finnickdeservedbetter's reviews
199 reviews

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Tropes/Themes:
fake dating, one bed, spicy bet, redemption, healing from trauma, millionaire, disability rep, and a bit of found family

I liked this book more than I thought I would. And not because I didn't like the others (I obviously wouldn't have made it to book four if I hated them). They were 5☆, 4.25☆, and 5☆. And this is also a 5☆. It's pretty much underheard of for me to have three 5☆ in a series but I loved it.

I bought physical copies of them all before I even got to book three. I'm not usually a sports romance person but it's honestly one of my new favourite series. I haven't even started Dreamland Billionaires but it doesn't matter, Lauren Asher is now an instant buy author for me.

Onto the book though...like I said, I liked it more than I expected to. I feel like the last book in an interconnected standalone can often be the least favourite or least consequential person in the friend group but that was definitely not the case with Redeemed. Santiago and Chloe's story felt just as fleshed out, if not more so, as the other couples. I loved seeing the disability rep, both the negative and positive moments. The inclusion feels authentic and natural.

No spoilers of course but...I sobbed like a baby at the end of the book (in a good way). I've often been called overemotional but I think it was totally justified. All in all, if you're in a slump or just want a good cry, this'll be perfect for you.

Content Warnings

Wrecked by Lauren Asher

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My ratings for the rest of the series: Throttled - 5☆, Collided - 4☆, Redeemed - 5☆

I didn't think any of the other books in the series would top Throttled for me but I think this did. I liked both main characters a bit more which surprise me. Elena just feels a little bit more dynamic and flushed out than Maya and we got to see much more character development in Jax than Noah. I still love Maya and Noah though of course.

I will say it felt a bit predictable to me but since this isn't a mystery or thriller where it's important for plot twists and developments to stay mysterious, I didn't really mind.

I appreciated the character development of Jax mostly of course but also the character development of Elena. I think it can be hard to show already mature and responsible characters mature further but Elena did.

Overall, I just really enjoyed their dynamic and story. I appreciate how their "ending" deviated from Noah & Maya and Liam & Sophie. They keep their unique dynamic which I appreciate.

Content Warnings

Collided by Lauren Asher

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Okay...I'd still say I enjoyed this book but definitely not as much as the first. The characters annoyed me a bit too much. Mostly Sophie if I'm being honest.

For a self-proclaimed feminist, she sure does make a lot of digs at other women. "Leia's the only princess I respect". Gross. Take the internalized misogyny elsewhere. It's all "I wear sneakers, not heels. I like Star Wars, not Disney Princesses. I like burgers, not salad". You're not like other girls, we get it. Maybe grow up and find another personality trait.

(Also the constant comments from everyone about how small she was gave me the ick but that wasn't really her fault)

That makes it sound like I completely hated her but I don't. Those stupid comments just really got on my nerves. I admired how she set boundaries and stood up for herself. She's knows her worth and that's something to be proud of. I liked her character development and her growth as a person for sure.

Liam irritated me as well but that's just because he's an idiot.

Overall, I enjoyed it and I'll be getting the physical copy eventually but I'm not nearly as likely to reread it as I am the first one.

Content Warnings

Throttled by Lauren Asher

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

Daddy's Angel by K.A. Knight

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

My dad's name is Tyler...also, I don't do books where

the MMC SAs the FMC

Content Warnings

Grave Consequences by Ivy Asher, Raven Kennedy

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

2.75

Well...I was wrong when I said I'd probably read the whole series.

The FMC is just so irritating. Like she genuinely just says the stupidest things but it's cute because she's "quirky". No. It's just annoying.

The relationship between her and

the Guardians

also just kind of...happens? It didn't feel like there was any build up or development at all. They're just like "welp, guess we're together now". It didn't make me care what happened with them at all. It all just feels...meh to me.

I really wanted to like this since I've liked series from both authors in the past but the writing and humour just feels really childish. Especially considering the FMC is supposed to be 28. She feels really immature and naive which doesn't really fit who her character supposed to be.

Speaking of, a lot of people were complaining in the reviews for the first book that all she thinks about is sex. I didn't really agree then but I definitely do now. Really important, detrimental events will be going on and all she can think about is having more sex. It was just really bizarre timing.

Overall, I really struggled to finish this. The first half was fine but the second half just felt like it tracked on despite it being a fast-paced book.

🌶Spice🌶 is a 4/5 based on this scale:

0 - no spice whatsoever
1 - kissing, fade to black
2 - making out, vague/non-explicit discription
3 - full description, explicit language
4 - light-medium kink (bdsm, exhibitionism, etc)
5 - heavy kink (CNC, knife play, dubcon, etc)
5+ illegal kinks (incest, necrophilia, bestiality, etc)

With three major spicy scenes

Grave Mistakes by Ivy Asher, Raven Kennedy

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I'm not usually a fan of RH bc I always hate one of the guys but I felt connected to each of them pretty immediately (including the "I hate you, you're nothing to me but also I pay attention more than anyone and would burn the world down for you" one). I feel like the FMC has the potential to be annoying with her quirky references and constant second hand embarrassment but she actually seems like someone I might be friends with. All in all, I liked it but it wasn't the best I've ever read. I'm definitely reading the next one right away (thank the gods for KU) and I think it's going to be one of my favourite RH's to date (so far at least).

4/5 🌶 based on this scale:

0 - no spice whatsoever
1 - kissing, fade to black
2 - making out, vague/non-explicit discription
3 - full description, explicit language
4 - light-medium kink (bdsm, exhibitionism, etc)
5 - heavy kink (CNC, knife play, dubcon, etc)
5+ illegal kinks

Content Warnings