Tag: first impression friday

ARC, contemporary, ya

🤔 First Impression Friday đź¤”

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I am so excited about this first impression! I’m still not quite done with All the Stars and Teeth. But it should be soon! I’m at 75%. I wanted to do this post though, so I went on and read the first two chapters of We Are the Wildcats. It’s my most anticipated book this month and I think I’m going to love it!

“Tomorrow, the Wildcat varsity field hockey squad will play the first game of their new season. But at tonight’s team sleepover, the girls are all about forging the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship necessary to win.
Everything hinges on the midnight initiation ceremony—a beloved tradition and the only facet of being a Wildcat that the girls control. Until now.
Coach—a handsome former college player revered and feared in equal measure—changes the plan and spins his team on a new adventure. One where they take a rival team’s mascot for a joyride, crash a party in their pajamas, break into the high school for the perfect picture.
But as the girls slip out of their comfort zone, so do some long-held secrets. And just how far they’re willing to go for their team takes them all—especially Coach—by surprise.”
– Goodreads

The first chapter goes through the girl’s last day of field hockey try-outs. It’s always the hardest day.

And so, on this day on girl always pukes.
One girl always cries.
One girl always falls.
But they all keep going.

– We Are the Wildcats

At the end of the day, they find out who made it. They get custom mouth guards for free. Then, at the end, they have a mandatory team sleepover.

Luckily, there’s a tradition for this, too. A secret celebration that will take place tonight on this very field. It is the single facet of being a Wildcat that belongs entirely to the girls.
At least, that’s how it used to be.

– We Are the Wildcats

I mean, that last paragraph! I instantly wanted to know what was going to happen. Why is the tradition changing? What are they gonna do? So, I kept reading even though I knew I should finish my other book.

The second chapter we meet Luci. She is about to enter 9th grade, she’s the youngest on the team, and she’s shy. She is taking in the team’s celebrations and learning about their traditions.

This book is told in alternating POV’s from six of the girl’s on the team. I can’t wait to meet the rest and see what the future holds for them. I feel like it’s gonna be a wild ride!

I predict that I’ll finish this in just a couple days – no more reading the same book for a week! I also think it’s going to be 4.5-5 stars. I can’t wait to see what happens!

Have you read We Are the Wildcats? Is it on your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

fantasy, Romance, ya

âš“ First Impression Friday âš“

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Normally when I do First Impression Friday, I read the first chapter and review it, give my thoughts and predictions. Yeah. That did not happen. I started and I.couldn’t.stop. I’m on chapter 6 now.

Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.
I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
-Goodreads

So, like I said, when I started this book I couldn’t stop. I’m usually not super into pirates and sea adventures, but this cover was gorgeous so I knew I had to try. I’m so glad I did.

It starts out with lying, people disguised as others, and magic that goes awry. Plus there’s so many different kinds of magic and rules. It’s so interesting!

I was immediately drawn to Amora. She just seemed so likeable and a heroine I can root for. I’m already shipping her and the love interest! Ahhhh!

I think this will be a 4-5 star read. Too soon to tell, but I know it’ll be a great fantasy!

Plus: we are discussing this book over at Words & Whimsy! Join us here!

Have you read All The Stars and Teeth? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, ya

First Impression Friday

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I wanted to read at least 3 books this week, but I’m just now starting my second. I feel like this will be a super quick read, though! I read the first chapter of Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid and loved it! I have two of his books on my TBR this month, so I hope they both live up to what I think they will!

“The summer after senior year is not going as eighteen-year-old Lu Charles expected: after her longtime boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her, Lu can’t write a single word, despite the fact that her college scholarship is tied to her columnist job at hip online magazine Misnomer. Then, she meets Cal.
Cal’s ever-practical girlfriend Iris is looking ahead to her first year of college, and her plans do not include a long-distance boyfriend. When Lu learns that Cal and Iris have planned to end their relationship at the end of the summer, she becomes fascinated and decides to chronicle the last months the couple will spend together.
The closer she gets to the couple, the more she likes them, and the more she wants to write about them. The summer unfurls, and Lu discovers what it really means to be in love. On the page, or off it. The book is touching exploration of love and how it shapes us both during a relationship and after it has ended.” – Goodreads

In the fist chapter, we meet Lu. Lu’s boyfriend just broke up with her. She’s hoping to meet him and try to get him back. While she’s waiting, a cute guy sits next to her and they have a lovely chat/flirt. After he leaves, she goes to the bookstore, where she sees a girl crying. She then realized girl is there to meet the guy Lu was just chatting with!

I was instantly pulled in. I wanted to know how this was going to play out. Even though Lu was still thinking about her ex, she was having fun with this new guy! I was hoping he would be the one to heal her heart, but I guess we’ll have to see!

I got through the first chapter, which was 4% of the book. My kindle tells me I have just over 4 hours left to read. I’m guessing this will be a solid 4 star book!

Have you read Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

contemporary, Romance, ya

First Impression Friday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

This is becoming one of my favorite posts to do! I love reading the first chapter of a book and really analyzing it. So far, I haven’t been far off in my predictions!

This week we are looking at Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, the book that’s been on my TBR longest! It’s also from my TBR posts.

“”Ruby, where is your mother?” Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she’s been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return. That’s how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn’t seen in ten years, and Cora’s husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future—it’s a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?” Goodreads

So, I don’t know if I’ve ever read Sarah Dessen. I may have way back in the day, like high school days. I wasn’t super sure what to expect going into it.

The first chapter was LONG. Like, 32 pages. I’m more of a short and sweet kinda girl – I hate not ending on a chapter! So that was my first hiccup.

The first chapter was also LONG. It opened up with a ton of descriptions, which I don’t do well with. I don’t need to know the exact color of the carpet, walls, and drapes. Just tell me it’s nice and super expensive and I can imagine the rest. I found myself skimming the first few pages.

I also felt like nothing really happened in the first chapter. You meet Ruby, her sister Cora, and brother in law Jamie who she just moved in with. You find out she was living alone before that. But like, nothing else? I don’t know. It just seemed unnecessarily long.

My predictions for this book. Hm. I don’t think I’ll hate it, but I think maybe it isn’t really in my wheelhouse anymore. I feel like it’s going to be more of a day to day life thing instead of any action. I’m guessing it’ll be a 2-3 star read.

Have you read Lock and Key? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

You can follow my live-reactions to this book on twitter here!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, mystery, thriller

First Impression Friday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Another week and another first impression. This week I am tacking a thriller arc:

“June Moody, a thirty-something English professor, just wants to get away from her recent breakup and reunite with girlfriends over summer break. Her old friend and longtime nemesis, Sadie MacTavish, a mega-successful author, invites June and her college friends to a baby shower at her sprawling estate in the San Juan Islands. June is less than thrilled to spend time with Sadie–and her husband, June’s former crush–but agrees to go.

The party gets off to a shaky start when old grudges resurface, but when they wake the next morning, they find something worse: Sadie is missing, the house is in shambles, and bloodstains mar the staircase. None of them has any memory of the night before; they wonder if they were drugged. Everyone’s a suspect. Since June had a secret rendezvous with Sadie’s husband, she has plenty of reason to suspect herself. Apparently, so do the cops.

A Celtic knot of suspense and surprise, this brooding, atmospheric novel will keep you guessing as each twist reveals a new possibility. It will remind you of friendships hidden in the depths of your own past, and make you wonder how well you really know the people you’ve loved the longest.”

So I read the first chapter of this book. Again, it had a great first line. I’m hitting the jackpot with these lately!

“Like most clusterfucks these days, it starts with a group text.”

I mean, I laughed out loud. It was great. You then see June talking to her best friend about this girl’s weekend with her old college friends. You can tell she doesn’t want to go, but won’t really get into why. I am already intrigued about what happened and why she has distanced herself from three of her four closest friends. There’s not really much in the first chapter except the text and phone call.

I feel like this will be maybe a three star book? I think it will be good, but as you can see, the first chapter is really just a phone call and didn’t give me a lot to go on. I think the ending will probably surprise me, I won’t figure out the bad guy. But I hope I like it!

Have you read this yet? What are your thoughts?

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Romance

First Impression Friday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Wow! I cannot believe it is already Friday! This last week has not been a good reading week for me AT ALL. I’m only about halfway done with The Wives. I’m in such a slump so I decided to pick a book I thought would be a good slump buster!

This meme is hosted by JW Martin! Here’s what ya do:

First Impression Friday is a meme where you talk about a book you just started! You can be just a chapter or two in, or a little more.
Based on the start of the book, give a few impressions and predict how you’ll feel about the end!

I saw this novel recommended over at Words & Whimsy and decided to give it a try. So far, so good! It’s Idol Thoughts by JS Lee!

Six months ago, I discovered I was the illegitimate heir to one of the K-Pop industry’s biggest entertainment companies. I didn’t want anything to do with the empire I had the chance to inherit.

Then I discovered how my jerk of a half-brother was currently running things. I might not want the job, but I damn well deserve it just as much as him. All I need to do is prove my worth by managing a failing boy band, H3RO, back to stardom.

Easy, right?

Tae, Dante, Minhyuk, Nate, Kyun, and Jun are as talented as they are good looking. Abandoned by their company, they’ve lost faith in everything and themselves. It’s down to me to save their careers – and their dreams – by delivering a number one single.

And yet, somehow, the bigger miracle will be not falling in love with all of them…

– Goodreads

Okay, when I’m in a slump, I usually turn to a good, dirty book. They’re usually fast reads. This is a reverse harem, which I’m becoming a fan of! I mean, who doesn’t want multiple guys fawning over them, amirite?

So. First chapter. You meet Holly. Her dad left when she was young and she never knew him. All of a sudden, he contacts her and her mom, saying he wants her in on the family business – managing K-Pop groups. She knows nothing about the music industry and nothing about managing a K-Pop Group. Her half brother doesn’t like that she is creeping in on the family business and gives her a group to manage that destined for failure. They have to release an album and have a comeback in seven weeks! Sounds impossible.

At the end of the chapter, she moves into their dorm and meets all the members. All the members who are super attractive.

So my thoughts so far. The first chapter was quick and fun! I enjoyed meeting all the men and seeing her reaction to them. I have never read a book with K-Pop boys, so it’s new! I’ll be thinking about my friend Hannah the whole time!

I think I will really enjoy this one. The first chapter kept me interested and I can’t wait to dive in! I’m excited for the romance aspect as well! I’m hoping there will be some steamy scenes.

Have you read Idol Thoughts before? What did you think? Let me know below!

Until next time…

adult, mystery, thriller

First Impression Friday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I loved doing this post last week, so I decided to do it again this week! First Impression Friday is hosted by JW Martin!

Here’s how it goes:

First Impression Friday is a meme where you talk about a book you just started! You can be just a chapter or two in, or a little more.
Based on the start of the book, give a few impressions and predict how you’ll feel about the end!

This week I am featuring The Wives by Tarryn Fisher. This book has been so hyped so I’m excited to start it!

“Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him.

But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different—and horrifying—story about the man she married.”
– Goodreads

So I read chapter one of The Wives. The first thing that stuck out to me was the dedication – to Colleen. Tarryn and Colleen Hoover are BFF’s so I thought that was the sweetest thing!

So like I said, this novel has a ton of hype. But what drew me in was the polygamist relationship! I was obsessed with Sister Wives. I love learning about how other people live who are different than me!

The MC of this book is Thursday. That’s the day Seth comes to stay with her. His other wives are Monday and Tuesday. I think it’s interesting we only know them by the days of the week. It left me very curious as to who they actually are. Thursday talks about getting ready for Seth to come home, and how she looks forward to this day every week. I can’t imagine only seeing my husband one day a week! It would drive me crazy! I’m also way too jealous to share.

As of now, she hasn’t met the other wives. I’m not sure if she’ll ever meet Tuesday. I feel like I won’t figure out the twist because I never do. I’m guessing this will be a four star read!

Have you read The Wives? What did you think? Let me know below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, ya

First Impression Friday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Hello everyone! I am so bummed I didn’t get to post yesterday. Wednesday morning my internet went down and they weren’t able to fix it until today! And we have no cable so there was NOTHING to do around my house. Well, for my husband and child. I got to finish The Center of the Universe by Ria Voros, so that review will be up tomorrow!

Today I’m doing a new post! I first saw this idea on Kristin Kraves Books, who got it from JW Martin! Here’s what Kristin said about the post:

“First Impression Friday will be a meme where you talk about a book that you JUST STARTED! Maybe you’re only a chapter or two in, maybe a little farther.

Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions and predict what you’ll think by the end.“

Just so happens, I started Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith today! So here’s my first impression and prediction!

Divya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she’s playing Reclaim the Sun, the year’s hottest online game. Divya—better known as popular streaming gamer D1V—regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game’s vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for Divya, this is more than just a game. Out in the real world, she’s trading her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mom pay the rent.

Gaming is basically Aaron Jericho’s entire life. Much to his mother’s frustration, Aaron has zero interest in becoming a doctor like her, and spends his free time writing games for a local developer. At least he can escape into Reclaim the Sun—and with a trillion worlds to explore, disappearing should be easy. But to his surprise, he somehow ends up on the same remote planet as celebrity gamer D1V.

At home, Divya and Aaron grapple with their problems alone, but in the game, they have each other to face infinite new worlds…and the growing legion of trolls populating them. Soon the virtual harassment seeps into reality when a group called the Vox Populi begin launching real-world doxxing campaigns, threatening Aaron’s dreams and Divya’s actual life. The online trolls think they can drive her out of the game, but everything and everyone Divya cares about is on the line…

And she isn’t going down without a fight.

Okay, so first, this is an ARC. I requested it because I have been a gamer for 15 years. Damn. I have mainly played online RPGs, so this is like me in a book. Also, what gamer hasn’t dreamed of being a top streamer? I know I have! I even streamed some WoW and Hearthstone WAY back in the day.

So I’ve just gotten finished reading chapter 1. This is a dual POV book, told from Divya and Aaron’s voices. Chapter 1 was Divya. I had so many highlights – 5! Which may not sound like much, but I don’t highlight a ton.

Divya talks about her best friend, Rebekah, and how she is big into bookstagram. So there’s a point for this book. She also names all her ships after books she has loved. Her current ship is Heart of Iron. This is by Ashley Poston, who was one of our Words & Whimsy chat authors last year! Exciting to see her get this shoutout!

Now, back to Divya. She is a gamer, who has a stream with over 100,000 viewers. And she’s female. So that’s like, the dream. Super awesome to see that rep because a majority of streamers are guys.

There were two quotes that stuck out to me. I’ll show them here, but keep in mind this is an ARC copy, and these quotes may change by the time of publication on Jan 28, 2020.

“Because that’s my life. Plenty of social notifications, but zero texts or missed calls.”
Okay, I have felt this. felt like all my friends were online but no one wanted to hang out irl. I feel you D1V!

“Hey, anonymous bro, I’m not here to be sexualized by strangers on the internet. It’s creepy ad disgusting. Can’t I just have fun without being objectified?”
Okay, I started playing WoW at the tender age of 15. I didn’t have any online gaming experience until then, and it was another world. Kind of literally. Anyway, my guild was sharing pictures left and right, and talking on ventrillo. My pictures along with my southern accent sent some guys crazy. So I also know how this feels.

So my predictions. I think this will be my first five star read of the year! I haven’t read Aaron’s pov yet, but the reviews about both pov’s are great. I’m already loving all the girl gamer rep and feel a kinship toward Divya. She’s going through alot – I’ll talk more about that in the actual review. I am so excited to get this book read. I predict I’ll finish it tomorrow!

Have you read this book yet? Did my first impression make you put it on your TBR? Let me know!

Until next time…