Not Your Valentine

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Thanks NetGalley, the author and publisher for having this available as an ARC.

I had so much fun reading this book. Helen’s internal thoughts had me laughing a lot! The whole premise with her ex dumping her on Valentine’s Day and have that break up go viral would be so devastating! In todays world, that really could happen, which is a bit sad as no one’s personal life should be on display like that!

I thought Taylor was so cute! Their friendship or should I say conversation did seem a bit odd when they met for lunch. It seemed as though Taylor was a bit short in his answers. I thought maybe he was reserved and when Helen asked to fake date, it’s like it opened his personality. I guess we found out later why that was.

I thought the pacing was good and length of the book was perfect. Loved Helen’s mum as it just reminded me of a typical Asian parent. Would have loved more scenes with Helen’s friends, so if this is made into a series, I’d be there for it.

This is easily a read that can be done in a few hours because it flowed so well.

The Gravity of Existence

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Thank you NetGalley for my ARC copy.

I didn't mind the darkness of the poetry. The science fiction section was probably my favourite with life outside of Earth. It felt to me a bit more relatable.

I did feel if some of the poems were longer, I would have appreciated it more. If it delved just a bit more deeper that would have been my preference, but I still understood the message that was coming across.

Definitely can see why this isn't for everyone.

Where Wild Peaches Grow

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Thanks NetGalley, the author and publisher for my ARC copy.

I definitely have mixed feelings on this book as I was close to DNFing purely because of the story. I’m giving this 2.5 stars.

Let’s start with the positives:

- I thought the book was well written

- The overall message about making amends and leaving the past behind is something we can all learn

- I was happy that the characters grew at the end

I don’t read blurbs and the cover intrigued me. As I read the opening chapters, I thought to myself, what grudge would you have to not talk to your family for 20 years? It’s got to be something particularly bad right? When it was about halfway through the book (or more), that we find out Nona’s grandmother and Ruby that meddled with Nona’s plan to elope, only for Nona to blame her dad and sister, I was like whaaat? I thought to myself, why wouldn’t Nona just take the time to listen to her dad when he came to Chicago? Why would she not talk to her family because of that? Also, why didn’t she contact Marcus and figure it out when he didn’t meet with her? It just doesn’t make sense. For grandma Opal to not reveal the truth over all the time they talked on the phone… it just all could have been avoided without miscommunication and misunderstanding. I’m not sure I particularly like this trope. It makes the characters come across as immature.

There was too much back and forth of - should I / shouldn’t I talk to her and should I avoid them between the sisters. Some parts of the story felt repeated because of it. The ending felt rushed and it was left open ended in parts. It would have been good for Julia to see Cat and for the sisters to meet their brother Ben together as I think it would have wrapped up the story a little better.

I’m still trying to get over the fact Nona wouldn’t speak to her sister for 20 years because she thought Julia revealed her elopement secret to their dad, which didn’t happen. It seems too far fetched to me. I definitely understand Julia’s point of view of feeling abandoned and that’s why she couldn’t pick up the phone, but because it impacted Nona THAT much, she could have unleashed her anger through a conversation and realised what she knew was wrong.

Maybe She’ll Stay

**ARC review**

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Available 28th February

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for having this available as an ARC.

I read this in one day as it has a steady flow throughout the book. This book is really about self acceptance and knowing your self worth.

The MC Nancy clearly had self esteem and worth issues that stemmed from her narcisstic mother. I never had a parent who was a narcissist, though I do know what it's like to have a partner who is, so could really relate to what was happening.. This is where Nancy failed in her three marriages and every relationship after that. The toxicity of the commentary from her mother played on her own thoughts and feelings.

Even though Hank had it tough, going to jail twice, he never stopped appreciating his children and the beauty they brought to his life. With all the feeling of being unloved, it was Hank that uplifted Nancy to realise she was so much more to people and there were those that cared. I think because of her tumultuous relationship with her mum, Nancy held people at an arm's length because in some way she was always sabotaging those connections.

With all the self sabotage, it was evenly distributed to Ashish too. I don't think she fully believed that she could be his equal because she thought she'd lose him eventually. Hank's words cemented into Nancy's growth as a character.

Would love to see if Nancy's mum ever mellows out from her narcisstic behaviour with therapy or something like that, but since this seems like a stand alone, I won't get that answer.

The Clan of Mist

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Thank you to the authors for my ARC :)

Thessalia is a siren destined to take over as clan leader from her mother. It’s not the exact life she wants as she just wants to explore the world. Her clan possess a water amulet that they battle against other sirens to be the protectors of every 25 years. There are 7 amulets that exist in the world and if combined unleash a demon into the world. When Thessalia decides one day to leave her village to explore she gets lost but a halcyon shifter Dromie navigates her home and they become friends.

Dromie’s uncle owns a night club for magical beings and one night out, Thessalia spots him! What’s is it about this man? She feels all kinds of things inside, but in an instant he’s gone. It’s not long before Dromie organises a double date of sorts and it involves this mysterious stranger. Next minute, Thessalia has passed out and been kidnapped. This dark mysterious stranger named Kage has kidnapped her for the amulet, but her mother won’t ever give it up. But why does she continue to feel attraction for him when he’s entrapped her without water to fuel her magic?

This book was easy to read that I read it in one go! It’s fast paced, we never get lost in the world building and the characters are loveable. Was definitely a great opening novel to the series and I definitely was left wanting more. I felt like Thessalia was relatable because when you’re young, you want to break free of any restrictions your parents place on you.

I wasn’t expecting the spicy scenes when they came along, so that was a nice surprise when I got to those pages. It’s a small dose in there and fun!

I loved the idea of crocodile shifters as it’s not something I personally have come across in my readings, so that was refreshing. Kage has lived a rough life and he has got to have layers right? Will be interesting to see if we get to know him more in the series.

This book has a mix of fated mates, enemies to lovers, magic, shifters, romance and kidnapping trope. If you’re a lover of any of these, then you will enjoy this start to a series!