Review: Shatter Me Series by Taherah Mafi

I recently embarked on a journey to read all of the Shatter Me series book. In 2016, I read and reviewed the first three books (Shatter Me, Unravel Me, and Ignite Me). Truthfully, I only remembered some things that had occurred.  And I do remember liking the series enough. This time around I was interested to see if my thoughts towards the series would change especially since I would be doing it a little differently this time. Firstly, I wouldn’t be listening to it on Audible, instead I would be reading the books. And lastly, I would be reading more books this time. In addition, to reading the first three books I would be reading four others (Restore me, Defy Me, Imagine Me, and Believe Me). Believe Me would be the only novella that I would be reading.

I finished my reread within only a few days. I wholeheartedly stand by what I said in my previous review. This series is a puzzle, and when looked at, it shows a beautiful, complete photo. When I read this series in 2016, it was only three books. And now after reading the rest, I can’t imagine the book series ending with Ignite Me. There were so many things to uncover, and I’m thankful that the author continued the story because I think those last three books add so much to the story.

The writing didn’t bother me that much this time. I appreciated how poetic it was, and how important it was to Juliette’s development. I felt the weight of each word every time within Juliette’s POV, and her pain and desire to understand who she was and to save herself. As the books go on, she gets more confident and able to say what she feels.

The Juliette in the first book is not the same person in the last book, which is a big sigh of relief. In my first review, I mentioned that she was frustrating. Now, I don’t really think she was frustrating. I think her situation with Adam was frustrating. The whole love triangle is my least favorite part of this series given that Juliette and Adam were almost annoyingly unbearable. However, I do think that Juliette learned a lot about herself during her and Adam’s little insta love portion of this series. She’s much stronger than him, yet with him she was carrying this raw unknown power, and was blinded or well shielded from her potential. One of the best things she ever did was turn him down, because her without him? Wow, that’s a powerful queen. She needed that heartbreak to save the world.

She’s an icon. She’s the moment. And this series is really about her journey as she develops. And yes, props to the author for giving the world Juliette. She has such a loving heart despite everything that she has dealt with.

As with Juliette, the other characters had significant growth too. You can’t judge the characters off one book because they grow so much through the series, that as I think about it, I get a little teary eyed because they have all come so fair.  

Okay, most of them. Adam was frustrating for probably sixty percent of the time. I understood how he would be hurt in relation to the status of him and Juliette’s relationship status throughout the series; however, people were dying. And he was behaving like a child. Juliette was able to put her feelings aside and same the world and he was moping around and saying rude stuff to her when she didn’t deserve it. His presence in the books sort of decreased as the series went on, and I’m not mad about it. He was heavily featured in the first three books too much.

On to the other guy in the love triangle. Warner. I know he’s the “villain” in the first book. Yet, I’m sorry he was always the better choice. Kudos for Mafi for creating such an interesting character that people can’t get enough of. From his first appearance, I was like wow this is a character. I forgot most things so when his backstory got revealed my jaw dropped. I had completely forgotten. He’s a rich and raw character despite what people say about him. They don’t know him like me and Juliette know him!!

Anyway, he’s an icon too. And him and Juliette’s relationship might be one of the most emotional and satisfying relationships I’ve read. I love them so much. And I would read a hundred more books about them.

I want to briefly mention Kenji. I don’t understand how I didn’t mention him in my first review. He’s a star! And his friendships with Juliette and Warner are two of my favorite relationships in the series. As for his relationship with Nazeera. Speaking of her. Her introduction into this world was needed. The first three books were lacking female characters, and not only was she a powerful force in her own right, she brought a lot to the table in terms of representation and the gang's ability to continuously keep fighting. Because at times, it was getting kind of gloomy. And I wasn’t sure if the team was going to make it. Thankfully, they did with her help. 

Final Thoughts

The Shatter Me series isn’t perfect. I still stand by that statement. However, I can’t attest that I wasn’t completely deeply invested as I read this series. The raw emotion that I felt as I turned the page, and the quick beat of my heartbeat are engraved in my mind. I couldn’t put the books down. And every twist and turn left me breathless as I desperately needed to make sure that these characters were okay, and that in the end they would come out on top. Mafi made me care and fall in love, and she made me nervous as she evilly upped the stakes every single time. This series is a beautiful journey, and even days later I find myself still thinking about.  

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Review: Two Wrongs Make a Right (The Wilmot Sisters Series Book 1) Chloe Liese

Summary

Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn't be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.

Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash everyone's hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.

To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder: What if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

Review

This is only one of the second books that I’ve read by Chloe Liese and I’m finding that both of them have the same vibe. Don’t get me wrong, it's not a bad thing. For the types of books that she writes, it works. And I liked both books. Her books are soft, and it’s clear that she takes a lot of time crafting her characters to make sure that they seem real.

In Two Wrongs Make a Right, Bea and Jamie start off as enemies after a run in at a party. However, after deciding to work together to scheme their friends, their “fake” relationship starts to feel like a real one. It’s sweet and tender. And this book has so many great moments of these two being so loving towards each other. Again, she writes very soft books with angst and real issues weaved in.

There were two things that I encountered in this book that made me like it a little less. There was one plot line that went absolutely nowhere, and I wasn’t sure why the author had included that moment. The second thing was the third act breakup. Why? Why was that needed? The book would have been so much better without it.

 Final Thoughts

Two Wrongs Make A Right does a great job at crafting a story that includes a diverse cast of characters and a sweet romance. 

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Review: Fear the Flames by Oliva Rose Darling

Summary

Princess. Prisoner. Runaway. Queen.

Elowen Atarah, Princess of Imirath, came into the world like a firestorm made flesh. A princess with a link to five dragons should have been a blessing to her kingdom, but her blessing became her curse. The little girl in shackles became a knife wielding woman with a thirst for retaliation.

Now, Queen of Aestilian, a secret kingdom she forged through strength and survival, Elowen needs a way to feed her rising population. She never thought she would have the force to take on Imirath, but when the snarky Commander Cayden Veles of Vareveth, her father’s enemy kingdom, offers her a deal she’s been dreaming of for years, how can she not take it? Even if he ignites her temper like no other, nothing unites two begrudging allies more than a common enemy.

The pair of them, along with three accomplices, will navigate their partnership, politics, and attempt to pull off the greatest heist their world has ever known. Five people, all united through revenge, will have to transcend the odds stacked against them and infiltrate the impenetrable castle if they want to reap their rewards before someone reaps their souls. Putting aside their differences to accomplish a common goal because everyone knows…vengeance is a promise signed in blood.

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It’s been a few months since I’ve read a fantasy book, and recently, I had an itch to read this one. I follow the author on Instagram and she started posting quotes and edits from this book, and I knew that I could enjoy it. I purchased it right away, and waited by the door for it to come. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

Fear the Flames was everything I was craving in a fantasy book. There is an enemies to lover romance that is oh so juicy. Found family. Excellent world building. A heist!! I read this book in one sitting and could barely tear my eyes away from it.

And once I finished, I hadn’t stopped thinking about it for days. There are some scenes especially scenes between Elowen and Cayden that are engraved in my head. Them and including all the characters feel so well developed, and it’s clear that the author took a lot of time developing them so that they were just right. It’s not surprising that I’m going to reread the book soon. The only disappointing part about this book is that I don’t have the second one in my hands at this very moment.

Final Thoughts

Fear the Flames is a near perfect fantasy book that will leave readers on the edge of their seats with the storytelling, romance, and characters.

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Review: I Sang That: A Memoir from Hollywood by Sally Stevens

I Sang That by Sally Stevens, a beautiful memoir of an extraordinary woman who blessed Hollywood with six decades of service in music spanning multiple roles across television and film. This is her story, told through a behind the scenes lens, sharing her journey that transcended through multi generations, technology and genres. Beginning as a singer behind some amazing talent who has shaped the industry, she has provided vocals on some well known tv shows, sound recordings and being a choral director for the Oscars.  With all the changes, she has made it through and her longevity in the business is a testament to her hard work and dedication. I Sang That not only is an inspiration to women but also gives us a voice that has earned her the right to be heard.

This book was such a wonderful, engaging read. I feel so inspired and amazed by such a talented woman. Many in her career path don't get the recognition for the majority of their work, so to read her accomplishments and experiences truly piqued my interest. Many of the people that she's worked with and projects that she has been a part of were so fascinating that I didn't want to stop reading. One part of the book grabbed my heart and made me reflect on my own dreams. I'd always dreamed that James Horner would do my music in films. Sadly, Hollywood lost a gem and that dream never came to be. It was nice to be able to remember his imprint on music and reflect on the joy he brought to the industry. 

Not only from her professional experience, her personal life as a mother, many will be able to relate to the balance of work and family life. The struggles with achieving your dreams as well as the complexities of motherhood. She had some obstacles along the way but shined through brightly. 

Overall, this was a really nice memoir from someone that represents the good of Hollywood. If you love memoirs, make sure you take a look and check out her book.

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Review: The Devil Gets His Due: A Grumpy Billionaire Romance by: Elizabeth O’Roark

Summary

An accidental pregnancy, grumpy-sunshine romance
Keeley: 

Last January, I drunk-married my nemesis—hot, oversized geek Graham Tate. With no memory of how it came about, there was only one solution: run off before he woke up and pretend it didn’t happen. It would have worked perfectly if I hadn’t wound up pregnant.

Graham is the opposite of everything I want in a man—practical, disciplined, frugal—but living with him until the baby arrives has me wondering if, perhaps, I’ve been wanting the wrong things all along. And if that drunk version of me last January might have been onto something.

Graham: I never planned to have kids, and I certainly wouldn’t have planned on one with Keeley Connolly—a woman who does not believe in savings accounts or personal safety and thinks Lucky Charms is a health food because of the non-marshmallow bits.

A woman who also didn’t think twice about marrying me in Vegas and ditching me hours later.

I can’t wait to put this behind me and return to my careful, chaos-free life in New York. But the more time I spend with Keeley, the more I’m remembering the things that led me to marry her in the first place…and wondering if I can live without them when this ends.

Review

The Devil Gets His Due was great when it was great. And when it wasn’t----- it was a little upsetting. What I liked is how polar opposite Keeley and Graham were. Graham is uptight and unattached. Then, there is Keeley who is loud, vibrant, and always ready to party. I liked the small, intimate moments they would have with each other, and just them learning to adapt to this new development in their lives.

There were a few situations that left me confused about how old these characters were because in some situations they were being extremely childish. This was practically true with Keeley. I had to constantly remind myself of her fears and her tragic past. I was shocked to learn that she was a doctor because her attitude and some behaviors didn’t line up with that profession. There was a situation in the book where she was annoyed that she had to help someone despite that being what she decided to do with her life. Then, we have Graham who made some misogynistic comments that had me scratching my head. It wasn’t an attractive look. And it was almost like “umm am I supposed to root for him here?”

Final Thoughts

The Devil Gets His Due would have been a more enjoyment read if the characters were not constantly being insulting and acted their age. For the moments where that didn’t occur, the book shined.  

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Review: Mad World: An Enemies-to-Lovers College Romance by Hannah McBride

Summary

I'm Madison.
I spent the last seventeen years in a trailer with my mom as she rolled from one addiction to the next. All I wanted was to survive high school and get out of this place. Finding out I had a long lost twin sister on the other side of the country seemed like something out of a movie.

Too bad I didn't realize it was a horror movie.

Now I'm Madelaine.
We were only supposed to switch lives for a summer. But then the unthinkable happened and now I have the chance to be my twin for the rest of my life. I get the fancy house, the rich father, and the elite school.

But all of those things come with a price I don't think I can afford.

Maybe taking over my dead twin sister's life isn't as easy as I thought it would be.

Mad World is the first book in a new series by Hannah McBride. It contains dark themes (including bullying, drugs, food control/forced dieting, and mentions of past/implied assault) that may be triggering for some readers.

Review

Mad World is like a dark rendition of The Parent Trip. In summary, there are twins who switch places. however, throw in some angst, rich people problems, arranged romance, and so much more. I highly enjoyed this book with all the twists and mystery going on. From page one and until the end, it’s entertaining.

I really enjoyed Maddie as a main character, and loved to see her navigate this new world that she was introduced to. She’s a tough girl given the environment she was raised in and is also a loving and kind place. Her twin-- Madeline? Not so much. And after they switch, Maddie has a lot of relationships she has to heal and then there’s the Ryan of it all. He’s not the nicest to her at first. And it was very interesting to see their relationship change from enemies to lovers.

Final Thoughts

Mad World was an unexpected journey of twist and turns. I’m excited to see how this story plays out. 

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