As August slips away, weâre still in the middle of a heatwave as September begins, which comes as no surprise. Iâve already got fall on my mind and just need the weather to catch up. Here are two standouts from the past month that brought me joy: a gripping first book in a brand new series by thriller queen Karin Slaughter, and a dazzling Lights Lacquer polish that has me craving fall more than ever.
đ Favorite book I read: We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
Thank you William Morrow for the free advanced copy of We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter.
In the small town of North Falls, the disappearance of two teenage girls during the fireworks proves that no one truly knows each other. Officer Emmy Clifton, burdened by guilt, is determined to find them and uncover the secrets the town has been hiding.
Karin Slaughter is an auto-read author for me so it was no surprise that her latest book, We Are All Guilty Here (the first in the North Falls series), is a 5-star read! This is one of those books you should go into without knowing too many details so you can experience every surprise. This slow-burn police procedural had me on my toes until the very end. I thought I had it all figured out, but twist after twist kept me guessing and I could not put it down. The emotional, deeply flawed characters hit me to my core. Slaughter did an incredible job weaving together two timelines with enough clarity to keep me fully invested. There were moments that felt heavy where I truly sympathized with Emmy or Jude and moments that left me completely shell-shocked. Highly recommend picking this one up. Now I canât wait for the next book in the series!
đ Favorite Manicure: Lights Lacquer Saddle Up
Saddle Up is part of the Lights Lacquer Headed West fall collection. Iâm actually surprised that I chose another red as my favorite given that I donât really wear red manis that much. Iâm obsessed with how this specific shade reminds me of fall. I love how opaque and creamy it is. This will definitely be a repeat mani this upcoming season!
Fall may not be here yet, but my TBR and polish picks are already there.
Today Iâm highlighting 3 new romance releases today and my thoughts on each of them:
𧚠A Witchâs Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
đ Thank you Berkley Romance & PRH Audio for the free copy.
đŹ: If you loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, this charming cozy book is for you! Seraâs journey of healing, found family, and rediscovering confidence really shines. I adored the cast of supporting characters. The ending was satisfying. Iâd recommend this to anyone craving magic with heart.
đž Pugs & Kisses by Farrah Rochon
đ Thank you Forever & Hachette Audio for the free copy.
đŹ: I was so happy to see Evie take center stage in this follow-up to Pardon My Frenchie. Her emotional arc is tender and relatable. Bryson brings just enough tension to make their chemistry sizzle even if I wanted to shake him a few times. Pet loss is mentioned here, however, the author handled with care and not for shock value which I appreciated. This oneâs for fans of heartwarming friendships and slow-burn healing. I canât wait for Ridley and Von next!
𧟠Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
đ Thank you Berkley Romance & PRH Audio for the free copy.
đŹ: This one had Pretty Woman vibes and Painterâs signature banter. This one wasnât quite my cup of tea. However, if you love billionaire tropes or insta-love, it might be up your alley.
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson Publisher: Ecco Books Pub Date: 5/13/2025
Thank you Ecco Books for the free advanced copy.
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Madeline Hillâs quiet life on a Tennessee farm is upended when a man named Reuben shows up claiming to be her half brother. Together, they embark on a wild road trip to track down their elusive father and a string of other siblings, discovering unexpected family and connection along the way.
I was excited to hear that Kevin Wilson was releasing a new book this year since I really enjoyed Nothing to See Here and Now Is Not the Time to Panic. The plot was intriguing and I loved the characters that were introduced. Most of the book is told through Madâs perspective in third person, but I appreciated how we still got a sense of the supporting charactersâ experiences as well. I liked learning about Madâs complicated relationship with her dad. The vignettes showing his life with her half-siblings added depth to the story. The storyline was heartfelt and Kevin did an incredible job portraying strained family dynamics with tenderness. A few twists caught me by surprise in the best way and made the story even more enjoyable. I had to sit with the ending for a bit because at first it felt disappointing, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Definitely recommend picking this up if youâre a Kevin Wilson fan!
Donât Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine Publisher: Random House Pub Date: 6/17/2025
Thank you PRH Audio for the free copy.
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Annabelle has a perfect life until she starts having vivid dreams that feel more like warnings of a dangerous future. When parts of the dreams begin coming true, sheâs forced to question her reality and how far sheâll go to protect her daughter.
Donât Open Your Eyes was one of my most anticipated June reads. Liv Constantine is an auto-read author for me so I was really excited for this one! I liked the storyline and found the multiple perspectives engaging. Each voice felt distinct and the audiobook narrators were a great fit. Scarlett was my favorite character. I enjoyed seeing how she navigated being a teen. The dream sequences from Annabelleâs point of view were intriguing and I liked the use of premonitions throughout. The ending wasnât my favorite, but it was decent. Overall, Iâd rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 on Goodreads.
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby Publisher: Flatiron Pub Date: 6/10/2025
Thank you Flatiron & Macmillan Audio for the free advanced copies.
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
When Roman Carruthers returns home after his fatherâs suspicious car accident, he finds his family drowning in debt and danger from violent criminals. As his sister Neveah fights to hold the family together, Roman uses his sharp financial skills, a ruthless side the gangsters didnât expect, to protect the people he loves at any cost.
S.A. Cosby is an auto-read author for me and I can always count on his books to pull me out of a slump. I was especially excited to hear that Adam Lazarre-White would be narrating this one because I love his performances in Cosbyâs other books. King of Ashes is another hit! Cosby has a way of creating characters you genuinely empathize with. They make tough choices and suddenly youâre wrapped up in their complexity and moral grayness. Roman was such a layered character and heâs truly put through the wringer. The book raises hard questions about how far you would go to protect your family while also exploring strained family dynamics and complicated ties within a close-knit community. Cosbyâs story is gritty and includes some graphic elements, but it feels purposeful and drive both the plot and character growth. I loved the slow burn, the high stakes for every character, and that epic ending! I was driving while listening to the last part and literally had to pull over just to relisten. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up on audio!
Itâs pub day and Iâve got three new releases to talk about. All three ended up being 3-star reads for me. Nothing terrible, but nothing Iâm rushing to recommend either. If youâre curious about what didnât quite hit, keep reading.
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown Publisher: Random House
Thank you PRH Audio and Random House for the free advanced copy.
What Kind of Paradise is about Jane, who grows up in an isolated Montana cabin, believing her father is her whole world. But when she uncovers a terrible truth, she runs to San Francisco searching for answers and starts to question everything she thought she knew about her past, her parents, and herself.
I loved Janelleâs previous books so I was really looking forward to What Kind of Paradise. I had mixed feelings about this one. The premise was interesting, but the execution felt meh. Itâs not really a thriller as it leans more toward general fiction with a hint of suspense. The pacing was uneven where the beginning drew me in, but the second half dragged and felt way too slow. All the tech talk made me lose interest. I just couldnât connect with Jane as she felt too emotionally distant for me to feel much empathy toward her. The ending also wrapped up a little too neatly. Overall, this one just didnât work for me the way I hoped.
Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto Publisher: Hyperion Ave
Thank you Leo PR & Hyperion Ave for the free advanced copy.
To save her fatherâs hedge fund deal, Mulan pretends to be him and heads to a whiskey ranch run by Shang and his old-school, misogynistic family. Sheâs determined to close the deal, but falling for Shang was never part of the plan.
Worth Fighting For is the fifth book in the Meant To Be series and a modern Mulan retelling. I had mixed feelings about this one. I loved the sentiment behind the story and what it clearly meant to the author. The way iconic scenes from the movie were seamlessly integrated into a contemporary setting was one of the highlights. Mulanâs personality was what I expected. It didnât surprise me that she altered her name for the Lis, but it did stretch believability that they fell for it considering her dad is the managing partner and owner of the firm. Also with how involved Shang was in social media, it was hard to believe he didnât know who she was.
The part I struggled with most was Shangâs character. He was really underdeveloped. While I appreciated that he wasnât as blatantly misogynistic as the rest of his family, we never got to see his leadership in action or feel his passion for Wutai Gold, his familyâs high-end whiskey company. Mushu was a firecracker and I had mixed feelings about her. I loved how loyal and supportive she was to Mulan, but she could be a bit too out there at times. The ranch portion of the story was easily my favorite. It brought out everyoneâs personalities and felt the most engaging. Unfortunately, the ending didnât work for me. Too much happened too fast, it felt rushed and anticlimactic, and then it just abruptly stopped. Iâm curious to see what the next retelling in this series will be!
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the free advanced copy.
Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter hiding her identity as the daughter of infamous horror author and murder suspect Vincent Taylor. When she agrees to ghostwrite his final book, long-buried family secrets and haunting truths resurface.
I loved The Last Flight, but found The Lies I Tell to be just okay so I wasnât sure what to expect from The Ghostwriter. The premise was intriguing and felt unique which is what drew me in. However, I wasnât a fan of the writing style or execution. The first half of the book is an extremely slow build while the second half picks up slightly with more flashbacks that help move the story along. I found Olivia to be a dull and unengaging protagonist with no real character growth. Of all the perspectives, Poppyâs was the most compelling. Vinceâs chapters, on the other hand, read more like a teenage girl than a boy which pulled me out of the story. It was frustrating how often information was repeated as if the reader couldnât connect the dots on their own. Many side characters seemed to appear out of nowhere and felt underdeveloped. The last 15% of the book is where the action finally kicks in and the ending was decent. Overall, I donât think Julie Clarkâs writing style is for me.
Iâve read all of Neely Tubati Alexanderâs books and each one brings something unique to the table whether itâs slow-burn romance, self-discovery or forced proximity that reignites old feelings. If youâre wondering where to start or curious about my thoughts, hereâs my ranking based on personal vibes, favorite tropes, and the emotional ride each story took me on:
Love Buzz (#3 in my ranking)
Pub Date: 5/2/23
Quick Summary: Serena meets a mysterious, charming stranger during a chaotic New Orleans bachelorette trip and becomes determined to find him once she’s back in Seattle. As she searches with only a few clues, she starts to question whether the carefully planned life she built is truly what she wants or if love might be worth the risk.
Thoughts: I had mixed feelings about it. The plot was intriguing and I didnât mind that the romance took a backseat. I actually appreciated that the story focused more on Serenaâs journey which was letting go of a job that no longer fulfilled her and ending a relationship she had clearly outgrown. It was empowering to watch her find a career she felt passionate about and even when she stumbled, she learned and moved forward. The part that didnât work for me was the romance. I was fine with the insta-love setup between Serena and Julian, but her obsession with finding him after a brief encounter felt a bit unrealistic and hard to buy into. While the story centers on self-discovery and we do eventually learn how great Julian is, I wish they had reconnected earlier so we could actually see their relationship develop. The ending felt too rushed to fully enjoy the spark between them.
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸
Courtroom Drama (#2 in my ranking)
Thank you to the author for the free ARC and to LibroFM & Harper Audio for the free ALC.
Pub Date: 5/20/25
Quick Summary: Sydney Parks thinks jury duty might finally bring some excitement to her life, especially when it involves a reality TV star on trial for murder. But things get messy fast when she realizes her long-lost childhood best friend is also on the jury, and old feelings start bubbling up at the worst possible time.
Thoughts: The plot felt original and intriguing. I loved how Neely balanced two subplots: Margotâs trial and the slow-building connection between Sydney and Damon. The character development was exceptionally well done. I donât usually love single POV stories, but it worked perfectly here where each character felt deeply flawed yet relatable. The banter between Sydney and Damon was top-notch. The trial scenes were surprisingly engaging and kept me hooked all the way through. I also appreciated that the book included content warnings at the beginning of both the print and audio versions and the sensitive topics were handled with care. My only gripe was the pacing. I adored the slow burn and the pining between Sydney and Damon, but I wish we got to see more of their relationship after the trial wrapped up. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up!
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
In a Not So Perfect World (#1 in my ranking)
Pub Date: 3/19/24
Quick Summary: Sloane Cooper, a video game designer focused on landing her dream job, agrees to pose as her neighbor Charlieâs fake girlfriend on a trip to Turks and Caicos. As sparks fly between them, Sloane struggles to stick to her career-first plan and avoid falling for someone whoâs supposed to be winning back his ex.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed it! Some readers might not like how discriminatory the company Sloane interviews for is portrayed and while it may feel extreme, there is definitely some truth to it in the gaming world. I had a lot of empathy for Sloane and I could tell she was trying to prove something to herself. Charlie was a fun character although I thought he could have used more time to recover from his breakup before getting involved with Sloane. The banter between Charlie and Sloane was off the charts and the slow burn was perfect for their story. I loved all the activities they did during their vacation and how their connection gradually deepened. I appreciated that Sloane stayed focused on landing her dream job and that we got to see justice served at the end regarding the company. What did not work for me was the ending where everything felt tied up a little too neatly especially in terms of their work situations and how the third-act breakup was resolved.
The Love Haters by Katherine Center Publisher: St. Martinâs Press Pub Date: 5/20/2025
Thank you St. Martinâs Press for the free advanced copy.
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Katie Vaughn takes a job profiling Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch Hutcheson, even though she canât swim. As she spends time with Hutch and his family, she faces her fears, gets caught in a few lies, and starts to fall for him.
The Love Haters had such an intriguing plot. I ended up really enjoying it! The real standout in this book was the amount of research and thought Katherine Center put into the Coast Guard details. I enjoyed the slow burn, the banter, and the quirky side characters as well. Rue, George Bailey, and The Gals were a hoot! Beanie was an interesting best friend and cousin to Katie. Though I didnât agree with all of her advice and some of it felt harsh, I appreciated that Katie had someone in her corner. The character dynamics in the book were interesting. I loved how Katherine built the connection between Katie and Hutch while also focusing on Katieâs journey of self-healing and self-love. For Hutch, the story centered on healing his relationships. Katie was an interesting main character and I can see how readers might either connect with her or find her frustrating. She tends to overthink and get stuck in her head, but considering her journey, her struggles made sense. Hutch occasionally felt a little too perfect or seemed to act hot and cold, but by the end, I understood why he was the way he was. I really wish we had gotten Hutchâs perspective because it would have been fascinating to see some of the resolutions from his point of view. The last half of the book took some unexpected twists which made things even more compelling. Overall, this was a solid four-star read.
Canât Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan Publisher: Forever Pub Date: 5/13/2025
Thank you Forever for the free advanced copy.
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Hendrix Barry has built a successful life, balancing her thriving career and caring for her aging mother which leaves little room for romance. But when charming tech mogul Maverick Bell enters her world, sheâs forced to question whether love is worth the risk of disrupting her carefully planned future.
Canât Get Enough is the third book in the Skyland series. While it can be read as a standalone, itâs best enjoyed after reading the first two books to fully understand Hendrix and her friends. Before receiving the ARC, I had already preordered a personalized signed copy from Kennedy Ryanâs local indie, Page158 Books, because I had a strong feeling this would be another 5-star read for me. Considering both Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us were also 5-star reads, itâs no surprise that Kennedy Ryan blew Canât Get Enough out of the water! I devoured this book over a weekend. Dare I say, this may be my all-time favorite Kennedy Ryan book! Not only was it refreshing to see a 40-year-old woman finding love, but it was also incredibly meaningful to have a female main character who is childless by choice. I adored Hendrixâs fierce confidence, her unwavering support for her loved ones, and most of all, the softness and vulnerability she allowed Maverick to see. Thereâs a lot to unpack in this story which made it a heavy yet deeply resonating read. I highly recommend reading Kennedyâs authorâs note at the beginning as this helped me prepare for some of the bookâs heavy and sensitive themes. There were still moments that caught me off guard and had me in tears. Kennedy has an unparalleled ability to build chemistry and intimacy between characters and the slow burn in this book is absolutely worth it. There were so many powerful quotes and emotionally resonant scenes that I felt deep in my soul and moments where I truly felt seen in ways I never had before. I also loved seeing Yasmen and Soledad show up for Hendrix which just further shows how deep their friendship is and is such goals! The new characters, especially Bolt and Skipper, added a fun subplot that I enjoyed. Plus, the surprise cameo appearances from characters in the Hoops and Grip series were a delightful touch. The scenes between Hendrix, her mom, and her Aunt G tugged at my heartstrings. I found myself feeling deeply for Hendrix and I just wanted to reach through the pages to give her a hug. The writing, character development, and storytelling were all chefâs kiss! I also appreciated how Kennedy wrapped up the story in a way where it delivers the satisfying romance readers crave while also acknowledging the complex realities of life. I can already see this being one of my favorite reads of 2025. I highly recommend Canât Get Enough especially if you loved Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us!
What Happens In Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon Publisher: Berkley Pub Date: 5/6/2025
Thank you Berkley Romance & PRH Audio for the free copy.
Rating: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
After losing her job, Dani Dorfman impulsively moves to Amsterdam and unexpectedly reunites with her high school ex, Wouter. When they agree to a marriage of convenience, old feelings resurface forcing Dani to decide if this second chance is worth the risk.
What Happens In Amsterdam was one of my most anticipated reads! I enjoyed this one! I loved how Rachel brought Amsterdam to life as its own character which worked out beautifully. The storyline was engaging and the pacing was well done. I appreciated how Rachel explored Daniâs unemployment and burnout in a way that felt relatable and allowed us to really empathize with her. The connection between Dani and Wouter was sweet and I enjoyed how their relationship was built up with thoughtful flashbacks. I only wish we had gotten Wouterâs perspective at times. Other than that, I really loved this one.
Asha Reads 