Behind the Scenes — Karelia Stetz-Waters

“Yes, I’m passionate about you.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses parental death, a car accident, scars, toxic relationships, panic disorders, and mental illness. Contains explicit sexual content.

“Behind the Scenes” follows Rose Josten, a business consultant, and Ash Stewart, a movie director, as they try to pitch a movie and not act on their instant attraction for each other. But the more time they spend together, the more said attraction becomes less of a concept and more of a reality. With a bunch of whimsical characters, this novel will capture your heart before the director can say “Cut!”

This was a wild read, to say the least. It describes ASMR videos to a point that made me uncomfortable and Ash and her aversion to human touch was a bit off-putting to me, but in the end I learned to love every single character and pup in this novel. Rose’s sisters were one of the absolute highlights of this story. I loved how every character was complex yet flawed, making it as realistic as this could get.

I would highly recommend this read if you like sapphic romances. This could actually be a really good introductory romance for new sapphic romance readers. This book left you with so much lessons beyond just who you love and get intimate with. It was a fun and unique read with a ton of character growth and I can’t wait to read more from Karelia Stetz-Waters.

I read this book for the Chick Lit Is The Shit (CLITS) Book Club (@clitsbookclub on instagram) February Buddy Read event!

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Icebreaker — Hannah Grace — Maple Hills (UCMH) #1

“Falling in love with Nathan Hawkins was not something I could have planned. No planner, iPad, or freaking sticker chart could have prepared me for my future. My imagination isn’t capable of dreaming up this level of happiness.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 5 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Describes eating disorders, emotional abuse, body shaming, toxic friendship, gaslighting, death of parent, and bullying centered on being adopted. Contains a lot of explicit sexual content.

“Icebreaker” follows Anastasia (Stassie) Allen, a figure skater aspiring to make it to the Olympics, and Nathan Hawkins, the hockey team captain of the university Stassie attends. Considering the University of California, Maple Hills (UCMH) has two ice rinks, they never really crossed paths until a series of unfortunate events leads to one of the rinks being out of service for the near future and so the hockey and ice skating teams now have to share a single rink. Their attraction is undeniable from the start, but so is their hesitation towards commitment. I mean, in the end they both have the same goals: going pro in their field. Nobody’s got time for relationships, right?

Well, this review can be summarized with one sentence: This book is definitely worth the hype. You’ve probably seen “Icebreaker” all over social media and I’m just here to say that this should be your next read if you’re looking for a steamy romance. You won’t regret it.

No, you don’t need to know anything about hockey or figure skating to appreciate this book. But will you still be rooting for Nathan and Stassie all throughout? Absolutely yes.

Something else I loved about this book is that it had various arcs. Usually shorter books tend to have one conflict and one solution and that’s it, but “Icebreaker” had various conflict come up and although it was heavy on the plot, it was also very cemented on character development.

Thank you so much to Ash from @beyondthebookcase on instagram for letting me join her buddy read, it was so so fun.

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ARC — Must Love Books — Shauna Robinson

“There’s more to you than just your book.”

Genre: Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses racism, suicide, and suicidal ideation.

You know the feeling when all the things that could go wrong, actually go wrong? Well, that’s exactly how Nora Hughes is feeling after she finds herself stuck in a job that’s underpaying her and that’s in her dream field, but not even remotely close to her dream job-she’s an assistant editor at a publisher…..that only publishes business books written by middle-aged white men for middle-aged white men. She dreamed of editing the next big American novel, but that couldn’t be further from her reality. So when they cut her salary even further, making it so she can’t even afford rent anymore, she will have to resort to some slightly unethical practices to survive.

The publisher does not classify this as a romance book, and they’re right at that. “Must Love Books” is not a romance per se, even though there are some romantic scenes and sexual tension here and there. It, in fact, does not bang (like, they do bang but we don’t get to see any of that).

This was a great read, especially if you’re looking for a book that isn’t romance-centric or a book about the world of book publishing. I mean, what reader doesn’t love a book about books? The characters were charming and the story engaging at all times. I wouldn’t change a thing about Nora’s story.

I would recommend this book to readers who’ve enjoyed books by Sally Thorne and Emily Henry. I mean, to be honest, I will probably be recommending this book all year round. It’s that good- but only if you’re looking for a closed door romance and are open to different happily ever afters.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and One More Chapter in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 16, 2023

ARC — Taco Bout Love — Lily Kate

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Discusses unhealthy relationships, domestic abuse, miscarriages, death of parents, and emotional abuse. Contains explicit sexual content.

“Taco Bout Love” is told through two points of view: Chloe’s and Lucas’s. Chloe has just arrived to Fantasie, a small town in Maine, when her food truck lowkey dies on a parking spot. That parking spot is Lucas’s and for some reason it really bugged him. And so this story starts, with strangers turning to enemies and then, perhaps, turning into something more.

The male main character referred to the female main character as “petite and thin” the moment he saw her and that just isn’t my jam. I’m not for body shaming, but using those words to describe a complete stranger that you’re sexualizing just didn’t sit well with me.

In general the dialogue was a bit iffy and the spicy, sensual scenes just felt forced. This is an entertaining read if you’re looking for a fast-paced, steamy romance that takes place in a small-town setting, yet I can’t help but feel that everything about this book is simply forgettable.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and LK Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 14, 2023

Blog Tour ARC — A Game of Hearts and Heists — Ruby Roe

Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 4 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Describes parental death, assassination, and general violence. Contains really explicit sexual content.

“A Game of Hearts and Heists” follows Scarlett Grey, an assassin who’s fallen to ruin, and Quinn Adams, a medic-turned-poisoner. This dark fantasy romance follows these two enemies as they’re forced to work together and ignore their sexual attraction… Until they don’t. But how are you supposed to work alongside someone you don’t trust? Specially when there is so much at stake.

Ah, the sweetness of enemies to lovers in a fantasy world. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, yet this is my first fantasy read of 2023—and I am so glad this was it. With dual POV, this sadistic story is told beautifully. Ruby Roe has portrayed the most tormented characters and I was there for it. With so many twists and turns, this book will tempt you to read it in one sitting.

I would recommend this read if you’re into dark fantasy romance or are just looking for a unique sapphic story to read. So, grab this steamy romance and see for yourself how enemies can love better than any common lover.

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ARC provided by Paper Myths and Ruby Roe/Sacha Black in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 10, 2023

ARC — Take The Lead — Alexis Daria

“It’s just you and me, dancing together.”
“And millions of people watching on live TV.”
“You’re not dancing with those people. You’re only dancing with me.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Discusses racism, sexism, and emotional abuse. Contains explicit sexual content.

“Take The Lead” follows Gina Morales, a latina New Yorker that’s made it in Hollywood as a professional dancer, and Stone Nielson, a TV survivalist who’s made it to the spotlight essentially against his will. Gina is part of the profesional dancer cast of “The Dance Off”, a Dancing-With-The-Stars-esque TV show, and her partner for the season is Stone. They’re are opposite as opposites get, yet their attraction and connection are undeniable. Too bad Gina has sworn off workplace romances… Right?

This book exceeded my expectations in every way. I loved and connected with the characters more than I expected; and I was entertained and captivated by a topic I’m not particularly interested in (dancing and reality TV). I wouldn’t change a single thing about this novel.

I am a fan of Alexis Daria’s writing but I had not read her debut before. Now, with its re-publishing, I am endeared even more. Alexis was my first auto-buy author, and it seems like it’ll be staying that way.

This book is as steamy as they get, in true Daria fashion. I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy close proximity romances and opposites attract situations. Oh, and aren’t afraid of some sexy dancing and dancing, if you know what I mean.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 14, 2023

ARC — Planning Perfect — Haley Neil

“I can practically see a Pinterest board version of the reception coming together with fairy lights and mismatched vintage china settings and a simple white cake with berries dotted along one side for a pop of color.”

Genre: Young Adult
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: N/A, it’s clean
Content Warnings: Discusses racism, queerphobia, and ace-phobia.

“Planning Perfect” follows Felicity (Fe) Becker, a high schooler who’s in the asexual spectrum, as she helps plan her mother’s wedding. Looking for a venue for a destination wedding, Felicity’s long distance friend, Nancy, offers up her house and adjacent apple orchard and so it’s set. But as they spend more time together, Felicity’s and Nancy’s friendship blossoms into something more… But what could that something be, given Felicity’s asexuality? Anyways, she doesn’t have time to date because one of the wedding guests is an event planner with a very competitive internship program so Felicity has no time for anything else but to plan the perfect wedding.

This book really resonated with me, as a new adult, because I am currently in the midst of planning my wedding and I now know all too well the hassles and stresses of planning such a particular event. It was also super interesting to listen to Felicity’s inner monologue. My brother is within the asexual spectrum and seeing how Felicity thought really gave me another perspective as to how that could feel and the struggles they can face.

I really enjoyed how these chapters were being separated, instead of just “Chapter One” etc. etc., they used chapter divisions to give context about when things were happening, life for example “Two hours and six minutes after the engagement” or “Twenty one days until the wedding” and so on and so forth. That made flashbacks and the timeline in general more understandable and I loved it.

This was such a unique YA read. I feel like it’s the perfect gift for young readers who are just starting to get into the world of reading and romance. With a very diverse set of characters that goes through extensive personal growth, we get to see a lovely story unfold in a beautiful forest-y setting.

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ARC provided by Holly Ruck and Bloomsbury YA through Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 14, 2023

“Sure, Nancy knows that I’m on the ace-spectrum, but I don’t think she realizes what that means.
She wants intimacy; she wants passion. I can’t be the one to give those things to her.”

ARC — Not Your Valentine — Jackie Lau

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 4 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses parental abandonment and going viral over something embarrassing. Contains explicit sexual content.

“Not Your Valentine” follows Helen Tsang, a chemistry lab instructor, as she decides that the best way to get people to stop asking her about her relationship status after having a very public break up was to start fake-dating her high school best friend.

This book is your perfect fake-dating, friends to lovers novella. It’s also described as a grumpy/sunshine situation—I honestly didn’t see it that way, but that doesn’t mean I loved it any less. Set around Valentine’s Day, this is a perfect seasonal read for February. The cover doesn’t have much to do with the actual story and I hate misleading covers, but it’s cute so I’ll let it pass.

I would highly recommend this novella if you’re looking for a short romance that’ll give you all the spice and all the aw’s you’ll need for days.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Kobo Originals in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: January 24, 2023

ARC — The Friendship Breakup — Annie Cathryn

“I am grateful for the experience of our friendship. Rather than continuing to force the friendship at the cost of losing myself, it’s okay to recognize the friendship has run its course and served its purpose, and to let it go. (…) When I think back to the term BFF, I realize the promise of forever isn’t always guaranteed. It’s more like forever for now.”

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discussed unhealthy relationships, infertility, divorce, and friendship breakups (duh).

“The Friendship Breakup” follows Fallon Monroe, a mom-of-one and aspiring chocolatier, as she travels through life after her best mom friends ghost her, and refuse to tell her why.

It took me a while to finish this book but that’s only a reflection on how busy I have been—because once I grabbed it with a bit of free time, I couldn’t put it down. How is this Annie Cathryn’s debut? It’s astounding.

The climax was so cathartic, reminding us that sometimes its okay if things get messy. The premise in general was captivating and beautifully executed. I literally would not change a thing about this book.

This book is heartbreaking in a way that, I feel, most of us will understand. In early adulthood and I can only assume that beyond, we lose friends. Only a lucky few have had the same friends since childhood. Even if you have a few old friends, new ones tend to come and go—and sometimes we don’t even know why, and sometimes the reasons don’t even have much to do with us. That’s why I related so much to Fallon, even if I am not more than just a dog mom and engaged to be married.

I looked at “The Friendship Breakup” and I pondered about where me and my friends and my significant other will be 10 or 20 years from now. How much would change, how much would stay the same. I’ll be carrying this book with me for a while.

I would highly recommend this to any young or new adult, no matter what stage of your life you’re in. It’s described as a mom-com, but really it’s so much more. “The Friendship Breakup” will bring you lessons of friendship, relationships, parenthood, and following your dreams. Seriously, I cannot recommend it enough.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 7, 2023

ARC — The One That Got Away — Charlotte Rixon

“A simple life with people I love. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Genre: General Fiction
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: -10, but also 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: The present timeline revolves around the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Describes rape and sexual assault, alcoholism, mass death, missing people, parental death, cancer, self harm, suicidal thoughts, suicide, and cheating.

“The One That Got Away” follows Clara and Benjamin at different times in their lives—from meeting in uni and falling in love, to a horrible fallout and not speaking for years, to reuniting after a great tragedy fell onto their college town. With a handful of imperfect characters, this is as close to life as fiction can get.

At the beginning, this book felt like I was watching a late 90’s movie, I don’t even know how to explain the feel, but I absolutely adored it. Then it just proceeded to shred my heart to pieces. This is not a second chance romance, this is the heartfelt story of life.

It worked the multiple timelines beautifully—leaving questions along the story that were all answered by the end. The not knowing was something else here, I would’ve read this book in a single sitting if I had had the time.

I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a heartbreaking but captivating story. I would compare it to “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara, but perhaps a little less traumatic (and with a smaller page count).

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Aria & Aries in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 2, 2023

“And now it’s as though a switch has gone off in her brain, a kind of amnesia for her current life. All she can think about is him. About the past she never truly left behind.”

“I just feel sometimes like my life has gone off-track somewhere. That I’m living the wrong life. The wrong version of my life. (…) With the wrong person.”