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2083 reviews
The Lodge by Kayla Olson
3.5
Read Completed 2/10/25 | 3.5 stars | Book # 14 of 2025
This was cute! But nothing earth-shattering. I felt a little bland about it for most of the time I was reading it but it was a smooth, easy, and light romance book. I loved the cozy vibes of the lodge, and this was a fun celebrity romance. The first "twist" was obvious to me, but it was still fun seeing it play out.
Overall, I never got super into it, but it was still a good book! The characters were pretty middle of the road. Tyler was a little too perfect sometimes. But overall, it was just... fine. A decent romance that I probably wouldn't go out of my way to recommend but one I was still happy to read.
This was cute! But nothing earth-shattering. I felt a little bland about it for most of the time I was reading it but it was a smooth, easy, and light romance book. I loved the cozy vibes of the lodge, and this was a fun celebrity romance. The first "twist" was obvious to me, but it was still fun seeing it play out.
Overall, I never got super into it, but it was still a good book! The characters were pretty middle of the road. Tyler was a little too perfect sometimes. But overall, it was just... fine. A decent romance that I probably wouldn't go out of my way to recommend but one I was still happy to read.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read Completed 2/8/25 | 4 - 4.25 stars | Read # 13 of 2025
THE WEDDING PEOPLE was a very enjoyable book, but I almost quit it very early on. The first 15% is extremely heavy, full of triggers, explaining Phoebe's backstory, and I wish that had been broken up a bit into some flashbacks to alleviate some of the darkness. I understand we had to take Phoebe down and down so we would really understand the place she was when she arrived at this hotel, but if other people hadn't praised this book so much, my close friends most specifically, I would have DNFed it right then and there at 15%.
The rest of the story was much better! I don't read much contemporary fiction that's not a romance or a thriller, so this was something I wanted to read to add a change of pace. There is a sort of romantic component, but it's not quite the main point of the book, though it does add a lot to the plot.
I was mostly impressed with the author's ability to make all of these characters come to life! There's a big cast of characters here and every single one of them is unique. Despite the book starting off so heavily as well, there's also a lot of humor throughout the book, playing off the quirks of the wacky family, funny yet realistic things that pop up, and letting the characters get a little weird, but in a really human way and not being over-the-top.
I loved seeing Phoebe's journey throughout the book and really seeing how human each character was. Everyone had flaws, and it was a nice switch-up from reading romances where things are a little too perfect. I liked seeing what made everyone unique.
THE WEDDING PEOPLE was a very enjoyable book, but I almost quit it very early on. The first 15% is extremely heavy, full of triggers, explaining Phoebe's backstory, and I wish that had been broken up a bit into some flashbacks to alleviate some of the darkness. I understand we had to take Phoebe down and down so we would really understand the place she was when she arrived at this hotel, but if other people hadn't praised this book so much, my close friends most specifically, I would have DNFed it right then and there at 15%.
The rest of the story was much better! I don't read much contemporary fiction that's not a romance or a thriller, so this was something I wanted to read to add a change of pace. There is a sort of romantic component, but it's not quite the main point of the book, though it does add a lot to the plot.
I was mostly impressed with the author's ability to make all of these characters come to life! There's a big cast of characters here and every single one of them is unique. Despite the book starting off so heavily as well, there's also a lot of humor throughout the book, playing off the quirks of the wacky family, funny yet realistic things that pop up, and letting the characters get a little weird, but in a really human way and not being over-the-top.
I loved seeing Phoebe's journey throughout the book and really seeing how human each character was. Everyone had flaws, and it was a nice switch-up from reading romances where things are a little too perfect. I liked seeing what made everyone unique.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Miscarriage, Vomit, Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity
The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
4.0
Read Completed 2/6/25 | 4 stars | Book #12 of 2025
This was a fun read! I definitely enjoyed it and I think the characters really hooked me the most. It's always a little difficult starting a new fantasy book/series and really getting the hang of the magic and the world-building all at once, especially listening as an audiobook and trying to commit all of the names to memory. The characters really brought this book to life and hooked me into the story.
I was a little let down by the magic. It's not super confusing but it's also not super clear. I wish we had a little more detail or examples about how it all worked before being thrown into a faster paced plot. The magic school was right there at the beginning, and I wished we could have seen some of those powers at work before we headed off into the plot... though I am glad that we didn't really spend time at the magic school because the book was about so much more than that! In fact, it wasn't even about that at all.
Davian is the main character, with some other very important things happening to some other important secondary characters as well. You can tell some of them will have extremely important roles in the series, and I loved watching everything unfold. There are some really nice reveals that kept me excited and interested. We learn a little bit more about the types of magic (there are two main systems) as Davian does, but it all seemed a little too easy. He's trying to learn about kan and.... poof. It's easy for him. He can just do it. I don't know, it felt a little too easy somehow. I felt like I just didn't know enough about it. Maybe that's because I'm coming right off of Sanderson's books again where everything is SO detailed that I'm missing a little of that.
There's a really interesting time travel component here which I'm already loving and can't wait to see how else that comes into play. Unfortunately because I was a little confused, I was looking at the wiki and spoiled myself for something just a little bit, and yet, it also made me more excited because it's going to be a fun reveal!
The ending wasn't quite as thrilling as I had hoped because again, I just don't know enough about the Blind and the boundary and why everything is so dangerous and important, but I'm definitely in for book two! A nice reveal at the end made it extra exciting and a great nudge to pick up the second book quickly to see how that all plays out.
This was a fun read! I definitely enjoyed it and I think the characters really hooked me the most. It's always a little difficult starting a new fantasy book/series and really getting the hang of the magic and the world-building all at once, especially listening as an audiobook and trying to commit all of the names to memory. The characters really brought this book to life and hooked me into the story.
I was a little let down by the magic. It's not super confusing but it's also not super clear. I wish we had a little more detail or examples about how it all worked before being thrown into a faster paced plot. The magic school was right there at the beginning, and I wished we could have seen some of those powers at work before we headed off into the plot... though I am glad that we didn't really spend time at the magic school because the book was about so much more than that! In fact, it wasn't even about that at all.
Davian is the main character, with some other very important things happening to some other important secondary characters as well. You can tell some of them will have extremely important roles in the series, and I loved watching everything unfold. There are some really nice reveals that kept me excited and interested. We learn a little bit more about the types of magic (there are two main systems) as Davian does, but it all seemed a little too easy. He's trying to learn about kan and.... poof. It's easy for him. He can just do it. I don't know, it felt a little too easy somehow. I felt like I just didn't know enough about it. Maybe that's because I'm coming right off of Sanderson's books again where everything is SO detailed that I'm missing a little of that.
There's a really interesting time travel component here which I'm already loving and can't wait to see how else that comes into play. Unfortunately because I was a little confused, I was looking at the wiki and spoiled myself for something just a little bit, and yet, it also made me more excited because it's going to be a fun reveal!
The ending wasn't quite as thrilling as I had hoped because again, I just don't know enough about the Blind and the boundary and why everything is so dangerous and important, but I'm definitely in for book two! A nice reveal at the end made it extra exciting and a great nudge to pick up the second book quickly to see how that all plays out.
The Good Samaritan by John Marrs
3.5
Read Completed 1/31/25 | 3.5 stars | Book # 11 of 2025
John Marrs became an auto-read author with THE ONE & companions, but I always have mixed feelings about his psychological thrillers that are not speculative. This was a wild popcorn thriller, and it was actually a lot of fun getting wild and weird, but I still didn't end up loving it.
I didn't take any points off for it being popcorny and over-the-top -- that's actually what made it fun -- but I did get a little bored in the middle as part of the plot was being re-hashed and the ending felt a little messy with conclusion after conclusion.
I didn't reread the synopsis before I started the book, so I was actually surprised when the POVs switched and we find out about Ryan. I thought that was a fun surprise that's kind of ruined by the book telling you about itself...
Overall, this was just fine for me! I definitely could have enjoyed it more in other spots but I did enjoy where it ultimately ended up.
John Marrs became an auto-read author with THE ONE & companions, but I always have mixed feelings about his psychological thrillers that are not speculative. This was a wild popcorn thriller, and it was actually a lot of fun getting wild and weird, but I still didn't end up loving it.
I didn't take any points off for it being popcorny and over-the-top -- that's actually what made it fun -- but I did get a little bored in the middle as part of the plot was being re-hashed and the ending felt a little messy with conclusion after conclusion.
I didn't reread the synopsis before I started the book, so I was actually surprised when the POVs switched and we find out about Ryan. I thought that was a fun surprise that's kind of ruined by the book telling you about itself...
Overall, this was just fine for me! I definitely could have enjoyed it more in other spots but I did enjoy where it ultimately ended up.
An Instruction in Shadow by Benedict Jacka
3.0
Read Completed 1/30/25 | 3 stars | Book # 10 of 2025
Sadly, this series has been extremely underwhelming so far. I adored the Alex Verus series (and kind of want to reread it) but I couldn't put my finger on what made this series so boring compared to my previous experiences with Benedict Jacka. It just seems to be about everything, sadly.
- Stephen is a boring main character. He's just okay. He's an average guy and happens to be kind of okay above average talented at magic.
- The magic flatly described and I feel like somehow I still don't understand what it is.
- There are tons of secondary characters and yet NONE of them are really anyone at all. Sure, there are antagonist types but each one flits on and off the page with so few appearances, I don't know who any of them are. There was some promise in the beginning when Stephen's friend Colin seemed like he'd start to be a little sidekick, or Stephen's half sister "Bridget" could have been a more consistent addition. Both of them pop in for a chapter or two and then pop out to be totally forgotten about. Stephen is alone most of the time, taking on everything himself. He needs someone INTERESTING.
- The plot is... blah. What even is the plot? Up until the end, it's also piecemeal. There's an overall arcing plot about wanting to find his father, getting pieces of his mother, blah blah. It's fairly boring and things are kind of just slogging along.
I debated even picking this one up after how little I cared about the first book, and I shouldn't pick up the third book, but the cliffhanger may be enough to get me interested. If things really start picking up and it goes somewhere good, it could improve a lot.
Sadly, this series has been extremely underwhelming so far. I adored the Alex Verus series (and kind of want to reread it) but I couldn't put my finger on what made this series so boring compared to my previous experiences with Benedict Jacka. It just seems to be about everything, sadly.
- Stephen is a boring main character. He's just okay. He's an average guy and happens to be kind of okay above average talented at magic.
- The magic flatly described and I feel like somehow I still don't understand what it is.
- There are tons of secondary characters and yet NONE of them are really anyone at all. Sure, there are antagonist types but each one flits on and off the page with so few appearances, I don't know who any of them are. There was some promise in the beginning when Stephen's friend Colin seemed like he'd start to be a little sidekick, or Stephen's half sister "Bridget" could have been a more consistent addition. Both of them pop in for a chapter or two and then pop out to be totally forgotten about. Stephen is alone most of the time, taking on everything himself. He needs someone INTERESTING.
- The plot is... blah. What even is the plot? Up until the end, it's also piecemeal. There's an overall arcing plot about wanting to find his father, getting pieces of his mother, blah blah. It's fairly boring and things are kind of just slogging along.
I debated even picking this one up after how little I cared about the first book, and I shouldn't pick up the third book, but the cliffhanger may be enough to get me interested. If things really start picking up and it goes somewhere good, it could improve a lot.
Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith
2.75
Read Completed 1/27/25 | 2.75 stars | Book # 9 of 2025
This book started off so well! There was a meet cute, a dangerous guy, the CIA showing up, and some funny moments to set the tone for both action thriller and romcom. I had high hopes it would be a solid 4 star, but I noticed myself drifting pretty quickly and really not caring about the plot at all.
I was really disappointed with the plot. I still wanted it to be believable despite the book's light nature but most of it felt like it was loosely thrown together and wasn't enjoyable at all. The characters were incredibly flat, boiled down to caricatures, never being developed. The villain was so villain-y. I wanted to see Andee's father try to actually win her over as a father and not a ridiculous super villain. I really liked Chan but his personality was almost TOO perfect. There was really no conflict, no give and take between the two main characters. It was insta-love and it was pretty boring. Andee was the best character, but even she could have used a lot of work here.
The middle of the book was incredibly boring for me and I had a hard time focusing. Sadly, I just wanted it to be over. It wasn't BAD but it just felt like it needed a lot more editing and revisions. It had a lot of potential but this just wasn't it for me.
What I really did love was the rep for a character who was hard of hearing. The author included in a note in the end sharing how he was inspired by her husband, who is also hard of hearing and completed deaf in one ear. I could tell that this was something she had personal experience with and really cared about because it was very well represented.
I really adore the combo of Spy + Romance so I'd likely try another from this author! I liked her first one, and the plot on this one was a miss, but I'd like to see more!
This book started off so well! There was a meet cute, a dangerous guy, the CIA showing up, and some funny moments to set the tone for both action thriller and romcom. I had high hopes it would be a solid 4 star, but I noticed myself drifting pretty quickly and really not caring about the plot at all.
I was really disappointed with the plot. I still wanted it to be believable despite the book's light nature but most of it felt like it was loosely thrown together and wasn't enjoyable at all. The characters were incredibly flat, boiled down to caricatures, never being developed. The villain was so villain-y. I wanted to see Andee's father try to actually win her over as a father and not a ridiculous super villain. I really liked Chan but his personality was almost TOO perfect. There was really no conflict, no give and take between the two main characters. It was insta-love and it was pretty boring. Andee was the best character, but even she could have used a lot of work here.
The middle of the book was incredibly boring for me and I had a hard time focusing. Sadly, I just wanted it to be over. It wasn't BAD but it just felt like it needed a lot more editing and revisions. It had a lot of potential but this just wasn't it for me.
What I really did love was the rep for a character who was hard of hearing. The author included in a note in the end sharing how he was inspired by her husband, who is also hard of hearing and completed deaf in one ear. I could tell that this was something she had personal experience with and really cared about because it was very well represented.
I really adore the combo of Spy + Romance so I'd likely try another from this author! I liked her first one, and the plot on this one was a miss, but I'd like to see more!
My Darling Boy by Helen Cooper
3.25
Read Completed 1/26/25 | 3.25 stars | Read #8 of 2025
Helen Cooper is still an auto-read author for me ever since I read her debut and loved it, but I have yet to find that magic again in her latest reads. MY DARLING BOY was a decent read, but I just never really connected with it like I had hoped.
I generally prefer first person for thrillers over third person, but if it's a well-written book and it works, I don't even notice when it's third person POV. This one stuck out to me, though. I got the two main characters/moms mixed up for a long time and who was whose mother. I don't know why it was confusing, but for some reason it was. They felt a little too similar and it just wasn't sticking in my head.
The plot was fine, but nothing too wild. There were some twists, but nothing too jaw-dropping. I think there were a few more things that could have been more suspenseful or developed to really pull readers into the plot a bit more. This just didn't have the magic for me, and that's okay! Still a find read, but this won't be anything memorable for me.
Helen Cooper is still an auto-read author for me ever since I read her debut and loved it, but I have yet to find that magic again in her latest reads. MY DARLING BOY was a decent read, but I just never really connected with it like I had hoped.
I generally prefer first person for thrillers over third person, but if it's a well-written book and it works, I don't even notice when it's third person POV. This one stuck out to me, though. I got the two main characters/moms mixed up for a long time and who was whose mother. I don't know why it was confusing, but for some reason it was. They felt a little too similar and it just wasn't sticking in my head.
The plot was fine, but nothing too wild. There were some twists, but nothing too jaw-dropping. I think there were a few more things that could have been more suspenseful or developed to really pull readers into the plot a bit more. This just didn't have the magic for me, and that's okay! Still a find read, but this won't be anything memorable for me.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
3.75
Read Completed 1/24/25 | 3.75 - 4 stars | Book #7 of 2025
I was nervous about starting this because I've really grown out of enjoying enemies-to-lovers, and the last Sarah Adams book I read with this concept was... not my cup of tea. This definitely went much better, but I still feel like this trope prevents me from experiencing the feelings right off the bat.
I did appreciate how Sarah Adams worked in some affection while the two were still insisting they were arch rivals. We get snippets of emails back and forth in between some chapters and we get to see that Emily & Jack did have some feelings for each other, but started off on a terrible foot and just kept carrying it on and on.
I did enjoy their relationship and chemistry! Maybe not as much as I would have liked immediately, but this was back to some great Sarah Adams feels later on and I connected much more to everything in the second half of the book.
I would have rated this 3.5 stars, but I was very impressed with the ending of the book! I LOVE when an author is able to insert a 3rd act conflict without a 3rd act break-up. Something happens here where both characters need a little time and space, but it wasn't about a miscommunication, misunderstanding, or something someone else did. They're both growing and learning how to be in a relationship, especially while still maintaining their own personalities and desires. I was highly impressed and it really gave me fond feelings for the book overall!
I don't think this is still the most memorable of her books for me, but I did enjoy the read. I haven't read a romance book in a few months (October! Whoa.) so this was quite a mood shift.
I was nervous about starting this because I've really grown out of enjoying enemies-to-lovers, and the last Sarah Adams book I read with this concept was... not my cup of tea. This definitely went much better, but I still feel like this trope prevents me from experiencing the feelings right off the bat.
I did appreciate how Sarah Adams worked in some affection while the two were still insisting they were arch rivals. We get snippets of emails back and forth in between some chapters and we get to see that Emily & Jack did have some feelings for each other, but started off on a terrible foot and just kept carrying it on and on.
I did enjoy their relationship and chemistry! Maybe not as much as I would have liked immediately, but this was back to some great Sarah Adams feels later on and I connected much more to everything in the second half of the book.
I would have rated this 3.5 stars, but I was very impressed with the ending of the book! I LOVE when an author is able to insert a 3rd act conflict without a 3rd act break-up. Something happens here where both characters need a little time and space, but it wasn't about a miscommunication, misunderstanding, or something someone else did. They're both growing and learning how to be in a relationship, especially while still maintaining their own personalities and desires. I was highly impressed and it really gave me fond feelings for the book overall!
I don't think this is still the most memorable of her books for me, but I did enjoy the read. I haven't read a romance book in a few months (October! Whoa.) so this was quite a mood shift.
The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen
3.25
Read Competed 1/23/25 | 3.25 stars | Book #6 of 2025
This was just okay! I've read better from Leah Konen... but I've also read worse. This was a pretty standard thriller that was a little mix of slasher movie vibes blended with a little psychological head games. I wasn't super into this book at any point and it felt pretty surface level. Sadly, it felt like such average writing that I'm surprised seeing this from her being her 4th or 5th adult thriller. I wish her writing would keep growing, at least it didn't feel like it was for me, and even just the way things played out felt a little mediocre.
We got hit with a lot of female psych thriller tropes: alcoholic, failed attempts at having a child, betraying a best friend. It was a little tiresome, but still made for a decent thriller. I guess that's why it's done so often! There were quite a few things that I think the author could have used in the plot a little bit more to make the story more exciting and twisty OR to further character development but they fell flat: the property war, the failed rounds of IVF, any development of friendship between any of the main female characters.
This felt pretty blah for me. I did like the snowy, winter setting as I usually like in books, and actually reading it in the winter makes it a fun setting. We could have creeped up the motel a bit more, made the neighbors a little creepier rather than just having an inappropriate rich guy who likes S&M and throwing in a sexual relationship with a minor for literally no reason that did not further the story.
This fell fairly flat, and yet it was still readable. I don't think any of this will be memorable to me and I'm pretty disappointed about that, but it could be a fine read for someone else.
This was just okay! I've read better from Leah Konen... but I've also read worse. This was a pretty standard thriller that was a little mix of slasher movie vibes blended with a little psychological head games. I wasn't super into this book at any point and it felt pretty surface level. Sadly, it felt like such average writing that I'm surprised seeing this from her being her 4th or 5th adult thriller. I wish her writing would keep growing, at least it didn't feel like it was for me, and even just the way things played out felt a little mediocre.
We got hit with a lot of female psych thriller tropes: alcoholic, failed attempts at having a child, betraying a best friend. It was a little tiresome, but still made for a decent thriller. I guess that's why it's done so often! There were quite a few things that I think the author could have used in the plot a little bit more to make the story more exciting and twisty OR to further character development but they fell flat: the property war, the failed rounds of IVF, any development of friendship between any of the main female characters.
This felt pretty blah for me. I did like the snowy, winter setting as I usually like in books, and actually reading it in the winter makes it a fun setting. We could have creeped up the motel a bit more, made the neighbors a little creepier rather than just having an inappropriate rich guy who likes S&M and throwing in a sexual relationship with a minor for literally no reason that did not further the story.
This fell fairly flat, and yet it was still readable. I don't think any of this will be memorable to me and I'm pretty disappointed about that, but it could be a fine read for someone else.
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
3.5
Read Completed 1/21/25 | 3.5 stars | Book #5 of 2025
This was a fun read! I forgot what the synopsis *actually* said and I thought Rosie was going to be guided/possessed by the old wife's heart, hence why she was going after the husband... but that was not the case 😂 That would be horror, not thriller. Anyway, that didn't affect my read, but I'd read that horror novel, too...
This was an easy, fun thriller that was a breeze to fly through! I really enjoyed the read, and it had one REALLY good twist that knocked me off my feet, but that was the book's sole shining glory. I do have to hand it to the author for me not seeing that coming!
If the ending had been a little catchier for me, I think I could have given it 4 stars, but it wrapped up in a little bit of a typical thriller fashion, which isn't a bad thing but also not something to really amp up the rating! A solid book and I can see readers enjoying it!
This was a fun read! I forgot what the synopsis *actually* said and I thought Rosie was going to be guided/possessed by the old wife's heart, hence why she was going after the husband... but that was not the case 😂 That would be horror, not thriller. Anyway, that didn't affect my read, but I'd read that horror novel, too...
This was an easy, fun thriller that was a breeze to fly through! I really enjoyed the read, and it had one REALLY good twist that knocked me off my feet, but that was the book's sole shining glory. I do have to hand it to the author for me not seeing that coming!
If the ending had been a little catchier for me, I think I could have given it 4 stars, but it wrapped up in a little bit of a typical thriller fashion, which isn't a bad thing but also not something to really amp up the rating! A solid book and I can see readers enjoying it!