Showing posts with label dating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dating. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Book Review - Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

 


Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler is about a young woman who experiences love for the first time. Adelaide Williams is a twenty six year old American living in London. She and her friends love the city but they need to find permanent jobs to secure a visa in order to stay longer.  Adelaide has a passion for publishing but takes on a high paying tech job to be able to stay in London. Adelaide is in love with the city and her life but she still thinks there’s something missing: companionship. She decides that she wants to start dating and downloads a dating app.

After a string of meaningless one night stands that taper out, Adelaide feels that maybe she isn’t meant to be loved. All that changes when she crosses paths with Rory Hughes, who feels like a breath of fresh air. He looks like a Disney prince and looks exactly like what Adelaide would consider her dream guy to be.

As Adelaide and Rory start spending time together, she feels that something is missing from their relationship. She realizes that he isn’t attentive to her, he doesn’t honor their plans, he doesn’t make advance plans, he doesn’t always respond to texts, and he makes her sleep in a separate bed.  However, when they do meet up and do spend time together, Rory is a bright light that chases all the darkness from her life. Adelaide is convinced that deep down in his heart, Rory feels the same way about her as she does about him. He just has a hard time displaying his love for her.

An unexpected tragedy occurs that rocks both of their worlds. Rory seems to be drifting and unable to cope with life and how things are going. As Adelaide tries to be a pillar for Rory and to be a shining light in his life, she stops at nothing to cheer him up even if it means losing herself in the process.

The novel started off with Adelaide checking into a hospital because she has suicidal thoughts after a breakup. The novel is broken into past and present with Adelaide narrating most of the story. We did occasionally get a sneak peek into Rory’s life.

The novel started off interesting. I tried to understand why Adelaide was feeling suicidal as in the beginning her life seems like it was going great. However, it quickly becomes clear when we read about her and Rory’s relationship. The book goes on for pages after pages of Adelaide staying in a relationship in which she isn’t treasured. She is so desperate to be loved that she is willing to put up with being in a relationship with a  guy who clearly doesn’t love her and she even admits to knowing he would never love her.

I like romantic novels as much as any other person but, there was only so much of Adelaide’s flawed relationship I could read. I am not sure why she kept putting up with Rory’s inattentiveness and harsh behavior. It was like seeing a friend constantly  being used as a punching bag, after a while you feel upset and annoyed at your friend for not sticking up for themselves. The book goes on like that for a while and then the author explains why Adelaide stays with Rory. It does explain why she stayed with him but, it doesn’t erase the annoyance of having her basically hanging by a thread before she seeks help. 

The book also goes into so much detail about random things that just seemed pointless. I felt like the book could have been shorter with less mini plotlines.  Unless you want to read a book where a young woman ignores every single red flag and read about every single tedious detail about her life, then skip this book.

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Book Review - Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko

 

Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko is about a young girl who is sent to live with her father who had abandoned her at a young age.  Seventeen-year-old Coley finds herself alone again after she loses her mother. She moves to rural Oregon to live with her father who abandoned her mother and her when Coley was young. 

Coley is afraid to let anyone into her heart. However, when she crosses paths with Sonya, Coley feels immediately attracted to her. She worries that she isn’t worthy of being loved, as everyone she has ever cared about has left her. Coley is also afraid that Sonya might not be into her since Sonya has never been with a girl before.  As Coley and Sonya spend more time together, Coley does feel a certain level of attraction from Sonya, but also feels hesitation from Sonya. Will Coley be able to open up her heart and love again, or will Sonya leave her like everyone else in her life has so far?

The book was an okay and straightforward read. There were no unexpected twists or turns. Both Coley and Sonya are two complicated characters who are desperate to feel and be in love but have different hangups when it comes to love. Coley is fragile and afraid to open up herself to love again while Sonya is afraid of being “different” and disappointing people she cares about. It was heartbreaking at times, watching two characters who seemed to love each other hurt each other and themselves in the process.

