thebookssmuggler's reviews
107 reviews

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

"It's the ache of wanting something so badly, you will throw yourself down a flight of stairs if you can't have it. It's the ache of wanting to risk everything for the smallest chance at something. It's the good kind of ache." 🙌💖 

This was the best Christmas rom-com I have read and my new favorite book 😭🥰. I read The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun last year and it became part of my top 5 of 2021; hence why I've been SO excited for the release of Kiss Her Once For Me, from the moment it was announced ☺. AND OH MY GODDESS! It didn't disappoint at all! The combination of cliche rom-com tropes worked so well with this setting and characters. I am not the biggest fan of instant-love but oh! How it worked here 😭👏. 

The lessons on self-discovery, identity, family and found family, building your own future, hope and love: the queer (DEMISEXUAL REP LET'S GO 🤭💜) and mental health representation; and the beautiful romance! 🥺❤ I adored this book. Every second of it. It's taught me so much and seeing myself represented in different instances was a wonderful experience. I thought I wouldn't have enough time to read this book but I started it two days ago and finished it already. IN MY DEFENSE- it's amazing! I couldn't stop reading. 10/10 would recommend ⭐

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? N/A

4.25

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

4.0

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious fast-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? N/A

4.75

Flip the Script by Lyla Lee
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.

I wasn't feeling the writing and it was going too slow... too much filler stuff.

Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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? N/A

4.5

The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

4.25

The Feeling of Falling in Love (the perfect title for this book, btw) tells the story of Neil, a trans boy who finds himself in the middle of a fake dating trope when he has to take his roommate, Wyatt (the sweetest person in existence), as his +1 to his brother's wedding, because his previous date, Josh (and the guy he is friends-with-benefits) has just confessed he is in love with Niall 👀🤭... 
 At first, Wyatt (correctly) thinks Neil is acting like a jerk, but when they get to LA, Wyatt sees a little more of where it's coming from: his family history and childhood of neglect and transphobic relatives. Slowly, Neil and Wyatt begin to understand one another… and maybe, just maybe, fall in love for the first time. 

There's enough drama, heartbreak, fluff and falling-in-love to enjoy 💕😍. The rom-com format is incredibly well written, Mason Deaver did a wonderful job with his characters, tropes, storylines and lessons. A love story about the bad decisions we sometimes make and the people who helps get back on the right track 🥰🧡
 

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

wow, wow, and WOW! Action-paced, suspenseful, mysterious, captivating and gripping: this is my favorite kind of book. I loved every second of this novel, the complexity behind every character (Black and queer main characters), the details and intricacies in the well-designed storyline, the unpredictable and jaw-dropping plot twists and revelations in the turn of every page, and the themes of racism, elitism, white supremacy and homophobia. A solid 10/10. I am OBSESSED.

Ace of Spades is a YA thriller that will intrigue you and have you reading non-stop once you begin. It is just SO well written and developed. I can't stop recommending it and literally gasping about it. This one is definitely taking a spot in my top favorite reads of 2022. I am completely fascinated, Faridah did an incredible job for her debut novel. A dark academia novel that deals with racism mixed with a badass female lead too. I loved this book. Can't wait to read the author's next novel as well!