You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
true_bookish_thoughts's Reviews (147)
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We first meet Lex and Stevie during their senior year of high school. Lex is already a rising Hollywood star from a wealthy family, while Stevie is a small-town farm girl with dreams of chasing the spotlight. When they’re cast as the leads in the school musical sparks fly immediately. But after a heartbreaking turn of events, they go their separate ways only to reunite four years later in the middle of a fake dating arrangement.
This story consumed me. I laughed, I cried, and more than once, I was ready to throw punches in their defense. I don’t know why I ever start a Jennifer Hartmann book expecting anything less than a full-on emotional rollercoaster, but here I am again emotionally destroyed.
This was 100% a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read. Lex and Stevie’s story is unforgettable, and I know it’s one I’ll be carrying with me for a long time.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (can I give it more??)
ARC Review | Dual POV | 1st Person | MF Romance
Tropes & Themes: Alien x Human • Sci-Fi Romance • Love Island x The Bachelor Vibes • Fake Dating • Forced Proximity • Enemies to Lovers • 🍆 Pocket • Military • Grumpy x Grumpier • 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Let me start by saying: I love Leigh Miller’s books and this one just became my favorite. Think Love Island… but in space with a fake dating subplot.
We follow Roslyn, a human with a military past, who becomes a contestant on an intergalactic reality dating show Mate Match. She wants nothing to do with love and is only there to complete her mission.
Enter Zandrel, an ex-mercenary alien recently demoted to security guard for the show. He’s grumpy, broody, and 100% not here for the drama… until Roslyn catches his eye, and suddenly he’s fake dating her to cover up her suspicious behavior.
Fake dating? Sure. Catching actual feelings? Oops. They keep telling themselves it’s all for show but every teasing smile and lingering touch says otherwise. The slow burn in this is brutal in the best way possible, and when the hair tie scene hits? You’ll understand why I’m feral for it.
I laughed, I swooned, I gasped, and I am absolutely in love Zandrel. This book was the perfect summer escape and somehow managed to be both hilarious and devastating in equal measure.
💫 If you’re a fan of:
• Aliens with soft hearts under grumpy armor
• Women who don’t need saving (but get a partner who would go to war for them anyway)
• Ridiculous TV drama mixed with real emotional stakes
• A romance that builds slow and satisfying with the most delicious payoff
Then do yourself a favor and pick up Shadows of Stardust. Even if sci-fi romance isn’t usually your thing take the leap. You won’t regret it. 💖
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
arc review 🫶🏼
Redemption by Lila Dawes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, listen the cover grabbed me, but the story? She said “hold my beer and watch this.” I devoured this in under 8 hours and regret nothing. 👀📚
We’ve got Kat: a fiercely independent cowgirl holding her family’s ranch (and sanity) together after her dad passes. She’s strong, stubborn, and loyal to a fault. Then enters Jack fresh outta prison after 12 years, guilt-ridden, lost, and unexpectedly soft in all the best ways.
Their chemistry? Unmatched. This slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers situation had me kicking my feet and clutching my Kindle. Watching them heal and grow separately and together was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Kat finally letting her sisters in? Growth. Jack finding his place in her world? Swoon. That ending? Be still my heart.
And don’t even get me started on the setup for book two. I’m counting down the days for Maddy and Leo’s story. Manifesting a whole book for them, please and thank you. 🕯️
Final verdict: Cowgirls really do do it better. 🤠
💅
Redemption by Lila Dawes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, listen the cover grabbed me, but the story? She said “hold my beer and watch this.” I devoured this in under 8 hours and regret nothing. 👀📚
We’ve got Kat: a fiercely independent cowgirl holding her family’s ranch (and sanity) together after her dad passes. She’s strong, stubborn, and loyal to a fault. Then enters Jack fresh outta prison after 12 years, guilt-ridden, lost, and unexpectedly soft in all the best ways.
Their chemistry? Unmatched. This slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers situation had me kicking my feet and clutching my Kindle. Watching them heal and grow separately and together was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Kat finally letting her sisters in? Growth. Jack finding his place in her world? Swoon. That ending? Be still my heart.
And don’t even get me started on the setup for book two. I’m counting down the days for Maddy and Leo’s story. Manifesting a whole book for them, please and thank you. 🕯️
Final verdict: Cowgirls really do do it better. 🤠
💅
funny
fast-paced
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay, so… I might be ridiculously late to the Jennifer party, but consider me the girl who just showed up with cupcakes and a playlist, ready to make up for lost time. This was my first book of hers and OH. MY. HEART. I’m now on a mission to read everything she’s ever touched, and I’m fully convinced we’d be besties in real life.
From page one, I was straight-up kicking my feet with joy. Klein? Literal perfection. Witty, swoony, emotionally wrecked (in a hot way), and hopelessly devoted to Paisley like a 2000s love song. And the banter?? Chef’s kiss. I wanted to bottle it up and drink it with a straw.
I tried to pace myself. I did. But this book dragged me in like a rom-com whirlwind and refused to let go. I laughed, I swooned, I fake-proposed to my Kindle (was this too much?).
Here For The Cake is not just a swoon worthy romcom—it’s a serotonin boost in paperback form. Go read it and thank me later.
From page one, I was straight-up kicking my feet with joy. Klein? Literal perfection. Witty, swoony, emotionally wrecked (in a hot way), and hopelessly devoted to Paisley like a 2000s love song. And the banter?? Chef’s kiss. I wanted to bottle it up and drink it with a straw.
I tried to pace myself. I did. But this book dragged me in like a rom-com whirlwind and refused to let go. I laughed, I swooned, I fake-proposed to my Kindle (was this too much?).
Here For The Cake is not just a swoon worthy romcom—it’s a serotonin boost in paperback form. Go read it and thank me later.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
“Life is a team sport, Daisy Hawthorne. I want you on my team for the rest of my life."
A sports romance plus a surprise baby? Y’all know I ate this book up like it was bottomless brunch.
Daisy is a whole freaking vibe. I fell for her the second she strutted onto the page. Then enters Hunter, and y’all 🥵🥵 — the chemistry between them? Off-the-charts, burn-your-eyelashes off hot. And don’t even get me started on the banter—witty, flirty, and just the right amount of dirty. I was LIVING for this book. Home Run Baby had me laughing, blushing, and fully ignoring all my responsibilities.
Now excuse me while I go devour the rest of the series.
A sports romance plus a surprise baby? Y’all know I ate this book up like it was bottomless brunch.
Daisy is a whole freaking vibe. I fell for her the second she strutted onto the page. Then enters Hunter, and y’all 🥵🥵 — the chemistry between them? Off-the-charts, burn-your-eyelashes off hot. And don’t even get me started on the banter—witty, flirty, and just the right amount of dirty. I was LIVING for this book. Home Run Baby had me laughing, blushing, and fully ignoring all my responsibilities.
Now excuse me while I go devour the rest of the series.
