jess_bythebook's reviews
450 reviews

Dom by S.J. Tilly

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.75

A rollercoaster of emotions! It’s not very often you have an author who makes you feel the highs as well as the lows. And even if you know what’s coming, it doesn’t stop it from hurting any less.

“I was so close.

I was so close to having what I’ve always wanted. And it was all a lie.”

Valentine Gandy has only ever wanted to be loved. After meeting a stranger on a plane, she gets immersed in a whirlwind romance that makes her feel special and wonderful and wanted. But is it too good to be true?

Dominic Gonzalez needs access to The Alliance and he’s found a way to get it. He doesn’t care who he has to con or manipulate on his way, either. Except, after a plane ride with a curvy woman, he finds himself in uncharted territory. Can he balance his duty with his needs or is everything going to fall apart before he can fix things?

“I’ve done bad things, Valentine.

But I’ll always be good to you.”

I loved the banter, the mafia plot, the side characters, and especially the spice! I didn’t even know that this wasn’t the first book in the series until the end so it definitely reads well as a standalone. And while it’s pretty predictable, it was such a fun and vibrant read. This is my first book by SJ Tilly and it will not be my last. 

Dark OZ: The Witch is Dead by Geneva Monroe

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense 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

5.0

I’m not usually big on retellings, but this surpassed every expectation I could have imagined. Dark and mysterious, morally grey characters, gun fights, explosions, and SPICE! And I’m going to be honest - I don’t know whether the romance or the plot was better. This book is a unicorn. 

“Dorothy was powerless, but Thea is unbreakable.”

Thea is a survivor. Running from her aunt, she’s escaped into a whole new world that she had only heard rumors of before. Narrowly avoiding death, she needs to get to the one person who can help her before it’s too late. But can the people she finds along the way be trusted? Or will they stab her in the back like everyone else?

"I will burn it down. I will dismantle what she has built brick by brick. I will strip the beams and build a pyre unlike OZ has ever known. Then I will strap her to the center and drop the match. I don't care if I have to take the whole world with me.”

Enter the men: Danny, Nick, and Crowe. Each one is different in almost every way, except for one - they want Thea. Whether they want to fight her, throw her to the wolves, or keep her for themselves, they will stop at nothing until they get what they want. Even if it means breaking her in the process. 

"Do your worst. Because when you're done, I will do mine."

From the first line all the way to the epic finish, I was hooked. At no point did I know what was going to happen next. It has a really refreshing take on the Wizard of Oz that makes these mythical characters come to life. But this isn’t your momma’s childhood story anymore. The people in this book are gritty and dark in all the best ways. And I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence

Minor: Sexual assault, Trafficking

Moonlit Temptation by Penelope Black

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Delightfully witty and fun with plenty of spice to keep you coming back for more. Once I got into it, I could not stop until I reached that jaw-dropping ending. Small town, motorcycle gang, back for the summer, nanny, and with the makings of a future why choose - this has a little bit of everything.

"Kiss me."

"You sure, baby girl? I might develop a taste, and then you'd never be clear of me."

Evangeline is back for the summer and ready to make a change in her life. One life-altering event after another, she somehow manages to take everything in stride while also juggling her relationship with three different men. But when tensions start running high, will she start running for the hills or will she stay to see this through until the end?

"Let me put a label on it for you then, baby. You're mine, yeah? I don't care what you call me. Your boyfriend, your man, your husband. It's all the same to me, as long as you know I'm yours."

Nova was the star of this book. I have a feeling we’ll see the other two, Silas and Bane, have the spotlight in books to come, but for now it’s all about Cassanova. This sweet guy with a smirk knows exactly what to say and when to say it. I love his backstory and their meet-cute is simply adorable. 

I will say that the men feel way more fleshed out than the women do. Evangeline seemed clueless at times and a bit cliche, but the side characters that surround her are great at being both the friend as well as the villain in their respective ways. The motorcycle gang wasn’t really believable, but I did enjoy the mystery that surrounds them as well as with Evangeline’s grandma. All in all, the story is captivating and I’m interested to see where it goes.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Death by Laura Thalassa

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I will not cry. I will not cry. Oh, screw it. It’s happening.

It took me a long time to read this after Famine because, knowing what was coming, I was intimidated by the thought of getting my heart ripped out all over again. But surely it wouldn’t be so bad the second time around, right? Nope. It’s still just as painfully beautiful and left me an emotional wreck that I’m sure my family loved to hear about endlessly for the next few days. 

“When I find you, I will stop you.” 

He laughs, turning around once more. “I am one of the few things that cannot be stopped, Lazarus. Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing you try.”

Where the first three books focused on ending the horseman's reign, this one is quite a bit more complex. How do you end something that is Death itself? Regardless, Lazarus is determined to try. She just has to figure out how before he destroys the world as they know it. No pressure.

“So run, my kismet—I’ll even give you a head start. But make no mistake: I will catch you. Your time is running out.”

While the rewrites for this one weren’t anything huge, I could definitely see the difference they made in reading it in general. Certain phrases were easier to understand, the locations and times of each chapter were emphasized rather than uniform, and even the author’s note at the end felt better to read. 

I loved every moment of this book. The rollercoaster of plot twists, sacrifices, emotions, and the highs and lows of humanity itself is so well written that you can’t help but get swept away. And it still remains one of the best series endings I’ve ever read. 

Death by Laura Thalassa

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I will not cry. I will not cry. Oh, screw it. It’s happening.

It took me a long time to read this after Famine because, knowing what was coming, I was intimidated by the thought of getting my heart ripped out all over again. But surely it wouldn’t be so bad the second time around, right? Nope. It’s still just as painfully beautiful and left me an emotional wreck that I’m sure my family loved to hear about endlessly for the next few days. 

“When I find you, I will stop you.” 

He laughs, turning around once more. “I am one of the few things that cannot be stopped, Lazarus. Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing you try.”

Where the first three books focused on ending the horseman's reign, this one is quite a bit more complex. How do you end something that is Death itself? Regardless, Lazarus is determined to try. She just has to figure out how before he destroys the world as they know it. No pressure.

“So run, my kismet—I’ll even give you a head start. But make no mistake: I will catch you. Your time is running out.”

While the rewrites for this one weren’t anything huge, I could definitely see the difference they made in reading it in general. Certain phrases were easier to understand, the locations and times of each chapter were emphasized rather than uniform, and even the author’s note at the end felt better to read. 

I loved every moment of this book. The rollercoaster of plot twists, sacrifices, emotions, and the highs and lows of humanity itself is so well written that you can’t help but get swept away. And it still remains one of the best series endings I’ve ever read. 

Don't Let Me Fall by Kelsie Rae

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

The Words by A. Jade, Ashley Jade

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Deeply emotional and brilliantly written! I didn’t know if it was going to live up to the hype, but there’s a reason it’s known for being amazing. This book will rip your heart out and leave you begging for more. 

Lennon Michael is a nobody. She knows she’s not special. People that look like her don’t get the guy in the end. But when her path crosses with the resident bad boy, she realizes that maybe there might actually be a chance. Maybe girls like her really can end up happy. 

“We’ve never uttered a single word to one another… But sometimes I feel like nobody knows him better than I do.”

Phoenix Walker knew what he had with Lennon. And he knew what he was doing when he threw it all away. However, he was not expecting her to randomly show up again four years later and cause chaos with every step she takes.

“If I really wanted to ruin Phoenix Walker...all I have to do is break his heart.  Just like he did to me.”

There’s so much that goes on in this book that it’s hard to know where to begin. The family dynamics, the second chances, the self-love, …the spice!  By the time you make it through the twists and turns and finally back away from the edge of your seat, you get to take in what a beautiful story this truly is. 

“Don’t let your insecurities overpower that which makes your soul come alive. Otherwise, you’ll walk this earth never feeling whole…and that’s no way to live.”

Famine by Laura Thalassa

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

I compared this newer one to the 2020 original version pretty much line by line and found quite a few alterations. The name of a minor character was changed to fit into the Brazilian environment more, there’s a spelling correction on a specific fruit, and a few phrases were lengthened or just taken out altogether. Even if the edits are only minor, they somehow make everything read so much more fluently and help you dive even further into this fantastic story!

“Over the last five years, my old anger towards Famine stayed with me like a scab, and now it’s as though he picked it open. He took everything from me twice. It’s time he pays.”

Ana da Silva is not your typical heroine. She’s had a pretty rough life - and that was before she met the horseman the first time. By the time he reappears, she’s built a wall around her heart to protect herself from ever being hurt again. But that doesn’t mean she can’t injure him.

“You are the devil.” 

“Nope,” Famine responds smoothly. “He’s nicer than me.”

As the third horseman, Famine is wild, untamed, and full of hatred. His detest of the human race oozes out of every action and seething word he speaks. And honestly, he’s got a few pretty good reasons. The only human he will not harm was the only one who ever showed him kindness. Using sex and sass to mask her fear and give her courage, Ana is along for the ride with this mythical man only to find out they’re more alike than either of them previously realized. 

When I read through this series the first time, Famine was so savage that I focused solely on his actions and overlooked all the small details. These are fully fleshed out characters with arcs that inspire passion to both love and hate them. And the deeper you go into Famine’s story, it’s easy to see why this horseman is absolutely one to be feared. 

“Believe it or not, you are not the worst thing to walk this earth.” The Reaper leans in close. “I am.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This book kept me on my toes with multiple plot twists I didn’t see coming. Didn’t like the use of certain characters/scenes used solely as a device to move the story forward, but all in all it was a very moving book.

Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Talk about empowering! I loved how I walked away from this book feeling more confident than I have in a while. This book is a triple threat with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and body positivity that you won’t want to pass up!

Bobbi Kaur is a top tier wedding planner who knows how to solve every single issue that could possibly come up. So when her best friend asks her to plan her 3-day wedding, she’s overjoyed! Until she learns that she has to work with her arch nemesis, Benjamin “Bunty” Padda.

What ensues is nothing short of name calling, spitefulness, and all out war as passion overtakes them. But even though a truce may be in the works, things still suddenly go wrong and it’s up to the two of them to figure out who’s sabotaging the wedding. And working together may just bring the passion into other areas of their life. 

“Bobbi knew in the back of her mind that if she wasn’t careful, Benjamin could be the start of very dangerous feelings.”

Right from the start I was hooked on the chemistry brewing between Bobbi and Benjamin. Similarly to Dating Dr. Dil, this one was spicy in some very surprising ways! With a story similar to Much Ado About Nothing, I was overjoyed to see an average-sized, 30 year old woman take the lead and own her body, her mind, and her emotions. She set the stage to show that everyone is worthy of love regardless of what others tell you. And I am here for it!!!

“But feeling loved, being loved in this moment would be worth all the pain that was to come.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.