American Street by. Ibi Zoboi | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: American Street

Author: Ibi Zoboi

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/14/17

Categories: Young Adult, Haitian Immigrant, Family, Romance, Abuse, Magical Realism, Own Voices

The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

Content Warning: Violence, Physical Abuse, Death

This is the second book I’ve read from Ibi Zoboi and once again she drew me into a story with compelling characters. This time the story is gritty, set in Detroit, with a family who have seen tough times and has a reputation in the neighborhood for it. But the main character Fabiola is starting off her journey from Haiti to Detroit without her mother – she got detained in New Jersey and all Fab wants to do is have her mother back with her.

I loved getting to know Fabiola’s cousins who are all very different from one another. There are three sisters, Chantal – the oldest and in college, Pri and Donna who are twins: Pri is the tough girl at school who has a crush on another girl and Donna is the beautiful one and in an abusive relationship with Dray – a drug dealer. His best friend, Kasim has his eyes set on Fabiola.

Fabiola navigates her first days in America fairly well even though she has an accent and her use of American slang isn’t the best. She doesn’t even really curse but in Detroit around her cousins and new friends, she is surrounded by a lot of crude language. Fabiola starts to dress the way her cousins do, even more so when she starts dating Kasim. But she hasn’t forgotten her mom in New Jersey and she’s trying to find a way to bring her back to her. Opportunity presents itself but it will mean going behind her family’s back.

I thought the magical realism in the story was fascinating because it tied so much into Fabiola’s Haitian culture. I loved learning about the Lwas (spirits) and how one was outside their house, guiding Fabiola with his songs. I loved all of Fabiola’s memories of Haiti although sometimes they were sad and scary memories, like the earthquake – she always mentioned that even with misery, there were neighbors and community to share that misery with and in turn it helped them move on, cope and love life despite the bad things. Another thing I enjoyed was getting a bit of perspective from each character, even if it was just a snippet.

Some issues with the book I had: I wish there was more about getting Fabiola’s mom back to her. Maybe too many things happening at once in the story? Also…Donna and Dray…he physically abuses her and I know her family doesn’t like him for her and yet they can’t do anything about it. Hard to read but so realistic.

Why you should read it:

it’s an OwnVoices story Haitian rep, diversity
it’s a raw story about family and trying to survive in the American Dream
Fabiola’s separation from her mom and acclimating to life without her a new country is powerful

Why you might not want to read it:

you don’t like magical realism
some tough subject matter like physical abuse

My Thoughts:

I liked reading the female perspective in American Street, this story is full of strong females. Fabiola, who was born in America but raised in Haiti has to find her way in American culture and without her mother. Her cousins, the Three Bees, are tough Hatian-American girls from Detroit, all with different personalities and roles to play. Their loyalty to the family is rock hard. Nothing can seem to break them up, not abusive boyfriends, debt, or drug dealers and I love their bond. This is an important story about the cost of trying to live the American Dream.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“No one would be left alone in a tiny house with only their regrets and sorrows to keep them company.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“In Haiti, with all its problems, there was always a friend or a neighbor to share in the misery. And then, after our troubles were tallied up like those points at the basketball game, we would celebrate being alive.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“But then I realize that everyone is climbing their own mountain here in America. They are tall and mighty and they live in the hearts and everyday lives of the people.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

Dear Martin by. Nic Stone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Dear Martin

Author: Nic Stone

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 224

Publication Date: 10/17/17

Categories: Young Adult, Racism, Police Brutality, Coming of Age, Contemporary

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Content Warning: Racism, Violence, Death

This is a very short book, barely over 200 pages but it is impactful.

It tells the story of Justyce, a boy who is going to a really good high school even though he is from a rougher neighborhood. He has dreams of going to Yale and he has the grades and test scores to do it. His best friend is Manny, a rich black boy who hangs out with the other rich kids at their high school but all of those guys are white. He writes letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. just to make sense of himself. When Justyce has a scary experience with a cop, he sees his world in a different light, questions a lot of things, is more aware of the racism happening around him and wonders how to move forward in life as a young black man in America.

Justyce and Manny have an amazing friendship that is tested by the racism happening around them. Manny chooses to ignore it but after Justyce’s traumatic experience it makes him question Manny’s friends. I really liked how they brought up race issues in Justyce’s classroom and seeing how it pertains to his life outside of the class. But this isn’t only about Justyce’s life in high school trying to be a dutiful student, a good best friend and falling in love. There is a very shocking event that makes the news, there is a trial – Justyce goes through a lot and we see if his letters to Martin help him deal and make sense of his situation. Honestly that moment in the book took my breath away, I really like how that part was written.

