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sammytvo's reviews
616 reviews
Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“two people from two opposite worlds. he’s in the spotlight and she’s in the secret world”
Oh this is an exciting sequel that will take you for a ride with higher stakes with unexpected twists! We get to see some new and familiar faces (if you’ve read the war cross series). such an enjoyable read!
also when I said we get to see new faces, well SPOILERS INCOMING they are the exes of winter and sydney SURPRISE - Ugh the trope where the ex comes back but its two exes this time THAT DRAMMAAA
even with a whole mission and both their exes in the way, Sydney and winter are still going strong! Their chemistry is just like back in book one where its so evident in their banter and their povs like they way they just understand each other!!
overall, this was a good conclusion!! I wish we got more in the ending tho especially for winter and sydney
“two people from two opposite worlds. he’s in the spotlight and she’s in the secret world”
Oh this is an exciting sequel that will take you for a ride with higher stakes with unexpected twists! We get to see some new and familiar faces (if you’ve read the war cross series). such an enjoyable read!
also when I said we get to see new faces, well SPOILERS INCOMING they are the exes of winter and sydney SURPRISE - Ugh the trope where the ex comes back but its two exes this time THAT DRAMMAAA
even with a whole mission and both their exes in the way, Sydney and winter are still going strong! Their chemistry is just like back in book one where its so evident in their banter and their povs like they way they just understand each other!!
overall, this was a good conclusion!! I wish we got more in the ending tho especially for winter and sydney
Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire by Jehad Abusalim, Jennifer Bing, Mike Merryman-Lotze
5.0
it’s absolutely devastating how the people of palestine has been fighting for not just for their own freedom but basic human rights for CENTURIES and its a losing battle even to this day. everyone needs to read this and hear their stories and voices
as an american, i’ve never heard any news about palestine (until recently) but since this conflict has been happen since before i was born and i haven’t heard anything about it in the media/news, i recognize my privilege and the bubble i am in! i’m glad i am more educated on this and will continue to learn more! This book was eye opening
People are dying and the LEAST we can do we acknowledge that and educate ourselves.
as an american, i’ve never heard any news about palestine (until recently) but since this conflict has been happen since before i was born and i haven’t heard anything about it in the media/news, i recognize my privilege and the bubble i am in! i’m glad i am more educated on this and will continue to learn more! This book was eye opening
People are dying and the LEAST we can do we acknowledge that and educate ourselves.
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur 허주은
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow those last few chapters were a rollercoaster of emotions lowkey giving kdrama forreal
This korean historical fiction set during Joseon-era is about iseul in search for her sister who was taken by the king. This story is told with an treacherous political backdrop of a dictatorial king along with a little mystery and romance involved. The author was able to combine all these components together to create such a dynamic historical fiction story with accurate historical events that shockingly happened.
the author depicts the horror that is the rule of the dictatorship where i felt the intense energy as a reader. the author revealed that all of the brutal acts done by the king all happened in history as well as some of the characters were also actual historical figures. she also mentioned that she didn’t censor/blur any horrific atrocities of the king to truly capture the hellhole of this era. learning about this part of korean history was not just shocking but also eye opening. with the author’s message in mind “confront disturbing historical events are crucial. it is imperative to confront history because it repeats itself when ignored.” - stories like this are important to read about and to bear witness to
in a desolate environment ruled by a heinous king, there’s bit of romance which i absolutely loved!
Even though, the romance was more subplot, I still adore iseul and daehyun my pookie bears!! slowburn dislike to friends to lovers - the first time they met was very knife-to-neck tension heavy. However, a friendship develops between the two when their alliance take down the king forms. the heavy tension turned into wholesome affection for each other. The way they that solely understand each other’s traumas as well as loneliness GOT ME. they found security in each other in a hostile environment - found love in a hopeless place fr
even tho we don’t see much of iseul and her sister’s relationship, iseul’s love for her sister is evident in her constant perseverance to search and save her sister. iseul’s character development was also evident throughout this book. from spoiled daughter to resilient sister
even though we don’t see much of issuel’s sister suyeon,, her journal entries were impactful where she voices her feelings of the burden of being the eldest daughter.
overall, i wasn't expecting this book to be so impactful and grateful to have the opportunity to experience this story.
Wow those last few chapters were a rollercoaster of emotions lowkey giving kdrama forreal
This korean historical fiction set during Joseon-era is about iseul in search for her sister who was taken by the king. This story is told with an treacherous political backdrop of a dictatorial king along with a little mystery and romance involved. The author was able to combine all these components together to create such a dynamic historical fiction story with accurate historical events that shockingly happened.
the author depicts the horror that is the rule of the dictatorship where i felt the intense energy as a reader. the author revealed that all of the brutal acts done by the king all happened in history as well as some of the characters were also actual historical figures. she also mentioned that she didn’t censor/blur any horrific atrocities of the king to truly capture the hellhole of this era. learning about this part of korean history was not just shocking but also eye opening. with the author’s message in mind “confront disturbing historical events are crucial. it is imperative to confront history because it repeats itself when ignored.” - stories like this are important to read about and to bear witness to
in a desolate environment ruled by a heinous king, there’s bit of romance which i absolutely loved!
Even though, the romance was more subplot, I still adore iseul and daehyun my pookie bears!! slowburn dislike to friends to lovers - the first time they met was very knife-to-neck tension heavy. However, a friendship develops between the two when their alliance take down the king forms. the heavy tension turned into wholesome affection for each other. The way they that solely understand each other’s traumas as well as loneliness GOT ME. they found security in each other in a hostile environment - found love in a hopeless place fr
even tho we don’t see much of iseul and her sister’s relationship, iseul’s love for her sister is evident in her constant perseverance to search and save her sister. iseul’s character development was also evident throughout this book. from spoiled daughter to resilient sister
even though we don’t see much of issuel’s sister suyeon,, her journal entries were impactful where she voices her feelings of the burden of being the eldest daughter.
overall, i wasn't expecting this book to be so impactful and grateful to have the opportunity to experience this story.
