Scan barcode
mells_view's reviews
1750 reviews
Nobody Like Us by Krista Ritchie
Nobody Like Us absolutely fed me all the Lunnelly love, moments, and growth I wanted and needed and also gave me so many crumbs from future potential stories to glimpses at the OG Addicted/Calloway crew. The love story between Luna and Donnelly always shines bright for me, but the non-romantic relationships in these last three books truly have a huge chunk of my heart. The way Lily and Lo have grown as parents and quasi-parents to Donnelly truly gave me so much joy. I love them so much.
I have so so many things I could say about this book and so many moments in this book that had me smiling, crying, laughing, swooning, sweating, but all I know is that I am so happy Luna and Donnelly made it to their HEA. It was written in the stars, I know, but the anticipation to forever is sometimes a little stressful as a mere reader. Anyway. Highly recommend to lovers of the Like Us series or even the Addicted/Calloway series from the same authors. I feel that these last three Like Us books truly returned to the balance of love story, life story, angst and found family that captivated me in those books.
Of course my only complaint is that it’s over. 800ish pages, thousands of annotations, and I’d still happily read more and then some. Can’t wait to see what the Ritchie’s give us in their next publishing chapters. I know it will be everything.
5.0
“Who wouldn’t love a Lunnelly?”
Nobody Like Us absolutely fed me all the Lunnelly love, moments, and growth I wanted and needed and also gave me so many crumbs from future potential stories to glimpses at the OG Addicted/Calloway crew. The love story between Luna and Donnelly always shines bright for me, but the non-romantic relationships in these last three books truly have a huge chunk of my heart. The way Lily and Lo have grown as parents and quasi-parents to Donnelly truly gave me so much joy. I love them so much.
I have so so many things I could say about this book and so many moments in this book that had me smiling, crying, laughing, swooning, sweating, but all I know is that I am so happy Luna and Donnelly made it to their HEA. It was written in the stars, I know, but the anticipation to forever is sometimes a little stressful as a mere reader. Anyway. Highly recommend to lovers of the Like Us series or even the Addicted/Calloway series from the same authors. I feel that these last three Like Us books truly returned to the balance of love story, life story, angst and found family that captivated me in those books.
Of course my only complaint is that it’s over. 800ish pages, thousands of annotations, and I’d still happily read more and then some. Can’t wait to see what the Ritchie’s give us in their next publishing chapters. I know it will be everything.
Surrender by Sam Mariano
I’m not going to rate this one because I only picked it up for the Sleeping Beauty add on at the end. Which gives us an update on Dare and Aubrey from Even If It Hurts and a smidge of a hint on where Hannah’s story might go. Not 100% how I feel about it. I realize it’s fiction and not real, but it’s starting to feel a little overly contrived. Aubrey is realizing more and more she’s in love with someone who basically abuses her because he legit knows no other way, but she still loves him. Which, whatever that’s 90% of the time how Sam’s books go, but for some reason this story made it feel even less balanced and like it just doesn’t work. Plus it doesn’t help that the Aubrey in this story felt less like Aubrey and more like Zoey from Untouchable in voice. I know time has passed, so maybe her “fog” has lifted a little more, but it sounded like a different character to me. With where I’m assuming the story may go that may be intentional, so whatever for now, but it just didn’t work for me in this little short. It was less entertaining and felt more like listening to your friend who is being abused and knows it, but can’t make herself leave because she knows leaving might be worse. It was kind of sad tbh.
If you want my review of Surrender, Silvan and Sophie’s story, then you can read that at the link below…
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5148461446
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5148461446
”You shouldn’t be so reckless, mermaid. Do you know what I would do if someone took you away from me?”
I’m not going to rate this one because I only picked it up for the Sleeping Beauty add on at the end. Which gives us an update on Dare and Aubrey from Even If It Hurts and a smidge of a hint on where Hannah’s story might go. Not 100% how I feel about it. I realize it’s fiction and not real, but it’s starting to feel a little overly contrived. Aubrey is realizing more and more she’s in love with someone who basically abuses her because he legit knows no other way, but she still loves him. Which, whatever that’s 90% of the time how Sam’s books go, but for some reason this story made it feel even less balanced and like it just doesn’t work. Plus it doesn’t help that the Aubrey in this story felt less like Aubrey and more like Zoey from Untouchable in voice. I know time has passed, so maybe her “fog” has lifted a little more, but it sounded like a different character to me. With where I’m assuming the story may go that may be intentional, so whatever for now, but it just didn’t work for me in this little short. It was less entertaining and felt more like listening to your friend who is being abused and knows it, but can’t make herself leave because she knows leaving might be worse. It was kind of sad tbh.
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
Fangirl Down was definitely something. I think if you’re usually a fan of this author’s work you will adore this one. It checks all the usual boxes with an interesting new grovel map, and there’s peach eating so I mean. I think the “ousted golfer wins back the jilted fangirl plot” is what kept me, but also just think that Tessa’s all in within just a few chapters vibes may not be for me anymore. I love an obsessive grumpy growly hero that falls fast, but I think it’s harder for me to take it seriously in straight up contemporary these days. Plus it’s set on a golf course so it was giving Happy Gilmore meets Joe Goldberg, but with Magic Mike’s butt. Anyway.
I was able to snag a copy of the audio from Libro.fm. Callie Dalton the voice actor did both the heroine and hero perspectives, and I think did a good job overall.
fast-paced
3.5
“I was very happy being alone until you showed up. You’ve ruined me.”
Fangirl Down was definitely something. I think if you’re usually a fan of this author’s work you will adore this one. It checks all the usual boxes with an interesting new grovel map, and there’s peach eating so I mean. I think the “ousted golfer wins back the jilted fangirl plot” is what kept me, but also just think that Tessa’s all in within just a few chapters vibes may not be for me anymore. I love an obsessive grumpy growly hero that falls fast, but I think it’s harder for me to take it seriously in straight up contemporary these days. Plus it’s set on a golf course so it was giving Happy Gilmore meets Joe Goldberg, but with Magic Mike’s butt. Anyway.
I was able to snag a copy of the audio from Libro.fm. Callie Dalton the voice actor did both the heroine and hero perspectives, and I think did a good job overall.
Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson
emotional
reflective
5.0
Black Girl You Are Atlas is a beautiful book of poetry (in many forms) highlighting the strengths, the heartaches, the joys, the realities, and the celebrations of being a Black girl coming of age and in life in general. I was able to listen to an early copy from Libro.fm and listening to the poet Renée Watson read her work to us with feeling and passion made her art that much more beautiful and could feel how much of her own life and experience she poured into her work. That said, I am certainly planning to buy a hard copy of the physical book because I want to see the art. The cover art is so beautiful that I can only imagine the interior is just as stunning.
Favorite pieces; Black Like Me, King, Turning Sweet Sixteen, and That Girl.
Here are a few quotes, but please know I have an audio copy so the grammar and blocking are most likely not correct.
Favorite pieces; Black Like Me, King, Turning Sweet Sixteen, and That Girl.
Here are a few quotes, but please know I have an audio copy so the grammar and blocking are most likely not correct.
that girl - “that girl wants to move to a place where the watermelon she eats is seedless, so there will be no disappointment from fruitless harvests.”
turning sweet sixteen - “but what if I want to be sour? what if when you ask me, ‘how are you?’ I tell you the truth.”
King: for Roy - “and when there’s all this talk about what Black men are not, I think about all he is.”
Long Way Down by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie
Long Way Down is the happily ever after to Ryke and Daisy’s story and the ending to the Addicted/Calloway worlds. I don’t know that I’ve ever been able to describe a story as heart wrenching, heart stopping, and heartwarming all at once, but this one is definitely that. Ryke and Daisy go through many obstacles in their relationship and on their own, but at the end of the day they have each other and the family they’ve created with their siblings/friends.
I think what I love most about LWD is that so many relationships come full circle. From Ryke and Lo’s dynamic as brothers and support systems to the Calloway sisters and how close they have become since healing and learning to communicate. Of course the majority of this story is about the crazy Raisins on their journey to getting their HEA, which happens, but know it takes a lot of tears, pain, and tension to get there mixed in with the love. The glimpse at the entire Addicted/Calloway gang’s future is everything and will get you even more excited for the TRUE finale of the series, the epilogue novel, Some Kind of Perfect (publishes March 5, 2024).
This review is for the Berkley paperback edition, and that means it includes some fun bonus content at the end of the novel. A Halloween bonus scene with moments with all our faves and some fun texts between the crew.
4.0
Never give up or back down on the things that fill your soul, Calloway. There is no worse life than a hollow one.
Long Way Down is the happily ever after to Ryke and Daisy’s story and the ending to the Addicted/Calloway worlds. I don’t know that I’ve ever been able to describe a story as heart wrenching, heart stopping, and heartwarming all at once, but this one is definitely that. Ryke and Daisy go through many obstacles in their relationship and on their own, but at the end of the day they have each other and the family they’ve created with their siblings/friends.
I think what I love most about LWD is that so many relationships come full circle. From Ryke and Lo’s dynamic as brothers and support systems to the Calloway sisters and how close they have become since healing and learning to communicate. Of course the majority of this story is about the crazy Raisins on their journey to getting their HEA, which happens, but know it takes a lot of tears, pain, and tension to get there mixed in with the love. The glimpse at the entire Addicted/Calloway gang’s future is everything and will get you even more excited for the TRUE finale of the series, the epilogue novel, Some Kind of Perfect (publishes March 5, 2024).
This review is for the Berkley paperback edition, and that means it includes some fun bonus content at the end of the novel. A Halloween bonus scene with moments with all our faves and some fun texts between the crew.
The Warm Up by Xio Axelrod
slow-paced
3.5
quick. simple. overall easy listen. hero plays hockey. heroine works as the head nurse in pediatrics. they are at odds because she thinks he’s donating his time to the hospital for clout and he’s attracted to her and has his reasons for donating to the hospital. It was too quick to get that attached to anyone, but if you’re looking for a quick romance with loose grumpy sunshine vibes, and some emotion when it comes to the ill children, then you will enjoy the warm up.
*hoopla audiobook
*hoopla audiobook
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
Lonely for You Only by Monica Murphy
Lonely for you Only was the perfect read for those who love classic new adult romances with well loved tropes like fake dating. Scarlett is a young socialite trying to break out of the “party girl” expectations that come along with being her father’s daughter and get the guy she’s been crushing on for years to finally make a move. Tate Ramsey is just trying to get through his first live performance since he tanked his once thriving career. What neither of them know is that a well intentioned spur of the moment kiss at Scarlett’s birthday party, after Tate’s epic performance, is about the change both of their lives.
I enjoyed this one and think anyone who enjoys new adult will like it. The characters definitely read as angsty and are still in that becoming adults and figuring it out part of life. I thought Scarlett and Tate’s back and forth was fun, because trust even though they have a spark from the start, they are not feeling one another at first. I will say that this one is pretty slow burn and I feel like the characters get to know each other more off page than anything, but I still enjoyed it and I’m glad with how it all worked out.
I read this one as an e-book and an audio book and I absolutely loved the audiobook version of this story. I think it was much easier to picture these two characters and the voice actors did a fantastic job communicating their feelings through their narration.
Sidenote - if Scarlett and Tate are still looking for a ship name, then I vote Scramsey 😂
AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 6TH!
*ARC ebook provided by NetGalley
*ALC provided by Libro.fm
4.0
”Every song. Every lyric. Every word. It all has to do with you.”
Lonely for you Only was the perfect read for those who love classic new adult romances with well loved tropes like fake dating. Scarlett is a young socialite trying to break out of the “party girl” expectations that come along with being her father’s daughter and get the guy she’s been crushing on for years to finally make a move. Tate Ramsey is just trying to get through his first live performance since he tanked his once thriving career. What neither of them know is that a well intentioned spur of the moment kiss at Scarlett’s birthday party, after Tate’s epic performance, is about the change both of their lives.
I enjoyed this one and think anyone who enjoys new adult will like it. The characters definitely read as angsty and are still in that becoming adults and figuring it out part of life. I thought Scarlett and Tate’s back and forth was fun, because trust even though they have a spark from the start, they are not feeling one another at first. I will say that this one is pretty slow burn and I feel like the characters get to know each other more off page than anything, but I still enjoyed it and I’m glad with how it all worked out.
I read this one as an e-book and an audio book and I absolutely loved the audiobook version of this story. I think it was much easier to picture these two characters and the voice actors did a fantastic job communicating their feelings through their narration.
Sidenote - if Scarlett and Tate are still looking for a ship name, then I vote Scramsey 😂
AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 6TH!
*ARC ebook provided by NetGalley
*ALC provided by Libro.fm
Promise Me Never by Nichole Greene
Promise Me Never is for the angst lovers. Little bit forbidden ranch hand having a summer fling with his bosses younger granddaughter, yes. Angsty and emotional AF at points, also yes. Luke is a man who suffered great losses back to back and has never let himself properly grieve those losses. Eli is the sunshine to his midnight rain (sorry, had to do it) even though Eli has her own life struggles and relationships to grieve.
I enjoyed this one and think it was probably one of this authors best books that’s contemporary. If you’re looking for your next favorite broody rancher and the starts of a romance filled with angst and emotion, then Promise Me Never is where you should turn your eyes and your kindle.
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8Wms2Ch/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8WaLYgk/
CW: discussions about sudden death of a spouse, death of a parent due to illness, grief, emotional outbursts from a grief avoidant person, emotionally neglectful parents, fighting
4.0
“Nothing feels as good as you, Sunbeam.”
Promise Me Never is for the angst lovers. Little bit forbidden ranch hand having a summer fling with his bosses younger granddaughter, yes. Angsty and emotional AF at points, also yes. Luke is a man who suffered great losses back to back and has never let himself properly grieve those losses. Eli is the sunshine to his midnight rain (sorry, had to do it) even though Eli has her own life struggles and relationships to grieve.
I enjoyed this one and think it was probably one of this authors best books that’s contemporary. If you’re looking for your next favorite broody rancher and the starts of a romance filled with angst and emotion, then Promise Me Never is where you should turn your eyes and your kindle.
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8Wms2Ch/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8WaLYgk/
CW: discussions about sudden death of a spouse, death of a parent due to illness, grief, emotional outbursts from a grief avoidant person, emotionally neglectful parents, fighting
Made to Love by Alexandria House
fast-paced
4.0
Made to Love was a good read. It was sweet, steamy, and honestly funny at points. Trevia and Nyles were made for each other and I loved how the narrators brought these characters to life. The sweet moments between them were sweet and the steamy moments were steaming. Trevia has a scrub ex, so Nyles has to put in some work and have some patience, but it pays off because like I said before, they were made for each other. I truly love this series so far and the friendship and support between the heroines.
My only complaint is that Trevia kept calling her privates Ms. Kitty, and it took me out of the story every single time. She is too grown to be calling it that, but to each their own 🫠
**audible plus catalogue
My only complaint is that Trevia kept calling her privates Ms. Kitty, and it took me out of the story every single time. She is too grown to be calling it that, but to each their own 🫠
**audible plus catalogue
Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
Canadian Boyfriend may outwardly seem like a fun hockey romance, but once you get to the guts of it all it’s a story about two people falling for each other while they separately navigate different kinds of grief and heal from traumas in their lives. It’s a pretty slow burn/low spice read, but the audio version of the book was entertaining and so easy to visualize as a movie. I think that this story definitely leans more heavily to the individual journeys of the main characters healing and moving toward love than an actual romance heavy read. Don’t get me wrong, it’s romance, but it’s definitely character driven and focused on Rory and Mike’s growth to a place where they can fall in love.
Aurora/Rory is one of the dance teachers at Mike’s daughter’s dance school. Not just any teacher though, she’s Olivia’s favorite teacher. Mike is the recently widowed pro-hockey playing father, who is trying to navigate the loss of his wife and helping his daughter navigate life and that loss as well. All of this while these two come together and start to fall in love, unintentionally. Oh and unknown to Mike and uncertain to Aurora, they may have a past and some secrets to be revealed.
Emily Ellet and Joshua Jackson did a great job bringing Mike and Aurora’s story to life with their dual narration. The pain, joy, healing, friendship, and love these two characters felt on their own and with each other was translated well in the audio version of this story. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I had to add Pacey Witter narrating a spicy scene to my 2024 Bingo card.
I would recommend the audio of Canadian Boyfriend to people who enjoy character driven stories where they work on healing and growing while they fall in love.
CW: discussions of eating disorders, discussions of anxiety/panic attacks, loss of a spouse/parent, mentally abusive parent,
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
“You. YOU, are so much better than the idea of you.”
Canadian Boyfriend may outwardly seem like a fun hockey romance, but once you get to the guts of it all it’s a story about two people falling for each other while they separately navigate different kinds of grief and heal from traumas in their lives. It’s a pretty slow burn/low spice read, but the audio version of the book was entertaining and so easy to visualize as a movie. I think that this story definitely leans more heavily to the individual journeys of the main characters healing and moving toward love than an actual romance heavy read. Don’t get me wrong, it’s romance, but it’s definitely character driven and focused on Rory and Mike’s growth to a place where they can fall in love.
Aurora/Rory is one of the dance teachers at Mike’s daughter’s dance school. Not just any teacher though, she’s Olivia’s favorite teacher. Mike is the recently widowed pro-hockey playing father, who is trying to navigate the loss of his wife and helping his daughter navigate life and that loss as well. All of this while these two come together and start to fall in love, unintentionally. Oh and unknown to Mike and uncertain to Aurora, they may have a past and some secrets to be revealed.
Emily Ellet and Joshua Jackson did a great job bringing Mike and Aurora’s story to life with their dual narration. The pain, joy, healing, friendship, and love these two characters felt on their own and with each other was translated well in the audio version of this story. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I had to add Pacey Witter narrating a spicy scene to my 2024 Bingo card.
I would recommend the audio of Canadian Boyfriend to people who enjoy character driven stories where they work on healing and growing while they fall in love.
CW: discussions of eating disorders, discussions of anxiety/panic attacks, loss of a spouse/parent, mentally abusive parent,