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chai_and_books's reviews
129 reviews
Live, Ranch, Love by Emma Lucy
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
this book had a cute hallmark rom com energy to it. like you had the wellness influencer city girl who's losing inspiration and suddenly she's in a small town stuck with a grumpy rancher and they have to learn to deal with each other. there's drama with their exes and an airport scene with a grand declaration of love.
good read for a road trip to a small town or something
good read for a road trip to a small town or something
- small town
- forced proximity
- cowboy x city girl
- american mmc x british fmc
- dislike to love
- grumpy x sunshine
- she falls first but he falls harder
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest by Micalea Smeltzer
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
What was the diet pills subplot about?
A lot of things conveniently happen to the characters in this universe, and honestly, good for them.
A lot of things conveniently happen to the characters in this universe, and honestly, good for them.
Clean Point by Meg Jones
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
it was a fun read but I just felt like something was missing
I get Scottie was vengeful but she was giving NO ONE HAS MADE THIS DRAMATIC OF A CHANGE IN MY GENERATION-
the old man jokes were icky to me sorry
The ending was so rushed like one minute her enemy was betraying her the other she was ready to work with her girl-
I get Scottie was vengeful but she was giving NO ONE HAS MADE THIS DRAMATIC OF A CHANGE IN MY GENERATION-
the old man jokes were icky to me sorry
- sports romance (tennis)
- grumpy x sunshine
- age gap
- dislike to love
Kulti by Mariana Zapata
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
3.5
Prefacing this by saying Mariana Zapata is one of my best friend's favorite authors and this is one her favorite books by her. It was cute and I read it relatively quickly. I know Mariana's MO and I have enjoyed her slow burns in the past. This one was no different. I really like how Sal was unapologetically herself and she reminded a lot of Jasmine from 'From Lukov With Love'. However, there were a few things that I wish were different:
1. Sal's relationship with her brother. The whole book we're told they're close but we see them talk like twice. And I get that they're busy with their own lives but idk I just feel that could've been shown better. And the whole thing with Kulti injuring Sal's brother had no pay off like it was an issue one second and no issue the other.
2. The sexism was icky. Like I get girls can get mean and catty but that was not a reason for the blatant name calling every other paragraph- by Sal and the other girls. The redeeming factor was Sal having friends in the team and being nice to the younger girls in the team.
3. 'The/My German' and 'brown-green orbs' was giving Wattpad circa 2015. His nickname for her was, decidedly, better.
4. How the DUI matter was handled- I wish there was more accountability by Kulti and how that was dangerous for him and the people around him
But overall, it was cheesy and endearing and something I might reread on a rainy day.
1. Sal's relationship with her brother. The whole book we're told they're close but we see them talk like twice. And I get that they're busy with their own lives but idk I just feel that could've been shown better. And the whole thing with Kulti injuring Sal's brother had no pay off like it was an issue one second and no issue the other.
2. The sexism was icky. Like I get girls can get mean and catty but that was not a reason for the blatant name calling every other paragraph- by Sal and the other girls. The redeeming factor was Sal having friends in the team and being nice to the younger girls in the team.
3. 'The/My German' and 'brown-green orbs' was giving Wattpad circa 2015. His nickname for her was, decidedly, better.
4. How the DUI matter was handled- I wish there was more accountability by Kulti and how that was dangerous for him and the people around him
But overall, it was cheesy and endearing and something I might reread on a rainy day.
- enemies to friends to lovers
- celebrity romance (she was a fan of his)
- forbidden romance (he's her coach)
- sports romance
- BANTER
- slow burn
- age gap
The Devil You Know by Veronica Eden
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
It read more like a ya than a na romance and Tate and Cooper had their cute moments (esp the notes) and the emphasis on choosing a career was nice to give the characters direction
BUT
1. The tik tok thing was so funny to me and Cooper was giving Bryce Hall 2020 energy so- (it was a big no)
2. The miscommunication at the end please- and when he removed her name and red heart from his Instagram bio I was dying like why was this mentioned
3. Spilling his guts on tik tok INSTEAD OF TALKING TO HER and the whole college being invested- ok.
BUT
1. The tik tok thing was so funny to me and Cooper was giving Bryce Hall 2020 energy so- (it was a big no)
3. Spilling his guts on tik tok INSTEAD OF TALKING TO HER and the whole college being invested- ok.
- brother's best friend
- neighbors
- fake dating
- college romance
- forced proximity
- boy obsessed
That Kind of Guy by Stephanie Archer
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
The book was fine and the small town setting and characters were cute but Emmett's thoughts were just-
" I might have been handsome, but damn if I wasn’t a genius as well."
“That’s why you don’t like me. Because you’re gay.”
SIR- PLEASE.
I just wish Avery had dished out more to him. Like she hated him one second and was head over heels for him the next. And the issue at the end wrapped up pretty quickly which was underwhelming. Anyway, they had their nice moments so good 4 them.
“That’s why you don’t like me. Because you’re gay.”
SIR- PLEASE.
I just wish Avery had dished out more to him. Like she hated him one second and was head over heels for him the next. And the issue at the end wrapped up pretty quickly which was underwhelming. Anyway, they had their nice moments so good 4 them.
- fake engagement turned marriage of convenience
- dislike to love
- small town
- boy obsessed
- banter
- dual pov
Otherwise Engaged: A Fake Engagement Romance by Avery Keelan
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had so much fun reading this- it was dramatic and over-the-top but in the best way possible. Like a more upbeat version of The Paradise Problem. Like 2 rich childhood turned enemies pretending to be together to save face- please. Thayer especially- she was so type A I loved her.
Their high school flash backs were the sweetest.
Was the premise silly at times? Yes. Were some ends left loose at the end (what happened to Millie? and Bennet's mother? ) Yes.
But I ate it up especially after the slow af book I read before this.
Their high school flash backs were the sweetest.
Was the premise silly at times? Yes. Were some ends left loose at the end (
But I ate it up especially after the slow af book I read before this.
- childhood friends to enemies to lovers
- fake dating/ engagement
- BANTER
- one bed
- vacation romance
- reverse grumpy x sunshine
- second chance (ish)
Line of Scrimmage by Erin MacKenzie
slow-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? No
2.0
Was the build up in the room with us?
It wasn't necessarily bad but everything between Abby and Ford played out in the first 20 pages so it's just a drag from there. It took me 2 days to finish when I usually inhale these types of books.
It wasn't necessarily bad but everything between Abby and Ford played out in the first 20 pages so it's just a drag from there. It took me 2 days to finish when I usually inhale these types of books.
- brother's best friend
- sports romance
- insta love
- grumpy x sunshine
- friends w benefits to lovers
Before We Came by Sloane St. James
mysterious
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
2.0
This book was so promising like the plot was so interesting with the whole mystery surrounding Birdie's childhood but the romantic storyline was so off putting. Like I was genuinely more interested in the mystery than her getting together with Lonan.
Like if you want me to root for them atleast make the mmc likeable. Bridget was a sweetheart. She was dealing with this extremely traumatic experience with so much grace and dignity and trying to figure out how to move forward and this dude is just throwing himself a pity party. GIVE HER SPACE READ THE ROOM PLEASE.
And are we just moving past the whole leaking her story to keep her from going back to Canada and forcing her to stay with him but make it seem like a favor out of the goodness of his heart. NO. It wasn't cute or sweet- it was creepy and manipulative. Ahhh he was so annoying.
Bridget's family was sweet and her friendship with Mickey was v wholesome except the two minutes Mickey was encouraging Lonan to wait (but I'll look past that)
I wish the kidnapping story got more attention than the romance because there was so little about it and the ending didn't feel as satisfying for her arc.
Long story short, Bridget is the sweetest and deserves the world (not Lonan)
Like if you want me to root for them atleast make the mmc likeable. Bridget was a sweetheart. She was dealing with this extremely traumatic experience with so much grace and dignity and trying to figure out how to move forward and this dude is just throwing himself a pity party. GIVE HER SPACE READ THE ROOM PLEASE.
Bridget's family was sweet and her friendship with Mickey was v wholesome except the two minutes Mickey was encouraging Lonan to wait (but I'll look past that)
I wish the kidnapping story got more attention than the romance because there was so little about it and the ending didn't feel as satisfying for her arc.
Long story short, Bridget is the sweetest and deserves the world (not Lonan)
- childhood friends to strangers to lovers
- hockey romance
- mystery
- brother's best friend
Bright Lights & Summer Nights by Kat Singleton
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
this was the third fake dating for the sake of the main character's relative's wedding I've read this week. it was fine.
like the first half was okay- they meet (she was sneaking into a private party)- his reason for requiring a (fake) date was lame but ok we'll roll with it- they're together for a week A WEEK and it's like they were meant to be
but the second half with the time skips and that unnecessary third break up- please what was that? it genuinely felt like I was missing out on parts of the story due to the jumps
the characters were boring and inconsistent to me- emma was this quirky girl who started influencing because she didn't know what to do with her life and preston was a grumpy football player but he was least interested in it but then super into it idk
and the ending was SO cheesy- like I know it's supposed to be cheesy and usually I eat it up but come on-she wins an influencer award and his grandma convinces her to reunite with him just as he wins his last Superbowl and then they have a 'where's the trophy he just comes running over to me' moment STOP.
like the first half was okay- they meet (she was sneaking into a private party)- his reason for requiring a (fake) date was lame but ok we'll roll with it- they're together for a week A WEEK and it's like they were meant to be
but the second half with the time skips and that unnecessary third break up- please what was that? it genuinely felt like I was missing out on parts of the story due to the jumps
the characters were boring and inconsistent to me- emma was this quirky girl who started influencing because she didn't know what to do with her life and preston was a grumpy football player but he was least interested in it but then super into it idk
and the ending was SO cheesy- like I know it's supposed to be cheesy and usually I eat it up but come on-
- billionaire romance
- fake dating
- football player mmc
- influencer fmc
- age gap
- third act break up