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itsjustkatereading's reviews
1633 reviews
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
At this point I’m convinced it would be impossible for Catherine Doyle to write a book I don’t enjoy. There’s something about the wit and theatre Catherine adds to her books that just really works for me and, although not my favourite of her work, The Dagger and the Flame was no exception. With vibes of These Violent Delights and Catherine’s contemporary ‘Blood for Blood’ series, this was an action packed and surprisingly dark read and a story I’m looking forward to continue to follow in book two!
(side note; I’m slightly confused about who this book is targeted for this because it’s marketed as YA but then I hit the 80%ish mark and nope… suddenly not YA anymore.)
what to expect:
- enemies to lovers
- rival gangs
- monsters
- revenge
- forbidden romance
- found family
- magic
- stabby girls
- assassins and thieves
- a very good three legged dog
(side note; I’m slightly confused about who this book is targeted for this because it’s marketed as YA but then I hit the 80%ish mark and nope… suddenly not YA anymore.)
what to expect:
- enemies to lovers
- rival gangs
- monsters
- revenge
- forbidden romance
- found family
- magic
- stabby girls
- assassins and thieves
- a very good three legged dog
The Enemy by Sarah Adams
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I'm slightly conflicted on my feelings for this one.
On the one hand, June was a little irritating at times (although somewhat understandably) and Ryan seriously needed to learn the meaning of boundaries (just because you have a key to someone's house, doesn't mean you get to let yourself in whenever you like and chill on their couch!)
On the other hand, it was cute and fun and while they weren't perfect, I enjoyed reading from both June's and Ryan's POV. Also Junes family were fabulous.
It might not be my favourite of Sarah's books but I had a good time with it nonetheless.
What to expect:
- (faux) high school enemies-to-lovers
- foodie romance
- cute family dynamics
- closed door
On the one hand, June was a little irritating at times (although somewhat understandably) and Ryan seriously needed to learn the meaning of boundaries (just because you have a key to someone's house, doesn't mean you get to let yourself in whenever you like and chill on their couch!)
On the other hand, it was cute and fun and while they weren't perfect, I enjoyed reading from both June's and Ryan's POV. Also Junes family were fabulous.
It might not be my favourite of Sarah's books but I had a good time with it nonetheless.
What to expect:
- (faux) high school enemies-to-lovers
- foodie romance
- cute family dynamics
- closed door
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming
The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
With a classic dark fairytale vibe meets Bridgerton and a touch of The Bachelor, The Rose Bargain was an immersive and enthralling read.
Easy to read and immensely addictive from the first page, The Rose Bargain had an elevated 2000's classic fantasy YA nostalgia to it. With a simple yet incredibly enjoyable writing style and familiar tropes, this didn't necessarily feel like anything entirely new but it stands out nonetheless.
For me, the relationships, specifically the romance, were somewhat lacking chemistry and I would have like to have seen a little more depth. That being said, the plot was so fast moving and fun, I didn't really feel like I was missing out until I finished and realised I wanted a bit more, as I came to really enjoy each character. I did, however, love the addition of the occasional POV from the other girls vying for Bram's hand and hope we get to see more from them in the next book.
All in all, this was a fabulous read and I'm both gutted I now have to wait a year for book two but also very excited I get to have more from this story!
Easy to read and immensely addictive from the first page, The Rose Bargain had an elevated 2000's classic fantasy YA nostalgia to it. With a simple yet incredibly enjoyable writing style and familiar tropes, this didn't necessarily feel like anything entirely new but it stands out nonetheless.
For me, the relationships, specifically the romance, were somewhat lacking chemistry and I would have like to have seen a little more depth. That being said, the plot was so fast moving and fun, I didn't really feel like I was missing out until I finished and realised I wanted a bit more, as I came to really enjoy each character. I did, however, love the addition of the occasional POV from the other girls vying for Bram's hand and hope we get to see more from them in the next book.
All in all, this was a fabulous read and I'm both gutted I now have to wait a year for book two but also very excited I get to have more from this story!
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
tis very cute and entirely what you’d expect and that’s why I keep reading this cheesy little series.
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Talk about family drama... This was pure chaos and I loved every minute of it.
This was a sweet, fun and festive second chance romance, with a cast of characters who were complex and messy and utterly endearing. I loved the discussions surrounding Ellie's anxiety, burnout and demisexuality, as well as those about Jack's adhd. Despite not being overly Christmassy, this had a warm, wintery vibe that was made to be read under a blanket, with a mug of hot chocolate. All in all, this was a perfect holiday read and has very much solidified Alison Cochrun as a new go-to author for me!
What to expect:
- love trapezoid (kinda)
- fauxmance
- fake engagement
- only one bed
- found family
- family drama
- anxiety, bi and demisexual rep (fmc)
- lesbian and adhd rep (love interest)
This was a sweet, fun and festive second chance romance, with a cast of characters who were complex and messy and utterly endearing. I loved the discussions surrounding Ellie's anxiety, burnout and demisexuality, as well as those about Jack's adhd. Despite not being overly Christmassy, this had a warm, wintery vibe that was made to be read under a blanket, with a mug of hot chocolate. All in all, this was a perfect holiday read and has very much solidified Alison Cochrun as a new go-to author for me!
What to expect:
- love trapezoid (kinda)
- fauxmance
- fake engagement
- only one bed
- found family
- family drama
- anxiety, bi and demisexual rep (fmc)
- lesbian and adhd rep (love interest)
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
This was a solid three star read for me. I'm not sure if this is a case of 'it's me and not you' or not being in the right mindset or having read it after hearing so much hype but while I definitely enjoyed this, it didn't blow me away in the way it has for others.
Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun but also super chaotic in a way that left me a little lost at times. I liked the cast of characters (Carrion deserves a raise) but Fisher's inconsistency grated on me at times. I loved his witty quips but other than that, he felt rather bland (sorry to my friends who adored him). The slow romance was not slowing for me and again, was so inconsistent I wasn't quite sure how to feel about it but it did warm on me. This was very much a book of two halves plot wise, both of which I enjoyed but both with very different vibes and I think I found myself a little lost despite it being an easy read writing wise.
Overall, despite the chaos of this read, I did have fun with this but I'm not 100% sure if I'll continue with the series. I'd definitely need to reread this to get things straight so I guess whether I continue or not will depend on the size of my TBR by the time the sequel is released...
Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun but also super chaotic in a way that left me a little lost at times. I liked the cast of characters (Carrion deserves a raise) but Fisher's inconsistency grated on me at times. I loved his witty quips but other than that, he felt rather bland (sorry to my friends who adored him). The slow romance was not slowing for me and again, was so inconsistent I wasn't quite sure how to feel about it but it did warm on me. This was very much a book of two halves plot wise, both of which I enjoyed but both with very different vibes and I think I found myself a little lost despite it being an easy read writing wise.
Overall, despite the chaos of this read, I did have fun with this but I'm not 100% sure if I'll continue with the series. I'd definitely need to reread this to get things straight so I guess whether I continue or not will depend on the size of my TBR by the time the sequel is released...
Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
An incredibly moving and emotional exploration of grief, mental illness and the the strength it takes to say you're not okay. This is the kind of book that holds the power to truly make a difference to the lives of its readers. It makes me so happy to know this is out there in the world and hopefully in the hands of those who need it the most.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Well that was a little bit adorable, wasn't it?
I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into a romance Tangled retelling but this ended up being such a fun read. The parallels to the original movie were intertwined in a way that wonderfully captured the vibes of the characters and story, whilst adding a fun contemporary twist.
Despite having initially found them a little irritating, Ren and Fitz grew on me immensely over the course of the book. They were sweet and endearing and a lovely mirror to Rapunzel and Flynn, whilst also being their own characters. Their slow burn relationship was a joy to watch unfold and Fitz's POV as he started to fall for Ren was utterly adorable.
Following the plot of Tangled relatively closely, I can imagine readers unfamiliar with the movie might have found it a bit fantastical at times but I loved the drama and ridiculousness of it all. There were moments that were surprisingly dark and suspenseful for a romance but made so much sense when held against the original source material.
With all the action within the last few chapters, I did feel it ended somewhat abruptly and would have liked a little more from the epilogue but all in all, this was an incredibly sweet, heartfelt, silly and fun read and now I want to rewatch Tangled for the 100th time.
what to expect:
- road trip
- only one bed
-grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- slow burn
- small town girl in the big city
- family dramaaaaaa
- 10/10 tangled references
I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into a romance Tangled retelling but this ended up being such a fun read. The parallels to the original movie were intertwined in a way that wonderfully captured the vibes of the characters and story, whilst adding a fun contemporary twist.
Despite having initially found them a little irritating, Ren and Fitz grew on me immensely over the course of the book. They were sweet and endearing and a lovely mirror to Rapunzel and Flynn, whilst also being their own characters. Their slow burn relationship was a joy to watch unfold and Fitz's POV as he started to fall for Ren was utterly adorable.
Following the plot of Tangled relatively closely, I can imagine readers unfamiliar with the movie might have found it a bit fantastical at times but I loved the drama and ridiculousness of it all. There were moments that were surprisingly dark and suspenseful for a romance but made so much sense when held against the original source material.
With all the action within the last few chapters, I did feel it ended somewhat abruptly and would have liked a little more from the epilogue but all in all, this was an incredibly sweet, heartfelt, silly and fun read and now I want to rewatch Tangled for the 100th time.
what to expect:
- road trip
- only one bed
-grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- slow burn
- small town girl in the big city
- family dramaaaaaa
- 10/10 tangled references
Joined at the Joints by Marissa Eller
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Joined at the Joints is the kind of book that pops up now and again to remind me how important YA (and even more specifically, diverse YA) books are. This was affirming, comforting, necessary and incredibly sweet. Ivy goes on multiple journey's throughout this book and each one is handled with sensitivity and love. The way book has the power to make many of its readers feel seen in a way that so few pieces of fiction offer is a type of special that can't be underestimated. My only slight qualm with this book was the story line between Ivy and her friend Rory but even that is a story and experience that deserved to be told. Overall, this was a warm, eye opening and heartfelt read and one I'd happily recommend.
Off to the Races by Elsie Silver
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
A solid fun, quick and easy read. Elsie Silver’s books are a little hit or miss for me and despite not being among my favourites, this was definitely more of a hit than not and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.