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sdupont's reviews
551 reviews
emotional
funny
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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s just banger after banger with this series!! Stephanie just knows her way around a hot hockey romance. I love a marriage of convenience and this book really delivered on the right about of tension- first based on hate and then on denial of feelings. Honestly this book gave some imgonnagetyouback vibes. Alexei is a hot af, he’s grumpy and standoffish but will also make you dinner and tuck you in. He does it all. Georgia is a badass. She is strong and fierce and passionate. I loved seeing her coach up the young girls. They really were a match. I just loved watching their relationship evolve as they became more trusting and opened up with each other. Petty revenges turned into sweet acts of service. I ate it up. Let’s not forget the messages through the flowers! Plus this book was hot, the spice was delivered. Their passion and intensity added to the scenes. Honorable mention to Alexei’s parents who were the sweetest and all the scenes with the Storm family. This book perfectly balanced the fun of hockey romances with the tension and emotion needed for a quality marriage of convenience between enemies.
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical content, Classism, Deportation
Minor: Toxic relationship
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought this book was going to pack more of a punch than it did. They weren’t really enemies but rather verbal sparring partners- they both took too much joy in it to be enemies. I also found the pacing in this one to be off. While I guess is was a slower burn, the tension didn’t build up enough for me. It was maybe too subtle. I liked Miller, we love a caretaking babe. While I liked Kit, I feel like she did not address or work out her unhealthy dynamics with her mother and sister. I feel that needed more time and dedication to showcase her character growth. Unfortunately this one did not hold up to what I expected. I still recommend this story if you are looking to dip your toe in a forbidden-ish romance as this one is low stakes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief
Minor: Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Teagan always delivers a fun and flirty hockey romance! I enjoyed this book, I breezed right through it. Fox is a babe. He is sweet, kind, and thoughtful. He clearly shows his love and affection even in the small ways (the mugs!). Fox can call me sugar any day. Our girl Lilah is a little battered and bruised but still strong, smart, and fierce. Fox is exactly what she needs- gentle love and affection. I enjoyed watching them fall in love. While most fake engagement books offer up shenanigans I think this story was done right without the sideshow. As always, I love the found family aspect of a hockey romance. The team really rallies and razzes each other in the best way. I recommend this if you’re looking for a quick and easy romantic read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had mixed feelings on this book. On the one hand it starts off with such lightness and fun chemistry between Xavier and Samantha. The rest of the book proceeds to be this long distance love affair. I didn’t expect the characters to be apart for the vast majority of the book. I knew there would be challenging elements considering Samantha’s mom’s dementia diagnosis but I thought there would be some moments of levity to balance it out. Xavier and Samantha’s distance wore them both out, especially with Xavier working himself to the bone. I just didn’t see how realistic or relatable that was. The ending felt very sudden and rushed in comparison to the slow pace of the story overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Infidelity
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
Ana Huang always delivers an action packed anxiety (and a little bangxiety) inducing slow burn. You can immediately see and feel the tension between Ayana and Vuk from the beginning of the book. I really enjoyed seeing her chip away at his perceived standoffishness. I enjoyed that this book offered multiple plot lines and conflicts for the characters. Once they did get together, Vuk was a man obsessed. We love a man than will do literally anything for the woman he loves. These two offered up all sorts of passion (hello spice) in addition to the strong emotional pull. Honorable mention to Sean the lowkey unsung hero of this book- intrigued by him and would love more of him. I did like the teaser scenes for the next book between Maya and Sebastian. I recommend this book for fans of Ana’s other works or mafia romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
While the plot of the book intrigued me, both sisters are insufferable. I couldn’t get invested in the story because of how awful they each were. Neither could see the other’s unique grief of losing their father. I unfortunately didn’t have it in me to continue on reading to see a future resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent
emotional
funny
reflective
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
I feel like I need to rewatch the early 2000’s Mandy Moore classic Saved! This book was super entertaining, I read it practically through in one sitting. Our girlie Riley is going through it and having to go to a weeklong church camp is not helping matters. Over the course of the week Riley is forced to reckon with her feelings towards the Church, the pastor (who happens to be her bestie’s dad), and the fallout with her community after her sister’s abortion. Riley is so strong and fierce. I enjoyed seeing her personal growth and acceptance of the gray areas. Honorable mention to the friends formed with the other girls at camp. Everyone really showed up and showed out for each other in the end. Also, I appreciated the sisterly love and bond between Riley and Hannah. They early would do anything to support each other. The friendships were my favorite part of the book aside from Riley’s personal journey. Fans of I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston will enjoy this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Abortion
emotional
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
BRB need to go listen to The Roof (Back in Time). This book screams Mariah Carey, Tommy Mottola, and Derek Jeter (iykyk). While the description of the book plays off that there is a PR relationship between Ella and Miles, that isn’t really the case. They lean into their brief chemistry by filming a music video. I expected more of a relationship based on the description but instead we saw them naturally dancing around one another until they succumbed to their desires. So despite the misrepresentation, I did enjoy the romance between Ella and Miles. Miles is so tender and sweet. He is earnest and patient with Ella. Both are a little skittish in their own ways (rightfully so!) but slowly open up to the other. I do wish we saw Ella work through her traumas and insecurities a little more. Her grand revelation was rushed and didn’t feel as realistic for the character. I do feel that this book could’ve benefitted from a dual POV, it might have helped build up the tension between the two characters that at times felt that is was missing that swoony swept up feeling due to their distance. Aside from that I did enjoy reading their love story. I recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Mariah’s memoir.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I could not put this book down! I was immediately engaged with the story from the jump. I loved being able to see all the facets of Wilder in this story. He was a beautifully complex character. We were able to see such growth for him personally and romantically. His struggles with mental health were written so well as was his journey to self management. Delilah was clearly his perfect match. She understood him in ways others didn’t. She was the grounding and calming presence he needed. On the flip side he was exactly what she needed as well- someone who did the caretaking for her, someone who let her be fun and carefree. Their timeline was sped up once they flipped the switch from just friends but it suited their characters and development. I really enjoyed this book- it offered up an emotionally deep romance that also did not hold back on the spice. This cowboy romance is perfect for fans of a Vegas wedding or brother’s ex trope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Self harm
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse, Violence