I'm going to love her in all the quiet ways, the slow ways, the loud and obnoxious ways.
It's rare that I love a Bookstagram darling and I3.5 S T A R S
I'm going to love her in all the quiet ways, the slow ways, the loud and obnoxious ways.
It's rare that I love a Bookstagram darling and I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this! I was looking for a light, fluffy, and festive read for the holidays and this was almost perfect.
From the instant I jumped into Stella's head I knew she was going to be my girl. Her sense of humor, the way she talked and looked at the world was so much like my own that I couldn't help but love her with her cheeky attitude, big heart and absolute googoo eyes for Christmas. Vibrant and endearing Stella was surrounded by just as vibrant and endearing secondary characters. Little page time, to lots of page time, every character felt real and fleshed out and I couldn't wait to learn more about them. Even though this was a pretty classic best-friends-to-lover plot, how strong the characters were, their interactions with one another, the fact that B.K. Borison showed us how deep their friendships were through on page actions (instead of telling us) made this stand out. I wanted to hike around the farm with Stella, cook Ravioli with Luka and his family (actually I hate cooking so just eat), shovel my face full of Layla's pastries, steal Beckett's kittens, sit warm and cozy in the kitchen with them, drinking coco and planning Christmas. I loved their banter and interactions so much that I would find myself smiling into my book like a fool. How can all the characters be so endearing?! I really felt like this was a group of friends I would see in the real world. It takes a lot for authors to bring characters to life like that so kudos to her.
Luka + Stella = luv 4eva. I loved the slow burn of their romance, the quiet and mundane ways in which not only the reader learned the ways that Luka and Stella loved each other, but that Luka and Stella's eyes were slowly opened to how the other loved them. I was caught up in their romance, I felt their long history, their yearning, and their fear of taking the step from friends to lovers. Luka was absolutely lovely. I loved how gentle and patient he was with Stella, he was not only her rock but her sounding board and partner in crime. I loved that their love was a quiet, softly blooming love that developed over years. They complimented each other well and I loved the time I spent with them and their story.
Now to rain on the parade a little. For how much I loved this, I can't help feeling that it was too long. For such a low angst, cozy romcom, with a plot that is just as cozy and content, 400 pages is just too long. I think this would have gone from like to love for me if it was 50-100 pages shorter..
My other little pouting moment is that for a holiday romance this didn't feel very festive. Which sounds weird since I'm talking about a Christmas tree farm, but aside from Thanksgiving, a little bit of decorating and mentioning of Christmas there wasn't a ton of holiday cheer. Actual Christmas wasn't even present, which was disappointing.
I so badly want to give this four stars, as I really did enjoy it, but the length and how it felt a bit draggy in the middle really brought it down so 3.5 stars from me.
I WOULD STILL RECOMMEND. I STILL SWOONED. I STILL LOVED THE CHARACTERS. I STILL THOUGHT THE STORY WAS CUTE!! I just think I would have enjoyed the story more if it was shorter and/or had more of a plot. That being said, I think this was really great for a debut novel. B.K. Borison has some really wonderful things in this book and I'm excited to read the next ones!!
Luka filled the empty places in my life slowly, carefully, with his easy smile and stupid jokes. He brought me back to life....more
Honestly, we need more books like Icebreaker. A. L. Graziadei did such an amazing job not only representing the different forms of depressi[3.5 stars]
Honestly, we need more books like Icebreaker. A. L. Graziadei did such an amazing job not only representing the different forms of depression, how it can look differently depending on the person, how it effects people differently, but also the guilt that comes with feeling sad just because, and feeling hopeless to do anything about it. As someone who has depression and anxiety I really related with Mickey, our depression manifests pretty similarly, and how he struggled with not only feeling nothingness and then extreme sadness, but the guilt and shame of "why am I like this? My life isn't bad. Why am I so sad when other people have it so much harder than me?", and I loved how the author addressed that depression isn't something you choose, it doesn't care about your childhood, your friend dynamic, how "lucky" you are in life. I also love that she showed that having depression doesn't mean one is sad all the time, there are small moments of happiness and fun, but the depression is always there in the background waiting to take hold.
I enjoyed reading about Mickey's mental health journey as he embarked on his first year of university, found himself, his friends, and worked on making a space for himself in the world, strove to find those little moments of happiness. I also really loved how she addressed women in sports, how she showed the imbalance and unfairness in the way women are treated through Mickey's sisters and their athletic careers / fame vs. Mickey's.
My only complaint is that there definitely could have been more relationship development between Cauler and Mickey. I was 100% invested in their enemies-to-lovers development arc, how their relationship would play out with not only them them being rivals but with Mickey's depression. While they did have some good talks, and cute moments, I do think that what happened on page was bare minimum and I would have loved some additional pages added so we could see more of their development, more moments of them hanging out, talking, etc.,. I feel like I spent a lot of the book hearing about Cauler but not actually seeing him on the page, which is a shame because they had such great angst, I would have loved some more sweet/development moments.
Overall I think this a lovely and fun enemies-to-lovers YA, I seriously devoured it, and that it has the most amazing rep (not only mental health but lots of diversity in race, sexuality, relationship styles, etc.) ...more
Ohhhh, how to review this book other than typing “I love it, I love it, it’s brilliant” until I hit the character limit? This is a story that’s best tOhhhh, how to review this book other than typing “I love it, I love it, it’s brilliant” until I hit the character limit? This is a story that’s best to go in completely blind, so what can I say to convince you without giving much away? I can say that this story is absolutely horrifying and hauntingly heartbreaking, that it’s written so beautifully the confusion, suspicions, turmoil, weep from the pages. I can say that this is a story of human evils and buried gods. I can say that while you may predict some things, you won’t others, and right when you think you have all the pieces together, the doll opens and there is another layer. I can say that if you’ve never felt the absolute brilliance that is reading the POV of a snarky and endearing cat, you will in this book. I can say that I hold five stars close to my heart, that a book has to absolutely blow my mind, bring insight and emotional change to receive a five star, and The Last House on Needless Street is a five star for me. I can say that the most important part of the story is the after forward, so make sure you take the time to read it once you’ve finished! I can say that I will be picking up everything that Catriona Ward writes *camera pans to Sundial setting on my end table*. I can say that this is top five of my favorite reads so far this year....more
Despite all the cringe in this series I really am having a great time, and I think that for all it's cringe-y faults this is a pretty impressive serieDespite all the cringe in this series I really am having a great time, and I think that for all it's cringe-y faults this is a pretty impressive series, especially for it's time.
Where I rolled my eyes at every "I'm just so pretty" inner monologue Mac had in Darkfever, I am pleasantly surprised to say that they have been cut down, a lot, and while there is still a ridiculous amount of time spent describing Mac's attire, how hot everyone is, or how apparently every person (and non-human) wants to bone Mac, it's not NEARLY as bad. There's less focus on the color of Mac's nail, and more on the actual plot in this one. Though I will say... the out of nowhere badass fight skills are... hard to believe.. but other than that, LOVING the improvement, Mac!
Bloodfever is quick paced in both plot and the expansion of the Fae world. We discover new fae, are introduced to new key players and characters, and Mac and Barrons both develop individually and romantically. Honestly, I'm really surprised to re-discover that this is not only a slow-burn romance, as I feel like with most PNR the romance aspect is so rush and in your face, but a slow-burn romance done really well. My buddy reader & I were talking about how it's not even a hate-to-love it's more of a disinterest-to-love, and that's what makes it so refreshing. It's not that they hate each other, they are just two people who have no interest in the other, and would have no interest in the other if they weren't thrown together and dependent for survival. And while things have progressed, they have in a way that feels natural when you're forced around someone so often.
What I appreciate the most about Moning's storytelling is that she does not shy away from the brutality and vileness of the Fae. These are not pretty Fae princes who maybe can understand the concept of human love, these are monsters, aliens, who see human beneath them, who have lived so long they cannot fathom what it is like to be a human, let alone feel the way humans do. It's blatant and brutal and honestly a bit haunting....more
3.5 S T A R S With a name like "Slaughter" I should have known that this was going to be absolutely, gorey awesomeness. I was not prepared, fam, I WAS 3.5 S T A R S With a name like "Slaughter" I should have known that this was going to be absolutely, gorey awesomeness. I was not prepared, fam, I WAS NOT PREPARED!
Do you hear that sound? That is the sound of my high pitched scream as I hurl this book across my living room (this is one of two times I've ever throDo you hear that sound? That is the sound of my high pitched scream as I hurl this book across my living room (this is one of two times I've ever thrown a book in my life). I think this is quite possibly the absolute worst book I've ever read. It doesn't even deserve 1 star in my opinion.
Oh god, where to even start with this one? Do we start with Rachel, the absolute EMBODIMENT of a "pick me" girl? As if she wasn't already the worst, most annoying, "I'm not like other girls (moms), I'm a cool girl (mom)" ever, she was a horrible friend. Just everything about her was horrible. I hated her, I hated being in her head, I wish I could have ripped her from the pages and killed her myself. Ope.
Or maybe we start with the pretentious dialogue about horror movies? The awkward and clunky horror movie references and tropes? The way the writing feels like a child playing dress up? The fact that every. single. person. is two dimensional? That they all have these "secrets" and these "secrets" are why they joined the MSC, and yet WE NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE?! The petty, ridiculous, cringe-y teenage mean girl drama? We could talk about the pacing, how it dragged and dragged, the endless paragraphs about the stupidest, most useless things like what watch someone was wearing, why someone liked sushi. How one of the most horrible things about this book is how horribly long it is.
Ugh! This book really was just absolutely awful and slogging my way through this was a cruel form of torture. The amount of eye-rolling, scoffing and face palming I did while reading this was unreal. I feel like this book rotted my brain away. Do I even like reading after this?
I feel like Moldavsky had a list of all her favorite horror movie tropes and all she cared about was checking each one off, shoving them down our throats, no matter how awfully they were written, placed, awkwardly thrown about. It wasn't fun, it wasn't campy, it was an absolute slaughtering (and not in a good way) of the horror genre.
And the saddest part of this whole thing is this was such a cool concept.
Don't even get me started about the "big reveal" at the end.
Overall feelings: [image] [image]
**This would have been an almost immediate DNF if I wasn't buddy reading....more
She is cherry blossoms falling. She is serious moonlight. She is shivering green leaves.
This book is so.. different and I think it will really hit peoShe is cherry blossoms falling. She is serious moonlight. She is shivering green leaves.
This book is so.. different and I think it will really hit people differently depending on who they are, their life experiences, what they’re looking for between it’s pages, and where they are in life when they read it.
While this book didn’t resonate with me (at this moment) the way I’ve seen it resonate with others, I still think it’s absolutely brilliant. Awad’s prose are so lovely and the way she writes loneliness, like a physical weight, and the heartache of wanting to belong, really made my soul ache and made me think of a younger version of myself, yearning for friendships I didn’t yet have. There were parts when I had to tell myself to stop annotating because I could have annotated the entire page, it was written so beautifully.
We’ve all been in Samantha’s shoes, so desperately wanting to belong to something, anything, to feel welcomed and accepted, so much so that we are willing to give up parts of ourselves. Awad’s took those feelings, she manifested them and spun them into a story of cultish mean girls, exploding bunnies, a bone-deep loneliness, and whimsical nights of friendship.
Do I think everyone will love this book? No. Do I recommend it? 100% and highly.
I think this is a book I will revisit many times, one in which my feelings for it will always be shifting....more
Catriona Ward has done it again. She has written a horror that slowly seeps into my soul until I am truly captivated and left in love. I know it's weiCatriona Ward has done it again. She has written a horror that slowly seeps into my soul until I am truly captivated and left in love. I know it's weird to say that about a horror novel but what I learned about Catriona's books, after reading The Last House on Needless Street as well, is that her stories are so much more than horror. They explore the human psyche, nature vs. nurture, how trauma effects who we are and the secrets people bury deep inside themselves.
Reading Catriona's books is like looking at an illusion you think you see one thing, but in fact it's something entirely different and that's what makes them so special.
The horror of Sundial bleeds from the pages like an unsuspected poison, the characters are unhinged and unlikable, and as their fear and doubts poison their minds against each other so do they poison the mind of the reader. It's a unique and horrifying spin on the bond between women (especially mothers, daughters, and sisters), the secrets that we keep and monsters that hide in plain sight....more
I found this very boring and I didn't feel attached to any of the characters.I found this very boring and I didn't feel attached to any of the characters....more
Another stunning cover for a less than mediocre book. The more I’ve sat on this book, and thought about my review, the more I realized there was essenAnother stunning cover for a less than mediocre book. The more I’ve sat on this book, and thought about my review, the more I realized there was essentially nothing I liked about it besides the cover, which is s t u n n i n g, and the idea of the premise, which sadly fell very short when it came to execution.
First and foremost, this book could have been about three books or at least two. There was SO much going on, and yet there wasn’t much detail to anything. The world was vague, the magic system even vaguer (half the time I forgot there was magic) and the point, plot, story was so all over the place that half the time I wasn’t sure what exactly the story was supposed to be. There were multiple times while reading this that I thought “Okay, this the the grand finale, the end, the big showdown/boss” and yet it would carry on, and on, and on… Lots and lots of pages with little substance.
The characters, especially the MC Xingyin, were extremely two dimensional and shallow. The side characters felt like they were just placed about the pages because a main character must have friends, right? I could barely stand Xingyin with her pick-me-girl energy and the way she flitted from one love interest to the next. Seriously, the world would be in ruins and she would not only be having a romantic moment with one love interest but it would cut then to the next page and she’s having a different romantic moment with the OTHER love interest. And when I say cut I really mean it. The writing did not flow and it gave me the feel of watching a stop motion movie, cut to this scene, cut to that scene. Xingyin didn’t feel real or relatable, she felt like a caricature of a person and her love interests were love interest #348972 and love interest number #349494 with stock love triangle plot #498754. I h a t e love triangles in general, I feel that they are lazy writing and add drama just for the sake of drama, but I especially hated this one. Everything about it was absolutely cringe: the jealousy, the pissing contests, the possessiveness, and again, the way Xingyin bounced around and around, falling in and out of love with the breeze.
And this being in first person? No thank you. Not it. Xingyi's inner monologues, how she thought of herself and the world around was just.. weird? Her voice read like a child who was trying to convince themselves that they were grown. A very very young voice.
As a huge Sailor Moon fan, I’m sad about this one. I really feel like there was so much that could have been done with this story, it’s such a cool premise, and for a book about the Moon Goddess and her daughter I feel like there wasn’t much about the moon.. or the goddess… Ugh, this could have been the most epic of romances, an amazing adventure, but I felt like Sue Lynn Tan was trying to pack so much into this book that it was all a bit of an underdeveloped mess.
If I hadn’t listened to this on audio, at 2X speed, I would have DNFed.
Received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher!...more
There is something so special about Margaret Owen's writing and her stories. Her characters are so delightful, their humor so witty and yet the worldsThere is something so special about Margaret Owen's writing and her stories. Her characters are so delightful, their humor so witty and yet the worlds are so gothic and she covers some pretty dark topics, the contrast is amazing. I immensely enjoy her books and Little Thieves is no different.
Little Thieves is such a fun romp through a world of Low Gods, killing curses, and creatures that go bump in the night. I absolutely loved the imagery, the world that Owen created of Low Gods, and ghastly creatures, of deep woods, bone magic and dark Midwinter nights. A world in which a child is left at a crossroads to be raise by the Low Gods, Death and Fortune. Little Thieves is hauntingly atmospheric, and gave me huge Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth vibes.
Vanja is a classic Owen's badass. Life has dealt her shit, and she is not taking it any longer. She is bold, hilarious and flawed, which make her character development so much better. And while she is quite the presence while on page, the secondary characters Emeric, Gisele, Ragne, are so well-developed that they shine just as brightly. Especially Ragne, love her. The romance is sweet and subtle, and lovely. While this is a young adult, and the characters are technically 16/17, the themes and topics covered in this book are more mature, and characters voices read more like early 20s if I'm being honest, and that was a plus for me.
One of my favorite things about Owen's stories is how diverse the characters and worlds are, there are people from different cultural backgrounds, different walks of life, sexual & gender identity, etc,. Her books truly reflect the world around.
Thick with themes of found family, self-acceptance, and forging a path of one's own, Little Thieves was such a delight to read.
Honestly, no one does gothic fantasy like Owens....more
The ABSOLUTE AUDACITY people have to rate this so low, y’all don’t know taste or gothic horror. I feel like, as a gothic horror lover, it is my DUTY tThe ABSOLUTE AUDACITY people have to rate this so low, y’all don’t know taste or gothic horror. I feel like, as a gothic horror lover, it is my DUTY to shove this book in everyone’s face.
Not gonna lie, I almost didn’t read this because the GR ratings are so low, but I’m so happy I did because it’s phenomenal?! Idk what the hell is going on here, but this book is gothic horror perfection!! Did I know what was going on the whole time? No. Was I on the edge of my seat, in love with the characters, and creepy ass house up on the hill (not literally on a hill but you get the picture)? Yes. Did I think I was delusional? Yes. Did I think Jane was delusional, hallucinating out of her mind? Yes and then no, and then yes, and finally I DON’T KNOW. But that’s what makes this book so deliciously captivating & creepy as hell.
Jane Shoringfield is a logical woman, a woman who is most at ease with her ledgers and numbers. Being the extremely logical woman she is, Jane decided that she would prefer a more businesslike marriage, as opposed to a love marriage. So what does she do? She compiles a list of the best suitors, as logical women do, and ding ding ding finds herself running to the alter with the town doctor. It ends up being a love marriage and they live happily after LOLLLL. If only.
Turns out Jane bit off a little more than she can chew, in classic gothic horror protagonist fashion, and not only ties herself to the town doctor, but to his creepy manor. A manor in which she is never to visit, and yet she does, and that, my friends, is where all logical packs it’s bags and walks right out the door.
So begins the wild, and absolutely creepy, tale of dark magic, hauntings, and Jane trying to figure out what exactly is going on at Lindridge Hall, and with her husband, and ME trying to figure out if Jane has absolutely lost it, or if she should kill her husband and burn the manor down.
The Death of Jane Lawrence is hauntingly atmospheric, with narration and descriptions that kept me in a constant state of unease and uncertainty, add in spells written in blood, a whirlwind victorian romance and a foreboding gothic manor, and BAM! I have a new favorite, and nightmares… probably some nightmares.
I love when I finish a book thinking “…. what… in the hell did I just read…?” And that’s exactly how I felt after finishing The Death of Jane Lawrence, absolutely Mindfucked and happy about it. I honestly loved everything about this, and I can’t wait to purchase a copy (I rented it from the library :) ) so I can set it right next to my much loved copy of Rebecca.
**Also the blurb describes it as having Crimson Peak, Rebecca, and Shirley Jackson vibes and the answer is YES TO ALL...more
What an absolute delight this was. After reading Hogle's debut novel You Deserve Each Other, and adoring it, I had high hopes for this one and this waWhat an absolute delight this was. After reading Hogle's debut novel You Deserve Each Other, and adoring it, I had high hopes for this one and this was truly so lovely and fun.
I loved the idea of two people with polar opposite personalities, forced together while they renovated an old house that is just as mysterious and charming as they are. Twice Shy was wacky, endearing, laugh-out-loud funny and, as is custom for Hogle, a little bit weird. Hogle breathed a unique magic into the much loved grump/sunshine trope, and I could not get enough of Maybell and Wesley's interactions. Not to mention that there were some truly stunning lines:
His kiss is the Fourth of July, a Southern summer night. Cicadas and the tongues of smoke off a burning firework--hiss, pop. Hot.
Maybell is such a quirky and vibrant weirdo, but without being plagued by the "I'm a quirky and vibrant, I'm not like other girls" vibes that a lot of "quirky" characters tend to fall into. She is so unapologically herself and that's one of the things I love the most about Hogle's characters, they are so real, relatable and so much fun. Seriously, I wish I could be best friends with Maybell because everything about her: her personality, outfit choices, witty comebacks and sense of humor were positively fantastic!
Then there is sweet and quiet Wesley, who is the soft and peaceful rain to Maybell's tropical storm. I loved that there was more to Wesley than being dark and broody, just to be dark and broody. I loved the little pieces of him that we uncovered throughout the story, it was like finding little treasures.
Together, Maybell and Wesley they were a little bit like magic....more
Okay, I absolutely loved this: the characters, the pacing, the dual POV, the concept and execution *chef’s kiss*. One of the best thrillers I’ve read Okay, I absolutely loved this: the characters, the pacing, the dual POV, the concept and execution *chef’s kiss*. One of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time.
I will read whatever Fargo writes.
(view spoiler)[The only thing I'm disappointed about is the way things went down with Wes. I feel like that came out of nowhere and didn't fit his character at all. (hide spoiler)] ...more
[4.5 stars] The most special thing about Mhairi's books are the fact that, in the end, friendship and personal growth are the most important themes. Ju[4.5 stars] The most special thing about Mhairi's books are the fact that, in the end, friendship and personal growth are the most important themes. Just List Night did not disappoint. We meet Eve, our main character, basking in the glow of laughs, good drinks, and the contented feeling of belonging you get when surrounded by friends who fit just right. Instantly I'm in love with Eve, and I'm in love her friends. Their wit, their banter, their personalities are top notch and immediately I feel like I am also basking in the contented glow of being surrounded by friends who fit just right. No one, and I mean no one writes friend groups like Mhairi, and this is a hill I will absolutely die on. But from the beginning we know that Eve will soon be struck with tragedy, so we soak up the good vibes and the laughs because when the sad hits, it hits hard. And so begins the journey of Eve's grief, the shifting of her world, the experience of moments of "before" and "after", and the weight of living in the moments "after".
I feel that every time I read a Mhairi book I come away with new knowledge, new experiences and outlooks I've learned from her characters and through her writing, and Just Last Night is no different. This is a story of friendship, grief and acceptance. This is story of subtle romance and learning that you're allowed to "be alive" and "carry on", that no experience, no memory, is diminished by moving forward. This is a story about learning to live with grief, to accept it's burden and make it a part of your daily life, until it no longer becomes such a shock and just is.
**This would have been a five star for me if there was a little more focus on the romance. I don't think anything should have been changed or taken away, just more pages to include a little bit more swoons and romantic development. BUT I also understand that Mhairi’s books focus on so much more than just the romance. ...more
Hayley ☾ (TheVillainousReader)
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