Take a photo of a barcode or cover
455 reviews by:
elisasifaa
This book is so freaking good. I am having a hard time gathering my thoughts for a proper review because all I can think is "book nice, book good."
All jokes aside, Lovelight Farms is a feel-good, heartfelt romance between two friends. It has most of my favorite tropes, including fake dating and friends to lovers.
Stella moved into a small town with her mother, and after she died, Stella bought a Christmas Tree farm to honor her mother's memory. However, the seller didn't feel it was important enough to tell Stella that the farm was hemorrhaging money and in desperate need of repairs. Alongside that disaster, it seems that someone is lurking around the farm and trying to sabotage Stella and her farm, teenagers who mean no evil... or someone else?
Luka is her best friend of a couple of years. They talk every single day, and when Luka comes for a visit, they are by each other's side 24/7. So, when Stella enters a competition with a 100K price, she naturally lies on her applications and says that she owns the farm with her boyfriend.
I really loved how we saw their relationships go from best friends to lovers, especially because they never lost their friendship. Once they started fake dating, they continued as they were before. They never faked anything between the two of them, except for alluded-to comments to busybodies.
The plot is well executed and includes good humor and elements for future stories in the same series. The characters are well flushed out, and everything they do makes sense to their character. The only "flaw" I can point out is a storyline with the farm's lurker... I don't get why it was included, but it gave us good humor and heartwarming moments between more characters than Stella and Luka, so I can't be too mad.
The audiobook is fantastic, and the narrator does an excellent job. I'm so excited to listen to the following two in the new year.
All jokes aside, Lovelight Farms is a feel-good, heartfelt romance between two friends. It has most of my favorite tropes, including fake dating and friends to lovers.
Stella moved into a small town with her mother, and after she died, Stella bought a Christmas Tree farm to honor her mother's memory. However, the seller didn't feel it was important enough to tell Stella that the farm was hemorrhaging money and in desperate need of repairs. Alongside that disaster, it seems that someone is lurking around the farm and trying to sabotage Stella and her farm, teenagers who mean no evil... or someone else?
Luka is her best friend of a couple of years. They talk every single day, and when Luka comes for a visit, they are by each other's side 24/7. So, when Stella enters a competition with a 100K price, she naturally lies on her applications and says that she owns the farm with her boyfriend.
I really loved how we saw their relationships go from best friends to lovers, especially because they never lost their friendship. Once they started fake dating, they continued as they were before. They never faked anything between the two of them, except for alluded-to comments to busybodies.
The plot is well executed and includes good humor and elements for future stories in the same series. The characters are well flushed out, and everything they do makes sense to their character. The only "flaw" I can point out is a storyline with the farm's lurker... I don't get why it was included, but it gave us good humor and heartwarming moments between more characters than Stella and Luka, so I can't be too mad.
The audiobook is fantastic, and the narrator does an excellent job. I'm so excited to listen to the following two in the new year.
4,5 ⭐️
This installation of the Three Dark Crowns series really picks up the slack from the first book.
The pacing is super fast, and if you lose concentration for even a second,- someone is dead, and new relationships are forming. That's fun.
There is a reason that I rarely read fantasy, and I am reminded of that reason every time I think about this book in some aspect. For example, I don't get the "make the triplets fight each other for the crown" politics. I can't just accept that it's how it is in this world because it makes no sense to me.
However, the plot and the premise are so good and captivating that I am holding on for dear life reading these books. I am team Arsione regarding the sisters, especially after the plot twist in the first book. Moreso because Mirabella is spoiled and lives of the "oh, you're so pretty and strong" compliments that basically raised her. Katherine is just so damn mean. I know she went through traumatic things and all that, but damn. However, it does get explained in the last few chapters why she got like that. The scene in the end with her King-Consort is heartbreaking as she realizes the extent of her "gift."
This book is romance-heavy, focusing on the triplets' different romances. But, thankfully, it also showcases a lot of friendships, allies, and enemies for good measure.
The plot twists and ahem, in the end, didn't surprise me or leave an impression on me. The book just ended, and that's it. I definitely think I can go without reading the final two books in the series, as we have a crowned queen, even though we have a lot of unanswered questions and in likelihood, very, very big plot twists coming up.
This installation of the Three Dark Crowns series really picks up the slack from the first book.
The pacing is super fast, and if you lose concentration for even a second,- someone is dead, and new relationships are forming. That's fun.
There is a reason that I rarely read fantasy, and I am reminded of that reason every time I think about this book in some aspect. For example, I don't get the "make the triplets fight each other for the crown" politics. I can't just accept that it's how it is in this world because it makes no sense to me.
However, the plot and the premise are so good and captivating that I am holding on for dear life reading these books. I am team Arsione regarding the sisters, especially after the plot twist in the first book. Moreso because Mirabella is spoiled and lives of the "oh, you're so pretty and strong" compliments that basically raised her. Katherine is just so damn mean. I know she went through traumatic things and all that, but damn. However, it does get explained in the last few chapters why she got like that. The scene in the end with her King-Consort is heartbreaking as she realizes the extent of her "gift."
This book is romance-heavy, focusing on the triplets' different romances. But, thankfully, it also showcases a lot of friendships, allies, and enemies for good measure.
The plot twists and ahem
Spoiler
d e a t h s
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The title of this book made it sound incredibly interesting, and the blurb makes it seem like the perfect inside-out version of 'How to lose a guy in ten days.' Unfortunately, however, this book just isn't nearly as good as it seems.
The book is made out to be "super funny, just simply hilarious romcom," but there is absolutely no humor in this book. It's just not funny. It's also supposed to be heartwarming, but there was no moment that made my heart swell or even beat a little harder. The book isn't even cute.
The plot feels underdeveloped, but Lina and Brown felt like they were still in the idea phase of writing. The idea is amazing. I personally LOVE fake-dating and especially fake-dating when they're already close (best friends, exes... etc.), but they are in the middle of their divorce, and Lina still dislikes him very much. There are a couple of storylines going at the same time, which didn't really do anything for the bigger-picture plot.
All of my thoughts and ideas are my own. Again, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The title of this book made it sound incredibly interesting, and the blurb makes it seem like the perfect inside-out version of 'How to lose a guy in ten days.' Unfortunately, however, this book just isn't nearly as good as it seems.
The book is made out to be "super funny, just simply hilarious romcom," but there is absolutely no humor in this book. It's just not funny. It's also supposed to be heartwarming, but there was no moment that made my heart swell or even beat a little harder. The book isn't even cute.
The plot feels underdeveloped, but Lina and Brown felt like they were still in the idea phase of writing. The idea is amazing. I personally LOVE fake-dating and especially fake-dating when they're already close (best friends, exes... etc.), but they are in the middle of their divorce, and Lina still dislikes him very much. There are a couple of storylines going at the same time, which didn't really do anything for the bigger-picture plot.
All of my thoughts and ideas are my own. Again, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Holly Jackson is my queen. Her stories and her characters are so complex, intriguing, and well thought out. I don't think I've ever come across a plot hole in her stories or even a situation that doesn't make sense for the characters.
Five Survive is a book that you will not put down until you have finished it. At the very least, someone will have to force the book out of your hands. The entire book takes place in a tiny RV and eight hours, which actually made me a little claustrophobic. You transform into a fly on the wall, and you cannot take your eyes off the page as everything is happening right in front of you.
The characters are complex and well thought out. You can tell the immense research and preparation that went into this book. There are only six main characters in this story, but we get to know other people through snippets of each other's memory. Every move is organized and true to character. Even when they made moves that shocked me to the core, it still made sense to their history and feelings. I would've liked a little more backstory into all of them, as I was not 100% sure how they all knew each other. Siblings, a couple, best friends, and then two random people that I couldn't really connect. They obviously know each other, but why are the two I can't place on this road trip? (This could very well be my own fault, that I simply didn't pay enough attention).
This book is 80% character-driven, as most of the book is dialogue, and the characters constantly evolve as we see more of them. They are "locked in" as they can't escape the RV without being killed, so if that's a trope you like, you'll love the book. It is also very fast-paced, with a ~hint~ of romance. (Literally, A SMUDGE of romance, do not read it for the romance). None of the characters are especially likable, some of them are more leaning towards the morally gray area, but it was even throughout the group.
Five Survive is a book that you will not put down until you have finished it. At the very least, someone will have to force the book out of your hands. The entire book takes place in a tiny RV and eight hours, which actually made me a little claustrophobic. You transform into a fly on the wall, and you cannot take your eyes off the page as everything is happening right in front of you.
The characters are complex and well thought out. You can tell the immense research and preparation that went into this book. There are only six main characters in this story, but we get to know other people through snippets of each other's memory. Every move is organized and true to character. Even when they made moves that shocked me to the core, it still made sense to their history and feelings. I would've liked a little more backstory into all of them, as I was not 100% sure how they all knew each other. Siblings, a couple, best friends, and then two random people that I couldn't really connect. They obviously know each other, but why are the two I can't place on this road trip? (This could very well be my own fault, that I simply didn't pay enough attention).
This book is 80% character-driven, as most of the book is dialogue, and the characters constantly evolve as we see more of them. They are "locked in" as they can't escape the RV without being killed, so if that's a trope you like, you'll love the book. It is also very fast-paced, with a ~hint~ of romance. (Literally, A SMUDGE of romance, do not read it for the romance). None of the characters are especially likable, some of them are more leaning towards the morally gray area, but it was even throughout the group.
I finished this literally 5 minutes before I had to step into my class with 15x 1st graders… do not do that.
I was in distress.
Review to come!!
I was in distress.
Review to come!!
Okay, so hear me out; this book is not bad by any means. It is just not good either.
Read with care possible spoilers ahead surrounding the romances.
The plot is intriguing. On the one hand, we are in 1580 England, where a mute and deaf apothecary who enjoys his quiet life of serving his queen and her staff is suddenly pulled into a vast plot where he spies on Queen Mary of Scots plans to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and take her throne.
On the other hand, in 2021 England, Mathilde finds out that she has a family she had no idea about and a large estate her father left for her. Within the estate, she finds mysterious items that connect her to the past.
Interesting? Right. However, the book is missing SO much.
The ending was disappointing, and it needed all closure. Yes, we find out how Tom and Mathilde are connected, but it is so predictable, so the ending seems unfinished and ill-planned.
The relationships in this book are undefined and feel like an instant love situation, especially with Tom and Isabel. They barely communicate (given his situation being deaf and mute plus their different statuses), and he is instantly head over heels. Then just days later, they are married??
Mathilde's relationship with Oliver is no better, she is smitten with him from the moment he comes over to help, and somehow he goes instantly to kissing her head and hair. Not to judge, but that is insanely creepy of a stranger. Their relationship is unresolved by the end of the book. They sleep together, and what? Nothing.
I liked the dual point of view and especially liked Tom's POV. His side of the story is so attractive as a mute and deaf servant of the queen, where he understands everything said to him without the ability to hear. Unfortunately, however, the book is mostly disappointing.
Read with care possible spoilers ahead surrounding the romances.
The plot is intriguing. On the one hand, we are in 1580 England, where a mute and deaf apothecary who enjoys his quiet life of serving his queen and her staff is suddenly pulled into a vast plot where he spies on Queen Mary of Scots plans to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and take her throne.
On the other hand, in 2021 England, Mathilde finds out that she has a family she had no idea about and a large estate her father left for her. Within the estate, she finds mysterious items that connect her to the past.
Interesting? Right. However, the book is missing SO much.
The ending was disappointing, and it needed all closure. Yes, we find out how Tom and Mathilde are connected, but it is so predictable, so the ending seems unfinished and ill-planned.
The relationships in this book are undefined and feel like an instant love situation, especially with Tom and Isabel. They barely communicate (given his situation being deaf and mute plus their different statuses), and he is instantly head over heels. Then just days later, they are married??
Mathilde's relationship with Oliver is no better, she is smitten with him from the moment he comes over to help, and somehow he goes instantly to kissing her head and hair. Not to judge, but that is insanely creepy of a stranger. Their relationship is unresolved by the end of the book. They sleep together, and what? Nothing.
I liked the dual point of view and especially liked Tom's POV. His side of the story is so attractive as a mute and deaf servant of the queen, where he understands everything said to him without the ability to hear. Unfortunately, however, the book is mostly disappointing.