The book made me feel all kinds of emotions, especially angry and and frustrated for Justyce. He is trapped from all sides.

One of my issues with the story that threw me off at times was the way the characters spoke and the way it was written like a script. It mostly happened when they were in the classroom. I kept wondering why it was done that way! Couldn’t that have just been written as dialogue? I just chalked it up to Justyce seeing these moments as a play and he’s in the background or something…not sure. But it was distracting and making me question what was the point. Also this book is short – I kind of would have love more in the second half of the story where things really go down.

Why you should read it:

important and impactful story about racism in America and police brutality
Justyce and Manny’s friendship
Justyce’s story

Why you might not want to read it:

some parts of dialogue is written like a script and I don’t know why
wish second half of the story was more fleshed out and longer

My Thoughts:

This one is short and quick but it is powerful. We get to watch Justyce’s journey from somewhat having the things in life going for him (hot girlfriend, good grades, good school) to him realizing he will always struggle as a black man in America, no matter how smart he is, what school he goes to and what job he gets. Justyce will have to decide what type of man he wants to be and maybe writing to Martin will help him figure it out.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“It’s like I’m trying to climb a mountain, but I’ve got one fool trying to shove me down so I won’t be on his level, and another fool tugging at my leg, trying to pull me to the ground he refuses to leave. “
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

Well Met by. Jean DeLuca | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Well Met (#1)

Author: Jen DeLuca

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 335

Publication Date: 9/3/19

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Renaissance Faire, Adult Fiction, Enemies to Lovers

All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca.

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The faire is Simon’s family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn’t have time for Emily’s lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she’s in her revealing wench’s costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they’re portraying?

This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can’t seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.

Content Warning: Grief, mentions Car Accident

This book gave me all the feels! I can’t believe I waited this long to read it but I’m glad I finally pushed it up my TBR list.

There is so much to love about this story. The main character, Emily is a young woman who has moved in with older sister who was in a bad car accident and has to heal from a shattered leg. Emily helps with being a caretaker to her and her teenage niece. And when her niece wants to do the annual Renaissance Faire, Emily has to sign up as well. It’s not what she expected but it becomes a part of her, even though she doesn’t know where she will land after the fair ends.

I like Emily because she goes with the flow, and isn’t afraid to try things even though it seems not something she’d be into. She kind of threw herself into being a caretaker and then a wench at the faire and also, helping at the local bookstore. Also she doesn’t have her life put together – while helping everyone out, she’s trying to decide what to do with her future, or where she will live once her sister is okay on her own again. To top it off, she has self-esteem issues especially when it comes to guys and dating because of how things ended with her ex.

The romance is delicious because it happens to be with the Renaissance Faire’s director, Simon. Simon is an English teacher and often so put off by Emily or so she thinks. He’s more conservative and closed off than his friend, the kilt wearing Mitch! So right away, they do not hit it off but something happens at the faire…Simon plays the part of Captain Ian, and now all bets are off when Captain Ian and Emma the wench (Emily) get into their roles playing a hand-fasted couple. Talk about the tension between them! 🔥 And then when that tension finally breaks and they give in? Wow! I loved every bit of it!

Minor issues? Emily’s indecision about her feelings about Simon but only because it’s a defense mechanism for her. Her ex hurt her bad so she doesn’t want to be in any place or relationship where she doesn’t belong or isn’t wanted. She just needed to be sure Simon was sure about her. On the other hand, Simon has major insecurities too and isn’t the most social guy, like Mitch…so he jumps to some conclusions about Emily – and there you have miscommunication and misunderstandings.

This story had humor, family, friendship, grief, relationship issues, hot bedroom scenes, conflict and then a very happy ending. It has everything I want in a romance novel.

Why you should read it:

such a good romance with all the feels
the Renaissance Faire – makes me want to go to one
Emily’s story about family, friendship, love and self-discovery

Why you might not want to read it:

the only thing that may turn some readers off is the on/off indecisions of Emily about Simon – but the girl has issues to deal with because of her ex…so it’s totally understandable but if you lack patience, she might just annoy you lol…also Simon jumping to some conclusions because of his insecurities but for me it was minor

My Thoughts:

If you need a good romance book or want to read about one centered around a Renaissance Faire, then definitely read this book. It left me feeling so happy inside and that’s all I wanted. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“I didn’t choose the wench life. The wench life chose me.”
– Jen DeLuca, Well Met

“The dead are held in such high esteem that we only remember the good things, and we not only forgive their faults but we forget them.”
– Jen DeLuca, Well Met

“Let us love you, and remind you that you’re worth it until you figure out what you’re going to do next.”
– Jen DeLuca, Well Met

“Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.”
– Jen DeLuca, Well Met

The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Donut Trap

Author: Julie Tieu

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 11/9/21

Categories: Romance, Family, Contemporary, Young Adult, Coming of Age

Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.

Jasmine Tran has landed herself behind bars—maple bars that is. With no boyfriend or job prospects, Jasmine returns home to work at her parents’ donut shop. Jasmine quickly loses herself in a cyclical routine of donuts, Netflix, and sleep. She wants to break free from her daily grind, but when a hike in rent threatens the survival of their shop, her parents rely on her more than ever.

Help comes in the form of an old college crush, Alex Lai. Not only is he successful and easy on the eyes, to her parents’ delight, he’s also Chinese. He’s everything she should wish for, until a disastrous dinner reveals Alex isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Worse, he doesn’t think she’s perfect either.

With both sets of parents against their relationship, a family legacy about to shut down, and the reappearance of an old high school flame, Jasmine must scheme to find a solution that satisfies her family’s expectations and can get her out of the donut trap once and for all.

Content Warning: Anxiety, Family Pressures, Drug Use

Many of the books by Asian authors that I’ve been picking up lately has featured a main character whose parents/family are immigrants to the USA. It’s very relatable. What I love about the books I’ve read is that I’m learning about different Asian cultures and in this story Jasmine Tran’s parents journey to the USA is fascinating. They fled Cambodia because of the Khmer Rouge, ended up in Vietnam and changing their name to fit in and then fled Vietnam as refugees and made it to California. But at their family root, they are Chinese. In that essence, Jasmine isn’t fluent in Khmer, Chinese Mandarin or Vietnamese, all the languages her parents can speak. She also knows about their history but never lived through the trauma and doesn’t know why she feels so punished for it. There is the ever present feeling of not living up to her parents expectations.

I like how we see Jasmine go from feeling stuck in her situation working at their family owned donut shop to finding some self-confidence and taking a step out on her own. She grows a lot and I like the moment when she tries and communications everything she feels to her parents. It’s not easy but at least by then they made an effort to try and understand her.

The romance between Alex and Jas is really cute and realistic. I could relate to being hounded by my mom about when I was going to get married when I was in my early twenties. I had to constantly point out how they forbade me from dating in high school (and yes I had the whole secret boyfriend that Jasmine had LOL)…I’m telling you this book was so relatable. I like how it progressed naturally and the drama between was slight, yet still realistic. I did wish there was more chemistry between them – it seemed a bit lackluster but still, sweet.

My issue with the story is about Jasmine’s past, which we get no hint about until she remembers and reflects about that moment in time. It comes near the end of the book and was such a surprise but then it made sense why Jasmine was so stuck and afraid to make a move in her life. But it would have been nice to get glimpses of her past throughout the beginning of the book, then I would have understand why she was so hesitant in making certain decisions in her life.

Why you should read it:

relatable immigrant family issues
Cambodian, Chinese, Vietnamese rep
sweet romance

Why you might not want to read it:

needs more chemistry between Alex and Jas

My Thoughts:

The strongest parts of this book was how we get to see Jasmine’s struggles with living up to her parents expectations. I found Jasmine totally relatable when it came to dealing with pressures from her family and not really knowing where she fits in, or how to please them. As for the romance, it was sweet but lacking chemistry – this was more a coming of age story than a romance but still overall an enjoyable read as we see Jasmine grow.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“My parents weren’t heartless, but the trauma they had endured hardened them in ways I didn’t fully understand.”
The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu

“If the measure of success was that I was living a more comfortable, easier life than they had, then why was I simultaneously penalized for it?”
The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu

“My parents had rarely told us that they love us verbally. It wasn’t like we didn’t know. They showed us love in many ways, but hearing the actual words was a new feeling I had to break into.”
The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu

BLOG TOUR} A Lullaby for Witches by. Hester Fox | ARC Review

Welcome to the the blog tour for A Lullaby for Witches by. Hester Fox!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Lullaby for Witches

Author: Hester Fox

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 2/01/22

Publisher: Graydon House

Categories: Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magic, Romance, Paranormal

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

Thank you to Graydon House for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Augusta Podos has just landed her dream job, working in collections at a local museum, Harlowe House, located in the charming seaside town of Tynemouth, Massachussetts. Determined to tell the stories of the local community, she throws herself into her work–and finds an oblique mention of a mysterious woman, Margaret, who may have been part of the Harlowe family, but is reduced to a footnote. Fascinated by this strange omission, Augusta becomes obsessed with discovering who Margaret was, what happened to her, and why her family scrubbed her from historical records. But as she does, strange incidents begin plaguing Harlowe House and Augusta herself. Are they connected with Margaret, and what do they mean?

Tynemouth, 1872. Margaret Harlowe is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy shipping family, and she should have many prospects–but her fascination with herbs and spellwork has made her a pariah, with whispers of “witch” dogging her steps. Increasingly drawn to the darker, forbidden practices of her craft, Margaret finds herself caught up with a local man, Jack Pryce, and the temptation of these darker ways threatens to pull her under completely.

As the incidents in the present day escalate, Augusta finds herself drawn more and more deeply into Margaret’s world, and a shocking revelation sheds further light on Margaret and Augusta’s shared past. And as Margaret’s sinister purpose becomes clear, Augusta must uncover the secret of Margaret’s fate–before the woman who calls to her across the centuries claims Augusta’s own life.

Content Warning: Violence, Death, Implied Eating Disorder

This story is told between two perspectives: Augusta – in present day and Margaret – who lives in 18th century, Massachusettes. I did like the dual story perspective as it eventually culminated later in the story to when Augusta and Margaret merge.

I found Augusta’s job fascinating as a curator of Harlowe House, a historic home in Tynemouth, Massachusettes. She goes on a quest to find out about a girl, Margaret, who seems to be lacking any record of living in Harlowe House. I did like the mystery and learning about Margaret. Augusta is dealing with some issues like with her boyfriend, the lack of knowledge of her father and what looks like an eating disorder. As a character, I didn’t feel like I connected to Augusta very much although I liked her passion for her work.

Margaret is labeled a witch because people in the community come to her for help. She meets a local boy in town and has a wild affair with him but he has a secret that breaks her heart. There are other secrets to uncover about Margaret but I thought it was interesting how she is tied to the Salem Witches.

The romance was okay, I wasn’t that invested in it. Now the paranormal aspect of the story was interesting. Margaret’s ghost has an ulterior motive for trying to contact Augusta and it did keep me reading the story even though I lacked connection to the characters. Also I wanted more witchcraft, not just the mention of spells found in a book.

Why you should read it:

historical/contemporary paranormal story – a little bit of everything
Margaret’s history was compelling

Why you might not want to read it:

romance fell flat- even though this isn’t a romance novel, there is some romance, but it was okay
lack connection to the characters
I wanted more witchcraft

My Thoughts:

This was an interesting read and not what I expected. I found Margaret’s story very fascinating but Augusta’s was just flat, including her romance story. For a story about witches, it didn’t have that much witchcraft in the story at all, but I did enjoy the historical fiction parts of the story. This one was just an okay read for me.

📚 ~ Yolanda

About the Author:

Hester Fox is a full-time writer and mother, with a background in museum work and historical archaeology. A native New-Englander, she now lives in rural Virginia with her husband and their son.

Author Website

Twitter: @HesterBFox | Instagram: @hesterbfox | Goodreads

Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Counting Down with You

Author: Tashie Bhuiyan

Format: eBook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 5/4/21

Categories: Romance, Family, Contemporary, Young Adult, Coming of Age, Fake Dating

A reserved Bangladeshi teenager has twenty-eight days to make the biggest decision of her life after agreeing to fake date her school’s resident bad boy.
How do you make one month last a lifetime?

Karina Ahmed has a plan. Keep her head down, get through high school without a fuss, and follow her parents’ rules—even if it means sacrificing her dreams. When her parents go abroad to Bangladesh for four weeks, Karina expects some peace and quiet. Instead, one simple lie unravels everything.

Karina is my girlfriend.

Tutoring the school’s resident bad boy was already crossing a line. Pretending to date him? Out of the question. But Ace Clyde does everything right—he brings her coffee in the mornings, impresses her friends without trying, and even promises to buy her a dozen books (a week) if she goes along with his fake-dating facade. Though Karina agrees, she can’t help but start counting down the days until her parents come back.

T-minus twenty-eight days until everything returns to normal—but what if Karina no longer wants it to?

Content Warning: Anxiety, Family Pressures

All immigrant families want is a better life for their children and Karina knows this with all her heart. Her parents want her to be a doctor but she wants to major in English after high school and she is trying her best to make them happy. Karina gets a breather when her parents go to Bangladesh for a month.

First off, this story is relatable to a lot of immigrant or first generation American children. Parents uproot their whole lives in their motherland country to give their children a better life somewhere else. My parents were very strict as well, so I related to Karina a lot in that aspect. I love that she had her dadu for support and telling her she’s a good kid and loved – that’s so important because it’s so easy for teens to fear disappointing their parents and think they are loved less because they don’t stand up to their standards. Being a perfect child is so hard and such an unreasonable expectation. I loved that this story was about a Bangladeshi and Muslim girl and we got to see her family dynamics. Also Karina has major anxiety because of these family pressures and it was good to see how she suffers and deals with it. **I can’t comment much on the Muslim representation, I see a lot of reviews on Goodreads marking this book a low rating because of it. **

Karina had her dadu for support and her girlfriends. They are a tightly knit group of three girls just surviving high school and everything that comes with it.

She also has support from her new fake boyfriend and guy she’s tutoring for English, Ace. He’s popular, white and rich. Ace being white though wouldn’t fly with her parents but the heart wants what it wants. For a romance story I thought it was teen appropriate and so emo. Cheesy emo at times but this is definitely the kind of book I would have eaten up as a teenager! The whole fake-dating aspect was the main focus of this book, it was cute but nothing serious.

My favorite parts of this story was when Karina and her dadu were together. When Karina finally tells her parents that she doesn’t want to study medicine her dadu’s support made me want to cry because grandparents are just so amazing that way. I love how dadu stood up for Karina and made her parents listen to her.

Why you should read it:

teens can totally relate about dealing with family pressures
Bangladeshi and Muslim representation, anxiety rep
it’s a very teen romance, has fake dating but that’s not the focus of the story

Why you might not want to read it:

might appeal more to teenagers

My Thoughts:

The beginning of the book reads like a teen romance with the whole fake-dating trope thrown in but the real story for me was Karina dealing with the pressures from her family and trying to please them and yet want a little happiness for herself too. I love her dadu and the unconditional love and support she gets from her, it makes me wish I had someone backing me up that hard when I was Karina’s age. My grandparents were amazing but pretty much stayed out of my family dramas – they had enough drama I suppose with their own grown children! This story is relatable and perfect for teens who can relate trying to deal with family pressure.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“I’m expected to be this perfect daughter that I don’t know how to be.”
Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

“I am not Atlas, born to carry the weight of the world I am Icarus, wanting and wanting and wanting at the risk of exploding when I fly too close to the sun…”
Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

“Nothing I ever do is enough.”
Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

““The older I am, the more I realize it’s not worth it to prioritize things that make you miserable…”
Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

Reminders of Him by. Colleen Hoover | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Reminders of Him

Author: Colleen Hoover

Format: eBook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 335

Publication Date: 1/18/22

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Adult Fiction, Romance, Family, Contemporary, Grief, Drunk Driving

A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from #1 New York Timesbestselling author Colleen Hoover.

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

Content Warning: Suicide Ideation, Death, Grief, Drunk Driving

I don’t read a lot of Colleen Hoover books, only because I have read enough that I know I have to be in the right headspace for her stories…it’s usually heavy reading and I need a tissue box near me. Reminders of Him brought out the tears for sure – it gutted me.

Kenna was in an accident with her boyfriend Scotty. Thing is, she was driving the car under the influence of alcohol and edibles. They both were under the influence. They get into an accident, he dies, she doesn’t and gets jail time for involuntary manslaughter. To top it all off, she is pregnant in prison, gives birth and never gets to hold her daughter. Her daughter Diem is being raised by Scotty’s parents, as she should be. Now Kenna is out of prison and she wants to see her daughter.

Kenna is a broken young woman. She made a mistake and served her time. She was so in love with Scotty and it really was an accident, but she made a poor choice, and was punished for it. But now what? Does she have a right to see her daughter? Does she have a right to be forgiven? I empathized with her because I’m a mom. I want her to have a chance to see Diem. Add Kenna’s backstory and honestly I was just heartbroken for her as a person. She’s been alone for so long, until Scotty had come along. But I empathized with the other mom in this story, Scotty’s mom, Grace. I could so understand their anger and fears about Kenna being out of prison.

Ledger is Scotty’s best friend and when he meets this female stranger in his bar, he is instantly attracted. Of course when he finds out who she is, it gets so damn complicated. Ledger is a good guy, he’s had a good life, like Scotty did, they are well-adjusted guys who come from loving homes. He is solid and he has loved Diem as if she was his own. I can see why Kenna falls for him. Ledger has to figure out if he hates Kenna still or is he ready to forgive her. He knows that Scotty was absolutely in love with her and in the end Ledger himself falls for her too.

It’s messy isn’t it? If I was Kenna, I would have put Ledger in the friend zone after finding out who he is…but that’s just me. So I can’t say this was only a romance story about Kenna and Ledger. I could feel the love Kenna has for Diem, that made me cry my eyes out. I could even feel Kenna’s love for Scotty in her letters to him and her memories about him, heartbreaking. I also could see how Kenna and Ledger’s love for Scotty and Diem brought them close together, a common ground. So this was a complex story about love but mostly about forgiveness.

I was kind of waiting for some crazy plot twist that the author usually has at the end of her books, but this one didn’t have that. There was just this feeling of impending doom as you read Kenna’s story play out. I think I related a lot to Ledger…because he knew shit was about to hit the fan and I, like Ledger wanted to stop it for Kenna, Scotty’s parents and everyone else’s sake!

Why you should read it:

a story about forgiveness
emotionally gripping
it’s more than a romance

Why you might not want to read it:

it may make you cry
this is not a rom-com

My Thoughts:

Somedays I just crave a good, complex story that has a little romance in it and punches you in the gut. This is not a romance book that makes you feel light and fluffy in the end, it’s a CoHo book! 😅 Go into it knowing it will carve you up you emotionally and that you may need a tissue box nearby. I don’t read many of her books for this reason, but once in awhile I need a good cry.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“I want to be good at life. I want to make it look effortless, but up until this point, I’ve made every aspect of life appear entirely too difficult to navigate.”
reminders of Him by. Colleen Hoover

“…happiness isn’t some permanent thing we’re all trying to achieve in life, it’s merely a thing that shows up every now and then, sometimes in tiny doses that are just substantial enough to keep us going.”
Reminders of Him By. Colleen Hoover

“Maybe it doesn’t matter whether something is a coincidence or a sign. Maybe the best way to cope with the loss of the people we love is to find them in as many places and things as we possibly can. And in the off chance that the people we lose are still somehow able to hear us, maybe we should never stop talking to them.”
Reminders of Him by. Colleen Hoover

The Heart Principle by. Helen Hoang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Heart Principle (The Kiss Quotient, #3)

Author: Helen Hoang

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 339

Publication Date: 8/31/21

Categories: Romance, Women’s Fiction, Adult Fiction, Mental Health, Family, Contemporary

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this new New York Times bestselling romance by Helen Hoang.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

Content Warning: Toxic Family, Suicide Ideation, Toxic Relationships, Cancer, Death, Grief

I went into this book not reading many reviews of this book and wow, it was more than I got more than what I was expecting. There is romance, yes, but there is soooo much more than that. This story is about personal growth and acceptance, overcoming challenges, dealing with family who supposedly loves you but hurt you instead, opening up in a new relationship, being a caregiver, and just so many things. And for me it all worked beautifully.

Let’s talk about what I was here for – the romance. I fell in love with Quan when I read The Bride Test (because I read the books out of order) and I think I’m not alone in saying that everyone was waiting for Quan’s story. We get his story for sure, but we also get Anna’s. And this solidifies that I have finally found my book boyfriend and his name is Quan lol. I love his patience, his ambition, his love for his family, and of course his love for Anna. They meet and try to do a meaningless one night stand, but it doesn’t go so easy and they keep trying haha. They continue trying until they have a breakthrough, which I love about them. I knew they were meant to be when they both didn’t give up on one another even though it was scary – for both of them.

And now let’s talk about Anna. This is about Anna and if you read the author’s note, this is the most autobiographically book out of the three and this one hurt. This one is raw, painful, triggering, and yet the journey with Quan by Anna’s side was so absolutely gorgeous. It didn’t make me cry, maybe because some of the issues she goes through – like the family tough love – I’ve learn to deal and make peace with my own family’s tough love…but whew – it is so spot on. Even when she becomes a caregiver, I could relate so hard. There are times I wanted to shake Anna but honestly I felt like she was asking me as a reader to understand and please be patient with her, she was not going to get things right because that’s not her. Anna isn’t like everyone, she is on the autism spectrum but she only finds that out now. I love that she goes to therapy, I love that things make sense eventually. I hated that her family didn’t accept the truth but I grew up in a family like that so once again, I relate HARD. Anna goes on such a journey in this story…but Quan is there. He’s there. 😭❤️ They worked through their challenges and it made me love them as a couple.

This wasn’t some light-hearted romantic comedy, but to me it is an epic journey of self and love. Life is freaking hard, and we fight on like Anna and Quan.

This was more Anna than Quan but I felt like it was enough for me. The one thing that felt rushed was Quan’s journey after Anna hurts him. I felt like it jumps so fast from him running on a treadmill to him hiking the Grand Canyon. I understand what the author was trying to say and do for Quan but, it was such a leap from one moment to the other, I kind of wish that part wasn’t so rushed.

Why you should read it:

complex characters
Quan – he is amazing
Anna and Quan’s relationship: giving each other space when needed, being patient with one another and opening up when it’s hard
more than just a love story

Why you might not want to read it:

very triggering, dealing with hard topics, especially if you have a toxic family or working through some issues this might not be the romance book you are looking for
this is not a rom-com, not even light-hearted reading, it’s complex

My Thoughts:

Beautifully complex, this story takes you on an emotional journey and I was definitely rooting for Anna and Quan’s happily ever after. Like the book though, it doesn’t come easy – these two tough it out in their relationship and outside of it too.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“I don’t question why people do things. I just observe and copy. That’s how to get along in this world.”
The Heart Principle by. Helen Hoang

“Family is not safe. Not for me. Tough love is brutally honest and hurts you to help you. Tough love cuts you when you’re already bruised and berates you when you don’t heal faster.”
The Heart Principle By. Helen Hoang

“I’ll draw a line around you, and I’ll protect you and stand up for you and speak up for you when it’s right. I’ll keep you safe. And I’ll do the same for me. Because I matter, too.”
The Heart Principle by. Helen Hoang

“Instead, I must focus on giving what I have, not what people want, because that is all I can give. I don’t mask anymore if I can help it.”
The Heart Principle By. Helen Hoang

Lease on Love by. Falon Ballard | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Lease on Love

Author: Falon Ballard

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 2/01/22

Publisher: GP Putnam

Categories: Adult Fiction, Romance, Roommates

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

Thank you to GP Putnam for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

After getting passed over for an overdue—and much needed—promotion, Sadie Green is in desperate need of three things: a stiff drink, a new place to live, and a one-night-stand. When one drink turns into one too many, Sadie mixes up a long-ignored dating app for a roommate-finding app and finds herself on the doorstep of Jack Thomas’s gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone. Too bad she’s more attracted to his impressive real estate than she is to the man himself.

Jack, still grieving the unexpected death of his parents, has learned to find comfort in video games and movie marathons instead of friends. So while he doesn’t know just what to make of the vivaciously verbose Sadie, he’s willing to offer her his spare bedroom while she gets back on her feet. And with the rent unbeatably low, Sadie can finally pursue her floristry side hustle full-time. The two are polar opposites, but as Sadie’s presence begins to turn the brownstone into a home, they both start to realize they may have just made the deal of a lifetime.

Content Warning: Death of Parents, Parental Abuse

Sadie Green is that snarky friend who is tough, confident, beautiful and the life of the party but she doesn’t have it all together. Things fall apart at her job and she has to figure out her next move in life. She ends up being a rooming with Jack Thomas, a quiet, introverted guy who lives in a nice house. Jack is mysterious, keeps to himself mostly but is attentive and so considerate. He has this comforting quality about him and I like how they balanced each other out. The slow burn between these two characters is so good, the tension between them builds quietly and honestly Sadie needed that because she is a flight risk due to her past. I was rooting for them hard until the end!

The romance starts off as roommates, then friends, into something much more and I love how it progressed. Sadie is the social butterfly and she brings Jack out of his shell. She doesn’t change him at all, but just draws out the part of him that’s been hiding. The both of them have had some trauma in their past and that’s where they connect. His parents died in a car accident and he is basically all alone. Sadie’s father was abusive so her past haunts her often – in fact when things are going good in her life, his words invades her thoughts to the point of self-loathing. Her defense mechanism is never allowing a guy to get close so she couldn’t get hurt and I love that this story touches on therapy.

Sadie’s group of friends, her found family, is so fantastic. There is Harley, Gemma and Nick, friends she made in college – who know her inside and outside, bad and good and love her anyway. They welcome Jack into their safe space and I love that for him. Also we get to see into their lives as well – they are this group of millennials trying to advance in their jobs, or change their careers, paying off loans, falling in love and taking the next steps in life. They are relatable because they are struggling in some type of way, well except for Nick of course because he’s wealthy. I’d say Jack isn’t struggling financially but he is definitely struggling internally.

I only have minor issues with the book – Sadie has low self-esteem despite the front she puts on and it really affects when she starts getting close . The conflict was resolved rather quickly and it felt a little rushed or maybe I wanted them to have a bigger discussion on it? Maybe I’m just so used to dramatic conflicts in stories or gravitate towards that? But in a way, it fits how I think Jack would handle that moment. I did like how they put space between them so both could cool down and think. It was so mature of them and that was refreshing.

Why you should read it:

roommates to lovers, Sadie and Jack are so good together
Sadie’s found family, great group of friends
light-hearted and fun at times and yet emotional as well

Why you might not want to read it:

ending conflict is a bit rushed and doesn’t seem like a major conflict

My Thoughts:

Lease on Love has it all. A snarky, ambitious, hardworking main character who wants to open a flower shop. A love interest who is mysterious, introverted and sweet. Two characters who are dealing with some emotional trauma from their past and learning to move on. A group of friends who are supportive and all of them going through the late-twenties issues: dating, career decisions, and trying to live their best lives. And a romance that is a slow burn that gave me all the feels. I totally enjoyed this one and read it in one night.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Edgewood by. Kristen Ciccarelli | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Edgewood

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/01/22

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary Fantasy, 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 Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

No matter how far she runs, the forest of Edgewood always comes for Emeline Lark. The scent of damp earth curls into her nose when she sings and moss creeps across the stage. It’s as if the woods of her childhood, shrouded in folklore and tall tales, are trying to reclaim her. But Emeline has no patience for silly superstitions.

When her grandfather disappears, leaving only a mysterious orb in his wake, the stories Emeline has always scoffed at suddenly seem less foolish. She enters the forest she has spent years trying to escape, only to have Hawthorne Fell, a handsome and brooding tithe collector, try to dissuade her from searching.

Refusing to be deterred, Emeline finds herself drawn to the court of the fabled Wood King himself. She makes a deal—her voice for her grandfather’s freedom. Little does she know, she’s stumbled into the middle of a curse much bigger than herself, one that threatens the existence of this eerie world she’s trapped in, along with the devastating boy who feels so familiar.

With the help of Hawthorne—an enemy turned reluctant ally who she grows closer to each day—Emeline sets out to not only save her grandfather’s life, but to right past wrongs, and in the process, discover her true voice.

Haunting and romantic, Kristen Ciccarelli’s Edgewood is an exciting novel from a bold, unforgettable voice in fantasy.

Content Warning: Dementia, Alzheimer’s

This was an interesting story and at first I wasn’t sure it was working for me. It’s about a girl who’s a musician but she comes from a place called Edgewood where everyone knows the woods are enchanted – she grew up with stories about the forest, even neighbors had visited the court of the Wood King so this is very much contemporary fantasy.

As a character, Emeline is a musician and independent. She is on her own trying to make a big splash in the music world. She seems to have issues with guys, always having a new boyfriend to push away whatever memories or feelings she feels like she is running from. Her grandfather is her only living family and he has Alzheimer’s. When he is tithed to the Wood King, Emeline goes to rescue him but bargains with the Wood King herself.

My favorite part of this story though was how it unraveled and the romance between her and Hawthorne Fell. It at first starts off as an enemies to lovers romance but then we dig deeper and find out the truth of what happened and it comes full circle. The reveal at the end was magical and unexpected.

World-building wise I thought it was pretty good but lacking on details of the faerie court, which I generally look forward to because I love the Fae. But it’s a standalone book so I can understand why it wasn’t so detailed.

The beginning was slow as we get to know Emeline and her musical ambitions but it definitely picks up when she returns to Edgewood to rescue her grandfather.

Why you should read it:

contemporary fantasy with a forest that takes you into the world of the Wood King
Emeline and Hawthorne’s love story
love how music and memory was entwined with the story

Why you might not want to read it:

slow beginning

My Thoughts:

This story grew on me and I couldn’t put it down even though I was doubting how I felt about it at the start of the book. But by the end I was captured by the romance story of Emeline and Hawthorne and how it was revealed.

📚 ~ Yolanda