The book takes place in the early 2000s. It is told by alternating point of views but also includes snippets of LiveJournal and AIM conversations. I did enjoy reading the AIM conversations as it was very nostalgic. I felt after a while the LifeJournal entries were repetitive and didn’t really progress the story, especially towards the end. I wanted more closure after their fight and more narrative of what happened after that. If you like cozy queer romances or are a fan of Hayley Kiyoko then you might enjoy this book.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Book Review - The Confession Club (Mason, #3) by Elizabeth Berg


 A group of friends in Mason, Missouri, decide to start a monthly supper club. They plan to spend the evening eating and sharing among friends. However, things take a turn when one woman decides to share an intimate secret. The supper club becomes the Confession Club as the women gather weekly to share dinner and embarrassing secrets, insecurities, and regrets.

 Iris Winters and Maddy Harris are the two latest newcomers to the group. Iris has feelings for a man who is charming but, troubled. Maddy moved back to escape from a problem in New York. They both are excited to join the group because they need support from each other to help them make a decision.

 I thought the novel was a quick and easy cozy read. I did feel that the book had too many characters at one point and it made it hard to keep track of everyone. A few times, some of the characters just blended together. Some of the situations and the characters did feel a bit unrealistic. However, I did enjoy reading the novel and felt it was a nice palate cleanser from books I normally read.

Monday, January 10, 2022

Book Review - The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

 

Lily Graves comes from a long line of morticians. She knows that everyone keeps buried secrets. When senior class president Erin Donohue turns up dead, Lily believes its her job to uncover the truth. Erin is a pillar of the community and known for her ethnics. However, Lily has a crush on Erin's ex-boyfriend, Matt, which complicates matters and makes them both suspects. As Lily's world comes crushing down, she will have to figure out who she can trust before the killer strikes again.

I had picked up this book on a whim and I should have read reviews before getting it. The book is geared towards young adults and I feel like it's a romance novel with some mystery components to it. The plot was very predictable and I was able to guess the direction of the novel fairly quickly. I felt that story moved along very slowly and some of the character interactions felt forced.  I think the title of the book is very misleading because even after reading the book, I still don't know any of Lily's secrets. The novel might be a good read for young readers who want a book with a light mystery with a heavy high school romance theme.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Book Review - 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Sophie couldn't wait for the holiday break so she can spend time with her boyfriend and away from her overprotective parents. When her parents decide to spend some time with her older sister, Sophie is beyond ecstatic to have her freedom. Sophie couldn't wait to tell Griffin the news but, then she finds out that Griffin wants to take a break from their relationship.

Sophie is heartbroken and decides to spend her time at her grandparents' house where the entire family is gathered for the holiday. Her Nonna has a brilliant idea to help Sophie get over her pain by allowing each one of her family members to plan a different blind date for her. With each date allowing Sophie to get over Griffin and enjoy herself, she finds herself lost for words when Griffin begs her to take him back.  However, Sophie is more confused than ever when she finds herself falling for someone else. Will Sophie be able to find the person she should be with?

I thought the novel was a cute and fun read especially when someone is going through heartbreak. However, I was a bit put off by some of Sophie's behavior such as almost ghosting someone when she realized she might like someone else. I thought as she experienced first-hand someone being less than kind with her that she would be better. Or when she felt that excluded from her cousins and instead of telling them how she felt, she pulled away from them. And then she feels hurt when she doesn't feel included in their plans.  I feel like as a person who has been heartbroken or lonely, she isn't very empathetic to people around her. Overall, I still found the novel to be an enjoyable read especially the dates she went on.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

About the Book
Title: 10 BLIND DATES
Author: Ashley Elston
Pub. Date: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 336

Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship.

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents' house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That's when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby.

When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she's started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available.

This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever . . . or is it?

"This piece-by-piece romance doesn't need its Christmas theme to sell, but it makes it glitter all the more."—Booklist
"In a funny holiday romance that has Sophie dog-sitting in a hockey rink, watching porn at a drive-in theater, and playing the Virgin Mary in a middle school Nativity, Elston cleverly reflects the family members' personalities through their choices of dates for Sophie."—Publishers Weekly




About Ashley:
Ashley Elston is the author of several novels, including THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING (a finalist in the Best Young Adult Novel category of the International Thriller Awards) and THIS IS OUR STORY. She graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Ashley worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. Ashley lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons.

Ashley is represented by Sarah Davies at The Greenhouse Literary Agency.

Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of 10 BLIND DATES, US Only.

