The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Killing Rules

Author: Bree Despain

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Publisher: Entangled: Mayhem Books

Categories: Young Adult, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Paranormal, 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 Entangled: Mayhem Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Seventeen-year-old Harper Westbrook isn’t afraid of monsters…she is one.

For the past three years, she’s been one of the Blood Bound―girls and women cursed with a bloodlust only satisfied by killing terrible men. Once every three months, she trades in her pom-poms for a lethal throwing axe. Her life is led by a strict set of rules to keep her dark secret as hidden as the bodies she buries.

And her number one rule? Stay away from Grayson Jones.

The boy she was totally falling for until the night her curse manifested, everything went horribly wrong, and she killed his father. It was self-defense. Or at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.

Grayson is an investigative reporter for their school paper, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the truth behind his father’s gruesome death.

As he follows new clues down darker and darker paths―to an unbelievable world of mythical beasts and the men who hunt them―Grayson doesn’t realize he’s on a collision course with Harper’s biggest secrets. Now, she must stop him before he exposes her family to the Hunters, even if it means risking her life and heart.

Because who could ever love a monster like her?

Content Warning: violence, death, injuries, gore, murder

The Killing Rules is about a popular cheerleader named Harper who has a very dark and gruesome secret. She’s a monster, a blood beast. She kills bad men.

This story is a little bit gory, there is a murder mystery and but there is even a romance. I think the first half builds a bit slowly because of the mystery of Grayson’s dad being murdered and other murders that are occurring in town. Harper is living a double life as the popular girl and a killer, plus if her ex-friend/crush Grayson knew her secret he would look at her differently – it’s why she pushed him away when his dad was killed. Everything picks up in the second half where there are a few twists, like Harper isn’t the only one going around killing people – so who is it? Also we learn about blood beasts and hunters!

I liked Harper, she couldn’t control what she was and I kind of love that the monster in her only killed bad people. This story kinda gave me vibes and energy of the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Final Thoughts:

This had mystery, action, gore and romance. I liked how it explored friendship, family, and feminine rage. I also enjoyed the second half with the twist and turns. Definitely check this out if you like YA thrillers!

Read if you like:

young adult thrillers
horror, gore

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Gingerbread Bones by. Lindsay Lovise | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Gingerbread Bones

Author: Lindsay Lovise

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Publisher: Entangled: Mayhem Books

Categories: Young Adult, Horror, Survival, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, 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 Entangled: Mayhem Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

They’re being hunted…

When sixteen-year-old Georgie and her troublemaking brother are shipped off to the wilderness for their stepmother’s newest reality show, Georgie is convinced it’ll be the worst experience of her life. Two weeks. No phones. Hiking. Camping. Cameras catching every humiliating second.

Then she meets Mack Gray. Tattooed, unreadable, and―among a cast of kids already branded as trouble―he’s the one she’s sure is dangerous.

One night, the counselors are chanting affirmations around the fire. By morning, they’re gone.

But the kids are not alone.

Georgie can feel it, stalking them from the shadows―watching, waiting, picking them off one by one. Whatever it is, it isn’t just hunting.

It’s playing.

And in this game, there seems to be only one ending: no one gets out alive.

Content Warning: violence, death, injuries, mention of murder and different crimes, gore

Gingerbread Bones is a young adult horror that definitely brought on the thrills and chills. It starts off a little slow with the world building – a group of delinquent teens are sent to the wilderness to be filmed for a reality show. The messed up part is the person who sent Georgie and Hamish (siblings) is their own step-mother who is some popular parenting influencer. That’s already messed up but things get worse and then the story really picks up.

The group is split up and then they realize someone or something is hunting them in these dark woods. There is a Hansel and Gretel twist to the story and it does not shy away from paranormal activity and horror. But even with those elements I found this to be a fun read because of the characters! Yes, they are teenagers and act like it but I didn’t find it annoying, I found it entertaining. They are all there for some petty and/or big crimes they have committed or their parents just want them to learn a lesson, but when they are put together there are some crazy interactions, some of them making me laugh out loud because they are all kind of losing it (I don’t blame them). Things get crazier when we realize what is hunting them and the ending is wild and climactic, exactly what I wanted from a young adult thriller.

I liked that this had a combination of mystery, thriller, suspense, even a tiny bit of romance, plus a close bond between two siblings. I enjoyed this one despite the slow start and this one has supernatural/paranormal elements so just go with it and try to suspend your belief.

Final Thoughts:

This one gave me some thrills and chills with the setting and the situation that the kids are put in. I enjoyed the drama between the characters and the wild ending was entertaining. It had a slow start but it does pick up nicely. This is a good one to read for fall when you are in a spooky book kind of mood!

Read if you like:

Hansel and Gretel
horror, gore
young adult thrillers

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tides of Fortune by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Tides of Fortune (Storm Weaver, #2)

Author: Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 480

Listening Hours: approx. 16 hrs

Publication Date: 7/21/26

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Series, LGBT+

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

Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Return to the spellbinding world of Heir of Storms in the explosive second installment to the Storm Weaver trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Queen, Throne of Glass, and The Rose Bargain.

Having survived three treacherous trials to win her crown, Blaze is now Queen of the Aquatori. But before she can take the throne, she must set out to find the Eye of the Soul, one of the realm’s most powerful weapons, before another claims its power for themself.

Her journey will take her deep into the forests of Ostacre and into a temporary alliance with the infuriating but undeniably compelling Fox. She can’t help but feel drawn to him. . . but can she trust him? Fortune favors the brave, but will it protect the Storm Weaver on her most dangerous mission yet?

Narrated by not just Blaze, but her brother, Flint, and the newly-discovered Shadow Magi, Elva, the epic journey that began in Heir of Storms continues in the sweeping adventure of Tides of Fortune.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: There are 3 POVs in this sequel – Blaze, Flint and Elva. Elva’s POV gives us insight into what is happening with Hal and the kingdom he is ruling, but his grip on his power is fragile. Blaze and Fox are together and antagonizing one another, and Flint finds himself with Spinner and Sheen. There is a lot of traveling in this story which is very different than book one.

Characters: I think there is a lot of growth in these characters in this sequel because they are split up and dealing with their own situations. Flint is hilarious, and dealing with Sheen and Spinner makes things interesting. Blaze is trying to trust Fox, and I feel like they learn so much more about one another. As for Elva and Hal, Elva has to make some hard choices, but their story was sad.

Romance: There are three romances taking place. Of course my favorite is Blaze and Fox, who have a very enemies to lovers type of relationship. I was always looking forward to Blaze’s POV because of their banter. Flint has an interesting development in his love life. And there is Elva and Hal, and they have their own challenges.

Story: This is definitely different from book one, and I found it a little harder to get into. I think because there was a lot of travel and I didn’t feel like much was happening. But there was a lot of character development, which is fine, but it just felt slower and took me longer to read. I still love Blaze and Fox the best, whenever I read her POV, I felt like the story moved faster because I cared about them so much more.

Narrator(s): Loved the narrators voices, and their accents were great.

Final Thoughts:

I think this is a solid sequel and there is more character development. It did go a bit more slowly for me, compared to when I was reading the first book. The narrators did a great job and I loved their voices.

Read if you like:

fantasy
romance
banter

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Heir of Storms by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray | Book Review – 4 stars

Ruinous Ends by. I.V. Marie | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Ruinous Ends (The Souls of Blackwood Academy, #2)

Author: I.V. Marie

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 7/14/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dark Academia, Romance, Paranormal, Series, LGBT+

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

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

The Decennial is over, but for the students of Blackwood Academy, the fight for the afterlife has just begun.

The infamous school was hiding more secrets—and lies—than any of the Decennial’s participants could have imagined. And there’s still so much that remains buried beneath its ancient foundations. Now the future of the academy, and all the souls within it, rests in the hands of six former pupils:
The charmer and the golden boy . . .
The traitor and the girl desperate to save her . . .
The Chosen One and the one who would choose her over and over again . . .

Any of them could be the hero the afterlife needs . . . or the villain who will destroy it for good. Because the truth is, Blackwood’s biggest secret has yet to come to light—and when it does, it will shake the institution to its core.

Content Warning: violence, death

This is the conclusion to The Souls of Blackwood Academy duology and we are back with the crew from book one, but this time they are separated. With them separated I didn’t feel like the found family trope was as strong as it was in book one. I think that’s why I wasn’t as into this book as I was into book one, I missed them all together. Also, because there are multiple POVs, I did find it hard to reconnect to these characters except for my favorites like Olivier and Emilio. But I did like how each little group was doing what they needed to do to save the afterlife.

There are a few romances going on – I love Olivier and Emilio still, they are sweet together. August and Wren have the romance that is full of angst and yearning, August will do anything for Wren which was admirable. Masika is still pining for Catherine, but they can’t work that out until near the end.

I felt like the beginning was a bit slow but things in the second half of the book really picks up with some twists and turns.

Final Thoughts:

For me, I thought it was a solid ending, but the first half was slower than the second half. I enjoyed the romances especially Olivier and Emilio’s. Overall, I think if you loved book one, you will love this conclusion.

Read if you like:

mulitiple POVs
multiple romances

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Immortal Consequences by. I.V. Marie | Book Review – 3.5 stars/1 🌶️

Of Venom and Vengeance by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Of Venom and Vengeance

Author: Mikayla Bridge

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Narrator: Safiyya Ingar

Listening Hours: approx. 11 hrs 54 min

Publication Date: 7/7/26

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) / Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBT+

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

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) / Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A deliciously dark standalone set in the same world as the YA romantic fantasy Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, empires, and the fate of a lost god.

On an island marred by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.

Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth of her sister’s death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows.

Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief for one retribution for his family, who were murdered by Inna’s mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna’s ruin.

But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, they enter into a perilous alliance that neither intends to keep —even as bitter attraction unravels into something more.

Though some hearts aren’t meant to be stolen, and love knows nothing of blood-red revenge.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: So I want to say when I picked this up – I actually thought this was book two of Of Flame and Fury which I loved! And so I was very confused when all this book was talking about was sprites, and harnessing their magic and the legend of the Serpent King. It was only when I looked at the synopsis again and this said it was a standalone in the same “world” as Of Flame and Fury that I had to stop my mind from searching and connecting to anything from that book. Honestly, this didn’t even feel like it was in the same world as the first book. Inna is a Pallo, a notorious crime family who is using the magic of sprites to conduct their business. Ryland, wants revenge on the Pallo’s for killing his. Eventually I thought the sprite magic was interesting (once I realized this was nothing like book one).

Characters: Inna is the daughter of a powerful woman, and went through something traumatic, and she lost her sister Erika. Now she is determined to find out more about who killed her. Celesse is her guard/best-friend/and ex-girlfriend. The two of them have a very complicated relationship which gets even worse when Ryland enters the picture. Ryland wants to take down Inna’s family but first he needs her help to find information on how to find the Serpent King. Another important character is, Fernan, Inna’s uncle who might be conducting some shady business.

Romance: Inna and Celesse used to be lovers and now things are complicated but Celesse is very much still in her life – so I felt like it took some time to really believe Inna had feelings for Ryland. I don’t think I was focused as much on the romance though than I was in Inna’s family dynamics and everything else going on in the story.

Story: Once I realized this was a whole different story than what I was expecting, I had to resettle and get into this story about Inna and her family, sprite magic, and Ryland wanting revenge. And I did get into it during the second half of the book. I enjoyed the complicated relationships, the heist and the betrayals. I know the synopsis said this was a standalone, but I feel like that ending is left open to more adventure? I guess we will see.

Narrator(s): The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters.

Final Thoughts:

My reading experience would have been better if I realized this was a totally separate story from Of Flame and Fury. But once I realized my mistake I started to enjoy the story much more. It does mean though that if you haven’t read Of Flame and Fury, you won’t feel lost picking this up, which is a good thing! I did enjoy Inna and Ryland and how they were enemies then reluctant allies. I liked all the family drama and betrayals too. The sprite magic was very interesting too so I look forward to see what this author writes next.

Read if you like:

enemies to lovers
young adult fantasy
heist
reluctant allies

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Of Flame and Fury by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC Review – 4 stars

Shadow Reaper by. Lynette Noni | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Shadow Reaper (#1)

Author: Lynette Noni

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 496

Publication Date: 6/16/26

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Series

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

Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Never bargain with a reaper.

The city of Aravell is in peril, plagued by a deadly blackmist that kills all it touches and reapers who roam the streets, stealing magic from innocent children in their thirst for power. Seventeen-year-old Viridia Solace has trained for years to hunt these reapers, but their ranks keep growing, led by the man who murdered her parents: the notorious Reaper Priest.

When the Priest’s most loyal follower, Reeve Ashton, is captured, he offers Viri a chance to avenge her parents . . . for a price. She knows better than to bargain with a reaper, let alone this reaper, but his offer is too good to resist.

Soon she’s breaking him out of prison, colluding with his crew of magic thieves, and following him deep into the blackmist forest in search of an ancient legend, all so they can stop the Reaper Priest’s plot to doom the city. Viri is staking her life on Reeve’s plan, but how can she trust a silver-tongued criminal to keep his word? And how can she trust her own heart when a buried secret could shatter everything?

Full of relentless twists, enemies-to-lovers romance, found family, and high stakes action, Shadow Reaper is the start of a breathtaking new duology from international bestselling author Lynette Noni.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: This story is set in a city where there is a blackmist that can kill and reapers kidnapping children to siphon magic from them. Hunters like Viri hunt down Reapers, but now she’s onto trying to bring down a bigger player, the Reaper Priest, and there is one reaper who can lead her to him – Reeve, her childhood friend and brother’s best friend. It seems like by the end of this book though, the world will open up in book two to where the reapers live. There is magic but would have liked to learn more about it.

Characters: Viri is a renowned hunter, and she’s hunting down the Reaper Priest with Reeve’s help. I did enjoy their interactions a lot! There are a lot of secondary characters I enjoyed like Viri’s best-friend Wynter, who is like a mad scientist/alchemist – she was fun. And one of Reeve’s friend’s Jonas and his bunny. I did like meeting all these characters and the found family between them.

Romance: There is a romance brewing between Viri and Reeve but it’s not at the forefront of this story. It’s very much in the background with a some moments of them bantering, I just wanted more though. Not sure what will happen to them in book two though.

Story: The first half felt like it dragged, including the chapters with the journal from the celestial mage – it would kind of take me out of the story, though it’s very important to the history of the magic and certain events in this story. I’m not sure why it didn’t interest me. So the pacing for me was off. Things pick up a lot in the second half and there are some secrets and betrayals.

Vibes: Hunters, Reapers, Magic, Betrayal

Final Thoughts:

I didn’t connect to this one as much as I wanted to but I did like the world building and the cast of characters when they were all together. I would have liked a little more romance. The first half was definitely a struggle for me to get through because it moved slow but it picks up in the second half. I enjoyed the secrets and betrayals and look forward to seeing what happens in book two.

Read if you like:

magic
secrets and betrayal
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Wandering Wild by. Lynette Noni | ARC Review – 4 stars

The Prison Healer by. Lynette Noni | Book Review (#1) – 4 stars

The Gilded Cage by. Lynette Noni | Book Review (The Prison Healer, #2) – 3.5 stars

The Blood Traitor by. Lynette Noni | Book Review (The Prison Healer, #3) – 4 stars

Black River by. Ruby Jean Cottle | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Black River (#1)

Author: Ruby Jean Cottle

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 6/9/26 (first published 8/25/25)

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Categories: Young Adult, Paranormal, 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 Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This limited deluxe edition is printed with gorgeous stenciled edges and a stunning foil-stamped case!

JUST ONE TASTE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.

All seventeen-year-old Dusty wants is to escape into books and the Adirondack wilderness that surrounds her small town. But in the dead of night, strange things have been happening in Black River.

Animals are being ravaged by something unnatural. And Dusty wakes up one day with dirt on her feet, changed and starving. When new kid Will arrives, Dusty feels an attraction unlike anything she’s felt before. She wants him . . . or she wants his blood. As Dusty realizes she’s transforming into something she can’t control, she reluctantly turns to the only person she somehow knows will understand: the annoyingly attractive Eli Blake.

Together, Dusty and Eli must uncover the mystery of their town and their new, insatiable desires. Have they become vampires or some other kind of monster?

Whatever they are, they’re not the only ones.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Set in a small town, Dusty likes to keep to herself and her best friends until things.

Characters: Dusty’s mom left their family and it’s left a lingering trauma in Dusty but she tries to stay strong for her younger sister who she loves a lot. Dusty is known in town, and has a few popular friends, but she likes to keep to herself. I loved her relationship with her best friend Mali. There is also a boy named Will, who is a new kid and also keeps to himself, and he and Dusty make a connection. But there is also another boy named Eli who Dusty has a connection to also.

Romance: I thought for a moment this was going to be a love triangle but things are clearer near the end of the book. The romance between Will and Dusty is a very slow burn, with challenges coming between them. I was definitely waiting to see their relationship grow and see what direction it would go.

Story: I think for me, this story was too slow. I loved the paranormal elements, the vampires, but trying to figure out how they became vampires took awhile. Most of the story was about how Dusty acclimated to life as a new vampire. Things pick up and get very interesting at the 90% mark, and that was a little too late for me. Also the story ended abruptly, but I believe this is book one, so there will be a continuation to the story.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was an okay read for me. I loved Dusty and her story but the mystery of the vampirism and how it happens took too long to unfold, for me. I did like the small town setting and the sweet little romance brewing between Dusty and Will but even that was a slow burn.

Read if you like:

small town mystery
vampires

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Their Will Undone by. R.J. Valldeperas | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Their Will Undone (#1)

Author: R.J. Valldeperas

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 6/2/26

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Historical Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Series

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

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

When a maiden is selected to marry the emperor, her journey to the palace will see her fighting both a spark of magical power and her growing feelings for her broody escort in this romantic fantasy duology opener, inspired by a true story from the Inca empire.

In the Amaru Empire, it’s considered an honor to be chosen for the annual harvest. But when guards stole Nina’s brother away, it devastated her family. So, when the guards returned for Nina’s sweet sister, she threw herself into their clutches instead. And Nina has spent every moment since then in the acllahuasi, a gilded cage where women are trained to become servants or wives.

When Kasik, an obedient lieutenant in Amaru’s army, is sent to the acllahuasi to retrieve the emperor’s new wife, it’s only the promise of his own command—and a chance to escape his controlling father—that forces him to accept.

Kasik has no reason to trust Nina, nor she to trust him. But, as they begin their journey, their chemistry is hard to ignore. Also hard to ignore? The tugging sensation of magic in Nina’s chest, awakening more questions than she can possibly answer as she travels with a handsome stranger to her unknown fate.

Content Warning: violence, death, sacrifice

World Building: Set in a fantasy world inspired by Incan culture, I love how lush the world building is with the different words (use the glossary in the back), the customs, religion, mythology and politics.

Characters: Kasik is sent by the emperor (his friend) to retrieve a certain young lady to be his wife. But Kasik isn’t given all the information and when he meets Nina, she is always fighting him. Nina is a young woman who is trying to protect her sister, but she’s taken to be the emperor’s new wife and she feels like she has no choices. She finds out she has powerful magic and later in the story her female rage makes it’s appearance and changes her from someone with no choices to being someone to be feared and deadly. I thought it was fascinating to see what she would do with her powers. There are some other characters that stood out like the empress and the emperor that lended to the political intrigue going on in the later half of the story.

Romance: This is a forbidden romance between Kasik and Nina. She’s retrieved to marry the emperor but on their harrowing journey together, they are attracted to one another. Kasik knows he can’t have her, and Nina knows there is not hope between them, but it doesn’t stop him from yearning for her which I loved. By the second half of the book he will do anything for her. There is no spice, just some really lingereing looks and thoughts about one another. But I still enjoyed it that way since they can’t be together and makes me want to know what will happen in book two.

Story: Kasik is tasked to retrieve Nina and we get to know both of them on this journey. Kasik is loyal to the empire, Nina is trying to save her sister and figure out her deadly magic powers. I feel like Nina’s character goes through a few transformations and it was very interesting to see go from powerless to powerful and what she chooses to do with that power. I enjoyed the world-building a lot though I had to use the glossary to understand some things. And I really enjoyed all the political intrigue that was happening when they are all at the palace.

Narrator: I did have a hard time getting into the ebook because of all the words I had to look up in the glossary but once I started the audiobook I was sucked into the story! The story has dual narrators and they both were great, but at times I felt the male voice sounded softer than the female – her voice was crisp where his sounded just softer.

Final Thoughts:

I found the world-building lush and really loved the political intrigue especially in the second half. The narrators did a great job keeping me invested in the story and it makes me want to read book two to see what happens with Nina and Kasik!

Read if you like:

forbidden romance
political intrigue
Inca inspired world building
magic

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Beckett Effect by. Nashae Jones | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Beckett Effect

Author: Nashae Jones

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 5/5/26

Publisher: Simon Pulse

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

There’s no one teenage filmmaker Wren hates more than notorious playboy Beckett Lane. Girls love him because of his famous dad, and Beckett revels in the unearned attention. It seems like everyone is under his spell but Wren—including Wren’s sweet, naive sister Kennedy, who has a huge crush on him.

When Beckett humiliates Kennedy in front of the entire school, Wren swears to bring him down once and for all by teaming up with her BFF Chelsie to make a documentary showing everybody exactly who he really is. They launch an investigation meant to expose him, which includes Wren cozying up to Beckett to get inside information—because she’s the only one in school not susceptible to the Beckett Effect.

Only, as she gets closer to Beckett, Wren wonders if the line between love and hate is as obvious as she thought it was. Could there be more to the school’s biggest playboy than she realized?

Content Warning: divorce

+~ Wren wants to make movies, so she’s always thinking of life in scenes, which made this an interesting but fun story to read. She’s also over protective over her sister Kennedy and despises school heartthrob Beckett Lane (who her sister has a crush on). I loved Wren, but yes there were times she did a little too much when it came to her sister or Beckett and it leads her to some disastrous situations. I think some readers will not Wren as much as I did, she is so stubborn.

+ This story reminded me of my favorite teen rom-coms that dominated the early 2000’s. II kept thinking they should make this into a movie on Netflix because I’d totally watch it for all the shenanigans Wren and her bestie was up to while doing this school project that revolved around Beckett Lane. You already know it’s a bad a idea but Wren was on a revenge kick. And though things blow up in Wren’s face, I loved seeing her trying to fix everything and acknowledge that she was in the wrong. I loved the humor throughout the story and it made for such a quick read.

+ The romance is so cute – Wren hates Beckett, but Becket is a heartthrob for a reason – he’s gorgeous but such a charmer too! I can see why he was so hard to resist. So as much as Wren is using Beckett, he eventually gets under his skin when she learns the real him.

Final Thoughts:

I had a fun time reading this one because it reminded me of early 2000’s teenage rom-coms, and would love to see this made into a movie. Wren is a stubborn FMC who has a lot to learn but the main thing is she does learn in the end. I thought the romance was super cute because Beckett is such a charmer – how could Wren resist? Overall, I enjoyed this one.

Read if you like:

high school drama
humor, banter
sweet dislike to like romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Summer of Second Chances by. K.L. Walther | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: The Summer of Second Chances

Author: K.L. Walther

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 5/5/26

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

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

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!

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules comes another incredible summer romance about holding onto memories, making new ones, learning to let go, and unexpectedly falling in love.

Olivia Lupo feels stuck. All her friends have gone on to their first year of college while she’s still at home with her family. There’s a good reason though, her beloved grandmother, Annie, has dementia, and Olivia can’t bear the thought of being so far from home when Annie needs her the most.

So when her stepmother asks the family to spend three weeks of the summer on Martha’s Vineyard, Olivia plans to say no…until she discovers an old box Annie filled with photos and memories from her own time there. Olivia decides to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and spend some time on the island that Annie describes as magical.

When she arrives, she meets Connor, a boy from her past who really wants to be a part of her present… and future. Olivia’s never thought about forever with someone until meeting Connor…and it scares her. How can she make plans when all she wants to do is keep close to her grandmother before she’s gone forever? As she recreates the memories Annie made a lifetime ago, she has to decide if she’s finally willing to give someone her heart, just when she needs it the most.

Content Warning: complicated families, grief, dementia

This is my third book from this author and I thought this was a really sweet young adult romance. Olivia Lupo is going through some things – she doesn’t know what to do now that high school is over, she’s on a gap year, spending time with her grandmother Annie who has dementia, and going on vacation with her family to her step-mom’s home.

Vacation in Martha’s Vineyard helps Olivia meet a lot of people, especially in her step-family’s side. There are some fun characters in this story, but there are a lot of them. So sometimes I didn’t know who was who – there are step family and neighbors but the whole community is quaint and wholesome. There are a lot of family themes in these book because Olivia feels out of place, but she also wants to belong. So she has some conflicting feelings about her step-mom. As for her grandma with dementia, she’s afraid to lose her because she’s already lost her mom, and grandpa. This fear of losing people makes her push people away. Also while at Martha’s Vineyard she does some digging into Annie’s past and finds out a few things.

The romance is really sweet because Connor is a good guy and a golden retriever energy kind of guy. He is a manny to the kids for this vacation, and he is so into Olivia. They met long ago at camp but she doesn’t remember him until he jogs her memory a little bit. But their summer vacation forces them to spend some time together and their romance was just right. She has to work with her commitment issues but I like that she’s given time to think about things.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I thought this was a cute romance that has summer vacation vibes, a mystery, and family themes. I think if you like this author’s other books, you will enjoy this one.

Read if you like: