bmartell's reviews
39 reviews

Funny Story by Emily Henry

medium-paced

4.5

Emily Henry books hit all the right spots for me. Her male leads are always just different fonts of the same word, but in the best way. The story swept me away and really fell in love with the romance between the main two. 

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

fast-paced

3.0

This author always delivers with a great little rom com. I eat it up every time!

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

medium-paced

3.25

This book.. whew. It pulled me in at the start, I felt a bit confused and bored in the middle, and then I was punching the air at the end for not guessing. I’m so intrigued to see where this story goes in the next two books because this one left me confuuuused. Something about it is keeping me engaged, so let’s see where it goes…

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

tense medium-paced

2.5

I don't think the layout of this book, with all of the time skipping, was for me. I usually love a right person, wrong time trope, don’t get me wrong. Having this trope paired with characters that I just never fully fell in love with or particularly had reason to like… it made it hard to enjoy. I think people who prefer stories with messier characters would enjoy this for sure.

Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

This book was everything you want from a romance book. It hit all the right boxes, and I did enjoy myself. There was something I didn’t fully connect with when it came to the characters, but I consider this a great beach or plane read.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Somehow a book about machines had me invested and crying, and yet simultaneously incredibly uncomfortable. This author writes found families so well, even when they’re made up of machines.

The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh

lighthearted fast-paced

2.0

Surprised to rate this so low. I’ve loved all of Catherine Walsh’s romances so much and this one started off promising. There came a point about 40% through though where I got the creepiest energy from the main male character. I couldn’t unsee it as a I read. I also really felt like this story lacked the usual depth that gives to her characters, main and side.

Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.75

I’m always a sucker for a story about love just missing each other over and over. This one fell a bit flat for me. It just felt like it was trying too hard to be something that already exists. 

One Night Only by Catherine Walsh

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

The banter!!! This author absolutely never misses with the conversation and dialogue. I was truly giggling throughout the whole story. 

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

This story was quaint and fun to read. In some moments, I felt as though the story was dragging on a bit. But overall, the story was enjoyable. I like that it engaged a larger plot outside of the two main characters.