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romancingthereader's Reviews (1.65k)
emotional
reflective
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:
No
Iโve never read a Taylor Jenkins Reid book. But something about this cover grabbed my attention. Then I went in mostly blind, and got swept up in the incredible writing storytelling of it all.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Atmosphere by Taylor
Jenkins Reid
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed through the Libby app.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, forbidden love.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Joan has never felt like she fit in - until she found NASA. Now as a part of their elite astronaut program, she meets Vanessa, a fellow astronaut who makes her life feel like a puzzle that finally fits together. But as they navigate the astronaut program and finally advancing women to space, it becomes clear their romance was doomed from the start.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: This book was a roller coaster, in the best possible way.
Joan and Vanessa had the type of love everyone yearns for but few find. And then to have to hide that love and live in the shadows when youโre truly happy was heartbreaking to read. As a reader, this had moments of humanity, of swoon-worthy romance, of absolute panic and of complete devastation.
TJR wrote this as a dual timeline, expertly alternating between the โpresent dayโ of Joan attempting to motivate Vanessa home from a doomed space mission to the past and the beginnings of their relationship. I was floored, and let me tell youโฆ when the third act breakup comes alongside the truly life and death moment, you may need a tissue (or if youโre like me, an entire box).
The characters, the camaraderie, and the vastness of space had me highlighting passages left and right. This was easily a top book of the year - get that library hold in ASAP.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 1/5 ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Atmosphere by Taylor
Jenkins Reid
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed through the Libby app.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, forbidden love.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Joan has never felt like she fit in - until she found NASA. Now as a part of their elite astronaut program, she meets Vanessa, a fellow astronaut who makes her life feel like a puzzle that finally fits together. But as they navigate the astronaut program and finally advancing women to space, it becomes clear their romance was doomed from the start.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: This book was a roller coaster, in the best possible way.
Joan and Vanessa had the type of love everyone yearns for but few find. And then to have to hide that love and live in the shadows when youโre truly happy was heartbreaking to read. As a reader, this had moments of humanity, of swoon-worthy romance, of absolute panic and of complete devastation.
TJR wrote this as a dual timeline, expertly alternating between the โpresent dayโ of Joan attempting to motivate Vanessa home from a doomed space mission to the past and the beginnings of their relationship. I was floored, and let me tell youโฆ when the third act breakup comes alongside the truly life and death moment, you may need a tissue (or if youโre like me, an entire box).
The characters, the camaraderie, and the vastness of space had me highlighting passages left and right. This was easily a top book of the year - get that library hold in ASAP.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 1/5 ๐ถ
The writing in the first 20 pages of this book was enough for me to DNF without remorse. I tried.
emotional
tense
medium-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
I try not to be super mean in book reviews. But being honest Iโm definitely disappointed in this book.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: When I Should Have Stayed by Max Monroe
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Red Bridge character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Second Chance, he falls first, instalove.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Josie and Clay burned hot and then burned out just as fast. She left, and never gave him a reason why. But as their lives become intwined again, itโs up to her to tell the truth.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Max Monroeโs Billionaire Bad Boys series is one of my favorite ever. I loved the Winslow Brothers series as well. After that, I donโt know what happened. I read a few of their books and they seemed disjointed, and they lack not only the things I loved that made them shine, but the fundamentals of actual romance.
I felt like this book had a great start, and I was interested in where it was going. But a lot of it threw me off. There was an unaligned dual-ish timeline that wasnโt labeled well enough, and completely threw me off.
And while I was struggling through that, it only drew more attention to the fact that Clay and Josie didnโt have any foundation, only this attraction. In skipping through the timeline, they skipped everything that would have made the couple special.
And then there was the trauma of it all. Josieโs reason for leaving was harsh. Clay never came across loveable - only unserious and kind of one dimensional.
I think at this point I have to let go of the marketing and hype and just let go of these authors. But we will always have the Billionaire Bad Boys.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 2.5/5 โญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: When I Should Have Stayed by Max Monroe
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Red Bridge character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Second Chance, he falls first, instalove.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Josie and Clay burned hot and then burned out just as fast. She left, and never gave him a reason why. But as their lives become intwined again, itโs up to her to tell the truth.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Max Monroeโs Billionaire Bad Boys series is one of my favorite ever. I loved the Winslow Brothers series as well. After that, I donโt know what happened. I read a few of their books and they seemed disjointed, and they lack not only the things I loved that made them shine, but the fundamentals of actual romance.
I felt like this book had a great start, and I was interested in where it was going. But a lot of it threw me off. There was an unaligned dual-ish timeline that wasnโt labeled well enough, and completely threw me off.
And while I was struggling through that, it only drew more attention to the fact that Clay and Josie didnโt have any foundation, only this attraction. In skipping through the timeline, they skipped everything that would have made the couple special.
And then there was the trauma of it all. Josieโs reason for leaving was harsh. Clay never came across loveable - only unserious and kind of one dimensional.
I think at this point I have to let go of the marketing and hype and just let go of these authors. But we will always have the Billionaire Bad Boys.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 2.5/5 โญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I say this with all the love in my heart: this book was made for my nerdy girls.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle, courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, fantasy vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Sadie just her job and is burnt out when she moves to Texas to take a break at her friends house. When she joins her friendโs new Dungeons and Dragons game, she meets Noah, who is also new in town.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I think every review needs context, so Iโll say it. I have no idea what D&D is or how to play it. Iโve heard of it, sure. Thereโs a viral video of a celebrity talking about it recently, working through how easy it is to play itโฆ and thatโs what this book felt like.
I thought this one was just so well done. I got to learn a bit while also reading an adorable romance. If this book was a person, Iโd boop it on the nose. Strangers-to-friends-to-loversโฆ two characters who felt so normal, like they could walk out of the book and be your friendโฆ
And the D&D backdrop only made it better. Lenora Woods weaved the fantasy story into the contemporary story, so it felt like reading two books at once. Iโve never seen that done before, and I really enjoyed it.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle, courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, fantasy vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Sadie just her job and is burnt out when she moves to Texas to take a break at her friends house. When she joins her friendโs new Dungeons and Dragons game, she meets Noah, who is also new in town.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I think every review needs context, so Iโll say it. I have no idea what D&D is or how to play it. Iโve heard of it, sure. Thereโs a viral video of a celebrity talking about it recently, working through how easy it is to play itโฆ and thatโs what this book felt like.
I thought this one was just so well done. I got to learn a bit while also reading an adorable romance. If this book was a person, Iโd boop it on the nose. Strangers-to-friends-to-loversโฆ two characters who felt so normal, like they could walk out of the book and be your friendโฆ
And the D&D backdrop only made it better. Lenora Woods weaved the fantasy story into the contemporary story, so it felt like reading two books at once. Iโve never seen that done before, and I really enjoyed it.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Pardon the long(er) introduction.
I read this book because I absolutely adore Julie Sotoโs writing. I think that every review needs context, and to be clear - Iโm not much of a fanfic girlie. So take this review in that veinโฆ a fan of great writing, and someone who has no idea what The Auction is like.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Evermore Trilogy. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Audiobook courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Dark Fantasy Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐:
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: When Bomard finally overtakes the Eversuns, the women are sold at Auction to help bring Bomard men more power. Briony, the princess of Eversun, ends up in the hands of Toven Hearst - whom sheโs had a long, complicated relationship with.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโm very interested in where this trilogy could go - and I guess Iโm definitely along for the ride now.
Rose in Chains, if I look at it as a standalone story with no context, was a good book. The magic system was interesting, and the characters were all truly layered and shades of gray. But as first books in trilogies often go, it created a hundred more questions with no answers, so Iโll have to wait for the rest of the series to truly make a judgement call.
In the context of its original fanfiction background, it certainly had nods to the fandom. Youโd have to be looking, but you could definitely find them - small little nods here and there that brought up nostalgia. If thatโs one of the reasons youโre staying away from the book, Iโd definitely not open this one to begin with. From what I understand from my book club, though, this book is a pretty big leap from the original story Soto wrote years ago.
The spice level below is indicative of Briony and Tovenโs relationshipโฆ but I want to be clear this is a dark romance with a ton of sexual content, and triggers should definitely be read.
I will just add I didnโt love the audio experience. The singular narrator was solid, especially as the story progressed, but this book is complicated and with all of the names and families, I think I would have preferred a sight read. But thatโs a me thing.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.25/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 1/5 ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
I read this book because I absolutely adore Julie Sotoโs writing. I think that every review needs context, and to be clear - Iโm not much of a fanfic girlie. So take this review in that veinโฆ a fan of great writing, and someone who has no idea what The Auction is like.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Evermore Trilogy. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Audiobook courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Dark Fantasy Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐:
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: When Bomard finally overtakes the Eversuns, the women are sold at Auction to help bring Bomard men more power. Briony, the princess of Eversun, ends up in the hands of Toven Hearst - whom sheโs had a long, complicated relationship with.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโm very interested in where this trilogy could go - and I guess Iโm definitely along for the ride now.
Rose in Chains, if I look at it as a standalone story with no context, was a good book. The magic system was interesting, and the characters were all truly layered and shades of gray. But as first books in trilogies often go, it created a hundred more questions with no answers, so Iโll have to wait for the rest of the series to truly make a judgement call.
In the context of its original fanfiction background, it certainly had nods to the fandom. Youโd have to be looking, but you could definitely find them - small little nods here and there that brought up nostalgia. If thatโs one of the reasons youโre staying away from the book, Iโd definitely not open this one to begin with. From what I understand from my book club, though, this book is a pretty big leap from the original story Soto wrote years ago.
The spice level below is indicative of Briony and Tovenโs relationshipโฆ but I want to be clear this is a dark romance with a ton of sexual content, and triggers should definitely be read.
I will just add I didnโt love the audio experience. The singular narrator was solid, especially as the story progressed, but this book is complicated and with all of the names and families, I think I would have preferred a sight read. But thatโs a me thing.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.25/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 1/5 ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sci-fi and monster romances like this are my bread and butter, and Lyonne Riley's latest did not disappoint. I laughed, I teared up... it had everything I wanted and more. Solid spice, tension, that fish-out-of-water vibe I love. It was *chef's kiss* what I needed, and I am here for it.
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
I have a dirty little ARC reading secret: I got approved for this book like, four full months ago. And I downloaded it and have waited for the perfect time to read it - because I just KNEW it was going to be a five star read, and I wanted to pull it out when I needed it the most.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Macabe Brothers character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Brother's ex, frienemies-to-lovers, all the banter, black cat/golden retriever.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Callum has been in love with Juniper since he met her on a train - but then promptly found out he was six months too late, since she'd been dating his brother. Years later, he's still pining and she's just getting back to feeling like herself. But a little forbidden romance never hurt anyone.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: One thing I love is when a book is so much more than it's tropes. And yes, this was an excellent black cat/golden retriever story. It was perfectly done brother's ex. But June and Callum were so much more than that as the pages turned.
Whiskey Business was worth all of the hype. It was THAT good. Scotch on the Rocks was a completely different vibe, but I loved it all the same. This one is for the readers who absolutely love a man down bad. A man who has been watching, fixing, caring for his woman from afar for about a decade. It's also for the readers who are full of vulnerable doubt about themselves - because you will see yourself in Juniper.
Everything about this book was perfect. The banter was hilarious. The spice was perfect. The Scotland backdrop was so beautiful you could almost smell the cool sea air as you read. I still can't believe these are Elliot Fletcher's first books - they're an absolute pleasure to read, and I am on pins and needles waiting for announcement of the next one.
If you haven't checked out Whiskey Business, make sure you do - it was one of my favorite books of 2024.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I sat down to right this review, and Iโm not quite sure how to verbalize my thoughts hereโฆ but let me give it a try.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Crash Test by Amy James
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on ARC Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: LGBTQIA+ Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, bi-awakening, secret relationship, all of the angst, second chance.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: After Jacob is in a devastating crash and left broken, his secret relationship with Travis takes a backseat to his recovery.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: There are some books that are hard to rate, and this falls into that category. I finished the book, and on just vibes alone I would have given it a four-star rating. But when I put my thinking cap on, I had to lower it a bit.
And thatโs tough, because I think this book had a lot of potential. It just missed the mark a few too many times. The way it was told - in three parts - was interesting, but ultimately left Travisโ character a little more one dimensional than Iโd like.
The romance ratio also felt weird, and when I dissected itโฆ it was completely off. The book immediately starts with Jacobโs crash and their โromanceโ is told through Travisโ perspectiveโฆ so itโs almost like you have to take his word for it. Post-breakup, most of the book is about Jacob getting his life together. The resolution between the pair takes all of two pages, after spending 75% of the book apart.
I liked the writing. I thought there were some absolutely gut wrenching emotions. But the bones werenโt there, and it killed the momentum for me.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Crash Test by Amy James
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on ARC Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: LGBTQIA+ Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, bi-awakening, secret relationship, all of the angst, second chance.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: After Jacob is in a devastating crash and left broken, his secret relationship with Travis takes a backseat to his recovery.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: There are some books that are hard to rate, and this falls into that category. I finished the book, and on just vibes alone I would have given it a four-star rating. But when I put my thinking cap on, I had to lower it a bit.
And thatโs tough, because I think this book had a lot of potential. It just missed the mark a few too many times. The way it was told - in three parts - was interesting, but ultimately left Travisโ character a little more one dimensional than Iโd like.
The romance ratio also felt weird, and when I dissected itโฆ it was completely off. The book immediately starts with Jacobโs crash and their โromanceโ is told through Travisโ perspectiveโฆ so itโs almost like you have to take his word for it. Post-breakup, most of the book is about Jacob getting his life together. The resolution between the pair takes all of two pages, after spending 75% of the book apart.
I liked the writing. I thought there were some absolutely gut wrenching emotions. But the bones werenโt there, and it killed the momentum for me.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I walked past Gemma Vossโs table at Monsterotica, I stopped short. This series quite literally caught my eye. And man, the first book in this series was GOOD.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Alien from Nowhere by Gemma Voss
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Deviant Warriors of the KarโKal character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sci-fi romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Enemies-to-lovers, fish out of water, banter for days, fated mates.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Niko is an alien pirate raiding a lost cargo hold when he finds Raina, his fated mate. Sheโs on a mission to find her friends, who were abducted from their home planet - and doesnโt have time for love.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโm always on the hunt for a new bingeable sci-fi series. Sometimes I feel like I could cut my entire account and just dedicate it to sci-fi novels. And thisโฆ whhhhew this is my new obsession.
Niko was hysterical, and every bit of the alien MMC I crave. He was protective and bossy, but completely enthralled with Raina from the start. He played the long game, and let her be her chaotic self. Raina was all fiery passion, and I loved how she slow-burned her way to Niko.
I canโt wait to read more in this world!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Alien from Nowhere by Gemma Voss
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Deviant Warriors of the KarโKal character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sci-fi romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Enemies-to-lovers, fish out of water, banter for days, fated mates.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Niko is an alien pirate raiding a lost cargo hold when he finds Raina, his fated mate. Sheโs on a mission to find her friends, who were abducted from their home planet - and doesnโt have time for love.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโm always on the hunt for a new bingeable sci-fi series. Sometimes I feel like I could cut my entire account and just dedicate it to sci-fi novels. And thisโฆ whhhhew this is my new obsession.
Niko was hysterical, and every bit of the alien MMC I crave. He was protective and bossy, but completely enthralled with Raina from the start. He played the long game, and let her be her chaotic self. Raina was all fiery passion, and I loved how she slow-burned her way to Niko.
I canโt wait to read more in this world!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