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book_lover_irl's reviews
422 reviews
One Too Many by Jade West
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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
4.0
I am so torn about how to review this book. I was very invested in the plot and wanted to see where it was going. There was good emotional and spicy tension leading up to the first main event. The characters were interesting and well developed. The situations they faced gave them opportunities to deal with “real” emotions.
The second and third bouts were different. The last third was … challenging. The spicy parts were over the top for me and too violent to be enjoyable for me.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the final chapters and that epilogue…
If you had asked me in the first half or two thirds of the book, I would’ve thought it was potentially a five star book. However by the end I was trying to decide between three and four stars. SIGH
Last note, I didn’t like the narrators. The female narrator sounded waaayyyyy too old. The male narrator was just not for me. Sadly I guess I don’t like romances with British English words. If I have to hear knickers or shunted one more time… sorry, not sorry. Others loved it but it wasn’t for me.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the final chapters and that epilogue…
If you had asked me in the first half or two thirds of the book, I would’ve thought it was potentially a five star book. However by the end I was trying to decide between three and four stars. SIGH
Last note, I didn’t like the narrators. The female narrator sounded waaayyyyy too old. The male narrator was just not for me. Sadly I guess I don’t like romances with British English words. If I have to hear knickers or shunted one more time… sorry, not sorry. Others loved it but it wasn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Best book I’ve listened to in a verrryyyyy long time BUT check the trigger warnings! It touches almost all the TWs you can imagine. It’s seriously dark and infinitely pushes against your boundaries. I wanted to hate and be disgusted by parts of it AND I strangely still loved it. Plus it’s insanely hysterical. Like legit LOL.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Dual
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Tropes: stalking, rom-com, dark romance, CHECK THE TWs.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
The grumpy billionaire man and poor intelligent woman isn’t my favorite romantic teope. However I love a strong, sassy, independent and intelligent FMC. Was a little frustrated with the crappy attitude and actions of the MMC for the first third of the book. He was downright mean and I didn’t appreciate it. Novel was a slow burn for the spice.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Dual
HEA: Yes - extended epilogue is a great touch
Cliffhanger: No
Tropes: Billionaire MMC falls for poor FMC, Boss falls for employee
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
That Guy by Kim Jones
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This was supposed to be a rom com and it certainly had a few funny parts but mostly I was just bored or irritated with how “quirky” the FMC was. She was straight up looney and most of the time impossible to relate too.
Then the MMC… his character was under-developed and shallow. What’s that famous Harry Potter quote: the MMC had the “emotional range of a teaspoon”.
He was raging and mean in the beginning, then suddenly he desired her and appeared to be falling in love, then he’s overheard telling his BFF that he only wants something casual. Now of it connects or flows together.
I’ve been told I don’t have a sense of humor so maybe the negative review isn’t valid. The book is meh for me. It was relatively lighthearted and maybe I just needed more drama and darkness for my little black heart. 🤣
Stars: ⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Then the MMC… his character was under-developed and shallow. What’s that famous Harry Potter quote: the MMC had the “emotional range of a teaspoon”.
He was raging and mean in the beginning, then suddenly he desired her and appeared to be falling in love, then he’s overheard telling his BFF that he only wants something casual. Now of it connects or flows together.
I’ve been told I don’t have a sense of humor so maybe the negative review isn’t valid. The book is meh for me. It was relatively lighthearted and maybe I just needed more drama and darkness for my little black heart. 🤣
Stars: ⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: dual
HEA: yes
Cliffhanger: no
Tropes: instalove, enemies to lovers, poor girl / rich guy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Girl on the Line by Faith Gardner
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
Emotional, heart wrenching, sad, ultimately hopeful. I really relate to this story as a survivor of a suicide attempt and as a parent of two children with bipolar diagnoses. Upset that there wasn’t more fallout when the teen went off her meds without her mood being altered. That is NOT the way it works in real life. Bipolar folks are notorious about deciding when to stop medicating themselves and there can be very serious side effects and awful hours of mania
Overall wonderful and a good read for someone trying to understand what it’s like to live with mental health issues
Overall wonderful and a good read for someone trying to understand what it’s like to live with mental health issues
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Bad Situation by Brynne Asher
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Solid and enjoyable read. Not overly enthralling or surprising. Slow burn, spicy at the end.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Multi
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Tropes:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Perfect Villain by J.L. Beck, S. Rena
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
This was my first stalker trope and it’s just not my cup of tea. I find it creepy, disgusting and manipulative— not at all romantic or swoon worthy. The writing style and pace of the book are fine. I just can’t get over my icky feelings about the plot. If you like stalker tropes, you will probably enjoy this book. DNF for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting
Riches to Riches: Part Two by Ames Mills
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Book two had more plot than book one, lots of angst and amazing spice (but less than book one - which was basically just a p0rno with little to no plot). I gotta say I was exasperated by the number of times the FMC cried (was excessive and at the drop of a hat at every turn) and how frequently someone’s “lips popped off” others body parts. Aside from those slight pet peeves, the spice was very spicy and includes lots of M/M and M/M/M/M. Not a problem for me but a headache up if that is t your cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Riches To Riches: Part One by Ames Mills
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WHOA! This was by far the spiciest novel I’ve ever read and I’ve read a few (on my 62nd book of 2024 and counting…)
It’s hard to say much about the story without spoilers. However I can summarize it by saying this is basically an audible p0rno with a very loose plot. The spice starts and just doesn’t stop. The smut keeps smutting. Nonstop! The plot finally comes in heavy at the end of the novel as it finishes with a major cliffhanger.
This is a dark reverse harem / polyamorous / why choose story with one kick ass FMC and 5-6 amazing MMCs. It includes M/M content and almost any variation you can imagine of coupling and sexual tropes. Definitely check the trigger warnings since it includes some extremely sensitive topics.
Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Multi (dual narration)
HEA: Have to read next novel to figure out ending
Cliffhanger: Yes
Tropes: Check trigger warnings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed
⭐️Seriously? Not worth it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary vibes
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count
sexual content, sexual assault, kidnapping, violence, gore, voyeurism, an@l, double penetration, F/MMMMM, M/M, organized crime, alcohol, death, medical trauma
It’s hard to say much about the story without spoilers. However I can summarize it by saying this is basically an audible p0rno with a very loose plot. The spice starts and just doesn’t stop. The smut keeps smutting. Nonstop! The plot finally comes in heavy at the end of the novel as it finishes with a major cliffhanger.
This is a dark reverse harem / polyamorous / why choose story with one kick ass FMC and 5-6 amazing MMCs. It includes M/M content and almost any variation you can imagine of coupling and sexual tropes. Definitely check the trigger warnings since it includes some extremely sensitive topics.
Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Multi (dual narration)
HEA: Have to read next novel to figure out ending
Cliffhanger: Yes
Tropes: Check trigger warnings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed
⭐️Seriously? Not worth it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary vibes
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol
Pretty Little Savage by Lucy Smoke
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dark, Twisted, Unexpected
Poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks ends up at an elite, private boarding school unofficially run by three wealthy, privileged boys with menacing reputations. <br /><br />I was in a reading rut and looking for some to shock me out of it. Pretty Little Savage by Lucy Smoke delivered 110% and didn’t disappoint. It is a slow burn, bully romance with disturbing undertones that keeps you guessing. It ends on a cliffhanger and I CANNOT WAIT to pick up the next book as soon as I’m done writing this review. <br /><br />Avalon is a hard as nails, kickass, take no sh*t girl with a lot of crappy life experiences. She doesn’t use those traumas as a crutch and instead uses them as armor to guard her feelings and teach herself how to be more bad@ss. <br /><br />Stars (overall): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br />Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️<br />POV: Dual<br />HEA: It’s complicated. No. <br />Cliffhanger: Yes<br />Tropes: Bully romance, enemies to lovers, poor girl / rich boy<br /><br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book<br />⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed<br />⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it<br /><br />🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting<br />🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot<br />🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking<br />🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary<br />🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
Poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks ends up at an elite, private boarding school unofficially run by three wealthy, privileged boys with menacing reputations. <br /><br />I was in a reading rut and looking for some to shock me out of it. Pretty Little Savage by Lucy Smoke delivered 110% and didn’t disappoint. It is a slow burn, bully romance with disturbing undertones that keeps you guessing. It ends on a cliffhanger and I CANNOT WAIT to pick up the next book as soon as I’m done writing this review. <br /><br />Avalon is a hard as nails, kickass, take no sh*t girl with a lot of crappy life experiences. She doesn’t use those traumas as a crutch and instead uses them as armor to guard her feelings and teach herself how to be more bad@ss. <br /><br />Stars (overall): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br />Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️<br />POV: Dual<br />HEA: It’s complicated. No. <br />Cliffhanger: Yes<br />Tropes: Bully romance, enemies to lovers, poor girl / rich boy<br /><br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book<br />⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed<br />⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it<br /><br />🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting<br />🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot<br />🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking<br />🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary<br />🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism