emmreadsbooks's reviews
1151 reviews

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

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hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

V good but wanted less sex, more math.



Will They or Won't They by Ava Wilder

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funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was my first Ava Wilder book but certainly won't be my last. The banter, the steam, the REALNESS. Like literally I haven't read a romcom in such a long time where the characters felt truly human. Lilah and Shane are flawed as fuck and I love it.  I enjoyed reading about 2 actors reconciling after a friends with benefits scenario gone wrong. Sometimes it just isn't the right time for a relationship, because lord knows that 20 somethings need some time to mature. All of the TV industry elements incorporated felt so realistic, especially the closeness that forms in a cast after working together for so long. And oh my god, the THERAPY. That doctor is doing the lord's work. 

Also can confirm that the hate-sex scene made my asexual libido flitter flutter a little, it was damn hot. 

*Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.75

I don't even really know what to think of this book. Except that maybe every book should have chapters narrated by an extremely intelligent dog? Not sure.

I had been under the impression that this was going to be a steamy chemistry romance, but I was pleasantly mistaken. Instead you get a historical fiction family drama, spanning many careers and characters, all centered around a man - because of course, that's how it was) But Elizabeth Zott is a force of nature, an incredible instructor, and a woman just trying to exist in the face of adversity. All of the threads begin to unravel until you realized it was just one tangled string the entire time, masterfully done. I really enjoyed how this book was a focus on her journey, not about finding love or revenge. Though to be fair, the best revenge is success and she had plenty of that. Big fan.

*Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audio*
Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

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adventurous tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

From the first book, we knew that Lexi and Nilo were going to happen but dannnnnng. Watching two sly retrieval specialists circle each other for 2 books was painful, but the payoff is worth it. I felt like this book had the most action (both in and out of the bedrooom haha) of the 3, but as such lost a lot of the mystery that Eclipse the Moon had. We're also introduced to a new Valovian power that didn't feel quite as fleshed out as the others. I wish we'd gotten to understand Lexi's trauma a bit more so that her character arc would feel more meaningful. In the previous books, she's always played her cards close to her chest but I thought it would be different once we were finally in her head. Maybe that's just me though.

Capture the Sun wraps up the Starlight's Shadow series quite nicely, with opportunities for a comeback for the crew. Am I sad that it seems like we won't get a throuple book? God yes. But it was nice to see the crew finally get their happily ever after. (This entire series is literally a romance novel in space, prove me wrong)

*Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Full disclosure, this was my first Katherine Center ever. And given how many people rave about her books, I thought there would be more than just kissing. No, just me? Okay moving on. 

That being said, I really enjoyed the plot of the book. A portrait artist developing face blindness right before a pivotal competition is quite a conundrum. Then add in a particularly vile stepsister, being torn between your hot vet and your boy next door, and learning how to paint again after brain surgery, and you're left with a stinger of a plot. I loved watching Sadie come into her own and become SO assertive in her own quirky way. This girl can roller skate, paint for days, and be one of the kindest people ever. It's just astounding. Read this book if you want a sweet romance that will make you smile.

*Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Play for Me by Libby Hubscher

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emotional funny hopeful 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 freaking loved this book y'all. Libby Hubscher is just so talented when it comes to writing romances that tug on your heartstrings and feel like they could play out in real life. Sophie and Jonas are perfect foils to one another, as they transition from frenemies to lovers. We also get some of my favorite tropes - one bed and forced proximity. I enjoyed seeing aspects of Sophie as a trainer, especially as she develops cross-training programs for the musicians. It was so cool to hear her talk about muscular groups and the scientific journal paper she was working on. Honestly I was hooked on this book from beginning to end and would take a cannoli to the cornea for these two goobers, my heart.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph

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mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I'm not sure if I read the same book as everyone else because I'm just lost.. A story where secrets are never truly laid to rest sounds great. But the thing is that most of these secrets are completely innocuous... and it ultimately comes down to punishing the children for the sins of their parents. It just didn't feel well-foreshadowed at all and there was little to no tension throughout. Maybe it just wasn't for me.

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
The Only One Left by Riley Sager

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Wow, just wow. It gives such Verity vibes, if it was better written, had a concrete ending, and featured a Lizzie Bordenesque character. Are any of the characters likable? Not really. But in a thriller, I don't feel like that's a requirement. I didn't see any of the twists coming, which is a bit rare for me. It's fast paced, alternating between the 1920's and the 1980's. I'd never been so excited to see the historical portion of a book!

Honestly, clear your evening for this one. Even if you hate it, you won't be able to put it down. 

*Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Murdle: Volume 1 by G.T. Karber

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mysterious

5.0

I freaking love Murdle and this encapsulates all of the daily puzzle fun in book form. They also add some elements of story to the mix with Detective Logico's past. Plus the time trial for the Elementary section? BANANAS! I definitely want a physical copy so I can try out a speed-run and the "all in the mind" challenge. They also add fun elements like the Astrological Primer, decoder ring, and even an over-arching mystery. Plus hints and quick solutions in the back, where you have to actually seek them out. Looooooove.

*Thank you to St Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'll be honest - I got a widget for this book because of my glowing review of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.... which is really confusing given how dramatically different the books are. The Rachel Incident is a literary fiction account of the life of Rachel Murray as she struggles to break into the publishing industry. It focuses a lot on life in Ireland and the abortion ban there. I definitely went in expecting a salacious relationship with a teacher, and it's not that. Instead we watch Rachel self-sabotage until she's near rock bottom. The narrator did a phenomenal job with the book, I just wanted more tension and plot rather than all the character-motivated business.

*Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the eARC and PRH Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review*