AS EXEPCTED.

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Admittedly I went into this kind of knowing where I would land and was not swayed to love it more than I did.

This is a younger YA fantasy. Which is usually not a problem, I just didn’t love some of the dialogue and general dynamics and how they were written. The main characters (especially Rose) irked me and took a lot for me to even kind of like the sisters by the end.

The romances are cute. A bit too fast paced and whatnot. I did like them though and think there’s potential for better progress in book two (I think it’s a duology?).

Plot wise, SUPER predictable. And not in that way I generally don’t mind. More so in a way where absolutely nothing was a surprise. Left me with a lot of underwhelming feelings. I do have kind of want to see how book two goes? I’m curious enough to give it a try.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons violence, physical altercations, kidnapping, loss of parents, murder 

BETTER.

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I liked this a lot more than book two.

The pacing felt more consistent throughout 800 pages rather than a drag out situation of me trying to pick the book up to continue reading. The first half was definitely slower, with at least a much quicker paced back half. I was hoping for more action overall (it somehow lacked in this area??). There were plenty of new developments for the story at least.

Namely that there was finally a time change!! I’ve been stuck on the fact that the two sets of characters have only been separated by two years so I was excited to have a bigger gap with more opportunity to explore new areas and new/old characters alike. I still have so many questions, and it’s enough for me to want to continue the series.

I loved that some romantic development occurred after 2000 pages of waiting. Good heavens. THEN HARTE HAD TO OPEN HIS MOUTH. He’s my favorite character, easy. That boy has some groveling to do and may have blown the next book wide open. I am really curious to see where the (last??) book goes!

Overall audience notes:
- YA Historical Fiction + Magical Realism
- Language: a little
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, explosions, weapons violence, incapacitating illness, kidnapping, physical violence, alcoholism, child abuse, racism, xenophobia, suicide ideation 

LOVED.

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Wow did I love everything about this. It is my kind of fantasy checklist that I knew would be a five star almost from the get-go.

I loooooove the setting. Jinn and magic, relics that cause all sorts of chaos. A wild adventure through shifting sand dunes with even shiftier people. I could barely stay afloat as new betrayals were tossed towards me. I love not seeing things fully coming and watching as the author weaves an incredible debut.

The characters were my favorite part (no surprise here). I love solid character stories and they were in abundance for each POV. Distinct personalities that left you wanting to shake them and hug them all in the same breath. The rag-tag/found family aspects had my heart singing and I need MORE of them all. Do I also peep potentially sub-plot romances?? I sure hope so.

I almost feel like it’s harder to put into words a five star read when there’s so much to touch on. Basically I think you MUST READ THIS BOOK and thank me after. It’s a new favorite and I need to get my own copy ASAP.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: a little
- Romance: none
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: possession, kidnapping, weapons violence, murder 

BLEH.

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I wanted to love this so badly y’all. SO BADLY.

The culture and setting? Absolutely loved those. The reason I gave it even 2 stars to begin with. Everything else made me wish I just hadn’t finished.

I think my biggest issue was the writing style. It was intensely focused on over explanation factors. The main plot points were repeated almost every chapter and it needed more substance than that. And anything to do with the characters was mapped out or shown many yards before the character actually did something.

The romance had some cute moments. I didn’t totally find it at fault. The love scenes (even including the kissing scenes) made me straight up cringe. Not smooth or engaging. Poor word choices that I was not a fan of.

Anyways, I’ll stop. This didn’t work for me. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t for you.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: open door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: gentrification, a sibling who runs away, physical altercations 

NOT IT Y’ALL.

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Well. I shall continue my quest for the ultimate baseball romance. This ain’t it folks.

Things started off fine, I can’t say I was sold initially but I gave it a chance.

Everything was a bit insta-love. I thought the banter started off well, then by halfway there’s major pronouncements of love and other things that just didn’t click.

I also never liked the female main character. She was weirdly obsessed with things like the Titanic? And she had all sorts of self loathing that I don’t love reading about and need to be addressed personally without the love interest’s involvement.

Mostly I think this book was trying too hard. And it’s hard to keep explaining that one major point, but that’s what it boiled down to for me. Trying to create emotions for me that I wasn’t feeling whatsoever.

On to the next.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Sports Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: make-outs
- Trigger/Content Warnings: discussions of traumatic brain injury from car wreck, bullying, harassment, blackmailing, absentee parents, loss of parents (off-page) 

This was one of the most second book syndrome books I have ever read. I spent the entire read wondering why in the world the characters were doing what they were. Ekon spent his entire time trying to get to Koffi while she spent the entire time trying to get out of where she was. It made this book draaaaaaaaaag.

Not to mention, we have thrown a love…square? into this. Something like that, I don’t even know at this point. I’m incredibly frustrated. I think this would have been beautiful as a duology and this felt like mostly wasted pages.

I really love these characters. I do. Koffi and Ekon are written incredibly well. Full of strengths and weaknesses and a resilience to take the next step forward. They are the reason I kept going. The beasts are a fun aspect and I love learning the backgrounds on them (from the author’s note) and how they play into the overall scheme of this book.

Juuuuust feeling upset this is how this book went down. It was one of my top fantasy releases for 2022. And you know what? I think book three will be extremely good. This was too middle book for me. 

WELL, THAT WAS DIFFERENT.

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And I think I liked it?

I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense but I’m pretty sure this would fit well into that category. What started out as a general retreat into the back country for some R&R quickly turned wild. I was shocked when after those first few chapters things went in directions I couldn’t have even predicted.

The second chance romance was alright. I did like Lily and Leo. I’m glad they were finally able to discuss what happened all of those years ago, even if I wasn’t totally on board with it all. There’s a nice slow burn between them and I’m always here for a fantastic happily ever after.

All of the antics amidst the treasure hunt were really fun. I do like that this was very much an escapism type read. It was completely different than usual CL books and I leaned into the flair this story was handing out. Some of the final twists surprised me and I’m perfectly satisfied with how everything went down in the end. A good story, a wild chase, and another CL book I liked.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: open door
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, death, parental abandonment, death of parent (off-page) 

LOVE THE SETTING.

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I can’t say groundhog day themed books are something I enjoy, but I do think this one was written really well. Especially as an audiobook I had no trouble wanting to pick this up and keep going (most of the time). That’s the problem with this theme, generally at some point it just starts to feel repetitive.

The relationship between Barrett and Miles was really sweet. I liked how they went from a bit of good banter, to reluctant friends stuck in the same situation, to lovers who had both let their guards down. It was romantic and I enjoyed both characters on their own too.

The plot was good. I think the paced was kept up well and I liked the bit of magical realism attributed to everything. It gave plenty of opportunity for Barrett to right some wrongs AND come work through the horrid things she went through during high school. A lot of momentous moments for her. The college setting was amazing and now I want to read more books in this sub zone because they are incredibly endearing.

Overall audience notes:
- NA Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong
- Romance: brief open door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: Sexual harassment recounted, panic attack, car accident, bullying 

WHY THO.

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I feel like the title basically sums up where all of my thoughts turn back to when I finished this. WHY.

These books are chopped full of drama. To me, it’s actually a part of the fun of reading this. I lean into that style, filled with soap opera dramatics and allllll the feelings from the characters. You have to go in knowing the shock factor is imminent.

I think this series has gone on a bit long though. Lots of things happened in this book, but then sort of unraveled by the end? So it felt like progress was lost?

AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON DAPHNE. She’s throw a book across the room rage inducing. Book four better bring her down or I quit. I QUIT.

Anyways, I am curious where all of this goes, there’s things I like, things I don’t, yet I’m invested. It’ll be a wild last book, that’s for dang sure.

Overall audience notes:
- NA Dystopian Romance
- Language: a little strong
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: bullying, extortion, blackmailing, car wreck, cheating 

REALLY DANG GOOD.

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This was a buddy read win y’all. It wasn’t really on my radar until a friend asked to read it together and wow, it delivered.

I loved that this was a very unique romance. It’s also heavy. Yet, the author does a great job balancing all of the weight with a great love interest and a sweet romance + some seriously amazing friends and other side characters. I love learning more from books and this one brought a whole new disease to light for me. Also it increased my awareness of the nature of transplants and how that side of medicine works. It was extremely enlightening because the author went through this entire process.

The romance was filled with all sorts of witty and snarky banter centered around start-up culture. Two competing CEO’s that can’t get enough of snapping back at each other. It has a nice little rivalry vibe, but with immediate intent for a friendship. Tom is an utter cinnamon roll and I loved how gung-ho he was about being with Jules. And when he overstepped he could recognize that and establish boundaries. I loved the discussion around mental health and medicine and how going through something so traumatic can play a forever role in your life.

I wish there was a dash more lean on the romance side because I just loved them that much, but it was an amazing read that I could not put down. Highly recommend as something different in the romance genre!

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: two brief open door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: heavy discussion about the world of medicine in general (doctor’s visits, needles, hospitals, etc.), PTSD, grief, therapy scenes, transplant surgery and recovery