Asia
3.75/5
I'm torn.
On one hand the writing was amazing and I liked this book. But all of this dubcon (and it was dubcon) was too much and seriously what the hell did they do to my Sebastian. That was entirely out of character and I HATED IT. JUST WHYYYYYY. He was already a rake, Lisa, you didn't have to make him worse!!!
Anyway. I loved it when Hunt caught Westcliff and Lillian together and his comment about “once a week” lmaoo. Yes, throw Westcliff's words back at him!! It was so funny!
Though I really hated that every time Westcliff and Lillian kissed or did more, she was either trying to get out and leave, or SHE WAS DRUNK. COME ON, WESTCLIFF. THINK.
3.75/5
I'm torn.
On one hand the writing was amazing and I liked this book. But all of this dubcon (and it was dubcon) was too much and seriously what the hell did they do to my Sebastian. That was entirely out of character and I HATED IT. JUST WHYYYYYY. He was already a rake, Lisa, you didn't have to make him worse!!!
Anyway. I loved it when Hunt caught Westcliff and Lillian together and his comment about “once a week” lmaoo. Yes, throw Westcliff's words back at him!! It was so funny!
Though I really hated that every time Westcliff and Lillian kissed or did more, she was either trying to get out and leave, or SHE WAS DRUNK. COME ON, WESTCLIFF. THINK.
2.5/5
The FMC is frustrating. She's what, 25? And she acts like a 16-year-old child.
So she wants to get married after first date because her best friends are in love and she doesn't want to be a third wheel. jesus. Okay, fine. It's stupid and I rolled my eyes more than once, but fine, okay.
BUT. She wants to marry for convenience, doesn't want to fall in love, and wants the marriage to help her get customers for ehr small business. But when MMC proposes that marriage, when he tells her that he needs a wife of convenience and his popularity will bring those customers to her, she's suddenly no longer interested... Why? Because he doesn't want to fall in love with her?
And she thinks he's lying. Even though he has evidence that he's telling the truth that his family is Kardashian kind famous, she's like "you're lying! You're only trying to make fun of me!" It came compeltely out of nowwhere and she really acted like a 5 year old child, So annoying and frustrating, ughhhhh.
Like he even told you his famous sister is pregnant! Something he wouldn't have done as a joke because he loves his sister and she wants to keep it a secret! And you still think he's lying to you?? What the hell??
It's like the book starts one storyline or the idea and then doesn't follow through. Oh, they're suppsoed to be lovey-dovey for the cameras but they're not and for like 20% of the book nobody finds it weird or comment on it, until the author finally rememebrs "hey, this is a fake relationship romance". They click at her instead of talking to her and Jordan is super angry but the book ignores this and doesn't explain it at all even when it's from his point of view.
Most of the book ios also "tell, don't show" which I hate. There's a lot of talk bout what happened, but in past tense - none of these things happen on screen, especially in the second half when they're home. We need to see Jordan and Zinna get closer and start merging their life and spend time together in order to believe their fake relationship becoming real, but none of them is on screen. Except for one short grocery scene, everything else is mentioned in one sentence. Makes no sense whatsoever. How am I supposed to believe that they're falling in love for real when you don't even give me any scenes of them together?
The OW drama came out of nowhere and had no leg to stand on. The ending was so stupid too, because what do you mean that the man who left his family because he hated the reality show and only came back temporarily to protect his sister is now considering having his own reality show?? Are you kidding me??? And Zinna ALSO hated being recorded and now she's suddenly all in? Fuck that shit.
Also, Zinnia's obsession with her friends being together was so tiring, jist give it up already for heaven's sake.
I didn't believe their love story at all. So much was all unsaid or happened off-screen, it was stupid. Even the reality show aspect was bad and it never felt real. When they finally confessed their love at the end, I didn't feel anything and didn't believe that because there's no foundation for them. They're suddenly in love but where was this earlier? Where was the taking care for each other and quiet moments and anything at all? Not in this book.
Tropes:
- fake relationship
- marriage of convenience
- reality show
- opposites attract
- grumpy and sunshine
2.5/5
The FMC is frustrating. She's what, 25? And she acts like a 16-year-old child.
So she wants to get married after first date because her best friends are in love and she doesn't want to be a third wheel. jesus. Okay, fine. It's stupid and I rolled my eyes more than once, but fine, okay.
BUT. She wants to marry for convenience, doesn't want to fall in love, and wants the marriage to help her get customers for ehr small business. But when MMC proposes that marriage, when he tells her that he needs a wife of convenience and his popularity will bring those customers to her, she's suddenly no longer interested... Why? Because he doesn't want to fall in love with her?
And she thinks he's lying. Even though he has evidence that he's telling the truth that his family is Kardashian kind famous, she's like "you're lying! You're only trying to make fun of me!" It came compeltely out of nowwhere and she really acted like a 5 year old child, So annoying and frustrating, ughhhhh.
Like he even told you his famous sister is pregnant! Something he wouldn't have done as a joke because he loves his sister and she wants to keep it a secret! And you still think he's lying to you?? What the hell??
It's like the book starts one storyline or the idea and then doesn't follow through. Oh, they're suppsoed to be lovey-dovey for the cameras but they're not and for like 20% of the book nobody finds it weird or comment on it, until the author finally rememebrs "hey, this is a fake relationship romance". They click at her instead of talking to her and Jordan is super angry but the book ignores this and doesn't explain it at all even when it's from his point of view.
Most of the book ios also "tell, don't show" which I hate. There's a lot of talk bout what happened, but in past tense - none of these things happen on screen, especially in the second half when they're home. We need to see Jordan and Zinna get closer and start merging their life and spend time together in order to believe their fake relationship becoming real, but none of them is on screen. Except for one short grocery scene, everything else is mentioned in one sentence. Makes no sense whatsoever. How am I supposed to believe that they're falling in love for real when you don't even give me any scenes of them together?
The OW drama came out of nowhere and had no leg to stand on. The ending was so stupid too, because what do you mean that the man who left his family because he hated the reality show and only came back temporarily to protect his sister is now considering having his own reality show?? Are you kidding me??? And Zinna ALSO hated being recorded and now she's suddenly all in? Fuck that shit.
Also, Zinnia's obsession with her friends being together was so tiring, jist give it up already for heaven's sake.
I didn't believe their love story at all. So much was all unsaid or happened off-screen, it was stupid. Even the reality show aspect was bad and it never felt real. When they finally confessed their love at the end, I didn't feel anything and didn't believe that because there's no foundation for them. They're suddenly in love but where was this earlier? Where was the taking care for each other and quiet moments and anything at all? Not in this book.
Tropes:
- fake relationship
- marriage of convenience
- reality show
- opposites attract
- grumpy and sunshine
/5
This was incredible. I love this book. I was hesitant at first because I don't read paranormal romance often, but I trusted Becs and I'm so glad I did.
This was such a wholesome, cozy, heartwarming romance. Nolan and Harriet were both very interesting, rounded characters with jagged edges. Nolan was tired of being a ghost, long given up the idea of moving on. Harriet, a people pleaser, who just wanted to make everyone happy, forgot how to fight for her own happiness. Together, a perfect match who pushed the other to be a better version of themselves, individually, and together.
Harriet gave Nolan hope again, while Nolan made Harriet realize she's enough and worthy of love. I loved their bickering and flirting and everything. I loved the trips into the past, the bond that grew between them, the adventures they had together. They both taught the other to live. I loved that.
While I'm disappointed that Harriet gave her sister a chance - I think she'd be better off without any of her toxic family around - I loved the book. I loved how both Harriet and Nolan grew, and they both helped each other. I love how in love they were with each other and how they decided to give each other a chance even knowing the risk.
And the spice? Very hot, I loved it! And I loved how everything came together at the end, all the clue and references finally made sense.
This was definitely one of my favourite 2025 reads. I can't wait for more from the author and the series! After all, there's a Reaper on the loose!
Tropes:
- paranormal
- Christmas
- grumpy and sunshine
- Ghost of Christmas Past
- retelling
- candy canes
- cozy and wholesome
- opposites attract
- he's a ghost but she's haunting him
- soulmates
/5
This was incredible. I love this book. I was hesitant at first because I don't read paranormal romance often, but I trusted Becs and I'm so glad I did.
This was such a wholesome, cozy, heartwarming romance. Nolan and Harriet were both very interesting, rounded characters with jagged edges. Nolan was tired of being a ghost, long given up the idea of moving on. Harriet, a people pleaser, who just wanted to make everyone happy, forgot how to fight for her own happiness. Together, a perfect match who pushed the other to be a better version of themselves, individually, and together.
Harriet gave Nolan hope again, while Nolan made Harriet realize she's enough and worthy of love. I loved their bickering and flirting and everything. I loved the trips into the past, the bond that grew between them, the adventures they had together. They both taught the other to live. I loved that.
While I'm disappointed that Harriet gave her sister a chance - I think she'd be better off without any of her toxic family around - I loved the book. I loved how both Harriet and Nolan grew, and they both helped each other. I love how in love they were with each other and how they decided to give each other a chance even knowing the risk.
And the spice? Very hot, I loved it! And I loved how everything came together at the end, all the clue and references finally made sense.
This was definitely one of my favourite 2025 reads. I can't wait for more from the author and the series! After all, there's a Reaper on the loose!
Tropes:
- paranormal
- Christmas
- grumpy and sunshine
- Ghost of Christmas Past
- retelling
- candy canes
- cozy and wholesome
- opposites attract
- he's a ghost but she's haunting him
- soulmates
4.25/5
I enjoyed this book very much. I loved both Sebastian (although St Vincent is and will always be my favourite fictional Sebastian) and Annabelle. I loved their relationship, the bickering, the anonymity, the slow understanding.
There were some elements that surprised me (mostly gas lamps, matches, etc) because I'm used to reading regency romance, and this late Victorian era means Industrial Revolution, which means more technology, which is something I wasn't prepared for haha.
And the suffragist movement! I loved that! And I loved Annabelle's friends (though I wish the friendship was written a little better because for example it really surprised me when Lucie was so nice and understanding to Anabelle at the end - she was written as someone apart from her, who only saw her as means to en end so I didn't realize that she and Annabelle were even friends lmao), but that's minor. I can't wait to read their books too.
I didn't like that Anabelle refused the proposal at the end, but I LOVED when Montgomery made this risky move and proved himself in the parliament. AND, shoutout to his brother for finally returning and talking some sense into him (I can't wait for his book too!)
All in all this was an awesome book and I wish I had more time to read it in one day instead of 3!
Tropes:
- forbidden romance
- opposites attract
- class difference
- forced proximity
- house party
4.25/5
I enjoyed this book very much. I loved both Sebastian (although St Vincent is and will always be my favourite fictional Sebastian) and Annabelle. I loved their relationship, the bickering, the anonymity, the slow understanding.
There were some elements that surprised me (mostly gas lamps, matches, etc) because I'm used to reading regency romance, and this late Victorian era means Industrial Revolution, which means more technology, which is something I wasn't prepared for haha.
And the suffragist movement! I loved that! And I loved Annabelle's friends (though I wish the friendship was written a little better because for example it really surprised me when Lucie was so nice and understanding to Anabelle at the end - she was written as someone apart from her, who only saw her as means to en end so I didn't realize that she and Annabelle were even friends lmao), but that's minor. I can't wait to read their books too.
I didn't like that Anabelle refused the proposal at the end, but I LOVED when Montgomery made this risky move and proved himself in the parliament. AND, shoutout to his brother for finally returning and talking some sense into him (I can't wait for his book too!)
All in all this was an awesome book and I wish I had more time to read it in one day instead of 3!
Tropes:
- forbidden romance
- opposites attract
- class difference
- forced proximity
- house party