pagesofbellerose's reviews
235 reviews

I Think I Love You by Auriane Desombre

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense slow-paced

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

Talk To Me Nicely by BriAnn Danae

funny lighthearted relaxing 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? No

Rating: Starred

A fun, sexy book! Had me giggling at times and blushing at others. I wasn't a huge fan of calling climaxes a "nut," but that's more a personal nitpick than anything. Great, short read! Will definitely be picking up more from this author.

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

Disclaimer: I was provided a digital galley by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Rating: Starred

Furia was everything I expected it to be and more. Yamile Saied Méndez takes readers on an emotional journey of connections and heart-tugging lessons built into the story and its characters. This is one book readers will not want to miss.

Check out my full review, available on my blog Belle's Archive now!

This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

Disclaimer: I was provided a digital galley and finished physical copy by the publisher and Colored Pages Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Rating: Starred

This Dark Descent is a whirlwind fantasy reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Peaky Blinders with Jewish folklore. An attractive first book in a new series, readers are in for a treat.

Check out my full review, available on my blog Belle's Archive now!

Her Own Happiness by Eden Appiah-Kubi

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

Disclaimer: I was provided a digital galley by the author in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Rating: Starred

Her Own Happiness was a story I have not yet read, in every sense of meaning. Unique, open, touching, and relatable in several aspects, author Eden Appiah-Kubi pulls readers in and has us hanging onto each paragraph.

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!

ASAP by Axie Oh

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-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

Disclaimer: I was provided a digital galley via Edelweiss+ in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Final Rating: Starred

ASAP by Axie Oh was like stepping back into the wonderland you had been missing. A companion to XOXO, but unique and full of its own quirks and loves.

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive, available February 2024!

Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-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

Disclaimer: I was provided a physical ARC by the publisher in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Rating: Starred

Cool for the Summer was an unexpectedly relatable and fun read. Filled with teenage angst, discovering one's identity and changes in sexuality, the changing of friendships and relationships, and more, this book is sure to take you on an emotional ride.

Check out my full review, available on my blog now!

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
Did not finish book.

The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores

slow-paced

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

Disclaimer: I was provided a physical galley by the publisher in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores had so much potential and anticipated hype. Unfortunately, it did not deliver on any of it.

Rating: Non-Starred (not recommended)

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!

Please note: antisemitic tropes were found by several readers, including myself, throughout the book. If you ultimately decide to read, tread carefully.

A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

This book started off good but got increasingly frustrating.

• Main character's mom increasingly hated on a woman that had done absolutely nothing to her just because she was married to the celebrity she was obsessed with
• Eye shape was described using food, didn't sit right with me
• One thought would sometimes spiral across several pages and take forever to get to the point