ourxstorybegins's reviews
589 reviews

Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

• I think this is my favorite of the Part of Your World series
• Opening and closing with an r/AITA post was perfect for me specifically
• This was a lot heavier than I expected but I should really know better by now when it comes to Abby Jimenez
• I absolutely love Justin's friend group. They were so supportive while Justin was going through such a hard time, and of course it was so fun seeing Benny doing well!
• Amber (Emma's mom) is THE ABSOLUTE WORST!!!!!!!! I was getting angry every time she appeared on page (which was a lot)
• We love a character going to therapy and that leading to them getting back together after the 3rd act breakup

Feed by Aveda Vice

fast-paced

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

4.0

• Read it when I found out it was the set-up for Yours, Insatiably
• The idea of an app for monsters/demons to be able to get whatever they need outside of normal human needs (ok including sex) is VERY fun
• Avirin's shame regarding being a succubus is so intriguing???
• Ummmmm Pye???? They are so hot actually.
• I was ready to read the full book anyway but this definitely made the rest of it feel promising

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

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

4.5

• I cried like 3 times and one of those was definitely not for a SHORT amount of time oops
• I absolutely LOVED Brianna in Part of Your World and was so so so glad to get a book for her here
• Jacob? Absolute CUTIE PATOOTIE. I'm such a sucker for a bad first impression where the MMC ends up being a total soft boy
• Loved the anxiety rep here and that Bri had enough experience with her little brother's anxiety that she could be supportive for him
• Sick of situations where people named Amy are the villain, but she ended up not being a TOTAL villain so it's fine I GUESS

Not Just Best Friends by Darcy Liao

hopeful 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? Yes

3.5

• Such a cute little story! I do wish that it had been expanded on just a bit more -- didn't need to become a full-length novel, but maybe an extra chapter or 2?
• Did not realize that this was about Frankie & Vivian, a couple that's mentioned a few times in Make Room for Love! Which made it so much more fun
• Overall very cute and once they get together, also very hot

I'm Engaged To Mothman by Paige Lavoie

funny lighthearted fast-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

4.5

• I don't usually love a romance series where multiple books are about the same couple, but Heather is just such a delight and I love following her journey with Moth
• They get pulled into the fae realm that Moth originated from so this book is FULL fantasy and suddenly we're dealing with the politics of the different courts, interacting with his royal family, etc.
• The new characters introduced were SO much fun
• Especially the ongoing bit of Heather finding out that Moth hooked up with...everyone? It was SO funny
• Not gonna lie, considering the title I did expect them to get engaged MUCH sooner but that's okay

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

THOUGHTS:

• The book opened with a Bible verse and then I realized who Salome was (the woman who asks for the head of John the Baptist)
• Didn’t know ANYTHING about this and kind of expected more Mexican Gothic vibes but this is a totally different thing and I loved it
• Loved Vera, HATED Nancy wow what a miserable woman
• The parallels between the characters in “modern” (1950s) Hollywood and the Salome story were really interesting and I found myself super into both storylines
• Fantastic audiobook performance!
• “Little girls can’t see the wickedness of men, but women must.” 😭😭😭

The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy

hopeful reflective tense slow-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

3.5

THOUGHTS:

• Trans girl disguises herself as her cis female friend and joins a coven!
• At one point she narrates something like “being a witch is mostly walking” and I was like haha how funny and then a few chapters later I was like IS being a witch mostly walking?!
• Also one of the more memorable things was 2 girls that made me CONSTANTLY ANGRY
• The plot DID get interesting though, was super invested by the end

Married to the Devil by Lillian Lark

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

THOUGHTS: 

• This story is messy AND I LOVED IT
• Stella is so good! Shes just doing the best she can and multiple times I was like you deserve better because these dudes were overall great but when they did a hurtful thing it was T O U G H
• Begging Remy and Ben to go to monster therapy
• Remy is an UNLIKABLE HERO at the start but I did very much warm up to him by the end
• Trope list included “breeding for a cause” and I didn’t know what that could possibly mean, but…yeah they did do that, actually.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Pregnancy

The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

THOUGHTS: 

• Our two main characters make a deal! Celeste agrees to help Kieran fix his social standing so he can marry someone his parents approve of, and Kieran in turn will take Celeste out to have some actual fun (gaming hells, parties, etc.) before she’s engaged
• I just love when a man is like “please help me find a wife” and the woman is like “easy she’s right here” lollllll
• Celeste’s family became part of society through business and not until after she was born, so this wasn’t just “rich girl learns that poor people exist” or something and instead it was genuinely just her wanting to have fun
• THEY’RE SO STINKIN CUTE
• Zara Hampton-Brown is perfect for historical romance, her narration was fantastic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Sexism and Classism

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

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

3.5