Such, such a good, well-written romance novel that unfortunately hit the ceiling of maybe not being super for me? Josh and Ari are two not very nice pSuch, such a good, well-written romance novel that unfortunately hit the ceiling of maybe not being super for me? Josh and Ari are two not very nice people who bump into one another over the years until their hostility turns into friendship, which then turns into the spark of something more. What is a lover unless they are a friend!
Goldbeck's writing is crackling and sharp, and she's able to turn the thread of a conversation, evolved over many years, into a convincing love story. She does this while also braiding in side stories about the people Josh and Ari share; balancing the primary romance and other narratives is a difficult task for any romance novel, so it's especially impressive that she does it so well here within such a smaller scope.
At the same time, the nature of this story meant that years go by and our characters change without us being able to experience that growth alongside them. Josh and Ari never really hold onto their prickliness beyond their first two encounters, and I would've loved to see that transition happen a little more smoothly. I also personally have a struggle with "adversaries/enemies to lovers" in standalone books. The author has a limited amount of time to convince you these people Really Can Fall In Love, which means that even in the most antagonistic of meetings there's still a spark of attraction that kneecaps the "will they/won't they" of the tension. This is a problem with me, not the book. It's not Kate Goldbeck's fault that the plot of romance novels spoil themselves inherently, but gosh, I would've liked to see these two at each other's throats for a bit longer before we admit there's a chemistry there.
My complaints about this book are basically me walking into the Orange Store and asking if they sell apples, but I am only human, and this book will probably work a lot more for you. Also this was definitely a 3.5 but I redacted half a star for being partly a book about how New York is the City Ever. What the fuck is the L train?? I'll kill you. ...more
I think the most polite thing I can say about this book is that it was not for me.
I'm not a dark romance reader habitually, but I'm curious about whaI think the most polite thing I can say about this book is that it was not for me.
I'm not a dark romance reader habitually, but I'm curious about what this genre brings to the table. I think a lot of people are quick to dismiss dark romance (and yes, romance as a whole) for being at best frivolous and at worst morally reprehensible. I'm not sure I enjoyed the dark romance aspects of this book personally, but I also don't think it helps anyone to critique The Coven on the basis of simply having having those aspects. You open the Dead Dove Box, I don't know why you expected anything other than a dead dove. That's a lot of words to say - I'm not going to poke at this book for including difficult subject matter, but I do think that the list of content warnings should be updated to include references to pedophilia (I wouldn't have read this book had I known. It bears saying that the beginning of the book seems to play with the idea that Willow is underage?? She is not, but I don't think this element added anything to the story or its themes, and I think The Coven would be improved without these moments).
All that out of the day, it's only right for me to judge this book on how it succeeds at its goals and balances its internal logic. Unfortunately, this is also where the book fails. The plot is like, basically nonsensical. Willow's goals constantly shift throughout the book, the magic system appears to be simple but is complicated by its frequent contradictions, this school makes no sense, the side characters are irrelevant, etc. Woods keeps doing this thing where she introduces an important element late into the book which should have had a huge bearing on our characters and setting, but was forgotten/left out/irrelevant right until the moment it sweeps into the story. I'm not even going to warn for spoilers here because it means nothing and is completely irrelevant, but 3/4s of the way through we suddenly learn that Willow was made to participate in fighting pits by her dad as a child, completely reversing the already-established background that she grew up with her mother.
But we're not here for the magic! We're here for the romance! Grey and Willow... I'm not really sure what to think. They have an instalust relationship, but the book does a more interesting thing than classic "enemies to lovers" by having them never really transition away from enemies. The Coven openly embraces that these people are not and cannot be friends, but that their arc traces from them enemies working separately to enemies working together, romantically. It doesn't really manage to make that jump. Willow and Grey, but especially Grey, reinforce the idea that the other "is different" in some way; they are drawn to one another in a way that frustrates them but is impossible to deny. However, it's never really made clear what draws them together besides physical attraction, and Woods doesn't give us the "why" behind these characters revolving around one another. Willow is different from every other woman Grey has met, but...for what reason? Grey goes from being an antagonist who Willow must seduce to a legitimate love interest, but at what point does this change?
And yet...
Once these two characters agree to work together, something...starts to work? The scenes between just the two of them, focused on their relationship and ignoring every dumb plot contrivance, do have some chemistry. There's a tension there at Woods is talented at exploring, especially when it's clear that Grey understands the parts of Willow that she has difficulty expressing. I won't say their relationship is "good," but...they match each other's freak? Perhaps this is some of the appeal of dark romance. Not the idea that some Alpha Male will protect and ravish you (or at least not just that), but that you can indulge in the wildest, most cathartic impulses and fantasies and that someone will be there to support, encourage, and match you in them.
I do think this is hampered by the ending of this book, which is clumsy in both plot and romance. I understand that this is setting up for the main conflict in a book 2 which I will not read, but I also think it took the themes of The Coven in a less interesting place than the book seemed to be heading.
Is The Coven dark academia? I'm not sure. There's like, some hand-waving towards the problems and power imbalances inherent to academia, but it's not clear how much of this is intentional by Woods and how much is incidental to the setting. There's more of an emphasis on a pro-choice storyline here.
Anyway, I don't recommend this, but I was kind of fascinated by it? I would like to read a good dark romance, I think.
Please note that I work for Macmillan, but opinions are my own and I am not involved in book production. I read the indiepub version of this book....more
Book 3 of moving TBR COMPLETE!!! And we have ARRIVED!!
A Lady Awakened is the story of two people who are good but become better through their relationBook 3 of moving TBR COMPLETE!!! And we have ARRIVED!!
A Lady Awakened is the story of two people who are good but become better through their relationship with one another. Theo needs money and to prove himself to his father. Martha needs a surprise "heir" from her deceased husband. The two form a pact to help one another, and what follows is a painfully awkward relationship that grows into, perhaps, something more?
The romance and sideplots twine together effectively, and the story manages to successfully balance humor and high stakes. There's an earnestness to this book that I found endearing. It's nice to read about people who work so well together while retaining their own separate personalities and goals. ...more
Unfortunately, this is the first of Emily Henry's novels that I haven't enjoyed. The parts that I liked were tied up in what I didn't like, so tha2.5?
Unfortunately, this is the first of Emily Henry's novels that I haven't enjoyed. The parts that I liked were tied up in what I didn't like, so that I'm still struggling to identify what didn't work for me here. I was interested in the friendship dynamic, the exploration of how people grow apart as they get older, the question of how to navigate the romance in your life without your parents as a good example, and the discussion of how mental health may shape relationships. I think the book's interest in exploring all of these themes - on top of a romance plotline - meant that none of them were fully developed. A lot of people have mentioned that this book straddles the line between "romance" and "lit fic" more than Henry's previous books, but my interest in the "non-romance" plotlines meant that the romance itself paled in comparison, and felt like it was taking up a disproportionate part of the story.
Fundamentally, I wasn't able to get invested in Harret and Wyn. The banter between them is cute, but I'm not sure I care about them very much as characters. If we placed them outside of the context of this story...would I be rooting for them? It's emphasized that they both shy away from sharing their true thoughts, and I think this put a barrier up against the reader as well.
I totally get why this book - and the ending! - is very hit-or-miss for people, and I'm glad it's resonated with a lot of people! ...more
Charming!! The synopsis does a pretty good job. The main characters have a genuine chemistry, I liked the excerpts from other media and the details abCharming!! The synopsis does a pretty good job. The main characters have a genuine chemistry, I liked the excerpts from other media and the details about the convention circuit. My only real “issue” was that I felt like I understood Finn’s character way more than Chandler’s. Chandler’s arc focused on her needing to take and accept more risks in her life, but I never felt like characters commenting on her “risk-averse” personality actually aligned with her actions. The third act conflict felt a bit contrived as a result. That being said…a fun read! ...more
There’s nothing necessarily *wrong* with this book that I felt like I needed to DNF it, but the story reaches a natural conclusion around tDNFed @ 83%
There’s nothing necessarily *wrong* with this book that I felt like I needed to DNF it, but the story reaches a natural conclusion around this point and I have no idea why the author would choose to introduce a murder mystery (?!?) this close to the end of the book, after the plot threads have been tied up.
The romance is very cute! Gareth and Jos are clearly romantically attracted to one another, but they also just want to be AROUND each other. These are characters who could be friends as much as they could be a couple.
The story is otherwise a little plot-heavy, with a huge focus being the familial politics on the marsh. I would’ve been happy with a little trimming in this area - it sometimes eclipsed the romance. I think there’s a strong case that this is more of a historical fiction than a historical romance, since the romance actually takes up a small percentage of the plot.
I don’t think I’ll continue the series, but I would read more from the author! ...more
I've always said I'm not the biggest Romance Person, but Seven Days in June pleasantly surprised me. Our two leads have a whirlwind second-chance romaI've always said I'm not the biggest Romance Person, but Seven Days in June pleasantly surprised me. Our two leads have a whirlwind second-chance romance after connecting as teenagers, now adults and both authors, writing books inspired by the other.
I loved how we're introduced to these characters separately, but I immediately understood how they would connect when they were together. Eva, single mother struggling with chronic illness, is so used to taking care of others, but needs to be taken care of herself. Shane is a recovering alcoholic who shines best when he's able to put his energy towards the people around him. It works! And I think the obvious chemistry made the breakneck speed of their relationship feel more natural than it would have otherwise. Tia Williams also has a skill for dialogue and letting characters play off of each other naturally; there's a great party scene where we catch snippets of conversations from different groups of people, and the effect is humorous and spunky.
I think I agree with other reviews about the end of this book, which has a plot twist so out of left field I actually said "What?" out loud to myself in my car. The last third dedicates a lot of page time to side characters' POVs, and redirecting some of that back towards our main characters would have given that arc time to breathe.
Overall, this is a heavier romance novel, perhaps closer to the realm of litfic than what I usually expect. I'd recommend people look into trigger warnings if they're interested. But I enjoyed it! I drove into the mountains while listening to the audiobook, and paused it when the roads got rough so I could concentrate without missing anything, if that's any indication...more
This is my first romance novel attempt of the year!! One of my goals has been to narrow down my taste in romance book, and this is my first foray intoThis is my first romance novel attempt of the year!! One of my goals has been to narrow down my taste in romance book, and this is my first foray into that.
To Catch a Raven is a historical romance about a con artist named Raven and her fake marriage husband Braxton working together to steal a copy of the Declaration of Independence in post-Civil War Charleston.
Raven and Braxton are two very different characters, and the story follows them learning to be less judgmental of each other’s personalities and pasts. They have a real chemistry in this book, and I like how Braxton comes to respect Raven’s sense of independence. The heist subplot is also fun, and more fleshed out than I was expecting!!
One thing I didn’t necessarily like about this book was the language used around sex. I never want to hear sex referred to as “kisses and touches” or a woman called “little _____”.
I don’t think this is exactly what I’m looking for yet - I like the historical setting and details Beverly Jenkins provided to flesh out that setting, but I like a bit more of a slow burn ...more
I never read romance, and I really enjoyed this one! I loved the complexity of the characters particularly, in that they were both flawed people, but I never read romance, and I really enjoyed this one! I loved the complexity of the characters particularly, in that they were both flawed people, but you understood how their histories made them into those people without it having to be explicitly stated. The banter was witty and charming, building into a very believable relationship. I even don't really like reading sex scenes, and I thought the ones here were well-written. January's family drama subplot also served as a good background to introduce extra tension and prevent the reader from getting tired of the romance. I don't have any complaints (maybe just that the characters are wayyy too bold for me to be able to find them relatable or realistic, but I might also just be Southern), and while I don't think romance is a new go-to genre for me, I would be more willing to pick one up in the future!...more
I actually really liked this book, so I’ll get into that first before going into why I put it down
I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy lately,DNF @ 33%
I actually really liked this book, so I’ll get into that first before going into why I put it down
I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy lately, so I needed something lighter to break up the pace. I’d heard good things about Tessa Dare’s writing, and the audiobook was available from my library, so why not? I figured it would be a stuffy historical romance, which is to say nothing against historical romance or stuffiness.
It actually turned out to be a genuinely hilarious rom-com, emphasis on comedy. Like, the narrator was so good, I was laughing out loud in my car reading this. It comes across more as a satire or campy romance than anything else, and its ability to play with expectations and perfectly execute comedic timing really worked for me!
The reason I put it down is something I honestly should have anticipated earlier: a romance novel will have sex scenes. And at the end of the day, I just don’t like sex scenes. The best of them - which I can say this book belongs to - still feel cringey and awkward, especially when read aloud. They worked for me when they leaned into the comedy portion, but less so when they were played straight. Once I realized that I was a third of the way through the book and on the third sex scene, I thought to myself: there will probably be more of these.
I wasn’t able to get far enough to comment on the characters or plot super well, but they’re generally enjoyable and fun. In the future, I would want to seek out romances that are slow burns or place less emphasis on sex ...more
I have mixed feelings towards this book, so I feel like it would be better to do a sort of roll-call list rather than a complete review:
Things I LikedI have mixed feelings towards this book, so I feel like it would be better to do a sort of roll-call list rather than a complete review:
Things I Liked: -Henry and Alex and their chemistry. They worked well as a couple for me, and their exchanges and dynamic reminded me of my own boyfriend and I, which was a nice feeling -The dialogue felt witty and realistic. A lot of the conversations here were something I could imagine my own friends and I saying -I loved the Texas representation <3 I read that the author lived in Southern Louisiana, so the authentic descriptions of Texan culture really pushed this book forward for me, especially near the end
Things I Didn’t Like: -It was really obvious that the author had a Hamilton phase in 2016 and I couldn’t stand the constant callbacks and references to it. It felt cringy and took me out of the book -Speaking of cringy....the sex scenes were NOT my thing. It’s never a thing I enjoy anyway and I would skip them if I could, but something about these scenes dragged on forever and were way too simultaneously awkward and explicit for me. No thank you! It took me three days to read the first one alone. -The pacing of this book dragged through the middle. I get the need to build character relationships, but there wasn’t enough going on to keep me interested
At the end of the day, this is more like a 3.5 read for me, but I gave it a 4 because I liked the ending (which was, importantly, the only extended section of the book not focused on romance). I might read something else by this author but honestly the chances are not great. At the end of the day, romance is just not my genre! There are people who will love this book unconditionally and I understand why, but I’m not one of them...more
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