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eloise_reads's reviews
411 reviews
Reckless by Lauren Roberts
4.0
Admittedly, not a lot happens plot wise in this book so I can completely understand the mixed reviews. I however, am a sucker for romance so thoroughly enjoyed myself. If you can, please listen to the audiobook, the multiple narrators do such a good job and I swear every time Kai says "darling" I swooned - soo good.
I love my husband very much, but dear GOD where can I find me a Kai? (Nick if you ever read this, just know this is written purely for dramatic effect, please never leave me xxx)
He is a man obsessed and I loved it in the first book and continued to love it here. The things he says to her and in his mind are so beautiful and I adore Lauren Robert's writing, it works so well for me.
I literally cannot wait to read the next book, hurry up 2025!
I love my husband very much, but dear GOD where can I find me a Kai? (Nick if you ever read this, just know this is written purely for dramatic effect, please never leave me xxx)
He is a man obsessed and I loved it in the first book and continued to love it here. The things he says to her and in his mind are so beautiful and I adore Lauren Robert's writing, it works so well for me.
I literally cannot wait to read the next book, hurry up 2025!
Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4.0
Forever Interrupted follows Elsie. She and Ben fell in love and had a whirlwind romance, married after 6 months together. When he is suddenly killed in a road accident a week into their marriage, Elsie is left heartbroken. She must face her new mother in law, who doesn't even known she existed and explain the situation whilst coping with her broken heart. We follow the present day as Elsie deals with her loss, and also go back in time to watch how her and Ben fall in love and their romance blossoms.
This is probably my least favourite TJR book (I've got one to go before I've read them all!), but it was still a good time. I know it sounds silly after the synopsis above, but not a lot really happens. Elsie herself wasn't my favourite FMC and I felt she acted a little petulant when her MIL found it a little hard to come to terms with Elsie's existence, she had no sympathy and the whole insisting on talking at the funeral scene, left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I did enjoy watching how Elsie heals as a character over time, and the romantic parts were sweet, but other than that I don't have much to say about this one, it was a sad, but nice read, although not the most memorable.
This is probably my least favourite TJR book (I've got one to go before I've read them all!), but it was still a good time. I know it sounds silly after the synopsis above, but not a lot really happens. Elsie herself wasn't my favourite FMC and I felt she acted a little petulant when her MIL found it a little hard to come to terms with Elsie's existence, she had no sympathy and the whole insisting on talking at the funeral scene, left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I did enjoy watching how Elsie heals as a character over time, and the romantic parts were sweet, but other than that I don't have much to say about this one, it was a sad, but nice read, although not the most memorable.
Whispers Most Foul by Emma MacDonald
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
I’m so sorry, the writing style just didn’t work for me. It felt so slow and slightly overwritten so I just couldn’t get into it.
This is a me problem, not the book!
This is a me problem, not the book!
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
3.5
3.5 stars
Think YA fantasy Robin Hood vibes. Tessa and Wes steal a particular type of flower from the rich and royals, the only ingredient known to cure the fever that is killing many within the Kingdom. They distribute it for free and hide their faces from one another to avoid any risks. On one trip though, Wes doesn't return and Tessa assumes that he is dead. Her fury leads to her sneaking into the royal sector and from there, everything will change.
This was a quick-to-read, well written YA political fantasy with a side romantic plot (not romantasy). Although I say it was fast paced, it also felt like not a lot happened once Tessa entered the royal sector. The MMC didn't feel developed enough for me to fully invest in him or the romance but I think that's just because I'm used to read adult fantasies nowadays. It felt like a lot of other fantasies that I've read and it was predictable, with the twists clear from the start. However, I think if I'd have read this when it came out, I would have enjoyed it more. My interests have just changed since purchasing and I no longer read much YA.
If you are a fan of YA fantasy though, I would definitely recommend trying Defy the Night.
Think YA fantasy Robin Hood vibes. Tessa and Wes steal a particular type of flower from the rich and royals, the only ingredient known to cure the fever that is killing many within the Kingdom. They distribute it for free and hide their faces from one another to avoid any risks. On one trip though, Wes doesn't return and Tessa assumes that he is dead. Her fury leads to her sneaking into the royal sector and from there, everything will change.
