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kayetaz's reviews
366 reviews
Echoes of Us by Alex Cross
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
Format: ebook
I’m ruined. This book has ruined me.
You know how little things in a book give you hints that it will be absolutely devastating? Like it being a second chance romance. Like a single POV which guarantees that there’s something the other MMC will know that you’re not privy to until the right moment. Like a dual timeline where the present is sad and gut-wrenching and the past slowly changes from happy to crippling.
But you read on anyway and then can’t be shocked when it all blows up into something that has you sobbing.
I loved both Atty and Noah so much. I know Noah was a walking red flag, but he pulled me in just as easily as he did with Atticus. I just wanted him to be happy and okay. And Atticus was so sweet and patient and loving.
The addiction aspects of this book were heartbreaking but so brutally honest. The codependency, the love bombing, the mood swings. This book was honestly super triggering and traumatizing but I loved every second of it.
While I wish we got a longer taste of the super hard fought HEA, I’m just so relieved we did get one. This couple just felt inevitable. I loved them together, even at their worst, and I rooted for them the entire time.
Also I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the FANTASTIC side characters we got. Holly was an amazing best friend to Noah and everything she did for him at the end had me bawling my eyes out. Colin and Ezra were also such great friends to Atticus. They supported Atty so much and were always there to step in when he needed them. I was kind of obsessed with how much Ezra hated Noah, and how blunt he could be with Atticus, because he truly needed it. And Colin was just always someone to lean on and eager to lend an ear.
Perfect characters, perfect story, perfect angst and groveling. This is going on a list of books I will hold on a pedestal and think about forever but will never, ever reread because it hurts too fucking much.
Poetry On Ice by Jesse H Reign
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
Fans of Brianna Flores’s Pretty Boy - I have great new: We have another novel with feminization kink and all the spice!
Jesse H. Reign literally never misses, and this is another great example. Hockey, low-angst, so much kink and filth, and another pair of amazing characters.
I loved both Robbie and Ant so much. I loved how obsessed they were with each other while trying to write it off as hate. I loved the way they were constantly antagonizing each other and getting themselves in trouble over and over again because of it. I loved the little bit of slow burn until it became a whole inferno.
The way their addiction to each other shifted after their first time together and they literally couldn’t keep their hands off each other. How Robbie just decided they were a thing and how Ant couldn’t deny him anything. Ugh, absolute perfection.
This for sure will be a constant reread. I cannot wait for more of this series. The little glimpse we got at the end of this book already has me so sat.
*I received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
A Series of Rooms by A.J. Barlowe
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
4.5 ⭐️
Spice: 0/🌶️
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5
Raw. Gripping. Devastating.
Absolutely beautiful.
I cannot believe this was a debut novel. As soon as I got one chapter into the audiobook, I knew I was in trouble. I finished this in a few hours because I couldn’t put it down.
Liam and Jonah were phenomenal main characters. Cannot say a bad word about either of them. When the title of the book finally hit me, I was nearly crushed from the weight of it.
Jonah, God, my heart just broke for him the whole time and never stopped. Even at the end, he was full of so much forgiveness and strength that I can’t handle it. To the point where I’m still simmering in anger at everyone who ever hurt him. And Liam was such a supportive and loving friend. I felt both of their pain so viscerally.
This story just tore me to absolute shreds. I just wish we got more of the happy ending that would’ve helped put me back together. We just got nothing of their HEA and I’m really sad about it. I also feel some type of way about the fact that no justice seemed to be served? Only one guy really faced any repercussions - although it was a huge repercussion. But everyone else just…moved on? Not me. I’m still so angry and hurt at everyone who didn’t help Jonah.
I would also call this more a love story than a romance, because we don’t see them actually together at all, which was disappointing. I wanted the best for both of them but unfortunately we didn’t get to see it. It’s alluded to that they are boyfriends in the end, but after all the buildup and sadness, I really wanted to see it.
This is a story that’ll stay with me forever. Cannot wait to see what else this author has in store for us.
The audio for this story was amazing. Both narrators were new to me but did the story such justice.
Spice: 0/🌶️
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5
Raw. Gripping. Devastating.
Absolutely beautiful.
I cannot believe this was a debut novel. As soon as I got one chapter into the audiobook, I knew I was in trouble. I finished this in a few hours because I couldn’t put it down.
Liam and Jonah were phenomenal main characters. Cannot say a bad word about either of them. When the title of the book finally hit me, I was nearly crushed from the weight of it.
Jonah, God, my heart just broke for him the whole time and never stopped. Even at the end, he was full of so much forgiveness and strength that I can’t handle it. To the point where I’m still simmering in anger at everyone who ever hurt him. And Liam was such a supportive and loving friend. I felt both of their pain so viscerally.
This story just tore me to absolute shreds. I just wish we got more of the happy ending that would’ve helped put me back together. We just got nothing of their HEA and I’m really sad about it. I also feel some type of way about the fact that no justice seemed to be served? Only one guy really faced any repercussions - although it was a huge repercussion. But everyone else just…moved on? Not me. I’m still so angry and hurt at everyone who didn’t help Jonah.
I would also call this more a love story than a romance, because we don’t see them actually together at all, which was disappointing. I wanted the best for both of them but unfortunately we didn’t get to see it. It’s alluded to that they are boyfriends in the end, but after all the buildup and sadness, I really wanted to see it.
This is a story that’ll stay with me forever. Cannot wait to see what else this author has in store for us.
The audio for this story was amazing. Both narrators were new to me but did the story such justice.
Unloved by Marley Valentine
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.25
4.4 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5
Just like with Unwanted, I really wish this was longer.
I did feel like this was fleshed out a little better than book one. I really did connect with Lennox, Samuel and Rhys. I think maybe the relationship moved a little too quickly than I would’ve liked but I did love them together.
I felt a lot more devastation from this story. I knew what was coming with Rhys, but it still hurt a lot. I loved the support they all had for each other throughout. It was quite a lot to handle for a new relationship, especially a poly one, but I did feel like their dynamic worked well.
I just wanted more. When it was over, I felt like it truly didn’t feel finished yet. I did love the little full-circle moment of all of their “one Mississippi’s” at the end. Hit me right in the feels.
Ultimately though, it just wasn’t enough. I’m still waiting for a Marley Valentine to break me like I always hear about. Still gonna keep trying.
The audiobook was amazing. Zachary Johnson is already a favorite of mine, but the two other narrators were new to me and really knocked it out of the park.
Unwanted by Marley Valentine
challenging
emotional
sad
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
3.75
3.8 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5
Why, why, why isn’t this at least another 150-200 pages long?! It’s just not enough.
Listen, I wanted to love this because there were so many aspects that I did love. Arlo and Frankie were both so beautifully broken and sweet. I felt for Arlo and his struggles with addiction. And I felt for Frankie and having to make the hard choice to put Arlo’s sobriety above their relationship.
I just feel like we didn’t get quite enough of them, before, during or after their break. I never fully got to know either of them. I honestly felt like this book was more a setup to Unloved than its own story. The side characters took up most of the screen time.
The fact that they made up so quickly kind of made the break seem unnecessary. And I just struggled to fully connect with either character. It was cute and sad, but it just didn’t devastate me the way I wanted it to.
The audio though? Zachary Johnson and Jacob Morgan is an insane combo and I thank them for their service.
Friendly Fire by Saxon James
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤.5/5
This was pretty cute.
Rafe and Cam were adorable together, once we got past their little “enemies” stage which I still don’t really understand at all.
I really appreciated the ace representation in this book, and how it looked a lot different than the norm. Rafe was relatively uninterested in sex but was fine with engaging in it every once in a while to feel close to Cam and give him pleasure. Which is a real and valid ace experience, that we don’t see a lot of.
My only negatives with this book were the weird antagonistic views Rafe had towards Cam in the beginning for no reason, and for the way he treated Laura and wouldn’t just put his foot down with his parents. I felt for him, but it was all very unnecessary. But I’ll also say, without those things, the book would’ve probably been very boring. I just wish they had some better, more entertaining things to focus energy on.
Overall, this series has been sugary sweet and relatively low-angst. Except for Just Friends which I DNF’d.
Pretty Broken Doll by Bree Wiley
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
Format: ebook
“It’s just him and me, two broken people with nothing in common who somehow make each other whole.”
I absolutely ate. this. up. Thank you, Bree, for getting me out of yet another reading slump.
Let me start with Shilo. The sweetest little broken boy who deserves all the best things in life, and for most of the time, much better than Ryann. My heart hurts for everything he went through before we meet him, and I ache for everything Ryann put him through.
Ryann—it took me a really long time to warm up to him. He was fighting his own demons, but taking it out on Shilo and his body. But he did eventually worm his way into my heart and earned everyone’s forgiveness.
The spice in this book was insane. Cockwarming is my kryptonite. And all the plugs and stretching and edging was just too good. But I especially just adored the way they became emotionally closer each time they had sex. The soft moments becoming more frequent.
There is a lot of triggering content in this story. Bullying, homophobia, eating disorders, etc. Definitely check the warnings thoroughly.
Also, HI, HUCK AND TAY! My sweet boys.
Bree is surely making a name for herself in the MM genre, as she deserves. She always writes such complex and flawed characters that wrap me around their fingers and take me on a journey. Can’t wait to see what she has for us next!
*I received a free advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Too Close to Love by M.A. Innes
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
2.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5/5
Format: ebook
This definitely had a ton of potential but unfortunately we didn’t really reach it.
The amount of information squeezed into the small page count just didn’t work for me. Too much telling, not nearly enough showing. All a bunch of details that didn’t matter to the reader because we never got to see that part anyway, as the book ends before they move into the apartment and start at the school that was info dumped about.
There was a ton of buildup to the singular sex scene, which would have been fine if it were an especially good scene, but I don’t think it was. It was pretty boring and almost awkward.
There was also a lot of blame put on the parents for not accepting their relationship, which? Of course they don’t? Love me a taboo romance, but it’s laughably unrealistic to think parents would be okay with their sons being together. Most of what the parents did wasn’t okay, but in that one instance they can’t possibly be blamed.
Mostly just a miss for me.
Getting Friendly by Saxon James
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5
This started out really strong and I enjoyed the premise, but then the relationship randomly moved way too fast as the initial chemistry kind of fizzled out.
I enjoyed both main characters, they were genuine and super likable. I also really liked the opposites attract aspects. And kind of the fact that Auggie wasn’t really Leon’s type but their emotional connection was stronger than that detail.
Also really liked the plot line and how Leon had Auggie’s back when it came to his dad. And really just how he believed in him and supported him even though he was clumsy and made a lot of mistakes. They were just very sweet.
Once the physical part of their relationship started, I just think everything started moving way too quickly. When they were professing love, I was kind of confused. But other than that, I really liked the buildup we got before that part.
I’m excited to finally get Rafe’s story. He’s been the most talked about character in all the other books of this series and I really hope his book lives up to the hype it’s been giving off.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5
This started out really strong and I enjoyed the premise, but then the relationship randomly moved way too fast as the initial chemistry kind of fizzled out.
I enjoyed both main characters, they were genuine and super likable. I also really liked the opposites attract aspects. And kind of the fact that Auggie wasn’t really Leon’s type but their emotional connection was stronger than that detail.
Also really liked the plot line and how Leon had Auggie’s back when it came to his dad. And really just how he believed in him and supported him even though he was clumsy and made a lot of mistakes. They were just very sweet.
Once the physical part of their relationship started, I just think everything started moving way too quickly. When they were professing love, I was kind of confused. But other than that, I really liked the buildup we got before that part.
I’m excited to finally get Rafe’s story. He’s been the most talked about character in all the other books of this series and I really hope his book lives up to the hype it’s been giving off.
Head Above Water by CE Ricci
dark
emotional
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.2 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤.5/5
Cannon deserves the entire world. Truly one of the best mmc’s I’ve ever read. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about Easton. And in the end, I just don’t think he was good enough for Cannon.
Just the way that everyone failed Cannon. His dad, his stepmom, his stepbrother/boyfriend. The only character who did actually seem to deserve him, he cheated on.
Easton was unbearable. From his teenage years when he was starting shit for no reason and making Cannon take the fall time and time again, to the way he acted when Cannon came home. And then even when they got together, all he did was take and take, and never gave anything back. Cannon lost everything and everyone in his life, yet still had to be taking care of Easton and prioritizing his grief over his own. And Easton never once took accountability for any of it. Even when he figured out why Cannon left, he was still cold and cruel towards him.
I do understand the hype and why so many people love this. I think if there hadn’t been the third act, I could’ve maybe been more pleased with the outcome. But that was kind of my last straw with Easton. He didn’t even try anything at the wedding. And then just all the angst and sad themes just seemed to get to be too over the top. They didn’t add to the plot, it was just angst for the sake of angst.
Zachary Johnson is a god, he deserves five stars just for getting me through this book. Would I have loved Cannon as much if he wasn’t narrated by Zachary? Maybe. Probably. We’ll never know. Michael Dean was certainly…there. -.5 star for that.
I think this is where I part ways with this author. I’ve tried really, really hard to like her books other than Iced Out. But it just seems to be that at least one character always winds up driving me nuts the whole time, and I’m exhausted.