cortanasreadingnook's reviews
368 reviews

Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad slow-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

5.0

Rafael and Ellie’s story have got to be one of the most tearjerker, painful reads following Dirty Air. This book will have you clutching your chest because of the angst and yearning. I have seen readers wonder why it’s as long as 600 pages, but you will not feel the lengthy storytelling because it is equally entertaining and reflective. They have very good chemistry that gets more and more engaging to read because of the slowburn.

Rafael’s embodiment of someone with trust and commitment issues were delivered well to fit Ellie’s character, a talented, heartbroken musician with a buried past to her name. Love Unwritten addresses second chances and focuses on taking risks and highlights how intimate connection and communication are in a romantic relationship. Lauren Asher has always been one of my favorite writers, and Lakefront Billionaires is a testament to how she’s grown as a writer. I’m excited to read Love Arranged in 2025!
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Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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

5.0

“I missed out on a chance to make you mine before, but I don’t plan on making the same mistake again. We’re the real deal, sweetheart, and I’m done letting you believe anything else.” 

Lauren Asher is back with a new billionaire’s series that I think I loved more than her previous books. Love Redesigned is such a sweet, adult romance about childhood rivals taking a second chance at love. 

This book definitely served the whole fucking meal when it gave us Julian Lopez, the most ideal version of Bob the Builder. He is without a doubt smoking hot, but he’s one of the greenest fictional men ever. I’ve said this before, but to be loved is to be known and this man went above and beyond for Dahlia. To me, her character was refreshing, but also quite reflective to read about. Before anyone of you complains how she’s always overthinking, self-sabotage is very common for individuals with anxiety (take it from me). The depiction of her experience with depression was genuine as well and to be able to see myself in women like her makes me feel empowered. I also love how this tackles reproductive complications, which many women face. Dahlia and Julian’s love story is quite the romantic thrill, but what was it that appealed me to her writing even back then? Not everything is perfect. Lauren’s storytelling may be lengthy, but it never affected her delivery. There’s some semblance of reality and emotional maturity in the way she shares her characters to us. She makes them more human and easier to connect with as a reader. 

Love Redesigned’s take on second chances, grief, and regret reminds me a lot of Redeemed, also my favorite from Dirty Air. So, I highly recommend reading this book! I can’t wait for Love Unwritten. 
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Spy x Family, Vol. 13 by Tatsuya Endo

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challenging funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Spy x Family, Vol. 12 by Tatsuya Endo

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Annihilator by RuNyx

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.0

I have mixed feelings about reading this, especially since I put it off for so long even though I knew damn well Luna/Lyla was alive. I’ll be taking a break from romance books after this because I actually feel like my mind’s gonna fucking break. I completely understand the readers who didn’t like Dainn, and I wish I could hate him as much as you guys do, but I can’t find it in myself to despise him at all. What he “didn’t do” for the last six years was for everyone’s safety and he was completely honest about it as well.

Please consider the TWs/CWs before reading this. RuNyx went into detail about the brutality of sexual slavery and the exploitation of women and children, so it takes quite an emotional toll on the reader. I also appreciate the fact that Luna/Lyla’s depression was handled with care. I’m glad nobody criticized how depression was expressed through Luna/Lyla’s character. It doesn’t really go away, it’s just there. You can get better, but it stays. You can’t determine when and where you’ll break and it’s scary because it sucks the fucking life out of you, and I know that all too well.
The revelations here were so unexpected though. I don’t know if I want to cry or throw up because why in the everloving fuck did Luna have to experience all of this? I can’t wait for The Syndicater! 
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A Sign of Affection, Volume 5 by suu Morishita

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

A Sign of Affection, Volume 4 by suu Morishita

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

The Finisher by RuNyx

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

Alpha & Zephyr have my heart! In this fourth installment of the Dark Verse series, the chemistry and the dynamic between the MCs is just as good as the last one. Zephyr was very refreshing to read about because women with her body type (women with perfect breasts :D) is quite rare in romance stories. Her hopeless romantic personality was cute yet a great match in contrast to the build of Alpha’s characterization because they match each other’s freaks. The cameos from danteamara and tristanmorana were much anticipated and I enjoyed the scenes they were in. But this book did answer one very heartbreaking question I had (RuNyx I am in your very walls WHY).

The writing of the tropes in this story were given justice and keeps a reader hooked, but I wanted more of their past together before the “accident”. Maybe it was to keep the story more fast-paced, but I was looking for something similar to The Emperor. I usually don’t say this about romance books, but this book could’ve been longer and touched more aspects of their relationship, though I am hoping we get more in The Syndicater (when are we even getting it?).
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Navigating With You by Jeremy Whitley

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

 I received an ARC via NetGalley from Maverick in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.

Happy Pride Month to Neesha and Gabby! <3 This book has amazing POC & WLW representation that is perfect for the celebration of LGBTQIA+ stories. I love graphic novels, especially those that feature queer characters. Moreso, the disability rep writes cerebral palsy very well. Lastly, this book handles loss and grief in a heartwarming and sweet manner. I loved how Navigating With You is simply about two nerds falling in love because of a famous manga. 
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