paging_escapism's reviews
28 reviews

Crossroads by Devney Perry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Am I a cowboy romance girlie now? Like have I been missing out? Because oh my gosh I loved this. 

This was the perfect little romance book. It made me so incredibly happy and I loved West and Indya so stinkin’ much. While the ranch setting was integral to the plot, that was kind of the only “cowboyness” in the story. Which is likely why it was such a good intro into this subgenre for me. It definitely set the scene but didn’t feel as cliche as a country song. 

I absolutely devoured this. No notes. 

A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan

adventurous

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

2.75

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

While the book had me intrigued by the end and I would consider reading the follow up, I found myself forcing my way through it. A lot of the book felt repetitive; with thought processes and turns of phrase being repeated from paragraph to paragraph and chapter to chapter. There were times I would find myself skimming the page to skip through the characters rambling thoughts to get to forward momentum in the plot. There were moments I enjoyed and glimpses of potential for stand out characters but overall, it was just a book I found myself putting down in favor of something else more often than not.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom

emotional funny relaxing 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

3.5

Hot Hex Boyfriend was a truly fun witchy romcom that had me smiling during the majority of the read. The pacing and plot started to feel a little clunky for me towards the end but it was overall just a fun light read. Nikki was an absolute stand out character for me. I would absolutely read more books in this world to find out what happened to more of the side characters. I happened to read this book on the first day of fall and it was a perfect read to transition into spooky season.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

4.0

The Rom-Commers was a funny, enjoyable, well, rom com. I found myself really rooting for the characters and smiling for the majority of the read. It was a little predictable, but, like it says in the book, you don’t go into a rom com looking to be surprised. It was a quick fun read to round out my summer. 

Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford

lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.5

**Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Canada publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

DNF at 48%

The fall vibes are amazing in this book and there were flashes of brightness, but no matter how many times I picked this book back up, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters… They just felt one dimensional and I couldn’t see what connection they had. It just wasn’t for me.

Daydream by Hannah Grace

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Reading this book felt like getting pleasantly drowsy in dappled sunlight. It made me reminisce about sitting in the middle school library, watching my best friends draw fantastical creatures. It felt like coming home to the daydreams I had when I was 12. 

The Spellshop was the coziest of cozy fantasies and a charming read. The world felt fresh and well-built but easy to slide into. The characters were fleshed out and loveable. The sceneries were lush, and the vibes of this book were exactly what you’d expect from the cover.

While the vibes are everything I love about this book, they also create my only criticism of the book. It felt easy to fall into the daydream and forget about the larger plot, which made some conflicts and resolutions feel rushed or chaotic. The book also read relatively young to me. The very middle school fever dream feeling I got wound up being what I adored about the book, but it wasn’t what I had expected going in. (I swear it was marketed NA?)

At the end of the day, when I was reading The Spellshop, I was just happy to be there. Reading it was a joy and the perfect way to soak up the last lazy summer days.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

funny lighthearted relaxing slow-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

3.75