taliabasma's reviews
862 reviews

The Rules by Lauren H. Mae

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Idk something about this author’s writing doesn’t do it for me 😔
You, with a View by Jessica Joyce

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Truly not bad but I tapped out 70% in
Bananapants by Penny Reid

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective 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

4.75

I have 0 knowledge on bipolar disorder but the book didn’t sound like it handled it inappropriately so that’s good! 

Outside of that omg DES WAS SO IN LOVE WITH AVA AND AVA WAS SO IN LOVE WITH DES this is the kind of (childhood) friends to lovers im obsessed with because it’s not “instalove” but everyone is all gushy hehe 

Im impressed how engaged I was for the full book. It’s 16 hrs long as an audiobook so I really did think it was gonna feel like a drag but there was a good balance of “drama” and romance and just good vibes. 

I think the way Des and Quinn had to figure their ish out played wonderfully. I think usually the parent is either 100% wrong or the child is 100% wrong but here there was that very realistic shade of life being messy and complicated. 

One thing that isn’t a flaw but I’m just unsure about is Ava. I couldn’t tell if we were supposed to understand her as demisexual or just that in love with Des that love was hard for her otherwise. 

Overall silly book with very realistic and complex characters. I kinda wish I had recently read the knitting series for all the Easter eggs bc it have been years. 
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Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

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3.75

Hmm it’s definitely dark and while I didn’t hate it the tone is so much more aggressive that the first few books (at least from what I remember) and so in comparison to the others it’s not a 4 but if it was a stand alone dark romance maybe my expectations would have been more aligned with the plot.

Otherwise, their relationship was majorly effed for about 50% of the book — more effed than any of the other books preceding this one lol 
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The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Idk the start of the book has a tone I’m not really in the mood for. 
Spiral by Bal Khabra

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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? Yes

4.0

Much better than book one for some reason but this book does run a tad longer than needed in my opinion. 

Cute duo though!
Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

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

3.0

I am pretty disappointed by the cheating and how it’s handled in this book. I can “see” the “logic” behind its use but I do think it could have been a 4 star book. 

Tim stealing her work does not absolve her cheating because she was cheating without knowing he was doing that at all.


Overall I liked their trip and such but I was disappointed it this book bc their love felt “cheated” with how the cheating plot plays out. I genuinely think her being friends and maybe having a crush on Tim could have carried the same weight without the infidelity. 
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A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Hmm is it the best book in the world? No. Was I fully invested in the plot and storyline? Yes. 

On to book 2 lol
Fake Flame by Adele Buck

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
HONESTLY I really enjoyed the first bit but I started reading come other books on my Kobo and just as not feeling this one now. 

If I find the audiobook or something, I’d be down to finish it probably within 24 hours. 
Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.0

I enjoyed this book overall, I do think my biggest gripe is the “formatting”.

I liked that the relationship was half the courting and other half them married as I love the idea of more romances of “couple vs life”. But there was Damon’s POV and the part one and two set up left the book’s pacing to feeling off. 

That said, I loved how I was invested in EVERY character. I’m eager to read the next books!