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booksbytheglass's reviews
841 reviews
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think something is broken in me, because after reading all of the amazing 5 star reads, I just … didn’t feel the same 😭 which completely broke my heart since I adore alison cochrun and her style of writing!
I will say, this is 100% a sad contemporary romance with a lot of grief and death scattered around the plot so please take the time and read the trigger warnings to take care of your mental health first ❤️
logan and rosemary used to be best friends in school and are now mortal enemies teaching at the same school - it’s a tale as old as time! and throw in the best character of all time, joe, their former english teacher and you have a recipe for a perfect second chance romance!! except, I could NOT get over logan and rosemary’s characters… they were unlikable and selfish towards their own hearts (from putting on a brave face and joking around to hide a broken heart to expressing little to no care about the few that actually love them) 🥴 I really didn’t like how logan projected her trauma and closed herself off from everyone by her selfish nature
while I understand that everyone goes through trauma differently, for a romance book, I want to be able to root for the characters, and I just did not feel that way about logan at all. the way she used others, including my sweet sweet joe, was not it for me.
speaking of joe, though, I absolutely adored him and cried so much because he SAVED the story for me 🥹🥲 I wish everyone had a joe in their lives because I promise, the world would be in a better place
thank you to atria and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: finger lakes chardonnay
I will say, this is 100% a sad contemporary romance with a lot of grief and death scattered around the plot so please take the time and read the trigger warnings to take care of your mental health first ❤️
logan and rosemary used to be best friends in school and are now mortal enemies teaching at the same school - it’s a tale as old as time! and throw in the best character of all time, joe, their former english teacher and you have a recipe for a perfect second chance romance!! except, I could NOT get over logan and rosemary’s characters… they were unlikable and selfish towards their own hearts (from putting on a brave face and joking around to hide a broken heart to expressing little to no care about the few that actually love them) 🥴 I really didn’t like how logan projected her trauma and closed herself off from everyone by her selfish nature
while I understand that everyone goes through trauma differently, for a romance book, I want to be able to root for the characters, and I just did not feel that way about logan at all. the way she used others, including my sweet sweet joe, was not it for me.
speaking of joe, though, I absolutely adored him and cried so much because he SAVED the story for me 🥹🥲 I wish everyone had a joe in their lives because I promise, the world would be in a better place
thank you to atria and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: finger lakes chardonnay
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia and Outing
A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
what I love most about police procedural thrillers is their predictability and cast of characters!!! they’re always fast paced and easily bingeable to keep the reader engaged, and at the time, I’m always left wondering why I don’t read more of them 🫡
they’re definitely a guilty pleasure comfort mystery for me - and while they’re not the most gutwrenching, or twisty turny, they’re super fun to read all the same!
I was super invested in the MCs of this particular series (which can also be read as standalone!) so I was beyond excited to be back in the welsh world with ffien morgan! even though she can be … a lot sometimes, she’s married to her job and knows how to get the work done even if it’s unconventional at times
this time, the main focus is around a reality tv show in the middle of the woods ripe with lies! while I was initially pulled in by the intrigue, the characters and fallout never really developed for me 🥴 I just found myself not even caring who the true perp was in the end because all of the characters had something sinister to hide …
in the end, while I enjoyed the ride, I was left with the feeling of missing something and wanting more!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: niagara-on-the-lake riesling
they’re definitely a guilty pleasure comfort mystery for me - and while they’re not the most gutwrenching, or twisty turny, they’re super fun to read all the same!
I was super invested in the MCs of this particular series (which can also be read as standalone!) so I was beyond excited to be back in the welsh world with ffien morgan! even though she can be … a lot sometimes, she’s married to her job and knows how to get the work done even if it’s unconventional at times
this time, the main focus is around a reality tv show in the middle of the woods ripe with lies! while I was initially pulled in by the intrigue, the characters and fallout never really developed for me 🥴 I just found myself not even caring who the true perp was in the end because all of the characters had something sinister to hide …
in the end, while I enjoyed the ride, I was left with the feeling of missing something and wanting more!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: niagara-on-the-lake riesling
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
carley fortune writes prose, I swear - her writing style is so beautiful and descriptive!!! I was immediately transported to the seaside coastal vibes of prince edward island from the first page 🥹
and listen, I’m a floridian through and through, but there was something magical about those sea breezes, nighttime beach walks, and lobster rolls that got me!! even though the mussels would have ended my life iykyk it’s fine
carley is the queen of writing second chance romances, and this one was no exception … it had all of the tropes: brother’s best friend, one bed, forbidden romance, he falls fast, ALLLL of the works 😌 felix and lucy just fit together so well and the chemistry was off the charts!!
and as much as I loved bridget, lucy’s best friend and felix’s sister, the conflict revolving around her and her secrecy just didn’t work for me. especially once we found out what bridget’s emergency was, it just felt so minor compared to what everyone else was imagining that it was selfish for bridget to keep the news from everyone 🥴 and for someone who cared about lucy and felix a lot, she sure didn’t care that they up-ended their lives to help her through the conflict …
this story deals with change as an adult (which same girl same) - and it did it so beautifully 🥹
I absolutely loved the back and forth timelines of the PEI summers, but I wanted so much more!! brb booking a flight to canada asap!!
thank you to berkley and netgalley for the advanced copy of one of my most anticipated reads this year!! I can’t wait for the world to read this!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: portugal vinho verde
and listen, I’m a floridian through and through, but there was something magical about those sea breezes, nighttime beach walks, and lobster rolls that got me!! even though the mussels would have ended my life iykyk it’s fine
carley is the queen of writing second chance romances, and this one was no exception … it had all of the tropes: brother’s best friend, one bed, forbidden romance, he falls fast, ALLLL of the works 😌 felix and lucy just fit together so well and the chemistry was off the charts!!
and as much as I loved bridget, lucy’s best friend and felix’s sister, the conflict revolving around her and her secrecy just didn’t work for me. especially once we found out what bridget’s emergency was, it just felt so minor compared to what everyone else was imagining that it was selfish for bridget to keep the news from everyone 🥴 and for someone who cared about lucy and felix a lot, she sure didn’t care that they up-ended their lives to help her through the conflict …
this story deals with change as an adult (which same girl same) - and it did it so beautifully 🥹
I absolutely loved the back and forth timelines of the PEI summers, but I wanted so much more!! brb booking a flight to canada asap!!
thank you to berkley and netgalley for the advanced copy of one of my most anticipated reads this year!! I can’t wait for the world to read this!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: portugal vinho verde
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
reflective
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
oh gosh there was so much I loved about this one 🥹 we have to stan healthy relationships and knowing how to love yourself before you’re ready to love others!!!
emma and maddy quickly became my favorite dynamic duo of the abby jimenez universe - and I was so here for their friendship where they know how to simply exist with one another as easy as breathing. maddy deserves a medal (and a spin off book, especially after that epilogue 👀)
justin is THE book boyfriend blueprint - he is everything a woman could possibly see in a man with his only flaw being too caring?? putting so much energy into others that he forgets about himself?? which leads me back to how he and emma were perfect growing partners for each other and how their relationship taught one another how to self love and truly love someone else again 🥹🥹🥹
for as drawn out and lovely the majority of the plot was, the ending seemed rushed and scattered, even though it eventually came full circle… I loved the tie ins with alexis, daniel, briana, and jacob - and the found family ending was wonderful. but surprisingly, the third act breakup wasn’t the part that annoyed me, it was the reconciliation. emma’s reasoning for pulling away MADE SENSE, I was here for it, and then after just six months, she’s ready to be with justin again and is miraculously healed? girl I wish it only took six months for me to get over trauma 😮💨
anyway this was such a wonderful gushy story & I’m firmly in the abby jimenez can do no wrong camp!! thank you to netgalley and forever pub for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: niagara on the lake cabernet franc
emma and maddy quickly became my favorite dynamic duo of the abby jimenez universe - and I was so here for their friendship where they know how to simply exist with one another as easy as breathing. maddy deserves a medal (and a spin off book, especially after that epilogue 👀)
justin is THE book boyfriend blueprint - he is everything a woman could possibly see in a man with his only flaw being too caring?? putting so much energy into others that he forgets about himself?? which leads me back to how he and emma were perfect growing partners for each other and how their relationship taught one another how to self love and truly love someone else again 🥹🥹🥹
for as drawn out and lovely the majority of the plot was, the ending seemed rushed and scattered, even though it eventually came full circle… I loved the tie ins with alexis, daniel, briana, and jacob - and the found family ending was wonderful. but surprisingly, the third act breakup wasn’t the part that annoyed me, it was the reconciliation. emma’s reasoning for pulling away MADE SENSE, I was here for it, and then after just six months, she’s ready to be with justin again and is miraculously healed? girl I wish it only took six months for me to get over trauma 😮💨
anyway this was such a wonderful gushy story & I’m firmly in the abby jimenez can do no wrong camp!! thank you to netgalley and forever pub for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: niagara on the lake cabernet franc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ok listen I really wasn’t feeling this premise even before I picked it up - and that’s saying something because lucy foley is the queen of locked door remote location thrillers!! and the atmosphere of this one (a hotel in the middle of the woods) was perfect!
except, the characters were not it 🥴🥴 I never felt so annoyed and disconnected as I did with these folks!! it was set up to be a mean girl revenge story as bella returns to her childhood best friend, francesca’s new hotel to confront her about the past - but bella had absolutely no plan, was constantly derailed by flirting with a 19 year old for no reason, and spends more time reading her old diary than having the gumption to just talk to francesca?? it all felt very unnecessary
the side characters of eddie and francesca’s husband, owen, were also very unnecessary. they could have been introduced through the POVs of the ladies without having chapters of them moaning about “poor me” and “if I done things differently” 😐
this entire book would be completely null and void if bella and francesca had one conversation 😬
what I did enjoy was the secrecy of “the birds” (caw caw motherfuckers!!) in what was a clear misrepresentation of alfred hitchcock’s the birds… BUT! it added a spooky element that kept me from DNFing the book 😅
overall, I still will read anything lucy foley writes but this was a yikes miss from me. thank you to netgalley and william morrow for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: chile chardonnay
except, the characters were not it 🥴🥴 I never felt so annoyed and disconnected as I did with these folks!! it was set up to be a mean girl revenge story as bella returns to her childhood best friend, francesca’s new hotel to confront her about the past - but bella had absolutely no plan, was constantly derailed by flirting with a 19 year old for no reason, and spends more time reading her old diary than having the gumption to just talk to francesca?? it all felt very unnecessary
the side characters of eddie and francesca’s husband, owen, were also very unnecessary. they could have been introduced through the POVs of the ladies without having chapters of them moaning about “poor me” and “if I done things differently” 😐
this entire book would be completely null and void if bella and francesca had one conversation 😬
what I did enjoy was the secrecy of “the birds” (caw caw motherfuckers!!) in what was a clear misrepresentation of alfred hitchcock’s the birds… BUT! it added a spooky element that kept me from DNFing the book 😅
overall, I still will read anything lucy foley writes but this was a yikes miss from me. thank you to netgalley and william morrow for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: chile chardonnay
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
okay listen, I really didn’t think I was going to love this one - after only giving PART OF YOUR WORLD 3.5 stars, I was extremely worried that this wasn’t going to live up to the clear hype it’s gotten. well, I was wrong 🤡🤡🤡
briana and jacob’s story was absolutely beautiful 🥹 I’m always a sucker for fake dating, but this was so much more! all of the emotions all the time made me want to scream!!!!
miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes of all time, so when the majority of this plot featured it on both sides of the relationship, I was nervous 🥴 and while it did bother me a little, getting the background of both jacob and briana’s mental health struggles allowed for a clear explanation of why they have ✨ trust issues ✨
and what a wonderful representation of mental health struggles!!! between anxiety, depression, and relationship trauma, I’ve never felt more seen in a novel 🥹 and the way that both jacob and briana learned to love and respect each other wholly made me sob!!!