This was a quick-to-read, well written YA political fantasy with a side romantic plot (not romantasy). Although I say it was fast paced, it also felt like not a lot happened once Tessa entered the royal sector. The MMC didn't feel developed enough for me to fully invest in him or the romance but I think that's just because I'm used to read adult fantasies nowadays. It felt like a lot of other fantasies that I've read and it was predictable, with the twists clear from the start. However, I think if I'd have read this when it came out, I would have enjoyed it more. My interests have just changed since purchasing and I no longer read much YA.
If you are a fan of YA fantasy though, I would definitely recommend trying Defy the Night.
Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas
3.0
Don't have a lot to say about this one, it was odd and fell pretty flat for me.
Essentially the FMC has a bit of a thing going with five brothers (not at once) and there is also a bit of a turf war between her side (the posh, wealthy side) and their side (the less wealthy). Throw in some spicy scenes and voila that's the story, along with a small mystery but I'll let you read that one and find out ;).
As someone that loved Credence, I don't have an issue with taboo romance and don't shy away from spicy scenes, but this just did nothing for me. Chapter 10 (iykyk) was quite frankly ridiculous and left me cringing.
I will continue reading PD books but this one was quite disappointing to me.
Essentially the FMC has a bit of a thing going with five brothers (not at once) and there is also a bit of a turf war between her side (the posh, wealthy side) and their side (the less wealthy). Throw in some spicy scenes and voila that's the story, along with a small mystery but I'll let you read that one and find out ;).
As someone that loved Credence, I don't have an issue with taboo romance and don't shy away from spicy scenes, but this just did nothing for me. Chapter 10 (iykyk) was quite frankly ridiculous and left me cringing.
I will continue reading PD books but this one was quite disappointing to me.
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5.0
After her husband went missing (assumed dead) two years ago, Emma has spent the last two years grieving him, attempting to get her life back together and then finally accept it is ok to fall in love again. She's now engaged to the second love of her life. But what do you do when a phone call confirms that her husband has been found, he's still alive. How can Emma come to terms with this, and what can she do.
Good lord this book. I've just listened to the audio in a day because I could not stop. I needed to know how things were going to work out and how on earth Emma was going to decide what to do. Several points throughout I was sobbing at the situation, how Jesse had spent two years trying to get back to her - not realising that several years is a long time, that people move on; that things are not the same.
The love Emma had for both men, watching them fall in love, beautiful, honest and bitter sweet.
Heart-breaking and romantic, this is up there as one of my favourite TJRs, in my opinion it is criminally underrated.
Absolutely loved, five full stars!
Good lord this book. I've just listened to the audio in a day because I could not stop. I needed to know how things were going to work out and how on earth Emma was going to decide what to do. Several points throughout I was sobbing at the situation, how Jesse had spent two years trying to get back to her - not realising that several years is a long time, that people move on; that things are not the same.
The love Emma had for both men, watching them fall in love, beautiful, honest and bitter sweet.
Heart-breaking and romantic, this is up there as one of my favourite TJRs, in my opinion it is criminally underrated.
Absolutely loved, five full stars!
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
Just not my sort of book anymore sadly!
Unromance by Erin Connor
3.0
Although she is a bestselling romance author, Sawyer is struggle to write the next one. After a bitter breakup, she wants to think of anything else but romance.
Mason - a famous actor also coming off the back of a breakup in the spotlight and a self admitted hopeless romantic.
When the two meet in an elevator, they instantly hit it off and decide to fix their "problems" - to fix her issues with romance and make Mason fall out of love with it so they complete romance tropes and cliches to try to help.
One rule - don't fall for each other.
This reminded me a lot of Beach Read, which coincidently I read before this one - not realising they had similar vibes. This had a very modern vibe which I loved (as a swiftie I also appreciated the references). The spicy scenes were great (will never be over the tights scene), but I'm gutted that I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters.
I hate to be that girl, but Mason was just too nice for me. Whilst it was refreshing to read about the epitome of a cinnamon role in a MMC, it was just a bit too much. He was all in pretty much from the word go - I like a bit more grovelling and grumpiness.
Sawyer was great but I wasn't a fan of how she sometimes treated Mason, almost trying to make an issue for no reason multiple times.
This was still a fun time and a cute read but I just wanted a little more chemistry.
Mason - a famous actor also coming off the back of a breakup in the spotlight and a self admitted hopeless romantic.
When the two meet in an elevator, they instantly hit it off and decide to fix their "problems" - to fix her issues with romance and make Mason fall out of love with it so they complete romance tropes and cliches to try to help.
One rule - don't fall for each other.
This reminded me a lot of Beach Read, which coincidently I read before this one - not realising they had similar vibes. This had a very modern vibe which I loved (as a swiftie I also appreciated the references). The spicy scenes were great (will never be over the tights scene), but I'm gutted that I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters.
I hate to be that girl, but Mason was just too nice for me. Whilst it was refreshing to read about the epitome of a cinnamon role in a MMC, it was just a bit too much. He was all in pretty much from the word go - I like a bit more grovelling and grumpiness.
Sawyer was great but I wasn't a fan of how she sometimes treated Mason, almost trying to make an issue for no reason multiple times.
This was still a fun time and a cute read but I just wanted a little more chemistry.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
4.0
When January's father dies, she finds out he has been having an affair and even worse, her mother knew about it and didn't tell her. Broke, stuck in a difficult conversation with her mum, recently single and in need of some inspiration to write her next novel - January temporarily goes to stay in her Dad's other home. There she meets Augustus Everitt again, the sexy guy who she knew at college and who now writes intellectual books, much better than her silly romances. When it turns out he also has writer's block, they decide to swap genres and teach each other the different aspects of what makes that genre.
This (can you believe) is my first Emily Henry! It's been on my shelf for two years and I finally picked it up. Unpopular opinion possibly, but I didn't love this as much as I expected to. Whilst EH's writing style is great and had me laughing. I found this a little dull. For me, the chemistry between the two MCs was virtually non existent, and not a lot really happened? It dragged a bit for me. I was sitting on a 3 star rating, but I enjoyed the last 10% which bumped it up to a 4. I'm looking forward to trying another of her novels, this was ok but I hope I prefer her others more!
This (can you believe) is my first Emily Henry! It's been on my shelf for two years and I finally picked it up. Unpopular opinion possibly, but I didn't love this as much as I expected to. Whilst EH's writing style is great and had me laughing. I found this a little dull. For me, the chemistry between the two MCs was virtually non existent, and not a lot really happened? It dragged a bit for me. I was sitting on a 3 star rating, but I enjoyed the last 10% which bumped it up to a 4. I'm looking forward to trying another of her novels, this was ok but I hope I prefer her others more!
Limelight by Daisy Buchanan
3.5
3.5 stars
Frankie is a bit of an oddball, not overly attractive (according to everyone in this book), not a lot going on career wise and a mother who overly nit picks everything she does. She has a secret though. At night, she has an online presence of the more mature kind. Provocative photos where she looks and feels incredibly sexy are posted online to her fans. She enjoys this persona and secretly adores the attention. But when her sister is diagnosed with breast cancer, Frankie's secret is exposed, to the nation. Her family stop speaking to her, she feels embarrassed and alone. Can she turn things around?
I adore Daisy Buchanan's books and writing and am now all caught up with her novels. I have to say, this was my least favourite. The way people treated Frankie and spoke to her, plus the way she felt about herself was unrealistic and nasty - it wound me up. I'm really tall and I'd hope people don't speak about me the way they did Frankie, as if she was some grotesque character. Constantly telling her she didn't look like her pictures and that she'd need a lot of work etc - it really left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was obviously to help Frankie become a bit of a f**k it girl and love herself and encourage others to be empowered but I just found it a little insulting to be honest. Frankie herself made some immature and questionable decisions which made this feel a little unrealistic.
I did however, really enjoy the family relationships and how it ended left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Frankie is a bit of an oddball, not overly attractive (according to everyone in this book), not a lot going on career wise and a mother who overly nit picks everything she does. She has a secret though. At night, she has an online presence of the more mature kind. Provocative photos where she looks and feels incredibly sexy are posted online to her fans. She enjoys this persona and secretly adores the attention. But when her sister is diagnosed with breast cancer, Frankie's secret is exposed, to the nation. Her family stop speaking to her, she feels embarrassed and alone. Can she turn things around?
I adore Daisy Buchanan's books and writing and am now all caught up with her novels. I have to say, this was my least favourite. The way people treated Frankie and spoke to her, plus the way she felt about herself was unrealistic and nasty - it wound me up. I'm really tall and I'd hope people don't speak about me the way they did Frankie, as if she was some grotesque character. Constantly telling her she didn't look like her pictures and that she'd need a lot of work etc - it really left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was obviously to help Frankie become a bit of a f**k it girl and love herself and encourage others to be empowered but I just found it a little insulting to be honest. Frankie herself made some immature and questionable decisions which made this feel a little unrealistic.
I did however, really enjoy the family relationships and how it ended left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside.