Scan barcode
whatellaread's reviews
1089 reviews
Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Really enjoyed this, much more than book one. Hero and Griffin are are a great pair and I loved watching them fall in lust and then love, Thomas and Maximus as eat glass, protect Phoebe and Megs forever (did I look up if they get their own books? I did), and sweet Silence!!! What a cliff hanger too, good lord. I was planning to wait a month to get to the next book but now I’m not sure I can!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Physical abuse
Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Loved this!! Alexandra Vasti finds a way to write novels that are simultaneously hilarious and lighthearted, sweet and tender, and sexy with a nice mystery underlying the plot as well. Truly a delightful delicious read, I feel so lucky to be reading Alex’s books as they come out in real time!
My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Alice and Blackwood are both excellent characters and their banter and chemistry is evident from the start. What is missing for me in this book is why their relationship/marriage wasn't working (as we see in the previous two books in this series)--it felt like Loretta couldn't quite bring herself to let these two be miserable, however the end result was a book that felt disjointed and like it stopped and started over and over again. Loretta has a gift for writing witty, compelling characters, and that felt like the true saving grace of this novel. I'll obviously read Loretta forever and Kate Reading absolutely nailed the narration, but despite the fact that the first two books of this series will remain my favorites, this was a bit of a disappointment for me.
Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt
3.5
This is a solid series starter, but between there being so many characters introduced and a core romance I didn't quite buy into...this was just a 3.5 star read for me. However, I totally am hooked on the overall series and excited to dive into book two soon!
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I read this in one fevered sitting and truly could not put it down. Mia Vincy has such a gift for writing emotionally rich, layered, beautifully considered characters and creating premises that naturally throw these characters together into tension with each other in a way that can only be resolved by stripping back those layers. And yet despite the angst in this book, it is also riotously funny. My only quibble is that, like the first book, there are just one tiny thing too many happening near the end of the book that ends up crowding the main central plot. Such a minor issue here though, overall I found this to be just a gorgeous, divine read, and one I already want to pick up and start again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage
A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy
emotional
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
4.75
Its rare to read a book and know that immediately you'll love everything else the author has written, but this novel is one of those exceptional first reads where you just KNOW. The tension and angst here is through the roof and I had to slow myself down while reading because I was so keyed up and needed to know what would happen with Guy and Arabella. I'm knocking off .25 stars only because I think there was one separation too many between them (it really felt like overkill...or like a very old school 1980s bodice ripper), but I also did get why it happened so its just a slight ding on an otherwise gem of a book. Perfect for fans of Martha Waters and Loretta Chase banter with Sherry Thomas and Meredith Duran levels of emotional pain.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse
Elizabeth of East Hampton by Emily Harding, Audrey Bellezza
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you are a fan of Jane Austen, its always a pleasure to see how other authors interpret her stories and that is no exception here. However, while this was a perfectly fine read I found myself slightly bored almost the whole time. It just never connected for me. However, the rest of my IRL book group really loved this so I think your mileage may vary!