October 2021 Reads

This book moved slower than I would have liked, I wish the romance had started a little sooner, and the break up seemed a bit contrived, but overall I enjoyed the book. I loved Lucie and Tristan together, and wish more pages had been devoted to them together rather than apart. I love how well researched these books are, and how angry it makes me to read about how little women had in so far as independence and rights in the 19th Century. It truly makes me grateful that I live now instead of then. (BOTM)

4 Stars

This was easily my favorite book of the three. I felt the romance was earned more in this one than in the other two. It may be because Hattie has always been my favorite and I was so happy for her to get her HEA. Taking Lucien and Hattie out of London and up into Scotland was brilliant, and definitely gave the story more depth. I loved all the side characters and hope to see them again of there are more books. (BOTM)

5 Stars

I wasn’t quite sure what to think starting this one, with yet another huge time leap between books and 100% new characters, however, I found myself enjoying this one quite a bit. In true Herbert fashion the book is SO MUCH set up, however, I love the way he world builds I honestly don’t care that nothing really happens for the first three fourths of the book. The ending and the revelations in the last fourth are totally worth it. I had a lot of predictions that turned out wrong, but I find myself really looking forward to the final book in the series.

4 Stars

What a great book. Everything in love in a romance and some of my favorite tropes. We had friends to lovers, game dating and only one bed all in one book. Add in a strong independent Latina protagonist I could identify with and you have a book I could devour in a day. I loved the pace of Gabe and Mich’s relationship and I loved their extended families. The book made me laugh, and it made me cry.

4 Stars

What a beautiful book. Really makes you think about the way you live your own life, what is your legend journey? What is your treasure? Are you listening to the world around you? The prose was beautiful. I was moved to tears at points.

4 Stars

Other than the fact that I couldn’t stop picturing Piper as Season 1 Alexis Rose and Brendan as Ron Swanson through the entirety of the book, which made for some interesting visuals when they started bumping uglies, this book was a lot of fun. I enjoy a good enemies to lovers book, and I love a good fish out of water book, and this provided both. The writing was smooth, the characters well developed, and I rooted for them from the first page. I’ve already put the next book on my TBR.

4 Stars

Powerful book about a horrible event in our history. Colbert does a great job contextualizing the massacre in history and bringing the event to life. Written for a teen audience, the book isn’t too bogged down by complex sentences. The history is told concisely and simply and it’s easy to follow and read.

5 Stars

This book was everything I had hoped for in a sequel. It was just as good and beautiful as the first book, and picked up the second after the first book ended. I fell in love with Ari and and Dante even more than I did before. They are so well written. And Ari’s journey was so great. I know it probably won’t happen, but I would love to see at least a short story following Ari, Dante, the girls, the parents, et all maybe like twenty years later, just to see where their lives are. If I don’t get that, I’ll be happy. The ending of this book was perfect. This book was…perfect.

5 Stars

Now THIS was a thriller. Everything that I thought would be a last minute twist happened in the first 50% of the book, and I honestly had no idea how it would end. The book kept me at the edge of my seat and I didn’t want to stop reading. (BOTM)

5 Stars

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve read a lot of these dystopian female heroes books or what, but this one just didn’t wow me. I enjoyed the book okay, but if it weren’t picked for my book club I may have set it aside. The only thing that compelled me to keep reading was the relationship between Immanuelle and Ezra, and even then there wasn’t enough there. I would have loved to see their relationship flushed out. And more of them together. The book wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t AMAZING. I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book in the series.

3 Stars

This was a fun book to read during October. I really liked the Jones girls and I liked how magic was just a thing in the world. And I really like Rhys. I’m a sucker for a Welsh man. (BOTM)

4 Stars

This book was okay. I wanted to love it more, but I just couldn’t get into the way it was written. Too many pop culture references, not a lot of character development, which I know can be difficult in a novella, but can be done. Maybe I was walking into this expecting something different, but whatever I was expecting, this wasn’t it. It just didn’t draw me in. 

3 Stars

September 2021 Reads

This was a such a fun read. Anna and Keane slowly falling in love and working through the stages of grief together was so beautifully done. I had to Google several of the places they visited while they island hopped, because I just wanted a clearer pictures. The book made me want to sail around the Caribbean, even though I’m severely afraid of water. I wish there was about a hundred more pages so I could spend more time with Anna and Keane.

4 Stars

A touching book about traumatic brain injuries in pro football players told from the point of view of the twelve year old son of one. Written in verse, you won’t be able to get through this book without crying at least once. 

4 Stars

This was a pretty slow read for me, but mostly because I kept stopping and looking things up since I’m unfamiliar with the history of China. The book is very much a slow burn, but it’s totally worth it. The last 1/3 of the book was definitely my favorite and I read it quicker than the rest, and I will definitely be picking up the next book when it is released.

4 Stars

What a good book. Jane Igharo is officially on my auto buy list. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it warmed my heart. My only complaint is that it was too short. I could easily read a whole other book about the Jolades. (BOTM)

4 Stars

What a great rom com. I learned pretty early that this started as Reylo fanfic, and other than Adam very clearly being inspired by Adam Driver, I didn’t find that knowledge distracting (it actually made me love the book more tbh). I loved the pacing and characters. And the romance between Olive and Adam was swoonworthy. Ali Hazelwood has been moved to my auto-buy list. (BOTM)

5 Stars

I don’t know what it was, but this book just didn’t click with me. There was something about the style of writing that just really turned me off. I felt at arm’s length with the characters throughout the whole book. I really loved the concept, but the execution could have been better. 

2 Stars

This book was SO WEIRD, but SO GOOD. I love Frank Herbert’s world building, and I love the way he makes you root for characters who have questionable morals. And aren’t even completely human. The most frustrating part was how he didn’t fully lay out what exactly the Golden Path was. But I got it. Just like I figured out what the ultimate goal would be. Yes, I sort of predicted what would happen, but it didn’t ruin the book for me.

4 Stars

This book was so good. The characters were great and really leapt off the page. I loved Annabelle and her spirit. And Sebastian was striking. The history was amazing, and I had to look up when women could finally own property in England, and was quite disappointed in the result. Overall this was a very enjoyable read. (BOTM)

4 Stars