|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1743316518
| 9781743316511
| 1743316518
| 4.21
| 1,749
| Jun 01, 2014
| Jun 01, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars I couldn't help myself - I was on such a shipping high when I finished Every Breath that I had to dive into Every Word right away. And I regret 5 stars I couldn't help myself - I was on such a shipping high when I finished Every Breath that I had to dive into Every Word right away. And I regret nothing. This series is seriously shaping up to become one of my favorites. Our heroes, Rachel Watts and James Mycroft, are back in another thrilling adventure that is equal parts intensely dark and incredibly sexy. At the end of Every Breath the ship was a definite THING and now sparks are flying all over the place. Seriously, someone give Ellie Marney all the awards for writing AMAZING kissing scenes. These two have electrifying chemistry, for serious. It's been a longgg time since I've been so infatuated with and flaily about a romance. They are gold. GOLD. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows - oh no. Rachel's parents' disapproval of Mycroft notwithstanding, after a few chapters of shippy bliss, the plot blasts off and OH NO, Mycroft flies off to London to solve a murder that has some similarity to his parents' deaths. And he neglects to really let Rachel know about this at all, aside from what she later realizes was a kiss goodbye. She decides to follow him because he isn't always mentally stable when his parents are involved, and though that might sound a bit clingy and impulsive, it really is for the best. Rachel keeps Mycroft grounded. And boy, he needs that, because Mycroft has some serious emotional issues in this book. He's obviously not coping well with the cold case of his parents' murders. He plays pretend to make people think he's all right, but Rachel can see through it all. He believes he's broken and the real James Mycroft died in that car accident with his parents. He believes Rachel deserves better than a broken person. THE PAIN. THE FREAKING PAIN. When all you want is for two characters to keep kissing and they have so much baggage between them that they refuse to? That hurts. (But no worries, seriously, there's more than enough really good kissing.) *cough* But. Um. The story. Though it's maybe a bit beyond the realm of plausibility that an Australian pathologist would be called in for a carjacking death in England - and that he would be permitted to bring his (admittedly brilliant) teenage assistant with him - it was a great case to read and solve. I got serious Sherlock vibes off of some of the events, general atmosphere, and antagonists. You actually get glimpses of crime scene investigations and autopsies, so mystery fans will probably LOVE this. And, oh boy, this book is intense. I can't even really go into it because of spoilers, but the mystery heats up and gets complicated, and our characters kind of face MORTAL PERIL. I felt VERY INTENSELY about all of this. It's like I was in the room with them, scared for them, and boy did I have to keep reading to find out how it all ends. Definitely more intense and thrilling than book 1, in the best possible way. And the set up for book 3? SO GOOD. Must read now. At the end of the day, though, what I love most about this book are these characters and their beautiful romance. I'm not one for ships with a ton of baggage and drama, but believe me when I say that Mycroft's tortured past works for them. It's complicated, sure, but it's also extremely realistic. They really fight for their relationship and all the scary, heavy shit they went through in this book makes their relationship so much stronger. And they still have banter at the worst of times. And the kissing. Oh god, please keep kissing. Summing Up: This series is DOING THINGS TO ME. Wattscroft is dominating my life right now, and I regret nothing. Every Word has pretty much the perfect combination of Sherlock-like dark and thrilling mystery and oh so swoony romance. That all makes for a freaking addictive read that you won't want to put down for a second. I have gone down the rabbit hole and now I have no choice but to dive into Every Move right away. Oh and someone crown Ellie Marney Queen of Kissing Scenes, 'kay? 'kay. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Everyoneee. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Oct 19, 2015
|
Oct 23, 2015
|
Mar 09, 2017
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
3.88
| 749,657
| Aug 09, 2016
| Aug 09, 2016
|
it was amazing
|
First read: October 2016 Reread: January 2017 - because goddamn I needed happiness in my life. 5 stars That. Was. Spectacular. Like, picture the best ever First read: October 2016 Reread: January 2017 - because goddamn I needed happiness in my life. 5 stars That. Was. Spectacular. Like, picture the best ever execution of the hate-to-love romance trope and this is THAT good. Hate-to-love office romance is just the best thing in the world. The chemistry. The banter. The sexual tension. Oh my god, I ate it all up in no time flat. Josh is just beyond dreamy. He can be scary intense, and may be a bit too much of a jealous monster at times, but he's also the biggest sweetheart. Lucy is the embodiment of the Shakespeare quote, "Though she be but little, she is fierce." She takes no shit from anybody, and she is going to take the publishing world by storm. I loved all of it. The hateful games. The banter. The way Josh cared for Lucy while she was sick. The insanely hot elevator kiss. And the way their relationship definitely became legitimate and meaningful as they got to know each other. I called the few "surprises" at the end from a mile away, but I didn't even care, because the execution was all 100% brilliant. Will be reread a hundred times over. Can I have this author's next books NOW please? [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Oct 15, 2016
|
Oct 16, 2016
|
Sep 10, 2016
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||||||
4.23
| 802,472
| Feb 24, 2015
| Feb 24, 2015
|
really liked it
|
4.5 stars Don't think I'll write a full review, but this book was absolutely delightful. One of the best NA novels I've ever read. I was giggling, swoo 4.5 stars Don't think I'll write a full review, but this book was absolutely delightful. One of the best NA novels I've ever read. I was giggling, swooning, and awwing. The ship is full of banter, hotness, and slow burn goodness. There is actual depth and character growth. And though this book does do some of the typical NA stuff (i.e. everyone has a dark, traumatic past) it does it do much better than all the others - with realism and actual meaningful development. Highly recommended! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Dec 28, 2015
|
Dec 30, 2015
|
Sep 22, 2015
|
Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||||
1481404547
| 9781481404549
| 1481404547
| 3.99
| 40,764
| May 03, 2016
| May 03, 2016
|
it was amazing
|
4.5 stars, rounded up just cuz Since reading Since You've Been Gone, Morgan Matson has pretty much gotten on my auto-buy author list. Especially when h 4.5 stars, rounded up just cuz Since reading Since You've Been Gone, Morgan Matson has pretty much gotten on my auto-buy author list. Especially when her covers turn out to be LITERALLY CUTE AS PUPPIES - LIKE, WITH ACTUAL PUPPIES. I mean, I couldn't picture a book more fluffy and all about summer fun times - and that's exactly what this book was. It was DELIGHTFUL. The Unexpected Everything is about Andie, the daughter of a Congressman, who has always been about intense future plans living up to the stringent ideals that her dad's job kind of foists upon her. So her plan for the summer was to do a pre-med camp, until a scandal in her father's office gets her admission revoked. Now for basically the first time ever, she's stuck operating without a plan. She gets a dog walking job - possibly the lowest thing she thought she could resort to but grows to truly love it. And she gets to experience the freedom and fun of summertime without stressing about how it all looks on her resumé. Primarily, the happy fun times that Andie experiences involve Clark. Holy crap guys. I have found a new book boyfriend, and he is raising the bar on the rest of them. I loved Clark from the instant he turned up with his geeky sci-fi shirts and his clear nerves and embarrassment around Andie. He is TOTALLY adorable. I loved how he just didn't conform to any of Andie's expectations. She doesn't really do relationships longer than 3 weeks and is used to it always being shallow "let's-get-to-the-making-out" stuff. Clark is so not about that. After an awkward first date, he makes her lower her guard and I was shipping it SO HARD. And it turns out he's a WRITER. The scenes where they tell stories together were seriously some of my favorite in YA romance ever. And the end? Freaking. Gold. There's also a surprisingly touching father-daughter relationship in this book. If you know me, you know that's my jam. But honestly, they put tears in my eyes. Andie and her dad start off basically estranged from each other - him having mostly lived in DC for the past 5 years since her mother passed and she being used to basically having free reign on how she lives her life. But with both of them home for the summer, they are confronted with the uncomfortable distance between them and start to really get to know each other again - slowly but surely. There were so many adorable moments, with them geeking out about Clark's books together, having their movie marathons, doing the scavenger hunt together... So feelsy. It makes me want to fly over to my dad and give him a great big hug. And the friendship in this is pretty ace as well. You can tell that Andie's best friends have really become her family. They have this understanding of each other that's so thorough and heartfelt. All of their adventures and conversations are a blast. One particular highlight is the aforementioned scavenger hunt that Palmer arranges. That scene just encompassed the glory and happiness of summers in high school and I was basically reading it with the biggest grin ever. Now you may think it sounds like this book doesn't have too much of a plot, and you're not wrong. In fact, with this book being over 500 pages, it's almost surprising how engaging, compelling, and addictive it is to read despite the fact that there's no one big central conflict or story arc. It really just captures that glory of summertime. But that is the reason why this doesn't quite get the perfect rating. And when everything falls apart about 70 pages from the end? That just felt weird and made me unnecessarily antsy. But whatever, the ending was great, partially unexpected, but truly realistic. Summing Up: The Unexpected Everything was basically everything I expected. (I can't not, I make no apologies, I REGRET NOTHING.) It's funny, happy, fluffy, truly romantic, heartwarming, and wonderful. I got completely addicted to this one and blew right through it in spite of its 500+ pages. Honestly, this book could have been 700 pages and I still wouldn't be able to get enough. Clark is officially one of my favorite book boyfriends of all time, and the relationship between Andie and her father gave me all of the feels. I will be sure to revisit this book any time I want a reminder of what summer happiness truly feels like. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Fans of Kasie West, Stephanie Perkins, and Since You've Been Gone. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
May 19, 2016
|
May 21, 2016
|
Jul 28, 2015
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0062455869
| 9780062455864
| 0062455869
| 3.86
| 52,542
| Jan 31, 2017
| Jan 31, 2017
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars She did it again. I don't know how she does it, to be honest. Time and time again, Kasie West writes absolute, pure magic. And despite having l 5 stars She did it again. I don't know how she does it, to be honest. Time and time again, Kasie West writes absolute, pure magic. And despite having loved all of her books until now, she blew me away with By Your Side, which, I think, has definitely taken her to the next level. By Your Side starts off as the exact perfect cuteness that all your hopeless romantic dreams are made of: a boy and a girl trapped together in a library for three days. It's the middle of winter, so it's cold, so obviously we should like snuggle. Though the boy in this case is distant and at first loathes making any connection with people, with such a situation it's unavoidable. Feelings... blossom. But then that part ends. BOOM. And we hadn't exactly gotten to the intensely shippy phase yet. It'd all been about that romantic build up though, without much focus on character depth. So I thought, I was definitely enjoying it 100%, but it may end up being a book that's "just" cute. I was dead wrong. This book has the depth you're looking for. Autumn actually suffers from anxiety, and the book tackles her disorder in the best possible way. It's not very heavy, it's definitely still light and swoony, but it's completely realistic. And it has such brilliant insights into how her anxiety affects her. How she doesn't want people to treat her differently, but sometimes, she needs that special treatment so she's given the space to relax. How she doesn't want to disappoint people by flaking on plans or saying no, but in her case, she really needs to listen to what's good for HER. And that when figuring out which boy she should actually be with... she needs to pick the one who makes her feel comfortable and at ease, instead of on edge and panicky. Oh my gosh, how I love this little book so. I flailed. I swooned. I had butterflies. I had tears in my eyes. This book is the total package, guys. [image] *An electronic advance review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Oct 24, 2016
|
Oct 25, 2016
|
Jul 16, 2015
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0545850975
| 9780545850971
| 0545850975
| 4.04
| 61,881
| Jul 26, 2016
| Jul 26, 2016
|
it was amazing
|
5 STARS ALL OF THE STARS Anytime a new Kasie West book is on the horizon, I get tingly and excited and just cannot even bare the wait. It was about 10 5 STARS ALL OF THE STARS Anytime a new Kasie West book is on the horizon, I get tingly and excited and just cannot even bare the wait. It was about 10 times worse for P.S. I Like You, though. The title alone made me excited, the blurb got me bouncing in my chair, and when I got to post the cover reveal, I damn near fainted. IT WAS SO CUTE, THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY THE BOOK FOR ME -- and I was so right. This book is a new favorite. P.S. I Like You, at its essence, is You've Got Mail - only my favorite romcom of all time - meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda . Does that give you an idea of how adorable this book is? Good. Because seriously. It's perfection. Lily gets an anonymous pen pal in her chemistry class after writing some lyrics on her desk, and suddenly chemistry becomes the highlight of her day (miracles do happen). Slowly they get to know each other... and feelings follow shortly after that. The magic of Kasie West is that she writes ships like almost no one else. This one is particularly fun, because you spend the first part of the book trying to figure out who the anonymous pen pal is. I had my suspect pretty quickly, and when certain events transpired between them in real life (not in the letters) the ship hit me like a ton of bricks. From that point on it was just so much cuteness and so many adorable, bantery moments, and I definitely got to ACTUALLY PHYSICAL FLAILING LEVELS because this book just plays on all of my favorite tropes and I could not handle the feels. As far as YA contemporary romances go, I'm not sure it gets much better than this for me. The other thing that Kasie always excels at is family dynamics. Seriously, Lily lives in a crazy house where she can scarcely get a moment's peace - which she needs, as her hobby is songwriting. But her family is so kooky and fun. Her parents compete in everything, getting the family to vote on competing pies, DIY jewelry, you name it. Her three siblings cause chaos, but are absolutely adorable. At the end of the day, all of them go out of their way to help each other. It just all felt so real, if not idyllic, and heartwarming. I'm a music person, and I adore having music play a role in books, so I loved Lily's songwriting. She has a really alternative, indie vibe, and that's what brings her and her mystery guy together in the first place. But she has never finished a song before. The book actually shows the songwriting process pretty well, as Lily gets inspired by her pen pal's family struggles to write a song which she wants to enter in a competition to win a cash prize and songwriting lessons. She's shy and nervous to share her music with people even though she's so passionate about it, and that's something I could definitely relate to. As for the rest... There is some minor mean girl drama, but not so much that I was really bothered by it. At the end of the day, Lily's not fussed about popularity and what other people think of her. She is confronted with the fact that she may rush to judgment at times and that she needs to be a little more open-minded. But she has a very authentic voice that just comes with a few natural flaws. I loved the bond with her best friend, because they were just so caring and pure towards each other. I need more healthy friendships like that in YA. Summing Up: It shouldn't really surprise you, but Kasie West did it again. She writes absolute magic. This one was particularly adorable, banter-filled, and hilarious. I got completely absorbed by it and couldn't help but finish it all in one day. It just played on my favorite tropes, and it was completely reminiscent of my favorite movie, You've Got Mail. P.S. I Like You is going on my all-time favorites list, and I will surely be reading it again and again. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Fans of Kasie West, You've Got Mail, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda , and Magnolia . ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 07, 2016
|
Aug 07, 2016
|
May 06, 2015
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0547628382
| 9780547628387
| 0547628382
| 4.14
| 43,274
| Apr 02, 2013
| Apr 02, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars I absolutely adored Grave Mercy from start to finish, so I knew that I had to continue on with the series as soon as humanly possible. I'm so g 5 stars I absolutely adored Grave Mercy from start to finish, so I knew that I had to continue on with the series as soon as humanly possible. I'm so glad I did, because Dark Triumph was if possible even better and I just want to flail about like a mad woman with all my love for this series. While Grave Mercy's main character was Ismae, in Dark Triumph the focus is on Sybella, one of her sisters from the convent. Sybella is impressive. She's much darker than Ismae and she actually really enjoys killing people. She's cold, calculating, and deeply suspicious. She has her heart set on revenge, and no one is going to stand in her way. In terms of history, Dark Triumph continues the story of Brittany in peril from within and without. There are some politics, though they are less heavy in this book. The series is actually taking a turn and placing more suspicions on the convent and the abbess, who I don't trust for a second. I couldn't stop reading this book because I needed answers ASAP. (I didn't get all of them, but that's why there's a third book.) But yeah. There are a lot of skeevy things that happen in this book that are cringe-worthy but absolutely realistic. I love how this book can seem so authentic but have its touches of fantasy nonetheless. LaFevers is seriously a gifted storyteller who did her research. LaFevers is also 2 for 2 on amazing ships. This time around, it's Beast. And oh. my. lord. I might like Sybella and Beast's relationship a little more than I already loved Ismae and Duval. Sybella and Beast aren't perfect characters, but they're fierce as fuck. They enjoy fighting and killing, and they really come to life on the battlefield. (And there were epic fight scenes in this book, believe you me.) This leads to an undeniable connection and respect between them. And Beast proves time and time again that he is admirable. He will make the tough decisions for the sake of the Duchess. Urgh, honorable knights, how do you make me swoooon so much? So much of their relationship also hinges on the character growth that Sybella goes through in this book. As opposed to Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph is less about politics and more about her personal growth. The girl has had a shit upbringing, for serious. She has actual trauma in her past that just made me cringe and wince and cry for her, because damn, no one deserves that. A lot of it she has run from in the past, but out of respect for Beast and to try to make up for wrongs in the past, she starts peeling back those layers of secrets and lies. Beast is so wonderfully understanding about it, and his understanding in turn makes her stronger. Dude, seriously, feelings everywhere. I also felt like in Dark Triumph the world building got much stronger. I found it hard to call Grave Mercy in part fantasy, because the only real fantastical element was the existence of Mortain and his marques - and even that was skeptical for most of the book. Dark Triumph delves more into the existence of these old gods and their intentions. Sybella, like Ismae, gets to meet Mortain, and their conversation was truly enlightening. I love how this world fits together. The only weird part of this book was when Sybella suddenly - and to me quite randomly - sees ghosts. But given that she's a daughter of Death, I guess I can accept that. Summing Up: Dark Triumph succeeded in living up to my already insanely high expectations. This series is knocking my socks off. It's epic. The historical roots are strong and fascinating, the characters are well-developed and endearing, and the ships rule my life. As to the plot... TRUST NO ONE. Time for Mortal Heart. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: EVERYONE. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Mar 11, 2015
|
Mar 13, 2015
|
Feb 18, 2015
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0062348671
| 9780062348678
| 0062348671
| 4.15
| 446,762
| Apr 07, 2015
| Apr 07, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars How to Make Debby Fall in Love with Your Book: a guide, clearly followed by Becky Albertalli Step One: Create a main character. Let's say his nam 5 stars How to Make Debby Fall in Love with Your Book: a guide, clearly followed by Becky Albertalli Step One: Create a main character. Let's say his name is Simon and he's gay but very much still in the closet. Make him witty and lovable, with a compelling voice and keen observations about how sexuality is perceived in society. Maybe make him a drama nerd, for extra relatability points. He'll steal Debby's heart in an instant. Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it should be this big awkward thing whether you're straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I'm just saying. Step Two: Give Simon the cutest of cute love interests - an anonymous email pen pal who goes to his school and is also a closeted homosexual. The mystery of this love interest's identity will have Debby giggling madly and once she hones in on her primary suspect, she won't be able to stop reading until it's confirmed. (She'll likely be right, but will be 100% delighted by the whole execution.) Simon and his pen pal crush should have awesome email exchanges about both meaningful things (like how to come out, how to deal with family stuff), but also awesome bantery things (like the importance of keeping to a strict Oreo diet). [image] Step Three: Add in great secondary characters - friends and family - to show healthy relationships, love, and acceptance. These will work to illustrate the issues involved in coming out - that no matter how accepting people may seem, it's still absolutely terrifying and awkward to declare your "identity" when you're still finding yourself. But don't forget to add enough comedy and bantery dialogue, because these work to keep the tone of the book light in the best possible way. [image] Step Four: Be sure to throw in classically awkward high school things like fights between friends, crushes, sleepovers, being grounded, drinking, discovering slash fanfiction, talent shows, musicals, Homecoming, football games, dress up weeks, etc. These add a sense of authenticity and will transport Debby back to her high school days and make her giggle with all the nostalgia feels. [image] Step Five: Rock that romance. Make sure to show how Simon is mostly in love with a personality but is still attracted physically to many other guys while he's not sure who his pen pal actually is. Make Simon fall in love from the inside out, and Debby will just be a flailing ball of squee. Don't be afraid to get a little physical (and a little awkward) at the end - with the right amount of sweetness, it will keep Debby smiling for days. [image] Step Six: Sit back, relax, and watch the feels consume Debby. Then pat yourself on the back. Good job. [image] Summing Up: Words can't even begin to describe how much I loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. It is the best kind of happy-making banterfluff with excellent diversity. Honestly, this book is so important for its discussions on sexuality and its perception in society, but it's also just really really cute. It made my whole heart happy and I never wanted to stop reading. I have absolutely zero complaints. Now I need to go buy some Oreos. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Fans of One Man Guy, diverse books, banterfluff, and/or general cuteness. *eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Mar 06, 2015
|
Mar 07, 2015
|
Jan 03, 2015
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
1606845527
| 9781606845523
| 1606845527
| 4.03
| 881
| Apr 28, 2015
| Apr 28, 2015
|
really liked it
|
4.5 stars When I first heard about Valiant, a fairy tale retelling with gender bending set at court and involving battles with giants, I knew I had to 4.5 stars When I first heard about Valiant, a fairy tale retelling with gender bending set at court and involving battles with giants, I knew I had to have this book in my life. It had so many of my favorite things that I couldn't resist. And while I'm late in reviewing the book because the release date was moved up without my knowledge, I'm so glad I managed to fit this one into my schedule after all. Let me take a moment and give this brilliant and fun debut novel some of the publicity it so rightly deserves, so it doesn't fall into the forgotten wasteland of Egmont's last list. Valiant tells the story of Saville, the daughter of the Tailor who arrives at Reggen and then falls ill. To keep food on the table, Saville disguises herself as a boy, the Tailor's apprentice, to take on commissions from the king. Saville immediately impressed me as a character. She's been fighting for the love of her father for so long without success, yet still she cares for him when he needs it. She's kind, as she takes in Will, a homeless boy, and brave, as she fights to protect him when the giants come to take over the city. She has to fight traditional gender roles every day, and she takes action when even the bravest knights do not. She is a feminist role model, for sure. The story is incredibly fun and entertaining, full of excellent fairy tale escapades. When Saville stands up to the giants, she's heralded as the city's champion and promised to the princess. Though she was only trying to save Will's life (the cutest little 8 year old you'll ever meet), she suddenly finds herself in the middle of an impending war. While the king and his court cower and search for escapes, she and Galen, the king's cousin, do everything they can to protect the city. I easily got completely caught up in this story and found myself enjoying it so much: particularly the conversations with the giants - who were quite different than expected - and, obviously, the budding romance that I had my eye on from the start. Now. That romance. It's light, because most of the book is filled with Saville kicking ass and being awesome, but it's there nonetheless and this ship is beautiful. It's slow, slow burn perfection: starting with suspicion and mild dislike, building through respect and understanding, until you find yourself tossing about in bed thinking, "DEAR GOD PLEASE JUST KISS ALREADY." Saville and Galen are just so great for each other - they really support and make each other stronger. And Galen... he's a dreamboat. I will always have feels for noble, brave, and chivalrous types like him. So far the book might sound pretty light and fluffy (and there were moments where it felt like it was on the younger side of YA), but trust me when I tell you that the story got real intense at certain moments. There were clear enemies at court, multiple casualties during the siege on Reggen, and the climax had some tragic consequences. McGuire knows how to build suspense, particularly at one moment when Saville muses that there probably won't be a happy ending, that the romance probably won't work out, and they probably won't all come back alive. Well, obviously at that point I had to keep reading until I was done. Basically: this was an extremely engrossing adventure. It was pretty much everything I want from a fairy tale retelling. Summing Up: Valiant is an absolutely wonderful debut from Sarah McGuire. It executed the gender bending trope to perfection, I loved the characters, the slow burn romance gave me some intense feel feels, and the story is chock full of exciting adventures. I'm also extremely impressed by the writing and story telling, so I can't wait to see what McGuire will come out with next! GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: If you like strong female characters, gender bending, slow burn courtly romances, and/or fairy tales, you need this book in your life. *An electronic review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
May 18, 2015
|
May 20, 2015
|
Oct 27, 2014
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
1423178203
| 9781423178200
| 1423178203
| 4.20
| 15,735
| Jan 14, 2014
| Jan 28, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars I loved The Archived when I first read it back in May, but then I put off buying The Unbound for forever - for some reason. LUCKILY, Gillia 5 stars I loved The Archived when I first read it back in May, but then I put off buying The Unbound for forever - for some reason. LUCKILY, Gillian is a very very lovely bookish friend, and her giving this to me finally gave me the push I needed to read this most excellent sequel. All I can say is, "DEBBY, WHY THE HELL DID YOU WAIT SO LONG, YOU DOOFUS?!?!??!" From page 1, I was instantly smitten with how lovely every aspect of this series is. But let's be honest, at the top of the list has to be THAT FREAKING SHIP. Wesley and Mac are the absolute best. They filled me with feels from start to finish. Much of the book was spent with an ear-to-ear grin on my face because they are just so adorable. They still have that immaculate banter, as they did in the first book, but now there's even more genuine feeling beneath it. Wesley's pretty open and clear about that - and he's just the best. He does everything he can for Mac because he loves her so much. "Leave the window open." DON'T EVEN. The comfort that his noise brings is... asdfjkl;... can I has a Wesley plz? Mac is more hesitant because she doesn't want to complicate their working relationship and she doesn't want to put him in danger. But basically that just means FEELS. FEELINGS EXPLODING EVERYWHERE. [image] Aside from that, the plot is even more intriguing and creepy than the first one, and it's paced perfectly. It gives you just enough reminders about what happened in the first book - but like its predecessor, it has its own clear story arc that is neatly wrapped up in this installment. Yes, there is room for more (and goddamn am I glad that it's coming) but what we got was so intriguing and exciting. The plot is infinitely darker as Mac has nightmares and can't bear to fall asleep. Her exhaustion - or possibly something more nefarious - even causes her to black out and lose time. She starts to doubt herself, doubt what is real and what isn't, and doubt the Archive. It was a page turner for sure. I couldn't put this book down for a second. My biggest critique of the first book was that with all the Doctor Who elements, it didn't seem original enough, but The Unbound sure as hell fixed that. The plot also made Mac's character so much more interesting. I couldn't remember much about her from The Archived, but in The Unbound, her story is so deeply emotional that I really felt a strong connection to her. I was scared with her and for her and I fell for Wesley along with her too. Her bond with her parents is also tested in this one as she struggles with how her role as Keeper requires her to keep all these secrets and to oftentimes disobey them. It was a realistic portrayal of what this would do to a family. Her mother feels the need to be strict and she's somewhat overprotective, but more than anything all of that comes from a place of love. Parenting is hard, and I could only sympathize. Mac knows that she's giving them a hard time, but she can't really help it either. MORE FEELINGS. [image] Finally, the writing and pacing make this a book you really don't want to put down. Seriously, Victoria Schwab writes magic. I didn't even remember having that kind of reaction to the first one, but her style just sucks me in. It was the first time in ages where I absolutely didn't want to stop reading. I just wanted to build a fort for me and this book (and possibly V. Schwab's other novels as well) and stay there forever. She really made Mac's voice so endearing, built such an incredi-creepy world, and knew when to bring the action. The fight scenes were SO thrilling and vivid that my heart was jumping all over the place. I mean, this settles it: I'm buying all of Victoria Schwab's books. Done. Summing Up: WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO PICK THIS UP??? The Unbound is an A+ TOP NOTCH sequel to The Archived - upping the romance, the thrills, the characterizations, the writing, EVERYTHING. This series is now one of my absolute favorites, so I cannot wait to read the third book, the novella, and all of Victoria Schwab's other books. But above all, WESLEY OH WESLEY HOW I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOO. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Errrr EVERYONE. Seriously, it's worth the hype. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Dec 09, 2014
|
Dec 11, 2014
|
Aug 25, 2014
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
3.73
| 3,403
| Jun 25, 2013
| Sep 23, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars What's that? A perfect score for a self-published new adult book? YEAH. I'm almost as surprised as you are. But honestly, Catching Liam is basi 5 stars What's that? A perfect score for a self-published new adult book? YEAH. I'm almost as surprised as you are. But honestly, Catching Liam is basically everything I ever wanted from a new adult novel and it just makes me SO SO SO HAPPY. I should note that prior to reading Catching Liam, I read about 4 other new adult books. I'm binging at the moment. I need the swoons. But whereas all of those previous reads fell to the new adult pitfalls of too sappy, too much sex, too much "sex solves everything", too much "your love has healed me, let's be together foreverrrr", Catching Liam absolutely did not. It was a breath of fresh air right from the start. First and foremost that would be because of the banter. Liam is hilarious and charming and Scottish and awesome. He makes waffles and calls Jillian "chicken", and just thinking about it is putting a massive grin on my face. The dynamic between the two was just wonderful - especially because Jillian doesn't actually want a relationship at first. She has one night stands, but never more than that. Obviously that won't deter Liam, and he cutely tries to court her anyway. The chemistry is palpable, and the hot scenes are really hot. Maybe not the most explicit I've encountered, but I'll gladly hand in one or two degrees of hotness for the excellence of the rest of this book. Another reason why I love this book so much is because we actually get to see more of the college setting. Jillian actually goes to classes - most notably her Interpersonal Communications course, where she obviously gets partnered with Liam and they have to spend time getting to know each other and learning how to communicate. There's actually quite some character growth in there, because Jillian has closed herself off for so long. She runs away when conversations get tough and people get too close, so this course is actually one of the best things for her. Though, okay, we didn't get to see much more about communication theories and such, but the foundation is there and it's already so much more than I'm used to getting from new adult. But Catching Liam took a turn that I didn't quite expect but that added so much depth to this story. There's a reason why Jillian pushes people away and doesn't want to get into a relationship - she's coping with a certain illness. The hints are there right at the start of the book, but it doesn't really get identified until later on because she's running from her own illness - as she puts it later, "talking about it would make it real". But I feel like this is the best kind of sick lit I've encountered. Her condition does not define her. She puts in so much effort to try and live her own life - and indeed, with her active party and sex life, she's not moping and whining about it. This could be a dark, depressing story, but it totally isn't. And yeah, she does have some things she needs to face instead of running away (particularly her overbearing and controlling mother, who means well but is a total nightmare), but I can't help but be impressed by her tenacity. I think she's a really realistic character with so much depth. And obviously, Liam, being the amazing guy he is, wants to help her. At first she's hesitant because you don't want to force someone into a position where they'll have to take care of you for so long. But again, this book doesn't go for the sappy route, where love is proclaimed, and they'll be together forever and tears and whatever. I respect Liam so much because he respects Jillian's boundaries and says himself that he doesn't know about forever - he just wants a fair shot. I'M SWOONING SO HARD I CAN'T EVEN. Catching Liam also has excellent friendships, painful but important family dynamics, sex positivity, trouble with grades, stress of selecting majors, general anxiety, and it's just so so so good. I loved every second of this book and wow. I was not expecting that. Summing Up: I need more new adult books like Catching Liam. This amazing little story had a banterful ship, characters with depth, the ultra-charming Liam, an angry love confession (that's my jam), an authentic college setting, a story with depth and realism, and plentiful swoons. I can't wait to read more of Gennifer Albin, and I dearly hope she continues exploring new adult, because this is how I want it. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: People who want the hotness of new adult PLUS real actual depth. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Mar 16, 2015
|
Mar 16, 2015
|
Jun 24, 2014
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||||||
1423198670
| 9781423198673
| 1423198670
| 3.97
| 1,289
| Sep 16, 2014
| Sep 16, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
5 freaking amazing stars I don't even think I can recall the last time that I've been so utterly freaking delighted about a book - that I loved every m 5 freaking amazing stars I don't even think I can recall the last time that I've been so utterly freaking delighted about a book - that I loved every minute of it and happily put it on my "everything-i-wanted" shelf on Goodreads. Hook's Revenge, Heidi Schulz's amazing middle grade debut, completely swept me off my feet. I'm head over heels for a book... and a middle grade book at that. You know what, don't even read my review, I can't do this book justice - just go buy this book right now. ...What? You're still here? *sigh* Guess I'll write a review after all then. And that, my friends, is an example of the delightful narration you'll encounter in Hook's Revenge. In a tone very similar to Lemony Snicket's in his Series of Unfortunate Events, the narrator of Hook's Revenge is an older guy who is wonderfully snarky and sadistic, and he bemoans the effort of having to tell this story. From page one, I was bursting with laughter. His sarcastic and witty tone is just absolutely perfect, and it absorbed me into the story right away. Seriously. Sheer hilarity. I don't know if I have ever laughed out loud so much with one book. It was exactly what I needed. I expect that you'd like to know about the most famous of all pirates, Captain James Hook. As I am the world's foremost expert on him, naturally you turned to me. Children come to me all the time, begging to hear what I know. I graciously seat them in a circle around me, lean in, and whisper, "Not a chance." There is no use putting it off any longer; it is time to tell what I know, lest the girl's story die with me. Settle in, I suppose. Do be sure not to touch anything, and for heaven's sake, please don't breathe so loudly. If you're quite comfortable, I'll pour myself a little drink and begin. If you're not comfortable, I'll begin anyway. Your comfort is of little concern to me. [image] I'm not going to spam you with quotes - though I would well be able to, because I went crazy with post-its for this book, marking at least 30 passages that were either completely hilarious, top-notch witty or extremely sweet. But the writing is absolutely brilliant - you can trust me on that. Now, Hook's Revenge is an extension to the story of Peter Pan. Our main character is Jocelyn, the daughter of Captain Hook. She is absolutely fierce. I loved her immediately. She's 12 years old at the start of the story, and she idolizes her father. She wants nothing more than to become a pirate and go on pillaging adventures with him. Unfortunately, she's stuck on the mainland with her grandfather, who decides to send her to finishing school so that she might start acting a little more ladylike. This book is bursting with girl power and destroys gender stereotypes, which makes me love it SO MUCH MORE. Acting ladylike is Jocelyn's worst nightmare, pretty much. Having to dress nicely in clean clothes? Having to walk calmly? Speak politely? Sing traditional songs instead of sea shanties? Sleep in a room that is ENTIRELY pink? EW. All she wants to do is run around and go on adventures, and I loved that about her so much. She's brave, resourceful, and all-around inspiring. She's also supremely snarky - she's not taking shit from ANYBODY. ("I blame myself, really." "I blame you too. So we are agreed," Jocelyn replied.) She has a bit of a reckless streak in her, but that makes her so much more adorable. She gets bullied by some of the prim prissy little girls at the finishing school, so she gets revenge on them in the most badass ways. Oh, what? You don't want a snake in your pocket? Too bad. [image] Oh, by the way, are you one of those people who is like, "Ehh, I don't think I could ever ship two characters in a middle grade book,"? Read this. And try not to ship Jocelyn and Roger because OH MY GOD THEY ARE SHEER PERFECTION. Roger is the cook's helper and undergardener at the finishing school, and the two quickly become friends due to a shared love of adventure and snarky sense of humor. Banter banter banter ensues. I was flailing. It was just too awesome. Are they too young and will this probably never happen? I don't care. He put his sword down and sat on the floor near Jocelyn, leaning against the couch. "Don't die," he said. "What fun would that be? For me, I mean." [image] Right, but um, the story. So after a while at finishing school, Jocelyn finally gets a letter from her father, Captain Hook. Unfortunately, this means he's died, and he's left her with the task to avenge him. Soon, she's off to Neverland to hunt down the crocodile. It's super fun and engaging - and again, I was giggling like mad the whole way through. She puts together a crew of wannabe pirates and tries to live up to her father's name while battling the stigma that "she's just a little girl so she can't do anything". Again: girl power. She even meets Peter Pan who's like the greatest freaking douchebag, immediately assuming he needs to rescue her and refusing to believe she can do anything. Wow, was he always such a sexist asshole? PROVE HIM WRONG, JOCELYN. [image] Fuck you dude. But don't worry, Jocelyn doesn't tolerate this bullshit because she's too damn awesome. Anyway, she has more adventures, encountering the mermaids, the crocodile, the lost boys, the fairies, etc etc which all just makes this such a richly detailed world - fitting with what we know of Peter Pan perfectly. The end of the book also adds in a heartfelt message about family and some of the insecurities that Jocelyn struggles with, which really brought the feels for me. There are so many good messages that readers can pull out of this book, so I'm going to be recommending it like crazy. I enjoyed every single second of it and never wanted to put the book down. Hook's Revenge is everything. I just want moooooore. Summing Up: When I picked this book up at BEA, I had no idea that I would be falling head over heels for it. Hook's Revenge is a brilliantly written debut full of fun adventures, a great cast of characters, utter hilarity, and tons and tons of girl power. It was everything I wanted. Everything. This would easily appeal to middle grade readers, reluctant readers, and young adult readers looking to branch out. With its beautiful cover and wonderful illustrations, I'll be adding a finished copy to my shelves super soon and desperately awaiting the sequel. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: EVERYONEEEEE - fans of Lemony Snicket and Rick Riordan in particular. *ARC obtained at Book Expo America in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 30, 2014
|
Aug 31, 2014
|
Jun 03, 2014
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0062379968
| 9780062379962
| 0062379968
| 4.11
| 5,655
| May 17, 2016
| May 17, 2016
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars Dear Paula Stokes, How dare you write a book as flawless as this. We both know I was incredibly enchanted by The Art of Lainey and, as a devoure 5 stars Dear Paula Stokes, How dare you write a book as flawless as this. We both know I was incredibly enchanted by The Art of Lainey and, as a devourer of fluff, there was a big chance that I would fall in love with this book too. But, okay, even I did not expect the level of delight and adoration that Girl Against the Universe brought to me. This book is literally the total package, and then to have my name in the acknowledgements... I repeat. How. Dare. [image] Reasons why Girl Against the Universe is basically perfect: 1. The depiction of anxiety. When I first heard about this book, I thought it sounded right up my alley, but that the mental health part would kind of straddle a quirky Disney-like magical realism line with the whole fact that Maguire believes that she's cursed. I was wrong. This book takes a heartbreakingly realistic look at anxiety. With all of the past events in Maguire's life, sure, she believes she's cursed. But through her narrations and her vivid voice you can tell how that belief is firmly grounded in reality and how hard it is to let go of. And the "side effects" manifest themselves in such realistic ways that I was just filled with empathy the entire time. I hated putting this book down and being parted with it. Maguire's "bad luck" makes her fear being around other people. She develops compulsive habits of always checking her surroundings to make sure there are no hazards or potential dangers. She forces isolation onto herself with the hope that then nothing bad will happen. And the story actually brilliantly dissects psychological theories that explain her behavior, since Maguire is actually in a Psychology class, and that teaches her a lot about herself. Paula, woah. Seriously, woah. I feel like I learned so much about mental health, for one, and just about human nature in general too. I think if you have ever dealt with anxiety, this is easily the kind of book that will make you feel like your whole life has been justified. [image] 2. The excellent therapy-positive "recovery". Like many readers, I think, I have been kind of put off stories dealing with trauma or mental health elements because the recovery part often feels so cheap. Therapy is commonly brushed off, if it's even mentioned at all as an option, and more times than I'd care to take note of a love interest swoops in and "his love" fixes everything. This was totally not that book. Girl Against the Universe actually shows real therapy sessions with real step-by-step progress towards recovery. And yeah, it's a slow battle, and there are some setbacks, but that makes it totally realistic and even more meaningful. It made my connection to Maguire that much stronger. The character development was top notch, and you know characters are like my #1 thing. Of course, there is a romantic element to the story [image] 3. Jordy. Wheeler. Oh man, Paula. You unleashed Jordy Wheeler onto the world, but I don't know if the world is quite ready for Jordy Wheeler. How can I even... Jordy is patient, understanding, and kind. Those are traits you wouldn't normally expect from a popular, well-off tennis star who basically has 10 million reasons why he could understandably be the most arrogant man on earth. Here's a kind of shocking reality check: even the people you think have everything can have issues. Jordy is in therapy too, which is how he and Maguire meet. His issues are hardly on her level, but this is another reminder that mental health issues exist on all levels of severity, and everyone deserves help. But boy did I swoon for this boy. There are so many yummy scenes. I mean, just the whole, "I'll help you practice your serve, here let me put my arms around you to show it how it's done" thing? Catnip for basically any hopeless romantic. That first kiss, during an adrenaline rush? I felt that adrenaline. Fooling around interrupted by parents? So many stomach flutterings. There may have been some truly unapologetically loud giggling on the bus. But what I love most of all is just how supportive Maguire and Jordy are for each other. Even though there was basically some level of attraction from the start, they built up a super heartfelt friendship first, which grew and grew until I yelled "NOW KISS!!!" at my book, and bless their little hearts, but they did listen ♥ [image] 4. This family gave me so many feels. Character development and awesome romance would usually already be enough for me, but you outdid yourself by adding this awesome layer of family to the story. You'll know, because I ran to tell you right away, that a certain scene with Maguire and her stepfather gave me ALL OF THE FEELS. But yeah, you did that. You actually took the time to make these really 3 dimensional parental units with their own worries, quirks, and funny personalities. This is not a family full of drama - this is a family that, despite drama, supports each other out of a pure sense of love. There were tears in my eyes. Yeah. There were. [image] 5. Best friends forever. To round out this list, I have to talk about the friendship, because this is also evidence of the tremendous character arc that Maguire undergoes. Yeah, she started off with basically no friends and so isolated and afraid of people that she hardly knew how to make friends again. But she meets Jade and Penn Now I just feel like hugging this book to my chest and wishing that I had friends as awesome as this. I mean, I guess I do now - at least more so than in high school. But there were just such heartwarming moments that I wanted to yell at the sky with tears in my eyes and say, "See, world?! If you just are yourself, there are people who will accept you as is!!! No games or concessions, just heartfelt friendship!!" [image] Girl Against the Universe is awesome. You are awesome. This book made me feel all of the things. Can I go again? xoxo Debby Recommended To: Fans of The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord. *An advance review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Apr 26, 2016
|
Apr 29, 2016
|
May 23, 2014
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
1481405659
| 9781481405652
| 1481405659
| 3.83
| 4,552
| Mar 03, 2015
| Mar 03, 2015
|
really liked it
|
First read: February 2015 Second read: March 2016 - still SO GOOD. Maybe even better. It's almost ridiculous how great the flow of the writing style is First read: February 2015 Second read: March 2016 - still SO GOOD. Maybe even better. It's almost ridiculous how great the flow of the writing style is and THESE CHARACTERS OMG PLEASE KEEP KISSING FOREVER. 4 stars The Storyspinner came to me recommended by Christina - which is to say that she really liked it, so I figured I would as well. I was correct, of course, because Christina has such spectacular taste. The Storyspinner is a fun fantasy debut with super awesome shiiiiiiips. The Storyspinner and I did get off to a bit of a rough start. There are quite a lot of POV characters, and while they are necessary to show the different storylines and events in different locations, it was just a lot to take in at once. The character's unique voices weren't a problem, because everything is written in third person, but the balance felt a bit off when my mind tried to interject some kind of logic in the pattern of POV chapters. It switched to whoever whenever it was necessary, and though there are only two main storylines which eventually intertwine, there are 3-4 POV characters for each one. At the beginning, the events surrounding Johanna were also just so much more interesting than those surrounding the Keepers, because the Keepers were obviously holding back a lot of knowledge... so my interest in the story fluctuated. With so many different characters, it's also hard to really form a connection to all of them. Some of them remain a bit undeveloped. But after a while, the story picked up and I was totally engrossed in it. Particularly that would be because of the ships. This book has two really freaking spectacular ships, including a bantery hate-to-love one. Johanna and Rafi just are the highlight of the book for me. When they started interacting, I was completely sold. It was magic. And I just loved getting to know both of them as characters as well - Johanna who is forced into adulthood after the death of her father, caring for her little brothers and trying to cope with her mother's grief, and Rafi who is coming to terms with his position and all the political scheming it requires. But at the same time, I like that romance doesn't take over from the plot or world building. There's clearly more going on there. But I'd be lying if I didn't flail about when *certain* kissing scenes occurred. Now, after a few revelations, the plot really got going. This really felt like a classic adventure fantasy. As such, some of the plot twists are pretty predictable, or even just inherent to the plot, (a missing princess! an evil villain!) but it's all about the execution here. The characters stole the show and made it real, and Wallace doesn't pull punches either. Characters die. In gruesome, horrible deaths. It's fast paced fantasy goodness with a hint of courtly politics as well. That's all just Debby bait, so my enjoyment was a given. What could maybe have been improved a little was the world building. For example, Storyspinning - a magical kind of storytelling - was a really cool idea, even if it was a bit vague in its descriptions. The book was also quite slow to reveal the history of the Keepers in spite of the fact that half the chapters followed those characters. When their history and the explanations of the magic did come into play, though, it was really cool. Leão, one of the Keepers, was a fun character, but what precisely his position in the Keepers' society entails confuses me. It felt like certain things were just glossed over a bit. I just kind of missed a map to picture how this world came together (though I don't know if there will be one in the final copy - I do hope so!), especially with the Keepers living in their own domain. I hope that the world gets a bit more development in the sequel in any case. Summing Up: Well-written and brilliantly executed, The Storyspinner is an exciting debut that I thoroughly enjoyed. These characters are brilliant, the ships are bantery, and the mix of fantasy and politics has me completely sold. I can't wait for the sequel, where I dearly hope there will be more of those lovely kisses ♥ GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Fans of adventure fantasies, with a hint of political scheming and plenty of bantery ships. *An electronic review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
not set
Feb 23, 2015
|
Mar 2016
Feb 25, 2015
|
Apr 24, 2014
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0553394517
| 9780553394511
| 0553394517
| 3.69
| 2,204
| Feb 24, 2015
| Feb 24, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars One of my favorite author discoveries in 2014 has to be Liz Czukas - I loved Ask Again Later and Top Ten Clues You're Clueless - so whe 5 stars One of my favorite author discoveries in 2014 has to be Liz Czukas - I loved Ask Again Later and Top Ten Clues You're Clueless - so when she announced a new adult book under a pen name, it was pretty much at the TOP of my wishlist. When Joss Met Matt is banterfluffy perfection, with plenty of swoony sexiness, which all made for the best refreshingly addictive read. So When Joss Met Matt is the quintessential friends-with-benefits romance. Joss and Matt meet in college, and after Joss gets dumped by her loser boyfriend, they come up with the idea of sorbet sex. Their theory is that you need a good lay after a break up - but it's best if you know that it's going to be good. Having a one night stand could just fill you with more regret and disappointment if the guy/girl ends up being really creepy. So.. they have no-strings-attached sex! After any time either of them breaks up (so long as the other is single). There's no way this could go wrong! Right? [image] It's a premise that fills me with glee, to be honest, because even though it's predictable and you know that they're going to end up feeling more for each other and one side might get dumped, their relationship is so awesome. They're such good friends, and their dialogue is 100% banter. They actually make rules - a binding contract - relating to the sorbet sex, one of which being that right after the sex, they have to start teasing each other and giving each other a hard time. I was cracking up all over the place - they're HILARIOUS. And adorable too - cuddling is also mandatory. Say it with me, "AWWWWWWWWWWW!" [image] But that sex, man. There's a lot of it, and it's plenty hot, because Joss and Matt have a palpable chemistry - but it's not gratuitous either. It's not, say, Cora Carmack-levels of explicit hotness. In fact, young adult readers would do fine with this book - I'd argue that it's more classed as "new adult" because it covers a wide age range, from 18 - 25. It goes through these seven years of Joss and Matt's friends with benefits relationship and nods to different situations and issues that people in this age range face. There's college with parties and roommates, deciding what to major in, coping with new jobs and new cities to live in, going to friends' weddings... As someone who could be considered a new adult, I liked seeing all of these things while simultaneously getting a super adorable, hilarious, hot romance and not having any of the tragedy or heavy issues that are usually featured in this genre. It is heavy on the romance, though. Both Joss and Matt go through their fair share of relationships and it may seem like their lives revolve around romance. But I could relate to them feeling pressured like they had to be in a relationship and sometimes making some pretty shitty choices. It's realistic. I loved Joss's voice, actually, and her sex positivity was really admirable. I wish I could be as confident as her. But more than anything, what I love is that we got to see both their friendship and their feelings for each other growing over the years. In their adult years they have a standing brunch date every Sunday - I love that kind of thing! They can tell each other ANYTHING, so it took next to no time for me to SHIP IT LIKE BURNING and wanting them to finally take the relationship plunge. But taking that step obviously carries quite some risk when you're SUCH GOOD FRIENDS - best friends even - so I appreciated the realistic hesitance on both sides (albeit asdfjkl; frustrating and that tiny bit cliché). [image] I also have to take a moment to praise the hell out of the strong female friendships in the book. Nellie and Joss are flipping amazing together. They have almost as much banter between them as Joss and Matt - though there's more emotional heartfelt stuff in between. But seriously, Nellie's so supportive and hilarious at the end. She made me giggle, and I loved how she was just a straight shooter, telling it like it is, and making Joss see sense. ALSO Joss has a cat, Darwin, who is cute and hilariously loves Matt more than Joss. That has to be mentioned, because every detail of this book was just that charming. Summing Up: When Joss Met Matt was basically everything I wanted, and it cements Liz Czukas/Ellie Cahill as one of my auto-buy authors for sure. I was completely addicted to this book and just COULD NOT stop reading it. The banter was PERFECTION, and the slowly developing friendship and romance between Joss and Matt just made me melt. The sorbet sex scenes didn't hurt either, though ;) Seriously, this book just filled me with so much happiness and glee that I heartily recommend it to ANY romance fans. And I almost want to pick it back up and start rereading it right now. It's that good. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Any romance fans! Even those who would typically shy away from new adult! *Review copy received for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Nov 21, 2014
|
Nov 24, 2014
|
Apr 23, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0062273264
| 9780062273260
| 0062273264
| 3.92
| 35,439
| Jun 04, 2013
| Jun 04, 2013
|
really liked it
|
First read: April 18-19, 2014 Second read: April 7-8, 2015 - STILL SO AMAZING. ♥♥♥ 4.5 stars After just fifty pages of Cora Carmack's debut, Losing It, I First read: April 18-19, 2014 Second read: April 7-8, 2015 - STILL SO AMAZING. ♥♥♥ 4.5 stars After just fifty pages of Cora Carmack's debut, Losing It, I knew that I 100% needed Faking It in my life, so I ordered it right away. And this author just keeps impressing me. If all new adult were like this, it could easily become one of my favorite genres. Faking It follows the absolutely awesome Cade, who we got to know in Losing It - where he did not have such a happy ending. In fact, the book is told from the alternating perspectives of him and Max (Mackenzie), a new character who quickly becomes his love interest. Right off the bat I was impressed with how Cora Carmack made their voices distinct but believable. I can quickly get iffy about male POV's written by female authors, but I totally loved Cade. Both characters have deep rooted insecurities in relationships. Cade has been left behind by his parents and previous relationships, to the point where he doesn't fight for anyone anymore. After the demise of his relationship (and friendship) with Bliss, he is understandably depressed. Max is a musician. She's spunky and powerful. She lives her life her own way, following her passions. But she's rather insecure as well. Her past has left her with scars that she covers up by never letting anyone get close enough to see. I'm not usually into such dramatic characters, but here it totally worked for me. As with Losing It, Faking It just has a killer romance with chemistry off the charts. Max needs someone to stand in as her boyfriend while her parents come to town and gets "Golden Boy" Cade to take the role - even though they were strangers before that. Guys, fake relationships - it's my jam. I absolutely love this trope. Cade agrees because he's just an absolute doll, and he's drawn to Max. He plays his role perfectly, and instantly her parents (who are an absolute nightmare) are pretty much in love with him. I fell for him just as hard. Because, seriously, Cade is the dream, guys. I could not even imagine a more perfect boyfriend than this one. He is nearing the top of my book boyfriend list, I'm not even kidding right now. He's so generous, sensitive, empathetic. He knows how to read Max and knows when to give her support or a firm reality check. I loved seeing that relationship develop like that. And when they're not helping each other grow and move forward with their lives, they just have the absolute best banter ever. I was laughing out loud so much. I couldn't put this book down. The ending became surprisingly dramatic. I was head over heels for this romance, and I thought that would be it - but it definitely wasn't. There was so much more to Max's backstory, and, again, while I don't usually like such dark, haunted pasts, this one seriously got to me. The last couple chapters... I seriously had tears in my eyes, and I was sucker punched in the feels. I felt completely emotionally crippled. But it was beautiful. And it made me love Cade so much more than I already did. It was just perfection. There. I said it. Summing Up: This book, guys. This series. I just. I have so many feelings. I may not have related to this one as much on a personal level as Losing It, and I feel like maybe there should have been more focus on new adult struggles outside of the romance, but I absolutely loved this book regardless. The scenes between Cade and Max were ELECTRIC. I ship it very very hard. It was just beautiful, and I didn't expect the deeper, darker themes that came in the last couple chapters, but I'm so happy they did. This book gave me all the emotions: I laughed out loud, I swooned, I had tears in my eyes. I am so glad it (and CADE) came into my life. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: *brushes back tears* Fans of... emotions? ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Apr 07, 2015
Apr 18, 2014
|
Apr 08, 2015
Apr 19, 2014
|
Apr 13, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1250061458
| 9781250061454
| 1250061458
| 3.57
| 23,663
| Aug 26, 2014
| Aug 26, 2014
|
really liked it
|
4.5 stars As soon as I heard the premise of the book, I was sold. This book would have a 95% chance of success for me. 14 point of views all shipping t 4.5 stars As soon as I heard the premise of the book, I was sold. This book would have a 95% chance of success for me. 14 point of views all shipping two real life people, trying to get them together? SO PERFECT SO CUTE MUST HAS. Then that cover was revealed and my GRABBY HANDS came out to play. All my instincts were 100% correct: this book is adorable, feel good, happy making, and incredibly entertaining. So the premise of A Little Something Different is that Gabe and Lea, two college students sharing a creative writing class, are just perfect for each other - but both are too shy and uncertain to do anything about it. The match, however, is obvious to almost everyone else, and so we follow 14 POVs of characters surrounding Gabe and Lea, as they watch the relationship slowly transform and bloom. How ingenious is this plot, though, seriously? For anyone who identifies themselves as a fangirl or fanboy who loves their romance and their ships, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Obviously part of it's success hinges on whether or not you too will like Gabe and Lea as a couple. We don't actually see their thoughts, but we see their behaviors through the eyes of their friends, professors, roommates, etc., and I think they are 20 different kinds of adorable. They're both shy and quiet, but that makes them so much cuter. If you are the romance fan that needs driving action and hot make out scenes, however, they might let you down a bit - because the relationship is just sugary sweet and develops extremely slowly. Though this could be classified as New Adult for the college setting and ages of the characters, it's not NA in terms of sexiness - let's just be clear on that. But I didn't miss the heat, because it really was so relatable as someone who frequently roots for couples to get together in books, TV shows, movies, etc. It may be a little cliche, but it was the fluffy sweetness that I needed on a hot summer day, as the drought of my own love life had shriveled my heart to dust. So what are these POVs that are explored in the book if not Lea and Gabe's? Well, as said, friends and roommates. But there are the more funny ones that make this story completely laugh-out-loud funny and SO entertaining. First of all there's the Squirrel. The Squirrel roams the college campus in search of his acorns, because WHERE DID HE HIDE THEM? CAN HE FIND THEM AGAIN? The mystery persists. No, I'm kidding, but he gets fed by Lea and grows to like her, while he grows to tolerate Gabe. [image] There's also the Bench, who observes a couple conversations between Lea, Gabe, and their friends over the course of the year, while also providing a meaningful commentary on the value of good butts. You may think I'm joking. I'm really not. I'm the oldest bench on this green and I get no respect. So now you know. Respect your benches. No but seriously, at that point, I was basically on the floor laughing. But there are more human POVs as well, which perfectly display the full range of levels of shipping. There's the professor of the creative writing class, Inga, who picks out Gabe and Lea in her first lecture and instantly knows that's the couple that she's going to try to get together that semester. She tries her best to devise situations in which they are forced to talk and work together and gushes about their cuteness to her wife (lesbian couple ftw). On the other side of the spectrum, there's Victor, their classmate, who is the most hilarious pessimist who hates everything - ESPECIALLY how cute and perfect Gabe and Lea are for each other (or, Big Foot and Giraffe, as he lovingly calls them). In between, there are more passive observers: the bus driver who notices they come and go from the same stops but never talk to each other, the barista whose colleagues are big shippers and gradually gets drawn in herself by Lea and Gabe's frequent and weirdly coincidental encounters at the Starbucks, the Chinese food delivery guy who is baffled by identical orders coming from the same dorm for two different people at the same time... Every single POV is distinct and extremely entertaining, which speaks to the quality of Sandy Hall's writing. The level of entertainment is, obviously, extremely high - but the relationship doesn't just thrive on the meet-cute idea and all these fate-like moments that indicate that Lea and Gabe are perfect for each other. Nor is their relationship perfect when it finally does evolve. Both Lea and Gabe - but particularly Gabe - have some issues in their past that they're working through. It doesn't get dark or anything, but it adds the level of heartfelt depth the relationship needs to not be too corny or perfect. It's not a fairytale book, and it doesn't carry the perfectly happily ever after ending that would make it fall completely out of the realm of believability. But it is sweet and made of happiness. The only remotely negative thing I have to say is that there's an unfortunate amount of hating on one of the girl characters in the story: Hillary. She sits in their creative writing class and quickly tries to put the moves on Gabe. Sadly, this is met with SCORN by all, especially the professor Inga, and though I can understand the frustrations of someone getting in the way of your OTP, since this is real life, it was disturbing. Particularly Inga's thoughts about her, practically making Hillary out to be a slut for liking Gabe, were upsetting - but more upsetting was the fact that this thought was echoed by other characters. Not one of them seemed to think that Hillary was worth anything. Though I could brush this off for the humor, cuteness, and entertainment of the story, it's something I could have lived without. Summing Up: A Little Something Different is an ode to shipping. It's made of cuteness, giggles, sugar, spice, and everything nice. Possibly getting side tracked, but still - anyone who has ever been in any kind of fandom, who has shipped a couple so hard it resulted in physical flailing and squealing, who is a fan of happiness, needs this book in their life. I see myself rereading this whenever I need a dosage of good cheer. Instant good mood! GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Fans of adorable love stories like Meant to Be, The Distance Between Us, On the Fence, and Fangirl. *ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jun 22, 2014
|
Jul 14, 2014
|
Apr 02, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
147676316X
| 9781476763163
| 147676316X
| 3.99
| 9,773
| Jun 24, 2014
| Jun 24, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
5 stars So if you know me, you'll probably have heard at one point or another that I'm seriously obsessed with the webseries The Lizzie Bennet Diaries 5 stars So if you know me, you'll probably have heard at one point or another that I'm seriously obsessed with the webseries The Lizzie Bennet Diaries on YouTube. For those who are unfamiliar (where have you been??!?!) the webseries is a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, which takes place in the form of vlogs in which Lizzie Bennet tells the audience about her daily life and her familial and romantic drama. The adaptation was actually an immersive transmedia experience, using multiple platforms including Twitter accounts for the characters, Instagram accounts, Tumblr posts, etc, in which the audience's reactions also played a role sometimes. For about a year, the story played out gradually over time, and it was a viral hit. I was not alone in my unabashed love for the series. So when I heard that they were bringing out a book to go with the series, my first thought was, "Wait? What? Are we now doing a retelling of a retelling? Umm, fan exploitation much?" But I discarded that thought soon after - because by reading the synopsis I realized that this book would just be another addition to this truly immersive experience, showing exclusive bonus content you would otherwise miss out on. And I was not wrong, my love for the whole universe of Lizzie Bennet grew exponentially with this book. So what the book actually is is Lizzie's diary (couldn't have figured that out yourselves, huh?). It takes us in depth into her life and shows us other aspects that she doesn't share on camera. The first thing that stood out to me is that the book perfectly captures Lizzie's voice. Now, you shouldn't be that surprised, because one of the authors, Bernie Su, was the creator of the webseries. But How much of the voice is the script and how much is the actor? Basically, while reading The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, it was as if the actress Ashley Clements was narrating it to me in my head. It had that perfect blend of sarcasm, intellectualism, and snark. What I possibly loved most about all the behind-the-scenes stuff we got to see in the book is the relationship between Lizzie and her dad. Yes, there are actual scenes described where Lizzie and her sisters are interacting with their parents - who were always a bit of a mystery in the webseries itself. Just like the webseries adaptation did for the story, the way that these characters are transformed into modern day characters was smart, fitting, and totally engaging. I mean, I love Pride and Prejudice - the book, the movie, and the miniseries - and that relationship between Lizzie and her father has always been really special to me. (I am a daddy's girl, after all.) But seriously, their scenes together with their humorous banter and true familial love just put a bit of a tear in my eye. So wonderful. The book also reveals some other things that Lizzie was not willing to fully divulge on camera: the full letter that Darcy wrote (asdfjkl; swooooooooooon) and text messages with Wickham (ewwwwwwwww). You really get a sense of seeing the whole story in so much more detail, which adds to the webseries experience when you start considering characters in different ways and when you realize precisely how on point all of the acting was. A rather simple love story suddenly has this immensely beautiful universe of a story... I loved every second of it. But let's be real, for fans of the series, what you'll be most excited for is DAT ENDING. The ending, in fact, is what I read FIRST - together with Gillian in New York, the day that we got our hands on the precious. We sat, two little fangirls in a row, alternately squealing, flailing, and giggling. It's just so. freaking. perfect. So many feels. Any LBD fan will just NEED to get their hands on this. Summing Up: For any LBD seahorse, this book is a must read. And for those who have not yet established themselves as seahorses - please, go watch the webseries - you won't be sorry. The book really perfectly allowed me to experience the story all over again and showed me more than enough other angles to truly add to the experience. My shipper heart was happy with all of the additional feels from the ending. How bloody brilliant. And, as an additional note, the Pemberly Digital team has announced that next year there will be a follow-up book from Lydia's point of view! It goes without saying that I am already impatient to have that baby in my hands. GIF it to me straight! [image] [image] [image] [image] Recommended To: Everyone who has watched the series - and those who haven't, CATCH UP, DO IT, DO IT NOWWWWWW. *Copy obtained for free at BEA 2014. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jun 03, 2014
|
Jun 06, 2014
|
Feb 24, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0062238426
| 9780062238429
| 0062238426
| 3.67
| 4,627
| May 20, 2014
| May 20, 2014
|
really liked it
|
4.5 stars When I first saw The Art of Lainey pop up on Edelweiss, I thought it sounded good and cute, but I wasn't immediately sold. I put it in the ba 4.5 stars When I first saw The Art of Lainey pop up on Edelweiss, I thought it sounded good and cute, but I wasn't immediately sold. I put it in the back of my head to check out later. THANKFULLY, the author kept me from making the grievous mistake of passing up on the chance to read this early. She emailed me, asking me to review it, saying that she thought I would like it based on books I had loved, like Meant to Be. Oh man. She's good. She got me right then and there. And she was not wrong. I loved Meant to Be and I loved The Art of Lainey. So The Art of Lainey is about a girl who gets dumped and wants to win back her boyfriend using tactics from The Art of War. Right away, I was struck with the refreshing tone of the novel. The writing style is fluid and entertaining. The main character, Lainey, is awesome. And I don't use such words lightly. How often have we had main characters who are the shy, bookwormy types? The new girl, the loner outcast? Lainey is not that. In fact, she's pretty popular. She actually doesn't like reading. She's good at sports, goes to parties, has many friends... But she still has her own issues to deal with. Seriously, it was so refreshing to have a main character like that in contemporary YA. Not only is the main character a breath of fresh air, but the entire cast of characters was refreshingly realistic. They are honest. They have flaws and make mistakes. They grow. The relationships are beautiful - not just the romance, but the friendships and families as well. It just created this beautiful full picture that I could completely relate to. But this is contemporary romance, guys, so you know what's up. The Art of War is all about sneaky tactics, deceiving your enemy and making him weak. With the coaching of her awesome bff, Bianca, she comes up with a plan. She gets Micah, a rebellious-looking coworker, to pretend to be her boyfriend. Oh. Hell. Yes. Guys. I don't know if I've told you this before, but "fake" relationships are one of my favorite romantic tropes in the world. So many shenanigans and teasing and pushing boundaries and stuff and then those feelings become REAL!?! [image] The two are freaking gold together. I absolutely adore Micah. He's rough around the edges, and he has his own issues. He comes from a very different walk of life compared to Lainey, so when they start hanging out, people are concerned. However, they just have so much fun together, and along the way, Lainey starts discovering parts of her she never even really knew. This is how I like my relationships guys. Relationships are all about having fun, being yourself, and making each other grow, be happy, and be confident. And then the chemistry! The tension! SWOONING. SWOON ALERT. [image] I was majorly invested in this romance, to the point where I was reading it on the train and the hour and a half just FLEW by. This book is damn addictive. I had to FORCE myself to look up every once in a while to make sure I hadn't passed my stop. I haven't had that with a book in forever. I was ignorant of the whole world. Nothing existed except me and this book, and we were meant to be together, because it was making me so damn happy. Summing Up: You guys know I love my fluffy books, and The Art of Lainey is right up there with the best of them. It was a refreshing voice bringing a super entertaining and romantic story. I swooned and flailed and giggled, and all my worries were left far behind me. Are you a fan of sheer happiness? You should read this book. So before I go off now to pre-order my copy (because yes this book will be re-read), I want to thank Paula forever for making sure I didn't miss out on this absolute beauty. This book and I were meant to be (hey-o), and I can't wait to check out your other books! :) GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: Fans of HAPPINESS (*cough* okay or fans of Lauren Morrill, Kody Keplinger, or Kasie West) *ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of the review. PINKY SWEAR! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Mar 20, 2014
|
Mar 24, 2014
|
Feb 10, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1442485353
| 9781442485358
| 1442485353
| 3.79
| 7,512
| Aug 05, 2014
| Aug 05, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
4.5 stars, rounded up because FEELS Everyone and their mother said that I would love Magnolia, and everyone was absolutely 100% correct. Once this book 4.5 stars, rounded up because FEELS Everyone and their mother said that I would love Magnolia, and everyone was absolutely 100% correct. Once this book was in my hands, I couldn't help but ditch my towering stack of review books to read it instead - and it ended up being one of the best decisions I made in a while. I devoured it in one sitting, riding the tidal wave of feels, until I finally finished at 2:30 am... and I'm not a late-night reader. Damn this book was good. Now, you'll probably know how much I love hate-to-love romances. I've written a whole post about it, after all. Most of my favorite ships use this trope. What Magnolia does with it makes it even more fantastic: it's the weather disaster trapping two characters who "hate" each other together! Oh man. This book uses a lot of tropes that can make you think it's a bit cheesy and corny and whatever, but that made me love every single second of it. I was giggling like a mad woman. It's predictable, sure, but it's BRILLIANTLY executed to the point where you can't help but ship them. You're crushed with feels. It's pure gold. [image] But I'm getting ahead of myself. Magnolia takes place in Mississippi, and it has a wonderfully authentic southern feel. The main characters, Jemma and Ryder, are sort of southern royalty. They live in a very close community, where all their previous generations have lived, and their families have always been close. However, they've never gotten the family lines to intertwine, due to the children constantly being born of the same sex in each generation. Until Jemma and Ryder. So, their mothers have a *mild* obsession to try to get them together. Their constant hinting and shenanigans to try to push them together are freaking hilarious. [image] As with any teenagers - that's what mom wants? No thank you. But I love how for both characters this is not just about spiting their parents. They don't feel like they have any control over their lives. Their mothers have not only been planning their wedding from birth, pretty much, but have also planned out where they're going to college, that they'll then come back and settle in the big family house, etc. It's not hard to feel sympathy for that. Jemma clearly wants something different: she wants to go to film school. Her struggle with making her parents understand that was really endearing. Basically, I greatly admire any character who has the guts to stand up to their parents for what they truly want. Ryder is a bit more mysterious. He grew up with Jemma, sure, and has always sort of looked after her from afar. He is a hot, successful, intelligent football player with gentlemanly manners - basically the total package. Due to some typical dude behavior, because he has some typical dude friends, his friendship with Jemma ended years ago, and both are rather spiteful to each other. Banter banter banter. Denial. Hilarity. But from the first interaction I could sense the chemistry. Dude, Kristi Cook can write CHEMISTRY. I insist she write more contemporary romances because damn. [image] They get caught together in a hurricane where some predictable yet glorious hijinks ensue. Hurricane = tornadoes = tiny storm shelter, stuck together. Upstairs is probably not safe, so obvi we should share a bed now. Rain and mud means clothes should come off. I swear I was hyperventilating laughter, almost to the point of tears - not because it was directly funny but because of the feels that were KILLING ME. Obviously, the fear of the situation kind of brings them together. Having lived through Hurricane Rita in 2005, I know things. But Jemma's not the frightened, helpless little girl. She's actually a pistol-wielding fierce human being who I grew to absolutely love. Ryder's actually more scared about certain things, but that makes him so much more adorable. ("Six foot four and scared as a puppy.") And being stuck together for so long, cut off from the world, Jemma and Ryder start to get to know each other a little better and unravel the misunderstandings. THE CHEMISTRY. [image] But just when you think YES, HERE WE GO, THE SHIP IS SETTING SAIL, WE'RE GOOD, a plot twist hits and EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE and the only legitimate reaction is to SPAM YOUR FRIENDS WITH CAPSLOCK, BECAUSE HOW COULD YOU PUSH THIS BOOK ON ME CHRISTINA AND KARA, OMG SO CRUELLLL, FEELSPLOSION. Was that plot twist a bit unnecessary? Possibly. But it also was handled in a really realistic and heartfelt way that again made me sympathize with and feel for Jemma. In the end, it's okay though. The cuteness comes back and it is wonderful and Jemma and Ryder forever and yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. [image] Honestly, it's not just about the romance for me though. The family dynamics also truly make Magnolia a wonderful read. Her mother's pestering about Ryder aside, Jemma's family is so touching and realistic. Her relationship with her father (who is a Trekkie - MAJOR BONUS POINTS) brought me the feeeeels as well. I love a good father-daughter relationship. They maybe don't discuss issues much, but they have such a great understanding of each other and the kind of support they can give each other. And then there's Jemma's sister, who encounters some spoilery difficulties during the story. The way the family stands up and faces adversity together, truly caring about each other, was just another tidal wave of feels for me. So touching and wonderful. And the same goes for Jemma's friends: Lucy and Morgan. They're absolutely brilliant, and I wish I had friends like them in my life. Summing Up: Magnolia is in one word feelstastic. (Yes, that's a word.) The setting was beautifully depicted, the characters were brilliant, and though its plot had touches of darkness, the overall tone still managed to be light. (Seriously, I was giggling all over the place.) The friendship and family dynamics were absolutely wonderful and heartfelt. But most importantly, this romance and its wonderful progression over the course of this story was pure gold. It's exactly the kind of romance I love. Predictable? A little, sure. But SO BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED. Feels at every corner. I couldn't read it fast enough. Magnolia is a brilliant comfort read that I will definitely be coming back to. GIF it to me straight! [image] Recommended To: FANS OF FEELINGS. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Sep 06, 2014
|
Sep 06, 2014
|
Dec 14, 2013
|
Hardcover
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.21
|
it was amazing
|
Oct 23, 2015
|
Mar 09, 2017
|
||||||
3.88
|
it was amazing
|
Oct 16, 2016
|
Sep 10, 2016
|
||||||
4.23
|
really liked it
|
Dec 30, 2015
|
Sep 22, 2015
|
||||||
3.99
|
it was amazing
|
May 21, 2016
|
Jul 28, 2015
|
||||||
3.86
|
it was amazing
|
Oct 25, 2016
|
Jul 16, 2015
|
||||||
4.04
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 07, 2016
|
May 06, 2015
|
||||||
4.14
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 13, 2015
|
Feb 18, 2015
|
||||||
4.15
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 07, 2015
|
Jan 03, 2015
|
||||||
4.03
|
really liked it
|
May 20, 2015
|
Oct 27, 2014
|
||||||
4.20
|
it was amazing
|
Dec 11, 2014
|
Aug 25, 2014
|
||||||
3.73
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 16, 2015
|
Jun 24, 2014
|
||||||
3.97
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 31, 2014
|
Jun 03, 2014
|
||||||
4.11
|
it was amazing
|
Apr 29, 2016
|
May 23, 2014
|
||||||
3.83
|
really liked it
|
Mar 2016
Feb 25, 2015
|
Apr 24, 2014
|
||||||
3.69
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 24, 2014
|
Apr 23, 2014
|
||||||
3.92
|
really liked it
|
Apr 08, 2015
Apr 19, 2014
|
Apr 13, 2014
|
||||||
3.57
|
really liked it
|
Jul 14, 2014
|
Apr 02, 2014
|
||||||
3.99
|
it was amazing
|
Jun 06, 2014
|
Feb 24, 2014
|
||||||
3.67
|
really liked it
|
Mar 24, 2014
|
Feb 10, 2014
|
||||||
3.79
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 06, 2014
|
Dec 14, 2013
|