baexlee's reviews
72 reviews

Make Me by Tessa Bailey

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lighthearted medium-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

2.25

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

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hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.25

Pucked by Helena Hunting

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
If I never have to read about her boobs bouncing bouncily or her fucking beaver again it will still be too soon. Seriously “playing stuff the beaver” is a consistently used euphemism for sex. 
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Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 92%.
I gave up because of how angry I was. Ultimately all I ask is a little bit of realism in the conversations, the final argument between the main characters makes me feel like I’m bashing my head into a wall. Do not read this book if you’re trying to relax. 
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book is… just all right, it scratches the particular romantic genre itch but nothing about it was special. Unfortunately hearing it in audiobook format made the experience worse because I had a hard time with the narrator, I could hear her breathing under the lines and it just really bothered me about the recording itself, but otherwise it was a fine book that was a fine time.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Realistically maybe if I had read this book it may have been a different story. But as soon as I heard the narrator use soon twice nearly five words apart in a sentence after I had been overlooking NUMEROUS egregious long winded and internal monologues from the main character. I can't remember where the recommendation came from but the description of the book online is intentionally vague because the author wrote themselves into an impossible plot corner before even starting the romance. I love a good enemies to lovers, and I especially love a good
marriage of convenience
but both tropes do require some suspension of disbelief and the author so firmly asserted the traits of the main character that is main my own immersion impossible. Now my biggest issue deals with the "ultimatum" so as to not spoil anyone who might want to torture themselves with writing that feels like you are banging your head against a wall (pun intended) the rest is below. 

This book is about a marriage of convenience in order to trick the government to allow the main love interest to stay in the country. Had I know more details of the plot, I would not have picked up the book, I would not have spent money on it, and I would not have supported it in any way. Maybe some people can read misconceptions about deeply personal situations that they have been through, but I cannot willingly read harmful and painful stereotypes about the type of residency my partner is living on, and read a dramatized watered down and romanticized version of everything we went through for the plot of a romance novel. Maybe the book got better, I will never know, because realistically as soon as I heard the ultimatum was Aiden offering to pay off Vanessa's student loans and buy her a house if she married him for five years? Nah. You've lost me.
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It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25