Take a photo of a barcode or cover
buffyreads's Reviews (575)
The Good
Dylan and Theo are so sweet together. They come from different worlds but have a connection from the moment they meet.
I loved hearing about Singaporean food and culture in this book. Food and family is the center of this book and I loved how it was weaved in. The plot itself was okay. I should have realized that the 'Crazy Rich Asians' comparison meant there would be a lot of family drama. I liked the plot with Dylan's family more than the rich people mess.
The Bad
I thought the mooncake competition was going to be a bigger part of the story. The family drama, especially with Dylan's dad was pretty intense, especially since they're teenagers. Theo was constantly dragged into Dylan's family's games and I felt bad for him.
Format:
Audiobook — Libby
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5
Dylan and Theo are so sweet together. They come from different worlds but have a connection from the moment they meet.
I loved hearing about Singaporean food and culture in this book. Food and family is the center of this book and I loved how it was weaved in. The plot itself was okay. I should have realized that the 'Crazy Rich Asians' comparison meant there would be a lot of family drama. I liked the plot with Dylan's family more than the rich people mess.
The Bad
I thought the mooncake competition was going to be a bigger part of the story. The family drama, especially with Dylan's dad was pretty intense, especially since they're teenagers. Theo was constantly dragged into Dylan's family's games and I felt bad for him.
Format:
Audiobook — Libby
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5
I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you publisher for the copy!
The Good
I like small town romances where everyone knows everyone. They all have a special charm to them that allow side characters to shine. Rose is awesome. I really liked her journey and her new found drive (or well money) to do what she's always wanted. Rose and Angus grew on me. Once Angus got over his prejudices against her they developed a sweet relationship the bloomed from friendship and understanding. Their domestic era was great to read.
The Bad
Angus is meh. His "grumpy" was very much leaning asshole which made it hard to believe in his chemistry with Rose at first as my brain fixated on his stubborn attitude. I also had mixed feelings about how he felt about the big revel. I understood being upset about being lied to but it also felt like he felt emasculated because she was no longer the poor girl who he could build with anymore. It dropped with sexism and made me dislike him again after I started to like him. The way the conflict was handled didn't satisfy me either.
Format:
Ebook — Netgalley
The Rating
I give this book a 2/5
The Good
I like small town romances where everyone knows everyone. They all have a special charm to them that allow side characters to shine. Rose is awesome. I really liked her journey and her new found drive (or well money) to do what she's always wanted. Rose and Angus grew on me. Once Angus got over his prejudices against her they developed a sweet relationship the bloomed from friendship and understanding. Their domestic era was great to read.
The Bad
Angus is meh. His "grumpy" was very much leaning asshole which made it hard to believe in his chemistry with Rose at first as my brain fixated on his stubborn attitude. I also had mixed feelings about how he felt about the big revel. I understood being upset about being lied to but it also felt like he felt emasculated because she was no longer the poor girl who he could build with anymore. It dropped with sexism and made me dislike him again after I started to like him. The way the conflict was handled didn't satisfy me either.
Format:
Ebook — Netgalley
The Rating
I give this book a 2/5
The Good
As cliché as it is, I love a supernatural academy type story. Katmere is a great example of that. Grace being thrown into this situation with no information is crazy and I felt really bad for her. Her parents died, she's forced to go to a random academy in Alaska, and the students hate her guts and she doesn't know why. I loved her anger! She can be very empathetic and understanding but doesn't like being wrong or treated poorly. Grace is insane though, she has no self preservation skills (sometimes) and completely trusts an powerful vampire she met that week to never hurt her. Jaxon is so cryptic and moody. A perfect YA vampire lead. He's really hot n cold and a tortured soul. (Total Edward vibes) Macy is such a sweet character. I loved her immediately but I felt as though she didn't take the situation Grace was in seriously at all sometimes and completely gaslighted her multiple times even though it put her at risk. It's a impressive that in the first 40% of this book nothing really happens but I'm still invested and not bored at all. The pacing is slow but I like that it shows moment to moment what is happening and how relationships are developing. Once the "big reveal" occurs the book move at a faster pace plotwise and the ending arc and more reveals are even crazier which I loved.
The Bad
Dead parents are a must in so many paranormal books it's a trope at this point. I didn't like use of "AF" and "FML" as an adverb thrown randomly into sentences. Yeah young people use it but only when we type, not in our thoughts. At the 50% point the lack of answers got frustrating. How long can a character be confused and not getting answers and the reader is expected to just go along with it. It makes Grace seem naive or just stupid. She doesn't ask enough questions or really confront those obviously lying to her face. My issue with Grace is truly her "I can fix him" attitude. She's always trying to talk him down even though most of the book she has no clue what is going on or what he's capable of. I hope Jaxson's self deprecation is less intense next book because half their conversations are him being negative and gloomy and her trying to convince him he's worth it.
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5
As cliché as it is, I love a supernatural academy type story. Katmere is a great example of that. Grace being thrown into this situation with no information is crazy and I felt really bad for her. Her parents died, she's forced to go to a random academy in Alaska, and the students hate her guts and she doesn't know why. I loved her anger! She can be very empathetic and understanding but doesn't like being wrong or treated poorly. Grace is insane though, she has no self preservation skills (sometimes) and completely trusts an powerful vampire she met that week to never hurt her. Jaxon is so cryptic and moody. A perfect YA vampire lead. He's really hot n cold and a tortured soul. (Total Edward vibes) Macy is such a sweet character. I loved her immediately but I felt as though she didn't take the situation Grace was in seriously at all sometimes and completely gaslighted her multiple times even though it put her at risk. It's a impressive that in the first 40% of this book nothing really happens but I'm still invested and not bored at all. The pacing is slow but I like that it shows moment to moment what is happening and how relationships are developing. Once the "big reveal" occurs the book move at a faster pace plotwise and the ending arc and more reveals are even crazier which I loved.
The Bad
Dead parents are a must in so many paranormal books it's a trope at this point. I didn't like use of "AF" and "FML" as an adverb thrown randomly into sentences. Yeah young people use it but only when we type, not in our thoughts. At the 50% point the lack of answers got frustrating. How long can a character be confused and not getting answers and the reader is expected to just go along with it. It makes Grace seem naive or just stupid. She doesn't ask enough questions or really confront those obviously lying to her face. My issue with Grace is truly her "I can fix him" attitude. She's always trying to talk him down even though most of the book she has no clue what is going on or what he's capable of. I hope Jaxson's self deprecation is less intense next book because half their conversations are him being negative and gloomy and her trying to convince him he's worth it.
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5
No plot — just horny, slice-of-life vibes.A great start to this novel!
Characters:
Grace was down terrible. But she tried her best to be professional and rational and kept her heart close to her chest. Merrick was a weirdo but in a good way. He's shy and socially awkward but also cute and sweet.
Plot:
This was shorter than its predecessor and that was felt with the fast pacing and lack of any plot outside a possible moving away issue that is mentioned.
Secret Sauce:
The chemistry was good at the beginning but past the 70% mark it was pretty boring.
Rating: I give this book a 2/5
Characters:
Chloe is my type of character. She's so authentically herself and doesn't try to make herself smaller for other people. I also love that she has a chronic illness because you don't see that in a lot of media and the struggles those people face in relationships in life. Red is an interesting male lead. He obviously has trauma from his last relationship and it affects his relationship with Chloe but it doesn't make him a total dick like in other romance books.
Plot:
There wasn't a external plot but much more character development of both main characters that was really heartwarming and interesting. Chloe was dealing with her own illness and trying to expand her life and Red is trying to get back into the world with his art and putting himself out there. The big conflict they have I liked how it was handled.
Secret Sauce:
The banter between Chloe and Red was done really well especially in it's development. I understood why they liked each other. I'm glad they really fall in love and you see them together and trying to understand and help each other.
Rating: I give this book a 4/5
Chloe is my type of character. She's so authentically herself and doesn't try to make herself smaller for other people. I also love that she has a chronic illness because you don't see that in a lot of media and the struggles those people face in relationships in life. Red is an interesting male lead. He obviously has trauma from his last relationship and it affects his relationship with Chloe but it doesn't make him a total dick like in other romance books.
Plot:
There wasn't a external plot but much more character development of both main characters that was really heartwarming and interesting. Chloe was dealing with her own illness and trying to expand her life and Red is trying to get back into the world with his art and putting himself out there. The big conflict they have I liked how it was handled.
Secret Sauce:
The banter between Chloe and Red was done really well especially in it's development. I understood why they liked each other. I'm glad they really fall in love and you see them together and trying to understand and help each other.
Rating: I give this book a 4/5
The Good
I liked Psyche's character and her being plus-sized. I liked the build up of the first third of this book, it was fast and interesting.
The Bad
I liked the idea of the characters and the set up for this book more than the actual book. The pacing was a nightmare and if I hear the words "Monster" one more time I'm going to loose it. The first third of the book goes so fast and then slows to a stop for chapter after chapter of sex scenes. I don't mind sex scenes but I disliked them in Eros point of view because as sad as his backstory is I didn't like his character. Around 70% something finally happens again, only for the plot to slow once again for another sex scene! Once the plot returns It is also lackluster as the world-building of this Olympus-type world is very uninteresting. It's supposed to be dark and political but feels like a soap opera. I love the story of Cupid and Psyche but did not like this.
The Rating
2/5
I liked Psyche's character and her being plus-sized. I liked the build up of the first third of this book, it was fast and interesting.
The Bad
I liked the idea of the characters and the set up for this book more than the actual book. The pacing was a nightmare and if I hear the words "Monster" one more time I'm going to loose it. The first third of the book goes so fast and then slows to a stop for chapter after chapter of sex scenes. I don't mind sex scenes but I disliked them in Eros point of view because as sad as his backstory is I didn't like his character. Around 70% something finally happens again, only for the plot to slow once again for another sex scene! Once the plot returns It is also lackluster as the world-building of this Olympus-type world is very uninteresting. It's supposed to be dark and political but feels like a soap opera. I love the story of Cupid and Psyche but did not like this.
The Rating
2/5
I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you to Forever Publishing for the copy!
The Good
I've never read a historical romance with jewish main characters so I was so excited to read this! There were a lot of great and interesting conversations about grief, legacy, community, hierarchy, power, and respectability in this book. This book's couple Aaron and Isabelle were a great example of the grumpy x sunshine trope. Isabelle is a rich girl who is confident and hilarious while Aaron is a bit of a grump because of his circumstances but is actually a sweet and kind man. I also liked their banter and how they bounced off of each other. Their chemistry was amazing! I also liked how the major conflicts were handled and it had just the right amount of angst.
Format:
Ebook — Netgalley
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5
The Good
I've never read a historical romance with jewish main characters so I was so excited to read this! There were a lot of great and interesting conversations about grief, legacy, community, hierarchy, power, and respectability in this book. This book's couple Aaron and Isabelle were a great example of the grumpy x sunshine trope. Isabelle is a rich girl who is confident and hilarious while Aaron is a bit of a grump because of his circumstances but is actually a sweet and kind man. I also liked their banter and how they bounced off of each other. Their chemistry was amazing! I also liked how the major conflicts were handled and it had just the right amount of angst.
Format:
Ebook — Netgalley
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5
Highlights:
A beauty and the beast x dracula mash-up? That's achillean?? Sign me up! Jak is an interesting main character. He is smart and patient. I liked his cunning side and his magical abilities. Marius has a Lestat vibe to him. I think it's the flowing hair and mood swings. I really enjoyed the lore and how it was slowly revealed. Especially the ending! Obsessed!
Lowlights:
The beginning of this story was very slow. I debated not finishing it like 30% and am so glad I didn't but the beginning drag was a little long. I understood it from a storytelling perspective as there was a lot to introduce but it was a factor that lowered my enjoyment.
Horn Level: 3/5
A beauty and the beast x dracula mash-up? That's achillean?? Sign me up! Jak is an interesting main character. He is smart and patient. I liked his cunning side and his magical abilities. Marius has a Lestat vibe to him. I think it's the flowing hair and mood swings. I really enjoyed the lore and how it was slowly revealed. Especially the ending! Obsessed!
Lowlights:
The beginning of this story was very slow. I debated not finishing it like 30% and am so glad I didn't but the beginning drag was a little long. I understood it from a storytelling perspective as there was a lot to introduce but it was a factor that lowered my enjoyment.
Horn Level: 3/5
I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you publisher for the copy!
The Good
I loved both Donovan and Geoffrey immensely. Donovan felt so burdened by his dukedom and responsibilities and wanted Geoffrey so much. Geoffrey understood Donovan so well and loved the real him. Their banter was so fun and playful. I liked how the power dynamic was addressed here and the overall development of both of the characters. It is impressive that a book this short managed to almost make me cry from happiness at the end!
Format:
Ebook — Netgalley Arc
The Rating
I give this book a 5/5
The Good
I loved both Donovan and Geoffrey immensely. Donovan felt so burdened by his dukedom and responsibilities and wanted Geoffrey so much. Geoffrey understood Donovan so well and loved the real him. Their banter was so fun and playful. I liked how the power dynamic was addressed here and the overall development of both of the characters. It is impressive that a book this short managed to almost make me cry from happiness at the end!
Format:
Ebook — Netgalley Arc
The Rating
I give this book a 5/5