teereadsbooks's reviews
630 reviews

Impromptu Match by Lily Mayne

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

Well, this was just so much fun. It's completely ridiculous, and that kind of why I love it. Taylor is so relatable, which I was not fully expecting going into a monster romance. Every character is quirky, unique, and so interesting. I enjoyed almost every moment of this book. Now, in all honesty, not a whole lot happens, so it's pretty light on plot. It's very character driven and mostly focuses on the romance between Holt and Taylor. The only ding to the rating is because of that it felt a little long considering the contents. Other than that, this was a great time for a little mindless enjoyment.
Lights Out by Navessa Allen

Go to review page

dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Rather enjoyable and completely ridiculous. The banter is pretty fun. This is in the dark rom-com realm with Butcher & Blackbird, but neither are serial killers. A singular murder happens, and it's an accident, but they had it coming. This is a TikTok trend in book form. I mean, the author wrote it after her video, sharing the concept blew up. Honestly, I mostly liked this story for Josh because he is somehow a complete golden retriever. I mean, he falls in love with Fred, Aly's cat, and adopts him as his son. What's not to love there. Overall, an okay, good time. I had fun, but I'm gonna move on pretty easily from this one.
A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional slow-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

3.5

I was so excited for this book, but it ultimately didn't live up to my excitement. Maybe that's on me. I mean, queer dark academia? I was so pumped for that kind of story. This story leans more towards thriller territory. There is a romance arc, but not at all a romance. The story moved super slow for almost two-thirds of the story, and then everything felt rushed to get to the end. I liked the characters, and the premise of the story had so much promise, but ultimately, the pacing just didn't fit to keep me engaged. I wanted to love this so badly, but it just fell kind of flat for me. I don't think this will be the end for me with this author, though. Like I said, the story has promised, and the characters were intriguing (like Luke), and Cal, especially, was easily likable.  I think a lot of people could like this easily, but this story just didn't end up being for me.

Now, I listened to the audiobook for this one, and overall, it was a great experience. My only qualm is that Cal is from Mississippi, and his accent is mentioned frequently, yet the narrator never used one for either the internal monologues or the external dialogue. It just didn't feel right. Cal tries to suppress his accent, so it may not be a heavy one, but it's still there in the story, yet we didn't see it in the narration.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
They Were Roommates by Dawn Cutler-Tran

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? N/A

5.0

I loved this story so much! I have so many emotions from reading this. The trans rep was so amazing. I absolutely loved the real and honest conversations Frankie and Diego had about gender and gender affirming sex. So many of Diego's thoughts, feelings, and dysphoria match my own, and I felt so seen while reading this. Diego and Frankie's journey happened so organically, and so it felt so genuine and heartfelt. We got to see them start as friends, experience their pining, watch them become roommates, until they finally admitted their feelings for each other. We got to see both the good and the bad. We saw how they didn't give up and supported each other even when things weren't sunshine and rainbows. The positive representation of support groups and therapy was definitely a plus here. All in all, this was a fantastic, heartfelt, and cozy queer romance that I could easily come back to. This is a new favorite of mine, that's for sure.
Flipping the Script by Willow Dixon

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I mostly enjoyed this book, but not quite enough. I had some issues with how the story was mapped out. This is a mutual dislike-to-lovers story, in my opinion. The story moved pretty slow for 90% of the book and Sebastian and Jesse are sniping at each other until about 90%, and then all of a sudden, all the feelings come out and they are professing their love. Then, with that, it felt like a race to the finish. The pacing just felt off, and the emotions just didn't feel believable. I wanted to like this more than I did. I have always enjoyed Willow Dixon's work. I was also excited to learn more about Jesse after meeting him in Dad Next Door. Each of the characters were great, and I loved them individually. This story felt like it was more sex than emotion and romance. If that's what you want, then this is perfect for you. No shame there. That's just not everything I was expecting from this story. I still ate this up because, like I said, I liked the characters, and the smut was fun. I did like meeting some new characters at Jesse's mechanic job. I am looking forward to Isaac and Jamie's book because hearing about their shenanigans was hilarious, and I can only imagine what they will get up to in their own story. So, overall, this is good, not great. Read it for the good characters and smut, but not so much the emotions and romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Virgin Hearts by Emmy Sanders

Go to review page

emotional 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? N/A

4.25

Alright, so I enjoyed this just a touch more than Fool Hearts. I liked seeing Plum Valley in a more progressive and welcoming light than we saw from the beginning of Fool Hearts. Also, all the characters are great. I loved getting more Wyatt and Easton content. Wyatt is such a great friend to Hawthorne, and his snarkiness was hilarious. He has definitely come into his own and become more confident. Now, with our MCs, I loved them both. Hawthorne and Mateo are great, and I really enjoyed their characters as individuals. My only issue is that I didn't really feel a deep emotional connection between them. Their relationship felt forced. They had plenty of sexual chemistry, but their emotional chemistry was lacking to me. Overall, I still enjoyed myself while reading this, and I liked it more than book one, but only by a fraction. I do think I will continue with this series though.
Fool Hearts by Emmy Sanders

