Book Review: hello (from here) by Chandler Baker and Wesley King

hello (from here)

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hello (from here) 〰️

I’m a little unsure how to rate this book. It was slow to begin with but slowly got better over time. Though for a romance, this book was a bit depressing (primarily because of the time it takes place in). 

This book was published during COVID-19 and occurred during the first big spike of the pandemic. While I read this in 2023, this book felt a little too… fresh. I’m not sure of the right word. We read romance stories that take place in other big world historical events like WW2, but the COVID-19 pandemic is too close to home and feels too soon. The world was challenging for a while, and I don’t know if people want to relive that wound so early. Having had COVID-19 myself (thankfully a milder version), I didn’t really need a reminder of all the craziness we all lived through in recent years. 

Covid-19 aside, the book itself was a bit depressing. I mean, I get it. A lot of people died or were sick, and many other tragic things happened during 2020. But for a romance book, I wasn’t expecting it to be this dark. I will say, though, that Jonah’s anxiety was done really well, and I love the LGBTQ+ rep that was treated so normally. But there were a lot of things that made this book a downer. It works for the time it takes place in, but yeah. I was hoping for some extra cute lockdown moments. We had some, but then they got depressing again.

I also really hated the font. I don’t blame the authors on this one, though. I blame the publisher’s poor choice in font selection. It worked for the texts we see, but it’s super ugly for the main story.

I think this book would be better if I had read it a few years from now as opposed to the world finally returning to somewhat normal. I’m not sure I would feel any different about it, as, again, lots of depressing things, but I think I would have enjoyed it more in a few years regardless. 

It’s not bad. It’s not super good. It’s alright. I think if you’re in the right headspace, however, you should give it a go.

Book Review: The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas

The American Roommate Experiment

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The American Roommate Experiment 〰️

We get it; Lina and Rosie are best friends. You don't have to state that every time they even think about each other.

Okay, that snarky comment aside, this book. Urg! I loved it so much! As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I prefer reading "gay" romances, though I do enjoy reading about "the straights," too. Just not as much. Until now. The only thing that would make this romance book absolutely perfect (for me) was if the two MCs were of the same gender. (Though I love that there was an LGBTQ+ rep, and it wasn't made a big deal, so props for that).

Seriously though, how could Rosie NOT fall in love with Lucas? Even me, a lesbian, was in love with him. I can see how everything in this book could be considered cheesy, but I'll be honest, I'm a massive sucker for over-the-top cheesy romance, and this book nailed it.

The only thing I wasn't 100% on board with was that Rosie was already super-crushing on Lucas before he entered the picture. I love a good friends-to-lovers trope; I even wrote a whole book about it, but having her already be into him is like having the ending spoiled. Yes, we know they're going to get together. It's a romance, after all, but I wanted to read about her falling in love with him from scratch and not already having a leg up in the competition, so to speak. Even Lucas was immediately infatuated with her. Which kind of made me want to smash their lips together because they were both not being adults and not communicating how they truly felt. Lots of heartache could have been solved early on if they didn't have simultaneously excellent and poor communication skills. (I get the miscommunication trope is excellent for tension in this genre, but still).

When I bought this book, I wasn't aware that it was kind of a sequel/spin-off of another book, The Spanish Love Deception. But I read it anyway. Thankfully, it works just as well as a standalone in case you are an idiot like me and don't realize this was book two. (But since I loved this book so much, I obviously had to get the other book so I could read about how Lina and Aaron fell in love. I mean, I guess that's a spoiler for The Spanish Love Deception, but not really. It's a romance. If they didn't end up together at the end, it's not a romance).

That said, I loved reading these two fall harder for each other as the novel went on. It's the kind of romance fantasy I can escape into (and secretly wish I had, haha). I'm not sure if the first book can top this one. I truly loved these cheaters and their stories. But now I have to read book one to see Rosie from Lina's POV and read her story.

If you're looking for a cute romance, this is for sure worth the read. You don't even need to read The Spanish Love Deception to enjoy it! (Like me!) Though I'm still going to read book one now. I want more of these characters in any way I can.

Book Review: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Onyx Storm

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Onyx Storm 〰️

I loved this book. But even though I enjoyed it, it had some issues to go with the good.

Rants and raves ahead.

The first half of the book felt like filler. It was interesting enough for me to be engaged, but I wouldn’t call it groundbreaking literature or anything. I didn’t really care for the whole “quest squad” portion of the book. Well, again, enjoyed it enough to keep reading, but it could definitely have been condensed or something. The only cool thing to happen during the whole “island hopping” portion was Andarna finding her family. (Well, and Xaden’s mom suddenly appears. That was interesting as well). At least with the island hopping, we learned more about the world and how other cultures live. I thought it was interesting that there was no magic outside the Continent. I just assumed magic was everywhere in this world, but I was wrong. Plus, Violent didn’t have to info dump all the new world-building facts we learned in this book, so that’s a plus.

But honestly? I wanted more Xaden turning venin plot, which I found surprisingly lacking. Sure, we have Violent and gang looking for a cure (and so far finding none). But, and this is compared to the previous books, Xaden was barely in this book (in my opinion). We barely even have him and Violent talking down the bond since he blocks her out most of the time. The dynamic between them was lacking. Which, speaking of, when they were together, all they wanted to do was bone. (Which fair, but there is a war going on, guys). It’s been a while since I read Iron Flame, but I distinctly remember Violet having a love/hate relationship with Xaden throughout the entire book because she couldn’t trust him fully, and thus she was barely able to tell him she loved him. Now suddenly he becomes venin and she won’t shut up about how much she loves him and he’s her everything and she’d basically say screw the world if it meant saving Xaden. Did I forget something from Iron Flame? How did she shift her feelings so harshly? I’m sure I’m forgetting something that happened near the end, so I guess this is on me, but I’m not re-reading a 500-page book to jog my memory (as much as I enjoyed said book my first read).

Now let’s talk characters. Loads of major characters from the previous books (like Sloan) basically disappear for most of the book. And we get some new (at least I don’t recall them in the last one) characters that I don’t care about. And when they died, I was like, oh, I’m supposed to be sad? There was a guy who got shot with an arrow during the island-hopping bit, and he died, and I honestly had no idea who this character was. Was he even in the previous book? Yarros made it sound like he was a bigger player than normal just because he was on this quest squad mission, but I really don’t recall him, and if his first appearance was actually only in this book? Yikes. I think his death was supposed to be impactful, but I didn’t feel anything. He contributed nothing to the story. And Sloan? Yarros made a huge deal about Sloan in Iron Flame,e but she’s almost nonexistent in Onyx Storm. She was only there for her signet in both books. (Which is a super lame signet to have if you ask me. Helpful, but only during certain occasions. 90% of the time, her signet is useless if you ask me. Well, I suppose she could drain someone of power not on the battlefield, which is great, but she’s not being used to do that in this series, and thus she’s only around when the plot needs her). Even Rhiannon is barely around, and she’s Violet's best friend!

Which, speaking of Rhi, she gets her own POV chapter near the end of the book that contributed nothing to the story. It was a POV of stuff that already happened to Violet, but seen from Rhi’s POV. Yarros could have utilized our time with Rhiannon a lot better. At least with Imogen’s random POV chapter, we get new information (and a death I actually cared about). While the random one-off chapter POVs not from Violet's perspective were mostly interesting, it did throw me off. I mean, we spent like 96.7% (not an accurate number) inside Violet's mind, and randomly near the end, we have three non-Violet chapters? Weird stylistic choice, but okay.

Now I know I just ranted, but I gotta admit, I loved the hell out of this story. Though admittedly, the first half of the book was a little show (again, island hopping), but once it picked up, it picked up HARD. It was actually going to be a four-star read, but the latter half of the book, and especially the ending (omg that ending!!) made this a solid five. I knew Yarros was going to end this on a cliffhanger; she’s done so in the previous two books, but hot damn! Book four can’t come fast enough.

I loved how Andarna broke the bond (and later returns, but we don’t know much about that part yet), how we get more backstory regarding Asher Sorrengail, and the introduction (and end lol) of Violet's nemesis. I can’t recall how to spell or say her name, but it was something like Theopanie (stupid name for such a cool, badass character, but I digress). Plus, we learn that Violet may not be who we thought she was because her parents did something with the goddess Dunne. I’m interested in learning more about that. Who knew there was a backstory behind her hair? I mean, of course, Violet has to be “special”. But honestly, if the MCs of our books weren’t, there probably wouldn’t be a story, so I’m not mad that “she’s not like other girls/riders”.

Also, that cover?? The whole Empyrean series has amazing covers, honestly. Each one is soooo gorgeous. And my copy of Onyx Storm has beautiful sprayed edges with dragons on it. And the formatting and that map? Erg. So good. Even if you hate this series, you gotta admit, the covers are fantastic. (But I love this series, so I proudly display them on my bookshelves.)

All in all, I think this is a solid addition to the series. It’s a five-star read, but because of the slower start, I don’t think it’s as good as the first two, but I still had a blast reading it. There were even audible gasps! (When Riddoc got stabbed) and some actual laugh-out-loud moments (nothing major, but some lines made me chuckle), so I call this a win. I’ll for sure be continuing this series, and I can’t wait for the next book to arrive.

Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing

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Fourth Wing 〰️

I’m speechless, but I’ll find the words anyway.

First off, that cover! And the interior formatting! And the map(s)! They’re soooo beautiful. But we all knew that part. It’s probably what made us pick up the book in the first place.

That being said, it’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy book that was this engaging and done well. I’ve read ACOTAR fairly recently, and while those books were great, they have nothing on Fourth Wing. ACOTAR was basically modern-day with faeries. It didn’t feel too fantasy-like, with a few exceptions here and there. (In my opinion, anyway). But Fourth Wing? This book nailed it. And it’s been even longer since I read a book with dragons that was done right. And the world-building in this book? Exceptional. I love using Violent’s training as a scribe; she had her reciting facts about the world we are in to calm herself down. That way, we learn about the world in a way that doesn’t feel like a massive exposition dump, even though it was.

Yarros truly knows what she was doing when she wrote this book. The amount of world-building she had to do off-screen to make it work in the novel is astounding. And the characters! So fully fleshed out, even if most of them die during the book. She made you love (or hate) them, no matter how short or long their screen time was. (LIAM!!! My poor boy).

I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope; it’s one of my favourites. And Yarros nailed it. They were literally enemies, too! I thought there might be a slight love triangle between Violet, Dain, and Xander, but Yarros snuffs that out quickly and makes sure you know Dain isn’t meant to be her lover. This is great because I’m not the biggest fan of love triangles (but I’ll still read them). And bad boy Xander? Yeah, I can see why Violent eventually falls for him. I thought the pair slowly bonding over time was beautifully done. I also applaud Yarros for not having it be insta-love. (Yes, Violet is attracted to him physically almost immediately, but she’s not romantically attracted until later. Therefore, not insta-love).

Also, that ending!!!! I’m glad I finished this book right as the second came out because I needed to dive into it immediately.

This is a book (series) that I can see myself reading over and over again and still gain more insight with each read. Actually, there was so much that I think a second read would be beneficial. If you are looking for a great fantasy read (with dragons and a badass female MC), I highly recommend picking up this book. The hype is real for a reason.

Book Review: Verity by Colleen Hoover

Verity

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Verity 〰️

My friend read this book and highly recommended it to me. I hear so many mixed feelings about Hoover online. Some people love her, and others hate her. I'm sure there exist people out there who are indifferent, but I've yet to find them. So, after hearing so much about her and having my friend tell me if I was going to read any of Hoover's books, it should be this one, I picked it up.

Holy shit.

Thank you, friend, for the recommendation! This was one helluva read. I mean, that first chapter, heck, the opening scene was intense and had me hooked from the beginning! I could barely put it down.

I thought for a while Lowen may have been an unreliable narrator, and she is, but having Verity be confirmed to be faking her injuries made me question my own judgment. Turns out Lowen was right all along!

I will say, however, that I get why Verity did what she did; it's a little hard to believe. I mean, she should win an Oscar for her acting. She really sold the catatonic state. Does that make for an interesting story point? Absolutely. Do I buy that it can happen in real life? Not as much. No matter how good an actor you are, that type of injury is hard to fake. But did I suspend my disbelief for the sake of enjoyment? You sure bet I did.

That said, Hoover kept on coming with twists after twist that I didn't see coming. That final letter by Verity. Woah. Did she truly mean it? Or was it a safeguard for later? And will Lowen feel safe with Jeremy knowing he tried to kill Verity multiple times? (I mean, yes, since she watched him actually kill her and is still with him seven months later). But yeah, so much to unpack and though we want these questions answered, I'm glad for the ending Hoover provided.

I'm unsure if I'll end up reading another of Hoover's books. So far, the plots haven't spoken to me. But I will say that I don't think Hoover is a lousy writer. She certainly knows how to tell an engaging story.

Book Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House

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The Haunting of Hill House 〰️

I'm not one for classics, but I thought I'd give a modern classic a try. After reading this, I don't think I'm cut out for classics of any era. This book was not for me.

Eleanor's mood is all over the place. She loved Theodora at the start, then she hated her and wanted to watch her die, then she became obsessed with her and never wanted to leave her side.

People keep interrupting people and never let them finish answering the question they asked, and everyone behaves as though they didn't interrupt anyone and ignores the other person talking entirely.

Mrs. Dudley sounds like a German (or foreign, at least) butler. The characters sound like posh British people, always speaking so properly. I know it's the 50s, but they sound like they are in Victorian England to me. And in my head canon, I heard them all speaking with British accents because I thought they were in England, only to find out later from a friend that they were in America. They don't sound American or from the 50s. They speak too properly and use British terms a lot.

Also, spooky things only start happening around 50%, and even then, it's mostly off-screen. They spent most of the book being super afraid and being told the house is evil, but like nothing happened??? And after any "big" spooky thing happens, everyone acts like nothing at all happened in the next scene. Like, y'all aren't gonna talk about the spooky things? Is Eleanor not gonna mention to anyone that she was holding possibly a child's bony hand instead of Theodora's? Or ignore the whole ass house shaking? (Seriously, when anything does happen, the next chapter, they're like having tea or something and don't even discuss the previous night).

(Also, the doctor's wife is kinda a bitch to her husband, and I don't like her. Actually, none of the characters resonated with me. I really hated reading Eleanor's thoughts).

Why did the doctor ask them there if they were going to do absolutely nothing? They just explored the house most of the time doing jackshit. What was the doctor's purpose? Like, yeah, he's doing research and writing a book, but Eleanor, Theodora and even Luke haven't really done anything noteworthy.

Also, I don't get the ending. It just kinda fell flat. Eleanor gets super childish, and I'm not sure what her goal is. Was she possessed? Mental health declining? Who knows. But yeah. They decide to send her away, and in the next chapter, they are all gone, and the book is done. Super anti-climactic for a book that didn't have much going on to begin with. I kept waiting for spooky things to happen, but nothing ever really did.

Maybe if I were into classics, or even modern classics (or born at the time this was published), then maybe I might have liked it. I wouldn't have been spooked by it, but I may have at least enjoyed it.

Book Review: 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

'Salem's Lot

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'Salem's Lot 〰️

Ahh. I had forgotten what a good vampire story is like. Not that I mind the modern-day vampire (which seems to be primarily found in romance, from what I've read), but sometimes it's nice to go back to a time when vampires are bloodsucking monsters that strike real fear instead of making one feel warm and fuzzy.

However, I will say there were too many similar names, for example, Matt, Mike, and Mark. I'd be confused about who was who and who was doing what for a while because I forgot which name belonged to which character. It got a little easier when they all started dying off, but still. I think King could have diversified the names a little more.

Speaking of killing off characters, that's one thing I love about King. He's not afraid to kill off as many people as possible in his stories. Be it characters that only appear for one sentence or characters we come to know and love (or hate, depending on which story of his you're reading). I recently finished a re-read of King's Under the Dome, and (spoiler) like 97% of the characters, side ones and main ones, died in that book. I think like maybe 5 (can't recall exactly) survived in the end, and there were a ton of characters in that book.

I think this 'Salem's Lot is one of King's finest. It's a true monster horror story with great characters and an excellent story. I don't feel it has a happy ending per se, but it's horror, so not all of them have a happily ever after. I think the ending was perfect.

Did this book scare me? Not in the slightest. Maybe if I read it when it first came out (even though I wasn't born at the time of its release), but as a modern horror reader, it wasn't scary. But at least it didn't feel silly, and I immensely enjoyed the read.

If you are looking into getting into King's books, this is definitely one to check out.

Book Review: The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan

The Last Girls Standing

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The Last Girls Standing 〰️

Actual rating: 3.5/5

I'm torn. The premise of this book is everything I love. I mean, a gay slasher final girls' story? Sign me up! And I've read every single one of Dugan's books and loved every word of them. And the cover for this book? Absolutely stunning.

Yet I feel like Dugan wasn't fully ready to commit to this new genre. Don't get me wrong. I still loved the story. But that ending? That's why I'm not rating it as high as her usual books.

Yes, it's okay not to answer every plot point that gets brought up. It's like life. We don't always get everything we want. But I swear EVERY major plot point went unanswered. And Sloan fully committing to the cult is real, and that she's a part of it, and then murders Cherry? Yeah, I wasn't here for that. I don't think Sloan's descent into madness was handled very well. Was it believable? Sure. She went through some pretty severe trauma. But that doesn't mean I like how it was done. And speaking of trauma, as much as I love a good gay story, Sloan and Cherry's relationship was a bit toxic. I still felt the love, but Cherry was a bit too controlling in Sloan's life for my liking.

As for the other characters, they weren't built up very much. I get how Sloan would distance herself from her besties after the incident at Money Springs (terrible name, by the way). But the way she used Connor (such a sweet boy, loved him!) after not speaking to him in months, and then Dugan just kinda writes him off into oblivion, kinda irked me. Sloan mentioned he ghosted her, which fair, but I felt like his character was wasted.

I know I harped on about a lot of negatives (especially with how quick the ending was and with no resolution), but I truly did enjoy the book. It's only because of the above-mentioned that it got a lower rating than usual for Dugan's books. This book won't stop me from auto-buying anything else Dugan writes, and I am glad she's trying different genres with her usual gay twists.