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michaelinereadsalot's reviews
278 reviews
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not as good as the first two Brown Sisters books, but still very good!
When self-proclaimed mess of a human Eve Brown is told by her parents that it's time to grow up and maintain a full-time job, she leaves her home to do just that, and she comes across a B&B that needs a new chef. However, Jacob, the owner of the B&B, is a stringent rule follower and perfectionist, and he is not impressed by the absolute chaos that is Eve. But when Eve ACCIDENTALLY (she swears) hits Jacob with her car temporarily leaving him with one functioning arm, Jacob's desperate need for immediate assistance at the B&B leaves him with no other choice than to hire Eve TEMPORARILY (he swears). And with all this time working together, they absolutely will not fall for each other. (Or will they?)
So, my feelings about this book, especially in relation to the rest of the series, are a little complicated. Eve is my favorite FMC in the series, and I relate to her so strongly. However, Red and Zaf are tied for my favorite love interests, and Get a Life, Chloe Brown is my overall favorite book with Eve's story coming in as my least favorite of the three.
I really enjoyed Eve's personal growth in the story. I fully relate to feeling like a mess and a failure and struggling to find a way to monetize your skills and purpose to become a "functional adult". I greatly appreciated the way her story was handled, and I loved the way Jacob consistently assured her that she was more than capable. It was one of the main things that endeared Jacob to me.
My feelings about Jacob were a little more complicated. I can fully see that Jacob's character is excellent autism representation, and for the most part, some of his more grating qualities are explained away or made sympathetic by his inner thoughts in his POV chapters. By the middle of the book, I was much more on board with Jacob as a love interest. However, when the third act conflict came into play, I lost a ton of respect for him.
We know I struggle with third act conflict revolving around miscommunications that could be resolved with a short conversation, and this book very much fell into that trap for me. If Jacob had just let Eve explain herself, the whole situation could have been avoided in one page. I was satisfied with how the story resolved, but it really did put a damper on how much I enjoyed Jacob as a character as well as the story as a whole.
The romance between Eve and Jacob was good, though. It was clear that they made each other better and lifted each other up. The way their feelings for each other slowly shifted from animosity to love was done really well, and the spice was excellent.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book if you've already been enjoying the Brown sisters series or if you're a fan of diverse romances that have strong disability representation.
Read Feb. 11, 2025.
When self-proclaimed mess of a human Eve Brown is told by her parents that it's time to grow up and maintain a full-time job, she leaves her home to do just that, and she comes across a B&B that needs a new chef. However, Jacob, the owner of the B&B, is a stringent rule follower and perfectionist, and he is not impressed by the absolute chaos that is Eve. But when Eve ACCIDENTALLY (she swears) hits Jacob with her car temporarily leaving him with one functioning arm, Jacob's desperate need for immediate assistance at the B&B leaves him with no other choice than to hire Eve TEMPORARILY (he swears). And with all this time working together, they absolutely will not fall for each other. (Or will they?)
So, my feelings about this book, especially in relation to the rest of the series, are a little complicated. Eve is my favorite FMC in the series, and I relate to her so strongly. However, Red and Zaf are tied for my favorite love interests, and Get a Life, Chloe Brown is my overall favorite book with Eve's story coming in as my least favorite of the three.
I really enjoyed Eve's personal growth in the story. I fully relate to feeling like a mess and a failure and struggling to find a way to monetize your skills and purpose to become a "functional adult". I greatly appreciated the way her story was handled, and I loved the way Jacob consistently assured her that she was more than capable. It was one of the main things that endeared Jacob to me.
My feelings about Jacob were a little more complicated. I can fully see that Jacob's character is excellent autism representation, and for the most part, some of his more grating qualities are explained away or made sympathetic by his inner thoughts in his POV chapters. By the middle of the book, I was much more on board with Jacob as a love interest. However, when the third act conflict came into play, I lost a ton of respect for him.
We know I struggle with third act conflict revolving around miscommunications that could be resolved with a short conversation, and this book very much fell into that trap for me. If Jacob had just let Eve explain herself, the whole situation could have been avoided in one page. I was satisfied with how the story resolved, but it really did put a damper on how much I enjoyed Jacob as a character as well as the story as a whole.
The romance between Eve and Jacob was good, though. It was clear that they made each other better and lifted each other up. The way their feelings for each other slowly shifted from animosity to love was done really well, and the spice was excellent.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book if you've already been enjoying the Brown sisters series or if you're a fan of diverse romances that have strong disability representation.
Read Feb. 11, 2025.
Dropping Beats by Nathanael Lessore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Ok. Two DNFs in one day. But this one was very much not the book's fault at all.
I am 5000% not this book's intended audience, and I didn't realize when I requested an ARC that it definitely leans more lower YA than upper, so the voice feels almost middle grade to me, and I don't really enjoy reading middle grade books these days.
It also is absolutely filled to the brim with slang and even includes a glossary of terms at the end, and I am apparently at the age where I had to check the glossary every other word. Jesus, I'm old.
However, I can absolutely see how a middle grade/young teen boy would absolutely eat this shit up. It is goofy and funny and has such a distinct voice and heart. (And I only read the first 10 pages and can confidently say all of that.)
So if you have a middle grade/teen boy who needs a book to read, offer him this one. I truly think it'll be loved. My copy will go in a nearby little free library so hopefully someone can enjoy it.
I am 5000% not this book's intended audience, and I didn't realize when I requested an ARC that it definitely leans more lower YA than upper, so the voice feels almost middle grade to me, and I don't really enjoy reading middle grade books these days.
It also is absolutely filled to the brim with slang and even includes a glossary of terms at the end, and I am apparently at the age where I had to check the glossary every other word. Jesus, I'm old.
However, I can absolutely see how a middle grade/young teen boy would absolutely eat this shit up. It is goofy and funny and has such a distinct voice and heart. (And I only read the first 10 pages and can confidently say all of that.)
So if you have a middle grade/teen boy who needs a book to read, offer him this one. I truly think it'll be loved. My copy will go in a nearby little free library so hopefully someone can enjoy it.
River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
I really wanted to like this one, but 25% of the way into the book and very little has happened. The pacing isn't working for me, and the
undefined Jamaican dialect and slang included make it so I'm not understanding much of the
dialogue. I don't think the book is horrible, but it's definitely too slow to start for me and I'm not feeling invested in the plot, so I'm going to
DNF and get this one to a little free library for someone else to enjoy.
undefined Jamaican dialect and slang included make it so I'm not understanding much of the
dialogue. I don't think the book is horrible, but it's definitely too slow to start for me and I'm not feeling invested in the plot, so I'm going to
DNF and get this one to a little free library for someone else to enjoy.
Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis
adventurous
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Absolutely ate this shit up. So good.
In this fast paced, addictive sequel to Thieves' Gambit, Ross finds herself and her friends in another Gambit, competing against Devroe and his mother to determine whose team leader will become the new leader of the organization (Count for Ross's team and her slimy adversary for Devroe's). Ross has to win this time because if she doesn't, Devroe's mother is determined to use her new wish to wipe Ross's family off the map.
Once again, I had an excellent time reading this one. It is an absolute page turner. I never expected myself to be so heavily invested in heists, but I was on the edge of my fucking seat during this book. It helps that the characters are super loveable. The dynamic between Ross and Devroe is entertaining, if not frustrating in this particular book.
Ross's mom plays a bigger role in this book, and she irritated me just as much as she did in the first one, except with more page time. Blegh. Fuck that lady. Yes they try to redeem her a little in this book, and it sort of kind of works. But mostly I just want her to go back to being kidnapped.
I really enjoyed the ending, though it was tied up a little too nicely to be realistic. However, since it's YA, I can definitely forgive the more hopeful and perfect wrapped in a bow style ending. Plus it was super satisfying, even if it was unrealistic.
Overall, if you enjoy a YA thriller or the heist genre, this duology will be a really fun time. Definitely pick it up if you are a fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Very similar vibes, but with the added bonus of diverse representation. Highly recommend.
Read Feb. 14, 2025.
In this fast paced, addictive sequel to Thieves' Gambit, Ross finds herself and her friends in another Gambit, competing against Devroe and his mother to determine whose team leader will become the new leader of the organization (Count for Ross's team and her slimy adversary for Devroe's). Ross has to win this time because if she doesn't, Devroe's mother is determined to use her new wish to wipe Ross's family off the map.
Once again, I had an excellent time reading this one. It is an absolute page turner. I never expected myself to be so heavily invested in heists, but I was on the edge of my fucking seat during this book. It helps that the characters are super loveable. The dynamic between Ross and Devroe is entertaining, if not frustrating in this particular book.
