lydia_hennessy's reviews
623 reviews

One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

You know, sometimes there's a thing called too much melodrama. 

Real Life by Brandon Taylor

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Slower by A.W. Scott

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.0

I really wish I could rate this one higher, because the central romance between Corrin and Austen was so lovely. However, I just had too many criticisms! I feel like even short books can deliver conflict well, and there was just no conflict in this one - even where it was promised in the synopsis, ie the age gap and the fake dating premise. The sex was hot, if a little clinical, mostly because the prose was... not particularly good. It felt like the author had big ideas that they just weren't equipped to write well in this word count.

I'm also not a fan of ending with a proposal; it felt way too quick for their relationship, even with the time skip to Epilogue II. Also, I'm sorry, but the author did not know what they were talking about when it came to business - $5 million for "the biggest ever record label acquisition"? Even without putting in that description, that is waaaay too low, especially when Loveless is described as their top performer and a global sensation, biggest tour ever, filthy rich main singer etc. It just doesn't work!

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

challenging dark hopeful informative fast-paced

4.0

I was expecting more linguistics and more fannishness, but this was really interesting!

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.0

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.0

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

Smarter Investing: Simpler Decisions for Better Results by Tim Hale

challenging informative slow-paced

2.5

Repetitive, but the message is clear. I found myself skim-reading too often to rate this highly but there were some nuggets of wisdom. Maybe a formatting issue... (the graphs were SO SMALL on my kindle?!)

From Frost to Flame by Viola Vines

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

A fun, dramatic, steamy romp through a world trying to do a little too much in a little too few pages. 

Sorry Viola, I did dock half a star for the tentacle porn. YKINMKATO!