jess_read's reviews
396 reviews

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

definitely not your typical romance, and probably why i loved it. i really liked the concept of two divorcees finding their way back to each other. the author really tested my patience, but i've learned that i can be pretty patient when i love the story enough.

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Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

loved this, and im not surprised. one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it was totally worth the wait.

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On Screen & Off Again by Caitlin Cross

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I was really excited to read this because I love second-chance romances, and the fact that they were childhood friends/co-stars intrigued me. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me. As a second-chance romance, I was hoping for more tension between the characters, especially since they hadn't spoken for years. There was no build-up of anything, which led me to feel no real chemistry between Wil and Dax. I'm also a big fan of dual timelines in books, and I could tell the author was trying to form a connection between the characters through the "then" chapters, but honestly, it just felt disjointed to me. The premise of the book definitely had potential; it just needed better execution. This was still a solid debut novel, and I am definitely interested in seeing what the author plans to write next.

Thank you to 8th Note Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Unloved by Peyton Corinne

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Unfortunately, I didn't love this as much as I thought I would. I struggled to connect with the characters and plot. There were still some cute moments, and I loved the representation of Freddy's learning disabilities. The topic of grief was handled well. The relationship between Ro and Freddy was very sweet, with lots of communication and trust, and I really enjoyed seeing them support each other. However, I do think there was too much going on at times, but at the same time, nothing was happening. The focus on external conflicts made it hard to find any real connection between the characters beyond an emotional one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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