taliabasma's reviews
828 reviews

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-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

3.0

Eh I like them as a couple but also wasn’t invested as much as I could have been I think the climax really didn’t do this couple / story justice 

The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy

funny lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

My first official Diana Quincy and ahhhhh wow 

The little Arab references (not the insults) were soooo cute and made me feel so seen. 

I also loved Rose’s general story and personality. I was HOOKED once she visited the shop on a not Wednesday (iykyk).

Roger can rot and Brandon/Alex was a stellar 10/10 book boyfriend. 

The Pussy Next Door by Amy Award

hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

2.75

I really liked Willow and I also think Hayes is a great partner for her. That being said, I think around the 70% mark I was very disappointed by the very dragged out ending. Without spoilers, I will say the plot just went from being a small town romance to eat pray, love energy.

For those of you that don’t mind spoilers I just feel like the trip to Japan while conceptually I understood the messaging around. It was unnecessary and felt very random. It completely skewed the pacing all for the café to not even matter within a couple chapters and we went from Willow being someone who is a spirited person, but in the town for the most part, not really mentioning wanting to leave as much to it being this whole conversation group oiler>
 about what they need to do as a couple to be happy and who needs to sacrifice their dreams or their goals and I don’t understand why it was such a Dramatic presentation. I feel like the message was true. I agree with the concept that a  partner shouldn’t sacrifice for the other but rather come to a healthy compromise — but the Socratic seminar set up of the scene, just felt very preachy as opposed to part of the novel’s plot and honestly, I think everything just went down downhill after the trip to Japan. It just felt very, very specific to what the author wanted as opposed to what felt natural to the scenes and energy of the books, starting set up.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Cocoa Kisses by Melanie Jacobson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.

Hmm it’s a novella and it’s not bad but it’s dragging to me rn lol

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

4.0

I was really into it but I reached the climax and it was GOOD but the *after* of the climax dragged a bit for me with all these “time jumps”. 

I think the way the ML loves the FL and the way the FL has to become more willing to be vulnerable was all beautiful and realistic 🩵

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.

I think I need a “witchy” themed break lol 

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.

Smth abt it just isn’t doing it for me personally. It’s not bad but not good enough for me to keep going/what I need rn 

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I want to give this book 5 stars and might change my mind, but this book was AMAZINGLY cute and self aware and relevant and relatable and just so good.

Why do I feel hesitant to give it 5 full stars? I might be nit picking but it’s specifically this

when the FL gets into a fight with her sister at the climax, they all center on her sister blaming her for their moms death - rough and expected fine - BUT as they work to forgive, the FL never apologized for starting it by saying it would be her sisters fault if their dad dies. It was said but the FL doesn’t even internally feel bad about it as she gripes over her sister’s words and really just ONE sentence of acknowledgement would have done wonders for this esp bc the FL is so self aware for so much other stuff

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

Hmm it’s not bad but it’s very slow and I’m kinda lost compared to book one…

Babel by R.F. Kuang
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.

Umm so for an audiobook, this won’t work for me and if I’m being very honest, it’s unlikely I will read a physical copy lol 

I avoided poppy wars bc it’s too sad/intense so idk why I thought I could take on babel. Just the name change alone hurt me esp the surname 🥲