My Favorite Books of 2024

Ahh a new year means new reading goals and creating a brand new list of “Want to Read” books for 2025. 

Personally, I’m a pretty big mood reader. Meaning the books I pick up depend on how I’m feeling at that moment. So although I have some books in mind that I want to read, I don’t usually have a solid decision made as to which book I will be reading next. We’re making “game time” decisions over here lol. 

I know not everyone is a mood reader though. So whether you’re looking to get back into reading or have already (re)started your reading journey, I figured I’d provide some of my favorite books that I read in 2024 to give you some ideas as to what your next book could be. 

A couple of notes: 

• To be clear, these books weren’t necessarily published in 2024. I just read them in 2024.

• I’ll link each book to the respective blog post on my website in which it was reviewed. That way, if you want to see a more elaborate explanation as to why I loved a book, you can. :)

FANTASY/ROMANTASY

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

• Basic premise: Raised to protect their family’s collection of magical books,the Kalotay sisters are brought back together after their father’s mysterious death reveals hidden dangers within their legacy. As they unravel secrets spanning generations and continents, they confront a world of magic that threatens everything they treasure.

• Read this if you like: phenomenal storylines, multiple POVs, fantastic character arcs, and a dash of blood magic. 

• Find my full review here.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

• Basic premise: Two young rival journalists develop a connection through a magical wardrobe. As they are thrust into a divine war with mystical typewriters, their connection becomes key to battling fate, saving humanity, and discovering love amidst chaos.

• Read this if you like: fantasy that also feels like historical fiction, dual POV format, war and magic, a slow burn romance, duologies (Ruthless Vows is already out!)

• Find my full review here.

Manacled by SenLinYu

• Basic Premise: Harry Potter is dead. In the aftermath of the war, in order to strengthen the might of the magical world, Voldemort enacts a repopulation effort. Hermione Granger has an Order secret, lost but hidden in her mind, so she is sent as an enslaved surrogate to the High Reeve until her mind can be cracked.

• Read if you like: fan-fictions or retellings, an incredible Dramoine ship, multiple timelines, darker content, slow burn romances, spice.

• Side notes: please check content and trigger warnings before diving into this one. Also, the author of this took it down from Archive of Our Own because they’re publishing it into an actual book - just outside of the Wizarding World because copyright lol. So you may have to wait until it’s officially published as its own book before being able to get your hands on it. Alternatively, hit me up, and I may be able to share the ePub document with you.

• Find my full review here. 

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

• Basic premise: In a post-revolution world where witches are hunted, Rune hides her magic by day as a frivolous socialite and by night as the Crimson Moth, a vigilante rescuing her kind. When her path collides with Gideon Sharpe, a witch hunter posing as her suitor, their dangerous game of deception sparks a forbidden connection that could expose them both.

• Read if you like: regency era romances, enemies-to-lovers, a badass female main character, simpler magic structures, a bit of “cat and mouse,” duologies (the second one isn’t out yet but it will be this year!), quick pacing.

• Find my full review here.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

• Basic premise: Misery Lark, the outcast daughter of a powerful Vampyre councilman, reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience with Werewolf Alpha Lowe Moreland to uphold a fragile peace. While Lowe watches her with suspicion, Misery hides her own secret agenda—one that could upend their alliance and her solitary life among the Weres.

• Read if you like: slow burn romance, enemies-to-lovers, plot with politics, simpler magical/societal constructs, BOAT LOADS of humor, spice.

• Find my full review here.

YA FANTASY (YOUNG ADULT)

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

• Basic premise: In a fractured empire, Aiz, a vengeful prisoner, Sirsha, a magical tracker chasing a child killer, and Quil, a reluctant crown prince, find their fates intertwined. As a deadly new enemy rises, each must confront their past and decide what they are willing to sacrifice to protect their people and their future.

• Read if you like: An Ember in the Ashes series, high fantasy, militaristic world with social hierarchy, politics, adventure, multiple POVs.

• Find my full review here.

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

• Basic premise: Seventeen-year-old warrior Eelyn’s world shatters when she discovers her presumed-dead brother fighting for the enemy clan. Forced to endure a brutal winter among her foes, she must confront betrayal, forge unexpected alliances, and unite warring clans to face a legendary threat—or risk losing everything she holds dear.

• Read if you like: fantasy mixed with historical fiction, Vikings (like the Slavic fighters, not the Minnesota team lol), slow burn romance, enemies-to-lovers, tough and scrappy female main character. 

• Find my full review here.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

• Basic premise: Alizeh, a hidden Jinn queen masquerading as a servant, crosses paths with Crown Prince Kamran, who is haunted by prophecies of his king's death. Drawn together by fate, their connection threatens to unravel kingdoms and reshape the world.

• Read if you like: djinn-based magic, regency era, feuding kingdoms, prophecies, enemies-to-lovers, an underdog.

• Find my full review here. 

What The River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

• Basic premise: In nineteenth-century Buenos Aires, Inez Olivera inherits a fortune, a mysterious guardian, and an ancient golden ring after her parents' tragic deaths. Traveling to Cairo, she unravels a web of old-world magic tied to the ring and her parents’ disappearance, forcing her to rely on her wits—and a frustratingly charming assistant—to survive a deadly conspiracy.

• Read if you like: historical fiction, magical realism, Egypt, treasure hunting, red herrings, archaeology, adventure.

• Find my full review here.

MYSTERY/THRILLER

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

• Basic premise: Evie Porter, a fabricated identity created for mysterious assignments, faces her most challenging job yet when her target, Ryan Sumner, begins to feel like more than just a mark. As her carefully constructed life unravels and her true identity resurfaces, Evie must outwit her past while risking everything for a future she never imagined.

• Read if you like: mystery/thrillers that don’t involve a bunch of creepy content, spy movies, somewhat morally gray characters, TONS of plot twists, fast paced storylines.

• Find my full review here

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

• Basic premise: White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American.

• Read if you like: the movie Get Out, satires, morally gray/unreliable narrators, bigotry called out.

• Find my full review here.

The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James

• Basic premise: In 1982, Viv Delaney takes a job as the night clerk at the eerie Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York, where secrets lurk in every shadow. As strange occurrences mount, Viv becomes determined to uncover the motel’s dark mysteries—no matter the cost.

• Read if you like: true crime podcasts, a little bit of paranormal activity, multiple POVs, dual timelines. 

• Find my full review here.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

• Basic premise: In 1978, Pamela Schumacher survives a sorority massacre in Florida, while Tina Cannon in Seattle is driven to seek justice for a friend who disappeared under eerily similar circumstances. United by their pursuit of truth, these two women challenge the glorified narrative of a notorious serial killer, shining a light on the exceptional lives of the victims he sought to erase.

• Read if you like: true crime podcasts, stories involving serial killers, strong women leads, multiple POVs, dual timelines.

• Find my full review here,

ROMANCE

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

• Basic Premise: After the worst day of her life, Clementine vows to protect her heart by sticking to her plan: work hard, dream big, and avoid getting too close to anyone. But when she meets a kind Southern man living seven years in the past, she must decide whether love can defy the boundaries of time—or if it’s doomed by timing.

• Read if you like: dual timelines, the movie The Lake House, a little whimsy, getting your heart ripped apart then slowly sewn back together lol.

• Find my full review here.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

• Basic premise: Single mom and bestselling erotica author Eva Mercy is stunned when reclusive literary star Shane Hall reenters her life at a New York literary event, reigniting the chemistry—and heartbreak—they shared during a torrid week 20 years ago. Over seven steamy Brooklyn days, they confront their shared past, buried traumas, and lingering questions that could change everything.

• Read if you like: second chance romances, slow burns, dual timelines, a little spice.

• Find my full review here.

Play Along by Liz Tomforde

• Basic premise: Kennedy, a determined athletic trainer for the Windy City Warriors, finds her career and professional reputation at risk after a drunken Las Vegas night leaves her married to Isaiah Rhodes, the team’s charming shortstop. Bound by a scheme to save her job, they agree to a temporary marriage, but Isaiah is set on proving to Kennedy that their accidental union could be the real deal.

• Read if you like: sports romances, fake dating, forced proximity, he-falls-first, SPICE.

• Find my full review here.

Funny Story - Emily Henry

• Basic premise: After being left by her fiancé for his childhood best friend, Daphne starts over in Waning Bay, Michigan, as a children’s librarian and reluctantly becomes roommates with Miles, her ex’s fiancée’s ex. Despite their differences, a shared heartbreak leads to an unexpected friendship—and a fake summer fling—that might just become something real.

• Read if you like: phenomenal banter, dual POV, forced proximity, friends-to-lovers, spice, quality Michigan references lol. 

• Find my full review here. 

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

• Basic Premise: After heartbreak tore their marriage apart, Yasmen and Josiah Wade have settled into a new normal, co-parenting their kids and running a successful business. But as lingering sparks reignite into something undeniable, they must decide if their love deserves a second chance—or if the past will keep them apart for good.

• Read if you like: second chance romance, stories about overcoming grief, dual POV, strong main characters, men who go to therapy (lol), and SPICE.

• Find my full review here.

FICTION (CONTEMPORARY/LITERARY)

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

• Basic Premise: Lillian agrees to care for her old friend's stepchildren, who have an unusual problem: they burst into flames when upset. As an unconventional summer unfolds, she forges a surprising bond with the fiery twins and discovers a new sense of purpose in her once aimless life.

• Read if you like: laugh-out-loud books, Marin Ireland as an audiobook narrator <3, absolutely ridiculous plots, unreliable narrators in that the main character’s life is a mess lol, people watching over kids who have no experience with kids.

• Side note: this really was one of, if not my top, favorite audiobook from 2024. 

• Find my full review here.

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

• Basic premise: Indian American journalist Smita returns to India to cover the harrowing case of Meena, a Hindu woman brutally punished for marrying a Muslim man, forcing Smita to confront both societal traditions and her own painful past. Amidst the turmoil, Smita’s growing connection with Mohan offers a tender exploration of love, identity, and the courage to bridge cultural divides.

• Read if you like: plots that explore other cultures, resilient women, the complexities of relationships, generational divides, or if you liked the vibes of The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi.

• Find my full review here.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck 

• Basic premise: Newlyweds Lewis and Wren face an unimaginable reality when Lewis is diagnosed with a condition that will slowly transform him into a great white shark. As Lewis grapples with his fading humanity, Wren must confront her own past and decide if their love can endure the impossible.

• Read if you like: stories about metamorphosis and letting go, short chapters, some magical realism, multiple POVs, odd, yet beautifully written books that will stick with you for a long time.

• Find my full review here.

YA (YOUNG ADULT) FICTION 

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

• Basic premise: In Lahore, Pakistan, Misbah and Toufiq seek a fresh start in America after tragedy strikes, opening the Cloud’s Rest Inn Motel to build a new life. Years later in Juniper, California, best friends-turned-strangers Salahudin and Noor must confront their fractured bond while grappling with family struggles, personal dreams, and the weight of their shared past.

• Read if you like: heart wrenching stories of friendship, forgiveness and resilience, multiple POV format, dual timelines, stories that explore the complexities of immigrant families in the US, generational narratives and grappling with cultural identity.

• Find my full review here.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

• Basic premise: Simon Snow is the Chosen One, but he's terrible at magic, his life is falling apart, and a dangerous creature is wreaking havoc while wearing his face. To make matters worse, his vampire roommate and sworn nemesis, Baz, is mysteriously missing during their final year at Watford School of Magicks.

• Read if you like: a variety of magical beings, top notch banter, boarding school vibes, enemies-to-lovers, queer romances, laugh-out-loud one-liners, a British narrator (if audiobooks are your jam).

• Find my full review here.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

• Basic premise: Mallory Greenleaf swore off chess after it shattered her family, but one unexpected win against world champion Nolan Sawyer drags her back into the high-stakes world she left behind. As Mallory rises through the ranks and navigates her rekindled passion for the game, she must balance her love for chess, the pull of an enigmatic rival, and the need to protect her family from its fallout.

• Read if you like: Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit (but with less alcohol and drugs lol), enemies-to-lovers, he-falls-first, thicccc romantic tension, quality comedic relief from side characters. 

• Find my full review here.

HISTORICAL FICTION

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

• Basic premise: In 2022, single mother Mallory Dunne must confront painful secrets from her past while searching for a kidney donor to save her son, all while reconnecting with a lost love and unearthing a family mystery. In 1951 Cairo, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth embarks on a passionate affair amidst political turmoil, unknowingly setting off events that will echo through generations and impact Mallory's life decades later.

• Read if you like: dual timelines and POVs, rich family secrets, second chance romances, emotionally charged stories, historical fiction writing similar to Kate Quinn or Kristin Hannah.

• Find my full review here.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

• Basic premise: In 1939 Memphis, twelve-year-old Rill Foss must protect her siblings after they are forcibly taken from their home and sent to a cruel orphanage, where they discover dark secrets about their future. Decades later, Avery Stafford uncovers a shocking family history that leads her to a long-buried truth about her own roots, revealing connections to a notorious child trafficking scandal.

• Read if you like: dual timelines, historical fiction stories based on real events, stories of family bonds and resilience, emotional journeys uncovering hidden truths, light romance subplots.

• Find my full review here.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

• Basic premise: This book follows the life of a boy born into poverty in southern Appalachia, navigating foster care, child labor, addiction, and personal loss. With a sharp wit and a will to survive, he faces the challenges of a world that ignores rural communities and their struggles.

• Read if you like: raw and gritty coming-of-age stories, books that explore themes of poverty, survival and resilience, the books Educated by Tara Westover or The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, stories that shine a light on social issues and overlooked communities. 

• Find my full review here.

SCIENCE FICTION

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

• Basic premise: When people around the world receive a mysterious wooden box containing the answer to how long they will live, it sparks a global crisis. Faced with the choice to learn their lifespan, each person must decide whether to open the box and how this knowledge will reshape their lives.

• Read if you like: multiple POVs, character stories that intertwine, books that explore deep moral dilemmas, plots that involve the complexities of fate and free will, the book The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, stories that will spark endless conversation with your friends who also read this book lol. 

• Find my full review here.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

• Basic premise: In a dystopian future where America enforces strict cultural conformity, twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives with his father, a former linguist, in a world that punishes dissent. When Bird receives a cryptic letter, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his mother, a Chinese American poet whose disappearance is tied to the oppressive regime.

• Read if you like: dystopian settings, thought-provoking narratives, explorations of culture and identity, plots involving societal control and the power of literature, books that will spark deep conversation.

• Find my full review here.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

• Basic premise: In this intricately woven tale, an exiled young man in 19th-century Canada, a bestselling author from a moon colony, and a detective from a futuristic city become entangled in a mysterious anomaly that could alter the course of time itself. Their interconnected stories explore the consequences of a single moment's impact, the blurred lines between reality and fiction, and the possibility of changing the universe’s fate.

• Read if you like: multiple POVs and timelines, interconnected stories, time-travel mysteries, her other book Station Eleven, books that explore the human connection.

• Find my full review here.

NON-FICTION

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Desmond Matthew

• Basic premise: In Evicted, Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of 21st-century America's most devastating problems. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.

• Read if you like: a raw look at the flaws and ugliness of the “American Dream,” powerful accounts of systematic poverty, unapologetic anecdotes showing how, specifically, people of color are dealt the short end of the stick generation after generation, investigative journalism.

• Find my full review here.

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

• Basic premise: This book explores the power of language in shaping and sustaining cult-like groups, from notorious organizations like Jonestown to modern phenomena like SoulCycle and social media influencers. Through vivid storytelling and original research, Montell uncovers how language manipulates belief systems, creates intense communities, and influences our everyday lives, even outside of traditional cults.

• Read if you like: learning how language shapes our behaviors, beliefs, and communities, dissecting the darker sides of modern trends and social movements, how fucking bonkers some of these cult-following groups are and like real-life cults lol. 

• Find my full review here.

All righty. Those are my recommendations based on my favorite books from the 150+ I read in 2024 lol. Hopefully, you found something that sparked your interest!

Let me know if you read any of these! Otherwise, I’ll be posting my reviews from the books I read this month towards the end of January!

And if you haven’t already… add me on Goodreads. ;)

December 2024 Reads

As I write this intro, we are officially in that week between Christmas and New Year’s where you’re not really sure what day it is, let alone the date. We’re all basically mowing down on holiday treats, counting down the days until we have to go back to work. (booooo lol)

What I do know is that December absolutely FLEW by, as did 2024. Am I right?

This year felt like it was a growing year for me. I turned 30 in February, went through a rough breakup shortly after, spent most of this summer focusing on myself and being outside with my people, took a 950 mile road trip through California in the fall, started making moves in my career, and finally decided to get bangs for the winter lol. 

Throughout all of that, I had books to keep me company, and December was no exception. I read some absolute BANGERS this month and just hope that momentum carries into 2025. Specifically in the fantasy category, but we’ll get into that later. 

For now, let’s get into everything I read at the end of 2024. 

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads. 

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

HEIR by Sabaa Tahir (Heir Duology #1)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: An orphan. An outcast. A prince. And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees. Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite. Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she's willing to give up. QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

My Thoughts: BLEEDING SKIES! I do not know what rock I crawled under to not realize this book is a spin-off from Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series!! Needless to say, I was fucking STOKED to be back in this world with the next generation of characters. The start was a little bit of a slow burn, but once I got my footing with who each character was, I was absolutely ENTRANCED. We follow Aiz, a super pious orphan from a country that is cut off from most of the world and under control of a tyrant. She sets off on a pilgrimage to find her people’s deity that will free them from poverty, starvation, and a controlling government. There’s Sirsha who was banished from her people and now uses her magic to make a living as a tracker for people. Her latest job is to hunt down a killer who has been murdering children across the Martial Empire. Last, we follow Quil who is the crown prince of the Empire, A.K.A MY GIRL HELENE’S NEPHEW (*cue fangirl screaming omgggg*). He doesn’t really want to take the throne but when a ruthless new enemy threatens the Empire, Quil has to flee to find the one thing that can save his people and reflect on whether he can be the future ruler they need. Listen, Linda. SO MUCH HAPPENS in this book and I was absolutely SQUEALING any time a character from the OG series makes an appearance (i.e. Helene, Elias, Laia, Tas, and more.) I loved how each character’s journey started to intersect one another and once that plot twist hits… oooo-wee. You’re not even ready for it. I just BARELY figured out what the twist was right before it was revealed. Not to mention the ABSOLUTELY RUDE cliffhanger this book leaves you on at the end. I need the next book in this duology like yesterday lol. If it’s unclear, I was obviously in love with this book and highly recommend reading it if you’ve read An Ember in the Ashes. If you haven’t read that series, I recommend reading that FIRST then reading Heir.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Daphne always loved the way her fiancé, Peter, told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it... right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra. Which is how Daphne begins her new story: stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak. Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned-up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them? But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex... right?

My Thoughts: I know some people are over Emily Henry because her writing tends to feel like it’s all following the same formula. Which it is. However, what I appreciate about her as an author is that she makes every character and their story feel so incredibly unique. So even if all of her books share a similar rom-com DNA, I don’t think they feel the same at all. This gem was one of my favorites. Daphne and Miles are such fun, messy characters and the fact that they have to move in together after their exes break up with them to date each other is literally a chef’s kiss premise. You’ve already got a forced proximity trope mixed with friends-to-lovers, opposites attract, AND fake dating? Say less. I was obsessed with this audiobook. It was so much fun. The banter was top notch, and don’t get me started on all the comedic relief that the side characters provided. I loved the dynamics between Daphne and Miller as they completed each adventure they planned that summer before Daphne’s deadline. Their relationship felt so genuine and grew so organically, you couldn’t help but root for them. If you’re looking for a rom-com that won’t disappoint, you should definitely give this one a try! BONUS: this story takes place in a fictional town in Michigan and all of the Mitten State references are incredible lol. 

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE by Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan #4)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are―seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car―it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride. Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back. But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco's already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay's night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side. If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?

My Thoughts: Okay as I mentioned in recent reviews of books in this series, the shit Finlay and Vero keep accidentally getting involved with has become progressively unhinged and this book is no exception lol. Basically, they’re in Atlantic City trying to settle some debts for Vero while also looking for her childhood crush, Javi, who was “allegedly” kidnapped by the Russian mob. Per usual, throw any and every wrench into their plans for making a “girls’ weekend away” cover harder to maintain. Including adding Finlay’s ex-husband into the mix, two dead guys, police stakeout on their hotel floor, Finlay’s new police boyfriend, her kids, and more. It’s a weekend full of chaos and sticky situations these women just BARELY eke their way out of. Although some of their shenanigans felt pretty unrealistic (i.e. keeping two dead guys on ice in a hotel room until they were ready to move them??) I still appreciated that there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and that everything happening is a continuation of the previous books in this series. It was also fun getting to see the storylines of side characters progress a little further as well since they’ve been on this journey with us since the beginning. I wouldn’t say the formula of this book was very different from the previous books; however, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to continue this series once the next book comes out. 

One Last Gift by Emily Stone

ONE LAST GIFT by Emily Stone

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don't expect. Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other--as well as a community of friends--to get through it. Especially Tom's best friend, Sam, who always made sure Tom and Cassie were surrounded with love. But now, twenty years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. And in a way, she's also lost Sam; over the years they've drifted apart, and now the man she always had a crush on is someone she doesn't even recognize anymore. She's never felt more alone. Then she finds an envelope with her name on it, written in Tom's terrible handwriting, and she knows immediately what it is. It's the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt Tom made for her every year; he'd promised her for months that this year's would be the grandest one yet. At first, she's too scared to open it--what if she can't figure out the clues without his help? Or what if she does figure them all out, and her last connection to Tom is gone? Tom's clues set Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life--if she lets them. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and most importantly, rediscovers herself. But once she's solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her--and the love it's led her to?

My Thoughts: Listen, I have never been so in touch with the angsty side of the romance reader that I am until I started reading Emily Stone. She truly has a gift of taking your heart, ripping it into teeny tiny pieces, and then ever so slowly, sewing it back together. It’s like getting punched in the gut and saying “thank you” afterwards. I had a consistent lump in my throat this entire audiobook. The main characters, Cassie and Sam, are just STEEPED in grief after they lose her brother and his best friend, Tom. Both handle the blow of his death in different ways, but neither wants to lean on the other after a riff in their early twenties left them somewhat estranged. Growing up, Tom always made Cassie’s Christmas gift into a scavenger hunt and this year was going to be the hunt of all hunts. And, it just so happens, Tom was able to put it together prior to his death. I loved watching Cassie dig her way out of grief and truly step outside of her comfort zone as she completed each task in Tom’s last scavenger hunt. It allowed her to learn not only more about Tom, but also about herself and how complacent she had become in life. Inevitably, Tom’s death and dealing with his grief led Sam down a path he didn’t expect: running out on his wedding, quitting his high-paying job to do something he was more passionate about even though it made next to nothing, and realizing his feelings for Cassie. I think the format truly allowed me to make deeper connections with Cassie and Sam as individuals, which was so important since there’s so much animosity between their characters for a majority of the book. I wasn’t inclined to pick one person’s side because I could see how they each were hurting and why they couldn’t give into the feelings that had been brewing between them for years. Needless to say, Emily Stone did me dirty again and had me crying on multiple occasions lol. Then she kindly turned it around and handed me metaphorical tissues for an ending I could be happy about. If you’ve read/enjoyed her book Always, In December then I highly recommend giving this one a try. 

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas. Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt: She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery. He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy. She hates his guts. He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.) But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself. That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone. She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust? As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor. Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

My Thoughts: This book was so entertaining. It’s very fast paced and makes you hit the ground running right from the start. Also, as a side note, I highly recommend the audiobook because it switches POVs between Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt, as well as mixing in recordings from their interview with the police. The plot was “And Then There Were None” adjacent in that someone goes missing, someone is unexpectedly poisoned, and there’s clearly a killer amongst those stuck at the snowed-in mansion of famed author Eleanor Ashley. As mystery/thriller writers themselves, Maggie and Ethan feel like it’s up to them to figure out where elderly Eleanor Ashley disappeared to during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. I liked that there was an unreliable narrator element to this story because it really kept me guessing as to whose perspective I could trust and made it hard to keep facts straight. There’s also a very sweet, light romance subplot in this book that did an amazing job of getting you more invested in the characters, but didn’t overshadow the bigger picture mystery. Honestly, this book is Christmas-themed, but I think it’s a fun book to pick up at any time of the year - and I recommend you do! :)

My December Darling by Lauren Asher

MY DECEMBER DARLING by Lauren Asher

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Catalina: Playing the part of my sister’s maid of honor is easy even if she’s marrying my ex. But playing nice with the best man? An impossible task given our history. Sure, Luke Darling may be suspiciously kind, incredibly handsome, and stubborn to a fault, but regardless of how hard he tries to make me see otherwise, I’m not interested. It’s on me to remind him that he’s my ex-boyfriend’s best friend. And the one I’m secretly starting to wish I met first. Luke: My job as the best man is a simple one, except for one minor issue. I’ve spent so much time avoiding my best friend’s ex that I didn’t consider what could happen if I started craving Catalina Martinez’s company instead. She is only in Lake Wisteria for the winter wedding, but her January departure date won’t stop me from pursuing her. Getting her to date me would be nothing short of a Christmas miracle, but I’m determined to make her mine. ‘Tis the season to fall in love…even if I’m the only one taking the risk.

My Thoughts: This was cute. Simply that. It didn’t give me the usual swoony, romance tingles that I’ve experienced with other Lauren Asher books, but it was still a cute story. To be fair, I think this was supposed to be an abbreviated story for the holiday season because it’s less than 300 pages. So we didn’t get to go as deep as usual with the characters. We got a high level view of their backgrounds, traumas, feelings, etc. but I wasn’t able to develop a strong connection with them. Don’t get me wrong. Luke is a doctor with the body of an underwear model who also happens to be the friendliest person you will ever cross paths with. So OBVI, it was easy to have a crush on him while he slowly built trust with Catalina until he could convince her to move home. The basic facets behind Catalina’s character is that she’s a traveling NICU nurse home for the holidays because her sister gets married the night before NYE. Her sister’s husband is technically her ex (which, debatable in my opinion. They never slept together and apparently went on like four dates, but whatever), so Catalina is feeling a little awkward around the happy couple. She’s also super lonely and feels like her mom judges her. That’s basically it lol. That’s Catalina’s character. I liked her enough but didn’t fall in love with her by any means. As I said, this story was cute, but I doubt I’d ever go back to it. If you’re looking for a quick holiday read that keeps it pretty light and has just a dash of spice (like cinnamon, not pepper), this could be for you!

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

REALM BREAKER by Victoria Aveyard

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: A strange darkness is growing in the Ward. Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea. Fate knocks on her door, in the form of a mythical immortal and a lethal assassin, who tell Corayne that she is the last of an ancient lineage—with the power to save the world from destruction. Because a man who would burn kingdoms to the ground is raising an army unlike any seen before, bent on uprooting the foundations of the world. With poison in his heart and a stolen sword in his hand, he'll break the realm itself to claim it. And only Corayne can stop him. Alongside an unlikely group of reluctant allies, Corayne finds herself on a desperate journey to complete an impossible task, with untold magic singing in her blood and the fate of the world on her shoulders.

My Thoughts: Okay to be fair, this is your quintessential first book in a YA fantasy series. There’s a TON of world building, character introductions including their backgrounds, magic systems to establish, politics to untangle, etc. So I don’t feel like we had the time to truly develop quality relationships with the characters because all of that other subject matter needed to be squeezed into this book to set us up for the rest of the series. Plus, each chapter switched to a different character’s POV, so you really had to pay attention to keep up with who you’re now hearing the internal dialogue for. The plot is quite the adventure and I think it would’ve been helpful to have a map, but alas, I listened to it on audiobook and couldn’t refer to anything. I was engaged with this book enough to want to read the next book in the series. However, I think what was missing in this one were stronger relationships between this hodge podge of characters - especially romantic ones. Like there was a crush brewing between Coryane and the squire, but I just need more from it. Similarly, the assassin and the elder kept sniping at each other with snarky remarks, which to me would be the PERFECT opportunity for an enemies-to-lovers moment, but we’ll see if that actually comes to fruition. Not that every book I read needs romantic relationships, but even platonic connections weren’t all that strong by the time I finished this book. So yeah. I liked it enough to keep going, but if the next book is kind of mid, I probably won’t continue this series. 

Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I'm not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate. I'm Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I'd killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it's a little more complicated than that. Have I killed someone? Yes. I have. Who was it? Let's get started. EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE. My brother. My stepsister. My wife. My father. My mother. My sister-in-law. My uncle. My stepfather. My aunt. Me.

My Thoughts: If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, I think this book could be up your alley. I went the audiobook route and to my delight, the narrator has an Australian accent, so that was a huge bonus lol. This book is from the perspective of a guy named Ernie. His family is a little more than dysfunctional after his brother committed murder a few years ago and Ernie is the one who testified in court to put him in prison. Fast forward to when the brother is getting out, and the family is celebrating with a little reunion at a remote ski resort up in the mountains. After a man is found dead near the resort, and in a very mysterious manner, everyone is on high alert as to who the killer could be. Ernie walks us through everyone’s relationships, their secrets, backgrounds, and more as we piece together who the killer might be. There are HELLA twists in this story that I did not expect. The most unique part of this book, though, was the format. It was told as though Ernie is writing a letter or in his journal. So he tells you right off the bat which chapters have a murder in them and what to expect, but it doesn’t make seeing the plot twists any easier. The only reason I docked it a star is because the big reveal at the end where Ernie explains how he figured everything out felt like it was a little abrupt for how in-depth the connections are. Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and highly recommend it if you’re looking for a cozy murder mystery perfect for the winter season. 

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

THIS COULD BE US by Kennedy Ryan (Skyland #2)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She fixes everything. She’s a domestic goddess who's never met a party she couldn't host or a charge she couldn't lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion. But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She's too busy keeping a roof over her daughters' heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise. But then an unlikely man enters the picture—the forbidden one, the one she shouldn't want but can't seem to resist. She's lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust herself? After all she's lost . . . and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?

My Thoughts: I just read the first book in this series, Before I Let Go, in October and loved it. When I saw This Could Be Us was a nominee for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards, I knew I wanted to read it before the year was out. Kennedy Ryan really does have a way of writing characters at their rawest level of vulnerability and making it so beautiful. Soledad is going THROUGH it. She’s in an incredibly toxic marriage where her asshole husband gaslights her constantly and then it turns out he’s going to prison for embezzlement at work. As a stay-at-home mom, she has to quickly pivot to figure out how to keep a roof over her three daughters’ heads and maintain their lifestyle without their main breadmaker in the picture anymore. The man who put Soledad’s husband in prison? Judah Cross. He’s the walking definition of SWOON and is nothing but green flags. Although there’s instant chemistry between him and Soledad, he respects that she’s taking the time to date herself and nourish her self love journey before she’s ready to commit to a new relationship. This whole story was so much more than your typical romance and I cannot recommend it enough. Side note: you don’t HAVE to read Before I Let Go first before reading this book. However, I recommend reading them in order because you have better insight into all characters involved. 

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

THE MEASURE by Nikki Erlick

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice. It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out. But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live. From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise? As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

My Thoughts:  Okay this is hands down one of the most thought provoking books I’ve read this year. It follows eight different people as the world navigates a new normal where anyone 22 or older receives a mysterious box one night on their doorstep. Inside the box is a string whose length indicates the lifetime of that person. Cue absolute chaos as the world is divided into long stringers and short stringers. People can decide if they want to open their box or if they’d rather leave knowing how long they’ll live to fate. There were SO many commonalities between this book and our society in reality. It was a very “them vs. us” narrative. Especially when it comes to who deserves health care, how people treat each other, what is seen as acceptable to talk about in school, etc. Not to mention, although this book was published in 2022, the similarities between the presidential election in this book and the election season we just had was absolutely CHILLING. There’s one scene that literally made me stop to check if she had based some of the events in this book off of what happened this year or if it was published prior. Anyway, needless to say, I HIGHLY recommend picking up this book as soon as you can. It is one of those stories that is going to stick with me for years to come.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

THIS WOVEN KINGDOM by Tahereh Mafi (This Woven Kingdom #1)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight. The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.

My Thoughts: The last series I read by Tahereh Mafi was her Shattered series, and when I tell you I was absolutely OBSESSED, I am not exaggerating. I think I finished the entire series, plus the novellas in between each novel, in the matter of a month or something like that. Her writing has a way of sucking you in unexpectedly and this book is no exception. Although it has a little bit of a slow burn, I appreciated that the pacing provided enough time for me to develop individual relationships with Alizeh and Kamran before their paths truly crossed. Alizeh is a djinn woman who has finally scored a job as a servant in a noble house. The key to survival and to maintaining her incredibly low paying job is to keep her head down and off everyone’s radars. She manages to do this successfully until the crown prince, Kamran, returns to the capitol after spending a year away and witnesses her disarm a street rat who’s holding her at knife point. Kamran immediately reports what he suspects to the king which sparks a manhunt for this supposed djinn spy infiltrating the human kingdom. I loved that the format of this book switched between Alizeh’s and Kamran’s POVs, so that you can not only see what each character is up to, but also get their internal dialogue as the story progresses. The end of this book leaves you on QUITE the cliffhanger, so needless to say I will be continuing onto the next book in this series because I need MORE.

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn

HOW MY NEIGHBOR STOLE CHRISTMAS by Meghan Quinn

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Every Kringle in Kringletown celebrated Christmas a lot. But Cole Black on Whistler Lane, unfortunately, did not. As his fellow citizens decorate their quaint town, brimming with carols and glad tidings, Cole wants nothing more than to hibernate the winter away. But his dreary plans are thwarted when his Christmas nemesis, Storee Taylor, moves in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Immediately, the new neighbor turns his life into a real nightmare before Christmas, especially when she decides to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest in honor of Cindy. And better yet, Storee is determined to win. Over Cole's dead body, she will. With help from his friend Max, Cole decides to enter the competition as well, to beat Storee at her own game by pretending that this hometown grump's heart has grown three sizes this season and he's fallen for the girl next door. And unfortunately for Storee, she has to follow his lead to have a chance at the Christmas Kringle title. But the competition isn't the only thing that heats up. Cole and Storee's fake relationship becomes very real, and before they know it, they're attempting to hide it from Aunt Cindy. Things get complicated, the competition gets tough, and all it takes is one single night for someone to steal it all…

My Thoughts: It’s been a minute since I read a Meghan Quinn novel, but I do appreciate that her writing is easily distinguishable and consistent across all of her books. This was a quirky, holiday romance set in a small town that basically celebrates Christmas year-round. It was giving Frankenmuth meets Christmas, MI (in the UP, IYKYK) but with a little Hallmark charm. Basically, Storee’s great Aunt Cindy convinces her to enter the town’s Christmas Kringle contest in her stead since Aunt Cindy just broke a hip. Cole, Aunt Cindy’s nextdoor neighbor and the town’s Grinch, basically says “the audacity,” and ends up entering the contest just to spite Storee. This is a pretty long holiday romance (I think about 450 pages), and it took me a minute to get into because although I love a grumpy/sunshine trope, I didn’t love Storee’s or Cole’s characters right away. So I wasn’t rooting for either of them to win the Christmas Kringle. As the holiday shenanigans commenced and the story deepened, it was easier to get invested in the multiple plotlines happening here. There’s plenty of banter, cheesy Christmas-related jokes, and some quality spice to balance out all of the sweet. If ya know what I mean. ;) Of recent holiday books I’ve read, this one was definitely enjoyable, but didn’t knock my stockings off lol. 

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

BLADE BREAKER by Victoria Aveyard (Realm Breaker #2)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: The fate of the world rests on a blade's edge. Fighting beside her band of unlikely companions, Corayne is learning to embrace her ancient lineage and wield her father's powerful sword. But while she successfully closed one of the Spindles, her journey is far from over. Queen Erida's army marches across Allward with her consort, Taristan, right beside them, opening more portals into nightmarish worlds, razing kingdoms to the ground. Corayne has no choice but to assemble an army of her own if she's to save the realm as she knows it. But perilous lands await her and the companions, and they face assassins, otherworldly beasts, and tempestuous seas all as they rally a divided Ward to fight behind them. But Taristan has unleashed an evil far more wicked than his corpse armies. Something deadly waits in the shadows; something that might consume the world before there's any hope for victory.

My Thoughts: Okay, I will say. I was lukewarm on the first book of this series (see Realm Breaker above), but wanted to give the second book a chance to see if the author dug a little deeper now that she’s established the world building, character stories, and magic system. This was definitely a little bit of a slow burn to start. I was honestly torn between pausing this audiobook and trying it again later or powering through. Since the characters and plot were fresh in my brain though, I decided to stick with it and I’m pleased to say it was better than I expected! We’re still following this hodge podge group of unlikely companions as they try finding all of the open spindles that are allowing dark magic into their realm. Although I still wish we got a TOUCH deeper with the character relationships, they were definitely taken to the next level. Even the elder and assassin who usually cannot stand each other had some emotionally vulnerable moments that strengthened their bond. I gotta say, the evil queen Erida CLEARLY was not hugged enough as a child lol. However, I was oddly rooting for her and Taristan as much as I was rooting for the group of protagonists because this couple is so unhinged but also work really well as a team. This book was still an enjoyable adventure and it left us on quite the cliffhanger, but I probably won’t continue with the series if I’m being honest. So take that as you will. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job. Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time. Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…

My Thoughts: Hands down this is one of my favorite books that I read in 2024. It gives the vibes of a spy movie like Kingsman or Salt, and took so many turns, I couldn’t tell which way was up. Considering I went into this book without reading the synopsis, I thought it was going to be your typical mystery thriller and assumed she was some type of stalker. However, I was quickly put to shame and instead sucked into one of the most fast-paced stories I’ve experienced in a while. I could not stop listening to it. I loved that the format switched between present day, on Evie Porter’s current job, and the last few jobs she’s had spanning back eight years. It provided insight not only into her personal past, but also her line of work and how she landed such a dangerous job. As I said before, this book had SO MANY TWISTS and had my heart beating double time as Evie worked her way out of some sticky situations. There is a light romance storyline in this book that I thoroughly appreciated because the love interest is just as morally gray as Evie, and we love when two mildly questionable characters find each other. I feel like my review doesn’t give this book the justice it deserves, but holy hell. If you’re looking for an ADDICTING mystery thriller, you MUST pick this one up.

The Mistletoe Bet by Maren Moore

THE MISTLETOE BET by Maren Moore

Rating: 1.5/5 stars

Summary: Everyone says “there’s no place like home”… well not for me. When I’m forced to spend the holidays at home with my family in Strawberry Hollow, I have no idea how I’m even going to survive the week, let alone make it through my least favorite holiday… Christmas. That is until I run into my childhood crush, and my brother’s best friend, Parker Grant. Now, he’s the sexy, off-limits doctor in our small town, and nothing like the man I left behind six years ago. While I hate the holidays, there is nothing that he loves more. Well, other than a good bet. Which is exactly what happens when we end up together under the mistletoe. A bet that changes everything. He asks for the next seven days to change my mind about Christmas. But seven days alone with Parker is more than either of us bargained for. Now, there’s much more at stake than a silly mistletoe bet.

My Thoughts: Ugh okay. As I was reading this book, I literally told myself “you gotta stop reading Christmas-themed novellas” because I’ve been mildly disappointed with them in the past. This book is no exception. Although most of the writing was fine, there were some parts of it that felt tone deaf or just took me out of the story. It almost felt like a man was behind some of the writing, if that makes sense lol. Especially from a female perspective. For example, this girl says she shaved her entire body before a date one night and then shaved her entire body AGAIN the next night. First off, if the guy can’t handle your body hair, he ain’t it. Secondly, THE RAZOR BURN?? There’s no way you can do an “everything” shower two days in a row and not irritate your skin. Holy hell. I also didn’t love the main guy in this. There wasn’t anything super unique about him to make me swoon or buy into this romance. He’s a hot doctor and that’s basically it. I don’t know. If this book was any longer, I probably would’ve DNF’ed it, but since it was only about 120 pages, I powered through. However, I do not recommend it lol. 

The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman

THE CHRISTMAS ORPHAN’S CLUB by Becca Freeman

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Hannah and Finn have spent every Christmas together since college. Neither has anywhere else to go—Hannah’s parents died, and Finn’s disowned him when he came out. Their tradition of offbeat holiday adventures only grows more outrageous with time. When the pair starts their adult lives in New York City, they add stylish Priya and mysterious Theo to the group, solidifying a found family and sense of belonging they’ve always craved. But now, when Finn announces a move to L.A., this Christmas may be their last. Hannah is terrified of losing the family she’s built for herself, even as her boyfriend nudges her toward commitment. Meanwhile, Finn struggles with the things he’s about to leave behind—namely, his unexpressed feelings for Theo. Does growing up mean growing apart? This Christmas the changes these friends fear may be exactly what they need. . . .

My Thoughts: I’ve been listening to the “Bad on Paper” podcast since 2018, and last year one of the hosts (Becca Freeman) published her own Christmas-themed novel, but I was waiting for this holiday season to roll around before diving into it. I knew from her talking about it on the podcast that this isn’t necessarily a rom-com, but has those same vibes. This book is definitely more about found family and friendships even though there are some light romance subplots mixed into it. Basically, Hannah and Finn started a Christmas tradition in college where they spend the holiday together every year. After eventually adding two friends, Priya and Theo to the mix, this group of hodge podge friends become a family of sorts. However, Finn just announced he’s moving to L.A., so this could be the last year they celebrate Christmas together. Which throws Hannah, specifically, into a tizzy about making this year the best Christmas they’ve ever had. The book oscillates between past Christmases and the present December. What I quickly picked up on is that clearly Hannah sees her friends as the family she never really had since her parents died when she was so young. However, it also felt extremely codependent. It was almost like she expected her friends to be all or nothing without having to make any compromises herself. I also didn’t love Finn. He was giving a little bit of “manic pixie dream boy” and was way too in his head about things. Priya and Theo were fine as side characters, but I don’t think they added a ton to the dynamics of the group. I don’t know. It was a solid debut novel and if you’re looking for a holiday-themed book that centers more on friendship than romance, this is a great option for that. However, I don’t think I’ll ever pick this one up again. 

Manacled by SenLinYu

MANACLED by SenYinLu

Rating:  5/5 stars

Summary: Harry Potter is dead. In the aftermath of the war, in order to strengthen the might of the magical world, Voldemort enacts a repopulation effort. Hermione Granger has an Order secret, lost but hidden in her mind, so she is sent as an enslaved surrogate to the High Reeve until her mind can be cracked.

My Thoughts: Y’all. Okay. This is ~technically~ a Harry Potter fanfiction but it’s 925 pages lol and so many people have read it that it has more than 100K ratings on Goodreads. A 4.6 rating, if you must know. This is definitely a darker book and intended for 18+ readers. There are scenes that depict sexual assault, rape, self-harm, torture, character death, and more. So please be vigilant about the content and trigger warnings before diving in. This story takes place after the second Wizarding War from Hermoine Granger’s perspective, but it’s as if Voldemort and the Death Eaters won instead of Harry Potter and Dumbledore’s Army. When I say I could not put this book down, I am not exaggerating. I kept thwarting minor responsibilities just so I could keep reading. Manacled is a beautifully written reimagined story that explores the complex relationship that Hermoine and Draco Malfoy develop during the war and in its aftermath. To put it plainly, this was incredibly immersive and, I think, nailed who these characters would be in their mid-20s after experiencing such deep, haunting trauma. It was an emotional rollercoaster as the book transitioned from present day in the Malfoy Manor to flashbacks from two years ago during the war where we learn how Hermoine and Draco became connected. Despite such a haunting journey, I was glad the ending provided an a-typical happy ending. Honestly, this book will be living rent free in my brain for years to come.

That’s it for December!

The third book in the Fourth Wing series comes out in January, so I’m planning to reread the second book again (Iron Flame) before my copy of Onyx Storm comes on the 21st. HOPEFULLY, my luck with good fantasy books bleeds into next month, but in terms of Iron Flame specifically, I was a little disappointed. So cheers to manifesting a kick ass Onyx Storm (and 2025)!

2024 Final Book Count: 153

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What book are you looking forward to most in 2025?

November 2024 Reads

Listen. I don’t know what to say, other than my go-to escape from reality is books. So when you start the month with a less than ideal election, compounded by the sun setting by literally 5PM due to daylight savings, and top everything off with the weather turning to shit, ya girl was knee deep in a book at every turn lol. 

So although we all thought I was a bit unhinged for reading 20 books in October, I said “hold my mocktail,” and did us one better at 21 books in November lol. 

I partially blame it on being back in my “hockey romance era” (IYKYK) for a majority of this month, followed by an unexpected itch for mystery/thrillers, and an arbitrary goal of reading as many books nominated for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards as I could before the voting window closed lol. 

All of that to say, I think there’s a little something for everyone in this month’s reviews. So I appreciate you if you make it to the end, if not though, no worries lmao. I understand. 

**All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh

MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION by Ottessa Moshfegh

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: From one of our boldest, most celebrated new literary voices, a novel about a young woman’s efforts to duck the ills of the world by embarking on an extended hibernation with the help of one of the worst psychiatrists in the annals of literature and the battery of medicines she prescribes. Our narrator should be happy, shouldn’t she? She’s young, thin, pretty, a recent Columbia graduate, works an easy job at a hip art gallery, lives in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan paid for, like the rest of her needs, by her inheritance. But there is a dark and vacuous hole in her heart, and it isn’t just the loss of her parents, or the way her Wall Street boyfriend treats her, or her sadomasochistic relationship with her best friend, Reva. It’s the year 2000 in a city aglitter with wealth and possibility; what could be so terribly wrong?

My Thoughts: Okay let me start out by saying, if you do not like unlikable, morally gray, unreliable narrators then this book is not for you lol. The main character of this book is absolutely insufferable, but if you can get past that, then this story is kind of addictive. Pun not intended. It follows an unnamed narrator who decides to beat her insomnia by taking a year of rest and relaxation by way of prescription cocktails, over the counter sedatives, alcohol, and a variety of drugs - most provided by an eccentric therapist she found in the phone book. She hates her best friend who seems to be the only person who cares about her. Self-care is essentially non-existent and her lifestyle would put anyone in an early grave. She’s gorgeous and well-off with the fortune left behind from her deceased parents, so getting things to go her way isn’t hard. However, between losing track of time during drug-induced black outs and experimenting with way more substances than you’d find in a pharmacy, the narrator’s goal of finding sweet release via sleep becomes more and more difficult. Outside of the obvious that she clearly needs some in-depth therapy and probably a proper sleep test, this book douses you in dark humor and sets you on fire with the spark of its unpredictable nature. Like I said, it’s not going to be for everyone, but if you like a morally gray main character without a solidly-planned plot, this could be for you.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren (DNA Duo, #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached. Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie? Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

My Thoughts: It’s been a while since I’ve read the first book in this duology, The Soulmate Equation, but I remember liking it for the most part. So when I saw the audiobook for this one was available on Libby, I knew I had to jump on it. This story follows the best friend from the first book, Fizzy. She’s a successful romance author who suddenly realizes that she has hit a slump in her own love life and starts to feel like a sham. When she’s offered the chance to be the star of a new dating show, she decides to use this opportunity to her own advantage and convinces the director, Connor, to agree to her long list of demands. Honestly, the sparks between these two were obvious from the start. Fizzy is such a little spitfire and Connor was the perfect compliment to her lowkey chaos. The premise was really fun as it played on the concept of cult dating shows like The Bachelorette, but added a bookish twist that I think any romance reader would appreciate. There was a healthy mix of humor, cute and swoony moments, and THICC sexual tension that made their growing relationship feel much more realistic as time went on. By the end of it, I found myself SCREAMING that these two better end up together for the HEA we all deserve. If you read and liked The Soulmate Equation, then I definitely recommend continuing onto its successor!

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore

THE SUPREMES AT EARL’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT by Edward Kesley Moore

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat diner in Plainview, Indiana is home away from home for Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean. Dubbed "The Supremes" by high school pals in the tumultuous 1960s, they’ve weathered life’s storms for over four decades and counseled one another through marriage and children, happiness and the blues. Now, however, they’re about to face their most challenging year yet. Proud, talented Clarice is struggling to keep up appearances as she deals with her husband’s humiliating infidelities; beautiful Barbara Jean is rocked by the tragic reverberations of a youthful love affair; and fearless Odette is about to embark on the most terrifying battle of her life. With wit, style and sublime talent, Edward Kelsey Moore brings together three devoted allies in a warmhearted novel that celebrates female friendship and second chances.

My Thoughts: I saw the preview for this movie within the last couple of months when it was about to hit Hulu. So I decided to listen to the audiobook before watching the movie and I’m so glad I did. Not to sound like a snooty book nerd, but the book was definitely better than the movie. There are just so many nuanced things that are much easier to portray and explain via internal dialogue and some of that just did not translate visually to the screen. The characters in this book felt so real to me though. Especially the three women who make up The Supremes: Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean. The format of this story switches between the past when their friendship starts to grow throughout the 1960s and the present which is set in the mid-late 1990s. In the present, these three women are each navigating personal challenges: a recent cancer diagnosis, marital infidelity, and alcoholism brought on by loss—all struggles they choose to face alone. It’s only as their demons start getting too big to handle that they realize relying on each other will actually help carry the burden. I was personally obsessed with Odette’s character within this trio’s dynamics. She definitely had a tendency to provide the most comedic relief including the ability to see and chat with ghosts. This really was such a beautiful book about friendship, found family, standing up for yourself, and second chances. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something that will pull at a multitude of emotional strings. Sidenote: I’m not saying I didn’t like the movie. I just liked the book much more. 

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES by Isabel Ibañez (Secrets of the Nile #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: 1885, Egypt | Inez Olivera is left reeling from her cousin Elvira’s murder, and her mother’s betrayal, and when Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider. Marriage to Whitford Hayes. Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.

My Thoughts: After absolutely DEVOURING What the River Knows earlier this year, and the absolutely RUDE cliffhanger it ended on, I could not wait for this book. Of course, I preordered a physical copy (because just look at that cover art 😍) then proceeded to use my Book of the Month credit on the audiobook because I am who I am lol. This book picked up right where the last one left off and didn’t slow down for a second. Basically, after being swindled by her mom in the last book, Inez is determined to stop whatever black market sales of various artifacts they found in Cleopatra’s tomb that her mom has planned. However, literally everyone in this book has ulterior motives, even my boy Whit, so you never know who you can trust. I loved that this story had the same spirit of action and adventure we experienced in the first book. There was so much suspense and so many things that could’ve gone wrong; I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The plot twists were THICC and I did not see a few of them coming. That said, one of the plot twists that involved a character from the last book was SOOOO convenient, I kind of rolled my eyes at it. Otherwise, the rest of this Egyptian adventure was thoroughly enjoyable. I don’t think this book was as strong as the first one, but I liked it just as well. If you haven’t dabbled in this series yet, I highly recommend because it’s unlike anything else I’ve read in a while!

Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

GOOD BOY by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (WAGs #1)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Hosting her brother's wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning's life. Already the family screw-up, she can't afford to fail at this, too. Especially after the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. Nobody—absolutely nobody—can find out about that, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. No matter how devastatingly sexy his smile, he's a giant manchild who's never been serious in his life. And if Jess wants to prove herself to her family, serious is what she has to get. For Blake Riley, this wedding is a gift from fate itself. The girl he has his eye on is the maid of honor, and he's the best man? Let the games begin. So what if Jess is giving him a little—fine, a lot—of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he's really a good boy with a bad rap. Beneath the flirty jokes and goofy smile, he's got layers—even if Jess doesn't want to see them. Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you've got to make an effort if you want to score. And Jess is just the girl he wants to win.

My Thoughts: Eeeek! Okay so I didn’t realize until after I started this book that it’s a spin-off of this author team’s Him series (Him and Us). So I was PUMPED to see that they’re now writing the stories of the side characters from that duology. I have to admit, since Blake Riley’s character is meant to feed into the Golden Retriever trope, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to put up with his obnoxiousness the entire book. However, the more we got to know him and the more Jess peeled back his layers, it felt like one of the most tasteful portrayals of a Golden Retriever character that I’ve read in a while. Their fling started within the Him series, so I was already decently familiar with who Jess and Riley were at the surface. Getting to know them at a deeper level though was so much fun. There was a lot of push and pull between these two, even after they started having feelings for each other. I loved that Riley felt safe enough to let his guard down and his smile slide when he was around Jess. It made him much more real to me as a reader trying to root for him in this relationship. He really stole my heart by giving Jess the unconditional validation she needed to have confidence in her new career path, and be proud of herself for finding something she’s good at. If you’ve read a Sarina Bowen/Elle Kennedy collab before, then you also know the spice in these stories is PRIME. Some of those scenes will definitely have you hot and bothered, so if you’re more of a “fade to black” type of romance reader, then this won’t be for you lol. Otherwise, I highly recommend this!

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

THE SUN DOWN MOTEL by Simone St. James

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…

My Thoughts: This book was CREEPY. Like, the hair on my arms were standing on end for half of this audiobook lol. Basically, Viv Delaney disappeared in upstate New York back in 1982. The case went cold and there hasn’t been any new information about her for decades. Fast forward to 2017 and Carly Kirk’s mom just passed away without ever talking about her sister who disappeared 35 years ago. So, Carly decides to take a trip out to the small town and unsettling motel where her Aunt Viv was last seen before she disappeared. This book had me hooked from the start, honestly. The format switches perspectives between Carly in 2017 while she’s digging up clues that might point to what happened to her Aunt Viv all those years ago, and 1982 when Viv was working the front desk at the Sun Down Motel. The formula for this story incorporated some of my favorite mystery elements like paranormal activity, questionable characters, murder plot points, and even just a DASH of budding romances. I honestly had no idea what the big plot twist was going to be until I was literally tripping over it, and even then, there was so much more that needed to play out. This was my second experience with a Simone St. James audiobook and there’s no way it will be my last. I definitely recommend this book if you like something decently creepy with a lot of mystery, but won’t keep you up at night lol. 

The Wingman by Stephanie Archer

THE WINGMAN by Stephanie Archer (Vancouver Storm #3)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: He’ll teach me to be a player, but convinces me to practice with him. We’ve been friends for years, but our flirting lessons and practice kisses push the bounds of friendship. We’re roommates, but sleeping in the same bed. He buys me a toy as a favor… but helps me use it. All that relationship stuff he’s always avoided? He doesn’t seem to mind it anymore. Rule number one of being a player is no attachments, but when Hayden sees me picking up other guys, he’s jealous enough that I wonder… Maybe my wingman's been waiting for me all along.

My Thoughts: All right y’all. I gotta say, I’m not USUALLY a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope. Like I don't actively seek it out, nor does it tend to be an automatic “yes” for me when I’m skimming through the premise of a possible next book. HOWEVER, Stephanie Archer told me to hold my beer and holy hell did she make me a convert. I was obsessed with the dynamics between Hayden and Darcy. Since they had the foundation of an incredibly healthy and strong friendship, their dynamics were so refreshing and believable, and they truly brought out the best in one another. Darcy just got out of a long-term relationship with a guy who minimized her personality and chipped away at her self confidence. She was determined to figure out who she was as an individual again, and I loved that Hayden was there to encourage, and lift her up in any way she needed. Although she was shy, Darcy was not afraid to tell Hayden what she needed. And, y’all, this boy was PINING. But respectfully. He didn’t want to push Darcy into anything she wasn’t ready for, so he patiently waited for her to be ready to experience the undeniable chemistry popping off between them. This author has a gift at writing stories that are both laugh-out-loud and habanero pepper SPICY. This book is for all the girlies in their hockey romance era that can appreciate an incredibly well-written friends-to-lovers trope. 

Stay by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

STAY by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (WAGs #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Can you fall in love with someone you've never even met? Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch—an anonymous virtual assistant service—is actually hockey star Matt Eriksson. Although it's against the rules for her to check his file, she's 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting... until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic. Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destruction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth—that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty face. But it's nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Hailey can't resist the offer. Matt can't resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn't have to. Fire up the kiss cam!

My Thoughts: I might be biased because the MFC’s name is Hailey (terrible spelling tho lol), but like, this book had my eyes GLUED to my Kindle. Firstly, I loved the premise. It’s obvi still a hockey romance, but the meet cute for Hailey and Matt is unlike any other I’ve stumbled upon. Basically, Hailey runs a virtual assistant service, Fetch, that’s pretty similar to Postmates, but focuses on high profile clients and not just shopping for things. Matt, a famous Toronto hockey player, is a regular user of Fetch, and although both of their profiles remain anonymous in the Fetch platform, Matt and Hailey both suss out who the other person is. Which leads to some flirtations from Matt’s end and an internal meltdown for Hailey. I kind of loved that he fell for her first while she tried to maintain a professional relationship with him, even though it was clear as fucking day she was head over heels for this guy. The way their relationship grew was literally so sweet, and I could not get over how much they supported each other. We love partners who validate each other when they’ve exposed their rawest vulnerabilities. <3 There was a single-dad trope incorporated in this one, and to my surprise, it fuckin worked lol. Matt is not just a single dad, he is a ZADDY. Needless to say, if you’re in your hockey romance era, you gotta put this one on your list. 

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

HELLO STRANGER by Katherine Center

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality with every face she sees. But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse. If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.

My Thoughts: Katherine Center truly has a gift at writing incredibly quirky, yet incredibly relatable characters and this book is no exception. For starters, apparently face blindness is a very real medical condition (you can Google it), and I cannot imagine waking up from a surgery and not being able to see people’s faces in their entirety. What a shock to the system! It was super easy to empathize with Sadie once she realizes she has to start identifying people through other contexts. Her character was so much fun to follow through this rom-com. She’s just imperfect enough and has a ~fatal flaw~, but it doesn’t make her unlikable. Especially as she starts interacting with her neighbor Joe who sees her in less than ideal situations. This guy is literally GOALS in terms of thoughtfulness, patience, and reliability. He does everything with intention behind it, and I cannot express enough how much I was swooning. The plot twist to this book was pretty predictable, but it didn’t make me enjoy it any less. Some people compare this premise to Shallow Hal, which yes, they are similar adjacent, but I wouldn’t say it’s 100% comparable. Either way, if you’re looking for a fun rom-com with a unique premise, I highly recommend picking this one up!

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

FAKE DATES AND MOONCAKES by Sher Lee

Rating: DNF @ 51%

Summary: Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons. In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems. Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?

My Thoughts: Womp, womp. I can’t remember how I discovered this book, but I feel like I’ve been seeing its cover a lot lately, so I figured I’d give it a try. It’s fine. Basically, this guy Dylan works at his aunt’s Chinese takeout place in Brooklyn and they’ve been struggling financially for a while. In order to make some money and rejuvenate their business, Dylan wants to enter a Mid Autumn Festival mooncake making competition because they’ll get hella publicity from it. While doing a takeout delivery, he meets this hot, rich kid named Theo, and things start to quickly progress between them. I got to the part where Theo takes Dylan to a family wedding where Dylan feels incredibly out of his league. However, I’m just kind of bored? Like I never find myself wanting to open this on my Kindle. Mainly because Dylan feels like the only wellthought-out character in this book. Theo is super surface-level and some parts of his personality feel like they exist for the convenience of pushing the plot forward. Idk. I’m not saying I’ll never give this book a second chance, but it won’t be any time soon.

Always in December by Emily Stone

ALWAYS IN DECEMBER by Emily Stone

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Every December, Josie posts a letter from her home in London to the parents she lost on Christmas night many years ago. Each year, she writes the same three words: Missing you, always. But this year, her annual trip to the postbox is knocked off course by a bicycle collision with a handsome stranger--a stranger who will change the course of Josie's life. Josie always thought she was the only one who avoided the Christmas season, but this year, Max has his own reasons for doing the same--and coincidence leads them to spending the holiday together. Aglow with new love, Josie thinks this might be the start of something special. Only for Max to disappear without saying goodbye. Over the course of the next year, Max and Josie will find that fate continues to bring them together in places they'd never expect. New York City. Edinburgh. The quiet English countryside. And it turns out, Max had every reason to leave and every reason to stay. But what does fate hold for Josie and Max as Christmas approaches again?

My Thoughts: Not me tryna keep my shit together at work right now because I decided it’d be a grand idea to finish this audiobook during the morning office grind. OH MY GOD. Talk about both a slow burn and whirlwind romance. I was WHOLE HEARTEDLY invested in this audiobook from the very first little smirk Max gave Josie after she ran him down with her bike by accident. God my heart was torn back and forth between these two characters. There was a perpetual lump in my throat every time they couldn’t exactly articulate what they meant to one another. Then every time Josie and Max fell into the same wavelength where their connection was undeniable, it was like the lump melted into a gush of warmth that permeated throughout my chest. There is so much grief in this book in so many forms while providing just the right amount of hope. It keeps you invested in how this thing between Josie and Max was going to play out. I honestly did not see the plot twist coming, but after it did, I was so surprised I hadn’t clued into it before. If you’re looking for a Christmassy romance that will rip your heart out and sew it back together repetitively, this book will give you all the feels. 

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto

VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing… Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective? Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet). But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer. Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.

My Thoughts: I’ve been LOVING some cozy mysteries lately, and this book was basically at the top, if not near the top, of every list I Googled for my next cozy mystery. Luckily, my book club was also on board for making this our book for this month. I decided to go the audiobook route and am really glad I did. The number of voices this narrator delivered was insane. Especially since this book covers multiple POVs from about five different characters. There was a lot of comedic relief, specifically related to Vera. When she finds a man dead in her tea shop one morning, she’s convinced it’s a murder and that the police won’t be much help at proving that, so it’s up to her to solve this mystery. There’s a few parts where Vera sounds a little delu-lu lol, but I loved her unabashed behavior to pull people out of their comfort zone and reveal their secrets so that she can check them off her suspects list. There’s a big theme of found family that was incredibly endearing, and I found myself much more invested in the relationships growing between these different characters than the actual mystery itself. Also, I never would’ve predicted who the actual killer was lol. Like I guess if I had been paying more diligent attention to the entirety of the book, I would’ve made a couple of connections quicker. That said, I’m honestly glad I didn’t because I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed my time with this audiobook as much as I did if I already knew who killed the guy lol. If you’re looking for a fun, cozy read for the winter that also has plenty of comedic relief and relatable characters, I highly recommend adding this to your bookshelf. 

Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

HOME IS WHERE THE BODIES ARE by Jeneva Rose

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm’s length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn’t been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before. While going through their parent’s belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends. Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.

My Thoughts: I’ve been on a mystery thriller kick lately, and after looking through what books were nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards for 2024, I somehow managed to get this audiobook on Libby before a waiting list started. This was my first Jeneva Rose book and it will not be my last. It was creepy, twisty, had multiple unreliable narrators, and had me on my toes until the very end. It’s been years since they’ve all been in the same room, but after their mom passes away, estranged siblings Beth, Nicole, and Michael all return to their childhood home to sort out her estate. They stumble upon a VHS tape that has much more than just their old home videos on it - there’s accidental footage showing a secret both of their parents took to their graves. Cue a larger search into what happened that dark night all those years ago and seeing their parents in a new light. Since this book is from the POV of each sibling, it was impossible to know whose perspective you could trust. Especially when some of their individual narratives aligned with one another, while others provided contradictions. Although I did guess the plot twist right before it happened, there was still a moment of second guessing that I had it figured out due to the strategically placed, well-executed red herrings. If you love a little murder in your mystery lead by some unreliable narrators, you MUST add this book to your TBR pile!

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads—her ten-year-old son, Sam, had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, searching for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory’s forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams— one of the world’s most beloved singer-songwriters—a fairy tale cut short by a devastating betrayal. Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself—marriage to a wealthy British diplomat with a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah’s longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared in a game of intrigue between two men . . . and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

My Thoughts: This book was like making your favorite recipe from memory and absolutely NAILING it. It had historical fiction, a dash of mystery, and a healthy serving of romance for the perfect, well-rounded story I was craving. The format switches between three major time eras. The present (2022) when Mallory Dunne is taking it one day at a time after her young son accidentally ate a poisonous mushroom that has left him with kidney failure, the recent past (2008) when Mallory first spent her summer with Monk Adams, and the past (1952) in Cairo, Egypt where a woman named Hannah Ainsworth is living with her wealthy British diplomat husband after WW2. This whole experience had so many layers to it, and I appreciated that although Mallory and Hannah both had their own flaws, it was clear these flaws were forged from resiliency after adversity. There were a few mystery elements to this book, including how Hannah and Mallory are connected, but I thought the pacing of how everything was revealed panned out perfectly in alignment with what was going on in all three timelines. I honestly went into this book not knowing what to expect and ended it as one of my favorite historical fiction books of this year. If you’re a fan of Kate Quinn or Elizabeth Gilbert’s book The City of Girls, I definitely recommend putting this one on your To Be Read list. 

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall

NO ONE CAN KNOW by Kate Alice Marshall

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Fourteen years ago, the Palmer sisters―Emma, Juliette, and Daphne―left their home in Arden Hills and never returned. But when Emma discovers she’s pregnant and her husband loses his job, she has no option but to return to the house that she and her estranged sisters still own . . . and where their parents were murdered. Emma has never told anyone what she saw the night her parents died, even when she became the prime suspect. But her presence in the house threatens to uncover secrets that have stayed hidden for years, and the sisters are drawn together once again. As they face their memories of the past, rivalries restart, connections are forged, and, for the first time, Emma starts to ask questions about what really happened that night. The more Emma learns, the more riddles emerge. And Emma begins to wonder just what her siblings will do to keep the past buried, and whether she did the right thing staying quiet about what was whispered that night: “No one can know.”

My Thoughts: I gotta admit, the start of this book is a little bit of a slow burn, but once the plot starts plotting, and the twists start twisting, you better buckle up. Basically, fourteen years ago, three sisters - Emma, Juliette, and Daphne - left their childhood home after their parents were brutally murdered there. Now estranged, none of them have returned until Emma and her husband find themselves in a bit of a financial bind and have to move in as a temporary housing solution. Being back in her old stomping grounds stirs up the 14-year-old rumors and brings some people out of the woodwork that Emma hoped she’d never have to see again. Including Juliette and Daphne. This book was pretty fuckin twisty. Like there were MULTIPLE times when I was like “oh. Duh. No question, so-and-so did it.” Then the story would take a hard left and leave me looking like a clown lol. I mean even after finishing this book, I’m still not even sure I know “whodunnit” lmao. That said though, if you’re a big mystery/thriller fan who likes a book that isn’t easily predictable, then I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch. Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife. But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

My Thoughts: This book is one of the Goodreads Choice Awards nominees and when my request for it finally came through in Libby, I jumped on the audiobook. Listen, these authors have a fucking GIFT at writing one-liners for quirkier characters and this book was no exception. Anna Green had me LAFFIN for a majority of this story. She’s just so ridiculous, yet incredibly relatable in a feisty and flawed sense, I couldn’t help but audibly chuckle every time she said something off-handed. Liam was the perfect love interest for her too. As a quiet, put-together guy with his life planned out, he was basically the complete opposite of Anna, yet they fit together OBJECTIVELY well. I loved the easy rhythm they fell into on this extravagant trip for Liam’s younger sister’s destination wedding. There was just enough chaos and healthy conflict to test the strength of their connection, which made it that much more believable. If you’re looking for a fun, sweet, and steamy romance set in a tropical location (hello, literary vitamin C during the winter months), this is the perfect story to get sucked into. 

Collide by Bal Khabra

COLLIDE by Bal Khabra (Off the Ice #1)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: An ultimatum from Summer Preston’s thesis advisor thrusts her into an unexpected collision with the hockey team’s captain, Aiden Crawford. She’s caught between conflicting desires of fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a sport psychologist and staying as far away as possible from the god-awful sport. And once she meets Aiden—well, let’s just say he confirms all her worst assumptions about hockey players. Being the captain of the college hockey team has its perks, except when a reckless mistake by Aiden’s team threatens to jeopardize their entire season. As punishment, Aiden’s coach nominates him as the subject of a student research project. Participating is the last thing he wants to do, especially since the girl leading the project looks like she could wield his skates as a weapon. Summer can’t stand Aiden’s blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn’t understand why she’s twenty years old with a twenty-five-year plan. But their bickering soon turns to bantering—and once they let their guards down, there’s nothing to check their feelings.

My Thoughts: Continuing to feed my hockey romance era heart, I stumbled upon this gem and am so glad I did. Overall, I really loved it! I loved Summer and Aiden as individual characters, and was obsessed with them together. We love enemies-to-lovers and he-falls-first tropes sprinkled into a book about the school-serious girl ending up with the super star athlete. It was definitely a bit of a slow burn, but as soon as those sparks flew, things got SPICY. In addition to all of the super sweet things Aiden does for Summer that had me drooling with swoon! That said, there are just a couple of things that bothered me and caused me to dock it a star. The first is that it felt like Summer was resistant to her connection with Aiden for a touch too long. Like even after they were already showing relationship behaviors and had opened up to each other, she all of a sudden was like “NOPE. WAIT. I need to go on a date with other people!” So it gave me some whiplash and felt like her resistance was just getting old. The other thing I didn’t love is a flimsy plot point regarding how a certain situation gets pinned on Summer that might cause her to be expelled. Not to give any spoilers, but someone finds something of hers near the scene of the crime, but that location is literally the entrance to a busy academic building on campus that students are walking in and out of all day every day. So I gave it some side eye because I’m sure PLENTY of students drop personal belongings all the time and it wouldn’t be THAT conspicuous to find something of hers in that specific building. Anyway, those things aside, if you’re in your hockey romance era or are looking for something outside of the typical sports romance authors, I definitely recommend checking this one out. 

Betting On You by Lynn Painter

BETTING ON YOU by Lynn Painter

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip. Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong. Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating” in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?

My Thoughts: This book was cute! It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA romance, let alone Lynn Painter. The last book I read by her was Better Than the Movies, and that book was super fun. So I had high hopes for this one. Bailey and Charlie’s origin story actually started about a year prior on a long flight from Alaska to Nebraska. It was Bailey’s first solo flight after her parents’ divorce and all she wanted was a seamless experience. However, her irritating seatmate made that nearly impossible, not to mention they mixed like oil and water. Especially on the opinion as to whether men and women can be friends (taking a page from When Harry Met Sally). Fast forward a year when Bailey realizes one of the people she’ll be working with at her new job pretty regularly turns out to be the disgruntled Charlie. Although some of Bailey’s inner dialogue felt a little cringey, I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two come together to be friends and confidantes (even if Charlie refuses to call her a friend and instead refers to her as a coworker). Even more so watching them help each other through the vulnerable parts of life, specifically related to what one another was going through at home. Although most of this was pretty predictable, I still enjoyed my second go with Lynn Painter’s writing. I gotta say, some of the things Bailey pulled though, there’s no way I would’ve ever gotten away with as a teenager lol. If you’re looking for a quick YA romance that’s easy to read, I’d definitely recommend grabbing this one!

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

FIVE SURVIVE by Holly Jackson

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It’s a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. There’s no mobile phone reception and nobody around to help. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident. There’s a sniper out there in the dark watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for. A game of cat-and-mouse plays out as the group desperately tries to get help and to work out which member of the group is the target. Buried secrets are forced to light in the cramped, claustrophobic setting of the RV, and tensions within the group will reach deadly levels. Not everyone will survive the night.

My Thoughts: LOL. Okay so like if I’m being honest, I almost DNF’ed this book. I was in one of those weird moods where I couldn’t figure out what book I wanted to listen to next. So I had paused this one and started a different book, but ended up coming back to it anyway. Although this story only takes place over the span of eight hours, it was definitely a slow burn to start for me. None of the characters are THAT likable. Red is fine and I ended up liking her much more than I expected by the end of it, but it took a hot minute to get there. Let me rant about Oliver though. This is the type of guy who would mansplain your area of expertise to you because he watched a documentary about the field once like five years ago lol. He’s the type of guy who has all the money he could ever want, but would suggest you pay the bill on a date out of his ~solidarity for feminism~. He’s FOR SURE the type of guy who you’d fake an orgasm with just to get it over with lmfao. Basically, he is the WORST, and he becomes more unhinged as this long night goes on. I was chanting for the group just to throw him outside of the RV for the sake of their sanity. As for the plot, I correctly guessed one of the main plot twists basically within the first 20% of the book. I almost considered not continuing on because I assumed I had it all figured out. To my pleasant surprise, although I guessed that plot twist correctly, I did not see the other ones coming. The last portion of this book is a whirlwind and definitely took my, what was going to be, a flat three rating up to a 3.5. If you’re looking for a high-tension book with some mystery, unreliable characters, and a surprise ending, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

The Plight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart

THE PLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Kate Stewart

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER. When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree. Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed. Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage. I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog. I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart. I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday. I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push. I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match. Fa la la la la, la FML.

My Thoughts: Okie doke. I haven’t read a Kate Stewart book since I FLEW through her Ravenhood trilogy back in April of 2022, even though I had been absolutely obsessed with her writing throughout all three of those books. So, when I saw she had a Christmas-themed standalone, I figured what better way to get into the spirit of the season than a spicy little romance? Basically, Sloane’s life is not going to plan. Especially now after she worked her ass off for a promotion at work only to be passed up for her male counterpart. As a career woman, she hasn’t had much time for romance or to get serious with anyone, so she’s heading home for Christmas with the family by herself. Only to find out her brother has brought a coworker who didn’t have anyone to celebrate the holiday with and who also ends up being the ex who broke her heart and ruined romance for her almost 20 years ago. Listen, this may be a lowkey slow burn romance, but the TENSION between Sloane and Eli was palpable. I loved that the format is dual POV so that we could see what was going on in each of their heads throughout this entire week. It was just really, really sweet how after 17 years apart, all of the undeniable chemistry these two shared all those years ago easily surfaced again. Also, Kate Stewart has a way of making you care not only about the main characters, but everyone around them too, and WHEW. The side characters in this story had me in a chokehold. Not to mention, obliterate my ovaries with Sloane’s youngest nephew Payton having a sunrise date with Eli every morning. Like shit. Hit me square in the heart with relentless cuteness, why don’t you? Anyhoo, all of that is to say, if you’re looking for a well-written, spicy holiday romance, this book is a must read!

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Summary: Darley, the eldest daughter in the well-connected, old money Stockton family, followed her heart, trading her job and her inheritance for motherhood but giving up far too much in the process; Sasha, a middle-class New England girl, has married into the Brooklyn Heights family, and finds herself cast as the arriviste outsider; and Georgiana, the baby of the family, has fallen in love with someone she can’t have and must decide what kind of person she wants to be.

My Thoughts: Okay so I know when I rate books a three, I usually have several issues with the book. And like, I do have a couple of issues with this book, but I also genuinely enjoyed it. I probably won’t ever read it again, and I don’t know if it’s because Marin Ireland was the narrator for the audiobook, but I just really appreciated my experience with this story. It was a bit of a slow burn to get into, but once I started developing my own relationships with Darley, Sasha, and Georgiana, despite their flaws, I was hooked. Although they all try to portray a flawless lifestyle, it was the messier parts of their personalities and situations that had me invested in their stories. Particularly Darley and Sasha because they seemed a bit more mature than Georgiana. However, even by the end of the book, I think I was most satisfied with how Georgiana’s storyline wrapped up. There’s also an uncomfortability factor that plays into the overarching theme because you’re following three very well-off women, two of whom come from hella money and one who married into it. So there was a bit of “oh boo hoo, you’re still rich. Now what?” moments for me. Once their lives started getting messy though, it was easier to find empathy for each of them. This book wasn’t perfect, but I definitely enjoyed my time listening to it. I recommend it if you're a fan of multi point of view books that expose the intricacies of how imperfect people’s lives can be even when they seem to have it all. 

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood

CHECK & MATE by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays. After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning bad boy of chess. Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone—especially Mallory. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and, despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist.... As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce(-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)

My Thoughts: The five stars this book received is unapologetically due to vibes more so than the objective quality of plot and characters lol. The audiobook narrator was fantastic and I was sooo much more invested in this chess-themed romance than I ever expected to be. It was almost like settling into my Queen’s Gambit obsession circa 2020, but make it a young adult romance. Mallory is the prodigy of a Grand Master chess player, but hasn’t touched a board in three years until she’s coerced into playing in a charity tournament where she unexpectedly beats the world champion, Nolan Sawyer. This turns into a whirlwind of chess weaseling its way back into her life and exposes all of the things Mallory has deprived herself of ever since ~something~ went down with her dad that left her family to struggle. I was OBSESSED with the connection between Nolan and Mallory. Even just the way their brains worked and how they anticipated the other’s moves on and off the chess board. Although there was a patch of plot where Mallory decides to be a petty, selfish little punk that left me incredibly frustrated, I still couldn’t help rooting for her to put the misogyny of the chess world to shame. Also, shoutout to Oz for his endless comedic relief and blatant honesty lol. If you haven’t given this book a try, it’s a super quick read and definitely different from any other YA romance I’ve ever read.

That’s it for November! Thank you so much for pushing through if you’ve made it to the end lol. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and an even better holiday season!

I don’t know where my mood will take me in terms of books next month, but hopefully it will include some recommendations for you to start off the new year with. 

2024 Book Count: 136

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite audiobook of 2024?

October 2024 Reads

Y’all. I had so much fun reading this month!

I honestly don’t remember the last time I’ve kicked my feet so many times while reading in such a consistent pattern! Mostly, I tried to read books that incorporated a theme related to spooky szn, and hot damn did I manage to pick up some bangers. (And a few stinkers that I ended up not finishing.)

Since this month’s review post is about to be much longer than usual, I’m just going to keep the intro short and sweet. You’re welcome. :) 

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

BEFORE I LET GO by Kennedy Ryan (Skyland, #1)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything. It couldn’t save their marriage. Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had. Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

My Thoughts: This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and it will not be my last. I loved her writing so much. This book deals with a few heavy topics (please see content warnings below), the main one being grief, and I just felt like she handled not only those topics but also these characters who are working through some deep trauma with so much care and grace. Although they’ve been divorced for two years after an unexpected death left their family in shambles, the connection between Yasmen and Josiah is clear as fucking day. Even from the start of the book when they’re still on the outs with each other and navigating being co-parents and business partners, there’s an undeniable energy coursing between them. The book alternates between the POVs of Yasmen and Josiah and I think experiencing this story through both of their eyes was so important. Especially as Josiah starts to realize what he had been suppressing for so long and understanding Yasmen’s previous behavior and why she has been championing therapy ever since. It was also incredible to watch Yasmen regain her confidence as a strong, beautiful woman and say what she wanted with her whole damn chest. This romance novel is not your typical feel-good story, but I think showing the uglier parts of relationships is just as important as the happy/swoony ones. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, I cannot recommend it enough!  CW: depression, still birth, divorce, suicidal ideation.

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

CHAIN OF GOLD by Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours, #1)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior trained since childhood to battle demons. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family’s ruin. Cordelia’s mother wants to marry her off, but Cordelia is determined to be a hero rather than a bride. Soon Cordelia encounters childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale and is drawn into their world of glittering ballrooms, secret assignations, and supernatural salons, where vampires and warlocks mingle with mermaids and magicians. All the while, she must hide her secret love for James, who is sworn to marry someone else. But Cordelia’s new life is blown apart when a shocking series of demon attacks devastate London. These monsters are nothing like those Shadowhunters have fought before—these demons walk in daylight, strike down the unwary with incurable poison, and seem impossible to kill. London is immediately quarantined. Trapped in the city, Cordelia's friends discover that a dark legacy has gifted them with incredible powers—and forced a brutal choice that will reveal the true cruel price of being a hero.

