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bookishlychar's reviews
2287 reviews
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
I have read Sarina Bowen's romances, but this is her first foray into suspense thrillers. It was an average Monday morning when Ariel received a text message from the only man she ever loved, asking to meet her. The problem is, that Drew vanished and it has been several years since she learned he died. When he doesn't show, it takes her on a journey to uncover what was happening when he vanished. She is unsure who is lying to her and she will do anything to keep herself and her son safe.
This book kept me on my toes and I was unsure who to trust. Sarina Bowen pulled me in with the characters and the need to figure out what happened. What I loved about this, is that the author nabbed my attention with the mystery, but kept me going with the story of Ariel and Drew's romance. My heart broke for her and her son, and I started to feel some of the panic and worry she was feeling.
This book had my attention the full way through, and I kept turning the pages as we unravelled everything that was happening. If you like a great story with mystery and intrigue, this is it!
This book kept me on my toes and I was unsure who to trust. Sarina Bowen pulled me in with the characters and the need to figure out what happened. What I loved about this, is that the author nabbed my attention with the mystery, but kept me going with the story of Ariel and Drew's romance. My heart broke for her and her son, and I started to feel some of the panic and worry she was feeling.
This book had my attention the full way through, and I kept turning the pages as we unravelled everything that was happening. If you like a great story with mystery and intrigue, this is it!
The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an entertaining book that I found myself enjoying as I read through it.
I thought Derek and Nora's chemistry was top-notch and liked them both separately as characters. Nora is a quirky character who knows who she is and is willing to stand up for herself and knows her worth. Derek was a loveable grump who, though he put on a show of hating Nora was so sweet in remembering things about her from college.
As Derek and Nora are exploring their relationship and trying to find some balance, the banter is strong and the tension is palpable. You could see the chemistry was still between them though, and spicy hot! Be prepared for a slow burn between these two though. They fight their attraction for so long, but when it comes to head it is wonderful!
This book put a smile on my face and kept me interested while reading it. I love the characters Sarah Adams created and will continue to pick up her novels.
read if you like: second chance romance, fake marriage, only one bed, sports romance
I thought Derek and Nora's chemistry was top-notch and liked them both separately as characters. Nora is a quirky character who knows who she is and is willing to stand up for herself and knows her worth. Derek was a loveable grump who, though he put on a show of hating Nora was so sweet in remembering things about her from college.
As Derek and Nora are exploring their relationship and trying to find some balance, the banter is strong and the tension is palpable. You could see the chemistry was still between them though, and spicy hot! Be prepared for a slow burn between these two though. They fight their attraction for so long, but when it comes to head it is wonderful!
This book put a smile on my face and kept me interested while reading it. I love the characters Sarah Adams created and will continue to pick up her novels.
read if you like: second chance romance, fake marriage, only one bed, sports romance
Full Throttle by Melanie Moreland
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Dom is the tall, serious loner, who is moving through life spending his days and nights alone. Until he meets Cherry. A strong, independent woman, who is not interested in the bad boy vibes Dom is giving off. Dom won’t give up and wants to prove that he would be the perfect man for her. The chemistry between them is off the charts and they both start to wonder if this life may be worth finding love, than alone.
Dom and Cherry’s book was the perfect chance at love in your 40s. I love having the chance to read a book with characters that are my age. These two have already lived a lot of life, but they want the chance to find love. Dom is head over heels when he meets Cherry, but she still isn’t quite willing to give in to the feelings they both have.
I thought that Cherry was such a fierce and strong woman, even with all the sadness she has had in her life. Dom has also had his struggles and has such a strong love for the people he cares for. Once Cherry gives into a relationship with Dom, you can see their love is so strong.
One of my favourite parts of this whole series is the found family that the entire Reynold’s Restoration Crew has. I loved the chance to spend time with the whole crew and see how they were doing.
This was a great found family, he falls first, with a little bit of instalove and a whole lot of spice. I cannot wait to read what else Melanie Moreland writes! Thank you to Valentine PR and the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
Read if you love: found family, he falls first, instlove
Dom and Cherry’s book was the perfect chance at love in your 40s. I love having the chance to read a book with characters that are my age. These two have already lived a lot of life, but they want the chance to find love. Dom is head over heels when he meets Cherry, but she still isn’t quite willing to give in to the feelings they both have.
I thought that Cherry was such a fierce and strong woman, even with all the sadness she has had in her life. Dom has also had his struggles and has such a strong love for the people he cares for. Once Cherry gives into a relationship with Dom, you can see their love is so strong.
One of my favourite parts of this whole series is the found family that the entire Reynold’s Restoration Crew has. I loved the chance to spend time with the whole crew and see how they were doing.
This was a great found family, he falls first, with a little bit of instalove and a whole lot of spice. I cannot wait to read what else Melanie Moreland writes! Thank you to Valentine PR and the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
Read if you love: found family, he falls first, instlove
Funny Story by Emily Henry
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't think Emily Henry can write a book I don't have a good time reading. She writes stories that are not only about love and romance but about self-discovery and understanding who you are. Her characters are some of my favourites, I find myself being able to relate to them on some level, so often. She develops her characters so well and pulls at my emotions (even hate) with them.
Daphne and Miles were such great characters, and as with any Emily Henry novel, they come with their histories and problems, making them the people they are. I related to Daphne in so many ways, especially surrounding her complicated relationship with her parents and how to move forward with them. As much as I loved the characters I did find a bit of the tropes not completely sussed out. Miles and Daphne were supposed to be fake dating, but it never really came into play. I wanted more funny scenes in their fake dating. I did love watching the budding friendship between Daphne and Ashleigh, and how Daphne was becoming her person with her own life, rather than being "part" of someone's life.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I will continue to pick up everything Emily Henry writes.
Daphne and Miles were such great characters, and as with any Emily Henry novel, they come with their histories and problems, making them the people they are. I related to Daphne in so many ways, especially surrounding her complicated relationship with her parents and how to move forward with them. As much as I loved the characters I did find a bit of the tropes not completely sussed out. Miles and Daphne were supposed to be fake dating, but it never really came into play. I wanted more funny scenes in their fake dating. I did love watching the budding friendship between Daphne and Ashleigh, and how Daphne was becoming her person with her own life, rather than being "part" of someone's life.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I will continue to pick up everything Emily Henry writes.
Ricochet by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book follows Lily as she tries to navigate her life without Lo being around and trying to conquer her sex addiction. This is one of these books that doesn't seem to have much happen in it. We do get to learn about Lily and Lo in flashbacks and see some of where their addictions come from. I thought this book had some great introspection into an addition that isn't always best treated with a 12-step program. It was interesting to see Lily work through the addiction and begin to discover the intimacy she wanted in her relationship with Lo.
I will say, I thought Ryke was an interesting character in the previous book and now I like him even more! I can't wait to read his story when I get to it!
I find this world of Lily's and Lo's so interesting and I keep getting sucked in more and more. I can't wait to continue in this world!
I will say, I thought Ryke was an interesting character in the previous book and now I like him even more! I can't wait to read his story when I get to it!
I find this world of Lily's and Lo's so interesting and I keep getting sucked in more and more. I can't wait to continue in this world!
Body Check by Elle Kennedy
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Hayden grew up in the hockey world. Her dad was a coach and is now an owner of a hockey team. She returns home to Chicago to help her dad through a divorce. While in town she has a one-night stand with Brody. He turns out to be a hockey player, even worse, for her dad’s team. She tries to stay away from him, but she just can’t seem to get enough of him. The problem is, her whole life, hockey has always been more important than her, and she doesn’t want that to happen in her dating relationships.
This was a quick, easy read with a surprising amount of substance. Brody is such a great guy, a total golden retriever type of man, who would do anything for Hayden. He and Hayden have amazing chemistry with great banter. I enjoyed reading this spicy romance, with some sweet moments between Hayden and Brody.
If you like a hockey romance and want to pick up this new cover and extended content, this would be a perfect read. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book focuses on both main characters coming from backgrounds that have their fair share of obstacles. We didn’t get to see either character overcome those obstacles, we rather were told the obstacles they overcame.
Nick experienced a recent tragedy and overcame physical injuries to make his way back to the NHL. It was obvious that he was still experiencing the psychological impacts of the plane crash he was in, but I didn’t think there was as much impactful emotion as there could have been in this story. We also know that Alyssa had a hard childhood, with a lot of poverty. There wasn’t a good exploration into how it continues to impact her in her life and work. My heart broke for these characters, but I feel like I could have felt more if we delved more into the story.
I liked Nick and Alyssa together, but both of them struggled with communication so much. If they talked to each other, rather than skirting the issues, a lot of the problems they experienced could have been prevented. I did enjoy the found family aspect of the hockey family in Detroit and liked the few scenes we got with them.
Overall, I think this book wasn’t for me. If I am reading a book with tragic backstories, I want that to tear me up inside and I just didn’t get that from this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Emma’s life came to a standstill 10 years ago when she gave up her future to become the full-time caregiver to her father after a terrible accident. Emma is given the chance of a lifetime to go work with her favourite screenwriter and help him create a rom-com, which is her favourite genre. When she arrives in Los Angeles she realizes she has been fooled, and not only does Charlie not want her there, he thinks she doesn’t have the passion for writing. They develop a truce and agree to work together for six weeks, and then go on their way. Emma has a bit of an ulterior motive to stand up for her beloved rom-coms and get Charlie to experience some of those rom-com tropes. But what happens when the love story they are writing starts to feel a little bit true?
I fell in love with Emma and Charlie and loved how they worked in their ways to get each other to live their lives again. Charlie is gruff, and straight to the point. Sometimes it felt like he was being mean to Emma, but I felt that he really cared. He cared in the same way Emma cared for him.
Emma and Charlie have a relationship filled with banter and a deep amount of care and respect. On top of that, we explore the importance of family, caring for those you love and moving forward after a great loss. I loved the sibling relationship between Emma and her sister Sylvie and though complex, you know there is so much love between them.
The only thing I missed a little in this book was the lack of a dual perspective. I think if we had some of Charlie’s thoughts it would have been easier to feel compassion and love toward him the whole time. Katherine Centre’s writing has a way of getting you to live the lives of the characters and feel everything they are.
This was a great book filled with emotion. It would be a perfect summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the second book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy and full of more potential triggers that I knew what to do with it. But, I ate it up at the same time! This book is the dark comedy that I needed in my life. It is dark and gruesome, but kind and sweet too.
We have Lark, a serial unaliver and Lachlan, a "fixer" for his boss. Lachlan thinks that Lark is a spoiled princess, but is unaware of the darkness that hides underneath the surface. Lark carries the world's weight on her shoulders, and in an attempt to protect her family and best friend, she proposes a marriage of convenience to Lachlan. Lachlan and Lark must navigate this marriage, the darkness of their lives, and how to be a couple.
I thought Lark and Lachlan were such interesting characters. They both carry responsibility for their family and friends on their shoulders and would do anything for those they love. This was such a sweet, delicious slow burn, with tension that left you begging for more.
Brynne Weaver does a great job of writing emotion and feeling, along with the darkness and deep love between these characters. Even more, she continues to create a group of mismatched characters into a found family that deeply loves and cares for each other. This book ended with me wanting more and I cannot wait until we get the next story!
We have Lark, a serial unaliver and Lachlan, a "fixer" for his boss. Lachlan thinks that Lark is a spoiled princess, but is unaware of the darkness that hides underneath the surface. Lark carries the world's weight on her shoulders, and in an attempt to protect her family and best friend, she proposes a marriage of convenience to Lachlan. Lachlan and Lark must navigate this marriage, the darkness of their lives, and how to be a couple.
I thought Lark and Lachlan were such interesting characters. They both carry responsibility for their family and friends on their shoulders and would do anything for those they love. This was such a sweet, delicious slow burn, with tension that left you begging for more.
Brynne Weaver does a great job of writing emotion and feeling, along with the darkness and deep love between these characters. Even more, she continues to create a group of mismatched characters into a found family that deeply loves and cares for each other. This book ended with me wanting more and I cannot wait until we get the next story!
For the Fans by Nyla K.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Kyran and Avi are opposites and stepbrothers. Their parents got married when they were in high school and they spend as little time with each other as possible. They end up at the same college, and because of some family financial troubles, they are both left scrambling for money for their housing. Avi comes up with a plan to start an OnlyFans account and adding Kyran to the mix will spice things up and add extra money to both their pockets. Though both have never been with a guy before, they agree they will do it "for the fans".
This book was so, so good. I thought I was getting a stepbrothers, enemies to lovers romance, but I got so much more. I was not prepared to love Avi and Kyran as much as I did, and I loved them with all of my heart. I laughed with them, I cried with them, and there were plenty of tears. Both Avi and Kyran are complicated characters that Nyla did such a good job of writing.
Initially, it seemed like there was no way that Kyran and Avi were compatible, but as we started to get to know these two, and their moments together, we saw really how perfect they were together. The intimacy between them was so raw and vulnerable at times and I loved watching their relationship flourish.
Overall, this was a wonderful book. If you are looking for a book with great characters and amazing chemistry while dealing with a gamut of emotional topics, this is the book for you. There are many potentially triggering things in this book, please check for warnings if you need them. I cannot wait to read more books by Nyla K.!
This book was so, so good. I thought I was getting a stepbrothers, enemies to lovers romance, but I got so much more. I was not prepared to love Avi and Kyran as much as I did, and I loved them with all of my heart. I laughed with them, I cried with them, and there were plenty of tears. Both Avi and Kyran are complicated characters that Nyla did such a good job of writing.
Initially, it seemed like there was no way that Kyran and Avi were compatible, but as we started to get to know these two, and their moments together, we saw really how perfect they were together. The intimacy between them was so raw and vulnerable at times and I loved watching their relationship flourish.
Overall, this was a wonderful book. If you are looking for a book with great characters and amazing chemistry while dealing with a gamut of emotional topics, this is the book for you. There are many potentially triggering things in this book, please check for warnings if you need them. I cannot wait to read more books by Nyla K.!