taliabasma's reviews
661 reviews

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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 truly enjoy basically everything by Bailey. It’s always a good time. I loved the MCs this book and the climax was dynamic without being cliche. 

I will say it felt a tad longer than needed but I enjoyed it the whole way through and finished it within 2 days so lol

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

3.75 to 4 as I really did enjoy this book’s plot, but sometimes the writing style was not my vibe. That said, I really enjoyed the character development on Mika as well as how all the side characters still had “personality” beyond being there.

The love between Mika and Jamie was almost middle grade with how bashful they were but I enjoyed it regardless. It was sweet. And of course all the other characters at Nowhere House were delightful. I will say the name Terracotta was maddening. 

I truly admired the layers of Mika’s relationship with Primrose and the layers to Primrose herself. I love the dynamic and complex nature of Primrose as well as her relationship with Mika. I think it was very well done and captured the very human nature of not trauma but how we cope with our negative experiences in life. 

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Content Warnings

Neglect

Walking Red Flag by Morgan Elizabeth

lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I can’t remember much of anything but I remember liking it when I read it last month. 

Anyone but the Billionaire by Sara L. Hudson

funny lighthearted relaxing 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

3.75

I really enjoyed the main characters, chemistry, and growth with each other, but I do feel that certain plot points of the book were either too slow or too rushed. I feel like the final resolution was in the epilogue, which I would never do the fact that the book would not have answered a lot of questions. That is why I feel that that should’ve just been a last chapter. I am excited to read book 2 though, so hopefully the ending ties up a bit better and I can give it a 4! 

The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran, Michael Lennington
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

I feel I got what I needed lol it became redundant and wasn’t as example/specific oriented as I’d have liked

Flirtation or Faceoff by Leah Brunner

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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

3.75

It had 2 references to woman eating like rabbits/“just salads” that I really don’t think are necessary in this day and age. Plus, I felt the climax was a bit odd,

why does she “trust” her cheating ex in regards to her man cheating on her when he’s had a crush on her for a year. I think finding the info from anyone else would have been better. Also she had her ex’s number saved after 7 years??? Hard unlikely LOL

That said 15% into the book I was grinning like a fool. I loved a lot of their banter and her gram’s personality. 

Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa

3.5

I really liked the main characters honestly and I loved watching Dash deal with his alcoholism in a realistic and healthy way in this romance, as opposed to some romanticized version of what being sober looks like. That being said, I did kind of get bored near the end of the book and had to push through to get the rest of the way as there was a little bit of a lull and repetition at the 70-80% mark. 

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed reading Yara’s journey however, it was so frustrating throughout the whole book, which I’m sure was the author’s intention anyway so in that regards, she was successful at making me feel the frustration that Yara felt as she tried to break free from the chains of her trauma. 

Had I not been reading this for a bookclub, I would’ve stopped ages ago - not because the writing was bad, but because I hate reading anything that isn’t a romance lol

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Racism and Islamophobia

The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan

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

4.0

I enjoyed the mix of the magic world and reality but I did get frustrated with the lack of communication / both MLs failing to just properly talk  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Marry My Husband by sungsojak

dark emotional 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

4.0

I appreciated the MLs growth and connection throughout the story. I was watching PMR when I was reading this and they are so similar with the FML set up/general plot but I liked that this was the FML setting up her "bff" with her ex as she also made more friends. The office setting was well done (I feel office romances can go really well or fall flat).