Scan barcode
crumbofcare's reviews
398 reviews
The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.25
I was gifted an audiobook copy of this book from Netgalley. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review. The audiobook narration was great (although they sometimes pronounced the MMC's name as Raul and sometimes as Rahul which was a bit distracting).
I have LOVED LOVED LOVED the other Talia Hibbert books that I've read (which I think is 5 books prior to this one) so my hopes were high, but I was disappointed in the execution of this friends to lovers trope. I read the whole book because I love Talia Hibbert's writing style and enjoyed reading this book, even if the plot execution wasn't my favorite. (Slight spoilers ahead)
The FMC's reasons for not wanting a relationship seemed juvenile and flimsy. The MMC's decision to stay her friend and stop the benefits side when she Said she doesn't sleep with her friends felt disingenuous when he was secretly hoping she would change her mind. I also found a few of the descriptions and lines during the "spicy" scenes to be cringe worthy.
Talia Hibbert's other book Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute (YA) is one of my favorite friends to lovers books (well, childhood friends to rivals to lovers) so I think my hopes and expectations were high going into this.
I have LOVED LOVED LOVED the other Talia Hibbert books that I've read (which I think is 5 books prior to this one) so my hopes were high, but I was disappointed in the execution of this friends to lovers trope. I read the whole book because I love Talia Hibbert's writing style and enjoyed reading this book, even if the plot execution wasn't my favorite. (Slight spoilers ahead)
The FMC's reasons for not wanting a relationship seemed juvenile and flimsy. The MMC's decision to stay her friend and stop the benefits side when she Said she doesn't sleep with her friends felt disingenuous when he was secretly hoping she would change her mind. I also found a few of the descriptions and lines during the "spicy" scenes to be cringe worthy.
Talia Hibbert's other book Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute (YA) is one of my favorite friends to lovers books (well, childhood friends to rivals to lovers) so I think my hopes and expectations were high going into this.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I was gifted a physical ARC from Red Tower Books. I read this voluntarily and am leaving an honest review.
#NoSpoilers (nothing beyond what is found in the blurb)
An exiled Prince, a poison maiden, a muscle for hire, the King's spy master, a nobleman, and a thief have to work together to try to kill the king.... Hopefully that rumor that he's actually a god isn't true.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for book 2. I was immediately hooked. I've got so many questions and theories already. I wouldn't say this is my top 10 of the year, but I was fully engaged the entire time and the short chapters made it easy for me to stay up way to late just reading "one more chapter" so many times in a row.
Don't let the multiple POVs/main characters intimidate you. This book has very short chapters (the arc was 474 pages and 86 chapters- final copy may vary) so it was really easy to learn all the characters and keep them straight because you got to revisit their POV fairly regularly and they all meet up early on in the book so you don't have to keep up with separate storylines/locations that don't cross for multiple books like in some fantasy series.
#NoSpoilers (nothing beyond what is found in the blurb)
An exiled Prince, a poison maiden, a muscle for hire, the King's spy master, a nobleman, and a thief have to work together to try to kill the king.... Hopefully that rumor that he's actually a god isn't true.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for book 2. I was immediately hooked. I've got so many questions and theories already. I wouldn't say this is my top 10 of the year, but I was fully engaged the entire time and the short chapters made it easy for me to stay up way to late just reading "one more chapter" so many times in a row.
Don't let the multiple POVs/main characters intimidate you. This book has very short chapters (the arc was 474 pages and 86 chapters- final copy may vary) so it was really easy to learn all the characters and keep them straight because you got to revisit their POV fairly regularly and they all meet up early on in the book so you don't have to keep up with separate storylines/locations that don't cross for multiple books like in some fantasy series.
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Kennedy Ryan just doesn't miss! The audiobook is fantastic.
As a stay at home homeschool mom who loves being with my kids I related so much to Soledad's desire to be home with her kids.
Ethan sucks and Soledad and Judah are amazing. I loved her journey in this book and thought it was perfectly imperfect and beautiful.
As a stay at home homeschool mom who loves being with my kids I related so much to Soledad's desire to be home with her kids.
Ethan sucks and Soledad and Judah are amazing. I loved her journey in this book and thought it was perfectly imperfect and beautiful.
Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book so much. The audiobook is well done too. I loved these characters and can't wait to see what will happen next.
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I wanted to love this book and had heard so many fantastic reviews that my hopes were quite high. I still enjoyed it, but it was too predictable for me. While I expect a little predictability in a romantic fantasy, this felt like some pieces of lore were only introduced as a foreshadowing element.
I also felt like one of the romances was not really believable and the enemies to lovers timeline was a bit rushed for me to fully be rooting for them as a couple.
But the world building was fantastic and I’m excited to see where it goes from here. I will continue reading the series.
I also felt like one of the romances was not really believable and the enemies to lovers timeline was a bit rushed for me to fully be rooting for them as a couple.
But the world building was fantastic and I’m excited to see where it goes from here. I will continue reading the series.
Feral is the Beast by Nisha J. Tuli
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I received a gifted advanced physical copy of this book from the author. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review.
Nisha J Tuli remains an auto-buy author for me. I loved this so much. Somehow in less than 200 pages she made me fall in love with the characters (except Percy.... Percy just sucks) and really root for the main characters' love story.
This has Beauty and the Beast vibes, but it is NOT a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Nisha J Tuli remains an auto-buy author for me. I loved this so much. Somehow in less than 200 pages she made me fall in love with the characters (except Percy.... Percy just sucks) and really root for the main characters' love story.
This has Beauty and the Beast vibes, but it is NOT a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Violence
Still by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Check triggers
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Pregnancy
Wild Scottish Rose by Tricia O'Malley
funny
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
I received a gifted finished copy of this book from the author. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review.
I loved this book. Gnorman, Eugene, and Gnora were delightful and I enjoyed seeing Shona's story and meeting Owen. I will definitely continue reading this series and have had so much fun with it so far.
I loved this book. Gnorman, Eugene, and Gnora were delightful and I enjoyed seeing Shona's story and meeting Owen. I will definitely continue reading this series and have had so much fun with it so far.
Who TF Did I Marry? by Reesa Teesa, Reesa M Teesa
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.