January 2023 Reads

February 05, 2023 by Haley Burrill in Books

Y’all. Welcome to 2023.

I came into January full force and binge read almost all of the Shatter Me series within the first week and a half. After that, my reading slowed down a little bit as I took my time with literally every other book I read this month lol.

Although I read more than 200 books last year, I’m sticking to my goal of being intentional with my time and energy this year. That includes reading and making sure I’m indulging in this hobby as something I enjoy and not turning it into a competition with myself because that would spoil the fun I get out of reading.

Therefore, I’m starting this year with a reading goal of 100 books. If I read more than that, great. If I don’t hit that goal, that’s also totally fine.

If you’ve stuck with me and my monthly book blog posts, then I am truly grateful and appreciate your support lol.

Cheers to another year of reading, ratings, and reviews!

Now let’s get into everything I read in January.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

FRACTURE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam’s focus couldn’t be further from the upcoming battle. He’s reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend’s life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James’s safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It’s time for war. On the battlefield, it seems like odds are in their favor - but taking down Warner, Adam’s newly discovered half brother, won’t be that easy. The Reestablishment can’t tolerate a rebellion, and they’ll do anything to crush the resistance… including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

My Thoughts: Okay so this was a very short novella from Adam’s POV between the second and third book in the Shatter Me series. Y’all, at this point, Adam has become to the story what Chaol became to the Throne of Glass series… lol. (If you know, you know). I do appreciate that he wasn’t obsessing over Juliette in this though because that’s what I was expecting. The group of rebels that he’s been fighting with go through a very traumatic event here which puts Adam’s priorities into perspective - with his 10-year-old brother James being number one. He still does his fair share of bitching about Warner, but I can’t fault him for that based on what he knows. I do think it’s necessary to read this novella because what happens here is extremely important information that doesn’t seem to be elaborated on in the next book. It’s a quick read though (like 70 pages?), so it won’t take up too much of your time.

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world… but that’s not all he wants with her.

My Thoughts: EEK. This is the book I’ve been WAITING for - when Juliette and Warner finally start working together under the same roof. A LOT happened in this book that kept me on the edge of my seat as what’s left of the rebel group from Omega Point starts to plot how to take down the Reestablishment from the inside out. I was obsessed with the romance storyline between Warner and Juliette even though I got frustrated with her for a minute because she wasn’t being honest with herself. Later on, though, I understood why she was hesitant to give into her feelings and it felt super justified. We also learn some new abilities of Juliette’s powers which is a catalyst for how they proceed with their plans of action. When Warner’s dad, the current Supreme Commander of North America, shows up to take them down, all hell breaks loose. Needless to say, this was the shit that everything they’ve been through has been building up to and I am so satisfied with how it all played out.

RESTORE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette Ferrars thought she’d won. She took over Sector 45, was named new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she’s still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch - and now she’s got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

My Thoughts: Holy shit lol. I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but I can tell you, what I got was beyond anything I could’ve guessed. The story picks up about 2 weeks after Juliette overthrows the last Supreme Commander, and the format flips between Juliette’s and Warner’s perspectives. Everyone is trying to get their footing with new responsibilities while keeping an ear to the ground to see how the rest of the world is going to react to a 17-year-old girl with supernatural abilities taking over an entire continent. Especially since she accomplished that in the matter of a few months when people have been trying to do that for decades. The first third of this book is a bit of a slow burn. Juliette is starting to realize she was ill-prepared for the job of Supreme Commander, but is trying her best to have everything under control. Warner (aka Aaron) is unexpectedly grieving the loss of his father even though that man never showed him any love. All of the chapters in this book from his point of view are SATURATED in emotion. Like just DRIPPING with heartache, heartbreak, anger, confusion, and more. The last time we got a glimpse of his character’s emotional vulnerability was in his novella, Destroy Me. I will say I was a tad frustrated with Warner in this book because although his emotions are completely justified, and he’s still supporting Juliette in ways he knows how, I felt like he needed to be communicating with her and guiding her so much more. Anytime someone would push him to tell her about his background and the secrets he knows, he didn’t understand why because he thought the knowledge would hurt her more than help her. It just made me so frustrated lol. We’re starting to learn a lot more about the international groups that make up The Reestablishment as the leaders of other nations send their teenage kids to North America to meet the new Supreme Commander. I loved how all of these new characters and pieces of information added such depth to the story. We also learn a HUUUUUUGE secret about Juliette that basically sets her on a downward spiral. To the point of where she learns a new deadly boundary to her powers that comes into play right at the very end of this book. When I tell you I was SHOOK at the last 15% of this book, I’m not exaggerating. What started as a 3-star book for me quickly became a 4.5-star. Like wow.

BENEATH THE SUGAR SKY by Seanan McGuire

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can’t let Reality get in the way of her quest - not when she has an entire world to save! (Much more common than one would suppose.) If she can’t find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests…

My Thoughts: This book was chaos lol, but not chaos as in “I have no idea what’s going on.” Chaos as in “what the hell is happening and why does it also make so much sense?” We meet two new peculiar characters named Rini and Cora, but also get to interact with a few characters from the first book including Cade, Christopher, Sumi, and Nancy. Needless to say, it was quite the adventure for this oddball group of kids who are trying to bring Sumi back in order to save Rini’s existence. I liked that we got to see a couple of different worlds in this book including the land of the dead where Nancy resides and Confection where Sumi traveled and Rini is from. The best way to describe their time in Confection is like reconfiguring your brain to remember how you used to think as a child with a GIANT imagination (zero boundaries, world-is-your-oyster type of big). Once you’re in that mindset, imagine a world where literally everything is made of candy, baked goods, and sweets, but have it actually come to life as a possible reality. I freaking love Seanan McGuire’s mind and the way she says “Why the hell not?” when building worlds like this. This was a really well-structured plot and I obvi have a soft spot for the characters, but I think the world building and vivid descriptions of their surroundings is what did it for me here.

SHADOW ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Juliette is still reeling from Warner’s betrayal, and Kenji is trying to balance his friendship with her and his responsibilities as a leader of the resistance against the Reestablishment. Things get even more interesting when an unexpected person from Omega Point’s past surfaces.

My Thoughts: YUUUS TO KENJI GETTING HIS OWN NOVELLA!! Although he rubbed me the wrong way when we first met him in this series, Kenji has quickly become one of my favorite characters. There’s so much depth to him that people underestimate just because he’s the goofball and everybody’s friend. He’s experiencing all of his own struggles, but people never remember to check on their seemingly happy friends. I loved that we got to see his interactions with Nazeera from his POV instead of third-party character’s. I ten thousand percent ship Kenji and Nazeera. <3 Our little invisible boy deserves someone to love with his giant heart. Although there weren’t any pivotal moments in this book as it parallels what we just experienced through Juliette’s and Warner’s eyes in Restore Me, there is a HUUUUUUUGE plot twist towards the end that we didn’t get to see from their POVs. I did a double take and had to reread the last few paragraphs because I was second guessing everrrrryyythingggg. Do not skip this novella in the Shatter Me series, PLEASE.

HOW HIGH WE GO IN THE DARK by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus. Once unleashed, the Arctic Plague will reshape life on earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects - a pig - develops the capacity for human speech. A widowed painter and her teenage granddaughter embark on a cosmic quest to locate a new home planet. From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead to interstellar starships, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes readers on a wildly original and compassionate journey, spanning continents, centuries, and even celestial bodies to tell a story about the resiliency of the human spirit, our infinite capacity to dream, and the connective threads that tie us all together in the universe.

My Thoughts: I went into this audiobook without reading the premise, and within the first two perspectives, my reaction was WTF lol. Although this book has an incredibly melancholy mood to it, I appreciated how imaginative it was. Basically, it’s set in the future where a pandemic has spread from an ancient virus that was unearthed from a girl they found in melting permafrost. From there, the book follows the perspectives of various people from around the world and how this viral outbreak is affecting each of their individual lives. Some people are being affected in more ways than others, but the main message is clear: everyone is looking for some type of connection especially in the face of adversity. Some of these stories are pretty dark, but there was something beautiful about the ugliness of it all that made every perspective easy to empathize with. I feel like I should also note that the author doesn’t really make any parallels between the pandemic we’ve been experiencing and this fictional one. So, personally, I didn't necessarily get any deja vu or whiplash which I appreciated. This book definitely isn’t going to be for everyone because of the content though, so just check trigger warnings before going into it.

My hand holds a paperback copy of Neon Gods by Katee Robert in front of a white wall. The cover is black, blue, and purple, and shows a leather chair in between the title and author's name. — Neon Gods by Katee Robert

NEON GODS by Katee Robert (REREAD)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth… a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her - for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste of Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…

My Thoughts: Okay so I originally read Neon Gods back in October of 2021 and was going to start the second book, Electric Idol. However, after maybe two pages into that book, I realized I didn’t remember who any of the characters were from the first book. I could definitely remember the bigger events that occurred in it but still decided to reread this one first before jumping into Psyche and Eros’s story. My friends, the second time through this was just as enjoyable as the first. I’ve read a couple of Hades/Persephone retellings over the last couple of years and this one remains my favorite. The main characters are magnetic in their own right, but the character development that happens throughout is everything I could have wanted. Hades and Persephone have an instant chemistry with some flirty banter that’s laced with some bite. Then their connection only grows stronger as the story goes on. It’s the perfect balance of swoony sweetness and HELLA SPICE. Honestly, if you’re trying to decide between this book and A Touch of Darkness, I’d recommend this one every time. As I said though, it has plenty of steamy scenes, so if that’s not your jam then you can probs keep it moving lol.

ELECTRIC IDOL by Katee Robert

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: In the ultra-modern city of Olympus, there’s always a price to pay. Psyche knew she’d have to face Aphrodite’s ire eventually, but she never expected her literal heart to be at stake… or for Aphrodite’s gorgeous son to be the one order to strike the killing blow. Eros has no problem shedding blood. But when it comes time to take out his latest target, he can’t do it. Confused by his reaction to Psyche, he does the only thing he can think of to keep her safe: he marries her. Psyche vows to make Ero’s life a living hell until they find a way out of this mess. But as lines blur and loyalties shift, she realizes he might take her heart after all… and she’s not sure she can survive the loss.

My Thoughts: Omg I loved this. I’ll admit I had to Google the OG story of Psyche and Eros to better understand the dynamics in this retelling, but I adored what Katee Robert did here. Starting with Psyche, she is my favorite type of main character - strong, intelligent, clever, and confident in herself. She’s a plus sized influencer and the author really did that narrative justice. I loved that Psyche’s self confidence never faltered and she didn’t need outside validation to know she was a bad B. Eros is the broody type everyone keeps at arms length because of his reputation for “taking care of issues” his mother has with other people. It made my heart melt how much he adored Psyche for the simple fact that she saw who he was and still accepted him as a good person. This dynamic duo could not be separated or turned against each other no matter how hard Aphrodite tried to ruin their relationship. Also, Psyche protecting Eros by putting herself in the line of fire while simultaneously taking down his sociopath mother?? Absolute SWOON. Honestly, if you enjoyed Neon Gods, pass go, collect $200 and continue on to Electric Idol. You will not regret it!

DEFY ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her - secrets that change everything. Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

My Thoughts: This book was fucking WILD. The number of plot twists that showed up and showed out was unreal. This book picks up where the catastrophe of the last book ended after Juliette’s speech at the North American Symposium went to absolute SHIT. She’s still reeling from learning a bucket load of secrets about her past that Warner knew, but wasn’t sharing with her. When she wakes up after being abducted in plain sight, she’s in New Zealand with her biological parents who are absolutely disgusting people that want to do more and more experiments on her. She also reunites with her sister, Emmaline, who she JUST learned about in the previous days and the current state she’s in is GROTESQUE to say the least. I liked that the format flipped between Warner, Kenji, and Juliette’s points of view since the group gets split up at various points. We get more insight into what The Reestablishment is planning to do with Juliette and what’s going down now that they’ve basically re-taken over Sector 45 back in the United States. This book is extremely intense in a multitude of ways including the tsunami of emotions, big moments and plot twists. I am truly addicted to the plotline and characters in this series and cannot wait to see what happens next.

REVEAL ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Kenji Kishimoto is still reeling from what happened in Defy Me. He and all the others are still at the Sanctuary, trying to heal and recover. As lies and betrayals stack up, Juliette feels her sister, Emmaline, grow stronger…

My Thoughts: Yeesh. It hurts me to rate this book so low, but like after reflecting on it, I was just kind of frustrated with how it panned out. It’s from Kenji’s point of view again and although he has quickly become one of my favorite characters in the book, this short story didn’t really shine the best light on him. I think the author might have intended this novella to add some depth to his character, but all I really felt from him was unhinged anger. We do get to see more of his interactions with Nazeera and we learn what’s happening to the kids who had to stay behind at the Sector 45 compound. The ending of this book also leads into the start of the next, but I don’t necessarily think you have to read this novella to keep up. I was just kind of waiting for Kenji to sit down, chill out, and drink a glass of water lol.

IMAGINE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette Ferrars. Ella Sommers. Which is the truth and which is the lie? Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong - between Ella and Juliette - blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control. The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on.

My Thoughts: Y’all. This is the type of ending that makes you want to high five someone nearby as you’re reading. The start of it threw me for a whirl because the Reestablishment gets a second wind and their plans start falling into place. Starting with successfully abducting Juliette back to New Zealand, wiping her memories and reprogramming her mind as to who she is as a person and her purpose in the greater scheme of things. Some of it was kind of cringey because she basically becomes a pet soldier to Anderson aka Warner’s psychotic father and the former Supreme Commander of North America. He keeps pushing the limits for her to prove he can trust her - including telling her to cut off her own finger. It gets INTENSE. Meanwhile, everyone else is back in the United States trying to figure out what to do because they’re not certain where Juliette is nor what purpose the Reestablishment has for her. There is no shortage of action-packed scenes in this final book. Especially during the rescue mission? Buckle in because my heart was racing for Aaron, Kenji and Nazeera as they infiltrate the compound where Juliette is being brainwashed. I will say, though I loved how this book/series ended, the epilogue left much to be desired. Like after going through ALL OF THAT, I just wanted a little bit more insight into their lives after the storm. I saw some reviews on Goodreads that said this series should have remained a trilogy, but I cannot disagree more. I highly recommend the Shatter Me series with all six of its main books.

THE HACIENDA by Isabel Cañas

Rating: 3.75/5

Summary: In the overthrow of the Mexican government, Beatriz’s father is executed and her home destroyed. When handsome Don Rodolfo Solorzano proposes, Beatriz ignores the rumors surrounding his first wife’s sudden demise, choosing instead to seize the security his estate in the countryside provides. She will have her own home again, no matter the cost. But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined. When Rodolfo returns to work in the capital, visions and voices invade Beatriz’s sleep. The weight of invisible eyes follows her every move. Rodolfo’s sister, Juana, scoffs at Beatriz’s fears - but why does she refuse to enter the house at night? Why does the cook burn copal incense at the edge of the kitchen and mark its doorway with strange symbols? What really happened to the first Dona Solorzano? Beatriz only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her. Desperate for help, she clings to the young priest, Padre Andres, as an ally. No ordinary past, Andres will have to rely on his skills as a witch to fight off the malevolent presence haunting the hacienda and protect the woman for whom he feels a powerful, forbidden attraction. But even he might not be enough to battle the darkness. Far from a refuge, San Isidro may be Beatriz’s doom.

My Thoughts: I realized after reading this book that if I’m going to read a mystery/thriller, I want it to be gothic. A few days before starting this, I listened to an NPR podcast interview with the author who said she was scared by the dark when she was younger and that was her inspiration while writing this book. Let me tell you, the terror I felt every time night fell in San Isidro was real. Beatriz running through this giant manor trying to make it to her room so she could light some candles and burn copal to ward away the evil had my heart racing. I absolutely adored her as a main character. She was a fighter from the very beginning of the book after her father was murdered and their family house burned down for political reasons. After marrying the wealthy Rodolfo and moving to his hacienda in Apan, she’s determined to create a home safe for her mother and that reflects her new societal stature. I was obsessed with the bond she formed with the local priest, Andres. In a world where they both felt like outsiders, they found peace and safety through willingness to understand and trust the other in such a trying situation. My small critiques are that the “whodunnit” realization happens SO QUICKLY after having been dragged out for so long and it made me feel like I should’ve seen it coming when I, in fact, had not lol. ALSO I cannot be the only person who flipped the last page back and forth at least six times to confirm my copy wasn’t missing any pages because WHY ARE WE ENDING IT WHERE WE ARE? Obviously, the author is intending to make this into a series and clearly I am going to pick up the second book once it’s published lol. If you liked Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, then I think you’d really like this one as well!

BELIEVE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette and Warner fought hard to take down the Reestablishment once and for all. Life in the aftermath isn’t easy, as they and their friends at the Sanctuary work with their limited resources to stabilize the world. Warner has his sights set on more than just politics. Since he proposed to Juliette two weeks ago, he’s been eager to finally marry her, the person he loves more than anything and has endured so much to be with. But with so much chaos around them, it’s been nearly impossible for them to have a wedding. And even Juliette has been distracted by everything they need to do. At long last, Warner and Juliette’s future together is within reach but the world continues to try to pull them apart. Will they finally be able to be happily, officially together?

My Thoughts: THIS. This is the epilogue I wanted at the end of Imagine Me, but didn’t quite get. I adored this novella and seeing where the relationship Warner and Juliette have worked so hard for ended up. I will say, this book is a little spicier than I was expecting, but I also didn’t hate it lol. Like Warner is head over freaking HEELS for this girl and his emotions throughout this entire series always punched me right in the heart. So chapter 8, specifically, is something I think we’ve all been craving based on the intense chemistry between these two. I also loved that we got to see snippets of how the lives of various side characters have panned out since things calmed down and where society is headed. Honestly, if you read the entire Shatter Me series, this book is a must. It’s almost like getting a warm hug from all of the characters after going through an extreme book hangover.

THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR by Nicola Yoon

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story. Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store - for both of us. The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

My Thoughts: This book was super cute! Kind of cheesy - especially with an instant love trope - but nonetheless enjoyable. I will say, I was a little confused by the format at first and I think that’s mainly because I was listening to the audiobook instead of seeing the text on pages. It switches between Natasha’s and Daniel’s perspectives, as well as zooms out on occasion to the narrator who briefly focuses on the storyline of a side character within the orbit of the two MCs. Once I got my footing with the cadence of everything, it was much easier to follow. I really appreciated that we got to see how different the dynamics were for Natasha’s Jamaican family and Daniel’s Korean one. It showed how much pressure and expectations are put on first generation American teens and how their families navigate making a life for themselves here. I liked Natasha and Daniel as main characters - they balanced each other out perfectly with Daniel wanting to be a poet and having a more whimsical outlook on life and Natasha wanting to be a data scientist who focuses on the facts. The writing style really flowed and I liked how the story was paced. Will I ever read this book again? No. Do I recommend it if you’re interested? Sure.

YOU’RE NOT LISTENING by Kate Murphy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Who listens to you? New York Times contributor Kate Murphy asked people on five continents this question, and the response was typically a long, awkward pause. People struggled to come up with someone, anyone, who truly listened to them without glazing over, glancing down at a phone or jumping in to offer an opinion. Many admitted that they, themselves, weren’t very good listeners, and most couldn’t even describe what it meant to be a good listener. Despite living in a world where technology allows distant digital communication and opportunities to connect, it seems no one is really listening or even knows how. And it’s making us lonelier, more isolated, and less tolerant than ever before. A listener by trade, Murphy wanted to know how we got there. In this illuminating and often humorous deep dive, Murphy explains why we’re not listening, what it’s doing to us, and how we can reverse the trend. She makes accessible the psychology, neuroscience, and sociology of listening while also introducing us to some of the best listeners out there. While listening is often regarded as talking’s meek counterpart, Murphy discovered it’s actually the more powerful position in communication. We learn when we listen. It’s how we connect, cooperate, empathize, and fall in love. Listening is something we do or don’t do every day. While we might take listening for granted, how well we listen, to whom, and under what circumstances determines who we are and the paths we take in life.

My Thoughts: This book was really interesting! It’s not so much a how-to book as it is an informational book full of various interviews, anecdotes, and summaries of what great listening looks like, why it’s important, why so many people aren’t able to do it effectively, etc. My goal this year is to be really intentional in all facets of my life and listening to this audiobook has made me much more self aware during my daily interactions with people. Am I listening to what the person is saying or just thinking about what I want to say next? Am I giving space for them to expand on what they said or am I cutting in as soon as I can to say my two cents? Am I pushing my input into the conversation in an unnatural way or is this maybe a time when I don’t share as much as I listen to what the other person has to say? Honestly, it was truly eye-opening as to how badly most people in the world listen, but also gave me a better understanding as to why that is. If you want to work on your listening skills and are trying to become a better communicator this year, I think everyone can get something from this book.

TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT by Chloe Liese

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all - an undeniable need for revenge. Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all. To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder, what if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so far off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

My Thoughts: Ugh. If there is one thing Chloe Liese really knows how to write about, it’s neurodivergent characters. I adored Jamie and Bea and could not get enough of their enemies-to-lovers storyline. Although I didn’t totally buy into the “let’s fake a happy relationship to get back at our friends” situation, I was completely sold on their chemistry. Especially in vulnerable moments when being a supportive, happy couple came incredibly naturally to Jamie and Bea. My heart did backflips every time Jamie or Bea realized they were actually falling pretty hard for the other. Although there’s KIND OF a third-act break-up, I felt the resolution came at exactly the right time and in the perfect way. I think the storyline about noticing the signs of a toxic, manipulative, emotionally abusive relationship was handled with such care, and really added another dimension to this romance plot. The only other thing I wish would have been emphasized a little bit more is Jamie’s anxiety disorder. It gets mentioned here and there and is present enough, but I felt like the story focused more on Bea’s autism, so there wasn’t a complete balance there. Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book and definitely recommend it. However, please check trigger warnings before diving in!

Welp that’s that on that.

2023 Book Count: 16

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YOUR TURN! What’s your reading goal for this year?

November 2021 Reads

December 01, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

November, where did you go?!

Seriously though. How are we almost done with 2021?

Anywho, I read a lot of books in November and I credit that to quick smutty reads that cost like $2 on Kindle and to the long weekend I took around Thanksgiving to binge read five books.

I tried to incorporate at least a few holiday-themed reads for y’all since, yanno, tis the season and all of that. Figured there’d be a few of you out there looking for some Christmassy recs to curl up with under a cozy blanket and sipping a mug of cocoa while you listen to Mariah Carey on repeat.

Okie. Let’s dive into it!

*All summaries taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

VICIOUS by L.J. Shen

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Emilia - They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true. The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts my nightmares. He is a brilliant lawyer, a skilled criminal, a beautiful liar. A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover. Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him. Vicious - She’s a starving artist. Pretty and evasive like cherry blossoms. Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down. She paid the price. Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate. That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t. So she hates me. Big deal. She better get used to me.

My Thoughts: Okay, so this is going to be a mixed review because this book was definitely a page turner for me, but some elements of the story were just hard for me to get past - even after they resolved themselves. Starting with our leading man, Vicious. It’s a nickname, don’t worry (or do because that nickname screamed YIKES to me). He was such an ass like holy shit. We learn eventually that he has experienced some SUPER f’ed up things in his lifetime which contributes to his behavior, but my brain just kept waving a GIANT red flag. Emilia, the leading lady, was super sweet and courageous, but if she were one of my gal pals, I’d be sitting her down for a lil chit chat. Some portions of the relationship between them made me cringe, but that level of toxicity was obviously the point because it gave justifications later as to why their connection was so strong. The steamy parts of this book were definitely built up with extreme sexual tension, so all of that was fulfilling lol. Y’all. Idk. Did I enjoy it? For the most part, yeah I did. Do I recommend it? It’s definitely not for everyone, but please look up the trigger warnings beforehand if you do move forward with reading it.

CLOCKWORK PRINCE by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street - and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends. With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize the Magister himself knows their every move - and that one of their own has betrayed them. As the dangerous search for the Magister and truth continues the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

My Thoughts: Diving back into the Infernal Devices series was like grabbing my coziest blanket, curling up next to a fire, and shutting the world away - all within a Victorian-style home lol. The level of dedication I have to each of the characters and how enthralled I am in this storyline is unreal sometimes. Watching my boy, Will, befriend a warlock in order to remedy a problem from his past that’s affecting the present, only to learn he’s been living by a lie was absolutely heartbreaking. Then to see Jem (basically Will’s brother) start swooning over Tessa who is still trying to figure out what she is while she battles the confusion of where her heart lies between the two boys was gut wrenching. The villain of this series, Mortmain, basically only got page time by people talking about him, but I kind of appreciated that because there were so many side storylines going on already. The plot still moved forward with new discoveries that impacted the overall issue at hand as well as mysteries from some characters’ pasts, while incorporating fast-paced, action-packed scenes and slower heartwarming moments. The last 20 pages of this book caused an emotional reaction that I physically felt in my stomach hours after finishing it. So, if it wasn’t clear already, I’m thoroughly invested in this series.

IN A HOLIDAZE by Christina Lauren

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions. But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world - the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy. The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake, she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop - and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

My Thoughts: This book was so much fun! It wandered a little bit outside of the normal CL lines, but it was the perfect holiday-themed rom-com. Emphasis on the comedy part. Between Mae trying to figure out her Groundhog’s Day predicament, the colorful imagery of various mishaps, and the endless playful dialogue, I was laughing out loud on more than one occasion. The romance plotline was fast-paced and fun for the most part with just the right touch of drama sprinkled in which was perfect for this book. All of the side characters deserve a shout out for making this reading experience so enjoyable though. They’re such an eclectic group of personalities that both mesh and contrast in the best ways possible, but never muddied up the overall story. Honestly, I know I’m late on the Holidaze train since it came out last year, but if you’re looking for something super fun during the holidays and a little swoony to boot, I highly recommend picking this one up!

A hand is holding up a paperback copy of The Kiss Quotient . The cover is teal with yellow lettering. There is an illustrated couple on the front standing on a square root sign as well. — The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

THE KISS QUOTIENT by Helen Hoang

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs practice - with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan. Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense relationship starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

My Thoughts: Wow I loved this book. I binge-read it on a Saturday, and had to keep convincing myself to get up and move around because my nose was GLUED to the pages. The format of this story alternates character POV and that was a huge part of what made this experience so enjoyable. I loved hearing what’s going on inside of Stella and Michael’s heads that they weren’t saying out loud to each other. Especially, when it came to misunderstandings due to how each of them was processing the situation. The raw and undeniable connection between these two characters was addicting. It had the “falling slowly and all at once” type of vibes that made me absolutely giddy. As a compliment to all of the sweet moments we get between Stella and Michael, the steamier parts of this plotline were phenomenal and the nature of how those coital-related experiences started was unique to say the least. I’ve never read any romance novel like this before and absolutely loved it! Highly recommend you pick this one up!

A hand is holding up a paperback copy of Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. On the cover, there are two teenagers standing back to back in the snow. One is wearing all black and holding a red notebook. The other is wearing red converse, and a dress. — Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

DASH AND LILY’S BOOK OF DARES by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash the right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

My Thoughts: I watched the Netflix adaptation of this book last December and thought it was super cute. This is a quick read and right for the season if you’re trying to get into the Christmas spirit, but it was a little underwhelming. Lily and Dash are supposed to be 16, and while I definitely felt Dash’s personality and behavior fit the age appropriate criteria, Lily felt more like a 13 year old than a sophomore or junior in high school. I get that she’s supposed to have this childlike wonder towards the magic of Christmas cheer, but instead of that energy coming off as whimsical, it came off as extremely immature. Especially when she got into her “Shrilly” mode and would scream or pout when she was upset… Not a cute look, Lily. On a more positive note, the banter throughout this book is phenomenal - especially between Dash and Lily’s great-aunt, Miss Basil E - and basically saved this book from receiving only 2 stars. They had some dialogue at one point in the book that was quick-wit goals. If you’ve seen the Netflix adaptation already, then I don’t think it’s worth picking up this book. If you haven’t seen the series yet and want to read the book beforehand, I’d say skip it lol and just go straight to Netflix.

THE BRIDE TEST by Helen Hoang

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Summary: Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when he ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions - like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better - that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride. As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working… but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection. With Esme’s time in the U.S. dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

My Thoughts: Helen Hoang is a newer author for me, and I absolutely love her writing style and storylines. After such a great experience with The Kiss Quotient, I had decently high expectations for The Bride Test, and although I did enjoy it, it didn’t do as much for me as I wanted it to. Khai and Esme were such true-to-themselves characters which made understanding their perspectives and empathizing with them effortless. It was especially emotional watching some key moments of their blooming relationship help grow them closer. That said, both main characters were mildly too passive for the plotline to move forward at a good pace. Like some of the side characters had to take matters into their own hands to get Khai and Esme where we all wanted them to go, so it caused a little bit of a disconnect. However, it was refreshing for a romance novel to follow a strong character like Esme who was determined, knew her self-worth, and wouldn’t settle for any less than she deserved. Khai was a big sweetie and though he processes emotions differently, it’s undeniable he has the biggest heart for those he loves. Overall, I liked this book and encourage you to pick it up if you’ve become invested in this series too, but I definitely liked the first book a bit more.

THE SHAADI SET-UP by Lillie Vale

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: High school sweethearts Rita Chitniss and Milan Rao were the golden couple, until the day he broke her heart. Now, six years later, Rita has turned her passion for furniture restoration into a career and has an almost-perfect boyfriend, eil. The last thing she needs is for Milan to re-enter her life, but that’s exactly what happens when her mother, an unfailing believer in second chances, sets them up. Milan is just as charming, cocky, and confident as he was back in school. Only this time, he actually needs her business expertise, not her heart, to flip a hard-to-sell house for his realty agency. While Rita begrudgingly agrees to help, she’s not taking any risks. To prove she’s definitely over him, she signs herself and Neil up on MyShaadi.com a Desi matchmaking site famous for its success stories and trustworthy enough to convince everyone that she and Niel are the new and improved couple. Instead, she’s shocked when MyShaadi’s perfect match for her isn’t Neil… it’s Milan. Ignoring the website and her mother is one thing, but ignoring Milan proves much more difficult, especially when she promises to help him renovate the beach house of her dreams. And as the two of them dive deeper into work - and their pasts - Rita begins to wonder if maybe her match wasn’t so wrong after all...

My Thoughts: Okay so this was a cute rom-com, but I kind of felt meh about it afterwards. It took me a minute to get into this book, and I think that’s because the main character, Rita, isn’t necessarily all that likeable. She had redeeming qualities, but it had nothing to do with the romance storyline and everything to do with her learning more about the dynamics of her family, taking on projects she never thought she was capable of, and finally processing the breakup from six years ago. Her boyfriend, Neil, is annoying as shit, and I felt like the whole storyline of her trying to match with him on MyShaadi was a waste of time because, although I think we were supposed to feel like she really did want to be with Neil, it was PLAINLY obvious that she was so indifferent as to whether they stayed together or not. I was hoping Milan would be a more likeable main character to make up for what was missing with Rita, but he also let me down in a couple of parts and never quite fully recovered. The book’s plot line was a cute concept, but I just think the characters made it hard for me to fully buy into it. Overall, if someone asked me for a romcom recommendation, this wouldn’t be my first choice. However, if you’re looking for something that specifically includes online dating in its storyline then this could be for you.

BARBARIAN’S HEART by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Stacy has never spent a day without her mate since arriving on the ice planet. She’s happy and in love, and they have a beautiful child together. All of that changed when the world shook and her mate nearly died. Pashov wakes up from his coma and can’t remember Stacy or their son. Every memory of the past two years is gone, and that changes everything between them. How can Stacy love someone that doesn’t remember her? How can she not, when she knows he is still her mate underneath it all?

My Thoughts: Y’all. When I say these books get more complex the farther you get into them, I do not lie. This story of Stacy and Pashov trying to find their way back to each other after his near-death experience was an emotional rollercoaster. The author did an amazing job at really making you feel the heartbreak, frustration, joyful moments, and unconditional love these characters shared. We also got to see more of the new village the tribe is calling home now, and learn more about the Metlaks - who are slowly gaining more depth with each book. Also, to my smut lovers, do not fret! There was a fair share to be had of that in this 10th installment of IPB. :) Overall, if you’ve started the series and aren’t sure how far you should go, I’m here to say book 10 did not disappoint lol.

BARBARIAN’S REDEMPTION by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: For seasons, Bek has waited for her. His perfect mate. In a tribe full of happy couples, Bek is alone. But he is not content to remain this way. There are no eligible unmated females left, so he will do whatever it takes to bring females back to the tribe… even if it means doing something wrong. Even if it means he must purchase his mate on the intergalactic black market. But will his ruthless move turn his mate against him before they ever meet? Can she ever forgive Bek for buying her freedom?

My Thoughts: Bek has been a big ole broody boy and kind of a dick throughout this series, so I’m glad we finally got to see inside his head in this book. After purchasing the five women from the intergalactic black market, he is shunned from the tribe for being a Rule Breaker. Although Bek resonated with one of the women right away, Elly, she is the most traumatized of the group and protects herself under years of accumulated dirt and grime. It was really heartwarming watching Bek gain Elly’s trust throughout this book. I think since he’s been painted as such a hard person to be around, it was assumed his mate would end up being someone just as hard. However, Elly was sweet and scared, and instead we saw a new side to Bek that was protective and patient, and he absolutely adored Elly. Overall, I really loved their story. I have to say though, there was one part at the beginning of the book where Elly tries to escape and gets injured, and the description of said injury lives rent free in my mind and I hate it lol. Other than that, I’m still loving this IPB series!

CLOCKWORK PRINCESS by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray. Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever. As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

My Thoughts: This book was the end of a series for me (literally lol), and I wanted to savor the experience because I am a sap for YA fantasy and we all know it. Without giving anything away, the connection between Tessa, Will, and Jem is a love triangle for the ages, and I loved that it was a have your cake and eat it too type of scenario. Like I am SQUEALING with fulfillment of how this triangle was handled and that’s all I’m going to say about that. Honestly, all of the characters hold a place in my heart. Even characters I thought were lost causes ended up weaseling their way into my bookish embrace. The book’s pace was phenomenal as it walked us through the perfect mix of high-action scenes and absolutely necessary slower moments. Idk what to say, y’all. I just really loved this book and how it tied the most immaculate bow on the gift that is the Infernal Devices series. If you ask me in a couple of months what fantasy series I recommend, I can guarantee this will be on the list I ramble off to you.

DESPERATE MEASURES by Katee Robert

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: One night, and Jasmine’s entire life went up in flames. All because of him. Jafar. As her world burned down around her, he offered her a choice. Walk away with nothing but her freedom or rise to his challenge and win her fortune back. She bargained and lost. Now Jafar owns her, and even as her mind rails against his rules, her body loves the punishments he deals out when she breaks them. But a gilded cage is still a prison, Jasmine will do anything to obtain her freedom. Even betray the man she’s falling for.

My Thoughts: LOLOLOL. Okay, so this is a DISNEY retelling of sorts. Yes, Disney. So if you’d like to keep the story of Jasmine in your brain as the innocent, animated version, then I recommend you keep it moving. This book was not just steamy. Steamy doesn’t begin to cover it. Twas KINKY. I loved that this relationship between Jasmine and Jafar had been considered “forbidden fruit” for the last five years while Jafar was working under her father. It was interesting to watch them navigate this new dynamic that both of them have dreamed about, but never discussed. They weren’t sure if or how they could trust each other, but the chemistry was undeniable as was the longing for this new reality. Since Jasmine was locked away for most of her life, her character development was both slow and rushed, but it was cute that Jafar served as a grounding mechanism for her as she found herself. This is the same author who wrote Neon Gods, and although I enjoyed this book, I prefer NG more. It just had a bit more plot and character development, and was also a single-bed trope - which this one is definitely not lol, so take that in stride. If you do want to pick this one up, I recommend checking the content warnings prior to!

HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING by Denise Williams

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Almost check. Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship - except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career. Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life so she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again.

My Thoughts: To put it plainly, this was a really solid book. First off, the “meetcute” between the main characters was so much fun and I loved the genuine connection between Naya and Jake. It just made following this budding romance an enjoyable experience through the highs and the lows. This isn’t your run of the mill feel-good romance though. The story takes place three years after Naya gets out of an abusive relationship, and I appreciated how the author handled this sensitive topic and wove it into her development arc and the story overall. Jake’s character was definitely likeable and provided some light-hearted relief to counter the heavier parts of this book, but there were some communication barriers between the two MCs that mildly discredited them for me a little bit. It didn’t ruin anything for me by any means, but made me give a side eye, yanno? Anyway, if you’re looking for a well-rounded romance that touches on a heavier topic, then I’d recommend picking this up!

THE BEAST by Katee Robert

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Once upon a time, Isabelle fell in love with two men. Their feelings for her were matched only by their hatred for each other. Gaeton, with his brash charm and casual cruelty. Beast, his lust equal to his penchant for violence. Being with them was sinful and perfect in different ways. In the end, she couldn’t choose and lost them both. Now, Isabelle’s sisters have tasked her with securing their power base, no matter the cost. She will do anything for her family - even if it means agreeing to the terms set by Gaeton and Beast. The three of them, together. But only for as long as it takes her to choose one of them once and for all. When playing games of power, happily ever after isn’t a priority. Not even for Isabelle.

My Thoughts: So, if you haven’t already guessed it, this is a smutty Beauty and the Beast retelling. Basically, we have a lovely throuple, second chance romance storyline composed of Isabelle, Gaeton, and Beast. She had dated each of them separately a while ago, and broke their hearts by not being able to decide between them. However, now that she needs their help with protecting her family’s territory, the boys are calling the shots. Okay, so clearly a large purpose of this book is to provide some hella steamy kink which it definitely did, but I felt like it didn’t have much of a plot outside of the developing romance. So take that as you will. That said, I loved the unapologetic connection between the three characters. You could really feel the heartbreak and adoration radiating for one another. Also, I must add that I appreciate the author goes out of her way to truly emphasize that all of the spicy scenes are completely consensual. That’s very important and we love to see it. All in all, this retelling was entertaining and will definitely make you blush lol.

THE EX TALK by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can’t imagine working anywhere else. But lately it’s been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who’s fresh off a journalism master’s program and convinced he knows everything about public radio. When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it’s this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it’s not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts. As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.

My Thoughts: What a freaking cute book! Especially as a podcast fan IRL, I loved the premise of Shay and Dominic’s story. Neither character was necessarily a stand-out for me, but, as a pair, their chemistry and connection was so much fun. Especially during the podcast dialogue chapters when their banter was on point the entire time. That said, a lot of the story takes place outside of the podcast recording, which I understand helped with the setting and getting into each character’s head, but I just wish there were more pages dedicated to the podcast listeners’ point of view. The build up was enjoyable to watch, but I wish there would have been a few more elements to their attraction before their undeniable chemistry was evident to both characters. Overall, this rom com is a really fun take on the enemies to lovers trope, and perfect for anyone looking for a light-hearted, quirky read!

THE TROUBLE WITH HATING YOU by Sajni Patel

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary: Liya Thakkar is a successful biochemical engineer, takeout enthusiast, and happily single woman. The moment she realizes her parents’ last dinner party is a setup with the man they want her to marry, she’s out the back door in a flash. Imagine her surprise when the same guy shows up at her office a week later -- the new lawyer hired to save her struggling company. What’s not surprising: he’s not too thrilled to see her either after that humiliating fiasco. Jay Shah looks good on paper and off. Especially if you like that whole gorgeous, charming lawyer-in-a-good-suit thing. He’s also arrogant and infuriating. As their witty office banter turns into late night chats, Liya starts to think he might be the one man who truly accepts her. But falling for each other means exposing their painful pasts. Will Liya keep running, or will she finally give love a real chance?

My Thoughts: What a great enemies-to-lovers romance novel! I went on a little binge with this specific trope this month, and The Trouble With Hating You was one of my favorites by far! It definitely took a minute to get my footing with the dynamics between Liya and Jay because their relationship started off very rocky and a little immature. However, as the softness started settling into their interactions and the cute scenes were trickling in, I was rooting for them completely. The cultural component of arranged marriages was interesting to learn about and added another dimension to Jay and Liya’s evolving love story. Also, a refreshing part of their character and relationship development for me was that both characters were dealing with some traumatic experiences, but their new romance didn’t serve as the fix-all for processing their pasts. Though most of this love story was a slower burn, there was just a touch of sexual tension to keep things a little interesting throughout. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a quality enemies-to-lovers trope! Content Warnings: sexual assault, victim blaming, loss of a loved one, domestic violence.

WINDOW SHOPPING by Tessa Bailey

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin. I’m standing alone in front of the famous Vivant department store, when a charming man named Aiden asks my opinion of the decor. It’s a tragedy in tinsel, I say, unable to lie. He asks for a better idea with a twinkle in his eye. Did I know he owned the place? No. He put me on the spot. Now I’m working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot. But as a down on her luck girl with a difficult past, I know an opportunity when I see one - and I have to make it last. I’ll put my heart and soul into dressing his holiday windows. I’ll work without stopping. And when we lose the battle with temptation, I’ll try and remember I’m just window shopping.

My Thoughts: This quick holiday read was the ideal mix of romance, cheese, spice, and Christmas! The “opposites attract” trope worked perfectly between our grumpy goth, Stella, and the chipper, quirky Aiden. I loved how each was experiencing their own inner struggles and instead of one character “saving” the other, they worked through the issues together by providing support and encouragement. It made the dynamics of the relationship feel much more balanced which I think some romances (especially steamier ones) tend to lack. The timeline of the growing infatuation with each other seemed a little too fast for me, but at least that kept the pace of the story moving forward. Overall, I think if you’re looking for something quick, steamy, and holiday-themed, this is a great book to scratch that itch!

2021 Book Count: 104

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already!

YOUR TURN! Let me know in the comments what books you’re trying to read before the end of the year.

October 2021 Reads

November 01, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

Ah yes. October. The Harvest Month. Spooky szn, if you will.

Besides being in a wedding, my October was pretty lowkey. I ate my weight in pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, broke out all of my cozy sweaters, drank some Witches Brew wine, broke out all over my face, and read quite a few books. :)

So let’s get into these reviews!

*All summaries taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

DUNE by Frank Herbert

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for… When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.

My Thoughts: Oo-wee. Where to even start with this book? Dune was a DOOZY to say the least, and pretty complex right from the get-go. The first 100 pages are an information dumpage to the extreme and I had to keep rereading pages because it was hard to get my footing with the storyline until probably 25% into the book. In general, this book definitely serves a foundation-building purpose for the rest of the series, so take that in stride. The other aspect of Dune that made getting thoroughly invested a little tough was the style of writing. I’m not saying I didn’t appreciate it, but I’ve never read anything else like it. I realized after finishing the book that it was written in 1965, and was basically patient zero for books of the science fiction genre. So, I have mad respect for it in that regard, but whether it was the pacing, the characters, or overall storyline, I was never 100% enthralled. Like so much shit happens and so many characters are introduced throughout, there was no point in trying to hypothesize any plot twists. Am I going to go see the movie? Hell yes. Am I going to continue on with this series? I honestly haven’t decided yet. If science fiction is usually your jam, then I say go for it! If sci-fi isn’t your cuppa tea then I’d say to let this one sit until you’re in the m00d for it.

CEMETERY BOYS by Aiden Thomas

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants him to leave.

My Thoughts: All the feels, my friends. All the feels. This was the perfect book for me to kick off my sp00ky season reading list with, and absolutely stole my heart in the process. Starting with the main characters, Yadriel and Julian. Each was vibrant and complex in his own unique way, but never overpowered the other. If anything, they were the perfect serving of chaos, comfort, bravery, understanding, and selflessness. I also loved Yadriel’s cousin, Maritza, because she was Yadriel’s O.G. confidant and companion, and added sass where there needed to be. The overall storyline was beautifully written, and although the plot twist probably should’ve been more evident to me, I did not see it coming right away. Just learning so much about the brujx community and traditions was interesting enough to keep me invested. My favorite takeaway from this book, though, was learning more about the experience of a person who is transitioning, but not taking hormones. It was incredibly eye-opening about the daily adversities trans-people encounter - both in their personal and public lives - and the author wrote Yadriel’s experience in a way that made it easy to understand how to be a better ally to those in the trans community. Cemetery Boys is an empowering story that you really shouldn’t sleep on.

ISN’T IT BROMANTIC by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville. Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance. The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love - and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.

My Thoughts: The Bromance Book Club series has become somewhat of a guilty pleasure read for me, and the fourth installment was no exception! I loved the different approach the author took in this one with the relationship stemming from childhood best friends who married out of convenience. We’ve seen Vlad, aka The Russian, in previous books, but all we knew about him from those was that he has stomach issues all the time. So, I really enjoyed getting to see some depth added to his character through this storyline. It gave me all the feels to watch Vlad and Elena work to be vulnerable with each other in order to save their marriage. That said, it mildly irks me when poor communication skills are the main issue in a book between two characters, and that was basically the case here. Like they never just said what they were thinking, which was so irritating because so much could’ve been addressed by having a frank conversation lol. I also wish the swoony romance parts would have been either longer or more frequent. It kind of felt like Elena’s side storyline over-shadowed that a bit when it didn’t really need to. Overall though, this was a cute read if you’re looking for something along the lines of a rom-com!

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer - in case he or she decides to strike again.

My Thoughts: This was my first Agatha Christie book, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised in different ways than I anticipated. Firstly, I liked how she immerses you into the story at the start of the book by setting the scene, introducing you to some of the characters, etc. Then once the investigation actually begins, everything is broken down in an organized format where the chapters are titled by interviews and evidence. With twelve different characters you have to remember specific details about, I found this setup to be incredibly helpful for keeping track of everything. Especially as I was reading chunks of this book every night and not in one sitting. Overall, I really enjoyed this murder mystery and never suspected the outcome. So, if you’re looking for something quick, this would be a good book to pick up!

ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M. McManus

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Pay close attention and you might solve this. On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app. Only Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon’s Dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

My Thoughts: Remix The Breakfast Club to include a murder mystery and those are the vibes this book is serving. I literally could not put it down - it’s a certified page-turner to say the least. No surprise to anyone, the characters are what did it for me in this book. I basically loved every single one of them AND they ALL (clap) HAD (clap) SOLID (clap) CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (clap x2). We love to see it, y’all. Besides, Nate and Cooper have both officially been inducted into the “Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame” for me, so lol. Bronwyn and Addy were absolute badasses though, so don’t underestimate them! The plot in general was thick and twisty, and although the solution to this mystery wasn’t necessarily the strongest, I definitely didn’t see it coming. So, I loved all of it nonetheless. If you’re looking for a great YA mystery/thriller, I definitely recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book!

A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WOMEN by Laura Hankin

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: For years, rumors have swirled about an exclusive, women-only social club where the elite tastemakers of NYC meet. People in the know whisper all sorts of claims: Membership dues cost $1K a month. The women even handpicked the city’s first female mayor, but no one knows for sure. That is, until journalist Jillian Beckly decides she’s going to break into the club. With her career in freefall, Jillian needs a juicy scoop, and she has personal interest in bringing these women down. But the deeper she gets into this new world - where billionaire “girlbosses” mingle with the astrology-obsessed - the more Jillian learns that bad things happen to those who dare question the club’s motives or giggle at its outlandish rituals. The select group of women who populate the club may be far more powerful than she ever imagined. And far more dangerous too.

My Thoughts: Honestly? This book was as enjoyable as it was strange lol. Jillian is experiencing some tough times after losing her mom and her job within just a few months of each other. So although Nevertheless keeps getting weirder as the story goes on, she doesn’t have much else going on in life, so I understood why she was drawn back to this secret women’s club time and time again. I will say, it’s only mildly odd until about 60% and then you hit a freaking bizarre plot twist that takes everything in a wild direction lol. There’s a friends-to-lovers side plot in this that was super cute and kept everything grounded as things got v strange with Jillian’s involvement with the club. Even though the conclusion to this odd ride wasn’t as groundbreaking or juicy as I had hoped, it was still satisfying.

SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faes a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful 13-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims - a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story - and survive this homecoming.

My Thoughts: This book was dark and twisted and THRILLING. I’m going to start by saying this quick read is not for the faint of heart. There were portions of the story that literally made my skin crawl and I had to stop reading to get out of that mindset for a little bit. The main character, Camille, was the perfect unlikeable protagonist for this. She’s got a dark past and comes off as morally gray, but as you start seeing into her psyche, it’s clear why. The plot itself was creepy to say the least, and the side characters were all sorts of interesting, so I was constantly second guessing my prediction for “whodunnit” because everyone was looking a little sus. Like I said, it’s not for the faint of heart, but if you want a short book that will make your teeth clench a little bit, this is a good one. Please see the content/trigger warnings beforehand though. CW/TW: murder, self harm, alcholism, verbal and emotional abuse, gore/corpse descriptions, drug abuse, and rape.

BARBARIAN’S MATE by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: ‘Renosance’ is supposed to be a dream - that’s when your soulmate is chosen for you. And everyone on the ice planet has hooked up with a hunky soulmate of their own except for Josie. Does she want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all she’s ever wanted is to be loved by someone. Expect the soulmate chosen for her? Her least favorite person on that darn ice planet. Haedan’s the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien. So why is it her khui sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to her that he’s not as awful as she thinks he is? Josie hates him... doesn’t she?

My Thoughts: This book took a different direction than other books, and I found the mini adventure of it incredibly enjoyable! We follow an enemies-to-lovers trope between Josie, a talkative ball of sunshine, and Haeden, the biggest grumpy alien around. This pairing is the last two anyone ever expected to resonate with each other because they’re complete opposites. That said, I really enjoyed both going through their character developments and watching them slowly open up to each other about their pasts. It made Josie and Haeden much more empathetic and understanding of each other’s behaviors better, which in turn made their relationship so much stronger. The plot twist of Josie finding another portion of the spaceship Kira crashed was a really exciting development in the series because we’ve been following each of the human women thus far, so I was wondering what would happen to keep the series going. Overall, I sincerely liked following Josie’s and Haeden’s story - it had spice, adventure, and all the things we love to see in a sci-fi romance.

BARBARIAN’S TOUCH by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: When Lilah wakes up on the ice planet, she’s scared of everything: this place is cold, silent, and the locals look more like blue devils than aliens. To make matters worse, one of the strangers decides she’s going to be his girlfriend and kidnaps her away from her sister. Lilah is completely and utterly alone. What’s a girl to do? Well, this girl escapes. Of course, that means she goes from the frying pan into the fire, and her situation gets even more dangerous. Just when Lilah has no hope left, a new hero appears. Sure, he’s blue, horned, and has a tail. He’s also fierce, protective and thinks Lilah is perfect. But is what they have real or just a mating instinct.

My Thoughts: Y’all, this one may just be my favorite of the series thus far. Lilah is deaf and everyone, including her sister Maddie, is hoping that once her khui kicks in, it will fix the hearing issue. Everyone except the very sweet Rokan who thinks Lilah is pure perfection and views the fact that others can’t communicate with her using ASL as a flaw on their end. I loved watching their relationship grow and it was incredibly heartwarming to see Rokan trying everything he can to communicate with Lilah to build her trust. One of the cooler parts of this book was the glimpses we get to see of the Metlaks - aka Yetis. Throughout all of the other books, they’ve been described as incredibly dumb and aggressive animals. During this adventure with Lilah, she has a few encounters with one specific Metlak who uses hand signs to communicate as well, and ends up helping her during a crisis. So, it was interesting to see a new side of these creatures. For y’all who want the lowdown on the smut, there was plentyyy of spice to be had in this book lol, and I definitely recommend reading it if you’ve made it this far in the series!

THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons. Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had every imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture - by any means necessary.

My Thoughts: Why do I love this YA mystery series so much? My friends, I cannot put my finger on it, but I’m invested and I don’t care who knows it. Between the teenage love triangle, the clues left by Gramps Tobias, and the insight we finally get into the missing Hawthorne’s disappearance - I was INVESTED. This book was just as fun as the first one and smoothly transitioned the story into a new puzzle Avery and the Hawthorne boys are left trying to solve. There were plot twists GALORE that left me feeling some type of way, and I was absolutely TORN between being Team Grayson and Team Jameson lol. Though this book is the second installment of what is supposed to be a trilogy by next year, I thought the ending wrapped up pretty nicely, so I’m not sure where the next book will go, but you best believe I plan to pick it up!

A TOUCH OF DARKNESS by Scarlett St. Clair

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible. She must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows - and it’s forbidden.

My Thoughts: Love us a modern day Greek Mythology retelling, do we not? Admittedly, I had to Google what the OG tea was on Persephone and Hades as I started reading this because I had no prior knowledge of them lol. Having some context helped me understand the dynamics between the characters better, but I wasn’t blown away by either of them. I wish Persephone’s development arc happened a little quicker. She was just so insecure and naive for most of the book, which led to poor decision making. Hades’ character had more depth that was slowly revealed as the plot went on, but I wish he didn’t have to keep saving our girl P. Also, this book is supposed to be spicy - which it definitely is at various times - but that doesn’t happen until almost more than 50% into the storyline. Overall, it didn’t blow me away but it’s an enjoyable quick read if you’re looking for a romance that’s a little different!

NEON GODS by Katee Robert

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth - a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her - for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her.

My Thoughts: So, I admit, I was on a Hades/Persephone retelling kick by the end of the month lol, and this book did NOT disappoint. It was the perfect balance of sweet and FREAKING SPICY. I liked that it gave a nod to the real tale of Hades “kidnapping” Persephones, but didn’t overdo the fantasy elements beyond an invisible barrier to the “Underworld” aka southside of the city. The main characters were absolutely magnetic and their development throughout the book was *chef’s kiss*. The chemistry between Hades and Persephone was utterly undeniable even an hour after they crossed paths, and that connection only grows stronger (and steamier) as the plot goes on. Personally, this was quite the page turner, but if you’re not into books that have a 50 Shades of Gray flavor to them, then this probs isn’t for you. Otherwise, enjoyyyy! :)

2021 Book Count: 88

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