Dishonestly Yours by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"hoax" and "guilty as sin?" by taylor swift HELLO these are phoebe and rocky's songs!!
the con artist life in this book was giving anna delvey!! And I love it!! It was definitely a new direction that i wasn’t expecting from kbr
the story mainly follows two best friends phoebe graves and hailey tinrock running away from their conning lifestyle and trying to live a more honest life.
personally, it took me a while to get into the story because of the large cast especially with keeping track of who is who and who is related to whom. once i figured it out, i was LOCKED IN!!
anyways i enjoyed the overall story!! The book introduces readers to a exciting world of cons with faking identities, and stealing from the rich - definitely shocking moments during their cons that i made my jaw drop like truly did not expect kbr to write this. the web of this world is tangled but its slowly unraveling and i'm excited to read more!
SPOILERS INCOMING
i love the characters and their own different personalities.
hailey - where she has a goth style which is reminiscent of kinney hale, but she is also the genius in the family like a mix of rose calloway/garrison.
Hailey !!! I love her! Her loyalty to her loved ones and overall strength made me adore her so much.
phoebe and hailey my two girlies
i wish we got to know the characters more as well as their relationships with each other but book was more plot-focused and its understandable that we don’t truly understand each character bc of their other fake alias mixed in.
the rest of the cast is introduced later on in the book. i wish we got to meet them sooner to establish a sense of attachment/familiarity for me (or better character building) because towards the end of the book, there’s a huge plot twist involving the group. The plot twist was still surprising but it would’ve been more impactful if I had a better connection with some of the characters as a reader or at least the group dynamics
this book involved the marketing of found family and I see the idea of it but I wish it was more emphasized. However, I understand this is still the first book to the series and that the story is just developing.
i wish there was a tw warning in the beginning of the book of the content.
tw: assault mentioned
Happy Place by Emily Henry
5.0
∞/5 stars
Wow it's like Emily Henry took a piece of my soul and put it in this book. I found my people. harrietwyn the yearning the angst the passion with fake dating and second chance. actually i can honestly say this is one of the best second chances i've read like the pen emily henry writes is INSANE
gravity - sara bareilles
we can’t be friends (wait for your love) - ariana grande
i wish you would - taylor swift
gold rush and mirrorball - taylor swift (wyn's songs)
my heart feels so overwhelmingly full. i truly felt the love that harriet and wyn have for each other that my heart actually hurt at times (so many times)! their love is so vast. I also felt the love between the girls and the friend group. the friendship in this one has becoming one of my favorites! they really are each other's family
Harriet and Wyn are both so personal to me not just as a couple but also individuals. With Harriet, I just feel so SEEN with her! her need to belong, her family dynamics, and overall her as a character. For Wyn, I fell in love with him. I just empathize and relate with him as a character. At first, he was such a gold rush character but much to my dismay he’s mirrorball coded like how can I not love him.
the irony that this book is called happy place but i cried so much reading it - if that Emily henry’s goal she won
Wow it's like Emily Henry took a piece of my soul and put it in this book. I found my people. harrietwyn the yearning the angst the passion with fake dating and second chance. actually i can honestly say this is one of the best second chances i've read like the pen emily henry writes is INSANE
gravity - sara bareilles
we can’t be friends (wait for your love) - ariana grande
i wish you would - taylor swift
gold rush and mirrorball - taylor swift (wyn's songs)
my heart feels so overwhelmingly full. i truly felt the love that harriet and wyn have for each other that my heart actually hurt at times (so many times)! their love is so vast. I also felt the love between the girls and the friend group. the friendship in this one has becoming one of my favorites! they really are each other's family
Harriet and Wyn are both so personal to me not just as a couple but also individuals. With Harriet, I just feel so SEEN with her! her need to belong, her family dynamics, and overall her as a character. For Wyn, I fell in love with him. I just empathize and relate with him as a character. At first, he was such a gold rush character but much to my dismay he’s mirrorball coded like how can I not love him.
the irony that this book is called happy place but i cried so much reading it - if that Emily henry’s goal she won
You, with a View by Jessica Joyce
3.5
a fun roadtrip romance with strong plot and emotional sentimental kick. noelle and theo are the cutest
ghost - justin bieber
marjorie- taylor swift
keep driving - harry styles
photograph - ed sheehan
ghost - justin bieber
marjorie- taylor swift
keep driving - harry styles
photograph - ed sheehan
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
5.0
this book
I ATE THIS UPPP!! not only was the banter between Nora and Charlie TOP TIER but the way they just understand each other was everything! Two grumps but each other’s sunshine “a sunflower finding its light source”
also love the sisterly bond with libby and nora!
"nobody gets me" by sza
"new romantics" and "you are in love" (taylor's version) by taylor swift
I ATE THIS UPPP!! not only was the banter between Nora and Charlie TOP TIER but the way they just understand each other was everything! Two grumps but each other’s sunshine “a sunflower finding its light source”
also love the sisterly bond with libby and nora!
"nobody gets me" by sza
"new romantics" and "you are in love" (taylor's version) by taylor swift
Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
4.0
rubiam stole the show for me!! the way liam loves ruby will forever be my roman empire
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
5.0
liam you are so loved by me !! didn't love that ending tho
we can't be friends by ariana grande
matilda by harry styles
timeless by taylor swift
we can't be friends by ariana grande
matilda by harry styles
timeless by taylor swift