Review of Julia Quinn's first 4 Bridgerton books

3/5 Stars

I started reading this because my friend convinced me to watch the show, and I thought I might as well read the books while I am at it. Doing this could have shifted my feelings for the book. The show has a lot of subplots and extra scenes that the book doesn't. This made me think the book is good, but having these other events included in their story made the book a bit boring. Although the book's ending was way better than the show's. The characters talked about their main problem and resolved their issue in the book, while the show became a regency version of After.

It is a cute regency romance with added drama, but not my favorite Bridgerton couple/story.

5/5 Stars

I ate this up! This has become my guilty pleasure romance book, and that comes from a person who isn't a romance reader to begin with.

I was giggling and kicking my feet all throughout this book. The banter between Kate and Anthony is top tier. I think it is because they are both really strong characters, and their stubbornness just makes their interactions 10x better. The longing in this book... the bee scene... The realization and plot twist is chef's kiss.

Newton is probably one of the best parts of this book and series as a whole.

Something I always say when reading romance books is I have to be convinced that the couple should be together and with them the love was radiating off the pages.

2/5 Stars

I came into this book with high expectations because show Benedict is adorable and I want nothing but the best for him... but I was sadly kind of disappointed.

The beginning starts strong with a very heavily influenced Cinderella retelling that was not bad. I felt for Sophie until she got kicked out then she turned into an annoying character who has her flaws, but girl pick a struggle.

I did love Benedict at first for he was the charming gentlemen will all love and know, and until he got horny and became too weird for me. The blackmailing... that's not in Cinderella. Also, why can she not just tell him who she is? The book would have been wrapped up in 200 pages.

There were cute scenes in this book but it just wasn't the same benedict that was in the show.

Not her going to jail... and Violet having her wonderful momma moment to shine.

Also, the 2nd epilogue was nice, but I just wanted more about the couple and not her sister's relationship.

4/5 Stars

They are a cute couple, probably my second favorite couple out of the family.

It is bothersome that Colin says he just now notices Penelope when she has been in his life for a while, but when she dolls herself up, he notices her. I am glad they got their happy ending; it was years in the making.

The whole book is basically Colin being angry and Penelope being upset that he isn't what she dreamed him to be.

The way he proposes, though...

I would have loved the epilogue to be focused on them and their family because we know Colin is a wife guy, but how is he as a dad?

Review of A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

I had a reading slump while reading this book (not the book's fault). That being said, I read the first few chapters a few weeks before I sat down and actually read this book. This was a fun read with interesting characters, strong themes (colonialism), but not a really strong plot.

This book had a very long setup before the action/climax of the book even began. It was advertised as a heist book, yet that was only the last 100 or so pages. There were a lot of time skips, and since this is an adventure/heist book, I think there were many scenes with details that should have been seen to lead up to the big heist. The heist felt very short and did feel like the whole point of the book was pointless, with the characters and their actions having no consequences. Most of this book was characters talking in a room, and I just wanted some more action.

Each chapter switches to another character's pov, which started to get confusing during the action scenes because most chapters would pick up right in the action, yet you have been with this character for a good bit of pages. When it came to lore and backstory dumps, I wish there were more flashbacks or detailed scenes (like Arthie's backstory was really good with the flashback and details). The other characters' lore was just dumped during dialogue scenes, not really holding any value to them. The characters were well thought out and have good, distinguished personalities. The romance parts felt forced or rushed.

The last part of the book picks up, and the fast pace should have been the pace for most of this book, in my opinion. This was around 330 pages, and I don't think this was enough to get to know each of these characters. I didn't have a chance to get attached or know them too well in just this book.

I enjoyed the plot twists and the action-packed ending, and I wouldn't mind checking out the second book in this series.

Review of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Mrs. Bardugo does not fail.

I did watch the show before reading the books. Six of Crows duology will always be some of favorite books and characters. The one thing that I really love that Leigh Bardugo does is how much detail she puts into her writing. The way she describes the Keftas and how they are taken from the page to the screen exactly is amazing.

These characters can not compare to the crows, but you have to recognize the beginning. Alina is your typical YA protagonist, really going through it and kind of having a love triangle. I know Ben Barnes is now in everyone's head for the darkling, but just because a man is dark and brooding does not mean we have to worship the ground he walks on, girlies.

The females in this book are everything though. Genya, Zoya, and Baghra all have a special place in my heart. Alina, although she is the main character not my favorite. She can be too wishy washy, and I know she is a teenager trying to save her work,d but I want her to grow into her own without a man.