Should have DNF, but I was stubborn.

First, I'm not a fan of duo POVs or third person perspective, but that's just my taste. I also don't like perspectives from a teenage boy, so that's three strikes so far. I felt the author just danced around the surface of mental illness and grief. And the instalove, especially after the miscommunication and keeping secrets drove me nuts.

The only part I loved was the dogs.

This was cute but also frustrating. I loved the representation, the setting of Colorado Springs, and Sahil, who is adorable and must be protected at all costs. I hate miscommunication and keeping secrets from your love interest and friends, which is pretty much the source of the conflict between the characters. I am looking forward to reading more by the author.

Took me a while to get into this, but I liked the artwork and storyline and will finish the rest of the volumes.

Absolutely beautiful writing and I loved the representation. But I didn't love the characters or the story as much as I was hoping to. I am interested in reading more by the author.

I wish there was a word, and there probably is –when you really enjoy a book, it could be five stars and then something happens to bump down your enjoyment. The something happens here is rather spoiler-y and although I guessed it, I didn‘t like how the other characters just… let the heartbreak happen.

There is still something missing from her books that stop me from loving them (ala Sarah Dessen) and I‘m not sure what it is.

What a wild read. It shows its age with the stereotypes and “not like other girls” comments. But once it veered into a paranormal setting, I was hooked. It's hardly my favorite read of this year, but sometimes I just need a guilty pleasure to keep my brain occupied.

I read one of Susane Colasanti‘s books in high school and loved it, so I‘m attempting to read everything I missed. (Similar to Deb Caletti) This was just okay. It was engaging enough for me to finish it and enjoy most of it. The synopsis didn't match everything that happened and it felt like the parents were either just there in passing, or making stupid choices that affected their family.

Remnants of the earlier seasons of Shameless and “The Night Always Comes.” It was engaging, but the third person POV felt like I was just watching Emily's story from afar, instead of being in her head. Dark, disappointing, and strange.

This reminded me of “The Moon and More, which is my least favorite Sarah Dessen book. I loved the humor and dynamic with Cricket's family, but I didn't like the love triangle and drama. Unfortunately I was correct at guessing part of the ending and sobbed, of course. And I didn't like after all the drama with the love interests, there wasn't any resolution in the ending.

This is an example of how different my reading tastes are. The first three Goodreads reviews are two stars, but I loved this book. I was immediately drawn in by the story and characters. I loved the lyrical writing and setting and cried several times. I thought the last reveal appeared too fast, but my heart was taken by this book.

This was probably the darkest out of the series so far. I had to keep checking that the book was published in 2002 since the villain's hateful beliefs were unfortunately very timely. I'm sad this is almost the last one in the series. It's been a fun, fast-paced ride throughout.

*Emotional Damage*
I have not sobbed over a piece of media like this since Midnight Mass. This book gutted me and made me feel so many emotions, even more than the original trilogy. I was a little nervous, after the bland disappointment of Ballard of Songbird and Snakes, but this was well worth the wait and the migraine all the sobbing created.

My third favorite of the series. I'm glad the Danny storyline came to a resolution without dragging out more. I like how Greer uses her research skills and I love the narrator of the audiobooks. A fitting conclusion if this is the last in the series, but I'll be sad not to read more about Greer and her sleuthing skills.

My least favorite so far of the series, but still enjoyed it. It took a while for the pieces of the whodunnit to come together, but I'm still invested in finishing the series.

Didn't like it as much as the first one, but it was still a lot of fun. I'm rather into fun, fast-paced reads lately, instead of the boring DNFs I've been slogging through.

This wasn't perfect and showed its age, especially with some of the throw away comments. But it was a fun, fast paced read. I loved Meg Cabots' books in high school and they are still fun now, especially how she takes scenarios like psychic powers or being a medium that happens to regular teenagers.

Enjoyable, but not outstanding. I liked the fairytale aspects and the little bit of horror. The romance was sweet, but I saw the plot twists coming from a mile away. Wouldn‘t reread it, but a a breezy, entertaining read.

Another potential four star turned to three. I loved the plot and setting, but realized I didn't love the characters or romance. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to other books by Rebecca Ross, but there was something stopping me from loving it.

Much like Sarah Dessen's Dreamland, I'm glad I didn't read this when it first came out, as it wouldn't have been as impactful. A little hard to read at times due to the emotions and trauma, but I appreciate the raw honesty and the ending, as well as the characters.

Unexpectedly my favorite Deb Caletti book thus far. The unrequited/being in love with someone you shouldn‘t be hit a little too close to home. I loved Zeus, the dog, Scarlet‘s journey, her family and the escapades of her neighbors. I definitely cried the last few chapters and loved the writing.

This was one of those books where I enjoyed it, but I also wanted to finish it. I was swept in right away, but hated how the cliffhanger of an ending. I loved the spin on Greek mythology but I didn‘t feel any emotions from the main character or those last few chapters. Might pick up the sequel, but not right away.

First off, the Owlcrate edition is stunning.Too bad the book was disappointing. I thought it was going to be four stars during the first half, and I couldn‘t put it down. But that second half and the science fiction and loose twists annoyed me. There are some weird media I like, but this reminded me of “Vassa in the Night.” I wished it had been more of a supernatural/vampire campy tale like Twilight, instead of a muddled plot and open ending.

Enjoyable, if a little sloggy and predictable. There were some really touching moments and I‘m all for sapphic romance and strong female characters. Not perfect, but it broke me out of yet another reading slump.

