Funny Story by Emily Henry Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can also read my review of Book Lovers on my blog, now!

I picked this up unexpectedly as I wanted to use up store credit at my local bookstore - I did not have the faintest idea of the book's plot, but since I enjoyed Book Lovers so much, I figured I would add it to my cart. Emily Henry seems to have such a way with writing unexpected pairings, and I found myself totally sucked into the absolutely insane predicament that Daphne and Miles were thrown into - I cannot even imagine being in their shoes. With relationships in shambles and exes off galavanting with each other, Miles and Daphne find themselves as roommates when their respective partners abandon them for one another.

Seeing how Miles and Daphne seem to have opposite personalities, their sudden living arrangements causing them to live one room over from one another proves to be more entertaining than either of them imagined. With an unconventional plan to make their exes believe there is something more going on between them than meets the eye, they form an unlikely alliance in order to make everyone believe that they are doing just fine. This was such a fun concept to me, and as a lover of the fake dating trope, I knew I was going to eat this book up as soon as I realized what was going on.

Daphne's relationship with Patrick was always playing it safe and following his lead, whether it came to working out together, spending time with his family, or eating certain foods. It felt as though Daphne could not be her own person in their relationship, and from an outsider's perspective, it was a relationship that was destined to fizzle out one way or another. Miles and Petra's relationship mirrored Daphne and Patrick's, in the sense that Miles was longing for something more while Petra was determined to have Patrick fall into the same ways as her family. While we do not get a super in depth look at both of the relationships, it is clear that they were on roads headed south, and it was only a matter of time before they fell apart.

I loved how much Miles was able to make Daphne come out of her shell and finally start living her life - from what we saw from her relationship with Patrick, the man was holding her back from experiencing everything life had to offer. And for a woman in her thirties, she certainly should have been taking advantage of her youth and exploring the area. On the other hand, Daphne's influence on Patrick when it came to sticking up for himself -- and often times, sticking up for Daphne -- showed how much he was able to mature and really take a look at his life.

If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced romance, Funny Story is in the cards for you. I do wish there were a few less pop culture references, only because I felt like they date a book and it gives off millennial vibes to me. Some plot points felt as though they were repeated from another one of Henry's works, but I still had an absolute blast reading this book, and can't wait to dive into another one of her works.

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Relentless Pursuit (Boneless Redemption Duet, #2) by Isabella Alexander Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Forbidden Obsession on my blog, now!

I told myself I needed to see how this duet ended despite my original feelings for the first installment. Penelope and Dominic's relationship was nothing short of interesting and complicated... and after the end of Forbidden Obsession, I could not even imagine their relationship ever working out in the long run. They have so many issues and even more secrets from one another, one can only see their relationship going downhill one month into anything serious. 

This final installment was filled with mediocre spicy scenes and juvenile writing that had me questioning the dialogue every other page. I had my qualms with the first book, and I truly thought that there would be some form of improvement to see this duet through -- unfortunately, that was not the case. Penelope is just as naive as she was in the first book, and Dominic is just as irrational and territorial as I remember. When they are not in bed together, they are keeping secrets from one another or trying to get the upper hand to satisfy their own agendas.

The "twists" in this book were incredibly predictable and the pacing is so rushed, it feels as though obstacles pop up on one page and then get immediately resolved within the next two pages. I wish the story improved as the book progressed, but the plot was essentially at a stalemate for me - I could see everything coming from a mile away, and since I was not particularly attached to Penelope and Dominic's relationship, I frankly did not care what happened to them. To echo my statement from my Forbidden Obsession review, I once again felt like I was being held hostage when I was reading this book.

With underdeveloped lead characters and a storyline that has taken more turns than necessary, Alexander's duet leaves the reader feeling jolted around as they attempt to make sense of every decision a character made. I wish I had more positive things to say about this book, but I was left incredibly underwhelmed and to be honest, grateful once it was finally over. It is a very quick read, so if you are looking for a duet that you can fly through, it may be up your alley.

