chidimmadesiree's reviews
663 reviews

ATTENTION ALL YA THRILLERS IF YOU NEED THE BLUEPRINT LOOK NO FURTHER!!! This book was nothing less than perfect. From the characters, to the plot, to the themes, everything just came together to create this perfect story. I flew through this book, for the life of me I couldn’t stop reading. I don’t even want to say anything about the plot going into this book because knowing nothing was the best decision. Reading a ya thriller with a character named Chiamaka, who eats rice and stew for dinner, LITERALLY I’M IN LOVE. Not only did this book have such a crazy mystery but the importance behind the issues that the story centered around made this mean so much more. I felt real dread throughout most of the novel, WOW!

5/12/22 reread: Reread for a book club and it was so much fun reading this book knowing who was behind Aces and every plot twist. Seeing people’s reactions to the ending was actually so entertaining. It was a bit of a cultural shift when it came to YA thrillers. It still holds up as a good mystery even after a second time. Chiamaka is just THAT girl!

This book had a rocky start but by the end the author had me in a chokehold. Sana and Rachel were just messy sapphics in love, no communication just vibes. Their relationship was up and down like mine with this book but it ended on such a happy note that I can’t help but to root for them. The conflicts in this book could have easily been avoided with just them talking openly with with each other. But by the end of their story I wanted more. I didn’t like Rachel at first but the author really made her main two leads feel three dimensional. Even if I didn’t agree with her I understood where she was coming from. I grew to like her by the end of this and I got who she was as a person. On the other hand I absolutely adored Sana. I love how layered she was not just the ultra smart girl or the cheerleader or the good girl but all that wrapped into one. Her journey in finding her voice and still figuring out what she wants in life was very relatable and I was touched. This book took place within a span of 30 days but it had so many things to say that it felt longer and every part of it was amazing. The romance between Sana and Rachel was everything and I’m so happy that Aminah Mae Safi got to tell it.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It was twisty, intricate, with so many red herrings. The plot twists didn’t stop until the very last page which I love when a thriller leaves you wanting more. If I had to compare this book to anything it would be Big Little Lies because the story is not solely focused on murder but the secrets each family is keeping. By the end it all ties into one narrative which was insane to say the least. The murder was not revealed until the 80% mark of this book but I couldn’t care less because the drama happening between the four friends and their families was too messy. I love a good thriller that combines family drama with a murder mystery just the perfect recipe. I couldn’t put this book down and by the end of it I didn’t want it to be over.

THIS BOOK DID NOT JUST END LIKE THAT! I’m still reeling from that ending. I don’t think I’ve read a thriller that ended on a cliffhanger as crazy as this in a while. The book started off with a bang and ended off a bang, I have to respect it. Seriously though this book was paced very well the author knew exactly what bits and pieces of the mystery to drop and what plot twists worked to keep you interested. By the end the author was just dropping bombs of secrets and I was shocked again and again. This book did feel repetitive at times with the story being so focused on the case and the impending trial that it felt stagnant. It felt like I was reading the same thing over with new evidence and how Angela respond by sticking by her husband. Angela was a very interesting character for the book to focus on. I wanted to know more about her and how she become this subdued about her husband being accused of sexual assault and him cheating on her. Overall this book stated and ended with a high note but there were parts that couldn’t have been cut for the middle to be as exciting as the beginning and end.

THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK SHOOK ME TO MY CORE! Did I stay up until 2am to finish reading this even though it’s finals week? Yes I did. This book was so much better than I could ever dream it to be. Throughout this book we’re following Jessica who’s very unlikable, unhinged and batshit crazy but it never made the story uninteresting. I actually liked Jessica’s POV because seeing things from her delusion of Grandeur was almost fascinating at times, she never bored me. Ashley Winstead created this dynamic group of friends that were not black and white but gray in their actions and it was so compelling to read. Their intricacies with the different relationships in the friendship group was such an interesting part of the story. The mystery was just gripping you think you know the whole story until something is revealed that leaves everything muddled. I love in thrillers when secrets from the past are revealed and this book had so many moments like that. As all the puzzle pieces started to come together about the night Heather died, the story leaves you with a jaw dropping ending.

Mia Sosa’s back with her companion novel to The Worst Best Man. I absolutely loved that book and was so excited to read this one. I hate that I didn’t love this book as much as I did the first one. I just didn’t feel invested with the romance between Dean and Solange. I felt there was no sparks in their relationship. They had cute scenes together but nothing that made me feel like I would throw my phone across the room if they didn’t end up together. When they broke up during the third act break I barely felt anything. I will say the scene where they get back together in Vegas was really adorable. I just needed so much more to be in love with Dean and Solange together. I did love Solange as the main character and felt that she was vibrant and really hilarious. I do think Dean felt a little one dimensional at times. By the end of this book I got to experience Solange’s personality more than Dean’s. If we got more from him maybe the romance would have left me feeling all gooey inside. The humor in this book was A1 though and I found myself having a grand ol time especially with the cast of characters with this wholesome, lively Brazilian family.

I AM SO DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK! So much so that I want it to be made into a blanket so I can wrap myself in it. I thought this book was going to be filled with hijinks with Joy trying to convince Malcolm that he should be with her. But surprisingly the main character was very mature in how she went about it. At first I thought Malcolm and Joy’s friendship was unhealthy but as I continued reading I understood them. It’s like their each other’s platonic soulmate or each other’s person think Cristina and Meredith from Grey’s Anatomy. Joy and Fox were nothing short of perfect. Their whole relationship dynamic was so adorable. Every scene of them together they just bounced off each other it was so magnetic. Grumpy x sunshine for the win! Joy and Fox both being their to break Summer and Malcom up and then falling in love was just beautifully done. Joy was just so joyful to read from like I don’t think I’ve encountered a main character I’ve loved this much in a long time. This was just perfection wrapped up in a fluffy fun summer romance novel. Claire Kann never fails to write books with amazing representation filled with lovable characters and a romance that warms your heart. And side note this was the last push I needed to finally watch My Best Friend’s Wedding.

Sweating bullets finishing this book I’m just not ready for the crazy ride this series is going to take me on. Each and every time I pick up a fantasy I ask myself why I rarely read the genre? Then once I get into the book I realize that this genre stresses me the hell out. The stakes are always so high and I’m always fearing for the lives of my favorites characters. But that also make the romance so much more intense. The love square that’s going on between Laia, Elias, Helene, and Keenan is interesting to say the least. All I’m saying is that Elias and Laia better be endgame or I will riot. This entire book was so action packed and I loved how well paced it was. Many first books in fantasy series are slow right until the very end. But this book knew how to draw you in only to leave you breathless by the end. The last 100 pages did not give me time to breathe it was bang bang bang. I now understand why this series is so beloved by readers. I’m so happy I finally got to this book after years on my TBR and I cannot wait to read the next one in the series. Sabaa Tahir please have mercy on me my heart can’t take it anymore.

This was an amazing sequel to a strong first book in a fantasy series. I did feel like we were in limbo for most of this book almost as if we were waiting for something to happen. For most of this book the characters on a journey to the Kauf Prison and I think because of that the pacing was slower than the first book. Due to the slower pace and less action I felt that we got to know more about the characters. What makes them tick, what motivates them, their reasoning behind actions, and their families. With this the characters felt more real and I grew more attached to them. Getting Helene’s POV was a game changer I loved that we got the chance to understand her internal conflict between her duty as Blood Shrike and her love for Elias. The chemistry between Elias and Laia is just unbeatable and I’m shipping Avitas and Helene I really want them to have their happy endings. Saba Tahir is gifted with how she creates this world and weaves in so many details without coming off as info dumpy. I love how we were getting to know the magic characters possess with them instead of having other characters explain their magic. This book ended with a bang and I’m so excited to see where the story takes us with the next installment to the series.

I just know the last book in this series will ruin me. This book took me longer to fell fully immersed into the story but once I did I never wanted to leave the world. I felt the book was all over the place until the last 200 pages where I was all in. By then I couldn’t tear myself away from the story. There’s so many plot twists in this book some that left me gasping and some that left me in tears. I literally love all three main characters and from different reasons. They all bring a unique perspective to the story and they’ve all grown on me. Helene, the Blood Shrike, has quickly captured my heart. I love a character who all their life they were taught something was right only to realize that they were taught wrongly. I thought her situation was the most complex and seeing her navigate it was so interesting. Her and Laia’s friendship is going to be so satisfying to see. Now Laia let’s talk about growth. Laia who thought herself to be a coward, not capable, and unable to be who her people needed now be the leader of the Scholars, I couldn’t be more proud. Elias’s story is so bittersweet because his life was saved but at what cost. Elias and Laia will get their happy ending or else.