lucía
2 !! ★ 🍎
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
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in another episode of teo recommends, lucía reads... Freida McFadden's The Teacher.
oh, if i could delete something from my memory, that would be this book.
i've always known that Freida's books were a hit or miss. this one was definitely a miss.
as a thriller, it's mind-blowing, wonderful, amazing. i've never felt that frightened while reading some specific scenes before. i have never felt that thrill, which is why i'm giving it 2 stars instead of only 1 — the reading experience has been magnificent.
however, here's the thing. i do not support any of the things Nate did throughout the book. i felt disgusted. and it shows how it is. so, it helped me gain consciousness in topics like this one: power abuse and other things i don't want to mention.
this is my 6th book of hers, and i've learned my lesson — do not trust any of the characters. any one of them. they're not sane.
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𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🍎 ˚｡⋆
another teo recommendation! teo recommends, lucía reads
4 !! ★ 🪷
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୨ৎ “We are two parts of a song. He is the music. I am the words.”
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
when teo recommended me this book, i knew it would be heartbreaking. the only thing i knew when i started it, was that sam was dead (i didn't want to read the rest of the synopsis). i wasn't sure how the author would tackle the issue. it was a surprisingly beautiful way to do it — and a heartbreaking one
you've reached sam follows julie, a teenager who is dealing with her boyfriend's death. she wants to forget him — as if that's going to help her in any way. until they connect through their phones.
while this story was beautiful and shows how people grief in different ways, it leaves some unanswered questions. i still wonder what's going on with julie's phone. i know the answer is at the end, but i don't quite understand it. call me crazy, lol.
speaking of the ending, i will always think of it, and of how it shattered my heart in all the ways possible. for a moment, i thought that they would never get the chance to say goodbye to each other, and i thought it was a magnificent ending, just like that. but they did say goodbye to each other, which was also wonderful.
overall, i loved it. i still need to answer those questions left to myself. andddd, oliver's book is coming in late september, so i'm already there for it hehe
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🪷 ˚｡⋆
now that i have time to read, i can jump from one book to another. thanks to my beautiful teo (my wife) for recommending me this one!
3.5 !! ★ ☁️
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୨ৎ “Love is the brightest color in a gray world.”
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
first of all, whenever i read the title of this book i think of wildest dreams by taylor swift, lmao
i didn't have any expectations for this book. to be fair, i was just there for the cute, colourful cover. i saw some reviews saying that it had been a bit of a letdown compared to her other books, but i didn't have any base, because i've never read any of her works.
say you'll remember me is my first abby jimenez read, and all i have to say is that i enjoyed it. i felt a little bit conflicted about the rating because, while i had fun reading it, there were some parts that made me question the rating. so, i went for a 3 — not a 4, but entertaining enough.
i genuinely liked the romcom factor, which was there. i laughed, swooned, and cried (a lot). it was something i had been looking for, since my past few reads had been disappointing. plus, i needed a big distraction from university applications. thank you for that.
this book portrays the reality of a long-distance relationship with the problems it entails. i appreciated a little bit of reality with the economic struggles and the personal challenges having someone with dementia has. even if some of the things were exaggerated for the sake of the trope.
what i didn't like was the insta love. not again, please. i love a big slowburn. on page 18 (yes, i went to look for it) HE ASKS HER ON A DATE? xavier rush, i loved you so much, but what was that? 18 pages and you're already obsessed with her? i gotta admit, xavier was a great character. i loved all those small things he did to make samantha feel better about her situation. plus, we love an emotional intelligent partner! however, the initial insta love was not it.
and i've seen some people talk about the usage of tiktok slangs. what the hell was that?
overall, the book was nice. i will definitely read more of her works because now i'm intrigued!
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read ☁️ ˚｡⋆
haven't read good reviews of this one. but you know what?! I DON'T CAREEEE. i'm here because the cover looks cute ☺️
3.5 !! ★ 🔑
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‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i am soooo back after a huge reading slump and weeks of finals!
i have always known that freida's books are perfect to get out of a reading slump, and i wanted to finish this series. to be fair, this book wasn't what i expected
when you've read several of her books, you start to see a pattern, especially with this series. it was something i enjoyed about the three housemaid's books. it's always the husband, huh? atp, you can't trust men.
while i liked the first 100 pages and was intrigued by the plot, i thought it was kind of repetitive. when you reveal the murderer and you have 70 pages left, you have two options: first, you take advantage of them and explain everything in detail; or you you leave loose ends to tie. this last one was what happened to this book, in my opinion. what was enzo's past? i thought he would be more important, since millie had spent like three quarters of the book questioning her trust towards her husband. and it's just that he worked for the mafia? predictable. what about suzette? seriously, we just had a few pages of her confessing that she covered her husband's atrocities. I WANTED MOOORE
as for the murderer, i didn't expect ada to have anything to do with that. however, martha??? yeah, well, we all expected that. and i liked it! as the last line says: I suppose nobody ever suspects the housemaid. WHAT A LINE
overall, i'm really happy that millie got her happy ending, even if she had to lie a little bit. i have to admit that i've grown attached to these characters and i'm going to miss them. yes, the cecelia cameo and nina mention made me genuinely happy. so, yeah! while i love the characters, i didn't really feel like this book was memorable. i'm looking forward to reading more of freida's works!
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🔑 ˚｡⋆
i'm pausing my hopeless because i feel like i would enjoy it way more if i was free (fuck school and exams to go to uni). so, i finally bought a copy of this book, because freida's books are perfect to get out of a reading slump, and i don't want to break the habit while i'm studying for my finals :) I CAN'T WAIT TO FINISH THIS SERIESSS
3.5 !! ★ 🩺
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୨ৎ “That night we were reckless. But god, I'd be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.”
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the characters ⁎⁺˳✧༚
𓇼 winter hamilton: when i started reading the series, i had a negative concept of Winter, but deep down i knew that she wasn't like that just because. that there was more to it. and i was right. throughout the book, i haven't seen any evidence of character development. i understand that she comes from a household where she had to learn to shut herself away to survive. however, i still see her as the insecure woman i saw at the beginning of the book, and that makes me sooo sad.
𓇼 theo silva: not my favorite Elsie hero. i feel that there was something missing, and it makes me sad because i truly wanted to like him. to be honest, i would have understood him more if we had known more about his father. i knew his backstory was linked to his father's story, and yet we didn't get more of that. just a little context. to me, Theo was so... plain. either way, he's a good father to Vivi, and my heart warmed whenever i read something about the two of them.
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
it is taking me some time to write this review, because school is freaking me out and i don't feel really motivated to write a review of this book
i don't lie when i say that i had pretty high expectations for this book. in fact, while talking to my friends, i remember i told some of them that i had a feeling that it would be even better than Heartless (my favourite Chestnut Springs' book). it genuinely pains me to say that it was such a big letdown.
i could blame it on the fact that i was going through a reading slump, or on the fact that i simply didn't like it. but if there's one thing i learned from this experience, it is that i shouldn't get my hopes up about a new book, because then it happens stuff like this — that i don't like a book.
i saw many people in booktwt and even in goodreads share their thoughts on Reckless, which was one of the many reasons why i was so excited to read it. plus, i love a good surprise pregnancy trope!
it was pretty well written, and Winter, Theo, and little Vivi make such an adorable family (little shoutout to that scene where the three of them sleep together 🥹). nevertheless, there was something i would have liked more if it had been treated properly: Winter finding out the truth about the text message.
and by that, i mean that i would have liked it to be treated more deeply than in the book. in the book, Theo only tells Winter that it was his agent who had his phone and managed his social media, and we didn't get more of it until he gets fired more further into the book. Winter didn't say anything about it? she's just like... well, fine, i understand.
i also wanted to talk about the flashbacks. they were so freaking unnecessary! Elsie could have used those two chapter to give more depth to the backstory. instead, we got two chapters of them going at it, lol.
the last thing, and the one who pissed me off the most while reading the book was the ‘slut jokes'. seriously, who finds those funny? because i only see someone degrading his partner with those ‘jokes'. and there was one that made me debate with myself about dnfing the book.
anyways, i finally ranted about this book, and that means that i can finally leave it behind and forget about it. i kind of enjoyed some parts, but the lack of some information made me feel like the book was a letdown.
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🩺 ˚｡⋆
i'm on an Elsie Silver reading streak, so my next challenge is finishing the Chestnut Springs series. HERE I AM FOR MY WINTERTHEO!!!
5 !! ★ 💚
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୨ৎ “Every eye in the stadium is on him, but his eyes are on mine the whole time.”
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tropes ⁎⁺˳✧༚
ೀ professional wrestler x restaurant owner
ೀ small town
ೀ marriage of convenience
ೀ enemies to lovers
ೀ slow burn
ೀ angst
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‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
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the characters ⁎⁺˳✧༚
𓇼 tabithatabby catgarrison: this is the definition of a strong woman. someone who fights for the ones she loves, yet doesn't allow herself to grieve for her sister. it isn't until very late in the book that she allows herself to mourn. and she shows it when she reads the journals, and when she throws her ashes into the wind. i think that's the turning point, when she comes to terms with her death and realises it had never been her fault. honestly, Tabitha is Elsie's best fmc. she has my heart 🫶🏻
𓇼 rhyswild sidedupris: a man obsessed with his wife? sign me up. the mouth on this man, JESUS CHRIST, he drove me insane (in a good way ofc)! i appreciated his vulnerability, the way he opened up to Tabby because he trusted her, and the relationship he had with Milo. we live love laugh a grumpy single dad. throughout the book, we could see how he changed from hiding his job to telling it to everyone he knew and loved. he even took off his mask!!! i thrived on it!
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i still remember when i wrote on my Wild Eyes review that i was incredibly excited to read Rhys and Tabby's story. and now i'm writing this review with tears in my eyes because i have just found a comfort book
to be honest, when i found out that it would be a marriage of convenience book, i didn't know how Elsie would handle it, and what the result would be. however, she managed to create another masterpiece
Elsie's writing style, and i'll always repeat it, is so beautiful and funny. that is why it makes it truly easy-to-follow, especially for a non-english speaker
the connection between Rhys and Tabitha was genuine, and it showed on the fact that she didn't focus on the sexual tension, and instead focused on the blossoming of their feelings and the way the realise, little by little, that they are what they need for each other. and that is perfectly portrayed in the quote i pinky promise to always come back.
milo was adorable as a character, and i sometimes wished we had had more of him, but having Tabby and Rhys together was more than enough 🫶🏻 Tabby suggesting that Rhys changes his last name to Garrison because she was aware of how much Rhys hated his last name, was the proof of it (and it had me in tears for hours, like the rest of the book lol)
i can't help but talk about the scene where Tabitha reads Erika's journals. that was my favourite chapter, to be fair. i felt her pain and her anger. i felt sad, angry, happy and helpless all at once, and that is what makes it the best chapter. as i have said, i'm happy Tabby came to terms with Erika's death, and realised it wasn't her fault
oh, and small mention to the mask scene, which has become my roman empire 🤭🤭🤭
once again, i fell in love with the group, and i can't stop myself from wishing i had a friend group like the Rose Hill one. the scene where they all meet to watch Rhys' match was heartwarming 🥹
i have, i swear i have, to mention West and his golden retriever energy. ah, and Ford's private jet. it's always the private jet lol
to sum up, this book is one of the best things i have ever read, and now i know more than anything that Elsie never disappoints. i'm truly excited to read Wild Card, and i'm intrigued to see how the author handles the ex-boyfriend's dad trope
p.s.: this is a small suggestion to write Will's book !
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personal ranking ⁎⁺˳✧༚
1. wild eyes [ 6 ] 🧡
2. wild side [ 5 ] 💚
3. wild love [ 4.5 ] 🩷
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 💚 ˚｡⋆
biggest elsie silver fan is back!!! after i had predicted (and guessed) that the cover would be green, i'm happy to say that i'm genuinely excited to read this book! i'm sure it won't miss 🤭
2.5 !! ★ 🧁
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୨ৎ “I'm drowning and no one sees me.”
୨ৎ “I see you.”
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‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
this was my first sarah adams book. i was looking for something cozy, which could make me giggle at the cheesy romance. it's safe to say that this is the most forgettable book i've ever read. in fact, as i'm writing this review, i've already forgotten almost the entire book. seriously, the characters were plain and kind of boring, and the plot was forgettable. nothing unique, mind blowing. i liked the fact that it was inspired by audrey hepburn's roman holiday, though
at the beginning of the book, amelia was very stubborn. i mean, i get that she didn't trust noah, but he was offering help when her car had literally broken down 😭 either way, i appreciated that noah called mabel to make amelia feel comfortable and let her know that he was trustworthy. little shoutout to mabel, whom i loved SO MUCH
however, noah is not all unicorns and rainbows. sarah tried to sell the grumpy x sunshine romance, but noah borders on being rude. i mean, he literally left when amelia was trying to open up?
oh, and the insta love. what happened to slow burn? they fell in love in A WEEK?! A WEEK, GUYS. i get that they felt attracted towards each other, because it's nothing out of the ordinary. but FALL IN LOVE? no way, that's impossible. and the fact that noah was trying to prove amelia that he was serious about his relationship with her by buying an iphone??? that was ridiculous and hilarious 😭
anyways, i'm going to give this author another try, because i saw that book 2 is about annie, and i loved her!
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🧁 ˚｡⋆
i got a copy of this book for christmas, but never got the chance to read it. so, now that i'm in a big reading streak, i'll do it!!! so excited for this one 🤭
3 !! ★ 💧
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୨ৎ “Scarlett, the only time wasted is time we are apart.”
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i had seen diverse reviews and opinions about this book and, to be fair, Ali's books are a hit or miss. to me, this one was... mid, to say the least.
to begin with, Scarlett is a character that feels too real. she has worries and insecurities like every other person, and it lets you feel more connected to her. either way, she enjoys what she does. she is passionate about diving, and it shows. Lukas is calm and collected, he knows what he wants, but having things out of his control is out of his comfort zone. he makes it obvious when he ghosted Scarlett for a week (which i obviously DON'T justify).
as for the smutty scenes, they weren't bad. Ali decided to explore BDSM (i found out about it a day after buying the book, lol), and i believe she did a good job, as someone who doesn't enjoy reading explicit scenes that require pain. the chemistry between Lukas & Scarlett is pretty obvious, but i didn't get to feel a genuine connection, as what they had was purely and entirely physical. sincerely, i think that Ali forced the romantic relationship a tiny bit, when they worked out together as friends with benefits. so, yes, they'll definitely break up a few years from now.
something i've seen countless of times and i have to agree with, is the unnecessary mentions of Pen. yes, i get that she's the ex, and that she was important to Lukas, but was she really that important for the story? Scarlett felt insecure because of her (she has a point, and it's valid), BUT STILL. Pen was getting on my nerves, and in a negative way. i was sick of reading What about Pen? almost every single chapter whenever something between Lukas and Scarlett happened. what about Pen? STOP THAT. it got worse when she did what she did at the end of the book, when she was the one who, at the very first moment, pushed Lukas & Scarlett to be together?! girl, get it together.
now that i'm talking about Pen, i wanted to address the ‘girl code' issue. i've seen many reviews complaining about Scarlett breaking the ‘girl code'. i'm the first one who defends it, and is against girls hurting their friends that way. either way, i don't think that's the case since, as i've already mentioned, Pen was the one who pushed Lukas & Scarlett to be together. no one broke it this time, imo.
on another note, during the first half, i felt like the only thing they could talk about was BDSM, and they made some cringe jokes about it, which definitely gave me the ick. plus, the face/tears licking??? i can't unsee it now.
oh, and Adam & Olive little crossover was ADORABLE!!! i love them sooo much, my babies 🥹
above all, and beyond its flaws, deep end was pretty enjoyable. there were times i actually laughed, and even felt happy about the characters. that was what made the experience better.
now, to end this off, i wanted to share some quotes that may not have anything to do with the plot, but have been engraved in my heart because of their meaning 🩵
𓇼 “Confidence is not about being able to do shit, Vandy. Confidence is showing up, and trying, and not giving up because deep in your heart you know who you are and what you're capable of.”
𓇼 “You won't know until you try.”
4 !! ★ 🔑
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‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
sorry, what was that?! seriously.
i was so excited to finally read this book, because the housemaid had been one of my 5-star reads of 2024. i had bought it months ago, but i finally got to read it.
during the first half, i felt bored, because i felt that nothing was happening. but that reveal in the middle of the book?! I'M SAT!!! i love those reveals that make you stay still in bed for minutes, thinking about what you have just read. that was me when i found out that it was all a lie, because i didn't expect that at all!
the rest of the book was so entertaining for me, since there's just something about connecting the dots as you read the book.
oh, i gotta say that i'm happy that Wendy got that ending, because started to get on my nerves ever since she revealed her plan to murder Douglas. poor Douglas, he didn't deserve that ending. i'm thankful Wendy got what she deserved. AND I'M HAPPY THAT DOUGLAS CHANGED HIS TESTAMENT!
what i didn't expect was Marybeth's importance. it blew my mind! all the time, i thought that Brock would be the one with a big reveal, but Marybeth?! girl, go get revenge!
just to finish this, don't underestimate Millie. she's more dangerous that you think. 🤭
5 !! ★ 🏀
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
୨ৎ “I'm sorry someone let you believe you were hard to love, because, Blue, it's the easiest thing I've ever done.”
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tropes ⁎⁺˳✧༚
ೀ sister's best friend
ೀ fake dating
ೀ roommates
ೀ basketball player x flight attendant
ೀ grumpy x sunshine
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‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
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the characters ⁎⁺˳✧༚
𓇼 indyblueivers: i've never felt so related to a character in my whole life. she's a hopeless romantic who gets lost in her silly romance books. she's a bit of a people pleaser, but her character development genuinely inspired me. i know she's one of those persons who enters into your life and marks it forever
𓇼 ryanryshay: and the award for best book boyfriend goes to... RYAN SHAY!!!!!!! i don't lie when i say that he's made me feel butterflies in my stomach whenever he said something. and the fact that he has every single love language to let indy know that she's loved in every way possible?!?!?! where can i find someone like him? nah, he's just become the man of my dreams. my standards are high because of ryan freaking shay 🤭
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i had such high expectations for this book when i started it. i had seen fanarts, some quotes, and people swooning over it. and i can't blame them, it had me swooning as well! i'm happy to say that this book is my first 5-star read of the year!
the emotional rollercoaster i have felt while reading the right move is something i have never experienced, if i'm being honest. i giggled, gasped, slammed the book shut when something happened, and cried like there was no tomorrow... and all because of my perfect ryanindy
first of all, the plot was so funny and entertaining that it had me stuck reading the book. i don't lie when i say that i would have read it in two days if i had had enough time
we all know that ryan fell head over heels for indy the moment he found her in his apartment, even though he says otherwise. I KNOW THAT'S THE TRUTH !!!! just, a man who leaves coffee in the fridge to cool down, builds a bookshelf for her roommate's (or love of his life) books, buys a home for her, pays for her fertility treatments, and learns ASL to communicate with her father... jesus, he had me crying all evening
in addition, i'm a little sucker for happily ever after epilogues, where the couple is a married couple with a family!!! that's the ending they deserve 💗
i don't think i will ever be able to get over this book, because it was simply amazing. and i'm not someone who likes to reread, but i'm considering doing it because i loved it sm!!!
p.s.: i'm buying book 3 right now because i'm intrigued to know kai's story as well 🤭
2.75 !! ★ 🚗
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
first big disappointment of the year, yay!
i loved the housemaid, having become one of my 5-star reads of 2024. i would have never thought this would turn out to be worse than i had previously expected
i was excited about the plot, because it looked promising. as a picky reader, it was one of the first things that made me want to read it. at least it was easy to read
the characters were infuriating, and i feel like everyone is crazy there. i just can't believe how they defended each other when they just wanted to kill each other. the plot twist was unnecessary, and came pretty out of nowhere. i would have never expected dennis' true colours, but that was because that character never had importance, and the plot twist was just there
the ending was as disappointing as the rest of the book. where does that happy ending comes from? and getting hank's pov just in the end, only for it to turn out to be something random? either way, hank and polly should be in jail!
anyways, this book was a big letdown for me. not recommended at all. i know freida can do better 😔
p.s.: what kind of nickname is little tuna??? every time i read it, it was so cringe
3.75 !! ★ ⛸️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
tropes ⁎⁺˳✧༚
ೀ fake dating
ೀ university
ೀ hockey player x ice skater
ೀ found family
ೀ anxiety and grief represented
ೀ slow burn
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‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
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the characters ⁎⁺˳✧༚
𓇼 wrenwrennyhackerly: i have to admit, this fmc didn't grow on me. of course, i felt bad for her because no one deserves to be manipulated by the woman you're supposed to love the most. i also appreciated the way her anxiety was displayed throughout the book. however, her communication issues were driving me crazy. i can understand that someone finds it hard to communicate, but shutting people down and confusing them when you ignore them is not nice :/
𓇼 milesmilesydavis: MY BABY, MY BABYYYYY. he's my sweet thing (i swear) he's the definition of golden retriever, and i live for that. he fell in love with wren the moment he saw her, and he tried so hard for her to understand that he genuinely did, and it was beyond their fake relationship. i'm a sucker for golden retriever mmcs. i also appreciated the way the author portrayed his grief for his best friend
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my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
two days ago, i promised myself i would (finally) finish this book on my flight to greece (it's been like 2 months since i started it). and guess what happened! i did it, and i'm so proud of myself!
i started this book a few months ago after i had seen a post of the author on instagram about it that made me fall in love with the plot. it wasn't what i expected, but in a weird way.
the premise was lovely. an ice skater and a hockey player who agree to fake date for mutual benefit. miles would get back in the hockey team after being benched due to his grief, while wren's ice skating team would get more attention. it sounded perfect, until they fall in love with each other, and things start to feel more real than what they had agreed at first.
my problem was that it was so slow-paced, that sometimes i felt disconnected. don't misunderstand me, i love a slow burn, but this one felt to slow. things started to get interesting during the last quarter of the book, and still. they were cute and all that, but i didn't feel that immersed in the story.
some positive points for me were the representation of mental health issues and grief (which is genuinely appreciated), the inclusion, and the found family! i ended up loving how well wren and miles' friends get along!
i'm giving janisha boswell another chance with her upcoming book, so i'll be back as soon as i can hehe
4.5 !! ★ 💜
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
୨ৎ “When it comes to you, I'm powerless.”
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
tropes ⁎⁺˳✧༚
ೀ childhood best friends to lovers
ೀ small town
ೀ runaway bride
ೀ road trip
ೀ sports romance (ballerina x hockey player)
ೀ slow burn
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
the characters ⁎⁺˳✧༚
𓇼 sloanesunnywinthrop: my whole mood whenever she was here was “YESSS, THAT'S MY GIRL!!!”. and i'm not lying. sloane is such a sweet and heartwarming character, but i'm so happy she finally got her claws out, ready to attack anyone who made her feel uncomfortable. that's. my. girl.
𓇼 jasperjasgervais: the lost boy with sad eyes and a heart of gold. how accurate! he was quiet, shy, but he had a whole calming aura around him that made me feel better. i know that, if i were with someone like him, i would feel special. but man, work on your communication skills!!!!!!!! you had my poor sloane all confused!!!!!
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i started this book almost two months ago. i have to thank my reading slump and my lack of time due to school for that (i'm joking). however, i'm extremely proud of myself for finishing it, because it didn't disappoint!
i love elsie silver, and i love all of her books, so i had high expectations for this one. one of my goals this year is finishing the chestnut springs series (i had the same goal last year, i don't trust myself anymore atp lol)
overall, i enjoyed the book so much, but i'm not really fond of the miscommunication trope, so there were times where i disconnected a little bit. however, i'm glad they managed to solve their problems, and i'm happy now! i love sloane and jasper's dynamic as friends and couple. they're there for each other when they need it the most. i think that quality time is their love language (i'm sure of it).
i loved the ending, how close the eaton family is to each other, and we got tiny bits of cadewilla and wintertheo!!! 🥹 i feel like i'm part of the family too haha
in conclusion, this book entertained me, and made me giggle a lot. jasper and sloane are such cuties, and i cannot wait to read the next book!
p.s.: little shoutout to harvey and willa (my favourite characters in the whole series), don't stop being so sassy and funny!
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
personal ranking ⁎⁺˳✧༚
1. heartless [ 5 ] 🩵
2. powerless [ 4.5 ] 💜
3. flawless [ 3.75 ] 🩷
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 💜 ˚｡⋆
i declare myself the biggest Elsie Silver fan, and i'm so, so excited to finish this series! i've wanted to read this book for so long. i hope it doesn't disappoint, because Jasper seems so 🥴
3.75 ⭐️
i finished this book yesterday, and i was waiting to find the words to write a review. however, i can't. i have the exam on tuesday, and i will have time to analyse it then. so, i might write a proper review later hehe
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🪲 ˚｡⋆
happy new year, and happy first read of the year! i'm starting this 2025 with this book for my philosophy class, but i've been wanting to read it for so long. so, let's see how this one is!
2.5 !! ★ 🎄
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i didn't have any expectations for this book, because i had seen its bad reviews. and i have to be honest, they were right
the spicy scenes were so cringe, and the only things that were cute were the scene where Luke gifts Evie a bike, and the way Luke cares for Sonny. by the way, who calls her son Sonny? 💀
i will continue this series anyways, but this book was a disappointment
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🎄 ˚｡⋆
another one, thank you! i've read so many bad reviews about this one, so idk what to expect. however, the synopsis seems cute. wish me luck! 🤞🏻
3 !! ★ 🎄
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
୨ৎ “Next year, before we fall asleep... I'm going to say it back.”
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i wanted to start this series of novellas because i wanted to get in the christmas mood, and i also wanted some easy reads for my final exams season. hey! this one was entertaining
i would've liked a longer version, and i feel like they stopped too much to explain the context, which made Marc look like a stalker, like Joe Goldberg from You. either way, it was entertaining and cute. however, i feel like the last chapter wasn't necessary. i mean, there was no need to write it like that, and maybe if it had been executed in a better way, i would've liked it more. but i happened so suddenly that i felt like they were faking it
anyways, i'll continue reading this series (Lucía, please, stop starting books when you don't have the time to read). see you again with the next one! 💗
𐙚‧₊˚ pre-read 🎄 ˚｡⋆
i don't know what i'm doing by starting another book, but hey! i needed a quick, cozy read, and i wanted to read this series this christmas. wish me luck 🥹
3.5 !! ★ 🩸
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
this one was my second Freida McFadden's book, and it also helped me to get out of my reading slump. her books are really entertaining and easy to read, and i would have read it in one sitting if it hadn't been for my lack of free time
i didn't have much expectations for this one, but it ended up surprising me! i love mysteries and thrillers because they always have a way of distracting me and putting me into a whole new world, where i can be my own detective
as for this one, some things were a little bit predictable, but there were others that made my jaw drop. i mean, the final reveal and the plot twist?! i had to put my ipad down and stare out at the window for a few minutes to realise what i had just read
the ending was also amazing. i would have never expected an ending like that. eventually, Real Kevin got his deserved ending ❤️ either way, there was something that bugged me. the way Tom changed his mind so quickly was a little bit weird, but hey! at least they stopped bothering Sydney
anyways, this book made me realise that, whenever i'm in a reading slump, i'll read a Freida book. they always help me when i need it the most!
2.75 !! ★ 🤎
i don't have much to say, i didn't like the bad energy and pessimism the main character gave off, it drove me crazy all the time. it made me want to end like him
the ending was crazy, because he died so suddenly, and you didn't have time to process it. i think it's because the author's style
i won't analyse the book, mostly because i already have to do it for my literature exam next friday, so i'll just say that learning more about the spanish situation during that time was interesting. either way, the thing that made me dislike it was the bad energy it gave. it isn't a book i would read in my free time
3 !! ★ ❄️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
this book was a recommendation from someone at the reading roulette in the bookerfly club (my safe place, if you ask me). these days have been really stressing, and i needed something easy to read and entertaining i order i could unwind
first of all, i liked the book, as it was entertaining from start to finish. it was very easy to read, and it made me forget about everything around me. i would've read it in less time if it hadn't been because of school!
one thing i liked about this book was the constant time jumps from before to then. it's supposed to help the reader understand what's happening. it also helps to discover some new clues. nevertheless, it was a bit confusing as well. either way, i liked the book in that aspect
what i didn't enjoy was the reveal. it was very predictable, considering her behaviour throughout the book and her relationship problems with Lilly. that was why i wasn't surprised by the final reveal. i didn't enjoy the ending as well. it was a bit too fake for me. i mean, i knew Mel was trying to murder someone else, but she ended up murdering Kit, and the sisters weren't mad at her or anything? they were even trying to help her confess that it had been a mistake
i'm giving it 3 stars because it was entertaining and easy to read! still, i don't think i will read more of the author :(
3.75 !! ★ 🐞
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
୨ৎ “Bring the lights back, Da. Light up the world. You need to see this girl.”
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
trigger warnings ⁎⁺˳✧༚
ೀ child abuse & neglect by a parent with alcoholism
ೀ sexual assault on minor
ೀ anxiety and panic attacks
ೀ alcohol consumption
ೀ graphic bullying
ೀ teen pregnancy and miscarriage
ೀ suicidal ideation
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
the characters ⁎⁺˳✧༚
𓇼 shannon: my poor girl. i always want to hug those fmcs that suffer, but this specific one... i would give her the whole world. i would give the entire world because she deserves it. she's the epitome of strength and resilience. imagining the hell she's been through makes me want to cry and give her the biggest hug to ever exist
𓇼 johnny: johnny kavanagh is so boyfriend and husband material! he puts his heart out to protect shannon from everything and everyone. he's just so sweet and soft, i would hug him too. at this point i want to hug everyone. i love everything about him, he's just perfect. the moment i saw him, i found comfort in him. he's so easy to trust and love! if a fictional character was my type, it would be johnny kavanagh. i can't say anything else. i just love him with all my heart and soul
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i was so excited to start this series, and i was so sad when i found out my physical copy of this book got stuck in customs. still, i'm happy i got it now, because i truly enjoyed it
the characters were so funny, and couldn't help but feel like i wanted to be part of that group, too. the dynamic between johnny and gibsie had me laughing alone in my room. shannon, claire and lizzie reminded me of my friend group of three. i love my girls so much, and i saw myself and my friends reflected in those three amazing girls 🥹
shannon and johnny as a couple was wonderful. they were so sweet, just like a teenage love should be. i love their dynamic and how johnny always made sure to explain things to her in order she didn't overthink. oh, and the playlist 🥹 the moment i saw yellow by coldplay there i started crying like crazy. you guys can't imagine how much i love that song
the cliffhanger at the end left me speechless. i'm currently running to buy the second book, because i need to know what happens! i'm looking forward to reading more of them, my johnnyshannon will be forever in my heart 💗
3 !! ★ 🌄
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
୨ৎ “One day I'll ask you to marry me,” I told her.
୨ৎ “And one day I'll say yes,” she replied.
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
the plot ⁎⁺˳✧༚
after the game is about riley, a victim of sexual abuse that has been ignored and hated by her town. she had to leave when she found out she was pregnant with her abuser's child, and came back a few weeks ago to take care of her grandmother who has alzheimer's. brady was one of those guys who didn't believe her and thought she was a liar. one day, he gives riley and her daughter a ride, and that was when everything changes. he starts believing her. he starts hanging out with her, and he ends up falling in love with her, despite what everyone in town could say
if i'm being honest, this plot made me realise how important it is to believe the victim of any kind of abuse. i can't imagine the hell she must've been through, not having anyone to rely on because no one believes your side of the story. it broke my heart, but i ended up liking the story
the characters ⁎⁺˳✧༚
𓇼 riley: i want to give her the biggest hug in the world, because she deserves that. she's so strong, and i believe in her. having to raise a toddler being a teenage mother must be tough. i can get to sympathise with it, because of personal experiences in my family. i just want her to find the happiness she deserves, and i hope she keeps on with her life. bryony was so cute, but excuse me, what was that name? still, i loved her
𓇼 brady: i liked him during book one, and hated him during book two. now, i can say that i actually like him. this book has made me very sympathetic to him. he had a perfect life, perfect parents and perfect friends, until he finds out his father is having an affair, and his world falls apart. i understand him, why would someone cheat on coralee? she's the kindest soul ever. she appears in the first three books, and i can say that i love her! anyways, i appreciated that his communication skills improved in this book, because during book two, it was annoying
final thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i have to be honest, this book is the best one so far. it isn't as shitty as the first two. it was kind of entertaining and easy to read
the characters were cool, there was a true story... i liked it. i liked brady and riley as a couple, and his relationship with little bryony was incredibly sweet! i will always say that i hate those sudden 3rd act breakups, but anyways
i will finish the series as soon as possible. i feel like they're getting better and better. i hope the next delivers!
personal ranking ⁎⁺˳✧༚
1. after the game [ 3 ] 🌄
2. until friday night [ 2.5 ] 🌅
3. under the lights [ 2.25 ] 🔦
4.25 !! ★ 🎧
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
୨ৎ “Some people are really good at hiding who they really are.”
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i know that it's been almost a month since i read a good girl's guide to murder, and i'm not very good at continuing book series. however, i couldn't help myself. i had to read this one, and it didn't disappoint. even though i didn't enjoy it as much as book one, i still loved it
this book follows the disappearance of jamie reynolds, pip's friend's brother. she's sure that it wasn't a coincidence, so she decides to investigate herself, even though she had promised not to solve mysteries anymore. this plot ATE, DEVOURED, LEFT NO CRUMBS !!! i don't know how holly jackson manages to surprise me every single time with her books. you never expect what's going to happen!
if i'm being honest, for a moment, i suspected that charlie had something to do with jamie's disappearance, and then i said nah, he's innocent. silly me! either way, i was still surprised by the reveal. the dynamic was almost the same, but i enjoyed it anyways
ravi made me swoon and laugh like crazy. i want a man like ravi singh. where is he? i need him. pip is sooo lucky to have someone as sweet and supportive as him, really. manifesting my own ravi singh
the most interesting person to me this book was stanley forbes. i hated him during book one, but now i can say that i actually loved him! his ending made me so sad, because i feel like he didn't deserve that. he was a little boy who was forced to do these things by his dad. he just wanted a peaceful life. i almost cried when pip told jamie to have a happy and peaceful life for stanley 😕
anyways, i can't wait to read book three! holly jackson, i hope you know that i will be reading every single one of your books, because now i declare myself your number one fan!
4 !! ★ 🗡️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
୨ৎ “You have my heart, Jest. I don't know if you deserve it or not. I can't tell if you're a hero or a villain, but it doesn't seem to matter. Either way, my heart is yours.”
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
༶⋆˙⊹ ⋆ ꔫ ˛˚
my thoughts ⁎⁺˳✧༚
i'm writing this review while i'm decorating my house for my birthday hehe. this book was my first fantasy book, and i have to say that i love it! marissa meyer devoured with this book
at first i was so excited, because while reading i was making a movie in my head, with all the beautiful visuals of wonderland. for a moment, i imagined i was there, attending all those balls
there was a point where i felt a bit disconnected from the book, a little bit during the middle of it. it was like i was getting bored of it, and there was nothing happening
however, that twist and cath's transition from a sweet baker who had a dream and wanted to fall in love, to the arrogant, cruel queen of hearts, made me get so invested in the book, and i finished it asap!
catherine's mother drove me crazy, in a wrong way. her mood swings and the way she treated catherine made me hate her. we have to realise that she just used catherine for her own benefit. she wanted her to be queen, and she had no choice in the matter
the ending felt so epic to me, honestly! catherine saying off with his head was everything i needed. it was the perfect ending for an amazing book
anyways! i simply loved this book. for my first fantasy book, it was wonderful and so whimsical. i want to be in wonderland. i can't want to read more of marissa meyer!