Ugly Love, November 9 & Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover: Book Review // The Problematic Edition (Spoilerish)

Title: Ugly Love
Author: Colleen Hoover
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 337 pages, Ebook
Published: August 5th 2014 by Atria Books
Source: Purchased
Trigger Alert: Abusive/toxic relationship

Blurb (from Goodreads):

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly

• I read Ugly Love way back in 2016 and I don’t remember loving it? The plot was cliche which was maybe the biggest turnoff for me. It was the same old, friends with benefits and the girl immediately fall head over heels for the guy. The guy runs but then ultimately surrenders to love. This trope has been used way too much, too often.
• It definitely isn’t one of my favourite Co-Ho books but all the same my heart was broken and mended in this book. Miles is the epitome of Tsundere character arc and most of the time I really hated him, mostly because of how he treated Tate. Although I don’t remember this much of the story, I remember the feeling while reading about Miles which was not pleasant.
• Miles never learns from his mistakes and the comparison with the past stuff was frustrating to read.
• I felt the relationship between Miles and Tate became increasingly toxic with Tate being very dependent on Miles.
• So, I would only recommend this book (not actually) to those who love this particular plot arc. (Does anyone anymore? Occasionally perhaps?)

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Title: November 9
Author: Colleen Hoover
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 307 pages, Ebook
Published: November 10th 2015 by Atria Books
Source: Purchased
Trigger Alert: Abusive/toxic relationship, manipulation

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

Okay, so where to begin with this one.

• I feel guilty for liking this book. (This is not a first for me, I have loved a book, screamed how good it was and then suddenly bam!! It hits me. And I am like what the fuck did I just read? Does it happen to you or is it just me?)
• But one thing was certain for me, Ben did not sit well with me from the very beginning, but I somehow tricked my mind into liking him? I dunno. He is one of those sweet talkers who will say garbage to you, pull down your self-esteem and then give you tips to build confidence. So, basically, a manipulative person.
• Fallon already has insecurities regarding her body because of her burn marks and Ben’s unwanted heroic interference and the comments that followed later were deeply disturbing. It felt like the author had tried to portray Fallon as deep and poetic but in fact, he just was a creep.
• I was going through Goodreads when I saw a reviewer particularly highlight this line, “But it’s your own fault people feel uncomfortable looking at you.” It made me go back and read that part again and just as I said, a manipulative sweet talker. He gives this big ass explanation about how she hides when her body is to be praised. Um, objectifying much? There were quite a lot of similar instances now that I think about it. 😦

• This book was high on insta-love, a trope I am not fond of. One of the things which bothered me was that Fallon was uncomfortable a lot of times, however, she barely voiced it. And Ben didn’t help much either. He proceeds to do a lot of things a lot of times without consent.
• That plot twist (I mean obviously, there’s got to a random plot twist since it’s a Co-Ho book, which I am usually a fan of but not this one.) I mean, how did this book end on a happy note? How? Even if Fallon accepted all of Ben’s behaviour, I don’t see how that plot twist not expose how problematic Ben was. It was the whole reason her life turned upside down in the first place and then things were just okay?
• Also, I couldn’t understand Fallon forgiving her father who treated her like shit, which was very evident in the first chapter.
• I felt this book romanticized on a lot of problematic aspects, so yes I will not be recommending this one.

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Title: Maybe Someday
Author: Colleen Hoover
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 385 pages, Ebook
Published: March 18th 2014 by Atria Books
Source: Purchased
Trigger Alert: Cheating

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Sydney is living in an idyllic bubble—she’s a dedicated student with a steady job on the side. She lives with her best friend, has a great boyfriend, and the music coming from the balcony opposite hers is fast becoming the soundtrack to her life. But when Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, the bubble bursts. The mysterious and attractive man behind the music, Ridge, gives Sydney hope that she can move on and they begin to write songs together. But moving on is harder than she expects, Sydney can only hope….

Maybe someday…

(Contains exclusive content: Songs from Griffin Peterson)

• When I first read the book, I remember bawling my eyes out and absolutely falling in love with it. This book had a special place in my heart buuuuuut when I reflected back on the story a few days ago, I sure found a lot of problematic aspects.
• The foremost being cheating being shown as okay. I didn’t process when I read that first (how dumb can I be?). Cheating was romanticized in this book which was definitely, definitely not okay.
• A highly unpopular opinion. I actually liked Sydney. Her and Ridge bonds over writing music (and the tracklist they write actually has real music to go with which was awesome). Their attraction was genuine and I was rooting for them from the beginning.
• But helloooooow? Ridge conveniently forgets to mention he has a girlfriend. (Like bruh, how does someone forget that?) Hellow not-so-cool plot twist.

• After things are out in the open, both characters feel guilty. Enter tragic backstory of the Ridge’s girlfriend and how he can’t break up with her despite falling for Syndey (This book vibes with Hindi (Bollywood) serials -_-, my desi fam will get the reference.)
• There are some aspects of the book which I vaguely remember but Ridge’s girlfriend wholeheartedly forgives him and even tells him that they don’t belong together (which if my memory serves me correct, Ridge did a lot of things to peruse her). I know falling out of love is normal but it kinda felt weird how things span out between these characters. 
• The ending wraps up everything in a neat and tidy bun. I honestly don’t know what to feel about this book anymore. So read at your own risk!

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Being a huge fan of Co-Ho, these books let me down big time. If you have read these books, what did you think about them?

What cliches do you think are the most repetitive in contemporary romances?

Verity and Regretting You by Colleen Hoover: Book Review // Co-Ho: The Intense Shock Edition

Title: Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Thriller, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 324 pages, Ebook
Published: December 7th 2018 by Hoover Ink, Inc.
Source: Purchased
Trigger Alert: Death, Betrayal

Blurb (from Goodreads):

*I would recommend blindly going into this book*

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

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This book is a complete mindfuck. I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling when I read the last few pages and closed the book.

Utterly mindblowing!

The plot twist was completely off the curve. Colleen Hoover has a habit of randomly throwing a plot twist when you least expect her to and it’s one of her elements I love. It’s always a knee jerk reaction. And this book completely blew the roof. To this day, the last chapter haunts me.

Lowen is the main protagonist of this book who is a struggling writer. She finally gets a break when she is offered to write Verity Crawford’s, a successful author’s remaining books since the author is in a coma for years after an accident where her daughter died. Lowen’s discovery of an unfinished biography of Verity changes her perspective about a lot of things. CoHo managed to develop such an utterly disturbing and layered character with Verity. This book has an alternative chapter of Lowen and Verity’s journal and ohmygod, it was, very much troublesome.

The novel takes place in Crawford residence where she slowly begins to develop feelings for Jeremy, Verity’s husband. The feeling is quite mutual and I enjoyed the chemistry between them. The build-up between the characters to a slow-burn romance was is definitely one of my favourites part of the book. The suspense throughout the book kept me on my toes. There’s always this lurking feeling and the author managed to create a creepy environment that matched the tone of the book. And there are bread crumbs throughout the book which further adds to the mystery.

I believe I finished this book in one sitting, so if you haven’t read this book yet, I highly recommend you to!

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Title: Regretting You
Author: Colleen Hoover
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 363 pages, Ebook
Published: December 10th 2019 by Montlake Romance
Source: Purchased
Trigger Alert: Accident, Death, Betrayal

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

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This book broke my heart. This is what Colleen Hoover does every time and I go back to her because of it. I was putting off this book since I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it like the rest of her books but boy, oh boy was I wrong.

The story introduces us to Morgan and her three friends. One is her boyfriend Chris who becomes her husband, the second is her sister and best friend, Jenny and her boyfriend, Jonah. The story takes a time leap of 17 years where we see Morgan as a stay-at-home mom and Jonah almost out of the story since he went (read: ran) away after Morgan’s pregnancy news.

From the initial first chapters, the chemistry between Morgan and Jonah was palpable, however, when it came to their significant others, not so much. The two meet again when Morgan’s sister Jenny announces her pregnancy.

When the two met again, my heart broke again! Their connection was something else, yet they stuck with someone, out of duty/comfort? Though, I kinda get it. Missed timings. 😦

The story takes a tragic turn with Chris and Jenny’s accident. It spins off Morgan and creates a further rift between her and her daughter. Clara is going through her own turmoil after losing her father and her aunt (who I was not a fan of from the very first introduction despite her being described as a loving sister) who she adored. Morgan was trying to prevent her daughter from making the same mistake and the chaos between the two spiralled out of control. Miller was her only comfort and I loved the slow-budding romance between the two.

I loved Clara and Miller, however, for me, it was Morgan and Jonah who stole the show. The plot twist broke my heart. The secrets broke my heart. I don’t know how Morgan handled the heartbreak, I was a blubbering mess while reading this. I could feel what was coming but I was not ready for the impact. However, the development arc of Morgan and Clara’s relationship was one of my favourite aspect of the book. I really loved how the ending connected everything, so yes please go read this book!

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So, on my last review, I said that I would do a K-pop match vibe for my reviews. Do give this a listen! 

For this edition, I feel there are a lot of elements in both the books with resonated with Red Velvet’s song. Also, it’s one of my absolute favourites. 

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Have you read any of these books? Do you usually pick up contemporary romance? Any recommendations?

Review: Comeback by Lyn Ashwood and Rachel Rose // A K-pop Novel!!

Title: Comeback
Author: Lyn Ashwood and Rachel Rose
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Format: 312 pages, Ebook
Published: June 8th, 2019 by Ashwood & Rose
Source: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Emery Jung is living his dream. Known by his stage name M, he is loved by millions of fans around the world as a member of the rising K-pop group NEON, but all fame comes with a cost, especially when one slip up can have viral consequences.

Alana Kim is trying to forget. After a tragic loss sends her spiraling, she escapes to her family in Korea, abandoning her love of music along the way. However, her plans are derailed when she literally runs into M, the famous K-pop idol.

When their paths collide, Emery and Alana must work together to prevent a scandal from ruining NEON’s success, sparking a journey of friendship, love, and healing. Unfortunately, fame and love aren’t easily compatible, especially in the world of K-pop.

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I am reviewing a book after eons!! I did read a few books during my hiatus period. Hopefully, I can post them one by one, soonish! Anyway, I am gonna jump straight in!

Reasons to read this book:

It’s Kpop!

If you’re a Kpop fanatic like me, you are bound to fangirl throughout this book. There are so many relatable moments where you can identify yourself as the female protagonist! And in general, it’s just, well Kpop you know. 🙂

Journey of a Kpop boy band

Neon of Solar Entertainment is the main focus of this novel. There are a total of 5 members in this boy band and it definitely reminded me of my boyos. Being a hardcore ARMY (I stan other groups too!), I could relate many instances, the struggle they daily have to go through, the thin line of balance they have to maintain every single time they are on-stage/on-screen.

Most importantly I loved the relationship between the boys. Treating each other like family is one of the most precious things I love about Kpop bands. The thing is… this is how we fandom become family as well.

The dream of being a staff in a Kpop band!

Tell me you haven’t thought about what it would feel like to work as their stylist?! I know I have. LOL. 
The main protagonist of the book exactly has this role. Alana is a Korean-American girl who works as a stylist for a girl group called LilyRed. However, after a scandal blows through she joins Solar Entertainment where Alana’s friendship with Emery grows. I liked the flow of how their friendship evolved into something meaningful. 

Love stuff

Those who are into the Kpop world know how significant the impact the word “dating” has. Basically, it is a forbidden word in the Korean music industry. In the first few years of a band’s contract, they are basically forbidden to date. After they cross like 5 years into the industry, then they are allowed I guess but it’s still considered scandalous since Kpop fans usually hate when their favorites are taken.
This is something I have come to understand now. However, those people are still human beings and they deserve to live a normal life, at least have a love life, they do deserve that. But I won’t disagree there are some serious fanatics who take this to the next level which makes it really difficult for our favorite artists to enjoy some amount of normalcy.
Anyhooo, Emery falls for Alana who he finds to be really genuine. Emery finds out she used to be a fan of their band, he finds himself sharing stuff with her. And well… stuff happens.

They fall for each other. xD This brings about some internal tension among the boyos. Although I did like how this was dealt with. 

Things I wanted more of:

The relationship

Although I liked how the relationship between Emery and Alana developed but I was not head over heels over the romance (Ya guys know how much I dig romance). Somehow, I felt something, the chemistry was lacking. However, it was something most of Kpop fans have imagined once in their life I suppose. I did get to live that through this book which I definitely loved.

More positive representation of the fandom

I definitely loved the fandom name of NEON. It was GLO!!!!
However, I wanted more of how NEON felt towards their fans. I felt the representation was too negative in some aspects. The positive parts of the fandom were definitely shown but I wanted more from the band’s perspective too. Though I can understand these idols have to present themselves in a certain way in front of their fans but still, they show us a big part of their lives. This is something I was not satisfied with, in this book. 

Overall, apart from these aspects, Comeback was a pretty enjoyable read! The flow was steady through the book and the characters were fleshed out pretty well. The Korean culture was depicted really well and I am definitely glad I picked this book up!

Recommend it?

Yes.

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So guys what do you think about this book? Are you a Kpop fan? Are you interested in reading this book even if you are not a Kpop fan? If you stan a group or groups, leave a comment down below! Also, any recommendations?

 

Review: Good Girl by Piper Lawson // A bit of a let down

Title: Good Girl
Author: Piper Lawson
Series: Wicked, book 1
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count & Format: 200 pages, Ebook
Published: October 16th 2018
Source: I received an eARC of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

I’m a good girl. Jax Jamieson is a legend.

The day I wrote my first computer program… he launched his third platinum album.
The night I drank my first beer… he spent in jail.
The day he tried to get me fired… I ended up on his tour.

I’m a college junior with my whole future ahead of me. And he’s the vice I’d give it all up for.

Haley and Jax’s story continues in Bad Girl and concludes in Wicked Girl! A new adult romance series from bestselling author Piper Lawson. If you like nerds, hot rock stars, friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, pet skunks, home reno shows, flip phones or existentialism? You’ll love WICKED. 

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Soooo… the thing is, I usually end up head over heels with Piper’s characters. Not only are the sassy but they have a realistic and hardcore edge to them. But this book kinda fell down from that level of expectation. I felt that this book had nothing new. The surprising element was missing which was a big let down.

In Good Girl, we get to see a rockstar romance. Jax is one of the most popular rockstars, and Haley is one of his massive fangirls. She is out of the world happy when she bangs an internship at the record label company and is sent to tour with her favourite rockstar as tech support. Although I did not warm up to Jax the moment I met her, Haley was someone to root for. I have to say one thing, the female characters are the best parts of Piper’s novels. You just cannot help but root for them.

Haley’s initial facade of Jax dissolves quite early because of his behaviour but she slowly gets a glimpse of the man behind the facade. The chemistry between the characters is palpable as the plot proceeds, however, it was not as explosive or eh…. you know what I am trying to say! Anyway, the mystery part of this novel was what kept me intrigued. I enjoyed the plot and I am definitely up for knowing more!

Overall, Good Girl was an okhay read. The plot felt too common, however, the characters saved the day along with the mysterious twist. I enjoyed the writing and the plot was steady throughout the book although some parts did feel a bit choppy. But I am still interested to know what new turn this story takes.

Recommend it?

Yes.

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So guys, what did you think about this book? Have you read it yet? What is your favourite book from Piper? 

Review: When Forever Changes by Siobhan Davis // A unique twist on love triangle

Title: When Forever Changes
Author: Siobhan Davis
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: very warm
Page Count and Format: 427 pages, Ebook
Expected Publication: September 30th, 2018
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Gabby

Looking back, I should have seen the signs. Perhaps I did, but I subconsciously chose to ignore them. 

From the time I was ten, when I first met Dylan, I knew he was my forever guy. Back then, I couldn’t put words to what I was feeling, but, as the years progressed, I came to recognize it for what it was—soul-deep love. The kind only very few people ever get to experience. Dylan was more than just my best friend, my childhood sweetheart, my lover. 

He was my soul mate. 

We were carved from the same whole—destined to be together forever.

Until he changed. 

And I believed I was no longer good enough. 

Until he shattered me so completely, it felt like I ceased to exist. 

And I’d never experienced such heart-crushing pain.

Until he leveled me a second time, and I truly wanted to die.

But I had to stay strong because I wasn’t alone in this cruel twist of fate.

I look to the sky, pleading with the stars, begging someone to tell me what I should do because I don’t know how to deal with this. I don’t know how to cope when my forever has changed, and I can’t help wondering if I had seen the signs earlier, if I’d pushed him, would it have been enough to save us?

Or had fate already decided to alter our forever?

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When Forever Changes was definitely a refreshing take on love-triangle. If you know me, then you know much I hate love triangles, however, I dunno what but I can’t help but fall for the love-triangles she has written! This was a beautiful and heartwrenching story, albeit there were a few eye-rolling moments but it did manage to win my heart in the end!

Dylan and Gabby have known each other since forever. In fact, they were each other’s forever until Dylan changed. Not only did he start acting out of his character but broke Gabby’s heart as well, a thing that Gabby didn’t think was ever possible. Slater on the other hand always harboured feelings for Gabby and when Dylan left her with pieces, he helped Gabby to pick them up. However, things take a turn for the worse when Dylan’s truth is revealed. It only breaks Gabby all over again but shatters all three of them.

When Forever Changes starts out with Dylan and Gabby’s relationship. I was not invested in this book at the beginning, I think especially because of Dylan’s douchey character. Gabby worshipped the ground he walked on and her thoughts and Dylan’s characters were not matching up. Of course, the reason behind it comes up later but like Gabby, it never mended that part of the heart he broke. Slater, on the other hand, I fell for him immediately. He was not only considerate but also patient and sweet. After Dylan, it took Gabby a lot of time to get back on track and that’s when she realised Slater have been there for her all along.

Dylan and Slater’s love was both different and it was the most precious thing to Gabby. However, she made a lot of stupid decisions, like unnecessary pushing Slater away when proper communication would have made the circumstances more bearable. Gabby expected a bit too much, even after her worse decision-making skills. I kind of semi-guessed the plot twist but I was still hit hard. It was such an unexpected situation where I fell in love with the three all over again. It was heartwrenching yet there was hope. Although this book ends on a bittersweet note, the ending had me pretty satisfied.

Overall, When Forever Changes was a pretty memorable read. I loved how the author dealt with the love triangle. It was quite different from the usual ones I have read until today and for that, I think I will always remember this book. The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was moderate throughout the book although I felt some parts could have been a little faster. Anyway, I am gonna wait eagerly till her next book comes out!

Recommend it?

Yes.

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Sooo guys, what do you think about this book? Are you excited to read it? Have you read any previous book by this author?

**Yeah, September did not turn out as I planned it to be. My life is kinda all over the place now but I am not giving up on blogging!

K-Drama Review: The Great Seducer & The Liar and His Lover // Where I found my bias in Red Velvet!

Show Name: The Great Seducer/Tempted
Episodes: 32 (half an hour episodes)
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Director: Kang In, Lee Dong-Hyun
Cast: Woo Do-Hwan, Joy, Mun Ka-Young, Kim Min-Jae etc.
My Rating: 

Synopsis:

In an act of revenge, Kwon Shi Hyun makes a bet with his friends to seduce Eun Tae Hee, who believes people that are swayed by love are pathetic. After Tae Hee meets Shi Hyun, her view on love starts to change. As Shi Hyun’s secret deepens, he starts to fall in love with Tae Hee.

Ohmygosh! I loved this so much, guys! This drama literally had me screaming!

I think it’s a hit or miss drama and fortunately, it was the former for me. I don’t think I would have given it a try if not for Joy, I was still pretty reluctant when I started it. I watched The Liar and His Lover a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely fell in love with her smile (She is so effing cute!!). The decision to watch this drama was sooo right, it was so freaking addicting. I have to admit most of the times I wanted to hit the characters with a frying pan on their head but oh well, when you are in love, you are.

The Great Seducer depicts the life of 3 spoiled brats who in order to suppress their emotional pain relishes in causing others trouble. Kwon Shi Hyun (Woo Do-Hwan) is notorious for his charms of seducing and in order to stop his father and his best friend’s mother Choi Soo-Ji (Mun Ka-Young) from getting married, he proposes to Soo-Ji. Sii-Ji takes this as an opportunity to get her revenge on his former lover Lee Ki-Young (Lee Jae-Kyoon). She wanted to ruin Eun Tae-Hee’s (Joy) life as she thought Lee Ki-Young left her for Tae-Hee. And so begins the game of lies where Soo-Ji agrees to marry him if she manages to make Eun Tae-Hee fall in love with him. But he begins to fall into his own trap when he realises his true feelings for Eun Tae-Hee.

My first thought for the three musketeers was that what a close knitted group they were. They would do about anything for each other and I quite loved that. Until the actual fact surfaced. They were so malicious that they would reach any extent to hurt another person who gave them any pain. Kwon Shi-Hyun, Choi Soo-Ji and Lee Se-Joo, all three have unstable families and they have dependent on each other since they were children. I get that, they were actually so dependent on each other and forced to care for their own but this made them completely forget that others were human too.

The trying to impress moments were goddamn hilarious! Like this one. This drama definitely had its moments!

I did not know what to think of Kwon Shi-Hyun at first. He was such a flirt and well, kinda too much. The kind of men I loathe. But his character development was so effing good! The selfish guy started caring about others after he met Eun Tae-Hee. She was a strong character, positive as well as realistic. I mean her smile lightened up the whole drama. (Yaas, I think I have a bias now… Red Velvet here I come!!) Anyways, the romance although was started all of a sudden, did not feel forced. It was kinda cute to see how both of them were struggling to convey their feelings because it was kinda first for both of them.

I honestly thought Lee Se-Joo (Kim Min-Jae), who is the third musketeer wouldn’t be as evil as Choi Soo-Ji. But oh well, he turned out to be the biggest douche-bag. He totally deserves my frying pan beating!! It was pretty clear from the start that he was in love with Choi Soo-Ji. It should have been sweet but I felt it was kinda toxic. The ultimate douche-bag of the drama was Lee Ki-Young for which this whole act started. The only one who was perfectly able to reply to him was Eun Tae-Hee. That guy was seriously too audacious, I mean how can someone be this shameless? I would have loved to see what finally happened to him but we are devoid of that. I actually loved the fact, how matured Eun Tae-Hee was in compared to those three.

The ending felt a bit rushed. Although it was beautiful, I wanted more closure. The way it ended, it wasn’t enough. Overall, this drama was pretty addicting and I would have missed out on a gem if I hadn’t given it a try. The acting was really engaging as well as the sub-plot which added more mystery to the story. This is one element which every K-drama has in common, somehow it all ties up to that one thing. Anyhoo, I will be awaiting Joy’s next drama.

Recommend it?

Absofreakinglutely!

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Show Name: The Liar and His Lover
Episodes: 16
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Director: Kim Jin-Min
Cast: Lee Hyun-Woo, Joy, Lee Jung-Jin, Lee Seo-Won, Sung Joo, Shin Je-Min, Chang Ki-Yong etc.
My Rating: 

Synopsis:

A love story about a depressed genius music composer Kang Han Gyeol who meets the high school student Yoon So Rim when he’s living under a hidden identity. With her courageous honesty and beautiful singing, So Rim draws Han Gyeol back to her again and again. They meet love obstacles along the way as So Rim found out that Han Gyeol was actually Crude Play’s producer K and others.

The Liar and his Lover was in my to-watch list for a very long time but when of my ARMY friend recommended it, I instantly picked it up. This was my first “Joy” drama and gosh, this was sooo sweet and the songs!! I loved each and every one of them.

Yoon So-Rim (Joy) is an aspiring singer and a huge fan of the band known as Crude Play. For Yoon So-Rim, it was love at first sight when she saw Kang Han-Kyeol (Lee Hyun-Woo). For him, she was only a nuisance until he heard her voice which kept leading him back to her. Kang Han-Kyeol also known as K, is the producer of Crude Play but nobody knows his real appearance out his agency. He hides the fact to Yoon So-Rim even when they start getting close. The relationship between then starts with lies (see the common factor with the above…) but as Crude Play starts facing their own problems, he is forced to come out his hiding and deal with the problems.

Kang Han-Kyeol is the producer of all the hit songs for Crude Play but his arrogant nature and anger outbursts tend to keep everyone at bay. His character begins to change after he meets the ever shining Yoon So-Rim. Honestly, the chemistry between them was sooo sweet! Although their relationship started on a lie which was very much unintentional, its development was slow and steady. According to the drama, the age gap between the two was kinda big (not in real life though, they are only 3 years apart) but I was so relieved to see that no unnecessary issue was created on that subject. 

The inner politics of the entertainment industry was portrayed in this drama. I don’t know how much of this actually happens in real life but I wouldn’t be surprised. Because for some people in Show Biz, only the money matters. Although Kang Han-Kyeol was the childhood friend of the members of Crude Play, except one, the relationship between the guys wasn’t perfect. The development of this aspect was also refreshing. Getting accepted as who they are was the biggest competition faced by Crude Play but I absolutely loved the approach taken by the members of the band.

That damn smile…

Overall, The Liar and His Lover was worth the watch! All the OSTs were pretty much amazing and the acting was superb as well. The character development was the topmost thing that I enjoyed about this drama aside from the sweet romance. Yoon So-Rim starts out as a naive character but by the end of this drama, she has matured a lot. Same goes for Kang Han-Kyeol who realised what his selfishness had cost him. Anyway, I absolutely loved how everything was wrapped up in the end!

Recommend it?

Yuuuup!!

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So guys, have you watched these 2 dramas yet? What did you think about it? Do you stan Red Velvet? If yes, who’s your bias?

Review: Seducing Kaden by Siobhan Davis || Where the Romance brew even without the Seduction

Title: Seducing Kaden
Author: Siobhan Davis
Series: The Kennedy Boys, book 6
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Trigger Warning: Marital rape and abuse
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 460 pages, Ebook
Expected Publication: April 30th, 2018
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Kaden
The woman I love will never be mine because she already belongs to another.

I’ve tried everything to forget her, but it’s impossible when she occupies a starring role in my dreams. I’m obsessed, and my eyes are glued to her shapely curves whenever I see her around campus. It doesn’t help that she looks as miserable as I feel, and I wonder if she misses me as much as I miss her.

Short of putting a bullet through the skull of that gangster she’s married to, I’m stuck in a hellhole of my own making.

Until fate intervenes, setting us on a collision course we can’t avoid.

Evelina
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of falling in love. The all-consuming sweep-you-off-your-feet kind of love I swooned over in movies.

It didn’t take long for that fairytale notion to come crashing down around me. Now I’m trapped in a marriage I despise with no discernible way out.

The only light in the dark is Kaden Kennedy—the one true love of my life. He doesn’t know he is, because I’m forced to love him from afar, condemned to toss and turn at night, crying over everything I want and all I can never have.

Seeing him day in, day out, destroys me, but there’s no other choice; I had to push him away to keep him safe.

Because if my husband ever finds out I’m in love with one of my students, I won’t be the only one in danger.

While you don’t need to read the earlier books in this series to enjoy Seducing Kaden, it is highly recommended. This book is a contemporary new adult romance, and it is only suitable for readers aged eighteen and older due to mature content, sexual situations, and language.

[A student-teacher forbidden romance from USA Today bestseller Siobhan Davis. Standalone with an HEA and no cliffhanger. This story includes details of an extramarital affair, so if you don’t like cheating or controversial storylines, then this book isn’t for you.]

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This booooook!! I was so eager to read Kaden’s story and forbidden romance is most top most favourite tropes. Though this book is not a light one and it deals with some important issues, I enjoyed it from the first till the last bit.

Kaden and Evaline have a chance encounter before Kaden discovers that she is her new professor in college. The attraction between them is instant but neither can give their feelings a chance because of their condition until both of them can’t resist anymore. Eva dropped her chance at happiness because of her husband who is aligned with illegal business and is a sadist but meeting Kaden for the second time brings back all the beautiful memories they had once shared together and this time Kaden doesn’t want to give up either.

Seducing Kaden was a second chance romance book which tells the story of Kaden and Evalina. The plot flashes back to the past and the present where it defines the start of their relationship and the present situation. Although the plot was predictable, the storyline flowed smoothly and the romance kept me engaged throughout the whole book. The attraction between Kaden and Eva is instant and both of them can’t deny the obvious attraction between them. One of the things that I loved about both of them was the mutual respect they had for each other. I felt really bad Eva’s situation, she was forced to live in a hell with no way out but after meeting Kaden, she began to hope for the first time in his life.

Although cheating is an element in this book, anyone would feel relief about this fact after knowing Eva’s bound condition. God, she had to go through so freaking much. Her husband was one hell of a onster whose clutches she couldn’t escape at any cost and even if she tried her loved ones would have to pay the consequences. It was actually quite difficult for me to read some of the parts. Anyway, Kaden treated Eva like a perfect gentleman, he was thoughtful and caring and did his best to protect her. The plot could have been a little more dynamic but it was still enjoyable.

Overall, Seducing Kaden was an engaging read. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were some surprising elements, but the ending left me satisfied. The writing was smooth and the pace was even throughout the whole book. It was a pretty quick read in fact which was an added bonus. I also loved the fact that how this book paved its way for the next Kennedy book! I am definitely excited to read that!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, what do you think about this book? Have you read any previous book in this series or any other book by this author?

Review: The Way Back to Us by Jamie Howard // Where I was not much pleased with the way

Title: The Way Back to Us
Author: Jamie Howard
Series: Love Unplugged, book 3 [Can be read as a standalone]
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 230, Ebook
Published: December 12th, 2017 by St. Martin’s Swerve
Source: I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Gavin MacCormack found the one. He fell in love. Hard. Until one night he ran out for some ice cream and came back to an empty dorm room, closets bare and nothing but a quick hand-written note saying, I’m sorry. Those two words taught Gavin the meaning of heartbreak. A feeling he never wants to encounter again. And as the lead singer of a Grammy award-winning band he’s had plenty of opportunities for casual, no-strings fun, which is just the way he likes it.

Dani Winters has had more names than birthdays. On the run with her father for nearly as long as she can remember, she’s lived her life by three rules—always plan for the worst, maintain a low profile at all costs, and never let anyone get too close. Except she broke that last rule once and her heart has never forgiven her.

One chance encounter changes everything. Seeing Dani resurrects feelings in Gavin he thought were long buried, and this time he’s not letting her disappear without getting some answers. But Dani’s life is the definition of complicated and she’s playing with fire by letting Gavin back in. When the time comes to run again, Dani needs to decide if a life without love is worth living, or if it’s time to stop running and fight.

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I hoped this book would be more enjoyable than book 2 which was the first book I read by this author. That’s why I decided to give this try. But unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I mean, it had its moments and the romance was the saving grace of this book.

For Gavin, Dani Winters was the one for him. But one day without any goodbye she disappears from his life leaving him shattered. After years, they come face to face with each other and realises their feelings for each other are still buried within. But Dani is still running from her demons. This might be their last chance to build something together or let go forever.

The thing is, the plot was waaay too common. I have read a number of books where the heroine is facing some extreme danger yet some simple communication would uncomplicate the matter but she decides to stay silent throughout the whole book until the end where a solution magically appears. *sighs* This plot has been overused so many times, it simply has lost its charm.

Though I have to say I didn’t see the plot twist coming just before it got revealed. But everything was too anti-climactic. I mean, it the story was following a certain pace but I felt the ending was too rushed and everything just happened all at once. It just didn’t make much sense to leave it like that, it would definitely have been better if some more explanations would have been given for the reason it happened and why it happened. I really wanted the backstory.

Anyway, the characters were the ones who did not let me put the book down. Gavin never got over Dani, for him she was everything and after she suddenly disappeared from his life, he stopped believing in love. A cliche, I know. Though I felt bad for the guy. He never gave up. Dani was a mysterious woman but everything could have been solved as a team but she chose to run away instead. But there were moments which made everything perfectly clear how much she still cared for him. The chemistry between them was electric but I wished there was more plot development.

Overall, The Way Back to Us was an okay read. Although the plot was cliched, I enjoyed the characters and the romance. The writing was smooth and easy to read.

Recommend it?

Maybe.

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Sooooo guys, have you read this book? If yes, how was your experience? Or is it in your tbr??

Review: Behind the Bars by Brittainy C. Cherry || Blog Tour || Where the Music Broke the Barrier

Welcome to my tour stop of Behind the Bars by Brittainy C. Cherry hosted by  Social Butterfly PR.

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Title: Behind the Bars
Author: Brittainy C. Cherry
Series: Music Street, book 1 [Can be read as a standalone]
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 373, Ebook
Published:  December 7th, 2017
Source: I received an eARC of this book for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops.

I was the awkward musician, and she was the high school queen.
The only things we had in common were our music and our loneliness.

Something in her eyes told me her smile wasn’t always the truth.
Something in her voice gave me a hope I always wished to find.
And in a flash, she was gone.

Years later, she was standing in front of me on a street in New Orleans.
She was different, but so was I. Life made us colder. Harder. Isolated.

Caged.

Even though we were different, the broken pieces of me recognized the sadness in her.
Now she was back, and I wouldn’t make the mistake of letting her go again.

When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops.
When we met again, I became her darkest storm.

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Oooooh my goodness! I didn’t expect this book to be so good! I mean, I had pretty high expectations since I have read mostly raving reviews of the author’s other books, so I didn’t let the chance of reading this one slip from my hands and now I can see where all those ravings come from. This book undoubtedly was one of the best New-Adult and second chance romance I have read this year.

Jasmine and Elliot were miles different from each other but music was the one thing that brought them together. But their romance was short lived since Jasmine’s mother had other plans for her “bright future”. After six years, she is finally back in town but nothing is the same anymore. Both of them have cracks in their life which could or couldn’t be fulfilled with new music.

This book was really beautiful, from the beginning until the very end. Elliot is a shy and bullied boy in school but with a saxophone in his hand, he becomes someone else. Whereas Jasmine’s love for soul music knows no bounds but her mother/manager won’t let her pursue something unrealistic as she believes pop will be the best for her career. Elliot didn’t believe that someone as smart and beautiful like Jasmine could like him but music was the one thing they both cherished and loved and it connected them together.

“Sometimes people don’t need words, Elliott. Sometimes they just need the space to feel what they need to feel, with someone present as a reminder that they’re not alone.”

I loved how their relationship built slowly but the music was always present. In their friendship, in their relationship, in every small moment. I loved Elliot’s habit of answering everything with a question and Jasmine personality, despite having that kind of a mother she still didn’t judge anyone with just one glance. Jasmine’s mother is the one who drags her overseas for her career. She just wanted to be loved and accepted by her mother and that’s why she kept listening to her without any complaint.

“Every person had lyrics in their life that were too painful to sing.”

But everything has a limit. Goooosh!! (I kept tying aigooo!) I hated her so much, she didn’t really care for Jasmine at all, I thought at some point she was going to be the mother Jasmine wanted, at least try but that woman was already gone far off the edge. In contrast, Jasmine’s step-dad Ray was absolutely wonderful. He cherished his princess and she was the only reason he stayed in the relationship with Jasmine’s mother although she ended up ruining that too but the father-daughter bond never disappeared. It was really sooooo sweet!

“You’re the music in a mute world, and my heart beats because you’re here.”

The romance between Jasmine and Elliot was heartwarming, there was the thrill of the anticipation and in the way, everything was executed made the romance even beautiful. Jasmine tried to stay in contact with Elliot but eventually, they lost touch without knowing that tragedy that swept away Elliot’s music. It was really heartbreaking to see the person whose life was music stay away from it. What Elliot had to go through broke my heart, I was really having a hard time reading through my blurry tear streaming eyes but that didn’t mean Jasmine had an easy time as well. After six whole years, Jasmine meets a different Elliot but it’s only with her, he finally starts opening up to.

“One can’t truly heal if they pretend the cracks don’t exist.”

After the year leap, both the characters have grown up and matured but somewhere despite not being able to stay connected with each other, the love still remained. It was absolutely wonderful to see the characters heal each other through their love and music, both of them were hurting but when they were together, everything hurt less. Also, TJ was the best ever music teacher, without him I don’t think they would have been able to find their way back to each other.

Overall, Behind the Bars was a fantastic read! It had all the elements I love in an NA book and so much more. The romance between Elliot and Jasmine was beautiful and I loved their character growth. I was definitely satisfied with how everything was wrapped up in the end but I didn’t want to let go of the characters! The writing was beautiful and smooth and the pace was even throughout the book. Brittainy C. Cherry has made it to my top romance authors list and I will definitely be checking out the rest of her books!!!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Brittainy! Join me as we travel through my mind as a Romance Author. This includes such things as my random thoughts, tricks, tips, things I’m learning, things I’m re-learning, things I’m forgetting, and my weird ways of crafting stories.

Author Links:

Facebook || Twitter || Newsletter || Blog

Purchase Links:

Amazon US || Amazon UK || Amazon CA || Amazon AU

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So guys, have you read this book yet? What did you think about it? And if you haven’t, is it in your tbr? Have you read any other books by this author?

Review: Saving Brad by Siobhan Davis || Where Love and Hate Becomes Something More…

Title: Saving Brad
Author: Siobhan Davis
Series: The Kennedy Boys, book 5
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Trigger Warning: Mention of rape
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 466 pages, Ebook
Expected Publication: October 2017
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Brad
I’m in love with my best friend’s girl.
She knows it. He knows it. Everyone knows it.
Faye will never be mine, but try telling that to my stupid heart.
An endless rotation of girls streams in and out of my bedroom in a desperate attempt to forget her, but nothing eases the horrid ache in my chest. Rejection isn’t anything new for me, but it hasn’t gotten any easier.
Until she reappears in my life. Like an out-of-control tornado. Storming in, all fierce and angry, ready to steamroll everything in her path. Rachel is trouble with a capital T bundled in a gorgeous, sexy, Irish package.
She pushes all the wrong buttons, and I can’t decide if I want to yell at her or kiss her.
I should steer clear.
But I’ve never been very good at taking my own advice. Especially when it comes to girls I can’t have and shouldn’t want.

Rachel
I need to escape.
To put as much distance between me and that monster so I can start living my life.
Yet, even the vast Atlantic Ocean isn’t enough to sever the connection. To allow me to forget how he’s ruined me. His hold is more than just physical. He has a vise grip on my head and my heart, and I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t function.
So, I do everything to blot it out.
Until he reappears in my life.
Brad McConaughey. So hot. So infuriating. So in love with my best friend.
Every word out of Brad’s mouth makes me want to throat punch him or kick him in the nuts.
But he makes me feel, and I hate him for it. A part of me might actually love him for it.
I should keep my distance, but like destructive magnets, we are drawn together.
This isn’t going to end well.
I know it. He knows it.
But we’re powerless to resist.

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This title is New Adult contemporary romance, suitable for age 18+.

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Oh Brad, Brad, Brad! I needed this book in my lifeu! I’ve wanting to read his story since I got introduced to his character and finaaaally we got it! And it was awesome!

Brad has tried to get over his best friend’s girlfriend for over two years now and but no option seems to be working until Rachel comes back tumbling in his life. They are two people from the complete opposite pole yet they understand each other the best but Rachel is hiding something big and it’s coming for her now. Will they be able to save each other in time or will they end up wreaking each other instead?

I’ve loooved Brad since I met him. Ah, I mean his character, though he did some shitty stuff but obviously he was manipulated in a clever way, still he never cried false. But when the same thing repeats again Brad finds himself in a deep mess. In the previous books, we have seen Brad develop feelings for Faye though she never led him on but Brad couldn’t stop himself. Though I liked him, his continuous pining over the course started getting irritating but Rachael being Rachel saved the day! You go, girl! Anyway, their chemistry was seriously off the charts and I particularly enjoyed the love/hate between them that slowly changed into a meaningful relationship and their banter was way too awesome!

Although the plot was predictable, I definitely enjoyed the execution and the author’s way of writing and managing the suspense was on point. Rachel’s past really broke my heart but that girl was something else, she tried her best not to let the past affect her but continue to strive forward. Although she should have shared everything with her best friend at least but still I understood why she with withheld the information. And I loved the fact that despite the continuous banter between Brad and her, she genuinely cared about him from the very start. I saw what was coming and it was really heartbreaking but I was satisfied how everything wrapped up in the end. Well, instead of an ending, it was a beginning for both of them.

Overall, Saving Brad was an addictive read. I really had a hard time putting the book down. The plot was executed neatly and I loved the characters and enjoyed the character growth throughout the book. I enjoyed the romance between Brad and Rachel and the writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. This series just keeps on getting better and I can’t wait for the next book!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, what do you think about this book? Have you read any previous book in this series or any other book by this author?