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bee_thebibliophile's reviews
1951 reviews
Second Chances by Alisha Williams
5.0
This is Alisha Williams’ debut novel and I can’t wait to read more! I was lucky enough to beta read this book and it was a trip! Second Chances is a steamy, fast burn, reverse harem story.
Emmy ends up at Emerald Lake Prep as an alternative to juvie, where she surprisingly meets up with her ex-best friend Oliver and starts a relationship with her roommate, Charlie. Over time, Emmy also catches the interest of Oliver’s friends Talon and Ben, but all of the guys decide to let Emmy and Charlie be together without interfering. I loved that Charlie was the one that encouraged them all to pursue a relationship with Emmy because she truly just wanted to see Emmy happy.
Like I said, this is a fast burn romance. Their individual relationships build quickly and it’s easy to see that they all deeply care about Emmy, her well-being and her happiness. I also love the group dynamics when they’re all together - each of them have such strong personalities that I can’t want to see grow. I wanted more deep 1-on-1 connections between Emmy and all of her loves and would have loved even more of a look into their lives, especially in the chapters from their POVs.
This book has a little bit of everything - academy, motorcycle clubs, M/M, F/F, bullying (outside of the harem), and platonic friendships. It sounds like a lot, but Alisha did a really great job of bringing it all together in a way that makes you want more!
Really looking forward to the next book in this series! The cliffhanger at the end of this one sets things up for so much more craziness to come.
Emmy ends up at Emerald Lake Prep as an alternative to juvie, where she surprisingly meets up with her ex-best friend Oliver and starts a relationship with her roommate, Charlie. Over time, Emmy also catches the interest of Oliver’s friends Talon and Ben, but all of the guys decide to let Emmy and Charlie be together without interfering. I loved that Charlie was the one that encouraged them all to pursue a relationship with Emmy because she truly just wanted to see Emmy happy.
Like I said, this is a fast burn romance. Their individual relationships build quickly and it’s easy to see that they all deeply care about Emmy, her well-being and her happiness. I also love the group dynamics when they’re all together - each of them have such strong personalities that I can’t want to see grow. I wanted more deep 1-on-1 connections between Emmy and all of her loves and would have loved even more of a look into their lives, especially in the chapters from their POVs.
This book has a little bit of everything - academy, motorcycle clubs, M/M, F/F, bullying (outside of the harem), and platonic friendships. It sounds like a lot, but Alisha did a really great job of bringing it all together in a way that makes you want more!
Really looking forward to the next book in this series! The cliffhanger at the end of this one sets things up for so much more craziness to come.
Crowned Queen by Alisha Williams
5.0
The Blood Empire series is unlike anything I've ever read before and Crowned Queen is no different! Harlow, Neo, Cass, Dean, Axel, Evie and Rosie have such a unique dynamic and they're so much fun to read, even when things get dark. This book is full of growth for all of them, especially Harlow and Axel. Their dynamics have changed, but have only brought them closer together. They're still up to all of their violence (with lots of D-Days and play dates), we also get to see them getting used to their relationship and getting to know each other again, which I loved.
The cliffhanger at the end of this one is brutal, but I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out! I need more Queenie in my life.
The cliffhanger at the end of this one is brutal, but I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out! I need more Queenie in my life.
Bad Cruz by L.J. Shen
2.0
I occasionally struggle with LJ Shen’s standalone stories and Bad Cruz was one I had some trouble finishing. While it’s billed as a rom-com, I found myself not laughing, but feeling pretty uncomfortable and angry.
The only reason I stuck with this book and ended up giving it 2 stars was Dr. Cruz Costello - he was unapologetically himself, urged Tennessee to take control of her life, was the sweetest to Bear and he knew what he wanted. When Tennessee refused to stand up for herself, he refused to be with her, something I can really appreciate. Even though he’s the town’s golden boy, he recognizes that something’s missing from his life and makes an effort to change things, realizing that reputation is not all it’s cracked up to be and doing things he wants to do.
I think Cruz perfectly sums up everything I felt about Tennessee Turner when he tells her “You’re the only person I know who can stand upright without a spine.” I severely disliked her character and spent almost the entire book wishing she’d finally stand up for herself, demand some respect or put the terrible people in her family and the people in town in their place. Tennessee (aka Messy Nessy to everyone in town) is a single mom who puts her all into raising her son, but has allowed people to think poorly of her, belittle her and talk about her behind her back since she got pregnant 13 years ago. She’s allowed her family to walk all over her for fear of them turning their backs on her and Bear, effectively making her a joke and the family doormat.
Their relationship was really problematic - Cruz was all in and made his feelings known, even going as far as to say: “I’m not going to chase you forever. I like you, Tennessee, but I don’t like the way you make me feel, and that’s starting to become a problem.” He was incredibly honest about how he felt and what he hoped for from her, but she didn’t return that kindness. I understand that Tennessee was scared to put her heart out there and to make herself vulnerable after things with Rob, but her refusal to stand up for herself and her relationship with Cruz was infuriating. The resolution of their relationship felt rushed and forced and I definitely feel like Cruz deserved better.
While some of the side characters started to grow on me by the end of the book (Rob and Gabriella), I found myself cringing every time any of the Turner family members (Tennessee’s mother and sister Trinity especially) showed up. They all were terrible people who felt like their opinion and their reputation/appearance around town were the only things that mattered, not the actual humans in their family or their well-being.
Overall, this book didn’t do it for me - I think Cruz was a really interesting character, but Tennessee just drove me crazy for a ton of different reasons and really killed most of my interest in the story and their happily ever after but I stuck it out in hopes that she’d prove me wrong in the end...she definitely didn't.
The only reason I stuck with this book and ended up giving it 2 stars was Dr. Cruz Costello - he was unapologetically himself, urged Tennessee to take control of her life, was the sweetest to Bear and he knew what he wanted. When Tennessee refused to stand up for herself, he refused to be with her, something I can really appreciate. Even though he’s the town’s golden boy, he recognizes that something’s missing from his life and makes an effort to change things, realizing that reputation is not all it’s cracked up to be and doing things he wants to do.
I think Cruz perfectly sums up everything I felt about Tennessee Turner when he tells her “You’re the only person I know who can stand upright without a spine.” I severely disliked her character and spent almost the entire book wishing she’d finally stand up for herself, demand some respect or put the terrible people in her family and the people in town in their place. Tennessee (aka Messy Nessy to everyone in town) is a single mom who puts her all into raising her son, but has allowed people to think poorly of her, belittle her and talk about her behind her back since she got pregnant 13 years ago. She’s allowed her family to walk all over her for fear of them turning their backs on her and Bear, effectively making her a joke and the family doormat.
Their relationship was really problematic - Cruz was all in and made his feelings known, even going as far as to say: “I’m not going to chase you forever. I like you, Tennessee, but I don’t like the way you make me feel, and that’s starting to become a problem.” He was incredibly honest about how he felt and what he hoped for from her, but she didn’t return that kindness. I understand that Tennessee was scared to put her heart out there and to make herself vulnerable after things with Rob, but her refusal to stand up for herself and her relationship with Cruz was infuriating. The resolution of their relationship felt rushed and forced and I definitely feel like Cruz deserved better.
While some of the side characters started to grow on me by the end of the book (Rob and Gabriella), I found myself cringing every time any of the Turner family members (Tennessee’s mother and sister Trinity especially) showed up. They all were terrible people who felt like their opinion and their reputation/appearance around town were the only things that mattered, not the actual humans in their family or their well-being.
Overall, this book didn’t do it for me - I think Cruz was a really interesting character, but Tennessee just drove me crazy for a ton of different reasons and really killed most of my interest in the story and their happily ever after but I stuck it out in hopes that she’d prove me wrong in the end...she definitely didn't.