Alissa
If you have seen the Netflix show before, keep in mind that there is quite a bit of divergence in their stories although they both keep the heart of the story and their friendship front and center. I actually enjoyed seeing the differences between the two.
BUT - keeping that in mind, it was really special to get a little more insight into Kate and Tully's thought processes and their dynamic. A lot of their internal thoughts from the books helped me understand some of their choices in the show.
What a cute ending to the series! A little bit of Drop Dead Fred, a dash of Parent Trap shenanigans (minus the twins) and big dollap of close proximity made this novella an entertaining workplace romance. My only complaint is the instalove, but the sunshine/cinnamon roll MMC and grumpy FMC are chef's kiss. This is good as a standalone, but if you've read the others in this series, make sure you don't skip the epilogue!
Hades and Persephone together are just chef's kiss. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, because I just enjoy them coming together and being together more. The complex emotions in this book really make you think, though. I genuinely enjoyed the different perspectives on the afterlife, and rules the gods follow, morally gray areas and struggles of both the mortals and the gods.
spoilerish
I wish there hadn't been so much miscommunication as the focus in this book. I know it's important that couples (both mortal and gods) learn their love languages together and certain strengths of each relationship, but it felt like miscommunication after miscommunication and miscommunication... that being said when they do work well together, they are magic.
Nostalgia at it's finest
I remember loving this book as a kid. Revisiting the Murrys and Aunt Beast and Camazotz as an adult was a fun adventure. Having a different perspective, I can understand why I was so drawn to this story as a child. Madeleine L'Engle didn't dumb down or skip the science. She explained it in a way that if you understood, you understood, but if you don't, you still understand enough to continue the story. Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace are flawed, beautiful, realistic children you can relate to and I think that is such a wonderful quality. ♡
I don't want this review to reflect his struggles and experiences.
That being said, I had a hard time with the lack of cohesiveness of the narrative. I was really looking forward to listening to the author read his story, but his voice was so monotonous that I think I would have gotten more out of reading the physical book.
What a beautiful piece of work. The inclusion of witch lore that you've heard before but with a little bit of a twist. The first half of the book felt a bit slower for me as it was slow and there was a lot of setting up the world and and the history of a coven that lives in fear of the mortal “mainlanders.” The second half of the book sucked me in.
Mazey Eddings created a sweet story of two people coming together. Mostly a quick read, I enjoyed all of the characters. This is the third in a series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. A solid 3.5 star read. <3
-Brother's Bestfriend
-Enemies to Lovers
-Fake Dating
-Mental Health Rep
I just reviewed The Plus One by Mazey Eddings. #NetGalley
Moods: Adventurous, Emotional, Mysterious
How it made me feel: I loved the coming of age, sister road trip feel combined with the mystery of finding their mother. The sisters ended up in completely different places in life after their mother disappeared, with one sister being old enough to live on her own and the other being in a loving foster home with parents that wanted to adopt her. The emotional damage both of the girls endured was so done so well. The sisters coming back together was way more interesting than finding their mother (for me, anyway).
I was really hoping for more from the ending... It felt anticlimactic and I was left wanting more answers.
Would I recommend? Yes, tentatively :)
Moods: Adventurous, Emotional, Mysterious
How it made me feel: Another be careful what you wish for tale, but with a twist. I did not want to put this book down and when I did, I still wanted to think about it. A gorgeous story that felt like a contemporary, updated fable.
There were some issues that kept me from giving 5 stars, though. Although SO beautifully written, I felt as though we were shown more of the story than we actually experienced or felt. This made the pacing feel a little slower in places when I would have liked to have felt more with the main characters.
After 300 years into a curse, I would have liked Addie to have matured some. She loved, she hurt, she suffered, she is neglected, abandoned, abused. She lived like a fugitive in people's houses, learning to be skilled thief. She learned and experienced so much, but her thoughts still felt so young.
Would I recommend? Yes, absolutely :)
All. The. Feels. While there are some aspects of this book that I wish were different or decisions that I wish I could change, the complicated emotions through this whole book tug at my heartstrings. One thing I have to admit about CoHo books is that no one is perfect. I can feel so much for both sides of the story and she does so well with it.
I found out this treasure was available on NetGalley and I literally stopped everything and requested it. I am SO glad that I did! Katherine Center's writing is not super exciting, super spicy or adventurous, but she has a quiet way of writing a COMFORT read that creeps up on me and onto my favorites list. Not to say that all of her books are 5☆ for me, but the ones that are... chef's kiss Her emotions that are woven into each character hit just the right note of sweet, not spicy to not be too “fluffy.”
Although I was able to guess the plot twist, the “anticipation” of what would happen, delivered all I wanted and more! I highly recommend reading the extra excerpt from the author - very enlightening!
