raynsslut's reading journal

what love is: ethrealprincess

★★★☆
finished: december 19th, 2023
random number: 26

okay, before i *really* start the review, i'd like to just give a little background. it's not really important, but i just wanted to get it out.

so, when i landed on this book, i was contemplating whether i should stay with it, or just redraw. why? simply because when i first added this book to my tbr, i didn't know it had a sequel. and you know, i wasn't feeling like reading about the same characters for so long (thought i might get bored) and plus, this isn't necessarily a short book either.

and if you know me, then you know i'm the type of reader who would have to force herself to read the whole series before picking up something else simply because my memory isn't the best, okay?

even though the sequel is still about these two, but this one doesn't end on a cliff hanger, so the sequel just feels like an extended epilogue, a novella if you will. and so will i be continuing? apparently, no. not because i don't enjoy this book, but i just do not think it is necessary.

plus, i'm the type of reader who loves where the two main characters are still building up their relationship, still figure things out, whether they really like each other or not.

anywayy, this book itself? i'd say it's pretty enjoyable, hence the 3.5 star rating. what i would say though, it kind of lost me in the second half. because i understand it's not a high stake type of romance, so we can't really expect much things to be going on all the time.

so even though i find myself wanting a hayze myself, it did kind of get a bit too repetitive for my liking. like, i just wished that something was going on, we were just basically following their day to day lives.

river though, i don't love her all that much. i mean, i don't hate nor dislike her, but seriously? you can't get on the bed yourself? and although i somehow relate to the shy character, babe, there's no way you're *that* small right?

but plot wise, i know hayze could only exist in fictional books, but that's what i like about reading fiction. it gives off the sense of escapism i was looking for and there were tons of times where i was just giggling out loud, kicking my feet up in the air, blushing, and all of that.

but also, LOVE how the author includes realistic plot lines into the book, where in a relationship, there will always be fights, how important communication could be. and unlike most romance books, the main conflict wasn't about a third person in the relationship, i'm sick of that at this point lol.

however, what brings this book down so much was the excessive amount of smut in it. i don't know if i'm growing up and it really isn't my thing anymore or what because surely everyone didn't mind that. and i mean, the smut scenes really got me wet myself, with him dirty talking and for my breed kink lovers out there, yup there is that in here.

i don't know, there were parts where i was just not feeling like reading this at all, maybe because of that maybe the underwhelming plot in the middle or the fact that i thought there was still another book after this one. because usually, what really got to be going and motivated is the thought of picking a new book, so maybe that too.