Asia

2.75/5

First of all the writing is dense and not really my style. Especially the comic book panels. I don't like this style. I get it, FMC is obsessed with comics, enough.

Second of all, the forced reminder of a pandemic hit me in the head in every chapter. I get it. It was a time. Stop it already. Move the fuck on. I don't care. I read the books to escape reality, not to relieve it.

Third of all, Sam (FMC) has a friend with benefits with a shitty guy, Hal . Like there's nothing to recommend him,l really, but she pines after him. Let's focus on Nick (MMC) maybe?? Hm?? I mean, seriously, you're supposed to fall in love with Nick, not this other dude who keeps you as a girlfriend material without girlfriend privileges. AND THEN he hooks up with someone else?? AND she only blocks him at 52% (after giving Nick a blowjob btw) but she still doesn't 'officially' break up with him until after the wedding, at like 75%. And I didn't like they they've met again (even if it was just to talk) later.

Fourth, I hated the mother. The mother was so overbearing and heavy-handed, I hated her, holy hell. She's such a nightmare, and then had the gall to try and convince Sam to stop seeing Nick because he had a kid.l Just because your ex-husband was an asshole, doesn't mean Nick will be the same.

Fifth, there was no chemistry between MCs. I thought it could be something on the pool scene at the beginning, but every interaction since then felt forced and awkward. No.

Oh, plus the fact that Nick's 9-year-old daughter had a Discord account, her dad had no idea (since it was against the rules he gave her) but Sam knew about that and didn't tell the dad? Come on!

Sam was supposed to be 26 but had the maturity of a 16-year-old girl who couldn't do anything by herself.

Also, this is a single pov only book, which I'm disappointed about. I love reading male povs when they fall in love and this book didn't deliver it, unfortunately.

At first, Sam was relatable, but she was so 'woe is me' it was annoying. I liked Nick better, and I wish we had seen the events from his point of view and that there was more of him. Instead, we've got more of Hal (the fuckbuddy) than Nick. Nick was MMC! But noooo, Hal was more present in the book.

And then there's this whole issue with her dad, and the book description said that the relationship with Nick will make her confront her relationship with her father... And that doesn't happen. Her father never even appears in the book! There was no one phone call, or a visit, or even letter. Nothing. I don't even know if she ever sold the comic books as a sign she stops waiting for him or something. Like here was this whole "she misses her father who was an asshole and left and she struggles with it as an adult now" but there was no resolution! None at all! Ugh!!

The third-act breakup was annoying. She got a job, cool, and enrolled in a class, that's fun. BUT she was gone for what, a few months? (which I guess, because the way it was written, it could be a few days at most, but it said months) where Sam and Nick had NO contact whatsoever. And Sam wasn't in contact with Kira either. And then suddenly she's back in Ohio out of the blue and sees Nick and tells him she missed him and is still in love with him? While nothing in the book indicated that she was still in love with him or wanted to be part of his family.

The ending was just abrupt. It was just there to create tension, I guess. It feels unfinished. I didn't like it that much. I was dissapointed because I was excited for this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Tropes:

- single dad

- age gap

- neighbours

When you look at the book for the first time, you think to yoursel "it's a prequel and many details were already shared in Catching Fire. It will be fine. Can't be worse than the actual trilogy right?"

But you know nothing, Jon Snow. (and how ironic the last name is).

The book is beautiful, devastating, heartbreaking, hopeful, a horror and love story tangled all in one. It's something you can never predict and nothing you can forget. It's seared into our minds and hearts and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

This book is not only an important book in the series, it's also consistent. All those details from the trilogy we thought were irrelevant? They get a whole other meaning after reading this book. Nothing is accidental, everything has its purpose. All those important things from the trilogy and The Ballad? They're not only kept, but also expanded upon. Suzanne Collins knows her world in and out, there are no plot holes, no mistakes, nothing. Her writing is consistent, heartbreaking, beautiful, thought-provoking, coherent and fantastic. She never misses.

Rereading the scene from Mockingjay where Snow chokes to death on his own blood will be so satisfying - although I still wish he got a more painfull death. It's not enough, nothing will ever be enough, my only consolation is that he's dead.

And Haymitch will meet Lenore Dove once again in the afterlife and they will be together forevermore.

4.25/5

I loved this book. I'm sla glad that I did. It was amazing.

First of all, I've loved Jasper since book one and I loved him even more now. He was great. I love a tortured hero and he was so good. Second of all, Sloane was incredible. I loved her. She had a shitty relationship with her ex and I'm glad she had this wake-up call and broke things off.

I'm not usually a fan of "she loved him all this time and he's never noticed her until recently," but I loved it in this book; it was really well written and I enjoyed it. Because even when he didn't see her like that, he still liked her as a person, and he cared for her, and I loved seeing that. Their relationship was special and important since the beginning and I loved seeing it progress. I loved how they both opened up to each other even more, especially Jasper.

I loved Sloane's speech at the end and that Jasper took it to heart that she can't always pull him from darkness and that he has to learn to do it himself. I loved that Sloane wasn't really a damsel in distress, and she was capable of rescuing herself, she just needed a little push, and that Jasper wasn't a knight in a shining armour, but he always had her back.

HE ALSO GAVE HER THE ENGAGEMENT RING SHE TOLD HIM ABOUT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE BOOK, WHEN DID HE EVEN BUY THIS THING OH MY GOD I'M SO EMOTIONAL.

Their relationship was great. I loved their relationship with Eatons too and I love how immediately they accepted Jasper as their own - I wish we saw more of that, beyond that little flashback with Beu. Wish we saw more of Violet and Sloane's friendship (does Violet have her own book? I feel like I have to read every single book by this author because they all seem to be connected and set in the same universe and yet I keep reading them in the reverse order) and I wish we saw more of Jasper with his teammates and coach.

I loved the supporting characters. Willow was here! And damn, her chemistry with Theo was off the charts. I knew she'd have a new love interest and I was wondering who and I forgot about Theo! Damnit it all to hell, I actually read Fever Dreams last month, I should have remembered it was her. I can't wait for their book. I HOPE she finaly kicks her current husband to the curb, what takes it so long? I was under the impression that she wasn't the divorce and he's dragging it out but what di I know. I can't wait to read her story.

Beau. I love him. I wonder what happened to him, but I guess we'll lern it in his book - I suspect it's the last book in the series. I can't even begin to guess who he migth fall for but I want to know what happened during his mission and what he's going to do now that he's retired.

Harvey was fantastic, as always. Do I spy with my little eye (ha!) that he has a little crush on his sister-in-law? Ex sister-in-law? His late wife's sister? Each to their own, I guess.

Anyway, I loved this book and I'm super excited for the next one (Willow and Theo?)!

4.75/5

Listen. LISTEN. Just LISTEN to the audiobook, it's excelent.

Also, this book was so much fun and I won't accept any criticism lol.

It kinda lost me when the author decided to make this a why choose romance at the end randomly but I still love it. Also, I love that the first spicy scene included all three of them. It's fun, it's unexpected, and the spice was excellent throughout the book.

I loved the characters. I wasn't sure if I would love this book going into it, since I didn't care about Tyler much after the second book, but I loved it. The characters, setting, writing, everything was great and I was vibing with it. I'm glad that everything was resolved at the end too!

The ending scene with Stella meeting all of Taylor's friends confused me a little because I have no idea if we ever met the people (other than Josh, Ally, Junior, and Lauren). Were they Lauren's former roommates? I don't remember.

The humor was amazing. "Sir, you are a blond man, calm down". I was gagged and it was just the beginning. The push and pull, the antagonism, the lust hidden in insults - I loved it. I usually hate bully romances but it didn't even feel like that tbh, because while Stella was forced to do some things, she still had a backbone, she still fought back, and as malicious as Tyler sounded or behaved, he never hurt her physically. (though I wish she punched him for the stunt with the gin).

And the kneeling scene. God. I was GAGGED. And then I started giggling and kicking my feet because THIS IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY I WANT GROVEL. YES, PLEASE. Even from a blond man.

Tropes:

- enemies to lovers

- fake relationship

- revenge

- forced proximity

- dark romance

- billionaire

- opposites attract

3.75/5

Wow, I can't believe this was the last book in the series. I mean I get it, with what happened to Belissama - but I'm still disappointed. Since the first book I was hoping for Gareth and Linden story, his character development and their reconciliation. I mean even in the 3rd book he was still hopelessly in love with her, and I enjoyed his growth. And I loved Linden in the first book and I was hoping for the second chance romance between those two. So I'm disappointed we won't get it.

Now for Dasha and Ivy... I don't get how Ivy could get Dasha back so quickly with no hesitation, after how much she didn't want to in the previous book. It was too quick for me and Sasha didn't grovel enough - her grovel was mostly off page which I didn't like.

And while I understand that this story needed to be written from Dasha's point of view, I hoped to get Ivy's perspective instead, since the previous book. So that's probably why my rating is lower as well.

All in all I enjoyed this book. It wasn't my favourite in the series (and I can't believe it's the last book - I mean what about Gareth??? And the entire town, I'm gonna miss it!) but it wasn't bad.