rallu

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a perfect book to put me in the Summer mood.
I picked up this book mostly because of the cover and the title, because I was very intrigued by them. The synopsis promises an unexpected romance set in Scotland but it was more than that in the end.
I enjoyed the dual narrative - even though I don't, most of the time - and I liked both of the main characters more than I thought I will initially. Surprisingly Lily wasn't an annoying helpless teenager that was obsessed with boys She knows what she wants and gets it, even though she definitely was bossy. She is creative and is not afraid to speak her mind and I appreciate that. I loved the fact that she wasn't in the spotlight and we got to meet other characters because the book didn't focus entirely on her. Of course, her need to control everything was taken a little bit too far sometimes, but it didn't bother me too much. Tom was an amazing love interest and their relationship was very cute and nicely developed. Tom's sister was one of the characters that stood out to me and I enjoyed her character a lot.
The story also deals with topics such as LGBTQ+ and mental health (without romanticizing it, and I liked that) but I think the author could have done more to portray them.
I loved the Gala part of the story and everything that came with it, it was overall a fun experience.
All in all, the plot offered me everything I wanted from a cute summer read and I enjoyed everything about it.
I'm still not 100% sure about my rating, but it is at least worth 3,5☆ . So 4☆ it is.
I can't wait to read the sequel and see what it has in store for us.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am always ready to read books about healthy, relatable relationships and this one wasn't the exception. The illustrations were adorable and the characters were so so cute, a proof of the author's creativity. I really enjoyed the funny and heartfelt comics and I found myself showing them to my boyfriend and saying “look, it's us!”. It was a fast read but I liked it a lot.

It really was a page turner! I loved everything, from the sassy main character to the art, everything was so beautifully done! The story was so interesting that I HAD to read and read and read, and I couldn't stop turning another page..and another..and another.. The humour was also something that I enjoyed; I found myself laughing out loud a lot throughout this book. So my first experience with a graphic novel was one of a kind and I will definitely try to explore this genre more.

i received an ARC in exchange of an honest review, all the opinions are mine.

being in love with your best friend's sister - who's off limits and isn't even interested in you that way (or so you thought) - is hard enough as it is, but throw in the fact that you have to spend an entire weekend with her because you got locked out of your own house and you've got aurora's definition of a disaster.
overall this was an entertaining and very quick read, which isn't that bad, in and of itself, but it does, however, mean i didn't get to connect with the characters that well so some things fell a little bit flat for me. i am well aware that this is a novella, so things are supposed to be fast paced but they were maybe a bit too fast paced for me to get attached to anything - the plot, the characters, the setting, etc.
one thing that didn't fall that flat for me was the romance, which is why i decided to be less harsh about the story itself than i orginally wanted to since the romance was the one thing i was there for. it was cute, i felt the chemistry the main characters and their moments were sweet and managed to get a smile or a chuckle out of me at times. i even highlighted some paragraphs and bookmarked some pages so at least it left me with that. i also liked that we got glimpses of their past and that helped consolidate their relationship one way or another in my eyes, but it still left me wanting more.
i wish the characters on their own got a bit more developement because they felt a bit 2D sometimes, but i understand that the author couldn't get too deep into it given the length of the novella. i would, however, read a full novel about the characters with the same plot but developed because the premise was really good and it has a lot of potential.
i think the story lacked some depth when it comes to aurora's friendship with hope which is why i couldn't really understand why aurora thought it would the end of the world if hope found out she liked her sister. the only time we got somewhat of a look into their bond was towards the end, but when it comes to understanding their dynamic in relation to lyla it was a bit too late for me, although on its own that scene is one of my favorites. it was really hard for me to care about their friendship getting ruined when i didn't see said friendship on paper, i was only told about it.
the angst almost got me, but not quite and, as a huge angst with a happy ending lover, it was kind of disappointing. i knew i was supposed to feel it and i wasn't totally indifferent, but at the same time it didn't really affect me the way it was supposed to because i didn't care about the characters enough at the time. call it schrodinger's angst, if you will.
the end was cute, it wrapped everything out really nicely and i was content with the way everything turned out. it's promising without being too idealistic and it definitely left me feeling pretty good about the story. it wasn't a masterpiece or something that i will think about for a long time, but that's okay because not every read has to be this groundbreaking piece that has you questioning your life. i'm glad i could enjoy it for what it was.
as for the author, as a side note, the premises of her novels are so good sometimes i wish we could get full on novels instead of novellas just so i can properly get to enjoy them and their whole potential.

