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Red River Road by Anna Downes
3.25
Read Completed 3/29/25 | 3.25 stars | Book #43 of 2025
This was just an okay read for me! I picked it up after seeing someone give it 5 stars on BookTok and it's been rolling around my Libby holds ever since. I finally picked it up and I didn't really fall in love with it, but it did have some good things going for it.
The book started out well and there were pieces of intrigue right from the start. There were a few different POVs that made me wonder how everything was going to come together, and the reader's mind will start to wander as they try to piece the full story together. I liked the pacing for the most part, but the ending kind of lost me. There was still a fair bit of the book left when it felt like things were coming to a point, and then we got another twist (which I actually liked) that kept it going even more. I kind of wished that had all been one long string of action instead of some clunkier parts that didn't really seem to flow well.
I really did like one of the twists that came out in the end, but I wished it was more the focus than other parts of the reveal had been. The rest of the book didn't seem to hit as hard because I was processing a couple things at the same time and I really just wanted to sit with the one big psychological twist.
Ultimately, this was just a fine read for me, but easily forgettable. Not a bad read at all and I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it, but I can't see myself rushing out to recommend it.
This was just an okay read for me! I picked it up after seeing someone give it 5 stars on BookTok and it's been rolling around my Libby holds ever since. I finally picked it up and I didn't really fall in love with it, but it did have some good things going for it.
The book started out well and there were pieces of intrigue right from the start. There were a few different POVs that made me wonder how everything was going to come together, and the reader's mind will start to wander as they try to piece the full story together. I liked the pacing for the most part, but the ending kind of lost me. There was still a fair bit of the book left when it felt like things were coming to a point, and then we got another twist (which I actually liked) that kept it going even more. I kind of wished that had all been one long string of action instead of some clunkier parts that didn't really seem to flow well.
I really did like one of the twists that came out in the end, but I wished it was more the focus than other parts of the reveal had been. The rest of the book didn't seem to hit as hard because I was processing a couple things at the same time and I really just wanted to sit with the one big psychological twist.
Ultimately, this was just a fine read for me, but easily forgettable. Not a bad read at all and I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it, but I can't see myself rushing out to recommend it.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
5.0
<b>Read Completed 3/21/25 |</b> 4.5 - 5 stars | Book #37 of 2025
I was very skeptical about this, not having really cared for A BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES, but damn if this didn't hit me in the nostalgic feels. Was it the best book ever written? Nah. Was it better than the original Hunger Games trilogy? No. But I'm usually a sucker for anything canon in my favorite fictional worlds, and I really loved seeing Haymitch's story.
Obviously Haymitch is an important person in the original trilogy being the District 12 mentor, but his story is also important because he was the winner of the second Quarter Quell / the 50th Hunger Games, and Suzanne Collins adds to his importance here as well with how his games went and his involvement with the other important players that we see in THE HUNGER GAMES and CATCHING FIRE. I also really liked learning exactly why he was driven to drink and drive everyone away. When we see him in THE HUNGER GAMES, he's still a shell of a person. When we first see him in SUNRISE OVER THE REAPING, he has a mother, brother, and girlfriend who he plans to eventually marry. I could only guess what was going to happen to them, but finding out his evolution through the events just gutted me.
The beginning was just a little bumpy for me. I immediately liked that it had original trilogy vibes, and obviously we'd get a lot of that being that Haymitch had to go through the reaping, the ceremonies, and all of the things that Katniss did so we get TONS of nostalgia there. There were moments where the writing really wasn't that great, but I liked getting to know the other tributes and I liked seeing Haymitch's personality start to come through. Once the games started, it was another round of non-stop action while still building character and I really enjoyed it just as much as I did when I first read THE HUNGER GAMES. We obviously know how it ends since we see Haymitch as a mentor in THG, but I was still dying to find out how everything all played out. I was riveted.
The ending just broke my heart! It was even worse than I thought it could be, despite everything I knew about this world, and yet, I still loved the whole book. I don't know how others will like it (in fact, I've already seen many terrible reviews), but I just ate it up. I didn't care how good the writing was and didn't care to critique it -- I had so much fun being back in the world, I loved learning more lore and history of this world, and I'd read a whole ton of other prequels too. Let's go to Finnick next!
