**I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This book was everything I thought it was going to be: fun, lots of sexual tension and great characters.
I loved Jake and Ella's story. I thought they complimented each other so well which made it a blast to read. Jake is completely swoon-worthy for the fact that he can cook but also for the way he treats Ella. I liked that he encouraged her to be who she always could be and I liked that she didn't become dependent upon him. She really grows into her own person and Jake is simply a catalyst that gets her to reach that point.
The plotline is perfect. It has just enough drama and romance to keep the story moving at a fast but enjoyable pace. I honestly had a hard time putting this one down once I started it.
If anyone has read Wallbanger, I liken my experience of reading this to that. It has that fun vibe to it but can be serious when it needs to be. It also has that touch of realism to it that the Cocktail series has which makes things even better.
Overall, I was really impressed and enjoyed this novel. Definitely looking forward to more of Katie McCoy's work in the future!
I will admit that I was hesitant to read this book based on the synopsis. I find that I am not a huge fan of "witch/spell" type books so that was a woI will admit that I was hesitant to read this book based on the synopsis. I find that I am not a huge fan of "witch/spell" type books so that was a worry. I was also worried it was going to be more of a romance with some action and seeing as it is targetted more for teens, the presumed teen angst nearly turned it me off. But that's what happens when you assume!
This book was definitely more about action than romance. Yes, it is there but there was so much else going on that it nearly took a back seat. It started off slow but it really picked up when you learn more about the world Wendy Knight has created. It's simple yet complicated at the same time so it is easy to follow along.
At first, I wasn't a fan of Ari. She was a little too angst-y for me but when you learn more about her past it makes sense why she feels the way she does. (Nothing worse than a whiney, spoiled heroine but that is not the case here). As for the rest of the characters, I really liked them and can't wait to see more of them!
Definitely check this book out if you enjoy star-crossed romance with a lot of action; smart characters and strong female leads!
This was everything I wanted it to be! I honestly couldn't put this down.
I loved its fast and always moving pace; it constantly kept me on the edge ofThis was everything I wanted it to be! I honestly couldn't put this down.
I loved its fast and always moving pace; it constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. And I liked that it wasn't afraid to go places; to take those necessary plot risks to keep the plot developing.
I really liked Em and Cas as characters. Em shows great character growth throughout and Cas is just a sweetheart. And their romance was exactly what I wanted to read and see.
While this story does borrow characteristics and tropes common to the genre, (I think many readers will draw parallels to other novels) I still had a lot of fun with this story. It still felt fresh to me and it definitely has its own unique quirks to make it stand out on its own.
I'm so torn over my rating for this book! I think my love of the concept (and format) for this series often clouds my rating because it tru
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I'm so torn over my rating for this book! I think my love of the concept (and format) for this series often clouds my rating because it truly isn't like any other book I've read before.
However, I had the hardest time becoming invested in this story. At the 30%, I found that the plot finally started to build. But it wasn't until I reached the 50% mark that I started enjoying this novel. Parts were a touch predictable but I still enjoyed watching how everything unfolded as the end neared.
I thought Asha and Rhys would be a bigger focus of this novel--and they weren't. This book is all about bringing everything together so it was nice to see our past leads take part in the events of this book. But at the same time, I think this stifled Asha and Rhys a bit as characters and left them a little underdeveloped.
So while I think this book is a great finale, I wasn't as "wowed" with it as I was with the first novel.
No pun intended, but this one missed the mark a bit for me.
This story has all the tools to be truly great: political strife, intriguing cha
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No pun intended, but this one missed the mark a bit for me.
This story has all the tools to be truly great: political strife, intriguing characters, a complex galaxy and action. But it fails to develop these to its advantage despite the slow plot.
The world building is non-existent; the pacing is off; and the action is too and far between.
Perhaps the sequel can build upon this foundation because the potential is there.
Loved loved loved this! It captured my full attention with the plot, the twists, the romance, the politics. I could never predict what would happen anLoved loved loved this! It captured my full attention with the plot, the twists, the romance, the politics. I could never predict what would happen and I just loved Nemesis so much as a heroine to follow. Can't wait to see what happens next!...more
I picked up this book hoping for a passionate, forbidden romance that burned up the pages from chapter 1 set in a world of conflict and danger. And while I got the danger and political conflict, it took me a while to get the romance.
In fact, the romance doesn't begin until the 50% mark, much, much later than I anticipated and wanted. However, I still pressed forward because I was intrigued by the setting and the growth of the characters.
The first half of the book focuses on setting Ella and Raj up as individual characters. It does a great job of setting up the conflict and hurdles they have to face in the second half of the novel. It's a very long exposition--in fact almost too long--but I really enjoyed the world it is set in so I didn't mind too much.
The romance itself is a little too "love at first sight" for me though I understand its purpose in that delivery (the idea of fate). I just wanted it to be established more, not some quick ignition that burns immediately.
I'm really curious to see how everything plays out so I will be picking up the second book when it comes out.
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.***I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
Ella Miles is my go-to author for dark contemporary romances. She just writes thrilling, steamy and more often than not twisted romance; and she never fails to surprise me with her great plots. So when I saw this New Adult series was her next project, I was super excited!
I already adored the relationship between Kie and Enzo thanks to the novella (it's included at the start) but I loved every interaction these two had. There's so much tension and unspoken feelings between them that I lived for their scenes together! Don't get me wrong, Kie is also great but I want to give a special shout out to Enzo. I'm not one who enjoys overly alpha heroes--even in dark romances--but Enzo is quickly becoming a favourite of mine! Yes, he has alpha tendencies but he also has this great vulnerability that we get from time to time that had me totally gone for his character.
I don't want to give much away but if you've ever read Ella Miles before you know that she leaves little tidbits throughout her novels as you reach the climax. If I wasn't already hooked on the romance, I was totally invested in learning more about what happened between the events of Lured by Lies and Taken by Lies. I'm so excited for the sequels! I just want to binge this series right now!
I totally understand all the praise this novel gets. Not only is it culturally/socially on point, but it makes you feel every emotion.
My only hesitation in giving it 5/5 is that I feel like the plot pacing was a little off. Maybe it's my fault because I read it in two sessions about a month apart but there was just something about the plot flow that I didn't love.
The audiobook is FABULOUS though! I highly recommend it.
This book had everything you want in a book. It's so well done that you will finish it and be amazed at what you just read. It's so intrica
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This book had everything you want in a book. It's so well done that you will finish it and be amazed at what you just read. It's so intricate of a story that you will constantly be changing your theories about what you expect will happen next.
The world-building is sensational! Despite the many layers, the whole premise is easy to follow from start to finish. It isn't peppered with unnecessary flowery language and I love that.
The character development is fantastic. Scarlet's transformation is one of the best I've read in a novel. I love stories where the heroine grows before your eyes into a confident young women.
The romance never overshadows the story but adds to it. It's a great compliment to Scarlet's story.
But if you think this is going to be a story solely focused on Scarlet's relationship with her sister, it really isn't. Their relationship is the catalyst for the story but it isn't the sole focus. To me, this story is all about Scarlet finding herself as she tries to save her sister.
This book is going to be a hit. No doubt about it! One of the best novels I've read in a long time!
Well this book wasn't what I was expecting so I felt like it surprised me in some ways.
I don't like stagnant plot lines and this one never felt like Well this book wasn't what I was expecting so I felt like it surprised me in some ways.
I don't like stagnant plot lines and this one never felt like it got stuck or dwelled too long on one thing or another. I think it helps that we get both Aly and Rhee's POVs too since you get that back and forth plot development. New secrets and alliances are constantly being revealed so something is always grabbing your attention. It helps to build the story and subsequently the finale.
I feel like the ending was a little lackluster (as it was terribly predictable) but we do have quite a few unanswered questions so it has me curious to see what will happen next.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I absolutely adored the satire of this novel. It was exactly what I wanted it to be when I read the synopsis.
Stohl has written a novel packed with wit, hilarity and above all, intelligence. It's beautifully crafted and so on point with modern popular culture it is nothing but impressive.
This book was simply entertaining. If it wasn't a character's antics or commentary making me laugh, it was the production footnotes or gossip rag's article. This novel is just pure fun!
But it also has its heartwarming moments as well. Bentley's love for her family is endearing and she is such a likeable heroine that you can't help but root for her to succeed in whatever she has put her mind to. This story is about family and self-identity when all is said and done and it shows.
While I enjoyed reading this novel from start to finish, I did feel like the first half of the book was rather slow when it came to the plot. The first half does a create job of establishing the characters and the setting, getting the reader acquainted with the circumstances. But it kind of moseyed along; especially when you compare it to the latter half of the novel which was non-stop action and suspense.
Regardless, this novel was awesome and everything I wanted it to be!
**I received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
Normally, I'm not a fan of YA contemporary but this book reminded me that there are some gems out there!
I loved Sally as a lead. She's funny, relateable and a genuine character. And the same can be said about Becks. It was so easy to see why these two are friends and why they care so much about each other.
Given the synopsis of the book, I had a pretty good idea of where this story was going to go but I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't go exactly as I thought. There were enough interesting plot developments to make the story interesting from start to finish. It never felt like a cliché when it easily could have.
I read this book in one sitting--it was so cute and utterly addicting that it was the perfect way to spend the day!
**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
Simply p**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
Simply put, this is just a really great contemporary romance novel.
It just has the right amount of everything. The romance is passionate yet well developed; the characters are charming and layered; and there is just the right amount of drama to make this entire story plausible. The lack of over-dramatics is what really made this book a winner for me. There is plenty of drama to be had but I felt like everything did a really great job circling back to this sweet and heated romance.
Another thing I loved was the relationship between Natalia and Nick. They actually talked to each other! They make a fabulous pair together and I definitely saw why they worked in every way. There is nothing I enjoy more in a romance than two people who are oblivious to the obvious feelings between them so the tension is great throughout. Plus, there is plenty of steam in between those great character moments to pack in the heat.
Fans of contemporary romance will want this book in there lives yesterday. Overall, just a solid read!
**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I've alw**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I've always enjoyed Cookie's books; I've been a fan since she published her first book, Adorkable, years ago. She simply writes enjoyable, genuine and swoon-worthy YA contemporaries that never fail to make me smile. I don't usually go out of my way to read YA contemporaries but I always pick up Cookie's books when I get the chance.
I smiled a lot during this book. It was the perfect blend between a coming of age story and all the feels of your favourite romantic comedy movies.
I loved Ariel's personal story. Despite her confidence in herself, we see her vulnerability at times and that makes her such a relatable lead. She feels like she could be a regular person you'd meet in real life and I think all readers can find a piece of themselves in her.
I haven't really read any Young Adult books that have a plus sized girl as the lead and I think that's such a shame because everyone's body is different and beautiful. The need for diverse books where people can see themselves in characters is something that is long overdue and this book is a step in that direction.
This is Cupcake's story but Rhys shines when he is in the scene. I would have loved a little more of him at the start because he too has a great backstory and vulnerability to him--something we don't often see in our YA contemporary heroes. He's a total sweetheart and definitely charmed his way into my heart.
Cookie's books never fail to make me smile and warm my heart and this book is no exception!
I enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses but somethings just weren't on point for me, so it wasn't an automatic 5 star read for me.
But what Maas does here is genius! The manipulation of the Beauty and the Beast story; the richness of the faery world; to Feyre's character development--everything hits its peak here, making this one hell of a read.
While I still struggled to like Feyre, she definitely grew on me; as did the romance. The way everything interweaves and builds really helped with that.
I can't wait to see what is in store for this cast of characters next!
Considering I almost DNF'd this at 100 pages, I'm glad things turned around!
I feel like the synopsis is pretty misleading. I thought I was getting a cConsidering I almost DNF'd this at 100 pages, I'm glad things turned around!
I feel like the synopsis is pretty misleading. I thought I was getting a completely different story than what we actually got. Which is a shame, because this is a good story; it just took me far too long to get use to the idea of it.
This isn't a story about the girls killing each other for the throne like the synopsis suggests. Rather, it's the build up to that event. Think of this book as one extended prologue to the real, nail-biting story.
It has all the right things to make this story absolutely epic: an intriguing world, strong female characters and buckets of danger. It just needs to use those things a little more to create an engaging plot--not just build up to it.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This novel had everything**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This novel had everything I LOVE in a great YA high fantasy!
First off, the world-building was fabulous! It wasn't overwhelming nor was it lacking. It was easy to understand what was happening in the world and why. When I compare it to other novels in the genre, this one stands out for that reason alone. It never felt like I was thrown into a world and left to figure it out on my own.
While the synopsis is slightly misleading (the tournament doesn't happen until the later half of the novel), there was enough happening in the first half to keep me more than interested. This novel just kept building and building, drawing me deeper and deeper into the world and its plot. I just loved it!
There was one "twist" I figured out pretty early but I didn't mind too much; we get so many other plot developments that this story still had me anxious to see what would happen next.
