teeclecticreads's reviews
292 reviews

With You Forever by Chloe Liese

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emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

This might be my favourite Bergman book yet

Rating: 5⭐️

Chloe did her big one when she wrote these men but I think Axel might be the man for me. I loved seeing him throughout the story constantly try to push past his autism and general stand-offishness to show Rooney what she meant to him. Rooney is also so much like me it’s wonderful. From our shared intestinal issues to our warmth to our eager, excited, competitive nature, I was eating it all up and it meant a lot to me seeing a character who I could relate to find love. 


I don’t see IBS/IBD written in as many chronic illness fiction, and even less so romantic fiction, but this was so so so well-written. In fact I got teary-eyed for the moments where she struggled because I know that pain and frustration. The details, inner dialogue, worries, insecurities were all there and felt like my loved experience and I’m grateful.
Black Disability Politics by Sami Schalk

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5.0

So well written. I’m glad to be a black, disabled person learning about the people who paved the way.
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The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

5.0

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Avon Books for both an eARC and a physical ARC of this book.

Amazing! Gimme 14 of them right NEOOWWW!! I LOVED this entire story and I’m not someone who reads a whole ton of fantasy, especially not ones based on actual existing religions. It was so captivating to read about this FMC having an inner conflict as she tries to decide between being obedient and doing what she’s always known to be true or staying true to herself. The romance was sizzling hot too! I love a man who yearns 😭 and along with the friendships, the climax, the discoveries and the surprises sprinkled in, I seriously need a second book. 
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This is me Trying by Ashley Vargas

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Not only is this cheesy, but the writing is not great. I’m so over this “sad, insecure girl” trope where the FMC constantly goes on about how “plain” she looks and “why does he even like me anyway? I’m not pretty”. Not for me.
This Love by Lotte Jeffs

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
First DNF of the year. This has the exact  essence of Normal People and I hated that book. This whole style of two characters who seem to have so many troubles yet lack substance, unhealthily dependent on each other with a bunch of trauma and difficult tropes to read is not my cup of tea. Also, why is no one mentioning the adult/minor relationship in this book? It’s a fair trigger warning because that’s gross.
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Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It started strong and gave me a lot of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” meets “The Silent Patient” energy. The writing is great and I was invested in the story. However towards the end it got very confusing and a lot of plot holes kept popping up. I didn’t understand the ending at all. It bordered completely unrealistic.
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Puck & Prejudice by Lia Riley

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adventurous emotional funny informative mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Puck and Prejudice was really a delightful read for me because while it was set in a fantastical plot involving time travel, it didn’t feel absolutely ridiculous or absurd. The juxtaposition of both the centuries felt just the right amount of confusing that it was believable.

Lizzie is such a well-developed FMC. She’s delicate, shy, and proper while simultaneously resolute, determined and open to exploration (in all senses lmao). I also like that Tucker is this big, brooding tough guy that immediately softens when it comes to her.

The side characters were all great additions to the storyline and the pacing was quick in a way that showed the urgency of the matter. The only thing that was silly was the fact that they kept mentioning not wanting to disturb the balance of past and future but continued to talk about aspects of the future casually. Putting that aside, it’s still a fun read.
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Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

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emotional funny 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

5.0

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, NetGalley and Chloe Liese for giving me an eARC of this book.

I’m such a Chloe fan and though I’m new to the world of the Wilmot sisters, I am so tremendously excited to read the other books if they’re anything like this one. I have no proper words to express how much I revelled in this love story. As a chronically ill young woman who has often worried about feeling like too much and undesirable, these tender stories remind me that disability doesn’t exclude us from a love that feels safe, tender and worth the inconveniences. 

I love the juxtaposition of someone so bubbly and outspoken like Juliet with someone so quiet and pensive like Will as he tries to get out of his shell and be the man for her. Major swooning. Also sue me but I’m soooo glad that
there was a HEA because I really didn’t need any miscommunication or third act breakups. I just wanted to escape and I’m glad I did.


I was up at 3 am reading and giggling, and I’m ASEXUAL! Chloe did her big one, as usual.
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Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly

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informative

5.0

Liz Pelly has gone into such detail to fully discuss and expose the hidden agendas of one of the biggest music streaming companies in the world. As a Spotify user and a lover of music myself, I was so intrigued by all the information she presented and I am definitely more conscious about how I stream my music and contribute to a system that has for years allegedly brought detriment to the livelihoods of so many artistes and musicians.
Under The Mistletoe With You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones

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adventurous emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Christopher and Nash’s love story is such an important one in queer romance. A bisexual man and a gay man falling in love, with one being trans isn’t a story we often get, and I’m glad this one did it so well. They were so tender with each other in a way that I long for as a chronically ill person, without illness being the main focus of it all. 

All of Chris’ friends and family brought the story so much humour too. Shaz, Kit, Haf, Ambrose and Laurel (I hope I spelled these right because I listened to the audiobook) are so frigging funny. The book would’ve been incomplete without all their input. Such a lovely Christmas read.

My only issue was
Nash's avoidance in telling Chris he was leaving because that could’ve avoided some of the heartache.
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