shanaepraystoo's Reviews (925)

It seems like it’s just so hard for me to rate any of Miss Jenesequa’s books 5-stars after reading “I Got You” — it was sooooo good.

But reading about Danae and Cassian was fun, too. The couple was complementary and the side characters were just as fun. With a few different stories going on “A Love That Melted…” is entertaining and kept me engaged.

I listened to the audiobook and found that Jakobi Diem was stellar, as always. But there are negative reviews about Cami Darian here - don’t let them dissuade you from the audiobook. I listen to several audiobooks, at least 8 a month, and Darian does a good job.

In my opinion, this story wasn't 100% necessary to me, while it was good to learn about Dre, I wasn't invested in Natasha's character at all. The real story was about Dre and his relationships with his father, Cory, and Natasha...but we don't really get that. We meet Cory briefly and I don't think the character is done much justice, unfortunately.

This book is a solid love story about family ties, sacrifice, and growing up in a world that doesn't see value in you.

What a strange book?

I've finished The Sun Series by Rae Lyse and will write a complete review of the series and "Bunny."

I'm not quite sure what to make of "Bunny."

After reading Book 1 in this series, I thought Mo was nothing more than a nickel and diming loser, I felt no attachment to his character and found him quite unlikable because I thought he was nothing more than a clueless hanger-on. Then again, I hated the MMC in the book, Dominic, who's also Mo's best friend.

We meet Dominic's little cousin Josiah in Book 1 and then get a story about him in Book 2. Josiah's not only much more likable, but more well developed than Dominic, so he's a better MMC. I really liked that book.

There's a little mention of Mo in Book 3, he gets involved in a serious situation alongside Dominic and Claudette, the FMC from Book 1, but there's nothing about his character that makes you think he'll get his own book.

Then boom - Book 3 is all about him. He's the most complex of the characters in The Sun series. And he's got the most ridiculous relationship with one of the most awkward FMC's I've ever read about.

The story is well-written and touches on pretty serious issues, like men's mental health, redefining manhood, addiction, and parental abandonment. But there's this underlying story that does the book no justice - it just makes it long.

You don't need to read the series in order to get a gist of the story, but it makes sense that way. I'd rank the books in the following order from best to worst: "Endgame (Book 2)", "Bunny (Book 3)," and "Saving Sunflower (Book 1)."

However, I read Lyse's books out of order, starting with her most recent release "At the End of It All" and I kinda ruined that literary journey for myself. There are character connections between Saving "Sunflower" and "At the End of It All," but thematically, there are more similarities between "Endgame" and "Bunny."

While I appreciate Rae Lyse's bravery in handling such serious topics in her book and I value that she does it so well, I am over the problematic, mysterious, impoverished Black boy meets insecure, troubled little Black girl who is empowered by the Black boy with a propensity for crime/violence storyline. After 4 books, I hope she has gotten it out of her system, too.

There's very little to say about "At the End of It All" beyond it's amazing. A captivating story with well-written, realistic characters you want to reach out and hug, help, encourage. This is my first Rae Lyse read and it made me laugh, it made me cry, it inspired me.

I'm never not shocked by what a romance novel can do.

Slow boring unsure Black female characters drive me INSANE.