princesspinky's reviews
184 reviews

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Loved the layered storytelling, the unreliable narrators, the strong and vulnerable women, and the emotions this book elicited from me. I wish it had sacrificed some of the side stories for a more direct path to the ending, but I was pleased with the outcome anyway. Beautiful book!

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

As someone who has experienced loss, this story perfectly balances the line between ripping your heart out then knitting you back together.

At times I found Lenny’s rage overwhelming because it was almost too realistic, but then the humor throughout gave levity to even the darkest moments. 

Taking off a star because even though their relationship steadily built and I enjoyed it immensely, the romance aspect felt like an afterthought. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

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

5.0

There have to be drugs in Ali Hazelwood’s books. I couldn’t get enough of neurotic Scarlett and gentle (or rough) giant Lukas. New favorite trope?

Ali Hazelwood does such a good job of creating booksmart but emotionally stunted girlies and I’m going to eat it up every time!! 

A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-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

4.0

Second book in the Glimmer Falls trilogy. Even funnier than the first and a TRUE enemies to lovers. The quippy one-liners from both the FMC and MMC had me laughing out loud.

This series continues to surprise me with how it addresses complex issues in a palatable way while also weaving in magic, romance, and humor. In this book the characters are grappling with immigration, nationalism, abuses of power, and relationship trauma. The push and pull power struggle between Calladia and Asteroth really built up the tension and the spice was 🥵

I enjoyed the sweet, sweet justice and I’m looking forward to seeing what the last book has in store!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad fast-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? N/A

4.0

Perfect if you like your romance with a side of environmentalism and a FMC who finally stops being a doormat!!

Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer

adventurous inspiring tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

dark hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Who doesn’t like the occasional hero story? This has been on my TBR for a long time and I’m glad I gave it a chance. It kept me interested and engaged. Brown does a good job at evoking righteous anger for Darrow and the Reds! I’m excited to see where the story goes.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book had me hooked from the first chapter and still hasn’t let go.

First thank you to Wednesday and Julie Soto for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Thrashers follows a group of five friends navigating life in their senior year, the rumor mill, and the legal system after someone on the periphery of their group dies.

Jodi girl, you’re better than me. She put up with so much more than she should have in the name of loyalty and love.  And of course she was nicer than she should have been to Emily. She’s a Pisces after all!

The tension built up so much in the first half that I was genuinely on the edge of my seat for the second half. I thought it was going one direction but I had no idea. The epilogue had my jaw on the floor.

Overall one of my favorite reads of the year so far. PLEASE I need the sequel immediately.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol

Minor: Drug use