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bookishkellyn's reviews
381 reviews
Given a Chance by Olivia Linden
funny
hopeful
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Jay and Nicole are in the same friend group but not besties, which is why their chemistry worked. Through flashbacks, girl talk, and his own actions in Nicole’s POV, Jay was fleshed out as someone who was waiting in the wings but didn’t come off as desert thirsty and could still be a friend without expectations. He may have been a former NBA player, but wanting her wasn’t a game. At all. The timeline was perfect for a solid friendship that basically served as foreplay. I really liked this despite the slow start, short-lived drama, and minor errors. The Florida vibes were a hit, especially the Publix scene.
Content Warnings
Minor: Stalking
Joaquim by A.H. Cunningham
hopeful
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Ten years later, Joaquim and his boyfriend (Jon) get something like a second chance with Naveah thanks to forced proximity. Growth, vulnerability, breeding kinks, and a superb DP scene made this a good poly read. A thread of the interconnecting storyline was weaved in but didn’t add or take away from this trio of bookish blerds trying to make something shake. The ending was adequate, but I still would've loved an epilogue.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
French Kiss New Year by Robbi Renee
hopeful
tense
3.0
It started out strong with Garrett having to f*uck Nia into setting a wedding date, but lost my interest with the six degrees of separation plot. I might have rated it a little bit higher if the sex scenes weren’t so wordy with flowery language that killed the vibe.
Pretty Shattered Soul by Robbi Renee
hopeful
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Syncere lives a structured life to cope her PTSD from date rape, until King makes a move for her heart. They had already liked each other beforehand, so there disappointingly wasn’t much to see/develop between them. The love scenes were wordy, using every adjective possible to talk around the point and avoid using the words p*nis or p*ssy. The serious subject matter was supposed to be the focal point yet didn’t feel well-explored or elicit any emotions from me (but that could partly be because I had Alexa reading it to me). This book is only 200 pages long but dragged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Violence and Pregnancy
My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson
adventurous
informative
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was so interesting that it was easy to forget it was a fictionalized memoir of a fictional character. However, it started feeling slightly more like a history book than a personal account as it came to a close. The narrator was wonderful, and I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed this book as much if it wasn’t in the audio format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, and Outing
Thirty by Rae Lyse
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Following the three rules his father instilled in him, Andre (Josiah’s BFF) navigates a connection with Natasha (Jade’s BFF) and the challenges of transitioning back into the free world. I liked Dre and Tash’s dynamic until I didn’t–two broken people that gave pimp and bottom bitch vibes. The writing wasn’t bad, just unclear.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
The Endgame by Rae Lyse
hopeful
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Josiah's 'bout that life, could talk a nun out of her panties, acts like it's stepdaddy season all year round, and wants to make Jade “feel good” if she’ll let him. They pleasantly took me through it as they unpeeled each other's layers. Angst and conflicts without toxicity. Likes: The writing was great, especially the Starburst scene, tea scene, and midterm scene. Plot touched on the shadiness of college athletics. Jade’s daughter (Journey) was the cutest. Dislikes: Slow burn. Jade’s mom (Terry) irked me so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
I Live to Serve The Witch by Jacque Aye
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The book switches back and forth between two sets of characters (Ceciline & “Grace” and Friday, Sunday & Asoka) and lowkey gave Hansel and Gretel vibes until all of their paths converged. I was surprised by the plot twist(s) but walked away feeling like this author’s unique writing style either went over my head and/or is just disorganized.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
The Queen's Spade by Sarah Raughley
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It didn’t become interesting until the author fleshed out where the depth of Sally’s hatred came from at 50+ pages in. Disappointingly, something about the overall writing didn’t feel historical and gave modern revenge story vibes. The highlights were the characters and main plot twist. Sally/Ina was a cunning FMC that I would’ve enjoyed in any setting, who was supported by colorful side characters (Harriet, Rui, Davies, Mama Schoen, Gowramma, “Bertie”) that sometimes made her forget that their “love“ is conditional.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Grief, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Reel by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
hopeful
informative
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Less than 100 pages in, I was falling in love with Canon and his BDE. Him and Neevah fighting to curb their mutual attraction ran parallel to the movie’s love story, making it feel like two stories in one. At times, the plot did feel like it was dragging due to the medical content, but I like how it tied everything together. This is something you have to take your time with to savor the depth, but I can easily see how this could be someone else’s favorite Kennedy Ryan book to date.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Racism, Vomit, and Death of parent