This is a series of posts where I go through the Goodreads list of Booktok books and give quick overview what I liked and disliked and why.
I am just covering the second lot of 10 books in the list in this post, you can read part 1 here, and I’ll edit this to link the later parts once they’re up!
The rating I’m adding is purely subjective, my preferences generally tend to be that I’ll read pretty much anything but I like romance and fantasy the most, I like spice when it’s right for the book, I love well-written trash and I’m not stuck up about what’s consider ‘good’ literature.
Use the links below to skip to the book you are interested in.
- 11. Shatter Me- Tahereh Mafi – 5/10
- 12. People we meet on vacation – Emily Henry -7/10
- 13. The Spanish Love Deception – Elena Armas – 5/10
- 14. Twisted Love – Ana Huang – 6/10
- 15. Caraval – Stephanie Garber – 8/10
- 16. Throne of Glass – Sarah J Maas – 8/10
- 17. Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo- 8/10
- 18. Book Lovers – Emily Henry – 7/10
- 19. The Unhoneymooners – Christina Lauren – 8/10
- 20. Kingdom of the Wicked – Kerri Maniscalo – 7/10
11. Shatter Me- Tahereh Mafi – 5/10
I enjoyed this series when I read it but there’s no denying it’s very much of it’s time (2010’s era of books). The first book especially was tough to get through because parts are written as the MC’s diary but, where her mental state is a bit wonky, the diary is crossed out and repetitive. I think the world-building is interesting but is again, very of that era, dystopian government doing un-ethical things. The love stories in it are good, I like the side characters, although they do fall into stereotypes unfortunately.
Read my original review of the whole series back when I first read it.
12. People we meet on vacation – Emily Henry -7/10
(The British title is: You and Me on Vacation)
I love Emily Henry, so I’m pre-disposed to like anything of hers but the concept of this book is a little different to her other books: this is two friends whose friendship deteriorated, going on one last vacation together to see if they can repair what happened. The story flashes between the present and the past, where you gradually creep towards the moment that caused their big falling out (which of course in the present day, they are not discussing like bloody adults). I don’t always enjoy that style of storytelling or the miscommunication trope in general but I genuinely did enjoy this book and how their relationship changes over the journey.
Read my full review here.
13. The Spanish Love Deception – Elena Armas – 5/10
This story follows work enemies, Catalina and Aaron. Catalina is about to attend the wedding of her ex and she’s told everyone she’ll be joining with her American boyfriend whose she’s very much in love with, so there’s no reason to pity her. Except there’s no guy. When her work enemy Aaron overhears her bemoaning this fact to her friend at work, he uncharacteristically offers to be her date. Without any other option, she begrudgingly takes him up on it.
Look- I know people love this one but it just didn’t do it for me, the concept is ridiculous, it relies too heavily on the miscommunication trope and the MC being, frankly, a moron who can’t pick up on any social clues. Maybe it’s because I don’t always love fake dating or miscommunication as a story telling method and it’s my fault for dooming it from the start but I just didn’t think it deserved the hype.
Read my original review here
14. Twisted Love – Ana Huang – 6/10
When her brother goes abroad for an extended period he asks his code as ice friend Alex to watch over his baby sister. They have a difficult past but despite this Ava is all sunshine, putting her at complete odds with the tightly controlled Alex. When her ex turns stalker, she is surprised at the length Alex will go to protect her and begins a game to try and crack his icy exterior, except it starts to work a little too well. Alex has his own past and ulterior motives and will the sunshine girl get stuck in the cross fire?
This series is what it is- the male MC’s are often walking red flags, their back stories are ridiculous and the events are wild but they are an enjoyable read if you’re willing to let your brain take a back seat!
My favourite was the third book Twisted Hate to be honest but you can read my full review of the whole series here.
15. Caraval – Stephanie Garber – 8/10
Nothing in Caraval is real, except when it is. Two sisters see getting invited to Caraval as a way out of the life they are trapped in but is it? And are there bigger forces at play?
This book is slow burn romance and really vivid imagery and world building. I would describe it as very slow paced and definitely more for people who enjoy books like The Starless Sea. At the time of initially reading I would I didn’t quite get into it like I have other series but looking back now, I can see how clever it was and how intricate the world of Caraval is.
Read my full review here
16. Throne of Glass – Sarah J Maas – 8/10
Now, I know that neither Sarah J Maas nor her writing style is perfect. But this series had a death grip on me like no other had in years, the books are long and this series is a real commitment but I really did genuinely enjoy it and if you’re a fantasy lover, they will be worth the effort. The writing in this is leagues above ACOTAR and the world is not a hard to understand as Crescent City.
Read my full review here or check out my review of all 3 series’ in comparison here.
17. Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo- 8/10
I love Leigh Bardugo and the world these books are set in! Six of Crows is my favourite by miles and this series is a bit more of that 2010’s style era but if you want incredibly rich world building, a very well thought out and unique magic system and good characters, this is a good series to read.
Read my compilation of all the Leigh Bardugo books I’ve read here.
18. Book Lovers – Emily Henry – 7/10
This book is enemies to lovers, where the female MC is the opposite of every romance book heroin; she is career driven, doesn’t want kids and loves the big city life. When she takes a vacation with her little sister to an idyllic countryside town, it’s the kind of place where she’s supposed to fall for the small town guy and give up her ‘ice queen’ ways. Except instead she runs into her professional enemy, who is also the opposite of the small town boy she supposed to fall for.
I liked this book, I like how she doesn’t end up going back on who she is and ending up bare foot and pregnant in a small town, I like the he accepts wholly as she is. I like the journey all the characters go on.
Read my full review here
19. The Unhoneymooners – Christina Lauren – 8/10
I really enjoyed this book, it’s probably one of my favourite romance books I’ve read in the last couple years! Yes, the concept is ridiculous: the characters go on a honey moon together in place of their siblings even though they are ‘enemies’ but somehow the writing is good enough to pull it off. It makes you nostalgic for vacations, the flirt banter is great and the romance develops in a very believable way!
Read my full review here – I’ve since read a few more books by this author and none have been a miss so far.
20. Kingdom of the Wicked – Kerri Maniscalo – 7/10
The ending of this series is fucking mental? The journey from where we start to where end is crazy. The concept at the start is, after her witch sister is brutally murdered, the MC summons a demon, who just so happens to be on of the seven deadly sins: wrath. She binds her to him to help find who is killing witches. Except from there we go to the demon realm, there’s a bigger conspiracy inside a bigger conspiracy, the sisters aren’t who they think they are etc etc. Honestly it’s one I’d love to re-read and see if I can see how the pieces fit together earlier.
Read my original review here.
Part 3 will be coming your way soon!
Antonia Bernardin 
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