I loved I Bet Your Heart, and this is again super cute! The setting of a writing retreat was so much fun, especially with the added mystery. I loved sI loved I Bet Your Heart, and this is again super cute! The setting of a writing retreat was so much fun, especially with the added mystery. I loved seeing the growth the main character went through in connecting with her mum and finding her own voice when writing. The romance and friendships were also really sweet! The audiobook was a great way to go for this....more
I'm not a huge historical romance reader, but this is exactly my kind of thing in the genre. This is a super fun and super cute romcom with an adorablI'm not a huge historical romance reader, but this is exactly my kind of thing in the genre. This is a super fun and super cute romcom with an adorable slowburn T4T romance. The audiobook was so good!...more
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
For me, the strength of YA lies in complex, imperfect characters who go through a lot of growthMany thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
For me, the strength of YA lies in complex, imperfect characters who go through a lot of growth, and this book does that phenomenally. Combine that with an absolutely adorable sapphic romance, well-fleshed out characters, and not one but two ice sports, and you have a really entertaining read with a lot of depth. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like our main character, but that turned out to be a strength in the end, because it was very much intentional and the MC goes on such a journey of growth and development. I love how this was shown rather than told, and it never changed her personality....more
Many thanks to Libro FM for the Audiobook Listening Copy!
Lukas Blomqvist, the man that you are.
You might have seen me read and review Ali Hazelwood's Many thanks to Libro FM for the Audiobook Listening Copy!
Lukas Blomqvist, the man that you are.
You might have seen me read and review Ali Hazelwood's backlist and new releases over the past year or so, with varying success. In my reviews, I found myself saying pretty often how her books have steadily gotten a lot better. Deep End continues that trend, and it's firmly my favourite Ali Hazelwood book. With that, I think it's safe to say she's become an auto-read author for me.
The main reason why Deep End is, I think, my favourite Ali Hazelwood book, are Scarlett and Lukas, who are firmly my favourite Ali Hazelwood couple, but are also my favourite characters of hers as individual characters. They were both really well fleshed out, and I really feel like I got to know and understand them very well. I thought they suited each other so well, and I was grinning like a fool by the end.
My updated Ali Hazelwood ranking:
1. Deep End 2. Check & Mate 3. Two Can Play 4. Cruel Winter With You 5. Bride 6. Not In Love 7. Love, Theoretically 8. Love on the Brain 9. Loathe to Love You 10. The Love Hypothesis...more
Many thanks to Libro FM for the Audiobook Listening Copy!
For this documentary-style novel, perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, the audiobook is aMany thanks to Libro FM for the Audiobook Listening Copy!
For this documentary-style novel, perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go. The full-cast narration truly elevates the reading experience and makes it feel so real and immersive.
While I wasn't quite sure what to make of this for a large part of the book, I found the story incredibly compelling throughout, which really kept me listening even though I wasn't sure if I was actually enjoying the story. But the story did get better while it progressed, even though I found most of the twists fairly predictable. Katarina grew on me the more time I spent with her, though I have to admit I didn't feel quite as connected to Heath as a character and didn't truly feel their chemistry. I think I would have enjoyed this book more, would maybe even have given it 5 stars, if I had felt a little more emotional connection to the story rather than feeling mainly invested in the drama of it....more
Many thanks to Libro.fm for the audiobook listening copy!
I love that feeling when you read a debut and you immediately know you'll want to pick up whaMany thanks to Libro.fm for the audiobook listening copy!
I love that feeling when you read a debut and you immediately know you'll want to pick up whatever the author writes next. This is one of those books for me, not just because I loved Ember and Danuwoa together, but also because it's such a strong story outside of the romance. Ember's lying makes for a pretty messy story, but I found her motivations very understandable, which made me feel entertained by the mess and empathizing with her throughout at the same time....more
This was a lot of fun! It's not my usual subgenre but I'm thinking I should read more suspenseful romance, because this was such a good time. It has aThis was a lot of fun! It's not my usual subgenre but I'm thinking I should read more suspenseful romance, because this was such a good time. It has a perfect balance between the action and suspense and the romance....more
I would have enjoyed this a lot, because the writing and the romance were very engaging and I liked the premisse a lot. But unfortunately there was a I would have enjoyed this a lot, because the writing and the romance were very engaging and I liked the premisse a lot. But unfortunately there was a lot of gender essentialist nonsense. It was all "alpha male" this and descriptions of what a "real man" or a "real woman" is like....more
Both a cosy mystery and a Christmas romance, this was so much fun! The romance especially was written so well, I couldn't put this one down! I listeneBoth a cosy mystery and a Christmas romance, this was so much fun! The romance especially was written so well, I couldn't put this one down! I listened to the entire audiobook in less than 24 hours....more
Ooh I enjoyed this so much!! It's such a sweet, heartwarming story, and the writing is very funny. Seth was immediately one of my favourite love interOoh I enjoyed this so much!! It's such a sweet, heartwarming story, and the writing is very funny. Seth was immediately one of my favourite love interests that I've read in a while, and I loved seeing how both of them grew and became more confident and stronger through being together....more
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
This made for a mostly fun audiobook, but the Christmas island had major cult vibes, so I was aMany thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
This made for a mostly fun audiobook, but the Christmas island had major cult vibes, so I was afraid this might turn into a thriller at any time.
I appreciated a lot of things about this, like the development both characters go through and how they learn to value themselves enough to go after what they want. And a lot of the book is centered around how fake and exhausting it is to have to keep the Christmas cheer alive yearround, so I can't really blame the book, it did a good job. But I found the whole concept so incredibly creepy, especially with the second generation pretty much feeling forced to stay and keep living and working on the island because they're not taught about what options are out there for them. I have to admit that whole creepy vibe kind of killed the charm for me, which affected my enjoyment....more
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy.
I went in expecting a fairly straightforward YA romance, but this book does so much more than tMany thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy.
I went in expecting a fairly straightforward YA romance, but this book does so much more than that. It genuinely is an adorable romance. I think Marlow deserves an award for YA book boyfriend of the year, he is so precious. But it's also a book about learning to respect yourself and learn that you deserve to be treated with respect. Anisa goes through so much growth in this story in the way she relates to her family, friends and community.
Having recently read Rishi's memoir, which also came out this year, really enhanced my reading experience. It quickly became clear to me that this story draws from their own experiences a lot and is very personal, and it was interesting to see the similarities and to also see where this YA romance diverged.
I've seen other reviewers mention that the book has footnotes, but those weren't present in the audiobook, so I'm unsure how these worked....more
I ended up with mixed feelings about this. I really appreciated how messy this was - all of the main character's relationships have their struggles anI ended up with mixed feelings about this. I really appreciated how messy this was - all of the main character's relationships have their struggles and everyone made mistakes and people didn't handle everything perfectly. I liked how the character development wasn't a neat arc. I just wanted more of that same nuance and considerations towards the ending. I felt like everything got wrapped up rather quickly and easily, which made the ending feel rushed....more
Either I'm not having much luck with my recent romance reads, or this is a me issue, but this didn't entirely live up to my expectations. I liked the Either I'm not having much luck with my recent romance reads, or this is a me issue, but this didn't entirely live up to my expectations. I liked the story, but I struggled with the main characters and the writing style. Some choices seemed a little illogical to me, like how Evie would keep replying to her ex's texts during the trip, even though he fired her from her job for no good reason?? Like who wants to keep talking to someone like that? I felt like this choice was made solely to create a reason for miscommunication. I do have to say the ending made up for a lot for me, so this leans more towards a 3.5, and I would still recommend it!...more
Took a chance on this one, and I kinda loved it? I think? It's hard to say, to be honest, because this is such a gripping story, and you never know whTook a chance on this one, and I kinda loved it? I think? It's hard to say, to be honest, because this is such a gripping story, and you never know where it will go or who you can trust. It was so intriguing and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The book ended on such a cliffhanger, I'll definitely be reading the sequel!...more
This romance was perfect for this time of year. It gave me all the Gilmore Girls vibes, if Stars Hollow had been haunted. I absolutely flew through thThis romance was perfect for this time of year. It gave me all the Gilmore Girls vibes, if Stars Hollow had been haunted. I absolutely flew through the audiobook because I wanted everything to be solved. I thought Sarah Hawkins' story was really interesting to learn about, and it really added a deeper layer to the story beyond just being a few ghost story....more
I really enjoyed Fly With Me by Andie Burke, so I was looking forward to this. Then I kept seeing very mixed reviews, and grew a little apprehensive. I really enjoyed Fly With Me by Andie Burke, so I was looking forward to this. Then I kept seeing very mixed reviews, and grew a little apprehensive. But I ended up really enjoying it! It made me realize my current favourite trope is forced proximity where they have to live together for a while. There's something so cosy and domestic about it, which I feel is exactly what I need right now. I saw people say they couldn't tell the characters apart, and I get why, because I do agree their names could have been less similar, but I think the audiobook helped with this....more
Loading...
