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banaamelia's reviews
202 reviews
Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Elsie Silver has a talent for making me like tropes I don’t usually enjoy. I normally hate the one of them is famous trope but she did this so well. Skylar and West and the kiddos were all so likeable. And I definitely enjoyed this book, a solid four stars from me.
The only thing I wanted more of was a plot. I wanted West to want goals of his own to accomplish before the end of the book outside of being with Skylar. And her ending with her parent’s left more to be desired.
Aside from that, it is just a feel-good romance and who can fault that?
The only thing I wanted more of was a plot. I wanted West to want goals of his own to accomplish before the end of the book outside of being with Skylar. And her ending with her parent’s left more to be desired.
Aside from that, it is just a feel-good romance and who can fault that?
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
DNF. The author mentioned a character that was Isr#eli just to affirm which side of this g—ocide they align with.
Not to mention this was the most boring, bland book prior to this. I tried to power through but them outing themselves as a zio really was the final nail in the coffin.
Not to mention this was the most boring, bland book prior to this. I tried to power through but them outing themselves as a zio really was the final nail in the coffin.
Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan
5.0
I loved this book.
I regret not starting it years ago when I first put it on my TBR but I pass the blame to the people who over-exaggerated how sad it is. I definitely cried but I assumed it would be a lot worse than what it was.
The plot twist was predictable and I guessed it pretty early on but that didn’t take away from how much I loved it. Alyssa and Connor’s story did just as much damage to me as the aftermath of what happened to Archer. Sweet, sweet Archer. Has there ever been a man more adorable? Him and Bree were so cute I had a toothache! I went into this book prepared for no spice, I didn’t expect so much of it, damn Bree is a good teacher.
I know Travis got somewhat of a redemption arc at the end and I’ve seen that he has a book of his own but I couldn’t stand him the whole way through and the last couple chapters certainly has not changed my mind. He did his job, big whoop.
Honestly I just enjoyed the vibe of the book, it was sweet, romantic, the setting, the loveable older characters. It was adorable. The writing may have been a bit basic but the story was enough that it didn’t need to be decorated with fancy words.
I regret not starting it years ago when I first put it on my TBR but I pass the blame to the people who over-exaggerated how sad it is. I definitely cried but I assumed it would be a lot worse than what it was.
The plot twist was predictable and I guessed it pretty early on but that didn’t take away from how much I loved it. Alyssa and Connor’s story did just as much damage to me as the aftermath of what happened to Archer. Sweet, sweet Archer. Has there ever been a man more adorable? Him and Bree were so cute I had a toothache! I went into this book prepared for no spice, I didn’t expect so much of it, damn Bree is a good teacher.
I know Travis got somewhat of a redemption arc at the end and I’ve seen that he has a book of his own but I couldn’t stand him the whole way through and the last couple chapters certainly has not changed my mind. He did his job, big whoop.
Honestly I just enjoyed the vibe of the book, it was sweet, romantic, the setting, the loveable older characters. It was adorable. The writing may have been a bit basic but the story was enough that it didn’t need to be decorated with fancy words.
King of Greed by Ana Huang
2.25
I’ve officially read my last ever Ana Huang book. I’ve accepted that nothing can replicate my love for Rhys and Bridget. I had hopes for this book because of the glimpses I’d seen of Alessandra and Dominic in the other books. However, it seems that Ana has a knack for making characters mentioned once in other books more interesting than the main characters.
Initially I was enjoying the book but then around page seventy, it went downhill steeply. First she kisses him after filing for divorce and then not even twenty pages later they’re having sex. Then she went from spineless to cold in a millisecond. I couldn’t understand how she could turn around to a man she was with for eleven years and tell him that sleeping with him meant nothing? She willingly slept with him knowing he didn’t want a divorce, knowing it would hurt him and then told him it meant nothing and then immediately reiterated that she wants him to sign the divorce papers. And then he just… did? They were divorced. I personally hated that choice. He could have fought a little longer. She could have not submitted the papers. It was just a weird route to take.
