anavidreader_19's reviews
38 reviews

My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

Under the Surface by Diana Urban

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.75

So incredible I don't even know where to begin. 

The characters were so dynamic and Ruby was easy to love and root for despite her flaws. The suspense was insane, the mystery fantastic and I was so taken aback by each amazing plot twist. 

Now I do not typically read mystery/suspense survival stories so this was a first for me. And to be completely honest, I think this book just opened up a whole new genre for me. Every part was just so entertaining and so full of suspense I couldn't put it down no matter how much I wanted to delay finishing this masterpiece. 

Amazing work from Diana Urban! 10/10 would recommend. 

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Reckless by Lauren Roberts

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad 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? No

4.5

I was initially going to give this book a solid 4⭐ until i got to the last 100 pages. 

Those last few pages seriously raised my expectations and make me feel things I never through I could. I screamed, cried, took laps around my room... You name it. 

And normally I would rate it much higher because of that, but unfortunately, the beginning/middle of the story fell a bit flat for me. It felt a bit slow going without as many stakes and tension I was expecting after the way the last book ended. There was just something lacking I can't really figure out. 

But about half way in things started to pick up and those last couple chapters single handedly made up for all of that. I only wish I'd felt that way about most of the book especially because it was so highly anticipated for me. But will that stop me from reading the next one? After that ending – hell no. I just hope April comes around fast enough. 

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I went into this book not really expecting much. I'd considered buying it before, but after seeing the negative reviews, decided against it. Until I found a copy second hand and decided what the hell and to give it ago. And the only thing I have to say is – are the people who didn't enjoy this book high?? 

This story went above and beyond my expectations and never failed to make me laugh, smile, squeal and kick my feet and giggle. The romance felt more genuine, mature and hearty than anything else I've read in a long time. And this is coming from and tried and true romance girly. 

Both Cassie and Frederick felt so real to me. Their dynamic was absolutely hilarious and Fredrick's fish out of water experience was by far my favourite part. The plot felt easy to follow and at the same time, was really intriguing. I never wanted to put this book down. And considering I finished it in only 1½ days, I feel speaks volumes.  

If I had to give a criticism, however, was the ending. It felt like all this drama was being built up only for it to be solved pretty quickly without much anticipation or stakes. It just felt a bit rushed and like everything was solved before the real drama could really begin. 

But all is to say that this book surpassed my expectations by a long shot. And I would never dream about not recommending this to someone!! It was light, fluffy, funny and overall amazing. Exactly the pallet cleanser I've been needing. 

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.

Honestly this book was quite dark and depressing from the start. The politics side was a bit confusing and not something I'm massively invested in. I might pick it up later when I can handle a bit more death and sadness because I think I needed to read something a bit more light-hearted. Nothing legitimately wrong with this book just not for me 🤷‍♀️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent

Powerful by Lauren Roberts

emotional funny hopeful 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? No

4.75

I think this is the first time I've cried so hard over a book in a good long while. 

This was a short Novella, obviously meant to be fast paced, and at the beginning it did feel a bit rushed to me but that could be because I'm more used to slow burn stories. But did the fact that this was only 245 pages make me loose or lack any connection to the characters? Hell the fuck no. 

Both Mak and Adena where such beautifully fleshed out characters with so much depth I really got the sense that they were real people. Which only made the last 50 pages just that much harder. And Adena might as well be my twin because we are like bloody incarnates. Only she could make a friend while in prison. 

It was also so refreshing to see a female main character in a fantasy novel be soft, kind – a lover not a fighter. And this never took away from her strength as a person and really showed that you don't need to know how to sword fight or be more traditionally "manly" in order to be badass. Which unfortunately, I think a lot of fantasy books follow. Both can be just as powerful as the next. 

So in conclusion... 

Did I kick and squeal so much I'd have to rock myself like a baby to calm down? ...maybe.
Did I scream and curse at Lauren for writing that ending? Yes. 
Will I ever recover? Who knows. 

All in all this was such a beautiful, somehow both comforting and painful read. I could really see Lauren's writing progress with this one and it makes me just that much more terrified and exited for her next installment. 

10/10 recommend.