kimu23's Reviews (770)

Sidetracked

3.0

fast-paced

It’s better than the first book in my opinion. It’s a decent read.

I appreciate how short and fast paced this series is, I needed it to beat my reading slump

Role Playing

Cathy Yardley

3.5

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Overall, I really liked Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. The romance was cute, the leads were great, and I love the demisexual biromantic rep. But damn… every other character are so annoying.

Let’s start with Aiden’s family. Easily the worst. I don’t know what the author was thinking making Sheryl (a conservative, queerphobic bitch who caused Aiden years of trauma) suddenly getting a weak-ass apology scene at the very end of the book?? Like, if you’re gonna try to make an excuse for her, do it earlier so I don’t have to leave the book with bad taste in my mouth. Otherwise, just leave her as the awful bitch she is and let me hate her in peace. The half-assed “growth” moment in the last 5 minutes just made me more annoyed than anything.

Also I know it’s irrational, but I felt so betrayed when Maggie’s son secretly kept in touch with his shitty father. Like… you know what that man did to your mom and you still talk to him? And Maggie just accepts it?? I couldn’t believe how chill she was about it. Also, if Kit had been a daughter instead of a son, I’m sure the dad would’ve treated her even worse and there’d be zero chance of forgiveness.

But anyway back to the positive, Maggie and Aiden carried this book hard. Their dynamic was refreshing, and I loved that the conflict didn’t come from some dumb third act breakup. I love it when romance book has an external conflict instead of from the couple. It made the story feel more grounded.

In the end, I enjoyed Role Playing but sometime I got tired of the other side characters (especially Aiden’s family)

Her Wicked Marquess

Stacy Reid

1.0

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

With how good the first book in the series was, I had really high hopes for this. Unfortunately, it was so boring. This book literally puts me into a months-long reading slump.

I honestly don’t understand how Stacy Reid who made My Darling Duke (a beautifully written romance with amazing chemistry between leads) also wrote Her Wicked Marquess, which reads like the most forgettable historical romance ever.

One of my biggest issues here is the “lust at first sight” trope. You’re told they care about each other, but there’s no real emotional groundwork for it. Their relationship is shallow, rushed, and so underdeveloped.

The writing which was so engaging in the first book, felt flat and boring here. Too much telling, too many internal monologues, not enough meaningful interactions (especially in the beginning). It took me months to read this and all I could think about is how it wasn’t even halfway finished yet. It was such slog to get through that I finally gave up.

My pretty policeman, volume 3

Niyama

4.0

funny lighthearted

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

My pretty policeman, vol 2

Niyama

4.0

funny lighthearted

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

My Dearest Cop, Vol. 1

Niyama

4.0

funny lighthearted

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Carissa Broadbent

1.0

Diverse cast of characters: No

You really don’t need to read 90% of this book because of how repetitive and useless most of it. All you need to know is that she is a human adopted by a vampire, there was a death competition that didn’t really move the plot, and Raihn is the name of the love interest.

I don’t know why I keep trying with the romantasy genre.

When Raihn brutally murdered her dad at the end and then forced her to marry him, I just rolled my eyes. Yeah of course he did that, romantasy and its obsession with mediocre ‘enemies to lovers’ trope.

Vincent and Oraya relationship is actually the best part of this book. If the author is more skilled, I would be more interested to read more of their relationship.

My Darling Duke

Stacy Reid

4.5

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I kinda wish he was really impotent. It would be more interesting to me if both characters still made the decision to be together knowing they probably won’t have sex or children. But I know that won’t happened from the start. Romance authors are a bunch of cowards after all

Anyway, great romance, amazing writing. I like how the author writes the male lead’s disability. The chemistry between ML and FL are so good, I was hooked from their first meeting. This is such a rare gem in the historical romance genre.

ASAP

Axie Oh

2.0

XOXO is cute and a bit like fanfic in a good way. Meanwhile ASAP is just so boring

I don’t feel anything for the romance and the ‘conflict’ is just nonsense.

Maybe if Sori is like Jenny, a normal girl’ then I can believe her relationship with Nathaniel is forbidden because the public will hate her. However she is a rich girl, daughter of CEO, well loved by the public and people literally ship her with Nathaniel. Nobody going to hate her for dating him, heck the netizens would be delighted their ship is real.

I rolled my eyes when every characters comforted Hyemi after the public found out that she’s a nepo baby. Like, Sori keeps saying that ‘yeah Hyemi is a nepo baby but she is talented and a hard worker so she deserved her place’ meanwhile there other trainees that never even got a chance even though they work harder and more talented.

Anyway, XOXO is better than ASAP

Odder Still

D.N. Bryn

3.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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