Take a photo of a barcode or cover
hmgauthier's Reviews (242)
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“… maybe the church just wanted to be rid of her altogether and couldn’t think of a better excuse.”
This is probably one of the best book I’ve read this year and great books are always hard for me to review.
This novella is a frank look at our society in a time when we see a national (global even) push to keep women sweet. I think the realness of this will stay with me for a long time.
Reminds me of the line from Wicked: are people born wicked, or is wickedness thrust upon them?
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“… but she chose to ruin her life here in Idaho with me.”
This book packs a punch in its 125 pages.
An interesting, vampiric take on succubi. Not sure if I totally loved that part.
Instant love-y but given circumstances I can look past it.
This book packs a punch in its 125 pages.
An interesting, vampiric take on succubi. Not sure if I totally loved that part.
Instant love-y but given circumstances I can look past it.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“It wasn’t her fault that her heart had a megaphone and her head had anxiety.”
I was so blinded by the amazing cover and “Mummy” comp on this one that I didn’t notice it was YA, which is perfectly good but definitely a range I’ve moved out of.
That being said this book is adorable. I think young adults reading a book about a girl figuring herself out, feeling her loud emotions, and being adventurer without sacrificing femininity is so crucial. Additionally, reading about a man who also feels his feelings is so rare to find that it deserves its own shout out.
Some of the book didn’t work for me. I struggled to picture the landscape was trying to immerse the reader in, it just never really connected with me and made imagining some scenes hard. I think love stories based on one week of knowing each other (half of which they were “enemies”) are silly and sort of ridiculous. I feel like Astrid got off easy in the end but that is just me.
To me this book felt less like “The Mummy” and more like “The Lost City” (with Sandra Bullock).
Very cute but not for me!
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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:
Complicated
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“Well, clearly my vampdar isn’t what I thought it was. Knew you were gay from the first encounter, had no idea you were undead.”
My biggest issue with the book is the instant love aspect between Lucy and Iris. As much as I wanted to be deeply unwavering in support of the love story it just felt too fast to completely win me over.
I love so much of this story. I love that it’s a queer revival of a classic, the villainous twist, and the fantastic side characters.
The story being divided between the therapy sessions, diary entries, and Iris was just magic to read. A perfect way to layer in suspense.
Honestly it’s so refreshing to read a book in which the vampire love interest wasn’t afraid to turn their beloved to have more time.
“Well, clearly my vampdar isn’t what I thought it was. Knew you were gay from the first encounter, had no idea you were undead.”
My biggest issue with the book is the instant love aspect between Lucy and Iris. As much as I wanted to be deeply unwavering in support of the love story it just felt too fast to completely win me over.
I love so much of this story. I love that it’s a queer revival of a classic, the villainous twist, and the fantastic side characters.
The story being divided between the therapy sessions, diary entries, and Iris was just magic to read. A perfect way to layer in suspense.
Honestly it’s so refreshing to read a book in which the vampire love interest wasn’t afraid to turn their beloved to have more time.
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not for me but fun nonetheless
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“The world is simple when you can bisect it. Everything is so much more painful when it’s gray.”
“You weren’t hiding Amaris, were you?”
I have such mixed feelings about this.
The pacing at times made the read feel never ending. And the Gad and Amaris romance plot line got old fast, his energy at the end was much more what I hoped for. Reading Amaris’ chapters tended to be painful for the most.
But on the other hand the story is filled with things I love: the complex characters and political environment, sapphic yearning, friendship, and the whole Gray Matron aspect.
The fact Amaris was literally made for Nox literally has me screaming still.
Will I keep reading these books absolutely, I’m way too interested in how Nox and Amaris’ story ends but I may gripe about it along the way.
“You weren’t hiding Amaris, were you?”
I have such mixed feelings about this.
The pacing at times made the read feel never ending. And the Gad and Amaris romance plot line got old fast, his energy at the end was much more what I hoped for. Reading Amaris’ chapters tended to be painful for the most.
But on the other hand the story is filled with things I love: the complex characters and political environment, sapphic yearning, friendship, and the whole Gray Matron aspect.
The fact Amaris was literally made for Nox literally has me screaming still.
Will I keep reading these books absolutely, I’m way too interested in how Nox and Amaris’ story ends but I may gripe about it along the way.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“I suppress a burp that tastes like pure Irish vengeance.”
“I’m beginning to suspect that a flirtatious smile and a genuine love of food and drink may get me anywhere.”
CMQ has an achingly beautiful way of writing and wit that wakes me want to cry.
I love the descriptions of the food and wine tour, it put my time spent watching the Great British Bake Off to good use.
This book makes me want to book a trip and fall I love and that is the higher regard I could impart on anything.
“I suppress a burp that tastes like pure Irish vengeance.”
“I’m beginning to suspect that a flirtatious smile and a genuine love of food and drink may get me anywhere.”
CMQ has an achingly beautiful way of writing and wit that wakes me want to cry.
I love the descriptions of the food and wine tour, it put my time spent watching the Great British Bake Off to good use.
This book makes me want to book a trip and fall I love and that is the higher regard I could impart on anything.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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:
Complicated
“We know matters of the heart take you a little while to figure out.”
“How much of your free time do you spend thinking of new and exciting things to be anxious about?”
This is a stunning debut and it has my whole heart. Did I follow most of the science? No. But I a got Vico Ortiz narration and Fantastic Four Space gays and LIVED for every moment.
The story is filled with heart and lush characters. And my god, the yearning, so much yearning.
This is the first audiobook I’ve ever listened too and I can’t recommend the audio version enough!!
Some aspects of it fell flat for me personally, mostly how characters were described in the first few chapters and some personally cringy aspects of character interaction (LOTS of sticking out tongues for characters in their late 20s). The writing at times was simplistic and I forgot this was new adult over YA.
“How much of your free time do you spend thinking of new and exciting things to be anxious about?”
This is a stunning debut and it has my whole heart. Did I follow most of the science? No. But I a got Vico Ortiz narration and Fantastic Four Space gays and LIVED for every moment.
The story is filled with heart and lush characters. And my god, the yearning, so much yearning.
This is the first audiobook I’ve ever listened too and I can’t recommend the audio version enough!!
Some aspects of it fell flat for me personally, mostly how characters were described in the first few chapters and some personally cringy aspects of character interaction (LOTS of sticking out tongues for characters in their late 20s). The writing at times was simplistic and I forgot this was new adult over YA.