such a quick and entertaining read!
it really hit all the right spots for me. from fake dating to friends to lovers heaven, this was everything i looked for. bonus points for being a wlw story written by a lesbian author because representation and own voices matter a lot to me.
although the novella is very short and fast paced i had an amazing time reading it and despite the accent being put on the actions rather than the characters so the story could move on more easily, i found myself getting attached to the main leads, especially anna. i related to her on so many levels and i love how they handled the relationship with her mother. i think that must be one of my favorite things about this novella, actually. since all the fake dating plot starts essentially from her trying to please her mother i'm glad they got some mother-daughter development by the end. cleo was a good love interest and i could see and understand why anna would fall for her. she didn't stand out a lot, but she was loveable and entertaining in her own ways. the relationship between the main characters seemed very natural and genuine to me and their sweet moments even got me swooning at times.
not a 5 stars because although i liked it a lot and it was a really good read for my thursday night, i did feel like it got a bit rushed around the middle, even for a novella. it didn't bother me THAT much and i can look past that but i still discarded a star to stay true to myself.
all in all it was a really enjoyable experience and i will keep an eye out for this author in the future because i'm interested to read more, i can see the potential.


i received an arc for free, all the opinions are my own.

i received an ARC in exchange of an honest review, all the opinions are mine.

***
amanda lovelace is one of the authors that i will always come back to and read everything they release no matter what. ultimately, i don't think this is their best work and although it's definitely not to be overlooked, it was a bit of a disappointment since i had my expectations very high.
it's raw and empowering but it feels a bit repetitive when you put it next to all her other poems.
the illustrations were beautiful but i felt like there weren't enough unique ones.
as always i appreciate the trigger warnings placed at the beginning of the book and i think they're very useful and needed.
when it comes to all of amanda lovelace's books i feel like you could easily skip this one but if you have the time and you really want to read it you should.

i'm thankful that i received an ARC in exchange of an honest review, all the opinions are mine.
***
i truly don't even know where to start and i mean this in the best possible way.
you had me at queer romance but i got so much more than i expected and i couldn't be happier! i loved it so so so much and i highly recommend it.
the story is heartwarming, adorable and wholesome and it follows two teenage girls that couldn't be more different finding themselves and each other. the representation is amazing, as annie is a lesbian and beebee is a trans sapphic and the story does a great job dealing with queer issues while still maintaining the vibes of a rom com. i live for fluffy lgbtq+ content because i feel like it's needed to contrast the bury your gays trope. i fell in love with the characters and their uniqueness and the fact that they're so real and relatable.
ati times i felt like it was a bit fast paced considering it was a graphic novel and maybe it was partly because i was enjoying it too much but the ending left me wanting more. the story fell into place nonetheless and i loved every moment i spent reading it. i'm hoping for a sequel because i'd love to see what's next in the protagonists' lives, but the ending scene was the perfect way to end this beautiful story.

i received an ARC in exchange of an honest review, all the opinions are mine.

***
i'm not gonna lie, the first thing that caught my attention and made me want to read this book was the polyamorous factor since there's little to no representation in media, unfortunately. i'm not that into space as a setting but it was a good opportunity to step out of my comfort zone so i decided to give it a try.
i liked the characters, they are very well written and although i couldn't really connect with them it was interesting to witness their journey.
for me it's one of those books that you either really like or you can't get into it at all but, ironically, i am stuck in between. i think it's easily a one sit read if it catches your attention, but things got in the way and it took me some time to finish reading it. that, alongside the fact that sf isn't really my cup of tea, could be why it didn't leave a big impression on me, but i enjoyed reading it nonetheless because it was definitely something new and interesting.

leaving similarities to a certain worldwide famous boy band aside, i really enjoyed reading this book and it was a good read to start off my year.

