Rowan's Bookshelf (Carleigh) > Recent Status Updates

I've already laughed out loud twice in admittedly only half funny jokes, but they caught me off guard. I need a light cute thing like this so bad

God this is one of those books where you're just watching someone make the wrong decision over and over again and you KNOw it will end badly bc toxic people but theyre just so desperate to feel loved and ugh

God this is somehow so ridiculously simple ive had to make games out of it

6 mentions of her dead mother
4 outright saying someone is quirky
6 claims of having no idea what very simple nerdy things like Star Wars is

countless name drops of romcom movies

Christ, this is going to be the epitome of Basic Rom Com...which I guess idk what else I expected. She maps out all the reasons why she's a quirky perfect leading lady (instead of showing) and then does it AGAIN with her friend and her obvious love interest (even going to literally spell out their rom com tropes). It's like reading a book for babies, but honestly I need something for babies rn

Ugh REALLY? it's almost 2/3 of the way in and the MC JUST decided to "consider her suspects" and "ask questions". Literally. Just now.
This is a book that looks like a mystery but tries DESPERATELY not to be a mystery. But what's left over is a boring struggling ice cream store that can't stop mentioning Chagrin Falls and how nice Cleveland is. I live in Cleveland, it's just sad to make it look that good

Damn this book seems boring, I blame it entirely on the completely monotonous narrator for the audiobook - but Branwen seems to have no personality! It's all about what she's doing, nothing about how she feels
Just ARG I hate this narrator

dear god the MELODRAMA - it's nto really like how Feyrah and Tamlin or Rhysand was, the plot comlicated thinngs so much. Nesta has a lot to work out but CHRIST its her own issues that get in the way. the pregnancy is getting in the way, Fey and Rhys's stupid bargain. God, I wish this wasn't bogged down by the fantasy bs lmao

Alright chapter 50 and the raw emotion, honesty of the human condition and real showing that Nesta, and all other horrible bitches in the world, are human and hurting and often don't want to be how they are. It might save all the problems I have with this book because it is. Raw

For real - too much sex. And their LONG scenes omg
I want more of the other girls! Emerie and Gwyn and whatever the Queen is doing. I barely get why they even talk about the Queen because nothing really happens, even when Nesta gets the literal mask of the dead it doesn't seem to mean anything. Too much time devoted to sex scenes for some reason

Jeez, did ACOTAR have this much horniness in it? Hell, did Mist and Fury?? I feel like Nesta's lust for Cassian is taking way more away from her story than really adding anything to it - we know she uses sex to avoid her trauma feelings so why is her lusting after Cassian a really good thing?? But still, her slow realization that she needs help is pretty nice to read

I've staaaarted! Honestly the best part of this series is the women coming into their own, the emotional turmoil and how they're helped and become confident powerful beings. Even tho there is a lot of okay sex scenes lmao
Nesta already is an example of traumatized in serious need of an intervention - and shes. NOT taking to it yet oof

I forgot how much I love this world and these characters. The lore and every challenge everyone has to face. They're def becoming the found family I was hoping for

Yeah I'm soooo into this. The horror isn't jump out of your seat scary, it's the slow creepy feeling that could be explained away, but somehow it just can't be.

I'm loving the feel of this book already. Jane and Ruth have good chemistry, and while Jane seems like an average girl - she still eats books? So it's not like there's nothing up with her. But the house is so cool and it feels totally like King novels - little town, big house, big history, creepy vibes

You chose me four years ago. Would you choose me still? Would you choose this version of me-these sharp edges and hands far bloodier than yours?
The better thing to do now would be to walk away from anything would distract her from what was important. But she couldn't. She... hoped. And hope was dangerous. Hope was the most vicious evil of them all, the thing that managed to thrive in Pandoras box

She wished she could fill herself up like this. She wished she could press mounds of rich soil into the gaps of her heart, occupying the space until flowers could take root and grow roses. Maybe then she wouldn't be hearing Roma's voice in her head over and over again, taking up every inch of her thoughts

"Anything would be better than standing motionless. When Juliette wanted to blow up in frustration, the only solution was blowing something else up."

"Fight dirty but fight bravely. Do not fight those who cannot understand what it means to fight. Nurse had known exactly what working for the Scarlet Gang entailed. This man had pulled at a hint of glitter in the ground expecting a Nugget of gold and disturbed a hornet's nest instead."

I wish Roma had a bit more personality. He just seems to whine about his Dad and moan about how he doesn't want the blood feud to exist and how much better ppl think Dimitri is. Mars n Ben are also just annoying
Juliette is at least really getting things done, she's working with her people, sending them places and gathering info, wrestling with whtes coming on their turf and everything that's happened to her

Its a shame that it doesn't truly feel like the 1920s through and through. Phrases like "Awkward" and "genetics" and concepts that came well after this time are used frequently. It totally breaks the illusion
The rest of the tone in on point tho, the creepyness whenever the monster strikes, the grossness of the deaths & bugs. Juliette is so badass too

I'm LOVING so much in this. Juliette is deadly and determined and awesome, the world around her changing as she tries to put the past to rest. Roma is trying to get back to where he should be with his gang (though I do NOT like how slap-stick comedy his henchmen are) and conflicted over Juliette. The mystery of their past is awesome, and the mystery around the deaths is certainly interesting. not feel like 20s tho

For some reason, i still like it though. It's pure fantasy, where Marley gets the up on everyone who's wronged her and ends up perfect. Gets to have hot sex with Gavin and help run a successful business. I'm think 3 stars rounded up just to be nice

how is literally every woman in this except for Marley and her best friend like CRAZY. CRAZY BITCH it's so ridiculous. Marley is made a victim almost at every moment, from strangers trying to rape her to women spreading catty rumours about her. It's just so weird
Gavin is also pretty much perfect, which is also strange. He doesn't really do anything except be perfect at football, in bed, and loving M

Marley is super entertaining. I kind of HATE how this book pits so many women against each other - like SO MANY women are against Marley because??? she's not a stuck up bitch, but why is everyone else framed as a stuck up bitch? Booo

I can understand why Sam is against her culture (or at least the social aspect) bc of how disasterous her husband was and how it made her feel about not having a baby. I won't detract for that, but it is feeling a bit on fast forward. Rory's in the outback and we never see any of it!

It is a bit strange (or uncomfortable) to have samira complain constantly about her mother's culture and the Indian women around them. Terms like "reverse racism" is literally used, which is a bit uncomfortable from an author who is not actually Indian, as far as I know. It's one thing to write about a mixed woman, and one who hates the colored part of her culture. Too bad bc I love her and Rory together