Reviews by unsuccessfulbookclub

916 reviews by:

unsuccessfulbookclub

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

Talia Hibbert

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is exactly what I expected from Talia: a widely diverse cast, lovingly portrayed, and great, dry British humor. I adored the FMC, Celine, and the MMC, Bradley, was everything. The main relationship was adorable and the familial and friend relationships were also wonderful.

Celine and Bradley start the book as “enemies,” meaning they were very close childhood friends who had a falling out as they grew up and started making new friends. But of course, deep down, they both care for each other deeply. Of course the point of the book is them figuring that out!

We have a dual first person POV and being in these characters’ heads was at once angsty AF and also hugely relatable and emotional. If you’ve watched Sex Education, these two MCs give Jackson and Viv energy and it’s INCREDIBLE.

👍🏻Recommended! If you liked the Brown sisters, you will love this. It is YA so it is not in any way spicy but it is emotionally impactful, funny and so sweet. This is the kind of book I wish I had had as a teen.

Content Warnings

Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life

Emily Nagoski

4.75

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

Content Warnings

Santa, baby

Eliza McLane

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted 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

Content Warnings

Holiday Games

Cat Wynn

3.0

emotional 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: No

Content Warnings

Love Worth Making: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship

Stephen Snyder

4.5

hopeful informative lighthearted medium-paced

Really easy to read, thoughtful and accepting. Incredibly helpful.

Set the Record Straight

Hannah Bonam-Young

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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: No

Sweet and adorable. An ADHD FMC? Can we have more of them please? I saw so much of my myself in Clara and that felt so good. I also loved how supported Evan was. What can I say? Friends-to-lovers is my favorite and this is perfect. No notes.

Content Warnings

A Wicked Game

Kate Bateman

4.0

emotional funny lighthearted 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: No

ARC Review: Releases December 27, 2022

Despite its nefarious-sounding title, A Wicked Game is a very lighthearted Hissy RoNo. I enjoyed how low-angst it was while also being interesting and decently spicy. Morgan and Harriet’s relationship is clearly childhood friends to lovers even though they needle one another all the time and they consider each other “enemies.” The teasing and button pushing between these two was a real treat.

Harriet, the FMC, is a great example of a bluestocking heroine with tons of agency, and her relationships with her family were sweet and loving, too. She’s a cartographer, and I loved how capable and intellectual she was. Even though Morgan, the MMC, is dealing with a bit of PTSD and has lived through some terrible events, the focus is not on his trauma whatsoever. He’s completely in love with Harriet and has been FOREVER, even though she is probably the last person in this book to realize it.

All in all, a light little romp with a decent amount of well-written spice! I think my ONE beef with it is that it was maybe TOO fluffy? Like “I may or may not recall this book in a month” kind of surface, sweet, cute little story. I also firmly believe that there is room for that in our lives sometimes, so if you find yourself in desperate need of something to read while you hide in the bathroom to escape the chaos of the holidays? Maybe pick this one up.

👍🏻Recommended. If you like Tessa Dare or light romcoms, this is for you. If you are looking for an emotional break after having your heart crushed by something heavy (sorry not sorry about those Durans), this is a great choice. If you like a bluestocking heroine and a good balance of spicy and sweet? This one is for you!

Content Warnings