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⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

See Full Review Below

I came into this book blind, as I typically do, but being on Booktok had shown me a range of reviews. This particular novel has such a hype across social media, and that is originally why I added it to my TBR. As time went on though, I saw the full diverse opinion on this book, and I became worried that it wouldn’t be worth the hype. Do I agree with the hype? Partially, but there’s more to it than that.

Our FMC has a strong back plot. With a father’s love and also his death, she turned to pickpocketing to make the best of her world. She made a friend she could confide in, including her secret of being an Ordinary. I adored her best friend, Adena, and I quickly became attached to her. These two girls buried themselves into my heart rather quickly.

Our MMC came off as a prick right from the bat, but after a few chapters of his POV, we quickly learn that this badass has a soft side. Having Kai with a soft spot in his heart made him more lovable for the story. I expected him to be heartless and cruel.

However, this book gave me Hunger Games and Divergent vibes. While it doesn’t completely give the “you must fight and kill to survive” as The Hunger Games does, the Trials were similar in the way of coming out on top. There will be bloodshed, but it’s more of an option throughout most of the Trials. Plus, with our FMC almost dying, it reminded me of Peeta’s injury in the Hunger Games as well. Don’t even get me started on her dress choices too.

The main reason I didn’t give this book a closer to perfect score is there was almost too much focus on the banter between our main characters. We didn’t see them develop much or get much of the trials, but we got plenty of listening to them bickering. While I didn’t count the pages, I would place money on saying that about 40% of the book is just them going back and forth at one another. Yes, it’s cute, and I do enjoy the idea of the characters wanting to go at each other’s throats, but give me more details on what’s going on around us, please!

Overall -

I loved the idea of this book and the characters within. I do think it has potential to get better, but I was not finding myself dying to read more as I went on. I only developed an urge to move forward with it around 70% through. I do hope the second one is better.

Would I recommend? Maybe. Depends on if you enjoy a lot of dialogue.

Would I reread? Maybe. This will be more determined by the outcome of the next few books.

[anxious-nooodle-reads]

it's actually okay to not read for a while. it's okay to only read one or two books a month. it's okay to not have a yearly reading goal. it's okay to read books that aren't all over the internet. it's okay to get books from the library or kindle and not buy a copy after.

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“And in that moment, I realized that I’d wanted to say it—wanted her to hear it from my lips. Realized that if she died, I would never again get to look into those blue eyes and utter those two syllables that have been a constant in my mind.

So I said her name, again and again. I finally let myself do it. Let that last piece of attachment to her lock into place. Just saying her name felt intimate, personal, somehow.

And now I forever want her name on my lips and rolling off my tongue until I’m drunk on the taste and sound of it.“

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily is a talented writer. She doesn’t reuse the same phrases, use boring terms, and she even uses a ton of pop culture references throughout the book. Overall, her writing style is a good portion of why I continued reading this book.

The FMC did not vibe with me super well. While her constant needs to appease her clients and the lack of awareness to her surroundings was almost scary familiar to me, something about Nora wasn’t quite what I craved from this book.

Our MMF was a bit better, but I felt that he was pretty bland. I was desiring more from his backstory, more of his personality. He had so much more room to grow than what he was given.

The book itself was wildly predictable. The FMC had a troubling, sensitive past that made her a bit more attentive to others than herself, and shocker, she starts to overcome this by the end of the story. The plot regarding her sister at the end was the only thing I didn’t truly see coming, but it wasn’t a jaw dropping realization when it was revealed.

The best way I could describe my feelings about this read would be:

It was a cute, quick read, but I would not reread or go out of my way to recommend others to read it.

[anxious-nooodle-reads]

“This place looks like a Cracker Barrel had a baby with a honky-tonk, and now that baby is a teenager who doesn’t shower enough and shoes on his sweatshirt sleeves.”

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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The want to read is strong, but the need for money is more important. Working every day is exhausting.

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A look into my anticipated reads of 2025:

Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

The Empyrean Trilogy by Rebecca Yarros

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Water for Elephants by David LeDoux

Magnolia Parks Series by Jessa Hastings

The Shepard King Duo by Rachel Gillig

When the Moon Hatched by Sara A Parker

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

The Match by Sara Adams

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V E Schwab

Kings of Sin Series by Ana Huang

Dreamland Billionaires by Lauren Asher

Flowers to Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes

Thorne of Glass Series by Sarah J Maas

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

The Four Horsemen Series by Laura Thalassa

These are in no particular order.

Please note that these are books I want to read, some of which I’m rereading, so not all of them are new releases.

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Harry Potter Box Set

Sirius Black Edition

Source: FlareBindery on Etsy

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“A little off, a little too slow or fast, a little too early or late, and everything would be different. Life is timing, and timing is luck.”

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

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The Twisted Series by Ana Huang

A four part, interconnected standalone series that swept me up and carried me away to unrealistic expectations in men.

*Please note that the photo is in the order of my most favorite to least favorite*

Alex - While he was a mystery for the longest time, I knew we would deep dive into his character and past, his pensive ways were just too….cold for me. He built his life on vengeance for his family, rightfully so, and he almost gave up part of that legacy for a woman. A lifelong journey disrupted by Ava seemed like a stretch. However, Alex had more layers to him and a softer side for her by the end that I became quickly obsessed with throughout the novel.

Rhys - I can’t even begin how much I love this man. He comes from a jagged past, of which I do wish we had more of, and it made his edges rough. While it’s no shock that Bridget made her way past that exterior and brought out a lighter, happier man. Rhys deserved so much more than he was given before Bridget and the kingdom, but he got a happy ending, which brought me much joy. Also, the throne scene? Oh, my god.

Josh - Josh…I don’t have a lot to go on with our Chinese man. He doesn’t have the heavy background as the others did. Yes, his father wronged their family in so many way. Yes, he grew up taking care of a traumatized sister. He did not get to focus on himself in some moments, but he was the golden child of the two. I saw him as an innocent boy for the first two books. Due to the nature of Ana’s writing, I knew I was in for some spicy 🌶️ filled scenes, but she delivered them in a way I was not expecting from Josh. Plus, the aggravation during the “I lied” scene? I audibly gasped at two in the morning!

Christian - Ah, my favorite of our men. Something about the extra level of possessiveness that the other men didn’t have made him my favorite. I had a feeling the ring was from an ex, not Stella though. That part made my jaw drop! He had some excellent developments throughout the novel, but I do not see him giving up his…want to bring horrible people down a peg or ten even with Stella by his side.

Overall, this series had a few small notes (repetition of phrases throughout all the novels as one) that made this a 4.75 stars out of 5 for me. I feel some parts could’ve thrived from a slightly different narrative, or even a longer past of some of our men.

Would I recommend? Absolutely!

Would I read again? Yes, it will be a while though as my TBR is so long!

Spice level? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

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I’m sad about the TikTok ban.

While I didn’t gain a large following while I used the app, I put a lot of love into my videos. I wanted to bring my thoughts to the platform as far as the books I read, and what I was wanting to read.

I’m attempting to branch out. I’m here, making a blog. I’ve made a YouTube, BlueSky, X, and Instagram to try to build myself up and keep making content.

Plus, having these outlets for sharing my thoughts will bring in more book recommendations my way from others. 🤪

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“Christian.”

He turned to look back at me.

“Don’t give him any pieces of your soul,” I said softly.

Julian made his bed, and it was time to lie in it. But Christian… I didn’t want him doing anything that would haunt him, especially if it was for me.

Especially if it would break any part of him.

“One of my favorite things about you,” he said his voice like the darkest of velvets, “is that you think I have any pieces left.”

-Twisted Lies by Ana Huang

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What do you like to see from a book blog?

Purely aesthetics? Reviews? TBR updates?

I’m eager to jump in head on!

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Trying to decide what book to read next feels like a nightmare. Wake me up when it’s figured out.

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I’m going to try to start a YouTube book channel, and my first recording is an HOUR. How did I doddle on about books for that long? It’s going to be edited down, but holy moly!

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Life's not fair, i should be paid for existing and reading books

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Patiently trying to figure out how I want to set up my space for my new Book YouTube.

However, I did attempt to record tonight to develop a migraine and had to stop.