_isabel_'s reviews
1020 reviews

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. 

Very, very cute. Also, very, very freaking dirty.
I didn't think I'd love Chris and Lucas quite as much, having already met them in book one, but oh god, I was obsessed with their dynamic.
Gimme all the idiot-friends-with-zero-boundaries-suddenly-want-to-jump-each-others-bones PLEASE! Plus, spanking?! A smidge of consensual non-con? All the pining, sexual chemistry, helpless attraction and neediness? That's my jam!
I admit, I wanted to hit them both with a pan once or twice (especially near the end *grr*), but I was obsessed with their relationship and their dynamic gave me life.
Eliot Grayson, never change. Seriously! I don't think I'll ever tire of the way she writes, and the way she depicts codependent, extremely delicious, ridiculously needy dynamics is absolutely top notch. She's one of my favourite authors for a reason.

TWs/CWs: child neglect, binge drinking. 

Disclaimer: Italian review ahead; university reading.

Un altro libro che ho dovuto leggere per l'università e che ho inaspettatamente amato. Che dire però? Quanta sfiga questi poveri fontamaresi.

Ho amato moltissimo questo libro: è brillante, amarissimo, deprimente ma anche divertentissimo, esasperante, geniale. Che sfiga però eh! 

Well, where do I start?

There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, from the compelling main characters, to the wonderful atmosphere and the fabulous writing, but I think something was probably missing for me: maybe it was a smidge too insta-love for my tastes?

Anyway, first things first, this was my first C.J. Ravenna romance and I can already see it won't my last. I really enjoyed the writing! And the way this author writes steam was *chef's kiss*

The two main characters were fabulous. I adored Jinta, and his insecurities were so damn relatable. And Raiden! Gah. He was a surprise! I was expecting a hunk of a werewolf, an uber protective and possessive one at that, and I was right, but oh god, his more vulnerable and hurt side left me nearly sobbing more than once. I hope Jinta treats him right! And vice versa too. Both MCs, despite one of them being a violent criminal and the other a reporter with a slightly skewed morality, are sweethearts and they deserve all the happiness.
The plot was fantastic too, it left me hooked, and that ending! How am I supposed to wait now?!

Unfortunately, like I said, this book was a smidge too insta-love: as a trope, it rarely works for me, as fated mates. I think it's just too lovey dovey for my tastes? Idk, it's jarring and it takes me right out of the book. I probably would have loved this book more if it had a more slow-burn vibe. Also, Jinta's characterization at times felt a bit flakey. I wasn't too impressed with a few twists at the end, but like I said, all in all it was a enjoyable read and I really cannot wait to read the conclusion to this duet!
That ending was CRUEL, and the blurb for the second book is already making me want to scream and/or cry.


TWs/CWs: emotional abuse, grooming (and hinted at domestic/sexual abuse), torture, death, violence.

Thanks GRR for the ARC.

 Disclaimer: Italian review ahead; university reading.

Probabilmente non dovrei nemmeno dargli un voto perché come si fa quando è un classico? Federigo Tozzi è un visionario, sicuro, ma non credo di avere il cervello adatto per comprenderlo fino in fondo. O dovrei rileggerlo con più consapevolezza, non so. Non è che ci abbia capito moltissimo, quindi l'unica cosa che mi sento di dire, a livello di trama e di godimento nella lettura è: che palle Pietro. 

 ANOTHER ONE, THANK YOU *grabby hands*

L. Sherleen plucked this book straight out of my dreams. THIS is my jam, I need another dozen books just like this one now.
It had everything I always look for in a contemporary romance. Possessive, dreamy jock and his snarky, insecure disaster of a rival? Disability rep, a truckload of hurt/comfort and an even bigger truckload of found family vibes? Enemies to lovers, pining, also, did I mention the boatload of hurt/comfort????????! ALLLLLLL the sweetness, the snark, the delicious (and lightly kinky) steam my heart can wish for? Gah. I was hooked from the start, and I managed to devour this book in literally two sittings. I need more NOW *stomps feet*

Sure, "Missed Steps" isn't perfect. There were a couple of slip ups, the setting is a bit vague as well, but yeah, that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all.
I loved Kyle and Mark to absolute bits; they had me giggling and blushing from start to finish. I found Kyle absolutely fabulous: he's snarky, quick to anger, a little porcupine who strikes out for fear and when he's feeling vulnerable, but I loved seeing him slowly get better and healthier. I was so proud of him by the end of the book! And Mark: a ridiculous, caring, uber possessive, golden retriever of a man, with a very protective streak as well. I loved how gentle he was with Kyle, how respectful but also how he wasn't any of those things when the mood struck? *swoons* I also found him absolutely hilarious too, with his ridiculously endearing, grumpy jealousy. Their romance was truly top notch; I never wanted this book to end.

I'm sooooooooo hoping that the author has other books planned for this series because a few of these characters (Tommy, Sebastian, Chris, Damien?!) had "MAIN CHARACTER" stamped on their forehead.
I had an absolute blast with this book, and I can already tell the book hangover will be devastating. I need more!!!!!!!!

TWs/CWs: childhood abuse, bullying, homophobia, violence, mental health struggles. 

Absolutely wonderful!
I freaking loved this.
I've been excited for Harry and Toby's book since the first time I read the blurb of this: enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, forced-proximity? THAT'S MY JAM. And after finishing this, I can wholeheartedly say that it didn't disappoint; at all.
This second book in Jax Calder's "Unlikely Dilemmas" series was a fantastic, heart-stopping romp of a book: it had all my favourite tropes, the two protagonists had an unbelievably scorching chemistry (and their banter was damn entertaining! That slow build-up from hate to reluctant allies to soulmates was FIRE), and the setting was damned fabulous. I love a good ol' "stranded in the wilderness together" trope (ft. "I hate you so much, but I also need you like air"), and this book was absolutely packed with all the delicious moments you'd expect from that kind of setting: huddling for warmth, saving each other's lives, us-against-the-world (PLUS: now-I-can't-be-without-you), all the action you can wish for, plus a whole lot of hate sex that slowly morphs into love and pining? UGH, I was hooked.
Both MCs are lovely protagonists. I admit, I had to suspend by disbelief for the duration of the book (I wouldn't trust a politician with a cactus, especially considering the absolute shameful political landscape of the world at the moment), plus the patriotic drivel and the "you can love someone despite their beliefs" were a smidge too much for me (hence, my suspended disbelief), but yeah, once I re-framed this universe as a sort of utopia Great Britain, I managed to love them both to bits. Harry (the Tory, HA!) was my favourite out of the two, because I found him more interesting in the sense that he's full of contradictions, and I love a messy, closeted disaster gay with a complex past and a truckload of ambitions. Toby was lovely as well, and I loved their dynamic to bits. Their romance was fantastic, packed with tension, hate-to-love, pining, and the forbidden aspect was the cherry on the top of an already delicious cake.
I also LOVED how slow-burn their dynamic felt: I loved seeing them slowly trust each other and I loved seeing them open up about their past and their families. Each of them becoming the most important person for the other was absolutely priceless: it's one of the reasons why I love forced-proximity romances so much, and I can only thank Jax Calder for delivering.

I loved the ending SO SO MUCH. It was iconic and I was damn proud of these two complicated, lovable, bickering men. I loved this book, and I can't wait for book three.

Thank you GRR for the ARC. 

Very, very cute!
I think I might have been expecting something a smidge more complex, gritty and thoughtful, but all in all, this was very lovely and it made me smile so damn much.
Reed and Henry were absolutely fabulous protagonists, as were allllll the badass side characters, and I think this cute-as-hell, sweetly steamy and funny romance was precisely what I needed after a few tough reads.
Weight loss propaganda and all the fitness-and-diet shaming always makes me feel uncomfortable, so I was a bit worried about that; and although I think the whole conversation about it could have been sliiiighly more nuanced and thought-through, I still appreciated how N.R. Walker made it all about feeling good with one selves and not about some high and mighty "fit and skinny is better" assumption.
Still, I'd recommend you procede with caution if you have ED issues or body dysmorphia of any kind. Be gentle to yourselves people <3

I could have done without the HP references (I know, this is an older book, but yeah, I'd still love it if every single author would purge that s**t out of their romances ugh!), but yeah, all in all, I really did love this, especially the second half of the book. Reed and Henry's romance had a delicious friends-to-lovers arc, and I adored seeing all the tension, chemistry and attraction build throughout the book. This was a very lighthearted book (angst free and near-enough conflict free!) and it was just what I needed.

TWs/CWs: fatphobia, diet talk, body image issues, self-hate about said body issues, ageism. 

Disclaimer: Italian review ahead; university reading.

Bellissimo.

Iniziato a leggere di malavoglia per un esame universitario, ma mi sono dovuta ricredere sin da subito. Ho pure pianto; Alba de Céspedes ha saputo esprimere in maniera assolutamente devastante, già nei lontani anni '30, quella girlhood che credo ancora ci accomuni tutt*, quello stato esistenziale che ci fa ammattire e disperare, ma che ci costringe anche a spalleggiarci a vicenda, stringerci nella stessa barca di "E ora che gli studi sono finiti, che si fa?", con tutta la confusione, le incertezze e il terrore di crescere che credo tutt* noi almeno una volta nella vita abbiamo vissuto; tutte le ambizioni infinite che sfociano e vengono rimpiazzate e ridimensionate man a mano che il terzo decennio di vita scorre veloce e inesorabile, e la vita "fuori" si fa sentire.
L'ho amato moltissimissimo. Mi sono rivista in tutte le ragazze, dall'implacabile Silvia all'incerta, volubile Emanuela, dalla sfortunata Milly all'eterna studentessa Augusta. Non volevo mai lasciarle. Quel finale amarissimo, ma realistico, me lo tengo stampato nel cuore. Bello, bello.