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banaamelia's reviews
202 reviews
Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Let me preface this by saying, Wes Ryder the absolute sweetheart that you are. You can do no wrong!!! Wes is what I loved the most about this book.
Ada’s backstory came across as incredibly random. Things were mentioned and brought up as though it was being set up for something later on yet nothing came into fruition. For example, her husband called, she didn’t answer and then: nothing. Twice she was getting ready to run and then immediately turned around and changed her mind and both times Wes didn’t take her seriously. It made her seem a bit pathetic. The writing just felt a bit lazy like the author got them together and then didn’t know how to keep them moving but still have an engaging or exciting story.
This book was a lot of small, isolated moments between Wes and Ada. There was no big memorable moment except for the storm which still wasn’t that unforgettable.
That being said, Wes and Ada were still incredibly sweet. I loved the snippets of Gus and Teddy AND Cam and Dusty! Less Emmy and Brooks please, I didn’t really like them in their own book let alone in others. Would also love more group moments/friends moments.
Ada’s backstory came across as incredibly random. Things were mentioned and brought up as though it was being set up for something later on yet nothing came into fruition. For example, her husband called, she didn’t answer and then: nothing. Twice she was getting ready to run and then immediately turned around and changed her mind and both times Wes didn’t take her seriously. It made her seem a bit pathetic. The writing just felt a bit lazy like the author got them together and then didn’t know how to keep them moving but still have an engaging or exciting story.
This book was a lot of small, isolated moments between Wes and Ada. There was no big memorable moment except for the storm which still wasn’t that unforgettable.
That being said, Wes and Ada were still incredibly sweet. I loved the snippets of Gus and Teddy AND Cam and Dusty! Less Emmy and Brooks please, I didn’t really like them in their own book let alone in others. Would also love more group moments/friends moments.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
SO HAPPY THIS WAS MY PICK FOR BOOK CLUB THIS MONTH.
Onto the review — if I'm being honest, I would rate this justtt under 5 stars only because the ending wasn't as fulfilling as I hoped. I'd hoped there was a scene with the three of them, a big aha moment for Nina to laugh in Andrew's face. That was the only drawback in this otherwise amazing book.
This is my first time truly dabbling in a thriller and I think this was the perfect first choice. I wrote down my thoughts and predictions and opinions as I went along and I thought I was on the trail of the plot twist but I never expected it to be executed the way it was.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series although I might take a break in between.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
0.25
I had to read this for book club but I definitely would have picked it up myself because of all the tiktoks of people literally crying about it and recommending it like no one’s business. I wouldn’t have finished it however if it wasn’t for book club because oh my god it was so terrible. I’m convinced every good review on tiktok was a paid ad.
I have never picked up and put down a book so often while reading something. It was extremely hard to follow at times because of the choppy structure and inclusion of so many characters at once.
My biggest issue however was the writing. I felt as though it possibly lost its allure through the translation but the attitudes towards women made me so uncomfortable that I think it was less to do with the translation and rather the author himself. His description about the women were written like his self inserted fantasy of a woman that was shallow and superficial but tried and failed so hard to make them deeper than they were. But all we got was on the surface vague descriptions that were all tell and no show that made me cringe and squirm.
Hirai’s story started to redeem the book but then it went steeply downhill again with Kei’s.
I have never picked up and put down a book so often while reading something. It was extremely hard to follow at times because of the choppy structure and inclusion of so many characters at once.
My biggest issue however was the writing. I felt as though it possibly lost its allure through the translation but the attitudes towards women made me so uncomfortable that I think it was less to do with the translation and rather the author himself. His description about the women were written like his self inserted fantasy of a woman that was shallow and superficial but tried and failed so hard to make them deeper than they were. But all we got was on the surface vague descriptions that were all tell and no show that made me cringe and squirm.
Hirai’s story started to redeem the book but then it went steeply downhill again with Kei’s.
Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter
2.25
I had really high hopes after reading Better Than The Movies but this just didn't hit. It started off well enough but after a while the FMC's hot mess-ness became so repetitive and boring. I didn't buy the romance and ultimately I don't think Colin and Olivia actually liked each other.
They most definitely split up two weeks after the book ended.
Also, Olivia was blunt and rude and not in a remotely charming way.
When she drank his special bottle of tequila that his sister got him, it annoyed me so much I wanted to climb inside the book and punch her.
She had a bad opinion of him the whole way through so how did she suddenly fall in love with him? He also sounded repulsed by her for half of the book so I don't know how the author expected us to root for them?
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
There are not enough stars in the world for this book 🥲🤍
Abby Jimenez, I regret not picking up your books sooner. Why did you have me kicking my feet and giggling from the first chapter?
I never knew I could like a mmc like Daniel before, I thought I was strictly a morally grey kind of girl but Daniel has raised the bar forever.
While it had me screaming for Alexis to just tell everyone to f themselves and do what she wanted, the conflict was done so well and it felt so real to the point that I was truly empathising with her and understanding that it’s not as easy as it seems sometimes.
I usually despise insta-love tropes but this was so beautifully done, definitely one of my favourite reads.
I’m so eager to read the rest of the books in the series as well as Abby Jimenez’s other works, a new favourite author for sure.
Abby Jimenez, I regret not picking up your books sooner. Why did you have me kicking my feet and giggling from the first chapter?
I never knew I could like a mmc like Daniel before, I thought I was strictly a morally grey kind of girl but Daniel has raised the bar forever.
While it had me screaming for Alexis to just tell everyone to f themselves and do what she wanted, the conflict was done so well and it felt so real to the point that I was truly empathising with her and understanding that it’s not as easy as it seems sometimes.
I usually despise insta-love tropes but this was so beautifully done, definitely one of my favourite reads.
I’m so eager to read the rest of the books in the series as well as Abby Jimenez’s other works, a new favourite author for sure.
When She Falls by Gabrielle Sands
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
From the very first book, I couldn’t wait for Gemma and Ras’s story, unfortunately I was left disappointed and wholly underwhelmed. While it wasn’t an altogether bad book, it didn’t meet the expectations I had.
I really hoped that Gemma would continue to show her fierce, strong personality. I did not expect her to be so meek and a pushover. I understand her past trauma plays a part but her personality seemed so unrealistic.
I couldn’t stand her “I need to do this for the family” bull. It was a SNOREFEST. For what the story was, it took a long time to tell. I saw more glimpses of Rafaele and Cleo than the actual storyline.
As I said, it wasn’t necessarily a bad book.
It’s redeeming qualities were how much of a loverboy Ras is. He was such a simp, and I generally preferred his POV more than Gemma’s. However, I hated the Nunzio storyline. It was just not my cup of tea whatsoever. Additionally, we know basically nothing about his family. We met his mother for entirely no reason. This book just didn’t hit for me the way the first two did. I would have looked forward to Rafaele and Cleo’s book, but I find her so unlikeable from what I’ve seen so far.
It’s a shame because I have taken a break from mafia romances for a while and I don’t think this was the right book for me to have jumped back in with.
Upon reflection I’ve changed my rating from 3.5 to a 3.
I really hoped that Gemma would continue to show her fierce, strong personality. I did not expect her to be so meek and a pushover. I understand her past trauma plays a part but her personality seemed so unrealistic.
I couldn’t stand her “I need to do this for the family” bull. It was a SNOREFEST. For what the story was, it took a long time to tell. I saw more glimpses of Rafaele and Cleo than the actual storyline.
As I said, it wasn’t necessarily a bad book.
It’s redeeming qualities were how much of a loverboy Ras is. He was such a simp, and I generally preferred his POV more than Gemma’s. However, I hated the Nunzio storyline. It was just not my cup of tea whatsoever. Additionally, we know basically nothing about his family. We met his mother for entirely no reason. This book just didn’t hit for me the way the first two did. I would have looked forward to Rafaele and Cleo’s book, but I find her so unlikeable from what I’ve seen so far.
It’s a shame because I have taken a break from mafia romances for a while and I don’t think this was the right book for me to have jumped back in with.
Upon reflection I’ve changed my rating from 3.5 to a 3.
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
After years of listening to everyone on booktok telling me this is a must-read, I finally gave in. I was so disappointed when I realised in the first chapter that this was about high-schoolers. But that went away so quick. I don’t remember the last time I stayed up all night to finish a book but that’s exactly what I did with Better Than The Movies. It pulled me in so much that I genuinely forgot I was reading, I felt like I was in the book. It was like watching a new favourite movie, and I found so much of myself in Liz. Choosing songs to be a soundtrack to her life and memorising every single romcom known to man, her obsession with love, it was like I was Liz. Hate that it took me so long to read it but I love this feeling of having read it for the first time. Cannot wait for the next book!
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
3.25
I did enjoy Done & Dusted overall but what I didn’t love was how it felt very insta-love to me, we didn’t get many scenes outside of Luke and Emmy and truthfully I need a bit more conflict. It felt too smooth sailing for my liking. Not to say it was a bad book in the slightest. Lyla Sage is an excellent writer and she writes the characters very likably and the dialogue is entertaining and natural in my opinion. Also, the representation of Emmy’s ADHD was completely accurate to my experience with ADHD and it was heartwarming to feel understood by characters in a book. It was a great starting point for the rest of the series as truth be told I’m more intrigued by Gus and Teddy’s storyline.