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readers_sea's reviews
460 reviews
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sigh... i really wanted to love it!
I had such high hopes going into this one! It sounded like everything I would enjoy, but it genuinely was not it. I feel like I would have enjoyed this one more if I didn't find the main characters so infuriating - mainly BJ. I could not stand BJ at all and that honestly makes me sad. But it is so hard to enjoy a book when you don't even want the main couple to be together. At no point in the book did I ever root for BJ and Magnolia to be together. Matter of fact, I enjoyed it most when they weren't even on talking terms!
The drama was addicting, and I genuinely did enjoy some of the events and characters, but BJ ruined a lot of the book for me, and it makes me hesitant to pick up the rest of the series knowing that BJ and Magnolia are supposed to be endgame. I felt like the constant push and pull got old very fast and the book just ended up getting repetitive with their actions. I get that it is toxic and that was the intention, but at some point, I just really did not care anymore...
I really loved Magnolia most when she was with other people. Not with BJ. With all that being said, I will be giving Daisy Haites a shot because I actually am curious on her story and I love Christian, so hopefully that goes better for me.
Overall, not for me. I can see why people enjoy it with how addicting and easy to read it is but just didn't do it for me.
I had such high hopes going into this one! It sounded like everything I would enjoy, but it genuinely was not it. I feel like I would have enjoyed this one more if I didn't find the main characters so infuriating - mainly BJ. I could not stand BJ at all and that honestly makes me sad. But it is so hard to enjoy a book when you don't even want the main couple to be together. At no point in the book did I ever root for BJ and Magnolia to be together. Matter of fact, I enjoyed it most when they weren't even on talking terms!
The drama was addicting, and I genuinely did enjoy some of the events and characters, but BJ ruined a lot of the book for me, and it makes me hesitant to pick up the rest of the series knowing that BJ and Magnolia are supposed to be endgame. I felt like the constant push and pull got old very fast and the book just ended up getting repetitive with their actions. I get that it is toxic and that was the intention, but at some point, I just really did not care anymore...
I really loved Magnolia most when she was with other people. Not with BJ. With all that being said, I will be giving Daisy Haites a shot because I actually am curious on her story and I love Christian, so hopefully that goes better for me.
Overall, not for me. I can see why people enjoy it with how addicting and easy to read it is but just didn't do it for me.
Good Boy by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
funny
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? Yes
4.0
I didn't know what to expect, but I did end up enjoying my time with this one.
This book follows Jessie and Blake. Blake is an NHL player while Jessie is apparently the family "screw up" still trying to find her purpose. A few months ago, Blake and Jessie have a hook up, and while Jessie swears it'll never happen again, that is all Blake wants. They are in forced proximity when they are both playing a role in Jessie's brother's wedding where he is marrying Blake's best friend/teammate. While in close proximity, they continuously find themselves in compromising situations that eventually lead to them needing to confront their feelings for each other.
Honestly, at the start of the book I was a little confused. I felt like I was thrown into this book with this couple who I should know about but didn't. I felt like we got to context or much information on either Blake nor Jessie and I felt disconnected at first. I also was unsure on how to perceive Blake. He was such a goofball that I didn't know if/when I should've been taking them seriously.
As the book went on, I started rooting for them more and more. They definitely did start to grow on me! By the end of the book, I really enjoyed Blake and Jessie together. I loved how protective Jessie became of Blake and how reassuring Blake was for Jessie. I enjoyed the conversations that they had and how honest they were with each other.
Overall, a slow start but I did enjoy it! Also, for some reason SUCH a fast read! I flew through it, even while reading physically. I was reading like 50 pages in 45 minutes if I wanted to...
This book follows Jessie and Blake. Blake is an NHL player while Jessie is apparently the family "screw up" still trying to find her purpose. A few months ago, Blake and Jessie have a hook up, and while Jessie swears it'll never happen again, that is all Blake wants. They are in forced proximity when they are both playing a role in Jessie's brother's wedding where he is marrying Blake's best friend/teammate. While in close proximity, they continuously find themselves in compromising situations that eventually lead to them needing to confront their feelings for each other.
Honestly, at the start of the book I was a little confused. I felt like I was thrown into this book with this couple who I should know about but didn't. I felt like we got to context or much information on either Blake nor Jessie and I felt disconnected at first. I also was unsure on how to perceive Blake. He was such a goofball that I didn't know if/when I should've been taking them seriously.
As the book went on, I started rooting for them more and more. They definitely did start to grow on me! By the end of the book, I really enjoyed Blake and Jessie together. I loved how protective Jessie became of Blake and how reassuring Blake was for Jessie. I enjoyed the conversations that they had and how honest they were with each other.
Overall, a slow start but I did enjoy it! Also, for some reason SUCH a fast read! I flew through it, even while reading physically. I was reading like 50 pages in 45 minutes if I wanted to...
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
2.0
maybe an unpopular opinion here but honestly wth happened here?!
Okay so, this book follows Vandy, a diver and Lukas, a swimmer. They run in the same circles, but don't really interact. Until Pen. Lukas' recent ex after being together for 7 years & Vandy's bff on the diving team. After Pen & Lukas break up (mutually) they all run into each other at a party and Pen drunkenly announces that Lukas and Vandy should get together because they share bedroom fascinations... Already very odd... Nonetheless, that is how the arrangement between Lukas and Vandy starts
First off, this book did NOT need to be as long as it is. It is just the same thing over and over again - commitment issues due to the MMC's ex/FMC's best friend and them just not admitting their apparent feelings for each other.
Second, I have heard over and over that this was a kinky, super spicy book and unfortunately, I did not see that at all. The only thing remotely "kinky" was the dom x sub preference - and even then, I didn't think that it was super out of this world. Ali Hazelwood's spiciest book? Maybe, but that's mainly due to the fact that these characters chose to do the deed instead of actually talk to form a connection. So like... how did they even fall in love? idk that is beyond me. I do think towards the end of the book they did start to talk and get to know each other more - which was great!
Finally, what the actual HECK was Pen?! I did not understand her. I did not get the actions she chose to do. I do not understand why her character was so freaking present throughout the book. I get it, Vandy's bff and Lukas' ex butttt beyond that she should've been gone. The constant hanging around, the snide side comments, her overall personality and existing? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Like geez, please LEAVE. I feel like if she would've just left them the heck alone. But would it have been? Maybe not because Vandy was so hung up on her even after Pen supposedly was moving on. I don't know, all I know is that I actually hated her so much AND spoiler...ruining Vandy's first gold medal moment and making it about her was actually SO UNFORGIVABLE. Idk how they recovered after that, but I would have told Pen to F of because Vandy will literally never have a moment like that again in her entire life ESPECIALLY with how big of a deal it was after her recovery. Anyways, I hate Pen :)
BUT!! I did love a couple things!
Firstly, OLIVE AND ADAM CAMEO?!? YESSSS PLSSS!!!!
And also, I loved Vandy's growth throughout the book. I enjoyed seeing her work through her past and her fears. Her frequent therapy sessions and getting to the root of herself. I loved seeing her enjoy her life again. That was honestly amazing.
Lukas as a whole was okay. Not issues with him, but also nothing that stood out for most of the book.
All in all, I just don't think this book was for me. I'm not sure if I just had different expectations or what it was. But I know this book will find its people and I am actually so sad that it wasn't me.
Okay so, this book follows Vandy, a diver and Lukas, a swimmer. They run in the same circles, but don't really interact. Until Pen. Lukas' recent ex after being together for 7 years & Vandy's bff on the diving team. After Pen & Lukas break up (mutually) they all run into each other at a party and Pen drunkenly announces that Lukas and Vandy should get together because they share bedroom fascinations... Already very odd... Nonetheless, that is how the arrangement between Lukas and Vandy starts
First off, this book did NOT need to be as long as it is. It is just the same thing over and over again - commitment issues due to the MMC's ex/FMC's best friend and them just not admitting their apparent feelings for each other.
Second, I have heard over and over that this was a kinky, super spicy book and unfortunately, I did not see that at all. The only thing remotely "kinky" was the dom x sub preference - and even then, I didn't think that it was super out of this world. Ali Hazelwood's spiciest book? Maybe, but that's mainly due to the fact that these characters chose to do the deed instead of actually talk to form a connection. So like... how did they even fall in love? idk that is beyond me. I do think towards the end of the book they did start to talk and get to know each other more - which was great!
Finally, what the actual HECK was Pen?! I did not understand her. I did not get the actions she chose to do. I do not understand why her character was so freaking present throughout the book. I get it, Vandy's bff and Lukas' ex butttt beyond that she should've been gone. The constant hanging around, the snide side comments, her overall personality and existing? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Like geez, please LEAVE. I feel like if she would've just left them the heck alone. But would it have been? Maybe not because Vandy was so hung up on her even after Pen supposedly was moving on. I don't know, all I know is that I actually hated her so much AND spoiler...
BUT!! I did love a couple things!
Firstly, OLIVE AND ADAM CAMEO?!? YESSSS PLSSS!!!!
And also, I loved Vandy's growth throughout the book. I enjoyed seeing her work through her past and her fears. Her frequent therapy sessions and getting to the root of herself. I loved seeing her enjoy her life again. That was honestly amazing.
Lukas as a whole was okay. Not issues with him, but also nothing that stood out for most of the book.
All in all, I just don't think this book was for me. I'm not sure if I just had different expectations or what it was. But I know this book will find its people and I am actually so sad that it wasn't me.
Unsteady by Peyton Corinne
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
I enjoyed time with this one.
This book follows college hockey star, Rhys, and Sadie. Rhys was badly injured in his last hockey season and is now struggling to get back into the game. He experiences frequent nightmares and panic attacks, which Sadie witnesses. Sadie doesn't have an easy life either. As the main caretaker for her two younger brothers, focusing on college and her own sport of figure skating isn't easy. Sadie is just getting by until she meets Rhys, finding him in the middle of a panic attack and helping him through it. The moment Rhys meets Sadie, he is instantly enamored by her. He thinks she is full of life and helps him see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I appreciated the representation in this book. Not only with Rhys recovering from his injury and working on his mental health, but also with Sadie and her unique situation. It was fascinating to see if both of these characters could make it work. I liked the character development in both of them and how they grew without becoming each other's crutch to deal with the challenges in lives.
There was a lot of back and forth in their relationship and hesitancy, which makes sense given their situations. Due to this back and forth, I feel the book could have been a bit shorter to avoid the repetition in their conversations. The pacing was okay, if not a bit slow at times. I felt that some plotlines left me hanging or unfulfilled, but perhaps I will get more closure as the rest of the series, following different characters, is released.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this one!
This book follows college hockey star, Rhys, and Sadie. Rhys was badly injured in his last hockey season and is now struggling to get back into the game. He experiences frequent nightmares and panic attacks, which Sadie witnesses. Sadie doesn't have an easy life either. As the main caretaker for her two younger brothers, focusing on college and her own sport of figure skating isn't easy. Sadie is just getting by until she meets Rhys, finding him in the middle of a panic attack and helping him through it. The moment Rhys meets Sadie, he is instantly enamored by her. He thinks she is full of life and helps him see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I appreciated the representation in this book. Not only with Rhys recovering from his injury and working on his mental health, but also with Sadie and her unique situation. It was fascinating to see if both of these characters could make it work. I liked the character development in both of them and how they grew without becoming each other's crutch to deal with the challenges in lives.
There was a lot of back and forth in their relationship and hesitancy, which makes sense given their situations. Due to this back and forth, I feel the book could have been a bit shorter to avoid the repetition in their conversations. The pacing was okay, if not a bit slow at times. I felt that some plotlines left me hanging or unfulfilled, but perhaps I will get more closure as the rest of the series, following different characters, is released.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this one!
Lucky Shot by K. Bromberg
This book starts off very promising with Whitney who has had a very hard past and the owner of a soccer academy in a low-income area and Hardy who is a professional soccer player who has been signed up to do a meet and greet situation at Whitney's academy to help his image.
While the beginning I understood Whitney, I felt like it took her a very long time to have any sort of character growth. I understand why she was so hesitant to trust Hardy at first. but I think he proved himself to her time and time again while she continued to run away from him and blame her past. I understand that people deal with things in different ways but when she says things like "when someone shows you who they really are, believe them" - I just don't know what more Hardy could have done to prove himself to Whitney. I felt she was way too hard on him no matter his efforts and this lasting for more than 75% of the book, made it hard to root for them to be together. After a while, I started thinking this book wasn't going to have a HEA and that Hardy deserved better, but it is what it is.
On the other hand, there were aspects that I did enjoy about the book. I loved Hardy's character growth and seeing him soften for the children at the soccer academy, seeing his realization that he needed to grow up, watching his confront his trauma and stand up for himself, among other things. I felt Hardy had the best character growth and I loved that for him.
In the end, this one wasn't for me, but I did appreciate a lot of the aspects depicted in the book!
hopeful
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? Yes
2.0
I can't lie; this one wasn't a hit for me :(
This book starts off very promising with Whitney who has had a very hard past and the owner of a soccer academy in a low-income area and Hardy who is a professional soccer player who has been signed up to do a meet and greet situation at Whitney's academy to help his image.
At first, I loved Whitney. I loved that she was cautious and aware while also being strong and taking pride on herself and her soccer academy. Hardy took a little bit to grow on me because of how arrogant and dense he was at times. Although both of them had a hard childhood, they both handled and grew up very differently.
While the beginning I understood Whitney, I felt like it took her a very long time to have any sort of character growth. I understand why she was so hesitant to trust Hardy at first. but I think he proved himself to her time and time again while she continued to run away from him and blame her past. I understand that people deal with things in different ways but when she says things like "when someone shows you who they really are, believe them" - I just don't know what more Hardy could have done to prove himself to Whitney. I felt she was way too hard on him no matter his efforts and this lasting for more than 75% of the book, made it hard to root for them to be together. After a while, I started thinking this book wasn't going to have a HEA and that Hardy deserved better, but it is what it is.
On the other hand, there were aspects that I did enjoy about the book. I loved Hardy's character growth and seeing him soften for the children at the soccer academy, seeing his realization that he needed to grow up, watching his confront his trauma and stand up for himself, among other things. I felt Hardy had the best character growth and I loved that for him.
In the end, this one wasn't for me, but I did appreciate a lot of the aspects depicted in the book!
The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
I appreciated the resolution in this book.
To avoid spoiling the first book, I will keep my comments vague.
The characters exhibited significant growth and there were unexpected turns throughout the narrative. Initially, the characters seemed somewhat immature, and I wished for better communication but this improved as the story progressed.
The events this book surprised me, I enjoyed the direction the plot took. The conclusion of duology was satisfying. I felt deeply for these characters and enjoyed witnessing their development. I thoroughly enjoyed the duology and would it.
To avoid spoiling the first book, I will keep my comments vague.
The characters exhibited significant growth and there were unexpected turns throughout the narrative. Initially, the characters seemed somewhat immature, and I wished for better communication but this improved as the story progressed.
The events this book surprised me, I enjoyed the direction the plot took. The conclusion of duology was satisfying. I felt deeply for these characters and enjoyed witnessing their development. I thoroughly enjoyed the duology and would it.
I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell
This book centers on Alex, a woman who seems constantly on edge, but we’re not immediately sure why. She lives a solitary life by choice, preferring to keep to herself. One night, fueled by wine and a bit of spontaneity, she applies for a job to replace "Dear Constance," the advice columnist she has long admired. After Francis, the previous writer, is murdered, the column comes to an abrupt stop. Feeling lost without it, Alex decides to apply, almost as a joke, and is shocked when she actually gets the job.
I really enjoyed the mystery in this one! I figured out some of the twists early on, but there were still plenty of surprises I didn’t see coming. The story was incredibly engaging, and I particularly liked the inclusion of the letters throughout the narrative. The pacing, however, felt like a slow burn. While Alex was intriguing from the start, I found her a bit naïve, especially as her backstory unfolded.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read and definitely worth picking up!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A compelling read from the start!
This book centers on Alex, a woman who seems constantly on edge, but we’re not immediately sure why. She lives a solitary life by choice, preferring to keep to herself. One night, fueled by wine and a bit of spontaneity, she applies for a job to replace "Dear Constance," the advice columnist she has long admired. After Francis, the previous writer, is murdered, the column comes to an abrupt stop. Feeling lost without it, Alex decides to apply, almost as a joke, and is shocked when she actually gets the job.
From the very beginning of her new position, Alex is unsettled, and the book takes on an eerie tone. She’s haunted by the mystery of Francis’s murder, especially since the killer was never found. As Alex digs deeper into Francis’s life, she becomes more obsessed with uncovering the truth about what happened.
I really enjoyed the mystery in this one! I figured out some of the twists early on, but there were still plenty of surprises I didn’t see coming. The story was incredibly engaging, and I particularly liked the inclusion of the letters throughout the narrative. The pacing, however, felt like a slow burn. While Alex was intriguing from the start, I found her a bit naïve, especially as her backstory unfolded.
I do wish there had been more resolution at the end of the mystery. While the main storyline was wrapped up neatly, I still had some lingering questions about certain characters and their motivations.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read and definitely worth picking up!
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
I'll be honest—at the start of the book, I felt disconnected from the story and characters, taking time to reorient myself in this world. Despite this initial hurdle, the book proved thoroughly entertaining. Once I got reacquainted with everyone, the pacing was swift and engaging.
The story repeatedly shocked me with its twists and reveals, each one catching me completely off guard. While the book raised more questions than it answered, and some plot threads remained unresolved, I'm content to wait for the next installment.
The character development was particularly strong, especially in the friendships that blossomed throughout. I loved watching Violet step into her authority, decisively taking charge when needed. Xaden remains compelling as ever, though he clearly has a lot of personal challenges to overcome.
Overall, a thoroughly entertaining read that I genuinely enjoyed!
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Hmm... quite interesting.
I'll be honest—at the start of the book, I felt disconnected from the story and characters, taking time to reorient myself in this world. Despite this initial hurdle, the book proved thoroughly entertaining. Once I got reacquainted with everyone, the pacing was swift and engaging.
The story repeatedly shocked me with its twists and reveals, each one catching me completely off guard. While the book raised more questions than it answered, and some plot threads remained unresolved, I'm content to wait for the next installment.
The character development was particularly strong, especially in the friendships that blossomed throughout. I loved watching Violet step into her authority, decisively taking charge when needed. Xaden remains compelling as ever, though he clearly has a lot of personal challenges to overcome.
Overall, a thoroughly entertaining read that I genuinely enjoyed!
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
This book follows Rosie, who received a heart transplant a year ago and recently reached out to her donor's family through an anonymous website designed to connect donors and recipients. She connects with Morgan, the husband of her heart donor Daphne, and starts getting to know him. Though Rosie is convinced they share a special bond, she soon uncovers disturbing rumors that raise more questions than answers about who Morgan really is.
I went into this book knowing very little about it, and by the end of part 1, I was even more intrigued about where the story was heading. The narrative was incredibly engaging and held my attention throughout. While some of my theories proved correct and others didn't, I remained completely invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
I loved the mystery and tense atmosphere of the book. The unreliability of Rosie as a narrator added another fascinating layer to the story. The resolution was thought out—even at 90% through, many questions remained unanswered. It built to a whirlwind ending that I thoroughly enjoyed, leaving me guessing until the very last word.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
This one was a twisty surprise!
This book follows Rosie, who received a heart transplant a year ago and recently reached out to her donor's family through an anonymous website designed to connect donors and recipients. She connects with Morgan, the husband of her heart donor Daphne, and starts getting to know him. Though Rosie is convinced they share a special bond, she soon uncovers disturbing rumors that raise more questions than answers about who Morgan really is.
I went into this book knowing very little about it, and by the end of part 1, I was even more intrigued about where the story was heading. The narrative was incredibly engaging and held my attention throughout. While some of my theories proved correct and others didn't, I remained completely invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
I loved the mystery and tense atmosphere of the book. The unreliability of Rosie as a narrator added another fascinating layer to the story. The resolution was thought out—even at 90% through, many questions remained unanswered. It built to a whirlwind ending that I thoroughly enjoyed, leaving me guessing until the very last word.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this one!
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Well, unpopular opinion but this one was not for me.
I couldn't get past how much I disliked both of these characters. I was hoping there would be more of a point made by the end, but it felt lacking even in its conclusion.
Let's take a step back... This book follows Lucy as she starts college and meets Stephen at a party. Stephen isn't particularly striking in looks, but he's skilled with words and uses them to get what he wants. When Stephen sets his sights on Lucy, it kicks off a story of constant push and pull between them.
While Stephen isn't good for Lucy, she falls into the trap of his sweet words and attention. We follow them both through college and into adulthood as their relationship cycles through periods of growth and decline.
By the halfway point, I realized I didn't care about these characters. I didn't like them together or apart. I just couldn't invest in anything they were doing. I understand the book's intention and that people like Stephen and Lucy exist in real life, but I couldn't connect with these characters at all.
The constant back and forth became tedious, and I grew tired of reading the same patterns repeat. The book could have been significantly shorter since it became repetitive. Stephen's perspective made me uncomfortable, and I simply didn't enjoy my time with this book. While Lucy showed some growth by the end, it wasn't enough to redeem the story for me.
I couldn't get past how much I disliked both of these characters. I was hoping there would be more of a point made by the end, but it felt lacking even in its conclusion.
Let's take a step back... This book follows Lucy as she starts college and meets Stephen at a party. Stephen isn't particularly striking in looks, but he's skilled with words and uses them to get what he wants. When Stephen sets his sights on Lucy, it kicks off a story of constant push and pull between them.
While Stephen isn't good for Lucy, she falls into the trap of his sweet words and attention. We follow them both through college and into adulthood as their relationship cycles through periods of growth and decline.
By the halfway point, I realized I didn't care about these characters. I didn't like them together or apart. I just couldn't invest in anything they were doing. I understand the book's intention and that people like Stephen and Lucy exist in real life, but I couldn't connect with these characters at all.
The constant back and forth became tedious, and I grew tired of reading the same patterns repeat. The book could have been significantly shorter since it became repetitive. Stephen's perspective made me uncomfortable, and I simply didn't enjoy my time with this book. While Lucy showed some growth by the end, it wasn't enough to redeem the story for me.