Jenny
An enthusiastic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!
I almost didn’t read Atmosphere. I have a complicated history with Taylor Jenkins Reid — when she hits, she hits (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo owns a permanent piece of my soul), but when she misses for me… she really misses (I’m looking at you, Daisy Jones). So I went into this one cautious. Guarded. Prepared to be whelmed at best.
A friend told me I would like this book. She was half right — I didn’t like it. I absolutely loved it. This is one of those rare reads that sneaks up on you, settles into your chest, and then refuses to leave. I do not hand out five stars easily. And yet this was an easy, immediate, no-notes five.
The characters (minus Barbara — respectfully, no thank you) were so richly developed that they felt tangible. Complicated. Human. I cared about deeply. Their relationships felt layered and earned, not manufactured for drama. I found myself lingering over scenes just to stay with them a little longer.
The mark of a true five-star read isn’t just how much you enjoy it in the moment — it’s whether it stays with you. This one will.
An enthusiastic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!
I almost didn’t read Atmosphere. I have a complicated history with Taylor Jenkins Reid — when she hits, she hits (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo owns a permanent piece of my soul), but when she misses for me… she really misses (I’m looking at you, Daisy Jones). So I went into this one cautious. Guarded. Prepared to be whelmed at best.
A friend told me I would like this book. She was half right — I didn’t like it. I absolutely loved it. This is one of those rare reads that sneaks up on you, settles into your chest, and then refuses to leave. I do not hand out five stars easily. And yet this was an easy, immediate, no-notes five.
The characters (minus Barbara — respectfully, no thank you) were so richly developed that they felt tangible. Complicated. Human. I cared about deeply. Their relationships felt layered and earned, not manufactured for drama. I found myself lingering over scenes just to stay with them a little longer.
The mark of a true five-star read isn’t just how much you enjoy it in the moment — it’s whether it stays with you. This one will.
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.75 stars)
The premise of this book is strong, centering on a fictional British royal family filled with family drama, secrets, and plenty of palace intrigue. Those elements kept me invested, especially as the story gained momentum over the course of the novel.
My main criticism is that while the characters are technically distinct from the current British royal family, they still felt very reminiscent of real-life figures — particularly echoes of Princess Diana and the familiar “heir and the spare” dynamic. I found myself wishing the story had pushed a bit further from reality to create something that felt more uniquely its own.
Overall, an entertaining royal drama that rewards patience, especially if you enjoy stories filled with family tension, relationship “will they or won’t they” and behind-the-scenes palace maneuvering.
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.75 stars)
The premise of this book is strong, centering on a fictional British royal family filled with family drama, secrets, and plenty of palace intrigue. Those elements kept me invested, especially as the story gained momentum over the course of the novel.
My main criticism is that while the characters are technically distinct from the current British royal family, they still felt very reminiscent of real-life figures — particularly echoes of Princess Diana and the familiar “heir and the spare” dynamic. I found myself wishing the story had pushed a bit further from reality to create something that felt more uniquely its own.
Overall, an entertaining royal drama that rewards patience, especially if you enjoy stories filled with family tension, relationship “will they or won’t they” and behind-the-scenes palace maneuvering.
⭐⭐ ⭐️ ⭐️ (rounded up from 3.75)
I was really excited to continue the Outlander series, but Dragonfly in Amber started off in a surprisingly jarring place. Even though I had just finished the first book, I ended up going back to reread the ending of Outlander because the shift in timeline and perspective left me feeling like I’d missed something.
Once I got past that initial bump, though, I really enjoyed the story. This installment leans more into political intrigue, which added some compelling twists, even if the pacing felt a bit more meandering at times.
That ending is a true humdinger of a cliffhanger and absolutely guarantees I’ll be picking up the next book in the series.
⭐⭐ ⭐️ ⭐️ (rounded up from 3.75)
I was really excited to continue the Outlander series, but Dragonfly in Amber started off in a surprisingly jarring place. Even though I had just finished the first book, I ended up going back to reread the ending of Outlander because the shift in timeline and perspective left me feeling like I’d missed something.
Once I got past that initial bump, though, I really enjoyed the story. This installment leans more into political intrigue, which added some compelling twists, even if the pacing felt a bit more meandering at times.
That ending is a true humdinger of a cliffhanger and absolutely guarantees I’ll be picking up the next book in the series.
