enchantedfiction's reviews
207 reviews

*Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for the audiobook copy

I really wanted to like this book. I did not reread the synopsis before going into it, which I feel was a mistake. I expected magic and more fantasy elements that were not there. Which is more on me than the book, but I feel like that contributed to my overall feelings.

The choices that Ododo made throughout the story, especially in regards to the people she blindly trusted kind of floored me, and after people showed their true colors she didn't really seem to learn from the past and protect herself, which frustrated me. I was practically yelling at her at some points because she was being so naive. And for what happens towards the end of the book, I just wish there had been more gradual nods to the character development throughout the story. I feel like this would have made me root for her more.

The imagery of this story was beautiful, and I really felt like I could picture all of the settings.  I also loved the narrator, she had such a lovely voice to listen to and did well with the pacing. I felt like the second half of the book I was more engaged in than the first half, and the end of the book was relatively satisfying. I would give this author another try at some point.

*Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the audiobook copy!*

Kiela has spent the last few years as a spell-book librarian in peace. That is, until the rebellion hits the capital, and she is forced to leave with a few boxes of spell-books, Caz - a sentient spider plant, and the clothes on her back. She returns to her childhood home, a small cabin on one of the outer islands, and wants to do all she can to lay low. But when she realizes that life isn't as it once was on the island, Kiela wants to help, and the only way she knows how is to open a secret spellshop. She never meant to make friends and open her heart to the people on the island she once left, but it might just be what she needed all along.

I absolutely adored this book. It had the cutest cozy fantasy vibes, and I just felt like I was wrapped in a warm hug the whole time I was listening. I loved all of the characters and the whole concept of the story. I honestly felt like it was really refreshing to have a story that started out with a large conflict, the rebellion in the capital, and transformed into almost an island getaway story. It felt like the problems of the capital were just a fleeting thought and that nothing could really go anymore wrong on the island. (I would like to add that since I listened to the story, I am not including the actual name of the island because I don't know how to spell it correctly) I also love when stories are so comfortable in the world they are set in that the reader just accepts everything that's happening and what the characters are/look like without question and without confusion.

Caz is one of my ultimate favorite side characters now. I also loved Meep.

There was slight conflict close to the end of the story that didn't feel out of place or overwhelming which I also really enjoyed. And I really liked Kiela's character development.

Clearly I have no reason not to give this beautiful story less than all the stars, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy and a beautiful cast of characters.

*Thank you to Jillian Witt for an eARC copy!*

Tangled Power is the second book in this series and picks up where Compass Points left off. Since it is book 2, I will refrain from giving a synopsis.

This was a very good follow-up story to Compass Points. I felt like it was a typical second story in a trilogy/series, where the story is more character driven as we get to know more about them as they gear up for whatever mission they did not quite complete in the first book. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, I always love it when we get to learn more about the characters and connect more with them. There was enough emphasis on the main objective as well, with a few side quests that helped push the story forward.

To me, the ending felt a little dragged out, like there was too much repetitive explanation over what they were doing and how they (both Rose and Luc chapters) justified their feelings and actions. But the ultimate action of the ending has left a wonderful objective for book three, and I'm very excited to see where the story goes.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially with fae, with a new perspective and concept with a small amount of spice!

*Thank you Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the audio copy!*

Six More Months of June is a dual POV story of two best friends, Mina and Caplan, who are in their last month of high school. An unlikely pair with Caplan being the golden boy and Mina being a bookish loner type, they have been best friends since third grade, withstanding the social norms of school. And when Caplan's friend confesses he thinks he has feelings for Mina, both of their worlds get turned sideways. Mina is starting to become friends with all of the people she has been avoiding for years, and Caplan just wants things to stay as they've always been. Filled with funny quips, teenage shenanigans, and end of high school jitters, this sweet story makes you realize that sometimes destiny has been right in front of you all along.

This was a really cute, fun story that was done very well as an audiobook. I enjoyed both narrators, the nostalgia I felt while listening, and the kind of cliche high school hot boy realizes the nerdy girl is actually pretty and someone he might have more feelings for trope. I really liked Caplan and Mina's relationship and how even when Caplan became the golden boy of the school that he never let Mina go as a friend. I liked the breaking of the social norms, that Mina did have some necessary character growth, and the resolution of the story.

I would recommend to anyone looking for a pretty light story that is a pretty classic high school story with a little twist, funny characters, and a suburban small town feel.

Thank you to Macmillan for the audio copy!

I don't think I'm going to include a synopsis in my review because this story was short and fast-paced, so I don't want to unintentionally give anything away.

When I started listening to this, I honestly forgot what it was about, and I think that kind of peaked my interest even more. But I also didn't realize that it is a standalone novella. I wanted soooo much more from this story because I was so interested in the dynamics of the world and what it could hold. Like I said above, this story was very fast-paced, so if you weren't paying close attention, you could miss something important.

I rarely finish a book and not know what to talk about in my review, but I guess there's always a first! I liked the characters well enough, I just felt like I didn't get to know them very well. Their relationships felt pretty important to moving the story along, but they all felt like they were surface level, not a lot of depth into what was really driving them to work together. I just don't know. So that's why it's getting a 3.5 from me. I just really wanted more.

Listen for the Lie follows Lucy, a woman who has run from her past. 5 years prior, she was found walking on a road, covered in her best friend's blood. Obviously, this made her look guilty for Savvy's murder. But with not enough evidence to prove she did it, Lucy left her hometown in Texas for what she thought was for good. But it's been 5 years, her grandmother is asking her to come back, and more light has been shed on the cold case thanks to a true crime podcast. Lucy might not be completely ready to face her past, but she feels like she should get answers on what happened to Savvy, even if it means she'll find out she's a murderer. All you have to do is listen for the lie.

Listen for the Lie was my first Amy Tintera book, and it did not disappoint! This was such a great audio experience, and I literally listened to this during my son's nap time within 2 days. I needed to know what happened to Savvy! The narrators were absolutely wonderful, and I love that during the podcast sections, they used multiple voices like a true interview. 

Now, into the actual parts of the story that drew me in:

I love having an unreliable first-person POV in books like this. Be it that they don't know what happened because of repressed memories or amnesia, or they are just trying to get the reader on their side. It makes everything feel tense. Lucy's internal dialogue throughout the story gives the reader reason to doubt her and question her motives, and I would argue she's not a super likable character, though I don't think she would be surprised with me saying so.

I love small town murder stories because in cold case stories, you know someone, or multiple someones, are hiding something. People talk and maybe don't realize they saw something that could be pivotal, and the pressure of the podcast makes things come to light.

I thought the pacing was done very well, and the story flowed nicely. The side characters were great in the ways they either made you love or hate them, and the reveal at the end was believable.

I will definitely be checking out more of Amy Tintera's books after this one, and would highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller and would encourage the audiobook because it's such a great experience!

*Thank you to Libro.fm for the audio copy!*

Funny Story is about Daphne Vincent, a children's librarian who has just had her life fall apart. Her fiance left her just months before their wedding for his best friend, and the only person she can fall back on in a town she doesn't have her own friends and family, is her ex-fiance's best friend's ex-boyfriend. It's complicated. But Daphne only plans on staying in Waning Bay, Michigan, until the read-a-thon at the library happens. But when she gets an invitation to her ex's wedding, she tells him she'll be bringing her new boyfriend, his new fiancé's ex. But as she gets to know Miles more and more, he might just end up being more than a little lie.

This was my first Emily Henry book, and I must say, I am going to be searching out more of them now! I absolutely loved her story-telling, her characters, and the plot. I love characters who are bookish, and even better that Daphne was a children's librarian. And Miles was such a refreshing character. I love how the reader's perspective of him changed as Daphne got to know him better and that he also had things he had to work through to let his character grow. The beauty of this book was the character growth of the main characters and the amazing side characters. There were times I did laugh throughout this at some of the dialogue, too, which is also a bonus.

I feel like this might feel like a condensed review, but I honestly don't have any qualms with this one. It quickly became my favorite rom-com story I have read so far and cracked my favorites overall. I highly recommend this one!

*Thank you, Macmillan and Netgalley, for the audiobook copy!*

Alison Lane disappeared 5 years ago, and the only person who might know who took her was her boyfriend, Ryan Richardson. But Ryan was knocked unconscious the night of her abduction, and any lead he tried giving to police were dismissed. Still feeling guilty, Ryan finds himself taken back in time when the car Alison had been driving turns up at the bottom of a lake, with two bodies inside. A note was discovered entitled 'if something happens to me' written in Alison's handwriting.
New deputy sheriff, Poppy Mcgee, has returned to her old stomping grounds after being discharged from the military, and it just so happens to be at the same time Alison's case gains new evidence. Can she finally put the case to bed and figure out just what happened to Alison?
In this multi-POV thriller, there are twists and turns that move the story forward and will keep you wanting to know how it all ends.

This was my first Alex Finlay book, and I will say I'm going to look into others! The suspense was held throughout the story as more and more pieces of the events were revealed, and there was one point when the two storylines converged that I just had to know how it ended. Instead of being solidly from the POVs of three of the characters, the end jumped around a bit to be from other perspectives, and I thought that was really interesting. I feel like it fit the story, but it's not something you see happen very often.

I did get a little frustrated with the way some of the POVs would abruptly end and switch, causing all of these cliff-hanger moments that just felt like too much. I understand that it's a thriller, but to end some of the scenes the way they did felt choppy to me. I just wish that certain parts had gone on a little longer before shifting to feel a little more fluid. I also guessed some of the ending, and the way that it was revealed made me think that maybe I was supposed to have guessed it, but it was kind of unclear. If I wasn't supposed to, then I feel like it was kind of obvious. But if I was supposed to be screaming at one of the characters because of a poor decision they made and add to the suspense, then mission accomplished.

With all of that being said, obviously I did still really enjoy this story and would actually consider listening to it again in the future to see if I can pick up any other foreshadowing moments I might have missed the first time around. I feel like thrillers tend to have a lot of subtle hints at things to come, and if you're really invested in the emotion of it and feeling anxious, you might miss them. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers with multiple POVs, interconnecting storylines, and suspense.

*Thank you, Macmillan, for the audiobook copy!*

Attached at the Hip is a fun rom-com that focuses on a spin-off show of Survivor that makes it a romantic connection show. Orie, the MC, has had a bit of a life crisis after her sister leads her to a realization she heavily relies on others to make decisions in her life. Orie gets chosen to be on the romantic Survivor spin-off show, and is confronted with a missed love connection from her past. But maybe things aren't as they seem, as people will do anything to make themselves likable on a reality show. 

I went into this story hoping it would be light and fun, especially with the game show premise. Unlike some other rom-coms I have read recently, this one reads more on a YA level even though the characters are a bit older than in most YA stories. The only intimacy is kissing and light touching. Which was not a problem for me, especially with Orie's past with relationships. I felt like the pacing was done well and there was just enough focus on the game show itself and the behind the scenes of the characters as they played.

I really liked how nerdy but also smart Orie's character was, and buckle up for a lot of pop culture references! I felt like these were appropriate in the story because of Orie's personality, which she says many times she loves books and movies and finding others that connect with her in this way. I also liked having a main character in a rom-com who was a little older but not very experienced with love and relationships since she was in the same one since she was 13. I feel like a lot of the time in rom-coms, the MCs always have been in multiples of relationships, and that isn't the case for every reader.

Since I went into this with the expectation of it being fun, light, and fluffy, I feel like that helped with my star rating. Was it eye-opening and life changing? No. But was it engaging, and I had a fun time listening? Absolutely!

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys light, no smut rom-coms and a liking for reality tv.

*Thank you Libro.fm for the audio copy!*

Fangirl Down was my first Tessa Bailey book, and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed the overall plot of the story and the characters, and the narration for the audio was done very well. It was a pretty light and fluffy story, which I feel most rom-coms are anyway, with no major conflicts.

The only real thing I had a little issue with was how Wells seemed to be this closed off, angry guy at the beginning, and it felt like he started changing a little too quickly to be believable. I kind of wish he had fought himself a little harder against Josephine's pull to create a little more of a sexual tension. I personally love slow burn, so maybe that part of me is in the forefront today. Not to say I thought Wells' character development wasn't believable, because I do think it was, but when it came to the suddenly letting someone into his life so easily that came as the harder to believe.

If you're looking for a fun, sports rom-com, I would definitely recommend this one. It was pretty funny and entertaining.