Myra

A Mystery and Romance(s)

Revisado: 04-24-25

I want to say this book has a few different genres rolled into one. It's a love story, sure, but it's also a mystery. I think it was the mystery of Margaret that kept me going. That, plus, the old Hollywood easter eggs. As a lifelong fan of old Hollywood, this made my heart full.

As for the main romance... listen, they aren't Daphne and Miles (Funny Story, my top tier EH couple), but they aren't Poppy and Alex (PWMoV, my lowest tier). It also moves quicker than Emily Henry's other books, so the pacing of the romance feels very instalove. I will admit I'm not the biggest fan of that type of romance, but given the timeline of events it didn't hurt the book. It also makes sense if they are a parallel to Cosmo and Margaret's love story... you know, in a sense. I loved how they worked together like Nora and Charlie (Book Lovers), I just wish they knew each other prior the books vs them just being strangers. A small thing, but maybe it would have felt like her previous works, perhaps?

This is also just a me thing, but I would have loved to have spend more time with her friends.

Anyways, I'll always be here for banter and a good time. Can't wait for Emily Henry's next book!

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I'm shaking... and crying... and screaming.

Revisado: 01-23-25

I will be the first to admit that it took me a long time to pick up the first book, and then it was finally available in my library and I picked it up and fell in love with the characters and the story. And this is gonna sound silly, but the pacing is absolutely amazing.

And when I finished that book, I did realized I had a credit and got immediately ahold of this book. I am so happy I did! It is such a wonder part two and absolutely no spoilers because it's worth the wait and... ugh my heart. I'm excited for Queen of Nothing, book 3!

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Comfort story...

Revisado: 01-17-25

Positives: It really is a comfort story filled with a cozy small town life, fun characters, and light smut (if you're not into the more explicit scenes), it truly is very easy to get through and I'm familiar with both of the narrators and they always do a wonderful job! I think people will love the story.

Negative (for me anyway): The 3rd act conflict, in general this is where a romcom will do something big be that a break up or something else. And I'll have some big emotions because it's the climax of the story, and I kind of felt nothing by that point. I think I was waiting for the move back to NY so badly that when we got there it felt too late? Or really it felt like he was going to stay or go back. Either way, I was underwhelmed.

And listen, this is a me problem 1000% but I'm not a fan of either the MMC or the FMC moving their entire life for someone. And the funny thing is the author does try to make a case for it and it feel a bit too heavy-handed of an explanation. At times, the story did feel a bit too expository, but also kind of felt surface level. It was so weird because there would be a moment where Sage would tell us why she loved this town, but the author wouldn't show us more of the town? It felt like I had to like the town because the story was telling us Sage loved it.

I also would have loved a bit more bonding with Fisher and his niece... again, you have to show us how they're bonding. I actually couldn't remember her name because she felt like generic angst teen number 1. I just remembered, it was Indy and oof I felt bad I didn't feel bad for her life. Also her uncle's with Sage, and Indy is sort of dating her nephew. Surely this isn't weird, but isn't it?

This is a postive, if there are more books in this verse. You see, I'm not a fan of second chance romance (this seems like a weird direction but I have a point!), but the side plot of Sage's bestie and her brother was more interesting if only because the friend is like we are never, ever gonna get back together and her brother clearly has feeling still. I would not be mad about a sequel with the narrators of this book.

If this seems a bit too negative, there are a lot of people who did enjoy it!

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Listen, I had a good time.

Revisado: 12-08-24

My expectations going into the series have improved greatly over the course of the last three books. While I don't think it's perfect, I will say for me, it has enough plot and character development to genuinely enjoy this book. I won't give anything away but there are some predictable plot points if you pay attention. Which honestly never took away from my enjoyment, it just made me sort of anxious to see if I was right lol I'm glad I continued with this series and I'm on my way to seeing how it will end.

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This was a lot and nothing all at once...

Revisado: 12-07-24

Truth be told, I think I could have loved this book, until I got around to the last few chapters. I could have accepted all of Gabby and Quill's flaws, accepted their messy relationship, ignored mean gay subplot, accepted the more interesting side romantic relationship, ignored the prince's plot, ignored the dead father... all of this? If could have been if not ok with, then I would have accepted it.

You know what actually made the story bad? The random, inconsistent, and confusing migraine plot (which really do make any sense... if I think about it for too long). You also have to understand that specific plot doesn't appear until almost halfway, so the summary is slightly misleading. I thought it was going to be more frequent, or at least persistent, but nope. Actually it's cured by the end so it was pointless. Sorry spoilers?

I will just say if a person is not fully cognitive during intimacy then it's assault. Like the end! That's all folk, it's assault by any other name. If this had be the reverse then we'd be calling foul, but because it's the man we're supposed to be forgiving towards Gabby... Who *checks notes* was already on thin ice because she's a compulsive liar and is going against Quill's wishes. So, what's the point of this series, I'm not sure, but I think I'm done with Eloisa James. I did give this series a chance, I read from the DV, to the verbal abuse, to the assault... maybe I should stick to contemporary romance.

Also, for a series called The Pleasures, it certainly wasn't that.

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There's miscommunication and then this book...

Revisado: 12-04-24

I do want to start off this review by adding Sophie one of the few redeeming qualities of first book. From the very short interaction with Patrick I thought I was going to love this book. If not love then, at least love the main pairing... I was wrong.

You see the problem with the last book was miscommunication turned into a DV situation. Which, you know, yikes. And if you don't think verbal abuse is considered DV I honestly don't know what to tell you. In the last book, Patrick seemed like a level headed and somewhat funny character, kind of a complete opposite to his twin. So why did this book feel like it was just Alex 2.0? And why did Alex feel like Patrick in this? But I disgress.... I'm assuming Ms. James just forgot that she already gave the twins personalities from the last book to this one.

I will say the narrative did Sophie so wrong. My girl, was just going through it throughout most of the book that by the time we got to the reunion I just didn't care. We were way past the 90% mark before they actually sat down to have an actual conversation... If you write that XZY love each other but then don't provide scenes to prove it then I'm going to assume you can't write anything other than miscommunication. Like we spent so much time on Sophie and Patrick not talking (they even said as much) that when they said I love you... that felt like a lie. What do you love about this person exactly? You've spent zero time with them. You spent zero effort on them... like what kind of instalove writing is this?

Listen, if you're going to write miscommunication at least make sure that the characters grow to love each other, not just be like well it's love folks! Have them work for that romance.

All that being said Maddie is the best character in this book, right next to the maid and butler from the first book, and Sophie.

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So, heartbreaking and beautiful!

Revisado: 11-23-24

The only reason I did not give this a full five stars is simply because second chances aren't my favorite trope... It has nothing to do with the powerful storytelling Sonali Dev always delivers. I have read several of her books and always walk away feeling so much and this was no exception. I can't wait to read the next book.

It's currently available for Audible members!

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It was fine...

Revisado: 11-21-24

So, while I didn't think this story was bad or anything... I just didn't think it was for me. I'm not a huge fan of second chance romances or of a man making his job his whole personality or really of spies. Why then did I read this book??? I got it several years ago and I'm trying to finish my unfinished books. Too late to return and too late to have any real opinion.

Also, by the end of it I was just thankful never to hear the characters' full names ever again.

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Maybe I'm the Problem...

Revisado: 11-18-24

Full disclosure, I've had this in my TBR list for a while and maybe it was too late to return it. That said I am making an effort to actually get through my list because I'm on a reading journey and this is a pit stop. I wish I could have stopped my past self from making this purchase but it's too late and I read this and I thought it was... um, not good. Definitely a book of it's time, as soon as I saw the publication date it all made so much sense.

Listen, as a WOC the idea of continually hearing the world "foreign" or "exotic" over and over, might have been too much... especially since the main character is blonde hair, fair skin, and her only "otherness" was her eyes. The cover is incredibly misleading, this is giving me contemporary paranormal romance and that was not it at all. Well, I could certainly have let it go, Except it just brought up so much that I was like did I miss something? Nope. Actually, a lot of it felt like background noise. I read for fun and this was not fun. I actually don't remember a lot of it because it was so dry.

Nothing in this story worked for me, I wanted to like the group of misfits but we didn't nearly spend enough time with them, or I wanted to like the Captain but we also didn't spent time with him. Like by the time we get to Shanti and him being mates, it's like does anyone actually care. Do you know who we spent too much time with? Sanders... I also felt really gross about the SA scene because it was SA and we're not going to even address it, are we? Also, maybe it was the performance, but Shanti felt like a caricature of a specific FMC again of its time (2010s)... and I wanted to like her.

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I'm shaking, cry, etc...

Revisado: 11-16-24

I had to restart this review because what can I even say about this book? I have read a few of Karina Halle's contemporary novels and I quite enjoyed them, so I wasn't sure I would like her fantasy books as I have a track record of being disappointed by the recent books in this genre... ALLL THAT SAID.... Listen, I actually screamed, I actually paused and stared at the wall, I am shaking by my reaction. I love books that deliver what they promise. It's a Dracula adaption, for sure, but it's also so much more.

I also will add that I usually have issues when there's too much smut, but not here. Nope, the smut never took away from the plot but rather added to their tremulous relationship. Which is admittedly a weird thing to add, but I promise you this book is worth it.

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