User blog:7GSTF/Ranking the books of Choices - A comprehensive list

Here is a comprehensive list of all of the full length books of Choices so far. For a long time, I have been pondering over this article and after a long time, I finally got it done. So here it is - a comprehensive ranking list, explaining my reasons for each of the rankings.

Firstly, a comprehensive book list of every book ever written in a main series by PB in alphabetical order.

Book List

 * 1) Across the Void
 * 2) America’s Most Eligible - 1, 2, 3
 * 3) A Very Scandalous Proposal
 * 4) Baby Bump 1 and 2
 * 5) Bachelorette Party
 * 6) Big Sky Country 1 and 2
 * 7) Blades of Light and Shadow
 * 8) Bloodbound 1, 2, 3
 * 9) Crimes of Passion
 * 10) The Crown and the Flame 1, 2, 3
 * 11) A Courtesan of Rome
 * 12) The Cursed Heart
 * 13) Desire and Decorum - 1, 2, 3
 * 14) Distant Shores
 * 15) The Elementalists - 1 and 2
 * 16) Endless Summer - 1, 2, 3
 * 17) Foreign Affairs
 * 18) The Freshman Series - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
 * 19) The Haunting of Braidwood Manor
 * 20) The Heist: Monaco
 * 21) Hero
 * 22) High School Story - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
 * 23) Home for the Holidays
 * 24) Hot Couture
 * 25) Immortal Desires
 * 26) Laws of Attraction
 * 27) It Lives Anthology - 1 and 2.
 * 28) LoveHacks - 1 and 2.
 * 29) Most Wanted
 * 30) Mother of the Year
 * 31) Ms. Match
 * 32) Murder at Homecoming
 * 33) My First Two Loves
 * 34) The Nanny Affair - 1, 2, 3.
 * 35) Nightbound
 * 36) Open Heart - 1, 2, 3.
 * 37) Passport to Romance
 * 38) Perfect Match - 1 and 2.
 * 39) Platinum.
 * 40) The Princess Swap
 * 41) Queen B - 1 and 2
 * 42) Red Carpet Diaries - 1, 2 and 3
 * 43) Ride or Die
 * 44) Rising Tides
 * 45) The Royal Masquerade
 * 46) The Royal Romance - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
 * 47) Rules of Engagement - 1, 2, 3, 4.
 * 48) Save the Date
 * 49) Shipwrecked
 * 50) Slow Burn
 * 51) Sunkissed
 * 52) Surrender
 * 53) The Unexpected Heiress
 * 54) Untameable
 * 55) Veil of Secrets
 * 56) Wake the Dead
 * 57) Wishful Thinking
 * 58) With Every Heartbeat
 * 59) Witness : A Bodyguard Romance
 * 60) Wolf Bride

Given below are the tiers for the books in question.


 * 1) 101 - 85 will be the trash tier- barely fit for Diamond mining
 * 2) 84 - 75 will be the bad tier - Diamond mining and nothing else.
 * 3) 75 - 61 will be the mediocre tier - Stories to read when you have nothing better.
 * 4) 60 - 51 will be the above average tier - Stories which are decent and ensure PB’s reputation for good stories remains high.
 * 5) 50 - 41 will be the Good tier - Worth a read for sure.
 * 6) 40 - 31 will be the Great tier - worth your while for sure, plenty of enjoyable moments and a solid story.
 * 7) 30 - 21 will be the Excellent Tier - Great books with replay value and excellent characters, solid story, great arcs and so on.
 * 8) 20 - 11 will be the Outstanding Tier - Near the Pinnacle of what PB has to offer.
 * 9) 10 -1 will be the Masterpiece Tier - PB’s zenith - quite simply a matter of opinion as to which book series (or book) is better than the other.

I am not including any of the short books or holiday specials, as they simply do not qualify as full books to be classified here.

101. Witness: A Bodyguard Romance

Is there any book which can beat this to the bottom? Put your goddamn hands down! This is, without a shadow of doubt, the worst book ever written by Choices. This book was written during PB’s rotten age - and it might well be their nadir. Absurd to every degree. There is a love making scene in every damn chapter, the plot is non-existent to put it politely, and the dialogue is unintentionally hilarious. Absolutely nothing runs through the main characters minds at all - they jump into every decision without thinking. The writing in many parts is ridiculous - they didn’t change it enough for a female LI. The characters are paper thin - and that is an insult to paper. Both the MC and the LI have only sex on their mind at any point in the story. This is also a female MC only and a single LI book, so it loses more points for that as well. It wouldn’t have mattered either way. The villains are comical by any standard of analysis. The more I read this book, I became almost convinced that the writers of the book were playing a cruel joke on me. It was just insane to see the dreadful writing here. The locations kept changing without any warning or reason, and the chapters without the diamond options were ridiculously short (I was saved!!!). There were also diamond options within diamond options. Absolutely ridiculous, the entire thing. Some of the diamond options themselves were completely awful as well. Complete stupidity, the whole thing from beginning to the end. My word. This book’s overall rating is 0/100. I wish I could rate it negative. It deserves it. If PB makes a book worse than this one, then they have officially given up as a company. Don’t buy anything from this book. Only barely fit to be a diamond mine.

100. Home for the Holidays

This book came as an unwelcome surprise during PB’s first golden age - 2016 -17. One of the very, very few books that were terrible during an era which had some of their best work ever. Female MC only, so it loses plenty of points right off the bat for that, but that is the least of this book’s problems. For one, it is only 8 chapters long - which is both an advantage and a disadvantage considering how bad the story is. Advantage for the simple fact that the torture show is over pretty quickly. Disadvantage because any semblance of a story is given no chance to develop either. The MC has little going on, and her brother’s failed/successful romance is annoying as hell. Absolute rubbish LIs, and the arrogant boss is one of the most idiotic, flat characters they have ever written. It is kind of shocking looking back that this terrible book came out in their early zenith period. Terrible in every degree, but at least it didn’t contain the egregious sex scenes of Witness. I will give this book a rating of 2/100. Why 2? Simply to elevate above the nadir that was Witness.

99. Sunkissed

Truly, Choices had lost all sense of any direction during the years of 2020 and early 2021. One book here or there was a great effort, but most were exceptionally bad. Here is another of them. As with the two above, a ridiculously thin plot surrounding a dead father, and one of the most boring MCs and surrounding characters ever written. This was a bad, terrible era for PB. In light of their recent renaissance, this one actually will be surprising for many. There is nothing in this book to make you sit up and take notice, nothing at all. Diamond mine if you want, but this book is utter trash. At least, it isn’t unbearable like the previous two. I will give this book a rating of 5/100.

98. Surrender

This was a book that pissed off everyone. The fanbase who wanted a BDSM book, the ones who didn’t want it and everyone in between. Female only MC, but again, it is the least of the book’s problems. Story is pretty badly executed. The divorce for adultery is a common reason, but PB messes this up badly too. Paper thin female only MC and only a single LI, so more points off the board. The LI behaves like a predator, and often too much like the terrible male character in the movie - 365 days. This is a bad book, and the cheapness was obvious from the get go. I will give this book a rating of 8/100. Some of the diamond scenes are pretty decent - if you are fan of reading porn - but that might be higher quality than this trash. That is probably enough to get it beyond the lowest books.

97. Baby Bump 2

A terrible book that sensationalised pregnancy more than anything else, and was a completely unnecessary addition to an unnecessary book in the first place. Baby Bump turned pregnancy from something serious and life changing into a tummy rubbing session as the mother went nuts as the book went by. A complete waste of time and energy. Absolute hogwash. The first book was rubbish from start to finish. This was even worse. Nothing seemed genuine. An unlikable MC and terrible characterization all around turned this book into a genuine disaster. This book is one of the most undeserved sequels to any story ever (Surrender 2 will take that title when it comes out) - and it has some of the most egregious love scenes ever as well. Terrible - 8/100 as well. You can flip the Baby Bump 1 book and this around, it doesn’t matter either way.

