thebiglittlelibrary's reviews
623 reviews

5 ⭐️ Starting 2025 out with a BANG(ER)! Legit, no notes! 👏


"So according to you, to save my marriage I have to shit in the woods? Or piss into a funnel?"

"People have done a lot more work for a lot less reward." 😂


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary romance
✨ high school sweethearts
✨ marriage in crisis
✨ camping couples retreat
✨ forced proximity
✨ "who am I without you?"
✨ 30 year old MCs
✨ flashbacks
✨ playful banter
✨ 2.5/5 spice
✨ "good boy", "good wife", switches
✨ found family
✨ lots of Win and Bo cameos 💕
✨ HEA
✨ TW: death of parent, grief, mentions of ALS, absent father


My Thoughts:

A soul book is one that resonates with you on a profound level, leaving a lasting mark on your heart and mind. It's the kind of book where the characters' journeys feel like your own, where their struggles and triumphs mirror your own experiences. Out of the Woods is one of those rare books for me. While certain elements of this story are different from my own, there are so many similarities that I couldn't help but stop (more than a few times) and think, "This is me" or "This is totally my husband and I." It's as if Hannah Bonam-Young somehow saw into my life, captured my story and translated it onto the page in a beautifully nuanced way. I feel an undeniable connection to Sarah and Caleb; their journey mirrors my own in ways that are deeply meaningful. I know their story will stay with me, quietly echoing in the background of my own for a long time to come. 🫶

So what did I love?

Everything. But more specifically . . .

Sarah is such a complex character, and I’ve said it a million times, but I truly connected with her. Like Sarah, I’m in my early 30s, navigating the process of finding myself, or perhaps, more accurately, going through a bit of an existential crisis. While her trauma stems from the loss of her mother and mine comes from a different place, the way those events shaped our lives felt strikingly similar. Both of us found loving, supportive partners early on, who provided comfort and stability during tough times. But over time, those relationships became a lifeline we held onto instead of learning to navigate life independently. It became a "we" instead of a "me," and with that came the question: Who am I without you?

The real question, though, was always: Who am I? Period. After a lot of therapy and self-reflection, I’ve worked through most of the hard stuff, and come out stronger on the other side. But reading Sarah’s journey was almost like therapy in itself. It was a reminder that I’m not alone in this struggle to understand who I am, separate from anyone else, and it honestly was healing to see that reflected in her story.

The relationship between Sarah and Caleb felt incredibly real and relatable. These two clearly love each other. But like any relationship, it's the small, seemingly insignificant issues that can quietly build up into larger problems before anyone even realizes it. What makes their connection so strong, though, is the solid foundation they’ve built on love and trust. Because of that, they’re able to work through their challenges in a way that feels authentic.

What I really appreciated was seeing them navigate these tough moments. In many romance books, conflicts can feel forced or get resolved too easily, but Sarah and Caleb put in the real work. They take the time to do the introspective self-reflection needed before even addressing the problems in their relationship. Ultimately, a relationship can only thrive if both people are willing to grow together, and Sarah and Caleb clearly love each other enough to do just that.

I also just really enjoyed Sarah and Caleb's interactions. They didn't really banter, but instead would have playful conversations. It's as if they're best friends who find joy and amusement with life and they want to share it with each other. I just got such a sense of peace whenever they were happy together.

The spice was HOT. Sarah and Caleb have incredible sexual chemistry from the start, but once they work through the deeper issues in their relationship, they’re able to truly connect on a more intimate level. Since this book takes place during an outdoor camping retreat, you can expect some really fun and steamy moments in interesting places - including a natural pool with a waterfall, the lush forest, and a cozy tent. Also, Sarah and Caleb are both switches, so we get to see both of them take control in one way or another throughout these scenes.

I absolutely adored the bond between Sarah and Win. These two women embody the very essence of true friendship and are sisters in every way that matters. The love, understanding, and support they share with each other is truly beautiful. From childhood to now, they've been each other's constant, always there through life's ups and downs. In moments of struggle, they’re each other’s lifeline, and in times of joy, they celebrate together with pure happiness. Every interaction between them radiates warmth and affection. They are friendship goals. 🫶

The flashbacks absolutely wrecked me. I was not prepared to experience the pain and grief Sarah goes through while losing her mom to ALS. I 100% burst into tears. It wasn’t a dramatic or overly intense scene, but rather a quiet, tender moment that made the loss all the more devastating. (Honestly, I’m tearing up just thinking about it.) The bond between Sarah and her mother was so beautiful, and walking through that loss with Sarah was absolutely heartbreaking. It felt raw and real, and it broke my heart.


