emmreadsbooks's Reviews (1.28k)

I was pleasantly surprised with this novel. I enjoyed the elements of sibling rivalry, the focus on running, and the theme of female empowerment. While I can't speak to the accuracy of the cross country sequences, the descriptions of running rang true for me. I did guess the killer correctly, but that didn't decrease my enjoyment and it was in no way formulaic. I'm looking forward to what Jess writes next.

I loved the idea of this book - a sleepy town struggling to survive amidst erosion and storms coupled with alllll the teenage angst. But I felt like it was too much angst and not enough actual drama. I wish we could've delved more into Tommy's depression rather than spending so much time on a love triangle... There's no real resolution to any of their problems and it's just so frustrating! But the audiobook was really nice for helping to get into Tommy, Ellis, and Harlow's heads. I quite enjoyed the narration.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*

This was a surreal experience and I'm not entirely sure that I've finished processing my thoughts on it. However it was an incredible premise - a love story told solely through dictionary entries - and I didn't know that going into it. It read like poetry, made me feel things, and overall was a quick read.

I was a bit torn about this book. I love reading books about books, especially those that lean into the idea of your current read being relevant to your life. However I felt like there were a few too many characters floating around that could've been pared down. Aleisha and Mukesh were a joy to read about and I loved watching them grow throughout the books. This book has the potential to be devastating for some, so check the trigger warnings first if possible.

*Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was the perfect road trip audiobook, clocking in at 6.5 hours. It had humor, feels, dramatic adventures, the works! I wouldn't say that this is perfect for kids by any means, as it has Rogen's traditional drug-induced antics, but it's certainly comedic. What's especially awesome is the cameos by the celebrities he mentions, like Jason Segel and Evan Goldberg. The introduction of the cameos made the dialogue so much more immersive and fly by faster. But I'll be honest, I won't be able to look at a fax machine in the same way after this book. Super fun audiobook!

*Thank you to Penguin Random House for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*

I can't believe that it took me so long to read this book. As a D&D and fantasy fan, a ren faire is the PERFECT romance setting for me. I loved Emily and Simon's growth throughout and was ecstatic that this book didn't suffer the classic "a huge 3rd act blow-up is caused by miscommunication" trope that I hate. Also I'm a sucker for pirates and men in kilts, soooo....

I'm a huge fan of Leah Johnson's writing, so this book was a must-read for me. The book takes place over a single weekend, so the pacing was a bit rushed (reasonably so). I loved Toni and Liv and how they grew throughout the festival. There's joy, sadness, and DRAAAMA and perfectly sums up any music festival. Personally I wish that there had been more of a focus on the scavenger hunt just because that's what I love as a reader, but I did enjoy her vivid descriptions of the music for the Golden Apple competition. I'm also over here wanting a follow-up focusing on Imani soooo....

This book is like a wonderful amalgamation of The Push and The Plot, leaving you constantly trying to discern what’s fact and fiction and thoroughly twisty throughout. It’s a bit slow to start, but quickly picks up the pace in Part 2. Also there’s a character named Emma in it so that’s a plus.

*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the complementary copy*

Gotta be honest, I always think that the series is ending with each book until it ends on a cliffhanger and I have to wait another YEAR to see if it’s finally ending. Ugh Scott, really? I enjoyed this book but I feel like it should’ve actually been the end of the series…

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book... I enjoyed the retelling of Cinderella from a fantasy perspective and loved the cyborg take on it. I just hated the ending! It's like I was reading along all happy and then there was a power outage and I lost the end of the book. Except not, because that's how it ended??? Marissa, cmon! I like a cliffhanger as much as the next person, but there's a lot hanging still. I'll most likely continue with the series since I love her writing style and the world that was crafted, but man....