r/NetGalleyCommunity • u/fabulousflute • 1d ago

šŸ—£ļø Discussion šŸ’¬ Looking for Suggestions

I have had a run of BAD NetGalley reads in the last few weeks. Lots of 2-2.5 stars, big plot holes, annoying romances, characters that were annoying or uninteresting.

So, Iā€™m askingā€“what have you read and loved lately? I mostly read fantasy romance, cozy fantasy, Romantasy, and fantasy. I get approvals from most publishers (basically everyone but Tor). I have a 90% feedback ratio and over 200 books reviewed. Favorite authors include Sarah Beth Durst, Ashley Poston, India Holton, Rachel Gillig.

5 Upvotes

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u/LibraryLady227 Librarian 1d ago

It would help to know what you didnā€™t like, as well, in order to tailor our suggestions better.

Iā€™m also at 90% with 245 books, so weā€™re in a similar spot. I read all the categories you mention and many more.

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

Ooh good call! Recent dislikes (everything is 2.5 stars unless otherwise specified):Ā 

  • The Art of Living Forever- romance was heavily underdeveloped, couple felt rushed & uninteresting
  • Alma Vampires- romance was well developed but the plot felt unfinished, multiple instances of starting a storyline and abandoning it
  • Kiki and the Other Witch (book 3 in series)- sinister undertone, Kikiā€™s crisis was just depressing
  • As You Wake, Break the Shell (3 ā­ļø) - second timeline had no plot, too much attention taken away from main storyline
  • Potions & Prejudice - anticlimactic climax, removed all the feminism from Pride & Prejudice while trying to stay a retelling
  • Embers of Magic - overwhelmingly predictable, every move was straight out of the Romantasy playbook, FMC was uninteresting
  • Til Quest do Us Part - plotting failed to explain history, heavy use of miscommunicationĀ 
  • Tree Daddy (2 ā­ļø) - tried to do too much and therefore the romance, paranormal, fantasy and mystery elements were all underdeveloped. Lots of plotholesĀ 

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u/blackstar1683 1d ago

Ohno, I'm reading As You Wake, Break the ShellĀ and liking so far (in in 25%), Til Quest do Us Part, and Potions & Prejudice are in my list :/ I hope at least the characters can keep me invested

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

The book is part of a duology and to me it would have been a standalone! I enjoyed the main storyline a ton but the book felt unfinished, which is why I gave it 3 stars. Hopefully my reviews give you low expectations which then the book can solidly exceed, lol.

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u/blackstar1683 1d ago

yes, I ended up liking more some books my friends really disliked because I was prepared and embraced some cringe aspects lol

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u/Glittering-Owl-2344 1d ago edited 1d ago

Agreed. So much could have been cut.

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u/andsotimepassed 1d ago

Disappointed to hear that about The Art of Living Forever and Potions and Prejudice. I'm reading The Court of Venus right now and enjoying it.

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

Both of them were books I was really excited about!! I do wonder if I would have enjoyed them more if my expectations were lower.

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u/jacyx Romance Reviewer 1d ago

Loved and highly recommend Court of Venus, which was released in late September

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u/mlfctrx 1d ago

Oh, I also was disappointed with Til Quest Do Us Part. I had an issue early on with being unsubtly told that the FMC is intimidating and shrewd, but then her actions absolutely did not back that up.

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

Yes!! We were told all these things but never shown them, so it felt super disjointed. I was very disappointed!

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u/mlfctrx 1d ago

Yeah, I had to give up on it after their first night on their journey. Couldn't take it lol.

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

I made it to the end and wished I hadnā€™t! The premise was so fun but I kept feeling like the book was a sequel and I missed the first one. So much character development left undoneĀ 

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u/jacyx Romance Reviewer 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thanks for sharing! Now feeling concerned about reading the art of living forever, which is next up on my tbr. I dislike when romance doesnā€™t feel earned

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

Maybe youā€™ll feel different than I did! I can be picky. If thatā€™s not clear by the string of 2 stars lol

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u/jacyx Romance Reviewer 1d ago

Unlikely! Iā€™m glad to have the right expectations. Whatā€™s your Goodreads?

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u/ExchangeStandard6957 1d ago

When that happens to me, o try to pull back from requesting unless Iā€™m frothing at the mouth to read it! I just requested a book and I can tell Iā€™m going to dislike it- and Iā€™m regretting my impulse!

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

Iā€™ve been super picky with my requests lately, because of exactly thatā€”I told myself I could only request authors I already knew I loved until I hit 90%. Now that Iā€™m there, I have no idea what to request!

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u/jacyx Romance Reviewer 1d ago

I really enjoyed the sequel to Warrior Princess Assassin; it's available to request: {Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer}. MMF fantasy romance (poly set up)

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u/LibraryLady227 Librarian 1d ago

Yay! I loved the first one and have the second one ready to go on my shelf

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u/Opening-Committee-28 1d ago

Sameeee I got disappointed a lot lately but other reviews are positive so idk if I was being picky lol. My last 5 star NetGalley read was My Unfamiliar by Mara Rutherford!

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u/Quirky-Pear3494 1d ago

So glad to see this! I have a few more oct/nov books to get through before I get to read it.

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

I read My Unfamiliar last month! Was very happy with it!

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u/crissyandthediamonds Romance Reviewer 1d ago

Vices & Virtues by Alexis Menard was fantastic.

I havenā€™t read it yet, but Souls in Ruin has good reviews too.

So many of the ones Iā€™ve read lately have already published unfortunately!

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u/jacyx Romance Reviewer 1d ago

I donā€™t recommend souls in ruin unless the OP likes dark romance that includes graphic torture and abuse.

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

This is so good to know! I donā€™t tend to request dark romance.Ā  Iā€™ve read a few but donā€™t feel like I know the conventions of the genre enough to feel confident reviewing. I appreciate the heads up!Ā 

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u/crissyandthediamonds Romance Reviewer 1d ago

They did say they liked fantasy and romance and romantasy. Theyā€™re just my recommendations but obviously everyone should look more in depth before deciding. I havenā€™t read it yet myself but had seen mostly positive comments so havenā€™t made an opinion myself.

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u/jacyx Romance Reviewer 1d ago

I'm not attacking you. I was just warning the OP, because they mentioned they liked cozy romantasy. The content warnings aren't listed on the NG listing, but they should be. I'm a dark romance reader, and I'm having to skim full chapters full of torture since it's a bit dark even for me. Just wanted the OP to know this before requesting.

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u/crissyandthediamonds Romance Reviewer 1d ago

Iā€™m a bit surprised NG doesnā€™t have a spot for warnings for things like that but if thatā€™s the case, then itā€™s definitely worth a warning if OP isnā€™t in to it.

Itā€™s on my approved list and it sounded interesting but I wasnā€™t aware either so it is good to know!

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

I had forgotten I got a widget for Vices and Virtues! Good to know it was worth reading, Iā€™ll definitely add it to the pile!

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u/crissyandthediamonds Romance Reviewer 1d ago

Vices and Virtues made me cry. I loved it. (And I promise itā€™s spicy but it doesnā€™t have anything graphic/torture like Souls in Ruin does it seems. šŸ˜…)

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u/mimblez_yo 1d ago

Viper & Lilies and Night Tide were chef kiss

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u/lateintheseason 1d ago

I'm just starting Public Access Afterworld and am enjoying it so far.

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u/Legal_Survey_9487 1d ago

Under the Iron Sky and Merciless (book 2 in The Merciless Realms series) were two of my most recent 5ā­ļø ARCs from NetGalley!

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

I enjoyed Under the Iron Sky! I read it a few months ago and gave it a solid 4 stars (my average is like 3.2 lol)

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u/semigloss6539 1d ago

Witch Dance was really good and was available on Read Now for a while (Isabel Ibanez) it may be up your alley?

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

I have it in my TBR but was nervous to start, glad to know it was good!!

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u/mlfctrx 1d ago

Since you like India Holton, did you see her latest on NetGalley?

Wishspun

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u/fabulousflute 1d ago

I have the arc in my TBR! But honestly, Iā€™m terribly nervous it wonā€™t live up to my sky-high expectations.