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bbbeth's reviews
276 reviews
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide and Vomit
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Pregnancy
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review.
I have loved Casey McQuiston since RWRB and was delighted to receive this ARC. 'The Pairing' is a very different vibe - sexy and romantic and full of heartbreak. This is a story of two horny bis banging their way across Europe, fucking other people and trying to ignore that their love and attraction for each other still exists years after they broke up. I loved being in witty and funny Theo's head, was so frustrated when I realised the POV was switching, and then fell in love with Kit's descriptive and romantic way of viewing the world. You really root for them, as Theo and Kit go from panicking at the sight of each other, to becoming the best friends they had been once before and finally finding their way back to each other.
I have loved Casey McQuiston since RWRB and was delighted to receive this ARC. 'The Pairing' is a very different vibe - sexy and romantic and full of heartbreak. This is a story of two horny bis banging their way across Europe, fucking other people and trying to ignore that their love and attraction for each other still exists years after they broke up. I loved being in witty and funny Theo's head, was so frustrated when I realised the POV was switching, and then fell in love with Kit's descriptive and romantic way of viewing the world. You really root for them, as Theo and Kit go from panicking at the sight of each other, to becoming the best friends they had been once before and finally finding their way back to each other.
'I look at her and miss her twice, once as a lover and once as the friend I had yesterday.'
What's clear is that Theo and Kit grow as individuals in their time apart, and Theo opening up to Kit about their gender identity in the later half of the book, and immediately having Kit adjust his use of pronouns, 'shes and hers' become 'they and them' is something I haven't seen often in the books I've read. It felt authentic and hopeful, no doubt due to the author's own experiences.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to CM's next book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to CM's next book!
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Addiction
When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley UK and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review.
3⭐
I enjoyed this book! It was fun and flirty, mostly lighthearted grumpy/sunshine set on the Scottish Isle of Skye. April is an actress experiencing a dip in her career and returning to her Grandpa's estate, grieving with the unexpectedness of his passing because he never told her how sick he was. Mal is as quiet and grouchy as she remembers him being, but now he's pissed that the family's whiskey business is passing to April when he's the one who showed up and worked at keeping it going with Keir. But still, his crush from their teenage years hasn't really budged and April is always around, actually trying to learn the business and improve it. Once they get going, oh booooy, they REALLY get going.
A solid, easy and enjoyable rom com read.
3⭐
I enjoyed this book! It was fun and flirty, mostly lighthearted grumpy/sunshine set on the Scottish Isle of Skye. April is an actress experiencing a dip in her career and returning to her Grandpa's estate, grieving with the unexpectedness of his passing because he never told her how sick he was. Mal is as quiet and grouchy as she remembers him being, but now he's pissed that the family's whiskey business is passing to April when he's the one who showed up and worked at keeping it going with Keir. But still, his crush from their teenage years hasn't really budged and April is always around, actually trying to learn the business and improve it. Once they get going, oh booooy, they REALLY get going.
A solid, easy and enjoyable rom com read.
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
funny
mysterious
relaxing
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
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley UK and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review.
It's a wholehearted 5 ⭐ from me.
When I read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy last year, I was bewitched body and soul. When I saw that MB had written another book in its universe? I let out a truly unholy shriek. I went into this book knowing that I would love it, but surely not as much as the first book because that had absolutely floored me. And yet, here I am, down on the floor, bewitched once more.
As I was with Hart & Mercy, I am in awe of the world-building of this completely unique fantasy world. Every detail is intricate and thought-provoking and completely captivating! Full of its sea metaphors and its own belief system - so poetic that these musings brought me to tears on too many occasions between the two books - the furry little creatures that deliver the post and now??? DRAGONS! Cute, fluffy dragons. Hats off, because I have never known a fantasy world more beautifully built than this one I would actually like to live there.
Now, Twyla and Frank. What did they do for me? Well, confirmed once more that the friends to lovers trope reigns supreme above all else. Their friendship was infused with tenderness and companionship and A HELLUVA LOT of sexual tension. When Twyla starts dating a posh dracologist in too-short shorts and Frank starts losing his lid, Twyla stops being able to avoid comparing him to the OTHER man in her life. 'Built like a battering ram' PLEASE, Frank's hotness was leaping off the page, as was his absolute love and devotion for his oblivious 'platonic' best friend. As if I wasn't already sweating from the loaded exchanges pre kiss, his growly 'stop me's boiled me alive. I love and adore them. Oh and I love that it was a romance between two middle-aged adults who had been unlucky in love before and STILL hot as all hell. Nice to read that for a change!
Couldn't have loved it more. I eagerly await MB's next release, because I can't get enough.
It's a wholehearted 5 ⭐ from me.
When I read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy last year, I was bewitched body and soul. When I saw that MB had written another book in its universe? I let out a truly unholy shriek. I went into this book knowing that I would love it, but surely not as much as the first book because that had absolutely floored me. And yet, here I am, down on the floor, bewitched once more.
As I was with Hart & Mercy, I am in awe of the world-building of this completely unique fantasy world. Every detail is intricate and thought-provoking and completely captivating! Full of its sea metaphors and its own belief system - so poetic that these musings brought me to tears on too many occasions between the two books - the furry little creatures that deliver the post and now??? DRAGONS! Cute, fluffy dragons. Hats off, because I have never known a fantasy world more beautifully built than this one I would actually like to live there.
Now, Twyla and Frank. What did they do for me? Well, confirmed once more that the friends to lovers trope reigns supreme above all else. Their friendship was infused with tenderness and companionship and A HELLUVA LOT of sexual tension. When Twyla starts dating a posh dracologist in too-short shorts and Frank starts losing his lid, Twyla stops being able to avoid comparing him to the OTHER man in her life. 'Built like a battering ram' PLEASE, Frank's hotness was leaping off the page, as was his absolute love and devotion for his oblivious 'platonic' best friend. As if I wasn't already sweating from the loaded exchanges pre kiss, his growly 'stop me's boiled me alive. I love and adore them. Oh and I love that it was a romance between two middle-aged adults who had been unlucky in love before and STILL hot as all hell. Nice to read that for a change!
Couldn't have loved it more. I eagerly await MB's next release, because I can't get enough.