megreads613's reviews
377 reviews

The Plus One by Sarah Archer

2.5

I was enjoying this book until I very much wasn’t. This felt like it was written in 1997 considering how outdated it was.

Also she should have been committed.

Rogue by Elle Kennedy

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

This was everything I wanted Misfit to be. Loved it. Finished it in one sitting. There better be a third book. 

The Medical Examiner by James Patterson

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

4.0

Really enjoyed this! I like a quick mystery. 

Begin Again by Emma Lord

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, as I have a hit-or-miss record with YA. But overall the writing was really great, the characters felt real, and I enjoyed it! 

Where it lost a bit for me was that it started to drag towards the end. I didn’t feel like we got enough character development from Andie, and the stuff with her dad bothered me. I get that he was grieving, but I just don’t think his actions were justified. 

I also found it funny how Andie seemed to have all the answers at 18 or 19 or whatever. To be giving advice to teachers about relationships when she’s only ever been with one guy

who is a major asshole and cheated on her

was pretty laughable. 

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

3.75

This was a bit of a letdown for me because I really, really enjoyed the first book. I didn’t even mind the concept of having the couple break up and spend this book getting back together. But idk, the magic wasn’t there? There were too many characters, the whole fake-dating plot was useless (and also very similar to the first book), and I felt like Liz didn’t actually get closure—Wes just wore her down. 

People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.75

This book was slow. There was barely any dialogue. The actual plot was a side story to the inner monologues of the characters. I didn’t care what happened to these people, and it only got tense in the last 40 pages where I was so resigned already that I was skimming. 

The least thrilling thriller I’ve read in a while. 

Misfit by Elle Kennedy

emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

I had to take a pause before finishing this one because I found it so boring. It picked up a bit but it was all pretty blah, and then to end on a cliffhanger? Yeah, I’m not racing to read the next one. 400 pages of build up is wild. 

All of these characters were majorly flawed. Lawson’s entire storyline was APPALLING. I’m actually stunned it got publish, and that Kennedy even thought to write it. I skipped most of his chapters. 

This was a far cry from the Off Campus Series, and I’m pretty disappointed. 

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.25

This book was cute, as all Sarah Adams books are. Jack was an amazing book boyfriend, sign me up! Emily was a bit off putting to me at first until I realized it’s because I related to her so hard…

I do wish Sarah Adams hadn’t taken a turn into spicy scenes, not because I don’t like spice (trust me) but I find it a bit more forced with her. I miss the sweet romcoms! Where the chemistry really built. I find these books now read like a teenager who’s been given permission to swear but only in the house. The weird obsession with bringing up nipples, the two random callouts to “now everyone knows there’s a penis nearby”. It was a bit…juvenile?

The story overall was pretty lacklustre. Too many characters and not enough plot, but I enjoyed it and loved that Emily found someone to take care of her (instead of vice versa) 

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.5

This was my least favourite in the series but it was still good. I’m not typically an instalove person but oddly that wasn’t my issue with this book. 

Chloe felt like Piper from ITOS, and we really didn’t get to see her grow too much. I loved how Sig wanted to take care of her but she bordered on totally inept. She felt more like “locked away from society” rather than “spoiled rich girl who never learned how to do things”. That being said, i admired her determination to get better and learn, and how

when she found out Sig was paying for all her stuff by selling memorabilia, she understood that wasn’t fair.

Sig was alright. A bit TOO broody for my liking. I did love how much he cared for Chloe and how he was willing to do what it takes to be with her. 

To be honest, I found their chemistry more palpable in Au Pair Affair. I was hoping for more of that vibe. 

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

It was fine! I enjoyed parts of it more than others. I think it could have lost 100 pages and been fine.

Idk why everyone has been screaming about how spicy this is. It’s like….a normal amount for most books? If you've read a Tessa Bailey book, you've read spicier books than this one. 

I think we were just supposed to believe Lukas was this magical creature. Yes he had his moments but he seemed pretty standard to me.

He's loved Scarlett all this time but has never said anything? Stayed with someone he didn't love because he felt obligated to her? That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. Also disappearing for weeks just to "test himself to make sure he could" but then preaching trust and honesty with each other. I guess that's what's to be expected from a 22-year-old?

I did like how much he wanted to protect Scarlett, how soft he was with her. But we were essentially just told to like him without much to go on.

Scarlett was fine. Sometimes too naive, but I think it was believable. I wish I had more to say about her but there really isn't much? She's fine. Hard on herself, a self-described perfectionist. 

The Penelope of it all was a bit much.

Her as a character was one thing. I don't think her actions were warranted, nor was her apology sufficient. Plus how could Lukas continue to let things happen when he knows what's going on? That wasn't fair to Scarlett. But then again, Scarlett bringing up Pen every 5 pages was also a bit much.

I appreciated the idea of the science component to this story, and the nod to TLH, but it felt like a throwaway. 

The timeline was also wild.

You're telling me that for a WHOLE YEAR Lukas agreed to lie and say he was still dating Pen even though he was in love with Scarlett? For a WHOLE YEAR Scarlett couldn't figure out if Lukas actually liked her or if they were just fucking?

If you boil everything down, all that happens in this book is

Scarlett tries to do an inward dive for months, she has some one-step-above-vanilla sex with her friend's ex, and then they live happily ever after.

I skimmed towards the end.