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190 reviews by:
ariellesbookreviews
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
TW domestic violence, miscarriage, sexual assault, and PTSD
This was my first book written by author Laura Lee, and I can honestly say I was thoroughly impressed. Lee is an excellent writer and manages to cover serious subjects well. Redemption is about a woman named Presley who, after leaving an abusive relationship, returns to her hometown and reconnects with her family and high school sweetheart. The author shows the stigmatism that abuse survivors face, how the abuse affects them, and their road to recovery.
While this is a romance novel, the romance between Presley and Beckett wasn't my favorite. Beckett often came off pretentious in a country way. The author also includes several romance tropes that aren't my favorite; however, I don't take that into account for my review, but it did lead me to enjoy reading about Presley's journey through self-recovery more than the romance between her and Beckett.
Overall, Laura Lee is an excellent writer, and I was hooked from the first couple of chapters. I give the book four stars and will be reading books she has previously published!
TW domestic violence, miscarriage, sexual assault, and PTSD
This was my first book written by author Laura Lee, and I can honestly say I was thoroughly impressed. Lee is an excellent writer and manages to cover serious subjects well. Redemption is about a woman named Presley who, after leaving an abusive relationship, returns to her hometown and reconnects with her family and high school sweetheart. The author shows the stigmatism that abuse survivors face, how the abuse affects them, and their road to recovery.
While this is a romance novel, the romance between Presley and Beckett wasn't my favorite. Beckett often came off pretentious in a country way. The author also includes several romance tropes that aren't my favorite; however, I don't take that into account for my review, but it did lead me to enjoy reading about Presley's journey through self-recovery more than the romance between her and Beckett.
Overall, Laura Lee is an excellent writer, and I was hooked from the first couple of chapters. I give the book four stars and will be reading books she has previously published!
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is a great addition to the Folk of Air trilogy. Black gives readers better insight into Cardan's mind, allowing readers to understand his back story and motivations. Cardan's original attraction to Jude started far later than I would have guessed from just reading Jude's perspective in The Cruel. The book also includes Cardan's introduction to the human world, one of the funniest moments in the entire series.
The real MVP of How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is the illustrations done by Rovina Cai. Her artwork is incredible and brought so much life to the book, and I now wish the entire Folk of Air trilogy was illustrated. It's clear how much time and effort Cai puts into her heart and should be fully appreciated by every reader.
I give this book 5 stars, it could have only been the illustrations, and I would have been willing to pay twice the amount.
The real MVP of How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is the illustrations done by Rovina Cai. Her artwork is incredible and brought so much life to the book, and I now wish the entire Folk of Air trilogy was illustrated. It's clear how much time and effort Cai puts into her heart and should be fully appreciated by every reader.
I give this book 5 stars, it could have only been the illustrations, and I would have been willing to pay twice the amount.
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho features the story of Miyoung and Jihoon and the history of the Gumiho, a Korean folklore. The book has a rich cultural backstory and includes cultural references like K-pop, K dramas, and Korean dishes and phrases. The readers have access to a glossary, and Cho has a video pronunciation guide on her YouTube channel that I recommend all readers check out. The story focuses on different types of family relationships, including abandonment and emotionally distant parents. Miyoung and Jihoon are both flawed characters that are easily relatable to the reader, and the relationship that develops between the two is a slow build.
The book has two main conflicts, Miyoung losing her Yeowu Guseul, and then a secondary conflict described on the cover. Miyoung loses the Yeowu Guseul at the beginning of the book and then spends time attempting to put it back into her soul and navigate high school in Seoul. However, the book description kind of makes it feel like there’s supposed to be a different storyline. It feels like the story takes a long time to reach; what I would have thought was the main conflict. Quote on the cover, “Her life is in his hands. His heart is in hers. 100 days to choose who lives” would seem to be the main plot of the story; however, over 200 pages and that conflict has yet to develop.
The author has the story wrapped up at the end of the novel but includes an epilogue that hints at a continuation of Miyoung and Jihoons story. However, the sequel is about two secondary characters found in the first novel, Somin and Junu. While I am excited to learn more about these two characters, I am concerned that Miyoung and Jihoons story will feel uncompleted.
Overall, I give the book 4.5 stars, and I look forward to reading the sequel and other novels written by Kat Cho.
The book has two main conflicts, Miyoung losing her Yeowu Guseul, and then a secondary conflict described on the cover. Miyoung loses the Yeowu Guseul at the beginning of the book and then spends time attempting to put it back into her soul and navigate high school in Seoul. However, the book description kind of makes it feel like there’s supposed to be a different storyline. It feels like the story takes a long time to reach; what I would have thought was the main conflict. Quote on the cover, “Her life is in his hands. His heart is in hers. 100 days to choose who lives” would seem to be the main plot of the story; however, over 200 pages and that conflict has yet to develop.
The author has the story wrapped up at the end of the novel but includes an epilogue that hints at a continuation of Miyoung and Jihoons story. However, the sequel is about two secondary characters found in the first novel, Somin and Junu. While I am excited to learn more about these two characters, I am concerned that Miyoung and Jihoons story will feel uncompleted.
Overall, I give the book 4.5 stars, and I look forward to reading the sequel and other novels written by Kat Cho.
A Study in Charlotte is a cute teen Sherlock Holmes retelling. The book felt like a combination of Heist Society by Ali Carter and Nancy Drew. The book is your essential murder mystery with a twist ending the reader cannot seeing coming. I'm excited to see where the relationship between Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Waston develops next. However, I did have some problems with the book.
The author never explains what grades either character is in or that Holmes and Watson are in high school. I spent the first several chapters thinking both of these characters were in college. While I enjoyed reading this book as an adult, it's written for teenagers. I think my biggest problem with the book is the writing style felt geared towards the 12-14 year age range, but the plot content felt geared towards 16+. The author includes topics of; heavy drug use and sexual assault, but the storyline depth and character relationships felt surface level. This made the character's ages confusing, because, in some aspects, they felt 14, and in others, they felt 18 or 19. Overall, I think the book is geared towards older teens, but some will be uninterested in the lack of a complex storyline.
The book also has little to no diversity with no BIPOC or LGBT+ characters.
I give the books 3.5 stars, and I plan on reading the next book in the series, but will probably be getting them from the library
The author never explains what grades either character is in or that Holmes and Watson are in high school. I spent the first several chapters thinking both of these characters were in college. While I enjoyed reading this book as an adult, it's written for teenagers. I think my biggest problem with the book is the writing style felt geared towards the 12-14 year age range, but the plot content felt geared towards 16+. The author includes topics of; heavy drug use and sexual assault, but the storyline depth and character relationships felt surface level. This made the character's ages confusing, because, in some aspects, they felt 14, and in others, they felt 18 or 19. Overall, I think the book is geared towards older teens, but some will be uninterested in the lack of a complex storyline.
The book also has little to no diversity with no BIPOC or LGBT+ characters.
I give the books 3.5 stars, and I plan on reading the next book in the series, but will probably be getting them from the library
Great Story; No Diversity
The plot of this book was great, witches, enemies to lovers, lots of twists and turns, I honestly never knew what plot turn was coming next. One of my criticism for the plot is the first chapter makes you think the main character is going to be Sabine and I really enjoyed her storyline; however, the book was mainly about Aileese‘s and Bastien’s relationship with Sabine being the main side character. For the plot, I would give 4 stars, but this book had zero BIPOC and LGBT+ characters and that was a decision made purposely by the author. I don’t believe there are any racism or homophobia aggressions by the characters in the plot. Just an overall lack of representation.
There is no reason to have the witches' soulmates only be men. Not all the witches have children with their amours, so any argument saying the amours need to be men for “procreation reasons” automatically goes out the window, but even if they did that wouldn’t be a reason to have no LGBT+ characters. The amours should have been any gender; it’s honestly an effortless way to have some representation in the book.
All of these characters are also white. This is a fantasy novel, it’s not a book focusing on a historical time period where it’s unlikely that BIPOC characters would be present. The author could have, again, easily made BIPOC characters and it would not have to change the storyline in many ways.
For the overall lack of representation for the BIPOC and LGBTQ communities, I’m giving this book 2.5 stars.
The plot of this book was great, witches, enemies to lovers, lots of twists and turns, I honestly never knew what plot turn was coming next. One of my criticism for the plot is the first chapter makes you think the main character is going to be Sabine and I really enjoyed her storyline; however, the book was mainly about Aileese‘s and Bastien’s relationship with Sabine being the main side character. For the plot, I would give 4 stars, but this book had zero BIPOC and LGBT+ characters and that was a decision made purposely by the author. I don’t believe there are any racism or homophobia aggressions by the characters in the plot. Just an overall lack of representation.
There is no reason to have the witches' soulmates only be men. Not all the witches have children with their amours, so any argument saying the amours need to be men for “procreation reasons” automatically goes out the window, but even if they did that wouldn’t be a reason to have no LGBT+ characters. The amours should have been any gender; it’s honestly an effortless way to have some representation in the book.
All of these characters are also white. This is a fantasy novel, it’s not a book focusing on a historical time period where it’s unlikely that BIPOC characters would be present. The author could have, again, easily made BIPOC characters and it would not have to change the storyline in many ways.
For the overall lack of representation for the BIPOC and LGBTQ communities, I’m giving this book 2.5 stars.
Overall, this book was just okay. Part 1 was well written and well paced. Eleanor and Grey are both high school seniors who aren’t in a relationship, but are companions through hard times. Over the course of their relationship they fall in love and eventually drift apart. 15 years later Elle is hired as Grey’s children’s nanny.
Part 2 of the book is too fast paced. The development of the relationship between Elle and Grey after the passing of this wife goes from zero to sixty way too fast. For the first half of the Part 2 Grey is a depressed father who is over working to avoid feeling the pain of his wife death. It only takes one real conversation for him to change and want to be in a romantic relationship with Elle.
The children’s personality are find, but nothing in the novel is very in depth. Despite the book being over 350 pages, the book feels like it’s only 200 pages. The story was fine for a quick and easy read, but nothing outstanding.
Part 2 of the book is too fast paced. The development of the relationship between Elle and Grey after the passing of this wife goes from zero to sixty way too fast. For the first half of the Part 2 Grey is a depressed father who is over working to avoid feeling the pain of his wife death. It only takes one real conversation for him to change and want to be in a romantic relationship with Elle.
The children’s personality are find, but nothing in the novel is very in depth. Despite the book being over 350 pages, the book feels like it’s only 200 pages. The story was fine for a quick and easy read, but nothing outstanding.
Overall, I found this book enjoyable and well written. A forbidden romance with rich political world building, A Discovery of Witches is a new twist of the classic vampire love story. This book has a lot of science and history included in the story, with some general biology knowledge being necessary for the reader to whole understand Diana and Matthew’s work. If you like rich academic stories, this book is the right choice for you.
My biggest criticism of the book is the general lack of diversity, with no real BIPOC or LGBT characters. The author does not describe what any characters look like or give the historical background of vampire characters outside of those with European backgrounds. When a minority character is mention they are only referenced to further the storyline of a white character. While I doubt the author will be adding any minority characters in the next let the reader hope she stops using minorities as props in future projects.
My biggest criticism of the book is the general lack of diversity, with no real BIPOC or LGBT characters. The author does not describe what any characters look like or give the historical background of vampire characters outside of those with European backgrounds. When a minority character is mention they are only referenced to further the storyline of a white character. While I doubt the author will be adding any minority characters in the next let the reader hope she stops using minorities as props in future projects.
This book is for the crime junkies at heart. Well written, well researched with a strong heroine who wants to be herself in a world that try’s to control how women behave. Audrey Rose’s interest of science and love for her family takes her on a mystery adventure with a hard to love Thomas. This book is a retelling of Sherlock Holmes combined with the mysterious crime of Jack the Ripper.
The ending of the book was relatively predictable, but enjoyable non the less. Audrey Rose is a hero young women will look up, refusing to oblige to societal pressures. Thomas, while slightly annoying hero, steals many scenes throughout the book and I couldn’t wait for him to return to the scenes when he wasn’t present.
Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars and was pleasantly surprised about how much I loved the book.
The ending of the book was relatively predictable, but enjoyable non the less. Audrey Rose is a hero young women will look up, refusing to oblige to societal pressures. Thomas, while slightly annoying hero, steals many scenes throughout the book and I couldn’t wait for him to return to the scenes when he wasn’t present.
Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars and was pleasantly surprised about how much I loved the book.
Patel creates a beautiful story that will make you laugh, cry, and love yourself after finishing The Trouble with Hating You. The story covers topics of purity culture, victim blaming, survivors guilts, and the patriarchy.
Liya is a young Indian women who parents keep pressuring her to meet potential husband despite her instances that she does not want to get married. Jay, Liya’s potential future husband, is a young lawyer who loves his family and is willing to meet potential young brides for his mother. After a disastrous first meeting Liya and Jay have to work together to save the Liya’s company.
Patel wrote a wonderful story with a strong but flawed heroine and a passionate and supportive hero. Both characters have strong families, Liya’s found family and Jay biological family, with a cast of characters who the readers want to learn more about. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and hope the author also writes about Reema and Rohan’s love story. I give the book 4.5 stars.
Liya is a young Indian women who parents keep pressuring her to meet potential husband despite her instances that she does not want to get married. Jay, Liya’s potential future husband, is a young lawyer who loves his family and is willing to meet potential young brides for his mother. After a disastrous first meeting Liya and Jay have to work together to save the Liya’s company.
Patel wrote a wonderful story with a strong but flawed heroine and a passionate and supportive hero. Both characters have strong families, Liya’s found family and Jay biological family, with a cast of characters who the readers want to learn more about. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and hope the author also writes about Reema and Rohan’s love story. I give the book 4.5 stars.
I was disappointed in this book. I don't think the synopsis of the book is an accurate description. I picked up this book in hopes of reading a sweet love story between two college-age teens but instead got a coming-of-age story about a judgemental young girl who learns that everyone has a different personality.
Penny is an unlikeable character. You could argue that was the author's intention; however, Penny did not have any character development until the last two or three chapters. By then, it was too late in the book for Penny to be redeemed. I'm not convinced, as a reader, that Penny has changed or learned anything. Also, no character calls Penny out for her poor behavior. Penny is a different person when she is with Sam, the only character with who Penny is not instantly annoyed with.
The author included Penny confronting and ignoring different racist microaggressions she faces in the book. I liked that. It felt realistic. Everyone has different responses to microaggressions they face, and those responses can differ for interactions. This portrayal felt very realistic.
Overall, I give this book 2 stars. I just did not connect with the characters, and the story didn't feel very cohesive.
Penny is an unlikeable character. You could argue that was the author's intention; however, Penny did not have any character development until the last two or three chapters. By then, it was too late in the book for Penny to be redeemed. I'm not convinced, as a reader, that Penny has changed or learned anything. Also, no character calls Penny out for her poor behavior. Penny is a different person when she is with Sam, the only character with who Penny is not instantly annoyed with.
The author included Penny confronting and ignoring different racist microaggressions she faces in the book. I liked that. It felt realistic. Everyone has different responses to microaggressions they face, and those responses can differ for interactions. This portrayal felt very realistic.
Overall, I give this book 2 stars. I just did not connect with the characters, and the story didn't feel very cohesive.