This book started off as a solid 4-stars but then it kept going downhill from there... The ending, in particular, was so overwhelmingly cheesy a2.75/5
This book started off as a solid 4-stars but then it kept going downhill from there... The ending, in particular, was so overwhelmingly cheesy and cringey it ruined the book for me.
I used to avoid the romance genre and romcoms like the plague, not because I didn't believe in love (like the MMC), but because I hated the cheese. But I've recently started reading a lot more romcoms because the past few that I've read were amazing - they were laugh-out-loud funny, entertaining, heartwarming, and romantic (not cheesy). This book though, was my first disappointing romcom read of the year.
This novel is about Emma Wheeler, who is Charlie Yates' biggest fan. As a screenwriter, Emma has read and admired all of Charlie's screenplays. When her manager reaches out to her and offers her a 6-week contract to work alongside Charlie, at his house, on his latest romcom project, she's ecstatic. Until she reads the screenplay. Emma was horrified by how bad the script was but vows to teach Charlie everything there is to know about romcoms and love. To make things worse, it turns out that Charlie likes to work alone and doesn't want to work with an inexperienced writer like Emma. But the script needs to be passable in order for Charlie to get greenlit on his other projects so he reluctantly teams up with Emma.
What I liked: - The audiobook narration by Patti Murin was excellent (I listened to the audiobook at x1.45 speed). - I liked the premise of a romcom writer teaching a non-romcom writer how to appreciate romance - I'm always down for a forced proximity trope - Not quite a sunshine vs grumpy trope because Charlie seems emotionally stunted. I like this, and as someone who didn't like romance for the longest time, can relate to his demeanor. This had the potential of being a story about Emma teaching Charlie how to embrace his emotions instead of always acting nonchalant. The character development was there, but was underdeveloped. - I enjoyed the bonus chapter at the end, told from Charlie's POV. The entire book was told from Emma's POV and reading the bonus chapter made me realize that this book would have benefitted from dual POVs.
What I didn't like: - For a supposed "romcom", this book wasn't very funny or romantic ...more
This was a like a White, marriage-of-convenience, and funnier version of Crazy Rich Asians.
Five years ago, Anna Green and Liam "West" Weston (two compThis was a like a White, marriage-of-convenience, and funnier version of Crazy Rich Asians.
Five years ago, Anna Green and Liam "West" Weston (two complete strangers) married in order to become eligible for subsidized family housing at UCLA. They were roommates for two years but never really interacted much. They signed some papers and said their goodbyes after graduation, and that was that. Or so Anna thought.
Fast forward to the present day - Anna is a starving artist trying to make ends meet. She just got fired from her minimum wage job at a convenience store and is high out of her mind when there's a knock at her door. It's none other than her former roommate and ex-husband, West. To her surprise, she finds out that they never actually divorced and the papers Anna signed three years ago stipulated that the divorce would only be finalized after they'd been married for 5 years.
It turns out that Liam/West is heir to an enormous fortune that he would only have access to once he's been married for 5 years. His sister is getting married on a private island in Indonesia and his family is dying to meet his mysterious wife. He must prove to his family that his relationship with his wife is real, or risk losing his inheritance.
Anna and I are two strangers in paradise.
And so begins Anna and Liam's wild adventure amongst the filthy rich - entrenched in glamour, drama, and, of course, a burgeoning romance set in the gorgeous backdrop of a private tropical island.
This book, told in both Anna and Liam's POV, was hilariously fun. Anna is a hoot! Anna says the dumbest but funniest things and Anna and Liam/West's interactions are so amusing. I also love that Liam had the funniest insults for Anna, including calling her "a muppet in human form" and "she looked like a demented Care Bear" LOOOLLL I'm dying.
I'll admit that I didn't love the conflict (view spoiler)[maybe I'm just greedy, but I would totally give up my dreams and values for $100mil (also, Ray Weston might be the most villainous character ever and his actions still don't make sense to me) (hide spoiler)] but it resolved nicely and the ending was nice.
Audiobook Comments: The audiobook was so much fun to listen to (at x1.45 speed). I spent the first two hours listening to it in bed, laughing nonstop and constantly pausing the audiobook to tell my boyfriend how crazy and funny Anna was. ...more
I am convinced that SJM is immune to the second book syndrome. I've noticed a trend with SJM's books where the second book of her series is always WAYI am convinced that SJM is immune to the second book syndrome. I've noticed a trend with SJM's books where the second book of her series is always WAY BETTER than the first book. This was true for A Court of Mist and Fury and House of Sky and Earth and it is most certainly the case with Crown of Midnight.
This book was miles and miles better than the first book. It had all the suspense, action, intrigue, magic, political drama, and relationship drama that I was hoping for in the first book. There were certainly a few twists that I saw coming, but there were many more that caught me by surprise and had me gripping my book and scanning the pages at lightning speed to find out what happens next. This book appears to be, for all intents and purposes, an excellent set up for future books as the book ends on a note that opens up tons of possibilities as to what could potentially happen next, in later books.
In this book, Celaena is officially the King's Champion and serves as the King's personal assassin. Whereas I had previously complained that Celaena didn't seem very badass in the first book, she most certainly proved herself in this book by killing (and not killing) her intended targets while also uncovering a crazy amount of secrets about the King's enemies, the King's plans, and about Dorian as well. As with the first book, we also get Dorian and Chaol's third-person POV (as well as brief POVs from Nehemia and the King) that really added to the story and provided more insight into various character developments.
I have to say, I really enjoyed Chaol's POV and his internal struggle of balancing his feelings for Celaena while also proving his loyalty to his King. I also really enjoyed the (smut-free), slow-burn sweet romance between Celaena and Chaol. Their budding romance made me really giddy and I really hope they end up being endgame because I'm definitely Team Chaol!
September 4, 2024: Happy Publishing Day! This book is easily one of the top 5 contemporary romances that I've read this year!
August 15, 2024 RevSeptember 4, 2024: Happy Publishing Day! This book is easily one of the top 5 contemporary romances that I've read this year!
August 15, 2024 Review:
4.5/5
Move aside The Hating Game, because I've found my new favourite enemies-to-lovers contemporary rom-com!
This was such a fun holiday romance full of heated exchanges and pranks that leads to a secret romance.
Nina is super close to her older brother Dylan but the downside to being close means that she has to put up with his best friend and roommate, Tristan (aka 'The Prince of Darkness'). Nina has always 'hated' her brother's best friend, Tristan. As with any strong emotions, her feelings started with an all-consuming crush that subsequently turned into hot-blooded rage and the need for revenge when a teenaged Tristan made fun of Nina's jug ears and gave her the nickname 'Gremlin'. For the next 15 years, the two would be locked in an intense feud of constantly pranking each other to get even.
Over the years, we've evolved into more grown-up pranks. I've signed him up for multiple dating profiles states he lived with three cats, wanted to get married as soon as possible, and have five kids. I have away his real phone number, which he's had to change twice. With that face, the calls just kept on coming. I don't have proof, but for every spam call or email I receive for services I never signed up for, I know Tristan is behind it. The first year I moved to New York, he stole Dylan's phone and told me to come to my brother's birthday party in a costume. Let's just say the bunny scene from Bridget Jones has nothing nothing on me. I tried to own my cheerleader getup with pride, but he kept smirking all night and it just ended with me throwing my pom-poms at him.
Looking forward to spending the holidays back at home with her family, Nina was shocked to find Tristan there too. Snowed in with nowhere to go, they realize that their constant bickering is borderline flirtatious and has some underlying angsty heated sexual tension.
Told in alternating POVs, this was a really funny and quick read that I devoured in less than 2 days. The characters were great - I enjoyed their banter and character development. The romance was a bit of a slow, sexy burn with medium spice.
There was a bit of a miscommunication trope which I normally don't like but this is one I can stand by because it was realistic and believable. Tristan truly thought their feud was all fun and games, and that the nickname 'Gremlin' was affectionate and cute, whereas Nina was always out for blood because of the way Tristan had hurt her feelings and continue to do so whenever he uses the mean and insensitive nickname. I really liked how this disconnect was handled and resolved.
My only gripe is with the epilogue, which provided a lot of sudden information about Nina's two best friends. It seems like the author is setting up for future stories about the friends, which is fine I guess, but it felt strange as the friends weren't very strong secondary characters and only appeared briefly during the beginning and referenced occasionally later on in the story.
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
Edward Underhill's debut novel, Always the Almost was one of my favourite books last year no I was reallThis is a great book for queer band geeks.
Edward Underhill's debut novel, Always the Almost was one of my favourite books last year no I was really looking forward to reading his latest novel.
The story follows Abby and Leo who both get lost while on (separate) school trips to NYC where their respective marching bands are scheduled to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.
Abby (clarinetist) recently realized that she was gay and in love with her best friend, Kat (flautist). She decides that the NYC trip would be the perfect opportunity to come out to Kat and profess her love by gifting Kat a signed and annotated copy of their favourite book set in New York.
Meanwhile, Leo (percussionist) is stressing out about being televised at the parade. His extended family doesn't know that he's trans and now goes his new name, Leo, because his parents have been keeping his identity a secret from the rest of the family. But now that his whole family will be watching the parade together, Leo is extremely worried about what his parents might say and what his extended family's reactions will be when they see him on TV.
The day before the Thanksgiving parade, their respective school groups go on a sightseeing trip around the City. Somehow, Abby and Leo gets separated from the rest of their group and end up on the same (wrong) subway train. When Abby loses her book (the one that she was going to give Kat), the two of the start wandering around NYC together to find new gifts to replace the one that Abby was going to give Kat. As they start hitting up every tourist destination from the book, they start to get to know each other better.
This grumpy vs. sunshine Hallmark-esque YA romance was a great read. Although I wasn't in a marching band (our school didn't have one), I did go on a music trip to NYC with my high school band and this book brought back so many fun memories from that time!
This book also touched upon a lot of great themes including gender, labels, and the loneliness that comes with being the only queer kid in your school or small town.
This was an enjoyable romance-thriller audiobook (which I listened to at x1.4 speed).
Ariel is a single mom who suddenly receives a text from her ex, This was an enjoyable romance-thriller audiobook (which I listened to at x1.4 speed).
Ariel is a single mom who suddenly receives a text from her ex, Drew, who died 5 years ago, asking to meet her asap.
When no one shows up at the meet up spot, it does nothing to quell her worries. Instead, she can't stop thinking about everything that happened 5 years ago. How the man she loved suddenly vanished without a trace and his obituary that she found shortly after he left her.
When Ariels finds out that everyone in their town received a text from 5 years ago due to a faulty cell tower, it raises more questions about why Drew left her and so she decides to investigate the matter. Her investigation only reveals that everything she knew about Drew may have been a lie.
This book alternates POVs between Ariel (present day) and Drew (five years ago). It's quite suspenseful with a focus on cybersecurity and privacy. The mystery of why Drew left and cut off all contact kept me guessing. I also quite enjoyed the romance aspect of the novel and really liked how the story ended.
This book leans a bit heavily on the romance side, which surprised me at first. I realize now that this (new to me) author is a romance author and that this is their debut thriller. In any case, this was an easy and entertaining read and I actually liked to romantic scenes. I might have to check out the author's other romance works now!
Romance readers who don't generally read thrillers might enjoy this one.
_________________________ If you like the following, then you might enjoy The Five Year Lie or vice-versa:
[image]
[image]
...more
Disclaimer: This is a book that you should read while hugging a comfort person, pet, blanket, stuffed animal, pillow, etc. because you'll need it. I rDisclaimer: This is a book that you should read while hugging a comfort person, pet, blanket, stuffed animal, pillow, etc. because you'll need it. I read the last 30% of this book curled up against my sleeping partner in the wee hours of the morning crying my eyes out.
This was a slow-burn, forced proximity, second chance novel with mild to medium spice that I've been obsessing over the past few days (to the point where my partner suggested that I take a break from reading). This book made me laugh out loud at times, my jaw drop in disbelief on a few occasions, had me giggling with glee and anticipation numerous times, and had me on the verge of tears and bawling my eyes out more times than I can count. I had a really hard time putting down this book whilst also doing whatever I could to prolong my reading experience (by re-reading certain interactions over and over again) because I didn't want the story to end.
"There is an endless list of reasons why I am the furthest possible thing from okay.
Top of the list: my brother, the person I love - loved - most in the world, is gone only three months before his thirtieth birthday."
The story follows Maddie, a chronically asthmatic 26/27 year-old, who is grieving the loss of her older brother, Josh. At the funeral, she discovers that Josh left her and Dom (Josh's best friend) instructions on how to scatter his ashes, including a series of letters addressed to both her and Dom for them to open together and read at specified destinations across the U.S. The only issue? Maddie absolutely hates Dom for breaking her heart 7 years ago. But Maddie is determined to fulfill and honor her brother's wishes, even if it means spending time with someone who brings back painful memories of their shared past.
This was a beautifully crafted, emotional, and heartbreaking story with loveable characters and heartwarming relationships.
First, let's talk about Maddie. Maddie goes through various stages of grief and emotional distress as she grapples with the loss of her brother and with her feelings towards Dom while bottling up all these feelings by losing herself in her work. She's angry at the world and at Dom and comes across as snarky and mean but we quickly learn that she has a morbid and dry (and very funny!) sense of humour that she uses as a defense mechanism. She's also a workaholic and is constantly throwing herself into her work instead of taking time off to grieve and work through her emotional stress. Maddie was such a well-developed and oftentimes funny character who is going through so much in life - I found her to be incredibly relatable and really connected with everything that she was going through. To top it off, I found her puzzle, sweatshirt and cheese addiction very endearing (can we be BFFs?!)
Then there's Dom. A looming, serious, and responsible man, Dom is a very loyal friend to Josh, and also incredibly patient with Maddie's anger and occasional outbursts. I really liked experiencing how Maddie's feelings towards Dom changed as she slowly realizes just how much Dom loved Josh and is also grieving as much as she was. I also loved their banter and texts (Dom is a worrywart and I love that!). Maddie's scared to trust and open up to Dom (I don't blame her, given their history), so I really loved seeing Dom work on and slowly gain Maddie's trust.
I also want to acknowledge the amazing side characters. I loved Dom's younger twin brothers, Adam and Carter (Adam, mainly). They're like Fred and George from Harry Potter - they're so funny! Maddie's best friends Jeremy and Tula are also amazing(view spoiler)[(the moment I first read about Jeremy, I knew there had to be a Jeremy-Dom interaction and I just couldn't wait for it!) (hide spoiler)]. I loved all of these characters so much, I would love to read a book (or short story) about them.
Finally, although this is a romance novel, this is also very much a book about grief, loss, and acceptance. This book handled these themes perfectly and I had a really good cry (for the first time in a really long time!).
Overall, I loved the themes that this book tackled, the romance, the friendships, the humour, and the banter. This is definitely one of the best romance novels that I've read in a while.
Also, I would LOVE it if the author published another version of this book from Dom's POV. I would scoop that book up in a heartbeat.
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
I was ready to love this book because the synopsis made it seem like an adult romance version of The First Stone which is one of my favourite3.5/5
I was ready to love this book because the synopsis made it seem like an adult romance version of The First Stone which is one of my favourite books of all time.
Instead, this was a light and fluffy romance centered around a dark and traumatic past that the two characters share.
While in high school, Helen Zhang's sister died in a car accident. Helen, understandably, never quite forgave her classmate, Grant Shephard, for being the driver. Fast forward 13 years and Helen's popular YA series is being adapted for television which is great except she's forced to work with Grant, who happens to be one of the screenwriters for the show. An enemies-to-lovers workplace romance ensues.
While I did enjoy the story (it was entertaining), it ultimately failed to meet my expectations in terms of the depth and complexity of the characters and their relationships that is required for a story with a conflict like this one. This book had the potential to create layered characters and really explore their emotions, trauma, familial relationships, and healing process, but it fell short in all those areas and failed to make their emotions and reactions feel raw, genuine, and believable.
The author is a screenwriter and this book definitely reads like it was written for the big screen - overly dramatic with charming but surface level characters (on the plus side, this meant the audiobook was easy to listen to and quite enjoyable). The ending was rushed (in true movie, epilogue-like fashion) and honestly not very believable because there's a lot that needs to be resolved between Helen and Grant and Helen's parents...
I think this book would have been a lot better if it was lighter and avoided attempting to tackle darker and heavier themes (because those were the weakest parts of the book).
Julien Boire and Greg Harlow might just be my favourite fictional gay couple of all time. A sommelier and a mixologist? That's a match made in heaven!Julien Boire and Greg Harlow might just be my favourite fictional gay couple of all time. A sommelier and a mixologist? That's a match made in heaven!
Told in alternating dual third-person POV, this story follows Julien Boire, a sommelier who dreams of leaving his small town and family-owned restaurant to become a master sommelier in a bigger city. Meanwhile, Greg Harlow is a TikTok influencer from New York City famous for his rizz and interesting cocktails. After a devastating breakup and mounting debt, he decides to move a small town to start over and get back on his feet. When Julien and Greg meet, they get off to a rocky start but their chemistry is undeniable.
Julien's social awkwardness was so endearing and relatable and Greg is quite possibly the sweetest and most understanding person ever. 13% into the book and I was already making several notes in my ebook about how much I love these two characters and how adorable they are together.
I love books with neurodivergent characters or who are 'flawed' in some way and this one featured a character with OCD and another with anxiety and erectile dysfunction. This book navigated those areas brilliantly and made the characters feel real and well developed.
Unfortunately, I did not really enjoy the minor conflict near the end (view spoiler)[ it's reminiscent of Ross and Rachel being on a 'break', which was a conflict that I did not love (hide spoiler)].
This was a fun, lighthearted and quirky clean sapphic romance set in a futuristic, interstellar, 1920's-esque high society with Jewish representation.This was a fun, lighthearted and quirky clean sapphic romance set in a futuristic, interstellar, 1920's-esque high society with Jewish representation.
The story, told in first person, follows a con artist Ruth Johnson who arrives in the high society of New Monte while pretending to be an eligible debutante, Evelyn Ojukwu - a princess from a faraway planet. She immediately captures the attention of Esteban Mendez-Yuki, one of the wealthiest heirs in New Monte, with the intent of making him fall in love with her, marry her, break his heart, and steal his fortune as revenge for breaking her sister's heart. Things don't go as plan when Esteban's charming and brilliant sister, Sol, appears to be suspicious of her and seems to have her figured out.
I found the worldbuilding, particularly the technology aspect, to be a bit flimsy (the technology seems high-tech... but also not? Also, when do they use breathers - is it just an optional fashion choice to be carried around for emergencies?) but the high-society and futuristic parties and social engagements were pretty interesting.
I'll also note that the con also didn't seem well thought out (if I were Ruth's sister, I'd be LIVID that my sister ran off to marry my ex, even if it's just to scam his of his money).
The romance and banter was fun (even though I wasn't the biggest fan of Ruth's personality and voice), and the story was fast-paced (although maybe a bit too rushed at times).
Overall, a decent book for those looking for a light-hearted sci-fi story.
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
I loved this sunshine and grumpy forbidden romance (between a prince to be engaged and a commoner) cozy YA What a delightfully charming fantasy novel!
I loved this sunshine and grumpy forbidden romance (between a prince to be engaged and a commoner) cozy YA fantasy set in a fictional world inspired by the history between Ireland (Machland) and England (Avaland) and the Great Famine of Ireland (or the Blight, as it's called in this novel).
Niamh Ó Conchobhair (pronounced Neev O'Connor for all of us who don't know Irish) is a Machlishwoman who has been invited to Avaland to serve as the royal tailor for Prince Christopher's upcoming wedding. Although the people of Avaland look down on the Machlish, Niamh's talent and divine magic for weaving wonderful enchantments and emotions into beautiful clothing designs have garnered the royal family's interest.
Excited to further her career and provide for her family, Niamh arrives at the royal palace full of awe and excitement. But things in Avaland weren't quite what she expected.
First of all, Prince Christopher (or Kit) was incredibly rude and disrespectful towards Niamh's craft and life's work - serving as his personal tailor and designing his entire wedding wardrobe will be difficult. Then there's the fact that Niamh is Machlish and the disdain towards her and her people amongst upper-class society members is hard to ignore. Then there's the political unrest - the Prince Regent/Kit's older brother, Jack, seems to be barely keeping things together as he plans Kit's wedding while tensions between the labour class (particularly Machlish workers) and monarchy are on the rise.
There was so much that I loved about this book, from the historically-inspired setting, the politics (securing relationships with other nations and the political unrest within their own country); the complex relationships between Jack and Kit as well as between the Machlish and Avlish; Niamh's developing friendship with Sinclair, Infanta Rosa, and Miriam; the wonderful magic; and Kit and Niamh's chemistry. [image]
The characters were all wonderfully fleshed out and such a pleasure to get to know (I honestly wouldn't mind befriending any of them!): I loved Niamh - she's so innocent, selfless, caring, and loving! Kit was my favourite type of grumpy - he puts on a tough, prickly persona and pushes people away in order to protect them. Sinclair, Kit's best friend, is so charming, fun and accepting. Infanta Rosa, Kit's fiance, is smart, cynical and edgy, and I wouldn't mind reading an entire book about her life. Miriam, Rosa's lady-in-waiting, has a big heart and is amazing. Jack, is uptight and constantly stressed and I really felt for him and could relate Princess Sofia seems really nice, with a really cool power and I would love for there to be a sequel novel or short story about Niamh and Sofia becoming closer friends.
Many reviewers are saying this book is like Bridgerton (which I haven't read or watched) but maybe I should go check it out seeing as I loved the setting of this book.
________________________________ If you like the following then you might like A Fragile Enchantment or vice-versa:
[image]
[image]
[image]
...more
With or Without You is about two teenagers, Jordan and Cindy, who each run a food truck and our famous for their constant bickering and rival2.5/5
With or Without You is about two teenagers, Jordan and Cindy, who each run a food truck and our famous for their constant bickering and rivalry (which has gone viral and helps their family food truck businesses). What people don't know though, is that the rivalry is fake and Jordan and Cindy are dating in secret. When an opportunity comes up for them to be featured in the pilot of a food truck competition show, they're asked to showcase their rivalry which puts a further strain on Jordan and Cindy's already shaky relationship.
Overall, this was a cute story and sheds light on how fake "reality" TV shows are. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to root for this couple.
My main issue with this book is that there wasn't any chemistry between Jordan and Cindy. We don't really find out how they got together, what they like about each other, and why they're still together (especially when it's evident that they don't communicate with each other very well). They're not in the healthiest relationship and I have a really hard time believing that their relationship lasted as long as it did and somehow still survived the toxicity of being part of a reality TV show.
(view spoiler)[Finally, I found it really hard to believe that all the characters were able to forgive Cindy so quickly and easily. Jordan's forgiveness for Cindy's unfaithfulness was instantaneous but that's not how it works in reality - trust takes time to build, and takes even longer when it's been broken once before. Jared also forgave Cindy incredibly quickly too... if I were him, I'd be pissed that she lied and strung me along. Not only that, but the family rivalry and spat seemed to have escalated and died down at record speed! (hide spoiler)]
Audiobook Comments: The audiobook narration was good. I listened at x1.35 speed.
________________________________ Here are some foodie YA novels that I suggest you check out instead:
[image]
[image]
...more
April 4, 2024 Update: I loved this book so much, I made a pop-up version in my reading journal which you can find on my Instagram, @melharareads [imApril 4, 2024 Update: I loved this book so much, I made a pop-up version in my reading journal which you can find on my Instagram, @melharareads [image]
February 14, 2024 Review: If I ever need to get lost in a cozy romance, A Novel Love Story will be the go-to cozy book that I want to be transported to.
Have you ever wanted to run away from life and just get lost in your favourite book (or TV show)? Or better yet, have you ever dreamed about being able to visit your favourite cozy fictional world (like Stars Hollow) and befriend your favourite fictional characters? Well, that's exactly what happened to Elsy.
I was gone tomorrow, anyway, taking the only road in and the only one out. Once I crossed Charm Bridge, would this town even be here anymore? I wasn't sure, and with mounting certainty, every fiber of my being wanted to just get lost in this book. For a moment. For a few hours.
For a night.
This Inkworld-meets-Gilmore Girls story is about Elsy who gets lost on her way to her book club retreat (in which she was the only one who could make it to the retreat anyways) and finds herself stranded in a lovely small town where everything and everyone seemed oddly familiar. She ends up taking up lodging with Anders, the grumpy yet alluring bookstore owner, and soon realizes that she has somehow found her way to Eloraton - the fictional town from her all-time favourite romance series, Quixotic Falls.
Happily ever afters couldn’t be that hard to make, right? They couldn't be. I just had to get them there.
Everything and everyone in Eloraton was exactly like how she imagined except they seemed to be stuck. Ever since the author of Quixotic Falls died before the final book of the series was completed, the town of Eloraton and its residents were left in limbo. And so Elsy sets out to find out how all her favourite characters are doing and to get the closure that she needs even if that means meddling around and falling for a certain fictional bookstore owner...
But sometimes people came into your life for brief moments, and changed you forever. I think he was my person.
And he didn't even exist. He came from the mind of an author I'd admired so much - who had changed my life with her books, so of course I would fall for a man she created.
I'll admit, this book and I got off on a bumpy start. I didn't really like Anders at first (but then, neither did Elsy) and I found the story to be quite predictable (C'mon, Elsy! It took you way too long to figure out the plot twist!) but then Anders started growing on me. Maybe it's because I've been obsessed with Dramione fics lately but Anders seemed very Malfoy-esque (white blond hair, minty green eyes, grumpy exterior, but actually a real softy who loves reading romance novels and hates peas! Is he even real? This is the Malfoy of my dreams!)
I also found myself constantly wanting to slowdown and savour all the moments between Elsy and Anders. In fact, there were numerous occasions when I would flip back to early chapters and re-read previous scenes because I wasn't ready for the next chapter to begin or for the story to end (by this point, I've probably already re-read the book 3 or 4 times in the span of 2 weeks).
Elsy kept bringing up how great it feels to lose yourself amongst familiar characters and cozy, comforting moments when reading and re-reading your favourite book and that's exactly how I felt when I was reading (and re-reading) A Novel Love Story. I've never felt cozier than when I was reading this book. I don't remember the last time a book made me feel this way and for that alone, this book deserves 5/5 stars.
I felt like there were still a few loose ends with this book but overall, I loved Elsy's journey and the romance with Anders.
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
There's more of a plot now (and slightly less smut than in the previous installA continuation of Five Months Until Summer, but told from Draco's POV.
There's more of a plot now (and slightly less smut than in the previous installment), as Draco develops obsessive feelings for Hermione while also trying to figure out how to fulfill his mission for the Dark Lord.
______________________ Dramione fics that I've read so far:
I can always rely on Sophie Kinsella for a fun, lighthearted story.
The Burnout started off incredibly relatable - Sasha is overwhelmed at work. SI can always rely on Sophie Kinsella for a fun, lighthearted story.
The Burnout started off incredibly relatable - Sasha is overwhelmed at work. She loves her job. Or at least, she used to. But some of her coworkers are insufferable, the coworkers that she does like are all leaving, their team is severely understaffed, and the company doesn't seem keen on hiring more staff. With the stress getting to her, Sasha has had enough and figures life would be better if she could just run away and become a nun.
Does this sound familiar? Maybe not the nun part, but I've certainly been in the same situation and I know many industries are facing the same issues of understaffing which leads to overworked and stressed staff, which then leads to people quitting their job, thus resulting in more understaffing, and the seemingly never-ending cycle continues...
While Sasha's attempt to leave her job and become a nun didn't quite pan out, she was given/forced to go on a mental wellness vacation to relax and cure her burnout. And so begins her journey of destressing at her childhood vacation destination. Except it's off-season, her beloved childhood vacation destination isn't quite as she remembered, and the place is deserted... which could work in her favour, but there's one other grumpy guest at the hotel that keeps getting on her nerves...
As with any Kinsella novel, the story was relatable, had a good balance between ridiculous and fun (so many laugh-out-loud moments!), and sweet (not just the romance, but also the community aspect). I also enjoyed the funny cast of characters (particularly the staff at the hotel) along with the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers/grumpy vs. sunshine romance.
Audiobook Comments: This was a really fun audiobook to listen to and I often found it hard to bring myself to pause the audiobook because the narrator was so engaging. I listened to the audiobook at x1.25 speed.
___________________ If you like the following books (also by Kinsella, with a similar premise), then you might enjoy The Burnout or vice versa:
[image]
[image]
...more
I read my first Dramione fanfic last year and now I'm hooked and can't get enough.
This was a really quick and lighthearted read about Hermione noticiI read my first Dramione fanfic last year and now I'm hooked and can't get enough.
This was a really quick and lighthearted read about Hermione noticing Malfoy's swoon-worthy height and then doing whatever she can to be near him. The slow burn, sweet tension, and spice were all great but I would have loved to know what was going on in Malfoy's mind because he's so reserved and restrained!
This volume in particular has a heavy focus on sex, anxiety, and the stress of deciding what to do and where to go after high school. I thought the awThis volume in particular has a heavy focus on sex, anxiety, and the stress of deciding what to do and where to go after high school. I thought the awkwardness of approaching the topic of sex (with friends, parents, and significant other), Charlie's anxiety with his body image, and Nick's struggles with planning his future after high school were such relatable and realistic teen issues for this story to tackle. Once again, Oseman did a great job compellingly navigating these important topics while making readers continue to root for Nick and Charlie.
This was originally intended to be the final volume of the Heartstopper series but it's been confirmed that there will be one other book - so, the next volume, Volume 6 will be the final installment. I miss the characters already :')...more
This was a cute and cozy light-hearted romance about Cara Kennedy who visits Dublin for a weekend and returns to LA married to an Irishman that she onThis was a cute and cozy light-hearted romance about Cara Kennedy who visits Dublin for a weekend and returns to LA married to an Irishman that she only just met.
Finn was sweet and too good to be true. I don't remember meeting anyone like him when I visited Dublin for a weekend, so I'm low-key jealous of Cara and Finn's meet-cute.
I listened to the audiobook at x1.5 speed and quite enjoyed listening to the narration and Irish accent.
Loading...
