theverysleepygirl's reviews
232 reviews

Help needed by Olyve Grey

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

charming, quick small town romance about a hotel owner that is way too kind and the grumpy man she ends up hiring. i loved this but it was too short to be significant to me, which makes my technically 3.5 rating round down to 3. had so much fun with it tho and would have been a higher rating if it were longer. still, im def going to check out some of this author’s other work bc i really liked this.

Lipstick & Camera Clicks by D.J. Murphy

emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? No

4.0

 THIS BOOK STRESSED ME OUTTT

Lipsticks & Camera Clicks is a romcom (?) about Indigo, who ends up on a dating show torn between falling for the bachelor and her childhood friend, who’s also one of the producers.

It’s advertised as a love triangle but tbh, to me, I found that her final pick was pretty obvious from the jump. That might be bc I checked spoilers for that first though because I tend to dislike love triangles. However, it is not lacking in messiness I’ll tell you that much.

I was going from pulling my hair to giggling between chapters it was insane. But it was SO MUCH FUN.

Indigo was such a great lead to follow. She was witty and clever and just so relatable, even throughout the messiness, which is why I stuck beside her through thick and thin.

Though this is advertised as a romance, I’d like to point out that there is a really big focus on self-discovery and realization weaved throughout the narrative that deserves its flowers. Indigo goes through so much not just in terms of realizing who she wants to be with with, but to come to terms with her own feelings and make choices that would make HER happy.

AND RIVER. BROOOO RIVERRRR.

Had me giggling every time he got on page. The one liners in this book were insane like some of these made me gasp.

Overall a great read. Loved it sm. I can’t wait to see more of this world again! 

Loveound by K.K Day

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing 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

I loved this story it was so much fun. The chemistry with Griffin was just chef's kiss and I loved literally everything about of their relationship. The villains were a little cartoonish but it was all in good fun. This book does not at all get the hype that I know that it deserves.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity

Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

 Small Gods of Calamity is a beautiful, heart splitting novella about forgiveness and retribution. I honestly can’t even begin to describe how much it touched me. I did not expect it to hit me so deeply. 

 

The root of this horror-fantasy is rooted in Korean culture and folklore as it pertains to occult communications with the spirits. This was a new perspective for me to explore, and was so interesting and compelling to read about. Sam Kyung Yoo’s titular character Kim Hang-il, a police department detective that can commune with spirits. He’s more of a loner, as he’s an outcast at the police station for being “strange.” He’s an outcast within the entire spirit community too, due to his terrible past with attempting and failing, at successful exorcisms. 

 

I loved peeling off the layers to his character, especially as we began to form the connecting threads between his actual personality, his backstory, and the perception of the people around him. I believe that something that definitely added to it was Kyung Yoo’s atmospheric writing. Every emotion was nearly palpable, and almost visceral to read about. There is a consistent thread of melancholy to the story that hit me really hard, but also a kind of sense of hope at the end that made me literally sob. The shining moments here were in the interactions between Kim Hang-il and the people around him, which progressed and shifted as he dived deeper into the case, and himself. 

 

I will say that this story is pretty okay in the mystery aspect. Though we do have a sense of intrigue in trying to paint the full picture behind the case we’re following, I’ve found that most of my interest was based in understanding the perpertrator’s character than  the actual steps of the investigative process. The whole discovery aspect was pretty clear-cut and uncomplicated. On the other hand, the horror aspect? Absolutely TERRIFYING. I have no choice but to mention the writing again because it did such a good job of amplifying the supernatural nature of what these characters were facing. 

 

Nevertheless, I am more of a character person at the end of the day, so that did not bother me.This book hit me so hard, I finished it in the span of hours. This is definitely an amazing read, that I can see myself recommending to anyone with an ear. 

 

Thank you to NetGalley, and Interstellar, for providing me with an eArc copy in exchange for an honest review! 

Morgana and Oz Volume One: A WEBTOON Unscrolled Graphic Novel by Miyuli

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-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

3.0

 

I devoured this in a matter of hours. 

 

The story follows Morgana, a witch, who accidentally turns a vampire into a cat. When this fact is paired this with the fact that witches and vampires are sworn enemies, this accident does not spell well (pun not intended) for the tensions between both groups. 

 

As this is the first comic, there is more of a focus on developing Morgana and Oz’ characters respectively. More so Morgana, and I loved seeing her story. She is such a compelling, charismatic character to read about. I really liked the way the author conveyed not only how her struggles with magic made her feel, but the way that her family contributed to it and shaped the way she thought about herself. Her and Oz had such a great dynamic. 

 

On the mystery plotline I personally didn’t find anything that stuck out to me, but I’ll barely count that as feedback because, again, it’s just the first volume. Without spoiling it I’ll state that it does end on a semi-cliffhanger/revelation. 

 

I can see myself continuing the series specifically for Oz and Morgana, just because I loved them so much here. 

 

Thank you to NETGalley and Webtoons for giving me an eArc copy in exchange for my honest review! 

 

Lady Eve's Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

 

I am obsessed. I am utterly, and completely, enraptured, with this story. It has everything. Hidden Identities. High Tech Ballroom Scenes. Forbidden Romance. I can’t say any more that the pitch doesn’t already sell you on: a sapphic sci-fi romcom about a con artist falling for her target’s sister… need I say more?  

I will. 

Fraimrow’s novel is a delicious blend of revenge, tension and, most importantly, heart. Our dear Lady Eve (legally Ruth Johnson) is on a mission to scam a young heir for his money as revenge for breaking her sister’s heart and leaving her without a father for her soon-to-be-born child. Unfortunately, her sister’s ex’s sister seems to be onto her... and into her. 

Fraimrow’s character work was just amazing. I was immediately invested in Ruth’s story, and the love she felt for her sister was literally pouring from the page. Their relationship was so funny and fun to read about, especially the “Best Sister in The World” thing, which was so sweet. I especially think it was cool to see the way that their relationship was contrasted by the rather quiet, yet still loving nature of the siblingship between Esteban – the target – and his sister, Sol. Their situation is rather complicated due to the implications behind the status of their family, but there is still a kinship there that can’t be destroyed. 

Now, Sol and Eve absolutely killed me. Massacred me. Crushed me. Fraimrow knows how to write banter, and how to write it well. Every interaction between them had me literally screaming, because of the amount of chemistry between them.  They played off each other so well, it was insane. 

Even in the plot and worldbuilding department, this book did what it needed to do. I was at the edge of my seat trying to discover what was going on the entire time that Ruth was, and I have to admit that that buildup and climax was incredibly satisfying to read about. My greedy self would have liked a little more at the end to see how our characters took everything, but I say this about every 5-star read. 

I almost couldn’t believe I was reading this book because of how perfect the premise was, and really look forward to exploring more of Fraimrow’s work. For now, I’ll be buying a copy ASAP and re-reading it over and over. Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk, and to NETGalley as well as Solaris for providing me with an eArc copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

3.0

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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

I love this book so much that I finished it in 3 hours. Need I say more?

I will. 

The Last Phi Hunter follows Ex, a monster (Phi) hunter on the quest to obtain the title of Something Slayer (sorry guys I have shit memory), which can only be achieved by defeating an ancient demon. He is on his way to a witch for her aid when a pregnant woman named Arinya saves him from a rough beating. She manages to convince him to escort her to meet the witch (by showing him a hefty pouch of money). The story unravels as Arinya's secrets do, thrusting Ex into the middle of a conspiracy that forces him to not only consider his feelings for his latest companian, but motivations behind his journey as a hunter.

The writing was incredibely well-done, as was the world-building which unveiled a unique magic system. There is a hiearchy to the spirits that roam their world, eventually graduating to demons, based on karmic energy. Themes of reincarnation and restorartion are weaved throughout, and intertwine with the characters' identities in such a beautiful way (I nearly cried). 

The pacing was, to me, was perfect. Especially in the relationship between Arinya and Ex, which nearly made me tear out my hair at times but genuinely made me so happy for most of the time. There are also glimpses of friendship between Ex and side-characters that I found especially sweet to read about. I'll admit here though that I would have liked a bit more on Arinya, especialy a chapter in her POV. It would have added to the format that splits the chapters between Ex and the occasional insight of a side character that eventually becomes significant.

This book had it's moments: the epic ones, the funny ones, the emotional ones... and I ate every single one of them up. I could not reccomend this book more. I only wish that it were longer, because there was so much material to work with, and I wasn't ready to part with Ex and Arinya just yet.

This is an amazing debut from Goldenburg, and I am ecstatic to see what more she will share with us in the future. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! 

Neighborhood Watch by Sarah Reida

funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

This is a fun, dark-comedy about a killer tearing through the residents of an affluent neighbourhood. 

I'll start by stating that I really enjoyed reading about the creative murders and exploring all the different characters within this neighbourhood, since the book switches between A LOT of POVs (I think 5?? If I remember properly). However, I found them to be way too cartoonish for my taste. Each character had a clear aspect of society that they were meant to reflect, and it wasn't delivered with any subtelty at all, which made the "bad" ones comically bad. Eventually, I did adjust to that aspect of the book and learnt to have fun with it.  

My favourite part of the book had to be guessing where the killer would strike next. I only wish that the identity of the killer had been less obvious. It was too on the nose for me, and when we got to the point where they explained how they committed their crimes, it all seemed too.. contrived? complicated? I wasn't a fan. Aside from that though, I had a fun time with the ending.

Thank you to NETGalley and Keylight Books for providing me with an eArc copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review!

Runaway Pride: A Grumpy Sunshine Romance by Sylan Young, Sylan Young

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

Boy I had the time of MY LIFEE

Runaway Pride follows Charlie, our rich girl female lead a la "Elle Woods" and her  kind-of-grumpy brother's best-friend Rick. When she realizes that her wedding to a groom that is perfect on paper is less of what she wants for herself and more what her mother wants for her, she realizes that she does not want to get married. The first chance at escape that she sees is an idling car, owned by Rick who she convinces to drive her away. This spawns the beginning of a sweet relationship, and Charlie learning to take her life back from her narcissictic mother.

Charlie was an absolute delight to read about. I tend to love her kind of character so it's not too much of a surprise, but one aspect I especially appreciated reading about was her journey to finding her own independence. Throughout the book we see Charlie confront her mother, her upbringing and figure out what she wants for herself in life. One of the biggest things she confronts, espeically with Rick, are the privileges that come with her social class. It plays a large part in her tendency to do anything to please her mother, but also in developping their romantic relationship, and I found that Young confronted that beautifully. 

Their relationship developpment was so natural, and their chemistry was effortless. It was really in the little scenes, like when Charlie catered food for his whole gym, or he carried her after a fall at a baseball game. I was blushing and giggling the whole time. 

This is the first of a series, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing how the second book will play out. I can't wait!

Thank you to NetGalley, and Sylan Young, for providing me with an eARC copy!