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sammytvo's reviews
664 reviews
The Syndicater by RuNyx
1.0
Disclaimer: I understand that the author had one of the hardest tasks of not just wrapping this series up but also combining multiple povs together. Nevertheless I am still disappointed and underwhelmed. I’ve been waiting for this book for two years and I am allowed to be disappointed as a reader. I genuinely hate that I didn’t love this book. also incoming spoilers
It's crazy how the mighty has fallen and I’m not talking about the syndicate
The world the author has depicted for the past five books has been so intricate and well written so this mess of a book, with multiple writing errors in the final product, felt like a slap in the face. this book felt so rushed, scattered, and unorganized SO MANY INCONSISTENCIES AND PLOT HOLES
Every sentence felt like a RUN-ON PANCAKE. honestly at times, the run on sentences confused me to the point that it brought me out of the reading experience. also the writing feels like the author adding a bunch of words to meet a word count
One of the main problems with this book is that it was mainly TELLING me what is happening instead of SHOWING me. It also speaks to the lack of structure this book had because at the end of the book, I was left with so many questions instead of feeling satisfied.
Another HUGE problem for me was that the characters felt different. I still love the cute little moments with the dark verse core six especially with xander! However, there was so many moments that felt so OUT OF CHARACTER that frustrated me. For instance, Tristan NEVER noticing Morana’s injured arm the WHOLE BOOK?? WDYMM
also. luna. her entire character arc in the previous book was her trying to rediscover herself. I remember loving her character and her strength in the Annihilator. I was excited to see the person she has become and what her favorite hobbies are (bc that was one of her main plot lines in the last book) - anyways come to my surprise, all she talks about is dainn and fucking him like girl I’m so happy you’re getting dicked down but I don’t care which rooms you fucked in like how’s your cooking? Is your best dish still pasta? How was painting like WTF also she doesn’t want to see her son anymore like wdym that was her main reason for living. I hate that Lyla’s identity is mainly about Dainn like I DONT CARE ABOUT THE MAN Anyways, I felt like luna as a character was diminished in this book.
Speaking of Dainn. Oh he was the star of the show in this one. if I took a shot for how many times he was described as hot, I’d black out. Like we get it he’s hot!!! Enough with the dainn propaganda. I understand why dainn was the main focus at times but you can clearly tell the author had a favorite which is annoying because this book is supposed to be about ALL THE CHARACTERS. yet somehow they ended up being side characters. ALSO oh there was a part in the book where luna was worried she wasn’t going to live up to the luna that tristan had envision her to be. dainn telling luna/lyla that she doesn’t need a name and names don’t matter because she’s HIS??? THIS FRUSTRATED ME. The whole “identity doesn’t matter because you’re mine” is giving she’s his property. This negates her ENTIRE IDENTITY! This is NOT ROMANTIC
I felt like this entire series was not just about the dv family trying to find Luna but also Luna trying to find herself. Then, this whole turn around where its become all about dainn DISAPPOINTED ME AND PISSED ME OFF
Honestly the disservice to the female characters in this one, especially Morana!! ugh she deserved better!!!
The big reveals that me as a reader have been anticipating for two years and for five books - HUGE LET DOWN. The execution felt so lackluster. For example, when Morona finds out about the Shadowman who is this mysterious entity in only a couple sentences. Where’s the buildup. WHERES THE DRAMA. Also the reunion of Tristan and Luna. There would be mentions of them bonding but WE DON’T SEE IT like love the taste of nothing. OMG luna and xander. the sole reason luna wanted to keep living despite all the horrors she was going through was her son. And this book we barely get one conversation between the two. Like excuse me. HE WAS YOUR REASON YOU WANTED TO KEEP LIVING SO YOU CAN BE REUNITED WITH HIM AGAIN "He's the reason his mother didn't give up on her life for many years" wdym you're okay with getting weekends with him
Also the anticipated takedown of the Syndicate felt so underwhelming especially when the author has been building up the syndicate to be this all-mighty organization especially in the beginning where it was heavily emphasized how insurmountable the Syndicate is - "The more they discovered about The Syndicate, the more he realized that it was a lot more complex than they'd ever thought, like the underground root network of a giant tree, spread far and wide and deep under the surface, hidden from the world, mingled so tightly that uprooting the entire system seemed impossible, the roots strong enough and symbiotic enough that even if someone cut the tree down, a new one would grow in its place over time." - then it gets taken down so quickly BY ONE MAN DAINN in ONE CHAPTER. Idk I thought this was going to be a team effort like giving avengers endgame with everyone joining hands but half the group was gone doing side quests also that clusterfuck of a takedown didn't even feel like a resolve. It was like that happened and then we moved on to the next scene AND I STILL HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS
I understand the author had this whole storyline of the characters and everything in her head as well as reasons for why she write this book the way it is. However the author has to realized that this story isn't hers anymore. I'm not saying that authors always have to cater to their readers but I wish she had the readers in mind when she wrote this. Or at least wrote the book in a way where we can better understand her perspective about the theme and message of the book.
I do still love the couples and the dv family but my overwhelming disappointment and confusion by this disaster of a book just overshadowed everything else.
It's crazy how the mighty has fallen and I’m not talking about the syndicate
The world the author has depicted for the past five books has been so intricate and well written so this mess of a book, with multiple writing errors in the final product, felt like a slap in the face. this book felt so rushed, scattered, and unorganized SO MANY INCONSISTENCIES AND PLOT HOLES
Every sentence felt like a RUN-ON PANCAKE. honestly at times, the run on sentences confused me to the point that it brought me out of the reading experience. also the writing feels like the author adding a bunch of words to meet a word count
One of the main problems with this book is that it was mainly TELLING me what is happening instead of SHOWING me. It also speaks to the lack of structure this book had because at the end of the book, I was left with so many questions instead of feeling satisfied.
Another HUGE problem for me was that the characters felt different. I still love the cute little moments with the dark verse core six especially with xander! However, there was so many moments that felt so OUT OF CHARACTER that frustrated me. For instance, Tristan NEVER noticing Morana’s injured arm the WHOLE BOOK?? WDYMM
also. luna. her entire character arc in the previous book was her trying to rediscover herself. I remember loving her character and her strength in the Annihilator. I was excited to see the person she has become and what her favorite hobbies are (bc that was one of her main plot lines in the last book) - anyways come to my surprise, all she talks about is dainn and fucking him like girl I’m so happy you’re getting dicked down but I don’t care which rooms you fucked in like how’s your cooking? Is your best dish still pasta? How was painting like WTF also she doesn’t want to see her son anymore like wdym that was her main reason for living. I hate that Lyla’s identity is mainly about Dainn like I DONT CARE ABOUT THE MAN Anyways, I felt like luna as a character was diminished in this book.
Speaking of Dainn. Oh he was the star of the show in this one. if I took a shot for how many times he was described as hot, I’d black out. Like we get it he’s hot!!! Enough with the dainn propaganda. I understand why dainn was the main focus at times but you can clearly tell the author had a favorite which is annoying because this book is supposed to be about ALL THE CHARACTERS. yet somehow they ended up being side characters. ALSO oh there was a part in the book where luna was worried she wasn’t going to live up to the luna that tristan had envision her to be. dainn telling luna/lyla that she doesn’t need a name and names don’t matter because she’s HIS??? THIS FRUSTRATED ME. The whole “identity doesn’t matter because you’re mine” is giving she’s his property. This negates her ENTIRE IDENTITY! This is NOT ROMANTIC
I felt like this entire series was not just about the dv family trying to find Luna but also Luna trying to find herself. Then, this whole turn around where its become all about dainn DISAPPOINTED ME AND PISSED ME OFF
Honestly the disservice to the female characters in this one, especially Morana!! ugh she deserved better!!!
The big reveals that me as a reader have been anticipating for two years and for five books - HUGE LET DOWN. The execution felt so lackluster. For example, when Morona finds out about the Shadowman who is this mysterious entity in only a couple sentences. Where’s the buildup. WHERES THE DRAMA. Also the reunion of Tristan and Luna. There would be mentions of them bonding but WE DON’T SEE IT like love the taste of nothing. OMG luna and xander. the sole reason luna wanted to keep living despite all the horrors she was going through was her son. And this book we barely get one conversation between the two. Like excuse me. HE WAS YOUR REASON YOU WANTED TO KEEP LIVING SO YOU CAN BE REUNITED WITH HIM AGAIN "He's the reason his mother didn't give up on her life for many years" wdym you're okay with getting weekends with him
Also the anticipated takedown of the Syndicate felt so underwhelming especially when the author has been building up the syndicate to be this all-mighty organization especially in the beginning where it was heavily emphasized how insurmountable the Syndicate is - "The more they discovered about The Syndicate, the more he realized that it was a lot more complex than they'd ever thought, like the underground root network of a giant tree, spread far and wide and deep under the surface, hidden from the world, mingled so tightly that uprooting the entire system seemed impossible, the roots strong enough and symbiotic enough that even if someone cut the tree down, a new one would grow in its place over time." - then it gets taken down so quickly BY ONE MAN DAINN in ONE CHAPTER. Idk I thought this was going to be a team effort like giving avengers endgame with everyone joining hands but half the group was gone doing side quests also that clusterfuck of a takedown didn't even feel like a resolve. It was like that happened and then we moved on to the next scene AND I STILL HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS
I understand the author had this whole storyline of the characters and everything in her head as well as reasons for why she write this book the way it is. However the author has to realized that this story isn't hers anymore. I'm not saying that authors always have to cater to their readers but I wish she had the readers in mind when she wrote this. Or at least wrote the book in a way where we can better understand her perspective about the theme and message of the book.
I do still love the couples and the dv family but my overwhelming disappointment and confusion by this disaster of a book just overshadowed everything else.
Nanny for the Neighbors by Lily Gold
3.0
“gave you i gave you i“ and “difficult” by gracie abrams
“mirrorball” by taylor swift
“she used to be mine” by sara bareilles
“shooting star” by kari kimmel
ugh I just want to give beth the biggest hug! her experience with foster care and her birth family breaks my heart. she deserves her happy ending with her hot men
i particularly like this book more compared to the bodyguard one bc this book felt more fleshed out especially with the characterizations of the male love interests where I was able to differentiate between each guy - okay a jack hot nerd, cyrus sxc player, and seb the serious workaholic !!!
Spectacular by Stephanie Garber
1.0
i read this for scarlettjulian only and the way we just got CRUMBLES OF THEM so rude. the few parts of scarlettjulian i was giggling and smiling so much!!! ugh my babies
this is not a cutesy christmas novella with your favs 👎 like holiday spirit nowhere in sight EVAJACKS NOWHERE IN SIGHT BOOOO
anyways, didn't love the direction the author took for tellalegend like that one scene with the dubious consent was giving dark romance . . . when this is supposed to be a ya fantasy like what happened to the original plot of the movie?? also i'm just sick of tella in general like seeing that she got more screentime was so annoying
so the one star was for scarlettjulian <3
this is not a cutesy christmas novella with your favs 👎 like holiday spirit nowhere in sight EVAJACKS NOWHERE IN SIGHT BOOOO
anyways, didn't love the direction the author took for tellalegend like that one scene with the dubious consent was giving dark romance . . . when this is supposed to be a ya fantasy like what happened to the original plot of the movie?? also i'm just sick of tella in general like seeing that she got more screentime was so annoying
so the one star was for scarlettjulian <3
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
5.0
begin again and everything has changed by taylor swift - yes these two songs perfectly encapsulate rosieford's relatioship
want me by stephen dawes - definitely ford's song - "you're so cool, i wanna be your boy"
oh to be loved by ford grant, the hot yearning billionaire nerd GOD I NEED HIM SO BAD!! the way this man has me giggling and fanning myself OOF
i also love the callbacks to rosie’s diary which elicits old memories of basically ford being so down bad for rosie when they were younger hehehe like he was obsessed since DAY ONE FR
also ate up the dynamic where rosie the people pleaser and ford the one who would do anything for her <3
want me by stephen dawes - definitely ford's song - "you're so cool, i wanna be your boy"
oh to be loved by ford grant, the hot yearning billionaire nerd GOD I NEED HIM SO BAD!! the way this man has me giggling and fanning myself OOF
i also love the callbacks to rosie’s diary which elicits old memories of basically ford being so down bad for rosie when they were younger hehehe like he was obsessed since DAY ONE FR
also ate up the dynamic where rosie the people pleaser and ford the one who would do anything for her <3
The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan
3.0
"espresso" and "because i liked a boy" by sabrina carpenter
"stay stay stay" by taylor swift
boy falls first and he PINS - this book is the epitome of popular jock obsessed and yearns for fmc even though the fmc wants nothing to do with him
the story was dragging a little but the character-building is good where you’re able to get know anna and drew as individuals as well as see the two connect
anna is a sweetie! even though she puts on a tough, takes-no-shit exterior, she’s still just a girl with insecurities from past trauma trying to protect herself! shes so real!! her song is “the archer” by taylor swift
ngl this is the first time i read a football player mmc that sounds intelligent lmao like the vocabulary drew used during his bickering with anna was high level! i like that drew is intelligent, plays no games like he’s straight forward about his feelings for anna and continuously pursues her
Honestly this book was a solid four until towards the end…..didn’t love the third act break up and the fourth act break up??? tbh i was gonna give this four stars but the fourth break up made me drop a star
tropes: dislike to friends to lovers?
good tension/bickering banter and spice
overall, this was a good slow-burn college sports romance
Line Mates & Study Dates by Eden Finley, Saxon James
3.5
labyrinth by taylor swift - "OH NO i'm falling in love"
i wish we got to see a different dynamic than fwb but it was cute seeing asher and kole's relationship develop especially seeing asher opening up to kole about his grief. asher’s grief was heartbreaking like i teared up
3.5 🌟
i wish we got to see a different dynamic than fwb but it was cute seeing asher and kole's relationship develop especially seeing asher opening up to kole about his grief. asher’s grief was heartbreaking like i teared up
3.5 🌟
Goal Lines & First Times by Eden Finley, Saxon James
3.0
love the representation of aromanticism and asexuality especially demisexual under the ace umbrella and bi spectrum in this book. i don't see much representation with this and i appreciate how this representation opens up the conversation towards that
seth and cohen were cute in this one! this book really shows that cohen isn't just a himbo! the way he was so considerate and patient with seth and his journey of discovering himself as demi
"needy" by ariana grande
seth and cohen were cute in this one! this book really shows that cohen isn't just a himbo! the way he was so considerate and patient with seth and his journey of discovering himself as demi
"needy" by ariana grande
Face Offs & Cheap Shots by Eden Finley, Saxon James
4.0
topher and teddy <3
i love the rivals by day, fwb by night then later friends to lovers storyline. i felt like their relationship development and romance felt very organic. also love seeing the representation of pansexuality! it was interesting to see the rich boy x farmer boy dynamic come into play later on in the story.
also the foster and zach crumbles were so cute eeekkkk
i love the rivals by day, fwb by night then later friends to lovers storyline. i felt like their relationship development and romance felt very organic. also love seeing the representation of pansexuality! it was interesting to see the rich boy x farmer boy dynamic come into play later on in the story.
also the foster and zach crumbles were so cute eeekkkk
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
2.0
invisible strings by taylor swift
magnets by niki
this was definitely Giving Spirited away vibes !! with the colorful lively mystical world that mina fell into
tbh i didn’t truly know what was going on in this book and the romance is very subtle yet cute
the plot of this fantasy world was so confusing. the storytelling and world-building also felt clustered where i had no idea what was happening most of the time. the character development was weak to me as well. there’s so many characters and i couldn’t fully connect with any of them. yea this book was not helping my reading slump
i liked the romance especially shin!!! however the romance did feel rushed and underdeveloped. i totally missed the part where shin and mina fell in love??? and i’m pretty sure i didn’t miss anything (the author wrote barely any development) bc i was just reading for the romance. sure they had some cute banter and subtle moments but they were SUBTLE!! like how did the subtle become LOVE?? i did love the mention of how shin’s empty bedroom was later filled with mina’s stuff. anyways when mina mentioned that she was in love with shin, i was like girl when did this happened???? overall, i wish we got more of shin and mina ESPECIALLY SHIN’S POV! oh that would’ve ate
Power Plays & Straight A's by Eden Finley, Saxon James
4.0
best friend’s brother, opposites attract
this mm hockey romance is so freaking cute!! foster popular hockey player x zach cute awkward nerd !! ugh i also love how foster is so down bad for dorky zach
the dialogue in this one was hilarious like i found myself laughing out loud forreal
also it was interesting to read zach’s logical mindset in his pov. an interesting new perspective
appreciate how this opens the discussion of how there isn’t a specific mold for sexual identity like with the representation of foster where he is a bi hockey player - “i don’t think i should hide who i am to play a sport i love”
this mm hockey romance is so freaking cute!! foster popular hockey player x zach cute awkward nerd !! ugh i also love how foster is so down bad for dorky zach
the dialogue in this one was hilarious like i found myself laughing out loud forreal
also it was interesting to read zach’s logical mindset in his pov. an interesting new perspective
appreciate how this opens the discussion of how there isn’t a specific mold for sexual identity like with the representation of foster where he is a bi hockey player - “i don’t think i should hide who i am to play a sport i love”