Renee > Recent Status Updates

I’m still indecisive on this one. If you’ve read her other works, he’s giving Mal energy. But the characters are feeling underdeveloped I think?? Novella length but still.

Listening to the audiobook on this one. Poppy’s parents seem kind of like jerks. Just saying. Like the way they dismiss her genuine diagnosis.

Also something I’ve noticed with this book compared to the Rose Hill series - there are decidedly awful people in this one. Far worse than anything I’ve seen in her last books. Got some real strong hate going on for some of them.

So Richard is the absolute worst. Here’s hoping he gets the karma he is due. Also poor Emmett. He just doesn’t think he’s good enough but he is. Love the whole family dynamic. Guessing that’s going to be the future books, the rest of the family.

When I read the blurb and concept of this book, I was unsure. It really didn't sound like it would be something I like but so far, I'm surprised on how much I like it. Julia is great. I love how much of a smart ass she is to Emmett.

Clearly I’m binging Elsie Silver right now.

Carl just encountered the elemental. I would say for the first time, this felt genuinely sad. I think as he progresses through this game there will be people he encounters that he’s likely to never see again for one reason or another.

This book has a very different feel that the other books in this series, especially the first two. I would say it's more emotionally charged and sad for a lack of word. I am also getting frustrated with Bash. I get it, he wants a relationship with Tripp. But Tripp is a douche. So yeah.

Anyone else over here hoping the son Tripp getting told off?? And being outed on the crap he’s saying about Bash?? Just me? Ugh. That’s irritating me so much.

I might have dislocated a rib with how hard I laughed after Carl made the Rev Up Immunity Smoothie. The description with the fairie and the moonshine and him putting the fairie in there??? I was dying. Oh my god, how does the author come up with this stuff?????

Okay so they have just cleared level 1 and appeared on the talk show. That was legit funny. Donut and the “catchphrase?” Loved it. This is getting better as it goes. Still weird but funny.

Still trying to figure out how Princess Donut has a higher intelligence score than Carl. Not seeing it. Also it is pretty funny how she will just randomly tell him how his girlfriend was kind of horrible and cheating on him. Usually at the most inopportune times.

Okay, first impressions. This is a flipping weird book. Since I’m doing an immersive read (audiobook + reading), I genuinely notice the word differences between the two and there’s more than I would expect. Tons of notices. Slightly confusing world but to be expected. Given the way this book is structured, we get to learn about it as Carl does. Wait. Is that his real name?? I can’t recall

This week's TBR Game winner (from my socials). I'll be doing an immersive read on this one - reading the book and listening to the audiobook. Looking forward to this one.

So we finally learned why Tabby’s sister did what she did. I think the author was trying to be magnanimous in this between how Tabby and Rhys reacted. I don’t think I have it in me. I think the sister was a giant piece of crap. I said what I said.

Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes and the one in this book is fine. But for some reason, this book isn’t my favorite thus far. I’m thinking it more that I’m lacking some connection to Rhys. His character feels more distant to me.

Continuing my binge read of the Rose Hill series. Have high hopes because I've absolutely LOVED the first two books.

The way I adore West. Whew. This man is straight up green flags! Also I really hope Skylar does do a big giant FU album like Cora suggests. Still love our little storm cloud.

I can already tell that the kids Emmy and Oliver are going to basically steal the show. They’re funny. West, who we met in the first book, is interesting. A lot of personality in that one. This should be interesting.

Last update before my review. This book so far has delivered in what I was expecting. But I'm getting super stressed here near the end. I really hope it doesn't end on a cliffhanger!! Because I'm not sure I could handle waiting. ACK I love Kaz and Arabella so much

OMG major plot twist at this point!! End of chapter 44. I’m just over here with my jaw on the flipping floor. Did NOT see that coming at all.

OMG totally getting 10 things I hate about you vibes. And I’m here for it. You know the part -

But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you
Not even close
Not even a little bit
Not even at all

Top tier banter between Ford and Rosie. I’m enjoying this book so much. Plus Cora might be the best thing ever. Yup. Loving this book.

I was looking for something to read that wasn't fantasy and just something a bit different. Figured this would do the trick. I'll say this, I'm kind in love with all of the characters already. The funny but sullen Cora. Rosie who loves to give Ford crap. And Ford who suddenly doesn't know how to be put together when he's around Rosie (and Cora for that matter). I think this will be a fun book. Just what I needed.

I can’t do it. Sad about this. Another DNF for me.

Oh I do not like Kaz and Arabella fighting. Nope. Not a fan.

This book is tough for me. You have an author write something so amazing and then they do something like this. The writing is wooden and the dialogue feels very clunky. Also the story itself isn’t that compelling. Frankly I’m so disappointed in this story because it feels like someone else wrote it. I’m trying to finish out the story out of respect to an author I had previously loved.

The way I love Kaz and Arabella. Of course, our favorite villain somehow keeps collecting more minions who manage to both complicate and help him in his quests. But mostly more complications. I love how he finds them both so irritating and yet protects them too. So funny.

I so wanted this as Lois Lowry wrote on the finest books ever - The Giver. Similar themes in this book but so far, it feels...dull. The pacing is fairly slow. Typical dystopian set up which of course I'm sure only books will solve. But right now, I've heard more about the mundane on everyday life with very little concern about their missing child/sibling and the balance seems off. Not sure how this is going to go.

Just finished part II and all I can say is WHAT???? That ending of this part with Ione and Elm? What happened when they got back to the castle?? I’m freaking out.