winter_is_reading's reviews
540 reviews

MateHub: Legend by Marie Reynard

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Enemy Match by Anna Wineheart

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lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

All the good vibes with excellent autism rep. Just low angst, small town “mysterious grandma left me a bookstore and it came with a sexy neighbor” goodness. Milo and Gideon are goals. 

Spice: 4-5/5
Angst: 1/5
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Excellent audiobook too. I’ll be recommending this to friends, family, and those that love music, violins, video games, Southern California, sci-fi twists, and Asian American, transgender, and Sapphic stories.

To trans pain and trans triumph, to violence and violins, to classical Bartok and 8 bit Undertale. This book has me stopping, reflecting, smiling, and crying. It’s not a sad book, but the beautiful introspection had me tearing up when I least expected it.

There are heavy themes in this book. There’s a lot of transphobia and violence against trans women. There’s anti-Asian racism, sexism, flashbacks to child abuse, and mentions of sex work and rape. But again, I wouldn’t say this is a sad book. There’s a lot of triumph and beauty despite the evils of men. 

I can’t recommend this book enough. 

Angst: 4/5
Spice: no spice, but there’s a darling romance
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Alpha Versus Omega by MM Farmer

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

Until now I hadn’t experienced the triumphs and defeats, the epic highs and lows of nerdy robot fighting. I’m surprised how invested I got in the battles. Way cute, very dorky and sexy. Also nice to get a longer MM Farmer book.

Spice: 4-5/5
Angst: 2/5
How to Train Your Alpha by MM Farmer

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hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

<strong>Short read, extremely insta-love, overall good vibes. </strong>

Sets up the Bangers and Mash A/B/O universe, similar to Teacher by Roe Horvat (the heat teacher book). I’m intrigued by the series being centered around a heat service program. Kinda curious about some of these characters. On to book 2.

Spice: 5/5
Angst: 1/5
The Demon's Mate by Delaney Rain

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Supernatural fans might enjoy this. I loved Delaney’s book The Aliens’ Mate and this didn’t disappoint either. A lot of paranormal investigation and some demon lore. 

Spice: 4/5
Angst: 0/5
Ex Match by MM Farmer

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

MM Farmer is one of my favorite A/B/O authors, and I’m so excited for this new series. Even second chance romance haters would probably like this. It’s a love story that talks about how even fated mates with amazing compatibility and good chemistry need effort, patience, forgiveness, and therapy advice to keep a relationship thriving. Super sweet and hopeful. 

As always, I wish these books were longer since they’re so enjoyable! 

Spice: 3/5
Angst: 2/5
The Royal Curse by Eliot Grayson

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funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Cute royalty/bodyguard romance. Higher spice than plot in my opinion. More love interests should be redheads dressed in black. One of the hottest aesthetics. 

Spice: 5/5
Angst: 2-3/5
Bloodraven by P.L. Nunn

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

4.5