96. Baby Bump

Boy oh boy. This book was released during PB’s nadir, and one could say contributed its fair share towards making it a nadir. Shit and rubbish everywhere you look. Pretty much the same nonsense as the sequel. The story held no allure for me whatsoever. Some of the scenes were just insane to say the least. Same rating as the book before, utter trash in every way. 8/100.

95. A Very Scandalous Proposal

Unlike the Unexpected Heiress which has a pretty engaging story, this is a very boring book. It isn’t disgusting like the ones before, but my word is it a boring book! Single LI and Female MC only, like Baby Bump, so it loses many points for that as well. Terrible all around, and the story is stale to put it politely. Again, this book was released during PB’s nadir, so no surprises whatsoever here either. Nothing interesting about the proposal or the people surrounding it, and the twist is pretty average. A piece of worthless junk. 10/100.

94. The Royal Heir book 3 ( or The Royal Romance book 6)

My feelings on this book were made clear in my Royal Romance - A Retrospection blog, but no harm in repeating it here. By the time this book came by, the story had long since jumped the shark and had gone stale. By this point, every single main character of the story is completely unlikable and kind of a douchebag as well. The MC is unintentionally hilarious at some points, and honestly, it is a tired, boring drag of a rag at this point. Awful, awful writing. A completely unnecessary book, and a waste of everyone’s time - 10/100. Only redeeming factor about this book is Liam’s sister who is introduced much too late. The villains are better described as clowns. A book which thoroughly wastes your time. Don’t bother. Read it with your brain turned off.

93. The Royal Heir book 2 ( or The Royal Romance book 5)

Same as above, not much of a difference - while the Via Imperii had the unenviable job of being villains in the last book, it is the evil king and queen in this book - so terrible they are, that they don’t even matter. None of the villains in the second trilogy matter, which is just as well. Nor does Barthelemy matter. It is a tremendous clown show of the greatest proportions. 11/100, that is all I have to say.

92. The Royal Heir book 1 ( or The Royal Romance book 4)

Not necessary, and it heralded the beginning of the decline in a big way. Insanity abounded every step of the way. This book is another example of the travesty that was Choices in 2020  and 2021. Insane as to how this book got greenlit in the first place. The MC is positively annoying at this point as well. Rubbish all around. 11/100.

91. Rules of Engagement book 4

Completely unnecessary, a huge bore, nothing new or interesting introduced and one of the most predictable finishes for a series ever. Way too long chapters don’t help matters either. The characters are very tiresome by this point. Pity they didn’t learn their lessons here and had to torture us with the Royal Heir trilogy. 12/100. Pretty goddamn awful all around. Most of the characters are dull, and very dull at that.

90. Wolfbride

One of the most toxic LIs ever (the male one), and the female LI isn’t all that much better either. It is ridiculous as to how this book thinks it can get away with obsessive / possessive men and dangerous women all at the same time - while glorifying them too. Pretty mediocre, and the plot is paper thin as well. Nothing much to see here. Keep moving along. Diamond mine it if you want. Very unimpressive to say the least, and even disappointing too. PB had a skeleton of a werewolf story and then barfed all over it and presented it to us. 12/100.

89. Freshman book 4

A very obvious choice, considering this is the weakest book in the Freshman series by far. Zack’s moaning about his breakup right through the book doesn’t help matters at all, and honestly, the story drifts all over the place. It is only 8 chapters long, and can be described as disappointing. The story is bare thin - the camping trip isn’t even the focal point, as Zack’s aforementioned whining makes him the focal point almost immediately, and the love interests start to lose any sort of appeal around this time. It is however mercifully short, so the book isn’t a complete pain to read. Thank god for that. Terrible. The more I write, I realize that PB has had a fair few stinkers along the way. My word, their stinkers truly stunk. They regain it in the Junior though, but that is far too late in my opinion. Anyway - 15/100, I’ll be a little generous.

88. The Senior (Freshman book 8)

Extremely artificial quarrel between the MC and the LI is inserted here. If there isn’t one, then you fall apart with Zack for no reason. The conflict in this book is ridiculously unnatural, and fake. After a strong entry with the Junior that showed signs of life, this was a snoozefest as the series was wrapped up with a fan service final book - that is the best way to describe it anyway. The LI and MC conflict seems very immature to say the least and if it is with Zack, it loses any and all believability. Terrible book, which loses any remaining empathy and interest in the MC and the LIs (there was little by this point). Peak of the Female MC era. Anyhow, 15/100.

87. My First Two Loves

A failed experiment, that is all I have to say about it. The experiment was a decent idea, sure - 100 chapters which were extremely short, and released nearly every day or so. It was an interesting change of pace, but in all honesty, the story itself bored me very much. The stereotypical characters with little depth made little to no impact for me. A bad boy, an outstanding student and a lesbian who is undergoing her own struggles - pretty standard affair. This book was a snooze fest - with the bad boy turned good arc being quite predictable and his prodigal brother to boot. This book gave me no joy whatsoever. Anyways - a failed experiment - 16/100.

86. Hot Couture

Probably the most boring VIP book ever (other than A Very Scandalous Proposal - I am not taking Surrender into account at all). Other than the costumes (the graphics are top notch), the story is bland and has very little by way of anything really. A complete meh, and doubly so considering this was a VIP book. 17/100.

85. Nanny Affair Book 3

A truly awful series, and why is it so high up? It isn’t high really, all things considered. PB’s ability to make money and prop up better franchises places this one higher up. This book shouldn’t exist, the story of this series can be finished in one book, but alas, they had to extend the damn thing, didn’t they? Considering that a fiance plans a date for her husband with his ex wife who was presumed dead in this book, and it is considered a good idea, we can safely say that this is the worst book of the three. Pretty bad on the whole - 17/100.

84. Nanny Affair Book 2

The second book was as unnecessary as the first - but if this series was the reason that LOA got a sequel or even COP getting a sequel, that is a trade I am most willing to make. Same fare as the previous book, not much of a difference there. Also, Sam is annoying and controlling by this point, a terrible combination. Jordan is an interesting character, but he/she is the only saving grace for this book. Terrible - 17/100.

83. Nanny Affair

This is where the rubbish began, and it is just a shame that this book was one of the most popular books ever published by PB. My word - people really don’t have taste, do they?? Well, in any case, this is where the story of the illicit affair, pretty straightforward on the whole - begins. It takes up pretty much the entire trilogy thereafter. The nanny is an unlikeable grey MC, and that might be the only saving grace of the whole series, besides the twin sons you get to meet. One of the most extreme cases of a fiancé not caring an inch about her future husband cheating on her with the Nanny (the MC) throughout the entire book. Paper thin plot, the characters are consistently bad. All I can say is - DIAMOND MINE. Turn off your brain and read these books, you really don’t need to think about anything for them. 17/100.

82. Rising Tides

Perfectly mediocre. That is all I can say about this book. Other than the environmental preservation message, the characters are pretty disinteresting and the conflict is resolved way too early for my liking. Nothing to write home about whatsoever. Released during PB’s nadir - which makes all the sense. A complete snoozefest. 18/100.

81. Open Heart book 3

An example of how bad PB wrote during their nadir. One of their greatest series ever was degraded significantly thanks to this book that ensured that any last remaining impetus and good will that this series gave them vanished into thin air. To begin with, the obsession with Ethan can be seriously off putting, since there are stories with the other love stories to be explored. The conflicts don’t reach satisfactory conclusions - especially when Dr. Banerjee resigns to protect Ethan. The blandness, cost cutting and attempt to be sensitive to the COVID situation (in the end sacrificing the story and the feelings of the people who read the stories) is obvious to anyone who sees it. The earlier books had an energy to them that this book can’t replicate. It is clear that the decision to not kill Ralph had an impact on this series as a whole. After that, it is clear that this series did not live up to its potential. The impact that the death could have had was lost completely, as his death was replaced by a hospital attendant dying instead. Also a big minus point, Esme virtually disappeared after book 2. A truly terrible story writing decision as well. Also terrible - the billionaire’s legacy. Nothing remarkable happened here, and on the whole a terrible downturn for the series. Final rating - 22/100

80. The Cursed Heart

It may be a relatively new and innovative series, but it certainly wasn’t groundbreaking in any manner in my opinion. While the idea of using fairy tales is a decent idea, nothing else seemed to click in any way. The idea of forbidden desires was picked up from Surrender (an unfortunate addition, if I may add), and the story had a predictable villain, and extremely predictable storyline. Also, the writing for the male MC isn’t suitably changed enough in places (obviously this book was written with a female MC in mind). In any case, it isn’t terrible, but it is pretty disappointing. At least, it doesn’t descend to the level of putting love scenes in every chapter. It saves us from that hell. I’ll be a little generous here - 25/100. Its sequel has a lot to improve upon. Best thing about this book was the art - no question about it. Everything else - mediocre to bad.

79. Ms. Match

More artificial conflict here between the MC (female only) and the LI. Also, the story is straightforward and uninteresting. It isn’t a complete waste of time though. Perfectly mediocre. Hard to believe that this and The Cursed Heart were VIP books. Nothing special anywhere. Tiring to read at some points. No real surprises whatsoever - the dating app storyline is stale even though PB doesn’t use it often. Shows you how much this book fails to strike a chord. Rating - 27/100.

78. Passport to Romance

Extremely unimpressive on every level. Besides the exotic locations, hardly anything in this book attracted my interest. The male LIs are boring, and so are the female LIs - yep, that is the case in this book. The characters aren’t memorable, and the story isn’t either. The conflicts of the characters aren’t well developed either - besides a few scenes, there is little by way of relatability to them. The female LIs are lovely, but boring too - compared to many other LIs, they just lack any sense of attraction for me. The book had a much more ambitious plan probably, but it was scaled back a long way when it was published in my opinion. Very disappointing to say the least. 28/100

77. Save the Date

It isn’t as bad as Wolfbride, but this book also contains some truly head scratching moments with regard to the main LI - who is extremely possessive and abusive too at some points by the way. Flawed in all the wrong ways - if I may say. Better is the childhood friend. This book is also extremely blase. There are no twists nor any turns, nor does it tell a heartwarming story. It is certainly very, very boring. 30/100.

76. Untameable

Pretty terrible story - blase characters, wayward plot that doesn’t have any clear focus and also is getting a sequel - for what, I have no clue - so why is it so high up? Count this as a guilty pleasure if you - but it contains some well written love scenes - more realistic (as much as PB can be anyway) but also very sensual, romantic and very very steamy and sexy at the same time - much like Shipwrecked. The LI is hot as hell too - shame that they are wasted on this book. Otherwise, there is a bunch of horsing around here - that’s all that there is. This book is a personal choice - it is objectively a horrible book - at least it isn’t as bad with the love scenes as Witness - it is bad, but it isn’t that bad. 30/100.

75. The Sophomore book 1 (The Freshman book 5)

The fact that I hardly remember anything about this book - besides the start of Sebastian’s good arc speaks volumes. Utterly and thoroughly unremarkable. Honestly, this book doesn’t do anything for me at all. Honestly, it is tepid, boring and hardly of any interest whatsoever for me. James, Chris, Kaitlyn, Zig and the MC are tiring at this point - the only interesting character is Sebastian. It is also around here that we tire of Tyler as well. Anyways - it is another page in one of PB’s longest series - and one of its most successful, and for that reason, I will give it due credit. However, that is the only reason why this book still has any relevance in my opinion. 30/100.

74. The Sophomore book 2 (The Freshman book 6)

Same old song and dance as the previous book - only benefit here being an excellent story arc for Sebastian as he redeems himself. That is pretty much the only good thing about this book - but it is well executed and so - it lands here. The series was very tiring to read by this point. Most of the characters have overstayed their welcomes and it was way too repetitive after a while. Bland, with a hint of salt. 30/100.

73. Distant Shores

This book goes here. It is this high up for its graphics, potential, and exciting action scenes. The ending of this book and the no show of the sequel makes sure that this book does not ascend the ranking any higher. One of many chances that PB failed to either take or capitalise on. 10 to 12 chapters in, there was a potential trilogy in the making - pirates and swashbuckling adventures at their very best. However, much like many of the other books around that time, PB fumbled badly, and gave us a truly ludicrous ending for the book that greatly decreased its value and status, making several people (The Jacked Maverick being one notable chap here) lose interest in the app as a result and eventually quite reading Choices altogether. The fact that it was left unsatisfactorily open ended with no real resolution was even more frustrating. All in all - incomplete and dissatisfying. 31/100.

72. The Haunting of Braidwood Manor

It isn’t a bad story - and it is told in a rather succinct manner too. However, there is nothing really impressive or path breaking to the story. The characters have way too little time to develop. They aren’t very relatable either. However, the character of Eleanor is interesting. Pity they didn’t extend the story for even 10 chapters. It doesn’t fulfil its promise, and is a complete book despite the fact that it is only 6 chapters long. PB’s shortest book. It is a decent read, but not much else. It is perfect for diamond mining. You don’t need any of the diamond choices either, it is a pretty complete story on its own. 33/100.

71. Rules of Engagement book 3

By this point, the series was losing its sheen. However, I like the flawed family quite a bit. Compared to the extremely unimpeachable MCs of the other books - this family had all the flaws. From an MC who continually pondered over three men, to twin sisters who were polar opposites and acted in immature ways often (at least they had good arcs as well, to justify it) and a neurotic, idiotic brother who bumbled around at every chance he got. The villain here - Violet is one of the most interesting ever. Her arc is what keeps this story readable and attractive. It is serviceable, but no more than that. A clear decline in story quality is present here. 35/100.

70. The Princess Swap

The MCs here take no responsibility for their actions, expecting everything to be fun and dandy while they play with two nations’ futures by swapping themselves. Not only that, they also play with the emotions of their LIs as well. Toxic idiots, who are narcissistic too. All about them. The worst part is that they get away with it and suffer no consequences either. The story is worth a read but no more. At least, they are imperfect MCs with an interesting subversion (the villainous tinge isn’t overt) and that makes this story worth reading on its own. The others in this story are more or less replaceable. The usual NPC PB fare. Nothing special or eye-catching. 35/100.

69. Shipwrecked

The placing is absolutely deliberate, I assure you. This book is pretty bad, only good for the love scenes, as the plot is pretty much bare, thin, non-existent and head scratching. However, it must be said that the love scenes themselves are very well written for both male and female MCs, a rarity from PB. The sexual connection feels genuine, if obsessive, and the LIs are extremely hot too. The location is gorgeous, but wasted on a soft porn book like this. This book is bad, however it is a guilty pleasure of mine, and ironically I enjoyed this nonsense more than some of their other books - so it is up here. It is terrible, absolutely terrible, but this is another of my prejudiced choices. Great for diamond mining. 36/100.

68. Freshman book 3

The only thing worth reading in this book is the story surrounding the writer - Enrique Vasquez. Everything else is quite yawn worthy. Enrique’s death certainly brings a tear to one’s eye. Everything else? May as well just forget it as soon as one reads it. 37/100.

67. Freshman book 2

Quite similar to the previous book. I wasn’t a fan of this series. I never was, never am, never will be. It just didn’t appeal to me, despite the fact that I got into college at age 18 the same year this book series began (2016). I have been playing this app since August 2016. However, much like the last book, Enrique Vasquez is the reason this book is still worth a read. The titanic writer’s epic struggle between his ego and his illness and his relationship with his daughter takes up pride of place here as well. Much like the 3rd book, the second book is worthwhile primarily because of this. Also, James is a three dimensional character in this book, thanks to Enrique, and therefore - the book is worth it for that as well. Decent effort from PB, but nowhere near their greatest works. 40/100.

66. Freshman book 1

The book which single handedly started the cash flow for Choices. One of their most important books ever made. For that the top marks are given. However, everything else is pretty primitive and underdeveloped. For one, diamond choices in this era of Choices are most often not worth it at all. The scenes or advantages that they give you aren’t significant or worthy of being remembered. The rustiness in the early books is also easy to see. However, it is a decent book to read, and the characters here feel fresh and interesting too. But, it doesn’t do much for me beyond that. Enrique is the best character of the first three books by far. He is extremely interesting because he is so imperfect. The individual character struggles over the first three books are forgettable for me. They failed to strike any emotional chords for me. Well, to each their own. 45/100.

65. Bachelorette Party

This book achieves everything it sets out to do. It is a wild story filled with debauchery of every damn kind. It is a fun book that plays itself out like wild drug filled fantasy. One of the most fun books ever created by Choices. The story is all over the place and the MC takes a side seat to the other cast characters. Also, the LIs are all pretty boring. It isn’t a great book, but it is a fun one. Read it without asking any logic of it. You will enjoy the roller coaster ride for certain. 45/100.

64. Wishful Thinking

Female LI only, so it loses points straight off the bat. However, it is an engaging and entertaining story which is another case of Choices going wild. This story could have had a sequel, but they didn’t give it one either. The LIs are quite boring in my opinion. However, the superpower that she possesses, the ability to read minds and the way it is used in the story is quite something. It makes for an engaging fast paced tale. Also noteworthy - the emu scene, one of the greatest scenes ever written by PB ever. That is hilarious for certain. 46/100.

63. High School Story Book 6

For some reason PB didn’t know when to stop the story during the COVID years. This series has 6 books. The first trilogy was perfectly fine. The second trilogy was not. Problem is, it tries to lean on nostalgia and at the same time tries to promote a new MC. It doesn’t exactly work well, and in this book, it is quite tiring honestly. The trip to England and all of that is another case of PB ramming in ideas that don’t work, but I will give them points for trying. Also, in this book, there is an overdose of theatre caused by bad writing of theatre kids. HSS book 4 is fine, by book 6, you are left disinterested. The picture perfect Rory is a boring LI, right from the very beginning. Skye is an awesome LI, and one of the main reasons this book doesn’t suck ass. Ajay is interesting, and the parental drama is actually half decent. Also good are the twins finding out about their aunt and that whole saga. It is another decent bright spot. It ain’t too bad is what I am saying. Not much else to say. Middle of road book for light reading. The other two in the second trilogy are more of the same. 47/100.

62. High School Story book 5

Ajay’s family drama begins here, and Skye’s story is as interesting as in the last book. Rory is boring. Simple as. I’ll just be repeating myself if I say anything else. The MC’s relationship with the twin is one of the better sibling relationships that PB has given us so far. 47/100.

61. High School Story book 4

The only book where these characters beside the three notable exceptions feel fresh. Nothing else to add here. At least we get to see the old HSS characters here. A decent farewell. 50/100.

60. Big Sky Country book 1

A rare case where the story improved in the second book. This is a solid story and the side characters are among the better ones. There is very little by way of connection to any LI besides Sawyer who occupies way too much time. A nice change of pace for PB, and a book that has a reasonable understanding of the midwest and deals with some real world issues - farming problems for a change. Quite a realistic town, with real problems shown, so it doesn’t lose its relatability. 50/100.

59. Big Sky Country book 2

The addition of the TV is messy, but it does lead to an increased and more exciting role of Asha and that is certainly welcome. It is an improvement over the original in that it grants more time to the other LIs, and Cliff’s death is one of the most emotional scenes by Choices, ever. He had a genuine connection with the MC and his importance to this story isn’t insignificant. Deserves praise and recognition. The story is resolved too, without too many loose ends. Thus, for being a solid continuation of a solid book, it deserves our praise and thus, a placement in the lower middle area of this list. 51/100.

58. Love Hacks book 2

This series slightly declined as it went on, but it has an engaging cast of characters and some excellent humour. Unlike many other books which deal with serious issues and expect to be taken seriously, this book is pure leisure comedy. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and for the first time in Choices, you could play as several characters (5 or 6 at one point). All of the characters are unique in their own way. They have their own arcs, and most of them have satisfactory conclusions to these arcs as well. Pretty decent on the whole. Good stuff from PB even though it isn’t close to their best. 51/100.

57. Love Hacks book 1

More interesting than the second book for sure. The romance is also mostly comical in the first one. The characters are very flawed in both this book and its follow up, and thus - they are very relatable. Mark is every loner, Ben is the comic book nerd and Cole is lovable - the guy is way too hilarious. Even the women characters such as Brooke, MC and others are a breath of fresh air. A lot of good vibes floating in the air. I don’t know, but somehow, I have a soft spot for this book series. It is a nice light read and doesn’t try to show itself as anything else. 51/100.

56. Foreign Affairs

A decent foray into diplomacy by PB. However, the rushed ending and the truncated resolution for the characters isn’t a great look. In places it seems way too eager to get to the conclusion. Ayna is an excellent LI - sexy and intriguing. Her arc of up, down and then up is very interesting and honestly one of the better points about this book. It could have used a second book. Cut short, there is a sense of a longer story out there that PB left forgotten. Honestly, Ayna is the reason this book is so high up. A damn good LI for what it's worth. Blaine is decent, but nothing special. Graphics are top notch and fitting for a book which blazed new ground for PB. The usage of new avatars for the MC is a plus too. Good stuff. 52/100.

55. The Unexpected Heiress

This is a story that often gets forgotten. People often forget that it is a mystery and an engaging mystery at that. I expected the worst from this book and was pleasantly surprised the more I read, and by the end, I was quite intrigued by the resolution. The twist hits quite hard and the revelation of who killed the MC’s sister is executed pretty smoothly. More than the characters, the story hits pretty hard and consistently. This is a solid story, make no mistake, and the clues add up to an extent as well. It isn’t one of their flagship mystery stories, but it doesn’t completely fall short of standards either. Pretty good dark horse effort from PB. Do read, it is worth it. 53/100.

54. Queen B book 2

It is not as interesting as the first book. The first book’s focus was limited and hence made for a much better story and had far more solid structure. The second story drifts all over the place and is much worse for it. Still, it is quite entertaining, and it has enough quality (graphics, insanity, Poppy and Ian) to ensure a decent value for your reading time. The twist involving the villain and the members of the gang who support her is pretty nice too. The best part is the fact that the MC can be a full on villain in this story and it feels liberating to say the least. It is an excellent change of pace, even if it is shoddily executed. (Yes, you could be a villain in the first book as well, but this book takes it to the next level). It is a bloated mess, but it is a fun mess all the same. The resolution isn’t the best, but at least, it has a resolution. 53/100.

53. The Royal Romance Book 1

The story is pretty slow to begin with, but this opening trilogy is pretty tightly held together and ensures that it reaches its goals and aims without drifting into the realms of fantasy and jumping the shark every 5 minutes. The writers weren’t high here, clearly. But, it contains less action than the next two books and so it is placed here. I am not denying its importance though. This book and series is the reason PB is so successful today and also still in business making books that we know and love and are good structurally. For this reason and for Maxwell, I will give this book a 54/100.

52. Rules of Engagement Book 1

Pretty slow to begin with, but the characters are still relatable and the books are still readable at this point. Another landmark for PB. Also, the story is pretty decent, with clear goals and aims for the characters, and their progress is clear and easy to see. There is little time wasting of either the characters’ time or the readers’ time. This is something that is certainly welcome. Alex isn’t whiny here, and the twins’s stories are intriguing as well. The MC is actually pretty boring. However, a good pair of villains makes up for it. 54/100.

51. Rules of Engagement Book 2

The story peaks in the second book, with one of the twins running away and the other becoming responsible. The brother’s romance with Elena here is actually pretty nice and lovely too. The feud with the pair of villains here takes a decent deal of depth as well. Violet is really fleshed out as a character here, and here pregnancy gives her a three dimensional story arc as well. Solid effort. Again, the MC is pretty boring, but everything else makes up for it. 55/100.

50. The Royal Romance Book 2

The revelation that the King was the guy who ensured the downfall of MC was quite the twist, and thus, this story is a reasonably gripping read. Add in Madeleine, the best character of TRR, and you have a formidable combination. This is a good book, don’t get me wrong. It doesn’t waste your time, and the characters are still fresh and welcoming. 56/100.

49. The Royal Romance Book 3

The best of TRR without question. Anton is an excellent villain, set up beautifully, and Madeleine and Violet are in great form here. Balls to the walls thriller - this book is, and it is all the better for it. The original cast is still in decent shape here and it results in - the true ending of TRR. TRH doesn’t exist for me. 57/100.

48. America’s Most Eligible Book 2

The weakest of the three AME books by far, and yet, it is decent. Thanks to Carson’s character, any semblance of direction in this book is lost within a few chapters. The MC shows an interesting turn of character - and his methods of dealing with Vince seem positively villainous, but my word is it a refreshing change of pace! Mackenzie is hot as hell, one of my favourite LIs ever, as is Jen, who is another of my favourites. Derek and Adam are solid if uninteresting. However, Adam’s side plot with Vince fails to meet expectations. It is another diversion from the main plot yet again. Some of the diamond choices - like the one to win the competitors’ votes in the finale are extreme to say the least. In any case, a crazy turn of events. An above average book, but not one that I will be revisiting many times. The book that preceded it and the book that succeeded it are much better in my opinion. Rating -  58/100.

47. Desire and Decorum book 3

This book is a Jane Austen copy. That does demote it to mid tier. However, since a good Jane Austen is an extraordinary tale, this story is a pretty good one too, and an exaggerated look into 1810s England. The characters are varied and the villains are thought provoking. The MC is not perfect. The events from book 1 through book 3 have plenty of hair raising moments as well. A solid tale on the whole. Copying Jane Austen isn’t easy, but they have done a reasonable job here. A fitting conclusion to the tale occurs here. 58/100.

46. Desire and Decorum book 1

The setup for the plot which is done in this book is interesting, and the characters are certainly quite three dimensional. However, it is rather slow to begin with. That may translate to boring for some readers. 58/100.

45. Desire and Decorum book 2

The action really peaks in the middle of the series, and it truly comes alive here. No question about which book is the best one in the series - it is this one. From your LI being shot to several revelations and secrets and plenty of character development, this book achieves plenty. 59/100.

44. Slow Burn

A Kitchen Nightmares show told by PB. Gordon Ramsey is there in the form of our intimidating boss, as are most of the rest of the crew as well. Here, there is only one protege - the MC. The story keeps you engaged throughout, and the relationship you build with your chef boss is pretty realistic and interesting all the same. A very good narrative. The dishes are real, and the world tour for food is fantastic too. An entertaining story. 59/100.

43. Murder at Homecoming

Despite being the newest book (as of August 26th, 2022) released by Choices, it is already one of their better ones. An engaging mystery is developing in front of us, and the story is being fleshed out beautifully. The characters are mostly grey, which makes the tale even more interesting. The MC isn’t a Mary Sue or a Gary Stu. The LIs have some compelling backstories as well. This book may rise or fall depending on how the rest of the story plays out. However, it is a very strong and impressive start for PB. The art is quite impressive too. 60/100.

42. The Royal Masquerade

A book which deserved so much better. This was a book that deserved a sequel, as the story could have easily been extended. The main villain was quite the surprise, and she really stole the show from everyone else. This book has a fast and furious storyline which focuses on a multitude of events happening all at once. A solid cast of characters, most of them grey, make it even more of a wild ride. The story was hastily wrapped up, well short of its true potential. The ending is also a grey, dissatisfying ending, which is also pretty good, really leaving you wanting more. Missed opportunity by PB here. However, a good book nonetheless. 60/100.

41. Immortal Desires

Full of action from start to finish and two great LIs to boot. Several of the actions of the MC may appear morally wrong and even suspiciously devious or cunning. This is a book that really does Vampires justice with cool scenes, and the LIs are quite three dimensional. Excellent stuff. This is a book that really delivers on the excitement, action and fun portion, and does not waste time with pointless love scenes time and time again. It is a book that clearly shows the direction that PB is heading in - upwards and onwards. The MC’s fate can be taken in a few directions as well, so there is that factor to put it over the top as well. It truly is a book worthy of the PB Renaissance. 62/100.

40. Across the Void

This book, like many others, was curtailed by PB due to the main writer leaving the project. The ending was botched, and there is no sense of satisfaction in it. However, the reason this book is so high on the list is because of a few reasons - 1. Art - the art in this book is the best PB have ever created. There can be no ifs or buts about it. They really smashed the ball out of the park with this book. The style is excellent as are the designs. The backgrounds are absolutely magnificent with plenty of interesting detail and they are designed with bright, lovely colours. Pax is annoying as hell, and behaves as though she doesn’t have to take responsibility for anything. The MC is actually almost completely overshadowed by his brother, Eos. Eos is one of the few characters one actually has sympathy for as well. It is a decent story, helped by the fact that this is a very long book by Choices standards - 22 chapters! This is a book which scores more on the peripheral standards of character design, art, colours used, etc. It is a book that is placed high because it does the background things very very well. 63/100.

39. Open Heart Book 2

This is the book where Choices’ decline began. Several story decisions were questionable at best and at the end of it all, a masterpiece of a book became only good or great at best. However, the story is still top notch. A remarkably gripping and engaging narrative that keeps you on your toes holds your attention right through, and Esme is one of the best characters you don’t have a romantic relationship with in all of Choices. A damn good effort. However, the inconsistency and the terrible decision making as far as story writing goes drags it down to this position.Also, the obsession with Ethan starts in this book. Great first 2/3rds, and mediocre last 1/3rd. Still, I rate it - 63/100.

38. With Every Heartbeat.

The most sentimental PB book ever. I doubt that they will ever top this book. A true tearjerker, this book has plenty of similarities to The Fault in Our Stars. However, it isn’t a complete rip off. One of the few books to sensitively and beautifully deal with the topics of death and loss. The fact that the Love Interest dies here gives so much more meaning to the story. Female only MC means this book loses a few points, but man, what a touching story. The emotional quotient of this book is extremely high. The catharsis is tremendous and significant. Well done PB. 64/100.

37. High School Story 3

This wrapped up the original trilogy and is a very good book, but it only wraps up the story of our MC, and does very little else. However, time spent with the many LIs is only a plus, and we see the formalisation of the relationship between the MC and the LI, and that is a nice moment as well. Plenty of fan service moments and plenty of happy stuff to go around. A nice farewell to this book series. 64/100.

36. High School Story 1

The book which reintroduced Choices’ characters from the other game and gave us one of the best dad characters ever. A damn good story, and one where the MC just has a lot of fun. The characters are genuine and you have instant connections with one or the other. The plot is rather stereotypical, but pretty decent all the same. The structure is fine and so is the function of the characters. It results in a solid narrative. It is fun, engaging and has plenty of action, what’s not to like? 65/100.

35. Nightbound

Another story which could have and should have gotten a sequel. There was a shared universe with Bloodbound which was waiting to be used. The major foundations for the story were all present. However, the potential was mostly wasted, despite plenty of demand from the fans for a sequel. The LIs aren’t memorable but the art definitely is. The plot is tight with tons of action as well. The greyness of the characters is quite notable as well. A darn good book. Great stuff from PB. Notable is the fact that this book is a rare stand alone that really puts up a good show for itself. 65/100.

34. Red Carpet Diaries book 3

By this point, the series was tiring, and the novelty had all but disappeared as well. Regardless, this is still a good book to put the bow on top of the series. An excellent plot which ties the bow on a very good series is the result. All of the characters have their own little side plots, and the wedding is the main focus of everything. Also interesting, a stalker was thrown into the mixture as well. A very good story on the whole. The relationship feels real and genuine between the MC and the LIs. Good stuff. 66/100.

33. Ride or Die

One of the greyest books imaginable. Nothing is really wrong or right, if we read it from some perspectives. Truly, a great story. A damn good effort. Everyone one of the crew and the family has their own charm despite being very shady characters themselves. The villain’s reveal is great. It is also lovely to see damn good car designs and lovely use of action, and great art for certain scenes as well. The dad is a grey character on his own, and there is much use of irony and foreshadowing at times. It is a tight, all action novel that lives up to its name. 67/100.

32. Queen B book 1

The book that made playing a villain cool. Incredibly petty MC, and pretty much everyone else made this book a riot to read. Way too many wild and insane moments to list, and executed the idea of running wild much better than Bachelorette Party, in my opinion. The MC is flawed and that is the reason that this book succeeds. Poppy is one of the most devious, cunning and punch them in the face villains ever, and all the better for it. A damn fine character, one who everyone almost loves to hate. One of those books that really deserved a better sequel than the one that it got. Well, in any case, exciting. 67/100.

33. Red Carpet Diaries - book 1

The book that gave us Hollywood U in Choices form. A strong plot, with very desirable LIs and a good plot twist and a pretty realistic depiction of the overall sleazy, over the top and hedonistic nature of Hollywood makes for a strong combination that enables this book to take this spot on the list. Must say, this story can surprise you, and the MC goes through plenty. This book fills you with a variety of emotions. Exciting, cynical, and realistic too. 68/100.

32. Platinum

The story isn’t anything out of the ordinary - an updated version of the Star is born with a happier ending, that’s all. However, the songs in the book are what put it so high. The book written to display PB’s talent in writing a soundtrack and in writing songs doesn’t disappoint one bit. The songs are top notch and really do show the level of effort and dedication that PB put into this book. There is plenty of heart shown by the company especially in the ‘feel’ that the songs have to them. None of the singers feel as though they are phoning in a performance. The Prince guitar is a neat added touch as well. It is a short book, but a good one all the same. Great visuals too. Some points docked for being a Female MC only though. I’ve got to give props to the soundtrack. That alone catapults it up here, even though I hate pop music (classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and thrash metal fan, myself), the book executes it well. 68/100.

31. The Junior - The Freshman book 7

The only book of this series which really got my attention, and it is the best book of this series by far. Nathan, Beau and Cassidy are among the most interesting villains ever, evil for the sake of being evil, and their twisted nature really shows itself over time, and not all at once. It is a complete turn into uncharted waters for the series which never had tried to be anything close to a mystery series. This book is an exciting what if? What if the Choices writers had decided to go down this route more than once? Maybe it would have retained more interest in the series as a whole? Who knows?? In any case, the quest for justice is engaging all the same. It is a refreshing change of pace for the entire series as a whole. The MC is actually likeable in this book, which is a change in itself. 68/100.

30. Red Carpet Diaries - book 2

It dealt with the very popular #Metoo movement of the time, and for once, it was a pretty decent and realistic attempt too. The characters are fleshed out further and are three dimensional, and the conflicts between some characters feel pretty natural too - see Teja and Seth for reference. Also, the entire sleazy nature of Hollywood, the casting couch culture, the over reliance on stardom and on the scratching of each others’ backs is realistically portrayed. Hunt as a character is pretty interesting too. Poetic justice for the monster of a man is served in the end as well. A solid, solid book that keeps one engaged and interested until the end. It is rather too realistic considering that several of the men who were put out of business a few years ago by the movement are crawling back somehow, showing that the problem hasn’t really gone away. However, was the whole movement only for publicity (we are talking about Hollywood here, not common blue collar people, mind you), and not really to ensure that the silver screen scene was cleaned up of its undesirable elements? It seems to me that that was indeed the case, as no real changes ever happened, nor did the women take matters into their own hands and fire or out the agents who put them into compromised positions. Still, it is a nice social commentary on the fakeness of Hollywood as a whole as well. 70/100.

29. Hero

A beloved book for good reason. The art style is fantastic, the characters are lovable and unique, and of all the books to never get a sequel, this one’s non sequel cut especially deep. It is especially more so considering the fact that the story was completely unresolved. Most likely, the writer left, and suitable replacements weren’t found. It is still a damn good book to read. The quintessential super hero journey, with more than a passing resemblance to SuperMan. The other side characters, and the LIs, are pretty memorable, and all remain long in the memory. The art is among the best PB have ever created. Excellent quality and execution. The comic book feel is not half assed. Shame that it only got one book, but it remains a great book all the same. Still wish that they gave this one a sequel, and it was an early Gender of Choice book too!! Shame. The plot moved quickly, it had good structure, and the arcs were taking shape as well. Oh well, still an excellent read. Maybe one day, PB will rethink their decision to stop this book series. Rating - 70/100.

28. Laws of Attraction

This book may be a controversial pick, considering how it ended. Hear me out though. This book may be one of, if not - THE most important book that Choices created. Why? The public were losing a lot of hope after the disastrous first of 2021, that saw several books being cancelled, terrible ones being extended and more and more slutty books being released, and Blades of Light and Shadow being delayed for one more year, and several books given truncated endings that pissed off the audience. To tell you the truth, I had given up hope myself. This book was what began their renaissance, and since then - they haven’t looked back. That one scene apart, this was a solid book, with a good plot, good characters - mostly grey, a great twist, and some genuinely heart stopping moments. Add one of the most lovable and mature LIs ever, and you’ve got a winner on your hands. Yes, it ripped off the series - Suits a bit, but who cares?! This book gave the app a new lease of life in terms of credibility. Better still, the book’s sequel is coming out later this year. This book was badly needed in order to ensure that the company could win back the trust of its intelligent readership who demanded thought provoking stories. This is the book that gave PB their second lease of life, and they did not waste it. Good. Make sure that this book is the beginning of a new glorious era and not a return to the trashy, smutty books era. Yes, they have released stinkers since, but the flow of good books in a simultaneous fashion cannot be ignored either. Good job PB, this book saved your app. Rating - 71/100.

27. A Courtesan of Rome

Despite a rushed ending, this book goes up here due to its dedication to detail, to its period correct writing, imagery, art, and design. Immense in its scope and detail, this book is another in a long list that could have become a hugely popular series. Docked points for being a female MC only, this book nevertheless has intrigue, murder, love, hate, and everything in between squeezed into around 20 chapters. Deserved much more and could have been a masterpiece with some fine tuning. Instead, we get another great but not excellent book. This book is still thought provoking and contains realistic depictions of slavery and other such barbaric practices. It isn’t politically correct, and nor does it ever try to be. The story is the main goal, and for much of the book, the story holds your attention. The art is excellent, something that PB deserves full praise for as well. Rating - 71/100.

26. Open Heart Book 1

One of the few book series that hugely declined in quality as they went on - the other being TRR. The first book by itself is an excellent effort and is a tremendously detailed look into the daily lives of doctors in the USA. This book introduced us to some memorable characters and some engaging plotlines. This book was the pinnacle of the trilogy without question. The story is tight, the love interests are treated somewhat equally, there are good arcs, and there are no half assed decisions. A treat to read and to enjoy. Pity what happened thereafter. 72/100.

25. High School Story book 2

Looks like I am a sucker for good mystery or revenge plots aren’t I? This book shows a great deal of realistic intra school conflict between the main characters of book 1 and their tremendous scheming in order to rid the place of their draconian principal Isa as well. The plot is tight, and the characters show a great deal of development. The romance also develops. The conflict between the characters and the MC feels genuine and important and is genuine and important, something that not all of PB’s books manage to achieve. There is a certain level of groundedness and reality that improves this book greatly as well. Excellent stuff all round. 73/100.

24. Heist: Monaco

This book takes a lot of inspiration from Ocean’s Eleven. It isn’t a bad thing though, as with a wonderful, jazzy soundtrack, superb art, and several different playthroughs depending on the choices you make - you get to make your own unique team and also your own unique story. It is a fantastic showing of how your choices really affect the story. It makes for a fabulous, action packed adventure. The LIs are good, and so are the other side characters. Sonia is one of the greatest LIs/villains ever. Damn good book. That soundtrack, that soundtrack is outstanding. 74/100.

23. America’s Most Eligible Book 1

This book is a really good introduction to the superficiality of reality TV, and its many trials and tribulations. It has some good characters, and some really interesting moments and surprises too. Jennifer and Mackenzie are among the most dear LIs ever, and they really tug at your heartstrings. Adam is decent, but Derek fails to strike a chord. This book does the scripted story part well too. The ‘Behind the veil’ look at the contestants and the show is good too. All in all it is a pretty solid book, a great book. The relationship actually feels genuine and not a complete hogwash either. 75/100.

22. Veil of Secrets

One of Choices’ earlier mysteries, and it is very well executed. The villain’s reveal is excellent and everything in the town is logically connected. This isn’t a book that you read for the LIs. You read it for the story, for the thrill, and for the suspense. A damn good book, and very well written. Every character feels real, feels grey, and one definitely feels empathy towards them. The backstory is great, the convoluted, twisted story threads are good, and the clues make sense too. Supreme book that deserves attention. With the passage of time however, public memory of this book has faded, but trust me, it deserves attention. 75/100.

21. America’s Most Eligible book 3

A fitting conclusion to the over the top reality TV series, this book had everything from several intra-couple conflicts, to a decision at the altar and a marriage, while also dealing with a devious crook - Vince. There is plenty of drama, and there are plenty of crazy moments to go around. The drama between you and the LI feels real, since tension with the stress of reality TV has been building up since book 1. It is no surprise that their facade eventually cracks. The tension feels real, although you win the competition with the diamond choices. Even without them, with correct play, you get a decent result. It offers many different endings - 3 of them to be exact, just like Heist: Monaco. That adds more to the appeal of this book as well. Yes, there is a sense of exaggeration at several moments and there are several very over dramatic moments, but the sense of reality TV is conveyed well, and the end result is pretty spectacular and well executed. A fun book, and a really good one as well. Unlike the second one, this one doesn’t lose its sense of direction. 76/100.

20. Mother of the Year

A deeply touching book which really put a spotlight on divorced couples, single mothers and the children of such parents, as well the eternal struggle between the two to gain control of the kids. In any case, the company really outdid themselves with this book. It is sensitive, it is thoughtful and thought provoking. The characters feel real and relatable. The child is pretty realistic as well. The villain isn’t an all out villain either. A remarkable book that showcases certain parts of society. In any case, this is a great book, with a great story. It is well written and well executed. Superb stuff. Female only MC, but this is one of the few books where that ain’t really a bad thing. Ending is a bit hasty, but this is a complete story full of excellent emotional moments and several moments of catharsis as well. From here on out, it is mostly a personal choice as most of these books that follow are all pretty spectacular efforts. 77/100.

19. Perfect Match book 1

One of PB’s best Sci Fi books ever. Dazzlingly brilliant, the entire store really effs with one’s mind. The story surrounding the robots, humans and their relationship with each other and with the parent company forms such a rigmarole (with so many copies of every human in the form of robots) and yet, the story is damn good without confusing the reader too much. Excellent plot twists as well, so this book really walks the talk in every sense. The premise is interesting, the execution is excellent and the action is heart stopping. The art is great as well. Lots to love in this book. This may be ranked higher by others, but for me, it lands here. Damn good book, thrilling storyline. Deserves to be read. Lots of great stuff here. 80/100.

18. Perfect Match book 2

One of the greatest sequels ever. A damn fine book. This has action, dizzying twists, and a wide bunch of robot and human characters who are equally compelling to read about. It is a pleasure to witness their relationships and the brilliant way in which the story develops. One of PB’s best, and fittingly - released during their peak period - 2018-19. 81/100.

17. Elementalists book 2

Harry Potter lite continued, but this book achieves a place like this due to a good story, extraordinary art, great characters, great LIs and a whole host of action packed edge of your seat events that leaves one breathless. The story has merit on its own though, as the magic comes from within and not from a wand, and has many of the usual unusual creatures to marvel at. In my opinion, this book is not as well put together as the first one, but I am open to changing the placement of this book if I evaluate it differently later on. The villain is glorious, the twin’s relationship with the MC is remarkably developed here (more development all the time) and there are grey characters to be found in every nook and cranny of the story. A supreme effort, and one that PB really put a lot of love into. It should have gotten a third book, but two books are better than one. Execution is outstanding to say the least. Great stuff. A bad point - this book, like its predecessor, is really diamond hungry. Save up before you play this duology to get the full experience. 82/100.

16. Most Wanted

A personal favourite of mine. This book showed us that Choices meant business from the very beginning. It is one of the few books where the story is excellent without any of the diamond options (It feels complete). It never feels like it is shortchanging the reader. It never feels like half assed effort. This book was the first one I read in Choices, six years ago - August, 2016. Since then, it has remained dear to my heart, and I have reread it several times. The only book without any romantic relationship whatsoever, this book shows that it is possible to write without any of them. Sam and Dave’s relationship can be described in many ways, even having a hint of romantic tension. However, the fact that it is never acted upon enhances the story in a way, in my opinion. One of the first books where you could play as multiple characters as well. The tension is real, the suspense is awesome, the villain is big and bad - and utterly compelling. The story is gripping, and the twist is outstanding. This book really has it all. A damn shame that it never got the sequel(s) it deserved. Still, it is a fascinating look into early Choices writing, proving they were on their game from the very beginning. A book that I can wax endless lyrical on without effort. Every moment is important and nothing is wasted. Great book, superb execution. 84/100.

15. Bloodbound book 1

What an opening salvo!! The best vampire series that PB has ever done and probably will ever do. This book is magnificent. The art, the characters, the backgrounds, the lore, it has it all, and my word does it absolutely hit it out of the park. Every character is memorable, unique and has an influence on the story. Great effort by the team here and it shows. Spectacular all around, and the excellence is such that I am overlooking the fact that this book and its sequels are female MC only. Yes, it is that good. Well paced, great villains, great setup for the sequels, and my word do we get a good pay off. Lots to love here. Adrian, Kamilah, Jax and the MC’s roommate are all memorable as are all the other vampires. Amazing stuff all around. The overall mystery being developed is excellent as well. The story is brilliantly interwoven in different textures almost seamlessly in this book. Hats off to the writers. Amazing job, and well worth many reads. 85/100.

14. Wake the Dead

As far as Zombie books go, this one is up there with the very best. The art is one of the best ever, and the characters, particularly Angel, Sledge, and the guy that betrays you, are often shown to have more sense than the MC in some situations. Your choices really matter, as who lives or dies depends on how you choose the tough choices, all of which are free, and most of which have no right answer at all. Pretty remarkable. The behaviour and reaction of each character to different situations is quite different and it makes for a compelling narrative. Several decisions - to kill or not to kill, to choose to save or not to save throughout the story put the spotlight firmly on the reader asking them to choose and choose with care. A book that really asks the reader to take responsibility for their actions. Tonnes of replay value here. Several playthroughs are achievable as well. The dangers feel real, the villains feel real, and everything is raw, untamed and quite in your face. Outstanding effort by PB. However, it deserved a sequel. But, the good part is, they did not half ass the ending or create a WTF moment for the audience. Great to read. 85/100.

13. It Lives - book 1

The greatest horror series ever by PB. It isn’t an argument. The sequel is even better than this book, but my word is this story is gripping or what?! This book was excellent in the story structure, the lore, the stakes, the characters and the background. Everything was perfectly imperfect. None of the characters were fine at any point, everyone was affected by the same incident and responded to it differently. A gripping story is the result. The soundtrack here is one of the best ever. The ending is one of the best as well, and together with the twist, knocks the wind out of your sails. The result is spectacular. Another of those books that does not need an LI at all. It does just fine without one. Great writing, spectacular action and excellent pay offs. Couple of different endings as well. This book is one of PB’s best and deservedly so. 86/100.

12. Bloodbound book 2

Gaius elevates this book almost entirely by himself. His battle with the MC makes for a great story. There is plenty of action, and some story altering decisions to be made, although most of them are paywalled. Still, this turns up the brilliance of the first story to an even higher level. Great stuff all around. The characters are as compelling as ever, and Gaius strides the scene like a larger than life villain, who is genuinely scary (it is of course, true that he is nearly unbeatable as well). The entire struggle, and the machinations of the plot feel real and raw, just like the first book, and it sets up things nicely for the finale. A book from PB’s platinum period. Outstanding execution. Everything that applies to book one applies to this one too. 87/100.

11. Elementalists Book 1

This one misses out by a hair’s breadth, but don’t worry, it is a fantastic book all the same. It is better than the first in that it has a better villain and it has a far more structurally sound story and the relationship with your twin is far more significant here than in book 2. Simply put, it is an excellent book, and it surpasses its sequel by a wee bit, but not by much. The characters feel even more real here than in the sequel, but it is a matter of personal taste, nothing more. Supreme book. Great storyline, art and execution. 88/100.

10.  It Lives Beneath book 2

Into the top 10 we go!! It is a tremendous book that improves upon It Lives. The characters feel even better, and the LIs are way better. Imogen and Dani, along with Tom and Parker are among the best LIs ever. Also interesting is the relationship the MC has with their younger brother and their grandfather. Lots to love here, and the plot is solid. The villains are truly bad and the satisfaction that one gets when they are defeated is pretty significant. Good plot twists, excellent use of dull colours, and suffocating dialogue makes the narrative gripping, suffocating and extremely haunting. The sound track is top notch as well. Everything you’d want from a horror book, and more. What more to say? 90/100.

9. Bloodbound book 3

The finale of this explosive, brilliant series did not disappoint in the least. There was plenty of action, an unexpected twist, and some excellent action sequences. Two possible endings also resulted from it. The final big bad is taken on and dealt with - the good part is, it wasn’t shoehorned in. The lore of the series is deep and the big bad had been hinted at from the very beginning, so this wasn’t really a surprise. The payoffs are excellent and the reveals are great. The final death scene gets one to shed many tears as well. Great book. Wonderfully written. 90/100.

8. The Crown and the Flame book 1

The first book of fantasy that Choices ever produced, and it is one of their best. The characters are fantastically drawn, and they are quite three dimensional. Kenna and Dom’s narrative in two different places at once make for a truly lovely narrative structure that PB sadly hasn’t explored more in the years that followed. One of PB’s first books, and yet, it remains as one of their best ever. The story is excellent, action tight with events making logical sense, good villains and decent lore. The art is excellent even back then, showing that this company has rarely let their art standards drop. The action is fast paced and well paced at the same time. Your diamond choices especially matter a lot here - as your allies stay right through the entire story. Outstanding book right off the bat, the second book I started reading, and the second reason after Most Wanted as to why this app hooked me immediately. Rating - 91/100.

7. Blades of Light and Shadow

For many, this book is the best Choices has to offer. I won’t disagree. It is merely a matter of personal opinion as I had mentioned before. This book’s art, character design(you can select any of 3 races of character as well), story design, map design, colour choice, villain design and motivation are all top notch. It scores high in almost every category. There are plenty of remarkable action sequences, emotional moments, romantic moments, etc in this story. PB took a big risk with this book, and my word did it pay off. It is a titanic tale on an epic scale. It is diamond hungry, yes - but that does not degrade this book one bit. It really, really rewards its readers. This book is spectacular in every manner. It is also getting a sequel next year. Let us hope it is as soon as possible. I have been waiting impatiently for it for 2 years. Please don’t disappoint us PB! This book is too good to ruin. Don’t waste the potential here! Outstanding work, a veritable masterpiece if I may say so. 92/100.

6. Crimes of Passion

Yes, it is one of PB’s newest books, but it is also one of their best already. A tremendous storyline featuring an excellent cast of characters, plenty of intrigue, backstory and twists keeps the readers on their toes. Great LI - it is one of the few places where the relationship feels normal, engaged and not rushed in the least. It is an excellent reminder as to how to write a romance. All this in a mystery novel BTW. Most of my other thoughts can be read in the book specific review that I did a couple of months ago. PB’s best mystery/thriller by far. A masterpiece in every way. Superb. A true crowning point of their renaissance. Hopefully, these good times continue. 94/100.

5. Endless Summer Book 3

Hold your horses, people! This book’s ending isn’t as perfect as it possibly could’ve been, but everything else in the storyline is perfect. A truly outstanding ending to PB’s greatest series. It is rather short in length, but it gives an outstanding closure to the trilogy. The characters, the backgrounds, the lore, the art, the villains, the heroes, the twisted narrative, the Sophie’s choice for the ending, the emotions that it arouses in the reader, the tight action, the stupendously executed story arcs - all of these are at the highest level. Ending is a wee bit rushed, but that is the tiniest of gripes with this book. What a book! What an ending!!! PB’s zenith without a shadow of doubt. Most of my favourite characters from PB are in this book. 95/100.

4. The Crown and the Flame book 3

One of the best endings ever. A great villain (not as good as Luther) and everything that I told you about book 1 applies here as well. An outstanding series. Almost every arc is given a fitting conclusion and everything logically falls into place - for a fantasy series anyway. The characters are given a great sendoff without this book becoming a fan service in any way. This is an excellent book that demonstrates how to end a series properly without any loose ends. PB forgot this during 2020-21. One of their magnum opuses. 96/100.

3. Endless Summer book 1

A true magnum opus. Simply stunning in the way it set things up for the rest of the series. PB at their zenith. Every facet of this book is absolutely top notch. It can hardly get better than this. The LIs, story, villains, reveals, art, pacing, collectibles, logic, lore, and everything else is absolutely magnificent. The setup is excellent and sets the tone for the rest of the series. Nothing is out of place. PB really wove all the loose threads that this book left open. Outstanding work. Too many good things to list. The connection you have with the characters is excellent, and all of them feel real. Everyone feels like a friend you have known all your life. The extraordinariness of it all is that none of it feels forced or unnatural. The writing is amazing and it makes you feel at home almost immediately. Peak PB. 97/100.

2. The Crown and the Flame book 2

The story really ramps up here, in this book. A masterpiece of a story is at its zenith here. Every character goes through their own arc. Dom and Kenna are particularly well developed as characters in this book, each going through their own trials and tribulations. Pretty much everything in this book is at its zenith. The entire book is PB riffing off great scenes after great scenes. Nowhere do they waste our time nor do they ever add pointless scenes to pad the runtime of the story. Well balanced in every way, a superb story. TC and TF and ES don’t have a problem of inconsistent standards at any point. They are extraordinary series which only improve with time. Supreme standards and execution. 99/100.

1. Endless Summer book 2

The absolute zenith of PB’s writing. From the opening scene to the closing puzzle, and the shocking reveal, everything is in top form. The writing, the pacing, characterization, developments, the idols and their memories, the events, the plot twists, the relationships and so on are all at the very height of what an app like this can achieve. I haven’t seen a book so far that has come close to dethroning this book. For me, this book is perfect. It has everything. There are no negative points whatsoever. It is beloved for a reason, and it executes everything flawlessly. If PB can have only one magnum opus - it is this book. Everything about this book is absolutely flawless. It also goes above and beyond in order to give its readers a good experience while reading it as well. A true masterpiece, and without question, PB’s best series ever. 100/100.

Phew! It took me a long time to compile my thoughts in this fashion, but finally, the work has been completed. Please comment below, let me know what you disagreed upon. I’d love to hear about it, and discuss it at length, if possible. This was a long standing project of mine, and I am glad that I was finally able to finish it. Thank you to everyone who took their time and read.

Yours,

7GSTF.