~4.6 stars. SO CUTE. I literally couldn’t put it down. It was predictable (in the best way possible), but also kept me guessing. I love the love inter~4.6 stars. SO CUTE. I literally couldn’t put it down. It was predictable (in the best way possible), but also kept me guessing. I love the love interest, and his chemistry with the protagonist is giggle inducing. The concept of the dream boyfriend who actually exists is really interesting, and my intrigue into how does she know this man kept me speeding through the book for a long time. However, by the time it was revealed I was so wrapped up in romance that I’d forgotten that was even the original premise lol. I cannot convey enough how sweet and fun this read was. Is it something I’ll read again and again forever? Probably not. But is it a book a thoroughly enjoyed reading? Yes. If you’re looking for a cute and fluffy read, this one is for you :) ...more
Emily Henry is my happy place… except for the fact that she reminds me that I never got my college romance/rival/male best friend a month out from my Emily Henry is my happy place… except for the fact that she reminds me that I never got my college romance/rival/male best friend a month out from my college graduation :|...more
Beautiful. Such a good friends to lovers to strangers romance. Loved it. (~4.5-4.75 stars) Some scenes I felt moved too fast, and I would’ve liked to sBeautiful. Such a good friends to lovers to strangers romance. Loved it. (~4.5-4.75 stars) Some scenes I felt moved too fast, and I would’ve liked to see be more drawn out but otherwise a fantastic read! Side note: but I also would’ve liked more closure on the big event that pulled them apart. Yes I know the loose details but I’m nosy! I would’ve liked to know more lol...more
~4.6 stars. Super fun read! Very much Hating Game vibes. It’s predictable but it’s cute & super fun so you won’t be hearing complaints about that from~4.6 stars. Super fun read! Very much Hating Game vibes. It’s predictable but it’s cute & super fun so you won’t be hearing complaints about that from me. I do wish there were more interactions with the romantic leads, but otherwise, loved it! ...more
"Letting go is not forgetting. It's opening your eyes to the good that grew from the bad, the life that blFor more reviews go to anjibooks.weebly.com
"Letting go is not forgetting. It's opening your eyes to the good that grew from the bad, the life that blooms from decay."
Here's another beautifully written, and beautifully told story by Emily Henry. It's a story of love, loss and letting go. Henry has a knack for artfully stringing words together. Her words are, like I said before, beautiful, poetic, even. There are so many metaphors and stunning visuals used throughout. You just get lost in the words, swept up in the magical realism of the story.
"Maybe for some people, falling in love is an explosion, fireworks against a black sky and tremors rumbling through the earth. One blazing moment. For me, it's been happening for months, as quietly as a seed sprouting. Love sneaked through me, spreading roots around my heart, until, in the blink of an eye, the green of it broke the dirt: hidden one moment, there the next."
Like Henry's other novel that I utterly fell in love with (Beach Read), A Million Junes isn't pitched all that accurately. See, I was attracted to the novel because it promises a forbidden romance, which sounds like that'll be the central point to the book. And while yes, there is an adorable romance, it's not the central point. If anything, the romance is the inciting incident. I would argue that the focal point is loss, grief-- and learning to let go and deal with it. And while that wasn't exactly what I was expecting when jumping in, it was somehow exactly what I needed.
"Grief is an unfillable hole in your body. It should be weightless, but it's heavy. Should be cold, but it burns. Should, over time, close up, but instead it deepens."
This doesn't happen often, but I got a little teary while reading this. That's how well-written the story, the characters and their relationships are. I almost cried. The themes of loss and grief really hit home, and they're presented so accurately, so realistically that it was hard not to really feel the characters' emotions as my own. It hit especially hard towards the end-- when you get to see the beauty and the happiness of it all hidden along with all the sadness.
Okay, okay, the way I'm presenting this is like A Million Junes is a dark and depressing novel. It's not. It's... hard to describe. It fuses together so many different things that shouldn't work and yet somehow they do. The story and tone as a whole start off pretty whimsical, set in a contemporary world with magic intertwined along with it. It's hard at first to really combine the real world aspect of the story with the oddities going on, but once you do it's not hard to truly lose yourself in it. Yes, loss and grief are very prevalent throughout the read, but somehow the author is able to entwine those with other pieces so they don't feel quite as dense but you still get the umph from them. Does that make sense? I don't know if it does, but I can't think of a better way to describe it. Don't let the idea of some "darker" themes scare you away. There's still plenty of lighthearted, sweet moments and while it is a read that presents a lot of depth, it's not dense. The flow of the writing feels like you're really living in that moment-- it's not boring or heavy in any way.
"We both know that pain comes for us all. It's almost a relief. Because if all of us are going to someday lose the people we love the most, or be lost by them, then what is there to do but live?"
I absolutely loved the relationships in this book. Both romantic and otherwise. The romantic relationship between Saul and June is that "forbidden romance" that's pitched in the synopsis. While, yes, there is an element of forbidden-ness to it, that's not really the central point of their romance. They have intense chemistry, and their banter is to-die-for. I also adore both of their characters-- neither of which fall into any pre-set stereotype. They just fit so well together and I love it. I also want to mention that the main character's (June's) relationship with her best friend was beautiful and perfect as well. They're so loyal and dedicated to each other. There's no stupid misunderstandings that pull them apart like what tends to happen in this kind of story. Their friendship is strong, and they don't let anything pull them apart. I love that.
I also appreciated seeing June's relationship with her family. It's complicated, but hey, isn't that what makes it more realistic? June's relationship with her father is particularly interesting. She always saw him as golden and perfect-- and throughout the novel she realizes there's more to him than that, which doesn't necessary make him bad, but just real. I love that too.
"My inheritance is grief and sunlight and the ability to choose which to hold on to."
If you didn't catch on while reading this, there's nothing about this book that's "typical" or can fall into a pre-set stereotype. Every aspect, character, relationship is actually pretty unique-- you won't be stumbling across many cliches in A Million Junes. While cliches can be fun, this book shows how breaking out of those can be a breath of fresh air. This was an immensely enjoyable read. It was nothing like I expected it to be going in, and somehow that made it even better. It really made me feel things, and will have a special place in my heart. I'd rate it a good 7.5/10 stars. A definite must read for anyone out there dealing with loss or just looking for a good book that'll make you smile, laugh, cry and just all together feel all the feels....more
"People were complicated. They weren't math problems; they were collections of feelings and decisions and dumb luck. The world was complicated too, no"People were complicated. They weren't math problems; they were collections of feelings and decisions and dumb luck. The world was complicated too, not a beautifully hazy French film, but a disastrous, horrible mess, speckled with brilliance and love and meaning."
This is an incredible read. Honestly, while it's a cute title, I think the title of "Beach Read" does this novel an injustice. "Beach Read" sounds like it's just some cute, lighthearted romance that you'll read and enjoy, but won't necessarily stick with you once it's over. While this novel does have a cute romance, it's certainly not one that you'll be forgetting about anytime soon. Beach Read delves so much deeper than your typical beach read (confusing sentence, I know). It's not just a romance. While romance is an aspect of the book, it certainly isn't all of it.
I dove into this book fully expecting what the title said I'd get-- a simple beach read. I was pleasantly surprised the deeper I delved into the pages to discover that it's so much more than that. This book is love. It's loss. It's discovery, and realizing that people aren't perfect, and that's okay. Don't let this turn you off if you're not looking for a particularly deep, dense and heavy novel. The deep, emotional side of this novel is somehow masked with the light, sunny tone of the story. So yes, it's deep. It's emotional, you can really feel and emphasize with the characters. But it reads like a light and warm contemporary novel. While there are deeper and more emotional ideas and scenes in this, don't worry. There's still plenty of sassy, laugh out loud or giggle moments. The romance is amazing-- it's built up at just the right pace and the two leads have magnetic chemistry. The added depth just makes the book all the more better because it makes the characters feel so much more real and relatable. They're imperfect, they have issues-- just like the rest of us. Honestly, I was disappointed when I finished, and then I just turned the book over and started again. That's how much I loved reading this.
The book follows January Andrews, a romance writer who has recently been disillusioned with life. The death of her father, and the realization that he wasn't the man she'd thought he was knocks the rose-colored glasses off her face, making her realize that the world isn't nearly as perfect and beautiful as she'd thought.
Throw in Augustus Everett, January's ultimate rival since college and polar opposite. He's dark and a bit brooding. Someone mentioned this in another review that I read and I thought it was worth mentioning: while he's a dark and a little bit mysterious, he manages not to be a total asshole as the typical dark male lead usually is. He's actually a big sweetheart and I adore him with all my heart and soul.
