Thanks to Berkeley, Lynn Painter, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was my first Lynn Painter book and iThanks to Berkeley, Lynn Painter, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was my first Lynn Painter book and it was just a blast. This is just two hot, smart, witty people who deadass cannot keep their hands off of each other. This didn’t reinvent the wheel or anything but it was perfectly fun. The way she describes KISSES had my heart fluttering?! 3.5 to 4ish stars and now I know when you’re in a slump, Lynn Painter is the gal to help....more
Thanks to NetGalley and Mindy's Book Studio for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
A really interesting premise and a gorgeous cThanks to NetGalley and Mindy's Book Studio for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
A really interesting premise and a gorgeous cover but unfortunately the quality of writing is just... extremely poor. I would say juvenile, but I actually enjoy young adult literature! The plot of this ended up being bad enough, but this was a struggle to read down to just basic sentence structure. ...more
Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Co, and Laurie Frankel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I love a family drama with lovable, precociousThanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Co, and Laurie Frankel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I love a family drama with lovable, precocious kids. I also found the section about first love(s) to be particularly moving - Frankel is really wonderful at capturing complex interpersonal relationships. I will continue to read and recommend anything and everything she writes!...more
Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Caitlin Devlin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I went in not knowing what to expect, and Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Caitlin Devlin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I went in not knowing what to expect, and ended up really loving this. Maybe it’s the Dance Moms fan in me? I found this really moving and emotional, and I think it’s a solid commentary on the many forms that abuse can take. I look forward to reading more of Devlin’s work in the future....more
Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter is a thrilling debut that dives into the complex world of social media stardom, family dynamics, and the darkerSuch a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter is a thrilling debut that dives into the complex world of social media stardom, family dynamics, and the darker sides of influencer culture. If you're a fan of Jessica Knoll or r/blogsnark, this book is right up your alley.
Hazel Davis, the older sister who avoided the limelight, is living a less-than-glamorous life compared to her influencer sister, Evie. Evie, who grew up in front of the camera as the child of a family vlogging influencer (Erin), now has a multimillion-dollar career and millions of followers. However, when Evie goes missing during a live stream, Hazel’s protective instincts kick in, and she plunges into her sister’s world to find her.
The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense and unexpected twists, keeping you hooked from the first page to the last. Muenter's portrayal of the impact of social media on personal identity and family relationships is both timely and thought-provoking. The story is interspersed with social media posts, podcast transcripts, and Reddit threads, adding a layer of realism and urgency to Evie’s disappearance.
Hazel's journey to uncover the truth about her sister is filled with tension, emotion, and a few well-placed surprises. The ending is particularly jaw-dropping, leaving readers both satisfied and eager for more.
Muenter's writing is sharp and engaging, with a perfect balance of humor and suspense. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each bringing their own depth to the narrative. The book's commentary on influencer culture and the pressures of living a public life is insightful and often unsettling, making it a must-read for anyone curious about the realities behind the curated images on our screens.
Thank you to Quirk Books for the ARC. Such a Bad Influence is a compelling debut that promises to spark discussions and linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommended for thriller fans and anyone interested in the darker side of social media fame....more
Because I have a feeling everyone's been keeping a secret, a this-would-forever-change-the-romance-novel-world-if-it-got-out kind of secret -- that thBecause I have a feeling everyone's been keeping a secret, a this-would-forever-change-the-romance-novel-world-if-it-got-out kind of secret -- that the very best parts happen after the book is over.
I truly will read Rachel Lynn Solomon's grocery list - especially if that grocery list features Rowan and Neil, two very, very special characters.
This is a charming sequel that somehow manages to be even better than the first book. Following Rowan and Neil through the lens of a long-distance relationship was a very sweet way to revisit these characters. This felt like catching up with old friends, and brought back all the nostalgia of those butterflies of a first love. Rowan's adventures in Boston were great to read - it was cool to watch her go through many relatable struggles, like wondering what your career path is meant to be or if you'll ever really make friends in college. Her arc felt very, very real to me. And I am SO glad that this one was dual POV, because Neil's story is beautiful. New adulthood is HARD. Mental health struggles, dealing with trauma from an absent or abusive parent, changing your mind about things you thought were set in stone... all of that is real and so important to include in YA and New Adult stories.
I love the way that this book discusses sex, and I wish I had had a book like this to read when I was a teenager or when I first became sexually active. No matter how many romance novels you read, nothing replaces good communication with your partner, and that's so so so important for stories geared towards teenagers to illustrate.
Another thing I love about this story is the way in which it illustrates that there's more to a love story than just the meet-cute. Real love, and real relationships, are about what happen AFTER those characters are together. Rowan and Neil experience a tremendous amount of growth not just together, but individually. They are deeply comfortable with each other, and that comfort level allows them to fall even further in love. The flames of a deeper, committed relationship are simply more enduring - and here, they are just so rewarding to read about.
It's not always about those huge moments. It's the tiny details, the ones that remind you the other person is caring about you, even when you're not the best at caring for yourself.
I love the way that this sequel illustrates how being in a loving and secure relationship can inspire both partners to take risks and embrace changes with confidence, knowing that they have unwavering support. This beautiful story reassures us that when you are in the right relationship, love grows and changes as we do. I'm so grateful we were able to get to spend more time with these characters, and move beyond their Happy For Now into real, adult Happily Ever After territory.
The one constant is the two of us, simply doing our best, the way that we always have. Together.
Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is out 6/4!
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finally reading my "in case of emergency (don't know what to read next and nothing is hitting), break glass (read this book)"
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THANK YOU FOR THE ARC RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON!!! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS!!!...more
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