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?

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.)