Maxalotl

4 Stars.

A sapphic romance book by McQuiston, which follows 23 year old August as she moves to New York for school and her mystery obsessed mother. While using the city's subway she meets Jane, a woman who happens to be stuck in time since the 70s.

The story follows August but the plot is heavily centred on the mystery of Jane; How did she become stuck? Who was she really? And the most important question, how can they free her? The more we learn about Jane the more badass of a character she is shown to be, I'm not blaming August for falling for her.

Now the story does contain a few sex scenes, that due to the circumstances of Jane's situation was all in the public setting of the subway. Which definitely caught me off guard reading out in public myself so this is your friendly reminder of that.

However I'd be lying if I said I didn't hold some issues with the story. Some are only minor such as the insta love trope that we got with August becoming borderline obsessed with Jane almost immediately which then extended to a semi fated match trope that I won't explain so I don't spoil the book.

Another issue is something that makes me glad that I usually don't post reviews immediately, because that is totally intentional and not because I forget to write down my thoughts. After some time with my thoughts with this book I've realised there is next to no development made outside from Jane. August is attending school that we hear nothing about but when it's revealed that August is conveniently going to pass despite admitting she's missed most of it. All of the characters don't have any in depth interactions outside of what it has to do with Jane, and they all seem to adopt both August and Jane into a found family with no hesitation or issue. It is very much a meet up and then well will you look at that we all love and support one another no bonding or questions needed.

That being said this is perfectly okay if the reason you pick up this book is for the comfort then you will be exactly what you need. Which is what I wanted from this so it won't be affecting my 4 star rating.

2.5 Stars.

I know this book is well loved, I understand as to why this is so loved. Maybe I'm reading this at the wrong time for me to enjoy this, maybe its because I have a hard time enjoying younger characters. I just found myself skimming and taking more breaks from this book. I felt dragged through this, which confuses me as every single review I've seen raves so highly about this.

The concept of this story is something I thought I'd love, a modern day King Arthur descendants training in a secret society to protect the world from demons. Bree, a character that unfortunately find herself fallen into this world, trying to navigate through a whole lot of problems. The mystery of her mother's death, powers that she never knew about, a romance and all the issues that arrive from being a young grieving black girl in American College culture.

I'm upset I didn't enjoy this as much as this book deserves. I haven't decided yet if I'll read the second, the ending may have pulled it back for me but I'm going to take a long break if I do.

2 Stars

A police crime book, it's about Laura that used to work with the police and is trained as a hostage negotiator but left the police force after her husband was killed in a hostage situation that she had to work on.

While dealing with that loss and grief she moves herself and her kids to Anglesey, oh and she talks to her dead husband. But this isn't paranormal. She is unfortunately pulled back into police and hostage negotiation when her son and his whole class get taken hostage.

Weirdly though Laura spend the entire time commenting how sexy and attractive Gareth was, yano because when your son has a literal gun to his head you'll be thinking about how hot the man behind you is.

3 Stars.

I've been excited to read more mystery based books it's something I don't read as much as I would like. One of the reasons I like them is that they feel so quick to me, I most of the time end up staying awake a lot longer than I should be just wanting to get to the end.

Now first things first the narrator of this, Elliot, is so rambly like he takes up a page explaining something that could be said in a couple of sentences and then brings up this explantation again a couple pages later just to keep circling the point. I don't know if that's a conscious decision by the author to just let us know how annoying and unreliable Elliot is because if it was then kudos it worked.

Timeline wise, we go back to scenes previously explained because now we as an audience was given a new piece of perspective or information and we aren't trusted to click it into place and so we go over the scene again just to drive home the new thing.

I ended up liking the bizarreness of it all though.

2.75 Stars.

Listen it took me way to long to get over the premise of this book, I fell for the very pretty cover because really it is such a pretty cover and then I was introduced to Opal and yes I love a walking mess of a human. Then Pepper my grieving girl that deserves so much more.

But yikes, the I bought a farm without vetting anything about it or the buying off facebook marketplace! Oh, there's a girl that lives on my newly acquired property that didn't know that it was even being sold? Oh I guess we can just live together. That's it. That's the set up. I noped so hard I put the book down and come back once I was able to forget that enough to continue reading. This is pretty much the reason why this book couldn't go anywhere over a 3 for me. Now if you are able to forgive this, or if this isn't an issue for you then you'll probably be able to enjoy this book a lot.

The romance itself was actually really adorable, I don't know why they even started with the "no strings" fling because that crumbled so quickly as in almost like the next day Opal is like "oops I have feelings." (Their first sex scene is omg, like yes I need that 100x more).

The ending even resolved each character issues quite well as well, Opal's passed being not so gently forced out and the issue with the farm... bringing back my annoyance at the set up, but at least it was dealt with.

3 Stars.

A sentient pirate ship (Rice Fish) marries one of her captives (Xích Si), who she asks for help to find proof of corruption that lead to the death of her late wife, the former Red Scholar. Sold.

I was concerned how a romance builds with a ship, won't lie, but Rice Fish, has a human looking avatar that she appears as most of the time. So it didn't feel that much out there.

Despite the way their marriage started, yano being a prisoner marrying your captor, there only issue seems to just be the disagreeance on which one of their societies are better. Well not better but which is less cruel or more corrupt.

Now my next point may just be a western problem or a language/translation thing but everyone refers to each other in family titles. Like even in the sex scenes they're referring to each other as Lil/Big Sis, it was a tad off putting for myself.

2.5 Stars.

I was honestly feeling so dragged through this, sure the sort of politics that arises from a secret government of witches. The drama of witches that grew up with one another, that grow apart but try to stay together, even the making of new covens because the inclusion of the main one absolutely sucks. But overall I found the story rather boring, even with the looming prophecy of an evil kid that was going to bring a war of demons into a world.

The last 20% of the book saved it enough for me to say 2.5 Stars but overall it's unlikely I'm going to continue with these books.

3.75 Stars.

I won't lie I was concerned when I first read Delilah Green, knowing that Astrid Parker was the second book, since I wasn't that fond with stuck up Astrid. Obviously after finishing Delilah Green and starting Astrid Parker, we get to see things and this character in a new perspective. Honestly poor Astrid. Ultimately I think I enjoyed this book more for the character building of Astrid over her actual romance, not to say the romance was bad or lacking just was nice to see Astrid actually start living her life not her mothers.

Oh and Jordan, obviously I'm going to praise the handy lesbian that swings sledge hammers with ease. I'm predictable like that, Jordan almost comes into this book looking to be a menace and I love that for her. She's had a hard time and she just wants to look after her grandma, good.

These have been easy reads, a healthy dash of spice a handful of drama but over all an uncomplicated read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Two books down, one to go. Got to say I'm excited Iris is so cheeky I love her already.

3.5 Stars.

Murderbot is back and I love it. These books have been my go to when I've needed something quick to listen to while I'm doing some solo work.

Murderbot is such a relatable character despite it spending all it's time saying it does not want to be human. It has forged relationships that it is reluctant to admit having but ones it is willing to do pretty much anything to protect.

I've been reading these purely through audiobook and I have heard some reviews say this is one of the best ways to consume this and despite me not having anything to compare it to I would agree. Can't wait to continue this series.

3.5 Stars.

The main issue with this book, that I find at least is that this reads more like a movie script concept than a novel. Especially when it came to long dialogue moments.

That being said I did really enjoy this sort of adult scooby doo story, but they're all messed up. Years since their last mystery as kids they all went their seperate ways. One died, another in asylum (since he still sees the dead one), another dealing with night terrors and then one who escaped prison. They decide to go back, concerned their last mystery isn't truly solved.

I enjoyed the mystery, the twists and reveals. Shame my partners rabbit ate the top corner of the cover 🤦

4 Stars.

Cute. Adorable. Sweet.

When one girl wants to prove to an on and off girlfriend that she can have friends without it being a hook up and learn to be more emotionally available, she ends up agreeing to help another girl get with her long term crush.

One issue the other girl is extremely anxious and seems to finding herself more comfortable with the first girl and maybe some feelings start to happen.

I did love this as an easy read and something to help me during probably the busiest weekend of my year.

4.5 Stars.

I would love some more dystopian books like this, ones that feel so real and makes you really think about just how fucked things are because all of this is so believable to happen. Like using prisoners to fight to the death and promoting it like an extreme sport for financial gain.

There were some POVs that felt a little redundant, yet at the same time I guess it was giving us the perspectives of everyone that could be affected by all of this on major to minor scales.

The life and relationships that happen in these scenarios are so fascinating to read about. How they are all going in for the same goal but with massively different motives.

The ending though. I understand why I really do. But also damn I hate it so much (in a good way).

4.5 Stars.

Ever since restarting to read I knew I wanted to try book out of my usual genres romance being one of them and then looking into sapphic books brought me to bright falls, like you couldn't look at sapphic romances without seeing these. I knew I was going to read these.

I love these two women. Almost grumpy x sunshine, stressed single mum x seemingly irresponsible love interest. Plus both of these women are attractive af.

And the drama between Astrid and Delilah had my attention just as much as the main relationship. Like I was so rooting for these sisters to make up and say fuck you to the mother. Then the secret hooking up and not wanting to many feelings while having all the feelings. *chefs kiss* like really I would read about these guys again. (Which I kind of get to but through the POVs).

4.5 Stars.

Awesome continuation from the first book, Holly Jackson seems to do something that makes me eat her books up so quickly. Like these are such compelling but easy reads.

Pip is dealing with everything that happened in the last book, the popularity gained from her investigation and followed podcast, the trial of those caught out by pip and even the changes in her relationships.

Then a friend asks for her help after his brother goes missing. I've been listening to the audiobook with these and following with the physical books to see the more picture like media.

Cant wait to see what mess Pip and Co. get up to in the next book.

5 Stars.

I needed some lighter reads in my life around this time and this book was just right. It was cute and developed some lovely healthy friendships. I love dnd and this book was basically a book about some girl wanting to play dnd but was told she couldn't join her boyfriends table because of the "No-Girlfriend Rule". So despite her social anxiety she ventures into the world of // with an all girl group.

Like I said this was a light, cute and easy read that had some amazing rep for social anxiety and the need to fit in with the norm when finding yourself in something outside of that norm.

I will say there is a bit of a no-no scene where the MC does kiss someone who isn't her boyfriend while still in a relationship with said boyfriend. I know that we see the relationship between the two of them is falling apart, but I know this could be a line others aren't comfortable reading being crossed.

3 Stars.

Got me with a pretty book. A heist book that has a gang serves vampires in a speakeasy tea house is such a awesome plot.

Unfortunately I just didn't vibe with this writing. Wasn't bad just not for me, I enjoyed some of the lore and premise and even some of the characters were cool. Like I said this just didn't work for me.

Even though I enjoyed this I don't see myself picking up the next one just as it doesn't feel as much as a *me* book to invest my time in.

5 Stars.

If you want a quick but tense thriller that makes you stay up late at night because you just have to find out the ending. Then read anything by Holly Jackson I guess. I really enjoyed GGGTM and thought I'd pick up Five Survive before continuing the series.

When a group of friends go on a road trip for spring break and found themselves stranded on a off road at night, it only got worse when a sniper starts demanding that one of them have a life changing secret that they must give up if the rest of them are to survive.

I did start and finish this book in the same day, as like I said above I just stayed up wanting to know what happened next. I'm excited to see the rest of GGGTM and anything else Holly Jackson releases.