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so_many_books's reviews
834 reviews
Red Dirt Heart 2 by N.R. Walker
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Red Dirt Heart by N.R. Walker
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Creek by Nora Phoenix, E.M. Lindsey
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Creek is a mix of emotional, funny, and sweet.
This book is a story about loss and recovery. It dips heavily into the topic of losing a leg due to an accident and the recovery journey and learning to live with a prosthesis. Both Creek and Heath lost their legs in accidents but in very different circumstances. They are accidentally scheduled for the same physical therapy appointment and need to deal with each other through their recovery journey. And they don't take that the best way. Especially because their personalities are polar opposites.
I loved their grumpy/sunshine pairing. Creek is understandably grumpy and angry because of his accident in the Army. He took his frustration out on Heath, who is a sweet and kind PE teacher who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. They make the most impossible pair, and yet their attraction makes sense.i love their story together mostly because they are both good men who have been dealt a very bad hand. They balance each other out, and although their relationship started out on shaky legs (no pun intended), it goes strong day by day.
Another thing that I loved is the true friendships and support system they both have. Creek in his little brother and army friends, and Heath in Kent and Kaleo. It really showed that a support system is essential to healing.
The story gets quite emotional at times. Yes, their amputee journey is one of the reasons, but Heath's struggle to cut ties with his toxic family and Creek's anger issues are also a big part of that. Sometimes, even tissues were needed.
For me, the pacing of the storytelling was a bit slow, and it took me a while to get through the book. I have no negative thoughts about it, so I don't know why I couldn't get into it. Maybe it was because of the heavier topics and the trauma. But this doesn't really take away from my enjoyment.
Overall, I think Creek is a wonderful start to this series. It was fun, it was emotional, and it was very touching. The found family is great, and I can't wait to read more of their stories.
This book is a story about loss and recovery. It dips heavily into the topic of losing a leg due to an accident and the recovery journey and learning to live with a prosthesis. Both Creek and Heath lost their legs in accidents but in very different circumstances. They are accidentally scheduled for the same physical therapy appointment and need to deal with each other through their recovery journey. And they don't take that the best way. Especially because their personalities are polar opposites.
I loved their grumpy/sunshine pairing. Creek is understandably grumpy and angry because of his accident in the Army. He took his frustration out on Heath, who is a sweet and kind PE teacher who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. They make the most impossible pair, and yet their attraction makes sense.i love their story together mostly because they are both good men who have been dealt a very bad hand. They balance each other out, and although their relationship started out on shaky legs (no pun intended), it goes strong day by day.
Another thing that I loved is the true friendships and support system they both have. Creek in his little brother and army friends, and Heath in Kent and Kaleo. It really showed that a support system is essential to healing.
The story gets quite emotional at times. Yes, their amputee journey is one of the reasons, but Heath's struggle to cut ties with his toxic family and Creek's anger issues are also a big part of that. Sometimes, even tissues were needed.
For me, the pacing of the storytelling was a bit slow, and it took me a while to get through the book. I have no negative thoughts about it, so I don't know why I couldn't get into it. Maybe it was because of the heavier topics and the trauma. But this doesn't really take away from my enjoyment.
Overall, I think Creek is a wonderful start to this series. It was fun, it was emotional, and it was very touching. The found family is great, and I can't wait to read more of their stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia and Violence
Batting Style by Louisa Masters
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved this book! It is fun, lighthearted, a bit sweet, and plenty entertaining.
Jordan is a college baseball player and a baby bi/pansexual. His obliviousness at the beginning is endearing, but he quickly accepts his attraction to man.
Balze is a future custom designer who works at a man's wear store to save up enough for the living costs next to an unpaid internship.
Their meet cute? Well, it's more like meet-fiery... Jordan is oblivious about suits, so he goes to get one to the store where Blaze works. One thing leads to another, and they share a hot moment in the dressing room confirming Jordan's attraction to men.
The story basically explores them being friends-with-benefits that accidentally turns into more.
I loved Jordan's personality. He's kinda clueless sometimes, but he's the sweetest, most helpful person. He hypes up his teammates and Blaze all the time, does thoughtful things for his not-boyfriend, and is an overall nice guy.
His family is awesome and supportive and comes to his help whenever he needs.
Blaze is a bit different. He doesn't have an open heart like Jordan because he never had the family support. He's determined to make it on his own and prove he doesn't need help. He also has a soft spot for Jordan.
The friends in this one were awesome, which is almost always the case in Louisa's books. I loved the mixing of the baseball jocks and the artsy people. Different styles, attitudes, and priorities, yet great friends.
The book touches on some relevant issues, like the existence of unpaid internships, how easily palns can go wrong, the importance of family support, especially for queer kids and the extreme hardship of accepting help from a loved one.
As a bookworm, one of the best things included in the book is a book-con and cosplaying book characters. I loved Jordan's involvement in making cosplays as a designer and the author's endless support of another artist.
Overall, this book was so much fun! I really enjoyed it. The audiobook was also great.
And now I need to read the Joy Universe series because I need to know Jordan's dads' story.
Jordan is a college baseball player and a baby bi/pansexual. His obliviousness at the beginning is endearing, but he quickly accepts his attraction to man.
Balze is a future custom designer who works at a man's wear store to save up enough for the living costs next to an unpaid internship.
Their meet cute? Well, it's more like meet-fiery... Jordan is oblivious about suits, so he goes to get one to the store where Blaze works. One thing leads to another, and they share a hot moment in the dressing room confirming Jordan's attraction to men.
The story basically explores them being friends-with-benefits that accidentally turns into more.
I loved Jordan's personality. He's kinda clueless sometimes, but he's the sweetest, most helpful person. He hypes up his teammates and Blaze all the time, does thoughtful things for his not-boyfriend, and is an overall nice guy.
His family is awesome and supportive and comes to his help whenever he needs.
Blaze is a bit different. He doesn't have an open heart like Jordan because he never had the family support. He's determined to make it on his own and prove he doesn't need help. He also has a soft spot for Jordan.
The friends in this one were awesome, which is almost always the case in Louisa's books. I loved the mixing of the baseball jocks and the artsy people. Different styles, attitudes, and priorities, yet great friends.
The book touches on some relevant issues, like the existence of unpaid internships, how easily palns can go wrong, the importance of family support, especially for queer kids and the extreme hardship of accepting help from a loved one.
As a bookworm, one of the best things included in the book is a book-con and cosplaying book characters. I loved Jordan's involvement in making cosplays as a designer and the author's endless support of another artist.
Overall, this book was so much fun! I really enjoyed it. The audiobook was also great.
And now I need to read the Joy Universe series because I need to know Jordan's dads' story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment
The Hanged Man by K.D. Edwards
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
5.0
I would give this book a million stars if possible!
I liked the first book, I really did. It was a great start to a big story.
But The Hanged Man? Wow. This is the book when stuff starts to get real!
Not only is this wonderful story full of adventure, intrigue, betrayal, mysteries, battles, scheming, and big moments, but it also has an exceptional found family. It's so good that my little heart can barely take it.
Rune and Brand lost almost everything except from each other, and yet here they are building a life, saving the world, and gathering their mismatched little family. Two grumpy, surly, hardened man with infinite platonic love for each other. They go around, solve mysteries, and fight monsters for a living while also adopting teenagers and accepting orpahns. The layers these tow have! The layers Rune has!
I don't want to go into detail about the story because of spoilers. But what you really need to know is that Rune and Brand's next adventure involves a very bad Arcana, a doomed marriage pact, lots of sneaking around, politics, magic, and fighting. The story is so well built that I had a hard time putting down my headphones and doing something else other than reading.
The world, the characters, the story. I love basically everything about this series now, and I really really need to know more!
I liked the first book, I really did. It was a great start to a big story.
But The Hanged Man? Wow. This is the book when stuff starts to get real!
Not only is this wonderful story full of adventure, intrigue, betrayal, mysteries, battles, scheming, and big moments, but it also has an exceptional found family. It's so good that my little heart can barely take it.
Rune and Brand lost almost everything except from each other, and yet here they are building a life, saving the world, and gathering their mismatched little family. Two grumpy, surly, hardened man with infinite platonic love for each other. They go around, solve mysteries, and fight monsters for a living while also adopting teenagers and accepting orpahns. The layers these tow have! The layers Rune has!
I don't want to go into detail about the story because of spoilers. But what you really need to know is that Rune and Brand's next adventure involves a very bad Arcana, a doomed marriage pact, lots of sneaking around, politics, magic, and fighting. The story is so well built that I had a hard time putting down my headphones and doing something else other than reading.
The world, the characters, the story. I love basically everything about this series now, and I really really need to know more!
The Last Sun by K.D. Edwards
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Stay by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Good Boy by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thin Ice by Lane Hayes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This one is paritculalry entertaining!
Thin Ice is a small-town hockey romance. Two things I love in books! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, laughed on the hilarious dad jokes, and even shed a few tears.
Bryson and Smitty's story turns from a one-night-stand to friends to a fling and to more. I loved seeing them grow closer and slowly develop feelings, breaking down the other's thick walls.
The story is a tad hilarious, but I loved it for that. I mean, a dad gets together with his son's nemesis on the ice after a hockey game? It was funny and just a bit crazy, which made the whole book an entertaining read.
Smitty moves to Elmwood months later, and Bryson is forced to face his feelings and make friends with the new guy.
The small-town scene is everything the trope can offer with nosy neighbours, quaint little shops and beautiful places.
The characters are so complex and loveable! Smitty and Bryce both have their demons in their past they need to face and conquer to be able to feel the love that's brewing between them. But together they work and all the funny, spicy, sweet and emotional moments between them are wonderful.
I loved them interacting with their friends and family, showing their secrets and insecurities.
My favourite thing about Bryson is definitely the dad jokes and his unapologetic humour and laughter. It made him tangible and real.
Smitty quickly carved a place into my heart. His past could have made him bitter and distant, but he is this open and full of light person who cares deeply. Even if it took him a bit to see clearly.
Audiobook:
The narrator is fantastic!
Overall, this is an entertaining romance, and I love the setting. The huge plus is that the audiobook version is really 🔥.
Thin Ice is a small-town hockey romance. Two things I love in books! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, laughed on the hilarious dad jokes, and even shed a few tears.
Bryson and Smitty's story turns from a one-night-stand to friends to a fling and to more. I loved seeing them grow closer and slowly develop feelings, breaking down the other's thick walls.
The story is a tad hilarious, but I loved it for that. I mean, a dad gets together with his son's nemesis on the ice after a hockey game? It was funny and just a bit crazy, which made the whole book an entertaining read.
Smitty moves to Elmwood months later, and Bryson is forced to face his feelings and make friends with the new guy.
The small-town scene is everything the trope can offer with nosy neighbours, quaint little shops and beautiful places.
The characters are so complex and loveable! Smitty and Bryce both have their demons in their past they need to face and conquer to be able to feel the love that's brewing between them. But together they work and all the funny, spicy, sweet and emotional moments between them are wonderful.
I loved them interacting with their friends and family, showing their secrets and insecurities.
My favourite thing about Bryson is definitely the dad jokes and his unapologetic humour and laughter. It made him tangible and real.
Smitty quickly carved a place into my heart. His past could have made him bitter and distant, but he is this open and full of light person who cares deeply. Even if it took him a bit to see clearly.
Audiobook:
The narrator is fantastic!
Overall, this is an entertaining romance, and I love the setting. The huge plus is that the audiobook version is really 🔥.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Infertility