Book Review: How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

November 19, 2021March 9, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Denise Williams
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: December 1st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down.

When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost.

Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career.

Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again.

REALLY GREAT READ.

I thought this book was fantastic. It covered a very heavy topic that was difficult to read about, yet the infused sense of hope and strength from the main character gave this book shining colors.

Naya and Jake really do hit it off pretty well. Some cringe-worthy awkward scenes to get you going and then some truly sweet moments to make you swoon. I looooved Jake. The amount of support and communication he gave right off the bat was amazing. It allowed Naya to open up to him as she was ready and to explore herself dating again. They were goofy together and the banter was on point. Steaminess was too much for me, but past those scenes is a story worth reading.

There’s a lot of series subject matters discussed. It’s not a fluffy and light romance. Naya struggles to balance the aspects of work, and her previous abusive ex. I loved her determination to find her happy ending. The miscommunication that generally arises between the couple didn’t send me into a tailspin because it fit into the story. Naya had a lot to hold on too, and fighting to figure out where Jake fit of course led to some complications.

This was a strong debut and I look forward to what the author writes next. I loved the hopeful aspects at the end. Moving on, seeking therapy (and self defense classes!), getting to be with a partner who values and treats you as they should. It was all very rewarding.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: strong
Romance: very open door scenes
Trigger/Content Warnings: partner violence (physical, emotional, and verbal) — there are detailed flashback scenes; gaslighting, attempted sexual assault, blackmail (specifically revenge porn)

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Book Review: The Ex Hex (Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling

November 6, 2021October 17, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆1/2
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Erin Sterling
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: September 28th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

PERFECT FOR THE SEASON.

If you’re looking for something that’ll give you spooky vibes, but not be overwhelming + a cute rom-com, this would be a good pick. It’s a short, quick read that gives a sweet HEA.

I liked the set-up and the withy/paranormal aspects. The hexing of the ex made me laugh (and think of that one episode of Friends..). A second-chance romance nine years later? Here for it. The characters were all good and fine, but I felt they were very shallow. I remember thinking the side characters didn’t have any layers and even with the main characters not so much. I’m sitting here now trying to think of nuanced personalities and coming up mostly blank.

There’s quite a bit more spice than I expected, which wasn’t for me (I know others love this though so take note!!). Things get heating pretty quickly and there’s a lot of innuendo throughout. That was the bigger focus rather than the more of everything I needed. More background, more build-up, etc.

The banter was fantastic and I liked the larger plot of fixing the ley lines and the moving curse. It’s a light-hearted story with perfect witchy goodness and I love how it fit the autumn season well.

Overall audience notes:

Paranormal Contemporary Romance
Language: strong throughout
Romance: multiple open door
Violence: car accident (no one w/life threatening injuries), death of a parent recounted

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Book Review: The Key (London Prep #4) by Jillian Dodd

November 5, 2021February 28, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Jillian Dodd
Publisher: Swoonworthy Books
Release Date: February 23rd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s my final day at Kensington School, and my exchange is coming to an end. My flight for New York leaves tomorrow, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to the boys I love.

But then three key things happened at school. Noah told me to forget about him, Harry broke up with me, and I finally kissed Noah Williams.

When I kissed him in the lunchroom in front of everyone, it was out of anger. I wanted to prove to Harry that I didn’t have feelings for Noah.

But I was wrong.

The kiss was incredible. But it was also a mistake. Harry watched it happen, Mohammad sat in shock, and Noah told me that he would never forgive me. I made a huge, public mess of things. But thankfully, it’s time for me to leave. I’m going to take Noah’s advice and cut all ties.

No good-byes.
No apologies.
No more heartbreak.

I’m going to leave the three boys I love in London, hoping that they’ll be able to pick up the pieces of their friendship. And maybe in the process, they’ll find the pieces of my broken heart.

Because I know I’ll be going to New York without it.

SALTY.

That’s how this book made me feel: salty.

Why you ask?

I’m reading a love triangle contemporary romance filled with drama to the brim. AND NO ONE EVEN KISSED THIS BOOK. I expected romance and got none of it.

I think this series should have ended with this book honestly. Make it a bit longer and give the ending we all want [TEAM NOAH OF COURSE] and move on. Mal spends the entire book stubbornly refusing to listen to anyone around her and I got over it real quick.

It was cute seeing Mallory’s birthday and her solidifying some friendships. I love her and Mohammad. They are the best of friends and were the best part of this particular installment. I can’t help but roll my eyes and flip pages continuously while reading. It’s really easy to get swept away in the dramatics of this story, I am always wanting more.

All the love for Noah still. I just missed so much of the angst and tension between characters. I will read the next book only because I have become invested enough to make sure I see this through to the end. Let it be known this series will sour if my ship doesn’t sail.

Overall audience notes:

YA Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong throughout
Romance: nada
Trigger/Content Warnings: underage drinking

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ARC Book Review: The Elle Project by Summer Dowell

November 2, 2021October 20, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Holiday Contemporary Romance Novella
Length: 137 pages
Author: Summer Dowell
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: November 4th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

True Love should never be put to a family vote.

Elle:
All I wanted was a nice, relaxing Christmas vacation at home with my family. But no, the lot of them had to ruin it by inviting my childhood crush, Oliver Moore, and throwing us together at every possible moment. Heaven, help me.
Now, instead of sipping hot cocoa by the fire, I’m dodging matchmaking attempts and trying to pretend I’m not attracted to Oliver’s adorably perfect smile. I will not become another one of my family’s projects.

Oliver:
I mean, am I upset Elle’s family swindled us into this Christmas vacation together? No. Will I ever admit that aloud? Also, no. I’ve long ago come to terms with the friend zone Elle placed me in back around ninth grade.
But there’s something different about her this week. Something that’s bringing up feelings I really should ignore.
Too bad ignoring has never been my strong suit.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

PERFECT FOR THE SEASON.

A quick, light-hearted novella sure to make you smile. I got a few good laughs out of this and love the fast paced nature of this childhood friends to lovers holiday novella.

Oliver and Elle were constantly being pushed together until something finally cracked. I love the dates they went on and the speed of everything. Even in a short format, I felt like I got a lot of the story. I would have loved even more a full fledged novel (but maybe with Elle’s brothers???). It has that predictable air that I love in a holiday romance.

Elle’s family was a bit over-bearing for me personally, but I know that others may really enjoy that quirk. I do like having large families in stories though, all of the sibling dynamics remind me of my own. Another sweet read from Dowell! I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

Overall audience notes: