I read this for the PopSugar reading challenge, since it’s a book that was formerly fanfiction. I’ve also seen it everywhere, and I was a little worriI read this for the PopSugar reading challenge, since it’s a book that was formerly fanfiction. I’ve also seen it everywhere, and I was a little worried it would be too raunchy for me. Turns out–it’s actually a slow burn!
This book started off as a 5 star read. It was HILARIOUS. The cat, Clive, stole the show. There are a lot of sexual innuendos, but the heroine is just like the rest of us. That said, a lot of the humour felt old-lady-ish. There was something about the writing style that didn’t ring true for a woman in her early twenties. I have no idea how old the author was when she wrote this, but the book read more like it was from the POV of a woman in her fifties–from the older pop culture references she made to the expressions she used.
As the book progressed, the plot got on my nerves. Simon, the “Wallbanger”, is revealed to be a “nice guy.” The author downplays the fact that he’s juggling three women at the same time, since they know of each other and don’t mind. It felt like a cheap way out of the trope that she’d based the entire book on. If he’s a player, make him a player. Don’t go halfway and then backtrack and chicken out.
Towards the end of the book, the sexual innuendos really started to get on my nerves. I can’t count the number of chapters that started with Caroline and Simon eating something together, but described in a way that made it seem like they were doing something dirty. The first time, I tolerated it. After that? It’s not “funny” anymore and felt more like filler to make this a full-length book.
ALSO, Caroline and Simon only get together at the 70% mark, at which that point their chemistry fizzles.
All in all, this was a funny romance, almost for those who enjoy cozy mysteries. It’s a light, fun read that drags in the second half.
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2023: This book fulfills the "A book that started out as fan-fiction” category. ...more
I never thought I’d find it - but I found a book with two of my favourite tropes. The damsel in distress and the penpal trope. *Insert all the excitedI never thought I’d find it - but I found a book with two of my favourite tropes. The damsel in distress and the penpal trope. *Insert all the excited dancing here!* This book was almost perfect. Emerson has been held captive in her aunt’s basement ever since she found out about her illegal behaviour. Emerson’s friends were threatened, and she’s terrified that they’ll be killed if she somehow manages to contact the police. Then, (after her neighbour is killed because she spotted her in the window), a new neighbour moves in next door. Handsome Ryan Warden, who Emerson watches longingly through the window. When she gets her hands on her old cell phone, Emerson starts texting him. Honestly, the author pulled off the rationale that she doesn’t call for police pretty well. My only issue with the book is that the romance is so rushed! She and Warden barely get to know each other before she’s rescued. During the rescue itself, he makes himself scarce because he’s disgusted by how attracted he is to her–she’s too young for him and coming out of a traumatizing situation. But they only go on their first date after 70% through the book, and all the parts of them getting to know each other are glossed over in favour of having that first-time sex scene. Sigh. The reason I love slow burns is because the characters get to know each other, there’s angst associated with it all. I needed more of the falling part. That said, the writing was fun, the book was angsty, and I’m really pleased I found this book! ...more
Hello Stranger is a sweet, sometimes funny and often tugging-at-the-heartstrings, romance about a girl that has to become faceblind before she’ll finaHello Stranger is a sweet, sometimes funny and often tugging-at-the-heartstrings, romance about a girl that has to become faceblind before she’ll finally see what’s been in front of her all along.
I adored this book! It had a bit of a rocky start, with a “meet cute” that I didn’t find particularly cute, but it quickly picks up. After having a non-convulsive seizure, Sadie finds out she has to have brain surgery. It goes fairly smoothly, but for one small issue. She can no longer see faces. This would be fine, if she wasn’t a portrait artist by trade, one that’s up for a prestigious award–which she needs to deliver on within the next six weeks.
This book was surprisingly angsty. Sadie has experienced a lot of trauma from her stepmother and stepsister, and her personality reflects her inability to ask for help or truly let others in. She immediately becomes smitten with her new veterinarian (despite not being able to see his face), but when he asks her on a date, she doesn’t want to tell him about her condition. She’s hoping that it will just magically go away. But nobody is ever that lucky.
I adored the themes throughout this book. Sadie makes a lot of assumptions about the world and the people around her, and these become even more evident when she can no longer rely on the ability to recognize the faces of those around her. She has to open her senses and be more observant, identifying people by their hair and clothes and gaits. I’ve read thrillers with this premise before, but not any romances. I love the idea of falling in love with someone without ever seeing them (I love the pen pal trope best!), and this is a unique spin on this trope!
Hello Stranger is my first read by Katherine Center, and it surely won’t be my last! I fully intend to read up her backlist, stat.
A sweet interracial romance set in Toronto! What’s not to love? Amy inherits a house in the big city from her great-aunt. She comes from a small town,A sweet interracial romance set in Toronto! What’s not to love? Amy inherits a house in the big city from her great-aunt. She comes from a small town, and everything about Toronto is foreign and exciting to her. She’s a classic extrovert–friendly, sweet, and she has a ladybug umbrella. She’s the exact opposite of her new neighbor, Victor, who just wants to be left alone. Unfortunately for him, the peppy girl next door with the irritating laugh won’t leave him be… This is such a cute romance, but it has a lot of depth. Amy is dealing with the guilt of leaving her family behind and putting herself first for a change. Victor is dealing with survivor’s guilt, as his brother passed away five years earlier, and he just hasn’t been able to let himself be happy, even though that’s what his brother would have wanted for him. Throughout the book, Amy checks out a lot (and I mean A LOT) of restaurants, trying out foods from different nationalities. I wonder if the author is a foodie because wow, this book made me so hungry! I honestly thought that the heroine would drop out of school and start her own restaurant or something. I was sure that the food obsession was integral to the plot! ...more
This book is just as incredible as the first in the series! It’s a delightful combination of romance, suspense, comedy, with some deeper themes thrownThis book is just as incredible as the first in the series! It’s a delightful combination of romance, suspense, comedy, with some deeper themes thrown into the mix. This book follows the events from the first book, which features Knox and Naomi, but you don’t have to have read that book to enjoy or be able to follow this one. Lucy Score is one of the handful of authors that have actually made me laugh out loud. There’s situational humour as well as witty dialogue that elevates this book from a five star read to a five +++ star read. The book itself is a slow burn romance. Lina is an insurance investigator, and she’s in town searching for a 1948 Porsche that was stolen by the man who shot Nash at the end of the first book. Nash is the small-town sheriff who has demons of his own. Ever since his shooting, he’s been suffering from depression, and he’s unable to pull himself out of the darkness. Lina isn’t without her own past traumas, and the author somehow manages to perfectly balance their leaning on each other for support in a way that’s not at all toxic or detrimental to their long-term mental health. This book also has fantastic side characters, turning this book into a well-rounded, must-read for fans of romances and comedies with substance. 5+++ stars!...more
Wow this was a dark one! This was a very dark and intense read–definitely heed the trigger warnings! Both Miles and Bebe are very damaged individuals.Wow this was a dark one! This was a very dark and intense read–definitely heed the trigger warnings! Both Miles and Bebe are very damaged individuals. They’re both running from their pasts and extremely self-destructive–albeit in different ways. This book was hard to read for that reason, and I had to put it down a few times. But I just kept coming back to it. Definitely heed those triggers!
It’s time for the second of the campus players to fall in love! In this book, Gabe goes on vacation with his family. Despite renting a beautiful mansiIt’s time for the second of the campus players to fall in love! In this book, Gabe goes on vacation with his family. Despite renting a beautiful mansion by the beach, he’s bored out of his mind. That is, until he lays eyes on the gorgeous girl next door… Like the first in this series, this book has a lovable and relatable heroine, a former-playboy rich hero, and lots of spice. This book reads very similar to the first in the series, and doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to the table. It even has an almost identical scene to the first book, where Gabe pushes Lucy away because he thinks he isn’t good enough for her/that she’s too innocent for him. However, with romance books, they’re meant for comfort, so predictability, in my eyes, is a good thing! I’d been hoping, however, for a little more drama with the major secret that Lucy is keeping for the majority of the book. Sure, Gabe is upset when he finds out, but the way it played out lacked oomf for me. It had been built up so much, and then it just kind of… fizzled. All that said, now that I know what to expect from this series, I can’t wait to read the third when I’m in the mood for this specific romance formula!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2023: This book fulfills the "A book with a fat lead " category. - I’m counting this book because the heroine self-identifies as “fat” and she’s always on a diet and trying to exercise. I’m not thrilled that PopSugar decided to use that word for the category. ...more
This is the second book in the Mallick Brothers series, and this time it’s, drumroll please, Ryan’s turn! (If you couldn’t tell by the title LOL) JustThis is the second book in the Mallick Brothers series, and this time it’s, drumroll please, Ryan’s turn! (If you couldn’t tell by the title LOL) Just like the first in the series, this one is romantic and suspenseful. There’s lots more worldbuilding of the town of Navesink Bank, and I’m really looking forward to checking out the other books set here (I’ve had my eye on the Henchmen series for a while, but I don’t want to confuse myself, so I’ll finish this series first). Once again, the heroine steals the show. Dusty is agoraphobic and sweet. She’s also Ryan’s next door neighbour, and she’s gotten herself caught up in something criminal… ...more
I’ve read one other book by Alex Grayson, so I kind of knew what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I love angsty dark readings that have I’ve read one other book by Alex Grayson, so I kind of knew what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I love angsty dark readings that have HEAs, and on that front, this book definitely delivers! It’s very, very, very dark. You 100% should check out the triggers if you have any triggers whatsoever. It’s an extreme slow burn romance, and if you’re looking for spice or even some steam, this isn’t the book for you. My only real complaint about the book is that it’s incredibly slow in the beginning. I think the hero and heroine don’t meet until at least 100 pages in. We don’t really get many POV scenes from the heroine until later on. And her POV scenes are ***highly*** disturbing, since she’s still held captive in the beginning of the book. I’m not complaining about the disturbingness, I’m just wondering if maybe they could have met much sooner, and those scenes could have been offered as flashbacks instead. All in all, if you’re looking to have your heart ripped out and crudely stitched back in, this is the book for you! Triggers: (view spoiler)[Graphic sexual assault (of h not by H), violence, Don’t worry: no one hurts the dog (hide spoiler)] HEA? (view spoiler)[Yes (hide spoiler)] Detailed HEA Spoiler - don’t read unless you want the end of the book spoiled: (view spoiler)[Yes, the heroine turns out to be his long-lost best friend, Aislin. So the fact that he’s obsessing about his missing friend for the first half of the book through flashbacks, etc. is a good thing, because he gets her back! (hide spoiler)] ...more
This is the second in the duology, and while we get some answers, others are left open. What was the point of introducing Harding in the first book, wThis is the second in the duology, and while we get some answers, others are left open. What was the point of introducing Harding in the first book, when his character is essentially replaced with Silas in this one? I was hoping for some closure with that subplot. I was also hoping for a little more excitement in the climactic parts of the book, but it was all fairly straightforward, which is why I didn’t give this book the tag of “romantic suspense”, which I usually do for books with suspense subplots. HEA? (view spoiler)[ Yes (hide spoiler)] ...more
Bentley is a new adult romance where the hero is a damaged jock, and the heroine is a nerdy sweetheart. Like with any bully romance, Bentley was very Bentley is a new adult romance where the hero is a damaged jock, and the heroine is a nerdy sweetheart. Like with any bully romance, Bentley was very wishy washy in his emotions. He wants revenge on Quinn for having the perfect family and for *reasons*(spoilery reasons!), but he keeps flipping back and forth between secretly liking her and wanting to hurt her. This is a staple in most bully romances, but he went on for so long that I started to get confused. And that made his rationale for what he does at the end of the first in the duology kind of strange. That said, I appreciated that cliffhanger. I really wish the author hadn’t felt the need to add another cliffhanger, (view spoiler)[his car gets hit, and it’s implied that he’s severely injured, but it was just a little accident (hide spoiler)]one that was quickly written off in the first few pages of the next book. My favourite parts of the book were the parts with Bentley’s dad. He’s a truly despicable man, a character that we all love to hate! All in all, this was an entertaining read. Trigger warnings: (view spoiler)[Bullying, suicide before the book occurred, domestic abuse, child abuse (hide spoiler)]
This was my much anticipated follow up to Indigo Ridge! It features a few of my favourite tropes, including grumpy hero, poor/destitute single mother This was my much anticipated follow up to Indigo Ridge! It features a few of my favourite tropes, including grumpy hero, poor/destitute single mother heroine, and neighbors falling in love! While Knox is grumpy–it’s only because he’s been burned in the past. He gets over it pretty quickly as he starts to get to know Memphis and fall for both her and her son.
I absolutely adore the setting of these books. They have small-town, everybody-knows-everybody vibes, and the Edens, while practically owning the town, couldn’t be more down to earth and family-centric. This is definitely a feel good book. What makes it even better is the touch of angst and the little bit of a suspense plotline. I can’t read a book that’s all heartwarming sweetness, so that suspense and angst nicely balanced out the cuteness.
Like with the first in this series, at the end of the book we’re teased with who the next couple is and what their storyline might be in the next book. I can’t wait!
All in all, this was a great read! Trigger Warnings: (view spoiler)[child abduction, but the child doesn’t get hurt at all (hide spoiler)]
Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a slow-paced romance with a unique premise. Phoebe temporarily moves back home into her father’s house to clear Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a slow-paced romance with a unique premise. Phoebe temporarily moves back home into her father’s house to clear it out and put it up for sale after his death.
She’s a thirty-year-old PhD student who is doing her dissertation on true crime. To say that she’s obsessed with true crime and lets it bleed into her day-to-day life would be an understatement. The instant she moves back, she becomes convinced that her handsome neighbour, Sam, is hiding something nefarious. The truth is that he’s just a shy, elementary school music teacher who made the mistake of moving into the house next to her father’s.
Phoebe’s extensive knowledge of true crime is hilarious in how she always seems to bring up serial killers at the most inappropriate times. In the beginning, however, I found her to be quite unlikable. Her obsession with true crime borders on the psychotic, and she uses it as an excuse to be incredibly rude to Sam when she first meets him. Honestly, the first 20% of the book reminded me of an AITA thread on reddit, where I kept saying “yes, definitely yes, you are the a$$hole.” In the beginning, her rudeness was harsher, and not particularly funny.
That said, as the book progressed, it became funnier. Sure, Phoebe is definitely NOT fun at parties, but her paranoia and extensive knowledge of serial killers made her into an interesting protagonist. As the book progressed, it became clearer that she uses her obsession with true crime as a defense mechanism–guarding herself from being hurt–emotionally. The handsome man next door can’t break her heart if she protects herself from his inevitable serial killer tendencies.
As the book progresses, the witty banter between Phoebe and Sam verges on mean on Phoebe’s side, but it becomes more humorous and less cringey. The sweet and shy Sam perfectly softens Phoebe’s sharp edges. Both Phoebe and Sam are very different types of antisocial, and I loved the juxtaposition of their personalities and how they handle their social awkwardness very differently.
This is ultimately an entertaining book for those who enjoy romances with an academic bent and a side of true crime.
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*Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ebook to review*
Well I’ve been on a roll with the extremely angsty reads lately, and I was excited to pick this one up! I was intrigued by the concept that the heroinWell I’ve been on a roll with the extremely angsty reads lately, and I was excited to pick this one up! I was intrigued by the concept that the heroine is so badly beaten that her facial structure is permanently damaged. She’s no longer beautiful, but love is blind, right? This book is about Nicole’s gradual literal and mental escape from her abusive boyfriend. One thing that bothered me, however, is that the man who’s saving her, Brian, falls in love with her almost instantly. She’s worried that he loves her out of pity, and the fact is, how could he fall in love with her before she even talks to him? I would have liked for their relationship to be more gradual. He could have been helping her out of the kindness of his heart, and as he got to know her, developed feelings for her–which was what I’d been hoping for/expecting, particularly with the way she looks being such a critical part of the plot. All in all, this is one of those books that take you to rock bottom along with the heroine before building you back up again. It’s super angsty, and worth reading if you’re like me and mildly deranged, and enjoy having your heart ripped out with your romance books.
Wow, this book gave me a lot of emotions! It’s deliciously angsty, sexy, and has a great plot, to boot! I love characters that escaped from cult-like Wow, this book gave me a lot of emotions! It’s deliciously angsty, sexy, and has a great plot, to boot! I love characters that escaped from cult-like beginnings, and Fiona’s strictly religious upbringing definitely fits that bill. She’s damaged and has extremely unhealthy coping mechanisms, but she’s no withering wallflower. She’s a very strong heroine, and I just loved her personality so, so much. For instance, she’s rude to her next-door neigbor when they first meet. So, as an apology, she gives him a cactus (because she was prickly with him!) Cute and sarcastic. I loved her to death. Her love interest and next-door neighbour (and receiver of said cactus) is Hunter, and he’s just as lovable and damaged as she is. Hunter has an intriguing background of his own. My only complaint (initially) was that his backstory was so fascinating and only introduced later in the book, which left me wanting more. BUT then I realized that the author has an entire series devoted to his brothers! So I’ll get to be finding out more about that lovable crime family when I pick up that series. I can’t wait! 5 stars! HEA? (view spoiler)[ Yes! (hide spoiler)] Trigger warnings (view spoiler)[child abuse (described on the page), attempted rape, self-harm, violence (hide spoiler)]
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