TJ 's bookshelf: all en-US Fri, 02 May 2025 06:19:27 -0700 60 TJ 's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2)]]> 40132775
The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels� plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.]]> 805 Sarah J. Maas 1408884429 TJ 0
“Ruhn Danaan knew three things with absolute certainty�

Finally out of my reading block... I hope.

Why is this book unnecessarily long? It took me a while to finish—not just because of the book itself, but because of life things, like a job that pays me enough to buy books but also eats up the time I need to read them. Oh well.

It was a wild ride, and the chaos in Bryce Quinlan's life is exhausting. I love a good found family trope, and this book definitely had that energy. However, there were moments where the pacing dragged, and the story felt flat and boring. I really wish it didn’t.

But I have to say it: this book is kind of a mess in the middle. The pacing was so inconsistent—it dragged in places where nothing significant happened, and I often found myself zoning out or putting the book down for days at a time. There were so many scenes that felt like filler or overly detailed worldbuilding that didn't move the plot forward. I kept waiting for the momentum to return, and while there were great moments, they felt scattered between long stretches of not much going on.

Also—Ruhn Danaan is my absolute favorite character. I love him so much it hurts. Sarah J. Maas better not mess him up in the next book. I’m watching

But that ending? A total clusterfuck of a cliffhanger—and now I need to read the third book immediately!]]> 4.41 2022 House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2)
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: TJ
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/02
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves:
review:
“Ruhn Danaan knew three things with absolute certainty�

Finally out of my reading block... I hope.

Why is this book unnecessarily long? It took me a while to finish—not just because of the book itself, but because of life things, like a job that pays me enough to buy books but also eats up the time I need to read them. Oh well.

It was a wild ride, and the chaos in Bryce Quinlan's life is exhausting. I love a good found family trope, and this book definitely had that energy. However, there were moments where the pacing dragged, and the story felt flat and boring. I really wish it didn’t.

But I have to say it: this book is kind of a mess in the middle. The pacing was so inconsistent—it dragged in places where nothing significant happened, and I often found myself zoning out or putting the book down for days at a time. There were so many scenes that felt like filler or overly detailed worldbuilding that didn't move the plot forward. I kept waiting for the momentum to return, and while there were great moments, they felt scattered between long stretches of not much going on.

Also—Ruhn Danaan is my absolute favorite character. I love him so much it hurts. Sarah J. Maas better not mess him up in the next book. I’m watching

But that ending? A total clusterfuck of a cliffhanger—and now I need to read the third book immediately!
]]> Norwegian Wood 9651654
This stunning and elegiac novel by the author of the internationally acclaimed Wind-Up Bird Chronicle has sold over 4 million copies in Japan and is now available to American audiences for the first time. It is sure to be a literary event.

Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable. As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.

A poignant story of one college student's romantic coming-of-age, Norwegian Wood takes us to that distant place of a young man's first, hopeless, and heroic love.]]> 389 Haruki Murakami 0307744663 TJ 5 all-time-favorites
"If you're in pitch blackness, all you can do is sit tight until your eyes get used to the dark."

I once had a girl
Or should I say she once had me
She showed me her room
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?

-The Beatles

THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK. Not one of my favorites or just a recent favorite—this book has my heart and soul until my last breath in this world. It absolutely tore me apart.

"With my eyes closed, I would touch a familiar book and draw its fragrance deep inside me. This was enough to make me happy."


This is a story of Toru, reminiscing about his youth in 1960s Tokyo while he was in college, and about all the people who crossed his path and shaped who he became. Many readers interpret this as a tragic love story, but I’m here to make a point: it is definitely not just that.

"I don't care what you do to me, but I don't want you to hurt me. I've had enough hurt already in my life. More than enough. Now I want to be happy."


How do I even begin? First, of course, is Haruki Murakami’s writing. It’s magnificent and sublime—as always. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. It’s not noted on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ, but I’ve read this book more than five times, and I don’t regret a single reread. Murakami has written something so imperfect, so unusual, that it unsettles me in the best way. His words are palpable, complex yet deeply resonant—I feel them in my bones.

I still remember buying this book in college, drawn in by the cover and the summary. I judge books by their covers—sue me. I finished it within hours, reread it the next day, and then again and again. I’ve read plenty of negative reviews, and I totally understand—this book is heavy. It’s sad, and it can trigger depression or suicidal thoughts. It does affect you. BUT—if people could look beyond the surface, they’d see this is a story about growth, about surviving adulthood filled with bad decisions and repeated failures. Because guess what? That’s how life works.

"Things like that happen all the time in this great big world of ours. It's like taking a boat out on a beautiful lake on a beautiful day and thinking both the sky and the lake are beautiful. So stop eating yourself up alive. Things will go where they're supposed to go if you just let them take their natural course."


This book ripped me apart and broke my heart more times than I can count. But you know what? I would sell my soul for it. I don’t care what anyone says—this is the book that got me through.

At its core, this book makes one thing clear: there are two kinds of people in the world—those who cling to death, and those who want to be saved and cling to life.

"Death was not the opposite of life. It was already here, within my being, it had always been here, and no struggle would permit me to forget that."


Toru is our main character. He’s introverted, reserved, and overthinks everything. He’s lost in the world, unsure of his path or how to live. I related to him deeply. The story follows him through devastating events in his life, and his responses... are very human and very flawed. He makes mistakes. A lot of them. He lives a life filled with loneliness and some truly terrible decisions.

"I am a flawed human being - a far more flawed human being than you realize."


That’s what I love about Toru. He’s not a perfect character; his flaws feel real. I liked how he seemed to have his life in order at the start, only to unravel slowly by the end.

Now, let’s talk about the two main women in Toru’s life.

First, Naoko. She was Kizuki’s girlfriend—Kizuki being Toru’s best friend from high school. They were a close trio until Kizuki died by suicide, leaving no explanation.

As for Naoko, I don’t hate her, but I don’t love her either. We all have inner demons, but she is her own demon. Her relationship with Toru was hard to understand—it was a whirlwind, if you could even call it romance. It felt one-sided and emotionally unstable. I appreciate that she tried, despite knowing how difficult things were for her. But in the end, she was broken in a way that couldn’t be fixed. Toru tried but ultimately failed. Naoko is the piece of the puzzle that doesn’t quite fit—beautiful and tragic, but unrepairable.

"My arm was not what she needed, but the arm of someone else. My warmth was not what she needed, but the warmth of someone else."


I hated that she led Toru on, but he knew it. And still—he tried. Like an idiot. And maybe that’s the point. Naoko represents those who are lost and never find their way back.

Now, my favorite character in the book—the incredible, brave soul that is Midori.

"I've never met a girl who thinks like you."

"A lot of people tell me that," she said, digging at a cuticle. "But it's the only way I know how to think. Seriously. I'm just telling you what I believe. It's never crossed my mind that my way of thinking is different from other people's. I'm not trying to be different."


Midori is the sunshine of this story. If the novel is a descent into darkness, then she is the light breaking through. I adored her. She was honest, quirky, and unapologetically herself. She brought life into the story when everything else felt drenched in grief and melancholy. Her relationship with Toru was the one I rooted for—real, messy, and filled with warmth.

"Let me just tell you this, Watanabe," said Midori, pressing her cheek against my neck.

"I'm a real, live girl, with real, live blood gushing through my veins. You're holding me in your arms and I'm telling you that I love you. I'm ready to do anything you tell me to do. I may be a little bit mad, but I'm a good girl, and honest, and I work hard, I'm kind of cute, I have nice boobs, I'm a good cook, and my father left me a trust fund. I mean, I'm a real bargain, don't you think? If you don't take me, I'll end up going somewhere else"


There are other characters I won’t even get into because I’ve already poured too much of my heart into this review, and I can’t handle reopening those emotional wounds.

Overall, this book isn’t for everyone.
It can be triggering. It’s not a romance—it’s a man’s life falling apart, told in quiet, aching reflection. And yet, I’m so grateful to have read it. It’s deeply personal, and it makes my heart ache in the most beautiful way.

Murakami once said he didn’t understand why this book became so beloved in Japan, but to that I say: I do. I love this book. I’ll never stop loving it. I’ll never get tired of rereading it.

It’s a book about a sad person, their growth, and how our choices shape us into who we are. It made me think about how I want to live—not just exist—and made me question my worth as a human being. That’s why I’ve declared it my favorite. Because it made me feel—really feel—all the loneliness, confusion, and pain I had tucked away. And it reminded me to keep going anyway.

I will always love this book, no matter the time or year.

"We're all kind of weird and twisted and drowning"]]> 3.85 1987 Norwegian Wood
author: Haruki Murakami
name: TJ
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1987
rating: 5
read at: 2017/02/01
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves: all-time-favorites
review:
"If you're in pitch blackness, all you can do is sit tight until your eyes get used to the dark."

I once had a girl
Or should I say she once had me
She showed me her room
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?

-The Beatles

THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK. Not one of my favorites or just a recent favorite—this book has my heart and soul until my last breath in this world. It absolutely tore me apart.

"With my eyes closed, I would touch a familiar book and draw its fragrance deep inside me. This was enough to make me happy."


This is a story of Toru, reminiscing about his youth in 1960s Tokyo while he was in college, and about all the people who crossed his path and shaped who he became. Many readers interpret this as a tragic love story, but I’m here to make a point: it is definitely not just that.

"I don't care what you do to me, but I don't want you to hurt me. I've had enough hurt already in my life. More than enough. Now I want to be happy."


How do I even begin? First, of course, is Haruki Murakami’s writing. It’s magnificent and sublime—as always. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. It’s not noted on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ, but I’ve read this book more than five times, and I don’t regret a single reread. Murakami has written something so imperfect, so unusual, that it unsettles me in the best way. His words are palpable, complex yet deeply resonant—I feel them in my bones.

I still remember buying this book in college, drawn in by the cover and the summary. I judge books by their covers—sue me. I finished it within hours, reread it the next day, and then again and again. I’ve read plenty of negative reviews, and I totally understand—this book is heavy. It’s sad, and it can trigger depression or suicidal thoughts. It does affect you. BUT—if people could look beyond the surface, they’d see this is a story about growth, about surviving adulthood filled with bad decisions and repeated failures. Because guess what? That’s how life works.

"Things like that happen all the time in this great big world of ours. It's like taking a boat out on a beautiful lake on a beautiful day and thinking both the sky and the lake are beautiful. So stop eating yourself up alive. Things will go where they're supposed to go if you just let them take their natural course."


This book ripped me apart and broke my heart more times than I can count. But you know what? I would sell my soul for it. I don’t care what anyone says—this is the book that got me through.

At its core, this book makes one thing clear: there are two kinds of people in the world—those who cling to death, and those who want to be saved and cling to life.

"Death was not the opposite of life. It was already here, within my being, it had always been here, and no struggle would permit me to forget that."


Toru is our main character. He’s introverted, reserved, and overthinks everything. He’s lost in the world, unsure of his path or how to live. I related to him deeply. The story follows him through devastating events in his life, and his responses... are very human and very flawed. He makes mistakes. A lot of them. He lives a life filled with loneliness and some truly terrible decisions.

"I am a flawed human being - a far more flawed human being than you realize."


That’s what I love about Toru. He’s not a perfect character; his flaws feel real. I liked how he seemed to have his life in order at the start, only to unravel slowly by the end.

Now, let’s talk about the two main women in Toru’s life.

First, Naoko. She was Kizuki’s girlfriend—Kizuki being Toru’s best friend from high school. They were a close trio until Kizuki died by suicide, leaving no explanation.

As for Naoko, I don’t hate her, but I don’t love her either. We all have inner demons, but she is her own demon. Her relationship with Toru was hard to understand—it was a whirlwind, if you could even call it romance. It felt one-sided and emotionally unstable. I appreciate that she tried, despite knowing how difficult things were for her. But in the end, she was broken in a way that couldn’t be fixed. Toru tried but ultimately failed. Naoko is the piece of the puzzle that doesn’t quite fit—beautiful and tragic, but unrepairable.

"My arm was not what she needed, but the arm of someone else. My warmth was not what she needed, but the warmth of someone else."


I hated that she led Toru on, but he knew it. And still—he tried. Like an idiot. And maybe that’s the point. Naoko represents those who are lost and never find their way back.

Now, my favorite character in the book—the incredible, brave soul that is Midori.

"I've never met a girl who thinks like you."

"A lot of people tell me that," she said, digging at a cuticle. "But it's the only way I know how to think. Seriously. I'm just telling you what I believe. It's never crossed my mind that my way of thinking is different from other people's. I'm not trying to be different."


Midori is the sunshine of this story. If the novel is a descent into darkness, then she is the light breaking through. I adored her. She was honest, quirky, and unapologetically herself. She brought life into the story when everything else felt drenched in grief and melancholy. Her relationship with Toru was the one I rooted for—real, messy, and filled with warmth.

"Let me just tell you this, Watanabe," said Midori, pressing her cheek against my neck.

"I'm a real, live girl, with real, live blood gushing through my veins. You're holding me in your arms and I'm telling you that I love you. I'm ready to do anything you tell me to do. I may be a little bit mad, but I'm a good girl, and honest, and I work hard, I'm kind of cute, I have nice boobs, I'm a good cook, and my father left me a trust fund. I mean, I'm a real bargain, don't you think? If you don't take me, I'll end up going somewhere else"


There are other characters I won’t even get into because I’ve already poured too much of my heart into this review, and I can’t handle reopening those emotional wounds.

Overall, this book isn’t for everyone.
It can be triggering. It’s not a romance—it’s a man’s life falling apart, told in quiet, aching reflection. And yet, I’m so grateful to have read it. It’s deeply personal, and it makes my heart ache in the most beautiful way.

Murakami once said he didn’t understand why this book became so beloved in Japan, but to that I say: I do. I love this book. I’ll never stop loving it. I’ll never get tired of rereading it.

It’s a book about a sad person, their growth, and how our choices shape us into who we are. It made me think about how I want to live—not just exist—and made me question my worth as a human being. That’s why I’ve declared it my favorite. Because it made me feel—really feel—all the loneliness, confusion, and pain I had tucked away. And it reminded me to keep going anyway.

I will always love this book, no matter the time or year.

"We're all kind of weird and twisted and drowning"
]]> <![CDATA[Heart of a Monster (New Reign Mafia Duet #1)]]> 57950510
It was the monster that saved me.

The whole city called him the monster: a troubled man with demons in him clawing to get out.

His job was to ruthlessly take lives for the family.

And, yet, he saved mine.

Ever since, I was the one woman who could walk amongst the most powerful men within the Italian Mob—all except him.

To him, I didn’t belong. And he made it clear by being the monster everyone knew him to be:

Cruel, ruthless, and cold.

My gut told me to leave, but my soul wanted to stay. I gravitated toward the man no one understood because the monster in him risked it all to rescue me.

So, I opened the cage where his demons lived. I set them free.

And then I took the biggest risk:

I handed my heart to the monster to see if he’d rip it apart.

This book is the first in a duet. 80000+ words of love, angst, steam, and mafia romance. Their happily ever after will come in the next book set to release this summer.]]> Shain Rose TJ 0 to-read 3.79 2021 Heart of a Monster (New Reign Mafia Duet #1)
author: Shain Rose
name: TJ
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Diary of an Oxygen Thief 1561703
Say there was a novel in which Holden Caulfield was an alcoholic and Lolita was a photographer’s assistant and, somehow, they met in Bright Lights, Big City. He’s blinded by love. She by ambition. Diary of an Oxygen Thief is an honest, hilarious, and heartrending novel, but above all, a very realistic account of what we do to each other and what we allow to have done to us.]]> 140 Anonymous 908105841X TJ 0 to-read 2.72 2006 Diary of an Oxygen Thief
author: Anonymous
name: TJ
average rating: 2.72
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Don't Let the Forest In 200982373 Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him.

Kill for him.

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality―Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.

But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won't say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork―whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew's wicked stories.

Desperate to figure out what's wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster―Thomas's drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator...]]> 336 C.G. Drews 1250895669 TJ 0 to-read 4.11 2024 Don't Let the Forest In
author: C.G. Drews
name: TJ
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine]]> 35900387 No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

Soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the smart, warm, and uplifting story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .

The only way to survive is to open your heart. ]]> 390 Gail Honeyman 0008172145 TJ 1 did-not-finish
just not my cup of coffee. ]]> 4.17 2017 Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
author: Gail Honeyman
name: TJ
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2017
rating: 1
read at: 2024/11/15
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: did-not-finish
review:
DNF @ 11%

just not my cup of coffee.
]]> Play Along (Windy City, #4) 199285128 Kennedy

I’m the only woman on staff for the Windy City Warriors, and after years of putting up with a sexist lead doctor, I’m desperate to land my dream job with a new team next year. All I have to do is maintain my professional reputation for my final season in Chicago.

But a Las Vegas run-in with the team’s shortstop threatens it all, leaving me with a fuzzy memory and a ring on my left hand.

Now, not only am I legally bound to the most persistent man I’ve ever met, but thanks to Isaiah’s scheme to save my job, I have to pretend the whole thing was a planned elopement and not a drunken mistake.

Isaiah Rhodes is reckless, impulsive, and frustratingly charming. He’s also my brand-new husband.

They got the saying wrong. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas� sometimes it follows you right back home.


Isaiah

As the shortstop for Chicago’s professional baseball team, I’ve had my fair share of fun. But that all ended the day Kennedy Kay became a single woman.

I’ve crushed on the team’s athletic trainer for years. I’ve flirted to no avail, so imagine my surprise when I woke up in Sin City with a ring on my finger and my favorite redhead in my bed.

We agree to stay married for one baseball season, just long enough to keep her job safe, but in my mind, I’m using our time together to prove to her I’m husband material.

Kennedy might be reluctant to join in on our game, but it’s one I refuse to lose.

So come on, wife� play along.]]> 384 Liz Tomforde TJ 0 to-read 4.44 2024 Play Along (Windy City, #4)
author: Liz Tomforde
name: TJ
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, #1)]]> 57282383
However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.Ěý

Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. UntilĚýhim.ĚýUntil the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.]]> 647 Jennifer L. Armentrout TJ 0 to-read 4.43 2021 A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, #1)
author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
name: TJ
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #1)]]> 216595852
I'm just a girl. And it turns out, I'm Hercules.

I'm struggling to survive in a Titan infested world where Spartans, immortals from twelve royal families who have god-like powers and obscene wealth, rule over all. A shy-stammering foster child with nothing, I keep my head down, cover my scars, and focus on excelling in school. At least, I try to. Then it happens.

My blood test reveals I'm part of the powerful elite. I'm one of them. A Spartan.

Forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, I undergo the most harrowing test of all time to see if I have what it takes to be an immortal. There's just a few problems. Achilles and Patro are my scary mentors. Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, are my terrifying professors. Also, I'm pretty sure either someone's stalking me everywhere I go, or my sanity's slipping––I have a bad feeling both are true.

I'm surrounded by Villains and they're smothering me with their hate, obsession, and dark possessiveness. Too bad for them, they have no clue just who they're messing with.




]]> 496 Jasmine Mas TJ 0 to-read 3.84 2024 Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #1)
author: Jasmine Mas
name: TJ
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone Saga, #1)]]> 55215339
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.

After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.

The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.]]> 379 Scarlett St. Clair TJ 0 to-read 3.77 2019 A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone Saga, #1)
author: Scarlett St. Clair
name: TJ
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Spellshop 217206125 The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.]]> 377 Sarah Beth Durst 1250333970 TJ 0 to-read 3.98 2024 The Spellshop
author: Sarah Beth Durst
name: TJ
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Lights Out 211200239 MEET BOOKTOK'S LATEST OBSESSION . . . DARK, FUNNY AND SUPER SPICY, CAN YOU HANDLE THE RIDE?

I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.

Trauma nurse Aly escapes her hard-working days by thirsting after masked men online. To her, nothing could top the fantasy of her favorite tattooed and masked man hunting her down. But she never could have guessed that one drunken text would turn those dreams into reality . . .

I want things most people don't, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.

Josh has spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans, until one follower catches his Aly.

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone with far more sinister intentions. As Josh turns from predator to protector, he must ask himself how far he'll go for the woman he can't live without.

Lights Out is a fast-paced dark romance with a morally grey male lead. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to listeners. Please check the content warning at the beginning of the book.

Lights Out, New York Times bestseller, November 2024.]]> 416 Navessa Allen 1638932239 TJ 3
-i could not take Josh seriously because he is so damn funny!!
-only the first half tho, the second half of this book feels like a snoozefest tbh it's like an entirely different plot
-SECOND PART OF THIS BOOK IS SO DAMN BORING AND LIKE WHERE DID THAT CAME FROM?
-it would've been better if they just focus on figuring the faceless man's personality irl *sigh* I def would've love it even more
-and why is he named 'Josh'?! can't he have like a badass name ??? I mean why JOSH????
-Aly is a fave FMC!!! She's smart and sexy and finally a tall female, I'm a smol person but I'd like tall female representation on dark romance books please (i hate the small female rep sometimes like how can someone so petite tackle someone with huge bro's biceps???!!!)
-'I AM BATMAN' i am cackling at this scene!!!
-"please don't cum, please don't cum, please don't cum' Josh whispering this to be a badass, SERIOUSLY I WAS LAUGHING THE WHOLE TIME
-I listened thru audiobook and it was so much better!! I love Jacob Morgan and his voice is just *chef's kiss*
-I love the romance in this book and how Aly is obsessed in obv 'masktok' which, i mean, i get it gurl!! and Aly's comments on Josh's vids??? I would've done the same thing and I would've been feral if he likes my comments too
-I WOULD IMMEDIATELY FALL IN LOVE with Josh tbh because a funny, tall, hot, genius guy like that ?? Count me in please
-this is the kind of book that you read for pure entertainment!! fr!!]]> 4.20 2024 Lights Out
author: Navessa Allen
name: TJ
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/15
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves:
review:
This is the funniest dark romance I've ever read.

-i could not take Josh seriously because he is so damn funny!!
-only the first half tho, the second half of this book feels like a snoozefest tbh it's like an entirely different plot
-SECOND PART OF THIS BOOK IS SO DAMN BORING AND LIKE WHERE DID THAT CAME FROM?
-it would've been better if they just focus on figuring the faceless man's personality irl *sigh* I def would've love it even more
-and why is he named 'Josh'?! can't he have like a badass name ??? I mean why JOSH????
-Aly is a fave FMC!!! She's smart and sexy and finally a tall female, I'm a smol person but I'd like tall female representation on dark romance books please (i hate the small female rep sometimes like how can someone so petite tackle someone with huge bro's biceps???!!!)
-'I AM BATMAN' i am cackling at this scene!!!
-"please don't cum, please don't cum, please don't cum' Josh whispering this to be a badass, SERIOUSLY I WAS LAUGHING THE WHOLE TIME
-I listened thru audiobook and it was so much better!! I love Jacob Morgan and his voice is just *chef's kiss*
-I love the romance in this book and how Aly is obsessed in obv 'masktok' which, i mean, i get it gurl!! and Aly's comments on Josh's vids??? I would've done the same thing and I would've been feral if he likes my comments too
-I WOULD IMMEDIATELY FALL IN LOVE with Josh tbh because a funny, tall, hot, genius guy like that ?? Count me in please
-this is the kind of book that you read for pure entertainment!! fr!!
]]> Corrupt (Devil's Night, #1) 58124274 Erika

I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession.

His name is Michael Crist.

My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He is handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me.

But I noticed him.

I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away.

Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore.

Because he’s finally noticed me.

Michael

Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.

My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway.

Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college.

In my city.

Unprotected.

The opportunity is too good to be true as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out.

We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.


***Corrupt can be read as a stand-alone. No cliffhanger.]]> 516 Penelope Douglas 1518783872 TJ 0 to-read 3.69 2015 Corrupt (Devil's Night, #1)
author: Penelope Douglas
name: TJ
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1)]]> 75513900 She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting.
He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.

Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites.

The powers these Elites have possessed for decades were graciously gifted to them by the Plague, though not all were fortunate enough to both survive the sickness and reap the reward. Those born Ordinary are just that—ordinary. And when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished in order to preserve his Elite society, lacking an ability suddenly became a crime—making Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity.

Surviving in the slums as an Ordinary is no simple task, and Paedyn knows this better than most. Having been trained by her father to be overly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can in order to stay alive and out of trouble. Easier said than done.

When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites� powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks. If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for certainly will if he discovers what she is—completely Ordinary.]]> 523 Lauren Roberts TJ 2
I hated dnf-ing books but there are books that I just couldn't continue wasting my time and this book fails miserably. I hated dfn-ing books so I decided to continue reading this and I am badly curious about the ending so the agonizing feeling of trying to like a certain book kept going with this one. *sigh*

If this was published around 2016, I might've liked it. All the micro-tropes that I've ever read from the past few years was written here and its predictability and unoriginal story with a low-end power system is just pure annoying. A lot of questions will sink in like: why's the trial created? why's Kai as the second to the throne is being treated like an assistant instead of a prince? why is this book even published? why is this book so freaking overhyped I got too excited and marinated for months just so I'll be disappointed instead.

Paedyn is the 'pick me' fantasy romance fmc with the I'm different from the other girls with no powers but knows taekwondo or something and Kai is the enforcer (which by the way kept being repeated all throughout the book like WE GET IT OKAY? He's the future Enforcer, just say that damn thing once) with cocky smile and arrogant attitude (like the basic mc that he is that I've probably read from the hundreds of romantasy)

The plot is meh and I'm definitely dropping this series. I did not like even one character which is unusual because I always love side characters but here? I couldn't even care less. (ifykyk)]]> 4.17 2023 Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1)
author: Lauren Roberts
name: TJ
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/09
date added: 2024/11/11
shelves:
review:
*crying in disappointment*

I hated dnf-ing books but there are books that I just couldn't continue wasting my time and this book fails miserably. I hated dfn-ing books so I decided to continue reading this and I am badly curious about the ending so the agonizing feeling of trying to like a certain book kept going with this one. *sigh*

If this was published around 2016, I might've liked it. All the micro-tropes that I've ever read from the past few years was written here and its predictability and unoriginal story with a low-end power system is just pure annoying. A lot of questions will sink in like: why's the trial created? why's Kai as the second to the throne is being treated like an assistant instead of a prince? why is this book even published? why is this book so freaking overhyped I got too excited and marinated for months just so I'll be disappointed instead.

Paedyn is the 'pick me' fantasy romance fmc with the I'm different from the other girls with no powers but knows taekwondo or something and Kai is the enforcer (which by the way kept being repeated all throughout the book like WE GET IT OKAY? He's the future Enforcer, just say that damn thing once) with cocky smile and arrogant attitude (like the basic mc that he is that I've probably read from the hundreds of romantasy)

The plot is meh and I'm definitely dropping this series. I did not like even one character which is unusual because I always love side characters but here? I couldn't even care less. (ifykyk)
]]> Eyes On Me, Baby (GDL #3) 58483212
She chose neither.

Now, she's forced to work to make a living. But she's not really made for work. Given the choice, she'd spend the day daydreaming about her scripts and characters. Fortunately, someone offered her a job... Madali lang naman daw ito. Magiging 'manager' daw siya ng basketball team. She agreed... After all, how hard could it be to manage a bunch of boys who spend their days running back and forth on a wooden ground... right?

All Rights Reserved]]> Beeyotch TJ 5
The respect that Austin gives to Karma is just perfect. The way Karma tries to understand social cues for Austin. In my next lifetime, I want to have this kind of love in every way shape and form. I wish I could read this again for the first time. I wish I could love this book again.

**

Rereading this is so calming. Austin and Karma are soulmates and perfect for each other <3

**
This is definitely my comfort book, whenever I would like to read a romance book with cute female lead and a green flag male lead, I will always choose this. It is so heartwarming and really an adorable story.]]> 4.59 Eyes On Me, Baby (GDL #3)
author: Beeyotch
name: TJ
average rating: 4.59
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/12
date added: 2024/11/11
shelves:
review:
This is one of my comfort reads. In the middle of chaos, there is this book with pure and wholesome love between Austin and Karma and all I wanna do is reread their love story every single time because it makes you hopeful of something this mesmerizing. Karma is in the spectrum and Austin gave her all the best experiences in life like first time riding a yacht, watching movies, holding hands and her first kiss. I wanna cry because no love can possibly exist like this in real life. This is the kind of love that everyone dreams about.

The respect that Austin gives to Karma is just perfect. The way Karma tries to understand social cues for Austin. In my next lifetime, I want to have this kind of love in every way shape and form. I wish I could read this again for the first time. I wish I could love this book again.

**

Rereading this is so calming. Austin and Karma are soulmates and perfect for each other <3

**
This is definitely my comfort book, whenever I would like to read a romance book with cute female lead and a green flag male lead, I will always choose this. It is so heartwarming and really an adorable story.
]]> Love on the Brain 59856881 A STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis--with explosive results.

Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project--a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia--Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school--archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it's her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas...devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?]]> 354 Ali Hazelwood 0593336844 TJ 3 hmmm... RTC. 3.95 2022 Love on the Brain
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: TJ
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/10
date added: 2024/11/10
shelves:
review:
hmmm... RTC.
]]> If You Could See the Sun 60099660 actually invisible.
Ěý
When her parents drop the news that they can no longer afford her tuition, even with the scholarship, Alice hatches a plan to monetize her strange new power—she’ll discover the scandalous secrets her classmates want to know, for a price.
Ěý
But as the tasks escalate from petty scandals to actual crimes, Alice must decide if it’s worth losing her conscience—or even her life.

In this genre-bending YA debut, a Chinese American girl monetizes her strange new invisibility powers by discovering and selling her wealthy classmates� most scandalous secrets.]]> 346 Ann Liang 1335915842 TJ 3
“If I'm not first, I'm nothing.�

It is official, I am in love with any academic rivals that Ann Liang will write in the future, because she is that amazing.

This book shows an amazing premise about a girl turning literally invisible and partnering up with her academic rival for a business venture that she badly needed. It was definitely so Asian to have some powers and think of it turning into a business. This is really an awesome book, and I really like it.

However, as much as I love Ann Liang and her way of writing (which is awesome, and definitely one of my favorites), I rather found this book a bit less good from her other works namely 'I hope this doesn't find you'. I mean I really like the characters, but the plot has some loopholes that bothers me. Like why can't she figure out how to control it and what happens afterwards, these are probably some small stuff but I wanted to know it, maybe that's why I did not love this book that much.

To a rather small conclusion, I like this book, but sadly I did not love it.]]> 4.01 2022 If You Could See the Sun
author: Ann Liang
name: TJ
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/08
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves:
review:
“If I'm not first, I'm nothing.�

It is official, I am in love with any academic rivals that Ann Liang will write in the future, because she is that amazing.

This book shows an amazing premise about a girl turning literally invisible and partnering up with her academic rival for a business venture that she badly needed. It was definitely so Asian to have some powers and think of it turning into a business. This is really an awesome book, and I really like it.

However, as much as I love Ann Liang and her way of writing (which is awesome, and definitely one of my favorites), I rather found this book a bit less good from her other works namely 'I hope this doesn't find you'. I mean I really like the characters, but the plot has some loopholes that bothers me. Like why can't she figure out how to control it and what happens afterwards, these are probably some small stuff but I wanted to know it, maybe that's why I did not love this book that much.

To a rather small conclusion, I like this book, but sadly I did not love it.
]]> <![CDATA[A Call to Your Arms (Rara Avis Series, #2)]]> 156512963 Jonaxx TJ 3 RTC. I'll probably reread this in the future and maybe I'll write my review by then. I read this a year ago and adding this on my reviewed list. ]]> 4.43 A Call to Your Arms (Rara Avis Series, #2)
author: Jonaxx
name: TJ
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves:
review:
RTC. I'll probably reread this in the future and maybe I'll write my review by then. I read this a year ago and adding this on my reviewed list.
]]> <![CDATA[Rushing Through My Veins (Rara Avis, #3)]]> 201331362 Jonaxx TJ 4 RTC. I'll probably reread this in the future and maybe I'll write my review by then. I read this a year ago and adding this on my reviewed list. ]]> 4.57 Rushing Through My Veins (Rara Avis, #3)
author: Jonaxx
name: TJ
average rating: 4.57
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves:
review:
RTC. I'll probably reread this in the future and maybe I'll write my review by then. I read this a year ago and adding this on my reviewed list.
]]> <![CDATA[Shelter In Your Fingertips (Rara Avis Series, #1)]]> 60736263 Jonaxx TJ 3 RTC. I'll probably reread this in the future and maybe I'll write my review by then. I read this a year ago and adding this on my reviewed list. ]]> 4.53 Shelter In Your Fingertips (Rara Avis Series, #1)
author: Jonaxx
name: TJ
average rating: 4.53
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves:
review:
RTC. I'll probably reread this in the future and maybe I'll write my review by then. I read this a year ago and adding this on my reviewed list.
]]> This Time It's Real 60759266 massive secret to keep.

Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?

Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend -- he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.

But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

Get ready to fall in love in this hilarious romcom about a girl who begins a fake relationship with the famous actor in her class, perfect for fans of Meg Cabot and Jenny Han.]]> 352 Ann Liang 1338827111 TJ 0 to-read 4.03 2023 This Time It's Real
author: Ann Liang
name: TJ
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Never Thought I'd End Up Here 216879705 From the author of the instant New York Times bestseller I Hope This Doesn't Find You, Never Thought I'd End Up Here is another hilarious and romantic romcom from Ann Liang, this time following a former model determined to get revenge on the boy who ruined her life.

Leah Zhang has spent her whole life in LA - it's all she's ever known. But after accidentally wishing her cousin ill health and a very depressing marriage at her wedding, her parents stage an intervention. She's forgotten most of her Mandarin, has zero regard for etiquette, and can't hold a conversation with her own grandparents for longer than a minute. Their solution? Send her on an intensive two-week travel program across China's most beautiful cities. To them, it's the perfect opportunity for Leah to get back to her roots. To Leah, it's simply a much-needed escape.

But before Leah can even begin to enjoy the luxurious hotels, stunning scenery, and mouth-watering cuisine, she finds that also on the trip is her former classmate and least favorite person cynical, sarcastic Cyrus, who's somehow only gotten more annoyingly handsome since they last saw each other.

While Leah might be tempted to shove him off the peak of the Yellow Mountain when nobody's looking, she can't get rid of him just yet. After all, she might never get another chance to get revenge on the boy who ruined her life.

Yet the deeper they wander into China's provinces, the deeper Leah finds herself falling in love - with the boy she once thought she despised, the home she never thought she'd call her own, and the parts of herself she thought were already lost.]]> 320 Ann Liang 1546110674 TJ 0 to-read 4.45 2025 Never Thought I'd End Up Here
author: Ann Liang
name: TJ
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Hollow (The Hollow, #1) 7095420
Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.]]> 509 Jessica Verday 1416978941 TJ 3 3.56 2009 The Hollow (The Hollow, #1)
author: Jessica Verday
name: TJ
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/11/07
shelves:
review:

]]> If He Had Been with Me 122919434 If he had been with me, he wouldn't have died.

Throughout their whole childhood, Finn and Autumn were inseparable—they finished each other's sentences, they knew just what to say when the other person was hurting. But one incident in middle school puts them in separate social worlds come high school, and Autumn has been happily dating James for the last 2 years. But she's always wondered what if...

The night she's about to get the answer is also one of terrible tragedy.]]> 400 Laura Nowlin TJ 3
“If he had been with me, everything would have been different.�

The title itself is a dead giveaway that this is a sad book.

-this is really a sad one, it made me linger to my thoughts.
-not the kind of surprised "sad" but the kind of sadness that you knew from the beginning
-the beginning was so slow and boring however the second half was enticing, and it felt like a lullaby that you probably knew how it will end but STILL, it hurts
-LIKE fr, the kind of hurt that you knew will probably come and you already accepted it
-anywayssss, it was an okay kind of book
-don't know why it linger too long on the first book because Sasha is such an asshole of a bff
-and idk why i felt pity for Jaime in the first part bec i knew deep in my bones that Autumn was using him and wanting a kind of love that will stay unlike Finny...
-again, it is a sad book but the sadness that you accept
AND i'm kind of okay with it
-THIS is such scramble of thoughts, my review sucks tbh but oh well]]> 3.78 2013 If He Had Been with Me
author: Laura Nowlin
name: TJ
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/07
date added: 2024/11/07
shelves:
review:
“If he had been with me, everything would have been different.�

The title itself is a dead giveaway that this is a sad book.

-this is really a sad one, it made me linger to my thoughts.
-not the kind of surprised "sad" but the kind of sadness that you knew from the beginning
-the beginning was so slow and boring however the second half was enticing, and it felt like a lullaby that you probably knew how it will end but STILL, it hurts
-LIKE fr, the kind of hurt that you knew will probably come and you already accepted it
-anywayssss, it was an okay kind of book
-don't know why it linger too long on the first book because Sasha is such an asshole of a bff
-and idk why i felt pity for Jaime in the first part bec i knew deep in my bones that Autumn was using him and wanting a kind of love that will stay unlike Finny...
-again, it is a sad book but the sadness that you accept
AND i'm kind of okay with it
-THIS is such scramble of thoughts, my review sucks tbh but oh well
]]> For the Fans 62990658 Kyran Harbor is everything I’m not.

Rich. Popular. A superstar football player who’s awfully broody for someone who has it all. Basically, he’s a preppy jock who hates me. Oh, and he’s also my stepbrother.

That’s right. We’re stuck together, sharing a school, a house� A bathroom. Honestly, I wouldn’t care� If he wasn’t such an uptight control-freak who messes with me just because we’re different.

I had every intention of avoiding him when we got to college� Until abrupt misfortune forces us both into a compromising position.

Now the grouchy jerk I was hoping to evade might be the only person who can help me out of it.

Avi Vega is everything I despise.

A dreamer. A flake. An artist who smokes too much weed and thinks aliens exist. And by some sick cosmic joke, he’s now my stepbrother, following me on what should’ve been my escape plan.

It was already a disaster. Add a sudden financial disruption to the mix, and let’s just say my options are heavily limited.

If I want to stay an all-star quarterback on the way to the NFL, I’ll need to do something drastic. Unfortunately for me, and my desperate desire for control, the perpetually smiling stoner has a plan.

Maybe we can stop hating each other just enough to pull this off. As long as we remember we’re only doing it� for the fans.

** For The Fans is a full-length standalone MM forbidden romance with an HEA. This book contains sensitive subject matter that could make some readers uncomfortable. Please heed foreword warnings and proceed with caution.]]> 546 Nyla K. TJ 2 ICK.

Seriously, as a fan of MM and read a few of dark romance books, the sexual stuff in this book makes me ick. It's not about the plot of how they did it, my gosh no, but how it was written. It sucks that the s3x keeps happening and all I wanna do is cringe and skim past those part because, what the hell kind of writing is that? Read GOF by Rina Kent and oh boy, the difference is like the vast space of our universe.

I actually do like the characters, the plot in the beginning was so highly interesting and I can't wait for them to have their first kiss because the tension is oh so well written properly that I could just press Avi and Kyran's forehead together and let them have their moment because BOYS, you do not hate each other, okay?!

However the story went downhill a few chapters in the middle and I just can't wait for it to end. It is not as entertaining as I want it to be and it fell like just pure lust instead of the love I keep wanting for them to feel.

There is a bit of angst however it felt rushed and no basis in the beginning, like a plot was thought while doing the writing in the story, so very sponty. Tho, it was a fun read but I'd rather not recommend it.]]> 4.34 2023 For the Fans
author: Nyla K.
name: TJ
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/07
date added: 2024/11/07
shelves:
review:
ICK.

Seriously, as a fan of MM and read a few of dark romance books, the sexual stuff in this book makes me ick. It's not about the plot of how they did it, my gosh no, but how it was written. It sucks that the s3x keeps happening and all I wanna do is cringe and skim past those part because, what the hell kind of writing is that? Read GOF by Rina Kent and oh boy, the difference is like the vast space of our universe.

I actually do like the characters, the plot in the beginning was so highly interesting and I can't wait for them to have their first kiss because the tension is oh so well written properly that I could just press Avi and Kyran's forehead together and let them have their moment because BOYS, you do not hate each other, okay?!

However the story went downhill a few chapters in the middle and I just can't wait for it to end. It is not as entertaining as I want it to be and it fell like just pure lust instead of the love I keep wanting for them to feel.

There is a bit of angst however it felt rushed and no basis in the beginning, like a plot was thought while doing the writing in the story, so very sponty. Tho, it was a fun read but I'd rather not recommend it.
]]> <![CDATA[Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening, #1)]]> 65214365
Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.]]> 416 Jennifer L. Armentrout 1250750199 TJ 0 to-read 3.94 2023 Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening, #1)
author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
name: TJ
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Winter Gods & Serpents (The Auran Chronicles #1)]]> 59581090 In a god blessed realm where greed is the faith of rulers, Snowlin’s existence was perhaps the greediest act of all.

Born the forbidden child of two Aura, magical beings possessing god-gifted powers, she carries a burden of title. Prized a weapon of destruction by her father and hunted as a monster of carnage by others. The odds knew no favour to the wicked or kind in Numengarth, but Snowlin turned human, powerless, and a disappointment to the creator who intended to wield her in his claim for power over the continent.

After twelve years disparaged into exile, she sets to return and claim what the realm owed her: revenge on both her father and the night king who hunted to take more than her life.

Take and destroy were her plans.
Use and bargain were his.

She returns to find the rapacity of serpents lingering in the air and at her expense once again. Snowlin, now arranged to wed her nightmare for a political agreement, begins adjusting plans.

While caught in a game of crowns, what would she choose to become? Pawn to the winter king or queen to the night king?]]> 806 Wendy Heiss TJ 0 to-read 3.95 2021 Winter Gods & Serpents (The Auran Chronicles #1)
author: Wendy Heiss
name: TJ
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Games Gods Play (The Crucible, #1)]]> 203562673
Every hundred years, the gods toy with us mere mortals.
And we let them.

The gods of myth are alive and well.
Once every century, they select a new ruler in a cutthroat competition, pushing mortal players to the limit. But this year, Hades is done sitting on the sidelines. And he’s picking a champion no one expects—in this modern mythic romantasy, she’ll fight for her life�
for the god of Death.]]> 645 Abigail Owen 1649376588 TJ 0 to-read 4.29 2024 The Games Gods Play (The Crucible, #1)
author: Abigail Owen
name: TJ
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Blackwater 58484027
"For fans of Heartstopper and Teen Wolf ." � School Library Journal

Tony Price is a popular high school track star and occasional delinquent aching for his dad’s attention and approval. Eli Hirsch is a quiet boy with a chronic autoimmune disorder that has ravaged his health and social life. What happens when these two become unlikely friends (and a whole lot more . . .) in the spooky town of Blackwater, Maine? Werewolf curses, unsavory interactions with the quarterback of the football team, a ghostly fisherman haunting the harbor, and tons of high school drama.

Co-illustrated by Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham, who alternate drawing chapters in their own unique and dynamic styles, Blackwater combines the spookiness of Anya's Ghost with the irreverent humor of Nimona.]]> 304 Jeannette Arroyo 1250304024 TJ 2 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels 3.51 2022 Blackwater
author: Jeannette Arroyo
name: TJ
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/06
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
Well, it was cute however it just doesn't entertain me as I expected. Marcia is my fave in all those characters, and I truly wanted to like all of them however it fell right between boring and bland.
]]> <![CDATA[Moments of Malevolence (The Hunters, #1)]]> 165944055
I lie to one of the city’s most ruthless men.
And it feels so good.
Deception is a drug, and I’m quickly becoming an addict.
Each time we speak, Zuko has no idea it’s me.
The lie tastes sweet leaving my mouth.
I couldn’t stop now, even if I wanted to—which I don’t.
He thinks our conversations are more than just sex. He’s wrong.
The intimacy he feels is all a facade.
Until the day an embodiment of my darkest fantasies walks into my bar, and his unmistakable voice sends a shiver down my spine.
It turns out I’m not the one in control.
But when he calls tonight, and he will, I’ll be ready�
� with a lie.

Zuko

My job is to hunt. Dispose of problems like they never existed. And I’m incredibly good at my job.
It’s brutal and violent. But, then again, so I am.
I crave destruction. Death is merely a consequence of my dark pursuits.
And I won’t lose a wink of sleep over it, either.
Nothing bothers me.
No one affects me.
Except the vixen with the lilac hair.
When I reveal my true self to her, she laughs it off, enticed by the game we play.
She’s keeping secrets.
And I know all about prying information out of people.
She won’t like my methods.
But I’ll keep playing her little game until I decide what to do about her.
I can’t tell if she is destined to be my wife�
� or my next victim.

*standalone*]]> 326 T.L. Smith TJ 0 to-read 3.53 2023 Moments of Malevolence (The Hunters, #1)
author: T.L. Smith
name: TJ
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood of My Monster (Monster Trilogy, #1)]]> 63368678 From the USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a new dark mafia romance.

I’m out for revenge. He’s out to rule the world.
Kirill and I are as different as day and night.
We shouldn’t have been in the same frame or universe.
But we meet under the strangest circumstances.
He’s my superior in the military and the man who’ll introduce me to carnage.
His charm and exterior perfection shouldn’t have tempted me.
Behind the smokescreen lurks a manipulative emotionless monster.
And that monster might find out all my secrets, including the reason why I’m pretending to be a man.
He might also lure me to the point of no return.


This book is part of a trilogy and is not a standalone.]]> 349 Rina Kent TJ 0 to-read 4.19 2023 Blood of My Monster (Monster Trilogy, #1)
author: Rina Kent
name: TJ
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Bratva Bride (Bratva, #1) 199142862
The Cosa Nostra rule New York City

What happens when they merge their families?

A new King and Queen of the Mafia are born.

Illayana Volkov and Arturo De Luca have a long road ahead, with enemies around every corner. They'll have to protect and trust in one another to survive. With a brutal betrayal and danger lurking in the shadows, who can they really trust?

Authors Note: Bratva Bride is NOT a standalone. It is the first book in the Bratva series. This series is an INTERCONNECTED series. Although each book centres around a different couple, the overall storyline flows throughout the entire series. This means that some questions may be left unanswered at the end of a book, but will be addressed in the book that follows.
Each couple does receive a HEA.

This series is not for the faint of heart. The themes in this book could be considered dark romance. There is hand necklaces, m*rder/d*ath, extreme violence, harsh language, graphic sexual scenes, and talk of sexual abuse. If these things offend you then this book is not for you.
It is not suited for anyone under the age of 18.]]> 425 T.J. Maguire TJ 0 to-read 3.77 Bratva Bride (Bratva, #1)
author: T.J. Maguire
name: TJ
average rating: 3.77
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hate The Game (Game Series, #9)]]> 61121583 Beeyotch TJ 3 3.60 Hate The Game (Game Series, #9)
author: Beeyotch
name: TJ
average rating: 3.60
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Crossed Lines (Close Quarters, #3)]]> 219844674 Spencer Hall is everything I shouldn’t want—star soccer captain, my roommate, and my best friend.

Luke

I’ve worked hard to get to the Collegiate semi-finals and make my dad proud by achieving what he never could. But everything changes when I have to share a dorm with my gorgeous best friend.

We’ve always been competitive, making harmless bets with dumb forfeits. He knows exactly how to get under my skin, and his constant flirting makes my heart race in ways I can’t explain.

As far as I know, I'm 100% straight. But when a bet turns into a kiss, my walls start to crumble. One kiss, and now I’m hooked. His touch ignites a fire in me I’ve never felt before, and I’m terrified of getting burned.

Winning the semi-finals has been my dream since I was a kid. I can’t afford any distractions—but Spencer is impossible to ignore.

The more we cross the line between friends, the less I want to stop.

Crossed Lines is a complete 25,000-word MM college romance novella told in dual POV. It features two stubborn soccer teammates, drunken balcony kisses, sporty men baking sweet treats, and the friends-with-benefits trope. It contains explicit scenes.]]> 98 Sierra Bennett TJ 0 to-read 3.53 Crossed Lines (Close Quarters, #3)
author: Sierra Bennett
name: TJ
average rating: 3.53
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wrath of an Exile (River Styx Heathens, #1)]]> 57554787
Jude Sinclair is West Trinity Falls� favorite exiled loner.

Cocky. Insufferably hot. Family foe.

Raised across the tracks in a rival town, he reeks of trouble. Which is the one thing I’ve always had a problem avoiding and now that he’s just down the hall, it’s harder to resist the pull.

My father made one rule when Jude moved in, never trust a Sinclair.

The last thing I need is for my new foster brother to make me question my loyalty with his filthy smirks and poet tongue. But with every forbidden kiss and secret hookup, I quickly find myself faced with two options.

Betray my family? Or betray my heart?]]> Monty Jay TJ 0 to-read 4.13 Wrath of an Exile (River Styx Heathens, #1)
author: Monty Jay
name: TJ
average rating: 4.13
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) 209813409 Welcome to Phantasma.

There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize�a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart�

A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists, Phantasma is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Nisha J. Tuli and Carissa Broadbent.]]> 428 Kaylie Smith 1835251412 TJ 0 to-read 4.15 2024 Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1)
author: Kaylie Smith
name: TJ
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)]]> 212127083
In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn't much a girl wouldn't do for a glass of water.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen's reservoirs for as long as she can remember.

But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently re-opens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares... but it turns out they're real, and Saeris has landed herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist's magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him . . . or her.

Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he's the only way Saeris is going to make it home.]]> 588 Callie Hart TJ 0 to-read 4.35 2024 Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)
author: Callie Hart
name: TJ
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Finding Delaware (State of Us #1)]]> 217987466 đť–𝯠đťµđť©đť¦ đťµđťłđť˘đť¤đť¬, đť¸đť¦ đť¤đť˘đťŻ đť±đťłđť¦đťµđť¦đťŻđťĄ...

Taylor
Only two things matter to me in this shitty freestyle motocross and my best friend.
They’re my only escape from my father’s fists, but one slip in junior high almost changed everything. I confessed a secret to a beautiful boy, and I’ve been punishing him—and myself—ever since.

I can’t have Huckslee the way I want, so I take from him in the only way I can—with violence. When my mother wants back into my life, and I’m forced to move in with the object of my obsession, the lines between hate and desire begin to blur. I’m not sure we’ll survive each other.

Huckslee
High school is hell when your worst enemy knows your darkest secret.
To everyone else, I’m the perfect swim team captain, football running back, and the Bishop’s golden boy. But beneath the surface, I’m hiding desires only one person knows—my bully, my tormentor, my crush. And starting tomorrow, my new stepbrother.

Taylor has wielded my secret like a weapon for years, making my life a nightmare. Now, he’ll be living right down the hall. Each encounter with him cracks my facade a little more. How long can I wear this mask before it shatters completely?


Finding Delaware is a full-length enemies-to-lovers MM stepbrother romance containing themes and situations not intended for readers under the age of 18. Both characters are consenting adults. This story features two broken boys, found family, slowburn to spice and a guaranteed HEA.]]> 545 Bree Wiley TJ 0 to-read 4.27 2024 Finding Delaware (State of Us #1)
author: Bree Wiley
name: TJ
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Brutal Titan (North Shore Titans Hockey #2)]]> 209522047
When our teams end up at the same hotel for the Regional Championships, the brutal Titan gets under my skin in a whole new way. A fight turns into a chase through the woods, and when I’m caught, it ignites a forbidden fire within me that can’t be stifled.

Our secret encounters grow more intense, and I find myself craving his touch, his taste, his infuriating smirk that both turns me on and makes me want to punch him in his perfect face.

As captain of the South Shore Serpents, getting involved with the star of our rival team is reckless. A betrayal.

Forbidden.

But Jackson Reed doesn't stop until he gets what he wants, and this time–it's me.

Falling for the brutal Titan was never part of the plan.

Except he's the most addictive bad idea I've ever had, and I can't get enough.

*Brutal Titan is the second in a five book standalone MM college hockey romance series featuring an over the top alpha hockey player and his biggest rival on the ice. This is a romance with bullying behaviors, bi-awakening and two protective/possessive alpha main characters.*]]> 156 E.V. Olsen TJ 0 to-read 3.59 Brutal Titan (North Shore Titans Hockey #2)
author: E.V. Olsen
name: TJ
average rating: 3.59
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Work: Strictly Professional (Bad Decisions #2)]]> 210716319
My boss is a walking red flag. He’s bolshy and rude. Impossible to please. A big, broody man with dark eyes that carry an unmistakable message � I am not manageable.

Seriously, he’s the worst.

If it’s not bad enough that he’s a nightmare in the office, he’s all but ordering me to be his date to his son’s wedding. He says it’s called â€winning a divorce.â€�

I try telling him that’s not a real thing but it falls on deaf ears.

Not only that, he appears to be in the throes of a major personal awakening and is determined that I’m the man to guide him through it. Normally, I’m all for going above and beyond in the name of being a star performer at work, but the services he requires are becoming increasingly indecent.

See what I mean? Red flags galore. So many red flags I can’t count them all.

I might as well be playing a game of red flag bingo at this point.

Just my luck, when it comes to Derek MacAvoy…I see a red flag and instantly want to date it.]]> 398 Jesse H. Reign TJ 0 to-read 4.11 Work: Strictly Professional (Bad Decisions #2)
author: Jesse H. Reign
name: TJ
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Teen Titans: Raven (Teen Titans, #1)]]> 38452813
Starting over isn’t easy. Raven remembers how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can’t remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. When strange things start happening—things most people would consider impossible—Raven starts to think it might be better not to know who she was in her previous life.

But as she grows closer to her foster sister, Max, her new friends, and Tommy Torres, a guy who accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she’s ready to face what’s buried in the past...and the darkness building inside her.

From the #1 New York Times best-selling co-author of Beautiful Creatures Kami Garcia and artist Gabriel Picolo comes this first graphic novel in the Teen Titans series for DC Ink, Teen Titans: Raven.]]> 171 Kami Garcia TJ 2 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels I AM A RAVEN TRASH BUT WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

I read manga but I rarely read comics and people who can't tell the difference, well, sucks for you. First, I love the cover and it's drawn by a fave of mine Gabriel Piccolo who is an artist from heaven because his arts are just angelic. I love Raven from Teen Titans (Teen Titans Go can go to a fiery pit and burned because it was absolutely trash) but if you loved it, then good for you dear.

This is a Raven origin but this is not how I expected it to be. Do I still love Raven? Absolutely fucking yes Do I like the story? NO. I don't.

It was cliche and just flat out unoriginal. There's no excitement and the story doesnt justify the cover so this is an addition to my disappointment of the year. I expected a lot of things from this story unfortunately, but my Raven will always going to be my fave Teen Titans character no matter how sucky the story is.]]> 4.01 2019 Teen Titans: Raven (Teen Titans, #1)
author: Kami Garcia
name: TJ
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2019
rating: 2
read at: 2019/08/30
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
I AM A RAVEN TRASH BUT WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

I read manga but I rarely read comics and people who can't tell the difference, well, sucks for you. First, I love the cover and it's drawn by a fave of mine Gabriel Piccolo who is an artist from heaven because his arts are just angelic. I love Raven from Teen Titans (Teen Titans Go can go to a fiery pit and burned because it was absolutely trash) but if you loved it, then good for you dear.

This is a Raven origin but this is not how I expected it to be. Do I still love Raven? Absolutely fucking yes Do I like the story? NO. I don't.

It was cliche and just flat out unoriginal. There's no excitement and the story doesnt justify the cover so this is an addition to my disappointment of the year. I expected a lot of things from this story unfortunately, but my Raven will always going to be my fave Teen Titans character no matter how sucky the story is.
]]> Saga, Volume 1 15704307
Collects: Saga #1-6.]]> 160 Brian K. Vaughan 1607066017 TJ 3 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
I definitely didn't read this just so I can increase the books I've read for my reading challenge. Nope. Now I'm very interested on this one and let's see how this goes.]]> 4.16 2012 Saga, Volume 1
author: Brian K. Vaughan
name: TJ
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2021/05/02
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
Well, well, well.

I definitely didn't read this just so I can increase the books I've read for my reading challenge. Nope. Now I'm very interested on this one and let's see how this goes.
]]> <![CDATA[Heartstopper: Volume One (Heartstopper, #1)]]> 40495957
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He's heard a little about Charlie - the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months - but he's never had the opportunity to talk to him.

They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner...]]> 288 Alice Oseman 152722533X TJ 3 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels 4.43 2018 Heartstopper: Volume One (Heartstopper, #1)
author: Alice Oseman
name: TJ
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/08/01
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
Everything is just so fluffy, amazing and just so pure. I'm still not in the love-mode but I'll get there soon enough.
]]> <![CDATA[Heartstopper: Volume Two (Heartstopper, #2)]]> 43307358
But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family ... and himself.]]> 320 Alice Oseman 1444951408 TJ 4 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels THIS IS JUST SOOOOO CUTE!!!! 4.52 2019 Heartstopper: Volume Two (Heartstopper, #2)
author: Alice Oseman
name: TJ
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2020/08/01
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
THIS IS JUST SOOOOO CUTE!!!!
]]> <![CDATA[Heartstopper: Volume Three (Heartstopper, #3)]]> 43449920
Meanwhile Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem� rather close�?]]> 384 Alice Oseman TJ 4 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
We have some adults who respect everyones gender and preferences and everything is just so fucking cute. My heart is full of fluffiness and this is really amazing and I'm so glad I read this graphic novel.]]> 4.55 2020 Heartstopper: Volume Three (Heartstopper, #3)
author: Alice Oseman
name: TJ
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/08/01
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
This is one of the best and gayest thing I've read and I totally love it! It has a very healthy relationship and just adorable characters. Everyone is gay and I soooooo fucking love it! Nick is a rainbow in human form and I totally love his character because he's everything we need.

We have some adults who respect everyones gender and preferences and everything is just so fucking cute. My heart is full of fluffiness and this is really amazing and I'm so glad I read this graphic novel.
]]> <![CDATA[Teen Titans: Beast Boy (Teen Titans, #2)]]> 46127757
Then Gar accepts a wild dare out of the blue. It impresses the Chosen Ones and his social status soars. But other things are changing, too. Gar grows six inches overnight. His voice drops and, suddenly, he’s stronger and faster. He’s finally getting everything he wanted, but his newfound popularity comes at a price. Gar has to work harder to impress his new friends. The dares keep getting bigger and the stakes keep getting higher.

When Gar realizes the extent of his physical changes, he has to dig deep and face the truth about himself–and the people who truly matter–before his life spirals out of control.]]> 208 Kami Garcia 1401287190 TJ 2 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels 4.12 2020 Teen Titans: Beast Boy (Teen Titans, #2)
author: Kami Garcia
name: TJ
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2023/09/02
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
I'm just a girl staring in front of a graphic novel asking it why does it have an amazing design but a shitty story.
]]> <![CDATA[Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven (Teen Titans, #3)]]> 55082274
It seems like years, but it's only been a few days since Raven Roth recovered her memories; trapped her demon father, Trigon, in her amulet; and had her heart broken for the first time. But she doesn't have time to think about the past...she has to focus on finding a way to get rid of Trigon for good.

Garfield Logan still can't believe he has powers that allow him to change into different animals, but the price of knowing that his parents kept this secret hidden from him just feels too high. And what's more, his difficulty controlling these abilities could have unexpected consequences.

Both are seeking answers from the one person who seems to have them all figured Slade Wilson.

When their paths converge in Nashville, Raven and Gar can't help but feel a connection, despite the secrets they both try to hide. It will take a great amount of trust and courage to overcome the wounds of their pasts. But can they find acceptance for the darkest parts of themselves? Or maybe even love?]]> 208 Kami Garcia 1779503865 TJ 2 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
Okay.

I just want to let you know that I am an idiot who tries to love this series but failed to do so. I'm sooooo unhappy with how the story goes and I wish it was entirely different.]]> 4.20 2021 Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven (Teen Titans, #3)
author: Kami Garcia
name: TJ
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2023/09/01
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
Is everybody here?

Okay.

I just want to let you know that I am an idiot who tries to love this series but failed to do so. I'm sooooo unhappy with how the story goes and I wish it was entirely different.
]]> Saga, Volume 2 17131869
Collects: Saga #7-12.]]> 144 Brian K. Vaughan 1607066920 TJ 2 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels 4.49 2013 Saga, Volume 2
author: Brian K. Vaughan
name: TJ
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2013
rating: 2
read at: 2021/05/02
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
Okay, I'm cruising through this series. The creativity is just amazing but I still can't find the reason why it's so hype.
]]> Blackbird #1 (Blackbird, #1) 39081770
In this neo-noir fantasy, Nina Rodriguez is positive that a secret magic world ruled by ruthless cabals is hiding just beneath the veneer of Los Angeles. The problem: everyone thinks she’s crazy.

The bigger problem: she’s not crazy - she’s right. Can she unravel the mystery before the Great Beast catches up with her?]]> 30 Sam Humphries TJ 3 manga-manhwa-graphic-novels 3.58 2018 Blackbird #1 (Blackbird, #1)
author: Sam Humphries
name: TJ
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2021/08/08
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: manga-manhwa-graphic-novels
review:
Well, this seems like a promising one. It was a good start and the graphic is really amazing.
]]> Blood Over Bright Haven 208430658 Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling.

An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist.

(Content warnings for gore, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation)]]> 430 M.L. Wang 0593873351 TJ 0 to-read 4.40 2023 Blood Over Bright Haven
author: M.L. Wang
name: TJ
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Boyfriend Candidate (Fool Me Once, #2)]]> 62197594
Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Audacious and filterless, Logan is Alexis's opposite-and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she's about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm. In their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly-and shockingly-flees.

Alexis is bewildered until suddenly pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. Turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot candidate challenging the Texas governor's seat. The salacious scandal is poised to sink his career-and jeopardize Alexis's job-until a solution is he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?]]> 384 Ashley Winstead 1525804960 TJ 0 to-read 3.76 2023 The Boyfriend Candidate (Fool Me Once, #2)
author: Ashley Winstead
name: TJ
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2) 90202302 “The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.� —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders� capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.]]> 623 Rebecca Yarros 1649374178 TJ 2
“There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, remember?�

This book just fails in every sense of the word tbh.

I did not like the forced romance initially from the first book but they were growing on me on this second one but it still felt rushed, obviously a ploy to pull the readers on how in love they are until a tragic moment happens, which it obviously did and I HATED IT.

THE AUDACITY.

I can't believe I keep hating Rebecca Yarros endings and plot on her books ever single time. This however just topped it all and I cannot believe she pulled a Vampire Academy plot (if you haven't read that my bad, sorry not sorry) and I did not like how unpredictable and predictable it is at the same time. The ending did not shock me because only Yarros can make me hate her plots while loving some of her characters.

I still love Ridoc and he is still my favorite so I swear if he dies I'm hating this book, Yarros and every part of this series so I'm glad he is still alive. I still don't know if I like the main characters Violet and Xaden but Aaric is a mysterious being that I am definitely curious along with Brennan. And I definitely love Tairn and Andarna, no questions because obviously who would not love them??

It took me a while to keep reading this book, I was on the verge of dnf-ing it however this one keep pulling me back in like a magnet, I do not regret it but I regret reading this series in the first place. I wish I'm not curious about it's ending so I'll probably still read the next book and I hope to the book gods it will not disappoint me for the nth time.]]> 4.33 2023 Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)
author: Rebecca Yarros
name: TJ
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/28
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves:
review:
“There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, remember?�

This book just fails in every sense of the word tbh.

I did not like the forced romance initially from the first book but they were growing on me on this second one but it still felt rushed, obviously a ploy to pull the readers on how in love they are until a tragic moment happens, which it obviously did and I HATED IT.

THE AUDACITY.

I can't believe I keep hating Rebecca Yarros endings and plot on her books ever single time. This however just topped it all and I cannot believe she pulled a Vampire Academy plot (if you haven't read that my bad, sorry not sorry) and I did not like how unpredictable and predictable it is at the same time. The ending did not shock me because only Yarros can make me hate her plots while loving some of her characters.

I still love Ridoc and he is still my favorite so I swear if he dies I'm hating this book, Yarros and every part of this series so I'm glad he is still alive. I still don't know if I like the main characters Violet and Xaden but Aaric is a mysterious being that I am definitely curious along with Brennan. And I definitely love Tairn and Andarna, no questions because obviously who would not love them??

It took me a while to keep reading this book, I was on the verge of dnf-ing it however this one keep pulling me back in like a magnet, I do not regret it but I regret reading this series in the first place. I wish I'm not curious about it's ending so I'll probably still read the next book and I hope to the book gods it will not disappoint me for the nth time.
]]> <![CDATA[Little Stranger (The Web of Silence Duet, #1)]]> 213798776
She betrayed him, and now he wants revenge against the foster sister who became his forbidden obsession the second he laid eyes on her. After she sends him to prison for years, he’s free and ready to haunt her.

Everything about Olivia belongs to Malachi Vize.
Her mind
Her body
Her soul
Her fear
Her pain

On Halloween night, he can no longer lurk in the shadows. All he has left to own is her heart, even if he needs to take it.

This story comes with extremely triggering content. Please read the "Content Warning" page.]]> 207 Leigh Rivers TJ 3
-first of all, WTF?!
-second, fuck the parents especially the mom, like out of the unhinge psycho fucker Malachi is, it's the mom who made me gasp and stare at the ceiling because how the hell could you do that???? seriously something is wrong with this woman
-your honor... I like Malachi and somehow, he crept into my heart but obviously I do not want him irl and Olivia is so freaking frustrating!!! I know it's her conscience as well, but this girl keeps going back and forth and got angry without getting an explanation from Malachi?? the person you've been with for years??? tf
-the plot was okay, like tolerable i guess???
-AND please? it was not that dark like booktok says it is, fuck you booktok,
-FRIENDLY REMINDER: Booktok is not reliable
-goodbye]]> 3.75 2023 Little Stranger (The Web of Silence Duet, #1)
author: Leigh Rivers
name: TJ
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/28
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves:
review:
Okay, let's just pretend that this is one-shot and not a duet because I will not be reading the second book, I want myself free from this duology.

-first of all, WTF?!
-second, fuck the parents especially the mom, like out of the unhinge psycho fucker Malachi is, it's the mom who made me gasp and stare at the ceiling because how the hell could you do that???? seriously something is wrong with this woman
-your honor... I like Malachi and somehow, he crept into my heart but obviously I do not want him irl and Olivia is so freaking frustrating!!! I know it's her conscience as well, but this girl keeps going back and forth and got angry without getting an explanation from Malachi?? the person you've been with for years??? tf
-the plot was okay, like tolerable i guess???
-AND please? it was not that dark like booktok says it is, fuck you booktok,
-FRIENDLY REMINDER: Booktok is not reliable
-goodbye
]]> <![CDATA[Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts, #1)]]> 49826643
Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.

The Orders� intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future� or the downfall of them both.

But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders� deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.

Even if it means wielding death itself.

Fans of epic romantic fantasy like Sarah J. Maas and Raven Kennedy will devour this tale of dark magic, passionate romance, vengeance, and redemption.]]> 520 Carissa Broadbent TJ 0 to-read 4.03 2020 Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts, #1)
author: Carissa Broadbent
name: TJ
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1)]]> 122779502
The day I meet him, the ruthless mercenary leaves me for dead.

Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae.

The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt.
And they are burned.

When my forbidden power is discovered, I’m forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore.

To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary who abandoned me at my weakest.

Our deal is simple: I’ll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city. And he’ll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I’ve always kept hidden. The power that may just be the key to my survival.

But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own. Secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love. Secrets that could tear this kingdom—and perhaps even this world—apart.

Please note: A Court This Cruel and Lovely is an NA/adult romantasy book with steam. While this series is slow burn, the chili pepper rating will increase for each book.]]> 562 Stacia Stark TJ 0 to-read 4.09 2023 A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1)
author: Stacia Stark
name: TJ
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows (Stars and Shadows, #1)]]> 62348062
Where does your allegiance lie?

I am told my union to the crowned prince will determine the fate of the kingdom, but it isn’t my betrothed who haunts my dreams. It’s the half-breed prince who stands at his side.

He is darkness and sin, and when he whispers promises of wickedness in my ear, I crave a man who I can’t have.

Every thought I have is treasonous. The way my hands ache to touch him deceitful.

Even my dreams make me a traitor to the kingdom I am sworn to protect.

But when the kingdom is attacked, I am forced to make choices I’m not prepared for. Our lies and deception are entangled in the shadows and stars, and as they unravel so shall my fate. Betray a kingdom or betray my heart.


A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows is book one in the Stars and Shadows Series and will end in a cliffhanger.]]> 259 Holly Renee TJ 0 to-read 3.89 2022 A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows (Stars and Shadows, #1)
author: Holly Renee
name: TJ
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Gild (The Plated Prisoner, #1)]]> 56483061 The fae abandoned this world to us. And the ones with power rule.

Gold.

Gold floors, gold walls, gold furniture, gold clothes. In Highbell, in the castle built into the frozen mountains, everything is made of gold.

Even me.

King Midas rescued me. Dug me out of the slums and placed me on a pedestal. I’m called his precious. His favored. I’m the woman he Gold-Touched to show everyone that I belong to him. To show how powerful he is. He gave me protection, and I gave him my heart. And even though I don’t leave the confines of the palace, I’m safe.

Until war comes to the kingdom and a deal is struck.

Suddenly, my trust is broken. My love is challenged. And I realize that everything I thought I knew about Midas might be wrong.

Because these bars I’m kept in, no matter how gilded, are still just a cage. But the monsters on the other side might make me wish I’d never left.

The myth of King Midas reimagined. This compelling adult fantasy series is as addictive as it is unexpected. With romance, intrigue, and danger, the gilded world of Orea will grip you from the very first page.

Please Note: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, and rape. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. This is book one in a series.

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.]]> 402 Raven Kennedy TJ 0 to-read 3.60 2020 Gild (The Plated Prisoner, #1)
author: Raven Kennedy
name: TJ
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Seduction (Wicked Vows) 213785689
But Vera, clever and defiant, doesn’t want a bodyguard. Instead, she proposes a dangerous game: I’ll be her fake husband in public.

Vera is unlike anyone I’ve encountered—intelligent, gorgeous, untamed and untouched. Everything I want and nothing I can have.

The utter destruction and demise of my ultimate plan.

Consumed by desire, I choose a new tactic: seduction.

I vow to show her a world of both pleasure and pain, a world she’s only imagined in her darkest fantasies and the pages of her books. Yet, Vera proves to be more than a match for me, ensnaring me in her own game of temptation and turning me into a man obsessed.

Now, caught in a war between duty and passion� I’m torn between the loyalty to my family and my seductive love for the enemy.

Seduction is a fully stand-alone novel in the Romanov Bratva universe. Guaranteed no other woman, no cheating, and always a hard-won happily ever after.]]> 340 Jane Henry 1961866137 TJ 0 to-read 3.04 Seduction (Wicked Vows)
author: Jane Henry
name: TJ
average rating: 3.04
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Silent Patient 40097951
Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.]]> 336 Alex Michaelides 1250301696 TJ 0 to-read 4.17 2019 The Silent Patient
author: Alex Michaelides
name: TJ
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Boyfriend 208503280 She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...

A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…]]> 368 Freida McFadden 1728296226 TJ 0 to-read 3.95 2024 The Boyfriend
author: Freida McFadden
name: TJ
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1)]]> 60556912
Every day I clean the Winchesters� beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out� and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of�

An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down!]]> 329 Freida McFadden 1803144378 TJ 0 to-read 4.31 2022 The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1)
author: Freida McFadden
name: TJ
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3) 209439446
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.]]> 527 Rebecca Yarros 1649374186 TJ 0 to-read 4.17 2025 Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)
author: Rebecca Yarros
name: TJ
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> You Deserve Each Other 55745674 When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They're preparing for their lavish wedding that's three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there's a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they're finally being themselves--and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.]]> 354 Sarah Hogle 0349424349 TJ 0 to-read 3.99 2020 You Deserve Each Other
author: Sarah Hogle
name: TJ
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Skin of a Sinner 199037117
Roman Riviera was my everything once upon a time. I found my knight in shining armor in the form of a fellow foster kid. He protected me and promised to stand by my side forever.

But Roman Riviera is a liar.

He left me with monsters.Ěý

Three years later, I found him in the middle of the night, soaked in my family’s blood and carving his initials into my foster brother’s skin. He tied me up and dragged me away from the life I had made without him.

I tried to run, but he chased me. I wanted to scream, but the sound never came out.

He says that I’m never getting away from him. He says he’s back for good. I don’t believe him.]]> 391 Avina St. Graves TJ 0 to-read 3.61 2023 Skin of a Sinner
author: Avina St. Graves
name: TJ
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Striker (Gods of the Game, #1)]]> 204795443 She's the only woman he wants...and the only one he can't have.

Asher Donovan is a living legend―the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.

But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they're forced to "bond" during off-season cross-training.

Surviving the summer shouldn't be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She's beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't take his mind off her.

The only problem? She's his rival's sister―and completely off limits.

***

Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.

Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people.

She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.

Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That's out of the question―especially when he's the only person with the power to break her heart.]]> 592 Ana Huang 1464223327 TJ 0 to-read 3.67 2024 The Striker (Gods of the Game, #1)
author: Ana Huang
name: TJ
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> I Hope This Doesn’t Find You 127165042 I Hope This Doesn't Find You is Never Have I Ever meets To All the Boys if Lara Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.

Sadie Wen is perfect on school captain, valedictorian, and a "pleasure to have in class." It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She'd never send them of course -- she'd rather die than hurt anyone's feelings -- but it's a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie's work.

All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. "You're attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you've been using to make your hair appear deceptively soft..."

Sadie doesn't have to hold back in her emails, because nobody will ever read them... that is, until they're accidentally sent out.

Overnight, Sadie’s carefully crafted, conflict-free life is turned upside down. It's her worst nightmare -- now everyone at school knows what she really thinks of them, and they're not afraid to tell her what they really think of her either. But amidst the chaos, there's one person growing to appreciate the "real" Sadie -- Julius, the only boy she's sworn to hate...]]> 285 Ann Liang 1338827162 TJ 4
“For ten years I thought I was preparing to destroy you, when really I was preparing to love you.�

This book felt like a warm cup of coffee on a rainy day. The characters are so relatable and real and I can feel the bit of Sadie Wen in me who tries to please everyone. She is such a cinnamon roll you would love to protect. And Julius- JULIUS Gong is such a book boyfriend.

My heart is so full knowing that Sadie and Julius is perfect for each other.

This academic rivals to lovers trope was done exactly right, there might be a bit of miss in the pacing department and extra characters that isn't much to my liking but overall, it was such a good book. I could not put it down and almost read it in one sitting.

This book is so amazing I could definitely reread this in the future and still falls in love with the cutesy kind of romance. It was predictable but I enjoyed every minute of it. I love the characters, I love the tension and the plot and the experience I had while reading this makes me want to have an academic rival that unknowingly is in love with me.

What I love about this is how the characters felt so amazingly written and I am just obsessed with their love story I really need this to be a series to love it. The plot is okay, though a bit predictable but I still kind of liked it. I smiled and giggled from time to time while reading this and felt it to my core as how much I actually enjoy reading this.

I need this to be a series!!! Like their college life and married life, so in my head, they'll fall in a happy ending where they are married with kids.]]> 4.12 2024 I Hope This Doesn’t Find You
author: Ann Liang
name: TJ
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/24
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves:
review:
“For ten years I thought I was preparing to destroy you, when really I was preparing to love you.�

This book felt like a warm cup of coffee on a rainy day. The characters are so relatable and real and I can feel the bit of Sadie Wen in me who tries to please everyone. She is such a cinnamon roll you would love to protect. And Julius- JULIUS Gong is such a book boyfriend.

My heart is so full knowing that Sadie and Julius is perfect for each other.

This academic rivals to lovers trope was done exactly right, there might be a bit of miss in the pacing department and extra characters that isn't much to my liking but overall, it was such a good book. I could not put it down and almost read it in one sitting.

This book is so amazing I could definitely reread this in the future and still falls in love with the cutesy kind of romance. It was predictable but I enjoyed every minute of it. I love the characters, I love the tension and the plot and the experience I had while reading this makes me want to have an academic rival that unknowingly is in love with me.

What I love about this is how the characters felt so amazingly written and I am just obsessed with their love story I really need this to be a series to love it. The plot is okay, though a bit predictable but I still kind of liked it. I smiled and giggled from time to time while reading this and felt it to my core as how much I actually enjoy reading this.

I need this to be a series!!! Like their college life and married life, so in my head, they'll fall in a happy ending where they are married with kids.
]]> <![CDATA[Paint It All Red (Mindf*ck, #5)]]> 33361549
Will Logan choose them? Or will we watch them burn together?

It's time to fuck with their minds.
It's time to finish it all.
It's time to paint it all red...

Monsters don't usually wish for happily-ever-afters.]]> 177 S.T. Abby TJ 3
“He doesn’t love me like I love him,� I say hoarsely. “I love him enough to burn the world to the ground in his name.�

It was such a roller coaster ride to read the story of Lana Myers. She is such an icon, one of the best badass FMC in dark romances that no one could compare. Remember, revenge is a dish best served flaming hot in the form of Lana Myers, she could never do no wrong in my eyes. Everyone deserves their ending and this ending is such a fever dream.

I liked Lana, however I'm still confused myself if I like Logan and the rest of the characters but I kind of like Leonard. The revenge that happened in that small town deserved what they got tbh. The plot is so easy to sink into and I finished this series with such ease. I like this series and I definitely love Lana, my strong brave woman.

Though, I wish some of the scenes were different like Jake and Hadley, did not like that at all, and the plot [spoilers removed]

All in all, what a great ride. Definitely a series you can recommend!! The FBI profiler falling in love with the serial killer he's looking out for. Damn. What a plot. ]]> 4.56 2016 Paint It All Red (Mindf*ck, #5)
author: S.T. Abby
name: TJ
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/25
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves:
review:
“He doesn’t love me like I love him,� I say hoarsely. “I love him enough to burn the world to the ground in his name.�

It was such a roller coaster ride to read the story of Lana Myers. She is such an icon, one of the best badass FMC in dark romances that no one could compare. Remember, revenge is a dish best served flaming hot in the form of Lana Myers, she could never do no wrong in my eyes. Everyone deserves their ending and this ending is such a fever dream.

I liked Lana, however I'm still confused myself if I like Logan and the rest of the characters but I kind of like Leonard. The revenge that happened in that small town deserved what they got tbh. The plot is so easy to sink into and I finished this series with such ease. I like this series and I definitely love Lana, my strong brave woman.

Though, I wish some of the scenes were different like Jake and Hadley, did not like that at all, and the plot [spoilers removed]

All in all, what a great ride. Definitely a series you can recommend!! The FBI profiler falling in love with the serial killer he's looking out for. Damn. What a plot.
]]> All the Lies (Mindf*ck, #4) 33361546
But that's never happened to me...

I've never felt conflicted on any case. Right is right and wrong is wrong. It's simple. Black and white. There's no such thing as a gray area.

But fuck this case. I don't even know what side I'm on anymore. I don't understand how this town can continue to function without breaking under the weight of all the lies they've spun and lived.

Every time I find a shard of truth, my gut twists, my heart beats faster, and I hate this place a little more. Every time I think I've heard the worst, another truth is dug up from the ashes of more burning lies.

Worst of all, I don't even know who to trust anymore. My head is all messed up.

I pride myself on being impossible to fool.
I'm an expert at knowing when someone is lying to me.
I never believed in being blinded by love...until Lana.

**BE WARNED: Some flashbacks can get intense to readers with a sensitive trigger. Skip the blocks in italics if that's the case.]]> 141 S.T. Abby TJ 3 4.52 2016 All the Lies (Mindf*ck, #4)
author: S.T. Abby
name: TJ
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/25
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves:
review:
Lana Myers can do no wrong. I support her through and through.
]]> <![CDATA[Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)]]> 196864520

The viral TikTok friends-to-lovers dark romantic comedy full of murder, chaos, and spice—unlike anything you’ve read before—now available in all bookstores.


When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of like-minded, pitch-black souls. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country.


But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?

]]> 360 Brynne Weaver TJ 3
-this was a fun read and I enjoyed it so much! i laugh and sometimes disgusted with the shit they did tbh
-it's so fast paced and really entertaining
-the characters are witty and funny!
-the plot is meh however i love their annual tradition
-the consistency of being serial killers??? wow
-however i did not like the romance that much, it was kind of okay
-but definitely enjoyable!! (not for everyone tho bec it really is disturbing)]]> 3.99 2023 Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)
author: Brynne Weaver
name: TJ
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/23
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves:
review:
a love story between two serial killers? count me in!

-this was a fun read and I enjoyed it so much! i laugh and sometimes disgusted with the shit they did tbh
-it's so fast paced and really entertaining
-the characters are witty and funny!
-the plot is meh however i love their annual tradition
-the consistency of being serial killers??? wow
-however i did not like the romance that much, it was kind of okay
-but definitely enjoyable!! (not for everyone tho bec it really is disturbing)
]]> <![CDATA[These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights, #1)]]> 50892212
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.]]> 449 Chloe Gong 1534457690 TJ 1 did-not-finish DNF @ 7%

Three chapters in and all I wanna do is close this damn book. I have a violent delight to throw it away really. ]]> 3.82 2020 These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights, #1)
author: Chloe Gong
name: TJ
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2020
rating: 1
read at: 2024/10/23
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves: did-not-finish
review:
DNF @ 7%

Three chapters in and all I wanna do is close this damn book. I have a violent delight to throw it away really.
]]> Icebreaker (UCMH, #1) 61767292
Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.

Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him.

But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot.

Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried . . . because she could never like a hockey player, right?]]> 447 Hannah Grace TJ 2
-cute romance initially but dragging
-i only like the side characters, please be mine Henry!!! and JJ too, oh well.
-wth happened with the ending???? it's absurd
-i cringe from time to time and endured so well
-it's so mushy and smutty and annoying (i love reading smut however this kept being repetitive and annoying at some point like, what's the point of adding some smutty scenes in the story)
-it was so unneccesary -.-
-I did not hate it that much *coughs* but I'll never recommend or reread this at all
]]> 3.75 2022 Icebreaker (UCMH, #1)
author: Hannah Grace
name: TJ
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/22
date added: 2024/10/22
shelves:
review:
it should not be this long tbh. and fuck you Aaron.

-cute romance initially but dragging
-i only like the side characters, please be mine Henry!!! and JJ too, oh well.
-wth happened with the ending???? it's absurd
-i cringe from time to time and endured so well
-it's so mushy and smutty and annoying (i love reading smut however this kept being repetitive and annoying at some point like, what's the point of adding some smutty scenes in the story)
-it was so unneccesary -.-
-I did not hate it that much *coughs* but I'll never recommend or reread this at all

]]> <![CDATA[The Sweetest Oblivion (Made, #1)]]> 39083635
In the murky waters of New York’s underworld, Elena’s sister is arranged to marry Nicolas Russo. A Made Man, a boss, a cheat—even measured against mafia standards. His reputation stretches far and wide and is darker than his black suits and ties. After his and Elena’s first encounter ends with an accidental glare on her part, she realizes he’s just as rude as he is handsome. She doesn’t like the man or anything he stands for, though that doesn’t stop her heart from pattering like rain against glass when he’s near, nor the shiver that ghosts down her spine at the sound of his voice. And he’s always near. Telling her what to do. Making her feel hotter than any future brother-in-law should. Elena may be the Sweet Abelli on the outside, but she’s beginning to learn she has a taste for the darkness, for rough hands, cigarettes, and whiskey-colored eyes. Having already escaped one scandal, however, she can hardly afford to be swept up in another. Besides, even if he were hers, everyone knows you don’t fall in love with a Made Man... Right?]]> 384 Danielle Lori 1721284443 TJ 3
“True love stories never have endings.�

Oh, to be loved by Nico Russo and to be pushed to the pool, I would definitely let him. This was such a fun and entertaining book, I giggled and sigh because I will never experience this kind of love. This is the kind of book that you read whenever you want to be happy and dreamy and fall in love with hot fictional characters.

I like this one however I think I like the second book more (sue me I read Christian and Gianna's story first because I am thirsty for their love story) though it's been a while since I ate a book up in one sitting. I like the characters but not to the point of loving them too much, I think Nico and Elena are really meant for each other BUT I HATED THE MISCOMMUNICATION. It was frustrating really but a plot is a plot I guess.

To summarize, it was an okay kind of book.]]> 3.98 2018 The Sweetest Oblivion (Made, #1)
author: Danielle Lori
name: TJ
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/21
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves:
review:
“True love stories never have endings.�

Oh, to be loved by Nico Russo and to be pushed to the pool, I would definitely let him. This was such a fun and entertaining book, I giggled and sigh because I will never experience this kind of love. This is the kind of book that you read whenever you want to be happy and dreamy and fall in love with hot fictional characters.

I like this one however I think I like the second book more (sue me I read Christian and Gianna's story first because I am thirsty for their love story) though it's been a while since I ate a book up in one sitting. I like the characters but not to the point of loving them too much, I think Nico and Elena are really meant for each other BUT I HATED THE MISCOMMUNICATION. It was frustrating really but a plot is a plot I guess.

To summarize, it was an okay kind of book.
]]> <![CDATA[The Purest Addiction (Made, #4)]]> 56015874
Release date to be announced]]> Danielle Lori TJ 0 to-read 4.25 The Purest Addiction (Made, #4)
author: Danielle Lori
name: TJ
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fledgling (The Keeper's Records of Revolution #1)]]> 205064710 The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.

Would you trade love for peace?

Raisa of Upper Earth has only lived a life of privilege and acquiescence. Ever dutiful, she accepts her father’s arrangement of her marriage to Lein, Crown Prince of the corrupt, volatile lands of Lower Earth. Though Lein is a stranger, Raisa knows the wedding will unite their vastly different worlds in a pact of peace: an infusion of Upper Earth technology into Lower Earth will usher in the final age of enlightenment, ending war between humans forever.

Or is justice more urgent?

Newly released from imprisonment, Nada of Lower Earth has found her own calling: disrupting the royal wedding. Convinced her cousin Lein’s alliance with Upper Earth will launch an invasive, terrifying form of tyranny, Nada sets out undercover to light the spark of revolution.

When Raisa goes missing a week before the wedding, all eyes turn to the rebels, including Nayf, Nada’s twin brother—a fugitive on the run. And when Nayf and Raisa meet, the long-simmering animosity they feel toward each other's worlds slowly burns away into something unexpected.

But the Crown Prince wants his bride—and future—back. And he will go to the ends of the Earths to reclaim them.]]> 544 S.K. Ali 0593531248 TJ 0 to-read 4.00 2024 Fledgling (The Keeper's Records of Revolution #1)
author: S.K. Ali
name: TJ
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Darkest Temptation (Made, #3)]]> 56250307 410 Danielle Lori TJ 0 to-read 4.04 2020 The Darkest Temptation (Made, #3)
author: Danielle Lori
name: TJ
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)]]> 40944965 His first, last, and only true love has always been rugby.
Until now.

He wants to save her.
She wants to hide.

She's damaged.
He's determined.

Fate brought them together.
Love binds them.

Johnny Kavanagh has everything going for him. On the rugby pitch, he's a force to be reckoned with. Primed for stardom, he's heading straight for the top. Nothing can possibly get in his way, right?
Not even the shy new girl at Tommen College. The one with the sad eyes and hidden bruises. The one that distracts him like no one ever has.
Plagued with a hidden injury and desperate to impress the scouts watching his every move, Johnny has been placed on a pedestal so high, he has no room to make mistakes.
Striving to maintain balance, and on the crest of the International Summer Campaign, Johnny needs to keep his head in the game. He needs to stay focused, and cannot afford to let distractions get in the way of the bigger picture.
But what happens when a lonely girl with sad eyes becomes the only picture?

Life has never been easy for Shannon Lynch. Bullied and tortured, she arrives at Tommen College mid-way through the school year praying for a fresh start and desperate to shake off the demons that plague her.
On her very first day at the prestigious private school, she comes into contact with the notorious Johnny Kavanagh.
Thrown through a hoop over her feelings for him, and desperate to keep a low-profile, Shannon finds herself once again the target of bullies as she forms a fragile alliance with rugby's rising star.

Falling into a complicated friendship and grappling with their undeniable chemistry, Johnny and Shannon must face obstacles that threaten their relationship.

Two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks collide.

Friendship, first love, rising fame, horrifying secrets, and pain all fuel together in Binding 13.

Hearts are binding and lives are entwining in Binding 13.

Binding 13 is the explosive first installment of a brand-new series from Chloe Walsh. Based in Ireland, the Boys Of Tommen series is bound to captivate and lure you into the world of rugby, love, and teenage heartbreak.]]> 626 Chloe Walsh TJ 0 to-read 4.43 2018 Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)
author: Chloe Walsh
name: TJ
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[We Ride the Storm (The Reborn Empire, #1)]]> 52588656
War built the Kisian Empire. War will tear it down.

Seventeen years after rebels stormed the streets, factions divide Kisia. Only the firm hand of the god-emperor holds the empire together. But when a shocking betrayal destroys a tense alliance with neighboring Chiltae, all that has been won comes crashing down.

In Kisia, Princess Miko Ts'ai is a prisoner in her own castle. She dreams of claiming her empire, but the path to power could rip it, and her family, asunder.

In Chiltae, assassin Cassandra Marius is plagued by the voices of the dead. Desperate, she accepts a contract that promises to reward her with a cure if she helps an empire fall.

And on the border between nations, Captain Rah e'Torin and his warriors are exiles forced to fight in a foreign war or die.

As an empire dies, three warriors will rise. They will have to ride the storm or drown in its blood.


The Reborn EmpireWe Ride the Storm
For more from Devin Madson, check out:
The Vengeance TrilogyThe Blood of WhisperersThe Gods of ViceThe Grave at Storm's End]]> 528 Devin Madson 0316536261 TJ 0 to-read 3.72 2018 We Ride the Storm (The Reborn Empire, #1)
author: Devin Madson
name: TJ
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[God of Fury (Legacy of Gods, #5)]]> 201871211 From USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a new STANDALONE MM college romance.

I’m not attracted to men.
Or so I thought before I slammed into Nikolai Sokolov.
A mafia heir, a notorious bastard, and a violent monster.
An ill-fated meeting puts me in his path.
And just like that, he has his sights set on me.
A quiet artist, a golden boy, and his enemy’s twin brother.
He doesn’t seem to care that the odds are stacked against us.
In fact, he sets out to break my steel-like control and blur my limits.
I thought my biggest worry was being noticed by Nikolai.
I’m learning the hard way that being wanted by this beautiful nightmare is much worse.

This book can be read on its own, but for a better understanding of the world, you might want to start with God of Malice.]]> 510 Rina Kent 1685452183 TJ 5 Listening to the audiobook and I'm changing this from four to five stars because this is a god-tier kind of book.

***

“Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.�

This is my first Rina Kent book because apparently tiktok decided to show me some clips out of nowhere to make me curious about Niko and Bran and I said, "oh well, here goes nothing" and I obviously fell in deeply with it.

I mean, thank the fuck tiktok because this book is truly a gem.

The book gods offered a food platter with all my favorites on it while I was so hungry, this is what I felt like when I read this book. An obsessive stalker psycho who fell in love with a kind but broken neat freak. I ate this book up in one sitting and I can't believe how much I love the plot, the characters and everything in it that it made me want to read the entire series.

I mean nothing's perfect since I cringe on some parts (and I really sometimes hate fast paced romace) hence why it's four stars but overall definitely an amazing book and I would love to reread someday!!!]]> 4.44 2023 God of Fury (Legacy of Gods, #5)
author: Rina Kent
name: TJ
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/12
date added: 2024/10/11
shelves:
review:

Listening to the audiobook and I'm changing this from four to five stars because this is a god-tier kind of book.

***

“Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.�

This is my first Rina Kent book because apparently tiktok decided to show me some clips out of nowhere to make me curious about Niko and Bran and I said, "oh well, here goes nothing" and I obviously fell in deeply with it.

I mean, thank the fuck tiktok because this book is truly a gem.

The book gods offered a food platter with all my favorites on it while I was so hungry, this is what I felt like when I read this book. An obsessive stalker psycho who fell in love with a kind but broken neat freak. I ate this book up in one sitting and I can't believe how much I love the plot, the characters and everything in it that it made me want to read the entire series.

I mean nothing's perfect since I cringe on some parts (and I really sometimes hate fast paced romace) hence why it's four stars but overall definitely an amazing book and I would love to reread someday!!!
]]> <![CDATA[King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)]]> 217206738
Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.

Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.

The billionaire CEO never planned to marry—until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.

Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He'll do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal.

There’s only one problem: Now that he has her...he can't bring himself to let her go.

***

Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.

Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family’s ticket into the highest echelons of high society.

Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money family.

While the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.

Craving his touch was never part of the plan.

Neither was the worst thing she could possibly do: fall in love with her future husband.

King of Wrath is a steamy arranged-marriage billionaire romance. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature listeners only.]]> 398 Ana Huang TJ 3
“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.]]> 4.05 2022 King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)
author: Ana Huang
name: TJ
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2023/04/13
date added: 2024/08/08
shelves:
review:
“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.



Merged review:

“You can’t see the stars in New York,� Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.�

Oh to be love by a Dante Russo.

I always admire Ana Huang on how she molded these fictional men that you can't help but envy this kind of love in books. This is the kind of romance that warms your heart and eases you back to reading smutty cute-sy trashy romance, and I absolutely like it.

I am so glad of this book because it has a lot Christian Harper snippets because I am utterly obsessed with him since he is my favorite Twisted series character. Anyway enough of him, this book is pure entertainment. You do not read it because of some nerve wracking lesson about life, you read it because you wanted a romantic escapism in your reality and wanted a smutty romance to make you giddy and laugh. This is that kind of book and it definitely met my expectations.

I like the characters and even with a predictable plot, the story really went well and I can't get enough how these two really belong with each other.
]]> <![CDATA[World After (Penryn & the End of Days, #2)]]> 17849112 Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans, where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

]]> 320 Susan Ee 1477867287 TJ 3 4.09 2013 World After (Penryn & the End of Days, #2)
author: Susan Ee
name: TJ
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Chasing in the Wild (University Series #3)]]> 53338744
Sevi, the team captain of Growling Tigers, never expected to fall in love again after his first heartbreak with his best friend... until he me Elyse, the spoiled cheerleader from La Salle.]]> 4reuminct TJ 3 4.43 Chasing in the Wild (University Series #3)
author: 4reuminct
name: TJ
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/02
date added: 2024/08/02
shelves:
review:
What I like with this book is that the characters are funny and their chemistry is truly amazing. However it felt flat in between though it is still a good read.
]]> <![CDATA[The Footman is an Earl (Lords in Disguise, #1)]]> 52801638
Let the games begin . . .

Every fortune-hunting female in London is after the newly titled Earl of Kendall, but he’s intent on finding a wife whose heart is true. So, while drunkenly jesting with his friends in a pub one night, he has an idea—what if the ladies of the ton didn’t know he was a wealthy earl? All he has to do is pose as a servant at his friend’s summer country house party and make sure the guest list is full of beautiful, eligible debutantes. What could possibly go wrong?

May the best footman win.

Miss Frances Wharton is far more interested in fighting for the rights of the poor than in marriage, but her mother insists she attend a summer house party—and find herself a husband. Frances would rather wed a goat than the pompous man her mother has in mind, so in order to dissuade the would-be suitor, she vows to behave like a shrew. The only person she can be herself with is the kind, handsome footman she runs into at every turn. Their connection is undeniable, and the divide between them is no match for the passion they feel. But what will happen when Frances learns that the footman she adores is actually the earl she despises? In a game where everything is false, can they convince each other that their love is true?

This book was previously titled The Footman and I.]]> 274 Valerie Bowman 0989375838 TJ 1 did-not-finish DNF @ 15%

WHAT IN THE FAKE BRIDGERTON BOOK IS THIS. (can't help comparing my bad)]]> 3.91 2020 The Footman is an Earl (Lords in Disguise, #1)
author: Valerie Bowman
name: TJ
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2020
rating: 1
read at: 2024/07/04
date added: 2024/07/04
shelves: did-not-finish
review:
DNF @ 15%

WHAT IN THE FAKE BRIDGERTON BOOK IS THIS. (can't help comparing my bad)
]]> <![CDATA[The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)]]> 207037941 ASIN moved from less recent edition

An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.]]> 752 Scott Lynch TJ 0 to-read 4.40 2006 The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)
author: Scott Lynch
name: TJ
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity, #2)]]> 32075662
August Flynn once yearned to be human. But no longer. He has a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

The war has begun.

The monsters are winning.

Kate will have to return to Verity. August will have to let her back in. And a new monster is waiting -- one that feeds on chaos and brings out its victims' inner demons.

Which will be harder to conquer: the monsters they face, or the monsters within?]]> 528 Victoria E. Schwab 0062380885 TJ 4 4.13 2017 Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity, #2)
author: Victoria E. Schwab
name: TJ
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/01
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves:
review:
Have you ever felt that empty feeling like craving for something? Like it's about all those books which didn't quite meet your standards and you have to read them because you need to read. Reading is like the addiction you cannot stop and every drugs have different tastes. This book is that kind of drug that swells up inside your mind and eat your heart and soul. It's so beautifully written you cannot stop, every single chapters. The characters, the setting, the frightening Verity, even the monsters, the song inside your head, everything will be stuck inside you. This is how good this book is. My feelings are overwhelming, eating up the rawness of my heart because it's breaking into pieces knowing a beautiful book like this can exist. I am devoted to fantasy books, I have read a lot of books but I have never loved them as much as I have love this one. This is one of my favorites and it will stay inside my heart, always.
]]> Wildflowers 29337050 On the edge of the sea, in a field of wildflowers, Xavi finally realises that if they keep on going as they are, he’s going to lose Sam, in every way possible. And he can’t bear it. Loving Sam becomes the only truth Xavi knows, saving him the only thing that makes sense.
Now he just has to convince Sam that life—and love—are worth fighting for.]]> 80 Suki Fleet 1634774779 TJ 2 4.09 2016 Wildflowers
author: Suki Fleet
name: TJ
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity, #1)]]> 23299512 , a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.]]> 464 Victoria E. Schwab 0062380877 TJ 3 4.08 2016 This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity, #1)
author: Victoria E. Schwab
name: TJ
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms, #4)]]> 8069828
Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana� Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible; tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells� inner turmoil, Raisa’s best hope is to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she's falling in love.

Through a complicated web of lies and unholy alliances, former streetlord Han Alister has become a member of the Wizard Council of the Fells. Navigating the cut-throat world of blue blood politics has never been more dangerous, and Han seems to inspire hostility among Clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Han finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for Raisa. Before long, Han finds himself in possession of a secret believed to be lost to history, a discovery powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can use it?

A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie at last comes to light in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series.]]> 598 Cinda Williams Chima 1423144333 TJ 3 4.46 2012 The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms, #4)
author: Cinda Williams Chima
name: TJ
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms, #3)]]> 9409469
Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.]]> 517 Cinda Williams Chima TJ 3 4.38 2011 The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms, #3)
author: Cinda Williams Chima
name: TJ
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms, #2)]]> 7801229
Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

Everything changes when Han and Raisa’s paths cross, in this epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.]]> 586 Cinda Williams Chima 1423118243 TJ 3 4.32 2010 The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms, #2)
author: Cinda Williams Chima
name: TJ
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Demon King (Seven Realms, #1)]]> 6342491
One day, Han and his clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep him from using it against them. Soon Han learns that the amulet has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Marianna, princess heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of freedom in the mountains—riding, hunting, and working the famous clan markets. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea—the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But her mother has other plans for her...

The Seven Realms tremble when the lives of Hans and Raisa collide, fanning the flames of the smoldering war between clans and wizards.]]> 506 Cinda Williams Chima 1423118235 TJ 3 4.16 2009 The Demon King (Seven Realms, #1)
author: Cinda Williams Chima
name: TJ
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Blood and Fire (The Bound and the Broken, #1)]]> 56750401 Born in fire. Tempered in blood.

Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the south squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.

In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving—a test of courage and skill that not all survive.

But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.

There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold.

He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will. ]]> 541 Ryan Cahill TJ 0 to-read 4.09 2021 Of Blood and Fire (The Bound and the Broken, #1)
author: Ryan Cahill
name: TJ
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> A General Theory of Oblivion 23346410
Almost as if we’re eavesdropping, the history of Angola unfolds through the stories of those she sees from her window. As the country goes through various political upheavals from colony to socialist republic to civil war to peace and capitalism, the world outside seeps into Ludo’s life through snippets on the radio, voices from next door, glimpses of someone peeing on a balcony, or a man fleeing his pursuers.

A General Theory of Oblivion is a perfectly crafted, wild patchwork of a novel, playing on a love of storytelling and fable.]]> 245 José Eduardo Agualusa 1846558476 TJ 0 to-read 3.87 2012 A General Theory of Oblivion
author: José Eduardo Agualusa
name: TJ
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)]]> 53543063 From the New York Times bestselling author of Star Resistance Reborn comes a new epic fantasy of the great matriarchal clans of a prosperous cliff-city and its fight for survival against invasion, political intrigue, and dark celestial prophecies.]]> 461 Rebecca Roanhorse 153443769X TJ 0 to-read 4.31 2020 Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)
author: Rebecca Roanhorse
name: TJ
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Love Redesigned (Lakefront Billionaires, #1)]]> 199070596 Julian
If I ever caught on fire, Dahlia Muñoz would fan the flames with a smile.
So, when she returns to Lake Wisteria, I fully intend to avoid the interior designer.
At least until my meddling mother exploits my savior complex.
The faster I help Dahlia find her creative spark, the sooner she will leave town.
But while I was busy getting rid of Dahlia, I overlooked one potential issue.
What happens if I want her to stay?

Dahlia
People say the devil has many faces, but I know only one.
Julian Lopez—my childhood rival and family frenemy.
I vow to steer clear of him while recovering from my broken engagement, but then the billionaire makes an irresistible offer.
Renovate a historic house together and triple our profits.
Our temporary truce becomes compromised as we face years� worth of denied attraction and mixed emotions.
Giving into our desire is inevitable…but falling in love?
That isn’t part of the plan.

Love Redesigned is a steamy, small town romance about two family friends-turned-childhood rivals. It is the first book in the standalone Lakefront Billionaires series and has a happy ending.]]> 530 Lauren Asher TJ 0 to-read 4.00 2023 Love Redesigned (Lakefront Billionaires, #1)
author: Lauren Asher
name: TJ
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Seven Year Slip 62926938 An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics.

Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.]]> 336 Ashley Poston TJ 3
“Isn't it strange how the world works sometimes? It's never a matter of time, but a matter of timing.�

This book is so movie-esque, a nice hallmark romance story that people would absolutely fall in love. The characters are pixie dream girl/boys, too attractive and smart that you can't help but admire how they achieve their dreams.

I like this book. I like how easy it is to breeze into and to continue reading and imagine this world inside my head. However, since it feels like a movie, it's so easy to predict the ending and that's something I did not like.

But to sum it all up, it's a good one if you're into a cheesy plot.
]]> 4.17 2023 The Seven Year Slip
author: Ashley Poston
name: TJ
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/20
date added: 2024/06/20
shelves:
review:
“Isn't it strange how the world works sometimes? It's never a matter of time, but a matter of timing.�

This book is so movie-esque, a nice hallmark romance story that people would absolutely fall in love. The characters are pixie dream girl/boys, too attractive and smart that you can't help but admire how they achieve their dreams.

I like this book. I like how easy it is to breeze into and to continue reading and imagine this world inside my head. However, since it feels like a movie, it's so easy to predict the ending and that's something I did not like.

But to sum it all up, it's a good one if you're into a cheesy plot.

]]> <![CDATA[Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)]]> 127280062 Torn apart by war. Reunited by love?

Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over.

Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again � but this time for the enemy.

When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious� and strangely familiar.

As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.]]> 420 Rebecca Ross 1250857457 TJ 1 did-not-finish DNF @ 14

I would like to cry myself in the corner because the first book was lovingly amazing but the sequel couldn't keep up. It was just boring, thus I will not continue torturing myself in trying to love this book.

Ciao. ]]> 3.99 2023 Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)
author: Rebecca Ross
name: TJ
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 1
read at: 2024/06/19
date added: 2024/06/19
shelves: did-not-finish
review:
DNF @ 14

I would like to cry myself in the corner because the first book was lovingly amazing but the sequel couldn't keep up. It was just boring, thus I will not continue torturing myself in trying to love this book.

Ciao.
]]> <![CDATA[God of War (Legacy of Gods, #6)]]> 212950653 From USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a new standalone enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience romance.

I fell for the villain.
It happened back when I was a clueless girl.
But he ruthlessly broke my heart and trapped it in a jar.
Since then, I’ve sworn to hate him to the end of my days.
Eli King might be a savage devil, but I’m out of his way. And league.
That is until I wake up in a hospital and find him holding my hand.
He tells me the words that change my life forever.
“We got married two years ago, Mrs. King.�
So I set out to investigate how I landed myself into this marriage.
Turns out, my memories are darker than my present.
I thought I was ready for the hurricane.
I thought I could handle his soulless eyes and cold shoulder.
I thought wrong.
Nothing can stop my husband.
Not the secrets surrounding us.
Not the hatred between us.
Not even me.

This book can be read on its own, but for a better understanding of the world, you might want to start with God of Malice.]]> 480 Rina Kent 1685452221 TJ 3
“This is unfair. Why are men better in fiction?�

Yes, why are men so better in fiction? Like my Eli King right here who made so many sacrifices for Ava and still keeps getting a lot of hate AND I DO NOT APPRECIATE IT. I will fight for this man, who made sure that Ava is mentally and physically safe. This is a dark romance, of course he'll do anything to have her no matter what the cause is. I will, and forever will be, Eli King's supporter and apologist. I love Ava too and her sassy attitude and how she and Eli are just a perfect match.

I love the characters but the plot just disappointed me. Initially, it was really entertaining and it really intrigues me about why and what happened within that two years, I was expecting something big but it fell down the drain. It just went on being boring and predictable.

As much as I love the characters, the plot just does not justify it. So, I'm just here listening to a sad song having an imagination on what could've been better.

---

Okay, I'm crying. I HAVE MY COPY!!! <3
---

I SO BADLY WANT THIS BOOK I NEED JUNE 13 NOW!!!!]]> 3.94 2024 God of War (Legacy of Gods, #6)
author: Rina Kent
name: TJ
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/17
date added: 2024/06/17
shelves:
review:
“This is unfair. Why are men better in fiction?�

Yes, why are men so better in fiction? Like my Eli King right here who made so many sacrifices for Ava and still keeps getting a lot of hate AND I DO NOT APPRECIATE IT. I will fight for this man, who made sure that Ava is mentally and physically safe. This is a dark romance, of course he'll do anything to have her no matter what the cause is. I will, and forever will be, Eli King's supporter and apologist. I love Ava too and her sassy attitude and how she and Eli are just a perfect match.

I love the characters but the plot just disappointed me. Initially, it was really entertaining and it really intrigues me about why and what happened within that two years, I was expecting something big but it fell down the drain. It just went on being boring and predictable.

As much as I love the characters, the plot just does not justify it. So, I'm just here listening to a sad song having an imagination on what could've been better.

---

Okay, I'm crying. I HAVE MY COPY!!! <3
---

I SO BADLY WANT THIS BOOK I NEED JUNE 13 NOW!!!!
]]> A Monster Calls 25480342 The bestselling novel about love, loss and hope from the twice Carnegie Medal-winning Patrick Ness.

Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don't quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there's a visitor at his window. It's ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of mischief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive.]]> 237 Patrick Ness 1406361801 TJ 5
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.�

If you go back in time and tell my 18 year old self that I'll be crying while reading a middle grade children's book, I would laugh at you and tell you no, it will never happen because I'm a hard-hearted biatch who don't easily cry, BUT, here we are.

It's been a while since I've given a 5-star rating and this book just feels right.

I love how this book tackles grief and loneliness in a younger person point of view. The moment everything connects in the end is so sad and lovely and heartbreaking that I could not stop myself from tearing up because it consumes you to feel the sadness of this young boy who don't have anyone except his mom.

The writing is so easy to get into, like a sad fairytale that I would immediately be hooked into. I am amazed by how Patrick Ness captures the mind of Connor and translate it into an easier way to for us to feel his emotions while traversing his anger and sadness in stories.

I've never been emotionally invested in a book like this one, I've never felt this kind of grief and I hope that someday if I do, I'll reread this book so it'll help me to validate what I feel and help me move on too. ]]> 4.28 2011 A Monster Calls
author: Patrick Ness
name: TJ
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/13
date added: 2024/06/13
shelves:
review:
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.�

If you go back in time and tell my 18 year old self that I'll be crying while reading a middle grade children's book, I would laugh at you and tell you no, it will never happen because I'm a hard-hearted biatch who don't easily cry, BUT, here we are.

It's been a while since I've given a 5-star rating and this book just feels right.

I love how this book tackles grief and loneliness in a younger person point of view. The moment everything connects in the end is so sad and lovely and heartbreaking that I could not stop myself from tearing up because it consumes you to feel the sadness of this young boy who don't have anyone except his mom.

The writing is so easy to get into, like a sad fairytale that I would immediately be hooked into. I am amazed by how Patrick Ness captures the mind of Connor and translate it into an easier way to for us to feel his emotions while traversing his anger and sadness in stories.

I've never been emotionally invested in a book like this one, I've never felt this kind of grief and I hope that someday if I do, I'll reread this book so it'll help me to validate what I feel and help me move on too.
]]> <![CDATA[Brutal Prince (Brutal Birthright, #1)]]> 195580026
Callum Griffin is the heir to the Irish Mafia. He’s ruthless, arrogant, and he wants to kill me.

We got off on the wrong foot when I set a (very small) fire in his house.

Our families believe a marriage pact is the only thing that will prevent all-out warfare.

I think I might need to murder him while he sleeps.

This would all be a lot easier if Callum wasn’t so damned good-looking.

But I’ve got a lockbox around my heart. Because even if I’m forced to marry him�

I could never love a brutal prince.

“Brutal Prince� is the explosive first act in the epic “Brutal Birthright� series. It’s a stand-alone Dark Mafia Romance, complete with HEA and no cliffhangers. It contains blazing hot bedroom scenes for mature readers only!!!]]> 376 Sophie Lark TJ 2 A grumpy mafia guy falling in love with a sunshine rebel.
Was it good? Yes.
Was it entertaining? Kind of.
But there are better written books with the same plot. ]]> 3.61 2020 Brutal Prince (Brutal Birthright, #1)
author: Sophie Lark
name: TJ
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2024/06/12
date added: 2024/06/12
shelves:
review:
A grumpy mafia guy falling in love with a sunshine rebel.
Was it good? Yes.
Was it entertaining? Kind of.
But there are better written books with the same plot.
]]> I'm Glad My Mom Died 59364173
Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,� eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?� She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly , she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!�), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.]]> 320 Jennette McCurdy TJ 4
“Mom didn’t get better. But I will.�

A few years ago, I watched a few clips from iCarly and realized that Sam Puckett is so funny she must be so fun in real life. and then I read this book and wow, I was so wrong. This book is brutal, raw and honest and gives you a glimpse of Jennette's childhood stardom. It isn't as shiny as we think it is.

Despite all the traumas she experienced I love how gradual her healing journey is because she needed that and how honest she is for being angry and jealous with everything. I truly sympathized the experienced she had and she's a strong woman to put all of this to words and share it to everyone and read her thoughts.

Initially I won't give this a rating but I think this book deserve a 4-star rating, it's engaging and empathizing to really believe that not what we see on camera is real. ]]> 4.45 2022 I'm Glad My Mom Died
author: Jennette McCurdy
name: TJ
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/12
date added: 2024/06/12
shelves:
review:
“Mom didn’t get better. But I will.�

A few years ago, I watched a few clips from iCarly and realized that Sam Puckett is so funny she must be so fun in real life. and then I read this book and wow, I was so wrong. This book is brutal, raw and honest and gives you a glimpse of Jennette's childhood stardom. It isn't as shiny as we think it is.

Despite all the traumas she experienced I love how gradual her healing journey is because she needed that and how honest she is for being angry and jealous with everything. I truly sympathized the experienced she had and she's a strong woman to put all of this to words and share it to everyone and read her thoughts.

Initially I won't give this a rating but I think this book deserve a 4-star rating, it's engaging and empathizing to really believe that not what we see on camera is real.
]]>