My 2022 Reviews
Spoiler Alert
By Olivia Dade
I read Spoiler Alert because I absolutely adored the second book of this series, All the Feels. I’m sure you know that by now since I keep talking about it. Even though this is a series, the books aren’t connected, only the characters, so I didn’t miss you by reading the second book first (thank you library).
Once again, I really loved the diversity within this series. April, the FMC, is a full figured woman, and Marcus, the MMC, is dyslexic, but also is the ridiculously attractive guy. The author plays with our ideas of attractiveness and ideas of larger individuals within society and how it colors everything around us. I truly loved that she plays with these tropes and these ideas in a really positive way.
I also really liked that this book is different plot wise from the second book. Because I read it out of order, that is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because the story was different and relied more on fan fiction of bringing them together (brush up on fan fiction terms though because I had to in order to understand some stuff). But it’s also a curse because the banter just wasn’t there and the cleverness just wasn’t as predominate in the dialogue between characters. The characters felt not as fleshed out by comparison.
Overall, this is a really good book, and if I hadn’t read the second one before this, I probably would’ve rated it a bit higher. But I still really love this book and you should read it.
Rating: 4/5
Spice:2/5
A Light in the Flame
By Jennifer L Armentrout
A Light in the Flame is the second book in the Flesh and Fire series and is very closely connected with the From Blood and Ash series. I’m not going to lie, I’m a huge JLA fan. She’s an auto buy author for me. But I will say that this book is great, but it wasn’t 100% for me.
Because the From Blood and Ash (FBA) series is one of my favorite series, I’ve read it. Multiple times. And this book, this series, feels very similar to FBA. Sera and Nyktos feel close to the characters in FBA. They are different, and not by TOO much. For some, that’s great because they love the series. And while I love the series, I also want some variety in my characters. I want them to be distinct in some way. The first book, I got that. This one, not so much. BUT because I love FBA so much, I also didn’t mind because I’m basically getting a chance to experience my favorite series for the first time.
I also struggled with the plot a bit. The biggest critique I’ve seen with this series is that it is repetitive and that we are STILL learning new information about the world, even though we’re about 6 books deep at this point. I agree with these reviews. While I understand this book is a prequel and things have very much changed by the time we meet Poppy and Casteel, I’m still struggling to understand everything.
BUT, I will say that I love the banter Sera and Nyktos have. I love the character development. I love the spice. I love the ideas that are here. I love the world JLA created. I love the side characters. I love the strong FMC energy we get. I’m a stan for this series and will continue to read it, no matter what.
Overall, if you are a big fan of JLA and her From Blood and Ash world, you’ll love this book. If you’re only eh about it all, I’m not sure this will add anything to your life.
Rating: 4/5
The American Rommate Experiment
By Elena Armas
When I read The Spanish Love Deception it was getting a ton of hype and it was free (at the time) on Kindle Unlimited. I wasn’t wowed by it. It was ok. But it was the author’s first book, so I wanted to give The American Roommate Experiment a try, since I’ve found the stories and author writes can improve with time.
I was underwhelmed honestly. I didn’t find the story any more engaging than The Spanish Love Deception. The story was ok, but nothing that held my interest for prolonged periods of time. I feel the concept for the plot wasn’t solid enough and that it was pretty predictable.
I also found certain sections to be cringey. And part of that was the interactions between the two main characters. I just didn’t get them. Their chemistry, to me, was nonexistent. And then the author went for the FMC to be cutely endearing in the first few chapters for the character’s meet cute, but the whole interaction was awkward. And, frankly, the characters lacked any depth to me.
Honestly, if you loved The Spanish Love Deception, you’d like this book. If you, like me, only thought it was ok, then you will think this book is ok too. It was decent, but nothing I found to be worth the hype.
Rating: 3/5
All the Feels
By Olivia Dade
I finished this book about a week ago and I still can't stop thinking about how much I loved it. I read this book first, even though this is the second book in the series (but they all seem to be stand alones), because I got this through the library. I enjoyed it so much, I not only bought myself a copy to own, I bought her other two books in this series as well.
What I really loved most about this book is how the author takes traditional romance tropes and plays with them and turns them on their head. The biggest way she does this is through her characters. Lauren, the FFM, is a full figured woman and is confident in who she is and her body. The MMC, Alex, is a traditionally handsome movie star. This dynamic was refreshing to see and was one of the reasons I loved this book so much. It had honest conversations about the way individuals view other's bodies and the stereotypes that surround them, all while attacking stigmas around body image, especially geared toward women. It was done well and was really amazing and awesome to see in a romance novel. It also had reps for individuals with ADHD and the FMC works with individuals and their mental health. All of it was fabulous and was just part of who the characters were.
The relationship between the characters was incredible and I absolutely adored them. She also had the tropes of grumpy sunshine, rich and poor, and the "only one bed" and it is done in such a way that makes it fun and enjoyable. Overall, I could gush about this book for hours. Read it!
Rating: 5/5
The Kiss Curse
By Erin Sterling
Look, I know I’m reading a Halloween book in December, but my mood reading does not allow for reason. Also, the library wait was 6 weeks.The Kiss Curse was a great sequel to The Ex Hex. Online, it was getting mixed reviews. However, I loved it more than I loved The Ex Hex.
First, Gwyn. I love her. She’s funny, witty, strong, confident, and a cinnamon roll. Her one liners made me laugh and I found her to be not only relatable, but lovable as well.The writing was clever. THE BANTER WAS TOP NOTCH. I found myself repeatedly admiring the writing because the banter was that good. It wasn't over the top, and had lots of great one liners that made me cackle. Gwyn and Wells hated each other, but clearly they didn't, and it was a fun ride to see that they truly just liked each other, and were hiding behind their funny insults. It was great to see the writing reflect these ideas through the banter.
The only issue was that the ending was too quick for me and too sudden. It felt rushed. I didn't get a lot of closure with the issues that arose and it felt like it was left hanging in order to set up the next book in the series. Not awful, but it ruined it a bit for me.
This book would have been a perfect spooky season read, and in my opinion, is superior to The Ex Hex. I said what I said!
Rating: 4.5/5
Part of Your World
By Abby Jimenez
I was hesitant to pick up another book by Abby Jimenez since The Friend Zone wasn't a favorite read of mine. But everyone, I'm glad I was proven wrong because this became one of my favorite books of the year.
The premise is simple: Alexis, part of a legendary family of doctors, the Kennedys or Vanderbilts of the medical world, meets Daniel, a small town carpenter after her car gets stuck. From there, it is about learning about one another and what it means to truly love someone, despite what it means to truly be a part of the other's vastly different worlds.
I truly loved everything about this book. It took a few chapters to get into, but once I got there, I couldn't stop. I read it in about two days. The story itself is beautiful. Charming, pithy writing and fully realized characters made the story an excellent escape. It was light, while still dealing with deep, emotional issues. It had just the right amount of angst for me, intermixed with the characters learning about themselves and each other and still being humorous, funny, and clever. For me, it was the perfect blend of everything I love about romance into one book.
Overall, I'm kicking myself I didn't give this book a try sooner. Don't be like me. Read it, and read it soon.
Read if you like:
✅Reverse age gap
✅Different worlds
✅Cinnamon roll MMC
✅Small town romance
✅He falls first
Rating: 5/5
The Final Gambit
By Jennifer Lynn Barns
I have to be honest here, I did NOT like this book. I struggled to finish this. I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I do not understand how this book got a 4.02 on Goodreads.
Full disclaimer here: I never thought the first and second book were fabulous either. They were ⭐️⭐️⭐️ books for me. I found the premise interesting, but poorly executed. The plot was far fetched and convoluted. The writing was average. The characters bothered me. The love triangle wasn’t really a love triangle. But I read both books darn it and I wanted to see how this ended. That’s on me.
It seems that the things I disliked most about the first two books were prominently featured in this book. The plot became MORE far fetched and convoluted. Characters were introduced so late and I was so confused at how they fit into the story. It felt forced. The author gave wayyyyyy too much time to unimportant events and characters to be a red herring, but it just made the plot clunky. And it was so predictable. And that love triangle. It got worse. The FMC just stares longingly at the person she didn’t chose to be with but is kinda jealous that she’s not with him!?! GIRL YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
And for the love of god how many secret packages, kidnappings, attempted murders, and bombings can one series have where nothing comes of it? How can the love interests be so one dimensional and uninteresting? How many times are there going to be so many freaking “clever” puzzles that just seem so underwhelming?
Some people truly love this series. And I can see the appeal because of the premise. But I am not one of them. I won’t be reading this series again. This is a hard pass for me.
Rating: 2/5
Carrie Soto is Back
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
The storytelling, at first, is slow. And I felt that Carrie was an unlikeable character at the beginning. However, that’s the point. We’re not supposed to like her right away. She does not bow to societal expectations placed upon women. She owns her skill. She works hard and is (probably unhealthily) devoted to the sport that she dominates for years. We are conditioned to think that women like this are unlikeable. To see Carrie’s POV throughout was a look into the toll it takes to not be “likable” and what that actually means.
Carrie is a complex character, working between what she has been taught her whole life, that she is the greatest tennis player of all time, and the crippling loneliness that is a result of a variety of factors, including that belief. TJR does a great job of conveying all of this without harping on it. Once the story picked up and TRJ got to the Slams, I was hooked. I was an anxious mess trying to see if she would win. I felt her anxieties along with her, what it meant to her, and her motivations.
Overall, I found this book enthralling. I can see why some wouldn’t like it, as it relies heavily on tennis lingo and a love for the sport. But, now knowing Carrie, tennis is her whole world. To not include it would be to leave the story incomplete.
Rating: 5/5
A Small Affair
By Flora Collins
Is it possible to love a story and book even though each character is a terrible person? With this book, out DECEMBER 27, the answer is yes.In A SMALL AFFAIR, almost every character was extremely complex. I found most of them to be unlikable. They were the absolute worst and I loved every single second of it. This doesn’t apply to my girl Vera. Vera is uncompromising, driven, ambitious, confidently strong willed, authoritative, and cutthroat. Some might find her alienating, I really enjoyed seeing a powerful female character who doesn’t fall into the hysterical woman trap that plagues a lot of thrillers.I finished this book in about 24 hours. The story was incredible. I was engrossed with the plot, which gave me The Undoing vibes. Once I started I HAD to know how the book was going to end. With it set in the world of the upper elite mixed with true crime, I was hooked from the being.The structure of the book and story was well done as well. Having three different POVs from multiple characters made me fully understand each of the character. The nonlinear timeline with those perspectives was also an amazing touch and was part of what made the story so engaging.Rating: 5/5
A Game of Retribution
By Scarlett St. Clair
Now, full disclaimer, A Touch of Ruin is my least favorite book in this series. I found Persephone really frustrating in that book. But in this book I was equally as frustrated by Hades. There was a bunch of miscommunication in the book. Miscommunication, or even lack of communication, is one of the things I struggle with in books. So I didn’t really find either character enjoyable in this particularly engaging. I was hoping that I would discover something new about them as characters. And in some ways I did, as they both have major issues they need to overcome. But in other ways, I just wanted them to really communicate more effectively.
I do really like that we finally got to see where Hades was going when he disappeared for large periods of time during A Touch of Ruin. And the book was almost a completely new book. The conflicts in this book help set up the rest of the series and make more sense. I now more fully understand what’s happening in book 3. So that was really interesting. Overall, this wasn’t a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed myself and it fit my mood for something on the lighter side with an author who’s work I like!
Rating: 4/5; Spice 3/5
The Great Alone
By Kristin Hannah
I cannot explain how much I adored this book. It is definitely one of my top reads of the year. At first, I wasn’t sure that a book about the Alaskan wilderness was my thing, so I put off reading it. It’s been on my shelf for at least a year. But this book is so much more than the Alaskan wilderness. It’s about family. It’s about love. It’s about finding yourself. It’s about human nature. It’s not easy to create such a story, but Hannah does it, and does it well.
The writing is stunning. The picture the author paints is of a place that both is majestic and dangerous. This contraction follows the characters. Their complexities, interspersed with intense family drama, survival, and hope was one of the things I loved most about this story. This is definitely a character book and is, I think, one of Hannah’s best novels.
Be warned, there are some graphic scenes with domestic violence. This does make up a storyline, so it cannot easily be ignored or skipped over. Please take that into consideration if this is triggering to you.
It’s hard to describe this book. But once you start reading, you’ll really understand. What a journey this was to read. I wish I could read it again and experience it. Do yourself a favor and make this your next read.
Rating: 5/5
Heart of the Sun Warrior
By Sue Lynn Tan
I absolutely loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It was a 5 star read for me. loved HEART OF THE SUN WARRIOR just as much as the first book. The author plops you right back into the story about a year after the events of the first novel.
Right away, Xingyin’s character growth is apparent. She is more decisive, focusing on the ramifications of the new world she is navigating. She seems like she’s been through a lot, and she has. But part of what I love about Xingyin is that she continues to be a strong, female main character. Even though she is more mature and more methodical, she never kowtows to others who see her as inferior and maintains her strength throughout. She also won’t settle for anything less than she feels she deserves. The book world needs more female main characters like Xingyin.
I also really loved the pace of this book and the plot. The author does a great job balancing action with character growth, all while maintaining the mythological and fantastical elements of the world she created. This isn’t as easy balance, but she does so beautifully. Moreover, the conflict that Tan set up was interesting and kept me engaged. I can’t spoil this too much, but it was very Avengers-esque, where everyone needs to put aside their differences in order to defeat the big bad villain.
The only thing I could see people not liking about this book was the love triangle. I’m ALWAYS pro love triangle. I loved both love interests and I, for once, didn’t have a favorite between the two. But I can definitely see those that are wary of them to be bothered by this one. While it is not the central focus by any means, Xingyin goes back and forth a lot and never settles on who she particularly wants to be with until almost the end of the book. She seems wishy washy sometimes and I ended up feeling a little bad for the love interests. The set up did drive me a little nuts. For those that don’t, I could see this being a factor in not liking the book as much.
Overall, I felt this was a fabulous conclusion to an amazing duology and I highly recommend you read this book. Thank you @netgalley and @harpervoyagerus for an ARC of this book for an honest review!
Rating: 5/5
All Good People Here
By Ashley Flowers
As someone who listened to Crime Junkie, I was curious to see what this book would be like and if I would enjoy it. I know Ashley Flowers is a bit controversial, but because of how popular her podcast is, and some of the hype it’s been getting, I wanted to know if it was worth it.
And, to be honest, I don’t think it was. For more than half the book, I was bored. Like painfully bored. I think part of it has to do with her writing style. I don’t think I am a fan of it. Honestly, I found it repetitive and I just wanted her to get to the point most of the time. And because it was repetitive, the pacing felt so slow. I feel like this book was longer than it actually was. I would zone out for a few minutes and I wouldn’t miss anything significant, just one of the narrators talking about how guilty she feels or the red bandana or how she’s digging we her fingernails into her palm. There’s only so many times you can hear the same thing before you slowly lose interest.
There also wasn’t anything revolutionary about this book. It really read like the author’s first book and I’m not sure her podcast writing translates well.
And GUYS WHAT WAS WITH THE ENDING. I’m mad about it. The epilogue was good, but just ending it like that was NOT COOL. I finally got to the end of this book thinking listening to the same thing over and over and IT WASN’T. I feel cheated. It made me like the book even less. I usually don’t mind an abrupt ending when it’s done well. This wasn’t done well.
Overall, this is clearly a first book for the author. If you like Crime Junkie, you might like this book. But if you stopped listening to the podcast or are looking for more than just the stereotypical, easy to guess mystery, I would pass on this one.
Rating: 2.5/5
Sign Here
By Claudia Lux
I’ve seen this book on my timeline a bunch, and it was a BOTM pick and fit my mood, so I figured I’d read it. And I am so glad I did. This was a fabulous book.
Told through multiple POVs and multiple storylines that don’t seem to connect till they do, I couldn’t put this book down. I stayed up late multiple nights because I just HAD to know what happened next. Each storyline was engaging in it’s own right. I was enthralled with this book.
I also felt it was unique with complex characters and an interesting story. And I think that helped drive my interest. The characters as flawed, whether on Earth or in Hell was such an interesting concept to mix. And the new interpretation of Hell was really clever and compelling. Mix in dark humor, snark, and some mystery and thrilled elements and I felt that I was reading a story that was distinctive.
Overall, if you’re looking for something different that is a weird mash up of genres, character driven, and gripping, this is the book for you.
Rating: 5/5
When Gracie Met the Grump
By Mariana Zapata
When Gracie Met the Grump was an interesting read from Marianna Zapata. I appreciated her attempt to follow a different storyline and not the sports romances or small town romances we’ve come to love from her. It’s like what would happen if Superman just fell out of the sky into your yard and was a grumpy jerk most of the time. The story had a lot of potential. It just didn’t quite hit it for me.
Now MZ is known for her slow burns. Like they are the slowest of slow burns. I was expecting that having read four of her books at this point. However, I wasn’t expecting it to go THAT slow. There was a lot of filler. A lot of plot where there wasn’t anything really happening. A lot of internal monologuing from the FMC. A lot of repetition with conversations and that internal monologuing. Not going to lie, this book maybe needed cut down by 200 pages.
I think what also contributed to the slowness of the story was that I really didn’t vibe with FMC. The audience spent so much time (and I mean SOOOOO much time) in her head and seeing all her self confidence issues and doubts and very little character growth. I wanted to see her regain that confidence. MZ tries to do this, but it’s at the VERY end and felt like an afterthought.
Overall, if you are a huge fan of MZ, you’ll probably like this one. If she’s hit or miss for you, I’m not sure this will be up your alley.
Rating: 3/5
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Fire and Blood
By George R R Martin
As a huge fan of Game of Thrones (we won’t talk about season 8) and House of the Dragon, I wanted to know more about the history of Westeros with House Targaryen. And boy did this book deliver.
This audiobook was a whopping 26 hours. To me, it was incredibly interesting to learn about what happened before the two TV shows. Also, the book makes connections that fill in the blanks for the 8th season of GOT in relation to Daenerys’ character that were rushed. I feel like I have a really solid understanding of what is going on in the TV show and the smaller moments that wouldn’t have made sense to me if I was just watching the TV. Most of the time I was riveted by the book.
It’s not written like a story though, so be careful. This is written like a history book with the narrator using “historical accounts” to give us information. I actually really liked that style of storytelling and felt it fit with the world building Martin wanted to accomplish. As always, the world building is impeccable.
I did have one problem with the book. At 26 hours, I was expecting to get the whole history of the Targaryen’s up until Mad King Aerys. This is not the case. The book only goes till about 6 years after the Dance of the Dragons. I was a little disappointed to be honest. Maybe more is covered in the Game of Thrones books (and let me know if that is the case), but the story is incomplete and I thought it was a completed story. So just be aware of that. Also, because of Martin’s extreme world building, some parts can get a little repetitive and tedious. He talks a lot about military campaigns also, which I am not a fan of as personal preference.
Overall, read this book if you want to know more about the Targaryens AND don’t mind spoilers. For those that love the show House of the Dragon, you haven’t seen anything yet. Get ready for Fire and Blood. That’s not an idle house motto.
Rating: 4/5
The Ex Hex
By Erin Sterling
I’ve seen this book all over Bookstagram, so of course I read it to see what the hype was about. And while I enjoyed the book, I think some of the hype is a little misplaced.
Overall, the story was extremely cute! Told in dual POV, this is the perfect Halloween, spooky season romance. Honestly, if this was turned into a one season TV show or Halloween movie, I’d be all over this. That’s how cute it is. It was a light, easy read that you can probably read in a couple days.
I also really liked the characters. Gwen was my favorite, who wasn’t even one of the main characters. My biggest thing is the story felt a little long for the content. It ended up repeating itself a bit or slow in sections because characters kept reflecting on their past. It lent to understanding the characters, which I appreciated, but it made the story drag a bit.
Overall, this was still a really solid read and you should definitely check it out. I’ll be reading the sequel once I get it from my library.
Rating: 4/5
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
By Sherman Alexie
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is one of the most challenged and banned books in the US due to profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author. While all of this is true, I still believe it to be a valuable story.
Since I teach this book, I read it once a year. I also read it twice in my teacher training program. The story teaches young adults, and myself, about the power of identity and embracing who you are while confronting issues like racism, prejudice, discrimination. It gives weight to the ideas of tolerance and hope. It sheds light on the history of American Indians, often which is underscored or ignored. When a student asks me “why have we never learned about this?” it goes to show that the book is enabling for students to become critical thinkers and opening them up to other perspectives.
In my book review, I know I can’t get into all the nuisances of this book or even censorship or book banning. I acknowledge that there is lots more at play when it comes to what we teach kids in the classroom. There’s also the fact that the author is very problematic. That is a very valid case to not read this book.
However, this is a book that is engaging. It’s an easy read. It makes you think. It makes my students think. It has a powerful message. It has important themes. All of which cannot be ignored when you read it. I guess the question is: does society’s viewpoints about what is acceptable content negate the value of the story itself? Can a story still be relevant and meaningful if an author is problematic?
Every time I read this book, I enjoy it and I feel like I’ve learned something. Therefore, I think you should read it too, even if it’s to see why it’s one of the most banned books. But if it’s not your thing for the reasons outlined above, then that’s fair too!
Rating: 5/5
Kingdom of the Feared
By Kerri Maniscalco
Honestly, I love Kerri Maniscalo’s stories. She creates such interesting universes and I’m always obsessed with her characters. In Kingdom of the Feared, I FINALLY got to see all of that come to fruition.
I still think this series could have been a duology. I stand by that statement. The story itself didn’t need to be shrouded in THAT much mystery and I felt like it made the plot move slowly.
But in this book, we finally got answers to everything. The plot made a ton of sense and I know see why the author did was she did. The character development was awesome and the story flowed at a much better pace. And I loved the MMC and FMC. I couldn’t put this book down and I now have a book hangover.
Overall, for those of you who feel like me, where the series was good, but not fabulous, make sure you read this final book because it ends up being all worth it. Is it one of my favorite series? No. But Kingdom of the Feared is one of the most enjoyable reads for me this year.
Rating: 5/5
Play with Me
By Becka Mack
Consider Me, the first book in this series, is probably one of my favorite romance reads of 2022. So the second book, Play with Me, had big metaphorical shoes to fill. And it did. Play with Me absolutely knocked my socks off and I have a big book hangover because of it.
Play with Me focuses on the relationship Jennie and Garrett. And boy oh boy was the relationship everything. The growth that happens between these two is incredible. They are fully realized, complex characters that chose each other time and time again, even though the difficult moments. I love them together.
The story is fun, well paced, and engaging. The character growth is on point and one of my favorite parts of the book. The banter is top notch. I honestly can’t get enough of this series. It’s the perfect light romance to put you in the best mood. Congrats @ for knocking it out of the park again. Everyone else, do yourself a favor and read this book.
Read if you like:
✅FWB to lovers
✅Cinnamon roll MMC
✅strong, but vulnerable FMC
✅brother’s best friend
✅hockey romance
✅fun banter
Rating: 5/5
I'm Glad My Mom Died
By Jennette McCurdy
This book is not what I was expecting. Honest, raw, and heartbreaking, McCurdy gives us an unflinching look at her experiences as a child star.
However, this book isn’t going to give you the behind the scenes drama in a the traditional sense. It’s more focused on McCurdy’s relationships and her own identity. It does expose some hard truths, but it’s not a tell all. She isn’t rude to anyone. She isn’t clickbaiting. She simply tells her truth, which is pretty powerful.
I loved the way it was written, like a child coming to terms with her own experiences, not someone reflecting on life. Her voice is tremendous and I was hooked from the first few pages. It was a tough read, but an important one. I couldn’t put the book down.
While I highly recommend this book, because there is a reason that it’s so hyped, please be aware that there are triggering moments in this memoir which are talked about at length.
Rating: 5/5
A Discovery of Witches
By Deborah Harkness
A Discovery of Witches is a favorite of mine. I read it every year and always forget how much I love it until I finish the story. But ever time I read it, it just gets better.
The premise is that a witch named Diana Bishop opens a book in the Bodleian Library that potentially tells the history of supernatural creatures throughout the world, and promptly returns it, wanting nothing to do with her magic or the supernatural beings that inhabit the world with humans. But just simply returning the book creates problems for Diana, as she is the only person to have seen or open this book for hundreds of years. And with these creatures descending upon her, she ends up turning to the mysterious Matthew Clairmont to help her embrace and figure out who she is.
The novel, part of a series, combines romance, history, and magic. It is well written, engaging, and a page turner. The world building is excellent, but brief enough where you are not reading a pure fantasy novel. The story is great and well paced. The characters are each detailed, rich, complex, and interesting. The romance is well done.
I don’t think this book gets enough hype because it’s hard to place genre wise, but sometimes you don’t need to fit into a nice box to be a good story.
Read if you like:
✅magic
✅witches, vampires, and daemons
✅forbidden love trope
✅destined mates
✅part of a series (completed)
✅protective, “touch her and I kill you” MMC
✅strong and powerful FMC
Rating: 5/5
The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
As a teacher of advanced students, this was a great book. Even after reading this book three times, they brought in new ideas that I had never thought about and we had such amazing discussions. The book served it’s purpose.
But would I ever read this book on its own for fun? Probably not. And that’s why I gave it 3 stars. Because honestly, I wouldn’t have read this book unless I was teaching it.
Rating: 3/5
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
By Amanda Montell
I read this on a recommendation from a fellow teacher and holy crap everyone, it was SOOOOO GOOD. Because I teach an advanced English class that focuses on the manipulation of language for a purpose, I thought this would be right up my alley. And it was.
This whole book is centered on the idea of “cultish” language. She talks about actual cults like Jonestown to cults we don’t think about like Peloton and how language functions to get people to buy into these “cultish” groups. She also debunks certain myths like brainwashing and who is more likely to join these types of groups with no judgement. The picture the author paints is a mix of the power of language and how language works with the psychology of individuals.
All of it was truly fascinating and I was hooked. The only issue for me was it was a BIT too long. But, overall, if you’re interested in psychology, language, and a hint of true crime, read this book.
Rating: 4.5/5
Spells for Forgetting
By Adrienne Young- OUT SEPTEMBER27
Spells for Forgetting was the perfect spooky season read. In her debut adult novel, I felt Adrienne Young did a fabulous job creating an a story that was fun, interesting, and mysterious. The unsolved death of Lily Morgan changed the lives of everyone who lived on the island of Saoirse, where magic still remains, including Emory Blackwood and August Salt. August is suspected for Lily's murder and leaves the island, and his love Emory, behind. Fourteen years later, he returns.
The concept for the novel peaked my interest. It's a mix of mystery and second chance romance with unreliable characters. I loved the way the story was written. The prose was beautiful and the atmospheric nature of the writing made me feel as if I was part of the story, an outsider looking in. I also loved that the story had more than just Emory and August's POV and was nonlinear in some aspects. I felt that to be new, original, and kept me on the edge of my seat, I HAD to find out what happened and how the story was going to unfold. It is a perfect story for those who love a good mystery.
The biggest thing that bothered me was the character development and, as a result, the pace of the story. I am always nervous with second chance romances because what ends up happening is the author doesn't go into the history of the relationship as much as I want. As a result, I feel like I can't relate to the characters as much or really buy into their romance, This was the case here. And because the characters fell a little flat to me in this regard, working to untangle those feelings, the plot felt a little slow at times. BUT I will say the last 75% of the story FLEW by and I was incredibly engaged with the story.
Overall, this is a great spooky season read, filled with mystery, ancient grudges, intrigue, lost love, jealousy, and heartbreak.
Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4/5
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
By Sue Lynn Tann
This book is one of my favorite reads this year! Daughter of the Moon Goddess out with action and tension almost immediately and doesn’t let up the rest of the book. The premise about Xingyin, the daughter of the Moon Goddess, Chang’e, was what hooked me, but it was the writing, characters, and story that made me read this 498 page book within three days. As someone who wasn’t familiar with Chinese mythology going into this novel, I felt the author does a great job of weaving the mythology into the story. The author’s writing style is efficient, so the pace of the story was well done and it didn’t drag at all. I was engaged with the story the whole time.
Did I mention story was fabulous? It does have a love triangle, which I know isn’t everyone’s thing. But I will say that the love triangle is believable and the perfect level of romantic angst. The MMCs involved were each lovable and I honestly have no idea who I like more. As someone with a lot of thoughts and feelings, this is a first for me.
I also LOVED Xingyin. She is a strong, powerful, clever, and confident FMC. She takes no crap from anyone and I was HERE FOR IT. I found myself admiring her. She is here for herself, her goals, her needs, and her desires. I feel like we need more of that in novels that contain romance. I appreciated the author for making the choice to characterize the FMC this way.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and go read it.
Rating: 5/5
Consider Me
By Becka Mack
I honestly have no idea why more people aren’t talking about this book. I was looking for a good contemporary sports romance and I got one. This was good. It’s become a comfort read of mine. I’m honestly obsessed with it and didn’t even mind it was 600+ pages. There’s tons of high quality banter. The relationship between Olivia and Carter is top notch and continually evolves as their characters grow. And let’s not forget the supporting characters, who are absolutely incredible. It’s so well written and the story is just phenomenal. I cannot recommend this enough. I am ridiculously excited for the next book in the series. AND if you have KU, you can read it over and over (like I may have done… several times)
Read if you like:
✅Sassy FMC
✅Good girl/playboy
✅Hockey Romance
✅Guy Falls First
✅Dual POV
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 4/5
A Curse of Queens
By Amanda Bouchet
After inhaling the fantasy series The Kingmaker Chronicles during lockdown in 2020, I was pumped to see that the author decided to continue the story. The series became one of my absolute favorites and after the end of the last book, I wanted to continue to live in the world the author created.
A Curse of Queens pivots a bit from the previous novels now that that the storyline is complete. This novel is focused on Jocasta and Flynn. The previous main characters and other supporting characters are present, but ultimately, the story centers on the relationship between Jocasta and Flynn and their quest to save the realm amidst a growing conflict between the gods and to save their biological and found family.
I truly loved this novel and the direction it took. It started off a bit slow, but it put into context the relationship between Jocasta and Flynn and enabled for the reader to truly understand the characters personalities and facilitated character growth. One of the biggest gripes I have with friends to lovers or second chance romances is that authors skip the relationship building in favor of moving the plot forward. I felt that the author had a good balance between the pacing of the plot and developing the relationship between the characters on the page. With it having dual POV, something I didn’t get but wish I did in the original series, I could really see the character’s growth within themselves and their relationship.
I also loved how action packed this book was towards the end and how it incorporated Greek Mythology and The Odyssey as the characters started their quest. As a lover of Greek Mythology and an educator who teaches The Odyssey, it was cool to see those aspect within the book and to see how the author utilized those myths and literature to continue to create this world.
Read this book if you enjoy:
✅shy, cinnamon roll solider MMC
✅brother’s best friend
✅magic and Greek Mythology
✅dual POV
✅friends to acquaintances to friends to lovers
✅slow burn romance
✅character growth
While this book could theoretically be read as a stand alone, you would be missing a lot of context and appreciation of characters if you skip the previous three books. My advice would be to read them in order.
Overall, I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for a copy of A CURSE OF QUEENS out October 4, 2022.
Rating: 5/5
Love on the Brain
By Ali Hazelwood
Love on the Brain was one of my anticipated books of 2022 and I have to say it didn’t disappoint.
It was everything that I love about Ali Hazelwood stories. I loved the awkwardness between the characters. I loved the characters themselves. I love how much Levi obsessed over Bee. I love the messaging about women in STEM. Honestly, this book was just everything I didn’t know I needed and more. It was JUST what I needed to read and was light, fun, and enjoyable.
Overall, if you love Ali Hazelwood and the tropes she usually employs and loved The Love Hypothesis, you’ll love this book too.
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 1/5
Love on the Brain
By Ali Hazelwood
Love on the Brain was one of my anticipated books of 2022 and I have to say it didn’t disappoint.
It was everything that I love about Ali Hazelwood stories. I loved the awkwardness between the characters. I loved the characters themselves. I love how much Levi obsessed over Bee. I love the messaging about women in STEM. Honestly, this book was just everything I didn’t know I needed and more. It was JUST what I needed to read and was light, fun, and enjoyable.
Overall, if you love Ali Hazelwood and the tropes she usually employs and loved The Love Hypothesis, you’ll love this book too.
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 1/5
Spice 1/5
Remarkably Bright Creatures
By Shelby Van Pelt
I’m always hesitant to read “Reading with Jenna” books because I’ve found that her taste in books doesn’t always vibe with what I’m looking for. But for this story, I was pleasantly surprised that I actually really enjoyed it. I thought the concept was amazing. Marcellus was my absolutely FAVORITE character. He made me laugh repeatedly and I always looked forward to his chapters. Give me more of the book in Marcellus’ POV! I also loved the overall message of the story and the personal growth of all the characters.
My biggest pet peeve was the character’s personalities themselves and the pacing of the story and the characters. Honestly, if they would just communicate or share about themselves, the story would’ve been over sooner. The story style was a comedy of error styles with lots of near misses and because the character knows the big secret, heck even the octopus does, it just felt like it was dragging out the story. I know that was the point and it is not lost on me, but as someone that likes a lot of action in her books, this bothered me.
Overall, it was a cute story and definitely worth a read if you’re into family drama, personal growth and redemption, a slight mystery, and a confident octopus.
Rating: 4/5
Tempted
By Renee Harless
As a mood reader, it can be hard to find books that fit my particular state of mind when I pick up a book. This book was perfect for me because it is a fun, easy, and light romance novel. I’m a sucker for a romance that has some entertaining and delightful tropes and this did not disappoint. I also love how easy the main characters fell for one another. I’m a romantic at heart and like to think that it is possible to find someone, regardless of age or how long you’ve know them, and the right circumstances bring them together.
Read this book if you enjoy:
✅age gap romance
✅famous musician MMC
✅independent FMC
✅dual POV
✅forbidden romance
✅father’s best friend
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 3/5
Ugly Love
By Colleen Hoover
For months I was afraid of reading this book because I heard it emotionally destroyed you and I was NOT READY for that. But when it was ready at my library, I knew I had to see what the book was about.
I really enjoyed this book. Don’t get me wrong, it DID emotionally destroy me 🙃 but I couldn’t put it down. I think the way the story is organized made it so that I understood all the characters and their motivations, even if I didn’t agree with some of their reasoning. I wouldn’t say that I liked the couple, but you don’t have to fully love the characters to love the story.
To me, this book deserves the hype, but make sure you go in with an open mind and check your triggers because this isn’t a very lighthearted book. But if you want to be entertained and you are down for a good angsty romance, read this book.
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 3/5
Sea of Tranquility
By Emily St. John Mandel
This book was only ok for me. It had elements of her previous novels, Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel. Similar themes and even the same characters emerged in this book. But like my review with The Glass Hotel, I feel like the author focused on the wrong part of the story.
It was very character based, which I should expect. After reading three of her books this year, I should know that. BUT, because this book has to do with time travel, I thought it would have an equal balance of plot and character development because of the explanation you usually get in the sci-fi genre about the society and the issues that emerge with time travel. I was wrong. It was all character focused to the point that some of the more interesting plot points like the Time Institute and the simulation theory were more on the back burner. I thought those were the most fascinating parts.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting idea, but it fell flat to me.
Rating: 3/5
Things We Never Got Over
By Lucy Score
This book is all over BookTok and Bookstagram and since I have a KU subscription and love me some romance, I thought I would give this book a try. I’m glad I did! I very much enjoyed this story. I thought it was a cute, fun, lightweight romance. It fit my mood. It was well written. It’s your stereotypical romance and that’s ok! If you’re in the mood for a sweet, trope filled romance, or you just need some levity in your life, definitely pick up this book.
Read if you enjoy:
✅Grumpy/sunshine
✅Forced proximity
✅Small town romance
✅New girl in town
✅Unexpected parenthood
✅Wealthy MMC
✅Dual POV
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
I'll Be You
By Janelle Brown
This book was not a bad book. If anything, I felt like it was well written and the premise of the story was interesting, if unoriginal. I enjoyed the dual POV between the twin sisters Sam and Elli.
I think my big problem with the novel was the way it was marketed. It’s labeled as a thriller, and I found it to be less like a thriller and more of a family drama. Because of the thriller label, I expected much more from the book than I got, which I don’t believe is the author’s fault. I saw where the book was headed most of the time. The ending felt lackluster and rushed and I would have liked it to be more fleshed out.
Big takeaway here: this book is more of a family drama with some crime elements mixed in.
🚩🚩🚩: Addiction, alcoholism, and drug abuse
Rating: 3.5/5
Malibu Rising
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
I heard mixed reviews for Malibu Rising and, as a result, I put off reading it until a month before TJR’s new book comes out in a month. I shouldn’t have because I really enjoyed this book.
I started this book as an audiobook as an audiobook, but loved it so much I picked up my physical copy and stated reading it just to see what would happen. This is a more character driven book. I appreciated the story and I loved the time jumps and the pacing of the story. Once the party started, I got a little annoyed at the author’s focus on what felt like unnecessary characters. But once the focus was back on the characters I was DYING to know about each of the Riva family members and how they would handle their personal struggles and couldn’t wait. Once I finished, I wanted to know more about all the characters and how they were doing.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and the audiobook was 🔥
Rating: 5/5
Upgrade
By Blake Crouch
This book was a wild ride everyone. I found myself reading just to figure out what the heck would happen next. I found the concept to be fascinating: what happens when humans decide to alter the world around them and what are those intended and unintended consequences? What truly makes us human? It felt like Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, but with genetics instead of engineering.
The only downside for me was all the technical jargon. I am not inherently familiar with biological concepts and while Crouch did a great job breaking it down for me, I still got confused and had to reread often. I would recommend that if you are like me, the audiobook is the way to go!
Read if you like:
✅Lots of action sequences
✅Biology/genetics
✅A well paced story
✅Discussion of social issues and what it means to be human
✅Andy Weir novels
Rating: 5/5
Fortuna Sworn
By KJ Sutton
I had high hopes for this one. I love me so romantasy books and truly thought this was going to do it for me. One of the book boxes I subscribe to is doing a special edition of these books at the beginning of August, so I wanted to see if I liked the series enough to get it.
It started out good guys. It had the marriage of convenience trope, morally gray love interests, a potential love triangle, and mythical creatures galore.
But man did I dislike most of the book. By the end it got slightly better, but not by much. This series is supposed to be 6 books. I think that’s the problem right there. This could EASILY be 2 books, maybe 3. It truly felt like there wasn’t enough content in this book. It feels like set up for the rest of the series. The world building is meh. The characters were alright. The writing was fine.
I’m probably not going to continue the series unless they appear on like KU or I can get them from my library. I just wasn’t invested enough in the story. Overall, this book was ok.
🚩🚩🚩Trigger warnings: slavery, abusive relationship
Rating: 3/5
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
By Stuart Turton
This was a really enjoyable murder mystery. It had Clue mixed with Groundhog Day vibes and I felt that it was an interesting concept and idea. I had no idea where it was going for most of it and it was really cool to see how everything interconnected at the end.
I did feel like the book though was a little too long and could be condensed a bit. The end was a little unbelievable to me also in terms of the answers given and I walked away with more questions about the world in which this takes place. Overall though, I loved the concept and really enjoyed the story.
Rating: 4.5/5
Stuck with You
By Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood and The Love Hypothesis was probably one of my favorite authors and reads and of last year. When she started releasing these novellas, I was excited! The first novella, Under One Roof, hit just the right spot. This one did not. All because of one thing: the miscommunication trope.
The miscommunication trope, when done well, isn’t the end all be all of a story. But the FMC, Sadie, literally takes an assumption, rolls with it, and never talks to the MMC again all over a misunderstanding that would have taken 2.5 seconds to figure out if she just TALKED TO HIM. Hazelwood acknowledges it and makes fun of the FMC, but by that point, I was disenchanted with the story a bit.
This is still a great, fun, easy read and I enjoyed it. It was just what I needed after a particularly difficult week. I’m excited to read the next novella and Hazelwood’s upcoming book in August!
Rating: 4/5
Royal Holiday
By Jasmine Guillory
Ok I'm going to start this review stating that I read The Proposal when it first came out four years ago and I disliked it. But tastes change as we get older and people really enjoy her books, so I figured I would give this one a shot. I also know that I did not read this in order and maybe that has implications for my review. However, those factors aside, I learned that my tastes have not changed when it comes to this author.
The story itself fell flat for me. I was BORED. The characters had no chemistry. There were pages and pages of dialogue where I feel they had nothing to really say. I didn't like the characters on their own. Everything felt overexplained, even the simplest of choices made by the author. I also don't think I am a particular fan of this author's writing. It seems simplified, like it's fan fiction. I think maybe this has to do with the fact that it was in 3rd person and that the story didn't flow well. It was like the premise was there, but it wasn't well executed.
I think if you like light, easy reads, this may be the book for you. But I will say that I won't be reading any more of her books and they just aren't for me.
Rating: 2.5/5
The Lioness
By Chris Bohjalian
While well written, this story is considered and marketed as a historical thriller, but oftentimes I found myself not thrilled by the story. Each character has their own chapters and POV and there are a bunch of flashbacks. As a result of the story’s structure, I didn’t really care about the characters and for the first 30% of the book all the characters has the same observations, which just made the story repetitive. Once the characters became distinctive, the story brought in too many things and made the plot disjointed. And then once I would start to get into the story, the character would change. It was frustrating.
Towards the end, it became more engaging and engrossing, but I was already disengaged from the story by that point. I think the author did a ton of research and the details and concept were there, but ultimately, this book wasn’t for me.
Rating: 3/5
The Priory of the Orange Tree
By Samantha Shannon
This whopping 800+ page book was a massive undertaking to read. My kindle told me it would take me 12 hours to read. I would liken this book as Lord of the Rings meets Game of Thrones. This is a BIG book and, honestly, the first 100-150 pages is a bit of a slog because of the immense world building involved. With 4 main POVs within the story, and each character as part of a different culture, it could be confusing at times. But once I understood the world, I enjoyed the book. I would read another book in this universe! You should read this book if you like:
-dragons
-complex world building
-cultural diversity
-same sex relationships
-girl power and powerful female characters (to a point, but women in power is a complex idea within the novel. I would make the argument not ALL the female characters are powerful in some regards)
-multiple POVs
-political intrigue mixed with action
Rating: 4/5
The Royals Next Door
By Karina Halle
This was my first book by Karina Halle and I really enjoyed this book. The whole concept of the book is basically what happens if Meghan and Harry were your next door neighbors and had a cute bodyguard protecting them. It was light and fun, something you would want to read after finishing a heavy book or to read on vacation. It was a quick read for me and I’m sure will be for others. I also really appreciated the mental health representation throughout and with the characters. It enables conversations about mental health, but the author also doesn’t make it so that the characters are their disabilities. It is just part of who the characters are and it was handled well by the author.
Some may find it cheesy in places, but that is kind of what made the book fun an enjoyable. This is the perfect book to take if you’re looking to just enjoy a story or a romance.
Rating: 5/5
Verity
By Colleen Hoover
What an incredible book! This was my first Colleen Hoover book and I was not disappointed! I loved the story and thought it was well paced and well done. And the END SHOOK ME. I thought I had everything figured out and I was wrong. What a great concept and great idea. I know some people don’t like this book as much, but I really enjoyed it and feel that it deserves the hype it gets.
I thought it was so good, I binged the book and read as quickly as possible. I know other Colleen Hoover books are different, but I’m excited to read more of them now.
Be careful of triggers though. This book is dark and just make sure this is a type of thriller you want to read before you start it.
Rating: 5/5
Something Wild
By Christina Lauren
This book was exactly as the writers intended: fun. The setting, along with the mystery and treasure hunting made it for a really enjoyable read. It also had great use of the one bed trope and second chance romance aspect to it. I was the perfect beach read and was what I needed after a particularly tough weekend.
The only downside for me was the structure of the book in relation to the characters. Because it is a second chance romance, a lot rides on us as readers believing in the love the two characters have. Because the authors decided to not do flashbacks on their relationship previously, I felt less invested in their story. However, it does make it different than other books with this trope.
Overall, it was a truly fun read and if you like these authors then definitely read the book.
Rating: 4/5
Just Mercy
By Bryan Stevenson
This book was a thought provoking, heart-wrenching look at the United States justice system, and quite frankly, the failings of that system. I think many people see crime in black and white (also literally, as Stevenson points out that mass incarceration disproportionately affects people of color). We see someone breaking the law and assume the worst about them. That the deserve to be in jail and to be punished for those crimes. The more severe the crime, the more severe the punishment should be. But reading this book demonstrated that this is not always the case and that these assumptions, along with the history of our justice system, actually enables for the law to be misused and misapplied.
Moreover, this book really made me think about the death penalty within the United States, ,how hard it is to be proven innocent, and how various structures and people can actually prevent justice from being upheld. These are all important aspects of our society, while many do not think so. But it goes to show how our criminal justice system really needs a massive overhaul to take into considerations the inequities and biases towards and amongst people. You are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but that is not how it works and that is devastating.
This is not a light nor an easy read. It will make you mad. It will make you rethink your views. And it will challenge your beliefs. However, in order for anything to change, in order for our system to function as it was intended, that is necessary and needed.
Honestly, this is a great book if you are interested in social justice, in activism, and in just understanding more about what it is ACTUALLY like to work within the system itself. To me, this is a must read book.
Rating: 5/5
The Glass Hotel
By Emily St. Jon Mandel
I thought this book was good, but, to me, it felt like the story focused on the wrong thing. And by focused on the wrong thing, I mean it focused on a lot of stuff, but I never really felt that cohesion. One thing I really like about this author's writing is that all these little things interconnect and come together. Here, I felt like it was forced. It wasn't that this story was bad, but I did feel like it didn't really go anywhere. I would have loved for the story to follow the Ponzi scheme in more detail, as I felt those were the most interesting chapters, or even Vincent's life more, as she seemed to be the main character of the story.
Per usual, I felt the way that St. John Mandel writes is beautiful and I love her voice and her prose. But, overall, I felt this was a good story, but not one that I would reread anytime soon.
Rating: 3/5
Until the End of the World
By Sarah Lyons Fleming
As a lover of zombie apocalypse ANYTHING, I really felt this story would be right up my alley. I was incorrect.
I wasn’t looking for anything groundbreaking here. And this was a traditional zombie story. BUT I had problems with it. The story was stilted and choppy. Things happened too quickly or everything was over explained. The characters were extremely cookie cutter and character development was either nonexistent or major conflicts were resolved easily. I didn’t like the main character. She avoided conflict and was supposed to be this incredible person who was a bad ass, but I never got that impression. I felt none of the characters actually had their own personalities. The relationship between characters was told rather than shown, which is maybe why I didn’t like the main character that much. I was honestly pretty bored while reading it. I don’t think this book needed to be over 300 pages long.
This book wasn’t for me, but if you want to give it a try, go for it! The story is free with Kindle Unlimited.
Rating: 2.75/5
From Lukov with Love
By Mariana Zapata
I actually really liked this book! It was enemies to friends to lovers with a VERY SLOW burn. A big argument against this book is that it’s too slow in the relationship building. But that’s every Mariana Zapata novel. Like that’s her thing. This happens every book. So you have to be in the mood for that when you start this book. Not enjoying the book because of the author’s hallmark story-building seems strange to me.
The main reason this gets 4.5 stars from me is because I wasn’t the biggest fan of the main character Jasmine. She was hella stubborn, even when it wasn’t necessary. She was kinda bothersome throughout the whole novel. We see huge character growth from her, which I really enjoyed honestly, but for a chunk of the novel was I just wanted to yell at her and tell her she didn’t need to do everything by herself. The author does a great job of explaining why that is and that it’s just who she is as a person, but after the 3-4 argument between her and another character, it just for a bit repetitive.
Otherwise, I think this book is worth the social media hype.
Rating: 4.5/5
Bad Girl Reputation (Out October 4, 2022)
By Elle Kennedy
This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series and covers the relationship between Evan and Genevieve. While Bad Girl Reputation, out October 4, 2022, may seem like a easy read, it has a lot of heart and is a story about second chances, redemption, and growth.
I will admit I was really curious about Genevieve as a character. In the first novel, she is mentioned, but always negatively in relation to Evan and how their relationship was crazy and out of control. When I met her in this book, she was trying to get sober. I found her to be an interesting character, trying to shed her toxic habits while authentically being herself. That is not an easy feat and this book really focuses not only on her character growth, but Evan's as well.
The relationship between Evan and Genevieve, in the first third of the book was, honestly, unhealthy. However, the author acknowledges this and that is one of the overarching ideas of the book. How can two people who are clearly obsessed with each other, who love each other, who have this history, be together in a meaningful way without engaging in toxic behaviors? How can they grow together to be with one another now that they are adults? I really appreciated that the author doesn't rush this because I wasn't really on board with their relationship in the beginning because of how much influence they had on one another and the growing up that Evan had to do.
The big reason why this book is getting 4.5 stars is because I really do feel like that growth happened too quickly for how much they needed to reassemble themselves and how each other would fit into their new lives. I also felt the end happened too quickly as well. Really everything gets resolved in the last like 20 pages, and it didn't feel credible to me.
If you like angsty romance, second chance romance, and character growth, this is the book for you. Remember, it's out October 4, 2022!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book for an honest review!
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 2/5
Good Girl Complex
By Elle Kennedy
Not going to lie, when I first started reading this book, I was NOT down for the plot. The male main character, Copper, makes a bet with his friends to make Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot fall for him and then dump her in order to get back at her boyfriend. And that felt icky to me. I didn’t like that AT ALL. And when I read that this was the central conflict, I thought I was going to hate this book.
I was actually pleasantly surprised. I didn’t hate this. The author does a good job in explaining the reasoning behind it so that it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me as a reader. But that might not be for everyone, especially because the synopsis of the book doesn’t even hint that this is part of the book. I can see why people were not a fan of the book for this reason alone.
So for that, and for the fact that the conflict gets wrapped up too nicely and quickly, this gets 4 stars from me. There’s also a ton of characters and other plot points that seem randomly thrown in here. However, as this is meant to be part of a series, I’m sure the author is just setting up for the next books. This book, for me, was a perfect pool read and a light, easy story, even if I didn’t originally dig the premise.
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 2/5
By Virginia Heath
Never Rescue a Rogue (Out November 8, 2022)
Never Rescue a Rogue, out November 8, 2022, follows the second Merriwell sister, Diana, as she helps Giles Sinclair uncover the mystery of who his parents really are.
While the first book in the series was, in my opinion, only ok, this book was much better for a variety of reasons. The characters were much more fleshed out in this novel I felt like I got to know them beyond the superficial, which was one of the main issues I had in the first book. Also, the character development was flawless honestly. The growth between the sisters and the relationships between characters was what was missing in the first novel and is explored here much more in depth.
The romance between Giles and Diana was believable and they were open and honest with one another. Giles never tried to stifle Diana and make her fit in with regency society and Diana never really believed that Giles wasn't a respectable, generous person. They saw through each other's pretentions to who they were as people and never tried to change the other or themselves. The accepted each other unconditionally. I really love that in my romances. I also loved the banter between the characters as they developed from frenemies to lovers.
Additionally, actual vibe of this story seemed to flow more and was less choppy. Other reviews stated that this book was more action adventure than a comedy of errors. I agree with that. As a result, I felt the story was less confusing and better paced and I enjoyed it more because of that. As with the first book, this book is also well written. However, I will say that while it was better paced than the first novel, I still felt like it was a little slow in the beginning.
Overall, I really liked this book and found it entertaining and enjoyable. It's the perfect light read if you're looking for adventure, action, and romance with a dose of a strong female main character.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.5/5
Never Fall for Your Fiancée
By Virginia Heath
I really do love regency historical romances. But because I love them so much, I've read a bunch of them. And as a result, I know the genre pretty well. And this story felt like the typical regency romance. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that! There was just nothing there that differentiated it from the other books in this genre. The writing was well done and the story was solid, if chaotic at times. But I think that is the vibe the author is going for, like a romantic comedy or a comedy of errors.
The characters were firmly differentiated, sometimes to their detriment because there is a lot happening within the story. The characters are used as plot devices sometimes instead of being fully fleshed out and complex. I could guess how a character would react because the author, in going for a comedic undertone, I think relied too heavily on caricature. Additionally, this book relies heavily on the miscommunication trope, which is not a favorite of mine.
Overall, this is your stereotypical romance. If you love that and what you are in the mood for, read this book.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Bodyguard (Out July 19, 2022)
By Katherine Center
Ever since I read Things You Save in a Fire, any Katherine Center is an automatic read for me. When I discovered her new novel was coming out July 19, 2022, I wanted to read it right away. And I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to do so because this book is everything I didn't know I needed.
What I love most about Katherine Center books is her ability to balance meaningful, real plot points and lightness. Her characters experience deeply difficult situations and she acknowledges those moments respectfully, but the story itself does not become too dark or intense. This a very difficult thing to do as a writer, but she does it flawlessly. This is a book where you learn from the characters, but still get to experience the joys of the plot and escape your own world for a while. That's one of the things I loved about this story. It is a perfect mixture of romance and growth for our characters.
Speaking of characters, I LOVED Hannah, our heroine and executive protection agent, and her principle, movie star, Jack Stapleton. Their banter was top notch. Their chemistry was perfect. They were well fleshed out characters full of depth, each on their own journey to accepting themselves. Especially my girl Hannah. Her journey of self discovery and self love was one I related to immensely and one I appreciated from the author.
I loved the story. I finished this book in 24 hours. I stayed up late to read and then woke up early. Any moment I had free time, I was reading this book. I'm disappointed I finished so quickly to be honest with you. I was engrossed with the concept and felt the writing was fun and engaging. I laughed out loud at multiple parts, while the ending hit me right in the feels. This is a perfect novel to bring to the beach or just to enjoy reading for the sake of a good story. Read it; you won't regret it.
As I stated previously, this book is out July 19, 2022. Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 5/5
The Lightning Thief
By Rick Riordan
Unpopular opinion time here. I never read the Percy Jackson series when I was younger. I was more of a Harry Potter reader. I have no idea why I never read them, but because most students are always shocked that I've never read these books, I gave it a shot. Maybe I had high hopes for this book because my students RAVE about it. But for me, it didn't live up to my expectations. And I know exactly why I only thought this book was ok.It's because it is meant for middle schoolers. I am not a middle schooler, but instead a 28 year old. Many of these myths are familiar to me because my students research them. Therefore, none of the book was really a surprise to me and I was honestly bored for a majority of the book. But the book isn't geared towards me.With that being said, if I read these in middle school, I'd think this book awesome. They bring in the important, most fascinating parts of Greek Mythology. There's action. Percy is sassy and snarky. Grover is the loveable sidekick. Annabeth is the intelligent guide. The writing is exceptional and geared towards the age demographic. I'm just not that demographic. I rate my books based on my enjoyment level and this one didn't really do it for me. Rating: 3/5
Wicked Beauty
By Katee Robert
The Dark Olympus series is one of my favorites since I read the first book, Neon Gods, when it first came out last year because of it's different take on Greek Mythology. Robert does a great job of incorporating the known myths, but then twisting them or changing them to make a more unique story that doesn't necessarily follow those myths verbatim. It makes the story more engaging and fun because of that. Moreover, this series has a bingeable quality to it, as another reviewer said. It's like the Real Housewives mixed in with Scandal and Greek Mythology. It's perfect for people who love reality TV, gossip, or scandalous stories.
This story is different from the previous two in the series because it features a triad polyamorous relationship between Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus. And it is VERY SPICY. Like one of the spicest books I've read in a while. Part of what I like about Robert's story is that she is very open with her characters and how they embrace their sexuality in different ways. There isn't shaming of individuals because they are part of a nontraditional relationship. That in itself is empowering and I really gotta give it to Robert's for putting in the time and effort to explore the nuisances of this type of relationship.
The only real issue I had with the book is the repetitiveness of the writing. I said it in my previous reviews and it still happens in this book as well. The characters talk about the same thing each time the story turns to their POV. I know the author is trying to explain the choices these characters make and why they make them, which is great, especially when you have nontraditional relationships going on, but I just think it becomes unhelpful and hinders the story a bit.
Overall, PLEASE make sure you read reviews and double check to make sure reading this book is for you due to the spice level of this book!
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 4/5
Station Eleven
By Emily St. John Mandel
I read this book years ago when I was in college. With the author’s new book drawing on characters from this book, I wanted a refresher on the story. I remember loving it then, inhaling it even though I was drowning in schoolwork. And rereading it now, I still love it.
The book hits VERY differently reading it after a global pandemic. Since a deadly pandemic is the central plot point of this novel, it is hard not to be at least a little affected by this book and the reality we’ve experienced for the last 2+ years. But the story itself is an interesting concept and focuses less on the pandemic and how society changes as a result of it. How people rise to the occasion or fail spectacularly. It also doesn’t JUST focus on the reactions of the pandemic, but follows different characters at different points in their lives at different times. It is more character driven than anything, which is one of the things I love about the book. The author does a great job with this story. No wonder it is so well received and why it’s now a TV show on HBO.
Rating: 5/5
How to Fake it in Hollywood (Out June 14, 2022)
By Ava Wilder
TL;DR: A great read for someone who wants a new take on the romance genre, but it might not be for you if you want something within the traditional romance genre.
This book appears to have all the tropes a romance lover could want with fake dating the one bed, and some slight enemies to lovers vibes, which are three of my personal favorites. Mix in dual POV and an older MMC and you have the perfect formula for a great romance novel. And I was ALL for it. This book ticked all my boxes based on the synopsis. I immediately started reading it.
But once you actually start reading the book, you realize that How to Fake it in Hollywood subverts these tropes in a sense. It is a romance that is supposed to be more than a light read. It is a romance that wants to make you think about the nature of relationships in all its forms: platonic, romantic, familial, and friendships. It wants you to think about how each of those types of relationships impacts people in different ways, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst. And I really appreciated that while I read it. It makes it different from the other romances I've read where they rely heavily on the tropes of romances before them to carry the story. By playing with these tropes and tipping them on their head in unexpected ways, the author creates a story that is more honest, more meaningful, and more complex than what I was expecting. And that's not a bad thing, especially when the author employs a great writing style, voice, and engaging prose.
I also really loved Grey, the FMC. She is a fully fleshed out, realized, confident character that is not bound by the stereotypes that plague other FMC in romance novels. She is not dependent, passive or overly altruistic toward the MMC and the author makes that very clear. She even makes note of it multiple times within the story. Again, the author is making sure that Grey is her own person and playing with those romance tropes where the female is often accepting of her love interest to the point of docility. That is not Grey.
The reason this book is only getting 4 starts for me is because of Ethan, the MMC. I'm not sure I like him. I rooted for him a fair amount in this book, but he always underwhelmed me and disappointed me. Multiple times I wanted Grey to find someone better than Ethan. I want to root for my romance couple. And I'm not quite sure I was rooting for them. BUT, and this is a big but, I also feel like part of the reason I didn't like him is because he wasn’t what I envision a romance MMC to be. I think that's the point though. Because the author takes this story a different route than a traditional romance, that means the MMC needs to represent more than your stereotypical romance hero. He's struggling, he's got tons of baggage, and dealing with his own issues.
And that is more than fair and valid. But it means that with that choice, it leaves the lingering question of does it take away some of the enjoyment from romance readers who go into this book looking for something light? The author has the absolute right to create her characters however she wants. But the romance genre has tropes for a reason and those tropes are often very successful. And maybe the way this book is advertised, or the way it's described, is a bit misleading to the reader who wants their next book boyfriend, or who wants those tropes, or who wants a more traditional romance storyline.
I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book for an honest review!
Rating: 4/5
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
By V. E. Schwab
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I knew the premise through the synopsis and that people loved it. Besides those bare basic things, I went into this story blind. And I’m so glad I did. This story is one of heartbreak, grief, happiness, hope, love, and loss. It is about being human at its most fundamental level, both positive, negative, and everything in between.
The prose was absolutely stunning. There were so many quotes that stuck out to me that spoke to my English loving heart. It wasn’t pretentious, but fit with the overall idea of the capacity of humans toward wonder.
The story itself was also wonderful. I’m not going to lie to you guys, the first 120 pages are very slow. Like really slow. Like had me wondering why this book has so much hype. But once you give the book a chance, it unravels beneath your very eyes in the best of ways. All the characters are flawed and complex. The way the story travels back and forth in time and gives you insight into Henry and Addie is unique and makes the story more interesting to me honestly. And THE END. What a wonderful end. I don’t want to spoil anything, but damn what a good ending. There are few books you finish and have to sit with them a day or two to digest everything. This is one of those books.
Rating: 5/5
The House in the Cerulean Sea
By TJ Klune
I’m honestly so obsessed with this book. It’s heartwarming, funny, cute, and insightful all at once. Multiple times through the story, I laughed out loud. The beginning is a bit slow, but once you get past it, this is a terrific story full of heart. I cannot say enough positive things about this book and I’m honestly so glad I read it.
I also really appreciated a diverse cast of characters within the story, as well as the message of the story. Each child was amazing in their own right, but the story celebrates their differences and tells of what happens when we villainize those that we might deem different than us. Each character within the story had their own voice, their own ideas, and their own stories, and that made for an even more engaging read.
Rating: 5/5
Into the Wild
By Jon Krakauer
I read this first in high school when I was in AP Lang and I didn’t like it much then. Reading it again as I’m teaching it, I thought maybe I’d like it more. Sadly, that’s not the case. The story, while interesting to teach and get a bunch of 16 year olds thinking about a variety of topics, is kinda boring. There honestly doesn’t seem to be enough to the story, and that’s why I feel the author goes on a variety of discussions that are loosely tied to Chris McCandless. Again, underwhelmed by the story and even though it’s like 200 pages, which isn’t a lot, it didn’t make it any more interesting.
Rating: 2.75/5
Lessons in Chemistry
By Bonnie Garmus
This book was a tough one for me to read, but not because of difficult writing or that because it wasn’t entertaining. In fact, this book was wonderful. It was clever and heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. Once again, I find that the synopsis of this story does not do it justice.
The reason it was hard for me to read is because I got so mad when reading it I had to put it down a few times. The whole book centers on women (more specifically white women) and, how, fundamentally, their life is dictated by men. And just the knowledge that people see women as unequal simply for being women was beyond frustrating. And given current events relating to the policing of women’s bodies, I often times just wanted to throw my book across the room.
But those stories, the ones that make you FEEL and THINK are important stories. The ones were you need to put the book down to embrace all the thoughts in your head, are the ones worth reading. So that’s why this is a great book and one that you should read as well. Make sure you check trigger warnings for violence against women though!
Rating: 5/5
Apples Never Fall
By Liane Moriarty
I was pretty underwhelmed by this book. The story was just ok. The pacing was slow. There were too many unnecessary points of view and thinks we’re repeated frequently. The book was probably 100-150 pages too long. Honestly, I think the author missed a huge opportunity in exploring Savannah the main focus of the story because her chapters were the most riveting of the whole book. I like this author, but this just wasn’t one of her best stories.
Rating: 3/5
A Certain Appeal
By Vanessa King
I love Pride and Prejudice. It is honestly one of my all time favorite books and is probably the start of my love of the enemies to lovers trope. This book, while making the book slightly different through its centeredness on burlesque and more inclusive with Jane and Charles representing the LGBTQ community, is basically Pride and Prejudice in the modern age. Like it follows the story almost EXACTLY. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I wanted something to distinguish it a bit more because I can always just read the original. It’s a good book, as the writing is great and I love the original story, just nothing to make it stand out amongst all the other retellings.
Rating: 3.55/5
Spice Rating: 2/5
Book Lovers
By Emily Henry
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed. It was fun, had incredible banter, wonderful story and romance, and great characters. I couldn’t put down. If you weren’t wowed by Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, you’ll probably feel similarly, but I’m a big fan of Emily Henry and this didn’t disappoint me. I really enjoy how she plays with specific romance tropes and makes them unique and different. Overall, huge fan of this book.
Rating: 5/5
Spice Rating: 2/5
Well Matched
By Jen DeLuca
In the series, I loved the first book and absolutely disliked the second, so I wasn’t sure how I would like this book. Since I read it in two days, it’s safe to say I enjoyed it. It’s perfect for if you’re not looking for a heavy read and are a fan of the tried and true tropes of fake dating but develop feelings for one another and one bed. It was a stereotypical romance and I’m here for it. It’s what we need in life sometimes and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a romance because it’s what you expect. The only downside is I struggle with hyper independent FMC who resist what makes them happy due to a variety of reasons or who are scared of love. That’s just never been me. And that’s April.
Rating: 4/5
Spice Rating: 2/5
The Last Thing He Told Me
By Laura Dave
The story flies by in this easy read of a book. It was an interesting concept and I really enjoyed it. It was engaging. I’m not sure I agree with all Hannah’s choices and how she approaches everything, but it’s refreshing to see how different people react to different situations and how they differ from my own ideas and thoughts. And the last page got me, not because there was a twist. The ending is the part that has me thinking the most out of this whole book.
Speaking of twists, and I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the secrets weren’t really that impressive or groundbreaking. When I found out what was happening I was like “ok… that’s the big reveal? That’s it?” It wasn’t like it was bad, but the book is labeled as a thriller and while I wanted answers, once I had them, I was underwhelmed. Maybe I had too high of hopes because it won the Goodreads Choice for thriller? I don’t know. BUT, with that being said, it is still a really great book and if you’re into books that are more of diving into the past to discover the truth and what happens once people know that truth, read this book.
Rating: 4/5
Olga Dies Dreaming
By Xochitl Gonzalez
Throughout 95% of this book, I was hooked. It wasn’t what I thought or expected this story to be about and was really addicted to it. I think the synopsis undersells the story actually. It was a family drama, so if you love character development and character driven stories, this is for you. The reason I’m not giving this a higher rating is because once a certain character is introduced (no spoilers), it’s drags a bit and some of the magic went away, focusing on a whole new aspect of the story that wasn’t as engaging for me. But man overall, what a great book.
Make sure you check trigger warnings on the book. It deals with lots of heavy topics, while not being heavy itself, things like sexual assault are present and might be distressing to readers.
Rating: 4.25/5
The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
I first read this book for my AP Language class in high school and I loved it then. 11 years later and I still really enjoy this book as I teach it to my AP students. An easy read at 180 pages it highlights and exemplifies many issues that are still prevalent in American culture such as the unattainability of the American Dream, the imbalance of power that stems from inherited and obtained wealth and how that affects individuals, the desperation to love and be loved in return, and a host of other important and relevant ideas that are still being debated today, almost 100 years later. Every character still sucks, but as an adult, I can see why that is and how they got there. Still a great read!
Rating: 5/5
Ready Player One
By Ernest Cline
This is my husband’s favorite book and I can see why. It took me so long to read because I was worried I wouldn’t understand most of the references since I’m not part of video game culture and I wasn’t born in the 80’s. However, this book does a great job explaining these aspects and breaking it down to make it accessible for all readers. It also works to world build for the year 2044 at the same time, no easy feat. The book has a great story and I’d often find myself reading and listening (I also audiobooked this— Wil Wheaton does a great job) at any free moment so I could figure out what was going on because I NEEDED answers.
My only gripe is it slowed down a bit in the middle with the romance between Art3mis and Parzival. As a big romance fan, this is hard for me to say, but it felt clunky, distracted a bit from the story, and there was some icky aggressiveness when Art3mis didn’t do what Parzival wanted because he’s in love with her. BUT that’s a small amount of the book and it picked right back up. I wouldn’t say it’s an easy read, but it is immersive and is a great story.
Rating: 4/5
Electric Idol
By Katee Roberts
This week allergies made me feel like the dead and so I wanted something easy and light to read and that’s what I got with this book. It was well written. Multiple POV. Marriage of convenience. It ticks all your boxes! It was just a little bit repetitive in some places, but overall an enjoyable read.
Rating: 4/5
Spice Rating: 3/5
Hook, Line, and Sinker
By Tessa Bailey
I loved It Happened One Summer and I equally loved this book. The characters and the story was wonderful and well written. I was honestly hooked and read almost all of this book in one day. This is a definite must read if you’re interested in light, easy, contemporary romance novels.
Rating: 5/5
Spice Rating: 3/5
Kingdom of the Cursed
By Kerri Maniscalco
This book is, I think, better than the first. Taking place in Hell, it opens the door for more intrigue and just a wider dynamic between characters. I love the characters and the descriptions of the world. Wrath is a new book boyfriend of mine. This was going to be a 5 star read for me. But by the end of this book, the big conflict isn’t even close to being solved. The curse makes it so characters can’t talk about important information and there’s just lots of speculation. I learned nothing new toward that plot point. Yes, there are other big reveals, but it only adds to lack of information given about the central conflict. As a reader, that’s incredibly frustrating as I’m 700 pages deep into this series. So, the pacing, for me, is slow and that’s why I can’t give it the 5 stars I wanted to. This is still a good book. I mean, I’ve already preordered the 3rd book, but I think it has the potential to be a great book, one that I raved about, and it’s just not quite there for me.
Rating: 4/5
Kingdom of the Wicked
By Kerri Maniscalco
I am a big fan of this author. I’ve read her Stalking Jack the Ripper series and it’s probably one of my favorite YA series to date. This book was awesome as well! It’s got demons, witches, and mystery interwoven with my favorite tropes of enemies to friends (and hopefully lovers in the next book). The reason it’s getting 4 stars from me is because it takes about 100 pages for things to really get moving since she’s really establishing the world she’s created. There’s a curse that prevents certain characters from talking about certain things, which leads to lots of pondering and miscommunication, which isn’t my favorite. I’m real pumped to start the next book and see how the story progresses, as this seems like a series that gets better as the story goes on!
Rating: 4/5
This is How You Lose the Time War
By Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
This is a beautiful story. The concept of it was fabulous and is what drew me to it in the first place. The characters are interesting. It’s Killing Eve with time travel. But guys, this book is so hard to read. I have no idea what I just read. It’s high science fiction with lyrical prose, which makes for an fascinating concept, but leaves me so confused. Nothing about the world is explained and the lyrical prose makes it difficult to understand. There are so many references to other time periods and ideas that I had to look up things just to figure out what was being said. The point wasn’t to understand the world, which I get, but when you have no idea about the nuisances of the world and there is no world building beyond just the literal basics, it makes the deeper, more important aspects of the story feel less special. I needed up focusing on the plot and all of my questions instead of the themes and love story between Blue and Red. There’s nothing wrong with this novella; it even won the Nebula and Hugo awards, but this just wasn’t for me in terms of execution. It’s one of those books you read to say you read it for clout.
Rating: 2.5/5
The War of Two Queens
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
Did I just spend 12 hours straight reading this book? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely. This was such a good book and a great continuation of the series. There were more answers given than TGOGB and the plot moved throughout, relying less on speculation than TGOGB and it made for a better story. I didn’t think Poppy could become more of a bad ass, but I was WRONG. I don’t have enough good things to say about this book and I am obsessed with it. I have a reading hangover I won’t get over anytime soon.
Rating: 5/5
Spice Rating: 4/5
The Maid
By Nina Prose
I haven’t read a mystery in awhile, but man this was a good book. The MC is neurodivergent, which created an interesting perspective for the story to be told. Her perspective made me think a lot about how we treat others that we consider “different” and how we undervalue those individuals and individuals who are more working class. Bonus points for the ending. I never saw it coming.
Rating: 5/5