Scan barcode
alittlelibrary's reviews
19 reviews
Black Blossom 2 - Still the One by Aimée Lou
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
It was just incredible. I finished the book in a day because I couldn't put it down. The first book had already won me over, but Still The One exceeded all my expectations. Everything that was missing in the first book, was there in the second one. I'm not usually a fan of love triangles, but this one was entirely relevant to the story. The banter between Harper and Riley is still so funny to read and the tension is as immaculate and hot as ever. At first, I wasn’t sure I would love the plot twist of Riley having a kid but Maxwell's presence as a new character melted my heart; he brought a lot to the narrative. Seeing Riley in the role of a father was everything I never knew I needed. This happy ending healed my heart. Thank you for this beautiful book. I will miss Riley and Harper dearly.
Black Blossom 1 - Loved You First by Aimée Lou, Aimée Lou
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Oh my god! I knew I would love this book, but not this much. I adored everything from start to finish. It's a perfect enemies-to-lovers and incredible slow burn. The tension and the banter between the two protagonists were out of this world. I debated between giving it 4.75 or 5 stars for a quite a long time, but I think 4.75 is more honest. It was a favorite, for sure, but I would have liked to learn more about the characters and their emotions, especially Riley. I love this character with all my heart, and I hope to discover more about him in the second book. One thing is certain, I completely fell in love with the writing style of these authors.
La Nuit où les étoiles se sont éteintes by Marie Alhinho, Nine Gorman
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I rated the book 3/5, but I still enjoyed reading it. This doesn’t mean the book was bad. It's a sweet novel that explores friendship, trauma and trust in a lovely way. I particularly love the found family trope, so this book still resonated with me. I rated it 3 simply because I was expecting something much better. I had heard incredible reviews and anticipated a favorite, which didn't happen. I found the writing a bit shaky, and the genre leaning toward young adult, which isn't quite my preference anymore. However, it remains a good book that I would have likely rated 5/5 when I was a bit younger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I never anticipated loving this book to such an extent. After reading the first one, my expectations were surpassed by this second book. I never imagined I could come to love Laurent so profoundly. His personal development and the trust he was able to give to Damen were incredibly satisfying to witness. The tension between the two of them was immaculate. This is by far one of the finest, if not the best, slow burns I've ever read. The world, the narratives, the conflicts, the political intrigue and the characters captivated me, and I wouldn't change a single thing about this book. My favorite from the trilogy, that’s for sure! However, I'm deeply apprehensive about diving into the next one.
Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This final book was an absolute delight. I could never have imagined that Laurent and Damen would get a happy ending, making me profoundly pleased with the ending, to say the least. It's truly heart-wrenching to bid farewell to these characters I've grown so attached to. Laurent, my dear, I wish to protect you from the entire world, but that's what Damen is here for. A solid 5/5 for this trilogy! I'm deeply saddened to leave behind this enthralling universe.
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Well, it was... unique. I'm not sure how I feel about this book. One thing's for sure, I couldn't put it down, which I guess is a good sign. I started reading it without any particular expectations, and that was quite the experience. I absolutely loved Damen and hated Laurent... but in a good way? He's a cruel character yet so intriguing and fascinating, and you find yourself wanting to discover the secrets hidden behind his cold-blooded composure. I also really enjoyed the setting, the palace... but the customs and traditions? Let's say they took me by surprise. The activities described were so unlikely and surreal that I either burst out laughing or was profoundly shocked. I think that's why I didn’t rate it a 5/5. I still devoured it from start to finish though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
This book was so beautiful. Exploring those mythological stories was truly captivating. I was engrossed from start to finish and couldn't put it down. The love and passion between Patroclus and Achilles were genuinely heartwarming and so sweet to read. However, the ending left me completely heartbroken.
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
4.5
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
This is my favorite book, the best I’ve ever read. It made me smile, made me laugh, made me cry my heart out, made me mad. I felt everything. This is why literature exists. Hanya Yanagihara fearlessly explores trauma without dressing it up. She didn’t try to cover it up. She didn’t make a happy ending out of it and this is what makes it so raw and real. It's crucial to have books about recovery and hope, but equally important are those portraying the harsh truth of an impossible recovery. Some people never recover. Someo people stay the same. Sometimes, x does equal x. Jude never healed. He never overcame the worst life had thrown at him, but he was surrounded with love. He never got the happy ending or self-forgiveness he deserved, but Jude was so loved. He got to experience the love he longed for his entire life and even if it didn’t fix him, it mattered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Love, Hate and Clickbait by Liz Bowery
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
That’s a nice MLM comedy book. It’s lighthearted, funny and just so cute. The enemies to lovers trope is very well-executed! However, I wouldn’t rate it above 3,5/5 because I found the writing quite simple and the storyline lacking depth in explaining the characters' emotions. Despite the simplicity of the writing, I still found it enjoyable.