take some of the netflix dating shows like single's inferno and the perfect match, throw in some love islan4.25�
this was SO CUTE and such a fun read!
take some of the netflix dating shows like single's inferno and the perfect match, throw in some love island and unreal tv, add a little sweetness and fluff from quirky kdramas, and just a dash of pride & prejudice, and you've got the cuffing game.
as someone w a past life in film, i connected v much w both mia and noah and the story of making your own project was very dear to my heart. throw in the antics of reality tv dating and it's a fun time.
it was a fast read and i felt like it paced well, with a not too neatly or rushed ending. it also included a v diverse cast w some queer contestants (mia is also bi), which we still don't get to see a lot in reality dating shows today.
lyla lee pls be my friend so we can talk about film production and are you the one season 8!!!!!
sapphic challengers with some ashley poston-esque magical realism!
this was a fun twist on the soulmate concept, making them real possibilities fo3.75�
sapphic challengers with some ashley poston-esque magical realism!
this was a fun twist on the soulmate concept, making them real possibilities for the lucky few born with the name of their marking their wrist. for luca, it's everything she's dreamed of. for juliette, it would only get in the way of her tennis dreams.
luca and juliette face off as tennis rivals who also happen to be soulmates. juliette deals w the pressure of being 3rd in a whole family of tennis aficionados while luca deals w her legendary plays as merely "luck".
if you really like tennis or the sports aspect of sports romance, this definitely gets into the thick of it. sometimes it was confusing for me as someone who doesn't really know tennis well, but generally, i enjoyed it.
The romance was really cute, I did find Juliette a little bit bratty in the beginning (probably deliberate) but there's definitely growth with their relationship.
Overall, it was an enjoyable sports romance with a little � bonus points for the lemoncello and pastry-filled italian med moment
“It’s difficult. To believe that you deserve happiness when the world would tell you that you do not.�
4.25� this was a super cute sapphic historical ro“It’s difficult. To believe that you deserve happiness when the world would tell you that you do not.�
4.25� this was a super cute sapphic historical romance.
i enjoyed the rivalry and banter in the beginning, and the dilapidated, gothic mansion with spooky vibes. i enjoyed cat and georgiana both as protagonists and they felt v interesting w their respective backstories.
i was a little sad that we're lead away from the mansion quite quickly from a mystery, but the absolute simping on both their behalfs helped make up for it.
“You cannot possibly imagine how long and how desperately I have wanted you.�
i also enjoyed the historical note at the end from author about real life influences, esp from queer figures in regency history.
overall, it was a fun read and i would read more by vasti! (i have my eye on iris for a next book ...more
Moulin Rouge meets Lady Macbeth is a very intriguing concept, but unfortunately it's just not executed well here.
The world building is prrating: 2.75�
Moulin Rouge meets Lady Macbeth is a very intriguing concept, but unfortunately it's just not executed well here.
The world building is pretty flimsy. We're introduced to the idea of the Gifted, individuals who are born with their own unique gifts, but beyond that there isn't really much explanation to them or how that magic system works. There's also the idea of Bonding between someone gifted and someone not, but that's also not fully explained. I also think only women seem to be Gifted, but that's also not really explicitly spelled out from what I remember.
The whole Moulin Rouge x Macbeth, mashup frankly was pretty messy. I thought it was kind of odd that she just straight up used Harold's name from Moulin Rouge as the bordello owner, but also he was such a barely present character for how much of a central point he was, it was very odd. I also don't really understand why anyone would think the owner of a dance hall is the best option to lead a country.
Lady M enters the picture with zero background, which is also never really explained either. One second Harold is bemoaning the financial ruin of the dance hall, and then next thing you know, he just suddenly has a girlfriend? wife? Who is suddenly now just paying for it all. She's also a pretty flat, one dimensional villain, which is really unexciting these days in fantasy.
The love story between Caterine and Callum is instalust without much depth, which was disappointing. I also feel like this is a case of an author not having fleshed out characters with interesting flaws that have me intrigued and really falling in love with them. It was just overall very meh, Callum has like five minutes of resistance to her before he goes back on his promise to himself to not� Allow himself to be vulnerable to her power lol.
I'm kind of at a loss about the world building. Why do the royals seem to just be able to run around without bodyguards / random people wandering their home? security? Why would any random person who kills the monarch get to take over? What time period is this supposed to be in/fashioned after?
Overall, this is definitely been one of my more disappointing reads this year. I think this could do with a lot more work on the worldbuilding and characters, and if she's trying to lean into romantic with the romance leading, there could definitely be more work on building that relationship in more effective ways.
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