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thereadhersrecap's reviews
271 reviews
This Spells Love by Kate Robb
I giving this book 0.5 extra stars because the main character's name is Gemma and she literally reminds me of my daughter whose name is also Gemma.
Gemma get dumped by her boyfriend (the one she thought she would marry) and takes the pity train to "my life is over". After too many margaritas and a very quirky (magical??) auntie, Gemma performs a love spell and erases every meeting her ex. But she accidently erases her boy bestie and in order to reverse the spell she must convince him to help.
— magical/alternate reality
— the hot mess + perfect best friend (friends to lovers)
— spicy banter + open door romance 🌶️
— frank the spider 🕷️
This Spells Love had so much more depth than the synopsis entails. For a debut novel, this was quite entertaining. It has the makings of all my favorite feel good romance novels — fun, sweet, & spicy.
If you're looking for a little escapism romance read pick up this book ✨IMMEDIATELY✨ You won't regret it 🫶🏽
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.75
if you could erase one mistake, would you???
"I've always loved him, but I'm also falling for him at the exact same time."
I giving this book 0.5 extra stars because the main character's name is Gemma and she literally reminds me of my daughter whose name is also Gemma.
Gemma get dumped by her boyfriend (the one she thought she would marry) and takes the pity train to "my life is over". After too many margaritas and a very quirky (magical??) auntie, Gemma performs a love spell and erases every meeting her ex. But she accidently erases her boy bestie and in order to reverse the spell she must convince him to help.
— magical/alternate reality
— the hot mess + perfect best friend (friends to lovers)
— spicy banter + open door romance 🌶️
— frank the spider 🕷️
This Spells Love had so much more depth than the synopsis entails. For a debut novel, this was quite entertaining. It has the makings of all my favorite feel good romance novels — fun, sweet, & spicy.
If you're looking for a little escapism romance read pick up this book ✨IMMEDIATELY✨ You won't regret it 🫶🏽
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Wings Once Cursed & Bound by Piper J. Drake
Wings Once Cursed and Bound is so original! The Thai bird princess folklore is a wonderful concept and definitely one I want to read more about.
- found family
- diverse characters
- instalove
- multi pov
Peeraphan "Punch" is literally swept off her feet by Bennett as he claims to be apart of a secret organization dedicated to locating magically object. Said magical object happens to be stuck on Peeraphan's feet & they have to work together to break the curse. Bennett is the ✨PERFECT✨ vampire - all tall, dark and brooding.
Although it's set in Seattle, the world building was exceptional. It contains a diverse cast of characters such as vampires, werewolves, fae, witches and many more! And the multi-pov is perfect.
It's definitely a first book in a series and I'm looking forward to what comes next!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
"I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you, and I don't want to waste a day, not even a minute, denying myself the joy of it for fear of how much it will hurt to lose you.
Wings Once Cursed and Bound is so original! The Thai bird princess folklore is a wonderful concept and definitely one I want to read more about.
- found family
- diverse characters
- instalove
- multi pov
Peeraphan "Punch" is literally swept off her feet by Bennett as he claims to be apart of a secret organization dedicated to locating magically object. Said magical object happens to be stuck on Peeraphan's feet & they have to work together to break the curse. Bennett is the ✨PERFECT✨ vampire - all tall, dark and brooding.
Although it's set in Seattle, the world building was exceptional. It contains a diverse cast of characters such as vampires, werewolves, fae, witches and many more! And the multi-pov is perfect.
It's definitely a first book in a series and I'm looking forward to what comes next!
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
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? N/A
4.75
THIS BOOK WAS SO SAD!
Aelin is now the King's Assassin. She goes off on the king's orders to kill his enemies but turns out she's not actually killing them. She's faking their deaths and allowing them to escape into the night. The only problem is, the king will kill Chaol and Nehemia's if he finds out she's lying to him. On one of her assignments she discovers some information that threatens the king and his crown and sets in motion a series of events that will threaten everything Celaena cares for.
This book really delve into the relationship between Chaol, Dorian and Celaena. I really liked that aspect of it. I loved the mystery of it all! Overall, it wasn't a 5 star read for me because it still felt like it was a book that was leading up to another book. Or maybe because there wasn't any smut ;)
The ending was so sooo sad and emotional :(
Aelin is now the King's Assassin. She goes off on the king's orders to kill his enemies but turns out she's not actually killing them. She's faking their deaths and allowing them to escape into the night. The only problem is, the king will kill Chaol and Nehemia's if he finds out she's lying to him. On one of her assignments she discovers some information that threatens the king and his crown and sets in motion a series of events that will threaten everything Celaena cares for.
This book really delve into the relationship between Chaol, Dorian and Celaena. I really liked that aspect of it. I loved the mystery of it all! Overall, it wasn't a 5 star read for me because it still felt like it was a book that was leading up to another book. Or maybe because there wasn't any smut ;)
The ending was so sooo sad and emotional :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
what the heck did I read about the cat???
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
-EDITED-
I originally rated this book 2.0 stars because 1) I didn't really understand it & 2) I felt it held no significance to me.
My book club decided on this book after a heavy reading month, we thought it would be funny (I mean, a mom turning in to a wolf? Seems interesting). No, it is not what it seems.
Night Bitch is about a mother who puts her career and life on hold to stay at home with her newborn son while her husband travels for work 5 days a week. Two years later she starts to notice subtle changes in her body. First, it was hair growing on the back of her neck. Then, she starts craving raw meat and grows canines. She's tempted to give in to the animalistic tendencies of her new identify but holds back from fear of what her husband and the other group moms might think (understanding this is why I changed my rating).
Based off the synopsis, this book has a lot to offer; however, I think it was poorly executed. I mean I'm not a literary expert but it was my understanding that Yoder attempts to criticize society's view of motherhood and the constraints mothers place on themselves to be perfect. I understood her turning into a dog as a way to symbolize her wanting to embrace the more carefree parts of herself - that was all well and good.
The parts that frustrates me: She spends a good portion (1/3 of the beginning of the book) complaining about everything having to do with being a mom and taking care of her child. It was TOO MUCH. Also, I was hoping she would turn into a wolf but she turns into a house dog?!?
I'll give it to her, it was definitely original, provocative, and inventive. But, it wasn't very entertaining :/
I originally rated this book 2.0 stars because 1) I didn't really understand it & 2) I felt it held no significance to me.
My book club decided on this book after a heavy reading month, we thought it would be funny (I mean, a mom turning in to a wolf? Seems interesting). No, it is not what it seems.
Night Bitch is about a mother who puts her career and life on hold to stay at home with her newborn son while her husband travels for work 5 days a week. Two years later she starts to notice subtle changes in her body. First, it was hair growing on the back of her neck. Then, she starts craving raw meat and grows canines. She's tempted to give in to the animalistic tendencies of her new identify but holds back from fear of what her husband and the other group moms might think (understanding this is why I changed my rating).
Based off the synopsis, this book has a lot to offer; however, I think it was poorly executed. I mean I'm not a literary expert but it was my understanding that Yoder attempts to criticize society's view of motherhood and the constraints mothers place on themselves to be perfect. I understood her turning into a dog as a way to symbolize her wanting to embrace the more carefree parts of herself - that was all well and good.
The parts that frustrates me: She spends a good portion (1/3 of the beginning of the book) complaining about everything having to do with being a mom and taking care of her child. It was TOO MUCH. Also, I was hoping she would turn into a wolf but she turns into a house dog?!?
I'll give it to her, it was definitely original, provocative, and inventive. But, it wasn't very entertaining :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The portrait of slavery is one I will never understand, but with books like these it truly helps to paint a picture of the atrocities African's withstood. It's frustrates me that this part of American history is just a blurb in the history books. Gyasi shows the impact slavery plays on everyone spanning generations, robbing families of spouses, killing, and structuring the world at an unfair advantage.
This book will stay with me forever.
CW: abandonment, addiction, death, classism, colonization, confinement, drug abuse, forced institutionalization, hate crime, physical abuse, police brutality, racism, religious bigotry, violence, torture, sexual assault
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Queen Yaa Gyasi!
I can't believe this book was her debut novel! The writing was spectacular. She has a way of transporting you out of your body and into the characters mind. The characterization was the best and meat of the book and Gyasi nailed it.
The novel follows two ancestry lines of Ghanian children as the embark on separate but destined journeys. Two half sisters, Effia and Esi, born to different villages in the 18th century lead two very different lives. One is married off to an Englishman and lives in the castle on the shore, the other is imprisoned beneath her and sold into the slave trade where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. We see each character navigate historical events such as The Civil War, The Great Migration, Jim Crow, Harlem and heroin.
The books is told through a series of chapters dedicated to on individual of the ancestry. Although each chapter looks at a new character's life, Gyasi still presents a complete and cohesive story.
I can't believe this book was her debut novel! The writing was spectacular. She has a way of transporting you out of your body and into the characters mind. The characterization was the best and meat of the book and Gyasi nailed it.
The novel follows two ancestry lines of Ghanian children as the embark on separate but destined journeys. Two half sisters, Effia and Esi, born to different villages in the 18th century lead two very different lives. One is married off to an Englishman and lives in the castle on the shore, the other is imprisoned beneath her and sold into the slave trade where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. We see each character navigate historical events such as The Civil War, The Great Migration, Jim Crow, Harlem and heroin.
The books is told through a series of chapters dedicated to on individual of the ancestry. Although each chapter looks at a new character's life, Gyasi still presents a complete and cohesive story.
Weakness is treating someone as though they belong to you. Strength is knowing that everyone belongs to themselves."
The portrait of slavery is one I will never understand, but with books like these it truly helps to paint a picture of the atrocities African's withstood. It's frustrates me that this part of American history is just a blurb in the history books. Gyasi shows the impact slavery plays on everyone spanning generations, robbing families of spouses, killing, and structuring the world at an unfair advantage.
“We believe the one who has the power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.”
This book will stay with me forever.
CW: abandonment, addiction, death, classism, colonization, confinement, drug abuse, forced institutionalization, hate crime, physical abuse, police brutality, racism, religious bigotry, violence, torture, sexual assault
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Play With Me by Becka Mack
I have a serious love/hate relationship with this book. It starts off strong. Garrett has the hots for Carter (his teammate's) little sister Jennie. He's trying so hard to suppress them until Jennie realizes she has the hots for him too. They start secretly messing around (very descriptive) and in the process they become best friends.
First of all, it was way too long. AGAIN! I don't see the point of having 20 different sex scenes. I love the descriptions and I love how "alpha male" Gare is and how Jennie asks for what she wants and needs. But I don't need 300 pages of it.
Secondly, Garrett is..... intersting. I feel like BM couldn't decide if she wanted him to be shy and goofy or demanding and grumpy so she made him both. It was a little bit of a turn off for me. Give me cute, shy, and goofy or give me alpha-male, confident and grumpy. Can't do with the back and forth.
Jennie = LOVED. I thought BM did a great job portraying Jennie ask a badass but it was nice to see some of her insecurities come through. She is so much like Carter is was sooo soo good.
The best part.... Carter & Olivia. Seeing how they manage pregnancy and how Carter is so attentive to Liv's wants was something unexpected but amazing.
CW: alcohol/alcoholism, bullying, car accident, curing, death of a parent, emotional abuse, eating disorder, grief, sexual content, panic attacks, toxic friendship, sexual harassment
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
"But here's the thing, Jennie. You don't have to be strong and confident all the time. You're allowed to have insecruities, to be afraid, to feel lonely. Those things don't make you weak; they make you human
I have a serious love/hate relationship with this book. It starts off strong. Garrett has the hots for Carter (his teammate's) little sister Jennie. He's trying so hard to suppress them until Jennie realizes she has the hots for him too. They start secretly messing around (very descriptive) and in the process they become best friends.
First of all, it was way too long. AGAIN! I don't see the point of having 20 different sex scenes. I love the descriptions and I love how "alpha male" Gare is and how Jennie asks for what she wants and needs. But I don't need 300 pages of it.
Secondly, Garrett is..... intersting. I feel like BM couldn't decide if she wanted him to be shy and goofy or demanding and grumpy so she made him both. It was a little bit of a turn off for me. Give me cute, shy, and goofy or give me alpha-male, confident and grumpy. Can't do with the back and forth.
Jennie = LOVED. I thought BM did a great job portraying Jennie ask a badass but it was nice to see some of her insecurities come through. She is so much like Carter is was sooo soo good.
The best part.... Carter & Olivia. Seeing how they manage pregnancy and how Carter is so attentive to Liv's wants was something unexpected but amazing.
CW: alcohol/alcoholism, bullying, car accident, curing, death of a parent, emotional abuse, eating disorder, grief, sexual content, panic attacks, toxic friendship, sexual harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Consider Me by Becka Mack
This books is cheesy asf but that’s romance for you! Carter is the hot-shot pro hockey player and playboy and Olivia is the sweet but fiery school teacher who doesn’t do hookups.
There were some parts I didn’t like 😬 at times Carter was very pushy and didn’t respect Olivia’s boundaries - that’s a no for me.
The conflict in the end seemed rushed but I like how it was resolved and I love the growth of both characters.
My biggest criticism: it was waaaay too dang long! There is no need to have 20 smut scenes that are all exactly alike.
Overall I rated it a 3.5 ⭐️ but I am exited to read Garett’s story in “Play with me”
CW: alcohol, parting, cursing, sexual content, death of a parent
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
“I know you think your tears are a weakness, Ollie, but they show me how huge your heart is.”
This books is cheesy asf but that’s romance for you! Carter is the hot-shot pro hockey player and playboy and Olivia is the sweet but fiery school teacher who doesn’t do hookups.
“I want to feel like I mean something to a man, not like he’s made it a challenge to get in my pants because I’m the first woman who didn’t fall at his feet.“
There were so many cute parts to this book that made me SWOON. The way Carter takes care of Olivia is *chef’s kiss*. I love that he senses her insecurities and he ACTIVELY tries to prevent triggers for her (minus the first one).
“I’m not sure my reaction is the best. I throw my hands in the air and scream, accidentally shoving her off my lap and to the ground when I rocket to my feet and yell out, “I have a girlfriend!”
There were some parts I didn’t like 😬 at times Carter was very pushy and didn’t respect Olivia’s boundaries - that’s a no for me.
The conflict in the end seemed rushed but I like how it was resolved and I love the growth of both characters.
My biggest criticism: it was waaaay too dang long! There is no need to have 20 smut scenes that are all exactly alike.
Overall I rated it a 3.5 ⭐️ but I am exited to read Garett’s story in “Play with me”
CW: alcohol, parting, cursing, sexual content, death of a parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Gigi, Listening by Chantel Guertin
This story was more than just a romance (no spice), it was a journey to self discovery after a unspeakable loss.
We follow Gigi the expert on all things love. She reads them, sells them in her romance bookshop, and she spends hours dreaming up her own meet cute with her favorite audiobook narrator - Zane. She's convinced Zane is her soul-mate. For her 30th birthday, her friends gift her a trip to Europe. What do you know, Zane is the tour guide!
I mean she is obsessed! She mentions her love for Zane in almost every paragraph :/
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Escape is a big reason I came. Escaping the sadness of my story - of never again having my mom and dad in my life. Of knowing that anything that happened in the future would never be something I'd get to share with them."
This story was more than just a romance (no spice), it was a journey to self discovery after a unspeakable loss.
We follow Gigi the expert on all things love. She reads them, sells them in her romance bookshop, and she spends hours dreaming up her own meet cute with her favorite audiobook narrator - Zane. She's convinced Zane is her soul-mate. For her 30th birthday, her friends gift her a trip to Europe. What do you know, Zane is the tour guide!
Maybe I can just shut everyone out for the next ten days and pretend it's just the two of us after all. Just him and me, together.
I mean she is obsessed! She mentions her love for Zane in almost every paragraph :/
So Gigi's misguided quest for love takes her on an adventure through the English countryside on a 10-day bus tour. But as Charlotte says "mishaps makes memories" and that's exactly what happens! Aboard the bus we meet a cast of characters. We get an in-depth description of these characters and I honestly really enjoyed it.
The bus tour takes Gigi all over England and I really enjoyed the picturesque landscape. Gigi was adorably sweet and I loved journey to growth throughout the book, however, it took her a while to reach that point. At times she was so busy pining over Zane that she wouldn't let herself enjoy the moment - aggh it was so frustrating.
It wasn't a perfect romance, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's a perfect vacation book!
CW: alcohol, dementia, death of a parent, grief, injury/injury detail
(I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)
The bus tour takes Gigi all over England and I really enjoyed the picturesque landscape. Gigi was adorably sweet and I loved journey to growth throughout the book, however, it took her a while to reach that point. At times she was so busy pining over Zane that she wouldn't let herself enjoy the moment - aggh it was so frustrating.
It wasn't a perfect romance, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's a perfect vacation book!
CW: alcohol, dementia, death of a parent, grief, injury/injury detail
(I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
This book was everything I needed when I needed it.
In an act of desperation Catalina tells her family she’s being her “boyfriend” to Spain for her sister’s wedding. Truth be told she very much single. Now Catalina has a few weeks to 1) find a date 2) convince her family that he’s head over heels in love with her.
So Aaron (her workplace nemesis) volunteers to accompany her to the wedding! Catalina is shocked but she’s desperate so she agrees.
My thoughts:
If I have a dollar for every time the books mentions how tall Aaron is and how blue his eyes are I’d be filthy rich. But ngl, I do love a big burly man who can carry me around like I’m a piece of paper 😍
Catalina is just amazing. She’s sweet, loud, funny & quirky. Her family is to die for. She suffers from a pretty bad previous relationship that she still carries with her years later.
This book is definitely a mix of feel good romance and escapism. It’s told from Catalina’s pov (not usually my style) but you can feel Aaron’s longing through her perspective and I’m here for it. We love a pining, love sick man 😍
This book definitely didn’t change my life but it was fun and spicy. I‘ve also decided I won’t stand for walking on my own two feet anymore - I demand to be carried everywhere 💁🏽♀️
⚠️ CW: teacher/student relationship, death of a parent, gaslighting, sexism, cancer
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? It's complicated
4.0
You are light. And passion. Your laughter alone can lift my mood and effortlessly turn my day around in a matter of seconds Even when it's not aimed at me. You . .. can light up entire rooms, Catalina. You hold that kind of power. And it's because of all the different things that make you who you are. Each and every one of them, even the ones that drive me crazy in ways you can't imagine.
You should never forget that"
This book was everything I needed when I needed it.
In an act of desperation Catalina tells her family she’s being her “boyfriend” to Spain for her sister’s wedding. Truth be told she very much single. Now Catalina has a few weeks to 1) find a date 2) convince her family that he’s head over heels in love with her.
So Aaron (her workplace nemesis) volunteers to accompany her to the wedding! Catalina is shocked but she’s desperate so she agrees.
My thoughts:
If I have a dollar for every time the books mentions how tall Aaron is and how blue his eyes are I’d be filthy rich. But ngl, I do love a big burly man who can carry me around like I’m a piece of paper 😍
Catalina is just amazing. She’s sweet, loud, funny & quirky. Her family is to die for. She suffers from a pretty bad previous relationship that she still carries with her years later.
This book is definitely a mix of feel good romance and escapism. It’s told from Catalina’s pov (not usually my style) but you can feel Aaron’s longing through her perspective and I’m here for it. We love a pining, love sick man 😍
This book definitely didn’t change my life but it was fun and spicy. I‘ve also decided I won’t stand for walking on my own two feet anymore - I demand to be carried everywhere 💁🏽♀️
⚠️ CW: teacher/student relationship, death of a parent, gaslighting, sexism, cancer
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting