Author Archives: ashareads

Review: This Could Be Us

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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!

Reflecting on Reading Goals

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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.

Review: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

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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.

Continue reading →

Review: The Woman in Me

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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.

Review: Starling House

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Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Publisher: Tor
Pub Date: 10/3/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Starling House was my October @bookofthemonth pick and is also #reesesbookclub October pick.

In the dying town of Eden, there’s a spooky house known for a vanished author, E. Starling, and his heir, Arthur. Opal takes a job there to help her brother, but the house starts feeling like home. As dark forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur must decide whether to unearth long-buried secrets or let Eden succumb to literal nightmares if they want to secure their newfound home.

I was initially drawn in by the intriguing premise of the book. I liked the illustrations scattered throughout the book and wished there were more of them. I found the choice to use first person for Opal and third person for Arthur to be a bit odd. Opal and Arthur came across as more juvenile than I expected for characters in their 20s, and their development felt somewhat flat. The footnotes in the story didn’t seem to have a clear purpose especially since they were abundant at the beginning but disappeared as the story progressed. The pacing was also off, with a very slow start, and it took a while to learn about the history of the house, which was a bit frustrating. Additionally, the book’s genre was a bit confusing—it didn’t fit neatly into a thriller or horror category, but I suppose it falls under contemporary fiction with elements of magical realism. Overall, this book wasn’t for me.

Review: Roman Stories

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Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri
Publisher: Knopf
Pub Date: 10/10/2023

Thank you to Knopf for the free advanced paperback copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri is a collection of nine short stories that dive into the complexities of life in Rome, where the city itself becomes a central character. Lahiri explores themes of immigration, cultural clashes, and the search for belonging through vivid narratives set in the heart of the Italian capital which is translated from Italian by the author and Todd Portnowitz.

I went into Roman Stories not really knowing what it was about, but I was glad to see it was collection of short stories much like much like Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth (my all-time favorite) and Interpreter of Malladies. I had mixed feelings about this one. I always admired the depth of emotion that Jhumpa captures in her writing as she did in her previous works. However, I found that couldn’t connect with this boo the way I did with her previous works. P’s Parties was my favorite and resonated with me the most. The others were a bit unmemorable to me. I found the audiobook to be great because there was a cast of narrators. If you decide to read it, it’s more similar to Whereabouts.

Review: Wildfire

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Wildfire by Hannah Grace
Publisher: Atria Books
Pub Date: 10/10/2023

Thank you to Atria Books & Book Club Favorites (Simon & Schuster) for the free finished copy and Libro.FM for the free advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wildfire is the second book in the Maple Hills series. Russ and Aurora have a one-night stand at a party, only to reunite as counselors at a summer camp. They are each seeking an escape from their complicated lives. As they navigate camp rules and their own desires, they must grapple with the question of whether their one-night encounter has sparked something more between them.

I wasn’t a fan of Icebreaker, but I decided to give Wildfire a chance due to the interesting premise and I’m glad I did! I adored this book. Russ and Aurora’s perspectives were captivating and I appreciated that the story was so much more than their love story but it also dove into their respective complex family dynamics. Watching their relationship evolve from a passionate one-night stand to a deeper connection was a highlight. It was also great to see familiar characters like JJ and Henry return while being introduced to new ones. Highly recommend picking this up! I can’t wait for the third book!

Review: Better Hate Than Never

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Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Pub Date: 10/10/2023

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: ⭐️⭐️

Childhood enemies, Katerina and Christopher, rediscover their fiery connection when Kate returns home as an adult. Despite their initial animosity, they must navigate their complex feelings and decide if it’s worth risking their hearts for a chance at love.

Better Hate Than Never is the second book in The Wilmot Sisters series. While I loved Bea and Jamie in Two Wrongs Make a Right, Kate and Christopher’s love story fell short for me. Both main characters came across as immature, their reasons for hating each other remained unclear, and their chemistry felt choppy. The mix of past and present emotions didn’t make sense. The book’s pacing was off with some chapters feeling like fillers. All in all, this isn’t one I could recommend and I’m not sure how I will feel about Jules’s story.

Review: Kiss the Girl

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Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Pub Date: 8/1/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova is the third book in the Meant to Be series and can be read as a standalone. The Meant to Be series is adult fiction reimagining of classic Disney stories. Kiss the Girl is a modern retelling of The Little Mermaid and dives into identity, familial expectations, pursuit of dreams, and yearning for independence.

Ariel del Mar, a famous singer in the band Siren Seven, yearns for a normal life as their farewell tour concludes. When she meets Eric Reyes, the lead singer of another band, she embarks on a summer adventure, questioning her father’s plans for her solo career and seeking her own path.

I read and enjoyed If the Shoe Fits (Cinderella retelling) and By the Book (Beauty and the Beast retelling) so I was excited to dive into Kiss the Girl! This unique retelling of “The Little Mermaid” set in the modern music industry was a delightful surprise. I admired how the author captured Ariel’s princess-like qualities while giving her a fresh purpose in the world of music behind the scenes. Ariel’s journey to find her true voice by not singing anymore and venturing her voice through songwriting was a powerful and endearing twist. Witnessing her character evolve through throughout the story was a highlight for me. The relationship between Ariel and her six sisters with their unwavering support and love added depth into the narrative. The author’s transformation of Ursula into Vanessa (Eric’s friend) and Odelia (Vanessa’s mom and the band’s manager) was a captivating choice, especially delving into Odelia’s past. I appreciated the use of radio interviews, blogs, and headlines sprinkled between chapters which made it even more exciting and progressed the story. Scuttle’s character transformation was an interesting element in the story. While I found Eric’s character to be off-putting, his hopeless romantic side and optimism felt true to the story. The decision to make all the other band members/Eric’s friends all female was an interesting twist. However, the main part that didn’t work for me was the pacing of the story. Some issues felt repetitive and certain chapters felt like filler pieces. Though I understood the need for the slow burn between Ariel and Eric’s relationship, it felt way too slow and the final 20% of the book was way too rushed and wished it was more fleshed out. Kiss the Girl was a cute read and would recommend this if you’re a fan of Little Mermaid retelling or the Meant to Be series. I can’t wait for Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren (Tangled retelling) which will release next year!

Review: Things We Left Behind

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Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score
Publisher: Bloom Books
Pub Date: 9/5/2023

Thank you to Bloom for the free ebook copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lucian Rollins, a driven mogul seeking vengeance, crosses paths with the determined small-town librarian, Sloane Walton. Despite their initial dislike for each other, a passionate one-night stand ignites a complicated relationship, but Lucian’s fear of endangering Sloane keeps them at an impasse.

Things We Left Behind, the third book in the Knockemout series and it’s a continuation in the series so I recommend reading the other two before you get to this. Lucy’s writing always draws me in and I was thrilled to revisit familiar characters like Naomi, Knox, Lina, Nash, and Stef. My favorite aspect of this book was the flashbacks that provided insights into Lucian and Sloane’s teenage years and how they’ve evolved over the years. One of the highlights was finally getting answers to the mystery surrounding Hugo. Though I loved Sloane in the first two books, I was disappointed in her character in this book. Her character seemed to undergo a drastic transformation and she came across as a somewhat desperate heroine in an unfavorable light. Lina remains my favorite FMC. As for Lucian, he was as grumpy and possessive as I assumed he would be, but I didn’t like his complete switch in character towards the end of this book. There was an additional legal case introduced in the story that I didn’t find as engaging. While the book was fun to read, I couldn’t help but feel that it could have been shorter by about 200 pages. Overall, I had mixed feelings about this one and it was 3 stars for me. Nevertheless, the Knockemout series as a whole is great and I loved the characters.