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sarah_thebooknerd's Reviews (879)
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a cute romcom and take on the movie, Father of the Bride.
I loved the dad jokes/puns, the Italian food, discussion of grief, queer wedding planning, sibling relationship, friendship between Toby and Pipp just it worked! This is a great childhood friends to lovers romance.
I think this would have been a 5 star if I had Toby's perspective honestly, I wanted to understand more about him and his motivations, feelings and I would have just melted completely. But if you want a quick, fun and easy romcom this is definitely going to give you all of that!
I loved the dad jokes/puns, the Italian food, discussion of grief, queer wedding planning, sibling relationship, friendship between Toby and Pipp just it worked! This is a great childhood friends to lovers romance.
I think this would have been a 5 star if I had Toby's perspective honestly, I wanted to understand more about him and his motivations, feelings and I would have just melted completely. But if you want a quick, fun and easy romcom this is definitely going to give you all of that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 star
This is another coming of age tale set in the 1980s that was beautiful but hard at times for the amount of things these young kids were going through. Ari, is a young teen who is navigating loneliness, mental health, friendships, family dynamics and overall just the normal pressure of just being a kid. Dante is dealing with being comfortable in himself and knowing that he likes boys but the rest of the world in this time period is not open to him and that was heartbreaking. Ari, even had to wrestle with learning to be a good friend and how to be supportive to Dante with the world that wants to harm him. Ari is also trying to figure out his own sexuality. I think the end was good but it almost wrapped up too perfectly with what was going on. I am going to read the sequel to see what happens next.
I will say this about the book- I had run across a post that said this book was transphobic and harmful towards trans people. I am not going to gloss over that in this review or make it seem like those feelings are not valid. I think it can be hard to listen to why Ari's brother went to prison and how Ari learns and talks about it to Dante. Other trans people have said that for the time period this book is very realistic for the language used for trans people and Ari was just a kid who has never been exposed to any trans characters that we saw. I can see both perspectives but it is not my place to side with one part of a community I am not apart of. Just know that there is a concern with it.
This is another coming of age tale set in the 1980s that was beautiful but hard at times for the amount of things these young kids were going through. Ari, is a young teen who is navigating loneliness, mental health, friendships, family dynamics and overall just the normal pressure of just being a kid. Dante is dealing with being comfortable in himself and knowing that he likes boys but the rest of the world in this time period is not open to him and that was heartbreaking. Ari, even had to wrestle with learning to be a good friend and how to be supportive to Dante with the world that wants to harm him. Ari is also trying to figure out his own sexuality. I think the end was good but it almost wrapped up too perfectly with what was going on. I am going to read the sequel to see what happens next.
I will say this about the book- I had run across a post that said this book was transphobic and harmful towards trans people. I am not going to gloss over that in this review or make it seem like those feelings are not valid. I think it can be hard to listen to why Ari's brother went to prison and how Ari learns and talks about it to Dante. Other trans people have said that for the time period this book is very realistic for the language used for trans people and Ari was just a kid who has never been exposed to any trans characters that we saw. I can see both perspectives but it is not my place to side with one part of a community I am not apart of. Just know that there is a concern with it.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This YA coming of age tale deals with some tough subject matter- navigating coming out, homophobia, racism, toxic friendships, mental health/ suicidal ideation, bullying and religious indoctrination.
Yami is a 16 year old Mexican teenager who is trying to navigate private Catholic School with her brother after he dealt with some issues at the public school and Yami was outed as a Lesbian by her best friend. She has a lot of pressure to be the "good" daughter and protect her younger brother and work to help the family. I related with the perfectionist and having to care for younger siblings aspect of the book and how hard that role is to carry. The fear that Yami carries with being outed at the new school and with her family made me cry. I cannot imagine that fear that so many young LGBTQIA2s+ people feel but that they do not have the support they need just makes me so sad. The teens at the school making fun of queer people and the racist comments made my heart even heavier for these young kids having to deal with so much at such a young age.
This is an important book for kids to have and feel seen in.
Yami is a 16 year old Mexican teenager who is trying to navigate private Catholic School with her brother after he dealt with some issues at the public school and Yami was outed as a Lesbian by her best friend. She has a lot of pressure to be the "good" daughter and protect her younger brother and work to help the family. I related with the perfectionist and having to care for younger siblings aspect of the book and how hard that role is to carry. The fear that Yami carries with being outed at the new school and with her family made me cry. I cannot imagine that fear that so many young LGBTQIA2s+ people feel but that they do not have the support they need just makes me so sad. The teens at the school making fun of queer people and the racist comments made my heart even heavier for these young kids having to deal with so much at such a young age.
This is an important book for kids to have and feel seen in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this was cute and I really enjoyed it a lot. I read it via audio and the narration was great. The fake dating, grandma, family and just overall build to the couple worked for me and I enjoyed this romcom a lot. I cannot wait to read more Mimi grace.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this is cute, the duet narration with the audio was good but The book sort of went in a weird direction towards the end. Like there were all these extra bonus chapters that I am not sure were needed. But overall it was cute.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
| I enjoyed this enemies to lovers, polyamory romance with Annie, Sigrid and Garrus. The 3 of them balance out each other. This is a paranormal romance with vampires and shifters teaming up to take on the world. This book had some slow parts and factored into some pacing issues with balancing with the action and character development. I think if that had been worked out more I would have enjoyed it more.
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my first Nalini Singh and I really enjoyed her writing and this story. This book tackles domestic violence and stalking from a previous partner of the FMC so please read with care.
T-Rex, MMC is everything and I really loved him a lot. This is an office romance with the boss and assistant and it really worked for me. Great build, spice and side plot point was good!
T-Rex, MMC is everything and I really loved him a lot. This is an office romance with the boss and assistant and it really worked for me. Great build, spice and side plot point was good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking
I was trying this book out to see how I would like it so I’m not going to rate it since I’m not an avid dark romance reader. I will share my thoughts below.
It started pretty strong if I’m not lying I was getting into the storyline of this hockey player being obsessed with the woman who will not give him the time of day.
It’s a little weird to me to risk losing your entire career over someone you met 1 time by stalking her and becoming obsessed but at least she knows he’s all in.
Then…. The plot thickened with another psychopath stalker.
We get some sweet and spicy moments I was digging and heartbreak for the couple.
Then bam 💥 3 years later love interest is going to hunt her down and force marriage and wants revenge on the psycho stalker. Okay… then this where I started to get bored at the 80% mark before DNFing.
The MMC is an alpha hole controlling jealous the whole nine yards and freaks if she so much as blinks at another man he wants to murder them and that repeated through the whole book and was annoying. Coupled with her shock of how he would react to finding out all the stuff the psycho stalker man did to her and she thinks that the Alphahole is going to just be like cool cool. Come on….
The love parts became pretty cheesy and I just needed more action, less pages, less repetition and honestly better CW.
Please note there are CW provided by the author but I would add the following: car accident, drugging, death on page, murder, and rape - author had that it was off page but it’s not if you go into detail so please be advised ( of minor in detail recounted and as adult).
I can definitely see the appeal and this book hooked me in the beginning for sure and even when he found her 3 yrs later but I think it should have wrapped up earlier with the side stalker plot-line.
It started pretty strong if I’m not lying I was getting into the storyline of this hockey player being obsessed with the woman who will not give him the time of day.
It’s a little weird to me to risk losing your entire career over someone you met 1 time by stalking her and becoming obsessed but at least she knows he’s all in.
Then…. The plot thickened with another psychopath stalker.
We get some sweet and spicy moments I was digging and heartbreak for the couple.
Then bam 💥 3 years later love interest is going to hunt her down and force marriage and wants revenge on the psycho stalker. Okay… then this where I started to get bored at the 80% mark before DNFing.
The MMC is an alpha hole controlling jealous the whole nine yards and freaks if she so much as blinks at another man he wants to murder them and that repeated through the whole book and was annoying. Coupled with her shock of how he would react to finding out all the stuff the psycho stalker man did to her and she thinks that the Alphahole is going to just be like cool cool. Come on….
The love parts became pretty cheesy and I just needed more action, less pages, less repetition and honestly better CW.
Please note there are CW provided by the author but I would add the following: car accident, drugging, death on page, murder, and rape - author had that it was off page but it’s not if you go into detail so please be advised ( of minor in detail recounted and as adult).
I can definitely see the appeal and this book hooked me in the beginning for sure and even when he found her 3 yrs later but I think it should have wrapped up earlier with the side stalker plot-line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This has to be one of the best romance books I have read and this is just part of their love story. Part 3 the final part is out now and we get to see their happy ending.
The pining and way that Mal and Chris cannot stop being with one another is just so beautiful and heartbreaking and I want to go to war against anyone that keeps them apart!
The pining and way that Mal and Chris cannot stop being with one another is just so beautiful and heartbreaking and I want to go to war against anyone that keeps them apart!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Annie needs to go out on a book tour but has a stalker so a bodyguard is hired. Miles is this hyperactive golden retriever type character and I enjoyed that spin. Normally the bodyguards are always these broody grumps. I related to Annie's character a lot with her anxiety. Annie is at a crossroads with her person life sort of meshing with the writer persona that was created with her friend/ employee.
I enjoyed the book a lot and Maggie has a signature writing style for sure that brings me some comfort and job. I did struggle with a couple things, the whole black ops bodyguard agency was a little hard to believe and the stalker plot was pretty predictable for a suspense side of the book. One thing I always struggle to some degree with Maggie's books is the pet names and just how overused they are and this one is no different. I know some people do not care but pet names always scrape my brain a bit and with how frequent it was used it definitely was scratching the brain nerves.
But if you just go with the vibes, funny moments, spice, romance build this is an enjoyable romance.
I enjoyed the book a lot and Maggie has a signature writing style for sure that brings me some comfort and job. I did struggle with a couple things, the whole black ops bodyguard agency was a little hard to believe and the stalker plot was pretty predictable for a suspense side of the book. One thing I always struggle to some degree with Maggie's books is the pet names and just how overused they are and this one is no different. I know some people do not care but pet names always scrape my brain a bit and with how frequent it was used it definitely was scratching the brain nerves.
But if you just go with the vibes, funny moments, spice, romance build this is an enjoyable romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail