Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar Publisher: Dell (Random House) Pub Date: 1/16/2024
Thank you to Random House & PRH Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar, Meghna, a theatre teacher and aspiring playwright, is set up by her parents with Karthik, an engineer. She’s in love with her best friend, Seth, but he’s getting married to someone else. Meghna and Karthik pretend to be engaged to deal with their problems, but their fake relationship turns into real feelings, complicating everything.
I had mixed feelings about this book. The unique premise and the fact that it’s a debut novel intrigued me. The story is well-crafted and I appreciated how the subplots of supporting characters added depth to the story. However, the pacing felt uneven at times. The beginning was engaging, swiftly diving into the central dilemmas without unnecessary delay. The relationship development between Meghna and Karthik, based on their fake engagement, was interesting but also frustrating. Karthik, in particular, was frustrating due to his frequent indecisiveness which inadvertently harmed others. Meghna was placed in difficult situations, leading her to doubt herself amidst the toxicity of those around her. It was disheartening to see her being overly accommodating and kind to Seth, who seemed undeserving of such treatment. The final 50 pages was a let down which made my lower my rating. There were some major issues introduced earlier that were abruptly resolved and then dropped which felt unsatisfying. I wasn’t a fan of the way Meghna and Karthik’s relationship was towards the end which came to a resolution that seemed to neat and contrived. Overall, I rate this book 3.5 stars but rounded it up to 4 on GoodReads for the compelling writing style and the fact I was able to finish this within a day.
2023 marked a distinctive chapter in my reading journey. It was a year filled with bookish events and meeting my favorite authors which was a highlight. I’m hopeful to continue this trend in 2024. One significant change I noticed is that my preferred reading genres have refined in 2023, gravitating towards romance, thrillers, and fantasy. This shift in my reading tastes isn’t necessarily negative, but it shows my evolution of what I prefer to read.
Reflecting on my 2023 reading goals:
1. GoodReads Challenge: Set at 1 for fifth consecutive year to prioritize reading what I enjoy. This was a success in terms of quantity as this was the second best reading year.
2. South Asian Authors: This goal led me to discover new authors which was great.
2023 Accomplishments
• Successfully finished all the 2023 releases on my NetGalley shelf and reaching 94% NetGalley ratio by year-end.
• Finished all my BOTM selections without carrying over to next year.
• Participated in the 23 for 23 challenge, focusing on BIPOC authors and voices, a challenging but rewarding experience.
• Wrote a GoodReads review for every book I read in 2023.
2024 Goals
I’ve decided not to set specific reading goals this year. Instead, I plan to continue and deepen the intentions I’m already engaging in:
• Keeping my GoodReads goal at 1 for the sixth consecutive year, focusing on quality over quantity.
• Allowing myself the freedom to not finish books that don’t captivate me.
Cheers to a year filled with stories that inspire and connect us!
These are my top 12 favorite reads of 2023! The books are in order of when I read them. These were all 5-star reads. I considered what I read this year regardless of the publication date.
True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (now my all-time favorite CLO book and second book in DNADuo) Things We Hide From The Light by Lucy Score (now my all-time favorite Lucy Score book and second book in Knockemout series) Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (favorite fantasy) How Not To Drown In A Glass Of Water by Angie Cruz (favorite backlist literary fiction) The Only One Left by Riley Sager (second all-time favorite Riley Sager book) Drowning by TJ Newman (new-to-me thriller author favorite) Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (favorite backlist thriller) Mixed Signals by BK Borision (favorite sunshine-sunshine romance and new-to-me author I discovered) The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (one of my favorite debut authors) After That Night by Karin Slaughter (favorite book in a series I haven’t completely read) You, Again by Kate Goldbeck (one of my favorite debut authors) This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan (favorite 2024 release I can’t wait for everyone to read)
A few observations about my 2023 reading:
Of my top 12, I met all these authors except for Rebecca Yarros and Kate Goldbeck.
Lucy Score was the top author I read this year with 5 books. The top genres I read this year were romance, contemporary, and mystery.
According to my years books.com, my reading vibes were “adventurous.”
As the holiday season sparkles around us, I’m excited to share my thoughts on three Christmas books I recently read:
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone Publisher: Avon Pub Date: 10/10/2023
Thank you to Avon for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Holly Jolly Ever After is the second book in A Christmas Notch series and can be read as a standalone, but it’s enjoyed more if you read the first book. This sexy Christmas romance follows Kallum Lieberman, a former boy band member turned pizza chain owner, who seeks to reclaim fame by starring in a Sexy Santa biopic after an explicit tape leak. Meanwhile, Winnie Baker, a former child star with a crumbling perfect life, aims to reinvent herself as his costar, leading to a rediscovery of passion. As the two navigate their roles, they possibly discover more between them.
Overall, this was a cute read, but it wasn’t my favorite. I absolutely loved Part 1 of the book and loved that it had the similar style of A Merry Little Meet Cute, but Part 2 introduced a trope I absolutely hate, which wasn’t mentioned in the summary, yet it surprisingly fit the narrative here. However, I felt that the storyline took an odd turn. I had mixed feelings about Kallum and Winnie as the main leads. First, I loved how distinct their voices were and it was great that Julie and Sierra switched writing characters (Sierra wrote Winnie and Julie wrote Kallum from what I remember saying during a book event last year). Kallum and Winnie frustrated me as they didn’t give each other enough grace. Kallum was a bit too laid back which fit his personality and Winnie was a bit too uptight which fit too, but I didn’t really see them as being fit for each other. This ended up being a 3.5 star read for me but I rounded up to 4 on GoodReads out of appreciation for the authors’ styles and the narrators’ excellent audio rendition that truly brought the story to life.
Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey Publisher: Avon Pub Date: 10/3/2023
Thank you to Avon Books for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Wreck the Halls, Melody Gallard and Beat Dawkins reunite their mothers’ rock band amidst chaos and rekindle a romance. Their journey faces a scandal that risks the band’s reunion and their newfound love. However, I struggled to feel the spark between Melody and Beat. While Melody was endearing, I found Beat to be off putting and desperate.
Tessa Bailey’s books are a mixed bag for me so I wasn’t sure what to expect for Wreck the Halls. The cute plot, unique characters, enjoyable banter, and the mystery surrounding the band’s breakup kept me engaged with the story. Their teenage crushes were sweet, but their insta love as adults didn’t seem believable due to the lack of communication. I was expecting the book to have more of a holiday vibe, but it felt like the only festive element was its December setting and a Christmas Eve deadline. Overall, this was a 3-star read for me.
Love Holly by Emily Stone Publisher: Random House Pub Date: 9/26/2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
”Some people you know for a lifetime, but they never really make an imprint on your soul – and some people you only have to know for an instant to know they will be part of you forever.” – Love Holly by Emily Stone.
In Love Holly by Emily Stone, Holly’s journey with the Dear Stranger letter-writing club leads her to a deep connection with Emma and a spark-filled romance with Jack, teaching her lessons in love, healing, and forgiveness.
I’ve been a fan of Emily Stone and her holiday novels are a must-read. I bought Love, Holly a couple of months ago and decided to finally pick it up. Love, Holly delves into strained relationships, beauty of unexpected friendships, healing, and forgiveness. I loved the building of Holly and Emma’s friendship along with unraveling how other characters that are involved in the process. The romance is a bit secondary at first and l a slow burn which works well for the storyline. Highly recommend picking this up if you love Emily Stone’s work, but keep in mind it tackles some intense themes, so check StoryGraph for content warnings!
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli Publisher: Forever Pub Date: 9/12/2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J Tuli is the first book in the Artefacts of Ouranos series. This new adult fantasy follows Lor, a long-suffering captive, who gets an unexpected chance at freedom when she’s thrust into a deadly competition for the Sun King’s heart. As she competes against nine other tributes, she must not only win but also navigate the challenges of a court she doesn’t belong to and fend off rivals who want her eliminated.
I originally came across this series thanks to Forever. I was so happy to see that this book and the second book are available on kindle unlimited so I decided to give it a try. The best way to describe Trial of the Sun Queen is its A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Bachelor. I was pleasantly surprised there wasn’t more world building in this book as that’s what typically happens in the first book of a series. It was action-packed and I found each of the trials to be intriguing. The Sun King’s behavior felt somewhat predictable, but I thoroughly enjoyed Lor’s character and her unwavering love for her siblings. As for Nadir’s perspective, I’m expecting his purpose will become clearer in the second book. Just a heads up, the first book ends on a cliffhanger.
Rule of the Aurora King – Book 2
Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli Publisher: Forever Pub Date: 9/12/2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli is the second book in the Artefacts of Ouranos series. Rule of the Aurora King is a true sequel and I recommend reading Trial of the Sun Queen first.
Note: I would recommend reading this review after you finish reading Trial of the Sun Queen so read at your own discretion.
Happy pub day to The Fake Mate & Technically Yours! Check out my latest reviews for these Berkley Romance novels below:
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson Publisher: Berkley Romance Pub Date: 12/5/2023
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy on NetGalley and PRH Audio for the free audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mackenzie Carter navigates pressure from her nosy grandmother to find a perfect mate which leads her impulsively claim she’s dating Taylor, a cardiologist hiding his true nature. Could their fake dating arrangement possibly lead to more?
I liked Lana’s debut, The Nanny, so I was excited to see that her sophomore book, The Fake Mate, especially since it went into a different direction. This paranormal romance explores fake dating, grumpy-sunshine, wolf shifters, and set against a hospital backdrop. I was engaged in the two distinct perspectives in this novel. The banter and chemistry between Mackenzie and Noah was a great balance of sweet and spicy. There were a few of cheesy moments which weren’t for me and I wasn’t a fan of the glands concept. I found that Noah’s reason for fake dating was justifiable, but Mackenzie’s reasoning came off as silly. Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me, but I rounded to 4 stars on GoodReads.
Technically Yours by Denise Williams Publisher: Berkley Romance Pub Date: 12/5/2023
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy on NetGalley and PRH Audio for the free audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pearl Harris navigates her new role as acting director of OurCode amidst a scandal, while grappling with her unresolved feelings for Cord Matthews, a board member and her former flame, whose return threatens both their careers and the future of the nonprofit. Their undeniable chemistry challenges their personal rules against workplace romance, making it difficult to separate their professional duties from the pull of a second chance at love.
Technically Yours has been one of my most anticipated reads! I have been excited to see Pearl and Cord getting together ever since I read The Fastest Way To Fall. This can be read as a stand alone, but Britta and Wes show up as supporting characters which is a pleasant surprise. I had mixed feelings about this book. First, I loved that we got to see Pearl and Cord years later. The dual perspective, combined with flashbacks of their meeting and infatuation, added depth to the story. In the present day, Pearl’s wishy-washy feelings towards Cord irked me, as he gave her no reason for doubt, though I understood this stemmed from her past toxic relationships. Cord was lovable, but he seemed too perfect which kind of irked me. The mentor/mentee relationship between Cord and Ty was sweet. I valued how Denise integrated discussions on the significance of pronouns and addressed issues of racism and sexism in the workplace in her writing. Though this wasn’t for me, Denise is always an auto-read author for me and I can’t wait to read her next book!
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan Publisher: Forever Pub Date: 3/5/2024
Thank you to Forever for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Soledad Barnes, a meticulous planner and domestic goddess, faces her life unraveling when disaster strikes, destroying the perfect existence she had with her husband, Edward. Amidst the struggle to sustain her family and herself, Soledad rediscovers her identity and confronts the possibility of new love, questioning whether she can trust again after such significant betrayal.
This Could Be Us is the second book in the Skyland series and is interconnected to Before I Let Go. I highly recommend reading Before I Let Go first so the reader can connect with the supporting characters even more and also see the difference in Soledad from Before I Let Go to This Could Be Us.
I absolutely loved Before I Let Go so I was excited for Soledad’s story in This Could Be Us. This beautiful story is woven with themes of self love, healing, motherhood, and forbidden love. Wow what an incredible story! Soledad was portrayed as such a fascinating female main character, transitioning from a lonely stay-at-home mom with the ‘perfect’ life to embarking on a journey of self-discovery. Judah, a complex male main character, offers a compelling look into parenting children on different parts of the autism spectrum, shedding light on challenges I hadn’t fully grasped before. The refreshing portrayal of Judah’s co-parenting contrasts starkly with Soledad’s situation, adding depth to the narrative. To avoid spoilers, I’ll just say that the book explores really heavy subject matter so take a look at StoryGraph for the content warnings and take care while reading. The story focuses mainly focuses on Soledad’s journey of self love and healing while the romance is an extremely slow burn enhancing the story rather than dominating it. The author skillfully integrates the subplot of Yasmen and Hendrix’s friendship, underscoring the significance of adult friendships. I appreciated that everyone was very mature in the book and focused on situations that were very realistic. Now I can’t wait for our girl, Hendrix, to get her story!
I want to focus on reading goals. At the beginning of this year, I had two reading goals I wanted to focus on:
1. GoodReads Challenge: Put at 1 for fifth year in a row to continue to enjoy what I read. <—I love that I kept this goal because I don’t have the pressure of reading a specific number of books for the year.
2. Continue to read more books from South Asian authors.<— This has been an interesting goal. I’ve been more intentional in the books I’m reading and who is writing them. I’ve found it difficult to find books I truly enjoy but I’m still trying and I’m currently at 14 books.
Here are some other loose goals I decided to follow before the end of the year.
23 for 23 Challenge: In August, I decided to join the #23for23 that amplifies BIPOC voices from BIPOC authors. since the challenge since that only books in August onwards count, I’m only at 13 books so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to complete this by the end of the year.
NetGalley: I’d like to try to finish my 2023 NetGalley books before the end of the year so they don’t carry over. I have ten 2023 NetGalley books. I’m not sure if I can get to all of them, but I know most of them are on my TBR for this month and next month.
Book of the Month: I want to finish all the BOTM books I purchased this year. I only have two left but one is over 500 pages which I’m not sure if I’ll get to it or not. This year I haven’t been as impressed with the BOTM selections as I have the previous year. I’m still debating whether I want to renew or not. I think my annual renewal is in March or something.
That’s all I got for now. If I’m able to accomplish these, that’s great and if not, that’s fine too.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros Publisher: Red Tower Books Pub Date: 11/7/2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros is the second book in the Empyrean series. I recommend reading Fourth Wing, the first book, before diving into Iron Flame as the latter is a true sequel and can’t be read as a standalone.
Note: The following review may contain spoilers so read at your own discretion.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears Publisher: Gallery Books Pub Date: 10/24/2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears was my most anticipated October read!
This memoir explores themes of fame, freedom, strained relationships, and motherhood.
While I found the writing style a bit bland and personally thought they could have chosen a different ghostwriter, I was still captivated by the compelling story. Britney’s childhood years were marked by a heartbreaking home life, but I felt that her rise to fame was somewhat glossed over. I found it interesting that they kept focusing on her romantic relationships more than anything else when she mentioned that the interviews she was in focused more on her relationships and motherhood versus her music. The writing took a compelling turn once it got into her marriage with KFed. Once we got to that point, the writing turned to be more compelling.
I appreciated that Britney shared her truth with us and I truly feel so sorry for her. Living in a world where you’re constantly gaslit, losing custody of your young children to your ex-husband, and being threatened of close family members who control every aspect of your life is unimaginably tragic. Now listening back to her songs, they hit different and take on a new deeper meaning.
In terms of the ending, I was disappointed that they didn’t include updates on her divorce and her current well-being. I truly hope she receives the professional help she needs and has a support system that truly prioritizes her well-being and gains her trust. I ended up listening to the audiobook which was a fantastic choice and highly recommend this format.
Initially, I was disappointed to hear that Britney herself wasn’t narrating it, but Michelle Williams did an incredible job. After finishing the book, I understood why Britney didn’t narrate herself due to the tough subjects she doesn’t want to relive. I loved that Michelle narrated with compassion and empathy making her the perfect choice. Overall, I highly recommend listening to this if you’re a Britney fan.
Asha Reads 