lauren_miller's reviews
754 reviews

Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

All I can say is good riddance. So much murder in this installment and yet still so little actually grabbed me. I do appreciate Gray and Cadogan cooperating though. Now if only Morgan would get his head out of his ass... 

House Rules by Chloe Neill

my favorite installment thus far...

Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

holy hell. I did NOT see that ending coming. I truly thought I couldn't be surprised having read Heirs of Chicagoland and yet here we are... I have no. idea. how we come back from this, but I am so freaking excited now. 

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

it was so fun and fascinating to start this series having read Heirs of Chicagoland first, knowing who and what Merit, Ethan, Mallory, and Catcher will become... There was a lot I did not expect, especially regarding Mr. Tall, Blond, and Handsome; it's actually incredible how different he is as a father figure, so I really can't wait to see how he grows as a character, espec. emotionally.

This wasn't a bad start and I know it'll only get better from here, so ~3.5 out of 5 stars, ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sunflowers Rise in a Midnight Sky by Avery Davis

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was very much drawn to this book because of the art and it delivered. Was it a little messier than expected? Yes, but many of the images still packed a punch. In the end, it was the text that somewhat let me down. The rhyme scheme didn't always make sense, some instances of inconsistent punctuation and spelling stuck out to me, and ultimately, I came away wondering if there was actually a point to the book. Maybe for kids it's obvious how dreams are a wonderland to cherish and explore, but from an adult's POV, the ending felt lackluster, like there should've been a more direct, poignant message about creativity or the fleeting nature of imagination?? Something more concrete to share between parents/guardians and the children they're reading with. 

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

I liked the bar/flat combo as a setting and really loved the neurodivergent rep and the fact that things weren't neatly tied up and "healed" by the end of the book, but... I found Raine incredibly irritating as a protagonist (partially due to the narrator, mostly due to the author's flagrant use and attachment to the word "mess"), the setup so far beyond the usual suspension of disbelief that contemporary romance entails, the lack of lovable side characters disappointing (Nina and Clara's appearances were so meager they barely count), and frankly, minimal character growth. Jack definitely made some progress in the end (hello Tokyo), but Raine felt kind of the same. I enjoyed listening to this through to ~40%, then I just found myself struggling to hold my annoyance at bay and maintain my focus. I'm not sure I'll attempt the other books in this series... 

3.25 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

explicit descriptions of OCD, ADHD, intrusive thoughts and triggers, implied panic attack

Wild Scottish Knight by Tricia O'Malley

adventurous lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.25

this had so many elements that should've hit for me: Scotland, rugged hotties, intelligent gay best friends, freaking unicorns. I wanted it to work so badly, but it simultaneously felt like a lot and nothing happened at the same time, the sex scenes were not my taste, and the third act conflict was kind of annoying. I also found myself so irritated by the absurdly pragmatic FMC; give me a fantasy book where the main lead actually WANTS to embrace her powers for a change... anyway, I won't be continuing on. time to dive into some real fantasy instead of this contemporary magical hodgepodge.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.

unfortunately, the vibes were not for me

Chi's Sweet Home Vol. 1 by Konami Kanata

this is the first time I've been tempted to DNF a manga, not because it's bad, but because it's really geared towards children and has little literary value to anyone over the age of like, 6. It would be a fun way to introduce kids to both manga and potty training, but that's about it lol.

The Skull by Jon Klassen

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

I enjoyed the art, but in reading the author's note at the end, I almost wish this book had stayed true to the original tale. I liked this ending, but I really love the idea of original ending. I'll have to see if I can find it somehow and read it myself.