Daijah
Read for the Kindle Clearout Readathon 2021
I honestly really adored this book. Fake dating/fake engagement is not one of my favorite tropes, but it was honestly done so well in here.
I'm not a huge fan of fluffy, contemporary romances in general because I often feel like they're repetitive but this book so much to the table. I loved seeing Reena's passion for bread baking and cooking. Nadim was such a complex character that had many layers to him. Their chemistry was off the charts! I could physically feel the tension between them which doesn't happen often.
I also just loved all the Indian and African culture and traditions. It really brought this book to life. I thought it would more focus on the food and the arranged marriage, but I really got a wide perspective on the cultures mostly because of the main character's family. The author dove into the good, the bad, the ugly, and the drama. It just gave this book that extra sprinkle of magic.
The friendships and family relationships in this novel also brought in something extra special. Relationships grow and change, and it's really nice to see how life can put a strain on relationships but also how they can come back together. Her friends also caused so much more drama which I loved. I live for drama and this book didn't disappoint.
The competition aspect in here wasn't huge, but I didn't mind that too much. I think it was really realistic how it was going on in the background while relationships, life, and drama were in the foreground. There was the perfect balance of enough but not too much of the competition.
The ending was honestly one of my favorite contemporary romance endings to date and I think it just fit the situation and the characters so well. It was honestly so amazing to see everything converge.
My two main issues were just that the third-act breakup had a reason that I kind of understand but was just a bit annoying. I also personally don't like fade to black which this was, but maybe you don't like a lot of steam in your books, so this would be perfect for you!
I really did enjoy my time reading this book, despite the couple flaws that I have. This book really surprised me and because of the culture, it was not like anything I've ever read.
Thank you to Forever, Farah Heron, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read for the Kindle Clearout Readathon 2021
This book has such an amazing premise. 13 people go into an open house and only 12 come out, so where does the last person go? I wish it really stuck to that idea, but this book started adding in so many random plot lines and tried to do too much. It had family drama which included a divorce and a problematic mother-in-law, online relationships, sketchy real estate agents, nosy neighbors, and an open house.
The beginning of this I was honestly interested in but then once all the plot lines started to come in it kind of lost me. Don't get me wrong, I'm here for family drama, but it really made no sense with the original premise and the whole speculating part of this book was drawn on soooooo long. There were also plot lines that were brought in and never wrapped up, and it made no sense for them to even be in there in the first place.
The end, while it did suprise me, honestly made no sense. I don't understand how we got from point A—the premise/beginning of the book—to point B—the end of the book and I literally read it.
Overall it was boring, I don't understand why there were so many unnecessary plot lines thrown in to make things more complex, and I was hoping the original idea was a bigger focus. I didn't hate my experience and I did like parts of the ending, but I wish the original premise just took more of a front seat.
Thank you to Avon Books UK, Sam Carrington, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiler Reading Vlog 2021
I really did enjoy this book so much, and I loved how much more political talk was in here between the different courts. I docked it half a star just because it did wrap up super neatly with almost no consequences and because I knew there was another book, every almost death or injury didn't really make me worry. Everything else I adored!
Reading Vlog: Coming Soon
Swoon Sisters Book Club Pick February 2021
Some parts of this book did drag for me and it felt a little ridiculous at times, but I did thoroughly enjoy my time reading it. I have a couple other issues, but I love how dark this book felt. It really just had an amazingly dark atmosphere. I'll talk more about what I like and what I didn't in my book club liveshow.
Actual rating: 1000000/5 stars
Spoiler Reading Vlog 2021
2019: 10 out of 5 damn stars. I freaking loved this book and at this moment my mind is shattered and I have no comprehensible thoughts besides amazing.
2021: THIS BOOK IS STILL THAT BITCH! I love this book with my whole soul and I honestly feel like it's a part of me. I know everybody hates on Ms. Maas and says her characters and basic and her writing is trash but I love both dearly! Re-reading this book felt like coming home. It was literally a warm hug and I honestly just want to re-read it again rn but I'll refrain lol
Swoon Sisters Book Club Pick
I reread this in 2021 and I did still really love it! I had a couple issues with random talk of schizophrenia that I felt like weren't necessary and a little bit offensive. They just didn't make sense in the book, but it was only 2 extremely brief comments. I loved everything else about this though including both the characters and the steam in this book is honestly unholy lmao for more thoughts watch the book club liveshow.
Stacks of Strange January 2021 Book Club Pick
I thought this book had really good commentary but there are some things I really wish were clarified more. I don't like for everything to be super easy to understand all the time but this left off in a weird place and the ending happened super fast.
For more thoughts watch the Stacks of Strange Liveshow (spoilery)
Read for Emberalong
I loved this book so much and the ending was honestly really amazing. When I first read it seemed like an obvious 5 star read but after the Emberalong liveshow (spoilery) I realized it had a couple flaws. A couple things seemed too convinent, but I can't imagine this story ending another way.
This book was just so meh for me. I didn't dislike my time reading it, but I didn't really enjoy any aspect of it. I was intrigued some of the time but the ending was lackluster and some of the things that happened were honestly ridiculous. This also tried to do wayyyyy too many things at once, and it just didn't work.
I was debating between a 4.5 and a 5 so this rating is subject to change. All I honestly have to say right now is that I'm actually sick. Most of the book didn't really phase me but there is one description that got me and it's living in my head rent free. Not in a good way either lol any book that could make me sick deserves a round of applause.
I really enjoyed this book so much! If you want mafia that is what you will get in this book including all the dark nitty-gritty bits which I really loved. I also liked how this incorporated a serial killer element because anytime a serial killer is in a book I love it lmao.
The main character, Emily, was very relatable for me because she was so closed off and put up walls from trauma. I also feel like the main male protagonist, Kazimir, was basically like an ‘alphamellow'. He's obviously an extremely dangerous man, being the leader in the mafia, but he is sweet with Emily which was really cute. This is also hella steamy which we stannnnn!
The plot twists in here also kinda had me shook and I never try to guess twists in books but these did really surprise me. I wish I got see it a bit more of the inner workings of the actual Russian Mafia but I think that will come in the next installments in the series.
Overall I really really did enjoy this and it's really up there on my favorite romances list!
