Kylie > Recent Status Updates

“…she kissed her teeth with the realization…” interesting phrase…. Trying to decide exactly what that looks like

Seriously. What is wrong with these people? The people around you are not consenting to watching you get hot and heavy at a marriage counseling camp.
Are. The Allos. OKAY?!?!

Seriously. Are the allos okay?!?!
Blink twice if you need help.
The explicit sex jokes between strangers, okay weird but I guess some people do that? Then the marriage camp that is just a sex camp, without consent from the “couple” and when they put away all the sex toys and erotic photos in their ROOM, they appear back when they’re gone to dinner. Why are people entering their room when they’re gone?!?

Was the romance really cheesy? Yes.
Was the sexual attraction weird and cringey? Definitely yes. (Are the allos okay?)
Did I enjoy the side characters and am I thinking of trying the first one in the series and wanting the next two romances (that I already can call from this one)? Also yes.
Probably won’t read again unless I need a cringey romance laugh but it definitely had some moments.

🤣🤣🤣
Wtf am I listening to?!?!

In regards to her critique of Monty’s writing: you don’t need to be writing romance to write good chemistry between characters. His thriller book lacked chemistry between the characters, so she said it should’ve been a romance because then the characters would have that. Um, no. Any book with characters should have some sort of chemistry between the characters, regardless of genre. Otherwise readers dgaf

Work book club
4.5 stars. Curious if I reread it, will I enjoy it as much? That’s my worry with mystery, but this had some great characters that were all so flawed and imperfect. I loved the author’s note at the end talking about Shakespeare’s words.

The final sentence felt like it was only there for shock value so I’ll leave that off because it doesn’t seem to fit, imo.

I remembered that this was my favorite Emily Henry book, but I forgot just how much I adore both characters and ohmigawd their banter is top tier.
Reading the special edition that just came out and it revealed her inspiration for Nora’s character, which just made it so much better

Just a girl standing in the laundromat, folding her clothes, with tears running down her face.

Damn.

Maybe 22 pages

“Have a care for my virtue!”
Obviously, being a duology, the separation of our core group couldn’t last long, but I think Rachel balanced it well. Sometimes in many stories, the separation of friends and allies goes on way too long (for dramatic effect) and this felt like the right balance of dramatic effect & need to unite our friends. Especially happy for the nap in the carriage w/ Sybil & Bartholomew 🖤

A quote of a quote: “so long, thanks for all the fish”

“I’m prettier than that bitch ever was.” I love him so much

“What is a god if not that?”

Damn.

“It is easier to swear ourselves to another’s cause than sit with ourselves without one.”

“Dying, afterall, is the risk of killing”
Bold of you INDEED Benji!

New word: “rictus”
Rictus: a fixed, unnatural grimace or wide-open grin that often looks like a painful, terrified, or forced smile

“That is a very sad story, Bartholomew. Tell me, how does it end?”

“I’m not scared of the end, but what it’s going to be like before it comes.”
Quite the existential crisis to have on my lunch break

“You know this story, Bartholomew, though you do not remember it.”

“Think of me when you’re with the trees.” 😭😭😭

“This is the worst game of tag ever played.”
Jeez, I love these idiots

Spoiler
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First kiss & it’s because Evie lied when Tristan was knocked unconscious and she told the guards it was her husband. She knew he’d freak when awoken surrounded by guards.
Sloooooowwwww burn

*Spoilers*
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While I can’t say I particularly liked Nesta, she makes a great character & I think SJM redeemed her well in the fact she never quite excused her earlier behavior. She acted horribly & she knows it & changed, but never forgot how horrible she was.

I also still think the pregnancy was overall unnecessary to happen so fast, but I can see how it was necessary for plot. Essentially to ground F&R.

Guess of mine (don’t affirm or deny my guess so I can continue my delusion that I caught a hint): the 4th unnamed supposedly lost Dread Trove item is the house. The place where Nessa is staying and her “friend” (honestly I have an attachment to them as a “character” so it’s my own wishful thinking)

Hints at Joan’s magic:
Plants in the mansion leaning towards her. “[
Not real magic, but] plants liked her”
“Unlike most witches, Joan could see it without the help of spelled glasses”
Kinda reminds me of Blue from TRC. Not being like her family, but has some special/innate ability that is adjacent to the family’s magic

Story itself I loved.
The relationship between Orok & Alexeo is adorable.
Orok still dealing with and healing from his trauma (backstory in Entanglement) and how it affects the trauma: love to see it!
The world building: so fun! Phei is a favorite.
Smut is a bit much for MY tastes, so tough for me to recommend on that front, but everything else top notch!