My Thoughts: God Cassandra Clare knows how to write an ADDICTING YA fantasy series. Like I am SUCH a SIMP for this Shadowhunters world and I’m not even mad about it. For context, this book follows the kids of the characters from The Infernal Devices trilogy, which are all related to the OG series the Mortal Instruments (which is followed by the Dark Artifices). Still with me? Lol. Anywho, so Cordelia Carstairs is in London with her mom and brother trying to redeem their family’s reputation before it goes south due to her father messing up a recent mission from the Clave. After demons start randomly attacking during the daytime, Cordelia and her Shadowhunter friends take it upon themselves to figure out which Prince of Hell is sending these demons and how to end it. I could not get enough of this audiobook. The pacing of it was spot-on with slower moments where characters like James and Cordelia are making deeper connections to fast-paced action scenes where they’re all fighting demons. I also fucking loved the one liners these characters manage to spit out whilst in the throes of chaos and danger. As I said before, I am WEAK for this particular fantasy world and cannot wait to keep getting into this trilogy.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

THE BOOK OF COLD CASES by Simone St. James

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect--a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion. Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases--a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea's surprise, Beth says yes. They meet regularly at Beth's mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

My Thoughts: I feel like I’ve been in my mystery/thriller era this year and I have no intentions of stopping. This book was equally creepy as it was exciting. Shea Collins runs a true crime website where she basically does her own research on closed cold cases and publishes what she thinks really happened based on her findings. When she meets the woman who was accused and acquitted of a murder spree back in the 70s, she cannot resist asking for an interview. Beth Greer agrees to the interview, but Shea has to come to her for it. However, while Shea starts asking Beth questions, weird unexplainable things also start happening throughout the house. Y’all. I was holding my breath through multiple parts of this story. It switches between Shea’s and Beth’s POV which was absolutely KEY to connecting the dots on this mystery. There’s a little bit of a paranormal element to this book that I haven’t encountered before, but I didn’t hate it. Although there is a part towards the end where I was like “mmmm I’m not sure this is super realistic for someone who just went through that much physical distress.” However, it didn’t ruin my overall experience with this story either. If you’re looking for a quick, makes-you-shiver read, this is the perfect book.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD by Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan, #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Finlay Donovan is―once again―struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she's dealt with lately is that of her daughter's pet goldfish. On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he's a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of hit-women disguised as soccer moms, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like. Meanwhile, Vero's keeping secrets, and Detective Nick Anthony seems determined to get back into her life. He may be a hot cop, but Finlay's first priority is preventing her family from sleeping with the fishes... and if that means bending a few laws then so be it. With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it…

My Thoughts: Okay okay, so it’s been a while since I read the first book in this series Finlay Donovan is Killing It. Although I did enjoy that, I think I read a not-so-great review about this one that deterred me from starting it right away. So here I am. Two years later. Tucking my tail and saying that I thoroughly disagree with that review and wish I would’ve picked this up sooner! I listened to the audiobook (to no one’s surprise lol) and oh my god what a wild fucking ride. For starters, the narrator does suuuuuch a phenomenal job. It literally felt like I was watching a movie in my brain every time I popped my AirPods on. The plot of this book picks up right where the first one left off, and you hit the ground running from the start. Although there are some obvious similarities between what happened in book one, I think this one held its own ground with the absolute absurdity that played out. Finlay and Vero are trying to figure out who is trying to kill Finlay’s ex-husband and who posted the hit job on a women’s “mommy” online forum. Chaos ensues as they get deeper into the weeds with their investigation, all while staying clean and off the radar of both cops and a Russian mob. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say I was laughing out loud as much as I was grasping my pearls throughout this book. Also, why am I so invested in the love triangle Finlay currently finds herself in, and why am I rooting for the person most people probably are not?? Honestly, if you haven’t been introduced to this series yet, I highly recommend. It’s giving “your favorite cozy mystery but pump it full of quality comedic relief.” I cannot wait to start the next one!

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON by Ryan Douglass

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact he sees the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don’t interact often with people. But then Jake meets Sawyer. A troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win.

My Thoughts: Okay I will say admittedly, I do not think I realized this was a YA horror book and not just a YA mystery/thriller. Yes, there is a difference. I would say horror usually involves more gore and this book definitely did not hold back on details during the gory scenes. It kind of had Get Out vibes to it that make your skin crawl while you’re reading it. I don’t really have a ton to say about this book if I’m being honest. It was kind of hard to connect with the main character because you don’t learn all that much about his past beyond what’s needed for this story until the very end. The format bounces between the POV of Jake (the MC) and diary entries from a school shooter who was alive within the last decade. I’ve seen some people saying they did not like getting the background story of the school shooter because you have the potential to empathize with the character - which leads to the discussion of being an apologist. However, that dude was a TERRIBLE person, so all I ever really felt is that he needed some serious help. There were some really great themes touched on such as found family, grief, queer identity, and more. I’m rating it three stars because I think the book did what it sought out to do, but I just don’t think I was in the mindset for something I wasn’t expecting. If that makes sense?

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

BRIDE by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again… Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…. Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

My Thoughts: Y’all. I don’t know WHY it took me a year to pick up this book but holy hell was that a mistake on my part because I freaking loved this book. Misery has JOKES. Like I fucking loved her snarky comments and how easily she could knock someone down a peg with a dry-humored comment. This premise was really unique for a romance book, I will not lie. Honestly though? It worked. I was enthralled in this story and could not put it down. The tension between Lowe and Misery was INSANE. I also loved watching them slowly let their walls down for each other until they could see every vulnerability. The plot has a lot of politics to follow but they’re easy to understand and really helped push the pace of this book, so I thoroughly enjoyed them. Lowe is obviously super fucking hot. He’s an Alpha werewolf with a body that won’t quit so like duh, but what I liked most about his character is how grounding his energy was. He just had this very steady and consistent vibe to him and did everything with intention behind it, and my single self was SWOONING. This wasn’t like a groundbreaking romance novel by any means but got damn I hope she keeps writing books in this world because I am HOOKED.

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

THE WILD HUNTRESS by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Summary: Every five years, two kingdoms take part in a Wild Hunt. Joining is a bloody risk and even the most qualified hunters can suffer the deadliest fates. Still, hundreds gamble their lives to participate—all vying for the Hunt’s life-changing prize: a magical wish granted by the Otherking. BRANWEN possesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She’s desperate to cure her mother’s sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option. GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically-talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant. PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn’t interest him—all he wants is to know is where he belongs. If they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But, then again, nothing is guaranteed when all is fair in love and the Hunt.

My Thoughts: Okay, this was not a groundbreaking fantasy story by any means, but I did thoroughly enjoy my experience with it. To everyone’s surprise, I actually read the physical copy of this book lol. The story starts by following Branwen who was gifted with the ability to see magic after her mother accidentally wiped one of her eyes with an enchanted tincture when she was a baby. Now an adult, Branwen spends her day slaying magical monsters regular people cannot see and has earned somewhat of a name throughout the realm known as the Huntress. Gwydion is the nephew of a King who plans to pass on the throne to Gwydion’s ruthless brother. To prevent this from happening, he decides to enter the annual Wild Hunt which grants the winner anything they desire, but first he enlists Branwen to help him in this venture. She has her own motives for joining, and eventually, they also absorb Pryderi who is a prince with a dark past. The dynamics of this trio in the Wild Hunt was so fun - for the most part. They fall into an easy rhythm of looking out for one another and their friendship slowly grows. I loved all of the characters, especially Branwen’s cat who everyone seems to be afraid of lol, and thoroughly enjoyed venturing through the Wild Hunt with them. The plot kept me glued to the page and, admittedly, I did not see some of the twists coming. Although something VERY SAD happens towards the latter part of the book, I felt like the ending was tied up in a satisfying bow. If you’re looking for an easy fantasy to cuddle up with as the weather gets cold, I highly recommend adding this to your arsenal. 

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY by Akwaeke Emezi

Rating: DNF @ 52%

Summary: Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again. It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now—an artist with her own studio, and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career. She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the dangerous thrill Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person in the house who is most definitely off-limits. This new life she asked for just got a lot more complicated, and Feyi must begin her search for real answers. Who is she ready to become? Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there’s the biggest question of all—how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love?

My Thoughts: I have a few feelings about this book and why I shelved it as “did not finish” after getting halfway through. For starters, I’m not a fan of age-gap tropes nor instant love and this book has both. If the age gap isn’t that dramatic then it usually doesn’t bother me, but this gap was about 18 years, so I immediately had some big ick towards it. Then because I had my ick-tinted glasses on, there was no hope for me to believe that the instant love was actually believable.It seemed like a very superficial connection driven by lust (because literally everyone in this book is described as insanely beautiful) rather than an actual genuine emotional connection. I also didn’t feel like the main characters were giving that much depth outside of the grief they carried with them after the loss of their previous partners. Besides the main character’s best friend, Joy, the only other character I genuinely liked was Nasir. However, even his character development felt like it was regressing as a second thought or to better fit the romantic narrative between the other two characters. Also, after reading Before I Let Go which handled the topic of grief so beautifully, it just felt like using it as a plot driver in this book wasn’t as thought out. I don’t know. A lot of people I’m friends with on Goodreads loved this book. I just wasn’t enjoying this nearly enough to keep listening to it. I will say though I’ve read one other book by this author, Pet, and thought that was more impactful.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan, #3)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them. Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself. Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.

My Thoughts: Listen, Finlay and Vero get fuckin MESSY in this one lmao. Like my god. Half of the decisions they make in this book are so unhinged. My teeth were grinding soooo hard in a static cringe. This book picks up right where the last one left off and dives right into the action and scheming. Due to some money trouble Vero got into recently and Finlay’s current mission to find a dirty cop for a Russian mob boss, they decide signing up for the weeklong citizen police academy is the best decision. Throughout the week of various classes and workshops they have to attend, Finlay and Vero make some RISKY moves as they start collecting clues and making deeper connections in this criminal world. Like my anxiety was HIGH. I did love all of the newer characters that were introduced at the police academy and how I couldn’t really trust who I suspected was the dirty cop. The romance storyline was a very welcomed reprieve from the scheming madness and I’m kind of glad the love triangle from the last two books seems like it’s been laid to rest. True to this author’s writing and the audiobook narrator’s sheer talent, the comedic dialogue had me LAUGHIN’. Like y’all. This book is FUNNY. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am so glad I’ve started into this series again.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

THE DEAD ROMANTICS by Ashley Poston

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father. For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it. Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. Romance is most certainly dead... but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.

My Thoughts: I think Ashley Poston has officially become an auto-buy author for me. After reading The Seven Year Slip a few months ago and absolutely LOVING that one, I was excited to jump into The Dead Romantics. I’ve actually had this book downloaded on my Kindle for a while now and I’m so mad at myself for taking this long to read it because oh my god did I freaking love this story. Florence Day is a ghostwriter for a popular romance author, but after a terrible breakup, her faith in true love has been diminished. Her new editor, Benji, won’t give her an extension on the novel’s deadline, so she’s mildly screwed. Meanwhile, she has to return home unexpectedly for a funeral. She hasn’t been home in about 10 years after she helped solve a murder when she was a teen because she can see ghosts - just like her dad could. While making preparations for her dad’s funeral, a ghost appears in the foyer of her family’s funeral home, and to Florence’s surprise, it’s Benji. Now it’s up to Florence to figure out what unfinished business Benji has that’s preventing his ghost from passing on. Listen, never have I been so serious about finishing a book in one sitting. I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I was obsessed with Florence and her somewhat awkwardly quirky personality. She’s dealing with so many emotions as she mourns her father, reconciles with her family, tries to meet the looming novel’s deadline, and solve what’s holding back ghost-Benji, and let me tell you. I was sucked into every scene. Especially as she and Benji start falling for each other. Their connection is so natural, it’s hard not to root for them even if he is a ghost. That said, the plot twist was SUUUPER easy to guess from the beginning, but I honestly wasn’t even mad about it. This was the perfect mix of emotional, funny, steamy, and everything I could’ve wanted out of this paranormal romance. I definitely recommend reading this as soon as you can! It’s perfect for the fall!

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

THE EX HEX by Erin Sterling (The Ex Hex, #1)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two. That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all. Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

My Thoughts: I was a little hesitant to read this book initially because I’ve heard the author is actually a pen name for a thriller author. So I think people weren’t buying into her romance writing, but I’m here to say, they’re full of shit because I absolutely adored this story. It’s got second-chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, a tight-knit group of witches, a little ghost hunt, an attractive Welsh man - what else do you need? I appreciated that the plot was well thought out and complimented the growing romance between Vivienne and Rhys instead of getting overshadowed by it. There is plenty of humor sprinkled throughout the dialogue that left me cackling like the wannabe Sanderson sister I am. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for more in a witchy romance for spooky szn and definitely recommend putting this book on your TBR for next October. 

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position. What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor. Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

My Thoughts: Okay I’ve said this before when I reviewed the first Alex Stern book Ninth House, and I’m going to say it again: The Shadow and Bone Series is not the best representation of how good Leigh Bardugo’s writing can be, in my opinion. I honestly was not blown away by the Grisha Verse, but when she ventures out of the high fantasy world, that’s her bread and butter. This book takes place during the Spanish Inquisition and has that perfect shade of gothic to it that makes everything a little darker. It’s almost like if a historical fiction and fantasy had a baby, but the baby came out only wanting to wear black velvet and never smiled. There’s also a small Hunger Games vibe to it, but stick with me on this. Luzia is a scullery maid who gets by using a sprinkle of magic just to make life more tolerable but not enough to attract attention. Until one day her mistress susses out what Luzia has been doing and basically wants to exploit her magic and tricks to make their family look better in society. Putting Luzia on a more-public stage ends up attracting the attention of a very dangerous man who has been disgraced by Spain’s king and wants to regain the crown’s favor. To do this, he enters Luzia into a competition with other people with “gifts sent from the heavens” like clairvoyance, alchemy, etc. They are to compete in a series of trials and the one left standing will serve the king directly. Cue a winding road of chaos and backwards politics as Luzia tries to survive this new world she’s been thrusted into. I honestly had to keep double checking how long this audiobook was because SO MUCH HAPPENED. Like there was not a portion of this book that was wasted on non plot-driving material. You never knew who to trust or what Luzia’s next move should be, especially when it came to her closest confidante and trainer, Guillén Santangel. I was hooked from the start and although it was a little confusing for me to get my footing with who is who at first (hence the deducted rating), but for sure recommend it.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

THE KISS CURSE by Erin Sterling (The Ex Hex, #2)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow. Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn. When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches comes to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the The Ex Hex series and focuses on side characters we were introduced to in the first book. Gwyn is the sassiest witch and also the most free spirited. I loved her vibe and her “do not mess with me” demeanor. Wells is the grumpy brother from the first book and he’s sent to Graves Glen to keep an eye on his brother (Rhys) and the town as it’s now powered by Gwyn’s family of witches instead of the Penhallow’s. Listen, you combine sass and grump and this book was GIVING the snark. I freaking loved the quick quips between these two main characters as their shops compete in town. However, after things start to go awry in terms of Gywn’s magic, they’re forced to work together to figure out what’s happening. So all of that snarky tension turns into sexual tension and I was not mad lol. The plot of this book wasn’t as strong as the last one and I felt like the characters could’ve gotten a little deeper in their connection. That said though, I still really enjoyed it and would say it’s worth the read.

Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda

FRAGMENTS OF THE LOST by Megan Miranda

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Summary: Jessa Whitworth knew she didn't belong in her ex-boyfriend Caleb's room. But she couldn't deny that she was everywhere: in his photos, his neatly folded T-shirts, even the butterfly necklace in his jeans pocket . . . the one she gave him for safe keeping on that day. His mother asked her to pack up his things, even though she blames Jessa for his accident. How could she say no? And maybe, just maybe, it will help her work through the guilt she feels about their final moments together. But as Jessa begins to box up the pieces of Caleb's life, they trigger memories that make Jessa realize their past relationship may not be exactly as she remembered. And she starts to question whether she really knew Caleb at all. Each fragment of his life reveals a new clue that propels Jessa to search for the truth about Caleb's accident. What really happened on the storm-swept bridge?

My Thoughts: This book got me MAD. For the main character that is, but dear Lort Caleb and his mom can GTFO. Basically, Jessa’s ex-boyfriend Caleb recently died and his mother has asked her to clean out his room. As she’s packing up his things, she starts uncovering some inconsistencies that make her question what she really knew about Caleb and how she remembers their relationship. Naturally, Jessa becomes invested in figuring out what really happened in the days leading up to Caleb’s accident. The pacing of this book started out a little slower, but it helped that it switched between the past as Jessa reflected on their relationship and the present where she’s packing up Caleb’s room. Although there is a large theme of dealing with grief, I don’t feel like that overshadowed the mystery part of the plot. Especially after Jessa starts connecting dots as to what Caleb was hiding from her. As a YA mystery/thriller, I appreciated how this story took a turn and how the ending wrapped up. However, I was so mad on behalf of Jessa lol. Caleb’s mom is fucking unhinged and had me questioning what kind of grown woman makes her son’s teenage ex-girlfriend clean out his room and then gets suspicious of her every time she’s trying to leave their house?? It all makes sense eventually, but I was chanting Justice for Jessa for a majority of this book. I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did and definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a mystery/thriller that doesn’t follow the usual formula.

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

CHAIN OF IRON by Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours, #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade. But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace. Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

My Thoughts: HOW DARE SHE? Cassie Clare really wanted me to feel some type of way with this book and I CANNOT. First of all, I am still utterly and unapologetically obsessed with this entire Shadowhunter world and the characters in this trilogy. Cordelia? A queen. I cannot get over how much I like her. There’s a wholesome, well-rounded essence to Cordelia that feels like sinking into your favorite comfy chair any time we’re in her head or interacting with her from a different character’s POV. She is such a smart, strong character and the resilience she showed throughout this book was wild. I would not have had as much chill. She does go through a deep phase of imposter syndrome (relatable lol), but this is all obviously a part of her character arc. A lot of the characters go through the downswing of their arcs in this book actually. Without giving spoilers, there were some foreshadowing events that felt a little inconsistent for those involved, but set up some support beams for the plot later in the book. Which is FINE, but I didn’t love it because I didn’t fully believe those specific characters would be that impulsive or easily fooled. The plot overall is an extension of the first book and definitely took a different angle on the demonic goings-on plaguing London. It was nice too that this book dealt with some deeper themes like identity, alcoholism, grief, family and platonic bonds, and more. I absolutely do not cosign on how this book ended and will absolutely be starting the next thicc girl in this series ASAP.

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD by Brynne Weaver (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?

My Thoughts: Okay hear me out, this book was fantastic and it was about two serial killers falling in love lol. It’s definitely got some gore to it (so if you have a weak stomach, just beware), but the overall story reads more like a rom-com. The book starts with them crossing paths while Sloane has been locked in a cell in this other serial killer’s basement after she killed him and he kicked the door shut. Rowan finds her because he was there to kill the guy she already killed, lets her out, they grab food, and over some barbecue a competition is created and a bet is waged. Every year, they’ll each receive a text of the location for their target. They have a limited number of days to figure out who they’re supposed to kill and successfully complete the job in order to have bragging rights against the other person. As the competitions heat up, so does their connection. I was obsessed with their slow burn romance. It didn’t feel like your traditional slow burn because so much happens and you get both POVs, so you know who is PINING BAD for who. Obviously, as serial killers who kill serial killers, they both have some past demons they have to deal with in order to truly open their heart to the other person. I was obsessed with Sloane and Rowan as individual characters, so OBVIOUSLY I was screaming at the top of my lungs the entire time for them to work out. This is unlike any other romance I’ve read and I highly recommend it unless you’re squeamish with some gore. Then do not read it lol. 

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

LEATHER & LARK by Brynne Weaver (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2)

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first. And they can’t stand each other. Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be. As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them. There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep. And this one has come for blood.

My Thoughts: This is the second book within the serial killer rom-com series and it definitely had a touch darker tone to it. Lark comes from a super wealthy family who has connections within the underworld, but you would never guess based on her bubbly personality and the way she wins every room she walks into. However, there’s a darker side to her she’s hiding from everyone. Lachlan works for an unhinged guy that basically “cleans up” messes caused by his super wealthy clients - including Lark’s family who terminated their contract with them. When someone starts killing people off in Lark’s family’s circle, they assume it’s got to be Lachlan. However, if Lachlan is on their radar, then so is his brother, Rowan, and Lark’s best friend Sloane. To save Sloane (and Rowan), Sloane proposes a fake marriage to Lachlan, so that her parents don’t try to kill him. Cue the trifecta of tropes: enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, and forced-proximity. I loved watching the connection between Lark and Lachlan grow as each one slowly let their walls down. I wouldn’t say the plot was as intriguing as the first book, but overall I enjoyed this one and would say it’s worth the read.

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

CHAIN OF THORNS by Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours, #3)

Rating: objectively - 3.5, subjectively 4

Summary: Cordelia Carstairs has lost everything that matters to her. In only a few short weeks, she has seen her father murdered, her plans to become parabatai with her best friend, Lucie, destroyed, and her marriage to James Herondale crumble before her eyes. Even worse, she is now bound to an ancient demon, Lilith, stripping her of her power as a Shadowhunter. After fleeing to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, Cordelia hopes to forget her sorrows in the city’s glittering nightlife. But reality intrudes when shocking news comes from home: Tatiana Blackthorn has escaped the Adamant Citadel, and London is under new threat by the Prince of Hell, Belial. Cordelia returns to a London riven by chaos and dissent. The long-kept secret that Belial is James and Lucie’s grandfather has been revealed by an unexpected enemy, and the Herondales find themselves under suspicion of dealings with demons. Cordelia longs to protect James but is torn between a love for James she has long believed hopeless, and the possibility of a new life with Matthew. Nor can her friends help—ripped apart by their own secrets, they seem destined to face what is coming alone. For time is short, and Belial’s plan is about to crash into the Shadowhunters of London like a deadly wave, one that will separate Cordelia, Lucie, and the Merry Thieves from help of any kind. Left alone in a shadowy London, they must face Belial’s deadly army. If Cordelia and her friends are going to save their city—and their families—they will have to muster their courage, swallow their pride, and trust one another again. For if they fail, they may lose everything—even their souls.

My Thoughts: LOL okay. So as I said above, this book was objectively a 3.5 if I was rating it honestly. HOWEVER, subjectively and solely because I was SO INVESTED in Thomas and Alastair’s storyline, it’s a 4 for me lol. This was a thicc book. Like the audiobook was 30 hours, so you gotta strap in and get ready for some Shadowhunter Shenanigans. I gotta say though, this is probably the least invested in a plot within this world that I’ve ever been. I just didn’t really care that Belial was still tryna torment James and take over London or that Lucie had the power to talk to the dead. After she uses her power to connect one of the side character’s souls back with his body, I just kind of didn’t care that she could control ghosts anymore lol. Cordelia was still being such a little shit and it was because she was too proud. Then James doubled down and wouldn’t tell her something that would literally resolve EVERYTHING between them, but he was also too proud. So it was just a freaking mess. Baby boi Matthew was going THROUGH it, but thankfully his friends circled the wagon and helped him get through the multiple heartbreaks that were driving him to drink. Something happens to a different character that literally had me screaming “THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS, CASSIE,” but otherwise, I was more invested in where everyone’s relationships ended up vs. caring about whether they defeat the demons in London. Spoiler alert: they usually do lol. After finishing this trilogy, I’d say this is probably my least favorite series within the Shadowhunters world, but I appreciated my time with it nonetheless. 

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Rating: DNF @ 45%

Summary: The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true. In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.

My Thoughts: uuuuughhhhh. It absolutely killed me to DNF this book, especially when I am a SMG stan, but oh my god I could not get into this story. I listened to the audiobook and was, for lack of a better description, painfully bored. Basically, Casiopea is the black sheep cousin who nobody really likes, so she’s stuck doing all the bitch work around the house and is treated like dookie. When she finds the key to a mysterious trunk in her grandfather’s room, she opens it and ends up freeing the spirit of the Mayan god of death. This dude is missing an ear, a finger (?), and some other random body part. So he’s like oh sweet, thanks for letting me out of that box. Now you’re indebted to me and have to go on this crazy adventure while we go collect my missing extremities which will allow me to return to full power. I don’t know. At first, I was like okay maybe I’m missing some info to the backstory of this book? Maybe it’s a retelling of some other story, and essentially, it’s based on some Mexican folklore. So it’s not a full retelling, but having no previous knowledge of the folklore that’s being referred to here, it was hard to keep up. Also Casiopea sucked lol. As did the god of death. He was bland as hell. They were not likable characters. Which meant getting invested in them AND this plot was a feat. Idk. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for this book or maybe it really was just the biggest miss I wasn’t expecting from this author. Either way, I’m not going to be recommending this one to anyone as a must-read from Slivia Moreno Garcia. :/ Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future, but I’m not holding my breath for that happening any time soon.

The Striker by Ana Huang

THE STRIKER by Ana Huang

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Summary: Asher Donovan is a living legend—the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world. But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they’re forced to “bond” during off-season cross-training. Surviving the summer shouldn’t be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She’s beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t take his mind off her. The only problem? She’s his rival’s sister—and completely off limits. | Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident. Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people . She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker. Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That’s out of the question—especially when he’s the only person with the power to break her heart.

My Thoughts: This rating kills me because I freaking LOVE Ana Huang and the other series she’s written. She definitely has a formula she follows with every book, but for whatever reason, it just didn’t work its full magic here. Everything was fine! It was the same type of “fine” that you feel after going on a first date where nothing egregious happened, but also you’re really indifferent towards going on a second date. It just felt like SOMETHING was missing and I still cannot put my finger on it. I enjoyed the book enough though. Asher was head over heels for Scarlett and it was sweet how thoughtful he was towards her needs. That said, there were a few instances that involved other people where he was just SOOOO selfish and reactive, and it hit a point where I felt like fixing that behavior DEFINITELY should have been part of his character arc much sooner. Scarlett was a great MFC for this book as well. She’s very resilient after facing some adversity five years prior, but HOT DANG, this ballerina is proud. Specifically, too proud to ask for help. Which got super old. I don’t know. As I said, I liked it overall. It was cute and had great spice, but it just felt like Ana Huang forgot to add her secret ingredient to the fail-proof recipe. You know what I mean? The next book in this specific series comes out next October, so I’ll probably still read that one, but idk. This was just fine lol. 

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

SKY IN THE DEEP by Adrienne Young

Rating: 5/5

Summary: Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago. Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family. She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

My Thoughts: Listen, I literally picked this book up on a whim at an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet like three years ago and never cracked it open. Frankly, I kind of forgot about it lol. So when I saw this book sitting on my bookshelf, I decided to give its audiobook a try. I didn’t know a historical fiction/YA fantasy set in the Vikings era is exactly what I needed, but y’all. This book breathed life back into me after DNFing the last audiobook I tried (cough, cough, looking at you Gods of Jade and Shadow). This story hits the ground running right from the very beginning and the plot never really slows down. As hard-headed as Eelyn was initially after being kidnapped and “bought” by her brother’s new family from the rival Viking clan, I freaking loved her as the main character for this. She gets the literal shit kicked out of her and still somehow musters the energy to say “bet” to anyone who threatens her. I appreciated that although Eelyn feels THOROUGHLY betrayed by her brother, the author still made it possible to empathize with the reasoning behind his actions. The plot thickens at the exact right moment after the village is raided by a third, much more ruthless clan which forces the Aska (Eelyn’s clan) and the Riki (her brother’s new clan) to set aside their ancient rivalry to defeat the bloodthirsty Herja. To no one’s surprise, I was an absolute SIMP for Fiske. He had a strong, quiet-type of energy to him. Like he’s not going to tell you how good of a person he is, but everyone else will tell you unsolicited. It was impossible not to trust him and made it that much easier to believe the connection that slowly forms between him and Eelyn. Honestly, if you’re into historical fiction and YA fantasy, and don’t mind a little gore (vikings can get violent), I highly recommend picking up this book!

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth. Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?

My Thoughts: Literally, one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. No notes. This audiobook was fucking amazing. ALL THE AWARDS to Marin Ireland who put her WHOLE ass foot into this narration. I was invested from the START. Lillian is kind of a burnout living in her mom’s attic and works at two grocery stores. The only friend she’s really ever had from boarding school when she was younger, Madison, asks her out of the blue for some help. It turns out Madison’s step kids have to move in with her family and they need a caretaker. However, the caveat is they catch on fire anytime they’re upset or mad. Cue the funniest, most heartwarming summer of Lillian figuring out how to not only take care of kids, but kids who have a tendency to ignite when agitated. Their dynamics were so freaking endearing and after all of the trauma Roland and Bessie have been through, Lillian is determined to make sure they’re seen as kids instead of monsters. I was BARKING laughs throughout this entire book. There are so many one liners and just chaotic conversations that made me want to squeeze these three misfits into a giant hug and never let them go. I’m obsessed with Lillian’s character and found her pretty relatable in that she has no prior experience with kids and was basically winging everything. This book is a MUST read if you have not already. Even if you never take any of my other book recommendations, please take this one. You won’t regret it. 

Okie! Congrats if you made it to the end and also THANK YOU lol. I know this month’s reading wrap-up post was a DOOZY, but I sincerely appreciate it if you made it this far. 

I feel like as we’re headed into the holiday season, I’ll be gravitating more towards cozy reads, but alas. I am a mood reader, so we shall see!

2024 Book Count: 115

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite holiday-themed book?

September 2024 Reads

Does anyone else’s brain immediately revert to playing Earth Wind and Fire any time you think of the word “September?”

This month flew by and I think that’s mainly because I was traveling through California for almost a week and a half. I joined my friend who is on an extensive road trip for the Golden State leg of it.

We managed to fit eight cities (Sacramento, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, Three Rivers, Santa Clarita, and Palm Springs) into nine days, driving about 939 miles in total. Sequoia National Park was definitely my favorite part of this trip. If you haven’t been out there to see nature’s giant beauties, they are a MUST. I have never felt smaller being surrounded by the mountains and trees 250-300 ft tall. It was truly a magical experience. 

Joshua Tree was also cool, but Sequoia has my heart. <3 Shout out to Lindsey (and Apollo) for letting me join them on this adventure! Enjoy these snapshots from my trip:

From top left to right: Me next to a Joshua Tree (which is actually from the aloe family), Lindsey and I in front of Monterey Bay, us in front of a wine vineyard in Santa Rosa, me standing amongst the GIANT Sequoias.

One great thing about so much travel though is that I was able to fly through some books on the plane rides and we managed to listen to about 1.5 audiobooks throughout our longer drives. So, I did much better on the reading front this month than I expected to in September and definitely got through multiple genres. 

With that, let’s get into everything I read in September!

**All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads. 

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Perry Firekeeper-Birch was ready for her Summer of Slack but instead, after a fender bender that was entirely not her fault, she’s stuck working to pay back her Auntie Daunis for repairs to the Jeep. Thankfully she has the other outcasts of the summer program, Team Misfit Toys, and even her twin sister Pauline. Together they ace obstacle courses, plan vigils for missing women in the community, and make sure summer doesn’t feel so lost after all. But when she attends a meeting at a local university, Perry learns about the “Warrior Girl”, an ancestor whose bones and knife are stored in the museum archives, and everything changes. Perry has to return Warrior Girl to her tribe. Determined to help, she learns all she can about NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. The university has been using legal loopholes to hold onto Warrior Girl and twelve other Anishinaabe ancestors’ remains, and Perry and the Misfits won’t let it go on any longer. Using all of their skills and resources, the Misfits realize a heist is the only way to bring back the stolen artifacts and remains for good. But there is more to this repatriation than meets the eye as more women disappear and Pauline’s perfectionism takes a turn for the worse. As secrets and mysteries unfurl, Perry and the Misfits must fight to find a way to make things right – for the ancestors and for their community.

My Thoughts: Okay so I freaking LOVED this author’s first book, Firekeeper’s Daughter, and was extremely excited when I learned she was publishing a spinoff from that one. This book follows the niece of the main character from the other book. Perry wrecks her car, which changes the course of how she originally planned to spend her summer as she works to pay back her Aunt Daunis for the repairs. She’s forced to join a summer internship program where she’s placed under the recluse archivist at the local reservation museum in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As she starts to get acclimated with her tribe’s ancestral remains and sacred items, she learns a local university has been using workarounds to avoid returning some of the tribe’s artifacts. This leads to Perry and some friends from her internship program planning a heist to return what rightfully belongs to the tribe. True to the writing style of the last book, this plot has plenty of twists and turns, and keeps you on your toes as some conspicuous figures start popping up. I can’t say I loved this book as much as I loved Firekeeper’s Daughter, and the end portion felt a little rushed, but I would recommend reading it if you liked FD.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty. Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption. Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

My Thoughts: Oh my lord. I have not been this invested in a historical fiction novel in a MINUTE. I found the physical copy in a Little Free Library near me, but decided to listen to the audiobook, per usual lol. Let me just say, the narrators do such a phenomenal job that it feels like you’re watching a movie in your brain while listening to this story. The format alternates between current day from the perspective of the current Tennessee senator’s daughter, Avery, and the late 1930’s from the perspective of a 12-year-old girl named Rill who has been kidnapped by the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. While visiting her grandmother in assisted living, her grandma makes a comment that has Avery curious about her family’s history and leads to her digging deeper into uncovering some well-buried secrets. At the same time, we watch Rill try to keep her family together in this new personal hell that is the Tennessee Children’s Home Society where children are being kidnapped and basically sold for adoption to some of the wealthiest families in America. This book was so impactful and beautifully written. I cried multiple times and y’all know I’m not a crier. Hats off to the author on this one and definitely pick it up if you’re looking for a historical fiction that will simultaneously devastate you and bring your soul back to life lol. 

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

UPGRADE by Blake Crouch

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep. But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways. The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy. Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost. Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human. And even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?

My Thoughts: This was another audiobook that read like you were watching a movie. Blake Crouch has become one of my favorite sci-fi authors. The way his writing sucks you into a story makes it impossible not to be engrossed in all of the technical and scientific nuances that come with the plot. Do I understand all of the equations and whatnot? Not a chance lol. However, he writes them in a way that is easy to understand they’re important even if you’re not savvy to the minutiae. This book hits the ground running fast from the start. Right away, Logan Ramsay is on a mission with his team when the entire science lab blows up and he’s left feeling a little different. He’s better at memorizing things, reading much faster than usual, and turning up the volume on his ability to multitask. His body is also seeing some enhancements he hadn’t noticed before. Cue an action-packed adventure as Logan figures out what’s happening to his body, who’s behind the changes, and why. The pace of this book was quick yet lingered where it needed to, and definitely threw in some plot twists I wasn’t expecting. The overall story and ending didn't necessarily blow my mind, but I did really like this book after finishing it. 

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip. When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him. But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina—and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins.

My Thoughts: Okay one of the main reasons I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia as an author is because she doesn’t box herself into one genre. This is the first romance novel I’ve read by her and though it carries her signature gothic theme, I loved exploring this different side of her writing. The book is split into two parts. In part one, almost every character was annoying af to me lol. Nina was a little too naive, Hector was pathetically lovesick over a horrible person, and Valerie was said horrible person lol. Personally, I favored Nina out of all of them in this first part. It basically laid the background for who these characters are to each other and how they’re connected in the present. Skipping to part two, I was much more invested in what was going on and the relationship growing between Nina and Hector. Their character arcs also gave me everything I wanted in contrast to who they were in Part 1. Valerie remains to be the fucking worst, but karma’s a bitch babe, and that’s all I’ve gotta say about that. I don’t know if I read many love-triangle trope romances, but I definitely enjoyed how this one played out. 

Evicted by Matthew Desmond

EVICTED: POVERTY AND PROFIT IN THE AMERICAN CITY by Matthew Desmond

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: In Evicted, Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of 21st-century America's most devastating problems. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.

My Thoughts: I’ve had this book on my radar for a while, and considering I hadn’t read a non-fiction book in a minute, I figured it was time to give this one a try. I think one of the strongest points of how this book is written is that it follows the stories of eight different families and their experiences with renting, landlords, and more. So instead of throwing a bunch of numbers and stats at you like most non-fiction books do, this was told much more narratively and made me much more invested in learning about the twisted world of housing in the United States. Some of the things I learned through this book had my jaw on the floor. The way rental properties are managed, with everything from duplexes and apartments to trailer parks, is so thoroughly corrupt. It’s actually unreal, and of course the people who are suffering the most from these unscrupulous practices are the people who need the most help. On top of that, those same people are then penalized for having an eviction on their record which makes it EVEN harder to find a safe place for their families to live. Not to mention, most of these cases affect young children. Needless to say, this book was one of those most eye-opening and impactful that I’ve encountered in a while and I truly think everyone should read it. 

The Rom Commers by Katherine Center

THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up. Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme. But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?

My Thoughts: I feel like I was extremely late to the Katherine Center game, but her last few books have not disappointed. This book was so cute, funny, swoony, and everything I could’ve wanted for my 4-hour flight out to California. True to KC’s writing, these characters were uniquely quirky and so original. She has a way of creating people you feel like you’ve never encountered in a romance novel before and can truly connect with. They’re just imperfect enough to make it clear it’s going to take a very specific person to fall in love with them. And, let me tell you, it was effortless to fall in love with Emma and Charlie. As they work on rejuvenating Charlie’s latest book, they start peeling back each other’s layers and falling into a routine that makes it so obvious there’s more here than just a working relationship. There were multiple laugh-out-loud moments and even one or two that made my eyes a little misty lol. All in all, this book definitely lives up to its title and is a “finish in one sitting” type of rom com.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he?

My Thoughts: With long hours between cities, we decided to listen to this audiobook during the road trip around California. Let me just say, it was nothing I expected it to be. Not that that’s a bad thing by any means. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the direction this book ended up going. The book follows two timelines, the present where Ryland is the sole survivor on the spaceship that’s currently drifting somewhere outside of the solar system, and the past where he’s a junior high school science teacher getting recruited for the space mission. Clearly Andy Weir tries to stay as scientifically accurate in his books as possible because the scientific minutiae involved was complex, but it was done in a very strategic way. The depth of detail in Ryland’s experiments made it impossible for me to question whether what he was saying was correct. It truly made this storyline that much more believable. I think I was a bit more invested in this book character-wise, but I appreciated the experience of this plot nonetheless. I totally get why people RAVE about this book, and I highly recommend doing the audiobook because it gives voices to some select characters that I don’t think would have had the same impact if I had eyeball-read it. 

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: “Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own… Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband. I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late. But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am. They don’t know what I’m capable of…

My Thoughts: When I tell you this book has been HYPED… It’s not that I’ve intentionally put this book off even though it’s been extremely popularized as of late. It’s just that I’m not a big thriller girly, so I wasn’t dying to pick it up even though I’ve only heard great things. Surprisingly, I scored this book from a Little Free Library right before my trip and decided to dive in. For the most part, I was into it during Part 1. It was a little slower and built the scene for this psychological thriller. We get to know the main character and the complexities of her background that have created some circumstances that make it almost impossible to turn down this maid job with a family who seems a little dysfunctional. Then it hit a point where, without giving spoilers, something very predictable happened and it was mildly eye-rolly. At which point I put the book down for a few days and didn’t pick it back up until I was on the plane ride back. However, as soon as I turned the page and started Part 2 of the book, I was pleasantly surprised by where this plot went. It was much quicker paced than Part 1 and involved some characters I didn’t think would play such a prominent part in this plot’s outcome. By the end, I was like “ohh okay. I get why this book is popular.” That said though, I think it was a little bit of a victim to its own hype. I haven’t decided whether I’ll continue onto the next book, but I do think this is a pretty strong psychological thriller. 

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

THE HAPPY EVER AFTER PLAYLIST by Abby Jimenez (The Friend Zone #2)

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can't seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back. Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

My Thoughts: Abby Jimenez has become an auto-read author for me over the last year or so, and although I’ve read most of her latest books, I had been procrastinating on dabbling in her back log of novels. Mainly because I did read The Friend Zone (the first book in this series) a few years ago and found it extremely mid. Like I just did not love it at all. So obviously I wasn’t itching to dive into this one. However, I saw it on Kindle Unlimited and was looking for something a little lighter to read on my plane ride out to California, so I decided to give it a go. Let me just say, I never have been and never will be a fan of the “instant love” trope in a romance novel. However, this book somehow made it work in a way that didn’t take me out of the story. I loved that Sloan and Jason connected via Jason’s loose dog, Tucker. It also helped that Sloan was much more reserved in their initial conversations which kind of off-balanced the love-bombing vibe I was getting from Jason. But alas, as a romance novel does, Sloan ends up diving head first into this relationship as things start to heat up. There was a decent amount of drama mixed into this storyline from outside forces that test their connection (lol Love Island), and although some of it felt a little ~much~ for me, I still wanted to see this book through. By the time I ended it, I was satisfied with my experience, but this series still doesn’t hold a candle to Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World series. 

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Summary: In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

My Thoughts: Okay, I gotta say, I was a big dummy and didn’t fully realize that this book is based on a real person. So I was skeptical for basically the first half of the book as to whether I was going to like it. The pace was a little slow for me to start and then Belle ends up having a couple of romantic stints with two men who are 20 and 40 years older than her. Of course my therapy-attending ass was like “Oh she’s trying to fill a void her father left when he dipped out on their family when she was younger.” Which, I mean, might mildly be true lol, but after I Googled Belle da Costa Greene, I realized these romances weren’t just to make the story more interesting, they actually (allegedly) happened. From there, I was much more invested in this incredible woman’s story about living her life as white-passing during the Jim Crow era and becoming one of the most prominent figures in the art collection world. Her life was balancing on a knife’s edge at any given moment because if her secret got out that she has Black heritage, the successful career and life she’s worked so hard to build would’ve come crumbling down. I’m honestly so glad I encountered this story and was introduced to Belle - even if through a semi-fictional lens - because more people need to know about women like her. 

Okie that’s it for September!

I cannot express how excited I am for some cooler temps to come with the fall, so that I don’t feel guilty cozying up on the weekend with a book instead of being outside in some beautiful weather. Either way, I’ll be hitting that 100-book goal next month. :)

2024 Book Count: 95

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! How close are you to reaching your 2024 reading goal?

August 2024 Reads

Y’all. August came and went in a BLINK, and I did not get much reading done lol. 

I was traveling much more than usual, and although I brought a book on every trip, the success rate of me actually reading mentioned books was LOW. 

However, I’m happy to share that after having lived in the Mitten State for 30 years, I finally made it up to the other peninsula! :) Yes, yes. I know. How have I lived in Michigan my entire life and yet have never been to the UP? 

Well, for multiple reasons, but I made the most of this maiden voyage. Activities included but were not limited to: exploring Tahquamenon Falls, hiking Sugarloaf Mountain, stopping by Presque Isle, jumping from the Black Rocks, visiting Michigan’s only romance bookshop in Marquette, kayaking Pictured Rocks, seeing the natural wonders of Kitch-iti-kipi, and of course, eating a pasty while drinking a Faygo pop. (IYKYK.)

I truly went “Michigandering,” eh? See what I did there? Anyhoo, pics or it didn’t happen, amiright? 

From top to bottom and left to right: me and my friends posted up at the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, me standing at the upper Tahquamenon Falls, the POV from the seat behind me as we kayaked Pictured Rocks, and of course, the most Michigan lunch you’ve ever seen: a fresh pasty with a Faygo to wash it down lol.

Moving onto what I read this month. Unfortunately, I had a weak start in terms of picking bangers. The starting line-up was a bit meh in the first half. Luckily, the second string managed to put the team on their backs and finish out the month stronger than it started.

You can obviously read my thoughts on everything I read below, so let’s get into it!

**All summaries are paraphrased or taken from Goodreads.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided. Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

My Thoughts: Woof. I love Kristin Hannah as a writer and thoroughly enjoyed The Four Winds, The Great Alone, and The Nightingale. This book, unfortunately, was a victim of its hype and the high expectations I had for it. I’ll start with all of the positives. This book really opened my eyes to what veterans of Vietnam went through during that brutal war. I also wouldn’t have even thought about the women who went over there as nurses and aids, so I’m grateful to have learned so much about their experiences, even through a fiction-based lens. I’ve read plenty of WW2-focused historical fiction books but never a Vietnam War one, and it made me realize how little this war is talked about in general. No wonder so many soldiers came back with severe PTSD. Not to mention, how terribly most of them were received and treated once they returned to U.S. soil after experiencing some devastating and traumatic shit whilst fighting for their country. Now for my main critiques. For starters, I guess I assumed from the title and my experience with other KH books that this story was going to be told from multiple POVs. Specifically, multiple women. That was not the case. Second, there was a lot of grief dumping going on in order to emotionally provoke the reader and it just felt a little manipulative. Like yes, what the main character is experiencing and going through is terrible, but the number of extremely sad things that happened one after another felt a little excessive. Additionally, all of the romance storylines throughout Frankie’s experience felt like afterthoughts and not well-planned out. I also called one of the very last plot twists of the book right from the beginning and was like okay I bet X is going to happen though. Sure as shit it did. Which felt a little too on-the-nose and predictable for me. Was this book impactful? Sure. Was it everything people praised it to be? Not in my opinion. I had high hopes, but I’m sad to conclude that this is my least favorite KH book thus far. 

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

THE PAIRING by Casey McQuiston

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other's lives once and for all. Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It's in the past. All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately. It's not until they board the tour bus that they discover they've both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they're trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It's fine. There's nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition? But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.

My Thoughts: Okay this is a very flat 2.5-star rating. Which pains me to say because I really do love Casey McQuiston’s writing. I’ve read a couple other books by them like One Last Stop and then the popular, Red White and Royal Blue. However, this book just kind of missed its mark for me. Theo and Kit broke up four years ago right before taking this European food and wine tour. They haven’t spoken since, but both received a voucher for the trip and with the expiration date looming, both decide to finally cash in as individual travelers. Cue being stuck on a weeks’ long trip with your ex trying to pretend like everything is fine and nothing bothers you. After calling truce, they decide to enter a friendly wager to see who can sleep with the most people while on this tour. Y’all. CM did not hold back on the detailed salacious scenes in this book and there are at least one or two in each city they stopped at. You know I love all levels of smut, but this was getting a little out of hand IMO. It was like everyone they encountered in these cities were insanely hot and thought Theo and Kit were also insanely hot, and they could flirt their way into any situation. It started taking the term “food porn” to an entirely new level lol. It was cool to hear all the sommelier and culinary references throughout the book for each specific region. However, so much of what was happening kind of diluted the overall experience for the story for me. So although this audiobook was enjoyable enough to finish, I doubt I’ll ever recommend it to someone. 

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Edwin St. Andrew is eighteen years old when he crosses the Atlantic by steamship, exiled from polite society following an ill-conceived diatribe at a dinner party. He enters the forest, spellbound by the beauty of the Canadian wilderness, and suddenly hears the notes of a violin echoing in an airship terminal--an experience that shocks him to his core. Two centuries later a famous writer named Olive Llewellyn is on a book tour. She's traveling all over Earth, but her home is the second moon colony, a place of white stone, spired towers, and artificial beauty. Within the text of Olive's best-selling pandemic novel lies a strange passage: a man plays his violin for change in the echoing corridor of an airship terminal as the trees of a forest rise around him. When Gaspery-Jacques Roberts, a detective in the black-skied Night City, is hired to investigate an anomaly in the North American wilderness, he uncovers a series of lives upended: The exiled son of an earl driven to madness, a writer trapped far from home as a pandemic ravages Earth, and a childhood friend from the Night City who, like Gaspery himself, has glimpsed the chance to do something extraordinary that will disrupt the timeline of the universe.

My Thoughts: Okay this book felt like a remix/mash-up of How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu, Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, and Recursion by Blake Crouch. The plot included themes of time travel, deadly pandemics, and touches of post-apocalyptic space colonization. All of which tangled into each other through the POVs of multiple characters like a man in the 1800’s relocating from Europe to Canada, a famous writer 200 years later whose best-selling pandemic novel has her traveling all over Earth on a book tour when all she really wants to do is return home to the moon colony, and Gaspery-Jacques Roberts who is a detective working for a time traveling agency from even farther in the future. Although I was a little confused as to what was happening in the very beginning, as soon as it switched to Olive Llewellyn’s (pandemic author) perspective, things started to click into place. I appreciated how much was packed into this sci-fi story in such a short amount of time (the audiobook was literally only 6 hours long) and how easily the author connected all of the dots at the end. Any lingering questions I had about where things fit into the plot were completely answered by the time everything wrapped up. Just like her other book, Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel effortlessly sucked me into her writing and it was a breeze getting through this book. The only reason I’m docking it in rating is because the content didn’t feel like anything groundbreakingly new. If you read any of the books I mentioned above though and are looking for something quick, this book definitely fits the bill!

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins. A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life. Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home. But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat. Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

My Thoughts: Lisa Jewell is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors. I just read another one of her bangers last month, Then She Was Gone, and also loved that twisty novel. So I was excited when this audiobook hold finally came through for me on Libby after months of waiting. If you’re going to read this book, I cannot recommend listening to it enough. There’s a podcast element to the plotline and conversations from various episodes and later new interviews are sprinkled throughout the story. So it was incredibly engaging and fun to hear the format change up every few chapters. As for the actual story, this shit was creepy, twisty, and gave me the body shivers on multiple occasions. Literally, this is why I don’t mind that my social awkwardness can come off as rude to some strangers because NOPE. One minute, Alix Summers is just trying to be polite to a woman named Josie who she “randomly” bumps into at a restaurant, and the next moment, she’s in over her head with this unhinged person. Unreliable narrator doesn’t even BEGIN to describe the winding journey this book takes you on. Even after everything is wrapped up at the end, I’m STILL questioning who I can truly believe and who is telling lies. Needless to say, this is definitely a mystery/thriller I will be recommending to everyone for the foreseeable future and, if you’re going to read it, do it via audiobook. 

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE by Tia Williams

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Summary: Leap years are a strange, enchanted time. And for some, even a single February can be life-changing. Ricki Wilde has many talents, but being a Wilde isn’t one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she’s the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. Where they’re long-stemmed roses, she’s a dandelion: an adorable bloom that’s actually a weed, born to float wherever the wind blows. In her bones, Ricki knows that somewhere, a different, more exciting life awaits her. When regal nonagenarian, Ms. Della, invites her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance for a fresh beginning. She leaves behind her family, wealth, and chaotic romantic decisions to realize her dream of opening a flower shop. And just beneath the surface of her new neighborhood, the music, stories and dazzling drama of the Harlem Renaissance still simmers. One evening in February as the heady, curiously off-season scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air, Ricki encounters a handsome, deeply mysterious stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.

My Thoughts: Y’all. I don’t know how to feel about this book. It took me FOREVER (like almost the entire month) to read it and although I definitely thoroughly enjoyed it, I can’t say it’s a solid four-stars for me. It’s definitely better than a 3.5 though. SO I’m meeting those two in the middle and giving it a 3.75. The premise of this book was so unique outside of the regular romance story tropes lol. Ricki Wilde is the black sheep of her family and wants to prove to them that she can be successful whilst following her dreams to open a flower shop. She flees to NYC where she meets a sweet old woman, Della, who owns a large brownstone with an empty space at street level. While she’s unwinding from the stress of a new business one evening, she runs into the most handsome man she’s ever seen, Ezra. From that day forward, they keep randomly running into each other and can’t get the other person off their minds. However, Ezra’s life is a little complicated. Not to spoil anything, but he’s been 28-years-old since 1928 and every Leap Year returns to NYC to find his one true love. Although I’m not super sold on the instant love trope, the connection between these two characters was undeniable. Both felt so naturally safe with the other and let their vulnerabilities show without a second thought. The plot kept me hooked and although I figured out how it would end, I still enjoyed reading it nonetheless. The author also incorporates a lot of cool information about Black influence in our culture, specifically music, throughout the ages. Overall, I really liked this book. I just wish I liked it more?

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

THE NIGHT WATCHMAN by Louise Erdrich

Rating: 4/5 stars (with a grain of salt)

Summary: Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a “termination” that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”? Since graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau has insisted that everyone call her Patrice. Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, has no desire to wear herself down with a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, a job that barely pays her enough to support her mother and brother. Patrice’s shameful alcoholic father returns home sporadically to terrorize his wife and children and bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to follow her beloved older sister, Vera, who moved to the big city of Minneapolis. Vera may have disappeared; she hasn’t been in touch in months, and is rumored to have had a baby. Determined to find Vera and her child, Patrice makes a fateful trip to Minnesota that introduces her to unexpected forms of exploitation and violence, and endangers her life. Thomas and Patrice live in this impoverished reservation community along with young Chippewa boxer Wood Mountain and his mother Juggie Blue, her niece and Patrice’s best friend Valentine, and Stack Barnes, the white high school math teacher and boxing coach who is hopelessly in love with Patrice.

My Thoughts: Okay I’ve been seeing this book everywhere over the last few months and finally decided to dive into it. I have to start with a disclaimer that this audiobook was four stars with a grain of salt. It was objectively good writing. The stories this author managed to tell were thought provoking and deep, it just took a minute to understand her writing style. The beginning portion of this book was a slow burn for me. There are multiple character POVs and you have to really grasp onto the current storyline to understand what’s going on. I did feel lost for a little bit in the middle, but as the main two plots started to intertwine a bit more in the second half, it was easier to stick with it. It kind of reminds me of how Fredrik Backman incorporates many characters’ perspectives within one book. However, I feel like it’s usually very clear as to how those storylines connect. Erdich’s writing took a bit longer to click with. Nonetheless, the stories told in this book were beautiful and I love that it’s based on a true story from Erdich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and led the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Congress in Washington D.C. You probably have to have a genuine interest in these characters and the narratives behind them to stick with this novel, but I think it’s so important to hear stories from Native American perspectives and understand how poorly they’ve been treated by our government since our ancestors literally stepped foot onto their land. With that being said, I know this won’t be for everyone, but if you’re even mildly interested in this book, I definitely recommend giving it a try. 

That’s it for August!

I’m joining my friend for nine days in California on her 7-week road trip in September and she has already expressed interest in listening to some audiobooks in the car while we make our way across the golden state. So between that, three long flights and one layover in Atlanta coming home, I’ll knock out a few books during Virgo szn lol. 

2024 Book Count: 85

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What was the last audiobook you listened to?

July 2024 Reads

July both flew by and felt like it lasted 5ever. 

It was just a jam-packed month. Not that I’m not complaining since we’re in the final stretch of summer now. :’( 

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m quite the mood reader and, going into July, I felt like I just needed some easy, low-stakes reads. Throughout the first half of the year, I read a few heavier books and although I loved and learned a lot from them, I just wanted a little mental breather. So, I switched gears back to my guilty pleasure genre and read a lot of smutty romance with some fantasy, a thriller, and a contemporary fiction mixed in.

One good thing to come out of this transition is that I was able to get back into eyeball reading some physical books. Don’t get me wrong, audiobooks were/are still my main and preferred format, but bringing a book with me to the beach was definitely a game changer. Peep me reading in the middle of a birthday beach party lol:

Reading on the beach lol.

Outside of reading, I’ve been binge watching the latest season of Love Island, the Olympics have been a regular fixture on my TV as of late, and... BIG BROTHER IS BACK. :D IYKYK that I’m a huge fan of Big Brother. To those who think it’s a dating show, it’s not. It’s like Survivor but in a house instead of on a deserted island somewhere. There’s a lot of social game and physical game involved and you have to balance both. It’s amazing and I highly recommend.

Okie I think that’s it for my intro. Let’s get into everything I read in July.

**All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher

LOVE REDESIGNED by Lauren Asher (Lakefront Billionaires #1)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Julian - If I ever caught on fire, Dahlia Muñoz would fan the flames with a smile. So, when she returns to Lake Wisteria, I fully intend to avoid the interior designer. At least until my meddling mother exploits my savior complex. The faster I help Dahlia find her creative spark, the sooner she will leave town. But while I was busy getting rid of Dahlia, I overlooked one potential issue. What happens if I want her to stay? | Dahlia - People say the devil has many faces, but I know only one. Julian Lopez—my childhood rival and family frenemy. I vow to steer clear of him while recovering from my broken engagement, but then the billionaire makes an irresistible offer. Renovate a historic house together and triple our profits. Our temporary truce becomes compromised as we face years’ worth of denied attraction and mixed emotions. Giving into our desire is inevitable…but falling in love? That isn’t part of the plan.

My Thoughts: It’s been a while since I’ve read a Lauren Asher romance, but I was excited to learn she has a newer series out. This book takes place in a fictional lakeside town in Michigan where Julian Lopez has become a billionaire real estate construction mogul. He built his business from the ground up which means his love life hasn’t been a priority for a long time. His last romantic tangle was when he kissed his childhood rival, Dahlia, during their freshman year in college. Fast forward a decade and Dahlia hasn’t heard from Julian since he unexpectedly dropped out after his dad’s death to take over the family business. After graduating, Dahlia ended up staying out west with her wealthy college boyfriend (Julian’s old college roommate) to pursue interior design. However, after ending her flashy romance and losing her home design tv show, the only place she wants to be is home and out of the media spotlight. Although these two still have an enemies-to-lovers vibe to their relationship, they decide to partner up on a renovation project for one of the town’s historic homes. One thing leads to another and a deal is struck to be friends-with-benefits. As we can all guess, these characters start to develop some very real feelings for one another, but they also have to face all of the insecurities they haven’t dealt with before moving forward. This book was super cute. I thought the characters were really well developed and extremely relatable, even if their lifestyles are not lol. This story also examines grief and anxiety in a way that shows it’s possible to move forward when you’re supported by those who you love and trust. There’s plenty of comedic relief throughout as well, so it’s not all serious. I definitely think this book is worth the read if you’re a Lauren Asher fan. If you haven’t read her yet, I recommend starting with either her F1 series OR her Dreamland Billionaire series. There are characters from both of those that make an appearance in this book. 

Happy Place by Emily Henry

HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t. They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends. Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives, have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood, and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most. Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best?

My Thoughts: This book has been on my radar since it came out last year, but as I’ve mentioned over the last few months, it’s been difficult for me to read physical books lately. However, thanks to a couple of beach days planned at the beginning of July, I was forced to put down my kindle and pick up this beauty. Per usual with Emily Henry’s writing, these characters instantly had a chokehold on my feelings lol. Harriet and Wyn broke up six months ago, and for various reasons, haven’t told their friends yet. However, that secret gets harder to keep when they’re invited to one final hoo-rah at a cottage in Maine that has served as this friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Cue the tropes of forced proximity and fake dating with an overall theme of second chance romance. I was obsessed with the dynamics between Harriet and Wyn, and the TENSION? Thicc, my friends. It was impossible not to root for this couple, especially as the book dove deeper into their origin story and how they came to be. The various personalities of the other two couples in the friend group added so much depth to the experience and I loved how everything played out. Honestly? This was the perfect summer read and exactly what I needed to break my physical book dry spell lol.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

ONE TRUE LOVES by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever. Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness. That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves. Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

My Thoughts: Listen, the first line of this book was a ZINGER. “I’m finishing up dinner with my family and my fiancé when my husband calls.” Like WHAT? Our MFC, Emma, marries her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Jesse. However, when he disappears in a helicopter accident on their first wedding anniversary, she’s left reeling with the grief of losing her person. True to TJR’s poetic writing style, this portion of the book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD. I don’t cry much in general (we’re working on that in therapy lol), but even I couldn’t fight the giant lump in my throat while watching Emma pick up the pieces of her sanity after losing Jesse. Although the healing process takes time, Emma does find love again in a guy from her past named Sam whom she never really gave a chance to when they were younger. Fast forward when they are now engaged and the miracle phone call comes through announcing that Jesse is alive. Emma is left to decide if she wants to continue in this new life she’s built with Sam or if she wants to pick up where she and Jesse left off four years ago before the crash. Although the writing in this book is fantastic, I wasn’t AS SOLD on the second half of it which is where I docked 1.5 stars. I can’t imagine being put through a situation like this, but it felt safely fictional and that kind of took me out of the story a little bit. That said though, I definitely recommend picking up this book if you’re looking for the sensation of pushing on an emotional bruise for a bit. 

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: THEN She was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone. NOW It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter. And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet. Before too long she’s staying the night at this house and being introduced to his nine year old daughter. Poppy is precocious and pretty - and meeting her completely takes Laurel's breath away. Because Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age. And now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back. What happened to Ellie? Where did she go? Who still has secrets to hide?

My Thoughts: Okay this book was TWISTED. It started a little slow, but as soon as it started gaining momentum, we were full steam ahead. Although the main story is told from the POV of Laurel whose daughter Ellie went missing ten years ago, you eventually get the POVs from other characters involved in the bigger mystery of Ellie’s disappearance. I never knew who to trust and did not see the various connections between characters coming. I was even highly sus of the young girl Poppy, whose character was supposedly sweet and innocent. There are so many facets to this psychological thriller and I was INVESTED in every moment of it. Especially as Laurel starts doing her own digging into the past of her new boyfriend Floyd and some WILD realizations start to surface. I did appreciate how the story ended because it took a character who had been villainized the entire book and shed a not-so terrible light on them. If you’re looking for a quick, creepy read, I highly recommend trying this audiobook!

Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher

LOVE UNWRITTEN by Lauren Asher (Lakefront Billionaires #2)

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Rafael - Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs. I’m a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums. On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son. For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip. Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn’t be attracted to. Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company? That isn’t part of our travel plans. After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs. Even if it means breaking hers in the process. | Ellie - What’s worse than working for a grumpy single dad? Admitting that I once had a secret crush on him in high school. Thankfully, Rafael Lopez and I have changed since we graduated from Wisteria High. He is a billionaire with a company to run and a child to take care of. I’m an unemployed songwriter he hired to watch his son and teach music. We coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything. Lines blur and old feelings for Rafael return with vengeance as I face a new dilemma. Being his son’s nanny is one thing, but wishing for more? Sounds like a heartbreak song waiting to be written.

My Thoughts: Ugh okay. So I very recently have gotten on board with the single father/nanny trope in romances, but they have to be done SO RIGHT for me to fully buy in. Unfortunately, I think this one missed the mark a little bit. However, I really appreciated the amount of care that the author showed these characters’ previous traumas. This book was mildly disappointing for a couple of reasons. For starters, this book was fucking LONG. It had no business being longer than 400 pages and I think it was almost 600 pages. So the end of it started to DRAG. Another factor is that I have loved Lauren Asher’s other books and this one felt like she was rushing while trying to write a slow burn - which was just a contradictory experience in itself. Ellie was a solid MFC for this story and I really enjoyed the depth of her character arc. In contrast, Rafael was a little bit harder to like. It seemed like he tended to react rather than respond to any perceived adversities, and it didn’t make me swoon for him - especially with my red flag radar beeping in the background. The timeline of this story also felt a little bit unrealistic. They supposedly fell in love over a two-week vacation that had literally like three cute moments and the rest of the time they were fighting. So like? ALSO, you know I am a SIMP for some well-written salacious scenes and this book was just not it. As I said, it felt like a slow burn because they didn’t do anything until more than halfway through the book, and even then, they just jumped right into it. There was no heady lead-up to get the blood flowing. It was just like BOOM. DONE. And, if that doesn’t feel unrealistic, idk what does. Anywho, although this book was not my cup of tea, I’m sure anyone who loves a single dad/nanny trope would appreciate it. I still love Lauren Asher and will probably continue with this series after she publishes the next book. 

The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa De La Cruz

THE QUEEN’S ASSASSIN by Melissa de la Cruz

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Caledon Holt is the Kingdom of Renovia's deadliest weapon. No one alive can best him in brawn or brains, which is why he's the Guild's most dangerous member and the Queen's one and only assassin. He's also bound to the Queen by an impossible vow--to find the missing Deian Scrolls, the fount of all magical history and knowledge, stolen years ago by a nefarious sect called the Aphrasians. Shadow has been training all her life to follow in the footsteps of her mother and aunts--to become skilled enough to join the ranks of the Guild. Though magic has been forbidden since the Aphrasian uprising, Shadow has been learning to control her powers in secret, hoping that one day she'll become an assassin as feared and revered as Caledon Holt. When a surprise attack brings Shadow and Cal together, they're forced to team up as assassin and apprentice to hunt down a new sinister threat to Renovia. But as Cal and Shadow grow closer, they'll uncover a shocking web of lies and secrets that may destroy everything they hold dear. With war on the horizon and true love at risk, they'll stop at nothing to protect each other and their kingdom in this stunning first novel in the Queen's Secret series.

My Thoughts: I actually won this book in a giveaway the publisher was doing on Instagram a few years ago, but I still opted for the audiobook when it came down to it. Although I was pretty lukewarm overall about this book, it was still a decent YA fantasy! I can’t say I understand why it’s titled “The Queen’s Assassin.” One of the main characters, Caledon, is the head assassin for the queen, yes. However, he didn’t do much assassinating in the actual story. I was hoping to see a little more action or, at the very least, get more insight into Caledon’s life as the assassin. However, it was basically just his occupational title and that’s really the only impact it had on this experience lol. Shadow’s character was a bit more complex. She’s the Queen’s daughter who hasn’t been seen by the public in years as she’s raised by her aunts in the countryside. Magic has been outlawed in their world since the last war, but Shadow has been working on powers in private. There is a romance aspect to this story that I didn’t TOTALLY buy into, but it does add an entertaining element nonetheless. The plot was decent and well thought out, but it wasn’t anything groundbreaking tbh. I own the second book in this duology and will probably continue onto it at some point this year, but it definitely won't be right away.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP by Ashley Poston

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it. So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it. And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again. Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future. Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed. After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.

My Thoughts: Okay, this book? FREAKING CUTE. I can’t believe it took me this long to pick up an Ashley Poston book, but I’m so glad this was my first taste of her writing. I was INVESTED. Starting with how unique the premise is. Basically, Clementine had kind of an eccentric aunt growing up who said her apartment was magic, and would sometimes take you back in time. Because she absolutely adored her aunt and loved her stories, Clementine assumed she was just exaggerating or being facetious. However, after Clementine moves into her late aunt’s apartment and finds a strange man there, she starts to consider that maybe her aunt wasn’t just telling stories. Inside her apartment, Clementine is seven years in the past getting to know this aspiring chef and the sweetest man ever, Iwan. He’s currently subleasing the apartment for the summer while Clementine’s aunt is on a trip to Europe. When Clementine walks out of her front door though, she’s back in the present. She has no idea where the current-day Iwan is or if he would even remember her, but as she starts falling for the Iwan of seven years ago, she realizes she wants to know where he is now. This book had me giggling, blushing, and kicking my feet like a giddy idiot. The plot had so many complex layers to it and the characters each had so much depth, it was impossible not to buy into their connection. It was so freaking heartwarming. Grief is a large topic in this book, but it was handled with the utmost care. I honestly couldn’t put this book down and highly recommend it!

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

THE CITY OF BRASS by S.A. Chakraborty

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles. But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound. In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences. After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for...

My Thoughts: Okay this book has been on my radar for a MINUTE and I’m so lucky Hoopla had the audiobook because I don’t think the experience would’ve been as immersive had I eyeball read it. Let me start by saying, this book is your quintessential “world building, scene setting, background providing” first book in a trilogy. The author really makes a point to walk you through the different types of magic beings, the politics of their world, and more. Although this book is a large information dump, it was still easy to follow and enjoy the story. It starts by mainly following Nahri who is a young con woman in Cairo. She uses tactics she’s learned throughout the years surviving alone in the streets of the city to trick tourists out of money, pick pocket unsuspecting bystanders, and more. Until one of her cons takes a turn when she accidentally summons a dark and powerful djinn. She’s forced to face the fact that maybe the magical world people talk about in kids’ stories might actually exist, and it just so happens she’s the descendant of a powerful healing family that was believed to be extinct. Cue a long journey to the capital of this magical world (The City of Brass) with her djinn travel partner. The politics they walk into are much trickier to navigate than she could’ve ever expected. The story is eventually told in a dual POV format that switches between Nahri and Ali, the second prince in line to the throne. Although I didn’t fully buy into the romance storyline in this book, I was invested in the complexities surrounding the politics and how those influence so many characters’ actions. I’ve never read a book where the main characters are djinn, efrit, etc., only books where they interact with those creatures. So that alone was a refreshing take on this type of folklore. I don’t plan to start the second book right away, but I do plan to continue on with this trilogy overall.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: This is a world divided by blood—red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance—Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

My Thoughts: Okay, for starters, I want to say I didn’t LOVE the narrator of this audiobook, but that factor didn’t bother me the entire book. So, I wouldn’t say the audiobook isn’t the way to go, but if you’re picky about narrators, that might impact your opinion if you decide to listen to it. I would say this book is as if Shatter Me and The Selection had a love child and then that kid hung out around the kids of Hunger Games, Red Rising, etc. pretty regularly lol. There’s a dystopian element to it and people’s hierarchy is dependent on the color of their blood - silver or red. Most people who have silver blood also have a hidden magical ability. Whether that’s wielding fire, manipulating metal, reading/controlling minds, etc. Reds are normal humans and because they have no special abilities, they’re at the bottom of the totem pole - often in occupations that involve serving the Silvers. However, once our main red blooded character, Mare, unexpectedly shows the ability to control electricity, all hell breaks loose. The royals quickly sweep her powers under the rug by creating a fake background story for her, and she is absorbed into their world. Cue Mare scheming with a rebel Red group by giving inside information to take down the silvers and get justice for her dead brother. All the while, she is dealing with a love triangle between her betrothed, the young prince Maven, and his older brother/future king, Prince Cal. I think this book had great legs to it and it ended on a cliffhanger that was interesting enough for me to keep going in the series. I might not jump into it right away, but I think I’ll be continuing on regardless. I just need to decide if that will be via audiobook still since I don’t love the narrator, or if I will be eyeball reading it. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy with a little bit of everything, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez (Part of Your World #3)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soulmate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka. It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

My Thoughts: To roughly quote Maddy (the FMC’s best friend), Justin is the epitome of “if he wanted to, he would.” Like holy hell this man… we must protect sweet Justin at all costs. After posting to Reddit about his “Good Luck Chuck” type of curse, a woman named Emma slides into his DMs saying she has the same problem. Clearly, the only way to break this curse is for them to cancel it out by dating each other and breaking up afterwards. As a travel nurse, Emma is able to move to Minnesota where Justin lives so they can see this thing through. Once they start getting to know each other though, it’s clear this fake dating thing feels very real and definitely shouldn’t end. I was obsessed with how easy and natural their relationship felt. They were so silly with each other while still being able to develop a deeper connection. Both are dealing with some family issues and I appreciated how those played into where this story went. It isn’t your typical path for a romance novel, but I absolutely loved it. This is a bold claim, but I’m pretty sure this was my favorite book of the Part of Your World series. 

Play Along by Liz Tomforde

PLAY ALONG by Liz Tomforde (WINDY CITY, #4)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Kennedy- I’m the only woman on staff for the Windy City Warriors, and after years of putting up with a sexist lead doctor, I’m desperate to land my dream job with a new team next year. All I have to do is maintain my professional reputation for my final season in Chicago. But a Las Vegas run-in with the team’s shortstop threatens it all, leaving me with a fuzzy memory and a ring on my left hand. Now, not only am I legally bound to the most persistent man I’ve ever met, but thanks to Isaiah’s scheme to save my job, I have to pretend the whole thing was a planned elopement and not a drunken mistake. Isaiah Rhodes is reckless, impulsive, and frustratingly charming. He’s also my brand-new husband. They got the saying wrong. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas… sometimes it follows you right back home. Isaiah - As the shortstop for Chicago’s professional baseball team, I’ve had my fair share of fun. But that all ended the day Kennedy Kay became a single woman. I’ve crushed on the team’s athletic trainer for years. I’ve flirted to no avail, so imagine my surprise when I woke up in Sin City with a ring on my finger and my favorite redhead in my bed. We agree to stay married for one baseball season, just long enough to keep her job safe, but in my mind, I’m using our time together to prove to her I’m husband material. Kennedy might be reluctant to join in on our game, but it’s one I refuse to lose. So come on, wife… play along.

My Thoughts: I’ve been WAITING for Isaiah’s story in this series and was so excited when this book finally made it to my Kindle. I think this may be my favorite book of the Windy City series tbh. Isaiah and Kennedy were such different people, and although on paper they’d never work, they took the time to peel back each other’s layers and get to know their depths. It was so heartwarming to watch them be truly vulnerable and love one another so uniquely. There are plenty of comedic moments to balance the serious ones and, not to mention, high quality steamy salacious scenes lol. I can’t say I recommend reading this as a standalone because you really do feel a kinship with the other characters in this series that continue to make an appearance throughout this book. Plus you also get more background on Isaiah and Kennedy’s characters. So in conclusion lol, I definitely recommend this book, but also advise reading the rest of the series first. 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities. Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens' anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can't imagine leaving behind.

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. I had only heard good things about this book before going into it and let me say, every single bit of praise this story receives is ridiculously well-earned. I was ENTHRALLED in this audiobook. Hats off to the narrator because his voice put me into a trance every time I popped my AirPods in to keep listening. Demon is one of the most dynamic characters I’ve come across in a very long time. Life has dealt him a rough hand and after he ends up in the foster care system, the curveballs just keep coming. Despite all of the adversity Demon faces throughout this story, there is still just enough hope and optimism that keeps you cheering for him to make it out of the circumstances he was born into. Although they weren’t all your traditional forms of support, the people who Demon had on his side making sure he could have a better life was so incredibly heartwarming. There are also HELLA comedic relief moments throughout this book that make swallowing the hard parts a little easier to wash down. I am THOROUGHLY impressed by the way Barbara Kingsolver’s mind works because the number of layers to this complex story was incredible and the execution of her writing is honestly inspiring. If you haven’t read Demon Copperhead yet, I highly recommend it, but definitely go for the audiobook if that’s a format you jive with.

Okieee. That’s it for July!

I have two trips coming up in August - one to Bellaire and one to the UP - so although I’m going to bring a book, I’m sure those might slow down my reading a touch this month. 

I promise to switch up my genres a little bit next month as well lol. 

2024 Book Count: 79

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What was the last book you took on a long trip or vacation with you?

June 2024 Reads

Well June came in HOT, amiright??

Don’t get me wrong, I adore Michigan summers and wouldn’t trade them for anything. But, SHEESH, can we TONE DOWN THE HUMIDITY PLZ?

Also that week of 90+ degree days was just rude. 

It was so hot and humid in my apartment the other day that even my bath towels were struggling to dry out from the shower I took THE NIGHT BEFORE. Wild. 

Otherwise, June was pretty cool. More figuratively than literally. 

One of my best friends got married to her person and their wedding day was absolutely beautiful and full of love for the happy couple. 

I started doing Pilates again at a new studio and it has been great. All of the memes you see on Instagram about Pilates instructors are completely accurate btw lol. “And we’re here for four… *ten seconds later* three……… *long pause” two…… *longer pause* one.” :)

I even tried unpausing my Hinge profile this month, but lol… After about one day, I paused it again because that shit was overwhelming. 

As a fresh 30-year-old, I also tweaked my neck this month. How, you ask? Well, I’m glad you’re curious. I, in fact, tweaked my neck in KICKBALL while I was running between bases. Freaking kickball. The grass was kind of wet, I had to quickly pivot and sprint back to first, and I think I just braced my body too hard to avoid slipping. Instead I basically gave myself whiplash lol. 

#ThisIs30

On a reading note, I upgraded my audiobook game with Hoopla. If you haven’t heard about it, go get it and then connect your library card to it. They have SOOOO many great audiobooks and ebooks readily available that I would have to wait MONTHS to get through Libby. Not that I’m shit talking about my girl Libby. Y’all know I love that app. But real talk, Hoopla has better options lol. 

Anywho. Let’s get into everything I read in June. Shall we?

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

THE DIAMOND EYE by Kate Quinn

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In 1937 in the snowbound city of Kyiv, wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son--but Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper--a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour. Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC--until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila's past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life. Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever.

My Thoughts: Okay this wasn’t my favorite Kate Quinn book, but I still gave it four stars, so if that doesn’t tell you how much I love her writing, idk what will. Similar to her other books, this was based on a true story and real person. It follows Mila Pavlichenko, a history nerd and university student, who becomes a deadly sniper for the Soviet Army after Germany invades Russia and Ukraine. Mila’s unmatched skills and kill count earn her a respect not many women receive - especially as gunmen. The timeline bounced between the present where Mila is on a media tour in the United States and the past where Mila is fighting in the war. I loved that although her reputation within the Soviet Army gives her almost a mythical quality, we truly get to see the woman behind the gun through the interactions with her son, her subordinates, her lovers, and even Eleanor Roosevelt. Kate Quinn has a way of writing female leads that gives you no choice but to root for them and this book is no exception. I cannot believe the strength and bravery Mila exuded throughout the endless adversity she experienced. She was such a badass and although this is historical fiction based on a real person, I highly recommend giving it a read because more people should know about women like Mila Pavlichenko.

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy

THE DIXON RULE by Elle Kennedy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Diana Dixon has a lot going on this summer. She’s rehearsing for a ballroom dance competition, juggling two jobs, and dealing with an ex-boyfriend who can’t take the hint it’s over. Yet despite all that, she still has plenty of time and energy to tell Shane Lindley to screw off. Shane just moved into her apartment building and seems dedicated to sleeping his way through her entire cheerleading squad. Sure, he’s a tall, gorgeous hockey player, but he’s messing with her turf. This calls for some ground rules: no parties in her apartment, leave her teammates alone, and—most importantly—leave her alone. What Diana doesn’t realize is that Shane’s sick of hookups and tired of being on the rebound after his long-term girlfriend called it quits. He wants a relationship. And when his ex comes back into the picture, he pretends he has one to make her jealous…and who better to play the girlfriend role than his sassy new neighbor? Despite Diana’s reluctance to break her rule, a fake relationship is the perfect solution for her own ex issues, and soon she can’t deny something is sizzling between her and Shane. Something hot and completely unexpected. And it might just be getting a little too real.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I love Elle Kennedy’s writing and have enjoyed plenty of her sports romance novels. This one, however, scored kind of low on my favorites list. I enjoyed Diana and Shane as main characters. Plus, we were dealing with an enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, forced-proximity trope mash-up and, quite frankly, those are my FAVORITE. So I could get down with the plot as well. I think my main hang ups with this book are that it was just SO LONG and that I couldn’t TOTALLY buy into their romance. I won’t lie though, I didn’t write this review until like 2 weeks after I finished this particular book lol. So although I can’t remember EXACTLY what it was about their relationship that I was a little meh about, I do know that I wasn’t endlessly traipsing through Swoon City like I usually do with Elle Kennedy’s stories. This was a hockey romance for Pete’s sake. I am a SIMP for the hockey romances, but even that couldn’t carry this one to a 4-star rating. If you’ve started this new generation series then I definitely recommend reading this book, but lower your expectations a touch and I think you’ll enjoy it more than I did.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks. So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree. But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

My Thoughts: This book was brilliant, thought-provoking, a little cynical, and a lot satirical. Told from the perspective of June Hayward, an amateur author who is driven by intense insecurities and the incessant need for power. After a freak accident that leaves her much more successful friend and author dead, June manages to steal the notes for Athena’s never-before-seen book concept and publishes it as her own. June is one of the most unlikable, morally-gray main characters I’ve encountered in I don’t know how long. The motive behind every decision she makes has so many layers to it. She’s so flawed and complex, but through stories of her own, we also learn her late friend Athena wasn’t a saint either. The story manages to touch on racism, plagiarism, the dark side of the publishing industry, dealing with internet trolls, and more. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and wracked with a light anxiety that coated every page. All of the awards to R.F. Kuang because this book was thrilling while maintaining a realistic quality to it that unapologetically pulled me in. If you haven’t read this one yet, I highly recommend picking it up because you won’t find another book like it. 

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through.

My Thoughts: This was my book club book for the month and although I have a physical copy, I decided to opt for the audiobook (to no one’s surprise). It was only 5-hours long which was great, but I didn’t LOVE the author as the narrator of this book mainly because he tended to be a little monotone. Whether that was for dramatic effect or just his natural reading voice, who’s to say? It’s not that he did a terrible job or anything. Besides, his writing was phenomenal. I think the way he portrayed the struggles and adversity people face when fleeing from their country due to war or unlivable circumstances. The desperation to find normalcy and safety in their new day-to-day was so real. I could feel it in my bones how badly I just wanted the main characters to land in a place they could call their new home. This book was super eye-opening and I highly recommend reading it if you’re trying to get a better understanding of what it’s like to flee the only home you’ve ever known.

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis

SPITTING GOLD by Carmella Lowkis

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Paris, 1866. When Baroness Sylvie Devereux receives a house call from Charlotte Mothe, the sister she disowned, she fears her shady past as a spirit medium has caught up with her. But with their father ill and Charlotte unable to pay his bills, Sylvie is persuaded into one last con. Their marks are the de Jacquinots: dysfunctional aristocrats who believe they are haunted by their great aunt, brutally murdered during the French Revolution. The scheme underway, the sisters deploy every trick to terrify the family out of their gold. But when inexplicable horrors start to happen to them too, the duo question whether they really are at the mercy of a vengeful spirit. And what other deep, dark secrets may come to light?

My Thoughts: Okay I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. It follows two sisters, Sylvie and Charlotte, who offer their services to people as spiritual mediums to help families connect with their departed loved ones. The only catch is that they’re complete frauds, and they know every trick in the book to make their ~spiritual connections~ convincing. The book is split into two halves with Sylvie’s point of view being first. She left her family’s fraudulent practice after she married a baron who helped cover up her scandalous past. However, when Charlotte shows up on Sylvie’s doorstep begging for her help to do one more job, Sylvie finds herself agreeing. As the sisters get deeper into this last family, things start getting really weird and even Sylvie is wondering if there isn’t a presence tormenting people in this family. The second half of the book is from Charlotte’s point of view and sheds new light on the plot. It was interesting to see how differently everything played out by the end because it was nothing like I expected. I can’t say I LOVED either sister because they both had their secrets and faults, but I was thoroughly invested in this storyline and thought it was a great book for it being the author’s debut. Definitely give it a try if it’s been on your radar or if you like a mystery that has some dark, gothic undertones. 

Queen of Thieves by Bezzy Marsh

QUEEN OF THIEVES by Beezy Marsh 

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary: An electrifying historical adventure about a ring of bold and resourceful women thieves in post-World War II London. Gangland was a man's world. Or so they thought. The women knew different. London, 1946 . The city struggles to rebuild itself after the devastation of the Blitz. Food is rationed, good jobs are scarce, and even the most honest families are forced to take a bit of "crooked" just to survive. Alice Diamond, the Queen of Thieves, rules over her all-female gang with a bejeweled fist. Her "hoisters" are expert shoplifters, the scourge of London's upscale boutiques and department stores. Their lucrative business stealing and fencing luxury goods always carries the threat of violence; Alice packs a razor, and has been known to use her heavy rows of diamond rings like brass knuckles. Young Nell is a teenager from the slums, hiding a secret pregnancy and facing a desperately uncertain future when Alice takes her under her wing. Before long, Nell is experiencing all the dangers -- and glamourous trappings -- that come with this underworld existence. Alice wants Nell to be a useful weapon in her ongoing war against crime boss Billy Sullivan's gang of rival thieves. But Nell has a hidden agenda of her own, and is not to be underestimated. The more she is manipulated by both Alice and Billy, the more her hunger for revenge grows. As Nell embraces the rich spoils of crime and the seedy underbelly of London, will she manage to carve out her own path to power and riches? Might she even crown herself the Queen of Thieves?

My Thoughts: I don’t know how this author wrote a whole ass book only using characters that are incredibly unlikable, but she did it lol. I will say, although I own a physical copy, I opted for the audiobook and I’m glad I did. That narrator put her WHOLE heart into this story. She made it feel like I was watching a play vs. listening to an audiobook. Like every tactic she learned in theater school as a voice actor was FULLY utilized in the various character accents, and she was the sole source of motivation to finish this book. I honestly don’t know if I would’ve finished it had I read it to myself. Mostly because, as I mentioned, all of these characters are so unlikable lol. They’re so self-absorbed. Even Nell, who I wanted to cheer for because she’s the underdog in this story, was so annoying. It was a lot of the same where Nell got used by either the 40 Thieves or by the mob boss of SoHo, and any slight rebellion was received with consequences. Also, as a trigger warning, there was quite a bit of sexual assault in this book. To the point of where I was getting really uncomfortable with how many times it was happening and then the book would just move on from it. I get that it was to emphasize the misogyny during this period of time, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. The ending and climax of the story happened very quickly and abruptly, so it felt like I almost missed it lol. So in conclusion, I do not recommend this book lol, but the narrator deserves all the awards.

Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

INFINITE COUNTRY by Patricia Engel

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: At the dawn of the new millennium, Colombia is a country devastated by half a century of violence. Elena and Mauro are teenagers when they meet, their blooming love an antidote to the mounting brutality of life in Bogotá. Once their first daughter is born, and facing grim economic prospects, they set their sights on the United States. They travel to Houston and send wages back to Elena’s mother, all the while weighing whether to risk overstaying their tourist visas or to return to Bogotá. As their family expands, and they move again and again, their decision to ignore their exit dates plunges the young family into the precariousness of undocumented status, the threat of discovery menacing a life already strained. When Mauro is deported, Elena, now tasked with caring for their three small children, makes a difficult choice that will ease her burdens but splinter the family even further.

My Thoughts: Another shorty, but a goodie. This audiobook was about 5 hours and I was truly sucked into every minute of it. The book mainly switches between the present where Talia, the youngest daughter of this Colombian family, has escaped from a girls’ correctional facility, and the past when her parents, Elena and Mauro, emigrate to the United States where they struggle to create a better life for themselves and stay under the radar to avoid deportation. Although in much smaller doses, you also get the perspective of Talia’s older siblings who are both living in the United States with their mother. The brother is a U.S. citizen while the oldest sister is undocumented and much more vigilant about staying out of the government’s eye. There was such hope and heartbreak written throughout these pages. The author had a frankness to her writing that didn’t have to be overly emotional for you to feel the pain of this family who has been torn apart while trying to build a better life for themselves. I think this book is such a powerful, empathetic example of what people go through trying to build a better life for themselves in the U.S. and I highly recommend giving it a read.

A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke

A SHORT WALK THROUGH A WIDE WORLD by Douglas Westerbeke

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her backpack that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she starts to bleed to death. When medical treatment only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realizes that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her lifelong journey on the run from her condition, which won’t allow her to stay anywhere for longer than a few days nor return to a place where she’s already been. From the scorched dunes of the Calashino Sand Sea to the snow-packed peaks of the Himalayas; from a bottomless well in a Parisian courtyard, to the shelves of an infinite underground library, we follow Aubry as she learns what it takes to survive and ultimately, to truly live. But the longer Aubry wanders and the more desperate she is to share her life with others, the clearer it becomes that the world she travels through may not be quite the same as everyone else’s...

My Thoughts: I got this audiobook through Book of the Month and was pleased to discover that Saskia Maarleveld is the narrator. I don’t know if I would’ve been as drawn into the story had I read a physical copy, but the audiobook was easy to get into. The story follows Aubry Tourvel, a French woman who hasn’t been able to stay in the same place for more than three days since she was nine-years-old. She also can never return to a place she’s already been. If she does, she becomes severely ill within seconds and runs the risk of dying a gruesome death. Although this is a lonely way of living, Aubry manages to create deeper connections with people everywhere she travels. I really enjoyed her as the main character. She had a childlike curiosity that made people gravitate towards her everywhere she went. As she travels the world, she learns something new about herself and her mysterious illness that has no cure. Never being able to stay in one place was exhausting, but I admired Aubry’s will to make the best of it until she could find a place to call home. The writing was vividly descriptive and truly brought every adventure in this book to life. I will say, the ending was really unexpected and I’m still not sure if I’m totally satisfied with it, but I also don’t know how else I would’ve preferred this story to end. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it if you’re looking for something a little different. 

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE by Emma Törzs

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: For generations, the Kalotay family has guarded a collection of ancient and rare books. Books that let a person walk through walls or manipulate the elements--books of magic that half-sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect. All magic comes with a price, though, and for years the sisters have been separated. Esther has fled to a remote base in Antarctica to escape the fate that killed her own mother, and Joanna's isolated herself in their family home in Vermont, devoting her life to the study of these cherished volumes. But after their father dies suddenly while reading a book Joanna has never seen before, the sisters must reunite to preserve their family legacy. In the process, they'll uncover a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined, and all the secrets their parents kept hidden; secrets that span centuries, continents, and even other libraries . . .

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. I freaking loved this book. I don’t know what it was, but the plot was so dynamic, the characters were so unique and likable; I just thoroughly enjoyed it. The story follows two sisters, Esther and Joanna. They grew up with a father who collected magical books that allowed people to manipulate the elements. Both sworn to protecting these books, each sister finds herself in a very different situation. Esther hasn’t been able to stay in one place for more than a year ever since she turned 18. Whereas Joanna still lives at their childhood home as the main protector of the collection after their father recently passed from an accident with a book that emanates dark magic. After Esther decides to stay where she is this time, it’s clear someone has been tracking her and will do anything to kill her although she doesn’t know why because her sister is the one who can sense the magical books. Esther has never shown any magical abilities at all. Meanwhile, there’s a third main character whose storyline starts to intertwine with the sisters and secrets that have been kept hidden for YEARS finally come to light. I was absolutely obsessed with this book and got excited every time I started listening to it again. Although I’m sad this book is a standalone, I would definitely reread it in the future. If you’re looking for something fantastical with a phenomenal storyline and incredible characters, I highly recommend picking this one up.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

My Thoughts: Y’all know I’m a big fan of celebrity memoirs and I’ve had Britney’s on my radar for a while now. Sadly, B doesn’t read the book, but she does read the introduction. That said, although I didn’t get to hear the book from her voice, it didn’t take away from the experience. Similar to what we’ve seen in other memoirs from celebrities who grew up and came into fame during the 90s and early 2000s, Britney’s experience was not easy. She was objectified and sexualized from a young age, was incessantly followed by the media during some of her most formative years as a celebrity, and had some not-so-great relationships along the way. The conservatorship part of her story is absolutely WILD. Her family was manipulative, saw that she was paying all of their bills, and needed a way to control her as their “cash cow.” They used her kids as pawns to keep her under their thumb and for YEARS she didn’t know she could find her own lawyer to represent her through all of this. This memoir was super eye opening to see Britney’s side of all the media stories we’ve seen over the years trashing her reputation. I highly recommend giving it a read if you’ve had interest in it. 

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

AKATA WITCH by Nnedi Okorafor

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Born in New York, but living in Aba, Nigeria, twelve-year old Sunny is understandably a little lost. She is albino and thus, incredibly sensitive to the sun. All Sunny wants to do is be able to play football and get through another day of school without being bullied. But once she befriends Orlu and Chichi, Sunny is plunged into the world of the Leopard People, where your worst defect becomes your greatest asset. Together, Sunny, Orlu, Chichi and Sasha form the youngest ever Oha Coven. Their mission is to track down Black Hat Otokoto, the man responsible for kidnapping and maiming children. Will Sunny be able to overcome the killer with powers stronger than her own, or will the future she saw in the flames become reality?

My Thoughts: Per usual, although I own a physical copy of this book, I decided to listen to the audiobook and am really glad I did. There are a few languages included in this book that are spoken in Nigeria and I think having the narrator accurately pronouncing things made the story so much more immersive. The book follows Sunny, a twelve-year-old girl who moved from New York to Nigeria with her family when she was nine. She doesn’t have many friends at school and kids don’t make it easy for her to fit in because she’s albino. As soon as she befriends some neighborhood kids, Orlu and Chichi, Sunny is introduced to the world of Leopard People. Their friend group is put to the test with their juju skills and is eventually recruited to help track down a man they call Black Hat. He’s been kidnapping and killing children to access their powers. I really enjoyed this story overall. Some parts of it definitely could’ve been shorter and I kept getting confused as to what audience this book was trying to relate to. For example, there is an innocent, cheesy quality to it as Sunny and her friend start making a name for themselves within the Leopard community. They try to show off and make themselves look cool, and I just felt kind of removed from that aspect of this story. Additionally, one of the characters keeps dropping F-bombs and swear words, and I was confused as to why those were so frequent in a YA fantasy. Otherwise, I liked it well enough. The plot also leaves you on a cliffhanger at the end, but I’m not sure if I’ll continue on to the second book or not. That said, if you’re looking for a fantasy based on African folklore, I highly recommend this book!

Okiee that’s it for June. 

I hope everyone’s summer is going well so far! I have a couple of weekend trips coming up in July and August that I’m super excited for, and hopefully might be able to get me back into the swing of reading physical books lol. 

If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend getting Hoopla and following the process I explained above. Especially if you’re into audiobooks or ebooks. 

Cheers to the second half of 2024! 

2024 Book Count: 67

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your go-to summer read?

May 2024 Reads

I feel like we went from seeing endless N’SYNC memes to Memorial Day in two seconds and I literally do not remember what happened in between lol. 

You could say May was a blur for me. I started a summer golf league, bought another houseplant (see that beauty below), caught up with friends I haven’t seen in a while, and watched way too many Instagram reels about how to take my millennial outfit and make it more trendy lol. 

I’ve mildly gotten on board with wearing higher socks when I’m wearing my white sneakers, but I refuse to jump on that train at the gym. You can catch me at PF in ankle socks. 

My new office calathea. :) Brought to you by the local farmer’s market!

On the reading front, audiobooks truly carried me through again. I think of the 13 books I read this month, eight of them were audiobooks. I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m able to listen to them at x1.75 speed, so I think that’s why I’m flying through them so quickly.

If you’re getting into that method, I recommend starting at 1.25 and going up from there. In my opinion, it’s actually easier to process things when the narrator is reading more quickly.

I digress though. Let’s get into everything I read in May!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

OUR MISSING HEARTS by Celeste Ng

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. For a decade, their lives have been governed by laws written to preserve “American culture” in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic—including the work of Bird’s mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet who left the family when he was nine years old. Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of librarians, into the lives of the children who have been taken, and finally to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change.

My Thoughts: This was my book club’s pick for AAPI month and per usual, Celeste Ng knows how to write a stunner. This was unlike any of her other books, but her unique storytelling still held true. The book takes place in what I would describe as almost a dystopian United States after an obscure economic crisis occurred that involved China. There is a new governmental entity called PACT that everyone supports, either willingly or reluctantly, because they provide the laws and ideals needed to unite the country again after the recent tragedies. There are consequences to those seen, heard, or suspected of not supporting PACT, including the government relocating children from their families - specifically those of Asian origin. Most of the book is from the perspective of 12-year-old Bird. His mother is Chinese American and the book of poems she recently published is banned after it sparks a movement of rebellion. Bird hasn’t seen his mother in almost three years, but when he receives a mysterious letter from her, he goes on a journey to find her. What he uncovers is a new America he wasn’t prepared to see. This book was so captivating as it explored extremely complex yet timely issues in a world that hits very close to the reality of our post-pandemic one. Ng uses libraries, books, and storytelling as a main focus of this book to emphasize the power of words, shared stories, and marginalized voices. As I said, Celeste Ng knows how to write a stunning book and this one is no exception. I highly recommend giving it a read if you haven’t already.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

THE INHERITANCE GAMES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

My Thoughts: Okay I read this book back in 2021 before the other two books in the trilogy came out. So now that the entire series is published, I decided to go back and give this one a reread via audiobook. I gotta say, I think the narrator did me dirty on this one because I honestly just could not buy into the various types of southern accents she kept switching between throughout the book. If these four brothers are all from the same area, don’t you think their southern dialect would be consistent across the board? Kind of like how British people have different sounding accents depending on where they’re from in England. It just annoyed me lol. The cleverness of the plot still holds water from the last time I remember reading this. I wouldn’t say Avery is my favorite main character ever, but I do like her for this specific story. She’s quite the underdog and everyone underestimates her because she went from living in her car to inheriting billions of dollars from a rando old guy. The riddles and puzzles Tobias Hawthorne left behind for these five to figure out were believable enough and made sense once they were solved. I do appreciate that this book leaves you on a cliffhanger, and although the narrator’s southern accents gave me the ICK, I still think I’m going to continue rereading this series via audiobook. 

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

HONOR by Thrity Umrigar

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Indian American journalist Smita has returned to India to cover a story, but reluctantly: long ago she and her family left the country with no intention of ever coming back. As she follows the case of Meena—a Hindu woman attacked by members of her own village and her own family for marrying a Muslim man—Smita comes face to face with a society where tradition carries more weight than one’s own heart, and a story that threatens to unearth the painful secrets of Smita’s own past. While Meena’s fate hangs in the balance, Smita tries in every way she can to right the scales. She also finds herself increasingly drawn to Mohan, an Indian man she meets while on assignment. But the dual love stories of Honor are as different as the cultures of Meena and Smita themselves: Smita realizes she has the freedom to enter into a casual affair, knowing she can decide later how much it means to her.

My Thoughts: Wowow what an absolutely COMPELLING story. I remember this book getting a lot of hype when it first came out and it is definitely deserved. Told from the perspectives of two women: Meena, a Hindu woman who was disfigured by people in her own village for marrying a Muslim man and is now suing those responsible, and Samita, an Indian American journalist who has returned to India to cover Meena’s court case. The clash of cultures is instantly recognizable through almost every encounter Samita has in India. The misogyny is REAL in these small villages scattered throughout the country. Women are not valued, they do not have a voice, and their freedoms lie with whichever man is seen as the head of the house. Violent and humiliating actions are seen as an acceptable way to react to someone’s honor being disgraced. This novel was extremely thought provoking, heart wrenching, stomach clenching, and moving. The stories of both women were beautifully written and portrayed even if sometimes hard to read. I haven’t had a book impact me like this one did in a very long time. It’s a book that will live rent free in my brain for years to come, and I highly recommend giving it a read if you’re looking for ways to step outside of your comfort zone and settle into that discomfort for a while. 

King of Sloth by Ana Huang

KING OF SLOTH by Ana Huang (King of Sin #4)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Charming, easygoing, and rich beyond belief, Xavier Castillo has the world at his fingertips. He also has no interest in taking over his family’s empire (much to his father’s chagrin), but that hasn’t stopped women from throwing themselves at him…unless the woman in question is his publicist. Nothing brings him more joy than riling her up, but when a tragedy forces them closer than ever, he must grapple with the uncertainty of his future—and the realization that the only person immune to his charms is the only one he truly wants.  |  Cool, intelligent, and ambitious, Sloane Kensington is a high-powered publicist who’s used to dealing with difficult clients. However, none infuriate—or tempt—her more than a certain billionaire heir, with his stupid dimples and laid-back attitude. She may be forced to work with him, but she’ll never fall for him…no matter how fast he makes her heart beat or how thoughtful he is beneath his party persona. He’s her client, and that’s all he’ll ever be. Right?

My Thoughts: OKIE DOKE WELL. I think this is probably my favorite installment in the King of Sin series thus far. There’s something about the MFC being perceived as a frigid ice queen with no ability to show emotion only to have the MMC bust through that barrier and melt her heart. Ana Huang has teased Sloane and Xavier’s story in the last two books in this series, so I was incredibly excited when I saw it was finally out! Sloane is a self-made, incredibly successful publicist who specializes in dealing with difficult clients. One of her hardest clients has been Xavier, the billionaire heir who has a reputation for partying and making very poor decisions that can reflect badly on his father’s corporate empire. Although Sloane has perfected a chilly RBF with zero hints as to what emotions are roiling beneath the surface, Xavier seems to be the only one who can push her over the edge enough to find cracks in that facade. This book has all of my favorite tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, fake-dating, etc. I loved the dynamics between Sloane and Xavier. Their banter was everything I could’ve wanted. The way they found a safe space within one another turned me into an absolute PUDDLE. Also, this author knows how to write a HIGH QUALITY salacious scene. ;) I think I also related to Sloane a lot because one of her main character quirks is that she can never cry, and if you know me, I’m definitely not a crier. (Me and my therapist are working on it, I swear lol). Either way, if you’ve been dabbling in the King of Sin series, this installment is definitely worth the read!

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time. She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machine,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But he adjusts quickly; he is, after all, an explorer by trade. Soon, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a seriously uncomfortable housemate dynamic, evolves into something much more. Over the course of an unprecedented year, Gore and the bridge fall haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences they never could have imagined. Supported by a chaotic and charming cast of characters—including a 17th-century cinephile who can’t get enough of Tinder, a painfully shy World War I captain, and a former spy with an ever-changing series of cosmetic surgery alterations and a belligerent attitude to HR—the bridge will be forced to confront the past that shaped her choices, and the choices that will shape the future.

My Thoughts: I super duper wanted to like this book because the premise sounds so unique and fun, but I was SORELY disappointed. I almost DNF’ed it (did not finish), but because I got the audiobook through a Book of the Month subscription, I didn’t want to waste my monthly credit. The writing at the start was decently strong and kept me engaged. It was the entirety of the middle that made this book crash and burn. The plot started trying to do SO MANY THINGS that it wasn’t doing any one thing well. Thankfully, the writing got better towards the end, but at that point, I had just trudged through so many “wait, wtf is happening rn?” moments that my attitude towards this book was basically unredeemable. Also the sheer number of metaphors used throughout the narrative was WILD. They are PACKED into every paragraph. Like I can appreciate a good metaphor every now and then to really make a sentence impactful, but this author fuckin LOVES them. Which led to nothing feeling that insightful. Anywho, no I don’t recommend reading this lol. 

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren

THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE by Christina Lauren (The Improbable Meet-Cute #1)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: One typo, and a boy and girl connect by chance. Wishing each other a happy Valentine’s Day isn’t the end. In fact, it becomes a friendly annual tradition—with rules: no pics, no real names, nothing too personal. As years pass, the rules for their email “dates” are breaking, and they’re sharing more than they imagined—including the urge to ask…what if we actually met?

My thoughts: This was really freaking cute! What starts out as a young man accidentally sending an email to a fellow high school student instead of a teacher, turns into a 10-year tradition of the two emailing each other every year on Valentine’s Day for a decade. Although they never reveal personal identifying details about themselves, their connection and friendship slowly starts to grow every year. Even after they’ve both graduated and headed to college, they continue checking in on their email pen pal to see what’s new in life. Their exchanges include everything from details about their lives in college, their current relationships, losing a parent during the pandemic, moving across the country away from home, and more. Until finally they decide it’s the perfect time for them to both meet in person. This story was so much fun, the banter was delightful, and I absolutely adored the way it ended. If you’re looking for a quick, sweet read, I highly recommend this short story!

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS by Rainbow Rowell (SIMON SNOW #3)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And in Wayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong. In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward. For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages -- and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she's smuggled an American Normal into London, and now she isn't sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough. Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet. This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest.

My Thoughts: It is bittersweet that I have officially finished the Simon Snow trilogy, but I’m so glad I discovered this series because it was everything I needed and didn't even know it. As this was the last book in the series, of course this misfit gang of mages couldn’t go out with a banger without getting into more shenanigans first. Penelope manages to smuggle a “normal” who they met in the last book during their trip to America back into the UK with her. He admitted to having sold his soul to a demon and she is determined to figure out how to get that contract canceled. Simon and Baz are still in a bit of a gray area when it comes to their relationship. This is mostly due to Simon’s self sabotaging tendencies, but they’re trying to work through it (at least Baz is.)  All the while, they’re trying to crack the code on a new cult in town that Baz’s stepmother recently joined. Agatha is back at Watford as well helping with her dad’s veterinarian business while she tries to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Cue a vet technician who she played field hockey with back in the day dragging Agatha along to figure out why the Goats of Watford keep straying from the school grounds. I can’t emphasize enough how many times this audiobook made me giggle like an idiot. These characters are all so unique, their development arcs over the last three books have been such an adventure, and this author has a mf GIFT for writing quick-witted banter and one-liners. As we head into June, this would be a great Queer YA Fantasy series to read for Pride Month. I promise you’re going to love it.

Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez

WORST WINGMAN EVER by Abby Jimenez (The Improbable Meet-Cute #2)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Holly is dealing with the impending death of her grandmother and still reeling from a bad breakup. One bright spot: a Valentine’s Day card on Holly’s windshield—even if it wasn’t meant for her. An amusing mistake soon turns into a lovely exchange of anonymous notes, little acts of kindness, and a growing affection between two strangers. What happens when one of them has to say goodbye?

My Thoughts: True to Abby Jimenez, this cute little novella had complex characters who come from two totally different places and yet fit together perfectly in each other’s lives. Holly is a hospice nurse taking care of her grandmother at her condominium complex. With the tough job of watching her grandmother’s health deteriorate and recovering from a recent breakup, she hasn’t been openly looking for new romance. Until one day a random Valentine’s Day card is left on her windshield that wasn’t meant for her and an anonymous exchange of random notes begins. I loved that these characters really were just doing kind things for each other without any ulterior motive behind them until they realized who they’d been exchanging notes with. This was a super cute, short romance if you’re looking for a quick read.

Vaampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

VAMPIRES OF EL NORTE by Isabel Cañas

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: As the daughter of a rancher in 1840s Mexico, Nena knows a thing or two about monsters—her home has long been threatened by tensions with Anglo settlers from the north. But something more sinister lurks near the ranch at night, something that drains men of their blood and leaves them for dead. Something that once attacked Nena nine years ago. Believing Nena dead, Néstor has been on the run from his grief ever since, moving from ranch to ranch working as a vaquero. But no amount of drink can dispel the night terrors of sharp teeth; no woman can erase his childhood sweetheart from his mind. When the United States attacks Mexico in 1846, the two are brought abruptly together on the road to war: Nena as a curandera, a healer striving to prove her worth to her father so that he does not marry her off to a stranger, and Néstor as a member of the auxiliary cavalry of ranchers and vaqueros. But the shock of their reunion—and Nena’s rage at Néstor for seemingly abandoning her long ago—is quickly overshadowed by the appearance of a nightmare made flesh. And unless Nena and Néstor work through their past and face the future together, neither will survive to see the dawn.

My Thoughts: This book was not what I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be more along the lines of Isabel Cañas’s other book, The Hacienda, which is a mystery/thriller (you can read my review for that book here). Although that genre is included in this plot, it’s not the sole focus. It mixed in a little bit of historical fiction, supernatural, and romance as well which made the story feel so much more dynamic. Instead of reading my physical copy, I opted for the audiobook via Libby and am glad I did because hearing the Spanish dialect from Spanish-speaking narrators made this experience very immersive. The book follows Nena and Nestor who were inseparable growing up, but after something attacked Nena when they were teens, Nestor ran thinking it was his fault she’s dead. Fast forward nine years and Nestor is back to help an auxiliary cavalry fight in the US Mexico war. He realizes Nena, in fact, is not dead and that she’s joining the cavalry as a healer. Nena is livid with Nestor because she’s been under the impression for almost a decade that her best friend left without saying goodbye. The two get separated from the group during a gruesome battle and have to rely on each other to get home safely. I loved that although they were both grieving their friendship in different ways, the raw, undeniable connection they formed years ago continued to surface. Due to poor communication and stubbornness, it took a while for either to act on their feelings, but I still found myself mentally yelling at them “just kiss already!!” lol. There was a subtle plot twist towards the end involving the vampire creatures in this story that I couldn’t have predicted, but I appreciated that’s the route the author ended up taking. Honestly, if you’re looking for a book with great writing, multiple genres, and solid main characters, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

Divine Rivals by Rebeca Ross

DIVINE RIVALS by Rebecca Ross (Letters of Enchantment #1)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love. 

My Thoughts: Okay admittedly, I previously tried reading this book two other times and couldn’t get into it. However, now that I’ve finished it, I honestly have no idea what my problem was during those attempts because I was absolutely ENTRANCED this time around. This book was fantastic. It follows two young rival journalists, Iris and Roman. Iris’s brother left to fight in the gods war six months ago, and after receiving no response to her letters, she starts putting them into their magically touched wardrobe. The wardrobe then whisks the letters away to none other than Iris’s main competition at the newspaper, Roman Kitt. Until one day, he finally (anonymously) responds to her. The two of them slowly start to build a connection through their letters that leads to Roman following Iris 600 kilometers away to the war front. I was OBSESSED with their relationship. Although for a while only Roman knows that it’s Iris he’s been corresponding with, the sexually and emotionally charged tension between them was undeniable. Don’t get me started on the vibe change once they were actually on the same page about their feelings. I WAS SOLD. Also, romance aside, the premise of this book? So unique. The writing? Chef’s kiss. The plot twist towards the end? Caught me by surprise. My only complaint and the reason I docked it a half star is that I could’ve used a little more world building and I wished we learned more about the gods. There’s a gods war going on and although we learn a high-level origin story of it, the author really didn’t go into a satisfactory amount of detail. So hopefully there’s more of that to come in the sequel which I will be starting ASAP, because I NEED to know what happens since we’re left on a cliffhanger with the first one. Anywho, I highly recommend this book!

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family. What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder. Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unraveling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant. It was everything. She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I read Woman in Cabin 10 a few years ago and really enjoyed it, but haven’t read a Ruth Ware book since. So I was excited to jump into this one. Although I own a physical copy, I opted for the audiobook. This story’s format is really unique as it’s from the perspective of the main character, Rowan, who is writing a letter to her lawyer from prison. She’s trying to explain what led up to her incarceration and why he must believe she is innocent. Rowan becomes a nanny for an extremely wealthy family who is in the AI/technology industry and has converted a historical mansion in the countryside into a Smart House. Although the family seems very picturesque and cookie-cutter, as soon as the parents leave for a business trip and Rowan is alone with the youngest girls, she realizes they’re anything but perfect. I’ve said it before, but I’m not classically a mystery/thriller girly because I get creeped out easily, and let me tell you, the kids Rowan was a nanny for gave me the jeebies. In addition to all of the weird surveillance cameras placed around this giant mansion, Rowan is given the only room in the house that connects to the attic. Per usual with old houses, this one came with its fair share of past tragedies, including the death of the young daughter of the previous homeowner. So many things happen that would have driven me out of that house SO FAST. The only reason I cannot give this book five stars is because I felt like there were like SEVEN plot twists stuffed into the last 10%, which was a little jarring. It also didn’t feel like this is what I was being led to conclude the entire time, so some of it felt a little out of left field. I enjoyed it overall, I just wouldn’t say it was AMAZING.

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

RUTHLESS VOWS by Rebecca Ross (Letters of Enchantment #2)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign. Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by the wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.

My Thoughts: Well to absolutely NO ONE’S surprise, I fuckin DEVOURED this book. Coming off my high from finishing Divine Rivals, I decided to immediately dive into its successor. This book picks up two weeks after where we left off in the last one. Iris is back in Oath living with her brother in the apartment they grew up in. She’s still writing for the Inkridden Tribune, covering the war between the gods, Dacre and Enva. Although she doesn’t know his exact location, Iris knows Dacre took Roman and most likely wiped his memories after healing his life threatening injuries. It isn’t until the rival newspaper in town publishes an article written by Roman Kitt that Iris’s suspicions are confirmed. This book was a WILD ride. It had me on the edge of my seat constantly as Roman and Iris kept making the ballsiest of moves to find each other and help end this war. The writing was nothing short of beautiful, and I loved that the author stuck to the same format of changing POVs, sprinkling in letters between typewriters, and the occasional news article. My heart was ripped open so many times during this one and I felt the passion in these characters to my core. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is because one of the “keys” to ending the war felt like it came out of nowhere. I couldn’t remember them mentioning it in the first book, but to be fair, I may have been reading so fast that I didn’t clock it as well as I should have. Either way, I feel like the ending, although mildly heartbreaking, was the perfect for this series. If you haven’t given this a try yet, I highly recommend doing so!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: In love we find out who we want to be. In war we find out who we are. FRANCE, 1939 | In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says good-bye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive. Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gaëtan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.

My Thoughts: Y’all know I love historical fiction and although I’ve had this book on my shelf for a couple of years, I decided to go the audiobook route for the most part. Kristin Hannah has a gift at writing characters who you can’t help but vicariously feel all of their struggles and adversities in your chest. This story was not a pretty one to read, but it was also so beautiful. Per usual for KH, there is romance woven into the story, but that’s not what it’s about at all. This book is about the women, children, wives, etc. who were left behind during WW2, and what they endured during those dark years. Told from the perspective of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle both experience this war in two totally different ways, but the struggle to survive in a world that is falling apart remains consistent for them both. The younger, spitfire sister, Isabelle, joins the Resistance almost immediately. She starts with small tasks such as stealthily handing out anti-Nazi propaganda to townspeople, and eventually starts taking on much more dangerous missions such as smuggling more than 80 English and American pilots out of France into Spain by completing treacherous hikes through the Pyrenees mountains. Although Vianne lives out the war from her countryside home in Carriveau, her experience is no less dangerous as Nazis billet from her home and take over governing her city. My heart was in absolute PIECES for both of these women as they bravely faced the horrors this war brought to them time and time again. Although this book wasn’t perfect, with some slow parts that could’ve been shortened or character arcs that could’ve happened sooner, it’s one I won’t soon forget. As I said, Kristin Hannah has a gift at writing heart wrenching historical fiction novels from various time periods and this book is no exception. 

Okieeee that’s it for May!

Don’t forget to incorporate some Queer stories into your TBR for June a.k.a Pride Month! (SIMON SNOW SHOULD BE ONE OF THEM!! <3)

I’m still locked out of my Facebook account, but at least the Attorney General of Michigan got back to me, so I will keep you posted on whether I regain access lol. 

2024 Book Count: 56

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s been your favorite read of 2024 so far?

April 2024 Reads

I won’t lie. I was on the struggle bus the entire month of April. 

Especially when it came to sitting down to read. Almost all of the books I read were via audiobook because it was the only avenue I had the energy for. It was almost like every night I would get into bed with every intention to read one of the physical or ebooks I was working through, and instead I’d pass out. 

Not to mention I was playing a lot of fucking sudoku for whatever reason lol. I just couldn’t stop. I’d grab my phone and say “just one more game before I start reading” and then one game would lead to the next, and it’d be too late for me to trade the phone for a book. So I’d just go to sleep instead. 

There was also a pattern of being drawn to genres I don’t usually gravitate towards or, rather, avoiding romance novels more than usual. After going through a breakup in the second half of March, I wasn’t really in the mood to read about people’s HEA (happily ever afters) when my relationship recently ended. 

So naturally mostly mystery/thrillers and a new fantasy series piqued my interest in April. There was SOME romance mixed in, but honestly, the books where romance was the main focus took me the longest to read.

ALSO side note to anyone who usually finds my monthly reviews through Facebook: I am currently locked out of my account lol. It’s a long story, but FB doesn’t offer customer support in human form. It’s all run by bots, so I’m STRUGGLING to get back in because the bots think I’m being suspicious when really, they’re just dumb. Which is why I haven’t posted my monthly reviews in a hot second, but I’m going to keep trying. *eyeroll*

Anyway, I digress. Let’s get into everything I read in April.

**All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

THE PARIS APARTMENT by Lucy Foley

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there. The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question. The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge. Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.

My Thoughts: I remember reading The Guest List a few years ago and thought it was fantastic because I did NOT see the plot twist coming in that one. The Paris Apartment was Lucy Foley’s next big book after The Guest List and I remember seeing mixed reviews right after it came out in 2022. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but I’m pleased to report it didn’t disappoint. The main character, Jess, is going to Paris to stay with her half-brother Ben after she runs into some trouble back in England. However, when she gets to his apartment, he’s nowhere to be found. It’s almost like he disappeared. Cue the hunt for Ben and a cast of various peculiar characters who are the tenants living in the same building. I liked that the format switched between POVs of all the characters because you truly didn’t know who you could trust. Even Jess’s character seemed a bit flaky and paranoid at times, even though she’s the one I was mainly rooting for. The plot twist in this book wasn’t AS shocking as The Guest List, but I definitely didn’t see it coming until it was fully spelled out for me. The narrator of this audiobook did a great job and if you’re looking for a quick mystery/thriller, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

THE WRITING RETREAT by Julia Bartz

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled. Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach. But then the women begin to die. Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons – and finish her novel – to save herself.

My Thoughts: Okay lol. So I don’t know the best way to explain my feelings about this book. Although I own a physical copy, I decided to listen to the audiobook and I’m really glad I did. I don’t know if I would’ve made it through had I chosen a different avenue. The writing, characters, plot, etc. in the first half of the book are ALL over the place. It was just pure chaos and the main character, Alex, seemed obsessed with some trivial things that I got annoyed hearing about. Once the story gets to the writing retreat, things KEEP getting weirder. Also, there were a few scenes that felt like they should’ve been scarier and ended up just kind of falling flat?? Then after I got through the mess that was the first half of the book, the second half finally started sorting itself out and the writing felt much more intentional. I wouldn’t say it got exponentially better, but there was an even flow to it, the characters started feeling more solid, and the plot finally started making sense. The plot twist wasn’t super surprising and although I wasn’t entirely satisfied with how it ended, I do think the book finished better than it started lol. Would I recommend this? Not necessarily. I wouldn’t consider myself a connoisseur of mystery/thrillers by any means, but even I know there are better books out there to read than this one. 

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

BEYOND THE WAND by Tom Felton

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame in beloved films like The Borrowers catapulted him into the limelight, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come after he landed the iconic role of Draco Malfoy, the bleached blonde villain of the Harry Potter movies. For the next ten years, he was at the center of a huge pop culture phenomenon and yet, in between filming, he would go back to being a normal teenager trying to fit into a normal school. Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience growing up as part of the wizarding world while also trying to navigate the muggle world. He tells stories from his early days in the business like his first acting gig where he was mistaken for fellow blonde child actor Macaulay Culkin and his Harry Potter audition where, in a very Draco-like move, he fudged how well he knew the books the series was based on (not at all). He reflects on his experiences working with cinematic greats such as Alan Rickman, Sir Michael Gambon, Dame Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes (including that awkward Voldemort hug). And, perhaps most poignantly, he discusses the lasting relationships he made over that decade of filming, including with Emma Watson, who started out as a pesky nine-year-old whom he mocked for not knowing what a boom mic was but who soon grew into one of his dearest friends. Then, of course, there are the highs and lows of fame and navigating life after such a momentous and life-changing experience.

My Thoughts: As a former Harry Potter fan, I was so excited to hear about Tom Felton’s experience growing up on the set of such an iconic movie franchise. Plus, I feel like Tom has always kind of been the overlooked actor who played such a staple character in the series, so this was me paying my respect to our favorite Slytherin boi. The audiobook is read by Tom which is so much fun because his Surrey accent truly sucks you into his incredibly entertaining anecdotes. It was really interesting to learn he lived a pretty down-to-earth lifestyle as a kid into his teens even as a child actor who had played in a number of popular movies outside of the Harry Potter films (ex: The Borrowers - circa 1997). I loved that he was a huge troublemaker on the set of Harry Potter and hearing about his relationship with all of the adult actors and actresses. It was cool to get a behind the scenes look at who those people are in real life. Although he had a lot of humorous tales to tell, he also shared vulnerable stories about his battle with addiction, hitting rock bottom, checking himself into rehab, etc. This memoir was well written and I loved that I got a taste of who Tom Felton truly is through this experience. If you were an HP fan or still are, I definitely recommend giving this book a listen!

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

THE HUNTRESS by Kate Quinn

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive. Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it. Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes home with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear.

My Thoughts: It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a Kate Quinn book. I listened to The Alice Network and The Rose Code a couple summers ago and both of those books live absolutely rent free in my head to this day. She has a knack for writing captivating historical fiction novels and The Huntress was no exception. I want to start with how much research must’ve gone into the background story of each character - and even the book’s various settings - before she ever put words to a page. Between the nuances of how each country included in this narrative experienced WW2 and being able to name real landmarks within those regions, it  was incredible. It breathed life into everything the characters went through during the war and gave clarity to their perspectives in the current day. True to her usual style, the format of the book bounces between different characters: a former British war correspondent, a former Russian woman pilot, and a young American woman living in Boston. The story also switches timelines between the present and various memories from time during the war and further back. I was equally invested in each character and it was impossible not to root for them all. Also, I thought the author did a PHENOMENAL job of humanizing the antagonist just enough to the point where I second guessed if she was still a horrible person or if she had truly reconciled for all the previous horrors she caused. The plot was just as addicting as the characters and I couldn’t wait to see where their individual paths would inevitably cross. I feel like I’m rambling, but needless to say, I’m adding another 5-star Kate Quinn book to my “read” shelf.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

CARRY ON by Rainbow Rowell (SIMON SNOW #1)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

My Thoughts: Okay I randomly bought this book from a local bookstore last fall, and I can’t remember the exact reason I picked it up, but hot dang I’m glad I did. Although I have the physical copy, I opted for the audiobook and Y’ALL. This was one of the most entertaining fantasies I’ve ever read. The narrator does a phenomenal job of really capturing the sass belonging to each character while not overdoing it. I gotta start by saying this is one of the easiest magical structures to follow that I’ve ever come across. There’s only a few types of magical beings you have to be aware of and they’re all pretty mainstream. The spells these mages cast are sooooo silly. They’re mostly based on nursery rhymes or modern day lyrics, idioms, etc., which honestly added some comedic relief to almost all of the intense battle scenes. Plus, don’t get me started on the top notch BANTER these characters were serving up. I was OBSESSED with the back and forth between Simon and Baz, but Penelope had a few one-liners in there that had me cackling. Though the climax of the book wasn’t a huge shock, the plot had me hooked from the very beginning. I will say, Part 1 was a little slow because Baz’s character hadn’t been introduced yet. However, I can respect that you need to know the background on Simon Snow and Watford first before adding another dynamic character into the mix. Honestly, if you’re new to fantasy or are in a fantasy slump, I highly recommend giving this book a try. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it. 

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW. It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career.

My Thoughts:  I remember this book being described as having a “Get Out meets Stepford Wives” vibe to it. So I was excited to see what it was all about since it also was recently adapted by Hulu. We experience most of this book through the main character, Nella, who is an editorial assistant at a publishing company called Wagner Books and happens to be the only person of color in the office as well. She’s tired of the way she’s treated and is very excited when she learns another Black woman, Hazel, was just hired and will be sitting in the cubicle next to her. Although their rapport starts off well enough, some very uncomfy things start happening that pushes Hazel into the spotlight and leaves Nella second guessing everything going on around her. This book has some very WTF IS HAPPENING moments in it that even left me feeling a little gaslit. So, naturally, Nella becomes pretty paranoid and I started wondering if she was always an unreliable narrator or if her paranoia is just making it seem that way. I will say, this book felt a little longer than it needed to be and the big reveal at the end felt kind of abrupt, but I definitely did not see it coming. I haven’t watched the Hulu adaptation yet, but I’ll be interested to see how closely they followed the book. If you haven’t read this one and are looking for a non-gruesome psychological thriller, I recommend giving this one a try!

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

FORGET ME NOT by Julie Soto

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect… Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did. When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there's a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot's hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.

My Thoughts: Although this book took me almost two weeks to get through, I totally understand the hype behind it! Ama is a wedding planner and has zero interest in having a wedding of her own. Elliot is a florist who wasn’t necessarily intending to become a florist, but after his father passed away, he took over the family’s flower shop. It’s clear Ama and Elliot have a history, but what happened two years ago between them is a mystery. I loved that the book flipped between the present in Ama’s POV and the past in Elliot’s POV. It gave me a chance to not only understand Ama better, but also Elliot’s character and how their previous connection affected him. The plotline of this book was really solid and kept me invested in addition to the second-chance romance brewing between Ama and Elliot. Not to mention, Elliot’s tattoos??? Ooooweee don’t get me started on how attractive they were. If you’re looking for a romance that’s pretty on theme with wedding szn right around the corner, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

Only and Forever by Chloe Liese

ONLY AND FOREVER by Chloe Liese (BERGMAN BROTHERS #7)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Viggo Bergman, hopeless romantic, is thoroughly weary of waiting for his happily ever after. But between opening a romance bookstore, running a romance book club, coaching kids' soccer, and adopting a household of pets—just maybe, he’s overcommitted himself?—Viggo’s chaotic life has made finding his forever love seem downright improbable. Enter Tallulah Clarke, chilly cynic with a massive case of writer’s block. Tallulah needs help with her thriller’s romantic subplot. Viggo needs another pair of hands to keep his store afloat. So they agree to swap skills and cohabitate for convenience—his romance expertise to revive her book, her organizational prowess to salvage his store. They hardly get along, and they couldn’t be more different, but who says roommate-coworkers need to be friends? As they share a home and life, Tallulah and Viggo discover a connection that challenges everything they believe about love, and reveals the plot twist they never saw happily ever after is here already, right under their roof.

My Thoughts: Ugh. Okay. So let me start by saying, I have absolutely ADORED the Bergman Brothers series ever since reading the first book (Only When It’s Us) back in 2021. The Bergman family has seven kids, hence a seven-book series to follow. Thus far, we know Viggo as the brother who is obsessed with romance novels and has convinced characters in the other books to utilize the fail-proof romance book tactic of a grand gesture to express their feelings in an impactful way. SO OBVIOUSLY, I’ve been THOROUGHLY looking forward to his book for the last six installments. Especially since he’s the last sibling in the series. Although I did enjoy this book, it sadly did not blow me away as I was anticipating. I mean like, true to Chloe Liese’s MO with this series, I obviously had some big feels during the heartwarming scenes and LOVED that these two characters supported one another in such a unique way. The banter was pretty decent as well, which you know I take seriously. The pace of their connection-building felt organic enough, but there were a couple of things that came up where I was like “really tho?” For example, Viggo has yet to deal his V-card. Which is TOTALLY FINE, but didn’t feel like it fit the narrative here or the character we’ve gotten to know over the series?? I don’t know. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It just wasn’t the series ender that I hoped for. If you’ve read the Bergman Brothers series then I obviously recommend reading this one. Just keep your expectations lower than I set mine going into it. 

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

WAYWARD SON by Rainbow Rowell (SIMON SNOW #2)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: The story is supposed to be over. Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after… So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch? What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light… That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West. They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…

My Thoughts: Okay so I thought the last book was entertaining, but I wasn’t ready for the number of times this second installment had me LAFFIN. Simon, Baz, and Penny are up to some shenanigans yet again, but this time their adventure takes them to the United States. Their friend Agatha moved to California after graduating from their magic school back in England and they’re here to visit. When they realize she might be in a bit of trouble, a cross-country road trip from Chicago to California commences. Cue a number of hilarious obstacles they run into trying to reach their friend who has been kidnapped by a weird vampire science cult. I loved that the magical rules and politics were different from state to state, and that they had to modify their usual spells to reflect American pop culture. I will say, Simon is a bit of a broody boi throughout this book and there was a bit of self sabotaging going on that I didn’t love. However, I can see that his character arc is going to change once again in the third book, so I’m excited to see where that goes. If you haven’t dabbled in the Simon Snow series yet, I can’t recommend it enough!

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

DAISY DARKER by Alice Feeney

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows… Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

My Thoughts: I got this book through Book of the Month back in 2022 and it had soooo much hype around it right after it was published. I honestly had no idea what it was about going into it, and I ended up opting for the audiobook because it happened to be available through Libby. As soon as I started reading it, I recognized that the author was giving a huge nod to “And Then There Were None” as a poem about how the Darker family dies shows up in chalk on the wall at Seaglass, their nana’s house. We experience this gruesome Halloween night through the eyes of the youngest Darker sister, Daisy. In attendance are her parents, her two older sisters, her nana, niece, and a neighbor they grew up with. Since the house is in the middle of the sea on a hill, the family can’t leave until the tide goes back out in the morning. One by one, each member of the family is mysteriously killed in a way that is similar to their death in the poem on the wall, and no one knows who is doing it. For most of the book, I was trying to guess whodunnit. I assumed it was someone in the house if this plot was following the “And Then There Were None” blueprint, but I was NOT READY for the plot twist at the end. It made sense once it was revealed, but it was still so unexpected. The writing was great, the characters were all dislikeable lol, and my conclusion is that this book deserved the hype it got back in 2022.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

SHARK HEART by Emily Habeck

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. A few weeks after their wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will gradually turn into a great white shark. As Lewis develops the features and impulses of one of the most predatory creatures in the ocean, his complicated artist’s heart struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams. At first, Wren internally resists her husband’s fate. Is there a way for them to be together after Lewis changes? Then, a glimpse of Lewis’s developing carnivorous nature activates long-repressed memories for Wren, whose story vacillates between her childhood living on a houseboat in Oklahoma, her time with a college ex-girlfriend, and her unusual friendship with a woman pregnant with twin birds. Woven throughout this bold novel is the story of Wren’s mother, Angela, who becomes pregnant with Wren at fifteen in an abusive relationship amidst her parents’ crumbling marriage. In the present, all of Wren’s grief eventually collides, and she is forced to make an impossible choice.

My Thoughts: I know what you’re thinking because I was thinking the same thing going into this book: how could a story about a guy being diagnosed with a mutation that he will turn into a shark turn out to be so beautiful? Let me tell you. This writing was stunning. I don’t know how the author did it, but she captures you and doesn’t let you go. The format was refreshing because it flips between normal dialogues and storytelling, screenplays, and more, as well as switching between a few character POVs. I loved that although the first half of the book focuses on Lewis and Ren’s relationship and their coping as Lewis slowly transformed into a great white shark, the second half pivots to Wren’s childhood and the relationship with her mother (who was also diagnosed with a type of mutation). Although romance is a theme in this book, it’s not the primary one. There is a lot of messaging in this story related to grieving people who have changed, learning how to become a caretaker for someone, the relationships between parents and children, and more. If you haven’t read this book yet, put it on your TBR list for this year ASAP. It’s a book I will think about often and will definitely be recommending to people for the foreseeable future. 

Okie doke! That’s it for April.

Cheers to a lovely spring and let the countdown to summer begin! 🙂

2024 Book Count: 43

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s on your radar for summer reads?

March 2024 Reads

Ah, March. You fickle gal. 

You teased us with Spring 1, only to bring back Winter 2. Then you gaslit us into Spring 2, only to pull the rug out from under us with Winter 3. Now you’re teetering between the two and have us out here with our hopes up, but expectations down. 

March was not my favorite month. Not just because of the swing diet weather, but something happened in my personal life that was pretty sad. However, I guess it’s kind of fitting that something ended right before the season of rebirth begins. The universe has such a unique sense of humor, I will say that. 

On the reading front, I have officially entered my “cowboy romance” era. Which came to fruition in the form of binge reading a five-book smut-smothered Kindle unlimited series. Can I get a yee-haw? ;)

Fear not if that genre isn’t up your alley though, because I read a plethora of other books this month as well. 

And, with that, let’s get into everything I read in March!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

BLACK SUN by Rebecca Roanhorse (Between Earth and Sky #1)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: A god will return. When the earth and sky converge. Under the black sun.

In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world. Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.

My Thoughts: All right y’all. I can tell you right now, this is not for the faint of heart nor the fantasy novice. This book has so many layers, characters, and storylines to follow that you cannot go into this half-assed. You have to commit to paying attention - especially when you’re listening to the audiobook. I ended up getting the physical book from the library to supplement whenever I felt lost or needed to see a word in print. For example, they use some non-binary pronouns throughout the book for a few characters: xe and xir. However, I thought they were saying a name, so until I looked it up, it wasn’t clicking right away. Overall though, I really enjoyed this story. Although there are a few different characters and storylines to follow, it’s easy to see how they start to connect the further you get into the book. The politics of this world are a prominent driver of the plot and although they’re not spelled out incredibly clearly at first, by the end of the book I felt like I had gotten my footing with them. The writing was full of vivid descriptions that I thought truly brought this world to life, and I appreciated that characters’ backgrounds were given the attention they deserved so that you could connect with each person. As an introduction to the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, I thought this was a solid first installment and will definitely be continuing onto book two. 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Walker

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence. Through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown, the novel draws readers into its rich and memorable portrayals of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery and Sofia and their experience. The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker's epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.

My Thoughts: Okay, I know I live under a rock and cannot believe it took me this long to read The Color Purple, but I’m so glad I did! Admittedly, I’ve never seen either movie, nor have I ever looked into what this book is about. So this was truly my first time experiencing this gem. Personally, I liked that it’s formatted in letters from Celie to God, Celie to Nettie, and Nettie to Celie. It made connecting with the characters so effortless and kept the pacing of the book decently quick. The adversity these women go through is absolutely unreal. Specifically Celie, who is the protagonist of this tale. She’s been abused her entire life (sexually, emotionally, and physically) by her step-father, husband, and step-kids. The narrative she’s always been given is that because she’s under-educated and not as pretty as her sister, she doesn’t have as much value. It isn’t until she meets and starts developing a friendship with Shug that her self-realization journey begins. There are so many strong female characters in this book and the theme of sisterhood amongst them gave this story a certain type of magic. I cannot recommend this book enough if you haven’t read it yet.