The writing is good but I guess it's like...what's the point? It doesn't help I suppose that I'm reading this in 2024 but what a pointless story to tell. It's not even that satisfying of an ending. Everyone learns to be slightly less selfish. The end. As with all things, maybe it's a me issue but I had trouble getting through this one. 

There was simply no reason for this to be as good as it was. In fact I'd say when I started it I kind of actively hated it but here we are at 5 stars. 

This was SO silly like a level of silly I rarely get the treat of encountering in a book. AND shockingly heartfelt.

I guess it's on me for assuming these would all be Christmas based stories. But I guess technically it is called just holidays on ice. Some good, some meh, some repeats from other collections. Not my favorite. 

I love the premise and I liked the first maybe 50 pages of the book. But then it felt like the pacing was bad, the characters had the same 3 arguments literally over and over and then the conclusions mostly felt kind of randomly placed. The pacing was not great. I wanted to love it genuinely and I just did not. There are 3 POVs and they somehow all feel exactly the same? I can't recommend.

This was so cutieeeeeeeeeee! I'm definitely gonna read the rest of the series. Very lovely descriptive writing that sets some good scenes. Sweet characters all around and I LOVE a super small town setting.

I didn't read these when they came out so I'm probably missing the nostalgia factor needed to call this perfect. The writing is...not that good. HOWEVER, I did have a good time haha so it's whatever really. I'll probably read the rest of the series. 

Based on my reading history I think it's time for me to admit to myself that I just really like a good made up rock star story. Especially ones that circle around a relationship that is so strong it almost breaks everyone. I read most of this in one day and genuinely enjoyed it very much. 

Dang what a truly talented weave of a story Tracy Deonn has written. History from a bunch of different directions and a lot about the complexities of being black in the south. As Patricia says "Everything has two histories. Especially in the South."

Loved the magic system, loved some of the characters, hated some of the others. Some of the most thoughtful and poignant writing in a fantasy I've ever read. Full recommend.

I think I have this issue with Blake crouch books where I really like the beginning, feel like the middle gets cyclical in an annoying way, and then like the end. 

It's probably a problem for me cause I'm kind of stupid but I get so bored reading about the big chunks of science explanation. I'd love that to be yadda yadda'd for sure. 

I do wish everyone could get hit with an

empathy upgrade

though

I just could not get into it.