By the end every year, it’s
normal for everyone to reflect on all aspects of their life’s. For me, this
includes reflecting on the books I read and more specifically the ratings I
very publicity gave them. All justified at the time but now looking back, I can’t
just not address them. So here I am, addressing my mistakes.
To keep the naming and
shaming to a minimum, I’ve decided to stick two only three books for each category.
Keeping in trend with that, to chase away the melancholia early on in this
post, let’s start with my Hero to Zeros. I will also link my original
views so you can go and revisit that time of my life.
The next few titles may come as a surprise, but
this first one will probably be the most unexpected. The
Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas once held an extraordinary place in my reading
life. I remember finishing it with the firm belief that no one else could
possibly have experienced it the way I did. I was convinced that only I could
see the full depth of the chemistry between Aaron and Lina, and I admired Lina
with an almost excessive level of devotion.
When I attempted to revisit the book a few months
ago, the experience felt entirely different. By the time I reached chapter
four, I knew I would not make it to the end. Although the nostalgia was still
pleasant, the pacing felt noticeably uneven. Certain lines, which once seemed
heartfelt, now felt strained and uncomfortably awkward. Most surprising of all,
the story no longer produced the emotional or romantic spark that defined my
first reading.
I still value the feelings it once gave me, but my
perspective has changed. Looking back, I could not rate it higher than three
stars. At the time it was perfect for me, but that is no longer the case. It is
not a dramatic disappointment, simply a sign that my taste has evolved. Today
it wouldn’t pass three stars for me.
The next book is Icebreaker
by Hannah Grace. Looking back,
I am left wondering what I was even thinking when I first read it. The fact
that I have revisited it multiple times since is, in hindsight, questionable.
The plot existed, but the writing itself reflected the style of a high school
romance rather than that of a fully developed author. Certain scenes were
overly dramatic, and while there were moments of genuine skill and emotional
resonance, they were exceptions rather than the rule. For a debut novel, it was
competent but far from groundbreaking. The author’s craft improved with
subsequent releases, culminating in Daydream
which I consider her strongest work to date. Reflecting on Icebreaker
now, I would be compelled to rate it only two and a half stars.
The final book in this category is Where's
Molly? by H.D. Carlton When it was
released, I was riding the adrenaline of Hunting and Haunting Adeline,
which may have caused me to overrate this book initially. It was also the first
book I purchased on Kindle, which made the experience feel different and
special. The story had many layers. Some parts were genuinely gripping, while
others fell flat. Even at the conclusion, although the author’s style is
distinct and unconventional, the endings often leave loose threads unresolved.
Despite this, I was consistently invested in Molly,
especially after Adeline discovered her diary during her capture by Francesca.
The fact that both Adeline and Molly achieved a form of resolution, with
Molly’s indirect assistance, felt like a subtle but satisfying happily ever
after. Considering all of this, when I revisited the book for research
purposes, I realized it would not earn more than three stars from me today, and
that alone speaks volumes.
Moving on to the good news, we enter the Zero to
Hero portion of this category. The first book I want to discuss, in no
particular order but simply because it is the freshest in my mind, is The
Deception Trilogy by Rina Kent. The first time I read this series, I was highly
critical. I argued that the storyline was disjointed, that the pacing was
uneven, and that a trilogy was unnecessary. Yet one aspect I have always stood
by is that Adrian and Lia were exceptional characters, deserving five stars,
and that has not changed even after multiple rereads.
A recent edit on BookTok featuring Adrian and Lia
prompted me to revisit the series, and I quickly found myself falling down the
Rina Kent rabbit hole once again. This time, I devoured the trilogy and loved
every moment. The character development was substantial, the pacing consistent,
the plot engaging, and the moments of suspense were perfectly placed to sustain
interest across three installments, a feat that is far from easy. I remember
deliberately waiting for the day to end so I could retreat to my room, get
comfortable, and immerse myself in the complicated love story. I initially
rated these books three stars and warned others against them, but in hindsight,
the trilogy deserves five stars in its entirety. I have never been more
reluctant to reach the end of a series.
The next book is The
Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. As my first STEM-focused romance, I was
initially uncertain about what rating to assign it. Since then, I have reread
it three times, and my verdict is clear: it deserves every one of its five
stars. In my original review, I wrote that it “was, in fact, not as hyped as
BookTok and Bookstagram made it out to be…but it was still pretty good.” I
now recognize that the book was exactly as acclaimed as the community had
claimed.
Part of what made this romance so striking was its
contrast to the dramatic, twist-laden stories I had grown accustomed to. This
was the first semi-normal romance I had read in a long time, since Tessa
Bailey’s Hook, Line & Sinker. It was not a dark romance, nor did it
rely on hidden meanings or convoluted plot twists. Instead, it was a smart,
engaging fake-dating story with a professor-student dynamic, brimming with
intelligence and subtle depth. I regret having underestimated its appeal in my
initial review. Rest assured, this book remains one of the most monumental
reads of the year for me. It is my first STEM romance and unquestionably a
five-star experience.
Last but certainly not least, we arrive at God
of Ruin by Rina Kent. I initially found this book so frustrating that I
never published my review; I even drafted half of one before deciding to move
on to other reading projects. For context, the story follows Landon King and
Mia Sokolov. However, as I’ve started re-reading it, I find myself experiencing
it in a completely new light. What once felt lacklustre now strikes me as
intensely compelling, with suspense that unfolds in a truly cinematic fashion.
One of the most impressive aspects is Kent’s subtle weaving of her past favourite
characters from earlier generations alongside the main protagonists, enriching
the narrative for both the MMC and FMC. This rereading has prompted me to
reconsider much of Kent’s body of work, with God of Ruin standing out as
perhaps her most nuanced and gripping work to date.
And there we have it—my own little “twin-switch,”
so to speak. It’s perfectly okay—actually, it’s quite healthy—to revisit and
revise a review months or even years later if your perspective has changed.
Time, reading, and life experience all shape how we engage with a story, and
sometimes our initial reactions don’t capture the full picture. What’s
fascinating is seeing which books have grown on me—my former “zeros” that have
become heroes, and those early favorites that, with hindsight, I now view differently.
Every twist, every revelation, every subtle character beat becomes richer with
a second read, and I can honestly say there isn’t a single dull moment in the
experience. Re-reading isn’t just about revising opinions—it’s about deepening
appreciation and discovering layers you missed the first time around.
I’m not entirely sure what my next post will be
yet, but I’m leaning toward sharing my updated review of God of Ruin
once I’ve finished this re-read. I’d also love it if you could show some love
to PaperChapters, my
sister blog. Don’t forget to check out the Contact page
to find links to all my other social media accounts as well.
Until next time.
Vivian.
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