lilyandme123's reviews
322 reviews

Spice: 🌶️, not explicit 

🎤 Freddy Carter & Emilys Carey

📚 dual POV, 1st person 

Series: City of Fantome, book 1

Do I recommend this book: 🤷‍♀️

The dual narration in The Dagger and the Flame was captivating, and both narrators did an incredible job bringing the story to life. The writing is strong, and the tension eventually builds towards the end. That said, I personally struggled to stay engaged and found myself pushing to finish it.

Maybe it’s just me growing out of young adult books, but I feel like this one might resonate more with its target audience. If you’re a young adult reader, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. 

Spice: 🌶️, not overly explicit 

🎤 Julia Whelan

📚 3rd person 

Do I recommend this book: 👍

Julia Whelan is truly a powerhouse. Not only is she one of the best female narrators out there, but she’s also an incredible writer.

I was completely drawn into this story—the characters felt so real, and the witty banter kept me smiling the whole time. From start to finish, I was hooked. Highly recommend the audio of course. 

Spice: 🌶️, closed door 

🎤 Kristen Sieh 

📚 single POV, 1st person 

Do I recommend this book: 👍

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started this audiobook, but wow—it turned out to be such a fun surprise! The narration was absolutely top-notch, and it made the whole experience even better.

Although it’s labeled as horror, I’d say it leans more towards dark comedy or literary fiction, with a hint of romance thrown in.

The story centers around Rory, who reluctantly moves back to her hometown—only to get bitten by a werewolf. From there, her life spirals into chaos as she begins her transformation.

If you’re in the mood for something lighthearted and entertaining (with just the right amount of quirky drama), I’d definitely recommend giving this audiobook a try.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️, explicit 

🎤 Hollie Jackson 

📚 multiple POV, 3rd person 

Series: The Alliance Series, book 1

Do I recommend this book: 🤷‍♀️👍

Will I read the next book in the series: 👎

I had mixed feelings about this book. While the narration itself was solid, it took me a while to adjust to the narrator’s voice, which made it harder to really get into the story. I also think the third-person perspective didn’t help, as it created a bit of distance between me and the characters—I just couldn’t connect with them the way I wanted to.

Kadence’s emotions were another thing that threw me off. One minute she seemed unsure about her feelings, and the next she was suddenly head-over-heels in love. It felt a bit rushed and inconsistent.

That said, it’s a light, surface-level vampire hunter romance that does deliver some entertainment. It’s not a bad read, but it didn’t hook me enough to keep going with the series.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️, explicit 

🎤 Jo Raylan & Sean Crisden

📚 dual POV, 1st person 

Series: Hoops, book 1

Do I recommend this book: 👍

I picked up this book expecting a light read, something to cleanse my reading palate—and while it delivered that, it turned out to be so much more. This gripping, emotional romance dives into some difficult, heavy topics, so it’s worth checking for trigger warnings before diving in.

If you’re looking for a story that’s raw, emotional, and a little heartbreaking but still leaves you with a happy ending, I highly recommend giving this one a go. 

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

📚 dual POV, 1st person 

Series: The Veiled Kingdom, book 2

Do I recommend this book: 🤷‍♀️

I’m not sure if I was just in a better headspace when I read The Veiled Kingdom, but book two really fell flat for me. It felt like the characters spent most of their time running—from the rebellion, from the king’s guard—but not much else actually happened. There were a few enjoyable moments, but some parts felt rushed, which made it hard to stay engaged. I really wanted to love this installment, so I’m left feeling disappointed.

Spice: 🌶️, not overly explicit. 

🎤 Carly Robins

📚 single POV, 1st person, multiple timelines

Do I recommend this book: 👍

♥️ Enemies to lovers

♥️ Slow Burn

♥️ Forbidden Romance 

This isn’t your typical romance novel—it’s a beautiful exploration of grief, loss, and love. Told across two timelines, we follow Mina as she navigates life after the loss of her husband in the present, while also revisiting her journey to finding love in the past.

About halfway through, I started to see where the story was headed, but that didn’t take away from the experience. It’s still an emotional and worthwhile read. If you’re looking for a heartfelt love story that delves a little deeper, this one is definitely worth picking up.

🎤 Helen Duff

📚 multiple POV, 1st person 

Do I recommend this book: 👍

🎤 George Newbern

📚 multiple POV, 3rd person 

Do I recommend this book: 👍

After falling in love with All the Colours of the Dark, I couldn’t resist picking up another Chris Whitaker book.

Once again, his writing and characters didn’t disappoint, they were spot on!

The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was how he wrote the children’s dialogue. It just felt a bit unrealistic. In what world would kids actually talk like that? Maybe I’m sheltered, but it didn’t ring true for me.

That aside, the book was still an enjoyable read. If you’ve loved his other work, chances are you’ll enjoy this one too. 

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

📚 single POV, 1st person (second POV at the end)

Series: Valdor, book 2

Do I recommend this book: 👍