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 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.

Book Review: The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

The Flame Never Dies

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The Flame Never Dies 〰️

This is my second read of this book. I've read both this one and the first book back when they first came out—loved them then. But somehow, I think I love them even more now. Vincent is my favourite author for a reason. Her books age like fine wine; they only get better with each re-read. And though I loved this book when I first read it, it's been a while, so it was basically like reading it for the first time. I was hooked. And I think I'm even more enamoured with this book than I was during my first read.

While the first book did read like the setup for this one (and it kind of was, but that didn't matter because Vincent's storytelling was compelling), this book was its payoff—the story Vincent really wanted to tell.

That being said, I never thought I'd be so invested in a side character's pregnancy. We don't see much of Nina's sister in both books, but in this one, she's about to pop and I completely forgot that Mellie never made it out alive. I thought she survived somehow, but nope. She dies off-screen being posses by a demon, and no one notices, including me, who read this book before. I wasn't saddened by her loss since we don't get much screentime with her, but I did enjoy the brief time we had with Meshara, the demon who passed her. I thought it was interesting having a demon who was pregnant but also infected. Vincent really knew how to draw out the tension on whether the baby would even be born, let alone live. I will say, however, we never really do get an explanation on how Adam survives without a soul being donated unless I missed it. Did the well of souls suddenly fill up again? Did the world go back to the days before we knew we had to die and donate our souls so newborns could live?

Besides that, the only true nitpick about these two books (besides Finn and Nina's insta-love, which I forgive because they're cute together) is the title of this series. I personally don't get the titles of either of the books other than they both sound really cool and have gorgeous covers to go with them. Besides that? I'm not sure what the titles mean in relation to the books. Well, I guess the title of this one, The Flame Never Dies, could relate to the white light "flame" the exorcist has when exorcising demons. But the title of the first book? No clue.

That being said, I don't think I will ever tire of Vincent's works. Perhaps not every book of hers will appeal to everyone, but she has enough that one of her books is bound to hook you. I personally believe that if you like Vincent's works, you'll love these two books as well.

Book Review: The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

The Stars Never Rise

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The Stars Never Rise 〰️

This is my second read of this book. I read this initially when it first came out. I loved it then, and I love it even more after this re-read. Somehow I feel like I am more into this story now than when it first came out. But that's the thing about Vincent. Her books age like fine wine. They're always amazing the first read. But after some time away and you re-read them, they're somehow even better than they were the first read. There is a reason Vincent is my all-time favourite author. Her works are so good they always demand a re-read, and they never disappoint.

This story takes place in the future and yet is grounded in today's reality. The Church has taken over all manners of authority, and because in this universe where demons are real, everyone allows the Church to dictate every aspect of their lives. It mirrors our world in a way. Religion plays a huge role in most people's lives, and people don't usually question the higher-up's authority. However, in Vincent's world, the Church is far more sinister than ours. (Not to say there isn't any evil in the Church in our world; there is corruption in anything with authority, unfortunately. Not always, but it happens).

This book does read like a considerable world-building and is set up for the second book in two-part series. That isn't to say it's a bad thing. And that also doesn't make this a bad book. Far from it, actually. But I can see how some people may see it that way. But because Vincent is such a masterful storyteller, we don't even realize it's a massive exposition dump. It reads like a valid story and is intriguing the entire way.

I will say, however, that Finn and Nina's relationship feels a bit insta-lovey. While I love their relationship, and I do find they have chemistry, both Nina and Finn are pretty attached to teacher other (like kissing) basically from the moment they meet. And that's fine, but they're acting like they've been together a lot longer than a week or so. That's the only negative thing I can say about this book, and even then, it's a huge nitpick because I also ship these two so much.

If you're a fan of any of Vincent's books, you'll be sure to enjoy this one (as well as the sequel, I bet).

Book review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything

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Everything, Everything 〰️

I admit, I got the ending and twist spoiled for me because I had read Save The Cat! (a guide to writing novels), and this book was one of the examples for romances. I never thought I'd read the book, despite finding its premise super interesting. Then my friend was moving and getting rid of a lot of books, and this was one of them that I got from her. Despite having it spoiled for me, it was a while since I read the plot in Save the Cat!, and so I was still on the edge of my seat, wondering how they got from point A to B.

This book was genius. From the writing style (including the emails, letters, and texts to the artwork), short chapters vs long chapters, it all worked to tell a cohesive and interesting story. The premise was fascinating as well. Maddy is said to be so sick she can never leave the house. But she soon falls for the boy across the street. We can see Maddy fall head over heels for Olly through a series of cute interactions. I can feel their chemistry. They are adorable teenagers acting as normal teenagers should. (Even in Maddy's case, where she's never had the experience of a normal teen because of her "sickness."

I loved learning about Maddy's world in her white, sterile room. I loved Carla. She sounds like the perfect nurse to have as a friend when you are stuck inside. She's so kind and caring and is the one who gives Maddy the idea to live her life, despite her illness. And it's a good thing she did because it's how we discover Maddy wasn't sick all along!

Yoon really plays with your emotions through this book. Despite feeling trapped, we also feel hope for a world worth living, one outside Maddy's bubble. Even when we thought Maddy was sick, we still wanted Maddy to live a normal life. And when she does in Hawaii, we see the world in anew light, like a toddler experiencing life for the first time. Things we took for granted are now brought to light, and I love that. This book truly makes you appreciate love, life, and the gift of being alive, even if things seem bad.

If you're into a cute YA romance and want to see the world in a new light, this book is excellent for you.

Book Review: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten

Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls

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Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls 〰️

Well this book was a rollercoaster from start to finish. There were so many twists I didn't see coming. Especially when it comes to the dead girl, well, not being dead. And when the ending line of the books blurb says "Now Delia is dead. And June owes it to her to find out the truth... which is far more complicated that she ever could have imagined." Well. It wasn't kidding. It was way more complicated. In that sense I'm not saying the story itself was a complicated read, just that all the plot twists were a kick in the gut for June over and over, until she can barely tell reality from fabrication.

I feel for June. She was the best of friends with Delia. But then they grew apart, as some friendships do. (Especially if you see your bestie kissing your boyfriend). But when she learns of Delia's suicide, she realizes all the potential their friendship had and how she'll never get the chance to be there for her friend again.

I was hooked right from the very beginning. Though I will admit, the first half of the book reminded me of Holly Jackson's "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder." I loved that book (the whole trilogy really). But I wasn't sure I was into reading another story about someone trying to solve a murder. (Well, suicide in this case). But then the first big twist happened. I'm sure people probably say it coming, but I'm very clueless a lot of the time so I was blinded when it happened. Never expected Delia to fake her own death. I was truly thinking this was going to be AGGGTM kind of story where June goes down lots of crazy rabbit wholes to discover the truth about her friends death.

But here we are! She's alive! And we now have a new POV, from Delia. And we can see how manipulative and obsessive she really is. It was all of June. It was like Delia knew what would happen to them in the future and planned it out from the first moment they met. Maybe she had some grand scheme. Maybe she only thought of her plan later on. Either way, it was a wild ride to read.

The only thing I didn't really like about this book is that it portrayed bisexuals in a negative light. Because I kind of see Delia as the villain and wether is is bi, pan, gay, whatever, her and Ashling make the LGBTQ+ community seem a bit crazy. Not saying you should never have a queer villain. It just puts queer people in a bad light when the only LGBTQ+ people in your novel are doing bad things.

All in all, this was an excellent and quick read and I highly recommend.

Book Review: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Silver Flames

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A Court of Silver Flames 〰️

Not gonna lie, when I heard that this story was to be told from Nestsa and Cassians POV (and in third person, a switch from the other books), I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I didn't really want a book about the side characters, y'know? But having read this book, I can say for a fact that I want more of Nesta and Cassian. I can also say that this story was meant to be told for them. I think the first three books in this series were meant to be a trilogy as they ended perfectly. The fourth book was a nice little bridge and gave us our last farewell of Feyre's POV. And this final book, well now we're starting new stories in this universe and I for one am all here for me. (I head there is going to be a sixth book. No word yet on whose POV it will be from, but I do hope for more Nesta).

Actually, I really enjoyed Feyre. But I 100% enjoyed Nesta's story more. This story was about healing and self-discovery (with lots of spicy romance in between. Not gonna lie, when I read the spicy bits I was at work during a downtime and was glad this was in written form and not something I was watching on Netflix because it was basically porn in written form).

Nesta was such an interesting character. I didn't care much for her before in other books, but seeing her POV, I understand her now. I see why she acted the way she did and I empathized with her. I enjoyed watching her grow a character and I can't wait to see more. (Cassian was great, too, but now Nesta is my new favourite. They're super cute together, too).

I absolutely loved watching her become such close friends with Emerie and Gwyn (and the House, too, if I'm being honest). They all trauma bonded, but also helped heal each other. Are they all truly okay after what happened to them? Not at all. But they will get through it together. Found family is awesome.

I felt all the emotions reading this book. It had me feel the debts of Nesta's depression as if it were my own. It had me grin wildly when Nesta found joy over friendship and love. From low to high I felt it all and I love that.

All in all, if this series truly ended with this book, I will be happy for it had the perfect ending. If it continues, I won't be mad. Unless Maas ruins it somehow. But if you loved the ACOTAR series, you'll be sure to thoroughly this book.

Book Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Frost and Starlight

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A Court of Frost and Starlight 〰️

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I enjoyed it. But if it wasn't part of the ACOTAR series, I'm not sure I would have. (Or even cared to read it). It was nice to read a lighthearted story after all that happened in the first three books. But still, this fourth book read like it was a made-for-TV Christmas movie. It was clearly a filler to tie us over until the fifth book. Probably also a cash grab. This book didn't need to be written. But again, I still enjoyed it for what it was. It wasn't my favourite read of this series.

I didn't care for how random chapters weren't told by Feyre (or even Rhys) and that chapters not in their POV were in the third person. I dunno; it just felt like a weird writing/stylistic choice. Other have it all in be first person or third person. And the random chapters in between Feyre and Rhys felt like filler within the filler. Especially Mor's chapters. Cassian's made sense. But Mor's could have been taken out, and nothing would have been missed.

But for those flaws, it was still sweet and charming and a nice little break from all the darkness. A friend told me she feels like it was Maas's way of writing from Feyre (and Rhys, I guess) and telling their story one last time before completely changing POV (and perspective) in the fifth book.

If you're a die-hard fan of ACOTAR (as I now am), I think you'll still enjoy this very short read. If not, you could skip this book and probably be just fine in going straight into the fifth. A few things may be mentioned in the fifth book that was in the fourth, but I think you'd pick up what's missing from context. After all, this book was super short (and a larger font) than its chonkier mates.