pvrting's reviews
173 reviews

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.

this is sooo boring - why would i need to know her thinking process about whether or not to buy boneless chicken??  i get that the point of these kind of scenes are to show how cut off from reality the love interest is, but it could be equally done without so much detail and in more entertaining ways.

i put the audiobook at x2 speed and still couldn’t be bothered to finish it. if i wanted to hear about someones miserable marriage, i’d just ask my parents. 

DNF’ed at 30%

Reino de Ladrones by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous emotional tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

funny hopeful 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? No

3.25

i don’t really have much to say about this one, it had some nice quotes and lovable characters, though i feel that is mostly due to having read “delilah green doesn’t care” first. i doubt i would have cared about the characters the same way have this been a completely separated book.
i also didn’t get the way the main conflict of the book was portrayed, as it came across both forced and unrealistic at times.

overall, the story was cute and fast paced, nothing mind blowing. for me, just an easy sapphic romcom to get between other reads.

Love at First Psych by Cara Bastone

hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? No

5.0

in this sweet and short (less than 5 hours!) romcom, we listen to marigold and robbie's relationship evolve as they work in their shared psych assaigment: determining whether love at first sight really exists. to acomplish the task they need to schedule 5 couples interviews to question them about the start of their love story, record the meetings, then draft some theory. however, while marigold is convinced love at first sight is just a myth, robbie is a big romantic and so, as well as getting their homework done, they are determined to proving each other wrong.

this one was sooo good and i really enjoyed the way it was executed- the cast of narrators and background sounds really elevated the listening experience. 

the best part for me definetly was the commentary on romantic love and relationships, which i found to be well executed, with both parts making a fair case of their respective opinions. i also appreciate the way they didn't fight about their dissagreaments, and instead chose to listen and encourage eachother to elaborate further. we love healthy, adult communication!!! 

Romper el círculo by Colleen Hoover

fast-paced

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

0.25

i hate myself for making me read this book

The Extra by Megan Walker, Janci Patterson

1.25

Hothouse Flower by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

2.75

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

5.0

Scarred by Emily McIntire

2.25

A Long Time Dead by Samara Breger

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

set in the 19th century, we follow Poppy, whose life is forever changed as she’s turned into a vampire and taken to an isolated cottage. there, she meets Roisin, a 193 year old lonely yet caring woman, committed to guide her through the process of adjusting to her newly acquired immortality, and with whom Poppy’s life will be forever entangled.

their relationship is full of longing, yearning, and praying: to be wanted, hold, consumed. from caretaker and companion, to lovers and everything in between (and buckle up, because there’s a lot compressed in the “in between”), it’s a plea to be understood. 

Roisin is, as hard as it is to choose a favorite amongst the Brood, the one i hold closer to my heart. Poppy once described her as a “creature made of bones, and care, and tragedy”, which is all true, but i’ll dare to say that above all, Roisin is made of the undying longing to be good, to be worthy, and to be loved, despite everything. 

a Long Time Dead is crafted in beautiful writing that aches to captivate and hold your heart with both hands, squeezing just enough not to crush it. it’s embroidered in a cast of heartwarming characters, embracing truthful LGBT identities, friendships, and struggles, as well as very much human, complex feelings.

just as Roisin, this book is good (great, actually), worthy (of your time), and loved (by me).

a lesbian vampire love story with found family simply has to be a 5 stars.

it comes out may 16th, and is already available for preorder.

🩸

“A Long Time Dead is an is a lush, Victorian romance, drenched in blood and drama, about the lengths two women will go to secure a love that cannot die”

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher bywaterbooks, & the author Samara Breger for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Gore

Minor: Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts