“Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but—” “Anything.” Black eyes looked down on her, and he took a sh5 fucking stars ⭐️ Julie soto’s best work!
“Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but—” “Anything.” Black eyes looked down on her, and he took a shaking breath. “Everything.”
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ contemporary romance ✨ musicians falling in love ✨ he’s an arrogant, superstar cellist ✨ she’s a wallflower and talented violinist ✨ rivals to lovers ✨ he falls first ✨ insane sexual tension ✨ 3/5 ...more
3.5 ⭐️ If you like fantasy romance and Ruby Dixon, then definitely pick this book up
He's a polite monk of a Fellian who just happens to be trapped in 3.5 ⭐️ If you like fantasy romance and Ruby Dixon, then definitely pick this book up
He's a polite monk of a Fellian who just happens to be trapped in a tower with a princess of loose morals who really, really wants to ride his c*ck.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ fantasy romance ✨ feuding factions ✨ gods x humans x ‘monsters’ ✨ locked away in a windowless tower with your enemy ✨ she’s a spoiled, chronically ill, lusty human princess ✨ he’s a shy, celibate, bookish non-human prince ✨ virgin, cinnamon roll monster ✨ enemies to friends lovers ✨ forced proximity ✨ opposites attract ✨ nursing back to health ✨ he falls first ✨ 4/5 ...more
4.5 ⭐️ A heartfelt romance that took me by surprise
"Come on, Ali. I'm pretty sure every guy at Beechwood High thought you were the one." "Not even clos4.5 ⭐️ A heartfelt romance that took me by surprise
"Come on, Ali. I'm pretty sure every guy at Beechwood High thought you were the one." "Not even close." "Maybe it was just me then."
This book had me giggling and smiling like an idiot!!! ...more
3 ⭐️ An interesting dystopian concept but won't continue the series
**This review does contain spoilers**
She stepped inside to meet her own dark captor3 ⭐️ An interesting dystopian concept but won't continue the series
**This review does contain spoilers**
She stepped inside to meet her own dark captor from a fairytale. The warlock who had led her off her path.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ dystopian urban romantasy ✨ NYC setting ✨ loose Beauty and the Beast retelling ✨ she’s a gifted human thief ✨ he’s a dangerous monster ✨ enemies to lovers ✨ heist plot ✨ “you work for me now” ✨ forced proximity ✨ 2/5 ...more
4 ⭐️ Burgess is THE definition of 'he falls first'
"You could be wasting your time on me." "Time with you could never be a waste. Only a privilege."
WHAT4 ⭐️ Burgess is THE definition of 'he falls first'
"You could be wasting your time on me." "Time with you could never be a waste. Only a privilege."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ hockey romance ✨ nanny x boss ✨ roommates ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ opposites attract ✨ he falls first and hard ✨ forced proximity ✨ age gap (11 years) ✨ single dad ✨ 3/5 ...more
4.75 ⭐️ My favorite Lynn Painter story! I ATE this up!!
"Fuck love and relationships, I just want to be with you because you're my goddamn favorite per4.75 ⭐️ My favorite Lynn Painter story! I ATE this up!!
"Fuck love and relationships, I just want to be with you because you're my goddamn favorite person."
Synopsis:
Sophie and Max meet when she hires him to be the objector at her own wedding. Months later, Max asks Sophie to join him as an objector at another wedding, and from there, they form a partnership. Both are anti-love and anti-relationship, but as Sophia and Max's friendship blossoms and chemistry sizzles, will they be able to deny their feelings for one another?
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ romantic comedy ✨ he runs his family construction business and a professional wedding objector ✨ she's an HR director who hires him to object at her wedding since her fiance cheated ✨ "let's be wedding objectors together" ✨ they are both cynics and very anti-relationship ✨ "we're just friends" ✨ idiots to lovers ✨ insane chemistry ✨ he falls first ✨ amazing banter ✨ calling each other by their last name ✨ open communication ...more
"They say being given the blood of a god is a gift. But it is a curse."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ viking romantasy ✨ 4.5 ⭐️ Officially in my Viking Fantasy Era!
