Kata Čuić

It turned out to be a fabulous weekend for me, in terms of getting my hands on ARCs. I also got one from Kata Cuic for her third release in the Hectic Holidays series. I reviewed the first book, A Bird in the Oven, here earlier and I’ve read the second, Stocking Stuffer, although I didn’t review it.

I continue to be charmed and invested in Ollie and Olivia. They are working so hard to have a healthy, mature, fulfilling relationship and the world is determined to make it difficult for them. Olivia has always known that Ollie falls on the autism spectrum, but she’s learning that there are aspects of his life that she really doesn’t understand. Ollie depends on his logical analyses to navigate real world situations, but now he has to adjust when he learns that some of them are based on incorrect assumptions. And the aspect that makes it feel especially realistic is that I want to beat both their families with a big stick.

I am by no means an expert on neurodiversity, and even if I was, every person on the spectrum is unique, so you can’t write one “right” or “wrong.” But it’s a topic that a lot of people are uncomfortable with and that triggers a lot of big feelings in the community. To me, Ollie comes across as a well-developed and realistic person and I love Olivia for the way she loves him. Kudos to Kata Cuic for writing them both with such care and attention to detail. Their story isn’t done yet, and I look forward to the next holiday!… (más)

Sweet revenge is never pretty. Neither is Jason Gould who suffers from a genetic mutation that has left his face disfigured. He is a loner and doesn't fit it. He prefers it that way. But his best friend Emma Hastings won't let him isolate himself from the world. The duo along with Emma's onoff bed fellow and her sorority sister Rosie embark on a revenge plot to show the entitled jerks of Wellbridge University that the outsiders of the world do not have to fit within the societal norms of perfectionism. Emma funds her place in the world.… (más)

I fell in love with Alex in the first three books from the Moving the Chains series. I have been impatiently waiting for Alex's story to the point of stalking Kata on various forms of social media (Sorry, not sorry).
Alex is a beautifully complex character who has matured from the funny playboy to...well...you need to read to find out how he develops. I adore how he helps his tutor find her inner beauty and strength. Amira ...what to say about the quiet, slightly shy tutor who wants life-altering sex or at least a decent orgasm before she has to enter into an arranged marriage? I can't say too much about her without giving away spoilers, but her characterization is just--no stronger than Alex's. It's not often where a writer can develop and grow characters without losing the essence of those characters. Cuic has pulled that off without missing a beat (lol...the title of Alex's brother's book)
As a prequel, I was salivating for their full story. I ended the book with more questions than answers about each of their personal journeys and how they finally find their way back to each other.
Cuic writes these characters' emotional journeys with brilliance and reminds me why I one-click every book of hers.… (más)

This is the final book in the Moving the Chains series and can be read with the rest of the series which I highly, highly recommend or as a standalone. I found this series a months before Second Down was released and I've been stalking Cuic ever since anxiously waiting for Alex's book. While I adore each of the other characters for different reasons, I knew there was more to Alex than the facade he showed the world and even his friends. The complexity of his character is why Alex has been my favorite character for so long. Finally, my wait is over and Cuic did not disappoint. Personal Foul not only met but exceeded every expectation.… (más)