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cluckieduck's reviews
289 reviews
What Was Meant To Be by Heather Guerre
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"Too many coincidences brought us together. We were meant to be."
Ugh...where do I even begin with this one.
Wes has got to be one of the worst MMCs I've read recently. There is just the briefest whisper acknowledging that he may possibly be on the spectrum, but there just wasn't enough time to provide any depth to his character. His actions and assumptions towards Rain were beyond dickish. His own brother is autistic, and Rain's father mentions that Rain was diagnosed (albeit mentioned in a rather dickish way as well) but Wes kept going back to the assumption that she's a frigid rich girl looking down her nose at him, whom he then just basically used as a convenient sex doll.
I enjoyed Rain for the most part, but her characterization was a bit of a hodgepodge. While I do love me some femdom, I didn't find their chemistry believable, and their first kiss/sexual encounter felt forced and icky. Again, it was too rushed and really could have used some fleshing out to make it just the slightest bit believable.
The standout character for me was Ashlyn - I loved her in What Could Have Been and she is such a great, supportive friend to Rain here. Also looks like it's setting up a 2nd chance romance in a future book with Noah's twin James and the meek Quinn, who seems rather sweet.
Wes's actions at the end of the story were commendable, so I'll give him that, but still not a commensurate level of grovel for my liking.
Ugh...where do I even begin with this one.
Wes has got to be one of the worst MMCs I've read recently. There is just the briefest whisper acknowledging that he may possibly be on the spectrum, but there just wasn't enough time to provide any depth to his character. His actions and assumptions towards Rain were beyond dickish. His own brother is autistic, and Rain's father mentions that Rain was diagnosed (albeit mentioned in a rather dickish way as well) but Wes kept going back to the assumption that she's a frigid rich girl looking down her nose at him, whom he then just basically used as a convenient sex doll.
I enjoyed Rain for the most part, but her characterization was a bit of a hodgepodge. While I do love me some femdom, I didn't find their chemistry believable, and their first kiss/sexual encounter felt forced and icky. Again, it was too rushed and really could have used some fleshing out to make it just the slightest bit believable.
The standout character for me was Ashlyn - I loved her in What Could Have Been and she is such a great, supportive friend to Rain here. Also looks like it's setting up a 2nd chance romance in a future book with Noah's twin James and the meek Quinn, who seems rather sweet.
Wes's actions at the end of the story were commendable, so I'll give him that, but still not a commensurate level of grovel for my liking.
Chase Me by Aidy Award
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Not for me, I'm afraid. Which is a shame because it has so many things that I should be loving:
✔ Plus-sized heroine
✔ Insta-love
✔ Fated mates
✔ He fell first
✔ Alpha dragon shifter
✔ Possessive hero
I really wanted to DNF at various times but because I'm using it as part of some reading challenges I powered through. I did not connect with either main character (any of the side characters either) and honestly didn't even care whenJakob "died."</hide spoiler> That's not great.
And the villain? Who was the actual villain?? I have so many unanswered questions that I'm assuming get cleared up in later books, but I just don't care enough to continue.
My biggest gripe though? There was so much veiled fat-phobic content masquerading as being "cute" which just came across as cringe, IMO. I want a body-positive FMC who embraces themselves, not someone who constantly questions whether she made the right decision to choose "fries before guys."
Anyways, a swing and a miss for me ☹
✔ Plus-sized heroine
✔ Insta-love
✔ Fated mates
✔ He fell first
✔ Alpha dragon shifter
✔ Possessive hero
I really wanted to DNF at various times but because I'm using it as part of some reading challenges I powered through. I did not connect with either main character (any of the side characters either) and honestly didn't even care when
And the villain? Who was the actual villain?? I have so many unanswered questions that I'm assuming get cleared up in later books, but I just don't care enough to continue.
My biggest gripe though? There was so much veiled fat-phobic content masquerading as being "cute" which just came across as cringe, IMO. I want a body-positive FMC who embraces themselves, not someone who constantly questions whether she made the right decision to choose "fries before guys."
Anyways, a swing and a miss for me ☹
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
Finn Rhodes Forever by Stephanie Archer
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Finn Rhodes, you praise king, dirty talker, soft-dom, you. I don't know if he's beat Wyatt for my favourite brother, but he's pretty darn close!
Praise kink hasn't done much for me in the past, but coming out of Finn's mouth?? Scandalously 🥵🔥🥵 Finn & Olivia have off-the-charts chemistry and their building slow-burn tension throughout the initial hate, disaster dates, rekindled friendship, towards eventually acknowledging their respective love...so well done.
"I didn't want to spend the rest of my life regretting that I wasn't good enough for you, and that I didn't even try."
Again, the Queen's Cove backdrop provided great small-town antics. I loved the tie-ins to the other books in the series, as well as the 'bad dates' at the doily museum or the spicy book club. I'm sad to leave (though I do have to circle back and read book 1...and it looks like perhaps Beck is getting a book?!), but I think these will be on the re-read list for me, for sure.
Praise kink hasn't done much for me in the past, but coming out of Finn's mouth?? Scandalously 🥵🔥🥵 Finn & Olivia have off-the-charts chemistry and their building slow-burn tension throughout the initial hate, disaster dates, rekindled friendship, towards eventually acknowledging their respective love...so well done.
"I didn't want to spend the rest of my life regretting that I wasn't good enough for you, and that I didn't even try."
Again, the Queen's Cove backdrop provided great small-town antics. I loved the tie-ins to the other books in the series, as well as the 'bad dates' at the doily museum or the spicy book club. I'm sad to leave (though I do have to circle back and read book 1...and it looks like perhaps Beck is getting a book?!), but I think these will be on the re-read list for me, for sure.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was excellent...until it wasn't.
Suzanne is an excellent storyteller, and it was great to revisit the world of Panem 60+ years ahead of the The Hunger Games. I loved the background and expansion of how the Hunger Games themselves were developed, the extra layers of detail showing the Capitol's recovery from the rebel attacks, and the morsels of call-backs (call-forwards??) to the OG trilogy kept me enthralled.
The use of President Show as the protagonist was an interesting choice. It was hard to equate the Coriolanus (or Coryo to those near & dear) of TBoSaS with the eventual antagonistic, sadistic President Snow. I was waiting for such a major cataclysmic event, and perhaps my lacklustre feelings towards the ending are because I expected something major, but I found the ending just...meh.
I wanted and obvious turn of our protagonist from 'good' to 'evil' when, in truth, Coriolanus was always a morally grey sociopath, so there was no chance for me to be shocked into his villainous turn. I wish we could have gotten an alternate POV removed from his own internal monologue to get an outsiders perspective on his behaviours or actions. Lucy Gray would have definitely benefit from some more screen time, IMO. She was an intriguing character and her eventual arc left little to be desired. In truth, I was definitely waiting forher to die in the Hunger Games, so having her win and then, eventually, wiping the entire games out of existence seemed like such an odd (and kinda lazy) choice to me.
All in all, it just didn't really...go anywhere or provide anything necessary to the overall universe of the Hunger Games. What is has done though, is make me want to re-read the original trilogy because it's certainly been a while!
Suzanne is an excellent storyteller, and it was great to revisit the world of Panem 60+ years ahead of the The Hunger Games. I loved the background and expansion of how the Hunger Games themselves were developed, the extra layers of detail showing the Capitol's recovery from the rebel attacks, and the morsels of call-backs (call-forwards??) to the OG trilogy kept me enthralled.
The use of President Show as the protagonist was an interesting choice. It was hard to equate the Coriolanus (or Coryo to those near & dear) of TBoSaS with the eventual antagonistic, sadistic President Snow. I was waiting for such a major cataclysmic event, and perhaps my lacklustre feelings towards the ending are because I expected something major, but I found the ending just...meh.
I wanted and obvious turn of our protagonist from 'good' to 'evil' when, in truth, Coriolanus was always a morally grey sociopath, so there was no chance for me to be shocked into his villainous turn. I wish we could have gotten an alternate POV removed from his own internal monologue to get an outsiders perspective on his behaviours or actions. Lucy Gray would have definitely benefit from some more screen time, IMO. She was an intriguing character and her eventual arc left little to be desired. In truth, I was definitely waiting for
All in all, it just didn't really...go anywhere or provide anything necessary to the overall universe of the Hunger Games. What is has done though, is make me want to re-read the original trilogy because it's certainly been a while!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dementia, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
Maneater by Emily Antoinette
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
OOT cavity-inducing sweet with zero angst. While enjoyable, I guess I just found it ...too nice and copacetic.
Also, this was supposed to be an 80s romp, but I couldn't pull one thing of substance that made me feel like I was in the 80s - where was my throwback?!
That being said, apparently the next book in the series (technically Book #1 since this was a prequel novella) is a bit darker which I find intriguing, so will take a peek.
Also, this was supposed to be an 80s romp, but I couldn't pull one thing of substance that made me feel like I was in the 80s - where was my throwback?!
That being said, apparently the next book in the series (technically Book #1 since this was a prequel novella) is a bit darker which I find intriguing, so will take a peek.
Cute But Psycho by Beatrix Hollow
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Disappointed TBH. The 2⭐️ are for the smut but otherwise I should not have felt as bored as I did reading this one given the premise. It was an incredible slog to get through.
As well, I found the developing relationship between Baz & Nemo…problematic. Something about the way it was written/described just didn’t sit right with me.
As well, I found the developing relationship between Baz & Nemo…problematic. Something about the way it was written/described just didn’t sit right with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Torture, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Bite Me! (You Know I Like It) by Fae Quin
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
The bones of a good story are there but it would have greatly benefited from some major editing and trimming.
Both MCs were sweet and lovely. I wish more time was spent in Richard’s POV and we got too much repetitive inner monologuing from Blair (again, editing).
I will say, their first time together was one of the best written examples of consent I’ve read in a while - it didn’t detract from the intimacy of the situation and really solidified their bond and trust with one another. If the care to this scene was evident in the rest of the story, it would have been a much more satisfying experience.
In the end, while it’s a rather scattered hodgepodge I will continue with the series.
Both MCs were sweet and lovely. I wish more time was spent in Richard’s POV and we got too much repetitive inner monologuing from Blair (again, editing).
I will say, their first time together was one of the best written examples of consent I’ve read in a while - it didn’t detract from the intimacy of the situation and really solidified their bond and trust with one another. If the care to this scene was evident in the rest of the story, it would have been a much more satisfying experience.
In the end, while it’s a rather scattered hodgepodge I will continue with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
Everything for You by Chloe Liese
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Excrement
Minor: Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Honeymoon for One by Keira Andrews
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
OMG, what an absolutely lovely story - beautiful, touching, & heartbreaking all the same.
The story revolves around an age-gap relationship (Clay, 44 & Ethan, 27) - Ethan is late-deafened and Clay is discovering his new sexual identity after decades of internalized homophobia. I appreciated how each of those topics were handled with such sensitivity and care. The way Ethan's hearing loss was portrayed while interacting with others was written really well through the use of "<i>mumble mumble</i>" in the dialogue. I found it gave a weight to how it impacted Ethan's daily life.
Both leads were easy to connect to and fall in love with, and their respective journeys (both individually and as a couple) flowed and developed in such a natural way. I loved that any of the conflict was external and that there was no 3rd-act breakup. This allowed them to cement their bond together into a really solid unit (yes, I know they only spent 1 week together, but it was done so well I fully believe their commitment to one another!) that played to the strengths of the age-gap trope.
<b><i>He stared at Ethan--at this brave, beautiful man who had burst into Clay's life and changed it forever. Clay hadn't even known how lost he was, but being found was more profound than he ever could have imagined.</i></b>
The epilogue was icing on the cake too. Absolutely loved and highly recommend!
The story revolves around an age-gap relationship (Clay, 44 & Ethan, 27) - Ethan is late-deafened and Clay is discovering his new sexual identity after decades of internalized homophobia. I appreciated how each of those topics were handled with such sensitivity and care. The way Ethan's hearing loss was portrayed while interacting with others was written really well through the use of "<i>mumble mumble</i>" in the dialogue. I found it gave a weight to how it impacted Ethan's daily life.
Both leads were easy to connect to and fall in love with, and their respective journeys (both individually and as a couple) flowed and developed in such a natural way. I loved that any of the conflict was external and that there was no 3rd-act breakup. This allowed them to cement their bond together into a really solid unit (yes, I know they only spent 1 week together, but it was done so well I fully believe their commitment to one another!) that played to the strengths of the age-gap trope.
<b><i>He stared at Ethan--at this brave, beautiful man who had burst into Clay's life and changed it forever. Clay hadn't even known how lost he was, but being found was more profound than he ever could have imagined.</i></b>
The epilogue was icing on the cake too. Absolutely loved and highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Dementia and Death of parent
With You Forever by Chloe Liese
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
3.5
This is hell. Marrying someone you're in lust with is hell.
A cute, soft, tender read.
A cute, soft, tender read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Excrement, and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol