booksalacarte's reviews
711 reviews

1.75⭐️1.5🌶️

Memory loss
New York Setting
Dual POV
Irish Folklore
Irish immigrant MMC
Forced proximity

The cover of this book is gorgeous, but sadly, the story didn’t quite live up to it. The time period feels a bit unclear—likely sometime after the Revolutionary War in New York, probably before 1876, since Central Park is still wild and undeveloped. However, the setting has more of a Gilded Age vibe, which doesn’t really match the historical details.

The book also includes a lot of modern references that don’t quite fit the time period. It felt like the characters were living in a different world than the one described, which made it hard to fully immerse in the story. And just to clarify, I’m not talking about the mythical Irish folklore the plot is based on—those elements were fine, but the modern undertones threw me off.

The plot itself is filled with clichés, with situations piling up in a way that doesn’t always make sense. There are a lot of loose ends and plot holes that left me feeling frustrated rather than engaged.

While the main characters had potential, they were overshadowed by underdeveloped minor characters and unfinished dialogue that contradicted the characters’ arcs. Plus, withholding the full myth/fairy tale until the very end didn’t add mystery—it only detracted from the overall story.

Overall, it was a difficult book to get into.

Thank you NetGalley and Aclove Press for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

4⭐️3🌶️

Book 2

High fantasy

Adult fantasy

Dual POV 

Swan lake retelling

Celtic folklore

Unique Magic System

Changlings

Assassin FMC

Royalty

Mythical creatures

The book picks up right where the first one left off, making it impossible not to binge after that cliffhanger.

I’d forgotten how lyrical and flowery the writing is in this series, which made it a bit tough to dive back in.

The romance, which felt so solid in book one, didn’t have the same tension or excitement this time. It’s pretty much settled, leaving me as a romantic a little less invested in their journey throughout book two.

On the upside, the plot definitely picks up, offering a fresh twist on the “chosen one” trope. The Celtic-inspired lore is beautiful and creative, and I found myself drawn to the side characters and their own arcs.

However, the miscommunication between the main couple was frustrating. I felt the MMC (main male character) came off too much like a “simp”—he asked for forgiveness but never seemed to seek any compromise. I’m not a fan of seeing a man turned into a doormat, and honestly, I was more on his side in this particular conflict than hers.

The cliffhanger was solid, though I hope the author doesn’t rely on the same type of ending a third time.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

————————

Fair Folk Series

A Feather So Black 4.25⭐️3🌶️

A Crown So Silver- 4⭐️3🌶️

2.5⭐️3.5🌶️

Contemporary Romance
Hockey Romance
Forbidden Romance
Opposites attract



This book was messy… and not in a serves the plot way. I found the writing frantic and unteathered. 

I feel like the magnetic attraction from this couple in previous books was a good starting point, but TB seemed to have decided that it wasn’t enough and that she had to up the ante and make the MMC obsessive, in a red flag way, while making the FMC childlike and overly naive. There was opportunity for growth for both as individuals… that was offered and opened as a possibility… and instead the characters regressed or were handed what they wanted. It was very anticlimactic.


A side note, when did the big shots series turn into just hockey romance? I think the golf book was my favorite of the three that are in the series, so far.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager  For an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

5⭐️3🌶️

New Adult

High Fantasy

Dragons

Silent disability MC Rep

Magic

Found Family

Untold History

Mythical Beasts

War

BIPOC

🏳️‍🌈 Side Characters

Disabled rep

On page, open door spicy scenes

This was a great book. The world building was so insane and intricate, I loved it. And the fact that there is more questions regarding the world building and magic system going into book 4 shows how great of a writer Rebecca is. 

I have so many questions, and I still have so many theories, and I adore that. Those make or break the vibes for me while reading a series. Keep my mind spinning and I’ll be addicted. 

The spice felt like stepping backward, but the yearning was good. I just feel like the story has superseded the need for the spice that doesn’t serve the plot.

Also, Riddick is now my absolute favorite side character. And broccoli had better be ok.

I’ll try to come back in a few days to see if I can refine my feelings on this book. But I loved it. 

4⭐️3.75🌶️

Contemporary romance

Dual POV

Small Town Romance

Friends to Lovers

Brothers Best Friend

Self Discovery

Forced Proximity

Football obsessed college town

Tw: gaslighting ex, emotional manipulation, toxic relationships, off page domestic violence and alcoholism

In this emotional and captivating story, Melody returns to her hometown after a breakup, only to come face-to-face with Zach, her first love, sparking unresolved feelings between them. The book’s epilogue is sweet, establishing both their friendship and the underlying romantic tension from the start, while the beginning effectively ignites those sparks between the characters.

The characters are well-developed and dynamic, with the female main character (FMC) going through a powerful journey of self-discovery, particularly as she comes to terms with the toxic, long-term relationship she’s leaving behind. It’s a heartbreaking and unique approach to her growth.

The male main character (MMC) is a perfect balance of stoic and tortured, but he never falls into the trap of being a doormat. His strong, individual personality adds depth to the story, especially in a “he falls hard” narrative, which I absolutely love.

The side characters were enjoyable, and I’m hopeful they’ll get their own stories in the future. My only wish would be for a bit more diversity among the characters, which would have added a richer layer to the story.

As for the romance, the spice level is high with many open-door scenes. While these moments are steamy, they did start to take a bit too much focus away from the overall plot at times, which was a minor drawback.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

5⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary romance

Romcom

Workplace romance

This book’s humor was right up my alley. I found myself smiling throughout, enjoying the witty, almost British-style humor and the moments that were unintentionally funny. The instant chemistry between the characters was cute but also a bit clichéd, though I didn’t mind it, especially with the fantastic banter. The dialogue had an effortless charm, reminding me of Notting Hill, where everything just flows with a “roll with it” vibe that’s both endearing and hilarious.

Also, there’s a cat named Darkling… a delightful nod to the Leigh Bardugo character. Hilarious.

I wish there had been a little more diversity, but it was a good book.

This was my first book by Painter, and I’m excited to dive into more of her work!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

2.5⭐️3🌶️

Sports Romcom

Hockey romance

Pro-sports romance

Forced proximity

Fake dating

Slow burn

The main characters were charming, and I particularly enjoyed the ballet focus of the FMC (female main character). However, I felt that the potential for exploring themes like Misty Copeland and the broader impact of ballerinas of color wasn’t fully realized. I would have liked to see this aspect expanded upon.

While the characters were likable, they lacked depth, and I found myself not fully connecting with them.

The celibacy plotline felt forced and, at times, uncomfortable. It seemed out of place, particularly with the unexplained detail about the male lead’s piercing, which felt both strange and disconnected from the character.

As for the plot itself, it followed a fairly typical fake dating scenario, with social media acting as the central plot device. While the pacing was consistent, the story didn’t quite build the momentum I was hoping for, and the payoff ultimately felt flat.

Ultimately, the book didn’t leave as much of an impression as I had anticipated. I wanted to love it, but it fell short. Unfortunately, I don’t think this author’s style resonates with me.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Last Raven
1⭐️3🌶️

New Adult Romantasy
17 yo FMC
Coming of age
Paranormal 
Vampires
Self discovery
Bodyguard romance
Distopian
Forced proximity
Rebellion

TW: 18+content with underage characters

It’s important to mention upfront that I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. That said, I’m honestly not sure who the intended audience is. The themes, language, sexual content, and the age of the main character all seem to suggest different age groups, which made it hard for me to feel comfortable while reading.

The central premise is that humans are essentially livestock for vampires. The main character, Amelia, is a 17-year-old recluse and the human heir to a vampire empire. What’s strange, though, is how her existence is viewed. Usually, a human born to vampires is seen as something weird and even a little “broken” by the vampire community. But in this world, humans are just livestock, so I found it odd that Amelia’s parents didn’t turn her into a vampire. It’s one of those things that just doesn’t make sense.

Then there’s the issue of Amelia taking over the empire at 18. You’d expect someone in line to rule half the world to have serious political training, but she has none. The fact that someone so young and unprepared would take over from rulers who’ve been in power for centuries feels like a big stretch. It made me wonder if the book is trying to appeal to a younger audience, but then it includes so much adult content and language that I was left confused about who this book is really meant for.

Even within the first 10% of the book, there are so many things that just don’t add up. For instance, Amelia’s bodyguard doesn’t seem to treat her like the heir to a massive empire. Instead of being her protector, he acts more like a babysitter. There’s no respect for her position, or even an attempt to pretend like it matters.

The dystopian setting also feels weird. On one hand, you’ve got humans being farmed for food for vampires, but on the other hand, characters are still wearing skinny jeans, using phones and laptops. It doesn’t add up, especially when the ruling vampires are over 500 years old. You’d think the world would have moved on from those outdated cultural markers by now.

Overall, the world-building is weak, there’s barely any context for the plot, and the execution just didn’t land. The book follows a lot of popular tropes and should have worked, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

2⭐️3🌶️

Paranormal Romance

Fated mates

Vampires and Demons

Suspense

Found family

Good vs evil

I read a lot of Christine Feehan’s books back in college—about 20 years ago. From the Dark series to the Seahaven Sisters and Leopard novels, I couldn’t get enough. She’s one of the authors who really helped shape the paranormal and magical realism romance genres, so when I saw Dark Hope on NetGalley, I was excited to dive back in.

I haven’t read all 34 books in the Dark series—only the first 12—so it was interesting to return to the Carpathian world with fresh characters and a new adventure. Thankfully, the books are mostly standalone, so jumping back in wasn’t a huge issue.

The first chapter does a decent job recapping where the series has been, though it’s not the clearest summary. Still, it gave me enough to catch up on how things have evolved in the more recent books.

The biggest issue for me was the repetitive dialogue and the constant telekinetic bond talk. It felt like the plot would start to pick up, and then—bam—we’d hit a wall of “lifemate” discussions and emotional intensity. I get the point, but let’s move on already.

Also, some of the dialogue and wording felt outdated, almost like a translation. It wasn’t just the Carpathian characters (who are meant to be ancient), but even the modern ones sounded stiff at times.

All in all, it was a bit of a nostalgic read for me, but it’s not quite my thing anymore. I don’t think I’ll be revisiting the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

2.75⭐️3🌶️

Sports Romcom
Hockey romance
College romance
Dual narration
Grumpy sunshine
Found Family

This book ultimately fell flat for me due to a combination of narrative style and pacing issues. The writing is more telling than showing, making the story feel surface-level and detached. The flow is choppy, which leads to a disjointed reading experience, especially with the frequent timeline skips. By the 60% mark, I found myself losing interest, feeling like the story could have been much shorter.

One major flaw is the college event involving a Ferris wheel, which is depicted as being planned in an impossibly short timeframe. Realistically, an event like that would take at least six months of preparation, which made the scenario feel unrealistic.

The central conflict around the FMC’s (female main character’s) bias against hockey players, stemming from her “daddy issues,” felt weak. It seemed inconsistent, especially considering her close friendship with a childhood best friend who is also a hockey player. This conflict never really convinced me and came across as petty rather than meaningful.

Additionally, the FMC’s story arc centers around writing a paper, but the paper itself doesn’t play a significant role in the plot, which was odd. As a sports management major myself, I found the discussions about sport psychology vague and underdeveloped, leaving me confused about what her paper was actually about. This lack of depth felt like a missed opportunity and suggested a lack of research on the author’s part.

In the end, this book just wasn’t a good fit for me.