#crumpledbookpages reviews

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Hooked by Emily McIntire Review

Hooked by Emily McIntire | 18+ check tw!!

2.5 out of 5 🌟 | 🌶🌶.5 

⚠️Potential Spoilers ahead! Proceed with caution ⚠️ 

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This book was definitely a wild ride. I know that this is a very popular book in the booktok sphere and I had been hesitant to pick it up, which wasn’t completely unwarranted. 

To begin, even if you are comfortable with dark romance books, please be sure to read the trigger warnings listed on the author’s website. I made a mistake not doing that, and something’s took me by surprise. 

As far as the story goes, this book borders on the darkest side of dark romance. At first, I thought this book gave Twisted Lies energy. But even Alex Volkov is less morally depraved than Hook. Even with my qualms about Alex, at the very least, he didn’t physically harm Ava and groveled when he did mess up. The same can’t really be said here. 

I also found that the story was very predictable. While I originally enjoyed the little nods to the original Peter Pan story, at some point they became somewhat forced and cliche to me. Similarly, about half way through, I had already figured out the antagonist which made the rest of the book feel very long. 

Overall, this is a Dark Romantic Fantasy book with tones of insta love and not nearly enough groveling, that just wasn’t for me. 

I’m curious, have you read this book? What did you think? 📝

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The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Review

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black | check tw!!

4 out of 5 🌟 | NO 🌶

⚠️Potential Spoilers ahead! Proceed with caution! ⚠️

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Things I really didn’t need to do while attempting to read through my entire physical TBR: get emotionally invested in another fantasy series.

This book was pleasantly surprising. It’s always hard to read books that are popular on booktok and bookstagram because they are usually rated in the extremes. Like people that like them REALLY like them, and the people that don’t like them HATE them. But, I thought this book lived up to its hype. 

As will all first books in a fantasy series, the world building is so much of the book that it takes a bit longer to read. I also had a bit of a hard time transitioning from how Sarah J. Maas portrays Fae to how Holly Black does. But both of those are more personal issues. 

I also found that the middle portion of the book was a little long and somewhat slower than the beginning and the end. This book also kind plays into the trope that guys are mean to girls when they like them, which I didn’t really love. 

Other than that, I liked the characters and the story line. They were both really well written. Jude is literally the baddest bitch in Faerie, and I can’t wait to read the next couple books. 

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?📝

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The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez Review

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez | check tw!!

5 out of 5 🌟 | 🌶.5 

⚠️ Potential Spoilers ahead! Proceed at your own risk ⚠️ 

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I truly didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. This book— and the next two books in the series— admittedly have been sitting on my shelf for an ungodly amount of time. But in my efforts to make my way through my physical TBR this year, I picked it up, and I’m so glad I did. 

I literally loved all of the characters in this book, and the ones who were meant to be irritating definitely were written well enough to do their job. Both of the main characters are very likable. Josh is literally the dream man and Kristen is too hilarious for words. Though, I will admit that I got a little frustrated with her at times for not just talking to Josh. 

This book definitely gives off Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren vibes. So if you read that one and enjoyed it, odds are, you’ll love this one! It’s literally the perfect mixture of raw and emotional with comedic banter. 

Have you read this book? What were your thoughts? I’d love to hear them!📝