shadowbooker's reviews
668 reviews

This book was adorable, and no 3rd act breakup!? 😱
I adored every second of this book, both characters were very likable and had amazing chemistry, it was hot and funny and sweet and I cannot wait to read more from this author because I’ve adored every book in this series 

Not having Aelin in this book was definitively an improvement (sorry I’m not a fan), but I’m still waiting for the series to wow me. It’s fun and entertaining and it’s good enough, without the hype I would surely be enjoying it more, but as it is I don’t get people who have this as their favorite series 🫣

I’m not a monster romance girly so I was worried about this book, but I am most definitely an Ali Hazelwood girly and this book was just as incredible as her previous work (or may I say better? I swear they get better and better!)
The chemistry between the characters was amazing, they were lovable and hilarious, and the plot was very interesting and managed to shock me!

I shouldn’t have been so surprised but I adored this book, and if there’s not a spin off I will cry!

This started really cute, and I loved reading about diaspora who doesn’t feel comfortable embracing their culture versus someone who does.
I’m also a sucker for childhood friends to lovers and everything k-idol so this book was right up my alley!

Things that could be minor spoilers (but not really):
It bothered me having the mom’s POV that couple of times. It made no sense to the book and the writing was so different it took me completely out of the story and just felt cringy. If we needed to hear what they had to say I think there were other ways it could have been done.
The last conflict also felt too immature and too much unnecessary miscommunication. I know they are teens but it felt too much and that lowered my rating a little.

Regardless I enjoyed it, it had great diaspora representation and the tropes were the cutest thing.

This is the reason why I hate going into books with any expectations, and it’s totally not this book or the author’s fault, but I’ve seen this series hyped so much everywhere I made assumptions about it and it just didn’t fulfill all the promises I made in my head (I mean… where’s the smut?)

The premise of the book is super interesting, and I am definitely continuing the series! But as of now it felt more like a YA/NA on the younger side than it did a smutty adult romance (that I also somehow thought was dark?).

Hopefully book 2 will go better now that I’ve adjusted my expectations!

ADORABLE!
Honestly this book delivered everything the cover promised (why yes, I read it because of the adorable cover). It was an extremely fun and quirky YA that will resonate with every nerdy theatre or D&D kid.
Riley was a typical teenager and she gets in trouble doing stupid teenager shit, but she was also so mature in the way she dealt with all her stuff that I was never annoyed at her. The friendship she has with her best friend is one to envy, and it was so refreshing to read about two female friends who love and support each other unconditionally without any jealousy or competition between them.

I honestly only have good things to say about this book. All the characters were fun, the idea was so cute, the execution was incredibly well done, and it had some of my favorite tropes (fake dating anyone?).

I AM SPEECHLESS!!!

Honestly I didn’t think I would enjoy this book because I usually stir away from anything grim, and again I have to thank all the members from my Book Club for choosing it regardless because I WAS SO WRONG!

I loved this book, I was completely taken by surprise by many twists and the characters were so likable and human. The world building was done in a way that I never felt confused or underwhelmed and that’s quite a feat for a fantasy book with such an unique magic system.

Easiest 5⭐️ I’ve given in a while!

Rating and Review pending due to the St Martin Press Boycott