Ok, but in all seriousness, holy shit. Holy fucking shit. That wa”Hi, Shannon.�
“Hi, Johnny.�
“Stay with me.�
“Aɲ.�
Mom come pick me up, I’m not well�
Ok, but in all seriousness, holy shit. Holy fucking shit. That was one of the wildest most beautiful most romantic fucking books I’ve read in my entire life. I’m actually shocked. Honestly, flabbergasted. I’ve seen this book around book internet for years now, and it’s something I was convinced I wasn’t going to like. Especially because super popular books, especially ones from Booktok never work for me. But I caved. I decided I’d try it. And I’m so glad that I decided to read this book.
This is a perfect mix of coming of age x new adult, intentional cringe, growing up, and also dealing with serious topics and discussions. Shannon and Johnny are both going through a lot when they meet each other. Johnny is trying to hide a worsening injury he got playing rugby—the sport that he eats, sleeps, and breathes—and Shannon is dealing with the aftermath of lifelong bullying, and a strenuously abusive and toxic home life. They quickly become ensnared in each others worlds, and can’t stay away.
I think what makes this book so good is the characters, because, honestly it’s not Chloe Walsh’s writing. Walsh isn’t the strongest writer, and often reuses phrases and sometimes recycles scenes. She also desperately needs an editor, and some of the stuff in here is problematic as hell. But her strength lies in the way she crafts characters and their relationships with each other; which I think is why this series is so popular. Not only are Shannon and Johnny characters that immediately imprint on you, but the side characters are also fantastic and really add so much depth to the story. All the side relationships are well built upon for future books, and made me excited to continue on.
And let’s not forget about the stars of the show, Johnny and Shannon. I adored these two. I truly couldn’t get enough. Johnny is so sweet to Shannon, and is so soft with her compared to with everyone else. And Shannon is just such a sweetheart, who’s really a victim of her circumstances. She has so much going on, and she finds a safe space in Johnny.
Ugh, I can’t. This book was so emotional and hit me right in the heart. I cried quite a few times lol. That cliff hanger was also crazy, I really need to get to book 2 soon....more
”When everyone else leaves, when they never come back, Khiran does. He flits in and out of her life like the seasons, but when he fades away from her ”When everyone else leaves, when they never come back, Khiran does. He flits in and out of her life like the seasons, but when he fades away from her life, it’s with the unwavering faith that she’ll see him again. Next spring, next fall. He’ll find her when she is falling to pieces or when she’s whole. There’s comfort in that. Comfort in knowing he’ll be there when no one else can be.�
”Alexa, play cowboy like me by Taylor Swift�
What a book. What a freaking book. If you liked The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab, or even the concept of that book, Peaches & Honey is Addie LaRue’s more interesting, shorter, and slightly better written younger cousin (coming from someone who loved the book mentioned).
This story follow Anna, a girl born in the 11th century cast out of society due to her vitiligo. She lives in the woods, hiding in fear. One day, Anna finds a woman in need of saving in the woods and Anna brings her to her home home. The strange woman gives her a fruit, and when Anna and is found and captured for hiding the mysterious woman, she’s burned at the stake. Anna however doesn’t die, and discovers that the strange woman is actually a god who granted her the gift—or curse—of immortality. Over centuries, Anna learns from other people, living among them and trying to save as many mortals as she can. The one constant in her life is the shapeshifting god who saved her all the years ago, Kieran.
This book is effortless in its ability to blend sweeping writing with historical fiction and light fantasy. The writing is both poignant and has a haunting purple prose that makes a great story as amazing as it is. I’m honestly so surprised this author is self published, especially on kindle unlimited because their writing is just incredible. The writing is definitely the highest high about Peaches & Honey.
But the characters are also the other highlight of this story. Watching Anna’s journey and her development was beautiful. She travels to many different places, learns new languages, integrates herself with different cultures, meets new people, tries new things. She goes from a naive and young girl who tries to hide herself in the shadows, to a woman unafraid to stand up for what she believes in and be herself. Kieran is also such a great love interest, and helps Anna in her endeavors to make the world better. Her protects her, consoles her, and loves her through every century their together, and keeps it all to himself until he knows Anna is ready to love him too. I’ve seen other reviews say their relationship wasn’t something they cared for, but I adored them together. They way they lean on each other, and Anna slowly realizing what it’s like to live forever brought them together in so many ways. I just find them to be so beautifully written (and also very poignant).
The only thing I will complain about is I wish this was longer. We do a lot of time jumps, which make sense for the story, but I just wish we got more. I loved Anna so much and I wouldn’t have minded 100 to even 500 more pages of Anna going through the centuries and growing. I just adore her character.
Don’t be fooled by the marketing for this book though. It’s tagged on here as fantasy romance, and I’ve seen it discussed as such in fantasy romance/romantasy spaces, but it’s really not one. It’s a historical fiction book with fantasy/magical realism elements and a romance on the side. Don’t let that deter you from this book though. I pretty much immediately realized this wasn’t fantasy romance as it was marketed, but I adored it all the same.
This was such a fantastic book, I’m so excited to continue on with book 2....more
This reminded me a lot of Outlander, though it was written before Outlander. It’s both a history and adventure heavy, Scotland v. England historical rThis reminded me a lot of Outlander, though it was written before Outlander. It’s both a history and adventure heavy, Scotland v. England historical romance. The heroine is a flighty and spoiled Georgian English heiress and the hero is the brother of a Scottish laird, banished from his home and posing as a member of the English peerage. They are forced to marry, and the heroine finds out he’s not who he says he is. He takes her captive, and brings her back to his once-home in the Highlands. There’s a lot of war, violence, traveling, and worldbuilding. And with a vintage historical romance, it has the traditional problematic tropes. A so stubborn she’s stupid heroine, enemies to lovers, alpha male hero, heaps of body betrayal, dubcon, and of course women on women hate. This book shows its age, but it really wasn’t bad. I just think all the history infodumping took me a little out of the story. I also wished our MC’s had more interactions as non-enemies. I found the heroines changed opinions on the hero and Scottish people very abrupt. Still entertaining, but I don’t think I’ll continue on....more
This was ehh. It had an interesting concept. The heroine is a producer for a fictional Buzzfeed and finds a podcaster who makes a conspiracy/ghost*2.5
This was ehh. It had an interesting concept. The heroine is a producer for a fictional Buzzfeed and finds a podcaster who makes a conspiracy/ghost type of podcast. She hires him to start a web show, and they quickly end up hosting it together (think: Buzzfeed Unsolved energy). The beginning was cute and very fun! I was going to give this a sold 4 for a while. The banter between the main couple was great, and I was grinning reading.
But the second half of the book was just boring, and kind of the same thing over and over again. The main couple was still cute, but not enough to keep me invested. I ended up skimming the last hundred pages or so because I didn’t really care. The writing was also super cringe, like full millennial cringe. It was worse than Ali Hazelwood cringe, which is a hard feat to accomplish.
Maybe I’m not the right target audience for this one, but I just felt very meh about it. Fine, but very forgettable and an average execution on an interesting concept....more
So good! Alpha, domineering, and toxic hero with a sweet, shy, and proper heroine. Fantastic dynamics, and often times super cute (in a very toxic waySo good! Alpha, domineering, and toxic hero with a sweet, shy, and proper heroine. Fantastic dynamics, and often times super cute (in a very toxic way lol). It would have been a 5 star, but the middle was really slow. It also ended in a weird place. If you love slice of life and/or Alice Coldbreath, read this!!
There is some major dub con and a marital rape scene between the MC’s in the beginning though so if that bothers you, don’t read!
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OMG I was OBSESSED with the this during 2020 or 2021. I’m so happy this author is getting traditionally published, I can’t wait to read this version!...more
This was really cute, and reminded me a lot of other movies like Legally Blonde, Enchanted, and Confessions of a Shopoholic. The heroine is *3.5/3.75?
This was really cute, and reminded me a lot of other movies like Legally Blonde, Enchanted, and Confessions of a Shopoholic. The heroine is a trust fund party girl with a heart of gold, and the hero is an uptight divorce lawyer. They live in the same apartment building, and can’t stand each other. I loved the banter in this one, and really enjoyed seeing these two complete opposites come together. I just found something was missing from this story, and I’m not sure what. It was definitely cute and fun, but it didn’t have all the components for me to give it a 4 star. I’m still glad I read this since I’ve seen around on Reddit and Instagram a lot, and I did enjoy it overall! I just think it need something a little more....more
This reminded me a lot of stuff that Emma Scott and Mariana Zapata has put out. It’s slice of life, a little angsty, slow burn, and quiet. The MC’s boThis reminded me a lot of stuff that Emma Scott and Mariana Zapata has put out. It’s slice of life, a little angsty, slow burn, and quiet. The MC’s both had rough childhoods and early adulthoods, and are now both on their on and protecting themselves in their own ways. The heroine has been abused her entire life, both by her stepfather and her ex-husband. The hero also has went through abuse from his alcoholic father and brother.
The hero reminded me a lot of Mariana Zapata hero’s. He’s gruff and quiet and a little mean. He doesn’t know how to express himself without coming across as an asshole. But when he gets comfortable with the heroine, he is a completely sweet and kind guy.
So I enjoyed the characters. And I really thought about giving this one a 4. But the third act just lost me. I don’t know if it was because I’d listened to this one in a day and I was sick of it, or if it really was the third act. But the breakup, the cause of the breakup, and these characters being separated for long really made no logical sense for me. If these just gave each other a day or two to cool down, they could have had a normal conversation and gotten together like adults. And I think that’s what really made me give this a three.
I also don’t think these characters read like they were upper 30s-early 40s. They honestly read like 20 somethings. Which is fine, but they both didn’t really act their age. And that didn’t bother me, but I think it will bother a lot of other readers (especially ones who came looking for older MC’s).
This was a cute book, and I liked seeing the slow progression between the MC’s. Both of them working with animals was sweet. And the spice is also super hot and romantic. There’s not any dirty talk at all. It’s just sweet and you can tell these characters really love each other when you’re reading the smut.
But this just also wasn’t a new favorite. Still a sweet book, but I don’t think it’ll be very memorable....more
This was ok. I didn’t really hate it or love it either way. It was very middle of the road. I didn’t really find these two characters loving each otheThis was ok. I didn’t really hate it or love it either way. It was very middle of the road. I didn’t really find these two characters loving each other by the end believable at all. It honestly felt like they spent no time together besides having sex. So for you to try and tell me they were in love had me raising an eyebrow. I found their interactions together very ehh overall. Honestly I feel nothing towards this book and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It definitely will not be memorable in the future for me....more
I probably shouldn’t have even read this in the first place because Holly Renee’s other fantasy romance series is supposedly in the same styleSPOILERS
I probably shouldn’t have even read this in the first place because Holly Renee’s other fantasy romance series is supposedly in the same style as this one. However, I was hopeful, especially since I’ve seen so much praise about this book going around recently, but I’m once again in the minority. In theory, I like fantasy romance. In fact, in theory, it’s one of my favorite genres. However in actuality, I shit on so many fantasy romances, and this isn’t an exception.
Where is, I don’t know, anything??? This doesn’t even feel like a real book. It genuinely feels like the author wrote a few scenes and called it a day. There’s no world building. This book is trying to tell me the king is evil, and the rebellion is happening. What king? In fact, what fucking kingdom? What rebellion? I genuinely don’t know because this world is just there. What about the magic? Funny you asked, because I can’t tell you anything about it either. It exists. What is this magic, how does it work, who has it, how is it important? None of these questions were answered. I’m serious, none of them were answered!! These characters are also apparently fae, which was mentioned once and has also, zero significance to this story.
Who are these characters? Their personalities are nonexistent, their motivations are unclear, and the chemistry between the leads is fucking dryer than the Sahara. They interact maybe three times before fucking, they “hate each other� for really no reason, and make the dumbest decisions purely to plot the nonexistent plot forward. The side characters come in also maybe three or four times over the book, and we’re supposed to care about them? We’re supposed to believe our main characters are best friends with the side characters? Please be so frl Holly Renee?
You may want to know what is the plot if nothing else? I don’t know, because again, it doesn’t fucking exist. The FMC, a princess, escapes the palace from her (apparently?) abusive father and is captured by the rebellion. She trains to be a soldier with the rebellion for a week (literally not even kidding, this bitch is there for maybe 9 days at most), and then “betrays them�. The end. The plot actually doesn’t exist.
And my point is, this book shouldn’t even exist because it just doesn’t make sense. Nothing happens. The characters are one dimensional, dumb, and have maybe 5 interactions before “falling in love�. In fact, I’d go as far as saying this book is terrible. Or a burning dumpster fire. And honestly, this authors writing isn’t even that bad. I thought I may get a three star at the beginning of this book because this read like your average YA fantasy. And then it just made no sense.
Case in point, I will probably never read another book from this author (despite the fact her prose wasn’t awful), and this is genuinely one of the worst books I’ve read all year. If you’re a fantasy romance girlie who likes any of the following: semblance of a plot. fleshed out characters, world building, a decent magic system, and a swoony romance, trust me when I say, this book will not be for you.
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I may or may not have seen a really good smut scene and decided I needed to read it�...more
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