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Secrets of the Nile #2
Where the Library Hides
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy (2024)Where the Library Hides is Isabel Ibañez's stunning conclusion to the story that started in What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other!
Inez Olivera traveled across the world to Egypt, seeking answers into her parents' recent and mysterious deaths. But all her searching led her down a perilous road, filled with heartache, betrayal, and a dangerous magic that pulled her deep into the past.
When Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider.
Marriage to Whitford Hayes.
Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.
Inez Olivera traveled across the world to Egypt, seeking answers into her parents' recent and mysterious deaths. But all her searching led her down a perilous road, filled with heartache, betrayal, and a dangerous magic that pulled her deep into the past.
When Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider.
Marriage to Whitford Hayes.
Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2024
3088 people are currently reading
75448 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Ibañez
9 books4,768 followersIsabel Ibañez is a USA Today, Indie, Sunday Times, and #1 New York Times bestseller and the author of the Secrets of the Nile duology, Together We Burn, Written in Starlight, and Woven in Moonlight, which is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time and was a finalist for the William C. Morris award. She is the proud daughter of Bolivian immigrants and has a profound appreciation for history, traveling, and writing stories where her characters are often running for their lives. She currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with her family, their adorable golden doodle, and an overwhelming amount of of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,520 reviews
August 19, 2024
Rick O'Connell would NEVER
January 4, 2025
Omg that was sooo good i need a whitford hayes
Pre review: I need answers. I need them. I need to know what the hell the last book’s ending meant or i will throw up.
Pre review: I need answers. I need them. I need to know what the hell the last book’s ending meant or i will throw up.
January 16, 2025
I wanted to like this book so badly - I ADORE the concept and you can tell the author does too. The first book
earned a solid 5/10 - I enjoyed it!! - but there was just so much going on here that it didn’t feel like it lived up to the first one.
The titular library isn’t even introduced as a plot point until like 65% of the way through the book, which confused me. Plot and storyline were kind of all over the place.
What really bugged me was the characterization of our main duo. We have Whit, who is supposed to be the swoon-worthy, brooding and complex love interest but instead remains a bit of a thumb with zero consistent personality traits and even less chemistry with Inez. He flip flops from deeply sensitive to a total brick wall and I was never sure what his inner motivations really were even when we were explicitly told about them.
Our female MC, Inez, is supposed to be a strong, courageous, and slightly headstrong young woman who values her independence. She is in actuality a complete airhead with no impulse control who makes ill-informed decision after decision to the point where I was barely rooting for her by the end of the book. She also spends most of the book switching between diving headfirst into plans without telling anyone and daydreaming about Whit, who she’s known for about two months and - she admits herself - barely knows anything about. Any remaining respect I had for her vanished immediately when she immediately forgave Whit no-questions-asked for the frankly egregious act he committed earlier in the book regarding her finances.
This aforementioned plot point, which only existed to create tension between Whit and Inez, felt WHOLLY unnecessary to the storyline and could have been solved in an instant had these two chosen to sit down and be honest with each other for literally fifteen seconds. For two people supposedly in love with each other, they really need to work on healthy relationship choices.
All in all, this was pretty predictable, and where it wasn’t predictable it was just deeply frustrating. I feel like that sounds mean, but I just wanted to like this so badly - it could have been so much better. I feel like if you REALLY liked the first book, you’ll still enjoy this?? But it left a lot to be desired.
earned a solid 5/10 - I enjoyed it!! - but there was just so much going on here that it didn’t feel like it lived up to the first one.
The titular library isn’t even introduced as a plot point until like 65% of the way through the book, which confused me. Plot and storyline were kind of all over the place.
What really bugged me was the characterization of our main duo. We have Whit, who is supposed to be the swoon-worthy, brooding and complex love interest but instead remains a bit of a thumb with zero consistent personality traits and even less chemistry with Inez. He flip flops from deeply sensitive to a total brick wall and I was never sure what his inner motivations really were even when we were explicitly told about them.
Our female MC, Inez, is supposed to be a strong, courageous, and slightly headstrong young woman who values her independence. She is in actuality a complete airhead with no impulse control who makes ill-informed decision after decision to the point where I was barely rooting for her by the end of the book. She also spends most of the book switching between diving headfirst into plans without telling anyone and daydreaming about Whit, who she’s known for about two months and - she admits herself - barely knows anything about. Any remaining respect I had for her vanished immediately when she immediately forgave Whit no-questions-asked for the frankly egregious act he committed earlier in the book regarding her finances.
This aforementioned plot point, which only existed to create tension between Whit and Inez, felt WHOLLY unnecessary to the storyline and could have been solved in an instant had these two chosen to sit down and be honest with each other for literally fifteen seconds. For two people supposedly in love with each other, they really need to work on healthy relationship choices.
All in all, this was pretty predictable, and where it wasn’t predictable it was just deeply frustrating. I feel like that sounds mean, but I just wanted to like this so badly - it could have been so much better. I feel like if you REALLY liked the first book, you’ll still enjoy this?? But it left a lot to be desired.
December 25, 2024
I think I'm actually kinda furious at this book?
And wish I had only read the first and then stopped.
I'm 99% certain I will never read from this author again. (full spoilers at the end of this review in case you want to make the wise choice and skip reading this book)
It took me three hours to read, 1 hour to rant to my very patient spouse, and however long it'll take me to finish typing this review. ughhhhh
The Plot/Genre:
This book is silly.
Not in the Fantasy way, because it's actually really really low Fantasy as to basically be Historical Fiction. There are a few magic items but almost none of them make appearances in the first half of the book, and even after they start doing things it's mainly just receiving super convenient visions of Cleopatra. It's also not silly in the funny haha way.
This book is silly in the telenovela, extremely overdramatic and unrealistic way. You best believe there will be reveals of people being blood related to each other out of nowhere. You best believe there will be people dying and returning from the dead. There are elaborate disguises and cheating and betrayal and everything is dialed up to 11.
To be honest, this is the aspect of the book I disliked the least. Sure, it all falls apart if you scrutinize it for even a moment, but at least it's goofy. (Though there was this moment somewhere in the 80-88% reveal where I couldn't stop groaning aloud at how dumb it was.)
...Only I never really felt like the tone of the book knew and embraced how goofy it was? Everything is fairly serious, stakes are always high, and the book has to keep reminding me about how hard the time period was for women with all the laws stacked against them. idk, ymmv
The Writing:
In the hands of a better writer, I could have forgiven a lot about the book. And there's a reason that at 50% I was still willing to keep going. This book is YA (and reads on the VERY VERY YOUNG end) so I can accept that I'm not the target demographic and they're trying to market to children, so I cut it a lot of slack on my grievances. But there's only so much I can stand.
the questions (pet peeve):
For a "smart" character, Inez's POV is heavily riddled with beyond basic questions. Anytime she's alone the narration basically poses her thoughts in questions like:
"Why did it have to be me?"
"Did his proposal mean he cared about me? Was he as deep in as I was?"
"What if Mamá somehow wrecked this, too?"
"Was that all I was to him?"
"What if I’d been right about him all along?"
"What was I going to do now?"
These are sentences from the first two chapters (and 1 I saved late in my reading activity) and they are very nothing in their substance. It feels like holding the reader's hand with questions the author wants you to have, but they're totally fluff and removing them has no material impact on the book apart from making the character seem more assured of herself.
The chapters are not very long, and there are normally a lot of questions and they can often come back to back with no sentences in between, so it became really noticeable and grating, even though I was reading on audiobook and only looked at an ebook to write this review.
"as if sensing my thoughts" (pet peeve):
I would be curious to know just how many times someone senses her thoughts. Whit definitely does at least half a dozen times, if not double that. I think in his case it's supposed to be a shortcut for the author saying how well he knows her. But then other people also react "as if sensing [Inez's] thoughts" which makes me question how little control she has over her face. Or how obviously simple and basic her thoughts are that everyone knows them.
Similar to the basic questions she asks in her narration, this feels like holding the reader's hand? Combined with a writing crutch? Like the main character/reader can have a question, and then there's an excuse for another character to react to it or spell things out without having to write a plausible transition.
the conveniences:
Nothing. Has. Weight.
Plan blew up in their faces? That's okay, by having a half page conversation they realize they never needed the plan anyway.
Totally out of money to the point that they have literally $0? That's okay, someone will be mysteriously tailing them and leave exact change for the bill they need to pay right now.
Can't get out of a situation with villains and guns on all sides? That's okay, Inez will suddenly get a vision (That's So Raven style; Whit is literally mildly concerned about how she zones out and dissociates for a few seconds) and Cleopatra will reveal a hidden exit and stairs they can use.
telling and not showing:
Did you know Inez is smart? Because she's really really smart. She's his cunning wife and so smart that she can think her way out of every situation.
...but in her actions this bish is so naive, constantly too trusting and then shocked when she learns someone is lying to her, even when everyone else has been suspicious of them the whole time. Time after time after time after time. You'd think it'd be less shocking to her when it happens for the fourth time in a row. The only knowledge she has that is exclusive to her is from the visions she gets from the Cleopatra ring. That's not being smart!
Ffs at one point they have a plan to find her mom, it totally falls apart and she's detained by the villain, and she talks to him and then realizes that the failed plan never would have given them the information they needed anyway by talking aloud of all her thought process and known facts, thereby telling him everything she knows. And then he gives her back the stolen ring (from the opening of book 1) and she's just wearing it like la di da until Whit asks her how tf she got it back and that the villain didn't want anything in return? And she's just like, 'no! totally no strings attached! isn't it so neat how he just gave me back the ring that he previously stole off my hand? it makes perfect sense if you think about it :D' (I'm 95% sure she literally says "it makes sense" when talking to him)
The Elephant in the Room (the Privilege):
The author very intentionally chose to set this in Egypt and during the 1880's. It's constantly brought up how her money and decisions are controlled by a man (first her father, then her uncle, then her husband) and she legally has no rights. But ALSO the author chose to make her an upper class woman (never had to work a day in her life) born into wealth and status AND from a non-Egyptian country WITH modern day ideals-- ideals which never actually carry repercussions despite all the stifling laws and norms that should limit her.
Despite having soapbox moments in the first book where she can decry the evils of colonialism and the bastards coming in to excavate and rob Egypt of its cultural treasures... that's also exactly what she's here to do? They came to dig and to plunder and to steal the treasures for themselves, or at best give it to a museum (but likely not an Egyptian one). So why is girlypop on her high horse about it?
The way she doesn't even think of money when she's penniless, but conveniently has some tickets she can cash in to finish her adventure... this is clearly a character who's never been hampered by anything, everything just falls into her lap. The text always makes her money a non-issue too, so it's honestly questionable on why it's a plot point at all. idk the author's upbringing, but it at least plays out in a very tone-deaf way.
The Romance:
Every relationship in this is trash, so it's hard to single out the romance in particular. Inez is so naive and trusting in the people around her, even when every single one (Every. Single. One.) betrays her and telegraphs that betrayal super immediately. Sometimes she even trusts them again immediately after they betray her. I don't get it.
But the Romance was the one thing I really liked in book one. Sure, it's not perfect. And yes, I mostly liked it because I was picturing the charismatic Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz and how they could breathe life into these scenes. But I was still having fun.
I think the author's desire for twists and betrayals and those shocking, telenovela moments really shot her in the foot in this conclusion, though. She definitely whips it out too early and betrays a lot of the trust and human connection that the reader can feel. Having Inez keep thinking about how much she loves her husband (a man who she has known for maybe a month or two max?) and how they're going to have an amazing future together even though he's marrying her and never once even implied (let alone said aloud) that he loved her... idk. I didn't like it. It made me uncomfortable and never improved as the novel went on, for me.
One More Complaint:
WHERE WAS THE LIBRARY?!
I was actually really excited about the title because I love a hidden library, a secret library, a magic library... This could've been a warehouse! This could've been Nowhere, USA!
Where was the atmosphere?! The history?! The culture?! The amount of time on page to justify making it the title?!
Overall:
There are lots of interesting ideas here that could have made a really fun book but the main character is obnoxiously stupid and the writing makes it a drag.
----------------------------------
SPOILERS BELOW-- aka I read it so you don't have to
----------------------------------
Okay okay okay. I see you. You've read my review but you're still curious about what happens in the book and maybe you don't want to read the whole book to get there. Don't worry, I gotchu.
HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD, LAST WARNING:
And wish I had only read the first and then stopped.
I'm 99% certain I will never read from this author again. (full spoilers at the end of this review in case you want to make the wise choice and skip reading this book)
It took me three hours to read, 1 hour to rant to my very patient spouse, and however long it'll take me to finish typing this review. ughhhhh
The Plot/Genre:
This book is silly.
Not in the Fantasy way, because it's actually really really low Fantasy as to basically be Historical Fiction. There are a few magic items but almost none of them make appearances in the first half of the book, and even after they start doing things it's mainly just receiving super convenient visions of Cleopatra. It's also not silly in the funny haha way.
This book is silly in the telenovela, extremely overdramatic and unrealistic way. You best believe there will be reveals of people being blood related to each other out of nowhere. You best believe there will be people dying and returning from the dead. There are elaborate disguises and cheating and betrayal and everything is dialed up to 11.
To be honest, this is the aspect of the book I disliked the least. Sure, it all falls apart if you scrutinize it for even a moment, but at least it's goofy. (Though there was this moment somewhere in the 80-88% reveal where I couldn't stop groaning aloud at how dumb it was.)
...Only I never really felt like the tone of the book knew and embraced how goofy it was? Everything is fairly serious, stakes are always high, and the book has to keep reminding me about how hard the time period was for women with all the laws stacked against them. idk, ymmv
The Writing:
In the hands of a better writer, I could have forgiven a lot about the book. And there's a reason that at 50% I was still willing to keep going. This book is YA (and reads on the VERY VERY YOUNG end) so I can accept that I'm not the target demographic and they're trying to market to children, so I cut it a lot of slack on my grievances. But there's only so much I can stand.
the questions (pet peeve):
For a "smart" character, Inez's POV is heavily riddled with beyond basic questions. Anytime she's alone the narration basically poses her thoughts in questions like:
"Why did it have to be me?"
"Did his proposal mean he cared about me? Was he as deep in as I was?"
"What if Mamá somehow wrecked this, too?"
"Was that all I was to him?"
"What if I’d been right about him all along?"
"What was I going to do now?"
These are sentences from the first two chapters (and 1 I saved late in my reading activity) and they are very nothing in their substance. It feels like holding the reader's hand with questions the author wants you to have, but they're totally fluff and removing them has no material impact on the book apart from making the character seem more assured of herself.
The chapters are not very long, and there are normally a lot of questions and they can often come back to back with no sentences in between, so it became really noticeable and grating, even though I was reading on audiobook and only looked at an ebook to write this review.
"as if sensing my thoughts" (pet peeve):
I would be curious to know just how many times someone senses her thoughts. Whit definitely does at least half a dozen times, if not double that. I think in his case it's supposed to be a shortcut for the author saying how well he knows her. But then other people also react "as if sensing [Inez's] thoughts" which makes me question how little control she has over her face. Or how obviously simple and basic her thoughts are that everyone knows them.
Similar to the basic questions she asks in her narration, this feels like holding the reader's hand? Combined with a writing crutch? Like the main character/reader can have a question, and then there's an excuse for another character to react to it or spell things out without having to write a plausible transition.
the conveniences:
Nothing. Has. Weight.
Plan blew up in their faces? That's okay, by having a half page conversation they realize they never needed the plan anyway.
Totally out of money to the point that they have literally $0? That's okay, someone will be mysteriously tailing them and leave exact change for the bill they need to pay right now.
Can't get out of a situation with villains and guns on all sides? That's okay, Inez will suddenly get a vision (That's So Raven style; Whit is literally mildly concerned about how she zones out and dissociates for a few seconds) and Cleopatra will reveal a hidden exit and stairs they can use.
telling and not showing:
Did you know Inez is smart? Because she's really really smart. She's his cunning wife and so smart that she can think her way out of every situation.
...but in her actions this bish is so naive, constantly too trusting and then shocked when she learns someone is lying to her, even when everyone else has been suspicious of them the whole time. Time after time after time after time. You'd think it'd be less shocking to her when it happens for the fourth time in a row. The only knowledge she has that is exclusive to her is from the visions she gets from the Cleopatra ring. That's not being smart!
Ffs at one point they have a plan to find her mom, it totally falls apart and she's detained by the villain, and she talks to him and then realizes that the failed plan never would have given them the information they needed anyway by talking aloud of all her thought process and known facts, thereby telling him everything she knows. And then he gives her back the stolen ring (from the opening of book 1) and she's just wearing it like la di da until Whit asks her how tf she got it back and that the villain didn't want anything in return? And she's just like, 'no! totally no strings attached! isn't it so neat how he just gave me back the ring that he previously stole off my hand? it makes perfect sense if you think about it :D' (I'm 95% sure she literally says "it makes sense" when talking to him)
The Elephant in the Room (the Privilege):
The author very intentionally chose to set this in Egypt and during the 1880's. It's constantly brought up how her money and decisions are controlled by a man (first her father, then her uncle, then her husband) and she legally has no rights. But ALSO the author chose to make her an upper class woman (never had to work a day in her life) born into wealth and status AND from a non-Egyptian country WITH modern day ideals-- ideals which never actually carry repercussions despite all the stifling laws and norms that should limit her.
Despite having soapbox moments in the first book where she can decry the evils of colonialism and the bastards coming in to excavate and rob Egypt of its cultural treasures... that's also exactly what she's here to do? They came to dig and to plunder and to steal the treasures for themselves, or at best give it to a museum (but likely not an Egyptian one). So why is girlypop on her high horse about it?
The way she doesn't even think of money when she's penniless, but conveniently has some tickets she can cash in to finish her adventure... this is clearly a character who's never been hampered by anything, everything just falls into her lap. The text always makes her money a non-issue too, so it's honestly questionable on why it's a plot point at all. idk the author's upbringing, but it at least plays out in a very tone-deaf way.
The Romance:
Every relationship in this is trash, so it's hard to single out the romance in particular. Inez is so naive and trusting in the people around her, even when every single one (Every. Single. One.) betrays her and telegraphs that betrayal super immediately. Sometimes she even trusts them again immediately after they betray her. I don't get it.
But the Romance was the one thing I really liked in book one. Sure, it's not perfect. And yes, I mostly liked it because I was picturing the charismatic Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz and how they could breathe life into these scenes. But I was still having fun.
I think the author's desire for twists and betrayals and those shocking, telenovela moments really shot her in the foot in this conclusion, though. She definitely whips it out too early and betrays a lot of the trust and human connection that the reader can feel. Having Inez keep thinking about how much she loves her husband (a man who she has known for maybe a month or two max?) and how they're going to have an amazing future together even though he's marrying her and never once even implied (let alone said aloud) that he loved her... idk. I didn't like it. It made me uncomfortable and never improved as the novel went on, for me.
One More Complaint:
WHERE WAS THE LIBRARY?!
I was actually really excited about the title because I love a hidden library, a secret library, a magic library... This could've been a warehouse! This could've been Nowhere, USA!
Where was the atmosphere?! The history?! The culture?! The amount of time on page to justify making it the title?!
Overall:
There are lots of interesting ideas here that could have made a really fun book but the main character is obnoxiously stupid and the writing makes it a drag.
----------------------------------
SPOILERS BELOW-- aka I read it so you don't have to
----------------------------------
Okay okay okay. I see you. You've read my review but you're still curious about what happens in the book and maybe you don't want to read the whole book to get there. Don't worry, I gotchu.
HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD, LAST WARNING:
May 20, 2025
2.5 stars well that was the most unsatisfying ending that i've ever read. (and i've read many freida mcfadden books.) this review contains spoilers! ellie, ella, ava, LOOK AWAY!!!
after reading the first book, i expected so much more from the plot, the twists, the ending, the relationship, basically everything. and this book disappointed me SO. MUCH.
➯ part 1: boring. boring. boring. in this part, inez marries whit because she believes that he loves her but whit (shockingly) ends up betraying her 🙄. see this is my problem with inez. I HATE DOORMAT FMCS. she was written to be smart & witty but then she goes around and trusts every single person she meets. every. single person. inez starts trusting isadora (her sister, as revealed in part 1) even though her (isadora's) father is having an affair with THEIR traitorous mother (which resulted in isadora). girl bye 😭🤡 and WOAH! isadora betrays her! how surprising 😊.
➯ part 2 & 3: i think a total of about 3 things happened in these 2 sections. some more almost death experiences, ricardo & abdullah go to jail & whit, isadora, & inez go on adventures together. part 2 was especially a slog to get through, i almost considered dnf'ing because nothing was happening.
➯ part 4 (the last part. finally) what the HELL happened in this section. that huge plot twist made me 🚮🚮🚮 that was the least thought out plot twist ever. my mind is genuinely bamboozled right now because i expected so. much. more like ms. isabel plsssss. how did her father just go from a sweet, loving man to an evil man that hates her. and ur telling me that inez couldn't recognize her own father's voice under his fake persona the whole time? BYE 🫳🏻🗑️ the ending was so unsatisfactory too. so the white people win and the poc people lose? hmmm. why was the ending literally inez, whit, etc. letting the british take cleopatra's tomb & belongings.... that made me soso mad. i have to admit the epilogue was cute though. the illustrations aaa 🥹 (specifically of the cats)
➯ the romance i'm gonna be honest, i couldn't have cared less. everytime i read about their relationship, i skipped to the part about the plot. they don't give couple energy at all, they barely even give friend energy. why tf did inez just forgive him for betraying her (mind you: using her to steal all her money) that easily 😐🙅🏻♀️.
➯ overall, there were some interesting plots that had me on the edge of my seat, but i think this was really, really rushed and could've done much better with more editing. the ending could've been much more developed as well as the romance. 2.5 stars is generous tbh! 🤷🏻♀️
after reading the first book, i expected so much more from the plot, the twists, the ending, the relationship, basically everything. and this book disappointed me SO. MUCH.
➯ part 1: boring. boring. boring. in this part, inez marries whit because she believes that he loves her but whit (shockingly) ends up betraying her 🙄. see this is my problem with inez. I HATE DOORMAT FMCS. she was written to be smart & witty but then she goes around and trusts every single person she meets. every. single person. inez starts trusting isadora (her sister, as revealed in part 1) even though her (isadora's) father is having an affair with THEIR traitorous mother (which resulted in isadora). girl bye 😭🤡 and WOAH! isadora betrays her! how surprising 😊.
➯ part 2 & 3: i think a total of about 3 things happened in these 2 sections. some more almost death experiences, ricardo & abdullah go to jail & whit, isadora, & inez go on adventures together. part 2 was especially a slog to get through, i almost considered dnf'ing because nothing was happening.
➯ part 4 (the last part. finally) what the HELL happened in this section. that huge plot twist made me 🚮🚮🚮 that was the least thought out plot twist ever. my mind is genuinely bamboozled right now because i expected so. much. more like ms. isabel plsssss. how did her father just go from a sweet, loving man to an evil man that hates her. and ur telling me that inez couldn't recognize her own father's voice under his fake persona the whole time? BYE 🫳🏻🗑️ the ending was so unsatisfactory too. so the white people win and the poc people lose? hmmm. why was the ending literally inez, whit, etc. letting the british take cleopatra's tomb & belongings.... that made me soso mad. i have to admit the epilogue was cute though. the illustrations aaa 🥹 (specifically of the cats)
➯ the romance i'm gonna be honest, i couldn't have cared less. everytime i read about their relationship, i skipped to the part about the plot. they don't give couple energy at all, they barely even give friend energy. why tf did inez just forgive him for betraying her (mind you: using her to steal all her money) that easily 😐🙅🏻♀️.
➯ overall, there were some interesting plots that had me on the edge of my seat, but i think this was really, really rushed and could've done much better with more editing. the ending could've been much more developed as well as the romance. 2.5 stars is generous tbh! 🤷🏻♀️
December 9, 2024
I just know this is going to be a 5 star 😍 can’t wait to read more about my man Whit
Edit: I was right. 5 star and beyond. Inez and Whit have my heart forever ♾️
Edit: I was right. 5 star and beyond. Inez and Whit have my heart forever ♾️
March 30, 2025
🪭 ⌇ ⊹ 2 stars
whit: charisma of a potato & deceitfulness in human form.
the book overall: embodiment of insomnia.
"it's you and me, darling. forever."inez: naivety & stupidity incarnate.
whit: charisma of a potato & deceitfulness in human form.
the book overall: embodiment of insomnia.
Read
February 12, 2025DNF @ 27%
April 18, 2025
While I didn’t love it as much as the first 😬 It was still an enjoyable read 🤗
November 30, 2024
”I would burn the world over twice to save her life.”
This was so good! This was a fun mystery full of magic and intrigue. I became involved in this story from the first page. The plot was interesting and the pacing was almost perfect. The writing was engaging and descriptive. I enjoyed the setting immensely, the descriptions of Egypt made me feel that I was traveling to Egypt and experiencing everything with the characters. I enjoyed the magic but I wished the author went into more detail about the magic and showed more of the history. The mystery aspect of the book was great, and some of the plot twists were shocking, although I did guess one of the plot twists. I loved how the author mixed in history along with the magic and mystery. The characters were relatable and interesting. I love Inez, she is brave, hardworking, tenacious, and independent. I was inspired by her determination during a difficult situation. I really like Whit he is charming, strong, funny, caring and protective of Inez. I loved that he showed her how much he cared for her through us actions but also his words. There was one situation where I didn’t agree with what Whit or Inez did and I wish they communicated better. The chemistry and tension between Inez and Whit was great! I’m glad that their relationship evolved over time and they learned to communicate to each other effectively. The ending was sweet and exciting, although I was a little underwhelmed.
Overall I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, historical fantasy, great characters and a fun setting.
This was so good! This was a fun mystery full of magic and intrigue. I became involved in this story from the first page. The plot was interesting and the pacing was almost perfect. The writing was engaging and descriptive. I enjoyed the setting immensely, the descriptions of Egypt made me feel that I was traveling to Egypt and experiencing everything with the characters. I enjoyed the magic but I wished the author went into more detail about the magic and showed more of the history. The mystery aspect of the book was great, and some of the plot twists were shocking, although I did guess one of the plot twists. I loved how the author mixed in history along with the magic and mystery. The characters were relatable and interesting. I love Inez, she is brave, hardworking, tenacious, and independent. I was inspired by her determination during a difficult situation. I really like Whit he is charming, strong, funny, caring and protective of Inez. I loved that he showed her how much he cared for her through us actions but also his words. There was one situation where I didn’t agree with what Whit or Inez did and I wish they communicated better. The chemistry and tension between Inez and Whit was great! I’m glad that their relationship evolved over time and they learned to communicate to each other effectively. The ending was sweet and exciting, although I was a little underwhelmed.
Overall I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, historical fantasy, great characters and a fun setting.
November 10, 2024
This was SUCH a fantastic conclusion to one of my favorite duologies of the year. I loved every minute and every chapter. 💕 A beautiful historical-fiction fantasy set in Egypt during the late 1800’s. So much adventure, romance, twists, a perfectly delightful sprinkle of magic, mystery, morally grey characters, mummies!! ✨
December 23, 2024
4.5 ☆ ! 🐪
⤿ so close to a five star!
“it’s you and me, darling. forever."
♫ | imgonnagetyouback by taylor swift
small talk, big love
act like I don’t care what you did
📜 overall thoughts :
this book was surprisingly intense, but I loved every second of it! all the twists went crazy, and the climax was actually insane. I could read thousands of pages about these characters, so while I'm sad the series is over, I’m so excited for the probable spin off isabel hinted at!? and i’m just in love with the egyptian setting, imagine how cool it would be to go there!!! my only complaint is that I feel as if the writing could’ve been edited a bit more. dw, it still ate tho <3
🪭 characters :
⟶ inez olivera
my girl is too sweet and trusting for this world ahh! inez is one of my fav fmcs EVER, she’s up there with katniss, annabeth, and evangeline fs. I love her to death, even tho she did make some questionable choices when it came to trust, and she definitely should’ve slapped whit more than once. also, I was sad we didn’t get to see inez the artist as much as we did in the first one.
⟶ whitford hayes
his full name is so fine hehe. please, please, please someone find me a whit of my own! because this man! falling in love w him would be the kind that drives you crazy, but that’s how you know it's real love. he definitely redeemed himself, though the girls and I wanted more groveling!
₊˚ʚ 💙 to my loves :
ellie, ella, lydia, and kinley!! I had the time of my lifefighting dragons with you reading this book together! as always, you girlies made the experience all the better. I adore each and every one of you endlessly, ily ily. I’ll link their reviews down below for everyone to go spam, if you haven’t already!
lydia's review!
ellie's review!
ella's review!
kinley's review!
my inez and whit playlist
xoxo, Ava <3
⊱✿⊰
quotes :
“I know, sweetheart.” // true story, i died every time whit called inez that
“you’re the one I want, inez. please make me the happiest man on earth.”
“aren’t damsels always providing petticoats when the hero is in dire straits?”
“aren’t you always telling me that you’re not the hero?” // inez ate w this one
“if I have to follow you across a desert, I will. If I have to jump into the nile again, and again, I will. If I have to leap in front of a thousand bullets I will. I will always love you.”
-
🍒 ⟶ pre read :
omg it's timeee!!! ive been waiting for this book since I read the first one and I need answers! can't wait for more inez+whit tehehe <3 br with my bestest girls, lyds, ellie, ella, and kins!!! ily my core girlies 💝
⤿ so close to a five star!
“it’s you and me, darling. forever."
♫ | imgonnagetyouback by taylor swift
small talk, big love
act like I don’t care what you did
📜 overall thoughts :
this book was surprisingly intense, but I loved every second of it! all the twists went crazy, and the climax was actually insane. I could read thousands of pages about these characters, so while I'm sad the series is over, I’m so excited for the probable spin off isabel hinted at!? and i’m just in love with the egyptian setting, imagine how cool it would be to go there!!! my only complaint is that I feel as if the writing could’ve been edited a bit more. dw, it still ate tho <3
🪭 characters :
⟶ inez olivera
my girl is too sweet and trusting for this world ahh! inez is one of my fav fmcs EVER, she’s up there with katniss, annabeth, and evangeline fs. I love her to death, even tho she did make some questionable choices when it came to trust, and she definitely should’ve slapped whit more than once. also, I was sad we didn’t get to see inez the artist as much as we did in the first one.
⟶ whitford hayes
his full name is so fine hehe. please, please, please someone find me a whit of my own! because this man! falling in love w him would be the kind that drives you crazy, but that’s how you know it's real love. he definitely redeemed himself, though the girls and I wanted more groveling!
₊˚ʚ 💙 to my loves :
ellie, ella, lydia, and kinley!! I had the time of my life
lydia's review!
ellie's review!
ella's review!
kinley's review!
my inez and whit playlist
xoxo, Ava <3
⊱✿⊰
quotes :
“I know, sweetheart.” // true story, i died every time whit called inez that
“you’re the one I want, inez. please make me the happiest man on earth.”
“aren’t damsels always providing petticoats when the hero is in dire straits?”
“aren’t you always telling me that you’re not the hero?” // inez ate w this one
“if I have to follow you across a desert, I will. If I have to jump into the nile again, and again, I will. If I have to leap in front of a thousand bullets I will. I will always love you.”
-
🍒 ⟶ pre read :
omg it's timeee!!! ive been waiting for this book since I read the first one and I need answers! can't wait for more inez+whit tehehe <3 br with my bestest girls, lyds, ellie, ella, and kins!!! ily my core girlies 💝
July 27, 2024
I read the first book and the story was enough to make me want to read the second book even though the first was over-long. I was interested enough to want to see how Inez and Whit's story ended. The publisher sent me an ARC of "Where the Library Hides." Unfortunately, "Library" is also over-long. Books of 400 pages are fine, if all of those pages add to the story. Over-long details and dragging the story out make for a difficult read. I did press on to the end, reluctantly, and while I had high hopes this sequel would be an improvement over the first and with a good wrap-up, I was disappointed.
Reviewing this book without spoilers would be difficult, so I will just say that the conclusions of the stories for the villains as well as for the heroine and hero were unsatisfactory. The storyline for Inez's parents seemed at best, just silly and really, really unlikely. The idea of the extent of Lourdes' and Cayo's double-lives coupled with them returning to Argentina together every year as a family, business as usual, is beyond ridiculous.
Whit's roguish persona abruptly switches to a person unrecognizable toward the end of the book, employing words such as "sweetheart" repeatedly. That just didn't figure into the character the author established. It wasn't character development...it was just unbelievable and a contradiction. Also, no number of flowery declarations of love can erase this character's actions. I suppose the author needed a device to create tension in the love story, but what Whit did that created the tension is unforgiveable. I hope the intended audience (YA readers) doesn't buy it. The ending does not justify Whit's actions. Love doesn't lie, exploit, and take advantage. There isn't even an attempt to make amends or apologize. Hoping to find treasure isn't amends for what he did.
Inez is a complete airhead, absolutely reading every person she comes into contact with incorrectly. I think the idea was to paint her as bold, stubborn, courageous, decisive, etc. It just didn't ring true to me. I found myself thinking, "Really, Inez???" multiple times, particularly with respect to her friendship with Isadora and her infatuation with Whit, but really with her assessments and trust or lack of trust with every other character. She gets it wrong every single time. And not in an endearing way, but rather in a smack your head kind of way. Inez isn't bold, courageous, or decisive - she is just stubbornly immature.
The Elvira storyline kind of held over from the other book was confusing and contradictory. Was Elvira's fate intended for Inez or not? I think the takeaway is supposed to be Elvira was a stand-in and that protected Inez, but various dialogues leave doubt. My takeaway is Lourdes didn't care about anyone enough to concern herself as to how that facet played out.
I am sad to write this review because I hoped for better from this story. Also, I hate not giving a resounding recommendation for others to scoop this up when it is officially released for purchase. I think the author had a good idea for a story and her end notes indicate her excitement about writing a story set in Egypt. I would love to be saying I will be adding her to my watch list for new works, but I just can't. :(
Reviewing this book without spoilers would be difficult, so I will just say that the conclusions of the stories for the villains as well as for the heroine and hero were unsatisfactory. The storyline for Inez's parents seemed at best, just silly and really, really unlikely. The idea of the extent of Lourdes' and Cayo's double-lives coupled with them returning to Argentina together every year as a family, business as usual, is beyond ridiculous.
Whit's roguish persona abruptly switches to a person unrecognizable toward the end of the book, employing words such as "sweetheart" repeatedly. That just didn't figure into the character the author established. It wasn't character development...it was just unbelievable and a contradiction. Also, no number of flowery declarations of love can erase this character's actions. I suppose the author needed a device to create tension in the love story, but what Whit did that created the tension is unforgiveable. I hope the intended audience (YA readers) doesn't buy it. The ending does not justify Whit's actions. Love doesn't lie, exploit, and take advantage. There isn't even an attempt to make amends or apologize. Hoping to find treasure isn't amends for what he did.
Inez is a complete airhead, absolutely reading every person she comes into contact with incorrectly. I think the idea was to paint her as bold, stubborn, courageous, decisive, etc. It just didn't ring true to me. I found myself thinking, "Really, Inez???" multiple times, particularly with respect to her friendship with Isadora and her infatuation with Whit, but really with her assessments and trust or lack of trust with every other character. She gets it wrong every single time. And not in an endearing way, but rather in a smack your head kind of way. Inez isn't bold, courageous, or decisive - she is just stubbornly immature.
The Elvira storyline kind of held over from the other book was confusing and contradictory. Was Elvira's fate intended for Inez or not? I think the takeaway is supposed to be Elvira was a stand-in and that protected Inez, but various dialogues leave doubt. My takeaway is Lourdes didn't care about anyone enough to concern herself as to how that facet played out.
I am sad to write this review because I hoped for better from this story. Also, I hate not giving a resounding recommendation for others to scoop this up when it is officially released for purchase. I think the author had a good idea for a story and her end notes indicate her excitement about writing a story set in Egypt. I would love to be saying I will be adding her to my watch list for new works, but I just can't. :(
December 4, 2024
If I die before November someone better bring this book to my grave and read it to me
November 29, 2024
🩷 | post read
finished 11/26/24
DANGGG YALL. This was lowkey a crazy book& I have so many thoughts on it!! Whitnez are so cute though 🥹 I loved the epilogue with all the drawings 🎀 review to come!!
finished 11/26/24
DANGGG YALL. This was lowkey a crazy book& I have so many thoughts on it!! Whitnez are so cute though 🥹 I loved the epilogue with all the drawings 🎀 review to come!!
October 12, 2024
Well, Isabel sure knows how to write killer endings.
Inez is faced with an ultimatum: either leave Egypt as her uncle is forcing her to do, or marry Whit. Inez hates feeling not in control. Her mother is on the run with stolen artefacts from Cleopatra’s tomb and might be the only one who knows where Inez’s father is.
Inez continues to delight and frustrate me. She is intelligent, determined, and ambitious. However, she also rushes headlong into situations before really thinking them through. Her impulsivity is what causes a lot of the problems in this duology.
Whit… A boy with wit, secrets, and a grit to get anything done.
I loved the further discussions this book encourages about sexism and the law and its bias against women.
The law means that Inez must have a chaperone, her life must be tied to a male. Her inheritance must controlled be controlled by a man, either a guardian or her husband.
"Your being a girl has nothing to do with anything," Whit said through gritted teeth. "Look at Inez; if she wanted, she could make it to Paris on the back of turtle."
This was extremely predictable. To the point where betrayals were obvious, revelations were apparent chapters before Inez put the pieces together, and the not-romance painfully contrived.
There was one final big plot twist at 90%, but by then I already felt disappointed in the reading experience. However, trust me when I say it is even more shocking than the end of book one! But also, more moustache-twirling villainous that felt over the top.
Overall, this was an easy duology to binge, yet I think this might have been stronger as a longer standalone, or with the introduction of more plot elements to follow in book two.
If you enjoyed this, try the Kane Chronicles or Empire of Shadows.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me the arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
Inez is faced with an ultimatum: either leave Egypt as her uncle is forcing her to do, or marry Whit. Inez hates feeling not in control. Her mother is on the run with stolen artefacts from Cleopatra’s tomb and might be the only one who knows where Inez’s father is.
Inez continues to delight and frustrate me. She is intelligent, determined, and ambitious. However, she also rushes headlong into situations before really thinking them through. Her impulsivity is what causes a lot of the problems in this duology.
Whit… A boy with wit, secrets, and a grit to get anything done.
I loved the further discussions this book encourages about sexism and the law and its bias against women.
The law means that Inez must have a chaperone, her life must be tied to a male. Her inheritance must controlled be controlled by a man, either a guardian or her husband.
"Your being a girl has nothing to do with anything," Whit said through gritted teeth. "Look at Inez; if she wanted, she could make it to Paris on the back of turtle."
This was extremely predictable. To the point where betrayals were obvious, revelations were apparent chapters before Inez put the pieces together, and the not-romance painfully contrived.
There was one final big plot twist at 90%, but by then I already felt disappointed in the reading experience. However, trust me when I say it is even more shocking than the end of book one! But also, more moustache-twirling villainous that felt over the top.
Overall, this was an easy duology to binge, yet I think this might have been stronger as a longer standalone, or with the introduction of more plot elements to follow in book two.
If you enjoyed this, try the Kane Chronicles or Empire of Shadows.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me the arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
December 30, 2024
2.75 stars! 🌟
Okay, so I was really torn between 2.5 and 2.75 stars for this one, but the sweet ending + that chef's kiss epilogue bumped it up just a smidge. 😅 The wrap-up was exactly what I needed to feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and honestly, the epilogue? PERFECTION. But, let’s just say, the journey there wasn’t all smooth sailing.
✨ Tropes: ✨
✧ Rivals-to-lovers 💘
✧ Contract marriage 💍
✧ Slow burn (with a tad too much burning🔥)
✧ Heroine in danger 🏃🏻♀️
✧ Mysterious love interest (mystery man vibes 💓)
✧ Betrayal and secrets (oh the drama! 🖤)
Let’s talk Inez for a sec. Girl, I was ready to yeet my phone out the window halfway through. 😤 She had me flipping between “YESSSS, you’re amazing!” and “What in the world are you doing?! 😵” But, just when I thought I couldn’t stand her anymore, I felt so bad for her. 😔 I mean, life really handed her a rough deck of cards. She’s so messed up, but I couldn’t stay mad for long—like I literally just wanted to hug her at times.
Whit…oh Whit. Ugh. I’ll admit, he had a few redeeming moments, but NOPE. I am still not forgiving him for what he pulled. 🖕 Seriously, he needs to work harder to make up for that. He did have a redemption arc later, but let’s just say that wasn’t enough to wipe away all the dirt he put me through.
But let’s be real, the plot kept me hooked despite my frustration with the characters. There were definitely moments that made me keep turning the pages, and I loved the Egypt setting! 🌿✨ It was so immersive and fun. Buttttt, I saw most of the plot twists coming from a mile away, and that last twist? Yeah, it was a bit much—like an over-the-top villain reveal that left me rolling my eyes 🤦🏻♀️.
Content Warnings (CW):
- Gun violence
- Body injuries
- Murder
- Death of a family member
- Adultery
- Alcohol consumption
Overall, I wasn’t completely blown away, but the ending did make me feel a bit better about the journey. If this had been a standalone with a bit more plot punch throughout, it could’ve been SO much better. But if you’re craving some Egypt adventure with a sprinkle of romance, give it a shot—but don’t expect a smooth ride!
Okay, so I was really torn between 2.5 and 2.75 stars for this one, but the sweet ending + that chef's kiss epilogue bumped it up just a smidge. 😅 The wrap-up was exactly what I needed to feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and honestly, the epilogue? PERFECTION. But, let’s just say, the journey there wasn’t all smooth sailing.
✨ Tropes: ✨
✧ Rivals-to-lovers 💘
✧ Contract marriage 💍
✧ Slow burn (with a tad too much burning🔥)
✧ Heroine in danger 🏃🏻♀️
✧ Mysterious love interest (mystery man vibes 💓)
✧ Betrayal and secrets (oh the drama! 🖤)
Let’s talk Inez for a sec. Girl, I was ready to yeet my phone out the window halfway through. 😤 She had me flipping between “YESSSS, you’re amazing!” and “What in the world are you doing?! 😵” But, just when I thought I couldn’t stand her anymore, I felt so bad for her. 😔 I mean, life really handed her a rough deck of cards. She’s so messed up, but I couldn’t stay mad for long—like I literally just wanted to hug her at times.
Whit…oh Whit. Ugh. I’ll admit, he had a few redeeming moments, but NOPE. I am still not forgiving him for what he pulled. 🖕 Seriously, he needs to work harder to make up for that. He did have a redemption arc later, but let’s just say that wasn’t enough to wipe away all the dirt he put me through.
But let’s be real, the plot kept me hooked despite my frustration with the characters. There were definitely moments that made me keep turning the pages, and I loved the Egypt setting! 🌿✨ It was so immersive and fun. Buttttt, I saw most of the plot twists coming from a mile away, and that last twist? Yeah, it was a bit much—like an over-the-top villain reveal that left me rolling my eyes 🤦🏻♀️.
Content Warnings (CW):
- Gun violence
- Body injuries
- Murder
- Death of a family member
- Adultery
- Alcohol consumption
Overall, I wasn’t completely blown away, but the ending did make me feel a bit better about the journey. If this had been a standalone with a bit more plot punch throughout, it could’ve been SO much better. But if you’re craving some Egypt adventure with a sprinkle of romance, give it a shot—but don’t expect a smooth ride!
December 5, 2024
“It’s you and me, darling. Forever.”
♫ ~ I can fix him (no really I can)
they shake their heads saying ‘god help her’
when I tell them he’s my man
4.5★
🏺₊˚.꒱ summary of thoughts:
It’s been a long time coming, but it was so so worth it!! This was everything I could have hoped for, especially after that devastating cliffhanger. You know how sometimes you can tell if you’re going to love a book or not just by reading the first chapter? Well, after the first chapter I was already in LOVE, obsessed, and completely rehooked to the story. And I’m happy to say that feeling stuck throughout the entire book. There’s never a dull moment with Whit and Inez, I was entranced throughout the entire story, plus those plot twists ate downnn. Oh and my fav part, the romance, was so good too ugh, I am so happy with all of the Whit + Inez moments we got 🥺. Their banter>>> I don’t have many complaints, only a few small things that are just me being picky haha. Overall, it was pretty much perfect.
🛕₊˚.꒱ the characters:
Inez: I’m not sure what it was exactly, but I loved her so much more in this one then I did in the first book! And I was definitely able to connect with her more! But my heart ached so much for her omg, the way each time she thought she found a true friend they just kept letting her down, and that’s actually so relatable too 🤧. But I just adore her, especially after I found out she was a cat person hehe.
Whit: Ok but when he calls Inez ‘sweetheart’ 😩. Whit is the kind of fictional character whom I will justify wrong doings for, simply because he’s so hot. (But he really did always only have good intentions yk 🥰.) Though I feel like maybe he should have felt a bit more remorse. But he’s still just so swoon worthy, says the most attractively sarcastic things, AND is a protective man through and through even after denying his feelings, which we looove 🤭. Give him apples and he’s basically Jacks in another universe.
honorable mentions: Arabella, Farida, the scarf, and the teacup. I hope to see them all again in a spin off <3.
📜₊˚.꒱ a few other things:
Okay can we talk about that epilogue, I’m so obsessed! I think every book should have an epilogue like that omg, that was such an amazing idea on Isabel’s part. And I so enjoyed the Egyptian setting of this duology as well!! Egypt seems like such a cool place, and I feel like a definitely learned a thing or two about it from these books <3. Ugh I’m going to miss this world sm, what I would give to read this duology for the first time again.
🤎₊˚.꒱ Ellie, Kinley, Ava, and Lydia ,
If you’re reading this, please know that I will fight you for Whit! HAHAHAHA jkjk, we all know him and Inez belong together. BUT GIRLS. Words can't express how much fun this buddy read was!! I adore you all sooo much you guys are the CUTEST and my fav girlies to yap with 🥺💖 I am SOSO happy we all loved this, that makes me so happy!! LOVE YOU ALL TO PIECES, may we have many more buddy reads to come. MWAH.
♫ ~ mini playlist:
₊ I can fix him (no really I can)
₊ but daddy I love him
₊ let it happen
₊ miss americana and the heartbreak prince
“Who knows where the library hides.”
pre read:
... its been a long time coming 🤭 but I'm FINALLY reading this ahhhh!! this one of my most anticipated books of the year, because the first one had such an awful cliffhanger, but also because I get to br this with my baes ellie, kinley, ava, and lydia! love you cuties pies sm MWAH.
♫ ~ I can fix him (no really I can)
they shake their heads saying ‘god help her’
when I tell them he’s my man
4.5★
🏺₊˚.꒱ summary of thoughts:
It’s been a long time coming, but it was so so worth it!! This was everything I could have hoped for, especially after that devastating cliffhanger. You know how sometimes you can tell if you’re going to love a book or not just by reading the first chapter? Well, after the first chapter I was already in LOVE, obsessed, and completely rehooked to the story. And I’m happy to say that feeling stuck throughout the entire book. There’s never a dull moment with Whit and Inez, I was entranced throughout the entire story, plus those plot twists ate downnn. Oh and my fav part, the romance, was so good too ugh, I am so happy with all of the Whit + Inez moments we got 🥺. Their banter>>> I don’t have many complaints, only a few small things that are just me being picky haha. Overall, it was pretty much perfect.
🛕₊˚.꒱ the characters:
Inez: I’m not sure what it was exactly, but I loved her so much more in this one then I did in the first book! And I was definitely able to connect with her more! But my heart ached so much for her omg, the way each time she thought she found a true friend they just kept letting her down, and that’s actually so relatable too 🤧. But I just adore her, especially after I found out she was a cat person hehe.
Whit: Ok but when he calls Inez ‘sweetheart’ 😩. Whit is the kind of fictional character whom I will justify wrong doings for, simply because he’s so hot. (But he really did always only have good intentions yk 🥰.) Though I feel like maybe he should have felt a bit more remorse. But he’s still just so swoon worthy, says the most attractively sarcastic things, AND is a protective man through and through even after denying his feelings, which we looove 🤭. Give him apples and he’s basically Jacks in another universe.
honorable mentions: Arabella, Farida, the scarf, and the teacup. I hope to see them all again in a spin off <3.
📜₊˚.꒱ a few other things:
Okay can we talk about that epilogue, I’m so obsessed! I think every book should have an epilogue like that omg, that was such an amazing idea on Isabel’s part. And I so enjoyed the Egyptian setting of this duology as well!! Egypt seems like such a cool place, and I feel like a definitely learned a thing or two about it from these books <3. Ugh I’m going to miss this world sm, what I would give to read this duology for the first time again.
🤎₊˚.꒱ Ellie, Kinley, Ava, and Lydia ,
If you’re reading this, please know that I will fight you for Whit! HAHAHAHA jkjk, we all know him and Inez belong together. BUT GIRLS. Words can't express how much fun this buddy read was!! I adore you all sooo much you guys are the CUTEST and my fav girlies to yap with 🥺💖 I am SOSO happy we all loved this, that makes me so happy!! LOVE YOU ALL TO PIECES, may we have many more buddy reads to come. MWAH.
♫ ~ mini playlist:
₊ I can fix him (no really I can)
₊ but daddy I love him
₊ let it happen
₊ miss americana and the heartbreak prince
“Who knows where the library hides.”
pre read:
... its been a long time coming 🤭 but I'm FINALLY reading this ahhhh!! this one of my most anticipated books of the year, because the first one had such an awful cliffhanger, but also because I get to br this with my baes ellie, kinley, ava, and lydia! love you cuties pies sm MWAH.
December 1, 2024
➳ 4.75 ☆! 🪭spoiler free!
🎧 - logical + down bad
ᯓᡣ𐭩 love is never logical
i know I could've stopped it all
god, why didn't I stop it all?
➳ it truly has been a long time coming and im so glad i was able to read this!! the wait was worth it and now i dont know what to do because its over. but i can tell you this, GO READ THIS DUOLOGY!! i cant recommend it enough, and to those who have yet to read it, you are LUCKY! because the amount of stuff that went down in this book was insane 🫢 and ill never be shocked about any of the plot twists again soo 🤷♀️someone please take my memories away of reading this
my thoughts📜| overall, it was a decent end t the series! idk what i really was expecting, other than the fact i wanted to see my babies whinez happy 🫶 my only qualm is that it felt a bit dragged out at times + could've been more thorough with the pacing! i loved seeing the characters again, tho! i hope we get some sort of spin off (which i think we will eventually tehe)
➳ this world would not be the same without you in it, and i dont ever want to find out what the feels like.
character study ۫ ꣑ৎ
inez olivera oh, my precious girl ☹️🫶 the way she has gone through so much. give this girl a break!! but nonetheless, i loved her character! yeah, she could be stubborn or too trustworthy at times, but that makes her more realistic. and i dont blame her. i admire the way shes determined and loved other people (her family) she inspires me to TRAVEL and go see the world. inez deserves the biggest apology + the greatest hug 💗ill miss you!!
whitford hayes OH?? whos this hottie!! (sorry historical men just do it better) but anyway, im glad we got to know him more in this one! he was so closed off and mysterious AND i needed to know what was going on!! but AHH hes so underrated, him + inez really compliment eachother 🤭 yeah, this guys makes the ladies swoon !! his sarcasm and charisma has never failed me. also, he has a lot of emotional baggage w/ him and i think that made him such an authentic character. PLUS THE WAY HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIS WOMAN 🧎♀️🧎♀️ but whit, next time i expect more groveling 😭 but nonetheless, hes a hero whether or not he'll admit it! and i love him sm 🫶
➳ side note: i cant say too much about the other characters, but WOW didn't see any of them coming!! also spoiler if you have not read:
🎧 - down bad
ᯓᡣ𐭩 because what if i was in love?
what if i cant have us?
• logical
• dancing with our hands tied
• risk
• say dont go
bottom line | i hope you read this series one day and love it as much as i did! i fell in love with this story back in january and havent gone back since 🫂 idk if i like the first book better or not, but both are tremendous! these books were one of the highlights of 2024 for me, and i also adore how this took place in egypt! i feel like i learned sm about the history over there. and when the title and covers now make sense>>>> happy reading guys, and say hi to whinez for me if you read their books 💗💗
📜 - to my gorgeous girlies, ella, ava, lydia, and kins!! i love you girls sm and it was a BLAST have this group br!! i love how we all LOVE this series and yapping about this book while also having our jaws dropped every few pages was the best thing ever 😭🫶 here's to more brs in the future!! you all are so special and the best 🫂 GO SPAM THEIR REVIEWS GUYS <3
----------------
🦌| POST-READ
im thinking 4.5 or 4.75 🥹 but OH, the wait was so worth it and I'll be carrying these characters in my heart into the new year !!! to anyone who hasn't read, you are LUCKY because there are so many twists and turns and I wont be able to read them and be surprised for the first time ever again 😔 but wow, stuff went DOWNNNN in this one! anywhos rtc <3
🦌| preview!
this is one of my most ANTICIPATED reads of the year. after reading the first book back in january, patience has been HARD. but the tiimeee is finally here!! and I get to celebrate and buddy read with my girlies - kins, ellaa, avaa, and lydiaa!! I love you all sm and I love how we all love this world 🥹 and shout out liv, I hope we love this as much as you did!! 🏹
“he placed his hands on my shoulders, bending his knees so that he could meet my eyes. his breath brushed against my mouth. “sweetheart, i know.”
🎧 - logical + down bad
ᯓᡣ𐭩 love is never logical
i know I could've stopped it all
god, why didn't I stop it all?
➳ it truly has been a long time coming and im so glad i was able to read this!! the wait was worth it and now i dont know what to do because its over. but i can tell you this, GO READ THIS DUOLOGY!! i cant recommend it enough, and to those who have yet to read it, you are LUCKY! because the amount of stuff that went down in this book was insane 🫢 and ill never be shocked about any of the plot twists again soo 🤷♀️
my thoughts📜| overall, it was a decent end t the series! idk what i really was expecting, other than the fact i wanted to see my babies whinez happy 🫶 my only qualm is that it felt a bit dragged out at times + could've been more thorough with the pacing! i loved seeing the characters again, tho! i hope we get some sort of spin off (which i think we will eventually tehe)
➳ this world would not be the same without you in it, and i dont ever want to find out what the feels like.
character study ۫ ꣑ৎ
inez olivera oh, my precious girl ☹️🫶 the way she has gone through so much. give this girl a break!! but nonetheless, i loved her character! yeah, she could be stubborn or too trustworthy at times, but that makes her more realistic. and i dont blame her. i admire the way shes determined and loved other people (her family) she inspires me to TRAVEL and go see the world. inez deserves the biggest apology + the greatest hug 💗ill miss you!!
whitford hayes OH?? whos this hottie!! (sorry historical men just do it better) but anyway, im glad we got to know him more in this one! he was so closed off and mysterious AND i needed to know what was going on!! but AHH hes so underrated, him + inez really compliment eachother 🤭 yeah, this guys makes the ladies swoon !! his sarcasm and charisma has never failed me. also, he has a lot of emotional baggage w/ him and i think that made him such an authentic character. PLUS THE WAY HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIS WOMAN 🧎♀️🧎♀️ but whit, next time i expect more groveling 😭 but nonetheless, hes a hero whether or not he'll admit it! and i love him sm 🫶
➳ side note: i cant say too much about the other characters, but WOW didn't see any of them coming!! also spoiler if you have not read:
🎧 - down bad
ᯓᡣ𐭩 because what if i was in love?
what if i cant have us?
• logical
• dancing with our hands tied
• risk
• say dont go
bottom line | i hope you read this series one day and love it as much as i did! i fell in love with this story back in january and havent gone back since 🫂 idk if i like the first book better or not, but both are tremendous! these books were one of the highlights of 2024 for me, and i also adore how this took place in egypt! i feel like i learned sm about the history over there. and when the title and covers now make sense>>>> happy reading guys, and say hi to whinez for me if you read their books 💗💗
📜 - to my gorgeous girlies, ella, ava, lydia, and kins!! i love you girls sm and it was a BLAST have this group br!! i love how we all LOVE this series and yapping about this book while also having our jaws dropped every few pages was the best thing ever 😭🫶 here's to more brs in the future!! you all are so special and the best 🫂 GO SPAM THEIR REVIEWS GUYS <3
----------------
🦌| POST-READ
im thinking 4.5 or 4.75 🥹 but OH, the wait was so worth it and I'll be carrying these characters in my heart into the new year !!! to anyone who hasn't read, you are LUCKY because there are so many twists and turns and I wont be able to read them and be surprised for the first time ever again 😔 but wow, stuff went DOWNNNN in this one! anywhos rtc <3
🦌| preview!
this is one of my most ANTICIPATED reads of the year. after reading the first book back in january, patience has been HARD. but the tiimeee is finally here!! and I get to celebrate and buddy read with my girlies - kins, ellaa, avaa, and lydiaa!! I love you all sm and I love how we all love this world 🥹 and shout out liv, I hope we love this as much as you did!! 🏹
June 13, 2025
4,25 potrzebuje więcej historycznego fantasy w moim życiu.
Ta książka jest tak napakowana akcją, spiskami, miłością i zdradami, ale najbardziej krzyczy POJEDŹ DO EGIPTU
Ta książka jest tak napakowana akcją, spiskami, miłością i zdradami, ale najbardziej krzyczy POJEDŹ DO EGIPTU
November 16, 2024
Is it just me or was this book even more fantastic than the first one??
I honestly think that this second book handled and dealt with each of my complaints from the first one. From the amount of language to the unclear magic system to the pacing and the lack of emotion shown by Inez on certain occasions, this one had none of those issues that bothered me in the first book!
The plot was so well done, I could hardly put it down. Inez and Whit’s story picks up where it left off in book 1 and the rest is a roller coaster ride of adventure. So well done!
Thank you to Wednesday Bools for a copy of this ARC.
I honestly think that this second book handled and dealt with each of my complaints from the first one. From the amount of language to the unclear magic system to the pacing and the lack of emotion shown by Inez on certain occasions, this one had none of those issues that bothered me in the first book!
The plot was so well done, I could hardly put it down. Inez and Whit’s story picks up where it left off in book 1 and the rest is a roller coaster ride of adventure. So well done!
Thank you to Wednesday Bools for a copy of this ARC.
November 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc!
🌟✨/5
Just let me be a hater, okay? What the River Knows was far from perfect, but it interested me enough to give the sequel a try. In retrospect, I shouldn't have. Full of repititive writing, horrendous pacing and cringy romance and having almost nothing to do with the library, Where the Library Hides is far worse than its predecessor.
To begin with, nothing happened for almost 75% of the book. This could've been shortened to less than 300 pages without affecting the overarching plot. I couldn't care less about the MCs and their 'romance'. Inez made terrible decisions one after the other and Whit, well, Whit is a terrible person and no one can convince me otherwise. It was infuriating to see Inez forgive him without much though. The lengths the author went to to make him appear 'swoon-worthy' was ridiculous. The whole Isadora plot should've been scrapped from the story. Her intentions were extremely obvious from the start and reading through Inez's POV about how she loved and trusted her sister was annoying. And the way Isadora met her end...it didn't affect the plot at all. The author went overboard with betrayals and plot twists that made no sense. Reading THAT plot twist after the slow paced 75% cemented my rating of one star. The author didn't make good use of magic as a plot device. The atmosphere of Egypt which I actually enjoyed in book 1 was conspicuously absent in this. The climax was terrible.
Where the Library Hides did not meet my already low expectations.
🌟✨/5
Just let me be a hater, okay? What the River Knows was far from perfect, but it interested me enough to give the sequel a try. In retrospect, I shouldn't have. Full of repititive writing, horrendous pacing and cringy romance and having almost nothing to do with the library, Where the Library Hides is far worse than its predecessor.
To begin with, nothing happened for almost 75% of the book. This could've been shortened to less than 300 pages without affecting the overarching plot. I couldn't care less about the MCs and their 'romance'. Inez made terrible decisions one after the other and Whit, well, Whit is a terrible person and no one can convince me otherwise. It was infuriating to see Inez forgive him without much though. The lengths the author went to to make him appear 'swoon-worthy' was ridiculous. The whole Isadora plot should've been scrapped from the story. Her intentions were extremely obvious from the start and reading through Inez's POV about how she loved and trusted her sister was annoying. And the way Isadora met her end...it didn't affect the plot at all. The author went overboard with betrayals and plot twists that made no sense. Reading THAT plot twist after the slow paced 75% cemented my rating of one star. The author didn't make good use of magic as a plot device. The atmosphere of Egypt which I actually enjoyed in book 1 was conspicuously absent in this. The climax was terrible.
Where the Library Hides did not meet my already low expectations.
October 30, 2024
Rating: 2.5
I was honestly so excited to receive this given how much I loved the first book and the author left us on such an insane plot twist. But ended up super disappointed.
Overall, I just felt that the characters had no growth in this one and actually I think they got worse?? Inez is meant to be smart, cunning, able to scheme really or at least that’s what we’re told and to some extent she was in the first book. But here, she somehow became even more naive, waaaay too trusting, dramatic and went head-first into impulsive, stupid situations. Whit stayed the same though and actually getting to see his POV in this book made me believe the romance less.
I also found the writing style in this to be very cringey especially the romance between the two characters and just got worse towards the end. The writing style also felt very very young; I felt like I was reading the book version of a disney show.
The thing that really gripped me with the first book was the adventure, history and Indiana Jones feel of it all, but we don’t have that here. A lot of the book is just conflict between the characters. We barely see any history, learn more about Cleopatra or see them try and find more archeological discoveries. Understandable given where the author took the plot but was just disappointed as that’s what drew me into the first book. The last 25% or so did start to feel like this and that’s what really made me carry on reading (and knowing there was a huge twist at the end and I wanted to know what it was).
Like I said, there’s a huge plot twist at the end (and a few small ones along the way) but honestly, I found the majority to be quite obvious and it confuses me that Inez didn’t see most of them coming.
Also, given what happened to Elvira in the last book and how close Inez and her were, she didn’t seem overly upset apart from in some random moments - it would’ve been the book feel more real if we actually got to see/feel her grief. Elvira just felt like a random, forgotten plot point.
Anyway, overall I was disappointed with this one, especially given how much I loved the first.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was honestly so excited to receive this given how much I loved the first book and the author left us on such an insane plot twist. But ended up super disappointed.
Overall, I just felt that the characters had no growth in this one and actually I think they got worse?? Inez is meant to be smart, cunning, able to scheme really or at least that’s what we’re told and to some extent she was in the first book. But here, she somehow became even more naive, waaaay too trusting, dramatic and went head-first into impulsive, stupid situations. Whit stayed the same though and actually getting to see his POV in this book made me believe the romance less.
I also found the writing style in this to be very cringey especially the romance between the two characters and just got worse towards the end. The writing style also felt very very young; I felt like I was reading the book version of a disney show.
The thing that really gripped me with the first book was the adventure, history and Indiana Jones feel of it all, but we don’t have that here. A lot of the book is just conflict between the characters. We barely see any history, learn more about Cleopatra or see them try and find more archeological discoveries. Understandable given where the author took the plot but was just disappointed as that’s what drew me into the first book. The last 25% or so did start to feel like this and that’s what really made me carry on reading (and knowing there was a huge twist at the end and I wanted to know what it was).
Like I said, there’s a huge plot twist at the end (and a few small ones along the way) but honestly, I found the majority to be quite obvious and it confuses me that Inez didn’t see most of them coming.
Also, given what happened to Elvira in the last book and how close Inez and her were, she didn’t seem overly upset apart from in some random moments - it would’ve been the book feel more real if we actually got to see/feel her grief. Elvira just felt like a random, forgotten plot point.
Anyway, overall I was disappointed with this one, especially given how much I loved the first.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2024
4.75 WHITFORD HAYES THE MAN THAT YOU ARE.
my slay pre review ~
The library is hiding with the fictional guys that I can't have. I'm sure of it.
I'm so excited for this book.
my slay pre review ~
The library is hiding with the fictional guys that I can't have. I'm sure of it.
I'm so excited for this book.
December 30, 2024
Secrets of the Nile Duology completed (2/2) ✔️
What the River Knows ★★★★.5
(Review can be found here.)
Where the Library Hides ★★★.5
Where the Library Hides picks up right where the first one left off…at the CLIFFHANGER that I’ve waited over a year to finally resolve!!
📜And right back to Inez and Whit we go!
Being a restricted female in the male-dominated 1800s, Inez is left facing a huge dilemma after her Tío Ricardo declares an ultimatum regarding her inheritance. Her only solution is to marry in order to gain access to her inheritance and remain in Egypt. Whitford Hayes comes to the rescue, but does he have other plans in mind?
Let’s just say Whit really showed his true colors in this book...his morally grey color! I enjoyed his character development very much though, and it was entertaining to follow the banter and the continuous ups and downs between him and Inez even if the reason felt underwhelming after waiting a whole year. Also despite all of Whit’s wrongs, I still ended up easily admiring him. 🙄🤭
Compared to the first book (which was seemingly problematic in many areas), this book's flaws were more inconspicuous due to the loads of action, higher stakes, and faster pacing. Overall, it was actually a bit more cohesive and quite vivid. In many ways the mystery and adventure itself will be memorable. I adored all the cultural and historical references. You can tell it was a labor of love on the author’s part! We also finally get some steamy moments and more tension in this book along with some mild plot twists.
I was a bit disappointed with a few things still:
A). The magic concept still had no explanation though it was still present and very much essentially convenient in some parts. Guess we will never know what that was about?
B). Inez’s character development was very minimal. She was still very impulsive and naïve. Dare I say stupid at times? I couldn’t believe how consistent she was in making poor decisions. I was screaming at her!
C). The library mentioned in the title does not make an appearance until around 70% of the book which felt lacking. I expected it to be a much bigger part of the book.
D). Looking back, the conclusion was pretty predictable. I had to keep reminding myself it is a YA book. I just hoped for more considering the themes.
Beyond that, there are a couple of things that could be learned from this author. I would love for it to be normalized by all authors and would greatly appreciate it if refreshers were provided for books in a series. Everyone has such busy lives and are reading multiple books/waiting years sometimes for next releases that things get forgotten! So I appreciated how there was a refresher page at the beginning of the book! I also really loved the illustrated epilogue at the end! Both of those concepts were very well done. Thanks to the hints provided in the epilogue, there is speculation that there may be a possible spin-off story about one of the introduced characters. However, I’m undecided if I’d be interested in pursuing anything further in this universe. It feels complete as is.
A Favorite Quote:
“You only have to look backward to see that most people who governed by fear and malice didn’t last long in their position of influence. They faced revolutions, rebellions, skirmishes, wars, and assassination attempts. But leaders who inspired their subjects were beloved and championed and protected.”
What the River Knows ★★★★.5
(Review can be found here.)
Where the Library Hides ★★★.5
Where the Library Hides picks up right where the first one left off…at the CLIFFHANGER that I’ve waited over a year to finally resolve!!
📜And right back to Inez and Whit we go!
Being a restricted female in the male-dominated 1800s, Inez is left facing a huge dilemma after her Tío Ricardo declares an ultimatum regarding her inheritance. Her only solution is to marry in order to gain access to her inheritance and remain in Egypt. Whitford Hayes comes to the rescue, but does he have other plans in mind?
Let’s just say Whit really showed his true colors in this book...his morally grey color! I enjoyed his character development very much though, and it was entertaining to follow the banter and the continuous ups and downs between him and Inez even if the reason felt underwhelming after waiting a whole year. Also despite all of Whit’s wrongs, I still ended up easily admiring him. 🙄🤭
Compared to the first book (which was seemingly problematic in many areas), this book's flaws were more inconspicuous due to the loads of action, higher stakes, and faster pacing. Overall, it was actually a bit more cohesive and quite vivid. In many ways the mystery and adventure itself will be memorable. I adored all the cultural and historical references. You can tell it was a labor of love on the author’s part! We also finally get some steamy moments and more tension in this book along with some mild plot twists.
I was a bit disappointed with a few things still:
A). The magic concept still had no explanation though it was still present and very much essentially convenient in some parts. Guess we will never know what that was about?
B). Inez’s character development was very minimal. She was still very impulsive and naïve. Dare I say stupid at times? I couldn’t believe how consistent she was in making poor decisions. I was screaming at her!
C). The library mentioned in the title does not make an appearance until around 70% of the book which felt lacking. I expected it to be a much bigger part of the book.
D). Looking back, the conclusion was pretty predictable. I had to keep reminding myself it is a YA book. I just hoped for more considering the themes.
Beyond that, there are a couple of things that could be learned from this author. I would love for it to be normalized by all authors and would greatly appreciate it if refreshers were provided for books in a series. Everyone has such busy lives and are reading multiple books/waiting years sometimes for next releases that things get forgotten! So I appreciated how there was a refresher page at the beginning of the book! I also really loved the illustrated epilogue at the end! Both of those concepts were very well done. Thanks to the hints provided in the epilogue, there is speculation that there may be a possible spin-off story about one of the introduced characters. However, I’m undecided if I’d be interested in pursuing anything further in this universe. It feels complete as is.
A Favorite Quote:
“You only have to look backward to see that most people who governed by fear and malice didn’t last long in their position of influence. They faced revolutions, rebellions, skirmishes, wars, and assassination attempts. But leaders who inspired their subjects were beloved and championed and protected.”
November 18, 2024
🌿📚where the library hides ~ 3 stars📚🌿 ✨spoilers for the first book✨
also be warned I was in a real mode when writing this…
”In the utter chaos of my life, you are the only thing that makes sense.”
Inez was so stupid in this book I wanted to rip my own hair out. The possibility of shooting her myself was up in the air too. like yeah she was a lil dumb in the first but she also never experienced anything like that, ya know? Now she has and she’s only became more dumb? Other than that this book was pretty entertaining. I loved Whit per usual. Out of all the ppl she could hold a grudge on or have trust issues with it was him. Please✋🏻, your entire family is a redder flag than you can ever dream him of being.
”Something fractured between us. Or maybe it had always been broken.”
The story line was quite interesting tho. It wasn’t like woah I didn’t see that coming or anything but intriguing regardless. Other than Inez, who was just plain ol’ dumb, there was other characters I didn’t care for. Her aunt and cousin. Honestly her other cousin she likes so much that was killed in the pervious book wasn’t that fantastic anyways. Plus let’s be real rn, why would you follow you cousin to Egypt, like she went for he family. It’s not like you have anything to offer in assistances.
”Your being a girl has nothing to do with anything,” Whit said through gritted teeth. “Look at Inez; if she wanted, she could make it to Paris on the back of a turtle.”
And the main last plot twist. Tell me how on earth Inez didn’t know? It reminds me of the stranger by Katherine smth. The main character in that one was to dumb to recognize voices😭 I think I’m just feeling like a hater today bc I did partly enjoy this book yet the only thing I can get out in words is Whit and the story line🤣 If you hadn’t noticed, no one can make me hate Whit. Not even Lauren Roberts (powerless author) who turned Kitt in me- -
”Is that enough for you?” He podded.
“Yes,” I breathed”
also be warned I was in a real mode when writing this…
”In the utter chaos of my life, you are the only thing that makes sense.”
Inez was so stupid in this book I wanted to rip my own hair out. The possibility of shooting her myself was up in the air too. like yeah she was a lil dumb in the first but she also never experienced anything like that, ya know? Now she has and she’s only became more dumb? Other than that this book was pretty entertaining. I loved Whit per usual. Out of all the ppl she could hold a grudge on or have trust issues with it was him. Please✋🏻, your entire family is a redder flag than you can ever dream him of being.
”Something fractured between us. Or maybe it had always been broken.”
The story line was quite interesting tho. It wasn’t like woah I didn’t see that coming or anything but intriguing regardless. Other than Inez, who was just plain ol’ dumb, there was other characters I didn’t care for. Her aunt and cousin. Honestly her other cousin she likes so much that was killed in the pervious book wasn’t that fantastic anyways. Plus let’s be real rn, why would you follow you cousin to Egypt, like she went for he family. It’s not like you have anything to offer in assistances.
”Your being a girl has nothing to do with anything,” Whit said through gritted teeth. “Look at Inez; if she wanted, she could make it to Paris on the back of a turtle.”
And the main last plot twist. Tell me how on earth Inez didn’t know? It reminds me of the stranger by Katherine smth. The main character in that one was to dumb to recognize voices😭 I think I’m just feeling like a hater today bc I did partly enjoy this book yet the only thing I can get out in words is Whit and the story line🤣 If you hadn’t noticed, no one can make me hate Whit. Not even Lauren Roberts (powerless author) who turned Kitt in me- -
”Is that enough for you?” He podded.
“Yes,” I breathed”
November 21, 2024
What the fuck why was that such a mess? 😭 also why the FUCK did she EVER forgive Whit????
December 3, 2024
[ kk’s reading diaries ]
episode ⌗4 ♡
ʚ where the library hides by isabel ibañez ɞ
─ 4.5 ☆
↳ "i would burn the world twice over to save her life.”
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
i wish goodreads would give half stars because truthfully this was a 4.5 stars for me !
i have been waiting for this book ever since i read the first one last year and let me just say i was not disappointed ! there is something about having this book focus on egyptian history with magic thrown in and indiana jones or mummy vibes that makes this book like crack for me.
the frustration i felt with all the angst was something i applaud the author for being able to do (even if it sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions that lowkey wanted to make me throw my book across the room at some points).
inez and whit were once again stealing the show. i love their relationship and with how we left them at the end of the first book, i really wasn’t entirely sure how much more could be done for them and i was clearly wrong because OMG ! i will say inez got on my nerves a little bit and anyone that reads the book will understand why, but other than that i loved them as usual and wish they got another book cause i already miss them so much !
the only reason i don’t give this book 5 stars is because i feel like there was a little bit of drag when it came to getting to the adventure part of the story. in the last book they were traveling and visiting all of these sites for a majority of the book while we really didn’t get to see any of that until the last fifth of this book.
overall, a really great story and conclusion for this duology and the epilogue left it open ended for a possible spin-off for a character i wasn’t expecting to have the potentials for a spin-off ! i will definitely be picking up this duology again sooner rather than later !
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
ᯓ★ pre read. nov 23 2024 !!
omgg so excited for this and to continue this series 😚🫶 the first book was a 5 star book for me, so i have high hopes for this one!! buddy read with my precious girls: ellie, ava, ella + lydia! can't wait to start this ♡♡
episode ⌗4 ♡
ʚ where the library hides by isabel ibañez ɞ
─ 4.5 ☆
↳ "i would burn the world twice over to save her life.”
