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391 reviews
Toughest Catch by Annie Winston
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Your classic contemporary romance novel. I enjoyed the author's writing style, the characters were likable and unique, and the story held my interest so much so that I binged this in a few hours.
I will say, I didn't find there to be anything noteworthy about this one. Channing was a great FMC and her character growth was great to see, but I feel like she overreacted to a lot of things in regards to her relationship. Yes, I understand your boyfriend grabbing coffee with his ex-wife is less than ideal, but instead of demanding space, why not just talk about it? It felt like a lack of trust in that instance. It also bothered me that that whole scenario was kind of just brushed away? I dunno... it felt like an odd plot point to me.
Ange was a good MMC, too. He's not my favorite ever, but he had his qualities. He always put Channing first and treated her like a queen. Except when he got coffee with his ex-wife. Like sir, you can see your current girlfriend is uncomfy about this.
ANYWAYS, aside from the whole grabbing coffee with your ex-wife thing, I enjoyed this book. It was a lighthearted easy read that any romance lover would like.
I will say, I didn't find there to be anything noteworthy about this one. Channing was a great FMC and her character growth was great to see, but I feel like she overreacted to a lot of things in regards to her relationship. Yes, I understand your boyfriend grabbing coffee with his ex-wife is less than ideal, but instead of demanding space, why not just talk about it? It felt like a lack of trust in that instance. It also bothered me that that whole scenario was kind of just brushed away? I dunno... it felt like an odd plot point to me.
Ange was a good MMC, too. He's not my favorite ever, but he had his qualities. He always put Channing first and treated her like a queen. Except when he got coffee with his ex-wife. Like sir, you can see your current girlfriend is uncomfy about this.
ANYWAYS, aside from the whole grabbing coffee with your ex-wife thing, I enjoyed this book. It was a lighthearted easy read that any romance lover would like.
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a good continuation to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I will admit I was not invested the whole time, but the last 20% of this book completely blew me away.
We start this book off with so much action. And the action in these books is amazing. Leigh Bardugo knows how to work her way around some action scenes! However, the middle of the book dragged for me. I couldn't keep focus, so I actually ended up putting this aside for a few days. But when I picked it up again, I was so invested! The action was back! The story became so much more riveting.
The ending was one I did not see coming. And I'm not sure if I'm completely pleased by it, but it did blow my mind so there's that.
Looking forward to reading the final book of this trilogy!
We start this book off with so much action. And the action in these books is amazing. Leigh Bardugo knows how to work her way around some action scenes! However, the middle of the book dragged for me. I couldn't keep focus, so I actually ended up putting this aside for a few days. But when I picked it up again, I was so invested! The action was back! The story became so much more riveting.
The ending was one I did not see coming. And I'm not sure if I'm completely pleased by it, but it did blow my mind so there's that.
Looking forward to reading the final book of this trilogy!
On Her Terms by Amy Spalding
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? It's complicated
4.0
Thanks BookSparks for the gifted review copy!
I enjoyed this book. The humor was great, I loved the inclusivity, and the fake dating trope was done so well.
Clementine was a fantastic character. She was funny and had a distinct personality. The way she navigated her friendships was so nice to see. The character growth was great, too. She went from a somewhat shy, newly outed bisexual woman to confident and proud, always telling people how she feels. I liked seeing her career growth, too. It added a lot of character depth and allowed me to connect with her more.
Chloe is a badass, and I loved her vibe. Her personality was also super distinct. I liked that she had a tight knit group of friends and that they all made appearances in this book.
Overall, this was a great fake dating romance. I did find the sort of required third act "breakup" to be a bit abrupt considering Chloe and Clementine's fake relationship was going so well and then out of nowhere they're fighting. But it was a good story overall.
I also just realized this is technically third in a series! I would say this can 100% be read as a standalone, but I will be checking out Amy Spalding's other books!
I enjoyed this book. The humor was great, I loved the inclusivity, and the fake dating trope was done so well.
Clementine was a fantastic character. She was funny and had a distinct personality. The way she navigated her friendships was so nice to see. The character growth was great, too. She went from a somewhat shy, newly outed bisexual woman to confident and proud, always telling people how she feels. I liked seeing her career growth, too. It added a lot of character depth and allowed me to connect with her more.
Chloe is a badass, and I loved her vibe. Her personality was also super distinct. I liked that she had a tight knit group of friends and that they all made appearances in this book.
Overall, this was a great fake dating romance. I did find the sort of required third act "breakup" to be a bit abrupt considering Chloe and Clementine's fake relationship was going so well and then out of nowhere they're fighting. But it was a good story overall.
