julisbookshelf's Reviews (227)

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

This was SO. FUCKING. CUTE!!!!

Shut up! SHUT UP!! What do you mean we FINALLY have a book that’s mainly about the MMC’s POV?!?

I’m so fucking happy right now, for real. I’ve been waiting for a book like this one for so long!! Don’t get me wrong, I love my books and my girlies but please.. I needed one that was more centered on the MAN’s thoughts than the female’s as per usual.

This was sooooo good. I loved every second of it. We practically read the story through Aiden’s eyes and feelings, and it’s so fucking beautiful!! You can 100% watch the growth of his character from the first page to the very epilogue, and really.. I’m obsessed.

What’s even better it’s that we can also see Lucie’s character development too. And it’s beautiful. She just needed a little push, to be the most confident version of herself 🥹💖

I absolutely adored the idea of this story, I shared so many of Lucie’s dreams and Aiden’s fears, it hit home pretty close ❤️‍🩹

And the author’s acknowledgments, I want to point specifically to this: “Thank you to you, reader…. For believing in love and love stories and the magic they hold. Isn’t it a beautiful thing to exist in this community? To slip into love stories over and over again. To believe in the unfailing magic and power of love.”

Isn’t that beautiful? We slip into love stories over and over, yes. Maybe to keep believing in love, maybe to feel some kind of love, maybe to hold onto the thought that we can be loved as loud and beautifully as the words we daily read, or maybe just to feel something. I think that is beautiful, and to share the journey with you guys? It’s honestly the best part ❤️‍🩹

So yeah, 100% yes for you guys to give this one a shot! (but please don’t come for me if it wasn’t your fit, thanks 😂) 

Lauren writes a book? Sooner or later I will be reading it, period.

I’ve been waiting to read Rafa’s story ever since I read Love Redesigned one year ago, I might have waited longer since it came out cause work was eating me alive but I’ve finally DEVOURED this book, cause that’s what I did.. it took me 24 hours man.

I might be adding this man in my not so long list of book boyfriends (not so long cause yes, I am picky), yes he needed (a lot) therapy but sue me for loving broken men!!

Nico was the cherry on top of this story, I loved that little kid SO FREAKING MUCH!!

The plot hooked me since the very beginning, I mean we were just dropped at the middle of a scene the first page!! You bet I was extremely invested since then 😂

The romance might not have been the best but it was there nonetheless, their relationship was cute and the slow burn was eating me 😮‍💨

Pace is great, writing is as lovely as always with Lauren 💖

No more words from me cause you have to pick this one up 🤭 
funny hopeful lighthearted 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: No

Omg stop. I loved this!! 🫶🏻

Such a nice heartwarming story, so funny too!

The main characters are (emotionally) relatable and very likable. Hadley is a musical composer and Lex a world-renowned neurobiologist. Their relationship felt so easy from the very beginning, the meet-cute, the jokes, the awkwardness, to watch the development of their friendship was just so cute. And the side characters are soooo funny like, I loved Stuart, such a fun pal and honestly a pretty great friend too.

It’s like a STEM rom-com and there’s a loooot of grumpy x sunshine going on 😂

I loved how the author brought both science and arts together so effortlessly, and she clearly did her research before writing this one so cookie points for that too!

This is Kristen B. Cole’s first book, so obviously she’s new to me. But I enjoyed her book so so much so you should check it out!

Honestly if you like Ali Hazelwood’s books then this is 100% for you!

some content warnings (just in case): cancer, drug abuse. 
emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

Keep in mind that this is a +4 ⭐️ review (because I still liked it a lot) besides my mixed thoughts, thank you 🙂‍↕️

Now… I’m not gonna lie, I had mixed feelings about this one.. I feel like some of you would agree with me on that 😅

I spent most of the time enjoying the story, really, I liked the plot, the setting, I was truly enjoying the development of the relationship, it was cute, I was okay with it… until the twist… I mean… that was unnecessary? And the miscommunication, I can handle it sometimes but this wasn’t one of those times 😅

It’s messy, and I guess the point of the book is that love IS messy, but idk guys.. maybe was the lack of time left? The ending felt rushed? We had so many (long) chapters leading to the great moment and then it was just over.. maybe I’m being too spoiled by other books and I’m just not being rational about this one 😂🫣

By all means, as I said: I did liked the story. I would recommend it, maybe to a specific audience and not to everyone. But it was good! It’s so well written, and the pace is great tbh. You truly get to know the characters personalities so it’s great. This just might be again a case of a “me thing”, I haven’t had one of those in a long time 😂

Anyways, read the blurb, evaluate, and read it if you feel like it 
adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

Holy shit. 

I… I can’t do this. WHAT?!?

I’m blaming every single one of you guys now, fully blaming you. I’m speechless, and happy and hurt and angry and sad and I can’t even describe everything I’m feeling right now.

I fucking love this series, I fear I won’t ever recover from this and I still have Onyx Storm ahead to read?!? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE LIKE THIS?!?

Ok, angry caps and exclamation marks aside. This was mint. Absolute masterpiece. Legendary. Unthinkable. I mean.. that ending? Holy shit. I was on the verge of tearing my whole bedsheet apart, and then I used it to soak my fucking tears because what the fuck do you mean with that ending!!

Our characters: have grown up a little, forced to do it in the name of survival.. but they’re the same lovely people I knew in Fourth Wing and that warms my heart.
Our dragons: hilarious. You can’t honestly tell me that you didn’t loved Tairn’s endless sarcasm, and Andarna’s sassy humor 😂 even Sgaeyl was on top of her game here. 

The plot it’s fascinating, the development of this world it’s astonishing. I had to absorb so many facts in my head and I’ve never highlighted so much a book as I did with this one 😅 we have a lot of action, a lot of emotions, a lot of truths coming out, sure as hell a lot of love (thanks Xaden), a lot of new characters, and so much going on I thought my brain was going to explode at some point.

Safe to say Xaden is perfection. My girl Violet is as strongest as ever. Rhi, Ridoc and Sawyer are the best friends in the universe. Mira and Brennan are the best people to have as a family. Dain.. well I don’t hate him anymore so I consider that enough. Violet’s mom… she moved me for real (all I’ll say about it).

Again, the end? Can’t say I’m 100% surprised because you know.. this book is not new and I live constantly on bookstagram and of course I’ve read some spoilers courtesy of many reviews over the past year 😂 in my defense I never thought I honestly would pick up this series and I sure as hell never thought I would love it this fucking much 🥲 but my god the ending, talk abut cliffhangers would ya? 🫠 thank god Onyx Storm is already out for me to read ASAP 😂

Mrs. Yarros. Rebecca Yarros… you woman will be the death of me. What do you put in your books?? I mean, for me you’re the best freaking writer of our generation and your books (contemporary and fantasy) are just from another universe, top tier. Just keep doing what you’re doing until I leave this life please.
adventurous emotional funny 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

That was cute! This won’t be long ’cause I’m exhausted, but it felt like a sweet rom-com 🫶🏻

A magical CD player that takes you back to see what could’ve been if you’d made different decisions in your life, all in the span of a song?! I mean… I could use some of that 😂 just to know! 🤭

I’m not a fan of the what ifs in life because they mostly make me sad, but the what ifs in this story are so necessary to bring our main characters together in the present 🥲

I did like that the main lesson was to find yourself in the world before falling in love with someone you’re afraid might hold you back from becoming the best version of yourself—cookie points for that.

Now the ugly part of the review: there was pretty much no chemistry at all between the characters until maybe the very end? And even then, not much 😞 For like 50% of the book, there’s almost nothing going on (besides the visions), and then suddenly there’s SO much happening right as it ends—it all just got a little messy, and the happy ending felt very rushed ☹️

This was, I think, supposed to feel like Ashley’s books? But it wasn’t executed properly, in my opinion 🥺
adventurous challenging emotional funny 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

Shut the fuck up. SHUT THE FUCK UP!!

I have so many questions for myself right now and it all revolves around why WHYYY in the name of hell I waited so fucking long?!??? WHYYY was I so afraid of reading this series?!?

I mean it’s Rebecca freaking Yarros, why did I even bother doubting for a second my one and only queen of writing? She’s never EVER disappointed me, and I’ve already read 4 of her contemporary books, each of them a solid +4.5 stars. I should’ve known that her fantasy books would be just as good if not even better than the contemporary ones, dammit. I just wasn’t expecting this.

I’m obsessed, so fucking obsessed with everything about this book, the characters?? I think it’s safe to say that Xaden passed EASILY the test of book boyfriend of all times, I’m not even ready to acknowledge the amount of feelings that that man right there has lighted up in me. And Violet?!? I mean, I’m a freaking 4' 11" 27 y/o woman so it’s absolutely 100% safe to say that I connected with her from the very first line in the first page of this glorious book.

So yes, characters? A 10. Now, side characters? I think I’ve never cared so much about a side character in my life and here? I cared about every single side character around Violet, Rhiannon? Best fucking pal. Ridoc? Man he was so fun. Sawyer? Well, he was doing just fine there. And Liam? Yeah I’m not ready to talk about him to be honest, safe to say it destroyed me, period.

The plot? I should’ve known, I just should’ve known that Rebecca would excelled at it. It’s so damn addictive I’m going to have a hard time getting past this book if I ever get to do it.

The pace is fan-fucking-tastic. Like, for real. I had zero trouble with the pace at all.

The chemistry is so fucking hot to be honest with y’all, I died (a lot of times).

And the writing, well obviously since we’re talking about Rebecca Yarros the writing is as ALWAYS nothing but perfection. She’s a storyteller, and that’s just wonderful. I can’t begin to tell you how afraid I was of fantasy books before because I was actually afraid that my poor little brain wouldn’t be able to catch up with a whole world of idk creatures, magic, dragons, rules, you name it.. but Rebecca, my dear Rebecca here just described the whole thing in a way that I felt like I was already living in it. And that? I just gonna say that that’s how’s supposed to be with books.

I now make an honest and public apology to all of my friends who tried so many times to get me through fantasy books and had to accept my refusal over and over again. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you guys sooner, you were right. I love this.

Already excited to continue with this series, and so fucking glad that I don’t have to wait months or years to read what’s next 😂🤭 sorry for those who suffered, you did it for me 
emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

First of all let me tell ya, I clearly have eye problems because I did not read that this was a series before I started reading this book 😂😅 and it was right in front of my eyes!! I realized when I was almost at the half of it that this had to be a series because of Christian and Cassandra 😂 I’m sorry, I’ll catch up eventually with book 1!

Anyways! This was such an emotional but funny at the same time book! I adored the characters vibes like Brooke was such a sweetheart and she really brought so much light into the story, and she was effortlessly funny and cute at the same time!! 🫶🏻 and Ray was a really strong male character that had to go through A LOT, and even after that he kept surprising me with his whole character being for real motivated to be better 🥺

I liked the setting, and the side characters a lot.. the family was really a good touch 🤭 I’m really looking forward to read the other books! 

The whole roommates situation was maybe a tiny little bit unnecessary since we actually didn’t get much of the interaction through the story for it to have such an impact at the last chapters, maybe if we knew more about them would have made more sense 

And I did felt like the ending was a bit rushed in the last pages, since we were mostly medium paced the whole book but it’s alright I still liked and enjoyed the story! 
funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark funny 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: Complicated

Okay first of all, why didn’t you guys told me that fantasy books where THAT addictive?!? My god I feel like I’ve been in some sort of trance since starting this book..

I’ve already gave you a heads up in my stories but I’m officially obsessed with this book, I loved it.

This story is magical, in multiple ways and you found yourself quickly becoming addicted to the plot, it’s well written, the characters are relatable and what’s more important they’re interesting!! I mean I craved to know more about Ailia’s powers, and died to know more about Callum, and poor Reed I needed to know if he could handle the situation or if it would all go off the rails 😅

The trio was meant to do this together and they fitted so well, you can’t honestly hate any of them not even for a second, which is weird for me because I tend to resent one of the characters if there’s a trio situation 🤭 but I really loved the three of them, they were so fun to know 🫶🏻

It’s such a great and magical adventure 🧝🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♂️🧝🏻

You can easily tell that Haley put so much love into this story, and she explains the whole thing so well through the book it just comes natural for you to understand the world she’s putting us into 💖

The ending left me speechless, I was like “WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!?” and I think that’s beautiful because it shows just how much I cared about this book. So yes, I do recommend this one 🫶🏻

And I encourage you to always support indie authors ✨