juliereadsromance's reviews
517 reviews

Atmosphere: Think tattoos, piercings, wallflower + gruff guy, BDSM-y, vaguely stebsibling thing but not really, LA, murder mystery, rich messed up families. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I ultimately really liked this book. It got a little repetitive in the middle- with the characters just repeatedly stating how intoxicated they were with the other. I felt like- I GET IT. But I came to really love Jude and Fel and did find the overall mystery of the book largely thrilling. 

The slow burn and angst was too much for me. Like, get it on already. Realize you love the boy next door already. Painful to wait. 

Premise seemed kind of ridiculous and characters felt flat to me. 

Just wasn’t in the mood for a light romance. 

I really got bored. It was cute and I can entirely see how someone else might like it. It had a lot of charm. But for me, it was boring and felt dated. 

Was cute I guess but didn’t seem spicy, and I was a little bored. 

The MFC bothered me - portrayed as beautiful and perfect kind of? 

(Audio)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 out of 5 stars
(audiobook) 

This is a duology, so a review of this book is really a review for both books. 

I can only imagine either hating or loving this series. For me, I was dying of the angst (probably the angstiest book I’ve read … maybe ever?) yet also needed to finish the book at any cost. Work? Forget it. Errands? Forget it. Answering phone calls? Forget it. 

I have so many criticisms of the book (ex. Could so much of the conflict have been avoided with literally a single conversation? Could it have been shorter?), but what trumps it all is this book’s “unputdownability”. I HAD TO SEE Macon and Lennon end up together. 

I hated Lennon’s dad, by the way. I don’t think I was supposed to, but I totally did. Anyone else with me on that? I won’t put spoilers here, but like come on. You can do better, Trent. 

Macon and Lennon’s relationship is ToXiC. No doubt. But this also a self-identified dark romance, so I think it’s fine, as long as we all understand that in real life, many aspects of this relationship would be ill-advised and unhealthy. 

In the end, this book had its faults, but hell if I cared. Macon and Lennon took up residency in my head and nothing and no one could get me to stop before it finished. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 out of 5 stars
(audiobook) 

This is a duology, so a review of this book is really a review for both books. 

I can only imagine either hating or loving this series. For me, I was dying of the angst (probably the angstiest book I’ve read … maybe ever?) yet also needed to finish the book at any cost. Work? Forget it. Errands? Forget it. Answering phone calls? Forget it. 

I have so many criticisms of the book (ex. Could so much of the conflict have been avoided with literally a single conversation? Could it have been shorter?), but what trumps it all is this book’s “unputdownability”. I HAD TO SEE Macon and Lennon end up together. 

I hated Lennon’s dad, by the way. I don’t think I was supposed to, but I totally did. Anyone else with me on that? I won’t put spoilers here, but like come on. You can do better, Trent. 

Macon and Lennon’s relationship is ToXiC. No doubt. But this also a self-identified dark romance, so I think it’s fine, as long as we all understand that in real life, many aspects of this relationship would be ill-advised and unhealthy. 

In the end, this book had its faults, but hell if I cared. Macon and Lennon took up residency in my head and nothing and no one could get me to stop before it finished. 

4.5 out of 5 stars 

If I had rated this book prior to the 50% mark, I would have given a lower rating. However, the book deepened and gripped my heart as it progressed. The first half is lighthearted and funny In fact, the MMC (named Lake), is hilarious. But, I felt like I was twiddling my thumbs waiting for something to happen. Then, the second half of the book delivers. 

There is a meaningful portrayal of the FMC’s brother (named Colin) who is neurodiverse. He is an essential part of the story and is a pleasure to read about. Colin brings some of the funniest, most enjoyable moments in the book. 

I laughed. I cried. I cheered for Dylan and Lake’s HEA. I highly recommend Canary Cowards.