emilyburdick's Reviews (389)

I had no idea Hallmark published books! This was the perfect, corny, hallmark-esque summer read. Was it a bit immature and insta-love? Yes. Totally unrealistic? Absolutely. But it wouldn’t be Hallmark if it wasn’t! My expectations for this story were not for it to be the next great romance and that’s why I enjoyed it. It was a quick, easy read after my last read was anything but. I can’t wait to check out more of these cheesy little books, especially come holiday time!

This book has no business being as long as it is. Unfortunately, after being such a fan of Love and Gelato, I did not love either of the stories that followed. I feel like Love and Gelato was true to the ‘Love’ part of the title, and the next two were so far from it. The love in these stories was practically non-existent and I just don’t read these kinds of contemporary stories for the family drama bits. Love and Olives was so heavily based in Olive’s relationship with her absentee father it made me cringe. I know books are books but I have no sympathy for a parent who abandons their child and I just could not respect Olive’s mother for FORCING her daughter to go see the man. The story was so long and drawn out and although I was fascinated by the Atlantis facts, if that’s what I wanted to read about I would just find a non-fiction about the mythical city. Also, I found the “love interest” to be so obnoxious and invasive in this story (and in Love and Luck tbh). Like they’re complete strangers and the love interest just instantly thinks he knows best for Olive and wants to know everything about her and her fathers broken relationship…does not sit well with me. 

<Spoiler>The Lorien Legacies series remains one of my all time favorites, however, this is the first book in it that fell kind of flat for me. I just feel like nothing really happened. The end got really ramped up and I was literally in my car screaming (listening via audiobook) "How are there two more books? How does this not get resolved in these last few chapters?" It came so close to resolution and I feel like that put me off a bit. Because it was like at the last second Lore decided not to end it there and continue with two more stories. Don't get me wrong, I would have been confused if it ended with this book because so many characters stories weren't wrapped; but they were so close to defeating the big bad. One of my favorite moments was when Seven, Six and Adam went to the sanctuary and Eight got semi-resurrected enough to say a beautiful goodbye to Seven. They both deserved that. Was I hoping for full resurrection? Of course. I would have loved for Nine to be there also to say his piece and give Eight the thanks he deserves for literally sacrificing himself to save Nine in the last book. I would say out of the five books I've read so far, this is the slowest with the least amount of events happening.  The events that occurred were big and definitely moved the story forward and answered some questions but I hate when the gang split up. Their energy is so much better when they're all together. I also have a final prediction that at the very end of it all, John's going to sacrifice himself to win the war. I hope I'm wrong but I totally get the vibe that at least one more of the Guard is going to get axed. </Spoiler>

My feelings are still SUPER fresh, but those last 10 chapters were a whirlwind. This series is definitely a slow/medium pace that I know I wouldn’t be able to sit and read, but the audiobooks are wonderfully done. Once more, Viola shows up as a total badass, and, as much as I love Todd, he listens to his emotions far too much. I think if he would just pull the trigger once in awhile (literally and figuratively) so many problems could be avoided or solved so much quicker. However, I totally get the message his lack of doing so is meant to portray. Like with the first book, Ness’s writing pulled me in in a way that had me questioning so many things that I couldn’t stop until I got to the end and had no choice. I wish I knew more about this world though, I think the story is far more character and plot focused than it is on world building. I wish I understood more about the Spackle but with the way book two ended I’m hopeful to get some answers in the final installment). All in all this book is a fantastic portal of how there isn’t one side in a war that is 100% good or bad; each side has awful, power hungry people on it. Mayor Prentiss is one of the best bad guys I’ve ever read; incredibly manipulative and powerful in ways that don’t use physical force. The man scares me. And the development for some other characters I shall not name, was outstanding and heartbreaking. 

P.S. nobody talk to me about chapter 42.

I don’t know how I’ve not written this review yet but I rated it 5 stars so obviously I’m a fan. I love this journey I’ve gotten to take with Feyre and Co. and seeing her relationship with Rhys flourish. There was so much happening at some points of the story that it was a bit overwhelming, and I’m not the biggest fan of war/battle scenes but I think SJM wrote it well enough that it didn’t drag on into boring territory for me. I wish Mor’s story would have been fleshed out before this book, even just hinted at a bit more, because it does feel a bit like an after thought for representations sake. I loved getting to know Feyre’s sisters and my heart ached so much for Elaine and Nesta as they experienced their own versions of mourning. The part where their father comes back was heartbreakingly beautiful and as much as I wish it had panned out differently, I understand the power that scene held for the sisters. 

Phew…I am, with full shame rating this 4 stars.   😂 I came strictly for the smut and this book delivered. Was it corny? Yes. Did it read like fanfiction? Yes. Was I absolutely addicted to my kindle for two days? Yes. Obviously this isn’t the most well rounded, poetic, incredible display of love I’ve ever read. And the characters are pretty flat, besides the mysteries that surround Prof. Hunter. But when you need a break from the in-depth worlds and deeply developed characters, a book like this does the trick. 

The one thing I could absolutely not stand about this book was Melissa the roommate/best friend. She’s just like…awful the entire time and every time she showed up I wanted to skip to where she exited again. 

I think I’m going to DNF this for now. I’ll circle back but I just don’t think adult fiction is for me yet. Just feels really slow going and as much as I hate instalove, this is too slow burn for me at the moment.  I feel a bit bamboozled because the title and cover give me “fun, summer, rom-com” vibes (yet another lesson to never judge the book by its cover). This book has far more depth and emotion than that, which is fine. Just not what I’m vibing with right now!

I feel strangely like an outlier with my rating and I don’t get it at all… (prepare for some deep rambling)

This book was incomparable to it’s predecessor Love & Gelato (which I adored). Love & Luck was just…so bad. I didn’t connected with a single character in the entire book, the “love” interest was dull, sibling dispute unnecessary and pretty gross once the whole situation between *pauses writing to look up main characters name because I already forgot it* Addie and Cubby was revealed.

All in all I just found this story so boring, the characters had no personality and it was so unrealistic it hurt.

Even Lina and Wren showing up made no sense to me because no parent in their right mind would let their (again, underage) daughter and her boyfriend jet off to another country to meet their friends from America. When Lina’s dad was expecting Addie and Ian to show up in Italy and Lina said “jk they’re not coming” why wouldn’t he call their mom? This story is just riddled with irresponsible adults who want their children to make better choices than they’re willing to.

The story was choppy, and anytime there was a potential for a real, emotional conversation it was cut short by Addie narrating something along the lines of “And I told him everything.” But like, okay Addie, what did you tell? I can’t read your mind so spill it, friend.

Don’t even get me started on the guidebook entries. Call me ‘pet’ one more time I dare you. 

(3.5 stars) 

I went into Shadow and Bone knowing next to nothing about the plot and characters, except for that everyone on the book side of the internet seems to be obsessed with the Darkling. I have many questions about that because from what I just read he’s a total

power hungry D-bag. I get the whole dark haired, powerful, bad boy allure but when the level of badness reaches his, it kinda loses it for me. I will admit, I wasn’t suspecting the turn of motive so that was a nice surprise and it really upped the ante and my commitment to reading the book. At first I was really just along for the ride and committed to seeing Alina find her powers. I loved Mal from the get-go and I’m really disappointed about our last scene with Genya. I thought she was a really good friend to Alina but she appears to be turning out like all the other Grisha: selfish and desperate for power.

 

One of the things about this book that drew me in the most was the setting. Leigh Bardugo committed herself to a Russian  inspired atmosphere as opposed to the typical European setting I see in lots of YA fantasy. I would love to see the world a bit more fleshed out in the next books though, because all I could envision most of the time while reading was a snowy, forest, wasteland. 

This book somehow managed to mediate itself between being slow and fast paced, but it alternated enough for me not to get bored with it. I don’t know how soon I’m committed to reading the next book, but I do really want to get through this trilogy because I’ve heard amazing things about the Six of Crows duology.