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stardustandrockets's reviews
365 reviews
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
medium-paced
5.0
I think this is my favorite Ali Hazelwood book yet. (Sorry Jack and Elsie. 🫣)
I really loved the exploration of how trauma (physical and emotional/mental) plays a big part in performing (in anything, not just sports). Scarlett is coming off a major injury that led to needing surgery and physical therapy. She's got a mental block. Talk therapy is mildly helping. We learn later on in the book the exact reason she has a block and it's thanks to Lukas talking Scarlett through it. We learn he lost his mom at a young age and went through something similar to Scarlett. Even if it wasn't a physical injury, grief is a powerful thing and it takes time to heal. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between Lukas and Scarlett.
That said, I don't think this was Ali's spiciest book. It was very on par with everything else she's written. Though, other than Lukas being yet another "big dick" love interest, it felt a bit less cookie-cutter than the rest of her books. But the sex scenes were very typical of Ali's writing regardless of kink exploration and power dynamics. Because aside from the exchange of checklists at the beginning of their relationship, all we really got was the power dynamics. Other stuff was lightly touched on/discussed, but not shown on the page. (Which is fine by me.)
The story was fleshed out and I felt it had more meat that some of the other STEMinist books. Don't get me started on Pen. I knew she was going to be a problem from the beginning. I'm glad things worked out and she came around, but damn. What she did wasn't right.
Overall this gets a 5 star rating from me. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to books and I think doing this on audio was absolutely the move. Lukas' voice actor was *chef's kiss* 🥰
I really loved the exploration of how trauma (physical and emotional/mental) plays a big part in performing (in anything, not just sports). Scarlett is coming off a major injury that led to needing surgery and physical therapy. She's got a mental block. Talk therapy is mildly helping. We learn later on in the book the exact reason she has a block and it's thanks to Lukas talking Scarlett through it. We learn he lost his mom at a young age and went through something similar to Scarlett. Even if it wasn't a physical injury, grief is a powerful thing and it takes time to heal. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between Lukas and Scarlett.
That said, I don't think this was Ali's spiciest book. It was very on par with everything else she's written. Though, other than Lukas being yet another "big dick" love interest, it felt a bit less cookie-cutter than the rest of her books. But the sex scenes were very typical of Ali's writing regardless of kink exploration and power dynamics. Because aside from the exchange of checklists at the beginning of their relationship, all we really got was the power dynamics. Other stuff was lightly touched on/discussed, but not shown on the page. (Which is fine by me.)
The story was fleshed out and I felt it had more meat that some of the other STEMinist books. Don't get me started on Pen. I knew she was going to be a problem from the beginning. I'm glad things worked out and she came around, but damn. What she did wasn't right.
Overall this gets a 5 star rating from me. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to books and I think doing this on audio was absolutely the move. Lukas' voice actor was *chef's kiss* 🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
This Blood That Binds Us by S.L. Cokeley
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
And They Were Roommates by Page Powars
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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
5.0
I absolutely enjoyed this book! I'm not the target audience, but Charlie was likeable and often his anxiety gave me anxiety. Knowing that he wanted to keep his head down and make it through the semester unnoticed was admirable, but I knew right from the start that wasn't going to happen.
Seeing Charlie make friends despite his best efforts was heartwarming. I was really rooting for him to realize that he was worthy of friends and didn't need to be so invisible like he thought his mom wanted. And said group of friends? I LOVE them! Blaze, the 12 year-old self-proclaimed destroyer (of worlds), was dramatic in only the way a 12 y/o can.
Finding out Jasper orchestrated them to be roommates? Did NOT see that coming. And the bookshelf? Talk about grand gesture. I love them so much!!
The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Charlie and Jasper was *chef's kiss*! One of my all-time favorite tropes! And being stuck together in a room at boarding school? Even better.
If you don't have this one on your radar, you won't want to miss it! The shenanigans are perfect and it would be a fantastic addition to any lover of love's bookshelf.
Seeing Charlie make friends despite his best efforts was heartwarming. I was really rooting for him to realize that he was worthy of friends and didn't need to be so invisible like he thought his mom wanted. And said group of friends? I LOVE them! Blaze, the 12 year-old self-proclaimed destroyer (of worlds), was dramatic in only the way a 12 y/o can.
The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Charlie and Jasper was *chef's kiss*! One of my all-time favorite tropes! And being stuck together in a room at boarding school? Even better.
If you don't have this one on your radar, you won't want to miss it! The shenanigans are perfect and it would be a fantastic addition to any lover of love's bookshelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
I Am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A huge thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review!
I have been a massive fan of Kelly Andrew's work since I first read THE WHISPERING DARK in 2023. The way she ties her disability and life experience into her books is really impactful to readers that might also be going through something similar. Generally I'm not a huge fan of body horror, but the way Kelly writes often makes me forget my fear for a second because I'm so engrossed in the story. I AM MADE OF DEATH was no different for me.
Despite this being a stand-alone book, you can tell it's still set in the same world as TWD and YBMB which I thought was nice. I love a good series of interconnected stand-alones—especially when my favorite characters make a cameo (looking at you Lane and Colton). Things that were set up in book one came more or less full circle here. Which means I'd recommend starting with THE WHISPERING DARK and ending with I AM MADE OF DEATH. That way you don't miss anything with the Easter eggs/cameos.
That said, I love the way Andrew really paints us a picture with her imagery. It's almost like we're right there with the characters going through everything with them. Which, let's be real, I don't think I'd survive in this book. 1. I yap way too much, 2. I can't fight for anything, so one punch and I'd probably be down for the count (unless I surprise myself, who knows), and 3. Thomas would have swept me off my feet immediately (though not as immediately as Colton or Pedyr—she really knows how to write a male love interest).
Thomas was an instant hit for me. Vivienne took a little to grow on me, but after learning her story and why she acted the way she did made me love her all the more. I can't imagine living with some sort of Eldritch horror inside of me. I don't think I'd have made it nearly as long as she did. Not when it felt like my insides weren't my own. But it makes sense as to why she tried pushing Thomas away; she didn't want to hurt him more than she had to. I also want to point out that the secret societies interwoven through these books is *chef's kiss*. Very Buffy. Very dark academia. VERY up my alley.
Overall, this was an absolute hit for me. It's a princess x bodyguard romance with a large dash of Eldritch horror. Andrew is the queer of lyric gothic prose and I will continue to scream about them until everyone I know reads them. Did I mention there's also two absolutely precious Dobermans that nothing bad happens to? No? Well there are. Molly and Judd are the real heroes here, lets be honest.
I have been a massive fan of Kelly Andrew's work since I first read THE WHISPERING DARK in 2023. The way she ties her disability and life experience into her books is really impactful to readers that might also be going through something similar. Generally I'm not a huge fan of body horror, but the way Kelly writes often makes me forget my fear for a second because I'm so engrossed in the story. I AM MADE OF DEATH was no different for me.
Despite this being a stand-alone book, you can tell it's still set in the same world as TWD and YBMB which I thought was nice. I love a good series of interconnected stand-alones—especially when my favorite characters make a cameo (looking at you Lane and Colton). Things that were set up in book one came more or less full circle here. Which means I'd recommend starting with THE WHISPERING DARK and ending with I AM MADE OF DEATH. That way you don't miss anything with the Easter eggs/cameos.
That said, I love the way Andrew really paints us a picture with her imagery. It's almost like we're right there with the characters going through everything with them. Which, let's be real, I don't think I'd survive in this book. 1. I yap way too much, 2. I can't fight for anything, so one punch and I'd probably be down for the count (unless I surprise myself, who knows), and 3. Thomas would have swept me off my feet immediately (though not as immediately as Colton or Pedyr—she really knows how to write a male love interest).
Thomas was an instant hit for me. Vivienne took a little to grow on me, but after learning her story and why she acted the way she did made me love her all the more. I can't imagine living with some sort of Eldritch horror inside of me. I don't think I'd have made it nearly as long as she did. Not when it felt like my insides weren't my own. But it makes sense as to why she tried pushing Thomas away; she didn't want to hurt him more than she had to. I also want to point out that the secret societies interwoven through these books is *chef's kiss*. Very Buffy. Very dark academia. VERY up my alley.
Overall, this was an absolute hit for me. It's a princess x bodyguard romance with a large dash of Eldritch horror. Andrew is the queer of lyric gothic prose and I will continue to scream about them until everyone I know reads them. Did I mention there's also two absolutely precious Dobermans that nothing bad happens to? No? Well there are. Molly and Judd are the real heroes here, lets be honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence
Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Body shaming and Sexual harassment
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
3.5
I like the overall story, but the "sexy talk" really took me out. 😖 I don't typically like sex scenes to begin with, but Luke's dirty talk??? Gross.
I liked the ADHD rep with Emmy and her sensory issues. And her journey with recovering from being thrown off a horse. But the sexual content completely takes me out.
I liked the ADHD rep with Emmy and her sensory issues. And her journey with recovering from being thrown off a horse. But the sexual content completely takes me out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Alcohol