30something_reads's Reviews (820)

 4.25 ⭐

Ohh I liked this one way more than the first.

Lucy and Tjor are such fun characters! Both accustomed to doing not-so-legal things for money but dreaming of a better life. Tjor is considered dangerous by society's standards but Lucy has never been afraid of him. The way she teases and riles him up while showing him he can be a good alpha is so cute!!

Loved it. Such a fun time. 

3.75 ⭐

This was a really compelling look into the days after the death of Freddie Gray in 2015 Baltimore. Moore outlines those 5 days through the viewpoints of 8 individuals whose lives intersected during these protests. 

While informative, my biggest issue was the organization of these viewpoints. It often felt meandering and getting off track. 

Still a very powerful recount of the oppression endemic to the communities in Baltimore.  

5⭐

😭❤️🥰

Oh my! This was such a charming YA fantasy with oodles of heart. 

I did a tandem read with the physical book while listening with the audio and I must say: the audiobook was phenomenal. The narrator was so good and the way she differentiated the character voices was 😘🤌🏻

An enchanting story with delightful twists and turns. I could easily see this as a Myazaki movie. It very much gave me the same feelings as watching Howl's Moving Castle- in fact, the characters Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas reminded me a lot of Sophie, Howl, and Calcifer respectively. I fell in love with their easy comradery and clever quips.

There was just so much to adore:

✔️Magical libraries
✔️Book smart, sword-wielding heroine 
✔️Snarky boy sorcerer hero who calls her a "feral librarian"
✔️Sentient magical books
✔️Magical governments 
✔️Demon companions 
✔️Swoony and sweet romance
✔️Casual inclusion of aro and bisexual characters 

I am slightly devastated that this is a standalone?! 😭 How and why?? I do know there is a follow up novella but still. 💔

 Omegaverse + Alien = a romance mash up I didn't know I needed 😳❤️

This was surprisingly sweet. I loved that the FMC is going through remission and trying to cope with the changes that a partial mastectomy to her physically and emotionally. (I don't see that rep a lot).

I am, by no means, an expert on omegaverse or ABO dynamics but I still had fun with it.

Lots of 💦 all around. Like, A LOT. And major breeding kinks (but no pregnancy) So... Just FYI 😆

It might be trash? But it's definitely my trash. 🥰 

 DNF @ 17%

I cannot power through another meh alien romance and this one had me cringing far too many times already. I did not need reminding 4-5 times at this point that "he'd get revenge on any of these living humans that may be involved" or that "she hoped her secret would never get out." I get it. Also, the fated mates thing was literally INSTANT and sometimes I just can't.

On to find something better. 

3⭐ 

This was cute but my least favorite from Talia Hibbert. I don't know if my enjoyment was hindered by the narrator specifically but it definitely contributed. (I'm not sure what he was doing with all of the accents 😵‍💫)

The story was fine, if not just a smidge too cheesy. I love a fake engagement but it felt a little too insta-love. (This may have something to do with the time jumps but the relationship seemed to develop way too fast.)

Obviously the banter and side characters were delightful. (Also, I didn't realize that the Jas from The Roommate Risk, is the Jas in this book. 😆)

Overall, an enjoyable read but I would not recommend the audio book.

 5⭐

"Your world is unpleasant, your truths are unpleasant, the hunt is unpleasant... But unpleasant things must be done for unpleasant purposes out of unpleasant necessity."

I'm just going to go ahead and assume that everything Emezi writes will be guaranteed to make me ugly cry.

This book is no exception. 

 Why has it taken me so long to read Talia Hibbert? Everything she writes is absolutely consuming.

I love the themes of self improvement and growth for both of these characters.

And the peaks into their past as we see their present day relationship evolve really makes the friends to lovers aspect feel authentic.

(The spice was also incredible and I love a bossy Rahul.) 

 "... We are responsible for recognizing that what happened in previous generations at the hands of or to people who look like us set the stage for the world we now live in and that what has gone before us grants us advantages or burdens through no effort or fault of our own, gains or deficits that others who do not look like us often do not share.

We are responsible for our own ignorance or, with time and openhearted enlightenment, our own wisdom... And will be judged accordingly by succeeding generations."

Honestly, this should be required reading.
Some things I knew, in part, but were greatly expanded on.
Some things that were brand new to me.
Some things I never would have considered. 

I was not 100% certain what I was getting into here. Surprise!

Smutty and nerdy all rolled into a surprisingly sweet story about Ken as he processes and moves forward from a break up with his long term boyfriend. Graphic erotic video game fantasies ensure.