Funny You Should Ask by: Elissa Sussman

Genre: Romance 

Published: April 12, 2022 by: Random House 

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars 

CW: death of a pet, divorce 

Twenty years ago, Chani Horowitz was a struggling masters student looking to get a book deal. By a twist of luck she is hired to write a profile on a Hollywood movie star: her celebrity crush Gabe Parker. During the interview, her and Gabe get to know each other on an emotional level, and Gabe invites her for a whirlwind weekend that sweeps her off of her feet. And then, she never hears from him again. Now freshly divorced, Chani is forced to revisit that profile from her early twenties and reunite with Gabe once more. Despite what she thought, Gabe had not forgotten about her, and the two pick up where they left off. 

I started this book on recommendation from my cousin. We buddy read it because it was marketed as a fanfiction-esque novel, and I was intrigued. I didn't know until recently that the main character is meant to be based off of Chris Evans, which I find just slightly creepy as I don't love fanfictions with real people. But since I only found out about this yesterday it doesn't really change my opinions on this book. I thought it was a fun read, different from the romances I'm used to. I would recommend! 

I thought Chani and Gabe were both well rounded characters. Chani in her early twenties was quite relatable, as Sussman depicts her close to graduating and really struggling to find a job. I thought this depiction, specifically Chani's frustrations, were very realistic, albeit her big break is certainly not something a lot of people can relate to. But I digress, I thought Sussman wrote about a writer very well. 

Gabe was also an awesome character. He's not a stereotypical romance leading man in the sense that he seems too perfect to be true. He has flaws, but grows as a character as the book goes on and as he gets older. He has a love for animals, especially dogs (ok, maybe I should've seen the Chris Evans comparison coming), and he is very caring towards his family and to Chani. Since Chani and Gabe were both likable characters in my opinion, this made for a really easy read. 

The book alternates between two time periods: Gabe and Chani's first meeting, and their reunion. I liked this structure of the book as I think it added more context to their relationship and how their feelings have progressed overtime. I also thought this aspect added more layer to the characters, as I could develop an understanding for how Chani's maturity overtime changes her opinions on love. There is very much a fluffiness to the flashback scenes, and while this isn't to say the future is bleak, I thought Chani and Gabe definitely grow to be a bit more level-headed when they get older. 

This was a very easy to get through book. It doesn't rely much on a lot of drama, or a lot of harsh topics. It wasn't the best romance I've ever read, but it was pleasant and a good break away from some more dramatic reads. I would reread if I was looking for an escape. 

Have you read Funny You Should Ask? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Love Hypothesis by: Ali Hazelwood

Genre: Romance 

Published: September 14, 2021 by: Penguin 

Pages: 383 

Rating: 3/5 stars 

CW: workplace sexual harassment, graphic sexual content, perhaps negative asexual rep (read more in review) 

Olive Smith is a PhD candidate in her third year at Stanford University. Her best friend Anh believes in long-lasting, romantic love, but Olive isn't sure that happily ever after can exist. Olive decides to get Anh off her back by kissing the first man she sees in an effort to prove to Anh that she can be in a relationship. However, this man turns out to be Adam Carlsen, a young, grumpy professor who is caught off guard by Olive's forwardness. Still, Adam agrees to go along with Olive's plan if it means they can try to put this awkwardness behind them. But fake dating proves to be complicated once the two start catching feelings. 

This book really blew up on Booktok, and it took me a while to find it at the library and see if it was worth the hype. I knew it was an adaptation of a fanfic of Reylo (romantic ship between Kylo Ren and Rey from Star Wars). That made me curious. I love Kylo Ren, but I'm not the biggest fan of that ship. Still, a love interest at least inspired by Kylo intrigued me. Fanfiction once again makes the world go round! I would say this book was middle of the road for me, with some high moments but also some issues to work through. 

First off, I really did like how the book handled the grumpy x sunshine trope. That is one of my favourite tropes in romance novels and I think Hazelwood did a good job at characterizing Olive's confidence and charm mixed with Adam's sarcasm and cynicism. But, despite Adam being the grumpy character, he was never disrespectful or abusive, which I think is super important when handling this trope. I also liked how the book portrayed the fake dating trope, especially given that there were power dynamics involved between a professor and a PhD candidate. Both Adam and Olive clear their relationship with the Dean, and I appreciated this touch to avoid toxicity within their relationship. 

I thought the romance was well-paced and didn't to me feel like insta-love or anything that could be totally unrealistic. I did sometimes find that Olive made impulsive decisions, and seeing that she was a PhD student, I wondered why she acted that way. I guess I just figured she'd be a bit more cautious of things, so this personality shift did surprise me a bit. But I didn't find her or Adam to be particularly unlikable characters. 

The sex scenes were graphic, but nothing that I'm not used to in a lot of adult romance books. I do think Hazelwood portrayed such scenes in a healthy way, though for me, nothing can beat the representation in Helen Hoang's "Kiss Quotient" series. That series still has some of the healthiest and non-toxic sexuality representation that I've ever seen. I will constantly compare every romance to it. 

On to the not so great bits. I did notice a few OwnVoices Goodreads reviewers talking about how they found Hazelwood misrepresented or awkwardly incorporated asexual representation when it came to Olive. The first time that Olive and Adam have sex, Olive admits to Adam that she has a difficult time forming the want to have sex, and forming attraction for people. But she frames this in a way by saying that there is something "weird" about her brain, and then the whole thing is kinda dismissed and not picked up again. This was something that struck me as odd when I was reading the book, but I didn't quite understand why until I read the reviews, and then I found some reviewers put my thoughts into words quite well. I am not asexual so I'm not gonna be the spokesperson on this, and I know some asexual people may have no issue with this plot point. But, I will say that I think for me personally, I would've liked this side of Olive explored a bit more if it was something that impacted how she forms sexual relationships. We never really see it developed into something more, and I think positive asexual representation is super important. You can see these reviews in the one star section of Goodreads if you'd like to read them. 

I don't think the characters necessarily struck me as all that interesting. I thought Olive and Adam were an okay couple, but I didn't find myself going out of my way to root for them the way I do other romance couples. They were just okay, nothing truly remarkable though nothing terribly annoying. I do chalk a lot of this up to the book perhaps being more plot driven than character driven. I didn't feel like I knew a whole lot about these characters, so I found it difficult to connect to them. 

Overall, this book was fine. It wasn't a standout for me, but I'm usually pretty forgiving of romance novels if there are some redeeming qualities. I don't necessarily think this book was worth the hype, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. 

Have you read The Love Hypothesis? What did you think? 

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by: Akwaeke Emezi

Genre: Romance, Contemporary 

Published: May 24, 2022 by: Atria Books 

Pages: 288 

Rating: 4/5 stars 

CW: death of a spouse, PTSD 

It's been five years since visual artist Feyi Adekola's spouse was killed in a car accident, and Feyi is coping as best as she can. She feels ready to try and see if she can get a second chance at love, and after she has a flirty encounter with a man named Nasir, she thinks that maybe loving again is possible. Nasir invites Feyi to a luxury island where is his father Alim works as a celebrity chef. While there, Feyi's art career flourishes with opportunity, and she is immediately charmed by Nasir's family. However, things get complicated when Feyi begins to grow closer to Alim as they bond over shared grief, and Feyi begins to question the relationship she has formed with Nasir. 

When I heard that Akwaeke Emezi was writing a romance, I was intrigued. Emezi is known for their powerful, soulful writing, though often these tales come with unimaginable sorrow and trauma. This book seemed a little bit lighter while still dealing with some tough themes, and I thought the island setting would make it perfect for summer. I was definitely not disappointed, as the book definitely has Emezi's distinctive, poetic prose. However, I think most people will find the romance in this book a bit dividing, as I certainly did. 

I think it was really unique of Emezi to have her main character be a widow. I don't read a ton of romance books where the main character is a widow trying to find love again, but I think this detail introduces a whole different layer to the character and makes the stakes surrounding the romance all the more complex. I appreciated seeing how Feyi grapples with wanting to learn to live again, while also not wanting to forget her past love behind. Her and Alim bond as they have both lost past loves, and I think seeing people share grief with one another can be an incredibly healing process. 

This book has a lot of wonderous food imagery, as well as takes place in a luxurious island setting. Emezi wastes no time in filling the page with delicious food and a glorious setting that really helped to make this book an easy to get through read. Since the island is in the Caribbean, I got introduced to a bunch of different foods and flavours that I was not familiar with, and I think setting this book on an island when the book was released right before summer was a smart move. This book definitely set the vibe of  a summer romance really well, and the food imagery was a nice added touch. 

The book begins by introducing Feyi as a woman whose soulmate is her best friend Joy. I definitely don't want to count out Joy, as she was a very welcome addition to the book. Joy has helped Feyi through thick and thin, and their friendship was so supportive and healthy. I think showing platonic soulmates within a romance book is such a unique but important feature, as oftentimes romances can kind of push the friend characters to the side. However, Joy is a ride or die friend to Feyi, and honestly they may have been the most important relationship to the book. 

This book functioning as a romance can be very polarizing to some people. I have seen folks criticize the romance as unhealthy, or people characterize Feyi as being a shitty person because of the feelings that she develops. I really don't want to give much away as I think this is a book that you just have to read and form your own opinions on, but by reading the synopsis and other reviews, it's no secret that the romance in this book is complicated. Thus, my opinions on the romance are complicated. Do I think the romance was unhealthy? No. Do I think Feyi is a bad person? No. Nobody is perfect, and Feyi is learning and growing as she continues to deal with her PTSD after her spouses' death. However, I don't know if I could completely root for the romance in this book. I think if I were involved in the situation myself I would have a really, really hard time rooting for the romance. Like I said, you just have to read it to know what I'm talking about, but at the end of the day, I couldn't give this book five stars because I just wasn't sure if I was wholly supportive of the romantic relationship. I'm gonna sound like a broken record, but it's...complicated. 

Overall, I would recommend this book because I need to know other people's opinions on it. I think it is definitely worth reading for its setting and food imagery, and I think even reading the romance side of it will leave people thinking, which is a good thing! 

Have you read You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Paperback's Pondering's: Finding "Perfect" Romances

Romance is one of my favourite genres. I used to love YA contemporaries, and that love as I got older quickly evolved into liking new adult and adult romances. I love romances that are fluffy, light-hearted, but also with a relationship that seems realistic, one that I can root for. 

My favourite romances to date have all been written by Helen Hoang, and that is her Kiss Quotient series. The three books in that trilogy have the perfect amount of light-hearted humour, some seriousness in the stakes of the relationship, and a healthy, slow-burn romance that develops over time. They also have sex-positivity, which is a major important element in my opinion as a lot of romances can portray toxic sexual relationships and therefore reinforce an unhealthy representation of sex. My problem now is, that I have yet to find a romance that matches Helen Hoang's writing. All romance recommendations that I see on Booktok currently have been really spicy erotica, which isn't personally my thing, or Colleen Hoover books. I don't want to turn this post into my problems with Colleen Hoover, but I'll just say that her writing is not my thing, and I don't think she portrays relationships in the healthiest of ways. I will scan through blogs, book twitter, and bookstagram as well for romance recommendations, but those books haven't necessarily given me what I'm looking for either. Which leads me to wonder: am I being too picky with my romances? Will anything ever top The Kiss Quotient? Is Helen Hoang's writing just an anomaly? I now write this post to plead for someone to give me the romance recommendations I need. 

