afi_whatafireads's reviews
589 reviews

Lowkey .. this book was just :')

So far, out of the Bridgerton brothers, Benedict is somewhat high on my list, but this book just made my heart swoon.

I feel that, plot and writing wise, Quinn has a way to enrapture and catch the reader's attention to a point that you will keep wanting to finish the story till the end. It has its own uniqueness, and for this, its the Bridgerton Family itself.

More sorts of Benedict's and Sophie's love story, the part that caught me most was the highlight of Violet Bridgerton and their family itself, and how Sophie found a family of her own. The fact that this book really showed the Social Class and its Horrendous System and how just a mere title at the time will tarnish the good name of an aristocracy makes it hard for people like Sophie whom also is deserving of the kind of love of her own. I also loved how this book showed on Motherhood and how not everyone does not get the privilege to grow up with a family that is filled with love and respect for each other.

The thing that made me caught on with Bridgerton was mostly the family and siblings aspects. I love that we get MORE anticipation for Polin's book- and I also loved that Sophie and Benedict found love in each other. It has a Cinderella Retelling to it, but its not a typical one per say. Out of the three books, I liked that this book was more witty and heartbreaking. It had me caught up in so much emotions reading this and I finally enjoyed every single page.

Honestly, I think I will bawl my eyes out with Polin's book, and I get why a lot loved the Bridgertons. Its not just the drama and romance aspects that catches one's attentions, its the flair and mostly of family, and its love for one another. And that's one that can't make anything stay away.

Personal Ratings : 4.5🌟

Well this was something hahahahha.

Sara Cate spicy scenes were immaculate tbh, plus with the plot, altho I'm not the biggest fan of the bully trope - but in this case.... its a bit justified but also..... tethers on the line of morally wrong :') Reminded me of PD's book tbh......

But overall not bad.

3.5🌟

As much as it pains me to give this book a low rating, I do have to agree with everyone that says this books was not it.

Because.... it was.. not it :') Sadly.
And I will summarize it shortly, as I didn't hate the book that much but overall, it was just lacking per say. But I do want to highlight some important things that I feel is important in how TB portrays her characters in this book.

Firstly, lets get out why this book felt just "meh" for me - mostly, in the romance department.

This book had everything that I loved in a book :-
x Smalltown Romance tropes - we gotta love them
x Vulnerable MCS - Julian and Hailey is just cute ngl
x Somewhat childhood acquaintance crush came to love each other? sign me up
x Found Family - i'm a sucker for this one

Like its a formula that I feel that will never miss, and paired with the spicy scenes from TB, this will turn out as a good book you might think? But apparently, it failed me terribly.

The short review of this book is that : Its like the Walmart Version of It Happened One Summer.

The long review, well, I'll go through what just doesn't work for me in this book one by one.

1) The Chemistry
Honestly, at this point of a romance book, I don't really mind Insta-love (instant falling in love), but it needs to be done well. However, this one was just.....meh. Its to a point where I'm just going HMMMMMMMMMMM at the plot of the book. There were some cute moments but them falling in love was just all over the place. As this IS A ROMANCE BOOK, the romance just wasn't it for me. I tried, I really did but even I had to agree with what everyone is saying. It just didn't work.

2) The Plot
This may sound harsh but the plot somehow felt like TB just dumped everything that we love in It Happened in One Summer and tried to recreate another with less grumpiness from the guy but less flavour. I feel that despite the fact the book's main point is the secret admirer letters, it just felt subpar and wasn't highlighted as much. I was a tad disappointed to say the least and it felt too hurried. Everything just felt hurried in this book.

3) Bland
There was NO FLAVOUR IN HERE. Like none. Zilch. It was just very very boring. :')

Now there are some good parts and I feel that with more finesse, this would have made a really fine book.

Mental Health
I actually don't mind the plot where TB focused on the mental health of Julian in here. Its very realistic. His reactions, his need to stay in schedule and everything in it makes it important for eveyrone that is going through the same thing to know that they are not alone in this world. I actually really really love all the characters in here. Julian is a sweetheart, like please I want a man like him, and Hailey is just this sweetheart that I just adore. And the rest of the characters were great. Characters were not much a problem for TB, but I feel that overall, the execution could have been a lot better.

TB will always be that author that I will read everytime she comes out with a new book. I do love her works but lets face it this one was just meh. But I do look forward to her next book in the series cause MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE???? SIGN ME UP AND HAVE READ THE EXCERPT AND IM ALREADY LIKING IT. Looking forward to the second book for sure!

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this copy! Def appreciate it :)

EXCUSE ME, WHY THE HECK IS THE ENDING A CLIFFHANGER :')
Disclaimers: Its better to get the second book Kru Paranormal: Hantu Misi right away cause EXCUSE ME that was RUDE TO LEFT ME HANGING.

Anyways,

Such a good start to an extensive series.
Bergandingan dengan penceritaan yang senang dihadam dan dapat dihabiskan in one seating , sebuah kisah misteri yang sangat engaging dan aku seperti tak senang duduk nak tahu apa akan jadi untuk pengakhiran cerita.

Tahu-tahu, cerita ini terus bermula dengan sebuah pengeboman yang cukup tragis dan kematian seseorang. Left me quite speechless, but I love how engaging the story is and it really just got me hooked from the very start. Plot ceritanya dimulakan dengan tiga rakan yang bekerja sebagai Youtuber yang agak berjaya dan dinamakan chanel mereka : Kru Paranormal. Apabila sesuatu tragedi terjadi kepada salah seorang rakan mereka, dunia seakan kelam, tetapi terdapat beberapa benda aneh terjadi selepas itu.

In terms of writing style and plot-wise, I feel that this book will make such a good book if you are in a reading slump. Its easy to read and the FREAKING ENDING makes you want to read the second book ASAP. It is a series, so its better to read the book according to its publication order. Aku agak puas membaca buku ini walaupun ia kurang dari 200 muka surat. Ia straightforward , kisah mistiknya telah buat bulu roma aku meremang dan aku juga ingin tahu apa telah terjadi di sebalik semua insiden yang sudah berlaku.

Recommended for anyone getting into Malay crime thrillers! Its an engaging read that I'm happy to be sucked into for sure.

First thing before you come into this review, if you haven't read the first book in the series The Decagon House Murders, I highly suggest you reading this book first - or giving the manga a go as well ; as it was adapted from the novel - and then read this one as you will see the curious connection of this particular case with the one in the Decagon House Murders. Its not related by obvious means, but in some ways, there are things that will be highly understandable if you start with Decagon House Murders first, hence this disclaimer.

As usual, with most of crime thriller books, its best to go into the book BLIND. Just know that with most Honkaku Mystery novels and with it being a Locked-Room-Mystery-Themed, you might find it predictable. But I somewhat enjoyed the thrill and the enjoyment of finding out everything when all of the events of the book unfold at the very end. Safe to say, 90% of my theories for this book were correct, but I still felt goosebumps upon finishing the book. It was to me - can be quite tedious to read , due to its chapters that goes back from the past and present chapters - but it was overall just a smart move for the author with this story. It adds to the eeriness and showed how vile a human can be when desperation and need takes over us.

This book might bore some people, but for me, it definitely is good for crime thriller enthusiasts. Not only the alternating chapters felt smart for me, I also liked how the POV and the voice of the narrator changes during the certain chapters. Its the little things in the book , paired with its goriness that makes it a worthwhile read for me. Its compact, and a tad psychological and fuelled by the ghost of the people of the past - in which makes the conclusion at the end makes it a such a worthwhile read. Definitely looking forward to more of the author's works.

4🌟 for this gem

Biggest thank you to @definitelybooks for the copy! I truly appreciate it.

God this book took me longer than I expected.
By the time I started this book - I just finished Queen Charlotte (Netflix), finished the first season of Bridgerton (finally) and started on the first episode of the second season. Yes, I read this in a week where my head was very much FILLED with Bridgerton - for reasons I'm unsure off.

And I'm quite taken by Anthony and Kate's love story.

Its honestly BLOODY ILLLEGAL to put a firstborn-firstborn pairings - with the amount of responsibility and duty that both of them carried - and the way I'm just so very soft with Kate and how Anthony treats her. For me, both of them actually had legitimate reasons of being afraid, and I liked that at the end, they talked about it and decided that hey- we can either do this alone or do this together.

Their relationship is one that I just love. GAWD THEIR BANTERS WAS SO BLOODY PETTY AND HILARIOUS!!!!!!!! I was laughing so much and just enjoyed their relationship altogether - from being banter friends to actual friends and lovers at end. Scandalous - yes - but I just liked how Anthony really tried to make Kate felt safe and beautiful. It warms my heart definitely and this book had my heart altogether.

4.5🌟 , and if I do finish the rest of the Bridgerton siblings books - Anthony and Kate's book will always have a special place in my heart.

HELLO WORLD I FINALLY PICKED UP THIS SERIES IN 2023!

I honestly blame Queen Charlotte for being the push that I needed to actually start this series.
If you know me, I'm not the biggest regency romance fan ( I used to be but now I'm not and then I've fallen into this abyss again) - and now I've went and bought the rest of the series just because.

So let's start with the first book and how I just finished it JUST TO KNOW AND TELL EVERYONE AND JUSTIFY THAT HEY - Simon and Daphne are literally the blandest and boring couple ever and my thoughts are justified :p

Firstly, lets talk about the things that I love about the book.

1) Family - LOVE LOVE LOVE
I absolutely ADORED the relationship of the family in here. The Bridgerton siblings are literally a menace, but they're the kind of menace that I really love. Literally, the 3 stars in this book are solely because of the brothers and the Bridgerton siblings. If its up to the main couples in here - this book will only get a 1 star. I love the introduction to all the siblings and it really made my heart filled with so much warmth with their interactions. Its genuinely funny and heartfelt and I literally can't wait to read the rest of the siblings love stories!

2) Issues of Abandonment and Certain Conditions
I like that Maam Quinn had brought forward the issues of abandonment and conditions that can affect the self-esteem of a person, especially if its during an era where you are expected no less than only perfection. It gives the realities of the people back then where berating a child can make you turn out to be a very very angry adult that will probably make horrible choices in life. I felt sorry for Simon mostly because of his upbringing and how he tried so hard to have control in his life. He deserved beter.

Now lets get to the ranty part of the review :-

1) EWWW BEHAVIOUR (view spoiler)
I have no other words but only this :
SHAME.
ON.
YOU.
DAPHNE.

2) DAPHNE
Honestly, she was tolerable the first half of the book and I actually felt sorry for her. But then, she's literally giving IM NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS. Yeah yeah we get it you have loads of brothers you 'understand' men but Good Lord she's insufferable. She has the personality of a block. ugh.

3) SIMON
I actually felt sorry for him. I was on his side until.... he did what he did. yeah yeah you have Daddy issues but that was not how it was supposed to solve it. And his biggest mistake in this book was marrying Daphne and GOD LORD he has the personality of a cardboard - so . very. bland.

Overall, the writing was okay considering that it was published some time ago. I love Lady Whistledown with all my heart (curse you Netflix for spoiling it for me booooo) but yes, I can't wait to read the rest of the series. :)

Such a heartbreaking read that is a reflection from the realities in the world where women were extorted, abused and murdered due to the sake of patriarchal beliefs and extreme hatred on one religion.

The word Honor in here was highlighted so many times it reflected the difference of meaning to every person. How the word itself brings so much meaning but is interpreted differently to different people.

Honor in defending your religion ? Yes. - But at what cost?

Honor in defending your family's name? Yes. - But at what cost?

Honor in defending your identity ? Yes. - But at what cost?

The cost of the word HONOR when taken literally can not only cost harm to the wellbeings of people but showed how it can be misused. Its both a positive word but a bad word when extremists took it to their understanding. It can be a source of joy and utmost pain. Such irony to such a word with a grand meaning and it had reflected deeply with this book.

Taken loosely from the perspective of the author whilst she was working as a journalist herself, is the story of Smita who came to India on an assignment to cover her friend who got injured - to cover a story of a girl whose husband got burned by her brothers. Whilst Smita is an American but India calls back to her roots, the place where she was born. A story of self identity , love, privilege , extremists and mostly of honor and the price it paid to keep it upright in a community where its taken to its meaning in literal.

The cover of the book literally made so much sense once we finished the story . I literally BAWLED towards the end. The heartbreak of seeing such horror in a supposedly modern society is astonishing. Firstly, this is my first book from Umrigar and I have to say her writing is spot on , clear and very straightforward. Its def a page turner and the story was done immaculately well. The overall plot of the book made me want to hurl things at someone - in how its a reflection of the realities in the real world - which made some scenes very hard to read.

The story is set in India and the author had brought us to the different parts of India, where your religion and your own sexual identity can cost you your life. One thing I liked about the author is how she highlighted that the horrifying things that is imposed to women in the community, was not only seen in India, but basically everywhere around the world where she had worked to cover some stories. It showed that these things can not just happen in one specific country, but can be seen by even countries that were considered 'modern'. It can happen anywhere, to anyone and its such a horrifying thought that the cost of pertaining certain traditions is taken from the lives of aspiring women who only deserved love , care and protection.

Whilst the hard parts of the book made it suffocating to read - on sexual abuse, extreme religion Fascism, murder and the broken justice system that costs the lives of people - another theme that the author wrote is on Privilege . I liked that the author had portrayed a set of characters in the book , where two people who appears to be the same on the surface is treated so differently in society. Since India heavily applies the system of castes in their community - especially in rural villages - its important to see what is a norm to you is a privilege to another person. I feel that Mohan has the biggest character development in this book - where he got very defensive for his country , due to his status and casts, but was slapped hard with realities with the things he had encountered during his journey with Smita. It showed that sometimes, even the best people can turn blind to another's misery if it doesn't imply directly to their lives ; and that is the harsh truth of the society nowadays.

The author had brought forward various topics where it can be very sensitive, but also made such an eye opening read. It made me reflect on a lot of things, and how Identity is important in shaping a person. The visceral urge of immigrants who grew up in another country and their needs to identify being a person of one country to another is evident in the story and it showed the struggles of children of immigrants in paving some parts of their lives when returned to the country that they loved but scarred them for life.

Its a story that I will recommend to everyone to read at least once in their lives. It might be painful but there are voices in the world that needs to be heard and through this book - it gives the platform for these voices to be seen.

Personal Ratings : 4.25🌟
(this book would be perfect it not for the romance plot that came out of nowhere? it seemed too abrupt. understandable and still aww but too sudden it gave me whiplash, hence the ratings)

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this copy! I truly appreciate it.

EXCUSE ME THIS WAS CUTE AF IT GOT ME SMILING LIKE A CRAZY PERSON LIKE HELLO ?!

I SWEAR THE WAY BRADLEY AND CELINE IS JUST ✨EVERYTHING✨

Its fitting with the title - with HOW CUTE THEIR BANTERS ARE - you're literally blind to notice their infatuation towards one another, HENCE THE TITLE . I was absolutely giggling like a school girl at how annoying they are to each other, and yet they are so BLOODY PERFECT FOR ONE ANOTHER! My babies are literally giving ✨CHAOTIC ENERGY✨ and GOSH I love when they are as naive and as awkward and as chaotic as the two of them are in here, because that's what being in love when you were young looks like.

I liked that the Hibbert brought forward some very interesting topics :-

✨ Single-parent household and its affects towards their children✨
- The emotional damage and trauma that it can have to the child and the way they will proceed to have a relationship later on. I'm just happy that Celine actually knows that she's in the wrong and she apologized for everything that she did.

✨ Bringing forward awareness for people with OCD✨
Bradley has such a chaotic mind, and I lowkey understood him. The fact that he was very vulnerable and not afraid to call out on Celine's bullshit, whilst also talking about what is a sore spot for him due to his condition makes Bradly such an endearing character. It also showed how people with the condition can do to cope with what they have to live normal lives.

✨ YOLO - best way to go ✨
While the phrase can be misused if not planned well, I feel that there are things in life that is more than just problems. Living life and appreciating things at the moment, being weird and quirky and being yourself, makes life more worth leaving.

The fact that the characters in here are both nerds, quirky and very eccentric makes them so very endearing and GOSH it made me smile reading this book. It had every element that makes a YA Contemporary Romance good -
- Chemistry between characters
- Academic-Rivalry-Best Friends-Enemies-Frenemies-Lovers storyline that will make you squirm and giggle
- Found-family and a warm family relationship
- A bit adventurous and camp-like fun

Definitely a book that I will let everyone to read if you need something light and fun. Definitely lifted my spirits and made me smile all the time reading it.

4.25🌟 for this gem

Thank you so much to Times Reads for this copy! I truly appreciate it.