Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez Publisher: Forever Pub Date: 4/1/2025
Thank you to Forever for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Veterinarian Xavier Rush seems almost perfect until he says the wrong thing and drives Samantha away. But after one amazing night together, neither of them can forget each other, and they start to wonder if their connection is worth fighting for, even when life gets complicated.
Say You’ll Remember Me was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads and I couldn’t wait to dive in! The story hooked me from the first page and kept my attention until the very end. I absolutely loved Xavier—his character was complex, empathetic, and incredibly sweet. I was initially unsure about the instalove aspect, but it worked surprisingly well. Abby realistically portrayed the strains of long-distance relationships though the unannounced surprise visits felt a bit unrealistic with characters dropping everything in a drop of a hat to spend time together. I wanted to love Samantha’s character and while she was likable, her tendency to expect a lot from others without giving much in return felt off. Unfortunately, there was minimal character growth for her. I appreciated how Abby captured Samantha’s family dynamic and explored Xavier’s strained relationship with his own family. The representation through Lisa (Samantha’s mom) was handled with depth, showing some of life’s harsh realities without sugarcoating. This book turned out to be an emotional, closed-door contemporary romance with heartwarming moments, relatable themes, and a binge-worthy read.
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub Date: 10/1/2024
Thank you to PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Molly Gray is enjoying the holiday season with her boyfriend Juan Manuel, who’s trying to make it extra special for her. But when a Secret Santa exchange at the hotel raises suspicions, Molly must solve a mystery that tests her trust and love.
This novella was adorable! It was wonderful to revisit familiar characters. However, it read more like a Christmas romance than the cozy mystery I expected. While the “mystery” was quite predictable, the story remained heartwarming. I’d recommend it if you enjoy the Molly the Maid series.
Heir by Sabaa Tahir Publisher: Penguin Teen Pub Date: 10/1/2024
Thank you to Penguin Teen for the free advanced copy and PR box for Heir.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heir by Sabaa Tahir, the first book in the Heir series, follows the intertwined lives of Aiz, an orphan driven by vengeance and love for her people, Sirsha, a banished tracker hunting a child killer, and Quil, the reluctant crown prince grappling with his tragic lineage. Their paths converge as they face the burdens of power, love, and the consequences of greed. This dark and captivating journey explores the costs of their choices on their lives and hearts.
Heir has been one of my most anticipated reads this year! I was excited to learn that it takes place 20 years after the Ember series, keeping it in the same universe. Although some say you can read this duology as a standalone, I disagree. The references and backstory are linked to Ember, and without that context, it might not make sense.
Heir is told from multiple perspectives and is extremely fast-paced. My favorite perspectives were Sirsha and Quil. The character development and building tension kept me flying through the pages. It was refreshing to see some of the Ember characters as supporting roles and interesting to observe how they fit into this new narrative. I took my time with this book, savoring all the details that Sabaa Tahir sprinkles throughout the story. There were a few twists I anticipated, but not in the way I expected. There are some graphic scenes that made me pause and put the book down for a bit. The only perspective I didn’t enjoy as much was Aiz’s. Her character and actions felt too predictable, but I understood her perspective was necessary to grasp the full depth of the story. The book ends with a cliffhanger, leaving me eagerly awaiting the second book! Overall, I would rate this 4.5 stars and rounded up to 5 stars on Goodreads. If you enjoy high fantasy and loved the Ember series, I highly recommend picking this one up.
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen Publisher: Orbit Pub Date: 7/2/2024
Thank you to Hachette Audio for the free copy on LibroFM in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The town of Eternity is surprised when Twyla Banneker, a widowed middle-aged woman, teams up with her neighbor and best friend, Frank Ellis, to become Tanrian Marshals. Eight years later, they stumble upon a mysterious murder and a baby dragon, which leads them into a dangerous conspiracy and makes Twyla realize she might have deeper feelings for Frank.
I enjoyed The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, so I was really excited to read the second book in the series, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. This was an action-packed and unique rom-com fantasy and it was refreshing to see both main characters in their 50s. The marketing describes it as “When Harry Met Sally” but with dragons, which I’m not sure I completely agree with, but it definitely follows a best friends-to-lovers trope. The world-building, revisiting old characters, and being introduced to new side characters were a few highlights. However, I wasn’t a big fan of how the romantic plot played out and the “mystery” was rather flat and uninteresting. The author’s writing style was entertaining, but it didn’t feel as impactful as her previous book. I was also expecting both main characters to have an equal amount of depth. Twyla’s character was well-thought-out and felt like it was mostly told from her perspective in the third person. Frank was a great love interest, but overall, fell a bit flat. This was a fun read, but it just wasn’t for me.
The Love of My After Life by Kirsty Greenwood Publisher: Berkley Romance Pub Date: 7/2/2024
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy along with the exclusive content from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recently deceased Delphie meets a captivating man in the afterlife waiting room and is given a second chance at life and love if she can find him on earth within 10 days. Embarrassed by her undignified death and eager for a fresh start, Delphie embarks on a heartwarming and magical quest in a bustling city, guided by her heart and the unexpected help she receives along the way.
Kirsty Greenwood is one of my favorite romance authors and I was thrilled to see her picked up by Berkley! The premise of The Love of My After Life sounded intriguing and I loved that it contained magical realism. The Love of My After Life deserves all the stars! Kirsty’s writing is filled with love, laughter, and moments that pull at my heartstrings; it’s like a hug in a book. I absolutely loved the banter, the insane situations Delphie gets herself into, and all the quirky supporting characters. I also loved the ode to wonderful romance authors sprinkled throughout the story. There were some insightful quotes that I adored. The afterlife elements were cozy and sweet, though tinged with sadness. Overall, the book was hopeful and uplifting. I also appreciated the exclusive content that Berkley and Kirsty provided. It was such an immersive reading experience and gaining more insight from Kirsty on specific scenes made me appreciate the book even more. Definitely recommend picking this one up if you like romance with fantasy elements and quirky side characters!
I’ve been thinking about unlikable main characters and how they affect the reader’s experience and overall rating of a book. I recently read two romance novels where one of the main leads was unlikable, and both ended up being 3-star reads for me.
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Pub Date: 6/11/2024
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emma Wheeler, an aspiring screenwriter, gets a chance to rewrite a script for her idol, Charlie Yates, while her sister takes over caring for their dad. Despite Charlie’s disdain for her and romantic comedies, Emma is determined to prove their value, leading to an unexpected romance that changes everything.
Katherine Center is an auto-read author for me! However, I had mixed feelings about The Rom-Commers. The plot was sweet and had so much potential, but I wasn’t a big fan of Charlie. I empathized with Emma regarding her past and finally being able to pursue her dreams. It didn’t surprise me that she had more of a doormat personality since she had to start taking care of her dad and raising her younger sister at a young age. I liked seeing Emma’s growth throughout the story. Charlie, on the other hand, has to be one of the worst male main characters. He’s a textbook red flag. I hate that whatever he tells Emma is the opposite of what he means. There’s also a major twist at the end that I thought was incredibly messed up. Charlie continues to treat Emma poorly while secretly having a crush on her, but his words are what hurt the most. I couldn’t imagine them being together long after the epilogue due to the initial relationship they have. One part of the book I did enjoy was the cameo appearances of Jack Stapleton from The Bodyguard. Overall, The Rom-Commers had its moments, but it didn’t fully deliver for me.
The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson Publisher: Berkley Romance Pub Date: 6/18/2024
Thank you to Berkley Romance & PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Daphne Brink, newly divorced and unfamiliar with baseball, heckles Carolina Battery player Chris Kepler after one too many drinks. When she later reaches out to apologize without revealing her identity, a connection forms between them, but Daphne struggles to keep her secret as their relationship deepens, leaving her worried about the consequences when Chris learns the truth.
I was super excited to see a sports romance book about baseball! Based on the premise, I was a bit hesitant since it involves catfishing and miscommunication tropes. I had mixed feelings about The Art of Catching Feelings. While the premise sounded promising, the execution fell short. First, I was not a fan of Daphne at all. Not only did she withhold her identity, but she also barely grew as a person throughout the story, essentially implying that lying to Chris was acceptable without any repercussions. As for Chris, I felt downright sorry for him, given everything he was going through and his interactions with Daphne. Although Chris’s character showed growth, the author’s handling of mental health issues felt more like telling rather than showing, making it less effective. The ending was too corny for me, and I couldn’t see Daphne and Chris being a long-term couple after the story ended.
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood Publisher: Berkley Romance Pub Date: 6/11/2024
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rue Siebert’s stable world is upended by a hostile takeover led by the alluring yet off-limits Eli Killgore, starting a secret and temporary romance with an expiration date tied to their competing companies. Rue and Eli navigate the challenges of the collide of their professional and personal worlds.
Not in Love is unlike any of Ali Hazelwood’s previous books. I absolutely loved the dual POV, which worked exceptionally well. The angst and forbidden romance added a thrilling dynamic, and the pining between Rue and Eli was captivating. Despite their differences, it made perfect sense for them to be together. I appreciated the mystery surrounding Eli’s role and the unpredictable ending. Both the romance and the plot kept me engaged throughout the story. This is definitely Ali’s steamiest book yet and truly deserves all the stars!
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan Publisher: DoubleDay Pub Date: 5/21/2024
Thank you Random House and PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rufus Leung Gresham, a future duke facing immense familial debt, is pushed by his mother to marry a wealthy woman at his sister’s lavish wedding. When a volcano eruption and a scandal shake up the wedding, Rufus faces a tough choice between his family’s expectations and his own happiness, as secrets come out that could change his family’s future forever.
I enjoyed the dramatic and stylistic writing in this book. The main story and its subplots make for an entertaining read, and I appreciated how everything came together in the end. However, I felt the character development was lacking; many characters, including Rufus and Eden, did not evolve much from beginning to end, which was disappointing. I absolutely disliked Annabelle’s character, but I understood her necessity in the plot. If you enjoyed the Crazy Rich Asians series, you might like this one as well.
Funny Story by Emily Henry Publisher: Berkley Romance Pub Date: 4/23/2024
Thank you to Berkley & PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Funny Story by Emily Henry, Daphne navigates life in Waning Bay, Michigan, after her fiancé Peter falls for his childhood best friend, Petra, leading Daphne to become roommates with Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak. Despite their initial avoidance, Daphne and Miles form a friendship and hatch a plan involving misleading photos, questioning the possibility of love in the tangled aftermath of their broken relationships.
Funny Story was one of my most anticipated spring reads! I was thrilled to hear that Julia Whelan was going to narrate, so I knew I had to listen to this on audio as much as I could. Despite the summary suggesting a typical trope, I found the story to be unexpectedly profound. Narrated entirely from Daphne’s perspective, this approach adds a special depth, allowing readers to intimately experience her journey of self-discovery and resilience following a broken engagement. It was also fascinating seeing the evolution of Miles’s character and the gradual unveiling between him and Daphne The supportive and encouraging characters in the story made it even more endearing. What I loved most were the insightful quotes, true nuggets of wisdom, woven into the narrative thought and care. Funny Story has become my all-time favorite book by Emily Henry and deserves all the stars. I’m glad I accidentally pre-ordered two different editions of this book before reading it, something I have NEVER done before!
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Pub Date: 4/23/2024
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the free copy on NetGalley and Libro.Fm for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth tells the story of three foster sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who grew up under the strict care of their foster mother on a farm, hiding dark secrets beneath a seemingly perfect upbringing. Their past comes back to haunt them when a body is found under their childhood home, turning them from witnesses into potential suspects in a disturbing case.
Sally Hepworth’s books have been hit or miss for me so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Darling Girls. The intriguing premise initially excited me, however, I didn’t anticipate the heavy subjects being described in such graphic detail. While I expected the thriller to be dark and twisted, the story turned out to be more sad and heartbreaking. It unfolds through three distinct POVs, but the audiobook’s single narrator made it challenging to differentiate between them—I would have preferred multiple narrators for a more immersive experience. The narrative alternates between the present and the characters’ childhoods, with the present timeline being more slow paced and the past providing a faster pace. Unfortunately, I found the ending somewhat predictable. I gave this three stars and I recommend taking a look at the trigger warnings beforehand.
Asha Reads 