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condls27's reviews
295 reviews
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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
Another solid angsty and magical mystery from Adrienne! I love her storytelling, I can picture everything so clearly I feel like I’m standing in the story. That said, I I wish we got a few more flashbacks to flush out each character a little more. Other than that, I have no complaints.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Grief, and Murder
Pick-Up by Nora Dahlia
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.5
I enjoyed this so much but I can see people not liking this if they go into it expecting it to be like all the other romances out there. This is about finding yourself after marriage, kids and careers. It was messy and frustrating at times but so real and so sweet.
The banter and just overall humor in this book was so good. Honestly, my only complaint is how hot and cold Sasha could be on a single page but I mean, she had her reasons and I couldn’t blame her.
Such a unique read that I will be thinking about for a long time!
The 3rd POV threw me for a bit but I put it all together right before Sasha got to the island. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure I liked it but it was a unique perspective that we don’t get to see in romances so I enjoyed it!
The banter and just overall humor in this book was so good. Honestly, my only complaint is how hot and cold Sasha could be on a single page but I mean, she had her reasons and I couldn’t blame her.
Such a unique read that I will be thinking about for a long time!
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Antisemitism
Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
I don’t know why I’m surprised Abby was able to pack so much heart into a 61 page book but here we are. That was an absolute delight and it made me cry which is my favorite combo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Rare Blend by Michelle Naomi Mosley
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This had the makings for a solid romance but the execution fell flat for me. My main complaint was that this felt like both a slow-burn and insta-love.
Ethan decided 20% in that he didn’t hate her anymore and is actually, obsessed with her but nothing happens until almost the 70% mark. After Ethan decides to stop being a dick, we get one scene of them at a bar together and then it feels the rest of their friendship building happens off page. We need more tension, more yearning if the payoff is going to be worth it.
The whole job thing felt forced too. He doesn’t get an award for “letting her go to Seattle” if he can’t even last a week. I would’ve respected her just as much if she was honest with herself that she wanted to stay in town.
Aside from all of that, I was so annoyed we only see Marissa have a heart to heart with her mom. IMO, her dad was the one that really needed the reckoning. The author almost makes him sound cruel with how hard he was on her with school and then he just abandons her for a new family. They barely speak but he randomly buys a small town newspaper for her? He’s the one that should’ve been on his knees groveling and yet they barely interact for the entire book.
Also, can all romance authors please, for the love of god, stop with the “losing my feminism card” jokes? Feminism isn’t about hating men, that’s misandry. You can be a feminist and have sex with men. I promise we won’t kick you out.
Ethan decided 20% in that he didn’t hate her anymore and is actually, obsessed with her but nothing happens until almost the 70% mark. After Ethan decides to stop being a dick, we get one scene of them at a bar together and then it feels the rest of their friendship building happens off page. We need more tension, more yearning if the payoff is going to be worth it.
The whole job thing felt forced too. He doesn’t get an award for “letting her go to Seattle” if he can’t even last a week. I would’ve respected her just as much if she was honest with herself that she wanted to stay in town.
Aside from all of that, I was so annoyed we only see Marissa have a heart to heart with her mom. IMO, her dad was the one that really needed the reckoning. The author almost makes him sound cruel with how hard he was on her with school and then he just abandons her for a new family. They barely speak but he randomly buys a small town newspaper for her? He’s the one that should’ve been on his knees groveling and yet they barely interact for the entire book.
Also, can all romance authors please, for the love of god, stop with the “losing my feminism card” jokes? Feminism isn’t about hating men, that’s misandry. You can be a feminist and have sex with men. I promise we won’t kick you out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Incredibly insightful and vital information.
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
This was a cute premise but fell flat for me. I understand why Quinn had his issues and I’m glad he worked through them in a healthy way, we just didn’t get to see that on the page so I wasn’t very invested in their relationship. To me, he was still this turd playing hot and cold with Minnie. He should’ve been the one racing through London, experiencing some of her bad luck in order to profess his love.
All that said, my biggest issue with the book was that it desperately needed a sensitivity reader. There was so much fatphobia for a book that’s only a couple years old. It was really disappointing.
All that said, my biggest issue with the book was that it desperately needed a sensitivity reader. There was so much fatphobia for a book that’s only a couple years old. It was really disappointing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.5
I am a sucker for any feminist historical fiction so I naturally adored this. It is packed with so much and felt a little heavy at times (check trigger warnings) but overall I had a great time. I highly recommend the audiobook, Kristin Atherton is my favorite narrator and she does such an amazing job bringing every character to life. I can’t wait for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Darkest Sins by Neva Altaj
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I should’ve DNF’d after the first tiger cub 🤢
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
The Wild Wolf's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
I love this weird little series so much. I will gobble up as many as Cate C. Wells will give us! My only complaint is my usual complaint- I just want more! I wish we got a little more time with both of them as humans but still enjoyed it overall!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was really sweet but just a little too fluffy for me. I need my romances to dig a little deeper and hurt a little more for the payoff to work in the end. That was missing a little bit for me here but I still enjoyed the book overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Stalking