natalie_cooper's reviews
538 reviews

Spring Tide by Ki Stephens

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

This was a good time but it was also the kind of book I’m probably going to forget about by tomorrow. The start was really cute and I liked how the fake dating played out. The setting and college town was cute as well as the sports element. I thought that the actual romance felt a little rushed but I liked the two of them together. Towards the end it felt a bit dragged out and I didn’t care for the family drama. But overall a fun college romance. 

The Truths We Burn by Monty Jay

dark emotional sad slow-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

4.0

I really enjoyed this but I thought I was going to be obsessed with it which is a little unfortunate. The romance in this book was so so good but the issue was it was probably 60% romance 40% other stuff and I just wanted more of the romance and less of the other stuff. I enjoyed the past and present timelines and how it worked out for the pacing but overall I would say the pacing for this book felt kind of slow. I liked getting to see the guys all together again as well as the girls begin to form their own group. I also think the spice in this book was great so there’s that. Overall not everything I hoped it would be but still a really good book overall. 

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don’t know where to start. I didn’t go into this book with very high expectations because I just wanted to see how it would play out and I’m so happy that I did. This was everything I wanted with more sprinkled on top. In terms of the romance it was perfection. It felt like we had finally moved past the immature miscommunication and instead had reached a mature love filled relationship and I loved that. I loved how down bad Xaden was the whole book and how open he was about his feelings for her. I loved how Violet was finally on the same page and was just as open with her feelings. The way the romance was paced throughout the book in tandem with the plot was exceptionally done as well. In terms of the characters I just got more attached to basically all of them by the end of this. The quest squad is my new favorite thing and I loved the humor, relief, and dynamic that they brought. I also have to mention Ridoc because he is my absolute favorite and if he dies I’m going to cry enough to fill a river. I thought the plot was expertly done especially coming off the end of Iron Flame. I thought it did a great job setting up the next two books in the series and it kept me on my toes. I also loved that it didn’t just feel like info dumping and an overwhelming amount of information for no reason. I could talk about this book forever so I’m going to stop here but this book consumed me and I cannot wait for the next one to be in my hands. 

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

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? No

3.5

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I was going to. It had the best rom com feel and I saw it playing out in my head like a movie. The setting was cute and I loved the small town feel it had to it. The almost second chance vibe it had with them knowing each other in high school was cute and I liked how their relationship played out from there. I will say that while the secret identity element was fun at first it did drag on a little bit longer than I wanted it to and it made the third act breakup predictable. I also think that the story overall dragged on a bit. But overall I had a good time and the audiobook was a fun experience. 

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.25

This was such a strong start to what I know is going to be a great series. I was hooked immediately from the first chapter and it just kept getting better from there. I loved learning about all of the characters and getting to watch them form relationships with each other. The mystery element was so good and I loved how it ended up playing out. The pacing was excellent and I wasn’t bored once. Jennifer Lynn Barnes always manages to pack the perfect mix of content and mystery and romance and this one was no different. I absolutely love dean and I can’t wait to see how his story was well as everyone else’s plays out. 

On the Line by Naomi Loud

dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

I got through this insanely quickly. Every time I picked it up I just kept reading and reading. The story was so easy to get into and I really enjoyed the characters and their dynamic and the setting. I loved the role food played across the story and how it brought the two of them together. I will say that there were a couple of plot holes that I really wish got wrapped up. I would’ve loved for James to get closure with her family and see her thrive in school. I would’ve loved for Ozzy to get closure with his dad and have his story reach a full conclusion instead of something open ended. So overall a quick fun time but not something I’m going to be thinking of often. 

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

I was blown away by this book. I’ve always loved Sarah Adam’s writing style but this was just on a whole other level. I have never related to a character more as I did to Emily. Her closed off personality mixed with how much she cared about her loved ones to how she didn’t know how to be vulnerable so she kept everything bottled up was executed perfectly and added so much to the story. I thought Jack was a perfect match for her and how he accepted her and showed her what love was was perfect. I loved being back in Rome Kentucky and the found family in this series was the best so far. I loved the writers element and how it grew throughout the story as well as the little element that they taught at the same school. I loved getting to learn about their past and see them go from enemies to friends to lovers and I loved the pacing of their relationship. Essentially I just loved everything about this book and it is going to live in my head for a very very long time. 

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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? No

4.5

I had no clue what to expect about this going into it and I was pleasantly surprised. I was scared this was going to be a fantasy with the main focus being on the world and the war and the romance as a subplot but the balance between the two was really nice. I loved the role that writing and literature played in the story and getting to read the letters they sent each other was definitely one of my favorite things about this book. I loved the balance of POVs between Iris’s and Roman’s and going from third person to first person with the letters. I loved the side characters and the setting and getting to discover more of the world as the book went on. My only main complaint is that the first third felt really slow and took me a while to get into. I wish that there was something gripping to start the story off with and then it went from there. But nonetheless I had a great time with this book and am looking forward to completing the duology. 

Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.5

This was such a fun ride. I was hooked from the very beginning with the sprinkling of mystery and suspense that was at the start and the story really took off from there. I loved the small town and getting to meet the brothers and the side characters. I loved the tension between the two main characters and you could feel their chemistry. I loved Jules and grew so attached to her as the story went on. The real family mixed with found family made this book a joy to read. My only real complaint is that around 70-80% there was a bit of a lag where the story just felt slow and a little dull. However the ending kind of made up for that with how quick and exciting it was. I loved how it wrapped up the story and I loved the balance of romance and suspense throughout the entire book. The ending of this also set up the next book in the series which I cannot wait to read. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark informative tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I’ve never read a book like this and this book has ruined all other books like it for me and I mean that in the best way possible. The way this book made me think is something I’ve never experienced and I loved it. As an Asian American it was fascinating and gripping to read about the publishing industry from the eyes of a white person. I loved the depth this story had and the way it opened my eyes to various topics. The hatred I felt for the main character is a testament to how well written this book was. I had a great time reading this and it’s definitely something I’ll be thinking about in the coming days weeks and months.