The only reason I'm not going for the full 5 is because I liked You, with a view just a little better.
But it's a hard sell to get me to like4.5 stars
The only reason I'm not going for the full 5 is because I liked You, with a view just a little better.
But it's a hard sell to get me to like a second chance romance and I loved this one. They usually don't work for me, because there's always something that bugs me, making it hard for me to believe in the actual second chance. Mostly I won't be convinced the couple will overcome their issues and go the distance.
None of that here, everything was just right; their age when they transitioned from best friends to more, the years they were together and the ones they were apart. Their break-up years weren't too long or too short, making it believable to me, and I understood the reasons why they fell apart. I also felt it was plausible that it was something they had worked on and could continue to do so. The grand gesture at the end made me cry, which I hadn't seen coming at all.
Also, the friend group is amazing and I loved everything about all of them.
But Eli, man ... Books like these (and Disney) are the reason no real guy is ever going to measure up. Elis don't exist.
Will also have 'Paper Rings' by TS stuck in my head for the foreseeable future....more
My favourite Simone St. James so far. That beginning was so deliciously creepy and the atmosphere on Atticus Line so eerie that it absolutely terrifieMy favourite Simone St. James so far. That beginning was so deliciously creepy and the atmosphere on Atticus Line so eerie that it absolutely terrified me.
Her books always make me feel as though I'm waiting in line for my favourite Disney ride (The Tower of Terror), because the ghostly elements remind me of that creepy video they show about what happened to the guests of the hotel, as you're waiting in line.
Her books are a vibe.
If you've read any of her novels before, you'll probably see one of the main reveals coming a mile away, and I also wasn't completely satisfied by the killer reveal. But neither of those things lessened my enjoyment; I couldn't put this down and I loved the central couple a lot.
This was an impulse buy, but what an unexpectedly magical journey. It involves time travel, so naturally I ended up really liking this.
The only thingThis was an impulse buy, but what an unexpectedly magical journey. It involves time travel, so naturally I ended up really liking this.
The only thing preventing me from handing out 5 stars, is that the writing was a little stilted and repetitive at times. Most of the characters also have little to no depth, especially the villains, and I didn't necessarily need an explanation about the origin of the books.
But other than that, this was a great story featuring a good vs. evil plot and a closed loop version of time travel (which is the kind I prefer)....more
This was not as charming as the first one in the series, unfortunately. The constant focus on the difference between certain US English words versus UThis was not as charming as the first one in the series, unfortunately. The constant focus on the difference between certain US English words versus UK English words annoyed me. As if all Americans won't understand you if you use the word 'pavement' or 'lift' or 'flat'? I found that ridiculous.
New York also didn't come alive as I'd expected it to, but maybe that's on me. I did still like the found family aspect (which I suspect will be a recurring theme in all these books), but the romance was lackluster and I didn't buy Todd's complete 180 at the end.
Also, for an otherwise intelligent person, Sophie was pretty dumb when it came to her relationship with James. Yes, you should have known, case closed....more
The time it took me to read this isn't indicative of my enjoyment because I really liked this! I thought Nick and Emilia were a perfect pairing and I The time it took me to read this isn't indicative of my enjoyment because I really liked this! I thought Nick and Emilia were a perfect pairing and I was rooting for them from the beginning.
The found family aspect was also lovely, and I am always a sucker for that kind of thing.
Overall, this was a fun series and I like Linden's writing....more
This was good, but I had to really suspend my disbelief that Lucy wouldn't know what her best friend's brother looks like or even what his re3.5 stars
This was good, but I had to really suspend my disbelief that Lucy wouldn't know what her best friend's brother looks like or even what his real name is. I mean, I get that Bridget calls her brother Wolf, but how is a follow up question to that information not "and what's his real name?". I could maybe believe never seeing a picture of your friend's brother in the two years since you've been friends and have been roommates, but never learning his real name? Friendships must work differently in Canada.
Anyway, I just assumed no one had social media of any kind and moved on.
I liked both Lucy and Felix a lot, both individually and together, but this is a 'lust-at-first-sight' book, and the lust part lasted too long for me. The first half of the book is pretty much only long descriptions of how hot Felix is, how affected Lucy is just by looking at him, or standing in front of him, how she's panting when he simply stands close and how she feels his presence and the heat of him immediately.
It was a bit much, and it took until the halfway point for that to let up a little, though it never really goes away. The third act conflict also sort of came out of nowhere for me and didn't make much sense ((view spoiler)[ I didn't get why they wouldn't just go ahead with their original long distance plan, which is then what they end up doing anyway, after a few months. (hide spoiler)])
I'm still rounding up, because as mentioned I did really like the characters and the setting, as with all the author's books, is amazing and really transports you to the island.
But her debut novel remains my favourite by far....more
This is, personally, the worst Nora Roberts book I've ever read. Had I known, I would've thrown in the towel after the first quarter or so, but it's NThis is, personally, the worst Nora Roberts book I've ever read. Had I known, I would've thrown in the towel after the first quarter or so, but it's Nora, so I kept expecting it to pick up again. I finally caved and started skimming heavily around the 80% mark.
I'm handing out 2 stars instead of 1 (mainly because I don't want to start off the new year with a 1-star-rating but also because the beginning of the book was easily the strongest), but it's a generous rating indeed. I have rarely been this bored throughout and the book was at least 150 pages too long, since nothing much ever happened. It's all tell and no show, making this a very slow and long read indeed.
The suspense part was tedious, but that usually doesn't bother me much because the romance angle will - in most cases - be enough for me to ignore all the rest. Except, the romance angle here is barely a romance. I liked Dillon and Cate's initial meeting, but once they're adults there is just no spark at all. Their relationship seemed more like a business deal in terms of how they talked about it and I didn't feel any chemistry between them at all. It's tepid, at best.
So, this is really more of a Hollywood contemporary fiction, following the life of a young actor going through a traumatic event and trying to pick up her life afterwards. But it's not at all a romance.
Also, this book needed a better editor because besides being too long, there were also quite a few mistakes and mix-ups that weren't caught. ...more
I don't have much to say about this other than it was a nice final installment to the series. I've been sick since Christmas day and these books are iI don't have much to say about this other than it was a nice final installment to the series. I've been sick since Christmas day and these books are infinitely readable. They didn't require a huge amount of focus, which was perfect for me at this time.
I'm going to miss Lara Jean, there was something so wholesome about her life. I've watched both the first and second movie in the meantime, but I prefer the books. The movies were missing some spark for me, and there's not enough Kitty, who's a real gem and so funny in the books....more
Hmmm, I didn't like this as much as the first one. The whole Genevieve drama got to be too much for me, and I felt Peter didn't handle that situation Hmmm, I didn't like this as much as the first one. The whole Genevieve drama got to be too much for me, and I felt Peter didn't handle that situation well at all.
I was actually switching to team John Ambrose McLaren, not gonna lie.
I could do without a love triangle in book 3, since it's all a bit much....more
I wanted to read a few books that have been on my Kindle the longest and this series seemed like a good choice.
Haven't read any straight up 3.5 stars
I wanted to read a few books that have been on my Kindle the longest and this series seemed like a good choice.
Haven't read any straight up YA in a while but I actually found it refreshing that Lara Jean sounded a little younger than 16. It made her more believable and realistic in a way, since you usually get characters teenage sounding older and then I tend to feel a certain disconnect.
I liked this and I liked her narrative voice and how her family aren't scumbags. I get the criticism that this book doesn't have an ending, but I can only assume the second one will pick up right where this one left off.
Oh, though I do have to say that I found it ridiculous that she doesn't figure out who sent her letters. It could not have been more obvious.
I can also finally watch the Netflix movies now....more
This was not at all what I was expecting it to be, but I think that's actually a good thing. It's a very atmospheric and poignant book, that 4.5 stars
This was not at all what I was expecting it to be, but I think that's actually a good thing. It's a very atmospheric and poignant book, that had me crying a lot at the end.
I do wish that Cooper's PTSD following his tours in Afghanistan had been explored a little more. It's obvious that this heavily influenced Cooper's decisions that ultimately led him and his daughter to hide away and live so remotely.
This is a very quiet and short book that I found subtly heartbreaking....more
Listen, if I had been asked to rate the book at the halfway point, I would've given it 3 stars. When asked to rate it at the 85% (!) mark, it still woListen, if I had been asked to rate the book at the halfway point, I would've given it 3 stars. When asked to rate it at the 85% (!) mark, it still would've been a solid 2 stars.
But then the third-act break-up happens and it is SO RIDICULOUS that I believe my jaw actually dropped. Not to mention that the wronged party in the conflict (at least in my opinion) is then the one to eventually seek reconciliation. Just, no. I HATE when that happens. I want and expect grovelling - a lot of it, given the sheer stupidity of the reason for the break-up in the first place - and I got none of that here.
I won't comment on the Shakespeare retelling as I am not familiar with Much Ado About Nothing, but honestly, this book is not good. It's being marketed as enemies to lovers while the enemies part is based on a ten second initial meeting between both main characters, and it turns into insta love faster than you can actually say 'enemies to lovers '. And I'm sorry, but as much as I love Jamie, that dude isn't real. I like my swoony, kind-hearted heroes, but there are limits. Nothing about him is even remotely realistic.
Maybe I'm just becoming burned-out on Liese's particular brand of writing. With every passing book I can't shake the feeling that it's all about ticking boxes for her and that's fine when delivering a stellar story, but it grates when that's not the case.
Judging by the twins' little sister's name (Katerina), I'm guessing The Taming of the Shrew is coming our way inna future installment, a Shakespeare play I am at least somewhat familiar with but I don't know whether I want to invest the time....more
Not my favourite of the series, sadly. I loved the historical storyline of book 1 and adored the romance in book 2. But in this one, i felt lukewarm aNot my favourite of the series, sadly. I loved the historical storyline of book 1 and adored the romance in book 2. But in this one, i felt lukewarm about both at best.
The plot was very slow and I struggled to stay invested. I feel like I made it to the end of the book, and yet I still don't really know a lot about Ethan, for instance. There was less depth to his character than I'd been expecting.
Also not enough Barbanel cousin shenanigans in this one, though the triplets did make up for it a little.
The setting and atmosphere is, once again, the very best thing about this series. I could feel summer seeping into my bones, which is no mean feat given the atrocious weather we've been having....more
It took me a really long time to get into this story, for some reason that I can't define. But when I was sucked in, I was ALL in.
Very cute 3.5 stars
It took me a really long time to get into this story, for some reason that I can't define. But when I was sucked in, I was ALL in.
Very cute and perfect for this time of year, but I think overall I liked the first book just a little more. My absolute favourite thing is still the Barbanels and their extended family and how they all go around calling cousins the littles and the middles.
Every scene involving all the cousins or part of the family was a delight and that's pretty rare in YA.
Glad to see there's going to be another book in the series!...more
Loading...
