_isabel_'s reviews
1018 reviews

 Freaking filthy, whew, I BLUSHED. What a delicious morsel of a novella <3

I'm still not convinced Roe Horvat's omegaverse totally works for me, but he sure can write; double points for the kinky aspects too. The steam and dirty talk did get a smidge repetitive after a bit, but all in all, I was absolutely hooked and I needed something filthy and quick like this novel (ALSO, new kink unlocked? Who would have thought *side eyes*) after weeks of tough reads and studying.

...also, any recs like this? 

Disclaimer: Italian review ahead; university reading.

Che angoscia mamma mia. Iconico e geniale, e non oso nemmeno immaginare come fu accolto all'epoca dalla critica fascista, però che angoscia e che oppressione. Uno dei romanzi più claustrofobici che abbia mai letto.
Sicuramente un bello romanzo, anche se ammetto che non rientra nei miei gusti soliti. L'ho dovuto leggere per un esame universitario (l'ultimo che mi rimane da leggere, at last!), quindi un po' di malavoglia... ma è sicuramente un romanzo iconico della nostra letteratura, da leggere almeno una volta nella vita. 

This was absolutely freaking gorgeous!!
I loved Nico and Anthony's romance so damn much. Actually, I feel like I need to re-read the other two SCU Hockey books just to get more glimpses of them now that I know their story.

I loved this book so much. Apart from a few niggles (mainly, I wanted Nico to meet Con and Troy and Nigel and Sam a bit more properly; and also a longer epilogue!), I enjoyed the hell out of it, and I literally could not stop reading.
This book is absolutely packed with hurt/comfort (my FAVOURITE trope ever, and the way J.J. Mulder writes it is unparalleled) and I adored the grumpy/sunshine dynamic Nico and Anthony had going on.
I admit, sometimes I wasn't too keen on the way Nico kept kinda mistreating Anthony, but I understand where he was coming from, and regardless, I still ended up loving him. Anthony was the absolute best; he's so damn sweet and lovely and loving, and ughhhhhh, where do I find an Anthony? I loved that he was so unbothered about his attraction to Nico.

I adored the disability rep of the book. Seriously, more authors should follow J.J. Mulder's lead: we need more sports romances with disability rep. (Also, any recommendations?!)

I can't wait to read the next book. I'm so sad I've now finished these books 🥹

TWs/CWs: homophobia, hate crime, violence, injury, hospitalisation and illness. 

I absolutely adored this book. My favourite J.J. Mulder romance to date!
Nigel and Corwin stole my whole freaking heart. Both of them are fantastic MCs: I wanted to jump into the book to wrap Corwin up in blankets, and I also wanted to jump into the book to climb Nigel like a tree. That man is a freaking dreamboat: protective, devoted, funny, respectful... WHERE DO I SIGN UP.

I loved them so so so much together. Their relationship had the most perfect slow-burn arc, and I adored how good they were at communicating (well, Nigel was! Corwin was a bit of an insecure mess, but we love him for that too 🩷)

The only thing I was missing was a bit of closure when it came to their future, and also Cor's dad. I wanted some comeuppance 😡
But yeah, apart from that...
I adored the group interactions, and I cannot wait to dive into Nico and Anthony's novel.
I'm diving into it ASAP.


TWs/CWs: physical abuse, emotional abuse.

Disclaimer: Italian review ahead; university reading.

You will always be famous, Zeno Cosini.
Una faticaccia leggere questo libro, ma madonna santa, quanto è attuale, moderno e geniale. Non so se è da dire, ma vorrei avere un po' della sfacciataggine di Zeno di andare avanti nella vita come se niente fosse mai colpa sua; sulle malattie immaginarie invece non posso fare altro che battergli un'immaginario cinque. Come ci complichiamo la vita noi umani eh?

< Addio propositi: finalmente ne ero libero. Tutto avrebbe seguito la sua via senz'alcun mio intervento. >

Ho riso, ma mi ha pure fatto riflettere tantissimo. Una pietra miliare della nostra letteratura: iconico sotto ogni punto di vista. 

Very very very cute!!
I would have loved a smidge more angst, maybe a bit more plot, or more grit and substance, but I still adored this book.
Both MCs are cutie patooties, and I found their relationship freaking adorable: wholesome, respectful, mature, ridiculously wonderful.
I loved the group interactions even more though! I'd already met Anthony in J.J. Mulder's other series, but I loved him even more here. And Corwin stole my heart 🩷 June pretty was iconic too. I adored the found family vibes this series has going on 😍

I'm really excited to jump into book two! Hopefully it will have that oomph that was missing here.

 I loved this so much!
Angsty, gut-wrenching but also so damn sweet and romantic and lovely. I never wanted to leave Max and Luke <3

Like the first book, I managed to inhale "Save the Game" in just over 24 hours: I couldn't stop reading. I swear, J.J. Mulder's writing seems to be like crack in book form: it flows like a dream.
I adored the story, and I loved the dynamic between the two MCs.
Max was my favourite, obviously: I knew I was going to love him, but gah, he stole my heart and he made me cry and laugh. He also made me want to jump into the book to protect him: he absolutely deserves everything good in the world. I also really liked Luke, especially his more protective and caring side. He's such a sunshine-y character, and I'm so glad he was there for Max when he most needed it. I loved their relationship, and I especially adored all the side characters, both new and old: Marcos has my heart (I HOPE WE GET HIS BOOK!!!!!!) and Vas is my literal son (I LOVE HIM), and obviously, Coach and Tony <3 I loved those two so much that I'm officially jumping into J.J. Mulder's other hockey series just to get their story. I'm so excited!

Those last chapters broke my freaking heart (ALSO, THAT BONUS CHAPTER: I SOBBED), and although I kinda wish there was an epilogue of some sort, I think abrupt endings are the author's MO. I'm so excited to read the next story in this series.

TWs/CWs: rape, non-con drug use, disordered eating, panic attacks, PTSD, violence. 

This was such a fun read! I had a great time.
I'm usually very picky with my contemporary romances, but one with hockey and college-aged MCs seem to be my jam.

This was my first J.J. Mulder romance, and I admit I started this because I wanted to read book two (I loved the blurb of that one, and angsty contemporaries always seems to work for me better than the non-angsty variety!), but colour me surprised when not only did I inhale it, in just over 24 hours, but I also loved it to freaking bits? I feel like I need to do a deep dive into the author's blacklist.

I adored both protagonists soooo much, especially Carter. He was hilarious: snarky and grumpy and angry, but also surprisingly sweet and insecure and ughhhhh, my favourite type of character. Zeke was pretty great too, and I adored the demi rep! I'm in no way an expert, but I found it so freaking lovely.

I also LOVED their dynamic, and I adored their banter and the slow-burn build-up to their relationship (@slow-burn fans, you don't want to miss this!!!!). I also loved that their relationship was both light-hearted and sweet and romantic, but also very much grounded in friendship as well as a very solid emotional connection. You can take slow-burn as a trope out of my cold, dead hands: IT'S THE BEST, I DON'T MAKE THE RULES!

I loved the side characters, especially Vas and I'm already so damn curious about Max too. I can already tell he's going to break my heart. Tony and the Coach were pretty great as well: I'm guessing there's a story about them somewhere? I need to look them up.

This book is surprisingly chunky, but it didn't feel like it: it flowed like a dreaaaam. I admit the last part of the book wasn't my favourite (that dreaded urge to skim *grr), but all in all, I enjoyed the hell out of it.

TWs/CWs: parent death (past), child neglect, one instance of homophobia. 

I adored "Secondhand Skin" so. damn. much.

Hailey Turner's writing and her numerous bookish universes have stolen my heart (and my mind as well!) since the very first time I read "A Ferry of Bones & Gold"; not only that, but I re-read her books at least twice a year (especially her "Soulbound" series) because they are among my most favourite books EVER, and they're such a comfort to re-read. Getting Spencer's book last year, and now Wade's? Now, that's a dream come true. I still can't believe it.

I adored this book to absolute bits. It was everything I was hoping for, and then some. Action-packed and filled with magic and shape-shifting, treasonous faes and meddling gods, secrets and discoveries and a cast of characters, both old and new, that stole my heart. And the world-building? The majestic way Hailey manages to transport the reader into her books? Gah, it's always amazing to witness, and this book was no exception.

< “You’re here? What are you?” Riordan asked, sounding a little bewildered and a lot less angry. “A problem,” Wade said cheerfully. “Don’t make me yours. You won’t like that.” Riordan’s gaze dragged up and down Wade’s body, making him blink as he realized he was being checked out? Yeah, he was definitely being checked out by the hot guy. Riordan tilted his head, a contemplative look coming to his eyes. “I don’t mind problems like you.” >

Obviously, I've loved Wade since the very first time I met him, but he stole my heart even more here. He's such a badass, but also a total sweetheart too. I loved seeing him so grown up, so much more at home in his skin, being all confident and snarky and funny, but I also loved seeing his more vulnerable side as well. What he was put through was horrific, and I'm so damn happy to see how secure he now feels, both with his pack (I think I might have cried too) and of course, with Riordan.
Because WHEW. Riordan? Let me tell you, I spent half of the book swooning. He's the perfect person for Wade: respectful and protective, without ever being stifling, mindful of Wade's boundaries but also pretty mindful of his own too. He's also funny and ridiculously cute and the way he kept wanting to feed Wade? I SWOONED, like I'm sure Wade did too.

< “Heat doesn’t bother me.” “You’re pretty hot.” “That was the dumbest line. Please don’t ever say that around my pack.” >

I adored getting to know the selkies! Needless to say, I want the NYC god pack to adopt them and keep them alllllllll safe from harm. I loved how Hailey depicted them: as a species they're fascinating and freaking wonderful, and the fact that they have to be so careful with themselves broke my heart.
I adored Donal and Saoirse, and I loved the Maguire sibling's relationship to absolute bits.

The romance stole my soul: it's pretty insta-love, but if there's one thing Hailey can do, it's make me love a trope I usually don't care for. Their relationship didn't feel rushed at all, and I can only applaud the author for that. I loved their dynamic, I loved how both of them were protective and mindful and also so damn loving too. And yeah: Riordan is a consent king, and I can only bow down to him. The steam was steaming!

The plot was fantastic, as usual: Hailey Turner is a mastermind when it comes to well-constructed, thought-out plots, and I was HOOKED. I loved getting the last answers we were missing, even though it also makes me feel damn nostalgic and sad.
I can't believe this will be the end though *cries* I so hope there will be novellas and short-stories in the future because I already miss all these beloved characters.
In the meantime, I might as well re-read the whole lot, no?

ALSO, I LOVED SEEING LUCIEN AGAIN OMGGGGGGG. And Gerard and Keith, and all the NYC god pack. I was hoping there would be cameos, but I didn't think Hailey would have made us this happy. Also, no Spencer and Takoma, BUT, Wade being all snarky and bitter about Spencer hopping on vampire d*ck? I CACKLED.

TWs/CWs: sexual assault (past), slavery, violence, death.

Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.

This was so very cute!
I was looking forward to Beau and Trevor's story since the first time both of them appear in book one! Beau especially seemed like a sweetheart, and I couldn't wait to discover what had happened between him and Trevor.

"The Former Fake Boyfriend" was a such a lovely, deliciously steamy story. It's very light-hearted, despite a few tough topics, and the relationship between Trevor and Beau was damned adorable. Second chance, age gap, a truck load of hurt/comfort and found family?! Sign me up!

I admit, I think I loved Colby and Eli's dynamic a bit more, and both of their characters in general! They were more my kind of jam. Plus, while I do love a sweet story, and I do love sweetheart characters, I think I prefer stories with a grittier edge and slightly less perfect, messier characters. That being said, I inhaled this book! Maya Jean has a knack for writing in such an evocative way: I seriously thought I was with Trevor and Beau, in Beau's beautiful farm, with the cicadas, the sunflowers and the sun.
I also especially adored the side characters! I'm a sucker for a good ol' found family trope, and the Fake Boyfriends squad had me in a chokehold. I love them all sooooo very much, and I seriously cannot wait to see the rest of them reach their HEA *grabby hands*
The group scenes were definitely my favourites, and I'm already very much in love with all the new side characters too: Lee, Joey, Harper, Andy... I loved them all.

I seriously cannot wait for book three!
If you're looking for something sweet and short, lovely and just slightly heart-wrenching, this is the book for you.

TWs/CWs: death of a parent, grief, emotional abuse, non-con rough sex in the MCs line of work.

I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.