sparklingsinner's reviews
58 reviews

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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4.0

šŸŽ¾šŸŽ¾šŸŽ¾šŸŽ¾/5

what a wild ride.

i went in not knowing what to expect, considering i havenā€™t really heard amazing reviews about Carrie Soto the way i did for other TJR books. 

is it my favorite of hers? i donā€™t think so. 
did i still enjoy it? absolutely!!!!!!!

albeit predictable, and maybe just a bit too technical on the tennis side, i really enjoyed seeing Carrieā€™s character development. i couldnā€™t stand her at ALL in the beginning, which made me consider dropping the book altogether, but then i wondered, do i need to LOVE the characters for a book to be good? even by the end of the book, i did not feel infatuated with her, but just a bit softer. i can understand why she is the way she is but also canā€™t. itā€™s all so much. 

the book also tackles the topic of misogyny in sports (and the world in general), and even pushed me to wonder if iā€™d feel the same annoyance with Carrie if she was a man (spoiler alert: i would have). 

her fatherā€™s death honestly made me very emotional, i absolutely loved that man. however, one canā€™t argue how important it was for him to be out of the picture for her to be thrusted into life and see it differently. 

i totally understand why some people would not enjoy this book at all, but i think that once again, iā€™m a sucker for the worlds TJR creates and how realistic they are. how raw and beautiful and flawed and such a complete puzzle. she puts in a LOT of work and it shows! 

overall, there is so much to think about and so much that needs to sink in. but ultimately, and i HATE to say it, TJR has done it again for me.
Five Survive by Holly Jackson

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4.5

HOLLY JACKSON! WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD!

oliver was pissing me the fuck OOOOOFFFFFFFF i literally wanted to throw my book across the room anytime he breathed. couldnā€™t help but smile when he DIED. 

plot was so interesting and the ending was crazy, although it did drag a tiny bit at times. absolutely recommend!
The Risk by S.T. Abby

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2.5

i meanā€¦šŸ˜­ it couldā€™ve been worse for sure but it also wasnā€™t the best thing ever

will probably continue the series at random times when i feel like something quick and all over the place
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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3.5

great way to come back from a massive no reading moment.

genuinely had fun reading this and did not expect ANY of it or the way itā€™d end! kind of surprised her and ryan ended up together in the end but her taking mr. smithā€™s place was the biggest surprise!
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

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5.0

currently sitting at the edge of my bed holding my kindle with both hands and staring into the void. i always said iā€™d leave my 5 stars reviews (especially my very first one) for whichever book makes me cry actual, real tears, but the emotions this book evoked in me were enough without the need for tears. a reread is inescapable.
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

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3.0

umā€¦ the story built up pretty nicely but the end was soā€¦ underwhelming? like all this for that? i mean great that they got a good ending and better life after the retreat but everything just fell soā€¦ flatā€¦ next!
The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

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4.0

yā€™all this was so goodšŸ˜­ 

i fell in love with the setting and the plot and i love when characters are so irritating yet in some way likableā€¦ it was quite fast paced and i LOVED the idea of the club and the fear test!! i really really really enjoyed this. like really!!!!!!!
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

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4.5

Ė—ĖĖ‹ ā˜… ĖŽĖŠĖ— 4.5/5 Ė—ĖĖ‹ ā˜… ĖŽĖŠĖ—
james iwan ashton the man that you are... 

this book was genuinely so heartwarming and addictive, and to me, everything a romance book should be. adorable characters, great writing, raw emotions and the way she tackled grief fit so beautifully. every storyline, every character, every little detail... it's all so so dreamy. some parts genuinely moved me and had me thinking about some of my own feelings more than i expected it to. it was just... amazing.

and of COURSE it was recommended to me by my lovely lomi. she simply doesn't miss! Źšā™”ɞ
Vicious by V.E. Schwab

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4.5

donā€™t let how long it took me to finish this fool you. this book was absolutely delightful. its character will devour your brain. thereā€™s so much i could say but itā€™s all still so fresh. long live morally gray characters! 

and victor vale if youā€™re reading thisā€¦ hey<3