My complaints/questions (skip if you want to avoid spoilers):
- Why does everyone in District 12 know each other? Isn't it supposed to be the size of like, three states? How does everyone gather in one spot for the reaping? Do they only live in one VERY small part of the region? Like, what are the odds that Haymitch knew Katniss's parents and was like best friends with them? Was Katniss (via Prim) being picked ALSO rigged because Snow knew Haymitch was once close with them? (Edit: it appears as though Katniss says in the beginning of The Hunger Games that to population of District 12 is about 8000 people, confirmed by a Wiki. I guess it really is that small!)
- I had a love/hate relationship with all of the appearances of characters we've known and seen. There are a BUNCH. Some of it makes sense with it being the 2nd Quarter Quell and previous victors being involved. We also see some other characters and it almost felt like overload? Or maybe it makes sense. I loved seeing them but it also felt like maybe realistically they wouldn't all be there AND be so important to Katniss in the future.
- I also had a love/hate relationship with the epilogue. I liked seeing mentions of Haymitch's POV after everything, and yet, I think I would have liked it better if it wasn't just like, a couple paragraphs essentially. It went by so quickly. I think I need another look at it since it went by my ears very quickly. I'll read that part again when I get the physical book.
I was very skeptical about this, not having really cared for A BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES, but damn if this didn't hit me in the nostalgic feels. Was it the best book ever written? Nah. Was it better than the original Hunger Games trilogy? No. But I'm usually a sucker for anything canon in my favorite fictional worlds, and I really loved seeing Haymitch's story.
Obviously Haymitch is an important person in the original trilogy being the District 12 mentor, but his story is also important because he was the winner of the second Quarter Quell / the 50th Hunger Games, and Suzanne Collins adds to his importance here as well with how his games went and his involvement with the other important players that we see in THE HUNGER GAMES and CATCHING FIRE. I also really liked learning exactly why he was driven to drink and drive everyone away. When we see him in THE HUNGER GAMES, he's still a shell of a person. When we first see him in SUNRISE OVER THE REAPING, he has a mother, brother, and girlfriend who he plans to eventually marry. I could only guess what was going to happen to them, but finding out his evolution through the events just gutted me.
The beginning was just a little bumpy for me. I immediately liked that it had original trilogy vibes, and obviously we'd get a lot of that being that Haymitch had to go through the reaping, the ceremonies, and all of the things that Katniss did so we get TONS of nostalgia there. There were moments where the writing really wasn't that great, but I liked getting to know the other tributes and I liked seeing Haymitch's personality start to come through. Once the games started, it was another round of non-stop action while still building character and I really enjoyed it just as much as I did when I first read THE HUNGER GAMES. We obviously know how it ends since we see Haymitch as a mentor in THG, but I was still dying to find out how everything all played out. I was riveted.
The ending just broke my heart! It was even worse than I thought it could be, despite everything I knew about this world, and yet, I still loved the whole book. I don't know how others will like it (in fact, I've already seen many terrible reviews), but I just ate it up. I didn't care how good the writing was and didn't care to critique it -- I had so much fun being back in the world, I loved learning more lore and history of this world, and I'd read a whole ton of other prequels too. Let's go to Finnick next!
My complaints/questions (skip if you want to avoid spoilers):
- Why does everyone in District 12 know each other? Isn't it supposed to be the size of like, three states? How does everyone gather in one spot for the reaping? Do they only live in one VERY small part of the region? Like, what are the odds that Haymitch knew Katniss's parents and was like best friends with them? Was Katniss (via Prim) being picked ALSO rigged because Snow knew Haymitch was once close with them? (Edit: it appears as though Katniss says in the beginning of The Hunger Games that to population of District 12 is about 8000 people, confirmed by a Wiki. I guess it really is that small!)
- I had a love/hate relationship with all of the appearances of characters we've known and seen. There are a BUNCH. Some of it makes sense with it being the 2nd Quarter Quell and previous victors being involved. We also see some other characters and it almost felt like overload? Or maybe it makes sense. I loved seeing them but it also felt like maybe realistically they wouldn't all be there AND be so important to Katniss in the future.
- I also had a love/hate relationship with the epilogue. I liked seeing mentions of Haymitch's POV after everything, and yet, I think I would have liked it better if it wasn't just like, a couple paragraphs essentially. It went by so quickly. I think I need another look at it since it went by my ears very quickly. I'll read that part again when I get the physical book.
The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon
4.0
Read Completed 3/20/25 | 4 stars | Read #36 of 2025
I have a complicated relationship with these books! I always enjoy them, hence the 4 star rating, and yet, five books later, I STILL feel like I'm on the outside of something I'm never quite understanding. I think I'm finally pin-pointing my reasons why I'm not fully into this series, though!
1. I actually think I would have liked this whole series better with either A) third person POV or B) a second POV. I love Paige and I think she's a great lead character, but there are just some things I don't want from her POV. I wish we got more politics and world-building from a third person perspective or from some other POV that is outside of Paige's experience. I don't know if I'd want that POV to be Arcturus... probably not, actually, but maybe Nick or Jaxon or someone close to Paige but who provides a balanced feel to the book. Even Paige admits she's a lot of action, she's young, she's on the move and doesn't want to stay in one place. But I feel like for the political aspect and the world-building aspect, we kind of NEED someone in one place because I cannot keep any of these smaller characters straight.
2. Granted, I read this series in a binge up until this book, but I still don't know who most of these minor characters are, and that's taking away from my enjoyment of the book. The Wiki for this book isn't always great for characters, so I have a hard time remember who they are or their histories or why they're important. Especially when some flit in and out, especially when we're moving from country to country every book. I wish we had more character development for some of them across multiple books so I could care about them more. When I first read THE BONE SEASON, I was excited for maybe a found family trope (which ended up being a really toxic found family in a lot of ways haha) but I just wanted to CONNECT with people. I'm not doing that aside from Paige & Arcturus.
Okay, at least I've figured out what I'm not enjoying. BUT I still do really enjoy being inside these stories!! I like the world, I love Paige, I'm actually loving the romance now which I was totally opposed to when I first read THE BONE SEASON (though not when I re-read it as the revised version). I'm happy we're moving forward with the romance subplot and I'm really liking the character development, watching them grow individually and how they support each other growing together.
The politics are intriguing, but I also wish I connected to it more. I feel like we could dig into something a little deeper and I kind of feel like we're just rehashing the same political concept over and over again. SCION is bad. They have a new faction in this country. Fight here. Repeat. I need this to go somewhere new.
I feel like this could have been a five book series instead of seven, with some of these middle books being condensed down. Now I'm afraid of getting into book 6 when it finally comes because I'm not rereading these and I'm going to forget so much.
Anyway, this was a lot of constructive feedback, but I really did still enjoy it. It's hard via audiobook sometimes because my brain just does not focus on these books so I really, really have to pay attention. When the action is high or the character arc is deep, it's easy to lock in. It's the slower moments sometimes where I zone out so I really have to work to focus!
I have a complicated relationship with these books! I always enjoy them, hence the 4 star rating, and yet, five books later, I STILL feel like I'm on the outside of something I'm never quite understanding. I think I'm finally pin-pointing my reasons why I'm not fully into this series, though!
1. I actually think I would have liked this whole series better with either A) third person POV or B) a second POV. I love Paige and I think she's a great lead character, but there are just some things I don't want from her POV. I wish we got more politics and world-building from a third person perspective or from some other POV that is outside of Paige's experience. I don't know if I'd want that POV to be Arcturus... probably not, actually, but maybe Nick or Jaxon or someone close to Paige but who provides a balanced feel to the book. Even Paige admits she's a lot of action, she's young, she's on the move and doesn't want to stay in one place. But I feel like for the political aspect and the world-building aspect, we kind of NEED someone in one place because I cannot keep any of these smaller characters straight.
2. Granted, I read this series in a binge up until this book, but I still don't know who most of these minor characters are, and that's taking away from my enjoyment of the book. The Wiki for this book isn't always great for characters, so I have a hard time remember who they are or their histories or why they're important. Especially when some flit in and out, especially when we're moving from country to country every book. I wish we had more character development for some of them across multiple books so I could care about them more. When I first read THE BONE SEASON, I was excited for maybe a found family trope (which ended up being a really toxic found family in a lot of ways haha) but I just wanted to CONNECT with people. I'm not doing that aside from Paige & Arcturus.
