October 2022 Reads

November 06, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

This was a slower reading month for me, y’all.

October came out swinging this year. I feel like it was a really long month that also went by in like 2 seconds lol. Between work and everything else going on, I just wasn’t always in the mood to read and couldn’t figure out which books I was in the mood for. I really was trying to read some mystery/thrillers, but ended up taking a quick right to one of my comfort genres - romance. So I didn’t get through as many books as usual this month, but I think it was still a solid month for reading.

Anyway, on a random note, I also cut seven inches off my hair this month and ya girl feels LIBERATED. Highly recommend giving it a try lol.

That’s about it.

Let’s get into everything I read in October!

*All summaries are taken/paraphrased from Goodreads.

THE WHISPER MAN by Alex North

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town: Featherbank. But Featherbank has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer adbducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed “The Whisper Man,” for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night. Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter’s crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man. And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window.

My Thoughts: This book has been on my peripherals for a while now because I always see people rate it really highly, but I’m also a bit scaredy lol. So when I saw the audiobook was available on Libby, I figured no better time than October to listen to something a little chilling. My friends, this book was creepy. Like I had to double check my locks a couple of times while listening to it lol. The start of the book was a little slow though, and I have to admit that I’m still not sure if I wasn’t listening closely enough and missed a key part of the beginning or what. Later in the story, there’s a plot point emphasized that made it seem like you should’ve picked up on this since the beginning (which is that hindsight feeling). However, I had zero memory of that plot point and the specific character it was highlighting lol. So I can’t confirm or deny if this was a “me” type of thing or a plot flaw, so if you read this let me know! I think the storyline in general was twisty and well thought out for sure. Basically, it was a pretty creepy story and I thought it served its purpose lol.

A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES by Sarah J. Maas

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it. The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other. Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts. Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance and healing in each other’s arms.

My Thoughts: Okay y’all. I have to be honest that I have mixed feelings about this book because it’s usually as effortless as breathing to fall into the rhythm of SJM’s writing - especially with series like ACOTAR. However, I feel like she was trying to appease the reader a little bit too much due to the demand for more smut in her books, so there was a slight disconnect in her writing for me. I’m not knocking the smut she included in this story - y’all know I love some quality smut - but it felt mildly forced at times. The first half of this book was like 3-3.5 stars at best for me. Aside from the slight disconnect in her writing, it seemed as though SJM was trying to get her footing with the POV from these specific characters (Nesta and Cassian) and just kept trying new things until the tone felt right. The second half was easily 4-5 stars though depending on the part. The Blood Rite chapters?? AMAZING. Although, yes, I loved watching Cassian’s and Nesta’s relationship grow, I think the bigger themes of found family/love through friendship sold me on this story. The emotional depth Nesta discovered with Gwyn and Emerie and the character development she experienced after befriending them was everything I wanted for her from the start. Girl Power, amiright? The writing in general smoothed out towards the second half of the book which also made the smutty scenes feel more natural. All in all, I ended the book feeling 4 stars about it. I’m honestly just looking forward to a book about Elaine, Lucien, and Azriel, so here’s to hoping that’s next on SJM’s agenda!

A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER by Holly Jackson

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

My Thoughts: This book has been on my radar for a while and I’ve only ever heard great things about it, so I was eager to dive in. The beginning of this story is kind of a slow burn as the author not only sets you up for what’s to come, but dives into where these characters have been. The format helped the pacing, though, as it bounced between Pip’s written report on her investigation and real time happenings in her life. I loved how incredibly relatable Pip was, and the passion she has for this capstone project instantly sucked me into her investigation. Right away, her character showed through the pages as she approached Ravi, the brother of deceased alleged murderer Sal, with such compassion when everyone else in town treated his family like the plague. Her kindness caught him by surprise, but he instantly joined her search for the real killer to clear his brother’s name. Their friendship ended up being a bright light in this otherwise dark endeavor. The first part of this storyline that made me GASP is what happens to a character named Barney - I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t go into detail, but fak that shot me in the heart. The plot twists in this book really hit when you least expect them and I could not for the life of me even try to guess who really killed Andie Bell. As I said before, the beginning of the book is a little bit of a slow burn, but by the end of it, we were SPEEDING through these pages. I highly recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a good murder mystery to get lost in that isn’t too gruesome.

My hand is holding a paperback copy of It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover in front of a white door. The cover is beige and shows crushed pink flowers on it with a darker pink font. — It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover (REREAD)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Sometimes it’s the one who loves you that hurts you the most. Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up - she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do the thoughts of Atlas Corrigan - her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I binge-read this book back in 2019 and remembered absolutely NOTHING about it lol. However, It Starts With Us came out on October 18th, so I wanted to quickly reread this one before I dove into its follow up book which includes Atlas’s point of view. The last time I read this CoHo novel, I gave it five stars, and after reading it a second time, nothing has changed. Colleen Hoover has a way of articulating emotions on such a deep level that you can’t help but connect with the words. All while keeping it simplistic enough that you can easily empathize with the feelings each character is experiencing. The anguish, sorrow, grief, and sadness Lily felt after Ryle showed his true colors really hit my core, and although I wanted to hate Ryle, I couldn’t. Specifically because of Lily’s perspective as she processes this unexpected situation and sees how much his actions are hurting him too. It’s like you don’t know what you would do if you were in her shoes unless you’ve gone through something similar - which I think is one of the bigger messages of this book. Atlas, of course, had my heart in a chokehold from the beginning. I adored how gentle, yet protective he was over Lily in every stage of their lives. He gives her space and patience to sort through the recent messes of her life before he tries to pursue anything with her, and I just really respected that. Overall, this book sucked me in a second time just as easily as it did the first, and I definitely recommend giving it a try if you haven’t. Just please check trigger warnings because this story is based around domestic violence.

IT STARTS WITH US by Colleen Hoover

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date. But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life - and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life. Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts With Us picks up right where the epilogue for It Ends with Us left off. Revealing more about Atlas’s past and following Lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband.

My Thoughts: One word: obsessed. This book picks up right where the epilogue left off in the last book and I could not read it quickly enough. Just the fact that it flips between Lily’s and Atlas’s POVs made me addicted because we only had Lily’s perspective in IEWU. So this time around, we got to see how everything happening is affecting both of them. We also get to know Atlas so much better as we’re finally given information about his past that we only got a taste of initially. If Atlas isn’t the definition of a book boyfriend, I don’t know who is. He’s kind, caring, compassionate, patient, and the instant protectiveness he feels over a younger brother he never knew he had was so incredibly heartwarming. Also, how he handles everything during a confrontation with Ryle is *chef’s kiss.* We love a mature, emotionally-developed man, do we not? Don’t even get me STARTED on all of the letters he writes to Lily in this book… I was a puddle of SWOON. I loved that Lily’s character development was evident compared to IEWU, while the overall essence of who she is as a person never changed. She’s such a likable character in general, but it’s clear enough how her previous experiences have affected her. I need to give a shoutout to some of the new and returning side characters including Josh, Theo, Marshall, and of course, Allyssa. They all add such tenderness to the storyline as well as comedic relief when necessary. There’s a lot of Finding Nemo jokes in here that had me laughing every time (IYKYK). This book was not as emotionally wringing as It Ends with Us, but I think that was exactly what I needed. We experienced a lot of grief and pain through Lily and Atlas’s story in the previous book whereas this sequel just OOZED hope and love. Honestly, if you read and loved the first book then I don’t see how It Starts with Us could possibly let you down. <3

THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: 1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything - beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses - but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of East-End London poverty, works the legendary code-breaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Mab and Osla are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart. 1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter - the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger - and their true enemy - closer…

My Thoughts: Hands down, this is one of my top three favorite historical fiction books that I’ve read this year. Kate Quinn really delivers with her writing and I am yet to be disappointed. I listened to this book on Libby and the narrator does a phenomenal job giving each individual character a distinctly different voice which makes it easy to fall into it. Not to mention, I was instantly obsessed with Osla, Mab, and Beth. Each of them individually are a force to be reckoned with, and I loved the found family storyline surrounding the friendship they developed. Kate Quinn always writes strong female MCs and we (clap) are (clap) here (clap) FOR IT. The plotline was also just a freaking work of art. I remember getting 50% of the way through the audiobook and thinking holy shit, SO MUCH has already happened. What else could possibly be coming in the next half that could match everything we just went through? Well, my friends. I quickly learned never to underestimate KQ. You have GOT to make sure you read (or listen to) the author’s note at the back of the book as well because she talks about the research that went into this book, and it is incredible how much she made historically accurate. Like I was in awe. Anyway, if you can’t already tell, I think you should read this book lol.

CONFESS by Colleen Hoover

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Auburn Reed is determined to rebuild her shattered life and she has no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to become deeply attracted to the studio’s enigmatic artist, Owen Gentry. For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is hiding a huge secret. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything Auburn loves most, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it - but can she do it?

My Thoughts: THAT PROLOGUE THO. CoHo came out SWINGING in this book and landed a one-two punch right in my feels within literally the first 10 pages. If you’ve read any of her other YA romances, this book had the quintessential CoHo writing style. It was easy to get immersed into the story and the way she strokes your emotions throughout felt so familiar. That said though, the plot of this specific book was obviously imaginative, but it was not completely hole-free. For example, there’s a catalyst moment towards the end of the book and I know it was supposed to feel impactful to the overall story, but it kind of felt more improvisational. Also, this specific moment was an INCREDIBLY convenient solution to the problem of the main characters, but like it was NEVER mentioned before. So it fell a little flat for me. Auburn and Owen were good characters for this story, but I didn’t love either of them. They were fine and likable for the most part, but there wasn’t anything significant about their personalities that made me grow super connected. Overall, this was a good book, but it didn’t blow me away.

THE AMERICAN ROOMMATE EXPERIMENT by Elena Armas

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Rosie Graham has a problem. A few, actually. She just quit her well paid job to focus on her secret career as a romance writer. She hasn’t told her family and now has terrible writer’s block. Then, the ceiling of her New York apartment literally crumbles on her. Luckily she has her best friend Lina’s spare key while she’s out of town. But Rosie doesn’t know that Lina has already lent her apartment to her cousin Lucas, who Rosie has been stalking - for lack of a better word - on Instagram for the last few months. Lucas seems intent on coming to her rescue like a Spanish knight in shining armor. Only this one strolls around the place in a towel, has a distracting grin, and an irresistible accent. Oh, and he cooks. Lucas offers to let Rosie stay with him, at least until she can find some affordable temporary housing. And then he proposes an outrageous experience to bring back her literary muse and meet her deadline: He’ll take her on a series of experimental dates meant to jump-start her romantic inspiration. Rosie has nothing to lose. Her silly, online crush is totally under control - but Lucas’s time in New York has an expiration date, and six weeks may not be enough, for either her or her deadline.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I remembered nothing about Spanish Love Deception before reading this book, and although I really couldn’t remember who these characters were in that book, I followed along just fine. Meaning you probably could read this as a standalone book if you really didn’t want to read Spanish Love Deception first. Anywho, this book was super cute. It was kind of a rocky start for me because I was mildly annoyed with the “omg I social media stalked you because I have a crush” storyline the book was trying to give at first. Then once that wasn’t such a huge focus, it got better. To get this out of the way, I was OBSESSED with Lucas lol. We LOVE an “acts of service” king, do we not? He was out here cooking for Rosie, taking care of her during writing streaks, helping her get her mojo back AND looking super fine. Swoon, my friends. Also, as much as I love a fake dating trope, my other small beef with this book is the fact that they leaned so far into the “oh I have to remember this is just an experiment and not real life” storyline that I couldn’t help but notice every time it came up. Overall though, this was a super cute story and I liked it! So if you’ve read Spanish Love Deception, I think you’d enjoy continuing onto this book.

FAKING WITH BENEFITS by Lily Gold

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Summary: WANTED: Three fake boyfriends. Must be tall, ripped, and willing to teach me how to kiss. My name is Layla Thompson and I am undateable. Seriously. I’m 28 and have never had a boyfriend. And with my thirties rapidly approaching, I’m starting to lose patience. Lucky for me, I have three overprotective best friends who are all-too-eager to help hone my dating skills. There’s Zack, the huge rugby player with the cheeky grin and rippling biceps. Josh, the boy-next-door with the sculpted jaw and calculating stare. And Luke, the silver-haired divorcee… who also happens to be my old professor. After a bad date leaves me crying on their shoulders, the three men are determined to help me find a guy. Together, they agree to be my “practice boyfriends,” and come up with a lesson plan packed with fake dates, make out sessions, and classes on flirty texting. In return, I just have to make an appearance on their relationship advice podcast once a week. Easy. But as the lessons become more and more intense, we soon find ourselves getting in too deep. Every butterfly-inducing touch lingers a little too long, and every molten kiss ends in fireworks. It’s not long before I realize their friendship isn’t enough for me anymore. I want more. The guys have been teaching me how to get a boyfriend, and now it’s time I put their lessons to the test. Three times over.

My Thoughts: Imma be really honest here. This book is not for my sweet pearl clutchers who love a “fade to black” moment when things start getting steamy in a romance novel. I wouldn’t even say this is for my beginner smut enthusiasts. This book, my dear friends, is for the seasoned smut fans who have read some really raunchy shit before and then proceeded to peruse through Kindle Unlimited for more directly after lol. It was SPICY. Not just spicy though, reverse harem spicy. So take that in stride going into this. I will also say, I could not decide for probably the first 50 pages whether or not I liked the author’s writing style. It felt very erratic to me. Once the plot kicked in though and the characters’ true forms came to life, I think I got too distracted by the actual story to notice the writing patterns anymore lol. This was a super cute book! You just can’t go into it hoping for a romantic tale about a monogamous, one-bed relationship because that’s nooot what you’re gonna find here. Don’t be fooled by the cute illustrated cover. Anywho, all in all, I definitely enjoyed this and am interested in reading some of Lily Gold’s other books. Also Josh was my favorite guy lol.

All righty! That’s it for October.

No telling where my reading mood will be come November, but I’m hoping I can incorporate some holiday-themed books because tis the szn. Yanno?

Okay cool. :)

2022 Book Count: 168

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

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

August 2022 Reads

September 03, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

Well, since it’s ~LinkedIn official~ now, I’m excited to share that I started a new job as the Digital Marketing Manager at the end of August at a local investment firm! It was a busy month of getting everything in order during the last two weeks at my last job, but luckily, I managed to sneak in a week and a half of staycation before starting the new gig.

Although I felt like I was in a reading slump at the beginning of August, by the time my time off came around, I was ready to get some reading accomplished. It helped that I did a lot of commuting that week because I flew through some audiobooks.

Plus, I attended an event that week that was hosted by the Grand Rapids Public Library with one of my best friends where we got to watch an in-person interview with Silvia Moreno-Garcia and had a copy of her book Mexican Gothic signed. (My review is in this post!)

As an avid reader, it was so cool to hear her talk about her books, writing techniques, and overall goals for some of her future novels.

All righty, let’s get to everything I read in August. :)

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

IN THE WEEDS by B.K. Borison

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings. He knows how it goes. But Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck. Also, her eyes. And her legs. So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is… confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Evelyn St. James. When she disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally forget her and move on. But Evelyn St. James has a problem. Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, she’s trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy, Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with. Nothing at all.

My Thoughts: Well if this wasn’t the sweetest, steamiest second chance romance I’ve read in a while! This story had a gentle approach to Beckett and Evie finding their way back to each other after experiencing an amazing weekend together as strangers a few months prior. There was a warmth and promise to this developing relationship as they navigated their feelings and dynamics of being in each other’s daily orbit. The author’s writing was delicate in a way that made the harder moments feel like solid growth for this unexpected love match, and I appreciated how much the visual descriptions pulled me into the Lovelight Farms and surrounded me with its small town charm. This was a feel-good read in all the ways you hope for with these characters, and I definitely recommend giving it a try if you love a good second chance romance!

BECOMING by Michelle Obama

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As FLOTUS - the first African American to serve in that role - she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of the most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations - and whose story inspires us to do the same.

My Thoughts: Wow if I couldn’t love the Obamas more than I already do! Michelle really pulled back the curtain in this memoir and gave such genuine, raw insight into her life. Although I have the physical copy of this book, I decided to listen to it on audiobook and am so glad I did. With Michelle as the narrator, it was so much easier to connect with her story and all of the emotions she felt throughout the various anecdotes. She gives an in-depth look at her life growing up in the south side of Chicago, introduces standout people who helped shape the woman she is today, and reflects on a variety of memories including going through law school, meeting her husband, life as the first Black FLOTUS, her experience as the spouse of a political figure, the passion behind her initiatives while Barack was in office, and more. Honestly, if you haven’t read her book yet, I cannot recommend it enough!

FUNNY FEELINGS by Tarah Dewitt

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Farley Jones is being forced to date Meyer Harrigan, the man she has come to love, in order to make all of her stand-up dreams come true. It’s agony - a tragedy, even. In lieu of flowers, please send cash… Meyer and his daughter Hazel have been everything to her since they came into her life three years ago. So, all joking aside, the stakes are really high when it’s not only her career, but both of those relationships on the line. A former stand-up star himself, Meyer has helped the trajectory of her career take off since he began managing her… Since he became her closest and most treasured friend, in the process. This is the only reason why, when the biggest opportunity of Farley’s career includes thrusting him back into the spotlight to stir up publicity, he agrees - despite his grumpiness, his protectiveness over Hazel, and his disdain for public attention. When helping her includes taking those barriers down, all those funny feelings start coming out into the open, and it quickly begins to feel like anything but a joke.

My Thoughts: Y’all know I love some top notch banter in a rom-com and this book DELIVERED. Farley and Meyer are both in the entertainment industry as comedians and although Meyer is retired, the well-timed and placed jokes throughout their conversations was *chef’s kiss.* On the romantic side of things, I was obsessed with their friendship/relationship. After walking into Meyer’s and his daughter, Hazel’s, lives three years ago, Farley has become a staple presence in their daily lives (and them in her’s). I loved that the timeline bounces between the present with Farley on tour and the past when she first met the father/daughter duo because we got a glimpse of how their relationship has evolved and could see how long these characters had been pining for each other. The pure adoration Meyer had for Farley had me swooning and I absolutely LOVED how much he was rooting for her professionally. I think in real life, most men might feel intimidated or emasculated by having a partner who shares the same career and is absolutely killing it while the guy’s career is at a standstill. There is an age-gap trope to this rom-com, and though I usually don’t love those, it honestly wasn’t as exaggerated as gaps in other books I’ve encountered. I think Meyer is 9 or 10 years older than Farley and she’s in her mid-twenties, so I could dig it. Anyway, if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud rom-com with top tier banter, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths. First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live - and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car. As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.

My Thoughts: I think I’ve said this before, but if not, take note: listening to Fredrik Backman books is the move. Every audiobook of his that I’ve listened to so far has never disappointed and Anxious People is no exception. This book unapologetically shows the imperfections and struggles that make us so human in the most humorous and melancholy of ways. The plot was as bananas as this eclectic group of characters, and all of it was utterly beautiful. I loved that the more we learned about each character and their background, the more we saw how they’ve each experienced something similar in life. It provided a sense of community amongst these random apartment-viewers and connected them in ways they couldn’t imagine. There are even a couple of storylines that intertwined from almost a decade ago through the present. This book provides multiple laugh out loud moments while balancing those with comfortable, melancholy conversations too. If you haven’t read this book already, I urge you to try listening to the audiobook!

HOOD FEMINISM by Mikki Kendall

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Today’s feminist movement has a glaring blind spot, and paradoxically, it is women. Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. All too often, however, the focus is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few. That feminists refuse to prioritize these issues has only exacerbated the age-old problem of both internecine discord and women who rebuff at carrying the title. Moreover, prominent white feminists broadly suffer from their own myopia with regard to how things like race, class, sexual orientation, and ability intersect with gender. How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, Kendall asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others?

My Thoughts: Wow, this audiobook was a wake up call. Mikki Kendall does a phenomenal job explaining why the feminism movement is failing those who need its support most and how women (especially white women) need to start taking an intersectional approach to tackling various issues in our country. This book provides concrete stats and figures while also interlacing real life anecdotes to make each point she’s explaining more applicable and easier to understand. I will say I wish I had a physical copy of the book as well so that I could go through and make notes/highlight key ideas and actions the author hit on while I was listening to it. That said, if it wasn’t already obvious, I highly encourage everyone to pick up this book because it was excellent.

BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Nora Stephens’ life is books - she’s read them all - and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby. Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away - with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again, in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow - what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

My Thoughts: Wow Emily Henry really knows how to make you feel all the feels in her books, huh? I definitely understand the hype with this story though. I was obsessed with Nora and Charlie’s dynamics. Both are unapologetically career-driven city people and though their initial meet-cute wasn’t very cute, the second time they collide in a charming little town called Sunshine Falls, all bets are off. Nora is a strong and resilient main character who has a tendency to put the ones she loves ahead of her own needs - even if that means putting her own dreams on pause while she makes sure her sister is happy and supported. The frustration Nora felt when she realized how misunderstood she was with people in her industry - described as a shark - was palpable. However, with Charlie’s help, she takes pride in her driven work ethic while learning how to humanize herself as a person too. Speaking of Charlie, we love a male MC who is written by a woman, do we not? Charlie knew ALL the right things to say, and tamed that “is there going to be a miscommunication?” anxiety in me with his words every time. It was so freaking refreshing, I cannot describe. Emily Henry’s writing is addicting and really peels back the layers of a reader with her words until you feel as vulnerable as the characters. At one point, she described heartache as a bruise you can’t help but press, and I really connected with that. This book is written for book lovers by a book lover and I just can’t recommend it enough!

MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemi Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find - her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemi knows little about the region. Noemi is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems fascinated by Noemi; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemi, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemi digs deeper, she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemi, mesmerized by the terrifying seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

My Thoughts: There may be some light spoilers in this review because I have some things to SAY, so proceed with caution. First off, I literally could not have predicted what happened in this book if you paid me. Even as we were getting more clues halfway through the book, I was kind of like “meh. Are we really going to leave it at that?” Then Ms. Moreno-Garcia said, “Hold this giant plot twist for me, won’t you?” I absolutely adored Noemi as the MC and heroine of this story. She is badass to a T in an elegantly scrappy type of way. She knows how to play people’s games and adapts some rules of her own, if you know what I mean. Francis honestly served as a beacon of hope for me throughout this terrifying experience and I’m so glad he didn’t disappoint. I obviously had trust issues with him, but people’s intentions are in their actions and his actions all provided some light in this dark mansion. We truly love an underdog moment. The author does an amazing job sucking you into the story and giving specific details that cause a physical reaction. For example, at one point, it’s torrentially raining and there’s no way to leave this dreary house in the mountains. I felt SO trapped and claustrophobic, my friends. It was insane. Last thing I will say, and this is the mild spoiler alert, I was obsessed with the fact that she literally and figuratively burned the racism right out of that family. If you can’t tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic thriller and highly recommend it if you’re looking for something a little different.

THE HENNA ARTIST by Alka Joshi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist - and confidante - to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own… Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow - a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. She still perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

My Thoughts: Y’all know I love a good historical fiction book and this novel hit the SPOT. Although I have a paperback copy of this book, I decided to listen to the audiobook and I’m so glad I did. The narrator was phenomenal, giving voices to all of the different characters. The first-person perspective made getting sucked into this story effortless. Lakshmi has put her nose to the grindstone over the last decade trying to make a stable life for herself in a society and culture that expects most women to surrender their independence to marriage. She’s created a successful henna business, painting wealthy women and providing special herbs to other patrons on the side. I loved how resilient and carefully planned her character was. You could feel how much self restraint she practiced daily to preserve her lifestyle. Which brings me to Radha. I know she’s only 13-years-old, but my god she needed a HEARTY reality check a few times throughout this book. Some of the things she did to throw a wrench in Lakshmi’s plans were out of pure naivety and I was so frustrated with her character lol. That said, we do clearly see her character development through various actions much later in the book when she makes some mature decisions, but it took a minute to get there. Overall, I absolutely adored this story and think you could easily enjoy it in any form.

THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: It’s freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them - not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all - family money, good looks, devoted friends - but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

My Thoughts: When I say I was absolutely HOOKED on this paranormal fantastical story, I am not exaggerating. This audiobook sucked me into its hold and I was instantly a part of this adventurous quest led by an addicting group of characters. Though a couple of characters are a little off-putting, *cough Ronan cough* I loved how you can easily feel the camaraderie between the Aglionby boys and how quickly they absorbed Blue into their group. The side characters of Blue’s family such as her mom and aunts were so quirky, fun, and whimsical. I kept looking forward to what their ~third eye~ had to say about any given situation. Aside from the characters, the plot was addicting and kept me guessing as to what would happen next in Gansey’s endless search for Glendower. PLUS, this audiobook threw in some plot twists that made me gasp because I didn’t see them sooner. Overall, I definitely understand why so many people love and obsess over The Raven Cycle series and am for sure hooked.

QUEEN OF AIR AND DARKNESS by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: What if damnation is the price of true love? Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.

My Thoughts: I’ve said it before, but I’m going to say it again: Cassandra Clare can WRITE. Like she really went all out on this third book of The Dark Artifices trilogy. Especially after the way the second book ended… I was ready to be wrecked again lol. I loved how thoroughly the plot for this specific book was planned because it was so detail-oriented and pulled important pieces not only from the first two books, but also from the The Mortal Instruments series. Although there is so much going on with literally every character, the format makes it easy to keep up with the chaos packed into each chapter. I was especially interested in the parabatai curse storyline following Julian and Emma because they had figured out a solution at the end of the last book, but that got thrown to shit immediately in this one. Like the hopelessness they felt was palpable. I will say, I also enjoyed that not everything panned out the way I was expecting it to. Specifically with Kit and Ty. The direction of their relationship felt unfinished, but I think that made me realize how much I had become invested in it. There was a turn of events I was HOPING would happen with Kieran, Cristina, and Mark, but wasn’t sure if we were going to get there or not. Literally every protagonist - big or small - in this series stole my heart and I was incredibly satisfied by the time I turned the last page. If you’ve read any of the Shadowhunters series and enjoyed them, then I highly recommend trying The Dark Artifices trilogy.

THE DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…

My Thoughts: Holy hell. It took a moment, but Ronan finally solidified his place in my heart. This book was a huge plot twist in and of itself. I literally could not have predicted ANY of this happening based on what occurred in the first book. We not only get to learn more about Ronan’s background and secrets about his family, but also how the ley lines are affecting his dreams and that this isn’t the first time odd things are happening. I love how far this group of friends will go for each other to ensure they’re safe and cared for. Although Adam is going through a rough time dealing with the repercussions from his sacrifice in the previous book, he learns a big lesson in “found family” and what it means to have people love you. Of course I’m obsessed with the storyline following Gansey and Blue as they develop feelings for each other lol. Blue’s mom, aunts, and cousins came through with the dynamic side character presence that continued to add just enough depth to this paranormal book. The only thing that bothered me about this audiobook is the voice the narrator used for one of the newer characters. It was so annoying lol which is why I’m only giving it 4 stars. Would I have rated it higher if I read the physical book? Maybe. Who’s to say? I definitely recommend continuing through The Raven Cycle series if you already started it though!

That’s my August Wrap-up!

I cannot believe we’re almost to fall, but I also can’t wait for sweater szn because that means I get to turn up my cozy level to a 10 when I’m reading lol.

2022 Book Count: 145

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What author would you like to see speak in-person?

July 2022 Reads

July 31, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

The Dog Days of Summer really came in hot this year, huh?

Despite enduring multiple 90+ degree days in a row, July was a pretty good month!

On the non-bookish side of things, I feel like a lot happened in the last 31 days - some expected, some unexpected - but most of it was exciting nonetheless.

On the bookish side of things, my reading was everywhere lol. I will say, a few of the books I read this month have some sort of TV or movie adaptation that were released recently (i.e. Along for the Ride, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Heartstopper, and Bird Box). So, if you’re the type who likes to read a book before watching the on-screen adaptation, this blog post might be helpful for vetting out what to watch!

All righty. I think that’s it for now. Let’s get into everything I read in July!

*All summaries taken or paraphrased from Goodreads. Wuthering Heights summary taken from IMDB.

THE WIFE UPSTAIRS by Rachel Hawkins

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates - a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name. But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie - not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for. Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past - or his - catches up to her?

My thoughts: This is the first time I listened to a mystery/thriller on audiobook and I’m pleased to report it did not disappoint. I think hearing it read almost made me less nervy about anything twisty that was on the horizon because the narrator did such an awesome job with all of the character voices. This storyline had me hooked from the beginning because it’s clear we’re dealing with some morally gray characters, and I wasn’t sure who to trust - especially when we find out later that there has been an unreliable narrator of sorts. The main character, Jane, is running from something that happened in her past life in Arizona. She’s a likable character overall and I respected how clever, quick, and observant she was. She picked up these survival tactics along the way and had a habit of falling back on them - even when she felt completely safe. Eddie’s character was the biggest question mark for me. I wasn’t sure how to feel about him based on what we learn from side characters and was not easily convinced by his good behaviors. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say the plot twist slapped me in the face and I liked that the author left me questioning what actually happened after everything was said and done. There were a couple of meh things for me like what we learn Jane did and is running from (it’s kind of anti-climactic and never goes anywhere?), the pace hits a lull towards the middle of the book which felt drawn out, and there’s an interaction between two characters towards the end I wish we had been able to witness. Overall, this was an entertaining and twisty mystery/thriller and I recommend the audiobook!

THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer - they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

My Thoughts: In most cases, YA stands for “young adult” genre. In this case, it should stand for “Y Am I so obsessed with coming of age romance stories?” I could not put this book down. The setting alone made this a perfect summer read and the plotline had me a little nostalgic in terms of its relatability. One of my favorite things about the format of this book is the short chapters. The timeline bounces between the present day, when Belly is 15, about to turn 16, and the few summers leading up to the present. So, the short chapters made it so easy to follow along and make the essential connections between the anecdotes of summers’ past. Belly was a likable main character for sure. She was a little intense whenever her friends and/or family were picking on her for fun, but what teenage girl isn’t hypersensitive when she’s being relentlessly roasted? I sure was lol. I liked that Jeremiah and Conrad had distinctly different personalities, but still had enough in common that you felt the brotherly relationship between them. It made seeing what each guy brought to the table for this love triangle and why either brother would be an appealing option for Belly to date. There are some really emotional subplots throughout this book including divorce, cheating, and cancer. So if you find any of those topics to be triggering, I’d proceed with caution. Otherwise, this was an insanely sweet, summery, and swoon-worthy YA romance. :)

THE ALICE NETWORK by Kate Quinn

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: 1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her proper family. She’s also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie’s parents banish her to Europe to have her “little problem” taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister. 1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she’s recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she’s trained by the mesmerizing Lili, code name Alice, the “queen of spies”, who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy’s nose. Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn’t heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth… no matter where it leads.

My Thoughts: Ugh. Ya girl loves a good historical fiction novel and Kate Quinn DELIVERED. I listened to this on audiobook and had an absolutely delightful time. This story bounces between two timelines - one where Charlie St. Clair is the narrator/focus as she searches for her lost cousin with the help of a hot Scot, Finn, and disgruntled drunkard, Eve. The other gives us a glimpse into who Eve Gardiner was when she was working as a spy in the first World War. Though each woman came from very different backgrounds, they both knew what it was like to defy the odds in the face of constant adversity. I loved their resilience and that neither one’s storyline panned out the way you hoped or expected, and yet they still came out stronger on the other side. The vivid visual descriptions made everything come to life, including the destructive aftermath of various cities following the war, the intricacies of the cafe where Eve worked as a spy, the nostalgic childhood memories Charlie had with her cousin, etc. There is one interrogation scene that had such detailed descriptions, my skin was crawling the entire time. Like that is the type of shit that intrusive thoughts are made of - yeesh. This book is a little bit longer than what I’m used to for audiobooks, but the pace made everything flow so well and really brought all of the storylines together. If you’re looking for an addicting historical fiction novel, I definitely recommend giving this audiobook a try!

TWISTED LIES by Ana Huang

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Charming, deadly, and smart enough to hide it, Christian Harper is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman. He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he can’t deny the strange pull he feels towards the woman living just one floor below him. She’s the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he can’t solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer her a deal she can’t refuse. Every monster has their weakness. She’s his. His obsession. His addiction. His only exception. | Sweet, shy, and introverted despite her social media fame, Stella Alonso is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage. Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship. But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms - and the house - of the most dangerous man she’s ever met, she’s tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time. Because despite Christian’s cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she’s with him. Passionate. Protected. Truly wanted. Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies… and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.

My Thoughts: WOW. Ana Huang really said, “this is the last book in the Twisted series, and I need to make it an absolute BANGER.” I was obsessed with Stella and Christian’s story. I think of all four girls from this series, Stella was the most relatable and down to earth. She has some insecurities that stem from the rhetoric she grew up hearing, but still follows her own path despite the expectations of her family. Her character arc was just so satisfying. Christian is your quintessential beautiful, dangerous, badass business boi with friends in high places. He’s incredibly protective and possessive of Stella, but in the most stomach flutters way. It’s one of those “she’s the one and the only one, and I’ll kill anyone who touches” type of scenarios that we swoon for lol. Also, the slow burn of their relationship was unreal. Like the anticipation and sexual tension was palpable and, personally, I was here for it lol. The plot was so solid and I was as invested in the unfolding of the storyline as I was in the developing romance between Stella and Christian. The entire Twisted series is phenomenal, but this final installment is just *satisfied sigh* and you MUST dabble in it.

HEARTSTOPPER: Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie’s gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn’t. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family… and himself.

My Thoughts: Okay so I am officially obsessed with this graphic novel series, and cannot believe I didn’t pick these up sooner! This book felt like such a breakthrough for Nick and Charlie as individuals, and as a couple. I loved that Nick provides such an unexpected amount of warmth and comfort in Charlie’s life, and that Charlie’s friends got to see that in-person when their initial impression of Nick was that he’s just a dumb jock. It’s also endearing that Charlie is giving Nick patience and space to come out to everyone when he’s ready although they’re officially dating. Needless to say, I’ll be picking up Volume Three as soon as my library request comes through. :’)

LORD OF SHADOWS by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Would you trade your soul mate for your soul? A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners - sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love. Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden - it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides? Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own. When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows - the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

My Thoughts: WOW. I have no words and at the same time SO MANY THOUGHTS. “Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by Cassandra Clare.” *Both hands to the sky.* Y’all. This book was a journey, and the last ~15 pages didn’t have to do me that dirty. Like wtf. I don’t think I’ve ever been emotionally body slammed this hard by a book before. So many things to get out here - where do I begin? I guess for starters, I loved that Livvy and Ty got their well-deserved amount of page time. The Blackthorn twins have been just that in this series thus far - like that was their whole personality - so I appreciated that we finally got to know each of them on a deeper level. Plus, I was LIVING for the threesome that was the twins and newcomer, Kit Herondale. We all love a charming Herondale boy and Kit was no exception. Julian and Emma are still out here making me swoon and I loved the direction that their parabatai storyline is headed. The TENSION, my friends. Also, Cristina, Mark, and Kieran were unexpected, but also such a vibe. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but their dynamics just felt right, yanno? There are a few storylines happening all at once in this book, but they kind of overlap each other - per usual of C. Clare’s writing - so, I liked that each “group” of characters helped the plot points flow without getting messy. We also got to see characters from other Shadowhunter series reappear with a helping hand in this mess (i.e. Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, etc.). This book definitely took a turn I was NOT expecting and the last bit of it absolutely wrecked me. So like, idk what you want me to say lol. Lord of Shadows will be living rent free in my brain for a while and I just need someone to talk to about it. :’)

FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

My Thoughts: The most important thing going into this book is to remember it was originally published in 1953, and set in a dystopian future. So the way technology is described and advancing in this book was a prediction of what it might look like from that point in time. I listened to the audiobook and was super glad I did because the writing has an extremely unique cadence to it. I think if I had been reading a physical copy, the writing would’ve gotten away from me a little bit, but the narrator did an excellent job with keeping everything in order - if that makes sense? The message of this book is undeniable and extremely relevant in terms of people falling victim to whatever they’re being told vs. doing the work to educate themselves so that they can form their own thoughts on various topics. It’s a pretty quick read, and I definitely think this book is worth picking up if you’ve never read it before.

THE STOPOVER by T.L. Swan

Rating: DNF (did not finish) @ 52%

Summary: I was upgraded to first class on a flight from London to New York. The food, champagne, and service were impeccable. The blue-eyed man sitting next to me, even better. He was suave and intelligent. We talked and laughed, and something clicked. Fate took over and the plane was grounded, and we had an unexpected stopover for the night. With no plans, we made our own. We danced and laughed our way around Boston and had a night of crazy passion that no woman would ever forget. That was twelve months ago, and I haven’t heard from him - until today. I started a new job and met the CEO. You can imagine my surprise to see those blue eyes dance with delight when he saw me across the mahogany desk. But I’m not a carefree girl anymore. My life has changed, I have responsibilities.

My Thoughts: This book was recommended to me by my Kindle and because it’s rated pretty well on Goodreads (4.12 with 68,994 ratings), I decided to give it a go. *Side eye* This book was trash lol. Hence the DNF. Don’t get me wrong, the smut was great. The characters were not. They’re supposed to be in their 20s and 30s, and they acted like teenagers. There was no depth where there should be and the character development was basically nonexistent. Halfway through the book and these MCs were still so un-evolved?? On top of that, they basically kept fighting with one another over something petty, giving the silent treatment, and then making up in a lust-driven frenzy. Rinse and repeat with all the red flags. It just felt so repetitive, toxic, and frankly, not worth my time to continue on. There was plenty of eye rolling on my part lol. The plot was all right. There’s a mystery element to it that kept things interesting, but not enough that I’d willingly put myself through the second half of this book. Maybe I’ll try reading it again eventually, but I just cannot be bothered for now.

THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance. In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elisa Martinelli - like so many of her neighbors - must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

My Thoughts: Holy hell. I completely understand why people are obsessed with Kristin Hannah now. This audiobook was unreal. I think that’s partly because Julia Wehlan is the narrator and she does an absolutely phenomenal job, but the writing alone was *chef’s kiss.* I loved that Elsa starts out as this unconfident, seemingly weak main character. Her family refuses to accept her as someone with a promising future and treats her like she’s a disappointment. As the book progresses though, it’s clear how much of a fighter she is and what she’s capable of. Her journey was one of pure courage and I cannot emphasize how much I admired her as she traveled across the country with her children, endured the adversities they encountered left and right, and ultimately fought for what she believed in. Loretta, her daughter, was a love/hate character for me. She was an absolute ball of fire fueled by anger, and though I definitely understand that she had to grow up fast and the reasoning behind her behaviors, I wished she would’ve given Elsa a little more credit. All of the other side characters (i.e. Ant, Elsa’s in-laws, Rafe, the family friends in California, etc.) were so dynamic and truly brought this story to life. The sensory descriptors of their environments in dusty Texas, the tent camps in California, picking cotton, and more were extremely vivid and pulled me right into the characters’ perspectives. I just loved this book so much and definitely recommend it!

ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Sarah Dessen

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce - or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

My Thoughts: Well good golly gosh. Now I understand why so many women my age were obsessed with Sarah Dessen books when we were in high school. This was an addicting little beach town coming of age romance. I loved that it touched on some deeper messages that commonly affect teenagers too such as dealing with parental divorce, accepting the new family dynamics, fearing you’re making too many mistakes, and knowing that sometimes people need second (and third) chances. Auden was such a great main character for this book. I actually identified with her a lot - fear of failure, can’t really ride a bike (lol), and an introvert. She kept to herself in Colby at first, but wasn’t stubborn about letting her walls down to people when the timing was right. I appreciated her maturity in stepping up to help her stepmom with her newborn sister when her avoidant father was showing repeated behavioral patterns towards parenting. Eli was also a really great main character, and it was so refreshing that the riff he and Auden experienced in their friendship/relationship was not blown out of angsty proportions. I was expecting more friction to happen once Auden was trying to make amends with him, but I was pleasantly surprised that they proved me wrong. All of the side characters really made this summertime story come to life and loved that the author incorporated a message about not judging someone before you get to know them. This was honestly a super cute book and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for an easy read. For anyone wondering, the Netflix adaptation was decently cringey lol and I think I liked the book a bit more.

IT’S NOT SUMMER WITHOUT YOU by Jenny Han

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach? It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not after this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come. But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started - at Cousins Beach.

My Thoughts: Okay, okay, okay. So I appreciated that this storyline did not pan out as I was anticipating it to. At first, I was frustrated and incredibly annoyed with Conrad because he was being incredibly stubborn and hard to communicate with. I completely understand that he is still grieving in this book, but it was a small letdown that we weren’t seeing much character development from him. That is until later when the reason behind his motives for disappearing to the beach house in Cousins come to light and I completely forgive him for being so secretive. It was nice that the timeline bounced back and forth between what happened after last summer ended and now because we got to see how Belly and Conrad’s dynamic changed and got a better understanding of what fell apart. We also got some chapters from Jeremiah’s perspective in this book which was a nice change of pace because the previous book was from Belly’s POV only. Taylor still annoys the living shit out of me and I don’t understand why she’s Belly’s BFF. The format of this book was short chapters again which made the whole experience a pretty quick read. If you read The Summer I Turned Pretty and are debating on reading the whole series, I’d recommend continuing onto this second book at least. It was worth the time and I don’t regret it at all.

BELOW ZERO by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Hannah’s got a bad feeling about this. Not only has the NASA aerospace engineer found herself injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station - but the one person willing to undertake the hazardous rescue mission is her longtime rival. Ian has been many things to Hannah: the villain who tried to veto her expedition and ruin her career, the man who stars in her most deliciously lurid dreams… but he’s never played the hero. So why is he risking everything to be here? And why does his presence seem just as dangerous to her heart as the coming snowstorm?

