Tag Archives: 5 stars

ARC — Thank You for Sharing — Rachel Runya Katz

“House Rules:

1. Meet: Friday nights (…) at Prohibition

2. Anything said here stays here

3. No toxic masculinity

(…) And thus, the Speakeasy Survival Club is born.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions death of a parent, cancer, and discusses sexual assault. Contains sexual content.

“Thank You for Sharing” is comically full of mishaps and screw ups, and I was there for it. Told in the third person, we get to see various points of view, making this novel even more engaging. “Thank You for Sharing” follows Liyah Cohen-Jackson and Daniel Rosenberg, two childhood frenemies that run into each other in their late twenties and are forced to collaborate in a project that is very important for both of them, for different reasons.

Liyah’s and Daniel’s text flirting was the absolute sweetest—I just loved how Liyah teases him, their chemistry was so palpable throughout the whole novel. The different ways they live and celebrate their religious believes, the way they found their chosen family through their friend; I simply wouldn’t change a thing about this novel.

I would highly recommend this novel if you’re looking for a sweet childhood friends to strangers to enemies to lovers romance read.

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

Publication Date: September 12, 2023

ARC — The Barista’s Guide to the Perfect Steam — Valerie Pepper — Guided to Love #2

“She is heaven. My own personal heaven. And she has no clue.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions death of a sibling. Involves a house electrical fire. Contains explicit sexual content.

“The Barista’s Guide to the Perfect Steam” is the second installment in the Guided to Love series, yet it works just as well as a standalone. Set in a small town in Alabama, this novel follows Jodi Bristol, a small coffee shop owner, and Price Joseph, a local firefighter and presumed playboy. Jodi has had a crush on Price since pretty much forever, but they’re just friendly acquaintances, you know?? But that’s until Jodi’s house has a small electrical fire and is forced to move into Price’s new Bed and Breakfast while insurance fixes up her place, and Price and Jodi realize they have more than their love for coffee in common.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. Told through two points of view, I fell for both Jodi and Price and their dynamic and their insecurities. It was amazing to see them both grow into themselves, and recognize their worth, while both supporting and cheering each other on along the way. This wasn’t a slow burn, which I appreciated, and the small town setting was just so endearing in general.

I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re looking for a small town, forced proximity romance with a ton of spice, then “The Barista’s Guide to the Perfect Steam” is just for you.

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ARC provided by the author, Valerie Pepper, in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: September 8, 2023

ARC — The Long Game — Elena Armas

“I’ll always give you more than what you ask, love. Even when you don’t know what you want.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Describes a stalker, infidelity, and toxic relationships. Contains explicit sexual content.

“The Long Game” follows Adalyn Reyes, an executive reporter for the Miami Flames Football Club, after she is sent to live in a small town and coach a girls soccer team pro bono after causing a scene back in Miami. The only reason she wasn’t fired was because her father is the owner of said soccer club. What she did bot expect was to find Cameron Caldoni, an acclaimed professional goalkeeper that retired out of the blue and escaped the public eye, also coaching this soccer team in this remote town. This was supposed to be her thing, and she isn’t willing to take it on as a team… until they have to.

I have never simped after a fictional man, but I will simp for Cameron Caldoni. Enemies to lovers, when done well, can be some of the funniest and most enjoyable tropes. Watching Adalyn and Cam be as stubborn as they come was downright comical, but also watching them care for one another was literally heartwarming.

I wouldn’t change a single thing about this book. “The Long Game” would work wonders for a romance book club, as some of the actions and stances both main characters take at different points of their story can be great sources for fruitful discussions. I would highly recommend this read, no questions asked.

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ARC provided by Simon & Schuster/Atria Books, through their S&S Book Club Favorites program, in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

ARC — First Impressions of You — Gabriela Graciosa Guedes

“As long as you’re joking, that means you probably don’t hate me that much anymore.”

“I don’t think I could hate you if I wanted to.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 4 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Deals with discrimination against race and weight, and living as an immigrant. Contains explicit sexual content.

“First Impressions of You” follows Luiza Bento, an aspiring actress working in a theme park on a temporary work visa, and Winter Davis, a child star that’ll be working in said theme parks next big theater production. Here’s the thing: Winter doesn’t even want to be there, and least of all with an inexperienced actress that just works in a theme park—and oh, does Luiza overhears that.

I mean, this book had me at “Pride and Prejudice retelling”, but what really made me stay was Luiza’s wit and stubbornness and Winter’s, well, everything.

Told through Luiza’s point of view, we get a glimpse at what it is like to start paving your way through the acting scene in LA, with none other than a well-established child star that doesn’t seem to be too keen on newcomers as a costar.

Sometimes in romance novels I don’t seem to understand where connections and chemistry come from, but oh was this not the case in “First Impressions of You.” Through this debut novel, we feel the tension building and that slow burn giving out slowly as the characters let go of their past frustrations and let themselves feel. I am absolutely in love with this super unique retelling, I will literally never shut up about it.

