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338 reviews by:
annagwritesandreads
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.5/5 Stars
General Description: Sally has been a long term writer at TNO (The Night Owls, essentially SNL or Saturday Night Live in book form). Noah is a pop star promoting his new album. The two meet in 2018 when he's the host and musical guest on the show. There's tension, but when COVID hits in 2020, their relationship changes. Will they be able to navigate a relationship in a COVID riddled world?
The 2.5 stars gained:
- I liked Noah overall as a character. He was one of the best parts of the book.
- The post covid time was a bit of a shock, but was still quite a bit of reality that was refreshing in this book.
- There was romance as advertised.
The 2.5 stars lost:
- Overall, very cringy vibes with some of the comments made during the comedy section, during the email section, and in the post-covid section.
- I did not like Sally which was unfortunate since she was the main character. I just didn't vibe with her.
- I personally did not find the book to have much comedy? Go back to the cringe point :P
Overall: I think if you're a fan of SNL and are looking for a very contemporary read, you'd like this book. If you're looking for a straight-up romance book or funny book, I don't think this is the book for you.
General Description: Sally has been a long term writer at TNO (The Night Owls, essentially SNL or Saturday Night Live in book form). Noah is a pop star promoting his new album. The two meet in 2018 when he's the host and musical guest on the show. There's tension, but when COVID hits in 2020, their relationship changes. Will they be able to navigate a relationship in a COVID riddled world?
The 2.5 stars gained:
- I liked Noah overall as a character. He was one of the best parts of the book.
- The post covid time was a bit of a shock, but was still quite a bit of reality that was refreshing in this book.
- There was romance as advertised.
The 2.5 stars lost:
- Overall, very cringy vibes with some of the comments made during the comedy section, during the email section, and in the post-covid section.
- I did not like Sally which was unfortunate since she was the main character. I just didn't vibe with her.
- I personally did not find the book to have much comedy? Go back to the cringe point :P
Overall: I think if you're a fan of SNL and are looking for a very contemporary read, you'd like this book. If you're looking for a straight-up romance book or funny book, I don't think this is the book for you.
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4/5 stars
General Description: Teo is a Jade semidios. They are kind of like the b-string of semidioses, compared to the Gold semidios. All semidioses between the ages of 13 and 18 are called to compete in the sunbearer trials, where the top semidios gets to spread Sol's light while the bottom semidios gets sacrificed. Typically, only Gold semidios get pulled to play, but not this year. Teo's in it. Will he be able to survive?
The good:
- The description of this fictional world was absolutely gorgeous.
- I loved the representation and immersive nature into the land and people.
- The 10 contestants are all unique and I was rooting for the majority of them, and the ones I was not rooting for were well written villian-like characters.
- The tension of the trials and the actual trials themselves kept me engaged the entire time.
The loss of a star:
- I feel like the ending came out of no where and I have way too many questions. I listened to the ending about three times to make sure I heard it correctly. I don't know if all of my lingering questions will be answered in book 2, but if they are, I'll will increase my rating.
Overall: If you want a YA fantasy to read, pick up this one. But maybe wait until the 2nd book is out so you don't have to experience the cliffhanger feeling :)
General Description: Teo is a Jade semidios. They are kind of like the b-string of semidioses, compared to the Gold semidios. All semidioses between the ages of 13 and 18 are called to compete in the sunbearer trials, where the top semidios gets to spread Sol's light while the bottom semidios gets sacrificed. Typically, only Gold semidios get pulled to play, but not this year. Teo's in it. Will he be able to survive?
The good:
- The description of this fictional world was absolutely gorgeous.
- I loved the representation and immersive nature into the land and people.
- The 10 contestants are all unique and I was rooting for the majority of them, and the ones I was not rooting for were well written villian-like characters.
- The tension of the trials and the actual trials themselves kept me engaged the entire time.
The loss of a star:
- I feel like the ending came out of no where and I have way too many questions. I listened to the ending about three times to make sure I heard it correctly. I don't know if all of my lingering questions will be answered in book 2, but if they are, I'll will increase my rating.
Overall: If you want a YA fantasy to read, pick up this one. But maybe wait until the 2nd book is out so you don't have to experience the cliffhanger feeling :)
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5/5 stars.
General Description: Belly is finally being seen by everyone as the not-so-little sister. Going to the beach out her family always goes to, relationships and conflicts become more intense between her, her brother, and the Fisher boys: Jeremiah and Conrad. Will Belly leave this summer with a new relationship or lost friendships?
The good:
- Honestly, the parent relationships were extremely interesting and a big part that kept me reading.
- I think the dynamics between Jeremiah, Conrad, Steven, and Belly were interesting to see in the past and the future.
- The summer vibes were very comforting.
The loss of a star and a half:
- It was way more character-driven than I believed. It felt slow due to this and honestly, the characters did not show as much growth as I was expected to see in this transformative summer novel.
Overall: I think if you plan to watch the TV show it's always good to read the book, but outside of that, if you're looking for a quick read and don't want too much depth in a book, this could be a good book for you.
General Description: Belly is finally being seen by everyone as the not-so-little sister. Going to the beach out her family always goes to, relationships and conflicts become more intense between her, her brother, and the Fisher boys: Jeremiah and Conrad. Will Belly leave this summer with a new relationship or lost friendships?
The good:
- Honestly, the parent relationships were extremely interesting and a big part that kept me reading.
- I think the dynamics between Jeremiah, Conrad, Steven, and Belly were interesting to see in the past and the future.
- The summer vibes were very comforting.
The loss of a star and a half:
- It was way more character-driven than I believed. It felt slow due to this and honestly, the characters did not show as much growth as I was expected to see in this transformative summer novel.
Overall: I think if you plan to watch the TV show it's always good to read the book, but outside of that, if you're looking for a quick read and don't want too much depth in a book, this could be a good book for you.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4/5 stars
Description: If your ex called you up to compete on a second chance dating show for his heart, would you do it? No? Well, Maya's motivations aren't to win his heart: it's vengeance. Maya was cheated on by heartthrob Jordy and no one believes her. So when Jordy calls for this unique opportunity, Maya sees it as a way to embarrass him. Skye, on the other hand, has more pure intentions. Once Maya and Skye meet, they begin to develop their own relationship and discover what they have in common besides being Jordy's ex. So, who will come out on top here? Maya, Skye, or Jordy?
The good:
- I am a fan of reality TV, so this concept was right up my alley.
- I like the exploration of what goes on behind the scenes of a reality TV show.
- I appreciated Maya and Skye's growth.
- The side characters were intricated and added depth to the book.
The loss of a star:
- I do love well written villains, but I could literally not stand Jordy. He was too much for too long and anytime he was brought into the conversation past like 20% of the book, I could not stand him! So, unfortunately, he did bring down the book for me.
Overall: I'd recommend it to anyone who wants reality TV in a book, just be ready to get on the Jordy hate bandwagon.
Description: If your ex called you up to compete on a second chance dating show for his heart, would you do it? No? Well, Maya's motivations aren't to win his heart: it's vengeance. Maya was cheated on by heartthrob Jordy and no one believes her. So when Jordy calls for this unique opportunity, Maya sees it as a way to embarrass him. Skye, on the other hand, has more pure intentions. Once Maya and Skye meet, they begin to develop their own relationship and discover what they have in common besides being Jordy's ex. So, who will come out on top here? Maya, Skye, or Jordy?
The good:
- I am a fan of reality TV, so this concept was right up my alley.
- I like the exploration of what goes on behind the scenes of a reality TV show.
- I appreciated Maya and Skye's growth.
- The side characters were intricated and added depth to the book.
The loss of a star:
- I do love well written villains, but I could literally not stand Jordy. He was too much for too long and anytime he was brought into the conversation past like 20% of the book, I could not stand him! So, unfortunately, he did bring down the book for me.
Overall: I'd recommend it to anyone who wants reality TV in a book, just be ready to get on the Jordy hate bandwagon.
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4/5 Stars
Description: Let's go to a murder mystery party. Join Pip and her friends before they start their senior year to explore what happened on Kill Joy Island. Everyone plays a different character and they must find the killer. Will they be able to solve it before their parents have to pick them up?
The good:
- I love the AGGGTM Series, so I was a fan going in, especially seeing how Pip worked before everything that happens in the series.
- The murder mystery was compelling to follow along. You can really get into it!
- I liked how you could read this before or after the entire series. I think Holly did a good job of making it easy to read at any point.
- The side characters were also compelling and I loved the call back to the series as a whole.
The loss of a star:
- I think this is the first book where I don't have a true reason, but it just didn't feel like a spectacular read. I did enjoy it, but I don't know if I'd ever personally rate a novella where it's so short as a 5 star. But who knows!
Overall: If you are a fan of AGGGTM, you should definitely pick this up!
Description: Let's go to a murder mystery party. Join Pip and her friends before they start their senior year to explore what happened on Kill Joy Island. Everyone plays a different character and they must find the killer. Will they be able to solve it before their parents have to pick them up?
The good:
- I love the AGGGTM Series, so I was a fan going in, especially seeing how Pip worked before everything that happens in the series.
- The murder mystery was compelling to follow along. You can really get into it!
- I liked how you could read this before or after the entire series. I think Holly did a good job of making it easy to read at any point.
- The side characters were also compelling and I loved the call back to the series as a whole.
The loss of a star:
- I think this is the first book where I don't have a true reason, but it just didn't feel like a spectacular read. I did enjoy it, but I don't know if I'd ever personally rate a novella where it's so short as a 5 star. But who knows!
Overall: If you are a fan of AGGGTM, you should definitely pick this up!
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2/5 Stars
Description: Isabelle's son Mason seemed to disappear in the middle of the night. Over a year later, Isabelle and her husband are essentially estranged, she's still doing true crime appearances, and she's no further to find her son. Until a podcaster pushes her to not only re-evaluate the night Mason disappeared but also re-evaluate her own dark past. Will she be able to find herself and Mason, or lose everything in the process?
The 2 stars:
- It does wrap up nicely.
- I think Stacy's writing is overall enjoyable, but this was not the book of hers for me. A Flicker in the Dark was one of my favorites last year.
The loss of 3 stars:
- I felt the story fell flat. I'm not sure if it's because it was a cold case or something else, but it felt less dimensional than A Flicker In The Dark.
- The jumps in time were not enjoyable.
- The intensity of the novel felt forced, making it a tougher read.
overall: If you prefer slower burn thrillers with a wrapped up ending, you may enjoy this. Clearly there are a lot of other high ratings, but for some reason, this one did not hit the same for me.
Description: Isabelle's son Mason seemed to disappear in the middle of the night. Over a year later, Isabelle and her husband are essentially estranged, she's still doing true crime appearances, and she's no further to find her son. Until a podcaster pushes her to not only re-evaluate the night Mason disappeared but also re-evaluate her own dark past. Will she be able to find herself and Mason, or lose everything in the process?
The 2 stars:
- It does wrap up nicely.
- I think Stacy's writing is overall enjoyable, but this was not the book of hers for me. A Flicker in the Dark was one of my favorites last year.
The loss of 3 stars:
- I felt the story fell flat. I'm not sure if it's because it was a cold case or something else, but it felt less dimensional than A Flicker In The Dark.
- The jumps in time were not enjoyable.
- The intensity of the novel felt forced, making it a tougher read.
overall: If you prefer slower burn thrillers with a wrapped up ending, you may enjoy this. Clearly there are a lot of other high ratings, but for some reason, this one did not hit the same for me.
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5/5 Stars.
Description: Perry wants a lazy summer. However, after a run in with a bear and a no longer operational car, Perry must work an internship at the local museum to pay back her auntie Daunis. Perry learns about what is happening with items from her tribe that are not being returned to her. Perry doesn't like that and fights tooth and nail to return the appropriate items to her tribe. However, Perry may have bitten off more than she can chew when it comes to getting back her tribal items. Will she get caught, or bring the ancestral items back home?
The good:
- Angeline does it again: there's mystery, romance, action, and it's extremely fast paced while you learn about the Ojibwe people.
- Perry is such an amazing character and has a pure heart.
- The SIDE characters: the good ones are GREAT, the bad ones are written well. I'd be happy for more here.
- I loved learning about every aspect of tribal life. This was such an educational book while being easy to read and understand.
The loss of a half star:
- Unlike Firekeeper's daughter, I feel like this book could have a more direct sequel. Meaning my questions are left unanswered. If a sequel comes up, this book bumps up to a 5/5 stars.
Overall: PLEASE read this if you're looking for a YA book that has everything from romance to mystery to action to educational information.
Description: Perry wants a lazy summer. However, after a run in with a bear and a no longer operational car, Perry must work an internship at the local museum to pay back her auntie Daunis. Perry learns about what is happening with items from her tribe that are not being returned to her. Perry doesn't like that and fights tooth and nail to return the appropriate items to her tribe. However, Perry may have bitten off more than she can chew when it comes to getting back her tribal items. Will she get caught, or bring the ancestral items back home?
The good:
- Angeline does it again: there's mystery, romance, action, and it's extremely fast paced while you learn about the Ojibwe people.
- Perry is such an amazing character and has a pure heart.
- The SIDE characters: the good ones are GREAT, the bad ones are written well. I'd be happy for more here.
- I loved learning about every aspect of tribal life. This was such an educational book while being easy to read and understand.
The loss of a half star:
- Unlike Firekeeper's daughter, I feel like this book could have a more direct sequel. Meaning my questions are left unanswered. If a sequel comes up, this book bumps up to a 5/5 stars.
Overall: PLEASE read this if you're looking for a YA book that has everything from romance to mystery to action to educational information.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5/5 Stars. Thank you to Sarah for sending me a copy of the book. I am so sorry my review on here is so late :P
Description: Claire, Reyva, and Mariana are all expecting a nice stay at a summer camp. However, after being dropped off by boat, they realize 3 things: there is a dead body on the island, they have no cell service, and the camp has been burned down. Clearly there is something going on but the three girls don't get much down time to figure it out as they feel something lurking in the forest and as they struggle to survive. Will they make it away from the camp alive?
The good:
- I have OCD and a lot of Claire's actions I could relate to and I haven't been able to relate to a character like that in a while.
- Reyva and Mariana are wonderful side characters that elevated the book.
- This book as so many twists and turns, I loved every second of it.
- This was the first book in a while that surprised me while I was reading it. It was fast paced and gripped me.
The loss of a half star:
Again, I'm someone with stand alone books where I don't like open ends or questions. I didn't feel like everything was fully explained and still had questions, but not too many.
Overall: If you're looking for a fresh YA thriller, this is the book for you.
Description: Claire, Reyva, and Mariana are all expecting a nice stay at a summer camp. However, after being dropped off by boat, they realize 3 things: there is a dead body on the island, they have no cell service, and the camp has been burned down. Clearly there is something going on but the three girls don't get much down time to figure it out as they feel something lurking in the forest and as they struggle to survive. Will they make it away from the camp alive?
The good:
- I have OCD and a lot of Claire's actions I could relate to and I haven't been able to relate to a character like that in a while.
- Reyva and Mariana are wonderful side characters that elevated the book.
- This book as so many twists and turns, I loved every second of it.
- This was the first book in a while that surprised me while I was reading it. It was fast paced and gripped me.
The loss of a half star:
Again, I'm someone with stand alone books where I don't like open ends or questions. I didn't feel like everything was fully explained and still had questions, but not too many.
Overall: If you're looking for a fresh YA thriller, this is the book for you.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4/5 Stars.
Description: If you have seven days to fall in love as a teen, then not see that person again for 15 years, would you do it? Eva and Shane didn't have a choice; that's what happened to them. Both grew up to become authors and when they reconnect after 15 years, there are questions that need to be answered. Will they reconnect or will the past break them apart in the present day?
The good:
- All the characters in this book I absolutely adored.
- I want more from this universe.
- I thought the movement of time between past and present was done very well.
- This book was a lot deeper than I anticipated. This isn't just a light romance read and I appreciated the depth from this novel.
The loss of a star:
- The ending was way too open-ended for me. I have a million questions and without seeing a sequel for this book in any type of production or hints, I can't rate this higher than a 4. I am a person who loves standalone to be wrapped up nicely and this was not that.
Overall: I'd recommend it if you can handle open-ended endings/cliffhangers in romance novels. If you can't do the open-ended endings, I wouldn't recommend this.
Description: If you have seven days to fall in love as a teen, then not see that person again for 15 years, would you do it? Eva and Shane didn't have a choice; that's what happened to them. Both grew up to become authors and when they reconnect after 15 years, there are questions that need to be answered. Will they reconnect or will the past break them apart in the present day?
The good:
- All the characters in this book I absolutely adored.
- I want more from this universe.
- I thought the movement of time between past and present was done very well.
- This book was a lot deeper than I anticipated. This isn't just a light romance read and I appreciated the depth from this novel.
The loss of a star:
- The ending was way too open-ended for me. I have a million questions and without seeing a sequel for this book in any type of production or hints, I can't rate this higher than a 4. I am a person who loves standalone to be wrapped up nicely and this was not that.
Overall: I'd recommend it if you can handle open-ended endings/cliffhangers in romance novels. If you can't do the open-ended endings, I wouldn't recommend this.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4/5 Stars.
Description: Margot is busy being part owner of the family winery. She doesn't have time for a relationship, but she does have time for a one night stand with Luke, a younger man in the town. However, that Monday, Margot goes to meet the new employee that her brother hired and it's none other than Luke. Will Margot and Luke remain co-workers, or will there be something more they need to explore?
The good:
- The spice is a slight step up from The Wedding Date series which I appreciated.
- I liked the side characters a LOT and I'm hoping to hear more about Margot's brother, her best friend, and even other workers at the winery.
- The pacing was quick.
- While this still fell into the Jasmine Guillory book formula, this felt elevated and I love it.
The loss of a star:
- There was SUCH a focus on the age gap that it made parts of the story unenjoyable for me. For like the first half of the book, but then it was gone? It was just so odd and something I didn't really think was pertinent, especially since the age gap I believe is only 5 years apart, which I feel like is not a terrible age gap between a late 20 year old and a mid 30 year old.
Overall: I would recommend this if you like romance novels or Jasmine Guillory. I did enjoy this book quite a bit!
Description: Margot is busy being part owner of the family winery. She doesn't have time for a relationship, but she does have time for a one night stand with Luke, a younger man in the town. However, that Monday, Margot goes to meet the new employee that her brother hired and it's none other than Luke. Will Margot and Luke remain co-workers, or will there be something more they need to explore?
The good:
- The spice is a slight step up from The Wedding Date series which I appreciated.
- I liked the side characters a LOT and I'm hoping to hear more about Margot's brother, her best friend, and even other workers at the winery.
- The pacing was quick.
- While this still fell into the Jasmine Guillory book formula, this felt elevated and I love it.
The loss of a star:
- There was SUCH a focus on the age gap that it made parts of the story unenjoyable for me. For like the first half of the book, but then it was gone? It was just so odd and something I didn't really think was pertinent, especially since the age gap I believe is only 5 years apart, which I feel like is not a terrible age gap between a late 20 year old and a mid 30 year old.
Overall: I would recommend this if you like romance novels or Jasmine Guillory. I did enjoy this book quite a bit!