kathleenandherbooks's reviews
201 reviews

Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

this book was absolutely adorable, heartwarming and SO hot. 10/10

I had no idea I was such a fan of tentacles 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett

lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

I have to say, going into this I was worried about it being gym themed- but this confirmed for me  that the only gym bros I find hot are monster gym bros. Overall I really enjoyed this & thought it was really cute & it was spicy. Atlas was also absolutely adorable & im super excited to continue reading these and see what the other couples in the series are like. 

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

2.0

i think there’s people who might enjoy this but overall just not my vibe AT ALL. I think this is one author ill be sitting out on in the future bc her tropes are just not really my thing. 

It’s like - big burly farmer & single mom / and focuses super heavily on the whole “i want to be the new father for her kid, i want to care for her even though i barely know her” which definitely could be someone’s cup of tea, but just not for me personally 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

& also the unimaginable amount of “daddy” used towards a random man she just met bc he frequents the store she works at ….. no thank you 🙂‍↔️

Split or Swallow by Lindsay Straube

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

i still almost have no words for this book. It was a fantastic time but very very (and i can’t emphasize this enough) unhinged. this is a book you go into for VIBES and for fun. 

This book gets 5 stars from me for the vibes and just for the amount of fun I had while reading, i could not put this book down no matter how hard I tried, i was eating it up. I also would totally reread this book, and once KOTB2 gets released, i will definitely be doing a reread. 

It also grabs you immediately, and the spice starts right away (there is also so much smut in this book - my rating is also heavily influenced by me ovulating while reading this.. so do with that information what you will) 

 the smut in this is so HOT & iconic (apart for the ritual which just had my jaw on the floor bc i am very much someone who is NOT into that in the books i read.. ✋BUT✋ it gets a pass bc i otherwise enjoyed everything else immensely & i would be lying if i said i still didn’t think tem was an icon in that scene, it was just insanely bizarre) 

I am not really going to tell you much about this book as to not spoil it, & I agree with the author saying its the most fun to go in completely blind. 

all i knew going in was that it was a basilisk romance & im so glad i went in blind. It truly was a wild ride.

ALSO THE BONUS NONCANON SCENE WAS SO HOT. THERE BETTER BE A CANON SCENE LIKE THAT IN BOOK 2 🫠🫦

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional funny medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A tender, sweet, holiday, second chance romance between two childhood friends turned lovers turned strangers who end up meeting again when they go home with their friends for Christmas. 

This book is a great holiday read, but it never felt overwhelmingly christmassy and could be read any time of the year, and as someone who doesn’t necessarily reach for holiday romances, this was the perfect amount in my opinion.

I really loved the ending and how the two characters found their way back to each other. They were both flawed individuals when they originally parted, but found a way to grow back together.

Monster Pucker by Clio Evans, Ashley Bennett

3.5

its an insta-love spicy monster christmas romance… what else is there to say 

Cleavage: Men, Women, and the Space Between Us by Jennifer Finney Boylan

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed reading this book, thank you NetGalley & Celadon for the arc.

This memoir is a reflection into Boylan’s journey as an older trans woman, as well as her reflection into her life growing up while presenting as a boy. She originally came out as trans in 2000, and this book is her updated thoughts on her past, her transition and experience and the world since then and since her first book, “she’s not there”.

Her writing style is beautiful and brings you on her life’s journey with her. She gives you her thoughts and commentary along with the details of what she has lived through. Her experiences are framed with honesty and her own insights now looking back. 

She also speaks on her own privilege, and gives credit to those who came before her who paved a path for her to live her life openly as a trans woman. She also speaks on the societal differences for men and women and how she was able to see that difference so dramatically post-transition. 

The book is also not written chronologically and leaves time for the reader to pause and ponder about certain topics as well as her experiences. I really enjoyed this about the book, it left me thinking about certain topics even as I closed the book and went on with other things.

Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas

dark 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

5.0

I ATE this book up.

I am obsessed with the characters in this book and the world. 

The audiobook was also fantastic, the narrators were all so good and I think I got so into the book because of how good the audiobook is.

I also CAN NOT wait for book 2. I honestly need it as soon as humanly possible.

The main character was also funny, and the narrator delivers her parts so well

The slow burn in this is also SO GOOD. Like the sexual tension is simply whafting out of the book. And in my opinion- the audio book made the tension even better

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

challenging 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

5.0

this book is one fiction book that had me thinking about real-life,politics,religion to such a level that this was a HARD read for me. (i typically read a book this size in 3 days, this took me almost a month to finish) 

It is so heavy, so beautifully written , SO incredibly thought provoking, and even though it caused some mindsets full of existential dread for me during my read, it is easily one of my favorite books of this year.

I think this is a book I will think about all the time especially in relation to what is happening in the world and in American politics & religion. 

There were so many parts of this book that I found insanely profound and couldn’t stop ranting and raving to my boyfriend about and i just think its such an important book. 

I can’t wait to read more of octavia butler’s writing

Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

this book was seriously just such a fun read

I loved how it felt like a historical romance, but fantasy & monster edition…

The plot was also still super interesting while also having really good smut, and it never felt out of place.

I also loved the scene when he’s overcome by the conquest moon… give me a man(minotaur) who will bust through cave collapses, giant rats & barricaded doors to get to me 😮‍💨