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kelliemw's reviews
225 reviews
The Redwood Boys: by Anna Bouvier
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
For Real by Alexis Hall
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.
Age gaps are not my thing, reading the synopsis and knowing that this book contained one I chose to request it anyway. I have read other of Hall’s books and genuinely loved them. This is a rerelease of the book with bonus materials and I hadn’t read it before so I thought I’d give it a shot. Overall I found both MMC to be genuinely hard to like. They both came with way too many hang ups and while some of them were resolved, I didn’t find the resolutions to be satisfying. As far as the kink in this, I am not an expert in the BDSM scene but the lack of negotiation, and sometimes what felt like coercion was uncomfortable for me. The lack of even using safe words and joking once about the use of a safe word after an attempted scene was uncouth.
I wish I could have enjoyed it more considering how much I enjoyed other books by this author but not every book is for everyone.
Age gaps are not my thing, reading the synopsis and knowing that this book contained one I chose to request it anyway. I have read other of Hall’s books and genuinely loved them. This is a rerelease of the book with bonus materials and I hadn’t read it before so I thought I’d give it a shot. Overall I found both MMC to be genuinely hard to like. They both came with way too many hang ups and while some of them were resolved, I didn’t find the resolutions to be satisfying. As far as the kink in this, I am not an expert in the BDSM scene but the lack of negotiation, and sometimes what felt like coercion was uncomfortable for me. The lack of even using safe words and joking once about the use of a safe word after an attempted scene was uncouth.
I wish I could have enjoyed it more considering how much I enjoyed other books by this author but not every book is for everyone.
The Other Ones by Fran Hart
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you Chicken House and NetGalley for the eArc!
This was a quick and cute read. Salem like most teens is haunted by much more than just what everyone in town believes is haunting him. The misfit bunch of friends fits together so nicely, I truly couldn’t dislike a single one of them. I think all of us can relate to the struggles of wanting to fit in, loss, and figuring out who we are. My only complaint would be that I wished it was longer so there could be more elaboration in some parts.
This was a quick and cute read. Salem like most teens is haunted by much more than just what everyone in town believes is haunting him. The misfit bunch of friends fits together so nicely, I truly couldn’t dislike a single one of them. I think all of us can relate to the struggles of wanting to fit in, loss, and figuring out who we are. My only complaint would be that I wished it was longer so there could be more elaboration in some parts.
A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you Scholastic and NetGalley for the eARC. If you’re a fan of twisted mysteries this is for you. This is like a much more dark Natalie D Richard’s novel. Cal and Luke are truly the poet and the painter together. Every time I thought I had something figured out a small detail would add another layer and keep me guessing. I truly wasn’t expecting the ending and thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Out of Left Field by Jonah Newman
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Triple Sec by TJ Alexander
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for the eArc. After reading Chef’s kiss and having some feelings over how some of the content was handled I was nervous about this book. Firstly, I am not Poly nor do I have experience with Polyamory so I cannot speak to the accuracy of that portrayal. I will say I enjoyed how misgendering and genderqueer/nonbinary characters were handled this time around. Was some of the relationship building rushed? Yes. Did I want more development before certain changes? Also yes. Overall I was hooked from the moment I started reading. Mel was a likeable MC and I felt like she grew and dealt with her issues reasonably.
Toward Eternity by Anton Hur
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I will say the synopsis drew me in but in the end this book wasn’t for me. The slight bit of mystery and sci fi wasn’t enough to keep me entranced. The introspective nature of the entire novel isn’t something I typically am interested in and the synopsis didn’t lead me to believe that would be a large portion of the book. However, the authors writing and the concept are still wonderful and I did enjoy aspects of the book.