but i do have to say that it was a slow start for me, personally. i couldn't get into it for some reason and i had to put it down after the first 100 or so pages. it was a bummer because i was so excited to read it but as soon as i picked it up again i finished the rest of the book in one sitting. i don't know if my mood affected how i got into it in the first place but what matters is that i got hooked on it the second time around.
the plot is quite unique i would say, as in i would expect to see it in fanfiction and i have seen it in fanfiction before but it hits different when it comes in the form of a source material.
so we have a boy band that's at the peak of their career and things are just getting better from here. throw in a controlling management, an international tour, a boy forced into the closet ever since he was 16, some (il)legal drinking and you have the perfect recipe for chaos.
what i liked about the characters is how real they felt. now, granted, we don't know much about who celebrities really are underneath their public persona but i felt like the authors did a good job portraying the members of the band as individuals, teeangers who just want to be themselves but also as rising stars who are under surveillance at all times. i like that they have flaws and they admit to them. i love how our main characters, zach and ruben, both get to challenge their inner demons and admit that there are issues they both struggle with and are willing to work towards fixing them.
zach's coming out journey was beautiful and heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. i also loved having ruben being so confident in his sexuality and already out in the story, it was a nice touch. sure, coming out plots are inspiring and the representation is needed as well but already established queer characters are just as needed.
i love how this was more than just about their relationship, though. sure, that played a huge part and the lgbtq+ topic was one of the reasons i picked up this book in the first place, but it also addressed how controlling and cruel the industry can be. all the things the boys and the people involved had to go through should definitely be eye opening and if not for changing anything, at least it's important for them to be acknowledged.
i have to admit, i feel like the last straw for their rebellion being their relationship and them not being allowed to come out felt a tiny bit flat after angel ALMOST DIED. i feel like that should have been a wake up call, not just the beginning of the end. but i do understand why they did it this way and it still made me emotional.
i appreciate how nothing was rushed and the things didn't all get resolved over night, as i really loved the pace throughout the whole novel, but it still ended on a nice, positive and hopeful note that left me with a smile on my face.

i received an ARC in exchange of an honest review, all the opinions are mine.

***
for me this was definitely the perfect case of the right book at the right time. i feel like it was exactly what i needed to read now and the writing was so beautiful. i enjoyed the small illustrations too and they were a perfect addition.
i have read a lot of poetry books lately and this collection is one of the very best. the style isn't for everyone but the poems had depth and most of them, if not all of them, hit just the right spots for me.
the book deals with different subjects, from loss to falling in love and finding yourself in a realistic but, at the same time, positive and encouraging, way.
i read it all in one night because i loved it so much that i couldn't go to sleep before finishing it and i wish there was more. i'm looking forward to reading more of the author's works in the future.

the only one stopping you from holding the moon in your own two hands is you.i feel seen.i've been a fan of the author for a long time and naturally i was excited to read her latest collection and it did not disappoint. i think i can safely say that i can add this to my favorite poetry collections because it has definitely left a mark on me.i was pleasantly surprised by the tw list at the beginning of the book and that's one thing i appreciate, alongside the amazing illustrations that fit the theme perfectly.the poems are empowering and beautiful and i found myself relating to most of them. i enjoyed it and i also enjoyed the first volume so i can only say that i'm so excited to see what the series has in store for us.***i received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. all the opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
***
I really liked it. It was an amazing beginning for something that promises to be a very interesting story. I read it in one sitting and now I want more. The art was beautiful, I liked the style. I was immediately drown to the cover the moment I saw it and the illustrations are gorgeous. The characters were nicely done and the relationships they develop are very natural. Lya especially was a great protagonist. I was very impressed by her story and her determination.
Also, can we talk about that CLIFFHANGER though? It was the right way to end the first volume but I can't wait to see what happens next, to follow Lya in her journey to find the truth.

spop is BY FAR my comfort show and i recently finished fully watching it for the third time so i decided to read this graphic novel because i became so attached to the characters and the story that i can't get enough. i think it's a cute, short and fun read with beautiful artwork. it was definitely entertaining and while it doesn't consist a vital part of the storyline and it doesn't make a difference in the overall story, it's a good way to revisit the universe and the characters and i'm always excited for extra spop content.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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As many of my followers probably already know, I am not a huge fan of classical books. but I do love manga and the story of Romeo and Juliet was always one that intrigued me. I haven't read the original book, however, but I did go into this manga knowing what the story is about (contrary to popular belief, I do not live under a rock). Because I had an electronic copy of this book it was hard to get used to reading it since it is a manga, but a few pages in and I was hooked.
If you enjoyed the original story or any of the adaptations I highly recommend you check this one out, even if you are not into mangas. It will at least be a nice experience and maybe you'll fall in love all over again with the story, the setting and the characters because the art style was amazing!

