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jessanicolesingh's reviews
136 reviews
Fire Night by Penelope Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
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
I have to be honest, when I first started this series I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! I loved the mood, the dark themes, the secrets and the betrayals, and while I can’t say I was immediately hooked, I did find myself gradually falling in love with the four horseman.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Gore, Murder
Minor: Sexual content
Nightfall by Penelope Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
I have to be honest, when I first started this series I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! I loved the mood, the dark themes, the secrets and the betrayals, and while I can’t say I was immediately hooked, I did find myself gradually falling in love with the four horseman.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Murder
Minor: Addiction, Death
Conclave by Penelope Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
I have to be honest, when I first started this series I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! I loved the mood, the dark themes, the secrets and the betrayals, and while I can’t say I was immediately hooked, I did find myself gradually falling in love with the four horseman.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I have to be honest, when I first started this series I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! I loved the mood, the dark themes, the secrets and the betrayals, and while I can’t say I was immediately hooked, I did find myself gradually falling in love with the four horseman.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Murder, Pregnancy
Hideaway by Penelope Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
I have to be honest, when I first started this series I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! I loved the mood, the dark themes, the secrets and the betrayals, and while I can’t say I was immediately hooked, I did find myself gradually falling in love with the four horseman.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Abandonment
Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have to be honest, when I first started this series I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! I loved the mood, the dark themes, the secrets and the betrayals, and while I can’t say I was immediately hooked, I did find myself gradually falling in love with the four horseman.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
The series as a whole is about four friends that were high school hotshots, where three of the four have spent the last three years in prison for their pranks back in the day. Each book highlights a different friend and their respective love interest, with the most common theme being a revenge plot line. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that these men did not do nearly enough groveling, which is a MUST in this type of genre. Additionally, there was some questionable conduct for the high school aged portions, which always makes me feel a little icky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Rape, Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent
Eleven Eleven by Micalea Smeltzer
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
Imagine moving cross country, freshly divorced, and having an AMAZING one night stand with a guy 11 years your junior, only to run into him again after a date with another man 11 years your senior and finding out he is his son 🤯 I don’t know about you, but I would be GAGGED!
This was such a cute small town romance, highlighting new beginnings and learning to let love in again. I really liked that the story begins after the FMC has already rediscovered herself and mourned the loss of her marriage, instead of “wasting” storyline time on that and leaving more time for the featured relationship to blossom.
I wouldn’t say it’s the most memorable book I’ve read this year, but it was sweet and fun nonetheless. It had the spice of a Lauren Asher novel, with the taboo trope of Penelope Douglas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent
Lilac by B.B. Reid
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.0
I really enjoyed the premise of this book; an enemies to lovers reverse harem with a rock band on tour, HEAVY on the bully trope. It was hot, fun, and full of angst, yet had a lot of emotional factors too.
This book was a slow, slow burn. The bully cycle was on rinse and repeat, and they had miscommunications galore. Keeping up with this crew's hot and cold tension gave me some serious whiplash, but I knew what I signed up for.
Each of the three men were different enough in personalities and their individual relationships with the FMC, but I still found myself having to double check halfway through each chapter to remind myself whose POV I was reading.
I also found that the synesthesia was a little much sometimes. I totally understand it's role in the story, but it was mentioned so much it was hammered to death rather than just into your head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Religious bigotry
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Pregnancy
teen pregnancy, child marriage
Perfect Strangers by J.T. Geissinger
mental illness , psychosis , terminal illness
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
First of all, how rude of Geissinger to do this to me AGAIN 🤯 I went into this book with one eye closed, gearing myself up for an inevitable twist, just to still to be completely blindsided by the direction it took!
The story follows a writer, lost in the grief of losing her family, who meets a handsome and equally troubled artist, while on an extended vacation in Paris. What begins as a summer fling, with great sarcastic banter I might add, starts to take quite the turn as she pieces together that not all is what it seems and her reality fractures.
This book absolutely gutted me at one point, and gave me whiplash at several others. Don’t get me wrong, it was fantastically written, kept me guessing at every turn, and had great “open door” romance scenes, but I can’t see myself coming back to read it again as I will likely be drawn back to Pen Pal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder
Marrow by Brynne Weaver, Trisha Wolfe
dark
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
4.5
This was my first dual author book, but my third Brynne Weaver read. It was very true to her typical voice, so I can only assume that Wolfe's style is very similar and I should add her works to my TBR as well!
This story features two forensics professors who also both happen to be serial killers. The colleagues are rivals in any sense of the word, and come together only to take out a common threat as suspicions rise. From there, sparks fly, bodies drop, and their connected past catches up to them. It was unsurprisingly gorey, occasionally funny, and had the perfect amount of spice 🤌
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking
Minor: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury