Can't believe 2025 is coming to an end! I know I say it every year, but it's true, the year went by shockingly fast (while some months felt like they lasted a lifetime). Here are reviews for the last books I read this year:
Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours ★★★★½
Reading this felt like I was back in the early 2010s, reading some crazy y/n stuff
GUYS this was SO GOOD and here's a list why:
1. You've got 4 teens, each dealing with a lot of stuff, but always being there for each other, I just wanted to hug them all the time because their friendships were so precious
2. The mystery and revelation at the end were TOP NOTCH. I didn't guess anything and there are 2 major twists.
3. The "superpower" aspect was so well done!! Sariyah, the MC, has the power to sense people's needs, and since she gets migraines if they aren't fulfilled, she has her "Santa Bag" always with her filled with random knick-knacks just for that purpose
4. Discussion on the huge difference between white girls and black girls going missing and how society perceives both - not only is it an important topic, but it was also handled in a way that was both educational and thoughtful
5. There's also a discussion on how Sirayah's "power" affects her and the people around her. Should she do it often or not, should she make money off it, what if someone uses items she gave them for a bad purpose etc.
Fascinating stuff and I def recommend this lil magical realism slash mystery gem!!!
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman ★★★
This was just...too "all over the place" for me. There are so many concepts thrown in which I partly understand (considering the whole premise is about worlds being affected by fiction), but still, there was no order to it.
The plot moves at a fast pace, because something is constantly happening - the characters are attacked by alligators, sometimes gargoyles, sometimes a mechanical centipede, assassins from a top secret society, or they're evading capture in a ceppelin, while also using Language aka the super special Library magic that's not really magic but it truly is. I mean, this all does sound fun in theory, but for me, it got overwhelming.
It almost got to the point where I didn't care about it because I knew they'd all survive (just like all the previous ridiculous attemts at killing them) and just move on to the next thing. I think the phrase "less is more" works perfectly for this situation.
While I do have mixed feelings about this big mix of all plot points ever - I have to admit the blend of steampunk mechanical items with a bit of magic was intriguing, as well as the world-building of the Library itself. I was also glad for the complete lack of romance because it made no sense for them to be developing romantic feelings while literally being in peril every single second (and not to mention only knowing each other for 5 days).
Basically, there are a lot of goodies here and if you're looking for an insane mesh of all fiction elements plus a lot of action, you're gonna get it here :D
Killer Smile by Mary Stone and Stacy O'Hare ★★★½
If Criminal Minds was a bit cheesier (with a younger cast), this is what you'd get. It's a short, investigation-type crime story where the focus is more on the psychological aspect of catching the killer, featuring a team of diverse people.
It wasn't bad, considering it has fewer than 300 pages. Still, there were some loose ends that I feel like should've been resolved. Also, sometimes the characters would feel a bit immature with their comments about appearances and other team members. Then again, they're a younger bunch, fresh on the job, so maybe this will resolve itself in the sequels once they get through more gruesome cases and loose the naivety 😂
I think this series has a lot of potential so don't let my 3.5 rating confuse you, I still think it's worth reading and will definitely continue reading the sequels!
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter ★★★★★
oh. my. GOD. This was even better than I expected. It was so good that I even....giggled (*horrified gasp*) at some point... Ethan Wyatt is promoted to THE green flag book boyfriend and Maggie, my precious cinnamon roll, I want to hurt everyone who has ever hurt you 🔪🔪
From start to finish, this book has the perfect banter, the most amazing characters you're not only going to love, but you'd want to BURN THE WORLD FOR THEM. Honestly, Ethan and Maggie are literally Flynn and Rapunzel. Whenever Maggie speaks, Ethan is looking at her like this:
Now that I think about it, his personality is literally Flynn Rider 😂 A dashing, laid back flirt on the outside, but a big softie on the inside. I need to stop talking (and thinking) about Ethan 😂
The plot has so many twists that were obviously so well planned and not just thrown in to make us confused. The concept itself - a mystery author disappearing in a locked room - doesn't that just sound AMAZING?? It's everything a mystery fan would want and more. Ally Carter, you are my Eleanor Ashley ♥
💬 Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts on them? 💬
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