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morganthebee's Reviews (489)
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date is the third and final book in the Bright Falls trilogy, but I think it was my second favorite. Sorry, Iris, although the theatre nerd with commitment issues in me was a bit torn, Delilah the tattooed photographer edged you out—but not by much.
Of course we get to see characters from the previous books: primarily couples Delilah and Claire, Astrid and Jordan, and Jordan's twin brother Simon. We're also introduced to some new ones, namely Stevie, or Stefania. Iris's parents (who were a bit weird), and Stevie's friends (and ex) are also added to the mix, and they round out a really well developed cast of characters.
Iris is her usual self, outgoing but insecure about her own worthiness when it comes to love, and Stevie is a sweet but anxious actor who had big dreams that she all but gave up on. After a disastrous botched hookup, the two meet again and end up fake dating to help Stevie save face and get more comfortable in her skin, which is a rousing success and the two have great chemistry until some miscommunication and insecurities interfere. Everything is handled very deftly, the two are so real, and I loved how the conflicts were ultimately resolved. Iris is everything I've come to expect from Ashley Herring Blake's books, and she really brings it home and wraps everything up in a lovely package.
Of course we get to see characters from the previous books: primarily couples Delilah and Claire, Astrid and Jordan, and Jordan's twin brother Simon. We're also introduced to some new ones, namely Stevie, or Stefania. Iris's parents (who were a bit weird), and Stevie's friends (and ex) are also added to the mix, and they round out a really well developed cast of characters.
Iris is her usual self, outgoing but insecure about her own worthiness when it comes to love, and Stevie is a sweet but anxious actor who had big dreams that she all but gave up on. After a disastrous botched hookup, the two meet again and end up fake dating to help Stevie save face and get more comfortable in her skin, which is a rousing success and the two have great chemistry until some miscommunication and insecurities interfere. Everything is handled very deftly, the two are so real, and I loved how the conflicts were ultimately resolved. Iris is everything I've come to expect from Ashley Herring Blake's books, and she really brings it home and wraps everything up in a lovely package.
Okay, this short story (just 52 pages, or a little over an hour for the audiobook) is the funniest thing I’ve read (or heard) in a very long time. I mean, you need to read it. Or listen, you know, whatever your preference is. I recommend the audio, Katrina Michaels was the perfect narrator.
I found myself thoroughly engrossed in The Poisons We Drink, from the characters to the setting to the magic system that was quite unique. The story is set in modern-day DC, in a world where average humans have discovered that witches are real and live among them. It's rich in magic and heavy on political intrigue, with a sprinkle of mystery and a dash of romance.
All of the characters were interesting and believable to me, even when they weren't likable (and even some of the likeable characters did some unlikable things). The relationships were really well developed and I felt like I knew or at least understood the motivations of everyone, even the side characters, and those family dynamics? I don't think they could have been handled any better.
If dark urban fantasy is your jam, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.
All of the characters were interesting and believable to me, even when they weren't likable (and even some of the likeable characters did some unlikable things). The relationships were really well developed and I felt like I knew or at least understood the motivations of everyone, even the side characters, and those family dynamics? I don't think they could have been handled any better.
If dark urban fantasy is your jam, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.
Chemistry Lessons was an enjoyable light read, full of chemistry puns, and I really loved the dynamics between Ky and Regan. I also love that they're just normal people, a teacher and a lunch lady, which makes them feel more relatable (for me, at least). It was a bit predictable, but sometimes I wonder what friends-to-lovers romances aren't in some fashion, and Jae's books are no exception. She's got a reputation for happy, low angst romance, but sometimes it's nice to go into a book knowing exactly what you're going to get, and her writing quality and editing are always good.
The writing in Next in Line for Love is fine, the story is okay, but I just didn't find the attraction believable and everything moved way too quickly for me to suspend my disbelief. Ali reads a hell of a lot more like a manipulative 20-something partier than the 35-year-old she's supposed to be for most of the book, and I found the connection between her and 53-year-old Jill pretty unbelievable.
It probably doesn't help that I'm not the biggest fan of age gap and I didn't realize going into it that this one was so large, and that may be coloring my view, but I just didn't feel any kind of real connection between the two. It also seemed totally unbelievable to me that Jill would have been willing to risk her long career for a fling with the company owner's daughter that she was mentoring. The steamy scenes were good at least.
It probably doesn't help that I'm not the biggest fan of age gap and I didn't realize going into it that this one was so large, and that may be coloring my view, but I just didn't feel any kind of real connection between the two. It also seemed totally unbelievable to me that Jill would have been willing to risk her long career for a fling with the company owner's daughter that she was mentoring. The steamy scenes were good at least.
Friends. This book. This. Book. Oof. I cried so many times, but it was so worth it.
Whenever You’re Ready focuses on the relationships between best friends Michal, Mia, and Jade and their close-knit (but a bit estranged for present-day Mia and Jade) friendship, and Jonah, Jade’s twin and Michal’s boyfriend. The story goes back and forth between present day and the past, so we’re witness to both the development of their relationships as children and young adults and the relationships in present day, three years after the loss of Michal to cancer as the remaining three embark on a road trip the best friends planned but weren’t able to go on before she passed.
We see Michal in the past, but also see how integral she is to the relationships between the other three, and how their grief at losing her has shaped them in the intervening years. They’re still grieving, and while they all love each other deeply there are unresolved issues that affect their relationships. The present-day parts of the story really delve into this and we get to see them working through these issues, hurts both inadvertent and intentional, and their grief not only over the loss of Michal but also over the strain within their own relationships. It’s all handled extremely well, and the characters are complex and flawed and just so real.
The road trip itself is an exploration of Jewish history, including some uncomfortable moments that delve into the issue of antisemitism, but also of racism within Judaism, particularly in the American South. I’ll admit that as a gentile I don’t have a lot of knowledge of Jewish history and this could have been heavy-handed, but Katz handles this with a deftness that never felt like it was lecturing while informing and acknowledging the complicated history, and particularly how that affects biracial and multiracial members of the community like Jade and Jonah, and to an extent Mia, although she isn’t Jewish.
I will admit I was a little worried after the first couple of chapters, when there was a lot of texting and the journey hasn’t yet begun, as I struggled with the formatting (which may be changed by the time this actually releases, so it's possible this will be moot) and figuring out who was who and whose perspective we were seeing from. After that, though, I was hooked.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
Whenever You’re Ready focuses on the relationships between best friends Michal, Mia, and Jade and their close-knit (but a bit estranged for present-day Mia and Jade) friendship, and Jonah, Jade’s twin and Michal’s boyfriend. The story goes back and forth between present day and the past, so we’re witness to both the development of their relationships as children and young adults and the relationships in present day, three years after the loss of Michal to cancer as the remaining three embark on a road trip the best friends planned but weren’t able to go on before she passed.
We see Michal in the past, but also see how integral she is to the relationships between the other three, and how their grief at losing her has shaped them in the intervening years. They’re still grieving, and while they all love each other deeply there are unresolved issues that affect their relationships. The present-day parts of the story really delve into this and we get to see them working through these issues, hurts both inadvertent and intentional, and their grief not only over the loss of Michal but also over the strain within their own relationships. It’s all handled extremely well, and the characters are complex and flawed and just so real.
The road trip itself is an exploration of Jewish history, including some uncomfortable moments that delve into the issue of antisemitism, but also of racism within Judaism, particularly in the American South. I’ll admit that as a gentile I don’t have a lot of knowledge of Jewish history and this could have been heavy-handed, but Katz handles this with a deftness that never felt like it was lecturing while informing and acknowledging the complicated history, and particularly how that affects biracial and multiracial members of the community like Jade and Jonah, and to an extent Mia, although she isn’t Jewish.
I will admit I was a little worried after the first couple of chapters, when there was a lot of texting and the journey hasn’t yet begun, as I struggled with the formatting (which may be changed by the time this actually releases, so it's possible this will be moot) and figuring out who was who and whose perspective we were seeing from. After that, though, I was hooked.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
