ARC — Plot Twist — Erin La Rosa

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Touches on tough subjects like alcoholism and sobriety. Describes stalking. Contains sexual content.

I can’t come into this review saying I’m not biased—I love Erin La Rosa’s writing, and “Plot Twist” wasn’t the exception. “Plot Twist” follows romance author Sophie Lyon in the aftermath of a horrible confession that’s left the internet dumbstruck: she’s never been in love. Facing a career crisis and a manuscript deadline, Sophie decides to investigate her failed relationships and turn the chaos into content for her followers. Enter Dash Montrose, her brooding landlord and former teen star with secrets of his own. What starts as an unconventional friendship—with a dash of mutual attraction—quickly spirals into something much harder to define. What a plot twist.

This book strikes a balance between laugh-out-loud antics and thoughtful exploration of deeper themes like identity, family pressures, and the healing power of connection. Sophie’s journey to reclaim her narrative is inspiring, while Dash’s steady support and personal growth add emotional depth. And yes, the heat between them is undeniable—romance fans will not be disappointed.

Perfect for fans of romantic comedies with heart, “Plot Twist” is a testament to the messy, beautiful process of finding oneself—and maybe love—along the way. I couldn’t recommend this romance enough.

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

Publication Date: November 14, 2023

ARC — Holiday Star — Dr. Melissa Dymond

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Touches on heavy subjects like addiction, loss and grief, and losing a parent. Contains explicit sexual content.

“Holiday Star”, set against the backdrop of a cozy December, follows Gwen Wright, a disciplined doctor house-sitting for her family, and Caleb Lawson, a brooding Hollywood star hiding from scandal (who just so happens to be Gwen’s stepdad’s nephew). Filled with forced proximity, this holiday read will warm up your heart without a doubt.

With the perfect mix of festive charm, celebrity allure, and emotional depth, this was such a fun, holiday read. Balancing witty banter with deeper, healing moments as both characters confront personal insecurities, this book will have you wishing for more. Gwen’s down-to-earth nature contrasts beautifully with Caleb’s chaotic life in the spotlight, and their chemistry is undeniable. The “celebrity meets ordinary girl” trope is handled with fresh sincerity, making their journey to love feel authentic rather than overdone.

For readers sensitive to content, Dr. Melissa Dymond thoughtfully offers two versions of the book: one “sweet” (closed-door) and another “spicy” (open-door) with mild explicit scenes. I chose the spicy edition and found the intimate moments to be tasteful, enhancing rather than overshadowing the emotional arc.

If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers with a forced proximity twist, “Holiday Star” will make your holiday season a little brighter. It’s the perfect read to cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and dream of your own celebrity meet-cute.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Melissa Dymond DO in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: November 01, 2023

ARC — Snowed In — Catherine Walsh

Genre: Romance, Holidays
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Showcases unhealthy and controlling relationships. Has some sexual content.

“Snowed In” follows Megan, a reluctant returnee to her quaint Irish village, five years after leaving her ex-fiancé at the altar. Cue the arrival of Christian Fitzpatrick—an old classmate with an easy grin and a not-so-easy charm—who proposes a fake relationship to dodge their respective family dramas. Let me tell you: the sparks in this book? Absolutely electric. The banter? Chef’s kiss.

This book had me hooked right away, starting with that short prologue and carrying on into meeting such lovely (and comical) characters—“Snowed In” will be my holiday book of choice from here on out. I mean, a fake dating, dual POV romance packed with some good, ol’ close proximity? Um, yeah, count me in.

Between the setting of the story and the storytelling itself, I’m not sure what I loved more. I would highly recommend this read if you’re looking for a light, funny, holiday-centric read.

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

Publication Date: November 01, 2023

ARC — 10 Things That Never Happened — Alexis Hall — Material World #1

Genre: General Fiction, LGBTQIA+, Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Revolves around a fake amnesia. Describes a head injury and discusses grief, death of parents, and toxic relationships. Contains some sexual content.

Obviously, faking amnesia is never good, yet it made this book truly hilarious. “10 Things That Never Happened” follows Samwise (Sam) Becker, the manager of a bed-and-bath retailer branch, and Jonathan Forest, the owner of said bed-and-bath retailer stores. Sam’s branch is underperforming and that’s got to change—until, well, Sam has a tiny, little accident, bumps his head, and forgets any of their troubles existed? I mean, he didn’t, but he’ll say he did.

This audiobook had me giggling, alright? First off, the narrator, Will Watt, was absolutely amazing. His voice really held my attention and I couldn’t help but binge this audio. All the lying made me anxious, not gonna lie (no pun intended), but watching Sam and Jonathan get to know and accept each other was truly heartwarming.

This book is perfect if you’re looking for a queer romance book for the Holidays! Get it as a stocking stuffer or a full-blown gift (to others or to yourself), you won’t regret it.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

ARC — What the River Knows — Isabel Ibañez — The Secrets of the Nile #1

Genre: Young Adult, General Fiction
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses death of parent, kidnapping, murder, colonization, cultural appropriation, and violence in general. Contains some romantic content.

What do you get when you mix a murder mystery of sorts with Egyptology? Well, you get “What the River Knows.” This historial fantasy book is set in the 1800s and it follows Inez Olivera, a Bolivian-Argentinian that sails to Egypt in search for answers after getting word that her parents had died a tragic death in that side of the world.

I am officially a goner for Isabel Ibañez’s storytelling. I loved her novel “Together We Burn” and I thought it would be hard to top, but Ibañez has done just that with “What the River Knows”. I love how she incorporates latin-ness into her novels without it feeling forced or just a diversity token, she engrains this characters with true purpose and identity.

Left with a cliffhanger, I’m a bit anxious about what this duology will bring—like, really, why did that Epilogue have to come along a tear my heart out? Either way this was a very entertaining and captivating read that I would particularly recommend if you’re a fan of Agatha Christie books and Egyptian lore.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 31, 2023

If Only They Knew — Megan Foster

“I may be safe from the paparazzi but I’m far from safe, if there’s anything worse than tabloid news it’s high school gossip.”

Genre: Young Adult
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on subjects like alcoholism and stalking. Mentions cheating, divorce, and parental abandonment. Contains some romantic content.

“If Only They Knew” follows Lorri Johnson, an aspiring artist, and her group of friends as they become acquaintances to the newest American teenage heartthrob, Jackson Peters, during his UK concert leg. After a very public confrontation, paparazzi take the story for a ride and link Lorri and Jackson in a way that couldn’t be further from the truth. Shining a light on what it’s like to become famous at a young age but also what it is to be a teenager trying to find yourself, this debut novel is as sweet as they come.

Don’t let yourself be bamboozled by a simple cover, because yes, this was a cute, superstar romance, but it also touched on some heavy subjects, like underage drinking, alcoholism, and feeling like you can’t be yourself. I loved how Lorri and Jackson connected, I would give anything to peak more into their story and how the long distance, busy schedules, and fame in general treated these gentle souls.

Are you looking for a short and clean superstar romance read that’s readily available through Kindle Unlimited? Then “If Only They Knew” is for you.

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ARC — The Search for Us — Susan Azim Boyer

“Thank you.” (…)
“What did I do?” (…)
“You’re the one who jumped in my truck and said, ‘Drive.’” (…)
“You’re the one who drove.” (…)
“We make a great team,”

Genre: Young Adult, General Fiction
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on subjects like parental abandonment and alcoholism leading to DUIs and casualties.

This is a story of what means to be a family—is it blood or is it something more abstract? “The Search for Us” follows Samira Murphy and Henry Owen, two half siblings that knew nothing about each other’s existence. They both, separately, take DNA tests in an attempt to find their father, but end up finding each other instead.

Told through two points of view, this book was both sweet and infuriating. I even thought about DNFing at one point because I was so mad at Samira. So so mad. She is the picture perfect representation of codependence—she is willing to put her future in jeopardy in order to save others. That’s how moving Susan Azim Boyer’s writing was, really. I wanted to drop everything because I was so infuriated.

If you’re looking for a general fiction YA novel that touches deeply on heavy subjects like adoption, parental abandonment, and alcoholism, written by someone who not only did their research but actually know people in similar situations (and consulted them), then “The Search for Us” is exactly what you need.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 24, 2023

ARC — Reasonable Adults — Robin Lefler

“Can we please talk about this like reasonable adults?”

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on cheating (not done by any main characters, just an ex significant other). Describes an attempted sexual assault. Contains sexual content.

I mean, Robin Lefler had me at Goldendoodle and artists’ retreat in the Canadian wild. “Reasonable Adults” follows Kate Rigsby, after she found her ex-fiancé cheating and is fired from her marketing job, hitting an all-time low. During said low, she applies to a job in Muskoka, in a remote artists’ retreat hotel called Treetops, expecting never to hear back from them, all to be suddenly hired. She can even take her dog with her. But little did Kate know that said retreat hotel is a bit wacky and, honestly, in a nosedive to bankruptcy. Her job is to stop that from happening, but management isn’t really cooperating. Will she give up and go back to the city or will she find her new calling close to the wild?

Although there was a romantic interest throughout and we got some fade-to-black romantic scenes towards the end, I wouldn’t really call this a romance book. Was it an amazingly entertaining fiction book, tho? Well yes, that it was. I absolutely fell in love with Muskoka, Treetops, and every single person that worked in that weird and outdated artists’ retreat hotel.

I’m a British Columbia girlie, so I know and love the Canadian wild, but now I really want to take a short trip to the other side of the country, all the way to Muskoka—that’s how beautifully and effectively Robin Lefler has portrayed the settings of this quirky, funny book.

I would highly recommend this read if you’re looking for a book that speaks to one finding ourselves, no matter our age, no matter our circumstances. “Reasonable Adults” gives us just that, a cozy setting, transporting us to a wintery wild, where we can find ourselves and hone our “output”, if you will.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensignton Books in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 24, 2023

“Don’t you ever feel like you’re doing things for all the wrong reasons, but it’s too much work to change the path you’re on?”

ARC — Woke Up Like This — Amy Lea

“Mom once described high school as a “trip”—a passage of time that feels tediously slow, but also lightning fast. After chasing perfect grades, (…) the next school event, it’s hard to believe all those mini goalposts have culminated in four whole years.”

Genre: General Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Actual Rating: 5+ stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Mentions death of a young sibling and death of a parent. Contains some romantic content (kissing).

I had never smashed the 5-star button for a book so fast. “Woke Up Like This” follows Charlotte (Char) Wu and J. T. Renner, two high school frenemies, as, after a petty accident, they’re both catapulted to an alternate reality—a reality 13 years away, where they’re 30 years old and a week away from getting married. They’ll do anything to go back to 17, but what if they can’t? And most of all, if they do, will (reverse?) hindsight affect their future? Or are these two polar opposites really meant to be.

This book was really “13 Going on 30” core, and I was here for it. And perhaps “Woke Up Like This” wouldn’t be as relatable if you’re in your late teens, fresh off of high school, but gosh did I love this read. It really did make me reminisce my school days and how I, too, wanted nothing but to grow up—and now want nothing but to go back to the days when my biggest worries were what homework was due or if I was going to be able to nap or not.

I fell in love with Renner and Char and their whole dynamic, but I was specifically drawn to Char and her need to micromanage the present and the future—mostly because I, too, was this way until recently, until I finally understood that I wasn’t living nor enjoying the present, all because I was looking out for my future. Spoiler alert, it’s not worth it in the long run, the present will always be just a little bit sweeter.

“Woke Up Like This” really did take me through a rollercoaster of emotions. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a sweet, clean romance with some cute high school rivals to lovers vibe.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Mindy’s Book Studio in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 1, 2023

“(…) Real life doesn’t feel real without you.”

ARC — Friends Don’t Fall in Love — Erin Hahn

“I write words for a living. Words that people all over the world use to access their feelings. But right now, with her, I’m speechless.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions gun violence and shootings. Contains explicit sexual content.

It seems like I’m in my music industry book era, and I’ll stand by it. “Friends Don’t Fall in Love” follows Lorelai Jones, a singer-songwriter that was ousted of Nashville and the whole Country scene after performing a protest song against gun violence, and Craig Boseman, her ex-fiancé’s ex-band member and now indie music producer. They’ve been friends on and off for a very long time, always evading the what-ifs of what their relationship might become if they let it.

Bringing us back and forth through different timelines, and giving us two different points of view, Erin Hahn definitely knows how to keep us on our toes. One thing to note, tho, is that this book has a lot for internal monologue, so if that isn’t your vibe maybe you won’t love it as much as I did. Funny, because I’m not overly enthusiastic about long internal monologues, yet I was fascinated by Lorelai’s and Craig’s minds and inner turmoil. I mean, they’re songwriters, for God’s sake, of course their minds were fascinating.

I would highly recommend this book for those good, ol’ Country music lovers. Also, if you’re looking for a friends-to-lovers slow burn that eventually turns spicy-packed, then “Friends Don’t Fall in Love” is for you.

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

Publication Date: October 17, 2023