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idk_indigo's reviews
675 reviews
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
lighthearted
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
I want to start off by saying the autism representation, especially because the author herself is autistic as well. Stella was such an endearing character, and I loved her little journey towards accepting herself and allowing herself to be loved.
Michael was cute and whatnot, but I felt like I didn't have a good grasp on his inner workings. I also thought some of the actions he made towards Stella were strange and rooted in his father. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, like, he was worried he was going to become a cheater and a cheat like his dad but then at the end he was like eh actually that's okay. No longer a fear of mine.
Her little "freak out" (for lack of a better word) over being different and then cutting all the seams out of her clothes, trying to force herself to be okay with the sensation is such a mood. Like, so something I would've done in like middle or high school to try to show it to my bullies. Yeah, I'm normal just like you stinkers. I have seams in my clothes and I'm not even that severely distressed about it.
I lowkey liked how rich Stella is. I like when a man spoils his woman but I didn't realize how much fun it would be to have the opposite in a book. I was like omg pop off millionaire queen!!
One of the worst things about this book though was that they have sex about everything. Like, no conversation about himliterally assaulting her coworker and no conversation about meeting the parents or about, like, anything. Their relationship felt almost entirely sexual, even when they were literally with his entire family. It was soooo weird I'll be fr.
Michael was cute and whatnot, but I felt like I didn't have a good grasp on his inner workings. I also thought some of the actions he made towards Stella were strange and rooted in his father. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, like, he was worried he was going to become a cheater and a cheat like his dad but then at the end he was like eh actually that's okay. No longer a fear of mine.
Her little "freak out" (for lack of a better word) over being different and then cutting all the seams out of her clothes, trying to force herself to be okay with the sensation is such a mood. Like, so something I would've done in like middle or high school to try to show it to my bullies. Yeah, I'm normal just like you stinkers. I have seams in my clothes and I'm not even that severely distressed about it.
I lowkey liked how rich Stella is. I like when a man spoils his woman but I didn't realize how much fun it would be to have the opposite in a book. I was like omg pop off millionaire queen!!
One of the worst things about this book though was that they have sex about everything. Like, no conversation about him
Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck by McKayla Coyle
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This was a really cute little book about embracing your weirdness/queerness, loving frogs and toad and lizards and bugs, making little crafts, and being imperfect. I loved it. Very, very quick read, I finished it in 1 day and had a blast.
A Chance at Love by Beverly Jenkins
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was my first Beverly Jenkins book, and it will not be my last! I loved the historical romance/Western-ish setting. The twins were so amazing, and I'm so happy that they were such a big part of the book/story telling because they were precious and such bright personalities.
As other reviews have said, the ending feels very very rushed -- from damn everything sucks, to life's a peach, in like 20 minutes... but I loved the whole thing! Loreli and Jake were both a tiny bit annoying at times, but, like, that's life. And I so loved that they got their HEA! And I loved that their relationship existed alongside the girls and how the twins always came first.
Also I looooooved the sexy scenes and the "teacher" kinda role, it was so much fun!
As other reviews have said, the ending feels very very rushed -- from damn everything sucks, to life's a peach, in like 20 minutes... but I loved the whole thing! Loreli and Jake were both a tiny bit annoying at times, but, like, that's life. And I so loved that they got their HEA! And I loved that their relationship existed alongside the girls and how the twins always came first.
Also I looooooved the sexy scenes and the "teacher" kinda role, it was so much fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Minor: Slavery
Hate crime is intense, but very very brief and pretty easy to skip over.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
As for things I hated, I feel like there's less a specific list and more, like... just, aspects of the writing more generally.
For example, the sex scenes were... not good.
lighthearted
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
2.75
Okay, so I'm ending my little hiatus on writing book reviews because I feel like there's just.. so much to say about this one.
Things I liked:
Things I liked:
- How the very ending
paralleled her relationship with Peter via telling the story of how the two met - The setting of the library; working in it, her experiences as a children's librarian, even some humorous stories
- The fact that even though she
decided to stay in Waning Bay, she did end up getting her own apartment so her and Miles weren't navigating a fresh relationship while also being roommates. Honestly a very smart decision for both of them if you ask me, and I love a knuckle-headed FMC but idk something about that I was like damn... y'all are making responsible decisions I love that
As for things I hated, I feel like there's less a specific list and more, like... just, aspects of the writing more generally.
For example, the sex scenes were... not good.
- First of all, he doesn't eat her pussy, which, I mean we all know how I feel about MMC's refusing to go down on their ladies, especially when she went down on him... like... please tell me you're joking. Say it right now or else (knife emoji)
- So freaking cliche, literally full of cliches. She could feel herself shatter... she could feel the pieces of herself coming (cumming) together... she rose and as she fell she wasn't sure if she would ever get back up or even if she ever wanted to. Like girl please shut up it's a freaking orgasm you're f*cking fine
I know it was supposed to be lightly spicy, and I love that, however, you can make things lightly spicy or even closed door and not have it, like literally, cringeworthy
I also just felt like the chemistry between Daphne and Miles was nonexistent... not even bad, it didn't suck, it wasn't inconsistent. It simply was not there. I feel like she's talking about how weird and nasty he is, what a weirdo loser who smokes so much weed and doesn't use a calendar (which, like, also shut up and download Google calendar bc you're really making yourself look dim-witted rn, Daph) and then I turned a page and she's staring deeply into his brightly colored orbs and feeling a twinge between her thighs. It was so rapid from "This guy sucks, can't wait to move out" to "OmG i LoVe HiM" but without any passion or chemistry or lust.
I also feel like this probably has a lot to do with the fact that the sex scenes sucked.
Okay, and the final thing I will say is that this book fully convinced me that Emily Henry is using Chat GPT because her past handful of books remind me so so much of the following exchange I've had with AI:
Me: Please recommend me a recipe to make. I have these ingredients.
AI: Here you go! Here's a recipe, it's perfect for you because it has all of the ingredients you have. You're going to love it! You will need approximately $4,000 worth of cooking equipment.
Me: Okay, actually... please recommend me a new recipe, but preferably without needing to buy any equipment.
AI: Okay great, here you go! This time, you won't need to purchase any equipment! All you'll need is the ingredients you have, plus at least 10 ingredients that you don't. Good luck!
And, like, so on and so forth until one of us gives up. I genuinely feel like this book is her last several books, but, like, slightly to the left.
It feels so uninspired. There is not enough of a personality change between all of her FMC's. As a friend pointed out, her side characters are all the same person. I feel like you can't have a set of books that highlight how important friendship is in a relationship, but then make those friends not have full lives and characteristics of their own.
I also feel like the "childhood trauma" aspect of this book just borrows way too heavily from Happy Place (the last Emily Henry book I read) along with, like, whatever book on attachment styles is popular at the moment. I get it, I love it, childhood trauma sucks for sure, you struggle with accepting love, you're 35, now let's move on. I feel like there was one scene in particular where I felt like I was reading a list of, like,
"Things Your Childhood Trauma Might Say To You (Newsflash: They're All Wrong)" and it was like:
I also just felt like the chemistry between Daphne and Miles was nonexistent... not even bad, it didn't suck, it wasn't inconsistent. It simply was not there. I feel like she's talking about how weird and nasty he is, what a weirdo loser who smokes so much weed and doesn't use a calendar (which, like, also shut up and download Google calendar bc you're really making yourself look dim-witted rn, Daph) and then I turned a page and she's staring deeply into his brightly colored orbs and feeling a twinge between her thighs. It was so rapid from "This guy sucks, can't wait to move out" to "OmG i LoVe HiM" but without any passion or chemistry or lust.
I also feel like this probably has a lot to do with the fact that the sex scenes sucked.
Okay, and the final thing I will say is that this book fully convinced me that Emily Henry is using Chat GPT because her past handful of books remind me so so much of the following exchange I've had with AI:
Me: Please recommend me a recipe to make. I have these ingredients.
AI: Here you go! Here's a recipe, it's perfect for you because it has all of the ingredients you have. You're going to love it! You will need approximately $4,000 worth of cooking equipment.
Me: Okay, actually... please recommend me a new recipe, but preferably without needing to buy any equipment.
AI: Okay great, here you go! This time, you won't need to purchase any equipment! All you'll need is the ingredients you have, plus at least 10 ingredients that you don't. Good luck!
And, like, so on and so forth until one of us gives up. I genuinely feel like this book is her last several books, but, like, slightly to the left.
It feels so uninspired. There is not enough of a personality change between all of her FMC's. As a friend pointed out, her side characters are all the same person. I feel like you can't have a set of books that highlight how important friendship is in a relationship, but then make those friends not have full lives and characteristics of their own.
I also feel like the "childhood trauma" aspect of this book just borrows way too heavily from Happy Place (the last Emily Henry book I read) along with, like, whatever book on attachment styles is popular at the moment. I get it, I love it, childhood trauma sucks for sure, you struggle with accepting love, you're 35, now let's move on. I feel like there was one scene in particular where I felt like I was reading a list of, like,
"Things Your Childhood Trauma Might Say To You (Newsflash: They're All Wrong)" and it was like:
- You're not deserving of love.
- Everyone is going to give up on you.
- People are just waiting for the first opportunity to leave.
Okay, what is this? A middle schooler's tumblr account? LOVE! For a middle schooler. You're 35. Move on.
All that being said, EH is a very good writer, albeit I don't love her storytelling (I hope that makes sense). Idk. I enjoyed it, however, it was boring - both as a novel and as a concept.
PS. I almost forgot about my least favorite thing of the whole book! When Miles is going throughhis shit with his family and Daphne just like completely changes the subject I wanted to be like ma'am... he was talking. It pissed me off so much like she just has to be making this all about her.
All that being said, EH is a very good writer, albeit I don't love her storytelling (I hope that makes sense). Idk. I enjoyed it, however, it was boring - both as a novel and as a concept.
PS. I almost forgot about my least favorite thing of the whole book! When Miles is going through
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
The Garden by Clare Beams
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
i feel lowkey very guilty for DNF'ing this one, i've been on hold for it for way too long + i've been dnf'ing so so many books lately... however, i think it's time when i start having the "who should i text for advice on whether i should dnf this book" conversation in my head and trying to convince myself that i shouldn't dnf bc of guilt over the long hold and the fact that i've been dnf'ing so much
The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4.25
Julia and James's story was so sweet and I enjoyed reading it. It was a fun and easy read, with a little depth from the war and Jasper's backstory plus Julia's parents. I wish her anxiety had been talked about more as it did feel quite glossed over but I did love the way she was blossoming in Yorkshire. The minor focus on the children was lovely, though I felt like they were definitely in the background throughout. The ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly for my taste, but I loved that she was able to stand up for herself <3
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
funny
fast-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
Maybe not a perfect 5 stars but it was soo funny!! I found myself cackling throughout at many different times. :)