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indieandajean's reviews
439 reviews
Only If You Dare: 13 Stories of Darkness and Doom by Josh Allen
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
My favorite type of children's horror is "child is a jerk resulting in supernatural repercussions" and this book certainly has plenty of those stories.
I always recommend kids horror to everyone, it's spooky without being too scary and it gets across an important message everyone needs to hear: don't be a jerk, or the ghouls will get you.
I always recommend kids horror to everyone, it's spooky without being too scary and it gets across an important message everyone needs to hear: don't be a jerk, or the ghouls will get you.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
I love Jen Deluca's Renaissance Faire romance series, so I was excited to try something new from her and Haunted Ever After did not disappoint. This book has a perfect mix of misunderstanding, mystery, strong independent female characters, humor, and spice.
I loved the cast of characters that Boneyard Key holds in this book, and I would love to read more of their stories in the future.
If you like things a little on the spooky (but not scary) side and are looking for a fun seaside romance, you'll enjoy this book.
I loved the cast of characters that Boneyard Key holds in this book, and I would love to read more of their stories in the future.
If you like things a little on the spooky (but not scary) side and are looking for a fun seaside romance, you'll enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Apprentice to the Villain was a great second book. The loveable characters from book one have grown with the story, and the humor continues to be perfectly balanced with the tension.
Absolutely looking forward to book three and hopefully the resolution to the will-they-won't-theys happening across the board in this office.
Absolutely looking forward to book three and hopefully the resolution to the will-they-won't-theys happening across the board in this office.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Full disclosure: I have only tangential knowledge of only murders in the building, But if that show is nearly as cozy as this novella, I have to add it to my watch list.
Excellent use of the boy next door/ hot neighbor trope. Loved the way the building residents were fleshed out without taking away from the main characters and their romance.
Excellent use of the boy next door/ hot neighbor trope. Loved the way the building residents were fleshed out without taking away from the main characters and their romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Grief, Alcohol
Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This novella is a well done firefighter romance. Short, sweet, and moderately spicy with a light holiday setting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
All by My Elf by Olivia Dade
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This short, sweet, spicy holiday romance had me laughing. It was way more relatable and emotional than a story about three colleagues in a repurposed Oscar Meyer wienermobile had any right to be and I loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3/5 stars because it's good, but also YKINMKATO
Holiday filth, decently well written for a novella, but could have benefited from not trying to fit so much in so little space in my personal opinion.
Holiday filth, decently well written for a novella, but could have benefited from not trying to fit so much in so little space in my personal opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
The queen of enemies to lovers does it again!
This is the perfect short, sweet, and cozy winter romance to start the season, and I'm not even sorry that I'm reading it before Thanksgiving.
If you're looking for boy next door goodness, a touch of spice, and snowed in tropes, this is the read for you!
This is the perfect short, sweet, and cozy winter romance to start the season, and I'm not even sorry that I'm reading it before Thanksgiving.
If you're looking for boy next door goodness, a touch of spice, and snowed in tropes, this is the read for you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcohol
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Short, sweet, and cozy with just the right level of spice.
This book made me want to go spend some time on a lake and eat my weight in sweets.
Highly recommend this one if you're looking for a cozy romance with minimal drama and maximum sweetness.
This book made me want to go spend some time on a lake and eat my weight in sweets.
Highly recommend this one if you're looking for a cozy romance with minimal drama and maximum sweetness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Will I ever get tired of Ali Hazelwood writing about women in STEM falling in love with BIG dorky men who drink their respect women juice? Absolutely not.
Loved the video game industry "inside baseball" in this one. I always enjoy the way Hazelwood's books give the reader a glance into industries and fields they may be unfamiliar with. It made me want to replay some old favorite video games and think on what their development processes may have been like. (The digs at Fallout 76 are totally justified, btw, get your shit together Bethesda).
For me this read was beyond cozy. I very much appreciated that there was no attempt to shoehorn a third act conflict in the tight space of the novella. This is nothing but top tier pining, misunderstanding, sweet romance, and spice. My only complaint is that I honestly wanted more with this one. I often find resolutions of novellas to be unsatisfying, and while I wasn't fully disappointed by the HEA, I felt like we needed a short epilogue of Viola and Jesse working together.
All in all though, this was a solid 4 star read for me.
If you love gaming and want a light, cozy, wintry romance read with no major conflict, this is the novella for you.
Loved the video game industry "inside baseball" in this one. I always enjoy the way Hazelwood's books give the reader a glance into industries and fields they may be unfamiliar with. It made me want to replay some old favorite video games and think on what their development processes may have been like. (The digs at Fallout 76 are totally justified, btw, get your shit together Bethesda).
For me this read was beyond cozy. I very much appreciated that there was no attempt to shoehorn a third act conflict in the tight space of the novella. This is nothing but top tier pining, misunderstanding, sweet romance, and spice. My only complaint is that I honestly wanted more with this one. I often find resolutions of novellas to be unsatisfying, and while I wasn't fully disappointed by the HEA, I felt like we needed a short epilogue of Viola and Jesse working together.
All in all though, this was a solid 4 star read for me.
If you love gaming and want a light, cozy, wintry romance read with no major conflict, this is the novella for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment