lit_vibrations's Reviews (365)

The novel follows Lady Charlotte Lovett who ran away after discovering she’s been arranged to marry Hawley. An entitled duke with blood on his hands . . . .  great job parents. There are rumors circling that Hawley murdered his previous wives so Charlotte refuses to be next. Set out on an adventurous quest she partners with Hawley’s brother Matthew hoping to escape this arrangement by revealing Hawley’s secrets and proving how sinister he really is. As scandalous secrets unfold and confrontation arises Charlotte and Matthew’s hearts are at risk. The two are playing a dangerous game trying to expose Hawley.

I love historical fiction and I love romance put the two together and you’ve usually got a winner . . . . . However, this one wasn’t quite what I expected.  It had some interesting moments, a good premise even a little plot twist thrown in there. But nothing about it was really memorable aside from the bird lol and Charlotte falling for her fiancé’s brother. I know, I know scandalous right. 

Overall, the book was meh wasn’t really for me but I read it. The pacing was slower than it should’ve been and the characters weren’t really memorable. They say fans of Bridgerton would enjoy this so it might be for you. Special thanks to @readforeverpub #DiscoverForever for my gifted copy‼️

DNF’d after page 37 just wasn’t for me

Before I get into my rant I have to let it be known again that I love The Fresh Prince Willard Smith @willsmith and there is nothing anybody can say to make me unlove him 😂

This book . . . . this booooook . . . this memoir . . . this perfectly crafted piece of work was EVERYTHING‼️ You think you know a celebrity because you’ve listened to their music or watched them on TV. But nothing beats reading a memoir by that celebrity and getting to know the real them outside of fame. I enjoyed every second of this book and might I add the audio along with it was TOP TIER. Highly recommended. 

The amount of vulnerability and realness shown through every page was incredible. I’ve always been a fan of Will Smith he’s like the Superman of acting cause there’s nothing he can’t do or a role he can’t play. Even with all his flaws this man is still perfect in my eyes 😂

Learning about his childhood, family, and how he became the star he is today was golden. His dad and Gigi were hilarious. Getting the background story on the show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air only confirmed even more why I loved it. He even mentioned my favorite episode when Will’s father popped back in the picture and Uncle Phil wasn’t feeling it. He played a clip of it during the audio and no matter how many times I’ve watched it that scene always made me cry. 

He dropped so many gems I know I annotated something on almost every page of this book. I bought Will a little bit after it released and just now read it. Please don’t be like me if you own the book and haven’t read it this is your sign to do so immediately. Shoutout to Libby for coming through with the audio after 36wks of waiting 😂 it was the extra push I needed to dive into this one‼️

Imagine growing up in the world pretending to be someone you’re not because society refuses to accept the real you. 

The novel follows a trans girl whose name was never mentioned as she struggles with her identity and finding her place in the world. As we follow her from childhood into adulthood we watch as she becomes detached from the world including herself. To become who you want to be sometimes it takes encouragement a little inspiration, and guidance. 

With local trans women like Margarita and Eugenia or the irrepressible diva Caramel she’s able to use them as a guiding light to plot her own course. No matter the direction she goes she begins to realize each choice she makes will really be a matter of life and death. Does she say fuck society and live in her truth or continue hiding in the closet repressing her true self?

The book was very interesting and thought provoking almost didn’t read like fiction at all. It was a beautiful story sometimes heartbreaking because of the trauma and violence that comes with being trans. The fact she spent most of her childhood studying women and pretending to be a man out of fear her transition wasn’t easy. But everyone that surrounded the MC already knew her place in the world and accepted her she simply struggled with accepting herself. For instance, the relationship she had with her father while it was never mentioned you can tell he already knew the truth. 

Overall, the book was decent it focused a lot on the innermost thoughts, fears, and feelings trans women tend to have about coming out. With bold chapter titles that stand out and short chapters throughout the book was fast paced and could be easily read in one sitting. Special thanks to the author, @booksparks , @harpervia for my gifted copy‼️

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

Sometimes we go looking for love in all the wrong places when our Prince Charming has been right in front of us the whole time but we’ve been too blind to see it. That’s what we get with “The Good Ones Are Taken.” 

When Maggie’s bestfriends Savvy and Joan make her the maid of honor for both their weddings the pressure is on for her to find a date. After dealing with a terrible break up there aren’t many contenders that could successfully fulfill the role so she looks to online dating as an option. But of course her bestie Garrett wouldn’t hesitate to be her stand in date if things don’t work out during Maggie’s manhunt. Which he’s secretly hoping it doesn’t. 

After many failed attempts with online dating the universe finally showed up and showed out‼️ Maggie meets this handsome heart surgeon at the gym just when she thought all hope was lost. He appeared to be everything a woman wanted  and also the perfect date to her friends wedding. But when Maggie's best friend admits he's in love with her she’s now torn between the perfect guy and a friendship she’d hate to ruin with a guy she can’t live without. 

The pacing was really slow in the beginning but the dialogue and humor throughout the book made up for it. Loved the connection between Maggie and her friends and we can’t deny the chemistry between her and Garrett. From the beginning I kept thinking he’s the one stop looking for what’s already there sus. The blow up between her, Blake, and Garrett was a highlight moment and to me where the pacing really picked up.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot I’m big on the friends-to-lovers trope, the spicy scene was giving but was killing me with the “that’s my good girl” phrase, and the supporting characters were very relatable. The author tied everything together so well leaving us with such a heartwarming ending. Fans of Jasmine Gulliory would love this one. Special thanks to the author, @hearourvoicestours , @netgalley & @_mira_books_ for my advanced copy‼️

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

Reading this was such an odd experience like I enjoyed it but then it got a bit weird. The novel follows Poe a boy bullied during his childhood only to grow up and become a well known serial killer in Miami. They called him the Periwinkle Killer. Poe wasn’t just an ordinary man who delivered pizzas and went home at night to his loving family. Poe was a sociopath on the verge of destruction. He sought pleasure in killing those who targeted the innocent, weak, and vulnerable which were mainly women and children. One thing I can say Poe didn’t kill without a reason although it wasn’t his place to intervene someone had to do law enforcements job . . . . at least that’s what he thought. 

I can get down with the true crime/ serial killer vibes but the writing style and writing itself was very different. Since the book made references to Edgar Allen Poe which he was notorious for his work and odd writing style I’m going to assume some of the authors inspiration came from him. 

The synopsis posed the question of whether a serial killer is designed or destined. In Poe’s case I’d say he was designed to be a serial killer. The father that raised him was a serial killer himself and Poe loved his father so I think he was just following in his footsteps. There were a few things that probably pushed Poe over the edge mentally like losing his father, being bullied, his best-friend committing suicide, and getting his side piece pregnant which caused him to lose the girlfriend he was so called in love with. So, I don’t think he was destined to be a killer just a lot of factors came into play that contributed to his irrational behavior.

Overall, the book was crazy it’s hard to explain. If you’re into true crime serial killer type books this might be for you. It does get a little confusing because it flips between a 1st and 3rd person point of view. But character development was great and the ending was so unexpected definitely made me say WTF‼️ Special thanks to the author & @akashicbooks for my gifted copy.

I really enjoyed reading this one so much. The cinematic details were giving Down to Earth, Bourne Identity, Freaky Friday, or Hot Chick type vibes but a bit different with the YA twist. From the first chapter the action and mystery unraveled flawlessly and continued until the end. The plot was perfectly structured and I loved the concept of the body swap. It added an intriguing twist to the narrative and seeing the fate that lied ahead for the MC’s was golden. 

On the night of their friendiversary Megan and LC shared more than a bonding experience and some fake drugs but bodies as well. Megan with no recollection of the things that transpired after she’d taken the fake Molly awoke to find herself no longer as herself‼️ At this point the author begins  to create this sense of urgency and suspense around Megan getting to the bottom of what happened, having to pretend to be LC, and figuring out how to get her life back. 

The novel explores themes surrounding advanced technology, research, friendship, identity, family bonds, forgiveness, and a battle between right and wrong. The unpredictability throughout is what will keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat. The twists unfold so intricately with a few shocking reveals like what really happened the night of their friendiversary. I wanted so bad for it to be some kind of crazy ritual LC performed that caused the swap. That was probably the only thing that disappointed me with the book and how rushed the ending was to me. 

Overall, it’s so worth the read. The pacing was fast, details were vivid, and the character development was great. You’re in store for an endless adventure, hidden secrets, action, a nonstop manhunt, and fake identities (plot twist). If it’s not on your TBR definitely recommend you add it. Special thanks to the author & @macmillanusa #BalzerandBray for my gifted copy‼️

The last time I journeyed through Lexington, Alabama I said goodbye to Jessie and Hubert. Now I’m back in book 4 and there’s some new characters on the scene identical twin sisters Leona and Fiona. If you’ve read this series then you know the messy drama that comes with it. While Double Lives was full of mess it didn’t hold up against the other books in the series.

The storyline was interesting and seeing the sisters switch identities knowing the switch really only benefited one of them was a wild ride. Everybody saw Fiona as the saint but that girl was far from it. The things she did lol and Leona was always there to protect her even when she was in the wrong. A lot of craziness happened in this book shared boyfriends, unexpected pregnancies, infidelity, secret crushes, murder, and a little prostitution. 😂 If nothing more Monroe definitely knows how to make you laugh because I had a few moments. 

Overall, I think this one was meh it really dragged a lot up until the 2nd part of the book when the sisters became adults. The last few chapters increased my rating and the ending was unexpected which makes me wonder if there will be another book in the series. Not gonna lie she should really end things here but if there is another book I’ll be reading it. Special thanks to the author & @kensingtonbooks #Dafina for my gifted copy‼️

Rating: 3.75/5⭐️

A YA anthology of horror stories centering Black girls who battle monsters, both human and supernatural, and who survive to the end‼️ 

Fifteen chilling and thought-provoking stories place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits, and face down death. Prepare to be terrified and left breathless by the pieces in this anthology.

This was a top tier collection of short stories that I could barely put down. The representation was everything‼️ Each author created a unique balance of emotions and unpredictability within their stories. We get mystery, suspense, supernatural elements, folklore retellings, ancestral inheritance, generational curses, terror and fear woven together to highlight a courageous Black character in the end. With any collection there are stories that will always standout amongst the rest. 

Favorite short stories:

Ghost Light 

The Screamers

Queeniums from Greenium!

Black Girl Nature Group

Local Color

The Black Strings

Overall, this was an amazing collection highly recommended. The pacing was fast, it was vivid and well-written. You’ll never experience a dull moment with this one. I always felt connected to the stories and the characters. Special thanks to the author & @flatironbooks for my advanced copy.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘬 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘬.” 

Sambury is an auto-buy author for me so when I saw Tender Beasts in the works it was a must I get this book. I mean look at the cover how could that not influence you to read/buy it?

Tender Beasts was full of interesting twists and surprises packed with gory murders, family secrets, drama, and a mysterious supernatural entity. It’ll have you wondering and questioning who and what the milk man is. 

The whole Behre family was rather odd and I love how Sambury played the characters against each other. She vividly describes them in such an intriguing way adding more emphasis to their mischievous side which made them all appear as suspects. Dom, the Feeny’s, the dad, the middles, a student seeking revenge, the crazy lady who keeps showing up‼️ It was nonstop back and forth between who was behind the school murders. I didn’t wanna believe it was Dom I actually thought it was the dad the whole time. But the author found a clever way to twist that narrative. 

She staged the deaths and portrayed them with the kind of suspense you’d get from movies like The Bone Collector or Mindcage. She really  used mystery and suspense to her advantage with this one but I still felt it was missing something. If it weren’t for the journal entry’s written by Ainsley I don’t think the story would’ve come together as smoothly. 

Overall, Tender Beasts was worth the read Sambury is a masterful storyteller and knows how to keep you guessing. Although it didn’t outdo her last book I still think it’s worth the read. Special thanks to the author & @simonandschuster #MargaretKMcElderryBooks for my e-ARC‼️