I enjoyed this so much! I was really expecting to after how much I adored Beach Read, and this did not disappoint.
I am coming around to enjoy these fI enjoyed this so much! I was really expecting to after how much I adored Beach Read, and this did not disappoint.
I am coming around to enjoy these friends to lover romances so much more than I used to, and the pain and pining and missed connections of this absolutely pulled at my heart strings. Poppy has my absolute dream job of traveling the world and writing articles about the beautiful places she's been, and it was a pleasure to read about someone with that career. I loved her relationship with Alex, the pure little bean that he is. Alex deserves all the heart eye emojis. I really enjoyed the two timelines of the present summer vacation and the summer vacations of years past. I love a good story that has two timelines converge at a dramatic moment that the whole novel is building up to.
I would absolutely recommend this to people who enjoyed Beach Read. It has a bit of the same existential life dilemma of Beach Read that I find so relatable. What am I supposed to be doing with my life? What will make me happy? Am I happy? I love books that tackle this because it is such a late 20s early 30s vibe that I feel deep in my soul.
This felt like one of those books that I read at the right time. I felt so much of the pain and confusion and uncertainty that was mirrored in JanuaryThis felt like one of those books that I read at the right time. I felt so much of the pain and confusion and uncertainty that was mirrored in January and Gus. I connected deeply with the feelings of life just not panning out the way you expected or wanted, but learning to embrace what you have gotten dealt in life. I thought it beautifully wove together January finding herself and the romance elements. I’m anxiously awaiting the next adult romance from Henry. ...more
This book was fabulous. A true nemesis to lovers romance, which really made my heart soar. I haven’t seen pranks played on each other to this caliber This book was fabulous. A true nemesis to lovers romance, which really made my heart soar. I haven’t seen pranks played on each other to this caliber since The Hating Game and Dating You/Hating You. If you liked either of those books, this is an absolute must read. Such a good balance of hijinks and sentimentality. I will definitely read more from this author in the future, and this will be on my best books of the year. 10/10 would recommend. ...more
This was my absolute favorite thriller of the year. Perfect amount of suspense. Perfect amount of foreboding. Perfect amount of twists and turns. PerfThis was my absolute favorite thriller of the year. Perfect amount of suspense. Perfect amount of foreboding. Perfect amount of twists and turns. Perfect audiobook narration. Just perfect. ...more
TJR created such a believable and authentic band that I had to keep reminding myself that it was a fictitious group. The group dynamThis. Was. Superb.
TJR created such a believable and authentic band that I had to keep reminding myself that it was a fictitious group. The group dynamics and nuances between the various band members were so well thought out and realized on the page. The messy depiction of love and fame and addiction was just so raw and real and authentic. This truly felt like a biographical account of a 1970s rock band. I particularly enjoyed the complications and mess between the band members. How love and marriage and sex and drugs plays into the difficult and messy feelings that one person can have about another. It was a story that showed all the hard and unfair sides of love, not just the happy rainbows and butterflies, but it also showed the perseverance and faith that love can also invoke. I was absolutely enamored.
Furthermore, the audiobook cast did an amazingly incredible job. It was a full cast narration; and because of the nature of how the book was written, it just felt perfectly suited for the audiobook format. The compilation of interviews seamlessly laid over one another felt like I was watching a documentary or feature on TV about this iconic rock band. Some of my favorite narrators from other works were also members of this cast. If you have the opportunity to listen to this on audiobook, I absolutely cannot more highly recommend....more
This audiobook was incredible. Definitely one of my favorite audiobook performances that I’ve ever listened to.
I was absolutely enthralled with this This audiobook was incredible. Definitely one of my favorite audiobook performances that I’ve ever listened to.
I was absolutely enthralled with this story. I was so engrossed that all the sudden we were at the epilogue, and I couldn’t believe how fast the story flew by. I loved the case file/dossier style of the narrative. Somewhat similar to that of the Illuminae Files by Kaufman and Kristoff, which I absolutely loved. I feel like there is still so much secrecy and unsolved mysteries. I can’t wait to unravel the story more. Once the epilogue ended, I was shooketh in my boots. I cannot wait to jump into the next book.
I also think this is a great way to dip your toes into science fiction, if you’re not a frequent sci-fi reader. It definitely had space and aliens and futuristic technology, but not so out of this world to not be fathomable. ...more
This is my first ever Katie Cotugno book, and I absolutely adored it.
I'm always a sucker for a good mystery book. While this isn't technically a mysteThis is my first ever Katie Cotugno book, and I absolutely adored it.
I'm always a sucker for a good mystery book. While this isn't technically a mystery, there is a mysterious aspect as to why the main love interest decided to up and leave our main character's life. I loved the dual time line because it just added to and compounded on this mystery. The chapters are told in alternating timelines: one when our main character is 16 and falling in love for the first time, and a second 2 years later after the love interest has left her alone to raise a child. The whole book is culminating to the event: why did Sawyer leave? I just found it so gripping. It made me flipping pages like a madwoman trying to figure out the mystery.
I loved the exploration of forgiveness and second chances and what to do if someone suddenly shows back up in your life looking for those things. I just connected so deeply to these characters and to their struggles. I really felt for them and for the hard decisions they had to make.
Such a swoon worthy romance that has quickly become one of my favorite contemporaries of all time. ...more
This was every bit as chilling and thrilling and mysterious and gruesome as I expected an4.5/5 stars.
I am such a huge fan of Karin Slaughter's works.
This was every bit as chilling and thrilling and mysterious and gruesome as I expected and was promised it would be. I love her twisty and complex and shocking narratives. In this one in particular, I loved the sister/familial relationship of the main characters. Charlie is a fantastic narrator, who is so unflinchingly relatable. Just like with her novel that I've read, Pretty Girls, I was constantly shocked and surprised by the twist and turns the story takes. Just when you think all the pieces fit together and make sense, you're blindsided by something you didn't see coming. However in contrast to Pretty Girls, I was able to figure out this mystery and was suspicious of the guilty character pretty early on. This character isn't given a ton of page time though, so I was constantly second-guessing myself. It was a very smart way to introduce this character and then reintroduce them later.
Furthermore, there was a main character who struggled with mobility. I find that it is incredibly rare to see diversity in adult thrillers, especially diversity that isn't mental health and isn't perpetuating the murderer's motives. I really enjoyed reading about this character's perseverance and how they worked to overcome their own limitations and the limitations of a small-minded small town. Additionally, there is another side character who is transgender. I am not a own voices reviewer for either of these diverse groups; thus, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the representation.
Similarly to Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter comes with trigger warnings for rape, murder, and sexual violence, additionally there is a school shooting present in the novel.
I've immensely enjoyed the two works I have read from this author thus far, and I am eager to dive into more novels by her....more
Just like all the other previous books in this series, I absolutely loved this installment.
I loved the female protagonist, London. She was incredibly Just like all the other previous books in this series, I absolutely loved this installment.
I loved the female protagonist, London. She was incredibly independent, definitely the most independent of the four leading ladies. She is completely comfortable in her own skin and completely comfortable being single. I loved that we had a female protagonist who wasn't looking for love or felt they needed love to be validated or whatnot. She embraced and took advantage of the single life. Furthermore, the male protagonist was the one who was struggling with being single. He was the one who didn't feel comfortable being alone and facing his demons. I felt like it was a nice change of roles from the typical male/female leads.
Additionally, I loved that this book explored second love. So often, we read about characters falling into epic love for the first time. However, both of these main characters had very serious relationships in the past and were dramatically affected by what they went through. I loved the conversation surrounding learning to trust and love again, learning to move on from one relationship and feel comfortable in the next. It was such a refreshing storyline. It felt very realistic and very representative of what a lot of people go through emotionally when they open themselves up to the possibility of love again after being hurt. It was just such a touching and real story.
I will definitely be looking out for future works by these two ladies because I have nothing but positive things to say about this series. It's an absolute favorite....more
I was super nervous and excited about this next installment. I felt that Lola and Oliver were the two characters I knew the least about, felt the leasI was super nervous and excited about this next installment. I felt that Lola and Oliver were the two characters I knew the least about, felt the least connected to. And, they didn't have this raw passion right off the bat either. So, I was worried.
I do have to admit that I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the other two. However, I found Lola to be such a relatable character. There were quite a few personality traits that she and I have in common, and parts of me just feel really represented by parts of her. She is avoidant. She isn't quick to trust. She throws herself into projects to avoid everything. I can relate haha.
I also really enjoyed the presence that fandom, comics, and nerd culture played in this installment. Oliver owns a comic book shop, and Lola is the author of a graphic novel that is soon to be a major motion picture. First of all, I loved that she was a graphic novelist. I feel like that, in general, is such an underrepresented career in fiction, and even more underrepresented by women in fiction. I loved watching her create and explore her graphic novel just as much as I enjoyed watching her navigate Hollywood.
Oliver was also a much different male lead compared to Ansel and Finn. He wasn't sarcastic or overly charming. He wasn't a dick or super rugged. He was just a normal, supportive, reliable, nerdy friend (turned lover). I mentioned that I didn't think Lauren would be able to distinguish Harlow and Finn from Mia and Ansel (I was wrong), but I was again worried about that here (I don't know why). Yet again, this story was so vastly different from the previous two. This relationship was so vastly different from the previous two. I enjoyed reading a slow burn romance, a friendship to lovers romance. I loved how Lauren explored the complexities that come along with that transition and what the possible repercussions could be.
Obviously, I cannot wait to pick up the final book in this series. I am dying to know if they can do it again and give me yet another amazing romance....more
After loving Sweet Filthy Boy as much as I did, I had some pretty high expectations going into book two. I was a little afraid these two women wouldn'After loving Sweet Filthy Boy as much as I did, I had some pretty high expectations going into book two. I was a little afraid these two women wouldn't be able to top or even write a comparable romance to that of Mia and Ansel's.
Well, I'm happy to report that I was very wrong.
This relationship was written so differently from Mia and Ansel's, and I loved it just as much for completely different reasons. Harlow and Finn are extremely antagonistic. They don't get along and don't really even like each other much. They have this wonderful bickering relationship that is just purely entertaining to read. They're kind of forced into a tense friendship because their two groups of friends have grown close, forcing them to be amicable. I loved watching their dynamic evolve over the course of the book. This installment is also told from both Finn and Harlow's points of view. So, you really get a good idea of how both characters are feeling about each other, which just leads to frustration because you know all this information and they don't haha.
The book ends off on a slight cliffhanger. It's implied what will happen next with these characters, but I want cold hard facts. I want to know for sure where these two characters. Thus, I have already ordered the next book in the series. I like that although they are companion stories, they take place consecutively. Therefore in this book, we got to see a little of the aftermath following the end of Sweet Filthy Boy, and we also get to see the set up between Lola and Oliver for the next book, Dark Wild Night. So even though you're no longer focusing on one particular couple, you still get to follow all the characters from the sidelines.
This is continuing to be one of my new favorite contemporary series. I cannot wait for my package to get here with Dark Wild Night. I'm ready to get to know Lola and Oliver better, and see what happened between Harlow and Finn (I forgot to mention, but I am absolutely obsessed with Finn. He is so my type in real life it is unreal.)...more
I would not recommend reading this novel anywhere that is near people. Like, no people. Anywhere. LikeWooo weee!! Get me a cold bucket of water. Stat.
I would not recommend reading this novel anywhere that is near people. Like, no people. Anywhere. Like in the privacy of your own home no people.
I said I wanted a swoony, summer romance, so my good friend Hope from Hope Ortega suggested this series to me. Girl, this series needs a warning label! I've read some new adult in the past, but that in no way prepared me for this (very sexual) ride. Most books I've read have one, maybe two, really intense sex scenes. This one. This one had probably about two dozen. I'm not at all bothered by those scenes in literature (especially since I was specifically seeking out that type of novel, I mean, let's be real here). I was just taken a little off guard.
With that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was exactly what I was looking for when I set out to find a fun, swoony (but really smutty, honestly), summer romance. I really came to love the two main characters and found myself really rooting for them to succeed. I was so happy when my girl Mia made the choices she did about her future. It was exactly what I had hoped for since the beginning. I'm dying to get my hands on the companion novels because I want to see what became of Mia and Ansel's friends after that one crazy night in Vegas.
This is one of my new favorite summer fun contemporaries.
I will warn you though. If you do not like a lot of sex scenes, just to have sex scenes, you most definitely will not like this. Mia and Ansel have a very physical relationship and that is a major central focus of the novel. There is some great growth and character development, in regards to Mia. However, it is first and foremost about these two and their incredibly passionate affair in Paris. I would say approach with caution, and most definitely steer clear if you're uncomfortable with that....more
Wow. I almost feel wrong saying how much I enjoyed this super dark, twisted novel.
This is my first Karin Slaughter novel, and it reminded me very muchWow. I almost feel wrong saying how much I enjoyed this super dark, twisted novel.
This is my first Karin Slaughter novel, and it reminded me very much of Gillian Flynn's work, which I also very much enjoyed. Thus, if you like one author and have not yet checked out the other, I would highly suggest doing so.
There were so many fantastic twists and turns and diversions that I didn't know what to expect when the end came. An initial villain is introduced, but then they're downplayed and almost dismissed, only to be resurrected as the ultimate perpetrator. It was so fantastically done. The level of deceit and complex web of lies had me unraveling things until the very last chapter. I was so thoroughly impressed and repulsed by the crimes Slaughter invented to have this criminal commit.
I want to put a massive trigger warning on this book though for rape, sexual violence, and brutality. I've seen some reviewers mention that it was way to graphic and detailed for them. Personally, I didn't find it any more descriptive than what you might see in a Gillian Flynn novel. Again, if you like one, I think you'll also like this other.
I cannot wait to get my hands on her most recent release to see if she can do it again. I've been hearing such good things. I would also like to note that I think this would make a fantastic movie, and that should happen (if it isn't already...)....more
Jordan (thejordanjournals)
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