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shaykay's reviews
693 reviews
Broken Wolf by Kelsey Soliz
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a random find and sounded really good. It was really solid, and I had a lot of things I liked. But I feel like the book should’ve ended with the run. Now the magic system/villain things weren’t bad, and I get why it’s in here and I wish it would’ve wrapped up before the pack went on the run. It just felt like the book dragged forever. I just kind of got tired of it and after the run and got really confused because it was kind of like stepping into an alternative reality but not because it was just the magic system playing out its angle. But by that point everyone had already learned the truth about her powers and I get that they would’ve fallen for it but not everyone is unmated, and the ones that are mated are supposed to be immune to it, therefore I have no clue why it even affected the FMC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Tyrant by Lily L James
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This one had potential and had a lot of things I really liked but overall, I struggled with it. I feel like there were a lot of ups and downs. There were things that I was obsessed with and couldn't put down but then there were just things that drove me NUTS. First off, the FMC has been obsessed with Tyrant since she was a kid, he was her big brother's best friend. She knew the life he grew up in, she knew what her brother was involved with because by the time she and Tyrant even hooked up her brother was already in prison. So, she knew how dangerous it was when she put everything out there and fought for her relationship with him to move on past friends or his BFF's baby sister. So, when she freaked out after she finally laid it all out for him and got what she freaking wanted just to drive me so nuts. I really wanted something more sinister to happen the next day that drove her away instead of her just being scared of his lifestyle but in the end that's all that happened, and I just couldn't get past it in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Say I'm the One by Siobhan Davis
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
It’s part one of this duology and it leaves us with a huge cliffhanger, but it is a slow paced book, it spans over years of Vivian’s life, and we’re following her love story. I can’t stop rooting for Dillon but this one leaves me thinking he’s going to be our villain! Anyways I do wish we had a little bit more closure in here and at least had the POV from the guys some, but I get why it’s all in Viv’s POV. This is her story that she finally gets to tell from her POV so I’m desperate to know who the guy with her at the beginning of the book is. I was so sure it was Dillon or some completely new guy but now I have no clue what’s going to happen next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, and Infidelity
Minor: Violence and Stalking
Secret Agent Gargoyle by Ava Ross
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It was definitely a random pick and a lot of that had to do with the cover being so cute. Anyway, the book wasn’t bad, and it was cute. I just wish we focused on the mystery a little bit more. It kind of felt like the book wasn’t sure which trope it wanted to focus on. We go into it thinking it was going to be a forced proximity/enemies to lovers but then that quickly changes to fated mates and fake dating but again it doesn’t last very long because they are actually falling for one another and end up falling in love. It also kind of pushes the mystery into the background. It’s just a bit of a hot mess. But the mystery side of things was so interesting which is why I wish it had a bigger focus. It was just a bit of a mess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence
Nicky by Willow Thomas
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It was a complete random find but so hard to put down. We follow Nicky as he finds out who his father really and then just so happens to fall for his stepbrother before finding out the familial connection. I did go into this one without knowing it was an MM book because it doesn’t really state that anywhere in the synopsis which doesn’t bother me at all, and I loved how it plays out in here and how the whole club is! The club focuses on protecting the queer community and fighting against domestic violence. I kind of wish that we got to see it a little bit more because the case they work on is kind of in the background. But I loved the family drama, and the banter is top tier in here. Even though it wasn’t a new 5-star it was one of my favorite books here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse
I Like You Like That by Kayla Grosse
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the second chance meets rock star romance here. They have another book that has some tier banter, but I wish that we had a little bit more groveling in here. Plus, I hated the third act breaking up. It just felt like we could’ve had a different thing that tore these two apart or maybe if they made up sooner because they were broken up for a few weeks by that point and it was just a bit of a hot mess. But other than that, I really liked this one and couldn’t put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Stalking
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Fatphobia, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Gun violence, and Sexual harassment
Mind Code by Blake Black
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked this story and had high hopes for this book because the first book started a lot of things. This one wasn’t bad, but it just felt like 2 different books. The first half where we were in London seemed like a redemption where the guys are trying to get Amelia to forgive them for stalking her. Then the second half we focused on them back in Seattle trying to figure out what happened to Amelia’s work that was stolen. I wish things flowed better here and I really wanted more of the tech world because it’s so important to all of the main characters and it kind of felt like an afterthought in here. Plus, I wish we had a little bit more HEA or wrapping everything up in the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Violence, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Soul Code by Blake Black
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Even though it was a slow burn I couldn’t put it down. It had me giggling the whole time. I was desperate to find out how Amelia was going to learn the truth and how she was going to react. It wasn’t surprising that it took the whole book to get to that point. I wish we had a little bit more tech in here but overall, it wasn’t bad and just wished for a little bit more in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Stalking, and Abandonment
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Of Heartbreak and Harmony by Brit Benson
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I hate how long it took me to pick this one up, but I loved it so much! I also love how, even though it couldn’t take on the same format as the previous book where we saw the main characters throughout different points in their lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, Medical content, and Stalking
Minor: Toxic relationship and Car accident
Gallows Bridge by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I like that we finally got to the end and wrapped up this story. I just don't think their writing is for me. I think the story overall wasn't terrible, I just feel like they were a bit too slow for me. I wanted a lot more to go on. There's just a little bit too much back and forth or having the same issues come up over and over. It's not terrible just ended up not really being for me in the end but still glad that I finished it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Pregnancy