noellelovesbooks's reviews
1460 reviews

 Content Warnings: violence, bullying, blood, death, sexual content, and murder.

Interesting start to a series...didn't feel like it gave me enough though to care about any of the characters. 

 Content Warnings: sexual content, toxic relationships, fatphobia, body shaming, emotional abuse, misogyny, and mention of death of a parent.

I love the concept of fake dating between best friends that forces them to unravel their complicated feelings for each other but this just felt so drawn out. Have you ever read a romance book where there are so many spicy scenes that they no longer hit because there's just so many? Idk maybe that's a me thing but sometimes I just want to know more about how the relationship is going to develop emotional than sexually 🤷🏽‍♀️

The timing seemed a bit off as well. Some chapters ended in a way that felt the next chapter should have immediately picked right up after but the author chose to jump days or a week and there were other times where the entire days was written out but a lot of it seemed like unnecessarily information... 

 Content Warnings: sexual content, emotional abuse, physical abuse, toxic relationships, grief, gaslighting, abandonment, and violence.
Mention of: domestic abuse, loss of parent[s], torture

I enjoyed getting Dion and Faye's story but...I feel like it was unnecessarily long. 🙈

Both characters are equally broken by the past and those they love, though in different ways.

I do love the way that Catharina links the stories together showing the overlap and just how connected these characters are.

Definitely think I need a break from the Windsor's though...afraid if I start book 4 after the feelings of Dion and Faye's story being drug out...that it might negatively affect my reading of the next couple 😅 which sucks because book 4 was the book I originally heard about that had me wanting to read this series 😭 

 Content Warnings: sexual content, grief, toxic relationships, loss of a parent[s], classism, and death.
Mention of: dementia, abandonment, verbal/emotional abuse.

Yay! Okay, so I guess I really didn't need to read book 1 to read this one. This book was definitely more my style than the first book.

We get two headstrong individuals who are also both filled with insecurities from past relationships...who end up falling for each other. What starts out as more or less enemies to lovers switches to reluctant allies in a fauxmance to romance.

I absolutely LOVE romance novels that have meddling/matchmaking grandparents...there's just something about them that just takes a romance to an entirely different level.

I'm even more excited to jump into book 3 and see how their romance unfolds! 

 Content Warnings: Sexual content, alcoholism, addiction, anxiety, panic attacks, toxic relationships [both familial and romantic], Verbal and mental abuse, and constant feelings of inadequacy.
Mention of: cheating, ableism, death of a parent, and parental abandonment.


11/17/2023
Just as fantastic and beautiful as the first time I read it 🥰




4/1/2023

***I received an ARC, ahead of release, through Netgalley. I also submitted my TT handle to be one of the handles Erin used in the book. ***

The POV characters:
Sophie has never been in love...a romance author that's never experienced love. When she's struggling to write her second novel she decides that maybe the past can give her the knowledge to inspire her to finish her book ...and maybe find love in the future?
Dash is part of Hollywood royalty...his family is known far and wide for their acting. Dash leaned more into indie films but the stress of living up to his families image and constantly being compared to his older brother led him down a dark path of alcohol addiction. Now 18 months sober, which he still hasn't told his family about, he's found a love of crafting and has an anonymous Tiktok where he's able to share his love without judgement.

The story: Two people who've always felt not quite good enough team up to help each other. Though they struggle to share their real feelings and thoughts with their family and friends...there's just something about the ease of their friendship that allows them to share things free of judgement. Unable to deny their chemistry but feeling like a relationship is unwise they decide... FWB is okay right? [his main focus is his sobriety and he doesn't feel like he's ready for a relationship and she's looking for love...oh and he just happens to be her BFF's brother which would add another level of complications]

The relationship: I LOVE the relationship that Sophie and Dash form. It's so natural and judge free...something they both desperately need in their lives. Also the way that they care about each other and are constantly trying to encourage and support each other was so beautiful.

The spice: OMG THE SPICE! *fans face* Literally every sexual scene was AMAZING. I cannot wait until my friends get their hands on this book so I'll have someone to talk to about these scenes. *daydreams back to each scene*

My thoughts: I adore both Sophie and Dash and could relate to their feelings of inadequacy. There were so many moments that I just wanted to reach through the book and hug them and tell them they're amazing and wonderful just as they are. This will definitely be a book that I'll want to reread...between the emotions, self discovery, romance, and friendship...this will be a book I tell everyone about. 🥰 

 Content Warnings: sexual content, violence, gun violence, blood, injury, anxiety/panic attacks, grief, and death.

Here's the thing...I LOVE fated mates...however I cringe when they start throwing "I love yous" around within the first couple of days. I completely get that you can meet the one your fated to be with...your perfect other half but it just seems weird to already say it's love...idk maybe this is just a me thing?

Overall cute story and I love how it feels like reading a superhero love story. I'll definitely keep reading the series to see what happens with the overarching story. 

 Content Warnings: Sexual content, violence, gun violence, blood, torture, death, confinement, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexism, classism, war themes, and suicide.
Mention of: death of parent[s], grief, pregnancy, death of a child, child abuse, and child neglect.

I went into this not realizing that this book wouldn't be connected to Hooked so realizing it's set in the early 1900s really through me for a loop at first. Since I'm so used to reading fantasy and historical romance with royalty...my brain kept trying to thing this was much earlier in time than it was so when they'd mention guns/cameras/etc it took me a minute to remember when it was set.

There is just something about a man, who had a rough childhood, that believes he's this hard carefree person when in reality he does so many things that shows he cares...thats just *chefs kiss*

We also love a leading lady who takes no bullshit and is willing to do whatever it takes to avenge a wrong.

A fun read though doesn't feel like a book I'll reread over and over. 

 Content Warnings: sexual content, blood, violence, gore, body horror, stalking, murder, and accidental cannibalism.
Mention of: child abuse, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, cannibalism, pedophilia, death of parent[s]

6/22/24
I seriously love this book so much 🥰 I decided to do a reread before I dove into Leather and Lark. 

There's been a lot of reviews I've seen, recently, where people were saying they didn't like the timeline or romance aspect of the story and it's so hard for me to understand that perspective. As someone who's been anxious since birth, and has some good ol CPTSD from childhood, I LOVE the care, patience, and time Rowan gives Sloane. From their very first meeting he can see her anxiety and flight response...and he works really hard to show her she doesn't need to run or hide from him. 

When she randomly shows up at his restaurant she's extremely anxious and out of her element...when Rowan finally realizes she's there he can see she's overwhelmed and ready to run and he tries really hard to calm her. Instead of rushing to her like he wants to...he holds himself back and tries talking her down. When she still runs he doesn't get pissed at her...instead he flies to her hometown. By having the neighbor boy deliver ingredients and talking Sloane through cooking on the phone, while he hides across the street, instead of showing up at her door with the ingredients himself...shows that he knows she'd feel ambushed and anxious...he finds a way they can spend time together and get to know each other without causing her further anxiety. By allowing her to learn a bit about his craft, and him, from the safety and privacy of her own home...it just shows so much respect for her. 

There are so many instances, throughout the book, where Rowan holds himself back because he knows that she isn't ready...and he never gets mad or blames her...he just takes his time and tries to find other ways to connect with her and show her that he's someone she can trust with every part of herself. I just have so much love and respect for the way he worked hard to alleviate her anxiety and show her how much he loves all of her.

11/13/23
Ahh! Just as good as the first read...if not more fun since I knew everything that was going to happen 🥰

I'm so happy for Brynne that a trade pub realized just how amazing this book was. Hoping they don't change anything about it when they rerelease...especially the amazing page art.

I will continue on my mission of making everyone I know read and fall in love with Sloane and Rowan 😎


9/22/23
Hear me out...is this about two serial killers falling in love? Yes. Is this also one of the sweetest/most romantic books I've ever read? Also, yes. 🥰

There's just something about finding that one person, in the entire world, that truly understands and accepts you. 🥰

I don't know how to explain how amazing this book is. Is there a bit of gore and violence? Yes...and yet the way that Rowan understands Sloane and gives her the space she needs to feel comfortable with him 🤌🏽

Does loving this book possibly mean I'm a bit unhinged? Idk but I have no regrets! 😌 

 Content Warnings: sexual content, anxiety attacks, sexism, toxic relationships, and grief.
Mention of: gaslighting, abusive/toxic relationships, and loss of parent[s]

11/12/2023
Ahh just as much fun the 2nd read as it was the first 🥰

Wanted to get a reread in before Plot Twist releases in a few days 🥰



1/8/2022
Posted to my blog first...

About a month ago, I stumbled on Erin’s Tiktok page and saw this video advertising her debut novel. Fake dating, enemies to lovers, food, essentially I felt this book calling to me and even jokingly left a comment saying “Gimme!” I quickly jumped on the PC, headed over to Netgalley to see if an ARC was listed, and hit that request button as fast as I could.

Luck was on my side and about a week ago I received an email saying I was approved, through Netgalley, to download the ARC. As I was already 1/3 of the way through “Lies We Bury”, by Elle Marr, I quickly devoured that thriller/mystery so I could crack this new ARC open. As the book doesn’t release until the end of July I almost waited to read it closer to release but it just had too many tropes I love to put aside and wait. Patience has never been one of my virtues *insert nervous laugh here*.

When this book is described as enemies to lover…Erin wasn’t joking. For the last three years, Nina and Leo have worked as co-hosts to the reality show “The Next Cooking Champ!” and for all three of those years, they’ve disliked one another. Jabs and rude comments lobbed back and forth between each other, both assuming the other looks down on them. One interaction even created a hashtag when Leo essentially named her “nasty Nina.” From season one Nina has been seen as the villain and Leo as the sweetheart and comic relief, which has just fueled the dislike further and further along.

If you hate the miscommunication trope…you may get a little frustrated as there were quite a few times where I was yelling at the book “JUST TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL!” I don’t feel that the miscommunication/lack of communication lasted as long as some romances drag it out and when all the cards are out there it is so sweet, in my opinion, it was worth the wait.

Leo is aware he has issues with anxiety and has struggled for a while with preventing, or getting through, panic attacks that can hit out of nowhere. Although aware of what he faces he chooses not to share his struggles with anyone, not even his close family. I really appreciated how we were able to be there on Leo’s journey of self-acceptance as he start to take necessary steps towards improving his mental health and overall life in general. That might seem a bit spoilery but I feel like a lot of times when mental health is brought up in romance it’s either something the characters have already completely addressed or it’s something they’re just now recognizing. For a lot of us, we can be aware of our battle with anxiety/depression/etc, for a long time before we’re finally at the point where we feel like we can reach out for help. It can take time for you to realize you aren’t a burden if you ask for help.

I do wish there would have been a conversation between Nina and Leo where they both opened up about their misconceptions from the start which lead them to be enemies those first three years. Although they fall for each other and open up in other ways, I feel like this kind of conversation would heal all, or at least a lot of, the wounds from the past so they really are starting fresh. Granted I feel like this is a conversation that definitely happened between these two characters, I just wish it wouldn’t have happened …what’s the book way of saying “off-screen?”

This was a great debut to read and I look forward to seeing more of Erin’s work in the future! I’m also really hoping she writes more books set in this universe so we can get to know more about all the awesome friends and family we met in this book! 

 Content Warnings: violence, blood, and some mild sexual content.
Mention of: child abuse, neglect, pregnancy, and death.

This was a fun and quick novella that introduces us to the guardians/parents of the seven deadly sins. I loved that I was getting some scifi vibes of shows that I already know and love like Dark Angel and Stranger Things.

We're given information about the program but I loved that they left a lot of things open that I'm sure we're going to learn about later.

Very excited to dive deeper into this series ^^