3.5 Stars – Page 21 – Past Midnight Book Reviews & More

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

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.