thebookishmechanic's reviews
275 reviews

Caught Up by Liz Tomforde

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.5

I wanted to love this book and to be completely honest I might have loved it more if I had done the physical instead of the audio. Alex Kydd did not do it for me, his voicing female characters made me cringe at times and he often did this laugh thing that took me out of the story every time. Honestly it gave me the ick. 
Kai was a loveable character, once womanizer turned dad who would give up everything for his kid? I’m in. 
Millie was honestly TOO relatable for me, her character arc and struggles were oddly parallel to some of my own life experiences. Not many people know this about me but if I wasn’t a mechanic I would probably be a baker. 
Overall I found the story to be enjoyable but at times I felt like it dragged on and I would lose interest. The last 10% of the story was extremely emotional and had my eyes watering while I was at work. 

I’ll definitely continue reading the series. 

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book emotionally destroyed me, I loved every second of it. 

A book has never made me cry like that before. 

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

l've been putting off writing a review for this book for days, not because I didn't enjoy it, but because I did, so much. 

Enchantra had me in a chokehold from the very first page and unlike Rowin, it left marks. The characters are incredibly lovable, and the descriptions create such vivid imagery that I felt completely immersed in the story.

I rarely stay up late reading, but I couldn't put this book down. I was completely obsessed.

Rowin is everything I look for in a male love interest. it felt like Kaylie Smith had a checklist of all the traits I adore. Vivi was such a relatable and sassy character to follow, she brought so much to the story. It always means the world to me to read about plus size characters that are comfortable in their skin but are also desired. As a plus size girl I find this representation to be so important, I felt like Kaylie did a fantastic job with the portrayal. 

It’s been weeks since I’ve read this book and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I'm already eagerly anticipating the next book.

Thank you Second Sky Books for the

ARC it was such a joy and the highlight of my March reading.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

4.0

Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

Not Safe For Work - Nisha J. Tuli

Once again, Nisha has completely won me over with her lovable characters and immersive writing. As a romantasy reader first and foremost, I don’t typically gravitate toward Romance only books. I often find them lacking that extra something to keep me fully invested. However, this slow-burn romance where both characters are clearly obsessed with each other but too stubborn to admit it grabbed me from the very start. There were moments when I found myself genuinely giggling and kicking my feet, and others when I was yelling at my kindle, begging the characters to get their act together. If you’re a fan of the only one bed trope and love a good slow burn, you’ll devour this book.

As a woman working in a non-traditional role within a male-dominated industry (I’m an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer), it was incredibly refreshing to see this experience portrayed with such honesty and accuracy. Nisha has shared that this story is deeply personal to her and based on her own experiences as an engineer. Personally, I believe the only way to change the narrative in these fields is to talk about it, share these stories, and learn from them. So, thank you, Nisha, for sharing this part of your journey. 

Thank you Nisha, Read forever and netgalley for this advance review copy. 

Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Let me start by saying that when my friends mentioned they were considering reading a book featuring a female Hercules. A female Hercules? Are you kidding me?! You have my attention. Then they told me it was a reverse harem, and I was completely sold.

Alexis, hooked me right from the start with her self-deprecating humor and sarcastic wit. Her sometimes silly comments only made her more relatable and endearing, and I found myself attached to her and her story. The male leads each brought something unique to the table, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with them as well.

If you’re a fan of the deadly trial or magical academy tropes, this book is a must-read. The crucible, where the story unfolds, is the perfect blend of both, and it delivers one of the slowest burns I’ve ever read. Honestly, there were moments where I was practically begging for the romance to heat up, but trust me, it was absolutely worth the wait.

I’m officially obsessed, and I will be begging the publisher for an ARC of the next book. What do you want from me? A kidney? My soul? I’d even offer a firstborn if I had one

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book was not good, but I will read the next one. It was like the author said to herself “how many tropes can I include?”, while also using her thesaurus a lot. 

I enjoyed it. 

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5