Sionna

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway AS WELL as received it from netgalley! Whoops! Anyhow, I just wanted to say my review will reflect my true opinions about the book.

Rating: 3.5 *

When I started the book I was immediately swept up in the story. The characters are lovely and the writing is cozy. There were a few moments I was confused– wondering why a character ended up in a room or something– but, this might have been fixed since I received an uncorrected ARC. This was a quite fun read.

I really liked the concept of the wishes and secrets but, I didn't think the story delved into it much. I thought could have been done to explain the powers to the reader yet, at the same time since the main character was so confused it made sense that the reader was in the dark too.

I also didn't like the ending– I'm sorry! It was nice, cute, and had a final tone but, I thought there were strings that still needed to be dealt with.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
DNF @ 6%

I pretty much read the prologue and realized this wouldn't be the one to me. It felt slower and wordy. I'm over the whole being ugly = being evil in Middle Grade novels – even if this is discounted later. I'm also not the biggest fan of sleeping beauty so I'm not sure why I requested this one in the first place.
I see how so moments could be funny for young ones, so I would still recommend this to people who like retellings.

So, because I didn't read much, I won't be rating it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited to read this book since it is a romance about a plus-sized character. It seemed to be pretty body-positive, so I was so ready to read something different than usual.

The thing is, it is so bland.

Let me back up. First let me say, I think everything mentioned about Lucy's weight is on point– her worries and concerns aren't baseless. Although, I'm not truly plus-sized some of what is said totally hits home and I'm glad this book got so real with the shit bigger women have to put up with.

Besides from the body positivity stuff, there wasn't much I liked about the book. This hit me so hard, because I was so ready to love this book, yet I was so ready to DNF it that I'm not even feeling up to going back and reading the first book in the series.

Yes, Frankie is pretty awesome and he kept trying to get through to her, BUT she kept having misunderstandings. This trope will one day kill me. A few times I could see her insecurities making her misunderstand, but Frankie is pretty effing honest and straightforward that I had no idea how she could keep not believing him. Then the huge conflict– you know, what breaks the couple up before they have their HEA sigh I'm so tired of the classic romance formula right now – is all a misunderstanding and blown out of proportion while the make-up is over the top and ridiculous. What are we even apologizing for?!?!?

I would have loved more cute moments during the scavenger hunt to show a build up of affection instead of how stilted it felt. Not a great build up, imho– mostly counted on sexual tension. Seriously, how does Frankie go from ‘she isn't my type because she's a ballbuster' to ‘omg she's the one' ??? Wow... I think I'm beginning to understand why Lucy doesn't believe he truly likes her... sigh I think it is time for me to stop thinking about this book.

So, no I don't recommend this one to people wanting a full romance, but I do see how people will be interested in it, so if think this might be you do please give it a try. I might getting too picky with my romances.

I liked this one more than the first book in the series. A few good laughs out of this and an interesting plot.
Kitty is really growing on me and I am interested to see where this will go.

I love how they always say ‘werewolves, vampires, etc.' because it opens the door for other creatures without giving away which will appear.

What an ending!
Still loving this series.

As a straight white female, I can't speak to much of this book. I cannot begin to completely comprehend the challenges non-heterosexual people go through, so I won't focus much of my review on Alice being bi-romantic asexual (is this right?). Although, I think the representation here is really awesome, I've seen some negative opinions about the representation, so again, please take my review with a grain of salt and try reading reviews written by other people.

This book is fluffy and cute. Yes, it does deal with some important, more heavier issues, but I feel like everything comes to easy conclusions. Of course, there is the terror the main character has about explaining her orientation and I am not dismissing that aspect of the book– this is the biggest and most important conflict, which I think is handled well. All other conflict those is handled with little problems.

I do want to say that I think the romance is a bit too insta-love for my taste, yet at the same time they grow to know each other, which I feel makes up for it. As for other relationships in the book, I didn't really like them. Alice tries to ignore conflict, pretend it didn't happen, and while I think in the situation she is in the right, the book almost makes it seem like she wasn't, which I don't approve of. If you are alone and feeling uncomfortable in a situation, leaving is a completely valid decision.
Also, the library aspect was weird to me– but I volunteer in a library and am in my last semester of library school, so I'm probably one of the few people who will notice it. It wasn't bad librarian representation, but there is so much more to library work than books, let me tell you.

Yet, the writing is so fluffy and sweet! I loved the moments of Alice and Takumi. I enjoyed the times the friends were all friendly. I even enjoyed Alice's spunky attitude (even if slightly unbelievable, especially in a psychiatrist's office). Honestly, the writing and the good feeling I received throughout the whole book are what brought this book up from a 4 star.

Also Shinee is mentioned in the author's acknowledgements. Amazing.

Does this book have its problems? Totally. But I had such fun reading it and Alice's chipper personality infected me with happiness. So, I do recommend this to fans of fluffy contemporaries and I will be recommending it in the future :)

Re-read of this series is now complete!! UGH THE FEELS!!!
I ended up reading so fast I missed some parts, but I still really enjoyed it. This time I really was able to see how the author's writing has improved and I really liked that.
I enjoyed the full series, but I feel like this time through I was able to enjoy each book separately.

I like who she ends up with, I like how things concluded, but yes there were a few loose ends.... which I won't go into so I do not have to leave spoilers.

George will forever be my fictional crush <3 lol I think this thief lead me to liking thieves and pushed me to read other books about thieves cough (Six of Crows) cough

I owe this series a lot. It really fueled my love for reading and for women being able to fight back against their system. I will forever be grateful to this amazing series.

I voluntary read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
3.5 stars

This is a fun little romance, with some cute characters. I wasn't completely hooked by it, but I never thought about giving up on it, so that's a plus.

One thing I really did like was that Liam, our main character meets Cassie when she is wearing baggy clothing– she isn't great looking here and that's what he thinks, BUT he does start to be attracted to her because of their conversation. I was worried he would wait to start liking her until he saw her in better clothing, but phew~ we dodged a bullet there. After that, I found the couple to be really sweet. Of course, friends with benefits never works, and it barely worked long here before we see them wanting more from each other, without them even realizing it.

I think the thing that lowered the rating for me is that I thought this book would be about more than just sex, but there is just so much of it. Which is great if that's what you are into, but for me I prefer more story.

The ending seemed almost too easy and I didn't 100% like how the conflict was resolved. I believe public displays are undo pressure on the other to give in to the other.

A decent book and I heard that it has been edited and changed up some more, so if I ever get to reading it again I will see if I like it anymore. So please take my rating with a grain of salt.

Okay, the first 2 or 3 chapters were rough for me, but after that I was into the story. It is an absolute gem and I loved it. The characters are fantastic, the conflicts made sense, and nothing felt overly dramatic. Oh, and the communication between characters felt so natural. My heart hurts from the raw love I feel for this book.
Will definitely read more by this author in the future ^_^

Dnf @ 15%/ 10 chapters

I'm bored and really dislike the main character. Also whytf would they send her with a shit ton of clothing but not enough food besides the obvious...

Just finished this book and immediately started tearing up. It is such a damn good book. All my emotions are trying to flow through my tears.

This book deals with some heavy stuff (content warning: sibling death (pre-book events) and guilt related to that, alcoholism, bipolar, depression, self-harm, abortion and I'm probably missing some) and it deals with it so well, so realistically. But you really feel for the characters as they try to stay steady and keep their heads above water.

The romance is absolutely adorable and I love them. I love the respect, I love them owning up to their mistakes, and giving space when it is needed. They are each other's rock– but they are young and make mistakes. The book ends though in a way that they will learn and do better going forward and– gotta stop because I am tearing up again.

100% recommend if you're looking for something sweet, real, that also delivers a good kick to the heart.

I adore hockey books – why? I have no idea. This book felt like more than a hockey book though. I love how Tristan was going to school, I love that the power dynamic is addressed and considered, and I love the relationship progression– it felt like a steady increase. There is so, so much to love about this book. 

This review is so late though, I can't remember why this is a four-star review and not five. I mean, this is a book I have considered re-reading... Anyhow, this was hugely enjoyable and I immediately read the sequel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Okay, a shorter review because it has been so long since I read this one (whoops!).
There were funny moments starting right from the beginning. It was easy for me to feel for Matt and want to cheer for him. The relationship seemed a bit quick and easy too me, especially since Matt should know to be more cautious and suspicious. The characters are great though! I did find some of the writing to be awkward and the conclusion felt, again, easy and quick.
I expected drama, action, and intrigue, but this is more slice-of-life of a mobster's son who doesn't want to follow the family's business.

It isn't a bad book, it just isn't what I hyped myself to hope for.
Will I recommend this? Yes, and I have, but more for someone wants a sweet romance, with secrets and angst.

These two might be my favorite couple thus far (after reading three books)... maybe it is hard to pick. But their relationship, their love for each other, feels so natural, so real that it is hard not to fall for them. Killian is a sexy dork and Libby is lovely and rough. Can I say relationship goals? 

I also loved their communication and their ability to cut through the BS and talk to one another, trust them, and understand them. I think my love of this aspect of them made their problem to overcome feel a bit blown out of proportion and unbelievable. I still love them though. 

 I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
2.5 stars

Let me be straight forward and say, this book is pretty boring. I went into this thinking I was going to get a mystery with lots of conflict from Izzy's ‘crisis' coloring things too. This isn't a spoiler, I swear, I'll save you all by letting you know her ‘crisis' as the synopsis puts it is a broken heart because the man she loves has married her sister. There isn't really a crisis here. So, truly what this story feels like is Women's fic, since we learn more about the moms in the neighborhood and how Izzy doesn't deals with her broken heart and feeling of betrayal even if no one else knew she loved the guy.

Even the mystery wasn't mysterious since we pretty much know what happened with Kristin (the missing mom) and her children from early on. I honestly thought I was being led astray at first, but it is so SO obvious since the book is literally telling you. I won't say how or where, since some people might consider it a spoiler, but... trust me, you'll know.

So, this ends up being mostly a character driven novel–a women's fiction novel which isn't usually my thing. Izzy's chapters are the ones I skimmed the most. She laments about her love for her sister's husband all the time! It is annoying!! I understand it is hard to get over, but she's had months already. Then she feels her family is pulling away from her and that they don't really care... some of it was hard to read and you do feel for Izzy, but nothing really happy happens with her, not does Kristin the missing woman get brought up often, unless it is in connection with Paul, her husband, who Izzy is giving the benefit of the doubt.

Clara's chapters were more prevalent, thankfully, and are the ones where insight can actually be found into the mystery or... theories repeated over and over. But, I liked Clara, I think it is hard not to.

I was holding on til the end of the book because I read that the ending is good. I agree. The last about 10...maybe 15% of the book was intense and interesting which was so different from the rest of the book. There is action, we learn what happens to Kristin, and there is a twist I didn't see coming. It is the ending which gave the book an extra .5%.

Do I recommend this book? I do, for people who like women's fiction. This is not for people looking for a mystery.

ehhhh kinda feels like they just pushed the problem off until later instead of actually solving anything.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
DNF @ 24%

This is such a shame since I really enjoyed The Leaving by the same author. I started to wonder if things would be different if I was reading an official non-ARC copy, but I don't think the formatting was at fault, mostly.

See while trying to read this, there felt like a veil between the characters and I, keeping me from getting too close. I couldn't connect, I couldn't understand actions, I couldn't feel them. It is weird to feel so disconnected from a book and my mind kept wandering. Other times I'd re-read a page and realize I hadn't let me mind wander the book literally just switched from present to flashback or detailed background out of nowhere – this might have been ARC formatting, perhaps there will be more of a divide or marker that things are switching. Then again, I didn't think all the background or details were needed... I might have also stopped caring by then.

See, the main character is depressed. Totally understandable since her boyfriend died just months ago. What I don't understand is the need to not hang out with him instead hanging out with a guy whose name you don't know and is kinda a dick. Friends even ask to meet him and she says she'll being him only to totally not truly consider it when she is with him again.

So, I'm not sure if I dislike the main character flat out or just her while she is depressed... yet she mentions that whether the boyfriend died or not, she wouldn't want to be on a cruise and acts annoyed the whole time, acts like her friends should flock to her. So, I'm thinking I wouldn't like the main character either way, which makes a book like this very difficult for me to read.

20% in there is no thrilling aspect, I think I left just as things were going to get interesting, but I didn't like the dude either so... I don't think it would have been thriller material for me. Might recommend to people who like mysteries more than thrillers... but, again I'm not sure how often I would recommend this one.

Fun and informative. I didn't think about some of the ways people can make the world around us easier to navigate for those with vision impairments. It's really cool how the delinquents ended up being allies and changing the video store for the better. I'm curious what will come next!

Okay, I just watched this video introduction to the book: youtube.com/watch?v=Hx3yeAB2vCs and now I REALLY WANT TO READ THIS BOOK! And potentially everything in this author's backlist.

I received this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This is an AMAZING book.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but, definitely not this. This is a book about abuse, brainwashing, fear, and not knowing what reality is/what the truth is.

All Castley wants is to be normal and fit in. After finally going to school she realizes how messed up her family is. No one dresses like them; no one thinks the same as her family; and being promised to her brother is weird & illegal.

I found it interesting how Castley's mind worked and enjoyed reading her working out her thoughts and identity. It came to the point that things I thought were truth, because of Castley, I began to question... who is the bad guy? Is the father really to blame? Maybe one of the siblings or the mother?

No real romance here, a few kisses and trying to understand what liking people is but, nothing much.
There are 6 siblings so, sometimes I mixed up their names but, they were all so different that it became easy. Castley definitely had some growth and even a few of the siblings changed too but we aren't invested in all of them.

I did have a few issues though. I couldn't believe that no one helped the kids! Wouldn't someone tell the police the kids are starving? or how about the truancy?
Some things aren't fully explained, like the first Caspar but, it is enough.
I wished there was more of an ending to the book. I don't want to get into it. YES, the book does have a complete and satisfying ending. I just wanted to know how we got to the ending point more. Just more explanation. :)

Really enjoyed the book!

DNF @ 36%

I finished Part One and... I just don't think I meshed with it. I'm not big on books heavy on religion, it seems. I supposed from here it could get better, but I read so many reviews saying Part One was the best part and if I'm already not liking it I just don't think anything is going to change :/

The worst part is the wait between issues. This story and the artwork are soooooo good.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

To be seen, to be savored, is a gift.

This is a very interesting book. I wasn't sure which way it was going to turn really until the end. Would they end up in a relationship together? Would he get arrested? Would he kill her? –seriously, all these options and more went through my head, sometimes making me feel a bit ill.

I should probably start again by saying, in the beginning I found parallels between Sam's behavior and previous “alpha male” romance leads. Sam, being the stalker. Sam cares for Kate and wants what is best for her and even changes her life without her say-so. It really drives home for those other novels with pushy leads “What if she didn't like him?”. Therefore, I'll either have to forget about this book in order to highly rate those other books, or stay away from them.

Okay, enough about how I am processing romances, let me write a bit more about this book.
I wouldn't call the characters likeable, but I did enjoy reading about them. The switch in POV on alternating chapters from Sam (the stalker) to Kate (the stalked) are fascinating. Because they both have different agendas, they don't always understand how the other is thinking which can make the scene more enlightening, yet when they can guess what the other is feeling it is almost creepy to me. I do feel like Kate had a few moments where she wasn't perceptive, but knowing some people are actually like that is what made me believe it. Frances, Kate's boss though? I totally don't understand her and how she made her decisions.
That bit was a touch ridiculous to me.

The plot I feel is well done. While I did think the beginning was a tad slow, it was a great buildup for getting a feel for the characters and truly made me relax with them–thinking I knew who they might be, until...
I will say I don't think the thrill, or what got my heart racing, was from a chase, but from not knowing how Kate would react to things– not knowing if she would figure out what was going on between her and Sam.

I really liked reading this book, even though it gave me a slimy feeling and I might never be able to look at romances the same. No, this isn't a romance, but love is the theme here considering Sam loves Kate and is ready to make her love him back.

Definitely one I'll recommend to others. This is my first book by this author, so I just might look up what else they have written, as well.

I... don't know about this one. It was okay. I liked some bits, but I did have problems with it too. The audiobook was pretty good.

I'm so glad we got to see things from Des' point of view. Finally we really get an indepth look at his past and how he came to be him. I did always wonder why he spent so much time on Earth and now we know.
He is such a romantic.
Also, seeing their earlier scenes from his POV was halfway heartbreaking, but oh so wonderful.