Paula Nguyen > Recent Status Updates

I would really want to see more development of the mcs personalities in the later half of this :( the world building is cool but I’m not as invested as I would like to be. The characters don’t feel super real and the stakes aren’t that high.

I’m glad there’s a lot left though, hopes are still high 😇

Every time I open this book I’m reminded of a particularly depressing moment in time 🫩 ifykyk 🫩 we keep going though

Thought this would be more of a romantasy vibe, but it’s mainly focused on world-building. I usually like more character-focused fantasies but I also don’t hate this ? The writing style really flows and I find it easy to read , ironically relaxing considering it’s intensity

took a couple chapters to get into bc the plot isn’t linear ; this is surprisingly really good though ! I had high-ish expectations before starting—after the first few chapters I didn’t expect it to be that good then became pleasantly surprised about 15% in :) good things come to those who wait or wtv; also the cover is gorg I luvv

unfortunately mid :( I do think the writing had its strong points but it personally felt purple prose-y to me; a lot of the SA details in her earlier life were really vivid in a way that I didn’t enjoy but I do understand the point; I think this would’ve resonated more if it was relatable (like what my bones know) but nothing really clicked; very much a 3 star read

it took a bit to lock in … that one reviewer was right when she said the writing style is so simple it’s hard to get lost in it but around 50-80 pages I was pretty invested; the romance was def a side plot but was v cute, ML was extremely wholesome and likable; overall a well-paced plot and enjoyable to read, but still unsure about whether to continue w the sequel given what I heard about it :(

The vibes were exactly as described 🤩 v cozy and magical; nothing to complain about bc this delivered exactly what was promised 😤 will be on the Dora x Elias train forever; haven’t read such a wholesome romance in a long time this was so satisfying

Saur whimsical and cute 🥰 I lob

That ending was so insane 😳 I thought I’d never finish this book after winter break but here I am…anyway this was actually pretty good, some of the middle got lost on me but it’s good overall ! I think the characters could feel a little more real, they’re pretty simple and one dimensional :( but the plot moves pretty well and the concept is v interesting

A certain someone I know would call Vis an “aura farmer” and lowkey tho 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ yea

I loveeee a training arc 🥰 it’s not mha or poppy war level but it’ll do

Thoughts so far…
- the concept is interesting but the magic system is just a pyramid scheme so not too original tbh
- mid-level writing that’s corny at times but overall not too corny for a fantasy
- pacing is pretty good ! A+

Went back and rerated yours truly because Jacob might be the best male romance protagonist I’ve ever read (TO ME) + the fact that I’ve reread parts of it means it’s at least 4 stars; I’d say this one is 4 stars too, probably a top 3 romance I’ll read this year unless something surprises me

one thing I’ve noticed about A.J. books is there’s a peak BFF sidekick character and the M.L. is always pretty unique compared to other rom-coms / doesn’t fall into a single trope; I wouldn’t say Justin falls into a trope but the other two M.L’s were just a little more special; I like how this one wasn’t as angsty as yours truly though, more realistic

Saved the epilogue just for it to be 3 pages :/ never read a book that I really enjoyed this slow, I just did NOT have time to speed through this; tbh I think this is about the same level as yours truly if not a little better, not as good as part of your world—that might just be because I read it at a better time though; oscillating between 3 and 4 star idk; male protagonists in the other books were more unique

Abby Jimenez = new romance 🐐🐐

meeting through reddit dms has got to be in the top 2 worst ways to meet your s.o. and it’s not #2 🤣🤣

Cillian Murphy was actually the best actor to play Furlong—might watch the movie at a later time; not much to say other than the review that said “every word is the right word in the right place” was extremely accurate; wish this was longer; the pacing was actually so good for such a short book

I will never be this present

starting books that have been on the tbr for years is so satisfying >>>

was told to annotate this and return it all marked up … it will not be annotated but it will def be marked up LOL it’s been in and out of my bags at least 15 times; last note about the book itself is I never really found myself really emotional at any point—never stressed out or anything; it’s definitely a good book but UGHH I’m just not in the mood to care (???) would have been a 4 star but prob not today

I think I would’ve really loved this if I read it at a different time; ironic given the messaging about timing 😭; I still think it’s good—writing is above average for the genre and the characters feel way more real than other protagonists I’ve read; hugee regrets about the timing though this could’ve been a top contender if I wasn’t in such a slump; basically everything was predictable

I feel awake

LM knows all

LM needs to stay away from the freaky scenes