Reviews by Grade: DNF
Lightning Review

Tamon’s B-Side, Vol. 1 by Yuki Shiwasu

Tamon’s B-Side, Vol. 1

A young woman, Utage Kinoshita, who loves the popular boy band F/ACE, has a job as a house cleaner. When she covers for a colleague who calls out, she discovers the assignment is for her favorite member of F/ACE, Tamon Fukuhara. However, Tamon’s charming, bad boy persona is fake and the poor guy is riddled with imposter syndrome and anxiety. A lot of manga feature teenagers as the main characters; that’s the case with all … Continue reading Tamon’s B-Side, Vol. 1 by Yuki Shiwasu

Book Review

Calamity by Constance Fay

Calamity

When I get wind of a new sci-fi romance coming out, I’m always determined to give it a try. Sadly, the first person point of view hurt my experience more than it helped and I had to call it quits. What a shame! Temperance Reed was banished from the affluent Reed Family, and she’s now working on a scouting ship. When her captain runs off with the ship intern (the same captain she’s been having … Continue reading Calamity by Constance Fay

Book Review

The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore

The Gentleman’s Gambit

I know a book is depressing when a) the sex scenes don’t perk things up and b) I need to comfort read Murderbot to feel okay about life again. Catriona Campbell is a suffragist and an academic. She has a belter of a start in this book as she emerges from a loch nude and there’s a man birding on the shores. Legitimately birding, and therefore utterly flummoxed by her appearance. Catriona is defiant and … Continue reading The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore

Book Review

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing

If you are even remotely on bookish social media, then you are aware of Fourth Wing. It’s been much-hyped and sold out and everywhere I look online there are rave reviews for this YA-fantasy-romance. I am not here to yuck anyone’s yum. If you read Fourth Wing and you loved it, I am totally happy for you. I want people to love what they read. This was not a book that worked for me, though, … Continue reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Lightning Review

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

My Roommate is a Vampire

Usually when I DNF a book, it is quickly forgotten and I move on to the next book. I am rarely moved to write a review about a DNF. This case is an exception because it was so nearly good, but ultimately missed the mark. I managed to soldier through 55% of this book before it just got too frustrating. Cassie needs a place to stay. Frederick is renting out his spare room for a … Continue reading My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

Lightning Review

Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey

Love Scenes

Celebrity romance is one of my favorite tropes, so I was super excited to read Love Scenes. I tried to make it through this book, I really, really did, but I had to put it down halfway through. I had no issues with the hero or the heroine or their conflict, but the heroine’s incredibly toxic family makes up a huge part of this book and I couldn’t deal with their chronic mistreatment of her. … Continue reading Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey

Lightning Review

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder

I DNFed this book at 74%. I even threw a bit of a temper tantrum as I consigned the ebook to that most miserable of collections on my Kindle: Not Interesting. The fuel for my frustration? I wanted to love this book. The setup promised a steampunk version of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series. In a series of tunnels beneath London, the Inquirers ply their trade: private investigation. A series of pneumatic tubes link … Continue reading Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Lightning Review

Vanishing Falls by Poppy Gee

Vanishing Falls

Vanishing Falls is one of my few DNF’s of the year, and it’s extremely unusual for me to DNF a mystery at all (I need to know what happens!). This book pretty much failed on all counts, though, and I couldn’t force myself to finish it. First of all, I picked up this book expecting a Gothic mystery, but that’s not what this is. The book is set in the Tasmanian town of Vanishing Falls. … Continue reading Vanishing Falls by Poppy Gee

Lightning Review

Finding Jessica Lambert by Clare Ashton

Finding Jessica Lambert

I was ready to adore this book. It has an age gap between the two leads, one of them is a movie star, and the blurb gave me Notting Hill vibes. Seriously, check out this blurb: Movie star Jessica Lambert is in danger of burning out. Returning to London for the premiere of her latest film, she’s recognised everywhere she goes. When she runs away through the streets of London, she’s taken in by the … Continue reading Finding Jessica Lambert by Clare Ashton

Lightning Review

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Cinderella is Dead

There was much excitement among the Bitches when Cinderella is Dead was announced, due to its exciting cover and concept, and the promise of a queer heroine of color. Alas, the book is virtually unreadable due to sloppy writing and a whiny, self-absorbed heroine. The concept is great. 200 years after Cinderella met her prince, Cinderella is dead and every year all the young women in the kingdom go to a ball (not optional) at … Continue reading Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Lightning Review

From Alaska with Love by Ally James

From Alaska with Love

You’re going to see the DNF and think that this is a terrible book but the heartbreaking reality is that this is actually a good book with some bad moments. On a whim, Sara takes part in a project that sends cards to the troops for Easter. Her card ends up on Major Gabriel Randall’s desk. Cue an adorable conversation of emails, messages and FaceTime conversations. And I do mean ADORABLE. But Sara is conflicted; … Continue reading From Alaska with Love by Ally James

↑ Back to Top