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booklionqueen's reviews
614 reviews
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
slow-paced
2.25
2.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to MacMillan Audio #macaudio2025 and NetGalley for a copy of this ALC.
I really wanted to like this. I think the premise seemed so fun! Then I realized that certain fantasies aren't for me. I think the funny, low stakes, witty fantasies aren't my thing, I think that people that like low stakes, lighthearted and funny and fantasies that immerse you in the fantasy world immediately would love this book. I just realized this book was not for me. I did like the fact that some of the usual tropes you see were flipped over on their head.
I do think that the narrator did a great job and created really fun vibes for the story.
Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 24
Thank you to MacMillan Audio #macaudio2025 and NetGalley for a copy of this ALC.
I really wanted to like this. I think the premise seemed so fun! Then I realized that certain fantasies aren't for me. I think the funny, low stakes, witty fantasies aren't my thing, I think that people that like low stakes, lighthearted and funny and fantasies that immerse you in the fantasy world immediately would love this book. I just realized this book was not for me. I did like the fact that some of the usual tropes you see were flipped over on their head.
I do think that the narrator did a great job and created really fun vibes for the story.
Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 24
Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie
5.0
5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to @avonbooks and @harpercollins for a finished copy of this book.
Wow. This book was SO FUNNY. I found myself laughing out loud from the very beginning of the book. I totally felt where Alice was coming from when she was watching her life pass her by so she needed a shock to the system and taking a last minute travel excursion was the way to go. The chaos that ensued after and the friends made along the way made it all the better. I loved the side characters in this book about as much as I did the MC's. Robbie, our MMC and tour guide, trades jabs with the FMC like a pro. It is such a fun dynamic to watch and it doesn't hurt that he wears a kilt. British humor is my jam so I definitely enjoyed this and look forward to books this author writes in the future!
I did also listen to the audiobook while reading physically and I wanted to say the narrator did an excellent job of doing all the different voices and didn't make it confusing which would be easy to do with a cast of characters this large.
Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 36
Thank you to @avonbooks and @harpercollins for a finished copy of this book.
Wow. This book was SO FUNNY. I found myself laughing out loud from the very beginning of the book. I totally felt where Alice was coming from when she was watching her life pass her by so she needed a shock to the system and taking a last minute travel excursion was the way to go. The chaos that ensued after and the friends made along the way made it all the better. I loved the side characters in this book about as much as I did the MC's. Robbie, our MMC and tour guide, trades jabs with the FMC like a pro. It is such a fun dynamic to watch and it doesn't hurt that he wears a kilt. British humor is my jam so I definitely enjoyed this and look forward to books this author writes in the future!
I did also listen to the audiobook while reading physically and I wanted to say the narrator did an excellent job of doing all the different voices and didn't make it confusing which would be easy to do with a cast of characters this large.
Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 36
Great or Nothing by Jessica Spotswood, Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe
slow-paced
2.75
2.75 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I thought this book's premise was so intriguing! A retelling of sorts of Little Women but set in WW2 instead of the Civil War was such an interesting premise. However, I felt like the execution fell flat in places for me.
What I liked: Amy and Beth's parts. I thought that those were so well done and I appreciated the way that Beth was weaved into the story. I did also enjoy the way that the sisters relationship is weaved throughout the story, even when they're far apart. I loved seeing Laurie and how he fit in as well.
I thought Meg and Jo's parts drug on a bit too long in some ways. I did enjoy the story overall but it felt like it drug on a bit too long and it took too long to get to the conclusion of the action. I found that I was enjoying Amy's storyline the best and the others kind of got lost.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I thought this book's premise was so intriguing! A retelling of sorts of Little Women but set in WW2 instead of the Civil War was such an interesting premise. However, I felt like the execution fell flat in places for me.
What I liked: Amy and Beth's parts. I thought that those were so well done and I appreciated the way that Beth was weaved into the story. I did also enjoy the way that the sisters relationship is weaved throughout the story, even when they're far apart. I loved seeing Laurie and how he fit in as well.