Rafflecopter link:

Tour Schedule:
Week One:
10/1/2019- BookHounds YA- Excerpt
10/2/2019- Odd and Bookish- Review
10/3/2019- Fictitiouswonderland- Review
10/4/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

Week Two:
10/7/2019- PopTheButterfly Reads- Excerpt
10/8/2019- Read. Eat. Love.- Review
10/9/2019- Paper Reader- Review
10/10/2019- A Bookish Dream- Review
10/11/2019- Savings in Seconds- Review

Week Three:
10/14/2019- book briefs- Review
10/15/2019- Shelf-Rated- Review
10/16/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
10/17/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review
10/18/2019- Wishful Endings- Review

Week Four:
10/21/2019- Southern Girl Bookaholic- Review
10/22/2019- Eli to the nth- Review
10/23/2019- fictitious.fox- Review
10/24/2019-  Fire and Ice- Review
10/25/2019- Two points of interest- Review

Week Five:
10/28/2019- Riddle’s Reviews- Review
10/29/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review
10/30/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review
10/31/2019- Novel Novice- Review
 

Friday, August 2, 2019

Book Review - Swing by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Noah never gets things his way. He and his best friend Walt got cut from the high school baseball team for the third time. Sam, Noah's love interest, who Noah has loved since third grade doesn't seem to notice the way he feels about her. However, he is afraid he could never get past the "best friend" zone.  Noah just wants to take it easy for his last year but, Walt has big plans for their senior year.

Walt introduces Noah to a few sources to glean information on wooing Sam. He is hesitant to but, when he finds a stack of old love letters, he decides to follow his heart and tell Sam. He uses inspiration from the letters and Jazz to craft anonymous love letters in an attempt to win her heart.

Oh, where did I do begin? I was never a fan of poetry but, I can't believe how enjoyable I found the novel. It was a beautiful treat from the beginning to the end. I must say, I didn't expect the novel to end the way it did. I can't wait to read more books by the author.


 **Disclosure - I received a free  copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**


Swing by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess
Publisher: BLINK
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction -- Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Sports

SYNOPSIS:
Things usually do not go as planned for seventeen-year-old Noah. He and his best friend Walt (aka Swing) have been cut from the high school baseball team for the third year in a row, and it looks like Noah’s love interest since third grade, Sam, will never take it past the “best friend” zone. Noah would love to retire his bat and accept the status quo, but Walt has big plans for them both, which include making the best baseball comeback ever, getting the girl, and finally finding cool.

To go from lovelorn to ladies’ men, Walt introduces Noah to a relationship guru—his Dairy Queen-employed cousin, Floyd—and the always informative Woohoo Woman Podcast. Noah is reluctant, but decides fate may be intervening when he discovers more than just his mom’s birthday gift at the thrift shop. Inside the vintage Keepall is a gold mine of love letters from the 1960s. Walt is sure these letters and the podcasts are just what Noah needs to communicate his true feelings to Sam. To Noah, the letters are more: an initiation to the curious rhythms of love and jazz, as well as a way for him and Walt to embrace their own kind of cool. While Walt is hitting balls out of the park and catching the eye of the baseball coach, Noah composes anonymous love letters to Sam in an attempt to write his way into her heart. But as things are looking up for Noah and Walt, a chain of events alters everything Noah knows to be true about love, friendship, sacrifice, and fate.

In Swing, bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) present a free-verse poetic story that will speak to anyone who’s struggled to find their voice and take a swing at life.

BOOK LINKS:
Amazon – https://amzn.to/31yNtc0

AUTHOR INFO:

Kwame Alexander:


Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including THE CROSSOVER, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include SURF'S UP, a picture book; BOOKED, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.

Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.

Links:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/kwamealexander

Mary Rand Hess:

Mary Rand Hess is a poet, screenwriter, mixed-media artist, and New York Times bestselling author of notable and award-winning books such as Solo and Swing(Blink YA), coauthored with Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander, Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures (National Geographic Children’s Books), also coauthored with Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido, Little Larry Goes to School (National Geographic Children’s Books), written with renowned photographer and filmmaker, Gerry Ellis, and the forthcoming picture book, The One and Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family, coauthored with Steve Greig of @wolfgang2242 Instagram fame. She is currently at work on a few novels in verse, picture books, and screenplays.

Links:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/maryrandhess?lang=en
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maryrandhess/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/maryrandtharringtonhess




aRafflecoptergiveaway