The Kiss Quotient and its accompaniments were so special because they weren't just romances, but they were also big on representation of a number of marginalized groups. All of the books have East Asian representation, as well as very accurate autism representation. Helen Hoang is very vocal about her autism, and so she seeks to portray various characters on the autism spectrum throughout her books. So, what we get in her books are really unique representations of autistic characters who navigate sex and relationships in ways that don't overstimulate them or make them meltdown. These are characters that I don't think I would ever get to read about in any other romance book, and that's what makes her books stand in categories all on their own. 

In my quest to find books like the Kiss Quotient, I often look for romances that have representation of some kind, especially representation of non-white characters. And these books are okay, albeit not my favourites. I have enjoyed in the past the Chloe Brown series by Talia Hibbert, but I don't necessarily find myself as engrossed in these books as I was with Hoang's books, for reasons I still am unsure of. There's just something about Hoang's books that are the perfect melting pot of what makes a good romance: the right balance of spice, fluffiness, serious elements, realistic characters, awkwardness, and diversity. I think the trouble I'm running into is that while I have uplifted Hoang's books as the pinnacle of romance, I keep comparing every romance I read afterwards to them. Perhaps, I am not letting these books exist on their own as I keep searching for that "perfect" romance book. 

I went to twitter a few days ago to say that I don't think any romance book will ever top Hoang's books for me. While I don't necessarily want to proven wrong, I need new romance recommendations that have the same vibe as The Kiss Quotient and won't make me want to throw the book against a wall. Or maybe, they can make me throw the book against a wall in a good way? Anyways, if you've read The Kiss Quotient and books like it, please send me all the recommendations you have. I am trying to find "perfect" romances here, or at least, what's perfect in my eyes, and it's proving to be a difficult task. 

Do you have books you consider to be "perfect?" Do you like Helen Hoang's books? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Rich People Problems (Crazy Rich Asians #3) by: Kevin Kwan

Genre: Fiction, Romance
Published: May 23. 2017 by: Doubleday
Pages: 398
Rating: 4/5 stars
Content warning: on-page attempted suicide, manic episodes brought on by bi-polar disorder.

Su Yi, the beloved matriarch of the wealthy Young family, has taken to her death bed, and the entire family from all across the globe have rushed to her bedside. However, some of these family members have more malicious intentions, as Su Yi's prized estate Tyersall Park will be a hot commodity after her death. Nicholas Young vows to make things right with his grandmother after she disowned him. Meanwhile, Su Yi's granddaughter Astrid is caught in her own troubles, as she is trying to reclaim her love with Charlie Wu while her ex-husband tries to ruin her reputation. Rich People Problems is the last installment in the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, and showcases the lavish lives of families from all corners of Asia, all dealing with their own rich people problems.

You know when you've enjoyed a series so much that it actually pains you to let it go? That was me with the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. The dialogue across all three books is just so hilarious, the stories both heartwarming and drama-filled. I didn't think that this book could introduce even more characters with inter-lapping storylines, and yet it did.

What I appreciate about Kwan is how he is able to keep track of so many characters. Seriously, the family tree of all of these people is such a feat in itself. Kwan is able to have so many intersecting storylines, because some characters are related to others, some are newly divorced, some are illegitimate children, it's all just wild. With all of these characters, you are able to love some, loath some, and overall you just get an entire range of diverse individuals who represent every inch of Asian elite life. It's so fascinating.

I wouldn't have wanted Kwan to end this trilogy in any other way. The series starts with the drama of the acclaimed Young clan, and it had to end with it. Su Yi's illness is expected, as is the bunch of greedy family members who want Tyersall Park in their name. But what wasn't expected, is how many Young family secrets were spilled in this book. Things did shock me, there is no doubt about that. Overall this book was anything but predictable.

I would definitely say that I preferred this book to the second, however the first is still my favourite. Since this book introduces even more characters, I did find myself missing the antics of Eleanor Young and the other core Young family members that is more present in the first book. That being said, we definitely see more of Eleanor in this book than in the second, which was a big improvement.

Overall, Rich People Problems was a satisfying conclusion. I think Kwan came up with a really unique storyline through these three books, and I am sad to have to part with it. But, I do see many re-reads in my future and I can't wait for the series to continue with the movie adaptations.

Have you read Rich People Problems? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

China Rich Girlfriend (Crazy Rich Asians #2) by: Kevin Kwan

Genre: Romantic Comedy
Published: June 16 2015 by: Knopf
Pages: 378
Rating: 4/5 stars

Rachel Chu is about to marry Nicholas Young, the man who sacrificed everything in order to be with her. However, Rachel longs for more details about her birth father, and a surprising piece of information is about to whisk her into the lavish world of China's elite. Rachel is able to travel to China and meet her father, and along the way she is befriended by Colette, a glamorous model, and Carlton, a spoiled heir who just happens to be her half-brother. But, life in crazy rich families is not easy, and Rachel, along with many other characters, will learn this the hard way.

I was really excited to get back into the world of Crazy Rich Asians. I absolutely loved the first book, and I knew that I needed to give this one a try. While I was still impressed with Kwan's witty footnotes, vivid attention to detail, and of course, the lovable (and sometimes unlovable) cast of characters, I can still say that I preferred the first book more.

