beckyyreadss's reviews
748 reviews

I wanted to read this book because anything that Tessa Bailey writes, I’ll read. It's simple as that. I adored the first book in this series and hoped that this one would follow. However, I was slightly disappointed compared to Fangirl Down. 

This book has two points of view. The first is Tallulah. She is smart, vivacious and studying to be a marine biologist. She is also twenty-six and broke. So when Burgess, a battle-scarred hockey veteran and newly single dad, offers her a job as his live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity to get paid while living in a super fancy neighbourhood and being around Lissa, his cool but introverted tween. Tallulah wants to keep her head down and get through school without getting any more attention, even though she needs the money from Burgess, she is nervous about living with him and has even asked for extra security measures to be taken. The second point of view is Burgess, he believes his tween daughter needs help with fitting in at school and according to everyone besides Burgess, he needs to get back on the dating scene and Tallulah has decided to show him how. But as the boundaries set by both of them are slowly crossed and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents to get back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah, a huge rift is formed, and Tallulah does the right thing and breaks her own heart and walks away. Though Burgess knows it’s for the best – he's too jaded, with too much baggage – a chance meeting, and a new push from his daughter, forces him to put everything on the line and fight to prove he learned his lessons well and is worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah.  

So unlike Fangirl Down where both are on a character development journey, Burgess has his character development within the last five chapters, the rest of the novel he is a possessive, non-communicated asshole. Burgess knew that Tallulah had gone through hell with her ex/stalker and then says lines that makes me want to throw up and I've not even had a stalker, but if I had a stalker, I would have run for the hills with the way he was talking to Tallulah. Tallulah sort of had a character development as she grows to be more confident but again, they just didn’t speak about the important things and then was wondering why they ended up having a huge fight over miscommunication like Jesus. Plus, if someone locked me in a cupboard for 2 days, it would take a hell of a lot more than a bodyguard whilst doing stupid shit to get over it. She needed therapy. I think it didn’t help that we had such a perfect boyfriend and slow burn with Wells and Josephine and then this book was quite small and besides the smut there wasn’t really anything there, I was waiting and hoping for more. Like the stalker to return, but he was dead so no issues. The main issue was they didn’t want people to get the wrong idea and then his daughter caught them and kicked off like, okay? I would have liked more hockey and the team rinsing Burgess and introducing themselves to Talluah and I would have liked more bonding between Lissa and Tallulah because besides Tallulah doing Lissa’s hair and helping her with lines and knowing her favourite bands, there was nothing and it was pretty basic. 

I liked the age gap aspect especially with Burgess falling first and then he fully shits himself when he realised, he fell for someone who was a lot younger than him, and he couldn’t and shouldn’t like her, but he does. The conversations they did have whilst doing things like skinny dipping and going to single mixers sort of helped moved the book along and you realised why they acted the way they did. 

I will forever read whatever Tessa Bailey writes, but I don’t think anything can top Fangirl Down with this series and I’m also scared if the next book is a stepsiblings romance with Sig and Chloe. 

I wanted to read this book because I brought a poster with 100 books to read in your lifetime. I’ve been enjoying this series but struggled with the last book Check Mate and I struggled with this book, I feel like there is just a repeated storyline with the children that have been born on the way.  

This book has multiple points of view, however the focus and point of view during this book is Tobey Durbridge. His best friend is Callie Rose, her mum is a Cross, and her dad was a Nought. Tobey is a Nought. Tobey wants a better life – for him and for Callie Rose. He wants nothing to do with the violent gangs that rule the world he lives in. But when he’s offered the chance to earn some extra money, how much could it hurt to just this once say ‘yes’? Callie Rose knows all about the danger of saying ‘yes.’ She knows about terrible mistakes, and violence and revenge, and the fierce divide between Noughts and Crosses. And knowing so much about the past makes her afraid for her future. Because sometimes, one little bad decision can change everything.  

This book is still brutal, yes, it is supposed to be a dystopian and fictional book, but it didn’t feel like it at all. This shows the way that society still is, and it made my blood boil. It just frustrates how people still be like this? This book has a strong storyline. This is a powerful book. I love how we watched Tobey go from being this innocent anti-gang boy to having to process something so traumatic and then going into the gang and getting sucked in by revenge. This book shows what hate and revenge can do to a person and how secrets can rip families apart. 

I would have loved to have the additional POVs from Tobey’s mother and sister and to see what triggered her to start using drugs. I felt like half of this book was repeating the actions of the first three books in this series. I felt like I was reading the same thing over again instead of Sephy and Callum it’s Callie and Tobey. I felt like this book could have been cut in half and we still would have got everything we needed to know and the story and the drama. 

I feel like this has dipped a bit from the original plot of the first book. I think Malorie needs to go back to the original plot of book 1 and remember why this was written rather than going off on a tangent and making a book out of it. I think this book should have ended after the third book and just kept it as a trilogy, and I don’t know how it is going to continue with books five and six.  

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the other books by Candice Carty-Williams, this book was in Waterstones during one of my visits and I couldn’t resist. It was a very quick and adorable read.  

When Empress starts at Aniya’s school, they’re not exactly best friends. Aniya is the Queen Bee at school, who never has to worry about where her next meal is, her only biggest worry is making sure she gets good grades and to live up to her parents' expectations. Empress is the opposite, she has a neglectful mother, a dad who is nowhere to be seen, she is expected to look after her little brother, and she can barely afford her school lunch. She is now at a preppy school where she is keeping her head down and trying to get through the day. On her first day at school, she gets an assigned friend of Aniya where she needs to show the ropes of the school. But the two teenage girls get closers and on their 16th birthday, they end up accidentally casting a spell and ended up switching bodies and they quickly learn that friendship is the most important magic of all. South London’s answer to ‘Freaky Friday”, Empress and Aniya is a moving portrayal of the importance of real relationship and the ups and downs of being a teenager.  

I loved the idea of this book, and I loved these two main characters. It was easy to get into. And the plot was easy to follow. Both characters were both very developed for such a short book.  I liked how they discussed serious topics within a short time, and it showed that you never know what is going on in someone’s life and to not make insensitive jokes, I would have loved for the subjects to have been discussed more deeply, it was just slightly mentioned and then moved on. 

I think the thing that I struggled with was because it was so short, a lot was glossed over, and I would have loved more. I wanted to know how Empress did once she was settled at Aniya’s house and how did Aniya’s friends react. Did Aniya stop being friends with Dani and Bolu because of how mean they were being? Did Empress’s mum fight to get her back after she had settled at home? I just wanted it longer. I felt like at times especially during the school chapters was that they were talking like they were twelve or thirteen when these girls were fifteen/sixteen, like you should be worrying about exams and your future not some girl's appearance and how she is acting.  

I would love to see how these girls are getting on at university and how Pauline is doing, maybe we could get a sequel soon 

I wanted to read this book as the first book was recommended to me by a friend and I instantly loved this series. Some of the books in this series still makes my skin crawl to this day. So, I am always looking forward to the next book in this series and Chris Carter manages to creep me out every single time.  

The main character in this book and series is a detective named Robert Hunter. He has got a new case and him and his partner Garcia has arrived at one of the most shocking crime scenes they have ever attended. In a completely unexpected turn of events, the detectives find themselves joining forces with the FBI to track down a serial killer whose hunting ground sees no borders; a psychopath who loves what he does because to him murder is much more than just killing, it’s an art form. Welcome to the Gallery of the Dead.  

The thing that gets me every time is Chris Carter manages to freak me the fuck out every time, within every single book. Enough to the point where I can’t sleep. Thie mystery and the suspense is brilliant and enough to keep you hooked and you shouldn’t be because it is disturbing but I couldn’t put it down. I was on edge and as frustrated as Robert Hunter to get this case closed. The way that both detectives were close to giving up hurt my heart. Also, I love the fact that the Robert is finally starting to be happy with Tracy and I swear if anything happens to Tracy or Garcia, I'm going to lose it. Let them be happy. The plot twist of this book when we found out who the Surgeon was had me kicking my feet because I was annoyed that I didn’t manage to guess who it was as we never actually met him within the book, it just happened, and they managed to push him aside. I love that Garcia had a shotgun in the car and that he was smart enough to bring a vest. 

Only thing I would say is a weakness, for me personally, is the short chapters. I just prefer bigger chapters. However, in this book it did fit well with Chris Carter’s writing style where it doesn’t work for me usually. I was hooked that after a while the short chapters didn’t bother me as they usually work with other authors. 
 
Overall, the book was an easy and quick read and because the writing was amazing, the storyline gives me the creeps and it was overall brilliant I gave it four stars. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and see how much Lucian is going to cause so much trouble and how much Garcia is going to want to get him as well as Robert.  

I wanted to read this book because I have seen it all over booktok and the book community. The last time it was in The Works, this was part of the 3 for £6 deal and I jumped at the chance.  

