Ritika Bhattacharjee

{thank you to Netgalley, Peachtree and author [a:Anna Gracia 21592280 Anna Gracia https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1624833969p2/21592280.jpg] for providing me an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!}publishing date- 05th July 2022—————————————rating- 3.5/5[b:Boys I Know 58163787 Boys I Know Anna Gracia https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630513308l/58163787.SY75.jpg 91169148] follows June Chu, a first generation Taiwanese-American as she navigates high school, college applications, relationships, sex and friendships. A sex positive, poignant and realistic coming of age story; June's bad decisions are as maddening as they are cathartic. The book addresses a lot of things from parental issues in Asian households to consent and micro-aggressions faced by asians in the US. It's definitely not an easy, light-hearted read and makes you feel discomfort. But that's what the book aims to do. Reading about actual issues faced by people, ranging from racism to heartbreak written in such an authentic manner was very different from the usual new- adult book. It was an interesting read and delves into so many issues with complex laid out characters. The book refers to June, our protagonist: as ‘just good enough'. As a second child in an Asian household, she constantly feels the need to be as good as her sister, get something other than a third place trophy and manage her relationships well. This low self worth leads her to pursue relationships with the boys she knows. (see what i did there?)Unfortunately, this book like June was also ‘just good enough'. Although it conveys important messages and is realistic in the best way possible, the structure and flow of the narrative seemed a bit disjointed at times. I did read this book over the course of a few days, so it could also be that. But yeah. I found something lacking : maybe in the plot; maybe in the sense of realism it offers; maybe in the way, some instances aren't addressed or the lack of confrontation, calling somebody out and important conversations.But then again maybe that's what the author wanted to capture: the realistic aspect. (sincerely apologise for the number of times i said maybe)Overall, it was a very different reading experience, one that included discomfort (the good, talking about important issues kind of discomfort) and i think everybody should definitely read this book at some point in their lives.

rating- 4.5/5

{thank you to Netgalley, Holiday house and Alexene Farol Follmuth for providing me an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!}

publishing date- 31st may 2022
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“Because she surprises me, because she makes me laugh, and because this, whatever it is, with her, is the only thing I ever do that's easy. Because wherever I am, I want her closeby.”

Hands down the best ARC i've received till date, no kidding.

Like the author just SERVEDwoc in STEM and academic rivals to lovers with no warning whatsoever. Did I mention it's also dual pov???? It's definitely making it to my ‘Books i will pay you to read' shelf (The title isn't literal, i'm broke.)

PREMISE
[b:My Mechanical Romance|58857822|My Mechanical Romance|Alexene Farol Follmuth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635340383l/58857822.SX50.jpg|92714618] follows Bel who enrols into a new high school. She's fun, easy-going and doesn't know what she's going to do about college. Applications? extracurriculars? nope. However, when she accidentally reveals her talent for engineering, she is forced to join the school's robotics club by her teacher. Enter Mateo (Teo) Luna, captain of the club. He is focused, dedicated and knows exactly what he wants to do. Teo cares too much about Nationals, while Bel does not. But as they begin to spend more time with each other, they realise they've built more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they've made space for each other and themselves.

(review may contain spoilers after this point)
THOUGHTS
I absolutely loved this book. The writing style felt very casual that helped the narrative of the book. The plot and the characters were extremely well developed and felt three dimensional and realistic throughout. The friendship dynamics were also really well done. Every single character felt complex, realistic and had their own form of development. Bel had actual problems and thoughts that weren't limited to the male protagonist. Her parents going through a divorce, not knowing what she wanted to do with her life, feeling alone, etc. Teo despite being more privileged than Bel, also had his own set of problems. The evolution of their relationship also felt very natural and was so much fun to read. The side characters felt fleshed out despite little description. Can we please talk about Neelam. Absolutely loved her. Her whole dynamic with Bel seemed super natural, even during the animosity. (no typical mean girl bull-crap. because let's be real, we don't have those in real life after middle school.)
Coming back to Bel and Teo's relationship. my heart. my absolute fucking heart. Teo's pov about Bel>>>. Honestly this is the standard. The quote I put in the beginning of my review is my absolute favourite but was the only quotable one bahahah. the rest is so normal which again, I LOVE SO MUCH. Give me all the normalcy in romantic relationships and i will absolutely devour it.

“Oh my god shut u-“ And then he pulls me in and kisses me”

“He rifles his hair and oh no, oh no, oh no. It looks so soft”“he walks away with a smile and oh no, oh no, oh no. I am definitely in it now.”

“the equal credit we have to fight for, the perception that we are less than we are. The microagressions, the gatekeeping, the dismissal we face sometimes, in our low moments we may mistake for being the truth. But even if that's how our story begins, that's not where it ends.”

“And you don't understand how hard it is to be a girl competing with boys who don't even realise that they unlike us, are perceived as more competent no matter what they do.”

“know they're a part of this even if- especially if-they choose to say nothing.”

rating- 3/5{thank you to Netgalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC and Sarah Ready for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review}publishing date- 25th feb 2022————————————————“When you realize you love someone and that you that you want to spend the rest of forever with them, you want forever to start right now.”The title and the description didn't really appeal to me as much as the fact that this book was about infertility and IVF treatments. I found [b:Josh and Gemma Make a Baby 59796297 Josh and Gemma Make a Baby Sarah Ready https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639176336l/59796297.SX50.jpg 93060005] on one of my requesting sprees (I get declined for most ARCs sadly, so a spree is a viable option), and didn't think too much before requesting it. I even procrastinated till pretty much right before the archive date to read it. Naturally, I didn't expect to like it.So a three star read was definitely a surprise. The blurb makes the premise sound weirder than it is and the writing style took a while to get used to, but once you do you'll be amused to no end. The banter and the chaotic nature of the plot is top notch. I also like how the problems, and issues faced by infertile women are explored, with an equal balance of humour and romance. Coming to the characters, Josh was an absolute sweetheart. I thought his character was more fleshed out than Gemma's which is weird because the entire story is in Gemma's pov. (maybe it was just me?). I also loved that he was a comic book writer. That's so cool. The whole Grim-Jewel (because GEM. sobbing brb) thing was super cute and different (made the nerd in me, happy). I do think some of the side characters weren't written very well, like Gemma's mum and her family; but I absolutely loved the infertility support group. I would most definitely read a book about Carly, Brook or Hannah if the author decides to write one.Although I loathe Ian; I'm not sure how I feel about all the quotes (there were too many). The illustrations however, were the cutest:) Certain plot points were pretty predictable for instance, I knew the Ian conflict was coming, from almost a mile away. and unrealistic (but then again its fiction. AND romance. So that's acceptable) The plot mostly consists of a feel good romance except for one instance towards the end that could be triggering to some (make sure to look up trigger warnings. I've added a few below).I like that Josh and Gemma didn't get pregnant on their very first try, because that would be way too unrealistic and ideal The humour was silly and weird, boy-toy? really? but had me laughing anyway.Overall, the book isn't groundbreaking or jaw-dropping but will leave you happy and content. It has a few tropes but they aren't blaringly in your face and are eased into the plot. If you want to read a predictable, cheesy romance that'll make you smile then I would definitely recommend [b:Josh and Gemma Make a Baby 59796297 Josh and Gemma Make a Baby Sarah Ready https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639176336l/59796297.SX50.jpg 93060005] !tw // : infertility, IVF, miscarriage, instances of fat-shaming.

“There was something magical about an island—the mere word suggested fantasy. You lost touch with the world—an island was a world of its own. A world, perhaps, from which you might never return.”

rating - 4.5/5

10 strangers, a poem about 10 soldiers dying and a series of murders.

This was my first Agatha Christie and I can totally see why it's such a fan favourite.
[b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638425885l/16299.SY75.jpg|3038872] is a fast paced, simple and beautifully crafted crime thriller that leaves you with a sense of unease, discomfort and a harrowing feeling. The plot is such, that you're routinely creeped out, second- guessing every character and questioning your views. Each element of the story is intricate and the structure, well laid out.
The plot is the story's plus point and also it's setback. While I love that you know exactly what's going to happen (due to the silly yet ominous poem the murderer follows) the reader is still intrigued with the whos and the hows. It also is the groundwork for why we aren't given too many character details (thereby making them feel two- dimensional) or why the reader doesn't connect with any character (I, for instance didn't want to root for anybody in case they ended up being the murderer.)- A classic feature of the numerous locked room murder mysteries that are very popular now. [b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638425885l/16299.SY75.jpg|3038872] definitely set the bar for this genre back in 1939.

Despite these pointers and the writing style being a little too straight forward for my taste, I really enjoyed the story. I like that even though most readers can make an educated guess or have a gut feeling about who the murderer could be, they are left unsure or on the fence about it at certain points of the story. The ending is not my favourite way of revealing things because it feels a lot like “um anyways so, this is what happened” and feels disconnected to the plot, but kind of works for the story i guess.
However, the wire and gun trick Wargrave uses seemed a little too far fetched to me. Also a few plot-holes that I was able to think of: ➙an examination should have been able to distinguish the gun shot as self inflicted, right?➙how did Wargrave manage to predict the storm and plan out the the entire thing coinciding with the two day storm. Because come to think of it, it is essential that there is no communication to the mainland for this to work

Something else i really liked was the psychological aspect the plot explores. Put 10 people together in a house with no way of leaving, tell them there's a murderer amongst them and watch the chaos unfold. The crimes they committed laid out in the open, do they confess or deny it throughout? The prolonged mental strain and fear the house mates endure, flashbacks of their crimes, the constant blaming, mistrust and alliances being formed were very interesting to read about. Vera's death was also an example of how this played out. ” ‘one of us'.. ‘one of us... one of us..' Three words, endlessly repeated, dinning themselves hour after hour into five receptive brains.”
Overall, I think it's a great read because it surprises the reader on atleast one, if not many occasions. I would definitely love to reread it and find details I might've missed on the first read.

rating- 3/5

{thank you to Netgalley, City Owl Press and [a:Ashley R. King|19795783|Ashley R. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1575655900p2/19795783.jpg] for providing me an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review}

publishing date- 15th Feb, 2022
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"I can't help your game if i can't get into your head""Oh you're in my head, ma chérie. Believe me."

The book started off incredibly well, with the chemistry between Alex and Simone being off the charts. The first chapter immediately draws you in and you just HAVE to know more, you know? I absolutely love sports romances and tennis being a sport that's not usually written about, definitely made [b:The Wilde Card|57337994|The Wilde Card (Ace of Hearts, #2)|Ashley R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1641255830l/57337994.SY75.jpg|89734682] stand out.
The one night stand? the dual pov? the chemistry? a single parent with an adorable 8 year old? a coach-player romance?
I was definitely sold and was pretty sure it was going to make my favourites shelf. Unfortunately, it fell a little short for me due to some parts in the middle.
Here's a few thoughts:

Setbacks-
✶ Simone being Alex's coach and Alex's current game was more than enough reason for them to not act on their feelings and add to built-up tension from the night of the ball. The tension would've been a fun addition to the plot and entertaining to read. I feel like most readers like the build-up to when the characters actually get together, which in this case was non-existent. The protagonists are only confused about being together in a relationship but sleep together whenever they want to anyway.

✶ sleep together, question feelings, do we date? repeat. x 3
yep. that's the plot summed up for you in terms of relationship dynamic. it was a little repetitive and I was expecting it by the third time anyway.

✶ A few dialogues and interactions seemed forced and unnatural.

✶ While this is a slowburn because they don't get together relationship-wise until the very end, all their confessions and sleeping together don't make it feel like one.

Things i really liked-
✶ I LOVED the tennis aspect of it. I knew nothing about the sport and haven't watched any tennis matches as such but the book had me looking up stuff anyway.

✶ I think the author did a great job at the side characters because I really wanted to read the first book, [b:Painting the Lines|49114881|Painting the Lines (Ace of Hearts, #1)|Ashley R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595331144l/49114881.SY75.jpg|74559662] about Amalie and Julian as soon as she mentioned them. I decided not to read it because I was short on time and regretted it the whole time because they're such interesting characters.

✶ The found family dynamic with everybody at the end, was also a great addition and nicely done.