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
i wish goodreads would give half stars because truthfully this was a 4.5 stars for me !
i have been waiting for this book ever since i read the first one last year and let me just say i was not disappointed ! there is something about having this book focus on egyptian history with magic thrown in and indiana jones or mummy vibes that makes this book like crack for me.
the frustration i felt with all the angst was something i applaud the author for being able to do (even if it sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions that lowkey wanted to make me throw my book across the room at some points).
inez and whit were once again stealing the show. i love their relationship and with how we left them at the end of the first book, i really wasn’t entirely sure how much more could be done for them and i was clearly wrong because OMG ! i will say inez got on my nerves a little bit and anyone that reads the book will understand why, but other than that i loved them as usual and wish they got another book cause i already miss them so much !
the only reason i don’t give this book 5 stars is because i feel like there was a little bit of drag when it came to getting to the adventure part of the story. in the last book they were traveling and visiting all of these sites for a majority of the book while we really didn’t get to see any of that until the last fifth of this book.
overall, a really great story and conclusion for this duology and the epilogue left it open ended for a possible spin-off for a character i wasn’t expecting to have the potentials for a spin-off ! i will definitely be picking up this duology again sooner rather than later !
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
ᯓ★ pre read. nov 23 2024 !!
omgg so excited for this and to continue this series 😚🫶 the first book was a 5 star book for me, so i have high hopes for this one!! buddy read with my precious girls: ellie, ava, ella + lydia! can't wait to start this ♡♡
Read
January 27, 2024THAT COVER?! I NEED IT NOW.
May 7, 2025
Everyone did Inez dirty on this one—even the author. When the bald cap came out (if you know, you know), I was slapping my head in disbelief.
And If I thought Whit was going to infuriate me less….
Preface
The Ibañez made Inez so naive that I don’t even have the gall to call it a character trait. I was constantly thinking, “There is no bloody way in hell that’s happening!” Most of the twists and turns had NO FORESHADOWING, or if they did, they came so out of the blue they were labeled: “pure azure, caution: toxic.”
—————————————————————————
Ratings
Plot: 3 📚📚📚 A good amount of plot.
World Building (Immersion): 3 🌍🌍🌍 Submerged.
Angst: 2.5 👹👹💫 Biting your tongue.
Funniness: 1.5 🌝💫 Amused.
Scariness: ❎ Not scary.
Romance: 2.5 💖💖💫 It could have been better developed.
Spice: 1 🌶️ Some steamy kisses and fade to black.
Goriness: 2.5 🫀🫀💫 Someone died and I kind of witnessed it.
Sadness: 1 🥲 I know the author intended for me to feel something.
Overall star rating: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable, but there were some things that fell flat.
————————————————————————-
🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨
The Good Chapters:
▫️Whit killing someone with a newspaper was cool
▫️Whit fighting was very cool in general. Homeboy, put the bad in ass.
(He also put the ass in bad; that is a story for the bad chapters).
▫️I did enjoy the exchange where Inez is interrogating her father on his “questionable habits” and he is explaining how he got to that point: “Don’t misunderstand me,” he said sharply. “I didn’t want to turn back.”
The In-between Chapters:
🔹I laughed when the FaceTime tea cups came up.
🔹Intermission: Fixing Whit’s dilemma
The facts:
-Whit is a war criminal.
-Whit is a liar.
-Whit is a con artist.
-Whit is a fortune hunter. (I don’t care what he says, I don’t care about the intentions—fortune hunter. 🫱🏻🧍)
-Whit’s POV did not give us any insight into his relationships or feelings for Inez. I gathered by a flick of the wind in relation to his feelings after he betrayed Inez.
-Whit’s family is about to marry off his sister. He needed the ENTIRETY of Inez’s fortune (how is that the exact amount that he knew he needed, along with how much debt his family was in, leaves me baffled. Inez was VERY WEALTHY if her family was funding excavations for years).
The main thing that bothers me—worse than a flea behind the ear—is: if Whit was willing to betray someone he cared about (Inez) for someone he dearly loves (his sister), then he should have been willing to do anything.
WHY DIDN’T THIS WALKING “OOPS” SELL COPIES OF RELICS? SELL INEZ’S PARENTS’ THINGS? WHY DIDN’T HE RUN HIS OWN CON AGAINST THE CON ARTISTS? Why didn’t he steal something? Heck, why didn’t he have one honest conversation with Inez? He had no qualms and no honor—why is it okay to steal from the girl you love, but not from some British colonialist bum?
He had years to plan, and he didn’t think of any alternatives to looking for a magical, almost mythical, piece of ancient paper???!
My professional public opinion on his treatment: “There’s no such thing as bad people, just ordinary people that do bad things…”
Me to Whit behind the scenes:Jump.
Whit: What?
Me: JUMP 👉🏻🕳️
The Bad Chapters:
▪️I didn’t get what I wanted from the plot, from the magic, from the romance, or from the character dynamics.
▪️Sorry, did Inez’s father need to be evil too? Her mother was enough, no? How about her secret half-sister, huh? Wasn’t that enough? I understand where the author was trying to go. Her mother was evil both because of the circumstances of an unhappy marriage with a husband she could not please and her inward sense of selfish self-preservation.
She could have totally done that by letting Cayo be a good father. I think that would have made the situation more complex and added more depth to her characters instead of: “Holy cannolis, is that a fake mustache?” evil laughter, twirl twirl twirl.
I’m amply tired of most modern sensibilities not letting women—or villains—be evil. I’m not talking about going back to one-dimensional villains. Don’t misunderstand me—I’d much rather keep these watered-down villains than go back to that.
Yet there is a rich environment to be harvested if Cayo had been a good father and a terrible husband, while simultaneously being a good man.
The failures of the time in limiting women would have been more effective, as would the limitations of the “perfect woman” Inez’s mom tried to impart on both of her daughters—and herself. The hypocrisy, the tragedy, the zest—it would have been magnificent. Bonus points if Cayo still loved his wife and fought against everything she stood for, because in one way, he could have been the author of this tragedy—but in a whole other way. By not seeking to understand his wife—not like he sought to understand Egypt—he lost the greatest discovery he made and the family he tried to keep protected.
We could still keep the whole ending sequence of Inez’s mom taking some accountability for her actions, just in a different way.
This also would help salvage Inez as a character, making her seem less of a moron.
But… instead we had THIS. Yay 🫠
Romance Safety:
Physically safe. Emotionally… it was a train wreck. Whit did end up betraying Inez (don’t worry, he didn’t cheat, although that doesn’t make it less of a betrayal). I was planning on reading Where the Library Hides in one sitting. Instead, by page 150, I had to take a walk, I so wanted to get my hands around Whit’s throat. I SO DID!! The fact that he never apologizes for hurting her feelings. I understand he didn’t feel sorry for what he did; how about feeling sorry for the harm he did her? There was not a decent apology or genuine conversations that they NEEDED TO HAVE throughout the whole ordeal! We get a paragraph of Inez saying: “We had had long conversations about everything that had happened since the day we met—and about long-kept secrets, his role under my uncle’s employment.”
THE HECk? I would have loved to be part of these conversations so I could actually decide for myself if Whit could be 100% forgiven. I don’t trust Inez’s judgment after this book. The author simply didn’t let me root for my girl with all the bad decisions she made.
At least we had no other people drama. Although, I think Whit could have used the angst for character development.
I did end up enjoying this ludicrous thing, mainly so I could make fun of it — not the feeling I wanted this duology to elicit.
—————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨🚨
Some ( Very Random) Moments of Notice Along With (Sometimes) My Very Live Reactions Straight From My Notes App to You:
📌“Whit licked his lips, his face pale in the candlelight. “Inez, I will honor and protect you and lay down my life for you. In sickness and in health, I will be by your side.” He gave me a faint smile. “And I promise I will never expect obedience from you.”
~What about vows of loyalty? Inez’s vows were much better, and she thought them up on the spot!
📌 “I kept Whitford Hayes waiting.
Twelve hours later, I still hadn’t made up my mind. It alarmed me how badly I wanted to say yes. If I’d learned anything from my time in Egypt, it was that I couldn’t trust my own judgment.”
~I think you should go with that, and call it a day!
📌 “My heart foolishly leapt. He’d taken the money for love of his sister.”
~Boo fucking hoo—this guy could have sold some artifacts. I don’t give a crap about “integrity” when he’s betraying his WIFE.
📌 “Well, I’d heard his explanation. He had married me to save someone else. I was the one who had been lied to, the one not picked. The one rejected. Again. Tears clouded my vision. With a start, I realized that I didn’t care that the money was gone. The fortune belonged to my parents. Then it became my uncle’s. It was always out of my reach. No, what I cared more about was the fact that I had married a man I loved, hoping to call him family.”
~This book will either win or fail on whether or not Inez ever tells Whit that. I don’t make the rules, he need to know what he did if he ever hopes to make amends (not that I would let him if I was her, but knowing Inez…)
📌 “My heart locked itself away, tight in my chest, and I vowed I would never be so stupid as to reveal any part of it to Mr. Hayes ever again.”
~I give Inez 30 minutes before she is doing exactly that
📌 “And the only way I knew how to bear his recriminations was to pull myself far enough away so that I didn’t feel anything at all”
~How is that working for ya?
📌 “I’d made a commitment to Inez; I’d given my word. I wouldn’t desert her, not after marrying her. I meant every word of my vows until she said otherwise.”
~I heard your vows (read them?) they don’t mean ANYTHING. You let enough room to LIE to her, to HURT her. You planned everything, even your stupid vows!
Omg omg
I hate him
I hate him and I don’t know how he can come back from the depths of the hatred I have from him.
Damn you inside illustrations and book set in Egypt
DAMN YOU!💪🏻
📌 “Why are you still here?”
“I know it’s hard to believe,” he said softly, “but I meant every word of my vows.”
“Did you?” I said, in what I hoped was a biting tone. To my ear, I sounded breathless. I forced myself to lean away from him.
“Yes, I did.”
~No words of loyalty or truth. I clocked that bitch from day 1!
1!!!!
Goddamn it, let me be the Nightmare in your head, Inez, I will be done with this bastard in two seconds flat.
📌 “Do you know that you never apologized?” I whispered.
“I’m aware,” Whit said in a flat voice. “And I never will.”
~Whit’s neck: 🧑🏻🦰
Me: 🤏🏻😡
What kind of statement is that?
📌 “Two, he had needed money and I was there for the taking. That, and he knew how badly I wanted to stay in Egypt. In proposing marriage, he was offering a solution—one that benefited him, but a solution nevertheless.”
~Holy 🐮, I would NEVER EVER FORGIVE HIS ASS
📌 “Here was truth number four: Whitford Hayes would have kissed anyone.”
~The way he tossed you to the flames, yeah, I believe that too. What a swoon worthy man 😩
📌 “Hours later, I was already lying to her.”
~I NEED YOU TO STEP OUT OF THIS MOTHERFREAKING BOOK SO I CAN PUCNH YOUR BITCH ASS
COME OUT RIGHT THE FRACK NOW 👹👹👹👹👹👹
I’m going to NUKE HIM. I don’t want a single speckle of dust left over from this mothertrucker
📌 “Excuse me?”
“I think I’m entitled an answer to three of my questions.”
I narrowed my gaze. “One.”
“Two.”
“Fine.”
Whit crooked a finger at me, and I rolled my eyes as I walked to him”
~Why did the crooked finger thing… work?
I’m NO better than Inez 🥲.
📌 “I had forgiven him for what he had done. It seemed he would always do the extreme to help the people in his life. Steal a fortune to save his sister. Jump in front of a bullet to save me. Fight crocodiles.”
~Can he get eaten by a crocodile? Can YOU get eaten by the crocodile?
📌 “Last night replayed in my mind. I had told her that I loved her. She never said the words back to me. Fear worked itself in my stomach. Maybe she realized she could never forgive me for what I had done.
And so she left me.”
~END BOOK
END BOOK RN
📌 “He tripped,” came a low voice from behind me. “Saw it clearly.”
I froze, my lips parting in surprise. Every word of protest died on my tongue. A tremor shook my body, and I fought to keep my wits.
That voice.”
~Hello, Whit 🙄
📌 “Finally, he brushed past me, his cap sitting low across his brow. His finger found mine for one fleeting second, hooking around my pinky for one breath. I felt his desperation, his fury in that single point of contact. He released me, and together with Mr. Graves, they walked through the arch.
“It will only be a moment,” Papá said”
~Crap, this whole awful plot has made Whit bearable
📌 “Behind him stood my mother, a smoking pistol in her hand. Tears streaked down her cheeks, and she let out a loud sob as she ran toward him. I stood, knees shaking, in shock that she had saved me.
“Mamá,” I whispered, just as she said, “Oh, Charlie.” She dropped to the floor, eyes red rimmed, tears streaming down her dusty face. Her hand shook as she reached for her dead lover.”
~Dang, this is telenovela levels of wild
📌 “Oh,” he said, anger sparking in his blue eyes. “I’m bloody furious, darling.” But then he lifted our clasped hands and pressed a soft kiss on the inside of my wrist. “I’m also glad you’re alive. I lost years of my life watching you leave with Mr. Sterling”—he shook his head—“with Cayo.”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“Years of my life,” he repeated. “Gone.” Then he bent and kissed me, hard and quick. “Don’t ever pull that shit with me again, Olivera,” he whispered against my mouth. He’d said something similar to me months ago when we first met.”
~*sigh* fine, stay married you two. At this point there is no other option for Inez. Both her parents are psychopaths
📌 “Is this—” I breathed, my heart pounding wildly. “Why give it to me?”
“Let’s call it Inez’s dowry,” she said. “Look after her.”
~Ohhh
And If I thought Whit was going to infuriate me less….
Preface
The Ibañez made Inez so naive that I don’t even have the gall to call it a character trait. I was constantly thinking, “There is no bloody way in hell that’s happening!” Most of the twists and turns had NO FORESHADOWING, or if they did, they came so out of the blue they were labeled: “pure azure, caution: toxic.”
—————————————————————————
Ratings
Plot: 3 📚📚📚 A good amount of plot.
World Building (Immersion): 3 🌍🌍🌍 Submerged.
Angst: 2.5 👹👹💫 Biting your tongue.
Funniness: 1.5 🌝💫 Amused.
Scariness: ❎ Not scary.
Romance: 2.5 💖💖💫 It could have been better developed.
Spice: 1 🌶️ Some steamy kisses and fade to black.
Goriness: 2.5 🫀🫀💫 Someone died and I kind of witnessed it.
Sadness: 1 🥲 I know the author intended for me to feel something.
Overall star rating: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable, but there were some things that fell flat.
————————————————————————-
🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨
The Good Chapters:
▫️Whit killing someone with a newspaper was cool
▫️Whit fighting was very cool in general. Homeboy, put the bad in ass.
(He also put the ass in bad; that is a story for the bad chapters).
▫️I did enjoy the exchange where Inez is interrogating her father on his “questionable habits” and he is explaining how he got to that point: “Don’t misunderstand me,” he said sharply. “I didn’t want to turn back.”
The In-between Chapters:
🔹I laughed when the FaceTime tea cups came up.
🔹Intermission: Fixing Whit’s dilemma
The facts:
-Whit is a war criminal.
-Whit is a liar.
-Whit is a con artist.
-Whit is a fortune hunter. (I don’t care what he says, I don’t care about the intentions—fortune hunter. 🫱🏻🧍)
-Whit’s POV did not give us any insight into his relationships or feelings for Inez. I gathered by a flick of the wind in relation to his feelings after he betrayed Inez.
-Whit’s family is about to marry off his sister. He needed the ENTIRETY of Inez’s fortune (how is that the exact amount that he knew he needed, along with how much debt his family was in, leaves me baffled. Inez was VERY WEALTHY if her family was funding excavations for years).
The main thing that bothers me—worse than a flea behind the ear—is: if Whit was willing to betray someone he cared about (Inez) for someone he dearly loves (his sister), then he should have been willing to do anything.
WHY DIDN’T THIS WALKING “OOPS” SELL COPIES OF RELICS? SELL INEZ’S PARENTS’ THINGS? WHY DIDN’T HE RUN HIS OWN CON AGAINST THE CON ARTISTS? Why didn’t he steal something? Heck, why didn’t he have one honest conversation with Inez? He had no qualms and no honor—why is it okay to steal from the girl you love, but not from some British colonialist bum?
He had years to plan, and he didn’t think of any alternatives to looking for a magical, almost mythical, piece of ancient paper???!
My professional public opinion on his treatment: “There’s no such thing as bad people, just ordinary people that do bad things…”
Me to Whit behind the scenes:Jump.
Whit: What?
Me: JUMP 👉🏻🕳️
The Bad Chapters:
▪️I didn’t get what I wanted from the plot, from the magic, from the romance, or from the character dynamics.
▪️Sorry, did Inez’s father need to be evil too? Her mother was enough, no? How about her secret half-sister, huh? Wasn’t that enough? I understand where the author was trying to go. Her mother was evil both because of the circumstances of an unhappy marriage with a husband she could not please and her inward sense of selfish self-preservation.
She could have totally done that by letting Cayo be a good father. I think that would have made the situation more complex and added more depth to her characters instead of: “Holy cannolis, is that a fake mustache?” evil laughter, twirl twirl twirl.
I’m amply tired of most modern sensibilities not letting women—or villains—be evil. I’m not talking about going back to one-dimensional villains. Don’t misunderstand me—I’d much rather keep these watered-down villains than go back to that.
Yet there is a rich environment to be harvested if Cayo had been a good father and a terrible husband, while simultaneously being a good man.
The failures of the time in limiting women would have been more effective, as would the limitations of the “perfect woman” Inez’s mom tried to impart on both of her daughters—and herself. The hypocrisy, the tragedy, the zest—it would have been magnificent. Bonus points if Cayo still loved his wife and fought against everything she stood for, because in one way, he could have been the author of this tragedy—but in a whole other way. By not seeking to understand his wife—not like he sought to understand Egypt—he lost the greatest discovery he made and the family he tried to keep protected.
We could still keep the whole ending sequence of Inez’s mom taking some accountability for her actions, just in a different way.
This also would help salvage Inez as a character, making her seem less of a moron.
But… instead we had THIS. Yay 🫠
Romance Safety:
Physically safe. Emotionally… it was a train wreck. Whit did end up betraying Inez (don’t worry, he didn’t cheat, although that doesn’t make it less of a betrayal). I was planning on reading Where the Library Hides in one sitting. Instead, by page 150, I had to take a walk, I so wanted to get my hands around Whit’s throat. I SO DID!! The fact that he never apologizes for hurting her feelings. I understand he didn’t feel sorry for what he did; how about feeling sorry for the harm he did her? There was not a decent apology or genuine conversations that they NEEDED TO HAVE throughout the whole ordeal! We get a paragraph of Inez saying: “We had had long conversations about everything that had happened since the day we met—and about long-kept secrets, his role under my uncle’s employment.”
THE HECk? I would have loved to be part of these conversations so I could actually decide for myself if Whit could be 100% forgiven. I don’t trust Inez’s judgment after this book. The author simply didn’t let me root for my girl with all the bad decisions she made.
At least we had no other people drama. Although, I think Whit could have used the angst for character development.
I did end up enjoying this ludicrous thing, mainly so I could make fun of it — not the feeling I wanted this duology to elicit.
—————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨🚨
Some ( Very Random) Moments of Notice Along With (Sometimes) My Very Live Reactions Straight From My Notes App to You:
📌“Whit licked his lips, his face pale in the candlelight. “Inez, I will honor and protect you and lay down my life for you. In sickness and in health, I will be by your side.” He gave me a faint smile. “And I promise I will never expect obedience from you.”
~What about vows of loyalty? Inez’s vows were much better, and she thought them up on the spot!
📌 “I kept Whitford Hayes waiting.
Twelve hours later, I still hadn’t made up my mind. It alarmed me how badly I wanted to say yes. If I’d learned anything from my time in Egypt, it was that I couldn’t trust my own judgment.”
~I think you should go with that, and call it a day!
📌 “My heart foolishly leapt. He’d taken the money for love of his sister.”
~Boo fucking hoo—this guy could have sold some artifacts. I don’t give a crap about “integrity” when he’s betraying his WIFE.
📌 “Well, I’d heard his explanation. He had married me to save someone else. I was the one who had been lied to, the one not picked. The one rejected. Again. Tears clouded my vision. With a start, I realized that I didn’t care that the money was gone. The fortune belonged to my parents. Then it became my uncle’s. It was always out of my reach. No, what I cared more about was the fact that I had married a man I loved, hoping to call him family.”
~This book will either win or fail on whether or not Inez ever tells Whit that. I don’t make the rules, he need to know what he did if he ever hopes to make amends (not that I would let him if I was her, but knowing Inez…)
📌 “My heart locked itself away, tight in my chest, and I vowed I would never be so stupid as to reveal any part of it to Mr. Hayes ever again.”
~I give Inez 30 minutes before she is doing exactly that
📌 “And the only way I knew how to bear his recriminations was to pull myself far enough away so that I didn’t feel anything at all”
~How is that working for ya?
📌 “I’d made a commitment to Inez; I’d given my word. I wouldn’t desert her, not after marrying her. I meant every word of my vows until she said otherwise.”
~I heard your vows (read them?) they don’t mean ANYTHING. You let enough room to LIE to her, to HURT her. You planned everything, even your stupid vows!
Omg omg
I hate him
I hate him and I don’t know how he can come back from the depths of the hatred I have from him.
Damn you inside illustrations and book set in Egypt
DAMN YOU!💪🏻
📌 “Why are you still here?”
“I know it’s hard to believe,” he said softly, “but I meant every word of my vows.”
“Did you?” I said, in what I hoped was a biting tone. To my ear, I sounded breathless. I forced myself to lean away from him.
“Yes, I did.”
~No words of loyalty or truth. I clocked that bitch from day 1!
1!!!!
Goddamn it, let me be the Nightmare in your head, Inez, I will be done with this bastard in two seconds flat.
📌 “Do you know that you never apologized?” I whispered.
“I’m aware,” Whit said in a flat voice. “And I never will.”
~Whit’s neck: 🧑🏻🦰
Me: 🤏🏻😡
What kind of statement is that?
📌 “Two, he had needed money and I was there for the taking. That, and he knew how badly I wanted to stay in Egypt. In proposing marriage, he was offering a solution—one that benefited him, but a solution nevertheless.”
~Holy 🐮, I would NEVER EVER FORGIVE HIS ASS
📌 “Here was truth number four: Whitford Hayes would have kissed anyone.”
~The way he tossed you to the flames, yeah, I believe that too. What a swoon worthy man 😩
📌 “Hours later, I was already lying to her.”
~I NEED YOU TO STEP OUT OF THIS MOTHERFREAKING BOOK SO I CAN PUCNH YOUR BITCH ASS
COME OUT RIGHT THE FRACK NOW 👹👹👹👹👹👹
I’m going to NUKE HIM. I don’t want a single speckle of dust left over from this mothertrucker
📌 “Excuse me?”
“I think I’m entitled an answer to three of my questions.”
I narrowed my gaze. “One.”
“Two.”
“Fine.”
Whit crooked a finger at me, and I rolled my eyes as I walked to him”
~Why did the crooked finger thing… work?
I’m NO better than Inez 🥲.
📌 “I had forgiven him for what he had done. It seemed he would always do the extreme to help the people in his life. Steal a fortune to save his sister. Jump in front of a bullet to save me. Fight crocodiles.”
~Can he get eaten by a crocodile? Can YOU get eaten by the crocodile?
📌 “Last night replayed in my mind. I had told her that I loved her. She never said the words back to me. Fear worked itself in my stomach. Maybe she realized she could never forgive me for what I had done.
And so she left me.”
~END BOOK
END BOOK RN
📌 “He tripped,” came a low voice from behind me. “Saw it clearly.”
I froze, my lips parting in surprise. Every word of protest died on my tongue. A tremor shook my body, and I fought to keep my wits.
That voice.”
~Hello, Whit 🙄
📌 “Finally, he brushed past me, his cap sitting low across his brow. His finger found mine for one fleeting second, hooking around my pinky for one breath. I felt his desperation, his fury in that single point of contact. He released me, and together with Mr. Graves, they walked through the arch.
“It will only be a moment,” Papá said”
~Crap, this whole awful plot has made Whit bearable
📌 “Behind him stood my mother, a smoking pistol in her hand. Tears streaked down her cheeks, and she let out a loud sob as she ran toward him. I stood, knees shaking, in shock that she had saved me.
“Mamá,” I whispered, just as she said, “Oh, Charlie.” She dropped to the floor, eyes red rimmed, tears streaming down her dusty face. Her hand shook as she reached for her dead lover.”
~Dang, this is telenovela levels of wild
📌 “Oh,” he said, anger sparking in his blue eyes. “I’m bloody furious, darling.” But then he lifted our clasped hands and pressed a soft kiss on the inside of my wrist. “I’m also glad you’re alive. I lost years of my life watching you leave with Mr. Sterling”—he shook his head—“with Cayo.”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“Years of my life,” he repeated. “Gone.” Then he bent and kissed me, hard and quick. “Don’t ever pull that shit with me again, Olivera,” he whispered against my mouth. He’d said something similar to me months ago when we first met.”
~*sigh* fine, stay married you two. At this point there is no other option for Inez. Both her parents are psychopaths
📌 “Is this—” I breathed, my heart pounding wildly. “Why give it to me?”
“Let’s call it Inez’s dowry,” she said. “Look after her.”
~Ohhh
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