stinasara's reviews
518 reviews

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

🌶️(kissing) 

 

I liked Cooper but wasn’t as big a fan of Madeline. The kids were great, though, and added a nice touch. However, I didn’t feel the same connection between the characters as I did with those in the first book. 

 

The plot wasn’t particularly strong. It didn’t feel unique or like it added anything new to the tropes—it was just set during winter, which I did enjoy. The snowstorm was an interesting element I hadn’t seen before, but it wrapped up far too quickly. 

 

Overall, this book wasn’t as good as the first one. It feels like the author wrote it because the first book received positive reviews, not because it was initially planned. That said, it does feel well-executed, so it isn’t a thrown together book. Still, I can’t believe that this one wasn’t part of the original vision.

Tropes

 

⭐️⭐️.5 

🌶️🌶️🌶️(a fair amount) 

 

None of the characters had depth or distinctive personalities. Noah was the only one with some complexity, but even then, everything revolved around trauma. The author didn’t really show—or tell—us why Noah and Ari worked as a couple. I couldn’t see why they liked each other; their connection felt shallow. 

 

This book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t care about the characters because I didn’t get to know them. And since I didn’t know the characters, I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything related to the book. The plot felt dull, and the intrigue simply wasn’t there because nothing drew me in. 

 

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬

𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝: 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩, 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

(kissing) 

 

It is a good installment, and fairly suspensful, though its ending is easy to guess. Like all of the books, the dialogue is funny, the interactions between the characters in this volume are particularly funny, especially the parts of Halt’s ”old age”. This one I enjoyed a bit more than the last books. 

 

I don’t think Flanagan put a single female characters in this book, expect one baby scene at the end… This one was mostly fun without anything too annoying. It’s a fun book for people who are in the right age group. 

 

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬

𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝: 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🌶️🌶️(fade into dark)

This book has too much going on while somehow still being boring. It feels like a short story stretched into a novel, and it shows.

The fantasy elements were underwhelming. However, the writing itself was exceptional. The ending was confusing and lacked sufficient explanation—I still don’t understand why Marsha had to

die

.

The story delivered on its promise of being a tragedy, living up to the Romeo and Juliet inspiration.

𝐋𝐞𝐯 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚

These two carried the entire book for me! As the youngest members of their feuding families, they don’t fully grasp their roles in the decades-old grudge. Instead, they focus on finding happiness in each other, which is what truly matters to them.

𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚

These two got the short end of the stick. Their stories broke my heart with the sacrifices they had to make for the sake of their families.

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬⁣

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

Världen är både dålig och bättre, och Hans uttrycker det vackert i denna bok. Framsteg sker bit för bit. Vi har halverat antalet människor som lever i extrem fattigdom under de senaste tjugo åren, men det har aldrig funnits en morgon när rubrikerna i tidningarna skrek: ”FATTIGDOMSNUMREN SJUNKER STEGVIS.” Otroligt ledsamt! 

 

En annan anmärkningsvärd sak med Factfulness – och med Hans själv – är att han vägrar döma någon för deras missuppfattningar. Hans undviker till och med att kritisera medierna. Istället berättar han om sin egen historia av okunskap. Han förklarar att dessa instinkter gör oss mänskliga och att det inte är lätt att övervinna dem. Boken täcker de viktigaste sakerna i världen och gör det på ett tillgängligt och underhållande sätt. 

 

Gapminder och denna bok är fantastiska gåvor till världen. 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

🌶️(kisses) 

 

It’s always the perfect time to embark on another adventure with Percy Jackson. He was one of my very first best friends, and the comfort I felt with every page of this book is unforgettable. I will always follow Rick Riordan in this universe, and it feels like he won’t leave me behind either. One thing I can always count on: he knows how to drive a story home! 

 

I really appreciate how Percy is reflecting more on his life and future. Being a half-blood doesn’t give you that luxury, but Percy learned faster than anyone else that growing up is the most important thing you can do. Loving people and living life beside them—that’s the point. This book was a beautiful reminder that no matter what Percy does in life or how many monsters he fights, the goal will always be to keep moving forward with Annabeth and Grover by his side. 

 

Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood will forever be the pillars of my childhood. 

 

I had kind of lost interest in this book a long time ago but I wanted to give it a try before actually giving up on it. I can't pinpoint the exact reason I didn't like it, but I wasn't enjoying it the way I wanted to 50 pages in. 
I have reached a conclusion that I will not pick up an Emily Henry simply because it is popular, I'm only picking up the book I am fully 100% interested in.

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

🌶️🌶️.5(sufficient description) 

 

Claire is sunshine. She embodies hope, heart, and sincerity. I love how Claire is always open about her feelings. She felt real and authentic because she consistently showed everyone her true self. The things she did for Gerard were incredible—she kept him alive and safe, protecting him from his nightmares, offering him a sanctuary, and giving him reasons to love and live. Claire loved Gerard even when he couldn’t love himself, and she continued to love him even when she lost herself in the process. 

 

Gerard was my sunshine boy—the mischievous, thoughtful one who was always there for everyone, keeping the group happy and alive. His story broke me! The boy with demons in his mind, monsters in his past, and nightmares born from trauma. He excelled at hiding his pain, heartbreak, and anger behind the jokester mask. The deeper exploration of his character only made me love him more. Gerard has so many layers wrapped around his heart, and his coping mechanisms shattered me. He truly deserves the best the world has to offer. 

 

They complemented each other perfectly, fitting seamlessly into each other’s lives. They balanced their friendship beautifully. Their childhood friendship gives me comfort, knowing Gerard always had Claire. Love is messy, raw, and heartbreaking at times, but with the right person, it’s always worth it. 

 

The only thing I was genuinely pissed about was Claire revealing Gerard’s secret. I can understand her frustration with Lizzie’s abuse of Gerard, but it wasn’t her secret to tell. It’s never anyone’s story except the person it happened to. 

 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 

🌶️🌶️🌶️(a fair amount of description) 

 

Halle was sweet, caring and lovable. I was with her all the way when she finally confronted her mom, and I was so happy she did it on her own accord. 

 

Henry was a gentleman through and through. What a sweetheart! I followed Henry along through this entire book. We wanted a Henry book, and boy did he live up and went beyond my expectations. 

 

Halle and Henry together were amazing. They understood each other. They were comfortable with each other. They could simply be themselves and it was so lovely and sweet to follow. Watching them fall in love was wholesome and heartwarming. 

 

tropes 

friends to lovers 

hockey/college 

tutor 

virgin heroine

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

🌶️🌶️.5(light to some description) 

 

This book gave me such a warm, cozy feeling.

I loved Nova’s transformation from “my favorite person to be with is myself” to “I don’t need you, but I want you in my life.” It showed just how much she valued Charlie. And Charlie’s adoration for Nova was heartwarming. He may be a bit outrageous, but he meets his match in Nova, who meets him right where he is.

The banter and inner dialogue were great, and the small-town setting was the cherry on top. These stubborn opposites softened for each other, and I appreciated Nova’s touch of dominance in bed—it’s not something we usually get to read, and the spice was very tasteful.

I’ll definitely be rereading this series! And as always, it’s a win when there’s no third-act conflict.

 

one night stand 

reverse grumpy x sunshine 

opposites attract 

friends to lovers 

small town