✶ I loved Lula! kids in books make me happy and she was such a sweetheart:)


Overall, while the start had me hooked, the book went significantly downhill for me after that. However, I did like how easy to read and fast paced it was. just because i didn't love it, doesn't mean you won't. you should definitely give [b:The Wilde Card|57337994|The Wilde Card (Ace of Hearts, #2)|Ashley R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1641255830l/57337994.SY75.jpg|89734682] a chance:) and add it to your tbrs.

{thank you to netgalley and the orange sky audio for providing an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review}

“the trick to not having the high expectations of your success bury you when you fail to meet them? lower them to practically nothing.”rating- 2.5/5

This is the first audiobook recording for a book published in 2014. I came across the excerpt on netgalley when I was looking for nothing in particular and found the premise super intriguing. I also don't usually prefer audiobooks, so this was an experience! Samantha Summers, the narrator did a great job with the narration. Her voice fit the main character's monologue perfectly and the voice modulations kept the plot engaging throughout. I had a lot of fun listening to the book and had absolutely no complaints when it came to the audio.
That being said, i don't think i would've liked the book as much if I'd read it instead of listening to it. The writing style was different from what i usually read but seemed to work for an audiobook format.

PREMISE
18 year old Lizzie Brandt has gone into a downward spiral ever since she's come to college. She doesn't care about her grades and spends most of her time in parties and curing hangovers.
Everything changes when she loses her parents to a car crash. Now, she's the sole guardian to her two younger brothers and needs to bring up her grades to maintain the scholarship. She's struggling with parenting at 18 while also figuring out college, when she ends up falling for Connor Lawson, her history TA who has helped her throughout everything. When bad decisions from her past are back to haunt her and threaten her relationship with Connor as well as custody of her brothers, she finds that she has more on her plate than she can handle.

{review contains spoilers after this point!}
THOUGHTS
It was way better than I expected for sure. I looked up the actual book on gr, and I'm pretty sure i wouldn't have picked it up if not for the new cover and the audiobook. i.e. it was definitely a good idea to republish in audio format.

There were a few things in the plot that didn't work for me:
➢ the age gap felt a little icky to me, especially because of the power imbalance in the teacher-student dynamic. Would've been different if she was over 20 i think. But atleast they address this in the book instead of glossing over it. Also think it wasn't the best idea for her to get into a complicated relationship mere weeks after her parents death, but then again, it is what it is.
➢ the predictability of the plot.
I knew immediately after the whole Sophie conflict that this was going to bite her back in the ass. I also disliked the whole cheating situation in the beginning. Lizzie's definitely in the wrong but is surprised that Sophie is mean to her?
➢Although Lizzie's character is more than realistic, because let's be fair every 18 year old would react similarly in a situation like that, i did find her monologue sliiightlyyy annoying at times. She's whiny and constantly complains about her life falling apart instead of doing something about it.
➢ You know a book is written in 2014 when it uses words like fuckability? and lady boner? Plis T_T.
➢ I understand that losing your parents at 18 is terrible and nobody should have to go through that. But the author mentions her parent's death every two pages and it did get more than a little repetitive.

Now, coming to the things i liked:
➢Connor's character was definitely more likable. I was a little apprehensive that they would use the daddy issues bit to justify asshole-like behaviour, but I'm glad they didn't. His reluctance was completely understandable and makes more sense when he voices his thoughts about his inability to be a good parental figure to the boys. Moreover, their relationship was really well done. It wasn't super quick or too slow and they had great banter and chemistry.

“if you don't think I'm committing every fucking second of this to memory, you're crazy”

chaotic nature of the plot.

The ending was not what I expected. It felt like it negated all the character development since Lizzie is back to living on her own. It lets her off the hook as a protagonist and made the plotline of the story seem unfulfilled.

fun, fast paced

“Looking back on it, it's weird thinking about the moments you don't realize are important. The sentences, the touches, the actions that seem so innocent in that second, you take them for granted.” rating-3/5Okay that was..different?? I have a lot to say and also don't really know what to say. i.e. this review is going to be chaos. (just preparing you) My friend recommended this to me and i did have former warning that there were only emails/letters/IMs for about 40% of the book which is why I was prepared. Although I'm pretty sure that if I hadn't been prepared, I'd be constantly thinking about when it would switch to a first person pov. [a:Mariana Zapata 5760202 Mariana Zapata https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1330380214p2/5760202.jpg] definitely did a good job at a unique writing format for this book. (not saying it worked.., but it was unique.)It also had a pretty good premise: An online service that connects soldiers to people who are willing to write to them. Ruby and Aaron meet through HaS (help a soldier) and end up writing to each other for over a year. Soon they become really close and *insert friendship, flirty banter and romance *So potentially, really great plot; although, it somehow didn't end up working for me. A lot of people did not enjoy the first half of the book because of the format and the pace, however it was the reverse for me. I liked the online conversations slightly more than the in-person bit. Don't get me wrong, almost half the book with just random topics of conversation is A lot. Cutting out a few of these chapters definitely would have been more ideal, but it is what it is. I read the online convos as if they were screenshots of texts, instead of thinking of how they contributed to the plot in any manner. This made it easier for me to read them without being exasperated at the lack of direction or plot. What appealed to me in these online convos was how real they seemed. I loved that we could see the protagonists getting more comfortable talking to each other over the course of time. The toilet and butthole jokes weren't for me but Ruby's mother had me laughing out loud at her overprotective nature. I reached for my phone and sent my mom a message telling her I was alive.It was three minutes later I got a response from her that said “Good. Keep it that way.” love that. Overall, the first half of the book was very accurate for an online friendship and well written (only downside: too many chapters).In contrast, i did like a few scenes from the second half of the book but i also have lots of complaints:(➻ I loved the scene where they finally meet, when they first talk on the phone, the beach, etc. All of it was so realistically portrayed and also so cute < 3 FINALLYYY reading from a first person perspective after all of those emails added to the experience for sure.➻The slowburn more like sloooooowburn had me dying (not really sure if it was in a good way or a bad way tbh. i have a love-hate relationship with slowburns.)➻ Ruby's character although very childish for her age, (she seemed more 16 to me than 23 plis) tick lick?? really? was very well written. The anxiousness, self doubt etc. seemed super layered and her character didn't feel flat. Can't say the same about Aaron though. I feel like a few of the chapters from his perspective would've done the trick. The author could've elaborated on the ptsd from being in the army and his family. We feel disconnected to his character because he's more closed off and shares less about himself.➻ The side characters?? the first half of the book did a great job with this. I was intrigued about Jasmine and Ruby's side of the family. But in the second half, Aaron's friends: Max, Des, Britanny and other girl whose name I'm forgetting literally appear once?? I understand that the book focuses on Aaron and Ruby but wtf was that? a cameo?? they are in the book for the length of a car ride and that is about it.➻ Something else i really disliked was how intense their dynamic was. Or rather how intense Ruby's pov was. Loved her inner monologue otherwise, but everytime it had something to do with Aaron, she's SO INTENSE. For example-Aaron says something like:It wasn't until you that I heard myself laugh, Ruby.” and then Ruby's inner monologue T_T:“i sniffed, touched by his words, and so freaking in love with this guy I wanted to make a potion that would make him fall in love with me so I could keep him forever”(yes that is actually in the book, i did not make it up)like this wasn't even one time. EVERYTIME Aaron spoke or made breakfast (which is a lot of times), her monologue had something along those lines. It got very repetitive and annoying to me. sorry not sorry, love romances but this was djfkfkkc.➻ the epilogue? what? I'm so confused? is he living with her or is he back in the army?because they're talking about getting dinner together but also about how he only has to stay in the army for another year?Ruby: How's your day going anyway? Aaron: Fine. Aaron: My CO is in a shit mood Ruby: Sorry. One more year and then you can rethink what you want to do againSo.. is he away from home?Aaron: I touched your face before I left and thought you were feeling warm. Go to the doctor.Aaron: What are we having for dinner? Ruby: Whatever you decide to bring home.Or.. at home?weird. (somebody plis tell me if i missed something)Wow. That was way longer than i intended. But that's all my thoughts in words, so there you have it. Wasn't sure how i was going to rate this because it was very well written, but i didn't really like it? 3 seems fair. This was my first [a:Mariana Zapata 5760202 Mariana Zapata https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1330380214p2/5760202.jpg] book, and there's so many more on my tbr so absolutely can't wait to read those:) you should definitely give [b:Dear Aaron 35404657 Dear Aaron Mariana Zapata https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497156593l/35404657.SY75.jpg 56654039] a chance and add it to your tbr!

