i had high expectations, and unfortunately i feel a bit let down. this book definitely needed editing. it felt overwritten at times, with so many words being used to describe something that would've been fine described in much less. the pacing felt off, too; we went from it being super slow to it randomly picking up after the halfway point, and then we got hit with two info dumps that could've been sprinkled throughout the book. every plot line felt like it went nowhere. the characters felt a bit... flat? even sade, who we're following the whole time. i haven't read ace of spades yet, but i've heard so many good things about it that i'll likely give it a chance and see how i like it. when i liked the writing in this book (and the vibes!), i really really liked it.

this didn't flop (also omg readers.... did you know there can be other books about fictional bands besides daisy jones?? and you don't have to compare them?? wild i know)

this was fun and then it got fun-but-messy weird and then it got bad weird

if you liked the summer of broken rules by this author, you'll probably like this one too, mostly for the same reasons (minus the portrayal of grief since there really isn't anything of the sort in this one; there's a dead grandma who's mentioned a few times). the vibes are very similar—lots of partying, games, and a summer romance you can't shake off. however, i was disappointed in this one for the same reasons as the summer of broken rules. i'm a swiftie. proud of it. i WILL find a way of making a reference to my girl. however, the references in this book felt forced and out of place, like they were included just to cater to swifties as they try to catch them all like pokémon. i feel like this cheapened the writing quite a bit by relying on writing by someone else (taylor), with lines being pulled word for word from her songs. it feels a bit.... lazy, in a way? since someone already had the work of writing those lines and metaphors in the first place and they're just being yoinked. it takes us the whole book to figure out what exactly is the problem with katie. it turns out to be a misunderstanding. surely this could have been sorted out a lot sooner; leaving the main conflict barely worked on until the very end of the book just created pacing issues and made it feel like the middle was just dragging on and on. overall, it's a fun and easy read for the summer if you're looking for one.

this was funnn i don't typically read or enjoy fantasy, so this was a breath of fresh air that didn't make me feel stupid. the writing was fun and easy to read and miri was a great protagonist. one thing i found hard to follow was how the two worlds – human and magical – blended together. it felt like stuff just got handwaved as "that's just how it works", so i think the series should try to explore the worldbuilding a bit more. another issue i had was with the relationship pacing. something happened, with little to no build up, and then it was promptly dropped and barely addressed again. it felt like there was no proper resolution. overall this was quite a nice read and something i'll definitely recommend to anyone who wants a palate cleanser to suspend their disbelief. just roll with it. don't think too much.

i really enjoyed this one! although lauryn could get a bit frustrating and messy with how willing to self sabotage she was, it also made her feel more like a real person than just a character in a book. it made her human and relatable, and that's all i could have asked for from a main character. with that being said, i wish the side characters had been developed a little bit more. i know there's a plot we need to focus on, but these side characters were so integral to the plot and it feels like we hardly got to know them outside of their jobs. the pacing and the writing were easy to follow and pleasant to read so i'll definitely check out more of SR's work. a girl is invested. i am a girl.

break my heart more why don't you this was just fantastic. the yearning. the pining. the arguing. the frustration. loving a sibling more than life itself. feeling like a burden to everyone who loves you. hot men in tweed. i was seated. i am on the floor now. thanks, jodi.

this was cute and fun and heartbreaking all at once. the writing felt a bit repetitive at times, but it didn't kill my enjoyment