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636 reviews by:
kellygillespiewv
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
This very well may be a case of “it’s not you; it’s me,” but ultimately, I was not a huge fan of The Grace Year.
It can be said that this book is intriguing and thought-provoking. The beginning is strong and compelled me to keep reading. The feminist undertones and portrayal of the relationships among the girls really made me stop and think! However, I can’t say that I found the story to be wildly unique. The oppressive, patriarchal, dystopian society is reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale (and just as cringe-worthy) and the unraveling from civilized to barbaric among the grace year girls is akin to that of the boys in Lord of the Flies.
I’m sure it was intended that this book have a lot of WTF moments — and believe me, those startling moments are very much present — but the execution as a whole missed the mark for me, which made those moments less exciting and feel forced or unnecessary. The pacing was also a huge issue for me. Things often seemed rush (particularly the romantic storyline) while dragging other times.
Overall, despite not working for me, I know a lot of people do and will love The Grace Year.
This very well may be a case of “it’s not you; it’s me,” but ultimately, I was not a huge fan of The Grace Year.
It can be said that this book is intriguing and thought-provoking. The beginning is strong and compelled me to keep reading. The feminist undertones and portrayal of the relationships among the girls really made me stop and think! However, I can’t say that I found the story to be wildly unique. The oppressive, patriarchal, dystopian society is reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale (and just as cringe-worthy) and the unraveling from civilized to barbaric among the grace year girls is akin to that of the boys in Lord of the Flies.
I’m sure it was intended that this book have a lot of WTF moments — and believe me, those startling moments are very much present — but the execution as a whole missed the mark for me, which made those moments less exciting and feel forced or unnecessary. The pacing was also a huge issue for me. Things often seemed rush (particularly the romantic storyline) while dragging other times.
Overall, despite not working for me, I know a lot of people do and will love The Grace Year.
Full review at link: Wild and Wonderful Reads
*DNF*
Sometimes books just don’t work for a person. To Have and to Hoax is one of those books for me.
I read approximately fifty percent (50%) of this book before I decided to walk away from it. Because I didn’t finish the book, I will not be assigning a star rating.
Based on the synopsis, I was hoping to read a fun, Regency rom com featuring a second chance romance of a married couple. I also knew going in that miscommunication (one of, if not my absolute, least favorite tropes) played a part.
I prefer not to outright bash the book simply because it wasn’t my jam and knowing that many will enjoy it. So, here are a few reasons why I abandoned ship:
-The pacing is really slow. By the time I stopped reading, there still hadn’t been any actual romance or indication that the main characters were moving towards a rekindled relationship. There are a few lines hinting at attraction or bottled up desire but they are few and far between. The bitterness and resentment between the characters became a bit much for me.
-I had zero connection with any characters.
-The banter has its moments! Often, though, I found it more petty which made the dialogue dislikeable.
-Although I knew miscommunication was part of the story, it became quite cringey and frustrating the longer I read.
As I said before, To Have and to Hoax didn’t work for me, but that’s not to say it won’t work for someone else. However, I simply can’t recommend this book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
*DNF*
Sometimes books just don’t work for a person. To Have and to Hoax is one of those books for me.
I read approximately fifty percent (50%) of this book before I decided to walk away from it. Because I didn’t finish the book, I will not be assigning a star rating.
Based on the synopsis, I was hoping to read a fun, Regency rom com featuring a second chance romance of a married couple. I also knew going in that miscommunication (one of, if not my absolute, least favorite tropes) played a part.
I prefer not to outright bash the book simply because it wasn’t my jam and knowing that many will enjoy it. So, here are a few reasons why I abandoned ship:
-The pacing is really slow. By the time I stopped reading, there still hadn’t been any actual romance or indication that the main characters were moving towards a rekindled relationship. There are a few lines hinting at attraction or bottled up desire but they are few and far between. The bitterness and resentment between the characters became a bit much for me.
-I had zero connection with any characters.
-The banter has its moments! Often, though, I found it more petty which made the dialogue dislikeable.
-Although I knew miscommunication was part of the story, it became quite cringey and frustrating the longer I read.
As I said before, To Have and to Hoax didn’t work for me, but that’s not to say it won’t work for someone else. However, I simply can’t recommend this book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
Permanent Record is a starkly realistic, character-driven contemporary that I enjoyed, for the most part.
This book has slightly older characters and grittier topics for a YA, but that’s one of my favorite things about it. Mary H.K. Choi has an amazing ability to paint a true-to-life picture of the less than ideal reality that a lot of young adults face as they begin to step out on their own.
Permanent Record is told from the POV of Pablo. I really liked Pablo’s character; I found myself understanding a lot of his problems and rooting for him. I do think, though, that the story would have benefited from dual POVs to include that of Leanna. She is a bit mysterious, which was probably the point given her fame and the need to stay on brand, but I found myself not enjoying her character very much because I didn’t get as much insight into her as I might have liked.
In all honesty, the plot itself didn’t wow me and seemed quite implausible. To me, this book has a lot more to do with the character growth than anything.
Overall, I enjoyed Permanent Record enough to recommend it, as long as you understand what you’re getting into.
Permanent Record is a starkly realistic, character-driven contemporary that I enjoyed, for the most part.
This book has slightly older characters and grittier topics for a YA, but that’s one of my favorite things about it. Mary H.K. Choi has an amazing ability to paint a true-to-life picture of the less than ideal reality that a lot of young adults face as they begin to step out on their own.
Permanent Record is told from the POV of Pablo. I really liked Pablo’s character; I found myself understanding a lot of his problems and rooting for him. I do think, though, that the story would have benefited from dual POVs to include that of Leanna. She is a bit mysterious, which was probably the point given her fame and the need to stay on brand, but I found myself not enjoying her character very much because I didn’t get as much insight into her as I might have liked.
In all honesty, the plot itself didn’t wow me and seemed quite implausible. To me, this book has a lot more to do with the character growth than anything.
Overall, I enjoyed Permanent Record enough to recommend it, as long as you understand what you’re getting into.
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
Say You Still Love Me is a sweet and emotional second chance romance — a great summer read!
K.A. Tucker is such a captivating writer! I love how this story unfolds with the dual timelines: the childhood summer camp romance intertwined with the characters reuniting thirteen years later. I found the book hard to put down as more of their past comes to fruition, but at the same time, the pacing is a bit slow, as is the burn of the present-day rekindling.
The characters definitely made this book for me! Piper and Kyle come from different sides of the track, but neither want to be defined by their families. That really shapes the people they are at their cores, but inevitably, their backgrounds play a role in their relationship (both past and present), as do their experiences that one summer at Camp Wawa. The secondary characters, who are seen across both timelines, are also phenomenal.
Overall, I happily recommend Say You Still Love Me! I feel like this could be enjoyed by a wide audience because, in my opinion, the flashbacks read much like a YA and the steam level is relatively low, though it’s definitely emotion-filled!
Say You Still Love Me is a sweet and emotional second chance romance — a great summer read!
K.A. Tucker is such a captivating writer! I love how this story unfolds with the dual timelines: the childhood summer camp romance intertwined with the characters reuniting thirteen years later. I found the book hard to put down as more of their past comes to fruition, but at the same time, the pacing is a bit slow, as is the burn of the present-day rekindling.
The characters definitely made this book for me! Piper and Kyle come from different sides of the track, but neither want to be defined by their families. That really shapes the people they are at their cores, but inevitably, their backgrounds play a role in their relationship (both past and present), as do their experiences that one summer at Camp Wawa. The secondary characters, who are seen across both timelines, are also phenomenal.
Overall, I happily recommend Say You Still Love Me! I feel like this could be enjoyed by a wide audience because, in my opinion, the flashbacks read much like a YA and the steam level is relatively low, though it’s definitely emotion-filled!
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
Wild Highway is everything I had hoped it would be as a small town, second chance romance from Devney Perry!
This is book two in an interconnected series of standalone contemporary romances. Although it can be read on its own, reading this series in order offers more of the characters’ histories and connections.
I can always count on Devney Perry to do small town romance right! This book — with dual POVs of Gemma and Easton — has a really immersive setting, strong characters, and is packed with emotions. Like with book one, Wild Highway is also about the road to truly finding oneself.
I love how fiercely independent Gemma is, and I am a sucker for a grump brimming broodiness so I couldn’t get enough of Easton. They have a past that left some marks, making their present a hate to love story. They are slow to work through their issues, but that made it feel more authentic. The tension is real but so is the chemistry that is clearly still lingering from their youth!
Overall, I definitely recommend Wild Highway! I’m a big fan of this series so far, and I cannot wait to get my hands on book three later this summer!
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Wild Highway is everything I had hoped it would be as a small town, second chance romance from Devney Perry!
This is book two in an interconnected series of standalone contemporary romances. Although it can be read on its own, reading this series in order offers more of the characters’ histories and connections.
I can always count on Devney Perry to do small town romance right! This book — with dual POVs of Gemma and Easton — has a really immersive setting, strong characters, and is packed with emotions. Like with book one, Wild Highway is also about the road to truly finding oneself.
I love how fiercely independent Gemma is, and I am a sucker for a grump brimming broodiness so I couldn’t get enough of Easton. They have a past that left some marks, making their present a hate to love story. They are slow to work through their issues, but that made it feel more authentic. The tension is real but so is the chemistry that is clearly still lingering from their youth!
Overall, I definitely recommend Wild Highway! I’m a big fan of this series so far, and I cannot wait to get my hands on book three later this summer!
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
Melissa Bashardoust is a magical storyteller — Girl, Serpent, Thorn is wildly fascinating and unique!
This YA fantasy standalone offers so much: an intriguing premise, captivating writing, and an interesting world. With inspiration from Persian culture and the Zoroastrian faith, the story is transportive and I was totally immersed as I read.
If you’re a fan of morally grey characters, you should enjoy this one! Girl, Serpent, Thorn has a fantastic cast of characters with a queer, cursed, antiheroic MC — Soraya — leading the way. I also really liked (as in loved to hate) the villain — the Shahmar!
The poisonous princess plot brought me to this book, but a lot more kept me reading. There are some original aspects and twists to the story that made it hard to put down. Although I really loved this book as a whole, I think it would have benefited from a bit more fleshing out in certain areas, particularly the romance. I would/could have fully supported this as a duology.
Overall, I absolutely enjoyed Girl, Serpent, Thorn and definitely recommend it! I am 2 for 2 with books by Melissa Bashardoust! To say the least, I am a fan and look forward to what will come from her next!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Melissa Bashardoust is a magical storyteller — Girl, Serpent, Thorn is wildly fascinating and unique!
This YA fantasy standalone offers so much: an intriguing premise, captivating writing, and an interesting world. With inspiration from Persian culture and the Zoroastrian faith, the story is transportive and I was totally immersed as I read.
If you’re a fan of morally grey characters, you should enjoy this one! Girl, Serpent, Thorn has a fantastic cast of characters with a queer, cursed, antiheroic MC — Soraya — leading the way. I also really liked (as in loved to hate) the villain — the Shahmar!
The poisonous princess plot brought me to this book, but a lot more kept me reading. There are some original aspects and twists to the story that made it hard to put down. Although I really loved this book as a whole, I think it would have benefited from a bit more fleshing out in certain areas, particularly the romance. I would/could have fully supported this as a duology.
Overall, I absolutely enjoyed Girl, Serpent, Thorn and definitely recommend it! I am 2 for 2 with books by Melissa Bashardoust! To say the least, I am a fan and look forward to what will come from her next!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
GAH I just love this series so much! Quarter Miles is everything I didn't know I needed from Devney Perry!
This is book three in an interconnected series of standalone contemporary romances. Quarter Miles can be read on its own, but trust me, this series is perfection, and I absolutely recommend starting from the very beginning. This friends-to-lovers, unrequited love story told in the dual POVs of Katherine and Cash will hit you in the feels and make you want to take a West Coast road trip of your own!
The premise for this entire series -- a Cadillac connecting characters' pasts and leading them down their roads of self-discovery to a new future -- is so unique, especially when combined with Devney's unparalleled ability to captivate with her writing. I adore it!
Feelings can be hard to escape and just when she thought she could by taking a road trip to Oregon, Katherine's plan backfired and left her stuck with the guy she can't help but love...her best friend! Cash and Katherine dragged me onto a roller coaster of emotion and didn't let me get off till I was fully satisfied! Katherine and Cash switching gears from friends to something more is loaded with angst and swoon and heart and I couldn't get enough of it!
Overall, I highly recommend Quarter Miles! Devney Perry is a word wizard who will charm you then break you then put you back together with her stories. READ. HER. BOOKS.
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
GAH I just love this series so much! Quarter Miles is everything I didn't know I needed from Devney Perry!
This is book three in an interconnected series of standalone contemporary romances. Quarter Miles can be read on its own, but trust me, this series is perfection, and I absolutely recommend starting from the very beginning. This friends-to-lovers, unrequited love story told in the dual POVs of Katherine and Cash will hit you in the feels and make you want to take a West Coast road trip of your own!
The premise for this entire series -- a Cadillac connecting characters' pasts and leading them down their roads of self-discovery to a new future -- is so unique, especially when combined with Devney's unparalleled ability to captivate with her writing. I adore it!
Feelings can be hard to escape and just when she thought she could by taking a road trip to Oregon, Katherine's plan backfired and left her stuck with the guy she can't help but love...her best friend! Cash and Katherine dragged me onto a roller coaster of emotion and didn't let me get off till I was fully satisfied! Katherine and Cash switching gears from friends to something more is loaded with angst and swoon and heart and I couldn't get enough of it!
Overall, I highly recommend Quarter Miles! Devney Perry is a word wizard who will charm you then break you then put you back together with her stories. READ. HER. BOOKS.
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
A Sweet Mess is certainly sweet, indeed!
I love a good foodie romance, and A Sweet Mess delivers! I am so happy to have been introduced to Jayci Lee through this wonderful book. There is a great ease to her writing and a lightheartedness to this story that I enjoy in contemporary romance. I'm not sure I'd call this a true "enemies to lovers" story, but there are definitely elements of the trope here.
Aubrey is a go-getter! I love her passion for baking and drive to make it on her own. Landon seems a little stiff at times, but as his layers are peeled away, I grew to really like him too. The steam level is lower, in my opinion, but you can still sense the chemistry they have -- I had so many warm & fuzzies for Aubrey and Landon!
A few issues I had: 1) The pacing towards the end didn't quite sit right with me, and 2) I thought things wrapped up a bit too quickly and too neatly.
Overall, A Sweet Mess is adorable and fun and worth a read! I saw the news that Daniel Dae Kim is going to produce and star in a movie adaptation of this book, so read it before you have the chance to watch it because this book has all the makings of a fantastic on-screen rom com!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
A Sweet Mess is certainly sweet, indeed!
I love a good foodie romance, and A Sweet Mess delivers! I am so happy to have been introduced to Jayci Lee through this wonderful book. There is a great ease to her writing and a lightheartedness to this story that I enjoy in contemporary romance. I'm not sure I'd call this a true "enemies to lovers" story, but there are definitely elements of the trope here.
Aubrey is a go-getter! I love her passion for baking and drive to make it on her own. Landon seems a little stiff at times, but as his layers are peeled away, I grew to really like him too. The steam level is lower, in my opinion, but you can still sense the chemistry they have -- I had so many warm & fuzzies for Aubrey and Landon!
A few issues I had: 1) The pacing towards the end didn't quite sit right with me, and 2) I thought things wrapped up a bit too quickly and too neatly.
Overall, A Sweet Mess is adorable and fun and worth a read! I saw the news that Daniel Dae Kim is going to produce and star in a movie adaptation of this book, so read it before you have the chance to watch it because this book has all the makings of a fantastic on-screen rom com!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
Paris is Always a Good Idea is a warm hug — sweet and funny and full of feels!
This standalone contemporary romance/women’s fiction by Jenn McKinlay is the perfect escape we all probably need right now! The story takes us on a trip across Europe for the emotional journey of Chelsea Martin as she tries to find her joie de vivre (and maybe love while she’s at it) again. This book has a completely immersive setting, colorful characters, and is loaded with emotions!
Chelsea lost a part of herself when her mother passed away seven years ago. She used work as a band-aid but didn’t realize how much she is missing until her sister confronted her after their father’s announcement that he’s going to remarry. I was super invested in Chelsea’s attempt to re-discover herself — her character development is wonderful! The Euro-trip she decides to revisit from before her mom’s death when she is at her happiest was full of laugh-out-loud moments and the growth and love she set out to find.
I couldn’t get enough of the dynamic between Chelsea and Jason! I adore hate-to-love stories! The banter is on point, and their feelings unraveling is *chef’s kiss* so good!
Overall, I recommend Paris is Always a Good Idea to those looking for a feel-good, transportive romance!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Paris is Always a Good Idea is a warm hug — sweet and funny and full of feels!
This standalone contemporary romance/women’s fiction by Jenn McKinlay is the perfect escape we all probably need right now! The story takes us on a trip across Europe for the emotional journey of Chelsea Martin as she tries to find her joie de vivre (and maybe love while she’s at it) again. This book has a completely immersive setting, colorful characters, and is loaded with emotions!
Chelsea lost a part of herself when her mother passed away seven years ago. She used work as a band-aid but didn’t realize how much she is missing until her sister confronted her after their father’s announcement that he’s going to remarry. I was super invested in Chelsea’s attempt to re-discover herself — her character development is wonderful! The Euro-trip she decides to revisit from before her mom’s death when she is at her happiest was full of laugh-out-loud moments and the growth and love she set out to find.
I couldn’t get enough of the dynamic between Chelsea and Jason! I adore hate-to-love stories! The banter is on point, and their feelings unraveling is *chef’s kiss* so good!
Overall, I recommend Paris is Always a Good Idea to those looking for a feel-good, transportive romance!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Read more at Wild and Wonderful Reads
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
The Edge of Anything is truly something special.
This own voices YA debut from Nora Shalaway Carpenter is simply but beautifully written. Told in the dual POVs of the very different leads, Sage and Len, this is a story of unlikely friends that traverses some heavier topics, including mental health and grief.
This book shares such open and honest views of what it’s like to be a teenager facing devastating news/events while trying to fight for their futures. It’s really raw and emotional to witness what they’re going through but also uplifting to see how Sage and Len help each other rise up and begin to move forward. The character growth and development of their friendship were absolutely the highlights of this book for me!
Overall, The Edge of Anything is amazing on so many levels, and I highly recommend it! With such a dynamic debut, I’m looking forward to seeing more from Nora Shalaway Carpenter.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
The Edge of Anything is truly something special.
This own voices YA debut from Nora Shalaway Carpenter is simply but beautifully written. Told in the dual POVs of the very different leads, Sage and Len, this is a story of unlikely friends that traverses some heavier topics, including mental health and grief.
This book shares such open and honest views of what it’s like to be a teenager facing devastating news/events while trying to fight for their futures. It’s really raw and emotional to witness what they’re going through but also uplifting to see how Sage and Len help each other rise up and begin to move forward. The character growth and development of their friendship were absolutely the highlights of this book for me!
Overall, The Edge of Anything is amazing on so many levels, and I highly recommend it! With such a dynamic debut, I’m looking forward to seeing more from Nora Shalaway Carpenter.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.