Alana
A cute and upbeat romance that follows Ava, a spunky pilot, and Tom. With the romcom tropes and all (well used, I must also add), comes other horror aspects and a great meshing of all of the above. Fun read for sure.
MY 100th REVIEW
Might as well save it for a 5/5! This book truly fit the bill. Explores PTSD, but also darker themes. I really wizzed through this book, not only because it was an easy read, but because it hooked me so much that I couldn't put it down.
Aaaaand we jump from a 5 star to a 1 star. I usually dislike rating books as 1 star because I feel like such an “armchair quarterback” (and I'll admit, when other reviewers litter books with low ratings, i.e. 2 and below, I wonder what they have ever done equivalent to writing a book. Probably not much. I'll be honest where I need to be). That said, if I can acknowledge that I have no talent to write a book, I can also acknowledge a book that just doesn't vibe with me. I felt like the characters were underdeveloped and the storyline was very boring and cliche to the point where I could easily predict what would happen next. Sadly I won't be reading #2. I'm sure West is a lovely person, and she has enough talent to publish a book which I greatly admire, but this one in particular (minus the lovely cover) just did not do it for me.
A very cute romance novel. Not too much more to say other than it's a quick, fun read for romance-lovers like myself.
I went into this book with an open mind, really not knowing what I'd think. But it just didn't do it for me. There were some witty parts and the characters weren't all bad, but I just found the whole thing a bit cringy to the point of not engaging me, and I DNF at over 50%, which is extra sad because I was halfway there. I also am not a fan of the cover...usually that doesn't affect my review, but I have to say, covers generally reflect the quality of the book. Maybe just not my personal cup of tea.
This is a cute story. Came across it randomly on goodreads, and although it obviously isn't targeted for my age, I can see kids more or less liking it (anywhere from 7 to maybe 12 or 13). It's a short story that makes you smile.
A great mystery book - the kind you can curl up with next to a fire on a rainy day and find yourself engaged and guessing until the end. I've always enjoyed Shelton's books - this one is no different.
I'm torn with this book. On one hand I love the creepy, haunted vibes and the story idea itself. On the other hand, I just got really tired of the writing style - I know the mc is young, but it just felt like it didn't flow. But I still see so much potential with this book because it truly has an awesome plot and I liked Sunshine as an mc, even if she occasionally did feel a litttttle cliched in the “quirky teen girl” sense.
2.5 rounded to 3
The reviews on this one are mixed, and to be honest, so am I. While Chance is certainly gifted in prose, her often beautiful descriptions sometimes merge on being too fluffy...obscuring what doesn't need to be obscured. In simpler words...sometimes simple=better. Sometimes a story with great potential, like this one, is muddled with all the effort the author puts in with words. So...yes, there were parts of this book I liked and I found the plot enticing to say the least. And while at times I enjoyed the writing, others times it simply felt like too much...and it all leaves me undecided.
This is a great book that dives into the complexities and realities of PTSD - it doesn't shy away from taking an honest look at trauma and how it may manifest. Tracy clearly knows how to depict sensitive topics in a way that is researched, yet raw, which I admire very much (and it's needed beyond a doubt in fiction). Beyond that, this is a good mystery/thriller with a good mix of layered and well-written characters. I was hooked. And, as a side note (because this is always important to me for some reason), the colors on that cover are beautiful and set the tone for the novel.
Well, ads, ya'll turned me. I will admit I only read this because I saw ads, but it ended up being a pleasant surprise! The story is written well and it has the structure of a to-be great series which I am excited to follow up with. The one minor pitfall is the slightly slow start. Usually I'm cool with slow-starts if they're done well...not every book would make sense jumping into action right away, and slow-starts can be done very well. This one just didn't hook me as much as I hoped. But in no way did that mean I was going to stop reading, because I loved the idea and characters. And I was rewarded with my patience - there's so much going on, yet it is done well, and I'm in awe of Bennett's world-building and characterization. So, thank you ads! Officially ready for #2 even though this one JUST came out!
I am iffy on this book. For one, the cover is beautiful. And boy, do I have a thing for beautiful covers. The idea is also strong. And yet, when it comes to the actual content - the actual writing, character crafting, world-building, romance, and plot progression...the book falls short, and I was left a bit disappointed. I'm not even shelving this under “romance” because I felt the romance was so...sparse. Not interesting??? Not sure how to categorize it. Either way, what could've been a very interesting and immersive book left me massively wanting. Too bad, because my, I am still obsessed with that cover.
This book was interesting enough. I wanted to get out there an expand my reading to genres I don't usually read, so a book about networking and connecting socially with others seemed a good fit. There are definitely parts with great insight/knowledge, I just found myself a bit bored. Maybe because it isn't my genre. But hey, there's great research and insight that went into this book, and for that I appreciate it.
Ya know...if the character relationships were fleshed out a bit more, I would've rated this a solid 3 or 4 stars (damn good ratings in my opinion). Sadly, I just really couldn't connect with the characters on an individual basis AND a friendship basis, which made the plot fall short for me. I'm huge into believable and developed characters, so when a book is lacking in that department, I struggle with it. Too bad, because the plot, overall, was pretty neat.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this book for free in exchange for a review. The thoughts are all my own & unbiased.
2.5 rounded to 3
I'll start out by saying that the “sexy romance” genre isn't one I usually read, but I can appreciate a decent book where it's due. Though there were definitely parts of the book that made me admire Theresa's character and her sassy attitude, and although a fair amount of scenes were certainly romantic and sexy, overall it felt a little cheesy. Nothing to turn me away, of course - some cheesiness is expected in these kinds of novels. But the cliche of the macho-man and the feisty yet hot woman gets done so often that it can be a bit cringy to read. That said, if you like this type of genre, I would say give this one a try. It is cheesy at points? Yes. Can it be a guilty-pleasure, quick read? Yes to that too.
Had a hard time with this book. While Szpara does write well and the story matter itself was interesting, the book doesn't feel fixed in what it is...or wants to be? A lot was unclear, or left unclear, and I found myself - despite initially interested - a bit blurry in the target audience. Maybe just me, maybe not, and I would still give it a go if cult books are your thing, though don't be surprised if you leave a bit...well, a bit unsure.
This is a good one. Not only are the characters well written, but the relationship/friendships are well-written, and that's important considering the content. I felt very connected to the characters, which makes it a successful book in my mind!
Minus the weird parts (please do not put an image of a mother's breasts into my head), this book was just...one-dimensional. Flat. The characters had very little nuance, there was a lot of corny stuff, and the sex scene felt really, really out of place for the earlier tone of the novel. I hate to say it since this is rare, but I DNF at like 65%. I just couldn't. The whole time I just felt like this:
This is a cute book, and I totally get the girl Mcs frustration with the dating world, especially in the dating age! All in all, this book was light-hearted, relatable, modern (hence the dating apps), and cute.
This book is written beautifully - lyrically, almost - and the beginning is enticing as hell. Yeah, I wasn't a massive fan of the ending, but the book was well above average. The plot is well-thought out, the idea original, and the writing tops it all off. Great mystery. And let's all just take a moment to admire that cover.
Did enjoy this one. Great sense of atmosphere and a character that reminds me of the type I'd see on one of those spooky, mystery tv shows.
A mature B&B retelling? Sign me up! Therese Doubet writes a story that has you enticed and hooked and enamored the eeeentire way through. Violaine is a sympathetic character, and her relation to Belle from the original while not being too much like her makes this a retelling worth reading. I know this kind of romance is such a red flag IRL, but by GOD I love it in books! If you nod in agreement with any of this, I urge you: read this book. It's original, exciting, eerie, romantic, atmospheric, and memorable.
This is a book with strong POVs (something I appreciate) and characters, and a thoroughly interesting plot. Despite it all (and the great beginning), the middle and the end were only average. Still an enjoyable read, though, and a great setting/time.
When I think of mystery, I think of England. Maybe a stereotype, but hey, it made this book a fun read. Its like a crime book that you can curl up with in the winter and fall, and while its a fun story, it also makes little jokes about the actual Queen of England, Philip, etc. Overall a cute read, nothing that'll stick with me, but fun anyway.