kayetaz's reviews
449 reviews

Unrequited by Jesse H Reign

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: ebook

Holy pining.

This book hurts. I thought Bent hurt, but this HURTS.

I love Andy and West so much. Their chemistry from the very beginning, even as just friends, was so obvious and palpable. They’re just a couple you’re rooting for from the start. All their little moments together, building and building and finally coming to a head, was everything.

You can just feel Andy’s pain so viscerally. I don’t know how to describe this story other than painful. I have a feeling West’s POV is going to hurt even more.

Honestly, I have no words. Jesse’s writing always breaks me apart and then slowly puts me back together. I truly wouldn’t have it any other way.

Unspoken Vow by Eden Finley

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.25

4.2 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5

These Steele brothers own a piece of my heart.

I don’t know why this duet isn’t more hyped out in the Sadenverse because I truly was not expecting the emotions and angst we got, but I am so here for it. I knew Anders’s story was going to ruin me just from Law’s book, but really getting into his head was way more heartbreaking than I was prepared for. 

The mental health representation was done so well here. I loved how authentically Anders and his anxiety were written, and how he continued to be a very flawed character who made a ton of mistakes even with all the tools and support he was given. I also really appreciated the way the domestic violence was handled in this book.

The character development for both Anders and Brody, as a couple and individually, was also done super well. I loved them together, and I adored all the work they put into being together.

Bent Backwards by Jesse H Reign

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

5.0

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: ebook

Bent Backwards is the same story as Bent, but from Ethan’s POV. Crazy enough, I think I liked book two more than book one. 

I worried it would be boring to read the same book twice, but it truly wasn’t for me. Many of the scenes from the first book were in here, and being able to see it from a different perspective was interesting. But there were also a handful of new scenes we got to read about, and conversations Ethan had with Liza. Plus the extra BDSM scenes were so fucking hot.

I also loved being in Ethan’s head. Where he comes off as the more aloof partner in Bent, I feel like his POV here shows him falling a bit earlier than Oliver. And the amount of times he called Oliver “baby” in his head just kept me on my knees.

The story felt a bit more tense and emotional from Ethan’s perspective, and I think the third act hit me so much harder. I just love these two so, so much.

Again, the plot of this duet revolves around cheating. And not cheating where the significant other is written to be a terrible person so the cheating doesn’t feel as gross. But both the women getting hurt in these books are genuinely good people. So maybe don’t read if that will bother you.

Bent by Jesse H Reign

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

5.0

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: ebook

The way I disassociated for a few hours and literally absorbed this book. This is a quick, sexy read, but I was literally addicted and couldn’t put it down for even a minute.

Jesse’s writing just always absolutely does something for me, and I eat it up every time.

I was actually kind of nervous when things started so fast, and honestly you have to suspend reality just a bit to get over how Oliver and Ethan first get together, but then everything is smooth sailing afterwards. Just a wonderful buildup of stolen moments and mounting feelings.

Book one is told entirely in Oliver’s POV. But never fear—because book two is the same story in Ethan’s POV. I worried it would be boring to read the same book twice, but it truly wasn’t for me. I’ll speak more about it in the review for Bent Backwards.

This book is porn with a tiny bit of plot. My favorite moments were between the sex, when Oliver and Ethan got closer together emotionally. It’s difficult only seeing it from one perspective, but it made me appreciate the second book even more finally knowing Ethan’s thoughts.

I love them. I love their chemistry, the spice, the emotions, and even the lowest lows of this book. Be mindful that the entire story revolves around them cheating on their girlfriends to be together. If infidelity is a trigger, this duet is not for you.

Crazy enough, I think I liked book two more than book one, but I am obsessed with both. For sure going on the reread list.

The Daddy Arrangement by Jesse H Reign

adventurous 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? Yes

4.75

4.7 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: ebook

Really, really liked this one. Wasn’t my favorite of the series, but I still had a ton of fun.

The first two books in this series really hyped up Gould, and I was super excited to get to his book and see what was going on in that crazy mind of his. And we for sure got the craziness in spades.

DD/LB isn’t exactly my favorite, but I still usually enjoy other aspects of the book. The dynamic between Stuart and Elliot didn’t exactly always work for me and was completely OTT at times, but the story stayed spicy, funny and sweet. 

The thing with Elliot’s dad was kinda glossed over and weird, along with some other random aspects that I thought would be important but then weren’t. And I wish they fell into their kinky roles a bit more organically, because that seemed kind of rushed.

Anyways, this was a solid series. My ranking goes Step Bro Situation, Triple Trouble, then Daddy Arrangement. Jesse H. Reign continues to deliver with fun and sexy reads!

Winning You by Eden Finley

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

3.2 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️.5/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤/5

This was my favorite of all the short stories, which is ironic because it was the one I was least curious about. I really wasn’t invested in Marty and Luce’s story—perhaps because I didn’t really like Hat Trick all that much—but there were a lot of aspects about this little novella that I enjoyed.

I really liked the meet-cute, they were kind of adorable. Marty was very feisty and headstrong, and Luce went from disliking that about him to finding it really endearing. This was very much insta-love/lust. I mean, this moved super super fast even for a novella, but it worked for me.

Seeing Jet again wasn’t exactly my favorite (again, because Hat Trick was just blah), but it was cool to see how Luce came about becoming their manager and seeing the little crumbs of Jet and Harley first getting together.

There was some conflict but it didn’t feel OTT or unnecessary like the other stories in this collection. I’m lowkey glad this is over though.

Alexander Cendese’s “twinky character” voice continues to drive me up a wall. I appreciate every second I get with Iggy Toma before it switches back.

It's Complicated by Eden Finley

slow-paced

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

2.0

2 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤/5

Deke was my very first book of the Sadenverse so I’ve always had a soft spot for Ollie and Lennon, and the tension between Max and Ash in their book has kept me curious for almost a year.

I was so excited to finally see what was up with them but… this was… no.

First of all, I hate when a book is marketed best friends to lovers (even more so childhood best friends) and THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO FUCKING TALK TO EACH ORHER?! Like, what do you mean they have been best friends their whole lives and Max doesn’t even know Ash is bi? 

And then even when they finally admit their feelings for each other, my sweet boy Ollie is made out to be some kind of petty villain who would keep them from being happy together. I hate character assassinations of characters I already love.

The whole thing gave me the ick. They had no chemistry at all. Half the time they weren’t even talking. And for being a novella, this seemed to draaaaag. The two stars I gave this story go to Ollie, Lennon (and I actually did love the fact that they all still call him Clark) and Mama Strömberg. None for Ash and Max at all.

Naw. Next question.

Triple Trouble by Jesse H Reign

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: ebook

I love MMM but it’s very rare I find one that’s done well. This is one of those times, because this was just *chef’s kiss*.

We have lifelong “straight” best friends Will and Mat who encounter someone at a club that just flips their entire world on its axis. Trouble makes them question everything they thought they knew about themselves—and eventually, also everything they thought they knew about their friendship.

I loved the way this went from best bros have semi-regular threesomes with a dude to this beautiful and well-balanced poly couple. The communication amongst them was always done very well and it never felt like there were any more favorable pairings like you often find in other MMM tropes.

The spice was insane. I actually worried there would be too much of it/it would overpower the relationship, but that didn’t happen. And the chemistry between all three characters was great. Jesse also always does a good job of differentiating her characters and giving them their own voices so it never feels hard to keep up with who’s speaking—also another issue with some poly books I’ve read.

It’s also fun seeing other characters from Jesse’s other books (hi Jessie, Luke, AND MY SWEET BOY WYN) make appearances.

The ending sets up so nicely for the next book and I cannot not wait to see what’s in store for us with Gould!

Rebound by Eden Finley

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

3 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5

Short and sweet.

I always wondered what happened to Aron from Trick Play, and that’s what we got here.

Wyatt and Aron were cute together. A nice friends-to-lovers trope, and some double-rebound action. There was a little bit of spice which was nice.

We also got to see a bit of a resolution between Aron and Noah. But don’t expect much else here. This is very straight to the point with very few frills in between.

Unwritten Law by Eden Finley

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

Cute, if you’re okay with an entire plot being built off the miscommunication trope and then spending the entire book waiting for it to inevitably blow up in their faces.

I did really like the parent trap vibes, and the semi co-dependency between Law and Anders. That whole storyline was interesting and I loved how close they were. I also liked the progression of Law and Reed’s relationship, and how “Anders” fit into that. 

Their whole relationship was built off of their great chemistry and hot spice, and I’m definitely not complaining about either. I just wish things around the 80%-ish mark were done a little less predictably.

I really cannot wait for Anders’s book. He seems like the biggest, saddest sweetheart and deserves his HEA.