Asia
2.75/5
The ending was beautiful.
I liked Emily and Mark, though I was hoping for more romance. It seemed like they were apart longer than they were together. Noelle was great. I hated Myra and Catherine. I mean why was there even Catherine's pov?? Unnecessary.
I waited for Noelle and Emily to stand up to Myra. Like, really stand up to her, tell her what they want and how she's not in charge of their life anymore. I was disappointed at the lack of that confrontation - I needed that closure but we didn't get it. And I needed Emily to stand up to Dan as well but he's still trying. Like who is still buzzing him into her building? She should get a restraining order at that rate tbh.
The writing was hard to get into, tbh, I was forcing myself to read this book at times. It was mostly “tell, don't show” which I don't like.
I'm glad that Noelle and Troy got the wedding they wanted
3.5/5
It wasn't my favourite but it wasn't horrible either. Tbh I'm kinda ambivalent about this whole thing.
It was obvious who Ollie was since the beginning but I loved him, he was so sweet to Grace and so respectful! Ngl, Grace made me laugh with “close your eyes while you're taking my shoe off, you cannot see my ankle” lmao.
Grace's cousin was sweet, I liked her. I don't care how much Grace's father loved her, he still gave her hand o an earl 20 years older than her with no hesitation. And then he thanks her for her “doing her duty because her sisters deserve happiness”? What of Grace's happiness? Seriously, fuck that dude, you don't do that to someone you love. period.
4.5/5
I loved that! I wasn't sure about this book when I began reading that, as The Flatshare was not my cup of tea, but this book was so well written, I actually enjoyed that. I laughed, I cried, I cringed and I threw the book, it was so good.
Izzy is sunshine personified while Lucas is a grump who loves his spreadheets. At last year's Christmas party, after Izzy poured his heart to him, he chose to kiss her flatmate instead, and things got worse. They couldn't stand one another ever since.
But things were not what they seemed.
Now the hotel they work at is days from being shut down and their only hope is to find the owners of the engagement/wedding rings in lost and found.
I loved this. The bickering, the competition, the tension, you could actually feel that from the pages. And while I liked this book very much I wasn't amazed by the writing. For example, I was confused about was Lucas Days, what were they and since WHEN was he in charge on Thursdays? I went looking for it in but I couldn't find it anywhere. And it only happens once anyway on page 116 I think? nd there's no mention of it anywhere else, not earlier and not later. That was weird.
What I liked though was how Izzy lost her parents' ring in the sea, and gained another, also in the sea in the epilogue. It was poetic, I think, and it was just like her to steal Lucas's thunder haha.
I enjoyed the book, and I'm glad I read it.
4/5
That was cute, I enjoyed it! Sadie is a wedding planner and Cole's a divorce attorney who represented Sadie's ex-brother-in-law. They don't get along until one wedding photoshoot later they can't get enough of each other.
I loved their relationship. The tension, the banter, the feelings. They fit together, despite their apprehension.
What I didn't like was Sadie's sister, Elise. She'd bail on the inn all the fucking time, without giving her sister a chance to even rest. I was waiting for them to finally come to blows and for Sadie to call Elise out - preferably for Sadie to make sure that Elise couldn't earn any money from the inn so she could use them to hire some staff. I wanted Sadie to tell Elise what was what and that she was done coddling her. Sadly, it never happened and I kind of hate it. I really hoped it would happen.
2/5
There was nothing Christmasy about it. I'm quite disappointed. With the title like that I was expecting more focus on Christmastime... From which we got exactly one chapter that took place during the ball where FMC talked to her family about securing their future, nothing else.
I hate when there are letters or diary entries written in a font that looks like handwriting, because it's always so difficult to read. And there were a lot of them here.
I didn't like jumping through povs within chapters and the fact that they only met at 30% for the first time?? Come on.
I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters and I wish the book would focus more on romance between Georgiana and Edward, as well as Georgiana's job as a governess. But we didn't even see one lesson at all which was disappointing to say the least. The book focused more on Georgiana trying to stop the Viscount from pursuing her tbh.
I didn't like it very much and the writing didn't help matters. The book dragged on and on tbh, despite being less than 200 pages long.
2,25/5
It started interesting but I disliked the writing pretty quickly. It was just too vague and skipped too many moments. The characters weren't written well either, I couldn't connect with them and later, couldn't believe their romance, it was just all so sudden. There was no chemistry between the characters and their relationship was weak.
I also disliked MMC for sending that letter. I was expecting FMC to find it later in his clothes and demand an explanation, but he sent it instead by accident? How does it even happen? And I didn't believe how sorry he was.
And THEN, then, in the epilogue he had the audacity to do to her what her aunt and uncle had done? And it was suddenly romanticized?? nope. Absolutely not. I hated that.
2.5/5
A cute little novella but nothing special. I don't know why there was even a lie about the fellowship when nothing came of it. I really thought there would be some conflict about it, but nothing happened.
Steph is a grumpy grump who picks fights with children (don't blame her tbh) while Thad is her opposite. There was no depth to the characters at all which sucked. Everything felt superficial tbh.
4/5
That was so cute!! I loved that!!!
The characters were well-written with depth. Teddy and Jack were the best, definitely stole my heart. I loved Nate and Beth and their relationship too. While they got off the wrong foot, determined to judge one another, they slowly melted their frozen walls and let the other in.
The grovelling!! Yes, I loved that! Nate's Mother had a good idea haha. And I'm glad that people stood up for Beth at that party too.
The writing was beautiful. I loved it. I will definitely read more from that author soon.
3,25/5
it was cute! I liked the characters though I think he made a move definitely too quickly during his nephew's game. And there was no resolution to their breakup years prior which I didn't like. I really hoped there would be something.
The writing was average. I couldn't understand why Eva would visit her mother every Sunday when she wouldn't say anything back - to only learn AFTER she died that her mother was in a catatonic state??? Come on! At least give us this before her funeral! Cause it irritated me that Eva went out of the way to reconnect to her mother who didn't reciprocated at all.
Tamara was so precious!!! I loved her!!!
3.25/5
I liked it, though I definitely preferred everything except the romance between the main couple. Eliza and Ben, friendship with Frank, troubles with Donna, it was all more interesting than whatever was going on between Cassie and Luke. I'm over insta love and insta lust, can we get some slow burn instead?
And I had to reread the last chapter twice and then it hit me: did Luke seriously propose DAYS after he and Cassie began dating??? Come on! They knew one another for a MONTH, why would he propose so soon? At least have the epilogue take place a year later ffs!!
Contains spoilers
4.25/5
That was so good!!
I was being a little apprehensive going into this book because I had already read one book by this author and hated it. But this one was brilliant!
Abbie gets dumped by her long-time boyfriend for being "not serious enough" so she decides on a perfect revenge: sleep with his boss and go to the annual Christmas party, showing him what he lost in the process.
I enjoyed it. Abbie was so good and her realising she lost herself and trying to get herself back was very real. Her insecurities driven into her by Dick were very relatable and I LOVED how gone Damien was for her, helping her through and telling her how beautiful she is.
Damien was such a good book boyfriend. He was so obsessed with her from the get go but in a good way. He encouraged Abbie to be herself and be unapologetic about it, and he was supportive and understanding. I was so afraid he was gonna get mad with her for lying but I'm happy about the way it was all resolved.
I wish Abbie would have told him at the very beginning, I'm sure he would have helped her out since he hated Richard too. And them sleeping together would be a bonus, but he would have known where she stood since the beginning. Alas, we didn't get that, but at the very least we also didn't get a third act breakup so that's good.
It was a VERY spicy book. Some dialogue during the spicy scenes didn't work for me but it was enjoyable otherwise. I loved how obsessed they both were - and when Abbie cooked for Damien and he was so gone for her oh my god. Nice.
Overall it was a very good book, perfect for Legally Blonde fans. I'm interested to read about Abbie's sister now too - I wish she was more present in the book. Cami annoyed me with her "yes screw Damien over, he's just as bad as Richard' attitude so I'm not sure if I want to read her book but we'll see.
This book encouraged me to give Morgan Elizabeth a chance. I hated The Playlist with passion, but perhaps not all of her books are bad.
5/5
I loved this! Both Jonathan and Gabby were AMAZINGG. I loved how they kept addressing one another by their last names, whether they were flirting or not.
Ahhh I wish we had more from Jonathan's POV than an epilogue but it was easy to see him pining after her. And I KNEW that was when he figured it out, I knew that! Ahh, a scene from his POV would have been so great, especially at this scene, but I loved reading about it from Gabby's POV too.
This is another book with a demisexual representation and I loved reading that! Gabby's realization that she doesn't need to like someone to be attracted to them, as long as they bonded over something, delicious! And reading about her dreams and how attracted she is to him was SO good. I loved this book.
And I'm so happy that there was no third-act breakup, thank you, Chloe. I'm so happy about that!
Definitely one of my favourite reads this year!
3/5
My first Tessa Bailey book and tbh I'm disappointed. I had such high hopes! Unfortunately I didn't like it much, though it wasn't awful.
Stella went through a lot and I'm glad she's stronger now but she can be so naive. I loved Aiden in the first 50% but in the second half he was being annoying.
The first half was so cute! I loved them picking out gifts for the other , that was fun.
I can't get over the egg scene. Come on, dude! CLEAN TOUR LEG! And matching robes at the party? Seriously? Couldn't she wait till morning and go in a normal dress? Ugh
I've never watched Ted Lasso though i know what he looks like so ngl I was imagining him every time Aiden was there lmao.
I didn't enjoy the ending. How come he can ignore his fmaily and don't have a relationshipnwith her but Stella does? And he'd been sending them her window dispays? Come on! Such a breach of privacy tbh! IF her larents wanted Stella in their life they would have reached out. It was not Aiden's job to do it and convince Stella to meet them. At all.
All in all, I didn't have it but I didn't love it either.
4.75/5
HEY WERE MARRIED THIS WHOLE TIME?
When I tell you my jaw dropped Oh my god I had to take a walk after that revelation. I love it.
Okay, first things first. this is the FIRST EVER book with demisexual representation I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT AND I NEED MORE BOOKS WITH THAT SEXUALITY, THANKS.
Second, Levi “my wife” Matthews was DELIGHTFUL. I love him. Cass treated him horribly and my poor guy suffered because of it. I want to hug him and let him know everything will be better soon. HE IS PRECIOUS OH MY GOD. THE WAY HE LOVED HANNAH WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND TRAGIC AND HOPEFUL AND OH MY GOD HE'S SO OBSESSED WITH HER STILL I LOVED IT.
Hannah was amazing too. I loved her character development and that she gave them a chance even while preparing for the worst.
While sometimes I have issues with second-chance romance, this one felt real. The pain? The growth? The distrust, hurt, and resentment, turning into trust, joy and love? The hope that they both had? Oh my god, I'm emotional. it was so beautiful and raw I will definitely think about this book for a long time.
The writing of this book was so much better than the previous one. I loved it. The author definitely grew into writing and became more comfortable with it and you can feel how much she loves her characters. I loved this book so much.
Levi and Hannah's relationship was beautiful and I'm still crying. I loved it and I hope they will be very happy together and have many kids which they both clearly want. The only thing I'm slightly disappointed by was the lack of Levi talking to his younger sister. I hoped we'd get this scene but we didn't. It doesn't affect this book in any any, I just wish it was slightly longer.