Tag Archives: 1 fire emoji

ARC — Get Lost with You — Sophie Sullivan — Rock Bottom Love #2

“You’re killing me, Jillian.”
“That’s funny. You have the opposite effect on me. You make me feel more alive than I can ever remember feeling.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on subjects like toxic relationships and unsupportive parents. Contains some romantic content.

“Get Lost with You” follows Jillian, a now-single mom, who’s moved back to her small hometown to help her brother establish a fishing resort of sorts, as she reconnects with her childhood crush. Levi is a renowned chef who’s also just moved back to their hometown. His father is getting surgery and he’s here to help, but honestly, he was done with the traditional culinary scene and was down to settle somewhere familiar. Levi is friends with Jillian’s brothers, and therefore she was always off limits. But they’re adults now, with their own problems and insecurities, hopes and dreams. And what if one of his dreams is finally seeing things through with the ginger girl who’s always warmed his heart? That’s up to Jillian and Levi to decide.

This was such a cozy, swift read. Sophie Sullivan has brought us back to the town of Smile and the Get Lost resort, and I was so here for it. This book, although part of a series, could work perfectly as a standalone. Jillian, and her daughter, Ollie, captivate our hearts from the get-go. And then in came Levi, with his flirty and charismatic personality—it was hard not to fall for them immediately. I loved that they skipped that “will-they, won’t-they” shenanigans and went into it as the adults that they are.

If you’re looking for a small town romance that skips through the slow burn and goes directly to that childhood crushes to lovers: “Get Lost with You” is precisely what you’re looking for.

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

Publication Date: February 11, 2025

ARC — Even If It Breaks Your Heart — Erin Hahn

Genre: Young Adult
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on tough topics like grief, family loss, family abandonment, and chronic illness. Contains some romantic content.

“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” follows nineteen-year-old Case Michaels, grieving the loss of his best friend Walker, as he clings to a list Walker left him, determined to complete it despite struggling to return to the rodeo circuit. Meanwhile, eighteen-year-old Winnie Sutton works tirelessly to support her family on the Michaels’ ranch, sneaking moments to ride horses and dream of something more. Part of Walker’s lists sends Case to befriend Winnie Sutton, but this suggestion turned into something more when Case sees Winnie’s talent for riding. He convinces her to compete for the ranch, sparking an unexpected REAL friendship—and maybe more—that inspires both to chase dreams they never thought possible.

Oh, wow, I’ve read Erin Hahn before but “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” just hit different. With its bittersweet tones but hopeful ending, this book has brought comfort to my heart. With a set of complex characters with even deeper backstories, this book will have you hooked from the start.

If you’re looking for a cozy, cowboy YA read, look no further—“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” is exactly what you seek.

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

Publication Date: February 06, 2024

ARC — Love, Naturally — Sophie Sullivan — Rock Bottom Love #1

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on subjects like abandonment, toxic romantic relationships, and toxic work environments. Describes an injury. Contains some romantic content.

“Love, Naturally”, being the first book in the Rock Bottom Love series, follows Presley Ayers, an aspiring hotel manager and social media personality, as she embarks on the surprise trip she had scheduled for her boyfriend’s birthday (now ex). She is not the outdoorsy type, but she is set on enjoying her getaway at Get Lost Lodge—and that’ll be easy with the help of Beckett Keller, one of the owners of said lodge. Their inexplicable pull and an unfortunate set of circumstance lead to them bunking together, but what’s the point of even thinking about being together if Presley’s visit is just temporary, right? Right?

At this point, I’m pretty sure I am biased—everything Sophie Sullivan touches, I love. I am usually not a closed-doors romance girlie, but for Sophie’s plots and flirtiness? I am. This book had me transported into the small town of Smile, it had me rooting for every single character, and it had me wishing for Presley to listen to her heart and stay.

“Love, Naturally” is for the girlies that loved The Influencer series by Amy Lea and who crave that small town vibes with all the quirkiness that small town romances and found family plot lines bring. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

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

Publication Date: January 16, 2024

ARC — Artifacts of an Ex — Jennifer Chen

Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Mentions dementia. Contains some romantic content, but no explicit sexual content.

“Artifacts of an Ex” follows Chloe Chang, a budding art curator, as she channels the pain of a breakup into “Heartifacts,” an art exhibit showcasing mementos of past relationships (both hers and others). And in comes Damoel Kwak, to shake things up. He crushed on Chloe and Chloe claims to be over her ex, but he’s sure she’s not—and he’s not willing to become just another rebound, not when it comes to her. With a clever mix of humor, emotional depth, and cultural nuances, the book explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

So, I’m not the only one with an “Ex Box” apparently. “Artifacts of an Ex” strikes the perfect balance between comedy and deeply emotional times, making it a memorable read. Fans of Jenny Han and Emily Henry will appreciate the mix of romance and personal evolution—I know I did.

With its themes of artistic expression and rediscovering love, “Artifacts of an Ex” is an ode to the transformative power of creativity. It’s a perfect read for anyone who’s ever held on to a keepsake from the past, wondering what it still means.

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

Publication Date: November 14, 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 — 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.”