Page Count: January 2019

You can probably tell that my reading slowed down a lot in January! I think this is because I didn’t really love most of what I read last month. My average rating was only 2.8 stars! (Yikes!) I’m really excited about what I’m planning to read in February, though, so fingers crossed that it’ll be a better reading month.

50 pages316 pages304 pages236 pages
★☆☆☆☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★☆☆☆
225 pages464 pages484 pages204 pages
★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★☆☆☆★★★☆☆
370 pages160 pages
★★★★☆★★★★☆

Total pages: 2,813
Total books: 10
Average rating: 2.8 stars

How did January go for you? Did you read as much as you hoped?

29 thoughts on “Page Count: January 2019”

    • Sara @ The Bibliophagist says:
      Reply

      I set My Plain Jane aside for a few days before finally marathoning it last night. It was fine, but I didn’t end up liking it as much as I’d expected. I mostly just found it a little difficult to connect with the characters even when the actual plot kept me interested.

      I would be interested to hear your thoughts when you finish it!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Gerry@TheBookNookUK says:
    Reply

    I also read Tangled Like Us in January and I gave it 1 star. I was just… really not feeling it. I can see you’ve given it 2 stars which means you’re really not feeling it either I guess?! What did/ didn’t work for you?

    I wonder if I was just desperately hoping for a glimpse of Rose and Connor more than anything. Jane is sweet but I didn’t like Thatcher at all and I guess I’m not buying the whole extended pair up with a bodyguard thing.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Sara @ The Bibliophagist says:
      Reply

      Oh my goodness, Gerry, I am very sad that you didn’t like it but I’m so happy that I’m not the only one! I really, really disliked TLU and I have a pretty long review of it going up 2/10. It’s not the worst thing I’ve read (hence the 2 stars and not 1 star) but I was so, so disappointed.

      There were, I think, three main things that didn’t work for me:
      * Like you said, the whole “everybody ending up with their bodyguard” thing. It just doesn’t seem realistic to me for two people who live in the same house to end up in forbidden relationships with their bodyguards. And they’re already setting up a third couple…?
      * I felt like Thatcher was kind of a knockoff Ryke? But not a very good one? Like he just randomly throws expletives in a sentence and it’s basically his only character trait other than being really tall and really masculine… I mean, he even “strongly” drinks water. (WHAT?)
      * I just cringed so much at so many quotes and I didn’t feel like it was up to Krista & Becca’s usual standards. I don’t know if it’s because they’re focusing more on their traditionally published YA books now or if this was just an off book for them, but some of the things these characters said/thought! “Dick starvation” and “I think my heart just came, if hearts could cum” are two of the standout really, really bad lines.

      I totally agree that Jane was fine. I still like her, though not as much as I did earlier in the series. I really don’t know if I want to continue with the Like Us series even though I’ve read everything they’ve ever written! (And I was a little surprised at the lack of Rose and Connor since I felt like Lily and Lo played at least a small role in Moffy and Farrow’s books.)

      What did/didn’t work for you?

      (I think this is the longest comment I’ve ever typed.)

      Liked by 1 person

      • Gerry@TheBookNookUK says:

        Well I love long comments!!

        Where do I start?! (And how the heck did you do bullet points??)

        I liked Jane but there was a scene where she was crying over stretchmarks and I don’t know why but this really bugged me. I get that it was showing that she has had some trouble with her weight and the pressure she feels with being the oldest child and eldest daughter of Connor and Rose (especially Rose) but the scene played out as some type of terrible and I guess, I didn’t get it? I understand the complexities of body image and society but I don’t think the scene handled that well. But I did like Jane well enough.

        Thatcher was personality free. I suppose I was looking forward to being in his head but actually his thoughts didn’t seem to correspond to what I thought he would be like. He swore all the time and it seemed so like Ryke that I rolled my eyes because it felt like the writers were grasping at a personality characteristic to give and couldn’t think of a new one. For someone so stoic his thoughts didn’t really reflect that or any hidden depth. I was disappointed in that.

        There wasn’t a plot *at all*, just contrived coincidences that went nowhere and honestly? Considering all the Thatcher turmoil over dating a client I felt that a) he should have had a lot more inner turmoil and this would have driven internal conflict and b) it should have taken longer for him and Jane to start sleeping together. A slow burn and agonising conflict over resisting temptation would have served the story better.

        Everyone is hooking up with their bodyguards now. We have Moffy, Jane, Luna and honestly…. I think Sulli will as well. There is absolutely no originality in this whatsoever and actually I’m starting to think the agency should go under because they seem to be offering a body guard and sex service. Ahem.

        I agree, the writing wasn’t great. Something about it seemed so lacking and I just didn’t feel this was fun. It was a rehash of stuff gone before and I was also let down by the little Connor and Rose we got. What we saw I was very disappointed in. Nothing of Connor’s personality at all and Rose just came across as cold. I get that’s how she comes across to the public but there were references of her being ‘icy’ in Jane’s mind and frankly that made me sad. If Connor can see the passionate and caring side to Rose then that should have come across in a story from the POV of her daughter.

        Sorry for the rambles!!!!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sara @ The Bibliophagist says:

        No need to apologize for the rambles! I’m just so happy that I’m not the only one who was so disappointed by this book! The more I think about it, the more disappointed I get and I could probably add on about 500 words to my review at this point (but I’ll just leave it, I guess).

        Yes to the slow burn! I was totally expecting some intense pining and instead just got this random “well I guess we should have sex now” scene that kind of disappointed me. I thought that Thatcher would hold out a lot longer especially given his reaction to Moffy and Farrow, but I guess not. Another thing that bothered me was the constant references to the physical attraction between Thatcher and Jane. Like, I get it, they like each other. But am I really supposed to believe that Thatcher can’t even be in the same room with Jane without getting a “painful erection” or whatever? He’s been her bodyguard for so long!! How does he live??

        The agency probably should go under, because clearly nobody can keep their clothes on around their clients. I mean… Moffy and Farrow was one thing. Then they said it would be Jane and Thatcher and I was like… hmm… better be creative to make more couples seem realistic. (It wasn’t and it didn’t feel realistic at all.) Now it’s Luna and yes, I’m pretty sure it’ll be Sulli eventually too. Is literally every character going to end up with their bodyguard? Is there even going to be any conflict about it anymore, or is just going to become expected at some point?

        Also yes to Rose’s characterization in this book! It’s almost like they forgot who she was. Rose might be “icy” in the media, but she’s always been really loving toward her family and her adoration of her children came through really clearly in previous books so yes, it’s very sad that Jane thinks of her as being that way.

        I honestly don’t even know if I want to read Sinful Like Us. :/

        (Also, I just used asterisks.)

        Liked by 1 person

      • Gerry@TheBookNookUK says:

        Honestly, add away to the word count! I’ll enjoy reading it!

        Yep, this just did not go the way I thought it should. Far be it for me to tell people how to write their books but… I’m gonna tell people how to write their books. Kidding. Sort of.

        I do feel like they ignored the potential slow burn gold and just jumped straight into the sexual stuff because they couldn’t be bothered to try. I know that sounds harsh but there it is. I think they genuinely may be running out of steam with the 2nd gen and unless they can come up with something original I can’t help but wonder if they are just rehashing now and are over the series themselves.

        I think Thatcher was just so hypocritical as a character that I just couldn’t be bothered with him. If they put Sulli and Akara together I wonder how the hell they can justify it especially as Akara is even more against hooking up with clients than Thatcher was. The only way that could legitimately happen is if Akara is no longer the bodyguard otherwise I’m just like…. ok…. no consistency to character personality whatsoever.

        Which coincidentally was what was happening with Rose and as you said, ‘its like they forgot who she was.’ Yeah. I really think they did and she’s my favourite so I’m thinking that sucks.

        I also couldn’t stand the contrived ending with the bodyguard swap and the douchebag a*hole being Jane’s new bodyguard. I mean yes it was obvious but I HATED when Thatcher’s thought when asked to get Jane to trust him was ‘get her to f*ck him you mean’ and I was like wow. WOW. Where’s the trust in Jane there buddy?? And that’s what you think??

        Ugh. Sorry. I’ll shut up now. I think the book just really disappointed me and I’m the same as you – I don’t want to read the next one I don’t think. Or possibly anymore because I think the engine has run out of steam 😦

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sara @ The Bibliophagist says:

        Okay, I added about three more paragraphs to my review. We’ll see how long it is by the time it’s actually scheduled to post since I seem to keep finding more things to complain about.

        I got the feeling that they were over the series themselves too! I was wondering if they’re more focused on their traditionally published YA novels (which I admit would make sense) and therefore care less about their self-published NA stuff. This was just so far from their usual quality of work even after pushing back the publication date. I also wonder if they have anybody beta read their stuff to point out these kinds of things or if they just kind of read for each other?

        Also, yes, that ending made me roll my eyes because first, it was so obvious, but second, the whole thing just bothered me. And yeah, it’s terrible that Thatcher thought that about Jane. And I’m supposed to believe in this relationship and root for them? No.

        (And no need to shut up, please continue ranting if you’re in the mood.)

        Liked by 1 person

      • Gerry@TheBookNookUK says:

        I’m honestly really looking forward to your review! When you post it I’m going to sit down with piping hot tea 😉

        I agree with you – they have traditional publishers now and probably a set schedule and deadlines and that will need to be their main focus.

        They’ve tried to make this series last and possibly one of the reasons is because it was doing *so* well and attracting an audience. That’s obviously led onto a traditional route and a new direction. I actually think it would be in everyone’s best interest if they wrapped up now. If they wanted to close the series off they could do one book focusing on everyone or just do novella’s but I think their love for it has waned, it shows and that’s not fair to their audience.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sara @ The Bibliophagist says:

        Well, the review is going up at 7am EST on Sunday and I hope it lives up to your expectations!

        And I agree. I was really surprised to see how many more books they’re planning in the series! I would prefer a Some Kind of Perfect-style ending before it just gets dragged out and more terrible than it already is. There have been so many books written about this family and I think it’s totally understandable if they’re over it. Hopefully they’ll surprise me with Sinful Like Us, but I’m skeptical.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Gerry@TheBookNookUK says:

        I’m looking forward to your review!! Yeah, I wonder if things will change. When’s SLU out? I may have to read just to see whether they’ve pulled it out of the bag or it will just be a test to how far back into my brain my eyes will roll.

        Liked by 1 person

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      • rayasreads says:

        I was so disappointed with the book! The romance felt too mechanical to me. There was very little of Connor and Rose. And at this rate, are we gonna be left with any professional bodyguards who wouldn’t hook up with the cousins? I honestly expected better from the authors.

        Sorry for the rant! I just had to get it out. I still haven’t been able to write a review because I know I’ll be really harsh!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sara @ The Bibliophagist says:

        Oh, please feel free to rant. I ranted to my boyfriend the whole time I was reading it and I will rant to anyone who will listen now.

        I totally agree that it just seems like every bodyguard is going to end up with a client and that’s just… not creative and not realistic. I was actually mad when I got to that part with Luna because it was just so over-the-top. And there are more cousins getting books with their bodyguards? How is this ever going to feel natural? Are they just hooking up with their bodyguards to fit in now or what??

        And the romance was such a letdown since it mostly just seemed like they were attracted to each other and there were no real feelings involved. I was also put off by the CONSTANT descriptions of how strong and physically fit Thatcher is. I get it, he works out a lot. I don’t need to be reminded every three sentences that he has muscles. 🙄

        My review is written and it’s a little bit scathing, but I stopped myself before I could get really sassy. The more I think about this book, the more disappointed I am.

        Liked by 1 person

      • rayasreads says:

        I can so relate to your feelings! The whole thing between Jane and Thatcher did feel more physical than anything else. A lot of the felt unrealistic to me too. I just am so disappointed. I’m looking forward to your review!

        Liked by 1 person

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