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Pub Date: 11-28-23 YA - Contemporary |
I don't typically read a lot of YA contemporary anymore because I'm so far removed from the targeted audience that it's hard for me to connect with the characters, but leave it to Painter. She had me smiling and kicking my little feet the entire time with this. It's so When Harry Met Sally-but-make-it-YA, and I loved every second of it. Bailey and Charlie were so different but worked so well together. The way their personalities complemented each other was so fun. Bailey is more reserved and a pro at overthinking, and Charlie is my favorite kind of character who comes across as cocky and sarcastic but is a total softie on the inside. Their banter and chemistry were also top-notch. Aside from the characters, I also liked how Painter touched upon how it feels to come from a divorced family and the effects it can have on the kids. It added another layer to the story that was so relatable. If you like friends-to-lovers or fake dating tropes, I highly recommend this one.
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Pub Date: 5-30-23 Adult - Historical Mystery |
Good grief, a lot was going on here. It was like five different plots in one book. I love historical mystery, and I liked how this followed older characters whom society has pegged as old maids who used that to their advantage. The premise was solid, but there was just too much of it. It was like one adventure after the other, and because there were so many, none of them felt fleshed out, and the resolutions felt rushed. The tone was also more serious than I expected, and the romance aspect between Gus and Evan felt unnecessary. I didn't feel any chemistry between them, but I'm hoping it will develop more in the coming books. Although there wasn't much room to breathe in here, I still found it entertaining, and I'm interested enough to continue the series.
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Pub Date: 8-8-23 Adult - Contemporary |
This was absolutely bonkers. It reminded me of those cheesy straight-to-DVD movies. It was ridiculous, unbelievable, cringy, yet so entertaining. Was it a great book? Not even close, but I had a great time reading it. The writing came across as very juvenile, especially Zoe's character. She has amnesia at the start of the book, and it is as if her entire ability to function as a human being was lost along with her memories. But through it all, Carter had me utterly charmed. I fell into this outrageous plot and insta-love romance, hook, line, and sinker. If you want something full of adventure that's super fast-paced but that you won't have to think too hard about, I'd recommend checking it out.