I also just realized this is technically third in a series! I would say this can 100% be read as a standalone, but I will be checking out Amy Spalding's other books!
We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
This is such a tough read. It's an important read. I strongly believe everyone (especially white people) need to read this book. It was so eye opening to me, and -not to be overly dramatic- I felt physically unwell reading parts of this. Carr's writing is so impactful, and the story itself is powerful. (And topical for the today's political climate.)
I found this book to read sort of like a case study on race, how grief changes a family, and a woman's right to choose (those are three major topics in this book). It was so interesting and held my attention all the way through. I needed to know how our main characters were going to end up.
Some reviews say this book was repetitive, and while it might have been, to me it seemed intentional. Over and over again, Black people and people of color are facing the same discriminations, the same violence towards them. We see it in the news all the time. It saddens me. And this story, if everyone could read it, is so so important.
Obviously we had some very unlikable characters in this book. Thomas trying to manipulate girlfriend Kyreela into keeping a baby she's unsure she wants was just so icky. It's a topic I think Carr did a wonderful job navigating. It's such a complex one, and was handled with such care.
Many emotions came about while reading this. If you're looking for a generational story, a story that covers complex issues and topics such as race, grief, abuse, and a woman's right to choose, and a story that makes you think - this will be right up your alley. I'm so glad I read this one.
This is such a tough read. It's an important read. I strongly believe everyone (especially white people) need to read this book. It was so eye opening to me, and -not to be overly dramatic- I felt physically unwell reading parts of this. Carr's writing is so impactful, and the story itself is powerful. (And topical for the today's political climate.)
I found this book to read sort of like a case study on race, how grief changes a family, and a woman's right to choose (those are three major topics in this book). It was so interesting and held my attention all the way through. I needed to know how our main characters were going to end up.
Some reviews say this book was repetitive, and while it might have been, to me it seemed intentional. Over and over again, Black people and people of color are facing the same discriminations, the same violence towards them. We see it in the news all the time. It saddens me. And this story, if everyone could read it, is so so important.
Obviously we had some very unlikable characters in this book. Thomas trying to manipulate girlfriend Kyreela into keeping a baby she's unsure she wants was just so icky. It's a topic I think Carr did a wonderful job navigating. It's such a complex one, and was handled with such care.
Many emotions came about while reading this. If you're looking for a generational story, a story that covers complex issues and topics such as race, grief, abuse, and a woman's right to choose, and a story that makes you think - this will be right up your alley. I'm so glad I read this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Abortion, Murder
We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thanks Book Sparks for the gifted review copy!
I devoured this book. Right off the bat, I was invested in all of these characters' lives and wanted to know their fates. It felt like I was watching a television show, getting the scoop on these people and seeing the aftermath of their decisions.
This book is very profound. The idea that we are made of stars is so fitting for this story. It brings together people from all walks of life. But don't let "profound" deter you from this book! It makes you think but in a good way!
There are some heavy topics covered in this book: substance abuse, death of a child, fertility struggles, cheating, and others. Please look up triggers before reading.
My words don't even do this book justice. I loved that there were multiple POVs from each character, I loved the setting of an inn, I loved that these characters all intertwined in some way, secrets were revealed, found family is huge in this one.... Everything about this book made my heart sing. The character development was amazing.
If you enjoy character driven stories, this book is for you! The people are likable (well, everyone but Adam and Cassidy) and their stories are relatable. You may cry (I teared up a little), and you may throw this book across the room. It is beautifully written, and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a book that will make them feel something.
I devoured this book. Right off the bat, I was invested in all of these characters' lives and wanted to know their fates. It felt like I was watching a television show, getting the scoop on these people and seeing the aftermath of their decisions.
This book is very profound. The idea that we are made of stars is so fitting for this story. It brings together people from all walks of life. But don't let "profound" deter you from this book! It makes you think but in a good way!
There are some heavy topics covered in this book: substance abuse, death of a child, fertility struggles, cheating, and others. Please look up triggers before reading.
My words don't even do this book justice. I loved that there were multiple POVs from each character, I loved the setting of an inn, I loved that these characters all intertwined in some way, secrets were revealed, found family is huge in this one.... Everything about this book made my heart sing. The character development was amazing.
If you enjoy character driven stories, this book is for you! The people are likable (well, everyone but Adam and Cassidy) and their stories are relatable. You may cry (I teared up a little), and you may throw this book across the room. It is beautifully written, and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a book that will make them feel something.
Stone Angels by Helena Rho
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
Thanks BookSparks for the gifted copy of Stone Angels!
Stone Angels is a blend of literary and historical fiction. I would say it leans more on the literary side. It is beautifully written. Helena Rho has a way with words!
This story follows Angelina on her journey to Korea to study the language, but while she's there, she wants to find her grandmother who she's never met and see who her Korean family is after her mother's untimely and tragic death. While she's there, she discovers something she never knew about her family.
I liked how this book was told with multiple POVs spanning over many years. We have Angelina in the present - 2006 in this case, and Angelina's mother in the 1940s up until her death in 2005. There is a third POV in there but I won't spoil anything with that one ;)
The reason I say this is more literary fiction is because we have a character driven story following decisions these characters are making that impact their lives. The writing reads more like prose. Sometimes it takes a lot of brain power to interpret what's happening. Don't let scare you off from this book, though. If you enjoy reading character driven books, you'd enjoy this one!
I wasn't a huge fan of our main character Angelina. I felt some of her decisions were rash. Can those decisions be justified? Maybe. Her life is complicated, and we get to see how being Korean-American impacts her life, too. It made me sad at times. I found myself wanting the best for Angelina, and I want Americans to do better.
The first half of this book moved a bit slow for my taste. I felt some of the anecdotes of Angelina's life could have been condensed. The second half towards the end moved so quick, though, and I loved that third POV.
Overall, if you're a fan of literary fiction, you'd enjoy this book! While the pacing does seem disjointed at times, the story ends up being wholesome and wrapped up nicely.
Stone Angels is a blend of literary and historical fiction. I would say it leans more on the literary side. It is beautifully written. Helena Rho has a way with words!
This story follows Angelina on her journey to Korea to study the language, but while she's there, she wants to find her grandmother who she's never met and see who her Korean family is after her mother's untimely and tragic death. While she's there, she discovers something she never knew about her family.
I liked how this book was told with multiple POVs spanning over many years. We have Angelina in the present - 2006 in this case, and Angelina's mother in the 1940s up until her death in 2005. There is a third POV in there but I won't spoil anything with that one ;)
The reason I say this is more literary fiction is because we have a character driven story following decisions these characters are making that impact their lives. The writing reads more like prose. Sometimes it takes a lot of brain power to interpret what's happening. Don't let scare you off from this book, though. If you enjoy reading character driven books, you'd enjoy this one!
I wasn't a huge fan of our main character Angelina. I felt some of her decisions were rash. Can those decisions be justified? Maybe. Her life is complicated, and we get to see how being Korean-American impacts her life, too. It made me sad at times. I found myself wanting the best for Angelina, and I want Americans to do better.
The first half of this book moved a bit slow for my taste. I felt some of the anecdotes of Angelina's life could have been condensed. The second half towards the end moved so quick, though, and I loved that third POV.
Overall, if you're a fan of literary fiction, you'd enjoy this book! While the pacing does seem disjointed at times, the story ends up being wholesome and wrapped up nicely.
Undone by Karin Slaughter
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Super bingeable, as always.
This third installment to Will Trent was so gory and disgusting, it made me so squeamish - I LOVED IT.
We got a lot of character storylines continued in this book, and Sara Linton was introduced and I have a feeling she's going to appear in more books (could be wrong, but I hope she does because I loved her).
The whodunit in this one was truly a shock and so creepy. This book was a rollercoaster. I will be reading the next one immediately!
Also - huge trigger warning for EDs. Please take care of yourself while reading this.
This third installment to Will Trent was so gory and disgusting, it made me so squeamish - I LOVED IT.
We got a lot of character storylines continued in this book, and Sara Linton was introduced and I have a feeling she's going to appear in more books (could be wrong, but I hope she does because I loved her).
The whodunit in this one was truly a shock and so creepy. This book was a rollercoaster. I will be reading the next one immediately!
Also - huge trigger warning for EDs. Please take care of yourself while reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm really not sure what I just read. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting from this book. The audio narration was great, though, and I highly recommend the audiobook.
It felt like nothing happened? We know our main character Ododo was kidnapped by a strange man who visited her blacksmith stall, and then she finds out he's a king of some sorts and is expected to marry him. But she also wants to do more than just be a wife, so her future husband offers to train her in secret.
I guess Ododo and the king slowly fall in love (if you can call it love). The story just felt very bland to me. The synopsis says this is based loosely on the myth of Persephone (loosely being the keyword here). I was hoping for more similarities but alas. Here we are.