"They say being given the blood of a god is a gift. But it is a curse."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ viking romantasy ✨ norse mythology ✨ meddling gods ✨ prophecies ✨ chosen one ✨ arranged marriage ✨ bodyguard x ‘princess’ trope ✨ forced proximity ✨ insta-lust ✨ friends to lovers ✨ forbidden romance ✨ slow burn ✨ one horse ✨ touch her and die ✨ 2/5 spice ✨ action packed ✨ cliffhanger ✨ single POV ✨ TW: war, violence, loss of family, gaslighting
My Thoughts:
I am a HUGE fan of Danielle L. Jensen's The Bridge Kingdom Series, so when I found out she was writing another fantasy series based on norse mythology, I was so excited. And rightly slow because this first book was fantastic!
PS: If you loved the Netflix show and book series, That Last Kingdom, but wished there was magic and more romance, this story is PERFECT for you!
What I loved:
Freya and Bjorn. Both MCs were likable characters that only got more interesting as we got to know them more. Freya is incredibly selfless, and while sometimes her devotion to others drove me mad (because it was often at her expense), I respect the hell out of her for caring for so many people. I also liked that her thoughts, feelings, and actions seemed realistic for a 'Viking' woman during this 'era'. Bjorn was everything I love in an MMC - charming, funny, strong, loyal, protective, and hellbent on getting revenge. Oh, and he has powers from one of the gods. Because the story is in Freya's POV, it takes time to get his backstory and understand his motives, but even then, there's always a little mystery to him. These characters were well developed and I think we're going to see a lot of growth and change from them in the next book.
The romance and spice. From the moment they meet, Freya and Bjorn have insane chemistry and are clearly meant to be together. However, there is a forbidden aspect to the story that prevents them from making any moves, so there's so much flirty banter, tension, and longing - and I ate it all up! I love how they resisted at first but ultimately, cave to their desires. And those spicy scenes . . . ...more
3.5 ⭐️ A fast-paced romantasy set within an intriguing world.
***This review contains spoilers***
"It's not the times you don't need saving that I'm3.5 ⭐️ A fast-paced romantasy set within an intriguing world.
***This review contains spoilers***
"It's not the times you don't need saving that I'm worried about. It's the one time you'll need it, and there will be no one to do it."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ forbidden romance ✨ witch x witch hunter ✨ enemies to lovers ✨ insta-lust ✨ best friend’s brother ✨ fake courting / dating ✨ he courts her because he suspects she's a witch ✨ she dates him for information to help free a witch prisoner ✨ brothers love triangle ✨ loss of virginity ✨ size difference ✨ .5/5...more
3.5 ⭐️ This was cute. I liked some parts but had a hard time with others
"No one trash-talks my golfer but me." "And no one gets too close to my caddie3.5 ⭐️ This was cute. I liked some parts but had a hard time with others
"No one trash-talks my golfer but me." "And no one gets too close to my caddie but me. Stay beside me out there, Josephine."
WHAT TO EXPECT ✨ sports romance ✨ comeback story ✨ he’s a washed up golfer about to quit ✨ she’s his number one fan and becomes his caddie ✨ boss x employer ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ insta lust ✨ ‘I hate everyone but her’ ✨ possessive and protective alpha male ✨ she had a crush first but he falls first ✨ slight denial of feelings ✨ sexy bets ✨ 3.5/5 ...more
"I see you, Ada. I always see you, even when you won't look at me."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ cowboy romance ✨ Wyoming ranch setting4.25 ⭐️ I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
"I see you, Ada. I always see you, even when you won't look at me."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ cowboy romance ✨ Wyoming ranch setting ✨ city girl x country boy ✨ black cat x golden retriever ✨ Wes is renovating one of the homes on his family ranch ✨ Ada is a tattooed interior designer from San Francisco ✨ forced proximity ✨ insta-lust ✨ slow burn ✨ "sweetheart" ✨ 2.5/5 spice ✨ Wes is a consent king ✨ found family ✨ Ryder family/friends shenanigans ✨ driving lessons ✨ dual pov ✨ mild angst ✨ HEA ✨ tw: divorce (past), dealing with trauma from an unhealthy relationship, depression
My Thoughts:
"I lifted my foot off the brake, took a deep breath, and crossed the threshold into Rebel Blue. Here we go.”
Ah. It feels so good to be back at Rebel Blue Ranch! ...more
"It doesn't have to be a battle between us." "I promise you," she said, "it does." "Very well then. Enemies it is. Do yo4 ⭐️ This was such a fun read!!!
"It doesn't have to be a battle between us." "I promise you," she said, "it does." "Very well then. Enemies it is. Do your worst."
Summary:
Riley Rhodes is an American occult expert who recently arrived in Scotland to turn her family's knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business. She's hired to break the 300 year old curse at Arden Castle but runs into a bit of a problem: Clark Edgeware.
Clark is a disgraced English archeologist also hired for work at the castle, and he doesn't need a self-proclaimed 'curse breaker' threatening his last chance for redemption.
After failing to get Riley fired on day one, Clark decides to avoid her. But Riley, and the castle's curse, have other things in mind. Turns out the only way to get what they both want is by working together.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ Scottish Highland setting ✨ curse breaker x archeologist ✨ curvy FMC ✨ instant attraction ✨ enemies to lovers ✨ opposites attract ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ forced proximity ✨ snarky banter ✨ dagger to throat (but not what you think) ✨ paranormal: curses and rituals ✨ mystery plot ✨ 3/5 ...more
I mean, it's just a few lies and a fake relationship. Nothing bad ever came from that.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ paranormal 3 ⭐️ This was a fun omegaverse story
I mean, it's just a few lies and a fake relationship. Nothing bad ever came from that.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ paranormal / shifter romance ✨ contemporary setting ✨ omegaverse ✨ doctor MCs ✨ she needs a boyfriend, he needs a mate ✨ fake dating ✨ co-workers ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ strangers to friends with benefits ✨ he falls first ✨ 7 year age gap ✨ teasing banter ✨ 3/5 spice ✨ "you can take it", "good girl" ✨ lack of communication because fear of rejection ✨ third act breakup ✨ groveling ✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
For anyone who isn't familiar with omegaverse, this is a great place to start. If you're not familiar with the concept at all, just do a quick google search for an explanation.
What I liked:
I really enjoyed the beginning of this story. Mackenzie and Noah are both doctors but rarely work together, so they're essentially strangers. She's very approachable and friendly while Noah is serious, standoffish, and known as the Boogeyman of Denver. These two are total opposites and it wasn't apparent how they'd be a match at the beginning, but as the story progresses and they get to know one another, Mackenzie thaws his cold heart while Noah makes hers burn. They're both a little awkward around each other at first, which was super realistic considering the situation. And they end up developing a genuine friendship, which I thought was sweet. They're romance was sweet, but of course, it was also very spicy.
There's a total of 6 explicit sex scenes that go on for quite a few pages, so this is for the smut lovers. And if you're wondering about the type of smut, just know it has a lot of the usual omegaverse stuff: scenting, praise, knotting, licking, biting, and chasing. All very primal. And even though these two are shifters (they can turn into wolves), don't worry, they only do it as humans.
What I didn't like:
There’s not a lot going on besides the romance, so once they’re together I started losing interest. Sure, there's some drama with Noah being outed as an alpha by a mysterious person, who is revealed at the end. But, that side plot was predictable so the reveal wasn't a surprise. So around 60% of the story when the romance is established, I ended up skimming a lot of the non dialogue just to see how it all ends.
The third act breakup was also very predictable. It was also incredibly frustrating because none of it would have happened if Noah had just talked to Mackenzie, but he got scared(?) and decided to make choices for the two of them even if he knew it would make them both miserable. It was a dumb decision.
However, I will say the groveling and makeup sex afterwards was satisfying; so at least the story ended on a high note.
Priya was a random, annoying friend. All she ever did was ask Makenzie about her sex life with Noah and it just got really weird after a while.
Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC and Berkley Romance for providing a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
"Once you go know you'll . . . want for . . . not." _______
"Oh my God. You made a joke! Was that your first one? Are you hurt in any way? "Always a delight, you are." _______
"I'll make sure you can never catch me." "Oh, I will catch you." "You think so?" "I do. I'm not letting you get away from me, Mackenzie." _______
"That's the funny thing about love, Noah. It's terrifying, and there are no guarantees. We don't fall in love because it's a sure thing. We fall in love because our hearts don't speak the same language as our brains. Your heart doesn't have that little voice that worries about what-ifs. It sees something good and it goes all in. Sometimes you just have to listen to your heart more than your head." _______
"Only you could hook up with the biggest asshole we've ever met and turn him into a house husband." _______
"Mackenzie, I - I'm finding there isn't much I don't like where you're involved." _______
Mackenzie Carter is in my skin now. She lives in my blood. Without ever intending for it to happen. . . my pretend mate became the very real woman I'd like to spend the rest of my life with. _______
"When I'm with you . . . I don't feel like I'm just going through the motions in life. When I'm with you . . . I feel like I'm actually living. _______
"I can grovel for the rest of my life." "I'm going to be a pain." "It's fine. I'm an expert at being insufferable." "And I'm going to get scared." "I can be there to make sure it doesn't last." _______...more
"Fake dating always leads to true love. Fact. I don't make the rules."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ small town romance ✨ a not so2.5 ⭐️ Sadly, this was not for me.
"Fake dating always leads to true love. Fact. I don't make the rules."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ small town romance ✨ a not so meet cute ✨ she’s a big influencer from Boston ✨ he’s a small town fisherman in Nova Scotia ✨ city girl x small town guy ✨ dislike to lovers ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ fake engagement ✨ forced proximity ✨ opposite attract ✨ 2.5/5 spice ✨ third act breakup ✨ HEA ✨ POC rep - FMC is Chinese ✨ cameos from characters in previous books ✨ TW: death of parent, death of family member, grief, depression, estranged parent, family strife, near drowning,
*There are some slight spoilers in this review so read at your own risk*
My Thoughts:
After reading the previous books, Set On You and Exes and O's, I was really excited about Melanie’s book. And while the premise is fun, I was ultimately disappointed.
This type of story has been done so many times and I was bored with how it was done here. So here's the thing, I really did like the premise of a high maintenance, big city influencer going to a small town where she's roped into becoming the fake fiance of a grumpy fisherman who lives in a dilapidated inn. However, this really gave me It Happened One Summer Vibes by Tessa Bailey. And while, yes, I know the details of the stories are different, it just didn't feel that original to me.
My biggest issue is that I didn’t really like either MC, nor was there any chemistry between them.
First, let's talk about Melanie. She is just so overly dramatic. For example, she has a phobia of spiders (and any other bug really), and the way she would react was childish. There's a moment where she's freaking out about a spider and says "the eight-legged monster can't escape and plant eggs in my face." I have phobias and I know there isn't always logic to them, but surely a grown woman can realize spiders do not plant eggs in human faces. Also, her referencing horror movies 10 times throughout the story was overkill. We get it, she would not survive a horror film scenario. Again, she's just being dramatic.
Now, onto Evan. Look, I really tried, but I just did not like him. He's a grumpy fisherman who plays guitar and struggles with grief. That's his whole personality. He was such an asshole and the reasoning wasn't good enough. And his anger and irritation towards Melanie felt so forced. I also didn't understand why he softens towards her eventually. Because she's 'charming'? The girl who legitimately says she doesn't connect with people and has a hard time making friends and has a resting bitch face is . . . charming? Doesn't make sense. I feel like this story would have been better if we got his POV.
There was no chemistry between Evan and Melanie. It's all 'I hate you' for the first few days and then when he takes her to go hiking, they actually talk to each other like regular human beings and suddenly, everything changes. What? This guy was such a fucking asshole and now, because he got you to open up (which you never do) you go, hmmmm maybe there's more to this guy. No babe. No. And even when they talk, there's no spark. It's just conversations anyone would have with someone they're spending time with. I did not feel any chemistry.
At the end of the day, these characters were just too opposite from one another and mean to believe that in a week, they went from immensely disliking each other to lovers. And by lovers, I mean feeling like they were 'the one'. Their relationship is just so ridiculous and far-fetched.
