Between May and June, I had a lot of orders, which left little time for mood reading! Here’s a recap of what I’ve been reading and what I’ll be reading in June, between two concerts.
June reading wrap-up
Strange Houses by Uketsu
Synopsis
A writer investigating a Tokyo house for sale uncovers a disturbing "dead space" hidden within its walls. The deeper he and his architect friend dig into the floor plans, the more unsettling secrets emerge. When a body turns up and a mysterious woman contacts them about a second house, they realize they've stumbled into a terrifying conspiracy.
Book review
Rating: 2/5 stars
This was sadly a far-fetched info dump with no payoff. We have to go through reddit type of theories before everything is handed to us in the least subtle way. It’s not thrilling or that interesting to follow because of the repetitive structure.
Concerning the mystery, it is convoluted but would have probably been more impactful if discovered after a real, creepy investigation.
Perfect for fans of:
The Awakening as Told by the Boys by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
This is the first book from the point of view of the Heirs and Lance Orion.
Get your annotated books of the Zodiac Academy series here
Book review
Rating: 2.32/5 stars
I don’t think we needed the whole book from the boys’ point of view. We haven’t learned much so I would have preferred their POV on key plot points as bonus chapters.
The book is indeed quite repetitive, like the author is scared of us forgetting about their motives. They keep repeating the same things, regardless of the POV which is even more redundant.
The writing feels rushed and juvenile. They are obsessed with them right away, with little to no build up. I also had a hard time with the dialogue which was either cliché or overexplaining the conflict out loud. Besides, their hatred for the twins is never believable since they fall for them as soon as they see them.
To finish, the boys’ personalities are too similar to be distinguishable (arrogant, lusting over the twins, talk about their genitals all the time and have the same motives). Darius and Orion say the same exact things about Tory and Darcy. Orion is however slightly more interesting to follow because he’s less stereotypical.
Ruthless Fae by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Book review
Rating: 2.86/5 stars
The beginning of this book was a lot of fun. We find the Vega twins ready to get revenge, and it was pretty satisfying. We sense that things are starting to turn around a bit and that they have hope, which leads to some nice moments between the two of them.
The momentum of this strong start fizzles out quickly, though, as we fall back into the usual plot, which is very predictable and repetitive. Indeed, the boys all behave the same way, give or take a few details, which results in the same situations playing out over and over. We also know that as soon as they’re alone, they get attacked. Which is actually pretty silly, since anyone in their shoes wouldn’t split up so much, given the target on their backs.
Besides, their animosity toward the Heirs feels forced at times, in my opinion. For instance, one of the sisters makes a joke about taking the throne, and they immediately attack her physically, even though it was clearly just teasing. I feel like the story has more to offer than just repetitive pranks, but we keep going in circles with this back-and-forth instead of actually moving forward.
On the plus side, there were a few additions to the world-building that I thought were cool, as well as the fact that even though we know who is endgame, the girls still fool around with the other heirs which is refreshing. Finally, the relationships are slightly less focused on physical attraction in this installment, and we can now see some real chemistry.
The Reckoning by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Book Review
Rating: 2.77/5 stars
While the second book was pretty promising, this one disappointed me. It’s still very formulaic; it beats around the bush the whole time, throwing in events that make the students even hornier than they already were. I got the impression that the book didn’t really know where to go other than the usual formula: they’re mad at each other, one is about to get revenge on the other, but somehow it ends up in a makeout session, never really solving the problem. This made me think the series was going to drag on forever. Just like the books, which keep getting longer without actually telling us more…
I find it very surprising, even impossible, that there’s no one on their parents’ side, and therefore on theirs. I’m not talking about Geraldine, but more like a Lionel-type character who wants to protect them. Not even a butler? I don’t find that very realistic, just like the fact that the school is honored to have them at first but then does nothing to help them afterward.
Moreover, the Vega twins are on their way to becoming invincible, following the rules of the good old chosen one trope. Everyone is in love with them, they ace every exam, thereby killing any dramatic tension. I’m already expecting the next book to reveal that they’re the most powerful fae who have ever existed. Because, obviously.
Concerning the characters, I didn’t like Darcy and Diego. As for Darcy, wer'e told several times in her sob story that she has intimacy issues, but as soon as the opportunity arises, she has no trouble doing the deed. How anticlimactic. As for Diego, his portrayal is straight-up racist. He can be summed up in three things: abuela, random Spanish words, and a sketchy family.
I did, however, enjoy seeing them gradually become fae, especially Tory, who doesn’t hesitate to manipulate and take advantage of people throughout the book. I like the direction her personality is taking. The same goes for Darius, who’s still just as stereotypical but shows some interesting development.
As for the relationships, I really enjoyed following Tory and Caleb, who I find quite entertaining. They have natural chemistry, unlike Darius and Tory, which always feels forced.
The Mistake by Elle Kennedy
Synopsis
Hockey star John Logan lives for parties and hook-ups, but a careless mistake costs him the one girl he actually wants, freshman Grace Ivers. Now he has to prove he's worth a second chance, except Grace has returned to Briar University bolder and determined to make him work for it this time.
Get your annotated books of the Off-Campus series here
Book Review
Rating: 2.28/5 stars
In my opinion, The Mistake is probably the weakest book in the Off-Campus series. Everything it does well was borrowed from the first book. As for the rest, it’s pretty weak, shallow, and struggled to hold my attention. Unlike the first book, which relies on the major fake dating trope, here Logan simply goes to the wrong room. The premise and conflict are therefore less compelling from the start.
Starting with Grace, she lacks personality, and the few traits she does have aren’t very well written, such as her OCD. She also undergoes a strange personality shift when she returns from summer break, as if changing her hair color were enough to reinvent herself. She also lacks empathy for Logan’s situation, which doesn’t make her very likable either.
Logan, for his part, is a less charismatic version of Garrett. He acts exactly the same way and doesn't have a truly distinctive personality.
Together, Grace and Logan have pretty weak chemistry, and their banter is only good when the scene is taken from the first book. They barely know each other, and we’re supposed to be invested in their relationship.
All the conflicts addressed are easily resolved in one chapter. This even applies to the central conflict (Logan being in love with his best friend’s girlfriend) which is solved after a single, lackluster conversation with Hannah.
In terms of pacing, I found the book too long and rather uneventful. I got bored on several occasions. There are a few good ideas, like Ramona, Grace’s toxic friend. However, it’s not very subtle, and she almost becomes cartoonish. I thought Icebreaker did it better, even if it’s not exactly the same thing.
Perfect for fans of:
- The Chase by Elle Kennedy
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
- Collide by Bal Khabra
The Score by Elle Kennedy
Synopsis
Allie Hayes, fresh off a breakup and facing an uncertain future, falls into a one-night stand with Dean Di Laurentis and refuses to see him again. But Dean, used to getting everything he wants, refuses to let her go and launches a full-on pursuit, realizing he wants a real relationship for the first time.
Get your annotated books of the Off-Campus series here
Book Review
Rating: 2.95/5 stars
Although it’s better than The Mistake, The Score feels more like smut than a love story. My main issue is Dean, because as funny as he is, he sounded like a predator for most of the book. Another case of “if he weren’t hot, he’d be behind bars.” He constantly talks about sex and is very pushy with Allie, which I didn’t necessarily find cute for a romance book. Especially since he only wanted one thing, totally objectifying her.
The book is funny with some great banter, but I also felt like it was a bit disconnected from the universe it’s set in. For instance, Hannah is absent for most of the book even though she’s supposed to be Allie’s best friend, and Dean and Allie being a couple should be causing quite a stir on campus, but we don’t get those moments.
As for their character arcs, they’re super predictable early on with plenty of clues, so when they choose their paths toward the end, it’s not really satisfying because we already knew what was coming.
Allie, on the other hand, is an enjoyable character to follow. It’s easy to relate to her and the stories she tells herself. She stands out from Hannah very easily and offers us things we don’t often see, such as her kinky side.
Overall, the romance didn’t exactly win me over, but it was fun and fast-paced.
The Goal by Elle Kennedy
Synopsis
Ambitious college senior Sabrina James has her life perfectly mapped out until one unexpected night with sweet hockey player Tucker leaves her pregnant. Now Tucker, determined to be present for his child and win over the woman he's fallen for, must break through Sabrina's guarded heart before she shuts him out for good.
Get your annotated books of the Off-Campus series here
Book Review
Rating: 2.53/5 stars
After the second book, this is probably the weakest and least developed one. There’s little to no conflict, even though their situation should provide plenty, and the romance is mostly lust.
Tucker, being just as perfect as Garrett, with absolutely no flaws, will of course have no problem putting his whole life aside to welcome a child. Not a single moment of doubt or fear otherwise, you might think he’s a realistic man.
Sabrina, on the other hand, is relatable but acts out of character as soon as it comes to her pregnancy. And that’s my biggest issue with the book: she had absolutely no reason to keep it. I wish the book had been bold enough to consider abortion because it would have aligned with Sabrina’s personality and goals, but as in many books that tackle this subject, this option is barely considered, likely out of fear of being seen as problematic. It’s a shame, because this is an opportunity to represent, for once, the many women in the same situation who chose to have an abortion. And beyond that, it made more sense for the character, and it would have created just as much conflict for the plot as a pregnancy does, in my opinion.
The Legacy by Elle Kennedy
Synopsis
A collection of four novellas catching up with all four beloved Off-Campus couples: Garrett & Hannah, Logan & Grace, Dean & Allie, and Tucker & Sabrina. Three years after graduation. Real life throws weddings, proposals, elopements, and surprise pregnancies their way.
Get your annotated books of the Off-Campus series here
Book Review
Rating: 3/5 stars
A heartwarming conclusion to the series, which alternates between funny and more serious stories with interesting conflicts, though resolved quickly as expected.
Since it’s a romance novel, the author obviously wasn’t going to break up any of the couples, but I would have appreciated that risk and that sense of realism, since it’s obviously a utopian fantasy to think they’re all meant to be together forever.
Shadow Princess by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Get your annotated books of the Zodiac Academy series here
Book Review
Rating: 2.68/5 stars
With this fourth book, I think I’m starting to get the structure: we spend 600 pages going through the same scenes and conversations over and over again, only to get 50 pages of action at the end.
While we’re subjected to this constant backpedaling, we try to figure out where the story is taking us, making assumptions that all turn out to be correct because there are so many drawn-out passages that everything becomes predictable. We then find ourselves waiting for the characters to realize or do what we figured they were going to do 200 pages ago.
What also makes this book very predictable is that the twins are invincible. It kills any tension since you know they’ll ace everything. Despite all their advantages and the imminent threats they’re facing, the sisters choose not to communicate with each other, keeping crucial secrets from one another. Yet another nonsense.
On the long list of things that ruined my reading experience was the constant sexualization of the characters, which was incredibly heavy-handed and unoriginal.
Another thing that annoyed me was the repeated use of truces as a plot device to bring them closer together at a party even though they’re supposed to hate each other. If you really hated someone (that person tried to kill you), would you be able to spend an entire night dry humping them? I couldn’t. It felt so artificial.
The climax of Tory and Darius’s relationship finally arrives, and I have to say it’s also a disappointment. It was underwhelming and felt out of place. We waited four books (I didn’t) for little to no payoff.
Tory is once again one of the few redeeming qualities, even though she can be annoying at times (because the writing forces her to repeat the same mistakes). She’s flawed, she knows it, and she owns it, even though she doesn’t want to be this way. She’s a good and complex character compared to the rest of them.
July TBR
The Zodiac Academy Series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
I have to read the entire series for a client who ordered annotated books. I’ve been told it was getting better but I’m on book 6 and still not convinced. The length of each book, is also highly discouraging.
Get your annotated books of the Zodiac Academy series here
My fault by Mercedes Ron
When her mother's cruise marriage to a billionaire uproots Noah from everything she knows, she finds herself thrust into a dangerous L.A. world of street races and lavish parties. There, the biggest threat to her turns out to be her new stepbrother Nick.
Lights Out and the Into Darkness series by Navessa Allen
Trauma nurse Aly's darkest fantasy becomes reality when a masked stranger, Josh Hammond, shows up in her bedroom after she sends one drunken text, turning their thrilling game of hunter and hunted into obsession. But when a far more sinister figure sets his sights on Aly, Josh must decide just how far he'll go to protect the woman he's fallen for.
I don’t think I’m gonna manage to read the whole series but it’d be nice. Finishing Zodiac Academy will take most of my month, though.
Happy reading month!
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