Charleen
A Romeo and Juliet retelling but set in 1920s Shanghai. Normally, none of that would have been appealing but the reviews got me. I actually really enjoyed Shanghai setting and the little bits of mandarin sprinkled in here and there. With mandarin as my second language, it was relatable on another level. I can't wait to read more
This is so much more than just the paranormal/magical romance that I thought it was. The way the book evolves from something that seemed lighthearted and about finding love to what it ended with was so magical. This book takes you on an absolute journey and I devoured it in one afternoon.
I was an absolute sobbing mess at the end of it but I love it so so much. Easily one of my top reads this year
The last few chapters made a bawling, sobbing mess out of me. Ashley Poston's description of grief and the process of accepting a death was so relatable which made me bawl my eyes out (they're still pretty puffy). The last bit where Aunt Analea returns to the apartment 7 years in the past where Vera got to reunite with her made me a sobbing mess. The last few paragraphs and lines of love staying always.. killed me. And the way that everything linked with each other and made sense was so good too!
Ashley Poston had me gasping, smiling and sobbing in one afternoon. My heart has been put through a journey and it's gonna take some time to recover but such an amazing read ❤️
Super stoked to be able to read this as an ARC and this was such a good one! The ending left me wanting the next book in my hands NOW. I can't believe we have to wait to find out what happens next!
It was predictable in the way where I could roughly guess what would happen and where the book would go but there were also plot twists and turns that the story took that I didn't see coming.
I was rooting for Bentley and Galdinia sooooooo much at the start. And the moment Valah mentioned the Edges, I just KNEW he was a traitor :(
It got really boring. I thought the reveal (that Charlie's “diner boy” remembers her) would come much later on in the book and we would go on the journey with Charlie through the book to navigate this new situation in the office. But the reveal came in chapter 3?? Then it just got so dull...
The story / plot wasn't drawing me in. It's so similar to The Handmaid's Tale with that magical HP spin on it but I wasn't drawn in like how I was when I read The Handmaid's Tale. I could feel myself falling into a slump whenever I tried to read the book and I wasn't excited to pick up my kindle to read. I also happened to see an ig post of artwork from the story which spoiled the ending for me so I don't feel the need to complete the story.