janae's reviews
352 reviews
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Wasn’t interesting, then library got rid of it and I don’t care enough to binge it. May try again later, already have a lot of rom coms to read.
Goddess of Filth by V. Castro
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
This was such a fast fun interesting story. Kinda spooky scary, very relatable and timely. We love a feminist possession. Sometimes the writing style took me out of the moment because it moved so fast and there were no contractions but that has to happen in a novella and the lack of contractions seemed like a stylistic choice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Jackal by Erin E. Adams
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
I LOVED THIS!!!! This is more atmospheric than scary and the beginning isn’t very fast but honey!!!!! The second half ate up!!!!!! The way this woman was my hero and also unlikeable and also a victim and also a villain???? THERES SOMETHING IN THE SHADOWS THAT SHE MUST LEARN TO FACE?? THERE ARE LAYERS OF MYSTERY HIDDEN IN THE TOWNS HISTORY? CLASS AND RACE ARE A PART OF THE HORRORS SMALL TOWN AMERICA IS THE BEAST WOMAN IS THE BEAST BECOME THE MONSTER EAT THE MONSTER YESSSSSSSSS I loved it! Tense! Thrills! Mystery!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Gore
Power Play by B.P. Gilmore
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Listen! LISTEN! This book has a lot going for it. Quite honestly if it had gone through another round of thorough editing I could see it getting a four. The story is enjoyable, the characters show hints of being well rounded but unfortunately it doesn’t all come together in the end.
I think a main reason for this is the writing swings from being really great to really subpar in some spaces. It makes me believe the first half has gone through more rounds of editing than the second. So even though the book I got a teaser of looks tempting I wonder if it will also fall apart in the second half. Well. Not fully fall apart, just writing wise. There are several lines that genuinely made me cringe, but they could have been fixed with a little finessing, the characters don’t seem like unique fully formed people with full identities, and Dani’s blackness seemed shallow. Also, we jumped from scene to scene a little too quickly sometimes.
Overall I would recommend it as a fun read if you don’t mind it being rough in some spots.
I think a main reason for this is the writing swings from being really great to really subpar in some spaces. It makes me believe the first half has gone through more rounds of editing than the second. So even though the book I got a teaser of looks tempting I wonder if it will also fall apart in the second half. Well. Not fully fall apart, just writing wise. There are several lines that genuinely made me cringe, but they could have been fixed with a little finessing, the characters don’t seem like unique fully formed people with full identities, and Dani’s blackness seemed shallow. Also, we jumped from scene to scene a little too quickly sometimes.
Overall I would recommend it as a fun read if you don’t mind it being rough in some spots.
Bite of Loyalty by R.L. Caulder
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
I wanted to keep going because the world seemed interesting enough but the writing just didn’t work. I think this book needed some editing and workshopping. The writing was very tell instead of show in an unsubtle way and also characters kept laughing at things that weren’t funny? So it just made me uninterested in reading more.
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For me this is overall a three but it’s a 5 for sheer entertainment, though my the end I felt exhausted by the sheer amount of plot that had happened. I might read the ypcmoning books but I’ll need to take a break for a while.
I would say over the book is fun fast paced and interesting. I think it’s biggest downfall is that the mmc is a businessman who acts like a mob boss instead of just being a lov boss. His behavior doesn’t align with reality so it really takes you out of the story. Also several of his feats are too unbelievable to the point that it feels like fantasy. I do feel that romance is a fantasy sub genre at times but not to this extent.
I rarely felt the chemistry between this couple also. I get that it was more lawful evil x good than grumpy x sunshine even tho that trope get very pushed in our faces.
Overall it wasn’t poorly written except for a few bad jokes, cliches, and cringe moments. It’s fun and readable. If you like the type of mmc this is then you’ll enjoy it , but if you’re like me your dislike of him might seriously impede your enjoyment.
I would say over the book is fun fast paced and interesting. I think it’s biggest downfall is that the mmc is a businessman who acts like a mob boss instead of just being a lov boss. His behavior doesn’t align with reality so it really takes you out of the story. Also several of his feats are too unbelievable to the point that it feels like fantasy. I do feel that romance is a fantasy sub genre at times but not to this extent.
I rarely felt the chemistry between this couple also. I get that it was more lawful evil x good than grumpy x sunshine even tho that trope get very pushed in our faces.
Overall it wasn’t poorly written except for a few bad jokes, cliches, and cringe moments. It’s fun and readable. If you like the type of mmc this is then you’ll enjoy it , but if you’re like me your dislike of him might seriously impede your enjoyment.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
If I was a kid I would have lost my mind! This is excellent middle grade storytelling. The world is amazing, the characters are diverse and lovable, and the ending was so satisfying! I can’t wait for book two!
Ink by Jade Hernandez
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my first mc romance! One of my first pure romances as I start on this romance journey. The writing Yale isn’t exactly my thing because I tend to like more fantasy styles, but I found it fast paced and fun and interesting. It held my attention. I loved the badass rage filled fmc for sure. Obviously wish it was lesbians but I wish everything was lesbians.
EDIT: as the rush fades I think for quality this should be a 3.5 but I’m leaving it a four bc I was entertained and personally enjoyed it
EDIT: as the rush fades I think for quality this should be a 3.5 but I’m leaving it a four bc I was entertained and personally enjoyed it