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82 reviews

Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace

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emotional funny informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I have unfortunately discovered regency romances are not really for me. 
Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This wasn't my favorite book in the entire world. I immensely enjoyed the ADHD rep and the OCD rep, however. I've read a book now with an FMC with OCD and now this one, where Jack, the MMC has OCD and they were both so different but I think both such important representations of the disorder that really shows how multifaceted but scary it can be. I struggle a lot with intrusive thoughts and compulsions much like Jack does and it's comforting to read about someone who's like me in any sort of way. The romance felt a little on the boring side, but it was sweet and I could see them being together after the book ends, and that's what I base a good romance on; if I can get to the end and think, yeah, they'd still be together ten years later, then to me, it's a good romance. 
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Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think this is the first horror/fantasy book I've read that was written by a man about women's issues that I didn't by and large hate. I have a love hate relationship with horror and/or fantasy books because most of them, in a roundabout way, end up being about women or women's issues, and most end up being misogynistic, or portray women as crazy and insane, or even portray trans women badly for being trans. I stay far away from most horror books, especially those written by men, as a result. But this book felt like it was written about women by a man who understands women. It was very period accurate and I think accentuated perfectly the hush hush of teenage pregnancies at the time and the thought of "wayward girls" and what was done with them. The birthing scenes were absolutely graphic and horrific but did not shy away and were not versed with inaccurate terminology whatsoever. It was stunning to see something like that, and for a man to acknowledge and insert the practice of the husband stitch into the book as well felt big. The husband stitch was big in that time period and overall was a sickening surgical method implemented by doctors for the male pleasure, and not a lot of men like to acknowledge that that existed. Hats off to this guy for this entire book, really. The magic bit felt a little impractical to fit in with the realness of the rest of the book, but I understand also that it was meant to be an allegory for the girls taking back power from those who stole it from them. It was nice to see the happy ending for the main four girls, too, though. Would definitely read more of this author in the future. 
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Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm not ready to leave Spunes... Thank god there's two more books. (Right...? Right.....? I'm begging...) I've loved Dewitt ever since I picked up Funny Feelings thanks to another authors recommendation, about out to Ivy Fairbanks, and I loved it so much I immediately applied for an ARC of Savor it, and now here I am, reviewing my ARC of Left of Forever. I knew I needed Wren and Ellis's story the second Ellis said "She's still a Byrd" in Savor It. Dewitt does not disappoint. I've read a few second chance romances this year already, and she and Hannah Bonham Young are currently the front runners for my favorites. Obviously both stories are very different, but they both have a special place in my heart. I think I may love Ellis and Wren even more than I love Fisher and Sage, if that's possible. 

This book has me crying on multiple occasions, and I loved how open and honest Ellis was with Wren about his feelings. We love a man who goes to therapy. It also stands to be said that I adored any and every interaction with Silas present, and the setup leading to Micah's definite eventual book, though I'm hoping for a Silas book next. I would've appreciated more pov Ellis chapters as I felt this wasn't simply a singular narrative book. It isn't to say Ellis didn't have any chapters, but it felt like we were hearing Wren's voice and inner monologue than anything and it would've been refreshing to see more from Ellis. 
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Soul Hate by Hannah Kingsley

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Wow. This was an extremely powerful, attention grabbing book. I think we need a book like this in this day and age here in the US, though I fear it's words would be in danger of being banned, but that's what makes it all the more useful and powerful of a book. It was impossible to put down, and flowed smoothly from one point to another. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers aspect; it really felt like they were true enemies to lovers, and I loved that they didn't immediately love one another. In fact, they were fated to hate one another, and they fell in love anyways. The characters were loveable and diverse and I enjoyed all the side characters that were meant to be enjoyed. My only qualm with the entire book is that in the blurb, it says that they end up falling in love, but that sort of ruins the twist villain in my eyes. If the it was left ambiguous, it would seem that much more surprising when the twist villain was revealed. Instead I sat there hating one of the side characters because I just knew. I could tell. And that really took away my enjoyment of the villain plot. 
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Homegrown Magic by Rebecca Podos, Jamie Pacton

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emotional lighthearted mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I've read one other of Pacton's and I enjoyed it, though I thought the plot was a bit too easy. This one however, drags. It's only around 350 pages yet feels like 600. I also wasn't fond of the weird made up nonbinary terms. It felt like it was shoving down my throat that nonbinary people do indeed exist, in a weird, uncomfortable way. I believe there's ways to introduce queer and trans characters to a book, and to continue referring to them, but this did not hit that mark. I don't have anything remarkable to say about this, unfortunately. 
The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I was really invested and loved the plot until I got to the part where Piers talks about being SA'd with no prior TW list on the book, or on Netgalleys site. Didn't really have an inclination to be interested after that. I absolutely abhor books that don't give warnings for sensitive content, and I was unable to enjoy the book afterwards. Disappointing. 
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You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Was really struggling to get started with it all. Took me 3 days to get past page 1? Not gonna waste my time. Wasn't hooked.
The Gloomy Girl Variety Show by Freda Epum

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

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The Rake OR The Orca Who Met His Match in a Selkie Desiring Revenge by Kass O'Shire

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was a bit of a slow drag for me. I greatly enjoyed O'Shires other books, and even though this one isn't too long for the types of books I read, I still took around 5 days to finish it because I just couldn't get through it as easy. It was pretty slow paced, and the plot was not really there, but I enjoyed the characters enough that I kept reading. I'm really interested in Jokith as a character and would love to see more about him, though I'm certain Dahlia and Feann's story is next. Dahlia seems like a sweet character and I'm glad Feann is getting a story as I'm interested in him too. The "revenge" part of the title was a little lacking I felt as it was mentioned, but then the revenge itself was about 5% of the story, and didn't happen until around 90% of the book. I would recommend this to those who love a slow paced plot as the romance isn't very slow burn, and the characters are lovely but really this is for those who thoroughly enjoy a slow paced book. 
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