I thought Meg and Jo's parts drug on a bit too long in some ways. I did enjoy the story overall but it felt like it drug on a bit too long and it took too long to get to the conclusion of the action. I found that I was enjoying Amy's storyline the best and the others kind of got lost.
Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
3.0
3 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an earc of this book and thank you to HarperCollins, William Morrow and Avon for a finished copy of this book.
This book was very much filled with instalove and angst because of the situation our MC's find themselves in. I found Sig to be an interesting and dynamic character and I found that Chloe's character sort of fell flat for me. I appreciated her tenacity and willingness to navigate through the world closer to on her own than with help from her mother and make a way for herself playing the harp. However, I just didn't buy the motivation that Sig had to help her in the first place. My main issue was the instalove but the angst between the two characters was good and I liked the storyline they were forced to navigate, I just wish I got a little bit more.
Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 17, 18, 19, 23 (language warning as well)
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an earc of this book and thank you to HarperCollins, William Morrow and Avon for a finished copy of this book.
This book was very much filled with instalove and angst because of the situation our MC's find themselves in. I found Sig to be an interesting and dynamic character and I found that Chloe's character sort of fell flat for me. I appreciated her tenacity and willingness to navigate through the world closer to on her own than with help from her mother and make a way for herself playing the harp. However, I just didn't buy the motivation that Sig had to help her in the first place. My main issue was the instalove but the angst between the two characters was good and I liked the storyline they were forced to navigate, I just wish I got a little bit more.
Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 17, 18, 19, 23 (language warning as well)
Cabin: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman by Patrick Hutchison
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
3.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to MacMillan Audio ,#macaudio2024, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this audiobook for my review.
I really enjoyed this one! I thought it was definitely an interesting insight to a topic I didn't know a lot about. It was fascinating to hear about the author's journey in redoing a cabin he had absolutely no experience in. I loved listening to the author talking about living in the Pacific Northwest. I have visited the PNW twice. I haven't lived there before but the way he describes it in the audiobook makes me want to visit the woods.
Narrator: This was narrated by the author and he did a great job of explaining everything. It felt like I was listening to a podcast.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio ,#macaudio2024, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this audiobook for my review.
I really enjoyed this one! I thought it was definitely an interesting insight to a topic I didn't know a lot about. It was fascinating to hear about the author's journey in redoing a cabin he had absolutely no experience in. I loved listening to the author talking about living in the Pacific Northwest. I have visited the PNW twice. I haven't lived there before but the way he describes it in the audiobook makes me want to visit the woods.
Narrator: This was narrated by the author and he did a great job of explaining everything. It felt like I was listening to a podcast.
Spies Don't Fall for Their Asset by Meg Easton
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a complimentary copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book was just plain fun! A secret agent and a woman obsessed with spy movies cross paths and romance ensues? Sign. Me. Up. I thought that this was such a fun, closed door romance. It was like watching a hallmark spy movie but in my ears.
The narrators of this audiobook did an excellent job bringing the story to life and I would definitely listen to other books from them again.
I had such a blast with this book and look forward to more books from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a complimentary copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book was just plain fun! A secret agent and a woman obsessed with spy movies cross paths and romance ensues? Sign. Me. Up. I thought that this was such a fun, closed door romance. It was like watching a hallmark spy movie but in my ears.
The narrators of this audiobook did an excellent job bringing the story to life and I would definitely listen to other books from them again.
I had such a blast with this book and look forward to more books from this author in the future.
All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to @netgalley and @simonteen for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Wow. This book was a weird one and one that makes you think. A mysterious virus takes over in a post COVID world and it allows people to be content and not feel any negative emotions. Some people want to embrace this and others don't want it near them because of what they think it will feel like. This book follows 3 main characters Rón, Mariel and Morgan. Each of these people have their own role to play in the story. I found these characters to have an interesting depth and motivation, some for good and others evil, depending on how you look at it. This book really made you think, if a virus with a low mortality rate could give you permanent contentment, would you?
I am not sure that I would want to contract the virus. I think part of what makes humans so interesting is that we can experience complex emotions. If there was no sadness, the joy wouldn't seem as exciting in a way. Overall, this book was incredibly interesting. I love Neal Schusterman's writing and this is no different. This book made me uncomfortable at times but I believe that it was meant to and I love that.
#SimonTeenInfluencer #AllBetterNowBook #SimonTeen
Wow. This book was a weird one and one that makes you think. A mysterious virus takes over in a post COVID world and it allows people to be content and not feel any negative emotions. Some people want to embrace this and others don't want it near them because of what they think it will feel like. This book follows 3 main characters Rón, Mariel and Morgan. Each of these people have their own role to play in the story. I found these characters to have an interesting depth and motivation, some for good and others evil, depending on how you look at it. This book really made you think, if a virus with a low mortality rate could give you permanent contentment, would you?
I am not sure that I would want to contract the virus. I think part of what makes humans so interesting is that we can experience complex emotions. If there was no sadness, the joy wouldn't seem as exciting in a way. Overall, this book was incredibly interesting. I love Neal Schusterman's writing and this is no different. This book made me uncomfortable at times but I believe that it was meant to and I love that.
#SimonTeenInfluencer #AllBetterNowBook #SimonTeen
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
5 out of 5 stars
Sarah Adams doesn't miss.
I loved this book. Adams always finds a way to portray all different types of relationships and create character development and allow me to always find a way to find something in that character that I can draw from. In this one in particular, Annie and I are very similar. While I don’t have the same family dynamics, I do see myself a lot in her so I loved that about this novel. The MMC was wonderfully swoon worthy and I’m so glad I read this one after When in Rome. It was a great sequel to an awesome series and can’t wait to read Beg, Borrow or Steal.
Sarah Adams doesn't miss.
I loved this book. Adams always finds a way to portray all different types of relationships and create character development and allow me to always find a way to find something in that character that I can draw from. In this one in particular, Annie and I are very similar. While I don’t have the same family dynamics, I do see myself a lot in her so I loved that about this novel. The MMC was wonderfully swoon worthy and I’m so glad I read this one after When in Rome. It was a great sequel to an awesome series and can’t wait to read Beg, Borrow or Steal.
The Rival by Emma Lord
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for a complimentary copy of this book.
I really resonated with this one. Remembering how lost you feel at the beginning of college and finding yourself along the way is something that felt so raw and real about this story, While most of the story was filled with joy, laughter and competition, there were some real moments that exhibited the true feelings of college from the community, to finding yourself, to coping with stress and so much more. I loved those aspects of the book. I loved the rivals to lovers aspect to this story. The tension between the two characters was great and didn't feel forced. I thought Sadie and Seb's back story of growing up together made it easy to believe their tension without seeing them for very long on the page. The only thing I wanted to make note of is that this book has a lot of language in it and I would suggest this for older teens rather than younger teens.
In this book you'll find:
Enemies/Rivals to lovers
He falls first
Slow Burn
College Shenanigans
You will always, always catch me reading rivals to lovers. This book was absolutely adorable and I think it perfectly embodies all of the feelings of navigating college and young love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for a complimentary copy of this book.
I really resonated with this one. Remembering how lost you feel at the beginning of college and finding yourself along the way is something that felt so raw and real about this story, While most of the story was filled with joy, laughter and competition, there were some real moments that exhibited the true feelings of college from the community, to finding yourself, to coping with stress and so much more. I loved those aspects of the book. I loved the rivals to lovers aspect to this story. The tension between the two characters was great and didn't feel forced. I thought Sadie and Seb's back story of growing up together made it easy to believe their tension without seeing them for very long on the page. The only thing I wanted to make note of is that this book has a lot of language in it and I would suggest this for older teens rather than younger teens.
In this book you'll find:
Enemies/Rivals to lovers
He falls first
Slow Burn
College Shenanigans
You will always, always catch me reading rivals to lovers. This book was absolutely adorable and I think it perfectly embodies all of the feelings of navigating college and young love.