The Christmas Clash by. Suzanne Park | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Christmas Clash

Author: Suzanne Park

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 10/4/22

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Holiday Romance, Teen

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!

Who’s naughty and nice at Riverwood Mall? In this hilarious holiday rom-com, two rivals get together to save their families’ livelihoods, and Christmas, too!

Chloe Kwon can’t stand Peter Li. It’s always been that way. Their families don’t get along either: their parents operate rival restaurants in the Riverwood Mall food court―Korean food for the Kwons and Chinese food for the Lis. Now it’s the holiday season and Chloe’s the photographer at the mall’s Santa Land, and Peter works at the virtual reality North Pole experience right across the atrium. It’s all Chloe can do to avoid Peter’s smug, incredibly photogenic face.

But it turns out the mall is about to be sold to a developer and demolished for condos. Eviction notices are being handed out right before Christmas. Their parents don’t know what to do, and soon Chloe and Peter realize that the two of them need to join efforts to try to save the mall. Just when it seems like they can put aside their differences and work closely (very closely) together, they discover that the Kwon and Li feud goes far deeper than either of them realize…

Content Warning: bullying, racism

I wanted to read more holiday romances this year and so when I saw this on NetGalley, I requested it because I’ve read another book by Suzanne Park that I enjoyed. This one was a cute young adult romance. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I love both the Korean and Chinese representation in this book. Peter’s family is Chinese and runs a Chinese restaurant and Chloe’s family runs a Korean restaurant. I thought it was cute how they each had a favorite food from one another’s restaurant even though they are rivals. We get a glimpse of into each of their family dynamics and a little bit of the histories too. We also see how Peter and Chloe deal with racism from their community. Chloe and Peter are very relatable.

+ The romance is super sweet, more geared towards a teen audience I think. Peter and Chloe only really know each other from the bad blood between their families, but they don’t even know the reason why they hate one another. So seeing them from enemies, to partners, to something more is really cute.

~ It’s a holiday romance and a lot of the story is set at a mall, which yes, is a staple during the holidays because of Christmas shopping and pictures with Santa. There is a Friendsgiving scene, so this is basically the start of the holidays but not quite at Christmas yet. So it had some elements hinting to Christmas but it isn’t totally full-on Christmas, which I was hoping for.

~There are a bunch of things going on in the story. The mall is about to close and Chloe and Peter try to save it because it’s their families livelihood. In their attempts to save it they find out more about the bad blood between their families. Chloe is trying to achieve her dreams of winning an art award that could help her with college. Also the romance is happening between them and I like that there was depth to the characters but I feel like the story didn’t flow as easily as it should.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, family rivalry, saving a location from closure

Spice Level:

Why you should read it:

it’s a holiday romance that doesn’t countdown to Christmas, more like events that are happening around the holidays and it was nice to see the families make peace, the store owners fight for their livelihood and a little romance thrown in
the romance is sweet and cute, more geared towards teens than young adult
nice Chinese and Korean representation

Why you might not want to read it:

might not have as much Christmassy elements for a Christmas romance

My Thoughts:

This was a cute holiday romance where two teens from rival restaurant families fall for one another when they decide to pair up and help save the mall and their family businesses. I liked the Korean and Chinese culture representation and that we do get holiday references even though the story doesn’t count down to Christmas like in some other holiday romances. I feel like teen readers would enjoy this one a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by. Suzanne Park | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Getaway by. Lamar Giles | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Getaway

Author: Lamar Giles

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 9/19/22

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Categories: Young Adult, Horror, Mystery, Dystopia, Suspense

Welcome to the funnest spot around . . .

Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. He’s got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property’s main theme park. Life isn’t so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it’s to get away from all that.

As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay’s friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only… they aren’t leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call.

Whether they like it or not.

Yet Karloff Country didn’t count on Jay and his crew–and just how far they’ll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what’s more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?

Content Warning: gore, violence, racism

I went into this blind! I like the creepy cover and since it’s October, I wanted something to set the spooky season mood. This wasn’t as spooky as I wanted it to be but horrifying…absolutely. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ The cover sets the tone. The concept for this story is great! Karloff County is a famous resort – think amusement park, high quality service, someplace people go to be entertained. I kept thinking of Disneyland when I read this book and how nothing is “perfect”. So this pretend utopia living is not all what it seems – there is something wrong and throughout the story it just gets worse!

+ World building was interesting. We get a really good glimpse of how people Karloff County is run and who lives there to make it function. They rely on workers called Helpers to make people who visit get the full, happy experience. This is set in a dystopian society though so apparently everything outside the walls of the county is chaos. Jay, one of our main characters, mentions world hunger, riots, and protests outside of the county so it sounds dire. We eventually learn the real goals of the Karloff family and investors and it is quite sinister.

+ I think the story did a good job of keeping me engaged to get me to the big reveal. And the reveal is pretty horrifying. Karloff County is supposed to be this refuge that Jay and his family and others have found as a blessing, but when things change – the place they love starts to turn on them. The story did a good job of addressing race and classism in this story especially since it is set in such a place as Karloff County.

~ It’s told through four perspectives so although I liked getting to know each of the four friends: Jay, Zeke, Connie and Chelle – I felt like we didn’t get to know them very well. I think I connected to Jay more than anyway and Chelle, I didn’t trust. There is a little romance that gets addressed in the beginning but it’s not something that is sustained throughout the book. It’s not a focus but I thought maybe because it was discussed right away, it would have made a bigger impact down the line.

Tropes: amusement park horror, suburban-utopia creepiness

Spice Level:

Why you should read it:

to see what is really going on in Karloff County
I love how Karloff County was known as this paradise to all the world, but it’s a fake/bought paradise – all an illusion and the author let us know how scary that can be
you like the kind of thrillers that builds slowly but really horrifies you at the end of it

Why you might not want to read it:

definitely be in the mood for a dystopian, mystery-thriller with the payoff at the end

My Thoughts:

I found this to be a quick read and one that wasn’t super and blatant horror until the last pages. I love the concept of the story and how the story brings in racism and classism into the story. The setting of Karloff County is perfect and made me realize how creepy an amusement park type of utopia can be! I’m glad I read this one and look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BLOG TOUR} The Empress of Time by. Kylie Lee Baker | ARC Review

Welcome to the blog tour for The Empress of Time by. Kylie Lee Baker!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Empress of Time (The Keeper of Time, #2)

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 10/3/22

BUY HERE: Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Categories: Fantasy, Japanese Mythology, Young Adult, 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 Inkyard Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In this riveting sequel to The Keeper of Night, a half Reaper, half Shinigami soul collector must defend her title as Japan’s Death Goddess from those who would see her—and all of Japan—destroyed.

Death is her dynasty.

Ren Scarborough is no longer the girl who was chased out of England—she is the Goddess of Death ruling Japan’s underworld. But Reapers have recently been spotted in Japan, and it’s only a matter of time before Ivy, now Britain’s Death Goddess, comes to claim her revenge.

Ren’s last hope is to appeal to the god of storms and seas, who can turn the tides to send Ivy’s ship away from Japan’s shores. But he’ll only help Ren if she finds a sword lost thousands of years ago—an impossible demand.

Together with the moon god Tsukuyomi, Ren ventures across the country in a race against time. As her journey thrusts her in the middle of scheming gods and dangerous Yokai demons, Ren will have to learn who she can truly trust—and the fate of Japan hangs in the balance.

Content Warning: gore, violence

Book one of this duology, The Keeper of Time, was pretty memorable for me because it had Yokai, it had betrayal and gore and I usually don’t like gore but with a story that involved Reapers and Gods, I expected nothing less. I wanted more of the reapers and Gods and I definitely got it in this conclusion.

+ I love this world of British Reapers and Japanese Gods colliding. It’s gory, dark and violent and yet in the middle of the chaos is this love story but not a romantic one – the main love story in this book is the love between Ren and her brother Neven. It made me emotional because they went through such horrible things but they love one another so much they find their way back to one another.

+ Ren is chaos. She is a Death goddess now but still trying to prove yourself to the yokai and other gods. I love how she meets other gods and yokai in Japan and we learn their stories and mythology. But she has a lot of atoning to do from what happened at the end of book one and we find out she does it in the most destructible way ever…yet there is growth for her thank goodness!

+ I’m here for the darkness and there is lots of it. The world building is so dark, and I could vividly imagine everything described in this story even if it was grotesque! I also love the action even if it is gory.

~ There is a good ending with Ren and her brother, Neven. But there is no romantic happy ending with Ren and Tsukuyomi which is fine, because I still wasn’t over Ren and Hiro and how crazy they ended. Throwing Tsukuyomi in there – I wasn’t even sure the romance was needed but then it just made me feel sad at the end for both of them.

~ This book takes place 10 years after the first book…and it’s been centuries for Neven. But I’m not sure how I feel about the story taking place after so long. Maybe it was to show how tortured Ren has been after losing Hiro and Neven! She went through something bad and we get a taste of a very blood thirsty Ren.

Tropes: antihero, morally grey characters, sibling love

Spice Level:

Why you should read it:

if you liked book one and need to know what happens next, definitely read this one
it’s dark, gory, and filled with Yokai and Japanese gods and godesses, Japanese mythology
the love between Ren and Neven made me emotional at the end

Why you might not want to read it:

it starts 10 years after the first book
Ren is so morally grey at times you question her actions but she’s imperfect, which I like about her

My Thoughts:

This is an entertaining conclusion to a great duology that included Japanese mythology and monsters. I loved all the darkness and violence surrounding the sibling love between Ren and Neven. It was always going to be about the two of them even though it kind of made me sad that Ren didn’t end up having a romantic happily ever after of her own. This one is about family and what you give you and would do for them. Ren became her worst version of herself to try and bring her brother back. It was sad, very dark and gritty at times, but I’m glad they as siblings have a happy ending. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Kylie Lee Baker is the author of The Keeper of Night. She grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her writing is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, and Irish), as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing and Spanish from Emory University and is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she watches horror movies, plays the cello, and bakes too many cookies.

Author website: https://www.kylieleebaker.com/

Twitter: @KylieYamashiro | Instagram: @kylieleebaker

BLOG TOUR } The Keeper of Night by. Kylie Lee Baker | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Drowned Woods by. Emily Lloyd-Jones | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Drowned Woods

Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 346

Publication Date: 8/15/22

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Welsh Mythology, Heist, Magic

Once upon a time, the kingdoms of Wales were rife with magic and conflict, and eighteen-year-old Mererid “Mer” is well-acquainted with both. She is the last living water diviner and has spent years running from the prince who bound her into his service. Under the prince’s orders, she located the wells of his enemies, and he poisoned them without her knowledge, causing hundreds of deaths. After discovering what he had done, Mer went to great lengths to disappear from his reach. Then Mer’s old handler returns with a proposition: use her powers to bring down the very prince that abused them both.

The best way to do that is to destroy the magical well that keeps the prince’s lands safe. With a motley crew of allies, including a fae-cursed young man, the lady of thieves, and a corgi that may or may not be a spy, Mer may finally be able to steal precious freedom and peace for herself. After all, a person with a knife is one thing… but a person with a cause can topple kingdoms.

The Drowned Woods—set in the same world as The Bone Houses but with a whole new, unforgettable cast of characters—is part heist novel, part dark fairy tale.

Content Warning: violence

The Drowned Woods is a story inspired by Welsh mythology and I thought this was a fascinating story because of it. Here is what I liked and didn’t like:

+ Welsh mythology is so very interesting especially because it ties into the Fae. I could definitely feel the magic in the setting of the story. We have the last water diviner, Mer, and we know the land that was once so infused with magic – it’s still there, but not many have magic anymore. There are a few mythical creatures that show up in this story which was nice to see and learn about it.

+ This is a heist story and that was unexpected to me. Mer is propositioned to help someone steal the kingdom’s jewels and take down the Prince’s power. And she does to help take down the Prince after what he made her do as his water diviner in the past. The story introduces people into the group along the way but my favorites were Mer, Ifanna and Fane. Oh and Trefor the dog, of course!

+ The ending is great and I’d say it’s my favorite part of the book because the pace picks up and it’s a great conclusion.

~ The story starts off well but it started to lose me a bit in the middle. I can’t quite put my finger on why. I liked meeting Mer and Fane and eventually Ifanna but the rest of the group didn’t do much for me. Maybe it was the time putting the team together that was too slow for me? I wanted more action but we definitely get it at the end.

~ I think I also wanted a bit emotion in the story, maybe between the characters? I felt like it was lacking a connection between the characters and it turn I wasn’t connecting to them either. Especially for a heist story.

Tropes: heist, mythology

Spice Level:

Why you should read it:

Welsh mythology
it’s a heist story – and the ending is very good
Mer and Fane have powers and it was cool to see them use it

Why you might not want to read it:

kind of loses steam in the middle

My Thoughts:

I think I went into this one with higher expectations since I like this author’s work. I did enjoy it for the most part, but the middle of the story is what made me lose interest. I liked Mer, Fane, Ifanna and Trefor and the ending is great. The Welsh mythology is always fascinating and I like that this author writes stories inspired by it. I would have liked to connect to the characters more but other than that I still look forward to reading more books from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Bones Houses by. Emily Lloyd-Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hearts We Sold by. Emily Lloyd-Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This Vicious Grace by. Emily Thiede | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: This Vicious Grace (#1)

Author: Emily Thiede

Format: Hardcover (own)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 6/27/22

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Series

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.

Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Content Warning: violence, suicidal ideation

I finally read this book and you know I will blame my eyesight. I don’t use glasses (but I think I need them now) and the print in the hardcover copy is smaller than other fonts – so basically I should’ve gotten the ebook for this. Anyway, I finished it and Dante and Alessa are everything! Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ The world building is interesting. Alessa is a Finestra – she basically has the power of death, and she is going to lead an army to find a demon horde coming their way. But in the scriptures, apparently Alessa needs a Fontes, a partner in crime, someone with power as well. But it’s a problem when she kills her Fontes. The search for a new one begins but Alessa is scared she might kill another person. The world felt Italian-inspired, but there were diverse cultures represented as well when they had big events in the town like Carnivale.

+ My favorite part of the story is Alessa and Dante. Their banter and flirting is so good! I loved her naughty banter and seeing how he reacts to it. They are too cute together! She’s the chosen one and he’s some random fighter she picked off the street to be her bodyguard. He’s a bit snarky but she really vibes with him. They play off one another until the attraction builds up to something they cannot deny. The two of them do get into some heated moments but nothing too descriptive. But I think they can be added to my favorite book couples list.

+ Alessa is a fun character. I like her attitude about everything, even when she finds herself back into a corner – she’s fighter. She loves her city, love her people and she loves life even though she causes death. I especially love when her personality shines through when she’s with Dante.

~ The story follows Alessa who needs to find a new Fontes before the demons arrive. She has about 30 something days and it was nice to get to know the Fontes candidates and check out their powers but I did wish there were some more information about the enemy. Maybe more tension leading up to it so we get the high stakes feeling of the situation? We only get to see the battle in the last part of the book and though it’s written like an epic fight it felt anti-climatic even though a lot is happening in the battle.

~ Thought the world building is fascinating, I wanted more from it. I wanted to know why the demon horde was coming ~ they are supposedly evil but I swear Alessa own blood brother was evil. So maybe we get to learn more in book two?

Tropes: chosen one, grumpy/sunshine, bodyguard interest, forbidden love, close proximity, found family

Spice Level: 🌶 🌶

Why you should read it:

Alessa and Dante – their romance is my favorite part
interesting world building inspired by Italy, and a fight against demons
there is a group of Fontes we get to know, but I hope we get to know more about them in book two

Why you might not want to read it:

not into YA fantasy ~ ending was a bit anti-climatic

My Thoughts:

I fell in love with Alessa and Dante. They really are what makes this story great. I love that they leaned into their attraction because their flirting was everything. Story-wise I did find the world building interesting but I do want to know more maybe about the enemy? I like how Alessa went about finding her next Fontes and made new friends or a found family. I wonder what will be happening in the next book after some events that take place at the end of the book. I’ll definitely be reading book two to get more of Alessa and Dante.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Before I Do by. Sophie Cousens | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Before I Do

Author: Sophie Cousens

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/11/22

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Romance, Wedding, Women’s Fiction

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

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What would you do if ‘the one that got away’ turned up the night before your wedding?

Head-in-the-stars Audrey is about to marry down-to-earth Josh. Though they are polar opposites, they have a healthy, stable relationship; Josh is just what Audrey needs. But romance should be unpredictable and full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey’s found herself wondering if Josh really is The One.

So, when Josh’s sister shows up to the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey’s What If? guy–the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with–Audrey finds herself torn. Surely Fred’s appearance the night before she is due to get married can’t be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to ask herself: Is fate trying to stop her from making a huge mistake? Or does destiny just have a really twisty sense of humour?

