spellygirl's reviews
498 reviews

If You Say So by Megan Reinking

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Such a sweet story, considering it involved some rough topics, especially while dealing with grief in the last year myself. 

I think it dealt with it in a respectful way, though I haven't dealt with this specific things myself, so grain of salt and all. 

I enjoyed the setting, and liked that it's fade to black. 

The first 20% ish felt a bit slow to me, but that might be entirely on me. 

It didn't suck me in in like a "omg I have to read this in one sitting!!", but I did absolutely enjoy it, would recommend it and will read book 1 at some point.

I recieved this as an ARC for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Grief

Moderate: Physical abuse

Hannah and the Hitman by Vanessa Vale

dark funny medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Not what I expected, and not sure how I feel about it. Definitely more on the unique side though.

Private Property by Skye Warren

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

Best Kept Secret by Skye Warren

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

Strict Confidence by Skye Warren

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

Anti Hero by Skye Warren

4.0

The Bribe by Devney Perry

challenging hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Stalking

Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder

Minor: Animal death, Pregnancy

The Write Time by Allie Samberts

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Firstly, if it didn't contain these tropes, my rating would be vastly different

child free with surprise pregnancy

.

I did generally like the MC's, and Olive was cute enough. I could easily forgive Iris loving Olive after getting to know her. I did like the chefy storyline.

However. Incoming rant:
I absolutely despise the

"child free woman who doesn't like kids, meets one kid, is automatically a great parental figure. Falls pregnant and suddenly absolutely loves kids". Person on the fence about it? Meh. Still not a fan, but fine. Whatever. Person who does 't want them? Just no. Loving Olive in particular after getting to know her and becoming her step mom? Fine. That I can forgive. 

I know things weren't perfect and stuff, but I still despise it. 

If you don't mind that, you'll probably love this book. I will still give the next book a chance, since I've enjoyed the rest of the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy

Skyggedalen by Viveca Sten

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident