art_books_chemistry's reviews
535 reviews

Baby Peekaboo by Kate Merritt

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lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.0

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

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challenging emotional inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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Bernie Drives a Truck by Derek Radford

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adventurous informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

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adventurous dark emotional funny 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

5.0

This story was hilarious from the minute it started! I absolutely loved every second of it and laughed out loud so many times and didn't want to stop listening to it, I finished it in less than 48 hours. I loved the characters and their dynamic. I spent half the book also facepalming and screaming at Sloan for being dense. Then we had the incident involving the cookies and cream ice cream and I had to start screaming at Rowan! IYKYK 
Fair warning, this is a very slow burn. The build-up is absolutely worth it, and quite hot once you finally get to the spicy bits but there are literally years of growing tension before that happens. This may be about two serial unalivers playing a game but it's absolutely a RomCom first and foremost. It's like Dexter meets Hallmark. 
Both Sloan and Rowan could have used a little more background story about why they do what they do; it seemed like a out of the blue to some extent that they both became serial unalivers. But if you don't think about it and just assume there's some sort of reason, it certainly works with the story. And I have read Leather & Lark (Book 2) already which does get into some of it. 

100% recommend for true crime types! It does get pretty graphic in certain parts; in the gorey way, not just the fun way. Definitely one of my top books for the year and I can't wait for the third installment! 

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham by H.G. Wells

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dark mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75


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Tutankhamun and the Tomb That Changed the World by Bob Brier

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informative slow-paced

4.25


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Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Until the Stars Fall by Vanessa Rasanen

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emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

Such a sweet, sweet slow burn from Vanessa Rasanen! I'm pretty sure I've not previously read a fae romantasy with the fake dating trope but I'm totally here for it now. The main characters made me squeal, laugh, and yell; as well as some of the side ones (Matthiasssss). 

While a touch predictable in the fae vs humans war story line, Vanessa adds little quirks to make it her own. But I won't tell you waht they are. 😉 Same with the tropes, she may have used some well loved favorites like one-bed, miscommunication, fated mates, and royal with servant; but the situations and character background was so carefully crafted they were perfect. 

A nearly perfect romantasy for lovers of Tessonja Odette, ACOTAR, or L.J. Andrews. 

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