Book review: Marriage for One by Ella Maise

Marriage for One by Ella Maise
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book started on not a very promising note because I wasn't able to digest the fact he asked her to marry for her property and it was kinda crude till he kept up the Charade. But the moments they shared were sweet and so well detailed and written. The concept for me was on a 3 star level but the depiction was another story. Could have been much better but yet didn't disappoint in that regard. The feelings matter was again another story, I couldn't connect to any of the characters much. Something was amiss from the start. I loved their banters, their arguments. The make up after the fight was really really good. And again I'll go back to the tender moment, one of my favourites so far. So 4 stars it is.

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Book review: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

6% - one chapter down and I KNOW this is the lake house thing! I am so sure. The server was the chef and man... It's going to be a roller coaster isn't it? Ending the first chapter with that huge grin is my first sign of "hooked, line and sinker". I know... It's gonna be good!

58% - 24 chapters down and this is not lake house or mix of Divine rivals with letters that travel. It's an apartment. There is nostalgia and grief. The way the story about her aunt and her death(suicide) is talked about is tearing. Heartbreaking. How grief can settle inside your bones and never let go. This is a really unique concept of a book. I am sure it's going to be 5 stars. It already is till now..

100%
It was poignant. Sublime. The way the author kept the mystery of him knowing about the 7 year slip was good. Everything was tied well in the end. I related most to her aunt. She carried a monster on her shoulder. The way the grief of losing has been the integral part of life of both the female and male lead, it has been done in a very delicate manner. Everything is done in refinement. Beautiful.

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Book review: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book had a particular seed of contemplation on the people pleasing instinct of some people. It was well presented. The storyline was good, about the academia and the way the politics is handled and shown is quite correct (I am in academia as well). The power play of mentors, I am thankful I haven't had to experience it that way but yes it exists. The fierceness of Jack's calling out Elsie's bullshit was good too. I liked Ali Hazelwood's writing the funny and pure way of putting things and especially the analogies she brings up. Hilarious and entertaining. I finished the book in record time because again it's Ali Hazelwood. I love her. She grips from the start. The way the book starts at a point of the interest and slowly eases you into her world. Amazing.

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Book review: Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A dedication followed by a John Keats poem. Do I need to already give this book a five star?

This book filled a few cracks. Breathed some life. The magic, the tangible current, the keys of the typewriter, the notes of the violin. Of Enva and Dacre. Of purity and ambition. Of loss. Of fear. Of mourning.
Everything was beautiful. A carefully woven fabric of everything aligning in the end. I missed Marisol and Keegan's story at the end. Forest and Sarah were tragic. Helena was a force to reckon with. Darce was too scary. Enva.. pitiful.
Iris E. Winnow.. she was as strong as they come. Strong and soft and very human. Relatable.
Roman C. Kitt, a deep breath, a person to behold.
I liked Attie and Tobias too. Everything was perfect. I don't have anything to point out. The book, though long, never once felt it was dragging. Everything, the folklore, the tales of god's, the dreams of Iris and Roman. Perfect. Just perfect. It was the first trophy book I ordered without a prior read. I knew it was going to be good. Since the first one was THAT amazing.

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Book review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know what I was expecting when I saw this romance book recommendation, but it wasn't this. This deep, raw and bloody tale of war and love and loss. Roman C. Kitt, Iris Winnow they have wrenched my heart. Squeezed out the emotions and love and fear and longing. This is such a beautiful story. It has everything, ambition, doubt, bravery, love, apprehensions, love, more bravery, suspense and sadness. So much sadness. I am in tears. I shouldn't have started this thinking it was a light read. It wasn't. It's heavy and oh-so emotional. Even the story of the typewriters. The war, the sibling's relationship.
For a change, in this book, I could never ever predict anything even though there were tropes of forced proximity and hidden identity. Everything was up in the air, like a fresh leaf falling from the tree, nothing repetitive about it. It's amazing Rebecca Ross.
The cliffhanger had been reading a snippet of the next book and I hope it'll be a happy ending. Onto the next one. Thank you for this reason, Rebecca. Soul-filling.

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Book review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the depiction of Asperger's syndrome. That's the only reason I read it all in one sitting. There was a bit of repetition of the issues on both sides but eventually it was good. I liked it more till the 95% part. The end was a bit flat. But the book itself had lots and lots of fireworks. A good read in all. Very beautiful and relatable writing.

Spicy scale: 5

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Book review: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At 35% of the book. Part of your world.
I knew it was going to be good because Abby Jimenez didn't disappoint in her writing style in Yours Truly. I wanted to know the story of Alexis from book 2. I knew they would end up together but I wanted to see the journey. After just finishing chapter 35 of Daniel's POV I literally cried like anything. The way Abby portrays the emotions is always a shipwreck inside me, the rawness, the relatability. Everything is so beautiful. The characters, even the side ones are so wholesome. This is a 5 star one, just gonna read up the rest and be back soon.

It was a feel good book. Just like the second part of this, the handling of everything related to family drama was beautiful. Aptly wrapped and concluded. I am in love with Abby now. Gonna read the third part as well. She has calmness in her work. Especially the men she writes about. They are green forests instead of just flags.

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Book review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ofcourse I read the book because I have already seen the movie and ofcourse I love the movies.
The writing is so pretty, so relatable and this book has such a warm fuzzy feeling of thick socks in the peak of winters. I loved the narration and the Easter eggs of Ms. Rothschild and John Ambrose McLaren. And I didn't know the book would end at this point. Onto the next one of course now.

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Book review: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

4% of the book:

Okay. This female protagonist is suffering from social anxiety and I am hooked. Chapter 1 was good enough to reel me in. I am gonna love it , I can feel it. Bring it on Sarah Adams!

At 7% of the book:
Awww she's clumsy. I love it more and more.

At 53% of the book:
So far I like their chemistry. Annie the angel is kinda repetitive and his denial is too. But the chemistry is good. I like the characters of Annie and Will. So far. And this entire chapter is on a kiss or an extensive makeout session. That was really... Something out of the pirate novels that Annie so loves. Fingers crossed.

At 73% of the book:
I like the honest conversations that they had about what they want from life but I am having a hard time reeling in the feeling that their actions are falling all over the place. I mean, yes of course that's how we are in real life, not set in stone about how we are supposed to be, but at the same time in a book we usually expect for the character arc to start from somewhere and go somewhere entirely different. But here I am somewhat unconvinced about their actions and reactions. Let's see, what happens further.

At 100% of the book:
It was fine. But I am not that convinced. Yeah, she's an introvert, yes I connected with her but the rant going on about the same things gave me a headache and wanted it to end about the third time she mentioned she was not 'angel Annie'. I'll give it 3 stars. Fell kinda flat after the first half.

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Book review: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My breakdown of the review as I read the book:

At 56% of book:
Call me biased but after the wonderful read and re-read of 'The love hypothesis' I have been having a hard time falling for this brutish man 'Knox' or this people pleaser damsel in distress 'Naomi'. But finally I am liking that he is doing stuff that wouldn't be called 'efforts' per se but are very considerate. Could be bare minimum but at the same time are so rare that they never exist. Yeah, so finding a few things to like about the book.

At 75% of the book I am pissed off at Knox because of this **spoiler alert** third act breakup thing. And because everyone telling Naomi that her trying to be perfect is getting toooo repetitive. Annoying and irritating. Stars are going down this time.

Okay and now at 78% I am already fed up with everyone just knowing how Knox is hiding his feelings and what not. Nope. Not working out for me now.

So done with it. Not in the mood to complete the series. The writing was too cliche for me and then the storyline was too stretched. 2.5 stars for that rowdy guy, shit personality and not so engaging storyline.

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Book review: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started this book last night and haven't been able to put it down. The writing is gripping, funny, and emotionally all over the place—in the best way possible.

Even in the four hours of sleep I managed to get, I kept dreaming about Adam Carlsen and Olive. The trope might be cliché, but the handling is beautiful.

The mystery of "the guy" from the lab still hasn't been confirmed by 82% of the book, keeping me on edge. I nearly threw my Kindle across the room when Olive was being stupid and didn't want to report harassment by her would-be-could-be boss.

I love the side characters, and Adam—he's a tall, broody hunk with a genius IQ. What's not to fall for? Except maybe that he's an asshole who fails students left and right? No worries, I can relate—I might be that rude teacher too.

This book makes me want to be alone with it for a long period of time, savoring all the humor and vulnerability of Olive and Adam as slowly as possible. For the first time in a while, I don't want a book to end. So, I'll take a break from reading the remaining 15% for now. Sigh! It's perfect.

She knows. She knows. She knowssssssss. **Runs around screaming in ecstasy**

It was beautiful. Beautiful, soul-filling, and worthy of ordering a paperback to keep on my shelf. **Sigh** it was so beautifully written.


*Edit- 1 day later*
This book is all I think about right now. Last time I felt like this was after The Hating Game, It ends with us. And Better than movies as well. I really really need to know how Adam felt. I would buy the shit out of the book which tells me his POV for the whole book ever since they first met in his bathroom for the first time.
I ordered a physical copy. So this stays with me forever.

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