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toastyghosty13's reviews
161 reviews
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a lot better than I expected it to be since I am usually not a fan of anything contemporary or anything where the main genre is romance (unless it is scifi/fantasy). I really liked Olive as a main character and Adam was funny with how quiet and awkward he is. The only thing I knew about Ali Hazelwood before reading this was that a lot of her work is alternate universe fan fiction of Rey and Kylo Ren. I probably would not have noticed that on my own but it makes a lot of sense.
I really enjoyed this book and binged it pretty fast. I was left wanting more and immediately moved to another book of hers after and binged that too. I will definitely be reading more of her works in the future! I like that it is something I can relate to, being in a STEM field myself, which gave it the element that I need to maintain interest in more contemporary things (something that gives the characters a factor that is more than just normal ass people doing stuff, like how Icebreakers is all hockey players or Heist Society is professional art thieves).
I am planning on reading more of these books whenever I have that romance itch :)
I really enjoyed this book and binged it pretty fast. I was left wanting more and immediately moved to another book of hers after and binged that too. I will definitely be reading more of her works in the future! I like that it is something I can relate to, being in a STEM field myself, which gave it the element that I need to maintain interest in more contemporary things (something that gives the characters a factor that is more than just normal ass people doing stuff, like how Icebreakers is all hockey players or Heist Society is professional art thieves).
I am planning on reading more of these books whenever I have that romance itch :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gaslighting
This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley. It was an immense joy to read, I loved the main characters and hope dearly that there is a sequel in the works. I immediately ordered a special edition of this book and think it will become well loved among readers and probably end up on some banned book lists lol.
I found the main characters to be so loveable and I feel like it perfectly sums up what it is like to have your first love as a teenager. The world is so beautiful in this book and I learned that there is another book already written by the author that takes place in a city that is mentioned in this book as the hometown of one of the main characters. There is a quote somewhere that I saw that described this book as a mix of eastern European folklore and studio ghibli, which I think nailed it on the head. It absolutely felt like Spirited Away's bathhouse if it was a small town in Poland and I highly recommend this book if that is something that sounds interesting to you!!
This might be one of my favorite books of the year :)
I found the main characters to be so loveable and I feel like it perfectly sums up what it is like to have your first love as a teenager. The world is so beautiful in this book and I learned that there is another book already written by the author that takes place in a city that is mentioned in this book as the hometown of one of the main characters. There is a quote somewhere that I saw that described this book as a mix of eastern European folklore and studio ghibli, which I think nailed it on the head. It absolutely felt like Spirited Away's bathhouse if it was a small town in Poland and I highly recommend this book if that is something that sounds interesting to you!!
This might be one of my favorite books of the year :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Rape and Murder
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was an interesting premise that reminded me a bit of Ally Carter's books like Heist Society and Gallagher Girls. I liked the main characters and I found their variety of skills to be unique and an interesting mix in how they interact with each other. I read this for a book club and will probably finish out the series at a later time!
I was not a huge fan of the love triangle because I think both of the guys involved with it are pretty meh; one of them is way too egotistical for his own good and the other exhibits an unhealthy amount of brooding. I hope we learn more about the characters and their backgrounds with future books!!
I was not a huge fan of the love triangle because I think both of the guys involved with it are pretty meh; one of them is way too egotistical for his own good and the other exhibits an unhealthy amount of brooding. I hope we learn more about the characters and their backgrounds with future books!!
Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The last full length book of this series, it is sad to see it be finished!! This was a heist that involved Hale's family and it was started by the tragic death of his grandmother. It was interesting seeing more about Hale and his mysterious and insanely rich extended family. I wish we would have learned what the W stands for in Hale's name. This had some twists and turns, but I appreciated that it involved all of the thieves and conmen of Kat's family as a last hurrah. Sad to see this series be finished! I think it is my favorite of Ally Carters books.
Wild Game by Colette Rhodes
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.0
This was an introduction into Wild as a character, which was helpful because not much is known about him and he cannot talk. I did feel like it focused too much on being on the run, but did appreciate the insights into some of the lore with the gods that are involved and their motives. I will definitely be finishing out this series at some point! It is a cool melding of Greek gods in modern times and there is a good balance of romance and lore dumps.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Absolute chaos. Lesbian necromancers in space exploring a haunted gothic mansion is the quote on the front and it is correct and yet it is so much more. Think Agatha Christie "And Then There Were None". The humor is unexpected and unprecedented (I implore you to read the naming choice section at the end of the book too) and the characters are unique and psychotic.
The beginning is super confusing with all of the names of people and places thrown at you very quickly, but it is worth it! About 20%-30% of the way through it clicked for me.
I immediately bought the other books in both ebook and physical copy format as soon as I finished. The ending was givingBloodborne ascending and fear the old gods and I am OBSESSED .
For the Ninth.
The beginning is super confusing with all of the names of people and places thrown at you very quickly, but it is worth it! About 20%-30% of the way through it clicked for me.
I immediately bought the other books in both ebook and physical copy format as soon as I finished. The ending was giving
For the Ninth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. Fun way to get into Ali Hazelwood books that bridged the gap for me between romantasy to romance and her other works. I liked the 2 main characters a lot and even found the child character to not be annoying like I usually think. Good story and world building, and I liked the way the ending left off. Hoping that this ends up being a series and is not just a standalone!
We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese by Elizabeth M. Norman
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
This was a very difficult book to read because of the nature of the content being WW2 and recounting how the incredible women known as the Angels persevered and survived both in jungle outpost conditions and internment camps.
These women accomplished the most amazing things even while being affected by disease and injuries themselves. They cared so deeply for their patients and others and they did not receive the acknowledgement and recognition deserved. These women had an amazing story and this book helps to tell it, even if it does miss some of them due to a lot of them women passing away or unwilling to revisit the atrocities of the past.
These women accomplished the most amazing things even while being affected by disease and injuries themselves. They cared so deeply for their patients and others and they did not receive the acknowledgement and recognition deserved. These women had an amazing story and this book helps to tell it, even if it does miss some of them due to a lot of them women passing away or unwilling to revisit the atrocities of the past.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
This was a cool book that told the authors story of what it was like to work in a crematory. I could have done without some of the tangential info on Caitlins time living in a neighborhood where there were homeless people and how she started to have feelings with her friend, but everything else in this book was really cool to learn about.
Apparently, it is exceedingly difficult to get into the funeral home industry because it is a family practice that is often passed down, and you find yourself in the existential career cycle of "can't get a job because I need more experience but this job is the only way I can get more experience." This showed Caitlin's journey of breaking into the crematory business and the background of her fascination with the dead, and how she realized her hated for embalming. The people Caitlin work with are also funny and enjoyable to read about.
I would recommend this to anyone curious about cremation and processing the dead, but caution anyone that might be grossed out by bodily fluids.
Apparently, it is exceedingly difficult to get into the funeral home industry because it is a family practice that is often passed down, and you find yourself in the existential career cycle of "can't get a job because I need more experience but this job is the only way I can get more experience." This showed Caitlin's journey of breaking into the crematory business and the background of her fascination with the dead, and how she realized her hated for embalming. The people Caitlin work with are also funny and enjoyable to read about.
I would recommend this to anyone curious about cremation and processing the dead, but caution anyone that might be grossed out by bodily fluids.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was so hyped for this book after Butcher and Blackbird and then so so SO let down. I was really excited to read more about the next duo in this trilogy, Lachlan and Lark after what bit I saw in B&B made me love them. I felt like what ended up showing was 2 characters that felt like they didn't have much chemistry for most of the book and then are inexplicably in love by the last 80%. I felt like it was rushed yet also too long.
The majority of the book was the slowest slow burn I have ever encountered, but there was such little "will they, won't they" that it felt like it was still them getting to know each other at a base level 75% of the way through. I feel like that whole chunk could have been shorter, while the last 20-25% could have been at least twice as long. I honestly forgot most of what has happened on the romance and plot of this book except for the bonus chapter scene, which shouldn't have been a bonus chapter this should have just been in the book because the romance was lacking for me too lol.
I wish that the author let it cook more, it felt rushed and a bit boring and I am honestly just sad about it after the absolute delight B&B was. Furthermore, this has scared me that the third book is coming out so soon. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THESE!!!
The majority of the book was the slowest slow burn I have ever encountered, but there was such little "will they, won't they" that it felt like it was still them getting to know each other at a base level 75% of the way through. I feel like that whole chunk could have been shorter, while the last 20-25% could have been at least twice as long. I honestly forgot most of what has happened on the romance and plot of this book
I wish that the author let it cook more, it felt rushed and a bit boring and I am honestly just sad about it after the absolute delight B&B was. Furthermore, this has scared me that the third book is coming out so soon. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THESE!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Murder