niftyreads's reviews
162 reviews

Ugh I hate when the female narrator is excellent and the male narrator is terrible. Even worse when I waited forever for this library hold 😩 Definitely will be reading with my eyes. 

DNF at 18%. When I get uncomfortable reading a middle grade book (it’s meant for grades 4th-6th), and feel it needs trigger warnings, you know an intense book. I like reading all ages of books, but this felt like two storylines in one book that were not connected. (Maybe they will connect further along?) And the worshipping of other students and body shaming is so intense that it is not okay. I don’t have kids, but I nanny and have cousins. This would open up way too many questions for a 4th grader and I feel encourage unhealthy lifestyle choices for a 6th grader. 

The best thing about it is the character of Dorit, who has self confidence and just wants to have fun. But even she is not enough to want to read the book. 

Also, I love Jewish representation in a book, but this felt like an after thought. How can we add another interesting fact to this family? Let’s make them Jewish. And then it’s only mentioned randomly like the author forgot about it. 

Thanks, St. Martin’s Griffin, for the arc! 

 

I have to say I expected from Claire GIlmore’s second novel, PERFECT FIT, after being a fan of her debut, LOVE INTEREST. The first book had me laughing out loud, interested in the love story, and rooting for the couple, while this had me wondering when it would be over. I didn’t DNF because I would be pulled back with my interest piqued, only to be disappointed. I finished it, but it won’t be memorable, where I still remember LOVE INTEREST from when I read it last year. 

 

A PERFECT FIT has a strange type of insta-love in it. They already know each other, reconnect, and are suddenly hot and heavy again. Then there is all this back and forth because of her ex-best friend, his twin sister. It just wasn’t exciting. I was more interested in listening about her fashion business than her life. I honestly feel that it kept drawing me back in, and I should have just skimmed to the fashion parts with it and DNF the book. 

 

I hope Gilmore’s next book is more entertaining, like LOVE INTEREST, because I enjoyed that one! 

Thanks, Avon Books and Libro.FM, for the arc and ALC! 

 

This is the second book in the MISCHEIF & MATCHMAKING series by Emma R. Alban. Once again, the book is an ode to a TSwift song, so I would be reading it even if I hadn’t read the first book, DON’T WANT YOU LIIKE A BEST FRIEND. Dare I say I liked YOU’RE THE PROBLEM, IT’S YOU better? A good found family does that to me. 

 

I was happy to see characters returning from the first book be present in this one, and some new ones fit right in. It was comforting. I also loved seeing the difference between how Gwen and Beth got and stayed together and how Bobby and James got and stayed together. And I adored the antics that led up to the latter. 

 

The audiobook was excellent for switching back and forth with the arc as I read. Chris Devon and Will Watt worked together wonderfully, bringing Bobby, James, and the other characters to life. 

 

I don’t think reading the first book is necessary to understand the second one, but it makes it 1000x better if you do. It feels like a complete story and knowing everyone’s life - like Bridgerton! So, I would suggest doing it that way. But if you are only curious about Gwen and Beth or Bobby and James, you’ll be fine reading just their books. 

Thanks, Wednesday Books, for the arc! 

 

I’m super happy I returned and read THE RULES OF ROYALTY with my eyes. It was such a good story and everything I would want in a cute and funny queer THE PRINCESS DIAIRES. I should have expected that since Cale Dietrich is an entertaining writer. I loved Jamie and Erik so much. I would love a follow-up novel of them following what happens in the epilogue. 

 

I rarely suggest this, but skip the audiobook and enjoy reading with your eyes. Make up your own voices in your head for the princes and the important people in their lives - you’ll have so much more fun! 

 

Storyline: 5 stars 

Royal cuteness: 5 stars 

Reading with my eyes: 5 stars 

Current rating: 5 stars 

Taking the audiobook rating for an overall rating: 4 stars, but adding .5 stars because it made me happy = 4.5 stars! 

 

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC! 

 

THE RULES OF ROYALTY by Cale Dietrich is a perfect storyline for me. It's pretty much a queer PRINCESS DIAIRIES, and I adore it! What I do not adore is this audiobook. Ohmigoodness, it does not make you sound British, royal, and rich if you talk slow, take long pauses, and literally sound like you are speaking with your nose in the air. I wanted to throw my phone every time Prince Erik Lindstrom spoke. I made it 15% before DNFing it because I couldn't handle it, especially not with how excellent the new Prince Jamie Johnson's narration was. This isn't a story I'm giving up on. I'm too intrigued and enjoying it too much just to fully DNF. I will read it because I need to know what happens and I was almost at the meet-cute! 

 

Storyline so far: 5 stars 

Royal cuteness: 4 stars (I think this will rise when I read it) 

Audiobook: 2 stars (so much lost potential) 

Current rating: 3 stars 

Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review. #SagaSaysCrew Thanks, Simon & Schuster Audio, for the ALC! 

 

Rebecca Robinson has written an addicting fantasy series beginning - are we calling this a romantasy? - either way, I couldn’t put it down. As I read more of THE SERPENT AND THE WOLF, I leaned more into the audiobook because Jesse Vilinsky is an exceptional narrator. I felt like I had a full cast audio production from one narrator, and I loved it! I also love it when it ends, and you’re not angry about the cliffhanger; you’re just intrigued and want the same answers as the characters. 

 

It had two of my favorite tropes: arranged marriage and who did this to you? They were done so well! Vaasa and Reid are one of my new favorite couples. 

 

I feel silly calling Vaasa and Reid’s meet-cute a meet-cute because it was anything but cute. I’m not sure Vaasa and Reid know how to be cute. They can be dramatic, teasing, angry, annoyed, stubborn, conniving, funny, sweet, and spicy, but not cute, lol. So their first interaction was exceptionally entertaining and set the book up perfectly for their relationship in chapter one. 

 

Robinson did a great job pacing and setting up a new fantasy world. The information was spread out, and it didn’t feel overwhelming. The surprises were also spread out, and I, for the most part, had never seen them coming. 

 

I had a lot of fun reading and listening to this book. I will definitely reread it—the whole book on audio next time! I know this just came out, but I’m excited about book two!! 

 

Content warnings: war, blood, familial death, kidnapping, torture, grief, gaslighting 

Thanks, Wednesday Books, for the arc! 

 

I become a bigger fan of Olivia Worley’s writing every book I read. PEOPLE TO FOLLOW was entertaining, but the mystery of THE DEBUTANTES had me unable to set the book down. 

 

I was not a debutante or around that culture, so everything I know is from TV and books. Deb culture fascinates me, so reading a murder mystery set in that culture was fun. 

 

Worley kept me intrigued with her cast of characters and their interactions. The book has excellent pacing, and I was constantly guessing—the end was a complete surprise! 

 

Definitely recommend this book! I can’t wait to see what Worley does next! 

 

Content warnings: murder, blood, sexual assault, misogyny, infidelity, adult/minor relationship, kidnapping, grief, gaslighting 

Thanks, St. Martin’s Griffin and Libro.FM, for the arc and ALC! 

 

“And in that moment, I know Jake Taylor and I will never be just friends.” That’s the line that hooked me in the first chapter of TILL THERE WAS YOU by Lindsay Hameroff, and I knew I was in trouble of finding a new romance book I would love. Was I right? Yes. And this is another book I’m happy I waited for the audiobook to read! 

 

I picked up the arc a few times but never caught on to reading it, even with that line in the opening chapter. When I heard it on audio, it was like a totally different book, and I was excited about it. And that line, along with the rest of the book, was so well narrated by Erin Bennett. 

 

I liked how Hameroff spread Lexi and Jake’s situationship over time. Sure, some of it was frustrating, but it let them grow as individuals and together. Plus, we got to know some great side characters that I hope we might see later 🤞🏻 

 

I don’t mind miscommunication if it’s necessary and done well. I saw why it was needed in this story, but I think it could been executed better. That was my biggest frustration. 

 

Otherwise, I enjoyed the book. It made me smile and feel the love. A great romance debut - I can’t wait to read what Lindsay Hamerhof writes next! 

 

Content warnings: familial death, cancer, sexual harassment, bullying, grief 

Thanks, Forever and Hachette Audio, for the arc and ALC! 

 

THR WORST DUKE IN LONDON, a Regency retelling of 10 Things I Hate About You, which is actually a retelling of TAMING OF THE SHREW - I am in love! Amalie Howard, you are brilliant, and with every book in the TAMING OF THE DUKES series) that comes out; each one becomes my new favorite! I especially loved this one because there were so many classic moments from the movie that Evangeline and the Duke of the Vale played out in the Regency era that I imagined Julia and Heath as their characters in my head, playing their roles in my head as I read. 

 

If you are looking for some good spice in the Regency era, I have your book right here 🥵 I don’t think any of us would have been allowed to watch 10 Things I Hate About You if it was this spicy! 

 

Evangeline is one of my all-time favorite characters in Howard’s work. I love her love for animals, which reflects my own. Like her, I would rather be curled up with my dog and reading than out and about. I like that she is honest and stubborn, and she speaks her mind. She is just fine being herself in a time when women are meant to be coddled and the men in charge. 

 

The Duke of Vale is an excellent partner for Evangeline. He reminded me of Jamie from OUTLANDER, as if he lived in BRIDGERTON. He’s a catch! And he’s honest, stubborn, and speaks his mind, too. The banter between Evangeline and him is exceptional! But that can be expected because Howard is known for her excellent banter writing between characters! 

 

A+ audiobook narration by Mary Jane Wells, who is one of my favorite narrators. I loved how the story came to life! 

 

I’m a fan of Amalie Howard’s books; this series is an excellent place to start! The books can be read stand-alone or as a series, and either way, you will have a lot of fun! 

 

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Content warnings: (per the author in the book) the discussion of animal welfare as well as some off-page maltreatment are part of an underlying plot thread in this novel, some animals are in dangerous on-page situations requiring rescue, though none are harmed, abandonment by a parent as well as a death or murder of a family member of mentioned in dialogue, some drug use including morphine or cocaine laced wine is discussed, there is discussion of a consensual sex agreement as well as a visit to a sex club, period-specific terms such as harlot, trollop, and light skirts are used, and I’ve tried my best to keep these both authentic and sex-positive within context, intimate scenes are described on page, some offensive language is used in narration as well in dialogue 

Thanks, Nerd Fam and Gillian Eliza West, for the arc! 

 

RUIN by Gillian Eliza West is what we all want in romantasy and I’m obsessed. I felt like I was reading it, but suddenly, it was over, and I needed book two! Also, I finished this book back in October before it came out and was going to take a day to think on it, and now it’s the end of November, and I’m giving my thoughts 🤦🏻‍♀️ (gotta love my health, but I did talk about it a lot!). This is a book that gets into your soul where you find yourself thinking of moments randomly and doing all you can not to reread constantly because you have an ever-growing TBR. 

 

RUIN is your book if you are a fan of angsty, slow burn. Ughhhh, the slow burn between Oralia and Renwick is perfection to the point that it is almost painful. Plus, it’s forced proximity, so you know it’s even better because of that. 

 

It’s a fantastic plot, too. I love Oralia and Ren. Oralia hasn’t touched another human in 200 years because touching them means killing them. It’s interesting to see her struggle with that. 

 

And what an ending… I’m very curious (and excited for!) about book two.