bookswithjax's reviews
725 reviews

Unexpectedly Amazing

I didn’t have any real expectations for this going into it. To be honest I read the synopsis and had a gut reaction to add it to my library holds list. I’m so very glad I did!! The second I started reading I was pulled so far into the story I couldn’t get out of it. I absolutely loved Ever Wong as a main character. She was so relatable, endearing, and imperfect... just how I like then. Also I was in love with Rick from the get go! Xavier is an amazing character, but Rick was the one for me haha.

If you love a good coming of age YA story with a little romance thrown in, and a lot of amazing culture... this is the book for you!!

Yeeess!!! Yes, yes, all the yeses!!

A friend in one of my book clubs talked about this book one night and how cute it was and how swoony Mr. Wentworth is so I obviously immediately got a copy.

Turns out this is exactly what I needed today, and yes dear reader I read this in one afternoon!! It is a very entertaining, mystery, murder, romp that takes place is my beloved London. I’m not sure what more you could want other than some really cute and quirky side characters with a flair for comedy.

Oh and Mr. Harrison Wentworth is indeed deliciously swoon worthy!!

Turns out Margaret is a spicy and adventurous lady!! We met her previously in the Lord Loves a Lady series and I didn’t imagine her quite this way. That said I LOVE that she has these hidden depths.

Abigails story is still my favorite but I think Maggie’s might come in at a close second. She’s a widow who wants children, and is trying to forge any path for herself that will lead to her happiness. She is strong and almost as brazen as Penelope haha. Also can I say just how much I adore the fact that she snatched up a younger man!!

The author brings up some social issues of the time in a really good way as well, which I appreciated. This particular book is a touch spicier than some of the others but I loved it. The only thing I think I found odd, was the hero’s previous love situation. Married at 18 to a 16 year old as an aristocrat??? I mean yeah I guess it’s possible it’s historically accurate but seemed out of place. It didn’t detract from the book though.

The whole time I reading the second half I kept chanting to myself, get your shit together Sebastian COME ON!!! Thankfully he does <3

Once I suspended my modern outlooks on life I really can’t to enjoy this story very much.

Judy Abbott is a foundling girl who finds herself with an unknown benefactor who sends her to college to become a writer. As the entire book is written in a series of letters from Judy to her benefactor we don’t know the motives behind his actions.

I will say I figured out who he was very early on in the story. I loved seeing her grow into such a self assured woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself and forced herself to stay grounded!!

The ending was a good one -ish... I would have liked a little more to it, but overall I was pleased.

A book everyone should read

I don’t know if I have the words to accurately describe how this book made me feel.

So many times we feel helpless when it comes to the fight against bigotry in all its forms, but this book is about hope! The hope that one day the tides will change, as the next generations age up things will shift. As someone who grew up in a conservative household and used to spout off how she was fiscally conservative but socially liberal, I relate so much to this coming of age story. The points made about people being kind, and loving, and still voting for a candidate who runs on racism and hatred... they are so spot on it hurt.

That’s what turned the tide for me as I came of age. I can’t support candidates who willingly and genuinely want to keep people unequal, and who are willingly to perpetuate harm against people just because they are different than them. I no longer accept gaslighting and expressions of, “but that’s not me.” Why yes, if that’s how you voted it is you.

Maya and James are the inspiration we all need in this life. They are all of us navigating this big wide world of culture and color. This is just such an honest story that I felt to my core, and I hope everyone else reads it too.

I was definitely suffering from a book hangover after Crescent City and needed something light and fluffy to read!⁣⁣
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I though Beach Read would be the perfect fit! Turns out it wasn’t as light and fluffy as I thought it would be. Actually it was rather angsty and intense, but really really good. ⁣⁣
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There’s nothing I love more than a good arch nemesis to lovers story with loads of witty banter... also the amount of times they almost had sex but didn’t was seriously intense. Just keeping it real!! ⁣⁣
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It has all the hallmarks of a good romance. There are loads of cutesy moments, will they won’t they action, and most importantly a Happy ending! Funnily enough the concept of happy endings plays a huge role in this book and what they look like to different people. My vision of a happy ending may not match yours and that is explored in the book. ⁣⁣
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I give this 5⭐️s ⁣and recommend!⁣

Pinocchio... my least favorite Disney movie. I was always terrified of it. However this MinaLima edition is gorgeous!! I read it last night and wow... this is a seriously disturbing story, and so much scarier!!⁣
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I’d expect it from a Grimm’s fairytale, but this came as a surprise. Pinocchio is an awfully whiny and naughty boy for being a magical piece of wood! ⁣
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If you’re considering a MinaLima book I highly recommend them. My copy is a little wonky but I believe it’s a one off, and the inside illustrations and extras are so cool! It comes with a Pinocchio puppet (pictured), clothes for him (paper doll style), a little puppet theater (pictured), and finger puppets for the theater. There are a bunch of other little extras as well and everything is beautifully done! ⁣

A compelling journey

When I first started reading this story, I felt certain it would be a DNF for me. It just didn’t seem like something I was in the mood for. Two hours later I found myself on chapter 30 and completely enchanted by Adunni and her story. I could almost believe that this was non-fiction, because the writing is so authentic and her voice so real.

Adunni found her louding voice and I heard it to my very soul. I highly recommend everyone read this, even if you think it’s not for you. It will most definitely surprise you, and enthrall you.

I won’t lie, I found this to be the most pointless drivel I think I’ve ever read! It was a struggle to read this, and the only reason I finished it was because I ready it for a bookclub!

Four women come together to rent a villa in Italy and have lobotomy’s that completely change their personalities ensuring their husbands (where applicable) love them again, or people in general like them again.

Lottie is probably the only character I could sort of like, but even then like is a strong word for her. Apparently she reads an advertisement for an Italian villa for rent and completely changes her personality.

Rose I could on occasion relate to (like twice), but honestly her constant drivel made me want to slap her.

Caroline is a spoiled brat who needs a huge wake up call. Poor me I’m so beautiful no one takes me seriously so I’m going to be rude and hateful to everyone I encounter! Sigh, I mean I get it... being judged solely on your looks is a struggle for anyone. Whether it’s because you’re beautiful, ugly, plain, too fat, or too thin, it can make a person crazy. However she just went on and on and on about it. Up until literally the last like five pages and then randomly she decides (with zero epiphany) to be nice to a guy who is acting exactly like she hates (obsessed by her beauty). A man no less who was just a day before obsessed with her friend for looking like a Madonna (virgin mother). Gee you’d think this was written by a man.

Mrs Fisher, was the one character I understand. She’s elderly and everyone she’s known in her life has died or is gone. That’s a hard place to be in and I’d be bitter too. I’m glad she loosens up in the end a bit and you can tell she’s on the road to lightening up because she’s gained a friend. Her transition was definitely more believable.

All the men in this book were utter trash!! Seriously though I was not a fan at all!! There were more descriptions of plants and scenery in this book than any guidebook could possibly give and it got boring, really fast.

One last note, I felt like this was a really indulgent piece of work for the author (I’ve never read her before), and it seemed like a rich woman writing about nonsense and being rewarded because she was well to do. I’m sure there are plenty who could counter this, but honestly this was not a book for me!!

When time gets away with you

I felt this started out kind of slow, even though you are dumped into the world with zero actual world building or insight. It almost felt like the second book in a series versus the first.

While reading i was always interested and immeshed in the story, however if I took a break I wasn’t drawn back to it immediately. I attribute that more to my mood than the story though.

About the time I hit 40% that was it I read till I was finished. It’s so good and I can’t wait to continue on with the series!

4 stars solely because there’s no real intro into the world at the beginning to explain everything.