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sophs_mood_reading's reviews
397 reviews
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Ahh I loved this book. It’s the perfect vampire/ human / warrior / romance plot.
Feisty & angsty FMC ✅
Mysterious & hot MMC ✅
Daddy issues ✅
Life risking tournament ✅
Banter!! ✅
Spice ✅
Unique and interesting world building ✅
If you like fantasy with a bit of a dark side (not really dark romance) and some 🌶️, you need to hit this one up! Plus the sequel is already available so you can dive right into the next book as soon as you are done (which is what I’m doing right after I finish this review!).
Feisty & angsty FMC ✅
Mysterious & hot MMC ✅
Daddy issues ✅
Life risking tournament ✅
Banter!! ✅
Spice ✅
Unique and interesting world building ✅
If you like fantasy with a bit of a dark side (not really dark romance) and some 🌶️, you need to hit this one up! Plus the sequel is already available so you can dive right into the next book as soon as you are done (which is what I’m doing right after I finish this review!).
Charming by Jade Linwood
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Thank you NetGalley and rebellion publishing for a ARC in return for an honest review. This fun novel is a twisted fairytale with a cast of well known players. We meet many a damsel in distress who are of course rescued by the oh so wonderful Prince Charming. This charmer however instead of walking down the aisle, runs off with the kingdoms gold and treasures. This story continues to repeat itself until three jilted princesses decide enough is enough and set out to bring the not so Prince Charming to justice. This book was an easy read with a fun twist of characters and stories. It did get a tad slow but the telling of the 4th and 5th princesses story (we had well and truly got the point by the third). It also seems to leave open an end which could develop into a series set in the same world which I think could be quite fun.
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
The ultimate teen romcom book about romcom movies. Liz is romcom obsessed to the point she is waiting for her perfect love to occur all while planing the perfect soundtrack. She identifies meet cute moments, relationship tropes and characters in her own life. She’s literally the character in her own movie.
But there is a flaw to this book. If Liz was such an expert in these movies, she should have been able to predict every awkward or surprising moment she lived though. Whoops did I just break the matrix?!?
This was fun, it was adorable and the nostalgia from the quotes from the best romcoms at the start of each chapter was joy sparking. We aren’t going to see any literary awards but she’s a fun happy book!
But there is a flaw to this book. If Liz was such an expert in these movies, she should have been able to predict every awkward or surprising moment she lived though. Whoops did I just break the matrix?!?
This was fun, it was adorable and the nostalgia from the quotes from the best romcoms at the start of each chapter was joy sparking. We aren’t going to see any literary awards but she’s a fun happy book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My first soirée into hockey romance/ figure skating romance. We have the commitmentphobe, no strings, no emotions figure skater who can’t get the oh so kind and thoughtful but incredibly hot captain of the hockey team out of her head.
Add some fraternity banter, a toxic skating partner, an unloving father and some injury sectionals drama with some very horny college students and bam you have a novel.
Got to say I did like the positive mentions of the use of therapy/psychologists and identifying mental health problems and coping mechanisms.
There was enough depth to the characters and some plot that we got from 3.5-4 stars aka it wasn’t a book where they just tried to fill pages with some words around 🌶️ scenes.
Add some fraternity banter, a toxic skating partner, an unloving father and some injury sectionals drama with some very horny college students and bam you have a novel.
Got to say I did like the positive mentions of the use of therapy/psychologists and identifying mental health problems and coping mechanisms.
There was enough depth to the characters and some plot that we got from 3.5-4 stars aka it wasn’t a book where they just tried to fill pages with some words around 🌶️ scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Little miss sunshine falls for enemy grumpy morally grey best friend of brother.
Add some CEO/Ukrainian gangster/ revenge seeking and some heavy bleek backstory with a spice and you’ve got twisted love.
I can see why many on bookstagram love this book and the characters but it wasn’t really my thing. Apparently I prefer my morally grey men a bit more fantasy realm evil then CEO evil.
Add some CEO/Ukrainian gangster/ revenge seeking and some heavy bleek backstory with a spice and you’ve got twisted love.
I can see why many on bookstagram love this book and the characters but it wasn’t really my thing. Apparently I prefer my morally grey men a bit more fantasy realm evil then CEO evil.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a cute little high fantasy novel about Viv opening a coffee shop in a town that had never heard of it. There is a cute developing of friends and meeting new creatures and characters. If it wasn’t fantasy (and thus some strange characters and magical elements) I think I would have found it quite boring. There is a drama of course but it seems to be sorted before it happens that it was simple.
A good read if you want something nice and simple and not to complicated.
A good read if you want something nice and simple and not to complicated.
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
It was the talking pig that ended it for me.
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
A Groundhog Day retelling with Emily who is having the worst Valentine’s Day over and over again. As she tries to fix it she starts to realise she may be trying ti fix the wrong things.
This book was fun and although I’m not normally into something still set in high school. The teens spoke more like characters out of Dawson’s Creek so it wasn’t so painful.
Halfway though there was a big plot point that became VERY predictable especially as a character kept jinxing themselves but I found the result wasn’t as bad or annoying as I’d expected.
Please add (and older version) of Nick Stark to the book-boyfriends list haha.
This book was fun and although I’m not normally into something still set in high school. The teens spoke more like characters out of Dawson’s Creek so it wasn’t so painful.
Halfway though there was a big plot point that became VERY predictable especially as a character kept jinxing themselves but I found the result wasn’t as bad or annoying as I’d expected.
Please add (and older version) of Nick Stark to the book-boyfriends list haha.
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
This is my first delve into a Hades and Persephone retelling and I really enjoyed it.
I love the angst between the two Mc and the interesting take on the bargain between them. It was fun to see this in a modern day setting where the gods live among the mortals and Persephone hiding her true identity in order to live a “normal” life.
I’m looking forward to continuing the series and see Persephone come into her self even more.
There is some spice that may be too much for some but probably considered some what tame to others. Does go from a little sprinkle and teasing at first to occurring nearly every chapter so warning for those who may not be a fan.
Bonus points is there was an extra chapter at the end in Hades POV!!!
I love the angst between the two Mc and the interesting take on the bargain between them. It was fun to see this in a modern day setting where the gods live among the mortals and Persephone hiding her true identity in order to live a “normal” life.
I’m looking forward to continuing the series and see Persephone come into her self even more.
There is some spice that may be too much for some but probably considered some what tame to others. Does go from a little sprinkle and teasing at first to occurring nearly every chapter so warning for those who may not be a fan.
Bonus points is there was an extra chapter at the end in Hades POV!!!
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ali Hazelwood is an auto-buy author for me. I love her intelligent witty female leads in her book. Her grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers, he falls first tropes get me every time.
My only gripe is that the women always seem to doubt their worth. That they aren’t worth loving or aren’t good enough for the guy. It just is upsetting.
I really liked the story line of this book. Even if it was very predictable in some ways (the ending drama I did not see coming!)
My only gripe is that the women always seem to doubt their worth. That they aren’t worth loving or aren’t good enough for the guy. It just is upsetting.
I really liked the story line of this book. Even if it was very predictable in some ways (the ending drama I did not see coming!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Gaslighting