There's something enjoyable about reading other people's break up stories, believe it or not. I picked this book up when I was going through a reading slump and even though I took my time with it, it's definitely a light read that you can read in one sitting. The stories were so different and unique, some more interesting than others, but all of them deserved to be featured in this book. I laughed, even though I felt bad for them and the secondhand embarrassment was present most of the time. The illustrations were gorgeous and they fit the stories perfectly. You can take these stories as a life lesson and maybe avoid the chaos.
Turns out breaking up is, indeed, hard to do.

“Inima.
Mi.
Se.
Opreşte.
Şi porneşte din nou.”
Aşa m-am simţit pe tot parcursul cărţii. Să spun că mi-a plăcut e aproape o minciună, pentru că am adorat cartea asta. Deşi am auzit numai lucruri de bine despre ea, am deschis-o cu puţină neîncredere. Sufeream de un reading slump îngrozitor, nimic nu mi se părea potrivit, dar apoi am luat cartea asta în mână şi n-am mai vrut să o mai pun jos. M-au fascinat efectiv, pe lângă poveste, şi personajele, care mi s-au părut atât de vii, atât de autentice. Trebuie să recunosc că uneori mi se păreau anumite gesturi făcute de protagonistă, Maddy, puţin exagerate, dar luând în considerare felul în care a fost crescută, nici nu are rost să îi critic deciziile. Olly, care e al nostru love interest în povestea asta, a fost cel despre care încă mă întreb dacă mie mi-a plăcut, sau e doar influenţa persoanei întâi din naraţiune. Totuşi, luat per ansamblu, da, au fost momente în care suspinam dramatic şi visătoare de fiecare dată când cei doi interacţionau şi mi-a plăcut cu adevărat relaţia lor. Cartea m-a captivat atât de tare încât citeam oriunde şi oricând apucam. M-a scos din reading slump şi mi-a reamintit cât de mult înseamnă puterea cuvintelor, cât de multe poţi învăţa din greşeli şi, mai ales, că viaţa e un dar şi trebuie trăită.
Să nu mai zic de citate, pline de expresivitate, care mi-au plăcut şi acestea enorm, făcându-mă chiar să revin la ele după terminarea unui capitol şi să le notez.
“Atenţie, spoiler: Dragostea înseamnă totul. Totul. “
Finalul cărţii este unul la fel de frumos pe cât mă aşteptam, deşi am stat cu sufletul la gură pe tot parcursul cărţii şi în acelaşi timp intuiam cam ce se va întâmpla, înşelându-mă de câteva ori. M-a lăsat cu zâmbetul pe buze şi cu speranţa că, indiferent de ce îi rezervă viitorul, Maddy îşi va trăi viaţa în felul ei şi va profita din plin de aceasta, deoarece o merită şi mă simt oarecum apropiată de acest personaj.
În cele din urmă, pentru mine a fost o lectură sfâşietoare, amuzantă exact când simţeai nevoia de aşa ceva, o poveste incredebilă despre minciună, libertate, încredere, tragedie şi, evident, dragoste. Pentru că dragostea este totul.
“La început, a fost nimicul. Iar apoi a fost tot.”

To me, their story felt real.
Their story was real. And just like in real life, the first love isn't always the last.
More like 4.5 but yeah
That ending tho.. this book was supposed to be cute and funny and sweet and whatever.. Park is a sweetheart anyway and I kind of liked Eleanor. I understood her insecurities even though they were annoying sometimes. She didn't deserve the family she had to live with, and I never really liked her mother. Not to mention Richie. But people like him do exist and that's the sad part.. I don't feel attached to her siblings whatsoever, but again, can't really blame them when their mother was a coward.
I was ok with Park's family, the fact that they, specifically his father, understood that he is a little bit different made me like them even more. But yeah, all in all, I like the book and I definitely wasn't expecting it to end the way it did, after I read Fangirl and the ending was so cute. But a change is always good and I feel like Rainbow Rowell just got a place on the list of my favorite YA authors.

She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.