aprilyang1's reviews
86 reviews

It’s exactly what it says it is, but it’s a little funny how seriously unserious this book is lol. Enjoyed it for the most part… except when they weren’t going down on each other it was just Tyler going on a self-pity rant 🙄.

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Summer Island by Shelley Noble

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emotional funny inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Love, Off the Record by Samantha Markum

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such a classic and well-done enemies-to-lovers academic rivals love story! I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down the more I read. I seriously had such a fun time throughout the entire story. I read most of it during an 8-hour car ride and had to literally contain my smiling, kicking, giggling, and almost crying as best I could lol. Wyn and Three’s banter was so fun and so very addictive. I highlighted almost everything they said and every interaction they had because it was just THAT good. Samantha Markum somehow created a couple that could hate each other, love each other, not stand each other, AND YET have so much sexual tension—all at once. I mean that tension was *chefs kiss*.

I love that Markum included heavy topics on top of the love story. And, while I loved them and they didn’t diminish the storyline in any way, I felt they could’ve been better elaborated on or had a bit more closure to really make everything feel more cohesive. However, Wyn’s personal experience and growth were areas where I think Markum absolutely nailed it. Almost every time I read Wyn discuss her emotions, it felt like I was reading about my 17-year-old self. At times it felt like I was Wyn and Wyn was me. Wyn’s anxiety, insecurity, and growth felt so raw and real, reflecting how I, and many other women, have felt. I could physically feel my heart breaking when Wyn felt a certain way, said words she didn’t mean, felt mistreated, or negatively interpreted someone’s face or body language. She was by no means a perfect person, but that made her feel so real. She had her flaws, managed to grow in many areas, and reached out for support through her friends, therapy, and family.

I have to admit, I was unsure I’d like Three at first, but he surprisingly grew on me. Now, I can’t stop thinking about him (literally send help!)

I loved this story, and if I could, I’d read more and more stories about Three and Wyn or erase my memory and read this book all over again. I also think a story about Madison would be really cute!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for providing me with an e-arc! All opinions shared are mine and mine alone. Love, Off the Record publishes TODAY June 11, 2024!

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Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

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adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚.”

What a rollercoaster this story was! I might have predicted a few outcomes, but I was still shocked every time a secret was revealed. If there was camera footage of me reading this, it’d show me gasping to my walls at 4am because I was in shock lol. Amber Chen I humbly as for book 2 as soon as possible 🙇🏻‍♀️.

Ying was naive and a little thoughtless, BUT she was also self-assured, inventive, unwilling to change what she believed in for anyone (FOR ANYONE 🫵🏻!!). At first, I struggled to get through the beginning 20ish% because of her naïveté. BUT, that characteristic made me question everyone’s trustworthiness (this is a good thing, it kept me on my toes!) because I was constantly wondering if it was Ying's perspective that was influencing me or my own. The feeling of something being "too good to be true" sums up a lot of what was happening in my mind lol. Regardless, Ying stood out as a fmc because she didn’t necessarily have physical strength or fighting abilities (GREAT characteristics many strong fantasy female leads have), but she did have her inventiveness, her resolve, and her beliefs.

I will say that since this is a YA story, it does gloss over some of the darker topics that could have been explored if it were geared toward adults, but I appreciated it for what it was.

I know I don’t do this book justice, but I promise it's a great story that leaves a lasting impression. If you’re a beginner fantasy reader (like me 😃), I think you’ll really enjoy this one. And for those who have read or will soon read it… I liked how it ended and I think it was exactly what should’ve happened 😌!

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for providing me with an e-arc for “Of Jade and Dragons” by Amber Chen! All opinions are mine alone. “Of Jade and Dragons” publishes June 18, 2024!

Content Warnings

Rules for Rule Breaking by Talia Tucker

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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aprilyang1's reviews 86 reviews

aprilyang1's reviews
86 reviews