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emmirosereads's reviews
390 reviews
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I can definitely see and understand why so many people loved this book! There was a lot of potential and a lot that I did like. I loved the vibes. I loved the two main characters and the eventual opposites attract relationship they formed. They had good chemistry and it developed in a really sweet way. I loved the themes of female rage throughout the book, especially at the end. Unfortunately, I just could not connect and love this story as vividly as everyone else seemed to. I'm not sure if it just wasn't the right time for me to read this as I'm a huge mood reader or if it was something with the book itself that I inherently had a problem with that I can't quite identify.
My biggest gripe with the book was its pacing. I attempted to read this on my Kindle but couldn't get into it so I tried the audiobook which was better but it still took me till about 50% of the way through the really be invested and even then I wasn't completely invested. I also had some issues with the worldbuilding. I don't know if lackluster is the right description because the foundation is there and good but I almost wish there were more fantasy elements to it. The book is on the shorter side so it is a bit hard to give a full lush world in that amount of time.
I liked it well enough but didn't love it and was a little bored for most of it I hate to admit but I definitely think this is worth giving a try if you think you might enjoy it!
My biggest gripe with the book was its pacing. I attempted to read this on my Kindle but couldn't get into it so I tried the audiobook which was better but it still took me till about 50% of the way through the really be invested and even then I wasn't completely invested. I also had some issues with the worldbuilding. I don't know if lackluster is the right description because the foundation is there and good but I almost wish there were more fantasy elements to it. The book is on the shorter side so it is a bit hard to give a full lush world in that amount of time.
I liked it well enough but didn't love it and was a little bored for most of it I hate to admit but I definitely think this is worth giving a try if you think you might enjoy it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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
3.75
This once again is a fun, silly, fantasy book. It doesn't take itself seriously and that's what I love about it. With that being said, I didn't quite like this one as much as the first. The pacing felt a lot slower to me, and I was just a little bored through some parts of it, but other than that I enjoyed it.
I had a lot of fun seeing Evie's character development as she becomes a little more villainous herself. I adore the relationship between her and the villain. It is the real reason I love reading these books so much. Honestly just seeing the relationship between Evie and all of the other characters is fantastic. I both love and hate how much of a slow burn this is between Evie and The Villain. On one hand this so easily could have been an insta-love story and I appreciate that its not, on the other handthey are still not together by the end of this book and only kiss maybe like twice towards the middle and last third of the book. It's killing me a little bit.
Though I didn't love it quite as much as book one it was still fun, and I'm excited to see where the third book goes!
I had a lot of fun seeing Evie's character development as she becomes a little more villainous herself. I adore the relationship between her and the villain. It is the real reason I love reading these books so much. Honestly just seeing the relationship between Evie and all of the other characters is fantastic. I both love and hate how much of a slow burn this is between Evie and The Villain. On one hand this so easily could have been an insta-love story and I appreciate that its not, on the other hand
Though I didn't love it quite as much as book one it was still fun, and I'm excited to see where the third book goes!
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
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
4.0
A very solid four-star read for me! I enjoyed this one a lot. It felt like it was a little slow and dragged on a bit in the middle toward the second half of the book but overall really good.
Casey McQuiston's writing is even better in this book than the first book I read by her, Red White and Royal Blue. There were a lot of beautiful quotes and passages that I tabbed to go back to later. I wasn't as invested in the setting of this book necessarily and if it wasn't a queer book by Casey I likely wouldn't have picked it up, but they hooked me in with these characters and their relationship. Kit and Theo were so very messy and I can see why someone wouldn't love this book but honestly, I loved their messiness and seeing the character and relationship development throughout this book. I really connected with some of the feelings Theo went through and experienced. Like we are very different people but some of that shit hit me hard.
overall I would recommend if you liked any of Casey's other books or if it sounds interesting to you.