Okay, at least I've figured out what I'm not enjoying. BUT I still do really enjoy being inside these stories!! I like the world, I love Paige, I'm actually loving the romance now which I was totally opposed to when I first read THE BONE SEASON (though not when I re-read it as the revised version). I'm happy we're moving forward with the romance subplot and I'm really liking the character development, watching them grow individually and how they support each other growing together.
The politics are intriguing, but I also wish I connected to it more. I feel like we could dig into something a little deeper and I kind of feel like we're just rehashing the same political concept over and over again. SCION is bad. They have a new faction in this country. Fight here. Repeat. I need this to go somewhere new.
I feel like this could have been a five book series instead of seven, with some of these middle books being condensed down. Now I'm afraid of getting into book 6 when it finally comes because I'm not rereading these and I'm going to forget so much.
Anyway, this was a lot of constructive feedback, but I really did still enjoy it. It's hard via audiobook sometimes because my brain just does not focus on these books so I really, really have to pay attention. When the action is high or the character arc is deep, it's easy to lock in. It's the slower moments sometimes where I zone out so I really have to work to focus!
A Killer Harvest by Paul Cleave
4.0
Read Completed 3/15/25 | 4 stars | Book #35 of 2025
I think this author was a TikTok recommendation, and not even this book, but when I saw it available at my library, I dove right in and was pleasantly surprised! I wasn't sure how over-the-top this was going to be with a plot involving an eye-transplant and cellular memory, but it really wasn't popcorn-y at all to me! I think the author did a great job developing the characters, setting the scene, and bringing the concept in at the right times. It wasn't overused until the end where it started to really come more and more into play as the situation escalates.
I just really clicked with the writing, and that's honestly one of the most important things for me when reading a book. There's no way to predict if I will or won't, so I'm happy this worked out for me! I really haven't seen anything at all about this author or this book (it has less than 1300 ratings / 250 reviews on Goodreads) so I'm glad I took a chance!
I think this author was a TikTok recommendation, and not even this book, but when I saw it available at my library, I dove right in and was pleasantly surprised! I wasn't sure how over-the-top this was going to be with a plot involving an eye-transplant and cellular memory, but it really wasn't popcorn-y at all to me! I think the author did a great job developing the characters, setting the scene, and bringing the concept in at the right times. It wasn't overused until the end where it started to really come more and more into play as the situation escalates.
I just really clicked with the writing, and that's honestly one of the most important things for me when reading a book. There's no way to predict if I will or won't, so I'm happy this worked out for me! I really haven't seen anything at all about this author or this book (it has less than 1300 ratings / 250 reviews on Goodreads) so I'm glad I took a chance!
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
2.0
Read Completed 3/14/25 | 2 stars | Book #34 of 2025
This was BOOOORING. I thought it would be a little slower than say, a sci-fi thriller, but it was not a thriller. Which is fine! But if it was supposed to character-driven, the characters were just as dull as the plot. There wasn't enough development for me to care about anyone and every concept that was happening took multiple, long chapters to play out.
By the time it got to something interesting at 50%, I was already so checked out that I just didn't care. But then it still didn't even get interesting from there!! I finally skimmed my way through the last chapters because I just couldn't take it anymore.
I can see the appeal this has if you're into it but I just wasn't. Bad time for me at the very least, but this just wasn't what I was hoping for.
This was BOOOORING. I thought it would be a little slower than say, a sci-fi thriller, but it was not a thriller. Which is fine! But if it was supposed to character-driven, the characters were just as dull as the plot. There wasn't enough development for me to care about anyone and every concept that was happening took multiple, long chapters to play out.
By the time it got to something interesting at 50%, I was already so checked out that I just didn't care. But then it still didn't even get interesting from there!! I finally skimmed my way through the last chapters because I just couldn't take it anymore.
I can see the appeal this has if you're into it but I just wasn't. Bad time for me at the very least, but this just wasn't what I was hoping for.
On the Merits of Unnaturalness by Samantha Shannon
3.0
Read Completed 3/12/25 | 3 stars | Book #33 of 2025
I'm waiting for my hold of THE DARK MIRROR to come in and found this from Libby while looking for other things, so I figured I'd check it out! It's really helpful to see all of the different orders laid out and explained, so that was really helpful. It's something I really wanted when I was reading THE BONE SEASON for the first time, so I wish I had known about this (though I'm assuming there's a wiki. I could have always looked stuff up).
The writing of it, I didn't really like. The style was really hard to follow, sort of old Victorian vibes even though it's not that old. It just made it a little difficult to enjoy.
I also wasn't really expecting it to be like a STORY so I'm not disappointed there, but it really also isn't. It's more of an encyclopedia with a foreword and it reads like it. Overall, a little helpful but not really an actual story so it's hard to really rate.
I'm waiting for my hold of THE DARK MIRROR to come in and found this from Libby while looking for other things, so I figured I'd check it out! It's really helpful to see all of the different orders laid out and explained, so that was really helpful. It's something I really wanted when I was reading THE BONE SEASON for the first time, so I wish I had known about this (though I'm assuming there's a wiki. I could have always looked stuff up).
The writing of it, I didn't really like. The style was really hard to follow, sort of old Victorian vibes even though it's not that old. It just made it a little difficult to enjoy.
I also wasn't really expecting it to be like a STORY so I'm not disappointed there, but it really also isn't. It's more of an encyclopedia with a foreword and it reads like it. Overall, a little helpful but not really an actual story so it's hard to really rate.
Trust Issues: A Novel by Greg Wands, Elizabeth McCullough Keenan
2.0
Read Completed 3/11/25 | 2 stars | Book #32 of 2025
Talk about trust issues 😬
The book started off interesting with a mysterious death and a possible con artist... but the whole middle of the book was VERY flat. I didn't care for any of the characters, but even an unlikeable character can be interesting. It was boring to see Perry portrayed as the con artist of the book and yep, that's exactly what he was. There was no depth, no bigger story, nothing interesting about something that should be wild, exciting, and twisty. He's a scumbag - period - and we knew it almost the whole book. There could have definitely been some back and forth to make it more interesting.
The kids were not likable characters either, only going after their mother's money and having deep flaws that makes them shallow... but then as the book goes on, we're supposed to care about them? No, you can't set up a book to hate these two and then I'm supposed to care about them. The writing wasn't enough to feel like we're still poking at them or highlighting to show how flawed they are. Or at least not enough for me.
The plot was DULL. It wasn't cat-and-mouse as described. Perry literally knew nothing about this game to track him down until the end. The ONLY good twist was saved for the epilogue and I did not care one bit by the time we got to 99% complete. It was a little bomb drop at the end, but too little too late. If I hadn't read this all in one day, I can't imagine I would have come back to it. It was a 3 star book for a long time, but by the end, I just didn't care anymore and was disappointed with the writing.
Talk about trust issues 😬
The book started off interesting with a mysterious death and a possible con artist... but the whole middle of the book was VERY flat. I didn't care for any of the characters, but even an unlikeable character can be interesting. It was boring to see Perry portrayed as the con artist of the book and yep, that's exactly what he was. There was no depth, no bigger story, nothing interesting about something that should be wild, exciting, and twisty. He's a scumbag - period - and we knew it almost the whole book. There could have definitely been some back and forth to make it more interesting.
The kids were not likable characters either, only going after their mother's money and having deep flaws that makes them shallow... but then as the book goes on, we're supposed to care about them? No, you can't set up a book to hate these two and then I'm supposed to care about them. The writing wasn't enough to feel like we're still poking at them or highlighting to show how flawed they are. Or at least not enough for me.
The plot was DULL. It wasn't cat-and-mouse as described. Perry literally knew nothing about this game to track him down until the end. The ONLY good twist was saved for the epilogue and I did not care one bit by the time we got to 99% complete. It was a little bomb drop at the end, but too little too late. If I hadn't read this all in one day, I can't imagine I would have come back to it. It was a 3 star book for a long time, but by the end, I just didn't care anymore and was disappointed with the writing.
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
2.0
Read Completed 3/10/25 | 2 stars | Read #31 of 2025
This was my fault... I just have to stop reading these. I had a terrible time trying to stay focused. I just didn’t care at all. I don't really have a ton to say about it. I just haven't been interested in the plots of these books because it's just the same thing over and over again, but I'm not really feeling any momentum with the characters. It all went downhill from the police academy because I still think that was so stupid. If you see book 6 on my TBR, don't let me read it!! 😂 I think I'm done now.
This was my fault... I just have to stop reading these. I had a terrible time trying to stay focused. I just didn’t care at all. I don't really have a ton to say about it. I just haven't been interested in the plots of these books because it's just the same thing over and over again, but I'm not really feeling any momentum with the characters. It all went downhill from the police academy because I still think that was so stupid. If you see book 6 on my TBR, don't let me read it!! 😂 I think I'm done now.
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
3.0
Read Completed 3/8/25 | 3 stars | Book #30 of 2025
HMMM. I'm torn on this one. It was easy to read, easy to follow, but I had multiple issues with it.
1. It's a slow burn, which isn't always a bad thing, but you really need a bang in order for the slow burn to really land. And there is a bang but...
2. The twist is something that's been done numerous times before, has been a point of controversy about having been done before, and didn't make the slow burn worth it because it's been done before. It was surprising the first time I saw it. It felt repetitive the second time I saw it. Seeing it here... nah. If you want to know, it's 75% almost exactly likeThe Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, except the husband is just a cheater, not physically and emotionally abusive ...
3. And the ending just really didn't do it for me. I kind of liked the idea of it, but I do NOT think that it could have been pulled off at all. With all of today's technology.... just not possible. Not gonna happen. There were multiple holes in this idea and I just can't imagine it being successful.
It's kind of a hard book to talk about without spoilers, so that's really all I want to say about all of that. The beginning was interesting, but I still felt like there could have been more to it. I was interested in the characters and where the thriller part was going and was to come in, so I was still interested in the plot as a whole. I didn't really hate it when I got to the ending, but I just didn't believe it at all. I was mostly frustrated with the twist. I think I would have rather known about it the whole time, having already read this exact twist AND pacing AND reveal point multiple times before.
This will definitely land hard for a lot of readers. Will it land for seasoned thriller readers who know these books? I'm not sure.
HMMM. I'm torn on this one. It was easy to read, easy to follow, but I had multiple issues with it.
1. It's a slow burn, which isn't always a bad thing, but you really need a bang in order for the slow burn to really land. And there is a bang but...
2. The twist is something that's been done numerous times before, has been a point of controversy about having been done before, and didn't make the slow burn worth it because it's been done before. It was surprising the first time I saw it. It felt repetitive the second time I saw it. Seeing it here... nah. If you want to know, it's 75% almost exactly like
3. And the ending just really didn't do it for me. I kind of liked the idea of it, but I do NOT think that it could have been pulled off at all. With all of today's technology.... just not possible. Not gonna happen. There were multiple holes in this idea and I just can't imagine it being successful.
It's kind of a hard book to talk about without spoilers, so that's really all I want to say about all of that. The beginning was interesting, but I still felt like there could have been more to it. I was interested in the characters and where the thriller part was going and was to come in, so I was still interested in the plot as a whole. I didn't really hate it when I got to the ending, but I just didn't believe it at all. I was mostly frustrated with the twist. I think I would have rather known about it the whole time, having already read this exact twist AND pacing AND reveal point multiple times before.
This will definitely land hard for a lot of readers. Will it land for seasoned thriller readers who know these books? I'm not sure.
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
3.0
Read Completed 3/7/25 | 3 stars | Book #28 of 2025
This was my first Elsie Silver book after so much hype and this was a big old MEH for me. I don't know why, but I expected it to be much more rustic and small town and... wild. And it was small town, but the town didn't really play much of a part in it like some other small town romance books do. I wanted to see so much more from this on so many levels.
This really was solely about the romance. I read mostly romcoms and while I don't normally read more "serious" romances, I'm also not opposed to them. While WILD LOVE wasn't really *serious*, it also wasn't a romcom. It sort of just falls in the middle somewhere, having lots of lighter moments for the most part, and I actually appreciated that things that could have been VERY full of conflict weren't -- like Ford finding out he has a daughter and telling his parents about her really wasn't a big deal. The actual conflict was over things that sure, I guess I would have been upset about but I don't know if it was that big of a deal to be THE third act drama?
But really, this was all romance, no plot. Romances don't need much of a plot but I didn't really know where we were going aside from JUST falling in love. Ford is starting this new business, but that's not really a source of any struggle. Rosie just got fired from her job and moves back to her home town, but she also doesn't struggle there. Sure, her living situations are a little junky, but she really rolls with the punches and it's never a big deal. I just never really felt like there was a lot of substance here.
The characters were just.... fine. I could have used a little more from them somehow, someway, but I can't put my finger on it. They just never really felt like real people. I didn't really feel much from them in the beginning of the book, and over halfway, they started to have more real chemistry. I didn't always like their interactions and it was a little confusing because they characters kept telling us they hated each other, they were hate to love, but they never really did hate each other. It was more like mean teasing, so it felt like a mixed message. They would flirt and feel all hot, and then it was like "but I hate him!!!" Girl, no you don't. You're not fooling anyone. I also didn't like how that was used to create uncomfortable situations and then try to make them hot. No, destroying Ford's shit is not sexy. Who cares if he has money -- he likes things tidy and nice and not broken. That's not cute, that's rude and disrespectful.
The long-lost daughter thing was also a little forced for me. It was like the author made him a sperm donor JUST so they could have a daughter in the picture. I wish it had been more passionate, more a point of conflict to see more ups and downs between the two leads. Or just not include her at all -- it wasn't necessary to the plot. I did like her, but it was a little weird that the reason to donate sperm was to make $100 to go to a concert. Okay... sure.
I'm not sure if I'll pick up an Elsie Silver book again. One of the good things was that I actually didn't feel awkward listening to the spicy scenes, so those were actually written well and not uncomfortably or cheesy. But then after the two got together, the book just became a spicy scene delivery system and there really wasn't anything going with with the plot for chapters at a time. Maybe this type of romance just isn't for me!
This was my first Elsie Silver book after so much hype and this was a big old MEH for me. I don't know why, but I expected it to be much more rustic and small town and... wild. And it was small town, but the town didn't really play much of a part in it like some other small town romance books do. I wanted to see so much more from this on so many levels.
This really was solely about the romance. I read mostly romcoms and while I don't normally read more "serious" romances, I'm also not opposed to them. While WILD LOVE wasn't really *serious*, it also wasn't a romcom. It sort of just falls in the middle somewhere, having lots of lighter moments for the most part, and I actually appreciated that things that could have been VERY full of conflict weren't -- like Ford finding out he has a daughter and telling his parents about her really wasn't a big deal. The actual conflict was over things that sure, I guess I would have been upset about but I don't know if it was that big of a deal to be THE third act drama?
But really, this was all romance, no plot. Romances don't need much of a plot but I didn't really know where we were going aside from JUST falling in love. Ford is starting this new business, but that's not really a source of any struggle. Rosie just got fired from her job and moves back to her home town, but she also doesn't struggle there. Sure, her living situations are a little junky, but she really rolls with the punches and it's never a big deal. I just never really felt like there was a lot of substance here.
The characters were just.... fine. I could have used a little more from them somehow, someway, but I can't put my finger on it. They just never really felt like real people. I didn't really feel much from them in the beginning of the book, and over halfway, they started to have more real chemistry. I didn't always like their interactions and it was a little confusing because they characters kept telling us they hated each other, they were hate to love, but they never really did hate each other. It was more like mean teasing, so it felt like a mixed message. They would flirt and feel all hot, and then it was like "but I hate him!!!" Girl, no you don't. You're not fooling anyone. I also didn't like how that was used to create uncomfortable situations and then try to make them hot. No, destroying Ford's shit is not sexy. Who cares if he has money -- he likes things tidy and nice and not broken. That's not cute, that's rude and disrespectful.
The long-lost daughter thing was also a little forced for me. It was like the author made him a sperm donor JUST so they could have a daughter in the picture. I wish it had been more passionate, more a point of conflict to see more ups and downs between the two leads. Or just not include her at all -- it wasn't necessary to the plot. I did like her, but it was a little weird that the reason to donate sperm was to make $100 to go to a concert. Okay... sure.
I'm not sure if I'll pick up an Elsie Silver book again. One of the good things was that I actually didn't feel awkward listening to the spicy scenes, so those were actually written well and not uncomfortably or cheesy. But then after the two got together, the book just became a spicy scene delivery system and there really wasn't anything going with with the plot for chapters at a time. Maybe this type of romance just isn't for me!