booksalacarte's reviews
707 reviews

4⭐️3.75🌶️

Contemporary romance

Dual POV

Small Town Romance

Friends to Lovers

Brothers Best Friend

Self Discovery

Forced Proximity

Football obsessed college town

Tw: gaslighting ex, emotional manipulation, toxic relationships, off page domestic violence and alcoholism

In this emotional and captivating story, Melody returns to her hometown after a breakup, only to come face-to-face with Zach, her first love, sparking unresolved feelings between them. The book’s epilogue is sweet, establishing both their friendship and the underlying romantic tension from the start, while the beginning effectively ignites those sparks between the characters.

The characters are well-developed and dynamic, with the female main character (FMC) going through a powerful journey of self-discovery, particularly as she comes to terms with the toxic, long-term relationship she’s leaving behind. It’s a heartbreaking and unique approach to her growth.

The male main character (MMC) is a perfect balance of stoic and tortured, but he never falls into the trap of being a doormat. His strong, individual personality adds depth to the story, especially in a “he falls hard” narrative, which I absolutely love.

The side characters were enjoyable, and I’m hopeful they’ll get their own stories in the future. My only wish would be for a bit more diversity among the characters, which would have added a richer layer to the story.

As for the romance, the spice level is high with many open-door scenes. While these moments are steamy, they did start to take a bit too much focus away from the overall plot at times, which was a minor drawback.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

5⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary romance

Romcom

Workplace romance

This book’s humor was right up my alley. I found myself smiling throughout, enjoying the witty, almost British-style humor and the moments that were unintentionally funny. The instant chemistry between the characters was cute but also a bit clichéd, though I didn’t mind it, especially with the fantastic banter. The dialogue had an effortless charm, reminding me of Notting Hill, where everything just flows with a “roll with it” vibe that’s both endearing and hilarious.

Also, there’s a cat named Darkling… a delightful nod to the Leigh Bardugo character. Hilarious.

I wish there had been a little more diversity, but it was a good book.

This was my first book by Painter, and I’m excited to dive into more of her work!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

2.5⭐️3🌶️

Sports Romcom

Hockey romance

Pro-sports romance

Forced proximity

Fake dating

Slow burn

The main characters were charming, and I particularly enjoyed the ballet focus of the FMC (female main character). However, I felt that the potential for exploring themes like Misty Copeland and the broader impact of ballerinas of color wasn’t fully realized. I would have liked to see this aspect expanded upon.

While the characters were likable, they lacked depth, and I found myself not fully connecting with them.

The celibacy plotline felt forced and, at times, uncomfortable. It seemed out of place, particularly with the unexplained detail about the male lead’s piercing, which felt both strange and disconnected from the character.

As for the plot itself, it followed a fairly typical fake dating scenario, with social media acting as the central plot device. While the pacing was consistent, the story didn’t quite build the momentum I was hoping for, and the payoff ultimately felt flat.

Ultimately, the book didn’t leave as much of an impression as I had anticipated. I wanted to love it, but it fell short. Unfortunately, I don’t think this author’s style resonates with me.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Last Raven
1⭐️3🌶️

New Adult Romantasy
17 yo FMC
Coming of age
Paranormal 
Vampires
Self discovery
Bodyguard romance
Distopian
Forced proximity
Rebellion

TW: 18+content with underage characters

It’s important to mention upfront that I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. That said, I’m honestly not sure who the intended audience is. The themes, language, sexual content, and the age of the main character all seem to suggest different age groups, which made it hard for me to feel comfortable while reading.

The central premise is that humans are essentially livestock for vampires. The main character, Amelia, is a 17-year-old recluse and the human heir to a vampire empire. What’s strange, though, is how her existence is viewed. Usually, a human born to vampires is seen as something weird and even a little “broken” by the vampire community. But in this world, humans are just livestock, so I found it odd that Amelia’s parents didn’t turn her into a vampire. It’s one of those things that just doesn’t make sense.

Then there’s the issue of Amelia taking over the empire at 18. You’d expect someone in line to rule half the world to have serious political training, but she has none. The fact that someone so young and unprepared would take over from rulers who’ve been in power for centuries feels like a big stretch. It made me wonder if the book is trying to appeal to a younger audience, but then it includes so much adult content and language that I was left confused about who this book is really meant for.

Even within the first 10% of the book, there are so many things that just don’t add up. For instance, Amelia’s bodyguard doesn’t seem to treat her like the heir to a massive empire. Instead of being her protector, he acts more like a babysitter. There’s no respect for her position, or even an attempt to pretend like it matters.

The dystopian setting also feels weird. On one hand, you’ve got humans being farmed for food for vampires, but on the other hand, characters are still wearing skinny jeans, using phones and laptops. It doesn’t add up, especially when the ruling vampires are over 500 years old. You’d think the world would have moved on from those outdated cultural markers by now.

Overall, the world-building is weak, there’s barely any context for the plot, and the execution just didn’t land. The book follows a lot of popular tropes and should have worked, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

2⭐️3🌶️

Paranormal Romance

Fated mates

Vampires and Demons

Suspense

Found family

Good vs evil

I read a lot of Christine Feehan’s books back in college—about 20 years ago. From the Dark series to the Seahaven Sisters and Leopard novels, I couldn’t get enough. She’s one of the authors who really helped shape the paranormal and magical realism romance genres, so when I saw Dark Hope on NetGalley, I was excited to dive back in.

I haven’t read all 34 books in the Dark series—only the first 12—so it was interesting to return to the Carpathian world with fresh characters and a new adventure. Thankfully, the books are mostly standalone, so jumping back in wasn’t a huge issue.

The first chapter does a decent job recapping where the series has been, though it’s not the clearest summary. Still, it gave me enough to catch up on how things have evolved in the more recent books.

The biggest issue for me was the repetitive dialogue and the constant telekinetic bond talk. It felt like the plot would start to pick up, and then—bam—we’d hit a wall of “lifemate” discussions and emotional intensity. I get the point, but let’s move on already.

Also, some of the dialogue and wording felt outdated, almost like a translation. It wasn’t just the Carpathian characters (who are meant to be ancient), but even the modern ones sounded stiff at times.

All in all, it was a bit of a nostalgic read for me, but it’s not quite my thing anymore. I don’t think I’ll be revisiting the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

2.75⭐️3🌶️

Sports Romcom
Hockey romance
College romance
Dual narration
Grumpy sunshine
Found Family

This book ultimately fell flat for me due to a combination of narrative style and pacing issues. The writing is more telling than showing, making the story feel surface-level and detached. The flow is choppy, which leads to a disjointed reading experience, especially with the frequent timeline skips. By the 60% mark, I found myself losing interest, feeling like the story could have been much shorter.

One major flaw is the college event involving a Ferris wheel, which is depicted as being planned in an impossibly short timeframe. Realistically, an event like that would take at least six months of preparation, which made the scenario feel unrealistic.

The central conflict around the FMC’s (female main character’s) bias against hockey players, stemming from her “daddy issues,” felt weak. It seemed inconsistent, especially considering her close friendship with a childhood best friend who is also a hockey player. This conflict never really convinced me and came across as petty rather than meaningful.

Additionally, the FMC’s story arc centers around writing a paper, but the paper itself doesn’t play a significant role in the plot, which was odd. As a sports management major myself, I found the discussions about sport psychology vague and underdeveloped, leaving me confused about what her paper was actually about. This lack of depth felt like a missed opportunity and suggested a lack of research on the author’s part.

In the end, this book just wasn’t a good fit for me.

4.75⭐️3🌶️

3rd book

Romantasy

20yo FMC

Demi-gods vs mortals

Kidnapping

War

Slow burn

Found family

Intrigue

This third book in the series was an enjoyable read, though it felt a bit long at times. Despite that, I breezed through it pretty quickly!

However, I’m starting to feel frustrated with the FMC (female main character). She consistently lacks maturity as a ruler, and her impulsive decisions often create problems for everyone around her. I found myself agreeing with the regent when he firmly rejected her attempts to take control of the kingdom. As a magical healer, I also wondered why she wasn’t using her powers until the very end of the book—it’s clear she has immense potential, and I was hoping to see her prove her worth through her actions. There’s a lot of telling about her compassion, but because she hasn’t had a chance to truly lead, it doesn’t feel as impactful.

As for the MMC (male main character), I’m disappointed by his role in this book. He’s become too passive, almost like a doormat for the FMC. I want to see him develop his own purpose and identity, rather than just idolizing her. A stronger character on his part would make the FMC’s journey feel even more significant, but right now, their dynamic makes her seem weaker and more petulant.

The slow-burn romance that worked so well in earlier books seemed to lose its spark here. The tension mostly evaporated, and when the inevitable romance moments finally arrived, they felt out of place and disconnected from the plot. It almost seemed like the tension was being artificially dragged out, only to fizzle in a lackluster way.

On the positive side, we’re beginning to delve deeper into the magic system and world-building, which is exciting. While I wish more details were provided, I’m eager to learn more about the “Everflame” that gives the series its name.

While the book could’ve been trimmed down to be a bit tighter, that cliffhanger at the end definitely leaves me eager for the next book.

Spark of the Everflame- 5⭐️3🌶️

Glow of the Everflame- 5⭐️2.5🌶️

5⭐️2.5🌶️

Book 2

Romantasy

20yo FMC

Immortals

Class divided

Female rage

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 normative society

Mysterious history

Class division

Slow burn

Allies to lovers

Rebellion

Beast familiar

Political/court life

I really appreciated the brief recap at the beginning of Glow of the Everflame, especially considering the intense events that immediately follow. Despite the short timeline in each book, so much happens, and I’m happy to report that this book didn’t suffer from the dreaded “second book slump.”

The foreshadowing in this series is fantastic! Cole is a master at world-building and creating tension. The stakes are high, and you can tell this series is crafted with longevity in mind. I’m particularly hoping that in the next book, we get more insight into the magic system—there’s so much potential there.

The FMC (female main character) is frustrating at times, but in a realistic way. Her internal struggle with trust and navigating the treacherous court intrigues feels genuine. She’s clearly out of her element, and her missteps highlight how unfamiliar and uncomfortable deception is to her. While she’s not the sharpest character in the room, her consistency is what makes her relatable. I can see her growth playing out across multiple books, which I’m excited to witness.

As for the MMC (male main character), I like him, though he does come across as a bit of a doormat at the moment. I’m hopeful that his character will evolve, but I’m glad we didn’t get his POV in this book—his simp side would have been more apparent, and I think it would have detracted from my overall impression of him. His motivations for supporting the crown felt a bit flimsy to me. They were well-presented, but I don’t think they landed the way they were intended.

I also found myself a bit disconnected from the second POV introduced in this book. It doesn’t feel like a permanent addition to the story, and it lacks the depth and direction to really pull me in. I’m not sure if it will even continue, but I don’t feel particularly invested in it at this point.

One thing I do love is the animal familiar! It’s always a win in my book when magic and beasts are involved.

And that ending? Intriguing, to say the least! I’m definitely eager to see where things go from here.

Thank you NetGalley and. For an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. 

5⭐️3🌶️

Romantasy
20yo FMC
Immortals
Demigods vs mortals
Class divided
🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 normative society
Female rage
Rebellion
Mystery
Forbidden love
Banter

This series has been on my radar for a long time, and I finally decided to dive in after hearing so many of my mutuals rave about it. I even grabbed the first book during a free eBook promotion on Amazon! It’s taken me a while to get to it, but I’m so glad I did.

The first book was fantastic. It had all the elements of a series I know I’ll love: slow world-building, slow burn romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, a mysterious history, and a kingdom in turmoil. If you’re not a fan of a slow buildup, Cole’s writing style might not be for you, but I personally found it immersive.

Penn Cole’s writing is rich and layered, pulling me in from the very first page. I was so hooked, I was reaching for the second book before I even finished writing this review. I’m glad I waited until more books in the series were available!

The character development, both for the main and side characters, was excellent. I genuinely cared for all of them, and I loved seeing the relationships grow beyond just the romance. This added depth, making each character feel distinct rather than part of a larger group following the protagonist.

The romantic tension was skillfully done—there’s a lot of push and pull, particularly with the FMC’s evolving feelings. It kept me invested and rooting for them, even when the relationship was in a delicate balance.

I’m really excited to continue this series and can’t wait to see where it goes!

4.75⭐️2🌶️

Young adult rom com

High school  Mc’s

Gamer group

🏳️‍⚧️ side character rep

Forbidden love

I’ve really come to enjoy Kristie Boyce’s YA rom-coms, and this one was no exception. The covers are always adorable, and the charming, youthful nature of her stories never makes me cringe. Instead, they take me back to my own teenage years with a sense of nostalgia.

This book strikes the perfect balance for a YA rom-com. The maturity level feels just right—age-appropriate yet sweet, with moments of steaminess that never go too far. Boyce handles more serious themes like friendship dynamics, aging grandparents, sibling affection, and adjusting to a new town with great care. I especially appreciated how well the story portrayed the experience of being a non-athletic, slightly eccentric teen just trying to make and keep friends. It felt both relevant and authentic.

The characters really shine, and the side characters are a joy as well! I particularly loved the grandma—she added such a delightful touch to the story. In fact, I’d happily read an entire book about the kids helping senior citizens play D&D. That concept is pure gold!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Childrens/Delecorte Press for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.