indieandajean's reviews
439 reviews

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 A brilliant bit of hurt/comfort romance with lots of spice and surprisingly low conflict for the premise. It was certainly different from Hazelwood's other romances, though the throughlines of women in STEM meeting attractive rivals was still there.
Despite the way in which Rue and Eli were on opposite sides of their business dealings, this didn't really hit me as an enemies to lovers story. The third act conflict was less about their issues with each other and more about their internal struggles with security, romance, and commitment which feels somehow less punchy than the misunderstandings that are usually core to these books.
This was not my favorite of Hazelwood's books and I think this may be the first I rated under 5 stars, but it was a fun read and I enjoyed it. It just didn't make my heart flutter and make me swoon like her other books. 

The Good Egg by Boom! Studios, Mariko Tamaki

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Such a cute story following Ripley and focusing on her unique experience as the youngest and smallest member of Roanoke cabin. I really enjoyed the frequency with which Barney showed up in this one. It was such a a cozy and fun read to enjoy on Trans Day of Visibility! 

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Sweet, spicy, and the perfect balance of fluff and conflict. Exactly what I've come to expect from Dream Harbor.

Sweet Berries by C.M. Nascosta

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Short, sweet & sexy. This one is for all the Mothman girlies. 

I absolutely loved the characters and their dynamics. This is the fourth book I've read that is set in Cambric Creek (I'm going totally out of order) and I've loved seeing references to characters that I've seen before popping up here and there. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism

Slow Seasons: A Creative Guide to Reconnecting with Nature the Celtic Way by Rosie Steer

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

A beautiful book full of ideas on how to celebrate the seasons everyday with a focus on the wheel of the year. Many of the ideas are a bit region specific (which only makes sense given that the book is about connecting with nature) but it is easy to adapt ideas to match with the flora/fauna of your area. 

I enjoyed the mixture of personal stories, historical context, and recipes/ craft instructions. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for suggestions on slowing down and enjoying nature.

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel by Barbara Park

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly bus is the latest in a wonderful movement toward graphic novel adaptations of children's chapters.

The illustrations are beautifully done, bright, colorful, and in the vein of Raina Telgemier, making this a great alternative for younger readers who may be interested in reading Smile, Drama, Guts, but are not yet emotionally prepared for the texts.

I appreciated that the childlike voice of Junie stays as it was in the original books, with her voice coming through much like any 5 year old's speech. The updates made to the graphic novel does not change the spirit of the chapter book, but by adding Junie playing on an ipad, talking about video games, and generally updating the setting to the modern period, it will more likely appeal to today's tech native readers.

Overall I very much enjoyed rereading this story I loved as a child in a new format and I am excited to share it with new readers! 

Two for Tea: Welcome to Azathé by C.M. Nascosta

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 Flirty, fun, and sweet. Harper and Azathe were very loveable characters and I was rooting for them from the start.

Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.5

A cute read. I enjoyed the characters and the plot, but at times it felt unbelievable that the characters were moving too fast in their relationship. I wish that there had been a little more time between "Hi, I like you" and "Sure I'll fly across the country to meet your family", but otherwise it was a solid and sweet story with a little spooky set dressing. 

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was a fun read. The perfect balance of humor, adventure, magic, and romance!
Per the usual, the characters were very lovable. I was cheering for Tamsyn and Bowen the whole time, while also enjoying the moments where we got to see the rest of the Graves Glen crew again.  

I have some qualms with how the time travel was executed, particularly because the hows and whys of the outcome don't seem particularly well thought out, but it was still a fun element and I enjoyed it. 

If you haven't already read the other two entries in the Graves Glen series, I wouldn't recommend starting with The Wedding Witch, but if you already enjoy the series and want to know if the third book is worth your time, I'd say yes. 

My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Much like the first book in this series, My Vampire Plus-One is just pure, unadulterated joy in book form. 

The blend of humor and romance is perfect, the characters are loveable, and while the plot depends on a lot of misunderstandings and the threat of vampire murder, the stakes (ha!) feel relatively low. The read is relaxing and it comes in delightful contemporary-meets-paranormal that feels unique despite being a standard of the genre. 

The use of tropes, and the turning of them on their head "there's only one bed... oh wait... there's a whole cabin of bedrooms" is inspired and adds to the laugh-out-loud quality of the storytelling. 

I'd recommend this one to anyone who wants a funny romance with great spicy scenes.