chronic_listener's reviews
86 reviews

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Racism, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

dark funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did! Hilarious and fast-paced with a morally grey golden retriever mmc. Has there ever been a less problematic dark romance main character than cat dad Josh? I doubt it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexism, and Cannibalism

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical trauma and Car accident

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Funny Story was incredibly well written with insane chemistry and banter that made me grin and snort-laugh in equal parts. I also wanted to cry because her character are so real, relatable and fully fleshed out that their pain felt like it was mine. 

I loved the themes in this book more than the romance itself. Yes, I loved Miles and Daphne together but their individual journeys and growth is what made this book remarkable in my opinion.

Some of the themes I loved in this (an incomplete list):

➳ Daphne's connection with her mom

➳ building yourself a full life and figuring out what you want that to look like

➳ putting your trust into someone only to be repeatedly let down but still not being able to let go or stop hoping

➳ the raw and heartfelt moments between all the characters and with Daphne on her own

➳ building your life around someone instead of for yourself and its consequences 

➳ the found family aspect and all the side characters (except for you know who)

"You can‘t force a person to show up, but you can learn a lesson when they don't."

Sososososo many great quotes. Not my fav EmHen book (👑 Happy Place) but one of my fav reads of the year for sure.

🎧 Julia Whelan 10/10 no notes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

emotional funny lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

The Pumpkin Spice Café had immaculate cozy fall vibes, it was sweet and made me giggle more than once. 🍂 

While I am not a fan of the whole insta-love thing (which made the romance aspect of this book pretty meh for me), and it was a bit "cliché Hallmark movie", I did enjoy a few other things:

♥ the anxiety representation 

♥ the townsfolk (I love a tight knit community)

♥ the found family

♥ the clairvoyant mayor (hilarious)

Overall, I liked their individual character growth journeys more than their romance, I could see myself in Jeanie a lot at times (anxious and spewing words like a waterfall without thinking or being able to stop herself, whoops).

I'll definitely give the rest of the books in this series a chance when I'm in need of a quick and easy read with a dash of spice.
🎧 audio experience could have been better 3/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual harassment

Minor: Vomit

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Violence and Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse

Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley, Saxon James

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Saxon James and Eden Finley never disappoint if you are in need of a low-angst good laugh and an escape from reality.

As much as I love me some enemies-to-lovers, there is something so beautiful and soft about a great friends-to-lovers story. This was so well done here, you could feel the love Tripp and Dex had for each other radiating off the page. 

Watching Dex slowly realize his feelings and them going from true platonic soulmates to romantic soulmates made my heart soar.

I smiled so much while reading, cackled, swooned and had to rub my chest because it was hurting from all their pining.

My personal highlight in this: the cameos of characters from their other series, I was squealing with joy because I missed my boys so much. 

Always a big fan of the idiots in love vibes, can‘t get enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

lighthearted medium-paced

3.5