Tag Archive for: Romance

The Love Hypothesis

The Love HypothesisTitle: The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 356
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:

My Thoughts

I adored THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS so much! It was such a fun story. The fake-dating trope is one of my favorites and Hazelwood executed it so well. I felt so many emotions. The sexual tension was strong with this one and the banter between her characters was amazing. I was giddy during most of the book because I just loved Olive’s and Adam’s interactions.

I loved all the characters, even the ones I was meant to hate. They each had distinct personalities and were fun to get to know. I especially loved Holden, Adam’s best friend, and Olive’s best friends, Anh and Malcolm. I also adored the setting, especially the representation of women in STEM. I know there’s some controversy as to whether a relationship between a professor and a grad student would be allowed. Honestly, even if it weren’t allowed, I can suspend my belief because of how Hazelwood presented it.

Dear Emmie Blue

Dear Emmie BlueTitle: Dear Emmie Blue
Author: Lia Louis
Genre: Romance
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 310
Reason Read: Recommended
Rating:

My Thoughts

OMG! This book! I absolutely adored DEAR EMMIE BLUE. It’s such a beautiful story and I can’t say enough good things about it. It reminded me of a cross between My Best Friend’s Wedding and something I’d read that’s written by Beth O’Leary (THE FLATSHARE by Beth O’Leary was my favorite book last year).

I loved Emmie. I related to her so hard. I didn’t have a flighty mom and I knew my dad, but I’ve dealt with a lot of severe family drama since my early teenage years. I’m a victim of sexual assault and bullying like her. A lot of her fears and anxieties mirrored my own. Maybe home isn’t a place. It’s a feeling. Of being cared for and understood. Of being loved. I also loved the other characters in the novel too. Her friendship with Lucas and his family was such a great way to set up the story. I loved Lucas’ brother Eliot and I loved his parents, Amanda and Jean. Her work friends, Rosie and Fox, were fun and a bit dirty, which endeared them to me because I love dirty jokes. I loved her landlady, Louise, the most. I absolutely adored every scene with Emmie and Louise together.

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A River Enchanted

A River EnchantedTitle: A River Enchanted
Author: Rebecca Ross
Series: Elements of Cadence #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 480
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:

Also in this series: A Fire Endless
My Thoughts

I absolutely adored everything about A RIVER ENCHANTED. As soon as I started to read the story of Cadence and its inhabitants, I was hooked. When I was reading, I didn’t want to put it down and I couldn’t stop thinking about it in between reads. I loved that the story was written from different POVs and that it wasn’t done chapter by chapter. The story was told from whoever’s POV told the story the best at that moment. I loved all the characters and especially the slow-burn romances. I wish there was more kissing, but I’m glad the story wasn’t sacrificed for the romance.

I adored the mythology. It was fascinating. The magical system with the spirits was fun to read about and experience. I also loved the Scottish / Gaelic feel and I think Ross could’ve pushed that aspect of the story a lot more.

Update: When I read this a second time so I could read A FIRE ENDLESS, I listened to the audiobook. The audiobook is definitely the way to read this series. I loved Ruth Urquhart’s narration. Her Scottish accent added so much to the story.

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Fangirl

FangirlTitle: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Romance, Young Adult
Format: Kindle
Pages: 448
Rating:

My Thoughts

I loved the whole concept of FANGIRL. Other than the writing fan-fiction thing because I don’t do that, I connected with Cath so hard. I’ve been obsessed with fandoms before like she and Wren are with Simon. I’ve met friends in forums and then in real life. I’ve traveled with those friends to settings in the books we love. And, I’ve read fanfics because I wanted those fandoms to live on.

I also loved reading the excerpts not only from the “original” Simon books, but also from Cath’s fan-fiction, especially CARRY ON. The excerpts made me love the characters almost as much as Cath does. I’m excited that Rowell decided to write a trilogy based on Simon so I can read it at some point.

I loved the slow-burn romance between Cath and Levi. I loved their relationship. It was so cute and swoony. There were times when I wanted less Simon because I wanted more kissing. And, I liked the story just the way it was because Rowell explored some really tough subjects, like abandonment, addiction, and mental illness.

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To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

To All The Boys I’ve Loved BeforeTitle: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1
Genre: Romance, Young Adult
Format: Kindle
Pages: 355
Rating:

My Thoughts

I enjoyed TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE a lot until the ending, which almost ruined the whole book for me. I liked Lara Jean and her sisters. I also liked the interaction between Lara Jean and the two main guys, the boy next door and Mister Cocky-Handsome-Everyone-Loves-Me. Even though love triangles are my least favorite trope, I decided to be optimistic and I told myself that maybe Lara Jean would end up with the boy I want her to. Of course, all kinds of chaos ensued and it was a lot of fun to read and witness. I just wish Lara Jean the boy she chose had a suitable ending. Instead, I felt like it was very ambiguous and left me hanging in a bad way. I like choosing to read the next book in a series because I want to, not because I have to.