Review - The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble

 

 

 Title: The Situationship

Author: Taylor-Dior Rumble

Pages: 288

Publisher: Merky Books Digital

Release Date: 17th August 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 When the love of her life shows up with a girlfriend, Tia decides it's time to put herself out there.

Expectations of dating apps are low, so it's a surprise when she instantly connects with handsome photographer Nate. He's everything she's looking for; he makes her feel safe, seen, and desired.

Tia assumes they're on the same page - the only catch? They're yet to have The Talk.

In a generation that's normalised competing over who cares the least, can Tia overcome her fears and lay her cards on the table, in the pursuit of something real?

 

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Cornerstone*

Tia can't wait for Aaron, her childhood best friend who she shared a night of passion with before he left for America, to come back to London. But when Aaron comes back, he brings a girlfriend with him.

Tia's friends convince her to try dating apps to help get over Aaron, and Tia reluctantly agrees.

Tia never expected to hit it off with anyone, but she soon connects with Nate.

As Tia and Nate grow closer, Tia wonders if they're on the same page.

Do Tia and Nate want the same thing?

I am not a big romance novel reader, but the blurb for this intrigued me, so I decided to give it a try.

This book is described as a romcom, but I disagree with that as I didn't find it particularly romantic or funny. Instead, I thought it was more about Tia deciding what she wanted in her life - career-wise and relationship-wise.

I found Tia not knowing where her career was going quite relatable, and while I did like her and the relationship she had with her friends and mentor, I don't feel like I got to know her that well overall.

The plot was okay - I liked that Tia was passionate about representation and wanted to write about it - but it did feel like not very much happened, and I did get bored.

The writing style was easy to follow most of the time, but I lost count of the times characters 'kissed their teeth'.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

Overall, this was an okay read.

 

 

Review - Atalanta by Jennifer Saint

 

 Title: Atalanta

Author: Jennifer Saint

 Pages: 365

Publisher: Wildfire

Release Date: 13th April 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Princess, Warrior, Lover, Hero

When Princess Atalanta is born, a daughter rather than the son her parents hoped for, she is left on a mountainside to die. But even then, she is a survivor. Raised by a mother bear under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis, Atalanta grows up wild and free, with just one condition: if she marries, Artemis warns, it will be her undoing.

Although she loves her beautiful forest home, Atalanta yearns for adventure. When Artemis offers her the chance to fight in her name alongside the Argonauts, the fiercest band of warriors the world has ever seen, Atalanta seizes it. The Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece is filled with impossible challenges, but Atalanta proves herself equal to the men she fights alongside. As she is swept into a passionate affair, in defiance of Artemis's warning, she begins to question the goddess's true intentions. Can Atalanta carve out her own legendary place in a world of men, while staying true to her heart?

Full of joy, passion, and adventure, Atalanta is the story of a woman who refuses to be contained. Jennifer Saint places Atalanta in the pantheon of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, where she belongs.

 

 Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

My Review:

*I received a eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Headline and NetGalley*

Atalanta was abandoned as a baby on a mountainside by her father, the king, because she was not the son he wanted.

Reared by a mother bear, Atalanta lives in the forest under the goddess Artemis's protection.

Atalanta becomes a skilled huntress and when Artemis offers her the chance to join the Argonauts on their quest for the famed Golden Fleece, Atalanta accepts.

Can Atalanta prove herself to the other Argonauts?

As a fan of Greek mythology, I was surprised that I had never heard of Atalanta before, and that I didn't know there was a female member of the Argonauts.

Atalanta was a likeable protagonist - I admired that she wanted to prove herself equal to, or even better than, the men around her. She'd had an unusual upbringing, and I liked Atalanta's love of the forest.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention. The pacing was pretty good, but I was surprised by how quickly part of the story was over. While I liked the book, I wasn't gripped when reading, and I didn't feel overly invested in what happened.

The writing style was easy to follow.

I have read a few books by the author now, and I would read more.

I am slightly disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but I liked finding out more about Atalanta.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.