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yannalovesbooks's reviews
62 reviews
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
5.0
***Brief Alluding to a Subplot Point***
This was my first Jane Austen book that I was dedicated to and let me say...PHEW! I was in love with it and engaged the entire time. The plot is easy to understand and although I was confused by the language at first, I found listening to an audiobook at the same time was helpful until I was able to read it on my own better. I loved the different perspectives on women and marriage that this story presented and the satire of Miss Austen! The way she narrates the story was hilarious and the way she created each character was amazing. I truly felt every single emotion from shock about Wickham (the whole situation in general as it kept unraveling, OH. MY. GOD.) to laughter when Mr. Collins or Lady Catherine de Bourgh had anything to say. The emotional impact between each sister was so strongly felt and especially resonated due to having 2 sisters of my own. Austen does an excellent job of making you feel certain ways about characters that might even challenge our own pride or prejudice (BADUM DUM), silly ole' me. ANYWAYYY definitely was a slow burn and enemies to lovers which I absolutely loved and I can see why this is a classic. I felt invested in each character and as someone who is sappy, I absolutely loved the ending and its mini epilogue. It warmed my heart and I truly every romance book reader NEEDS to give this book a moment of your time!
This was my first Jane Austen book that I was dedicated to and let me say...PHEW! I was in love with it and engaged the entire time. The plot is easy to understand and although I was confused by the language at first, I found listening to an audiobook at the same time was helpful until I was able to read it on my own better. I loved the different perspectives on women and marriage that this story presented and the satire of Miss Austen! The way she narrates the story was hilarious and the way she created each character was amazing. I truly felt every single emotion from shock about Wickham (the whole situation in general as it kept unraveling, OH. MY. GOD.) to laughter when Mr. Collins or Lady Catherine de Bourgh had anything to say. The emotional impact between each sister was so strongly felt and especially resonated due to having 2 sisters of my own. Austen does an excellent job of making you feel certain ways about characters that might even challenge our own pride or prejudice (BADUM DUM), silly ole' me. ANYWAYYY definitely was a slow burn and enemies to lovers which I absolutely loved and I can see why this is a classic. I felt invested in each character and as someone who is sappy, I absolutely loved the ending and its mini epilogue. It warmed my heart and I truly every romance book reader NEEDS to give this book a moment of your time!
Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. Clair
4.0
***Mild Spoilers?***
This review is so late so my judgement may be a little so-so, nonetheless I will proceed! This book honestly made me want to change the rating that I gave the first book and I will definitely state that this is the book of backstories (so if you love a good backstory, buckle up!) The characters are deeply explored more and characters who were no more than names or background characters in the first novel are front in center now (rightfully so!). The world building that went into this story and the intricate connecting of puzzle pieces was absolutely wonderful. I truly never knew where this story was going to take me at any moment, which I truly admire in a good book. Although this book focuses a lot on people's past, the action isn't lost. It remains pretty fast pace (with of course a little bit of slower chapters in the beginning as we start to warm the readers up again) and I was engaged most of the time. Near the ending I could not put the book down AT ALL! I wanted to keep going and was so infatuated it was hard for me to put the book down.
I would say it was hard for me to get back into the story after the little gap between the first book and this one (which is completely on me) and had me a little confused on some of the plot points. I felt as if sometimes it got a little too fantasy for me and that the story lost itself a little at some points. But as mentioned previously, once you get past the first third or so you start to get your footing.
Okay, controversial moment here?? Isolde was lowkey kind of getting on my nerves (SORRY! I SAID IT!) There would be moments where I felt like she chose to take things the wrong way or took unnecessary risk even though her people would have benefited better without her doing that. I understand that it is because she is loyal to her people and don't want to be just labeled as "Queen Isolde, Adrian's wife" but sometimes it was uncalled for. Now what REALLY got me was the MISCOMMUNICATION!! Nothing makes me more upset in a story than a lack of communicating with your partner and unfortunately it had plenty of that (more on how Isolde felt). I just can't fathom why she wouldn't want to just tell her husband how she feels rather than ignoring him. Of course I am not trying to sound like I am only blaming her, because I have a bone to pick with Adrian too about how often he doesn't attempt to understand her either. However this brings me to my next point...
