Ritika Bhattacharjee
rating - 4 / 5 overall series rating - 4.5 / 5“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”(aaron warner crossover?)
I LOVED this series. When i started reading it, I thought this would be kind of predictable, but boy was I wrong- everything right from the actual killer to the ending, I couldn't have guessed.
This was more than just about the romance and the incongruous, mismatched pair of Lana and Logan.
“that's what happens when you're a serial killer dating an FBI profiler who hunts serial killers.“It's sad that I want to hide my bodies now so that my boyfriend gets a break and can spend more time with me” It was about revenge, justice and victims whose voices have been silenced, corruption and the lines between right and wrong being blurred
“And you treat her like a monster. Why? Because she kills? Do you treat your military like monsters? Do you stare at your own reflection with such disdain? Because I've seen your file. You've shot and killed thirteen serial killers since your career began. Those were real monsters, just like all the men Lana has dispatched.”
The whole shift in Logan's stand was done in such a great way. Book 4 practically left me broken; so seeing everything fall back into place and right itself was the absolute best.
“Her head falls to my chest, and my lips press against the top of her head as I hold her as close as possible. And we dance.”“Nothing I stood for was worth more than her. Nothing I valued held any true value at all. Everything I have is pointless without her.” (* screaming *)
And the epilogue? chef's kiss. topped it all. The whole killing people the system can't touch is such a beautiful way to continue the legacy of the absolute goddess: LANA MYERS.
loveddd jake, loooved hadleyy and LOVED LOVED LaLo. (def inspired by lilo T_T) You're a 100% missing out if you don't read this series. Just make sure to check all the trigger warnings before you do.
rating - 5 / 5
Absolutely loved the whole showdown with the Boogeyman and the Hadley bit. Wasn't so sure about Hadley's motives in book 1; but learning about her past and the fact that Lana and her bond over being victims was a really nice plot arc, I didn't really expect.
Honestly, the author does a great job at slowly giving us more layers to the characters. I'm super impressed with the way the plot's flowing and I'm most definitely HOOKED, if not obsessed. The ending in book 3 did not have as much shock factor as the ones in book 1 and 2; but the background is established only so much, that you just HAVE to keep reading. I love that the author divulges details over the course of the book. This keeps us interested and also doesn't feel like too much information at once.
On to book 4 :)
rating - 4.5 / 5These just keep getting better and better T_T.
The cliffhangers are honestly gonna be the death of me. I thought book 1 had an anxiety inducing ending. boy was i wrong—
I loved how there were multiple cases/storylines going on at the same time and how they all tied together. It seemed realistic for the fbi to have multiple cases at once and was done really well. Loved the different characters. Lisa, Hadley, Duke all stood out, despite having less page time (?)
Honestly i don't even know if i want Logan to find out:P The sneaking around is so much fun + i kinda wanna avoid the conflict. Although, i do love how he's so close by the end of this book. Man literally knows everything about our unsub except for physical attributes. The deduction skills and profiling are also really well depicted i think, because i was convinced that's how it happens irl.
On to book 3 > Read these books if you haven't yet¡ they're so fun.
rating - 4 / 5 should i be concerned that i liked this as much as I did?
LANA MYERS is one hell of a fmc. genuinely obsessed. The books itself are super fast paced and short, so that's fun.
I'm curious to see how this goes down; specifically with Logan finding out she's the serial killer he's after. Love the setting, the backstory and the dual pov. The writing is not spectacular but works for the plot and is to the point. The einstein/confucious quotes are a fun touch. Overall, a pretty great first book.
rating - 7.5 / 5overall series rating - 4.5/5 > Shatter me series: 4.5/5 > Restore me series: 5/5SOBBING. THIS BOOK WAS SO SO SO BEAUTIFUL.
I need more. I want the vows. The entire wedding. I want to read about Aaron and Juliette and dog living together with kenji as their neighbour. give me another novella set in the future where everything is perfect because all the characters deserve it so so so much. Aaron deserves it so fucking much.
“Ella, I don't . . . I've done nothing to deserve you. The way you make me feel—the things you say to me— It's terrifying. I keep thinking the world will realize, any second now, how completely unworthy I am. I keep waiting for something horrible to happen, something to reset the scales and return me to hell, where I belong, and then all of this will just disappear. You'll just disappear. God, just thinking about it—”
AHHHH this book did everything right.
Aaron's pov was just perfect>>>
so upset that it's over
rating - 3.5 / 5
I absolutely love the characters and I'm super upset the series is coming to an end. Buut...this book, was not the epic conclusion i was expecting, i guess?
The pacing was very off and I didn't feel like this was the last book. The first 15% of reading the book was just me confused. It felt like shatter me with looong descriptions and the plot just not moving forward. Only at about 50% did the plot finally get somewhere and I sorta kinda had an idea of what was happening. Nothing was going right and i didn't see how the author would solve any of the problems without making it feel rushed. Again my love for the characters takes over when the plot doesn't deliver; hence the rating. But i was sliiiightly disappointed:/ to say the least
Aaron warner practically carries the entire series for me, so it was probably the lack of his pov; but this book was nowhere as good as Restore me or Defy me. idk if I'd be able to take frustrated-and-upset Aaron pov chapters though, so maybe it was for the best. Also Robo-J (as kenji would say) had me so frustrated ughh. The whole thing with Juliette finding Anderson attractive was also extremely weird and Max being amused by this was...just repulsive. It all felt very contrived and convoluted for the last book. I was just there like- okayyyy...?
The entire book was the equivalent of building up to something extremely insane, only for it to end up being ordinary at best.
The one thing i did love though? was the epilogue.
rating - 5 / 5
This book basically said: ‘everything you know so far? well.. that was a lie.'
Like I said in my review of Restore me, the second half of the series takes a complete 360° turn from the first. It's better written, more mature and just reads better. However, if you thought Restore me was crazy, just wait till you read this.
(the rest of the review contains spoilers. not spoiler tagged)
I honestly don't know how to review these. It felt like middle school me was cruising through a dystopian series, back in 2016. I read the entire book in one sitting, and didn't expect any of the plot twists/ revelations, which is great. Also, I'm practically obsessed with Aaron so I could read about him watching paint dry, and still not be bored. (i.e I'm not the best person to objectively review this).
LOVED the Kenji pov. And juliette ella and warner ahhhh<3. Their backstory adds so much more depth to their story.
“because it didn't matter how many times he reset the story or remade the introductions- Aaron always fell in love with her.
rating - 3.5 / 5 (only for kenji <3 )
Didn't read the synopsis and therefore the Kenji pov was a surprise! super happy to finally see his pov and voice. I've always known humour was his coping mechanism but seeing it actually written about is so sad ugh:(
“it's nice to have a space at the end of the night to be alone with my thoughts. Somewhere to hang the happy face I force myself to wear even when I'm having a shitty day.
does not stand out
add anything to the plot
“but when I look around the room I see the audience members begin to stir. Their shirts are torn and their faces are scratched, but no one appears to be dead.”
so they're not dead?
rating - 4.5 / 5
I genuinely don't know what to say. what the absolute fuck just happened in this book???
When I found out that the first five shatter me books are usually considered separate from the last six (restore me series), I was kinda intrigued. Ignite me, (the last book of the five) does not end on a cliffhanger, and one can stop reading the series there, with a pretty satisfactory ending; In fact, quite a few people do. Not gonna lie, I did consider stopping at Ignite me?
“Ignite, my love. Ignite”
absolutely loved it.
resolved
stop reading for a bit so the characters can still be suspended in time with no problems in life?
“Did he ever tell you,” Anderson says “what he had to do to prove that he was worthy?”
Because holy crap. I was just staring into space for about an hour before i could write this review.
Tahereh Mafi takes the restore me series to a whole different level.
top tier
plot twists were insane
The end had me like ??????
the polaroid of aaron and ella. (I WILL SOB. I am genuinely not strong enough for this.)
tad bit slow
character development
unpack
banter
so much more rounded and polished compared to it's predecessors
ominous tones
rating- 5 / 5
I stayed up till 4 am screaming and crying while reading this book. It put me in all the feels and was just perfect. was it written perfectly? honestly who cares. I'm not here to critically analyse a book, I genuinely LOVED reading.
AARON WARNER. SIR- I was obsessed. Man would say one thing and I would highlight aggressively. The scene where he RUSHES TO HER because he thought she was in danger, courtesy of the clicky pager thing was just chef's kiss>>>>
I was screeching throughout.
THE DRAMA, with Adam. THE ROMANCE. dear god- The way this was YA too; still top tier. love it. THE ACTION. THE PLOT. It just went above and beyond any expectations I had.
Juliette's monologue telling Aaron she sees him for who he is. The training. Her confession. There's just sooo many scenes i really reallyy loved. And KENJI. AHH. His relationship with Juliette is the absolute cutest. he deserves everything.
At this point, this review is all over the place and it's just me stating everything I loved but it is what it is. THIS book is why you should read shatter me. You're a 100% missing out, if you don't know who Aaron Warner is.
rating - 3/5
the way destroy me , makes the reader root for Aaron by showing us his thoughts and pov; fracture me does exactly that with adam's pov except we're still rooting for Aaron.
I didn't love Adam and Juliette together; but I didn't really dislike him.
not so sure i can say that now, i guess.
I get why he wouldn't want to endanger his life or his brother's. That I'm kinda willing to let go (imagine warner being in this situation though. he would literally do everything to save Juliette)
The weakling thing though?? not okay sir. she's crushing bricks and causing earthquakes and your stupid blocking power ass thinks SHE's the weakling? T_T
cruisin my way through these books like there's no tomorrow. on to ignite me<3
rating - 5/5
honestly loved this book so much more than its precursors. The pacing in the beginning was a little slow, but when it picked up; i genuinely couldn't put it down. might've stayed up till 4 am, reading. but we don't talk about that.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE Aaron Warner. any doubts whatsoever have been replaced with absolute admiration for this man. He is everything.
“I want so many things,” he whispers. “I want your mind. Your strength. I want to be worth your time.” His fingers graze the hem of my top and he says “I want this up.” He tugs on the waist of my pants and says “I want these down.” He touches the tips of his fingers to the sides of my body and says, “I want to feel your skin on fire. I want to feel your heart racing next to mine and I want to know it's racing because of me, because you want me. Because you never,” he says, he breathes, “never want me to stop. I want every second. Every inch of you. I want all of it.”
“All you do is sit around and think about your feelings. You've got problems. boo-freaking-hoo.”...“Those aren't problems”. “It's stupid and ungrateful because you don't have a clue what everyone else in the world is going through right now”
“he's one of my favourite people on this planet and I'm so happy he's okay. I'm so happy he's my friend.
fares extremely well in terms of the romance, plot twists and action.
keeping the reader invested throughout.
rating: 4/5
I really, really liked destroy me. It was short, to the point and does its job as a bridging novella.
The only setback in book 1, was the prose and excessive use of metaphors. This wasn't an issue for me in destroy me, since aaron's pov doesn't read like juliette's. It was easier for me to get through due to the lack of contrived writing.
While the novella itself was short and didn't add to the plot as such, I think the small insight into aaron's pov is essential to his character arc. As a reader we do find out quite a bit. I know it's to humanise him and evoke sympathy, so we can start rooting for him. But I'm still a little bit on the fence about him. Let's see how I like the rest of the series. super excited to continue! :)
rating - 4/5
“I hate the lackadaisical ennui of a sun too preoccupied with itself to notice the infinite hours we spend in its presence.”
did i think the prose was really good? yes. did i also think it was a tad bit excessive? yes.
“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”
underwhelming
there is a problem, if ALL you're using is metaphors.
“and please and please and please—”“He looks so familiar so familiar so familiar to me.“There are 400 cotton balls caught in my windpipe.”“My jaw is dangling from my shoelace.”
really liked the world-building and evolution of the different relationships
slow
development
quite fast paced in the sense of reading time
here for Juliette's character arc
rating - 3/5 honestly, i don't even know how to review this book so I'm going to get right into everything that didn't work, which was.. pretty much everything.➛The idea is great. a sexy bucket list for an over-achieving, planning-out-everything academic who's actually a creative. you already have the setting from book 1; i.e the races since the timeline is parallel to the first book. The characters have already been introduced. All this book had to do was give us a good dual pov with the friends with benefits trope playing out perfectly. So there was great potential; but somehow it just didn't deliver.➛The writing/narrative of the characters was kinda bad and felt very 2014 wattpadesque. the quirky graphic tees, pasta and sneakers was giving not-like-other-girls, which I was willing to overlook if the author hadn't mentioned it like a million times. BUt iT is wHaT iT iS.I think it was a decent book except for the writing (again I'm okay with this since these are her debut novels). ➛I also felt like the conflict at the end, her being in love, leaving, heartbreak, drama i.e i.e was kinda unnecessary. it was also done in a super weird way; with the contract problems it just felt like a lot to take on at once. i don't know what the author could've done instead but yeah, (maybe just her finding out about the contract clause and they could've just had an argument instead of whatever this was) because we didn't really get quality groveling to compensate for all that drama.eitherway i do think it's a pretty good book to read, if you wanna read something without thinking about it too much. I immediately picked this up after [b:Throttled 127561075 Throttled (Dirty Air, #1) Lauren Asher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681111333l/127561075.SY75.jpg 73372680], and I've heard that the last two books are considerably better but i don't see myself picking them up immediately.
rating - 3.5/5Did i think this book had a lot of clichès? yes. Did i still eat that shit up? absolutely.
To be fair, I haven't read anything in a while and just wanted something super fast paced and fun to get me back to reading and this was perfect for that.
Would i love it as much if i had been reading other romances right before this? maybe not. But reading is subjective, it depends on your moods; and it was the perfect time to pick this up. I've also loved f1 for a while now, and this book singlehandedly fed my romance and f1 obsession.
The writing wasn't perfect but i loved the rivals to teammates aspect. I was nervous about how formula one would be written about, but the author did a pretty great job; ( let's leave out maya talking over the radio, because it was solely for plot purposes. right? right.) i knew most of the terms but it was explained well enough for anyone who didn't know the sport.
I was comparing this to real world f1 constantly haha. was it just me or is bandini, ferrari? (but in an alternate world where ferrari don't mess up. And Noah is charles with max's personality.) i know the author didn't write about real f1 drivers but come on now. not just me right?
The only complaint i probably have, is the conflict resolution. Noah's father and santi ofc were pretty strong plot devices but i felt like the resolution was very easy?? For something they talk about for almost 60% of the book; Santi was pretty okay with their relationship? he was upset for like one page, bahaha.
Eitherway, noah and maya are so cute! I have attachment issues and always end up having a soft spot for the first couple in all these books (cough hannah and garrett coughcough lilo cough) so let's see if jax/liam/santi can do better:) will probably pick up collided as soon as i finish this review!
edit:found out this was lauren asher's debut book so that explains the writing style.
anyway you should definitely pick this up in between books for a light-hearted read and give it a chance.
rating - 3.5 / 5” a million things had to go right for you to be born, and a million things had to go right for you to still be alive today. Life is precious. You're here. you're alive. You have purpose. You have choices to make.”
I read very few memoirs/ self help books; but I've watched jess and gabe for the longest time so thought I'd give this a try :)
While I might not have the same beliefs as Gabriel, a few things he mentioned strongly resonated with me:
“You're not just going through what you're going through. You're growing through what you're going through.”
slightly better
dialogue format
jarring
__
__
this took me out of the book
unnatural
in between paragraphs
throughout
decent
few quotes that standout
nothing remarkable
rating - 3 / 5
This was so cute but there were just soooo many things that brought the rating down for me.
*sigh *
Honestly, the most important question is - did this book need to be written? like it absolutely adds nothing to the book universe. The author could've literally added a wedding, elopement, pregnancy and honeymoon epilogue chapter at the end of every book and it would serve the same purpose. The only reason I enjoyed this book were the group chats and the small banter. Those were pretty cute and fun to read:)
A feel-good happy epilogue set in the future, is what I was expecting. What i got instead was a lead-up to a supposed happy ending, without actually giving us this ending. Elle Kennedy literally handed us four parts of chaos and real life problems with dissatisfying character arcs disguised as an epilogue.
There's no denying Alexander was the main character. I did enjoy the joke.. the first 5 times. like??? Oookay you have a haunted doll; Is that all you'll talk about for 300 pages though?? repetitive much?
Overall, somehow it just didn't work for me. Grace and Logan's story was cute, but like? atleast! give! us! the! vows! T_T that's literally what an epilogue is for.
Same with Sabrina and Tuck. I pushed through near plane crashes, coconuts falling and arrests for what?? give us something!!! big happy endings? remember those? a job offer felt really insignificant, in my opinion. A new house, them moving in? Jamie's first day of school? would've felt more like it.
Coming to Hannah and Garett. They were definitely my favourite characters and their story was easily the worst (sorry not sorry). You expect me to believe the IT couple of communicating went 8/10 chapters not talking about their literal baby? AND the author had the nerve to put them last—
Dean and Allie's part, (and Grace and Logan's slightly) was the only one i probably enjoyed. It didn't seem out of character and had just the right amount of conflict.
Another issue I had, was the fact that I haven't read Briar U; so I wasn't able to appreciate the characters from there being in it.
So, although i loved revisiting a few characters I'd loved before; I don't think you'd be missing out on anything in terms of plot if you decided not to read the legacy.
“Because I think she loves you more than she loves sex. And you love her more than you love alcohol, but you two just haven't let yourselves believe it yet.”.
●・○・●・○・● ●・○・●・○・● ●・○・●・○・●
rating - 4/5
Okay wow, for about the first 30% or so, I thought this would be similar to the first two books with not a lot going on. But wowza could I BE more wrong.
After they all went to the spring break trip, things took off really well. Definitely way more plot than the first two books combined; which i really, really liked. The friendships and relationships have strengthened and it's really cool to see all of it play out together.
The entire friendgroup > >
“It's not your fault,” Rose says. “You were a kid. we all were”“And you have a shitty fucking father,” Ryke adds.“And no mother,” Daisy says.“And you were an alcoholic,” Connor concludesFor the first time I have them, and I feel tears build at the words I never thought I'd hear. It's not your fault. I can believe it one day i think.
“I go to Calloway Sunday luncheons with Rose,” Connor tells me. Oh shit.If I marry Lily, I'm easily going to be the worst son-in-law. Connor Cobalt cannot marry Lily's sister. He'll set unattainable standards I'll never be able to reach.
I can already picture myself squealing to their intellectual banter.
defensive of a couple that I find destined and beautiful. They belong together the way books fit in a library.
“Isn't this the part where our love overcomes our addictions? Where our problems magically solve from a kiss and a promise?” rating- 4/5
I'm bawling my eyes. THAT is not what i expected.
Did I pick this up because i thought it would be a light hearted romance series? yes. Am I disappointed that it is exactly the opposite of light hearted? honestly..not? This was something i didn't know I needed T_T
But then again I probably wouldn't have picked this up if somebody had given me the brief beforehand:
‘A book about two addicts being dependent on each other, pretending to have a healthy life and dating. While in reality, they're infact not okay; absolutely spiralling, going off the deep end and enabling each other.'
the lack of plot
character-driven
somebody.
could've been shorter
repetitive
recurring, unchanging nature was a more realistic portrayal of their problems
Wait for me.” The words come out choked and pained. “I need you to wait for me.”
The half brother thing was pretty evident. The only thing i didn't anticipate was Ryke being Jonathan and Sara's son. idk.
Final thoughts:
"Careful, Mr Larsen, or I'll think you actually like me.”His mouth curled into a grin. “Baby, we're way beyond like."
screaming.
rating- 3.5/5
Absolutely loved it. Definitely an improvement from book 1; the writing was much better and I was able to connect with the characters so much more.
I've always loved royal romances, enter 12 year old ritika reading princess diaries repeatedly so the whole princess-bodyguard setting, Bridget's royal duties, Eldorra's parliament, The Royal Marriages Law- all of it, extremely fascinated me. Also really really loved Rhys and his backstory. And their relationship. holy hell. (so hot please-)
The amount of jealousy scenes in this book though:
I finally gathered enough of my wits to pull back, but before I could, a loud crash shattered the silence in the greenhouse.Steffan and I jumped apart, and my eyes fell on Rhys, who stood next to a broken pot of lilies.“My hand slipped.” His voice held not an ounce of apology.
tiny revelations and subplots that add to the reading experience.
SETBACKS
“And so it went. Day after day, month after month of the same thing. Fall turned into winter, then into spring and summer, then fall again.
example:
time-skipped numerous times, in between paragraphs
quite predictable, but a fun, entertaining read :)
rating- 3/5
I read both 1 star and 5 star reviews before writing this, and i don't usually do that, (because let's be fair gr reviews make you contemplate your entire existence) but i was thoroughly confused as to whether i liked this book or not? I'm still confused so eh; prepare yourselves for a chaotic review i guess.
{review may contain spoilers!}
INITIAL FEELINGS
Okay so when i read the blurb, i was genuinely confused if this was a fantasy or a contemporary romance. heart of ice? danger? devil blessed with the face of an angel? who uses those phrases in a normal contemporary romance anymore, am i right?
As I continued reading and came to terms with the fact that that's how the writing was going to be, i did start to enjoy it more. a small excerpt to explain what i mean:
“He was a look at me wrong and I'll destroy you and everyone you care about kinda guy, and he'd do it looking so calm and gorgeous you wouldn't notice your world burning down around you until you were already a heap of ashes.”
Literally transported me back in time to reading fanfics on ao3, twilight and fifty shades. Overall different writing style than what i read now, but not complaining.
CHARACTERS
Another issue i had, was with the relationship dynamic. I was amused and had fun for the most part, but there were a few things that bothered me. The first being the transition between Alex ‘wanting and ‘not wanting' Ava. Like one minute he's all cold and indifferent, and the next he's just like:
“She's mine, she just doesn't know it yet”
read in a deep voice to make my review funny plis
douchey possessive.
With her doe eyes and innocent features, she resembled a sacrificial virgin awaiting defilement.My cock throbbed harder.“Take off your clothes,” I said, my soft voice a whip crack in the silence.
intrigued
predictability.
The Uncle and Michael Chen plot twists separately that is, I didn't see or think how it would go together; which was well done I suppose.
‘let her go because i'm not good enough for her'.
interesting
SY75
easy, fun and fast paced read
rating- 2.5/5I was way too excited for this book, but i'm disappointed to say the least. I felt like this was way too similar to [b:The Fine Print 58530994 The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires, #1) Lauren Asher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625979098l/58530994.SY75.jpg 90312122]; I get that they're both grumpy-sunshine, but the characterisation seemed very similar for my liking. I'm not going to make this too long and go into details of what i didn't like (i lied, that is exactly what i proceed to do), but somehow this didn't live up to my expectations. The book literally starts off with their engagement, there is zero like setup and I felt like i was thrown into the book and the plot instead of being eased into it. We don't see until much later why Iris even agrees to marry him? so yeah i wasn't sure what was happening until much later. I've heard so much praise for the marriage of convenience trope everywhere and i was extremely upset i didn't feel the same way. The characters felt 2- dimensional and flat, since their entire personality revolved around each other. This was mostly Iris, I'm not sure Declan even had a personality to begin with. Not having a personality was his personality. Like i've read loads of books with the grumpy-sunshine trope; one does not have to lack personality to be grumpy!! But yes even this joke for characterisation was not executed properly, we're told he does not laugh and like 3 chapters in when he suddenly decides he likes Iris, alll he does is laugh. Like atleast make it rare?? so it's believable idk. Another complaint i'm sure a lot of people have is the lack of awkwardness and tension in the book. I definitely feel like Iris should've been less comfortable with the pda and public appearances in the beginning, and slowly become more accustomed to it? That being said, there were also quite a few things i liked. The whole words in a different language thing had my entire heart (although i was confused asf until i read what they meant; and in case of an ebook that wasn't until quite a few pages later). The whole dog and proposal thing was also very cute. sappy but cute. i like declarations of love, leave me alone. And last but not the least, the epilogues are absolutely my favourite. I read both the extended epilogues for [b:The Fine Print 58530994 The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires, #1) Lauren Asher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625979098l/58530994.SY75.jpg 90312122] & [b:Terms and Conditions 60438355 Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2) Lauren Asher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645136977l/60438355.SY75.jpg 91507178] and loved loved loved them.Overall, I was disappointed for sure but it still had some endearing moments that had me smiling. Cal was a highlight and his personality shines through this book even more than the first. Him being Iris's bestfriend definitely saved this book. Absolutely cannot wait for his book.
rating - 3.5/5“There's nothing in the world i'll find more beautiful than her. Not the sun. Not the moon. Not even the entire galaxy compares to the light she radiates wherever she goes.(The fact that i read this less than a week ago and yet i cannot remember a thing for this review as i write it, is highly concerning.)I do remember starting to read this at like 1 in the morning and thinking the book had crack in it, because of how much i enjoyed it. One thing that stands out to me is the Disney land like theme / setting. SO GOOD. The descriptions of the park, the different rides, the creators meetings. Everything felt EXTREMELY real. It was real, right?. It has to be, idc. I refuse to believe all that came out of the author's head and onto paper. IT COULD NOT HAVE. apologise for all the capitalisationLoved Zahra. Mixed feelings about Rowan. But them together? yes. absolutely.{This review contains spoilers after this point}The whole mixed feelings thing is just my high standards getting in the way, but i'll explain it anyway. So a lot of reviews appreciate the grovelling in this book. But i felt like it wasn't good enough for all the things he did? like lying to her about the whole Scott situation, for instance and he literally orders takeout and talks to her. And the hospital situation, he does the whole ppt thing for the board. But you see, that's not like to win her back perse, it's also him doing his job. idk if that makes sense? But i needed actual ‘acts' to see that he cared for her; apart from just his pov yk.Overall I feel like if you take away the magic and the glitz of the dreamland setting, the actual story itself isn't that special. The fact that i cannot remember most of it, is testament to the fact that it's not very memorable. Then again, I did enjoy it a lot so. shrugsI hope i like the sequel more, because I'm excited to see Declan and Iris's whole dynamic; loved whatever little peeks this book offered. I've also never read a marriage of convenience and i know [b:Terms and Conditions 60438355 Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2) Lauren Asher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645136977l/60438355.SY75.jpg 91507178] is that because of the whole will situation so yeah. super excited:))