Take a photo of a barcode or cover
arireadsitall's reviews
1311 reviews
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is Ali Hazelwoods best book and it was so much fun! I’ve loved watching her trajectory as an author and I can’t wait for what’s next! Scarlett is by far my favorite of her protagonists and I loved how strong and badass she was. This book is hot hot hot and speed reading it gave me whiplash
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don’t think I’ve swooned over a book this hard in a while! Charlie Florek the man that you are!! This one is a summer dream wrapped in the most perfect bow. This one is full of a+++ banter, returning characters you love, and so much emotion (good bad and ugly). But it’s a beautiful love letter to making the most of a summer with no regrets!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Pregnancy
A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Friends to lovers with a++ chronic illness rep and a whole lot of grief discussion but the beautiful reflecting kind. I thought the second half of the book was way more captivating and the world they won’t they build up almost took me out.. overall it’s sweet and swoony and the flashbacks made my heart melt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book at its core is a love letter to music. It’s interwoven in a messy messy messy love story. Like truly I don’t think I’ve read this much mess in a long tim… but you know I love mess. This is a slowwwww burn with a lot of emotion but you root for these crazy kids (even if you don’t always agree with what they’re doing). Oh Percey and Joe…
No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one was so swoony!! I love a singer/ athlete romance and I liked how quickly it came to be. I didn’t like the garbage of a man ex husband and how much he sucked (can’t imagine anyone would read this and like him). This one was sweet but definitely hit deep. I do wish it was a little longer but still as I said I managed to swoon with 300 pages.
Set Piece by Lana Schwartz
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I am such a huge fan of these stories because they’re short and sweet and full of detail. This one is a meet cute, one night stand turn second chance in the world of Hollywood. I loved that we got both perspectives of our characters. I thought both Jack and CJ were so endearing and the way they fell for each other felt so real. I’m always amazed by how many details and author can squeeze into 200 pages and this author certainly delivered!!
Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I wanted to love this but ultimately it was just fine to me. Meet cute turned roommates with a lotttt of slow burn and weird tension. It was one of those books that felt like a how did we get here?! I think the characters were solid but they had A LOT of life going on at once and for my overthinking brain I was whelmed lol!! I’m glad I read this as a romance reading challenge pick because I don’t think I would have otherwise!
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
No notes per usual!! I just love that these books make me equal parts emotional and giddy! Cam and Dusty are the perfect second chance (though I needed Cam to get out of her own way!!) I’m glad all our favorite Rebel blue characters are back and I really just need these books to be made into a series because I’m not ready to give them up!
Between Friends & Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was equal parts swoony as it was devastating. I loved that these characters felt so raw and real. The juxtaposition between the will they won’t they friendship and the instant love got me in my feels. But I was firmly team Max this entire book! I didn’t expect the book to go into so many darker themes but I appreciated that a romance read was willing to “go there”!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Abandonment
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked that this felt different for Emily Henry. It may not hit for everyone but I really liked the two storylines and how everything connected. Yes the seven husbands comparison is valid but they’re not the same book (so don’t fret)! I will say some of the flashbacks felt long but I think it’s just because I was really enjoying the other storyline or Alice and Hayden. I usually wait to read her books until the dust has settled with reviews, but for this one, I’m glad I am able to add to the conversation. Thank you thank you thank you @berkleypub
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy