Release Day Review: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Posted in 6 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: April 10th 2018
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Love, loss, friendship, and the betrayals of the past all collide in this first women’s fiction novel from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Autoboyography, Dating You / Hating You).

The story of the heart can never be unwritten.

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

My very first 6 star review of 2018 (and the first in a while) has to go to Love and Other Words, a gorgeously written love story by one of my favorite authors, Christina Lauren. I can’t remember the last time I was this wholeheartedly obsessed with a book. I finished L&OW last week and I’ve yet to stop thinking about it. The storytelling was incredible, the blend of past and present seamless. I couldn’t get enough of Macy and Elliot. If there’s one book you need to read this year, let it be this one.

I adore second chance romances – it is one of my go-to tropes, but I admit there have been few and far between that have been done perfectly. With second chance romances, I need angst, heartache, but most of all, I need to believe in the love that still exists. L&OW was everything I wanted in a second chance romance – and also so much more. Told in alternating chapters of Then and Now, we have teenaged Macy and Elliot who meet, connect, become best friends, and fall in love for the first time, alongside their adult counterparts, who reunite for the first time in eleven years and fall in love for the second time.

The way Christina Lauren handled the alternating chapters was stunning – each chapter connected, despite the eleven year difference in timeline. My heart was full from the beginnings of first love between Macy and Elliot, yet I loved even more that the foundations of their all-consuming love was built on friendship. I hurt and hoped for these two characters in the present timeline, as Elliot fights for the only woman who has ever held his heart. I can’t even tell you how in love I am with this man. He’s bookish, nerdy, a writer, and knows Macy is his one and only soulmate. There is no other woman for him, and he is not letting this chance to make her believe in love again go.

I read L&OW in one sitting. I literally could not put this book down, nor did I want to let the characters go by the time I got to the end. Elliot and Macy’s love story of friendship, heartbreak, and second chances absolutely stole my heart. Theirs is a love that is tender, raw, and beautiful beyond words. This book is now my favorite read of 2018 so far – it is pure perfection.

Also by Christina Lauren:

Dating You / Hating You: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Autoboyography: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
Roomies: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Reading Order: Beautiful Bastard series

#1 ~ Beautiful Bastard: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Beautiful Bitch: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Beautiful Stranger: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Beautiful Bombshell: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Beautiful Player: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3.5 ~ Beautiful Beginning: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3.6 ~ Beautiful Beloved: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Beautiful Secret: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4.5 ~ Beautiful Boss: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Beautiful: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Reading Order: Wild Seasons series

#1 ~ Sweet Filthy Boy: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dirty Rowdy Thing: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Dark Wild Night: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Wicked Sexy Liar: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Subscribe to Blog via Email

21Dec2015

Review: Kulti by Mariana Zapata

Posted in 6 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Kulti by Mariana Zapata
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: March 20th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.”

When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.

It didn’t take a week for twenty-seven-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she’d seen in the international soccer icon—why she’d ever had his posters on her wall, or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.

Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man that hadn’t known she’d existed. So she isn’t prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team’s season: a quiet, reclusive, shadow of the explosive, passionate man he’d once been.

Nothing could have prepared her for the man she got to know.

Or the murderous urges he brought out in her.

“Sal, please don’t make me visit you in jail. Orange isn’t your color.”

This was going to be the longest season of her life.

I’ve found it.

My favorite book of 2015.

I. LOVED. KULTI!!!! It was utter perfection – I loved the romance, the characters, freaking soccer, everything. I finished this huge book in a day, even though it didn’t feel like a long book AT ALL. I could. not. put this book down – the pages just zipped by for me. Sal is the kind of heroine I adore – hilarious, sassy, down-to-earth, relatable… And Kulti is the most lovable jackass there is. I seriously have hearts in my eyes right now, that’s how much I loved these characters and the story. If you haven’t read Kulti yet, READ IT NOW. I’m OBSESSED with this book – Sal and Kulti have taken a hold of my heart and I never want them to let go.

Kulti has got a bit of everything – enemies to friends, friends to lovers, a slow burn romance, a little forbidden romance. It’s a sports romance with a soccer-playing heroine and a retired international soccer icon, now her coach. It’s got characters you can’t help but love. It’s a long book – but I literally loved every page of it. None of the story felt unnecessary, and every single scene only endeared the characters more to my heart. Yes, the romance is slow, so don’t expect any steamy scenes too quickly, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it. The slow pace is the PERFECT pace for Sal and Kulti, and I promise, the wait is so worth it. This book is meaningful, sweet, heartfelt, and so freaking GOOD. I simply loved it.

Sal Casillas has been a fan of – and in love with – Reiner Kulti since she saw him on television for the first time when she was seven years old. The famous German soccer player, also known as ‘The King’, has been a huge part of Sal’s life – he’s the reason she went on to be the best soccer player she could be. Kulti will always remain in her heart… even if he doesn’t know she exists.

I’d gotten over my crush-slash-infatuation when I was seventeen, when I finally accepted the fact that I didn’t have a single shot of ever playing against him—obviously—and… there was no chance in hell that he’d ever be interested in me, the Argentinian-Mexican-American tomboy thirteen years younger than him. There wouldn’t be a marriage in my future or soccer-playing super-babies.
It was the worst non-break-up ever in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who didn’t even know I existed.

So imagine her surprise, and excitement, when Sal hears that her new coach will be none other than Reiner Kulti. Except he’s nothing like she expects – he’s arrogant, stubborn, a terrible coach, and pretty much doesn’t care about anything but himself. But when Sal tells Kulti off in a brilliant, hilarious speech, things start to change, and an unlikely friendship between them forms.

Strong, independent, honest, loyal, Sal is everything I admire in a heroine. She’s an incredible soccer player, but an even better person. She’s also stinkin’ hilarious – I laughed so much while reading this book because of Sal and her family. I LOVE Sal’s father – he’s my favorite character after Sal and Kulti. He’s just so in love with Kulti that he’s so shy around the famous soccer player and doesn’t know what to do around him. Sal and her father also have a wonderful relationship that warmed my heart.

Kulti is just… I can’t even describe my love for this man. The lovable jerks get me every time. He’s a moody, arrogant ass, but Kulti treasures what he has with Sal. As the two of them spend time together outside of practice, you can see how their friendship strengthens into something meaningful and precious to them both. You can tell that Sal’s friendship – that Sal – grows to be the most important thing in the world to Kulti, and he would do anything and everything to protect and preserve it and her. And the best part about Kulti is how much he respects Sal – even though she’s younger than him and not a famous soccer player like him, he treats her as his equal. She is his best friend, someone he’d do anything for.

I had a man I respected that respected me, and he didn’t care if the world knew we meant something to each other. Our friendship hadn’t been given to either one of us, we had worked at it. on top of that, I felt something for him even if he was an egotistical, arrogant, stubborn pain in the ass. He was my egotistical, arrogant, stubborn pain in the ass.

I loved every nuance of this book – the way Sal and Kulti had ridiculous nicknames for each other, the way Sal’s father just might love Kulti more than Sal does, the way Kulti is so grumpy and moody yet totally hilarious. This book held my attention for the 500 or so pages it was – it captured my heart, made me FEEL so much for the characters. If the number of pages is intimidating, just trust me, every page counts in this story. And the romance, god, the romance. What I loved most about the slow burn in Kulti was how much time and effort the author put into building up the heartwarming friendship between Sal and Kulti before there was any romance, because that friendship made the eventual romance so much more meaningful. Mariana Zapata has written one of the best, if not THE best, friends to lovers romance I’ve ever read.

“Every single thing that has ever happened in my life has led me here, Sal. Destiny is a ladder, a series of steps that takes you where you’re supposed to go. I am the man that I am, and I have done the things that I’ve done, to get me to you.”

Hands down, Kulti is the best book I’ve read all year (and of course I’d read it just as the year is ending). It is now one of my favorite books of all-time, I loved it that much. I’m STILL thinking about this book, even though I read it days ago (it didn’t help that I reread it multiple times). I seriously can’t get Kulti out of my mind. THIS is how you write romance. Kulti was everything I never knew I wanted in one. Mariana Zapata, I freaking LOVE you for creating Kulti, for creating some of the best characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I simply adored this book, this story, these characters, everything about it. It’s the kind of book that will shake up your heart because you care SO MUCH for the characters. I L O V E D this book!!!

Also by Mariana Zapata

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Under Locke: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Rhythm, Chord, and Malykhin: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Lingus: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Subscribe to Blog via Email

5Oct2014

Release Day Review: Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan

Posted in 6 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan
Series: A Sign of Love #6 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 5th 2014
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

When the world as you know it has ended, when all that you love has been washed away, where do you find strength?

When the new world you’ve stepped into is as isolating as the last, when your heart is broken, and your future is unclear, where do you find hope?

Finding Eden is a story of strength, discovery, forgiveness, and undying love. It is about believing in your destiny and following the path that leads to peace.

Read my review of Becoming Calder.

LORD. HAVE. MERCY.

Mia Sheridan, you kill me.

HOLY SMOKES, Finding Eden was even BETTER than Becoming Calder! I don’t even know how that was possible, but Mia Sheridan did it. Finding Eden was phenomenal, one of my favorite reads of the year! It literally is one of THE BEST books I’ve ever read. I can’t even begin to explain how Eden and Calder’s epic love story moved my heart. I loved this book – their books! I loved THEM!

Finding Eden is the second part of Calder and Eden’s story, so it SHOULD NOT be read as a standalone. You absolutely must start their story from the beginning with Becoming Calder. Both of these books are complete, full-length novels, so you’re not cheated of anything. I’m actually really glad Calder and Eden’s entire story was split into two books. It fit with the story – there needed to be a break in between, because the feel of the two books are different. It’s still Eden and Calder, but they’ve changed over the years, and they’re in an entirely different situation now than in Becoming Calder.

“Are we going to be okay, Calder? Do we even have a chance?”
… “We’re going to try our damndest, Eden. That’s all I can give you. That’s all I can promise.”

It’s been three years since Eden and Calder have left Acadia, and both Eden and Calder have managed to make something of themselves. The last time we saw them, they were so unsure of their future, but now, they actually have a future. I don’t want to spoil any part of the book, but I will say that their story becomes even more epic in Finding Eden. Again and again, I was swept away by the emotions in this book, which somehow were even more intense than they were in Becoming Calder. The writing was absolute PERFECTION – the book was mesmerizing and utterly addicting to read. I. Loved. It!

No matter where Eden and I had been placed together in this world, we would have fallen in love. Whether we’d been two college freshman, two farm hands, two gypsies, two anything, the falling in love part of our story would have been the same. She would have pulled my heart from across a gymnasium, or a cornfield, or a traveling caravan.

I’ve never been so happy with a book. The whole time I was reading Finding Eden, I was smiling, sighing, gasping so hard, hand clutched to my heart, nearly crying tears of joy. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been so swept away by a book, but Finding Eden did just that. I was swept away by Calder and Eden’s beautiful, heart-wrenching, heart-warming, emotional love story. I loved Becoming Calder, but Finding Eden was the truly remarkable and unforgettable one for me. I fell in love even more with Eden and Calder in this book (which, again, I had no idea was possible). Their journey towards a well-deserved happily ever after gets a round of applause from me. Mia Sheridan, you rocked Calder and Eden’s story.

If you love love stories, this is as epic as they come. I wholeheartedly recommend Becoming Calder and Finding Eden. This is Mia Sheridan at her finest, and you don’t want to miss it.

“You, just you, with nothing else, no job, no house, no money, nothing. Stripped bare. You will always be enough for me. You will always be my dream come true, my destiny.”

6 hearts!!! Looooved!!! One of the best books I’ve read all year!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: A Sign of Love series

Note: Each of the books in the A Sign of Love series can be read as complete standalones that have no connection with each other, with the exception of Leo’s Chance, which is the hero’s POV of Leo, and Becoming Calder and Finding Eden, a two-book story featuring the same cast of characters. None of the characters in the different Sign of Love books are connected.

#1 ~ Leo: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Leo’s Chance: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Stinger: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Archer’s Voice: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Becoming Calder: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Finding Eden: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Kyland: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#8 ~ Grayson’s Vow: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#9 ~ Midnight Lily: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ FACEBOOK • TWITTER • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Subscribe to Blog via Email

6Apr2014

Joint Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Posted in 5 hearts, 6 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
Series: Maybe #1 (can be read as a standalone)
Publication Date: March 18th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Soundtrack

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

Alrighty, well the first thing I should say is that I finally have time to post more reviews, and what better way to start than with MAYBE freaking SOMEDAY? *fangirling commences*

So. Colleen Hoover. Is it ever possible for you to write a book that I won’t fall in love with? That my entire heart and soul won’t be invested in? That won’t take me, like, 3-4 days to recover from? No? Okay. Well, that’s fine. I’m totally okay with that. You know why? BECAUSE I FREAKING LOVE YOU, COLLEEN.

In case you couldn’t tell, I loooooooved Maybe Someday. It was probably the worst book Colleen Hoover has written so far, in terms of the amount of heartbreak and anguish. This book nearly killed me. And I loved every second of it. I honestly had no idea how much pain and heartbreak Maybe Someday would put me through. I mean, my first impression of this book was that it was freaking hilarious. Laugh-out-loud funny, and in my opinion, Colleen’s funniest book yet. But… as we get more into the story, more involved in the lives of Sydney, Ridge, Warren, and everyone else, all these layers come peeling away. We get such an in-depth look at all the characters that it felt like I knew them, like I connected with their souls. It was perfect.

As the book progressed, I loved that we slowly got know the very hearts of the characters. Sydney isn’t just a girl whose boyfriend has been hooking up with someone else–she’s a kickass girl who writes awesome lyrics to songs. She incredibly relatable–she’s funny, compassionate, and all around a good person. And Ridge is so much more than Sydney’s neighbor who’s talented at playing the guitar. He’s got to be one of the sweetest characters I’ve ever read. Ridge truly has a heart of gold and I fell in love with him over and over in Maybe Someday.

One thing I should highlight is that you absolutely MUST listen to the Maybe Someday soundtrack while reading this book! It makes an already fantastic experience so much better when you actually listen to the songs as they appear in the book. And can I just say–Griffin Peterson is incredible! I am so, so impressed with the songs he and Colleen created.

Maybe Someday is like nothing I’ve ever read. I don’t want to spoil anything about the book, because it’s just so much better to get the full experience without knowing anything, but the direction Colleen Hoover took the story is so unexpected, but so real, raw, honest, and pretty much… perfect. I couldn’t imagine a better story for Sydney and Ridge.

And don’t even get me started on what Maybe Someday did to my emotions. Jesus H. Christ, it was like a freaking roller coaster. But you know what? I love roller coasters. My heart was going crazy for Sydney and Ridge and everyone, because one second it would be full to bursting from love for everything about this book, but then my emotions would shoot straight down to where tears were in my eyes and my heart was aching so badly. Maybe Someday is far from a simple, easy read. It has so much heart–from the characters to the writing, everything comes off the pages so clearly and with so much emotion.

I’m listening to the songs on the soundtrack right now (Hold On to You is my favorite one, though Maybe Someday is a close second) and I still can’t over the beauty of this book and these characters and these words and these songs and these lyrics. And I probably never will. 5+ hearts!

Hey guys!

I know I haven’t been on this blog for a while now (but look at how successful it’s gotten! so proud of Lacey (‘: ) but I decided to write a post for this book.

I will always come back for Colleen Hoover.

Ahh yes, once again, Hoover has lived up to our expectations, if not exceeded them, with Maybe Someday. My feelings throughout the book? Heartbreak, awe, loneliness, happiness, and of course, sadness because of the 1/billion chance of meeting a guy like Ridge. I read this entire book in one sitting, and honestly it was probably the best 3 hours of my life.

When Colleen said that this book would be accompanied with a playlist, I was so excited to see how it would turn out! Since the main characters are both musicians and end up writing songs together, it feels so much more realistic when we actually get to hear the music. Griffin Peterson sounds amazing as well! The lyrics and his voice go together so well, and he sings with so much emotion that completely fits the songs. Not going to lie though, when I heard the first song, i was a bit skeptical because…well, Peterson didn’t sound like what I thought Ridge would. I grew used to it though, and I’ve actually had the entire soundtrack on repeat for the last week. Yep.

Ridge and Sydney’s situation was a mess. It made me cringe, smile, cry, laugh, and shake my head “no” repeatedly. ALSO- can I just say that Warren (Ridge’s best friend) was absolutely HILARIOUS? One of my favorite moments was when Sydney found out that Ridge was part of a band that was pretty well-known, and she started fangirling wow i COULD TOTALLY RELATE (that actually gave me hope that one day I will meet my favorite band member and we will begin our wonderful relationship and have a happily ever after). Their relationship was so cute and so funny, and I JUST LOVE IT. There was so much meaning in everything that they did, and every lyric that they wrote. This was a book that went from lust to heartbreak to even more heartbreak to love to heartbreak and then to full-on love.

It’s actually really amazing how Colleen Hoover is one of the very few authors that has never written a book that I was disappointed in.
Translation: Go read her books.

Until next time! (6 hearts because why would Colleen Hoover deserve anything less)

Update: Colleen Hoover released a novella about Warren!!

Review • Ebook • Goodreads

10Feb2014

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Posted in 6 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 4th 2014
Purchase: Hardcover • Ebook • Paperback

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love”

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was “dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

I have no idea where to even begin with this review for Ignite Me, besides saying that I freaking LOVED this book so, so much, and it was everything I expected and more. I really can’t say anything about the story without giving away spoilers, but I will try my best ~~to make sure you read this book!!!~~!

Ignite Me continues right where Unravel Me leaves off. Juliette has been shot by Warner’s father and nearly dies, but Warner saves her life. Juliette is very conflicted about Warner–he does save her life, and yet she can’t quite let go of her original hatred of him. But I, of course, have no qualms whatsoever about Warner! I. Love. This. Boy! I’m nearly obsessed with Warner… Aaron… Just swoon! But whether you’re Team Adam or Team Warner, you learn so much more about both of these boys. We see them in a completely different lights, which can be both good and bad. You could stay on whichever team you’re on, or even switch to the other, but either way, you’ll have a heart-pounding, incredible experience reading Ignite Me, because there’s so much more going on than just the love triangle.

I do recommend reading Fracture Me before starting Ignite Me. Adam annoyed the hell out of me in that novella, but we are given some important information regarding Omega Point, the rebels. But even if you don’t read Fracture Me, it doesn’t take away the full reading experience of Ignite Me.

Juliette transforms into a completely different creature in Ignite Me. She was once a scared, timid girl with no idea of her powers, but now, she’s growing into them. She’s learning more about her powers, using her powers more skillfully, and it gives her a confidence she never really had. I loved seeing this new side of Juliette. She becomes someone much more fascinating to read about. We discover more about her powers as she does, and I have to admit that she has a totally badass power. Seriously, with her power of incredible strength, she’s like a freaking Superwoman!

For so many years I lived in constant terror of myself. Doubt had married my fear and moved into my mind, where it built castles and ruled kingdoms and reigned over me, bowing my will to its whispers until I was little more than an acquiescing peon, too terrified to disobey, too terrified to disagree.
I had been shackled, a prisoner in my own mind.
But finally, finally, I have learned to break free.

I literally could not put Ignite Me down. I was hooked from the start. I loved Juliette’s journey into becoming the person she was meant to be, a leader. We never really get to see Juliette shine until now, and I was just SO impressed with this girl!

“Ignite, my love. Ignite.”

This book is gripping, intense, electrifying, and so goooood. My heart was racing at the action scenes, which there are a lot of. My heart was bursting when everyone was working together to defeat The Reestablishment and Warner’s father. It was just so amazing to see everyone together for one final, epic round to fight for their future.

And lord have mercy, the romance. The romance swept me away. I was smiling, laughing, grinning, giggling, swooning so hard because the romance between Juliette and the man she chooses the love and be with forever is breathtakingly beautiful. Juliette really, finally does choose who to be with, and we don’t even have to wait until the very end, which I was so happy about! We get to see so much of Juliette being in love, a beautiful, forever kind of love that has me swooning every time I think about it.

His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he says, “I think,” he says, “my heart is going to explode,” and I wish, more than ever, that I knew how to capture moments like these and revisit them forever.
Because this.
This is everything.

Ignite Me is brilliant. It’s an epic, heart-stopping ending to this incredible series. I love the writing, I love the characters, I love the story–everything. This book just blew me away. If you haven’t read the Shatter Me series yet, you absolutely must. It’s one of my all-time favorite series ever, one I recommend to everyone.

6 hearts!

And now for the slightly spoilery part of my review! I wanted to rave a lot more about Warner and Adam, but I couldn’t do that without spoiling anything, because you already know I’m Team Warner, but if you don’t care about knowing who Juliette ends up with, or you already know, then you can continue reading!

Warner. Warner Warner Warner Warner Warner Warner Warner. I looooooove Warner. Ignite Me only ignited (hehe) my love for him. I loved that as Juliette spends more time with Warner, she sees another side of him as well. It’s a side no one else ever sees or knows. Isn’t that just a little bit beautiful? We know without a doubt that Warner loves Juliette, and he only ever shows his true self to her. But does Juliette love Warner? Or does she still love Adam?

Juliette’s reservations about Warner are slowly blasted away, because even though Warner was seen as some cold, manipulative, unfeeling, cruel person, we learn that he’s really not. There’s always a reason behind everything he does, and even though it doesn’t make him a better person, it does make him someone we can understand better, someone we can love.

Adam, on the other hand, is just so… different. He’s incredible bitter, something I never thought was possible. He has so much hatred festering inside of him, and it truly changes him. I was so impressed with how Tahereh Mafi handled Adam and Juliette. Juliette is different now–she’s not the same girl Adam loved. Adam is not the same boy Juliette loved, and the changes in both of them affect their relationship. We can clearly see how the two of them just weren’t meant for each other, how they brought each other down instead of up.

So all in all, I was definitely happy with the way the romance ended up, and not just because I’m Team Warner. Even if I wasn’t on any team (or if I was Team Kenji) I would still have seen that Adam wasn’t good for Juliette, and vice versa. Warner brought out the most, the best out of Juliette. And holy crap, can I just say, Warner is hot hot hot!!! Chapters 55-58 anyone? Woooh, I was fanning myself so much here. God, I love Warner.

Reading Order: Shatter Me series

#1 ~ Shatter Me: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Destroy Me: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Unravel Me: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Fracture Me: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Ignite Me: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
Unite Me (paperback bundle of Destroy Me & Fracture Me): Paperback • Goodreads

	Lucas Middleton on Blog Tour // Review + Excerpt:…
	Van on Blog Tour + Release Day Review…
	Amber Elise @ Du Liv… on Audiobook Review: The Stand-In…
	daisyknox on Release Day Review: Tryst Six…
	anovelglimpse on Release Day Review: Tryst Six…

Booklovers For Life

Falling in love with romance one page at a time

Category Archives: 6 hearts