Mars
I ate this the fuck up like this is definitely my kind of book, I loved the gothic atmosphere and the horror elements! I'm so glad I enjoyed this as much as I did!!
I really like the concept of this book but the execution wasn't my favorite in terms of plot, I love the magic system & the whole idea of the gods but I didn't care much about the actual story
Maybe I'll like the second book better since it's about finding the gods which i'm more interested in rather than the murder mystery that went on in this book
This was a very cute & quick read but it feels underdeveloped in a multitude of ways which leads it to be unsatisfying
I wish not only the characters but also some plotlines/conflicts were fleshed out more because it feels a bit choppy at times
This novel is more so a love letter to summer camp than it is about the romance so if that's your thing you will probably eat this up, but I was expecting more of the romance and I didn't get what I wanted from that
The relationship dynamic between the two characters was confusing for me. it was very much a one-sided hatred kind of thing on Juliette's part rather than it being a mutual “rivals” thing. it just seemed like Juliette's dislike of Priya was driven by insecurity rather than actual reasoning if that makes sense? but Priya played into it by cropping Juliette out of pictures and keeping a distance but she didn't even have a problem with Juliette? it was a friendly dynamic because they still invited each other to things & were always in each other's spaces so the negative interactions felt unnecessary
I wish the characterization was better in this story, everything felt surface level and there was a lot of telling not showing
When the characters finally do “get together” it's not seamless & I didn't find myself connecting to them or the romance at that point. it all felt very rushed
PUB DATE: June 4th, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC copy of Wish You Weren't Here in exchange for an honest review.
I just feel like i've been gaslighted throughout this entire story, quite literally from beginning to end, & i don't know what to believe❤️ my psyche has been taken advantage of❤️
i love the way L.J. writes characters, they're so fleshed out & i feel like i really know them
if i'm being COMPLETELY honest though, i was expecting a bit more & it just didn't deliver (maybe my expectations were too high?) this is my second time reading a book by L.J. – the first book (invisible girl) i gave 4 stars as well
i was also expecting more from that book & it didn't deliver but the story itself was still really good so it didn't bother me as much? same with this one. i think the problem i have with her stories are the ending, but (subjectively speaking) the journey towards the end is really what makes reading her books worth it!
to be fair i'm really big on how the end of a book wraps up, i'm for sure an ending person so that really determines my overall opinion/rating for the book! so the ending is where i've been let down with this author's work (that i've read so far) other than that i love the writing i truly do
the full cast audiobook of this novel was amazing & the podcast aspect was such a neat touch i enjoyed it very much!
I absolutely adored Kat she's so outgoing & funny!! & Mari is super cute :33 such a fun story!
i don't really have thoughts, except for the fact that i thought this was gonna be much more than it was
God dammit S.A. Cosby knows how to tug at my heartstrings, and his writing??! FUCK this man knows how to write a book
i liked this one better in terms of smut but it lowkey felt a little rushed in some parts
Okay prepare yourself because I have thoughts. They're kinda all over the place because this book has made me unable to rationalize my thoughts enough to make coherent sentences.
Listen, there was nothing going for Cassie & Aiden except for physical attraction & lust. So much so that it was almost painful to read. I felt zero chemistry like absolutely nothing between them & quite frankly it just made me not give a fuck. About. Anything. It felt like they got to know little pieces about each other's lives & then boom suddenly they're fucking & falling in love? Erm no. (Maybe slow burn & angst & pining like REAL pining has me spoiled.)
Honestly enough, I'm just disappointed. I was so excited for this one. The premise is undoubtedly insane and SO fucking intriguing. There was so much potential, the execution was just not it for me. So much more could've been done and it wasn't. The only fans aspect was a really spunky and exciting idea to me but it wasn't even a big part of the plot like I was expecting it to be. The only thing that seemed to be carrying the plot along (before the third act conflict) was the fact that Cassie hadn't told Aiden that she was cici. So even after that got sorted out the story just dragged.
Now, why did it feel like Aidens only personality traits
were being a chef and having a kid & Cassies were knowing random snapple facts and having shitty parents. Like come onnnn I KNOW THERES MORE TO BOTH OF YOU THERE HAS TO BE. That being said, I didn't connect with the main characters I felt like I didn't see much of them. & bringing my point up from earlier about feeling no chemistry, it just made their dynamic is just soo boring and bland to me. It was like sex was the only thing bonding them besides Cassie being Sophie's nanny therefore causing Cassie to be more involved in their family. More than half way into the book & I felt like I still didn't know who they were individually let alone AS A COUPLE. Like okay great you have mind blowing sex, now what? Even then it's like the smut just wasn't hitting for me & I couldn't much enjoy it because I just didn't feel the connection between the two.
Aiden & Cassie have been intimate on onlyfans before they actually met for Cassie to be the nanny, & it was only for a few months–not to mention they really didn't talk too much about their personal lives–until contact was lost. As mid 20/early 30 year olds, you would think they would've quickly gotten over something like that. So why is it that a year later, they're acting like they just had some intense long term ldr when really they barely even knew each other? Like I was so confused on why Cassie keeping the fact that she was Cici unknown from Aiden & her stressing about it was even a thing because like...why would he even be upset. I don't think it was ever that serious for Cassie to hace acted the way she did. Again, they seriously didn't even KNOW each other fr.
Ugh & don't get me started on the third act conflict. The fact that Cassie made the decision to leave for the third act conflict was really just jarring to me because ALL OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TOWARDS THE END WAS SO PREVENTABLE. I really don't get it, like I can see how her thought process would make her quick to do something like that if she didn't have someone to go to about the situation for a different opinion and perspective on things but she literally had wanda who gave her advice regularly and she DID give her advice about the situation, & cassie ignored it & did that shit anyway. Like why??? Whyyy???? It was so hurtful to not only Aiden but to SOPHIE (the real MC along w wanda) & I was angry ab it. At that point I just wanted the story to be over it just felt so dragged out.
i still don't know what the problem was with their rxship to where they ended up pretending to be different people to try to fix it? but, i mean, you know yeah...
also randomly convincing yourself you're not enough for your wife after 5 YEARS for no good apparent reason is crazy
i was bored almost the entire time, glad this is over
i kin Alex so BAD
Uriah literally deserves everything & more he's such a good friend
Xiuying & Alex's friendship literally made my heart burst
ALEX AND TATE WERE SO CUTE FUCK
the neurodivergent/trans/queer representation was literally so fucking perfect—coming from a queer, trans, & neurodivergent person!
this book made me laugh, tear up, & i even cried at this really specific scene surrounding the celebration of transness because i related so much & it hurt so good
my last book of April & it was amazing FUCKKK
