oliviasbooktalk's Reviews (271)

You can definitely tell this book is the first in a series close to SJM's heart and one she wrote when she was young. I personally prefer character driven books and this was incredibly plot dependent. I found the main character Celaena to be arrogant, I'm not believing the love triangle starting to be introduced, and the main conflict/action was incredibly predictable. As this is a completed series that has garnered rave reviews, it helps keep me interested and motivated to continue reading, but on its own, this first book did not have me eager to continue on.

The story of Achilles from his childhood to his involvement in the Trojan war, told from the perspective of his friend, most trusted confidant, and lover, Patroclus. While the book is literary excellence, with exquisite, beautiful writing, it could also be a dense, slow read at times. I enjoyed the story from start to finish, especially liking their time with Chiron and found it compelling to see Achilles in a morally grey role during the war. The last lines are breathtaking and I predict this to become a modern classic. Call me heartless, but no, I did not cry, even though everyone claims the reader will.

Two former college academic rivals (soon to be rivals-to-lovers) not only find themselves as new neighbors, but are both struggling with writers block. Out of desperation and creativity, they make a bet where they switch genres (hers is typically romance, his is typically literary fiction) to see who can write the better book. Of course, they also end up falling in love along the way. I really can't say enough about how much I loved this book, and how it is now an instant favorite of mine. I was impressed with Emily Henry's writing, making it seem like it was the mix of contemporary romance and literary fiction (also, again, the characters' genres), which provided a depth I don't typically find in romances. A book has not had me feel such a wide variety of emotions, so deeply, alongside the main character in quite a long time. Just as January was, I too, was giddy with anticipation on their research dates, blushing when they got together, absolutely sobbing during the letters, and conflicted with the morally grey imperfections of parents. I usually hate how contemporary romances handle the death of a parent (in this book it was off page, before the story started) and think it's an overused, and poorly used, trope plaguing the genre, but it finally handled well in this book. I think The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen walked, so Beach Read could run. I cannot recommend this book enough.  As a personal side note, I find a little "inside joke" in how the title of this book refers to a Midwest lakefront beach, rather than the traditionally thought of oceanfront beach. As someone who is born and raised in Southern California, but now lives in the Midwest, the ocean will always be the beach, not any lakefront.

The first book in the Brutal Birthright dark romance mafia series, Stolen Heir shares the story Nessa and Miko told as a gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The first chapter is incredible, and perfectly sets the stage for the juxtaposition between the two main characters. She is soft, elegant strength, and he is a cold, savage stealth. I loved everything about this book.