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littleredmacks's Reviews (528)
Amazing art. The audiobook was also really good. I enjoyed this short prequel to Shadow and Bone.
4 star
Sweet and steamy
Quick and easy
Light and fluffy
Insta lovey (Sort of)
Mild grammer and spelling mistakes
Hot Irish screen writer comes to small town for time a way in an attempt to get over his writer’s block on his script and meets the daughter of the owners of the inn he’s at.
I felt like this one was not drug out in the way I feel a lot of romance books are. When I read romance I usually feel the conflict is boring or unrealistic or drawn out and I get bored. This one was quick.
It was a bit insta love in the sense that they had chemistry right away which I don’t mind having chemistry right away but the problem comes when they develop almost unrealistically fast into feelings.
Sweet and steamy
Quick and easy
Light and fluffy
Insta lovey (Sort of)
Mild grammer and spelling mistakes
Hot Irish screen writer comes to small town for time a way in an attempt to get over his writer’s block on his script and meets the daughter of the owners of the inn he’s at.
I felt like this one was not drug out in the way I feel a lot of romance books are. When I read romance I usually feel the conflict is boring or unrealistic or drawn out and I get bored. This one was quick.
It was a bit insta love in the sense that they had chemistry right away which I don’t mind having chemistry right away but the problem comes when they develop almost unrealistically fast into feelings.
The beginning of this book was great and as someone who has someone close to them going through cancer, I was hopeful for something to relate to. Perhaps it's the YA nature of this book or just the characters themselves, but aside from a few quotes at the beginning I struggled with this one.
I like the concept of having to clean up the mess she made while she thought she was dying but these weren't the kind of characters I found myself rooting for. They are the kinds of characters you love to hate and seeing their downfall wouldn't be a bad thing.
If you enjoy hating on characters and watching a train wreck that you can't stop, this is for you. If you're looking for something to relate to in terms of cancer or having a loved one go through it, this is not for you.
I like the concept of having to clean up the mess she made while she thought she was dying but these weren't the kind of characters I found myself rooting for. They are the kinds of characters you love to hate and seeing their downfall wouldn't be a bad thing.
If you enjoy hating on characters and watching a train wreck that you can't stop, this is for you. If you're looking for something to relate to in terms of cancer or having a loved one go through it, this is not for you.
I watched The Holiday for the first time this christmas season and fell in love so when this book came up as a holiday romance rec on TikTok, I thought, why not? Especially since it has queer romance at the center.
The FF romance that was there was extremely insta love. And the love interest, Carys, had something off about her but I could not put my finger on it at all. Whatever it was, I didn't like her character and it made it hard to root for these two to be together.
The MM romance was kind of cute and I was def more invested here. I do still felt like some of the obstacles weren't great and made it frustrating to read.
I understand healing from dysfunctional families and relationships but this book felt like it was preaching therapy tactics on every page. It got to be exhausting because the same thing was repeated over and over.
The FF romance that was there was extremely insta love. And the love interest, Carys, had something off about her but I could not put my finger on it at all. Whatever it was, I didn't like her character and it made it hard to root for these two to be together.
The MM romance was kind of cute and I was def more invested here. I do still felt like some of the obstacles weren't great and made it frustrating to read.
I understand healing from dysfunctional families and relationships but this book felt like it was preaching therapy tactics on every page. It got to be exhausting because the same thing was repeated over and over.
I read this book in middle school and am rereading for nostalgia.
This book has many of the same issues that VA had. Misogynistic comments. Racism.
My biggest issue with this book is that she was romanticizing a 20 something being with a 15 year old. And the characters around them ENCOURAGED IT. That character turned out to not be an option and she is setting up the romance with another character who is at least 18, possibly older. And I don't not care for it at all. Why are we romanticizing and encouraging girls dating ADULT MEN? It is not cute. It's not different. It is grooming.
The main character most definitely has an ED and many of her thoughts could be triggering for those with ED. *I say this as someone with ED who first read this book in middle school*. I don't remember much about this series but her ED isn't addressed at all in this book. It's almost like this thing that makes her different and better.
As per usual, you will never forget anything about this world because the author will make sure you have it by info dumping a review within the first 50-100 pages and then info dumping anything relevant throughout the book.
Adrian is likely the only redeeming quality of this book and its series.
This book has many of the same issues that VA had. Misogynistic comments. Racism.
My biggest issue with this book is that she was romanticizing a 20 something being with a 15 year old. And the characters around them ENCOURAGED IT. That character turned out to not be an option and she is setting up the romance with another character who is at least 18, possibly older. And I don't not care for it at all. Why are we romanticizing and encouraging girls dating ADULT MEN? It is not cute. It's not different. It is grooming.
The main character most definitely has an ED and many of her thoughts could be triggering for those with ED. *I say this as someone with ED who first read this book in middle school*. I don't remember much about this series but her ED isn't addressed at all in this book. It's almost like this thing that makes her different and better.
As per usual, you will never forget anything about this world because the author will make sure you have it by info dumping a review within the first 50-100 pages and then info dumping anything relevant throughout the book.
Adrian is likely the only redeeming quality of this book and its series.
4 stars
Palestinian America author writing arab women
Abusive marriage
Generational story
3 perspectives
This book was a debut novel which has be very excited for what emerges in the future from this author. There were a lot of feelings in my chest and times when I teared up or got angry enough that I was clenching my teeth.
This book is narrated by three women. It follows the life of a Palestinian woman as she leaves Palestine for life in America with her husband. Her mother in law and her daughter’s life after she has passed. It bounces between past and present and starts to paint a much different picture than one would assume.
It did remind me of minor detail for a moment because the daughter is trying to learn everything she can about this mother she barely knew and there are things that only we the reader will know because we get to see the past that wasn’t documented for anyone to find. Much like the girl in minor detail is trying o find out everything about this girl from the past that died but there were no records of her.
These women all struggle under the oppressive system and are looked down again and again.
It was a heartbreaking, emotional and raw story that I think many women, regardless of culture or heritage can relate to on some level.
Palestinian America author writing arab women
Abusive marriage
Generational story
3 perspectives
This book was a debut novel which has be very excited for what emerges in the future from this author. There were a lot of feelings in my chest and times when I teared up or got angry enough that I was clenching my teeth.
This book is narrated by three women. It follows the life of a Palestinian woman as she leaves Palestine for life in America with her husband. Her mother in law and her daughter’s life after she has passed. It bounces between past and present and starts to paint a much different picture than one would assume.
It did remind me of minor detail for a moment because the daughter is trying to learn everything she can about this mother she barely knew and there are things that only we the reader will know because we get to see the past that wasn’t documented for anyone to find. Much like the girl in minor detail is trying o find out everything about this girl from the past that died but there were no records of her.
These women all struggle under the oppressive system and are looked down again and again.
It was a heartbreaking, emotional and raw story that I think many women, regardless of culture or heritage can relate to on some level.
3 stars
Quick read
Bi main character
Muslim side character
Fake engagement
Interracial couple
Spicy scenes
As I am coming to learn, since this is my second Talia hibbert novel, she will constantly have diversity in her novels and it will be relevant to the story not some throw away one line. We had a bi main character along with a muslim side character, who I could see starring in her own novel, but I’m not sure that we will see that. And we have a plus size black woman.
I’m also learning that she writes some wonderful banter! If I need banter and a contemporary romance, I will likely find one of her books first. I’m 2/2 on her list.
There was a massive subplot that arose like 75-80% of the way through the book and it felt like it was resolved too quickly and almost too easily. Maybe books have just traumatized me in the past but I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I would have liked to see that part of the story more fleshed out, especially considering how intriguing it was.
Quick read
Bi main character
Muslim side character
Fake engagement
Interracial couple
Spicy scenes
As I am coming to learn, since this is my second Talia hibbert novel, she will constantly have diversity in her novels and it will be relevant to the story not some throw away one line. We had a bi main character along with a muslim side character, who I could see starring in her own novel, but I’m not sure that we will see that. And we have a plus size black woman.
I’m also learning that she writes some wonderful banter! If I need banter and a contemporary romance, I will likely find one of her books first. I’m 2/2 on her list.
There was a massive subplot that arose like 75-80% of the way through the book and it felt like it was resolved too quickly and almost too easily. Maybe books have just traumatized me in the past but I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I would have liked to see that part of the story more fleshed out, especially considering how intriguing it was.
I reserve one star reviews for DNFs.
I was so excited for this book as I came from the author's TikTok skits. However, the humor in those skits DID NOT translate to the page. Like I was cringing at some of the moments I knew were supposed to be funny.
There were so many plot holes in this book and that was in addition to the magic system contradicting itself and being inconsistent. As I was reading I kept thinking that we were building a castle on sand but it was FINE because it was a STAND ALONE. You can imagine my dismay to learn it is NOT a stand alone when I made it to the end of the book.
There were also a TON of cheap cliffhangers in this book at the end of chapters. Then the ending was a cheap cliffhanger too and I was out. You cannot end a book with such a huge cliffhanger where literally NONE of the conflict was resolved.
Then there was the last name to first name switch which I am normally a SUCKER for especially being a dramione fan. However, her last name was Sage, so half the time it felt like he just had some weird nickname for her and it didn't feel like her last name. So, when the switch came, I didn't even notice it.
Plot wise very little happened in this book and the characters were flat. I don't reccomend.
I was so excited for this book as I came from the author's TikTok skits. However, the humor in those skits DID NOT translate to the page. Like I was cringing at some of the moments I knew were supposed to be funny.
There were so many plot holes in this book and that was in addition to the magic system contradicting itself and being inconsistent. As I was reading I kept thinking that we were building a castle on sand but it was FINE because it was a STAND ALONE. You can imagine my dismay to learn it is NOT a stand alone when I made it to the end of the book.
There were also a TON of cheap cliffhangers in this book at the end of chapters. Then the ending was a cheap cliffhanger too and I was out. You cannot end a book with such a huge cliffhanger where literally NONE of the conflict was resolved.
Then there was the last name to first name switch which I am normally a SUCKER for especially being a dramione fan. However, her last name was Sage, so half the time it felt like he just had some weird nickname for her and it didn't feel like her last name. So, when the switch came, I didn't even notice it.
Plot wise very little happened in this book and the characters were flat. I don't reccomend.
3.5 stars
Fake dating
Small town
Minor grammar mistakes
This book was so cute and since I read another briarcove book I got to see more of the town and things that were just mentioned in the other book.
I really enjoyed the two characters story and I’m learning when it comes to holiday romances I prefer novellas.
Fake dating
Small town
Minor grammar mistakes
This book was so cute and since I read another briarcove book I got to see more of the town and things that were just mentioned in the other book.
I really enjoyed the two characters story and I’m learning when it comes to holiday romances I prefer novellas.