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theamyleblanc's reviews
889 reviews
Thank You for Holding by Elisa Reed, Julia Kent
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
I was immediately turned off by Carrie's reaction to Jamey being gay. She kept shouting about how he "turned" gay all of a sudden! And how it must be her fault! And how she's dated a gay guy in high school, too! It was so immature and there were way too many exclamation points!
The whole thing felt overworked and Carrie and Ryan came across as way more immature than their ages would have you believe. I couldn't keep doing it.
The whole thing felt overworked and Carrie and Ryan came across as way more immature than their ages would have you believe. I couldn't keep doing it.
Worth The Lies by Mara Jacobs
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
The pacing of the romantic storyline is off here. This is supposed to be a romantic action story but Huck and Kelsey are too into each other too quickly. Also, the narrative is repetitive. The action part of the story didn't develop enough to snag my interest so I called it quits.
Rock Bottom by Dominique Wolf
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
I really need to stop listening to Instagram.
A few snippets from this book came up in my feed and they seemed good, like something I'd like. Unfortunately, those were the best parts of the story.
I have a lot of issues with this book. First, it's WAY too long. There's no reason for it to be this long. Second, the characterizations are a bit of a mess. A lot of them are more caricature than character. There's an attempt at emotional depth here, which I appreciate, but it's overwrought and weirdly done.
Third, the overall writing style needs a lot of love. It's unnecessarily repetitive and convoluted. I kept clarifying and simplifying sentences in my head. A good round of copy editing would do wonders for this narrative (and help cut down on length). There's also a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. There's the perfect set-up to contrast how things were between Calvin and Violet and how things are between him and Nikita. We could've seen it instead of just being told how different it is in Calvin's internal monologue.
I only finished the book because the author was clearly trying, and trying in the right direction. This just needs a lot more work.
A few snippets from this book came up in my feed and they seemed good, like something I'd like. Unfortunately, those were the best parts of the story.
I have a lot of issues with this book. First, it's WAY too long. There's no reason for it to be this long. Second, the characterizations are a bit of a mess. A lot of them are more caricature than character. There's an attempt at emotional depth here, which I appreciate, but it's overwrought and weirdly done.
Third, the overall writing style needs a lot of love. It's unnecessarily repetitive and convoluted. I kept clarifying and simplifying sentences in my head. A good round of copy editing would do wonders for this narrative (and help cut down on length). There's also a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. There's the perfect set-up to contrast how things were between Calvin and Violet and how things are between him and Nikita. We could've seen it instead of just being told how different it is in Calvin's internal monologue.
I only finished the book because the author was clearly trying, and trying in the right direction. This just needs a lot more work.
Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think Roscoe is one of my favorite characters in this series so I was excited to read his story.
This second chance, friends-to-lovers romance had way more intrigue and action that the previous ones. I was pleasantly surprised by the change of pace here. I was afraid it would take away from the romantic storyline but the balance was good.
I love Roscoe's memory and the impact it has on everything he does. To be fair, it sounds like a challenging thing to live with. But watching him grapple with it was real and gritty. And the racism Simone experiences throughout, how everyone handles it, unfortunately felt pretty realistic, too.
Having read this far into the series, I'm most impressed by how all the storylines tie together in an effortless, organic way. Juggling all these personalities and plots must be a beast and Reid does it so well.
I'll always recommend this series!
This second chance, friends-to-lovers romance had way more intrigue and action that the previous ones. I was pleasantly surprised by the change of pace here. I was afraid it would take away from the romantic storyline but the balance was good.
I love Roscoe's memory and the impact it has on everything he does. To be fair, it sounds like a challenging thing to live with. But watching him grapple with it was real and gritty. And the racism Simone experiences throughout, how everyone handles it, unfortunately felt pretty realistic, too.
Having read this far into the series, I'm most impressed by how all the storylines tie together in an effortless, organic way. Juggling all these personalities and plots must be a beast and Reid does it so well.
I'll always recommend this series!
The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The synopsis had me hooked and it only got better from there!
This book is wonderful. It's dense and heartbreaking and horrifying and beautiful and unique and hopeful. It feels true. While it is a work of fiction, so much of it is based in historical fact. There's an air of authenticity woven through the whole narrative. Nothing felt anachronistic.
The characters are fantastically done. The plot is perfectly paced. The twists and turns keep you going, searching, hoping Anna Maria will achieve the impossible. Her synesthesia is a lovely, scary addition to the story. In the early 1700s, she would've been deemed crazy. And that only heightened the stakes, and Anna Maria's ambition, her need to succeed.
I learned so much with this book. I love listening to Vivaldi's works but I had no idea of his personal history. The likelihood that he stole inspiration or music or compositions from these girls . . . I wish I was surprised. Even if it's fictional, I'm glad someone told their story. That their voices and talent live on somewhere. That they weren't forgotten.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is wonderful. It's dense and heartbreaking and horrifying and beautiful and unique and hopeful. It feels true. While it is a work of fiction, so much of it is based in historical fact. There's an air of authenticity woven through the whole narrative. Nothing felt anachronistic.
The characters are fantastically done. The plot is perfectly paced. The twists and turns keep you going, searching, hoping Anna Maria will achieve the impossible. Her synesthesia is a lovely, scary addition to the story. In the early 1700s, she would've been deemed crazy. And that only heightened the stakes, and Anna Maria's ambition, her need to succeed.
I learned so much with this book. I love listening to Vivaldi's works but I had no idea of his personal history. The likelihood that he stole inspiration or music or compositions from these girls . . . I wish I was surprised. Even if it's fictional, I'm glad someone told their story. That their voices and talent live on somewhere. That they weren't forgotten.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All I Want is You by Falon Ballard
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a delectable little holiday-themed palate cleanser. It's absolutely what I needed in the moment. Is it my favorite by Falon Ballard? No. Is it witty and emotional and funny and heartbreaking like all of Falon's books? Yes, absolutely!
Not going to lie, I was turned off at first by the characters being named Nick and Jess. That's a hard association to overcome. As I moved through the story, though, it was clear that while they share some similarities with their famous counterparts, they are different enough to be their own people.
The pacing is perfect and the setting sounds cozy and wonderful! The obstacles that keep coming up flow seamlessly with the narrative. It's on the shorter side for a novel so you can move through it at a good clip.
My biggest problem is that it was harder to connect with the characters. I think the challenge of second chance romances is that a lot of the history, the emotional work, has already happened off page. That's especially true when the reason for the split is unclear or kept secret. I never quite felt their pain.
All that said, I really liked this. It'll make a delightful bit of holiday cheer for readers!
Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Not going to lie, I was turned off at first by the characters being named Nick and Jess. That's a hard association to overcome. As I moved through the story, though, it was clear that while they share some similarities with their famous counterparts, they are different enough to be their own people.
The pacing is perfect and the setting sounds cozy and wonderful! The obstacles that keep coming up flow seamlessly with the narrative. It's on the shorter side for a novel so you can move through it at a good clip.
My biggest problem is that it was harder to connect with the characters. I think the challenge of second chance romances is that a lot of the history, the emotional work, has already happened off page. That's especially true when the reason for the split is unclear or kept secret. I never quite felt their pain.
All that said, I really liked this. It'll make a delightful bit of holiday cheer for readers!
Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
I think this book lived up to a lot of the hype and for that, I'm grateful!
I needed a bit of a reset so I picked this book up. It'd been on my list for ages but now felt like the right time to read it. I was pretty immediately sucked in, from the moment Charlie fell out of a car at Dev's feet.
Charlie and Dev go on quite the emotional journey! It's lovely to see all the diversity and representation and feel like it was authentically done. This book is queer as heck and I'm HERE for it. Watching Charlie learn about himself, watching him figure out what words fit and whether that's even important to him, was such a dagger to the heart. I've been there. It was beautifully done and painfully real.
I love the mental health focus. It's clear from the beginning that Charlie is working through a lot when it comes to his mental health. Seeing him own and celebrate his unique brain made me so happy. Dev does an excellent job of convincing everyone, the reader included, that he's okay when he isn't. Massive props to the narrative voice for capturing that so completely.
The ending is *chef's kiss* This whole book is a wonderful celebration of what makes each of us unique. Everyone should read it!
I needed a bit of a reset so I picked this book up. It'd been on my list for ages but now felt like the right time to read it. I was pretty immediately sucked in, from the moment Charlie fell out of a car at Dev's feet.
Charlie and Dev go on quite the emotional journey! It's lovely to see all the diversity and representation and feel like it was authentically done. This book is queer as heck and I'm HERE for it. Watching Charlie learn about himself, watching him figure out what words fit and whether that's even important to him, was such a dagger to the heart. I've been there. It was beautifully done and painfully real.
I love the mental health focus. It's clear from the beginning that Charlie is working through a lot when it comes to his mental health. Seeing him own and celebrate his unique brain made me so happy. Dev does an excellent job of convincing everyone, the reader included, that he's okay when he isn't. Massive props to the narrative voice for capturing that so completely.
The ending is *chef's kiss* This whole book is a wonderful celebration of what makes each of us unique. Everyone should read it!
Total Creative Control by Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Once again, I've fallen victim to an adorable cover and an intriguing synopsis.
I didn't enjoy this. The only reason I finished it is because Aaron is a fanfiction writer and I wanted to see how that would play out. Unfortunately, it was just as disappointing as everything else. The conversation around it was preachy and weird. Lewis and Aaron were both so unyielding in their opinions when some perfectly valid points were made. I wish the sense of community that fanfiction offers was explored more. And yeah, Aaron loves it but his reasons were kind of shallow.
If you're going to use a story as social commentary, make the conversation worth it.
Aaron is a decent-enough character but he's the only one. He can't carry the story by himself amidst all the other awful, 2D caricatures. Charlie is despicable, Mils and Geoff are practically pointless, Toni seems cool but doesn't get enough screen time to make much of an impact. And Lewis, good lord Lewis. He's not a grump, he's a d*ck. The number of times I wanted to scream at him "Sir, you're 34 years old. Stop acting like a spoiled brat and get your sh*t together!" I'll never understand what Aaron saw in him.
Technically, the narrative is annoyingly repetitive. I was able to skim whole chunks and not miss much. The spicy scenes are the flattest, more boring than vanilla, most unremarkable scenes I've ever read. Both Aaron and Lewis gush over the experience in their PoVs, about how different and special and romantic it was. But none of that came across in the writing.
I'm so disappointed.
I didn't enjoy this. The only reason I finished it is because Aaron is a fanfiction writer and I wanted to see how that would play out. Unfortunately, it was just as disappointing as everything else. The conversation around it was preachy and weird. Lewis and Aaron were both so unyielding in their opinions when some perfectly valid points were made. I wish the sense of community that fanfiction offers was explored more. And yeah, Aaron loves it but his reasons were kind of shallow.
If you're going to use a story as social commentary, make the conversation worth it.
Aaron is a decent-enough character but he's the only one. He can't carry the story by himself amidst all the other awful, 2D caricatures. Charlie is despicable, Mils and Geoff are practically pointless, Toni seems cool but doesn't get enough screen time to make much of an impact. And Lewis, good lord Lewis. He's not a grump, he's a d*ck. The number of times I wanted to scream at him "Sir, you're 34 years old. Stop acting like a spoiled brat and get your sh*t together!" I'll never understand what Aaron saw in him.
Technically, the narrative is annoyingly repetitive. I was able to skim whole chunks and not miss much. The spicy scenes are the flattest, more boring than vanilla, most unremarkable scenes I've ever read. Both Aaron and Lewis gush over the experience in their PoVs, about how different and special and romantic it was. But none of that came across in the writing.
I'm so disappointed.
Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Mmmm . . . there are so many things to love about this book! It's a delightful bit of anti-Christmas cheer and I devoured it as quickly as my schedule allowed.
The characters are complex and complicated and flawed and interesting -- basically exactly what I've come to expect from Martha Waters. I liked Charlotte's penchant for speaking bluntly, Graham's quiet regard, and Alice's demonic presence.
I thought the story started off slowly. It took a little while for me to feel completely sucked into it, which is my only complaint. Once things all clicked into place, I was IN IT. It unfolds beautifully and while I never questioned how it would end, I did have to wonder how we'd get there.
By far my favorite aspect of the book is the narrative voice. It's told third person limited, from Charlotte's PoV. The neurodivergent grammarian inside me was tickled by the abundant use of parentheticals and em dashes! It gave the narrative a unique cadence that felt perfectly Charlotte. I also adored the liberal use of more obscure pop culture references. Sure, the whole plot mocks a popular (and problematic) Christmas movie but there are other references that often made me giggle out loud.
Go read it. It's a wonderfully unique holiday romance and I'm certain you'll enjoy it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are complex and complicated and flawed and interesting -- basically exactly what I've come to expect from Martha Waters. I liked Charlotte's penchant for speaking bluntly, Graham's quiet regard, and Alice's demonic presence.
I thought the story started off slowly. It took a little while for me to feel completely sucked into it, which is my only complaint. Once things all clicked into place, I was IN IT. It unfolds beautifully and while I never questioned how it would end, I did have to wonder how we'd get there.
By far my favorite aspect of the book is the narrative voice. It's told third person limited, from Charlotte's PoV. The neurodivergent grammarian inside me was tickled by the abundant use of parentheticals and em dashes! It gave the narrative a unique cadence that felt perfectly Charlotte. I also adored the liberal use of more obscure pop culture references. Sure, the whole plot mocks a popular (and problematic) Christmas movie but there are other references that often made me giggle out loud.
Go read it. It's a wonderfully unique holiday romance and I'm certain you'll enjoy it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
At first, things were slow and weren't catching my interest. I wasn't immediately drawn into the story. As I read more and saw more of Jia, she really started to frustrate me. I quit because I could see where the story was going and knew it'd be an annoying, unenjoyable ride to get there.
This reads like a modern version of Emma set in India. That could be fantastic if done well! Unfortunately, this story focuses and highlights all of Emma's worst qualities. When you combine that with a predictable plot and "best friends" who come off more as indifferent or annoyed forced friends, everything falls apart.
The synopsis promised a story that we didn't get. The cover is much cuter than any interaction between Jia and Jaiman. I'm incredibly disappointed -- I would've loved to read the story I thought this was.
I didn't see the point in continuing. I don't see myself recommending this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dell, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This reads like a modern version of Emma set in India. That could be fantastic if done well! Unfortunately, this story focuses and highlights all of Emma's worst qualities. When you combine that with a predictable plot and "best friends" who come off more as indifferent or annoyed forced friends, everything falls apart.
The synopsis promised a story that we didn't get. The cover is much cuter than any interaction between Jia and Jaiman. I'm incredibly disappointed -- I would've loved to read the story I thought this was.
I didn't see the point in continuing. I don't see myself recommending this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dell, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.