Ross's mom plays a bigger role in this book, and she irritated me just as much as she did in the first one, except with more page time. Blegh. Fuck that lady. Yes they try to redeem her a little in this book, and it sort of kind of works. But mostly I just want her to go back to being kidnapped.
I really enjoyed the ending, though it was tied up a little too nicely to be realistic. However, since it's YA, I can definitely forgive the more hopeful and perfect wrapped in a bow style ending. Plus it was super satisfying, even if it was unrealistic.
Overall, if you enjoy a YA thriller or the heist genre, this duology will be a really fun time. Definitely pick it up if you are a fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Very similar vibes, but with the added bonus of diverse representation. Highly recommend.
Read Feb. 14, 2025.
Deeper Mindfulness: The New Way to Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World by Mark Williams, Danny Penman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Not going to rate this one. I DNFed within the first few pages, not because there was anything wrong with the book, just because I realized it's not a topic I'm all that interested in anymore. I requested this book from the publisher when I was still planning on going into social work and was building up my professional library and using books to continue my education. Since that's no longer the case and meditation isn't one of my personal coping mechanisms, I decided this book is not for me. I will be either giving it to friends of mine who work in the mental health field or popping it in a little free library.
The Book of Psychic Self-Defense: A Practical Guide to Protecting Yourself from Energetic and Supernatural Attacks by Leanna Greenaway, Beleta Greenaway
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
I DNFed this book about 20 pages in. The way this book was written, it felt really childish. The use of the case studies to "prove" that the things like the evil eye were real felt a little forced. The case studies sounded fully made up and goofy. There might be some helpful information in here about how to protect yourself from negative energy, but I can't get past the bad writing to find out. To a little free library it goes.
I was sent this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I was sent this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
This was a super slow burn, subtle romance, which completely caught me off guard in the end when I realized how invested I really was.
Funny You Should Ask follows Chani Horowitz, who finds success in her writing career when she writes an article about a weekend spent with movie star Gabe Parker. However, ten years later, after a traumatic marriage and divorce, Chani is asked to do a follow-up interview. What she didn't include in her original article was the way things ended that infamous weekend, so she has mixed feelings about opening that door again. This book explores Chani and Gabe's whirlwind, romantic weekend side by side with their second chance to get things right ten years later.
I read this book so quickly, and I really enjoyed it. The beginning is a little bit slow going, and since it goes back and forth between the two timelines, it takes a little time to get to the meat of both stories. However, in the end, it is totally worth it. I am not always a fan of a second chance romance, but this one worked for me. The growth between the two characters and the miscommunications that caused their initial split allowed me to still root for them to get back together.
I also really enjoyed how the topics of Gabe's addiction and Chani's emotionally abusive marriage were handled in this book and the way each character supported the other in their healing. If you enjoy a celebrity romance, this one is definitely more serious and a hell of a lot more subtle than the typical romcoms I tend to read, but I think that's what made it so refreshing.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and this is my honest review.
Read Jan. 29, 2025.
Funny You Should Ask follows Chani Horowitz, who finds success in her writing career when she writes an article about a weekend spent with movie star Gabe Parker. However, ten years later, after a traumatic marriage and divorce, Chani is asked to do a follow-up interview. What she didn't include in her original article was the way things ended that infamous weekend, so she has mixed feelings about opening that door again. This book explores Chani and Gabe's whirlwind, romantic weekend side by side with their second chance to get things right ten years later.
I read this book so quickly, and I really enjoyed it. The beginning is a little bit slow going, and since it goes back and forth between the two timelines, it takes a little time to get to the meat of both stories. However, in the end, it is totally worth it. I am not always a fan of a second chance romance, but this one worked for me. The growth between the two characters and the miscommunications that caused their initial split allowed me to still root for them to get back together.
I also really enjoyed how the topics of Gabe's addiction and Chani's emotionally abusive marriage were handled in this book and the way each character supported the other in their healing. If you enjoy a celebrity romance, this one is definitely more serious and a hell of a lot more subtle than the typical romcoms I tend to read, but I think that's what made it so refreshing.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and this is my honest review.
Read Jan. 29, 2025.
What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety by Cole Kazdin
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Informative. Engaging. Infuriating.
What's Eating Us is a nonfiction look at women's relationships with food and their bodies and the societal expectations that shape them. Kazdin mixes accounts of her personal struggle with an eating disorder with research studies and interviews with experts in the field to share a thorough exploration of the epidemic that is women's body image issues and disordered eating and the way society fails women who attempt to heal.
I found this book to be fascinating and exceedingly frustrating. As a woman who is attempting to heal my relationship with food and my body, I'm always looking to learn more about ways I can reach body neutrality. This book had some great info on that, but even more so it just showed how far we as a society have to go before we can eliminate fat phobia and all be treated equally regardless of our size or shape. She particularly highlights how pervasive diet culture and fat phobia are, and it is so fucking infuriating to see how it is woven into everything. If you're interested in learning more about the disturbing effects the diet industry has on women and the difficult path that is healing from it, this book is a great choice. As is often the case with my nonfiction reads, I listened to this one on audiobook, and I thought the narration was done really well.
If you made it this far, please give this review a like and/or comment. I'm hoping to get an idea of how many people are actually reading these and would greatly appreciate your continued engagement. Thanks!
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and this is my honest review.
Read Jan. 30, 2025.
What's Eating Us is a nonfiction look at women's relationships with food and their bodies and the societal expectations that shape them. Kazdin mixes accounts of her personal struggle with an eating disorder with research studies and interviews with experts in the field to share a thorough exploration of the epidemic that is women's body image issues and disordered eating and the way society fails women who attempt to heal.
I found this book to be fascinating and exceedingly frustrating. As a woman who is attempting to heal my relationship with food and my body, I'm always looking to learn more about ways I can reach body neutrality. This book had some great info on that, but even more so it just showed how far we as a society have to go before we can eliminate fat phobia and all be treated equally regardless of our size or shape. She particularly highlights how pervasive diet culture and fat phobia are, and it is so fucking infuriating to see how it is woven into everything. If you're interested in learning more about the disturbing effects the diet industry has on women and the difficult path that is healing from it, this book is a great choice. As is often the case with my nonfiction reads, I listened to this one on audiobook, and I thought the narration was done really well.
If you made it this far, please give this review a like and/or comment. I'm hoping to get an idea of how many people are actually reading these and would greatly appreciate your continued engagement. Thanks!
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and this is my honest review.
Read Jan. 30, 2025.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Super fun, well done romance!
When a viral video begins to circulate of super hot, former rugby player and current campus security guard Zafir Ansari carrying PhD student and professor Danika Brown bridal style out of the building during a fire drill that left her trapped in an elevator, the two decide to roll with the assumption people are making that they are in a relationship so that Zaf can use the sudden attention to get his nonprofit some much needed press. Since Dani believes relationships are a waste of time and a distraction from her career, she has no problem with faking this relationship, especially if Zaf wants to add some "benefits" to their arrangement, because she is definitely, absolutely, positively not going to catch any feelings for him... none at all. No feelings. Just orgasms. Right?
This was such a sweet and sassy good time. I absolutely love Dani as a character, and I absolutely felt for her refusal to put heart on the line again after a toxic relationship, though after a while her unwillingness to trust Zaf who consistently proved to be nothing but trustworthy and supportive was a little frustrating. Understandable... but frustrating. There were definitely moments when I was yelling at her like she could hear me.
But that definitely didn't detract from me loving this book, and Zaf's steadfast acknowledgment of his feelings (if only internally) and willingness to let Dani come to terms with her clearly developing feelings at her own pace MORE than made up for it. This book is a shining example of how hot the "guy falls first" trope can be. And Zaf IS hot. So hot. Nothing sexier than a man who is in touch with his feelings, denounces toxic masculinity, and actively works to help young men learn to do the same. Plus the romance novels? The romance novels! I cannot.
On top of all of that, his character provided unbelievably well-done anxiety representation, and I adored how Talia wrote Dani's reactions to his anxiety. Just in general, the way the characters behaved together in their friendship and then relationship was *chef's kiss*. Their communication, their banter, their respect for each other's boundaries, their compromise, and care for each other... just... perfect.
One of my favorite parts of this book was how Talia handled Dani's unhealthy workaholic tendencies and the way she allowed the character to learn the importance of balance and joy in life and come to a place where she could be passionate about work without burning herself out. It's an important lesson that I feel like usually isn't handled very well. Typically, the pendulum swings too far in the opposite direction, and a hard-working, ambitious woman decides to just lose all her ambition and vibe in a small town with her hot new boyfriend who thinks life should be all hot cocoa and hot sex. I much prefer the middle ground where the new hot boyfriend supports her in her boss bitch mode and helps her continue to absolutely smash her professional goals while bringing some balance and joy to her life. Especially when providing that balance for each other goes both ways. But I'll get off my work-life balance/supportive partnership soapbox now.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and the more I think about it, the more I love it. If you enjoy a spicy romcom where both characters have other things in their lives and the man falls HARD and first, grab this one. It is the second in a series of standalones, and you absolutely do not NEED to read the first one first, BUT you also absolutely DO need to because that one was excellent, too, and those characters appear in this one.
If you made it this far, please give this review a like and/or comment. Engagement is super important and appreciated, and your likes and comments allow me to continue to receive fun new books to share with you all! I appreciate you being here and reading with me. Thanks!
When a viral video begins to circulate of super hot, former rugby player and current campus security guard Zafir Ansari carrying PhD student and professor Danika Brown bridal style out of the building during a fire drill that left her trapped in an elevator, the two decide to roll with the assumption people are making that they are in a relationship so that Zaf can use the sudden attention to get his nonprofit some much needed press. Since Dani believes relationships are a waste of time and a distraction from her career, she has no problem with faking this relationship, especially if Zaf wants to add some "benefits" to their arrangement, because she is definitely, absolutely, positively not going to catch any feelings for him... none at all. No feelings. Just orgasms. Right?
This was such a sweet and sassy good time. I absolutely love Dani as a character, and I absolutely felt for her refusal to put heart on the line again after a toxic relationship, though after a while her unwillingness to trust Zaf who consistently proved to be nothing but trustworthy and supportive was a little frustrating. Understandable... but frustrating. There were definitely moments when I was yelling at her like she could hear me.
But that definitely didn't detract from me loving this book, and Zaf's steadfast acknowledgment of his feelings (if only internally) and willingness to let Dani come to terms with her clearly developing feelings at her own pace MORE than made up for it. This book is a shining example of how hot the "guy falls first" trope can be. And Zaf IS hot. So hot. Nothing sexier than a man who is in touch with his feelings, denounces toxic masculinity, and actively works to help young men learn to do the same. Plus the romance novels? The romance novels! I cannot.
On top of all of that, his character provided unbelievably well-done anxiety representation, and I adored how Talia wrote Dani's reactions to his anxiety. Just in general, the way the characters behaved together in their friendship and then relationship was *chef's kiss*. Their communication, their banter, their respect for each other's boundaries, their compromise, and care for each other... just... perfect.
One of my favorite parts of this book was how Talia handled Dani's unhealthy workaholic tendencies and the way she allowed the character to learn the importance of balance and joy in life and come to a place where she could be passionate about work without burning herself out. It's an important lesson that I feel like usually isn't handled very well. Typically, the pendulum swings too far in the opposite direction, and a hard-working, ambitious woman decides to just lose all her ambition and vibe in a small town with her hot new boyfriend who thinks life should be all hot cocoa and hot sex. I much prefer the middle ground where the new hot boyfriend supports her in her boss bitch mode and helps her continue to absolutely smash her professional goals while bringing some balance and joy to her life. Especially when providing that balance for each other goes both ways. But I'll get off my work-life balance/supportive partnership soapbox now.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and the more I think about it, the more I love it. If you enjoy a spicy romcom where both characters have other things in their lives and the man falls HARD and first, grab this one. It is the second in a series of standalones, and you absolutely do not NEED to read the first one first, BUT you also absolutely DO need to because that one was excellent, too, and those characters appear in this one.
If you made it this far, please give this review a like and/or comment. Engagement is super important and appreciated, and your likes and comments allow me to continue to receive fun new books to share with you all! I appreciate you being here and reading with me. Thanks!
flower crowns & fearsome things by Amanda Lovelace
4.0
Taking inspiration from the goddess Persephone, Amanda Lovelace has created a collection of poems that explore the juxtaposition of soft, feminine nature of women and the wild, harsh, fury of women. Her poems show the war between those natures in any given situation, and how depending on what the circumstances call for women may respond with either version of themselves: sweet goddess of spring or raging queen of the underworld. I really enjoyed these poems and the duality they explored.