The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine Publisher: Bantam Pub Date: 6/18/2024
Thank you to Random House for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Next Mrs. Parrish is about Amber Patterson Parrish, who becomes a well-known socialite even after her husband’s legal troubles. As her husband’s release from prison approaches, she, her husband Jackson, and his ex-wife Daphne face their past mistakes and secrets, leading to unexpected alliances and challenges.
The Next Mrs Parrish is a true sequel so I recommend reading The Last Mrs. Parrish and The First Shot before reading this one. The writing seemed overly simple and the dialogue felt stilted. It leaned more towards a family drama than a thriller. The pacing was uneven, with certain scenes dragging on too long. I wasn’t a fan of the characters and the supposed twists were easily predictable. While I appreciated the various perspectives, I found it odd that Daphne’s perspective was told in the first person whereas Amber and Daisy Ann’s were in the third person which irked me. The ending was predictable, which wasn’t terrible in itself, but the journey there felt lackluster. I ended up giving this book a generous three stars. This sequel felt unnecessary. Overall, I don’t think the author duo is for me. Their style just doesn’t resonate with me, and The Last Mrs. Parrish remains the only book of theirs that I liked.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Publisher: Forever Pub Date: 4/2/2024
Thank you to Forever for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Justin and Emma, both cursed in love, come up with a plan to date and then break up, hoping to end their bad luck and find true love next. Their simple summer romance fling gets complicated as they face with personal challenges and start having feelings for each other, making them wonder if they were meant to be together after all.
Just for the Summer is one of my most anticipated spring releases! I’ve read all of Abby’s book so far and I’m a huge fan of her writing. Her skill in crafting complex characters who evoke empathy, intertwined with beautifully developed slow-burn romances and intimate moments, always leaves me cheering for the protagonists. Just for the Summer has got to be in my top 3 now and deserves all the stars! Slightly different from Abby’s previous books, Just for the Summer excels by intricately weaves the challenges of life with laughter, tears, and bringing the power of hope all into one. I loved seeing Emma and Justin’s personal growth through their own perspectives and how they intertwine in each other’s lives. The supporting characters really made this book shine and loved the support system that Emma and Justin received through their found families. Abby was able to address heavy topics with sensitivity in a way that was thoughtful and also added another layer of depth to her writing. There are so many other things I want to say, but I want to keep this review spoiler free! If you’re an Abby fan or new to her writing, pick this one up on release day!
Tangled Up In You by Christin Lauren Publisher: Hyperion Avenue Pub Date: 6/25/2024
Thank you to Hyperion Avenue for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tangled Up In You is the fourth installment in the A Meant To Be series and it can be read as a standalone. This is a modern day retelling of the classic Rapunzel and draws inspiration from the Disney film, Tangled. The novel is about Ren, a self-taught, off-the-grid woman attending college for the first time, and Fitz, a student with a meticulously planned future. Their lives intertwine through an immunology seminar assignment, leading them on an unexpected road trip where they discover that the answers to their dreams might lie in their unlikely partnership.
I had mixed feelings about this book. I loved the backdrop and was captivated by all the intriguing characters. Yet, I couldn’t help noticing striking similarities to Kiss the Girl, the third book in the A Meant To Be series, especially in the road trip scenes. The pacing of the book seemed to be a bit off to me. The beginning of the book was really intriguing, but once we got to the road trip part, it was pretty slow. The last quarter of the book felt rushed and packed with events with little to no explanations which led to an abrupt ending. I was also surprised to find this book to be more young adult versus adult. Contrary to the previous books in the series which featured mid-20s adults, this book felt more like a young adult novel, with Ren and Fitz behaving more like teenagers despite being in their early 20s. Fitz’s character was well-developed and was fascinated by his backstory, but Ren’s golden retriever energy and naivety were so excessive that it was off-putting for me. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite in the series, but it was entertaining to read so I rated it 3 stars.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood Publisher: Berkley Romance Pub Date: 2/6/2024
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Bride by Ali Hazelwood, Misery Lark, a vampyre, is thrust into a political marriage with Lowe Moreland, the Alpha of the Weres, to maintain a peacekeeping alliance. Misery navigates this uneasy alliance with her own hidden agenda, determined to reclaim something precious to her, even if it means living in the hostile territory of her mortal enemies.
Ali Hazelwood’s Bride marks an exciting shift to a new genre: paranormal romance. Moving away from her usual style, I was pleasantly surprised that she tried something a bit different. There was an element of mystery in the beginning that intrigued me. I found the subplots to be more interesting than Misery and Lowe’s romantic involvement. The steamy scenes were definitely a plus, but I just couldn’t see Misery and Lowe as a long-term couple. The pacing was a bit off in this book where some scenes dragged out and other scenes were action-packed and kept me engaged. I really liked the way that all the characters were fleshed out. It also made complete sense that this was told through Misery’s POV. The world building was a bit tedious at times and wasn’t necessary since this was more of paranormal romance. I also felt that the third act breakup didn’t make much sense and it wasn’t explained how it was really resolved. It honestly made like Lowe less. Overall, I thought this was a great first attempt into paranormal romance for Ali and can’t wait to see her explore this genre more!
The Women by Kristin Hannah Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Pub Date: 2/6/2024
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Women by Kristin Hannah follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse who bravely joins the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War, facing the chaos of battle and the struggles of returning to a divided America. This historical fiction novel dives into sacrifice, friendship, and shining light on often-forgotten commitment and patriotism.
Kristin Hannah’s meticulous research shines in The Women, with some scenes reading like nonfiction. I was particularly captivated by the first half, detailing Frankie’s Vietnam tour, while the latter part skillfully explores her post-war life. There are so graphic scenes and multiple triggers so I recommend reading the content warnings on StoryGraph as there’s too many to mention. The author’s captivating storytelling and fresh perspective on a rarely discussed topic were eye-opening, especially in portraying Frankie’s post-Vietnam experiences with her family and friends. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Frankie, Barb, and Ethel supporting each other which truly highlights the value of friendship. The only part of the book I had a difficult grappling with were the romantic connections and some of the twists that related to that, but I understood why these had to be written into the story. Overall, this has to be one of my all-favorite books from Kristin Hannah and is my first 5-star read of the year! As someone who rarely reads historical fiction, I highly recommend this resonant read.
These are my top 12 favorite reads of 2023! The books are in order of when I read them. These were all 5-star reads. I considered what I read this year regardless of the publication date.
True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (now my all-time favorite CLO book and second book in DNADuo) Things We Hide From The Light by Lucy Score (now my all-time favorite Lucy Score book and second book in Knockemout series) Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (favorite fantasy) How Not To Drown In A Glass Of Water by Angie Cruz (favorite backlist literary fiction) The Only One Left by Riley Sager (second all-time favorite Riley Sager book) Drowning by TJ Newman (new-to-me thriller author favorite) Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (favorite backlist thriller) Mixed Signals by BK Borision (favorite sunshine-sunshine romance and new-to-me author I discovered) The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (one of my favorite debut authors) After That Night by Karin Slaughter (favorite book in a series I haven’t completely read) You, Again by Kate Goldbeck (one of my favorite debut authors) This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan (favorite 2024 release I can’t wait for everyone to read)
A few observations about my 2023 reading:
Of my top 12, I met all these authors except for Rebecca Yarros and Kate Goldbeck.
Lucy Score was the top author I read this year with 5 books. The top genres I read this year were romance, contemporary, and mystery.
According to my years books.com, my reading vibes were “adventurous.”
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!
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!
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.
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck Publisher: Random House Pub Date: 9/12/2023
Thank you to Random House for the free ebook copy on NetGalley and PRH Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In You, Again by Kate Goldbeck, Ari and Josh start off as bitter enemies, both with vastly different dating philosophies. However, as they navigate heartbreak and forge an unexpected friendship, their once-hostile relationship evolves into something more, blurring the lines between friendship and romance in this witty debut romantic comedy.
When I heard that You, Again can be described as a modernized version of When Harry Met Sally, I was immediately drawn to it! This book deserves all the stars! I ended up listening to the audiobook which had me easily envision the story being adapted into a movie. What truly stood out to me was the beautifully messy and complex characters of Ari and Josh. Watching them evolve and mature over the course of the story and through the time lapses was a delight. The supporting characters, particularly Radhya, Briar, and Gabe, added depth and charm to the narrative. I loved that Kate was skillfully able to progress Ari and Josh’s relationship from enemies to acquaintances to friends to lovers in an exceptional way which kept me throughly engaged. I appreciated that the book didn’t just focus on love but also delved into the struggles of career growth, nurturing friendships, and family responsibilities. There were moments when I wanted to shake some sense into Ari or Josh, yet other times I found myself sympathizing with their dilemmas. For anyone who has a soft spot for When Harry Met Sally, I highly recommend giving You, Again a read. I can’t wait to see what Kate writes next! I’m hoping for Radhya to have her own love story explored in a future book!
Asha Reads 