What's that? The first Deb Caletti book I thoroughly enjoyed and gave a pick? This one finally clicked for me-maybe it was the story, maybe it was because Quinn's relationship with her father reminded me and my dad, both in his life and his death. I liked how the romance between Quinn and Jake didn't take center stage & Jake was definitely the best and most memorable of the Caletti book boyfriends. Pleasantly surprised.

You ever pick up a book and it drives you insane, but you still want to see what happens? This was it. The ending was very tidy and too many things happened at the end. Lucky was the worse and then his behavior was just excused. The main character could be either naive or have deep musings, nothing in between. But it broke me out of a three month reading slump, so there is that.

Did I finish anything from my February TBR? No.

Did that stop me from creating another monthly tbr? Also no.

I went with some categories this time around.

#apriltbr

I would have loved this book if I read it when it was first published. I loved Lennie‘s family, the exploration of grief, and of course, Joe. I could have done without the love triangle, Toby (sorry, not sorry) and the choices Lennie made, but I enjoyed the journey.

I spend too much time overthinking TBRs, so this month I randomized my Goodreads TBR and picked the first five that were available on Libby and Everand to focus on.

#focusreads
#Februarytbr

Probably my favorite so far of the Deb Caletti books I've read, but not wow worthy. Her main characters are starting to mature a bit, aside from the slurs thrown around in the last 20% of the book. Her boyfriend was an ass and the parents deserved better. I loved all the characters at the diner.

I'm so glad there is one more volume after this, because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these characters.

Could have been a four or five star read, but the second half made it so-so. There was great writing and thoughts about grieving an imperfect person, but the dark tones and unnecessary animal abuse made me sick to my stomach.

Between starting a new job last month and losing my dad suddenly, I needed something silly and mindless to focus on. The main character made stupid as hell choices but this was fast paced and entertaining enough to distract me.

Not perfect but it broke me out of a almost three month reading slump. Short and fairly fast paced, I wanted more to the mystery but it held my interest.

Much better than the previous in the series. I loved the characters and the day to day details of working in a library. Also enjoyed the audiobook narrator. The ending was sad and I thought the culprit and the why of the murder was anticlimactic, especially because it could have gone a different way. I am hoping we get a resolution to the Danny storyline in the next book.

Disappointed with this one, especially after I really liked the first in the series. I couldn't get into the ebook version and had to switch to audio. I liked the narrator but it took almost 40% for the murder and mystery to start. I found the ending lackluster, but I am looking forward to the next one in the series, which takes place at the library again.

#bookreport
Want to start this up again…
"The Summer After You and Me" is my physical book I take to work for lunch breaks. Not pulling me in quite yet.

The murder just happened in “Shadow in the Glass.” Very slow, but I like the narrator.

And I‘m hosting July‘s book club at work, so I just started “Wild."

@Cinfhen

This was so flipping cute. Gideon was the best and I loved the friendship between Claudia and Iris. Can‘t wait to read more by Emma Mills.

Creepy and atmospheric. The last half fell flat for me and I wasn‘t a fan of the sudden, unexplained ending.

I liked this book from the beginning, thought about DNFing in the middle, and ended up finishing it. I don‘t know what it is about Deb Caletti‘s books, but there is always something missing for me. I liked how honest the discussion around anxiety was, but didn‘t care for the romance or the dramatic second half.

This was cute and funny-a nice palate cleanser from my previous paranormal reads. Loved the family relationships and how the romance didn‘t take center stage.

More paranormal/spooky than my previous read and I liked the plot better, but I wasn‘t as entertained by it as I wanted to be.

Why yes, I did create another mood board for this book. ? I was entertained for most of it, but the cardboard dialogue and cheesy "horror" scenes got old, plus a student/teacher 'romance 'that was constantly referred to as "providential"? Ugh.

In a reading slump (again) so I've been catching up on my comic backlog. Entertaining enough to get through, but I felt like some of the story and worldbuilding were missing. May pick up the 2nd one.

This was readable and entertaining enough, but also slow and frustrating. I'm late in the game for this series and college me would have loved it. 30 something me was just exhausted by the insta love and wishy washiness of the main character. Might pick up the second book to see if the world building gets any stronger.

Not wow-worthy, but an entertaining story. I loved the audiobook narrator and the 90s throwbacks. The characters got on my nerves and the ending felt incomplete, but I enjoyed it for the most part.

First book for my library's new book club! This was pretty cute and an easy read. I was invested in the story and characters, even if they did make me cringe sometimes with their actions. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

I‘ve been in such a terrible reading slump since mid-October and did enjoy most of Wild Roses. Probably my favorite out of the three Deb Caletti books I‘ve read so far, but I still get annoyed with the protagonists and their throwaway comments. I‘m still waiting for a Deb Caletti book that I love.

This was so entertaining and a breeze to read. I liked the main character and how she viewed the world. The mystery kept me guessing throughout and I‘m looking forward to picking up the sequel.

Sometimes I think series just aren‘t for me. They tend to drag on too long and I‘m always disappointed by the last book.

I think this series would have been better as a dulogy or a standalone. And it didn‘t need the love triangle, or the many times the main character thought of her love interests using their full names. But it did break me out of a slump and I finished a series.

I really enjoyed this! A solid debut and I liked how I was able to follow along and even guess whodunnit, without feeling over my head. The setting was so creepy and enchanting and I loved the small town atmosphere. Plus the main character is a librarian and there were a lot of moments that were realistic to my job. (Not so much the murder-solving, but the stacks of Publishers Weekly on our desks!)