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itsjojo's reviews
232 reviews
Ruthless Fae by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
2.75
“Iron is made stronger in the hottest part of the fire, Seth. You didn't break me, you forged me.” 🔥
“It gets better!”, they said. “You’re going to love it!”, they said. So far, I have never cared less about a thing. There are too many characters, and I can’t bring myself to care about one of them. Even the twins are incredibly shallow and juvenile. I didn’t quite hate read this book like the first, but I’ve had about enough of these boy band wannabes.
Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
“Wild women are an unexplainable spark of life. They ooze freedom and seek awareness, they belong to nobody but themselves . . . she'll allow you into her chaos, but she'll also show you her magic.”
This was my least favorite of the series and probably of all the Kennedy Ryan books I’ve read so far. This story just didn’t have the emotional depth I was hoping for. I felt like the pace of the book was slow for the first 70%, and then all of a sudden we got hit with so much random drama that I got whiplash. I will say, I LOVED Lotus as an FMC. I always struggle with single-parent tropes because the adults in the situation always fail to put the kids first. That wasn’t the case here. Lotus is the saint and scholar we all should strive to be.
This was my least favorite of the series and probably of all the Kennedy Ryan books I’ve read so far. This story just didn’t have the emotional depth I was hoping for. I felt like the pace of the book was slow for the first 70%, and then all of a sudden we got hit with so much random drama that I got whiplash. I will say, I LOVED Lotus as an FMC. I always struggle with single-parent tropes because the adults in the situation always fail to put the kids first. That wasn’t the case here. Lotus is the saint and scholar we all should strive to be.
The Awakening by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
“So, if he was determined to see me fall, he was going to have to try and make me break.” 💪🏽
If Harry Potter was adapted into a poorly written CW show, it would be called Zodiac Academy. Almost every character in this book is horrible. The bullying throughout this book is WILD. Not even the teachers at this school have any redeemable qualities. Everyone keeps telling me to trust the process, but idk how this is going to get better. I feel like the author is just trying to convince me that “this is just how this world is.” But I’m really having a hard time getting behind this, “Daddy hits me because he loves me” mentality. We’ll see how this goes, but I’m not hopeful.
The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
“Whiskey and flame. Sleepless nights. Tattooed skin, white t-shirts, and rough hands. Love and lust and happiness. He was everything.”🥃🕯️🖤
“Don’t blame me for your psychosis.” “You are my psychosis.”😜
Could I be entering my mafia romance era in 2025? Maybe? That story hasn’t been told yet. But the fact remains that I ate this shit up. Zero crumbs. Were these characters toxic and slightly unhinged? Yes. Do I care? Nope. The only reason I had to take the rating down a notch was because of the miscommunication troupe. It’s the storytelling equivalent of stepping on a LEGO in the dark. It’s painful, unnecessary, and leaves you questioning all your life choices. I vote we leave it behind in 2024. ✌🏽
Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
The Songbird & The Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“Perhaps the truth is simpler. Perhaps mortals, like gods, are mesmerized by their own damnation.” 🐦🔥❤️🔥
Unfortunately, this book was so middle of the road that I almost got hit by a car just standing near it. This book was missing the banter that made me fall in love with the first 3 books in the Crowns of Nyaxia world. It took me close to 80% to really care about what was happening, and by the time I did, I was just ready to move on. I’ll probably continue the series, but I hope the next book has more of the feel and pacing of the others in this series.
Unfortunately, this book was so middle of the road that I almost got hit by a car just standing near it. This book was missing the banter that made me fall in love with the first 3 books in the Crowns of Nyaxia world. It took me close to 80% to really care about what was happening, and by the time I did, I was just ready to move on. I’ll probably continue the series, but I hope the next book has more of the feel and pacing of the others in this series.
My December Darling by Lauren Asher
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
“They make me believe that there is always room for love in our lives, so long as we are open to accepting the kind we think we deserve.” 💍🩵
This was such a quick and cute Christmas read. I’m not normally a seasonal reader, but Lauren Asher can do no wrong, and this novella is no exception.
This was such a quick and cute Christmas read. I’m not normally a seasonal reader, but Lauren Asher can do no wrong, and this novella is no exception.
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
“I need you to know that you are the only person who has ever made me feel like I am capable of anything,” she lamented. “The only person who has ever made me feel truly seen.” 🖤
Dark romantasy is a new genre for me. But I must say…I’m HERE for it! The plot had some nice twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout the story. And the chemistry between Blackwell and Ophelia was off the charts. Adding book 2 to my TBR immediately.
Dark romantasy is a new genre for me. But I must say…I’m HERE for it! The plot had some nice twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout the story. And the chemistry between Blackwell and Ophelia was off the charts. Adding book 2 to my TBR immediately.