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_bookishbrina's reviews
604 reviews
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
2.5
Rating: 2.5/5
« I don’t think they planned to be gone for very long. Certainly not forever. »
Riley Sager hits us with another… medium book. I’m super sad, he used to be my go-to for thrillers and suspense and now it’d my 3rd book of him that makes me feel very meh.
80% of the story is quite repetitive and boring. The last 20% picked up the pace - however we are left with many loose ends and also, the whole thing - the culprit, the motives - were quite boring. There one, ONE, « oh my gosh?! » moment in the whole book.
Also, Riley baby, I BEG of you to start writing women that make sense.
« She stood up to me last night, which took major ovaries. » Never had it been said before - NEVER.
We did get some gems once in a while, like : « Two truths and a lie isn’t just a game. For most people, it’s a lifestyle. »
But we also got some clichés like : « Yes, boys can break your heart and betray you, but not in the same stinging way girls can. » okay?
Also, it is not necessary to put romance if it’s going to be as sexy as a cold dead fish.
« I don’t think they planned to be gone for very long. Certainly not forever. »
Riley Sager hits us with another… medium book. I’m super sad, he used to be my go-to for thrillers and suspense and now it’d my 3rd book of him that makes me feel very meh.
80% of the story is quite repetitive and boring. The last 20% picked up the pace - however we are left with many loose ends and also, the whole thing - the culprit, the motives - were quite boring. There one, ONE, « oh my gosh?! » moment in the whole book.
Also, Riley baby, I BEG of you to start writing women that make sense.
« She stood up to me last night, which took major ovaries. » Never had it been said before - NEVER.
We did get some gems once in a while, like : « Two truths and a lie isn’t just a game. For most people, it’s a lifestyle. »
But we also got some clichés like : « Yes, boys can break your heart and betray you, but not in the same stinging way girls can. » okay?
Also, it is not necessary to put romance if it’s going to be as sexy as a cold dead fish.
Finn Rhodes Forever by Stephanie Archer
fast-paced
3.25
Out of the four brothers and books, this one was my favorite.
« Finn had always been my kryptonite, but as an adult? With the tattoos, his filled-out form, and the sparkle in his eyes? If I didn’t hate him so much, he’d be irresistible. »
✅ friends to lovers to enemies to lovers (yes, it’s complicated)
✅major « how to lose a guy in 10 days » vibes
✅miscommunication
✅ absent father / avoidant attachement issues
✅ light dom / sub dynamic
❌ as per usual, skillful writing ? no where in sight - at least I did not notice copying and pasting from previous books in the serie
Olivia was my favorite love interest from the serie as well, she’s fiery but not cliché.
« I’m going to cut your boxers into thongs tonight. »
I’m taking notes for my own threat book ✍️
« I’d cover that nose with kisses if I didn’t think she’d punch me in the d*ck. » (that one made me cackle.)
« Finn had always been my kryptonite, but as an adult? With the tattoos, his filled-out form, and the sparkle in his eyes? If I didn’t hate him so much, he’d be irresistible. »
✅ friends to lovers to enemies to lovers (yes, it’s complicated)
✅major « how to lose a guy in 10 days » vibes
✅miscommunication
✅ absent father / avoidant attachement issues
✅ light dom / sub dynamic
❌ as per usual, skillful writing ? no where in sight - at least I did not notice copying and pasting from previous books in the serie
Olivia was my favorite love interest from the serie as well, she’s fiery but not cliché.
« I’m going to cut your boxers into thongs tonight. »
I’m taking notes for my own threat book ✍️
« I’d cover that nose with kisses if I didn’t think she’d punch me in the d*ck. » (that one made me cackle.)
L'Auberge de la vie, Tome 01 by Nozo Itoi
dark
emotional
funny
3.25
Interesting start, but frantic dialogue that’s a bit confusing.
In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes by Stephanie Archer
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Her perspective:
« He made sure I knew how unwelcome I was here. Every time I even thought about coming back, I remembered how he couldn’t bear to be around me that summer. Dick. »
His perspective:
« I wanted to listen to her talk, wanted to wrap that shiny hair around my fist and tilt her head back so I could look into her eyes, and I wanted her to smile at me. »
-
Was it good? No. Did I have a good time? T’was okay. But sometimes, we had some great moments, hence the 3 stars.
✅ grumpy x sunshine
✅ banter
✅ matchmaker
✅ forced proximity due to heritage
✅ control-freak grump who doesn’t smile
✅ fun gal dancing on bar top and doing belly shots
⛔️ profound and skillful writing
« Oh my god, I love this. So the sad Sasquatch man wants a companion. That’s so cute. (…) Have you tried kidnapping? Sometimes that goes okay. It’d called Stockholm syndrome. »
« He made sure I knew how unwelcome I was here. Every time I even thought about coming back, I remembered how he couldn’t bear to be around me that summer. Dick. »
His perspective:
« I wanted to listen to her talk, wanted to wrap that shiny hair around my fist and tilt her head back so I could look into her eyes, and I wanted her to smile at me. »
-
Was it good? No. Did I have a good time? T’was okay. But sometimes, we had some great moments, hence the 3 stars.
✅ grumpy x sunshine
✅ banter
✅ matchmaker
✅ forced proximity due to heritage
✅ control-freak grump who doesn’t smile
✅ fun gal dancing on bar top and doing belly shots
⛔️ profound and skillful writing
« Oh my god, I love this. So the sad Sasquatch man wants a companion. That’s so cute. (…) Have you tried kidnapping? Sometimes that goes okay. It’d called Stockholm syndrome. »
That Kind of Guy by Stephanie Archer
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
From « It was good, and she hated that it was good, and something about that made me very, very happy. » to « I knew two conflicted truths: I wanted Avery, and I wasn’t the kind who settled down. » to « I miss you too, Adams. »
✅ fake dating, fake engagement
✅ bachelor falls in love with miss strong independant woman
✅ good banter, made me cackle
✅ charming small town
⛔️ again with the « i want to put a baby in her? » seriously? Y’all need to chill down with the pregnancy k*nk, babies are not even affordable
⛔️ sloppy and lazy writing, she copies herself from one book to another (‘heart, meet sledgehammer’, ‘i have morning breath, don’t care’) WORD FOR WORD sentences between books
✅ fake dating, fake engagement
✅ bachelor falls in love with miss strong independant woman
✅ good banter, made me cackle
✅ charming small town
⛔️ again with the « i want to put a baby in her? » seriously? Y’all need to chill down with the pregnancy k*nk, babies are not even affordable
⛔️ sloppy and lazy writing, she copies herself from one book to another (‘heart, meet sledgehammer’, ‘i have morning breath, don’t care’) WORD FOR WORD sentences between books