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?

Queen of Shadows and Ruin by. Nisha J. Tuli (arc)
Hangry Hearts by. Jennifer Chen (arc)
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by. Breanne Randall
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by. Amelie Wen Zhao
Assistant to the Villain by. Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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. 😒

The Exception to the Rule by. Christina Lauren | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Goodreads Monday: The Rose Bargain by. Sasha Peyton Smith
2024 Releases I Was Excited to Read but Still Haven’t Gotten To | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 2/4/25
Top 5 Tuesday | Top 5 series I will start in 2025 | 2/4/25
The Rose Bargain by. Sasha Peyton Smith | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
WWW Wednesday | 2/5/25
Get Lost with you by. Sophie Sullivan | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️💫
Let’s Talk Bookish: Reading Challenges: Do we love them or hate them? | 2/7/25
A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by. Adriana Herrera | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

WWW Wednesday | 2/5/25

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?

Hi everyone – well…we are into February and the chaos in the USA, continues…

In book news? I have a lot of arcs to read and I hope I can do it.

What are you currently reading?

Thunderhead by. Neal Shusterman – 12%

Onyx Storm by. Rebecca Yarros (owned) – 70%, almost there…but I’m bummed that I am not feeling it at all.

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

What have you just finished reading?

A Court Bright and Broken by. Amy Patrick (arc) ⭐️⭐️💫
A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by. Adriana Hererra (arc) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Serpent and the Wolf by. Rebecca Robinson ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What are you going to read next?

Something Like Fate by. Amy Lea (arc)
Beneath These Cursed Stars by. Lexi Ryan (borrowed book so I better get to it!) – I have to read this one in order to read the arc of the next book I got.
Assistant to the Villain by. Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Kindle Unlimited) – wanna see what the hype is about plus it’s for my Read the Month challenge
When the Bones Sing by. Ginny Myers Sain(arc) – a March arc
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by. Amelie Wen Zhao (arc) – another March arc
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by. Breanne Randall (arc) – why do I have a lot of March arcs? LOL
Hangry Hearts by. Jennifer Chen (arc) – yup another March arc
Queen of Shadows and Ruin by. Nisha J. Tuli (arc) – another arc but I just got this one and I’m excited!

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

What are you reading right now?

The Rose Bargain by. Sasha Peyton Smith | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Rose Bargain

Author: Sasha Peyton Smith

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 2/4/25

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Alternate History, Historical Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Young Adult

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!

The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.

High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

+ This story has an interesting concept – alternate English history with a Fae Queen ruling. Now Prince Bram is looking for a wife and there is a competition for his hand in marriage. I thought the bargain people made with the Queen was fascinating – what would you give up for the thing you want?

+ Ivy’s trying to marry Bram, but all the girls are trying to marry him to help their families in some way. But Ivy meets Bram’s half-brother first, Emmett, and they have a lot of chemistry and it’s nice to see Ivy be herself around him as the story progresses. I thought maybe there would be a love-triangle with how some things were playing out – but there is a twist on that.

+ I thought it was nice getting to know the other girls even though some don’t get along. They eventually become like a found family during this competition.

+ There is quite a plot twist at the end of the story. I can say it wasn’t expected at all and I was quite surprised at what was taking place.

~ The trials were pretty weak. I think I wanted something more thrilling.

~ So this story is told mainly through the main character, Ivy Benton. But each girl remaining, the top six, tells their POV also, which at times got me confused until I realized what was happening and had to check the chapter to see which character was speaking.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was more like The Selection than The Cruel Prince as this is being advertised. I thought the ending was a good twist in the story and I liked seeing what bargains people made with the Queen. I did wish the trials were more thrilling and I did get sometimes confused on who’s POV I was reading (if I didn’t pay attention to the chapter names) but other than that, I thought it was entertaining, especially the ending.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Thriftbooks

Weekly Wrap Up | 2/02/25

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ The Philadelphia Eagles are going to the Super Bowl woo-hoo! My nerves couldn’t take it so instead of my hubby bringing the kids to Sunday school, I did LOL….and I went at got a massage at the spa. That was long overdue. I don’t know if I’ll even be able to watch the Super Bowl game next weekend lol.

+ Every day under this current administration feels like one long year. SO…yeah it’s not cool. I hate seeing the news every day. What is happening to the USA? I feel like we are being attacked – but by our own government. 💔. Only 2 weeks have gone by…😭

+ My heart breaks over the plane/helicopter crash that happened in Washington D.C. And then a second plane crash just two days later in Philly! 💔 What is happening?!🙏🏽

+ January is FINALLY OVER. Please, please, please…February be kind to all of us.

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:

Football highlights
Over the Moon (on Netflix) – watched it again with my daughter, brought back memories of being stuck home watching it during the pandemic.
FireAID Los Angeles – I donated and watched for 4 hours lol…I had to turn it off to go to bed, but at least my son and I caught Olivia Rodrigo.💜
Interstellar (on Netflix) – LOVE this movie! The music, the story…so good! And how timely with what is happening in my country. 😩

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!

WWW Wednesday | 1/29/25

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?

Is it STILL January? I’m so over it – this month has been the LONGEST ever. The daily news gets me stressed so I haven’t really had the motivation to read. And oh also, my son said someone at his school is drawing swastikas in the boys bathroom and their teacher had to give them a talk. So yeah…with the news, Elon Musk’s “gesture” 😡, and just everything else – I am over it….SIGH…let this month be over, please.

But since it’s Lunar New Year, Kung Hei Fat Choy to those who celebrate it! Here is what I am trying to read and I do try but I haven’t been in the right mood, so it’s been very slow going. I thought I would be finished with Onyx Storm by now but I’m not. Hope you are having a good week so far!