I stumbled upon this book at the right time. Not every entry I related to but the majority either knocked some sense into my thought process, dishe3.5
I stumbled upon this book at the right time. Not every entry I related to but the majority either knocked some sense into my thought process, dished out some harsh truth I needed hear, or healed my slowly recuperating heart.
If you have been in a tough place and needing some uplifting as well as someone to speak directly to you and tell you to pull yourself together in a non-offending way—definitely take a chance on this short and sweet little book....more
3 stars The first half of this was good. Comedic with the humor we find on our socials today. Relatable in the way growing up a cusper of the millennia3 stars The first half of this was good. Comedic with the humor we find on our socials today. Relatable in the way growing up a cusper of the millennial x gen z would understand and find commonalities. The pop culture didn't bother me for once, as most of the time these types of mentions usually diminish a story. The second half dove a little deeper and had darker topics. Sadly, around this area was when it also started to drag and feel a little one-dimensional. I found things I loved and laughed about as well as things that just didn't hit for me. Overall an interesting read.
Overall, this story was interesting. An entity of the woods with seeds for eyes, thereI was expecting more.
Arc provided by the author and book sirens.
Overall, this story was interesting. An entity of the woods with seeds for eyes, there to protect and watch over the land. Important due to the climate change and the many disadvantages brought to the land. In present-day we follow Bernhard and Julie as they film the land of Sri Lanka for a documentary on the effects of climate change on the farmlands and how it has affected the locals. However, the farmers point them in the direction of a large house seeming to be the start of the downfall of the land while also being connected to a local folktale and missing children.
I found it a little difficult to follow—only because it went into detail of the many different inhabitants of the house and their connection to the folktale over the years. How it was formated could have been done better, yet I still got the gist of the story and what happened to the multitude of characters. I do wish this was more frightening. I'm not really one to enjoy the paranormal but this entire book didn't bring that fear factor. It was a thought-provoking read, and the story is somewhat unique that I do recommend this book—I just feel that there could have been more done with it....more
3.5 stars *ARC provided by Random House Publishing. This will be published on July 19, 2022*
I think this would have been received better as an audioboo3.5 stars *ARC provided by Random House Publishing. This will be published on July 19, 2022*
I think this would have been received better as an audiobook. Overall it was enjoyable but not memorable. For being a sister's/sibling story and having a beautiful and intriguing atmosphere of somewhere around 500 AD in England, it had aspects that were lacking. It's entirely character-driven but even with little plot, I expected more. Isla is much more 'see things for what they are' while her sister Blue is the mysterious and observing of the two. There was almost a lack of communication. Everything seemed very surface level with deeper information being sidelined or not cared for to be brought into this story and so it diminished what this could have been....more
Does he fuck? Fuck he does! Monster smut is one thing but to get started and find out it's polyamorous mons3.5 STARS Read for @MJ Kaur's Wheeb Book Club
Does he fuck? Fuck he does! Monster smut is one thing but to get started and find out it's polyamorous monster smut—that's a different story. (A good story)
We got a plus-sized witch MC and multiple hot monster men absolutely obsessed and courting her. I have to say, I was crying in single that I can't even get one single man to act that way to me lmaoo.
Lillian does an amazing job character building, especially in regards to each individual's personality and backstory. There was no confusion about who was who and each character had something uniquely likable and interesting about them. Overall, it was very romantic and even highly emotional and certain points....more
This one was disappointing for me—compared to LaRocca's other work, this book fell flat. The focus story gave very little and I found myself no3 stars
This one was disappointing for me—compared to LaRocca's other work, this book fell flat. The focus story gave very little and I found myself not interested in it. The novella within this story was the most interesting and the flipping back and forth between the characters we are following and the novella was frustrating since I only cared about one.
So let's talk about the novella. Despite how good it was, it also wasn't that original as I've read stuff like it before, however, I was connected to the characters within. A videogame that may be a videogame within a videogame with constant repetitions and deaths was a mindfuck but was super engaging to read. It was the only aspect that kept me reading and for that, I still recommend this book....more
3.5 stars ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This will be published April 21, 2022.
This book was significantly bet3.5 stars ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This will be published April 21, 2022.
This book was significantly better than the last in the Exes and Exits series. I found it easier to read and less repetive—keeping my attention on the book instead of my surroundings. Aaron and Greta's story tackles the hard battle of inner strength and character growth. A redemption arc in many ways. This was a great addition to the series!...more
3 stars Upsetting and ugly novella following the ins and outs of drunkenness and hangovers of the sailor McGlue. The writing is chaotic and all over th3 stars Upsetting and ugly novella following the ins and outs of drunkenness and hangovers of the sailor McGlue. The writing is chaotic and all over the place making you feel as though you too are experiencing thoughts under the influence. This was brilliant in a sense of writing but the overall story wasn't my cup of tea. McGlue expresses homophobia inwardly and outwardly, especially with his verbiage and as a narrator entirely unreliable regarding the events of the story....more
3 stars I held off for a bit before writing this review because I truly needed to get all my thoughts in a row. CoHo, this was another miss. Be it may 3 stars I held off for a bit before writing this review because I truly needed to get all my thoughts in a row. CoHo, this was another miss. Be it may that this was better than some of her "romance" novels, yet still poorly done and unoriginal. Nothing surprised me, nothing gave me a thrill or brought on fear while reading. And the plot twist didn't give me an "OMG WTF" moment. I've read bad thrillers before that were better than this.
Now, CoHo is great at writing walking red flags and just overall horrible characters—that isn't something new or extraordinary. Every single character was fucked up in one way or another whether you are on one team or the other (you will understand that if you read the book). As far as all the tropes she used in this book, most overdone, I guessed everything from the beginning.
With all of that out of the way, this book was still entertaining to read, you know, kind of like watching a shit movie that you know is a shit movie just because it's a simple pleasure? One of those.
3 stars Taryn (derogatory) This little letter did nothing but confirm? seal the deal? verify? my utter hatred over Taryn and my absolute love and adorat3 stars Taryn (derogatory) This little letter did nothing but confirm? seal the deal? verify? my utter hatred over Taryn and my absolute love and adoration of Jude. Nothing more—nothing less....more
Taking place in mid 80's cul de sac of Hammend, a smal****************NOW AVAILABLE****************
3 stars ARC provided by Penguin Group Publishing
Taking place in mid 80's cul de sac of Hammend, a small town of about 5000 people, located in New Jersey. We are thrown into the story of Borka—or more well-known as Bee—and the summer that uprooted and set off-balance her life along with the towns. It all happened that summer day at Deer Chase Lake when their four-and-a-half-year-old neighborhood friend, Sally, went missing; lost amidst the populated sands of the sweltering summer heat.
The town got flipped on its axis, never having such tragedy and chaos happen in its midst. As suspicions, searches, secrets, and gossip pursue—Bee's home life, relationship with her parents, and majorly her sister, Audrina, becomes strained. Family grows apart, friendships grow apart, innocence vanishes, and life keeps moving on but only with more obstacles to face.
Overall this story was very catching and sad however at many parts I started to skim. Soo many nostalgic feels as well as reminders of carefree times and innocence. It was gripping in the best moments....more
3 stars Everything draws back to The Lonely Motel. The story begins with Angel entering his booked stay in room 6. He orders a plus-sized escort, Shyla3 stars Everything draws back to The Lonely Motel. The story begins with Angel entering his booked stay in room 6. He orders a plus-sized escort, Shyla, to be his guest, and listen to his disgusting and vile stories, but all with an ulterior motive.
Shyla kept mentioning how she gages if her clients are dangerous or off and she didn't get that vibe from Angel while I was sitting there reading like... even without knowing this man's thoughts he gives me the creeps and protrudes bad energy lmaoo.
As far as 'extreme horror', it lacked, but it was downright disturbing and had me needing the story to be complete to see if my personal theories would be correct....more
Sometimes... authors should stick to what they are good at.
This could have been good. The CL ladies know how to write romance—top tier in my opinion rSometimes... authors should stick to what they are good at.
This could have been good. The CL ladies know how to write romance—top tier in my opinion regarding intimacy: the sexual and non-sexual, those skin warming and heart-bursting moments between characters with dynamic and exquisite connection. That is the only reason this book isn't a one-star rating.
Unfortunately, this overall didn't work for me. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't a good book. This wild west treasure hunt gone berserk x100 just was off the mark.
*This gets into some spoilers now so exit if you don't want to know*
We have two characters who were hiding their horrible initial reasons for going on this little man's trip. Steal a special notebook, marked with codes and maps across the land to find some hidden away money from the past. So of course—a gun and threats once being found out. But ooooooh we didn't know about the second dude yet at this point but gun guy ends up falling off a cliff and dying. This then leads them on the quest to find the money. Fast forward and two random dudes come threaten the FMC and MMC and tie them up. They escape but then the second dude shows up out of nowhere after telling them he was heading home... Wow look, he's another bad guy that used this trip to walk all over the MMC and the FMC. Police are called, all the bad people get arrested, FMC and MMC find the money and everyone lives happily ever after. Now, this premise would be fine but this stuff just didn't work well. If it would have just been the man's trip and the little quirky games on the initial plan with cute moments of rekindling the old flame/second chance romance, and then the two MC's doing the quest together without all the trauma-inducing drama, I would have enjoyed this much more....more
3.5 stars Thank you Bold Strokes Books INC. for this arc in exchange for an honest review. This will be published on February 15th, 2022.
This wasn't a 3.5 stars Thank you Bold Strokes Books INC. for this arc in exchange for an honest review. This will be published on February 15th, 2022.
This wasn't a bad book per se but it took me a long while to get into the story. I thought that maybe it could have been the writing style at first, but truthfully, the first 100 pages just didn't do anything to grab my attention. The author was giving us a lot of back story regarding the two fmc's and for me, it was just kinda a bore.
Things started to pick up once Dani decided to give a go with the all-female escort agency to broaden her horizons and test the waters with her attraction to women as well as hopefully gain sexual experience with it. This is where she meets the CEO of the agency, Ryan. Ryan has been working behind the scenes for the past few years but when Dani's screening entry came in—she was intrigued. Speaking on the phone with Dani, Ryan became enthralled with her and decided to put herself back in the escorting service as an escort just for Dani and Dani only. Push comes to shove, they both start falling for each other and shit gets complicated and emotions/feelings are suppressed and communication is nowhere to be seen or heard.
This isn't an original idea, as this has been done before. However, I did find it good for what it was however it was messily made. At some points, the book felt lagging and repetitive and I found myself skimming over the pages trying to get to anything new. The BDSM wasn't anything crazy either but I felt like that wasn't the head point of this book... it definitely felt more sweet and tender all around.
Overall I would say that I enjoyed the read but it wasn't very impactful....more
3.5 stars Thank you Atria Books for this ARC! ♥︎ "Hate" is a strong word and as a society, we tend to use it widely for a differing severity of conv3.5 stars Thank you Atria Books for this ARC! ♥︎ "Hate" is a strong word and as a society, we tend to use it widely for a differing severity of conversing. When in actuality, the definition of "hate" is the intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury or extreme dislike or disgust. (Merriam Webster)
As far as the internet goes, not every disagreeing or even threatening comment is derived from hate. Yes, there is a broad range and many can be, but an expanse usually derives from frustration, confusion, misunderstanding, or simply a bad day. Marron takes a chance by diving deep into his HATE FOLDER,—a digitized folder filled with screenshots of comments left from his "haters" or rather disagreers, to find those of which he can engage in a conversational piece delving into many deemed political topics.
This book is refreshing in a way. It's a beautiful work that makes you think about things in ways you never thought you could think about things. A fact that we are all human behind the screens of the ever-so-popular social media. Empathy is a big factor among the many, and just having a conversation rather than deflecting within debates, can do more justice than speaking out to those already agreeing on your part....more