starrychapters's reviews
257 reviews

Loving Romeo by Laura Pavlov

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

4⭐️ This book was really good! We follow Demi and Romeo, Demi owns a coffee shop and right next door is Romeo’s boxing gym, which means ✨close proximity ✨ 
Romeo hates Demi because her family did something to him and a friend years ago, but Demi doesn’t know why he is acting like an asshole to her. As time goes on they interact more and spent more time with each other. And their feelings develop🤌 Romeo was definitely a tough guy on the outside, but he was such a sweetheart, he was also very protective of Demi. 
🤍 “What do I look like when I’m sleeping?” “You look like forever.”

🤍 “I will always have your back. I love you.”
The beginning of this book was amazing, in my opinion, but towards the end I got a little bored🫣 
I really loved both characters and their friend groups, I also really liked Laura’s writing style so I’m definitely continuing this series! 

Unsteady by Peyton Corinne

lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

4⭐️ This book was sweet!🥰🥹 Sadie and Rhys met at the hockey practice of her little brothers, after that Sadie helped Rhys with his panic attacks. They keep meeting each other at the ice rink and spending more time together. Sadie has a difficult home situation which plays a part in the relationship between Rhys and her. Rhys is a the hockey captain, who had a serious injury which causes his panic attacks. He is really sweet and is always there for Sadie even when she pushes him away. Sadie is such a strong and hardworking character, I really feel for her. Personally I didn’t connect to her as a character which made me like her less. 
The only problem I had with this book was that is was kinda insta-love? Like I expected more of a slow-burn and would have liked to see more buildup between Sadie and Rhys. I really liked the writing and how the side characters were incorporated into the story. Definitely reading the second book because I need to know what happened between Ro and Freddy. 

Come Break My Heart Again by C.W. Farnsworth

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

3.5

This arc was kindly provided by ValentinePR. Everything said in this review is my honest opinion. 

3.5⭐️ In this book we follow Elle and Ryder, they were each others first loves. Sadly Ryder had to go to prison, due to reasons we find out later in the book, while in prison he broke Elle’s heart. Seven years later, present timeline, they meet again because their friends are getting married. Which means ✨close proximity✨ We read about them finding their way back to each other. 

I think the storyline was a bit slow at first, but towards the end it went fast? To me it was a little off. The moment outside the bar just happend suddenly. I was like, okay😃
Loved how the past timeline’s added to the present chapters before! Both Elle and Ryder did show their love for each other in acts, but personally I would have just liked to read more about them connecting/spending more time together in the present chapters. 

Nevertheless I had a good time reading this book! 

Wild Love by Elsie Silver

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

4.5⭐️ Elsie Silver did it again🫡 This somewhat helped my reading slump, I read like 70/75% in one sitting! Rosie and Ford were so fun, loved their banter. I really liked Cora,  her storyline was unusual. But Ford was definitely my favorite🩷 The things this man said and did🫶 The writing was great, just like the other series. But Chestnut Springs is still my favorite🥰 I’m really looking forward to the second book in this series! 
Definitely recommend reading Elsie’s books🤗

Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

slow-paced

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

3.0

3⭐️ To me this book was alright. The storyline was interesting, but so SLOW. I really enjoyed the writing style, very similar to Sally Rooney. In the beginning I liked both Rosie and Will, but as the story went on and a lot of stuff happend, I started to dislike Rosie. I also feel so bad for Will, the dude just waited  YEARS for a girl, who wasn’t even sure about him

Why else would she marry some other dude, while everyone knows that Will is in love with her?? And when they were together, she went back to her sick husband and just left Will?? That could have been handled differently.

I do feel like this book could have been shorter and I would have liked to read about more exciting things happening.

I also think that in the ending when they do get back together, I would have liked to read more about them after that. TBH I liked Jen more.

Overall this book kinda fell flat for me, but I had a good time! 
I’m not sure if I would recommend this to everyone, it has got to be a genre you enjoy. 

