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natashal's reviews
502 reviews
Bend Toward the Sun by Jen Devon
emotional
hopeful
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 love this book! Jen Devon's BEND TOWARD THE SUN is a beautifully written story of two damaged people who heal themselves and each other in the sunlight of a vineyard. Every single sentence in this book is gorgeous. Devon's words echoed in my mind long after I read the last page. I saw recently that Rachel Lynn Solomon blurbed this book, and I agree with what she wrote: "This is a book to be savored."
While the prose stands out here, but the characters are wonderfully crafted as well. Rowan is an academic and green thumb who takes a job working at the Brady family's farm/vineyard/bed and breakfast. There, she meets Harry Brady, one of the siblings, who is home for a while recovering from the loss of a patient. Both of their stays on the Brady compound are meant to be temporary, and neither expects to fall in love, especially Rowan, whose past wounds have her believing that love isn't for her. Harry and Rowan's journey is wonderful and heartwarming and sweet.
I also love the cast of supporting characters here, which include Rowan's two best friends and Harry's innumerable siblings. I can see Devon setting up at least two more books in this universe, and I hope I'm able to read those someday. This book is really, really special, and I'm so glad I got to read an early copy.
Thank you to St. Martins and Netgalley for the ARC!
While the prose stands out here, but the characters are wonderfully crafted as well. Rowan is an academic and green thumb who takes a job working at the Brady family's farm/vineyard/bed and breakfast. There, she meets Harry Brady, one of the siblings, who is home for a while recovering from the loss of a patient. Both of their stays on the Brady compound are meant to be temporary, and neither expects to fall in love, especially Rowan, whose past wounds have her believing that love isn't for her. Harry and Rowan's journey is wonderful and heartwarming and sweet.
I also love the cast of supporting characters here, which include Rowan's two best friends and Harry's innumerable siblings. I can see Devon setting up at least two more books in this universe, and I hope I'm able to read those someday. This book is really, really special, and I'm so glad I got to read an early copy.
Thank you to St. Martins and Netgalley for the ARC!
A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
A BRUSH WITH LOVE is about Harper, a high-achieving dental student with anxiety, and Dan, a man who doesn't want to be a dentist. It's very earnest and sweet and cheesy. Overall, it's an enjoyable, fun read.
One thing I want to mention is something I haven't seen anywhere else: Harper is Jewish! It surprises me that I haven't seen any other readers talking about this and that the book hasn't popped up in lists of upcoming romances with Jewish representation. Harper's Jewishness, while not essential to the plot, is explained early on in the book to be a pretty significant part of her character. I hope that as publication gets closer, the Jewish representation in this book is discussed and celebrated. As a Jewish reader with anxiety, I felt seen by Harper, and I appreciated that.
Harper also has anxiety, and it drives the major conflict in the book. The author has talked about how writing this book helped her through a difficult time with her own mental health, and that very much comes across on the page. My only qualm with this book is a personal one, and it's that the narrative style is so focused on the romance between the two characters that it sometimes felt suffocating. Since Harper's anxiety is the B plot and Dan's character growth is much less significant than hers, her anxiety can feel overwhelming as a reader.
Thank you to St. Martins and Netgalley for the ARC.
One thing I want to mention is something I haven't seen anywhere else: Harper is Jewish! It surprises me that I haven't seen any other readers talking about this and that the book hasn't popped up in lists of upcoming romances with Jewish representation. Harper's Jewishness, while not essential to the plot, is explained early on in the book to be a pretty significant part of her character. I hope that as publication gets closer, the Jewish representation in this book is discussed and celebrated. As a Jewish reader with anxiety, I felt seen by Harper, and I appreciated that.
Harper also has anxiety, and it drives the major conflict in the book. The author has talked about how writing this book helped her through a difficult time with her own mental health, and that very much comes across on the page. My only qualm with this book is a personal one, and it's that the narrative style is so focused on the romance between the two characters that it sometimes felt suffocating. Since Harper's anxiety is the B plot and Dan's character growth is much less significant than hers, her anxiety can feel overwhelming as a reader.
Thank you to St. Martins and Netgalley for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
A LOT LIKE ADIOS is a fun, quick romp about Michelle and Gabe, high school bffs who lost touch after graduation and are reunited more than a decade later when Gabe's company hires Michelle to do some design work for them. Michelle's fear of commitment and Gabe's fear of his family have the odds stacked against them.
This book was a letdown for me in a couple of ways. I loved YOU HAD ME AT HOLA, so I had high hopes, but ADIOS didn't quite live up. First, the physical aspects of Michelle and Gabe's relationship happened really quickly—I think the first sex scene is somewhere around 17% of the way through the book. I tend to prefer my second chance romances with a bit more pining and will-they-won't-they slow burning, but this one was a bit different because Michelle and Gabe already love each other and they already know they have great physical chemistry—so it's their personal wounds that are holding them back and must be overcome in order for there to be a happy ending.
Additionally, like in YOU HAD ME AT HOLA, Daria uses a secondary medium between the chapters to add depth to the world. While HOLA used bits of the scenes in Jasmine's tv show, here there are chat excerpts from planning talks Michelle and Gabe had about the fanfic they wrote when they were teenagers. The conceit of the fanfic was a bit silly and didn't seem to fit with who Michelle and Gabe are as adults—as teens they are obsessed with a tv show that puts Latinas in space, but as adults that priority, as well as an interest in television, is gone. The fanfic is used to parallel Gabe's journey with his family, but I felt that was rather simplistic and didn't add much to the story.
Overall, this is a fun read, but it moved a bit too quickly for my liking. I'm looking forward to the third book in the series and hope Daria will be more successful with whatever trope she chooses there.
This book was a letdown for me in a couple of ways. I loved YOU HAD ME AT HOLA, so I had high hopes, but ADIOS didn't quite live up. First, the physical aspects of Michelle and Gabe's relationship happened really quickly—I think the first sex scene is somewhere around 17% of the way through the book. I tend to prefer my second chance romances with a bit more pining and will-they-won't-they slow burning, but this one was a bit different because Michelle and Gabe already love each other and they already know they have great physical chemistry—so it's their personal wounds that are holding them back and must be overcome in order for there to be a happy ending.
Additionally, like in YOU HAD ME AT HOLA, Daria uses a secondary medium between the chapters to add depth to the world. While HOLA used bits of the scenes in Jasmine's tv show, here there are chat excerpts from planning talks Michelle and Gabe had about the fanfic they wrote when they were teenagers. The conceit of the fanfic was a bit silly and didn't seem to fit with who Michelle and Gabe are as adults—as teens they are obsessed with a tv show that puts Latinas in space, but as adults that priority, as well as an interest in television, is gone. The fanfic is used to parallel Gabe's journey with his family, but I felt that was rather simplistic and didn't add much to the story.
Overall, this is a fun read, but it moved a bit too quickly for my liking. I'm looking forward to the third book in the series and hope Daria will be more successful with whatever trope she chooses there.
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
I loved this book! I'm a big fan of Julie Murphy's DUMPLIN series, so I was excited to see her try her hand at adult romance. This is a Cinderella retelling that leaves out all of my least favorite elements of Cinderella: the hate-filled stepmother and stepsisters, the poverty, the lost identity. Instead, small details of Cinderella are incorporated in unexpected ways. The protagonist, Cindy, has a stepmother and two stepsisters, but they are loving and appreciative. Her stepmother is the showrunner of a Bachelor-like tv show called "Before Midnight" and Cindy, a fashion school grad, wants to be a shoe designer.
I was worried this book, which is marketed as close-door, would feel flat without sex scenes because in most romance, sexual attraction plays a large role in relationships and in the development of intimacy between two characters, but Murphy accomplishes all of that and then gently closes the door. Instead of dodging around sex or pretending it doesn't exist (I've read adult romances like that), she hints at it, teases at it, implies it. It's smoothly done and doesn't distract from the fun of the book.
The romance in this book, between Cindy and Henry, whom she meets on a plane and then later finds out is the lead on the new season of "Before Midnight," is fun and flirty and kept me reading way past my bedtime. I also love how Murphy subtly criticized the limits of the Bachelor franchise by making her fictional show more inclusive and diverse. This book has a full cast of fun, lively side characters who support and challenge Cindy on her journey. The fashion industry elements of the book were also wonderful. The love interest, Henry, is set to take over his mom's giant fashion brand, and Cindy's affinity for fashion makes her stand out amongst the other contestants on "Before Midnight."
Overall, this book was a delight. I highly recommend it to lovers of romance and dating shows.
I was worried this book, which is marketed as close-door, would feel flat without sex scenes because in most romance, sexual attraction plays a large role in relationships and in the development of intimacy between two characters, but Murphy accomplishes all of that and then gently closes the door. Instead of dodging around sex or pretending it doesn't exist (I've read adult romances like that), she hints at it, teases at it, implies it. It's smoothly done and doesn't distract from the fun of the book.
The romance in this book, between Cindy and Henry, whom she meets on a plane and then later finds out is the lead on the new season of "Before Midnight," is fun and flirty and kept me reading way past my bedtime. I also love how Murphy subtly criticized the limits of the Bachelor franchise by making her fictional show more inclusive and diverse. This book has a full cast of fun, lively side characters who support and challenge Cindy on her journey. The fashion industry elements of the book were also wonderful. The love interest, Henry, is set to take over his mom's giant fashion brand, and Cindy's affinity for fashion makes her stand out amongst the other contestants on "Before Midnight."
Overall, this book was a delight. I highly recommend it to lovers of romance and dating shows.
Heartbreak for Hire by Sonia Hartl
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is... fine. It's not bad, but it's not great. If I hadn't been reading it to review, I'm not sure I would've finished it.
The premise is clever conceptually, but in practice, it feels contrived and cliche. The protagonist, Brinkley (who shares her name with the dog from "Sleepless in Seattle," a fact that I couldn't forget and which the book never mentions), works for a company called Heartbreak for Hire, a cash-only business that definitely doesn't pay taxes. With H4H, she targets "Egos," men whose egos are so large they've stolen from women in order to advance their careers. Her motivation stems from a past relationship where she experienced something similar. The love interest, Mark, is a professor of anthropology at a university and enjoys metal detecting. Brinkley meets him when he is the target of one of her jobs, and he's later brought in to work for H4H as her partner/underling.
The main thing I didn't like about this book is how gendered it is. There's a girls v. boys attitude at H4H, and the whole business is predicated on getting revenge on men who have hurt women. There's no room in this universe for any other type of identity. Because of this, the book felt flat and inaccessible to me.
I also felt that Brinkley's character growth was almost nonexistent because it's made clear from the beginning who she is, what she wants, and why she can't get it. There's no tension, nothing to be revealed, no anxiety over whether or not she will actually quit H4H (which she hates) in order to start an art gallery (what she really wants). Mark's wound is revealed so late in the book that he feels flat as well.
Overall, this book is sweet at times and cute at other times, but largely doesn't live up to expectations.
The premise is clever conceptually, but in practice, it feels contrived and cliche. The protagonist, Brinkley (who shares her name with the dog from "Sleepless in Seattle," a fact that I couldn't forget and which the book never mentions), works for a company called Heartbreak for Hire, a cash-only business that definitely doesn't pay taxes. With H4H, she targets "Egos," men whose egos are so large they've stolen from women in order to advance their careers. Her motivation stems from a past relationship where she experienced something similar. The love interest, Mark, is a professor of anthropology at a university and enjoys metal detecting. Brinkley meets him when he is the target of one of her jobs, and he's later brought in to work for H4H as her partner/underling.
The main thing I didn't like about this book is how gendered it is. There's a girls v. boys attitude at H4H, and the whole business is predicated on getting revenge on men who have hurt women. There's no room in this universe for any other type of identity. Because of this, the book felt flat and inaccessible to me.
I also felt that Brinkley's character growth was almost nonexistent because it's made clear from the beginning who she is, what she wants, and why she can't get it. There's no tension, nothing to be revealed, no anxiety over whether or not she will actually quit H4H (which she hates) in order to start an art gallery (what she really wants). Mark's wound is revealed so late in the book that he feels flat as well.
Overall, this book is sweet at times and cute at other times, but largely doesn't live up to expectations.
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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 love THE NATURE OF WITCHES by Rachel Griffin! It focuses on Clara, a young witch who is the first in several hundred years to be born an Ever. This means that, unlike her fellow witches who each have a set of powers connected to the season in which they were born, Clara's powers change with the seasons. Her teachers at her magic school believe that she has untold powers that will help the witches on their quest to save humanity and the world from the damage wrought by non-witches, called Shaders. However, Clara has a history of losing control of her magic. When this happens, it goes after the ones she loves, so she has plans to step into the path of an eclipse come summer and be stripped of her powers.
While this book has things in common with other works of YA where the protagonist is a sort of "chosen one," the plot felt fresh and engaging and the characters are realistic and lovable. Clara's romance with Sang is sweet and heartwarming, and the side characters are complex and interesting. The imagery of nature is beautiful, and it's easy to imagine this book being adapted for Netflix in the next few years. I'll definitely be picking up a copy for my classroom library.
While this book has things in common with other works of YA where the protagonist is a sort of "chosen one," the plot felt fresh and engaging and the characters are realistic and lovable. Clara's romance with Sang is sweet and heartwarming, and the side characters are complex and interesting. The imagery of nature is beautiful, and it's easy to imagine this book being adapted for Netflix in the next few years. I'll definitely be picking up a copy for my classroom library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC.
The Audacity of Sara Grayson by Joani Elliott
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
I spent most of the first half of this book, THE AUDACITY OF SARA GRAYSON, being confused about what genre it was and what it was trying to accomplish. Is it women's fiction? Romance? Mystery? All three? I'm still not sure of the answer.
The romance in the book came a bit late for me (we don't meet the love interest until 50% of the way through) and there are some funny side characters that only appear for a second before disappearing. The climax is a family secret on top of family secret on top of family secret, and the secrets felt a bit heavy for the book—almost in the vein of THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO, like they were only there for shock value.
Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read that has a lot of life to it. I would definitely read more by this author. The writing is humorous and fun, Sara is an entertaining character, and the challenge of her having to write the last installment her dead mother's bestselling book series is intriguing.
The romance in the book came a bit late for me (we don't meet the love interest until 50% of the way through) and there are some funny side characters that only appear for a second before disappearing. The climax is a family secret on top of family secret on top of family secret, and the secrets felt a bit heavy for the book—almost in the vein of THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO, like they were only there for shock value.
Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read that has a lot of life to it. I would definitely read more by this author. The writing is humorous and fun, Sara is an entertaining character, and the challenge of her having to write the last installment her dead mother's bestselling book series is intriguing.
Summer in the City by Lori Wilde, Sarah Skilton, Priscilla Oliveras
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
In this fun and flirty anthology, three romance writers each contribute a novella about a different couple in New York City on the night of a blackout. The leading ladies in each story are best friends.
The first story by Lori Wilde focuses on an art restorer named Ria and a businessman named Victor. They’ve spotted each other all over the city for months but finally meet when a painting she is restoring is displayed at a ritzy party at the Met. This story was cute but not particularly memorable. It’s short so it moved quickly, as expected, but I think more internal monologue could have slowed some of that down and made me feel more connected to the characters. Art restoration is really intriguing so I was interested in Ria’s perspective but Vic was just a guy in a suit.
The second story, by Priscilla Oliveras, is about a writer named Vanessa who is the top theater reviewer for a New York magazine. There’s a ton of info-dumping at the beginning to set up a prior relationship between Vanessa and the hero, an actor/writer/performer named Mateo. He’s definitely inspired by Lin Manuel Miranda—there are subtle references to Hamilton lyrics and explicit references to the show by name. Mateo and Vanessa were musical theater rivals in high school (they played opposite each other in “In the Heights,” of course) and Vanessa wrote a less-than-stellar review of Mateo’s last show, so a lot is riding on tonight’s success. This story is sweet and fun and I enjoyed the banter between Vanessa and Mateo a lot.
The final story, by Sarah Skilton, is, I think, definitely the best of the bunch! In this one, Alison seeks revenge against Nick, her college bf who betrayed her and is now a magician. The writing is strong and the flashbacks provide depth to the characters' connection, which is difficult to do in a novella. I enjoyed all of the descriptions of the magic act (a quick google taught me that Skilton's husband is a magician) and I really felt how much Nick cared for Alison. There was tenderness in this story that I wasn't expecting and it really made the book for me!
The first story by Lori Wilde focuses on an art restorer named Ria and a businessman named Victor. They’ve spotted each other all over the city for months but finally meet when a painting she is restoring is displayed at a ritzy party at the Met. This story was cute but not particularly memorable. It’s short so it moved quickly, as expected, but I think more internal monologue could have slowed some of that down and made me feel more connected to the characters. Art restoration is really intriguing so I was interested in Ria’s perspective but Vic was just a guy in a suit.
The second story, by Priscilla Oliveras, is about a writer named Vanessa who is the top theater reviewer for a New York magazine. There’s a ton of info-dumping at the beginning to set up a prior relationship between Vanessa and the hero, an actor/writer/performer named Mateo. He’s definitely inspired by Lin Manuel Miranda—there are subtle references to Hamilton lyrics and explicit references to the show by name. Mateo and Vanessa were musical theater rivals in high school (they played opposite each other in “In the Heights,” of course) and Vanessa wrote a less-than-stellar review of Mateo’s last show, so a lot is riding on tonight’s success. This story is sweet and fun and I enjoyed the banter between Vanessa and Mateo a lot.
The final story, by Sarah Skilton, is, I think, definitely the best of the bunch! In this one, Alison seeks revenge against Nick, her college bf who betrayed her and is now a magician. The writing is strong and the flashbacks provide depth to the characters' connection, which is difficult to do in a novella. I enjoyed all of the descriptions of the magic act (a quick google taught me that Skilton's husband is a magician) and I really felt how much Nick cared for Alison. There was tenderness in this story that I wasn't expecting and it really made the book for me!
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
BETTER THAN THE MOVIES by Lynn Painter is a sweet YA romance about a high school senior, Liz, who is obsessed with romantic comedies and their soundtracks. Her mother's death when she was in middle school has led her to have unrealistic expectations for herself and her romantic partners. The story focuses on the lead-up to prom, an event upon which Liz has pinned a lot of her hopes. She wants to go with Michael, her childhood crush who has just moved back to town, and schemes with the boy-next-door, Wes, to make it happen.
This book is very reminiscent of TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, from the writing style to Liz's character to the plot, which revolves around a convoluted fake dating scheme that causes Liz to see that her true feelings are for the boy who's been there all along. No surprises there—no surprises anywhere, really. I was most intrigued by Helena, Liz's stepmom, who is funny, goofy, and really fun, She didn't get much page time until later in the book, but there was a lot of heart there, which I appreciated.
Overall, this is a fun, quick read. It's predictable and doesn't add much to its blueprint, but I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
This book is very reminiscent of TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, from the writing style to Liz's character to the plot, which revolves around a convoluted fake dating scheme that causes Liz to see that her true feelings are for the boy who's been there all along. No surprises there—no surprises anywhere, really. I was most intrigued by Helena, Liz's stepmom, who is funny, goofy, and really fun, She didn't get much page time until later in the book, but there was a lot of heart there, which I appreciated.
Overall, this is a fun, quick read. It's predictable and doesn't add much to its blueprint, but I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book really tested my patience. I almost dnf’d it 12 times in the first 50 pages. I am definitely not the target audience for this book, but aside from that, I think it’s structurally bizarre, both underwritten and overwritten, and altogether just not very good.
Here are my two biggest problems with this book:
- The teenage characters do not speak like teenagers. They talk in full paragraphs and use antiquated cliches and phrases. They don’t feel like real teenagers with real teenage worries or fears.
- The writer simultaneously patronizes teenagers and expects too much of them. She over-explains various aspects of fan/cultural history (including a three-page discussion of Zoe Saldana’s role in Star Trek) and spends a ton of time explaining, via a secondary character, what it means to be non-binary. It seems as if the writer expects her book to be the first time readers encounter this concept, which underestimates their experience and their knowledge.
Additionally, Zoe is a pretty passive character. She spends the majority of the book sneaking off to conventions (the only events actually narrated in the book) and lying to her annoying, judgmental boyfriend about it. When her secret is finally revealed, the consequences for her are pretty minimal. She’s not a likable character — which is fine, characters don’t have to be likable, but along with the other elements of this book, made it even more frustrating to read.
Structurally, the book is strange. It’s divided into episodes, each of which focuses on a convention. We never see much of her parents, and even Simon, her boyfriend, is reduced to a stereotype who is only ever discussed and doesn’t make an appearance physically until the end of the book, when he doesn’t say much. Zoe’s life is filtered entirely through the cons, which wouldn’t be a bad thing except it makes her seem less real. She’s always making lists and is supposed to be high-strung and prone to anxiety, but we only see it a few times when she throws what are akin to temper tantrums. Her life at home, away from the cons, is told to the reader through descriptions and dialogue and flashbacks.
One of the strangest chapters in the book is an isolated flashback where Zoe recalls auditioning for a puppet rock band at age 14. She was selected for the band and attended one rehearsal, where she flirted with the older drummer and was rebuffed because he was 18 and smarter than she was. She never went back. This chapter is meant to show that she never takes risks and keeps herself on the straight and narrow even when it isn’t making her happy, but this glimpse at this person Zoe could’ve been made me wish I was reading that book instead.
I did not like this book. I also think this book is not very good. Those things are very often exclusive and only occasionally overlap. In summary, probably skip this one.