This story was truly beautiful that resonates deeply with my heart and left a lasting impression. I have no doubt that many others will feel the same way. Hannah Bonam-Young's ability to craft such powerful, moving narratives is unmatched and once again proves why she’s an auto-buy for me.

Everyone needs to add this to their TBR, pre-order, and read when it comes out 01/28/25!


Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC and Dell Romance for providing a physical ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.


Favorite Quotes:

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS. Read at your own risk!***

Dedication: For all my fellow Amy March girls out there. You don't have to be great or nothing. You can just be.
_______

I am a simple creature, at my core. Give me books, sunlight, water, and a handsome man looking at me like I'm some rare jewel, and I'm all set.
_______

"Often, we can find ourselves playing what-if instead of recognizing what we can do now to build the life we want."
_______

"A lot of people will say relationships are fifty-fifty, but I think that's a load of rubbish. We all have seasons and periods where we require more from our partner. The trick to a long, lasting relationship in my professional experience is not getting stuck at a set percentage."
_______

"If you give me the space to grow, I'll always plant myself next to you. Always."
_______

"Don't ever think for a single second you could ever truly leave me. You can go as far as you need to, but you'll always be a part of me."
_______

Some men are boob guys, and some are ass guys. Then there are men like Caleb, who are whatever-is-closest-to-my-face guys.
_______

"I don't want anyone else. I want you, Sar. I want to be the only man ever lucky enough to be loved by you."
_______

"We have the rest of our lives to fuck each other's brains out. I'm here to get your heart back first."
_______

"Weirder people live longer."
_______

"Your heart is mine in the way that our home or our neighborhood or my favorite movie is mine. Mine but not for me alone. Your heart is mine to care for, to treasure. But it will never be just mine."
_______

She doesn't have to be all right. She just has to try again tomorrow.
_______

3.5 ⭐ Sweet and Interesting

Radiance follows two characters bound by duty to marry. One is human; the other is Kai (a different species, yet still humanoid). While both find each other extremely unattractive, they build a friendship based on honesty and love, which turns into something beautiful. While I may not have given it the highest rating, I was so pleasantly surprised by this unique story that I read it in one night.


Things I liked:


Unique fantasy world. There may not be any fae or vampires, but there's plenty of political drama and magic in this realm. The Kai are an ancient people with gray skin, razor-sharp teeth, claw-like nails, and yellow eyes. Their Kai kingdom, Bast-Haradis, neighbors a few different human kingdoms like the Gauri and the Beladine. The differences between the Kai and humans are as stark as night and day, yet Brishan and Ildiko also show how similar they may be.

Slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance. Brishen and Ildiko. These two are the sweetest couple I've read about in a long time. Since this story centers around their arranged marriage, I figured their relationship would be filled with loathing and conflict. However, I was so wrong. Both Brishen and Ildiko are mature and accepting of their duty to wed and immediately form a friendship based on honesty, trust, and understanding. I've been reading a lot of enemies-to-lovers lately, so this was really refreshing!

While they are initially revolted by one another physically, they quickly see the beauty that lies beneath, which leads to them falling deeply in love. Their romance is a very, VERY slow burn, but I'm not mad about it. It's beautiful and so pure. They make me happy.


The humor. Brishen and Ildiko are not only adorable but hilarious. Their honesty with one another had me cackling at some points! For example:

"You find me ugly, don't you?"

"Hideous. A hag of a woman. And you? You don't think me a handsome man?"

"Had you crawled out from under my bed when I was a child, I would have bludgeoned you to death with my father's mace."

This is the conversation between Brishen and Ildiko when they first meet, and their frankness with one another continues throughout the book.

Another favorite moment between them was when Ildiko crossed her eyes in front of Brishen to freak him out.

He almost leapt out of his skin when Ildiko stared at him as both of her eyes drifted slowly down and over until they seemed to meet together, separated only by the elegant bridge of her nose.

"Lover of thorns and holy gods!" he yelped and clapped on hand across her eyes to shut out the sight. "Stop that," he ordered.

Ildiko laughed and pushed his hands away. She laughed even harder when she caught sight of his expression. "Wait," she gasped on a giggle. "I can do better. Want to see me make one eye cross and have the other stay still?"

Brishen reared back. "No!" He grimaced. "Nightmarish. I'll thank you to keep that particular talent to yourself, wife."

Let's also not forget Brishen is introduced to potatoes for the first time.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ Heart-pounding, epic conclusion

I truly LOVED this finale! The story was constantly moving with loads of action, which was sorely missed from Siege and Storm, and a few plot twists left me gaping or screaming at the book. Once again, Leigh Bardugo does an incredible job developing the 'Grishaverse' and an even better job wrapping up Alina's story. I could not put this book down!!!


*SPOILERS*

Well, turns out the Darkling is ACTUALLY a bad guy with ZERO chance of redemption.

3.5 Stars ⭐️ Amazing writing, slow-pace

"You know the problem with heroes and saints? They always end up dead."

I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Shadow and Bone. This was mostly due to the incredibly dull moments between high-action points and irritating conversations with Mal (seriously, I hate him). Both were distracting enough that I can't give it anything more than 3.5-Stars. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. Just know that it might take a little more of your concentration and patience. Still, the storyline and character developments along the way are worthwhile and important for continuing onto the next book.


*SPOILERS*


What I liked:

World building. Leigh Bardugo once again immerses us into this Russian-inspired land of magic. We sail across the True Sea from Novyi Zem, through the Bone Road, and back to Ravka. I absolutely love Bardugo's descriptive writing because you can really imagine yourself on this journey with Alina.

Alina's character development. In a short time, Alina has gone from a weak, lowly soldier to one of the most powerful beings in her world. And as her power grows, so does her desire for more. Perhaps she and the Darkling are not so different. After all, "like calls to like." In Siege and Storm, she struggles to accept the person she is becoming while trying to hold onto the past, but it becomes clear that the old Alina is gone.

Sturmhond / Nikolai. What a hoot! Honestly, he was the most interesting character in the entire book. I enjoyed his way with words and how he got under everyone's skin. Also, I definitely didn't see his true identity reveal coming, so that was a nice surprise.

The beginning and end. The first 100 pages and the last 50 pages are basically the only exciting moments in this book. And no surprise, it's all whenever the Darkling is around.


What I didn't liked:

Slow pace. As I mentioned above, the beginning and the end are the best parts of this book, but it's 400+ pages long, so getting through the middle required determination. Once Alina and Mal go back to Os Alta, I felt like the story flatlined. Even though it was boring, it was all essential to the story's progression, so I didn't totally hate it. I just wish there were more high-action moments during this lull instead of Alina and Mal's drama.

Confusing nature of Alina's powers. Alina gets another amplifier which increases her already enormous power, but there isn't any development regarding her understanding of that power. Leigh Bardugo toys with the idea that Alina can create monsters from the light the same way the Darkling can create shadow monsters, but we don't see this happening. In the next book, I hope Alina takes a deep dive exploring her powers (if she still has them) and the ancient magic that seems to be its source.

Mal. I hate this guy. He is constantly holding Alina back from her true potential and purpose. He fears her and who she is becoming. Instead of supporting and loving Alina, he makes her feel guilty and is jealous of her relationship with other powerful men. Alina better not end up with this POS. I hope Leigh Bardugo is intentionally making him a terrible romantic interest because I don't see how there's any way for him to possibly atone for being such an ass - besides maybe dying. Lord, please let him die in the next book.

4 ⭐️ Gimme, Gimme More!

I had no idea what The Cruel Prince was about before starting, but I enjoyed it! In fact, I read it in one day and purchased the rest of the series halfway through.

Is this the best fantasy book I've ever read? No. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes. It was a delightful story that kept me engaged and dreaming of what it would be like to live in a magical faerie world.

Quick overview for those who know nothing about this series:
*No real spoilers*

Jude, her twin sister Taryn, and their half-sister Vivi grow up in the human world. Until one day, Vivi's birth father, Madoc, finds them, kills their parents, and takes the children back to the faerie world. He raises Jude and Taryn as if they were his own daughters and teaches them the art of war and ways of combat (Madoc is the High King's general). While Jude and Taryn grow fond of Madoc (developing a sort of love for him), Vivi vows always to hate him and does everything she can to defy him.

The faerie realm is quite dangerous if you're a human. In fact, humans are regarded as lesser beings and are usually treated as such. However, being the general's daughters, Jude and her sisters are raised alongside the Court's children - some, including the High King's son, Cardan, enjoy bullying them. While Jude focuses on proving her worth and value by honing her skills as a fighter, Taryn is set on proving herself worthy by finding love with a faerie.

Things I liked:

• The faerie world. I just spent the last three months reading SJM (who I ADORE), but it was a nice change getting another author's perspective on faeries. Holly Black gives us many descriptions of both the faeries and their world, so it was easy to imagine yourself there. Not sure it's a world I want to live in, but I definitely would have fun visiting as long as I don't eat any of the faerie fruit or wine.

3.5 ⭐ If you like alien erotica, give this a chance

"A Kindred male loved his woman to distraction and was unfailingly loyal, if incredibly possessive. He would protect his bride at all costs, no matter the danger to himself. And the desire to pleasure a woman and make her come was part of a Kindred male’s genetic makeup because a satisfied mate was a faithful mate."

Intrigued???