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lexizee's reviews
188 reviews
Hating The Best Man by Natalie Wrye
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
i somewhat enjoyed reading this but at the same time not. a lot of things just did not make sense, the ending was… something.
the book was all over he place and really confusing, even towards the end when everything is supposed to be “cleared up”.
the book was all over he place and really confusing, even towards the end when everything is supposed to be “cleared up”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy
The Wrong Bridesmaid by Lauren Landish
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and Lauren Landish for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun read. Though it's not something I'd give 5 stars to, I enjoyed the book. There's one or two spicy scenes, but there's still other scenes where they thoroughly enjoy giving public displays of affection.
The story itself was somewhat slow (except the end) but Hazel and Wyatt were most definitely not, especially Wyatt.
There are moments where the main characters got to me, but it somehow adds to their charm, I guess?
Overall, I'm giving this 3.5 stars.
This was a fun read. Though it's not something I'd give 5 stars to, I enjoyed the book. There's one or two spicy scenes, but there's still other scenes where they thoroughly enjoy giving public displays of affection.
The story itself was somewhat slow (except the end) but Hazel and Wyatt were most definitely not, especially Wyatt.
There are moments where the main characters got to me, but it somehow adds to their charm, I guess?
Overall, I'm giving this 3.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
So It Goes by Jennifer Probst
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and Jennifer Probst for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So It Goes by Jennifer Probst is a really cute romance story between Malia and Palmer. There's a somewhat enemies-to-lovers trope there especially in the beginning and in Malia's end. I liked the story even more because it was in a workplace (ish) setting.
Overall, it's a nice read for a cozy afternoon.
So It Goes by Jennifer Probst is a really cute romance story between Malia and Palmer. There's a somewhat enemies-to-lovers trope there especially in the beginning and in Malia's end. I liked the story even more because it was in a workplace (ish) setting.
Overall, it's a nice read for a cozy afternoon.
All I Want For Christmas Is Them by Adora Crooks
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
4.0
I love MMF romances, so this one’s a fun Christmas read. Happily ever after, of course. I liked the way this was written and the spicy scenes were good ❤️🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief and Medical content
One Wild Weekend with Ryder by Lexi Hart
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
3.5
Short and nice read about Ryder and Millie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape
Perfect Addiction by Claudia Tan
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Thank you NetGalley, Wattpad Books, and Claudia Tan for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sienna Lane, an MMA trainer, catches her boyfriend (MMA / underground fighter) and younger sister in bed together. Sienna who wants to get back at her cheater ex, hatches a plan when she meets Kayden Williams (also an underground fighter who fought with her ex last season but lost). She knows that Jax (her ex) treasures one thing the most, continuing his reigning underground championship. So, in exchange of training Kayden to beat her ex and become the new underground champion, he lets her stay in his apartment since she left the apartment she shared with her sister (for obvious reasons).
Before I say anything else, I want to say that this is technically a re-read since I read this in years ago when it was first published in Wattpad. I've been a fan of the Perfect series by Claudia Tan ever since I read it in Wattpad, and I was thrilled when I heard that not only were two of the books getting published (Perfect Illusion [Book #1] and Perfect Addiction [Book #2]), but my favourite out of the series was also getting a movie! Anyway, moving on.
Okay, first of all, I remember being so in love with this book when I first read it and while reading this book, I got immersed in those feelings again. The only difference I can say from then and now is that the published version is so much better. I don't know how a book that was already so good (from what I remember) could even get better, but Claudia and her team managed to do it.
I love the characters so much. Sienna, Kayden, Brent, Evans, etc. I also love how the Perfect Illusion characters have cameos here <3
Sienna Lane is just a badass queen, period. That basically sums her up. Her boyfriend and sister were cheating on her behind her back and her friends knew about it, so she cuts them off. I just love how she did that, maybe a bare minimum, but we don't see much of that happening in books (or at least I don't). It was just a little detail that I really liked, and we pretty much don't see or hear from them afterwards. The whole getting revenge on Jax because he cheated basically consumed Sienna and was her prime focus for a while, which is understandable because she gave him three years just for him to throw it all away. But because it basically consumed her, it also affected her other relationships especially with Kayden. Without giving too much away, this whole journey of Sienna's self-healing from a breakup (because of cheating from the other party) was honestly so real and just amazing.
On to Kayden "Killer" Williams. He's an absolute gem. He's rough around the edges because of some shit that he has gone through, but our girl Sienna is quick to call him out on his behaviour. They're honestly an amazing pair and they complement each other so much. Kayden was harsh with Sienna when they first (officially) met because he recognized her as Jax's girlfriend, but she didn't remember him (it only clicked after her chat with Julian). Anyway, he's got the whole "he hates everyone but her" trope down, so there's that and I absolutely love it.
Overall, the structure, the characters, and everything else was amazing. I loved it. The book is an addiction.
Sienna Lane, an MMA trainer, catches her boyfriend (MMA / underground fighter) and younger sister in bed together. Sienna who wants to get back at her cheater ex, hatches a plan when she meets Kayden Williams (also an underground fighter who fought with her ex last season but lost). She knows that Jax (her ex) treasures one thing the most, continuing his reigning underground championship. So, in exchange of training Kayden to beat her ex and become the new underground champion, he lets her stay in his apartment since she left the apartment she shared with her sister (for obvious reasons).
Before I say anything else, I want to say that this is technically a re-read since I read this in years ago when it was first published in Wattpad. I've been a fan of the Perfect series by Claudia Tan ever since I read it in Wattpad, and I was thrilled when I heard that not only were two of the books getting published (Perfect Illusion [Book #1] and Perfect Addiction [Book #2]), but my favourite out of the series was also getting a movie! Anyway, moving on.
Okay, first of all, I remember being so in love with this book when I first read it and while reading this book, I got immersed in those feelings again. The only difference I can say from then and now is that the published version is so much better. I don't know how a book that was already so good (from what I remember) could even get better, but Claudia and her team managed to do it.
I love the characters so much. Sienna, Kayden, Brent, Evans, etc. I also love how the Perfect Illusion characters have cameos here <3
Sienna Lane is just a badass queen, period. That basically sums her up. Her boyfriend and sister were cheating on her behind her back and her friends knew about it, so she cuts them off. I just love how she did that, maybe a bare minimum, but we don't see much of that happening in books (or at least I don't). It was just a little detail that I really liked, and we pretty much don't see or hear from them afterwards. The whole getting revenge on Jax because he cheated basically consumed Sienna and was her prime focus for a while, which is understandable because she gave him three years just for him to throw it all away. But because it basically consumed her, it also affected her other relationships especially with Kayden. Without giving too much away, this whole journey of Sienna's self-healing from a breakup (because of cheating from the other party) was honestly so real and just amazing.
On to Kayden "Killer" Williams. He's an absolute gem. He's rough around the edges because of some shit that he has gone through, but our girl Sienna is quick to call him out on his behaviour. They're honestly an amazing pair and they complement each other so much. Kayden was harsh with Sienna when they first (officially) met because he recognized her as Jax's girlfriend, but she didn't remember him (it only clicked after her chat with Julian). Anyway, he's got the whole "he hates everyone but her" trope down, so there's that and I absolutely love it.
Overall, the structure, the characters, and everything else was amazing. I loved it. The book is an addiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Good on Paper by Valerie Tejeda
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.25
Thank you NetGalley, Headline Eternal, and Valerie Tejeda for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jazmine Prado is on the verge of losing her job as a writer (technically, she just lost it) until her editor threw her a lifeline after finding out her husband-to-be was social media star Hudson Taylor. It was the perfect career opportunity to open more doors for her in the world of writing, or so she thought. Unlike her social media fiancé, Jazmine has barely any social media presence. Which was totally fine for her... until she agreed to do a web series featuring their wedding being livestreamed. Oh, I forgot to mention. Their videographer? It's her ex-childhood best friend (Leo) of 15 years and also her first love. And neither of them knew they'd meet again because of a web series for Jazmine's wedding. Talk about awkward.
Personally, I particularly didn't like the amount of zodiac sign references there was. I just kept cringing whenever the zodiacs were mentioned, particularly to explain what was happening or why it was happening. Not saying there's anything wrong with believing in astrology, but reading about it in fiction feels weird, for lack of a better term.
Not going to lie, the whole wedding being paid for reminded me of Brooklyn's & Bailey's weddings, albeit not fully sponsored (if I remember correctly). Before any of B&B's fans read this and attack me, this isn't a hate comment, simply an observation/comment with no ill intent.
Anyway, moving on. I actually enjoyed the characters. But I have to say, the three main characters had their moments where I kind of didn't like them, heavy emphasis on the kind of because it's such a 50/50 situation. For instance, [SPOILER]when Hudson basically proposed (pun intended) to Jazmine about doing another web series because hello?! have you not been paying attention to your fiancée? she's barely surviving the first web series + you know (or supposed to) she'd rather keep her personal life private. But then again, you can't fault him for asking especially since it's what he loves to do and what he wants to continue. But you can fault him for basically going ahead with it even though it was clear when you talked to her, she didn't want to and even after trying to convince her she was still hesitant. [END OF SPOILER]
Anyway, despite that (if you read the spoiler section) I still liked Jazmine and Hudson (as individual characters and together). They were cute together, but it was also obvious despite loving each other deeply they weren't actually in love (not mutually, at least). As for Jazmine and Leo, as much as I love the childhood friends to (strangers to) lovers trope, I couldn't bring myself to root for them, and not because they were a bad pair, but because the buildup wasn't enough for me. Considering the story was mostly about Jazmine and Hudson, I liked J+H more than J+L.
Enough with the romance portion. Although, I'm a big romance lover, my favourite part of this whole book was Jazmine's story on how she struggled to remain true to herself especially in a world where photos and videos are in. It was an inspiring message to not give up on your dreams.
Overall, it's a cute story. I liked the parts where her writing entries were added too. And I'm happy they all got their own happy ending.
Jazmine Prado is on the verge of losing her job as a writer (technically, she just lost it) until her editor threw her a lifeline after finding out her husband-to-be was social media star Hudson Taylor. It was the perfect career opportunity to open more doors for her in the world of writing, or so she thought. Unlike her social media fiancé, Jazmine has barely any social media presence. Which was totally fine for her... until she agreed to do a web series featuring their wedding being livestreamed. Oh, I forgot to mention. Their videographer? It's her ex-childhood best friend (Leo) of 15 years and also her first love. And neither of them knew they'd meet again because of a web series for Jazmine's wedding. Talk about awkward.
Personally, I particularly didn't like the amount of zodiac sign references there was. I just kept cringing whenever the zodiacs were mentioned, particularly to explain what was happening or why it was happening. Not saying there's anything wrong with believing in astrology, but reading about it in fiction feels weird, for lack of a better term.
Not going to lie, the whole wedding being paid for reminded me of Brooklyn's & Bailey's weddings, albeit not fully sponsored (if I remember correctly). Before any of B&B's fans read this and attack me, this isn't a hate comment, simply an observation/comment with no ill intent.
Anyway, moving on. I actually enjoyed the characters. But I have to say, the three main characters had their moments where I kind of didn't like them, heavy emphasis on the kind of because it's such a 50/50 situation. For instance, [SPOILER]
Anyway, despite that (if you read the spoiler section) I still liked Jazmine and Hudson (as individual characters and together). They were cute together, but it was also obvious despite loving each other deeply they weren't actually in love (not mutually, at least). As for Jazmine and Leo, as much as I love the childhood friends to (strangers to) lovers trope, I couldn't bring myself to root for them, and not because they were a bad pair, but because the buildup wasn't enough for me. Considering the story was mostly about Jazmine and Hudson, I liked J+H more than J+L.
Enough with the romance portion. Although, I'm a big romance lover, my favourite part of this whole book was Jazmine's story on how she struggled to remain true to herself especially in a world where photos and videos are in. It was an inspiring message to not give up on your dreams.
Overall, it's a cute story. I liked the parts where her writing entries were added too. And I'm happy they all got their own happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Bullying, Hate crime, and Racism
Please read at your own discretion. The following text is regarding the content warnings.
Sexual content is not really intense. But it does give a little more detail and doesn't fade to black. Bullying, hate crime, and racism is most evident at the end especially during the aftermath of the non-wedding. I'm referring to the comments she received saying she should go back to her country (since her parents are from Spain and Morocco). Plus, she was attacked when she landed back in the US. Sexism mostly refers to the comments that the executive producer makes.
Note: the degree of seriousness is based on my interpretation and from what I can remember of the story (since I forgot to make notes regarding CW) and it's like 5 minutes to midnight as I finish this review.
Hottie on Her Shelf by Christi Barth
funny
informative
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
Thank you NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Christi Barth for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hottie on Her Shelf, to sum it up, is a rivals to lovers romance. Fitz Montgomery is the incumbent mayor of Swan Cove, but Hallie Scott doesn't think he does a great job. So, as a birthday surprise, her best friend signed her up to run against Fitz as the next mayor. Although they are running against each other and are supposed to be rivals, they can't but help having sparks.
