Is She Really Going Out With Him? by. Sophie Cousens | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Is She Really Going Out with Him?

Author: Sophie Cousens

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 11/19/24

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

Content Warning: sexual harassment

I’ve read two books from this author and really enjoyed them so I was excited to see a new book from her! Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Once I started reading, I got hooked into the story. I also like that this MC is 38 years old and divorced with two kids. She’s going through some things like being independent, taking care of her kids and navigating co-parenting and now trying to date again, even if it’s for her job. I like that Anna didn’t let things get her too down especially when things got tough as she juggles her life.

+ This is a workplace, rivals to lovers, slow burn romance. Anna is writing a column and takes on the challenge of dating again, but her kids have to pick her dates. I actually enjoyed her dates with these random men all the while growing a crush on her rival at work Will. Will’s a little bit younger than her, and their rivalry brought the chemistry which I loved. I enjoyed their romance!

+ I liked watching Anna grow. She dates, she starts to flirt with Will, makes new friends and then starts to remember that maybe she deserves some good things – just for herself. I even liked how she navigates the co-parenting with her ex-husband and their journey to communicating better.

Dislikes:

~ I wish this wasn’t close door because it was such a slow burn, I wanted a little more details and spice!

My Thoughts:

While reading this one, I felt like this would make a really cute rom-com movie on Netflix or something. I really enjoyed this one and maybe this author is becoming a must-read for me! I look forward to reading more books from her.

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Twitter (X)

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

Before I Do by. Sophie Cousens | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by. Sophie Cousens | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First Lines Fridays – Can You Guess What Book? | 11/15/24

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

“The coach taking us to Vastwarren City is creaky, the seating is uncomfortable, and I paid far too much for the ride.”

⬇️

⬇️

Can you guess what book it is?

Bull Moon Rising by. Ruby Dixon

Did you guess it? Have you read this one?

📖 ~ Yolanda

Window Shopping By. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Window Shopping

Author: Tessa Bailey

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 258

Publication Date: 10/1/24 (first published on 10/19/21)

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Holiday Romance, Workplace Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Avon for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A sizzling, standalone, feel-good holiday romance from Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer.

Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin.
I’m standing alone in front of the famous Vivant department store, when a charming man named Aiden asks my opinion of the décor.

It’s a tragedy in tinsel, I say, unable to lie.
He asks for a better idea with a twinkle in his eye.
Did I know he owned the place? No. He put me on the spot.
Now I’m working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot.
But as a down on her luck girl with a difficult past, I know an opportunity when I see one—and I have to make it last.

I’ll put my heart and soul into dressing his holiday windows.
I’ll work without stopping. And when we lose the battle with temptation, I’ll try and remember I’m just window shopping.

I wanted to read a holiday romance and got approved for this one so here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Has anyone here watched the 80’s movie Mannequin? With Kim Catrall? I LOVED that movie as a kid lol…the mannequin came to life. Anyway this book sorta reminds me of that minus the mannequins coming to life. None of that happens here but the book centers around a department store, during the holidays and a young woman who’s dream is to design storefront windows. She gets the job, but of course falls for her boss.

+ The romance has a lot of spice and maybe a little too much for me. The attraction is instant and usually I want some build-up but this is a short book so I get why it built up quick. Anyway, if you like your holiday romance spicy, you’ll like this one.

+ I did feel the holidays vibes – department store, Christmas shopping, romance.

Dislikes:

~ Though I thought their romance was cute, I didn’t really feel invested. Also did he really just hire Stella because he was attracted to her? There were some things in the story that just made me go hmmm…

~ There was nothing about Stella’s window creation that hit me in the feels and I think for a holiday romance, I want to feel cozy, heartwarming feelings and I didn’t really feel it with this one.

My Thoughts:

This one was just okay for me but if you like spicy holiday romance, you might give this one a try. Also, this one is on Kindle Unlimited so if you have that you can find it there.

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Twitter (X)

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

Wreck the Halls by. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unfortunately Yours by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Secretly Yours by. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Hook, Line and Sinker by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It Happened One Summer by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Monthly Wrap Up | October 2024

October has come and gone and what it was! We had a much needed Fall Break, then we cruised into Halloween. As for books, I wasn’t in a slump, per se, but I definitely feel invested in a few of the books I was reading maybe because it just got busy for me in the second half of October. I kind of feel like I’ve lost my steam for reading for the rest of the year lol…but we’ll see?

Here is how my book ratings went in October:

What I Posted: 18 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Blood Orchid by. Kylie Lee Baker | ARC Review

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

I actually did some other Book Tags this month other than the Birthstone Book Covers one I do monthly! Yay!

Are people still doing blog tours? I haven’t signed up for one in months! I’ve only done 2 this year and the last one was in May.

How was your month?

A Queen’s Game by. Katharine McGee | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Queen’s Game

Author: Katharine McGee

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 11/12/24

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Royalty, Romance, Historical Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The New York Times bestselling author of the American Royals series invites you to visit 19th-century Europe amid the glamour and intrigue of the Victorian era. In this historical romance inspired by true events, three princesses struggle to find love—and end up vying for the hearts of two future kings.

In the last glittering decade of European empires, courts, and kings, three young women are on a collision course with history—and with each other.

Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter, so she can expect to end up with a prince . . . except that the prince she’s falling for is not the one she’s supposed to marry.

Hélène d’Orléans, daughter of the exiled King of France, doesn’t mind being a former princess; it gives her more opportunity to break the rules. Like running around with the handsome, charming, and very much off-limits heir to the British throne, Prince Eddy.

Then there’s May of Teck. After spending her entire life on the fringes of the royal world, May is determined to marry a prince—and not just any prince, but the future king.

In a story that sweeps from the glittering ballrooms of Saint Petersburg to the wilds of Scotland, A Queen’s Game recounts a pivotal moment in real history as only Katharine McGee can tell it: through the eyes of the young women whose lives, and loves, changed it forever.

Content Warning: slap in the face

I remember reading and enjoying American Royals but I never finished the series. So when I saw this was about European royals, not going to lie, I wanted to read this for the drama. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ If you want royals, there are all kinds of royals in this one. Apparently Queen Victoria of Britain had 22 grandchildren? And she was trying to marry a few of them to one another – I’m so glad they don’t do that anymore. In this story, there is a lot of drama going on between who is going to marry who. I’d say it got mostly interesting in the second half of the story.

+ I did like the historical aspect of the story and learning a little bit more of Queen Victoria’s grandkids.

+ This story is told between 3 POVs: Alix, Hélène, and May – each girl with a different background and each girl trying to make an advantage marriage. Alix was okay – she’s the demure one, Hélène is the fun and flirty one and May is probably the more interesting one because though she’s plain, she gets caught up with blackmail plans by of course, an American heiress trying to infiltrate the royal crowd.

Dislikes:

~ The beginning is too slow and I wasn’t connecting to any of the characters. I wasn’t sure if I cared enough about their marital market drama until the second half.

~ I think because there is no real connection to the characters, I didn’t feel anything for the romance either. Maybe also the fact they were cousins were turning me off. The romance does happen quick for the girls except for May, who is the more practical of all of them, but it’s just too fast with no real investment for me in the couples.

~ The ending is abrupt and even though I did enjoy the messiness and drama of the second half, I don’t think I’ll read the sequel.

My Thoughts:

This one didn’t quite work out for me but I did enjoy the second half of the story. I just didn’t connect to the characters, or romance, but I did like the blackmail. I think younger readers would enjoy this one though if you liked the American Royals series.

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Twitter (X)

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

Book Review | American Royals ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

WWW Wednesday | 11/13/24

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

We are in mid-November and I’m in a slump but I don’t mind. I’m just trying to make it to the end of the year and it’s now the holidays so 🫠 here comes the rush! I’m definitely not in the holiday spirit yet – is it hot in your area still? Our weather feels like it’s shifting a little but it will get a tiny bit cold, some rain, then hot in the day – the ants who were bothering me this summer are still HERE. So annoying…anyway I hope you guys are experiencing some nice, cool, Fall weather!

What are you currently reading?

Dating and Dragons by. Kristy Boyce – 35% – some progress (arc)

Vilest Things by. Chloe Gong – 14% – not much progress (Libby)

Bloodguard by. Cecy Robson (KU) – 3% – not much progress

What the Woods Took by. Courtney Gould (arc) – 1% barely started it but I will be getting into it more

Last Fashion House in Paris by. Renee Ryan (arc) – 11%

What have you just finished reading?

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by. Sophie Cousens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Window Shopping by. Tessa Bailey ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What are you going to read next?

The Starlight Heir by. Amalie Howard (arc)
Lies on the Serpents Tongue by. Kate Purcell (arc)
Breath of the Dragon by. Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee (arc)
The Rival by. Emma Lord (arc)

What are you reading right now?

Destination Titles | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 11/12/24

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!

This week’s topic is:

Destination Titles (titles with name of places in them. These places can be real or fiction!)

The Last Fashion House in Paris by. Renee Ryan – Paris of course!

The Road of Bones by. Demi Winters – there is actually a place in the book called the Road of Bones.

Starling House by. Alix E. Harrow – it’s the name of a house.

All Roads Lead to Rome by. Sabrina Fedel – Rome!

The Wren in the Holly Library by. K.A. Linde – the Holly Library

The Lake House by. Sarah Beth Durst – a sketchy lake house

House of Sky and Breath by. Sarah J. Maas – exactly as the title says!

The Hazel Wood by. Melissa Albert – would you go into the Hazel Wood?

The Hacienda by. Isabel Cañas – it’s a spooky hacienda!

Where the Library Hides by. Isabel Ibañez – a library is a place so that’s why I put this here

What’s on your TTT?

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Twitter (X) | Etsy (shop)

Goodreads Monday: Is She Really Going Out With Him? By. Sophie Cousens

Happy Monday!

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme where you chose a random book from your Goodreads TBR and show it off. This meme is hosted by Budget Tales Book Blog.

Title: Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Author: Sophie Cousens

Pages: 384

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Publication Date: 11/19/24

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year, a hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker, for fans of Nora Goes Off Script.

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs love when she has two kids, a cat and an ex-husband to think about? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. So in a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters and the mailman, even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take a chance on love?

Do you have plans to read this book? Let me know in the comments below!

Weekly Wrap Up | 11/10/24

Aloha friends!

My week started good because it was my birthday on Monday. I had a massage at the spa on Sunday and lunch afterwards with family. Then Tuesday hit (USA Election Day) and I experienced the 5 stages of grief in the span of a few days. It has sucked but I’m glad I’m not alone in my despair. I’m now in the mode of – to quote Taylor Swift “I think I’ve seen this film before…and I didn’t like the ending…”.

I hope you all have a great week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by. Sophie Cousens

Currently Reading:

Vilest Things by. Chloe Gong
Window Shopping by. Tessa Bailey

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

Nobody Wants This (Netflix) – my friend told me to watch this one and it’s pretty good so far!
The USA election…😒

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!