The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun ARC Book Review

 Disclaimer: I received an ARC, my thoughts are my own.

tw: anxiety, depression, OCD, homophobia

This was one of my most anticipated read of the year, as someone who casually enjoys the bachelor and loves romance, in general. While it is not a new favorite it did contain aspects of this book that I liked, first of all the mental health positivity surrounding going to therapy, anxiety rep and depression rep. However as I do not have an OCD to my knowledge, I cannot speak on that aspect of the book. 

I loved the scenes cut out, we get in between certain chapters that show us what will be censored and how things are put together to present the people in the reality tv show as "drama" or "mean' even though they were led to these actions or sentences being taken out of context to create drama for the viewers.

I loved the behind the scenes of the book. 

The romance aspect felt lacking compared to the rest, I did not particularly cared about them together, but did enjoy them as individual characters. It has an HFN ending (happy for now), which is nice.

The biggest aspect of the book for me was more the growth each of our MC's went through and how they learned and became happier at the end of this, but did not need each other to continue to grow or be happy (which is honestly my favorite aspect of the book).

There were some scenes in the book, part of the drama outside of the tv reality drama, that made it annoying to me and felt out of place, I won't spoil anything but the main conflict fell flat to me. The time skip in between it and the resolution did not help my enjoyment of the book at all. 

Overall a good book that read quickly. 

I would recommend it for fans of the bachelor and romantic tv realities as it is basically the bachelor where he gives out crown and they accept to become his "princess" instead of accepting a rose. 

4/5 stars

Bookarina

The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons Book Review

 THIS WAS ADORABLE.

Now this is sort of misleading if you go into it from what the blurb says since the conflict mentioned in the back with the football team only happens near the 3/4 of the book.

This had great moments of acceptance from his parents about Spencer being trans, the origin of his name and some wholesome moments (maybe too many in my opinion after -  TW - the near school shooting that is mentioned in the beginning of the book). There is more to say about Spencer and what comes after coming out, being accepted and changing schools than the blurb leads us to believe.

Furthermore lot of progression and friendships being formed, made it for a very cheesy romance and moments in some part, do not go into this expecting a hard hitting book. The romance was really sweet and well constructed and I loved how quickly their "relationship problem" got resolved and how the other characters did not feel as extras in this book but as an integral part of it. Justice was not just the romantic interest, rather his own person with his own problems. I loved Avery, Spencer's bestfriend, the non-binary rep & the whole football team and Coach whom where oh so supportive.

This is for sure one of those "feel good books" rather than a typical contemporary I would pick up to really feel things and be invested. Not a sentence is wasted in this book, it is the perfect length and while not highly quotable, the easy writing makes for a wonderfully quick read that leaves you satisfied with the HFN ending (happy for now).

I loved how each character came out of their shells in this book and how Spencer's name was chosen. While his parents do their best to accept him I loved how the problems they had were approached and the efforts they made to ultimately truly accept him as their words were saying.

While the ending wrapped up too neatly in my opinion, I loved the little flashbacks we got from Spencer's past when he first came out and how his parents struggled, especially his dad in the beginning and how we sa3w the contrast to their relation now as he helps him as his "wingman" in the book.

SOME QUOTES - NO SPOILERS- PARENTAL LOVE:

"I want you to know that I'll always love you, whether you feel like you're a girl or a boy or whatever. ... I"m not going to make you grow up into someone you're not meant to be." -Spencer's mom

"I love you just the way you are" -Spencer's Dad.

4/5 stars

Bookarina

THIS WAS ADORABLE.

Now this is sort of misleading if you go into it from what the blurb says since the conflict mentioned in the back with the football team only happens near the 3/4 of the book.

This had great moments of acceptance from his parents about Spencer being trans, the origin of his name and some wholesome moments (maybe too many in my opinion after -  TW - the near school shooting that is mentioned in the beginning of the book). There is more to say about Spencer and what comes after coming out, being accepted and changing schools than the blurb leads us to believe.

Furthermore lot of progression and friendships being formed, made it for a very cheesy romance and moments in some part, do not go into this expecting a hard hitting book. The romance was really sweet and well constructed and I loved how quickly their "relationship problem" got resolved and how the other characters did not feel as extras in this book but as an integral part of it. Justice was not just the romantic interest, rather his own person with his own problems. I loved Avery, Spencer's bestfriend, the non-binary rep & the whole football team and Coach whom where oh so supportive.

This is for sure one of those "feel good books" rather than a typical contemporary I would pick up to really feel things and be invested. Not a sentence is wasted in this book, it is the perfect length and while not highly quotable, the easy writing makes for a wonderfully quick read that leaves you satisfied with the HFN ending (happy for now).

I loved how each character came out of their shells in this book and how Spencer's name was chosen. While his parents do their best to accept him I loved how the problems they had were approached and the efforts they made to ultimately truly accept him as their words were saying.

While the ending wrapped up too neatly in my opinion, I loved the little flashbacks we got from Spencer's past when he first came out and how his parents struggled, especially his dad in the beginning and how we sa3w the contrast to their relation now as he helps him as his "wingman" in the book.

SOME QUOTES - NO SPOILERS- PARENTAL LOVE:

"I want you to know that I'll always love you, whether you feel like you're a girl or a boy or whatever. ... I"m not going to make you grow up into someone you're not meant to be." -Spencer's mom

"I love you just the way you are" -Spencer's Dad.

4/5 stars

Bookarina

THIS WAS ADORABLE.

Now this is sort of misleading if you go into it from what the blurb says since the conflict mentioned in the back with the football team only happens near the 3/4 of the book.

This had great moments of acceptance from his parents about Spencer being trans, the origin of his name and some wholesome moments (maybe too many in my opinion after -  TW - the near school shooting that is mentioned in the beginning of the book). There is more to say about Spencer and what comes after coming out, being accepted and changing schools than the blurb leads us to believe.

Furthermore lot of progression and friendships being formed, made it for a very cheesy romance and moments in some part, do not go into this expecting a hard hitting book. The romance was really sweet and well constructed and I loved how quickly their "relationship problem" got resolved and how the other characters did not feel as extras in this book but as an integral part of it. Justice was not just the romantic interest, rather his own person with his own problems. I loved Avery, Spencer's bestfriend, the non-binary rep & the whole football team and Coach whom where oh so supportive.

This is for sure one of those "feel good books" rather than a typical contemporary I would pick up to really feel things and be invested. Not a sentence is wasted in this book, it is the perfect length and while not highly quotable, the easy writing makes for a wonderfully quick read that leaves you satisfied with the HFN ending (happy for now).

I loved how each character came out of their shells in this book and how Spencer's name was chosen. While his parents do their best to accept him I loved how the problems they had were approached and the efforts they made to ultimately truly accept him as their words were saying.

While the ending wrapped up too neatly in my opinion, I loved the little flashbacks we got from Spencer's past when he first came out and how his parents struggled, especially his dad in the beginning and how we sa3w the contrast to their relation now as he helps him as his "wingman" in the book.

SOME QUOTES - NO SPOILERS- PARENTAL LOVE:

"I want you to know that I'll always love you, whether you feel like you're a girl or a boy or whatever. ... I"m not going to make you grow up into someone you're not meant to be." -Spencer's mom

"I love you just the way you are" -Spencer's Dad.

4/5 stars

Bookarina

Traitors of the Black Crown by Cate Pearce Book ARC Review

 

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book, my thoughts are my own.

honestly DNF'ed around the 35-ish % mark and then skimmed it to the end.

I just no, it was not for me.

THERE IS NO PLOT TO THIS....it is sooooo boring I just couldn't handle it. the concept is nothing out of this world, it's like other books where the MC hides as a man (as a knight, or other) and falls in love but with no plot. It's a Sapphic romance which is what made me pick it up, since it was my first time reading it in the context of two women falling in love when one hides as a man. BUT NOPE NOPE NOPE. 

SAVE YOUR TIME THERE ARE GREATER SAPPHIC BOOKS OUT THERE.

HUUUUGGGEEEE DISSAPOINTMENT

1/5 stars 

Bookarina