Category Archives: Fiction

Reviewing 3 of my latest Christmas reads!

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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!

Review: Artefacts of Ouranos Series (Books 1 & 2)

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Trial of the Sun Queen – Book 1

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.

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12/5 Berkley Romance Pub Day Reviews

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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!

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!

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.

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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!