Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I seem to be in the minority group that didn't enjoy this book. I thought the premise sounded very fun and Ali Hazelwood-esque. I love anything related to fake dating, so I was eager to dive into this. Unfortunately, nothing about it worked for me. I found the characters so bland. There was nothing about them I felt connected to. I also found it hard to believe that they had been communicating for years, peer reviewing each other's works, yet they had no idea who the other was. You never saw or came across a photo of the other person once that whole time? I also didn't love the writing. I like my romances to be a bit lighthearted, and this felt dense and long. There were also some points that felt unnecessary and didn't add anything to the plot. If you enjoy STEM romances, you might give it a try, but it wasn't for me.
I'm surprised the CW isn't knocking on Simmerman's door to turn this into a TV show, because it is exactly the messy, teen angst drama that they live for. I'm a bit on the fence about whether I enjoyed this, as there were certain aspects I liked, but even more that I didn't. I didn't like Sloane as a main character. Her whole personality is just your stereotypical college party girl, which made it hard to root for her. We're mostly following her and Asher as they play detective, and while I liked their bickering banter, I didn't love their romance, and it kept taking me out of the story. There's also a love triangle that felt like it was included just to ramp up the tension. I appreciated the twist because I didn't see it coming, but the motives felt a little silly to me. The ending also felt a little abrupt. It was a quick read, so I would still recommend it if you need a palate cleanser to binge.
I've read a few Craig books now, and what I always admire is the atmosphere. Her YA books blend dark fantasy with a touch of horror, so I was eager to see her adult debut. I loved the rich setting. The small, hidden town felt claustrophobic and helped build tension. I liked Greer as the main character. From the start, it was clear she was different, and I wanted to learn more about her abilities and origins. Craig's writing was lush and descriptive, though sometimes overly drawn out. The start was intriguing with its mystery, but the plot lost momentum in the second half, making it harder to stay engaged. Still, I'd recommend it if you're after something perfect for a rainy fall night.
 |
| Pub Date: 2-3-26 Adult - Romance |
Love and Other Brain Experiments- Hannah Brohm: Dr. Frances Silberstein is determined to make a name for herself in the field of neuroscience. She wants to prove to everyone that she has what it takes to get by on her own merit, not because she received a handout. So, after turning down a lucrative opportunity from her ex-boyfriend, Francis is left in postdoc limbo. Her only chance at networking is by attending a summer conference packed with leading scientists. The only problem? It's hosted by her ex, who has found all the success Francis has been craving. But she can't let this networking chance slip by, and when her bickering with her academic rival, Dr. Lewis North, gets mistaken for flirting, Frances must convince him to pretend to be her boyfriend to save face. Frances and Lewis have a rocky past, but as the days pass, the pair grow closer, and soon their fake relationship starts to feel very real.
I seem to be in the minority group that didn't enjoy this book. I thought the premise sounded very fun and Ali Hazelwood-esque. I love anything related to fake dating, so I was eager to dive into this. Unfortunately, nothing about it worked for me. I found the characters so bland. There was nothing about them I felt connected to. I also found it hard to believe that they had been communicating for years, peer reviewing each other's works, yet they had no idea who the other was. You never saw or came across a photo of the other person once that whole time? I also didn't love the writing. I like my romances to be a bit lighthearted, and this felt dense and long. There were also some points that felt unnecessary and didn't add anything to the plot. If you enjoy STEM romances, you might give it a try, but it wasn't for me.
Rating: 2/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
 |
| Pub Date: 2-3-26 YA - Thriller |
Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart- Emma Simmerman: People deal with heartbreak in their own ways, and for Sloane, that's by writing eulogies in her journal. Whenever a guy breaks her heart, she envisions a crazy way to kill him off. Is it healthy? Probably not, but Sloane would never actually wish harm upon these guys; it's just her creative way of getting closure. Her senior year at Pembroke College is already off to a rocky start after being involved in a scandal, so Sloane is determined not to screw anything up. But when the boys she eulogized start turning up dead, Sloane finds herself the prime suspect. She has no choice but to team up with her long-time frenemy, Asher, to find the true killer and clear her name before it's too late.
I'm surprised the CW isn't knocking on Simmerman's door to turn this into a TV show, because it is exactly the messy, teen angst drama that they live for. I'm a bit on the fence about whether I enjoyed this, as there were certain aspects I liked, but even more that I didn't. I didn't like Sloane as a main character. Her whole personality is just your stereotypical college party girl, which made it hard to root for her. We're mostly following her and Asher as they play detective, and while I liked their bickering banter, I didn't love their romance, and it kept taking me out of the story. There's also a love triangle that felt like it was included just to ramp up the tension. I appreciated the twist because I didn't see it coming, but the motives felt a little silly to me. The ending also felt a little abrupt. It was a quick read, so I would still recommend it if you need a palate cleanser to binge.
Rating: 3/5
 |
| Pub Date: 9-2-25 Adult - Fantasy |
A Land So Wide- Erin A. Craig: Greer Mackenzie lives in a small settlement called Mistaken, trapped within its borders like the rest of its inhabitants. The town prospered from the surrounding woods, but those same woods harbor predatory Bright-Eyeds that attack anyone who passes the Warding Stones after dark. Greer, a mapmaker dreaming of freedom, gets her chance when her longtime love, Ellis, disappears on their joining day. Desperate to save him from the Bright-Eyeds, Greer finds a way to cross Mistaken's borders and sets out to rescue Ellis. In the woods, Greer realizes she's hunted by both the wild Bright-Eyeds and family secrets. The longer Greer stays, the more she feels herself changing into what they've always feared.
I've read a few Craig books now, and what I always admire is the atmosphere. Her YA books blend dark fantasy with a touch of horror, so I was eager to see her adult debut. I loved the rich setting. The small, hidden town felt claustrophobic and helped build tension. I liked Greer as the main character. From the start, it was clear she was different, and I wanted to learn more about her abilities and origins. Craig's writing was lush and descriptive, though sometimes overly drawn out. The start was intriguing with its mystery, but the plot lost momentum in the second half, making it harder to stay engaged. Still, I'd recommend it if you're after something perfect for a rainy fall night.
Rating: 3/5
*This post contains affiliate links.
Comments
Post a Comment