SO. MUCH. SMUT. Now you can take that in a good way or a bad way (and don't get me wrong I usually enjoy it) but when it's after every argument it gets old really fast. Like I don't need to read in detail how they are having sex after they just had a very valid argument. Or sometimes they will completely ignore one another and be angry but then just have sex? Like cmon, lets be real, sex doesn't make all the relationship problems go away. It started to get to the point where I would just skip over reading it when it would happen (and its VERY predictable when it's going to happen) only because the moment before it didn't make sense to be solved with just sex. Maybe that's the true reason why they can't get their shit together!
ANYWAYY criticisms aside, I did really enjoy the book thoroughly and I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come out. With all the backstories and world building I am excited to see what St. Clair has in mind for the next story. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and jumping up and down so I truly cannot wait to see the next course of events Adrian and Isolde must face together.
This review is so late so my judgement may be a little so-so, nonetheless I will proceed! This book honestly made me want to change the rating that I gave the first book and I will definitely state that this is the book of backstories (so if you love a good backstory, buckle up!) The characters are deeply explored more and characters who were no more than names or background characters in the first novel are front in center now (rightfully so!). The world building that went into this story and the intricate connecting of puzzle pieces was absolutely wonderful. I truly never knew where this story was going to take me at any moment, which I truly admire in a good book. Although this book focuses a lot on people's past, the action isn't lost. It remains pretty fast pace (with of course a little bit of slower chapters in the beginning as we start to warm the readers up again) and I was engaged most of the time. Near the ending I could not put the book down AT ALL! I wanted to keep going and was so infatuated it was hard for me to put the book down.
I would say it was hard for me to get back into the story after the little gap between the first book and this one (which is completely on me) and had me a little confused on some of the plot points. I felt as if sometimes it got a little too fantasy for me and that the story lost itself a little at some points. But as mentioned previously, once you get past the first third or so you start to get your footing.
Okay, controversial moment here?? Isolde was lowkey kind of getting on my nerves (SORRY! I SAID IT!) There would be moments where I felt like she chose to take things the wrong way or took unnecessary risk even though her people would have benefited better without her doing that. I understand that it is because she is loyal to her people and don't want to be just labeled as "Queen Isolde, Adrian's wife" but sometimes it was uncalled for. Now what REALLY got me was the MISCOMMUNICATION!! Nothing makes me more upset in a story than a lack of communicating with your partner and unfortunately it had plenty of that (more on how Isolde felt). I just can't fathom why she wouldn't want to just tell her husband how she feels rather than ignoring him. Of course I am not trying to sound like I am only blaming her, because I have a bone to pick with Adrian too about how often he doesn't attempt to understand her either. However this brings me to my next point...
SO. MUCH. SMUT. Now you can take that in a good way or a bad way (and don't get me wrong I usually enjoy it) but when it's after every argument it gets old really fast. Like I don't need to read in detail how they are having sex after they just had a very valid argument. Or sometimes they will completely ignore one another and be angry but then just have sex? Like cmon, lets be real, sex doesn't make all the relationship problems go away. It started to get to the point where I would just skip over reading it when it would happen (and its VERY predictable when it's going to happen) only because the moment before it didn't make sense to be solved with just sex. Maybe that's the true reason why they can't get their shit together!
ANYWAYY criticisms aside, I did really enjoy the book thoroughly and I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come out. With all the backstories and world building I am excited to see what St. Clair has in mind for the next story. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and jumping up and down so I truly cannot wait to see the next course of events Adrian and Isolde must face together.
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
3.0
DEFINENTLY 5 STAR WORTHY!! Okay when I tell you this book had me non-stop reading. IT DID. The enemy's to lovers was *mwah* amazing and it was definitely different than any other book I had read (but maybe thats because I dont really dabble in fanatasy). There was definitely some parts where I found Isolde to be a little *eh* but honestly I think it was needed because of the fact that it made getting to some of these scenes even more worth it. The world building that St. Clair did was so good and I had a vivid picture in my mind the whole time. She does an amazing job at crafting characters that make you feel what they are feeling. Plus, VAMPIRES, duh! Also for my fellow
See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
5.0
Well, well, well. Where do I even begin? I'm just gonna start off by saying that I absolutely freaking LOVED this book (which isn't much of a shock since I loved [b:Today Tonight Tomorrow|52766407|Today Tonight Tomorrow|Rachel Lynn Solomon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582468069l/52766407._SY75_.jpg|62013760])! It was like being on a rollercoaster of emotions from happy, to humor, to tearing up, it was so beautiful. Being able to read and watch Barrett and Miles work through the troubles of their pasts and the uncertainty, yet hopefulness of their future made this book so lovable. In this book you get a bit of that enemies to lovers at the beginning, but as you see their relationship transform through various different stages, you realize that it's something far deeper. Far more vulnerable than what may have just seemed like surface level enemies to lovers. There were so many heartfelt moments of just pure laughter and joy watching Barrett and Miles "live life to the fullest" by doing the craziest things they could think of. Not to mention, being able to slowly understand both of these characters and what shapes them into who they are/how they are around each other is what was the icing on the cake.
Simultaneously, seeing Barrett and Lucie work through their past and become vulnerable to each other was something beautiful that definitely must not get overlooked. I'm sure we all can relate to having that one person from the past that just didn't end on the best of terms, but this book opens that door for the possibility of misunderstanding. Of letting our own biases and views of the events overpower the other potential view. Seeing Lucie and Barrett in different settings/different times was really something special in it's own way.
I do also want to mention that I loved that this book takes place at the beginning of college. At that transitional period between high school and the past, to college and the future. I personally feel that there is not nearly enough books that take place in the college scene that are also romance along with tackling different struggles that plague this group of people (wanting to change, being okay with not being okay, feeling okay to open up whenever you are ready, tackling your past, etc).
To conclude this, I just want to say that I absolutely love [a:Rachel Lynn Solomon|15298200|Rachel Lynn Solomon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530989204p2/15298200.jpg] with my whole heart. Every book I have read by her makes me feel equally giddy and emotional. I literally almost cried at the end of this book. ANYWHOOOO this book is definitely a must read for everyone. I cannot stress enough the importance of the themes mentioned in this story and you will equally fall in love with Barrett Bloom and Miles Kasher-Okamoto.
*Also let me just say page 382 on libby (I believe it's like 378ish in the physical book) makes my heart melt :')
Simultaneously, seeing Barrett and Lucie work through their past and become vulnerable to each other was something beautiful that definitely must not get overlooked. I'm sure we all can relate to having that one person from the past that just didn't end on the best of terms, but this book opens that door for the possibility of misunderstanding. Of letting our own biases and views of the events overpower the other potential view. Seeing Lucie and Barrett in different settings/different times was really something special in it's own way.
I do also want to mention that I loved that this book takes place at the beginning of college. At that transitional period between high school and the past, to college and the future. I personally feel that there is not nearly enough books that take place in the college scene that are also romance along with tackling different struggles that plague this group of people (wanting to change, being okay with not being okay, feeling okay to open up whenever you are ready, tackling your past, etc).
To conclude this, I just want to say that I absolutely love [a:Rachel Lynn Solomon|15298200|Rachel Lynn Solomon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530989204p2/15298200.jpg] with my whole heart. Every book I have read by her makes me feel equally giddy and emotional. I literally almost cried at the end of this book. ANYWHOOOO this book is definitely a must read for everyone. I cannot stress enough the importance of the themes mentioned in this story and you will equally fall in love with Barrett Bloom and Miles Kasher-Okamoto.
*Also let me just say page 382 on libby (I believe it's like 378ish in the physical book) makes my heart melt :')