bookishkellyn's reviews
329 reviews

Restore Me by J.L. Seegars

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challenging hopeful tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The author’s writing reminded me of Kennedy Ryan’s, but I still couldn’t wait to get this book over with! I can get with an enemies to lovers trope, but the basis of the animosity has to make sense to me and theirs didn’t. While there were other layers to the story, Dom and Sloane’s initial dynamic was really enforcing that ‘boys are mean to you because they like you’ vibe that I hate, and even the ensuing passion and pleasure couldn’t really make me forget that.

The plot dragged and didn’t have to be 400+ pages. I had to start skimming through some parts to get past the oversentimental dialogue, excessive smut, and miscommunication but liked the ending.
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Rekindled by Brookelyn Mosley

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hopeful

4.0

A cute forced proximity, second chance Christmas novella about reversing priorities. Action popped off in the first few pages but overall didn’t really stand out from all the other romances I’ve read. Maven and Kai are better than me, because I would’ve asked Santa for new friends.
This Love Hit Different by T. Key, Monica Walters

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

3.0

Non-taboo age gap romance about a man hanging up his player’s card that’s complicated by some baby mama/family drama. Overly spicy with some mushy moments but forgettable otherwise.
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Human Resources: A Happy Holiday Short by Aria Daze

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lighthearted

4.0

Brittany knows flirting with Dimi would be “like flirting with the unemployment line directly” (lol) but he doesn’t make it easy for her to resist. Men being down bad for women is my cup of tea especially when it’s presented in a quirky 12 Days of Christmas format.
As You Walk On By by Julian Winters

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hopeful informative
  • 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

3.0

The action doesn’t really start until about ⅓ into the book when everyone and their mama barges into a bedroom that seems to have bonding powers. The Breakfast Club meets Can’t Hardly Wait was such an apt comparison, except this was heavier, more modern, and we got to see the fallout and rearrangement of friend circles in the aftermath. I didn’t know where the story was going at first but did like that the YA ending wrapped it up in a neat little bow after reading what kind of felt like an after school special.
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Playin' Hard by Whitney D. Grandison

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hopeful reflective
  • 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

4.0

Popular boy and his friends notice the cute girl that goes against the grain and see a challenge. I’ve seen way too many Lifetime teen movies and kept waiting for something nefarious to pop off but was pleasantly surprised with the author’s skill at writing teen characters with raw emotions and still making it age appropriate. There was a point or two where I thought I knew where the plot was going, but it turned in another direction and am not sure if it was a red herring or undeveloped plotlines, but I finished the book feeling like I gained more than I lost. This gave me late ‘90s teen movie feels and is definitely something I would’ve dug into when I was younger but still enjoyed now. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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This Motherless Land by Nikki May

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challenging sad tense
  • 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

4.0

I’ve never read Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park but have read a Nikki May book, and over the top drama seems to be her calling card. I pitied Funke/Kate but had mixed feelings about Liv throughout their chronological dual POVs. The storyline was laced with grief, classism, racism, and greed, but the ending was touching and really turned it around for me. Some of the best parts reminded me of Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo. I highly recommend the audio version and don’t think it would’ve hit as hard without the dual narrators.
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Naughty and Leaked by A. Blossom

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hopeful

4.0

Naomi, Harlem, and Houston are back for part deux in this forced proximity holiday novella that was better than the previous book. Their new dynamic was cute, the writing was better, the scenes less gratuitous, and leftover plot holes were filled.
A Tale of Two Cities: A Thanksgiving Novella by Alexandra Warren

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hopeful

4.0

Aspen has lust at first sight when she meets Orlando, but the way their situation is written adds depth and makes you feel like they’ve known each other longer than they actually have. I guess the other characters were meant to be Easter eggs from another one of the author’s series, but they were distracting.
Love Unsolicited by Alexandra Warren

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

5.0

During a night out, “Elle” lucks up on her biggest lick yet–getting paid handsomely to be sexed well. “Key” is a big boss with big bands and BDE who just might have the juice to hustle the hustler out of her heart. Think of it as a reimagining of Pretty Woman but much better. The pacing, plot, and character development was on point, but the humor also kept my attention. Their chemistry and banter was rock solid.