peppersbookpicks's reviews
190 reviews

Inevitable by Kristen Granata

lighthearted 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

3.0

A little slow and underdeveloped... but that was expected with how short this book is. It was still an enjoyable read!

Puck Pact by Kristen Granata

emotional inspiring 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

5.0

This book had absolutely NO BUSINESS being this freaking good!!! I fell in love with this story and never wanted it to end! The chemistry and banter between the two main characters was just perfect. I found myself laughing out loud often, and I was really taken by surprise whenever I started uncontrollably sobbing. But it's fine, ya know, we love that :) 

It's a special thing to find a book that gives you a true emotional experience like this one. Krum Cake has made his way onto my book-boyfriend top charts and I COULD NOT get enough! There was also a surprise character (that I won't spoil) and by the end of the book, they effectively melted my heart. This series is aging like a fine wine... I cannot wait for Kristin Granata to bring us more!

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

DNF'd at 25%. I wasn't compelled to continue reading in the slightest.

I Like You Like That by Kayla Grosse

funny lighthearted 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

A cute and steamy read! I really enjoy reading Kayla Grosse's characters, they all feel so relatable and her writing has only improved since this book came out. If you like the body guard and friends to lovers trope, this will surely not disappoint.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.

So boring and I felt like I was missing something the whole time? Finally stopped 1/3 of the way through whenever I realized I didn’t care about a single character or have any idea what was going on at all. 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional hopeful sad 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

4.0

A profound story of friendship, love and loss... it was beautiful and everything I thought it would be. I am disappointed that there were zero trigger warnings at the beginning of this book when there 100% should have been. This book is a lot heavier than it comes off as at first glance and that should be made more clear to the reader. 

likely would have appreciated this story even more if I was more of a gamer, since a lot of the book is set in that world, but I was still able to follow along just fine. I really enjoyed these characters and their story will stick with me long after today.. although I do wish the ending hadn't felt so abrupt. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Chronic illness, and Domestic abuse

The Coworker by Freida McFadden

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

My gosh this was cringey. I would be happy to never read about another turtle-lover ever again. It wouldn't have been so bad if at least one of the characters would have been likeable, but unfortunately this was a big miss.

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

dark funny mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

I read "Dark Romantic Comedy" in the Description and said: say no more. I absolutely devoured this, and it was everything I never knew I needed. 

"ɪ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜᴇʀ ɪ'ᴍ ɴᴏ ᴀɴɢᴇʟ. ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ sʜᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ's ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ'ᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟ sʜᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴋɴᴇᴡ sʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ."

Butcher & Blackbird was so unique and original that nothing will ever compare. It had everything we love and need: wit, charm, banter, spice, and deliciously paced tension.

"ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇsᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛs ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ. ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇsᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛs ᴏғ ᴍᴇ."

If dark romance is up your alley and the trigger warnings pass the vibe check, then you need to read this book! The way Brynne Weaver was able to blend horror, comedy, and romance is truly remarkable. Who knew I could love two psychopaths SO much?! I will definitely be reading this again soon and I cannot wait for more in this series!🐦‍⬛🔪🖤

Odd Man Rush by Kristen Granata

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

I almost really missed out on this one! At first I wasn't super interested in reading this because it is FFM, but I am so gladl gave it a try anyways! I love how Kristen Granata expanded upon this world with these characters and I completely enjoyed this beautiful love story. There was brilliant character development all around, and the spice was spot on. Excited for the next book!

Strange Love: An 80s Fake Dating Hockey Romance by Steffanie Blais

lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a cute and quick read. I found myself laughing quite a few times at some goofy one liners like, "Maybe if you ask him nicely, he'll show you his stick?" 

I definitely enjoyed the romance part of this story, but the plot wasn't super engaging and the timeline sometimes felt a bit choppy. If the chapter headers consistently had the age + year at the top that would have helped some. 

After finishing the book, I think if the scenes from the past were told from the perspective of Ivy's journal entries instead of randomly placed flashbacks, that might have helped give a more natural flow to the story too. 

-Bottom line- Strange Love was an enjoyable read. If you like hockey romance, the 80s, and are all about the fake-dating trope, this one's for you! 

Thanks to the author, Steffanie Blais, for allowing me to be part of the ARC team and giving me the chance to post an honest review in exchange!