_artemis's reviews
279 reviews

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

3.75

Fun story and I found it pretty immediately addicting. The writing sometimes left a bit to be desired, but I had more fun than I have had with most romantasy of late and for that I’ll take it as a win.

Ruined by Sarah Vaughn

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

4.0

A gorgeous feast!! If you’ve ever loved anything regency, I implore you to read this treat!

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-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

I ate this up!!! I wish I could have like 40 more plz. 

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I didn't love as much as Butcher & Blackbird, but I'm a sucker for whatever this unhinged genre is. 

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny reflective 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

Not my favorite of hers — with Check & Mate and Love Theoretically being real highs for me. But I enjoyed this. I struggled with the food insecurity whilst being a student athlete plot because it felt a little under done... a little half baked. But really appreciated the new sexual relationship explorations. This is definitely a much smuttier book for those who felt like LT was pushing that limit. I'm a fan of her spicy writing so I'm game for it all, but without enjoying that part I don't think this book would be an enjoyable read.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-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

5.0

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

Magnolia Parks: Into the Dark by Jessa Hastings

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing by Jessa Hastings

dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m actually scaring myself how fast I’m reading these. 

I’m sorry I love Magnolia and BJ and all… but to me they don’t have shit on Daisy and Christian. Jesus Christ this book brought the heat. And that heat is also named Julian Haites.

I’m crushed at the ending and the fact that I don’t want to pivot away from their story.

One kinda neat thing? I actually fell in love with Magnolia this book… because of Daisy’s pov. Weird, but relatable. I love Daisy even tho she’s a lil shit most times. There are not enough words in English to describe how down bad I am for Christian.

Again, these are soapy, campy at times, insane almost always, but I’ll defend the craft of the writing any damn day. I wish I could distill whatever magic Jessa Hastings has because she knows how to suck you in within an inch of your life. I am so so so invested. Even in the side characters! Theres a high low dynamic here. It’s bingeable, it’s absurd, it’s dramatic, but it will knock the breath out of you with some gorgeous prose. A lack of fear when it comes to the mess of the human experience.

The truly incredible part of this to me was the kind of reveal we get of reliving the magnolia x julian episode from his pov. I’ve never experienced this in a book. When I started realizing what was happening? That line? Never mind that I loved her in this one? I’m sorry but that will be a standard to which I hold all romantic writing going forward. When he has to be sedated? I needed sedation too!

Also “the gang watches Christian’s sex tape scene” will live rent free in my mind for forever. I was dyyyying.

Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home by Jessa Hastings

emotional funny lighthearted sad tense fast-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