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saveyourtears's reviews
685 reviews
A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year by Jackie Lau
emotional
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? No
4.0
Thought the theme of living in a small town and why you would choose to do was interesting in this book. For it being a friends to lovers (which is not my favorite) I thought the romance was great. All of the winter themed fake dating outings were cute. I like that he truly respects her as a friend. My favorite scene: where she score the winning goal in their ice hockey match
You Had Me at Merlot by Melissa Brayden
The book is about Jamie and Leighton, two women living in New York City from very different backgrounds. It seems love at first sight when Leighton enters Jamie’s coffee/wine/donut café. But is love really that easy?
The best part of the book was that the obvious conflict is central to the plot. Often in romance novels what goes wrong in a relationship is forgiven quickly at the last 10% of the book. But here the conflict is early in the book. Which gives Brayden the opportunity to really make her characters work for conflict resolution and forgiveness.
Given that this was my favorite part, what I liked less was the conflict introduced in the last third of the book. Just when they are getting closer, both Leighton and Jamie pursue other relationships. This felt really unnecessary and makes them dishonest about their feelings. I would have liked it way more if trust and forgiveness played a larger role there.
It’s obvious that a bunch of couples from previous books make an appearance, and I think you’d get more out of the side characters if you’ve read more of Brayden’s books. Which maybe makes the side characters feel flat because I had no background for most of the other characters.
In the end I think the book had a lot of potential but did not give me what I wanted from it.
CW: cancer diagnosis and death of dad (minor), grief
3.0
First Position by Melissa Brayden is one of my favorite romances of all time. So I was really excited to read her newest one.
The book is about Jamie and Leighton, two women living in New York City from very different backgrounds. It seems love at first sight when Leighton enters Jamie’s coffee/wine/donut café. But is love really that easy?
The best part of the book was that the obvious conflict is central to the plot. Often in romance novels what goes wrong in a relationship is forgiven quickly at the last 10% of the book. But here the conflict is early in the book. Which gives Brayden the opportunity to really make her characters work for conflict resolution and forgiveness.
Given that this was my favorite part, what I liked less was the conflict introduced in the last third of the book. Just when they are getting closer, both Leighton and Jamie pursue other relationships. This felt really unnecessary and makes them dishonest about their feelings. I would have liked it way more if trust and forgiveness played a larger role there.
It’s obvious that a bunch of couples from previous books make an appearance, and I think you’d get more out of the side characters if you’ve read more of Brayden’s books. Which maybe makes the side characters feel flat because I had no background for most of the other characters.
In the end I think the book had a lot of potential but did not give me what I wanted from it.
Thank you Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CW:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Grief
Habitus by Radna Fabias
4.5
Als iemand die niet veel poëzie leest vond ik deze bundel heel leesbaar. De bijschrijvingen zetten een goed beeld neer en het was voor mij mogelijk om achter de betekenis te komen. De onderwerpen die aanbod komen in de bundel zijn belangrijk en de stem en mening van Radna Fabias waren goed om te horen.
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
What I liked about the book:
The descriptions off delicious food.
Reading about a side of Miami I've never read about before.
The fact that the main character is an anthropologist.
The actual sleuthing the main character does.
What I did not like:
The relationship tensionthat was mostly caused by Miriam jumping to conclusions and them not talking to each other.
The speed of the mysteryI'd figured out who it was way before the end so the book could have been shorter.
AlsoI would not be amused if my partner would not protect me against their parent and would refuse to give me insight into our finances. I did not see the appeal of Robert. A bit of lesser issue but I'd also be really disappointed if my partner concluded so quickly I was cheating on them.
The descriptions off delicious food.
Reading about a side of Miami I've never read about before.
The fact that the main character is an anthropologist.
The actual sleuthing the main character does.
What I did not like:
The relationship tension
The speed of the mystery
Also