hardcover_hazel's reviews
179 reviews

Against the Rules by Bree Hayden

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lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

This cute romance was between a football player named Travis and a singer.

As a huge Swiftie, I requested this ARC as fast as the submit button would allow 🤭

It was really fun trying to spot and relate them to Travis and Taylor 😂💖 it wasn’t inspired or influenced by them in any acknowledgments though.

The story was super cute! 🥹 they end up getting tattoos on their ring fingers for each other and that made me melt! 

However the characters and friend group came across very immature. Banter didn’t really feel like banter. And there was a TON of smut in here (I don’t enjoy reading a lot of it).

If none of those bother you though, RUN to Amazon because until the 25th of Feb you can get this for 99c and the story is still really cute!

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The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

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emotional 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? Yes

5.0

… this book!!! 😍

It is beyond five stars. This was an insanely cute story, had me sobbing in at least 5 different places. The way the author weaves her words!

She writes time bending as Georgia sees the teen version of Eli standing at their door, beckoning her out into the night until it rights itself and its adult Eli. 

Time. Circles. Forevers. They’re all interwoven into such exquisite detail that it sounds like fate. Like time lives on, over and over again in a single moment. 

The paper rings!! If you know, you know.

And not the acknowledgments thanking some Taylor Swift songs 😂 I think I’ve found my new favourite auto-buy author 🥰

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George Orwell's 1984: An Audible Original adaptation by George Orwell

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

4.0

Big brother is always watching.

George Orwell really creates thought-provoking pieces. 

This dystopian world was scary but fascinating. I’d have honestly loved to hear more about the world before things ramped up, I’m a sucker for these dystopian universes. 

Scary to think this isn’t too far off from an alternative universe though. 

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The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

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

5.0

Bridgerton books are just as good as the series 😍 the series is a fantastic adaption, it follows the plot quite closely. It’s always enjoyable hearing how each character thinks and feels though ✨ 

The diamond of this season 🤭

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The Ex Effect by Jo Watson

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book had a lot of internal laughing, especially with the dolphin (if you know, you know) 😂

The amount of travel in this 😍 I want to go explore all of these locations! The love for Africa shines through and makes me feel so proud to be a South African 🥰

Ash and Max are super cute though! Ash had me wishing I had a friend group like hers 🥹

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Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography by Wendy Loggia

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inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

This was so cute 🥹 and the illustrations are gorgeous! 
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

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

4.5

The writing in this book was incredible! Lush and descriptive combined with gritty and harsh adds such a beautiful contrast.

The plot and the world setting were fantastic! Our main character is a badass assassin but unfortunately has the traits of “everyone who comes close to me dies” and doesn’t trust a single soul. She grows a little in the book, but hopefully book two will have more significant character growth.

I read this as an audiobook so I missed a couple things from the story but it was so good I’m definitely going to physically read this at some point! 

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Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This short story was incredible 🥹❤️ so happy I saved this one for last! This one flows so well and feels so good and wholesome! 

Ali Hazelwood is a genius writer, a snowstorm trapping two long family friends who’ve been in love with each other for forever?? Yes PLEASE. Give us more, Ali.

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How to Lose a Guy Before Christmas by A.J. Pine

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a cute, spicy, festive read!

We follow a couple who’d met at Thanksgiving for a one night stand… who end up on a ride share stranded together. Talk about awkward… until they realise they both want more.

The town they end up stranded in is called Tinsel and it is cheesy and cute! Lots of festive bits included, had me giggling a little 💖

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Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous emotional 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

This series is my Roman Empire.

I related literally everything I could to it, turning my personal reality into its universe. The heat wave Joburg experienced? We had dragons breathing down our necks, or they were trying to break us in land nav 😂

The lightning storms we had were perfect timing for this series 😍 especially for the last battle - reading it during a storm was everything ⚡️ 

This book goes into politics, truths, and rebellions a bit more. Still made me cry. Violet is even more badass. I really loved that she didn’t become someone who couldn’t handle her trauma. 

Read if you love:
-dragons
-shadow daddy’s
-magic
-banter with friends
-dropping all your money on merch

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