t0ast_and_t3a's Reviews (494)

emotional inspiring reflective 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

Another incredibly powerful story from Serle, with an utterly realistic MC and a relentlessly unapologetic story arc. There are many emotions during the trajectory of the story, from giddiness to grief to despair to uncertainty. What I find so powerful in each of the books I’ve read by Serle is how captivating they are in their brevity. We get everything we need, when we need it, and understand how it all ties together effortlessly in the end.

The Tainted Cup

Robert Jackson Bennett

DID NOT FINISH: 32%

Just couldn’t get into it. The writing was good and there were interesting characters, but the mystery aspect was a bit underwhelming.
emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional funny reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

3.5🌟
3/5🌶️
2/5♥️

A fun, holiday-filled, hallmark-esque romance with a spicy twist. While the beginning and end slowed the pace waaaay down for me (it took me three tries to get past the first chapter), the middle kept me interested enough to stay with the story. Many holiday romances just keep the holiday in the backdrop, but in this one it’s the literal premise of the story—why the characters are brought together. So, you don’t ever forget it’s a Christmas romcom. It’s a ex-popstar, current pornstar duo, dual POV, and has some pretty interesting side characters. If you’re looking for a story to disassociate for the holidays, this one is the one for you. 
emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I lost count how many times I straight up CACKLED. This is truly a top tier romcom, because it is so much MORE than the romance. You got the goofy cinnamon roll MMC, who is VERY sexy when threatening people AND when he’s spouting weird ass shit. And you have the funny FMC who you want to be friends with (and maaaaybe kinda have a girl crush on👀). And you have just an all around GREAT arc for story and characters. A+, Marlowe. A-fucking-+.

5/5🌟
5/5♥️
1/5🌶️
emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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

The right amount of romance, holiday, and mystery—and magic. I love a good grumpy MMC and a sassy FMC to balance him out. Best one of the series! 
emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A bit of a different character arc for this Bailey book, but without doubt within her usual spicy romcom genre. I really enjoyed the story and characters, but I almost wanted it to be longer, for it to have a bit … more. It was a bit too insta-love for me (this is a personal preference, of course, and not my favorite trope) and the pacing was a bit fast. But it was a a quick, entertaining read aside from that.

3/5🌟
3/5♥️
2/5🌶️
adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A wildly fast-paced story with well-thought out and realistic characters. This is my first Pargin book, and I picked it up for book club. But I don’t regret it. It was weird, but strangely thought provoking, because wow, does Pargin know how to build characters—some you agree with and many you don’t. The themes are heavier, but there’s a good spin on it that is both true to storytelling and the reality of what Pargin was going for. As for imagery, there is so much visualization to go from, and the story is packed with action—from important dialogue to actual on-page intensity.

I didn’t know what to expect going in, but ended up liking it.