My Thoughts: Yesss. The STEMinist novella series continues! If there’s one thing I love, it’s a gentle redheaded giant as the love interest and Ian was giving us just that. Not only was he a beaut, but he was intelligent, a gentleman, and didn’t even know how attractive Hannah thought he was! Speaking of our heroine, Hannah was giving us that scrappy, bad ass energy we all know and love. The amount of drive and passion this girl has about space was truly impressive. It was even better that she and Ian nerded out so hard about the same scientific ventures. Similar to the previous books in this series, the timeline bopped between the present where Hannah is trapped in a glacial crevasse and the past encounters she’s had with Ian over the last 5-6 years. The character development was pristine, the plot had just enough adventure to keep me on my toes, and y’all, the tension between these two scientists was THICK. If you read Mara and Sadie’s short stories, you definitely need to continue on with Hannah’s!

WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE SUMMER by Jenny Han

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: It’s been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college - only, their relationship hasn’t exactly been the happily ever after Belly hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It’s time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

My Thoughts: Y’all. I have never been so irritated with some characters for legitimately 85% of the book only for the author to end up giving me what I wanted the entire time lol. This book takes place 2 years after It’s Not Summer Without You. So, Belly is finishing up her freshman year of college which puts her at 18 years old. Would I say I was expecting some more maturity from her in terms of the unseen character development? Yes. Absolutely. Did I feel like she was giving me the amount of maturity I desired? No. She’s definitely more mature than the previous two books, but I think she’s in such denial about the current situation that it makes her come off as impulsive and immature. Jeremiah is literally the worst lol. He’s turned into an un-self aware frat bro and I could not be more annoyed. I guess I should keep in mind that he’s like 20 in this book which means he is nowhere near his formative years, but nonetheless, he needed to be taken down a PEG. My sweet boy Conrad is the real MVP of maturity in this book. He’s communicative, selfless, and I just love what Jenny Han did with his character. Truly a personality glow-up. Do I recommend reading this book? If you’ve made it this far in the series then 1000% yes. Will you love every second of it? Absolutely not lol. BUT it’s definitely worth enduring for the ending.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: A man becomes obsessed with vengeance when his soul mate marries another man. Heathcliff is Cathy Earnshaw’s foster brother; more than that, he is her other half. When forces within and without tear them apart, Heathcliff wreaks vengeance on those he holds responsible, even into a second generation. (summary taken from IMDB).

My Thoughts: All right, y’all. Here we go. For starters, this is not a romance. If it is, it’s a romantic tragedy and there’s no other way to paint that. I know I would not have finished this book if I wasn’t listening to it on audiobook. There’s just no way it would’ve held my attention in the physical book form. There were times I was confused while listening to it, so I can only imagine how much I wouldn’t have comprehended visually reading it lol. This is the quintessential book of unlikeable characters. I literally was not fond of one single character. MAYBE Nelly Dean, but she also had her moments where I found her intolerable. If you’re down for the unlikeable/morally gray character trope, then by all means have at it. The main reason I gave this book three stars is because I can understand and appreciate why it’s considered a classic. If you have me analyze it at surface level, I would say Catherine is a narcissist who was upset she couldn’t control both men in her life. At a deeper level, I get that Heathcliff represented a life of wildness and freedom, and Edgar Linton represented a life of stability and status - which is why she went “into hysterics”: she couldn’t have her cake and eat it too. I totally missed that she was pregnant tho, so spoiler alert if you haven’t read it yet lol. Would I recommend this book? Not really. I’d say try Pride and Prejudice if you’re looking to dip your toe into the classics genre.

BIRD BOX by Josh Malerman

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Something is out there, something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse of it, and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from. Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remains, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now that the boy and girl are four, it’s time to go, but the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat - blindfolded - with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. Something is following them all the while, but is it man, animal, or monster?

My Thoughts: I know that I’m late to this 2020 craze, but I am so glad I decided to read the book before watching the Netflix adaptation! This psychological thriller had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The way the writing sucked me into Malorie’s story and truly put me into her shoes had my skin crawling. I think anyone who isn’t visually impaired relies heavily on sight as one of our primary senses every day, and I cannot imagine having that taken away in order to survive. The dual timelines between the present as Malorie rows down the river with her two kids, and the past which shows the 9 months leading up to the night her kids were born was riveting. I couldn’t even guess what had happened in the refugee house where she found safety with a ragtag gang of strangers that brought her to being alone for 4 years. Her resilience and courage are truly unmatched and the way she trained her kids to hone in on hearing more than seeing was incredible. This book really touches on why what we can’t see tends to be more terrifying than what we can. It’s a super quick read - less than 300 pages - and I definitely recommend picking it up if you’re looking for something a little creepy and thrilling.

LOVELIGHT FARMS by B.K. Borison

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams. In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, she enters a contest with instafamous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and $100,000 cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only… there is no boyfriend. Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process.

My Thoughts: Yanno what? This was the perfect “Christmas in July” type of romance I was hoping for and am glad I picked up. It was a friends-to-lovers storyline and I just thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. Stella is such a down-to-earth main character and I loved that although she had a whimsical spirit about her, it didn’t come off as immature. Her personality struck the perfect balance between dreamer, strategic business woman, imperfect 30-something, and genuinely caring person. Similarly with Luka, he was just so freaking thoughtful all the time, but it felt natural - not forced. Which made it easy for me to fall fast and hard for this book boyfriend lol. The two together were GOALS. Not only as a couple but as best friends too. The way they knew each other on such a deep level and knew the perfect way to support the other in times of need had my heart melting. Not to mention, their strong emotional connection translated through to the sexual tension and spicier scenes sprinkled throughout this book too. The side characters - such as Beckett and Layla - made this story so much more fun and really brought Lovelight Farms to life. I wasn’t expecting a mystery subplot and although it’s pretty clear who the culprit is early on, it was still a creative way to add another dynamic to this Christmas-themed rom-com. The small thing that irked me is that one character doesn’t have their epiphany until the book is almost over and although it doesn’t last long, I wasn’t expecting them to be so un-self aware after everything that happened in this book. That said, I was glad everything was handled so maturely between the two characters because it truly reflected all of their growth. I honestly think this is a great read for people who go absolutely bonkers for Christmas and those who don’t mind a little touch of Christmas in a romance story. :)

That’s all I’ve got for July!

I don’t have any plans on the types of books I’m going to read in August. We’re truly just going to be reading on vibes only lol.

2022 Book Count: 133

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What has been your favorite summer read thus far?

June 2022 Reads

July 01, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

Happy Pride Month!

My goal for June was to primarily focus on books by and about the LGBTQIA community because this month is about celebrating them - including in our reading goals!

I mean, you should celebrate and support this beautiful community all year long tbh. So, this is just a friendly reminder that reading books by and about people who are different from you can help you better understand their unique experiences and is a great exercise in empathy. That could be through fictional characters, real life situations described in memoirs, and more.

All righty, with that in mind, let’s get into everything I read in June!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

My hand is holding my Kindle with the cover of Everything for You on the screen. The cover has two illustrated men. One in a suit tossing a soccer ball and the other is in a soccer jersey looking over his shoulder with long blonde hair. — Everything for You by Chloe Liese

EVERYTHING FOR YOU by Chloe Liese

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Gavin - We’ve been teammates for two years, but it feels like a lifetime that Oliver Bergman’s been on my last nerve. A demanding captain and veteran player, I’m feared and friendless, while he’s the beloved rising star, all sunshine smiles and upbeat team spirit. To make matters worse, he’s obscenely attractive. In short: he’s genetically designed to get under my skin. Avoiding Oliver has been my survival tactic on and off the field. But when Coach drops the bomb that we’re now co-captains, avoiding him becomes impossible, and keeping the truth from him - let alone my distance - is harder than ever. | Oliver - Life was great until soccer legend Gavin Hayes joined the team and proved he’s nothing like the guy I grew up idolizing. Instead, he’s a giant - albeit gorgeous - grump who lives to rain on my parade. I’ve sworn off pranks since entering the public eye, so rather than settle our differences the Bergman way, I’ve had to settle for killing Gavin with kindness. There’s just one problem: killing him with kindness is killing me. To make matters worse, Coach gives us an ultimatum: put an end to our enmity or say goodbye to being captains. I’m prepared to be miserable while we meet her demands and make nice, but the last thing I expect to discover is an explosive attraction we can’t help but act on, and worse yet, to realize the man hiding beneath Gavin’s gruff exterior is all I’ve ever wanted.

My Thoughts: Mark the date. I think this is the first time in recent history that I was not turned off by an age gap trope in a romance novel. It’s mixed in with some enemies-to-lovers which we all know I’m a simp for, but the nine-year difference between Oliver (25) and Gavin (34) was absolutely perfect for this story. They’ve had an unspoken war going on since Gavin joined the Galaxy men’s soccer team two years prior. Gavin is more open with his grumpy demeanor whereas Oliver tries to get under Gavin’s skin by killing him with kindness. A battle of wills, if I might say. Things get interesting when they’re forced to co-captain the team which throws them into each other’s proximity more than either would like. Y’all. The first breakthrough scene showing a little vulnerability between these two guys is on a plane and BE STILL MY HEART IT WAS SO CUTE. I was obsessed with watching Gavin and Oliver navigate their individual feelings for the other and figuring out what they could be together if they just gave into it. Also, all of the side characters - specifically our fave brother, Viggo - brought such life to this rom-com. The familiar taste of Chloe Liese’s writing for the Bergman Brothers was present in this fifth book and I definitely recommend it if you've been making your way through this fantastic series.

A screenshot of Honey Girl audiobook on the Libby app. The cover of the book has a young Black woman with pink and orange flowers throughout her golden curly hair. — Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

HONEY GIRL by Morgan Rogers

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: With her newly completed PhD in astronomy in hand, twenty-eight-year-old Grace Porter goes on a girls’ trip to Vegas to celebrate. She is not the kind of person who goes to Vegas and gets drunkenly married to a woman whose name she doesn’t know… until she does exactly that. This one moment of departure from her stern ex-military father’s plans for her life has Grace wondering why she doesn’t feel more fulfilled from completing her degree. Staggering under the weight of her father’s expectations, a struggling job market and feelings of burnout, Grace flees her home in Portland for a summer in New York with the wife she barely knows. When reality comes crashing in, Grace must face what she’s been running from all along - the fears that make us human, the family scars that need to heal and the longing for connection, especially when navigating the messiness of adulthood.

My Thoughts: Umm not knowing what you’re doing with your life in your late 20’s when you feel like you should have everything figured out..? RELATABLE. This audiobook was ideal for cozying up with a cup of coffee in the morning or settling in after a long day. The writing is very lyrical and the narrator’s warm voice gave it a poetic energy, but it sometimes felt a little forced. As a coming of age story, this book is very character driven. There’s a little bit of plot, but it mostly ebbed and flowed based on how Grace was feeling at any given time. As the MC, I both liked and disliked her. She was definitely focused on herself for a majority of this book and how those around her could help her through the crises she was experiencing. This character flaw is realized later on in the book, but that meant I found her mildly selfish for a while. That said, everything she was going through was extremely valid including the discrimination and racism she experienced from fellow scientists in the astronomy field for being a Black queer woman. The side characters each added their own color to Grace’s bigger picture, and I especially appreciated the ones that added a lightness to the mix because a lot of this story felt pretty heavy. Some of them I could do without, but they definitely all served their purpose. The only other thing I didn’t love is how long each of the chapters are for an audiobook. Some were almost 40 minutes, and I prefer chapters to be slightly shorter if I’m listening to a book. Overall, I think a lot of people would find this book relatable, but its indie aesthetic isn’t going to be for everyone.

My hand is holding a paperback copy of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. The cover is an illustration of the backs of two teenage boys in school uniforms. One has brown hair and a red backpack. The other has red hair and a green satchel. — Heartstopper: Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

HEARTSTOPPER: Volume One by Alice Oseman

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard about little Charlie - the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months - but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner.

My Thoughts: This is my first graphic novel and I am in love! Charlie and Nick’s friendship is so freaking cute, and the pages turned absolutely effortlessly as I learned the origin story of their budding relationship. This is honestly a really quick read (like I think I finished this in maybe 25 minutes?) and I cannot wait to get my hands on Volume 2. :)

A hard cover copy of What If It's Us is lying flat on a stone table top with two house plants. The cover shows an illustration of two teenage boys walking away from each other. One is holding a box and the other has a bag slung over his shoulder. — What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

WHAT IF IT’S US by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a show-stopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them? Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited. But what if they can’t quite nail a first date… or second first date… or third? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work… and Ben doesn’t try hard enough? What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play? What if it is?

My Thoughts: Oh em gee. This was one of the most quick-witted, adorably cute YA rom-coms I’ve read in a while! Starting from their meet-cute in the post office, Arthur and Ben had a uniquely magnetic energy that I couldn’t get enough of. The clever quips generously exchanged between them made me audibly chuckle and, though sometimes cheesy, the do-over dates were insanely sweet. I think I liked Arthur a little bit more than Ben because he has literally zero filter. Whatever comes to his mind is what is coming out of his mouth whether he realizes it or not. Even his inner dialogue had me LOLing throughout the book. Ben is a little more reserved, but he’s still such a likable character. I appreciated that he could roll with the playfulness of Arthur’s verbal vomit, and had a few dry-humored lines himself. The issues that bubble up between these two lads felt a little blown out of proportion to me, but I also had to keep reminding myself this is a YA romance and these characters are only 17. That aside, I absolutely loved that the ending didn’t go the way I expected, yet it was still so incredibly satisfying. If you’re looking for a punchy YA romance with a little snark and a lot of cuteness to it, I definitely recommend picking this book up!

My hand is holding a paperback copy of Satisfaction Guaranteed with trees blurred in the background. The cover is green with yellow script. There are illustrations of two women on either side of the title. — Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED by Karelia Stetz-Waters

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: When it comes to her career, Cade Elgin has it all figured out. Only “professional talk” has become her default mode, relationships are nonexistent, and don’t even mention the word “orgasm.” All work and no play makes Cade a dull human. But when she inherits a sex toy store, Cade is caught between business and a store filled with every imaginable kind of pleasure - including her own infuriatingly irresponsible and deliciously sexy new co-owner. Selena Mathis learned the hard way that she can have too much of a good thing. Which is precisely why she’s taken an oath of celibacy and is focusing on how to make Satisfaction Guaranteed a success. She won’t mess this up. Not this time. But once again, Selena’s emotions are getting in the way, and tempting her with a serious attraction to buttoned-up Cade. But the shop isn’t exactly vibe-ing, and Cade and Selena are on the verge of losing both their income and the possibility of love. Can they find a way to work together… before Satisfaction Guaranteed runs out of batteries?

My Thoughts: This F|F romance was cute, steamy, emotional, and playful! The premise was so unique and I loved all of the sex positivity! At the start of the book, I was nervous the main characters, Cade and Selena, were going to be pretty one-toned. It felt like there was an emphasis on Selena being the flighty, free-spirit in the equation, whereas Cade is the buttoned-up, accountant-type - which was just unnecessary. Luckily, as the book went on, both characters developed more depth and made this pairing even more perfect. This sweet couple was so supportive and really understood what one another needed without having to ask. I appreciated that the author leaned into the sex toy storyline and introduced them into the steamier scenes because most hetero romances don’t communicate that type of sex positivity message. It was refreshing to see the depiction of elevating that kind of experience with your partner using toys depicted so flawlessly. Overall, this was a really quick, fun, and emotional read and I definitely recommend it!

LESS by Andrew Sean Greer

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Summary: PROBLEM - You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is now engaged to someone else. You can’t say yes - it would be all too awkward - and you can’t say no - it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of half-baked literary invitations you've received from around the world. QUESTION - How do you arrange to skip town? ANSWER - You accept them all. If you are Arthur Less. Thus begins an around-the-world-in-eighty-days fantasia that will take Aurthur to Mexico, Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, and Japan and put thousands of miles between him and the problems he refuses to face. What could possibly go wrong? Well: Arthur will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Sahara sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and arrive in Japan too late for the cherry blossoms. In between: science fiction fans, crazed academics, emergency rooms, starlets, doctors, exes and, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to see. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. The second phase of life, as he thinks of it, falling behind him like the second phase of a rocket. There will be his first love. And there will be his last.

My Thoughts: Okay okay, let me start by saying I really loved the narrator for this audiobook. He was engaging, did a spectacular job at all of the different character voices, and kept a dry humored tone which was perfect for this storytelling. I hate that I can’t give this book a 3.5, but honestly? I found myself not caring towards the middle of it. Like the author’s writing is phenomenal, don’t get me wrong. I just kept having to rewind the audiobook while listening to it because my mind would wander and I’d realize I hadn’t been paying attention for like the last 10+ minutes. Now, I’m not sure if that’s because of the audiobook itself or simply because I’ve had a lot of things on my mind lately lol. So, take all of that with a grain of salt because I know this is an entertaining story. Arthur Less is a quirky character who plans a trip around the world to avoid attending his ex-boyfriend’s wedding. He’s also on the cusp of turning 50 which is something he’d like to forget. Cue a distraction trip guided by Murphy’s Law because if anything could go wrong for Arthur Less, it did. Most of the unfortunate events of his little adventure were incredibly comedic and endearing, but geez, he had some bad luck. Overall, I think this book definitely holds water and that a lot of people would enjoy it. It just didn’t hold my interest as much as I hoped it would, which is why I’m giving it a 3.25.

My hand is holding my Kindle with the book cover of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb on the screen. There are house plants blurred in the background. — The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

THE QUEER PRINCIPLES OF KIT WEBB by Cat Sebastian

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: Kit Webb has left his stand-and-deliver days behind him. But dreary days at his coffee shop have begun to make him pine for the heady rush of thievery. When a handsome yet arrogant aristocrat storms into his shop, Kit quickly realizes he may be unable to deny whatever this highborn man desires. In order to save himself and a beloved friend, Percy, Lord Holland must go against every gentlemanly behavior he holds dear to gain what he needs most: a book that once belonged to his mother, a book his father never lets out of his sight and could be Percy’s savior. More comfortable in silk-filled ballrooms than coffee shops frequented by criminals, his attempts to hire the roughly hewn highwayman, formerly known as Gladhand Jack, proves equal parts frustrating and electrifying. Kit refuses to participate in the robbery but agrees to teach Percy how to do the deed. Percy knows he has little choice but to submit and as the lessons in thievery begin, he discovers thievery isn’t the only crime he’s desperate to commit with Kit. But when their careful plan goes dangerously wrong and shocking revelations threaten to tear them apart, can these stolen hearts withstand the impediments in their path?

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. You should read this book for the top-shelf-quality banter alone. I mean WOW. I was living for the verbal artistry that Percy was serving us throughout this entire story. Kit also had his fair share of quick quips as well and the chemistry between these two lads made everything that much more rich and fulfilling. I loved all of the tension and build up to Kit and Percy actually acting on their feelings for each other, but appreciated that the author didn’t make us wait too long for that moment to happen. It was incredibly satisfying too that although both main characters were stubborn to their core, they gave into trusting one another when the timing was right. I feel like romance novels often draw out the “trust timeline,” and this one happened so naturally. Though the plot was definitely interesting, I have to say the pacing felt a bit stagnant towards the middle. It’s not that the story wasn’t moving forward, but there was a point where I hit a bit of a lull. That said, it definitely picked up shortly after and the momentum hooked me back into this carriage heist. All of the side characters were fun, distinctive, and definitely gave us a bigger picture of Percy and Kit’s lives. I think the next book is about their best friends Marian and Rob, so I’ll probably be picking that one up later this year. Honestly, this book was entertaining, steamy, and a little different from your usual romance, so I recommend giving it a try!

My hand is holding my Kindle with the cover of Gender Explorers on the screen. — Gender Explorers by Juno Roche

GENDER EXPLORERS by Juno Roche

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Life-affirming interviews with young trans people who share their empowering experiences of questioning and exploring gender. “I believe that children who are questioning and exploring their gender are the gender bosses that we all so desperately need. I believe that they are our future.” In this life-affirming, heartening and refreshing collection of interviews, young trans people offer valuable insight and advice into what has helped them to flourish and feel happy in their experience of growing up trans.

My Thoughts: Wow absolutely everyone needs to read this book!!! It's a series of interviews with trans youth and teens about their experiences transitioning and becoming their true selves. There are also interviews with parents of the trans youth to understand what their experience was like having their child come out as trans or gender fluid. The vulnerability and openness these people demonstrated while sharing their experiences was extremely emotional. In our traditionally binary gendered world, people feel a need to categorize other people and put them into “buckets.” These gender explorers are challenging that mindset and showing everyone that gender is not important to who you are as a human being. I just can’t say enough good things about this book. It was so eye-opening and informative, and I URGE you to go pick it up.

My hand is holding a hard cover copy of Lady Midnight. There is a young woman falling through water holding a sword depicted on the book's cover. — Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

LADY MIDNIGHT by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses. Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions… Making things more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark - who was captured by the faeries five years ago - has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind - and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

My Thoughts: Yanno, when it was teased in Mortal Instruments that Emma, Julian, and this new generation of Shadowhunters were going to get their own series, I was PUMPED. Let me tell you, this first book does NOT disappoint. We didn’t just have the addicting magical world Cassadra Clare has beautifully crafted for us. This book delivered familial drama, murder, secrets, action, and OFC forbidden love. Not to mention, all of our favorite classic characters made an appearance including Clary, Jace, Magnus, JEM, TESSA, to name a few lol. After experiencing some traumatic events during the Dark War, I appreciated that Emma and Julian’s characters reflected the results of that five years later. They obviously went through further character development in this book, but where they start is clearly the outcome of how they’ve processed everything. Emma is a wild and incredibly talented Shadowhunter who is looking for trouble. Julian is more tame than his parabatai, and has turned into the backbone of the Blackthorn family as he raises his younger siblings. OBVI I ship these two even if the feelings they have are forbidden. I gotta give all of the side characters some mad credit too for bringing so much depth to the storyline and to all of the emotions that radiated off of the pages. Their personalities are so distinct that it’s incredibly easy to build a connection with each one even though you’re not spending as much page time with them. My one small issue is that this story started out quickly paced and then hit a slow spot for a minute that kind of stunted the momentum I’d been gathering since page 1. Once it picked up again though, I was right back in it. Needless to say, if you’ve read the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices, you have GOT to continue onto the Dark Artifices.

A screen shot of the audiobook My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on the Libby App. The book's cover has a young girl standing next to a large black dog. — My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman

MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY by Fredrik Backman

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Elsa is seven years old and different. Her grandmother is seventy-seven years old and crazy, standing-on-the-balcony-firing-paintball-guns-at-men-who-want-to-talk-about-Jesus-crazy. She is also Elsa’s best, and only, friend. At night, Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother’s stories, in the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas where everybody is different and nobody needs to be normal. When Elsa’s grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she has wronged, Elsa’s greatest adventure begins. Her grandmother’s letters lead her to an apartment building full of drunks, monsters, attack dogs, and totally ordinary old crones, but also to the truth about fairytale and kingdoms and a grandmother like no other.

My Thoughts: This was such a whimsical and charming audiobook! It was definitely a little confusing at first as you’re introduced to all of the different Kingdoms within Land of Almost Awake, but once you get your footing with that, it was so entrancing. I was obsessed with the relationship Elsa shared with her grandma. They were thick as THIEVES and absolutely inseparable. I loved their dynamics - a 7-year-old and 77-year-old. Elsa was too smart for her own good and kept her granny in check. There is definitely some sadness in this book after Elsa’s grandma passed away and left her with an adventure of sorts. I would be amiss to not give all of the side characters in this magical tale the biggest shout out. This experience would not be the same without this schmorgesborg of people who literally could not be any more different. All of their personalities enhanced the colorfulness of this book tenfold. I loved getting to know each of them better, their personal backgrounds, and how Elsa’s granny played a role in their lives. One scene involving some violence against one of Elsa’s new best friends brought me to TEARS, but I appreciated the overall themes of dealing with grief, establishing a found family of sorts, embracing your differences and more. Needless to say, I highly recommend this audiobook!

My hand is holding my Kindle which has the book cover of Hunted by the Sky on its screen. — Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena

HUNTED BY THE SKY by Tanaz Bhathena

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul’s mark is what caused her parents’ murder at the hand of King Lohar’s ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul only wants one thing: revenge. Cavas lives in the tenements, and he’s just about ready to sign his life over to the king’s army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl - Gul - in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance - and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king’s domain in Ambar Fort… a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

My Thoughts: I’ve read YA fantasy inspired by African folklore, ancient Arabia, and ancient Rome, but this was my first experience reading something inspired by ancient India. I am pleased to report it was quite enjoyable! It definitely gave me some mild An Ember in the Ashes vibes, but with slightly more magic. The beginning of this book has a slower start. That’s mostly due to the world building, character introductions, and understanding how the societal hierarchy works. After all of that is established, the plot’s pace definitely picked up and made it easier for me to get sucked into. Gul’s character has a wild yet contained air to her. I loved that she wouldn’t allow herself to be confined to other people’s views or expectations of her. That being said, her stubbornness was definitely a fatal flaw. Like there were times where her “me” mindset hindered her likability - especially during some tense decision-making moments. Cavas was a good character for the most part. I liked that he wasn’t too meek, but he also had some proud/stubborn behaviors that left me so frustrated with him. Did I love them as a couple? Yes and no. I can definitely tell there’s something stronger there than they realize and they could be a really great team. However, they don’t make it to that point in this book. All that said though, I would definitely be interested in reading the second book in this duology based on where the story leaves off.

A screenshot of the audiobook Pride and Prejudice on the Libby app. — Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work “her own darling child” and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.” The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen’s radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners in Regency England.

My Thoughts: I know I’m SO late to this game, but I completely understand what the hype is all about! I absolutely loved listening to the audiobook of the OG enemies-to-lovers romance novel. Not to mention, this gem is the feminist anthem of its time! To be fair, I must say, I had never seen the 2005 movie before reading this. So, about 30% into the audiobook, I decided to watch the movie since I had no previous knowledge of how everything was going to pan out. That decision helped so much because it gave me a visual template of where the audiobook was going as I finished listening to it. Elizabeth Bennett is the best kind of person to have around. She’s outspoken, sarcastic, and loyal af. A friend-crush was brewing, needless to say lol. I feel like Mr. Darcy is like the first tall, dark, and broody boy to walk in the romance genre, so that all of the book boyfriends we know and love nowadays could run. Yanno what I mean? Although a lot of the dialogue and the way this book reads is obvi a bit dated (which is why I’ve avoided trying to read it for so long), it’s easy to keep up with. If you’re curious to know what the big deal is with this classic, I definitely recommend giving the audiobook a try! British narrators make everything more fun anyway lol. :)

The book cover of Middlegame is on the screen of my Kindle which is laying on top of a white quilt. — Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

MIDDLEGAME by Seanan McGuire

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Meet Roger. Skilled with words, languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story. Meet Dodger, his twin. Numbers are her world, her obsession, her everything. All she understands, she does through the power of math. Roger and Dodger aren’t exactly human, though they don’t realize it. They aren’t exactly gods, either. Not entirely. Not yet. Meet Reed, skilled in alchemical arts like his progenitor before him. Reed created Dodger and her brother. He’s not their father. Not quite. But he has a plan: to raise the twins to the highest power, to ascend with them and claim their authority as his own. Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained.

My Thoughts: Y’all. I did NOT expect to be all up in my feels over a SCIENCE FICTION novel. Like what did Roger and Dodger do to me??? I will not lie, at the start of this book, I wasn’t sure I was going to be smart enough to comprehend what was going on lmao. I don’t read a ton of sci-fi, so understanding the ins and outs of alchemy on the fly was a learning curve, but it definitely got easier the further you got into it. This book was just an intellectual exercise of trying to piece together everything before it’s revealed. It’s one big puzzle of time traveling, alchemy experiments gone wrong (and right?), and figuring out how each component is related to the next. I absolutely adored the main characters - Roger and Dodger. This sibling duo are two parts of a whole and literally balance each other out in personality and unique powers. Though their relationship could get a little complicated on more occasions than one, the draw they felt to one another and the serenity that came with being in each other’s presence made me feel so protective of this pair. There are some anxiety provoking scenes in this book - specifically, towards the end - that kept my heart racing as Roger and Dodger tried to beat the odds with the help of a morally gray character. To say I was giddily rooting for them to win is an understatement lol. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for something to absolutely suck you in within the science fiction genre. I believe there is a sequel to it as well with some companion series on the side, so there’s plenty to dive into here.

The book cover of No Hard Feelings is bright blue with white and yellow text. There is an illustration of an owl, sloth, lion, and elephant sitting at a table on it. — No Hard Feelings by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy

NO HARD FEELINGS: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: The modern workplace can be an emotional minefield, filled with confusing power structures and unwritten rules. We’re expected to be authentic but not too authentic. Professional but not stiff. Friendly but not an over-sharer. As organization consultants and regular people, we know what it’s like to experience uncomfortable emotions at work - everything from mild jealousy to insecurity to panic and rage. Ignoring or suppressing what you feel hurts your health and productivity but so does letting your emotions run wild. In this book, we’ll help you figure out which emotions to toss, which to keep to yourself, and which to express in order to be both happier and more effective. We’ll share the latest research and helpful tips, and reveal the surprising reason why you’ll actually be healthier and more focused if you’re less passionate about your job. Drawing on what we’ve learned from behavioral economics, psychology and our own experiences at countless organizations, we’ll show you how to bring your best self to work every day.

My thoughts: Someone on my team at work read this book and really liked it, so a few more of us ordered it, and I have to say, it was really helpful! If you’re familiar with the account LizClimo on Instagram, she’s one of the authors and provides all of the illustrations included throughout. The drawings and little cartoons were one of my favorite parts because it broke down the monotony that non-fiction/self help books usually give me, and made everything they talked about more visual. Aside from the illustrations, the content was extremely well researched and easy to understand. I loved all of the actionable items they provided after walking us through a specific concept because it made understanding what “X, Y, Z” can look like and how it can be applied in a work environment. As someone who is not a big fan of non-fiction self help books, and is also continuously working on how I present myself in a work setting, I definitely think No Hard Feelings is something everyone would find helpful.

Screen shot of the audiobook Maybe in Another Life in the Libby app. — Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guest room. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan. Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan? In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it! It’s definitely a little different taste than other Taylor Jenkins Reid books I’ve read (i.e. Malibu Rising, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Daisy Jones and the Six), but great nonetheless! Hannah was the perfect main character for this story. She’s definitely likeable, but also so imperfect that you can’t trust her right away. Learning more about her in the dual timelines really made me more empathetic to who she is as a person, despite her situations, and I loved that though her two “universes” had different plots, the storyline still related to the other. This premise was incredibly unique and it worked so well that there wasn’t a definitive answer. Overall, I definitely think this audiobook is worth the listen!

My hand is holding my Kindle with the book cover Under One Roof on the screen. There are house plants blurred in the background. — Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood

UNDER ONE ROOF by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: As an environmental engineer, Mara knows all about the delicate nature of ecosystems. They require balance. And leaving the thermostat alone. And not stealing someone else’s food. And other rules Liam, her detestable big-oil lawyer of a roommate, knows nothing about. Okay, sure, technically she’s the interloper. Liam was already entrenched in his Aunt Helena’s house like some glowering grumpy giant when Mara moved in, with his big muscles and kissable respectable scientists to the dark side… but Helena was her mentor and Mara’s not about to move out and give up her inheritance without a fight. The problem is living with someone means getting to know them. And the more Mara finds out Liam, the harder it is to loathe him… and the easier it is to love him.

My Thoughts: Oh em gee. A STEMinist novella series?? Yes please!! I loved this enemies-to-lovers, environmentally friendly rom-com. Mara and Liam were such strong characters and the small roommate squabbles were so freaking relatable. This book was driven by various types of tension including angry friction, sexual tension, and a “will they, won’t they” suspense. After they declared truce, it was so cute how they fell into a comfortable platonic routine only to realize they both had stronger feelings for one another than they intended. If you’re looking for something fun and spicy with a little bit of climate change sprinkled in, this novella is definitely worth picking up!

My hand is holding a Kindle with the book cover Stuck with You on the screen. — Stuck With You by Ali Hazelwood

STUCK WITH YOU by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Logically, Sadie knows that civil engineers are supposed to build bridges. However, as a woman of STEM she also understands that variables can change, and when you are stuck for hours in a tiny New York elevator with the man who broke your heart, you earn the right to burn that brawny, blond bridge to the ground. Erik can apologize all he wants, but to quote her rebel leader - she’d just as soon kiss a Wookiee. Not even the most sophisticated of Sadie’s superstitious rituals could have predicted such a disastrous reunion. But while she refuses to acknowledge the siren call of Erik’s steely forearms or the way his voice softens when he offers her his sweater, Sadie can’t help but wonder if there might be more layers to her cold-hearted nemesis than meet the eye. Maybe, possibly, even burned bridges can still be crossed…

My Thoughts: Ugh. Y’all. You know how I feel about instant-love tropes, and although this one wasn’t necessarily unbelievable I just can’t get fully behind it. Besides that little plot hiccup though, this was such an entertaining, steamy novella! Experiencing their first date through Sadie’s memories was cute and swoony. You could clearly see how well these two built a connection. I liked that the book’s format flipped between the past and present, so that we could see what led up to their current feelings and actions. It was like a small puzzle and left me trying to predict what would become of this unlikely pairing. Sadie’s character was a little more quirky and dynamic than Erik’s character, but I appreciated that they balanced each other out. Though I didn’t like this second installation of the STEMinist series, it was still a cute and quick read.

That’s it for June!

Just a few tidbits to leave you with:

Trans rights are human rights
It’s absolutely none of your business who people love
Love wins - always

2022 Book Count: 118

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What books do you have on your summer reading list?

May 2022 Reads

May 31, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

I don’t know about you, but May felt like it lasted forever while simultaneously flying by!

The biggest life update is I finally moved into a bigger apartment in the most charming house imaginable. It’s the first time in 5 years that I had to pack up all of my shit and move it to a new location - which was equal parts exciting and stressful. I’ve been in my new space for almost a month now, and am absolutely loving it, so I’m extremely happy with the change. :)

On the reading front, though I did read plenty of physical books and ebooks, I was relying heavily on audiobooks towards the last two weeks of May. I think mainly because I don’t have cable anymore which means I can’t watch the news in the morning or Jeopardy in the evening lol. So, I filled the silence with the lovely sound of an audiobook and found it incredibly relaxing.

Alrighty y’all. I think that’s it for the intro. Let’s get cracking on all of the books I read in May!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

My hand is holding up my Kindle in front of blurred out book shelves. The book cover of Everything I Never Told You is displayed in grayscale on the Kindle screen. — Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: A Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos.

My Thoughts: This book was not what I expected, but I liked it all the same. For some reason, I thought this was going to be more of a mystery surrounding the untimely death of 16-year-old Lydia Lee, and while it serves as the catastrophe that kicks off the rest of the drama, it wasn’t the main focus. I’d say this story is more of a literary fiction about the Lee family dynamics, how each person deals with their grief and loss, and how the past can help them decipher the present and allow them to move on. Every character is perfectly flawed and fighting their own adversities. As the book goes on, you see how everyone’s individual battles affect those around them - specifically Lydia. Her parents honed in on her specifically, although they have two other kids, and tended to project their fears or insecurities onto how they raised her. So to appease them, Lydia went along with whatever they asked without stopping to ask herself if that’s what she really wanted. I won’t lie, this was a pretty melancholy story, but the pages turned extremely effortlessly at the same time. If you’re looking for something a little more serious with a touch of mystery sprinkled into it, this would be a great book to pick up.

THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does - or does not - say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

My Thoughts: It took me a while after I finished this book to sit down and write a review for it because I just don’t know the best way to articulate my thoughts and feelings about a story like this. I guess for starters, although I have a hardcover copy of this book, I decided to listen to it on audiobook instead, and I’m really glad I did. The amount of emotion the narrator puts into every voice of each character made the entire experience incredibly immersive and intensified my empathetic response as the reader. I’ve never seen the movie, so this was my first encounter with Starr’s story, and there were so many layers to uncover and sort through. Starting with how she felt she had to split her identity between life at her private school where classmates think she’s inherently cool due to the color of her skin, and life at home in a predominately-Black neighborhood where kids her age find her to not be Black enough because she goes to a nearly all-white school. It was heartbreaking that she felt she could never fully let go and be her entire self in front of her friends, family, and boyfriend. The exhaustion caused by fitting a specific role in either community was palpable. Aside from that, her childhood best friend, Khalil, is gunned down by a cop during a traffic stop right in front of her. This causes her two worlds to collide as she is the primary witness to Khalil’s murder and forces Starr to decide if she’s going to speak out to honor her best friend or stay anonymous in order to protect her safety. This book is about systematic racism, institutional racism, our nation’s broken criminal justice system, and more. It addresses how to be an effective ally and how to support movements such as Black Lives Matter. If you haven’t read this book yet, I definitely recommend jumping on it in any format.

THE SOULMATE EQUATION by Christina Lauren

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Single mom Jess Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. After all, her father was never around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn’t “father material” before her daughter was even born. Jess holds her loved ones close but working constantly to stay afloat is hard… and lonely. But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands. At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98 percent compatibility with another subject in the database: GeneticAlly’s founder, Dr. River Pena. This is one number she can’t wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Pena. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess - who is barely making ends meet - is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the “Diamond” pairing that could launch GeneticAlly’s valuation sky-high, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist - and the science behind a soulmate - than she thought.

My Thoughts: This book was super cute and with such a fun premise! There is something about how the science behind the DNA compatibility matching was described that had me absolutely absorbed in this story. Plus, there’s the whole concept of finding your soulmate and if that doesn’t feed the romanticizing addict in me lol. I was completely sold on the chemistry between Jess and River! I loved that their connection was truly magnetic even though they took their time building the swoon-worthy relationship. River stepped up when Jess needed someone to rely on while simultaneously running away with my heart lol. Aside from the budding romance, I was obsessed with the supporting characters in Jess’s orbit. Her daughter, Juno, was the cutest kid you could ask for, her best friend added the perfect amount of comedic relief, and her grandparents added a pocket of warmth to the family’s dynamics. This book really is a well-rounded rom-com with an extremely unique storyline, and I definitely recommend picking it up!

A BLADE SO BLACK by L.L. McKinney

Rating: No rating - DNF at 49%

Summary: The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she’s trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew. Life in real-world Atlanta isn’t always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice’s handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she’ll need to use everything she’s learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head… literally.

My Thoughts: I’m not rating this book because I did not finish (DNF) and set it aside around 49% of the way in. It’s basically an Alice in Wonderland retelling with touches of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon weaved throughout it. I was never really into either of those shows, so I wasn’t super invested in the nods towards those fandoms. The main character, Alice, definitely has spunk, but I just never really connected to her or any of the side characters. Though the book takes place between Atlanta and Wonderland, the world building wasn’t super descriptive, so you kind of had to fill in the blanks yourself. The pacing of the story is pretty fast and the plot line sounded like it was going to be adventurous had I continued on. However, I had to renew this book loan at the library twice just because I never wanted to pick it up, and after having it for a couple of months, I finally just decided to call it quits. I know other people have read and really liked this book, but it just didn’t give me enough to be interested in finishing it. Maybe if you’re a fan of Alice in Wonderland, Buffy, and Sailor Moon, you’d like it more. (Side note: I am not counting this book towards my 2022 Reading Goal.)

THE HEART PRINCIPLE by Helen Hoang

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable men, the better. That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex - he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family, she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I read the first two books in The Kiss Quotient series last fall and really liked both. So I had some higher hopes going into this one, and although it definitely checked some boxes for me, it left me wanting more. We met Quan in The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test and got to know him as a pretty easy going guy who acts as a sounding board for those close to him. So, I was really looking forward to reading about Quan finding love, but I felt like his story was mildly undercooked. We got a few bites of his character development and overall subplot, but neither felt complete by the end of the book. Most of the storyline focuses on Anna and all of the adversities she’s facing, and then Quan is basically there to help her get through it all. There were definitely some super cute moments, and the writing is emotion-provoking to say the least. However, don’t go into The Heart Principle expecting a light-hearted rom-com. This book definitely tackles some heavier topics such as mental illness (depression and anxiety), ableism, emotional abuse, infertility, death of a parent, and more. Overall, I’d say that if you’re not in a good mindset right now then you should hold off on reading this. It’s just a heavier read to dive into.

THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION by Elena Armas

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Catalina Martin, finally, not single. Her family is happy to announce that she will bring her American boyfriend to her sister’s wedding. Everyone is invited to come and witness the most magical event of the year. That would certainly be tomorrow’s headline in the local newspaper of the small Spanish town I came from. Or the epitaph on my tombstone, seeing the turn my life had taken in the span of a phone call. Four weeks wasn’t a lot of time to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic- from NYC and all the way to Spain - for a wedding. Let alone, someone eager to play along my charade. But that didn’t mean I was desperate enough to bring the 6’4” blue eyed pain in my ass standing before me. Aaron Blackford. The man whose main occupation was making my blood boil had just offered himself to be my date. Right after inserting his nose in my business, calling me delusional, and calling himself my best option. See? Outrageous. Aggravating. Blood boiling. And much to my total despair, also right. Which left me with a surly and extra large dilemma in my hands. Was it worth the suffering to bring my colleague and bane of my existence as my fake boyfriend to my sister’s wedding? Or was I better off coming clean and facing the consequences of my panic-induced lie?

My Thoughts: Well, my friends. This book 100% lives up to its hype! Like this is hands-down a book you could binge in a day or two. I was enthralled in Lina and Aaron’s story. You couldn’t pry my Kindle from my hands while I absolutely inhaled this rom-com. For starters, it had two of my favorite tropes: enemies-to-lovers and fake-dating, and both were so well done. The animosity Lina felt towards Aaron at the beginning of the book sizzled off the pages, and it was addicting to watch the fire fueled by dislike transition into a steamy romance. Although I tend to gravitate towards romance novels that are dual perspectives, this story is completely through the eyes of Lina and it was perfect. It gave Aaron’s character a mysterious edge which made me tentative to root for him at first until we started understanding the motive behind his behaviors. He also doled out endless swoon-worthy moments that had me absolutely squealing! The vivid imagery of their trip to Spain made everything that happened even more immersive and the developing romance between Lina and Aaron sucked me in like a vacuum. This book was everything I could’ve asked for and I definitely recommend picking it up as a summer read!

THROTTLED by Lauren Asher

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Noah Slade is a Formula 1 legend in the making. Focused. Unapproachable. Ruthless on and off the track. A man with walls higher than the Grand Canyon. And my brother’s new teammate. I want more of the prince who disguises himself as the villain. But while I crave a happy ending, he wants to destroy his. | Maya Alatorre is a forbidden temptation. An ambitious post-grad I should stay away from. And chaos wrapped with a bow. We’re a ticking time bomb, about one wrong move away from exploding. I want to trip the wire, detonating together in passion and pain. Because in the end, all’s fair in lust and war.

My Thoughts: My name is Haley and I’m addicted to sports-themed romance novels. Yes, even the type of sports where people drive fast cars. I was absolutely HOOKED on this sweet and steamy story, and was in it for the long haul. You’ve got Noah, a lone wolf and tall, broody boy, who grew up in the F1 world thanks to his legendary dad. As the prodigal son, he’s solely focused on his career as a world champion racer in an attempt to earn love from his parents who never show him any. Maya is the blanket of sunshine in this story. I loved that she took a chance to travel the world with her brother because she needed to do some soul searching to figure out who she wanted to be. Her positive energy and warm demeanor was absolutely infectious, and it’s no wonder Noah falls for her once he’s sucked into her upbeat orbit. One of my favorite parts of this book is that Noah actually goes to therapy on his own accord to work through some things, so that he can be a better man and partner for Maya. It is always so refreshing to see characters do some work on themselves without being prompted, and my respect for his character immensely improved because of it. Honestly, this book is definitely swoon-worthy, and I recommend giving it a try if you’re looking for something a little different.

DEAR GIRLS by Ali Wong

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: In her hit Netflix comedy special Baby Cobra, an eight-month pregnant Ali Wong resonated so heavily that she became a popular Halloween costume. Wong told the world her remarkably unfiltered thoughts on marriage, sex, Asian culture, working women, and why you never see new mom comics on stage but you sure see plenty of new dads. The sharp insights and humor are even more personal in this completely original collection. She shares the wisdom learned from a life in comedy and reveals stories from her life off stage, including the brutal singles life in New York (i.e. the inevitable confrontation with erectile dysfunction), reconnecting with her roots (and drinking snake blood) in Vietnam, tales of being a wild child growing up in San Francisco, and parenting war stories. Though addressed to her daughters, Ali Wong’s letters are absurdly funny, surprisingly moving, and enlightening (and disgusting) for all.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I’ve watched part of Ali Wong’s newest comedy special on Netflix, but haven’t seen Baby Cobra yet. So listening to this on audiobook was nice because it gave me more background on her life as a comic leading up to her first Netflix special. If you’ve seen or heard any of Ali Wong’s stand-up, you know how raunchy her jokes can be, and this book is no exception. As she reads you these letters written to her daughters, she unapologetically recalls awkward situations, describes various sexual experiences, explains hilarious family anecdotes, and more. I loved that she normalized embarrassing and gross things everyone experiences in life, but nobody wants to talk about. Her stories, while definitely funny, also touched on more serious topics including her family’s mixed Asian culture, being a woman comic in a male-saturated field, and the constant fears and failures she had to learn to embrace. I guess my concluding thought is that if you watched and enjoyed any of Ali Wong’s stand-up then I think you’d appreciate her audiobook as well!

COLLIDED by Lauren Asher

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Sophie Mitchel: Liam is Formula 1’s golden boy. But he’s nothing but a fraud. Charming. Devious. Seductive. And someone who promises to fulfill all of my naughty bucket list items. I force him behind the safe lines of the friend zone. Instead of accepting our friendship, he strikes a deal. One season. One list. One dirty secret. | Liam Zander: Sophie is my greatest fantasy brought to life. And a major threat to my contract renewal. She’s a part of the rival team and someone I should resist at all costs. Everyone is against our friendship. My boss. Her dad. Me. Yet, I’m captivated by her and the naughty list she created. Screw platonic, I want catastrophic.

My Thoughts: Oh sweet, Liam and Sophie. We met these two blonde-haired cuties in Throttled, and got a whiff of something brewing between them in that book. So, I was extremely excited to get all the tea and insight from their perspectives in this book. Sophie was such a fun main character. She’s a 5-foot tall spitfire who wants more out of life and creates a “Fuck It” bucket list which she’s determined to achieve while on tour with her dad’s company in the F1 series. Though Sophie is clearly a strong, sarcastic, and stubborn gal, it’s impossible not to see she has the biggest heart for those important to her. Liam is an F1 racer with a playboy reputation he’s trying to smooth over this season in order to get a contract renewed with his racing company. When he finds Sophie’s bucket list, he offers to be of assistance. The friendship that develops between them is so much fun and exactly what they needed to shake things up a bit. Although Sophie set clear boundaries to avoid getting hurt, the chemistry between them and the relationship that was building were absolutely undeniable. Which is where I got annoyed with Liam. Like he’s an intelligent guy. So how he doesn’t see that what they have is a real relationship was incredibly irritating to me. That said, something happens to him at the beginning of the book that mildly scars him (and made my jaw drop because I didn’t expect it), so I was understanding in that regard at least. This book was really fun and a great change of pace from the dynamics in Throttled. I definitely recommend giving it a try if you’ve started the Dirty Air series!

WRECKED by Lauren Asher

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Jax: Pills. Alcohol. Adrenaline. I’m addicted to destructive decisions that numb my pain. Until one night when I make a catastrophic mistake. To repair my broken reputation, my team hires Elena - an overpaid babysitter set on ruining my plans. She’s my damnation disguised as my salvation. And my newest addiction. | Elena: I begged the universe to save me from my financial disaster. It answered my call with a Formula 1 team desperate for a PR miracle. One season. One job. One broody British racer. Except that Jax turns our hotel room into a battleground. To beat the enemy, I need to find his weaknesses. What I learn threatens to ruin everything. Him. Me. Us. Love is a war zone, and neither of us plans to surrender.

My Thoughts: Ooo wee. This was MESSY, but in all the best ways. Jax and Elena were the perfect characters for this book. Jax is one of the best racers in F1, but he’s known for getting into trouble which lands his photo in the tabloids and his reputation in the trash. He also suffers from crippling anxiety due to something going on in his personal life, and he self medicates which leads to some piss poor choices. Elena is an entrepreneurial PR agent who has slowly built up her business and name in the athletic world. She’s hired to remedy Jax’s reputation to ensure he doesn’t lose his F1 contract. This, of course, requires her to basically shadow him wherever he goes. They’re even roommates for this season of the F1 tour because he can’t act out if Elena is there to stop him. Jax is a super complicated character and though most of his demeanor is driven by anger, I couldn’t help but have a soft spot for him. Especially after seeing the relationship he shares with his parents. Elena is a ball of calm in this story, but she is also working on some inner demons due to a traumatic childhood experience. I absolutely loved how much they found peace in each other’s presence and how that serenity led to something more. Compared to the first two books in the Dirty Air series, I felt like this one dealt with some more serious topics and that just added a bit more depth overall. Definitely recommend continuing onto the third book if you’ve started the series!

A LOT LIKE ADIOS by Alexis Daria

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: After burning out in her corporate marketing career, Michelle Amato has built a thriving freelance business as a graphic designer. So what if her love life is non-existent? She’s perfectly fine being the black sheep of her marriage-obsessed Puerto Rican-Italian family. Besides, the only guy who ever made her want a happily-ever-after disappeared thirteen years ago. Gabriel Aguilar left the Bronx at eighteen to escape his parents’ demanding expectations, but it also meant saying goodbye to Michelle, his best friend and longtime crush. Now, he’s the successful co-owner of LA’s hottest celebrity gym, with an investor who insists on opening a New York location. It’s the last place Gabe wants to go, but when Michelle is unexpectedly brought on board to spearhead the new marketing campaign, everything Gabe’s been running from catches up with him. Michelle is torn between holding Gabe at arm’s length or picking up right where they left off - in her bed. As they work on the campaign, old feelings resurface, and their reunion takes a sexy turn. Facing mounting pressure from their families - who think they’re dating - and growing uncertainty about their futures, can they resolve their past mistakes, or is it only a matter of time before Gabe says adios again?

My Thoughts: Okay, so I love that this book took a completely different approach from You Had Me at Hola. Gabe and Michelle were best friends growing up and practically inseparable until Gabe drops a bomb that he’s leaving for California to get away from his parents. This catches Michelle off guard because he never mentioned it which leaves her feeling betrayed and abandoned. Fast forward 13 years after Gabe left and completely cut off communication from basically everyone back home, and Michelle is commissioned to work on a marketing campaign for Gabe’s company. So he flies back to New York to start this project which rekindles the fire burning between them. I will say this is the first time I wasn’t annoyed by an instant-love trope, but it’s because they had been friends first. The pacing was much quicker than I expected, though, between him arriving in New York and them canoodling after repressing their sexual inhibitions towards each other for so long. That said, the easy rhythm they fell into as they became an actual couple felt so natural and comfortable. I was definitely sold on their chemistry. Both Michelle and Gabe had their own character flaws and although Michelle works through hers quicker, I felt like Gabe kept hitting a wall he should’ve already broken through by now. The one thing I absolutely loved about this book is that the endgame for both Gabe and Michelle was not marriage and children. Although it’s grown much more common in our current culture for women to not want kids, I don’t feel like that group is represented enough in romance novels. So, I loved that their goal was simply a fulfilling relationship/partnership and they were more than satisfied with spoiling their nieces, nephews, and godchildren. Overall, I definitely think this book is worth picking up!

A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: A grumpy yet lovable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered on his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky man and local residents’ association to their very foundations.

My Thoughts: I know I’m late to the game on this book, but I can confirm it lives up to the hype! I actually tried starting it a few years ago and just never took off with it, so I opted for the audiobook this time around and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The narrator did a phenomenal job not only giving unique voices to all of the different characters, but also delivering the story in a way that felt like we were seeing it from a lens in Ove’s world the entire time. The way he read inner dialogue perfectly matched the dry, matter-of-fact humor laced throughout Ove’s thoughts. I have to say, I was not expecting the sad side of this book to take such a turn. However, on the other side of that coin, I was laughing out loud or grinning to myself on multiple occasions due to interactions between this lovable curmudgeon and the people forcing their way into his orbit. The storytelling was absolutely beautiful as it flipped between the past and present, and gave us more insight into who Ove is as a person. Parvana, her girls, and the cat were by far my favorite supporting characters because their unpredictability kept Ove on his toes and forced him to open up. Overall, I definitely recommend checking out this audiobook! Please be aware of trigger warnings going into it though, including suicide attempts and pregnancy loss.

THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL by Stacey Lee

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady’s maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, “Dear Miss Sweetie.” When her column becomes widely popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society’s ills, but she’s not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender. While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta’s most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light. With prose that is witty, insightful, and at times heartbreaking, Stacey Lee masterfully crafts an extraordinary social drama set in the New South.

My Thoughts: I went into this audiobook on an impulsive whim knowing nothing about it and came out on the other side delightfully entertained and satisfied. Jo Kuan may seem like a quiet young gal on the outside, but she has some fight to her. After being fired from her job as a hat maker (because there was no way her boss would promote an Asian girl), she finds herself fed up with how she’s treated. At her new job as a lady’s maid, she hears women talking about how absurd it is for a woman to ask a man to a popular upcoming event. So she goes home and gets her thoughts out in writing as an outspoken Miss Sweetie then submits the article anonymously to the printed publication whose house she has secretly lived under for a majority of her life. I absolutely loved this storyline. It gave me Miss Whistledown vibes but more feminist material than petty gossip. In addition to the weekly column, there are a couple of other plot lines that drive this story to perfection. I loved how unexpected Jo’s character was. She kept me on my toes, and although she did some pretty risky, naive things, I was constantly rooting for her. Her story really snuck up on me and I definitely didn’t see any of the plot twists coming. This book also touches on incredibly important topics such as challenging gender, racial and injustice issues, the failure that is white feminism, and more. This was such a delightful historical fiction novel and I definitely recommend picking it up if you get the chance!

REDEEMED by Lauren Asher

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Santiago Alatorre: One mistake destroys my career. I go from most eligible bachelor to monster, hiding from the world. At least until Chloe breaks into my home. My new fake girlfriend is a temporary fix to my biggest problem. But as our game changes, so do my feelings. There’s only one issue stopping me from claiming her. Me. | Chloe Carter: It all started with a birthday wish, some vodka, and an ancestry kit. That’s how I end up in Italy, finding my long-lost father. But one decision lands me a fake boyfriend I don’t want. The more we pretend, the easier our ruse becomes. I told myself not to fall in love with a liar like Santiago. I should have listened.

My Thoughts: We met Santiago earlier in the Dirty Air series and know him as Maya’s older brother, Noah’s teammate, and one of the youngest racers to sign with an F1 company. So, I was extremely excited we finally got to see him falling in love. That’s not without a tragic incident that happened three years prior that kicked off this book. There was a lump in my throat the entire time I was reading the prologue, and the chapters that follow made my heart hurt for Santiago. Chloe is a new character to the series, and definitely brought some fun and flair. Growing up in the foster care system, she’s made a wish every year to finally receive some sort of hint from the universe about who her real dad is. This year’s wish leads her to the property of Santiago who is not in the best mental space. One thing leads to another and the two start fake dating to save face in front of Maya and Noah. I was obsessed with how much light Chloe brought into Santiago’s life and forced him to view his self-worth and abilities through a new lens. Reciprocating that gentleness, Santiago worked endlessly to prove to Chloe that not everyone who cares about her will disappear from her life. This was an emotional ride where the highs definitely made the lows worth enduring. I confidently recommend continuing onto the fourth book of the Dirty Air series if you’ve made it this far!

WEATHER GIRL by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the station’s news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants. Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her wits’ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russel Barringer. In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell. Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?

My Thoughts: Okay, I have to say, I simply liked this book and was only going to rate it 3 stars. However, I realized I just had not been in the mood for it while I was reading. Had I been in the mood for it, I’m sure I would have liked the book more, which is why I rated it 3.5 stars instead. So take that in stride lol. This storyline was cute. It kind of reminded me of The Honey Don’t List by Christina Lauren because the main characters are trying to get their bosses to fall back in love with each other. However, they unintentionally fell for one another in the process. I loved that Ari and Russell were incredibly imperfect protagonists. Depression has impacted Ari’s life since she was a kid, watching her mother go through cycles of episodes. As an adult, Ari is now dealing with her own depression and has a tendency to hide that part of herself from those closest to her. It was incredibly refreshing that Russell’s physical descriptors challenge the typical romance novel hero physique as he’s an overweight single dad with thick-rimmed glasses. This slow burn romance was heartwarming, spicy, and handled some sensitive subjects with nothing but compassion and patience. Please check trigger warnings before going into it, but I do think this rom-com is worth the read overall.

HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD by Sarah J. Maas

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life - working hard all day and partying all night - until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose - to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach. As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion - one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

My Thoughts: Y’AALLL. I have not been this emotionally wrecked by SJM since I finished the Throne of Glass series at the beginning of 2021. She really wrote this thicc high fantasy and said “yanno what? let me just crank your feels into high gear for the last 150 pages.” The amount of love and friendship enduring all brought such warmth to my heart. :’) I literally melted into a puddle of emotions (not *literally,* but we love the dramatics). Now, let’s get down to business. The first good chunk of this book is clearly dedicated to world-building, plot planning, and character introductions. So it’s a little slower moving since there’s a lot of details to work through, but tucked into that information are a lot of heart-racing scenes, action-packed moments, mystery-laced nuggets, and more. I absolutely adored Bryce and her strength and resilience. She is experiencing stages of grief throughout this book and it was absolutely perfect the way her character development aligned with those emotional transitions. I wasn’t sure how to feel about Hunt for a good portion of this book. In my heart, I wanted to trust him, but I didn’t let myself fully swoon until his character proved himself. Ruhn also didn’t blow me away at first, but I adored the Fae Prince by the end of it. Aside from them, there are a myriad of side characters who add so much depth to this tale. Most were an absolute delight despite the pot stirrers and assholes. My friends, would I recommend this book? Solidly yes. Though it still sings to the magical tune SJM usually brings to her fantasy novels, this story is unique in itself and definitely worth picking up. :)

AMERICA FOR BEGINNERS by Leah Franqui

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: She has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She’s traveling thousands of miles from Kolkota to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago, Rahi devastated his traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then Pival’s husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenly - heartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she’s going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life. Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the company’s indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshi - a hardworking immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his one taste of the American dream - it is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pavil’s guide is the company’s new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one year - and has never actually left the five boroughs. For modesty’s sake, Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig she’s along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week “working” vacation traveling across America be? Slowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her son - and her hopes of a reunion with him - are challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Pival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see America - and themselves - in different and profound new ways.

My Thoughts: Wow I was not expecting to like this audiobook as much as I did! It’s a beautiful story about three people from very different backgrounds coming together for a cross-country trip. The book’s format flips between different perspectives, so you truly get to know each character from a personal standpoint as well as through the eyes of the other characters. Though the trip itself mainly focuses on Pavil, Rebecca, and Satya, we also get to see Pavil’s son’s experience in the United States through the eyes of his partner. I loved that this allowed me to try to piece together where her son ended up based on the information Pavil provides and comparing it to Rahi’s partner’s anecdotes. This book was as entertaining as it was heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s a story about hope and forgiveness, and the writing is incredibly charming. I admire that it’s the author’s debut novel because it was so beautifully crafted. I will definitely be picking up more books by Leah Franqui and wholeheartedly recommend giving this one a try!

The book cover of Him by Sabrina Bowen is on my Kindle screen. The grayscale cover shows an illustration of a young male hockey player with skates slung over his shoulder. He's wearing a black tee shirt and pants. — Him by Sabrina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

HIM by Sabrina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died. Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever. Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions - can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend… and a big one to learn about himself.

My Thoughts: I fell in love with Elle Kennedy’s writing after reading her Off Campus series and although I hadn’t read anything by Sabrina Bowen, that will be rectified soon because this book was such a delight! It was sweet watching these two hockey studs go from summer camp pals to unforgiving lovers. The foundation of their relationship felt so genuine and natural because their friendship was so solid. It had lighter aspects like inside jokes, healthy competition, and mischievous pranks, but was perfectly balanced with deeper aspects such as vulnerable conversations, emotional support, and undying trust and loyalty. I also appreciated that it never felt like one character stood out or dominated the developing relationship more than the other. Wes and Jamie both wanted this relationship to work as badly as the other, and I could not help but root for them. There wasn’t much angst to this romance novel - just a small snag that happens between them - but I think any further drama would’ve been overkill anyway. To all of you self proclaimed pearl-clutchers, there are some explicitly steamy scenes in this book, so it’s probs not for you. To anyone else who loves a sweet and sexy romance (with the perfect dose of smut), I highly recommend! :)

Well that wraps up May!

Hopefully, you can appreciate that I didn’t read as much romance this month as I usually do. :) Unless that’s your jam then please let me know if you’d like me to vet any books for you!

2022 Book Count: 101

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s the longest book you’ve read so far this year?

April 2022 Reads

April 30, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

Oh, April.

You and your bursts of fake spring weather followed by long days of winter-esque temps and precipitation. We don’t love it, but it does mean we’re on the CUSP of summer.

I feel like my reading was all over the place in April. It was a hella mood reading month. Meaning, despite my TBR (to be read) list, I was only going to read a book if I was in the m00d for it. Just going on vibes only, really.

The one thing I did that I promised myself I wouldn’t do until later this year is I started Kingmakers which is the spin-off series of Brutal Birthright. Apparently, I have no self control with Sophie Lark books, so of course I inhaled them.

Otherwise, I’ve been busy getting ready to move in the next couple of weeks which is both exciting and stressful. :D

Okay, let’s get to what I read in April.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

HEAVY CROWN by Sophie Lark

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: I saw her being stuffed in a trunk: Yelena Yenina, only daughter of the most vicious Bratva boss in Chicago. The Bratva hate my family. They burned my uncle alive. I should have left Yelena to her fate… but she fought like a Valkyrie. Gorgeous, ferocious, and unbreakable. I saved her so I could make her mine. She says she’ll never submit to a man. I guess we’ll see. I’ll push her to the limit. And far beyond.

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. This is the last book in the Brutal Birthright series and Sophie Lark did NOT hold back. She said, “yanno what? Let me blow this shit up.” And, let me tell you, it went out with a BANG in more ways than one. Sebastian has been through some shit throughout this series and has probably had the most transformative experience from where his character arc started in book one. He’s the youngest boy of the Gallo family and since his older brothers have taken on different roles in the Italian mafia, he’s now the prime candidate to become the head honcho - even though he’s unsure that’s where he’s meant to be. I kind of love that Sebastian wasn’t as good-hearted of a character as everyone expected him to be, and had to change his perspective of himself to realize what he’s capable of. I didn’t understand what he saw in Yelena though lol. She was a pretty underwhelming character and just didn’t impress me all that much. Aside from her, the plot line was suspenseful, there were a few JAW DROPPING moments, and I love how the ending teased the spin-off series - Kingmakers. We love a good second-generation mafia series, do we not? :)

BLACK CAKE by Charmaine Wilkerson

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves. Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?

My Thoughts: This book was nothing short of phenomenal and the storytelling was absolutely stunning. Black Cake is a multigenerational story about family issues, racism, motherhood, personal identity, climate change, and more. A big part of what made this book so easy to read is the format. Each chapter is noticeably short and rotated through a different character’s point of view from the past and present, so it felt like you were getting a small piece of the bigger picture with every new perspective. There was a mystery element to multiple parts of this story that are slowly revealed as Eleanor shares a few HUGE secrets with Benny and Byron. These secrets make them question if they knew their mother at all, and reflect on how her past affects their personal identities. I was floored at how many adversities Eleanor faced and how much she had to keep close to her chest in order to maintain the life she built. This is an incredibly emotional book that will suck you in from the start, and I definitely recommend adding this to your reading list for 2022.

SAY YOU STILL LOVE ME by K.A. Tucker

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Life is a mixed bag for Piper Calloway. On the one hand, she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm, and living the high single life with her two best friends in a swanky downtown penthouse. On the other hand, she’s considered a pair of sexy legs in a male-dominated world and constantly has to prove her worth. Plus, she’s stuck seeing her narcissistic ex-fiance - a fellow VP - on the other side of her glass office wall every day. Things get exponentially more complicated for Piper when she runs into Kyle Miller - the handsome new security guard at Calloway Group Industries, and coincidentally the first love of her life. The guy she hasn’t seen or heard from since they were summer camp counselors together. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The guy who apparently doesn’t even remember her name. Piper may be a high-powered businesswoman now, but she soon realizes that her schoolgirl crush is not only alive but stronger than ever, and crippling her concentration. What’s more, despite Kyle’s distant attitude, she’s convinced their reunion isn’t at all coincidental, and that his feelings for her still run deep. And she’s determined to make him admit them, no matter the consequences.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and liked it for the most part. This is actually the first K.A. Tucker book that I’ve read outside of her Wild series, and her writing style was definitely identifiable throughout this story. I have to be honest though, this book was probably a borderline three-star experience for at least the first half of the book, and then the second half came through a little stronger which raised it to a 3.5 rating. The book bounces between the present at Piper’s company and the past during summer camp where Piper first met Kyle as camp counselors. This was a cute second chance romance, and I appreciated that there were mystery elements incorporated throughout that slowly started to be revealed the more we visited the past. Piper and Kyle were pretty decent characters, and some of the side characters helped the MCs shine a little brighter, but I was never head over heels for them. Towards the last quarter of the book, some plot twists happened that I definitely didn’t see coming, and they actually added some depth to the overall storyline which is what ended everything for me on a 3.5 star rating. Would I recommend this book? Meh. Maybe if the situation called for it, but it’s not going to be in my top 10 by any means.

THE HIGHLAND FLING by Meghan Quinn

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Freshly fired from her third job in a row, Bonnie St. James has lost her way. So when she and her best friend stumble upon a “help wanted” post to run a coffee shop in the Scottish Highlands, they apply on a whim. Who knows? Maybe traveling to a new place is just what she needs to figure out her next move. When the friends arrive in the tiny idyllic town of Corsekelly, they instantly fall for the gorgeous Highland landscape and friendly townspeople. But Bonnie finds a less-than-warm welcome in Rowan MacGregor, the rugged local handyman. Busy wrestling his own demons, Rowan’s in no mood to deal with the quirky American - even if she is a bonny lass. As Bonnie’s and Rowan’s paths inevitably cross, insults - and sparks - fly. Can the pair build on their similarities to help each other find purpose and direction… and maybe romance too? Or will their passionate tempers fling them apart?

My Thoughts: Ugh I really wanted to like this one much more than I did. I’ve read and appreciated the last few Meghan Quinn books I’ve come across, and I’ve only heard good things about this one. However, it missed the mark for me. Don’t get me wrong, the concept is really cute and I definitely found myself chuckling at much of the banter between Bonnie and Rowan. However, Bonnie’s character was a little too obnoxious for me. I think her personality was supposed to be perceived as “quirky,” but she just came off immature and un-self aware more often than not. Rowan was a good grumpy contrast to her sunshine energy, and was likable for the most part. The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way is how he handled a blow-up they had towards the last third of the book. The “oh shit, I messed up” realization moment came much later for him than I was expecting it to. Overall, there were definitely some laughable moments in this rom-com, but it’s not my favorite Meghan Quinn book.

WILDCAT by Rebecca Jenshak

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: I met my dream girl. That’s right. She’s stunning and the worst bartender I’ve ever seen. I should have gone home and gone to sleep - dream girl or not. I had an early morning and the season was starting soon. But when she threatened me with boy band karaoke I couldn’t help myself. I went. The stars aligned. I have never felt more alive or wanted anyone more than I want her. When it’s time for me to head on my annual pre-season boys’ trip, I barely let her go. It’s been a week and I can’t stop thinking about her. Except there she is. Right here at the Wildcat’s kickoff party. And as luck would have it, my dream girl is the coach’s youngest daughter. But everyone knows the coach’s daughter is off limits. Right?

My Thoughts: I saw that the sequel to this book is coming out soon, and although they said the second book (Wild About You) could be read as a standalone, y’all know how much I love a series that specifically involves romance and hockey players lol. And, let me tell you, Wildcat was super cute! It was a really well-rounded romance story with just a little bit of drama to keep it interesting, but nothing over the top. Leo was an absolute gem and a book boyfriend if I’ve ever met one. He was sweet, protective, thoughtful, and adored Scarlett aka his dream girl. I was swooning the entire time to say the least. Scarlett was a little self conscious and unsure of herself, but not in an annoying way. Plus, she managed to resolve those internal conflicts more quickly than I expected. Was this book a groundbreaking romance? Not at all. Did it give me all of the elements I could want in a sports-themed romance novel? Absolutely! If you’re looking for a lighter, satisfying read, I recommend picking this one up!

SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN by Shelley Parker-Chan

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected. When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother’s identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate. After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu takes the chance to claim another future altogether: her brother’s abandoned greatness.

My Thoughts: My gosh was this a beautiful book. It’s a Mulan retelling with plenty of layers, plot lines, and characters to get lost in. So, let me just say, this book will give to you as much as you give to it. Meaning it is definitely a slower burn, but if you immerse yourself in the storyline and the experiences of each character, the pages truly turn effortlessly. This book really does pack a punch with phenomenal world building, messy politics, fractured alliances, betrayals, and some dark fantasy elements. There were so many unique qualities to all of the different characters and although some were on opposing sides, their stories shared themes of queer desire, figuring out where they belong in this world, and deciding their own fates. This book is considered an epic fantasy, so if you’re new to fantasy, I’m not sure this is the greatest place to start. I also have to say, it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea due to the slow burn element. However, if you’ve been interested in this book or are looking for something a little different in the fantasy genre then I definitely think you should give it a try!

THE WALL OF WINNIPEG AND ME by Mariana Zapata

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing. She shouldn’t feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary. But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she’s beyond shocked. For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn’t find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He’s asking for the unthinkable. What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

My Thoughts: This book was on a few different “Top Kindle Unlimited Romances” lists that came up for me over the last couple of months, so I decided to try it. Let me tell you, it was not what I was expecting. This is the epitome of a slow burn romance. I don’t always love a slow burn romance because the timing can make it feel unbelievable. However, this story’s pacing was absolutely perfect. I loved how headstrong and independent Vanessa’s character was, and that she didn’t agree to what Aiden was proposing until he made her an offer she couldn’t say no to. Then she put her foot down and changed the dynamics of their relationship by refusing to be his personal assistant again which pushed him so far out of his comfort zone. Though he comes off cold and indifferent, it was impossible not to see the huge heart Aiden was harboring under that off-putting facade. As things progress, they slowly start developing a friendship which turns into genuine adoration and feelings for each other - even though neither vocalizes the shift they’re experiencing. The surrounding plotline was really sweet with just the right amount of emotion weaved throughout. Overall, if you’re looking for a slower burn romance that is perfectly paced, definitely go pick this up! Note: please check trigger warnings before going into this though!

THE SEAT FILLER by Sariah Wilson

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: The meet-cute award goes to dog groomer Juliet Nolan. It’s one of Hollywood’s biggest nights when she volunteers as a seat filler and winds up next to movie heartthrob Noah Douglas. Tongue tied and toes curling in her pink Converse, she pretends that she doesn’t have a clue who he is. It’s the only way to keep from swooning. She’s pretty and unpretentious, loves his dog, and is not a worshiping fan. No way Noah’s giving up on her, even if his affectionate pursuit comes with a bump: Juliet has a pathological fear of kissing and the disappointments that follow. What odds does romance have without the momentous, stupendous, once-in-a-lifetime first smooch? Patient, empathetic, and carrying personal burdens of his own, Noah suggests a remedy: they rehearse. The lessons begin. The guards come down. But there’s another hitch they weren’t betting on. As for that happy ending? It might take more than practice to make it perfect.

My Thoughts: This was such a cute concept! Who wouldn’t want to have a gorgeous celebrity swoon over you after meeting them briefly as a seat filler at an awards ceremony? This is definitely a meet-cute situation worth daydreaming about. The banter between Juliet and Noah was addicting, the friendship they developed felt like a really satisfying hug (IYKYK), and there’s a subplot line involving the pure love of dogs. We are checking BOXES, people! That said though, I had a few hang-ups. Juliet’s character was strong and sassy, but I kept wanting to yell at her: “READ THE ROOM, JULES.” She could not believe a famous actor actually liked her as more than just a friend even though all of his intentional actions (therapy taught me that one lol) communicated how much he cared about her. I also felt like the ~issue~ they experience was blown so far out of proportion on Noah’s side of things. Like, he was the most down-to-earth guy the entire book and the reaction he had when something came to light just felt dRAmATiC. They had developed this beautiful friendship that was clearly leading to something more due to their deep connection, so the way he handled that was just such a contrast to everything we had seen prior. All in all, this was definitely a fun and cute book, and I say pick it up for a quick rom-com read!

BLACK BUCK by Mateo Askaripour

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: An unambitious twenty-two-year-old, Darren lives in a Bed-Stuy brownstone with his mother, who wants nothing more than to see him live up to his potential as the valedictorian of Bronx Science. But Darren is content working at Starbucks in the lobby of a Midtown office building, hanging out with his girlfriend, Soraya, and eating his mother’s home-cooked meals. All that changes when a chance encounter with Rhett Daniels, the silver-tongued CEO of Sumwun, NYC’s hottest tech startup, results in an exclusive invitation for Darren to join an elite sales team on the 36th floor. After enduring a “hell week” of training, Darren, the only Black person in the company, reimagines himself as “Buck,” a ruthless salesman unrecognizable to his friends and family. But when things turn tragic at home and Buck feels he’s hit rock bottom, he begins to hatch a plan to help young people of color infiltrate America’s sales force, setting off a chain of events that forever changes the game.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and it was a WILD ride. We follow Darren who works as a lead barista at Starbucks until he’s presented with the opportunity to work for a tech startup called Sumwun. From there, the book goes so many different directions, I felt like I had whiplash from everything that happened. The storytelling was phenomenal though. Specifically Darren’s character arc and development. He goes from being a really chill guy who unapologetically loves his mother, girlfriend, and neighborhood, to becoming somewhat of a morally gray character, and then into somebody else entirely. That said, even when his character was at a low point and not very likable, I was still incredibly invested in his story. Plus, there was a suspenseful element to the overall plot line that kept me coming back for more because I just had to know how it all ended. Besides accurately depicting the toxic work environment some start-ups have been known to have, Darren’s story touches on real and relevant topics such as racism, gentrification, homelessness, and more. This was truly a unique book and I definitely recommend giving the audiobook a try!

FLOCK by Kate Stewart

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: I grew up sick. Let me clarify. I grew up believing that real love stories include a martyr or demand great sacrifice to be worthy. Because of that, I believed it, because I made myself believe it, and I bred the most masochistic of romantic hearts, which resulted in my illness. When I lived this story, my own twisted fairy tale, it was unbeknownst to me at the time because I was young and naive. I gave into temptation and fed the beating beast, which grew thirstier with every slash, every strike, every blow. Triple Falls wasn’t all what it seemed, nor were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets. Secrets that cost us everything to keep. That’s the novelty of fiction versus reality. You can’t relive your own love story, because by the time you’ve realized you’re living it, it’s over. At least that was the case for me and the men I trusted my foolish heart to. Looking back, I’m convinced I willed my story into existence due to my illness. And all were punished.

My Thoughts: I’ve seen Flock all over the place lately and decided to give it a try. I definitely think it lived up to the hype. In terms of characters, I didn’t love Cecelia because she clearly has some emotional issues she needs to work through and that usually manifested in knee jerk reactions to things. However, I did appreciate that she found her voice in situations she previously wouldn’t have caused a stir about. Though I was a little skeptical about Sean at first, he ended up winning over my heart with his warmth and assurance. Dom is a whole other story as his icy exterior and reluctance to open up made him come off as an asshole. Eventually, I found a soft spot for him as a little broody boy. This book had so many random things going for it including a mystery element. It kept me guessing on multiple occasions. For example, you really don’t know who the love interest is until almost a quarter into the book which kept me on my toes in choosing which characters we could actually trust. The main secret isn’t revealed until 95% through and let me tell you, it is a plot twist I did not predict while leaving us on a cliffhanger that was absolutely rude af, and obviously had me wanting more. This book is definitely spicy, so reserved readers beware.

EXODUS by Kate Stewart

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: It’s a ghost town, this place that haunts me, the one that made me. It’s clear to me that I’ll never outgrow Triple Falls or outlive the time I spent here. I can still feel them all, my boys of summer. Even when I’d sensed the danger, I gave in. I didn’t heed a single warning. I let my sickness, my love, both rule and ruin me. I played my part, eyes wide open, tempting fate until it delivered. There was never going to be an escape. All of us are to blame for what happened. All of us serving our own sentences. We were careless and reckless, thinking our youth made us indestructible, exempt from our sins, and it cost us all. I’m done pretending I didn’t leave the largest part of me between these hills and valleys, between the sea of trees that hold my secrets. It’s the reason I’m back. To make peace with my fate. And if I can’t grieve enough to cure myself in my time here, I’ll remain sick. That will be my curse. But it’s time to confess, to myself more so than any other, that I’d hindered my chances because of the way I was built, and because of the men who built me. At this point, I just want to make peace with who I am, no matter what ending I get. Because I can no longer live a lie.

My Thoughts: Holy CRUD. Okay, okay, so let me preface by saying, I literally do not know if this is actually 4 stars or if I’m just blinded by all of my feels due to what happened in this book, but my god it was a doozy. It splits between the past where the first book ended and the present - which is seven years later. Within the first 40% of the book, I was CRYING, and when I tell you I audibly GASPED at something that happened, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. It messed me up, y’all. Kate Stewart did not come to play. She came to wreck me. We’re finally let into more of the mystery that was only introduced in Flock, and meet a new character we’ve heard about, but had yet to see. Now let me just say, in no way do I condone the obvious toxic, codependent traits of the relationship that engulfs Cecelia unexpectedly in this book. Like obvi she’d be better off seeing a therapist to work a few things out before developing something with this other character. HOWEVER, I definitely appreciated how much of a badass she’s grown to be since her summer in Triple Falls. Sure, she’s still a little messy, but aren’t we all? The emotions that radiated off the pages cut me at my core, you can feel the static tension between two of the characters any time they’re in each other’s vicinity, and the story that unfolds due to multiple plot twists was something I never could have predicted. I was SHOOK. Needless to say, if you read Flock then you HAVE to continue to Exodus or I’ll be super upset lol.

A MASTER OF DJINN by P. Djeli Clark

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer. So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world 50 years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over the global stage. Alongside her Ministry colleagues and her clever girlfriend Siti, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city - or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems…

My Thoughts: I’ve read a few of P. Djeli Clark’s novellas over the last year and have loved his unique storytelling style. So when I heard he published a full-length novel, I had to jump on it! This book was a grungy, fun, clever, magical, whodunnit story set in early 20th century Egypt where the country is thriving with the help of Djinn - magical beings. There’s a murder of a high-ranking European guy who, as it turns out, was organizing a secret Brotherhood that has been procuring various magical relics belonging to incredibly strong djinn. Cue Agent Fatma - a kickass lesbian detective with the snappiest wardrobe and even sharper magical mystery solving skills. This experience was a whirlwind to say the least. Though the plot starts as a murder mystery, it takes a few turns involving some subplots, and that’s where things got muddy for me. It felt like the characters kept getting side tracked by things that kind of tied back to the main goal, but not entirely which made it hard to know what to focus on. Also, I guess I just assumed magic was more integrated into the present culture - beyond just djinn - but the main character works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, and yet she misses a few major magical happenings. AND she’s supposed to be the best at what she does! Like wut?? The only other thing that threw me for a loop is all of the non-English words that were integrated with no context clues. I had to keep setting the book down to Google what something was which caused a really stop-go reading experience. Overall, I think this was a pretty good book, but if you’re new to fantasy then I wouldn’t recommend starting here.

THE FINISH LINE by Kate Stewart

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: I’ve lived the entirety of my life wrapped up in subterfuge for one purpose - revenge. Through the years, I lived more as an enigma than a man. For so long, I denied I had a beating heart of my own. Until her. Until she unearthed the starving vessel inside, forced me to acknowledge it, forced me to understand that I’m capable of bleeding the same as any other. For that, we paid. We’re still paying. Yet, she demands it still, the useless heart of the ruthless thief and shameless villain she fell for. My fear is, I’m no longer that man. With the lies I’ve told, the life I’ve led, my mistakes are beginning to catch up with me, day by day, one by one. This is my last chance, and I have no intention of losing her again, but as the deception of my past starts to unravel and close in, shedding my humanity may be the only thing that can save us both.

My Thoughts: Wow. Kate Stewart really said, “are you ready to be emotionally wrecked even more than the last book? The Ravenhood trilogy is going out in a blaze of glory.” Y’all, I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. Mostly because it felt like there was a tone of finality in Exodus which left me guessing what could possibly happen next? Let me tell you, SO MANY THINGS. This book mainly focuses on Tobias, his side of the story, and his background. Up until this point, we’ve seen everything through Cecelia’s eyes, so I loved getting to know Tobias’s character on a much deeper level to understand why he’s the man he is today. That said, some chapters do bounce over to Cecelia’s POV - specifically of the present - as Tobias works to earn back her trust and love. Since the timeline flips back and forth between Tobias’s past, parts of the story we already saw in the two previous books, and the present, there are a lot of puzzle pieces clicking together to form a bigger picture. This was an incredibly emotional book and every feeling these characters experience (grief, anger, deep love, joy, etc.) had me in a chokehold. Plus, romance storyline aside, there is a HUGE plot twist that occurs that I didn’t even realize was on the table lol. It was so surprising, I had to regroup to realize what just happened. A lot of loose ends and unanswered questions are settled by the end of this book which made the entire series that much more satisfying. If it’s not clear enough, I definitely enjoyed The Ravenhood trilogy and highly recommend it if you’re looking for something smutty with an incredibly strong plotline.

KISS MY PUTT by Tara Sivec

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: After spending my entire pro golfing career being known as the quiet, controlled, no-nonsense golfer on the tour, there’s nothing more humiliating than throwing all of that down the drain - or into a water hazard - on national television. Needing some place to hide, to lick my wounds and figure out what I even want to do with my life once this blows over, I can only think of one place I need to be. Summersweet Island, where everyone treats me like one of their own, and they’ll all be happy to have me home again. Well except for maybe one person. It’s been two years since I last set foot on Summersweet Island or spoke to anyone there. But I’m sure Birdie Bennett, my best friend since I was 15 and the clubhouse manager of my favorite golf course, has had plenty of time to forgive me for that tiny little misunderstanding where I blocked her on social media and blocked her in my phone. Oh, and I guess I kind of, sort of accused her of being a stalker. It’s fine! Once my sexy, spunky, former best friend gets over the shock of seeing me again and stops trying to drive a 9-iron into my skull before I can finally let her know I’ve also kind of, sort of always been in love with her…

My Thoughts: This was a random Kindle Unlimited find and it was everything I could have wanted out of a golf-themed romantic comedy! There were laugh out loud moments, a variety of characters with distinct personalities that play into the overall story, and the sexual tension… Let me tell you, it was palpable. Although Birdie and Palmer start the book not on good terms, I loved watching the iciness between them start to melt until they fell back into their familiar rhythm as best friends. Birdie is a spunky, stubborn gal who refuses to fully let down her walls after being burned by Palmer two years prior. Palmer is a sweet guy who misses his best friend, and just wants to get her back. The only thing that irked me is they both had feelings for each other, and weren’t necessarily hiding it through various behaviors, yet neither of them wanted to come right out and say it! Y’all already wasted the last two years by not talking to each other! Why not just say what’s on your mind? Anywho, if you’re looking for something lighter, steamy, with a little bit of sports mixed in, and can get you ready for the summer, this is a great choice!

SPOILER ALERT by Olivia Dade

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Marcus Caster-Rupp has a secret. While the world knows him as Aeneas, the star of the biggest show on TV, Gods of the Gates, he’s known to fanfiction readers as Book!AneasWouldNever, an anonymous and popular poster. Marcus is able to get out his own frustrations with his character through his stories, especially the ones that feature the internet’s favorite couple to ship, Aeneas and Lavinia. But if anyone ever found out about his online persona, he’d be fired. Immediately. April Whittier has secrets of her own. A hardcore Lavinia fan, she’s hidden her fanfiction and cosplay hobby from her “real life” for years - but not anymore. When she decides to post her latest Lavinia creation on Twitter, her photo goes viral. Trolls and supporters alike are commenting on her plus-size take, but when Marcus, one half of her OTP (one true pairing), sees her pic and asks her out on a date to spite her critics, she realizes life is really stranger than fanfiction. Even though their first date is a disaster, Marcus quickly realizes that he wants much more from April than a one-time publicity stunt. And when he discovers she’s actually Unapologetic Lavinia Stan, his closest fandom friend, he has one more huge secret to hide from her. With love and Marcus’s career on the line, can the two of them stop hiding once and for all, or will a match made in fandom end up prematurely canceled?

My Thoughts: After putting off reading this book for a while, I’m so glad I finally did! The writing is so clever and truly had me in a trance at a few different parts because the choice of words was just artistic. It was also refreshing that the book bounces between different formats, including fanfictions, messages on social media, etc. The premise was unique and this was such a fun way to depict fanfiction fandom - especially since it paralleled the last season of Game of Thrones lol. April was one of the best main characters you could ask for in this book. She’s confident, quirky, an absolute knockout, and is learning to love herself by setting boundaries with people in her life. Marcus was the sweetest guy who was dealing with a little bit of an identity crisis after putting on a dim-witted facade for the cameras for so long. When in reality, he’s actually extremely intelligent, curious about the world around him, and incredibly articulate. One of my favorite things about this book is that both characters had enough self awareness to reassess when they made a mistake and remedied whatever misunderstanding had occurred. It made me feel like both April and Marcus truly see each other, yanno? Though this book is pretty predictable, it didn’t take away from the overall experience. Especially since the story touches on real topics such as fat-shaming, dyslexia, emotional abuse from parent figures, and more. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you’re looking for something a little nerdy and dirty (this is a pun you will understand if you read the book :)).

THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: At the end of the second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everything he loves. The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and absolutely loved it! Tom Hanks is the narrator, so you really can’t go wrong here. I’ve gotta start out by saying, if the plot of a book is the most important aspect to you then this will not be your cup of tea. The Dutch House is largely a character-driven book about two siblings, Danny and Maeve Conroy. This slow burn, coming of age story stretches across five decades as we watch this brother/sister duo face unexpected adversities starting from childhood all the way into their 60s. I kind of loved that The Dutch House was treated like another character in all of this. Most of the issues Danny and Maeve experience start inside the grandiose estate after their late father’s young wife, Andrea, kicks them out. For decades, the siblings are entangled in a past they can’t seem to let go of and make it a routine of driving to The Dutch House, sitting in Maeve’s car across the street, smoking cigarettes and reminiscing about their time in that house. This beautifully written book touches on topics of grief, loss, familial relationships, abandonment, forgiveness, and more. I definitely recommend this book - specifically the audiobook because what’s better than Tom Hanks reading a book to you for hours? :)

SWING AND A MISHAP by Tara Sivec

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Two years ago, I was a pretty big deal. I thought I had it all, until a blast from my past popped up on my social media feed, keeping my ego in check and reminding me how basic I am. Except sassy Wren Bennett isn’t just a blast from my past. She’s the only woman I ever saw a future with. Even though my soul leaves my body every time she says she hates baseball and has never watched me play, a year’s-worth of messages filled with laughter and sarcasm only remind me how amazing my “pen pal” is. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how fine I look in a pair of baseball pants; I’m still 3,000 miles away and she’s taken… or so I thought. Maybe I should have thought a little harder before I dropped her like a seeing-eye single into the outfield. When an injury has me questioning everything about my life, I can only think of one place I need to go and one person I need to see. Home, to Summersweet Island, to get back my “pen pal.” Now I just need to make sure single mom Wren knows I didn’t come back for a change, and I didn’t come back for a job. I’m swinging for the fences, and I'm finally coming home to make her mine. If only she’d stop insulting me and stay in one place long enough for me to tell her. She wouldn’t try to drown me with a tub of ice cream right? I’m sure it will be fine.

My Thoughts: Gah! This was seriously so cute. A little saccharine - like rotting-your-teeth sweet - but I enjoyed Wren and Shep’s story nonetheless! We got to know Wren in Kiss My Putt as Birdie’s older sister who plans to take over the family’s ice cream business and has a 14-year-old son, Owen. Kevin, Owen’s father, is absolute trash and although he’s never around, he’s spent years chipping away at Wren’s confidence whenever he stopped by unannounced. So even though the book starts with Wren maintaining the people-pleasing behavior she’s practiced for so long, I loved watching her start to stand up for herself, acknowledge everything she’s achieved over the years despite the adversities she’s encountered, and stop giving time and attention to people who don’t deserve it. Shepard was literally the best guy for this book. He absolutely adores Wren and has for years. Everything he says to her has so much intent and emotion behind it - I was melting in a puddle of swoon on multiple occasions. There were a few frustrating miscommunications (per usual), but most were quickly resolved, so I wasn’t irritated by them. Are there some incredibly cheesy moments in this book? Big fat YES. Did that take away from Wren and Shepard’s story? Nope! Overall, I think if you’re looking for something a little sweet, a little spicy, and involves baseball, this is a good one!

THE HEIR by Sophie Lark

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: I’d go anywhere for her - even to Kingmakers, the most brutal college in the world. Where mafia heirs are trained to control, dominate, infiltrate, and kill. I followed Anna because she’s my best friend. I’ve always been right by her side. She needs me to protect her. Especially from Dean Yenin, a Bratva heir with a lethal grudge. He plans to take everything from me. Starting with Anna.

My Thoughts: Okay I started the Kingmakers series on a whim, and although this book didn't blow me away, I definitely liked it overall! The Heir bounces between three characters’ points of view - Anna Wilk, Leo Gallo, and Dean Yenin. Anna and Leo grew up together and are attached at the hip. Dean’s family has a grudge against Leo’s family due to mafia activities in the past, so he tries everything he can to drive a wedge between the best friends. Although I liked all three of the main characters, none of them blew me away. Dean was actually a little scary due to his temper and resentment, so as soon as it was clear where he stood with Anna, I was kind of hoping we’d drop his POV because he wasn’t adding to my experience with this story. That said, the purpose of this book is definitely for world-building, introducing us to Kingmakers (a school for mafia kids), and setting the stage for how characters are connected. So, that’s why I’m not being too critical about it. The plot wasn’t mindblowing, but it was enjoyable nonetheless! Overall, it was fun following the next generation of the Brutal Birthright characters and I’m excited to keep going with this series!

THE REBEL by Sophie Lark

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Zoe Romera is trapped in a marriage contract with the most sadistic psychopath at Kingmakers. She couldn’t be more off-limits. Stealing her from Rocco Prince would break the most ironclad rules of the mafia world. But I have to have her. She’s my soulmate. I want her, or no one at all. I’ll do anything to save her. Rocco will do anything to destroy her. I’ve got one chance to achieve the impossible.

My Thoughts: Yuuus! We love a dark academia, mafia-infused, suspense-ridden romance novel! We met Zoe Romera and Miles Griffin in The Heir, and from what we know, Miles is the go-to guy at Kingmakers if you need any sort of contraband. He doesn’t take anything too seriously and seems to be walking through life a little aloof. Zoe is set to marry Rocco Prince who is a freaking creep. He’s like the Ted Bundy of Kingmakers. So, she does everything she can to avoid him and his friends because Rocco endlessly taunts her. After Miles witnesses one of these traumatic occurrences, he finds himself wanting to protect Zoe from Rocco and inevitably falls for her. I absolutely adored their connection and watching their walls come down. Zoe and Miles are both extremely intelligent and filled in emotional spaces for one another. The plotline of this book kept me on my TOES and had my heart racing multiple times. Similar to the last book with three POVs, there’s a subplot going on with Zoe’s little sister, Catalina, which provides a cliffhanger at the end. Between the swoon-worthy romance and the high intensity suspense, I thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the Kingmakers series.

THE BULLY by Sophie Lark

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: I know her secret. Cat is in so much trouble. She did something bad, and I saw. I’ll keep her secret… for a price. Poor, sweet, timid Cat should never have come to Kingmakers. It’s a place for monsters and killers. People like me. She wandered into the lion’s den and now she’s mine. Mine to play with. Mine to torment. Mine to break.

My Thoughts: Ahhh! Broody boy villain turning into the passionate hero? Um, YES PLZ! This book follows Dean Yenin - who we originally met in The Heir. Up to this point, he’s been a complete dick to everyone and is fueled by pure anger at all times. It also follows Cat Romero - who we met in the last book and know as Zoe’s little sister. She has a HUGE secret that only Dean knows, so she’s agreed to a deal with him in exchange for his silence. Cat’s character arc is just *chef’s kiss*. Last book, she was assigned to the Spy division at Kingmakers and was basically experiencing baptism by fire because she had never been exposed to the mafioso life back home. She was quite delicate and timid in this new environment which somewhat carried into this book. However, as time goes on, she starts finding her voice and strength and becomes an absolute boss by the end of this book. I was so invested in watching her and Dean’s relationship develop as well. It was one of those situations where they each needed each other and didn’t even know it. Dean has a new teacher who completely changes his outlook on life and makes him a man he can be proud of. The plot of the series overall definitely thickens as a new character’s POV (The Spy) is sprinkled into this storyline. Although I wasn’t expecting it at all, this is definitely my favorite book of the Kingmakers series thus far!

THE SPY by Sophie Lark

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: I’ve waited three long years for this. Hiding. Lying. Spying. Waiting like a spider for her to wander into my web. Now she’s here, and I have to get even closer to her. I’ll help her. Befriend her. Seduce her, even. The only thing I can’t do is fall in love with her. Her father took everything from me: my money, my family, my life. He has to pay for what he’s done. And she’s the only thing that can hurt him.

My Thoughts: Wow. What a wild ride this book was! The plot was freaking fantastic and revealed the secrets behind some of the easter eggs the author left in the previous books. We finally get to see inside the mind of Ares - Leo Gallo’s close friend and roommate at Kingmakers. What we know about Ares thus far is that he’s from a poor family who lives on a small island in Greece. He’s quiet, composed, extremely studious, and built like a Greek god lol. Most of the information he’s shared with his friends and fellow classmates in the previous years has been decently vague, so it was exciting to see beneath the gentle giant facade. Nix is the newest character to the series. She’s the daughter of a mafia boss who is known to be absolutely ruthless and untrustworthy. However, he’s kept a ton of secrets from her and has only fed Nix his version of the story. So, she comes to Kingmakers absolutely naive about his work and is hated by most by extension of her dad. I was obsessed with watching Ares falling for Nix when he wasn’t supposed to (cue forbidden romance trope). Since he’s been lying for years about the true reason he’s at Kingmakers, it felt like a weight lifted from his shoulders to finally be honest and tell Nix things he hasn’t told anyone else. All because she gave him the room to do so. There’s a few plot twists involving side characters as well as a few INTENSE scenes towards the end of this book that left my jaw on the floor. Needless to say, if you started the Kingmakers series, definitely stick with it to The Spy!

THE SAVAGE by Sophie Lark

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary: Sabrina Gallo is an animal. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I had to have her. But Sabrina won’t be taken by anyone. She’s wild and reckless - downright dangerous. Lucky for me, I’ve always loved a challenge. I want to hunt. Even if I capture her, caging a tiger doesn’t mean it’s tamed. The harder she fights, the more ruthless I become. She needs to learn how savage I can be.

My Thoughts: It hurts me to say, but this book was such a disappointment. Obviously, I still love Sophie Lark as an author, but she really missed the mark on this book. Sabrina and Adrik’s relationship was teased at the end of The Spy, and I was expecting something exciting since their characters are a little wilder than others. However, even 60% into this book, I just did not care about them. There was hardly a build up to them developing a connection, and the relationship that was created was heavily based on lust more than love. So, I never fully bought into this pairing. Sabrina is only 19, so she’s still pretty immature, has the WORST temper ever, and is just freaking reckless all the time. Also, she never really grew out of that? Like there was no character development here. The only quality to Adrik was he embraced Sabrina’s wild nature, but he had just as bad of a temper and clearly never saw her as his equal. The conflict that drives a wedge between them is due to BOTH characters - not just Sabrina - and yet she’s the one who apologizes…? The overall plot was kind of weak compared to the previous storylines and definitely not worth 500+ pages. The only reason I kept reading was because I was hoping the story would eventually redeem itself. Spoiler alert: it did not. (Even with a few Nero appearances. IYKYK.) This book is extremely sexual, so if you’re looking for something more heavy on the smut than the plot then you might like this more than I did. That said, since this is the last book in the Kingmakers series, I honestly think you could just skip it and not miss anything.

YOU HAD ME AT HOLA by Alexis Daria

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy for the number one streaming service in the country, Jasmine figures her new “Leading Lady Plan” should be easy enough to follow - until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suarez. After his last telenovela character was killed off, Ashton is worried his career is dead as well. Joining this new cast as a last-minute addition will give him the chance to show off his acting chops to American audiences and ping the radar of Hollywood casting agents. To make it work, he’ll need to generate smoking-hot on-screen chemistry with Jasmine. Easier said than done, especially when a disastrous first impression smothers the embers of whatever sexual heat they might have had. With their careers on the line, Jasmine and Ashton agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera. While their on-screen performance improves, the media spotlight on Jasmine soon threatens to destroy her new image and expose Ashton’s most closely guarded secret.

My Thoughts: This book was such a delight! Among the many aspects of this story that I thoroughly enjoyed, the characters were top notch. Both Jasmine and Ashton are Latinx actors who have made a name for themselves through soap operas and telenovelas, when they land a main role on the new show of a popular streaming service. Each of them were perfectly flawed and incredibly endearing. I loved that their lives matched up in ways neither expected and I was absolutely addicted to the chemistry crackling between them. Besides the developing romance, the other storyline that had me obsessing over this book was the close family dynamic Jasmine shared with her cousins Michelle and Ava. We love a powerful support system composed of strong women, and they were Jasmine’s rock. Overall, this was a fun, spicy rom-com that was incredibly rich in culture. The pages turned effortlessly and I definitely recommend picking it up if you haven’t already!

All righty, friends! That’s it for April! :D

I can’t promise I won’t read as much romance next month, but I can promise to mix some other genres in there lol.

2022 Book Count: 84

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! How do you choose your next book? Are you a mood reader like me or do you have all of your next books planned?

March 2022 Reads

April 01, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

Okay, y’all. Remember last month when I said I was going to try to rotate a wider variety of genres into my reading list for March?

Well, lol. That is the last time I’ll be making any promises.

Ya girl went through a really weird reading funk this month, and the only thing that sounded enticing to me when I wasn’t feeling any genre was a raunchy romance novel. That said, I did manage to squeeze in a few non-fiction books and a couple of mystery/thrillers.

So, I didn’t totally miss the mark. I just went hard in the paint and doubled down on the romance books lol.

Welp, let’s get to it! Buckle up for this very lengthy March reading wrap-up!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads

DATING YOU HATING YOU by Christina Lauren

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire. But when their two agencies merge - causing the pair to vie for the same position - all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirtysomething professionals - so why can’t they act like it? Can Carter stop trying to please everyone and see how their mutual boss is really playing the game? Can Evie put aside her competitive nature long enough to figure out what she really wants in life? Can their actor clients just be something close to human? Will these two Hollywood love/hatebirds get the storybook Hollywood ending or just a dramedy of epic proportions?

My Thoughts: LOL this book was so much fun! I listened to it on audiobook which made all of the office place shenanigans in this rom-com even more entertaining and animated thanks to the awesome narrators. I loved that this story didn’t start with your typical enemies-to-lovers trope where the characters despise one another before falling for each other. Evie and Carter actually genuinely liked each other at the beginning of this book and had hope in the relationship that was blossoming between them. It was only when they realized they’d be competing for the same job that the claws came out and it was every person for themselves. Some of the pranks they pulled on each other were laugh-out-loud funny, you could cut the sexual tension with a knife, and when their walls came down momentarily, I swooned over the heartwarming exchanges. Evie and Carter were both incredibly likable characters in their own respect and it was really fulfilling to watch them band together to fight the misogyny radiating from their asshole boss. Overall, this book was an absolute delight and I definitely recommend it!

THE FRIEND ZONE by Abby Jimenez

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Kristen Petersen doesn’t do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don’t get her. She’s also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children. Planning her best friend’s wedding is bittersweet for Kristen - especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He’s funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he’d be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it’s harder and harder to keep him at arm’s length.

My Thoughts: There was a lot that happened in this book, and I was going back and forth on my feelings about it the entire time. For the most part, it was fun to watch Kristen and Josh’s relationship grow from enemies to friends to lovers. There’s a forbidden love aspect to it that adds even more anticipation to the sexual tension building for a large portion of the book. They’re both decently likable characters, but I think I liked them more together than as individuals because their dynamics gave depth to the story. Aside from the romance, there are some subplots that provide some intense tear jerking moments - including a huge plot twist, so grab your tissues. Overall, this was a pretty decent read, but I probably won’t read it again nor use it as an immediate recommendation. As a side note, please check the trigger and content warnings before picking this up if you plan to.

KNOT MY TYPE by Evie Mitchell

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Frankie - when you say you’re a sexologist, people imagine Marilyn Monroe. They don’t expect a woman who uses a wheelchair. As the host of the All Access Podcast, I’m breaking down barriers, crushing stigmas, and creating sexual connections that are fulfilling for my fans. Only I’ve hit a snag. A lovely listener wants some advice about accessible rope play and I’m drawing a blank. Which leaves me with no option but to get out there and give it a go. Which is how I meet Jay Wood - rigger, carpenter, and all-round hottie. I’d be open to letting him wine and dine me - only Jay isn’t my type. He’s not a one-girl kind of guy and I’m not a woman who’ll settle for being second choice. But the closer we get, the more Jay has me tied up in knots. And it’s making me think maybe I could compromise. Jay - Frankie’s funny, intelligent, and ridiculously sexy. This should be a no-brainer. A little fun in the sheets - simple. Only the infuriating woman is asking for more and I’m not that kind of guy. I wouldn’t even know how to be that kind of guy. I’m the definition of easy. It’ll be fine. We’ll be friends. Just friends. So, why does my heart feel frayed? And why is it I can’t help but consider taking the ultimate leap of faith - tying myself to Frankie. Permanently.

My Thoughts: I went into this book not knowing anything about it, but I can tell you that accessible BDSM is not what I was expecting at all! Though I’m not a huge fan of instant-love tropes, it worked well for this story and made the connection between Frankie and Jay feel much more swoony in an “oh they found their person” type of way. I loved how strong Frankie’s character was. She was unapologetically herself and radiated confidence through everything from her incredibly successful podcast, to her brightly-colored wardrobe, and even to the risque self portrait she proudly displays above her bed. Her personality just jumped off the pages. Jay was a little less confident, but the sweetest guy you could ask for and was incredibly attentive to Frankie’s wants and needs (both in and outside of the bedroom lol). This is definitely an open-door romance with some rope play sprinkled in, so if that sort of thing makes you feel uncomfy, this may not be for you. Although this book was a little saccharine for me, I do think it’s a great read outside of the regular rom-com template.

NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: At school, Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers - one they are determined to conceal. A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years in college, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying towards other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Then, as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save each other.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and really liked it. I’m not sure if it was the actual story or the narrator’s voice or a combination, but this book was both peaceful and upsetting. Marianne and Connell were such complicated characters who found solace in each other. The moments when their communication and feelings were aligned provided a pocket of calm in a storm of melancholy. When they weren’t on the same wavelength, though, it was physically frustrating - like my gut was tight because I was so irritated by how stubborn they were. Both of them were trying to figure out who they were out in the world, and nothing felt right except for when they were together. Their relationship had such potential to be healthy, but I think it was just so lowkey codependent that it never reached that level of balance. Especially when Connell suffered from anxiety, and Marianne was dealing with her own demons that manifested in deep depressive episodes and self harming behaviors. That said, this was a really beautiful book about how impactful people can be in each other’s lives and what it takes to nurture those relationships as you continue to work on yourself. Please check all the trigger warnings though before you go into it.

HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER by Tessa Bailey

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time - in bed and out - and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is. Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost. Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… man overboard. He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead?

My Thoughts: I loved Hannah in It Happened One Summer and was so excited she got her own story! This may be a bold statement, but I think I may have liked Hannah and Fox’s story better than Piper and Brendan’s? The friends-to-lovers trope made sinking into this developing romance feel like snuggling into a cozy blanket. Their chemistry as friends was undeniable and I loved that Hannah wanted to emphasize to Fox that a friendship between them is just as, if not more, important to her than acting on any sexual impulses they had. Hannah in general is a really down-to-earth character which makes her incredibly easy to like, but she also has this unique drive and strength to her that kicks her likeability up to 100. Fox has officially been added to my list of “book boyfriends” lol. He definitely had a lot to work through before he could give Hannah what she truly deserved, and we love a guy with some self-awareness, do we not? Though you technically could read this book without having read It Happened One Summer first, I don’t recommend it. I think the experience will be so much more enjoyable if you read the books in order. So, quickly go pick the first one up, so you can dive into this absolute gem! :)

THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: The bride. The plus one. The best man. The wedding planner. The bridesmaid. The body. On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

My Thoughts: I have to start by saying, though I’m usually a grade A scaredy cat with mystery/thriller books, I really enjoyed this one! The first chunk of the book is a little slower paced, but I think it was essential for setting a solid background on the characters and the history of the island where the story takes place. Although there are a handful of characters, each chapter is from the perspective of a different person, so it was easy to keep track of everyone and how they played into the bigger picture. Hannah was probably my favorite because she felt the most down-to-earth amongst this gang of incredibly eccentric, sometimes wicked, wedding goers. There were plot twists on plot twists in this book, and I did not see any of them coming. Once a couple of the plot twists revealed themselves, I was like oh okay, looking back, I probably could have predicted that. However, there were other plot twists that made my jaw drop lol. This wasn’t necessarily a ~scary~ book as much as it was a little creepy. Don’t get me wrong, my heart was pumping a couple of times, but if you’re not usually great with thrillers, I still think you’d be fine with this one. Needless to say, this was my first Lucy Foley book, but it won’t be my last!

YES & I LOVE YOU by Roni Loren

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Everyone knows Miz Poppy, the vibrant reviewer whose commentary brightens the New Orleans nightlife. But no one knows Hollyn, the real face behind the media star… or the fear that keeps her isolated. When her boss tells her she needs to add video to her blog or lose her job, she’s forced to rely on an unexpected source to help her face her fears. When aspiring actor Jasper Deares finds out the shy woman who orders coffee every day is actually Miz Poppy, he realizes he has a golden opportunity to get the media attention his acting career needs. All he has to do is help Hollyn come out of her shell… and through their growing connection, finally find her voice.

My Thoughts: Eek! I really enjoyed this book! Hollyn and Jasper had such bright and unique personalities that absolutely jumped off the page. The amount of vulnerability and trust they showed each other made my heart melt, and I absolutely adored them as a team. Both of them were working through some insecurities stemming from adversities they’d faced, so the character development was really satisfactory alongside the romance that was blooming. Not to mention, they gave us the wittiest of banter, the thickest of sexual tension, and so many swoon-worthy moments. There’s even a small love triangle plotline involved that really throws a wrench in things. This is definitely an open door romance, so if you’re more into the “fade to black” type of scenes, this might not be your jam. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the next one in this series!

THE HONEY-DON’T LIST by Christina Lauren

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at 16, and - more than anyone would suspect - has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other. James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on a book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus. Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along - and start playing for keeps - they may have the chance to build something beautiful together.

My Thoughts: Ummm, HGTV show meets rom-com novel? Yes please! This was such a fun audiobook and the narrators did a great job pulling you into the story with their various voices. Carey and James were great main characters for this story. They each had to put up with the Tripps to ensure they didn’t lose something important to them. And, let me tell you, the Tripps were a TRIP. You could feel the toxicity of their relationship radiating from this story, and the tension it caused in multiple scenes. That said, I feel like the book focused a little too much on the Tripps and I wish it zoomed in a little more on the relationship developing between Carey and James. I totally understand that suffering as the Tripps’ assistants was what ultimately brought them together, but by paying attention to that subplot more than their romance made it feel a little rushed. Did I love this book? No. Did I like it and enjoy it? Definitely! It’s not as spicy as other Christina Lauren books tend to be, but if that’s more your vibe anyway, then I’d say this book might be up your alley!

**THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK by Mark Manson**

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. In his wildly popular internet blog, Mark Manson doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is - a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. This book is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected American society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up. There are only so many things we can give an f about, so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and definitely enjoyed it, but feel like everything would have stuck with me more if I had the physical book to make notes in too. I’m just such a visual learner that it’s hard for my brain to really soak in all of the advice, listicles, tidbits, etc. that the author provides if I’m not visually reading them. So, keep that in mind if you’re a visual learner too! Overall though, Mark Manson is definitely a blunt author to say the least. I appreciated that he didn’t make this feel like a “hand holding” book as he takes us through the subtle art of not giving a fuck. My main takeaway was that we need to get out of our heads and take a different approach to how we view life and what’s in front of us. One thing that really resonated with me was the lesson about success. I think I’ve spent the last 4-5 years unlearning what it means to be successful. As an overachiever for most of my life, the fear of failure has always been that nagging entity in the back of my brain, but Manson tore apart the idea that you have to be the best at everything to be successful. And, I just really appreciated that lol. Anywho, I definitely liked this one!

EARN YOUR EXTRA CREDIT by Meghan Quinn

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: “She went home with someone else that night?” Hearing the disbelief in my best friend’s mouth makes the events of my failed date sting that much more. I would like to make it known, I have a lot more swagger than what it seems. I don’t normally ask a girl out, have her fail to recognize it’s a date, and then give me a high five - as if I’m her wingman - and take off with someone else. No. Normally, I’m the one taking the girl home but with Stella, it’s been one failed attempt after another and frankly, I’m done trying. But thanks to my best friend getting married in Hawaii right before the school year starts, I’m stuck on a tropical island, watching Stella parade around in what she claims is a bathing suit. Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it, just the tip of the iceberg. Because what I think is going to be a relaxing vacation, avoiding the one girl I can’t seem to make it work with, has turned into a spectacle of being reunited as Stella’s doting fake fiance, so she can save face with an old “friend” from high school. Now I’m navigating through purgatory while trying not to get turned on by the way she holds my hand or kisses my jaw. It’s fake, that’s what I keep telling myself, even though it feels entirely too real.

My Thoughts: Preface - I have Kindle Unlimited for free through April. So, I was trying to get some KU books mixed into my reading line-up before I don’t have it anymore. Meghan Quinn has made her way onto my radar over the last few months and I’ve liked what I’ve read of hers thus far. So, I DJ Khaled with anotha one. This book was super cute, but it was also so much longer than it needed to be. The first 65-70% of it takes place on a Hawaiian vacation, and then the last chunk is in Chicago after they return home. So there was a mild disconnect for me because I had to quickly transition the settings after having envisioned a tropical paradise for a majority of the experience. The storyline rotated through a few different tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, friends-to-lovers, and coworkers-to-lovers - which caused quite the whirlwind for this developing romance. Stella and Brock (Romeo) definitely had an undeniable connection, but because they each were working on themselves and were awful communicators, it took a hot minute for their desired relationship to come to fruition. Overall, I for sure liked this book and plan to read more of Meghan Quinn’s books, but I don’t think this will end up in my top favorites of hers.

PUT ME IN DETENTION by Meghan Quinn

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: I was hanging with the girls, celebrating my divorce when I saw him, my crush, sitting in the corner at the bar all alone. Being single and looking for a wild night, I asked him if he wanted to join me. To my delight, he said yes. Drinks were consumed, fun was had and then… one drunken conversation with a cranky gondolier in Las Vegas led to an Uber lift through a drive-thru wedding chapel with the incredibly hot, British bad boy, Pike Greyson. On paper, it seemed like I hit the jackpot. And if I wasn’t fresh from a toxic marriage, I would have absolutely noticed the finer things about him. But I wanted nothing to do with being married, so when I arrived back home from my eventful weekend in Vegas, the last thing I expected to see was a doting husband already moved in. I asked for an annulment, he pulled a Ross Geller and said no. That’s right, he said NO! Instead, he asked for three months to prove we could be good together. Insanity clearly knocked him in the head and the only way I could convince him to give up on our sham of a marriage was to show him just how wrong we were for each other. Only problem with that was, he saw right through every prank, every trick, and every yearning emotion I attempted to mask.

My Thoughts: All righty, y’all! This book is the follow up to Earn Your Extra Credit and let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Cora and Pike were such fun characters individually, so when they were thrown together, their energy absolutely shined through the pages. Cora was spunky and scrappy in the best possible way. She was determined to show Pike that she was a less-than-desirable wifey to convince him to get their Vegas marriage annulled. So, she kicked it into high gear with pranks, unappetizing homemade meals, and telling him bizarre lies - all of which provided some LOL-worthy moments. Although he had an ulterior motive for staying married, I really loved Pike. He treated Cora so well, was protective of her, and provided a safe space that allowed her to let her guard down. It was swoon city to say the least. On a side note, this rom-com story is packed with sexual tension and steam, so reserved readers beware! Overall though, I’m glad I impulsively picked up this book. :)

WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: What does “feminism” mean today? That is the question at the heart of this book, a personal, eloquently-argued essay - adapted from her much viewed TEDx talk of the same name - by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie, the award-winning author of Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun. With humor and levity, here Adichie offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the 21st century - one rooted in inclusion and awareness. She shines a light not only on blatant discrimination, but also the more insidious, institutional behaviors that maginalize women around the world, in order to help readers of all walks of life better understand the masked realities of sexual politics. Throughout, she draws extensively on her own experiences - in the U.S., in her native Nigeria, and abroad - offering an artfully nuanced explanation of why the gender divide is harmful for women and men alike.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and it took maybe 30 minutes, so if you’re interested in this book, the audio version is quick! It’s read by the author which makes it easier to be sucked into the anecdotes and explanations due to the inflections in her voice. As for the actual content, I liked that she took a different approach to the topic of feminism by pivoting our brains to look at things from a new angle. The other aspect I really appreciated is that she covered the topic of toxic masculinity. Instead of focusing solely on the cultural/societal expectations of a woman, she zeroes in on how these expectations need to be changed for men too. The only thing that really rubbed me the wrong way is that she definitely has a heteronormative/cisnormative approach to this essay which excludes most of the LGBTQ+ community, and I don’t agree with that. So, yeah. Do with that what you will, but overall I think this book makes some good points.

TWISTED LOVE by Ana Huang

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape. Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart. But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest: a crack, a melt, a fire that could end his world as he knew it. Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember. But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world… including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want. Her brother’s best friend, her neighbor, her savior, and her downfall. Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen - but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both… and everything they hold dear.

My Thoughts: My goodness this was an experience. What we have here folks is a romance novel driven by sunshine/grumpy and forbidden love tropes - both of which are done impeccably well. I wasn’t sure about this story at first. Sometimes, with a grumpy-sunshine trope, the Negative Nance of the two can be such an asshole that when their redeeming moments/qualities finally happen, they just can’t save enough face for me to like them. Alex, however, is a broody boy with an incredibly dark past who has never experienced unconditional love. So when his icy heart started thawing and we got to see how protective, vulnerable, and intentional he was with Ava, he definitely found a place in my heart. The subplots revolving around Ava's storyline were WILD and also pretty dark. Which is such a stark contrast to the warm, open-hearted person she is. I didn’t see some of the plot twists coming, but I was thoroughly invested in this developing romance and the chemistry between them. It’s a pretty steamy book, but I melted from the cuteness just as much. There are two more books in this series that I will definitely be adding to my TBR. Please check trigger warnings before you jump in!

UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK MAN by Emmanuel Acho

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: In Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Acho takes on all the questions, large and small, insensitive and taboo, many white Americans are afraid to ask - yet which all Americans need to know the answers to, now more than ever. With the same open-hearted generosity that has made his video series a phenomenon, Acho explains the vital core of such fraught concepts as white privilege, cultural appropriation, and “reverse racism.” In his own words, he provides a space of compassion and understanding in a discussion that can lack both. He asks only for the reader’s curiosity - but along the way, he will galvanize all of us to join the antiracist fight.

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and really liked it! The author is also the narrator and, for lack of a better word, it was incredibly conversational which made it a lot easier to absorb the book’s information. I appreciated how he had the same format for each chapter and provided not only background stories based on historical events, but gave personal anecdotes as well as clear actionable items. At the end of each chapter, he also directs you to other pieces of literature or media that is directly related to the topic he just addressed, so that you can dive more deeply into it. Though not a lot of information was new to me, the delivery of this book was like talking to a friend. I think it’d be a great read for anyone (specifically white people) looking for some answers about race or those who are new to the topics he covers. If you’re a visual learner, I’d say pick up the physical or e-book, but I enjoyed the audiobook just the same.

BIRTHDAY GIRL by Penelope Douglas

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Jordan - He took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway. I have to stop this. It can’t happen. My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable. Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one. I am. Pike - I took her in, because I thought I was helping. As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to. But we’re not free to give into this. She’s 19 and I’m 38. And her boyfriend’s father. Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

My Thoughts: Ugh. Okay. I really wanted to love this book, but I just liked it. I can’t decide if that’s because I read Credence by Penelope Douglas first and that set a VERY high bar, or if it’s because I just don’t like an age-gap trope all that much. It’s probably a combination of the two, but I digress. Jordan and Pike are both pretty complex characters at their core. Jordan has grown up feeling lonely in any room of people who are supposed to love her. She’s hardworking, making her own way in the world, and incredibly resilient. Pike’s life didn’t pan out the way he expected after a one-night-stand when he was 19 turned him into a father. He’s diligent in creating a life he can be proud of, selfless (humbly at that), and has been fighting an uphill battle trying to form a relationship with his son for years. I felt the mix of fear and rush these MCs had when they realized they found someone who felt like home. That said, I just wasn’t as invested in this story as I expected to be. The one thing I adored about this book though is Jordan’s character arc. I “whooped!” when she was on the upswing of her personal development which involved knowing (clap) her (clap) WORTH (clap). That’s often something missing in stories like this. A lot of people love this book, so if you’re down for an age-gap/forbidden love trope combo, this could be for you! Fair warning though, it’s definitely an open door, explicit romance, so don’t bother if that’s not your jam.

THE DEAL by Elle Kennedy

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice… even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one expected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

My Thoughts: Okay, okay, okay. One of my BFFs slid this book onto my radar a few months ago, and by golly does it live up to its hype! Hannah and Garrett are such fun characters - I have friend crushes on both of them. This book gave me everything I could’ve hoped for: quick-witted banter, heart-wrenching moments, S-P-I-C-Y scenes, and some hot hockey players lol. Seriously though, Hannah and Garrett’s chemistry was absolutely undeniable. I loved that they organically developed a genuine friendship with each other first, because it made the trust between them feel so much more authentic later on when things get rocky. Honestly, I just loved this book, and will definitely be picking up the next one in the series! NOTE: there are some subplots involving sensitive topics including sexual assault, domestic violence, victim-blaming, etc., so PLEASE look up the trigger warnings before diving into this one.

TWISTED GAMES by Ana Huang

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules: 1) Protect his clients at all costs, 2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever. He has never once been tempted to break those rules… until her. Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She’s nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed. Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defenses until he’s faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her. Because she’s his. His princess. His forbidden fruit. His every depraved fantasy. Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses. But when her brother abdicates, she’s suddenly faced with the prospect of a loveless, politically expedient marriage and a throne she never wanted. And as she navigates the intricacies - and treacheries - of her new role, she must also hide her desire for a man she can’t have. Her bodyguard. Her protector. Her ultimate ruin. Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a kingdom… and doom them both.

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Twisted series and by golly we love a slow burn romance, do we not? Throw in some royalty of an imaginary country and a super hot bodyguard and I was SOLD. Starting with my new book boyfriend, Rhys. Not only is he an attractive young lad, but he’s such a hard ass with the sweetest/softest core. Like when Bridget can’t go to the music festival because it’s not safe, so he surprises her with an indoor, at-home music festival replica?? Be still my heart. Besides that, his undying dedication, unconditional love, and protectiveness for Bridget made me swoon on multiple occasions. Bridget is an absolute QUEEN (both literally and figuratively). She had such composure and compassion which made some people underestimate her. However, that was a big mistake because she was headstrong AF and had a ruthless side when she needed to. The romance between this princess and royal bodyguard was unstoppable. They drew towards each other like magnets in every situation and their love radiated off the pages. This is a pretty steamy book as well, just so ya know. Needless to say, I’m going to continue on with the Twisted series because I am HOOKED. :)

THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Alicia Bereson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word. Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations - a search for the truth that threatens to consume him.

My Thoughts: WTF lol. I literally made it 88% of the way through this book and STILL didn’t know what the big reveal/”oh shit” moment was going to be. This book was sooo good! The characters were phenomenal, the writing was stunning, and there were just enough creepy moments sprinkled throughout to keep me on my toes. Once some of the bigger plot twists occurred towards the end, I literally had to read those pages twice because my brain couldn’t comprehend what just happened. They were just so unexpected lol. This book was definitely a slow burn at the start, but quickly picks up the deeper you get into it. Did it live up to its hype? At face value, I’m going to say not exactly. Am I going to be thinking about it months from now? Yeah lol. I definitely will. If you’re looking for a twisty mystery/thriller that is impossible to predict what happens, grab this book for sure!

THE FINE PRINT by Lauren Asher

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Rowan - I’m in the business of creating fairy tales. Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels. Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland. My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her. Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias. By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late. People like me don’t get happy endings. Not when we’re destined to ruin them. Zahra - After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, I should have been fired. Instead, Rowan Kane offered me my dream job. The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I’d ever met. Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn’t care. At least not until I discovered his secret. It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn’t fix everything. Especially not us.

My Thoughts: *Taps mic* Is this thing on? Because the people in the BACK need to hear how freaking amazing this book was! I was obsessed. Up reading it late at night just to see how things panned out. You couldn’t pry my Kindle from my hands. Now, although this story takes place in a fictional Florida theme park, it does NOT give you the “Disney adult” vibes. IYKYK. Zahra has got to be one of my top 5 favorite characters in a sunshine/grump trope. She’s confident, quirky, creative, bright, and has so much depth to her. Even the side characters within her orbit added so many layers and definition to who this gem was at her core. It was incredible. Rowan was the perfect contrast to Zahra’s ray of sunshine. He had layers that needed to be peeled back and evaluated, but one thing is for certain, his true self only came out when he was around Zahra. I kind of loved that although she developed strong feels for him first, he fell HARD. Like an all-consuming love that makes you wonder how he ever existed without her. This book was the *chef’s kiss* balance of romance, smut, and a BEAUTIFUL plotline. There’s a portion towards the end that addresses ableism in our society, and I just wasn’t expecting to cry from this book, but here we are. So yeah, I can’t find a reason why you shouldn’t pick up this book lol.

THE MISTAKE by Elle Kennedy

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance. After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat and she plans on driving him wild.

My Thoughts: I know I’ve only read the first two books, but I’m calling it now: the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy is going to be one of my favorite romance series this year. How can I not be obsessed with it when you’re giving me a couple as cute as Logan and Grace?? I loved that although Grace’s character was meant to have a “girl next door” vibe, she didn’t feel naive or innocent. She held her own, especially during her sophomore year, and we love a down-to-earth main character who knows what she wants. After meeting Logan in The Deal, I knew he was going to get his own story and I was invested from the start. All he wants is a relationship similar to what his best buddy, Garrett has with Hannah, and that type of longing is really relatable. He makes a few mistakes with Grace, and I’m so glad she made him WERK for her forgiveness and attention. Not only is that some queen shit right there, but it also provided some hysterical moments involving a list of things he has to do to prove he’s worthy of a second chance. The subplots in this book really showed how phenomenal their connection was and emphasized the authenticity of their relationship. Needless to say, I’ve already got the third book in this series on my radar and there’s no turning back now lol.

OVER THE TOP by Jonathan Van Ness

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Before he stole our hearts as the grooming and self-care expert on Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye, Jonathan Van Ness was growing up in a small Midwestern town that didn’t understand why he was so… over the top. From choreographed carpet figure skating routines to the unavoidable fact that he was Just. So. Gay., Jonathan was an easy target and endured years of judgment, ridicule and trauma - yet none of it crushed his uniquely effervescent spirit. Over the Top uncovers the pain and passion it took to end up becoming the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today. In this revelatory, raw, and rambunctious memoir, Jonathan shares never-before-told secrets, and reveals sides of himself that the public has never seen. JVN fans may think they know the man behind the stiletto heels, the crop tops, and the iconic saying, but there’s so much more to him than meets the Queer Eye.

My Thoughts: Okay, so to start, I’m a JVN fan - I love Queer Eye and JVN’s Getting Curious podcast. That said, listening to this on audiobook was the way to go because I’m not sure their writing would’ve made the same impact on paper. Like having JVN chattering away in my ear for this entire experience was everything because their “voice” is so unique in general that hearing them recall various stories, summing up life lessons, and all of the random banter sprinkled within made it much more enjoyable. JVN makes it as easy to laugh with them as it was to feel sympathetic towards the dark times in their life. This book won’t be for everyone. Especially if you’re not very familiar with JVN going into the memoir. So, I would recommend it more to people who already have a taste of this “non-binary fairy’s” personality AND I’d say make sure you listen to it on audiobook.

TWISTED HATE by Ann Huang

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Gorgeous, cocky, and fast on his way to becoming a hotshot doctor, Josh Chen has never met a woman he couldn’t charm - except for Jules Ambrose. The beautiful redhead has been a thorn in his side since they met, but she also consumes his thoughts in a way no woman ever has. When their animosity explodes into one unforgettable night, he proposes a solution that'll get her out of his system once and for all: an enemies with benefits arrangement with simple rules. No jealousy. No strings attached. And absolutely no falling in love. Outgoing and ambitious, Jules Ambrose is a former party girl who’s focused on one thing: passing the attorney’s bar exam. The last thing she needs is to get involved with a doctor who puts the SUFFER in insufferable… no matter how good-looking he is. But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes there’s more than meets the eye to the man she’s hated for so long. Her best friend’s brother. Her nemesis. And her only salvation. Theirs is a match made in hell, and when the demons from their past catch up with them, they’re faced with truths that could either save them or destroy everything they’ve worked for.

My Thoughts: My friends, this was much longer than I anticipated, and while I definitely ship Jules and Josh after finishing the book, I could not decide if I liked them while I was reading it. There’s a lot of anger and animosity that is experienced between the two main characters, as well as within their inner dialogue. Jules is an absolute firecracker who has been through some SHIT in her life, but doesn’t let the past define her. She’s resilient, clever, and fierce. Josh is struggling with huge trust issues as a result of some adversity he experienced just two years prior. Dealing with all of that has caused him to become an ounce of the adventurous, luminous energy he used to be. Jules and Josh have always had a rocky relationship, but the truce they call allows them to put away the claws and actually get to know each other. I definitely think this friendship and developing romance happens exactly when they both needed it most which is mainly what sold me on this unexpected coupling. The writing was great, but there were a couple of spots that felt incomplete or spotty. For example, Jules experiences an episode of paralysis towards the beginning of the book and the author doesn’t dive into it right away. So, I was waiting for the explanation behind the paralysis, but it never happened. Overall though, I’m glad I read Jules and Josh’s story, and will definitely be moving onto Twisted Lies when that comes out later this year. Please check trigger warnings for this book before you dive in tho.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS by Lauren Asher

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Declan - I’m destined to become the next CEO of my family’s media empire. The only problem? My grandfather’s inheritance clause. Fulfilling his dying wish of getting married and having an heir seemed impossible until my assistant volunteers for the job. Our marriage was supposed to be the perfect solution to my biggest problem. But the more we act in love for the public, the more unsure I feel about our contract. Caring about Iris was never part of the deal. Especially not when breaking her heart is inevitable. Iris - My plan to marry Declan was simple in theory. Move in together. Throw a wedding. Have a baby. We set rules to prevent any kind of issues. Ones that were never meant to be broken, no matter how much Declan tempts me. But what happens when our fake relationship bleeds into our real one? Falling in love was never an option. At least not for me.

My Thoughts: Let’s talk about how great Lauren Asher is at writing a grumpy sunshine trope! Iris is such a strong character. She’s driven, extremely loyal, takes no shit, and a fellow plant lady. :) Though I didn’t like Declan as much as I hoped, he was the perfect match for Iris. This story is definitely a slow burn with a series of events that force this couple to reflect on what they mean to each other, reevaluate what they want for the future, and face their biggest inner fears. It wasn’t as ~whimsical~ as The Fine Print, but it generated an emotional response from me all the same. I loved how straightforward Declan was about communicating to Iris what she meant to him once he realized where his heart was at. It was incredibly refreshing that there wasn’t some unnecessary hesitation about declaring those feelings. I do feel like the first part of this book was a little flat which is why I can’t give it a full 4 stars, but by the time it wrapped up, I was satisfied. Not to mention, I was giddy that Iris’s best friend is Cal, Declan’s little brother, which makes me even more excited for his book to come out!

THE SCORE by Elle Kennedy

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she’s going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is deifnitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands. Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls… he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world - and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when the life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring… and shoot for love.

My Thoughts: Dean and Allie are hands down my favorite couple of the Off-Campus series thus far! They were so much fun and such direct communicators, the entire experience was refreshing to say the least. For starters, I loved how sex positive this relationship was. As a serial relationship person, Allie battles uncertainty whether she should embrace the casual enjoyment of their initial hook-up. Dean tells her to forget what society finds taboo because they both enjoyed the consensual experience and that’s all that matters. He also has a reputation for his active sex life, but Allie doesn’t think any differently of him because of that. Dean’s character had so much more depth to him that I assumed wasn’t there based on how he was described in the other two books, so I thoroughly enjoyed peeling back those layers. Though this storyline was pretty predictable, it was no less swoon-worthy. Especially as their feelings grow stronger and they start getting ingrained in all areas of each other’s lives - I was giddy at every turn. Allie’s ex-boyfriend, Sean, can go sit on a cactus. He’s an absolute shit and says some extremely nasty things to her in a drunken rage. We do not like Sean. We do love this book though and read it in one sitting. So, I definitely recommend picking this one up after you read The Deal and The Mistake!

BRUTAL PRINCE by Sophie Lark

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Callum Griffin is the heir to the Irish Mafia. He’s ruthless, arrogant, and he wants to kill me. We got off on the wrong foot when I set a (very small) fire in his house. Our families believe a marriage pact is the only thing that will prevent all-out warfare. I think I might need to murder him while he sleeps. This would all be a lot easier if Callum wasn’t so damned good-looking. But I’ve got a lockbox around my heart. Because even if I’m forced to marry him… I could never love a brutal prince.

My Thoughts: As a BIG fan of shows like Peaky Blinders, I was obsessed with this mafia-style dark romance. Plus, with grumpy/sunshine AND fake-dating tropes, I basically inhaled this book in one sitting on a casual Wednesday evening lol. Starting with the characters, Aida is the youngest and only girl in the Gallo family. She has four older brothers which meant, while growing up, she was the smallest dog in every fight and had to learn how to hit hard, fast, and first. That was in addition to figuring out how to strategically navigate the politics of Chicago’s different gangs and people in power to benefit her family’s motives. Aida takes ZERO shit from anybody and although she’s a smaller gal, her character’s energy and personality is larger than life. Callum is the oldest of the Griffin fam and the grumpiest guy we could ask for. He’s cold, borderline unapproachable, and protective af. The only person who can wind him up enough to drop his cool politician facade is Aida - luckily, they’ve been forced into an arranged marriage to keep the peace between the Italian and Irish gangs. The plot was absolutely lovely, the spice was muy caliente, and you can BET I’m continuing onto the next book in this series ASAP. :)

STOLEN HEIR by Sophie Lark

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: They murdered my father, so I stole their daughter. She’s my captive, my little ballerina who dances only for me. Nessa is sweet and innocent. She doesn’t deserve any of this. But that’s how our world works - the wolves eat the lambs, no matter how gentle they may be. I’ll use her to get my revenge. Unless I give into my hunger first…

My Thoughts: Listen, going into this book, I didn’t have high expectations because Nessa was such a BORING character in Brutal Prince. She’s the youngest kid in the Griffin family and has always been sheltered from the Irish mafia’s business and lifestyle. Her character just felt naive and saccharine, so I wasn’t super invested in her at the start, but definitely ended up with a change of heart. Miko is the new boss of the Polish mafia after his father was killed by the Italian mafia who is allied with the Griffins. He is extremely cold, pretty ruthless, and emotionally withdrawn from the world around him. His main focus is on the mafia’s businesses and the success of The Brotherhood. Miko’s initial perspective of Nessa was similar to mine - innocent, young, naive, too emotional, etc. - which he considered a weakness. However, as they fell into each other’s orbit and connected on a deeper level, his icy heart melted and saw that Nessa is just genuinely a good-hearted person and her ability to feel so deeply is anything but a shortcoming. The surrounding plotline perfectly accents their growing relationship and though there’s still some spicy scenes in this book, they’re lined with a touch of sweetness. Overall, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did and will definitely be continuing on with this Brutal Birthright series.

SAVAGE LOVER by Sophie Lark

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: There’s a reason I never go to parties. I saw him in a cloud of smoke, like sin made flesh. Even bruised and battered, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Unless I hate myself, I should stay far away from Nero. He’s a heartbreaker. A mess-maker. A walking disaster. Here’s the problem: I’m in deep trouble with a dirty cop. The only person who can save me is Nero. We’re not friends. If he saw me drowning, he’d throw me an anchor. But he’s the only chance I’ve got. He’s no hero, he’s a savage lover.

My Thoughts: This book was probably the calmest in the Brutal Birthright series so far despite the bank heist/car chases. I think I enjoyed the slower burn and smooth pace of it though because it made experiencing the relationship between Camille and Nero feel much more organic and realistic. I loved that both of these characters had an underdog air to them. Although people had an infatuation with Nero for his chaotic/unstable reputation, they underestimated how intelligent and strategic he actually is. Camille was an absolute BOSS, but was overlooked because she spent more time keeping her family’s auto shop running than she did anything else people her age were doing. However, a deep appreciation and love for cars is what these two MCs bonded over initially, and got them on the road to being vulnerable with one another. If you already started the series then I definitely recommend continuing to this third installment because I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Nero and Camille.

WOULD LIKE TO MEET by Rachel Winters

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: After seven years as an assistant, 29-year-old Evie Summers is ready to finally get the promotion she deserves. But now the TV and film agency she’s been running behind the scenes is in trouble, and Evie will lose her job unless she can convince the agency’s biggest and most arrogant client, Ezra Chester, to finish writing the script for a Hollywood romantic comedy. The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer’s block - and he’ll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts. But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she’ll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love.

My Thoughts: AH! Okay this was the cutest premise I’ve seen for a rom-com in a while. We’ve all seen the swoon-worthy meet cutes in our favorite movies over the years and Evie has to convince Ezra that those fictional kismet moments really can find you love in real life. Evie having to force a reenactment of these meet-cutes provides unending comedic moments throughout the entire book. She gets into some absolutely absurd situations that had me laughing out loud because it’s so relatable to the concept of trying to meet someone “out in the wild” (aka randomly in public) nowadays. Aside from that, I appreciated Evie’s willingness to push outside of her comfort zone in the meet-cute situations, and loved that it helped her find enjoyment in screenwriting again. That said, there’s a love triangle of sorts in this book that drove me up a wall. All of the signs were in front of Evie that a different character was interested in her and she was completely oblivious to it all which made a part towards the end of the book a little anticlimactic. It was like she suddenly was catching up to what we’ve known the ENTIRE book, so it didn’t feel as impactful as I would’ve hoped. That said, the other character also annoyed me by not saying anything until the very end, so it’s not all on her. Overall though, I genuinely enjoyed this light-hearted romantic comedy and think it’s worth picking up!

BLOODY HEART by Sophie Lark

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: I only meant to steal a car. I didn’t know I was stealing a girl too. Until the most gorgeous face I'd ever seen popped up in the rear-view mirror. I fell hard, fast, and forever… but she tore out my heart - left me alone and bleeding. How can I forget her when I have to see that damned perfect face on billboards and magazines? It’s torture. 9 long years. I thought I moved on. Then I saw her in the flesh and my heart started bleeding all over again.

My Thoughts: Okay although this wasn’t my favorite book of the Brutal Birthright series, I’m glad we finally got Dante’s story! He’s the oldest of the Gallo kids and the manpower for many mafia jobs that need a little extra muscle behind it. We’ve gotten glimpses of him in other books and it’s clear he’s a no nonsense type of guy, but in this book we finally get to know why. I felt the uncontrollable, unstoppable love he and Simone had for each other when they were younger. It was unexpected and torn away very abruptly, so it was understandable how heartbroken they both were even 9 years later. That said, I never fully vibed with Simone’s character. It just seemed like any time there was even a WHIFF of a disagreement in the air, she would dip out. She took “avoiding conflict like the plague” to a whole new level which just got really frustrating. Dante also didn’t blow me away necessarily, but I think since I’ve gotten to know him through other books, I had a soft spot for him going into this story. All of that aside, the last portion of the book was WILD. Like I did NOT expect all of that craziness to happen. So anyway, don’t skip this book, but it wasn’t my favorite of the series.

BROKEN VOW by Sophie Lark

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Riona Griffin is gorgeous, intelligent, and iron-willed. My perfect woman, except she hates my guts. She thinks she doesn’t need anybody. But she needs me. She’s being hunted by an assassin who never misses his mark. I’m going to stay by her side, day and night, keeping her safe. Riona thinks that’s a fate worse than death but I know she’ll learn to love me. If this hitman wants to kill her, he’ll have to go through me first.

My Thoughts: YEE FREAKING HAW! Not only are we continuing on the mafia romance train in the Brutal Birthright series, but Sophie Lark said, “Hold my beer.” Then gave us everything we could have asked for in a “Save a horse ride a cowboy” themed mashup. This book follows Riona who we’ve come to know as the most fiery daughter in the Irish mafia as well as a badass lawyer, no-shit-taker, and an extremely driven lass. As the lawyer for the family’s business, she always felt she had to prove herself and worth, so she developed a need to control everything around her and never let anyone in. So I loved getting to know Riona on a deeper level past the icy exterior she presents to everyone. Raylan is a newer character to the series and an absolute GEM. I loved how rough around the edges he was with some country boy roots that mixed with a well-traveled spirit after doing post-military contract missions for the government. Riona and Raylan could not be more opposite at face value, but once this inevitable connection starts coming to a head, it’s clear they’re more similar in all the ways that count. I absolutely loved their story and appreciated that part of it takes place outside of Chicago. Plus, there is a plot twist that I did NOT see coming until it was almost revealed. Needless to say I definitely recommend reading this one! :)

If you made it this far (a.k.a. The end), THANK YOU!

I know this was a longer monthly wrap-up than usual, but I won’t always dive into a weird seasonal depression with the only desired escape being books, so do not fret lol.

Hopefully you got something out of it tho. :’)

2022 Book Count: 61

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What was the last book you rated five stars?

February 2022 Reads

February 28, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

Happy Pisces szn! :D

We - and by “we,” I mean me, but you can as well - are calling February, “The month of fake dating and audiobooks” because that was the theme.

Though the fake dating trope isn’t anything new to my list of favorites, audiobooks sure are. I started using the Libby app this month and by golly what a game changer! They have SOOO many popular books available on audiobook and I went hard in the paint on listening to all sorts of books while cleaning, doing a puzzle, taking a walk, etc.

So needless to say, I flew through way more books than I expected to this month for the sheer fact that I can now bop between multiple books at the same time via different formats. :))

Also, all you need to utilize Libby is a library card at your local library. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t yet!

All righty. Let’s get into what I read during the shortest month of the year, shall we?

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

BOYFRIEND MATERIAL by Alexis Hall

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Luc O’Donnell is tangentially - and reluctantly - famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he’s never met spent the next 20 years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad’s making a comeback, Luc’s back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship… and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He’s a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he’s never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that’s when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don’t ever want to let them go.

My Thoughts: I listened to this audiobook via Spotify and could not get enough of it. The narrator does a phenomenal job giving distinctly different voices to all of the characters which made the whole experience so much more immersive. Luc was an imperfectly perfect main character for this book. He definitely had his flaws and made me want to smack him over the head multiple times, but between his endless comedic internal rhetoric and his overall development throughout the story, I adored him. Oliver, by contrast, was the golden boy who I loved but also wanted to shake so that he’d let loose a little bit. The banter between these guys was unconventionally witty, their chemistry was unexpectedly sweet, and I just loved how much they went to bat for each other. Would I have liked this book as much had I read it in physical form? I’m not sure I would’ve. But, I 100% recommend giving the audiobook a listen because I was cheesin’ like a big doofus throughout the entire thing. :)

THE OFF LIMITS RULE by Sarah Adams

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: I have found rock bottom. It’s here, moving in with my older brother because I’m too broke to afford to live on my own. But that’s okay because we’ve always been close and I think I’m going to have fun living with him again. That is until I meet Cooper… Turns out, my brother has very strong opinions on the idea of me dating his best friend and is dead set against it. According to him, Cooper is everything I should stay away from: flirtatious, adventurous, non-committal, and freaking hot. My brother is right though. I should stay away from Cooper James and his pretty blue eyes. He’s the opposite of what I need right now. Nah - Who am I kidding? I’m going for him.

My Thoughts: This was another Spotify audiobook and it had such potential. Before I start mildly shitting on this book lol, I want to preface that it wasn’t awful. It was just really ok. However, even if I had read this in a physical book form, I know it wouldn’t have made a difference. The book flips between Lucy and Cooper’s perspectives which means the audiobook had two narrators, and though I could handle the woman’s voice, the man’s voice was all wrong. Like I couldn’t tell if the guy was in his 50’s or if they were trying to make him sound like a big burly dude or what. It just did NOT match Cooper’s physical description at all. The storyline was kind of all over the place. They basically wanted Lucy’s brother’s permission before pursuing anything (even though they’re adults…?), but end up breaking their own rules anyway. Lucy acted really immature for a 29-year-old and her character development never improved all that much. Cooper was a decent character, but nothing to write home about. The main trope of this book was instant love which isn’t my cup of tea. As I said before, this book had potential, but it just missed the mark.

GET A LIFE CHLOE BROWN by Talia Hibbert

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost - but not quite - dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. But it’s not easy to complete her list, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job. Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teensiest, tiniest bit. But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior.

My Thoughts: I’m not sure why it took me so long to read this book, but I’m so glad I finally did! It checked all of the boxes that I love in a romance novel: witty banter, tear-jerking moments, entertaining side characters, built-up sexual tension, and more. Chloe’s character was hard not to like. Sure, she’s a little grumpy at times, but I admired her resilience and strength while dealing with a chronic illness that causes her endless pain. (It was a reminder that not every disability is visible.) Besides, she’s truly just a teddy bear under that tough exterior. Red was the sweetest guy with a “bad boy” appearance and I could not get over how attentive he was to Chloe’s pain as they got to know each other. The author also did a wonderful job handling the sub plot line about Red previously being in an abusive relationship and how it affected him almost 2 years later. It felt really real and authentic to how someone would truly react/respond to certain situations. Overall, I just really loved Chloe and Red’s story, and already requested the next book in this series from the library lol.

BEASTS OF PREY by Ayana Gray

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Magic doesn’t exist in the broken city of Lkossa anymore, especially for girls like 16-year-old Koffi. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, she cares for its fearsome and magical creatures to pay off her family’s debts and secure their eventual freedom. But the night her loved ones’ own safety is threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand - and the consequences are dire. As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six - an elite warrior - and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, a fire upends his plans. In its midst, Ekon not only encounters the Shetani - a vicious monster that has plagued the city and his nightmares for nearly a century - but a curious girl who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi’s power ultimately saves Ekon’s life, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior. Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani down and end its reign of terror, but he can’t do it alone. Meanwhile, Koffi believes finding the Shetani and selling it for a profit could be the key to solving her own problems. Koffi and Ekon - each keeping their true motives secret from the other - form a tentative alliance and enter into the unknowns of the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.

My Thoughts: Let me tell you, I had seen a LOT of hype around this book recently because its sequel comes out later this year. So, I went into it with some higher expectations, and my friends, Beasts of Prey did not disappoint! For starters, the world building was phenomenal. All of the visuals and descriptions of the characters’ surroundings were so vivid, I didn’t even have to look at the map in the front of the book. Though the storyline bounces between the past and present, it’s easy to know right away which character you’re following. Plus, that also allowed me to draw conclusions about some things we find out later in the book. The main characters, Koffi and Ekon, were from different walks of life, but worked so well together as a team. I will say, Ekon annoyed me on more than one occasion because he just had the wrong energy in certain situations. This was just one of the more unique YA fantasy books I’ve read in a while and I did NOT see some of the plot twists coming towards the end. It was also cool that most of the story elements are based on African Folklore which the author explains in her Author’s Note at the end of the book. Overall, if you haven’t read this yet and want a good YA fantasy, I urge you to go pick this one up!

HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST by Ibram X. Kendi

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Ibram X. Kendi’s concept of antiracism re-energizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America – but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it. In this book, Kendi weaves together an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science, bringing it all together with an engaging personal narrative of his own awakening to antiracism. How to Be an Antiracist is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a truly just and equitable society.

My Thoughts: I listened to this audiobook via Libby and though I enjoyed it, I am a visual learner. So, if you are too, I would recommend buying the physical book to make notes or highlight things as you listen to the audiobook because it’s a LOT of information to absorb. Every chapter is packed full of historical, cultural, and systematic examples, personal anecdotes, various studies, and more to reframe your thinking towards being an antiracist. The book’s format helped make everything mentally digestible though because each chapter is dedicated to a specific topic, so you only have to focus on one concept at a time. I liked that Ibram X. Kendi is the narrator for the audiobook because you can hear the inflections of emotions when he’s sharing personal stories from his life which made the experience feel more like he was talking right in front of me. This book definitely makes you reflect and engage with your own way of thinking, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a new way to address their ideology surrounding race.

A NOT SO MEET CUTE by Meghan Quinn

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: How did you two meet? The quintessential question asked to every couple. And the answer is usually some bubbly, lovey dovey tale of being struck in the bum by Cupid’s arrow. My meet cute (well not so meet cute) is slightly different. I was strolling in a wealthy neighborhood in Beverly Hills, searching for someone to take me as their bride, you know to make my arch nemesis jealous who consequently just fired me. He was stomping around the block like some sort of gorgeous ogre, mumbling about a business deal gone wrong and attempting to finagle his way out of it. That’s when we bumped into each other. There were no sparks. Not even a hint of blossoming love. But next thing I knew, I was scarfing down free chips and guac, listening to this man lay out all of his problems which led to his big ask… he wanted me to be his Vivan Ward from Pretty Woman - minus the frisky behavior. We’re talking about living in a mansion, intimate double dates, and pretending we’re head over heels in love… and engaged. Can you imagine? The absolute audacity. But people do crazy things when they’re desperate. And I reeked of desperation. So, I struck up a deal. My one big mistake though…? I accidentally fell for the incomparable Huxley Cane.

My Thoughts: Oh my gosh. Lottie and Huxley were two strong characters that were equally stubborn, driven, and loyal which made watching them butt heads while fulfilling their deal absolutely addicting. Besides, not only am I an absolute SUCKER for a good fake-dating trope, but there was really only ONE big miscommunication situation in this story and that is incredibly rare, my friends. Usually, fake-dating tropes have a whole “will they, won’t they” thing going and the biggest obstacle is the two main characters not confessing their feelings to each other when that’s literally ALL they need to do. Lottie and Huxley were both transparent about their feelings once they recognized them and that was truly a breath of fresh air. So, the author scored big points for me there. The non-stop bickering was entertaining, you could cut the sexual tension with a freaking knife, and seeing their walls come down for each other made my heart melt. Definitely add this romance novel to your list if you’re looking for a quick, steamy read with a fake-dating trope done right.

TAKE A HINT, DANI BROWN by Talia Hibbert

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom. When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae - and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse? Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic - and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are thick. Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

My Thoughts: Lowkey obsessed with The Brown Sisters series, and this second book was no exception! We caught a glimpse of Dani in Get a Life, Chloe Brown, but I am so glad she got her own book. Her personality is truly one-of-a-kind and following her as a main character was such an enjoyable experience. Zaf is also such a loveable main character because he’s such a big grumpy teddy bear. He’s faced some adversity in his life which still affects his present, but it was fulfilling to watch him work through things with Dani by his side. Especially when he’s trying to find peace between his past and present, and looking at it from a new angle to reframe the story behind his non-profit. The level of thoughtfulness and genuine adoration they had for each other made me swoon every step of the way. There’s some spice sprinkled throughout this book as well that make the sexual tension and build up between Dani and Zaf even steamier. Overall, I loved Dani’s story and cannot wait to start the next book in this series that follows the youngest sister Eve.

FIX HER UP by Tessa Bailey

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World… whatever that means. Phase one: new framework for her business. Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe. Phase three: updates to her exterior. Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!) Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since well, ever. Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite? Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. And then there’s Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme - that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job - he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her.

My Thoughts: This was such a solid Tessa Bailey book! I was kind of lowkey obsessed that part of Georgie’s storyline was wanting to expand her business as a birthday party clown to a full-blown entertainment company. Truly not a typical occupation for rom-com books like this lol. She was such a fun main character and made you want to be her friend because of how light-hearted, yet sassy she was. Travis wasn’t my favorite main character, but he was the best love interest for this book for sure. He was kind of a dick lol, but once you learn about his childhood and everything else he’s gone through, I found a soft spot in my heart for him. Plus, the way he treated Georgie gave him some bonus points! There are a few side characters that make this story even more fun to read because their uniquely outrageous personalities bring so much more depth to the experience. Per usual of a Tessa Bailey book, there are a handful of extremely steamy scenes that are definitely open door lol. So if that’s not your cup of tea then you may want to pass on this. Otherwise, it was a really fun “read in one sitting” rom-com!

LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn

Rating: 10/5 stars

Summary: After her mother dies in an accident, 16-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape - until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts - and fails - to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw. The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates. She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets - and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendents of King Aurthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down - or join the fight.

My Thoughts: Not to be dramatic, but this is definitely one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read. And, I might be on a Legendborn-high because I’m writing this review literally right after I finished the book, but I have receipts that I texted a friend when I had just started the book and said: “Let me tell you. I am only 20% into Legendborn and I am already predicting it will be a new top five YA Fantasy favorite for me. You heard it here first.” And, that prediction held, my friends. The world building of this urban fantasy was phenomenal, the structure of magic had several layers, but wasn’t hard to follow, and the characters? *Chef’s kiss* I could not ask for a better main character than Bree for this story. She was a badass heroine who grabbed me by the hand and said let’s fuckin do this. I loved how curious, resilient, stubborn, and driven she was trying to uncover the mystery surrounding her mother’s death. Nick was such a golden boy sweetheart and I genuinely liked him just because of how much he went to bat for Bree. Even SELWYN - the broody Merlin boy - found a soft spot in my heart along the way. There are hella plot twists that will definitely keep you on your toes, heart-pumping action-packed scenes, and plenty of emotional scenes to round out the kick to your feels. Additionally, it was incredibly impactful how the author unapologetically addresses the topics of deeply-rooted racism, systematic oppression, and more that have gone on for centuries and still affect the current generations of those families today. Honestly? I loved it. I don’t know what else to say other than I’m ITCHING to get my hands on the next book that comes out in November this year. :’).

A LADY’S FORMULA FOR LOVE by Elizabeth Everett

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Lady Violet Hughes is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England’s most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland. Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally. When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet’s laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test - and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart.

My Thoughts: Hello quirky historical fiction mixed with steam and women in STEM! I listened to this audiobook on Libby and became quickly invested in Violet and Arthur’s story. Violet is a brilliant chemist who is trying to find a formula for the government which puts her life at stake as rebel groups try to stop her from doing so. Cue Arthur - a trained anti-assassin a.k.a. highly trained body guard of sorts who is hired to protect her. I’m not sure how to describe Violet other than quirky and whimsical, but in a scientific way lol? She’s just a badass - especially in the era this story takes place - and although her confidence has taken some hits from a previous marriage, she’s such a strong leader and main character. Arthur has some emotional baggage to work through, but the only thing nobody needs to question is how much he adores Violet even before he has the words to describe how he feels for her. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, some action-packed scenes, and so much more to enjoy in this book. So if you’re looking for something a little different from your regular romance book, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

CREDENCE by Penelope Douglas

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere. And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she? Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of 18. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore. As three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them. And as part of them. She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.

My Thoughts: I..um…I don’t know where to begin here lol. I saw a Goodreads review that was literally just the gif of the Kombucha girl (IYKYK) and I can honestly say that’s 1000000% accurate lmfao. Okay so like this is SMUT CITY, but with such a great storyline to carry it. Not to mention, I am not a crier and there were some VERY emotional scenes in this book that generated heavy tears from my eyes. Basically, this book will make you need both a cold shower AND a box of tissues for your feels. My heart ached for Tiernan due to everything she experienced growing up. She has developed some strong defense mechanisms that you can’t even fault her for because she’s never had a true family. So even though I had mixed feelings about Jake at first, I did appreciate that he wanted to tear those walls down to show her she’s not alone in the world. Noah was the biggest sweetheart while Kaleb was complicated af, but you learn about his trauma later which made me more understanding. This book is NOT going to be for everyone - especially if you’re not down for some reverse harem open-door steam. However, if you’re looking for something smutty that will also provoke emotions, I say go into this book with an open mind lol. Please check content and trigger warnings before diving into it though.

DON’T HATE THE PLAYER by Alexis Nedd

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: By day, Emilia is a field hockey star with a popular boyfriend and a mother obsessed with her academic future. But by night, she’s kicking virtual ass as the only female member of a highly competitive eSports team. Emilia has mastered the art of keeping her two worlds thriving, which hinges on them staying completely separate. When a major eSports tournament comes to her city, Emilia is determined to prove herself to the male-dominated gaming community. But her perfectly balanced life is thrown for a loop when a member of a rival team - Jake - recognizes her…

My Thoughts: I listened to this audiobook and it was cute, but I don’t really feel strongly about it one way or another. To be fair, I’m not and have never been a huge gamer, so if I enjoyed or was involved in the eSports world, then I may have appreciated this book more. The main characters, Emilia and Jake, were likable and had just enough quirks to keep their personalities interesting. Though the story definitely focused more on Emilia, I appreciated Jake’s character arc starting as an underdog and coming out on top. Emilia’s storyline had multiple layers to it and explored more complex issues including sexism, racism, and the dangers of online bullying. If you’re looking for a quick read and are into video games, then you may like this book! I just didn’t have a strong enough investment in it to ever think about it again lol.

MY FAVORITE HALF-NIGHT STAND by Christina Lauren

Rating: 3.9/5 stars

Summary: Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. And she, just like her four best guy friends and fellow professors, is perma-single. So when a routine university function turns into a black tie gala, Millie and her circle make a pact that they’ll join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. There’s only one hitch: after making the pact, Millie and one of her guy friends, Reid Campbell, secretly spend the sexiest half-night of their lives together, but mutually decide the friendship would be better off strictly platonic. But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, Millie’s first profile attempt garners nothing but dick pics and creepers. Enter “Catherine” - Millie’s fictional profile persona, in whose make-believe shoes she can be more vulnerable than she’s ever been in person. Soon “Catherine” and Reid strike up a digital pen-pal-ship… but Millie can’t resist temptation in real life, either. Soon, Millie will have to face her worst fear - intimacy - or risk losing her best friend, forever.

My Thoughts: I saw this audiobook was available on Libby and got so excited because usually books by popular authors like Christina Lauren aren’t available right away, so I jumped on the opportunity. I loved that the book bounced between Millie and Reid’s POV because we got a glimpse at both sides of this love story. There were also some group chats, text messages, etc. sprinkled throughout which was a fun change of pace and fitting for a plotline involving online dating forums. The personalities of the side characters truly made the dialogue and banter so much more fun. Their guy friends Alex, Ed, and Chris, specifically, were so quirky and I was obsessed with the dating profiles Millie drafted for them to use - like we single people who are online dating should definitely take pointers from that portion of the book lol. The chemistry between Millie and Reid was undeniable and felt so natural - it wasn’t hard to root for them. Although communication breakdown was the big issue (per usual), I LOVED that the author made Millie go to therapy because that’s not a frequent tactic I see in rom-com novels during the upswing of a character’s development. On a side note, I got incredibly misty-eyed towards the ending, so fair warning lol. I can’t bring myself to give this book a full 4 stars, but I would say it’s super relatable if you’re online dating, and a really fun audiobook to listen to if you’re looking for something quick!

Velvet of the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: 1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger. Her nextdoor neighbor, Lenora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Lenora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman - and journeying deeper into Lenora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents. Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Lenora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock n’ roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he comes to observe Maite from a distance - and grows more and more obsessed with this woman who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart. Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Lenora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Lenora’s secrets - at gunpoint.

My Thoughts: This was a really interesting reading experience. I was bopping between a few books while I was also reading this one, and though I wasn’t necessarily itching to pick this up, I was definitely invested in the story once I did. Each chapter goes back and forth between the main characters’ - Maite and Elvis - points of view. Though they aren’t connected at the start, the mystery they’re both trying to solve for different purposes eventually causes their paths to cross. I have to say, Maite wasn’t a super likable character for me at first. She just felt naive, disgruntled, and like a bland try-hard. However, as the book went on and she stepped outside of the comfort zone I was personally holding her to, she became more interesting. Elvis was much easier to like right from the start. He was just a young lad trying to make some money in this gang, so that he could leave as soon as he could. There was an air of naivety with his character as well, but it felt more endearing. The main mystery of this book kept me hooked and though I predicted a few things correctly, there was for SURE a plot twist I did not expect at the end. Overall, this book wasn’t a WOW for me, but I definitely enjoyed it!

THE LAST ELIGIBLE BILLIONAIRE by Pippa Grant

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Emotionally unavailable doesn’t even begin to describe my new fake boyfriend. He’s cold. He’s distant. He has more defenses than a nuclear missile silo. And he’s the ultimate catch of the century. At least, according to his bank statement. My job’s simple: Keep Hayes Rutherford’s matchmaking relatives and all interested ladies away from the cranky, grumpy, walled-off heir to my favorite movie empire, and in return, he won’t ruin my life over a teensy, tiny little misunderstanding. But the more I sneak past Hayes’s walls and fences, the more I realize that while we might be from different worlds, we have more in common than either of us expected. The man under all the glitz, glamor, and dollar signs could be the real love of my life. But you know what they say about fake dating a billionaire - it’s all fun and games until the scandals start.

My Thoughts: Thank you to Valentine PR for sending me an ARC of this book! This fun little rom-com follows Begonia and Hayes who are both looking for a quiet escape from their personal lives and are thrown together in an unexpected circumstance. I gotta say, the author truly just tosses you into this story. There’s not a whole lot of build up to the conclusion that Begonia and Hayes need to establish a fake-dating agreement which threw me off a little bit at first. I feel like we usually meet the characters a little better before the plotline is established but this book was the other way around. Once I got my footing with the story though, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Begonia’s character is a LOT to take in lol. Right away, we’re introduced to one of her nonsensical monologues that felt a little OTT, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to vibe with her at all. However, her distinct, whimsical personality quickly becomes endearing and the perfect contrast to Hayes’s grumpy personality. Their slow burn romance was cute, swoony, fun, and I loved that they became somewhat of a team with an “us against the world” attitude. It would be wrong not to give an honorable mention in this review to Begonia’s dog, Marshmallow. He just wakes up every day and chooses chaos which provided many laugh out loud moments for me. This was my first Pippa Grant book and it definitely won’t be my last!

FELIX EVER AFTER by Kacen Callender

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Felix Love has never been in love - and yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many - Black, queer, transgender - to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages - after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned - Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi-love triangle… But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.

My Thoughts: God this was a beautiful book. Felix’s journey to self love, discovery, and acceptance was an emotion-provoking story to say the least. He’s dealing with many internal struggles such as believing he’s unlovable because his mom left him when he was young and started a new family, feeling unsure about how to label his gender identity, navigating insecurities relating to his artistic abilities and more. Following him through this experience made me want to give him the biggest hug and fight anyone who had anything to say about him. Ezra, his best friend, was such a strong supporting character and I was grateful Felix had someone like that in his life. I listened to this on audiobook which I think intensified the emotions in Felix’s narrative because I could easily feel everything in the narrator’s voice. There are plenty of incredible messages/perspectives about what people in the LGBTQ+ community go through in their daily lives, specifically trans people, and I think it’d be an impactful read for anyone who picks up this book.

That’s that on that! Hopefully, one of those books sparked your interest. I know I read a lot of romance, so I’m making it a goal to move outside of that comfort zone in March. So stay tuned!

2022 Book Count: 31

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YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite format for reading? (i.e. physical book, ebook, audiobook, etc.)

January 2022 Reads

January 31, 2022 by Haley Burrill in Books

Happy belated New Year, y’all!

The new year means a new reading goal, and I have to be honest, I already modified mine.

Last year I read 125 books, right? So, my initial thought was to up the ante right out of the gate and set my 2022 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal to 140. Which is pretty audacious, I must admit lol.

Then I started talking to a friend who said she knows she’s planning to read some thicc bois this year (my words, not hers lol), and because of that, decided to set her goal a little lower to start and then will increase it as the year goes on, if necessary.

Since I already read a 725 page book this year, and am planning on reading a few more that are at least 500+ pages, I modified my 2022 reading goal to 100 books.

But, hey! Whether your 2022 reading goal is 100, 52, 12, or literally just one book, you are doing amazing and can call yourself a reader!

Now, without further adieu, let’s get into what I read in January.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: The Mortal War is over, and 16-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhuners are at peace at last. And she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her - his mother just found out he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead her to losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

My Thoughts: This is Simon’s redemption book and you cannot convince me otherwise. Like I actually enjoyed his quick quips and untimely humor instead of being irrationally irritated with him a majority of the time as I was the last three books lol. Admittedly though, this book was probably the weakest so far in the series - which, in a series as strong and addicting as the Mortal Instruments, should not discount it at all. I just think that after the big ending of the third book, transitioning into the next great adventure for this Shadowhunter/vampire/werewolf/warlock crew of misfits was bound to stumble a little bit before it found its footing. You know? That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this fourth installment and appreciated all of the new side characters and plotlines that were introduced because all of them added layers and depth to this YA fantasy. So, although I’ve seen a few reviews on Goodreads absolutely shitting on this book, I say you should continue on if you’ve made it this far into the series.

CITY OF LOST SOULS by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

My Thoughts: DAMN. MY BOY JACE CANNOT CATCH A BREAK. He’s been basically bound to Clary’s evil, weird brother, Sebastian, and plot twist: we can’t kill Sebastian without killing Jace too. So, this book was a whole slew of stressful situations. Specifically involving Clary doing some shit that makes you want to audibly scream, “KNOCK IT OFF, CLARY.” Homegirl just RUNS into danger and then figures out how to maneuver it later. I will say, there were parts in this story that made me second guess whether or not we could trust Sebastian. They had us in the first half, not gonna lie…lol ;). Anywho, aside from all that drama, I appreciated that we got to spend some decent page time with Isabelle and Simon, Alec and Magnus, and even a little more than usual with Maia and the new guy, Jordan. This book took some crazy turns, had various battles that made me clench my teeth, and multiple scenes that hit you RIGHT IN THE FEELS. Definitely pick up the fifth installment of the Mortal Instruments series if you’ve already made it this far.

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Between life and earth there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices… Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets? Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

My Thoughts: Wow this book was impactful. It was such a unique premise and really made me reflect on how I view regrets in life. I think it’s natural for most people to dwell on choices they made in the past and wonder how their lives might be different if they had only gone with the alternative. In this story, Nora gets to see how her life would have turned out if she had made a different decision about something specific through the Midnight Library. It was really fulfilling to vicariously see how her life would have turned out in all of the different “books” she visits because she realizes there’s positives and negatives to every life no matter what regret she was erasing. Understandably, some people will find this book depressing, but it helped that Nora was a likable character because I had an easier time walking through this experience with her. I know I’m definitely late to this book, but if you haven’t picked it up yet, I highly recommend you do! Content/Trigger Warnings: suicide, overdose, depression, alcoholism, cancer, drug abuse.

FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT by Elle Cosimano

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Finlay Donovan is killing it… except, she’s really not. A stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written; her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her; and this morning she had to send her 4-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an accident with scissors. When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem in order to make ends meet. She soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

My Thoughts: LOL. Why did I take so long to read this book?! It was a WILD ride to say the least, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Finlay is the perfect main character for this story, and I loved that she had an underdog energy about her because it made all of her W’s even more satisfying. That said though, I MUST give a shout out to a supporting character - Vero. Between her dry humor and matter-of-fact side comments, I could not stop chuckling. She definitely added another element to this unfathomable, comedic storyline. On a more serious note though, my heart was definitely racing at various points of this book, and the multiple plot twists constantly had me asking “whodunnit?” Overall, if you want something a little upbeat with a premise I’ve never encountered before, you’ve gotta pick this one up!

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships - but her friend does, and that’s what got into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand - wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor - and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Standford’s reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive’s career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding six-pack abs. Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under a microscope.

My Thoughts: This was a bookstagram impulse buy and one I do not regret at all. I was INVESTED in this book. Y’all know I love a fake dating trope, but I love them even more when the main characters are both likable, quirky, and have amazing chemistry (pun intended). Olive and Adam were perfect for each other in all the ways that counted and it’s impossible not to root for them. Between bonding over their love of science, sharing quick-witted banter, and supporting each other through some difficult situations, I was absolutely SWOONING. Honestly? I laughed, I cried, I binged this book in a day. Needless to say, you MUST pick this one up.

WHAT STORM, WHAT THUNDER by Myriam J. A. Chancy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: At the end of a long, sweltering day, as markets and businesses begin to close for the evening, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude shakes the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. Myriam J. A. Chancy masterfully charts the inner lives of the characters affected by the disaster - Richard, an expat and wealthy water-bottling executive with a secret daughter; the secret daughter, Anne, an architect who drafts affordable housing structures for a global NGO; a small-time drug trafficker, Leopold, who pines for a beautiful girl; Sonia and her business partner, Dieudonne, who are followed by a man they believe is the vodou spirit of death; Didier, an emigrant musician who drives a taxi in Boston; Sara, a mother haunted by the ghosts of her children in an IDP camp; her husband, Olivier, an accountant forced to abandon the wife he loves; their son, Jonas, who haunts them both; and Ma Lou, the old woman selling produce in the market who remembers them all. Artfully weaving these lives, witness is given to the desolation wrecked by nature and man.

My Thoughts: This was a heartbreakingly beautiful historical fiction novel that follows different individuals who were affected by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. All of the characters, though experiencing their own adversity after the destructive event, are connected in some way. I will say, this book is definitely a slower burn. Each chapter is the perspective of a new character where you learn what role they play in this community, their background, and how the earthquake affected them personally. Which means you have to get used to how each new person thinks, feels, and speaks. So, although it took a little more time to get into each person’s story, this format allowed me to develop a deeper connection with all of them individually. In addition to the characters, I appreciated learning more about Haiti, its culture, and how aid is provided after a natural disaster (spoiler: it’s not great.) If you’re looking for an impactful read that will help you gain perspective on a different country, this one is definitely worth picking up.

CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons? When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever know is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned…

My Thoughts: *Deep sigh* This was not just the final book of The Mortal Instruments series, this was a love note to all of the readers who became as invested as I did. Everything I could have wanted out of the ending to this adventurous tale was delivered in the most beautiful mix of ass-kicking scenes, heartbreaking moments, witty banter, gestures of hope, and more. There are some new characters introduced in this book that foreshadow the spin-off series (The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices), so there’s quite a few storylines to follow that all play into the bigger picture. However, because the format of this book is broken into different perspectives, I never found it overwhelming to keep up. Not to give anything away, but the ending is imperfectly perfect and I appreciate the author didn’t give us everything we wanted for the end of this series on a silver platter. If it isn’t obvious, I was a big fan of this book and an even bigger fan of The Mortal Instruments series overall. So go read it lol.

EVER AFTER ALWAYS by Chloe Liese

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Aiden - I’ve spent 12 years loving Freya Bergman and 12 lifetimes won’t be enough to give her everything she deserves. She’s my passionate, tender-hearted wife, my best friend, and all I want is to make her happy. But the one thing that will make her happiest is the one thing I’m not sure I can give her: a baby. WIth the pressure of providing and planning for a family, my anxiety’s at an all-time high, and I find myself pulling away, terrified to tell my wife how I’m struggling. But when Freya kicks me out, I realize that pulling back has turned into pushing too far. Now it’s the fight of a lifetime to save our marriage. Freya - I love my cautious, hard-working husband. He’s my partner and best friend, the person I know I can count on most. Until one day I realize the man I married is nowhere to be found. Now Aiden is quiet and withdrawn, and as the months wear on, the pain of our growing distance becomes too much. As if weathering marriage counseling wasn’t enough, we’re thrown together for an island getaway to celebrate my parents’ many years of perfect marriage while ours is on the brink of collapse. Despite my meddling siblings and a week in each other’s constant company, this trip somehow gets us working through the trouble in paradise. I just can’t help worrying, when we leave paradise and return to the real world, will trouble find us again?

My Thoughts: This book was exactly what I needed right when I needed it. Tbh, after reading the first two books of the Bergman Brothers series, Aiden had become a character I wasn’t a huge fan of. He kind of gave off dickhead vibes. So I had low expectations going into this one, but am pleased to report, we turned that ship around. Aiden suffers from anxiety which I relate to, so I had a lot of empathy for his situation. Thus far, Freya has the badass big sister that everyone wishes they had, but I liked that we got to see the vulnerable side of her in this book because it gave her character more depth. Though their relationship is a roller coaster of emotions throughout this entire storyline, it was easy to buckle up for the ride and enjoy watching Aiden and Freya find their way back to each other. Needless to say, I definitely recommend it!

REMINDERS OF HIM by Colleen Hoover

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: After serving 5 years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her 4-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself. The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them. The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

My Thoughts: CoHo does it again folks! Between her signature writing style and the addicting characters she always seems to nail, this book is one I’ll be thinking about months from now. I could literally feel the heartache and pain in my chest that Kenna went through in the past and continues to experience presently. Then there are the small nuggets of hope we pick up along the way that make it feel easier to breathe because it means Kenna’s future isn’t already solidified. Ledger’s character wasn’t my favorite at first, but slowly grew on me. He was stuck in such a tough position due to Kenna’s situation, so it was impossible not to feel for him as he worked through the frustration and confusion. Together, their connection was undeniable no matter how hard both Kenna and Ledger tried pushing each other and their feelings away. I was banging my head against a wall waiting for them to open their hearts enough to let the other person in. So, in conclusion: get ready to feel all the feels, my friends. All the feels. This is definitely a CoHo book you should pick up and quickly!

THE GILDED ONES by Namina Forna

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity - and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called the alaki - near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to rain for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be - not even Deka herself.

My Thoughts: This book has been hella hyped on Bookstagram, so I was excited to dive into it because y’all know I love a YA fantasy. Per usual, I went into this book not knowing what it was about, and the first part of it reminded me a lot of the book The Grace Year because they’re trying to figure out what girls of the village are “pure” and suitable for marriage. Then it quickly takes a turn where the girls who are considered “impure” are basically deemed demonic and either bloodlet for the gold in their blood or tortured as the village priests try to figure out how to kill them. However, Deka is saved by a woman who works for the emperor and is training other girls like her to form an army. Honestly, although this book had its strong points, it kind of felt like it only floated between two tones: an intense tone as Deka discovered her abilities during training and while fighting the deathshrieks and a lighter/dramatic tone as she tries to figure out more about her past while forging new relationships. I was never extremely invested in the story, and though Deka is an objectively strong character, I found it somewhat difficult to genuinely connect with her throughout the entirety of this experience. Overall, it was a good book, but it definitely wouldn’t be in my top YA fantasy recommendations.

THE FLAT SHARE by Beth O’Leary

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers, and of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…

My Thoughts: This was freaking cute. Extremely predictable, but sometimes we need that in our lives, do we not? Tiffy is an incredibly eccentric character with an eclectic style and personality. She’s just the type of person who other people are drawn to because of her bright presence in any room and her ability to see good in everyone. Leon is a quiet giant teddy bear. He’s got the biggest heart and puts everyone’s needs ahead of his own. Basically after Tiffy moves in, she and Leon start leaving post-it notes for each other all over the place since they’re never home at the same time, and I kind of loved that that’s how their friendship blossomed. From there, I was just WAITING for them to cross paths to see how their fun chemistry translated from paper to in-person. There are a couple of darker plot lines woven into this story involving Tiffy’s ex-boyfriend and Leon’s brother, but overall this was a really fun read if you’re into British rom-coms.

LUCKY by Marissa Stapley

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Lucky Armstrong is a tough, talented grifter who has just pulled off a million-dollar heist with her boyfriend, Cary. She’s ready to start a brand-new life, with a new destiny - when things go sideways. Lucky finds herself alone for the first time, navigating the world without the help of either her father or her boyfriend, the two figures from whom she’s learned the art of the scam. When she discovers that a lottery ticket she bought on a whim is worth millions, her elation is tempered by one big problem: cashing in the winning ticket means she’ll be arrested for her crimes. She’ll go to prison with no chance to redeem her fortune. As Lucky tries to avoid capture and make a future for herself, she must confront her past by reconciling with her father; finding her mother, who abandoned her when she was just a baby; and coming to terms with the man she thought she loved - whose dark past is catching up with her, too.

My Thoughts: I wasn’t sure how this book was going to go, but I’m pleased to report I absolutely loved it! For starters, the premise is unlike anything else I’ve read and the entire experience was a wild ride. It was impossible for me not to like the main character, Lucky. The story bounces back and forth between her past - being raised by a con artist - and the present - where she’s on the run for embezzlement. At first, I assumed she’s going to be a morally gray character based on her current situation, but that quickly changed as I got to know her better. Though scamming people is basically what she’s best at, she constantly has an internal battle of knowing she can easily get some money from innocent people, but hating that she’s lying to them at the same time. The author also does an amazing job of making you question what side characters Lucky can really trust because most people who can help her have either hurt her in the past or you suspect have an ulterior motive. For being less than 250 pages, this book had me hooked from the start and I definitely recommend adding it to your list of books to read this year!

WITH YOU FOREVER by Chloe Liese

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Axel - Rooney Sullivan is sunshine incarnate. Warm, bright, always smiling, she’s everything I’m not and the last person I have any business desiring. Desperate to hide a hopeless attraction, I’ve done everything possible to keep my distance… until a charades game gone wrong brought that to a grinding halt. Since then, steering clear of Rooney has been impossible. In a matter of months, she’s kissed me speechless, commandeered my art career, and infiltrated not only my dreams but my home. The woman who was once avoidable has become the last thing I needed: temptingly within reach. Rooney - Axel Bergman is a gorgeous grump who doesn’t have the time of day for me. Thankfully, I’ve kept my crush under wraps… Well, until I kissed him. Charades got away from me, okay? It was an accident! I haven’t seen him since, which is for the best. My life is a mess, and the last thing I need is to embarrass myself further with the man who avoids me like that’s his job rather than painting modern masterpieces. It seems the universe, however, has a different plan. When Axel and I unexpectedly find our paths - and problems - converging, a marriage of convenience proves the perfect solution. At least until I’m facing my most serious problem yet: a once-loveless marriage of convenience that’s inconveniently become a love match, after all.

My Thoughts: So the Bergman Brothers series has become somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me and I REALLY wanted to hold off on reading this book as like a little treat to myself. However, I was in a slump and needed to read something I knew would bring me out of it, so With You Forever, it was. I feel like we’ve gotten to know Rooney’s character better through the first three books than we have Axel, so I was excited to get to know the oldest Bergman boy. This grumpy-sunshine trope was beautifully done as we watched Rooney and Axel dance around each other as friendly temporary roommates of sorts until the emotional and sexual tension was too much to bare lol. There are plenty of laugh out loud scenes, fun low-key banter, heartwarming conversations, and swoony-worthy encounters throughout this story, and I was invested in every part of it. The only thing that was odd to me is how abruptly it ended. It just felt a little more rushed than the previous three books felt, and I think it could've faded out a little smoother. Other than that, I’m a big fan and cannot wait for the next Bergman Brothers book to come out! :)

TO LOVE JASON THORN by Ella Maise

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Jason Thorn is my brother’s childhood friend and how stupidly in love with that boy I was. He was the first boy that made me blush, my first official crush. That excitement that bubbles up inside you, those famous butterflies - he was the reason for them all. But, you only get to live in that fairytale world until they crush your hopes and dreams then stomp on your heart for good measure. And boy did he crush my heart into little pieces. After that, I did my best to stay away from him - and let me tell you, it was pretty hard to do. When tragedy struck his family and they moved away, I was ready to forget he ever existed. Now he is a movie star, the one who has a dimpled smile and makes all of the women go into a screaming frenzy. Do you think that’s dreamy? I don’t think so. How about coming face to face with him? Nope, still not dreamy. Not when I can’t even manage to look him in the eye. Me? I’m Olive, the writer of the book that inspired the movie he’s about to star in on the big screen. As of late, I’m also referred to as the oh-so-very-lucky girl who is about to become the wife of Jason Thorn. Maybe you’re yet again thinking this is all so dreamy? Nope, nothing dreamy going on here. Not even close.

My Thoughts: I honestly wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did! It was recommended to me by my Kindle, so I figured I’d give it a try. The book’s format changes between Jason and Olive’s perspectives which I think was essential for building a connection with both of them. From the start, I was kind of assuming Jason is just a typical f-boy who has zero redeeming qualities because he thinks he’s the shit. However, as I got to know him better through his internal dialogue, he found his way into my heart. Olive was the ideal protagonist for this book. She was the perfect balance of head-strong, stubborn, clever, and sweet. I think it would’ve been annoying if she swooned for Jason right away, so I like that the author made him WORK FOR IT. Plus, after they did start falling for one another, you could feel the adoration and love radiating off the pages. I was obsessed with how unapologetically into each other they were. There are definitely some descriptive steamy scenes in this book (like there’s a disclaimer about them on Goodreads lol), so if that’s not your jam then you can probs pass on this one. Otherwise, this was a fun and spicy lil rom-com to cozy up with on a Saturday!

TO HATE ADAM CONNOR by Ella Maise

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: So you may ask, who is Adam Connor? He’s the recently divorced, Academy Award-winning actor who just moved in next door with his kid. He also happens to be an exquisite male specimen and the most infuriating sly bastard I’ve ever come across. Let’s be honest here, wouldn’t you wanna take a peek over the wall to catch a glimpse of him? Wouldn’t you melt away after watching him workout as his 5-year-old kid cheered him on? While I was being thoughtful by not breaking and entering and was actually considering going over to offer him a shoulder to cry on (because of his divorce), instead he had me thrown in jail after a small incident. After that day, I was mentally plotting ways to strangle him instead of jumping his bones. Even if he and his son were the best things since sliced bread, I couldn’t fall for him. No matter what promises he whispered on my skin, my curse wouldn’t let us be. I wasn’t a damsel in distress - I could save myself, thank you very much - but deep inside, I still hoped Adam Connor would be the hero of my story.

My Thoughts: This book follows Lucy who is Olive’s best friend. We know from To Love Jason Thorn that Lucy is a sarcastic, sassy, strong woman, and v sexually driven lol. She’s also extremely protective of Olive and dedicated to their friendship. When her ex-boyfriend breaks up with her and moves across the country, Lucy moves in with Olive and Jason in their Bel Air mansion. Adam Connor moves next door and after an unfortunate incident, Lucy ends up becoming somewhat of a nanny for his son, Aiden (the cutest little kid, my gosh). I absolutely SWOONED over this rom-com. It was everything you could want from an enemies-to-lovers trope, and I loved that the author allowed each character to stay true to who they were even as their love-hate relationship progressed. The banter alone is worth the read. My only issue is there were some subplots sprinkled throughout the book that were supposed to lead up to a revelation at the end, but I felt like they weren’t as strong as they should’ve been. Also, just a friendly warning, this book has a disclaimer on Goodreads about the steamy scenes, and there’s also a couple of scenes that could be triggering to some people. So, please keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up. All in all though, I loved Lucy and Adam’s story and read this book in one evening lol.

And that’s January for ya!

2022 Book Count: 15

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your go-to genre when you’re in a reading slump? Let me know in the comments!

December 2021 Reads

December 31, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

And that’s a wrap!

I read many more books this year than I anticipated and December was a huge contributor. Between losing myself in the Mortal Instruments series, holiday-themed books, and taking advantage of my new Kindle Paperwhite, ya girl read hella books this month.

Not all of them were winners, but most were enjoyable.

So, let’s dive into it!

*All summaries taken or paraphrased from Goodreads

IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER by Tessa Bailey

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When an out-of-control party lands Piper in jail, her stepfather decides enough is enough. He cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar in Washington. Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. She’s determined to show her stepfather and the hot, grumpy local that she’s more than a pretty face. Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan - and this town full of memories - may have already caught her heart.

My Thoughts: UGH why did I not pick up this gem sooner?! I was absolutely SWOONING over this Schitt’s Creek-inspired romcom. THAT’S RIGHT. I’ll say it again - *clears throat* - SCHITT’S CREEK-INSPIRED ROMCOM. Now that we’ve got that covered, let me tell you about the heart bursting cuteness that is the budding romance between Piper and Brendan. The contrast between this ray of sunshine and burly grump was just enough to make them the perfect match, and I loved watching their relationship develop. It definitely started off a little rocky, but I almost preferred that because the pace was so satisfying. It never felt too slow or fast - just really organic and natural. I gotta give a shout out to a side character, Piper’s sister, Hannah. She was a grounding presence to Piper’s flightiness, but still adored Piper which honestly added much more depth to the sisters’ dynamic in general. Each scene of this book truly served a purpose to the overall storyline which was equally broken into fun events, emotional moments, steamy scenes, and heartwarming interactions. I just really loved this love story and highly recommend you pick it up before I keep asking if you’ve read it yet lol. :)

CITY OF BONES by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: When 15-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within 24 hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

My Thoughts: I really loved this book for the most part. There’s a twist at the end that’s a little strange and doesn’t sit right with me lol, but otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Between the quick quips between the main characters, the action-packed scenes, and heartbreaking flashbacks, my emotions were on a rollercoaster ride the entire time. It was very fun to see some of the characters from the Infernal Devices series either mentioned in conversation or included in this new adventure. Kind of felt like I knew a secret these characters didn’t yet lol. Overall, this book had the Cassandra Clare touch we all know and love, and that keeps me coming back for more. So basically, I definitely recommend picking up this YA fantasy if you’re looking to dive into a series anytime soon. :)

LUMBER SNACK by Mae Harden

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Millie Partridge is forced to be the maid of honor in the wedding of her former best friend. She hates the bride, groom, and her Bartlett green dress. When she decides she’s had enough, she laughs during the vows, flips the bird and walks out of the wedding. Knowing she doesn’t want to stay in Boston for Christmas, but not having anywhere else to go, she takes off to Maine and doesn’t look back. After a series of unfortunate events, Millie finds herself snowed in at the Barnes Orchard family farm in the house of a hot guy named Sam. She has no recollection of how she got there, but due to a freak snow storm she’s stuck there. Little does she know this could be a Christmas miracle.

My Thoughts: Okay, so this novella is part of a series called 12 Days of Kissmas and it was kind of like a bookstagram challenge that I saw and decided to try lol. In the spirit of the holidays, this was a really cute, quick read. Especially if you’re into the forced proximity and fast romance type of tropes. Millie and Sam are such down-to-earth characters and it was fun watching them make the best of this unforeseen situation. I appreciated that there was a balance of sweet and steamy scenes because it made their “falling fast” romance feel less forced. So, if you’re looking for a fun, festive, spicy read, I’d recommend giving this one a try! Also, on an unrelated but related note: This book is the first one in the 12 Days series because Sam finds Millie in a pear tree and her last name is Partridge lol.

STUCK AT CHRISTMAS by Georgia Coffman

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: On the second day of Christmas, these two turtle doves are stuck together. As a doctor, Graham’s practice is his priority and leaves little time for dating. Until Isabel. To Graham’s surprise, one night is all it takes for him to fall for her, even though he knows next to nothing about her. He never thought he’d see his mystery woman again, but like a holiday miracle, she shows up at his clinic one night with her young daughter. Every minute Graham is with them only makes him fall harder, but their situation isn’t so simple. Getting stuck in a closet with Isabel just days before Christmas might be the gift they didn’t know they needed.

My Thoughts: This is the second installment of the 12 Days of Kissmass and what a sweet read it was. I liked that there was more to the characters than just their attraction for one another. Graham, for example, is trying to come to terms with his best friend dating his little sister and the frustrations that come with being the only single family member around the holidays. Isabel, on the other hand, is busy being a single mom whose whole world revolves around her daughter, Sasha. Which makes this whole story even sweeter when Graham ends up hitting it off with Sasha as he tends to her sprained wrist and wins Isabel over. Who doesn’t love a hot doctor that’s good with kids tho, yanno? The spice factor in this novella wasn’t turned up as high as the last book in this series, but it definitely sufficed. Plus, Stuck at Christmas is a short 92 pages, so if you’re looking for something cute around Christmas, this could do it for you!

A CHRISTMAS TART by Lola West

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: On the third day of Christmas these childhood rivals have perfect chemis-tree! Patrick Laroux and Maxine Redgrave hate each other. It’s palpable. The whole town knows it. They have been at each other’s throats since their sand castle building days. But what everyone doesn’t know is that there was a winter, a long time ago, when Max had a secret and Patrick was there for her. They forgot to be hateful and thought maybe, just maybe, they were in love… But you know, then it all fell apart. Until now. Get ready to watch tension fly and the three french biddies meddle when Max and Patrick reconnect at the Laurent Bakery in Martha’s Vineyard.

My Thoughts: This third novella of the 12 Days of Kissmass series was as naughty as it was nice lol. The nice: I loved the background story of how Patrick and Max connected when they were teenagers. The innocence and genuine adoration they shared for each other was incredibly endearing, and it was heartwarming that those feelings surfaced unapologetically as they reconnected as adults. The naughty: for being a novella, this book was full of steamy scenes, but they were scattered throughout the second half in a reasonable spacing. So, it’s not like the author was throwing them in there all willy nilly. If you like an enemies-to-lovers trope in a small town setting involving a hot guy who owns a bakery and smoking gal who runs the local bookstore all during Christmastime, then I recommend picking up this novella for sure! :)

GHOSTS by Dolly Alderton

Rating: 4.2/5 stars

Summary: Nina Dean has arrived at her early thirties as a successful food writer with loving friends and family, plus a new home and neighborhood. When she meets Max, a beguiling romantic hero who tells her on a date that he’s going to marry her, it feels like all is going to plan. A new relationship couldn’t have come at a better time - her thirties haven’t been the liberating, uncomplicated experience she was sold. Everywhere she turns, she is reminded of time passing and opportunities dwindling. Friendships are fading, ex-boyfriends are moving on, and worse, everyone’s moving to the suburbs. There’s no solace to be found in her family, with a mom who’s caught in a baffling midlife makeover and a beloved dad who is vanishing in slow-motion into dementia.

My Thoughts: I both loved and hated how relatable this book was in relation to Nina’s romantic and platonic relationships evolving. It was incredibly validating to see the struggles she goes through while trying to “get back out there” in the dating world because everything she’s experiencing is what, IMO, all women in their late 20s-early 30s go through. Especially when you’re surrounded by people who are in happy relationships, buying homes, doing the adulting couple-y things lol. Whereas, you’re still single (probs happily so), but starting to wonder, “when will it be my turn?” The pacing of this book is extremely steady throughout, and although it’s not full of super thrilling events, the pages truly turned effortlessly. Though it’s described as a rom-commy-type of book, I would say the funny/entertaining elements of this book are tucked into the dialogue between characters and in Nina’s head. Which I almost appreciated more because it wasn’t in-your-face comedy, yanno? Overall, I think if you’re someone like me who has been experiencing the struggle that is the current dating landscape, and/or have ever been ghosted, then you will definitely appreciate this book. Content Warning: If you have or are experiencing a loved one going through the stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s, the storyline with Nina’s dad may be hard/upsetting for you, so please proceed with caution.

THE HOLIDAY SWAP by Maggie Knox

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell - both critical to her success as a show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over. With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician’s assistant Miguel Rodriguez are throw into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?

My Thoughts: This book checks off everything you need in a feel-good, Christmas-themed story; including the swoony romances and mouth-watering descriptions of fresh baked goods. While Charlie and Cass are identical twins, they definitely have different personalities which made this experience very fulfilling. It was really satisfying to see each woman thrown out of her comfort zone into something they never thought they’d wanted: Charlie running her family’s bakery back home and Cass jumping into creating fresh new recipes for her sister’s show in the busy city of L.A. Sprinkle in their developing romances with the most heart throbbing guys we could ask for and I was in love with every page of this story. Plus, everything was tied up in the most immaculate bow by the end of it that there wasn’t any loose end to be seen. If you’re looking for something fun, a little different, with heartwarming growth across all relationships, and a little holiday theme tied in then I definitely recommend adding this to your reading list!

WINTER STREET by Elin Hilderbrand

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket’s Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can’t get him to commit. And Bart, the youngest and only child of Kelley’s second marriage to Mitzi, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines. As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who’s playing Santa at the inn’s annual party), utter chaos descends. With the three older children each reeling in their own dramas and Bart unreachable in Afghanistan, it might be up to Kelley’s ex-wife, nightly news anchor Margaret Quinn, to save Christmas at the Winter Street Inn.

My Thoughts: This was my first Elin Hilderbrand book, and it won’t be my last! I absolutely adored the Quinn family in this novel about returning home for the holidays and the mishaps, traditions, clumsy conversations, and endless love that ensues. The POV format of this story was absolutely perfect for really developing a deeper connection to each character, and it was impossible not to get wholly invested in all of the chaos and dramatics surrounding this specific holiday reunion. I loved each character through their flaws and was rooting for all of them to make it through the shit storm each was experiencing. Margaret was by far my favorite character, as she brought a warmth to the Winter Street Inn where so much was dampening the normally vibrant holiday celebrations. Hilderbrand even made it hard to entirely dismiss Mitzi, who kicked off the dark clouds this year, which was a feat in itself. Honestly, this book felt like being invited to someone’s family Christmas where dysfunction is almost expected to occur, and you’re left sitting in a comfy chair watching it all go down while sipping on a warm mulled cider. All in all, I’d definitely recommend this!

MERRY CHRIST-MESS by Dee Ellis

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Mila Masters has her life figured out. Writing splashy stories by day while she writes dirty ditties at night, she knows better to want for more. Unless it’s the love and adoration it seems everyone else is finding. Sweet, forever after love is for romance books, not real life. Or maybe she has had the best book boyfriend right in front of her. Micah Townes busted his ass to get his life right. A troubled youth means he takes nothing for granted. Especially the most important person in his life, Mila. Even if he wants more from her, he knows not to ask at the risk of losing her. A double date raises the stakes of their friendship - which maybe is not just a friendship after all.

My Thoughts: What a great friends-to-lovers romance novel! It was quite a passionate story between Mila and Micah, but there was definitely an undeniable connection between them. I will say, I’m surprised they hadn’t acted on their feelings sooner, but this spicy little Christmastime romance novella was an eventful love story that I really enjoyed. Definitely recommend continuing onto this fourth book in the 12 Days of Kissmas series!

A VERY PIERCED CHRISTMAS by Ember Davis

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary: After years of traveling for her blog, Rowan is seeing more of the world than she ever thought. There’s something tugging her home for more than just the holidays and she has no idea what it is until she meets Levi Michaels. They’ve been talking via text about a custom motorcycle, but she had no idea how sexy Levi would be until she goes to pick up the bike. Maybe he’s not a reason to stay. Maybe he’s a reason to keep traveling.

My Thoughts: This is the fifth installment of the 12 Days of Kissmass, and has been my least favorite so far. While I was reading this novella, it just felt like so much of the storyline was forced or overdone. It didn’t feel like a natural progression with their relationship, and the connection they share goes from 0 to 60 then back to 0 then to 100 all of a sudden. I didn’t necessarily love Levi and Rowan as main characters either. They just seemed very melodramatic to me, and when the storyline hit a point of resolving issues, it felt like the author was handholding me through the process - which was very unnecessary. I don’t know. There was some sort of disconnect I had with this book and I never managed to fully recover enough to like it all that much. I guess if you have a huge love for motorcycles, tattoos, piercings, etc., then this would be more up your alley? Maybe? I don’t know. I’m just never going to read it again lol.

CITY OF ASHES by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Summary: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what’s normal when you’re a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who’s becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn’t ready to let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary’s only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter, Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father. To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings - and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My Thoughts: IMO, this was a solid second book in The Mortal Instruments series. I still can’t get behind the weird plot twist that continued as an element of the storyline from the first book into this one. I felt like the author was dropping more hints this time around, though, that there is falsehood to what we know, so I’m banking on that a bit. There was a generous mix of action-packed events and slower, more dialogue-focused scenes that were perfectly paced throughout the book which I appreciated because there were a lot of new details to take in. Although I still cannot stand Simon most of the time, it was cool that his character development took a completely different turn than what I was expecting. It’s like he finally has more to his personality other than being in love with Clary who keeps saying, “I might love you back… eventually. Maybe.” lol. Poor sap. Most of the characters showed some sort of growth in this book -specifically, Jace and Clary - but it wasn’t necessarily in their behavior or maturity as much as it was their abilities. Overall, I really enjoyed City of Ashes and absolutely devoured the pages. So, needless to say, I’ll be continuing on this fun lil YA fantasy journey. :)

BARBARIAN’S LADY by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: You’d think a tall woman would fit in on a planet of 7-foot-tall aliens, but even on the ice planet, Kate is still an oddity. She’s everything all the other cute, dainty human women aren’t. One guy in particular - the alien Harrec - is determined to embarrass Kate by pretending he’s interested. He’s a jokester that flirts like mad and hits on her constantly just to make her feel foolish. He gets under her skin and makes her so frustrated she wants to scream. When a side-trip to a glacier turns into a nightmare and the two are forced to survive alone, Kate sees another side to the enticing blue alien. Even with no one else around, his compliments keep coming and she starts wondering if the attraction between them is real.

My Thoughts: This storyline went a different direction than I was expecting it to, but I really enjoyed it! There’s been a pattern in the previous books where, basically, the two people at hand find some way to do a couple’s retreat until they resonate with each other. This time around, Harrec is a big dummy and thinks he will take the same approach to get Kate alone, but his plan goes quite awry in a life threatening way and leaves them fighting to survive. I didn’t love either character, but I definitely liked them and was rooting for them to bridge the communication gap they initially had. It was refreshing too that Kate was a different body type from what the previous women had been illustrated as in previous books. Overall, this was cute and I liked it.

BARBARIAN’s RESCUE by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Rogue slavers have landed on the ice planet and captured the tribe. The only ones not snatched? Summer, a walking human motormouth with no skill except that of incoherent babbling, and Warrek, who’s as silent as he is attractive. Two more unlikely people have never been paired together. And now they’re supposed to form a rescue team. Saving the others is either going to bring them closer together - or drive them completely apart. Summer is pretty sure the feelings she’s having for her alien companion are as unrequited as they are inappropriate, but since they aren’t going to make it out alive, what harm is one teeny, tiny kiss?

My Thoughts: We loved this opposites attract sci-fi romance! The POV format was absolutely perfect for this book because Warrek is a very quiet boi and understanding his internal dialogue was essential for buying into this developing relationship with Summer. Even though Summer never shuts up, it was also really helpful to have her thoughts as well because she didn’t externally process everything as you’d expect. The change up in plot was very refreshing as they help the rest of the tribe escape this stalled spaceship that’s holding them hostage. This book is quite spicy as we’ve come to expect with the IPB series, and I definitely think it’s worth the read!

BARBARIAN’S TEASE by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: It should have been a one-night stand. Brooke never intended to seduce Taushen, but things happened. She doesn’t dwell on the past and while it was great, she’s not looking for a relationship. Of course, try telling that to Taushen. The big blue alien’s in love after one night, and making things darn awkward. They’ve got bigger problems than whether or not Brooke is his woman, like the ‘cargo’ of the spaceship that landed there. But Taushen’s not giving up. He thinks Brooke is his mate and will do anything to keep her.

My Thoughts: WHEW! Let’s start by talking about the pacing of the spice in this book because it comes in HOT. Right from the start, Dixon was serving up some STEAM. It definitely teeters off towards the middle, but I kind of appreciated that because it lined up perfectly with the storyline. Additionally, I loved that Brooke was not trying to fall into the same pattern as many of the other women did where she runs off with Taushen to be in close proximity until they resonate. She was like “nah, but you can teach me how to hunt, build fire, and survive on my own.” Her approach just allowed their relationship to develop much more organically. This was definitely one of my favorite books in this series, and probably the last I’ll read this year, but all in all, I highly recommend this one!

CITY OF GLASS by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace doesn’t want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. This book finally gave me the much needed peace of mind that I’ve been WAITING for in this series as it solves the mystery we’ve all had to endure the last two books. Let me just say though, a few plot twists had to happen in order to make that resolution available, but BOY, was it worth it. This book is packed to the brim with action-packed events, “oh shit” discoveries, and all the feels you can imagine. I loved that this book took place in a new environment - Alicante - because it gave this ongoing experience a fresh perspective. I will say, I definitely like Clary more in this book, but I’m so glad someone finally called her on her shit which is being incredibly impulsive and not considering how her actions will affect other people. The antagonist, Valentine, is evil as ever, and because he gives off the vibes of being a guy who mansplains and gaslights, the big scene of this story is incredibly fulfilling. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the third installment of the Mortal Instruments series. To be honest, this book felt like it was wrapped up perfectly, so I’m not really sure where the series goes from here, but I plan to continue on. Definitely recommend pushing through to this book if you started the series and are unsure whether to continue on.

HOLIDAY HOME RUN by Priscilla Oliveras

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Event planner Julia Fernandez is in Chicago for an internship that she hopes to turn into a full-time job. She’s ready to live on her own, out from under her family's expectations that she take over their catering business in Puerto Rico and away from their year-round baseball fever thanks to her three brothers. Ex-MLB pitcher Ben Thomas knows what it’s like to have different dreams than your family intends for you, but since his injury-caused early retirement, he’s been struggling to find the sense of family baseball once brought him. When he volunteers as the emcee for Julia’s big holiday fundraiser for a local youth center, he finally begins to find a sense of purpose working with the kids and alongside Julia. She’s focused on organizing the best holiday event the youth center has ever seen, not on romance. But Ben… he’s got a game plan that includes both.

My Thoughts: This novella was really cute. It was very sweet, both of the main characters were likable, and definitely had you rooting for them by the end of the story. However, there wasn’t any real “wow factor” here. Nor was it OTT holiday themed. Just simply cute. Did I enjoy it? Sure! Would I recommend it to people? Maybe if they’re super into baseball, but it probably wouldn’t be my first choice. I’ve heard great things about this author’s full books though, so I may give one of those a try since her writing was easy to sink into.

THE MATZAH BALL by Jean Meltzer

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade, she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-curious publisher insists she writes a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy - Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah - and Jacob - in a way she neer expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

My Thoughts: I got mildly burned out on the Christmas-themed books I was devouring this month, but still wanted something holiday-themed. I saw this book come up on my bookstagram feed a few times and figured I’d give it a go. The premise of this book was unlike anything I’ve seen before which was really refreshing. It was interesting learning more about the Jewish traditions during Hanukkah and what usually goes into the eight nights. I think I had a soft spot for the side storyline involving Rachel’s chronic illness because it has to do with exhaustion and sleep (which I definitely have experience with lol), so watching her having to calculate daily what she has energy for and planning ahead to make sure she doesn’t overload herself was all too relatable. What I wasn’t a huge fan of is all of the misunderstandings/miscommunications between Rachel and Jacob, but it was fun to watch them slowly trust each other. If you’re looking for something to read around the holidays that is a little different, this might be a good book to try.

THE MISTLETOE PACT by Jo Lovett

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: On Christmas Eve eight years ago, Evie and Dan made a pact: if they weren’t married by thirty, they were going to marry each other. Of course, neither of them took it seriously, even if Dan has always been mesmerized by Evie’s beautiful smile, and Evie has always fancied Dan, her best friend’s brother. But then “it” happens. They wake up on Christmas Eve, the night before Evie’s 30th birthday in Vegas… married. Surely if they just get a quick divorce, they can go back to the way things used to be, right? If it wasn’t for the alcohol none of this would’ve happened. They can just go back to being friends. Except moving on is easier said than done when you’ve secretly loved each other forever… but if one of them doesn’t admit that, what happens to their friendship? If they don’t get together this time, what happens to the pact? Are they really ready to let go of it for good?
My Thoughts: This book had no business being as long as it was. It truly could’ve wrapped it up at least 50-70 pages sooner than it did. While it was entertaining for the most part and definitely had me rooting for Dan and Evie, I felt like it was just sooo dragged out. Also, The Mistletoe Pact they made when they were younger felt so irrelevant to the bigger picture since they got a divorce literally right after they fulfilled it. Evie had me banging my head against a wall on multiple occasions because she kept trying to convince herself that the current “nice guy” she was dating surely is “the one” simply because he’s nice when she’s clearly incredibly indifferent towards him. Whereas, Dan kept inching towards that “leap of faith” with Evie, but never actually committed, and I truly wanted to shove him off that ledge the entire book. Overall, this was a cute book and enjoyable for the most part. It was just much longer than it needed to be, so I can’t say this would be at the top of my holiday book recommendations.

A CROSS-COUNTRY CHRISTMAS by Courtney Walsh

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Lauren Richmond isn’t a fan of Christmas. Which is why she rarely makes the trip home to the Midwest for the holidays. After all, she has plenty to keep her busy- namely, her duties as a set decorator on a TV sitcom. But this December, Lauren’s brother and his wife are expecting a baby, so her brother arranges a ride home for her with his good friend, Will. Unfortunately for Lauren, she’s been trying to forget college baseball coach and childhood crush Will Sinclair for more than ten years. Now, thanks to her fear of flying, she’s stuck in a car with him from California to Illinois. She’s circumspect and organized. He’s flirty and spontaneous. She’s convinced people don’t change. He’s trying to prove to her and himself that he has. On this cross-country road trip, they’ll both discover that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself… but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.

My Thoughts: What a fun enemies-to-lovers rom-com! From the moment Will and Lauren hit the road all the way to reaching home, this book gave me all the feels. Will was likable for me right off the bat - and not just because he’s described as a Chris Evans look alike lol. He just provides a gentler, relaxing presence in this story which perfectly compliments Lauren by contrasting her prickly, closed-off behavior. That said though, as Lauren’s walls started to slowly melt on this cross-country roadtrip, it was so easy to warm up to her. Since their history was through Lauren’s older brother, it was fun watching them re-learn each other in this new context as adults. Honestly, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for a book to read around the holidays that isn’t “Christmas in your face” then definitely give this one a try!

ONLY WHEN IT’S US by Chole Liese

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Ryder - Ever since she sat next to me in class and gave me death eyes, Willa Sutter’s been on my shit list. Why she hates me, I don’t know. What I do know is that Willa is the kind of chaos I don’t need in my tidy life. She’s the next generation of women’s soccer. Wild hair, wilder eyes. Bee-stung lips that should be illegal. And a temper that makes the devil seem friendly. Willa - Rather than give me the lecture notes I’ve missed like every other instructor I’ve had, my asshole professor tells me to get them from the silent, surly flannel-wearing mountain man sitting next to me in class. Well, I tried. And what did I get from Ryder Bergman? Ignored. What a complete lumbersexual neanderthal. Mangy beard and mangier hair. Frayed ball cap that hides his eyes. And a stubborn refusal to acknowledge my existence.

My Thoughts: Why aren’t more people talking about this book? It was so good! In addition to loving both characters, the backstory laid out for each of them was so detailed, it was impossible not to get emotionally invested in Ryder and Willa. In addition to the perfect pacing of their relationship, I appreciated that Ryder and Willa’s individual character development happened on a realistic timeline because it made buying into the “frenemies” even easier. This book was full of quick quips, heart wrenching moments, sweeter than sweet interactions, steamy scenes, and more. Honestly, what more could you ask for in a romance novel? Seriously, put this on your “TBR” list as soon as you can!

ALWAYS ONLY YOU by Chloe Liese

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Ren - The moment I met her, I knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes my knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day she and I became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of my game - besides, hockey, that is. I’m a player on the team, she’s on staff, and as long as we work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been my virtue. Frankie won’t be here forever - she’s headed for bigger, better things. I just hope that when she leaves the team and I tell her how I feel, she won’t want to leave me behind. Frankie - I’ve had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. I’m a grump and his ridiculously good nature drives me nuts, but even I can’t entirely ignore that hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he’s annoyingly modest. Before I got wise, I would have tripped over myself to get a guy like Ren, but with my diagnosis, I’ve learned what I am to most people in my life - a problem, not a person. Now, opening my heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing I’m prepared to do.

My Thoughts: Y’all. My heart <3. I loved this tale of Ren and Frankie, and was absolutely smitten with both of them. Ren is a giant ginger hockey player who has a soft spot for Shakespeare plays and has been SWOONING for our girl Frankie for 3 years. Frankie is a badass woman who has faced adversity others cannot imagine and is still living her life as a boss. This slow burn romance was so easy to get lost in and vicariously experience all the feels the MCs were going through. Not only was this book endearing as it was entertaining, but it also contained the perfect amount of spice that really tied a bow on everything. In short, I’m loving this Bergman Brothers series and highly recommend you pick up this second installment!

Welp that’s that on that.

2021 Book Count (FINAL): 125!

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already, so that we can be friends for 2022!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year! Let me know what books you’ve got on deck for January in the comments.

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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September 2021 Reads

October 01, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

September felt like both the longest and shortest month of the year so far.

I had a weird reading mood this month and wasn’t necessarily super motivated to get through a bunch of new books. Like obviously, as you will see, I got caught up in the Ice Planet Barbarians series lol, but I ended up rereading some of those books towards the end of the month because I was just too tired to start something new and they’re legit maybe 200-250 pages max.

Personally, I blame the fact that I’ve been so busy socially lol. I know, I know. *Eye roll* Like what a problem to have, right? But, as your resident introvert, ya girl’s gas tank was running on fumes for most of September. That said, all of my plans were loads of fun. I even made a trip out to Chicago to visit one of my best friends and found a cute little indie bookstore called Sandmeyer’s Bookstore. So, if you’re in Chitown, definitely check it out!

Okay let’s move on with this, shall we?

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

THE PUSH by Ashley Audrain

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had. But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter - she doesn’t behave like most children do. Or is it all in Blythe’s head? Her husband, Fox, says she’s imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well. Then their son Sam is born - and with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she’d always imagined with her child. Even Violet seems to love her little brother. But when life as they know it changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth.

My Thoughts: Yeesh. This book put me on EDGE. I wouldn’t categorize this as a thriller by any means, but it was definitely a psychological work of fiction that will make your heart race a little bit. I loved how easy it was to fall into the mindset of this morally gray character yet still question whether or not she actually is a couple fries short of a Happy Meal. The author truly makes you feel all of Blythe’s anxieties, moments of bliss, grief, frustrations, and more to your core. The pace of the plot was extremely steady, but with everything going on it was absolutely effortless to keep the pages turning. I’d say the ending provided much-needed validation for not only some of the characters, but also the reader - who has been along for this mind-twisty ride from the start. Highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something a little psychological but not necessarily scary.

ICE PLANET BARBARIANS by Ruby Nixon

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: You’d think being abducted by aliens would be the worst thing that could happen to Georgie. And you’d be wrong. Because now, the aliens are having ship trouble and they’ve left their cargo of human women on an ice planet. The only native inhabitant Georgie has met is big, blue, has horns and has taken a liking to her.

My Thoughts: LOL. Okay, I’m going to be frank with you here. This book is straight up sci-fi smut. It’s a very quick, very steamy, intergalactic read. The plot isn’t super strong by any means, but I did end up really liking the main character, Georgie, and her ice planet boii toy, Vektal. All of the barbarians are actually super sweet gentlemen once you get to know them, so that was nice. There’s a potentially triggering scene in the beginning of the book that doesn’t involve any main characters, but is still pretty graphic, so please be aware. I can’t sit here with a straight face, and in good conscience, and honestly recommend this book to anyone lmao, but I also can’t say this hasn’t become a guilty pleasure series for me. So yeah. That’s my review lol. :)

BARBARIAN ALIEN by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Twelve humans are left stranded on a wintry alien planet, and Liz is one of them. In order to survive, they have to take on a symbiont that wants to rewire their bodies to live in this brutal place. Liz likes to call it the cootie. And, she thinks her cootie is a jerk because it also thinks she’s the mate to the biggest, surliest alien of the group.

My Thoughts: What a quick, cosmic, smutty read this was! Lucky for us, this book actually had a plotline! Not a super strong one, don’t get too excited, but it was definitely there! I loved the enemies-to-lovers trope between Liz and Raahosh. They were the cutest little match - where one was quiet, the other wouldn’t shut up. Where one was a burly alien, the other was a rambunctious blonde. Both were stubborn as hell though which provided some fun banter. This book was also SPICY, but we love some out-of-this-world smut, do we not?! Again, I can’t sit here and recommend this book to anyone. Mostly out of fear of mild judgement once you do pick it up to read. HOWEVER, these are such fast reads, that I can sit here and say, I will probably keep moving through this sci-fi smut series. Will I read all 22 books? Probs not (this year), but who’s to say? Yanno?

THE MAGIC OF FOUND OBJECTS by Maddie Dawson

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Phronsie Linnelle was conceived at Woodstock in a serendipitous liaison between a free-spirited hippie and a farmer’s son and was born with a magical wonder flickering in her DNA and rationality knit into her bones. All her life she’s been torn between the two. But now that she’s been betrayed by both love and the mother she once idolized, her rational side is winning. So when her best friend from childhood proposes that they give up on romance and marry each other, Phronsie agrees. Who better to spend your life with than your best friend? Maybe the connection they already have is love. Maybe there’s no falling to be done. But immediately after they announce their engagement, she encounters someone who makes a very charming and compelling argument for revisiting romance. While her even-keeled stepmother argues for the safety that comes with her new engagement and her mother relays messages from the universe to hold out for true love, Phronsie must look to her own heart to find the answers that have been there all along.

My Thoughts: This was the book of the month for one of my favorite podcasts, Bad on Paper, and I absolutely loved Maddie Dawson’s book, Matchmaking for Beginners. So, I was very excited to read this one! First off, this book is extremely relatable in regards to being tired of dating lol. You know the saying “finding a job is a job”? Same concept. Dating is WORK, so I completely related to Phronsie being fed up with the whole process. Her character was hard to pin down in terms of who she felt she was. You never knew if she was going to be practical “Frances” or free spirit “Phronsie” which made it hard to root for her at times. After getting more back story about previous relationships (both romantic and familial) that shaped her though, I had more empathy. This book was the perfect balance of fun and seriousness, and every flashback to Phronsie’s past served a significant purpose to the present story. The only thing that didn’t satiate me enough was a romantic element that we only got to see during a handful of pages. Overall though, this book was funny, quirky, and an extremely easy read! If you’re looking for something quick and a little lighter, I definitely recommend this one!

BARBARIAN LOVER by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: As one of the few humans stranded on the ice planet, Kira should be happy that she has a new home. Human women are treasured there, and one alien in particular has made it clear that he wants her. It’s hard for Kira to push away the sexy, flirtatious Aehako, when all he wants to do is take her to his furs. But she’s got a terrible secret - the aliens who abducted her are back, and thanks to the translator in her ear, they can find her. Kira fears her presence with the new tribe endangers everyone, but can she give up her new life and the man she wants more than anything?

My Thoughts: We have a plotline, y’all! Honestly, this series is actually developing into something quite interesting with a continuous and branching storyline. This book follows Kira who has a translator implanted in her ear by the aliens who originally abducted the twelve women. In addition to the intimate romance blooming between her and the very sweet Aehako, we get to see a lot of Kira’s character development. She goes from being the cautious Eeyore of the group to a confident badass who doesn’t let her fears hold her back for the sake of her new tribe. It was also cool to see the setting branch off from the main tribe’s cave to a secondary cave where more storylines are sure to blossom. There’s a scene towards the end of this book that follows a side character, Harlow, that is clearly a cliffhanger for a future book. So needless to say, I will be continuing on lol.

BARBARIAN MINE by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: The ice planet has given Harlow a second lease on life, so she’s thrilled to be here. Sure there’s no cheeseburgers, but she’s healthy and ready to be a productive member of the small tribe. What she didn’t anticipate is that there’d be a savage stranger waiting nearby, watching her. And when he takes her captive, the unthinkable happens - Harlow resonates to him. Resonance means mating, and children, but she doesn’t know if this guy has ever been around anyone before. He’s truly a barbarian in all the ways, right down to clubbing her over the head and claiming her as his own. So why is that she can’t get enough of him?

My Thoughts: I feel like this has been my favorite book of this sci-fi alien smut series by far. It picks up with Harlow being held captive by Rukh, who is basically the planet’s equivalent to Tarzan (living off the grid and out of society). Due to a misunderstanding, Harlow feels like she can’t go back to the tribe. Not to mention, she’s also resonated with him which basically means their lives are bound together from here on out. There have been language barriers in previous books between characters, but since Rukh literally hasn’t talked to anyone in YEARS, it was really heartwarming to see him and Harlow learning how to communicate with each other in order to survive in one of the most remote areas of this icy planet. I appreciated that the plotline in this one fast forwards about a 1.5 years from the time where the first three books take place as well because we get to see how more characters are developing. Y’all I can honestly say this series has been gaining some depth the farther we get into it, and I am hooked lol.

WE FREE THE STARS by Hafsah Faizal

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: The battle on Sharr is over. The dark forest has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir and Kifah are bound for Sultan’s Keep, determined to finish the plan he set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, and finally returning magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Night’s return. As the zumra plots to overthrow the kingdom’s darkest threat, Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood. He must learn to hone his power into a weapon to wield not only against the Lion but against his father, trapped under the Lion’s control. Zafira battles a very different darkness festering in her through her bond with the Jarawat pushing her to the brink of her sanity and to the edge of a chaos she dare not unleash. In spite of the darkness enclosing ever faster, Nasir and Zafira find themselves falling into a love they can’t stand to lose, but time is running out to achieve their ends, and if order is to be restored, drastic sacrifices will have to be made.

My Thoughts: Yaaaaassss! This book gave us everything we wanted, but didn’t quite get from the first, and I am just squealing with reader’s fulfillment lol. For starters, the world building and scene descriptors were phenomenal and made following this adventurous plot seamless. The setting transitions were my main pain point about the first book because they were touch and go in this category. We had character development arcs across the board - Zafria and Nasir, specifically. The author didn’t make Zafira the naive, do-gooder Huntress that everyone came to know and love in the first book. Instead there was a question of whether our protagonist was going to succumb to a darker power which has the potential to change the entire trajectory of her mission to restore magic. Nasir, our lil bad murder assassin boi, was going through some shit involving his dad that, overall, made him the vulnerable prince we’ve been wanting to see. I loved the romance and sexual tension that was strung between our two MCs the entire book. Honestly, the only v small complaint I have is that it was a little longer than I thought it needed to be, but my friends, this book sure did free those stars! For sure recommend continuing onto the second installment of this series if you made it through We Hunt the Flame.

THE WORST BEST MAN by Mia Sosa

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: A wedding planner left at the altar. Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite the embarrassing blip from her past, Lina has managed to make other people’s dreams come true as a top-tier wedding coordinator in DC. After impressing an influential guest, she’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials. Marketing expert Max Hartley is tired of living in his older brother’s shadows and is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he will be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning, absolutely off limits, ex fiancee. If they can survive the next few weeks and nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. But even the best laid plans can go awry, and soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them.

My Thoughts: This book was so much fun! With an enemies-to-lovers plotline, the banter between Lina and Max is quick, witty, and everything I wanted from this newly formed partnership. Plus, there were a few revenge-seeking ventures from both characters involving hot peppers, a workout class, and loads of wedding cake that made me laugh out loud. It was absolutely adorable watching Max and Lina fall for each other, and getting each of their perspectives on the situation. Don’t get me wrong though, there were definitely some spicy scenes woven into the cuteness of this storyline that gave us the perfect balance of everything we want in a romance. So, if you’re looking for a fun rom-com to brighten your reading list, I definitely recommend adding this book to it!

JULIET TAKES A BREATH by Gabby Rivera

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff. Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Is that even possible? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself.

My Thoughts: This was a great read that touched on very relevant topics affecting our culture and society everyday. In this YA book, we follow Juliet through her summer internship where she explores coming into her own identity, understanding her self-worth, and finding her voice. She’s only 19 and has never experienced the type of community she’s surrounded by while in Portland - very liberal, pretty hippy-dippy, etc. So, the whole summer is a culture shock for her which lays the foundation of the path she takes to finding herself. She’s not my favorite main character ever, but Juliet definitely was the best protagonist for this book. The examples the author used throughout the storyline to depict lessons of intersectional feminism, LGBTQ+ issues, racism, and more were crystal clear, and I never felt like they were being forced through the characters’ interactions. It did take me a minute to get into this book, but I think that was mostly because I wasn’t always in the mood to pick it up. Overall though, if you’re looking for a quicker read that provides some impactful lessons (especially if you’re a white woman), I definitely encourage you to pick this up!

ICE PLANET HOLIDAY by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: All this snow and no holidays? What’s a stranded human to do? Create a new holiday of course. Georgie and the other women decide to bring some new traditions and cheer to the sa-khui. More babies are born, presents are exchanged, and a new romance blossoms between a human woman desperate for a change, and the alien determined to protect her.

My Thoughts: I believe this book is technically a novella to the series, but I’d have to say it was my least favorite thus far. It splits the focus between Gerogie’s pregnancy and Claire’s love story. The pregnancy storyline was just alright. We haven’t seen a lot of Georgie since she was the MC in the first book. Basically, women on the ice planet can have a gestation period anywhere between 1-3 years (yikes), and a lot of Georgie’s friends already popped out their kits (aka kiddos), so getting her perspective on all of it was interesting since she was one of the first ladies pregnant. Claire’s storyline was a little intense as she tries separating herself from a very possessive f-buddy who is borderline problematic. So, the shy guy, Everen, swooping in to help defend her was very sweet. Other than that, not a lot happens that I can remember tbh. You honestly could probably skip this book in the series if you wanted to.

BARBARIAN’S PRIZE by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: It’s hard being the most popular girl on the ice planet. The alien men are falling all over themselves to impress Tiffany in hopes that she will take them to her furs. But they don’t know her secrets - none of them do. And they don’t realize behind her smile, she just wishes all of them would go away. She doesn’t want any of them. She wants someone else. He’s the only one that knows the truth, and maybe with him, she can work through her fears of the past. But, she’s pretty sure he wants more than just a friendship. He wants forever, and Tiffany isn’t sure she can give it.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I loved that the author took a different approach to this book with a friends-to-lovers trope. That aspect softened part of the storyline that dealt with (trigger warning) sexual assault, and how the main characters approached their relationship. Watching Salukh be so incredibly patient with a really delicate situation, and Tiffany allowing herself to be vulnerable with him was sincerely heartwarming. There were still some spicy moments throughout this book as well, do not worry there lol. I also appreciated that we got to see more of a side character, Josie, who up until this point, has been described as a loud and obnoxious girl. However, she’s Tiffany’s best friend and seeing how protective they are and how much they care about each other made me like Josie a lot more. Overall, I really liked the sixth installment of this series!

2021 Book Count: 76

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YOUR TURN! Let me know in the comments what books you’re planning to read during spooky szn.

August 2021 Reads

August 31, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

My goodness the summer is just flying by, and the month of August was a busy one!

I went to a wedding, went camping, got to stick my feet in Lake Michigan for the first time in two years :’), attended a Detroit Tigers game, started dating again, unpacked some dating related baggage in therapy that I didn’t realize I’ve been holding onto for about 10 years, damn near melted from the heat and humidity, and more! :D

Along with all the things I did in that list, I also ended up reading a lot more books than I expected to. So, let’s get into it!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: The first rule of book club: You don’t talk about book club. Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him. Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency title Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

My Thoughts: Y’all. This was such a cute book. The premise was so unique, and I loved how the author basically created this hypothetical rom-com around what would happen if men started taking notes from the “book boyfriends” we bookworms tend to swoon over lol. This page turner was repeatedly entertaining, a little steamy, and a really heartwarming experience depicting the reality of how much work a marriage takes. The pacing was phenomenal, and every scene served a purpose to move the plot along, but the ending was pretty predictable. Although I didn’t absolutely love either main character, I adored the connection they shared and it was hard not to root for both of them. The one aspect of this story that really stood out to me and I appreciated was all of the call-outs about toxic-masculinity and its effect on how men communicate - because that shit is real. So, yeah. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light and a little different!

WE HUNT THE FLAME by Hafsah Faizal

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Zafira is the Hunter, discussing herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Price of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya, but neither of them wants to be. War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasier is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds - the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

My Thoughts: I’ve seen a lot of hype for this book, and I know there are people who absolutely adore it, so I was excited to finally get my hands on it. As I’ve said before, I’m a character-driven reader, and there were a few characters who I fell in love with for sure like the charming Altair. I also liked how each character on this journey served a different purpose through their personalities. So, the character element passed the vibe check. However, the world building was a little spotty for me. In some parts, the author provides vivid visual descriptors to really set the scene for you, but in other parts, it was like they jumped to a completely new surrounding out of nowhere. It just made following the journey a little harder. The plotline wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but I still enjoyed the premise of all these people, who in any other circumstance would be enemies, come to be a little rag-tag team of what you might call friends. The number of Arabic and Muslim words the author sprinkled throughout the book was a really cool aspect because I love learning about other cultures and religions that way, and it made the experience more immersive. That said, I do wish there had been more context clues provided around the words because I found myself multiple times within a 3-5 page span putting the book down to Google a word to make sure I was picturing everything correctly in my head - which made the reading experience very stop-and-go. The ending/climax of the book felt a little rushed, but overall, I enjoyed it. If you’ve had this book on your TBR list, then definitely read it! It’s probably best for someone who isn’t ready for thick-plotted fantasy, but wants to dip a toe in that pool. :)

THE SIMPLE WILD by K.A. Tucker

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: Calla Fletcher wasn’t even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at 26, a busy Toronto life is all she knows. But when Calla learns that Wren’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born. She braves the roaming wildlife - even the occasional outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this rugged environment, Jonah - the unkempt, obnoxious Alaskan pilot who helps keep her father’s charter plane company operational - can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced she’s too pampered to handle the wild. Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. Soon, she finds herself forming an unexpected bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by a friendship - or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried - and failed at - years ago. It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.

My Thoughts: I had a really hard time rating this book because I really enjoyed it but wouldn’t call it a 4-star necessarily, however, it’s definitely better than a 3.5-star. So, I rounded up to 3.8 lol. First I want to say, the main character, Calla, is not my favorite main character ever, but she’s the perfect main character for this book. She was actually kind of annoying tbh, but you can tell the author is making her that way for the purpose of the story, so it didn’t take away from the book’s experience. I appreciated getting a glimpse as to who Calla was in Toronto before she met her love interest in Alaska because it made the enemies to lovers trope storyline so much stronger. It also helped with understanding the dynamics of the relationship she has with her dad, Wren - which was an incredibly emotional part of the plot. The vivid imagery used to describe the rustic wilderness and plane rides was hella nice because it really pulls you into Calla’s shoes and puts the stark contrast between bustling Toronto and remote Alaska into perspective. The ending, although partly predictable, was also very satisfying, and sold me on wanting to read the next book in this series, Wild at Heart. Overall, I think this is a good book if you’re looking for a romance novel that has all the things - love, steam, banter, heartbreak, adventure, and hot Alaska Bushman/lumbersexual energy.

DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING by Tricia Levenseller

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map - the key to a legendary treasure trove - seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for a ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

My Thoughts: Picture your quintessential YA fantasy where the basic premise is about a Pirate King’s daughter carrying out a dire mission to steal a super secret treasure map for her dad - that is this book lol. It was definitely an enjoyable little jaunt through this sea-based adventure and I really did love the main characters, Alosa and Riden. Both balanced each other out really well and the PG-13 romance aspect was cute to say the least. I think my favorite part about this book is the strong female storyline involving the sirens and all-women pirate crews. Though this wasn’t the most groundbreaking fantasy I’ve ever read, it definitely kept me invested and the pages effortlessly turning. So, if you’re looking for an easy fantasy to escape into for a few hours, I would definitely recommend giving this a try! Especially if you’re someone who read/enjoyed the Fable duology and are looking for something mildly similar.

UNDERCOVER BROMANCE by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction. Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a pastry chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef. Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub owner offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. Cue reinforcements from the Bromance Book Club. Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart - even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

Summary: This sequel did not disappoint, y’all! It was different enough from the first book that I never felt like I was rereading The Bromance Book Club, but similar enough premise-wise that I understood what was happening immediately. This book also follows two side characters from the first book, Mack and Liv, which I really liked because the author gave you a little taste of their personalities in the previous book, so transitioning into this new storyline was seamless. In a well-delivered enemies-to-lovers trope, we were given quality witty banter, loads of sexual tension, raw emotional moments, and cheesy scenes that make you hate that you’re loving them so much. One of my favorite things about this book was how committed the Bromance Book Club is to solving issues as a team (cue High School Musical “We’re All in this Together”) because it’s a bunch of these very powerful men being insanely vulnerable to help one another. :’) If you enjoyed the first book in this series, then I say power ahead to the second because I thoroughly enjoyed it. This storyline did touch on some topics that could be triggers for some people, so please be advised. TW: sexual harassment and assault, victim blaming, gaslighting, domestic abuse.

MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over - especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva. By midnight, the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped the family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface. Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them… and what they will leave behind.

My Thoughts: TJR does it again! Her writing style is just phenomenal to say the least and it immediately sucks you into the story. Although there are multiple characters included in this book and it jumps between the past and the present, I never felt confused or overwhelmed. Every character we met truly served an individual purpose, and it was incredibly easy to connect with all of them. Specifically, the siblings - Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit. The loyalty and adoration they had for one another ran deep, and caused me to have so much more empathy for each of their stories. All of the vivid imagery used throughout the book made every element of the Malibu setting come to life and made it feel like I was standing on a sandy beach, floating in the ocean, and walking through the party of the year. Highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something that has layers and is sure to keep you invested!

WILD AT HEART by K.A. Tucker

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: Calla Fletcher returns to Toronto a different person, struggling to find direction and still very much in love with the rugged bush pilot she left behind. When Jonah arrives on her doorstep with a proposition she can’t dismiss, she takes the leap and rushes back to Alaska to begin their exciting future together. But Calla soon learns that even the best intentions can lead to broken promises, and that compromise comes with a hefty price. With Jonah gone more than he’s home, one neighbor who insists on transforming her into a true Alaskan, and another who seems more likely to shoot her than come to her aid, Calla grapples with forging her own path. This is not the future she had in mind, leaving her to fear that perhaps she is doomed to follow in her mother’s fleeing footsteps after all.

My Thoughts: Okay, so this book wasn’t super eventful by any means, but it had a pretty steady rhythm the entire time, and I could jive with that. Basically, this sequel to The Simple Wild was mainly focused on Calla’s character development as she navigates her new life in rural Alaska. As I’ve said before (I feel like I’m a broken record with this), I’m a character-driven reader, and I found her character to be kind of annoying in the first book. So, the multiple challenges she faces in this book force her to really reflect on who she is and what makes her happy. Watching Calla go through everything to find that much-needed growth was extremely satisfying because although she can be annoying, it’s so hard not to root for her. Though we still see a lot of her relationship with Jonah, this storyline isn’t really focused on them alone. We definitely get a handful of really freaking cute moments between the two to pacify anyone’s need for more scenes between Calla and her bush pilot. Not to mention, the helpless romantic in me absolutely swooned over how quickly they fell in love and how much they adore each other unapologetically. Fictional guys, amiright? :) The ending felt a little rushed, but it definitely made me ready to pick up the third book in this series!

CRAZY STUPID BROMANCE by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Alexis Carlile and her cat cafe, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a survivor of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts - her best friend, Noah Logan. Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert, and now only uses his skills for the right cause. He’s also got a secret: he’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush. Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend, but he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

My Thoughts: Yes, I am on a Bromance Book Club series binge everyone. So, sue me. This third book follows two characters that were introduced mainly in Undercover Bromance, Noah and Alexis. I loved that the author took a different approach with a friends-to-lovers trope to switch it up a little. It made rooting for both characters even easier because you could see the foundational affection they had for each other right from the start. Plus, they were both the right amount of quirky whilst unpacking some emotional family-related baggage from their past, so truly, they were a great match lol. There was, of course, a lot of romance included in the storyline - both cute and spicy. Steamier parts were kind of clumped together in the middle of the book, however, which left me wanting a more even spread of it as I continued through the last third. Though anti-misogyny, women-empowerment messaging was still included in the storyline, it felt a little more forced in some parts which made the dialogue seem a little cheesier than usual. Overall, this book got me in my feels for sure and left us on a cliffhanger at the end. So, needless to say, I will be picking up the fourth book in this series very soon. :)

DAUGHTER OF THE SIREN QUEEN by Tricia Levenseller

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Alosa’s mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he’s under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father’s justice. When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first… after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

My Thoughts: This book was such a cute follow-up to Daughter of the Pirate King! Though I wouldn’t say it’s as action-packed as I thought it would be, it was definitely a fast-paced and easy read. We got to see a lot of character development with Alosa and Riden that added a few new dimensions to their relationship. I also enjoyed getting more background story and page time of all the side characters who added an array of personalities to this mostly women pirate crew. I appreciated that the author spent more time giving you insight into the Siren-side of this plot. You only get a little taste of them in the first book, but this one really gives you the whole meal. The storyline picked up right where it left off from the first book which made diving into this sea-based adventure incredibly seamless. If you read and liked Daughter of the Pirate King then I definitely say continue onto this one!

TALKING AS FAST AS I CAN by Lauren Graham

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: In this collection of personal essays, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood reveals stories about life, love, and working as a woman in Hollywood- along with behind-the-scenes dispatches from the set of the new Gilmore Girls where she plays the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore once again.

My Thoughts: I’ve been wanting to read this book of essays for a while - especially since I’ve watched the entire OG Gilmore Girls series all the way through probably three times in the last 3ish years - and Lauren Graham gave us a quality recap of her life and career. Her style of writing is so unapologetically conversational which made her personality really come through the pages. It felt like I was grabbing coffee with her as she reminisced. Though she touched on a lot of different topics, she never really went very far in depth on anything which I think is what was missing for me. There were even some paragraphs I skipped through because they didn’t feel essential to what she was talking about. My favorite parts were definitely her time at the Barn Theatre (because shout out to that little theatre in Augusta, MI - still out there doing its thang), and the journal entries she included from when they were shooting the Netflix reboot (I got goosebumps multiple times in that section). Anyway, I think that if you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, Parenthood or just a fan of LG, you’d probably enjoy this book overall (maybe try the audio book version tho?). If you’re not, then I wouldn’t really recommend it.

2021 Book Count: 65!

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YOUR TURN! Let me know in the comments what your ideal environment is for reading.

July 2021 Reads

August 02, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

My, oh my, July was a lengthy month.

Although I read about the same number of books I usually read in a month, I have to admit, my reading slowed down substantially after I finally hooked up my Roku lol. Ya girl had some Marvel shows to catch up on, so a couple of weekends were spent bingeing said shows instead of reading. In addition to, of course, all of the weekly tv shows that started in July - Big Brother and Love Island - that I had to prioritize before they were no longer free on On-Demand lol.

Time well spent to say the least. :)

Anywho, let’s jump into what I read in July!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Poppy and Alex have nothing in common. She’s a wild child with an insatiable wanderlust; he wears khakis and prefers to stay home with a book. And, somehow, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year, they live in different states, but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together. Until 2 years ago when they ruined everything and haven’t spoken since. Poppy has everything she should want, but is stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together. Miraculously, he agrees. Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts: This book was an absolute delight and the perfect summer read. I adored Poppy and Alex. All of the personality traits that made these characters different on an individual level, also made them shine so freaking bright when they were together. Their quick, witty banter was TRULY aspirational, and the pure admiration they had for each other was genuinely heartwarming to say the least. Not to mention, living vicariously through them on each of the summer trips to the coolest destinations was so fulfilling for the travel bug in me. Poppy’s premise of not knowing what really fulfills her anymore after she achieves everything she thought would make her happy was also incredibly relatable. Especially after quarantine forcing us to slow down and re-evaluate our lives, I find myself wondering quite frequently what is it that makes me most happy, yanno? The author made it so easy for me to understand what she was going through on a mental and emotional level. This book was the perfect mix of laugh out loud moments, gut wrenching interactions, and some spicy lil scenes - it was honestly just impossible to put down. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a summery contemporary romance!

A SKY BEYOND THE STORM by Sabaa Tahir

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning. At his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list is The Blood Shrike and her remaining family. Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory or an unimaginable doom. And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life and love he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save or destroy all that he knows.

My Thoughts: I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING. Bleeding Skies! Though I know this isn’t the perfect book for everyone, I feel like it was the perfect ending to this beautiful series. There is a lot of anguish, grief, and sorrow throughout, but it’s not without love, joy, and an undying trust to match. For starters, we finally get the origin stories of a few characters who, up until this point, have basically been enigmas to everyone else. It was really satisfying getting a better understanding of why some characters are the way that they are, yanno? Similar to the last book, A LOT happens in this one. We are NEVER short of any action scenes, and the amount of emotional hits I took to the heart cage in my chest was unreal. With this book covering the finale of everything we’ve worked up to in this series, I really admired that the author did not cater to the readership by keeping some favorite characters alive. Cue my waterworks. However, on the other side of that coin, I’m glad she continued to include characters from the last three books to not only pay them respect, but also help show how all of this came full circle. There was a SMALL disconnect for me related to the magic of everything, but I really can’t get into too much detail in this review without giving things away. That said, all I have to say is I really love this series, and highly recommend it.

THE UNHONEYMOONERS by Christina Lauren

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Olive is always unlucky. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world, and has managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests. Worst of all though, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man. She braces herself to get through wedding hell, but when the entire wedding party gets sick from food poisoning, the only two people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs. Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head to paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of lucky.

My Thoughts: I had heard great things about this book, and every other Christina Lauren novel I’ve read, I’ve absolutely loved. This one, although I enjoyed it for sure, didn’t necessarily wow me. I thought the setting of a Maui vacation was awesome and extremely easy to dive into for a book escape. Olive and Ethan were great main characters, their banter alone had me grinning throughout, and the endless swoony micro-moments made it easy to ship them. That said, the pacing was a little unsatisfactory in that you saw the transition from enemies-to-lovers, but it takes a while for anything to truly transpire between them. When they return from vacation in the last chunk of the book, it kind of hits an odd wall. It felt like I had been floating on a rom-com cloud while they were in Hawaii, and then once they returned home, the cloud dissipated and left me stumbling to find my footing again. It just took me from this light and fluffy experience to hard and fast drama that felt a little rushed. There was also some manufactured snarkiness that didn’t always seem necessary or appropriate for the moment. All of my critiques aside, page turning was effortless and the epilogue made it all worth it. Like I said, I absolutely adore Christina Lauren and highly recommend you give them a try if you haven’t yet! However, this was not the dynamic-duo’s best novel.

BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of teenage boys. Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made, and they travel through Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected. Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain.

My Thoughts: Whew this book was a doooozy. I’m not really sure where to start with this review because there’s so much to unpack here. This was my first Fredrik Backman book, and as a character-driven reader, I loved this style of writing. It made the many layers of this story even more complex because it gave insight into how everyone is connected in this diehard hockey town. The number of emotions that swirled through me while I experienced this community in turmoil was absolutely unreal. I’m not a crier and found myself in full blown sleeve-to-cheek-wiping tears multiple times. That said, there were also moments that made me smile, fist pump in triumph, and melt with the amount of love I felt radiating from these pages. I have to say, this is a pretty heavy book and I don’t think I’d be able to read it if I wasn’t in a good headspace. However, if you’re ready to be emotionally wrecked by a book and are confident you can handle the subject matter, then this is for you because although it made me question why I was still putting myself through its emotional wringer, I really did love the book overall. Which leads me to the last part of this review that I did not have the courtesy of knowing before going into this book. Content/Trigger Warnings: rape, rape culture, victim blaming, suicidal thoughts, violence, body dismorphia, child mortality, guns, and homophobia.

BEACH READ by Emily Henry

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire case. The only thing these authors have in common is for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke and bogged down with writer’s block. Until one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult. Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

My Thoughts: What a freaking delight! Not only does the book take place along Lake Michigan (fictional city, but still the Mitten), but the characters, pacing, and overall premise of the story were satisfactory across the board for me. After having read a few romance novels recently, I have to say, one of my favorite parts about this book was that the main characters, January and Gus, actually communicated pretty solidly. Meaning there weren’t any last-minute misunderstandings that caused unexpected fights. I would say 80% of the time, they talked it out right then and there, and that was very refreshing as a reader. It was also really cool getting insight into the process of writing and publishing a book. Obviously, what was explained via the characters was probably extremely abbreviated, but I have to assume it was at least accurate. Aside from enjoying the characters, the overall plot line was so fulfilling - there were several steamy scenes, the right amount of emotional moments, and a fair share of witty banter. This book definitely had a different type of substance to it that I haven’t experienced with other romance novels and I highly recommend it!

CITY OF GIRLS by Elizabeth Gilbert

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: In 1940, 19-year-old Vivan Morris has just been kicked out of Vassar College. Her affluent parents send her to Manhattan to live with her Aunt Peg, who owns a flamboyant, crumbling midtown theater called the Lily Playhouse. There Vivian is introduced to an entire cosmos of unconvention and charismatic characters. But when she makes a personal mistake that results in a professional scandal, it turns her new work upside down in ways that it will take her years to fully understand. Ultimately though, it leads her to a new understanding of the kind of life she craves - and the kind of freedom it takes to pursue it. It will also lead to the love of her life, a love that stands out from all the rest. Now 95-years-old and telling her story at last, Vivan recalls how the events of those years altered the course of her life - and the gusto autonomy with which she approached it.

My Thoughts: The way I recently described to a friend how this book left me feeling was, “Reflecting back on it, I’m so thankful to have had that literary escape experience.” For starters, the writing provides an immersive experience for the reader and made it feel like I was riding shotgun in Vivan’s life as she recalled her youth with all of its pleasures and regrets. Not to mention, I was obsessed with her as a main character both as a naive 20-year-old running rampant through 1940s New York, and as the delightfully quirky, elderly woman describing her experiences so unapologetically. Vivian Morris is a character that will stick with me for a while. Plus, I absolutely adored all of the supporting characters and how each one shaped and changed the course of her life. The premise of this book alone keeps you on your toes, including how it explores the topic of female sexuality and promiscuity. For a majority of the book, I assumed I knew where it was all heading, but the unexpected plot twist put me to shame. Honestly, there wasn’t one part of this book I didn’t enjoy, and I am marinating in the feeling it’s left me with. I can’t say this book is for everyone, but it was the perfect historical fiction for me personally. To finish this review, enjoy a few of my favorite quotes below :)

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.”
“Life is both dangerous and fleeting, and thus there is no point in denying yourself pleasure and adventure while you are here.”
“At some point in a woman’s life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time. After that, she is free to become whoever she truly is.”

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS by Chloe Gong

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: It’s 1926 in Shanghai, and a blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is 18-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang - a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love and first betrayal. But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing out their own throats, people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths pile up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns and grudges aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

My Thoughts: I was under the impression going into this book that it was a full-blown fantasy. What I quickly realized is that it’s more of a historical fiction retelling of Romeo and Juliet with some fantasy aspects sprinkled into it. It was a mindset adjustment to say the least. This book was a little lackluster for me. It was not a bad book by any means, but I honestly just don’t feel strongly either way about it. A couple of characters won my heart by the end - mostly side characters who made the experience much more enjoyable. The pacing of the story, though, felt kind of confusing because it was both fast and slow. Meaning, there’s a lot happening in each chapter action-wise (fast), but the time it takes for the protagonists to have a “rising action” epiphany (that I thought we had already like 130 pages ago) makes the book as a whole feel so slow. Like I don’t regret reading it, and I haven’t decided if I’m going to read the sequel or not, but this just won’t be my first historical fiction nor fantasy rec.

2021 Book Count: 55/55 - I should probably increase my goal lol.

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June 2021 Reads

July 01, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

Despite the extreme humidity, a full moon, and Mercury being in retrograde for a majority of it, June was a pretty okay month!

On a book-related note, I managed to finish a giant pile of library books I’d been working on since May which allowed me to tap into some of the books I own. Of course, that only lasted a moment because I’m an impulsive book requester at the local library and started accumulating a new small pile of library books that I have to work through again lol. But, the library is free and saves me money which prevents me from buying books I end up not liking. So, I’m calling it a win.

Anyway, enough rambling. Let’s jump into the books I read in June!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

RING SHOUT by P. Djeli Clark

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: D.W. Griffith is a sorcerer, and The Birth of a Nation is a spell that drew upon the darkest thoughts and wishes from the heart of America. Now, rising in power and prominence, the Klan has a plot to unleash Hell on Earth. Luckily, Maryse Boudreaux has a magic sword and a head full of tales. When she’s not running bootleg whiskey through Prohibition Georgia, she’s fighting monsters she calls “Ku Kluxes.” She’s damn good at it too, but to confront this ongoing evil, she must journey between worlds to face nightmares made of flesh - and her own demons. Together with a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter, Maryse sets out to save a world from the hate that would consume it.

My Thoughts: This was probably one of the best novellas I’ve ever read, hands down. Starting with how brilliantly the author included historical facts and events - such as the Tulsa Massacre and The Birth of a Nation inspiring the formation of the KKK - and blended them with the fantasy imagery to illustrate how strongly hate produces more hate and creates monsters out of people. Maryse, Sadie, and Chef were straight up bad asses, and I loved how the dynamics of their friendship mixed with each one’s character development. Though this experience was only 180 pages, it was action-packed, extremely well-paced, and I never felt like part of the story was missing. The gore, horror and overall symbolism included in this book to depict the ugliness that festers from racism was unapologetic and deeply felt. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a short, but impactful read.

THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim Michele Richardson

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In 1936, tucked deep into the woods of Troublesome Creek, KY, lives blue-skinned 19-year-old Cussy Carter, the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry. The lonely young Appalachian woman joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her faithful mule to deliver books and other reading materials to the impoverished hill people. Along her dangerous route, Cussy, known to the mountain folk as Bluet, confronts those suspicious of her damselfly-blue skin and the government’s new book program. She befriends hardscrabble and complex fellow Kentuckians, and is fiercely determined to bring comfort and joy, instill literacy, and give to those who have nothing, a bookly respite, a fleeting retreat to faraway lands.

My Thoughts: This book had a mildly slow start, but once it picked up about 30 pages in, I was invested. Cussy Mary is not your traditional protagonist. She isn’t overly defiant, she’s not outspoken, she doesn’t like creating waves with people who look down on her, and she doesn’t make any grand scenes. However, as the Pack Horse Librarian who delivers books to Eastern Kentucky people living in poverty, she is their heroine. Seeing Cussy through the eyes of her patrons makes you realize how brave, kind, and resilient she is as the main character. You will truly go through a slew of emotions following the highs and lows of “Book Woman’s” experiences. Also, I really thought the concept of Cussy’s blue-skin heritage was the fictional part of this historical fiction novel. However, after Googling it, there was indeed a lineage of blue-skinned people with a gene deficiency who settled in Kentucky in the early 1900s - which made this narrative even more interesting and impactful. This was a really lovely book that reminds us how important it is to be kind to others and the value of books in general. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a well thought out and researched historical fiction book!

Sidenote: I read The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes last year - which is also about the Pack Horse Library project in Kentucky - and though some people feel these books are the same, there are significant differences between them. So, in case you’re trying to decide whether to read one or the other, my recommendation would be to read both because each book is special in its own right. This one felt a little more researched and historically accurate tho.

A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT by Sabaa Tahir

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire. Laia is determined to break into Kauf - the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison - to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom. But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against them. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies. Bound to the Emperor Marcus’s will, Blood Shrike Helene faces a torturous mission of her own - one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturious and the Scholar slave who helped him escape and kill them both.

My Thoughts: What a WILD ride this book was. It had my heart pounding, mind racing, and the pages quickly turning. The author made a seamless transition from the first book (An Ember in the Ashes) into this one and the plot never skipped a beat - which was so satisfying because I fell right back into where I left off at an extremely steady rhythm. There were plenty of action-packed events, strategic scheming from all parties, and just a sprinkle of intimate emotional moments guaranteed to mess up your head and heart. Laia’s character development was a lot more satisfying this time around as we watched her shed some innocence and naivety that was a disadvantage in the first book. Elias’s story went nowhere I expected it to go lol, but I still love him as a main character. Helene’s POV surprised me the most in that I wasn’t expecting to be so invested. She goes through hell and back MULTIPLE times, and has to make the most difficult decisions out of any other character while battling her internal conflicts. I literally do not have one bad thing to say about this book and am here to admit that I’m whole-heartedly obsessed with this series- like please read it so I have someone else to talk about it with lol. :’)

BETTER THAN THE MOVIES by Lynn Painter

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Liz Buxbaum has always known that Wes Bennett was not boyfriend material. You would think that her nextdoor neighbor would be a prince candidate for her romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only proven himself to be a pain in the butt, ever since they were little. Flash forward 10 years, and it’s Liz’s senior year - a time meant to be rife with milestones perfect for any big screen, and she needs Wes’s help. See, Liz’s forever crush, Michael, has just moved back to town, and - horribly annoyingly - he’s hitting it off with Wes. Meaning that if Liz wants Michael to finally notice her, and hopefully be her prom date, she needs Wes. He’s her in. But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she actually likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must re-examine everything she thought she knew about love - and rethink her own perception of what Happily Ever After should really look like.

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. This was everything I could’ve asked for in a rom-com-themed, enemies-to-lovers-trope YA romance novel. It was adorable and mischievous, the pop culture references were on point, and the main characters played off of each other perfectly with clever banter. Wes was my favorite - like ya girl was smitten with this thoughtful lad. If this book had existed while I was in high school, Wes FOR SURE would have set the bar for my expectations - I mean, I’m 27 and would love a guy as genuinely caring as Wes lol. Liz’s character had me banging my head against a wall a few times, but she was likeable and quirky enough that I couldn’t not root for her. Let me just say, was this an incredibly predictable plotline? Heck yes. Did I expect it to be predictable? Of course! However, I think that allowed me to enjoy the experiences of Wes and Liz so much more. It gave me all the swoony feels and laugh out loud moments without playing with my heart or leading me astray. Honestly, if you love rom-com movies or love some cheesy stories about love, I highly recommend this book!

ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now because anonymous texter, Ace, is bringing two students’ dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can’t escape the spotlight when his own photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn’t afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they’re playing much more than a high school game.

My Thoughts: Before buying this book, I saw it was described as “Get Out meets Gossip Girl, but make it Black and queer,” and, by golly, is that accurate. This whole experience was just a WILD ride and had me saying “holy shit” out loud multiple times. It was dark, thrilling, and impossible to put down. The author did an incredible job of creating a twisted story that addresses the ugliness of timely issues including institutionalized racism, socioeconomic inequities, white-washed education system, and more. I liked that the book was in a point of view format, so that you got to see how Aces was affecting both Chiamaka and Devon on a personal level. The writing made it easy for me to vicariously feel the anxiety they were having in relation to the paranoia of not knowing who to trust, when Aces was going to strike next, and whether their lives were in physical danger. It was suspense city the entire time, and although the ending felt mildly rushed, this book was truly an experience I definitely recommend ya try.

ONE LAST STOP by Casey McQuiston

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: For cynical 23-year-old August, moving to NYC is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then there’s this gorgeous girl on the train - Jane. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things after all.

My Thoughts: This book has been getting hella hype and was definitely a “bookstagram made me buy it” purchase. I also read McQuiston’s Red, White, & Royal Blue a couple of years ago and enjoyed it, so I was excited to dive into this one. For starters, the writing in this sci-fi love story has a whimsically poetic quality to it that makes the whole “falling in love slowly, then all at once” experience feel like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket. The connection between the main characters, August and Jane, was undeniable and felt at the core of every new interaction they shared on the subway. I absolutely ADORED the secondary/supporting characters and this book would not be the same without them. Specifically, Myla, Niko and Wes - August’s roommates. Their personalities added such depth and kept the pace moving forward. Though there are only 422 pages to this novel, A LOT happens - which is both a pro and con for me. At one point about halfway through, the pace slowed down significantly, and I was like “Okay, this honestly probably could’ve been over by now.” However, I pushed myself to keep going, and it picked up again shortly after. This was a unique book to say the least and if you’re looking for an unconventional romance story, I recommend picking this one up for sure.

A REAPER AT THE GATES by Sabaa Tahir

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is desperate to protect her sister’s life and the lives of everyone in the Empire. Yet danger lurks on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable and violent, while Keris Veturia, the ruthless Commandant, capitalizes on the Emperor’s volatility to grow her own power - regardless of the damage she leaves in her path. Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows that the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. During the hunt to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would help her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight. And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. However, in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that demands his complete surrender - even if that means abandoning the woman he loves.

My Thoughts: Well hot dang. I thought the second book in this series was eventful (see: A Torch Against the Night), but this one moved QUICKLY. From the moment you crack this book open until you hit the “Acknowledgements” page, there is so much to sort through. Dare I say, almost too much? Each character is caught up in their own sticky situation and though some of those journeys overlap, most are experienced by the individual - which means you gotta pay attention or else you’re going to miss something. Basically, everyone is fighting their own battles, but each of those battles is leading to an inevitable giant war between the mortal and immortal worlds. Because there’s so much going on, I felt like the character development wasn’t AS clear in this book as it has been in the past two. The only person you can clearly feel is going through some shit at a core level is Elias. His story has taken a TURN and requires this extremely empathetic character to give up the things that make him human (love, kindness, etc.) to fully take on his new role - which throws him into a TIZZY. Helene’s and Laia’s paths end up crossing a bit more than I was anticipating, but I loved the strong, woman-leader camaraderie. Obviously, I’m going to continue onto the fourth book of this series because I love it, but the amount of information and number of events that were packed into this one was mildly overwhelming, so make sure you’re paying pretty close attention to it. (Hence 4 stars instead of 5.)

LAST CHANCE BOOKS by Kelsey Rodkey

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Madeline Moore feels most like herself inside the musty bookstore, Books & Moore, that her family has owned for generations, and nothing is going to stop her from coming back after college to take over the store from her beloved aunt. That is, until a chain bookstore called Prologue opens across the street and threatens to shut them down. Madeline sets out to demolish the competition, but Jasper, the guy who works at Prologue, seems intent on ruining her life. Not only is he taking her customers, he has the audacity to be extremely cute as well. But that doesn’t matter because Jasper is the enemy and he will be destroyed. All’s fair in love and (book) wars.

My Thoughts: Ugh I wanted to like this book so much, but it just didn’t do it for me. The main character, Madeline, was really hard for me to like. She’s 18 years-old, but acted more immature than that. She’s incredibly impulsive and blinded by her own paranoid narrative that Prologue is out to get Books & Moore, that she’s just constantly plotting with no regard to how it will affect those around her - like someone got hit by a car as a side effect of her shenanigans. I found myself extremely frustrated with her for a good chunk of the book - especially, how unaware she was that Jasper had a crush on her. Like, girl?? He LITERALLY said, “Madeline, I like you.” And, she STILL thought it was a ploy to take down her store…..?????? Jasper’s character wasn’t annoying by any means, but there wasn’t a lot of depth to his personality. The storyline was a really cute concept, the pace was pretty decent and never hit a slow spot, and the small wins that happened throughout the book were enough to keep me reading. However, I know there are better YA romance books out there, so this wouldn’t be my first recommendation in that category by any means.

2021 Book Count: 48 down, 7 to go.

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May 2021 Reads

May 31, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

You know what? May is a really long month. Like a lot of stuff happened recently, and in my head, I’m like, “oh yeah, that definitely happened in April, right?”

Nope. It was May.

It also starts during Taurus season and ends in Gemini season. So, that in itself is a wild transition to go through in the span of just one month.

Anyway, I read a bunch in the last 31 days and wrote out all of my thoughts for you to consider before picking up any of the said books.

I’m TRYING to keep my reviews shorter, but if you’ve ever heard me try to tell a “quick” story in-person then you know how hard this is for me. :’)

All righty, here we go!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

START WITH WHY by Simon Sinek

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary: In studying the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered that they all think, act, and communicate in the exact same way - and it’s the complete opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.

My Thoughts: I had to read this book for work, and I have to preface this review by saying, I’m not a non-fiction type of gal. I’ve seen Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle TED Talk more times than I can count, and is it a solid presentation? Yeah, for sure. Is there enough material there to extend it into a book? Absolutely not. Though there were a few key points I took from the book, this honestly could have been 100 pages shorter. It was extremely repetitive, pretty dry, and hard for me to get through because it honestly just didn’t keep my interest. I’m sure if you’re the “read to learn” type of person who usually enjoys books like this, then you’d appreciate it. I’m just not that person and that is WHY this book was not my jam lol.

NAMESAKE by Adrienne Young

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and the rest of the crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when Fable becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination, she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems. As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception, she learns that the secrets her mother took to her grave are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them, then she must risk everything - including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.

My Thoughts: Similar to the first book in this duology, Namesake uses incredible imagery that amplifies and illustrates this sun-kissed, sea-misted world perfectly. It gave us all the bright and colorful descriptions we know and love, so that it feels like you’re on the ship with the crew or walking through a gem encrusted palace. A lot more tea was spilled in this book - figuratively and literally. In Fable, the author provided a small glimpse into each of the characters’ origin stories, but Namesake truly cracked open the family albums like embarrassing parents on a bad first date and allowed us to dive deep into each person’s history. I do wish the secondary characters such as Willa, Paj, Auster, etc. had gotten more page time because they provided a lot of depth to the story in Fable, but at least we saw a different side to Koy, who had previously left us with the impression that he was just a bloodthirsty jerk. My other critique is that this book wasn’t as eventful, and there were some scenes that felt as though something BIG was about to happen, and then they just fizzled out. West’s and Fable’s romance storyline was a lot more straightforward, which I appreciated, and though the ending felt kind of rushed, I was extremely pleased with it. Overall, I think if you enjoyed Fable, then you will appreciate Namesake!

JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING by Christina Lauren

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take - and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun. Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air. Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them, right?

My Thoughts: This was the cutest book I’ve read in a while and I was absolutely smitten. It was the perfect blend of mildly cheesy parts, borderline saccharine interactions, and comedic moments that had me grinning like a doofus. Starting with Hazel, her whimsical, free-flowing spirit was excessive, benevolent, and perfect. I absolutely loved her character and think we all need someone like this in our lives to remind us not to take anything too seriously and appreciate being authentically ourselves. Josh’s character was calm, grounded, warm, generous and the perfect balance to Hazel. I thoroughly adored and enjoyed watching them go from college acquaintances to mutual friends via Josh’s sister to best friends to something a little more. The entire experience of this book was incredibly heartwarming - especially being buckled into the ride that is Hazel and Josh learning they may not be the perfect fit for everybody, but they’re perfect for each other :’). Plus there were a couple of v hot scenes sprinkled throughout, so it’s not all just “cute” lol. If you’re looking for a quick, fun romance read, this would be my recommendation for sure!

TW: I do want to note a potential trigger warning of emotional abuse. It’s not talked about outright, but through the explanation about one of Hazel’s previous relationships, it’s clear that she was being manipulated.

AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Empire risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the impoverished backstreets and do not dare to challenge the Empire.

When Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, she is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier - and secretly, it’s most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize their destinies are intertwined - and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My Thoughts: This was so different from other books that I’ve read, and definitely kept me on my toes. It was the perfect mixture of action-packed battle scenes, thoughtful emotion-provoking events, and varying perspectives that make you continuously question where everyone’s motives lie. That said, this book is pretty dark and stress-invoking - especially, in relation to the military academy - depicted through blatant cruelty, violence, and brutality towards slaves/Scholars and defecting students. There were a few times I found myself wanting to “cover my eyes” like if I was watching a scary movie during a suspenseful scene lol. The main characters had a great connection and are easy to root for. However, I definitely liked Elias a little more than Laia. I understand Laia had to blindly put her trust in the Resistance to get her brother out of prison, but she made some decisions that put me ON EDGE a few times and she is literally the worst spy ever lol. Elias just had a really genuine innocence and benevolence about him. Even as he’s cutting people down with swords, his internal conflicts about it made him so much more human and warm than the character he’s supposed to be. If that makes sense? The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because it’s randomly revealed that a second-tier character has a magical power. But, like, that was it lol. The author didn’t unpack that any further. We don’t get to know why she has it or how she got it or if any of the other characters have similar gifts - the story just keeps on pushing after that quick plot detour. So, I’m hoping there’s more explanation and insight into that discovery in the next book because I’m definitely going to continue with this series!

Trigger warning: rape is mentioned a bit in this book.

REBECCA by Daphne Du Maurier

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady’s maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives - presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave.

My Thoughts: The last time I read a book in the classics genre, I was in high school. So, I wasn’t confident in how much I was going to like this one, but was pleasantly surprised! Though it took me about 30ish pages to get into, I was really impressed with the contemporary writing style. There was definitely still the essence of it being written in the 1930s and the dialogue was a little ridiculous - like I was literally lolling at how absurd some of it was - but, overall it was easy to read. Unaware of what this book was about going into it (lol), I was tempted to put it down a couple of times because I couldn’t figure out where it was going and felt like I was just wandering aimlessly around Manderley, but after the author threw in a couple of creepy scenes and unexpected plot twists, I was invested. I also found it extremely impressive that she never used the main character’s first name. All in all, I enjoyed this book and recommend it if you’ve been considering branching out from your usual genres and want to dabble in the classics.

LOVE FROM A to Z by S.K. Ali

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: When Zayneb gets suspended for confronting her Islamophobic teacher, and he starts investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar for an early spring break. She resolves to try out a “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.

Then her path crosses with Adam’s. Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the fall, Adam stopped going to classes with the intention of keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister and keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals until a marvel and an oddity occurs: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

My Thoughts: This was an absolutely lovely book and a much-needed narrative. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never read a book that centers around Muslim characters, and after reading other Goodreads reviews, I realize how few and far between books like this are. This book expanded my understanding of Islam in general, the microaggressions people of that religious community face every day, the significance of Hijabs, and more. It was cool to see that the main characters, Adam and Zayneb, had different levels of religious practice and backgrounds. Zayneb was raised in a Muslim family, she wears a hijab, attends prayer at the Mosque occasionally, and her parents are more relaxed when it comes to the traditional rules for their daughters to date. Whereas Adam converted to Islam when he was nine after his mother passed away, he practices the daily prayers and attends service at the Mosque every week, and his dad is also laid back when it comes to dating. The love story of this book was cute, but I wasn’t as fully connected to it as I was to the educational aspect of this narrative. In addition to the meet-cute romance and learning portion, the storyline involving Adam’s multiple sclerosis hit close to home as someone in my family has that disease and it can be very scary. There really wasn’t anything to dislike about this book, however, there were a couple of areas where the writing style felt mildly choppy or staccato (?), I guess, would be the best way to put it. Overall, I highly recommend this read to everyone. Periodt.

TW: Islamophobia, racist micro-aggressions, cultural appropriation, death of family members, and war/victims of war.

LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father - despite his hard-won citizenship - Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.

My Thoughts: This book was an absolute delight, and will definitely hit you in the heart and feels. This was ultimately a coming of age story about seventeen-year-old Lily Hu who is navigating her sexuality in 1950s San Francisco Chinatown. I loved how easy it was to connect with the main characters, Lily and Kath. They felt genuine and innocent at their core which made it extremely satisfying when their rebelliousness came out as they took risks to follow their hearts. The various glimpses into the past that we get from other characters’ perspectives throughout the book added the perfect amount of depth to understanding Lily’s family dynamics and melding together the overall story. The plot is pretty straightforward, but with so many different themes woven into this novel, it was hard to put down. Definitely recommend this book!

YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by Leah Johnson

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars

Summary: Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay - she’s got a plan to get out of Campbell, Indiana forever: attend Pennington College, play in their orchestra and become a doctor. When the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure the social media trolls and catty competitions, but despite her fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack, who is also running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams or make them come true?

My Thoughts: I recently realized there are a bunch of audiobooks available on Spotify and being a novice to them, I figured I’d give it a try. This was a very cute, “rooting for the underdog” type of story. Though the plot was pretty predictable, it was still enjoyable. Liz’s character development was probably my favorite thing about this book. At the start, she’s quiet, keeps to herself, and is struggling with anxiety. Over the course of the story, she becomes confident in who she is and isn’t afraid to take up space that originally wasn’t available to her in this podunk town. Plus, as she grows, so do the relationships with those around her. I absolutely loved watching Liz rediscover her friendship with Jordan (he is just the most genuine soul <3) and watching her fall in love with Amanda (who is definitely cooler than me). There are your fair share of awkward, teenage, cringe-worthy moments, but empathizing with secondhand embarrassment is good for the soul, right? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and all of the messages the author layered throughout. My only critique, and this is just because it’s my first audiobook experience, I don’t think I was as invested as I would’ve been had I been reading it. The narrator (Alaska Jackson) did a phenomenal job, but I wasn’t motivated to listen to this every time I put my earbuds in, yanno?

THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE by Nghi Vo

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: A young royal from the far north, In-yo, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. She has few resources, fewer friends and has to choose her allies carefully as she plans her enemies’ demise while in exile. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace to pay a debt, befriends the emperor’s lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for.

My Thoughts: “Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves. I am not worried for her in the least.” Can I get a “yussss”? This 120-page gem was the perfect mix of feminism and fantasy and we were here for it. We follow a non-binary cleric named Chi and their bird (it’s a hoopooe, but like Google that and it’s a bird) named Almost Brilliant (I’d be mildly offended, but like ok?) who are trying to learn as much as they can about the previous empress’s experience in exile from a former handmaiden, Rabbit. To keep it brief, the empress is a badass who shows her enemies what she’s made of, and the power she can muster in the middle of nowhere. This was a beautiful book about resilient and rebellious women, dripped in feminism and mythology, sprinkled with a cast of queer characters and topped off with a delightful storytelling experience. :) The only thing that threw me off was the riddle-ish writing. I got used to it, but it took a minute.

THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END by Adam Silvera

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: A little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today. Though they are complete strangers, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: there’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure - to live a lifetime in a single day.

My Thoughts: LOL. This book was different to say the least, and boy did it prove me wrong in my assumptions of where the plotline was leading. Though I didn’t connect to the characters until I was about 45% into the book, the premise of this story kept me interested enough to get me there. The main takeaways were perfectly illustrated through the character developments of Mateo and Rufus - i.e. living without fear or regret, letting go of what you can’t control, focusing on all the good around you, and finding the beauty in the unplanned or unexpected turns in life. The blooming friendship to romance between the two main characters was v cute and an endearing part of an otherwise mildly morbid novel. It was kind of slow at parts that made the experience mildly meh, but there also were some plot twists towards the end that I didn't see coming - specifically, how their last day ends lol. I didn’t get emotionally wrecked by this book (as I’ve seen many people say they were in other reviews), and if you’re not big on the writing format of constantly changing POVs, then this probs isn’t for you. Otherwise, I’d say it’s worth the read if it has piqued your interest.

THE INHERITANCE GAMES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rating: 5/5 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 a sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch - and his love of puzzles, riddles and codes. Unfortunately, the House is also occupied by the family that Tobias just dispossessed. Including the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation they would one day inherit billions. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

My Thoughts: The best way I can describe this book is that it’s like if Gossip Girl and Knives Out had a baby. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out the riddles and mysteries that are Avery’s connection to Tobias Hawthorne. Admittedly, I don’t read a ton of mystery novels, but there was not one moment while reading this book that I thought I had it all figured out. Avery, the main character, was a strong lead to this story, but I think the four Hawthorne grandsons are what made it interesting. Their personalities are so contrasting to one another, and the brotherly-love dynamics truly served us some dramatics to say the least. If you like the sound of “unsupervised rich kids solving a mega rich grandfather’s last twisted riddle” and are looking for a quick read, then I highly recommend this for you. :) The sequel doesn’t come out until September, but I am definitely planning to get my hands on it!

2021 Book Count: 40 down, 15 to go.

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already!

YOUR TURN! Let me know in the comments below what books you’re planning to read this summer. :)

April 2021 Reads

May 02, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

April was a weird month. One day it was the first week of April and the next, we’re sliding into May.

Hopefully, the one freak snowstorm we got was the last blip of surprise winter weather we’ll see this spring.

In other news, I got a new couch at the beginning of April and it has completely transformed my space. It’s also a PRIME spot to cozy up with a book - which I clearly took advantage of by reading nine books this month. :)

So let’s get to it!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might marry one day. What she doesn’t know is that Nick’s family home happens to look like a palace, that she’ll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back.

Crazy Rich Asians is an insider’s look at Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.

My Thoughts: I saw the Crazy Rich Asians movie in 2018 and remember walking out of the theater thoroughly satisfied, but I also must admit that it has been a few years since I’ve seen it and honestly can only recall bits and pieces of it. So, though I saw the movie before reading the book, it didn’t skew my opinion. This book was a WILD ride across the board. For starters, I truly enjoyed learning more about the Singapore and Chinese lifestyles, values, traditions, and more via all of the cultural references the author includes throughout the chapters. It was interesting to see how, although most families living in Singapore originated in China, there are specific differences that separate the countries. For example the language dialects - Hokkien, Mandarian, and Cantonese. As for the actual story, I thought it was incredible how many characters were included in this narrative, and each of the main characters had a distinct personality that added to the experience. I did feel like this also made the book a little difficult to put down and pick up because if it was a secondary character’s POV all of a sudden, I had to keep going back to the family tree diagram provided in the front of the book to remember who this specific person was and how he or she contributed to the overall story. Similarly, the author made it easy for me to develop closer relationships with the main characters, but everyone else I was kind of indifferent towards - except Peik Lin, Rachel Chu’s best friend. She’s the best lol. Overall, this was a great book and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something with a lot of layers to it.

RIOT BABY by Tochi Onyebuchi

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: Ella and Kev are brother and sister, both gifted with extraordinary power. Their childhoods are defined and destroyed by structural racism and brutality. Their futures might alter the world. When Kev is incarcerated for the crime of being a young Black man in America, Ella - through visits both mundane and supernatural - tries to show him the way to a revolution that could burn it all down.

My Thoughts: This was a really thought provoking novella depicting not only the structural racism in America but also the detrimental effects on people’s lives who experience police brutality. The book primarily follows Kev who was born during the 1992 Los Angeles riots after the police officers who savagely beat Rodney King were acquitted. Starting from his childhood through his adult years - which are primarily spent in prison - Kev’s story takes place in the present to show that his life and the way it panned out was basically planned before he was even born. Alongside Kev’s story, we get glimpses from his older sister, Ella’s, perspective as she learns to control her supernatural powers in the past and future. Their sibling bond is really strong which was an endearing part of this otherwise heart squeezing narrative. I liked that this was a true blend of sci-fi and fantasy portrayed in everything from Ella’s powers to government drones surveying cities in the future, and how powerfully the author illustrated his message about police brutality. Overall, this book packs a powerful punch in just 176 pages if you’re looking for a quick, meaningful read.

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Zelie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orisha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Riders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zelie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zelie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zelie must outwit and outrun the crown price, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orisha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zelie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

My Thoughts: This was definitely a Bookstagram-influenced borrow from the library, and thankfully, it didn’t fall short of its hype! Children of Blood and Bone takes you on a v eventful trek to save magic from a tyrant king whose life mission is to rid the world of magic forever. In an early twist, the person who ignites the journey to save magic is the princess. The world building was phenomenal in this action-packed African folklore-inspired fantasy and really helped with the imagery. The main characters - Zelie, Amari, Tzain, and Inan - were rich in their own personalities and complemented each other so well - even during the character development. My only critique is that it was a pretty predictable storyline that’s accompanied by its enemies to lovers trope. It wasn’t hard to see which characters were going to develop a flame as well as how the book was going to pan out. There was a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming, but it was unclear if it was meant to be a cliffhanger or not. This was a great read if you’re looking for some adventure!

THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER by Emily X.R. Pan

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: when her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird. When she travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life.

Alternating between real and magic, present and past, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love.

My Thoughts: This was a beautiful book that will grab your heart, squeeze all the feels out of it and then put it back full again. At first, it kind of reminded me of I’ll Give You the Sun in the way the author uses art (in this case, a variety of colors) to help express the main character, Leigh’s, emotions. After her mom commits suicide though, the use of colors to express her emotions becomes a little lost because she falls into a dark place. What I really appreciated about this book is how the author virtually makes you take Leigh’s hand as she works through her grieving process, and comes to terms with her various internal battles that she could’ve done something to prevent this tragic event. Even as Leigh is learning more about her mother’s life in Taiwan by spending time with her grandmother, you can feel her slowly becoming more at-peace that her mother was sick long before they knew something was wrong. There was also something very satisfying about Leigh also processing her feelings for her best friend, Axel. It was almost like an anchor of familiarity and warmth while she experienced this cold, grieving time. Aside from the book’s narrative, it was also interesting to learn more about the Taiwanese culture through her experiences visiting all of her mother’s favorite places. Overall, I thought this was a really touching book, but please be conscious of the following trigger warnings before reading it: suicide, depression, loss of a loved one, grief, abandonment, racial slurs, and mention of electroconvulsive therapy.

SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee, Alina Starkov, who has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life - a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha and the secrets of her heart.

My Thoughts: This has been on my list of books to read for a while, but it was promoted to being a priority read this month because Netflix released their Shadow and Bone series on April 23rd and I wanted to read at least the first book before watching the show lol. As this is the first in the Shadow and Bone trilogy, I think the author did a solid job with fantasy world-building. It was seamlessly intertwined with the actual storyline and it didn’t overshadow the character development - which some fantasy novels tend to do. It was interesting watching Alina go through a mild identity crisis once her power is discovered because she’s never felt like she belonged anywhere. Even as a child, she was an orphan, so she never truly had a home. With the discovery of her power and her launch to stardom essentially, she begins to drink in that she finally has a place in the world as the Sun Summoner of the Grisha. Of course, this naivety also ends up being her character flaw, but she’s trying her best and that’s all that matters, right? Also really liked The Darkling’s character in this book because he’s basically the most powerful Grisha and one of a kind at that, but there’s still so much we don’t know about him and I’m dying to learn more. The only character I couldn’t decide if I liked or not was Alina’s childhood friend, Mal. He’s hot then cold, yes then no - Katy Perry. By the end of this book, I was definitely excited to see what else this trilogy has to offer! Highly recommended if you’re looking for an adventurous escape from reality for a bit.

SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price - and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams, but he can’t pull it off alone - a convict with a thirst for revenge, a sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager, a runaway with a privileged past, a spy known as the Wraith, a Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums, and a thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world of destruction - if they don’t kill each other first.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I read Six of Crows because I heard some characters from this book will appear in the Shadow and Bone Netflix show since the series kind of overlap a little bit. I went into this book not knowing anything about it, and was pleasantly surprised. For starters, the storyline was an absolute delight because it’s definitely different from almost all of the other fantasy books I’ve read recently. I’m also a big fan of scrappy gang/mafia narratives - like Peaky Blinders - so, I was about it. The heist that this misfit gang is offered seems absolutely absurd, so of course they accept the challenge. The dynamics in this gang of misfits meld them perfectly together and each person’s strength is an asset to the success of this virtually impossible operation. What I really appreciated about this book was that the author allowed you to get to know each character more intimately, which enhanced my experience from everyone’s POV, and made me love them on an individual level. I do recommend reading at least the first book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy though before jumping into Six of Crows because although the author kind of gives a summary of the Grisha Verse world in this book, she provides much more world-building and details about everything in Shadow and Bone. This book absolutely charmed my heart in a way I cannot explain and I cannot wait to dive into the next one!

SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darklings’ game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her - or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

My Thoughts: In an attempt to read the entire Shadow and Bone trilogy before starting the Netflix series, I binge read this book in one day. Which I think may have caused me to be more critical of it because my nose was in this book for like 6 hours straight lol. The pace of the book started off pretty strong with the Darkling abducting Alina and Mal from Ketterdam to hunt a mythical sea serpent. However, that quicker pace only lasted through like the first 40% of the book and then it just felt kind of slow until the last 100 pages or so. As the second book in the trilogy though, Siege and Storm was clearly a bridging book, so it was more focused on weaving key details into the plot to set us up for the third book than it was on creating exciting, action-packed scenes. I found the main character, Alina, to be a little annoying because she was being so reckless with some of her decisions. That’s pretty common to include in a character’s development when they’re young and “just discovering their true power,” and clearly, the author wanted you to feel Alina’s imposter syndrome while she found her voice as a leader. However, it was no less irritating when you want to be rooting for her, but she keeps making dumb choices. To top that off, her childhood friend/love interest, Mal, was also going through some shaky character development too, so it was just a shit show in some parts. On a positive character-related note, I really enjoyed all of the new people that were introduced in this book such as the Grisha pirate twins, Tolya and Taran, and the rogue prince/privateer, Nikolai. They added just enough spice and dynamic to the book, so that the characters you’ve been with since the beginning didn’t get stale. The plot twist related to the Morozova (the OG Grisha) amplifiers wasn’t necessarily predictable, but where the trilogy is headed after the discovery of these amplifiers was v clear - even if the characters didn’t announce it right away. Obviously, if you’re reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy, then I still encourage you to read this book, but it was definitely more low-key than the first.

RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne, and now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. A weakened Alina must submit to the protection of the Apprat and zealots who worship her as a Saint, but her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction - and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

My Thoughts: Yay for this series ending on a stronger note than I was expecting after its very underwhelming second book! Like the broken record that I am, I binge read this book the day after reading Siege and Storm because, why not? Ruin and Rising came in hot serving up some well-deserved, constructive character developments across the board, as well as some plot thickeners that would make chili hard to stir. Seriously though, it was very refreshing to see Mal take accountability for his actions and become the dependable character we’ve all had the expectations for him to be. His specific storyline took a turn that I did NOT see coming, so that was an exciting piece of the puzzle to find. My fave boy, Nikolai, returned right when he was needed and also experienced a change of events that were quite unexpected. Alina, Miss Sun Summoner, stopped being annoying and started making moves towards being the game changer/world saver Ravka needed her to be. The Darkling stayed conniving, became a little more ruthless, but still had those “I’m just looking for someone to understand me” vibes. My favorite thing about this book though was it had the perfect mix of action-packed events and slower, emotion-provoking scenes - it kept the reading pace steady and refreshing. The author also made sure to tie up all of the loose ends of details we were missing, and they fit perfectly, although very unexpectedly, into this book - I will say though, they basically reveal these plot points pretty early in the TV adaption, so if you watch that first before reading these books, those details will probs be anti-climactic lol. Overall, I was satisfied and fulfilled with how this book ended the series!

PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger at the seashore near her home in Korea. He promises her the world, but when she discovers she’s pregnant - and that her lover is married - she refuses to be bought. Instead, she accepts a marriage offer from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decision to abandon her home, and to reject her son’s powerful father, sets off a dramatic saga that will echo down through generations.

My Thoughts: I honestly have never dubbed myself as a fan of historical fiction, but it’s books like Pachinko that are making me think otherwise. This was a beautiful multigenerational story following a Korean family throughout the 20th century. I have to admit, I wasn’t well-informed about the relationship between Korea and Japan going into the book, so I learned a lot from this. This wasn’t a feel-good story, it was blunt and unapologetic as it illustrated the real, and sometimes harsh, human experience as a Korean living in Japan. I absolutely loved the women of the family, Sunja, Yangjin, and Kyunghee. They were so strong, stubborn, resilient, and dedicated to their families. It was really satisfying to me that they go from being the traditional home-keepers to being the main breadwinners for a large period of time when the men of the family each experience some hard times. There were a few heart breaking events that stick with them for years and end up changing the family dynamics. With the multiple layers of each generation, this book definitely demands a decent amount of your attention - especially in the second half where the pace speeds up. In my opinion, this could have been a little bit shorter, but overall, I really enjoyed reading Pachinko.

That’s it for April!

2021 Book Count: 29/55

YOUR TURN! In the comments below, let me know if you liked the Netflix series of Shadow and Bone compared to the books. What are you planning to read for May?

March 2021 Reads

April 01, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

Well March felt like a year long but also kind of like we blinked and it was April, amiright?

This month, I made sure to incorporate more guilty pleasure books to give my brain the break and escape it needed after being in such a rut during February.

So, let’s get into it.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

TWICE IN A BLUE MOON by Christina Lauren

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: her first love… and her first heartbreak. During a whirlwind 2-week vacation in London, Sam and Tate fell for each other in the only way first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate - the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest movie stars - ever revealed her identity to. So, when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good. Fourteen years later, Tate is now an up-and-coming actress and only thinks about Sam every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason, and whether “once in a lifetime” can actually come around twice.

My Thoughts: Ugh this was just what I needed to kick off a new month of reading. This book has been in my TBR pile for quite some time, and I finally hit the top of the request list at the library for it at the beginning of March - kismet timing, if you ask me. This is a true blue “what’s meant to be, will be” love story - which means if books that are borderline saccharine aren’t your taste, then this may not be your jam. Though the whirlwind romance between young Tate and Sam felt a little naive to my cynical heart, the experience also ended up making Tate a character I really enjoyed. She was a strong, independent woman who was extremely confident in her career and had a “fool me once shame on me, you’re not going to fool me twice,” kind of attitude. What I appreciated about this storyline the most is that although you want to be on Team Tate, Sam’s character is impossible not to like. Also, he had some sexy lumberjack vibes going on and you cannot convince me otherwise. The supporting characters sprinkled throughout like Tate’s best friend, her father, Sam’s grandfather, etc. were also very lively and distinct, which made the whole story meld together perfectly. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy romance read.

THE TWO LIVES OF LYDIA BIRD by Josie Silver

Rating: 3.4/5 stars

Summary: Lydia and Freddie had been together for more than a decade, and Lydia thought their love was indestructible until her twenty-eighth birthday when Freddie dies in a car accident. So now it’s just Lydia, and all she wants to do is hide and cry, but she also knows Freddie would want her to try to live happily - even without him. So, enlisting the help of his best friend, Jonah, and her sister, Elle, she takes her first tentative steps to living and, perhaps even loving, again. But then something inexplicable happens that gives Lydia another chance at her old life with Freddie where none of the tragic events of the past months have happened. Lydia is pulled across the doorway of her past, living two lives at once. But, there’s an emotional toll returning to a world where Freddie, alive, still owns her heart. Because there’s someone in her new/real life, who wants her to stay.

My Thoughts: I had heard great things about The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, and I absolutely adored Josie Silver’s other book, One Day in December. So, I was pretty excited to finally get my hands on this one. Let me start by saying, overall, this was a cute book and I enjoyed it. However, I honestly had no idea where it was going or the path that I, the reader, should be taking to grasp what the book was going to be about until about halfway through. Like it was a love story, but not completely a love story? For a majority of the first part of the book, Lydia is grieving her dead fiance, Freddie. After being supplied with special pink pills to help her sleep, she begins bouncing between her world and a parallel world where Freddie is still alive, and life is moving forward as planned. Throughout this whole narrative, I’m thinking the book is going down a route of existential questions about “what happens when you disrupt worlds parallel to yours?” Then it kind of took a jump to Lydia finding herself through various events like speed dating, an impulse trip to Croatia, and confiding in her longtime friend, Jonah, who was Freddie’s best friend and who she had been on the rocks with as he grieved too. While it continues to bounce back and forth between the parallel world traveling and the “finding yourself” storylines, the author sprinkles in a budding love story in there as well. By the end of the book, everything feels like it’s tied off in a semi-decent bow, but it was kind of a mess getting there lol. Like I said, overall, it was a sweet book and I enjoyed it, but, in my biased opinion, it definitely doesn’t hold a candle to One Day in December.

UNTAMED by Glennon Doyle

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table. It is the story of how each of us can start to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so that we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is.

My Thoughts: I basically agree with all of the other reviews out there saying this book was really inspirational. Glennon Doyle is raw and unapologetic as she takes us through the highs and lows she’s experienced over the last decade including divorice, her book publication, falling in love with Abby Wambach, finding her voice, navigating her faith and more. Highly recommend to anyone looking for some kick ass woman mojo. The only thing I didn’t relate to, and never do with these types of memoir/self help books, are all the sections about motherhood. Otherwise, great read. Here were my favorite takeaways from Untamed:

It’s nearly impossible to blaze one’s own path while following in someone else’s footsteps.
We can do hard things.
Explaining/defensiveness is fear preparing its case.
The miracle of grace is that you can give what you’ve never gotten.
Blessed are those who are brave enough to make things awkward, for they wake us up and move us forward.
Be careful with the stories you tell yourself about yourself.
It is wild to let others be wild.
When a woman learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself.

THE BLACK GOD’S DRUMS by P. Djeli Clark

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Creeper is a scrappy young teen who is done living on the streets of New Orleans. She wants to soar and set her sights on securing passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight Robber. Her ticket: earning Captain Ann Marie’s trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon known as The Black God’s Drums. Creeper keeps another secret close to her heart though -- Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, who speaks inside her head and grants Creeper divine powers. And, Oya has her own priorities concerning Creeper and Ann-Marie.

My Thoughts: This was one of the first novellas I’ve read and it definitely won’t be my last. Creeper is an orphan who gets by on pick-pocketing tourists at the port in New Orleans. What I liked most about her as a main character was her resilient and independent spirit. After living on the streets and fending for herself for so long, you could feel how strong she was, and the strategies she used to reach her end goal of leaving New Orleans were admirable for someone so young. The other main character, Ann-Marie, was an absolute badass. It was entertaining to see how the two were connected and how that played into the big event of the book as well. The only thing that made this book hard to get into was how the author structured the setting. It’s based in a post-Confederate New Orleans that is accented with sci-fi features, but because he had to build this world in just 108 pages, it felt a little clunky at times - especially for someone who has never been to New Orleans and doesn’t know the general layout of the city. So, my brain had to keep pivoting how this world looked as the story went on based on the various descriptions he provided throughout that conflicted with what I was picturing initially. Overall, I enjoyed this novella and recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read!

THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET by Sandra Cisneros

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Told in a series of vignettes, The House on Mango Street is the story of a young Latina girl, Esperanza Cordero, growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she wants to become.

My Thoughts: Another satisfying novella! This book was compiled of short stories narrated by Esperanza who gives you a glimpse into her life and those around her in Chicago. What I liked most while reading this is watching the subtle character development as the vignettes progress. Esperanza had a much younger point of view in the stories told towards the beginning, but as time progresses, you can see her character start to mature as she questions what’s expected of her and girls her age, assesses the opportunities available to kids living in her neighborhood, and enhances the dreams she has for herself. Specifically moving out of their house on Mango Street as soon as she can. The emotional undertone continuously changes throughout the pages as well - going from heart breaking to really happy. If you’re looking for a quick read that puts you in someone else’s shoes for a while, this is a good book for that.

FABLE by Adrienne Young

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, for seventeen-year-old Fable, the sea is the only home she’s ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during a storm and the next day abandoned by her father on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. For survival, she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one, and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal to get off the island, confront her father, and demand her rightful place in his crew. To do so, Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the sea.

Since she saw him last, her father’s rivalries and dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied. Fable soon finds that West isn’t who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the awful storms that haunt the Narrows if they’re going to stay alive.

My Thoughts: Y’all know I love a good YA fantasy and this book was just what I needed. This is the first book in a while that sucked me in so much, I read it in a day. The imagery the author provides through Fable’s eyes is so perfectly illustrated and colorfully visualized, it made me feel like I was the one dredging for pyres underwater, getting the shit kicked out of me by thieves, feeling the sun on my skin out at sea, and more. I also enjoyed that Fable, though young, was not naive or childish. After fending for herself for four years on a rough island, her character was strong, independent, strategic, and determined. That said, the usual teenage behaviors she had, such as extreme stubbornness, brought her a wholeness to her character that was realistic and satisfying. The supporting characters were also great in helping her story along, but I will say, West’s character felt kind of like a filler to close gaps in the story whereas I think his purpose was to be more of a connector. There’s a part towards the end involving his character specifically that feels kind of rushed and out of the blue. It just wasn’t foreshadowed enough for me throughout the beginning of the book and only mildly towards the middle. So by the time it happened, it felt like “oh? Okay. I mean, I guess I’ve seen that coming… kind of?” We just didn’t receive a great set for it to be the perfect spike, so it wasn’t considered a kill, yanno? (Volleyball reference, if you missed it lol). Overall though, if you’re looking for a book that will take you on an adventure for a while, this is the one for you!

THE NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: When Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in the 1960s, Jim Crow-Era, Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors. Elwood’s only salvation is his friendship with fellow “delinquent” Turner, which deepens despite Turner’s conviction that Elwood is hopelessly naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble. As life at the Academy becomes ever more perilous, the tension between Elwood’s ideals and Turner’s skepticism leads to a decision whose repercussions will echo down the decades.

Based on the real story of a reform school that operated for 111 years and warped the lives of thousands of children.

My Thoughts: It took me a while after finishing this book to figure out how to articulate my thoughts on it because I also had a physical response from it. This story is based on the very real Dozier School, which has a dark and ugly history rooted in the systematic racism that our country was built on. It is a vivid rendering of history riddled with trauma and heartbreak told through immense depth and detail. The unexpected friendship between Elwood and Turner is a beacon of light and peace in this horrifying place that is supposedly making upstanding men of the boys who are sent there. In addition to having their identities and rights stripped away after walking through the front gates of Nickel, any sort of insubordination against the school’s policies can lead to punishment, so bad it made my skin crawl and stomach turn. The worst form of punishment being Black Beauty, which is a giant whip used to punish black students with repeated lashings across the back and legs - often leaving them unconscious and bedridden for days. This book was also a horrifying reminder of the dehumanization of and violence against Black people that happened during the civil rights movement and Jim Crow-era. Not to mention, a shocking reminder that these same things are still happening today. There’s a subtle plot twist that creeps up on you so quietly, once you realize what’s happening, it’s absolutely devastating. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed reading this book, it’s incredibly sad and packs a serious emotional punch for only being 210 pages, but I think it’s a book everyone should read.

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill - the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

My Thoughts: OKAY Y’ALL BUCKLE UP. So, I need to preface this by saying I stan SJM’s other series, Throne of Glass, like there is literally no tomorrow. I am obsessed with it, okay? So coming into ACOTAR, which is EXTREMELY HYPED on Bookstagram, I had to take a step back and remind myself not to compare the two, and maybe lower my expectations a little for this series lol. Taking all of that into consideration, this was a pretty solid book overall. It had all of our favorite SJM themes and attributes included:

Strong female protagonist (not as strong as ToG, but I digress)
Strong female antagonist who is accompanied by a weaker male antagonist (lol)
A hot, brooding protagonist with a v sarcastic sense of humor that you initially think is an antagonist until you get to know the character better <3
Sexual tension :)
Faes, faeries, and other mythical creatures that bring the world and story to life
World domination via magic
Etc.

I really enjoyed the character development arcs, getting to know them more, and seeing them grow as the plot thickened. However, there were a couple of things that fell flat for me that I can’t necessarily get into detail about without spoiling the book. I think the main reason they fell flat though is because I’m familiar with the author’s writing and where her storylines usually go. So, when this particular book did not go the way I expected, it was just kind of a side-eye. It felt like she was serving the expectation I had on a silver platter, but then quickly pivoted and went a different direction which left me in a wtf state lol. OVERALL THO, I think if you enjoy YA Fantasy and/or SJM, then you’d enjoy this one. I’m just a tough critic because Throne of Glass is where my heart lies lol. Though I won’t be jumping directly into the next book in this series, I will probably pick it up within the next month or two.

Welp that’s March for ya!

2021 Book Count: 20/55

YOUR TURN! Let me know if you’ve read any of these books in the comments below - especially if you want to weigh in on my ToG vs. ACOTAR debate. ;)

Don’t forget to add me on Goodreads!

February 2021 Reads

March 02, 2021 by Haley Burrill in Books

February may be the shortest month of the year, and smack dab in the middle of the depressing winter months, but it’s also my birthday month, so I’m a fan.

I was on the struggle bus with reading in February - found myself in a bit of a “reading funk,” if you will - so, I didn’t read as many books as I had hoped.

But, nonetheless, let’s get into the short stack of books I read last month!

*Summaries are paraphrased and/or taken from Goodreads.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST by Mason Deaver

Rating: 3.7/5 stars

Summary: When Ben DeBacker comes out to their parents as non-binary, they’re thrown out of their house and finds refuge with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder worsened by their parents’ rejection, Ben come out to only a couple of people including a therapist.

Ben’s attempts to survive the last half of senior year at a new school by keeping a low profile are hindered when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic guy, takes Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan’s friendship grows, their feelings for each other evolve, and what started as a disastrous situation turns into the chance to start a happier life.

My Thoughts: This was an incredibly powerful book that touches on identity, acceptance, complex family issues, mental illness, and more. It dove into areas that, as a cis woman, I would’ve never thought about in terms of sexuality as it relates to gender identity. For example, Ben’s sister, Hannah, asks them what gender they’re into, and they explain that they don’t know because although they gravitate towards more masculine-looking people, they don’t want to say they’re bisexual because that would discount nonbinary people, and who is Ben to determine someone’s gender is more attractive than another? Besides David Rose’s wine metaphor in Schitt’s Creek, I haven’t encountered any explanations on this topic that were as eye-opening as the ones in this book. My main critique is although it was dripping with emotion during the pivotal parts, everything in between was kind of dry. I found myself really pushing to get through the lulls to get to the next high where the story picked up pace again. I also think the supporting characters deserved a little more page time because the author gave them really distinct personalities that added texture to the story, but they weren’t utilized enough. Overall, I think this was a really impactful book that I believe a lot of people would benefit from reading.

THE HOUSE OF DEEP WATER by Jeni McFarland

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: River Bend, Michigan is a small town that while most can’t imagine leaving, three women couldn’t wait to escape. When Linda Williams, her mother Paula and Beth DeWitt return and their paths collide, the town struggles to contain all of their love affairs and secrets. Filled with the voices of mothers, daughters, lovers, and fathers, The House of Deep Water explores motherhood, trauma, love, loss and new beginnings.

My Thoughts: This was a very heavy, emotional read for me. Not that it caused me to physically cry or anything, but as someone who experiences seasonal depression, the dark emotional undertones that accompanied some of the characters in this novel made it really hard to pick up every night. If you’re someone who isn’t easily affected vicariously through books, then you’d probably be fine. I just found it a little emotionally exhausting, but that’s also due to the author’s ability to immerse you in each character. This novel touches on the dynamics of dysfunctional families, social and racial issues, sexual abuse (trigger warning), and small town isolation. I appreciated that even though the three main characters were so different, their lives were still intertwined through experiences, history, and family members. Overall, I thought it was an all right book, but I won’t read it again.

THE FIFTH SEASON by N.K. Jemisin

Rating: 3.9/5 stars

Summary: Three terrible things happen in the same day - which is how the world ends. Again. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, the Sanze empire - which has been the foundation for civilization for thousands of years - collapses, killing most of its citizens. Worst of all, a great red rift has torn into the heart of the earth, causing ash to darken the sky for years - if not, centuries. Now, to save her daughter, Essun must travel through a deadly, dying land without sunlight, clean water, and limited supplies. A war is coming across the Stillness continent for the basic resources necessary to get through the long, dark night.

My Thoughts: Going into The Fifth Season, I had high expectations because of all the positive reviews I saw on Bookstagram, Goodreads, etc., but this book may have been a victim of its own hype. The way this story is structured is really unique as it follows three women’s journeys - Damaya, Essun and Syenite. At one point, the author actually puts you in Essun’s shoes and starts writing in second-person for her chapters, which was cool because it made it easier to really get into the mindset of the character and envision her experience firsthand. Since this book is the first in the Broken Earth trilogy, I know its purpose is to set the scene and background for what’s to come in the next two books, but that made a large portion of this book a very slooooow burn. There is a glossary and historical overview in the back to help you understand some historical, caste, societal, and setting references, but I didn’t find those tools until after I finished lol. There is also so much detail that you really have to pay attention to each woman’s journey to understand how they’re all connected and the significance of each one’s experience. In all honesty, I didn’t truly get into it until maybe halfway through and after finishing it, I think it probably could have been about 50 pages shorter. This was a good book overall, but I didn’t feel like it lived up to its hype. It ended on an interesting cliffhanger though, so I may read the next book, but probably not anytime soon.

HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born in different villages during 18th century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman which leaves her living in comfort in the Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, Esi is imprisoned beneath her in the castle’s dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast’s booming slave trade, and shipped off to America where her children and grandchildren are raised in slavery. Homegoing follows the descendents of these sisters through everything from centuries of warfare and British colonization in Ghana to the Civil War, Great Migration and twentieth-century Harlem in America, right up to the present day. This novel makes history visceral and captures how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.

My Thoughts: I loved this book and not just because it ended my lukewarm reading streak for February. The story follows the families of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, who started in two very different places in life and is uniquely formatted to read as though you’re climbing a family tree. Starting from the roots, the author takes you on a journey across 250 years from 18th-century Ghana to 20th-century Harlem. Each chapter is a vignette that focuses on a different family member in subsequent generations to show how each of the sister’s family ends up in the present day. I liked that although you don’t spend a ton of time with each character, you still get to know each one intimately. Which, personally, helped me build a deeper connection not only with the character, but also the families.The author’s writing is absolutely incredible, and the way she illustrates the horrifics of slavery and slavery’s aftermath was incredibly impactful yet still digestable. I also want to give mad props to the author for the amount of research that had to have gone into writing this book to truly bring each character’s time period and setting to life. This was a marvellous book for only being 300 pages and I highly recommend it!

2021 Book Count: 12 down, 43 to go!

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YOUR TURN! Let me know in the comments below what books you have on this year’s TBR (To Be Read) list.