Okay so “Body Language” is a book I really really wanted to love because it features an overweight character and that is basically unheard of2.5 Stars
Okay so “Body Language” is a book I really really wanted to love because it features an overweight character and that is basically unheard of in lesfic. And while I didn’t hate it, it left me frustrated in the end and that was disappointing.
Mika is in need of a tutor after she decides to go back to college at 32, Jen, is a professor that is brought in to tutor her. Mika doesn’t want to accept a handout after years of being a self-described female gigolo so she makes a deal with Jen. She’ll let Jen tutor her in school if she can then tutor Jen in sex.
My first issue was the plot. I understand Mika doesn’t want to accept handouts but Jen is a tutor…it is literally her job to tutor Mika, she isn’t doing it for free or out of the goodness of her heart. However, I reminded myself that this is fiction and didn’t let it bother me too much and I moved on, mostly.
My second issue with this was the body positivity and maybe my expectations were greater than what this book was meant to express. It’s listed as an erotic romance and we certainly get the eroticism in spades with many and varied sex scenes throughout. I was hoping for a more positive body positivity storyline with Jen than what I feel like was delivered. Jen is full of self-hate and negativity about her body and that never goes away throughout the book. She had no confidence in her abilities in the bedroom because she was too ashamed to sleep with women. I kept waiting for her to finally accept herself and find her self-confidence in her body in and out of bedroom and she never did. She did learn to become more comfortable with sex and being intimate but even in the end she was having self-doubts about herself when comparing herself to others.
Miscommunication was also a big problem for the last third of the book. I feel like most of the angst/heartache could have been easily dealt with had Mika and Jen had a conversation.
On a positive note, I enjoyed Mika’s story about her dyslexia. She had a difficult time admitting she was having a problem in the beginning and seeing her try new and different ways to overcome it and achieve her dream of getting her diploma was refreshing.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
2.5 Stars
Okay so “Body Language” is a book I really really wanted to love because it features an overweight character and that is basically unheard of in lesfic. And while I didn’t hate it, it left me frustrated in the end and that was disappointing.
Mika is in need of a tutor after she decides to go back to college at 32, Jen, is a professor that is brought in to tutor her. Mika doesn’t want to accept a handout after years of being a self-described female gigolo so she makes a deal with Jen. She’ll let Jen tutor her in school if she can then tutor Jen in sex.
My first issue was the plot. I understand Mika doesn’t want to accept handouts but Jen is a tutor…it is literally her job to tutor Mika, she isn’t doing it for free or out of the goodness of her heart. However, I reminded myself that this is fiction and didn’t let it bother me too much and I moved on, mostly.
My second issue with this was the body positivity and maybe my expectations were greater than what this book was meant to express. It’s listed as an erotic romance and we certainly get the eroticism in spades with many and varied sex scenes throughout. I was hoping for a more positive body positivity storyline with Jen than what I feel like was delivered. Jen is full of self-hate and negativity about her body and that never goes away throughout the book. She had no confidence in her abilities in the bedroom because she was too ashamed to sleep with women. I kept waiting for her to finally accept herself and find her self-confidence in her body in and out of bedroom and she never did. She did learn to become more comfortable with sex and being intimate but even in the end she was having self-doubts about herself when comparing herself to others.
Miscommunication was also a big problem for the last third of the book. I feel like most of the angst/heartache could have been easily dealt with had Mika and Jen had a conversation.
On a positive note, I enjoyed Mika’s story about her dyslexia. She had a difficult time admitting she was having a problem in the beginning and seeing her try new and different ways to overcome it and achieve her dream of getting her diploma was refreshing.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review....more
As soon as I saw that Melissa Brayden was writing a second-chance romance I knew I had to read it. Second-chance is one of my favorite tropes and BrayAs soon as I saw that Melissa Brayden was writing a second-chance romance I knew I had to read it. Second-chance is one of my favorite tropes and Brayden is one of my favorite authors over all so I didn’t figure I could go wrong.
Bethany and Reid were high-school loves and haven’t seen one another in eleven years when they unexpectedly run into each other. This alternates timelines between their senior year when they meet and begin their friendship which then evolves into a secret relationship and their reintroduction to one another.
I really loved the YA version of the story and found that fun and interesting. However, I wasn’t as sold on the current storyline. While I liked them and loved their history as it unfolded, I felt that they really didn’t get to know one another as adults. It seemed like they depended on their feelings from their teen years and it didn’t make sense to me how quickly they got back together. I would’ve liked had this been a little longer and developed their adult emotional connection a bit more. They do talk and reconnect but a lot of it happens off page but it wasn’t enough to buy their feelings after so much time apart.
Even with that, I still enjoyed this a lot and would recommend it. This is in typical Brayden fashion where there’s a lot of heart and banter. Not only between the main characters but between them and the people in their lives as well.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
As soon as I saw that Melissa Brayden was writing a second-chance romance I knew I had to read it. Second-chance is one of my favorite tropes and Brayden is one of my favorite authors over all so I didn’t figure I could go wrong.
Bethany and Reid were high-school loves and haven’t seen one another in eleven years when they unexpectedly run into each other. This alternates timelines between their senior year when they meet and begin their friendship which then evolves into a secret relationship and their reintroduction to one another.
I really loved the YA version of the story and found that fun and interesting. However, I wasn’t as sold on the current storyline. While I liked them and loved their history as it unfolded, I felt that they really didn’t get to know one another as adults. It seemed like they depended on their feelings from their teen years and it didn’t make sense to me how quickly they got back together. I would’ve liked had this been a little longer and developed their adult emotional connection a bit more. They do talk and reconnect but a lot of it happens off page but it wasn’t enough to buy their feelings after so much time apart.
Even with that, I still enjoyed this a lot and would recommend it. This is in typical Brayden fashion where there’s a lot of heart and banter. Not only between the main characters but between them and the people in their lives as well.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
“Chaos Agent” by Lee Winter is book two in the Villains series and picks up right after “The Fixer” ends. I definitely recommend reading “The Fixer” f“Chaos Agent” by Lee Winter is book two in the Villains series and picks up right after “The Fixer” ends. I definitely recommend reading “The Fixer” first or this one won’t mean as much to you and you’ll miss a few things that get mentioned.
This book slows down a bit and really concentrates on Michelle and Eden and their character development. I loved the process each one goes through once Eden realizes that the Fixers isn’t a group of do-gooders., but rather the henchmen of the highest bidder. This is also darker than the previous book as it delves into the how’s and why’s of Michelle’s character, which isn’t pretty.
It was interesting to me because Michelle has a reputation (in the land of Winter’s fans and readers) of being a villain. However, while reading this I came to the conclusion that though she is morally gray and has some questionable ethics, she’s really only a villain to Catherine Ayers. Speaking of, I absolutely loved the scene between Michelle, Eden, Catherine and Lauren. It truly made me so happy as a Catherine Ayers fan.
The relationship between Michelle and Eden was surprisingly sweet. I didn’t think it that would be a word to describe them but it’s what I came up with. Eden is naïve and she loses some of that here. I’ll admit that while reading “The Fixers” I wasn’t sure I would really want the two of them to be together, but by the end I was a fan. Also, if Eden got on your nerves previously, she loses a lot of that and is much more palatable this go round.
While I am giving this five stars, I want to point out some of the things that could bother others. Some people may feel this drags out and while I don’t disagree, I still enjoyed my time of getting more background so it didn’t bother me. I also was completely disappointed with Eden’s mom. I expected her to be a certain way because of how she’s described and her scene just didn’t really jive with that.
Like I said, I didn’t let those things bother me and really loved this little series. If you like interesting storylines with your romances I recommend starting with “The Red Files” and go from there.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
“Chaos Agent” by Lee Winter is book two in the Villains series and picks up right after “The Fixer” ends. I definitely recommend reading “The Fixer” first or this one won’t mean as much to you and you’ll miss a few things that get mentioned.
This book slows down a bit and really concentrates on Michelle and Eden and their character development. I loved the process each one goes through once Eden realizes that the Fixers isn’t a group of do-gooders., but rather the henchmen of the highest bidder. This is also darker than the previous book as it delves into the how’s and why’s of Michelle’s character, which isn’t pretty.
It was interesting to me because Michelle has a reputation (in the land of Winter’s fans and readers) of being a villain. However, while reading this I came to the conclusion that though she is morally gray and has some questionable ethics, she’s really only a villain to Catherine Ayers. Speaking of, I absolutely loved the scene between Michelle, Eden, Catherine and Lauren. It truly made me so happy as a Catherine Ayers fan.
The relationship between Michelle and Eden was surprisingly sweet. I didn’t think it that would be a word to describe them but it’s what I came up with. Eden is naïve and she loses some of that here. I’ll admit that while reading “The Fixers” I wasn’t sure I would really want the two of them to be together, but by the end I was a fan. Also, if Eden got on your nerves previously, she loses a lot of that and is much more palatable this go round.
While I am giving this five stars, I want to point out some of the things that could bother others. Some people may feel this drags out and while I don’t disagree, I still enjoyed my time of getting more background so it didn’t bother me. I also was completely disappointed with Eden’s mom. I expected her to be a certain way because of how she’s described and her scene just didn’t really jive with that.
Like I said, I didn’t let those things bother me and really loved this little series. If you like interesting storylines with your romances I recommend starting with “The Red Files” and go from there.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review....more
“The Business of Love” by Charley Clarke is a sweet fake dating romance that I enjoyed a lot.
To become the next CEO of her family’s company, Mackenzi“The Business of Love” by Charley Clarke is a sweet fake dating romance that I enjoyed a lot.
To become the next CEO of her family’s company, Mackenzie (Mack) Watson needs to get married. Unfortunately for her, she’s stopped dating after her ex cheated and used her for money.
Taylor Sutton needs money. She’s barely making it as a barista while she pays off school loans and figures out her next step.
The two are set up on a blind date by mutual friends but Mack accidentally stands her up while working. They keep running into one another because of their friends and though they don’t get along, they decide to date and get married to help each other out.
I actually read this right before I read The Fiancée Farce and I have to say I enjoyed this one a lot more. While they have very similar storylines, they couldn’t be more different. This book was so sweet and with very little angst. While their relationship starts off rocky, both Mack and Taylor are caring and lovable characters and really try hard to be there for the other.
I loved how their relationship slowly developed over time. I find slow burns harder and harder to find lately and this one fit the bill perfectly. Clarke really gives them time to get to know one another and to let their feelings grow and change.
Highly recommended!
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
“The Business of Love” by Charley Clarke is a sweet fake dating romance that I enjoyed a lot.
To become the next CEO of her family’s company, Mackenzie (Mack) Watson needs to get married. Unfortunately for her, she’s stopped dating after her ex cheated and used her for money.
Taylor Sutton needs money. She’s barely making it as a barista while she pays off school loans and figures out her next step.
The two are set up on a blind date by mutual friends but Mack accidentally stands her up while working. They keep running into one another because of their friends and though they don’t get along, they decide to date and get married to help each other out.
I actually read this right before I read The Fiancée Farce and I have to say I enjoyed this one a lot more. While they have very similar storylines, they couldn’t be more different. This book was so sweet and with very little angst. While their relationship starts off rocky, both Mack and Taylor are caring and lovable characters and really try hard to be there for the other.
I loved how their relationship slowly developed over time. I find slow burns harder and harder to find lately and this one fit the bill perfectly. Clarke really gives them time to get to know one another and to let their feelings grow and change.
Highly recommended!
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review....more
I received an ARC from Harlequin-Romance via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book didn't click with me. There were too mI received an ARC from Harlequin-Romance via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book didn't click with me. There were too many issues that I couldn't get past to be able and enjoy the romance. 1. It's way too repetitive. Between Ava and Grace talking to friends/family and their inner monologues, the readers hears the same sentiments over and over. 2. The reasoning behind Ava and Grace's friendship ending and Ava not wanting to know Grace in the present was ridiculous. It was completely immature actually makes no sense and as an adult she had no business using it as an excuse. It put her in a very bad light. 3. The miscommunication/lack of communication was used badly here. All they needed was ONE conversation and things would've been settled. 4. The worst thing, the romance was boring. There was no tension and everything felt very surface level.
Even with how this one turned out for me, I'd be interested to read something else from Karmen Lee to see if this was just a one off. ...more
Frankie and Cassidy are each reeling from a personal tragedy. Both are dealing with grief and guilt and decide to take some time off in isolation to dFrankie and Cassidy are each reeling from a personal tragedy. Both are dealing with grief and guilt and decide to take some time off in isolation to deal with it. Unfortunately for them, their destination happens to be the same spot.
So, I’m going to be in the minority it seems with “Camp Lost and Found” by Georgia Beers. I’ve not read many, if any, reviews but I’ve seen the overall ratings and they all seem higher compared to mine.
While there is nothing wrong with the book, it lacked an emotional depth that I assumed you would get with this storyline. I liked both characters and enjoyed what we have with them. However, to me, it felt like the relationship was just taking off when we get to the end of the book.
It was just very hard for me to wrap my head around what we get. These two women who are feeling so out of sorts that they have to get away from their real lives suddenly, within two weeks of meeting, start a relationship? While I could believe they may be attracted to one another I didn’t feel like they really knew one another enough to be declaring their love for each other. I also know people deal with their grief in different ways but once again, this doesn’t seem like it would be the beginning of a long-lasting love. They hardly know each other and they’re certainly not up to their normal selves for the time we see them together. Frankie and Cassidy do talk to an extent it just wasn’t enough to convince me in the end.
I think if you’re a Beers fan, the chances are you’re going to like this one as most have. Like I said before, this is a nice enough romance. It just lacks the depth I was expecting.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for honest review....more
I should start this review off by saying I’m a huge Amanda Radley fan. It’s going to take work for her to write a book I don’t love. “Detour 4.5 Stars
I should start this review off by saying I’m a huge Amanda Radley fan. It’s going to take work for her to write a book I don’t love. “Detour to Love” is classic Radley. It’s a slow burn, ice queen, age-gap, and low heat romance.
Celia and Lily meet while traveling to Tokyo. Celia, 51, is an executive going to accept an award she really doesn’t want. Lily, 25, is finally meeting her crush in person after years of talking online. Their journey is interrupted and they are forced together after some unusual circumstances.
Celia really starts off as the rude ice queen. Over time her story comes out and you can’t help but feel badly for her and see her in a different light. Lily, comes across as very sweet (and patient), if a little naïve. However, she doesn’t put up with Celia’s rudeness and calls her out on it time after time.
This is strangers to friends to romantic love. We don’t really see much of the romantic love until the epilogue. Watching them become friends and really get to know one another was a joy. They’re each dealing with some painful things going on at the time of their meeting and by chance are able to help each other. Neither has a close group of friends and because of their circumstances, they provide the support the other needs.
As I said above, this is very low heat. There aren’t any explicit scenes so if that’s a must have for you, you should look elsewhere. I didn’t find it lacking but I also wasn’t expecting it.
In the end, this a really well written romance about two people who come into each other’s lives at the right time. I recommend this to romance fans who enjoy fun and funny banter.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
4.5 Stars
I should start this review off by saying I’m a huge Amanda Radley fan. It’s going to take work for her to write a book I don’t love. “Detour to Love” is classic Radley. It’s a slow burn, ice queen, age-gap, and low heat romance.
Celia and Lily meet while traveling to Tokyo. Celia, 51, is an executive going to accept an award she really doesn’t want. Lily, 25, is finally meeting her crush in person after years of talking online. Their journey is interrupted and they are forced together after some unusual circumstances.
Celia really starts off as the rude ice queen. Over time her story comes out and you can’t help but feel badly for her and see her in a different light. Lily, comes across as very sweet (and patient), if a little naïve. However, she doesn’t put up with Celia’s rudeness and calls her out on it time after time.
This is strangers to friends to romantic love. We don’t really see much of the romantic love until the epilogue. Watching them become friends and really get to know one another was a joy. They’re each dealing with some painful things going on at the time of their meeting and by chance are able to help each other. Neither has a close group of friends and because of their circumstances, they provide the support the other needs.
As I said above, this is very low heat. There aren’t any explicit scenes so if that’s a must have for you, you should look elsewhere. I didn’t find it lacking but I also wasn’t expecting it.
In the end, this a really well written romance about two people who come into each other’s lives at the right time. I recommend this to romance fans who enjoy fun and funny banter.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review....more
**spoiler alert** I thought this was fine romance for the most part. Because of the way it’s written we miss a lot of the actual romance. So it lacks **spoiler alert** I thought this was fine romance for the most part. Because of the way it’s written we miss a lot of the actual romance. So it lacks depth on that front for me. Otherwise, it was fine and I was enjoying it for what it was. The reason for the low rating is because Breezy’s best friend, Oscar, and her love interest, Jules, intentionally get her to sign a contract under false pretenses. This deception is excused because she “never would’ve agreed otherwise” and is basically laughed off and ignored for the rest of the book. And it was even worse with how easily she did agree once they explained things. I just couldn’t get past that and stopped rooting for the romance after that. ...more
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mattie is newly divorced and has moved back in with her parents.I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mattie is newly divorced and has moved back in with her parents. She’s an actress and takes a job at a high school teaching theater after going months without getting any roles. On her first day she meets the soccer coach, Jillian, and the two get off on the wrong foot.
I know I’m a bit of an outlier with this one. And while I did get to a point where I liked this, it took me a while to get into it and I had a few issues with it overall.
“Loser of the Year” is exactly why I have an issue with a single point of view in a romance. Mattie’s pov is the only one we get and I think the story would’ve been much better with Jillian’s pov as well. In the beginning, I didn’t understand Jillian as she’s guarded and she comes across as very Sue-like from Glee. So, it took a long time for me to get to a point where I liked her and understood what Mattie saw in her.
There was also a lot of telling instead of showing. The timeline is spread out and it was hard for me to buy into the relationship once they get to that point. Most of their interactions are of the sexual variety once that starts and I wish we would’ve had more conversations and emotional depth to go along with all the steamy scenes.
Another thing is something that’s more of a me thing. This is a rivals-to-lovers romance but Mattie spends all their time as rivals thinking about how hot Jillian is. It’s one of those things that bugs me because it pops up every time they interact. I know it’s not an issue for everyone, but for me if I don’t like someone, I don’t spend time thinking about their hot arms or jawline.
However, like I said above, I did get to a point where I became invested. It just came a little late. I loved the evolution and growth Mattie and Jillian go through, especially Jillian’s story. I also enjoyed the interactions with their students and how it propelled them in their growth.
“Loser of the Year” by Carrie Byrd is a debut but doesn’t feel like one. It’s clear Byrd is a talented writer and I look forward to see what she has planned next....more
Playing For Keeps by Jennifer Dugan is a young adult contemporary romance. It’s a rivals-to-lovers sports romance between a high school baseball pitchPlaying For Keeps by Jennifer Dugan is a young adult contemporary romance. It’s a rivals-to-lovers sports romance between a high school baseball pitcher (June) and student umpire (Ivy.)
This was a bad fit for me for several different reasons. Firstly, it’s marketed as rivals-to-lovers but that fell flat for me because they’re into each other by their third interaction. I would’ve like to see this drawn out a bit more. Especially given that their whole romance is a no-no with their sports rec.
This leads to my second point; their relationship moves so quickly that it bypasses the emotional connection for me. A lot of their development happened off page so it felt like I was being told about their relationship rather than seeing it happen. The reader gets the scenes where they’re dealing with their family drama and other things instead of the relationship.
This story is actually a lot heavier than the cover might imply but it wasn’t an issue for me because I’m a fan of angst. June and Ivy are both dealing with the loss of a close family member. One has recently lost her mother to cancer while the other has lost her brother, also to cancer. They have a ton of pressure on them about their futures that stems from the losses. A good majority of the story deals with this. I didn’t mind this storyline as it felt realistic but I also didn’t like how it to up so much of the story. It made the romance feel tacked on more than anything.
My last big issue was the miscommunication, or rather, lack of communication. I hate miscommunication when it’s used how it was done here. It made me wonder why they even wanted to date each other if they wouldn’t even communicate some basic information.
Sadly, this is not something I’d recommend. Hopefully I’ll have better luck with Dugan’s new release.
I received an ARC from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
**spoiler alert** Aubrey McFadden is Never Getting Married is a good, fun read. Other reviews pointing out this is Beers at the top of her game were a**spoiler alert** Aubrey McFadden is Never Getting Married is a good, fun read. Other reviews pointing out this is Beers at the top of her game were all on point.
Aubrey’s friend group has decided 2024 is the year to get married. Five of her college friends are getting married and she’s either involved or attending all the weddings. Monica is dealing with the same thing as she’s also a part of the same friend group. The issue is that Monica is Aubrey’s nemesis and has been for 10 years when Monica was involved with Aubrey being left right before her wedding ceremony was to happen.
Aubrey and Monica are both great. This is told from Aubrey’s point of view and while I would’ve loved Monica’s pov, I don’t think we’re missing out on too much with not having it. I also like how Emma, Aubrey’s daughter, is portrayed. I have a niece the same age and could absolutely see her acting how Emma did.
So why didn’t I give it 5 stars? Let me tell you:
• Aubrey and Monica have known each other since they were freshmen in college when Aubrey started dating Monica’s best friend, Cody. Aubrey and Cody dated all four years of college but it’s stated again and again that Aubrey and Monica hardly know one another. How? How do you not know your best friend’s significant other? Or your boyfriend’s best friend? That makes no sense. Especially when you’re in the same friend group? • Monica says she’s been in love with Aubrey since college…look at my point above, they hardly know one another so again, how? • Monica has no clue Cody barely spends time with Emma. They are best friends; how does she not know how involved he is with his kid?
Other than those points above, I really loved this. It was fun and cute and while it doesn’t get too deep beyond the surface level, it’s a good way to occupy yourself for a couple of hours.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
This is an unusual Lee Winter book in that it is a bonafide romantic comedy. I thought it was silly and ridiculous but in a good way.
The premise is aThis is an unusual Lee Winter book in that it is a bonafide romantic comedy. I thought it was silly and ridiculous but in a good way.
The premise is a bit absurd in itself. Olivia, tired of being taken advantage of, decides to get revenge on her exes. She needs a “henchperson” to assist her and Margaret applies for the job. Olivia and Margaret are as different as night and day. Olivia is the sunny, sweet one whereas Margaret is the grumpy ice queen. It makes for an amusing journey on their way to love. Silly, right?
It’s told from Olivia’s pov. There are some journal entries from Margaret that allows the reader to be in her head space about her feelings. The journal entries were very helpful in the beginning because Margaret was closed off in her interactions with Olivia. This is a slow burn and Margaret’s melting was nuanced. I enjoyed her insights and the way she processed her feelings through the journal entries.
I thought this was good fun and enjoyed my time with it. While it is ridiculous for the most part, there were a few serious moments. Those moments were fantastic and allowed me to take these women and their lives more seriously and gave them more depth.
Also, if you don’t like muffin puns you may want to skip this.
Recommended!
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I received an ARC from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
“Wish You Weren’t Here” is a sweet coming of age YA story. While thI received an ARC from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
“Wish You Weren’t Here” is a sweet coming of age YA story. While this is classified as a romance, I’m not sure I’d go that far. While there is a romance, it’s more of a subplot than anything else. This is more about Juliette’s journey to finding self-discovery and acceptance.
I only went to summer camp once and unfortunately; I don’t remember much about it. However, this story has made me see what I was missing. Camp Fogridge is Juliette’s oasis from her home life and it’s the only place where she feels like she can really be herself. At home she’s a middle child that is ignored and considered “too much.” At school she has to deal with Priya, a social media influencer, that she’s known most of her life. Priya, while not an enemy exactly, gets on her nerves with how perfect her life is. Her plans to enjoy her last summer at Camp Fogridge come crashing down when she finds out Priya will be her roommate for the summer.
Juliette is an intense girl with intense feelings. She doesn’t make a great first impression as she is pretty insufferable to start. Because of her home life, she has some issues with her self-worth and being insecure. She doesn’t take Priya being at camp well and it takes a lot of work for her to accept the situation. Luckily, she has some friends that help.
Priya has known Juliette for long enough that she doesn’t let Juliette’s attitude get her down. Their relationships grows and evolves over the 5 weeks and I loved how sweet and funny they were with each other. I did have an issue with Juliette some of the time. She could verge on being a bully sometimes and I wanted to see her held accountable and deal with that more.
I appreciated all the queer and POC rep. I think it did a nice job of showing how differently things are now even if it doesn’t always feel like it. Especially with the younger generations. Race and sexuality were accepted without much discussion if any at all.
Also, kudos to the author. This is Baldwin’s debut and nothing about this felt like it. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to find out she’s written under a pen name or something like that.
I want to end by saying this felt young adult. I read quite a bit of YA and it doesn’t always feel YA. There’s a lot of teen angst and emotions and I appreciated that the author did make this seem like 20 years old and slap a YA label on it. ...more
Integrity is the first book in the Halcyon Division series. It’s a spy thriller/political intrigue romance that left me wanting to immediately dive inIntegrity is the first book in the Halcyon Division series. It’s a spy thriller/political intrigue romance that left me wanting to immediately dive into the next book.
Lexie is an intelligence analyst when she gets a call from a source that will change everything. She’s forced to go on the run and decides to take Sophie, the woman she’s been talking to, with her as cover.
This was a fun and engaging read, which isn’t a surprise since it’s E J Noyes. It starts off with some action pretty early on and then slows down quite a bit. Lexie and Sophia are on a road trip and are hotel hopping for the middle. It slows the action down but allows the relationship to grow. This was interesting as they had already started seeing one another before the start of the book. They had about a month or two of flirting that we don’t get. So, while this isn’t quite instalove, it’s pretty fast. I wasn’t sure I 100% bought into the romance, especially with what Sophia was thrown into. Luckily, there’s no big declaration or anything, more like I really like you and wanna see where these goes. Which I was very happy with. The action picks up again towards the end for those that like all those action scenes.
The main issue I had was that we don’t get Sophia’s point of view. There’s a lot that goes on in a very short amount of time. She’s having to process it all quickly as things are very time sensitive. I would have loved to be in her head when some of the revelations start coming out and I was disappointed we didn’t get that.
There wasn’t much of a cliff hanger, as I would’ve been totally okay with this if it wasn’t a series. But I’m so glad to know that this isn’t the end of the story. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
With Emily Waters’ sophomore release, Two is a Pattern, she has most definitely moved to the top of my auto-buy list.
I don’t want to give anything awWith Emily Waters’ sophomore release, Two is a Pattern, she has most definitely moved to the top of my auto-buy list.
I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just say read the blurb if you haven’t. This isn’t a traditional romance where the romance is front and center. However, I absolutely adore what is there. Helen has my whole heart and I for sure want more of her in a follow up to this. Also, this is set in the 90’s and I’m just old enough that is made me a little nostalgic a few times.
What I love about Waters’ writing is that she draws me in and makes love the characters. She has a talent for not only what she says, but also for what she doesn’t say. She doesn’t follow the traditional formula, which is a nice break.
I know I’ve mentioned Helen, but she isn’t the main character. Annie, whose point of view this is from, is the star. Waters makes her feel real and you can’t help but to root for her. She’s messy and chaotic but in the best way. She’s brilliant and just fantastic but doesn’t seem to know it. She’s trying to navigate a life she didn’t exactly ask for and is doing the best she can.
So, I’m going to go ahead and a give spoiler. There isn’t a happy ending here, it’s more of a hopeful one if you squint and tilt your head sideways and read between the lines. This is the reason for me wanting a follow up. I’m gonna need that second chance romance so Helen can have her well-deserved happy ending, Annie too, I guess. The reason I'm mentioning it is that I know it can irritate people when it doesn't have a well defined happily ever after.
Highly recommended from me.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
This is one of those books I wanted to DNF during the first half but was glad to kept with it. The second half worked better for me. I’m not sure if tThis is one of those books I wanted to DNF during the first half but was glad to kept with it. The second half worked better for me. I’m not sure if the first half is just slow or Astrid just grated on me until I got used to her or what but by the end, I was happy to have read it all.
Astrid is written as unlikeable and I for sure did not like her. Some have said that she was charming but I didn’t find anything charming about her, I found her to be insufferable. She’s a writer trying to come up with her next book while also juggling a chaotic love life. However, she hides behind Adderall and alcohol, is narcissistic and wholly unreliable as a narrator.
They say this is a “hilarious nod to 1950s lesbian pulp fiction” but if it was, it went over my head. I’m almost positive I’ve never read anything classified as lesbian pulp. So please go read other reviews for that comparison.
I will say that Astrid’s commentary on Carole (The Price of Salt) did make me laugh. I was very happy to see a lesbian agree with me on how terrible Carole is. Astrid has lots of thoughts and I actually agreed with some of them. I wasn’t a fan of how she always relayed those thoughts but she wasn’t always wrong, although she often times was.
While I did get invested in Astrid and her story, I thought her growth came a little too late and while it didn’t come out of nowhere, it didn’t make sense how quickly it came about. The ending as a whole felt rushed after the slow start.
I don’t think everyone will love this but I do think some will absolutely love it. It’s very much one of those that you have to read and figure it out for yourself.
I received an ARC from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
"The Apple Diary" is a sweet and heartwarming romance. This isn’t one of Hill’s scary or thriller reads, it’s pure romance from beginning to end. Ther"The Apple Diary" is a sweet and heartwarming romance. This isn’t one of Hill’s scary or thriller reads, it’s pure romance from beginning to end. There are actually two romances featured.
Madilyn is at her grandfather’s estate after the death of her grandmother. She’s asked to stay a while and in the process of moving, finds an old diary. It turns out to be her great-grandmother’s diary. It details Isabel’s, Madilyn’s great-grandmother, affair with a woman in 1933 and changes her life.
After reading the diary she decides to replant and open the apple orchard that used to cover the acres around the home. She hires Dylan to be in charge of getting the orchard back up again. Dylan is the opposite of Madilyn. Whereas Madilyn is lonely and just living her life, she isn’t very happy. Dylan, on the other hand, is more outgoing and carefree and sees the positive side to things.
There were many similarities between Isabel’s story and Madilyn’s. Both suffer from loneliness and boredom. They find friendship in unexpected places that leads to more. I was heart broken for Isabel and really connected with her story. The loneliness and her grief really come through in the pages of the diary. I could see how that would touch and effect Madilyn the way it did.
This is a slow burn and Hill really takes her time with establishing the characters and the romance. You really get to know both Madilyn and Dylan as people and as friends before things start to morph into the romantic. This is also a toaster-oven romance, which is in line with Hill. I have to say I liked the fact that Madilyn didn’t get caught up in her sexuality. She accepts things as they are once she realizes her feelings for Dylan. It’s nice to see Hill change things up a bit.
The reason I’m not giving it five stars is that I did feel it was a little repetitive in places. A more me thing is that it leaned in a little too heavy on the sappy fated love vibe for me.
Overall, this was a hit for me and I recommend it for fans of romance, especially nature-loving romance fans.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
I received an ARC from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mara and Rory were best friends with deeper feelings when the worlI received an ARC from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mara and Rory were best friends with deeper feelings when the world as they knew it ended. Now Mara has to learn how to be human again and live with what happened while she was a Tick. After Mara is turned from being a Tick, she’s sent to Rory’s to try to acclimate to things. Rory, who has survived without being turned, has had a tough time and is trying to survive their new normal. She hates the Ticks is unhappy that Mara will be joining her family.
No one is more surprised than me that I loved this book. Zombie, dystopian books really aren’t my jam but I’m glad I decided to give this one a go. I literally couldn’t put it down.
This was dark, intense, and emotional and had me stressed out at certain points. But I loved it. I liked the world building since most cities have fallen and only a small portion of the population remains. It was interesting to see how different factions are trying to regroup and live this post zombie reality.
It was also interesting to see how the apocalypse has changed people. A lot of people changed in ways you might not have imagined and I liked that Archer shows us how it shaped them. Especially how Rory and her mom basically switched roles.
I do wish we had gotten more of Mara and Rory together outside of high action scenes. I really liked their dynamic (the tension!!) but it felt like all of their scenes together had so much going on and I would’ve loved to see them once they got to settle a little. I’d love to see maybe a sequel to show life after the ending of this.
My only issues were there were a couple of instances where it would start to drag a little. I also needed more on Mara’s relationship with her sister, Carter. Carter plays a big role but she’s hardly ever seen and I wanted more out of those two.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s sad, funny, and emotional and had me hooked from the beginning.
Nicole’s wife died a few years ago but she thinks shI absolutely loved this book. It’s sad, funny, and emotional and had me hooked from the beginning.
Nicole’s wife died a few years ago but she thinks she finally may be at a place to start dating. Maybe. Avery has been in a toxic relationship for seven years and is finally realizing it may be time to move on. The two meet after connecting on a dating app. While the date doesn’t turn out like they’d expect, they can’t deny they have chemistry.
I wouldn’t call this a romance. There is a romantic subplot but this deals more with each woman’s journey of healing and moving on from their prior relationships. They each carry baggage and aren’t initially ready for each other. But I loved how the pull they felt to one another grows with each interaction. My favorite part was the process and the slow burn feel to it all. This is very character driven and Jackson is excellent when it comes to the characters.
This doesn’t have the traditional happily ever after but it definitely feels hopeful and that everything is going to work out. I’d love to read more about them in the future.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Unfortunately, this is one I just didn’t enjoy. But the main reason is on me as I didn’t realize going in that this is a novella.
This a sapphic regenUnfortunately, this is one I just didn’t enjoy. But the main reason is on me as I didn’t realize going in that this is a novella.
This a sapphic regency era re-telling of Cinderella. Ridley doesn’t seem to stray too far off from the Disney movie, however, there are a few changes.
Cynthia has become the maid to her stepmother and stepsisters after the passing of her father. She lives to do their bidding and little else. Then one day the Prince and Princess of Parmenza come to town looking for a wife for the prince. However, Princess Ammalia and Cynthia make eye contact during the royal parade and have an instant connection.
This was a case of instalove in very high gear. I’m not sure the two have an actual conversation before they’re a couple.
I needed this to be fleshed out and not so rushed. This is just over 100 pages so there wasn’t a whole lot of time for much of anything to happen, especially when so much was going on.
While I didn’t connect with this, I really enjoyed The Perks of Loving a Wallflower and will look for more sapphic stories from Ridley in the future.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
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