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theromantasynerd's Reviews (82)


This is the second book in Elsie Silver's debut small-town interconnected standalone series - Goldrush Ranch. It follows Violet Eaton who happens to be the sister of the guys from Silver's Chestnut Springs series. 

Two years ago, Violet had met Cole Harding online on an NSFW website. They had gone from being complete strangers to flirting and chatting everyday over a period of one year, developing a strange friendship... and more. Until one day things went downhill and drove them apart. 

These things were supposed to remain anonymous and in the past, until Cole shows up in Violet's town, Ruby Creek and to make matters worse, they're forced to share the same roof. This proves to be the ultimate test of their undeniable attraction and things left unsaid in the past. 

The banter between Violet and Cole was incredible. The texts they sent each other while they chatted online — damn, Cole has a smart mouth! And even their present day conversations only proved that the grumpy x sunshine trope never misses 🙌🙌. 

The slow burn had me hanging by thread because the chemistry between these two was like a live wire, waiting to be touched. And when that tension burned... it was absolutely explosive!

Cole is a former soldier and has wounds from his past that he's not ready to confront. His previous relationship and family history have left him scarred and with too many walls. He thinks he's too broken to be loved. The portrayal of PTSD in this book is so raw and real that my heart broke for Cole and all I wanted was to give him a hug and tell him that he is worthy of all the love and adoration in the world.

But Violet and also Trixie did that for me. Helping Cole face his demons and showing him that he has people in his life who love him despite his past and all his battle scars. The book was so sweet and healing. I love a good 'I can fix him' trope when it's done well and this book delivered that in the best possible way. 

Read if you like:
- grumpy x sunshine
- small town
- strangers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers
- broken boy/i can fix him
- forced proximity 
- hate to love
- touch her and i'll kill you

If you're a fan of danmei novels, you need to read this book! Legend of The White Snake is a standalone YA Romantasy re-imagining of a Chinese floktale. It follows the story of a prince named Xian and a stable boy named Zhen. 

When Prince Xian was a boy, a white snake bit his mother, condemning her to a slow, painful death. The only known cure can be found from the rare white snake itself. Determined to save his mother, Xian travels to the city of Changle to find and capture the white snake.

In Changle, he encounters an enigmatic but beautiful stable boy named Zhen. The two are immediately drawn to each other, but what Xian doesn't know is that Zhen is the very white snake he is hunting. As their feelings grow deeper and secrets are revealed, their relationship is put to the ultimate test forcing Xian to make a decision that could make him lose both his mother and the love of his life. 

The build up of the relationship between Xian and Zhen was so sweet. The way Xian is obsessed with him from the first moment they meet, the companionship they gradually develop, the 'who did this to you' moments, their incessant flirting and slow-burn — it was all incredibly fun to read. 

But there was also betrayal and heartbreak to balance those happy emotions and make this book an absolute page-turner. The progress of the plot was not too rushed and successfully built up the right amount of anticipation.

I read the book in one sitting because with all the twists in the story, I needed to know what would happen. The ending almost left me devastated until it didn't. Xian and Zhen are so dear to me and they deserve all the happiness in the world.

I so wish the book was just a little longer and gave more time exploring the characters. Although it seemed well balanced between plot and character development, I was craving to see more of Xian and Zhen throughout. 

My heart! This was such a cute and heartwarming read 🥹💗💗. I can't stop raving about this series. I know we're only two books into it, but I've loved them both SO MUCH. 

There was a lot I didn't expect in this book from the characters and their backstories and it made me fall absolutely in love with them! Everything about this was so cute, emotional — a fantastic slow burn, a lovely found family, and incredible mental health representation, which Lauren Asher does best. 

The story was engaging, and the characters were wonderfully developed with impressive growth throughout the book. The communication between the characters was handled very well, making their interactions feel genuine and heartfelt. I especially liked the role of Nico in the story, which added an extra layer of depth and warmth.

The pacing was perfect, and the length allowed for a more in-depth exploration of the characters' issues and their journey towards a healthy relationship. Ellie and Rafael had significant mental and emotional hurdles to overcome before they could be together, and I appreciated that Lauren Asher took the time to address these issues properly. 

The relationship between Nico, Elle, and Rafael was beautifully portrayed, and it even made me teary-eyed at some points. Their bond felt genuine and touching, making the emotional moments even more impactful.

Overall, this was a fantastic read that balanced emotional depth with a compelling romance. I highly recommend it!

Not in Love was so different from any of Ali Hazelwood's previous books and in the BEST way! If you’ve ever liked a book or two of hers but found them too formulaic, you definitely WON’T find that here. 

Rue and Eli were such realistic characters. Seeing their emotional vulnerability was so beautiful, yet utterly heart breaking. Rue was always so hesitant to put one foot in front of the other, but Eli was so patient with her and which made him super swoon-worthy. No matter what life throws at you, you are always going to need that one specific person to hold your hand as you navigate life's obstacles, and I truly loved watching Eli be that person for Rue. I just wanted to hug both of them as they were unpacking their personal life stories full of emotional damage.

Eli is SO OBSESSED with Rue. He literally said, “I’ll cook, clean, take care of you, love you unconditionally, and worship the ground you walk on even if i get none of that in return.” 
He looks at Rue like nothing else exists in the world. “I forget to look at other things, when you’re around.” 
He is so gentle and considerate and sweet and respectful. I can't- 😭😭🙌

Ali is mostly known for her STEM romances but this book is more than just STEM, romance, and smut —  it's about growth, forgiveness, finding love in the most unexpected places, and learning about yourself and what you are capable of. Not in Love, in my opinion, is her most standout and deepest book so far. I loved it so much!

We've been obsessed with Korean pop music, Korean skincare, Korean food, Korean makeup, and Korean dramas lately. It's time we also introduce ourselves to Korean literature. 

This book is a compilation of 25 short stories that were told through a portrait of one’s lifestyle, on friendship, love and family bond with gripping glimpses into the Korean history, culture and societal dynamic. 
Divided into 5 major parts — 'Tradition', 'Women and Men', 'Peace and War', 'Hell Chosŏn' and 'Into The New World' — it includes works by authors from various regions of Korea, reflecting a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

It has a bit of everything to showcase Korean history and modern day Korea. The stories are vibrant, moody, lingering. You’ll want to keep reading one story after another and reread them.

A few stories that I loved were — Mama and The Boarder by Chu Yosop (a single mother story told from her child's perspective; on love conflict and gender expectations), Wayfarer by O Chonghui (a psychological related story of abandonment, hope and a gripping observation on society’s prejudice) and Winter Outing by Park Wanso (a peek into the aftermath of war that was told from a woman’s perspective after a marriage conflict). 

Some stories can be quite bittersweet with their witty everyday life plot. It is a rich book to add to any literature collection and a must read for anyone that is interested in Korean culture. 

The Folk of the Air trilogy happens to be my favorite fantasy trilogy of all time. The Prisoner's Throne is the second book in The Stolen Heir duology which has as its protagonist, Oak a character that was a part of TFOTA as Jude's baby brother. He's all grown up now and this book follows his story with Wren.

The first book turned out to be a beautiful Snow White retelling and ended in a plot twist that had me desperately waiting to read the sequel. And it did not disappoint.

I absolutely love Holly Black's writing. There's something so unique about it... probably the fact that it is so whimsical, so descriptive but in a nuanced sort of way in a way that isn't too overwhelming, but also leaves the reader craving for more.

It's hilarious in the right places, often suspenseful, with an adequate amount of romantic tension and a litany of plot twists that will have your mind reeling.

I can't talk about the plot without spoiling the first book, but I will say that I loved how things came together in the end. It felt so good to be back in Elfhame and the best part for me were the Jude and Cardan cameos (the same kind of feeling you get watching katanthony in bridgerton s3). Being married for so many years hasn't changed them one bit. Their banter is always top-tier 🙌.

If you're a TFOTA fan, that should be reason enough to convince you to read this book. But even if you're new to Elfhame, I think this duology would serve as a great introduction.

I picked this one up because I really like Holly Jackson’s books and I wasn’t disappointed with this one either. It had me hooked right from the start… imagine, your mother disappearing for 16 years, only to suddenly reappear one day. Crazy, isn't it? Well, that's the whirlwind Bel finds herself in. And let me tell you, things get wild.

Bel, now 18, is understandably suspicious of her mother's sudden return. Can she really trust the woman who vanished without a trace for over a decade? 

With every new chapter, I found myself questioning Rachel's story, eagerly trying to unravel the truth alongside Bel. 

I found the story to be quite unique and entertaining with its fair share of signature Holly Jackson twists and turns. The family dynamic was raw and unpolished, full of animosity and issues. One of the highlights for me was the relationship between Bel and Carter which added an extra layer of depth to the story, keeping me invested in more than just the central mystery.

I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a story that will keep you guessing from start to finish, and have an ending that you never saw coming!

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a fast paced and hilarious mystery thriller that follows a fictional, bestselling author, Eleanor Dash, on her Italian book tour that turns into a real-life murder mystery, as her life starts to imitate the world in her books. 

It's full of humorous and quirky characters, a little romance, and a clever mystery set in picturesque Italy that takes readers behind the scenes into the crazy publishing world. 

Every character in this book is flawed in their own way that makes them all suspects in the brewing mystery. Eleanor Dash talks directly to the reader with a lot of footnotes, sometimes even breaking the fourth wall. 

There were several murder attempts in the book and a couple of actual murders as well. The mystery was also very well-plotted. The author served up plenty of twists and turns that kept both the characters and this reader misdirected. 

I think this was a great debut novel and I’m glad its adaptation rights have been picked up by Fox TV because it’ll be fun to see the beautiful summer-y vacation vibes of this book translate on screen.

Leigh Bardugo never misses. I want to inject her prose into my veins. I love the Six of Crows duology so much, so I was naturally excited for The Familiar with all its rich history and wild magic.

Despite being very different from her previous works, this book did not let me down. The two characters that surprised me the most were Luzia and Santángel. Even if their differences couldn't be greater, the way their relationship was portrayed really pitted the duo against those differences. I will remember this couple for a very long time.

The Familiar is a story about survival that has been repeated throughout generations. This book talks about cultural barriers and the impact they have on people who don't want to be a part of the norm.  

Every character in this book has a story to tell, and I, in a way, felt connected to each of them – their hunger, their greed, their aspirations, their anxieties. 
The Familiar starts out being about Luzia, but quickly turns into something bigger. 

I love a good second-chance romance. I truly do. Especially when you add in banter and pranks to annoy each other. The Co-Op gave me all that and much more! It’s the kind of book that will have you kicking your feet and squealing at the tiniest of touches. 

This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and I absolutely fell in love with her writing. It was a very enjoyable read for me and gave me a feeling of renovating a house near the beachside, with all the summer essentials (volleyball, working at a cafe, bicycling, etc.)

LaRynn and Deacon are such comforting characters and watching them rekindle their relationship was so heartwarming. The character development in this story is what truly fuels their story. The way the MCs find their way back to one another somehow by renovating a house, seeking comfort and validation within each other with the utmost amount of grace and maturity, is EVERYTHING!!

These two deserve the world. I will protect them at all costs.

read if you like:
- marriage of convenience
- enemies-to-lovers
- forced proximity
- “that’s my wife” 🔥
- grumpy fmc
- second chance
- one bed
- cute af epilogue