SKIP THESE: BOOKS THAT MADE US SAD
There are books out there we were so hyped to read, we couldn’t contain ourselves. Some of them sat on the TBR for months. Others were raves in the romance community. Even more were long-awaited sequels from previous hits or the next in a series. And when your hopes are that high, the fall hurts even more. Not everything is a winner.
Here are some that took us by surprise…in a bad way.
BEWARE: SPOILERS.
OVER-HYPED BY THE COMMUNITY
(1.5/5) The Butcher by Penelope Sky
"I felt my body burn so hot I was about to shed my skin like a snake.” Ew. It’s prose like this throughout the entire book that earned it the pittance of recognition it received.
(2.0/5) Daughter of No Worlds by Charissa Broadbent
It was just boring. So many recommendations in the subreddits and reviews, but the plot was stuck in quicksand.
(2.5/5) Bound to the Battle God by Ruby Dixon
The word “imperious” shows up 21 times in this book. If you listen to the audiobook like I did, you’ll note each time with an eye roll.
(2.75/5) A Substitute Wife for the Prize Fighter by Alice Coldbreath
Actually, it started with promise. A lying priest and a marriage of convenience? Alright, I’m in. But then…they joined the circus.
(2.75/5) Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
This book is…’horseshit’ is mean, so I’ll just say it’s the bad kind of uncomfortable. It received a generous score because the decades-old mystery is actually pretty interesting.
(2.75/5) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Started promising. An unknown FMC is stuck in a prison, befriended by a fellow prisoner in this dystopian tale. But suddenly every coincidence that was possible occurred. And then they dressed her up like Wonder Woman, lasso included.
(3.0/5) Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields
SHE LOST HER VIRGINITY IN A DIRTY SHED. Truthfully, the pieces are all interesting. Betrayal, mystery, strange bird bones in pockets. But when you put it together, it’s odd.
(3.0/5) Limerence by H.C. Dolores
Come. On. This just doesn’t happen AT A HIGH SCHOOL. And let’s say it does. There’s no way he lets her get on that plane.
(3.25/5) Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson
The first 100 pages were a farm simulator. The sheep had more movement than the plot. It was hard to continue. And we were just coming off of “The Fake Mate” so our expectations were through the roof.
BELOVED AUTHORS WHO MISSED THE MARK
(3.25/5) Painted Scars by Neva Altaj
When I say this book devastated me, it’s an understatement. My rating of Neva Altaj books before this averaged 4.0. Wonderful characters. Unlikely pairings that just worked. I went back and read Painted Scars because I had read all of her books out of order. I’m glad I had read Fractured Souls (4.25/5) and Broken Whispers (4.0/5) before or I would have stopped the series.
(3.25/5) The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
It was…alright? The suffering felt so unnecessary. And we learned nothing about Kristin’s life before to set up the angst.
(3.25/5) Coach Sully by Sloane St. James
Let me say: I LOVE Sloane St. James. I’ve read everything she’s written. I counted down the days to this release. Truthfully a Daddy kink + a milk kink = I’m having a bad time. This book might work for others.
(2.0/5) He Loves Me Not by C.M. Nascosta
So many wonderful tales before this one. Morning Glory Milking Farm (4.0/5) was an unexpected delight. To Ravish a Rogue (3.75/5) was a fun high seas adventure. He Loves Me Not was like the bottle episode of Cambric Creek that no one asked for.
(2.5/5) Twisted Lies by Ana Huang
Ana Huang, I adore you. I will read anything you publish. This book was a letdown for the ages. An unsuccessful social media manager revered by a BILLIONAIRE SECURITY TYCOON? He’s so obsessed with this mediocre FMC that he does anything to connect her to the right people. The requirement to suspend belief was too high. And it wasn’t written with the same rigor as Twisted Love (5.0/5), Twisted Games (5.0/5), and Twisted Hate (4.75/5).