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thesummerbaker's reviews
355 reviews
Sunday Morning by Jewel E. Ann
4.0
Ooph this book made me cry ugly tears. This was a brutal story for me and triggered some religious trauma. However it was also somewhat healing. Sarah finding her voice, choosing herself, struggling with god, finding love, experiencing soul crushing grief - it felt painfully familiar but I also found solace and healing in the pieces I related too. Gosh it makes me feel raw inside. The feelings, the questioning, the insecurity while being sure of what you want - so accurately written.
There were a few tropes in this book that typically cause me to DNF a book but I needed to read this story. If tropes are spoilers for you don’t read past this.
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There’s cheating in this story in multiple different relationships and scenarios at different levels and severity.…it’s typically an instant DNF trope for me but this story was so compelling and relatable in other aspects that I couldn’t put it down.
There were a few tropes in this book that typically cause me to DNF a book but I needed to read this story. If tropes are spoilers for you don’t read past this.
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There’s cheating in this story in multiple different relationships and scenarios at different levels and severity.…it’s typically an instant DNF trope for me but this story was so compelling and relatable in other aspects that I couldn’t put it down.
Clarence Manor by Devney Perry
4.0
Did I just binge this book in one night? Yes. Yes I did. There is so much going on in this book. So much to process and follow but it’s all beautifully written. There’s something compelling about a story about love that is also about individuals struggling to find their way out of darkness, pain and grief. This book was not what I expected but I loved it!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
One way ticket to Earth by Daniele Vaccaro
4.0
This book is around 30 pages. The book felt a little slow in the beginning, I was curious where the author was going with it, what message they were trying to convey about death, the afterlife, reincarnation, heaven, etc. Then BAM. Last paragraph had me bawling. Message conveyed. Heart broken and healed. I feel like I still need to process it but damn. I was not expecting it to affect me like it did. 😭❤️
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
5.0
This book is flipping brilliant. Rachel Gillig is a genius. This duology was flawless. I’m obsessed. The ending was everything. The journey to the end was riveting, engaging and beautiful. Ravyn, Elm, Ione, Jespyr, Elspeth…..they are everything. This story grips you until the very end. This is a duology I already wish I could read for the first time again. Wow.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
5.0
This story….this world….this magic. Is so insanely unique and fascinating and cool. The dystopian theme runs deep but even that is different and new. What a gift to be able to dive into a story this beautifully written. The relationships, the romantic subplot, the deceptions, the betrayals run deep and keep you engaged and locked into this story! Wow. So so good.
Delicate Escape by Catherine Cowles
5.0
First of all. The found family in this series is second to freaking none. It gets me in my feels the whole book. Broken, hurt, beautiful, loving people coming together to find family and healing and love. It’s so beautiful.
Shep & Thea…where to even start. They. Are. Everything. Thea ran away to Sparrow Falls to get out of a verbally, emotionally, abusive relationship. She kept her distance from almost everyone to protect herself.
Shep is smitten by her. This is a true “he falls first” situation and she keeps him at a distance as best she can until he proves that he is safe. He’s so patient and reassuring of her.
She sees him…sees how his past affects how he shows up for his family but won’t let anyone show up for him. She speaks life into him.
Tropes you will find cinnamon roll/golden retriever x black cat, roommates to lovers, best friends brother, small town, hidden identity, woman on the run with a healthy dose of touch her and 💀vibes. Throw in some heroine in danger, mystery to solve, a hilarious grandma, a giant cat and all the small town vibes and you get this glorious book. So so good!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Shep & Thea…where to even start. They. Are. Everything. Thea ran away to Sparrow Falls to get out of a verbally, emotionally, abusive relationship. She kept her distance from almost everyone to protect herself.
Shep is smitten by her. This is a true “he falls first” situation and she keeps him at a distance as best she can until he proves that he is safe. He’s so patient and reassuring of her.
She sees him…sees how his past affects how he shows up for his family but won’t let anyone show up for him. She speaks life into him.
Tropes you will find cinnamon roll/golden retriever x black cat, roommates to lovers, best friends brother, small town, hidden identity, woman on the run with a healthy dose of touch her and 💀vibes. Throw in some heroine in danger, mystery to solve, a hilarious grandma, a giant cat and all the small town vibes and you get this glorious book. So so good!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles
5.0
What the heck? This book is amazing and insane. I had a running list of who I thought the villain was and goddammit I was so freaking WRONG! The absolute best…I am obsessed. It is unpredictable and the reveal and twists at the end shocked me!
This book is about 2 people who have gone through immense tragedy. One alienated themselves from the world while the other surrounded herself with color and found family. Neither allowed themselves to get fully close to someone else until each other.
This is grumpy x sunshine to perfection. They help the other heal. Rho didn’t give Anson a choice. She was persistent, she was present, she held space for him the same way he did for her. They way they tell each other how the feel about the other. The way their POVs show you what they think and feel is impeccable.
Her found family is a hilarious mashup of a carrying mom, a hilarious grandma and a group of kids with troubled pasts that found safety with the Colson’s. Adore it. Love the different personalities…so excited to read their stories next.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book is about 2 people who have gone through immense tragedy. One alienated themselves from the world while the other surrounded herself with color and found family. Neither allowed themselves to get fully close to someone else until each other.
This is grumpy x sunshine to perfection. They help the other heal. Rho didn’t give Anson a choice. She was persistent, she was present, she held space for him the same way he did for her. They way they tell each other how the feel about the other. The way their POVs show you what they think and feel is impeccable.
Her found family is a hilarious mashup of a carrying mom, a hilarious grandma and a group of kids with troubled pasts that found safety with the Colson’s. Adore it. Love the different personalities…so excited to read their stories next.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
The Spider & the Storm by Kelsey Kingsley
5.0
Good freaking lord…..I cried the last 25% of this book. No joke cried the whole damn time. This book will absolutely demolish you then stitch it all back together. But not in a “we’re happy everything is smiles and joy” but in a “grief is real, life sucks but sometimes we find pockets of healing and growth and happiness throughout” kind of way. Wooh. Goodness. LOVED it! 😍😍
Written from the male POV is such a cool take. Especially with Charlie’s story. The way Stormy was made for him - her empathy, her aesthetic, her effortless patience, her love…after his hard life he deserved something good.
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Written from the male POV is such a cool take. Especially with Charlie’s story. The way Stormy was made for him - her empathy, her aesthetic, her effortless patience, her love…after his hard life he deserved something good.
🌶️🌶️
The Legend of Heart Mountain by K.C. Lynn
4.0
You want a feel good, sweet, precious, heart warming love story between two best friends? This is your book! Ellie and Gunnar are so wonderful together! 😍😍😍
🌶️🌶️
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Finding You by Amy Clipston
2.0
While the characters and story are cute it felt kind of disjointed at times. Lots of repetitive themes and descriptions. The way it was written in 3rd person and switched back and forth between the characters made it hard for me to follow at times. I wanted more character development outside of the two of them and that felt lacking for me.
It’s sweet and I’m sure it will be a lot of people’s cup of tea it just wasn’t for me - gives major hallmark movie vibes.
It’s sweet and I’m sure it will be a lot of people’s cup of tea it just wasn’t for me - gives major hallmark movie vibes.