sarahthegaymer's Reviews (305)

I'm happy to announce the The Hating Game is one of the few romances in my life that I've read and was actually looking forward to picking it up each time (or hitting play, since I listened to it). While I tend to listen to a lot of nonfiction via Audiobook; I had been listening and reading some heavy titles and was looking for a quick & cute palate cleanser - this was just what I needed! 

This story is following Lucy and Joshua, co-workers and mortal enemies who are forced to work in a confined space together and ultimately finding themselves competing for a new, bigger and better position. They both worked for publishing companies where they were assistant to the head until the two companies merged together. Their disdain for each other has turned into a game - one that they're each aware the other is playing in their own way. Whether it's sarcastic, inappropriate comments that land them in HR or comments meant to directly agitate the other; this enemies to lovers book is bound to keep you laughing. 

As the story progresses, you'll learn more about each of them individually in ways that I think anyone can relate too. Lucy stresses with moving away from her family and their farm and lives with the guilt of not being there to help while she's trying to live her own dream. She's also gunning to make Joshua jealous while in major denial because like, she HATES Joshua. Joshua is dealing with the stress of being known as the family disappointment after not completing medical school as his family had hoped. (There is a scene where Lucy tell's off Joshua's Dad and let me just say if you'd ever watched the person you love be belittled or treated poorly by someone - this scene gives you #goals.) Together, they're really just the same person who is trying to survive and get by doing the best they can with what they have. 

Overall; this was funny, light-hearted, fast-paced, and just enough to leave you smiling and rooting for them both in the end! I highly recommend if you're a fan of banter and enemies to lovers trope! 
(I also hear it's a movie..so I'm definitely going to have to check that out!)

I positively COULD NOT put this book down! 

Imagine living in a world where an online DNA database and swab from your cheek could find your perfect match. Then, imagine meeting this person. It seems like a great idea..right? Maybe..

I don't want to say too much and give away anything that this book is about to throw at you. But here's what I can say: 

Following the perspective of five individuals who forever what reason in their own life felt taking the test was a good idea. They're notified there is a match & they're ready to meet! (Or are they?) Each of there stories has a bit of love, hate, heartbreak, and everything in between! Each of their stories is vastly different but intriguing. I kept getting sucked in because every chapter was maybe 2-3 pages long but most would end with a cliff-hanger. So, I'd have to read four more chapters to find out what happened, and would get sucked into a different character's cliffhanger along the way - and then the cycle would continue. 

If you're looking for something fast-paced, easy to read, gets your blood pumping, and hard to put down. Look no further than The One! 

*I will note that even though I have not listened to the audio version of the book, it has come highly recommended as it has a full cast for each of the characters and I plan to revisit that in the future. But, if you're down for an audiobook - I recommend checking this out.*

I really enjoyed this one! While I know with this series there is obviously not a happy ending - this one hurt my feelings the most so far! 

The orphans are left with some rich relatives in a large penthouse apartment where things actually didn't look like bad for them. Klaus has a library. Violet has a room to work on her inventions. Their biggest problem is waiting for Count Olaf to find them and trying to find their best friend, the triplets from the previous book.

As always, Count Olaf arrives disguised! They find their friends and then they are gone. The orphans are betrayed. Ugh, my heart! I just want to adopt these resilient angels for myself! 

This was a quick little inspiring read! Prominent people writing letters to their younger self - letting them know that things will get better or things will be worth it. 

There are a few notes for sure that were heart-breaking but if you're looking for a quick audiobook that can leave you feeling happy or even leave you with an assignment - I suggest this one! 

As if I even needed another reason to love Dolly Parton? For years I have admired her kindness and generosity & listening to her talk about herself in a way that expresses she knows she has talent but is humble, is so refreshing. 

This is more of an oral history - where Dolly was asked some questions about her life as a songwriter and then she answer them. The Audiobook really brings them to life as before each song that she was written that she is about to speak about; they play a bit of it in the background! Definitely wouldn't get that amazing experiencing physically reading the book unless you did that yourself. 

From her "Smokey Mountain DNA" to her first guitar from her Uncle Bill - she talks all about how she got started on this journey, what's inspired her, and where she plans to go! 

One of my favorite quotes from the book - though there were many - was: "I can strengthen the muscles around my heart but I can't harden them."

I think that this is a quote that I really need to take to heart and let sit with me in time of stress, anger, sadness, and even happiness! 

I also really enjoyed how she talked about song writing just being an extension of storytelling - and she loved to tell stories - it doesn't matter to her if the song is a #1 hit because writing it was the most fun! 

If you're a fan of this humble Southern Bell - I highly recommend!! 

*Goes out & purchases entire collection of the Wayward Children!* Yes, I know I have a habit of doing that...consumerism at its best! Keep that economy goin' ya'll! ;) 

So, considering this book technically classifies as Fantasy, I am almost 100% certain that it would not have ever been on my radar if it weren't for Alexandra Roselyn on BookTube. I don't think that she has ever lead me astray when it comes to a book recommendation and I'm excited to say that once again she has killed it! 

This particular story is following Nancy as she attends Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children after a recent visit to an Underworld. She longs to return to the place that she calls home and although the children at her school have visited their own doors and worlds; she doesn't really feel like she fits in or belongs here - especially when a series of events has the whole school looking at her like a suspect. 

Seanan McGuire writes in a way that is so simplistic, yet the meaning behind it is so much heavier. Even with as short as this story is, my copy was FULL of tabs. She touches on topics of Transgender and Asexuality. Of longing to be loved for who you are, not what others want you to be. She even touches on the differences between boys and girls and why the expectations for each are different.

Because the story is so short, I don't feel like there is too much more that I can say without giving away major storylines but I can truthfully say that I loved everything about this and the ending made me cry! I can't wait to read the rest of the series and hopefully fall in love with even more characters.

This was my first experience with any type of..graphic novel? I think that's what they're called.

I absolutely adored this! 

Charlie is a drummer that was previously outed to his entire school. He's in a relationship with Ben - who may I add, is a dick - until he realizes whatever is happening between them isn't really a relationship. 

Enter Nick. The typical rugby player that is most definitely NOT gay and is most definitely NOT going to fall in love with Charlie. 

That is until he invites Charlie to join the rugby team.

Enter the softest and sweetest romance. The vibes between these two are simplistic but beautiful and I cannot wait to see where the other volumes take us. 

I've seen a lot of negative reviews - mostly about the abuse/savior trope or how the couple just easily falls in love or the artwork of the author - and I'm here to say that truthfully none of those things bothered me. I'm not out here sharing my art - I literally suck at art - so I am not here to tear this to pieces. I think that the illustrations were cute and enough to get the point across and that was all that I needed! I felt the emotions were portrayed enough that my heart was happy when there were happy and sad when they were sad. 

As far as the story line goes, what others saw as negatives I truthfully didn't see as such. In a lot of ways it reminds me of how my wife and I became an 'unofficial couple' in high school - so maybe that's why I love it so much.

If you're looking for a cute and quick story (I read it in less than an hour) - I highly recommend letting Nick and Charlie worm their way into your heart.

After my disappointment with book #4 in the series; I was pleasantly surprised with this one! 

The orphans are sent to a boarding school that looks 'promising' - they even make some friends! Triplets, that also lost their family and one of the triplets in a fire. 

But, soon enough; the baby is forced to do administrative work and Count Olaf arrives disguised as a Gym Teacher and makes the orphan run all night long, day after day.

In a twist of events, Count Olaf escapes once again but this time he takes the orphan's friends and their notebooks with a clue about Count Olaf with them! 

It ended on a cliff hanger and I'm excited to see where the orphans go next! 

**One note that has frustrated me a little throughout listening to the last five audiobooks, is that the narrator has changed a few times and some of them don't just do the justice that others do.**

I was gifted an ARC of this book by Grand Central Publishing to read in exchange for a review. I also thought this didn't release until April and that I had time to read it, but I was mistaken and of course read it AFTER the publication date! But, here is my review anyways!

Years ago, Ruthy Ramirez disappeared after school and was never found. No one knows what happens and it seems that the family is just going to have to accept that and learn to live with their grief. But then, her sister Jessica finds someone on a tacky reality TV show called Catfight who could be Ruthy's twin. Along with her sister, they work towards trying to find out just what happened to Ruthy and get her back.

I went back and forth about where to rate this. I'm not truthfully confident that this is my final rating of it, however; I am confident and honest in my review of the book. 

I did not hate this book. It was more of a general dislike. I also found it dreadfully boring and frustrating at times. I understand that it was an ARC and that some things likely changed/were edited for publication but one thing that REALLY bothered me was the multiple mixed references to the alleged Ruthy in the book. When they spoke of her sometimes she was referred to Ruthy, sometimes she was referred to as Ruby, and sometimes it was Ruthy/Ruby. Like..why? Pick one and keep it consistent. 

Despite a lot of other reviewers negative opinions regarding the language and use of the word "fuck" it didn't bother me at all. I felt that it added to story and lifestyle that was being portrayed. I also have the mouth of a sailor so.. 

My overall issue was that there was so much time spent on just unnecessary crap. Chapters of a play-by-play of the TV show that was just meaningless. I didn't need this info nor did I care about it. Add to that the never-ending details about mundane life and work and side characters that were completely irrelevant and served no purpose other than to add length to the book. All this time building up to some major event and then when we get to said event it's over in two chapters and the only ending/wrap up we get is 1 final chapter that is three pages long. There were just so many unanswered questions for me.. 

A few positives on the book: I loved that the chapters were told from the perspective of each of the characters. While the details that were presented were..useless..I appreciated getting a sense of each character and their personality..and maybe that was the reason for the details, I don't know. 
There was also some one-liners that were humorous and I found myself chuckling out loud. So, some comedic relief in some heavy details is good. 

Finally, I do like that the author brought attention to the many black and brown girls that go missing every year that we don't hear/know about because the world has an obsession with missing/dead white girls only.

All of this to say, I don't necessary recommend this book but I am grateful and appreciative that I had to opportunity to read and review it. Maybe if you're looking for a mostly slice of life book with a little something happening on the side but no real plot - this is the book for you.

So far, I think this was my least favorite book in the series. It went by really fast on audio and truthfully I don't know/remember much of what happened. 

Obviously, with all books in this series, the orphans are taken somewhere miserable, Count Olaf finds them, in disguise, and his true identification was eventually discovered and he escapes!