amateur_bookworm's reviews
589 reviews

The Empowering ADHD Workbook for Women by Estelle Rose

informative medium-paced

4.0

My summary:

The Empowering ADHD Workbook for Women starts out with an easy-reading and succinct overview of ADHD and then launches into an easy to follow overview of coping strategies to not only help you survive, but thrive in life.

My thoughts:

The Empowering ADHD Workbook for Women is a no-nonsense guide to basics that can help anyone function better in life, with ADHD or not.

The publisher reached out to me and asked if I’d be willing to read this book and leave a review. Although I don’t have ADHD, nor do I have anyone close to me with it, I agreed. I hoped some coping mechanisms or techniques discussed might just be generally helpful in life.

This book is a good reminder that basics matter.

It lays out easy steps to take in every facet of life. Instead of making whole, sweeping lifestyle changes, it recommends manageable ideas to form lasting habits. For example, in the food section, it recommends picking 1-3 of the suggestions to implement instead of the entire list.

I already practice a lot of the recommendations in this book, so although not life-changing in that respect, it does feel validating.

Some great recommendations mentioned in this book, that I personally use daily and that have been nothing short of life-changing for me, are the Balance app and the 5-Minute Journal. I also have read and highly recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear, which would be a great supplement to this book to help put suggestions here into practice.

Overall, I found this book to simply lay out some practical life tips. Although a lot of it is not applicable to me or new information for me, it is still a good reminder of the important basics in life.

Hopeless by Elsie Silver

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My summary:

Beau Eaton has always been the happy-go-lucky golden boy of Chestnut Springs and an elite special forces soldier. After going missing on his last mission and then returning home injured, Beau has struggled to find a purpose in life without his military career. That is, until he starts spending time around Bailey Jansen. Bailey has grown up in Chestnut Springs with the stigma of being the youngest daughter of the trashiest family in town. Her only goal is to save up enough money to get away from this town and never look back. But then Beau offers Bailey a fake engagement that seems too good to be true. And as Bailey helps Beau feel whole again, Beau makes her feel loved for the first time ever.

My thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Chestnut Springs series and I was really excited to get to Beau’s story to wrap it up.

Beau is introduced early in the series as the fun brother and a badass special forces soldier. Then, we find out he is missing in action. And after he returns home from convalescing from his injuries, he is quiet and withdrawn. And now we get his story.

Bailey is adorable and I just want to scoop her up but also simultaneously knock out every jerk in town that is rude to her. I enjoy the banter and interactions between her and Beau. And Beau is complicated, yet sweet with Bailey. But all of the age gap references do get a little tiresome. I get it, I get it—she’s a lot younger than him.

I love that the other books in this series have sweet nicknames: Princess, Red, Sunny, Tink (as in, Tinkerbell), ….. and then we have Sugar Tits. Hilarious!

This series has been so good that I’ve even overlooked her use of the word “folds”. And it takes an excellent romance book to overcome that usage.

Overall, I adore this series and every book is so good! My favorite is Heartless, then Flawless, Powerless, Reckless and, lastly, Hopeless. My favorite girl is Willa and I’m going to have to go with Jasper as my favorite guy (followed closely by Harvey!). And I’ve found out that I really enjoy cowboy romances!

Content Warnings

Reckless by Elsie Silver

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

My summary:

Winter Hamilton is a resident physician with her life falling apart. Her perfect heart surgeon of a husband is really a douchebag, her perfect plastic surgeon mother is only concerned with public opinion, and the only person she wants a relationship with is her estranged sister. After deciding to get a divorce and switch hospitals, Winter goes out to Chestnut Springs for Christmas with her sister, Summer, at the Eaton ranch. Sparks fly when Winter first meets Theo Silva, a cocky and charming bull rider, and the protégé of her sister’s fiancé. After a fiery first exchange, the night ends with Winter and Theo making an agreement for a one night stand with no strings attached. But that plan goes to shit with a surprise pregnancy.

My thoughts:

This fourth book of the Chestnut Springs series does not disappoint. It starts off with a bang. Well, actually, more of a tease. And I was immediately hooked!

I would never have guessed that I would like the one night stand and secret baby trope as much as I do in this book. It’s somehow sweet and still pretty hot at the same time.

There is a point early on in this book where I saw no redemption possible for Theo. But Elsie Silver worked her magic and I am Team Theo all the way.

I feel like Winter is a little too relatable at times. I hate for the bitchy girl in the series to be the one I see myself in, but, here we are. It is nice to get her point of view after only getting her sister’s side of the story in the previous books. And it’s really nice to see her character develop through the story and for her to get a happy ending (c’mon, it’s a romance book, I’m not spoiling that there’s a happy ever after).

I’m still loving the Harvey bonus scenes at the end! They are in the Blooms edition books and it feels like its own fun series.

I can’t believe how fast I’ve read this series and I’m sad that I only have one book left, but I’m really interested in getting Beau’s story.

Content Warnings

Powerless by Elsie Silver

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funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

My summary:

When Sloane Winthrop’s entire life blows up moments before her wedding that she never wanted, all she wants to do is go to her uncle’s ranch. As a kid, the Eaton’s ranch was a safe haven during the summer away from her stuffy parents—and also where she spent time with Jasper Gervais, her childhood crush. Jasper escaped an awful home life when Beau Eaton took him home when they both were in high school. The Eatons raised Jasper just like he was one of the family. Now a big-time NHL goalie, Jasper has always stayed friends with Sloane, a prima ballerina at a big dance company in the same city. After Jasper busts Sloane out of her wedding and takes her to the ranch, they get the devastating news that Beau is missing in action from his special forces unit. Jasper and Sloane turn to each other to cope, as they always have—but this time they may finally be on the same page together with their feelings for each other.

My thoughts:

I just adore Elsie Silver’s writing style. It’s sassy and hilarious and tugs at the heartstrings and the characters are just perfect. I’ve really enjoyed the Chestnut Springs series so far and switching from cowboy romance to a bit of a hockey romance in the third book just works perfectly for me.

Jasper had me swooning in the first six pages. His story is so heartbreaking and redeeming at the same time. The scene with him and Harvey at the table with the news of Beau missing had me gutted. This book is much more sad and emotional than the others so far in the series. And Sloane’s support of Jasper ever since they were kids is, just, everything.

The slow-burn friends-to-lovers plot had me chomping at the bit for Jasper and Sloane to just make it happen already. But when it does finally happen, it does not disappoint!

Also, Sterling Woodcock?!? Excuse me while I die over Sloane’s douchebag fiancé’s name. And anytime I have to put a book down to Google a reference of a person, with the accurate premonition that I should use private browsing mode for said search, well, I was cackling as I found out who Peter North is (yeah—I’m clearly not Canadian).

I’m excited for Winter and Theo’s story in the next book. But, now, what I’m really here for is Beau’s story. I feel so invested in his outcome after his bit in this book.

Note: I’ve found myself really looking forward to the Harvey bonus scene at the end of each Bloom edition book. It is just a great little cherry on top at the end of each story.

Content Warnings

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My summary: Briana is an ER physician with her entire life blowing up in her face. Her divorce is just about to be finalized, her brother is in end stage renal failure, and the promotion at work that seemed like a sure thing is now up in the air. Jacob is also an ER physician that has just transferred to the same hospital as Briana. He left his old hospital after his ex started dating his brother and they had all worked together there. Suffering from serious anxiety, Jacob’s transition is even more rocky at best when seven patients die on his first day and the nurses nickname him Dr. Death. Briana and Jacob keep crossing paths, namely in a supply closet they each like to hide in to get away for a few minutes. This leads to Jacob writing her a good old fashioned letter—and their pen pal relationship soon turns into something more.

My thoughts:

I loved this book when I read it almost a year ago. But I *LOVE* this book as an audiobook. I found myself completely swept into it and I kept catching myself smiling like an idiot—and actually laughing out loud while I was listening while working.

Jacob has my heart. He is just so raw and vulnerable, especially in his letters. I can relate to his anxiety a little TOO much though, especially when he spirals a bit. I just love his letters and then his journal. *Swoon* I literally just sat and grinned through most of Jacob’s chapters.

The narrators are Kyla Garcia and Zachary Webber. I really enjoy both of them, even though I had to make a bit of a mental adjustment for how Jacob’s character sounded in my head while reading vs. the narrator’s voice in the audiobook. And I’m not a fan of the male narrators changing their voice to do the female parts. I think I’d prefer to hear Kyla do Briana’s part, even when it’s Jacob’s chapter. But, really, overall I enjoy these two narrators a lot more than I generally enjoy any narrators.

The Part of Your World Series is my hands down favorite of Abby Jimenez’s books. I highly recommend reading or listening to all three of them!

Content Warnings

Heartless by Elsie Silver

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My summary:

Cade Eaton has been busy taking care of everyone else throughout his entire life. After his mom died when he was only 8, he stepped up to help his dad and younger brothers and sister. Then, when his dad retired, he took over running their ranch. And he’s raised his five year old son, Luke, entirely on his own ever since his piece of shit ex left them both behind. Trying to find a nanny for the summer is next to impossible—especially in a small town where he’s the most eligible bachelor, much to the chagrin of the broody and grumpy Cade. When Cade’s brother’s fiancée suggests her best friend, Willa Grant, Cade immediately refuses. But once the hurricane that is Willa rolls into town, it doesn’t take long at all for Luke to be enraptured by the fun and fiery Willa, and soon Cade is firmly under her spell too.

My thoughts:

I’m not sure there are very many romance books I have loved as thoroughly as I love Heartless by Elsie Silver. From the first page to the last, I could not put this down and read it in about a day (a workday, no less—who needs sleep with books this good around?!).

I read Wild Love before I started the Chestnut Springs series so I already had a glimpse of what’s going to happen and I. Couldn’t. Wait. And it did not disappoint in any way.

The single dad trope has never been my favorite but, wow, it is now! Throw in the hot and grumpy cowboy with the fiery and unpredictable nanny and the most adorable kid on the planet and then I am a goner. Add in the small town and ranch setting and then it can’t get any more perfect.

This book is absolutely fucking hilarious. And hot. I cannot love Elsie Silver’s writing style more if I tried. If I were to ever write a book (which is highly improbable) I hope it would turn out half as good as this. I cannot wait to finish the Chestnut Springs series but I also don’t ever want it to end either. Luckily I have three more books to go.

Content Warnings

Flawless by Elsie Silver

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My summary:

Rhett Eaton is the rough and tumble face of professional bull riding. He finds himself in a PR scandal after a hot mic catches him talking shit about his biggest sponsor right before he punches a paparazzi in the face. Summer Hamilton recently finished law school and works for her father at Hamilton Elite, the talent agency firm that represents Rhett. Summer had a teenage crush on Rhett a decade ago. And now, she finds herself becoming Rhett’s babysitter for the next few months to keep him in line so more sponsors don’t drop him before the world championships. But it doesn’t take long for Rhett to find his match in Summer’s sassiness as the city girl and the cowboy fall for each other.

My thoughts:

If you’re looking for a sassy, swoony, and spicy romance then check out Flawless by Elsie Silver!

I’m not sure I’ve read a cowboy love story yet but I absolutely adore this one! I could not read this fast enough, and I also can’t wait to move onto the rest of the series. This is a perfect blend of a sweet and spicy love story and I just cannot get enough of Rhett and Summer. I read it really fast but I also never wanted it to end.

Who thought such a rough and tumble bull rider could be so swoony?! I love Rhett and that he’s really a softie under his hardass shell. I also love how strong Summer is and how she holds her own in every situation. I enjoyed the dynamic between Summer and her dad also.

The texts at the beginning of chapters are absolutely hilarious. The witty banter is great. I enjoy small town romances, even though the setting wasn’t a huge factor in the plot. I love the introduction to characters that I’m hoping will get their own book in the series.

This is a can’t-miss romance, especially since it’s on Kindle Unlimited too!

Content Warnings

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

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mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

My summary:

Nora's father, a wealthy hotelier from New York, dies from a fall off of coastal cliffs at his house in California. Nora had a complicated relationship with her father and she has been trying to move on with her life while coping with the grief of losing him--all too soon after also losing her mother. Sam, her estranged half-brother, reaches out to Nora with concerns that their father's death was not an accident. As Nora and Sam form a tentative alliance to look into the circumstances surrounding their father's death, they begin to unravel pieces of their father's life that he had always kept hidden.

My thoughts:

This is a slow building mystery that delves into relationships, family drama, and coping with grief. It was not at all what I was expecting and feels very different from Laura Dave's other books that I have read. It makes me pause and wonder a bit about what she has experienced in her personal life to make such a marked change in writing styles.

I absolutely adored The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave and devoured it in a day. I loved it so much that I went on to read some of her back list books. When this book was announced, I was so excited. I preordered it and then was thrilled to receive an ARC copy. All of this led up to me having very high expectations for this upcoming book and, unfortunately, it fell pretty flat for me.

This book has a very melancholy tone. Overall, my feelings for this book seem to be as complicated as the point that Laura Dave seems to be trying to make with it. It is hard to grasp all of the characters and how they fit together. The points of contention between the characters is not well explained or developed so it makes the entire plot hard to follow since the strife between the characters is the bulk of the plot. Once I finished it, the whole thing felt like a very long justification of infidelity, and of that, I am not a fan.

What does it have going for it? I did not see the plot twist coming. It is enough that it makes me want to reread this when it is released to see how the pieces fit together now knowing the ending. I think that Laura Dave also makes some very poignant observations about grief and coping with loss. She captures that life is messy and it's a somewhat unwelcome reminder that we often don't really understand those people closest to us in life. If you go into this book expecting a story of grief and loss and exploring relationships of family and loved ones, instead of expecting a mystery or thriller, then it will likely increase your enjoyment of reading it.

I want to express my appreciation to Simon Element and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Content Warnings

Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

My summary:
Diesel, Ryder, Garrett, and Kenzo are The Vipers. Ryder is the front man and face of their legitimate and illegitimate companies. Garrett is the enforcer. Kenzo is the bookie. And Diesel is the assassin. They are ruthless, brutal, and sexy as hell. They run this city and nobody crosses them. When Rob racks up a debt to them that he can’t pay, he offers to sell his daughter, Roxxane, to them to cover it. Roxy has been on her own since she was 17 and is now 24–and a total badass. She owns Roxers, a dive bar in town. When the Vipers come to collect her, she knows she has no way of getting away from them. But as infuriated as Roxy is by being taken as property, she soon can’t help but be attracted to her captors. And once she realizes they’re all broken in their own way, they all find ways to help each other heal.

My thoughts:

If you’re going to read this book, you’re going to have to get really cool about a bunch of stuff really quickly. I imagine there is a niche for this book, however, it is not exactly *my* niche.

I saw an out of context, smutty quote on Bookstagram and immediately downloaded it from Kindle Unlimited. And, wow, let me tell you, I did not have any idea of exactly what I was diving into with this one.

This is a VERY dark mafia romance. The content is, well, a lot. The list of trigger warnings is very long for this book. I highly suggest anyone look through all of them before reading this book. It has tons of smut, a lot of violence, and some plot.

I feel like I should be disgusted by this book, and I somewhat am, but I also could not stop flying through the pages. Some (most?) parts were just gross, and I don’t see how even a contortionist could’ve made some of these scenes possible, and some was just too over the top for me. “Why choose” has never been my favorite trope but this isn’t the worst that I’ve read.

I’m actually more concerned that I’m not more concerned about this book. I absolutely do not recommend this for most people, but if this is your thing, then definitely have at it and enjoy.

Content Warnings

Funny Story by Emily Henry

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

My summary:

Daphne Vincent is devastated when her fiancé, Peter, breaks up with her on the morning after his bachelor party—for his longtime *platonic* best friend, Petra. In desperation of needing a place to live, Daphne ends up moving into the apartment of Petra’s ex, Miles. Her and Miles generally stay out of each other’s way for weeks until one night of wallowing leads to a fake dating lie in an attempt to make their exes jealous. As the fake dating ruse leads to friendship, the blur between which feelings are real or fake becomes more confusing.

My thoughts:

I read Funny Story in April and adored it. It is a five star read for me. The audiobook was great but I enjoyed reading it more than I did listening to it.

This is the soonest I’ve listened to an audiobook after reading the book. It’s just how my Libby hold came up. Honestly, I think I should have delayed it longer to really enjoy this as an audiobook. My favorite audiobooks are of books that I have already read and liked, but this was just a little too soon after reading it to really enjoy it for a second time.

Julia Whelan did a great job narrating this book. As a single narrator of a very long book, her performance was overall really good. But, it’s just a very long time to listen to the same narrator, even breaking it up over more than a week. I mentally checked out a bit through the last third of it.

It’s funny to me how reading a book can give you certain vibes that just aren’t there listening to the same book narrated to you. I had the same experience with reading and then listening to Bride by Ali Hazelwood. I am a mood reader and totally rate books mostly off of how they make me feel, and it’s just interesting to me in the difference I find between some books and their audiobooks. I think reading certain sentences or paragraphs can have a much different impact than listening to the same.

I think I will always prefer reading versus listening to audiobooks, and that’s is reflected here in my rating for the book (five stars!) versus the audiobook (4.25? stars). But whether you’ve already read this book or not, this is a great audiobook.

Content Warnings

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amateur_bookworm's reviews 589 reviews

amateur_bookworm's reviews
589 reviews