This book is a college romance based on Arianna Johnson and for years, she has dreamt of what college life could bring and while some things changed, there was always one constant. It didn’t matter how wild she allowed her imagination to run, it always led her to the same place in the end. It led her to Noah Riley. Her future was clear, and he was it. Until suddenly . . . he wasn’t. Now she is a shell of who she was, on a path too blurry to follow, and she sees no way out. No way up. They say that first loves last forever. That's exactly what she’s afraid of.  

I enjoyed the college romance aspect and how the girls were trying to live their lives and the found family and their actual families. I loved the friendship group (besides Chase, he is a complete asshole and can go and fuck himself) and how they were all so protective, but they all love each other and would fight for each other. I love that each of these boys have their own personality and I hope that each of them (again besides Chase) gets their own story and Cam and Trey get their own story. I love Cam and Brady and I hope we see more of them. I really do love how they are so fun and flirty but would also kick ass if needed.  

Arianna took a bit of time to warm up to me, mainly because of the innocent girl, I can’t make decision bullshit. I also deeply, and I mean deeply, HATEEEEE love triangles. They are the worst thing in the world and sometimes ruin a story more than miscommunication and this book had love triangles and miscommunication due to her memory loss. I also didn’t really love the memory loss and was seriously thinking that Arianna was going to end up with Chase, who didn’t get the kick in the balls that he deserved.  

This book didn’t need to be so long, it could have been cut maybe like 100 pages, but I loved Noah and Arianna together and hopefully they will appear in the second book. 

I decided to read this book because I brought a poster with 100 books to read in your lifetime and the first book was on the poster. It was adorable and a refreshing change that I wanted to carry on with this series. However, I struggled with this book with the half graphic comic, half normal story line. 

The graphic novel part of this book is about Robin and Joy and they read about the Magic Faraway Tree in a book and decide to go meet Joe, Beth and Frannie themselves. The five children have all sorts of exciting adventures together, including being captured by the Enchanter Red-Cloak in the Land of Castles, a birthday treat for Joy in the Land of Wishes, and a delicious visit to the Land of Cakes! The second part is following Joe and Beth and Frannie as they go up the Magic Faraway Tree near Christmas and was looking for the fun in the Land of Toys but they ended up getting in trouble and turning into toys which means they have to turn to the big guy in the red suit to try and help him. 

The second half of this book was adorable and fun. Each of these characters all had a very distinctive personality and weaknesses and strengths. I loved that it was Christmas theme and that Santa knew who they were and wanted to go down the tree with Mr. Moony’s slide. Again, I am gutted I didn’t read this book as a child, and I wished I had to see it from a child’s perspective and an adult perspective. Just like the series so far and with it being a children’s book, there was nothing to dislike with this book, I knew that it would be obvious and a bit predictable and knowing that nothing was going to happen to our beloved characters. 

I didn’t enjoy the graphic novel part of this book, each graphic novel chapter was just too quick and then it would change to a completely new area and part. I would prefer it to be an actual storyline than the graphic novel. 

Overall, I enjoyed it, and I will carry on with this series even if I’m nearly 25-years-old. 

I wanted to carry on with this series because this series has been all over the book community and trusting Booktok hits can either be hit or miss and this one was a hit.  

This book has two points of view. The first is Paedyn Grey, and she has survived the purging trials, but she has killed the King and people now know was born as an Ordinary. She has also kickstarted a Resistance through the kingdom of Ilya. She is on the run from the one person she had wanted to run to. She is determined to be free from Ilya and away from Kai and Kitt, but will she be able to stay one foot in front of Kai. The second point of view is Kai Azer, and he is now official Ilya’s enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice. As long as he can keep his feelings in check for her because once he finds her, she will be sentenced to death. Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai purses the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city with Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts – and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.  

This book was brilliantly written, and I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters – Kai and Paedyn were hilarious separately and together and how they were avoiding each other but then they didn’t want to avoid each other and wanted to be around each other. Paedyn could kick my ass and I would thank her for it. I love how blunt she was and how she didn’t give a shit who she was talking to. I loved her being in disgust as Shadow and yet she was kicking the ass of grown-ass men. Kai was still a golden retriever, and you knew he wasn’t going to kill Paedyn no matter what and how jealous he was getting over random ass strangers flirting with Paedyn. That man still needs to learn to hide his emotions better as he was a complete open book. The whole “let’s pretend” was so adorable but you could tell that Kai wasn’t pretending.  

My only issue was it was all still a bit predictable, just like the Maze Runner and the Scorch. The different being that WCKD was Kitt and that they didn’t want to kill her because they had other plans where Paedyn was just like if you are going to kill me, kill me quickly.  

The ending was cruel again and now I have to wait until NEXT YEAR for the next book. I hope Kitt doesn’t become cruel even though he was betrayed because it will just hurt my heart. Even though we could see glimpses of his cruelness hopefully he ends up standing up with Paedyn and fixing everything in time.  

My reading goal two years ago was to discover more authors. Holly Black is adored on Booktok and I wanted to read her first series which I did and thoroughly enjoyed and was so excited for the first book and obviously wanted to carry on with it.  

This book follows Jude who we met in the previous book. She is trying to keep her brother safe after the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to the Faerie. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished. When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world. 

I understand the hype around this book, I enjoyed it, the storyline was strong, and the fantasy world was built up as the storyline moved along. It was a bit predictable, and I sort of guessed what was going to happen, besides the ending. However, I loved the mystery aspect and how Jude was like I'm going to do this but then actually did and proved everyone wrong and keep everyone safe especially her brother. I still love the tension between Cardan and Jude and was hoping that it would still grow even more. I still love Roiben and Kaye and I love their appearance.  

I know it’s a young adult book, but God I wanted to punch these kids, the fae weren’t scary they were just immature. Again, I knew they were kids, but this is why kids shouldn’t have power at all. Also, Jude’s dad is still a massive prick and I hope it has a very painful ending. I think that’s one of the main issues I had. I always want to connect with the characters in a way and yet all these characters aren’t probably going to grow on me. Cardan being all wishy-washy was driving me nuts as well.  

I would love for someone, for once, to be on Jude’s side and for the two-faced and betrayal to stop. It's driving me nuts.  

I am hoping that the final book is going to fix all these issues and that someone will stick up for Jude as much as she sticks up for herself.  

I wanted to read this book because everyone said that this series was better than Shadow & Bone. I really struggled with the Shadow & Bone series, but I didn’t struggle with this book fortunately.  

The dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he has endured in his country’s bloody civil war, and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, Nikolai must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, ands top a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army. Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha general, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried, and some wounds aren’t meant to heal. 

I think I ended up enjoying this book more because the characters were already built and were traumatized with the war that it felt like the third book in the Crooked Kingdom series rather than a brand-new series. The world has already been fully developed and the characters have been developed. I love the multiple points of view and how they are all got their own storyline, but you can tell it’s building up to something so much bigger. I loved and hated the cliffhanger and was absolutely gobsmacked and it makes you want to read the next one. I loved Zoya as well and if anything happens to her, I will riot and fight everyone.  

I think the only reason that stopped it from being five star is because the middle bit was a bit slow, and I was wanting more action and wanting everyone to kick ass and sometimes it just didn’t happen. I would have loved for Hanna to been able to stand up for her father and kick his ass himself.  

This book ending on a cliffhanger with how big the book was felt cruel. I wanted more and I can see why it ended on a cliffhanger and now I'm dying to read the next book. 

I wanted to read this book as I loved the series and was still disappointed that I only read this book during the last year, however with the new fans and the series being out, I am glad that Percy Jackson is back for old fans and new fans, and it was a really good read.  

This book is about Percy Jackson, and he has saved the world multiple times – battling monsters, Titans, even giants – but these days the modern-day son of Poseidon is hoping for a regular final year at school. Too bad the Greek gods have other plans, and three new quests for Percy to complete. First up: the cupbearer of the gods, Ganymede. Is missing his golden chalice. Not only is this embarrassing, like who do the gods keep losing their magical items? It’s also potentially disastrous. One sip from the cup will turn any mortal into a powerful god. And the old gods do not take kindly to newbies. Can Percy, Annabeth and Grover find the chalice before it falls into the wrong hand? And even if they do, will they be able to resist its awesome power? 

 I loved being back in this world and all the trouble that Percy gets himself into, but this time it was because he wanted to go to college. This book had a whole range of things going on that we love from Rick Riordan. From the banter and the gods being stupid and lazy to major conflicts and real feeling with Percy just wanted to finish high school and go to college with Annabeth and then Sally announcing she was pregnant and for Percy not to worry or change his plans of not going to California because she is pregnant. I love how the world is getting built with the action like you don’t feel behind and you know what’s going on with how Rick Riordan has a way of describing things in such a youthful way. I enjoyed this storyline and how Percy is growing up and you can feel the pressure of him and the nerves of future.  

I love the fact that Rick is wanting to continue this series with Percy having to get two more recommendations and hopefully the series will end with Percy and Annabeth in the sunset and going to college.