The Library of Beth

  Ali, Ali, Ali... These books are just *chefs kiss*.  I am lost for words as to what to actually write I think.  Let's start with, this is my favourite Ali novel so far. I think it was the most interesting and exciting book in the STEMinist set.  We meet Elsie who is trying to get tenure at a university so she can stop being an adjunct which barely pays her bills. She is put through her paces in an long interview process with Jack Smith, who she knows from other 'work projects' of hers. Jack seems unapproving but slowly their relationship develops.  I can't say much more without giving away what happens in the rest of the book but it is so good. Ali's writing just keeps me absolutely gripped. I read this in 2 days flat, probably could have done it in a day if I had the time. They are just written so brilliantly.  You are probably a bit bored of listening to me rave about Ali so let's just say this is 5⭐ and crack on with some more. 

  Butcher & Blackbird is the first twisted novel of the ruinous love trilogy. It follows Sloane, otherwise known as Blackbird or The Orb Weaver, as she goes along killing other serial killers to get them off the streets. However, she leaves them a little blind. Sloane meets Rowan, otherwise known as Butcher, in an unusual circumstance and they start playing games with each other.  The book gets quite intense with both of the main characters being serial killers themselves with some insane murder scenes but also some cosy scenes in between. It's the kind of book to give you whiplash between loving and hating the characters.  The book is very graphic, VERY. In more sense than one. Firstly, the murder scenes are described in disturbing detail for what is essentially a romance book. It is proper dark romance. It also ruined a few things for me - the main one being Orzo pasta (iykyk). Secondly, the spicy chapters go beyond spicy. They are HOT and also get a little crazy. T...

  I went into Godkiller off the fact Gavin from 'Gavin Reads It All' said people told him that it was a 'banging' prologue chapter. I was excited by this and as such cracked on with it.  I was not disappointed. My god it was so good. The prologue was fantastic, I fully reeled me in and made me question what happened in the rest of the book.  We meet Kissen at the very beginning of the book in the prologue which gives her background and then the rest of the book is in the current day. We follow as Kissen attempts to help Inara. They end up meeting Elogast, one of the King's retired knights. We follow them on their journey to the forbidden city, as this is where they hope they can resolve their issues.  Instead of helping themselves however, they end up uncovering some hard hitting truths that allow perfectly to lead onto the next book, Sunbringer. Godkiller is very much a world and character building book as the first in the triology and ends on a cliff hanger which ...

  I am not really a fan of YA as an adult but this didn't feel super YA. The book was laid out really well and I enjoyed the mixed media presented within the book. The book follows Pip as she writes her EPQ paper at A Level about the alleged murder of Andie Bell by Sal Singh.  She was given a warning not to go too far but we all know that means she went too far. She gathered so much information from a range of sources to help discover what really happened the night Andie disappeared.  The novel meticulously follows Pip as she interviews sources, asks for police reports and discusses the case with Sal Singh's brother, Ravi. They become a formidable team in figuring out what really happened, unveiling a timeline it seems the police didn't even bother looking for.  I could not put this book down. I read it in like 3 days because I constantly wanted to know what Pip found out next. I also had a little bit of jealously that she put this much effort into EPQ when I put in ...

Collide is the debut novel from Bal Khabra. It is both icy and spicy which is what I like.  I enjoyed the fact that Summer is working on a post-grad because we love a smart gal. Her hatred for ice hockey is also well deserved but I enjoyed watching her romance is Aiden bloom. Aiden is very good at what he does in more ways than one and I appreciate his devotion to his team - even if they are troublemakers.  The book is forced proximity which is always a great trope and leans into the enemies to lovers pretty well too. It takes a long time for Summer to come round to the idea of her and Aiden working together and when she does it doesn't really take long for them to fall for each other, even if they fight it at first.  It is a super romantic book with Aiden always taking the wrap to protect those he values most of all which is a lovely characteristic. I love how Summer comes through to help him in the final couple of chapters too.  Annoyingly, this is quite a difficul...

  Everyone has absolutely raved about this book and I was recommended it by my Aunty. I wasn't really a fan.  It read well with short chapters and I did like how the perspective changed in different parts of the book. HOWEVER, I could tell what was going to happen from like the minute we met the 'bad' character. I found the book really predictable and also over repetitive.  If we're truly honest with ourselves, the book could have been about half the length it was and it already wasn't a super long book. I got bored half way through part two and ended up skim reading the rest.  The only positive I have is that the writing was concise and the last chapter lined up for the next book very well. The next book however, I will not be ready.  3⭐