The main characters, Hallie and Fitz, were cute. They've got the chemistry there; Fitz was so whipped for Hallie. Not that Hallie was any different. I love Hallie's vast vocabulary, made me learn a word or two. Sometimes, I was clueless on what the hell she was talking about though because the words were too big for my tiny brain. I'm sorry *cries*.
Fitz's parents were... unbearable. Whenever they appeared, I couldn't help but just roll my eyes. Like holy crap, shut up! They were pretty much the characters I hated the most. Not only for the way they treated Hallie, but also for the way they treat Fitz, their own son! He deserved better.
The other characters were alright. Considering it was mostly Fitz and Hallie anyway, the others didn't stand out that much to me. Some scenes, for me, didn't make sense and were just a bit repetitive.
I like the way it ended, it was short and sweet. And they found out who won together, alone. Which made it absolutely perfect. Overall, this one book gets 3.5 stars from me.
Hottie on Her Shelf, to sum it up, is a rivals to lovers romance. Fitz Montgomery is the incumbent mayor of Swan Cove, but Hallie Scott doesn't think he does a great job. So, as a birthday surprise, her best friend signed her up to run against Fitz as the next mayor. Although they are running against each other and are supposed to be rivals, they can't but help having sparks.
The main characters, Hallie and Fitz, were cute. They've got the chemistry there; Fitz was so whipped for Hallie. Not that Hallie was any different. I love Hallie's vast vocabulary, made me learn a word or two. Sometimes, I was clueless on what the hell she was talking about though because the words were too big for my tiny brain. I'm sorry *cries*.
Fitz's parents were... unbearable. Whenever they appeared, I couldn't help but just roll my eyes. Like holy crap, shut up! They were pretty much the characters I hated the most. Not only for the way they treated Hallie, but also for the way they treat Fitz, their own son! He deserved better.
The other characters were alright. Considering it was mostly Fitz and Hallie anyway, the others didn't stand out that much to me. Some scenes, for me, didn't make sense and were just a bit repetitive.
I like the way it ended, it was short and sweet. And they found out who won together, alone. Which made it absolutely perfect. Overall, this one book gets 3.5 stars from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Misogyny
From Fake to Forever by Laila Rafi
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thank you NetGalley, Orion Dash, and Laila Rafi for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jiya Ahmed and Ibrahim Saeed were tired of their parents not listening to what they wanted. They didn't want to get married yet, so Harry set up his friend (Jiya) and his brother (Ibrahim) up together so they can fake date their way out of their parents' constant arranged marriage proposals.
Well, this one took me a while to get into. I was really interested in this one because it had POC given the names of the main characters are Jiya Ahmed and Ibrahim Saeed. I just love, love, love reading about characters that aren't white, okay? Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.
I absolutely love the fake dating trope, but then there's also the insta-love trope. The insta-love trope is such a hit or miss for me. That paired with the fake dating trope? No thanks. It just didn't work well for this book.
I only liked two characters. Everyone except Jiya and Harry pretty much pissed me off. Ibrahim was okay at first but then at a later point in the book he pissed me off and had me so frustrated. So, yeah, I don't like him anymore. Although I liked the main characters in the beginning, I just couldn't connect with the book. I couldn't get invested. The writing was alright, but it didn't really leave me wanting more.
I don't know if it's just me, but this book felt longer than it actually is. I mean there's only 336 pages, but it felt way longer than that.
Jiya Ahmed and Ibrahim Saeed were tired of their parents not listening to what they wanted. They didn't want to get married yet, so Harry set up his friend (Jiya) and his brother (Ibrahim) up together so they can fake date their way out of their parents' constant arranged marriage proposals.
Well, this one took me a while to get into. I was really interested in this one because it had POC given the names of the main characters are Jiya Ahmed and Ibrahim Saeed. I just love, love, love reading about characters that aren't white, okay? Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.
I absolutely love the fake dating trope, but then there's also the insta-love trope. The insta-love trope is such a hit or miss for me. That paired with the fake dating trope? No thanks. It just didn't work well for this book.
I only liked two characters. Everyone except Jiya and Harry pretty much pissed me off. Ibrahim was okay at first but then at a later point in the book he pissed me off and had me so frustrated. So, yeah, I don't like him anymore. Although I liked the main characters in the beginning, I just couldn't connect with the book. I couldn't get invested. The writing was alright, but it didn't really leave me wanting more.
I don't know if it's just me, but this book felt longer than it actually is. I mean there's only 336 pages, but it felt way longer than that.