lindseycope's reviews
63 reviews

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I picked this up simply because it was an Ali Hazelwood book and without any idea about the plot or what to expect. This one ended up not being for me; I found her author’s note at the beginning stating this was an “erotic romance” odd as the book ended up being very similar to her other ones (for example, the first spicy scene is over 120 pages into the book). 
With Hazelwood’s books, you know you’re getting similar characters and plot lines, and this felt no different. I did feel that the savior complex of the MMC was heightened, but potentially because we had chapters from his POV. 
The switching POV was odd as it also switched from first to third perspective. I didn’t love how helpless the MFC was by the end of the book, and I didn’t love how it was initially such a big deal for her to see a person more than once but halfway through she’s essentially dating the MMC without any real reflection or transition. 
This felt like Hazelwood was trying to write something different than her usual, and I hope she keeps pushing to do that. 

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

adventurous medium-paced

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

2.0

I was excited by the premise and the initial few chapters, but was disappointed as soon as the letters were introduced. I wish they hadn’t been included, as they felt like they were written by sixth graders passing notes in class. From there, the 180 in the main romance was so quick it literally felt like reading a different book. I didn’t enjoy Mercy as a character, and found all of the characters to be written extremely immature. 
Combine all that with no world building (such a loss of potential), and an ending that felt frustrating with how quick it rushed to happily ever after. This one just definitely wasn’t for me. 

Funny Story by Emily Henry

lighthearted medium-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

3.25

I was pulled in by the main plot that lead to Daphne living with Miles, and, overall, I really enjoyed their romance.

However, the whole book felt like scenes awkwardly stuck together to try to help the characters grow. The miscommunication in the third act was annoying because it was so forced, even for a cliche. There were several moments that seemed pointless, and I’m not sure I felt it ever went beyond surface level.

This one was just not for me, but as an Emily Henry lover, I’ll still read the next. 

The Suicide Index: Putting My Father's Death in Order by Joan Wickersham

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Emotional and vulnerable portrayal of the aftermath of suicide. Having personal experience, I greatly related to Wickersham's urgency to figure out the "why" of her father's death. Wickersham was able to beautifully capture the wide array of feelings, from guilt to anger to confusion and more. I felt some parts were less clear, but obviously were meaningful to Wickersham as she navigated the aftermath of her loss. I felt she put to words so much so much of the experience, and would highly recommend to other suicide survivors to help normalize and feel less alone--or those supporting a survivor who want to better understand. 

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

I went in with zero expectations, and loved this book! Cute, light read full of all the tropes, but Blake's writing is so strong, it didn't feel like just a beach read. I enjoyed all of the characters, and especially adored the romance between Claire and Delilah. 

Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.0

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. I was quickly pulled into the romance between Iris and August, and thought that Ryan's portrayal of Iris' abusive relationship did a strong job of capturing the isolation, control, and violence. However, I found the on-page violence to be too much at times, and felt that Ryan could've still conveyed the seriousness, fear, and lack of power Iris experienced without putting so much on page. 

The second half also took a dip for me; I understand Ryan needed to transition Iris out of the abusive relationship, but found it was the least realistic part of the book. I also found the shift in Iris and August's relationship when Iris is available to be sudden and focused more on connecting through sex than anything else. The ending dropped my review quite a bit; again, there are some realistic elements but it felt overly dramatic and used a way to cleanly tie up some of the loose ends. 

Overall, I loved Ryan's writing; some elements were just not for me, but I look forward to reading her next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

So much fun! The mature Twilight I didn’t know I needed. I read this through quickly, and enjoyed the paranormal elements and the romance. Fanfic tropes galore (said with delight). 

That said, this is an Ali Hazelwood book, so all of the same characters, dialogue, and plot points simply put into the backdrop of a paranormal world. 

I hope she does another in this genre. 

Bunny by Mona Awad

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.0

Very unique plot! I wish there had been more details about the Smut Club and how everything in the club was happening. I enjoyed Awad’s writing, but at times found the style tedious. The twist at the end felt like I should’ve seen it coming, but didn’t, and I was surprisingly emotional about how it affected the main character. 

Reading other reviews, I’m sure I’m missing a lot of the symbolism and meaning Awad is trying to convey. Overall, though, it’s the type of book that leaves me coming back with questions. 

Murder Road by Simone St. James

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I really enjoyed the first third of this book; the mystery at the beginning sucked me in, and I wanted to know what was going to happen. The other two thirds lost me; the investigative work of our main characters seemed too straight forward, and the excitement of the ghost story petered out. The last few chapters seemed ridiculous, especially the big “twist.” 

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

It was due back at the library, and I just wasn’t invested in the story. Might come back to it later.