Jessica Wolfe

Silly but addictive

Reviewed: 24-06-24

I tried this book ages ago as it’s very popular on romantasy socials, but found it juvenile and silly - DNF. Two smart girls endlessly intrigued by a bunch of guys with ZERO redeeming qualities just because they’re hot. These guys are all awful, like REALLY awful and cruel - the darkest hue of “morally grey” love interests. The setting is also weird as it reads like high school (uniforms, houses etc) but is college age. The narrators male voices are also pretty dire. HOWEVER, I have returned to it recently and am finding it ridiculously engrossing nonetheless. It’s like Moxton Hall meets Twilight.

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Enjoyable, doesn’t feel like a whole book

Reviewed: 07-05-24

It feels like this author has been heavily influenced by SJM and there are shades of the Throne of Glass series in her characters. Overall the book is enjoyable if fairly trope-tastic. It feels like book finishes as it’s approaching the middle of the story (a pet peeve of mine) but as it and the second book are currently in the audible plus catalogue this is as annoying as usual. The narration is excellent.

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Loved the Rock Chicks - this is Rock Chick lite

Reviewed: 18-04-24

Huge fan of the Rock Chick series so grabbed this the moment I saw it. While KA’s attempts to move away from behaviourally toxic alphahole heroes of her past is commendable (and totally makes sense that a kid raised by the rock chicks would not be a jerk), she has - alas - not managed to find an alternative source of conflict. There is zero “will they/won’t they” which makes it all a little flat and while healthy communication is absolutely preferable in reality - it makes for fairly dull fictional romance. It also somehow makes it all decidedly less hot. Even the sexy scenes. Due to the zero conflict romance the story then has rely more heavily on the detective aspect which, in my opinion, has never been particularly interesting or satisfying other than to provide a bit of jeopardy. KA May have updated her men but sadly she has not relinquished her fondness for describing all outfits in excruciating detail (no one CARES KRISTEN). It was still nice to revisit some beloved characters and so glad Sniff and Rome turned out happy and well adjusted. Stella Bloom continues to provide top notch narration

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Better than Book One

Reviewed: 06-11-23

Really Book 1 and Book 2 should have been one book (with a hard edit on Book 1) The plot in this one is a bit meatier and you get into more of the things that are hinted at in Book 1. The world-building still doesn't feel as solid as it could be and the whole magical/mystical forces doesn't feel entirely thought out. There are some issues for the LFC and LMC that feel a little contrived. Still, I enjoyed it.

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MESSY - but excellent narration

Reviewed: 06-11-23

There are a few things you may have to overcome to make it through this book. I made it. Was it worth it? I’m not sure. The first half of the book is very unfocused. However, I was cleaning while I listened to this so made it to the end, which does pick up quite a bit and has suckered me into Book two. More details: The first trope to get over is AGE DIFFERENCE: there is a very weird and sexually charged relationship between the protagonist and her guardian, who has cared for her since she was TWO YEARS OLD. (She’s now 21 so at the LEAST he’s in his 40s). The author seems to be attempting to take the curse of this by claiming he hasn’t really been around, but still. Ick factor. The second trope to overcome is LACK OF COMMUNICATION: these two will talk about jealousy/lust/each other’s smell, usually while pressing each other against walls, but not much else. The third obstacle is that the first half of the book feels purposeless, there’s no mission, no drive, just people doing…stuff. There’s clearly a rich history to WHY these two have been thrown together, but good luck finding out anything about that in this book. There are bits and pieces of other POVs that go nowhere. Characters introduced who have no impact. It’s all very WHAT’S YOUR POINT? Honestly, I thought I’d be returning it, but then it kind of saves itself in the last third. The narration is very good.

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Simple, engaging doesn’t feel like a whole book

Reviewed: 03-11-23

It is a huge pet peeve of mine to publish books that only feel like an episode of the story rather than a complete story. This book is fairly simple but engaging. There’s a hint of insta-love but it’s not wholly absurd. HOWEVER the dilemma established early in the book is the same unresolved dilemma at the end of the book. It feels like it ends on the midpoint, which is fairly unsatisfying. The narration is good (though I found the female narrators voice a little too exaggerated). I will read the next book to see what happens, but I resent having to buy two books for one story 😂

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Backstory is not the same as plot

Reviewed: 01-09-23

As the review title suggests, I found this book waaay to routed in revealing backstory without much forward momentum in the present day. It's heavy on the romance (slow burn) and not a lot to draw you in beyond that. Not for me.

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Not bad, but didn't grip me

Reviewed: 01-09-23

I tried this as I've seen it recommended on Booktok several times in the romantacy genre. While I get that it may work for some, it just didn't grip me. It all felt a bit too stretched out and main character didn't have enough agency for me. I finished it, but I don't care enough to read the next one. The narration was fine, but not great.

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Very teenage but engrossing

Reviewed: 01-08-23

So this series does have a very teenage spin, a lot of mooning after the boy, his hair, his smell (I never need to hear the phrase winter mint again). However, the narrator is top notch and it is still very engaging. The world building is interesting, the supporting characters add a bit of humour and overall you feel invested in the outcome of their trials and tribulations. Read this pretty quickly and I'm on to book three!

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1 person found this helpful

DNF

Reviewed: 01-08-23

I tried three times with this book as I have seen it recommended all over Booktok. I just couldn't get on with it. To say the protagonist was passive would be an understatement. I got about twenty chapters in and it STILL didn't really feel like she had done anything or had any purpose. There's nothing really to invest in, no questions raised that I want to have answered. So I'm returning. It's not for me.

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2 people found this helpful