Tag: books

Something Like Fate by. Amy Lea | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Something Like Fate

Author: Amy Lea

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 3/4/25

Publisher:  Skyscape

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Friends to Lovers, Italy

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

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


During a summer in Italy, two best friends discover whether true love is up to destiny or free will in this winning romantic comedy by the international bestselling author of Woke Up Like This.

For generations, the fortune-telling women in Lo Zhao-Jensen’s family have foreseen The One—the great loves of their lives—before ever meeting them. Except for Lo, who has zero psychic abilities. Just memories of old rom-coms and a lot of poor judgment when it comes to love.

Until now.

When Lo finally has the vision she’s been waiting for, her delighted aunties are convinced she’ll meet The One on her backpacking trip in Italy. Vero amore, here she comes.

Along for the summer is Lo’s best friend and confidant, Teller Owens, her opposite in every way. Upon arrival in Venice, Lo is saved from a runaway trolley by Caleb, a fellow backpacker. It’s a meet-cute so swoony, it has to be fate. But with each destination, Lo’s complicated feelings for Teller are becoming harder to ignore. From the cobblestone streets of Rome to the rocky cliffs of Amalfi, Lo begins to wonder if fate has other plans.

Two best friends, Lo and Teller, find themselves on an Italian adventure when Lo’s other best-friend injures herself and can’t go. So instead she asks Teller, her ex-coworker, other bestie, and her secret crush, to go with her.

Throughout the trip we see how different Lo and Teller are – she’s a free spirit, whereas Teller is a planner. They are opposites but they work so well because they are both kind of gentle spirits. We learn a lot about their past, their dating histories with other people and I thought they had a sweet friendship.

But Lo isn’t only on this trip to go on vacation, she’s there to meet her soulmate. Her family is famous for being kind of psychic. But everything gets muddled when she meets Caleb (clearly her soulmate because of a vision?) and yet her feelings that she accepting about Teller.

I loved the traveling that is happening in the story – a trip all over Italy? How fun and romantic.

Things do get complicated for Lo and Teller, and Lo has to question her feelings or fate. I think I wanted the ending to be a bit more romantic. Lo makes a choice, which shows how she grows. But I wanted more romantic moments between Lo and Teller.

Final Thoughts:

This was a cute, easy read. It’s a friends to lovers romance with a fun tour around Italy. I thought Lo and Teller’s friendship was really sweet and it was nice to see them realize their feelings for one another. The whole vision and fate aspect of finding her soulmate was interesting, but more so for the fact of her questioning the idea of a soulmate when someone else fits better for her. I just wanted a little more romantic scenes between them but overall, an easy, light read.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Woke Up Like This by. Amy Lea | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blog Tour} The Catch by. Amy Lea | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Exes & O’s by. Amy Lea | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

WWW Wednesday | 2/19/25

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?

Can you believe March starts next Saturday? I actually got a lot of reading done this week – yay! Maybe I’m out of my mood slump (for now). I’m determined to finish these arcs for March though so wish me luck!

What are you currently reading?

Thunderhead by. Neal Shusterman – 14% – my ebook copy expired so I have to read my hardcover now. So that might go a little more slowly.

Filthy Rich Vampire by. Geneva Lee – 1% just started!

Queen of Shadows and Ruin by. Nisha J. Tuli (arc) – 31% I just started this one but I’m almost halfway there!

Hangry Hearts by. Jennifer Chen (arc) (arc) – 1% just started!

What have you just finished reading?

When the Bones Sing by. Ginny Myers Sain(arc) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Something Like Fate by. Amy Lea (arc) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Onyx Storm by. Rebecca Yarros (owned) ⭐️⭐️💫

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by. Amélie Wen Zhao ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by. Breanne Randall (arc) ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

What are you going to read next?

What are you reading right now?

Unhallowed Halls by. Lili Wilkinson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Unhallowed Halls

Author: Lili Wilkinson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 2/18/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Dark Academia, Young Adult, Gothic, Urban 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 Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


A teen girl travels to an exclusive boarding school located deep within the Scottish moorlands after a deadly incident at her old school, but the wood-paneled halls of Agathion are built over centuries of secrets—including an ancient society which may have ties to demonic magic—in this dark academia fantasy perfect for fans of Curious Tides.

Page Whittaker has always been an outcast. And after the deadly incident that destroyed her single friendship at her old school, she needs a fresh start. Which is why when she receives a scholarship offer from Agathion College, an elite boarding school folded deep within the moors of Scotland, she doesn’t even consider turning it down.

Agathion is everything Page has ever wanted: a safe haven full of dusty books, steaming cups of tea and rigorous intellectual debate. And for the first time in her life, Page has even managed to become part of a close group of friends. Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey and Oak help her feel at home in Agathion’s halls–the only problem is, they’re all keeping secrets from her.

Page doesn’t know it yet, but her perfect new school has dark roots–roots that stretch back to its crooked foundation, and an ancient clandestine society with rumored ties to demonic magic. Soon, Page will be forced to learn that not everyone at Agathion is who they say they are. Least of all, her friends.

Agathion claims to teach its students history…but some histories should stay buried.

Content Warning: self-harm, violence, demon possession

This book definitely got the gothic, dark academia part down with it being set in Scotland. The setting is perfect for a boarding school filled with misfits. It’s dark, gloomy, always raining and cold, and surrounded by moors.

As for the story – something mysterious is happening at Agathion and it’s not only all the Greek philosophy being studied at the school. Something dark and sinister. That also was done very well in the book I feel, the whole atmosphere of impending doom.

Page is trying to find where she fits in at Agathion and she thought she finally found her place until she figures out what is happening at the school. Who can she really trust? Even with her new found friends, I didn’t feel like she could trust anyone until the very end. As a character, I didn’t really connect to her but I thought she had a lot of growth as the story went on. There is a little romance which I found to be kind of sweet.

I did like the chaos of everything happening in the book, there are a few twists and turns but I think there were times where too much was happening and at times it got confusing. It may just be a pacing issue for me and it being just a tad bit too long.

Final Thoughts:

I thought overall this was an entertaining read. It did take me a few days to read because of the pacing issues but I did push through even when things got confusing because a lot was going on. It’s got all the gothic vibes, a little romance, a little magic, some fantasy, and some demon possession. If you like dark academia, demons and Scottish mores, you might enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

A Hunger of Thorns by. Lili Wilkinson | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Weekly Wrap Up | 2/16/25

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super bowl last Sunday! WOOHOO! So I was very nervous and couldn’t even watch the first of the game LOL. I could watch it after it was 24-0 BUT…knowing Kansas City, I didn’t trust that score until the end of the game. 😅 I love the Eagles but gosh my heart can’t take watching them in a super bowl. SO happy they won though.

+ More national news – but I hate the news right now. And because I hate the news, I watched Eagles highlights ALL WEEK. Just to be nice to my mental health.

+ The vog (volcanic smoke from the eruption on the Big Island) was bad on our island this week – the haze was covering the mountains. So my Monday and Tuesday started off with a headache. It always makes my allergies act up and my sinus fill up – so that wasn’t fun. Tylenol, saline spray, Claritin and a hot towel on my face did help 😅, at least to get my sinuses draining.

+ My daughter had a Honey Bee Valentine’s Day Luncheon (their mascot is the bee) on Thursday, so I went to eat lunch with her. It’s always crazy and chaotic at these luncheon events, and always so quick. I only have 20 minutes with her out of their 30 minute lunch – she wants to play at lunch recess lol. So that was a quick event but glad I could be there with her.

+ Kids have a 4 day weekend, which is nice.

I hope you all have a great week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

Currently Reading:

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • Super Bowl 59 – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles – yay, the Eagles won!
  • Kendrick Lamar – GNX album

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!

The Girl Most Like To by. Julie Tieu | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Girl Most Likely To

Author: Julie Tieu

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 2/18/25

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Romance, Contemporary

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

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



A frenemies-to-lovers contemporary romance by Julie Tieu which takes place over the course of one make-or-break evening, almost entirely at a high school reunion….

“For the rom-com fans, you can never go wrong with a Julie Tieu book.”— Buzzfeed

Rachel Dang, once voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school, is funemployed for the first time. After years of doing everything her boss asked, it’s time to say yes to new opportunities. So when she gets invited to her twentieth high school reunion by none other than her former frenemy, Danny Phan, Rachel agrees despite their unresolved past.

As a teenager, Danny was seen as smart, but unfocused. Teachers often paired him with Rachel, hoping her work ethic would rub off on him. Though Danny and Rachel weren’t exactly friends, she had seen a different side of him, one that only existed online over intimate late-night AIM chats that never translated into real life. When they meet again, Rachel discovers their roles have reversed. Danny is thriving in his career while she’s the one flailing.

The reunion takes an unexpected turn when a simple errand takes them into town for a night of mishaps and misadventure where they run into a colorful cast of characters from their childhood. Rachel and Danny soon rediscover the feelings they once shared and must decide if this is only a quick trip down memory lane or a second chance for their happily ever after. 

The dreaded high school reunion. Rachel Dang was that girl in high school, over achiever with ambition and goals. At thirty-eight though she’s laid off from her job that she’s been with for more than 10 years and she feels lost. Why does she go to this 20 year high school reunion? It’s to see Danny her friend from high school and maybe to reconnect with him.

I did like Rachel and her best friend Natalie (who is an upcoming movie star) – their friendship felt genuine and funny and I wish there were more scenes were fun. I thought the nostalgia factor of the book was really fun too – the chatrooms of the 90’s? Boy did that bring me back to a time! The mentions of certain pop culture things from that time was great like the music and burning cds.

The way Natalie and Danny meet is cute and a friendship begins but talk about all the miscommunication between the two. The story is told with flashbacks to Natalie and Danny in high school and they seemed like they had a solid friendship until they crossed a line. When they meet up again at the reunion, I just felt lost as to why they had a falling out. As the story unravels we see how the miscommunication between them and how it really ruined their friendship. The conflict isn’t huge it’s mainly the miscommunication.

By the way, a lot of this story happens in a span of days. The bulk of this story happens the day of the reunion.

Final Thoughts:

I did enjoy the flashbacks, the nostalgia and the reunion where crazy antics happen. I kind of wanted more from the romance but it does have a happy ending.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Court Bright and Broken by. Amy Patrick | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Court Bright and Broken

Author: Amy Patrick

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 410

Publication Date: 2/14/25

Publisher: Oxford South Press

Categories: Romantasy, Series, Romance, Fantasy, Cinderella Retelling

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

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



A dangerous bargain. An obsessed prince. A forbidden love that could split the Fae court… and break the world.

Thanks to the Fae king’s heartless tithe, my family is starving. If I don’t do something, my war-wounded father and two little sisters won’t last.

So I make a desperate deal with our village mother– she’ll save my family, and in return, I’ll attend the royal ball in disguise and perform an unnamed task. She won’t say what it is, but it doesn’t really matter. Whatever it turns out to be, it’s worth it to protect the people I love.

All I have to do is get in, do the mysterious deed, and get out without attracting the notice of the cruel royal family.

But somehow I manage to catch the attention of not one, but *both* wicked Fae princes.

The Crown Prince acts possessive and won’t let me out of his sight. His growly, bad-tempered brother is another matter. His beautiful exterior is in complete contrast to the darkness inside him, and I have the terrifying feeling he can see right through me.

Which is a very bad thing once I learn the task I’m bound to fulfill–or else face unthinkable consequences.

If I fail, my family will die. If I succeed… I might not be able to live with myself.

A Court Bright and Broken is an epic fantasy romance set in the beautiful and dangerous world of the High Fae where magic rules, secrets abound, and true love will not be denied. It’s a magical slow-burn Romantasy with Cinderella vibes and will delight readers who love delicious romantic banter, toe-curling tension and chemistry, immersive world-building, magic, and royal Fae intrigue.

This is a light and fluffy romantasy with Cinderella vibes which I thought was cute and wanted to see played out. And I like that the “fairy-godmother” is kind of the villain. It’s a quick read though because the world-building is so light. It’s a world of Fae, Elves and humans with the High Fae ruling and humans being the lowest rank. I do think the world-building was too light for me, I just wanted more.

I also wanted more depth from the characters. They were just okay and I didn’t connect much to them. The romance is insta-love with no spice so I wasn’t quite into that because I wanted Stellon and Raewyn to get to know one another better, not just a week or whatever timeline it was in the book. Pharis, Stellon’s brother is the most interesting character probably because he’s loyal to his brother and protective and super suspicious of Raewyn.

Final Thoughts:

This was a very light romantasy read with insta-love and Cinderella vibes which kept it kind of interesting but I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series. I wanted more from the book and maybe that will happen in book two. If you don’t like heavy world-building romantasy books, then you might like this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Thriftbooks

WWW Wednesday | 2/12/25

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?

My Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl but let me tell you…I was a nervous wreck on Sunday. I couldn’t even watch the first half of the game so I missed a lot. I could only fully watch when I knew they were winning-winning LOL. My heart just can’t do Super Bowls when my team is in it. UGH. So proud of them, I love this team so much, especially this year. Like I was so stressed, I went to bed with body aches (and I did nothing physical except watch this game, maybe I paced around?!). Anyway, I didn’t read much because I was on a victory high since Monday lol…but I will get to reading this week.

What are you currently reading?

Thunderhead by. Neal Shusterman – 14%

Onyx Storm by. Rebecca Yarros (owned) – 70%, I took a break all weekend lol…my goal is to finish this week. 😅

Filthy Rich Vampire by. Geneva Lee – 1% just started!

Something Like Fate by. Amy Lea (arc) – 8% gotta get to this one!

When the Bones Sing by. Ginny Myers Sain(arc) 18% – a March arc so I’m working on it!

What have you just finished reading?

Beneath These Cursed Stars by. Lexi Ryan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Between These Broken Hearts by. Lexi Ryan ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

What are you going to read next?

I have a lot of arcs to finish this month. 🫠. Hopefully I can do it!

What are you reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 2/9/25

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ Today is the Super Bowl and my team is in it (The Philadelphia Eagles)…so I can’t watch! 🫠 I don’t think my blood pressure can handle it so I have a plan to not watch? Or sneak in looks? Or listen to my husband yelling or not? lol…I hope they win but I already saw the lose 2 years ago to the Chiefs and I can’t watch another loss – but if they win, oh it will be the best thing ever.

+ More national news – but I hate the news right now.

+ My husband’s furniture from Okinawa came in so we have new couches downstairs, and new mattresses (he had to buy them there for when we visited him back in 2023). We had to move some stuff around so that wasn’t fun.

I hope you all have a great week!

Blog Posts:

I must be stressed out – I barely had any posts this week. 😒

Books I Read:

Currently Reading:

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

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!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by. Adriana Herrera | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke (Las Leonas, #3)

Author: Adriana Herrera

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 2/4/25

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Categories: Series, Historical Fiction, Historical 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 Canary Street Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!



He’s not like other dukes…

Paris, 1889

Physician Aurora Montalban Wright takes risks in her career, but never with her heart. Running an underground women’s clinic exposes her to certain dangers, but help arrives in the unexpected form of the infuriating Duke of Annan. Aurora begrudgingly accepts his protection, then promptly finds herself in his bed.

New to his role as a duke, Apollo César Sinclair Robles struggles to embrace his position. With half of society waiting for him to misstep and the other half looking to discredit him, Apollo never imagined that his enthralling bedmate would become his most trusted adviser. Soon, he realizes the rebellious doctor could be the perfect duchess. But Aurora won’t give up her independence, and her secrets make her unsuitable for the aristocracy.

When a dangerous figure from their past returns to threaten them, Apollo whisks Aurora away to his villa in the French Riviera. Far from the reproachful eye of Parisian society, can Apollo convince Aurora that their bond is stronger than the forces keeping them apart?

Can’t get enough of the Las Leonas?
Book 1: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
Book 2: An Island Princess Starts a Scandal
Book 3: A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke

+ I was gifted this arc even though I didn’t read any of the two previous books in this series. And I found as I was reading, I didn’t feel lost. It reads as a standalone. which is nice.

+ I love the romance between Aurora and Apollo. The two of them together are spicy and oh so sensual! I love their chemistry. She’s always slapping his arm or nipping him-I love when characters can do that because I feel like it’s playful and they were so fun together.

+ Aurora is an amazing character because she’s a doctor who is providing women’s health! I love that she’s a strong woman in a challenging time. I also love the author’s note in the back explaining her inspiration for the story, the history and challenges of Latina women in the medical field.

Final Thoughts:

I haven’t read a historical romance in a long, long while even though that was my first love that got me into reading books. But this book is exactly how I would want historical romance to be written right now – a strong, female character, and something about history I can learn, plus a spicy, sensual romance! Really enjoyed this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Thriftbooks

Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

BLOG TOUR} Here to Stay by. Adriana Herrera | Review + Excerpt ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Get Lost with you by. Sophie Sullivan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Get Lost with You (Rock Bottom Love, #2)

Author: Sophie Sullivan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 2/11/25

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Small Town 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 St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!



A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

Jillian Keller took the long route to her best life, but is now happily settled in her hometown of Smile, raising her little girl alone while helping her brother run Get Lost Lodge. A lover of structure and routine, she doesn’t need anything, or anyone, disrupting her carefully curated life.

After chasing and achieving his culinary dreams, Levi Bright realizes he’s still missing something. Something he can’t find in a big city. Returning home to Smile, he intends to build a different future for himself that includes mending fences with his dad, reconnecting with friends, and creating elevated comfort food for a town he loves.

When Levi and Jilly run into each other one day in Smile, once requited feelings that never had a chance to bloom as teens flare between them immediately. Jaded from her past, Jilly is cautious and convinced that she can handle being just friends, as the two have to work closely together to prepare for Get Lost’s official summer opening, spending time together, camping, laughing, kayaking, and reminiscing. But when her brother hires sweet, funny, ridiculously hot Levi as the new chef at the lodge, and she and Ollie are getting more attached, things are moving more quickly than she anticipated–and Jilly has been hurt before. If she wants to be head over heels in love, she’ll have to learn that the past doesn’t always repeat itself. Sometimes, it just leads you where you’re meant to be.

I thought this book cover was cute and I think the romance matches the cover. It’s cute.

Jilly is a single mother, and has returned home to the small town of Smile, to raise her daughter and be around family. She’s always had a crush on LeVi Bright and he’s back in Smile too. Right from the moment they run into each other – the sparks fly, immediately. All the feelings they’ve had for one another from the past start to just overtake both of them.

The story is very predictable. Jilly and Levi have some challenges to deal with like Jilly and past with her ex-husband which makes her hesitant to date again. And Levi has a strained relationship with his father but all of those issues resolves itself in the end.

I found this story okay – didn’t love the 3rd person POV, but it’s a light, easy and fluffy read.

Final Thoughts:

For me personally, this one fell a little flat. I didn’t really connect to the characters. I thought the romance was cute, without much conflict. If you want an easy, closed door, small town romance story to read, definitely give this one a chance.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Can’t Help Falling in Love by. Sophie Sullivan | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Guide to Being Just Friends by. Sophie Sullivan| ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️