This book has even a larger cast of characters than the first. While Crazy Rich Asians mainly focused on Rachel and Nick's story with other characters affecting that, this book has multiple storylines going on. Rachel and Nick are back, as well as Astrid, who has got her own problems going on completely separate. Then, there is also stuff going on with Kitty Pong, which is a whole other issue. I kinda went back and forth as to whether or not I liked the extensive character arcs. And I think I didn't mind it all that much. I think the supporting characters drive this series forward, and add to the tensions between families. However, there were some notable absences that I wish we saw more of.

For one, with all of these characters, I wish there was more of Eleanor Young! Eleanor is an absolute queen in my opinion. Yes, she is judgemental and did not treat Rachel right in the first book, but she is such a badass Asian mom with incredible grace. I can't help but want to be her. Can you imagine having that much power? Anyways, she appears at the beginning of the book, but doesn't really show up until the end. I needed more of her. She is one of my favourite characters.

I thought that Rachel and Nick's storyline was interesting. I especially enjoyed reading about how absolutely ridiculous Colette's life was. She was a character very easy to dislike, but still well written nonetheless. And can we talk about that twist at the end!? I won't spoil anything, but I did not except that much shit to go down and I frantically flew through the end to make sure that everything turned out alright. It's definitely a lot of action that you would not expect from a romantic comedy.

So overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked the twists, and I liked that we got into more character's storylines. However, I just wish we saw a bit more of Eleanor. She is such an important character to the first book, that I think she needs to have a big part in every book in this series. Still, I would totally recommend this book to fans of the first, as Kwan's signature humour is still there, and the drama just gets even more intense.

Have you read China Rich Girlfriend? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Crazy Rich Asians by: Kevin Kwan

Genre: Fiction, Romance
Published: June 11, 2013 by: Doubleday
Pages: 403
Rating: 5/5 stars

Rachel Chu is a successful university professor, who agrees to accompany her boyfriend Nick to Singapore for his best friend's wedding. While there, Rachel soon discovers that she doesn't know all she thought she did about Nick's life. His family are members of the Singapore elite, and Nick's mother is less than thrilled that Nick has brought home an American girl who knows nothing about the lavish lifestyle they lead. As Rachel starts to get to know Nick's family, divisions of class and a crazy family tree could threaten their relationship.

This book was AWESOME. I did not see the movie before reading it, but after I flew through this book I watched it immediately and found it just as good. The story is so lovable; full of cute, fluffy moments, hilarious family banter, and an incredible setting. All 403 pages went by so quickly for me.

I think one of the main things I liked about this book was Kwan's footnotes. As there is an extensive family tree in this book, as well as a ton of various Asian (and just general rich people) references, his footnotes were so well received by me. I found them not only to be informative, but they also added such humour into the story and it was a great way for me to get more information.

The characters were so lovable. I want a Nick Young of my own, and Rachel was hilarious as well. I understand some people critique her and find her naive, but I found her to be so relatable and resilient. I can also totally relate to the extensive family tree that the Young's have, so the whole family dynamics was so fun to read.

I have pretty much recommended this book to everyone in my life. I think the setting is so lavish and so incredibly detailed, and the plot was captivating from start to finish. I now need to get my hands on the sequel!

Have you read Crazy Rich Asians? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

Genre: YA Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
Published: April 11, 2017 by: G.P. Putnam
Pages: 368
Rating: 4/5 stars

It's 1777 in New York, and the Revolution is sparking excitement in everyone. On the eve of the legendary Schuyler family's winter ball, middle-daughter Eliza Schuyler is less enthused by her graceful older and gentle younger sisters, and is more focused on making a change in America. But when she meets Alexander Hamilton at the ball, a bright young colonel with a lot of ideas, they start something that will change the course of American History forever.

I'll be honest, I would probably never read this book if the musical Hamilton never existed. And even so, would this book even exist if the musical Hamilton was never created? Lin- Manuel Miranda has truly influenced the literature and art scene forever.

I really liked this book. It provided great, vivid descriptions of 1777 America, and the author really took on the tone of people in the time period, which is hard to do. It didn't feel watered down to modern audiences, she really kept it authentic.

I loved how she portrayed the character of Eliza, and I could definitely see the parallels between her Broadway counterpart. She was brilliant and enthusiastic, as was Alexander Hamilton. Both characters seemed to keep up with the personalities of their stage versions.

This book didn't feel boring to me, and I was really worried it would. I think it was probably because I was already familiar with the story of Alexander Hamilton, because if I had gone into this book completely ignorant, I would probably have no time for the information. So, I'm not sure how a non-Hamilton lover would read this.

I felt as if this book was a little too long. It took a lot for action to build up, and Alexander and Eliza's relationship didn't flourish until literally the very end of the book, something I did not expect. I would have really liked for their relationship to have happened sooner.

But other than that, I think this book was a great nod to Hamilton. It was romantic and cute, but it just took too long to get there.

Have you read Alex and Eliza? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Song of Achilles by: Madeline Miller

Genre: Mythological Fiction, Romance
Published: September 20, 2011 by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 352
Rating: 5/5 stars

Everyone knows the myth of the Trojan war, and the infamous story of Achilles, a remarkable hero tragically killed for having one weakness, and Patroclus, an exiled prince and his noble friend. But what if Achilles and Patroclus were more than friends? In this retelling, Achilles and Patroclus develop a relationship much deeper than friends, but their fates could prove that not everyone gets a happy ending.

CAN I JUST SAY THAT THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I COULD EVER WANT IN A NOVEL?! Ya'll know how much of a Greek mythology nerd I am. and believe me, I have watched the Brad Pitt version of Troy, in which Patroclus is his cousin, more times than I can count. I have been waiting and waiting to get my hands on this book, and when I finally got it, I finished it in one sitting. That may have something to do with the fact that I was horribly ill and bed-ridden at the time, but in between violent coughs, I was trying not to cry tears of  joy while reading this.

Let me start off by saying that I think the Trojan War could have happened. I've read a lot of articles on it, and while there's no proof that Achilles was as godly as he was, if he actually existed, him and Patroclus were 100% lovers, I have no doubt about that. In Ancient Greece, homosexuality was actually quite common as it was said to improve "masculinity" in soldiers. I just love that Miller wrote this story as it confirms a lot of historian's suspicions and finally portrays Achilles as being more than a womanizing straight dude.

I love Patroclus with all my heart. He's such a cute little awkward guy but his heart is so huge and I just want to give him a hug. He deserved better :( I don't want to give too much of the ending away but if you're familiar with the Trojan War then you kinda know how the story goes. It wasn't much of a surprise, but I still love how Miller wrote it and her writing is out of this world, beautiful. It gave me inspiration for the Greek mythology retelling I keep telling myself I have to write.

Overall, if you're a mythology nerd, pick this up and please geek out with me! It was fabulous in every way possible :D

Have you read The Song of Achilles? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Siren by: Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Published: January 28, 2016 by: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Rating: 4/5 stars

All through time, the Ocean has carefully selected young girls from drowning for one price: they are hers for 100 years. The girls are known as Sirens, mermaid-like creatures who use their deadly singing voices to lure travellers to their death. Kahlen became a siren years ago, and together with her sisters, they live amongst the ordinary world, dreaming of the day that they will be free from the Ocean's control. But then Kahlen meets Akinli, a caring young man who wants nothing more then to be with her, and to hear her voice. But falling in love is forbidden in Kahlen's world, and if the Ocean were to find out, it would doom her and her love forever.

I have this habit of being shamelessly addicted to Kiera Cass books. Everything she writes is so cliche and so fluffy, and yet so addicting! She once again left me captivated for every single page in this book, although I will say again: she needs to get more diverse characters.

I think the concept of the sirens was so incredibly cool. Who doesn't love a good mythical story about ocean creatures? The atmosphere was mystical and dreamy, and I can just imagine reading this on the beach. This was the perfect summer book and so incredibly romantic.

I did like the characters, especially Akinli. I felt as if he was a very strong love interest, and not quite as cliche as some of Cass' previous male protagonists. I loved the chemistry between him and Kahlen, I didn't feel like it was forced at all.

Now to the issue I'm seeing time and time again in her books. Her characters lack diversity. Not even just with skin colour, although that obviously is an issue too, but even in the way that they act. Kahlen was just your typical teenage girl who's kind of introverted and loved by everyone and goes against the norm. She was a very flat character for me, because she's just so typical of so many contemporary protagonists I've read about before. I need something new.

So overall, the concept was what sold this book for me. It was so creative and felt like a cool mythology story. However I am still longing for a contemporary romance with some more original characters, and the day that comes, I will personally thank the author myself.

Have you read The Siren? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Me Before You by: Jojo Moyes

Genre: Fiction, Romance
Published: February 1, 2013 by: Thorndike Press
Pages: 631
Rating: 4/5 stars

Louisa Clark's life has always been pretty boring. She has never exited the confides of her small village, and she still resides with her close family, even though money is getting tight. When Louisa decides to get a job to support her family, she takes up an offer taking care of the moody Will Traynor, a rich man who is bound to a wheelchair after an accident. Will soon makes it known that he does not want Louisa's help, so Louisa tries to help him in a new way: by teaching him how to live again. And it will take both of them on the adventure of a lifetime.

I really quite liked this book! I understand there is some controversy, but since I am able-bodied I will not be speaking about that. Instead I will be focusing on how heartwarming and important I thought this book was.

I firstly really loved the atmosphere created in this novel. It had a cute little English vibe to it, and the tone of voice mixed with the settings made me feel I was in a little rainy English town. It had a very cozy atmosphere to it.

I loved the characters. Louisa was so charming and adorable, and I could really picture her in my mind. Maybe this is because the movie influenced me, but I did picture Emilia Clarke in my mind, but it was still accurate to me. I also loved Will's tone mixed with his development, and how he never failed to get what he wanted. He stood his own and I respected that.

The ending, now that's when stuff gets interesting. I'm going to try to keep this review spoiler free, but I'm just going to say that I didn't get it. I thought that it was unexpected and equally sad, but for me, I would have liked something different. Again, it's not really my place to comment, but I just felt like there were so many alternatives that could have happened to make things a bit happier. I just felt like everything that had been built up, was lost.

Then again, this had a very important message and issue at hand that I really think you need to just see for yourself. I think everyone will have a different opinion on this and it's important that we respect them all. But overall, a very heartwarming book.

Have you read Me Before You? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Crown (The Selection #5) by: Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Dystopia
Published: May 3, 2016 by: Harper Teen
Pages: 279
Rating: 2.5/5 stars

*highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

The time has come. Princess Eadlyn has spent months wondering if she even wanted a Selection, but now it is time for her to pick her spouse. After her mother's illness, more of a strain than ever has been put on her father, King Maxon, so now it's time for Eadlyn to step up to the plate. Now Eadlyn must choose to go with her head, or her heart.

I went into this book quite upset to let go of this series. I fell in love with America and Maxon's story, and these books were as addicting as they were dreamy and fluffy. Now we all know how most people feel about Eadlyn, and while she did undergo some change in this book, I was overall disappointed with the conclusion.

I did like the remaining selection boys in the book. I felt like because they were more narrowed down, you could see their personalities more and some of them really shone through. I again really loved Kile, he was such a cutie.

You can't deny that these books are addicting. They pull you into this fairytale dreamland of princesses and good looking men fighting over her love, that it all seems like the YA version of The Bachelorette. I do love how easy to get through these books are, and they are great for any reading slump.

Now to why this book was an overall very disappointing finale. Eadlyn did undergo some change in the book, she was a lot less annoying, however there was no rhyme or reason as to how she changed. The book never shows her seeing the light and realizing how annoying she is, which I really wished had happened.

I was also very disappointed on how the selection turned out. The fact that Kile was dropped of the face of the earth and sent to banishment made no sense to me. The fact that she picked Henri when they literally had no chemistry whatsoever until there were only 3 chapters left in the book. and also the fact that two characters were literally just made to be gay so that they could be knocked out faster. Not cool at all.

So overall, the ending was a huge let down and I'm really upset with how this series took a turn for the worst. I think it just goes to show that Cass should have left it at American and Maxon's story instead of introducing this terrible protagonist and even more anti climactic love story.

Have you read The Crown? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Love that Split the World by: Emily Henry

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary 

Published: January 26, 2016 by: Razorbill           

Pages: 396

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Natalie Cleary has always been different. Put up for adoption by her Native American mother and brought up by bubbly and curious parents, Natalie tries to fit in all her life. On her last summer before college, Natalie’s world suddenly becomes all too unfamiliar when she begins to see hallucinations and things that aren’t there. Then enters Grandmother, a mysterious spirit that gives Natalie advice and tells her stories of her past. Grandmother tells Natalie that she has 3 months to save the boy she loves. Suddenly, Natalie finds herself swept in between past and present, as she meets and falls for charismatic football player Beau. But how, and why does she have to save him?

This book was nothing short of unique. Filled with alternating genres of fantasy, sci-fi and romance, the Love that Split the World will bring you into one crazy journey. While it was nothing short of beautiful, I did have some issues with the plot that I hoped wouldn’t happen.

This book will bring you into a whole new world. Not only is it a weird realm of what’s real and what’s fake, but it provided an amazing concept and some great lessons. I enjoyed the Native American stories, I thought that the book was very informative and inspiring, something that you will never read again.

The diction in this book is unreal. Seriously though, almost every line contains some deep quote that flows like a song. It almost sounded like a long poem, because every line had a deep meaning and meant something. There was no room for dull lines.

I really wanted to love this book, I really did. However I think that the overall concept of this book was extremely confusing to me and left me reading over and over to try and understand what the hell was going on. I thought that the concept, while unique, was way too confusing for my cup of tea. I needed some breathing room.

There were too many long rants in this book. It seemed more like a psychology textbook, because of the many long drawn out paragraphs containing philosophy, world issues, and many other things. I didn’t find that these many themes flowed with the overall plot.

I thought that the character of Natalie could have been written better. I don’t know what it was, I just wanted something MORE from her, besides when she was connecting with grandmother, I found her pretty dull and like a typical contemporary character.

Overall, this book was not particularly my cup of tea. I really appreciated the quotes and the meaning, but this book confused me to no end and I couldn’t thoroughly get into it. 

Have you read The Love that Split the World? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Happily Ever After (The Selection Series Novella's) by: Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopia, Romance
Published: October 13, 2015 by: HarperTeen
Pages: 416
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

We've heard America's story. Now the kingdom of Illea is back with 4 new stories from beloved character's point's of view's. We have The Prince: Maxon's point of view on his Selection, The Guard: The life of  Aspen when he becomes a palace guard, The Favourite: Marlee's life on hiding her secret love from the other ladies, and The Queen: Amberley's Selection and how she won over the king's heart.

The Prince: 5/5 stars

This was by far, my favourite novella of the series. Maxon was always one of my favourite characters; he was charismatic but still kind and caring to the ladies. I loved how he was unbiased throughout the novella, and it didn't feel like he was in love with America from the very beginning. The novella was so adorable, and Maxon is hilariously cute.

The Guard: 3/5 stars

On the opposite side of things, this was my least favourite. I, like most people, never really felt connected to Aspen. I thought that he was just a waste of space, there was no rhyme or reason to him being there. I didn't really care about his point of view because I don't think that it added anything to the plot whatsoever. That being said, it was an easy read.

The Favourite: 5/5 stars

I loved Marlee since the beginning, so reading about her was a blast! I loved the plot twist that she added to the story, and I really fought for her love. Marlee was one of those cool characters who just does what she wants to do, and I admire her for that. She's incredible.

The Queen: 4/5 stars

This novella was ok, but it didn't strike at me like the other ones. I don't really care for Maxon's parent's, and the king annoys me to no end. I really like Amberley, and I thought that her POV was interesting, but I hated her love interest and didn't really feel the chemistry between them.

Overall Thoughts:

I did enjoy the novella's. They're great pick me ups if you're stuck waiting patiently for The Crown, and the book was a very easy read. However I don't think that The Guard and The Queen were as strong.

Have you read Happily Ever After? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Just One Day by: Gayle Forman

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance 

Published: August 20, 2013 by: Speak

Pages: 369

Rating: 2/5 stars
*highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

Just One Day was the romantic and adventurous story about a girl named Allyson, who is a high-school graduate gone on a trip to Italy. There, she meets Willem, a dutch actor who convinces her to go to Paris with him for just one day until she leaves. She accepts, and the two go on the adventure of a lifetime. But just like fate brought them together, fate also splits them apart which leads Allison to wonder if they really had something special, or not.

One word to describe this book would be: underwhelming. I just couldn’t connect with the characters, the plot was boring and pretty much everything annoyed me. It’s a shame because it’s from an author who I really love. 

The only thing that I pretty much liked about this book, is the writing in general. The plays of Shakespeare play an important role in the book, so I liked how Forman incorporated a lot of quotes from those plays. However besides the quotes, the plot was uninteresting.

I thought that the plot to this book was so uneventful. Nothing really developed besides at the end of the book, and I just thought that the book dragged on forever. The climax was practically non-existent, and everything was just so slow.

I also hated the characters of this book. Allyson was typical cliché romance girl: ditzy, girly and geeky, until a bad boy sweeps her off her feet and teaches her to live more. I just have one burning question: why on earth would you go to a strange city with a man you just met, supposedly "fall in love" with him, and then get all surprised when you guys are torn apart? I completely saw it coming, and Allyson was so stupid to have actually thought that she will be forever with a man she just met. Who are you, Anna from Frozen?!

Willem was so stereotypical. Bad boy, charming, goes after the good girl. While he may have loved Allyson was well, I found him to be so ditzy as well, and I feel like they weren’t even right for each other. It just seemed wrong.

Overall, a cliché romance novel which was not realistic one bit. It’s a shame, because I love Gayle Forman’s other book, but this book felt like it was from a completely different author. Not what I expected at all.

Have you read Just One Day? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Heir (The Selection #4) by: Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Dystopia
Published: May 5 2015 by: Harper Teen
Pages: 352
Rating: 3/5 stars
*highlight white text to reveal major spoilers*

Princess Eadlyn is tired of hearing over and over how her parents; King Maxon and Queen America had a fairy-tale happily ever after. She has no intention of getting married. However, when her parents beg her to enter a selection to bring joy to a nation still in uprising, she reluctantly agrees for the sake of the nation that will soon be hers to rule. Along the way, she encounters a surprise selected, and the unbearable task of choosing a husband when all she really wants to be is independent.

 Let me start off by saying that no one in this world is more annoying than Eadlyn Schreave. I wanted to enjoy this book so bad because I loved the trilogy, but Eadlyn left me with such a bad perception of her.

For starters, she was the biggest brat. Eadlyn does what Eadlyn wants to do, and everyone has to cater to her every need. She worked her poor maid like she was Cinderella, and constantly hurled insults at her. Seriously, this girl has no filter. She went on and on how no one in the world is more powerful than her, when in reality her own father was because he was the actual king. She doesn't seem to really care about the important duties she'll have and worries more about pushing around poor Marlee's kids. Marlee was one of my favourite characters in the series and her children didn't know any better. Eadlyn was just plain rude.

On the plus side, I did love the character of Kile. He was patient and kind with Eadlyn and the rest of the palace members, and I am rooting for him. It is upsetting though that Eadlyn won't give him or any other of the selected the time of day. She prefers to just yell at them when they try to get to know her.

Off the topic of Eadlyn now, (I just needed to get that off my chest), I actually did think that this book was somewhat interesting. I enjoyed reading about the selected boys, and they all seemed very nice and thoughtful. I am curious to see who Eadlyn ends up with.

Overall, this book was kind of a let down because of Eadlyn having no time for anyone. I did like reading about her and Kile's development, but there honestly wasn't enough chemistry with anyone else in this book to make it more interesting. I loved all of the other characters, (especially Ahren) and I am looking forward to reading about them more. I understand that Kiera Cass created Eadlyn to be sort of a contrasting character to what America was, but I will always compare the two. I just felt like there should have been more chemistry.

I apologise if this review sounded more like a rant, but Eadlyn just caused me so much stress that I needed to spill out. I wonder how this selection will play out.

Have you read The Heir? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by: John Green and David Levithan

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Published: April 6, 2010 by: Dutton Books
Pages: 310
Rating 3/5 Stars
*highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is the hilarious story of high school student Will Grayson, and his journey to find out who he really wants to be. Will lives in the shadow of his only friend: the amazingly confident Tiny Cooper. When Tiny casts Will as one of the main characters in the school musical, Will begins to think that it's the end of the world. Until by a chance of fate, he meets another boy downtown who just so happens to be named: Will Grayson. Together, the pair try to help each other through their paths of self-discovery, and end up creating the best school musical ever.

I absolutely love both Green's and Levithan's writing. They both brought great things to the table, however I do think that the book could have been executed better.

What I really liked about this book, is that is was incredibly unique. I haven't read anything like this before. The concept was so original, and the plot was very interesting. There was nothing predictable about it. I also loved how diverse the characters were. In most romance books, there is a focus on a straight couple. However this book's focus, was on a gay couple. If there's one thing that annoys me about books with couples, it's that they are mostly not diverse. I loved this change, and I can honestly say that Will and Tiny are now one of my favourite OTP's. 

I really liked the character development in the story. Self-discovery plays an important role in the book, and it was amazing to see the characters change. All of the characters were so incredible, and not one person annoyed me in this book.

There were some negatives to this book :( . For starters, it was extremely hard to follow. There were two people with the same name, and no direction as to which Will was speaking. The book was told from the alternating Will's, but it was so hard to find out which Will's POV it was.

I also feel like there were some parts to the book that were not needed. One idea would come along that would mean nothing in the next chapter. Some parts payed no attention to the overall plot and in my opinion, didn't have a reason to be in there.

Overall, this book was so humorous, and a great pick-me-up. I do wish there was more direction though :( . That is why it got a 3/5 rating.

Have you read Will Grayson? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Isla and The Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3) by: Stephanie Perkins

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance 

Published: August 14, 2014 by: Dutton

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 stars
*highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

Isla and The Happily Ever After is the final instalment in Stephanie Perkin’s trio of love stories. This time, we follow Isla, a senior of the School of America in Paris, who is dealing with her crush on artist Josh. The two experience ups and downs, as Isla tries to get a grip on Josh’s glamorous world.

I’m not going to lie; it took me a while to get through this book. Once I got into it, I did enjoy it; however it started off really slow. I do think that it was a great final to the series though.

To the positives first, Isla was my favourite girl of the three books. She was a bit shy and quirky, and she had a great heart. She was also very smart and responsible. My issue with romance novels is that sometimes the girls can be too ditzy and dependent, but I did not find that with Isla. Josh was also my favourite guy of the books. He was so incredibly cute and such a gentlemen. Isla and Josh were by far, my favourite couple.

 I loved the little details in the book. Perkins brought back all of the other couples at the end of the book, and it was nice to see all of them back together again. In the middle of the book, she even referenced that Calliope Bell was now an Olympic skater, which I found to be so clever. Overall, I loved how she incorporated the other books into the story.

One thing that I did not like about this book is that it was a bit cliché. Not only with Josh and Isla, but with the other couples. St. Clair and Anna end up getting engaged, which I found to be more cheesy than cute. It was just so expected that he would propose once the gang was all together. With Isla and Josh, I found their story to be a bit predictable. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, they have fallout, they get back together. While there were a few plot twists to keep things interesting, the main theme fell flat.

Like I said before, while the middle picked up in action, the beginning was quite slow. It almost turned me off of the book. I understand that it was supposed to be rising action, but it took a while for me to get into it.

Overall, this book was okay. Josh and Isla were my personal favourite couple, and I enjoyed reading about them; however I found things to be very cookie-cutter. This is an issue that I found with all three books. That is why Isla  got a 3/5 star rating.

Have you read this series? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The One (The Selection #3) by: Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopia, Romance
Published: May 6, 2014 by: HarperTeen
Pages: 323
Rating: 5/5

*MAJOR SPOILERS AND FANGIRLISH FEELS AHEAD*

The One was an amazing conclusion to America Singer's journey to win Prince Maxon's heart. Now with only 4 girls remaining, the stakes are higher than ever as the threat of war gains. Loyalties are tested, and America must make one final decision: stay with the life she's always known, or with a life she thought she'd never know.

THAT ENDING THOUGH! As I mentioned above, there are going to be many spoilers in this review, so please read with caution. But anyways, I LOVED THIS  BOOK! I have been pretty intrigued by The Selection series throughout, so it was a no-brainer that I had to get this book as soon as possible. I have to say that it did not disappoint.

This book was fast-paced, enlightening and even shocking at some points. First of all, I loved America in this book even more than the others. She was incredibly powerful in The One, and she showed a beautiful personality. With everything that she went through with her father, she kept staying strong. She was a fighter. I especially had more of an appreciation for Aspen in The One. He was so thoughtful and understanding, and helped America through hard times. They had a special bond that could never be forgotten.

Then there's gorgeous, charming, did I mention gorgeous? Prince Maxon! Even though there is not an official visual representation of him, I can imagine him in my head to be just a little ball of sunshine and cuteness. The ending with his parents was sad, I felt immense shock for him, but he got through it with the love and support of America.

The plot was so balanced and interesting. I was kept interested throughout the whole book, and there were no parts that I found to be slow. I especially loved the ending. Even though a lot of people died (I even felt sad for Celeste) America was still able to find true love and not ruin the past. The fact that Aspen gave her away hits me right in the heart! I loved Marlee being re-introduced to the series, and I loved how humble America kept herself.

Overall, this series was amazing. I cannot wait to read The Heir, about America's daughter holding her own selection. I'll love hearing more about the new king and queen. An easy 5/5 stars. Now excuse while I re-read the last chapter again while sobbing profusely.

Have you read The One? What'd you think?

P.S. I tried to do the "highlight to read" thing to hide the spoilers, but I just couldn't figure it out. If someone in the comments could please tell me how to do it for future, I would be eternally greatful. I'm not very tech-savvy. Thank you!

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Geography of You and Me by: Jennifer E. Smith

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance
Published: April 15, 2014 by: Poppy
Pages: 337
Rating: 2/5 Stars

The Geography of You and Me is another installment of Jennifer E. Smith's romance novels. This book follows Lucy and Owen, both teens in New York City who meet in a jammed elevator during a power outage. The two form  a bond, and even after the power is restored, they remain friends. Until, Lucy is whisked off to Scotland for her dad's job. The two are torn apart, that is until fate brings them back together once more.

I really had high expectations for this book. Smith's other book: The Statistical Probability of Love At First sight was quite good, so I really had high hopes. I was very let down.

On the positive side, the book had great characterisation. I loved that Lucy was a strong-willed female, and not at all like the ditzy females in other romance books. Owen was extremely charming, and I really fell in love with his character. They were a unique couple, and did not cause any problems.

I also liked that the book was very realistic. There were no cheesy quotes, love triangles and Lucy and Owen's relationship was not perfect. Long-distance relationships are a reality that many face, so I really liked how Smith kept with a simple theme, and did not write about everything being completely positive between the characters.

To the negative side, this book was very predictable. The plot was very simple, no twists and turns and nothing really interesting to follow. I found myself practically reciting the entire book back to myself before even reading the whole thing. I just found that it was very safe. The characters were unique, but the plot was not at all.

I also was very confused by the book. Everything moved very quickly, and some important details were lost. I needed more detail to the book.  I thought that it was quite literally short and sweet, but I wish it wasn't that way. The plot needed way more excitement.

Overall, I rated this book 2/5 stars for the disappointment. I applaud Smith for creating some amazing characters, as she always does, but I was very underwhelmed when it came to the plot. It was just your average romance plot.

Have you read any of Jennifer E. Smith's romance books? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess