Bookish Wishes | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday 6/11/24

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

This week’s topic is:

Bookish Wishes

All of these are books that have recently been released or going to be released sometime this year!

To Shatter the Night by. Katherine Quinn – I want to see how this series continues.

Have you read any of these?

What’s on your TTT?

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Top Ten Tuesday Topics:

May 7: May Flowers — Pick your own title for this one to reflect the direction you choose to go with this prompt (books with flowers on the cover, flower names in the title, characters whose names are flower names, stories involving flowers/gardeners)
May 14: Favorite Book Quotes (You can pick your favorite quotes from books, or about books! You can set a theme like quotes from books about love, friendship, hope, etc. or you can just share quotes you loved from your recent reads!)
May 21: Authors I’d Love a New Book From (These could be authors that have passed away, who have retired from writing, who have inexplicably gone quiet, or who might jut not be able to keep up with how quickly you read their books!)
May 28: Books I Was Super Excited to Get My Hands on but Still Haven’t Read

June~~
June 4: Books I Had VERY Strong Emotions About (Any emotion! Did a book make you super happy or sad? Angry? Terrified? Surprised?)
June 11: Bookish Wishes (List the top 10 books you’d love to own and include a link to your wishlist so that people can grant your wishes. Make sure you link your wishlist to your mailing address or include the email address associated with your e-reader in the list description so people know how to get the book to you. After you post, jump around the Linky and grant a wish or two if you’d like. Please don’t feel obligated to send anything to anyone!)
June 18: Books on My Summer 2024 To-Read List
June 25: Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2024

July~~
July 2: Books with My Favorite Color on the Cover
July 9: Throwback Freebie (Pick a TTT topic that has been previously done. Maybe you missed it, weren’t blogging then, or you’d like to update an old list you made. All previous topics are listed below.)
July 16: Ten Things I Loved About [Insert Book Title Here] (Pick any book and tell us ten things you loved about it!) (submitted by Cathy @ WhatCathyReadNext)
July 23: Debut Novels I Enjoyed (A debut novel is an author’s first published book. You could also choose to share genre or age group debuts if you’d prefer, such as an adult fiction author’s first YA book or a mystery writer’s first romance.) (submitted by Angela @ Reading Frenzy)
July 30: Books I Wish Had More/Less [Insert Your Concept Here] In Them (for example: more/less romance, more/less world building, less info dumping, more/fewer pages, more character development, fewer characters, fewer descriptions, more suspense, etc.)

Happily Never After by. Lynn Painter| Book Review

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Happily Never After

Author: Lynn Painter

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 313

Publication Date: 3/12/24

Categories: Romance, Contemporary



Their name? The objectors.
Their job? To break off weddings as hired.
Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.
 
When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their ceremony: “I object!”
 
During anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.
 
The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.
 
And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.

Content Warning: profanity

This one was cute! Max takes on side gigs at an “objector” at weddings which is something I’ve never heard of before but it’s pretty clever if people actually pay someone to do something like that. He objects at Sophie’s wedding and then they become friends. They have great banter and growing chemistry but I really love how they just start off as friends.

Both Max and Sophie have issues about love but I think it’s fun watching them get to the point where they both realize falling for each other might not be a bad thing after all. Especially with all the amazing sex they have together!

I thought Sophie’s roommates were the cutest! Larry really had quite a personality. I did think it was interesting that Asha was her best friend but was barely in the book at all. Larry was more of a best friend to her it seems, which was fine since he was my favorite character probably!

I did think the reason for the fake dating or fake situationship was kind of weak I mean – Max’s dad wanted him to keep Sophie in his life so that he could buy a boat? (He needed the approval from his wife who would be happy that their son Max is dating kinda thing). Also, the third-act break-up was not it. I don’t know that they had to fight over something to do with his ex when she is barely mentioned. It wasn’t the biggest conflict since they were “just friends with benefits”, but the fact that Max had to really evaluate how he felt about his ex kind of bugged me. And there were some things with the writing that made me cringe, like his nickname being Maxxie 😅. Also they use a lot of profanity if you’re not into that.

My Final Thoughts:

I thought this one had a fun premise and two characters that really got into the “objector” role. It never gets deep I think which works for Sophie and Max since they weren’t looking to fall in love but with all the time they spent together getting to know one another it seems inevitable, they just have to stop fighting it. The banter between them was fun and easy. I had my issues here and there but it’s a super quick read and Sophie’s roommates were such fun characters! Overall, it was good – I can see this as a rom-com movie.

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Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Betting on You by. Lynn Painter | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love Wager by. Lynn Painter | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Better Than the Movies | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Monthly Wrap Up | May 2024

May went by in a flash it seems but at least my reading slump was broken! Yay! I was so busy in May with my daughter’s dance recital, my son’s graduation and my hubby coming home that I’m surprised I even managed to read any books.

A few anticipated reads for me did fall short of my expectations but there were a few surprises for me this month also. Here’s what I posted in May!

What I Posted: 13 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

    4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

    3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

    2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

    2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

      I did better this month in posting more book reviews. I did one blog tour and posted one book excerpt. I do feel like my reads are landing in the 3-3.5 stars range and I’m hoping to get some better reads in June but we’ll see if that happens. There isn’t many June releases I’m looking forward to, so maybe it will be a light reading month again.

      How was your month?

      Weekly Wrap Up | 6/9/24

      Aloha friends!

      Well I guess all the festivities caught up to me and my daughter – that or we caught a bug going around because of graduations and then being at the crowded hotel. We’ve been sick since Tuesday! I hate being sick at the start of summer – getting sick in the fall and winter, I get it but summer? Ugh. I hate. We got enough fun time in at least with their dad before he had to leave back to Okinawa on Friday. He comes home for good in 6 months though and with the days flying by so fast, it will be in no time at all.

      I didn’t read much because I could barely stay awake when I was reading and my body just ached from coughing. So I slept a lot. My son had his piano recital yesterday and I had to try and get as healthy as I can for that. I’m so proud of him! He is doing a summer bridge program this week at his new school – he’s starting middle school in August and I’m a little emotional about it.

      Anyway I just need to rest and get better.

      I hope all of you have a good week!

      Blog Posts:

      Books I Read:

      • Ghostsmith by. Nicki Pau Preto

      Currently Reading:

      • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken
      • Happily Never After by. Lynn Painter

      Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

      • Hierarchy (Netflix) – I just started this K-drama!

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

      Most Anticipated Book Releases | June 2024

      There are some exciting book releases coming up this month! 

      This is what I’m looking forward to:

      The titles above are books I haven’t read but I think I also should showcase the arcs I read that are releasing this month. So here they are:

      What is your most anticipated book release this month?

      First Lines Fridays | 6/7/24

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

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

      “She was drowning in a sea of stars.”

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      ⬇️

      Can you guess what book it is?

      Did you guess it? Have you read this one?

      Six of Sorrow by. Amanda Linsmeier | ARC Review

      My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

      Title: Six of Sorrow

      Author: Amanda Linsmeier

      Format: eBook (NetGalley)

      Pages: 336

      Publication Date: 6/25/24

      Publisher: Delacorte Press

      Categories: Young Adult, Horror, Contemporary, LGBT+, Mystery, Magical Realism

      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!

      Sixteen years ago, six girls were born on the same day—and now, on their birthday, one of them is missing. From the author of Starlings comes a story about small-towns, friendships, and the terrifying things your parents don’t tell you, that’s perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.

      For most of her life, Isabeau and her five best friends were inseparable—amazingly enough, the six girls even shared a birthday. Then a rift caused their friendships to fracture, and Iz lost everyone except Reuel, the only one who didn’t abandon her.

      Until now. The night of their sixteenth birthday, Isabeau leaves Reuel sitting on her front porch and heads home—and in the morning, Reuel is missing. She’s gone for three days, and when she reappears, there’s something wrong with her. She’s sick. Really sick. And she doesn’t remember anything that happened while she was gone.

      If there’s any bright side to the situation, it’s that Reuel’s peculiar disappearance brings the six girls back together. Their sisterhood feels as strong as it was years ago, but when another one of them disappears, they all agree that they must have more in common than simply their birthday. They all feel it. Something’s been waiting for them, and that something has come to claim them one by one.

      Deep in their bones, they know—it’s just a matter of time until they they’re all taken. And if they don’t save themselves, no one will.

      Content Warning: body horror, illness, blood, parental death, underage drinking

      This book was giving me The Craft vibes throughout and I love that movie. Obviously, it wasn’t The Craft, because but it had all the vibes – group of high school girls, vows of being best friends, blood vows, things happening to the girls.

      Sorrow is a small town, but one with a backstory. There are six girls with the same birthday, if that’s not suspicious, I don’t know what is. Isabeau is one of these girls and there is a feeling these girls once upon a time were close best friends but not anymore, at least not with Isabeau. But something happens on their sixteenth birthday and it’s a race to figure out what is going on with the girls.

      There are some heavy issues that are brought up in this book such as lost friendship, family problems, grief, and problematic parent/child bonds. I like how they face their problems eventually though and there is actually a happy ending even though this was a horror story.

      Speaking of horror, this is set in a small town with a backstory about a witch named Sorrow. The horror is happening to the girls, where they are disappearing, or going through some illness and bleeding out of their eyes and such.

      My Thoughts:

      I thought this was pretty entertaining especially with premise of a small creepy town called Sorrow and six girls having the same birthday. What these girls uncover is something dark but the darkness makes way for the light and love of their friendship as they are reunited again. I think that was my favorite part of the book – the friendship. It would have been nice if there was more witchcraft in this book but that’s just for my personal preference!

      Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Instagram (crafts🎨) | Twitter (X) | Etsy (Shop)

      Book Links:

      Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

      Starlings by. Amanda Linsmeier | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

      The Dixon Rule by. Elle Kennedy| Book Review

      Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

      Title: The Dixon Rule (Campus Diaries, #2)

      Author: Elle Kennedy

      Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

      Pages: 526

      Publication Date: 5/14/24

      Categories: Romance, Series, Sports Romance, New Adult, Hockey



      Diana Dixon has a lot going on this summer. She’s rehearsing for a ballroom dance competition, juggling two jobs, and dealing with an ex-boyfriend who can’t take the hint it’s over. Yet despite all that, she still has plenty of time and energy to tell Shane Lindley to screw off.

      Shane just moved into her apartment building and seems dedicated to sleeping his way through her entire cheerleading squad. Sure, he’s a tall, gorgeous hockey player, but he’s messing with her turf. This calls for some ground rules: no parties in her apartment, leave her teammates alone, and—most importantly—leave her alone.

      What Diana doesn’t realize is that Shane’s sick of hookups and tired of being on the rebound after his long-term girlfriend called it quits. He wants a relationship. And when his ex comes back into the picture, he pretends he has one to make her jealous…and who better to play the girlfriend role than his sassy new neighbor?

      Despite Diana’s reluctance to break her rule, a fake relationship is the perfect solution for her own ex issues, and soon she can’t deny something is sizzling between her and Shane. Something hot and completely unexpected.

      And it might just be getting a little too real.

      Content Warning: stalking, physical abuse, death of a parent, grief

      This is book two in the Campus Diaries series and I think I like this one more than the first one minus the kinky sex scene which works for some people but for me was an ick.

      I like Diana Dixon a lot and I liked her when she was in the first book also. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, she’s independent, hard working, sassy with the guys and a good friend. As for Shane, he’s one of the hockey guys but I like how he’s a girlfriend kinda guy. He’s been trying to get over his ex and has a bad reputation for hooking up with the cheer team, which Diana’s is on. He misses being in a relationship which is opposite of his friends who are so big into hooking up constantly.

      The two of them together with their different personalities really appealed to me. There was fun banter between them and lots of chemistry. I thought their interactions with one another at their apartment complex was so funny especially with the HOA meetings and their little community! As for the spice – there is some kink in this book and I’m not judging but that was a scene I could have done without. They are definitely a friend group that is not shy with each other but it’s a no for me! I wanted to close my eyes lol…and I don’t usually feel like that when reading a book.

      The conflict comes with both their exes. Diana is dealing with Percy who is becoming a stalker. Her story takes a darker turn with Percy being physical and I didn’t expect that at all. Whereas Shane deals with his ex coming back into his life and wondering how he feels about her. There’s a dark turn to his story also when it comes to his family, which was also unexpected.

      I like the Campus Diaries stories so far but I feel like there is a common theme with them. Despite their cartoonish book cover designs that make you think it will be a spicy new adult romance – they actually have some heavy themes and usually it’s thrown in at the end of the book. I don’t know if I like that format, because I feel like things get rushed at the end. Also, the two books I’ve read are 500+ pages long and I don’t think it needs to be. But at least this one was a quicker read because I love Diana and Shane and there was less hockey in this one compared to the first book.

      My Final Thoughts:

      I liked this one better than The Graham Effect except for that one scene that I wish I could have closed my eyes on lol. For the readers who like kinky sex, you’ll love this one. I usually like angst between two people but Diana and Shane didn’t need it. I love how they are enemies or maybe more frenenemies turned into lovers. Their romance progression was fun and they were both funny together. Like I really believe they are the most solid couple after everything they went through together and know they’ll be together forever. I just wish the books weren’t so long and things get thrown in at the end making some things feel rushed. I’m afraid to read Beckett or Will’s book because it’s definitely going to be kinkier and I can’t with the friends watching one another having sex.😅 So we will see if I read the next book in the series, depends who it will be about!

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

      Book Links:

      Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

      The Graham Effect by. Elle Kennedy | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

      Misfit by. Elle Kennedy | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

      Bad Girl Reputation by. Elle Kennedy | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️

      Good Girl Complex by. Elle Kennedy | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

      WWW Wednesday | 6/5/24

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

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

      What are you currently reading?

      What have you just finished reading?

      What are you going to read next?

      I didn’t get to read much this week because it was packed with events! And then I think I caught a little cold or maybe it’s my allergies acting up since it’s been so windy here. But it’s making me feel a bit tad under the weather. Here are some books I’m looking forward to finishing up in the next 2 weeks.

      What are you currently reading?

      The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken – 2% in – I haven’t really worked on this one since it’s publishing in July, so I have time but I’ll be jumping back into it soon.

      The Rule Book by. Sarah Adams – I’ll have to re-borrow this one, my time expired on it.

      Happily Never After by Lynn Painter – 1% just started

      Shadows of Perl by. J. Elle – 2% just started this one

      Ghostsmith by. Nicki Pau Preto – I just got this one 2 days ago on Netgalley and moved it up on my reading list! 10% in.

      What have you just finished reading?

      That Prince is Mine by. Jayci Lee – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

      What are you going to read next?

      What are you reading right now?

      Happy Book Birthday | New Releases | 6/4/24

      Happy book birthday to these new releases! Check out this list today:

      Fate of the Sun King by. Nisha J. Tuli

      The highly anticipated third installment of the steamy Artefacts of Ouranos series journeys deeper into the glittering fae world as Lor puts both her life and her heart on the line in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance.

      With the Heart Crown now in her possession, Lor must navigate the dangers of being an heir on the run, knowing more than one power-hungry ruler is after her blood. When she returns to Aphelion to unlock her magic and recover her family’s legacy, it becomes clearer than ever that all that’s gold doesn’t sparkle. No stranger to battles, she continues to fight her attraction to the Aurora Prince, understanding this might be the one she finally loses.
      As the past mixes with the present, Lor uncovers the truth about the Artefacts and their role in shaping her destiny. Now, her future hangs in the balance, leaving her closer than ever to getting everything she’s ever wanted… or losing it all forever.

      Goodreads | Amazon

      Mirrored Heavens by. Rebecca Roanhorse

      The interwoven destinies of the people of Meridian will finally be determined in this stunning conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky trilogy.

      Even the sea cannot stay calm before the storm. —Teek saying

      Serapio, avatar of the Crow God Reborn and the newly crowned Carrion King, rules Tova. But his enemies gather both on distant shores and within his own city as the matrons of the clans scheme to destroy him. And deep in the alleys of the Maw, a new prophecy is whispered, this one from the Coyote God. It promises Serapio certain doom if its terrible dictates are not fulfilled.

      Meanwhile, Xiala is thrust back amongst her people as war comes first to the island of Teek. With their way of life and their magic under threat, she is their last best hope. But the sea won’t talk to her the way it used to, and doubts riddle her mind. She will have to sacrifice the things that matter most to unleash her powers and become the queen they were promised.

      And in the far northern wastelands, Naranpa, avatar of the Sun God, seeks a way to save Tova from the visions of fire that engulf her dreams. But another presence has begun stalking her nightmares, and the Jaguar God is on the hunt.

      Goodreads | Amazon

      Past Present Future by. Rachel Lynn Solomon

      They fell for each other in just twenty-four hours. Now Rowan and Neil embark on a long-distance relationship during their first year of college in this romantic, dual points of view sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow .

      When longtime rivals Rowan Roth and Neil McNair confessed their feelings on the last day of senior year, they knew they’d only have a couple months together before they left for college. Now summer is over, and they’re determined to make their relationship work as they begin school in different states.

      In Boston, Rowan is eager to be among other aspiring novelists, learning from a creative writing professor she adores. She’s just not sure why she suddenly can’t seem to find her voice.

      In New York, Neil embraces the chaos of the city, clicking with a new friend group more easily than he anticipated. But when his past refuses to leave him alone, he doesn’t know how to handle his rapidly changing mental health—or how to talk about it with the girl he loves.

      Over a year of late-night phone calls, weekend visits, and East Coast adventures, Rowan and Neil fall for each other again and again as they grapple with the uncertainty of their new lives. They’ve spent so many years at odds with each other—now that they’re finally on the same team, what does the future hold for them?

      Goodreads | Amazon

      Leather & Lark by. Brynne Weaver

      Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first. 

      And they can’t stand each other. 

      Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be. 

      As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them. 
      There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep. 

      And this one has come for blood.

      Goodreads | Amazon

      Bad Graces by. Kyrie McCauley

      Yellowjackets meets House of Hollow in award-winning author Kyrie McCauley’s gripping and magical YA thriller following a group of young women as they face the stress of harsh elements, a mysterious monster, and an unraveling of secrets after their yacht is wrecked off the coast of North America.

      Liv Whitlock knows she doesn’t belong there. But after years of stumbling between foster homes, often due to her own self-destructive tendencies, Liv desperately needs to change the trajectory of her life … so she steals her perfect sister’s identity.

      Liv starts to rewrite her story, winning a prestigious internship on a movie set filming in Alaska, and finds herself on a luxury yacht alongside pop star Paris Grace, actress sisters Effie and Miri Knight, Olympic gymnast Rosalind Torres, and social media influencer Celia Jones. Liv tries to find common ground with her famous companions, but just as the group starts to bond, a violent storm wrecks their vessel, stranding them on an island in the North Pacific Ocean.

      Among the threats of starvation and exposure, they learn there is a predator lurking in the forest, unlike anything they’ve seen before—until they begin to see it in themselves. Every injury they suffer on the island causes inexplicable changes in their bodies. With little hope for rescue and only each other as their final tether to humanity, can the girls endure the ominous forces at work on the island? Or will they lose themselves to their darker natures?

      Goodreads | Amazon

      Are you getting any new books this week?

      Happy Reading!

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