Book Reviews Archives - Page 30 of 115

Book Review: It Sounded Better In My Head by Nina Kenwood

Nov 8, 2019

It Sounded Better In My Head by Nina Kenwood

Pages: 304
Publish date: April 7, 2019
Publisher: Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781925773910
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

When her parents announce their impending divorce, Natalie can’t understand why no one is fighting, or at least mildly upset. Then Zach and Lucy, her two best friends, hook up, leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward.

She’d always imagined she would end up with Zach one day―in the version of her life that played out like a TV show, with just the right amount of banter, pining, and meaningful looks. Now everything has changed, and nothing is quite making sense. Until an unexpected romance comes along and shakes things up even further.

It Sounded Better In My Head:

I’ve been waiting to read It Sounded Better In My Head by Nina Kenwood for some time as soon as it won the Text Prize really. I got it the week it came out, and while it did take me a while to read it, I finally did a little while ago. And overall, I really enjoyed It Sounded Better In My Head. It’s one of those books that when I finished it. I just smiled.

It Sounded Better In My Head follows Natalie as she tries to navigate life after high school and what’s it’s like to be an adult. After her parents announce that they are planning on divorcing, her two best friends get together and everything that Natalie understood is falling apart. Thrown in an unexpected romance and Natalie is left trying to figure out what to do with her life.

Nick Jio

The stage between the end of high school and the start of university, TAFE or what every someone chooses to do, is always hard. There are so many emotions running through your system, so many choices. And so many different ways that you could go. And I think that’s what Nina Kenwood mastered here in It Sounded Better In My Head. While I finished high school a little while ago now, I still remember clearly how I felt. The uncertainty, the overwelling nature of it all.

Natalie was a really easy protagonist to get along with. I was able to connect with her in so many ways and that just made her feel so real. One thing I loved about Natalie was a very honest character. And while she didn’t say things to other characters the reader is able to see through Natalie in those moments. Natalie didn’t have a great teen life. There were a lot of things stopping her from stepping out and being herself. She just wanted the world to swallow her whole. From a body that went against her all the time, too painful ache Natalie didn’t feel like she had the confidence to show everyone who she is – because, in reality, she didn’t know who she was.

I loved this refreshing look into being a teenager. We see and hear a lot of insecurities in YA – but I haven’t felt it like I did in It Sounded Better In My Head. The reader is able to feel everything that Natalie went through and felt. We are able to put ourselves in her shoes and fit. And when then when Natalie thought everything was going to change, it just went the other way.

Kate Williams

The notion of family and friendship is a massive theme throughout It Sounded Better In My Head. And I really loved how it showed as complicated, beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking. At the start of the novel Nina finds out about her parents’ divorce and that really tears her to pieces. She doesn’t really understand what’s going on or how to deal with everything. And then her best friends are together it just breaks Natalie for a little while I think. But we slowly see her out those pieces back together. The reader is there cheering for Natalie in every corner. Hoping that she not only mends these relationships but also feels good about them.

And while for the part really enjoyed Natalie and the friendships she had. I also felt that they treated her like she was 5 and didn’t know anything about the world. It’s something that really did bother me throughout the novel. And while I think they thought they were coming from a good place, they didn’t consider Natalie is her own person and can look after herself pretty well.

The romance in It Sounded Better In My Head was totally adorable. It utilised one of my favourite tropes and did it in such a great way. I really enjoyed Alex as a character and the reader is able to see how much he likes Natalie and enjoys her company. The slow pass of the romance and how they both slowly started to fall for each other was perfect.

I also loved that Alex was absolutely great with Natalie and her concerns. He let Natalie go at her own pace and never really pushed her for anything. Which is something that you rarely see in YA and it was done in such a positive light. In saying this, I do wish we got a little more of their relationship throughout It Sounded Better In My Head, but really that is it.

Everton Vila

It Sounded Better In My Head also had a great sense of place. I always find that #LoveOzYA novels, especially those sent in Australia, have a really beautiful way of writing place. I can always imagine and picture everything in these novels. Maybe it’s because I like in Australia, and Melbourne in this case. But everything just seems more real.

What Nina Kenwood has done in It Sounded Better In My Head, is write an honest, heartwarming coming of age novel. It truly captures all those feelings of leaving high school and the anxieties of what to do with life as an ‘adult.’ It explores family breakdowns, friendships out of high school and pure romance that just made me melt. While doing all this, It Sounded Better In My Head is also run, charming and left me with a smile. If you are looking for a YA contemporary that isn’t going to tear you apart but still makes the reader feel so many emotions.

Have you read It Sounded Better In My Head by Nina Kenwood? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s chat! On a quick side note, this has a publish date of April 2020 in the US, so add it to your TBR.

Book Review: Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Oct 27, 2019

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Pages: 519
Publish date: September 3, 2019
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780062971135
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.

Serpent & Dove:

Firstly before I start this review, I do want to apologise for being away for so long. The past month and a bit have been a little hectic, but I feel like things have finally settled. So here we go.

As soon as I read the synopsis for Serpent & Dove., I knew that I wanted to read. It sounded like it had everything that I love in it. Then I started to see reviews coming out, and they were really positive. And I knew that there was no doubt that I was reading it. And I was right from the start, I loved Serpent & Dove.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin follows Louise Le Blanc who fled her coven and now is trying to survive in a place where magic is strictly forbidden. Witches are feared, they are hunted and they are burned. She is surviving until she has a run-in with Reid Diggory. Reid is a huntsman of the Church and has always lived with the thought that all witches have to die. Forced into something that they both didn’t want, Lou and Reid not only have to navigate feelings for one another but also have their views on the world challenged.

Tikkho Maciel

Lou was such an interesting protagonist throughout Serpent & Dove. I’m not going to lie, it took me a little while to really connect with her. But once I did everything started coming together so well. I loved that Lou wasn’t easy to get along with. It made it so much more interesting. I feel that if she wasn’t such a complicated character, the novel would have fallen flat for me. Lou was tough as nails, she didn’t take no for an answer. But she was also really vulnerable. And I loved that combo. The reader is able to see that she feels a whole damn lot. Another thing that I loved about Lou was that she’s a strong female character. It’s something that I am always looking for and I found it very prominent in Serpent & Dove.

Reid was a really great match for Lou. And I’m not even talking romanticly. I felt that his characterisation was the opposite of Lou, but also complements her as well. Ried is a tough character to get along with. And not for the same reasons as Lou. Reid has a wall that he keeps up nice and strong, and the reader doesn’t get to really see him as a person until Lou starts to break those walls down. I loved that we got to see this “macho” man being brought to his knees by Lou. It’s just a great contrast of characters. I loved what Shelby Mahurin did with Reid’s character arc. The reader really gets to see him grow and really discover who he is.

Luke Porter

The romance in Serpent & Dove utilised two of my favourite romance tropes; hate to love and fake marriage. And I loved how both of them were done. Lou and Reid are on two opposites sides of this war between Cesarine and witches. They have both grown up hating each other, but when they are pushed into this marriage. They both start seeing each other and who they are in different lights. And while it takes them both a little longer to find out they are not half bad. It was really great to see. One of my favourite things about Serpent & Dove was Lou and Reid getting to know one another, I think it was done really well and I loved it. In saying all this I did feel that their relationship went from 60 to 100 very quickly.

I loved the world that Shelby Mahurin created here in Serpent & Dove. There is so my fantasy world out there now, that it’s getting harder to be unique. But Mahurin found a great way of doing that. I loved the different types of witches and magic. It made everything way more dynamic. It added a whole new dimension. There were times where I was a little confused by the magic, but it didn’t take me too long to understand it.

I’ve read a couple of reviews recently, where people found parts to boring and I think I understand why. Serpent & Dove does have a lot of court intrigue. And for a lot of people, it’s not something that they are into. But I find it utterly fascinating. I think it’s where readers can see the characters’ true nature. It’s a time where the reader can see the character as more than someone of a page. They make them real. I think that Shelby did a fantastic job at this. These times didn’t just add more to Lou and Reid, but also other characters. As well as the world itself.

Johannes Plenio

Another thing that I really enjoyed about Serpent & Dove was the sense of friendship and family. Both Lou and Reid come from next to nothing in terms of family. But the reader is able to see throughout Serpent & Dove, that they make their own family. I love seeing things like this espically in young adult novels. It just adds another dimension for me into the novel. It makes everyone, not just the protagonist way more interesting.

Overall, Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin is a fantastic novel. I keep on recommending it to customers at work because I want more and more people to read it. This is an intriguing debut novel from Shelby Mahurin and I cannot wait to see what else she has to bring. Serpent & Dove is a captivating fantasy novel that intwines magic in such an intriguing way. Combined that with a romance that is off the charts and you are in for a ride. Serpent & Dove is such a refreshing YA fantasy and I cannot wait for the next book.

Have you read Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman

Aug 21, 2019

Dalliances & Devotion (The Truitts #2) by Felicia Grossman

Pages: 265
Publish date: August 26th 2019
Publisher: Carina Press
ASIN: B07Q3LDH34
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

A change in course can be refreshing…when it’s done together.

1871
After two disastrous marriages, beauty columnist Amalia Truitt’s life is finally her own—well, it will be if she can get herself back to Delaware and demand access to her share of the Truitt family fortune. After all, the charity she’s organized for women who can’t afford their own divorces won’t fund itself.
However, not everyone wants her to reach her destination. When her family learns she’s been receiving anonymous death threats, a solo journey is out of the question.

Enter David Zisskind, the ragtag-peddler-turned-soldier whose heart Amalia broke years ago. He’s a Pinkerton now, and the promotion he craves depends on protecting his long-lost love on the unexpectedly treacherous journey across Pennsylvania.

That their physical connection has endured the test of time (and then some) is problematic, to say the least.
In very close quarters, with danger lurking around every curve, with each kiss and illicit touch, the wrongs of the past are righted. But David can’t weather another rejection, especially with his career in jeopardy. And Amalia can’t possibly take a lover, never mind another husband…not with so much depending on her repaired reputation. Not when she’s hurt David—her David—so badly before.

Dalliances & Devotion:

I received an e-arc of Dalliances & Devotion from Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Earlier this year I read Appetites & Vices, the first in this series and adored everything about it. When I heard there was going to be more books, I had to get on it. Dalliances & Devotion was such a fun and intense read, and I really enjoyed it so much.

Dalliances & Devotion follows Amalia Truitt as she travels back to Delaware after her second divorce has finally been finalised. And now she needs access to her family fortune because there are women depending on her. But after she starts receiving more death threats, travelling along isn’t something that she can do. So her family send along David Zisskind, who’s heart Amalia broke years ago. Now they have to cross Pennsylvania together with danger just around the corner, will they both make it back in one piece.

This was such a fun and intense read. I was both smiling and nervous about what was going to happen next. There is so much at stake in Dalliances & Devotion and both Amalia and David are put to the test. There is so much tension between Amalia and David which makes for such an interesting dynamic between the two of them. Add in the death threats and attempts and you have one hell of a ride.

Amalia was such an interesting character. I loved her fire and determination, but I also felt for her. At first, it seemed that Amalia was okay with being divorced twice. But there were times throughout the novel that I think it really hit her. While she never hinted at wanting a real family, deep down I think she did. She just never found the right person. In saying that I loved that Amalia got to really find herself throughout Dalliances & Devotion.

Felicia Grossman really knows how to write powerful and strong female characters in historical fiction and I can’t wait to see what more she can bring.

David was also a really interesting character in Dalliances & Devotion. It did take me a little while to warm up to him. But as soon as his walls started to break down – he became more real. That is something I’ve noticed over the last couple of months, characters have to have some realness to them for me to connect with them. At first, David just seemed angry and very stubborn. He started to mellow out as the novel went on and he got closer with Amalia.

The romance in Dalliances & Devotion wasn’t my favourite I’ll admit. But I still really loved it. There were times when David’s demeanour really put me off loving them together. However, as I started to like David more, I loved seeing him more with Amalia. I loved getting to know the history between the two of them and then seeing them grow as they are now.

One of the things I love about reading historical romance novels is the differences in characters that you can get. This all depends on what time it’s set, where it’s set, and even what it’s all about. But that is also what makes them so fantastic. I really want to write a post soon more about this.

The plot of Dalliances & Devotion was really interesting. I loved that it wasn’t just a basic historical romance per se. But it also had that crime element throughout. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. The reader is kept guessing on who is sending the threats and everything else that follows.

Okay, I’m going to have to admit to something. I can remember a lot of things, the one thing that always trips my mind is to remember names and characters. So it took me nearly the whole book to realise who Amalia was. And now I feel ashamed that it took me so long especially since I loved Appetites & Vices. I had to go back and re-read the synopsis for the first book for me to realise.

I also really loved the secondary characters throughout Dalliances & Devotion. Not only did they make it way more entertaining, but they also really helped with the flow of the book. It wasn’t just David and Amalia stuck together, but everyone with them as well.

Overall, I really loved Dalliances & Devotion. It was fun, intense and full of romance. It’s a great second chance romance in a historical setting. With a female character that is strong and willing to do what it takes for herself. I loved Amaila and I really got to like David as well. Together they were totally adorable. I can’t wait to see what else Felicia Grossman brings. If you are looking for a historical romance with a little twist this is for you.

Have you read Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? What are some of your favourite historical romance novels? Let’s Chat!