chronicallybookish's Reviews (1.53k)

 Quick Stats
Age Rating: 18+
Spice Level: 2/5
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5

Special thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

This book was a ton of fun. It was such a heartwarming read and just what I wanted it to be when I picked it up. I only have one complaint—that I didn’t read it during the christmas season! Because, damn, am I wishing I could go wander around a christmas tree farm in the snow, sipping hot chocolate.
Stella is a main character you can’t help but love. She’s incredibly relatable, and her voice is distinct and engaging. I connected to her instantly, and it was all too easy to get invested in the things she was invested in: her farm, her found family, and her relationship with Luka.
I also loved Luka. He was sweet, swoony, and sexy. Everything a book boyfriend should be. Not to mention, his chemistry with Stella was visceral. I loved every interaction between them. Not only was there a playful heat, but there was a solid emotional foundation between them that only grew as the story went on.
I was a little concerned when the third act blow up went down. Stella’s thoughts and feelings on the matter had the potential to be really annoying to read about for a long period of time, but it wrapped itself up within a chapter and a half, which negated that issue.
There were a couple of inconsistencies, I suppose would be the best description, that I noticed. Stella talked constantly about how she moved around constantly when growing up and how she never set roots or made friends, yet she also repeatedly referenced growing up in Inglewild, and said in one point that when she was a kid, she and her mom often came to Lovelight Farms. Those types of statements were in opposition to each other. They could have been reconciled with a quick explanation somewhere or other—and maybe there was one that I missed, but it kept catching my attention.
The other thing that confused me was when she was supposed to have bought Lovelight Farms. For the first several chapters, I thought she’d been running the business for the past few years, at least three, no more than five. However I think she mentioned about 20% in that she had only bought it one year ago. This confused me because she references “usually running the farm was like this” or “typically, during this time of year I’d be doing that”, but that it was different this year because of money trouble. If she’d only experienced one year here, there wouldn’t really be a “usually” or a “typically”, there would just be a last year. She also just seemed to have too much experience running a farm for it to have only been going on a year.
Those are both really minor things, but every time there would be a mention of either I’d be momentarily drawn out of the story to try to reconcile it. However, it was always very easy to get drawn back in, so it isn’t too much of a complaint.
All in all, this is a sweet, feel-good read. It’s the perfect Christmas-time book, but it’s also fun any time of the year. I fell in love with the whole cast, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and watch all of my favorite side characters get their own happily ever afters. 

<b>Quick Stats</b>
<i>Spice Level: 0.5/5 </i>
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5

Sarah Adams’s books are the epitome of sweet, fun, and feel-good reads, and Practice Makes Perfect is no exception. Though the writing isn’t the strongest, it’s so easy to fly through this book, swooning every other chapter.
Though it isn’t strictly necessary to read When in Rome first, I highly recommend it. There are so many references, and the main characters from that book play a huge role in this one.
Annie is easy to love, Will is swoony as hell, and their story is one that will make you smile and squeal while still delving into important, emotional topics. I loved the discussions of grief, the lasting impacts of growing up in toxic family environments, and what its like to have a very set reputation that you’ve found yourself outgrowing.
This was definitely the steamiest of Adams’s books so far! The heat really started to ramp up in a couple scenes, I almost thought it might end up being open door! It’s not. It remains fade to black, and nothing more than some intense making out is shown on page, but I really enjoyed the discussions that were had about sex and relationships. 
I’m crossing my fingers for more books set in Rome, Kentucky (or at least following the Walker family!) in the future.

 Quick Stats
Age Rating: 18+
Spice Level: 2.5/5
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Special thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

I think I might have a new favorite Ali Hazelwood book???
Is it still very very similar to TLH and LotB? Yes. If you’re looking for something different, look elsewhere. But the similarities in Ali Hazelwood’s stories have never bothered me. It’s like they don’t even register while I’m reading because I’m just having so much fun.
Unlike her previous full length novels, Love, Theoretically is written in first person. I’m always a bit nervous when authors venture into different POVs, but this is just as well written as its predecessors—if not better.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. I was just kicking my feet and squealing with excitement the whole time I was reading it. Reading this was the most fun I’ve had in ages!
Elsie, our main character was easy to love and easy to see myself in. I adored her voice and being inside her head. She also has type 1 diabetes, and I really enjoyed the discussions around her disability and health insurance and how much the current health systems in America suck. I don’t believe this is #ownvoices, and I don’t have T1D, so I can’t speak for the accuracy of the representation, but from what I could tell it was handled with tact and care.
I absolutely adore Elsie and Jack. They have impeccable chemistry, but I also could viscerally feel the development of their emotional connection as well. Jack is definitely my favorite AH love interest so far. He felt much more developed than his predecessors, and he and Elsie are my favorite couple. I loved the Adam and Olive cameo and I desperately want an Elsie and Jack cameo in one of the future books!
Another of my favorite aspects of the book is the demi rep. That is one of the things that has kept The Love Hypothesis at the top of my favorites list, so I was really excited to see that rep here again. It’s never explicitly stated, but it is a topic that is subtly explored in a way that really resonated with me and my experiences.
Say what you want about Ali Hazelwood and the cheesiness of lightheartedness of her books—she is an undeniably talented writer. Her prose is so easy to digest. It’s simple, yes, but not in a way that comes off as immature. There’s something about her writing style that feels almost smooth. I think her skill with prose and pacing is often overlooked because her books are “tropey” and “fun”, but they are very well written as well.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I already want to reread it! 

<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4.25 stars
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5

I really enjoyed this book—it filled the Gallagher Girls sized hole in my heart. I was a little apprehensive when I realized it was in the third person, since the only other of Marie Lu’s books in that POV is The Kingdom of Back which I <i>really</i> did not enjoy. While I do think Lu’s writing is stronger in the first person, I still enjoyed this one thoroughly and am so glad that her writing did not suffer like it did in TKoB.
Sydney and Winter were engaging characters. I connected to them both equally, and loved switching between their POVs. The plot was fast-paced and easy to get swept up in. This was exactly what I wanted it to be, and though it didn’t blow me away, I still can’t wait for the rest of the series.
Not to mention, Sydney is disabled and has an unnamed degenerative lung disease. The disability rep wasn’t mind-blowing by any means, but I enjoyed it for what it was.

<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars 
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Pacing: 3.5/5
Writing: 4/5

<i>Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.</i>


From the start, this book felt like it had so much potential, but it also seemed like it would be very easy for it to fall flat. There was so much going on. The plot, world, characters, a murder mystery and a magic system. There was a lot of potential for a high payoff, but also a lot of opportunities for some threads (haha) to get lost in the chaos. There was a very particular balance that needed to be struck and maintained throughout the book. As I read, I went back an forth often on whether the author was successful in doing so.
The book kicks off to a strong start. It is a little bit info dump heavy, however with such a unique and complicated world and magic system, that can be necessary. It was fleshed out with enough action that, for me, it never became too much. I was engaged, and I could feel myself being drawn in to the story. However, at around the 40% mark, I started to lose that engagement. It was at that point that I started to realize that amid all the worldbuilding and action, the character development had gotten left behind. I remained interested in the plot, and I wanted to know what happened and how it all played out, but as the action slowed down a little in the middle, the lack of character depth meant that there was nothing to pick up the slack and keep me actively engaged. I was not connected to Io, so I found myself losing engagement in the story. Even though I was curious as to how the mystery would play out, it wasn’t enough when the action wasn’t rushing forward at a mile a minute. I genuinely considered DNFing for a moment at around the 60% mark.
Ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t The pace picked back up at about the 75% mark, and the action was once again able to make up for my inability to connect with Io. I really, really enjoyed the ending. The plot was always the strongest aspect of this book, and it really shone in the final act. I was completely engrossed, unable to put it down. There were even some instances of Io’s growth and reflection that I enjoyed during this part. They fell a little flat, since I didn’t already feel connected to her, but I did, during those scenes, feel something where I hadn’t before.
I ended up giving the book four stars because of that ending. In the middle, I was really thinking it would be a 3 star read, but the ending was strong enough to override that. I look forward to the sequel, because I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

 Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5

Special thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

I absolutely love Dahlia Adler’s writing style and voice, so I was very excited for this one. However, I was also a little nervous. I wasn’t sure how she was going to be able to pull off two distinct and balanced stories in just over 300 pages. But she definitely did!
I was no more invested in one story than the other, and I felt fully connected to both sets of supporting characters, both love interests, both storylines. I really enjoyed seeing the parallel Natalya’s grow as a character.
This book did feel a bit more “slice of life” (or I guess slice of lives?), as opposed to having a string driving plot. This made it a little bit slower in a couple places, but it always picked up again fairly quickly.
I’m not bi or Jewish, but I loved the completely unapologetic rep for both that was in this book. Dahlia Adler’s books always have such amazing discussions on both those topics—and the intersection of them—and Going Bicoastal is no exception.
This may be my favorite of her books that I’ve read. I highly recommend it, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next 

<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 3 stars
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 3/5
Writing: 3/5

So I originally started this book thinking it takes place where I live—turns out it doesn’t—and because the premise had me intrigued. Childhood friends to strangers to academic rivals to lovers? It sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t cut it for me.
The dialogue, especially the between Ezra and Sasha, was off at the beginning. I just kept thinking <i>people don’t talk like this</i> It wasn’t necessarily the content of the dialogue, but there was just something off about the way it was said. I couldn’t put a finger on what, but in the beginning—especially the first two or three interactions between the two of them—there was something about their interactions that felt fake, stilted. This lessened the further I got into the book, but there was always around one conversation every chapter or two where the dialogue felt off or lacking.
My main issue with the book was that it all felt very surface level. Sasha had her goals, she had her traumas and her neuroses, but there was nothing outside of that. She didn’t have a personality. No one in the book seemed to go beyond the few labels slapped on them. They felt very 2D. This lack of character development led to a lacking in most other areas, too. There was no chemistry between Sasha and Ezra, and no convincing emotional ties between her and her friends either.
This book dealt with a lot of important, emotional topics: race, socioeconomic class, parent loss and grief, and divorce, but it doesn’t truly dig into any of it. There are passing mentions, but they aren’t explored for more than a few sentences here or there, and they are never discussed in a way that gave them any emotional weight, in my opinion. It was all too fleeting.
This book was very short and very fast paced, and I think that was both the saving grace and the downfall of this book. It needed more: more depth, more development, more emotion. That can’t be done without making it longer (or re-prioritizing some scenes). However, I think the only reason I gave this book 3 stars was because I was able to fly through it. If it had been even 5o more pages at the level that the current book is at, it would have gotten harder to sit through, and I likely would have DNFed or given it a lower rating.
In the end, I don’t think this is an inherently bad book. It was underwhelming for me, but I could see other readers feeling differently about it. 

<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 14+ 
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 500/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

<i>Special thanks to FierceReads, Colored Paged Blog Tours, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.</i>

Margaret Owen is one of my favorite authors of all time, and Painted Devils has only confirmed that fact. This book was SO GOOD!
This is a road trip fantasy featuring Vanja and Emeric, of course, as well as some other old favorites—and some new ones.
This book deals with trauma and grief, sex and virginity, and so many other important topics. It will make you cry, and it will make you laugh so much. 
I can honestly say I’ve never heard of a book featuring a male sacrificial virgin before, but I thought it was iconic, and it opened up some important conversations. Sex and sexuality play a huge part in this book, and I love the way it’s handled. It’s honest and sex positive and exactly what YA needs more of. It addresses these important topics in a way that is accessible and appropriate for teen audiences. I would say it leans a little more towards upper YA in these areas of discussion, but it’s never explicit, and anything beyond making out is fade to black.
I will admit, I found the plot and pacing of this one to be a bit lacking in comparison to Little Thieves. There were a lot of little “side quests” that I loved and were important to the characters’ growth, but they did slow down the forward momentum of the book at some points. Not enough to take me out of it, or to dock a star rating, but enough that I took notice. Similarly, there was a reveal that I figured out pretty early, however that didn’t stop me from shrieking when it was officially revealed and getting way too excited.
Unlike Little Thieves, this one doesn’t wrap up perfectly. Luckily, there is a guaranteed third book! The plot itself is self-contained in this book, but let’s just say, if the whole series ended this way, I’d riot. However, for the ending of the second book in a  trilogy, I like it.
I genuinely cannot recommend this series enough.

I didn’t request this book, but I ended up being sent two physical ARCs and an eARC, so I ended up reading it anyway. 

TW: discussions of suicide, death of a parent by suicide (off page, prior to start of novel), homophobia, internalized homophobia, violent homophobia in the form of physical assault

The reviews on this one are very mixed, and I understand why. My thoughts on this are also mixed. In the beginning, I wasn’t loving it. Mostly, it was just a series of not-for-me type things. The writing and narration weren’t the strongest, and it was very internal monologue heavy (not for me). The romance was also very insta-attraction in the first meeting and first couple interactions, which doesn’t tend to work for me. But then, about 25% in, through about 60-70%, I started to get drawn in and started enjoying myself. And then the ending was one of the worst endings I’ve ever read.
In general, I liked Coley as a main character. I think she had a lot of growth in the book, and I enjoyed it. She was easy to love and easy to root for—and I think that’s where one of my main complaints with the book comes in. She deserved better than her relationship with Sonya. I didn’t hate Sonya, but she had so many issues and internalized homophobia that she never handled, and instead took out on Coley. And unlike Coley, she never showed significant growth. I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be rooting for the main couple in a romance to get together, but I was actively rooting for them to stay apart, grow on their own, and move on. 
Prior to the ending, I was going to say that it was a book that, if the song/music video means something to you, you should definitely read it, but if not, you wouldn’t be missing much if you passed on it. After the ending… All I can say is if you really really want to read it, I won’t say not to, but I don’t recommend it.

Now I want to get into the ending, but I can’t do that without spoilers, so read on at your own risk.

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During the last 5% of the book, Coley and Sonya reunite after Sonya freaked out and dropped Coley. Basically, they talk and Sonya is freaking out. She’s dealing with a serious sexuality crisis, and I don’t blame her for it, but she’s saying she wants Coley, but she can’t want her because “wanting her is wrong” and “she can’t be wrong.” She’s clearly fighting with internalized homophobia, but she’s also clearly letting the internalized homophobia win.
Then, the next day, she is looking all sad by the pool at a party and Coley goes to her, and they talk, and it’s still like “I want you but I can’t have you”, but there’s chemistry and they lean in to kiss and OUT OF NOWHERE this guy comes and PHYSICALLY ASSAULTS THEM for kissing. This happens FIVE PAGES before the end of the book. I’m genuinely not kidding, I counted. Coley beats him up (go Coley!) and then starts to leave, because traumatizing, and Sonya chases after her and catches her in the driveway and says “wait no! I love you and I’m gonna do it! I’m going to be with you!” and they kiss and go back to the party. The end. Literally, that’s how it ends. This was definitely the most rushed ending I’ve ever read, and it all came out of nowhere. There was absolutely no time to process, for either the characters or the reader.