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maggiestraveledbookshelf's reviews
530 reviews
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
๐ Magnolia Parks
๐ Book 1 in the Magnolia Parks Universe
โ๐ป Jessa Hastings
โ๏ธ Contemporary Romance
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโจ | 4.25
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ
โ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ก๐๐ข ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐จ ๐๐จ, ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐จ. ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ฃ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐ง๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉโโ
OH MY GOODNESS. This book had me in a chokehold!!!!
Overview:
โขNew Adult Romance Series
โขMajor ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ Vibes
โขToxic Love
โขFound Family
โขLondon High Society
โขRollercoaster Drama
๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ณ๐๐น ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ. ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป'๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐. ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ต๐ถ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐; ๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ด๐ถ๐ฟ๐น๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐. ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ณ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ, ๐ฝ๐๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐'๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐; ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ด๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐.
Let me start with this: I loved and hated this book in equal measure. There are so many tropes in this book that I despise, the main relationship is the most toxic thing Iโve ever seen, and yet - I was utterly consumed from start to finish.
I loved Magnolia. I loved to hate BJ. Iโm obsessed with Tom. The friendships in this book are so messy and dramatic and utterly unrealistic, but my goodness I would still jump on their private plane to witness their train wreck behaviors.
The dual POV + writing style really worked for me. Witnessing both of their obsessive thoughts and feeling their hearts break felt so intense and traumatically beautiful.
I hit the halfway mark and immediately requested the next book on Libby, which I discovered has a multiple month waitโฆ so I may be breaking my book ban to buy Daisy Haites. THAT is how consumed I am by this story.
Normally I include a bunch of highlights/quotes in my reviews, but I have too many to choose from (96+ highlights!!!!! insane.) and genuinely donโt want to spoil anything.
Is this a good book? Hmmโฆ
Is this a healthy relationship? NO.
Is this a Good Time book? Absolutely!
Book MVP: Magnoliaโs sister Bridget. Sheโs the only pure, intelligent, and emotionally stable human of this group.
If you want to read a dramatic rollercoaster story that feels like a melodrama tv show, I think you should try this book!!
CW: cheating, drug use, altogether toxic relationship behavior
โจ read via Libby โจ
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
๐ Red Rising
๐ Book One of Red Rising Saga
โ๐ป Pierce Brown
โ๏ธ Science Fiction/Dystopian
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
โ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐จ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ง๐. ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ข๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ.โ
This was REALLY good!!
Overview:
โขDystopian Society on Mars
โขClass Hierarchy Sorted by Color
โขFight-to-the-Death Competition
โขHidden Identity
๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ (๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ) ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ (๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ). ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ.
I really enjoyed this!! A solid first book in a new-to-me series.
Because I donโt often read science fiction or dystopian novels, it took me a while to get hooked, especially with the expansive world building. But I was invested by the 20% marker!
Darrow is the heart of this story. Yes, there are overarching themes of politics, racism, classism, and slavery, but his character brings the necessary touch of realism and relatability. He is both smart and naive, selfless and self-aware, brave and fearful.
โ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ก๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐. ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฉ๐. ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐.โ
Action drives the story at a steady pace. There is tactical planning, heart-stopping failures, and plenty of violence. Battles are never my favorite part of stories, but these had me right in the middle of it.
โ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ, ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ช๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ข.โ
The character interactions and dynamics were SO interesting here! The changing alliances and evolving bonds kept me on my toes, trying to figure out who would be loyal and what secrets would be revealed. And there was some sassy banter which I LOVED.
โ๐๐๐ก๐ก, ๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐,โ ๐พ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ช๐จ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐จ. โ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ค๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง.โ
โ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ข ๐?โ ๐๐ค๐ฆ๐ช๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐จ. โ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐?โ โ๐๐ค๐ชโ๐ง๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฉ,โ ๐ ๐จ๐ฃ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ. โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฉ ๐จ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ.โ
This book makes me excited to read the rest of the series! Itโs definitely dark and interesting and unexpected, and Iโm ready to see how the world and characters evolve in the next one.
โ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐. ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐จ ๐ข๐. ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ-๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ง ๐๐จ ๐ง๐๐๐. ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ฉ, ๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ง๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ, ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ข๐๐กโ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐. ๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ง ๐๐จ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐. ๐๐ค๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐จ ๐ข๐.โ
Itโs worth noting that I have 65 highlights from this book, which is more than double my average. There are so many well-worded lines that I wanted to keep and potential foreshadowing that I wanted to remember.
Book MVP: Servo. Iykyk.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book when youโre in the mood for some dystopian world building!
โจ read via Libby โจ
Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Review โฌ๏ธ
๐ Salt Kiss
โ๐ผ Sierra Simone
โ๏ธ Contemporary Romance
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ (4.5)
โ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ,โ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ช๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐โ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐จ๐๐๐: โ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช.โ
Ohhhhh my goodness, Sierra Simone always brings the angsty fire!!
Overview:
โขContemporary Retelling
โขMMF Mรฉnage Romance
โขKink Club
โขPlenty of Angst
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ (๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ), ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ธ-๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฏ ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐรฉ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ.
Iโve only read one other book by Sierra Simone (American Queen), but both books provided intense levels of smut and angst.
We have three intense characters:
*Mark, the famously morally gray kink club owner with a mysterious past
*Tristan, former soldier with severe PTSD who is hired on as Markโs bodyguard
*Isolde, a gorgeous and affluent young woman who is quietly dangerous
โ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐จ?โ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ . โ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ฎ-๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐?โ
โ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐จ,โ ๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐จ. ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข. โ๐ฟ๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช?โ
Iโm not going to say too much because itโs too hard to avoid spoilers, but I will note this:
Sierra Simone somehow combines intense eroticism with a beautifully plotted story in a way that is sweeping and angsty and full of sizzling chemistry.
There is quite the cliffhanger, and I want to read the next book!
Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who likes ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ spice combined with drama!
Not Safe For Work by Lindsey Lanza
funny
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
๐ Not Safe For Work
โ๐ผ Lindsey Lanza
โ๏ธ Contemporary Romance
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ
โ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐โ๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐, ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฎ? ๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐.โ
Such a fun, sweet romance!
Overview:
โขWorkplace Romance
โขFake Dating
โขHe is Obsessed with Her
โขThemes of Misogyny and Discrimination
โขPicturesque California Setting
๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ด๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐, ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ข๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐.
This was such a delightful read. It felt reminiscent of The Hating Game, especially with the workplace setting.
From the prologue, I knew would enjoy this book. โโฆ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐งโฆโ - I will forever love when women find their own way and voice.
Both main characters felt realistic and lovable. Olivia has dealt with relatable sexist situations, and she has worked relentlessly to achieve her goals.
If you like when the MMC is down bad for the FMC, I have great news for you. Gavin has been obsessed with Olivia for years - and rather than putting her on a pedestal, he truly sees her and cherishes her.
โ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ก ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฉ. ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฌ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ , ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐. ๐๐ค ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐๐ง๐ช๐จ๐. ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฉ.โ
The evolution of their fake dating scheme and the way they handle truly deplorable side characters is fun and adorable and respectable.
The author noted at the end that she included real life work experiences into this story, and itโs important to read about the internalized misogyny thatโs prevalent throughout the working world. I love how it was discussed and handled in this fictional story!
I also loved the family dynamics and the friendships in this story! And the MVP of the Book: Churro the hedgehog.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a sweet and swoony summer romance!
โจ Read via Kindle Unlimited โจ
Play Along by Liz Tomforde
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
๐ Play Along
โ๐ผ Liz Tomforde
โ๏ธ Contemporary Romance
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ๐ซ | 4.5
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ
โ๐
๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐.โ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ก๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ, โ๐พโ๐ข๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐๐. ๐๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐.โ
Well, damn. I love this series SO much!!
Overview:
โขSports Romance (baseball)
โขBlack Cat/Golden Retriever
โขAccidentally Married
โขHe Is OBSESSED With Her
โขFound Family
๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ต ๐ฅ๐ต๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ (๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฝ) ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ (๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ) ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ท๐ผ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐น๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ.
Iโll be honest, I donโt always love books that involve drunken weddings, so I tempered my expectationsโฆ but this book was SO GOOD!!!
Isaiah Rhodes is the MVP of this book. I swear he is the most devoted, supportive, and intentionally loving man. I loved watching Kennedyโs character arc, growing into a stronger and more confident person.
And their chemistry? And their banter? And their relationship development? LOVE.
โ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐จโฆโ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐. โ๐๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโ๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐จ๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ก, ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฉ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐โ๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ฉ.โ
A special part of this book was watching Isaiah deal with his continual grief and residual trauma. There were some raw and emotional discussions, and Iโll forever love discourse about therapy in books.
โ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ข๐จ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐๐, ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ,โ ๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐จ. โ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ค ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข. ๐โ๐ซ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ.โ
One of my favorite dynamics of this book is the brotherhood between Kai and Isaiah. I love how they continually verbalize and show their love and support for one another!
โ๐๐๐๐ง๐โ๐จ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐๐. ๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐จ, ๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ง๐ฎ. ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง.โ
This book exceeded my expectations and made me feel ALL of the emotions. Plus, the spice!! And all the cameos from the previous booksโ couples!! I immediately want to reread this whole series.
