unsilentstephy's reviews
165 reviews

How to Lose a Guy Before Christmas by A.J. Pine

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Beatitude by DJ Krimmer

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challenging dark funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't know what it says about me that I loved this book so damn much, but at this point I also don't care, I would read about Ronan and Everly until they were the last two beings alive in their universe. 

Beatitude is a dark, fun novella that left me simultaneously desperate for more and completely satisfied. 

After the privilege of an A L C of the audiobook, Joe Arden and Marie Hawkins were beyond phenomenal as Ronan and Everly. Their performances took this already stellar novella and elevated it to a level I didn't realize could be achieved outside a full length novel. 

You absolutely want to check the trigger warnings on this one. If none of those scare you off you're going to love Beatitude and I definitely recommend it.
shadow.self. by Joe Arden

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This one took a minute because how do you review someone's emotions? How do you review someone's bared soul?

shadow. self. was raw, hauntingly beautiful, hopeful... 

The emotions are tangible from start to finish, not just in the actual poetry but in the dedication, the epigraphs, the introduction, you can feel the sentiment. The weight of the words. 

I think Joe described it best in the introduction when he says that art should make you feel unalone. In shadow. self. I felt that hand reaching out so many times, reminding me in grief, in joy, in fear, in ecstasy I'm not alone. None of us are. 


If you're a human who has ever felt anything, this is me, recommending you shadow. self. 
Barbarian Alien by Ruby Dixon

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adventurous emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

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adventurous funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Unlocked Dive by A.K. Blythe

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adventurous challenging emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another stellar book from A.K. Blythe.

Unlocked Dive was spicy, fun, and beautifully emotional.

I was absolutely hooked on these characters from page one. I did not want to put this book down and it was worth every minute of sleep I lost staying up all night reading it. 

Echo and Byrd were everything. Both of them fractured but still strong, finding what they didn't even know they were looking for in eachother.

This may be my favorite book of 2024.

If you're looking for an mm romance with compelling characters that you'll fall in love with and incendiary spice this is the one. I cannot recommend it enough.
One Last Rainy Day: The Legacy of a Prince by Kate Stewart

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Neon Nights by Jen Aisling

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0