Take a photo of a barcode or cover
samgroat's reviews
426 reviews
Ashes of Chaos by Amelia Hutchins
3.0
This is such a confusing review to write?!
The story has me hooked... like I want to know what's going to happen. However the writing?! It's definitely not my cup of tea. It's very repetitive in sections - there's some places where there are 3 pages basically describing the one thing over and over. The pacing? It's EXTREMELY fast this time almost to the detriment of the story because I was often confused what was going on.
The characters are so bipolar it's alarming. And the main character seems to have all of a sudden become the big bad be all end all powerful witch out of no where!
I said in my review of book 1 - the dialogue seems juvenile in parts which is so confusing because the content is adult AF. Like this is a bully romance on steroids?!
Will I continue the series? Yes! Because I need to know what happens and I need to see Knox admit his fucking truth before it kills me!
The story has me hooked... like I want to know what's going to happen. However the writing?! It's definitely not my cup of tea. It's very repetitive in sections - there's some places where there are 3 pages basically describing the one thing over and over. The pacing? It's EXTREMELY fast this time almost to the detriment of the story because I was often confused what was going on.
The characters are so bipolar it's alarming. And the main character seems to have all of a sudden become the big bad be all end all powerful witch out of no where!
I said in my review of book 1 - the dialogue seems juvenile in parts which is so confusing because the content is adult AF. Like this is a bully romance on steroids?!
Will I continue the series? Yes! Because I need to know what happens and I need to see Knox admit his fucking truth before it kills me!
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
4.0
4.5 ⭐️
I was not expecting to cry over a book about high schoolers but here we are. I really loved this story! Was it cheesy? A little. Did that matter? No.
The writing style was so sweet and easy to consume. I loved that the inner monologues felt true to the age of the characters / I sometimes find authors make YA books seem a little more mature in that way then would be realistic so I appreciated it. It did make for some cringy moments but that adds to the high school essence for me!
The only reason I’m deducting a half star is there was a scene at the beginning where the FMC decides to eat a Protein bar for breakfast over something else because she doesn’t need the “sugar and carbs” and I didn’t like that message
I was not expecting to cry over a book about high schoolers but here we are. I really loved this story! Was it cheesy? A little. Did that matter? No.
The writing style was so sweet and easy to consume. I loved that the inner monologues felt true to the age of the characters / I sometimes find authors make YA books seem a little more mature in that way then would be realistic so I appreciated it. It did make for some cringy moments but that adds to the high school essence for me!
The only reason I’m deducting a half star is there was a scene at the beginning where the FMC decides to eat a Protein bar for breakfast over something else because she doesn’t need the “sugar and carbs” and I didn’t like that message
Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter
3.0
3.5⭐️
This was a funny, fast little romcom read. The premise is fun, and Colin was wonderfully handsome.
Unfortunately I felt like the middle was pretty rushed and could have used a little more fleshing out. It was also a little predictable (although I don’t mind that in a romcom usually) but I liked that Colin was willing to stick to his guns in the ending. The banter was fun!
The writing was good, I just felt it lacked some of the spark that Lynn’s YA books have - it was the missing tension, almost like introducing spice made it less important but I always really enjoyed that.
This was a funny, fast little romcom read. The premise is fun, and Colin was wonderfully handsome.
Unfortunately I felt like the middle was pretty rushed and could have used a little more fleshing out. It was also a little predictable (although I don’t mind that in a romcom usually) but I liked that Colin was willing to stick to his guns in the ending. The banter was fun!
The writing was good, I just felt it lacked some of the spark that Lynn’s YA books have - it was the missing tension, almost like introducing spice made it less important but I always really enjoyed that.
Flames of Chaos by Amelia Hutchins
3.0
3⭐️
Okay, okay, okay… how to review this book?!
It was poorly written - almost juvenile in a way except the content was the furthest from juvenile you could get.
The pacing was ATROCIOUS. Literally all over the place, like there were times things happened where I had to go back and reread pages because I was confused how we had gotten there from the previous page.
It was unnecessarily gruesome and cruel in some parts too which the author does give a trigger warning for but I feel like I should mention it again.
The characters were so flip floppy on each other which is fine except it would happen mid scene and it was almost jarring?
HOWEVER. I binged this book in less than 24 hours. It was so damn addicting. I don’t know what is in the book but I could not for the life of me put it down and I’ve already loaded up book 2 ready to go. It was punchy and smutty and interesting in a way that broke through the things above for me.
I’m so confused about how I feel about this book!
Okay, okay, okay… how to review this book?!
It was poorly written - almost juvenile in a way except the content was the furthest from juvenile you could get.
The pacing was ATROCIOUS. Literally all over the place, like there were times things happened where I had to go back and reread pages because I was confused how we had gotten there from the previous page.
It was unnecessarily gruesome and cruel in some parts too which the author does give a trigger warning for but I feel like I should mention it again.
The characters were so flip floppy on each other which is fine except it would happen mid scene and it was almost jarring?
HOWEVER. I binged this book in less than 24 hours. It was so damn addicting. I don’t know what is in the book but I could not for the life of me put it down and I’ve already loaded up book 2 ready to go. It was punchy and smutty and interesting in a way that broke through the things above for me.
I’m so confused about how I feel about this book!
If You Give a Grump a Holiday Wishlist by Ann Einerson
2.0
I really wanted to love this but unfortunately for me I think the novella status was a disservice to this story!
The pacing felt a little rushed for me (again, I understand that being a novella things have to happen quickly), I think if the story was better fleshed out and had the ability to sit within situations rather than power through I would have enjoyed this more.
The spice was well written - I found it hard to get into though as it felt forced/rushed. Again, probably a personal issue because everything happens so quickly.
The pacing felt a little rushed for me (again, I understand that being a novella things have to happen quickly), I think if the story was better fleshed out and had the ability to sit within situations rather than power through I would have enjoyed this more.
The spice was well written - I found it hard to get into though as it felt forced/rushed. Again, probably a personal issue because everything happens so quickly.
The Love Wager by Lynn Painter
4.0
4.5 ⭐️
I really loved this book! I love Lynn’s writing, it’s catchy and bingeable. It’s so easy to consume, I literally read the book in about 3.5 hours on a Roadtrip.
The concept was fun, it felt familiar to things I’ve read before but still unique. The main characters were relatable and their friendship was so beautiful.
I loved the inclusion of the texting throughout; I felt like that gave the space for better exploration of the internal monologues.
Over all I have no complaints! Just didn’t QUITE meet up to my other recent 5⭐️ reads, but still loved it!
I really loved this book! I love Lynn’s writing, it’s catchy and bingeable. It’s so easy to consume, I literally read the book in about 3.5 hours on a Roadtrip.
The concept was fun, it felt familiar to things I’ve read before but still unique. The main characters were relatable and their friendship was so beautiful.
I loved the inclusion of the texting throughout; I felt like that gave the space for better exploration of the internal monologues.
Over all I have no complaints! Just didn’t QUITE meet up to my other recent 5⭐️ reads, but still loved it!
Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter
4.0
This was such a sweet, funny romcom! I’ve definitely handed in my certification for certified Lynn Painter stan status
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
5.0
My first read for 2024, and I could not have had a better start! If I could give this book 6 stars I would!
Sarah’s writing has the ability to draw emotion from me from start to end. I remember looking down at 10% and thinking “wow I can’t believe how hooked I am to this story, this character (Raeve) already!” - and again at 20%, and every percent beyond that I fell more and more in love with the world S.A.P was building.
The world building is the best kind of insane, coming from someone with aphantasia who is unable to form mental images. The characters are so beautifully fleshed out and unique.
The way the layers all unraveled through the story? I was desperate to keep reading and devastated that I will now have to wait!
I am so greatful for the opportunity to receive this ARC, it is a MUST READ. All thoughts above are my own though!
Sarah’s writing has the ability to draw emotion from me from start to end. I remember looking down at 10% and thinking “wow I can’t believe how hooked I am to this story, this character (Raeve) already!” - and again at 20%, and every percent beyond that I fell more and more in love with the world S.A.P was building.
The world building is the best kind of insane, coming from someone with aphantasia who is unable to form mental images. The characters are so beautifully fleshed out and unique.
The way the layers all unraveled through the story? I was desperate to keep reading and devastated that I will now have to wait!
I am so greatful for the opportunity to receive this ARC, it is a MUST READ. All thoughts above are my own though!
The Queen's Shadow by Alexandra St Pierre
5.0
“If freedom is a place without you, I would sooner take the cage”
Alex blessed me with an early early ARC of this behemoth masterpiece and all I can say is THANK FUCKING GOD because I couldn’t take another day of not knowing what was happening to my babies.
She’s LONG but I couldn’t tell you one but that didn’t end up being SUPER important in the end. Every little thread has either woven together beautifully or set up something anxiously awaiting the next book.
If you were a fan of the Rycon/Kasha dynamic in book 2, this book is for you!!! Rycon just continues to be the GOAT and almost every line that made me laugh out loud came from his mouth. If it wasn’t him, it was Jeremy. Alex’s mind seems like a really fun place when you read these two lol.
The biggest surprise of the book for me was how much I LOVED some of the side characters. No spoilers but if I don’t get the backstory for one of them I’m personally showing up to Alex’s house to force her to write it for me.
The writing has such poetic moments but also total badassery moments and will have you feeling some type of way.
It feels like a satisfying ending after the absolute CLIFFY of the last book, whilst also setting you up for the beginning of book 4 so well.
Alex, I love you, I love this world, thanks for bringing me into it with you and giving me all the spoilers along the way.
Sooooo….. when’s book 4 coming?
Alex blessed me with an early early ARC of this behemoth masterpiece and all I can say is THANK FUCKING GOD because I couldn’t take another day of not knowing what was happening to my babies.
She’s LONG but I couldn’t tell you one but that didn’t end up being SUPER important in the end. Every little thread has either woven together beautifully or set up something anxiously awaiting the next book.
If you were a fan of the Rycon/Kasha dynamic in book 2, this book is for you!!! Rycon just continues to be the GOAT and almost every line that made me laugh out loud came from his mouth. If it wasn’t him, it was Jeremy. Alex’s mind seems like a really fun place when you read these two lol.
The biggest surprise of the book for me was how much I LOVED some of the side characters. No spoilers but if I don’t get the backstory for one of them I’m personally showing up to Alex’s house to force her to write it for me.
The writing has such poetic moments but also total badassery moments and will have you feeling some type of way.
It feels like a satisfying ending after the absolute CLIFFY of the last book, whilst also setting you up for the beginning of book 4 so well.
Alex, I love you, I love this world, thanks for bringing me into it with you and giving me all the spoilers along the way.
Sooooo….. when’s book 4 coming?
Enemies With Benefits by Roxie Noir
4.0
This was such a fun, spicy little romcom that took me by surprise!
The banter was top tier, the two main characters had a rivalry for the ages. I think the lead up into the first “encounter” between them felt realistic and full of natural tension.
The characters had good chemistry and I think that’s down to good writing. The plot unfolded well with no overly dramatic turns of events - everything felt like it could have been a real story.
I enjoyed this more than I expected and would definitely pick up others in the series!
The banter was top tier, the two main characters had a rivalry for the ages. I think the lead up into the first “encounter” between them felt realistic and full of natural tension.
The characters had good chemistry and I think that’s down to good writing. The plot unfolded well with no overly dramatic turns of events - everything felt like it could have been a real story.
I enjoyed this more than I expected and would definitely pick up others in the series!