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lauren_miller's reviews
754 reviews
Would You Rather by Allison Ashley
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Forced proximity? Fake marriage? Best friends since forever?
This book was the recipe of my dreams, and while it was a bit different than I expected, in the end it delivered exactly what I was looking for—love, not just romance. The chemistry between Noah and Mia felt genuine and playful, clearly built on years of friendship and platonic affection, not just attraction; the circumstances and stakes were high enough to justify the premise and each protagonist's actions and reactions; and at its heart, the book offered a tactful reminder that in order to love someone else, you have to love and respect yourself first.
Both Mia and Noah carry an immense amount of guilt, which heavily influences their emotions and decisions; I've never seen two characters communicate so. much. and yet resolve so. little. lol. But this is because their guilt, over things truly beyond their control, is so overwhelming. The real triumph of this story is both of them making strides towards healing and understanding their traumas, because once they start healing, they start to truly open their hearts to each other and it is absolutely beautiful (yes, I did cry).
Please be warned that this story heavily centers around chronic illness—the rep for which, btw, is fab—and the loss of a family member. So if you're struggling with or sensitive to such topics, this may not be the book for you.
Overall, I'm actually so glad I read this book. While much heavier than I expected, it was balanced by well-written and well-placed humor and romance, and, not to be dramatic, but I came away believing in love again haha. 4.5 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
Forced proximity? Fake marriage? Best friends since forever?
This book was the recipe of my dreams, and while it was a bit different than I expected, in the end it delivered exactly what I was looking for—love, not just romance. The chemistry between Noah and Mia felt genuine and playful, clearly built on years of friendship and platonic affection, not just attraction; the circumstances and stakes were high enough to justify the premise and each protagonist's actions and reactions; and at its heart, the book offered a tactful reminder that in order to love someone else, you have to love and respect yourself first.
Both Mia and Noah carry an immense amount of guilt, which heavily influences their emotions and decisions; I've never seen two characters communicate so. much. and yet resolve so. little. lol. But this is because their guilt, over things truly beyond their control, is so overwhelming. The real triumph of this story is both of them making strides towards healing and understanding their traumas, because once they start healing, they start to truly open their hearts to each other and it is absolutely beautiful (yes, I did cry).
Please be warned that this story heavily centers around chronic illness—the rep for which, btw, is fab—and the loss of a family member. So if you're struggling with or sensitive to such topics, this may not be the book for you.
Overall, I'm actually so glad I read this book. While much heavier than I expected, it was balanced by well-written and well-placed humor and romance, and, not to be dramatic, but I came away believing in love again haha. 4.5 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Medical content
Minor: Death
The Blouse by Bastien Vivès
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I'm not in the habit of reading NetGalley reviews for ARCs before I pick them up. That is absolutely going to change now, 100% due to this book. If I had even glanced at the star rating, I could've saved myself not only an hour of my time, but my peace of mind and what little faith in humanity I had...
This book is not good.
I picked it up because, after reading the summary provided, I hoped this would be a narrative about the dichotomy between self-worth and sexuality, and the fine line women must walk in society today. Turns out, this book is the exact OPPOSITE.
The protagonist Séverine is lent a blouse that magically causes men to find her attractive. That's not the part I take issue with... The second she puts on the blouse, her personality does a total 180—she's no longer shy, suddenly she's down to drink and smoke, she cheats on her boyfriend multiple times without thought, she magically becomes an exhibitionist, and her sense of self-preservation is nonexistent. She turns into a "whore" of the male gaze's sexual fantasy variety, completely devoid of characterization she previously had. Instead of the sensually charged, taking-back-her-sexuality type story, we're treated to softcore porn with little to no direction or intention.
And that doesn't even take into account two things that grossly upset me—the absolutely unnecessary scene between Éva and Séverine regarding the girl's genitals and the terrorist attack on the Gare de l'Est. Both were pointless, having no impact on Séverine or the plot, and came off as egregious, insensitive, and honestly disgusting.
In truth, I wish I had DNF'd this, and I cannot recommend it to anyone I know, least of all my fellow French speakers; if I felt this way reading it in English, I cannot imagine how much worse it would have been in its native language. My apologies for the severe review, but I feel I must be honest. 1 out of 5 stars, ★☆☆☆☆
I'm not in the habit of reading NetGalley reviews for ARCs before I pick them up. That is absolutely going to change now, 100% due to this book. If I had even glanced at the star rating, I could've saved myself not only an hour of my time, but my peace of mind and what little faith in humanity I had...
This book is not good.
I picked it up because, after reading the summary provided, I hoped this would be a narrative about the dichotomy between self-worth and sexuality, and the fine line women must walk in society today. Turns out, this book is the exact OPPOSITE.
The protagonist Séverine is lent a blouse that magically causes men to find her attractive. That's not the part I take issue with... The second she puts on the blouse, her personality does a total 180—she's no longer shy, suddenly she's down to drink and smoke, she cheats on her boyfriend multiple times without thought, she magically becomes an exhibitionist, and her sense of self-preservation is nonexistent. She turns into a "whore" of the male gaze's sexual fantasy variety, completely devoid of characterization she previously had. Instead of the sensually charged, taking-back-her-sexuality type story, we're treated to softcore porn with little to no direction or intention.
And that doesn't even take into account two things that grossly upset me—the absolutely unnecessary scene between Éva and Séverine regarding the girl's genitals and the terrorist attack on the Gare de l'Est. Both were pointless, having no impact on Séverine or the plot, and came off as egregious, insensitive, and honestly disgusting.
In truth, I wish I had DNF'd this, and I cannot recommend it to anyone I know, least of all my fellow French speakers; if I felt this way reading it in English, I cannot imagine how much worse it would have been in its native language. My apologies for the severe review, but I feel I must be honest. 1 out of 5 stars, ★☆☆☆☆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Flirting with my Enemy by Laura Burton
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
It's honestly night and day between this and the second book in the series... and not in a good way.
This book was like the author tried to stuff in ALL the tropes in under 300 pages—enemies to lovers, "fake" dating, billionaire x "normal person" romance, saving the family business, all the family grief trauma... ALL that smashed into one poorly characterized, cliché-to-the-point-of-being-hokey, ridiculous package.
If you're interested in this series, PLEASE skip this one and try out the sequel, Married to My Boss, instead.
This book was like the author tried to stuff in ALL the tropes in under 300 pages—enemies to lovers, "fake" dating, billionaire x "normal person" romance, saving the family business, all the family grief trauma... ALL that smashed into one poorly characterized, cliché-to-the-point-of-being-hokey, ridiculous package.
If you're interested in this series, PLEASE skip this one and try out the sequel, Married to My Boss, instead.
Fury by Jen Lawrence
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
4.25
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let me preface this review by saying that no, you technically do not need to have read Jen Lawrence's debut novel "Guardian" in order to read this book... but it would be helpful.
Based on a previous NetGalley review, which kindly explained that "Guardian" is much more fantasy forward than this book, I went into this with tempered expectations and that definitely worked out in the book's favor. The world-building is sparse and hard to follow at times (hence my recommendation to read this as a sequel, not a companion), but if you're anticipating that, it still works as a kind of "chosen one" fantasy origin story. The setting and setup are entirely normal, focused mainly on the familial and romantic relationships of the characters. There's a LOT of focus on grief (TW: off-page death of family members) and the nonlinear nature of healing, with a particular emphasis on accepting new love—I was not expecting this kind of trauma to be such a big part of the book. I don't usually jive with this subject material, but it was handled skillfully and did, in my opinion add an interesting layer to the romance; be warned that, as a result, and despite all the flirting, the romance is a true slow burn.
What I didn't love was the pacing, particularly how it's "normal" for nearly 3/4 of the book and then BAM—suddenly the plot is straight-up fantasy. I found it unrealistic that Shay's powers took such a backseat for so long, and I did not appreciate Luna's info-dumping; it really didn't add to the gravity of the situation. I know she is the protagonist in "Guardian," so maybe if I had read it beforehand this information would've seemed more like a rehash instead of a poor attempt at establishing critical context to the sudden fantasy twist... Basically, I think some people will find issue with it like I did, but it's only a few pages, so it's not the end of the world.
Overall, I thought Fury was well-written and I was absolutely sold on the first half(ish). And yes, I probably will pick up Guardian. I'm intrigued by the idea of the Darke world that Lawrence is creating, and maybe with the context provided in the first book, I will come to really enjoy this series. 4.25 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
Let me preface this review by saying that no, you technically do not need to have read Jen Lawrence's debut novel "Guardian" in order to read this book... but it would be helpful.
Based on a previous NetGalley review, which kindly explained that "Guardian" is much more fantasy forward than this book, I went into this with tempered expectations and that definitely worked out in the book's favor. The world-building is sparse and hard to follow at times (hence my recommendation to read this as a sequel, not a companion), but if you're anticipating that, it still works as a kind of "chosen one" fantasy origin story. The setting and setup are entirely normal, focused mainly on the familial and romantic relationships of the characters. There's a LOT of focus on grief (TW: off-page death of family members) and the nonlinear nature of healing, with a particular emphasis on accepting new love—I was not expecting this kind of trauma to be such a big part of the book. I don't usually jive with this subject material, but it was handled skillfully and did, in my opinion add an interesting layer to the romance; be warned that, as a result, and despite all the flirting, the romance is a true slow burn.
What I didn't love was the pacing, particularly how it's "normal" for nearly 3/4 of the book and then BAM—suddenly the plot is straight-up fantasy. I found it unrealistic that Shay's powers took such a backseat for so long, and I did not appreciate Luna's info-dumping; it really didn't add to the gravity of the situation. I know she is the protagonist in "Guardian," so maybe if I had read it beforehand this information would've seemed more like a rehash instead of a poor attempt at establishing critical context to the sudden fantasy twist... Basically, I think some people will find issue with it like I did, but it's only a few pages, so it's not the end of the world.
Overall, I thought Fury was well-written and I was absolutely sold on the first half(ish). And yes, I probably will pick up Guardian. I'm intrigued by the idea of the Darke world that Lawrence is creating, and maybe with the context provided in the first book, I will come to really enjoy this series. 4.25 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
off-page death of spouse(s) and child
The Last One by A.S. Kelly
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To be honest, I was entirely swayed by the cover; I had not heard of this series before, but I love a good fireman romance, so one look and I was sold!! However, I've come away feeling kinda disappointed.
To be perfectly honest, I hated Anya as a character. Her emotional hang-ups, while understandable, were so dominating in her chapters that I found myself more annoyed with her than sympathetic. She was an intensely judgmental character, which in turn was seriously hypocritical because she was terrified of being judged by everyone around her, even her "closest" friends. Her distrust in men—which, again, could in theory be justified by her past—was far beyond anything I would consider normal; it was so intense and constantly reinforced that, in my opinion, it toed the line of misandry. And when you're so far gone down that path, it makes a happy ending really hard to believe.
And while I love stories revolving around friend groups, I found the whole group in this story to be TOO nosy. Like, privacy was nonexistent; the second something happened, practically all the secondary characters knew about it... which totally ruined the credibility of Anya's distrust. Her girlfriends, who supposedly tell their husbands/boyfriends everything, DIDN'T talk to them about her constant doubting of Owen's affection for HER as well as the baby?? I find that so hard to believe. Because honestly, if they HAD, Owen could have approached her much sooner about his intentions and feelings (like, 100 pages earlier, which would've been great) and they could have resolved everything much more maturely. The fact that she was still doubting him 90+% into the book was too much for me (the fact that she thought he was cheating?? just goes to show how truly insecure she was as a character). Her lack of trust in herself and everyone around her really ruined the story for me.
In terms of plot, despite the characterization, I enjoyed it; the writing was a bit too dialogue-heavy at points; and I really would recommend reading the other books before this one because it's so. damn. exhausting. to keep up with all the characters and relationships. I don't think any of those things really make up for Anya as a protagonist for me though. So overall, like I said, I came away disappointed. I definitely won't be picking up the other books in the series, and I'm not inclined to read anything else by this author.
2.75 out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆
To be honest, I was entirely swayed by the cover; I had not heard of this series before, but I love a good fireman romance, so one look and I was sold!! However, I've come away feeling kinda disappointed.
To be perfectly honest, I hated Anya as a character. Her emotional hang-ups, while understandable, were so dominating in her chapters that I found myself more annoyed with her than sympathetic. She was an intensely judgmental character, which in turn was seriously hypocritical because she was terrified of being judged by everyone around her, even her "closest" friends. Her distrust in men—which, again, could in theory be justified by her past—was far beyond anything I would consider normal; it was so intense and constantly reinforced that, in my opinion, it toed the line of misandry. And when you're so far gone down that path, it makes a happy ending really hard to believe.
And while I love stories revolving around friend groups, I found the whole group in this story to be TOO nosy. Like, privacy was nonexistent; the second something happened, practically all the secondary characters knew about it... which totally ruined the credibility of Anya's distrust. Her girlfriends, who supposedly tell their husbands/boyfriends everything, DIDN'T talk to them about her constant doubting of Owen's affection for HER as well as the baby?? I find that so hard to believe. Because honestly, if they HAD, Owen could have approached her much sooner about his intentions and feelings (like, 100 pages earlier, which would've been great) and they could have resolved everything much more maturely. The fact that she was still doubting him 90+% into the book was too much for me (the fact that she thought he was cheating?? just goes to show how truly insecure she was as a character). Her lack of trust in herself and everyone around her really ruined the story for me.
In terms of plot, despite the characterization, I enjoyed it; the writing was a bit too dialogue-heavy at points; and I really would recommend reading the other books before this one because it's so. damn. exhausting. to keep up with all the characters and relationships. I don't think any of those things really make up for Anya as a protagonist for me though. So overall, like I said, I came away disappointed. I definitely won't be picking up the other books in the series, and I'm not inclined to read anything else by this author.
2.75 out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, and Death of parent
Ghosts of the Forbidden by Leanna Renee Hieber
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Things I loved about this book:
1. The setting of Glazier's Gap and the mansion. Especially the author's description of the mansion as a Dame of sorts, having lived through many time periods, making key design decisions likely while drunk. I laughed out loud, heartily.
2. The insta-love. When they met for the first time in the carriage house, the only way I can describe it was rapturous. It felt both carnal and sweet, as if a long time coming (lol), and I really didn't care that they had just met a few hours before.
3. The straight-up supernatural nature of this book. There's no beating around the bush—there's apparitions, demons, past lives, power in crystals and silver, the works! And to a degree, I appreciated everyone just rolling with it lol. I'd like to think I'd do the same...
Things I didn't love about this book:
1. The author's writing style. I was really hoping it would be more lyrical and fluid; her style is very choppy, sometimes airing on the side of too descriptive or too "telly" rather than "showy." I think this was most obvious with the relationships between characters; the friendship between Bethany and Lillian, supposedly so close so quick, felt really unnatural? Like the connection was being forced. Maybe if we had spent more time on it? But even then, I felt the same with Keri and she and Lillian were friends for years prior to the start of the novel. So yeah, something about the characterizations there didn't work for me.
2. The acceptance of the supernatural without blinking an eye. If you've just seen a ghost in a phone screen, you don't cross yourself and then let your good friend travel across the country and INTO the danger!? Or if you do, you put up a hell of a fight first. Keri was NOT a very good friend in that respect lol. And Bethany, upon seeing William's ghost, just rolled with it? That easily?? No, a "normal" person would freak the fuck out and THEN rationalize (and accept) it. Lillian is exempt from this critique due to the supernatural pull, but in reality, I would imagine a lot more hesitancy on her part...
3. The small town nature of the setting. Yes, Glazier's Gap is isolated and small, but there is NO WAY the town wouldn't be thrust into the national spotlight, at least for a little while, due to the death of a decently famous (2 mill. subs constitutes at least a little fame, no?) influencer. Even if it was a small article or quick mention on a major news outlet, it still would draw national attention; the situation is both tragic and mysterious—perfect for sensational news fodder. So the lack of reporters, inquests from the police, and zero connection with the outside world (besides a single call to Keri) felt so unrealistic for a book set in "modern" times.
Overall, with all those positives and negatives in mind, I had fun reading this. It kept me engaged and had a dash of that gothic atmosphere I love so much, and I probably will consider picking up more from this author in the future. Solid 3 out of 5 stars!
Things I loved about this book:
1. The setting of Glazier's Gap and the mansion. Especially the author's description of the mansion as a Dame of sorts, having lived through many time periods, making key design decisions likely while drunk. I laughed out loud, heartily.
2. The insta-love. When they met for the first time in the carriage house, the only way I can describe it was rapturous. It felt both carnal and sweet, as if a long time coming (lol), and I really didn't care that they had just met a few hours before.
3. The straight-up supernatural nature of this book. There's no beating around the bush—there's apparitions, demons, past lives, power in crystals and silver, the works! And to a degree, I appreciated everyone just rolling with it lol. I'd like to think I'd do the same...
Things I didn't love about this book:
1. The author's writing style. I was really hoping it would be more lyrical and fluid; her style is very choppy, sometimes airing on the side of too descriptive or too "telly" rather than "showy." I think this was most obvious with the relationships between characters; the friendship between Bethany and Lillian, supposedly so close so quick, felt really unnatural? Like the connection was being forced. Maybe if we had spent more time on it? But even then, I felt the same with Keri and she and Lillian were friends for years prior to the start of the novel. So yeah, something about the characterizations there didn't work for me.
2. The acceptance of the supernatural without blinking an eye. If you've just seen a ghost in a phone screen, you don't cross yourself and then let your good friend travel across the country and INTO the danger!? Or if you do, you put up a hell of a fight first. Keri was NOT a very good friend in that respect lol. And Bethany, upon seeing William's ghost, just rolled with it? That easily?? No, a "normal" person would freak the fuck out and THEN rationalize (and accept) it. Lillian is exempt from this critique due to the supernatural pull, but in reality, I would imagine a lot more hesitancy on her part...
3. The small town nature of the setting. Yes, Glazier's Gap is isolated and small, but there is NO WAY the town wouldn't be thrust into the national spotlight, at least for a little while, due to the death of a decently famous (2 mill. subs constitutes at least a little fame, no?) influencer. Even if it was a small article or quick mention on a major news outlet, it still would draw national attention; the situation is both tragic and mysterious—perfect for sensational news fodder. So the lack of reporters, inquests from the police, and zero connection with the outside world (besides a single call to Keri) felt so unrealistic for a book set in "modern" times.
Overall, with all those positives and negatives in mind, I had fun reading this. It kept me engaged and had a dash of that gothic atmosphere I love so much, and I probably will consider picking up more from this author in the future. Solid 3 out of 5 stars!
The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As a French major and speaker, I've always been fascinated by French folklore, and Brittany in particular is a region that has always interested me due to the mishmash of cultures and history. I also read The Daughters of Ys by M. T. Anderson a couple years ago and absolutely fell down a mythical rabbit hole. So when I saw that this was based on the myth of Ys, I jumped—and I was not disappointed.
The story is basically one giant paranormal treasure hunt, which in itself is a fantastic premise, but the relationships between the protagonists and secondary characters have so many deep and painful layers the reader must sift through, so many clues, all amidst a setting so cruel and yet beautiful... The depths both literally and figuratively are what kept me engaged till the very end.
I've come away very satisfied with the story, but there are still some things to note that I don't necessarily love... The relationship between Ari and Rafael was sweet, but painfully unrealistic and insta-lovey (lmao, it's a paranormal romance though, don't take this too seriously). And while I didn't see the "who done it" twist at the end coming, the foreshadowing for the OTHER person was almost painfully obvious. Like, the second we met them I immediately knew who they were?? I'm not too upset by it, but I wish it had been a tiny bit more subtle? Anyone who reads mysteries/thrillers will pick up on it immediately; I hope it doesn't ruin anything for you. And lastly, the convenience of money cannot be understated here. Rafael and Ari certainly joke about it by the end, but at what point does him being a millionaire become *too* convenient? It just felt kind of like a cop out after a while...
All that said, I had a lot of fun reading this! It was my first foray into the treasure hunting genre (which I've been seeing a lot of lately? I'm on board) and I am definitely planning to pick up more from this author. Solid 4 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
As a French major and speaker, I've always been fascinated by French folklore, and Brittany in particular is a region that has always interested me due to the mishmash of cultures and history. I also read The Daughters of Ys by M. T. Anderson a couple years ago and absolutely fell down a mythical rabbit hole. So when I saw that this was based on the myth of Ys, I jumped—and I was not disappointed.
The story is basically one giant paranormal treasure hunt, which in itself is a fantastic premise, but the relationships between the protagonists and secondary characters have so many deep and painful layers the reader must sift through, so many clues, all amidst a setting so cruel and yet beautiful... The depths both literally and figuratively are what kept me engaged till the very end.
I've come away very satisfied with the story, but there are still some things to note that I don't necessarily love... The relationship between Ari and Rafael was sweet, but painfully unrealistic and insta-lovey (lmao, it's a paranormal romance though, don't take this too seriously). And while I didn't see the "who done it" twist at the end coming, the foreshadowing for the OTHER person was almost painfully obvious. Like, the second we met them I immediately knew who they were?? I'm not too upset by it, but I wish it had been a tiny bit more subtle? Anyone who reads mysteries/thrillers will pick up on it immediately; I hope it doesn't ruin anything for you. And lastly, the convenience of money cannot be understated here. Rafael and Ari certainly joke about it by the end, but at what point does him being a millionaire become *too* convenient? It just felt kind of like a cop out after a while...
All that said, I had a lot of fun reading this! It was my first foray into the treasure hunting genre (which I've been seeing a lot of lately? I'm on board) and I am definitely planning to pick up more from this author. Solid 4 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
100 Wins In 100 Days: Supercharge Your Confidence In 30 Seconds Per Day by Aziz Gazipura
No review due to publisher affiliation.
It's Your Mother's Fault : Understanding Mental Health for Transformative Healing by Giulia Preziuso
No review due to publisher affiliation.