Casey McQuiston's writing is even better in this book than the first book I read by her, Red White and Royal Blue. There were a lot of beautiful quotes and passages that I tabbed to go back to later. I wasn't as invested in the setting of this book necessarily and if it wasn't a queer book by Casey I likely wouldn't have picked it up, but they hooked me in with these characters and their relationship. Kit and Theo were so very messy and I can see why someone wouldn't love this book but honestly, I loved their messiness and seeing the character and relationship development throughout this book. I really connected with some of the feelings Theo went through and experienced. Like we are very different people but some of that shit hit me hard.
overall I would recommend if you liked any of Casey's other books or if it sounds interesting to you.
Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It is truly such a delight to see how much Brigid Kemmerer improves with each book she writes. I had fun with the original Cursebreaker series but this spin-off just is all the better! I was hooked every moment. I loved seeing new and old characters and getting to know Tycho better from the original series. Something I think Brigid writes so well is her characters and their relationships with each other, from friends to family, to romance. Each relationship is rich and well thought out, and made each page so worth reading.
I also loved the political intrigue throughout this entire book and the themes of not everyone being good or evil. Everyone has their reason for doing things, whether it's the right thing to do or not. I feel like that's explored so well in this book and I'm so excited to see it dived into more in the sequel. I also love the themes of trauma explored a little in this novel and how Brigid Kemmerer handles those themes. It was so good to see this world expanded on and I can't wait for the sequel.
I also loved the political intrigue throughout this entire book and the themes of not everyone being good or evil. Everyone has their reason for doing things, whether it's the right thing to do or not. I feel like that's explored so well in this book and I'm so excited to see it dived into more in the sequel. I also love the themes of trauma explored a little in this novel and how Brigid Kemmerer handles those themes. It was so good to see this world expanded on and I can't wait for the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Miscarriage and Sexual assault
The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It's been a long time since I've rated a book anything lower than a three. If it's going to be below a three I usually DNF it but this was short and was a buddy read with a friend of mine so I pushed through and finished it.
This started rough. It got a little bit better in the middle and by the end I was just so annoyed that anything I did enjoy about the book wasn't worth it. I think I enjoyed the concept of this book and the setting was cool, I suppose, but everything else was poorly executed. This would have benefited from being a bit longer and having more time to delve into the world and characters. This didn't feel like the wonderful Sapphic heist book that I was promised. The stakes never felt super high and the ending was rushed and just kind of bleh. I would have probably enjoyed this way more if we stayed in the mortal world and had some magic elements instead of them going to Fae and having another completely undeveloped land to explore. Especially with being so short.
Though the biggest thing I hated about this book was Sybil and the relationship she had with Esme. I could appreciate Esme, though I could agree she was a little flat, but I didn't mind her. I liked her vibe but Sybil? She pissed me off so much for most of the book. She felt like a whiny and manipulative brat for about 95% of this book and I don't understand how Sybil and Esme are supposed to love each other when they're so opposite and not in a cutesy opposite attracts way. In a this is never going to work out and is so unhealthy way.
One wants to stay home with her cats and read and the other wants to go on grand adventures constantly. Esme just goes along with Sybil because she loves her and wants to protect her only after being coerced into it by Sybil. I feel like Sybil never really respected or cared for Esme which pissed me off so bad. Especially after that comment towards the end of the book after Esme saves her fucking life and Sybil just goes and blames her for leaving her brother in Fae, LIKE WHAT? Even after she apologizes and confesses her love it means nothing to be after her behavior for most of the book. I don't think I would have minded Sybil's character nearly as much if perhaps they were both that *risk everything* archetype of character or at the very least Sybil respected Esme when she so very clearly doesn't want to go on the theifing adventure. I wanted a sweet, in-depth sapphic relationship and all I got was just an annoying, toxic, unhealthy mess.
It also just felt like there was no chemistry with them besides that. It was a lot of showing and not telling because they were already friends pining for each other. It just felt like Insta-love to me, and why I realized I don't like a lot of friends-to-lovers kind of stories.
I probably would have liked this so much more if I didn't hate Sybil so much and the relationship was actually well-written and developed but alas here we are. Sapphic books are so far and in between so it hurts me even more when they're not good.
This started rough. It got a little bit better in the middle and by the end I was just so annoyed that anything I did enjoy about the book wasn't worth it. I think I enjoyed the concept of this book and the setting was cool, I suppose, but everything else was poorly executed. This would have benefited from being a bit longer and having more time to delve into the world and characters. This didn't feel like the wonderful Sapphic heist book that I was promised. The stakes never felt super high and the ending was rushed and just kind of bleh. I would have probably enjoyed this way more if we stayed in the mortal world and had some magic elements instead of them going to Fae and having another completely undeveloped land to explore. Especially with being so short.
Though the biggest thing I hated about this book was Sybil and the relationship she had with Esme. I could appreciate Esme, though I could agree she was a little flat, but I didn't mind her. I liked her vibe but Sybil? She pissed me off so much for most of the book. She felt like a whiny and manipulative brat for about 95% of this book and I don't understand how Sybil and Esme are supposed to love each other when they're so opposite and not in a cutesy opposite attracts way. In a this is never going to work out and is so unhealthy way.
I probably would have liked this so much more if I didn't hate Sybil so much and the relationship was actually well-written and developed but alas here we are. Sapphic books are so far and in between so it hurts me even more when they're not good.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
I wanted to love this book so much. I had been putting it off for so long, but I couldn't love it like I wanted to. I don't know if I picked it up at the wrong time in my life, or if I would have felt the same regardless of when I read this but it makes me sad.
It took me three months to even finish this book, reading it on and off. While I was reading it, for the most part, I enjoyed every moment but when I put it down I never had any urge to pick it back up and it was always a struggle to get myself to do it. Eventually, I just had to pick up the audiobook and finish it that way. I should have probably done that from the beginning.
I will say that this book is beautifully written. The writing is lyrical and poetic. I appreciate what V.E Schwab was trying to do and the messages she wanted to convey. I loved seeing the relationship dynamics between Addie and Luc and Addie and Henry and the themes of living and dying and the value of time in a life but the actual enjoyment of reading this book wasn't fully there. The best way I can explain it is a long, difficult-to-read classic that you know is important and you can appreciate it for what it was trying to do but ultimately you just couldn't enjoy reading it.
It took me three months to even finish this book, reading it on and off. While I was reading it, for the most part, I enjoyed every moment but when I put it down I never had any urge to pick it back up and it was always a struggle to get myself to do it. Eventually, I just had to pick up the audiobook and finish it that way. I should have probably done that from the beginning.
I will say that this book is beautifully written. The writing is lyrical and poetic. I appreciate what V.E Schwab was trying to do and the messages she wanted to convey. I loved seeing the relationship dynamics between Addie and Luc and Addie and Henry and the themes of living and dying and the value of time in a life but the actual enjoyment of reading this book wasn't fully there. The best way I can explain it is a long, difficult-to-read classic that you know is important and you can appreciate it for what it was trying to do but ultimately you just couldn't enjoy reading it.
Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was worried this wouldn't live up to the hype in my mind or the ending would ruin my love for the rest of the series but this exceeded my expectations and I loved it so much. Seeing the character development from the first two books and how everything tied together was lovely. It didn't feel rushed or unsatisfying in any way to me. I love a book that can make me laugh, smile, and cry throughout it and this whole series did that for me.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
4.0
I honestly enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Not sure if I would feel the same way if I read it physically versus audiobook but it was a really interesting read!
My Summer Girl by Maeve Black
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have some mixed feelings about this book. I ended up skimming a lot towards the end but overall it was still enjoyable. The smut was well written.
How Not to Date a Dragon by Lana Kole
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
This was such an unexpectedly delightful book! I loved every minute of it. Seeing Milo and Xander's relationship grow, seeing their banter and everything else. Definitely recommend this for a fun quick read and wl definitely be reading the other books in the series.