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bookscatsandtats's reviews
337 reviews
Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
This book was far too gloomy and negative for me. I appreciate the author representing autism. But I jsut couldn’t get past the doom and gloom constantly. And the narration of this book was awful. Just awful. Tobin is described as this rugged low voiced back woods guy and he downed like a stoned hippie. That ruined it for me.
Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Not in My Book by Katie Holt
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.75
A true Enemies to lovers contemporary romance.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Not in My Book!
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Character Development: 💖💖💖💖
Characters that seem to absolutely hate each, rival and war with each other; are then forced to work together to write a love story for the writing workshop masters class they are in.
First I appreciate that months go by in this book. Not weeks but months. While there is instant attraction between the characters, it takes a lot of time and work for them to come together.
The act of writing the book together is so so amazing. They flow themselves in the characters they are writing and learn a lot about themselves along the way. And OH MY GODS when they co write the spicy in their book. Oh it’s is so so so good. I love that parts of the book they write are in this book.
Aiden is such a flawed character and I really appreciate that he slowing becomes more and more open about how and why he struggles with romance and love. While Rosie learns that her expectations may be too perfect for anyone to live up too.
I totally swooned over Aiden planning dates and being all bossy in bed.
This book has a 3rd Act break up but it works here. There is a lot of sadness in the book. But the hope and growth and tenderness is so well done. I had total hearts in my eyes so many times as these two characters grew together.
If this book was a Taylor song it would be: “imgonnagetyouback”
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Not in My Book!
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Character Development: 💖💖💖💖
Characters that seem to absolutely hate each, rival and war with each other; are then forced to work together to write a love story for the writing workshop masters class they are in.
First I appreciate that months go by in this book. Not weeks but months. While there is instant attraction between the characters, it takes a lot of time and work for them to come together.
The act of writing the book together is so so amazing. They flow themselves in the characters they are writing and learn a lot about themselves along the way. And OH MY GODS when they co write the spicy in their book. Oh it’s is so so so good. I love that parts of the book they write are in this book.
Aiden is such a flawed character and I really appreciate that he slowing becomes more and more open about how and why he struggles with romance and love. While Rosie learns that her expectations may be too perfect for anyone to live up too.
I totally swooned over Aiden planning dates and being all bossy in bed.
This book has a 3rd Act break up but it works here. There is a lot of sadness in the book. But the hope and growth and tenderness is so well done. I had total hearts in my eyes so many times as these two characters grew together.
If this book was a Taylor song it would be: “imgonnagetyouback”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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? N/A
3.0
Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Oh the way Kate Robb plays with the space time continuum!!! Love it.
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5
Romance: ♥️♥️♥️
Character Development: 💚💚💚
The thing I love about Kate’s books is that she takes a cute fluffy contemporary romance and turns it upside down with the magical realism. Messing with alternate realities and asking you to believe in something completely nonsensical!! It really makes for a totally unique romance book!!
While not super deep this book was truly whimsical and such a fun wink and nod to 90’s and early 2000’s teen dramas!! Brynn’s journey to figuring out what she truly wanted was really fun to watch play out. And oh Josh….Josh Josh Josh. My gold retriever cinnamon roll baby. We love you so!!!!! Watching him fall in love was just the sweetest.
The spice in Kate’s books is always more realistic feeling and lovely. There isn’t a ton of it but it’s well placed and makes you so happy for the characters.
Watching Josh and Brynn navigate being sucked into a fictional town of an old tv show was truly so much fun. Ridiculously hysterical and such interesting way to tell a contemporary romance story.
If you need a fluffy palette cleanser book this is it!!!
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5
Romance: ♥️♥️♥️
Character Development: 💚💚💚
The thing I love about Kate’s books is that she takes a cute fluffy contemporary romance and turns it upside down with the magical realism. Messing with alternate realities and asking you to believe in something completely nonsensical!! It really makes for a totally unique romance book!!
While not super deep this book was truly whimsical and such a fun wink and nod to 90’s and early 2000’s teen dramas!! Brynn’s journey to figuring out what she truly wanted was really fun to watch play out. And oh Josh….Josh Josh Josh. My gold retriever cinnamon roll baby. We love you so!!!!! Watching him fall in love was just the sweetest.
The spice in Kate’s books is always more realistic feeling and lovely. There isn’t a ton of it but it’s well placed and makes you so happy for the characters.
Watching Josh and Brynn navigate being sucked into a fictional town of an old tv show was truly so much fun. Ridiculously hysterical and such interesting way to tell a contemporary romance story.
If you need a fluffy palette cleanser book this is it!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Shadow & Storms by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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? No
3.5
Much like the second book this had potential but fell so short. The beginning was amazing 5 stars for sure. The ending though predictable, was pretty damn good too. But gods the middle. Damn near 50% of this books is war planning, sex, planning, sex repeat. With a couple of fights and one lack luster battle before the good stuff started in the ending. It was a slog to get through the middle 50%
Also like the second book is this series the spicy scenes all sound the same. If I have to hear “hear reach the spot deep inside” again I may scream.
Also like the second book is this series the spicy scenes all sound the same. If I have to hear “hear reach the spot deep inside” again I may scream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Torture
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content