unusablebooklore's reviews
322 reviews

Truth or Darren by DJ Jamison

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Bi awakening

Sisters Ex

Instant chemistry

Princess 🫅

My favourite of the main novels from this series. Darren and Linc are fantastic together. There are ultra strong enemies to lover vibes, but these boys were never really enemies.

The instant chemistry was intense and so full of happy feels. There were so many yummy vibes in this book, I adored how naturally these boys fell into each other and how it seemed like they were more confused by the intensity of their attraction to each other than anything else. Obviously there were twists and turns, a meddling community of Grannies and family issues but in the end they make all of the right choices.

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The Root of It by K. L. Thorne

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

I quickly I came to realise this book really wasn't going to be for me, I pushed through much longer than I should have.

There is no legitimate confirmation of one of the MCs (Rowan) having a wife just an assumption that he is married. At about the 28% the story doubles down and now that MC is unhappily married, fights with his wife all the time and she has a name. There is NO communication between the MCs that would assist them in navigating their relationship as adults or colleagues. The other MC (Max) communicates more with the women he works with about his relationship than the person he’s in a relationship with.

There are more than a few continuity errors in the story; the most glaring, and one that really caused my DNF, was that Max is 26 and been working as a dental tech for 3 years, he’s been placed as a maternity cover for Mandy who is 21. Some how a patient that hasn’t been into the office in 5 years knows her and specifically identifies that Max is her replacement. The math doesn’t math, did Mandy become a full time dental tech at 16? How does this patient know her?!

I found myself making more notes and being frustrated with the story than enjoying it and as a result decided to DNF.

I received an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Vengeance Planning for Amateurs by Lee Winter

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adventurous emotional funny 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? No

5.0

This book was spectacular. Over all it was perfect 5 stars. Great pace, great story, great everything.

I was a big fan of the penguin sidekick. A good sidekick is hard to find and should be rescued at all costs. I genuinely thought this book was planning to focus on vengeance due to penguin theft…but it’s SO much more. Olivia has quite the shit list of exes
It’s set in Australia, but not the scary Jurassic Park parts.
SUPER bookish - MCs are the owner of a bookshop and a person who runs a book club in said shop.
The book was single POV with journal entries by Dr. Blackwood peppered in for flavour. I loved it. Her running commentary on Olivia is *chefs kiss*
Author clearly marks a change in vibes of the book when she stops double naming/titling Dr. Blackwood. It was subtle and incredible noticeable all at the same time.
The 3rd act break up (unfriending) is sooooo cutting. The book manages the complexities of grief and how surprising it can be when it stops being your primary focus really well.
Middle life romance

I wish I could sum this all up in a lovely post, in paragraph form, but it’s all mashed up in my brain and not willing to come out. I will rave about this book for the next 12 months. I LOVED it. Even though it’s early days of 2024, this has been my favourite book of the year…Possibly the last 18 months or so. I will be suggesting it to EVERYONE.

**Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC - I received this book for free for an honest review**

Content Warnings

7 Minutes in Kevin by DJ Jamison

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3.0

Best friends dad

Middle life (for Garrett)

Unexplored sexuality (for Garrett) queer awakening

Drag

My least favourite of the “Games We Play” series. I liked the set up; best friends dad, texting, and liked how open to everything Garrett was. I’m not even sure I can put my finger on what it was that I didn’t care for. Something about the whole book just gave me the ick and I felt like I was reading it more to complete the series than because I liked the characters.

“Kevin cake” 🤢

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Mistle-Joe Kisses by DJ Jamison

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Super cute holiday novella in the Games We Play series.

We briefly met Joe in 7 Minutes in Kevin (can we just agree how ick that title is 🤢) and Augustus in Truth or Daren. Now they get their story!

There isn’t a whole lot to say other than it’s lovely.

This was my favourite of the series…maybe because it’s closer to middle life?

Off Base by Annabeth Albert

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Closeted SEAL

Coming out

Roommates turned lovers

Dual POV - Audio book has a single narrator

First time - virgin

When big SEALs fall they fall HARD.

I’m not sure why I pick up Annabeth Albert books and not expect tender men falling for hard headed babes. Off Base was no exception. New professor Pike and hunky SEAL Zack go from reluctant roomies to in love. Some heavy topics were touched on homophobia, unsupportive parents and there is suggestion of conversion therapy.

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Out on a Limb by A.J. Truman

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funny reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

Middle life single dad befriends 22 yo

Then proceeds to fall for 22 yo

22yo falls in love with the Dad and kiddo

They break up to allow the 22yo to try life

Started it and all of a sudden I was 3 hrs in…

Over all easy read/listen. I liked that the MCs took time off of each other…to figure out their lives. It didn’t feel like normal third act breakup. It was a little refreshing.

A little too intense lovey for me…it seemed like they both fell VERY fast and tried hard to keep it chill. But it evens out with the lack of heat in the last 20% of the book.

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Out of My Mind by A.J. Truman

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funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

2nd chance

New adult

Roommates to lovers

Queer awakening

Besties bangin’ is always a trope I adore. These boys fall deeper and deeper until they’re calling each other baby and no longer hiding their spark. There isn’t a whole lot to sum up; the boys meet as freshmen, become roommates 3 years later, and then fall for each other. There are parties and friends in the mix but as with most uni aged characters there isn’t a whole lot more going on than the path to each other and self acceptance.

The last 30 mins of the book are a little heavy as one of the MC’s is recovering from being bashed by a homophobe.

This book was narrated by Alexander Cendese and as other books in this series he narrates solo.

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Out for the Night by A.J. Truman

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

New Adult

First Time x 2

BIPOC MC

Nerd/Hench Nerd

G-rated Gigalo

Another AJ Truman book I enjoyed. He’s a must read author for me.

Like all the Browerton University books this was a relatively light quick read. Completely stand alone with only the briefest mention of cross over characters.

Matty and Coop come together in a less than perfect way, but ultimately find their other half. I'll keep my cynicism of new adult romances to a minimum because I enjoyed it.

This book had so much Catan banter. As someone who’s been playing the better part of 20 years this is exceptional hate flirting. Top level.

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The C*ck Down the Block by Amy Award

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content warnings at the beginning - Warnings of external fatphobia in one chapter. SUPER appreciated that this isn’t a continual thread throughout the book. Deserves a content warning for the girls you knew in High School. Dual narration.

MMC:
Pro Football player - from a sports ball family
He falls soooo hard first…10 years of waiting for enthusiastic consent - I would cautiously say that he’s obsessed (in a completely non creep way)

Friends to lovers - MMChris was friend zoned by Trixie when he was 18.

FMC:
Plus sized beaut
Bookish Librarian
C*ck (🐓) lover

General notes:
TOYS
Sex worker rep
Found family/support network

Any book with a chapter title - GOYKATTDLAGG 🙊 is a must read.

I LOVED this. So much body positivity. The big guys seem cool with a woman who won’t break. I’m pretty exited to see more of this group as the book progress.

I’m desperate to read the second book in the series but I loved the audio of the first so much I almost want to (but likely won’t) hold off to see in the second will be released on Audio. Brain reading it just won’t hit the same way.

The narrators were SO perfect for this book.

I’ve already been raving about this book to people in person.

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unusablebooklore's reviews 322 reviews

unusablebooklore's reviews
322 reviews