The two make a bet-- try to write in the other's genre. January will write more 'literary' novels, and Gus will write romance. Every week they take each other on "field trips" to help the other get in the mindset of their writing. And let's be real here, these are basically dates but am I so down for them? YES I AM. Like I mentioned earlier, the pacing of this romance is perfect. From the beginning there's chemistry between the two main characters. Their teasing and banter is enough to put a goofy grin on anyone's face.
I'd give this book 9/10 stars. The writing is beautiful, the relationships are amazing, the plot is perfect and the characters are imperfect in ways that make them even more perfect. It was a stellar read and I honestly just want to sit down and read it again, again and again. If you're looking for a book that will melt your heart and hit you right in the feels while simultaneously making you giggle and grin? This is the book for you. ...more
Here's a trope that isn't very popular but I think definitely should be: falling back in love. Not only is Rating: 9.5/10 Stars Character Age: Adults
Here's a trope that isn't very popular but I think definitely should be: falling back in love. Not only is it equally as enchanting and fun as a first time falling in love romance, but there's just something so beautiful and tender about the refalling back in love with each other trope. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle is everything you could want form a romance novel. It's fun, funny, cute and the romance really hits you in the feels. It starts off like a rom-com-- with a silly sounding premise and fun antics. Naomi and Nicholas are kind of tired of each other and not even close to head-over-heels in love as fiancees should be. Yet, neither of them will call off the marriage because whoever calls it off has to pay for it. The solution? Pranking and pushing the other to call it off. Yeah, it sounds ridiculous, and it does actually lead the story to being a lot of fun. But what makes this novel stand out from so many others is in fact the romance. It's sad, as you read the book and grow more attached to the relationship to see how it slowly started to fall apart in the first place, yet watching them grow back together and remember why exactly they loved each other in the first place is so beautiful and heartwarming. Like I said, this is the perfect combination for a romance book. There are plenty of moments that will have you laughing out loud, but also plenty that will just hit you in the heart. I can't emphasize just how much I love this one. I read it very recently, and then reread it again 3 times in the next week just because of how much I loved it and wanted to revisit the characters and scenes. ...more
Looking for a cute, rom-com-esque novel that will put a smile on your face? Look no further. As the title would indicate, Emma Lord's debut novel TweeLooking for a cute, rom-com-esque novel that will put a smile on your face? Look no further. As the title would indicate, Emma Lord's debut novel Tweet Cute is equally as adorable and hilarious as you might expect. This is a light, quick read. It follows two characters: Jack and Pepper, who have a rivalry both in school and out of it. Yet, somehow they manage to be falling for each other in both setting as well, even if they don't realize it. Both their families own restaurants, and when their family businesses' social media accounts get into a Twitter war, little to Jack and Pepper realize it's each other they're battling behind the screens. It's the kind of ridiculous, fun set up you'd expect to see in a rom-com. And this book supplies all the smiles and laughter you'd expect from it. It's not overly deep, so if you're looking for a novel to move you... Sorry this isn't the place, but if you just want to smile and read some happy fluff, Tweet Cute has your back. I'd give this novel a solid 7/10 stars. It was a really fun read, not necessarily one that will stick with you for a long while after, but it accomplishes its purpose and I really couldn't ask for more than that. ...more
From my understanding, for those who enjoy contemporary romance books, this one is a bit of a cult classic, and I can't say I blame anyone 8/10 stars
From my understanding, for those who enjoy contemporary romance books, this one is a bit of a cult classic, and I can't say I blame anyone for that because The Hating Game is magnificent. It's so much fun from start to finish. I don't think I could love the characters or the story more. It's one of those classic hate-to-love tropes, but hey, I'm a sucker for the classics....more
Another ridiculously fun novel that will melt your heart. Another hate-to-love romance, like I said, it may be a classic trope but Rating: 8/10 stars
Another ridiculously fun novel that will melt your heart. Another hate-to-love romance, like I said, it may be a classic trope but it's one of my favorites. So much fun with all the banter, and it's also fun to get to watch these characters warm up and start to open up to each other. It's great watching this relationship blossom, because it's so much more than just romance-- the friendship has to build first, and both are fun to watch grow. (Also, can I just mention the BANTER is so much fun). Also the story is about professional athletes, so it's also a lot of fun to read about their love and passion for the sport, as well as seeing them practice and work at it. ...more
These women are goddesses when it comes to writing good romances. While this book is just as enjoyable as the Unhoneymooners, it hits on 10/10 stars.
These women are goddesses when it comes to writing good romances. While this book is just as enjoyable as the Unhoneymooners, it hits on a deeper level. Like there's no better way to describe it, but when reading this book, it just hits, like you feel it in such a different way from most books. It's just that good.
The story takes place in two time periods: the present, and the past, leading up to the big blow up. So you literally get to watch the two main characters meet, and you get to see their relationship build from innocent friendship to something more. I think that really helps in making the book hit on a deeper level because you fully understand and see their relationship, and not only that, but you get to see and feel them falling in love with each other. It's beautiful. The writing is beautiful, the characters are beautiful, the story is beautiful. I cannot give higher praise to this book. I couldn't tell you the amount of times I've reread it, I love it just that much.
You know those really fun rom-com movies with the completely absurd inciting incident that ensures with hilarity along with that heart melt8/10 stars
You know those really fun rom-com movies with the completely absurd inciting incident that ensures with hilarity along with that heart melting romance? That's exactly what the Unhoneymooners is-- a rom-com in book form. It's fun, it'll have you laughing out loud, and you'll also be ooooh-ing and aww-ing with heart eyes because it's also quite cute. If you want a fun romance, this is definitely one to try out. ...more
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover I'd heard so much about Colleen Hoover's books, a lot of people whose opinions I trust have rated these books 1000000It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover I'd heard so much about Colleen Hoover's books, a lot of people whose opinions I trust have rated these books 1000000/10. She's basically a legend when it comes to romance novels, so I finally decided to pick up one of her books to see what I thought. I really enjoyed this book, but it was not what I thought it would be. Can I tell you what it was? No. The best advice I can give you is to just pick this book up without knowing anything about it, because if you read the synopsis, you'll just be mislead and be expecting something completely different. (Like I did). I know, it's so annoying how much mystery I'm leaving here, but trust me, you don't want to know the point of this book. All I can tell you is that it takes place in a contemporary setting and has some romance in it. This is an adult/ new adult novel, so if you're younger, maybe not the book for you? Then again, I was reading this kind of thing fairly early and watching things like the Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl in 3rd Grade, so maybe I'm not the best person to give advice on the whole age thing. This book presents a very important message, and I think it is definitely a must read, if solely for that message. 7/10 stars. Sure, it most certainly wouldn't be something I'd pick up if I knew its secret, but once I read it, I was glad I did so. Hoover creates some pretty great characters and an interesting story in her novel. It's been a while since I read the book, but I remember appreciating its cast and story. Ugh. I'm sorry I can't tell you what the THING is, just read it!
I'd recommend just reading the novel without reading this, but here's the synopsis if you're interested:
Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.
Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.
Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.
As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.
SPOILERS
I just had to talk about this. I can't believe how much this novel faked me out. Oh, and I just read the synopsis above "a little arrogant?" Ryle is VERY arrogant. You know, I went into this novel expecting a angsty sort of romance with the current love interest who took a while to warm up to and now they're finally together and the past love shows up. That is lowkey the start, and then we get into the real message / reason for the story. Domestic Violence. When Ryle first hit Lily, my mind just went shit. Like no, that's not what this novel is going to do. and then the stairs. And the worst part about it is I was still hoping Ryle could get his shit together and fix himself because I loved the character so much. Hoover built him up to be exactly my type, and I truly fell in love with him, just as Lily did. I wanted him and Lily to end up together, and make it. I wanted him to be able to get better. That was truly the worst part, because Hoover put my thoughts and rationalization through exactly what I would imagine a victim of domestic violence would. He can fix himself. He wouldn't do it again. But Ryle couldn't, and ultimately I'm glad she and he didn't end up together-- that would be send a horrible message and would be very wrong on so many different levels. It's good that Lily ended up with Atlas, who was good and capable of caring for her without hurting her. I'll admit, I was rooting for Ryle until the whole domestic abuse thing popped up. Damn, I can't believe how fooled I was by this book. It broke my heart, and sent the exact message it intended. It sucked me in with Ryle's charms and then send me on a wild and confusing ride. Ugh. I had genuinely fallen for Ryle before everything happened. This book truly hurt my heart. ...more
Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills I actually just read this book this morning, so it's on the front of my mind. (Yes, these reviews are not totally Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills I actually just read this book this morning, so it's on the front of my mind. (Yes, these reviews are not totally in the order that I read them.) Like all of Mills' novels, this one was heartfelt, cute and funny. It had a cute romance, but more importantly, it had some very compelling and complex relationships between other characters like friendships and siblinghood. (I don't think siblinghood is a word?) As I've said before, Mills really elevates her novels by not just putting romance in them, the deep relationships between other characters are what make her books so amazing and stand out from the crowd of other romances. Brit and Sophie's friendship was particularly compelling, as they're polar opposites but they have such a deep appreciation for each other, and will stick by and protect the other no matter what. I did really enjoy Sophie's love interest, August as well. He's funny, willing to turn basically everything into a joke, and very charismatic. I loved his and Sophie's banter. I related to a lot in the book, especially the small town aspect. I live in a town so small that it can't even be called a town. It's a "borough." So the whole everyone knows everyone and everyone has to be involved in everything aspect particularly spoke to me. And the no new romance things? YES. It's such a mood. Like all of Emma Mills' novels, the plot line is far from stereotypical, which really adds to the whole realness feel of it. Though, I think that it would have been better suited for a different title because you'd think one of the main characters is famous from the title, but none of them are. The famous person isn't even really in the actual book. Like foolish hearts, I shockingly found myself shedding some tears. Not because the novel is sad, because it really isn't, but because of how much this story spoke to me. I really relate to Sophie's innate need to try and make sure everyone she loves is happy and then the whole thing with her sister... Wow. My life definitely doesn't follow Sophie's directly, but there are elements of her and her life that speak to things with me, so yes, I found my eyes very watery at moments. Which is strange and a bit annoying because I don't usually cry in novels, not even when my beloveds die, but somehow this one spoke to the depths of my soul, haha. Despite that, this is probably my least favorite of Mills' novels. I still love it, a lot, but I just love the others more. I wanted a bit more of a climax to the romance plot line, and there was just something about it that made it falter next to its companions. Still, a very fun, cutsy and REAL novel. I highly recommend as I do all of Mills' books. 7/10 stars.
Synopsis: For Sophie, small-town life has never felt small. She has the Yum Yum Shoppe, with its famous fourteen flavors of ice cream; her beloved marching band, the pride and joy of Acadia High (even if the football team disagrees); and her four best friends, loving and infuriating, wonderfully weird and all she could ever ask for.
Then August moves in next door. A quiet guy with a magnetic smile, August seems determined to keep everyone at arm's length. Sophie in particular.
Country stars, revenge plots, and a few fake kisses (along with some excellent real ones) await Sophie in this hilarious, heartfelt story. ...more
Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills It's been established again and again that Emma Mills writes a phenomenal contemporary novel. Despite its not exactly attFoolish Hearts by Emma Mills It's been established again and again that Emma Mills writes a phenomenal contemporary novel. Despite its not exactly attractive cover, Foolish Hearts has everything you think you need and more. Like all of Mills' novels, it doesn't solely concentrate on the romance (which would be fine too, since her romances are so CUTE), she elevates the novel by including compelling, very realistic relationships like friendships or family connection. Mills always comes up with unique, kind of strange ideas for her novels, yet they always emerge as masterpieces, and this book is no different. The main character, as usual, is very relatable and affable. I've noticed a recurring theme in Mills' novels is that the protagonist is always very oblivious to when someone likes her, and Claudia is no different. She's very likable though, and when you find out why she thinks that this guy doesn't like her, it made me a little emotional. AKA little teary. Like wow, I don't usually cry during books, especially considering this isn't a sad book at all, yet I did get a little teary at times during the novel, just because of the depth that Mills took with some of her characters. But if you're getting hesitant because you think this will be a sad book, it's not! Like all of Mills' novels, it's the epitome of CUTE. 8/10 stars. If you like cute contemporary romances, pick this one up! And if you haven't read any of Emma Mills' books, you're missing out. Read them all! Haha.
Synopsis: A contemporary novel about a girl whose high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream leads her to new friends—and maybe even new love.
The day of the last party of the summer, Claudia overhears a conversation she wasn't supposed to. Now on the wrong side of one of the meanest girls in school, Claudia doesn't know what to expect when the two are paired up to write a paper—let alone when they're both forced to try out for the school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
But mandatory participation has its upsides—namely, an unexpected friendship, a boy band obsession, and a guy with the best dimpled smile Claudia's ever seen. As Claudia's world starts to expand, she finds that maybe there are some things worth sticking her neck out for....more
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