#choices rambles

[hystericalqween]

Replaying the Choices books that I previously read with no diamonds and after finishing The Sophomore I'm taking a break and decided to replay Desire & Decorum...

Ugh I've missed this ugly gremlin man so much

[tetrakys]

Lara! Do you play Choices? Which books are your favorites? Mine are: Witness: A Bodyguard Romance / The Nanny Affair and Queen B and I'm right now playing the "book" called: Foreign Affairs... Good Wednesday! O/ PS: Choices, it's an app with a lot of "books" to play and that are like visual novels!

I do, but like one book every six months because I save up diamonds. I really liked Queen B too!

[jensvisualnoveladventures]

In general, I’m super behind with Choices. The issues with how the subscription works with coupons/discounts put a bad taste in my mouth and I haven’t really played since. I’ve kept up with spoilers and I figured once I save up enough, I’ll catch up with a subscription. 

But wow do I just have so little interest to do so at this point. Like part of me wants to finish out stories and make characters (And I’ll be honest, even though I’m not interested in the plot at all, Foreign Affairs hits some of my favorite tropes with Blaine), but I’m also just not that interested in anything right now.

I think, based off announcements, what I’m most interested in is: 

The new cooking book (And that could change based off how it goes. With the VIP Books, it’s been hit or miss for me-- I really enjoyed AVSP and what I played of TUH. I also liked WEH even though the end killed me (which I guess I should’ve expected, but it’s also the thing that holds it back from being a top favorite for me), but Hot Couture I found disappointing in the end (Only thing I liked was the scrap book feature), Ms. Match was just awful for me from the get-go (I can’t get into any romance that starts with sex with no choice otherwise. Simple as that. If I could stay single in that book, I would, but I guess I’ll at least save plenty of diamonds) and I honestly didn’t like the way the ending went either, and Wolf Bride clearly isn’t really for me, but I am curious about parts of the plot. (Like how Morgan fits in, more on the MC’s family and why her mother left, why she has these specific bonds and with who in general, etc. But honestly if there’s an option to not pick eithe and head back to her mom, I’m picking it)

The new Mystery book. At the same time, seeing how other mysteries have gone with a lot of unanswered questions or not the happiest of endings, I’m trying to not get my hopes too high. 

Blades Book 2, but after other sequel cancelations, I’m holding my breath there too. I also REALLY hope we can change our hair separately from our skin color. SO much. That was still my biggest disappointment with the book. 

I only started playing Choices a little under 2 years ago when a friend told me to check it out. For the most part, I’ve only liked a handful of books, but some LIs stood out for me.

But the big thing is it wasn’t as long for me as I last played and waiting for Book 2′s of books that were said to be coming. Most Wanted and Hero had such huge cliffhangers that we’ll never have resolved.

Nightbound was frustrating to not be getting a sequel as it still had a lot of unanswered questions. I also genuinely enjoyed it more than Bloodbound, a book which also disappointed me a lot with its final book in the series. 

Distant Shores and Ride or Die fell into a similar thing where they didn’t necessarily NEED a Book 2, but there were a lot of questions unanswered and I still hoped for some closure there. I wasn’t even as attached to either of these. 

I know a lot of people were upset about the Elementalists ending the way it did, but I was actually more or less okay with it. I felt it answered everything it left off, despite causing some of the foreshadowing to be for nothing. 

In general, I just hope PB thinks further ahead in the future I guess? Either have something set up to give us closure or make sure it’s all rounded up at the end without us needing another book.

As for the current ones going... I wasn’t really into Baby Bump to begin with and already being in a full relationship in Book 2 doesn’t make it any better. I wish she just could be friendly with the LIs for now. I also just... am tired of these types of plots-- there was enough going on without all the Craig stupidity and we don’t always need the extra antagonism. 

It’s part of what brought down The Royal Heir so much. We could’ve still used these books just to dig into everything with Eleanor without all the added treason and B Drama Plots to push it back and spending time together. And then the 4th could’ve been the hanging out relaxing time to take it easy if we really needed one final book... Or maybe a like “Through the Princess’ eyes” or something. There’s just so many better ways they could’ve done it IMO. 

And in the subject of both and really the MCs a lot of the time in general-- I’m tired of White being synonymous with Blonde and light eyed for them. 

I don’t have much to say about MTFL besides how horribly forced it was for all types of people. The main argument I’ve seen is that we’re following another character’s journey but like... then don’t less us name or customize them? So many people do put themselves into the characters they play in this type of thing so I think it’s understandable to be upset (That said, some people are absolutely hypocritical-- I’ve seen so many people only be upset about Ava’s kiss and not the boy’s and no, all three being forced sucked), but going through the break-up for each when you may have had no interest dating them was so uncomfortable to do. 

If it was really a set story, the LI chosen should’ve been set and we shouldn’t have been able to change anything. I felt like we had more freedom in ROE than MTFL and those were all set characters. But somehow it still felt my choices mattered more. 

Anyway, just lots of disappointments I guess. And if I have a spare $15, I’d rather just put that to my FFXIV Subscription again. 

[allthecowslovetheleo]

I WAS PLANNING TO GO ANNA'S ROUTE BUT IM WEAK FOR JAMIE IDK IM CRYING IM TORN BETWEEN WANTING MY MC TO KISS HIM OR ROMANCE ANNA

[jensvisualnoveladventures]

In general, Queen B hasn’t really been a book for me and each time I kind of hope it may get better, it doesn’t really. Maybe I’m just too nice but I feel bad every time the MC does something against Poppy and wish we could mind our own business. But that’s pretty much against the point of the book I guess so. It doesn’t help that I can’t relate to the MC either (too forward and how she acts around the Professor especially makes me uncomfortable).

But I ended up looking at the leaks and they made me feel even more awful. Spoilers under the read more for anyone who doesn’t want to see. 

As far as I can tell, there is no actual choice to prevent Zoey from getting hurt or stopping anything? Just if you’ve been a “good” girl, you hesitate a bit before going along with the plan. 

Even if you likely got more time by having Carter help you?? 

I get that it’s to push the plot along, but god, I hate when we have no real choices. Especially in a game CALLED Choices. 

And Zoey just kind of breaking your friendship kills me. Like if I had the choice, I absolutely would’ve just left the cards. Why did it have to go this far? :( 

[jensvisualnoveladventures]

General Choices VIP thoughts

I think my general thing with the VIP will get it occasionally as books finish and complete them during the month. 

Hot Couture - 4 chapters in so far. I expected to like this book more than I am? I like the friend group enough even if none of the romances jump at me and I kind of hate most of the outfits? I also expected the accessory matching to be a bit more flexible at times. The sketches are really nice too so I wish I liked the outfits we ended up with more... I’ve only kind of liked one. 

A Very Scandalous Proposal - 3 Chapters in so far. I wasn’t expecting to care about this one much, but I was pulled in by Simon after the “twist”. I had planned to finish HC first, but I may finish this one first instead. I already feel invested on all accords. I think my only complaint is the hairstyle from the cover isn’t an option? It seems like a combination between the first two hairstyle options and it’s absolutely the one I’d have used if I could. 

With Every Heartbeat - 2 Chapters in and very much a book I shouldn’t be playing and only am because Dakota seems really great which just makes me playing it worse in the end. I don’t like sad endings. I don’t really play books for realism-- I want something happy, even if it’s miraculous, and there’s a lot that hits me deeply when it comes to medical procedures, but also in the sense of the MC, I also know how it feels to constantly feel second to your mom’s medical career. They tell us right at the start Dakota is going to die. And I don’t know, it’s not something I play these books for. I was tearing up by the end of Chapter 2. I wish this book had a happy ending because all the characters are really great but all it’s doing is making me cry. 

I still think VIP shouldn’t have books added as discussing everything together is one of the biggest fandom points and it’s like... the issue with how Netflix releases Miraculous Ladybug so people end up looking up airings in other countries instead. 

The other perks would be fine with it. I also think $15 a month for this type of app feels super pricey? I mean, that’s what I expect to pay for an MMO... 

Anyway, I’d rate the books right now starting with favorite as AVSP, WEH, and then HC. Though, I want to say there’s quite a space between AVSP and WEH which would only be closer if it wasn’t for how I know WEH will end :/ 

[jensvisualnoveladventures]

Not sure if I’ll stick with Queen B or not due to my own personal issues with a lot of it (actually has nothing to do with the love interest situation so much as the bullying). 

I think my biggest issues is I’d rather just pick nicer choices which I know aren’t really the point of the book, but I honestly just want to do good in school? Similarly, I would’ve been fine jumping into the pool, but I didn’t also want to push Poppy in? :/

I don’t have much of an opinion on the Professor romance so much as my same problem as I had with it in MCL-- it needs to not be forced. The MC making flirting/teasing comments even when you’re just keeping things platonic is stupid. 

Also even though the MC is 21, I still would’ve picked juice if it actually gave me a choice. 

[jensvisualnoveladventures]

I want the dark hair so badly ;~;

This is part of why I even picked this look... Heck, the hairstyle is actually nice, I just wish it was a different color :(