Are you a sucker for enemies to lovers and hold a little love for “Pride and Prejudice”? Well, this book is literally for you.

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ARC provided by the author, Gabriela Graciosa Guedes, in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 25, 2023

“You’re the sunshine I’ll always want in my winter.”

ARC — In Charm’s Way — Lana Harper — The Witches of Thistle Grove #4

“Asking for help isn’t a weakness, (…) but being too proud to accept it is. Believe me, I know.”

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
Actual Rating: 5+ stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Showcases panic attacks, violence, magical injuries, and toxic relationships. Contains explicit sexual content.

“In Charm’s Way” follows Delilah Harlow as she deals with the aftermath of being hit by a god-tier oblivion spell. Her whole identity revolves around her good memory, so when she sees traditional methods aren’t working on remediating said oblivion spell, she decides to go with some good, ol’ forbidden magic instead. And oh, does it work. It works so well, in fact, that now her power is bringing into town a bunch of supernatural creatures, including a half-fae that’s apparently here to help her. Not knowing who to trust, Delilah has got to weigh her options: either keep wrecking havoc on Thistle Grove or let go of the spell and go back to dealing with her oblivion-ed self.

How do these books keep getting better? The Witches of Thistle Grove series has captivated my heart for the past 3 years and my favorite book in the series is forever changing—as the last book published is usually the one I highly regard as my favorite, and “In Charm’s Way” is no exception to this rule.

In this fourth installment we go back into the Harlow family, this time through Delilah, and I really think this is one of the only Thistle Grove books that wouldn’t work as well as a standalone novel—we’ve seen Delilah through various of the previous installments and you just wouldn’t be able to empathize with her if you haven’t seen her through Emmy Harlow’s and Nina Blackmoore’s lens.

Now, I would highly encourage you to grab a hold of this series. The author, Lana Harper, refers to this book as “Delilah’s Book of Rage” and it gives just that. This book carried the heaviest character to live life through, with deep resentments and huge trust issues; nonetheless, it’s easy to see why Delilah reacts the way she does and it’s even easier to see where her rage comes from.

I wouldn’t change a single thing about this book or this series as a whole. I literally cannot recommend it enough. If I go down as anything, I hope I go down as someone who spread the good word on Thistle Grove and the beautiful, witchy stories Lana Harper has been sharing since 2021.

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

Publication Date: August 22, 2023

ARC — Daisy Haites — Jessa Hastings — Magnolia Parks Universe #2

“You made me fall in love without you.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Dives deep into criminal activity and emotional manipulation. Contains very explicit sexual content.

If “Magnolia Parks” had my attention, then “Daisy Haites” absolutely captivated it. Where “Magnolia Parks” felt like stepping into an overly dramatic CW series drenched in luxury, “Daisy Haites” takes a grittier turn. Daisy, with her quiet strength and vulnerability, offers a fresh perspective. Her life isn’t just about complicated love—it’s laced with crime, family loyalty, and the weight of being tied to the wrong people in the right ways.

Jessa Hastings does it again and again. She has this way of making every scene feel cinematic, and “Daisy Haites” is no exception. The fashion is sharp, the London setting is moody and alive, and the dialogue is equal parts biting and tender. Daisy’s relationship with her brother, Jonah, is particularly moving—a reminder that the bonds of family can be just as complicated as romantic love. And while the book is undeniably dramatic (hello, heartbreak on every other page), it never feels overwrought. Daisy’s grounded, pragmatic voice balances out the wild lives of the people around her.

“Daisy Haites”, in all its emotional glory, is less a sequel and more a companion piece to “Magnolia Parks”—a story about family, sacrifice, and what it means to choose love even when it’s messy. If you loved “Magnolia Parks”, or the TV show Gossip Girl, then “Daisy Haites” and this series in general is a must-read. And if you’re here for more emotionally charged drama with morally complex characters, Jessa Hastings is still delivering.

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

Publication Date: August 8, 2023

ARC — Tilly in Technicolor — Mazey Eddings

“I just want to write something that makes people feel seen.”

Genre: Romance, Young Adult
Actual Rating: 5+ stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Displays gaslighting, miscommunications, and explosive fights.

“Tilly in Technicolor” follows Tilly Twomley and Oliver Clark, two neurodivergent teens that are summer interns at Ruhe, a new eco-friendly nail polish company. They are off to the summer of their lifetimes, traveling through Europe and learning more about themselves—and each other.

I think I had never liked a clean, YA novel as much as I loved this one. Both Tilly and Ollie and every single side character won my heart over. Tilly’s coming of age is moving and the way she stands up for her dreams despite her fears and her parent’s disapproval really moved me.

I cannot recommend this read enough. Grab “Tilly in Technicolor” if you’re looking for a sweet, clean romance with neurodivergent characters. Also, anyone up for a trip around Europe? Because that’s what this book is serving, it is most literally the perfect summer read.

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

Publication Date: August 15, 2023

ARC — The Space Between — Sarah Ready

“Okay, I’m ready. (…) Tell me what happened in the space between when I was gone and when I was there.”

Author: Sarah Ready
Narrator: Rachel F. Hirsch, James Fouhey

Genre: Romance, New Adult
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Narration: 4 mikes
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses parental death, robbery, and substance abuse and addiction. Details someone dying of cancer, cheating, and a motorcycle crash. Contains sexual content.

“The Space Between” follows two new yorkers that simply couldn’t be more different. Jace Morgan is an aspiring musician from the Bronx while Andrea Leighton-Hughes is a wealthy Upper East Sider that was immediately drawn to this musician playing at a park. Their connection is instant and their love is palpable, so why do people keep getting in the way? Following them through 13 years of miscommunication and a lot of time apart, this book will have you rooting for true love through and through.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT be bamboozled by a pretty cover. This book deals with pretty heavy subjects, in true Sarah Ready fashion as it seems.

Now the question is: have I been devastated yet again by another Sarah Ready book? Well yes, yes I have. This shouldn’t even surprise me at this point but holy did this book break me. Between miscommunications and downright bad luck and bad timing and bad things happening to good people—I was beyond broken. This book will be sticking with me for a while.

I would highly recommend this read if you’re a sucker for first loves and aren’t too afraid of sad things happening in romance novels.

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

Publication Date: July 25, 2023

ARC — Hello Stranger — Katherine Center

“My experience of all this so far was the opposite of the woman who felt like face blindness let her live in a world that had no strangers. For me, right now, everyone felt like a stranger. Even me.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses parental death and congenital disease. Revolves around face blindness caused by an open brain surgery. Touches on bullying, gaslighting, and suicide attempts. Contains sexual content.

“Hello Stranger” follows Sadie Montgomery, an almost-up-and-coming portrait artist (or so she hopes), as she faces the world with acquired prosopagnosia—aka face blindness. Yes, you heard that right: a portrait artist that can’t see faces after undergoing a sort of elective brain surgery 6 weeks before the most important portrait competition she could’ve ever dreamed of being a part of.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors but oh, did I not see this one coming. Katherine has once again brought us a whole new world with such an outlandish (but also possible?) situation. Like, this book was literally Murphy’s Law brought to life (anything that can go wrong will go wrong), and I was there for it.

With quirky and lovable characters, “Hello Stranger” was a very interesting take on how to take one day at a time, even when life feels like it’s falling apart. It’s a true ode to the harsh truth: we’re more than our looks and our mistakes. Also—this book is only set down as a Romance novel, but I swear it is more of a Rom Com if I’ve ever read one, Sadie and the situations she got herself in made me literally laugh out loud. I also kind of saw where the plot twist was coming, but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less.

I would highly recommended “Hello Stranger”, especially if you’re looking for an engaging, unique read, with a super relatable main character and packed with a well carried out (low-key funny) love triangle.

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

Publication Date: July 11, 2023

“I’d painted many models over the years, and it was never nerve-racking like this. But this was different. Usually the models were across the room, not right up next to me. (…) And they were not people I had kissed. Or yelled at. (…) Or cried in front of.
They were always strangers.
That’s when I realized that (he) wasn’t a stranger.
I didn’t know exactly what he was to me, but he wasn’t a stranger.”

ARC — The Dos and Donuts of Love — Adiba Jaigirdar

Author: Adiba Jaigirdar
Narrator: Priya Ayyar

Genre: Young Adult, LGBTQIA, Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses fatphobia, racism, xenophobia, and homophobia. Displays toxic relationships, toxic friendships, and gaslighting.

“The Dos and Donuts of Love” follows Shireen Malik, a Bangladeshi-Irish girl, as she competes in the very first Junior Irish Baking Show and is paired up against no other than her recent ex girlfriend, Chris. Facing both racist and fatphobic criticism, Shireen will try to succeed and thrive against every single contestant and come out more confident of her skill than ever.

I got to listen to an audiobook of this novel, and I was completely mesmerized and caught from the very beginning. I was right at the start of a reading slump but Priya Ayyar and her narration immediately swep me off it.

I’m not gonna lie, this book is not as predictable as you might think. Starting off, I could’ve sworn I was going to know every single twist and turn, but I am happy to say that I was thoroughly surprised more than once by this story Adiba Jaigirdar has constructed. Her characters were so well thought out and her pace quick enough that you wouldn’t get bored but also slow enough that we were left with some sneaky cliffhangers for a bit.

I would highly recommend this read for someone who’s looking for a young adult book with queer and diverse characters and who doesn’t want it to be too spicy (or spicy at all). Obviously it’s a plus if you like cooking and baking shows, but I personally don’t most of the time and I still thoroughly enjoyed “The Dos and Donuts of Love.”

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

Publication Date: June 6, 2023