anacarter's reviews
1043 reviews

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

This book is an absolute vibe—cozy, charming, and packed with autumn aesthetics. If you’re looking for something that gives Gilmore Girls vibes, this delivers in full. However, while I enjoyed my time with it, there were a few things that held it back from being a standout read.

I actually started this last October but had to put it on hold to read ARCs. Coming back to it, I was excited for the cozy, small-town feel, and in that regard, it didn’t disappoint. The setting is, without a doubt, the best part. Dream Harbor is basically a Stars Hollow clone, which was fun, but it felt a little too close at times—especially with the author writing under the alias Laurie Gilmore.

Jeanie and Logan had fun banter, and their chemistry was sweet, but wow, they were both so annoying. The insta love was a bit much, and their third-act breakup? Completely unnecessary. Logan especially frustrated me—his lack of communication skills was exhausting, and his trust issues made him difficult to root for.

Speaking of Logan, can we please talk about his inner monologue?! It was painful. We get it, you have abandonment issues, who doesn’t? But the way he constantly assumed Jeanie was going to leave, even after she repeatedly told him she loved the town and wasn’t selling the café, drove me crazy. Like, bro, grow a pair and take a risk! ughh

And Jeanie? I liked her overall, but her decision-making skills were questionable. I hated how she refused to call the police after her Café was vandalized. Then when she caught Norman—the guy literally plotting against her—she was so nonchalant about it?! GIRL, he sabotaged your business, and you’re just chill about it?
The whole Norman situation was underwhelming. His reveal just randomly admitting, “It’s me. I’ve been tampering with the business,” followed by some weak excuse about how he wanted her aunt to leave him the Café/sell it to him—felt abrupt, lazy, and completely lackluster.

I wish the mystery reveal was done better. I loved Jeanie and Logan's stakeout near the beginning. I kept thinking how the mystery would be solved, perhaps a fun, cozy yet suspenseful stakeout that would lead to a big, dramatic reveal-Norman breaking in or something, and bam—mystery solved! But instead, the whole thing felt rushed and disappointing. I'm actually so sad about it😭😭

Despite all my critiques, I did still enjoy parts of this. It’s not the kind of book that will blow you away, but if you’re in the mood for something light, cozy, and autumnal, it’s a decent pick. I’ll likely check out the rest of the series since I actually have them but also, sometimes all you need is a book with great vibes—and this one definitely did that.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹

❥Gilmore Girls Vibes
❥cozy autumn/ fall vibes
❥grumpy x sunshine
❥small-town romance
❥a bit of spice
❥found family
❥small mystery
❥farmer x cafe owner
❥HEA
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The Pumpkin Spice Café | Review
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store | TBR
The Christmas Tree Farm | TBR
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House | TBR
The Gingerbread Bakery | TBR

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dnf

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟺 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, , 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

I'm not sure how to rate this. On one hand, I really enjoyed their story, but on the other, the pacing felt weird and very fast-paced; I literally powered through it in 3hrs.

Fix Me Up by Caitlin Klassen is a beautiful, bittersweet journey that brings The Foundation series full circle. As both a prequel and a powerful finale, this book takes us back to where it all began, revealing the heartfelt and tender origins of Bree and Grant’s relationship as well as the start of Ellie's contracting business.  It was a seamless blend of emotional depth and effortless storytelling.

Grant’s journey is the heart of the book—a man broken by the devastating loss of his family and trapped in grief. I thought his struggles were portrayed really well, with such rawness and honesty that it’s impossible not to feel deeply for him.
Bree, on the other hand, is the perfect counterbalance: kind, compassionate, and unwavering in her support. Her strength and quiet determination help pull Grant out of the darkness, and their relationship feels so natural, pure, and deeply moving.

The pacing was a little strange to me; it was really fast-paced yet so smooth. I'm not sure how to describe it. But was free of unnecessary drama, with conflicts resolved thoughtfully and organically, which was really nice though! I loved the balance between heartfelt moments, playful interactions, and just the right touch of spice, making the story feel vibrant and real.

I loved seeing how Bree and Grant’s story connects to the other books adding a layer of magic to the entire series. It’s a bittersweet farewell, but the author ensures it’s satisfying, tying up loose ends beautifully in the epilogue.

Fix Me Up was everything I could have hoped for, it was more than just a romance—it’s a story of healing, growth, and the transformative power of love. Caitlin Klassen has truly outdone herself, delivering a story that lingers long after the final page. I can’t wait to see what Caitlin has in store for us next!

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹

❥reformed bad boy x recovering people pleaser
❥touch her and die
❥ he falls first and harder
❥3rd act pregnancy
❥grief and healing
❥prequel
❥country boy vs city girl
❥found family
❥no 3rd act breakup
❥dual POV
❥short chapters

Thank you for the ARC, Caitlin♡

_________________________________
From the Ground Up | Review
Build Me Up | Review
Change Me Up | Review
Fix Me Up | Review

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╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

I haven't read something from Kristin Cast since House of Night days (when I was in high school), so when I stumbled across ARC sign-ups I couldn’t resist!

I understand why this has a low rating at the moment, but it’s also just the first book in the series, serving primarily as a setup for the rest of the series, even though this did end in a HEA with an epilogue.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

The Empress by Kristin Cast is a fantasy romance that transports readers from the real world to the magical realm of Towerfall, a place steeped in tarot magic and in need  of a reluctant heroine. The story follows Hannah, a reluctant heroine, as she’s thrust from her ordinary life into the magical realm of Towerfall—a world in desperate need of saving. The premise of incorporating tarot lore into the story was both unique and intriguing, even for someone like me with little knowledge of tarot. It was fascinating to see how it tied into both Towerfall and Hannah’s real-world life.

The worldbuilding was imaginative, and the descriptions of Towerfall were immersive, drawing clear contrasts between the realms Hannah, the protagonist, experiences. The secondary characters added humor and heart to the story, with Shadow being a standout for me. And then there’s Kane, mysterious, protective, and undeniably compelling. I really liked Hannah and Kane. Their chemistry and dynamic was definitely one of the highlights of the book.

As much as I was enjoying it, the pacing and character development left me feeling conflicted. Hannah, while relatable in her struggle to simply survive, often felt immature. Her reluctance to embrace her role in Towerfall made it hard to connect with her, but I still found myself rooting for her! The pacing of the story was one of the strangest aspects and I don't even know how to describe it. It felt both fast-paced and slow at the same time, with a lot of filler that didn’t seem to drive the plot forward. By the time I was halfway through the book, nothing of real significance had happened. Also, I feel like a lot of the plot wasn't explained. Hannah is supposed to be someone who's supposed to save Towerfall but that plotline kind of fell off.

Hmmm, from 75% on it felt like it flew by in seconds; it felt like a race to tie up loose ends, leaving me craving more depth and exploration of Towerfall and its lore.

Overall, The Empress had a lot of potential, it was a solid and enjoyable read. I’d be interested to see more of Towerfall in the future, as the world and concept hold so much promise.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹

❥Broody MMC
❥Fake Marriage
❥He ties her up
❥Tarot Card inspired
❥"Little Fawn"
❥Romantasy
❥Transported into a new world


────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⁀➷𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀:
just got my arc! I'm so excited for this!!

Thank you for the ARC, Kristin♡

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