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mar_reads7's reviews
81 reviews
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the ending was really sudden and I know that's a romance book/movie thing so I should have been expecting it but I found it so jarring how we went from prom night in the last chapter straight to them leaving for college in the epilogue, I would have liked to see them be a couple for a bit
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
it's fine? the writing isn't the best and most of the development of the relationship happens off page, plus some really interesting plot points that randomly get picked up and dropped
Meet Your Match by Kandi Steiner
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
mcs are the most insufferable people in the world also why are they meant to end up together? I've been given no reasons so far and I read almost half the book, I don’t believe the chemistry
Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.0
The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
tldr: very fun, sweet and entertaining book with some infuriating things near the end that dragged the rating down a bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book for giving me an ARC.
The Graham Effect is incredibly entertaining. I had so much fun reading it, which I was absolutely expecting because that's been my general experience with Elle Kennedy's writing. Queen of getting me out of a reading slump. Queen of writing hockey romances with actual hockey in them. Queen of writing a book that I do not, under any circumstances, want to put down.
I love the relationship between Gigi and Luke. The nicknames, the banter, the flowers. The way they managed to find this connection that turns them both into better people. It was just so nice to read and get to experience with the characters. I loved having Garrett back. I loved that coach Jensen was still at Briar being coach Jensen. I loved the unexpected presence of Jake Connelly!! I wish there has been more Hannah though, and definitely more Garrett and Hannah because I am first and foremost a The Deal girlie.
That being said, I do also think that this book needed some editing, it's too long. I understand that a week after this book's release it will be pulled from most retailers because it will be put on Kindle Unlimited, and that since KU pays by page turned the book is on the longer side. And while I can't criticise Elle Kennedy for wanting to get her bag, I can criticise the ways in which she chose to make the book longer.
One thing I have an issue with, that I know is up to personal taste and isn't something a lot of people will take issue with, are the sex scenes in this book. There was too much exhibitionism going on, and that might be a lot of people's cup of tea but it's not mine. So that affected my enjoyment of the book somewhat.
As far as specific plot points that I think are genuinely bad and wish hadn't been in the book at all: the wedding. It exists to create conflict between Gigi and her father. I was waiting for the conflict with Garrett and I don't like that the thing we ended up with was a wedding (off page wedding, btw, which also irks me). I don't think it makes sense for Gigi and Luke, it came out of nowhere and it's just off putting for me to read about people that young getting married.
But my main issue here is that it was completely unnecessary.
There was already something in the book which could have served as conflict instigator between Gigi and Garrett. He grew up in a house with an abuser. He watched his mother be abused by his father and he was a victim of that abuse himself. The conflict could have been as simple as Garrett not wanting his daughter to be with a man who beat up someone so badly he had to get his jaw wired shut. For a large part of the book we don't know why Luke did it. And for an even larger part of the book Garrett doesn't know why Luke did it. Which is why I think in a world where this book is the best version of itself it can be and is shorter, there is no wedding just to make Gigi and Garrett fight. Because there was no need for it.
My last issue is that for all the lengthening that absolutely took place in this book there are so many things that happen off page that should have been shown. Off the top of my head the christmas hockey game between all the off campus families, literally any and all interactions with Wyatt, and most importantly, Hannah's interactions with Luke. We're told they're friends and talk often but we never see it. And I think it would have made Luke a better character if we got to see how having someone who is or is becoming a maternal figure to him would affect him.
These things largely happen in, I think, the last 70 or 80% of the book and while yes they did taint part of the experience of reading it, my overall impression of this book is that it was incredibly fun and sweet.
This isn't necessarily a criticism of the book, but I would also like to add that the set up for the rest of the Campus Diaries series seems to be for it to focus on Gigi's friends and Luke's friends, and I would much much much rather have a duet where one book is about Gigi and one is about Wyatt (even if he hates hockey! That's okay! Maybe we'd get more Hannah on his book).
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book for giving me an ARC.
I love the relationship between Gigi and Luke. The nicknames, the banter, the flowers. The way they managed to find this connection that turns them both into better people. It was just so nice to read and get to experience with the characters. I loved having Garrett back. I loved that coach Jensen was still at Briar being coach Jensen. I loved the unexpected presence of Jake Connelly!! I wish there has been more Hannah though, and definitely more Garrett and Hannah because I am first and foremost a The Deal girlie.
That being said, I do also think that this book needed some editing, it's too long. I understand that a week after this book's release it will be pulled from most retailers because it will be put on Kindle Unlimited, and that since KU pays by page turned the book is on the longer side. And while I can't criticise Elle Kennedy for wanting to get her bag, I can criticise the ways in which she chose to make the book longer.
One thing I have an issue with, that I know is up to personal taste and isn't something a lot of people will take issue with, are the sex scenes in this book. There was too much exhibitionism going on, and that might be a lot of people's cup of tea but it's not mine. So that affected my enjoyment of the book somewhat.
As far as specific plot points that I think are genuinely bad and wish hadn't been in the book at all: the wedding. It exists to create conflict between Gigi and her father. I was waiting for the conflict with Garrett and I don't like that the thing we ended up with was a wedding (off page wedding, btw, which also irks me). I don't think it makes sense for Gigi and Luke, it came out of nowhere and it's just off putting for me to read about people that young getting married.
But my main issue here is that it was completely unnecessary.
There was already something in the book which could have served as conflict instigator between Gigi and Garrett. He grew up in a house with an abuser. He watched his mother be abused by his father and he was a victim of that abuse himself. The conflict could have been as simple as Garrett not wanting his daughter to be with a man who beat up someone so badly he had to get his jaw wired shut. For a large part of the book we don't know why Luke did it. And for an even larger part of the book Garrett doesn't know why Luke did it. Which is why I think in a world where this book is the best version of itself it can be and is shorter, there is no wedding just to make Gigi and Garrett fight. Because there was no need for it.
My last issue is that for all the lengthening that absolutely took place in this book there are so many things that happen off page that should have been shown. Off the top of my head the christmas hockey game between all the off campus families, literally any and all interactions with Wyatt, and most importantly, Hannah's interactions with Luke. We're told they're friends and talk often but we never see it. And I think it would have made Luke a better character if we got to see how having someone who is or is becoming a maternal figure to him would affect him.
These things largely happen in, I think, the last 70 or 80% of the book and while yes they did taint part of the experience of reading it, my overall impression of this book is that it was incredibly fun and sweet.
This isn't necessarily a criticism of the book, but I would also like to add that the set up for the rest of the Campus Diaries series seems to be for it to focus on Gigi's friends and Luke's friends, and I would much much much rather have a duet where one book is about Gigi and one is about Wyatt (even if he hates hockey! That's okay! Maybe we'd get more Hannah on his book).
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
Enemies With Benefits by Roxie Noir
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Hopeless by Elsie Silver
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? Yes
3.0
Caught Up by Liz Tomforde
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Wildfire by Hannah Grace
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
reflective
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
4.75
I wish there had been an extra chapter before the epilogue, that would have made the books 5 stars to me. Aside from that, amazing book, no notes, made me cry a lot but also smile a lot.