Tayo > Recent Status Updates

I'm putting this on hold for a while. Even though I've admittedly not given it my full attention it also isn't grabbing me, and it's starting to make reading feel like a chore. So I'll circle back (maybe) once I feel in the mood for this kind of story.

It's just giving me weird second hand embarrassment somehow. Like the swoony moments make me cringe instead of....swoon?

This is the first book to make me laugh in a good long while!

Why so in denial?!

this is cute!!!!!!

I'm loving this - can't believe it took me so long to pick it up

loving the short chapters and multiple POVs in this - makes for great pacing

My stream of consciousness while reading this was like:
- mmm not liking Paige
- oh, is this Shaun from Preston and Corrie's book? What an unintentional coincidence
- Poor Shaun
- I like Paige
- This is pretty cute

When from apathy to pretty invested rather quickly

I'm really hoping this will live up to the hype

alright I'm skimming at 25% there's nothing redeemable about Jo. that's too long to go which makes the pacing terrible

Really liking this so far. Both characters feel grounded and likeable and the central plot doesn't seem far fetched, ridiculous or unnecessarily overwrought (yet).

i was wondering how this romance was going to take off since Parker seems decent but here comes the red flags

I think I tried doing an Alex Rider re-read a few years ago? My memory fails me. I might have re-read Stormbreaker then jumped straight to the newly released Never Say Die which I did not enjoy at all and therefore concluded I had aged too far to gain any true enjoyment from the series again. Anyway I love the new series on Amazon Prime (better than the books - I said it), which has inspired me to revisit Scorpia.

I'm thoroughly disliking this - Nora is unequivocably awful and Grahame is kind of boring. So far there's nothig reddemable in this

aaaaaaand Adelaide is back to being a shrew

yeah olay alright i smiled

Sooo Adeiade's a piece of work. Hopefully she improves soon or this will not be an enjoyable read.

there's something a little icky about Rory essentially looking for ways to trick and manipulate Beckett. I get that this is all about empowerment but of the tables were turned tgis would be sooo gross

There are few things I despise more than a character who never takes accountability for any of their actions, it's always everyone else's fault. And Quintin is just such a character, bringing a pretty good book all the way down.

Loving the quick pace and Elizabeth and Jonas are interesting so far.

I don't Harlow (I don't think I'm supposed to yet) and Jack is soo boring so this one is difficult to get into so far.

Parker is the worst. But I get that he's the source of tension and he does that job very well. Ugh. He better be crawling by the end of this book.

I'm in a reading slump which isn't a bad thing because I'm giving time to my other hobbies (...rewatching the mentalist like it's my job).

But the slump is not helped by this slog of a read. It's soooo slow. And the characters are either not engaging (boring) or irritating (looking at you Elsie). I'm powering through due to some irrational sense of completionism but definitely not enjoying it.

Kate is definitely wearing on me. To the point I'm. considering quitting or at best skimming. But kudos to Donaldson so calling out her heroine for selfishness or the worst sort. Kate is really giving off villain vibes under the guise of hero

This is validation that it is possible to write flawed characters without making them completely unlikeable. Kate is definitely selfish and immature but I like her and look forward to some growth.

Only 70% and I feel like this story should be wrapping up by now. The pacing is really off and the story has been dragging since the 30% mark

Ah instalove

JJ is immediately gross

I think what M.A. Nichols does well is that you're automatically on the protagonists side.

Her female characters are also expertly done. A little diminished bit with a great backbone, I love when they stand up for themselves.

I actually hate this. So much. The charcterisation of both Saidy and Fletcher is soooo inconsistent!

Austin is a straight up villain in my eyes right now, banter aside.