teereadsbooks's reviews
748 reviews

The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert

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emotional funny 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? N/A

4.75

Honestly, this is what I envision a fun and cozy Christmas romance to be. This is the epitome of the grumpy/sunshine trope in the best way. Grumpy Paul enlists the help of his sunshiney Christmas elf neighbor, Gideon, to turn his house into a picturesque Christmas winter wonderland. This story is funny, sweet, and oh so endearing. Both Paul and Gideon are super interesting characters, which really helps in this character driven story. They are both complex and complicated, but so real and believable. This is full of emotion, so it's not *just* a silly little rom-com. I had a lot of fun with this read, and it gave me so much queer Christmas joy.
False Comeback by Lily Mayne

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emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wow. This one is somehow my favorite in this series so far. I was not expecting that. I have absolutely loved the world of Goliaths. It's super fun, ridiculous, and oddly heartfelt. This one managed to surpass everything else. The chemistry between Vince and Crossbody was electric and something you couldn't ignore. I was hooked from the very beginning. This had everything the other books had, but so much more. This one was even more full of emotion alongside the humor. I really loved the balance Lily Mayne created here. The plot was super interesting, and the pacing felt spot on in this one. I really loved the Frank and Beans support group. I probably shouldn't laugh at other people's trauma, but it's Lily Mayne's fault. She made me do it. This is a perfect addition to this series and is definitely worth the read. And, of course, I'm already looking forward to the next book!
Hook-up to Holidate by Rose Santoriello

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I enjoyed this so much! While being a sweet and cozy read full of queer holiday happiness, it also addresses some serious topics, like strained familial relationships and other mental health struggles. This story was so comforting and just felt like a hug for the whole read. The world building was super interesting as well. We have a new world after a big event changed up everything, and let me just say it sounds like a definite improvement (I mean, come on. No career politicians? Yes, please!). The magic is whimsical, the romance is super sweet (ugh, Vega has my heart forever), and Indy is a super interesting and layered character. This novella really packed a punch, and I am here for it. Oh, and the smut was amazing as well, so that's just the cherry on top of everything. This is definitely worth checking out!
Help! I'm the Big City Boy in My Christmas Comfort Movie by Joel Abernathy

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

This was super fun and kind of ridiculous at times. The premise is super interesting. Matthew is a very well developed character, but I wanted more from Ben. Ben was super intriguing, but it felt like a lot of his stuff was super surface level. The romance and story are super cute, but the pacing felt a little rushed at times. This is super insta-lusty/insta-lovey, and there was a small time jump of sorts, and they were talking about being in love all of a sudden. I had a lot of fun with this, and I enjoyed it so much, I really ate this one up, but I really wanted more time with the story and to get more from Ben's character. That said, this is a great and unique cozy holiday read.
Catered All the Way by Annabeth Albert

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emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.25

Sweet and Christmasy. That's exactly what I was looking for. This is a super low angst story and heavy on the holiday vibes. If you want a fun and simple holiday romance, this is perfect for that. I will say, as much as I liked Atlas and Zeb as individual characters, I sometimes struggled to see their chemistry. It felt like it took way too long for them to finally have "the talk." That said, this is thoroughly enjoyable and easy for the brain.
Merry and Bright by Riley Nash

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I loved these super cozy and slightly spicy little novellas. It is so nice reading something super low angst after everything these characters have gone through. I love these characters so much, and I love the little found family they have all created with each other. I really think it's impossible for me to read anything by Riley Nash and not like it. It's hard for me to put everything I loved about this into words, I just really loved it. There's something that felt like coming home in these two short stories that had me feeling warm and fuzzy. If you have read the rest of this series, this is the perfect comfort holiday read. 
Under the Dragon Moon by Mawce Hanlin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

This magical world is super intriguing. The writing is definitely good. It is very descriptive, and the world building is very well done. I really loved the trans rep in this one, and it's especially interesting how it was presented here and relates to the magic system we have in this story. I especially loved the autism rep. Mael's autism was very much a part of the story, and I found the magical ways he used to cope, stim, etc., to be super interesting to see while also being very relatable. The romance that grows between Mael and Leo was actually rather sweet, and it felt like their journey was so natural. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. My one issue was the pacing. There were times it felt like the story moved along perfectly, then there were times it felt like it was dragging, and it was a struggle to keep with it. I'm so glad I did, though. I really look forward to more stories from this universe.
A Handyman for the Holidays by Valerie Gomez

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emotional hopeful 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? N/A

4.5

I had so much fun with this one. It's super short and sweet but jam-packed with plenty of emotion. I really loved the verbal apraxia rep in this one. It's not something you see represented very often, and it was done very well. There's also some amazing deaf/hoh rep as well. I just really loved the coziness and sweetness of the story. It was short but never felt rushed. This really is a perfect little holiday read to lift your spirits.
Forgotten Vows by Lily Mayne

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Ohhh, I think I love this a little more than book one. We really get into it with this book. Ash has shed his mortal skin, so he is experiencing a lot of different things... along with a certain vow to forget a certain someone. I was so happy to get Lonan's POV in this book. I really enjoyed getting a more in-depth look into his character. This was super emotional, and I also really enjoyed the political intrigue we have going on. Overall, this was a good time. The pacing was a lot more consistent in this one, and the story kept moving forward. I loved this one, and I was so happy with the HFN we get, but there's still some cliffhangery vibes. Needless to say, I am excited to read book three. 
And All Their Stars by Riley Nash

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emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

How does Riley Nash do it? This is a short little novella full of so many emotions. I loved getting this super low angst look into Jonah and Gray's new life together. This is super sweet and super emotional, but also so heartwarming. I enjoyed this so so much. It's definitely worth the read if you have read Make Me Fall.