thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

Tune In Tomorrow was my least favorite story from the Blaze collection. I found the issue, breaking into radio as a woman, to be interesting, but the execution was just not there. Sometimes I read these stories, find authors with writing styles I enjoy, and pick up their full length titles. Unfortunately, that was not the case with this one. 

How do you review a book that makes you sob uncontrollably until you can't breathe? I don’t know, but keep reading on to watch me try. I would be shocked if Remarkably Bright Creatures was not my favorite book of 2024. The writing is beautiful and the characters are beyond loveable. If reading from the perspective of an octopus puts you off (I know it did for me, hence why it took me so long to read this one), you have to get over that. By the end of the story, you are going to want to die for that octopus. Seriously, if you have not picked up this title yet, you are just doing a disservice to yourself.

The artwork in this graphic novel was stunning. It is what ultimately pushed me to give this story four stars instead of three. The plot itself was good, but not great. The protagonist, Freddy, discovers that nonromantic relationships and valuing oneself are just as (if not more) important than romantic relationships. Ultimately, this title is substantial and belongs in any YA collection, but it is not going to be one of my favorite reads of the year. 

I really enjoyed Harlem After Midnight even though I did not know it was a sequel until about halfway through the book. The good news? This title can be read as a standalone! Hare’s writing was captivating, the characters were dynamic, and the story structure was fantastic. I am planning on going back to read the first book because of how much I enjoyed this title. 

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(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Protect My Heart is a short and steamy romance. While it featured one of my least favorite tropes, insta-love, the hilarious meet-cute between the two love interests made up for it. I had a good time reading this title in a single sitting, but it is not one that I would go out of my way to recommend to other romance readers.

I have to admit that I didn’t love this book. I saw so many people raving about its wild plot, and to say I was underwhelmed would be an understatement. To be fair, I have never been a big fan of Lisa Jewell’s writing style or character development. These preferences may have impacted my enjoyment of this title. Overall, I wanted/expected more based on the reviews I read beforehand.

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(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I had so much fun reading this book! The Heirloom follows Shea on her adventure to find her engagement ring's original owner(s) due to her superstitions regarding heirloom rings. She wants to ensure the ring does not bring bad luck to her marriage. This adventure takes her across the world, giving this novel an engaging and unique plot. My qualm with The Heirloom is that it is a bit too long. The story became repetitive and could have been about 50 pages shorter.  

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)