niftyreads's reviews
162 reviews

Thanks, Elentiya PR, for the arc 

 

I was approached about being on a book tour for this and the second book in the series. After reading the synopsis, I said yes because it sounded like a book I would enjoy. Unfortunately, two flaws made me quit reading near the beginning of the book. 

 

One is how Greek life is portrayed. I’m a sorority girl, and I'm proud of my active and alumna life. I don’t appreciate books that use hazing as a plot line, assume all sorority mixers would include alcohol, or define Greek life as the typical “movie definition” when it is so much more. 

 

Two, Austin, the narrator of the first chapter, I honestly thought was a bi-FMC. (By this point, I’ve forgotten the book blurb I had read a while ago.) I liked Austin as I read. Then I got to Sydney and realized, “Oh, no! She’s the FMC!” So, I went back and reread Austin’s chapter. It was not as entertaining. Then it was like Austin and Sydney both had the same narration voice for me as I read. 

 

I tried to let things in Greek life slide because I knew I could get overprotective of them, but they kept coming. Then, when the narration was no longer entertaining, I took my leave. Selina Violet has a good idea, but it was executed poorly. The book would have been better with sensitivity readers and readers who have experienced Greek life. Hopefully, the following books in the series will have that. 

Most recent read (11/25/24-11/29/24): 

So I finished SEOULMATES again, and it had me in allllllll the feels, and I may have once again (okay, I did) cried. Christina Lauren said it best on the cover: “The perfect childhood friends-to-lovers story-full stop.” I’m not sure what else to say besides that I want to be friends with Hannah and Jacob so I can watch their romance unfold, irl. And I need Susan Lee to write the romance of my life, please. 

 

Also, this is just one of my happy, feel-good books, to the point that I forget to log it when I’m reading it. I’ll randomly pick it up for a quick chapter or two or for a full read-through just to give me some feel-good emotions. 

 

This reread was special, though. I have a hand-annotated edition of SEOULMATES by Susan Lee—it’s one of my prized possessions. It’s been a rough health time, so I needed the ultimate dose of pick-me-up reading medicine. It definitely was! I loved having her insight and doodles throughout the book as I read! 

 

First read (9/18/22-9/24/22): 

Hits you right in allllll the feels. Full rtc. 

 

 

Content warnings: bullying, racism, death of a parent, grief, cancer

This is how you write a sequel. 

I would just like to know why you haven't read One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig yet? Because it means you can't have read Two Dark Crowns by her, the second book in The Shepard King duology, and you are missing out. Perfection in a fantasy duology enhanced by an epic narration performance by Lisa Cordileone.

I always look for interesting stand alone fantasy novels. I want to be excited and escape somewhere, while not investing years of my life. (Don't get me wrong, l love that, too!) This was such a fun novel with some many neat creatures including lots of dragons and animal tattoos that came to life! 

I loved the Pacific Islander culture representation, too!
Been stated as a romantasy, but no. Full stop. Just a good fantasy book.

Also, this is my limit for animal/creature harm/death. It was a lot and hard to read. Almost DNFd at one point, but don't like it at all in my books (real or fantasy friends) so take that as you will from me. Feel free to message me about it.

Will I read this author again? Yes, it was their debut and I see A LOT of fantasy potential!

Content warnings: animal cruelty/death, familial death, kidnapping, child abuse, terminal illness (dementia), violence, grief

Thanks, Hachette Audio, for the ALC!

I will never look at or hear a cello the same way again, which I don't know if that's a good thing or not since I go to the theatre so much.

Also, I love both Elliot and Xander, so even though I'm late to the game, I'm claiming both.

Thanks, Libro.FM, for the ALC!

Everyone kept saying read Julie Soto. What did I do? Buy her books from Forever with amazing photo overlays and just let them sit there. Then I didn't even read the books, I listened to them and realized she is a master in all the squishy feels, fantastic men, and spicy not food thoughts I need.

Thanks, Hachette Audio, for the ALC!

The Belladonna conculsion and I couldn't have loved it more. Adalyn Grace always keeps me guessing. If she writes it, I'll read it. If Kristin Atherton reads it, I'll listen to it.

Thanks, Wattpad Books, for the arc! 

 

A FRENCH GIRL IN NEW YORK reminds me of the classic DComs, and I loved every second of it. I could imagine a young Disney Channel star, Zendaya playing Maude, suddenly moving to New York with wide heart eyes. Ugh, it would be so good. I miss the good ol’ days. But this book by Anna Adams 100% brings you back to them. I had all the feels and even teared up at the end! 

 

Adams’ book is one of those suspend disbelief and enjoy for a good time type of read. You know that feeling when you watched The Princess Diaries then walked around for days (or years in my case) waiting for your missing Grandma from Genovia to come by and say, “Hey, you’re a princess” - that’s the feeling you need to have when you read the book. If you do, you will be squealing and kicking your feet and wondering when you will be whisked away to New York for a recording contract. I mean, they can teach me to sing, right? 

 

I love Maude and her love of classical music. I think it’s phenomenal that Adams chose this route for her book instead of making her a pop star. I like classical music and learned new things, so I know that new readers of the classical music world will learn too! 

 

The characters were wonderful, the story was fluffy, and the ending was sweet. I enjoyed this story and see myself rereading it when I just want to be lost in a happy world. 

Thanks, BooksGoSocial, for the arc! 

 

I’m a huge fan of forced proximity and fake relationships, so after reading the book blurb, I felt THE HOME SHARE would be a good book for me. I was right! And it had another trope I love—meddling grandparents! Overall, it was a cute story with excellent characters that made me want to root for them to have the story turn out happily! 

 

Even though the book is a little short at 190 pages, and I wish it could have been a little longer to give Evie and Jake more time to fall in love during their fake relationship, I enjoyed how the story unfolded. It was a neat idea of forced proximity and how everyone meddled in their lives. I giggled quite a few times. Eleanore, Jake’s grandma, is the best! 

 

I enjoyed this. It is a cute, no spice, rom-com, quick read! I read it in a day! 

I’ve decided that I love Tessa Bailey’s sports romance because I don’t need to think; I can sit back and relax. THE AU PAIR AFFAIR had me giggling at its ridiculousness, and during a bad pain flare-up, it was exactly what I needed. 

 

I feel like Bailey wrote this book by cutting and pasting all the tropes on the pages and saying, “This looks good.” I won’t argue - it was good, but I’m not sure I could name all the tropes in this book, and that’s fine. I cared about the characters. I cared about the hockey. 

 

I also cared about the characters for the next book a lot and can’t wait to read it! 

 

Callie Dalton was the narrator, just like in FANGIRL DOWN. Once again, I’m a fan of her narration, especially when it’s the hockey team, lol.