Review: Back After This

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Back After This by Linda Holmes
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pub Date: 2/25/2025

Thank you Random House for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Podcast producer Cecily Foster is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight, hosting a series about her own dating life under the guidance of a controlling influencer. Torn between sparks with a charming photographer and the pressure to follow her mentor’s rules, Cecily must decide whether to trust her instincts or risk losing her shot at real love.

Back After This is the third book I’ve read by Linda Holmes, and the premise initially sounded intriguing. At first, I enjoyed getting to know Cecily’s character especially her personality at work, but the book’s pacing quickly became slow and drawn out. I wasn’t a fan of Eliza’s character and kept hoping she would improve, but she never did. Most of the characters felt underdeveloped, especially Will, whose backstory and personality were barely explored. The conversations between Will and Cecily felt stilted and their connection seemed based more on repeated encounters than genuine chemistry or spark. Cecily, as a protagonist, came across as a workaholic who relied too much drinking and lacked hobbies or interests outside her job. Her friendship with Julie felt one-sided where Cecily seemed to sacrifice unnecessarily for Julie who didn’t ask for such devotion and placed her friend on an undeserved pedestal. By the time I reached the 60% mark, I found myself bored and tempted to DNF, but since I’d made it so far, I pushed through. Unfortunately, the ending was underwhelming and it felt like the author added unnecessary descriptions and filler dialogue to meet a word count. Overall, this book confirmed that Linda Holmes’ style may not be for me.

Review: Promise Me Sunshine

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Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Publisher: Dial Press
Pub Date: 3/4/2025

Thank you Dial Press and PRH Audio for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lenny, reeling from the loss of her best friend Lou, takes a babysitting job for single mom Reese and her daughter, Ainsley, only to clash with the brusque yet grief-savvy uncle, Miles. As they navigate their respective struggles, an unlikely partnership helps Lenny rediscover herself and find love amidst the healing process.

Promise Me Sunshine is the first book I’ve read by Cara Bastone. I have mixed feelings about it. The premise was unique and intriguing. The themes of grief and moving on were portrayed well. Lenny and Miles’s relationship seemed promising. I enjoyed watching their friendship develop and evolve into something more, but it didn’t seem strong enough. The second half of the book took an odd turn. The pacing felt uneven, with some scenes dragging unnecessarily, and some of the dialogue came off as cringey. While I appreciate a slow-burn romance, the way Lenny and Miles eventually came together felt disjointed. Lenny’s grief over her best friend was understandable, but at times her behavior seemed overly immature and frustrating. Her character development didn’t align well with the overall story. As for Miles, I found myself wanting more insight into his perspective as his character didn’t seem like  fully fleshed out. In fact, many of the characters felt underdeveloped which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, I found it to be a decent read. People who are fans of friends-to-lovers might enjoy this.

Review: First-Time Caller

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First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 2/11/2025

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Radio host Aiden Valentine finds himself drawn to Lucie Stone after her daughter’s call for dating advice makes them local celebrities. As sparks fly off-air, Lucie must choose between a staged romance and a genuine connection with Aiden.

I loved the premise of First-Time Caller and appreciated that it was inspired by 90s romcoms. The dual perspectives from Lucie and Aiden were fantastic and the sprinkled radio segments added a nice touch to break up the chapters. The characters’ voices were distinctive which made it easy to connect with both protagonists. The supporting cast was equally well written and I’m excited to see which characters might get their own books! Lucie’s 12-year-old daughter, Maya, was an absolute highlight. She was cute, quirky, and showed a wonderful mix of maturity and childlike innocence. I also appreciated that Aiden’s grumpy attitude was explained rather than just presented as a personality trait. The slow build-up and chemistry between Aiden and Lucie were amazing which created great chemistry. However, I found the book to be a bit too long with some scenes dragging and the pacing occasionally feeling off. While the build-up to their romance was great, the steamy scenes felt abrupt and could have benefited from smoother transitions. I also wished there had been more focus on Aiden building a relationship with Maya as that would have added more depth to their story. Overall, I found that this was a solid start to the series. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Review: A Rebel Without Claws

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A Rebel Without Claws by Juliette Cross
Publisher: Union Square & Co.
Pub Date: 2/11/2025

Thank you Union Square & Co. for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bad boy werewolf Ronan Reed moves to Louisiana to escape his troubled past, only to be captivated by Celine Cruz, a compassionate Aura witch with a knack for healing broken souls. As their forbidden romance heats up, Ronan’s dangerous world threatens to tear them apart, forcing him to protect the woman who’s become his greatest weakness.

A Rebel Without Claws is the first book in the Southern Charm series and features the second generation of the Stay a Spell universe. This story focuses on Celine (Evie and Mateo’s daughter) and her love interest, Ronan (Shane’s nephew). It was so much fun revisiting New Orleans, reconnecting with beloved characters from Stay a Spell series, and meeting the next generation. I enjoyed Celine’s interactions with her brothers and cousins as well as getting to know Ronan and witnessing his personal growth and development throughout the story. Some of the most touching moments were Ronan’s therapy sessions which added depth to his character. It was also heartwarming to see him embark on a journey of self-discovery, build a stronger relationship with his Uncle Shane, and find a sense of home with newfound friends. In terms of Celine and Ronan’s relationship, it developed too quickly and I wasn’t a fan of the instalove. However, I did enjoy other aspects of the book and found it to be a quick and engaging read. Now I can’t wait to see what other characters will have their stories told in future books of the series!

Review: A Killing Cold

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A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pub Date: 2/4/2025

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Theodora Scott falls for Connor Dalton and joins him at his family’s remote winter retreat, where strange warnings and memories from her forgotten past surface. As Theo uncovers the dark secrets of the Daltons and Idlewood, she realizes the truth could cost her everything.

A Killing Cold is the third book I’ve read from Kate Alice Marshall. The premise of the book was intriguing, but I found Theo’s anxious inner monologue to be monotonous and repetitive at times. The flashbacks sprinkled throughout offered interesting hints about what might have happened in the past. However, I didn’t feel as invested in the other characters as they lacked depth and weren’t fully fleshed out. Theo and Connor’s relationship also fell flat for me as it seemed to lack substance. The ending was decent in terms of the whodunnit reveal. The audiobook performance by Karissa Vacker was excellent. After reading my third Kate Alice Marshall book, I’m beginning to think her writing style may not be for me. Overall, I’d rate this 3 stars.

Review: Beautiful Ugly

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Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pub Date: 1/14/2025

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the free copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Grady Green’s life is upended when his wife, Abby, vanishes mysteriously after a phone call, leaving him consumed by grief and unanswered questions. A year later, while seeking solace on a remote Scottish island, Grady is stunned to encounter a woman who is the spitting image of his missing wife.

Alice Feeney’s books tend to be hit or miss for me. The audiobook was exceptionally well done, but I wasn’t a fan of this book. While the prologue was intriguing, the rest of the story was an extremely slow burn. As I continued reading, I found myself less invested as it often felt like rambling at times. This felt more like a drama than a thriller. The pace finally picks up around the 60% mark and while there are twists, the storyline takes an odd turn with numerous plot holes. By the end, I had more questions than answers. However, I was glad Columbo, the dog, was completely fine. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

Review: Cross My Heart

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Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
Publisher: Atria
Pub Date: 1/14/2025

Thank you Atria for the free advanced copy.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rosie Lachlan becomes entangled in a dangerous obsession after suspecting her heart donor was the late wife of author Morgan Thorne, with whom she feels destined to be. As she uncovers unsettling truths about Morgan’s past, Rosie must confront whether her connection to him is love or a fatal mistake.

Cross My Heart is the first book I’ve read by Megan Collins. The intriguing premise initially drew me to this thriller. The story is told through Rosie’s perspective, interspersed with emails between them in DonnerConnnect, and other emails Morgan sent, which added an interesting layer to the narrative. The characters were all unlikable, unreliable, and unhinged, making questionable choices that effectively added to the story’s tension. However, I found Rosie, the main character, to be particularly daft and annoying. While the story started off strong, it began to drag in the middle becoming repetitive and overly focused on Rosie’s monotonous overthinking. The writing leaned more toward telling than showing which lessened some of the impact. That said, a couple of unexpected twists sparked my interest with the plot. Overall, it was an entertaining three-star read.

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Review: All The Missing Pieces

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All The Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pub Date: 1/7/2025

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

True crime podcaster Ridley Sawyer seeks justice for cold cases while grappling with the unresolved disappearance of her twin sister. When her investigation collides with Sheriff Colter Brooks’ guarded small-town life, sparks fly, but danger looms as the case takes a deadly turn.

All The Missing Pieces is the first book in the Shady Cove series. This romantic suspense book contained grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity romance tropes. I appreciated the unique combination of a true crime podcaster heroine and a sheriff hero which got me invested in the story. Overall, it was an engaging read, but I found myself more interested by the suspense than the romance. The cold case plot was what truly hooked me and kept me turning the pages. There were moments where I thought I had figured out the culprit, only for the author to completely blindside me with unexpected twists which I loved. However, the romance between Ridley and Colt fell a bit flat for me. The dialogue felt too cliché and occasionally cringey. Ridley’s impulsive decisions sometimes annoyed me. Colt’s behavior while meant to be grumpy occasionally came across as outright rude which detracted from the charm of their dynamic. Given that Ridley is a true crime podcaster, I would have loved to see a few podcast episodes woven into the story to provide more depth and immersion. Overall, this was a solid start to the series and I’m excited to see which characters get their own stories next!

2024 Reflection & 2025 Plans

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As the year winds down, I find myself reflecting on the lessons of 2024 and setting intentions for the year ahead.

2024 Highlights & Reflections

This past year was about reflection and letting go of what no longer served me. After the burnout of 2023, I started 2024 with a slower pace, prioritizing joy and intention in my reading and personal life.

Personal Milestones

  • Reviewed every book I read on Goodreads for another year.
  • Cleared my NetGalley shelf of 2024 releases, reaching a 96% feedback ratio.

Letting Go

This year I released some commitments and habits that no longer aligned with my goals:

  • Canceled BOTM Subscription: I realized the selections weren’t appealing to me anymore and I could find the books I wanted elsewhere.
  • Disbanded My Book Club: After five years of OC Books and Brunch, organizing meetings and selecting books became more of a chore than a joy. Stepping away allowed me to reclaim reading for myself.
  • Embraced Mood Reading & DNF’ing: Without book club obligations, I could read purely for pleasure. This shift helped me refine my tastes and let go of the pressure to finish books that didn’t resonate.

Looking Ahead to 2025

In 2025, my reading goals remain the same: focusing on quality over quantity. This approach has served me well over the years, and I plan to carry it forward. Here’s to another year of growth, discovery, and leaning into what truly brings joy!

2 Christmas Book Reviews

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Merry Christmas Eve! Here are two Christmas books I enjoyed this month:

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: 10/1/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey is a Christmas romance about Stella, a woman with a tough past, who gets a chance to design window displays for a department store. As she works with Aiden, the cheerful owner, their growing connection turns into a sweet and steamy love story about second chances.

I found a signed copy of Window Shopping at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn last month so it already felt special even before I started reading. Overall, I really enjoyed this short holiday romance! The grumpy vs. sunshine, opposites attract, and forced proximity tropes were all wonderfully done. Aiden is a bit corny and dorky, but he’s such a sweetheart. Stella’s troubled past makes her guarded, but I love how Aiden brings out the best in her. While insta-love doesn’t usually work for me, it fit the story perfectly here. There are a couple of spicy scenes sprinkled throughout, adding just the right amount of heat. If you’re looking for a fun, heartwarming holiday read set in New York City during Christmas, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: 9/24/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter, cozy mystery author Maggie Chase and thriller writer Ethan Wyatt must put aside their rivalry to solve the disappearance of a famous author from a locked room during a snowbound Christmas party. As they unravel the mystery, they uncover unexpected truths—and possibly love—while navigating twists, turns, and each other’s sharp edges.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was on sale on LibroFM so I decided to purchase the audiobook. This was my first book by Ally Carter and I enjoyed it! The story is written in third person, primarily from Maggie’s perspective, with occasional police recordings and a few chapters told through Ethan’s POV. There’s a great balance between the slow-burn romance and the locked-room mystery, both of which were well-written and fast-paced. The author did an excellent job building the chemistry between Maggie and Ethan evolving their relationship from enemies-to-lovers as they worked together to uncover Eleanor’s disappearance. I highly recommend picking up this holiday read!