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sophiehatters's reviews
1002 reviews
The Lateral by Jamie Bennett
ah, jamie bennett’s works are always so special to me. i know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, and some of them could be a bit formulaic, but they hit it for me every single time. i loved ember, and as always with jamie’s heroines, i felt for her so badly. she’s been through so much that you just want her to be happy, you know?
i also liked some of amber’s quirks which weren’t overly explained, but you just immediately understood what they were all about. for instance, ember who dropped out of high school had the tendency of asking the people around her how they got their job, and what kind of schooling they had. this tidbit was portrayed as a throwaway of sort, something cute, but as a reader you know that this came from a place of curiosity—because she never made it there due to her tragic circumstances.
i liked ember’s relationship with jonah. it’s not a traditional romance i would say, but it just worked for them! overall, i really enjoyed this book.
slow-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
[…] a lateral is a throw that goes backwards or to the side, and anyone can catch it. I could, and I could score a touchdown. It's a trick play, sometimes, or out of desperation."
I thought I got it. "You're saying that's what our marriage would be. It would be a trick, because we're both desperate?"
"I'm saying that it wouldn't be what either of us expected to happen," he answered. "It would be a surprise, but it could work. We could make it work.”
ah, jamie bennett’s works are always so special to me. i know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, and some of them could be a bit formulaic, but they hit it for me every single time. i loved ember, and as always with jamie’s heroines, i felt for her so badly. she’s been through so much that you just want her to be happy, you know?
i also liked some of amber’s quirks which weren’t overly explained, but you just immediately understood what they were all about. for instance, ember who dropped out of high school had the tendency of asking the people around her how they got their job, and what kind of schooling they had. this tidbit was portrayed as a throwaway of sort, something cute, but as a reader you know that this came from a place of curiosity—because she never made it there due to her tragic circumstances.
i liked ember’s relationship with jonah. it’s not a traditional romance i would say, but it just worked for them! overall, i really enjoyed this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment
The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi
oh, this book is the very definition of a cozy romance; it’s cozy, very low-stake, and a soothing balm to the heart. i wouldn’t say the romance between aiden and saphira was slow burn—at least, their love story wouldn’t be my definition of a slow burn romance. there was an instant connection between them from the moment they met, and their relationship progressed in a way that was so seamless and easy. i loved them a lot.
i also absolutely adored all the scenes involving their baby dragon, sparky! even though the book didn’t exactly go into super, in-depth detail of the lore of the dragons in their universe, but the basics are there, and you do get some idea of how they all operate. especially the baby ones. you don’t know the amount of times i squealed seeing sparky’s antics. i sympathized with aiden’s inability to control sparky but i couldn’t help but gush at how cute sparky was during his tantrum.
i think, over everything, this book is really about finding a place for yourself in the world, getting that sense of belonging, and a little bit about navigating grief of those who have passed, alongside a cute romance with our cutest duo and their baby dragon. just perfect. i can’t wait for the next book.
thank you so much avon uk and netgalley for the e-arc. i’m so grateful.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
🩷🐉 update: 10-1-2025 🐉🩷
i just got approved for the arc!! less than a week until release is nuts, but i am so excited to dive in!
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
He paused, considering something carefully.
"Saphira?"
She held her breath. "Yeah?"
"I think you're my best friend," he said, voice quiet. Happiness spread through her.
"You're my best friend, too," she said. "It's strange-we haven't even known each other for that long, but it feels like I've known you forever.
"I feel the same way," he told her. "Like there's no version of me that existed before knowing you.”
oh, this book is the very definition of a cozy romance; it’s cozy, very low-stake, and a soothing balm to the heart. i wouldn’t say the romance between aiden and saphira was slow burn—at least, their love story wouldn’t be my definition of a slow burn romance. there was an instant connection between them from the moment they met, and their relationship progressed in a way that was so seamless and easy. i loved them a lot.
i also absolutely adored all the scenes involving their baby dragon, sparky! even though the book didn’t exactly go into super, in-depth detail of the lore of the dragons in their universe, but the basics are there, and you do get some idea of how they all operate. especially the baby ones. you don’t know the amount of times i squealed seeing sparky’s antics. i sympathized with aiden’s inability to control sparky but i couldn’t help but gush at how cute sparky was during his tantrum.
i think, over everything, this book is really about finding a place for yourself in the world, getting that sense of belonging, and a little bit about navigating grief of those who have passed, alongside a cute romance with our cutest duo and their baby dragon. just perfect. i can’t wait for the next book.
thank you so much avon uk and netgalley for the e-arc. i’m so grateful.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
🩷🐉 update: 10-1-2025 🐉🩷
i just got approved for the arc!! less than a week until release is nuts, but i am so excited to dive in!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
The Love Interest by Helen Comerford
2.75
if you’re looking for a romance book, then this book isn’t for you. romance is pretty much, secondary, or dare i say, tertiary in this book. and whatever we got was very lukewarm and wasn’t properly developed. jenna went from wanting nothing to do with blaze, to wanting to kiss him in three seconds flat. so random.
anyway, if you’re looking for a short superhero fun, with quite the interesting world building then by all means, go pick up this book!
anyway, if you’re looking for a short superhero fun, with quite the interesting world building then by all means, go pick up this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexism
Sticks and Stone by Grace McGinty
3.0
this book was not bad. unlike the threads of fate, this one actually made you feel more connected with the characters. i always like it better when characters don’t immediately jump into bed with each other.
Shouldn't Have Come by Sloane Sabel
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
the way she acted would have worked if she had known the demon intimately, but they had just met, and she literally just saw the road he had just paved in blood. please be serious right now. i'm not going to patronize those who enjoyed this book, though. i guess this book could be enjoyable if you just wanted porn without a plot.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
three words. mind numbingly stupid.
i'm sorry, but i had to put this down after 21% because i just could not believe how the heroine was acting. on the surface, this book has all the recipes that would make me glued to my seat: single pov to add to the suspense and mystery, four certifiably insane heroes that intrigue me just as much as they terrify me, and witchcraft. however, one thing started to become clear as i slowly progressed with the book.
the heroine has a serious case of tstl syndrome. she was, for the lack of a better word, stupid. her reaction to the depravity around her? yes, king. please eat me out right now! it just made no sense. you could argue that i am being ridiculous to expect realism when i picked up this genre on purpose, but come on. irregardless of the genre, i need my heroines to at least have common sense. no human being would react the way she did. when it comes to dark romance, i just prefer it better when the heroine has reasonable amount of fear at first.
i'm sorry, but i had to put this down after 21% because i just could not believe how the heroine was acting. on the surface, this book has all the recipes that would make me glued to my seat: single pov to add to the suspense and mystery, four certifiably insane heroes that intrigue me just as much as they terrify me, and witchcraft. however, one thing started to become clear as i slowly progressed with the book.
the heroine has a serious case of tstl syndrome. she was, for the lack of a better word, stupid. her reaction to the depravity around her? yes, king. please eat me out right now! it just made no sense. you could argue that i am being ridiculous to expect realism when i picked up this genre on purpose, but come on. irregardless of the genre, i need my heroines to at least have common sense. no human being would react the way she did. when it comes to dark romance, i just prefer it better when the heroine has reasonable amount of fear at first.
"I stammered out a breath and bobbed my head wholeheartedly. Fuck the moral dilemma of wanting to fuck the monster who literally hunted me. Who'd killed--no. For all I knew Evelyn had killed Isabella."
the way she acted would have worked if she had known the demon intimately, but they had just met, and she literally just saw the road he had just paved in blood. please be serious right now. i'm not going to patronize those who enjoyed this book, though. i guess this book could be enjoyable if you just wanted porn without a plot.
Tangled Threads Of Fate by Grace McGinty
3.0
this book was an easy, fast-paced read. i can understand why some readers would feel like the story is shallow—especially with the characters. i personally didn’t really feel attached to them. they formed bond (lusty ones) with each other so fast that it felt off. there was no chemistry. as a result, i felt less invested in them.
also, i know that nate was fine with sharing wren, and i went into this book fully knowing that it was a reverse harem. however, i felt sorry that he was pushed aside into a background character the moment wren’s love interests were introduced. he was basically a lamp with how wren treated him once prettier dicks were shoved to her face.
also, i know that nate was fine with sharing wren, and i went into this book fully knowing that it was a reverse harem. however, i felt sorry that he was pushed aside into a background character the moment wren’s love interests were introduced. he was basically a lamp with how wren treated him once prettier dicks were shoved to her face.