Book review: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

17%
This is cute. Clumsy girl and broody a villain. Oh yes!. Happy me!
30%
The villain is afraid of the dark? And has throw pillows? Awwwww
100%
The writing - refreshing and so powerful.
The intricate scenes were done so beautifully almost each page of it was powered with some buzz, drama and story moving and moving. The suspense and comedy and subtle signs of romance were so well woven. I am amazed I hadn't seen this on Instagram booktok as much as it should have been. The clumsy girl, brooding guy, TAKE MY MONEY!! The character development was amazing, the ultimate suspense unravelling of the traitor was WOAH!

Onto the next book. This book is 5 stars because it was un-put-down-able! I rather missed work and read this.

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Book review: See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked the writing. The concept of time loop. But it got a bit repetitive after a while? Ofcourse they were stuck in time, it was supposed to.
For a change I liked the portrayal of a curvy girl in the books. The protagonist not being petite, and slim was like breath of fresh air and I felt a sense of camaraderie with her in her body image issues.

Other than that, I felt a certain kind of disconnect with the characters as I couldn't immerse myself completely in the book. For me it's a huge part of the rating system, being un-put-down-able.
But this one was. I kept doing other stuff in between, and willingly.
So 3.5 stars? It was good. But I guess not something I'll remember for a long time and not something I'll read again.

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Book review: Betting on You by Lynn Painter

Betting on You by Lynn Painter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I like her writing style. But the characters. I didn't like the immaturity of the male characters of Ms. Lynn painter. Like NOT the book boyfriends I'll dream of.
The indecisiveness, reckless, and thoughtlessness in the characters is a bit jarring for me which makes me cringe and scream at my kindle.
The character has much much similarities with the one in 'Better than the movies', the relationship with parent, the insecurity about the new partner of the single parent. I like those details though, the way the emotions are explored and explained.
The part where she realises about the bet was emotional one for me, when she feels all alone in the world, that too hit home like anything. I usually rate books that make me cry as 5 stars, but this one wasn't that good. The most frustrating thing about this book was the anticipation of the kiss between the characters, it was so misplaced. They were kissing without preamble, without the build up and kind of anti-climactic. Phew, a light read, good writing, great emotional explanations, but I guess I needed more for it to be in my 5 stars list.

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Book review: Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was apprehensive about starting this. I knew it was about non/dub-con. The writing wasnit gripping enough for me. But yet I soldiered on without DNFing.

Two stars because I did find the guy 'redeemable' and 'good at heart'. I know it is messed up. But what can you do, we are like that sometimes.
Few dialogues of the main guy were nice but it mostly irked me the first person talking about yourself. Both in the case of Adeline and Z. I have read a better non-con story on informal platforms. So yeah, not very impressive. In fact I skipped soooo much of the text with the Male's POV.

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Book review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Bride by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just started on prologue and hooked. How does Ali Hazelwood do it every time? Her characters have so much depth and the language. I thought I might now like it this time since I have been reading fantasy for some time but dude. Her language goes to the heart. The vocabulary and sentences. Hooked hooked hooked.
Ali Hazelwood is so funny. Effortlessly so. It looks effortless, I am sure It can't be. The bond between Serena and Misery is *chefs kiss*
I fell more in love with you Ali Hazelwood ❤
Misery was relatable. Lowe was admirable until the point of him being a douche and then it went kinda downhill for me. It was definitely 5 stars up till then. But then I had to let go. Even the end and bliss wasn't satisfactory once I lost the anchor in the characters.

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Book review: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

10%
The last book was where I HATED Jake Barlowe, like I hated Umbridge in Harry Potter but this book is where I LOATHE Varrish. He is a sadistic AH.

40%
This fucking Viscount Tecarus called her to wield in a dress on a Venin? Does he not know Xaden? and his rage?

60%
I take my words back I guess I HATE Cat. Catorina whatever.

Andarna is so funny as a teenager. Just so sarcastic, witty and annoying to Tairn. I love love love their bond. I love love love Xaden. So so much. And Ridoc and Sawyer and Rhiannon.

I love the way Rebecca writes about the platonic moments between Xaden and Violet. The details of hands and breaths. The beautiful picturization. It's so heartwarming and exceptional.

The end was *BOOM*. JACK BARLOWE ????? again?

There are still so many things that need to be resolved. But yes, I am going to await the next book. This is one I feel is going to be worth the wait. Rebecca is a promising writer.

the show stealer for me will be the bond between Violet and her dragon, Tairn. Hands down. Their banter is perfect. The way he is there ALWAYS in her head, givings comments. I love that shit!

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Book review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was LOOOOONNGGGG. I mean I usually read a 7-9 hours long book in a day and a half but this one took me a week full of evenings. It was 22 hours long on my Kindle. Like WOW.

I was into it as soon as the angle of the reluctant journey came into being. I kinda had my apprehensions about a certain 'best friend' from the start. He was annoying and interfering. The best relationship in the whole of the book was between Tairn and Violet. I love love love Tairn. And Andarna. She is such a pure soul. Like our Violence. The book was a perfect blend of action, thriller and slow budding romance. All along the book I HATED Jake Barlowe like I hate Umbridge. He is a sadistic, unhinged AH.
The cliffhanger had me start the second book right away.
This book is something that warrants a re-read for all the bits and pieces one overlooks but are important later on in the story. It's a well-written and well-woven world. Rebecca Yarros, take a bow.

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Book review: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love the previous two books in the series. I don't know why I couldn't feel for Emma much. I loved Justin's character. Abby Jimenez seriously writes the best book boyfriends ever. Like, these men are straight out of our dreams.
Amber.. I hated her so much. So so much. And the twist just made me hate her more and more.
I loved the relationship between Maddy and Emma. What I didn't like was the repetitive 'getting small' thing. I understand it was to make a point but it was getting on my nerves after the second time it was pointed out.
Again I loved the other two books but this fell short on Emma. Three stars are all for Justin.

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Book review: Twisted Games by Ana Huang

Twisted Games by Ana Huang
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The book was a collection of all the cliches in terms of writing, a person can think of. How can a person see a " flash of *any emotion under the sun*" on another's face with accuracy?
The writing was the reason I literally skipped the last three chapters. Talk about closure. Closure was putting it in the "Read" section with a sigh.
People on Instagram have been going on and on about the chemistry and love in this book.
That wasn't chemistry. Give me a brooding and sullen hero and bubbly and auah sunshine lady, I'll make a thousand more beautiful scenarios that don't end with making you roll your eyes at the predictably and again "cliche-ness".
I gave it a try, an honest one because the setup for me seemed ideal. Bodyguard and a princess. Uff.. so much potential and such a let down.

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Book review: The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF-ed. I guess i can't read boring and prolonged kinda text. I felt no connection with anyone. I wanted to read quickly the author's and Ella's story but it was interrupted by Shams and everything. I couldn't complete it and had to stop after 40%. Not my cup of tea.

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Book review: The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was better than the previous one because it had angst on Cardan's part. Drama. Wrapping of many many plotlines. and satisfactory on that. Jude, I liked her here, finally show of vulnerability was here which I really was craving from the start. And the confession was good. The end was good. The middle and start were good too. I liked Grima Mog. And hated Madoc like anything. And Yay Locke got what he deserved. But I still don't like Taryn, I don't know why but I couldn't forgive her.

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