Speaking to him is like having a conversation with a grouchy calculator.”rating-4/5{this review contains spoilers}okay, wow?? I did not expect to like this as much as I did? The premise sounded really cool and I immediately picked it up! A DNA based matchmaking app? fake dating? grumpy sunshine? guy falls first? (what's not to like?). More often than not, I'm let down by a promising blurb, hence the skepticism. Although I didn't really have anything to worry about, [b:The Soulmate Equation 55692620 The Soulmate Equation Christina Lauren https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607349080l/55692620.SY75.jpg 86851393] has easily made it to my favorites:)Recently I've been reading a lot of contemporary romance, and pretty much all books with the fake dating trope have had a similar setting. This really made me appreciate the different and out-of-the-box plot of the soulmate equation. I love how science/data-oriented it was, which made it right up my alley.PREMISEJessica Davis is a single mother who hasn't had the best luck in relationships. River Peña is a geneticist working on an app that matches you with people based on your DNA. When Jess impulsively sends in her DNA sample and ends up getting a high genetic compatibility score of 98(!) with River, she's more than surprised because he's rude and quiet and there's no way they could be compatible.. right?PLOT AND CHARACTERSWhile the premise roped me in, the plot had me flying through the book. The whole concept of genetic compatibility is really fascinating and had me super interested from the get-go. Since this is a slightly futuristic theme, the book also dives into the problems such technology would create: like Jess's best friend Fizzy letting her compatibility score dictate the seriousness of the date, the discussion about the app score not being the ultimate criteria and also the themes of destiny vs. choice.“Statistics can't tell us what will happen, they can only tell us what might happen.” The writing draws you in from the very beginning making it a fast paced read while the fun characters were an added bonus. I think this might be the only book where I liked the side characters more than the main characters. Juno, Fizzy, Nana and Pops are an amazing support system to Jess and were super fun to read about! ◽ River- While he's definitely not up there in the list of fictional men I would die for. The quiet, shy geneticist is extremely endearing. His conversations with Juno (Jess's 7 year old daughter) were the cutest and had me smiling throughout:)))“Good night, Jessica Marie and Juno Merriam.” “Good night, River Nicolas.”The only problem I had, was a minor inconsistency with his characterisation, with the way he acted towards the end.◽ Jess- Jess isn't my favourite either but she stands out to me in a sea of female protagonists because she's not perfect and that is exactly how she's portrayed. She's overworked and tired, but still tries her best to be a good mother. The plot-arc with Jess's own mother also helps us get to know her character better, for example: why she tries so hard to be there for Juno, why she doesn't put herself first etc. This gives her more depth than River's character.SETBACKSI had a few minor problems that brought down my rating. The first being, the romance. Jess and River's relationship's pacing was a little off, in my opinion. I felt like it was extremely slow in the beginning, while they're still getting to know each other and kind of moved from the snarky-banter to the I'm in love with you stage a little too fast. For instance, Jess is very on the fence about actually dating River in the hospital, and like, the very next day she suddenly isn't? idk.Second, the conflict towards the end was not what I was expecting. I think what the author intended would've worked well for me if it was written better. For most of the book, my complaint was that their relationship relied too heavily on the 98, so when they found out about the manipulated results, I was surprised and interested to see how the author would make it work. However, I felt let down with the way it played out. River acts super weird when he finds out and they don't talk for like 8 days straight, which feels like unnecessary conflict merely to add a dramatic element to the story. Also like, what was with the new results and the envelope?? i was so confused by the way it was written. I get why the author wouldn't give us the score, although i really really wanna know but like they're still a diamond match??? isn't something along those lines said in the epilogue?? "And as much as he insisted it didn't matter, Jess knew that their new diamond score had confirmed that once upon a time he had discovered something authentic."why was this so vague.. like are they still a diamond match? because THAT'S extreeemelyyy likely. just tell us the score? or don't? why is it this weird in-between thing. OVERALLDespite the minor problems i had, [b:The Soulmate Equation 55692620 The Soulmate Equation Christina Lauren https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607349080l/55692620.SY75.jpg 86851393] definitely stands out in the crowd due to its unique premise. I'm glad I decided to give this one a chance, because i've read other books by [a:Christina Lauren 6556689 Christina Lauren https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1554664497p2/6556689.jpg] and have somehow not connected with them.Check out my review of the [b:The Unhoneymooners 42201431 The Unhoneymooners Christina Lauren https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548201335l/42201431.SY75.jpg 65813986] by them if you wanna see what i mean:) Anyways, I'm super excited to read other books by this author-bestie duo. Meanwhile, you should definitely add this to your tbr!

“Olive,” Dr. Aslan interrupted her with a stern tone. “What do I always tell you?” “Um . . . ‘Don't misplace the multichannel pipette'?” “The other thing.” She sighed. “ ‘Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.' ”

rating- 4.5/5

OHMYGOD. I Literally flew through this book. It was such a fun, fast paced read with the perfect balance of plot, drama and romance. Also the academia setting?? women in STEM? SO GOOD PLIS. It set this book apart from other contemporary romances in the best way possible.

-Plot and Writing
The character and relationship development was amazing. Olive and Adam don't immediately become comfortable around each other. We see them going from mildly awkward to being into each other and the transition is beautifully done and extremely fun to read.
I also loved the individual characterisation. Most romance books become about the couple as soon as they're together. However in this case, both Olive and Adam do their own thing in their careers, while simultaneously growing in their relationship as individuals and together.
My only problem was a minor pace inconsistency towards the end. I felt as though, the situation after the Tom subplot was discussed very briefly and felt slightly rushed. The epilogue was vv cute though, absolutely no complaints.

-Characters
ADAM. CARLSEN. sigh Him and Olive are the cutest. They had me smiling throughout. and also dying because ffj
Olive is also such an amazing mc. Her inner monologue, fandom and romcom quips, trope references and love for science made her extremely relatable.
The writing flows naturally and is beautifully done. The little hypotheses on the top of every chapter was such a fun addition:)!

♡HYPOTHESIS: When compared with multiple types and models of furniture, Adam Carlsen's lap will be rated in the top 5th percentile for comfort, cozinesss and enjoyment.

♡HYPOTHESIS: A private converstaion with Adam Carlsen will become 150 percent more awkward after the word sex is uttered by me.

YOU BOTH LIKE EACH OTHER

grins

“I'm going to kill you,” he gritted out, little more than a growl. “If you say another word about the woman I love, if you look at her, if you even think about her - I'm going to fucking kill you.”

SX50

“My heart knows your song, as yours knows mine. And I will always come back to you.”

rating- 3/5

SO. I FINALLY finished reading this. Took me almost a month (yes) and since i can't read more than a book at a time, it put me into a maaajor slump. But well, it is what it is. You'd think that after spending THAT long reading it, it would atleast be a 4 star read, but here we are.
To say that I'm disappointed is an understatement.

WRITING
First off, the world building is commendable. The author definitely put in a lot of work into research and character building. However, it somehow didn't work for me.
I knew going into a standalone fantasy; there were going to be lots of names, characters and places, but didn't anticipate the slow pace. I think that was definitely the book's setback. While a lot seemed to be happening event-wise, the writing was slow and prolonged. In contrast, the ending the book leads up to, is rushed and very averagely done.
The writing during the battle scenes was also not the best and I had trouble picturing it, due to lack of significant details (and abundance of insignificant ones- for example, i don't want to know how the sides of the ship look like, but would very much like to know how exactly they're positioned relative to the other ships, since characters seem to be swimming from one ship to another? and there's also a huge draconic beast in the water??)
I also had a really hard time trying to figure out the religion of the six virtues in Inys. Dukes? Duchesses? Knights?? of different virtues?? and places??
For like the first 200 something pages I was constantly referring to the characters and glossary section in the back (i was reading the ebook, which made it so much harder) trying to remember who Duchess of Justice was, and who in the world was Duke of Edinburg.
Honestly, still don't think I've figured it out.
Don't get me wrong, i love well thought out complex worlds but somehow i was lukewarm about this one.

CHARACTERS
The Priory of the Orange tree is definitely more character-driven, which is usually not the case in the fantasy genre.
In this case, character-driven =
-the plot is practically non existent/not done well
-the characters pretty much CARRY the book. so if you don't like them, then it is very likely that you WILL hate the book.

Lucky for the author, I did like the characters. (well, most of them). The Characters and their relationships are extremely well done.
◆ Ead's pov is refreshing. Her character, backstory and personality makes for a good protagonist. I loved reading her chapters and the way the book starts with her pov as an outsider in the castle really sets up the story.
◆ In contrast, i did not like Tane's character in the beginning but warmed up to her eventually.
◆ I had mixed feelings about Loth's character, there was a little inconsistent characterisation but it was minor and didn't divert from the plot.
◆ Niclays Roos, was a brilliantly done character. His flaws were laid out for everyone to see. He's selfish and grief stricken and thinks only and only for himself. His decisons were so terrible that I absolutely despised him and his pov from the get-go, and i think that makes his character well written.

THINGS I LIKED
Despite the few things I've mentioned above, there's a lot to like in The Priory of the Orange tree:
-I loved the consistent theme of duality: the east and west; wyrms and dragons; siden and sterren; water and fire. It stands out to the reader and is conventional yet refreshing.
-The characters in a female-female relationship. Absolutely love them.
-Dragons
-Diversity and the rep.
-The gender equality (women also in positions of power)

It's worth noting that it took me SUPER long to read this book and I was mostly relieved to be done. The pacing was a major issue for me and I debated giving it two stars. However, when I did start listing the things I liked, I realised there's plenty for the average fantasy-reader: Dragons, queer relationships, talking birds, mythical creatures, (did i mention dragons?).
You should definitely pick this up if you've been meaning to read a standalone epic fantasy, it's easy to follow and doesn't have very complex writing.

usually put a quote here but nothing comes to mind.
rating- 2.5/5{review may contain spoilers}

Honestly didn't want to write this review because i did not want to revisit how terrible this book was. But here we are, wish me luck.

summing it up for anybody who hasn't read this book:
The main character Sydney gets cheated on, is heartbroken but proceeds to make this other guy cheat on his girlfriend.
yes. that is literally the entire plot.

I'm going to list everything i didn't like because this review is going to be chaotic otherwise-
➜ Like i mentioned, the lack of plot.
➜ The characters had very little development throughout and had barely any depth to begin with. Sydney came off as whiny and confused while Ridge was conflicted and douchey.
➜ Cheating. (just.. no)
➜ Romanticising cheating?? (even worse)
➜ All the book focuses on is Sydney and Ridge's relationship, thus the author doesn't really have room to establish any of the character's qualities. Due to this, the side characters also felt very two-dimensional. Warren and Bridgette had a lot of potential, but their characterisation was terribly done. Even in Maggie's case, we're told she's very cool and amazing, yet we don't really see it.
➜ The extremeeeelyyyyy slow pace.groan Like, I get it Ridge. You can't pick between Maggie and Sydney. Did your inner conflict have to go on for over 100 pages, though?
No because literally, these are lines from the book:
“my heart begins to tear in two, half of it remaining where it's always been, with Maggie, and the other half being pulled to the girl beneath me. Nothing in my life has ever felt so good yet hurt so achingly bad. I tear my mouth away from hers, and we both gasp for breath as the desperate grip she has on me keeps me locked against her. I refuse to allow our mouths to reconnect as I struggle to figure out which half of my heart I want to save.” And he proceeds to refer to them as halves of his heart throughout the book, not even kidding T_T

The book tries REALLY hard to justify and maturely depict being in love with two people at once. The confusion, conflict and dramaticism is portrayed well but is ALL that is portayed. bahaha. The characters became far too predictable throughout the course of the book and it significantly goes downhill, as we force ourself through it.
For example, we all know who he's going to end up with anyway and yet it is inevitably dragged on for the confrontation with Maggie in the end.

However, there were also a few things i liked, hence the 2.5 stars.
⦿ How the book started off, was very well done and had a lot of potential. I was surprised that the main character was deaf, and was really excited to see how the author pulls off dialogues and conversation.
⦿ The music of course. Ridge's passion for music despite being deaf was admirable. ​I loved how he embraced his deafness, didn't complain or constantly think about the what ifs.
⦿ The message conveyed about not letting your disability get in the way of pursuing your dreams is important. Ridge was an incredible musician despite not being able to listen to any sounds.
⦿I also found out tons of stuff about people with hearing impairments which was really cool (turning off the lights to get ridge's attention for instance), it's not something i thought about before this.
⦿ The songs were also pretty cool (i also found out that you can listen to the soundtrack on youtube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FDAOhC6Nmv2M_OjHAK179-AWAA5fjww)

That's all i have. Clearly there was more i disliked than i liked. The plot, pacing, ending and characterisation were a mess. I really tried to love this one, i did; guess it just wasn't for me. I don't think I'm going to read the other books in the series.
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you're okay with the things i mentioned above.

rereading this edition because I'm annotating it for a friend, and ITS SO pretty. The sprayed edges, character art and the cover page is just *chef's kiss*. Super glad I decided to do this because i forgot just how much i loved this book.

Rereading a book is such a different experience because this time you KNOW what happens, so you notice the little details you missed on your first read and the foreshadowing you might not have picked up when you were trying to understand the plot. I absolutely loved reading it again (maybe even more than the first time). Can't wait to reread [b:Crooked Kingdom|22299763|Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456172607l/22299763._SY75_.jpg|42090179] next:D

Check out my Six of Crows review here :)

rating-4/5This review may contain spoilers, please do not read it if you haven't read the book yet.“She didn't know how to be semi-interested in something. She was either indifferent . . . or obsessed.”― Helen Hoang, The Kiss Quotient The Kiss quotient follows Stella Lane, an econometrician who is on the autism spectrum and wants to improve her skills in the physical aspects of dating. She decides to hire an escort to help her do this and ends up meeting Michael, a male escort who is financially struggling. Soon enough their arrangement starts to make sense and they find themselves drawn to each other while still dealing with their own problems.I loved the book! It was a fun, fast paced read and had me smiling throughout. Stella's character was extremely well written. I loved how the author portrayed disorders and the stigma, the mental turmoil and everyday problems that come with living with it. I've had it on my tbr since i found out it was an own voices novel of a woman with Asperger's and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. A few minor setbacks for me were: - how Michael was put on a pedestal for simply being a decent human being - a few instances where Stella was apprehensive of trying something and Michael talks her into trying it out felt a little icky to me.- some of the side characters were very flat and had inconsistent characterisation.However, there was more to like than dislike in [b:The Kiss Quotient 36199084 The Kiss Quotient Helen Hoang https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527983633l/36199084.SX50.jpg 57828311]. The protagonists stand out as well developed characters. As I mentioned above, I loved Stella. How she defined love as a variable in economics was also unique and something I loved. Our male protagonist, Michael was also an absolute sweetheart. The depiction of his family, culture and Vietnamese heritage is an integral part of the book. His interactions with his family, the banter with his sisters and the love and support shown by them throughout, stood out to me. What makes this book and others with mental health representation truly important, is that it helps people become aware and increases diagnosis rates. Infact the author's research for this book helped her understand her own symptoms, seek a therapist and get diagnosed on the spectrum.You should definitely pick this up if you've had it on your tbr:)

rating - 2.5/5{This review might contain spoilers, please do not read this if you haven't read the book yet}

I absolutely love tear-jerkers and heart wrenching books that make me cry. I had no doubt when i picked this up, that i would love it. However, i was just more and more let down as i continued reading.
I tried really hard to like this book, i did. Guess it just wasn't for me:(


THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:-
➜ Poppy's world of people with sunshine smiles and moonbeam hearts is a perfect idealistic world. She's a happy-go-lucky, all-smiles kinda person. While her character was VERY unrealistic and a little annoying at times, i liked her. Unfortunately, i cannot say the same about Rune (our male protagonist). I despised his character arc and his bitterness infuriated me to no end. His behaviour towards his dad was also so upsetting?? like damn okay he had to move because of work. calm your tits.
➜ The writing was extremely sappy and cheesy to the point where it felt SUPER unrealistic. (like i love cheesy dialogues more often than not, but this was stretching it too far, sorry not sorry.)
➜ The dialogues and prose did not seem like something an average 15 year old or even an actual person would say/think. The depiction of characters (which was literally Rune and poppy, zero side-character development.) was just very intense and strange. Here's a small excerpt to explain what i mean:- (this is a 16/17 year old's inner monologue THROUGHOUT the book)

“He was my heart. The heart freely given to me as a child. The heart that made up one half of my own. The boy who, though breaking inside, loved me so deeply that he gave me this farewell. Gave me, in the present, the dream that my future never could. My soul mate who captured moments.”

“To greet like the sun when it peeks above the horizon, i wave, my arms like rays reaching out to her.”

shrugs

Rune not using the kiss jar and his death felt very anticlimactic and contrived to me

“kiss number # with my Rune at location

OVERALL

rating- 3/5

Did i like the book? yes. Did I also want to violently shake both the characters to do something about their feelings, throughout the entire book? yes.

this was the first best-friends-to lovers book i've read, and i ABSOLUTELY loved it.
I would reaaallly like a bestfriend who's been in love with me for years, right about now, thank you very much.

Okay but the mutual pining?? fake dating? while also trying not to mess up the friendship?? what an absolute serve.
The book also focused on topics like stress, panic attacks and burnouts, really well. Lily's character stood out to me because i loved how Bree had somebody to turn to.

“Bree, hope is healthy. Even if you prepare yourself for the worst in life, it will never make the fall hurt less. So why not let yourself really and truly want this instead?”

Writing / Plot

writing style may not be for everyone

slowburn

the surprise wedding

very cute, fast paced

“My goal, once upon a time, was to succeed. I didn't realize that success wasn't grades or scholarships or achievements, but the people I was lucky enough to have in my life.”rating-3/5The main trope in this book isn't my favourite but Sabrina and Tucker are literally perfect together : )))I was caught off guard because i absolutely did not know what to expect. Tucker's the quiet, brooding character and you don't really get to see him that much in the first three books. So i was really surprised by his pov. Getting to see things from his perspective, made so much more sense.There was also quite a bit of setting up of the spinoff BRIAR-U series, since the junior hockey players are now going to live in the guys house and Dean's sister is also said to be moving to Briar. Super excited to read those books too:)Unpopular opinion but i actually liked the plot overlap with [b:The Score 32276196 The Score (Off-Campus, #3) Elle Kennedy https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475250155l/32276196.SY75.jpg 45217167], the focus being on Tucker and Sabrina gave me a different perspective on events I had already read about, which was oddly comforting to read.Overall, really liked it and the ending with the entire friend group made my heart happy :) A nice conclusion to the series in my opinion. Which is why I'm conflicted about reading [b:The Legacy 58473344 The Legacy (Off-Campus, #5) Elle Kennedy https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1629830724l/58473344.SX50.jpg 90168758] since i've read mixed opinions. I'm scared it'll ruin the happy ending in my head. So i'll be respectfully putting it off for now.

“Seriously, just find yourself a rebound.” Dean whips up his arm, “I volunteer as tribute.”

I wasn't sure how i felt about Dean from the first two books. However, to the author's credit, his character was well developed and had layers i didn't expect. (dean with dakota had me screaming crying and throwing up)

The plot was light hearted and fast paced and Dean & Allie were fun, happy characters that both, complement and balance each other out at the same time. I loved loved loveddd how refreshing the storyline was. and the dialogue in this book? so good: The Twilight analysis had me laughing out loud while the bathtub scene had me straight up dying.

One thing I didn't like was the death. I feel like it was only added in to include a dramatic element and to elongate Dean's character arc. In my opinion, it disrupted the fluidity of the plot and was a far stretch from the light hearted theme of the book. But i guess they did need some kind of conflict in the book so yeah.

Overall, fast paced and super entertaining. literally had me cracking up without even having a plot, as such but if you're looking for something entertaining, no thinking required (infact emphasis on the no thinking), then you should pick this up.

“Why would I? Seriously, what guy turns down Die Hard? The only thing that could sweeten this deal is if you offered me some booze.”“I don't have any.” She stops to think. “But I've got a whole bag of gummy bears hidden in my desk drawer.”“Marry me,” I say instantly.”

rating- 3/5

{This review contains spoilers, please do not read it if you haven't read the book yet}
These books are so much fun to read. I absolutely love them. [b:The Deal|44019703|The Deal (Off-Campus, #1)|Elle Kennedy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550272258l/44019703.SY75.jpg|44100599] was definitely my favourite of these two, but this was pretty cute too. Logan and Grace are amazing characters. Logan is such a romantic (which i did not expect for some reason?) and Grace is an absolute sweetheart. I could relate to her more than other female protagonists in the series.
The only reason i like [b:The Mistake|32276195|The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2)|Elle Kennedy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475249810l/32276195.SY75.jpg|44707128] a little lesser than [b:The Deal|44019703|The Deal (Off-Campus, #1)|Elle Kennedy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550272258l/44019703.SY75.jpg|44100599] is because of how back and forth Grace and Logan's relationship is. I mean we love some grovelling but this was for a MAJOR portion of the book. Absolutely love Grace standing up for herself and not letting men walk over her though.

AND THE EPILOGUE DSKDJB. Hannah and Garrett have my entire heart, it was so wholesome. i'm going to cri.

Also I really, really love how fast paced these books are. I'm supposed to be studying; so how fast i go through these, helps with my guilt. Then again, now i need to know how the author's going to get Dean to date in the next book. so guess I'm reading [b:The Score|32276196|The Score (Off-Campus, #3)|Elle Kennedy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475250155l/32276196.SY75.jpg|45217167] now.

Overall love the dynamic between the characters, the banter between them and the university setting. You should definitely read the Off-Campus series if you want to read something light-hearted and entertaining.

“I want to murder him in his sleep. No, I want to murder him when he's awake so he can see the joy on my face when I do it.”

A college hockey romance with fake dating? you already know i'm eating up that shit.

was it predictable? definitely. a little cliche? yes. did i also absolutely love it? yes yes yes.

There were some parts that made me want to stab somebody in the eyeball but the fun dialogue and the characters made up for the few stab-in-the-eye parts. For me, the highlight of the book was Hannah and Garrett's banter. Both of them were such great characters and I adored their relationship development. I also loved that they talked about their problems because i'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope. It was great to see protagonists openly talking about their issues and being honest with each other.
Moreover, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the dual pov.

super fun, cute and fast paced. definitely worth a read if you want to read something for pure entertainment.

“Most adults see teenagers as confused kids who don't understand much, while they're the pillars of knowledge and experience and know exactly what is right at all times.I think the truth is that everyone in the entire world is confused and nobody understands much of anything at all.”rating - 4/5
If you read for escapism, Alice Oseman's books aren't for you.
Honestly though, her books are the closest thing to real life i've found. The way she somehow manages to make characters on paper feel so real and authentic has always fascinated me.
I've always loved reading fiction because for once, the problems aren't mine. So naturally, I've strayed away from contemporary fiction that isn't romance. This book made me reconsider though. Hit a little close home, but it does a great job at discussing important topics while also having beautiful writing and diverse characters.

I annotated this for my bestfriend and we started talking online because of a boyband, so that was fun. There was A lOt of highlighting and capitalization. absolutely recommend. go pick it up rn.

tw// dv, abuse
This book made me feel emotions i didn't know i could feel.

My heart's broken and full at the same time < / 3
Like lily's heart tattoo, i feel like there's a hole at the top of my heart letting all the air out.
I've never been more upset and frustrated and in love with a book at the same time.

I always have a lot to say about books, but more often than not, most people (including me at times) forget that a book is simply fiction.
What somebody put out into this world - for a purpose, that could be entertainment, to tell ‘THEIR' story, ‘A' story or even just for the purpose of writing one, simply because they like doing so.
Yes, media and books affect and influence people but they're most definitely not an accurate representation of reality. (sigh fictional men.)

So with that extremely essay-esque passage, I would like to begin my review by saying: Yes, Atlas was not an important part of this book. And Yes, most DV victims do not have an Atlas in their lives.
Do i still like that there is an Atlas and essentially a happy ending? Also yes.
Because this! is! a book! I'm reading! and I like happy endings! (picture me slamming the table at every exclamation point.)
It is also important to understand that this is still Lilly's story and not Lilly & Atlas's.
And that every victim's story is different and that this is in no way, a representation of what any DV victim goes through.

The purpose of this book in my opinion was to explain how difficult it can be for people to cut strings and leave their abuser. It's easy for anybody to say “she/he/they should have just left.”, “why did they stay despite the abuse?”, etc. but nobody knows the entire picture, the emotions or anything that accompanies such a decision.
Did the book do a good job at that? absolutely.
Did it also tell us that despite how hard it might be, it's important to leave, important to break the cycle? yes.

“Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.”

shrugs

“It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us.”

rating- 3.5/5

I usually don't like rivals to lovers when there's no reason for why they hate each other in the first place, but i think this could be an exception. Sally Thorne's witty writing style worked really well with the characters and the plot. I was entertained throughout and even laughing out loud at some parts.
While the characters did seem immature and childish for their age, it was hilarious and fun to read so i'm not complaining. The little details- matchbox cars, smurfs, robin's egg blue and strawberries were an added bonus and i absolutely loved these tiny impersonal details that don't really add anything to the plot, but the author decided to include anyway:)

was the wall thing slightly creepy? maybe. but it's a romance novel so eh.

you should definitely pick it up if it's on your tbr, although the writing style might not be for everyone.

spent the entire day reading this webtoon and i do not regret it one bit.

rating- 3/5

This review contains major spoilers. Please do not read it if you haven't read the book yet

Not so sure where i'm going to go with this review but yeah.
Loved the banter between Ben and Fallon, even though a few things Ben said and thought in his inner monologue were a little icky (just me? or was the whole underwear thing gross? i mean, considering this was like minutes after they meet?),
I really liked most of the dialogue and the writing.
The whole premise of meeting every november 9th was also pretty cool. While I will admit that there wouldn't be any plot without this set up, it does set this book apart from the average romance novel.

However i also had A LOT of problems with it://

➣ I enjoyed reading it, and was super intrigued throughout because of the unique nature of the book's plot. I've always disliked time skips but this book gets away with doing them perfectly well because of the nov 9th thing and i thought that was really cool.

➣ The jordyn-ben thing was just not it and made me very uncomfortable. There were a few other things that were questionable, but looking back now, the whole premise was creepy?
Ben lies to her the whole time??? their ENTIRE relationship was based off a lie and stalking? yeah. not a fan.

➣ The ending was also not my favourite. Fallon finds out about ‘said plot twist' and forgives him. (yes, FINDS OUT, he doesn't tell her. And yes, forgives him) Him (Ben): being the reason she's had self confidence issues for YEARS, a strained relationship with her dad and just SO much emotional and physical trauma. People who like the book might argue that Ben also helped her with her self confidence. But don't you see it? HE's the reason she has self confidence issues. (it wasn't intentional of course, but he KNEW they were his fault THE WHOLE TIME he was trying to make her feel better (or should i say make HIMSELF feel better?) about them.

➣ The said ‘plot twist' felt super contrived and anticlimactic to me. it infuriated me. It made me look at Ben from a completely different persepective. Everything i'd read about him just went out of the window and my brain was like NO (in red).

I get that a lot of people like this book. But the plot didn't work out for me at all, so i wouldn't recommend it. :/

For January, I don't care how the story ends as long as I spend it with you.

rating- 4/5
buddy read with pratha:)

Definitely not what i expected, in the best way possible. This book captures romance in such an authentic light while also talking about important topics like dealing with grief and infidelity.
The writing is witty, beautiful and thoughtful. I loved the mix of authentic raw moments with cute dialogue between the characters. The dynamic between January and Gus is really well written. Their banter was cheesy, fun and playful, and had me smiling the whole time:)))
My favourite part in the book is, how the process of writing books has been depicted. Since we never really get an insight into the writing process of authors, this felt super special.

There were a few things i didn't like: Gus's broodiness wasn't my favourite and felt like it was included only to fit the quiet, broody stereotype; their college rivalry had no basis and it didn't really feel like academic rivals to lovers as such. But overlooking these tiny details, it was a fun, light-hearted read that i absolutely loved.

Also just found out that there's two alternate endings based on the edition you have??? i read the UK one with the book dedication and i loved how it ended. wouldn't change anything:')
Which reminds me of this quote i really loved:
“It was a happy ending.”“For who?”“For them,” he said. “They were happy. They had no regrets. They'd won. And they didn't even have to see it coming. For all we know, they live in that moment forever, happy like that. Together and free.”