason I loved this book was for the way Morgan focused on drug and alcohol, the addiction that can sometimes occur, even when you think you’ve got a hold on yourself. It played such a big part in the flashbacks and present time, and I think it was wrote perfectly to just how an addiction can be so powerful as to change your life and become a constant, something that is chosen over people. I think Riggin’s story is a powerful one, and for him to make it through recovery, it made me so freaking proud of him. While I may not deal with addiction, I do hope that if someone was to read this story and be close to relapsing into an addiction, they’d read this book and realise that they are, that they can do wonderful and great things in life without relying on something. That they are worth everything. I think this story has the power to do that. It raises awareness while reminding others that when times get hard, there is a silver lining.
The relationships with the characters were so complex and thought out. The bond between Stella and her twin Evie had me smiling at the best of times because of how great they are with one another. One of the main relationships was between Stella and her mother, and when I tell you that I was ANGRY, I mean it. I wanted to bitch slap Stella’s mother and put her in her place countless times. No one has ever made me feel that much anger towards a fictional parent before, and I cannot get over how she acted! The only thing that frustrated me was the plot hole with Stella’s did. Why did we not see if he ever spoke to Stella after Stella spoke to her mum? I just felt like Stella deserved closure there. Finally, the band members! I love how good they were to Stella and how they always looked at her as one of them rather than groupie. I loved Beckett the most and I am indeed manifesting a second book where it’s focused on Beckett and Evie, I AM MANIFESTING.
All in all, I loved this book like crazy, there were times when I couldn’t put it down and I am so freaking thankful that I was lucky enough to get an ARC for this. The se Hal scenes were beautiful to read, they were so in the moment, genuine, heated, passionate and fiery. I love that they always brought something different to the story. If you’ve finished reading my review, go and read the story, I promise you won’t regret it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
“Stella Hart, you’re my person. Evie can be yours, and I’ll share that honour with her until the day I die, but you’re mine. You’re it for me. You’ve always been it for me.”
Who doesn’t love a beautiful quote and a story by Morgan Elizabeth? Crazy people, that’s who! All My Love is a story full of heartbreak, lies, betrayal and more; it’ll leave you wanting to cuddle the person who supports you during your darkest times while also making you want to appreciate the little things in life a whole lot more.
As someone who enjoys Morgan’ work, I know that her books are usually funny, light hearted and entertaining, which is why I love this story so much. All My Love hones in on mental health and how a mental illnesses like depression can leave you feeling as though you’ve hit rock bottom and that you’re drowning in the ocean that is no longer gently lapping at your feet. As someone who has depression, the representation meant a lot to me, and made me feel less alone in a world where I often feel lonely. Stella Hart deserves the world, and I will forever wish that those hard days she experiences, continue to become easier for her (even if she is fictional).
Another reason I loved this book was for the way Morgan focused on drug and alcohol, the addiction that can sometimes occur, even when you think you’ve got a hold on yourself. It played such a big part in the flashbacks and present time, and I think it was wrote perfectly to just how an addiction can be so powerful as to change your life and become a constant, something that is chosen over people. I think Riggin’s story is a powerful one, and for him to make it through recovery, it made me so freaking proud of him. While I may not deal with addiction, I do hope that if someone was to read this story and be close to relapsing into an addiction, they’d read this book and realise that they are, that they can do wonderful and great things in life without relying on something. That they are worth everything. I think this story has the power to do that. It raises awareness while reminding others that when times get hard, there is a silver lining.
The relationships with the characters were so complex and thought out. The bond between Stella and her twin Evie had me smiling at the best of times because of how great they are with one another. One of the main relationships was between Stella and her mother, and when I tell you that I was ANGRY, I mean it. I wanted to bitch slap Stella’s mother and put her in her place countless times. No one has ever made me feel that much anger towards a fictional parent before, and I cannot get over how she acted! The only thing that frustrated me was the plot hole with Stella’s did. Why did we not see if he ever spoke to Stella after Stella spoke to her mum? I just felt like Stella deserved closure there. Finally, the band members! I love how good they were to Stella and how they always looked at her as one of them rather than groupie. I loved Beckett the most and I am indeed manifesting a second book where it’s focused on Beckett and Evie, I AM MANIFESTING.
All in all, I loved this book like crazy, there were times when I couldn’t put it down and I am so freaking thankful that I was lucky enough to get an ARC for this. The se Hal scenes were beautiful to read, they were so in the moment, genuine, heated, passionate and fiery. I love that they always brought something different to the story. If you’ve finished reading my review, go and read the story, I promise you won’t regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault
Here For The Cake by Jennifer Millikin
Can we just appreciate the quote that I’ve attached? How freaking beautiful is it? I think when we all read a romance, we think of how we would love for someone to love us the way someone is loved in a book, and I think that quote is the perfect embodiment of every romance lover.
I saw this book and instantly loved the cover and name. It was meant to be, especially as I’m a lover of cake and need my daily slice otherwise I turn vicious. To know I was accepted for the ARC left me feeling all types of happiness and I did celebrate with cake too.
I loved the idea of fake dating and second chances, I also loved that someone could be so unhinged to marry their sisters ex, I believed I was in for a wild ride, and in a way, I got what I asked for. The ride was a little wild, but also EXTREMELY cute.
Despite fake dating being a main trope, I feel as though not enough people questioned them on it, especially with Klein’s social media telling the story of them fake dating. You usually have people accusing more often, trying to find any little bit of evidence that they aren’t what they say they are - I felt a little let down by this, I think it could’ve created a bit more drama between Sienna and Shane, and it would’ve really shown Sienna that she deserved better.
Even though I felt a little let down on the fake dating aspect, everything else was perfect for me. I love when a book doesn’t have a third act breakup and I am so grateful to the author for not having one in this story. Instead, we had mature characters who communicated and fell for one another naturally. We had two characters who allowed their past mistakes to become lessons, lessons they could learn and grow from. Paisley and Klein are a true pairing and they have my entire heart. The way they have so many wholesome moments had me constantly looking like this emoji: 🥺 while also wanting to scream about how cute they were from a rooftop.
Another enjoyable thing for me was how the social media account was focused on. I love that the story got told from that perspective too, that you could see Klein falling in love and telling it through his words. (Also, hi I would officially like to see Klein’s fictional story written, I’m not kidding). The social media account was needed for a very logical reason and I love that it bought a feeling of realness to the book!
You had numerous side characters who all played a big part in the characters lives. It was great to see characters develop emotionally, and also learn about back stories. Paisley and Royce certainly deserved better from certain members of their families, and I think the fact that ONE character in particular had made a certain amount of progress shows that things take time and that not everyone can be easily forgiven.
All in all, this book was fantastic. I even read the bonus epilogue after and I was over the moon with their ending. It was exactly the way I wanted it, and I was a happy girly. If you want a wholesome rom-com with a word daddy and sassy FMC, this is perfect for you!
Thank you Jennifer and Valentine PR for allowing me the honour to read this as an ARC! My review is completely honest and all of my own thoughts!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
“You are my favorite story. The best I’ve ever heard, and the best I’ll ever tell.”
Can we just appreciate the quote that I’ve attached? How freaking beautiful is it? I think when we all read a romance, we think of how we would love for someone to love us the way someone is loved in a book, and I think that quote is the perfect embodiment of every romance lover.
I saw this book and instantly loved the cover and name. It was meant to be, especially as I’m a lover of cake and need my daily slice otherwise I turn vicious. To know I was accepted for the ARC left me feeling all types of happiness and I did celebrate with cake too.
I loved the idea of fake dating and second chances, I also loved that someone could be so unhinged to marry their sisters ex, I believed I was in for a wild ride, and in a way, I got what I asked for. The ride was a little wild, but also EXTREMELY cute.
Despite fake dating being a main trope, I feel as though not enough people questioned them on it, especially with Klein’s social media telling the story of them fake dating. You usually have people accusing more often, trying to find any little bit of evidence that they aren’t what they say they are - I felt a little let down by this, I think it could’ve created a bit more drama between Sienna and Shane, and it would’ve really shown Sienna that she deserved better.
Even though I felt a little let down on the fake dating aspect, everything else was perfect for me. I love when a book doesn’t have a third act breakup and I am so grateful to the author for not having one in this story. Instead, we had mature characters who communicated and fell for one another naturally. We had two characters who allowed their past mistakes to become lessons, lessons they could learn and grow from. Paisley and Klein are a true pairing and they have my entire heart. The way they have so many wholesome moments had me constantly looking like this emoji: 🥺 while also wanting to scream about how cute they were from a rooftop.
Another enjoyable thing for me was how the social media account was focused on. I love that the story got told from that perspective too, that you could see Klein falling in love and telling it through his words. (Also, hi I would officially like to see Klein’s fictional story written, I’m not kidding). The social media account was needed for a very logical reason and I love that it bought a feeling of realness to the book!
You had numerous side characters who all played a big part in the characters lives. It was great to see characters develop emotionally, and also learn about back stories. Paisley and Royce certainly deserved better from certain members of their families, and I think the fact that ONE character in particular had made a certain amount of progress shows that things take time and that not everyone can be easily forgiven.
All in all, this book was fantastic. I even read the bonus epilogue after and I was over the moon with their ending. It was exactly the way I wanted it, and I was a happy girly. If you want a wholesome rom-com with a word daddy and sassy FMC, this is perfect for you!
Thank you Jennifer and Valentine PR for allowing me the honour to read this as an ARC! My review is completely honest and all of my own thoughts!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
I Thought of You by Jewel E. Ann
*~*~*~*~*
I came across this ARC via Valentine PR, I loved the title and I wanted to know more instantly; then I read the synopsis and I knew this was the type of book that I would enjoy reading… little did I know that the book was COMPLETELY different to what I thought it was going to be (which is partly to why I bought the rating down.
It’s rare that a book can make me cry, but this one did, and it was in the cruelest way, but I also wouldn’t take back those tears for anything because I think the author did a great job at writing something heartbreaking and turning it into something beautiful. Without giving too much of a spoiler, what do you do when you receive a life changing prognosis? Do you deal with it medically, or do you make a change to your life style? The latter was certainly something I never considered, but seeing Price think about these kind of things and act upon them left me with food for thought.
Price Milloy has everything he could ever want, except the one that got away when he was a few years younger, and now he’s going back to her, but with a few secrets up his sleeve. Price Milloy wasn’t the type of billionaire that you usually read about, he actually had a funny sense of humour and a kind heart. He cares about others and wants to go back to seeing things in a different light. He certainly drew the short card with his prognosis, but you wouldn’t think that if you were to meet him.
Scottie Rucker is the epitome of sunshine, dandelions and not caring, she’s got a heart of gold and a carefree life. In some ways, she’s relatable, and in others, she’s a breath of fresh air, and while I certainly got boho/hippy vibes from Scotty, Jewel made me want to know Scottie even more, a specially so I could live in her happiness and care free attitude.
With a will they/wont they situation alongside a small love triangle, I was left desperate to see Scottie and Price back together, I thought Koen was incredibly fishy at first, and some of the things we would say left me cringing. Despite this, not everything was as it seemed, and as the characters grew, I began to change my mind and battle with my head and heart. It takes a great writer to leave a reader having so many mixed emotions as to how they want a book to end. And if I am being honest, I was more than happy with the ending given. The ending was something I did not expect, and as mentioned above, one that made me cry.
If I could drill my opinion into anyone, it would be to read this book, even if you think it may not be what you want, because I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those books that make you feel cautious to read, but grateful to have read in the end. Allow your entire soul to immerse into this book and let your heart run wild. I did, and I have no regrets.
Thank you so much to Jewel and Valentine PR for allowing me to read this ARC. I have continued to think about it for days, and I would happily read it time and time again.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.75
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪!
🦋 First Love
🦋 Opposites Attract
🦋 Will they/won’t they?
🦋 First Love
🦋 Opposites Attract
🦋 Will they/won’t they?
"𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁... 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂."
*~*~*~*~*
I came across this ARC via Valentine PR, I loved the title and I wanted to know more instantly; then I read the synopsis and I knew this was the type of book that I would enjoy reading… little did I know that the book was COMPLETELY different to what I thought it was going to be (which is partly to why I bought the rating down.
It’s rare that a book can make me cry, but this one did, and it was in the cruelest way, but I also wouldn’t take back those tears for anything because I think the author did a great job at writing something heartbreaking and turning it into something beautiful. Without giving too much of a spoiler, what do you do when you receive a life changing prognosis? Do you deal with it medically, or do you make a change to your life style? The latter was certainly something I never considered, but seeing Price think about these kind of things and act upon them left me with food for thought.
Price Milloy has everything he could ever want, except the one that got away when he was a few years younger, and now he’s going back to her, but with a few secrets up his sleeve. Price Milloy wasn’t the type of billionaire that you usually read about, he actually had a funny sense of humour and a kind heart. He cares about others and wants to go back to seeing things in a different light. He certainly drew the short card with his prognosis, but you wouldn’t think that if you were to meet him.
Scottie Rucker is the epitome of sunshine, dandelions and not caring, she’s got a heart of gold and a carefree life. In some ways, she’s relatable, and in others, she’s a breath of fresh air, and while I certainly got boho/hippy vibes from Scotty, Jewel made me want to know Scottie even more, a specially so I could live in her happiness and care free attitude.
With a will they/wont they situation alongside a small love triangle, I was left desperate to see Scottie and Price back together, I thought Koen was incredibly fishy at first, and some of the things we would say left me cringing. Despite this, not everything was as it seemed, and as the characters grew, I began to change my mind and battle with my head and heart. It takes a great writer to leave a reader having so many mixed emotions as to how they want a book to end. And if I am being honest, I was more than happy with the ending given. The ending was something I did not expect, and as mentioned above, one that made me cry.
If I could drill my opinion into anyone, it would be to read this book, even if you think it may not be what you want, because I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those books that make you feel cautious to read, but grateful to have read in the end. Allow your entire soul to immerse into this book and let your heart run wild. I did, and I have no regrets.
Thank you so much to Jewel and Valentine PR for allowing me to read this ARC. I have continued to think about it for days, and I would happily read it time and time again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Sexual content, and Medical content