Go to review page

emotional slow-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? No

4.0

Okay, so I have conflicting feelings about this book. Did I enjoy this? Yes. Yes, I did. Did I eat it up? Absolutely. The story is lovely and super emotional. The characters are layered and have depth, and I like that the relationship has bones since its evolution spans over 20 years. I LOVED the childhood chapters at the beginning. And I liked how the demi rep was portrayed since there wasn't really vocabulary for that during Easton's formative years. Where my biggest issue lies is Wyatt. Not so much his character, but how the author portrayed the gay best friend pining for 20 years and always available for the supposedly "straight" best friend. Wyatt's life was at Easton's beck and call, but not in an intentionally hurtful way if that makes sense. It's just a trope I get annoyed seeing. Everyone's sexuality journey is different. I just found it so hard to believe that Easton didn't develop any stronger feelings for Wyatt after living together and raising a child together for 10 years, but it wasn't until Easton saw Wyatt having sex with another man that he realized his feelings. If it had happened maybe a couple years into their living arrangement, maybe I would believe it more. I like a good slow burn that makes sense, but this was the slowest slow burn that was unnecessarily slow. It would have felt more believe if their journey was AT LEAST 5 years shorter, and then we got more time to see them settle into their romantic relationship. ALSO, what was the point of the whole Becca shipping Wyatt and Easton plotline. It didn't feel cute, it felt cruel. She knew Wyatt's feelings towards Easton, and recognized Easton did't fully understand his feelings for Wyatt, but still inserted herself between them. But she was rooting for them? It made no sense. All that said, I still liked this, I just feel very strongly about the thing I didn't like, so it's a solid 4 stars for me.
Himbo by Emmy Sanders

Go to review page

emotional funny 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? N/A

4.25

Cas and Jason were just so sweet. There's not a lot that really goes on in this book, but it was still fun. It's simple and chill, so it's easy to enjoy. Cas and Jason are so supportive of each other. It is just adorable. I also absolutely LOVE feisty Jason. It was so unexpected from the nervous, shy, and somewhat bumbling barista we have seen in previous books of this series. Somehow, they just worked so well together and were what the other needed. All in all, still a good time. 
Tink by Emmy Sanders

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted 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? N/A

5.0

I loved this so much, and I thought I would going into it. I was super excited to read Alex's story. He is so sweet and caring, but oh, so hilarious. He is unapologetically himself, and I love that so much. There was not a single thing I disliked about this book. The story was great, the writing was amazing, and the characters were so well done. I was so thrilled with the top-notch communication between our three MCs. Their honesty was so refreshing. They portrayed a realistic but also an ideal poly relationship. It showed the evolution from a polycule to a triad, and I was practically fist pumping every time they fleshed out their thoughts and feelings so openly with each other. Each of our MCs had so much depth and were so loveable. Ro is the absolute sweetest and deserves all the love, and Finn was so gently strong. Something I am really loving in this series is the positive representation of sex work while also addressing the stigmas surrounding sex workers. They are able to have healthy and loving relationships, and it's important to understand that strict monogamy is not the only kind of relationship that works. It makes my heart happy. Also, the unsung hero of this story is our ace queen, Anh, and her hilarious nicknames for her dildos. It always had me cackling. And, as a side note, Manuel is the absolute worst and deserves the worst. He hurt our gentle giant, Ro, and our sunshine, Alex. I won't stand for that. Finally, THAT EPILOGUE?! The sweetness gave me a toothache, and I'm not at all mad about it. All in all, this was wonderful, and I love it so much. I don't know if this will be topped in this series. It's definitely my favorite so far.
Malibu by Emmy Sanders

Go to review page

emotional 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? N/A

4.5

I was so excited to read Malibu's story after seeing everything he went through in book one. This sweetheart has been through it, and he deserves a HEA. This story was so sweet, a little funny (thanks to the Elite 8 fam), and a lot emotional. I get nervous when there is talk of past conversion therapy in queer stories because it can often be used more as shock factor and forced angst, but I didn't feel that here. That part was handled with so much care while also feeling realistic. Just be aware of any triggers regarding that before jumping into this story. I will say, I didn't really connect much with Henrik. I can't really pinpoint what it was about him exactly. I don't dislike his character, but he's not my favorite either. I guess I just feel indifferent. That said, him and Mal were so adorable together. Henrik wanted to care for Mal, and Mal needed someone to actually care for him for once. My heart couldn't take it when Mal's only request in the bedroom was to be held for once after sex. My poor, sweet Mal. All in all, this was a great read, and I honestly liked it a bit more than book one, but I think I'm going to enjoy this whole series because y'all know I'm a big ol' softy when it comes to found families.