โ๐๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐๐ซ๐, ๐ก๐๐ช๐๐, ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐?โ
โ๐๐ค๐, ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ช๐๐.โ
Overall, I obviously loved this book and recommend it to all romance lovers!!!
โจ Read via Kindle Unlimited โจ
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? No
4.5
REVIEW โฌ๏ธ
๐ The Giver of Stars
โ๐ผ Jojo Moyes
โ๏ธ Historical Fiction
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ๐ซ | 4.5
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ
"๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ ๐ฎ, ๐๐ช๐? ๐๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐๐ช๐ก ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ก. ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ช๐จ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐."
I went into this book without knowing what it was about, and WOW - I sincerely loved it!!
Overview:
โขDepression-Era America
โขHorseback Librarian Program
โขSmall Town Living
โขWomen Empowerment
โขImportance of Books & Friendship
๐๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ต๐ฏ๐ฌ๐, ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น ๐ผ๐ป ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐.
First of all, I tend to LOVE stories based on true events - and learning about the WPA Pack Horse Library Project championed by Eleanor Roosevelt was a treat.
We meet a group of women who become librarians via horseback, and they are all incredible humans - and Iโll let you find out more about them. But safe to say, I loved this cast of characters.
โ๐ผ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ, ๐ฎ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ, ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐. ๐๐๐ก๐ก, ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐๐ฉ, ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐๐ฉ, ๐จ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ฉ.โ
One of the shining points of this story is the forging of female friendships. It can be so hard to make connections, especially in unfamiliar places and with people seemingly so different, so it felt so hopeful to watch these women overcome obstacles together.
โโฆ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ, ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ฃ, ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ฉ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐๐. ๐ผ๐ก๐๐๐, ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ, ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐.โ
The writing style was immersive and atmospheric. The author clearly did her research, and she was able to depict this era and these complex characters with visceral prose. I appreciate writing that is beautiful without being pretentious.
โ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐... ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ, ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข. ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐๐ช๐ก ๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง."
This is one of those books where I feel unable to capture all of the wonderful themes and moments: It touches on racism, classism, misogyny, and so much more. The importance of literacy and stories is woven into every chapter.
Simply put: This book is a wonderful tribute to how books can impact lives exponentially.
I obviously recommend this book to anyone who wants a wonderful historical read with empowering characters.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐, ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟโ๐ ๐ก๐ผ๐๐ฒ:
โ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฎ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ, ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ง๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ง ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐ค๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐. ๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฎ, ๐จ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ.โ
โจ Read via Libby โจ
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
๐ Blood & Steel (The Legends of Thezmar #1)
โ๐ผ Helen Scheuerer
โ๏ธ Fantasy Romance
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ
โ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐๐จ๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโฆ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช.โ
This was fun! What a solid first book to a series!!
Overview:
โขEpic Romantasy
โขWarrior Training Program
โขStabby FMC x Broody MMC
โขFound Family
โขโWho Did This To You?โ
๐๐ป ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐, ๐๐น๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ. ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ - ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ.
This was a really enjoyable opening to a new fantasy world! The world building was both thorough and easily digestible, and Iโm excited to dive in deeper during the next books.
โ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐ช๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ.โ
I loved the warrior training sequences, as Iโm a sucker for a good Mulan-esque training montage. The ragtag group of misfits becoming a friend unit was my favorite part.
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐. โ๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ.โ
โ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ, ๐๐๐ช๐จ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฎ.โ ๐พ๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅโ๐จ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐๐๐ง๐จ.
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฃ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐. โ๐พ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐จ๐ฉ, ๐๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐, ๐พ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ?โ
I loved that Thea has an equally feisty and steady presence, and I appreciated her integrity. Wilder has the Broody Personality on lock. Their relationship wasnโt my favorite part of this book, but Iโm hopeful for the rest of the series.
โ๐๐ค๐ชโ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐๐ช๐ก ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐โ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐๐ข๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐จ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐๐.โ
Book MVP: Malik and his dog Dax. I love them both eternally!!!! MVP Runner Up: Theaโs sister Wren.
My reason for less than 5 stars: This was marketed as a Slow Burn, and I didnโt think it was slow at all. It had InstaLust vibes, and I just wanted a little more tension.
โ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐.โ
โ๐๐ค? ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโ๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง?โ
Overall, Iโm looking forward to the next books! If you enjoyed Fourth Wing or similar Romantasy novels, I recommend checking this one out.
This is now a completed series (4 main novels, a prequel novella, and a standalone prequel novel).
โจ Read via Kindle Unlimited โจ
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
REVIEW โฌ๏ธ
๐ Ready or Not
โ๐ผ Cara Bastone
โ๏ธ Contemporary Romance
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ
โ๐๐๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง-๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐? ๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐? ๐๐ค ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎโ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐๐ค๐๐ฎโ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐?โ
This was a slow-burn enjoyment book for me.
Overview:
โขSurprise Pregnancy
โขFriends to Lovers
โขCinnamon Roll MMC
โขLifelong Friendships
๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ป๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ท๐๐ด๐ด๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐.
First of all, I was very frustrated with Eve during the beginning of this book. I wanted her to be more compassionate of her best friendโs feelings, and I just didnโt love her approach.
The star of the book: Shep. Heโs the sweetest of all sweethearts, dependable to a fault, and the most intentionally generous of souls.
โ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐โ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐.โ
I do love the realistic dialogue about pregnancy and motherhood. This is a long quote, but it was my favorite passage of the entire book:
โ๐โ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ง๐. ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐๐ฎ.โ
โ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ข๐, ๐๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ฉ, ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฃ. ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐. ๐ผ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฃ, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐คโ๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐. ๐๐ค๐ช ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ-๐ช๐ฅ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ๐โ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฉ. ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ก๐๐ง๐จ. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ก๐๐ง๐จ. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ, ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ก๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค. ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐, ๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ, ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐.โ
I really did enjoy this book, especially by the last few chapters. The conclusion was uniquely beautiful.
((Note: I used to avoid pregnancy-related books due to personal triggers, but Iโve been recently fine with them (Out On A Limb is one of my favorites). For some reason, this one hit some triggering points again - which may have affected my enjoyment. Classic case of Itโs Me, Not You.))
Overall, if you want a sweet romance book that revolves around an unexpected pregnancy, I would recommend this book!
โจ Read via Libby โจ
Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
REVIEW โฌ๏ธ
๐ Pack Up The Moon
โ๐ผ Kristan Higgins
โ๏ธ Contemporary Fiction
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ๐ซ | 4.5
โ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐จ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐๐ช๐ก. ๐
๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ก๐ค๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐จ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐จ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ง๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐.โ
Oof. This book is traumatically sad. Beautiful and touching, but brutal to read.
Overview:
โขLife After Loss
โขCosmic Love Story
โขThemes of Love, Grief, and Family
โขTerminal Disease
๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ณ๐๐น๐น๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ต ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ. ๐ง๐ผ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐ต๐ถ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ณ, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ต ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐๐ธ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ต.
This was such a hard book to read. Every single page had my heart aching, and it honestly never got lighter.
Each character is written with so much heart and intention, and therefore they feel so real. The way we get both POVs (Lauren as she deals with being sick, Josh as he deals with his grief) is so well done.
The journey, while heavy and intense, had a profound sense of serendipity and hope. These characters carried this story through the trenches of unspeakable hardship, and I found them inspiring.
Special shoutout to their dog and their families - especially Joshโs mom and Laurenโs sister.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good cry!
โจ Read via Borrowed Physical Copy โจ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
funny
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
๐ The Paradise Problem
โ๐ผ Christina Lauren
โ๏ธ Contemporary Romance
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ
โ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ, ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐, ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค. ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐โ๐ข ๐จ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ก๐๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ, ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง, ๐ค๐ง ๐ข๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฃโ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ก.โ
Okay, I really enjoyed this. It was such a fun read!!!
Overview:
โขBillionaire Romance
โขMarriage of Convenience
โขOnly One Bed
โขTropical Island Setting
โขDual POV
โขThemes of Money, Privilege, and Family
๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ท๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต. ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: ๐น๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ, ๐๐ป๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ (๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ) ๐ณ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ.
This is truly a perfect summer read! There is a levity and sense of humor throughout the whole story that made this so fun.
โ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐พ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ?โ ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ข ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฉ. โ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ฎ-๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง.โ ๐๐๐ช๐จ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐ ๐๐๐, โ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐โ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐. ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ.โ
I absolutely love a good marriage of convenience story, and Anna and Liam were wonderful characters to carry this out. The combination of Annaโs joie de vivre and Liamโs integrity was so endearing.
โ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐โ๐ข ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐ข. ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ก๐ฎ, ๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐. ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ.โ
The lavish, posh world of Liamโs family was immersive and ridiculous (in a fun way). I absolutely loved how CLo included dialogue about financial disparity and everything to do with it.
โ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ช๐จ๐, ๐ค๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข. ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฎโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐, ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐จ, ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐งโ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข. ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐ข ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐.โ
I wanted a little more depth of relationship development in those initial weeks, as it felt a little too close to InstaLust at times, but the final chapters did provide relationship maturity and growth!
Favorite Moment: When Anna calls out Ray for everything.
Special shout out to Annaโs dad David Green for being the bookโs MVP!!
โ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ๐, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐ฉ. ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ. ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ.โ
Overall, I recommend this book for anyone who wants a funny, swoony, and spicy romance!
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