Beach Read by. Emily Henry| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Beach Read

Author: Emily Henry

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 386

Publication Date: 5/19/20

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Adult Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They’re polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no-one will fall in love. Really.

Content Warning: grief, cheating

I’ve read two Emily Henry books and this one is my third and maybe my favorite of the three! It’s summer and I wanted a summer time book and what better book than one named Beach Read and it’s set in summer? This is the perfect summertime beach read and aptly titled.

Gus and January are both authors and in the middle of writing their next books. They both have houses next to one another, but January is there only to pack up and sell the house while trying to get some reading done. She’s dealing with a lot of emotional baggage concerning the passing of her dad and the secret life she never knew he led. She is trying her hardest to figure who her dad was and dealing with his betrayal but also missing him and loving him just the same. Gus has his own issues he’s dealing with too. He didn’t grow up in a happy, stable home like January and that makes him see life differently than January. They are opposites that attract and spending the whole summer together makes them break down boundaries, build trust and love and so much more.

I loved the characters in this book, even Gus who is so tortured. January really is miss sunshine despite everything she is going through and her best friend Shadi is already a true love story. I love their friendship. Gus’ aunt Pete was also a fun side character.

I didn’t feel like this was a rom-com. There were funny moments yes, especially with the way Gus and January interacted but there are heavy issues taking place in this story like grief and parental abuse. This is definitely more women’s fiction than a rom-com. But I loved it. I love that January and Gus both grow from being with one another and letting down their guards. I could relate to her heartbreak and search for the truth about the person she loved.

Quotes from the book:

“…when the world felt dark and scary, love could which you off to go dancing; laughter could take some of the pain away; beauty could punch holes in your fear.”

“He fit so perfectly into the love story I’d imagined for myself that I mistook him for the love of my life.”

“I wanted to know whether you could ever fully know someone.”

“Happy endings don’t happen to everyone. There’s nothing you can do to make someone keep loving you.”

“No matter how much shit, there will always be wildflowers.”

“Unless the world freezes over in a second ice age. And in that case, there will at least be snowflakes, until th ebitter end.”

“The beautiful lies were all gone. Destroyed. And I was still upright.”

Tropes: opposites attract, writer romance

Why you should read it:

characters are complex and there is lots of growth
Gus and January’s relationship, they have fun together and them both being authors challenged the other which was great
themes about marriage, love, friendship, life

Why you might not want to read it:

not a typical rom-com, it deals with some tough topics like grief and infidelity

My Thoughts:

I’m so happy I got to read this one! It was exactly the kind of romance I was in the mood for, something with depth that challenged the characters to grow while they fell in love. January’s journey to making sense of her father’s life also made me tear up. It’s the kind of summer read I was looking for and I’m glad to knock this one off my TBR list. Great book!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

People We Meet on Vacation by. Emily Henry | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Lovers by. Emily Henry | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Davenports by. Krystal Marquis | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Davenports (#1)

Author: Krystal Marquis

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 1/31/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

In 1910, the Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to.

There is Olivia, the beautiful elder Davenport daughter, ready to do her duty by getting married. . . until she meets the charismatic civil rights leader Washington DeWight and sparks fly. The younger daughter, Helen, is more interested in fixing cars than falling in love—unless it’s with her sister’s suitor. Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid to the Davenport sisters, dreams of opening her own business—and marrying the one man she could never be with, Olivia and Helen’s brother, John. But Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, also has her sights set on John Davenport, though she can’t seem to keep his interest . . . until family pressure has her scheming to win his heart, just as someone else wins hers.

The first book in a breathless new series, The Davenports offers a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked, while delivering a totally escapist, swoon-worthy read. Inspired by the real-life story of C.R. Patterson and his family, it’s the tale of four determined and passionate young Black women discovering the courage to steer their own path in life—and love.

Content Warning: racism

The synopsis for this book sounded intriguing because my first love is historical romance and being a reader of the genre for many years (not so much now), it always came with a Caucasian cast of characters. So I love that the Davenports are a wealthy Black family in America. This book is set in the 1910 so I could imagine all the outfits and the lavish parties of that time period and the author did a great job at that. The author also did a great job of showing us what Black people were experiencing at that time, in the early 1900’s when there was a community of successful and wealthy Black people. There is more about her inspiration for her story in the author’s notes at the end of the book.

As for the story, I was into it until 25% in and then it wasn’t holding my attention I think because it was told with four POVs and I was bored even though 4 POVs should at least have given me one POV to really root for. The chapters are quick but I felt like I’d have been more engaged if maybe it was Olivia and Helen’s POV since the book focuses a lot on their family. All four young women have relationship dramas to deal with. Olivia and Ruby are best friends and the eldest daughters, so their role is to marry a man with wealth, and status. Helen is the younger sister to Olivia and she has dreams of running her father’s company but according to him, that’s not happening. And Amy-Rose is a servant and daughter of a slave owner, so her romance with John (Olivia’s brother) is almost doomed from the start. She has no wealth or status. And things play out predictably with everyone falling for who they shouldn’t and not everyone having who they wanted.

The story being predictable is not a problem since I love that about romance. But this one was missing something. Nothing was standing out for me. I liked Helen and Ruby the most because they had vibrant personalities, but I do think it was just too many POVs for me. And they were all going through similar romance drama. It took me 3 weeks to read this book, and usually I DNF after one week but I pushed through. I had to skim some parts though. If each girl had gotten their own book, maybe it would have worked out better for me.

Why you should read it:

affluent, wealthy Black families in the 1900’s set in Chicago, American history
4 romances taking place

Why you might not want to read it:

4 romances taking place – for me it was a bit too much
this was almost a DNF for me because it wasn’t holding my attention

My Thoughts:

I wish I had connected to this one more but I honestly can’t say if it’s the story that didn’t hold my attention or the fact that I seldom read historical romances anymore and just wasn’t in the mood. What I did enjoy was learning about prominent Black families in the early 1900’s and seeing them thrive and have success in politics and business. As for the romances, I wish there were less POVs. I don’t think I’ll be reading the sequel but I think if you like historical romances you will enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Summer of Broken Rules by. K.L. Walther | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Summer of Broken Rules

Author: K.L Walther

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 386

Publication Date: 5/4/21

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Summer Vibes, Grief, Contemporary, Coming of Age

Meredith Fox has been going to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer as long as she can remember. But this summer is the first one back since the death of Meredith’s sister. It will all be overwhelming, but even more since since the entire extended family will be together for her cousin’s big wedding.

Unfortunately, Meredith’s longtime boyfriend unexpectedly dumped her two weeks before the wedding, leaving her dateless. Luckily, she has the perfect distraction. Her family has a tradition of playing the ultimate game of Assassin every summer, and this year it will take place during the week of wedding festivities.

But her target just happens to be a very cute groomsman. She’s determined to not let herself get distracted, not let herself be lost in another doomed relationship. But as the week progresses, she can’t help falling for him, which may cost her not only the game, but also her heart.

Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when she forms an alliance with a cute groomsman, she’s at risk of losing both the game… and her heart.

Content Warning: grief

This book has summer vibes and Taylor Swift written all over it. The author also proudly claims she is a Swiftie so it explains all the Taylor references but I didn’t mind it and I think Swifties will love it.

My favorite part of the book is the summer at Martha’s Vineyard with Meredith and her family who are there annually but this time, her cousin Sarah is getting married there. So during all the wedding preparations there is a family game, Assassins, commencing in honor of Claire, Meredith’s sister who passed in an awful accident. All of this taking place in one week makes for a really action packed story, which is fun.

Meredith is still dealing with grief though and this is the first time she’s seen everyone since Claire passed, so she has some relationships to mend, but for the most part this family and extended family is so close knit. You can feel the love flowing between them. She also just went through a break up with her ex-boyfriend she was with for four years. And during this week, which felt longer, Meredith meets a boy, her future cousin-in-law’s step-brother, Wit. This boy takes her mind off of Ben and helps with her with some of the grieving she’s doing about Claire, but most of all, they are just having so much fun playing Assassins and hanging out with the family and making out.

Is it a bit of insta-love? I think it’s more of an insta-attraction and grows into something more by the epilogue. I mean, I’m all for a summer romance, and there’s happens in one week and after a 4 year relationship! I guess when you know, you know? lol… I’m not mad she was ready for a rebound. I thought Meredith and Wit were cute together. They had an easy way about them and clicked right away. It’s a sweet summer hook-up that turns into something much more! (Listen to Hey Stephen by Taylor Swift)

Meredith learns to have fun again, and let go so I liked seeing her grow. I did relate to Meredith’s anxieties about being in a fast car, after losing someone in a vehicle accident. I still get that too, so I thought it was very realistic. But it really was nice to see her loving life and being with family again.

Tropes: summer romance

Why you should read it:

it’s got summer romance and Taylor Swift references
family bonding, a wedding, a game of Assasins
fun, heart-warming

Why you might not want to read it:

insta-love
Taylor Swift references (if you aren’t a fan)

My Thoughts:

I’ve had this book on my TBR for two years and I have finally read it! Thank you Kindle Unlimited! It was everything I was expecting, the summer vibes, and the sweet romance. I especially enjoyed the family bonding parts and Meredith dealing with her grief of losing her sister. I thought this was a fun and heart warming read.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The True Love Experiment by. Christina Lauren | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The True Love Experiment

Author: Christina Lauren

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 5/16/23

Categories: Adult, Romance, Chick Lit, Women’s Fiction

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera.

Content Warning:

I didn’t know this book was about Fizzy until I read someone’s review about it and then I had to get it. If you read The Soulmate Equation then you are familiar with Jess’s best friend, Fizzy. And I loved Fizzy and wished she was going to have her own book and now she does!

This whole story does Fizzy justice! We get more of her humor and wit. She’s so much fun and she loves her family, her friends and their kids. I love how she jumped off the pages full of life and she’s a romance writer, what’s not to love? And we even get to dig beneath Fizzy’s armor and see her vulnerable side when she starts falling in love with Connor, the producer of the dating show she’s signed up to be on. Their romance is everything. I love that they both have had relationship issues but they eventually work through it, like adults, to get their happily ever after. The romance is full of chemistry and sparks and sweetness too. I love them together. And not only is she and Connor amazing together but the friendship between Jess and Fizzy is top-tier. I love them together too, they are soul sisters.

I also appreciate that we get such a well-rounded Fizzy. I loved the moments with her family and her mentioning even though they love her, she didn’t think her mom thought her job as a romance writer had any merit. And then they have that moment at the end…I don’t know why it made me emotional. I related a lot to the parental expectations.

I thought the story was heart warming and emotional and everything I wanted in a romance.

Favorite Quotes from the Book:

“I tell them that if they put in the work, if they allow that there will be blind curves and ups and downs, if they allow themselves to be vulnerable and loved and honest with the people who mean something to them, things really will turn out okay.”

“Tall, British, and dimpled? Never trust a cliché.“

“Truth is, you’ll never meet a book lover who hates the quiet.”

“People think romances are just about sex-and some are, which is fine-but they’re also about social change and challenging the status quo, such as who the world thinks deserves a happily ever after.”

“Book people are just better, I swear by it.”

“No one loves you in this exact, perfect, consuming way.”

Tropes: single parent, grand gesture

Why you should read it:

you loved Fizzy in The Soulmate Equation – you’ll love her more here
Connor and Fizzy gave me all the feels
this book is fun and funny! I love when Jess and Fizzy talk and River is there at the wrong time and tries to leave the room LOL, love them

Why you might not want to read it:

My Thoughts:

This might be my new favorite Christina Lauren book because of Fizzy. I’m so happy she got her own book because she’s a side character that totally deserves to be in the spotlight and have a happily after. And she gets it. ❤️

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Something Wilder by. Christina Lauren | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Soulmate Equation | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In A Holidaze | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Book Review | The Unhoneymooners ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Review | The Honey-Don’t List ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Zhara by. S. Jae-Jones | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Zhara (Guardians of Dawn, #1)

Author: S. Jae-Jones

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 8/1/23

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Magic

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!

Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

Magic flickers.
Love flames.
Chaos reigns.

Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.

Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.

In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

Content Warning: violence

I was absolutely drawn to this book because of that gorgeous book cover. It’s one of the prettiest book covers I’ve seen this year. I was also intrigued with the synopsis saying it’s Sailor Moon meets Cinder but as I read the book I felt like it didn’t deliver on any of those fronts. And I watched Sailor Moon this summer so that’s fresh in my head while I read this book and there were some similarities. I think Zhara has the personality of Usagi (Sailor Moon) in some aspects, like she giggles around good looking people, she’s bubbly but cares about helping others.

Story wise it was easy to follow. There is something going on, monsters are reemerging and the need for the mysterious society called the Guardians of Dawn are needed for their magical skill. I guess that’s another thing related to Sailor Moon, the Guardians. But it’s very different from the Guardians in Sailor Moon.

Zhara has magic that she is trying to keep secret. She’s a little bit of a Cinderella, and her evil step-mother treats her and her sister horribly. Zhara meets the royal prince, Han, who’s undercover and looking for the Guardians also. I thought their interactions were cute and fun. There is a lot of sexual innuendo because of some books they discuss but it all feels very innocent. My favorite character I think is Xu, who is Han’s best friend. They are Han’s closest companion and really came through for him when he needed them. I felt like Xu kept Hu in line as much as they could.

I was okay with the build up of the story but somewhere along the way the story wasn’t holding my attention. I think maybe this would work better for younger readers. It read a little too young for me, or I’m just too old for it, but I couldn’t connect to the story.

Why you should read it:

comparison to Sailor Moon and Cinder, it has magic and Guardians, and a sweet romance

Why you might not want to read it:

might read too young for some adults

My Thoughts:

I wish I could have connected to this story more because I really do love that book cover. I also could have been comparing it hard to Sailor Moon since I spent the summer watching the series on Netflix. Overall, it was an okay read with some funny moments but I think it’s not for me. I do think it would appeal to younger YA readers though.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cursed Crowns by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Cursed Crowns (Twin Crowns, #2)

Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 4/28/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Witches, Twins, Adventure

Bestselling authors and real-life sisters-in-law Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber join forces on a compelling YA fantasy bursting with high-stakes adventure, romance and humour. Two queens, one throne. What can possibly go wrong . . .?

Twin queens Wren and Rose have claimed their crowns . . . but not everyone is happy about witches sitting on Eana’s throne.

Cool-headed Rose sets off on a Royal Tour to win over the doubters, but soon finds herself drawn to the Sunless Kingdom. Here secrets are revealed about those closest to her, and Rose finds her loyalties divided.

Meanwhile rebellious Wren steals away to the icy north to rescue their beloved grandmother, Banba. But when she accepts King Alarik’s deadly magical bargain in exchange for Banba’s freedom, the spell has unexpected – and far-reaching – consequences . . .

As an ancient curse begins to arise from the darkness, the sisters must come together and unite the crown. Their lives – and the future of Eana – depend on it.

Break the ice to free the curse,
Kill one twin to save another . . .

Content Warning: violence, self harm for blood magic

I found this ebook ready to borrow right after I finished book one of this series, Twin Crowns. With everything still fresh in my head, I continued on this journey with Rose and Wren as they figure out how to unite the people and witches of Eana. There is a lot of pushback from the non-witches and Rose needs help quelling a rebellion but Wren is pulled to Gevra, where Banba, their grandmother is being imprisoned by King Alarik.

The story is told from both POVs. Rose, I feel, is more invested in being Queen of Eana, even though she shares the throne with Wren. When Rose and Shen get pulled into a quest to find the Sunkissed Kingdom we get to know more about Shen which I loved. The Sunkissed Kingdom is a magical place and fitting for Shen. But finding out about Shen’s past causes a big conflict between him and Rose. I didn’t think the two of them could ever fight about anything but I was wrong! Still, their romance is the sweetest one in the book and I knew things would work out between them. They both have to grow and they do.

As for Wren. Oh Wren. Wren is the twin who is bold, fearless, and not afraid to speak her mind and I like that about her but she is tested in this sequel because of the length she would go to save Banba. Wren makes some bad choices and the consequences are dire but it definitely forces her to think about her actions. And there is an unexpected love triangle and in a way I was intrigued by it because Tor is still a mystery but so bland. He does nothing for me. We don’t learn anything more about him except that he is pretty good at staying away from Wren. So I actually liked the new development with Wren and Alarik because it’s an enemies to lovers trope but how will it play out in book three? I’m not sure. I did sympathize with Wrens love for Banba and not wanting to let her go and I like that it paralleled Alarik’s fear of letting Ansel. It’s why I’m rooting for them. I feel like Wren and Alarik have that darkness in them, the grief inside them that helps them understand one another.

The sisters also now have to deal with their ancestor Oonagh Starcrest who has been revived from her slumber and about to wreck havoc on their world, so book three should be interesting. I’ll definitely read it to see what happens with Alarick and Wren.

I did enjoy this sequel but I did feel like I was more interested in Wren’s POV than Rose’s, whereas book one felt more even and seamless. Also the sisters are separated for most of the book again. I’d love for them to be together in book three.

Tropes: twins, love triangle

Why you should read it:

you liked book one
both sisters have more character growth in this one

Why you might not want to read it:

might feel like for a younger audience

My Thoughts:

I’m sad I have to wait for book three but I have high hopes that book three will tie up all the loose ends and these sisters can finally spend time together in a united kingdom.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Review | The Storm Keeper’s Island ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Twin Crowns by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Twin Crowns by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Twin Crowns (#1)

Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 5/17/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Witches, Twins

Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents’ murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn’t quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn’t have a habit of causing trouble…

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.

Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

Content Warning: violence, kidnapping

I wanted to read this book because Catherine Doyle wrote the Blood for Blood series which I was obsessed with back in 2015! So I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Twin Crowns and also not super surprised because she was part of the writing duo. And I’ll just point out that I don’t love books about twins but maybe because it always feels like the same trope. In Twin Crowns, we get the twins who were separated at birth trope and one sister is coming for the crown that the other one is supposed to have. Sound familiar? Yes, because that’s what usually happens in twin stories so I was over it a few years ago.

I went in with low expectations, but I ended up reading this book in one day! There are two clashing sides: witches and non-witches. Wren was raised with the witches and Rose was not, she was raised on the side that killed witches. Wren is trying to take the Queendom back from a man called Rathborne, who killed their parents. But Rose still wants her throne and tries to fight for it. It’s a really fun story, even though Rose can be annoying because she’s the pampered princess. However, I felt like she had the dashing and charming Shen Lo (love him) to balance her out. He brought her out of her comfort zone, which I loved. As for Wren, I like that she is feisty and a strong character. Wren’s romance with Tor had more heat which I liked but I’d love to know more about Tor. I don’t think we know much about him at all. I think the sisters being separated and going through their own challenges kept the story moving and I liked that it was seamless despite it being told in two POVs.

One thing bothered me about the story – how did Wren know Rose’s routine and all of the people at the palace? Was she studying her for that long? I don’t think it ever says in the book unless I missed it and so at times it felt unbelievable that Wren would automatically know all the staffs’ names. I just went with it. At least she had magic to make her look exactly like Rose. I did like the times she slipped out of character though, just to see if anyone would catch her.

At times the story felt like it was meant for a younger YA audience but I think maybe because the whole story has a fun vibe to it? Anyway I was confused about how I felt about that but I guess I didn’t mind it since I finished it in one day.

Tropes: twins separated at birth

Why you should read it:

you like stories about twin sisters
Rose and Wren both have their own romances – I love Shen Lo
a fun story

Why you might not want to read it:

might feel like for a younger audience

My Thoughts:

This one was a fun read and I’m already reading book two!

Book Links:

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Book Review | The Storm Keeper’s Island ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by. Heather Fawcett | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries (#1)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Narrators: Ell Potter, Michael Dodds

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 1/10/23

Categories: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Romance, Fae

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

Content Warning: violence

I finally got to finish this book by listening to it as an audiobook. I actually enjoyed reading it but I felt like it was going slowly and not in a bad way. I think because it’s such a cozy, slow moving story which I don’t usually like and I was getting bored reading, but not bored with the story. I just felt like if someone read it to me, it would hold my attention more and it sure did. The narrators are fantastic in this audiobook and definitely sounds like how I imagined Emily Wilde to sound like.

I found her interactions with Wendell so funny because they are such opposites. She’s driven, stubborn, headstrong and ambitious to complete this Encyclopedia of Fairies and Wendell is not. But Emily gets into some situations that become dangerous and she realizes she needs help.

The romance between Emily and Wendell is a slow burn and I thought it was cute when they both finally acknowledge their feelings for one another.

I do feel like there was more action in the end of the book so I enjoyed the second half much more than the first.

Tropes: slow burn

Why you should read it:

great narration
Emily’s investigations and researching of the Faerie world
Emily and Wendell’s slow burn

Why you might not want to read it:

might be too slow and boring for people not into cozy reads

My Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this one more as it was read to be through an audiobook. I actually got 20% into the ebook before I put it down because it was too slow, even though I enjoyed Emily and her adventures learning about the fae. I had a feeling it would work out better for me as an audiobook and I was right. The narrators did a fantastic job and I was much more engaged in the story and even finished it. I adored Emily and Wendell together. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the sequel but if I am in the mood for a cozy read, then I’ll pick it up.

Book Links:

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Book Review: Even The Darkest Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: All The Wandering Light (Even The Darkest Stars Book 2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bring Me Your Midnight by. Rachel Griffin | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Bring Me Your Midnight

Author: Rachel Griffin

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 8/2/23

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Witches

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

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

Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was born: she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat.

Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual—a fatal mistake—there is no one she can turn to for help…until she meets Wolfe.

Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive.

As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.

Content Warning:

I love stories about witches and this author seems to be writing about only witches. I read The Nature of Witches but haven’t read Wild is the Witch yet. I decided to give this one a chance because I thought The Nature of Witches had so much potential but I just didn’t totally love it.

I like the concept of Bring Me Your Midnight. The story is full of magic, romance, and a difficult choice that Mortana (Tana) has to make. I thought the world building was very interesting and I liked how the townspeople had their own magic that they used for their trade of business. Mortana’s family made perfumes and her best friend Ivy made tea infused with magic. I like how their magic was useful.

Mortana is the chosen witch who is supposed to unite the mainlanders and witches into a unified front by an arranged marriage. Landon seems nice enough but through this book we really don’t get to know him at all. Mortana is a nice girl, a good girl, who falls for a mysterious, handsome boy. It’s a forbidden love she has to give up if she wants to be a dutiful daughter to her parents and her community.

I usually love a good witchy romance story, but I found this one just okay. I wanted more from the characters and I didn’t feel like I connected to anyone except maybe for Tana’s best-friend Ivy who had a really strong voice. There was a lot of angst and longing between Tana and Wolfe but I just felt like something was missing intensity and I just couldn’t get invested in them.

Tropes: forbidden love, duty or love, enemies to lovers

Why you should read it:

you like witches and forbidden love

Why you might not want to read it:

I wanted more from the characters, felt like it was missing something

My Thoughts:

I was excited to read this one because the cover is beautiful and I love stories about witches but this one was just okay for me. I like the concept of the story but I wanted more from the characters. I found it hard to get invested in their story. I did like how Tana had to face a hard choice between duty and love because we get to see her struggle and grow. She also stands strong in trying to get the truth from her mother about their magic, powers and history. So I thought it was nice to see her grow and be able to choose love in the end. This may have fallen a little flat to me but I think a lot of other people will love this story.

Book Links:

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The Nature of Witches by. Rachel Griffin | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Painted Devils by. Margaret Owen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Painted Devils (Little Thieves, #2)

Author: Margaret Owen

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 512

Publication Date: 5/16/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, LGBT+

Let’s get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult.

After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family… and if they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now, that lie is growing out of control—especially when Emeric arrives to investigate, and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice.

For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine if Vanja is guilty of serious fraud, or if the Scarlet Maiden—and her claim to him—are genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that may be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but the ties of her past. And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?

Content Warning: parental abandonment, violence, parental abuse

I loved the first book Little Thieves so I had to read the sequel. My favorite part of this story is Vanja and Emeric and their journey with one another in the relationship they have which is wrought with trust issues, insecurities, sexual exploration but done with such patience, care, and both of them really falling in love with one another. They are definitely one my new favorite book couples.

The story telling is wonderful, just as it is in book one, I got swept up into the adventures of this dark fairytale life that Vanja lives. And Vanja is my favorite little thief. I love how she is a survivor, a child abandoned by her mother who had to do what she had to do to survive in a cruel world. She’s clever, brave and funny, and all she needs is love and she gets it in this sequel which made my heart melt for her. The story is emotional also because Vanja is letting people in, it made me heart happy for her.

The adventures and challenges that Vanja go through is something she things she has created, but after a lot of investigating, then end reveals a bitter and sad truth. I think because there was a bit of mystery to uncover, the book moved slower for me than book one did but I felt like there was enough Vanja and Emeric content to keep me happy. I did like the investigation but there are a lot of things going on with it and I had to concentrate to keep up. It took me a few days to read.

Favorite quotes from the book:

“There’s a saying here in the north: ‘A child’s eye fears the painted devil, but an elder wields the brush.’ We fear what we’re taught to fear, not necessarily because it’s worth fearing.”

Tropes: found family

Why you should read it:

You loved Little Thieves and want more of that dark fairy tale world
Vanja and Emeric and the journey of their relationship
Vanja’s personal journey and her finding her worth

Why you might not want to read it:

There is a lot going on with the investigation so the story feels slower than book one.

My Thoughts:

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this sequel but I did go in with lower expectations absolutely loved all the time Vanja and Emeric had together in this book. We see them grow in their romantic relationship and as partners in an investigation. I thought the characters in the story were full of personality and it’s got that dark fairy tale vibe that was present in the first book. There was a lot going on in the story and it took me a few days to finish but I still enjoyed it. It was an emotional journey for Vanja and I look forward to book three and hopefully the happy ending that she deserves.