3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR! i enjoyed this audiobook—highly recommend that format as i likely would have DNF’d the physical due to sloooow pacing.
rea3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR! i enjoyed this audiobook—highly recommend that format as i likely would have DNF’d the physical due to sloooow pacing.
read if you like: influencer plots/storylines, character driven novels, shocking endings, slow burn plots, full-cast audio narration
the full cast audio was really fun! the pacing was all over the place but the audio really helped keep me going. i ended up finishing pretty quickly bc i was so determined to figure out what happened to miss Evie ...more
ugh this one had so much potential but was lacking a lot in execution for me.
the synopsis was so intriguing (a young girl turns into a mega pop star) ugh this one had so much potential but was lacking a lot in execution for me.
the synopsis was so intriguing (a young girl turns into a mega pop star) and those plots always get me but with books of similar storylines (think Daisy, Evelyn, Hayley Aldridge, etc) this was lacking!
i saw all meh reviews so didn’t expect much, but the only reason i did read it is bc my queen Brittany Pressley narrates the audio format. if you do read this one, try that version!
i felt like everything was halfway done… her relationship with Wes… the ending (why couldn’t we get a chapter with the ending instead of an article telling us what happened??)… even her being a popstar was such halfway flushed out? like show me what it was like being a popstar!! being famous!! being rich!! touring!! being popular!! being everything…
TLDR; had potential but lacking all around. will ultimately be forgettable!...more
3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR! this was such a fun audio binge. it was laugh-out-loud funny and the ending was surprising.
if you’re a fan of the FINLAY 3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR! this was such a fun audio binge. it was laugh-out-loud funny and the ending was surprising.
if you’re a fan of the FINLAY DONOVAN series or Dolly Alderton’s GHOSTS or GOOD MARERIAL, you’ll enjoy this one! similar vibes, very funny, a good blend of litfict, mystery and semi-romance and an overall quick binge.
the audiobook format was perfect because it gave it more comedic value and you got a good vibe for the character’s personality. plus the narrator is British which is always a vibe!
the premise: after a bad breakup, a woman joins a dating app and goes on a bunch of dates. but then everyone she went on dates with happens to turn up dead… and sometimes she was the last to see them alive. is she a secret serial killer? or being set up?
it’s not a WOW OMG read it now book but i had a great time binging it and would reco it for a quick beach binge/audio listen on a car ride!
3.5 rounded to 4 for GR! i liked this and it was an easy binge, but overall wanted a bit more given how good THE DROWNING WOMAN was (sorry for compari3.5 rounded to 4 for GR! i liked this and it was an easy binge, but overall wanted a bit more given how good THE DROWNING WOMAN was (sorry for comparing ...more
3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR—this was cute! a very easy summer binge and i liked the setting. also liked how it was an older romance so the characters f3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR—this was cute! a very easy summer binge and i liked the setting. also liked how it was an older romance so the characters felt more mature, especially Scooter (although ewww with that name hahaha).
i did cringe a bit though bc why is the whole “you’re my bestie but idk what your brother looks like” trope a thing this year??? or ever?!?! (cough cough the new Carley Fortune book). its so hard for me to get over!!
the setting is a vibe, it’s got strong side plots, there’s some coming of age/finding yourself involved, dealing w grief, friendship themes and ofc romance. the author tackled a lot of topics really well!
i do think long term this is a bit forgettable and there was no MAJOR emotional connection anywhere for me but i did enjoy reading it and easily finished in two sittings. would be perfect for a beach day!
i listened to this on audio and tbh felt underwhelmed — it was a highly anticipated 2024 release for me but it was just okay and feels forgettable in i listened to this on audio and tbh felt underwhelmed — it was a highly anticipated 2024 release for me but it was just okay and feels forgettable in a month or two.
something was missing and just felt off, but i can’t quite put my finger on it and that’s what’s bugging me!! to be fair, i am playing the comparison game though bc i loooooved MEANT TO BE and also enjoyed THE LIES THAT BIND / her older work.
i think what bugged me most is that i kept waiting for more—the plot to get deeper, a twist to come at the end, something to surprise me?? IDK!!! it was hard to get an emotional connection to any of the characters the way the author went about it (keeping spoiler free). the big event happens right away in the first 15 pages so then you’re left with nearly 350 pages post-big plot and i think executionally, she could have built on the friendship and time in college before diving right in.
i know it’s a litfic but it just felt like nothing happened (yet she crammed in so many tidbits and topics? like the eras tour and Travis Kelce? even as a Swiftie…i’m like, what?!?? ...more
DNF about 40% in. this was just not for me… not sure if it was the narrator or the writing but i didn’t find myself wanting to continue listening so iDNF about 40% in. this was just not for me… not sure if it was the narrator or the writing but i didn’t find myself wanting to continue listening so it was time to throw in the towel. ...more
i thought this one was just okay. mainly because for me, the first and second half felt like two totally different books?!
this author also wrote THE Wi thought this one was just okay. mainly because for me, the first and second half felt like two totally different books?!
this author also wrote THE WISHING GAME which was everrryyywhere last year. i haven’t seen too many people review this yet (just released + is a BOTM pick) and i myself went in pretty blind… but overall, i think readers will prefer her debut.
whats sad is this had so much potential and i was loving the first half. it totally sucked me in—two boys disappear for 6 months and are magically found but one can’t remember anything and one won’t talk about it. now one of them makes a living helping find people who are missing. it was giving MAJORRRRR Adrienne Young and THE SPELLS OF FORGETTING or THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW vibes (loved both of those sooo much) and i so wanted it to continue but it just didn’t ...more
this was a good emo, spicy romance! overall i’m not entirely sure how i felt about the trauma bond, but i did enjoy the story. this was also just pickthis was a good emo, spicy romance! overall i’m not entirely sure how i felt about the trauma bond, but i did enjoy the story. this was also just picked up by Reese as a book club pick of hers! would be a good one to discuss with others.
what i liked most about this story was the MC finding herself and her path and also learning to forgive herself. trying not to spoil, but there were some things she did before a major event in the book happened that ended up haunting her for years to come so i was happy to see that play out during the “coming of age” plot of this one.
this was a deeper romance and certainly isn’t a funny, happy, light romcom. its much deeper and emo and deals with grief and regret. very strong side plots and not just all about the romance story (which are my fave kind of romance books—think Katherine Center or Abby Jimenez style).
this also had more spice than i was expecting! so the girlies who love spicy novels will enjoy some chapters in here. one chapter is giving “what if he’s written MINE on my upper thigh” vibes… iykyk
overall, worth the read! the author is very talented and also a screenwriter (making Emily Henry’s BEACH READ script). i could see this play out so well in my head and tbh would love to see this get adapted too!...more
3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR. liked it, didn’t love it. was missing a bit in the execution for me that i can’t quite put my finger on.
this magical real3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR. liked it, didn’t love it. was missing a bit in the execution for me that i can’t quite put my finger on.
this magical realism book was getting a lot of buzz and being compared to THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, so naturally i was interested. while i can see some Addie LaRue references, it doesn’t even scratch the surface of that magical book. but if you liked Addie LaRue and you also like traveling and learning about the world, this book might be worth checking out!
i listened to the audiobook and highly recommend that version! it’s narrated by one of my favorites (the same narrator who does Kate Quinn’s books) and she really brought the story to life well.
this premise is so interesting and i applaud the author for his creativity. insane that this is a debut! i’d deff check out his future work.
there were so many strong themes here - humanity, discovery, strength, survival. what would you do if you couldn’t stay in the same place for more than 2-3 days? would it be hell or cool? it really makes you wonder. the author wrote a FMC well, especially a little girl. she was also very funny at times!
i think my main issue was that the travel started too quickly. i wanted a little bit more about the magic puzzle ball and the sickness and how it all got started before we immediately dive into 9 year-old Aubry’s travels and life with loneliness.
because the majority of the book is around Aubry and her travels around the world by herself due to her condition, the pacing and the lack of other POVs from other characters were other bummers for me. some of my fave chapters were when she was with other characters (the Prince, the girl studying her, the guy on the train). i also am still not sure how i feel about the ending even though i’ve been finished with it for a few days! i don’t know how i saw it ending, so i’m not sure how to feel. ...more
this one had a lot of potential but lacked in execution. the plot was creative and really funny at times, but also 50% of the book i had major “so whethis one had a lot of potential but lacked in execution. the plot was creative and really funny at times, but also 50% of the book i had major “so where is this going….?” vibes.
i reco the audiobook for this one. i’ve seen quite a handful of friends DNF this book and i can see why (see above re: where is this going). if i read the physical copy, i may have DNF. loved the audiobook version and it deff helped me stay invested—plus British narrators are always a fun time!
THE HUSBANDS plot is this quote to a T: “my weird attic has magic. it’s been creating a whole bunch of husbands and idk what to do.” ...more
this book was so beautiful! its fiction but based on the author’s family and their experience during WW2 in Poland (her grandfather was Addy). just WOthis book was so beautiful! its fiction but based on the author’s family and their experience during WW2 in Poland (her grandfather was Addy). just WOW ...more
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