if you're a word nerd you'd really enjoy this. a lot of it really makes you think. she also provides great examples and alternate options to anything presented.

she made it as fun and entertaining as you could make a textbook topic in my opinion. 

 I had some mixed feelings here. I like the beginning a lot. it felt like a Regina hall movie. but when the main love interest was introduced I wasn't into it. the age gap through me, but I could have gotten over it. it was just messy. and that's the point. but it wasnt my kind of messy.

they addressed this in the end and that made me come around some. but this was just ok to me. 

 I liked this. it was a relatively easy read that I found myself blowing through to find out the "answer". the creepy elements are more gross than scary, in my opinion. (not really my favorite.) there is a decent amount of suspense.

I did guess the twist. but the ending was very different than what I expected. I feel like it ended so fast. I wanted a tiny bit more at the end.

I'd recommend this, though. 

 I'd give this a 4.5. I really enjoyed this. Shane is amazing. Audre is amazing. I'm a sucker for a second chance romance. I wish the epilogue had just 5 more pages! I loved the epiphany at the end about adult relationships.

there are so many layers to this book. disability visibility, alcohol, motherhood... lots of heavy topics discussed, so check content warnings.

the only reason I didn't give it a 5 is that there were moments I didn't love the writing style. 

 I loved this! super interesting, easily digestible. I'd give it 4.5. I liked the angle she took, focusing on how people use language. it was unique to me to see the cukt adjacent things like MLM and exercise clubs compared to your traditional cult like jonestown. 

 there were lots of twists and trust here, many I didn't expect. i liked the surprises.

the beginning did feel slow to me and repetitive with all El's negative back and forth thoughts. I did like the ending but for some reason it did not feel totally satisfying.

this book started slow but ended too fast. overall I enjoyed the series and would recommend. 

 I loved the range of topics covered here. thought provoking and real. I'm not a big essays person so my review is a bit biased in that sense. still a good read if you're trying to be a more inclusive person. 

I got this after seeing the show and enjoying it. I did like the show better. it goes more in-depth on the other characters and makes belly less self-centered. I also liked the "all the boys" series.

I'd give it a 3.5. very cute, audio narration was great with emotions. very light and easy summer read.

belly is a bit whiny and immature, but I'm hoping it changes as the series goes on. there is a lot of build up with answers we dont get in this book. I definitely plan to read the next book.

 whew. I did it. I'm not a stranger to long books but this one is not very digestible. I understand a lot of world building needs to be done, but with 4 different plots happening alongside each other having this being broken into 2 books would have been better.

So much time was wasted on the building and fluff parts that it felt almost all of the big parts were to short, too quick. the climax just immediately tanks, if it even really builds all the way to the climax.

I saw another reviewer say inelegant and I feel that is perfect to describe this.

the dragons were cool, I like the characters. it just felt like a slog because of the length vs plot struggle.  I thought about giving it a 3 but then I was like I am not sure I would really recommend this.

I saw this recommended on tiktok. it would definitely be a great read for fall or Halloween that isn't scary. if you like practical magic you'll like this.

when I started this book I thought I knew where it was going but I did not. for the majority of it, I was wondering what might be the ending or the point. it's got a deeper meaning than I expected.

I liked the overall premise and theme, but it is a bit flat for me. the main character is very repetitive and doesn't really grow until the last like 50 pages.