Jessica's Updates en-US Thu, 01 May 2025 03:40:26 -0700 60 Jessica's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg UserChallenge58488066 Thu, 01 May 2025 03:40:26 -0700 <![CDATA[ Jessica has challenged herself to read 80 books in 2025. ]]> /user/show/9624544-jessica-g 11627
She has read 56 books toward her goal of 80 books.
 
56 of 80 (70%)
Create your own 2025 Reading Challenge » ]]> Review7533311179 Thu, 01 May 2025 03:40:05 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'The Gate of the Feral Gods']]> /review/show/7533311179 The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman Jessica gave 5 stars to The Gate of the Feral Gods (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #4) by Matt Dinniman
I think we all know where I stand on this series. I will forever be obsessed, and yet again, the new floor setting blew me away. I really don’t want to post spoilers, but if you see this review and you’ve read this, I need a rant buddy so hmu!
So so so so so so so good! ]]> Review7533309144 Thu, 01 May 2025 03:38:43 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'A Novel Love Story']]> /review/show/7533309144 A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston Jessica gave 4 stars to A Novel Love Story (Paperback) by Ashley Poston
All the good feels!
Not my favourite of all of Poston’s adult books, but still absolutely adore. Such a great premise and still delivered gut blows. I say gut blows, because it’s much more than a tug at the heartstrings!
Unfortunately, now that I have binged all of these books, I now have to actually wait for the next Poston book to be released. Sad reacts only pls. ]]> Review7533307132 Thu, 01 May 2025 03:38:18 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'Fangirl Down']]> /review/show/7533307132 Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey Jessica gave 3 stars to Fangirl Down (Big Shots, #1) by Tessa Bailey
I went into this with low expectations and I’m glad I did because I came out being pleasantly surprised. After loving my first Tessa Bailey reads, the Bellinger Sisters series, I haven’t been the biggest fan. Most of her books sit around 2-3 stars for me, and the characters are quite flat.
Despite giving this 3 stars, I think this was much better than many of Bailey’s other books that I have read. While the characters still lacked depth, they were more interesting and had more interesting backgrounds. I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed the setting of professional golf and caddying. Golf is certainly not my area, but this was fun!
I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this, but if you’re in desperate need of a romance, this is fine. ]]> Review7533307132 Thu, 01 May 2025 03:37:28 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'Fangirl Down']]> /review/show/7533307132 Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey Jessica gave 3 stars to Fangirl Down (Big Shots, #1) by Tessa Bailey
I went into this with low expectations and I’m glad I did because I came out being pleasantly surprised. After loving my first Tessa Bailey reads, the Bellinger Sisters series, I haven’t been the biggest fan. Most of her books sit around 2-3 stars for me, and the characters are quite flat.
Despite giving this 3 stars, I think this was much better than many of Bailey’s other books that I have read. While the characters still lacked depth, they were more interesting and had more interesting backgrounds. I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed the setting of professional golf and caddying. Golf is certainly not my area, but this was fun!
I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this, but if you’re in desperate need of a romance, this is fine. ]]> Review7519027584 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 18:16:59 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'Hagstone']]> /review/show/7519027584 Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson Jessica gave 2 stars to Hagstone (Paperback) by Sinéad Gleeson
2.5 Stars

What an…odd book.
While the end pulled everything together beautifully, and the writing is very whimsical and atmospheric, unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.
The last 5th of the book I really enjoyed, but that didn’t really make up for the rest of the book which I was a bit ‘eh� on as I didn’t really care for many of the characters. It’s hard because in one way I despised all of the characters, but in another, they were charming in their human-ness. However, I’m someone who enjoys a fast-paced book with likeable characters and realistically, this just wasn’t that.
I don’t read a lot of adult-fiction either, and certainly not anything that isn’t comedy or romance, so this was a bit outside of my comfort zone. I’m glad I gave it a go, but it just wasn’t for me. ]]> Review7519020899 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 18:13:46 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'Business Casual']]> /review/show/7519020899 Business Casual by B.K. Borison Jessica gave 3 stars to Business Casual (Lovelight, #4) by B.K. Borison
3.5 Stars
A quick, fun read, but it’s not much more than that. I do enjoy this series, but I just can’t rate it any higher as it doesn’t really grab me, and could be elevated to the next level. Still really fun, and if you want short, cute, hallmark channel-like romances, this is where it’s at. ]]> Review7495106871 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:12:49 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook']]> /review/show/7495106871 The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman Jessica gave 5 stars to The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #3) by Matt Dinniman
Another stellar read!
The fourth floor design was absolutely epic, and it brought me right back to season two of Jujutsu Kaisen. It was so cool to have this floor be more about collaboration between the crawlers, and was really enjoying the new addition to Carl and Princess Donut’s party.
I shan’t say anything more, because again, I insist that you read this yourself and experience the pure epic-ness that this series is. ]]> Review7495103997 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:11:02 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'The Happy Ever After Playlist']]> /review/show/7495103997 The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez Jessica gave 2 stars to The Happy Ever After Playlist (The Friend Zone, #2) by Abby Jimenez
2.5 Stars

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I read most of this book last year while I was travelling round North Japan, but then because I’d forgotten so much, I started again. I think I was enjoying it more the first time round, but I reckon that was just because it was only up to a certain part of the book. I’m a slow-burn fan, and this was the exact opposite of that. And the ‘problem� just goes on too long without a solution. It made me want to bang my head into a wall. The angst was too much and I couldn’t deal. ]]> Review7495101406 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:09:34 -0700 <![CDATA[Jessica added 'Falling Hard for the Royal Guard']]> /review/show/7495101406 Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson Jessica gave 3 stars to Falling Hard for the Royal Guard (Paperback) by Megan Clawson
Despite this being a romance novel, I loved this for everything except the romance. I was absolutely fascinated hearing about what it’s like living in the Tower of London (particularly as the author has lived there!) and I loved Maggie’s character development. BUT the love interest was an absolute twat. He’s so hot and cold (mostly cold) and I wanted better for Maggie. Maggie deserved better!
I think if she told him he was a twat, gave him the middle finger and said NOPE, I would have given this more stars. ]]>