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courtsbooknook's reviews
1599 reviews
If You Need Me by Helena Hunting
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Dallas and Hemi have my whole heart!! I love a fake dating scheme, and this was fantastic. I think the communication between these two was mostly good. I would have liked for them to share certain things sooner, but I still enjoyed their relationship and progression. As someone who also feels like she is too much, I completely relate to Hemi for that. She was so raw and vulnerable but also unapologetically her, and I loved that about her character. I'm not surprised the spice was also great because I've been a Helena fan for a long time now, and that always hits. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and made me feel good overall. I'm excited to see where the series goes next as I love the Badass Babe Brigade, the hockey guys, and all the heartfelt moments. Thanks to Helena for providing me with an ARC to read and review.
Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Kerri never misses. Prince Gluttony and Adriana have my entire heart and soul. I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed how well it picked up after the first installment even with new main characters. The tension was insane, the spice was delectable, and I genuinely kept wanting to know what would happen next. The world that she created here is so exciting I like that there's a unique plot point for each of the brothers. This one also gave me regency vibes which I was not mad at in the slightest. I loved the gossip columns and drama that followed Adriana and Gluttony. I'm so invested in these books and they constantly live in my head. I can't wait to see who's story will be next!
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I absolutely adored this Cinderella/bachelor retelling. The modern twists in the fairytale were so well done and I loved Cindy as the FMC. The fashion design element was so cool and I loved how passionate she was about shoes. While this did have great character development, I wished Henry and Cindy would have explored their romantic relationship sooner (outside the show). I feel like they didn't actually get together until the end of the book which I wasn't huge on. Overall this was a really sweet book and I enjoyed it!!
Powerless by Elsie Silver
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Sloane and Jasper give me life!! Jasper was such a tortured, lovable type and I was here for all of it. I love when Sloane stood up to her father and really found her voice throughout the story. Their chemistry was insane and the friends to lovers trope was done so well. I also love Harvey's commentary and his character is a delight. There were so many meaningful moments and I really had a great time reading this one!
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
This was not my favorite of Ruth Ware's. I loved the creepy old house setting in the middle of nowhere, and I thought that was done really well. However, the characters fell a bit flat for me, and the twist was pretty predictable. I was surprised because she usually keeps me on my toes, but I found myself easily guessing what was coming. Some aspects were good and it was a quick read, but not the best one for me.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
dark
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Out of the Sanderson projects, this was another win! I loved that Sanderson tried his hand at a slight love story. I thought the way Yumi and Painter brought each other out of their comfort zones was magnificent. Hoid was a great narrator when he showed up, and I love the humorous moments in his character that make for a bit of lightness. The world-building here was so well done, and I couldn't believe how quick-paced the story was. This was so good and definitely one of my new favorites of his. It was so good on audio and I live for a Kate and Michael moment! I would read more of these characters in an instant. Loved it!
Drive Me Wild by Carly Robyn
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
This was cute; I just think I enjoyed the first one a bit more. Josie was so sassy, and I loved her for that. Watching her grow and explore was great, and I really valued her determination to go after what she wanted. She and Theo were cute together, but I would have loved to see them together longer. The third-act break-up felt super unnecessary and I didn't like how angry Theo got at Josie all because she wanted a new job. I liked that she was British and he was Australian as it made for fun banter. Overall, I enjoyed it, just not my favorite. Thanks to Carly Robyn for providing me an e-ARC to read and review!
Heartless by Elsie Silver
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
OMG!! Give me a single dad and nanny trope any day of the week!!! I loved that Cade and Willa's story continued right after Rhett and Summer's. I also loved Lucas, he was the real star of the show here. But genuinely, I loved this story so much. Willa and Cade were so great for each other and they really brought out each other's best qualities. I like how they communicated about how they were feeling rather than brushing it off or getting angry with each other. The spice was incredible and Cade certainly has a dirty mouth (which I loved)! I'm so excited for the rest of the series but this is looking like a clear favorite right now!
Next Stop by Benjamin Resnick
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
I'm not a huge science fiction fan, but the fact that this book was largely Jewish is what pulled me in. It was quick-paced, interestingly topical, and snappy. I couldn't believe it was Resnick's first novel. While this was a work of fiction, it was set against a world full of antisemitism (very similar to the real one right now) and took a dystopian look at what would happen if you're Jewish. I think there were things that probably went over my head, but I thought the story was well done and enjoyable.
The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I absolutely adored the world Adi Denner created with this book. It was glamorous, dark, and mysterious and the perfect setting for what was happening. I liked the idea of the talents and how that was part of the magic system. The fashion aspect was super cool as well. The beginning was a bit slow, so it took me a bit to get into the story. I did love the love triangle, though, especially with the LGBTQ representation. It was interesting to see how each character's story played out. Cleo was a strong character, and her development was good. It would have also been cool to have a chapter or two in Dahlia or Vicomte's perspective to help with pacing, but overall, this was a good read! Thank you to Tundra Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book to read and review.