jmelauren's reviews
128 reviews

I liked The Rocker.

I don't normally like second chance romances because you're thrown into this relationship like it should all just be known. This was different though because there was no past relationship, just an unrequited crush many years ago. And while both parties have moved on and lived their lives, when Gus saw January again all his unrealistic feelings bubbled up and I just love a man who pines!

This was spicier than I was prepared for. 

Old crush
Writers
Grief
Spice

The Lies We Leave Behind by Noelle Salazar

The first part of this story could have been a book in itself, all that followed just made it better.

This is a dual timeline and normally I don't like dual timelines. But this was totally different. This was mainly about Kate, a flight nurse during ww2, and the current timeline was few and far between. I never felt as if I were being torn away from Kate to have to sit through some less interesting story.

Fans of The Women by Kristin Hannah might like this.

This is a little info behind each song. I don't know how she got this reputation of writing all these hateful songs about boys who broke up with her when she has way more love songs. It seems to me that if you're mean to her she's mean to you. Her style is just more prolific than yours. I also don't think the swifties help her much here. With constant speculation and reading into every tiny detail. I remember when Speak Now came out, there was a list going around matching a boy to each song.

This book is unauthorized, but there are so many quotes from Taylor herself that a lot of it does feel legit. I'm not gonna lie though, every now and then there's an entry that really feels like they're just filling space.

Debut through Midnights is broken down song by song. And there are others included as well like soundtracks, SNL songs, Christmas music. But The Tortured Poets Department is just a general about me kind of thing.

And honestly I didn't read everything in this book. I pretty much read everything debut-1989 but then just skipped around only reading about the songs that I like

This just did not give me the exquisitely depressed feeling I got with He Should Have Been With Me. 

Maybe because there was no unrequited romance, maybe because Finny was dead, maybe because I listened instead of read, maybe because it wasn't just one beautiful story. Who knows?

Rebel by Rebecca Yarros 
Age gap
Professor/ student
Forbidden romance 
Xtreme sports staar
Spicy

Honestly the age gap wasn't as huge as the book made it seem, but there were scenes that made me feel uncomfortable because they were so student teachery and just made me forget their ages.

When they were just Penelope and Cruz, they made me swoony. Penelope was really vulnerable and didn't try to put on this act around Cruz. And Cruz just genuinely cared about Penelope and wanted to be there for her.

I loved the twist at the end. I love all Rebecca Yarros twists in her romance books.

Romantic thriller
Kidnap, rape, murder
Multiple POV
Sexy time

I like how Nora Roberts' writes feminism, it feels real.

The blurb on goodreads really does not do this book justice. This book is about a young woman being abducted and held prisoner for over ten years. Her escape, and her family coming together to help and support her when she comes home.

Yes there's murder and mystery and love stories, but that's background.

Historical romance 
Dual POV 
Bait and switch

I liked Lucy and Gregory, I just didn't get that swoony feeling.

I found it super annoying how often Gregory repeated "I love you." Which seems like a weird complaint of a romance novel, but any worry or doubt Lucy voiced was just answered with an I love you. As if that were a practical solution to any problem. 

He also repeated her name far too often.

I think naming technology has the ability to date a book. I think saying something as simple as chatting online or messaging can be simple and direct and even easier for people unfamiliar with the social media platform. There were a few different ones mentioned here, but I only know what one is, and even that has a different name now.

The communication through looks thing is a bit much. Sure it's happened to me so I get what he's saying. But he's talking about having full on discussion with people through eye contact. It's pretty hard to buy.

Daniel mentions that his disability is the last thing people want to talk about. I am here as a disabled person telling you that this is far from true. Why I am using a wheelchair is something complete strangers feel is their right to know.

The whole part about him understanding how his existence makes people uncomfortable made me feel very uncomfortable. Like people with disabilities should just hide away so able bodied people can feel better or something.

Very weird that he's answering questions he assumes we'll ask. It's very info dumpy and a bizarre weird style.

I found this style rather annoying. It was like a bunch of little anecdotes rather than just following a story.

The way that the police officer completely dismissed him and didn't even try to communicate was very disturbing and then didn't even take what he said seriously was shocking. He was an eyewitness! 

Weird that when there's mud and boot prints stomped all over inside the house they don't even consider that it came from someone who shouldn't be inside the house!