nikkicruz_md's reviews
292 reviews

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

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challenging emotional 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

4.0

Last book for 2024 and it did not disappoint.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

This is way too sappy for me.

I understood Rune & Poppy's love for each other even from the beginning. I also understand that the main focus of the story is their seemingly unbreakable and extraordinary love for each other. However, the tale is way too sappy for my liking.

Additionally, a story of a terminally ill loved one that eventually dies is already predictable.
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-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

I don't know how many times i've read this series BUT one thing is for sure, I will be re-reading this next year. 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

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adventurous challenging tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

While searching for something similar to ACOTAR and TOG in terms of genre and mood, this duology were top on the list. So I went ahead indulged myself.

I have to admit that the first few chapters did NOT catch my attention (took me a long time to finish it) & I have a lot unanswered questions about the Kejari. 

Hmm, I'll give the second book a chance. Let's see if the story gets better and hope that all of my unresolved questions would be answered.
The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie: A Satirical Novella by Freida McFadden

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funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Happy Place by Emily Henry

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

You. You. You
In every universe, it's YOU for me.

Oh! to be loved like this... 🥺

More than Wyn's vast and fathomless love for Harriet, what made me cling to this book more is Harriet's found family. Maya Angelou flawlessly once postulated that "Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who want you in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what."

I love a good romance but a good romance + found family is just another level.
Funny Story by Emily Henry

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

I knew from the moment I finished Chapter 1 that this is going to be an unputdownable for me.

I love everything about this book. I love Miles, Daphne, Ashleigh, Julia, Harvey and of course, I would very much love to strangle Peter and Petra.

Waiting, for someone who rarely came, feeling worse every time, until finally, I realized that the feelings wouldn’t stop until the waiting did. You can’t force a person to show up, but you can learn a lesson when they don’t.
Trust people’s actions, not their words.
Don’t love anyone who isn’t ready to love you back.
Let go of the people who don’t hold on to you.
Don’t wait on anyone who’s in no rush to get to you. 

You have no idea how much I relate to Daphne's cynicism and her profound sense of unworthiness to be loved. At some point in life, I may have been a Daphne once - fully convinced that I am unworthy & a total pistanthrophobe.

But what I love the most in this tale is how Daphne unexpectedly found love in the place she got her heartbroken; the place she want to run away from, leading us to believe that love can bloom in the most unexpected place and it's beautiful.

And to sum it all up, it is showing up and being present that makes all the difference in the world.

Things We Hide From The Light by Lucy Score

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adventurous emotional tense slow-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

3.0