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84 reviews
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
Quote: "my father once told me love is a lot like water. It can be calm. Raging. Threatening. Soothing. Water will be many things, but even in all its forms, it will always be water."
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
5.0
Tropes/Sub-genres featured: insta-love, magical realism, contemporary romance, time-travel, food/travel, forced proximity, he cooks for her
Final Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Absolutely. Breathtakingly. Beautiful. I genuinely have never read a more beautiful book in my life. This one holds a special place in my heart and has redefined my standards for a 5 star read 1000%!! I am genuinely heartbroken that this story is over, but so overwhelmingly happy that I had the chance to read it. It was difficult to write this review, because I don’t think I did the nuances of this story justice even remotely, but all that I can say is PLEASE go read this book ASAP!! I read this book without any other preconceptions other than the premise of the novel, and I would highly recommend that you read it this way as well!
“Love is never a matter of time – but a matter of timing”
Our story begins with Clementine, a book publicist suffering immense grief, who inherits her aunt’s magical apartment. Her aunt always told her that this apartment was a ‘pinch in time,’ but Clementine never fully believed her story until she woke up to a strange man in her living room. She realizes that Iwan is living seven years in the past, and she is living seven years in his future.
When I tell you I PURPOSELY tried to read this book slowly, because I knew that it was going to be my new favorite two chapters in, and I STILL finished it in 2 days.
Final Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Absolutely. Breathtakingly. Beautiful. I genuinely have never read a more beautiful book in my life. This one holds a special place in my heart and has redefined my standards for a 5 star read 1000%!! I am genuinely heartbroken that this story is over, but so overwhelmingly happy that I had the chance to read it. It was difficult to write this review, because I don’t think I did the nuances of this story justice even remotely, but all that I can say is PLEASE go read this book ASAP!! I read this book without any other preconceptions other than the premise of the novel, and I would highly recommend that you read it this way as well!
“Love is never a matter of time – but a matter of timing”
Our story begins with Clementine, a book publicist suffering immense grief, who inherits her aunt’s magical apartment. Her aunt always told her that this apartment was a ‘pinch in time,’ but Clementine never fully believed her story until she woke up to a strange man in her living room. She realizes that Iwan is living seven years in the past, and she is living seven years in his future.
When I tell you I PURPOSELY tried to read this book slowly, because I knew that it was going to be my new favorite two chapters in, and I STILL finished it in 2 days.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
5.0
Tropes featured: academic rivals, pessimist/optimist, forced proximity, second chance, one POV (FMC)
Final rating: 4.5 out of 5
This book follows January Andrews, a broke author with a rapidly approaching deadline experiencing the worst case of writer’s block, through her complicated path of grief – at the loss of her father – and the cracks forming around her previously rose-colored worldview. She spent her entire childhood as a romantic, an optimist, believing that love could transcend all negatives - proved by a perfect example in her parents' relationship. Until, of course, she finds out that her dad has had a secret house and a secret life with another woman while her mom was going through chemo. So what else can she do but go to Michigan and sort through and sell this secret house. Except, that she just so happens to move in next to her college rival and they strike up a bet to help them move through their writer’s block together.
I really enjoyed the character development of both January and Gus throughout this book. January was not “healed” or “saved” by Gus; she was able to separate herself from their relationship and work through the issues she was facing within herself. I feel that this sense of individuality is missing in a lot of romance books, but Emily Henry did a fantastic job of blending this with an insanely cute love story. There are parts of this book that are light and funny, such as the bet and the romantic tension that arises from living across from each other, but there are also sections that cover serious topics, like grief, dysfunctional family relationships, loneliness, and how to move through the hurt. I have seen other reviewers say they felt off about the exploration of a cult for Gus’ novel, but I think this was an interesting (and perfect) way to explore Gus’ worldview.
The way that January and Gus’ personalities balance each other was my favorite theme of the book. Not to mention the banter between the two was top tier!! This book also includes fantastic side characters like Pete, an eclectic coffee shop who makes terrible coffee, and Shadi, the hopeless romantic best friend. I felt a range of emotions throughout this book including happiness, angst, heartbreak, resentment, forgiveness, and pure enjoyment. This is likely going to be one of my favorite reads of the year!!
Final rating: 4.5 out of 5
This book follows January Andrews, a broke author with a rapidly approaching deadline experiencing the worst case of writer’s block, through her complicated path of grief – at the loss of her father – and the cracks forming around her previously rose-colored worldview. She spent her entire childhood as a romantic, an optimist, believing that love could transcend all negatives - proved by a perfect example in her parents' relationship. Until, of course, she finds out that her dad has had a secret house and a secret life with another woman while her mom was going through chemo. So what else can she do but go to Michigan and sort through and sell this secret house. Except, that she just so happens to move in next to her college rival and they strike up a bet to help them move through their writer’s block together.
I really enjoyed the character development of both January and Gus throughout this book. January was not “healed” or “saved” by Gus; she was able to separate herself from their relationship and work through the issues she was facing within herself. I feel that this sense of individuality is missing in a lot of romance books, but Emily Henry did a fantastic job of blending this with an insanely cute love story. There are parts of this book that are light and funny, such as the bet and the romantic tension that arises from living across from each other, but there are also sections that cover serious topics, like grief, dysfunctional family relationships, loneliness, and how to move through the hurt. I have seen other reviewers say they felt off about the exploration of a cult for Gus’ novel, but I think this was an interesting (and perfect) way to explore Gus’ worldview.
The way that January and Gus’ personalities balance each other was my favorite theme of the book. Not to mention the banter between the two was top tier!! This book also includes fantastic side characters like Pete, an eclectic coffee shop who makes terrible coffee, and Shadi, the hopeless romantic best friend. I felt a range of emotions throughout this book including happiness, angst, heartbreak, resentment, forgiveness, and pure enjoyment. This is likely going to be one of my favorite reads of the year!!
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
2.0
Tropes featured: grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance, billionaire MMC, possessive MMC, age-gap, boss/employee, insta-lust
Final Rating: 2.5/5
Where do I even start with this book??? I had such high hopes, and don’t get me wrong – there is a lot of potential here, but it feels overwhelmingly subpar. The relationship between Zahra and Rowan was rushed, manipulative, and toxic at times. This book is a blatant spin off of Disney’s theme park, complete with all the cliches surrounding the brand. I often felt myself cringing at the word choice and phrasing present in the way that Zahra and Rowan talk to and think about each other. Like “You weren’t supposed to work your way under my skin like venom with no kind of antidote” – really?? Who would actually say this??? It felt like most of the book was just filler and it could probably be cut to ⅓ and still not lose any key moments.
Now that I have highlighted some of the more obvious things I did not like about this book – there are a few things I did enjoy. I loved the relationship between Rowan and Ani. I know he only went to the first mentor meeting to be closer to Zahra, but his connection and the fact that he actually cared about her was evident and honestly so cute. (Sidenote- I thought it was SO messed up to remove all of the information for Zahra’s mentor group without even acknowledging the premise - it was a good cause and so douchey of him to take that opportunity away from others). I liked the idea of Brady making them work for their shares - and although Rowan's presentation was extremely predictable, I was still happy with how it turned out. There were a couple cute moments in their relationship- Rowan watching 17 versions of Pride & Prejudice because it’s Zahra’s favorite and organizing the book signing in NY- but that’s only because I lowered my standards after the first few chapters.
Overall, this book is average. I liked the idea enough that I will probably read the rest of the series eventually, but the unfulfilled potential has moved the rest of the trilogy to the bottom of my tbr.
Final Rating: 2.5/5
Where do I even start with this book??? I had such high hopes, and don’t get me wrong – there is a lot of potential here, but it feels overwhelmingly subpar. The relationship between Zahra and Rowan was rushed, manipulative, and toxic at times. This book is a blatant spin off of Disney’s theme park, complete with all the cliches surrounding the brand. I often felt myself cringing at the word choice and phrasing present in the way that Zahra and Rowan talk to and think about each other. Like “You weren’t supposed to work your way under my skin like venom with no kind of antidote” – really?? Who would actually say this??? It felt like most of the book was just filler and it could probably be cut to ⅓ and still not lose any key moments.
Spoiler
On top of the lackluster writing, there were soooo many contradictions throughout the book - like Rowan basically declaring he loves her, but then saying he wants to keep it casual. Organizing a book signing by her favorite author and taking her on a spontaneous vacation to New York, just to then tell her he was just using her to pass the time and getting close to her was a mistake while she’s in the hospital? Please. To me, Rowan messed up way too many times, gave half-hearted apologies, and Zahra forgave him way too quickly for the severity of his indiscretions.Now that I have highlighted some of the more obvious things I did not like about this book – there are a few things I did enjoy. I loved the relationship between Rowan and Ani. I know he only went to the first mentor meeting to be closer to Zahra, but his connection and the fact that he actually cared about her was evident and honestly so cute. (Sidenote- I thought it was SO messed up to remove all of the information for Zahra’s mentor group without even acknowledging the premise - it was a good cause and so douchey of him to take that opportunity away from others). I liked the idea of Brady making them work for their shares - and although Rowan's presentation was extremely predictable, I was still happy with how it turned out. There were a couple cute moments in their relationship- Rowan watching 17 versions of Pride & Prejudice because it’s Zahra’s favorite and organizing the book signing in NY- but that’s only because I lowered my standards after the first few chapters.
Overall, this book is average. I liked the idea enough that I will probably read the rest of the series eventually, but the unfulfilled potential has moved the rest of the trilogy to the bottom of my tbr.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
5.0
Final Rating: 5/5⭐️
This story follows Nora, a workaholic literary agent, and her sister Libby, a bubbly soon-to-be mother of three, through a month-long trip to Sunshine Falls, NC where they intend to experience all of the tropes of a typical small-town romance. While there, Nora runs into Charlie, a brooding editor from her agency back in New York, who ends up working with her on an important project.
What can I even say?? This book was SO good. The pace, the love story that develops between Charlie and Nora, the relationship between Nora and Libby, the humor, the plot twists, the FEELING - ugh everything was just *chefs kiss* perfection. There is nothing I didn’t absolutely love about this book. The storyline interconnects in the best ways, showing that however lost you may feel in your feelings, you are not alone - there is always someone who will be willing to understand and support you. I was pleasantly surprised by how much depth the characters had and the exploration of their own internal struggles. The story pushes and pulls our MC's apart in surprising ways, but the tension between them is palpable; not to mention, the witty banter is TOP TIER. I found myself actually laughing out loud at so many points during this book.The level of irony that comes from reading a book about two people who work in the publishing industry reading and editing a book while analyzing micro tropes had me smirking constantly.
Now, I wouldn’t necessarily assign the enemies-to-lovers trope to Book Lovers as some other reviewers have, as the conflict between Charlie and Nora is only truly evident in the prologue, and even then, their hatred for one another isn’t convincing. However, this is not a critique at all. I don’t think the story line/pace would have made much sense if the ‘enemies’ part was more involved. But don't go into this book expecting enemies-to-lovers, because you WILL be disappointed.
All in all, this book intricately weaves family dynamics, the priority of self, the importance of honesty, grief, and of course romance into a wonderful story that I will 100% be reading again. So far my favorite Emily Henry read!
And can I just say - I experienced the FULL range of emotions in the last 50 pages. I had (unwillingly) accepted how it was going to end and was (somewhat) okay with it, then everything that you hoped would happen HAPPENS and it just fills you with overwhelming happiness. I am not usually a fan of 3rd act conflicts, but this was by far my favorite way I have ever seen it executed- with genuine honesty instead of miscommunications and misunderstandings. Emily Henry truly did these characters justice and I would not have accepted it any other way. 11/10 will always recommend. Immediately going onto my list of all-time favorites.
This story follows Nora, a workaholic literary agent, and her sister Libby, a bubbly soon-to-be mother of three, through a month-long trip to Sunshine Falls, NC where they intend to experience all of the tropes of a typical small-town romance. While there, Nora runs into Charlie, a brooding editor from her agency back in New York, who ends up working with her on an important project.
What can I even say?? This book was SO good. The pace, the love story that develops between Charlie and Nora, the relationship between Nora and Libby, the humor, the plot twists, the FEELING - ugh everything was just *chefs kiss* perfection. There is nothing I didn’t absolutely love about this book. The storyline interconnects in the best ways, showing that however lost you may feel in your feelings, you are not alone - there is always someone who will be willing to understand and support you. I was pleasantly surprised by how much depth the characters had and the exploration of their own internal struggles. The story pushes and pulls our MC's apart in surprising ways, but the tension between them is palpable; not to mention, the witty banter is TOP TIER. I found myself actually laughing out loud at so many points during this book.The level of irony that comes from reading a book about two people who work in the publishing industry reading and editing a book while analyzing micro tropes had me smirking constantly.
Now, I wouldn’t necessarily assign the enemies-to-lovers trope to Book Lovers as some other reviewers have, as the conflict between Charlie and Nora is only truly evident in the prologue, and even then, their hatred for one another isn’t convincing. However, this is not a critique at all. I don’t think the story line/pace would have made much sense if the ‘enemies’ part was more involved. But don't go into this book expecting enemies-to-lovers, because you WILL be disappointed.
All in all, this book intricately weaves family dynamics, the priority of self, the importance of honesty, grief, and of course romance into a wonderful story that I will 100% be reading again. So far my favorite Emily Henry read!
And can I just say - I experienced the FULL range of emotions in the last 50 pages. I had (unwillingly) accepted how it was going to end and was (somewhat) okay with it, then everything that you hoped would happen HAPPENS and it just fills you with overwhelming happiness. I am not usually a fan of 3rd act conflicts, but this was by far my favorite way I have ever seen it executed- with genuine honesty instead of miscommunications and misunderstandings. Emily Henry truly did these characters justice and I would not have accepted it any other way. 11/10 will always recommend. Immediately going onto my list of all-time favorites.
Love Notes & Lifelines by Avery Maxwell
4.0
Tropes Featured: Small Town, Forced Proximity, “Who hurt you?”, Found Family, Single Dad/Nanny, Billionaire MMC
Final Rating: 4/5⭐️
When Stella Anderson, a broke traumatized woman tasked with providing for her sick mother, gets hired at Crystal Waters and realizes her new boss is Becker Hayes, a brooding billionaire she shared a steamy kiss with a year prior, she knows she has to tread lightly. Then, when her best friend and coworker, Elijah, offers her an opportunity for a third job with the Single Dad Hotline, she knows she has to take it. Things get even more complicated when she answers a hotline call and recognizes the voice on the other end as none other than Becker Hayes, the same person she has been adamantly avoiding for the past year. Little does she know, she has been permeating his thoughts as much as he has hers.
This book is filled with cute, feel-good romance scenes, but also explores deep topics such as grief, trauma, and abuse. The character development throughout the book was slightly rushed, but I still loved it nonetheless. Seeing Beck transform into the protective father figure throughout the story was unbelievingly heartwarming. Stella and Beck learn to lean on each other and help each other work through their own demons, all while providing safety and security for two little girls that have been through enough trauma to last a lifetime. This book was my introduction to the single dad/nanny trope, but I will definitely be picking up more soon! The writing style was not my favorite, but all-in-all I would recommend - especially if you are already a fan of Avery Maxwell!
Final Rating: 4/5⭐️
When Stella Anderson, a broke traumatized woman tasked with providing for her sick mother, gets hired at Crystal Waters and realizes her new boss is Becker Hayes, a brooding billionaire she shared a steamy kiss with a year prior, she knows she has to tread lightly. Then, when her best friend and coworker, Elijah, offers her an opportunity for a third job with the Single Dad Hotline, she knows she has to take it. Things get even more complicated when she answers a hotline call and recognizes the voice on the other end as none other than Becker Hayes, the same person she has been adamantly avoiding for the past year. Little does she know, she has been permeating his thoughts as much as he has hers.
This book is filled with cute, feel-good romance scenes, but also explores deep topics such as grief, trauma, and abuse. The character development throughout the book was slightly rushed, but I still loved it nonetheless. Seeing Beck transform into the protective father figure throughout the story was unbelievingly heartwarming. Stella and Beck learn to lean on each other and help each other work through their own demons, all while providing safety and security for two little girls that have been through enough trauma to last a lifetime. This book was my introduction to the single dad/nanny trope, but I will definitely be picking up more soon! The writing style was not my favorite, but all-in-all I would recommend - especially if you are already a fan of Avery Maxwell!