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witching_hour_reads's reviews
582 reviews
Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around by Sarah Ready
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing the ARC.
A little over a year ago, I received an ARC of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The premise sounded interesting, quite unlike other rom-coms I've come across and it didn't shy away from the very hard topic of infertility.
I quickly fell in love with Josh and Gemma reading this book, their struggle with their blossoming relationship, and the added wrinkle of IVF. The book made me laugh out loud, made me ugly cry, and made me feel warm and hopeful about the future.
So when Sarah Ready announced that a sequel would be coming out, I was ecstatic. My friends and I lamented that after Josh and Gemma's struggles that we didn't get to see their family grow in the first book. The second book surely would bring that loop closed.
Well it did, but Ready completely subverted any expectations that I had for the sequel, and it resulted in one of the most beautiful, tragic, uplifting, and amazing pieces of fiction I have ever read.
I think I spent the better part of the book silently weeping as Josh and Gemma faced one of the most difficult hardships not just in fiction, but also in life. The way that Ready writes these characters and writes this story is nothing short of amazing, the way that she weave everything so seamlessly together, to draw emotion out of her readers, and make everything feel so warm and hopeful, even when the world has gone gray.
I've already re-read this book five times. You're not going to want to miss out on this book (or its predecessor), because it truly is a work of art.
A little over a year ago, I received an ARC of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby. I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The premise sounded interesting, quite unlike other rom-coms I've come across and it didn't shy away from the very hard topic of infertility.
I quickly fell in love with Josh and Gemma reading this book, their struggle with their blossoming relationship, and the added wrinkle of IVF. The book made me laugh out loud, made me ugly cry, and made me feel warm and hopeful about the future.
So when Sarah Ready announced that a sequel would be coming out, I was ecstatic. My friends and I lamented that after Josh and Gemma's struggles that we didn't get to see their family grow in the first book. The second book surely would bring that loop closed.
Well it did, but Ready completely subverted any expectations that I had for the sequel, and it resulted in one of the most beautiful, tragic, uplifting, and amazing pieces of fiction I have ever read.
I think I spent the better part of the book silently weeping as Josh and Gemma faced one of the most difficult hardships not just in fiction, but also in life. The way that Ready writes these characters and writes this story is nothing short of amazing, the way that she weave everything so seamlessly together, to draw emotion out of her readers, and make everything feel so warm and hopeful, even when the world has gone gray.
I've already re-read this book five times. You're not going to want to miss out on this book (or its predecessor), because it truly is a work of art.
Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for providing the ARC.
This was a cute romcom with a fun leading lady and her stoic royal guard of a boyfriend. There were times that I laughed, and times that I loved the interactions betwen Freddie and Maggie, but overall, I just felt like this book was pretty mid tier for me.
Maggie was not in a good headspace to pursue a relationship with someone after her breakup from her gross boyfriend. She also was a doormat that dealt with a lot of crap from her coworkers and her boss, to the point of just straight up harassment.
I didn't like how ineffective both Maggie and Freddie were at managing their emotions or expectations with one another, or really even just being honest with each other. It seemed so selfish of Freddie to keep Maggie in the dark about what was going on in his life and not let her make a uniformed decision before she fell in love with him about how to handle their relationship. It led to some pretty frustrating character encounters and I feel like it detracted from the overall story.
Not sure if there's any I'd submit at criticism, but overall this book was not my cup of team.
This was a cute romcom with a fun leading lady and her stoic royal guard of a boyfriend. There were times that I laughed, and times that I loved the interactions betwen Freddie and Maggie, but overall, I just felt like this book was pretty mid tier for me.
Maggie was not in a good headspace to pursue a relationship with someone after her breakup from her gross boyfriend. She also was a doormat that dealt with a lot of crap from her coworkers and her boss, to the point of just straight up harassment.
I didn't like how ineffective both Maggie and Freddie were at managing their emotions or expectations with one another, or really even just being honest with each other. It seemed so selfish of Freddie to keep Maggie in the dark about what was going on in his life and not let her make a uniformed decision before she fell in love with him about how to handle their relationship. It led to some pretty frustrating character encounters and I feel like it detracted from the overall story.
Not sure if there's any I'd submit at criticism, but overall this book was not my cup of team.
French Holiday by Sarah Ready
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing the ARC.
I am a Sarah Ready stan, I'm not ashamed to admit it. After all of the heartbreaking joy of Josh and Gemma, I was way too eager for her next novel. And lucky for me, it didn't disappoint.
The book centers on unrequited love in all its forms. There are times it is painful, like when Merry pines away for her friend, Leo. This is where Ready's writing really shines. She has a way with words that makes you feel each heartbreaking emotion that her characters go through.
And Noah. Sweet, grumpy, loving Noah, who quietly loved Merry even when she loved Leo. Who put up walls to guard his heart, after everything he'd gone through, and who let Merry painstakingly tear them down when she realized that they were made for each other.
If there was only one thing that I could criticize it was the fact that both Merry and her sister ran headfirst into marriages with men they barely knew. But I also know someone who proprosed to someone after two weeks and they've been married for almost 40 years, so when you know, you know.
An adorable book.
I am a Sarah Ready stan, I'm not ashamed to admit it. After all of the heartbreaking joy of Josh and Gemma, I was way too eager for her next novel. And lucky for me, it didn't disappoint.
The book centers on unrequited love in all its forms. There are times it is painful, like when Merry pines away for her friend, Leo. This is where Ready's writing really shines. She has a way with words that makes you feel each heartbreaking emotion that her characters go through.
And Noah. Sweet, grumpy, loving Noah, who quietly loved Merry even when she loved Leo. Who put up walls to guard his heart, after everything he'd gone through, and who let Merry painstakingly tear them down when she realized that they were made for each other.
If there was only one thing that I could criticize it was the fact that both Merry and her sister ran headfirst into marriages with men they barely knew. But I also know someone who proprosed to someone after two weeks and they've been married for almost 40 years, so when you know, you know.
An adorable book.
The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing the ARC.
Woah.
Okay.
So, I know of Kennedy Ryan. I've heard mixed things about the Plated Prisoner books. But I didn't know this book existed until it popped as a requestable ARC. I loved All The King's Men. Its such a great book. And while this book certainly pays homage to Robert Penn Warren and his look into the corruption of politics, I definitely didn't expect this.
This book is riveting. I loved the premise, the set up, and the follow through. I loved Lennix and Maxim and their trials and tribulations as they tried to navigate something foreign and unexpected. I loved the political intrigue, the way that Lennix is unapologetically authentic in her beliefs and the causes she champions. I loved the way that Maxim understood where he messed up and found a way to repair it.
I loved how incredibly well written it was.
This book is something else. I'm so glad that book two is already published because I'm going to go devour that one next.
Woah.
Okay.
So, I know of Kennedy Ryan. I've heard mixed things about the Plated Prisoner books. But I didn't know this book existed until it popped as a requestable ARC. I loved All The King's Men. Its such a great book. And while this book certainly pays homage to Robert Penn Warren and his look into the corruption of politics, I definitely didn't expect this.
This book is riveting. I loved the premise, the set up, and the follow through. I loved Lennix and Maxim and their trials and tribulations as they tried to navigate something foreign and unexpected. I loved the political intrigue, the way that Lennix is unapologetically authentic in her beliefs and the causes she champions. I loved the way that Maxim understood where he messed up and found a way to repair it.
I loved how incredibly well written it was.
This book is something else. I'm so glad that book two is already published because I'm going to go devour that one next.
The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing the ARC.
To say I tore through this book is an understatement. I am just grateful I had access to it immediately after the first one so I could finish the story.
While this one didn't quite live up to the same standard as The Kingmaker, it was still an enjoyable read that focused heavily on the political intrigue and inner machinations of running a presidential campaign. I found thar part very interesting and was sitting on the edge of my seat.
There were parts that dragged. The first book seemed like it was wholly about Lennix and Maxim finding each other. This book seemed to be more of them facing a slew of outlandish problems. It was hard to be involved when everything seemed too fantastical for me to really take seriously. Still very much an enjoyable read, though.
To say I tore through this book is an understatement. I am just grateful I had access to it immediately after the first one so I could finish the story.
While this one didn't quite live up to the same standard as The Kingmaker, it was still an enjoyable read that focused heavily on the political intrigue and inner machinations of running a presidential campaign. I found thar part very interesting and was sitting on the edge of my seat.
There were parts that dragged. The first book seemed like it was wholly about Lennix and Maxim finding each other. This book seemed to be more of them facing a slew of outlandish problems. It was hard to be involved when everything seemed too fantastical for me to really take seriously. Still very much an enjoyable read, though.