unsuccessfulbookclub's Reviews (916)

When Beauty Tamed the Beast

Eloisa James

5.0

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I loved all of this - from the super punchy and sarcastic dialogue between the mains to the homage to House to the infectious disease plot… all of it. It’s so sad at the end though, thank god for the promise of romance: the happy ending.

Piers is a jerk. No question. Linnet could have been vapid and silly but I loved how she gave as good as she got. Of the Eloisa James books I have read, this is maybe my favorite to date, save my all-time top, Four Nights With The Duke.

Content Warnings

Duke of Sin

Elizabeth Hoyt

4.25

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I enjoyed this book although this series gets more and more graphically dark as it goes. I found Valentine to be extremely vampire-like. I enjoyed the class difference in this but also (somehow) also got a little bored around 80% and took more time finishing it than I would have anticipated. All in all, glad I read it but ohhhhhh boy check those CW.

Content Warnings

Keyed Up

Sarah Estep

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was such a lovely and realistic contemporary. I felt like Eloise and Graham were real people. I loved their main relationship conflict even though the third act made my tummy hurt a little. Also appreciated Estep’s nods to Downton Abbey and historical romance in general. This is like Bromance Bookclub, Eve Brown and Spoiler Alert had a spicy little baby. Will definitely be reading books 2 and 3!!

Content Warnings

Annie's Song

Catherine Anderson

4.75

challenging emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is so tragic and traumatic and I could not put it down. My one *tiny* beef is that the MMC (Alex) BLESS HIM, was maybe a little less controlled in the bedroom than I would have liked. Given everything that happens to Annie in this book (PLEASE CHECK THE CW), it seemed a little out of character that this man simply could not stop at kissing and so would not kiss his wife. This is a very small complaint about an otherwise emotionally impactful and beautiful book. OMG CHECK THE CONTENT NOTES THOUGH PLEASE FOR THE LOVE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

Content Warnings

Jade War

Fonda Lee

DID NOT FINISH: 63%

Might come back to it, just not holding my interest rn

Twice Bitten

Lynsay Sands

3.25

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book has A LOT GOING ON. Someone keeps trying to kill Elspeth, who is an immortal (NOT A VAMPIRE), meanwhile her landlady’s hot grandson (Wyatt) and she apparently maybe have some history and they definitely have some chemistry. There is danger banging and a cast of dozens. Elspeth’s mom is TERRIBLE. Sands really leans on the immortal bit because there is a Major Injury every other chapter. Maybe I shouldn’t have started with book 27?

Content Warnings

The Devil of Downtown

Joanna Shupe

5.0

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

JACK MULLIGAN, everyone. I simply will never get enough of a crime boss with a heart of gold who falls HARDDDD for a do-gooder. Justine has a great arc in this and both MCs do some good groveling AND gesturing. Also? It’s hottttttt.

Content Warnings

Dangerous

Amanda Quick

3.5

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This book was fine but the two MCs didn’t really get as much swoon/page time to grow as I would prefer. The main story revolved around the mystery and the FMC (Prudence) being quirky. The mystery setting was traumatic (that’s where that CW comes from), not super graphic just VERY intense considering the tone of the rest of the book. For Quick this one didn’t have that light zaniness at the same volume as the others from her I have read.

Content Warnings

The Prince of Broadway

Joanna Shupe

4.25

challenging emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I had a few issues with the way the main conflict(s) in this book were resolved, namely I didn’t feel like Florence really *got* Clay’s issues with her dad, BUT ALSO, revenge plots that involve real estate are kinda silly IMO like who cares that much about a building?

Other than that, this book is HAWTTTTTT and I loved the chemistry between Clay and Florence. Shoutout to the Mamie and Frank simul-plot and mentions of our boy, Frank Tripp.

Content Warnings

The Beast of Beswick

Amalie Howard

4.0

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I liked a lot about this book and really LOVED the first 75%, but the conflict at the end dragged a little bit for me. I really wanted the MMC to STOP RUNNING AWAY after about the fourth time. I LOVED the FMC but she has far more patience than I ever would with this man who ran so very hot and cold with her.

Content Warnings

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