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Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1.5) by Carissa Broadbent Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Serpent and the Wings of Night on my blog, now!

I loved how this novella was its own story and can be read as a standalone - its dark tones and romantic incorporation allows the reader to remain in the world, but explore a new relationship and see other characters develop outside of the first installment of this series. The concept of Lilith dying since the day she was born was so intriguing to me - as she has accepted her fate, the constant death surrounding her has her searching for a cure. Making a deal with a vampire is risky, but for someone who is willing to do whatever it takes, it seems like an easy choice.

When Lilith offers roses in exchange for vials of Val's blood, she does not realize that this is only the beginning of their relationship before it develops into something they both never expected. As a lover of vampire romance, it was fun to watch their "business transactions" turn into something romantic, even more so watching Lilith slowly turn from being weary of Val to falling in love. While Val and Lilith's interactions were not super long, the author certainly was able to depict their relationship deeply and how their very different lives have been affected by one another.

This novella felt much more fleshed out compared to other fantasy series novellas - it felt as though I read a complete story, and I do hope they come into play more in the main series. I would love to see more of what is in store for their relationship. Since their story is not directly related to the first book in this series, you can choose to read this or skip, but I would recommend reading it for the essence of the series. There was such a heavy yearning aspect to Val and Lilith's romance that it truly holds the reader captive until the very end.

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Lead (Stage Dive, #3) by Kylie Scott Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Lick and Play on my blog, now! Lick is now available to stream on Passionflix.

Jimmy has also intrigued me as a character since his introduction in Lick, so I was excited to see how he developed in his own story and how he would welcome the idea of a romantic interest in his life. Since I am a sucker for the personal assistant trope, I knew this book would keep me hooked, especially considering Jimmy is not the picture perfect man - he has his ups and downs, which makes him all the more interesting to read about. When Lena ends up as his personal assistant, she certainly does not expect it to be as intense as Jimmy makes it for her.

Lena wants to keep everything professional between her and Jimmy, and seems to be the only person in his life that does not walk on eggshells around him when it comes to his past, and she is the only one able to put him in his place. They have pretty solid banter and while we only get Lena's perspective in the book, we can tell how much Jimmy cannot stay away from Lena, despite his somewhat idiotic actions he does in order to make her stay. Despite Lena's determination to stay professional is definitely put to the test throughout this book, and she has to deal with a lot personally as she manages Jimmy's professional life.

Of the three leading ladies that we have seen in the Stage Dive series, I have to say that Lena is at the top of my list - all of them have their own strengths and compliment their romantic counterparts, but there was just something about the characterization of Lena that was more compelling. Her relationship with Jimmy was one that seemed the most organic out of the other relationships, and as I have said before, I love the tropes in the other books, but this one really takes the cake for me.

Once again, the friendships in this book series really make everything work - the support systems they have solidify the characters and their personalities without sacrificing the romantic development between the main leads. It was nice to see that the other band members went to bat for Lena when she was being wronged, or even when Jimmy was not acting in the best light towards Lena when he was upset at the consequences of his own actions. These books are great when you just need a moment to have a low-stakes romance that you know will work out in the end, but there are still obstacles that keep the story moving.

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The Crown of the Dark Prince (House of Hyrax, #2) by Arcadia Rayne ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Rose in the Shadows on my blog, now! The Crown of the Dark Prince will be available on May 8, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved The Rose in the Shadows, and was incredibly excited to dive back into the world and see what was in store for these characters. Thea is now even deeper into Athenian Court and Council member life, and as she continues her internal battle between following her feelings and looking for the truth, she finds herself more isolated than ever. After the events of The Rose in the Shadows, she is essentially moving through life with determination to understand what the God of the Dead has in store for her.

Her attraction to Clay and their complicated relationship continue in this installment, and the will-they-wont-they is addicting. Every interaction they have is like adding fuel to the fire to their story, and I found Thea's complex and guarded actions towards Clay an intriguing part of her character that made her more nuanced as the story went on. Clay's reactions to her approach were completely valid, and his determination toward understanding the situation really solidified him as a character and as a potential love interest.

The Dragon continues to be one of the most vile characters in this series and the introduction of another foe only causes Thea, Clay, and the rest of their friends to face even more difficulties and loss throughout this installment. Thea is truly put through the ringer at every chance, and I felt as though she could never catch a break - there would be fleeting moments where she was content or at ease, but two chapters later, she would be fighting for her life or trying to save someone. That being said, she certainly had her moments and needed to lock into her common sense skills - I think she would become so overwhelmed at the state of the madness that she was unable to focus on how to solve issues.

Friendships in this series have been at the root for logical thinking and holding each other accountable. The majority of the characters either go through something horrific or bear witness to something of that nature, and the outcome tends to impact their relationships with one another. Considering what occurred in The Rose in the Shadows, it comes to no surprise that particular characters are not acting like their usual selves, while other characters attempt to aid those affected in the best way possible. Secrets are uncovered and loyalties are put to the test as everyone seeks to end the suffering around them.

Once again the ending of this book was insane and now I cannot believe I have to wait for the third installment. I had a feeling things were going in that direction, but when it actually happened, I still could not believe what I was reading. Rayne does such a fantastic job at pulling readers into the story, and coming off the intense battles these characters fight in, it felt like another blow by a sword, in the best way possible. I absolutely will be continuing on with this series, and cannot imagine what trials and tribulations this group of friends will have to endure.

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Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation by Camonghne Felix Review

I do not know how to comment on someone else's trauma - reading memoirs or nonfiction books is not my typical choice, but I had heard some interesting thoughts regarding this book, so I figured I would expand my reading genre and give it a try. I certainly did not expect the extensiveness that this book dives into the author's past traumas - I knew it would be discussed, but it seemed to override the comparison or relationship to mathematics and calculations. As someone who has studied dyscalculia, I was excited to see how it would be incorporated beyond neuropsychology, but instead, I was left unsatisfied.

Based on the summary, I anticipated this memoir would rely more heavily on dyscalculia and her interest in mathematics - it was more so present in the beginning, but soon felt abandoned in favor of recollections of various therapist appointments and polarizing encounters with her past partner. She is plagued with a number of mental health obstacles, ranging from figuring out the right medication as a child to continues diagnoses well into adulthood - all while tackling relationships outside of the one she has with herself.

The pacing of this memoir felt as though I was being jerked around in a number of directions - it honestly was a bit disorienting at times, and often left me trying to understand where her timeline was by the time she was done with an inserted tangent. That being said, the author does have great prose and I was definitely able to lock into her story - she clearly has the ability to story tell, but this book in particular did not showcase her full potential in my opinion. It often felt as though she was going on an extended tangent recounting so many random instances. Just as her stories were coming together, the book was over and I felt left with more confusion and questions than a sense of completion.

Maybe memoirs are not the genre for me, but I am always open to read anything - this book really did draw my attention and I was excited to see what was in store regarding how the author would be able to convey personal experiences to the directness of mathematics. I may return to her work in the future, but for now, this experience was enough for me to table that idea for now.

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The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1) by Carissa Broadbent Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Finally, and adult vampire fantasy book that actually has a solid balance of romance and fantasy - I could cry. I have had this book on my TBR for what feels like forever and it was high time that I finally picked it up and saw what all of the hype was about. Oraya was adopted by the Nightborn vampire king after being found alone and was raised among vampires as a human. In order to prove herself worthy of more than she appears, she decides to compete in the Kejari to solidify her presence and power. Along the way, she makes an unlikely ally in a vampire she wants nothing to do with, yet cannot stay away from. As she encounters attacks she never saw coming, Oraya must decide if her victory is worth the price.

Broadbrent does an excellent job is creating the most interesting dynamic between Oraya and her adopted father - I could literally feel their bond off of the page, and it was refreshing to see how he had his own way of caring for her while still being a king with a brutal past. She very much understands what he has done in order to secure his throne, and she knows that without that brutality, vampires would not be the creatures they are.

The intensity of the Kejari is tangible - I was on the edge of my seat. The pacing is essentially electric and the reader feels as though they are competing alongside the others and fighting for their lives. Oraya's determination as a human in a world of vampires is amplified by her position as the king's adopted daughter - while she is basically out-ranking everyone else, she has the illegitimacy haunting her, allowing others to speak freely towards her and doing everything in their power to take her out of the running.

Raihn... where do I even begin with this man... he is everything that Oraya cannot stand, and yet they gravitate towards one another like they belong in each other's solar systems. The banter was fantastic to witness - they both do not take anyone's B.S. and challenge each other to the fullest capacity. Raihn's vampiric nature is everything opposite to Oraya's humanistic characteristics, making their balance something so intense and complex - she cannot stand what vampires are doing to humans, and he cannot understand why she is set on competing with centuries-old vampires for the chance for a single wish.

You can feel Raihn and Oraya's struggles to come to turn with their feelings towards one another while also battling their own struggles - with attacks coming from all sides, they are forced to not only compete in Kejari, but compete for their lives and their own desires as those around them attempt to shatter the world they live in. I truly appreciated how much their actions impacted their emotions, and seeing how they decided to put their own needs above others in a number of situations.

The pacing of this book was insane at the end - I felt as though I was being swung around in the air at twenty miles per hour - they hits just kept coming. To echo what some other reviews note, a number of the plot twists were certainly able to be spotted from a mile away, but there were a few at the end that caught me off guard so much so that my jaw dropped and I had to take a minute to process what just occurred. The alliances and friendships in this book were so interesting - all were complex with layers, even when ulterior motives were at play. I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters, and considering this series is going to be compiled of three duologies, I will have plenty to dive into.

God of Pain (Legacy of Gods, #2) by Rina Kent Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of God of Malice on my blog, now!

My TikTok For You Page has been harassing me to continue on with this series, and I have finally succumbed to the constant onslaught of videos. I love a good dark college romance, but it actually cracks me up that these twenty-year-old boys think they are the scariest individuals to walk the planet... like you are glorified frat boys at best. It will never fail to make me laugh when the male lead of the book claims he terrorizes their university campus and it turns out that they are not even legal drinking age in the United States.

Annika is out here locked in the Heathens mansion during initiation, meanwhile everyone and their mother is out there either terrorizing freshmen or somehow finding their soulmate. That does not stop her from having some...fun...that night - when a masked man shows up in her room and causes a curiosity that she just cannot shake, she takes her interest into her own hands and sets up to basically annoying the man into hanging out with her. You could tell that the banter was there on her side, but Creighton, our leading man of few words, would turn that banter itno a punish faster than Annika could shut her mouth.

Annika and Creighton are yapper4silent core - she does not shut up and he barely says a word - a match made in heaven. "Little violet," however, is one of the worst nicknames I have ever come across, and the fact that Creighton uses it basically every other sentence started to drive me insane. It was interesting to see the backstory on why Creighton does not speak so much, and the fact that other characters were so impressed that he actually would have conversation with Annika showed how much he cared about her. I do wish that he did not use silencing Annika as a way to get what he wanted from her - a majority of the time, it felt as though he knew he could do whatever he wanted with her by threatening her every single time she spoke.

The plot of this book... I will not lie, did not have me in a chokehold, or even a tight grip, to be honest. I tore through this book mostly because the chapters are so short and you can fly right through it like it is nothing, but other than that, I was not on the edge of my seat waiting to see what highs and lows would hit Annika and Creighton -- they seemed to do a pretty good job at rustling each other's feathers on their own. It felt as though every character was out to destroy their relationship - with the exception of a few, there was at least one point for everyone that made them not want Annika and Creighton to be together - it got old, fast.

I personally did not enjoy Annika's characterization - she felt a little all over the place. She would either be so rigid during one chapter, and then do whatever someone told her to do the next. While she did have some vulnerable moments that took her out of these polar opposites, I just could not connect to her character. When it came to Creighton, I was more so amused with the way he viewed himself as this mighty, controlling man, when in reality it was mostly a protective front as he worked to seek revenge for past events. The spicier scenes were not anything special, and it honestly felt a little recycled after the first couple times.

While this series shows promise, I wish I was able to lock into the story more and improve the rating from God of Malice - after over 500 pages, I should have felt some sort of connection to Creighton and Annika. Instead, I am viewing it as a stepping stone in the series as I continue on and see what relationship Kent has in store for us next. If you are looking for a fast-paced mildly forbidden romance, God of Pain could be your next read.

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We Are Villains by Kacen Callender ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! We Are Villains was released on March 25, 2025 and is now available for purchase at select retailers.

I would first like to thank NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I have really been in the mood for a mystery book and when the approval came through on NetGalley, I was quick to download and get started. The premise reminded me of a few other mystery books I have read in the past, and I was interested to see where things were headed for Milo as he attempted to uncovered who killed his friend, Arianna.

Much like Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell, our protagonist is on the hunt to determine who killed his friend, and is willing to go to extreme lengths to reveal the truth and get justice by any means necessary. Milo appears to be a wallflower and tends to stay in the shadows of others, but as more attention is drawn to him as the days go on, he is thrown into a whirlwind of events that have consequences for everyone. As readers learn more about Milo and his life outside of Yates, we are also exposed to his relationships with the students and how he views himself as an individual and on a deeper level.

The perspective changes nearly every chapter, and with short chapters, it became more of a challenge to keep track of who was talking - especially considering the perspectives are written in first person. While I do appreciate multiple perspective books, it felt as though this should have been limited to three perspectives instead of the larger amount that we had in the book. There were a number of characters who were more interesting to read about, and I would have loved to dive deeper into the more sinister individuals rather than dwell on some characters that in my eyes were not nearly as intriguing.

As this is a young adult book, I expected a certain ceiling or threshold that the author would reach without going into adult territory, but I fear that they kept this book hovering over more middle grade than young adult. I felt a little out of my element when reading this, and wish that the maturity was turned up a tad - considering this is a murder mystery, I wanted the stakes to be higher in certain scenarios. That being said, there were definitely chapters or events that fell into the young adult category, but it would have been great if the book felt more cohesive when detailing particular actions or diving into characters and their personalities.

This is a super quick read and you will be able to tackle it in a couple of hours - I was entertained, but felt as though it was missing a little something that would push it over the edge into something memorable for me. The mystery element was played well, and I have to say it definitely kept me intrigued throughout the entirety of the story.

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The Rose in the Shadows (House of Hyrax, #1) by Arcadia Rayne Review

This is a spoiler-free review! 

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. After suddenly appearing, Theadora Moore is found to be the last Descendant of Hyrax, and she is thrown into royal politics and attempts on her life. With no memory of who she is or how she ended up here, she must navigate life as a royal and tune into the magic that very much but a target on her back. Prince Clayton Vail is weary to trust this girl who has already caused an amount of destruction without intention, and he must determine if her presence at court will be one of distraction or duty.

The amnesia trope is something I have actually rarely come across - sure, there have been points in books where characters have lost their memories after being cursed or drinking potions, but I do not recall more than a few times where the lead has had no memory from the beginning. It creates such a unique challenge for not only the lead, but for the supporting characters who have to discover if Thea is able to be trusted. Watching her grow into herself and work to discover how she ended up with such a target on her back and searching for answers.

Clay's immediate mistrust of Thea is not unexpected - in fact, if he trusted her immediately, I would have been weary of Clay's reasoning abilities. As he continues to side eye her throughout the days and warn everyone within a hundred foot vicinity that she should not be so easily welcomed, we also see the longing gazes and beginnings of protectiveness towards her. I loved his character - I would not go as far to say that he is stand-offish, but rather as heir, he must be cautious on who he interacts with and opens up to. The bickering between Thea and Clay was definitely a highlight of this book, and truly showed how their relationship developed over time.

Thea may be a stranger to her own memories, but that does not hinder the way she interacts with those in court or her boldness when it comes to making a scene for the good of the people. She is strong-headed and often times it does have consequences, not only for herself, but for others. I do think a lot of the supporting characters do place a lot of strong feelings on her - she is incredibly new to the idea that she is a princess, and yet she is under scrutiny at every turn. That being said, supporting characters like Iris have been by her side essentially since the beginning, and you can tell that she does have a support system in place, no matter how small it is.

The action in this book is certainly captivating, and I found myself truly enjoying the intensity - it reminded me a lot of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard in that regard. There were so many instances where I felt as though I could not turn the page fast enough - sure, there is world-building in the beginning, but even so, there is action right from the start. The author had a clear vision of what she wanted to convey with this story, and I appreciate the fact that she took the time to development side characters without sacrificing the main plot or Thea's development. Both Thea and Clay have such strong presences in this book, and are the main drawing point for me to continue reading this series and seeing where it goes. If you are looking for an adult fantasy to keep you on the edge of your seat, The Rose in the Shadows is definitely for you.

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Jet (Marked Men, #2) by Jay Crownover Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Rule on my blog, now!

After reading the first book and watching Marked Men: Rule + Shaw, I knew that I wanted to continue on with this interconnected series - I love a tortured leading man, and Crownover does a pretty decent job in exploring a number of serious topics and issues in this series without glossing over the trauma some of the characters have experienced. The premise of this second installment certainly intrigued me - the fact that Jet and Ayden were roommates is a trope that I have only read a handful of times, and I was excited to see where it would lead these characters.

With Jet being a musician and me still riding the wave of the Stage Dive series by Kylie Scott as I continue with that interconnected series as well, I enjoyed how much emphasis the author put on Jet's commitment to his music career and band. Often with musician-centered romances, the leading man will either abandon his band in favor of his girl, or somehow decide that music is not the life for him. Jet tells Ayden multiple times how important music is to him, and there are so many instances of Ayden realizing that she misjudged Jet's passions or work ethic because she did not understand what went into a successful music career.

Ayden as a character has me wading somewhere in the middle of she is tolerable and that I wanted to knock some sense into her. I understand that she has been through a lot, and considering what is alluded to in her past, I can see why she wanted to have a fresh start and be away from a family that seemed to only take advantage of her. That being said, she can clearly communicate her feelings and frustrations when necessary, so it was somewhat annoying to see her abandon her way of effectively communicating in place of passive aggressive comments and avoiding conflict when it was staring at her in the face.

Jet was a more well-rounded lead compared to Rule, in my opinion. Rule felt more reckless and temperamental compared to Jet, and it was nice to see a male lead that was at least able to regulate his emotions. Sure, both of them have gotten into their fair share of brawls and fist fights, but for different reasons and caused by different circumstances. Jet seems to play the long game whereas Rule acted in the moment, and it is a defining feature that separates their characters and personalities. I enjoyed how much Jet was ready to go to bat for his passions and career, while also recognizing that his actions affect other people - especially when it came to his relationship with Ayden and the complicated feelings that had for one another.

Rule and Shaw make a number of appearances throughout the book, and I would recommend reading this series in order if you do not want to be spoiled for the events of Rule. I enjoyed the callbacks to prior events, and Crownover was able to sprinkle these into Jet without overtaking Ayden and Jet's stories. For this book, we definitely saw more of Jet's support system in place of Ayden's, and while hers was still present, his life and burdens definitely kept the story moving along for me compared to Ayden's plot lines. Sure, Ayden's trials and tribulations were certainly burdensome and taking a toll on her, but I wish it was not mostly thrown into the book over halfway through.

If you are looking for some new adult college romance that tackles a number of issues while still incorporating a solid romance, this series is right up your alley. These books are quick and easy to read - a perfect series to dive into if you are in need of serious drama and fun, messy romance.

 

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Forbidden Obsession (Boneless Redemption Duet, #1) by Isabella Alexander Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Guys... I have led myself astray once again after a download binge from a past Stuff Your Kindle Day. I do not even think I have the words to express how much this book was just simply... not a book. The idea of any type of plot was firmly thrown out of the window, and when you thought there was about to be at least a skeleton of structure in this book, it was abandoned in favor of some of the worst smut scenes I have laid my eyes on. The male and female leads were not likeable or enjoyable, and I spent the majority of the book begging for it to be over.

Penelope Cattaneo is a college student that has caught the eye of Dominic Lucas, an Italian professor with desire to dish out justice in place of continuing his family's torrid legacy and reign. The minute he laid his eyes on Penelope, she was the only thing he could focus on, and not for nothing, Penelope's life arguably became better and worse because of it. Penelope's traumatic past still has its claws in her, and with her current familial issues, the presence that Dominic brings into her life somehow becomes the only stable constant.

I literally felt like I was holding myself hostage while reading this book - I cannot bring myself to DNF a book, so I had to see it through, no matter how much interest I was losing in the story. The author attempts to make these intense plot devices seem shocking, but it is nothing to write home about, and I found myself more amused at the attempt than invested in these characters. I am not sure what else I could have expected from a book like this, but I was at least hoping for some more solid plot work, considering the mafia involvement.

The smut scenes were basically unbearable - the dialogue was ridiculous, and the descriptions felt as though they were pulled from Wattpad circa 2013, and not in the good way. Sure, some of the scenes have some actual meat to them, but for the most part, they fall flat or are utilized in an attempt to distract the reader from the lack of plot in the book. It is an incredibly short book, and yet it took me longer to finish it compared to a 400-page book. If you are looking for a quick, spicy read, Forbidden Obsession may be the filler you are looking for - I will probably read the final installment just to see how it ends.

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Play (Stage Dive, #2) by Kylie Scott Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Lick on my blog, now! Lick is now available to stream on Passionflix.

I had a mixed review of Lick, and while I truly enjoyed the film adaptation, my experience reading Play felt like I was reading a different series. As much as I love interconnected stand-alones, it read as if it was still David and Evelyn's story - they are present for a majority of the book, and a decent amount of events occur that are centered around them as a couple, with Mal and Anne suddenly taking a step to the side. Mal was the highlight of Lick for me, but in his own book, I found myself questioning how I considered him a favorite. His light-heartedness and comedic relief were present in the beginning of this book, but died off and he became a different person.

Anne... where do I even begin with this girl. I do not understand the way she thinks approximately 60% of the time. She gets mad at something one minute, then does not care the next, and considering the way people constantly treat her like a doormat, you would think she would learn to grow up and stand up for herself. I understand that she wants to give people the benefit of the doubt, but it often lands her with the short end of the stick, and she is always surprised with that outcome when it just happens over and over again. It would have been great to see her become more developed through this book - you could tell the author attempted to strengthen her character in the second half of the book, but the process felt abandoned and short-lived.

I wanted Anne to have more friends - instead, she had a boss that was jealous of Mal the entire book, reporters wanting to learn every detail about her relationship, and people in her life that just took advantage of her. Evelyn's friend group was at least more established and she had a lot of support, and while Anne did interact with a lot of the band members, it still felt like she was isolated from others in this story. Mal was pretty involved with Anne - you could tell that he enjoyed her company and actually liked her - but with him as the only constant, it made their agreement feel more contractual than real. While their feelings did mature and they were able to work through everything, their bedroom relationship was wild and definitely complicated what they had started.

The spicy scenes were definitely better than the ones in Lick, and they felt more intimate than David and Evelyn's scenes - not that they were poorly done, but I do think Anne and Mal had more tangible chemistry than Evelyn and David. I found the balance of actual plot and spicy scenes to be pretty well established, and the pacing of this book felt much smoother compared to the first installment. There were definitely some questionable actions throughout the book, but overall, I did enjoy the book and will continue on with this series. If you are looking for a fake relationship romance, this will certainly satisfy that craving.

You can add Play on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!