tneumann's reviews
69 reviews

Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

emotional hopeful

4.5

This book had all the elements I want in a romance and more - people who have lived through some stuff, magic, complicated family relationships, deep respect for nature, grief…and consent (except for outing someone as a DV survivor, which is addressed). Loved the depiction of brujas, their gifts - like Sage’s is plants, and the cultural elements woven through.

Also, the AIM chat between Tenn and Sage did not make me cringe in its use, just in the way it reminded me of living through that phase. (Of course gurl would be spelled with a u)

This story was very sweet and satisfying in how it wrapped up - again the perfect amount of magical realism for what I’m looking for in a book. 

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

Setting was great, as is the cover! Numerous times I’d look at the cover to ground their characteristics and found it helpful. The romance itself felt too insta-love for my preference. At times, it felt like it skipped details, assuming I could infer conclusions the MC’s were reaching but instead it was confusing and took me out of the experience. A fun premise though, I enjoyed the curse breaking, explanation of the curse elements and historical castle.

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.

Requires a bit more focus to read than I can do right now, but would like to come back to and finish at some point.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Sandwich is a wonderful depiction of the grief and love. About what it’s like to be a mother, be a person with parents, be in a partnership, be a woman. To have lost pregnancies, to have birthed babies.

The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett

emotional hopeful reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

The fact that I liked it so much had just as much to do with seeing myself in Lulu as the story itself. This is friends-to-lovers/forbidden love, plus queer (he’s bi) and neurodivergent representation. Their feelings of loneliness and feeling like you’re not in on the joke is a familiar one…that aching desire to feel like you belong. 

The Explosive Child Updated and Revised Edition: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene

informative

3.0

Picked up a few small things here and there but not as much was applicable as I was hoping. And the naming of the plans and what they all meant was confusing. Easy to skim through parts so that was nice. 

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

1.5

I finished this book out of spite and because I was already 200 pages in at that point. Did not care about the MC’s or their relationship. It was insta-love and maybe I was missing some build up from the first book, but see similar sentiments from others. This book didn’t deliver - no depth or investment in the characters, only lust. The author is trying to weave in some heavier topics but it’s not done well. We’re told Burgess is super patient and understanding, but then so much of the book, he’s very direct, possessive and jealous. Single dad trope usually hits but even that was a miss. Their banter was so cringy and the spice scenes even felt out of context at times. I just had whiplash and felt confused about the tone and massive mood flip-flops by the MCs. I gave so many eye rolls at the cheesy ass lines peppered throughout the book and was just plain annoyed by it. It read like a horny hallmark knock-off.

The Nanny by Lana Ferguson is a better version of this trope.

Take Me Home by Melanie Sweeney

3.0

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective

3.75

Delphie learns to let people in and to fall in love with life. Liked the magical realism and reveal towards the end, and found family element. I found Delphie a little annoying and written like a horrid mess who turns out to be a gorgeous swan, which 🙄. Appreciated the humor throughout, Delphie & Cooper’s sarcastic banter and Merritt!

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

3.75