When Jack's mom is arrested for organized crime, teenage Jack leaves his boarding school on the east coast to return to his family's casino in Las VegWhen Jack's mom is arrested for organized crime, teenage Jack leaves his boarding school on the east coast to return to his family's casino in Las Vegas. There Jack decides he wants to get back at the man who put his mom away, rival casino owner Carlevaro. He enlists the help of his friends online, all five of them are asexual teens who met in a chatroom.
I'm really not sure how you can write (view spoiler)[ "A Heist" in the title of this book when there isn't even a f-ing heist in it. That pissed me off so badly. There's a difference between happenstance theft and a well planned heist and that was not present in this book (hide spoiler)]. All of the characters except the older sisters were unbearably annoying and yet all somehow lacked personality at the same time.
I feel very strongly that ace representation matters in books, but I honestly felt that the author loved the idea of a Vegas book with the title "Aces Wild" and so the characters were all made ace as well. Which is fine, but then we never really delved into the nuance of what that meant. You could remove the fact that all the characters in this book were ace and it wouldn't change the plot at all, and to me that does a disservice to the ace community.
This was originally a two star read for me but thinking about all these things and more tipped it over the edge to a one star review. That and I heard about the book originally using hearing aides instead of airpods as a plot device and was genuinely horrified....more
How do I say this.... I enjoyed this book but I also acknowledge that it's not good. In fact, it's proba 3 stars
Yet another mostly incoherent review.
How do I say this.... I enjoyed this book but I also acknowledge that it's not good. In fact, it's probably actually bad. But I was entertained! That's all that matters, right?
One constant thought was pestering me the entire time I was listening to this book... how do you set a romance in college and almost never even mention a single college course? Bestie, I remember college and it was not all frat parties and hockey games. Some balance, please!
What this book had going for it was the spicy parts, but everything else mostly fell flat for me. A lot of the beginning of the book could have been cut out and the book would still have the same impact. I was definitely curious as to why this book was so popular and drawing a blank. As I said before, I enjoyed it but there really wasn't much to it. But I guess we are all allowed to like bad books....more
Repeat after me: We are allowed to like predictable books
What Lies in the Woods follows Naomi, a woman who was attacked by a serial killer when she Repeat after me: We are allowed to like predictable books
What Lies in the Woods follows Naomi, a woman who was attacked by a serial killer when she was a child and she and her friends were instrumental in putting him away. Now, they're all adults and the man they sent to prison has died, and with his death brings new questions. Naomi hunts for answers as she realizes those closest to her have been lying to her for years.
I really enjoyed this book, despite having predicted almost every single twist in it. There's actually something comforting about knowing where a book will go. I thought this book did a great job weaving the story and mystery together and I thought all the character dynamics were super interesting. This would make a really great tv series or movie....more
Romantic Comedy is a celebrity romance between a TNO tv writer and a famous singer. Sally has written for TNO for many years when Noah comes on as a hRomantic Comedy is a celebrity romance between a TNO tv writer and a famous singer. Sally has written for TNO for many years when Noah comes on as a host. For a week, the two have insane chemistry, but then they lose touch. Now, years later during Covid lockdown, one reaches out to the other and the two reconnect.
I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I do think the title is misleading because the book isn't a romcom in any stretch of the word, more like a romance that centers around a comedy writer. It was fun to see the author use SNL as a meet cute, and I liked the idea of a celebrity falling for one of the writers. Lots of great questions asked in this book about attractiveness, sincerity, fame, insecurity and more. I really enjoyed listening and it was nice to read a romance with characters approaching their forties....more
A cozy mystery set in a grand hotel in NYC in 1958, this book follows heiress Evelyn. most people think she's an eccentric Marilyn knock of 2.5 stars
A cozy mystery set in a grand hotel in NYC in 1958, this book follows heiress Evelyn. most people think she's an eccentric Marilyn knock off, but in actuality she's an agoraphobic rich woman afraid to leave the hotel. When a guest is murdered, Evelyn decides to solve the case.
The word that comes to mind when I think of this book is "lackluster". I found the story a bit dull and the main character boring. It was fun enough to follow along and I was able to read until the end of the book. But I felt the pacing was all over the place and some of the dialogue too modern for a story set in the 1950's....more
I read this book at exactly the right time. For technicalities sake, this book is not a romance but a fictional novel with romance elements. I feel thI read this book at exactly the right time. For technicalities sake, this book is not a romance but a fictional novel with romance elements. I feel the need to make that clear since it is very clearly marketed as a romance but doesn't technically fit the genre.
Following Hannah, Finn, Priya, and Theo over a span of years, the Christmas Orphans Club is about four best friends who don't have family to spend Christmas with, so they spend it with each other. After a tumultuous few years, Hannah finally feels settled with her friendships until Finn drops a bomb: he's moving to LA. Now Hannah feels the need to make this Christmas better than ever, but there's still some cracks in her personal life that are starting to grow larger.
I really liked Hannah as a main character, I thought she was interesting and I really understood her feelings on a lot of the situations in this book. The author definitely wrote herself into a corner making this book mostly only take place on the Christmas holiday in varying years, but I thought it all came together really well. My favorite part of this book was Hannah and Finn's friendship and how they were really there for each other even when times were hard. By the end of the book I was in tears. Yes, it's a Christmas book but it also wasn't super cheesy like a Hallmark movie (not that there's anything wrong with that)....more
I really wanted to like this book as we don't see a lot of Jewish historical romance, but I didn't care for thI dnf'd this about 30-40% of the way in.
I really wanted to like this book as we don't see a lot of Jewish historical romance, but I didn't care for the writing style and thought it was boring. ...more
A book about two young Hollywood stars, one on the rise to fame, the other a former child star, and while filming a movie they fall in love. Sounds reA book about two young Hollywood stars, one on the rise to fame, the other a former child star, and while filming a movie they fall in love. Sounds really interesting and fun, yes? It wasn't. Instead what we got was a coming of age story that felt like a YA novel instead of one for adults. And honestly, it was wayyyy more trauma than actual romance. I'd hesitate to call this a romance novel.
This book was a great example of telling and not showing. We were often told things happened off the page (especially a pivotal time in both the characters lives near the end) and there was a Greek chorus type vibe with inserted opinions via Youtube or online discussions. Personally, this book brought me to a mentally bad space and I felt there was some on the page trauma that didn't actually need to be on the page (but that's just my preferences). I never understood why Matty and Logan actually liked each other, they had great sexual chemistry but to be honest, they felt like they were better as each others messy relationships before you move on and find the real thing with someone else.
This is my first book by Kacen Callendar and while it didn't work for me, I'd be willing to read a different book by them in the future....more
Ama is an up and coming wedding planner in the Sacramento area. When she lands the wedding of a high profile internet celebrity, it comes with a catchAma is an up and coming wedding planner in the Sacramento area. When she lands the wedding of a high profile internet celebrity, it comes with a catch: she has to work with their florist. Only she used to date said florist, Elliot and things did not end well. With years of animosity between the two, they both need to put their differences aside to pull of this wedding.
Julie Soto is one of those writers who can suck you into her story very quickly. I actually finished more than half of this book in just one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I love stories with complicated heroines and Ama fit the bill in this one. When you have a mother that has been married 15+ times, I can imagine that wouldn't put the best picture of marriage in a child's head. I thought Ama and Elliot had great chemistry in the flashback scenes, it was a bit harder to see in the present day ones. But I thought this was a fun romance filled with flowers, weddings, and donuts....more
Two rival journalists find a magical connection and love through enchanted typewriters. Iris Winnow lives a hard live with her alcoholic mother[image]
Two rival journalists find a magical connection and love through enchanted typewriters. Iris Winnow lives a hard live with her alcoholic mother and her brother fighting the war and missing in action. Her rival at her newspaper job is Roman Kitt, and the two are fighting for the same job. Iris writes letters to her brother which she places under a wardrobe where they magically disappear, and unknowingly to Iris, they go to Roman.
I read this book based on the recommendation of a book seller and I am so happy I picked it up. I didn't even realize this book was considered YA fiction, because even though the main characters are teens this read more like an adult novel/story to me. I loved listening along to what was happening with both characters, especially the world building. And the last 20% of this book broke me and I need the second book right now....more
The story of two writer friends: Athena Liu who is famous and acclaimed, and June Hayward who is flopping badly with her debut. When Athena u 4 stars
The story of two writer friends: Athena Liu who is famous and acclaimed, and June Hayward who is flopping badly with her debut. When Athena unexpectedly and tragically dies right in front of June, June steals Athena’s work in progress, rewrites it as her own, and publishes under Juniper Song. All told from June’s first person perspective, we follow her down many disturbing rabbit holes.
Right off the bat this book is utterly compelling, while at the same time incredibly disturbing. Reading this while in the mind of June Hayward was unsettling. Even though I could predict most of what happened, I was so drawn in by how the story was told I couldn’t put the book down. Definitely a lot of topics were jam packed into this book like plagiarism, racism, authors in readers spaces, the publishing industry and some of its failures and more. I think this is one of the few books where you can absolutely hate a main character but also want to know what they’re doing and what happens next.
Incredibly well written and thought provoking, and all it did was make me think that I’ve been missing out on this author and need to read more by her....more
What was done to Britney Spears is criminal and I am so glad she is alive and well and with us today. I thought Spears did a great job of presenting fWhat was done to Britney Spears is criminal and I am so glad she is alive and well and with us today. I thought Spears did a great job of presenting facts and explaining her feelings without ever seeming hateful or having a vendetta. Even if you aren't a fan of her music, this book is a must read as it portrays an accurate account of conservancy abuse and a woman's fight to regain her freedom....more
A MFFM romance between four vampires spread throughout the decades. This was an easy read and I enjoyed it for the most part, I just think 3.5 stars
A MFFM romance between four vampires spread throughout the decades. This was an easy read and I enjoyed it for the most part, I just think in a few months I will forget the finer details. It definitely outlined abusive relationships and was an interesting character study. Just slightly forgettable, at least to me....more
A comprehensive look at the history of Black horror films and modern horror cinema. We learn about the different stereotypes that roles in films and sA comprehensive look at the history of Black horror films and modern horror cinema. We learn about the different stereotypes that roles in films and shows put black actors/characters into as well as themes tropes and traits.
I very much enjoyed this book, listening was a bit odd because there were several points at which titles of films and dates are listed for quite a long time. I also am giving this book an extra star because the authors shaded Kenya Moore in the book and as a Real Housewives fan I was dying laughing while listening....more
Set in 1948, this book follows Madeline as she moves to a remote town in New York to live as a companion to the reclusive writer Victor. Ther 3 stars
Set in 1948, this book follows Madeline as she moves to a remote town in New York to live as a companion to the reclusive writer Victor. There she also meets his neighbor Audrey, and remarks on a romantic adventure with the two of them.
This book is no plot and no vibes which is fine, but also zero conflict/stakes and not much character growth led to a fairly surface level reading experience. I did really enjoy the little moments of this book, there were lots of things that had a great takeaway. But I wish the three characters had worked through some of the conflicts presented to them rather than just everything falling perfectly into place. It's also nice to read about adult trans characters in a historical setting and (view spoiler)[ nothing bad happens to them on the page which was refreshing (hide spoiler)]....more
Is this book a complete rip off of Throne of Glass? Yes
Is this book poorly written? Yes
Did I still enjoy reading it? Somewhat yes
So I 2.5 stars
Is this book a complete rip off of Throne of Glass? Yes
Is this book poorly written? Yes
Did I still enjoy reading it? Somewhat yes
So I finished the book and didn't DNF it, that says a lot. I actually mostly enjoyed the first 70% of this book, but overall it was just okay. It felt simultaneously a rip off of multiple famous books (Throne of Glass, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Harry Potter 4) with weird "easter eggs" thrown in that really took me out of the book more than anything. I think the author tried but there were too many things with this book that didn't work for me in the end. Not sure I'd be willing to read more in this series....more
Julia was never the perfect daughter, her older sister Olga was. But when Olga dies in a tragic accident, Julia and her family find themselves flailinJulia was never the perfect daughter, her older sister Olga was. But when Olga dies in a tragic accident, Julia and her family find themselves flailing. Lost and feeling like she's missing something, Julia starts to ask questions about Olga and finds out there was more to her sister than she realized.
This is one of those books that I am glad I read, but will probably never read again. What Julia went through was a lot, and I am sure many teens reading this can and will relate to her. This book was also a lot darker than I was expecting, which is not a bad thing. I just wasn't expecting it. I thought Sanchez did a great job with how she presented tough information and how all the characters dealt with it in different ways. And my takeaway from this book is we are all human with our own struggles but there's beauty in the everyday little moments if we choose to look for them....more
I'm not doing a typical review for this book I am just going to list pros and cons
Pros: -Interesting historical facts about Mexican immigrant 2 stars
I'm not doing a typical review for this book I am just going to list pros and cons
Pros: -Interesting historical facts about Mexican immigrants to England during the war, France invading Mexico, etc... -Positive depictions of Hispanic characters -Truly beautiful/stunning/gorgeous book cover
Cons: -Literally zero plot until about 60-70% of the way into the book -Lackluster romance with profoundly unsexy spicy parts -Little to no character development, they were all just oddly fully formed and not much growth happened -Rushed ending
I wanted to like this one more than I did, I *might* be willing to read a book about one of the other sisters but I am not sure at this point....more
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