cottageivy's reviews
41 reviews

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Go to review page

adventurous funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.5

I enjoyed this book pretty immensely! up until the ending. the build up of the mysteries of the island was amazing, I lovedddd the addition of the blog and forum posts (multimedia books my beloved) and overall it was built up pretty well. however, I felt the actually climax of the book was rushed and not thought through? I guess the point was we don't understand patricia, and I'm fine with that but. I dunno the deaths felt rushed and like we were supposed to maybe be okay with them, but I don't feel like at the very least Amanda did anything wrong lmao? or mike even? casey i felt less bad about tho. again, i get the girls not knowing anything about patricia, but it just makes it odd to watch these woman be chill murder a man for... what? i love rooting for woman murdering but i gotta have something to grip on to. i loved the bizarreness of this book up until this point. also Renee's character was. hm. she started off strong but it felt like she kinda just made a 180 of accepting what was happening when she wasn't even aware there was a mystical being or even what was happening? like. idk. I have many mixed thoughts about this book. I also feel like the letters, while very sweet, didn't add anything? I just overall felt like this book should've been longer and more fleshed out.

am giving it 3.5 because I thoroughly enjoyed it up until the end. 
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

Go to review page

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

finished this a few days ago, and I enjoyed it a lot! the plot was cute, I loved the world and I liked the characters! I feel like a lottie pov or something would've helped because from marigolds pov it seemed like lottie did start trusting marigold a bit fast, especially for a character who's initially presented as someone who's slow to trust. I do wish the ending was a bit longer and involved, but overall it was well written and cute. also, tattoos in queer stories my beloved <3

I will be looking forward to this authors future books tho bc I do loveee her writing :)
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

Go to review page

emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

my first abby Jimenez book! I really enjoyed this book, especially as a kick off for a summer of romance books! I really loved how they handled the grief aspect, while not like. bogging it down and feeling like "should she really be dating yet". Jason was an amazing love interest and he enamored me pretty quickly. I will say I felt like the part where Sloan decides to go on tour with Jason after all felt rushed, and like a conversation was cut out and replaced by "they had a conversation" that I would've really liked to see. 

overall though, I enjoyed this book, and will DEFINITELY be returning to abby as an author. the way she writes romance is really good.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this was the staff book club pick for may, and I actually finished it!! God I will never stop thinking about this book. gonna copy and paste my review from the book club on fable for now :)
--
me? finishing a book club book AND remembering to review it? I loved this book with all my heart, despite it absolutely wrecking it. Nora as a character was so complex and real, like I was looking at a real person while reading it. one of my favorite reads of 2024 so far. and despite all the beautiful original quotes and philosophy quotes, my favorite one is early in the book, and the first thing I tabbed

" 'Because, Nora, sometimes the only way to learn is to *live*' 
'Sounds hard.' "

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

this was my first katee robert book! I originally picked it up because I saw a TikTok of someone who had an arc for the second book and was excited for a sapphic book, but they said you have to read rhe first book to understand it. so I did! and I really really liked it! first up, bi mc, immediate win. I loved rhe characters and the plot intrigued me. to be 100% honest if I had known the author was queer I would've picked up their books sooner 😭 I'm bi so I am interested in m/f relationships as well, but the way straight authors sometimes write them is iffy, especially when it comes to sex. this book I thought rhe sex scenes were hot without being cringe, and despite being someone who does not experience attraction at first sight, this book still did a good job of convincing me of their relationship! love a pretty woman makes male love interest quwstion everything he knows moment. on to the next book!
Some Shall Break by Ellie Marney

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I liked the first book a lot and this one was even better. genuinely wasn't expecting a lot of the twists, or at least the way they did them. i cannot tell you how much I love Emma with my whole heart like-

also!! i lovedddd seeing inside Kristen's head in this book she intrigues rhe fuck out of me
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I was enthralled with this through the whole thing. i will say I am in a bit of a unique position in that I read the reappearance of Rachel Price before this one, ans so it was odd to go back to her old writing. which isn't bad, it is good, just I can tell how much she improved with Rachel price. Ravi and pip were very cute tho <3
None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney

Go to review page

emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Go to review page

emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

finished this in 3 or 4 hours (it is currently 2:26am lol) soo so good i forgot how much i love mystery/thriller books like this

it did get a little repetitive at some points, but not enough to knock me out
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

this was such a good read and such a good take on the fake dating trope. often times, the main character gets over their previous relationship after they fall for their fake partner, and while scottie did start to, i love how the author wrote how much scottie struggled to reconcile with her relationship with tally. it was so raw and real and i really fucking felt for her as she grappled with everything that came after tally. i also really fucking loved irene. she was so sweet and understanding without being a pushover and held her ground. she felt so well rounded despite not being in her pov, which can be tough to do. the grin on my face during
the scene where scottie does the cheer routine as a big gesture was huge
and honestly i teared up a little. i also loved how they did that, where they made sure to have them talk beforehand. i really really love this book, highly recommend!!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings