Recent Reads Mini Reviews

More mini reviews from books I’ve enjoyed to varying degrees over the last few weeks.

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Ignite by Melanie Harlow

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 Stars)
Release Date: November 22, 2021

This was a cute single parent + age gap, romance. Even though this was the first book I read in the series, I could feel how interconnected and developed the world was, but didn’t feel like I missed anything by jumping in so late in the series. Winnie and Dex have great chemistry and I liked seeing their relationship develop through the story.

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I Like You Like That by Kayla Grosse

Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Release Date: August 9, 2022

DNF @58%For the last 2 weeks or so, I’ve been struggling and almost slumping, so with the new month I’m starting a clean slate and stopping the books that I’m not really enjoying. There wasn’t really anything wrong it, I just stopped feeling it.

Birdie and Liam were childhood friends, driven apart by a (seemingly) unrequited crush in high school, but are brought back together when pop star Birdie needs a bodyguard to help with a persistent stalker. This had a bunch of things I love – pop star romance, childhood crush to estranged to lovers, bodyguard romance, but the actual romance that developed in the present day between Birdie and Liam felt kinda rushed and we didn’t really get enough flashbacks to see their relationship to make an impact in the present.

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Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings

Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Release Date: September 6, 2022

I just couldn’t get into this. I was having a really tough time in the beginning, and it was getting better the more I read, but I was just having such a hard time actually wanting to pick this up. And I don’t know if it was a combination of me kinda-sorta slumping, or just struggling to enjoy this book in particular. Lizzie and Rake have immediate lust for each other, but I never felt like their relationship went beyond that – which is not a great foundation especially with a surprise pregnancy in the mix. There are plenty of quirky one liners and over dramatic characters if that’s what your looking for in a quick, romance I think this will work for you.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

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You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

Rating: ★★★★☆
Release Date: May 24, 2022

This is a character driven story first, so if you’re not looking for a book that tackles the complexities of grief, healing, friendship, and moving on, look somewhere else. I’m not going to lie, the title and cover (both beyond gorgeous) are what drew me to the story, but the messiness and realism surrounding the characters, especially Feyi, is what really pulled me in and made me listen to this in almost one sitting. It’s not really a story of shocks or twists, it sits with you, much like the loss that Feyi is still grappling with. But I loved seeing her journey – flaws, triumphs, and all.

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What books have you been reading lately? Share below.