niffler_for_words's reviews
91 reviews

A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“She walks over to the next alcove. I’m…stunned. She’s the only person in this entire room commenting on the public sex as if it were nothing but a painting on the wall.”

I absolutely adored A Rivalry of Hearts. That book is everything. The world building is super nice, with all these magical realms. Both MC are hilarious and endearing, even though sometimes you want to shake them a little ˆˆ. 

Edwina, especially, is so relatable, I loved her insecurities, and how socially awkward she can be. Yes, I absolutely felt some connection with her, and I’m not surprised that I saw on a post, just after I finished the book, that she is written as neurodivergent. She had some very … reliable behaviours (so many kudos to the author for that <3). I adored how this character is a pretext to dissect the Romance Genre, be very ironic about it, but also a true tribute. I loved that second trip I had throughout the pages. 

William is also a very interesting character, with many layers. I can’t say much without spoiling the book, but I adored how the author twists (and enriches) her own WB around him. That is a great find and makes him very complex –and lovable (even if I sometimes loved to hate him… just a little). I absolutely adored his evolution, and how he reflects in the end, regarding Edwina and his sister both –but, again, I don’t want to spoil here.  (Also Blooming Hell became my new favourite curse!)

I loved how spice is used here, to empower both characters, but also as a “tool” to bring them closer, but not in the usual way (let’s twist the codes a bit, again), even if things also gets super steamy. 

If I had to summarize this book, I would say it’s a novel in a cozy fantasy setting, great to help you if you have a Bridgerton hungover, with touches of Dangerous Liaisons. Gold!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Tessonja Odette for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

 

Feels like home by AK Morgan

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

“Do I actually want him to leave me alone?”

I am extremely mixed concerning Feels Like Home. I wasn’t the right person for that book, or that wasn’t the right moment for me, I don’t know. I loved how anxiety was represented, and that was the main reason why I picked that book. Daisy’s feelings and vision of the world felt very real and for that reason I would pick that book again. But that’s probably why I have trouble with the rest. I felt too close to her. 

There are some inconsistencies in the beginning that, if they make the characters very human, make the first chapters a bit difficult to follow. But that mostly fades when the story moves forward, so that’s okay. 

Unfortunately, Tanner, the MMC made me uncomfortable all the way around. During the first third he’s very directive, and doesn’t care if Daisy said no to him, several times. He keeps pushing, which is disappointing, especially regarding his sister’s background. Consent isn’t just for sex. In the middle part, when everything is fine, he turns into a cinnamon roll, to only become again the spoiled rich child he is, as soon as something difficult happens. Yes, he is insecure (and would benefit with some therapy), but he does in his new relationship exactly what he reproached to his ex. Pushing, always demanding. But what I disliked the most was that he wants communications but never listens. He wants the easy way. For ME that felt very ableist, that way that he asks Daisy to communicate like a person without anxiety would, while she DOES communicate her difficulties and needs in her own way. But he can’t deal with the frustration and throws a (several) tantrum(s). I won’t even mention the sex scene that was really problematic to me. I really had many troubles with this character, and I can’t say he truly evolved in the end, he asked Daisy to be the one to change.

I feel very sorry I saw that book like that, because I had many expectations, and Daisy felt relatable. But their relationship really made me uneasy, despite the good chemistry between the characters when everything is ok, and a very nice writing.  

Thank you Truly Yours and AK Morgan for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Dragon Den by Kriss Dean

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

“The summer solstice is the only day of the year when dragons come out to play.”

Dragon Den is advertised as a fast paced book, and fast paced indeed it is. Honestly, it was too much for me, it felt even more hasted than a Hollywood blockbuster. I had barely the time to breathe or to be in a situation than we were already to the next scene, the next action. The lack of pauses made it difficult –if not impossible– for me to get attached to the characters. There wasn’t time for feelings or for true character development. I’m sure it will do for many readers, but even if I can like fast paced books, I still need to feel connected to the feelings and the action. 
On the same page, when I read a fantasy book, I like to dive into the world, and I’m one of those readers who need a good amount of worldbuilding. Here, it just felt like “normal world, but there are dragons”, even if WWIII to WWVI were mentioned, nothing was detailed to explain that world’s history.  Even about dragons, there were almost no explanations to make us understand how things work. In the end, it felt like a Fast & Furious AU, which can be great for many, but was just not for me. 
I feel very sorry about that because on paper, this book seemed perfect to me. But I couldn’t even find the mentioned romance. Yes, the MMC has sex with his love interest, but I can’t say we see their relationship built. A bit like for the WB, it feels like we are in book 2 of a series, that things have already been explained. But, once again, that probably comes from my preferences. I’m on the “the more I know, the better I feel” side of the readers. 
I’m sure this book will find its reader, though. I just wasn’t the right one. 

Thank you Booksirens and Kriss Dean for the ARC. My opinions are my own. 

Butter you up by Liz Alden

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

“What is it about Alex holding that damn goat. What is it about a big, burly guy, beard and flannel and work boots, holding a baby goat that makes my heart go pitter-patter?”

Butter you Up was definitely some fresh air for me. I couldn’t put it down, and it helped me with a slump. This is a short and fast paced read, funny, with adorable characters. I loved Molly at first sight (word), she is so bubbly, adorable and energetic, a little storm who lives in her van, just to honor a promise made to her father, and spreads positivity (and ideas) wherever she goes. I loved the chronic disease (Eczema) too. The farm environment was a welcome change of scenery for me, and brings its fair share of adorable animals –with, because dogs in books are my kryptonite and because I was the proud parent of 3 Australian Shepherds in my life, a special mention to Alex’s dog, Trixie the Mini Aussie. Who says farm says also farmer and Alex, the MMC, is such a great one! Sexy, caring, grumpy, he has everything and his chemistry with Molly is instant… and steamy. They are really a great match, and I love how their relationship builds in a very realistic way. 

I absolutely adored their banters, how family mingles without too much intervention, and how the “farm story” wasn’t too much of a caricature like some romcoms can be. All secondary characters, including Vaniel the van, are really well developed. That impressed me a lot, considering that Butter You Up is the second in a series, each book being written by a different author. I’ll definitely read the other books, but it was so fun to see characters who will have their story told by someone else have their story already developed here. I don’t want to spoil but I also loved the book’s resolution. I’ll just say I love how Alex is supportive and understanding. 

This was my second book written by Liz Alden and she for sure is becoming a not-to-miss author for me!

Thank you NetGalley and Liz Alden for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Six More Months of June by Daisy Garrison

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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? N/A

4.0

“June of senior year is like Neverland.”

6 More Months Of June was a total surprise. The first impression that book gave me is the nostalgia, a lingering cloud which fills the pages. It’s a coming of age book in the most literal way, in which the teenagers are already nostalgic from “Before” while eager for “After”. That month of June is the transition, when the chrysalid turns into a butterfly. 

Even if my highschool years are way behind me, the story made its job to invoke such feelings in me. I don’t know why, but I kept thinking about Dawson’s Creek while reading (yes, I’m that old). Yet, this book is also a lot more than that. I got caught by my emotions and let the story carry me away, while witnessing all the struggle Mina and Caplan have to face. Yes, there is a lot of highschool drama, but there is more to see here, and that’s the interesting part of the story. Everything is described with subtlety, and tact, some tenderness and sometimes a pinch of rage, using a very beautiful style. 

I loved both characters, with their behavior typical of their age, yet very mature for other things. The reading part was absolutely gorgeous, about Caplan but also Mina’s mother. These parts gave me goosebumps and made me pour tears more than once. 

(potential spoilers) if I understand the ending, and the choice not to make an epilogue, to let the road of life –and its potential twists and turns– open in front of these young adults, my autistic brain prefers closed endings. But that’s a very personal remark, and in the end, that choice was very empowering to Mina.

Thank you very much NetGalley, Daisy Garrison and Hachette Children’s Group for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Love at first spill by

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

“And perhaps, just perhaps, as the hours wore on and the lines between fantasy and reality blurred, I began to forget that we were pretending.”

I have very mixed feelings about Love at First Spill. 

Although I particularly enjoyed the author's writing style, her way to make descriptions vivid,  the inconsistent characters – sometimes too caricatural (the “good” ones just like the “bad” ones), sometimes radically different from the previous chapter– and the back and forth in the plot made it difficult for me to follow. 

If I adored the beginning of the book, the sibling dynamics, and the writing choices that carried me away and immersed me, I got confused more than once during my reading. Sometimes, it felt like some snippets coming from the same idea/universe had been sewed together, like woolen squares on a grandma blanket. Individually, these morsels aren’t bad, but together, they don’t always fit or relate to each other, or, on the contrary, can be repetitive. 

It made the experience a bit difficult for ME, as I kept going back to re-read parts, trying to understand why a character was acting like they were, or to remember the course of the events. It is a complete me problem, but it prevented me from getting attached to the characters, and then rooting for them. That’s a pity because the story had some potential, and the descriptive parts are often very nice. This one wasn’t for me, but I’ll probably read this author’s next book.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. My opinions are my own

The Healing Touch by Zofia Von Huck

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

“There is a balance in all things, " thought Lim. “The bad is always counteracted by some good. In turn, we recognise the good as good because we know what is bad. To know joy, one must know pain.”

The Healing Touch took me aback. It wasn’t what I expected when I first opened it. 

I guess I imagined I would read a book about a personal journey, full of magical creatures and (mostly introvert) adventures.

It was very different. The journey is –literally as much as metaphorically– a collective one. More than Lim’s realizations about life, the book is about his family and how they all need to heal, maybe more than he does. He doesn’t have control, and doesn’t gain so much of it in the end. But he learns a lot, and his family does too. I found it very interesting that the main character’s arc is the family’s, as a whole, and not just Lim’s (or his brother) as an individual. That aligns with one of the book’s messages, interconnections. If it was quite surprising, it was an interesting choice. I clearly didn’t expect either how hard the hospital part would be, especially in a cozy fantasy book. There are a lot of abuse situations, of “medical violences”, in this book. It is very well told, and IMO the idea to talk about it through a fantasy point of view is a great one. It concerns about 25% of the story, and mingles with other hard subjects (but most are more “light” and less “frontal” than this one, except for the bullying situation). 

I adored Lim. Despite all the difficulties that weigh on his frail shoulders, he’s a light, the most sweetheart you can find. He lingers as a ghost among his family, and gradually takes shape as his body gets stronger and his mind more confident about what he really wants. It felt very nice to have an AROACE representation, especially with a character who bonds easily with people to establish friendships. I really loved that part, and that character in general. 

I usually prefer a more “lyrical” writing in fantasy novels than the style here, as I like to be sensorially immersed, but that’s 100% a personal preference, and I would say it can make this book easier to be picked by some non-fantasy readers, as a good first dip in the genre, as it is very accessible and easy to read, with interesting and important themes –if you are emotionally prepared to all of it. 

Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. My opinions are my own

Karaoke Chemistry by Valerie Pepper

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

“Then our eyes meet. And even though it’s not possible, he seems to see everything, all my secrets and fears, and accept them. Accept me. And that might be the most dangerous thing of all”

I had a great time with Karaoke Chemistry. This novel is  the perfect balance between romance, modern fantasy/magical realism, lightness and steam. The magical parts and worldbuilding were really nice, with a  plot that left room for surprises all along (nothing happened like I believed it would, I loved the sensation!). 

Let’s talk about Riggs first. How incredible (almost too much ^^) that character is. Charismatic, supportive (how much!!!), charming… I really liked him, especially how he’s Magnolia’s champion in any circumstances. 

