I enjoyed Pucking Around enough to know I'd enjoy Pucking Wild, but that doesn't mean I didn't have my reservations. Pucking Around was hilarious and I enjoyed Pucking Around enough to know I'd enjoy Pucking Wild, but that doesn't mean I didn't have my reservations. Pucking Around was hilarious and sexy, but could also be cringey (in the not fun way) and a little obnoxious at times. I went into book 2 expecting the negatives of the first to possibly increase, since we'd no longer have the crutch of reverse harem.
Then I started to read about Tess Owens, and she said 'bitch, how dare you ever question my journey'. And rightfully so. I found Tess to be the most refreshing FMC in a romance in a while! She felt so real and relatable. Her setbacks and qualms were understandable and weren't merely shoehorned plot devices. She was full of life and joy and fear and regret and I loved her.
And while, personally, as a woman in her 30's, you'd have to take away my free will Handmaiden's Tale style before I romantically interacted with a 22 year old, Ryan Langley was the swooniest fictional 22 year old out there. I was able to suspend reality long enough to not dwell on how utterly un-Ryan-like most actual 22 year old guys in this world are ...more
Hannah is, in many ways, fairly different than the MC archetype I've seen in Hazelwood's work, so far. The unfortunaLeast favorite Hazelwood to date.
Hannah is, in many ways, fairly different than the MC archetype I've seen in Hazelwood's work, so far. The unfortunate thing about this though is that she is completely mishandled.
If you've been reading these novellas and books in The Love Hypothesis series, then you know that the heroines tend to be, erm, I guess sexually repressed doesn't sound the nicest? But alas, they all kind of are. And that's fine! My main ick with that has just been the sexual repression x lack of experience consistently being paired with 'ginormous man who can barely fit inside her' thing.
Not in Below Zero though, folks! Never fear, our protagonist Hannah is here! Hannah has a staunch No Dating rule and is only interested in casual hookups. Sex? Yes. Emotional intimacy? Oh - if you hear faint screeching sound, that's just Hannah fleeing away from the mere mention of it.
It really was a bummer to be introduced to a character who has a sex life, only for that sex life to be a weaponized front to unhealthily avoid emotional attachment for fear of imminent abandonment. At the end of the day, I'm just not sure what Hazelwood's intended message is in regard to her main characters experiences with sex within all of her books.
The fuck all part of it all is that this is still getting a solid 3 stars, because even when I am really not vibing with certain things, Hazelwood somehow continues to entertain. Slay. ...more
Pre-reading I did a very cursory glance at the rating compared to The Love Hypothesis and the reviews. Then I did my best to go into it not scared, bePre-reading I did a very cursory glance at the rating compared to The Love Hypothesis and the reviews. Then I did my best to go into it not scared, because whoa, those were a lot of one stars right out the gate.
Color me surprised when I quickly realized how much more I enjoyed Love on the Brain.
Sure, are there valid critiques that I think matter to *some* readers? Of course. Yeah, the mains in this book feel like the mains in the first, just in a slightly different font. And yes, the clueless lead who can't imagine being liked is absolutely still in play. As well as the dreaded miscommunication trope - though I actually found it much more tolerable in Love on the Brain because the miscommunication made a loooot more sense.
However, for me, none of these are deal breakers. What I care about while reading is if I'm engaged and enjoying the reading experience for what it is, and I 100% did.
I also just enjoyed all the characters even more here, and I found that there was more depth to each of them. As a character girly, gimme allllll of that. While I left The Love Hypothesis happy with the outcome, I finished Love on the Brain wanting to follow the lives of Bee and Levi, as well as the secondary characters, for longer than we were given. Absolutely loved!...more
To be frank, I'm not even sure I have the capacity to explain what a viscerally and tonally, wondrously strange and haunting experience reading The BaTo be frank, I'm not even sure I have the capacity to explain what a viscerally and tonally, wondrously strange and haunting experience reading The Bad Ones was.
Melissa Albert explores girlhood, the deep bonds of female friendship, the erratic nature of self and the more erratic nature of the unknown within others. She does it succinctly while weaving an atmospherically daunting wider narrative. Who are we? What makes us? If you were called to judgment, what would be seen at the very root of yourself?
She fell first - he fell harder. God, I love this trope. Penelope and Colin are truly the best pairing for it, too. This is a 'good for her' book, thrShe fell first - he fell harder. God, I love this trope. Penelope and Colin are truly the best pairing for it, too. This is a 'good for her' book, through and through.
While all the Bridgerton men, so far, have been delightful, Colin is by far the swooniest. He has the least amount of hang ups when it comes to the development of his romance with Penelope. And thank god for that, because it only took this man the better part of a decade to realize Penelope was his Penelope. When the pieces clicked together for this man, there was just no stopping him from that moment on. Absolutely what Penelope deserved!
Reading the series continues to make me a little bummed about the tv show. It's a great show, but it's not these books at their core. The changes they made to Colin's storyline in the first season will have a trickle down effect in season 3 that I have a hard time believing will be handled satisfactorily. These are the people who couldn't keep their grubby hands off of Kate and Edwina's lovely sisterhood, after all. At least we'll always have the magic of the books. ...more
Oh, this one got me. Absolutely got its teeth and claws in me (heh heh).
I've never read Ali Hazelwood before, and frankly, it wasn't high on 4.5 stars
Oh, this one got me. Absolutely got its teeth and claws in me (heh heh).
I've never read Ali Hazelwood before, and frankly, it wasn't high on my to-do list. I was sure she was good, regardless of the mixed bag I've seen online about her work. But thanks to Edelweiss, I got my hands on an arc and while deciding what to add to my currently reading, I randomly thought 'hey, why not?'. My intuition really pulled through for me, here!!
I wasn't sure what to expect out of a mainstream omegaverse, but Bride definitely exceeded anything I could have expected. There was some definite info dumping, since we're being dropped into a world where vampires and weres openly exist and there's a whole political hierarchy that is very relevant to the story, in whole. As it usually is when this occurs, there were some growing pains in the beginning while Hazelwood makes sure we understand the world we're in.
I highly appreciate that this book is not just about the smut. There's political intrigue, mystery, secrets, and other characters you find yourself caring for, a lot. But. Holy hell, Misery and Lowe were SO good to read. I could feel the tension, I could understand the hesitant draw to each other, and I was salivating for more. And yes, it was filthy and fantastic.
I honestly couldn't put this down. I literally made my boyfriend wait on me for two hours ('I'm almost done honey, just going to find a good stopping point.' only to not stop until I'd finished the book) to spend time together because I COULD NOT stop.
I definitely hope Hazelwood continues to write in this specific genre because I will be loyal reader of it all!...more
This series is a goofy, sexy time, overall. However, I did find myself struggling with certain things throughout The Gargoyle from General 3.5 stars.
This series is a goofy, sexy time, overall. However, I did find myself struggling with certain things throughout The Gargoyle from General Management. Namely, it felt like the writing was more stilted and less smooth. Some of the sentence structuring felt so offbeat that I had to go back and reread them, multiple times to find the flow that would allow the sentence to make sense. I've had no issue with Prior's writing before, so I'm not sure if there was just a lack of editing here, or what.
There were also times where what was being explained just didn't seem clear. I felt like I had missed scenes because things were brought up that didn't seem to align well with the actual written work.
That being said, I didn't read this because I thought it would be a shining literary read of our times, yanno? I read it because I'm a weird smut reader who wanted a gargoyle to, ahem, smash their coworker, if you catch my drift. And that, my friends, I did receive ...more
Here's the deal - this is not a good book. Objectively, morally, structurally. It's real bad.
Did I still spend nearly 6 straight hours, on N3.5 stars.
Here's the deal - this is not a good book. Objectively, morally, structurally. It's real bad.
Did I still spend nearly 6 straight hours, on New Years Eve, devouring it? Duh.
When it comes to these types of books, I check my feminism at the door. Because everything about Haunting Adeline is just ridiculously abhorrent. But, fuck, it's somehow entertaining.
Zade makes no sense as a character and Adeline is damsel in distress personified. I was still chomping at the bit for them to fuck, though. I can't explain why my brain is like this.
Lord, who I do not believe in, please forgive my sins lol...more
A Soul to Revive is another great entry in the Duskwalker Brides series.
Emerie and Ingram are two of the most tragic mains we've had in this series, A Soul to Revive is another great entry in the Duskwalker Brides series.
Emerie and Ingram are two of the most tragic mains we've had in this series, which is saying A LOT. Emerie, in particular, is a powerhouse of a woman who is so multifaceted and nuanced that, for me, she really carried the book. Not that Ingram wasn't his own type of joy to read, but Emerie had such a depth of character, that a character girly like myself was all in for her.
SO MUCH happens in this book and served to begin what is probably the endgame of this series. Moves are being made for the wider story x world that I was very, very invested in. It makes me even more excited to see what else is to come, and to say I'm excited for book 6 would be an understatement!
I only wish two things - that Ingram had more humanity, as it's always a bit odd when the Duskwalker is so underdeveloped emotionally, though I understand it was important to how the story flowed. The second is just a me problem, but fuck I couldn't truly sexualize a goddamn bird skull. Birds are just not for me ...more
Pretty basic beginning, tbh. I’ve noticed a fair amount of poor ratings for this, but I really don’t have a negative opinion so far. Issue # 1 in the Pretty basic beginning, tbh. I’ve noticed a fair amount of poor ratings for this, but I really don’t have a negative opinion so far. Issue # 1 in the series helped set up the premise fairly well. The art, however, is absolutely phenomenal!...more
Wow, was that tedious. I didn’t realize this book even existed until 4 years after it was published and leReally more of a 2.5 but I’m being generous.
Wow, was that tedious. I didn’t realize this book even existed until 4 years after it was published and let me tell you, it really didn’t have to exist.
Arabesque tried very hard to do many things and failed at every single one of them. It tried to be a worthwhile follow up to a fairly well received series that had already wrapped up satisfactorily nearly a decade ago. It tried to tackle social and racial issues without ever getting *too* serious. It introduced a plot line far too complex to be tackled in the completely unanticipated fifth installment of a series that clearly doesn’t have a solid intention of continuing.
The premise of this book really needed to be the opener of an entirely separate spin off series. For this to be presented as some sort of logical continuation of the Wings series makes absolutely no sense. You’ve removed Laurel as the main character (and relegated her to an almost inconsequential side character that you *barely* see) and then dropped Rowen into our lap with no time to adjust or to even find her likable. And because this is meant to wrap up the series again, everything is rushed and then tied together in a neat little bow and even the most minute sense of tension the book was able to build was immediately made totally irrelevant; just as this entire book was...more
The rating of a 31 year old with their own personal preferences: 3.25 stars.
The objective rating of someone who used to be a teenager, who had yet to The rating of a 31 year old with their own personal preferences: 3.25 stars.
The objective rating of someone who used to be a teenager, who had yet to be trampled by the weariness of adulthood: a solid 4 stars.
When I saw an arc of this I knew I had to give Promchanted a try. I also knew it might be a little cheesy and outside of what 2024 Tarryn would typically enjoy. But seriously, read the synopsis if you haven't already - I had to.
I won't lie to you and say that I was enthralled the entire journey. Frankly, I found Stella tedious at times, and the pacing and action far too slow and light for my liking. We spend a lot of time in the low stakes territory of the story and I couldn't help but be a little bored. But that's not to say this story was boring - more that I just have different preferences for most books I read and their pacing.
When I take my preference out of the equation, I can solidly say that this was a fun story - especially if you're in the age range intended for it. I definitely know there are plenty of adults who will also truly enjoy Promchanted, but personally I know if I was 12-16 years old, I would have been far more enchanted than my current 31 year old self is.
If you love Disney, if you're a teen who likes sweetness, if you're an adult you who loves sweetness and soft storytelling, or if you're a control freak who maybe thinks they need to unclench a bit - I would absolutely recommend. Overall, I thought Promchanted was just that; sweet and soft and for those who need to just take a breath and enjoy the moment.
A queer Victorian romance with a blatant Taylor Swift reference?! *grabby hands* GIMME!
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Thanks to Edelweiss for giving me the opportunA queer Victorian romance with a blatant Taylor Swift reference?! *grabby hands* GIMME!
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Thanks to Edelweiss for giving me the opportunity to swoon over this book a little early!
Don't Want You Like a Best Friend made some impeccable choices. Sapphic romance? Check. Victorian setting? Check. Second chance romance with a Parent Trap twist? Check!
This book is everything I could have hoped for it to be and more. Achingly sweet and swoonworthingly romantic, with the biting wit I'm always hoping to find in my historical romances. Emma R. Alban has created characters to root for and care about. Not just with Beth and Gwen, but with the surrounding characters that quickly charmed me and warmed my heart. I was instantly invested in nearly everyone, and as a character driven reader, it really was a delight!
Low spice, low stress, big heart, HEA. Just a super fun reading experience, throughout.
P.S. Cordelia Demeroven has my whole heart.
Recommended Songs, iykyk ;) -Enchanted -I'm Only Me When I'm With You -Love Story -You All Over Me -Dress -Paper Rings -Daylight -Ivy -Treacherous -Everything Has Changed -Maroon -This Love...more
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