soverthetop's reviews
85 reviews

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

This slightly spicy workplace romance was SO unbelievably cute. Lucie, a single mother mechanic who has a serious lack of a love life, meets Aiden, a romance hotline radio host who's fallen out of love with love, after her daughter calls the radio station hoping Aiden can help Lucie find love. This Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from B.K. Borison was absolutely adorable. I loved both Lucie and Aiden and reading along as their love story unfolded was such a fun journey! While there weren't too many spicy parts, the ones that were there were SPICY and very tastefully written. Can't wait for the next book in the Heartstrings Series!

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Super quick read (only took me about half an hour to read) with some cute moments but I wish it was developed a little more. Felt very "trendy" if that makes sense? And a lot of the plot development was WAY too quick for my taste. Love all of the tree puns and fun facts though.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional funny tense fast-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? N/A

5.0

It's weird. It's queer. It's got aliens. It made me cry. It made me crave bacon. It made me want to find love.

It may possibly be my favorite book I've read this year and it's only February. This was my first TJ Klune book and oh boy, am I obsessed. "The Bones Beneath My Skin" is a wonderful story about found family with a bit of a science fiction twist. Set in 1995, we follow Nate Cartwright, a recently disgraced journalist who just lost both of his parents after years of no contact between them. Following their deaths, Nate is given their summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon. But when he arrives at the cabin with the goal of starting his life over, he runs into a small problem: people are already living there. 

Inside the cabin is a gruff man named Alex and a strange young girl named Artemis Darth Vader who has an affinity for western books and graphic tees. 

Nate is whisked away on an adventure full of beings from another world, epic chase scenes, and a whole lot of bacon, all while finding love in a place where he never expected to find it. 

This science fiction queer love story has many of my favorite tropes, including grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers, and found family. This book was an absolutely incredible read that touched me to my core and I fully believe that everyone should read it. 

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

This book moved me in ways I didn't expect. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and it made the story seem that much more immersive. I really felt like I was on Everest with Jon. I found myself doing extra research about the events of 1996 on Everest (and other facts about Everest in general) while I was listening because I wanted to know more. This was a book recommended to me by a friend as part of the "read 12 books recommended by 12 friends challenge" and I'm very, very glad this one was recommended! Shout out to my friend Casey! This book was interesting because I personally could never see myself climbing Everest (I simply think I am not built for that) and I never really understood why other people would want to, but this book offered a unique view into the thoughts and feelings of people who wish to conquer the mountain and the lengths they take to get there. The book also shows how unrelenting nature can be and how quickly the weather can take a deadly turn. 

Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was such a fun thriller! I love thrillers that have enough clues laid out throughout the story that I am able to figure out who the killer is just before the other characters! I very much enjoyed reading this one and I sped though it SO quickly! I thought the relationships between the characters were extremely realistic (especially as someone with three siblings). I found myself at the edge of my seat with every single twist and turn. The reveal of the killer was incredibly written and I almost couldn't turn the pages fast enough! So glad I bought this book on a whim one day! 

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

So I did not like this book. I didn't like any of the narrators except for Abbi and she had the shortest narration time. I'm realizing I don't think I like books about cults because they make me so angry. Like how a very educated woman could continuously make such stupid choices upset me so much. I understand she was a victim and she was manipulated, but as a journalist covering the "organization," she had to have known that "Ray" was being charming and sauve for a reason. Even after Willow died and Kate seemed to have gotten a little snapped out of it but STILL STAYED. It was very frustrating. The kidnapping plot at the end left me very very annoyed. An FBI agent would not use a 16 year old girl as bait, especially without telling her family first. Also??? No one thought to investigate the CULT she was covering/getting into when she disappeared. Nobody thought to investiagte the people she was going on retreats with????Plus what was up with the death threat on the forum?? The author literally never addressed that. Also what happened to the other woman who was going to leave with Kate? The plot holes and the annoying characters really brought this book down for me.

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

adventurous inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I fear I am incapable of rating any of Rick's books lower than 5 stars. This might legitimately be my favorite book series of all time, not because they are high art or the answer to all of life's questions, but simply because they feel like a visit with an old friend. This one especially because it felt like hanging out with people you haven' seen in a long time. I re-read the first ten in the series last year and I'm excited to read through the next ones this year for the first time. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are THE trio and it was fun to read a "low stakes" quest while Percy dealt with typical high school senior things like homework, swim teams, and college applications. 

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful. In every lifetime, Arden and Evelyn love each other and in every lifetime, they kill each other. This is a story about a tragic love that lasts for an eternity, a fate that transcends time itself. It is beautiful and stunning and so so lovely. I let this book devour my soul in less than 5 hours, and it will stay with me for a lifetime. Steven's work is phenomenal and the interwoven moments of past lives throughout the present day story were gorgeous and heartbreaking.  Reading this book was like an embrace from a lover. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be angry, you will gasp, you will sob. You will feel love. 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book has been on my TBR for a long time and I finally read it and it did not disappoint! Cannot recommend enough going into classic books with little to no knowledge of the book. What I knew before jumping into this book was there was a "creepy" painting and queer subtext and wow was I stunned. There is a moment in chapter 13 (if you've read the book, you know what it is) that left me stunned because somehow I had no idea it was coming, despite the book being well over 100 years old. I loved this novel and I desperately wish Oscar Wilde had written more than one. Now I will have to read through his short stories and poems! I thought the book was a beautiful commentary on the human relationship with vanity and how slippery a slope it can be from appreciating oneself and being a narcissist. A wonderful read that I will recommend to all of my book-loving friends! 

Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-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

4.0

Read this entire book in less than 12 hours! It was really, really cute! Gave it a 4/5 only because there was some kind of repetitive miscommunication, like the same issue over and over, but I loved the characters (although Harper was a little Too Relatable with his abandonment issues) and how they eventually got over those communication issues! It was enemies to lovers (a trope I adore) with some open door romance scenes that were just spicy enough to give the story some kick! Even if you aren't a fan of F1 (or are newer to the sport like me!), this cute little queer sports romance is sure to keep you speed reading to the finish line!
Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Harper360 for my copy!