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”You have to feel it. You have to feel it even if you think it's going to kill you.”

I realise that if I want to write out thoughtful reviews that I should take the time to gather my thoughts but I can't stop thinking about this book and I needed to write it all down immediately so this review will be a look into my brain. Beware, it is scrambled.

I absolutely loved All The Bright Places so I had high hopes going into this and I am so happy that I wasn't disappointed.

This was so refreshingly real. It was like reading a past self on paper.

This book was about life and the curveballs it throws at us. It's about growing up and the fears that come with it. It's about that first love and how earth shattering it can be.

This healed my heart and broke it over again.

I would like to believe that Claude and Miah are very happy together now after a few years have passed. Right person, wrong time.

Much like All The Bright Places, this book will be living in my head for a long time.

”When it's with the right person, you feel invincible and seen and at home, no matter where you are in the world.”

~

note: i definitely didn't mention all the things i needed to with this book but i am autism and have adhd so i needed to write this immediately otherwise my head was going to explode

If I have learnt anything this year, it's that I will devour and enjoy anything that R.F. Kuang writes.

I'm going to be as vague as possible whilst still giving my thoughts because I don't like writing spoilers or anything in particular detailed for reviews, especially when it comes to books that aren't released to the public yet.

Yellowface covered important topics that are not often highlighted in books, especially when it comes to the publishing world. Racism, plagiarism, microaggressions and cultural appropriation are just some of the things that were portrayed in this book. This book was the definition of meta and satire and I loved every minute of it.

June was a protagonist that you didn't want to root for and that's something that you don't see often in books but I think it speaks volumes about how there are many people in the real world, in all types of workplaces and life in general like June who take advantage of the disadvantages of marginalised groups for their own benefit. I found myself so angry reading this at June's blatant disrespect, racism and self-righteous actions throughout the book. Just to name one out of many was when June was annoyed by others rightfully saying that many issues arise when it comes to white people writing stories from the point of view of marginalised groups, a point of view that white people will never experience or understand.

This was so unlike anything that Kuang has written and I'm excited to see what she writes next. I know that I will eat up anything that she publishes.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Don't make your life about the loss. Make it about the love.”

WOW.

I have been starting a lot of reviews like this lately but I think this is worthy of it being in all caps because..... WOW

I can't express how annoyed I am that I haven't picked this book up earlier than I have (Which I know my friend, Si is going to proceed to tell me that they had told me to read it).

It's not often that a book that is hyped as much as this one lives up to it. To be honest, I think Legendborn deserves more praise than it gets. This has to be one of my favourite magic systems that I have read so far, it's creative, unique and so unlike anything else I have read.

There are times when you read a book that you know is going to be a comfort read and Legendborn was one of them. Everything about this intrigued me and made me want more.

Bree is the most fantastic protagonist and she is a force to be reckoned with. I loved that underneath the fantasy, this book also touched on serious topics such as grief and racism.

I truly can't get over how beautiful and well-written this book is. I am completely obsessed and I can't wait to read the next book.

I needed this.

I don't know if it makes sense to anyone but I have been in the worst BPD spiral lately and this book was exactly what I needed to have a giggle and smile when everything has been feeling like an effort lately.

I can't even begin to express how special these characters are. Evan and Mel... They will always be famous. The rest of the family? Absolutely adore them. Reading this book felt like I was a part of the family myself.

What I loved the most was how this book tackled grief and how differently it looks for everyone. I am no stranger to grief so it was like a warm hug to see it portrayed in a way that felt authentic to me.

This was my first time reading Amy Lea's work and I am so excited to delve more into her writing because I already know she's going to become a comfort author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't want to put this book down.

I think this is a great book if you're wanting to dip your toes into the Thriller genre.

I loved that both of the main characters that the story follows have secrets that leave you side eyeing them. I tend to be suspicious of absolutely everyone in this genre because you never know who to trust.

I will definitely be picking up more works by this author, especially being that they are an Australian.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Words were different when they lived inside of you”

This was a quote that genuinely made me sit back and go “woah”. That's what I loved most about this book, the writing and imagery is just beautiful.

“I think that if Dante really knew me, he wouldn't like me.”

I think one of the scariest (especially personally) and the most vulnerable thing to do is allow someone to truly see you.

It is so easy to hold personas and act in a certain way in order to try make people like us or enjoy our company. To allow those walls to come down and allow people to see us for who we truly are is so nerve racking and I truly felt Ari when it comes to these emotions, the fear and self doubt.

“Feeling sorry for myself was an art. I think a part of me liked doing that.”

There came a time in my life and it was something I was only able to address when I finally started therapy that I discovered that it is much easier to be a victim or feel sorry for myself than trying to make a change or be strong for myself.

I loved watching Ari grow into himself and start to accept himself for who he truly is. This book holds so many special quotes and I tried my hardest to just stick to three to address.

I think I have found another author that I am going to consume all of their works.

When I'm looking to read a thriller, this is the type of feeling I am looking for. I want to feel on the edge of my seat, anxious to read what comes next. I am so pleasantly happy that I got that feeling with this book.

I can't think of anything that I would change about this book. I truly loved every moment of it.

What impressed me the most about this book is that often when books jump between different character points of view I can find myself confused or find that one of the points of view was unnecessary but that wasn't the case with You Can't Hide. I struggled to figure out which point of view I was looking forward to reading the most out of the two.

What a fun, twisted ride this was.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This wasn't my first time reading a book by this author and it most definitely won't be my last.

This was a ride.

I've said this before in reviews of other books but I love it when I feel like I can't trust any of the characters. It adds such a great depth to the book that leaves me hanging on every single page.

I had no idea where this was going to end because I had made my own theories and I was way off.

This is another great book to pick up if you're wanting to dip your toes into the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This feels like applauding bare minimum but I just wanted to say that I really do appreciate trigger and content warnings, especially when it's for serious things like this.

I think the best part of this book was the banter between the characters, I loved reading them bouncing off one another and I felt that the chemistry was easily noticed through the pages.

Sadly, I felt the story was almost quite rushed where I was wanting more detail. I didn't feel like I was able to connect to the characters as much as I liked.

However, if you enjoy enemies to lovers, this is the story for you.

Thank you to BookSirens and Kelly Kay for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a cute and easy read from start to finish. It was a story that many people can relate to and the main protagonist was someone that people could see themselves in with no problem.

I found myself rooting for Natalie's happy ending from the first chapter and that's exactly what you want when reading a book like this. Lucas was just an added bonus and I loved every chapter he was present in.

An important lesson I gained from this story is that everyone deserves to be loved, don't settle out of fear of getting hurt or fear of being alone.

What I think was missing for me was some more conversations between Natalia and Lucas. I wanted them to get to know one another more. I wanted the context behind Lucas's past.

Overall, this was a short story but a long lasting feeling of contentment after completing it. I would definitely revisit and recommend this to people who are in reading slumps.

Thank you to BookSirens and Jo Richardson for providing me this arc!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

”Hello. I hope somebody is listening...”

This is the last book of Alice Oseman's that I have to read until I am finished with their works and I can happily say I am such a fan. There is something so special about their writing and the way that every single book of theirs is never the same as the others.

I love that these books approach and tackle topics that are difficult for some in a way that is so special and important to read.

This wasn't my favourite out of all their works but it does hold a very special place in my heart. When reading an Alice Oseman book, you can always expect two things — fantastic representation and heart-warming friendships.

I think it's ridiculous that at such a young age we are expected to know and plan what we want to do for the rest of our lives.

This story reminded me that it's important to surround yourself with the people you don't need to be perfect for. Put on your Batman onesie and just be goofy. Be yourself. You're worth it. You don't need to be successful to be happy.

Alice Oseman, you are amazing.

This is the first book that I've read from this author and I'm a sucker for second chance romances so this definitely lived up to those expectations.

I loved the banter and I found myself giggling at some moments of the book. It explored on some heavy topics which made the characters feel more human and relatable to me.

I personally felt that the first half of the book was more enjoyable than the second half. I felt like the conclusion was slightly rushed. However, I enjoyed this book and would most likely reread again at a later date.

Thank you to BookSirens and Luna Whitney for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I didn't want to put the book down once I started it because I just needed to know what was going to happen next. This would make such a fantastic movie or television series.

I loved that I had thought I had the book figured out halfway through, only to find out that I had been completely wrong. There were so many twists that I didn't see coming. It takes a lot for me to actually gasp out loud and the twist at the ending had gotten me there.

I would've loved if some of the character's backstories had been more detailed so I could understand some of their motives more. The pacing for Gwen and Noah's relationship initially bothered me but I felt that it had been addressed in the later chapters.

Overall, this is a great thriller for someone to check out if they're wanting to get a feel for the genre!

Thank you to BookSirens and Eva Mackenzie for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had such great fun reading this.

I felt like I couldn't put this book down and I found myself invested in finding out the truth behind the past and the truth behind the events occurring in the present. I loved having to try work out whether certain events were happening or if they were only happening inside James' head. There's something so fun about reading about an unreliable narrator or a possible unreliable one.

I would love to check out another work by this author and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

WOW.

This is exactly everything you want in a Thriller. I was on the edge from the very first page and absolutely devoured this book.

I absolutely love it when I'm reading a Thriller and I find myself not being able to trust the main characters, it makes it so much more interesting and fun to read.

I love it when you think you have the whole plot figured out and you're waiting to be disappointed but then a huge plot twist comes at you and you are left speechless. That's the only way I can explain how I felt about the ending of this book.

I am convinced that Elle Marr is going to become a favourite author of mine and I can't wait to check out more of her works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Before I even begin this review, I do want to say that checking trigger warnings for this book before picking it up would be a good idea. I didn't (Rookie mistake, I know) and was blindsided by something quite triggering so I wanted to give anyone who wants to pick this up a word for advice!

To sum this up in two words: Gory Madness.

Like so much gore.

I am not a stranger to Urban Exploring and I spent a time doing Urban Exploring myself or watching videos on YouTube of others doing it growing up. I have always heard about how dangerous it can be and I think this book showed the absolute worst-case scenario of that danger occurring.

This would make a fantastic horror movie and I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book.

The use of slurs did take me by surprise, especially when I felt like it was unnecessary and could have been left out altogether.

Overall, this was a thrilling, horrifying read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jens Boele for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.”

WOW.

I think that's the only appropriate way to start this review. This was a book that I knew going into it that I would love and find comfort in. I admit, I see Dragons and I am immediately hooked every single time.

I will try not to go into details about any plot points because I like to avoid having spoilers in my reviews so I will try to keep this short and sweet.

Fourth Wing made me feel so nostalgic. It reminded me of all the great books and series I read growing up that were so dear to me. One of them was Eragon especially when it came to the bond between dragons and their riders.

I loved that there was such a strong found family theme present in this book. They couldn't contact their real families or some didn't have any family left and they found something much more special within one another.

I know it's quite common that we get a female protagonist that appears fragile and small. The author didn't go into specifics but hinted that Violet had a disability. I love seeing this type of representation, especially in fantasy and I think we should see more of it. Whilst the disability wasn't specifically mentioned, you could tell in the way people alluded to it or how differently they treated Violet because of it.

Xaden was the perfect male protagonist. I loved that he never looked at Violet as weak, he believed she was stronger than them all due to the obstacles she had to overcome to get where everyone else was and further. Xaden never coddled her because he knew she was perfectly capable of doing whatever she put her mind to.

The ending of this genuinely had me staring at the wall in complete awe (Picture this)



I can't wait to get my hands on the next book when it comes out. I will be eagerly waiting.

She's done it again.

Ann Liang is a literary genius and she needs to be studied in a lab so that society can attempt to understand how she does this time and time again.

Yes, this is only my second book from her. Yes, I am going to continue to sing her praises because she deserves it. Every single time, Ann manages to write these special characters that become so important to me. It almost makes me angry because I never want to finish the books and lose them.

Sadie and Julius, you will always be famous.

I purposely waited so I could make this my last read of the year so I could end it on a high note.

This book needs to be released immediately so I can buy it and create an Ann Liang shrine on my bookshelf.

I believe it's absolutely necessary for me to do a namedrop to Una for introducing me to the art that is Liang's writing. Your love for these characters and Ann's writing has inspired me to pick up these books and I am forever grateful because of how special it's become to me too.

I've said this a few times for other books now but truthfully, I'm glad I get to repeat it – Thank you to the author for including content warnings. It's bare minimum but it is appreciated.

I am a huge sucker for fake relationship trope and the fact that there was bi representation made this so much better for me.

This was short and sweet. I definitely recommend this to anyone who might be suffering from a book slump.

Thank you to BookSirens and Skye Kilaen for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mina and Griffin are childhood friends and Mina has had a crush on him since they were young. Their families are extremely close but they hadn't seen one another in years until their paths crossed due to their careers. The minute they reconnected you could almost see the sparks fly.

I loved all the characters but Rafferty really stood out to me. He was such a fun character for me and was such a good friend to Mina. He reminded me so much of my best friend with his blunt honesty. I'm excited to see where his story goes.

“I'd expect nothing less. I like that you're passionate. You don't have to dim your light for me.”

It's so important to be with someone who loves you for you, flaws and all. Don't ever let anyone try dim your light.

My one problem, without naming any spoilers directly is that one of the plot lines didn't feel very necessary for me and it didn't overall bring much to the story at all and could've been done without. I also didn't see the point in having the chapters that were in Rafferty's point of view. I loved his character but it also didn't give much to the story either. Overall, this was so much fun to read and I'm excited to see what comes next.

Thank you to BookSirens and Drea Baddock for providing me this arc!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The story follows college sweethearts, Daisy and Derrick who believe that adding another person into their relationship could not only bring them more satisfaction but strengthen their relationship.

This is the first book that I have read from Willow Renee and the first book that I've read that had a polyamorous relationship so I was super excited.

The characters were the highlight of this book for me. They were all so refreshingly real and it was so easy to love them and want the best for them. I loved how the book portrayed polyamorous relationships. It felt very realistic and that it was the perfect way to showcase some of the struggles that comes with relationships like these.

My only issue is that I wish the other characters that featured in the book had been more developed. I would've loved to seen more in depth moments with them.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would most likely revisit it again in the future.

Thank you to BookSirens and Willow Renee for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Life's just a series of trade-offs, Kate.”

The Fake Dating Trope was everything I was wanting and expecting when I started reading. Fake relationship trope is probably one of my favourites when it comes to books so I was genuinely excited to receive this arc and couldn't wait to get started.

Lucas quickly became one of my favourite characters from the first chapter and I found myself loving him even more as I continued reading. Kate's character was very relatable and there were many times where I had seen myself in her throughout the story. Also, finally, a main character with a sapphic best friend, as someone who is apart of the community it was a detail that made me really happy.

I loved the almost breaking of fourth wall how Kate and Lucas discussed tropes and how it bothers them when authors use drama after drama to take over the plot. Their main issues being focused on family conflict made the book feel more real to me.

Reading this book made me feel so giddy and it truly did have everything that I was looking for when I decided to read this story.

Thank you to BookSirens and Jennifer Ann Shore for this Arc!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was super excited to receive this arc because Jennifer is quickly becoming an author I trust and I am so happy that I wasn't wrong with my instincts.

I haven't read many sports romance books but this has definitely convinced me to change that and start reading more.

I personally really love the way Jennifer writes high school students and their relationships with not only their peers but their families. The writing never fails to help me view the story in my head as it feels very relatable and realistic.

“I mean, I know he's your dad, but you don't have to feel obligated to talk to him.”

This was too important for me not to highlight or address. You are never obligated to give anyone, blood related or not anything if they don't treat you the way you deserve.

The minute Penn was introduced as a character I knew he was going to be a favourite for me and the more I read about him the more I knew I was correct in that assumption.

I fell in love with Violet and began to see myself in a lot of her characteristics and how she was feeling in certain parts of the book. Especially because I think we have all had a friend that we felt was taking advantage of us and our kindness or just didn't treat you right in general.

“There's no reason to downplay your emotions just because someone else might be going through something”

I wanted to include this quote because I think it's really important to remember. Everyone is facing their own problems, it doesn't matter how small it may seem to you in moments compared to others. You're allowed to feel however you want.

This is probably one of my favourite books by Jennifer so far and I would definitely revisit this in the future.

Thank you to BookSirens and Jennifer Ann Shore for this Arc!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book made me feel nostalgic in the way it brought me back to my first crush on a girl. I loved how realistic and relatable it was. I could feel the secondhand embarrassment when it came to doing mortifyingly embarrassing things in front of your crush that made you want to disappear on the spot.

“Love... it's the scariest thing in the world. And loving someone, especially someone you think you shouldn't, is even scarier. But do you know what's worse? Taking away someone's privilege to know that they were loved. That in this messy world, they were cared about endlessly by a loving heart. It's a privilege, to get to love someone. It's an even bigger one to be loved.”

Having a crush on someone who you don't believe you have a chance with sucks. Having a crush on someone you believe you shouldn't have a crush on in the first place is even worse. This is something so many people can relate to.

My only real criticism is that I wanted it to be longer. This was such a cute story and I would definitely revisit it in the future.

Thank you to BookSirens and Isabel Hansen for this Arc!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I know this is bare minimum but I always truly appreciate when a book includes trigger warnings, especially when it covers such heavy topics as it does in this book. I'll include them below this so people are aware of them.

This book discusses sexual assault, suicide, anxiety, self-harming, and intrusive thoughts. As well as family trauma, drunk driving and death.

It's not very often that you read a story that portrays serious issues in the correct way. I've gone through these things myself and it was refreshing to read something that I could see myself in.

I only wish that the pace of the book had been slower as it did feel rushed in some parts. Overall, I enjoyed it and felt like this book can help people see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you to BookSirens and Meg Fitz for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.