Happily Never After by Lynn Painter Publisher: Berkley Pub Date: 3/12/2024
Thank you to Berkley & PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Happily Never After by Lynn Painter, Sophie Steinbeck enlists the help of a professional objector, Max, to escape her own doomed wedding, leading them on a series of anti-wedding adventures where they work together to save others from unhappy marriages. As they navigate their unconventional partnership, Sophie and Max confront their own skepticism about love, only to find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other, especially when faced with a job that hits too close to home.
I loved the banter between Sophie and Max; their chemistry was off the charts. The evolution of their relationship from friends to lovers was sweet, yet when they finally came together, it turned spicy. Sophie’s roommates were hilarious, adding even more fun to the story! The only aspect I found less appealing were some of the decisions Sophie and Max made individually, which irked me, but this didn’t deter my overall enjoyment of the book. Overall, this is a fun, lighthearted romance that’s perfect to pick up this spring!
Murder Road by Simone St. James Publisher: Berkley Pub Date: 3/5/2024
Thank you to PRH Audio & Berkley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Newlyweds April and Eddie inadvertently become suspects in a series of unexplained murders after picking up a dying hitchhiker along Atticus Line during their honeymoon. Their efforts to clear their names uncover the town’s dark, sinister secrets, threatening to engulf them in its ominous history.
I’ve always been a fan of Simone St. James’ thrillers so I was excited to hear about her upcoming release. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me and I wish I DNF’d it. While the premise seemed intriguing at first, the story ultimately proved forgettable. The protagonists, April and Eddie, came across as both irritating and dull, with their motivation for investigating the murders in the small town feeling weak and unconvincing. Additionally, many of the plot twists were predictable. I was particularly disappointed by the paranormal elements in this book, which, unlike in St. James’ previous works, failed to add any depth or eerie atmosphere to the story. This isn’t a book I would recommend. If you decide to give it a try, I suggest keeping your expectations low.
The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian Publisher: Doubleday Pub Date: 3/19/2024
Thank you to Doubleday & PRH Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian, Crissy Dowling, who impersonates Princess Diana, sees her life in Las Vegas turn upside down when her sister arrives and a murder occurs, pulling her into a world of crime, secrets, and cryptocurrency.
I love Chris Bohjalian’s work so I was excited to hear that he was coming out with a new thriller. I was a bit hesitant on how I’d feel about this since I’m not a fan of the royals. I was pleasantly surprised the plot proved captivating and consistently held my attention. However, there was way too much talk about crypto currency. I liked the alternating perspectives between the sisters added depth, and their involvement in the murder mysteries kept me thoroughly engaged Setting the story against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas effectively turned the location into a character in its own right. Overall, I’d recommend this if you like slow burn thrillers!
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.
Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio (Amazon Publishing) Pub Date: 2/1/2024
This was my January Amazon First Reads pick
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar tells the story of Dunia Ahmed, a New York pharmacist coping with personal tragedies, who becomes the center of a true crime podcast after her mysterious disappearance. As she deals with murder attempts on her life and police suspicion of those close to her, Dunia’s reality blurs with childhood superstitions, leading her to believe that a malevolent force is targeting her.
Having enjoyed Amina Akhtar’s previous works, #fashionvictim and Kissmet, I was thrilled to discover her latest thriller, Almost Surely Dead, released under Mindy’s Book Studios. The narrative is told through three distinct perspectives: Dunia’s experiences from a year or two prior, the podcast’s viewpoint, and Dunia’s memories from when she was five years old. A highlight of the book is its exploration of jinn and Pakistani culture, offering insightful perspectives on these beliefs. The podcast hosts, intriguingly flawed, exhibit subtle racism and a penchant for gaslighting their guests, embodying the antithesis of ideal hosts with their overt commercial focus. Dunia’s character and her interactions with those around her are fascinating along with the extremely horrifying methods at attempts on her life. Though the culprits were easily predictable which had me reduce a star, the integration of jinn into the storyline was chillingly effective which added a haunting and terrifying layer that resonated deeply. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one if you’re looking for an entertaining and spine-tingling thriller!
The Fury by Alex Michaelides Publisher: Celadon Books Pub Date: 1/16/2024
Thank you to Celadon Books & Macmillan Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In The Fury, Lana Farrah, a ex-movie star, invites her closest friends to her private Greek island for Easter, leading to a a fateful night of revenge, a game of cat and mouse, and murder. The story is told through the unreliable narrator, Elliot Chase, who reveals secrets, unexpected twists, and betrayal.
I was super excited to hear that Alex Michaelides was coming out with a new book since I enjoyed The Silent Patient. The Fury was an entertaining read that I was able to finish in less than two days. The beginning is intriguing and sets the stage of the murder. Throughout the story, Elliot explains all the backstories of all the suspects and how they are related to each other. I also like that the book is broken out in acts like a play. The way the twists and secrets are revealed kept me on the edge of my seat. There were a couple of twists that I predicted but the way it was written kept me engaged. I found the middle to be a bit slower, but the last act made up for it. As for the audiobook, Alex Jennings did a great job bringing the story to life and had the perfect voice for Elliot. I recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a lighthearted, slow burn entertaining thriller.
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!
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.
Asha Reads 