I didn't expect this novella to be a 5 star read, primarily because it's rare for a romance novella to achieve all the things I nee5 stars ~ [9.00/10]
I didn't expect this novella to be a 5 star read, primarily because it's rare for a romance novella to achieve all the things I need a 5 star romance to achieve - purely due to lack of page count. However, I love that there's always an exception to the rule and this book proves that x 10. This is true romcom in it's purest form, right down to the cover that's giving me 90's Saturday night at Blockbuster vibes.
It's as if Christina C. Jones took all the hallmarks of great romcoms and distilled them into 150 pages. I'm kind of in awe at how she pulled this off. From the very beginning I was smiling from ear-to-ear, read it in one sitting and didn't stop smiling until the end. The meet-rude was hilarious, Jaclyn had a great back story, the chemistry was super hot, there was a cat called Miss Thing(!), he was a veterinarian and she owned an ice cream parlour (so cute!), there was a twist that I genuinely did not see coming and characters from The Wright Brothers series popped in. So much in such a short book, but at no point did it feel busy or crowded.
Christina C. Jones is a gift and I'm excited to explore more of her books. ...more
I wasn't as immediately drawn into the story with The Cheerleaders as I was with Little Monsters and I think that was primarily be3 stars ~ [4.94/10]
I wasn't as immediately drawn into the story with The Cheerleaders as I was with Little Monsters and I think that was primarily because I preferred the themes explored in the latter much more than this one. However, it was still an entertaining read with a fairly good mystery plot. It just felt a bit too linear and generic and I was expecting something that would dig a little deeper like Little Monsters did. Glad I read it, but I imagine it won't be one that stays with me. ...more
Raiders of the Lost Heart was an enjoyable adventure romance with a great set-up and intriguing dynamics between the main couple. 3 stars ~ [4.70/10]
Raiders of the Lost Heart was an enjoyable adventure romance with a great set-up and intriguing dynamics between the main couple. I was quite won over by the first half and interested in how the emotional conflict would play out, so I did find it something of a page turner until the second half where I didn't feel like the pay-off was super satisfying. Throughout, I did find some of the dialogue a little bit stilted and the humour veered into corny territory more often than not but it was easier to look-over at the beginning. I love adventure romance, it's absolutely my favourite sub-genre and I wish there was more of it so I'm glad to see books like this entering the world. I think this was an entertaining debut and it's clear how much love and joy the author has for the sub-genre as well, so I'd definitely be interested in picking up more books like this from them. ...more
Gothic horror with a sprinkling of forbidden romance? Yes please!
I'd seen this book making the rounds early last year and it wa4.5 stars ~ [8.93/10]
Gothic horror with a sprinkling of forbidden romance? Yes please!
I'd seen this book making the rounds early last year and it was was always one that would come to mind when I was out book shopping but I could never find a copy in stores. I eventually remembered to order it online a couple of weeks ago and immediately bumped it up my TBR. I'd kind of built it up in my head so I'm so glad it was a hit for me!
The thing I love most about the Gothic texts being written today is how much they acknowledge the texts that defined the Gothic, whilst also using the vehicle of the Gothic to reflect on things about modern society (despite the historical setting.) Horror is such a cool genre for being able to explore these themes without being on the nose about it and I think Isabel Cañas managed to thread that needle very well. Add to that this was a supernatural horror that actually scared me, which is not something that tends to happen!
As much as I liked Beatriz as a character, I think Padre Andrés was the most intriguing character in this book. I liked the way Cañas explored his warring identities and how that weaved into the overall plot. (Also another Hot Priest for the Holy Hot Priest List.)
There was so much movement in all the ongoing plot threads but it still managed to have a really heart wrenching emotional impact too. Also, I didn’t There was so much movement in all the ongoing plot threads but it still managed to have a really heart wrenching emotional impact too. Also, I didn’t know I shipped two characters as much as I did until this volume. No doubt that twist is gonna cause a stir!
Merged review:
There was so much movement in all the ongoing plot threads but it still managed to have a really heart wrenching emotional impact too. Also, I didn’t know I shipped two characters as much as I did until this volume. No doubt that twist is gonna cause a stir!...more
This was a really, really hyped book a few years ago and back then this genre wasn't really one that I dipped into too often, I'4.5 stars ~ [8.87/10]
This was a really, really hyped book a few years ago and back then this genre wasn't really one that I dipped into too often, I'm glad to have circled back around to it now that I have a lot of experience with the genre because, by comparison, this is absolutely a book that deserved the hype.
The actual format of the book did feel a little stale, I imagine because there have been so many copycats since it's release and the longer it went on the less interesting the podcast segments became as they felt like they were just retelling what we'd already learned through Sadie's POV. I can't help thinking that was kind of the point though - the podcast host didn't want to tell the story because they thought there was no story to tell and, narratively speaking, there isn't a story structure here that would be satisfying to a podcast listener, Summers even withholds the ending from the reader to illustrate the point that comfort in resolution is not the goal here. The point is that we need to care about people going through these kind of things as they're happening and not when the story is wrapped up enough that it becomes something that is sellable.
I loved the themes that Summers explored through these characters and through the plot structure. I thought the character writing was magnificent, especially when it came to grappling with rage - everyone had it in varying forms and it was interesting to see how Summers illustrated different manifestations of it. This is one that's going to stay with me for a long time. ...more
I was putting this off for the tired reason that I usually put off novellas in series... because they're novellas. But, I really w5 stars ~ [9.00/10]
I was putting this off for the tired reason that I usually put off novellas in series... because they're novellas. But, I really want to read book 2 and I'm a completist so despite feeling a bit resentful about needing to read a novella so that I could read on in the series, I decided to get it out of the way. And... egg on my chin because I bloody loved this!
It's very different to the tone of the first book in the series - both tonally and structurally it feels kind of dreamy and fairy tale like. It really seemed like the author got a chance to show off their writing chops because the structure and tone allowed for a more poetic prose style. I very quickly got so invested in Lilith and Vale and I loved the feeling of doom that carried through from start to finish. The conflict was really well seeded alongside Lilith's goals. I fully believed in their burgeoning romance even though the foundational elements and build-up had fewer pages to convince me than a usual romance novel.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how these characters play into the ongoing main series arc and I can't wait to see what their relationship looks like in the present timeline....more
I've seen Kara Thomas's YA thrillers around a lot, especially The Cheerleaders (the cover was everywhere for a while.) But, I've o4 stars ~ [7.83/10]
I've seen Kara Thomas's YA thrillers around a lot, especially The Cheerleaders (the cover was everywhere for a while.) But, I've only recently discovered a love for YA thrillers so I'm just now making my way around to her books. Little Monsters happened to be the first one of my library holds that became available.
Thrillers are the most mood read of all my mood reads. There's a certain itch they need to scratch, which I've found the most success with in this area of the genre and Little Monsters really delivered for me. I really liked Kacey as a narrator because for a large portion of the book I was kind of on edge with her. I'm a fan of no knowing whether I can trust the main character and she definitely kept me guessing. There were some twists that were easy to guess, I would've preferred a slightly defter hand as the clues were delivered through the earlier parts of the book, but there were other twists that I didn't see coming at all and really appreciated how the format of the book's structure played into that.
I adore stories about toxic female friendships and there were elements of this friendship group that reminded me of The Furies, which played into it's favour since I loved that book too. I think this book could've been a 4.5 or 5 star had the author shown a touch more restraint when it came to wrapping up the ending. I'm not the target demo for this book so I understand that need to provide resolutions to major plot threads, but I would've thought this was near perfect if it had leaned a bit more on ambiguity. I great first impression for Kara Thomas's work and I'm looking forward to checking out her other books when the mood strikes me. ...more
It feels like Abby Jimenez has cracked the formula of issues-based contemporary romance. At times her previous series felt a lit4.5 stars ~ [8.66/10]
It feels like Abby Jimenez has cracked the formula of issues-based contemporary romance. At times her previous series felt a little exploitative and/or manipulative with how she brought in serious issues, but in this series these topics are handled with much more care, genre-knowledge and social awareness. There is still something of the whole magical cure thing she seems to love so much but it's not as aggravating as it has been in her earlier books. Or perhaps it is easier to look passed because she is focusing more on the emotional arc of the main couple and leaving the "issue" for the b-plot? Whatever it is, it's definitely working better for me.
This book had a lot of catnip tropes for me (bad first impressions! letters! fake dating that makes sense! slow burn! friends to lovers! cinnamon roll hero! MCs who work!) Much like, Part of Your World I found it deeply romantic and I thought the chemistry was really well written. The ending was a little haphazard and Jacob did teeter on the edge of cinnamon roll and soggy bun on the odd occasion, but I was really invested and incredibly entertained. One I'll return to, no doubt!
I love a good friends to lovers story and I think this one was entertaining but didn't blow my socks off. The previous two books in3 stars ~ [5.19/10]
I love a good friends to lovers story and I think this one was entertaining but didn't blow my socks off. The previous two books in this series really played on the banter between the main characters and because Justin and Toni had a bit of a history, their interactions were a bit more on the emotional side. I also wasn't fully sold on the reasons they had had near misses in the past. However, they still had great chemistry and I adore how Christina C. Jones writes dialogue and characters that feel like real people. ...more
This was short and sweet, but about 100 pages shorter than the previous book, which is probably why I didn't enjoy it quite as muc4 stars ~ [7.03/10]
This was short and sweet, but about 100 pages shorter than the previous book, which is probably why I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Getting Schooled. However, I really love the way Jones writes the attraction phase of her romances. I like how these characters talk to the people around them and how they talk to each other about their feelings, there's an authenticity in their interactions that is really charming to me. Whilst the stories themselves aren't particularly unique, there is an allure in the writing that keeps me enthralled. I can't wait to read more from this author! ...more
If I was to write down a list of all the things I adore in a story it would end up looking a like this series of books was the per3 stars ~ [4.69/10]
If I was to write down a list of all the things I adore in a story it would end up looking a like this series of books was the perfect fit for me, but for some reason I just don't gel with it the way that I should be and I can't quite put my finger on why. The only thing that I could pinpoint this time around, was that the voice and tone feel very forced to me, like it is trying to be too much like the books and characters it is taking inspiration from. And, because I've read and enjoyed those stories it is riffing on it feels much more jarring that there is an ease in those books that I do not feel with this author's writing style. I was passively entertained, but I'm not sure if I'll continue on with the series - I can see it starting to feel like a chore at some point....more
This was my first Christina C. Jones book and if this one was anything to go by then I totally get why people evangelise her tal4.5 stars ~ [8.54/10]
This was my first Christina C. Jones book and if this one was anything to go by then I totally get why people evangelise her talent. This was such a solid romance, with a really fun set-up and some truly top-notch banter. I adored the dynamic between Jason and Reese and I thought the relationship development was extremely well-paced - these two had some pretty fiery chemistry and I ate it up! This was such a great introduction to an author I can see becoming a firm favourite. ...more
I listened to the bulk of this audiobook whilst I was working on my garden on Friday and I found it enjoyable in the moment and 3.5 stars ~ [5.86/10]
I listened to the bulk of this audiobook whilst I was working on my garden on Friday and I found it enjoyable in the moment and it definitely kept me engaged. However, it's a few days later and it hasn't really left an impression on me; I can already feel big chunks of the plot and character motivations fading from my memory. A fun way to pass the time but pretty forgettable in the long term. ...more
I will read anything Kennedy Ryan writes. I will even read novellas, when I’m typically not a novella girly. I think this book is3.5 stars ~ [6.57/10]
I will read anything Kennedy Ryan writes. I will even read novellas, when I’m typically not a novella girly. I think this book is a great one to recommend to people who have never read a KR book because it gives you a taster of how wonderful her writing is and a hint of how sweeping her romances can be. For a seasoned KR reader it’s a nice little appetiser whilst we await the next new release, however when you’ve experienced what it is to experience a full length romance novel from this author - it is difficult not to find this one a little unsatisfying. I don’t know how much you can expect from a novella though so it feels disingenuous to say that, so I’ll leave this review by saying please read all of Kennedy Ryan’s books she is an absolute powerhouse and no-one writes romance like she writes romance. ...more
An entertaining read with some intrigue, really fun moments, interesting character dynamics and worldbuilding I was already primed3 stars ~ [5.66/10]
An entertaining read with some intrigue, really fun moments, interesting character dynamics and worldbuilding I was already primed to enjoy given my specific tastes. However, I've been delaying reviews for a while now to see how I feel about books days after I've finished them and I can't say that this one has stuck with me very much. In our buddy read there was mention of Freya's character being annoying and I didn't have that reaction but I think that's more because I don't really have super strong feelings about this book either way, I'm not invested enough in the story to be annoyed by characters. I did enjoy the twists towards the end though and I thought Jensen did a good job of upsetting the status quo regularly, I think where we left off will offer some interesting room for character growth and perhaps make the arcs really satisfying so I will read on in this series. ...more
If I had known a bit more about the main love interest in this book, I don’t know if I would’ve picked it up - I’m not really int3.5 stars ~ [6.20/10]
If I had known a bit more about the main love interest in this book, I don’t know if I would’ve picked it up - I’m not really interested in reading about romances involving people in the police. However, lucky for me, the romance elements weren’t really a main feature of this book and were definitely the most boring part of it so it became something I could forget about very easily. The rest of the book was very silly, but it made me laugh a lot and I ended up having a really fun time with the wackiness of this story. Finlay was a fun character to follow and I enjoyed seeing her come into her own and stick it to her ex-husband. I also thought the mystery was pretty well executed and kept me guessing throughout. I’m interested in picking up the rest of the books in this series, but I could do with fewer love interests. ...more
On the one hand I enjoyed reading about a romance heroine who really didn't have her shit together, didn't like who sI feel a bit torn about Punk 57.
On the one hand I enjoyed reading about a romance heroine who really didn't have her shit together, didn't like who she was and was taking steps to become a better person. On the other hand I didn't really like the passages where it seemed like other people defined who she was -- even after she started to like herself a bit more. Towards the end there was some enlightening discussion between the two MCs about finding your own interests that are personal to you in order to be fulfilled, but it seemed like too little too late.
There were some really lovely moments that I found quite poignant. For example, when Ryen was talking about what it sometimes felt like being part of a crowd when she wasn't sure if the people around her wanted her there or even liked her. And, then there were also some moments that completely threw me out of the story. Like, the weird contrast of how pretentious teenagers can sometimes be and how mature the content was in places. It seemed like the kind of thing that could have been married up a lot more seemlessly if there had been an acknowledgement of how mature they were acting and how fast they had had to grow up. Maybe, I'm just being a prude and projecting my own experience on this but I couldn't reconcile some of the characterisation with the age the characters were supposed to be.
Misha and Ryen were far from perfect and it is kind of refreshing to read a romance that's more messy and uncomfortable than it is romantic but they read as early twenties rather than the teenagers they were. Also, why does everyone always have crappy parents?
And, I've got to say I was a little bit disappointed that everything got wrapped up in a neat and tidy bow. It seemed like it would have been braver to have the anti-romance ending that was being hinted at all throughout the rest of the book.
All in all, a mixed bag - 3.5 stars.
Merged review:
I feel a bit torn about Punk 57.
On the one hand I enjoyed reading about a romance heroine who really didn't have her shit together, didn't like who she was and was taking steps to become a better person. On the other hand I didn't really like the passages where it seemed like other people defined who she was -- even after she started to like herself a bit more. Towards the end there was some enlightening discussion between the two MCs about finding your own interests that are personal to you in order to be fulfilled, but it seemed like too little too late.
There were some really lovely moments that I found quite poignant. For example, when Ryen was talking about what it sometimes felt like being part of a crowd when she wasn't sure if the people around her wanted her there or even liked her. And, then there were also some moments that completely threw me out of the story. Like, the weird contrast of how pretentious teenagers can sometimes be and how mature the content was in places. It seemed like the kind of thing that could have been married up a lot more seemlessly if there had been an acknowledgement of how mature they were acting and how fast they had had to grow up. Maybe, I'm just being a prude and projecting my own experience on this but I couldn't reconcile some of the characterisation with the age the characters were supposed to be.
Misha and Ryen were far from perfect and it is kind of refreshing to read a romance that's more messy and uncomfortable than it is romantic but they read as early twenties rather than the teenagers they were. Also, why does everyone always have crappy parents?
And, I've got to say I was a little bit disappointed that everything got wrapped up in a neat and tidy bow. It seemed like it would have been braver to have the anti-romance ending that was being hinted at all throughout the rest of the book.
There were parts of this book that I absolutely loved and parts that fell kind of flat. I would go through stages of being super in3 stars ~ [4.93/10]
There were parts of this book that I absolutely loved and parts that fell kind of flat. I would go through stages of being super into the characters, story and themes that Wurth was exploring combined with stretches of my intrigue waning, so in the end this was just an ok read for me. It definitely fell into the kind of horror that I enjoy though and I'd be interested in checking out future books by Wurth because I thought they had a strong authorial voice. Also this cover is rad....more
I really enjoyed this, not as much as I enjoyed The Hacienda, but enough to say that I'll definitely be picking up more books by t4 stars ~ [7.01/10]
I really enjoyed this, not as much as I enjoyed The Hacienda, but enough to say that I'll definitely be picking up more books by this author when they're released.
I love gothic horror, I love gothic romance and I especially love when those two things are combined in equal measure. I really enjoy Cañas' approach to using traditional genre conventions to explore the type of themes that weren't often explored in these genres in their hey day - at least not in an empathetic way nor from the POV of a person whose voice should be elevated. Cañas is using horror as a reflection and romance as a way of endearing the reader and I find it quite fascinating.
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