Number of Books Read: 9
Top Moods: Emotional & light-hearted
Paced: Majority medium; some fast; seldom slow
Length: Mostly 300-499
Most frequent genres: Romance, contemporary, young adult
Format: 89% print; 11% digital
Something Wilder // Christina Lauren
4 stars
This is my first Christina Lauren book, and it got a TON of hype on bookstagram so I had to read! I also loved the cover.
Lily and Leo are a classic second-chance love story. The plot was fun and refreshingly different from your typical romance in that there were several sub-plots – a treasure hunt, a family ranch, career questions, surviving in the desolate Utah terrain. I went through this book incredibly quickly and enjoyed my time doing it! The writing did feel a bit juvenile at times, and I wasn’t expecting all of the violence that started seemingly out of nowhere, but it’s not too graphic. Just seemed out of place. Also feel like death was handled a little cavalierly. Other than that, it was entertaining and I liked the setting!
The Princess Diaries // Meg Cabot
4 stars
This was a blast from the past in the best way. The first of eleven installments, Princess Diaries is a story told entirely in journal format from the perspective of Mia Thermopolis, a.k.a. Princess of Genovia. I read these books YEARS ago and was looking for an easy breezy read that was entertaining and quick. This is super girly and super fun, and you’re sure to find something relatable in Mia’s endless freshman year debacles. While the plot and character development may not be quite as hefty as other young adult novels, the sheer entertainment and style get 4 stars from me.
How Could She // Lauren Mechling
3 Stars
A story of womanhood and the hills and valleys of female friendship, How Could She was a well-written journey through the lives of three women who are all very different. While they started in similar places through their careers, each of them has taken a different path.
Definitely a character-driven story, I am realizing I am just not a fan of literary fiction. I was entertained and not too tempted to put it down, but I can’t say I enjoyed this book or that I’d recommend it. The writing was excellent and the characters were all likable and hateable in their own ways, which must mean there’s something about them that works. However, I spent the entire book waiting for something to happen. The Thanksgiving scene was arguably the most explosive, and still . . . nothing even really happened? I don’t know. I should stick with fun books that don’t make me question my future marriage from now on I think. Ha.
4 stars
Majesty is the second installment in what is perhaps my new favorite series, American Royals. The premise is essentially, what if George Washington became America’s first king instead of first president? The stars of the show are the modern-day American royal family and some adjacent characters. This book is charming, and it’s told from multi-POVs that will capture both your heart and your attention. If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.
City of Bones // Cassandra Clare
4 Stars
I am doing a re-read of The Mortal Instruments with a few friends, and it has my attention WAY more than it did on my first go-around a few years ago! This debut novel in the Shadowhunters universe and TMI series is an excellent first act. The characters are introduced and the scene is set – Clary and Jace have a budding romance with the (possibly irritating) love triangle formed by Simon, Magnus Bane is a babe, Alec is broody, Isabelle is fabulous. Clary must find out who her mother is and uncover a number of lies she’s been told about who she is for her entire life, all while trying to rescue her mother and learn about the inner workings of the Shadowhunter way of life.
** I read The Infernal Devices first, and they are my first love. However, this series is excellent if you loved the Shadowhunter universe and want to continue reading. And yes, I know I should have read TMI first, but I love a good chronological order – what can I say?
Pub Date: Sep 20, 2022
4 stars
When in Rome is a charming small-town romance with a big-town cast of characters. The story begins by international pop sensation Rae Rose attempting to escape her lavish and seemingly glitzy existence for the quaint town of Rome, Kentucky (the nearest Rome available, since the Italian edition is out of the question). Much to her dismay, her car breaks down in the front yard of someone she’s sure is hellbent on murdering her. Instead, she finds grumpy-but-endearing Noah Walker, who for all of his bluster and frowning is really quite nurturing. Queue Nicholas Sparks falling-in-love montage.
I loved this book and read it in approximately four hours from start to finish. If you love Gilmore Girls, think of this as a Luke Danes and Lorelai Gilmore love story in an alternate universe. I honestly did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I found the dual-perspective of Amelia/Rae and Noah a compelling insight into both of their psyches, and I wasn’t annoyed by either of them, which is shocking since their final conflict basically boiled down to: TALK TO EACH OTHER. I also loved all of Noah’s sisters and found his relationship with James incredibly fun. Sometimes I think grumpy-sunshine tropes can be overdone, but Sarah hit it just right.
For me, the story did drag a little bit at the beginning, but other than that, a great beach read that will make you wish your car broke down in some hunky man’s driveway.
Without Merit // Colleen Hoover
2 stars
I did not like this book. I am very stingy with star ratings to begin with, but this one was rough. The whole book felt incredibly disjointed. There were random characters with random things happening, pretty much not a single character was likable. Even my favorite, Sagan, seemed willing to just . . . make out with his friend without getting any clarity on the situation whatsoever? Merit’s uncle almost sleeps with her, KNOWING THAT HE IS HER UNCLE, and then backs out because she looks like his nephew. But, don’t worry, it might also have been because he’s gay. Then there’s this realization that a member of the family molested merit as a child, or at the very least, attempted to. Then there was all of the sudden a suicide attempt, and everyone kind of brushed it aside except Sagan, who decides giving Merit a home-made tattoo is a great coping mechanism? I don’t know man, this book was wild. I’d give it one star except that I did actually finish reading it and I couldn’t find any issues with the writing style itself, just the content. In a word: yikes.
The Assassin’s Blade // Sarah J. Maas
5 stars
The Assassin’s Blade is actually a series of five novellas that precede the Throne of Glass series. There is controversy as to whether these should be read first (chronologically) or fourth or fifth I believe. I read them first, as I love chronological order, and I’m glad I did. I felt like I really got to know Celaena’s character from some strong writing, and I went into Throne of Glass excited and expectant and I was NOT disappointed. I haven’t finished the series yet, so I can’t tell you how this ends up impacting my reading later, but these novellas tore my entire heart out and stomped on it and I’m terrified for the rest of the series. Recommend!
4 stars
I LOVED this book. It was charming, witty, and fun, while still carrying emotional depth that grounded the story and the characters. I would marry Gus and I will frankly be upset if January doesn’t. This is my second Emily Henry romance novel, and this far surpasses People We Meet on Vacation (and I LOVED PWMOV). It did drag a bit at the beginning for me, but I was also juggling reading this while on a 12-day road trip which could have contributed. Read this book! You will not regret it.