catsandcliterature's reviews
505 reviews

Oh, I'm going to be LOUD about this one, yall. Have you ever read a summary and just... KNOWN it was going to be amazing? That was me, two nights ago, who happened to see this book on the Goodreads giveaways list. I read the summary, hopped over to NetGalley with a ton of hope even though I'm trying very hard not to request any more ARCs right now because I have a lot due, requested it and was so, so excited to be approved.

From there, I devoured it. I wanted to badly to cancel my plans, call in sick, put off my responsibilities. When I wasn't reading, all I could think about was getting the opportunity to return to the book.

It gripped me immediately. We're right in the action, with Travis finding out Jacob - his secret boyfriend of a year was in a horrific crash and was airlifted to the hospital. One of the drivers involved has already passed away and Jacob is in the ICU in a foreign country and has been there for awhile now. No one thought to inform Travis because no one knew Travis even KNEW Jacob, much less how important Jacob was to him.

This book spans almost a year. The character development we witness is incredible but not at all rushed or unrealistic. It feels very organic - the Jacob & Travis we know at the end of the book are entirely different people than the Jacob & Travis we meet in the beginning, and yet somehow very much the same. Older, more emotionally mature, more stable perhaps, but the same two boys who fell in love in secret.

Every single character, with exceptions that will be obvious when you read it, was so freaking lovable. From Heather and Matty to Mrs. Costa and Kelsie, and all of those in between, it felt like such a genuine little found family.

The only bad part about this book is that it's come to an end. I've read it. I've finished it and even now, writing this review, I miss it so much. I genuinely cannot WAIT for everyone else to get their hands on this so they can adore it just as much as I did. It's gonna be a big one.

Tropes:
📚 MM
📚 F1 & F2 racing
📚 Second Chance
📚 Found Family
📚 Situationship to (Eventually) Lovers
📚 Slow Burn
📚 Virgin MMC

This book took me a bit to get into and I'll start by saying the writing style was never the issue. Julie Soto, as always, is an amazing writer and I think it's really a testament to how incredible she is at telling these stories that I'm rating this a 4/5 when I typically don't really like thrillers or mysteries. The first 50% sort of felt overly long to me and I was gripped by the writing style but not the story. But then, at about 50%, I was captivated and couldn't put it down.

It's hard to review this without giving spoilers away - who's 'good', who's 'bad', who's 'guilty', who's 'reliable'. But I think that's sort of the thing with this story is that there were no black and white answers anyway. Each character shows 'good' and 'bad' traits that really leave you guessing til the very end. 

Zack is a golden retriever type MMC in many ways and as a reader, you're instantly brought into his inner circle and captivated by him much like everyone else is. Like you're right there with everyone else who worships the ground he walks on, saying 'Zack is just a lovable boy, none of this is on him!' Jodi is incredibly relatable and I think we've all had those moments of trying to keep up with our friends or wondering - on a bad day - if you're really as important to others as they are to you. Lucy & Paige were fun too. It was sometimes hard to tell if they were mean girls or if they were genuinely good friends. Julian - my love, my heart lol - he was the Chuck Bass of the group (perhaps season 2/3/4 Chuck though not season 1.) Oliver was also interesting, as the only character who didn't really have a 'redemption arc' of sorts. And Emily. Emily, Emily, Emily..... Girl. 

The mystery was intriguing, though sort of anticlimactic at the end. I think that was the point though. I hate how Zack's story ended, honestly, but it does seem on par for how it would happen in real life, if that makes sense. 

My review links will be updated shortly.

Shattered Innocence is an MFF retelling of Cinderella in which Birdie (Cinderella) falls in love with one of her stepsisters - Violet. Her wicked stepmother puts her up for auction and Violet enlists the help of her ex-situationship, Alaric, to purchase Birdie so the two of them can be free to live as they please away from her mother's cruelness. However, Alaric decides he wants to keep Birdie to himself. Violet and Alaric start to battle for Birdie's affections because they can't both have her... or can they?

I've never read an MFF before but I trust Sara Cate with my tbr to an almost blind degree so when I saw an ARC for this book was available, I jumped at the opportunity and I'm glad I did. I loved everything about it - the characters, the premise, the fact that it was a retelling in general, the growth. I even lowkey loved Reaper, the auctioneer. 

Not-so-innocent-and-meek Birdie had my heart in a chokehold, just like she had Violet's & Alaric's. Violet is HOT and sweet and her love for Birdie knows no bounds - literally. Alaric... my man falls FAST and HARD and I love that for him. He keeps insisting he isn't sweet but just like Birdie, I'm also not convinced. 

Tropes:
📚 Age Gap (Birdie is 19, Violet is 23 and Alaric is 40)
📚 Forced Marriage (to a degree)
📚 Virginity Auction 
📚 Dom/Sub dynamics 
📚 Instalove (Alaric/Birdie)
📚 Cinderella retelling
📚 Rich MMC
📚 Second Chance (Alaric/Violet)
📚 Stepsisters
📚 Woman in Peril 

Kinks:
🌶 Threesomes (obv)
🌶 Spitting
🌶 Choking
🌶 Primal Play (IICYIFY)
🌶 Showerhead Use
🌶 Outdoor Sex
🌶 Rough Sex

RTC

I waited a bit to write this review because I was super emotional after finishing this book - ask Layla, I had a bit of a crashout in her DMs lol. I've loved this world since before we'd knew it would be a series, since before I had a bookstagram and met others who loved the world as much as I do.

Little Goddess is one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I am grateful to be able to say I was chosen for an ARC. Thank you, Layla! Let me start by saying it did NOT disappoint. I'm not a Why Choose fan. I've read several and prior to this one, I liked maybe one. But this one? This one has entered the Books I Won't Shut Up About ranks and it isn't even released yet.

We start with Callie, who's grown up in different communes and cults her whole life. She has emotionally and (dare I say) mentally absent parents so she's had to take care of herself (and often them) her entire life. When she finally puts herself first, it's with the decision to escape the commune at 19. She luckily gets a job pretty quickly in a Black Resorts restaurant under the chef we all know (do we?) and love - Freddy!

Freddy is a funny man. He's instantly enamored by her the second she tells him his sauce needs work. He's patient and kind with her, all the while juggling having feelings he doesn't want to face for his best friend - and another of Maximo's men - Cole.

Cole can't stand being alone - and he's kinda alone a lot of the time, especially since he had to move out of Maximo's pool house now that he and Juliet are naked as often as possible. Mix that with the strange feelings he has for Freddy and the stranger attraction he feels for Freddy's new waitress and it's a clusterfuck - or so he assumes.

Lastly, Marco - who's protective of anyone and everyone he cares for, a 'mountain of a man' and an island in his own right. The moment Callie asks him for his order when he and Juliet go to the restaurant, he's smitten.

The three men decide they'll compete for Callie's affections and though you know going into a Why Choose how that typically works, it was so fun (and funny) to watch it happen. Once it happened though, let me be the first to tell you that you're going to need multiple bottles of water on standby. Maybe some Powerade. Liquid IV. Damn, maybe even an actual IV to replenish the fluids you'll lose because this group is HOT together!

Some quick things I loved:
- The ADHD Rep and the journey Callie went through when receiving her diagnosis! So well handled and so relatable.
- The Girl Gang! God, I loved every single second Juliet was on page and when Mila popped in too, ugh, I'm a little bit in love with her. (A lot a bit) I loved how they welcomed Callie into their ranks.
- Cole & Freddy's relationship journey
- Marco's cuck chair (a love/hate relationship sometimes)

Things I didn't see that I wish I did:
- if ANYONE needed a collar it's Callie. Don't ask my reasoning, just vibez.
- Freddy to call Cole 'daddy' just like... once. But I get why he didn't.

Thank you to Mollie Goins & Love Notes PR for the opportunity to review an ARC of this title! 

I really enjoyed this one! I haven't read nearly as many baseball romances as I have hockey or football, so this was a fun change of pace for me. The characters are all so lovable - even the side characters - and the plot was cute and fun without being too overly dramatic. 

Callie's ADHD (confirmed with the author) was so relatable for me, as I also have ADHD and wasn't diagnosed until adulthood so it's always nice to see that rep, especially when it's done with such attention. Callie never outright says she has ADHD, nor did any other character bring it up by name, but we see it in her actions and thoughts. It was so fun being able to find a little part of myself in Callie! 

Will..... ok, swoon. What a guy. I really loved Will, even when he was making his silly little excuses like "I'll tell her brother we should stop by this tea shop because her incessant shivering is annoying me. No other reason." It was really great seeing how much attention he paid to ensuring Callie felt comfortable around him and that consent was given, especially after Callie brought up moments in her past where men had made her uncomfortable in passing. 

All the way around, this was a fun read and I'd definitely read more in the series when they release in the future!