kvangundy's reviews
1210 reviews

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Just as good this time as it was the last. 

Not the Plan by Gia de Cadenet

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is my second Cadenet book; it was just as good as the first. Isadora is on the fast track to becoming a congressional aide in D.C. She will not let anything get in her way, especially not a man. But when Karim pops up in her life more than once, can she stay focused on her dreams? Especially when Karim works for her boss's biggest rival. Flirting ensues, which leads to a strong attraction on both sides. But when things get heated at work, can they make it through? Lies, deceit, deception, and blackmail are just the beginning. This was a fun ride though the office of politics with a bit of romance and a huge side of sexy. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC. 4 stars. 

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

As with all Tessa Bailey books, I fell in love with the characters and enjoyed the story. This one picked up right where Secretly Yours left off, with Natalie and August going at each other's throats. Natalie needs her trust fund to turn her life around back in New York and will do anything to get it, including a fake marriage to none other than August. The two fight like cats and dogs, but can they actually get along to make it look like a real marriage? I will say something about this book gave me deja vu like I had read it before, and I couldn't figure it out. Regardless, I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. 4 stars. Thank you for the eARC. 

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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

4.0

Hello Beautiful was a sweeping tale of love, family, and the power of forgiveness. William comes from a completely broken family and finds himself immersed in the Padavano when Julia deems she will marry him and make him into the husband she wants. Mental health issues will prove to be a stumbling block for the two, and life takes turns that no one imagines. But in the end, love can overcome all obstacles. This book has so many parallels, and references to Little Women and the story weaves throughout giving this book a classic feel. I enjoyed it. 4 stars. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC. 

Weyward by Emilia Hart

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

Weyward follows the lives of three family members in three different timelines over the span of 400 hundred years. The Weyward family magic has been passed down through generations of women. Some were tried as witches while others were shunned by their spouses as being crazy. When present-day Kate flees an abusive relationship she will come to grips with what her family heritage is really about. I really enjoyed this book, but it just seemed to take me forever to read it. I was interested, but I didn't have to read it. It could be the wrong timing for me because the story was very interesting and I really liked how all three timelines came together by the end of the book. Thank you for the eARC 4 stars. 

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was good and thankfully not scary, but it was just so long. 

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I love everything Ali Hazelwood writes. Love, Theoretically was so much fun. I found myself laughing, swooning, angry, and annoyed in such a good way. Elsie is at her witts end being an adjunct professor when the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself, life couldn't take a worse turn for her when the man standing between her and the dream job is her sworn nemesis. This book was so much fun to read. Thank you, for the eARC. I loved it. 5 stars.

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The London Seance Society is a spellbinding story of belief, illusions, love, and betrayal. Lenna set off to Paris to find out what exactly happened to her sister the night of her death. She becomes an understudy to the famous Vaudeline D'Allaire to learn and try and accept the world of seances and the afterlife. Trouble abounds as the two head back to London to perform the seance for the late head of The London Seance Society. I enjoyed this book and the storytelling was amazing. I felt like I was there with the women in the dark rooms. Was it as good as Penner's first novel The Lost Apocathary? It comes close. But the lack of a real exciting climax left me wanting just a bit more. I did enjoy it all the same. Thank you, for the eARC. 4 stars. 

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This story was magical, enchanting, and a little bit dark and twisted. Indigo and the Bridegroom get married and the one condition of the marriage is to not look into Indigo's past. When they are brought back to Indigo's childhood home, life unravels and the Bridegroom can't help but search for answers. What happened to Indigo's childhood friend Azure? I was transported into this world of mystery and loved every minute of it. This was my first book by Chokshi, but it won't be my last. Thank you, for the review copy. 5 stars.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny sad 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

5.0

love it!