Magnolia’s character is amazing. She has a lot of insecurities, a curse above her head, and try to clean her mess up. I adored her evolution through the pages, how endearing she is, and her whole journey, helping her to reconcile the two very different parts of herself..

Even if the story is really light-hearted, there are more themes weaved all along: memory, how dangerous it can be to forget, family, (self)-confidence, acceptance. 

Karaoke Chemistry was truly a nice read, a coming of age story with 40+YO characters (kudos for that too), fun messages passed via karaoke song… and in the end a great metaphor for the middle-age crisis. 

Thank you so much to the author for this ARC. My opinions are my own. 

Barely Even Friends: A Novel by Mae Bennett

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

“I wish I could say that was the first time I’d heard something like that. My youth, weight and gender they all worked against me in these types of situations (...). I’d stand in front of a group of old white men, and they would always prefer another man. They’d never consider that a woman might be in charge, especially one that looked like me.”

Barely Even Friends is a very easy read, steamy, fast paced and with very lovable characters. The first thing that jumps to the eyes is the Beauty and Beast retelling. I enjoyed how it was done, with obvious references, especially in the beginning, but with a story that –of course– also works completely on its own too. 

The book appealed to me for many reasons. Bellamy, the plus-size MFC, was one of them, and I’m thrilled to say that she is a great one. The character isn’t all self-pity or super empowered, but something in between that feels real –and made me feel seen– and the judgments she endures (now or in the past) felt real and familiar. Too young. Not a man. Not fitting the “beauty standards”. These prejudices are real and I loved that they are one of the core problems for Bellamy, one of the reasons why it first became so difficult for her to balance her personal and professional life. 

Oliver’s character, even if the whole book is told from Bellamy’s POV, is also very developed and interesting. His arc around grief is more classic, and sometimes the load of guilt is a bit much, but again he is really well crafted and feels real. 

I adored both Oliver and Bellamy, how the reciprocated irritation moved into sexual tension and gradually turned into a real relationship. In the end, they revealed to each other, and their wounds echoed one another, eventually helping them grow. The renovation metaphor really worked here, for them both. 

I only regret that sometimes changes feel a bit rushed, especially regarding Oliver. Maybe it’s where the dual POV sometimes helps, because the pivoting in the car and library felt a bit rushed or “out-of-nowhere” (or were some pages missing in the ARC?), and the same sentiment lingered over the last part, even if here Bellamy’s POV explained everything as we see the whole situation through her eyes. 

I truly enjoyed that read, thank you NetGalley, Mae Bennett and Alcove Press for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Rate 4.5/5

Exhibited: A Gentle Love Story by Nellie Wilson

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.5

“How did you tell someone that you didn’t deserve them, but that you were grateful for their presence in your life, even if you knew they should move on?”

I adored Davis and Jeremy’s story, it was a true breath of air during this gloomy month. If you want an adorable story, with two endearing –but all flesh and relatable– guys, this one should please you. If you like a story with a cute dog too. 

I loved them both, but Davis particularly fascinated me. I adored his uncertainties, the way he self-censors himself because of his poor self-esteem. Learning challenges (dyslexia, and –in my opinion– more neurodiversity) are discussed with a lot of delicacy and reserve, the only judgment being the one Davis has on himself. That’s the same for internalized homo/bi-phobia, and alcoholism. The whole allows a lot of character development, and I loved rooting for Davis since page one. His love language –between info-dumping and daily gestures– is so perfect, and made me swoon more than once. 

I liked Jeremy too, especially the turn he takes in the third act. It was amazing to finally see him fragile too, to examine the source of his insecurities. 

Exhibited is the last in a series, but I read it like a stand alone, although I believe that reading the others could be a plus, because Jeremy’s friends are truly interesting characters. I need to belong to that group of “inadapted” PhDs, who perfectly redefine the notion of Found –and Chosen– Family. I, personally, will read the other books of this series ASAP to spend more time with them all”. 

Thank you very much Nellie Wilson for the ARC. My opinions are my own.