danadoesbooks's reviews
914 reviews

Whenever You're Ready by Rachel Runya Katz

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emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC of Whenever You're Ready! All opinions in this review are my own.

I'm glad I had reviewed the synopsis of Whenever You're Ready ahead of time because it is not one to go into lightly. Jade and Nia have not talked in three years, since right around the time their best friend died from cancer. As they are nearing 30, they are determined to cross the final item off Michal's bucket list, a tour of Southern Jewish history. Not only must Jade and Nia confront both their grief and their feelings for each other on this road trip, but Jade also must work through her grief in relation to her brother Jonah as well who was dating Michal at the time of her death.

I find I don't typically gravitate towards books with heavier topics lately but I figured I would try Whenever You're Ready. Although it is categorized as a romance, I think it is important to know that the romance is not the most addressed relationship or emotion, especially in the first half. I found this to be more about grief and friendship, especially the exploration of why romantic relationships are given more importance than friendships.

My only complainy is that at times the narration can be difficult to follow. The point of view would switch between Jade and Nia's inner thoughts but because it is still told in third person and it would switch during chapters, it could sometimes be difficult to figure out which person's thoughts we were currently hearing. I wish it had either been written as first person so you would only see one name and know who "I" was referring to, or it was told with an omniscient third person narrator so you had everyone's thoughts whenever they were shared.

Overall, Whenever You're Ready is an emotional undertaking, but it is so worth it!
Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

5.0

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC of Earl Crush! All opinions in this review are my own.

The Belvoir's Library series is so much fun! While I liked the first book, Ne'er Duke Well, I definitely enjoyed Earl Crush more! I like the Scottish setting and the whole set up of how Lydia and Arthur fit together. I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Something Extraordinary by Alexis Hall

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emotional funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for the DRC of Something Extraordinary! All opinions in this review are my own.

The Something Something series is always full of shenanigans and humor, and the third book did not disappoint. My only complaint is that the characters from the previous books aren't really in it. I think it's important to note that Something Extraordinary is a deep character dive into Sir Horley and Bella so the pacing can be slow at times. Overall, I've really enjoyed this series and recommend for someone looking for a fun historical romance!
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

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4.0

Snowglobe by Soyoung Park

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4.0

A Trip of One's Own by Kate Wills

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.
Thank you Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the DRC of Book of the Month. All opinions in this review are my own.

I DNFed this one at 39% and I am disappointed about it. I loved the opening few chapters and the premise, but I felt weird about Aspen paying Brick to break her heart, especially since she already tried to "seduce" him (which bordered on harassment).
Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin

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4.0

Thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the DRC of Eddie Winston is Looking for Love! All opinions in this review are my own.

It is so easy to fall in love with Eddie from the opening pages. I loved seeing how he interacted with people and was able to figure out what they needed. I understand the need for the flashbacks, but I felt like I was always impatient to get back to the present.
Love, Just In by Natalie Murray

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Thank you Allen & Unwin and NetGalley for the DRC of Love, Just In. All opinions in this review are my own.

I am DNFing this one at 9%. There is a lot of health anxiety right from the start that I wasn't prepared for and it is overwhelming.