lavenderluvsbooks's reviews
426 reviews

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The more I read romance books the pain of no love in my life grows sharper. This debut ARC I have some wishes that are too late to be done now: trigger warning for fat phobia and body image issues (which is added to the authors website), would have loved more Spanish specifically in Marcela & angela convo, the love interests are white and everyone knows by know how I feel about that *deep sigh*. Overall I really enjoyed this book. I can relate to the body type, abandonment, foreign culture, fears, and ugh the smut was so good. I especially wished the penetrative intimacy wouldn't be seen as it is but that is the heteronormative misconception. I wanted to cry and probably will. Ugh to be lonely but at least I have romance books like these.
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Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools by W.T. Kosmos

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challenging dark funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Was a weird format in chapter but my first satire i believe. Was sad and ridiculous which is to be expected. Skipped through the last two or three chapters. Felt like I read enough. Overall was interesting 
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Viewfinder by Christine Chung, Salwa Majoka

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It has been ages since I've read a completely wordless book if I ever have. This is the most gorgeous book I've ever had. A picture is a thousand words. This book has an infinite amount telling a story of a traveler always onto the next planet and going home. I do wonder if the earthling would have went with the traveler and why he stayed. The mushrooms seem harmless. Why did people not stay? 
Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I want to spit and scream at how this book has torn me apart & put me back together. I really hope one day I can be happy like completely. This is gut wrenching.
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

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

4.75

I enjoyed many elements of this book. I am not familiar with many aspects of American culture. I have been to Tennessee Nashville & Memphis respectively and feel like I understand the culture historically of Memphis. This is not a happy book. But it is an important one. 
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By Your Side by Margherita Scialla

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Amazing ace & pcos rep in a romance of sorts. I felt connected to this story as a queer person with pcos. Quick read that may be a great resource for people on the sexuality and anatomy side.
ICE-T by P.L. Washington, Destany Finney, Iris Williams

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

For a debut very well done. A few errors and rewording needing but other wise I got the feels. I am 24 and I feel like I will always be unseen unloved and unwanted. I want healthy love bomb sex and long term partnership. But it probably won't happen but for everyone who has it this is your story. 
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One Moment by Becky Hunter

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

5.0

This was like the lovely bones book but modern and no murder. There were lines in my arc version that made me smile and slam the book down. Its a romance a story about love but also the platonic kind between family and friends. This is why I dont want to live with regrets. Love there is disabled rep specifically to multiple sclerosis aka MS. 
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Eastern Standard by Sierra Spencer

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

First off I want to thank Sierra for completing my collection so far. I honestly was not sure if this would vibe with me. A lot of the girlies are die hard swifties and although I like the music I dont get the references. But with this book I didnt need to. Not many books have the death of a spouse into new love trope & this one was done well. My one critique is spelling cum as come (I hate it). It was a cute story with top tier spice smut in about 3-4 chapters.
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Troped by Sierra Spencer, Mina Myles

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is a magnificent debut novel that gave me all the feels and I devoured in less than 72 hours. So much spice and cliches that made my heart swell, lol, & get through my depressive episode. I don't love that the fmc is the only bipoc person nor that the love interests are white cis hetero (and the other characters) but the book list to the soundtrack and just overall romance storyline with complication relationships with family really hit the spot for me.
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