And the characters! Arcus and Ruby were not only interesting characters on their own, but together, their banter was exactly what I wanted. I love when two characters make each other stronger as individuals because of their relationship and that is what we get here. Ruby's fighting spirit was awesome and I just loved how she handled herself throughout the novel.
I can't wait to get deeper into this world! Not only was this book super awesome to read, but it has laid down the foundation for a truly fantastic fantasy series.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I DEVOURED this book in o**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I DEVOURED this book in one sitting!
This story is so much more than your typical coming of age story, but with lots of twists. I have to say that this plot surprised me more than I ever anticipated! There is so much more to this story than a girl crushing on a boy she can't touch and I was totally invested.
Eva's gift of reading people's emotions and anxiety was a very neat addition to this story. It helps to reinforce her personality and actions in a way that you wouldn't get otherwise. And of course, it adds some drama to the backbone of this coming of age story. Perhaps the story would have been stronger without this premise (because there is a much deeper plot at play) but I did like this refreshing twist that gives this story a flare unlike any other I've read.
Eva was absolutely hilarious as a heroine. She's also very relateable in terms of her journey and insecurities. And Zenn is such a swoon-worthy hero and I immediately fell for him. He's got that mysterious aura around him and is so genuine that it's hard not to like him.
This was a great story that reminded me that there is more to YA contemporary fiction than lots of angst and landing the popular guy; it can also be about heart and growing up despite the circumstances.
**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I'm alwa**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I'm always eager for a new Ilsa Madden-Mills New Adult read but when I saw that her newest book featured two of my favourite tropes--hockey player and a fake relationship premise--I knew that this was going to be a read-ASAP type of book.
I thought that this book would be a little lighter than it was but I liked the tone it had. Both of our leads have their own struggles and I enjoyed watching them deal with them as they navigated their budding feelings.
In particular, I really appreciated and admired Zack's mental health storyline. Anxiety in sports (not simply the pressure of doing the sport but how one's personal mental health affects their playing) isn't something I've really come across in the genre before. I loved how it was dealt with here and how it was one of the main focuses and not something mentioned in passing.
For me, I didn't see the chemistry between these two right away. Zack borders on some insta-love I thought in the first bit and I wasn't entirely convinced why. But by the mid-way point we watch them talk and share a little more so it helped me to see why they were a good pair. This is one of those times where the various dramatic stressors they undergo helped to cement why they work as partners.
Overall: This is a solid contemporary romance and one that has a refreshing take on the genre!
I've been dying for Violet's story since book 1. This wasn't what I expected but in a good way. I got sucked in by the plot and there were
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I've been dying for Violet's story since book 1. This wasn't what I expected but in a good way. I got sucked in by the plot and there were so many great twists along the way. I would have liked more romance though. I think the fact that we already knew these two loved each other stopped some of the great tension these books usually have from surfacing. I still adore them together and their scenes melted my heart, but I just craved more from them.
Despite the lightness of the plot, this book kept my attention and entertained from the start. I enjoyed learning more about the characters
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Despite the lightness of the plot, this book kept my attention and entertained from the start. I enjoyed learning more about the characters and the world (such a cool alternative history twist!). It was a little lighter on the steampunk than I would have liked and I feel like certain plot twists were super obvious but it was enjoyable nonetheless!
**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I am SO **I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I am SO EXCITED for this new trilogy. I've been craving this story ever since Tyler was introduced in the Wicked Series. Annie and him have such palpable chemistry -- even when they were kids -- that this was the story you knew was going to happen one day!
The high school antics were a little much. I think Carly could have been toned down a bit and still got the point across. But fans of the Academy YA Trope will devour this and fans of New Adult romances will like the maturer feel to the story.
I love choice to only get Annie's POV for the novella. The tension it creates by having Tyler's thoughts and motives a mystery creates an atmosphere of delicious chemistry between the two of them.
Truthfully, this one bored me a little. It took me far too long to finish it.
I felt like the first 60% was filler--which makes for a slightly dull read when this book is 576 eBook pages long. While the plot does move forward in that time, it definitely dragged while doing so. It's been a long time since I read the previous instalment so trying to get all those details page in my head (despite the killer notes I took when reading Queen of Shadows), specially the family trees (I swear everyone's name starts with a G or an A or an E), didn't make this enjoyable for me.
The last 30% was great! We get more action; the greater plot schemes get revealed and we finally get some drama! And I'm glad to see how the prequel novellas tie into this novel! Made me glad I read them all those years ago.
I easily could have finished The Deal in one sitting if I didn't have school that day. It is sheer New Adult perfection in terms of its delivery if you ask me.
Garret and Hannah especially were great in The Deal. I just loved watching their interactions and appreciated who they were as people. They just seemed so real to me and they are easily one of my favourite new adult couples.
I thought the romance in these novels was pretty damn-well near perfect. '
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This book was everything I thought it would be and a little bit more!
I loved Lex and Dylan's story and their connection. These two not only had great passion and sexual tension, but they also had a great relationship as friends which completely sold me over. It was so easy for me to see why these two would fall for each other and I loved their scenes together.
What I also found to be very refreshing was their relationship dynamic. Instead of some meek girl who falls for the experienced older boy, the roles are completely reversed! It was great to see a confident woman in Lex who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask for it. And Dylan was so swoon-worthy! Definitely a new book boyfriend for me!
This story also had a great balance between the romance and the "coming of age" aspect. While the two plots worked well together, I thought they developed great individually as well.
Overall, this book was so much fun to read but definitely had its touching moments as well! A new favourite for this year!
I think I might be in the minority but I fully believe that this book was better than the first one. I found the plot to be much more engag
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I think I might be in the minority but I fully believe that this book was better than the first one. I found the plot to be much more engaging and interesting than it was in The Crown's Game. Despite some slight monotony in the middle of the book with one plot aspect, I found that this story always kept moving and developing in a way that was rather addicting to read. I was flying through the pages.
The character development was also great. When you have essentially 3 key players to keep tabs on, one or more will inevitable fall to the wayside in terms of growth. But I felt like everyone had a great story to tell and I'm glad we got to see them all.
This series is still missing that something to make me give it a 5/5 though. And truthfully, I was leaning more towards a 3.5/5 rating for this particular book because I did find the middle of the novel to be a little stale. But I really liked how everything was brought together in the latter half of the novel and I did feel like this was a much stronger showing on Evelyn Skye's part. I think she has a very bright future ahead of her in terms of her writing and I'll be keeping an eye on what she writes next!
This was super adorable! I really enjoyed it a lot.
Dimple is such a compelling heroine. She's strong yet fragile at the same time and I de
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This was super adorable! I really enjoyed it a lot.
Dimple is such a compelling heroine. She's strong yet fragile at the same time and I definitely saw part of myself in her when it comes to her views on romantic relationships vs career. She's also hilarious.
And Rishi is just so charming and I immediately fell in love with him. But what was really appealing about his character was that he was the hopeless romantic, instead of Dimple. He was the one who really wanted the relationship and felt it necessary and I usually find that it is the female characters who are cast in that role. It was a refreshing take on a standard gender role I thought.
There was something about the pacing though that has me holding back on 5/5 though. Otherwise, thoroughly entertaining!
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.
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**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
While the traveling back in time aspect is great, for me it was all about the bullying. And this is a beautiful story about how your actions impact a person. It was so hard for me to watch Lucy get beaten down in her everyday life. I remember thinking to myself that this can't happen in real life because there is no way people could be so cruel.
I absolutely loved trying to figure out what the dream world had to do with the real world. And I'll admit, I really didn't figure it out until the last chapter. It was like this big eureka moment for me where I put it all together and my mind was blown a bit because it was a great link. (And I don't want to say more because I think it's a great thing for the readers to figure out on their own).
Lucy's character evolution is fantastic, even if some of the moments were disheartening. It was so hard for me to watch this girl get beaten down (in the real world) at every turn for no reason at all. (Why are people so cruel?!?) Which is why I liked those moments in the dreams where she literally transforms into a confident person before your eyes. It was great to see her have those moments of joy in her life.
This is just a fabulous story about the multi-layered impact bullying can have on a person. Such a beautiful novel.
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.***I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This is a very dark book but I knew that going in. If you don't enjoy dark and twisted stories, this is not for you. I also liked that it's not pure erotica either. There is an actual story to be teased out and this novella is setting up the foundation.
I liked that both of these characters are flawed but I didn't particularly love them either. I think once we get to the full novel and some character development can happen that'll change because I'm definitely intrigued by both of them.
I'm really curious to see how the dramatic plot will unfold in the full novel. We just get a hint at the end and it captured my attention immediately! It looks like it will be a very entertaining series and I can't wait to see what is in store.
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