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noveltyreads · 27 days

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In Deeper Waters by F.T Lukens Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I sort of struggled to find my feet with this book.

The first one hundred pages or so were really interesting and I enjoyed the pacing of it but if I'm being honest, In Deeper Waters didn't grab me as much as the other books I've read earlier this year.

In Deeper Waters is the second book I've read by F.T Lukens. I've read Spell Bound last year and it ended up being one of my favourite books of 2023. I was very excited to read In Deeper Waters as I find F.T writes very light-hearted books that honestly feel like a comfort read. Besides, I've had In Deeper Waters on my TBR for a very long time.

I enjoyed the start of the book as I already mentioned however, it was mainly after Tal's kidnapping (not a spoiler this is in the blurb) that I found myself starting to lose interest. At the start, I wasn't very sold on Tal's and Athlen's relationship but as the book progressed and I started to find my feet in the story, I started shipping them together more.

I think the main issue I had with the book was with its plot. It felt like it tied things up too smoothly and without too much hassle considering all the trouble Tal's been through. I wish the ending was a little more high stakes than it was but overall, this was a nice lighthearted read.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.2 STARS

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noveltyreads · 27 days

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All of Us Villains (All of Us Villains #1) By Amanda Foody and C.L Herman

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I have recently been finding myself gravitating towards dark fantasy this year and honestly? I love it. Dark fantasy brings forward everything I love in books: enemies to lovers, forbidden romance and magic schemes that make you wish the world was a little more magical than it actually is. All of Us Villains had the perfect recipe to become a newfound favourite.

I was lucky enough to read a few pages of the book before it was out. I enjoyed the sampler so much that I bought the book (and its sequel) already knowing I would be transfixed and pun intended, spellbound.

The book has been pitched to me as The Hunger Games but make it magical and villainous. The book is told in four perspectives: Briony, Alistair, Isobel and Gavin, four of the seven champions forced to fight to the death to win high magic, a rare magical commodity. The book spends a lot of time showing us how the champions have prepared and strategised for the tournament, building up the characters and showing how they all cope with the knowledge that they'll one day fight to the death.

To me, Alistair was an instant stand out. I loved reading his perspective. He reminded me of Lira from To Kill A Kingdom in that he was raised to be villainous but really, his villainous behaviour was a result of what his family expected from him. He may be morally grey but I could tell he had a softer side and the way he cared for his brother, Hendry was really sweet and wholesome.

Isobel started off as a character I really enjoyed reading but towards the end, I started losing interest with her character. Her parts were better in terms of plot and moving things along but as a character, she lost me towards the end.

Gavin was a character I was very interested in. I am a sucker for the classic underdog story where the odds are stacked against them and they manage to be victorious. Gavin's entire family haven't won the tournament in all the centuries it's been happening. Gavin is seen as a dead boy walking and he wants nothing more than to prove people wrong. Out of everyone in the tournament, he and Elionor seemed the most ruthless in their pursuit to win and eliminate competitors.

Briony was the last of the perspectives however, she never really grabbed me as a character and so, I wasn't as excited reading about her as much as I was for Alistair or Gavin. I won't lie, she sort of annoyed me. The other side characters I enjoyed were Hendry and Reid. Hendry was such a sweetie he's easily one of my favourite characters. Reid was a character I predicted would have a huge influence on the plot. He kind of reminded me of Harry Hookfrom The Descendants mixed with Yungblud and a bit of Palaye Royale. I hope I get to see him more in book two.

The characters were a big win for this book. As in, all the characters felt unique with their own personality that I could easily tell apart. The only real negative I had was the book at times felt a little slow. I also wanted more suspense and tension from the competition. I knew the stakes were high but I didn't feel the danger or risk from the tournament even when things started going pear-shaped. By the end of the book, I started getting that anticipation I was looking for with the book ending on a tantalising cliffhanger. Naturally, I have started the sequel instantly.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.2 STARS

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noveltyreads · 1 month

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Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I won't lie, I did not like this book.

I have loved Sophie's previous books specifically Only Mostly Devastated and Perfect on Paper which ended up being two of my favourite YA books of all time. While I didn't love If This Gets Out, I was excited to read Never Ever Getting Back Togetherhearing it was very angsty with a revenge plot line following two girls going on a dating show trying to bring their ex down (and falling in love with one another in the process).

Literally everything about this book screamed that I would love it and yet I really struggled. There were even times I seriously considered DNF'ing.

Lets start off with the plot line. Maya and Skye get asked to join the cast of Second Chance Romance which, like the name suggests, is a TV show trying to find "the one that got away." This year's bachelor? Jordy Miller, Maya's ex boyfriend who had a relationship with another girl while they were still together. Now he's famous with a sister who's married to a prince and Maya sees his face all around her, reminding her of a time when he said he loved her, and betrayed her.

So Maya hatches a plan to bring Jordy down and expose him for who he is by going on this show, hoping to dump him at the Grand Finale in front of thousands of viewers.

The one thing she doesn't count on is falling in love with Skye, the girl he cheated on her with.

To me there are two key ingredients to creating a great romance story: great chemistry and great characterisation. To me, there was no chemistry between Maya and Skye. There didn't seem to be a true connection between them and it didn't help that they went from enemies to lovers in a heartbeat with no development or romantic tension to set that up.

I blame the characters for that. I didn't really connect with any of them. While I loved the angst of Maya, apart from her anger there was nothing else I knew about her. I felt like I knew slightly more about Skye, aka I knew she loved nature but apart from that, there was nothing else that drew me to her. The side characters were not spared from this. The competing girls had no other characterisation or personality other than their motives for being on the show. Perrie was one of the side characters that appeared a lot and yet I knew nothing about her apart from being an influencer.

The other criticism I had was with the dual perspectives. It was extremely difficult for me to work out if I was reading Skye or Maya's chapters mainly because they were so similar and there was no differentiation. It's rare for me to say (because I'm a sucker for dual perspective books) but it would've been better if this book just remained a single POV rather than two.

I'm very sad this book wasn't the book I expected to love.

ACTUAL RATING: 1.3 STARS

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noveltyreads · 1 month

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The Scarlet Alchemist (The Scarlet Alchemist #1) by Kylie Lee Baker Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book!

Literally from the first page I was hooked with the story, characters and historical and fantastical world building. From the first few pages I immediately knew The Scarlet Alchemist could become a new favourite book of mine.

The Scarlet Alchemist follows Zilan, a girl who dreams of becoming a royal alchemist. Joining her cousins on their quest to become royal scholars, Zilan finds herself among the royal court uncovering political plots and schemes. When the Prince appears, knowing of Zilan's ability to resurrect the dead, she discovers things are not as they seem.

I absolutely loved the world-building in this book. Zilan's home town? The royal palace? I could imagine every place and I felt transported into the story. I loved seeing the home life and relations between Zilan and her cousins and their secret resurrection business. The resurrections brought another element to the book including a rock based alchemy system that I really enjoyed reading about.

The characters made this book. Wenshu and Yufei's banter with Zilan made me laugh out loud. Each character has their distinct personality and there was never a dull moment with them. Two other characters I loved was the Prince and the duck, Durian. The entire scene at the pond with the ducks made me cackle out loud.

The only criticism I have is with the side characters, the alchemists. They clearly were a big part of Zilan's life and yet we never learned more about them than their titles (the moon alchemist being an exception here). The ending would've hit harder if we got to know the alchemists a little better.

Speaking of endings though, this book was plot twist after plot twist after plot twist. My mouth hung open wide at some points with the thought: "That did not just happen??" at the forefront. I cannot wait for book two, I desperately need to talk over this ending with someone!

ACTUAL RATING: 4.8 STARS

#ya #books #young adult #bookstagram #romance #book reviews #fantasy #reading #bookstagrammer #book review #ya fantasy #dark fantasy #the scarlet alchemist #Kylie lee baker #fantasy books #ya romance #historical fantasy #historical fiction

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noveltyreads · 2 months

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Cursed Crowns (Twin Crowns #2) by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

It's always a pleasure to return to the world of one of your favourite books.

When I read Twin Crowns last year I absolutely loved it. It gave me both Frozen and Barbie Princess and the Pauper vibes and I loved how light-hearted and magical the book felt. With Cursed Crowns we returned back to the world of Eana with twin princesses Rose and Wren having to deal with a new challenge of changing public perceptions about witches now that they ascended the throne. When insurrection grows within the kingdom, Rose seeks out the help of the long lost Sunkissed Kingdom while Wren tries to get help from her grandmother, currently trapped in a Gevran jail cell.

This book definitely had a darker tone than Twin Crowns but I really enjoyed the surprising direction this book took. Where in the first book I preferred Rose's POV more than Wren's, in this book it was the complete opposite. I was sucked into the world of frosty Gevra and the challenges Wren had to face along the way. I was also surprised about the direction the romance went, creating a love triangle that I didn't see coming. I am so excited to see where that goes in book three.

With Rose, I felt like her character took a bit of a dip. She sometimes came off as jealous and arrogant especially when everything happened with Shen. I think she redeemed herself at the end of the book but it took me a while to find my footing with her.

I also felt like the first part of the book was a little slow but it definitely made up for it in the book's middle and end. I am eagerly anticipating the series's conclusion and finale in April!

ACTUAL RATING: 4.8 STARS

#ya #books #young adult #bookstagram #romance #book reviews #reading #fantasy #bookstagrammer #book review #cursed crowns #twin crowns #princesses #disney #frozen #booklr #bookish #book obsessed

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noveltyreads · 2 months

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Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute book and it was also one of my most anticipated books of 2023.

The second I heard Crazy Rich Asians meets Heartstopper I was immediately sold. As you probably know, Heartstopper is one of my favourite books and so I was almost certain I would adore Fake Dates and Mooncakes. Not to mention, I was promised food and corgis!

The plot centres around Dylan who just lost his mum not too long ago. He enters a mooncake competition featuring a traditional recipe his mum used. Meanwhile, he becomes the fake date of Theo, a customer of his aunt's takeaway business and is thrust into a world of wealth and privilege.

I really liked all the characters although I must admit I was second guessing Theo all the time, genuinely wondering if he was just leading Dylan on. There didn't seem to be a purpose for his character apart from being Dylan's love interest. I blame that on the fact that there were a few missed opportunities to expand on his characterisation. I think if we got to know Theo deeper as a character, the chemistry between him and Dylan would've grown and then we would've seen that Heartstopper comparison we were told in the blurb.

Family was what made this whole book rather than the romance. I loved Dylan's family's dynamic and I liked the glimpses we got into Theo's family too. Overall, this was a good book. Not a perfect one, there was definitely room for improvement, but there was a lot of heart.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.6 STARS

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noveltyreads · 2 months

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The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd Jones Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

When I first started reading this book, I genuinely thought it would become my new favourite.

It started with the prologue. I was immersed in the story from the first page. I loved the writing style, Mer's backstory and her awesome ability to manipulate water.

The book follows Mer, a water diviner who was previously taken into the Prince's care and forced to poison the Prince's enemies. Constantly on the run, wanting freedom, she reunites with her old handler wondering if she'd like to get revenge on the Prince and take him down.

To me, this book started great. I was hooked from the start and I was very curious to see how the book would go, and where. It did slow a bit in the middle, that's where it started to lose me, until the end where a lot of action occurred. I did expect some plot twists and betrayals early on though, so they didn't take me by surprise as much. Nevertheless, I enjoyed seeing how the story would unfold.

Overall, I enjoyed the pace of the book, the writing style (which was very descriptive and atmospheric) and I liked the characters too, specifically Mer, Fane and Ifanna. Despite not having read The Bone Houses, I really liked the epilogue too.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.9 STARS

#books #ya #young adult #bookstagram #book reviews #fantasy #reading #bookstagrammer #bibliophile #bookish #the drowned woods #Emily Lloyd jones #illumicrate #the bone houses #booklr #reader #readerlife #book reviewer

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noveltyreads · 3 months

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Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has my entire heart!

I loved this book. I have no idea why I didn't pick it up sooner. This was haunting, spooky and utterly atmospheric and had everything I loved in a book. Enemies to lovers? Forbidden romance? Magic? Tick. Tick and tick.

The book follows Tana, a witch who works in a perfumery on a small magical island with her family. Ever since she was young, she had an arrangement to marry the son of the governor of the mainland to forge an alliance between them and the witches. The coven Tana belongs to performs low magic, every month going out to the other side of the island, depositing their magic into the sea to avoid a magical build up. One night, Tana accidentally misses the rush and in desperation meets a witch from a long forgotten coven to help use the magic she didn't deposit. Wolfe helps Tana tap into the connection between the witchcraft that flows through her and nature while their friendship grows into something more. Tana needs to choose between duty and her heart, the life she's always known and the future she never imagined.

I think one of the best things about this book is the aesthetic and how atmospheric it is. From the first page this book had a witchy allure that sucked me in immediately. I enjoyed reading about the magic systems and could feel the connection Tana had to her island.

Something else I really enjoyed were the characters. I loved Tana and how vulnerable she was. She was very empathetic with a strong sense of duty and the courage to follow her heart. I loved her family, her relationship to her coven and of course, her relationship to the love interest Wolfe who was tall, dark and handsome personified. He saw Tana for who she was and helped her to embrace herself and her powerful magic.

The only negative I had was the plot. To me, it seemed like it was setting itself up for Tana to either introduce high magic to the witches in her coven and help them to embrace it or to rebel against the mainland. This book seemed to take a more character-focused approach instead, focusing more on Tana embracing herself than what it seemed to set up at the beginning of the novel. It wasn't a bad thing, I still enjoyed the story regardless.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The characters, the world, magic systems and romance were a highlight for me. The only negative was the plot which I believed was leading up to something and then didn't. I wish this book was a series because I would love to see this cast of characters again and I feel like there was so much that I would love to explore more about.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.6 STARS

#books #ya #young adult #bookstagram #book reviews #fantasy #reading #bookstagrammer #bibliophile #bookish #romantasy #fantasy books #young adult books #booklr #reviews #book reviewer #pretty books #Rachel griffin #bring me your midnight

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noveltyreads · 4 months

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Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire #1) by Jay Kristoff Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In 2021 there was no book quite as hyped up as Empire of the Vampire.

I remember seeing it everywhere. You couldn't escape it on Bookstagram/Booktok and die-hard book collectors were scrambling to get ARCs of it. With such hype, I was a little bit worried about this book. I was worried if it would meet such high expectations or fall epically flat.

Well, let's just say this:

Empire of the Vampire takes a while to get into. Or at least for me it did.

The book starts off with our main character, Gabriel, the last Silversaint, imprisoned in a cell by vampires, telling a historian, Jean-François about his life and how he came to be a living legend. This book, just looking at form alone, astounded me at how it goes between the interview-like present, Gabriel's early days as a Silversaint, and a few years before his current situation looking for the Holy Grail.

The book's first "part" (350 pages in) was all about the world building, setting up the scene and the ambience of the novel. While it was interesting, nothing really grabbed me after the first 50 pages (in part one). I think that's mainly due to the fact that I wasn't really connecting to the characters much.

But then we got to part 2 and all of a sudden, I understood why this book got so much praise.

The book's slower beginning makes up for everything it lacked in part 2 where all the plot twists happen and all the loose ends are tied up. All of a sudden, we got that closeness/connection we wanted from the characters and I started to really enjoy my journey with this book.

Where Gabriel started off as a stoic-sort of character, by the end of the book you see just how much he has been through. Honestly, I didn't expect that ending though which I won't get into for spoilers reasons but it made me understand his character and everything he's been through. I love it when books come full circle and all the pieces of the puzzle come together, not just plot wise but character wise too.

I also liked Dior though admittedly not as much as Gabriel. I've been told book 2 follows this character as well as another so I'll be excited to discover more about Dior as the series progresses. Also, I absolutely loved the bromance between Aaron, Baptiste and Gabriel and it honestly elevated the book so much! I'm excited to see them all again in Empire of the Damned.

This book was unlike any other books I've read before: it was dark, moody, bloody and hugely atmospheric and while I've read darker fantasy before, none were as gothic as this one. It also was the thickest book I've read in a long time, which for a person like me who read 300-400 paged books, this was basically double my regular length. That being said though, I would be very excited to read book two and I hope Gabriel gets his revenge on Voss. He really has been through hell and back.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.4 STARS

#bookstagram #book reviews #books #bookstagrammer #reading #fantasy #bibliophile #bookish #dark #dark fantasy #vampires #empire of the vampire #jay kristoff #booklr #eotv #Gabriel de leon #empire of the damned #twilight #vampire diaries

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noveltyreads · 6 months

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Murder For The Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I really liked this book. It was very fun and pretty quick to get through.

The book was set in 1920's Chicago where main character, Ruby kills the men who escape Chicago's clutches. Men who plan to do bad things to women including killing them. Genius boy, Guy is on the run. He changed his entire identity, running away from the man he was before. Working at the morgue under the professional who can help him figure out his gift for shapeshifting, Guy discovers that the string of deaths in Chicago are not coincidental. They are the work of a murderer. As Guy tries to figure out the identity of the murderer, Ruby goes to Guy for help on discovering who is targeting her father and wanting to kill him. All the time, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensures between the both of them as well as a blossoming romance.

The book is told in two parts: Guy's and Ruby's. Personally I liked Guy's parts more as I found Ruby's personality and dialogue a bit annoying. Guy was also so innocent and sweet. I must admit, I didn't ship the two of them as I found Ruby taking advantage of him and his shapeshifting abilities. I wasn't really convinced on their chemistry and relationship because I felt like Guy was just being manipulated and strung along by her.

While I liked the plot line and Guy, I didn't get a sense of the glitz and glamour of the 20's that I was expecting. We knew Ruby was a rich girl and a socialite but what about that allure during the roaring 20's? I felt like this could've been improved on in future books.

Overall, this was a good read that was very fun too. I liked Guy but felt like the chemistry could've been better because I felt like Guy was being used in the relationship rather than actually loved. Maybe towards the end yes, but I felt like there was no romantic build up between the two and they got together quickly after their feelings were realised.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.7 STARS

#books #ya #young adult #bookstagram #book reviews #reading #bookstagrammer #fantasy #magical realism #murder mystery #bookish #bibliophile #20's #20's books #1920's #Kendall kulper #book reviewer #pretty books

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noveltyreads · 9 months

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These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow How's #2) by Lexi Ryan Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I'm not going to lie, I didn't like this much.

I read These Hollow Vows last year. While I appreciated the book, it wasn't a favourite. I think I rated it three stars overall. The main thing I enjoyed in that book was the fact it was completely addictive to read. It was unputdownable and despite the flaws, I was looking forward to book two especially with book one's ending.

The book picks up immediately after the events of book one. I should've rejigged my memory by re-reading the last chapters but I ended up throwing caution to the wind and trusting my vague recollections. A lot of major logistical components eg the power of the crown and how the Shadow Throne operates would've been great to remember so I struggled a little bit on that front. This is definitely more of the binge-read type of series, as in, you'll struggle to find your footing if you don't read one book after the other or in a short time between the two books.

Apart from the above, I couldn't help but feel a little bored with this book? It's a fantasy and usually fantasy books have me on the edge of my seat with the fast-paced action and high stakes, but I felt like there was none of that? The first 50 or so pages were fast and filled with action but after that the stakes and tension of the situation died down a bit and it wasn't until the last 100 pages or so that the action picked up. I felt like a majority of the book wasn't necessarily plot orientated but more romance dominated with spicy scenes that honestly made me question if this belongs more in the New Adult genre than Young Adult, especially since the main character, Brie, didn't even feel like she was a 16 year old girl. Her character felt much older, 18-23 at least.

With the romance, honestly, I wasn't really sold on it. Maybe towards the end yes, but I couldn't help but eye-roll at the fact that she was manipulated by Finn and Sebastian (in book one) and yet she easily continued to pursue a relationship with Finn and still has feelings towards the other even though he severely broke her trust. Sebastian made me eye-roll the most. He was one of my favourite characters in These Hollow Vows (albeit a little whiny at times) but in this book he was borderline insufferable and childish.

I also didn't love Abriella. I didn't like her in THV and that hasn't changed in These Twisted Bonds. In book one, she appeared as very arrogant and in this book, she acted very much like a special snowflake always like "but I'm just a human" followed by every character telling her she's more than that and that she's so special. It got annoying very quickly.

Also, it felt like the spicy scenes were just fillers and honestly were needless. I would rather the plot progress further than hearing how much Abriella wants more of Finn and wants him all over her. I don't mind spice, but please just not so often in a book that the plot feels like it takes the backseat.

ACTUAL RATING: 2.3 STARS

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noveltyreads · 10 months

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The Butterfly Assassin (The Butterfly Assassin #1) by Finn Longman Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

To be honest, I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I'm not a huge thriller fan. I don't usually seek the genre out but for some reason, I was drawn to this book and decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did because this book was just the dark and gritty YA book I was looking for.

The book follows Isabel Ryans, a minor who wants nothing more than to escape the secret assassin program she was born into and live a normal life. Traumatised by her parents, one a high-ranking chemical weapons specialist and the other a renowned assassin, Isabel flees and adopts a new name. However, Comma is far from letting her go and we see Isabel's struggle with accepting and letting go of her dark past. She questions if she can exist outside of her previous life and be normal or if assassin was all that she could be.

This book is very much underrated. I really enjoyed myself even though it took me a while to get used to the writing style. Isabel was quite reserved and introverted however you could tell that she dreamed of living the typical teenage existence of making friends, going to school and planning out a future. I felt like the author portrayed this yearning for more really well and also showcased trauma and mental health in a way that felt realistic and authentic. I enjoyed Isabel's character a lot and think she deserves all the hugs in the world.

It wasn't just Isabel's character I loved, it was all the side characters too. Emma was absolutely gorgeous and I wanted her and Isabel to explore their connection a little more. Is it bad for me to say I was absolutely shipping the two together? When that ending came it honestly shattered me. No spoilers but Emma 100% deserved better. I also felt like Nick deserved better. He just wanted to be there for Isabel and then... well... I won't spoil that one.

I am so excited to read the second book. While I was reading the first, I actually requested book two from the library. I hope Isabel can escape her parents and live the life she always dreamed of. This is a book and a series I would strongly recommend for those looking for asexual rep and a really solid YA thriller.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.1 STARS

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noveltyreads · 10 months

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Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World (Aristotle and Dante #2) By Benjamin Alire Sáenz Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When I first read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe it took me a while to love it. I actually put it aside after 100 or so pages and read it again a few months later. I'm glad I gave that book a second chance because I loved the story, the philosophical discussions and the raw, tender love between Ari and Dante. When it came to book two, I expected all the elements of the first book but only continued and heightened in Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World.

Now reviewing this book, I must admit I'm a little on the fence. When I finished reading, I was satisfied with the book as it really elevated Ari's character and touched a lot on elements of growing up and going from boyhood to manhood. It also discussed grief, death and love especially familial love as shown with Ari's parents and Dante's family. The book touched on these themes very well and I enjoyed reading about them.

While I loved the glimpses into Ari's character and the aforementioned, I felt like the book was lacking the depth of raw connection between Ari and Dante we've seen in the previous novel. I wanted more of the love between the two boys because it was what made Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe such a beautiful read. I felt like there was limited page time given to the two discovering more about each other and strengthening their relationship. It's the one thing I would've loved more of.

I also enjoyed reading about the platonic relationships Ari developed in the novel. It was another one of my highlights and I liked getting to know our new characters. They added another layer to the novel and I don't think I would've enjoyed the book as much if they weren't there.

All in all, I enjoyed this story. There were many good things and a few things that I wish were strengthened more. I liked the characterisation and platonic and familial relationships portrayed in this book and liked how the author portrayed significant topics such as homophobia and AIDS in the 80's when the book is set. I just wish there was more connection shown between Dante and Ari because unlike book one, I wasn't entirely sold on their relationship. I also felt like the ending was slightly rushed and a bit unnecessary. That being said, overall, I liked this book and wouldn't mind a book three.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.45 STARS

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noveltyreads · 1 year

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Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

It has been a while since I read a Becky Albertalli book so it was definitely long overdue. Simon vs the Homosapien's Agenda was my favourite book of 2017 when I first read it and I've read it over and over again since. When Imogen, Obviously was announced I was sure that I'd love it so I preordered right away and claimed it as (one of, or if not) my most anticipated book of the year.

Imogen Obviously is a light-hearted romcom with very deep themes. The book focuses a lot on discovering and questioning your sexuality and what it means to be queer. There were prominent discussions about queer discourse specifically “what makes a person queer?” “What does a queer person look like?” “What if I’m queer baiting?” “Am I actually queer or am I just influenced by the people around me?” It was interesting to go through Imogen's mind and see her question everything about queer discourse from coming out to queer baiting to stereotypes. There were also discussions surrounding gatekeeping, safe spaces and queer validation which were very prominent throughout the book.

Topics and deep themes aside, this book had a great cast of characters. Imogen was such a sweet, cinnamon roll kind of character who just wanted to be there for her friends and wanted to do the right thing. This book really took you into her thoughts and feelings especially towards her friends, the queer community and with her crush on college friend, Tessa. Another great thing about this book was that it showed different types of friendships and what true ally ship looks like. Lili, Edith and Imogen's new friends were so supportive of her and accepting, embracing Imogen without question and validating her sexuality without judgement. Gretchen on the other hand, was a very passionate member of the LGBTQ+ community yet her treatment of Imogen was inconsiderate even if she thought she had good intentions.

I also loved the cameos we got from Love Victor and Simon vs the Homosapien's Agenda I'm pretty sure the cameos were Nora and Andrew.

The only thing I can think of that could be improved is that it took me a while to get into Imogen’s character and feel that chemistry between her and Tessa. It definitely took more of a build up than with Simon vs (which is one of my favourite books of all time).

Overall, this book was an eye-opener and really opened up that discussion surrounding queer culture, the LGBTQ+ community and stereotypes. I loved how we got glimpses into how each character explores their sexuality from Edith to Gretchen to Lili and how the book showcases that there is no right or wrong way to be queer. You just have to be yourself.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.3 STARS

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noveltyreads · 1 year

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Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Despite me loving Shakespeare’s works, I have never read The Tempest. I knew that this book was based on it in some way but I hoped that it wouldn’t disadvantage me.

Bright Ruined Things follows Mae, a young girl who lives on an island in the care of the Prosper family, a family of which uses the magic of the island and turns it into clean energy to propel the outside world. Mae has never been on the mainland before and wishes to learn how to convert the magic from the island. She knows this will be impossible as Lord Prosper only teaches his kin however, that doesn't stop her from trying to learn as much as possible. Soon she starts questioning the very foundations of the world around her as she realises the cause of the Prosper's fortune is far more sinister than first thought.

Let's start with the positives, or the things I enjoyed. This book was very atmospheric and lushly written with this mysterious, intriguing and haunting quality to it especially in relation to the island, its magic and spirits. I really liked this quality as it made the Prosper's island seem magical in the dangerous sense. I also liked the overall theme and discussion surrounding capitalism and greed and the extremes people go for money and reputation.

I think my main negatives stems from wanting more from the story, the characters and the plot. I found the pacing quite slow as the main action happens towards the end of the book. Despite liking the world, I felt bored because nothing really happened in the first half apart from the main character pining for Miles while being proposed to by Ivo and also desperately wanting to learn magic. While I didn't mind Mae (she was an okay character but I didn't really connect with her), I did get a bit annoyed by the side characters (namely the Prosper's). I found them shallow and at times, annoying to read about. I couldn't connect to Miles' and Mae's relationship because I didn't really feel the chemistry between them.

At times, I shipped Ivo and Mae more than the main pairing. There were times I thought they had a great relationship and other times I would be proven wrong. At the end, as much as it hurts for me to say, I was sitting back, awaiting the book to finish because I felt disconnected from the story, plot and characters. That being said, I'm happy I read this book but I don't think I'd be reading this again.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.2 STARS

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noveltyreads · 1 year

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Throwback by Maurene Goo Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Ever since I read I Believe in a Thing Called Love and Somewhere Only We Know I have loved Maurene Goo's books. When I got the review copy of Throwback I knew I was in for a treat. With a pitch like "Back to the Future meets the Joy Luck Club" how could you not get excited? I was saving this book knowing this would be my next bookish obsession and I was right! I feel a book hangover coming on.

Throwback follows Samantha Kang, a seventeen year old girl who has a rocky relationship with her mother. Where Sam perceives her mom as cold, stoic and obsessed with presenting a good image, Samantha can't help but feel like they are worlds apart. When a fight leads to Sam taking a magical ride share all the way back to 1995, Sam realises that maybe her mom and her have more in common than first thought. She realises that by helping her mom win Homecoming Queen and preventing a fight afterwards between her and her grandmother she can return to her timeline and complete the mission she was brought back in time for.

Admittedly, this book took me a while to get into. I wanted it to be a little more fast paced because it did have a slow build up. The build up was necessary to develop the characters and their backstories but I was just waiting for a bit more action during the first two thirds of the book.

Action aside though, the build up was necessary because it meant we wouldn't be able to connect with Priscilla and Sam otherwise. We were meant to side with Sam of the present and see Priscilla as unreasonable but in all honesty, both characters had their flaws and none of them could be framed as bad, just misunderstood. This was the case when Sam time traveled to when her mom was a teenager where she discovered the girl behind her mom's tough exterior. Sam started understanding her and her mom started understanding her back, discussing how even though they don't understand each other all the time, they still love one another and show this in ways the other may not always understand.

It did take me a while to like Sam to be honest. She always saw her mom as unfair but in the process of showing her mom as such, she seemed that way herself. By the end though, I started to like her. I liked Priscilla, the 1995 throwback version, from the get-go. She seemed tough like her future self but I liked how the closer she and Sam got, the more those layers fell away and we got to see this girl who just wanted to fit in and live out her dreams.

And the ending? The ending made the whole book all the more worth it. I loved every bit about the ending and found it so perfect. If you are a rom-com fan, this will definitely make you swoon and happy grin like I did reading on my iPad. I'm so happy about Priscilla's ending and Sam's ending. I'm giddy just writing about it.

All in all, if you want a feel good book with the kind of 90's vibe you felt like you've been missing, definitely give this book a read. If you're in the mood for a rom-com that's more than just the girl gets the guy with a few shenanigans thrown in the mix, that discusses big themes and has lots of heart, then this one is for you.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.9 STARS

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noveltyreads · 1 year

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Spell Bound by F T Lukens Book Review

I just finished Spell Bound and I have such a large grin on my face.

If you've seen all the advance reader praise around this book and wondered if the hype is worth it, take my word, it is. This book was full of magic, banter, laughter and love and (pun intended) I was totally spell bound.

This book starts off slow. The main storyline follows Rook, a boy who loves magic and wishes to be a part of the world his grandmother introduced him to. He joins Antonia Hex, the most powerful sorcerer in the world at her company where they break jinxes, hexes and curses for all sorts of folk. However, Antonia has competition in her rival, Fable, another notable curse breaker and their cute but grumpy apprentice, Sun. When Fable and Antonia get into hot water with the Consortium, a government body overlooking the regulation of magic in Spire City, Sun and Rook need to get past their differences to work together to find their mentors and free them.

The book benefits a lot from the slow build up of characterisation and backstory. For plot focused readers who like to go straight into the action, this book probably won't be for you then, but for me, a reader who thinks characters and character building is the most important element in a book and everything else comes second, I absolutely devoured this layering, character development and subtle pining. No scenes felt too quick and the romance in the book felt utterly natural, focusing on the small little moments like small, shared smiles and holding hands for the first time. For readers who love magical realism with a bit of romance, this one is definitely for you.

I loved the dynamic between Rook and Sun. Their relationship was a frenemies to lovers sort with flirtatious banter sprinkled in. Rook was like the sunshine in the relationship whereas Sun was the grumpy one. The way the grumpy x sunshine trope played out was fun and added a playful element to the book. I loved every single interaction between these two and the chemistry was almost palpable on the page. Easily one of my favourite fictional pairings I've read this year, and maybe in general.

This book seemingly was more tailored to the younger end of the YA spectrum but nevertheless, that shouldn't put you off. This was fun, playful, witty and such an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book to any fans of magical realism, romance and fantasy.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.4 STARS

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