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jenthebookfish's reviews
341 reviews
Close to You by S.M. West
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
Oliver and Wren have been crushing on each other since second grade but something or someone always manages to keep them apart.
Imagine Wren’s surprise when she’s working late at the school and hears dribbling in the gym. It’s Oliver - looking better at 25 than he ever did at 7.
What starts as a fun game of HORSE turns into something deeper. And even though they both walk away with more questions than answers, you can tell that it won’t be long before they figure it all out.
Imagine Wren’s surprise when she’s working late at the school and hears dribbling in the gym. It’s Oliver - looking better at 25 than he ever did at 7.
What starts as a fun game of HORSE turns into something deeper. And even though they both walk away with more questions than answers, you can tell that it won’t be long before they figure it all out.
Not Your Biggest Fan by Sara Ney
lighthearted
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
3.0
This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. It was quick and succinct with just enough detail to make the plot points relevant.
However…
This was your classic black cat/golden retriever romance. And I love those until I’m told a hundred different ways the FMC “isn’t like other girls”.
See, Harlow is snarky and bossy. She doesn’t wear heavy makeup that covers her freckles. She has real boobs! She doesn’t want foreplay!!! SHE’S SO COOL CANT YOU TELL HOW COOL SHE IS??????
Sure. I guess.
And Landon. I mean, Andy. I mean, the guy from New York is a relationship loving, mind-bogglingly forgiving nice guy who says things like, “I gave her a baller f%*/ing”. *swoon, amiright*
It was hard to tell if the author cared about this book or if it just needed to be checked off her list.
Harlow is a girl boss but also gives Regina George pettiness and is insecure. Landon is an award-winning pro athlete but isn’t disciplined enough to not eat street meat but also shows up at your house unannounced.
Oh. And Green Bay, WI is written like a podunk town. Even though it has a pro team, it doesn’t have a secure hotel for a football player to stay in. I guess all the Away teams just fly straight home after every game then? Good to know.
I’ll leave you with this. The reason they break up is dumb. It is heavy sigh with a side of “girl, please”.
And as someone whose partner was a star athlete who landed multiple offers to play for top schools (and then bought a house in his hometown), I have been to restaurants where servers (who double as his “exes”) glare at us like he owes years of back child support. I have been standing beside him for people to ask if I “know who this is” and become appalled that I’m not more enamored by his achievements. I have been to events where nary a glance was spared for me. And still, I rise.
Because they know the player but I know the man. And I realize that I matter to him.
May Harlow find the same peace.
However…
This was your classic black cat/golden retriever romance. And I love those until I’m told a hundred different ways the FMC “isn’t like other girls”.
See, Harlow is snarky and bossy. She doesn’t wear heavy makeup that covers her freckles. She has real boobs! She doesn’t want foreplay!!! SHE’S SO COOL CANT YOU TELL HOW COOL SHE IS??????
Sure. I guess.
And Landon. I mean, Andy. I mean, the guy from New York is a relationship loving, mind-bogglingly forgiving nice guy who says things like, “I gave her a baller f%*/ing”. *swoon, amiright*
It was hard to tell if the author cared about this book or if it just needed to be checked off her list.
Harlow is a girl boss but also gives Regina George pettiness and is insecure. Landon is an award-winning pro athlete but isn’t disciplined enough to not eat street meat but also shows up at your house unannounced.
Oh. And Green Bay, WI is written like a podunk town. Even though it has a pro team, it doesn’t have a secure hotel for a football player to stay in. I guess all the Away teams just fly straight home after every game then? Good to know.
I’ll leave you with this. The reason they break up is dumb. It is heavy sigh with a side of “girl, please”.
And as someone whose partner was a star athlete who landed multiple offers to play for top schools (and then bought a house in his hometown), I have been to restaurants where servers (who double as his “exes”) glare at us like he owes years of back child support. I have been standing beside him for people to ask if I “know who this is” and become appalled that I’m not more enamored by his achievements. I have been to events where nary a glance was spared for me. And still, I rise.
Because they know the player but I know the man. And I realize that I matter to him.
May Harlow find the same peace.
The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Gone Girl did it better.
Honey Cut by Sierra Simone
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Monstrous Travels as Wicked as Sin by W.H. Lockwood
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Monstrous Travels was hilarious from start to finish. While definitely darker than Sinful Crimes, it was still filled with the dark humor and quick wit that we’ve come to love from Joe & Percy. (Plus, there were clear nods to our heroes knowing they were in a book lol)
We pick up right where Sinful ended, trying to find a way to end Cleo’s zombies. Except Percy makes a small detour to a party of a Belgian billionaire first to earn money for the adventure. He makes an absolute mess, as we expect, and pulls off the heist, as we expect, leaving with the commission and a little something extra for himself, as we expect.
Because Percy never learns. And we honestly don’t want him to.
Again and again the author made me laugh through zombies, possession, gorey deaths, and brutal fight scenes. Probably because they’re written like
“Giordano rolled, taking Tareq with him, until he was on top. He locked his fine thighs over Tareq’s and reached for the sheath, straining. Tareq’s fist closed around his shirt, and he tried to pull him down, but Giordano had already braced against such an attack and all it did was rip the shirt clean open, exposing his sweaty, muscular chest…
… Tareq only wrenched him closer, until their two naked chests were pressed together, Tareq attempting to force Giordano onto his back while Giordano struggled against his grip.”
… 🤤🤤🤤 amiright?
Before it’s all said and done, we get Joe’s origin story and see Percy’s true capacity for love. And for tomfoolery. Because he wouldn’t be Percy Ashdown if he didn’t do something to make you roll your eyes.
We pick up right where Sinful ended, trying to find a way to end Cleo’s zombies. Except Percy makes a small detour to a party of a Belgian billionaire first to earn money for the adventure. He makes an absolute mess, as we expect, and pulls off the heist, as we expect, leaving with the commission and a little something extra for himself, as we expect.
Because Percy never learns. And we honestly don’t want him to.
Again and again the author made me laugh through zombies, possession, gorey deaths, and brutal fight scenes. Probably because they’re written like
“Giordano rolled, taking Tareq with him, until he was on top. He locked his fine thighs over Tareq’s and reached for the sheath, straining. Tareq’s fist closed around his shirt, and he tried to pull him down, but Giordano had already braced against such an attack and all it did was rip the shirt clean open, exposing his sweaty, muscular chest…
… Tareq only wrenched him closer, until their two naked chests were pressed together, Tareq attempting to force Giordano onto his back while Giordano struggled against his grip.”
… 🤤🤤🤤 amiright?
Before it’s all said and done, we get Joe’s origin story and see Percy’s true capacity for love. And for tomfoolery. Because he wouldn’t be Percy Ashdown if he didn’t do something to make you roll your eyes.
Open Me by Morgan Sloan
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
I’m so thankful for book groups. If not for the camaraderie then for the presence of authors who take random comments seriously. Because that’s how we got this fast-paced, infinity-spice, insta-lust read.
It starts in the bathroom at a frat party. There’s a box on the counter that simply says “Open Me”. And - because we all deserve to find someone who will match our freak - Kegan and Xavier find each other.
Their chemistry is off the charts and it made reading about them absolute perfection. I definitely want a book two.
It starts in the bathroom at a frat party. There’s a box on the counter that simply says “Open Me”. And - because we all deserve to find someone who will match our freak - Kegan and Xavier find each other.
Their chemistry is off the charts and it made reading about them absolute perfection. I definitely want a book two.
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I really wanted to love this book but have to settle for mild like. It’s technically a romance in that two characters find mutual attraction and act on it. But for me, it’s more of a thriller. Maybe a soft thriller? Is that a thing?
Trauma and rebuilding is the central theme and that just took the wind right out of my romance sails. It was almost like it wanted to be enemies-to-lovers but the only way they could be lovers is if they had something super dramatic happen to bring them together.
All in all, the writing was good. The villain gets their due. The couple get their HEA. And love saves the day.
Could’ve lived the rest of my life without that Tabitha bonus chapter though.
Trauma and rebuilding is the central theme and that just took the wind right out of my romance sails. It was almost like it wanted to be enemies-to-lovers but the only way they could be lovers is if they had something super dramatic happen to bring them together.
All in all, the writing was good. The villain gets their due. The couple get their HEA. And love saves the day.
Could’ve lived the rest of my life without that Tabitha bonus chapter though.
Tangling with the Cowboy by Debra Elise
lighthearted
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? No
2.0
To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders
emotional
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? No
5.0
To Catch a Firefly is quite possibly the sweetest novel I’ve ever read. Watching Ellis and Lucky navigate their relationship in every stage - first, as neighbors and best friends then, as new adults and long-distance besties. All while holding their real feelings at bay, not willing to risk the place that they hold in each other’s lives.
All the while they give each other subtle hints into their hearts.
Lucky to Ellis: “If you ever decide to love someone,” he says slowly, “they’ll be very lucky.”
Ellis thinks: He already is.
I won’t pretend that the book isn’t rife with miscommunication but I will say it’s easy to forgive when you’re reading about teenagers and new adults. And we’re blessed with side characters who add to the MMCs lives and help them see what their relationship could be if they’d both just let it.
This book deserves all the stars. And I’m jealous of everyone who will get to read it for the first time.
All the while they give each other subtle hints into their hearts.
Lucky to Ellis: “If you ever decide to love someone,” he says slowly, “they’ll be very lucky.”
Ellis thinks: He already is.
I won’t pretend that the book isn’t rife with miscommunication but I will say it’s easy to forgive when you’re reading about teenagers and new adults. And we’re blessed with side characters who add to the MMCs lives and help them see what their relationship could be if they’d both just let it.
This book deserves all the stars. And I’m jealous of everyone who will get to read it for the first time.
Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Malik is just 7 years old when he witnesses an assault on his mother that is so upsetting that it activates his magic. He spends the next TEN YEARS navigating life in the foster system in Alabama.
… and that’s just the Prologue.
When I tell you that it was refreshing to hear about black people practicing magic with confidence and without apology, I mean that.
This book filled a void I didn’t know existed. I mean, Malik is at a magical HBCU! The elders pass down their knowledge from generation to generation. And they leave legacies behind for the new generations to learn from.
We also watch Malik navigate a life that he didn’t know existed. One where his family is revered and his magic is feared. Because everyone knows about the boy who razed a house at seven years old - killing some of the most beloved and powerful leaders of Caiman University. But that’s not how Malik remembers it.
Who gets to decide what’s real? And can they even be trusted? I had so much fun finding out.
… and that’s just the Prologue.
When I tell you that it was refreshing to hear about black people practicing magic with confidence and without apology, I mean that.
This book filled a void I didn’t know existed. I mean, Malik is at a magical HBCU! The elders pass down their knowledge from generation to generation. And they leave legacies behind for the new generations to learn from.
We also watch Malik navigate a life that he didn’t know existed. One where his family is revered and his magic is feared. Because everyone knows about the boy who razed a house at seven years old - killing some of the most beloved and powerful leaders of Caiman University. But that’s not how Malik remembers it.
Who gets to decide what’s real? And can they even be trusted? I had so much fun finding out.