Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy | Book Review #167

The Bookish Island's Book Review:

Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Him

Author: Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

.........................................................

Pages: 360

Published: 2015

Genre: Romance, Sports, New Adult, Contemporary

.........................................................

Date Read: March 29, 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend... and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

The Rating:

My Review:

There was so much going on in this book and I enjoyed every page.
It was both a fun read and a great romance.

Now I was supposed to write this review months ago so I barely remember what I was going to say about this book but I really did love it.

It was also my first M/M romance so that was interesting. Although I have read yaoi before, so it wasn't that weird. I really liked it. Reading Jaime and Ryans' story of how they went from friends to strangers, to friends and so much more. So much love for these two that I couldn't wait to read the sequel and I got my hands on it and read that too.

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

The Foxe & The Hound by R.S. Grey | Book Review #146

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Foxe & The Hound by R.S. Grey

Are there spoilers?

This one has spoilers!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: The Foxe & The Hound 

Author: R.S. Grey

.........................................................

Pages: 328

Published: 2017

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Adult

.........................................................

Date Read: July 26 > 27, 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

When your life is a hot mess at twenty, it’s cute. At twenty-seven… well, not so much.

It’s just that my lofty dreams—making it as a real estate agent, paying rent on time, showering daily—have stayed just that: dreams. Oh, and love? I’ve decided love might be a little ambitious for me at the moment. Instead, I’ve settled for the two guys who will never leave me: Ben & Jerry.

That is until Dr. Adam Foxe takes up residence as the town’s new vet.

With his strong jaw, easy confidence, and form-fitting scrubs, it’s not long before every housewife in Hamilton is dragging neglected tomcats in for weekly checkups.

Like everyone else, I’m intrigued. Even after I spoil my chance at a good first impression, he still offers me a proposition I can’t refuse: play his girlfriend at a family function and he’ll hire me as his real estate agent. Welcome to love in the 21st century.

It’s too bad I underestimated Adam’s irresistible charm and the undeniable attraction that burns between us. The day he pins me to the wall and silences me with a kiss, the line between reality and ruse begins to blur. Every teasing touch brings me to my knees. Every kiss promises more.

It looks like my hot mess of a life is about to get a little hotter.

The Rating:

My Review:

I've been holding back on this review because I had very mixed feelings towards this book. But here goes nothing.

The Foxe & The Hound is about a beautiful real estate agent, Madeleine, who crashes into a handsome vet with an attitude, Adam. And of course, there's the one who got them to crash. Too big for his own good, doggo Mouse. 

One of the things that gave me problems was Adam. I hated him. I swooned at the beginning but then all of a sudden it turned to dislike. He just did some things that made me look at this book with some serious death stares. I even stopped reading it at the point where I couldn't handle how he acted and how Madeleine reacted anymore. But because I had to give it back I powered through having a curtain on those chapters and how I felt and ended up enjoying it after.

I ended up liking the banter between Adam and Madeleine and how their relationship was finding a smooth rhythm. The steamy scenes were just right. Mouse was an amazing and very important doggo. And in the end, I was shocked with that plot twist.

I can now say that with that ending I now am on board.


Now. If you really want to know what bothered me about this book here it is. But you have been warned since this is a spoiler.

There is one scene, past the first 120 pages, where Adam basically assaults Madeleine. But that's not all, because it happens before he tells her that he's sorry for misleading her into thinking that they were more than just acquaintances or friends. That he isn't looking to date anyone since he got out of a messy relationship just recently. Which is also the reason why he moved to that town in the first place. But that's beside the point. 

The point is that he tells her he isn't interested in dating her after she asked him out (taking the courage to ask him out thinking that she has a shot) and then he blocked her only exit to the building they are in and grabs/pins her to the door and assaults her. Now! It doesn't matter that she likes him or that in the end she was "okay" with what he did to her or it turned her on. That doesn't matter. What matters, and what bothers me about Adam, is the fact that he rejects her, grabs onto her wrist to the point where she tells him he is hurting her, ignored her pain, and then plants a kiss on her mouth. And I think that somewhere in that she thinks to herself that he is being forceful towards her but then she goes on to say that she likes it. 
And as I'm writing this I notice that it may be me thinking too much into what he did, but then again it was too much happening at once and I freaked out instead of feeling excited for them like I think the writer intended. That's why I didn't like him. I had to make myself forget that that scene had happened in order to keep reading.

Goodreads

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn and Allison Rashkin | Book Review #82

The Bookish Island's Book Review for:
I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn and Allison Rashkin

Will there be spoilers?

Maybe there will be some.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer:
This book was sent to me by the publishing company in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books.
I read this one on October 7. 17 days after.

Title - I Hate Everyone But You

By - Gaby Dunn and Allison Rashkin


Publication - September 5th, 2017 by Wednesday Books

Copy - Paperback, 334 pages

Genre - Young Adult, New Adult, Contemporary

Dear Best Friend,
I can already tell that I will hate everyone but you.
Sincerely,
Ava Helmer
(that brunette who won’t leave you alone)

We're still in the same room, you weirdo.
Stop crying.
G

So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two best friends will document every moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance?

The Rating:

My Review:

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

My copy is an arc mine is different with a phone and the message from the two main characters. But the official cover is very bright and totally suits the books perfectly. 

The Story:

Two friends each go their separate ways to different colleges. But they want to keep their friendship. 

Overall:
The story is told in emails and texts between the two girls. Which made it easy for me to follow.
It also tackled a bunch of themes but it didn't feel like it was too much.

I don't really have anything bad to say about it except that I was pissed my arc copy got soaking wet from me taking it with me in the neighbor's car without knowing the floor was wet. But that's nobody's fault. 

Get a copy at:
Barnes&Noble  | Amazon

Or get it here using my affiliate link. Please:
Book Depository

______________________________________

 Blog | Tumblr | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

180 Seconds by Jessica Park | Book Review

Book Review:
180 Seconds by Jessica Park

Spoilers?

Maybe.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer:
This book was sent to me from NetGalley.com and the publishing company in exchange for an honest review. 

Title - 180 Seconds
By - Jessica Park
Publication - April 25th 2017 by Skyscape
Format - ecopy, 300 pages
Genre - New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Some people live their entire lives without changing their perspective. For Allison Dennis, all it takes is 180 seconds…

After a life spent bouncing from one foster home to the next, Allison is determined to keep others at arm’s length. Adopted at sixteen, she knows better than to believe in the permanence of anything. But as she begins her third year in college, she finds it increasingly difficult to disappear into the white noise pouring from her earbuds.

One unsuspecting afternoon, Allison is roped into a social experiment just off campus. Suddenly, she finds herself in front of a crowd, forced to interact with a complete stranger for 180 seconds. Neither she, nor Esben Baylor, the dreamy social media star seated opposite her, is prepared for the outcome.

When time is called, the intensity of the experience overwhelms Allison and Esben in a way that unnerves and electrifies them both. With a push from her oldest friend, Allison embarks on a journey to find out if what she and Esben shared is the real thing—and if she can finally trust in herself, in others, and in love. 

The Rating :

My Review:

My review in a gif. Which equals 2 stars.

via GIPHY


The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

I think the cover was what first attracted me to this book. I mean a shattered mirror and pretty purple font saying 180 Seconds is so pretty and it makes you think of what those it have to do with the story inside the cover. 

But I quickly learned it has nothing to do with the cover. 

The Story:

It will only take 180 seconds for two people to fall in love. That is the premise of this book. 

Relationships:

There were more than one couples and relationships in this book but I will only talk about one of them.

Allison x Esben

Two very different people get together after a video in which one of them is made to sit in a chair and stare into someone else's eyes for just 180 seconds. 

I thought that their relationship was a bit weird. Allyson forgets her anxiety and quiet nature after meeting Esben and I would be okay with that if it wasn't from one page to the other. I know that sometimes in relationships you change, yeah, but not the instant you meet a person. And Esben was awesome, almost too perfect during the whole thing which was weird too.

Family Dynamics:

As for Allyson’s family.

Her adoptive father was awesome and I was envious of how cool he was. He also deserves a gold #1 dad statue.

Settings:

There weren't any places I liked or remembered, that I can think of. 

Overall:

I didn't like this book.

This is what I wrote on GoodReads:

I didn't like the story. I just couldn't find anything I liked about the characters or the story.

I actually really, really didn't like it. I don't know if its because I read it in a mood or what but I didn't like it. I even skipped a few pages to get to the end. 

Truthfully in the first few pages and even before when I had just seen the cover, or read the synopsis I was so into this book. But after a while I just got too angry and didn't like where the it was going. 

I liked that Allyson was a bit of a shy person and how she was dealing with college life because I related to her in a way. but after she met the love interest, Esben, who is this popular guy that does videos online, she changed so much. A bit too much. It was like I was reading the story of two different people instead of one who changes throughout the story.

Get a copy at:
Barnes&Noble  |   Amazon US

Or get it here using my affiliate link. Please:
Book Depository

______________________________________

 Blog | Tumblr | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads