30something_reads's reviews
676 reviews

 What you’ll find:
✨ Unconventional Workplace Romance
👽 Mulder x Scully Vibes
✨ Cryptid Hunting
👽 Friends to Lovers
✨ Mutual Pining
👽 Only One Bed (in a haunted hotel)
✨ Acespec Rep (MC)
👽 Neurodivergent LI
😺 A cat named Cthulhu

Hallie is a web series producer desperate to prove herself at her company after a horrendous break up with a coworker. Hayden is a big, tattooed nerd/podcaster obsessed with cryptids and other conspiracy theories.

Right away, these two have incredible chemistry when Hallie proposes that Hayden work with her to turn his podcast about conspiracy theories into a web series. When they find out that he is not great in front of the camera, she steps in as his skeptical, quippy co-host and The Out There web series is born.

As Hallie and Hayden begin working side by side, a budding attraction blooms between them that is as obvious on-screen as it is off. While Hallie is hesitant to pursue anything, Hayden is supportive to a fault and these bickering co-host slowly become best friends (who definitely lust after one other.)

My Thoughts:

A little bit silly and oh-so sweet!! I adored these characters. Hallie is working on building her confidence back after her awful ex and she finds such comfort in this work with Hayden (despite her being a non-believer.) And Hayden is just this perfect combination of passionate nerd and understanding sweetheart. He and Hallie are total opposites in a way but manage to have a wonderfully balanced and supportive relationship. Despite their (adorable) banter, they have such genuine affection for one other. I love these nerds. They are the perfect match.

This is a delightful debut from author, Mallory Marlowe! I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an early E-ARC and thank you to PRH Audio for a copy of the audiobook! 

The writing is terrible. This is clearly a beloved series but yikes. I guess I will not be finding out why.

I really was not feeling the characterization of either of the MCs or how they interacted.

Also, I read a review that mentioned a later scene between the older MC and the younger MC (who happened to be drunk and unable to reach anyone else.) I have really icky feelings about dubious consent when alcohol is involved. ✌🏻

meh, started this last night in bed and upon waking this morning I literally had no desire to pick it back up

Human con-woman x Wolf shifter/Fae LI

Wasn't necessarily convinced in the first half but the second half picked up in plot intrigue. Probably one of the more interesting starts to a romantasy series that I've read in a while. It had some interesting urban/dystopian fantasy elements. I'm also a fan of each book being a different couple.

TBD on if I'll continue the series but it may be something fun to come back to.

I think I had tried but I couldn't get past the dubious consent of their first sexual encounter (which happened immediately). Not a fan of one party being drunk and the other just going with it. Or of the lack of sexual tension and build up. 

 A perfect Fall book. I wish I had read it in the fall.

This is objectively a really good book. A solid T Kingfisher story- atmospheric, whimsical, eerie, humorous- all of the things I enjoy when picking up her work.

I think my middling enjoyment was solely a ME issue. I wasn't in the right mood but I kept reading regardless. 

I had such a great time with this book. I continue to be so impressed with how Lily Mayne creates these very tender romances set against a dark/gritty dystopian backdrop.

I love Edin- my sweet, kind, adorable giant teddy bear. I really liked Hunter too- his black cat energy really resonated with me. Despite enjoying both of these characters, I feel like there was something missing from their chemistry. I can't quite pinpoint it but I didn't have the same emotional gut-punch reaction that I did with Wyn/Danny. Maybe it's that I wanted more time for them to be together? Maybe it was the pacing of the plot that threw it off for me? 

I know I'm supposed to read this series in order but I am DESPERATE to get to Charlie's book.

 

I am so fucking emotional over this book right now and I did not expect that AT ALL????

Like WOW. I have seen so many people talk about this series and I had just never gotten around to starting it. Well here I fucking am, late to the party, but so happy to be here.

I can't believe this was a debut?? The world is so impressively fleshed out. Very post-apocalyptic/dystopian vibes. Very unique monster lore. The sweetest fucking characters. Despite the setting and plot, it was just so warm and tender?? Until we got to the 75% mark and then Lily Mayne decided to send me on an emotional SPIRAL because what the fuck?? (I loved it though.)

*My only complaint is in the form of questions regarding one of the major incidents that happen in the last quarter of the book. I would have liked more explanation on page rather than getting the events secondhand. 

Obviously I'm going to be reading Edin next because that giant purple teddy bear is my new favorite. 

🥲