readintowonderland's reviews
363 reviews

I will be honest, my reading experience with this story wasn't great. A lot of my not-so-great feelings are because I could barely stand both of the FMCs. There is also just no worthy plot. The entire book could've been one page of Shara just communicated. 

The entirety of this book's plot is centered around finding Shara who ran away and is now leaving clues. Chloe has zero real reason to put up with this massive tomfoolery from Shara and yet she does. It seems at some points the reader is supposed to feel bad for Shara. I am not sorry that I will never feel bad for a spoiled rich girl throwing a tantrum. 

The whole book reads quite stereotypical. There are mean homophobic jocks, many of the queer kids have dyed hair, the pastor's daughter is a disappointment, etc. This aspect of it takes away from the message and diminishes the unique elements of the book. 

The only characters I liked in this book were the two primary side characters. I will also say Chloe's moms are lovely and deserve a shoutout for the maturity they bring in an attempt to share the story. 

Overall, while I did stick around to finish the story, I would not suggest others do the same. The entire premise is purely ridiculous and the FMCs are barely tolerable. I want a rewrite of this book that focuses on Smith and Rory. 

Please see my blog for a more in-depth review:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/05/i-kissed-shara-wheeler.html 

Each pairing provides a host of different representation including LGBTQ+, religion, and relationship dynamics. I appreciated how much Tabitha and Sean showed care for each other and how well they knew each other. Ash and Alex’s story is the shortest but also the sweetest. I truly wanted to become Alex’s friend at the end. Lisa and Camilla’s story was the funniest of the collection. I loved how their story incorporated everyone important to the coffee shop. I really enjoyed supporting a book with lots of representation of different LGBTQ+ identities and that provided a cozy feeling in a nice quick read to mix things up. This book has open-door spice that constitutes most of the plot and character growth. 

I received this book as an arc from Book Sirens. My review is honest and voluntary

The magic is back! I love the callbacks to the characters in the previous books. Fitzgerald is excellent and weaving the stories of characters together without making an overly complicated web. Not everyone has to know everyone incredibly well and she does this perfectly!

I loved the character of an ass-grabbing old lady so much. There were truly moments where her boldness made me chuckle. She is one of a few side characters that bring a little bit of light to a much heavier story. Their inclusion is much needed. 

I will say, Erin... I hate you a little for killing off the cutie horse. That poor baby did nothing to deserve that pain and suffering. At least it actually propelled the story forward and gave Jacob the push he needed to confront his feelings. 

This story is absolutely filled to the brim with heartbreak and teary-eyed moments. I definitely sobbed more than a few times with all they went through. The trauma was so authentic. I am unbelievably amazed at Fitzgerald's ability to express raw and deep emotion through her storytelling. Fitzgerald creates characters with deep deep trauma and then actually makes them put in the work to grow and move on towards happiness. 

By the end, I was incredibly happy for Emily's son Riley. He went through so much so young and he came out at the end all the better. The bond he creates with Jacob is so heart-warming and gave me the warm fuzzies. Riley isn't just a character that is there to be there. He gives depth and significance to the bond between Emily and Jacob. 

This book has some open-door spice. It does contribute to the plot and how the characters are growing. That said, it can probably be skipped without missing all too much. 

Overall this was another incredible cowboy romance. The characters and depth of the story are by far the best aspects. I loved the cameos from the characters in the earlier books. I highly advise looking at the trigger warnings before reading this book because there are many that can be very raw and deep for those with similar experiences. 

Please see my blog for a more in-depth review:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/04/something-gained.html 

I received this book as an arc and am part of the author's arc team. My review is honest and voluntary 

I loved Noah and Amelia, especially when they were together. All of the side characters were amazing. Particularly the nosy neighbors and Noah's even nosier sisters. Mabel in particular is so funny. I found myself giggling at her commentary and meddling multiple times. They all fit so well together naturally. 

I think what kept this book from being a 5-star was that Noah's perspective didn't seem that realistic. It didn't feel like it was a guy talking. Particularly the high level of detail Noah uses to describe Amelia's appearance at many points. If he was so wrapped up in his feelings, he wouldn't be overanalyzing her makeup or sweater especially given he is a guy who claims to not care about any of that.

Noah is now on my book-boyfriend list. He is so adorable. You gotta love a man who cares deeply about his choice of sleepwear (if you know, you know). He also loves to bake and read so we would get along swimmingly.  His bluntness was often quite amusing to witness and added exponentially to his charm.

This book only has closed-door intimacy 

Overall I really loved this story for its characters and interconnectedness. If Noah's POV was more realistic, it would've been perfect. I highly recommend this book to all romance fans and cannot wait to dive into book two! 

Please see my blog for a more in-depth review:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/05/when-in-rome.html 

This book feels like it truly does not know what genre it wants to be in. Most of the book honestly just feels like general fiction, a slice-of-life type story. Then it shifts back and forth to being a romance story. It is too much romance to be a subplot but not enough to really feel like a romance story. For some reason, this ambiguity really diminished my reading experience. 

My favorite character in this story is Polly. She is just a hoot! I love her eclectic vibe and overall calm nature. She adds some much-needed kookiness to the story. I wish I could befriend her myself!

The family drama in this book feels quite generic. I would've loved to see some element of it to make this book more unique. That said, it is very realistic for that reason. It is a delicate balance between uniqueness and realism.

I found myself getting frustrated when it was incredibly obvious Laura and Bob fancied each other. Neither of them was willing to make a move or even outwardly convey their feelings to the other. The plot couldn't propel forward because the characters did not have the guts to say anything. 

Overall, this story was quite cute. The side characters are what drew me in and made me want to keep reading. The romance elements and the story as a whole just didn't hit. 

Please see my blog for a more in-depth review:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/05/adult-assembly-required.html 

This book was a very solid and sweet romance with some taboo elements. It is completely clean and wholesome. Evie Sterling is a master at creating sweet clean romances and this book is no exception. It is funny, authentic, gratifying, and very easy to read. The shorter nature of this book made it fly by easily. 

For the most part, their 16-year age gap shockingly didn't bother me that much. That said, when they were confronted with the consequences of their choices, the age gap and their professor-student relationship did feel a bit uncomfortable. 

This book has amazing and adorable autistic representation through Micah's son. Sebastian is on the high-functioning end of the spectrum but never once does the book push away his autistic traits. Micah always wants to do his best for his son and make him as comfortable and accommodating as he can. It also portrays how people can have very different reactions to a child with autism and how that can lead to some very complicated and murky relationships. Having a brutally honest autistic character like Sebastian also propelled the story quite well. I loved this positive and realistic but not forceful example of autistic rep. 

They hit their stride as a fake couple almost seamlessly. I loved seeing them play house together and just, fit. They naturally played well into each other's lives and stories. Especially with Sebastian in the mix, they got along quite well. 

I feel like their story didn't hit quite the way I wanted it to because the repercussions were shockingly minimal in the long run. They didn't have to struggle with the taboo of their relationship for all that long at all. It was just boom, it's all okay, happily ever after. There was a lot of rising action and conflict with no crescendo. 

Overall if you are looking for a cute and sweet age-gap romance book with a cute kid, this is the book for you. I would've loved a bit more from the conflict inherent in the story. Even so, the characters and funny moments easily make up for it

For a more in-depth review please see my blog:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/04/so-not-my-mr.wright.html 

I received this book as part of a haylingsbookstorm arc and street team. My review is honest and voluntary 

Even without detailed tennis knowledge, I could follow the story. You can tell Reid did her research about the sport before writing. It was really a lot of show not tell in terms of how the game works in terms of specific rules and scoring. If you are hesitant about the tennis, try the book anyways. 

This story has so much emotional depth with Carrie. I enjoyed feeling their pain and triumphs throughout her life.  I wanted to watch Carrie win every match. I rooted for her to get back up and try again after a loss. I truly felt like a fan of hers. 

I really appreciate how this book is a great example of a healthy father-daughter relationship. While daddy issues are relatable for many, it doesn't need to be in every book. 

One of the things that stood out the most was the plentiful life lessons. We can all learn a lot from Carrie's life. Carrie's father in particular was chock full of great advice.

While it was pretty obvious that a certain plot point was going to happen. I still cried when it did. If you've read the book, you know what I am talking about. Otherwise, just prepare tissues for the last 10% or so. 

The narration of the story highly benefitted from having multiple narrators. The value of the audiobook was incredibly high quality. Particularly during the radio/TV broadcast segments felt real, with the production and all. It truly added to the immersion of the story.

In sum, this story is so solid and engaging from beginning to end. Despite Carrie being a bit abrasive, I was still rooting for her to succeed at every turn. My favorite character by far was her father. His advice touched us both and really felt like good dad advice. If I am going to recommend a book to someone who doesn't have a specific taste (or even those who do), I would recommend this one. 

Please see my blog for a more in-depth review:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/05/carrie-soto-is-back.html 

I am shocked with how I genuinely have nothing negative to say about this book. From literally the second page, I was completely hooked on the story. It was nearly impossible to put down. For a debut novel, this book blew it out of the water completely! 

Ashford's writing style is naturally very witty. At times that can end up being rather grating, but not here. It just feels very natural and easily funny. There were so many moments I was legitimately laughing at this book. The humor was exactly the kind I like with lots of inside jokes and references to each other. 

Both Emily and Beck are such endearing characters. I give a lot of love to Beck for his character design, meaningful tattoos, and casual elegance. We all have to appreciate a man who knows how to dress well and doesn't make a huge deal out of it. 

Ashford gives a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle nods to her home state of Texas. I admire how she puts herself into her book without literally just basing the FMC entirely on herself. It can be a difficult balance to incorporate special author's touches without making it overly personal. Especially for a debut novel, this line was totally respected.

I will note this book has a few spicy scenes, they are open-door. Don't bother skipping them; they add so much to the plot and give another peek into the characters. If you are uncomfortable with any spice, this book is one to skip. 

This was an absolutely smashing debut novel. This was the easiest 5-star I've given in years. Zero complaints. Go, run, and preorder this book so that you experience the magic and humor that is Emily and Beck. This hidden gem deserves to become a bestseller ASAP! 

For a more in-depth review please see my blog:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-trouble-with-love-and-ink.html

 I received this book as part of a haylingsbookstorm arc team. My review is honest and voluntary 

I love how Anna at first is such a crotchety old narrator. It was just the thing I was in the mood for at the time and kept the book from getting too heavy early on. 

The complicated family dynamics are really the only set plot. It follows the lives of the residents and people relevant to number thirty-two but they are not quite in the form of a set narrative as you may expect. I would call it a slice-of-life book where all of the characters make questionable at best decisions that propel the plot. Absolutely every character is morally grey if not morally black. 

There were definitely a few drama moments that made me distressed. So please keep in mind there is a part in the book with intimate acts between a 15-year-old and a young adult. There is also an unknown step-sibling romance plot so the trigger warnings are very important for this book. 

The one part of this book that irked me was how inconsistently vulgar the author was. Characters would be cursing left and right, describing intimate moments with some detail, then not specify at all what a big bad drug was by name. It was frustrating how the author wouldn't just commit to being totally vulgar, but would then randomly be quite vulgar. At times the vulgarity would've helped so much in understanding the severity of various moments. 

By the midpoint in the book, I was pretty invested in the lives of all of the characters. When one of them died (you'll have to read it to find out who), I was crying big ugly tears. 

My favorite part of the book was how it gave a satisfying conclusion that didn't leave a ton of unanswered questions and left this book as a proper standalone. 

There is a ton of British slang in the book, most of which went over my head. With that in mind, an American audience does not get as much from the book as a British audience would. 

Overall, this book is good for those who want to experience a book that dives deep into the lives of a group of characters with deeply interconnected stories. The book has enough drama that a cup of tea isn't enough, you'd need the whole kettle. Seeing things from different perspectives added a lot of value to each of their stories. Please do look at trigger warnings in-depth before reading as there are a ton of intensely heavy topics.

I received this book as an arc through Book Babes PR. My review is honest and voluntary

You name any kind of representation category and this book has it. BIPOC rep, LGBTQ+ rep, mental health rep, and more! I love the truly diverse cast of characters. Thankfully this representation didn't feel like an obligation or something to earn brownie points with underrepresented communities. 

I love the chemistry between Bradley and Celine. It is so legitimately funny. Particularly the scene in which they are having a full-blown conversation with a tree. 

Celine and Bradley have a dynamic with justifiable depth. It makes sense why there is some discomfort they share and a level of awkwardness. They actually work through it and learn how to effectively communicate with each other.

Bradley is one of the most genuinely supportive characters I have read about. He wants the world for Celine and it is so sweet to see. He is a high contender for a good book boyfriend. 

I liked seeing them have to go through challenges together during the survival course. It was clearly a long-established program. The one thing I felt was missing from the story was more about the history of the program. If it is really so important and illustrious, that should be tapped into. 

Overall this was a cute and clean romance and lots of comedy. I want to give Hibbert all of the awards for fantastic representation and naturally flawed characters. I have already recommended this book to a few people, and I stand by this recommendation. 

Please see my blog for a more in-depth review:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/05/highly-suspicious-and-unfairly-cute.html