Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
The fastest way to get me to read a book is by comparing it to You've Got Mail. I also love a little rivals-to-lovers moment, so I had high hopes going into this one. It was...fine. I found it to be quite middle-of-the-road. The writing was easy to fly through, but nothing was exciting about it. Emmy and Gabe were okay characters, but they didn't stick out to me. They had some cute banter-y moments, but overall, I found the romance bland and boring. The plot was, again, fine. It was pretty predictable, but I feel like that's the case for most romances. It wasn't a bad book by any means, and I do think it would make a good summer read, but it was just so average, and I know I'll forget about it in a month.
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| Pub Date: 4-29-25 YA - Fantasy |
The Floating World- Axie Oh: Ren and her adoptive family are performers, traveling from village to village to earn a living. But while at a festival performance, the village is attacked by a demon, and unthinking, Ren unleashes a blast of silver light--a power she's kept hidden since she was young-- to protect her family. Despite her efforts, her family still suffered tragedy. When her beloved uncle is gravely injured, Ren takes it upon herself to find a cure. Her quest takes Ren back to the world she fled ten years ago, and straight into the path of Sunho. As an ex-soldier, Sunho can't remember much of the past two years, and now takes jobs to get by, including a bounty for a girl who can harness light. When Ren and Sunho meet, Sunho is unaware she's the girl he and tons of other mercenaries are hunting for. As the pair travels together, they form an easy friendship and realize their paths and destinies are more entwined than they imagined.
I recently read another book by Oh that instantly swept me away, so I was hoping for the same with this latest release. I thought she crafted yet another imaginative world reminiscent of an anime, full of interesting characters and intriguing magic. There's a hidden royalty element to it as well, which is a trope I always find entertaining. Ren and Sunho were likable characters. I enjoyed watching them work together and seeing how their lives parallel one another. They both have suffered trauma and have these powerful abilities that they don't know how to manage. My main issue with the story was that I felt it lacked tension. Conflicts seemed to resolve too quickly, making it hard for me to feel invested in the overarching plot. I also felt like we barely scratched the surface of the politics of the world. It was a quick and whimsical read, but I'm unsure if I'll continue the series.
I recently read another book by Oh that instantly swept me away, so I was hoping for the same with this latest release. I thought she crafted yet another imaginative world reminiscent of an anime, full of interesting characters and intriguing magic. There's a hidden royalty element to it as well, which is a trope I always find entertaining. Ren and Sunho were likable characters. I enjoyed watching them work together and seeing how their lives parallel one another. They both have suffered trauma and have these powerful abilities that they don't know how to manage. My main issue with the story was that I felt it lacked tension. Conflicts seemed to resolve too quickly, making it hard for me to feel invested in the overarching plot. I also felt like we barely scratched the surface of the politics of the world. It was a quick and whimsical read, but I'm unsure if I'll continue the series.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 4-1-25 Adult - Fantasy |
A Drop of Corruption- Robert Jackson Bennett: Dinios Kol is the assistant to the brilliantly eccentric detective, Ana Dolabra. They've acquired a reputation in the Empire for solving complex crimes, so when a Treasury officer disappears into thin air, the pair is sent to the canton of Yarrowdale to investigate. It doesn't take Ana long to realize that they aren't dealing with a missing person, but rather a murder. To Ana's immense delight, their foe constantly seems to be one step ahead of them, but she's never been one to back down from a challenge. Din and Ana soon realize that there is more at play when the killer begins targeting a high-security compound known as the Shroud, where the Empire is working to harness the blood of powerful Titans. Should the Shroud be breached, the Empire's downfall would be imminent. Din and Ana have faced impossible cases before, but will this one prove too much for them to handle?
I love the fantastical Sherlockian vibes this series has. It leads to such a great dynamic between our two main characters. I liked how we got to see more of their relationship in this one, as well as the conflict Din had regarding working with Ana. He started pretty frustrated with his position, and I liked watching him come to terms with it and accept it's where he's meant to be. I also appreciated gaining more insight into what drives Ana and where her abilities originate. I'm hoping to dive even further into those revelations as the series continues. I thought the pacing of the mystery was pretty slow, so I wasn't always invested in what was happening, but RJB threw in a lot of unexpected twists that led to a satisfying ending. Some of the writing also started feeling repetitive, but overall, it was an entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
I love the fantastical Sherlockian vibes this series has. It leads to such a great dynamic between our two main characters. I liked how we got to see more of their relationship in this one, as well as the conflict Din had regarding working with Ana. He started pretty frustrated with his position, and I liked watching him come to terms with it and accept it's where he's meant to be. I also appreciated gaining more insight into what drives Ana and where her abilities originate. I'm hoping to dive even further into those revelations as the series continues. I thought the pacing of the mystery was pretty slow, so I wasn't always invested in what was happening, but RJB threw in a lot of unexpected twists that led to a satisfying ending. Some of the writing also started feeling repetitive, but overall, it was an entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
Rating: 3.5/5
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| Pub Date: 6-10-25 Adult - Contemporary |
Last Night Was Fun- Holly James: As the only female data analyst in her department, Emmy Jameson has always felt the need to prove herself. Working for a baseball team, Emmy often has to prove she knows just as much, if not more, about the sport than her co-workers just to be taken seriously. Her need to succeed has led to her repeatedly butting heads with her co-worker, ex-baseball golden boy, Gabe Olson. When the pair is up for a senior position, Emmy is determined to win. With the promotion and her sister's impending wedding, Emmy can't afford any distractions. Still, when an accidental text from an unknown number strikes up a flirty conversation, Emmy finds herself falling for a charming stranger. On a whim, Emmy invites her texting partner to her sister's wedding and is shocked to find the person on the other line was Gabe. The pair has always been at odds, but neither can deny the connection they formed through their messages, and both are left wondering where to go from here.
The fastest way to get me to read a book is by comparing it to You've Got Mail. I also love a little rivals-to-lovers moment, so I had high hopes going into this one. It was...fine. I found it to be quite middle-of-the-road. The writing was easy to fly through, but nothing was exciting about it. Emmy and Gabe were okay characters, but they didn't stick out to me. They had some cute banter-y moments, but overall, I found the romance bland and boring. The plot was, again, fine. It was pretty predictable, but I feel like that's the case for most romances. It wasn't a bad book by any means, and I do think it would make a good summer read, but it was just so average, and I know I'll forget about it in a month.
Rating: 3/5
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