Scan barcode
briethebookishluxen's reviews
462 reviews
Hymn of Breath and Bone by Madeleine Eliot
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
โI would rather die tomorrow than live a thousand lives without you. You are the best part of me. The greatest gift I have ever received. And everything that has happened to me was meant to happen, to get us here. Together.โ ๐๐ฅนโจ
Hymn of Breath and Bone by @madeleineeliotwrites is an incredible conclusion to the Sea and Sky Duology! ๐คฉ
๐๐๐๐๐
I am yet again blown away by Madeleineโs storytelling!!! She is a craftswoman of world building and developing an unforgettable cast of characters that you will fall in love with. ๐
I enjoyed returning to Caspian and Marinaโs story as it is a rollercoaster of a ride, with so many twists and new revelations. Their love for each other made me smile, swoon, cry, and sometimes fan myself! I devoured through the novel and was so sad when it concluded. Also, I was screaming at the last few pages of the book (IYKYK)! Hopefully, we will get an opportunity to return to the world of selkies and sirens someday through a novella or another story. ๐ซ ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ชฝ๐๐๐ด๐ฆ๏ธ๐ฌ๏ธ๐ฆด๐ค
Congratulations to Madeleine Eliot for writing another memorable and mesmerizing duology! Please pick up Hymn of Breath and Bone (or any of her) whenever they are sold today. You will not regret it! ๐ฅณ
๐ท๏ธ: #hymnofbreathandbone #madeleineeliot #review #bookrecommendation #bookstagram
Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy is a cute story filled with heart! ๐
Blurb: Nick Sorensen had once been one of the fastest men in hockeyโuntil the devastating plane crash that took the lives of his best friends, leaving him the only survivor. Now heโs physically ready to get back on the ice, but his coach is concerned Nick isnโt doing as well mentally as he says he is. Case in point: Nickโs apartment is completely empty, apart from a single chair and a mattress on the floor.
To prove heโs fine, really, Nick hires Alyssa Compton, an up-and-coming interior designer, to decorate his space. Alyssaโs thrilled at the chance to prove herself to her demanding bossโwith job security at last, maybe she can finally put down roots and create a home for herself too. But Nick turns out to be infuriatingly stubborn and impossible to work with, and just when Alyssa decides to throw in the towel on the whole thing, Nick shows up for her in a way she never could have expected.
The icy path ahead of these two lost souls may be slippery and cracking, but when it comes to love, sometimes all you need is someone on your team.
๐๐๐
I love hockey romances, however, Hearts on Thin Ice sort of misses the mark! The romance between Nick and Alyssa is super sweet and I loved their banter. The story has potential, but the writing is atrocious!!! It honestly read like a bad fan-fiction, which greatly disappointed me. I wanted to enjoy Hearts on Thin Ice yet struggled to finish the book. The ending also ended abruptly and the entire story felt rushed. If it was written better with a more fleshed-out story, I would have given it 5 stars!!! I urge you all to check out Hearts on Thin Ice and form your own opinion. ๐๐๐ฅ
โจ
Thank you to Alcove Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this ARC! ๐คฉ๐
#heartsonthinice #katiekennedy #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife
Wish You Weren't Here by Christy Schillig
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Wish You Werenโt Here by @christyschillig is an unforgettable book about love and finding your true calling! โค๏ธ
๐๐๐๐๐
I absolutely LOVED Wish You Werenโt Here!!! It was well-written, romantic, and humorous at times. I enjoyed Avaโs journey of finding her true passion again and exploring Urbino with a handsome man by her side. James is an absolute dreamboat and his journey to follow his dreams was fantastic as well. I adored Jamesโ family and how they support each other too. Wish You Werenโt Here is a must-read that will make you cry, laugh, swoon, and yearn to travel to Italy. ๐ฎ๐นโค๏ธโจ
Thank you to @alcovepress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this ARC! ๐คฉ๐
#wishyouwerenthere #christyschillig #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife
Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rusty Nailed by @authoraliceclayton is an equally hilarious and steamy sequel to Wallbanger! ๐๐โจ
๐๐๐๐
Rusty Nailed continues the story of Simon and Caroline as they navigate their burgeoning yet sensual relationship. Aliceโs writing is super engaging and the sex scenes are sizzling!!! Listening to the audiobook was even more fun, and I found myself blushing many times while in the car driving to school.
I liked how the novel tackles Carolineโs reluctance to settle down and her willingness to take on more than she can chew. It also spends time focusing on Simonโs return to his hometown and his hesitance to meet his demons head-on. The plot was very realistic, which I appreciated!
If you want a laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy, drama-filled, and quick read, this is the book for you!!! Iโm eager to hear more about Simon and Carolineโs relationship journey in future books. ๐ป๐โจ
#rustynailed #aliceclayton #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife
Heathen and Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey
Now: Darby Andrews is Crestwell, Kansasโs golden child. Sheโs always been a rule follower, save for one secret summer spent living with her grandmother in California; the consequences of which still haunt her a decade later. Darbyโs always done what she was told, including agreeing to marry the man hand-picked by her demanding father. While perfect on paper, Darby knows what love is, and her engagement to Jackson Montague isnโt it. When the boy whoโs heart she broke all those years ago shows up on the cusp of her nuptials claiming to have received a letter she never meant to send him, and an offer to run away, Darbyโs left with a choice: remain the good girl sheโs always been, or become the wild spirit sheโs always wished to be.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Heathen and Honeysuckle by @sarahabaileyauthor is the best book I read this year so far, HANDS DOWN!!! ๐
Blurb: Then: Leo Graham knows nothing new ever happens in the small town of Pacific Shores. That is, until he runs into his new neighbor. Golden haired, honey-eyed, and sharp-tongued, Darby Andrews. The mischievous surfer is immediately smitten with the innocent girl-next-door, and vows to dedicate his summer to bringing out her wild side. As Leo and Darbyโs budding friendship turns into a burning love that neither of them couldโve expected, Leo is determined to protect it at all costs. Until he finds the girl of his teenage dreams ran away in the middle of the night without so much as a goodbye.
Now: Darby Andrews is Crestwell, Kansasโs golden child. Sheโs always been a rule follower, save for one secret summer spent living with her grandmother in California; the consequences of which still haunt her a decade later. Darbyโs always done what she was told, including agreeing to marry the man hand-picked by her demanding father. While perfect on paper, Darby knows what love is, and her engagement to Jackson Montague isnโt it. When the boy whoโs heart she broke all those years ago shows up on the cusp of her nuptials claiming to have received a letter she never meant to send him, and an offer to run away, Darbyโs left with a choice: remain the good girl sheโs always been, or become the wild spirit sheโs always wished to be.
๐๐๐๐๐
Heathen and Honeysuckle emotionally damaged me in the best way possible. ๐ฅน
Leo and Darby have taken over my soul completely! Their relationship dynamic is so powerful and beautiful, yet incredibly written. I felt their everlasting devotion and love to each other through the pages. As the story weaves through the past and present, I was familiarized with these two characters at a deeper level. They became a part of me as I was reading, and I could not get enough!!! Also, the steamy scenes were absolutely scorchinโ hot and definitively blush worthy. โค๏ธโ๐ฅ
Heathen and Honeysuckle is one of those stories that leaves you captivated, devastated, and yearning to learn more about Darby and Leoโs epic love story. I could not put the novel down, it was so dang good!!! Also, I enjoyed the surprise near the end of H&H (IFKYK). Sarah A. Bailey has crafted a wonderful and iconic novel filled with found family, beautiful declarations of love, shocking twists, and well-deserved second chances! ๐๐๐โโ๏ธ
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read/review this ARC! ๐คฉ๐โค๏ธ
#heathenandhoneysuckle #sarahabailey #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wallbanger by @authoraliceclayton is a laugh-out-loud extremely sexy romp with swoon-worthy moments!!! ๐๐โจ
Blurb: The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...
๐๐๐๐
THIS. AUDIOBOOK. WAS. A. RIDE. WHEWWWWWEEEEE!!! I was super excited to listen to this and it did not DISAPPOINT. Simon and Caroline are sooooo hot together!!! The banter, the mind-blowing sexy scenes, the slow burn, the sass/humor?!?!? AMAZING!!! And donโt forget about Clive, the bestest cat in the world. Wallbanger is also releasing as a Passionflix film on April 11th, which I am super excited about!!! Hopefully it is an amazing adaptation of a truly hilarious and sultry All in all, I am so stoked to read the rest of the Cocktail series!!! ๐ฅต๐ฅ๐ธ๐ฝ
#wallbanger #aliceclayton #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife
Void of Endings by Hillary Raymer
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Void of Endings by @hillaryraymer , which is a flawless ending to a fantastic saga!!! ๐
๐๐๐๐๐
Hillary has yet again tore out my heart and put it back together!!! The action is so incredible, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading. Tiernan and Maeve will always be one of my favorite fantasy couples!!! They, and the entire saga, are so brilliantly written. I was crying by the end because I am going to miss the world of Faeven. But, it was the perfect send-off to a beautiful story. ๐โ๏ธ
If you havenโt read any of Hillaryโs books yet, DO IT!!! She is one of my favorite indie authors atm and deserves the world. Congrats on finishing an amazing series, I am so proud of you!!! ๐คฉ๐โจ
#voidofendings #hillaryraymer #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Throne of Glass by @sarahjmaas is an incredible start to a well-loved series!!! ๐๐ก๏ธ
Blurb: After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
๐๐๐๐
I finally began my epic journey in the Maasverse with ToG and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! I fell in love with the world of Erilea and the amazing cast of characters. Aelin is such a bada** and I loved her confidence/determination to win the competition!!! Dorian and Chaol are super swoon-worthy and Nehemia is a wonderful ally. My only gripe was the narrator took me a while to get used to. I cannot wait to read/listen to the rest of the series!!! ๐โ๏ธ๐ฆ
#throneofglass #sarahjmaas #review #bookrecommendation #bookstagram
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Ready or Not by @carabastone is a sweet and funny novel about impending motherhood and love! ๐ฅฐ๐ผ
๐๐๐๐.5
This was such a sweet friends-to-lovers pregnancy romantic comedy!!! I am such a huge fan of the accidental pregnancy trope and Ready or Not was incredibly well-written.
I fell in love with both Eve and Shep from the first page! Her journey into motherhood was both very heartwarming and hilarious. His willingness from day 1 to support her and her baby (even though it is not his) made me swoon/cry multiple times!!!
The friendship between Willa and Eve was so genuine!!! Willa was also supportive and happy as well, even though she is currently struggling to have a baby of her own. This found family was honestly amazing and I adored how that dynamic was written.
Now, I wasnโt a huge fan of the baby daddy! He seemed super wishy-washy at the beginning. However, he did turn around near the last part of the book. The ending was kind of abrupt, which was a little disappointing since I wanted more from these characters!!!
All in all, Ready or Not is a tender and emotional read about the woes and joys of motherhood. Plus, how love needs a village to grow and thrive! ๐ถ๐
Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this ARC! ๐คฉ๐
#readyornot #carabastone #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife
With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
โI want to be with you,โ I say. โOn whatever quest or adventure we go on. I want to be with you. Always. All the time. And I hate that it took me so long to figure that out.โ ๐ฅน๐งก
๐๐๐๐๐
Marissa Meyer is one of all-time favorite authors, and receiving this ARC was a dream come true!!! She once again has crafted a hilarious, nerdy, and heartfelt novel. ๐
Jude is an amazing MMC because he is so compassionate about his interests and the ones he loves! His journey to becoming unapologetically himself was truly so touching to read. His struggles with fitting in reminded me of myself when I was in high school! His relationships with his family and friends are super wholesome too.
The best part of the book was all the incredible DnD-esque comic book drawings!!! I found myself captivated by them and how they enhanced the story. Also, some of my favorite tropes were present (friends-to-lovers, found family) and many sections made cry/smile at the same time! ๐ฅฒ
All in all, With a Little Luck by @marissameyerauthor is a feel-good romance about the power of luckiness and never giving up on your dreams/hopes! ๐ฅฐ๐ด๐ฟ๐ค
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanusa for the opportunity to read/review this ARC. ๐คฉ๐โค๏ธ
#withalittleluck #marissameyer #review #bookrecommendation #bookobsessed #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #fiction #readingtime #currentlyreading #readmorebooks #author #amreading #novel #ilovebooks #booksofig #romance #bookishlove #authorsofinstagram #readersofig #igbooks #writersofinstagram #literature #bookaesthetic #love #booklife