theamyleblanc's reviews
914 reviews

I should've gone with my gut when the first two pages gave me weird vibes.

Instead, I tried. I really, really tried.

I couldn't connect with the characters. The family dynamic is interesting but Flo is annoying. I get that she's dealing with some mental health issues but does she not know how to have a conversation with someone? The dialogue between Jamie and Flo is awkward and unrealistic. The texts with Hope don't add anything to the story.

The most disappointing part is how this book is marketed. The cover and title make you think you're going to read an enemies-to-lovers, summery romance. And that's not how this plays out. I mean, I'm sure there's a happy ending but it is not enemies to lovers. There's some weird tension between Flo and Jamie but it doesn't feel like enemies.

I think this could have benefited from Jamie's PoV. I've read plenty of single-PoV stories that work beautifully but Flo is too annoying and chaotic and in her head for it to work here. I stopped because it really wasn't enjoyable.

Many thanks to NetGalley, GP Putnam's Sons, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't always enjoy the miscommunication trope but Naina uses it beautifully with Meena and Nikhil!

Weirdly, I liked the balance of this book the most. I was afraid one element would dominate the whole thing, whether it was the hurricane or the miscommunication or the writing style, but it's paired well. There's a lot of Meena essentially narrating past events (telling, not showing) but it works since we only experience this story through her PoV. The hurricane seems a little deus ex machina but the little realities of something like that ground the plot nicely.

And the miscommunication. Usually that trope is overdone or obvious or convenient but it felt real here. A little too real for my ND brain: I started getting frustrated because Meena and Nikhil were making assumptions based on their own fears and insecurities, not what was being said. I wanted to shake them both and yell "Just LISTEN!" But it's that reality that made the ending so much sweeter.

It's a lovely second chance romance and deserves to be on TBR lists everywhere.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Dell, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a perfect example of the kind of YA stories I miss and want to read more of! And it's one of the few stories I'd rather listen to than read (if only for the pronunciation -- I'm a language nerd).

The characters all feel age-appropriate. They sound and act like 18-year-old recent high school grads. And the adults were all flawed, realistic adults. The academic enemies-to-lovers and inheritance scavenger hunt are just unhinged enough to remind me of the early days of YA. It made me smile. And Gemma and Xander are so sweetly earnest and adorable.

I love the story of learning about your heritage and culture. And I loved how each character on the TARP trip had a unique relationship with it. It's also very cool to see these young people realize their parents and grandparents are people. Taiwan felt like its own character in all this. Gloria did such a lovely job with the setting that I felt like I could see all the action and activities playing out.

The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is for how Gemma's "different wavelength" was handled. She's so obviously neurodivergently-coded -- why couldn't that just be said? Her mom assimilated them so much that I doubt it would be out of character. It just struck a weird cord with me every time it was brought up. For a book that's all about understanding yourself and where you come from, it felt like something of a missed opportunity.

That said, it's a wonderful book and I'm recommending it to everyone!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Viking Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

How, HOW have I never read Ellie K Wilde before?!

This was my last read of 2024 and it was so good! Looking at the page count, I thought it was going to be too long. But I was actually really happy with the length and how it was used. We really got to see the little ways Melody and Zac grew while they were apart and how that growth affects them now. It's poignant and a little heartbreaking, with a gritty realism that's refreshing. I loved every moment.

It's also a really cool twist on a sports romance. Zac being a first-time college head coach is not something I've seen before. And I ADORED how much Melody loves football, too. It all made me smile so much.

Finally, Zac Porter is the stuff of dreams.

I've been pushing this on all of my friends!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't think Reece and Grayson could get better but Allie made it happen!

This is what the second book in a series should be like. It built on everything we already knew, furthered relationships and deepened the mystery. The slow burn started to burn and the story remained as twisted and hilarious as the first one. Not once did I feel a lull. I never wished it would move faster.

I adored every moment of this book (yes, ALL of them). There were small twists I didn't see coming but I had a feeling from book one that things would head in this direction. I read too much to ever trust or believe an absolute statement. I also loved that people gave me funny looks on the subway as I loudly cackled at the banter between Reece and Grayson! It's just so good.

I'll be a feral gremlin when the third book comes out and I cannot wait!

This felt like it started good and then everything kind of went downhill.

My biggest complaint is that it reads like a YA novel without actually being one. I'm pretty sure Alix and Tyler and Sebastian and others are supposed to be in their early thirties but their actions and conversations feel much younger. Lauren feels like a high schooler.

Tons of interesting themes and topics are brought up over the course of this story. Unfortunately, none of them are explored with any kind of depth. It's like they're included for the shock factor of the moment and then swept under the rug. There's also a lot of telling and not enough showing.

There's zero spice. That in and of itself wouldn't bother me (not everything needs to be spicy) but the romantic scenes feel defensive. Like they're apologizing and defending themselves for not being spicy? There was a weird tone. Also, the whole romantic storyline was very insta-love and I didn't like that one bit.

The sense of place is on point, though! It's very wintry and delightful. Another reviewer said it best: this reads like a Hallmark movie.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Villain Edit so I thought I'd check this one out during the holiday season. They can each be read as standalones.

Jessie and Nic are chaotic and real and wonderful. I adored their dynamic -- the bickering was well done. Adding in the complicated layer of Nic and Jessie separately worrying about their places in Jessie's family and the obstacles really stack up. I do wish we could've seen a little more of Timothy and Jessie's relationship but on the whole, I think all the elements were great.

This is a third act break-up that makes complete sense. It's founded in very real feelings and reasons and I appreciated it. The ending felt a tiny bit rushed and parts in the middle dragged a little but it moves at a fairly balanced pace.

I'd definitely recommend this!

I thought this would be a cute, short holiday read. I read two chapters before the MMC annoyed me enough to put it down. He had an 'I know what's best for her' attitude that came across as immature and condescending instead of supportive/self-sacrificing (or however it was intended).

It might be that I'm not the target audience for this but I just didn't vibe with it.

Did I finish this book? Yes.
Do I want that time back? Also yes.

This is not a Pride & Prejudice retelling or adaptation or whatever word you want to use. The characters are very loosely modeled after their original counterparts and that's where the connection ends. Sure, the plot tries to mimic some of the story beats we all know so well but I think that actually hurt this story more than helped it. Everything felt contrived because they were forced to fit into a structure that didn't work for these characters.

I experienced one shining moment of excitement at the beginning: this is a story about people in their late-thirties and early-forties. I love that! We could've had a really beautiful story about starting over, learning to be true to yourself, and finding love later in life. Instead, we have Ben and Avery and Mal who all act and sound like college kids. The dialogue and actions did not mesh with their supposed ages AT ALL. It was so disappointing.

There's way too much telling. I wasn't able to connect with the characters. Avery is so hot and cold -- and having finished the book, I know why that happened -- and it's a disaster to read. None of the jokes land; it isn't funny or witty.

This one needs to go back to the drawing board.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Rattling Good Yarns Press, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Opinions I voiced while reading this:
 - I think this might be bad . . . but in an interesting way? (25% through)
 - I hate Ari. (multiple times)
 - Oh, this might just be bad. (50%-ish)
 - Ari is a terrible friend. (multiple times)
 - This is the most realistic third-act break-up I've ever read.
 - It's over!

I wanted to like this book so much. The concept felt solid but it stumbled upon execution.

Unlikeable characters are great! But I need a single, solitary reason to root for them or they're just unlikeable. While pretentious and off-putting at times, Josh has an arc that makes sense and feels grounded in his depiction. I hated Ari. She's someone who lacks self-awareness to a concerning degree. I don't know why Radhya and Gabe put up with her for so long.

I didn't love the third person present tense narrative. And the story is longer than it needed to be, I think. The comparison to When Harry Met Sally is misleading because it lacks some of the charm of that (problematic) story.

I do appreciate the chaotic NYC vibes the author captured. Most stories set in NYC feel like they could be lifted out and adapted to another city with a few tweaks. But not this one! This dumpster fire would only work in NYC and I loved it for that.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Dial Press, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.