The Whaler family was fine at first but then it got weird. They're way too in each other's business. But what gave me the ick was when Evan and Melanie do the deed, and then shortly after the family comes into the room, sits on the edge of the bed while they are naked and sweaty, and proceeds to chat with them. WHAT??? So gross . This family has no boundaries, oh, and they hold massive grudges. I would legit be running for the hills if this is the family of the guy I was screwing. Sorry, but dysfunction isn't cute or charming.
Melanie's child stalker was so creepy and should have been left out of this story. This twelve(?) year old lives in her building, is in love with her, follows her around, stalks her IG, writes her poem, and tries to flirt with her. And what was weird is that while Melanie also finds this creepy, she puts up with it and sometimes find amusement with his infatuation. Someone makes a joke about how she might need a restraining order against him but then she laughs about it. But really, it's not funny. It's weird. This kid is so inappropriate. I would ignore this kid and have a serious conversation with his father where I'd threaten to get an actual restraining order against him.
What's even weirder, is that Melanie has her breakthrough moment of realizing she wants to be with Evan while having a heart to heart with this child! Seriously? Melanie doesn't open up to people ever but she's going to talk about her love life with a child stalker? WTF? I just . . . I don't understand why this kid needed to be in the story AT ALL.
I was a full time travel influencer and photographer for six years, so I’m very familiar with that world, and there were a lot of things that happened that weren’t 100% realistic or didn’t make sense.
1. Melanie getting an offer for an all expense paid trip would not have been a shock. She has 500k followers. If anything, she would have laughed at the offer because someone with her amount of followers would be getting paid an insane amount on top of the free trip. No lie, influencers with 500k followers charge anywhere between $5,000 - $10,000 per post (depending on engagement)! So yeah, her getting a free trip and being excited about it is ridiculous.
2. Melanie decides to stay in Cora's Cove because paying for another flight would have been too expensive. But I'm here to tell you that flights from Boston to Halifax would not be more expensive than staying at an Airbnb for an entire week. In all honesty, it probably would have been more expensive.
3. When Melanie moves Evan's boat equipment for the shot. I know there are influencers who might do this without asking but the fact she asked, he said no, and still decided to move it didn't seem realistic to me.
4. Melanie canceling her work trip to just stay with Evan did not make sense. She says she needs this job, but this hard working girl is going to throw that all away for some dick? No, this doesn't align with her character.
I also want to note that the writing itself was perfectly fine. The story was easy to follow and well-written. However, I did end up skimming a lot of the non-dialogue just because I had lost interest in the characters and overall story
Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
I'm not sure if he wants to choke me out or give me a swift kick to the shin. Probably both. _______
Turns out, being fake engaged to Evan sucks, but kissing him isn't half bad. _______
There's beauty in holding on . . . as long as you're not trapped in the past. _______
"You're never alone in this world while I'm in it, Mel." _______...more
"All I've ever wanted is for you to hate me. I couldn't hate you if I wanted to. I wish I could, but I can't."
WHAT TO EXP2 ⭐️ Sadly this wasn't for me
"All I've ever wanted is for you to hate me. I couldn't hate you if I wanted to. I wish I could, but I can't."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ childhood pain in the ass ✨ she’s a photojournalist prone to act first and think later ✨ he’s owns a hedge fund who's a control freak ✨ both MCs keep people they love at a distance ✨ enemies to lovers ✨ opposites attract ✨ age gap (27/33) ✨ banter ✨ 3/5...more
4.5 ⭐️ Pure magic. That's the only way to describe this book.
They were the greatest song ever written, and he planned on singing their song for the r4.5 ⭐️ Pure magic. That's the only way to describe this book.
They were the greatest song ever written, and he planned on singing their song for the rest of his life.
About:
Thirty years ago, the world famous Steel Birds broke up. Unfortunately, the two band members, Trina Gallard and Octavia Dawkins, left on terrible terms and swore never to reunite.
Years later, the lead singer's son, Beat Dawkins, is blackmailed for $800k with a secret that could destroy his parent's stellar reputation. Unfortunately, the only way to come up with the funds quickly means accepting a deal from a producer to reunite his mother’s band on live tv on New Years Eve with the help of the other bandmate's daughter, Melody Gallard.
Melody has done her best to stay out of the spotlight, but when Beat comes to her asking for help, she decides that maybe it's time to shake up her quiet life. Even if they can't pull off the impossible, at least it means she gets to spend time with the boy she met once, who during that brief encounter made her feel seen.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ Christmasy rom-com ✨ MCs are children of rockstars ✨ plot: get the band back together ✨ insta love / connection ✨ second chance-ish (they met one time before) ✨ friends to lovers ✨ forced proximity ✨ soulmates ✨ 3/5 ...more
3 ⭐️ This is a cute story about how even though a first date can go horribly wrong, sometimes fate has other plan
"I can't help it. I won't apologize f3 ⭐️ This is a cute story about how even though a first date can go horribly wrong, sometimes fate has other plan
"I can't help it. I won't apologize for wanting you. And, fuck, do I want you, Mia."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ bad first blind date ✨ she’s a sweet, family oriented teacher ✨ he’s her father’s new, young boss/nemesis ✨ dislike to love ✨ forbidden romance ✨ bickering and tension ✨ slow burn ✨ 3/5 ...more
3 ⭐️ A rom-com with depth but it didn't sparkle like other Emily Henry novels
In the best of times, it's inadvisable to start lusting after your roomma3 ⭐️ A rom-com with depth but it didn't sparkle like other Emily Henry novels
In the best of times, it's inadvisable to start lusting after your roommate, and we are nowhere near the best of times.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ Michigan setting ✨ small town romance ✨ Daphne is a librarian who's been dumped by her fiance for Mile's ex ✨ Miles is a bartender who's girlfriend dumps him for Daphne's ex ✨ living with your ex fiance's new fiance's ex ✨ roommates to best friends to lovers ✨ opposites attract ✨ forced proximity ✨ fake dating (sort of) ✨ 2/5 ...more
3.5 ⭐️ A good addition to the Gods and Monsters series
"When I burn this world to embers, and you paint me as the villain, remember, I really did try t3.5 ⭐️ A good addition to the Gods and Monsters series
"When I burn this world to embers, and you paint me as the villain, remember, I really did try to be good ......once."
About:
After the devastating events of The Book of Azrael, Dianna is hellbent on revenge. However, the one person standing in her way is her lover, the God King. Samkiel refuses to believe Dianna is truly a monster and will do everything in his power to save her from herself. But can he reach Dianna before her thirst for blood and revenge consume her? WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ fantasy romance ✨ gods and monsters ✨ morally grey heroine ✨ cinnamon roll hero ✨ forbidden romance ✨ forced proximity ✨ 3/5 ...more
2.5 ⭐ A low-stakes, cozy fantasy with a sprinkle of romance and a dollop of mystery but sadly it wasn’t my cup of tea
She was everything he never deser2.5 ⭐ A low-stakes, cozy fantasy with a sprinkle of romance and a dollop of mystery but sadly it wasn’t my cup of tea
She was everything he never deserved but longed for anyways.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ cozy fantasy ✨ office romance ✨ grumpy boss x sunshine assistant ✨ instant chemistry ✨ loads of tension ✨ 'I hate everyone but her' ✨ idiots to not quite lovers (yet) ✨ NO SPICE ✨ magic and mayhem ✨ mystery plot ✨ low stakes ✨ shocking plot twist ✨ cliffhanger ending ✨ dual POV ✨ TW: past attempted SA, death of family member, blood, gore, torture
My Thoughts:
I've watched a lot of Hannah's Assistant to the Villain TikTok videos since the beginning, and was really excited about this book. Overall, it was pretty good for a debut novel. While it had its moments, I thought it was quite forgettable. So let's dive into the things I liked and didn't like:
What I liked:
The romance premise was cute. I'm a huge fan of the grumpy x sunshine trope and thought it was a fun, fresh idea to portray this in a fantasy world with a boss x assistant dynamic.
The Villain was the most interesting character. And I like that we slowly learn about his background and motive throughout the story. I'm glad some of the chapters were from his POV but honestly wish there had been more. Also, he calls Evie 'little tornado' and that was super cute.
What really surprised me in the best way possible was the mystery plot that ended with an insane twist and cliffhanger ending! I truly did not see any of that coming, and honestly, it was the most interesting thing about the book. The ending alone might have made me pick up the next book, if it weren't for some of my points below.
What I didn't liked:
It was alluded to that this story would be adult. However, it reads more YA. I guess if you think gore and cursing automatically puts a book in the adult genre, then yeah, this is adult. But since it's marketed as a romantasy, I was expecting spice, when in fact, there is none. It was just incredibly frustrating and boring reading about adult characters who like each other from the beginning of the story but refuse to admit they like each other. There were so many moments when the tension was high and I thought something would happen but then . . . nothing. I mean, there is a kiss, but even that wasn't done with a romantic purpose. It sometimes felt forced not having anything physical happen between Evie and the Villain.
So is this a romantasy? No, it's really a fantasy with elements of romance. I think there should have been a quicker progression of the romance and a little bit of spice (like at least a hardcore make-out session or some heavy petting after putting us through 340 pages of them fighting their attraction), and since that didn't happen, there should have been more suspense and drama with the mystery plot.
Okay, let's talk about the world building. What we were given was adequate, but it was kind of generic and there wasn't a lot of depth. Honestly, the entire world is forgettable. I honestly can't tell you which kingdom or the town this takes place in or the name of the Villain's home (which is mentioned a bunch). I was reading for the romance but the romance was boring, and the world building wasn't interesting enough, so unfortunately it all just sort of fell flat.
This book was also supposed to be 'laugh out loud' funny, when in reality, I didn't laugh once. I might have awkwardly cringe out of embarrassment for some of the characters but sadly, the humor wasn't my cup of tea. If anything, I found the Villain to be a bit funny - with his unpleasant, gruff replies and standoffish demeanor - whenever he interacted with Evie. But again, it was never lol kind of funny.
I get that Evie is meant to be this sunshine assistant, but did she have to come across so ditsy and annoying? She was just very child-like in her interactions with people, and was sort of in her own little bubble. And then whenever she thought, "He should scare me but doesn't. . . huh I wonder what that means" (and she thinks this A LOT), I couldn't help but roll my eyes. First off, this makes her seem like an idiot. And second, at this point the author is just holding the readers hand here, which is super irritating.
This book sometimes felt disjointed with the office shenanigans or Evie and the Villains random interactions. I don't know if I can quite explain this, but there were just a few instances I thought, "Hmmm this seems unnecessary but maybe this was done to create a small, comical or awkward situation the MCs will have the deal navigate through." Like when we find out the Villain sleeps with a nightlight because he's afraid of the dark? First off, ew, that's unattractive. And second, this is just another situation where the story felt more like YA versus adult.
Look, regardless of the things I didn't like, the book was fine. I read it in one sitting and survived. There wasn't a lot of substance and it was definitely too long, but I didn't want to throw the book across the room or set it on fire. So it is at least entertaining enough and readable. But do I want to read it again? No. Do I want to continue the series? Unfortunately, no. But I do want to read a summary of what happens next. Would I recommend this to you? Maybe, if you want to read a low-stakes fantasy where nothing important happens for 80% of the book. It's not bad, but there's definitely better books out there I would prefer to spend time on.
Thank you Red Tower Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
My Favorite Quotes:
"I would never make the mistake of underestimating a woman like you. It would be a fatal one." _______
It was ironic that the man who dealt with so much death seemed to have brought her back to life... _______
"No, no, sir, we meant you no harm. Please, please let us go." "You meant her harm. . . And that is enough for me." And then he shoved the blade into the man's chest, piercing is heart and killing him instantly. _______
She wasn't light; she was color. Every single one, dancing otherworldly and bright over his unworthy eyes. She was the explosion of the vivid gleams and glows of the world around him, like a constant rainbow, shining not after the rain but during. _______
"We're all monsters in the end. At least mine lives in the light." _______...more
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