elle_laine's reviews
113 reviews

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

It’s safe to say that I did not like this book. Too many times while reading, I considered DNFing. I just really didn’t like the main characters and how they interacted with each other. 🤷🏽‍♀️ 
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

•This is the second book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. In this book, a curse brings Jacks back into Evangeline’s life as they negotiate and form an alliance to each get what they want. But nothing about this partnership is easy or simple. 

•This book!! 😍 I absolutely adore everything about it! The tension is delicious and the strained relationships make this a page-turner. I have never flown through a book so quickly. This might even be my favorite book of the year! 100000/10 recommend. 

{c u r s e s}
{d a n g e r}
{a d v e n t u r e}
{l o v e}
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Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

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adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

•Evangeline’s true love is engaged to someone else. The man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. And the woman he is going to marry? It’s Evangeline’s own stepsister. So Evangeline pays a visit to the Prince of Hearts, hoping to strike a deal that will bring her true love back to her. 💒🕰️💋 

•Ahh!! This book! I absolutely ADORE it! I love the fantasy elements that bring the reader into a world of kingdoms, enchantments, and mystery. I immediately bought and read the second book after finishing this one. 10/10 recommend!!
Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

•Emma and Justin both have the same problem that they could help each other resolve. A curse seems to follow them around, making each person they date and break up with find their soulmate right after. Both Justin and Emma decide to experiment so that they can both find their soulmates after breaking up with each other. So Emma joins Justin in Minnesota just for the summer, and their experiment begins. 

•Wow! I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did! There were some heavy themes in this book, but it really made the story sound more realistic. Life is messy and is often very difficult. 
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

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adventurous mysterious tense 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

4.5

•This delightful tale set in the islands is full of sea dragons, pirates, and family lore. Hanalei returns to her homeland ten years after disaster struck and choices were made that altered her life forever. There she embarks on a journey with Prince Sam to rescue the beloved princess. 🐉 👑 🥚 

•I was intrigued when I saw this was a BOTM pick for April. I am so glad I chose it! This was a very different book from those that I normally read. I loved the whole vibe of the book. This is the PERFECT summer book for you! 🏝️💚
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

•Emilie had a horrible Valentine’s Day. From wrecking her car to watching her boyfriend kiss someone else, Emilie ends the day on her grandmother’s couch, sad and unsure of herself. But when she wakes up, she’s in her bed at home. And it’s Valentine’s Day again. Somehow the day is repeating itself and Emilie has chance after chance to replay the day and decide how she wants it to end. 🚘🌆❣️

•Oh man! This was such a fun read! But I’m pretty much guaranteed to like anything @lynnpainterbooks writes. 🤩💕
The Bright Side Of Disaster by Katherine Center

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hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.0

•Jenny is entering a new season of life. The birth of her and Dean’s first child and their wedding is approaching. They have a house. They are cleaning out their clutter. And then Dean vanishes without so much as a “goodbye” and Jenny is left to raise a child completely by herself. 👼🏼 🏡 🐈

•I really enjoyed this cute story, but I can’t rate it 5⭐️s because there were a couple of moments in the book that disappointed me. Having said that, I loved the ending and loved Jenny as a strong MC. 
Lucy Loves Him Not by Rebecca Jo Jackson

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

•Lucy has run the Sweet River Festival ever since her grandmother died and left that responsibility to her. This summer was no different. Enter Adam, hired to run the festival for the town. Lucy and Adam immediately butt heads and trouble (with some flirtation mixed in) ensues! ☀️🍬☕️🐕

•This was such a charming small-town summer romance! The chemistry between Adam and Lucy was electric and I also loved the dynamic between Lucy, her sisters, and their mom. Such a fun, light read for the summer!

•THANK YOU @authorrebeccajojackson for the eARC! 🤗🩵
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

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dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

•Witches are hunted and purged. Rune must carefully guard the secret of her identity. But she isn’t just a witch. She rescues witches from being purged by the guards sent to extinguish her kind. Gideon is one of those guards. And suddenly Rune sees the advantage of a connection with him: she can use him for his knowledge on where witches are held captive.  

•This was such a delightful book! I read it in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. The last few chapters made me gasp out loud! I am very excited for the next book out in this series!
Girl Next Door by Karen King

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Vanessa and Aaron are thrilled to finally have new next-door neighbors who have children their own kids' age. Both families instantly hit it off, especially Vanessa and Aaron's two sons, Jacob and Lukas, and the new neighbor's daughter, Rachel. But paradise does not last long for the two families and soon there is trouble brewing between the teenagers. And then tragedy strikes, and Rachel's life is in danger. Many point fingers at Jacob, but was it actually him who threatened Rachel's life?

Thank you Karen King and Bookouture Audio for the complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest and true thoughts. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

I initially enjoyed this story and plot line and was sucked in, but the ending fell a little flat in my opinion. The buildup and mystery was definitely intriguing and I really liked the multiple points-of-view from the different characters. It gave the story more suspense and inklings that lots of characters had secrets and pasts that they wanted to keep hidden. 

I am glad that I received an audiobook version of this book as I loved how the narrator brought life to the story. For thrillers in particular, I typically enjoy audiobooks more since the narrator can give it an air of suspicion and guilt and intrigue. Even though the ending disappointed me, this was still a fun audiobook adventure and I recommend it for those who are looking for a quick summer suspenseful read.