Underwhelming story all around. I'm sure this book has its audience, it just isn't me. If you enjoy mythology retellings and historical fantasy, you may enjoy this one!
It felt like nothing happened? We know our main character Ododo was kidnapped by a strange man who visited her blacksmith stall, and then she finds out he's a king of some sorts and is expected to marry him. But she also wants to do more than just be a wife, so her future husband offers to train her in secret.
I guess Ododo and the king slowly fall in love (if you can call it love). The story just felt very bland to me. The synopsis says this is based loosely on the myth of Persephone (loosely being the keyword here). I was hoping for more similarities but alas. Here we are.
Underwhelming story all around. I'm sure this book has its audience, it just isn't me. If you enjoy mythology retellings and historical fantasy, you may enjoy this one!
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5 stars for pure nostalgia.
I think Colie is one of my favorite Sarah Dessen characters. She's angsty and wants to rebels and has a lot of self pity but then she finds friends in this new town and grows into herself and discovers that it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks.
This book also has some of my favorite side characters. I loved Isabel, Morgan, and Norman. They cared so much for Colie. This is my favorite kind of found family story.
This story was more focused on character growth than the romance, and I loved that. Even now at 26 years old I felt inspired by this book.
I think Colie is one of my favorite Sarah Dessen characters. She's angsty and wants to rebels and has a lot of self pity but then she finds friends in this new town and grows into herself and discovers that it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks.
This book also has some of my favorite side characters. I loved Isabel, Morgan, and Norman. They cared so much for Colie. This is my favorite kind of found family story.
This story was more focused on character growth than the romance, and I loved that. Even now at 26 years old I felt inspired by this book.
Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Thank you HTP and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a gripping historical fiction novel following Louise who is trying to return a necklace to its rightful owner after she believes she saw it while working for the Red Cross during WWII. She also believes this necklace will help her discover why her friend was murdered.
This book is told on a dual timeline from two POVs and also includes flashbacks. In 1953, we have Louise who is working to solve the mystery of the necklace. During Louise's POV, we see flashbacks of her time working for the Red Cross in 1944 during WWII. Then we have Helaine's POV, which begins in 1939 just before the war started. Helaine is Jewish, so we see her wartime struggles of being imprisoned at Levitan, the department store labor camp.
I was very curious as to how these POVs would connect, and I am very happy with how they did! Although this is a historical fiction, this story focused more on the mystery of the necklace rather than the historical events. We still got glimpses into some parts of history, though - I feel like I learned something about Levitan, which I didn't even know existed until this book.
This book also focused a lot on these two women's romantic relationships. We got to see Helaine's sweeping love story with Gabriel, and Louise's troubled marriage with Joe. I really enjoyed these parts. It gave insight as to who these characters are and made me form a more emotional connection with them.
I do feel like some parts of this book were a tad unrealistic considering the time period. But other than that, I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a clever way to show the world what Levitan was. It was a part of WWII I knew nothing about, and my favorite thing about historical fiction is learning new things.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, I recommend this book. It's more mystery oriented, but the historical events are still somewhat present.
This was a gripping historical fiction novel following Louise who is trying to return a necklace to its rightful owner after she believes she saw it while working for the Red Cross during WWII. She also believes this necklace will help her discover why her friend was murdered.
This book is told on a dual timeline from two POVs and also includes flashbacks. In 1953, we have Louise who is working to solve the mystery of the necklace. During Louise's POV, we see flashbacks of her time working for the Red Cross in 1944 during WWII. Then we have Helaine's POV, which begins in 1939 just before the war started. Helaine is Jewish, so we see her wartime struggles of being imprisoned at Levitan, the department store labor camp.
I was very curious as to how these POVs would connect, and I am very happy with how they did! Although this is a historical fiction, this story focused more on the mystery of the necklace rather than the historical events. We still got glimpses into some parts of history, though - I feel like I learned something about Levitan, which I didn't even know existed until this book.
This book also focused a lot on these two women's romantic relationships. We got to see Helaine's sweeping love story with Gabriel, and Louise's troubled marriage with Joe. I really enjoyed these parts. It gave insight as to who these characters are and made me form a more emotional connection with them.
I do feel like some parts of this book were a tad unrealistic considering the time period. But other than that, I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a clever way to show the world what Levitan was. It was a part of WWII I knew nothing about, and my favorite thing about historical fiction is learning new things.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, I recommend this book. It's more mystery oriented, but the historical events are still somewhat present.