I expected grovelling. Where was it??? She then allowed him access to her by them starting a casual sex relationship and she went on dates while he wore his wedding ring and sent her golden roses. It was just bizarre. Then that was it they were back together and married again within the year.
The Roman storyline just made me dislike Dominic so I didn’t understand that choice at all.
Initially I was enjoying the book but then around page seventy, it went downhill steeply. First she kisses him after filing for divorce and then not even twenty pages later they’re having sex. Then she went from spineless to cold in a millisecond. I couldn’t understand how she could turn around to a man she was with for eleven years and tell him that sleeping with him meant nothing? She willingly slept with him knowing he didn’t want a divorce, knowing it would hurt him and then told him it meant nothing and then immediately reiterated that she wants him to sign the divorce papers. And then he just… did? They were divorced. I personally hated that choice. He could have fought a little longer. She could have not submitted the papers. It was just a weird route to take.
I expected grovelling. Where was it??? She then allowed him access to her by them starting a casual sex relationship and she went on dates while he wore his wedding ring and sent her golden roses. It was just bizarre. Then that was it they were back together and married again within the year.
The Roman storyline just made me dislike Dominic so I didn’t understand that choice at all.
King of Pride by Ana Huang
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.5
I think I need to accept that Ana Huang books just aren’t for me. It’s taken me so long to come to that realisation because of how much I loved Twisted Games, but the other books in the series nor the first in this series did anything for me. However, I am going to give her one last chance with King of Greed because the glimpses of Alessandra and Dominic that we’ve seen have me intrigued.
King of Pride was in a word bland. There was nothing unique or original about it and Kai and Isabella were equally uninteresting. Him being a little freak of the week shocked me though and I did enjoy the unexpectedness of that, however, Isabella added nothing. She could have been any other character. She just kind of waited for things to happen to her. Alessandra handed her the job, Kai submitted her chapters to the literary agent, her family gave her the inheritance, Kai was even the one to fix things between them after she ended it. She was just kinda bleh.
King of Pride was in a word bland. There was nothing unique or original about it and Kai and Isabella were equally uninteresting. Him being a little freak of the week shocked me though and I did enjoy the unexpectedness of that, however, Isabella added nothing. She could have been any other character. She just kind of waited for things to happen to her. Alessandra handed her the job, Kai submitted her chapters to the literary agent, her family gave her the inheritance, Kai was even the one to fix things between them after she ended it. She was just kinda bleh.
Caged by Luna Mason
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.25
I am baffled by the amount of good reviews this book has. Either they’re paid for or you’re all punking me. 0.25 is too generous of a rating for this book.
This was one of the most forgettable books I’ve ever read. Nothing happened yet everything happened in the span of a singular sentence. There was no build up to anything and then there was actually no action either, everything was rushed and it was just boring.
There was absolutely no chemistry whatsoever yet I’m supposed to believe they’re so in love they would kill/die for each other. Bore off.
She had no concern for her brother’s wellbeing and was dragging her feet while he was losing body parts yet she was going through this with him. Also what the hell was the timing? It felt like a week but they acted like it was months. He thought about his dead wife, the supposed love of his life for about ten seconds before he shacked up with the woman he just met and let her around his child. Awful parenting by the way.
The writing was just weak.
Honestly how did you guys rate it so high???
This was one of the most forgettable books I’ve ever read. Nothing happened yet everything happened in the span of a singular sentence. There was no build up to anything and then there was actually no action either, everything was rushed and it was just boring.
There was absolutely no chemistry whatsoever yet I’m supposed to believe they’re so in love they would kill/die for each other. Bore off.
She had no concern for her brother’s wellbeing and was dragging her feet while he was losing body parts yet she was going through this with him. Also what the hell was the timing? It felt like a week but they acted like it was months. He thought about his dead wife, the supposed love of his life for about ten seconds before he shacked up with the woman he just met and let her around his child. Awful parenting by the way.
The writing was just weak.
Honestly how did you guys rate it so high???
The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
First and foremost I am so incredibly sad to hear about S.T. Abby’s (aka C.M. Owen/Kristy Cunning) passing. We have lost a truly brilliant and exceptional writer. May she rest in peace.
I recently decided to finally get around to reading my TBR and this has been on my shelf for the last few years. The size of it completely intimidated me despite only ever hearing good things about it. How often does that happen, a book is so hyped and you’re left disappointed after reading it - all too often. In this case, it was the complete opposite. I devoured this enormous book in just over a day. And it truly did not get the hype I believe it deserves. I don’t think five stars is nearly enough for this masterpiece of a story. Five measly stars does not do it justice.
This is the best book I have ever read and it easily is my favourite book of all time.
That’s a big statement, but it has ruined all other books for me. I have the world’s biggest book hangover and need time to recuperate after reading it.
The Mindf*ck Series may be the only book ever where not once did the FMC do anything that annoyed/frustrated me or something that I couldn’t understand. Lana Myers, the woman that you are. Lana, you may be my favourite character of all time. Ever. That goes for all books, movies, tv shows. You are it for me!
As much as I liked Logan, what I liked most about him was that he made Lana happy and if she was happy then so was I. And when he made her sad, I wanted to kill him but knew that would make Lana sad so I would never just because I love her so much.
Every time she ticked one of those sick fucks off her list, I was happy. Actually, I wish we got more detail of how she dragged out their deaths. They deserved the very worst and I’m glad she gave it to them. Lana’s backstory may be the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking story I’ve ever read and I genuinely cried my eyes out the first time we read how it happened out in the street, their pleas and begs falling on deaf ears. If only Robert and Marcus were able to see her avenge them, all of them including the girl she once was.
Lana Myers is my hero. How she saved Laurel and spared Hadley the nightmare of having a photograph of her young self exposed and vulnerable bared to her and her colleagues even though she was at that point a thorn in her side. A true morally grey character. I don’t think it gets more grey than Lana except maybe Jake.
The whole way through, I was guessing who the original killer was. I swore it was one person while being open to the possibility of it being two others. I never in a million years would have guessed who the original killer was and my jaw basically unhinged itself when I read it. I wish I could go back to read this again for the first time. Especially the moment the original killer is revealed.
S. T. Abby wrote everything with a reason and a purpose, there was no lull in the story, no part where it got remotely boring or felt like it was dragging — a hard feat when you’re writing almost 700 pages. Each page was action packed and entirely enthralling from the very first page to the very end. The only thing I wanted from this book was MORE! I never wanted it to end.
As of now, I need to take a break from reading books because nothing can ever compare but I’ll also need to eventually fill the void that The Mindf*ck Series has surely left, so I’m on the hunt for books of a similar genre/calibre.
I recently decided to finally get around to reading my TBR and this has been on my shelf for the last few years. The size of it completely intimidated me despite only ever hearing good things about it. How often does that happen, a book is so hyped and you’re left disappointed after reading it - all too often. In this case, it was the complete opposite. I devoured this enormous book in just over a day. And it truly did not get the hype I believe it deserves. I don’t think five stars is nearly enough for this masterpiece of a story. Five measly stars does not do it justice.
This is the best book I have ever read and it easily is my favourite book of all time.
That’s a big statement, but it has ruined all other books for me. I have the world’s biggest book hangover and need time to recuperate after reading it.
The Mindf*ck Series may be the only book ever where not once did the FMC do anything that annoyed/frustrated me or something that I couldn’t understand. Lana Myers, the woman that you are. Lana, you may be my favourite character of all time. Ever. That goes for all books, movies, tv shows. You are it for me!
As much as I liked Logan, what I liked most about him was that he made Lana happy and if she was happy then so was I. And when he made her sad, I wanted to kill him but knew that would make Lana sad so I would never just because I love her so much.
Every time she ticked one of those sick fucks off her list, I was happy. Actually, I wish we got more detail of how she dragged out their deaths. They deserved the very worst and I’m glad she gave it to them. Lana’s backstory may be the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking story I’ve ever read and I genuinely cried my eyes out the first time we read how it happened out in the street, their pleas and begs falling on deaf ears. If only Robert and Marcus were able to see her avenge them, all of them including the girl she once was.
Lana Myers is my hero. How she saved Laurel and spared Hadley the nightmare of having a photograph of her young self exposed and vulnerable bared to her and her colleagues even though she was at that point a thorn in her side. A true morally grey character. I don’t think it gets more grey than Lana except maybe Jake.
The whole way through, I was guessing who the original killer was. I swore it was one person while being open to the possibility of it being two others. I never in a million years would have guessed who the original killer was and my jaw basically unhinged itself when I read it. I wish I could go back to read this again for the first time. Especially the moment the original killer is revealed.
S. T. Abby wrote everything with a reason and a purpose, there was no lull in the story, no part where it got remotely boring or felt like it was dragging — a hard feat when you’re writing almost 700 pages. Each page was action packed and entirely enthralling from the very first page to the very end. The only thing I wanted from this book was MORE! I never wanted it to end.
As of now, I need to take a break from reading books because nothing can ever compare but I’ll also need to eventually fill the void that The Mindf*ck Series has surely left, so I’m on the hunt for books of a similar genre/calibre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? N/A
4.5
I absolutely loved the second instalment of the Part of Your World series, I knew I would enjoy it but didn’t expect to this much! So excited to read the next book. Abby Jimenez is quickly becoming a new favourite author of mine.
Jacob was so endearing and patient and gentle and kind, we need actual real men like him. Even after being betrayed by his own brother and ex girlfriend, he still showed them kindness and encouraged the rest of his family to show the same humility. And that’s not even to mention that he literally donated his kidney to her brother!!
Brianna was just as loveable, the way she’s both her brother’s and Jacob’s fierce protector. Rearranged her life for the both of them just from pure genuine love. What a woman. I loved them both together and they’re both absolutely insane for not realising how in love with each other they were the whole time. My favourite thing ever was the phrases she had him slip into conversation if he wanted to leave, I nearly peed when he said “those motherfuckers are always up to something” after such a heartwarming conversation.
Honourable mention to Jacob’s adorable quirky family and his grandpa.
The only thing this book was missing was the magic of Wakan and more Alexis and Daniel!
Jacob was so endearing and patient and gentle and kind, we need actual real men like him. Even after being betrayed by his own brother and ex girlfriend, he still showed them kindness and encouraged the rest of his family to show the same humility. And that’s not even to mention that he literally donated his kidney to her brother!!
Brianna was just as loveable, the way she’s both her brother’s and Jacob’s fierce protector. Rearranged her life for the both of them just from pure genuine love. What a woman. I loved them both together and they’re both absolutely insane for not realising how in love with each other they were the whole time. My favourite thing ever was the phrases she had him slip into conversation if he wanted to leave, I nearly peed when he said “those motherfuckers are always up to something” after such a heartwarming conversation.
Honourable mention to Jacob’s adorable quirky family and his grandpa.
The only thing this book was missing was the magic of Wakan and more Alexis and Daniel!
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book did what it came to do. It’s a thriller through and through. It was unsettling and left me on edge and uneasy. It’s not (in my opinion) a page turner in the way that The Housemaid was for me, but a page turner in the sense that I just wanted to finish it. At times, it dragged - especially at the beginning where I felt the setup went on for so long and I kept thinking “okay we get it, you both hate your lives and your husbands, now what?”. But overall it wasn’t a bad book.
At the beginning, the structure confused me but when I understood it, I eventually really enjoyed it. Lisa Jewell was brilliant at writing this story exactly like a netflix true crime documentary - in fact it reminded me of one I recently watched. She made each of the characters feel extremely real, as if we all know someone like them. A person like Nathan, Pat, Alix and even the Fairs. They were written authentically and it made it all the more real and disturbing.
The title was both a spoiler and wasn’t, because we all knew Josie wasn’t the little victim she made out to be and we all knew there was more sinister things taking place but the ending does a good job at making you flit back and forth at the possibility that maybe they weren’t all lies and perhaps they were all lying about something.
What got me was, as bad as Josie was, there’s not nearly enough blame placed on Pat and Walter. Pat never saw Josie as a child and maybe if she did, Josie wouldn’t have become what she was. So much blame was placed on Josie and as if she was so smart and manipulative to have seduced Walter - a grown man who was also married with children and already having an affair with Pat before he started another with her underage daughter. Like hello???? And of course Josie is to be blamed for what she became later in life but I’m not buying the cock and bull story that Walter was overpowered by Josie throughout their marriage until finally he succumbed to old age weakness.
Nathan, the children and Alix all were the victims in this harrowing story. Because of Jewell’s realistic portrayal of the characters, I genuinely felt pangs of sadness for the kids and for Alix for losing such an important person who like a lot of people, had their demons but wasn’t a bad person and didn’t deserve the end he got.
None of This is True only gets 3.25 stars for me because like I said, the title was a spoiler so the “reveal” wasn’t shocking to me. A good thriller to me is one where I’m almost on the trail of the plot twist because of the clever crumbs left by the author but she still hasn’t revealed enough that the twist is a true shock. But it was still a well written book, chilling and unsettling like a thriller should be with excellent, realistic characters.
At the beginning, the structure confused me but when I understood it, I eventually really enjoyed it. Lisa Jewell was brilliant at writing this story exactly like a netflix true crime documentary - in fact it reminded me of one I recently watched. She made each of the characters feel extremely real, as if we all know someone like them. A person like Nathan, Pat, Alix and even the Fairs. They were written authentically and it made it all the more real and disturbing.
The title was both a spoiler and wasn’t, because we all knew Josie wasn’t the little victim she made out to be and we all knew there was more sinister things taking place but the ending does a good job at making you flit back and forth at the possibility that maybe they weren’t all lies and perhaps they were all lying about something.
What got me was, as bad as Josie was, there’s not nearly enough blame placed on Pat and Walter. Pat never saw Josie as a child and maybe if she did, Josie wouldn’t have become what she was. So much blame was placed on Josie and as if she was so smart and manipulative to have seduced Walter - a grown man who was also married with children and already having an affair with Pat before he started another with her underage daughter. Like hello???? And of course Josie is to be blamed for what she became later in life but I’m not buying the cock and bull story that Walter was overpowered by Josie throughout their marriage until finally he succumbed to old age weakness.
Nathan, the children and Alix all were the victims in this harrowing story. Because of Jewell’s realistic portrayal of the characters, I genuinely felt pangs of sadness for the kids and for Alix for losing such an important person who like a lot of people, had their demons but wasn’t a bad person and didn’t deserve the end he got.
None of This is True only gets 3.25 stars for me because like I said, the title was a spoiler so the “reveal” wasn’t shocking to me. A good thriller to me is one where I’m almost on the trail of the plot twist because of the clever crumbs left by the author but she still hasn’t revealed enough that the twist is a true shock. But it was still a well written book, chilling and unsettling like a thriller should be with excellent, realistic characters.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
5.0
It has taken me so long to pick up this book even though I’ve had it since it’s release. The main reason is because she had only released it on hardback… why Emily Henry??? Why are they all getting released as hardbacks first??? I hate them and it doesn’t match the others :@ The second reason was because of the amount of reviews that were warding me off from reading it.
Now having read it and loved it, I have some theories on why that was. I may be wrong but I’m assuming that these reviews come from readers who are younger than the characters in the book. I’m definitely making a generalisation but they most likely haven’t gone through the feeling of desperately clinging to friendships that have grown one-sided; they haven’t felt like they have been pushed from the people they love’s lives, and choose to stay silent until you can’t anymore and end up ruining relationships. Or as though you’re falling behind in life because you’ve spent so much of it rising to other people’s expectations of you and let it pass you by.
The beauty of a second chance trope is getting to live vicariously through the characters who get the chance to fix their mistakes and get it right this time around. It may take getting to a certain age to love that trope.
I have learnt my lesson about reading reviews before reading a book though because on what planet would I not love an Emily Henry book? Emily has a way of making her books feel like I have always known them. Her books always have had a Nora Ephron feel to them, so I always feel nostalgic reading an Emily Henry book. And they always become my favourite read of the year.
I loved Harriet and Wyn, individually and together. How they met was just a perfect moment, and Harriet’s effortless charm and their instant banter was so sweet to read. At the beginning of the book, I was wary of Wyn and actually worried that I wouldn’t like him, until I got to how they met. Then it all made sense. I even ended up literally crying my eyes out at one point. Their nightly conversations whispered in the dark when they first met to trying to fight feelings for years until they finally acknowledged it made their relationship so much sweeter to me.
I loved the found family friendship group but especially Sabrina. It baffled me how others didn’t like her but I understood her. Her fear of being abandoned by her friends who she loved and felt she belonged to. Her love of each of them and knowing them wholly because of that love. How fiercely Parth loved her and protected her and fought her corner was refreshing.
My only gripe with the book was the ending. If all it took was one or two texts from her sister to explain her lifelong feelings and one trip from her mom to explain HER lifelong feelings, don’t you think you guys could have done this years before she took out a bunch of loans that you guys cosigned?? The hug and the I love you from her mom came too easily, like girl that’s it??? But that didn’t take away from the beauty of this book.
I love you Emily Henry.
Now having read it and loved it, I have some theories on why that was. I may be wrong but I’m assuming that these reviews come from readers who are younger than the characters in the book. I’m definitely making a generalisation but they most likely haven’t gone through the feeling of desperately clinging to friendships that have grown one-sided; they haven’t felt like they have been pushed from the people they love’s lives, and choose to stay silent until you can’t anymore and end up ruining relationships. Or as though you’re falling behind in life because you’ve spent so much of it rising to other people’s expectations of you and let it pass you by.
The beauty of a second chance trope is getting to live vicariously through the characters who get the chance to fix their mistakes and get it right this time around. It may take getting to a certain age to love that trope.
I have learnt my lesson about reading reviews before reading a book though because on what planet would I not love an Emily Henry book? Emily has a way of making her books feel like I have always known them. Her books always have had a Nora Ephron feel to them, so I always feel nostalgic reading an Emily Henry book. And they always become my favourite read of the year.
I loved Harriet and Wyn, individually and together. How they met was just a perfect moment, and Harriet’s effortless charm and their instant banter was so sweet to read. At the beginning of the book, I was wary of Wyn and actually worried that I wouldn’t like him, until I got to how they met. Then it all made sense. I even ended up literally crying my eyes out at one point. Their nightly conversations whispered in the dark when they first met to trying to fight feelings for years until they finally acknowledged it made their relationship so much sweeter to me.
I loved the found family friendship group but especially Sabrina. It baffled me how others didn’t like her but I understood her. Her fear of being abandoned by her friends who she loved and felt she belonged to. Her love of each of them and knowing them wholly because of that love. How fiercely Parth loved her and protected her and fought her corner was refreshing.
My only gripe with the book was the ending. If all it took was one or two texts from her sister to explain her lifelong feelings and one trip from her mom to explain HER lifelong feelings, don’t you think you guys could have done this years before she took out a bunch of loans that you guys cosigned?? The hug and the I love you from her mom came too easily, like girl that’s it??? But that didn’t take away from the beauty of this book.
I love you Emily Henry.