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

4⭐️ Although I was in a massive reading slump while reading this book, I still really liked it! The magic system was just as interesting as in the first book. The storyline of The Shepard King and the backstory we got of him was also really cool to read about. In the first book we mostly follow Elspeth and Ravyn, but now we more scene’s of Elm and Ione, and I must say, they were ✨amazing✨ The writing in this book was just as good as the first one. Because I was in a reading slump while reading this, I didn’t pick it up much, which made me forget small details. If I the slump wasn’t present, I would have definitely given this a higher rating. Would recommend reading this series!

A False Start by Elsie Silver

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

4.5⭐️ This book was so sweet and very spicy🤭 In this book we follow Griffin and Nadia. Nadia is Stefan Dalca’s (from the previous book) little sister and he is his best friend. They met in a dirty bathroom at the bar and make out, but later find out who the other is. Griffin is a quiet broody man who lives in the mountains. Two years after the kiss they meet again, but now their proximity is much closer. 

🩷 And then she is gone. Leaving me with the light scent of sweet roses that I still remember from two years ago. That one I haven’t forgotten to this day. 

🩷 Her grin could light an entire stadium with its brightness. 

🩷 “You are the very best kind of torture, Nadia. My special brand of hell. But I want you so badly I don’t even mind the flames.”

I loved the storyline of how Nadia and Griffin got closer. This book was also much spicier than I expected lol. The tent scene where Griffin says ‘Fuck it’ omg.

At the end they split for awhile to sort themselves out, but the way they reunite and got back together was beautiful🥹

As always Elsie’s book are super enjoyable for me and she is definitely one of my favourite authors. I now have read her entire backlist and I’m looking forward to reading Wild Love!

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.75

3.75⭐️ This book was really fun! We follow Misery and Lowe who are in an arranged marriage of convenience. Misery is a vampyre and Lowe is a werewolf. The marriage is not the only thing in this book, they are also searching for a missing person. That added an interesting element to the story. The romance in this book is a slow-burn, BUT THE TENSION OMG. I did really like the romance, but I feel like there was missing something. Misery was such a funny and kind character, she made me giggle several times. Lowe, was also great, but we didn’t see much of him for like the first 100 pages. After that he did some small acts of kindness which was so cute. The writing in this book was easy to understand and enjoyable. I do feel like there was just missing something and I didn’t feel that much chemistry between Lowe and Misery… Overall I enjoyed the book and I might read more paranormal romances.

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

3.75⭐️ This book was so sweet and cute🥰 I really liked the idea of the ‘Team-up’ concept of CPS. Chloe and Warren had different upbringings, but know the fostering system well. Chloe is fostering her baby sister, while Warren is fostering his teenage brother, Luke, who is deaf. Because they can’t do it alone, CPS teams them up. Which means ✨close proximity✨ This book made me feel so happy and giddy and I just had a really good time reading it! There were just a few things I didn’t really like: Chloe and Warren’s relationship went fast and the ‘I love yous’ were also being said rather soon, so it was a bit too insta-love for me.

Also the part were Warren punches a hole in the wall, I mean it’s sorta realistic, but didn’t really seem necessary. Appreciate that he is going to therapy tho, not many male characters do that!

I think this book could have been a little longer, so there could have been added more depth and character to Chloe and Warren. Just like Out On A Limb, I really enjoyed the writing style of Hannah. Looking forward to getting my preorder of Next To You, which is the second book in this series. I would recommend this book to someone who want a cute, cheesy and short romance with close proximity!🤗

The Front Runner by Elsie Silver

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

4.5⭐️ This book was just what I needed!💚 Stefan and Mira were super fun to read about and I really loved the banter in this book. Stefan is kind and misunderstood and Mira sees that. That man is truly such a good character, some of the quotes were so well written: 

☁️ Or maybe the broken little boy in me just wants her to treat me the way she does a horse. With love. 

☁️ “You are not a pawn, Mira. You are a prize.”

☁️ He looks at me like I’m a dream come true.

I also really liked Mira, she was such a smart hardworking character. I was at the edge of my seat at the end of this book, omg. 

Honestly the only things I didn’t really like in this book was the petname ‘Kitten’ and I also thought Billy was annoying? The little bits we got of Nadia and Griffin were ✨chef’s kiss✨ and I’m reading their book soon! This book is (I think) marketed as a fake-dating romance, but that’s not very prominent, it’s more close proximity. As always Elsie slays with the writing, definitely an auto-buy author for me.