Catch Up with Me | Reading ARC's for a Week | 1-5 Star Books?

Sibylline by Melissa De La Cruz

𝕾𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖋𝖑𝖞...

𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒢. 𝒫. 𝒫𝓊𝓉𝓃𝒶𝓂'𝓈 𝒮𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝒸

If a penguin tripped and fell into a pile of seal poop, it would be better than this book. (No, I am not sure why I chose seal poop lol), If I were trapped in an airport on Christmas Eve with no internet, and I could pick between reading Sibylline or watching the dark snow fall in piles.

I would pick the snow.

⭐⭐stars

𝕬 𝖕𝖚𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖒𝖞 𝖔𝖜𝖓 𝖈𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓.

To me, the world felt very reminiscent of Harry Potter, from the school to the season it is set in, the way the spires cut into the sky, and the way the school taught. I did find it interesting that we were following three characters as they were rejected from the world's biggest magical college. Sibylline, and their grand plan is to find work in college so they can still learn magic by sneaking into classes.

Right away, they said the jobs they wanted, and it skipped over all the plot and emotion of getting them. And they got the exact jobs they said they would, which didn't feel very realistic.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖔𝖇𝖇𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙'𝖘 𝖋𝖚𝖑𝖑 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖛𝖎𝖔𝖑𝖎𝖓 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖈𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖔. 𝕭𝖚𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖋𝖑𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖉𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖊 𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖒𝖘, 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖏𝖚𝖗𝖊𝖉 𝖇𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖈.

At first, I was enthralled with this story. I love the pretty prose and beautiful descriptions of the setting that Melissa gives us. However, the way I felt was like I hit an absolute brick wall when we reached Atticus's pov the first few times. let me explain:

🆁🅰🆅🅴🅽

I felt things I do—reading and books, for one. I liked the fact that she came from a slightly more 'comfortable' family. I liked her spunk and the way her character started. She finds her heart torn and put back together. But she is naughty, wanting to get into trouble both sexually and sneaking into a library after hours. We find her a few times, almost or actually 🌶️. If ya know ya know. She has beautiful magic, but an irresistible urge to get in trouble.

𝕾𝖚𝖉𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖑𝖞, 𝕴'𝖒 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖑𝖊𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖈𝖊 𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖐 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙.

🅰🆃🆃🅸🅲🆄🆂

uhhh, I suppose at first I thought he had potential for Raven, I thought, mmm, a well-written mmc, and then... he came out as not straight. SPOILER that he liked our other mmc and he 'craves him' SPOILER END This wasn't necessary, I personally wasn't a fan of it at all. especially the part where he decided he wanted both other MCs. However, I thought his magic was cool, like come on, seeing the aura around people?? cool. His style and the way he dresses? sleek, classic. But he was a brick wall.

𝕻𝖊𝖔𝖕𝖑𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖓'𝖙 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖘; 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖞'𝖗𝖊 𝖘𝖔 𝖉𝖆𝖒𝖓 𝖑𝖔𝖚𝖉.

🅳🅾🆁🅸🅰🅽

Out of my options, this was my second-favorite MC. He wears gloves and can see the past when he touches something. He is cool. I can't lie, he was head over heels for Raven (yes, everyone in this MC group likes another, even if it's M+M). However, despite his original romance with Raven, he SPOILER kisses many times our other MMC SPOILER END I couldn't take it. It drove me crazy, whereas Atticus was a brick wall; he was thick mud.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖗 𝖔𝖋 𝖒𝖞 𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖗𝖙 𝖘𝖚𝖉𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖑𝖘 𝖙𝖔𝖔 𝖙𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖆𝖘 𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖙𝖚𝖉𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖊, 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖆 𝖇𝖚𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖋𝖑𝖞 𝖕𝖎𝖓𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖆 𝖌𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖊. 𝕴 𝖌𝖊𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖘𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖊𝖘𝖙.

My big issue was simply the poly romance. I wasn't expecting it. I didn't want it; the story didn't need it. (This book had such big Harry Potter vibes, so maybe if you like that and poly romance, this is for you.)

Spice: 🌶️🫑

All We Hunger For by Anna Mercier

𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝐻𝑒𝓃𝓇𝓎 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒞𝑜. 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝒸

Powerless meets The Great British Baking Show.

From tarts to custard, magic food and magic related to food??? This was a crazy book to read. It gave me all the tropes I could want and quotes that hit harder than I thought they could. I wish I had read this book in physical because I really need to transfer all my annotations into the book, like what do you mean it has the baddie FMC and 'the who did this to you' trope??

And our girl can cook!

The way food was described made me so hungry. Something I also noticed was how this book, in particular, (for a fantasy), felt realistic. The plot was well thought out, and I very much enjoyed it. It gripped me. And Nic, hehe he was very interesting to read about. Also, the author definitely knows how to win a crowd, because what do you mean this was thrilling and fantasy and food and love and romance and everything you could want.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

The Museum of Modern Love by Mariko Turk

𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝐻𝑒𝓃𝓇𝓎 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝒸

Where do I even start?

I don't normally read romance; most of the time, it is too cheesy and cringeworthy for me. Oftentimes, I find the love stories in YA romance books kinda unrealistic.

I prefer my own perfectly imperfect romance.

I wish I could insert quotes into this review. Still, unfortunately, I can't until the book is out (keep your eyes open for this book, everyone, it is a masterpiece). I was crying by chapter 2, laughing by chapter 3, and all out arguing with the plot the further we got into this book. The plot was, in fact, slightly 'unhinged' and wild. all because a girl wants a boy to fall in love with her.

We do crazy things for the ones we love.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

Like staying in a museum overnight or at least for a long while lol, the FMC made a master plan that follows her grandma's love story in the Met. It is adorable, cute, and funny. This book shows that even the unexpected creates the most beautiful outcomes.

filled with more art information than I have ever read about before (so this book is, in fact, educational lol), jokes, and fun, this book is everything you would want in a romance book. There are deep thoughts and beautiful quotes.

I couldn't recommend this book more. You need to read it.

I do want to leave one last comment. If you are in a romantic relationship, the quotes from this book hit so hard. The quotes, even out of context, hit so, so incredibly hard.

A Wedding at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊

The vibes. Cozy, cute, almost whimsical small town you can't help but fall in love with. Reading this book felt like a cozy hug or a warm blanket on a freezing day.

→ Family drama

→ Cozy book/tea shop (literally such a cool element)

→ Supporting small towns + businesses

→ Loyal golden retriever MMC

→ Quite but strong FMC

⭐⭐⭐

This book wasn't quite for me. I think the biggest reason was that the plot didn't seem to move along at a pace that excited me. Despite the sweet, cozy feelings this book gave me (the setting was spectacular), I just didn't want to pick it up. When I was in the book, I was actively reading it. I enjoyed it. Our FMC's friend group was so much fun to be around; they were funny and full of personality.

Important note: this is the 7th book in the series; I probably would have liked it more if I were aware that it wasn't the first book in the series.

Thank you for reading! Drink coffee and read good books,

Katherine <3