In my plan for these posts I’m still going through some older reads, however, I still have some frustrations for a recent read so I’ve included it in this month’s post. I’m in a better place reading-wise right now and even though I’m behind on festive ARCs, I’ve been enjoying my recent reads a lot.
Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
The heartbreak I feel including this book in this post is insane. Nothing Like the Movies was my most anticipated release for 2024 and I literally screamed when the ARC landed in my inbox. Sadly, I really didn’t enjoy it. Liz’s character was completely butchered and she was unrecognisable. I already knew they’d broken up before reading and I was ok with that as I knew they’d get back together, but I hated what both Liz and Wes had become. Although Wes gets some leniency though.
I haven’t given up on Lynn Painter’s books though as I do love a few of them. I think my expectations were too high and I really wish Better than the Movies stayed a standalone.
Synopsis: For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: the strong-willed girl next door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off for college to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.
Flash forward months later, and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.
Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with rom-com-worthy grand gestures she loves. Only . . . Liz will have none of it! Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend . . . a guy friend.
Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.
Saint Death’s Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney
I can’t remember how far I got into this book before I DNF’d it, but I don’t remember a lot happening either way. The thing I remember most is the huge glossary of made up words you were somehow supposed to remember the meaning of. If this was a paperback it would have been much easier to flip back and forth, but I had an eARC, so I had no clue what was going on.
Synopsis: To be born into a family of royal assassins pretty much guarantees that your life is going to be… rather unusual. Especially if, like Miscellaneous “Lanie” Stones, you also have a vicious allergy to all forms of violence and bloodshed, and an uncanny affinity for bringing the dead back to life.
To make matters worse, family debt looms – a debt that will have to be paid sooner rather than later if Lanie and her sister are to retain ownership of the ancestral seat, Stones Manor. Lanie finds herself courted and threatened by powerful parties who would love to use her worryingly intimate relationship with the goddess of death for their own nefarious ends. But the goddess has other plans…
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