I am but a fragile soul and the ending broke me!!!! 😭❤️ thank goodness I didn’t finish this on the plane because I would’ve been a hot mess
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: brut rosé champagne
briana and jacob’s story was absolutely beautiful 🥹 I’m always a sucker for fake dating, but this was so much more! all of the emotions all the time made me want to scream!!!!
miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes of all time, so when the majority of this plot featured it on both sides of the relationship, I was nervous 🥴 and while it did bother me a little, getting the background of both jacob and briana’s mental health struggles allowed for a clear explanation of why they have ✨ trust issues ✨
and what a wonderful representation of mental health struggles!!! between anxiety, depression, and relationship trauma, I’ve never felt more seen in a novel 🥹 and the way that both jacob and briana learned to love and respect each other wholly made me sob!!!
I am but a fragile soul and the ending broke me!!!! 😭❤️ thank goodness I didn’t finish this on the plane because I would’ve been a hot mess
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: brut rosé champagne
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
okay hear me out … this one was a whole lot of fluff with little to no plot… it follows the story of eurydice and charon’s budding relationship and the fallout of the betrayal of orpheus - but I just didn’t care??? 🥴
I’ve been looking forward to eurydice’s story for a while now, especially after the events of the last book, but it just felt so rushed and superficial to me. I wanted a slow burn with charon, but they jumped into a relationship like two chapters in. and then, I wanted SO MUCH groveling from orpheus, and she forgave him almost immediately… I was 100% that cat meme “HUH” 😹😹😹
and beyond the relationship drama and the smut, the plot just went basically nowhere. it took a majority of the book for eurydice and ariadne to actually have a conversation about the threats against olympus, and yet, all it did was set up future stories.
this was 100% a filler book, but I don’t think it was the right couple to do it with. I just wanted so much more!!
for a long drawn out series like this, the conflict and upcoming war is just taking way too long to get here. I would have loved another side quest book like RADIANT SIN - but this one was pretty pointless except for the one conversation ariadne and eurydice had
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: burgundy pinot noir
I’ve been looking forward to eurydice’s story for a while now, especially after the events of the last book, but it just felt so rushed and superficial to me. I wanted a slow burn with charon, but they jumped into a relationship like two chapters in. and then, I wanted SO MUCH groveling from orpheus, and she forgave him almost immediately… I was 100% that cat meme “HUH” 😹😹😹
and beyond the relationship drama and the smut, the plot just went basically nowhere. it took a majority of the book for eurydice and ariadne to actually have a conversation about the threats against olympus, and yet, all it did was set up future stories.
this was 100% a filler book, but I don’t think it was the right couple to do it with. I just wanted so much more!!
for a long drawn out series like this, the conflict and upcoming war is just taking way too long to get here. I would have loved another side quest book like RADIANT SIN - but this one was pretty pointless except for the one conversation ariadne and eurydice had
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: burgundy pinot noir
The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
what a conclusion this was!!! I absolutely flew through this one in three hours 🥳
after the super rude cliffhanger of THE VANISHING STAIR, the next installment picks up immediately after (thank goodness) and leads into stevie’s mind solving the cold case of the century! and this time, there’s more than one flashback POV and I was so here for it!
the way it slowly unfolded between past and present to give us all of the answers finally? so well done
what didn’t work for me was the weird side plot of taking down david’s father aka senator bell. david himself is a loose cannon and treats stevie and his friends like absolute trash - and you’re telling me she just forgives him without any groveling? he blamed her for causing multiple deaths and she STILL wants to make out with him? no thanks I’m out
I just felt it was a quick insert of “what do we do with these characters” without any real impact on the story itself 🥴
but the reveal at the end was so brilliantly done!!! for a slow burn series, the payoff was long overdue but worth the wait!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
after the super rude cliffhanger of THE VANISHING STAIR, the next installment picks up immediately after (thank goodness) and leads into stevie’s mind solving the cold case of the century! and this time, there’s more than one flashback POV and I was so here for it!
the way it slowly unfolded between past and present to give us all of the answers finally? so well done
what didn’t work for me was the weird side plot of taking down david’s father aka senator bell. david himself is a loose cannon and treats stevie and his friends like absolute trash - and you’re telling me she just forgives him without any groveling? he blamed her for causing multiple deaths and she STILL wants to make out with him? no thanks I’m out
I just felt it was a quick insert of “what do we do with these characters” without any real impact on the story itself 🥴
but the reveal at the end was so brilliantly done!!! for a slow burn series, the payoff was long overdue but worth the wait!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
good lord this series is SO FRIGGIN GOOD!!! every time I wonder what “mission” these fbi kiddos could possibly traumatize them with next, I’m blown the heck away 🤯
and this one had all of my favorite tropes: cat and mouse, cults, diversions, slight of hand… I could go on for hours at how creative JLB is at writing mysteries that span several books!! and I’m impatiently waiting for the last one because I need answers!!!
after getting to know dean’s trauma, it’s sloane’s turn - and to be honest, I wanted more!!! we love a good ol daddy issue trope, but it seemed pretty mild in comparison to dean, michael and cassie’s backstories!! (praying for a lia backstory in the last one 🤞🏼)
I just love the character development and found family of these kiddos, and I have a high key feeling I’m not going to be prepared for the finale!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet sauvignon
and this one had all of my favorite tropes: cat and mouse, cults, diversions, slight of hand… I could go on for hours at how creative JLB is at writing mysteries that span several books!! and I’m impatiently waiting for the last one because I need answers!!!
after getting to know dean’s trauma, it’s sloane’s turn - and to be honest, I wanted more!!! we love a good ol daddy issue trope, but it seemed pretty mild in comparison to dean, michael and cassie’s backstories!! (praying for a lia backstory in the last one 🤞🏼)
I just love the character development and found family of these kiddos, and I have a high key feeling I’m not going to be prepared for the finale!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet sauvignon
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
literally f me this series is so addicting! I always forget how easy it is to fall back into the world of new olympus and I’m just mind blown every time 😮💨
while I’m thankful for the lil recap we got in the beginning of this one, I really needed a flow chart because these gods’ names change too many dang times for me to keep straight ok?
I loved this polyamorous relationship A LOT between eris, theseus, adonis & pandora 🥹 they were all so sweet to one another (despite their words that they want to unalive each other) and I loved seeing how they each made their own space in their lives for one another!!
that being said, I would have loved to see this installment be a little longer to truly characterize each of the four MCs - pandora’s story felt extremely shortened, and the entire ending was so abrupt! I turned the page and said “wait that’s the end?”
I again felt that this one was building towards a huge fallout amongst the gods and the thirteen without a ton of action and drama, but the politics and world building was top tier per usual 😮💨 and who can resist a good ol marriage of convenience
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: provence rosé
while I’m thankful for the lil recap we got in the beginning of this one, I really needed a flow chart because these gods’ names change too many dang times for me to keep straight ok?
I loved this polyamorous relationship A LOT between eris, theseus, adonis & pandora 🥹 they were all so sweet to one another (despite their words that they want to unalive each other) and I loved seeing how they each made their own space in their lives for one another!!
that being said, I would have loved to see this installment be a little longer to truly characterize each of the four MCs - pandora’s story felt extremely shortened, and the entire ending was so abrupt! I turned the page and said “wait that’s the end?”
I again felt that this one was building towards a huge fallout amongst the gods and the thirteen without a ton of action and drama, but the politics and world building was top tier per usual 😮💨 and who can resist a good ol marriage of convenience
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: provence rosé