Content Warning: divorce, sexual harassment

Sophie Cousens is becoming a must read author for me. I read one of her books last year and decided to request this one because I liked it so much. She did it again! I really enjoyed this one so let’s take a look at what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I usually hate jumping timelines, but I was hooked from the prologue! There are a few timelines: the present timeline – where Audrey is about to get married. We also follow her childhood to get an idea of her home life and what made her feel underserving of happiness plus how she came to view love and marriage as an adult. Lastly, there is another timeline involving the guy who “got away” – was he the one? I think the way the timelines are written is done so well.

+ Audrey questions if her fiancé, Josh, is really her soul mate or is it that guy, Fred, from the past who she can’t stop thinking about? Is she supposed to follow the signs and fate? Or is she supposed to stick to what’s solid and there for her, like Josh? At some moments the book reminded me of the movies Serendipity and The Wedding Singer…haha – in good ways! I found Audrey so relatable in the ways she questioned soul mates or how she felt about Fred in the past and Josh in the present.

+ I honestly loved Audrey’s meet cute with Fred – I can see why she never forgot about him. But I also fell in love with how she met Josh and how their relationship grew over time. I was Team Josh but because the way the timelines are written, I really wasn’t sure what Audrey was going to do! I was worried for her and it kept me engaged in the story.

+ I love the side characters like her best-friend Clara, who give us a tiny glimpse into her life and dealing with having twins. And Josh’s sister Miranda represented the bridesmaid who is never the bride and feeling bad about it. Honestly weddings bring out the worst emotions in people sometimes. It’s stressful for everyone but I found everyone gathered for the wedding so much fun because of the chaos.

+ This book was full of emotions when it came to the story of Audrey, her dad, and their shared love of astronomy. Then there is her relationship with Josh which in essence is sweet because they are opposites but that’s why they work even though sometimes it got challenging.

~ Oh Audrey was about to throw it all away because she was stressed out about Fred! It was stressing me out because Fred was barely in her life except for as a memory about a day!

~ Audrey’s mother is her own person but she really broke up their family and let Audrey see her go in and out of relationships not even thinking of the consequences. I thought she was lucky Audrey loved her so much and was so forgiving of her constant infidelity. I don’t think i could have been that forgiving! But I think it shows how Audrey was mature enough to let her mother be who she was and not make it her problem – except for Benedict, who is a despicable man.

Tropes: opposites attract, what ifs

Spice Level: 🌶

Why you should read it:

it’s a heart felt story filled with humor, emotion, chaos, bad omens, and love
great writing – the timelines really drew me into the story, making me want to find out what happened at the wedding!
Audrey’s story: her past with her mom and dad, her mom’s infidelity, her own dating choices before meeting Josh, and her what if guy-Fred…I was sucked into the story

Why you might not want to read it:

Some people might not be a fan of Audrey having cold feet about Josh before the wedding, but marriage is a big step and weddings are super stressful.

My Thoughts:

This story is entertaining, engaging, funny, sweet and heart warming. I was invested in Audrey and her photo booth meet cute with Fred and then boring Josh comes along and what do you know…he’s not that boring after all. I love this story and it just makes me want to read more books from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are other books by this author that I have read or reviewed on this blog:

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by. Sophie Cousens | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spells For Lost Things by. Jenna Evans Welch | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Spells for Lost Things

Author: Jenna Evans Welch

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Coming of Age, Family, Witches, Contemporary, Teen Readers

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

Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

Content Warning: foster care, parent with drug addiction, running away, divorce

I requested this book because I loved the colors of the book cover and the title. I love books about witches. The name of the author seemed so familiar to me and of course it is, since she wrote the Love & Gelato series. Here is what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I love Willow and Mason. The characters don’t meet until about 20% into the story but we get a good background of Willow and her need to travel, her feelings of being trapped with a mom who has pushed her away and a dad busy with his new family. Mason’s mom is a drug addict and he’s been in the foster care system for a long time but all he wants is to be with his mom again, but he can’t find her. He moves to a new foster family but maybe this time it will be different or not.

+ The story is set in Salem, Massachusetts and with their history of witches its the perfect setting. Willow learns more of her mother’s secretive past there and meets Mason. I love uncovering the Bell women’s past, including meeting Willow’s aunts who all dabble in a little witchcraft – they are so sweet and funny. The restored house that is part of the secret history sounds absolutely magical.

+ The romance is sweet and really beautiful. I love how Willow and Mason meet, become friends and partners, but feel a magical bond between them. They are still young and have a future wide open to them but I love how they start falling for one another even with their futures undecided. I like the hope of the two of them together.

+ I found myself tearing up at the end of this story mostly because of Mason’s story. He’s had a tough time and all he wants is his mom. He has to realize in the end that she might not be the best person to raise him and I can only imagine his pain and hurt. It’s a surprisingly emotional story! On the other hand, Willow has her own issues with her mom and it does get resolved in the end. I’m just happy Willow found her family and home…same as Mason.

~ Willow’s mom is a hard one to crack – she’s kept her past secret and it hurt Willow a lot. Willow doesn’t know her mom like she thought and I was so frustrated with her mom because all Willow wants, is to be close to her mom. It’s a sad situation. This book was about romance and family, but definitely the bonds between a mom and her child which I can relate to.

~ I thought Nova, one of Mason’s new sister was an interesting character who was there in the beginning but as Mason and Willow spent more time together, we heard less of her – but I’d love to know more about her!

~ the characters don’t meet right away and I do wish they meet sooner. We get a lot of background information on Willow and Mason in the first few chapters, but I do think some of that could have moved quicker to them meeting.

Tropes: broken families, family secrets, first love

Why you should read it:

it’s a heartfelt story with innocent romance, and tells a story about bonds between sisters, family, mom and child
it’s got a little bit of witchcraft, and mystery
Willow and Mason’s romance is the sweetest thing
Willow and Mason have their personal life challenges and I like that each had to deal with it in their own way, but they come out safe and loved in the end

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s not a book about witchcraft – there isn’t much of it

My Thoughts:

This is such a heartwarming story, especially around the themes around family and moms. Mason’s story brought tears to my eyes as he struggles with moving to a new foster home and trying to find his mom. I love that he meets Willow in the process, a girl who is always dealing with trying to find a place that feels like home. There isn’t much witchcraft in the story but I feel like whatever was tied to witches or witchcraft was used to help them hope for something better for both of them in their separate situations. Lovely story and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are other books by this author that I have read or reviewed on this blog:

Love & Olives by. Jenna Evans Welch | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Love & Gelato by. Jenna Evans Welch ~ never reviewed on blog but goodreads says I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

The Ballad of Never After by. Stephanie Garber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #2)

Author: Stephanie Garber

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 9/12/22

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Series

Not every love is meant to be.

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she’ll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can. . . .

Content Warning: violence

I’ll just get this off my chest – but I’m mostly here for Jacks lol…

+ Jacks wants the stones, Chaos and Lala wants Eva to open the Valory Arch, and Eva wants the curse on Apollo and her to be lifted. EVERYONE wants something in this book and it’s about getting what you wish for but having consequences. The consequences are big in this sequel.

+ Jacks, Jacks, Jacks…you most awful of bad boys. I’m here to see him protect Evangeline and entice her and break her heart all over again…just because I know his heart is breaking too. 😅 They both suffer! He’s so toxic and yet addicting – poor Evangeline falling for a bad boy like Jacks. And Jacks for falling for someone who isn’t the “right” one for him. We get a good moment with Jacks and Evangeline when they sort of put down their walls…it’s a lovely moment too. But nothing happy seems to last forever in this series!

+ Chaos…the other bad boy but he isn’t as cold as Jacks! I swear this book has all the kinds of bad boys I like – the cold and calculating kind (Jacks) and the vampire kind (Chaos). I liked his storyline and learning more about the Valors. Speaking of vampires, I thought Luc was so funny.

+ The ending twist is very interesting and unexpected and makes me wonder what in heck is going to happen in book three. As if Evangeline and Jacks need to be tortured enough…

~ Evangeline, our heroine, gets on my nerves. She is so naive and I get she is Jack’s opposite. She’s the dreamer…he’s the one that is blunt and cuts to the chase. They are attracted to each other because of it…but she is hunting for love. And every guy who shows her attention is a potential for this great love she is searching for (since Jacks is bad news and she should…really should not even go there….not that she can help herself). But she’s still married to Apollo, and obviously she wants Jacks. 😅 Like girl…pick someone! Whenever Jacks comes into play he makes the girls look both ways! lol…

~ I want more. I get that this series is staying fairly clean but it’s Jacks – give me some sexy scenes with him! This is a slow burn but Jacks is the personified broody, snarky, sexy, bad boy. I like the almost kisses and there is some touching but they need to fight and make up or something. Like I need an intense scene between him and Evangeline because I want to see how wicked he can get without killing her. 😅 They don’t have to go all the way, but half the time I was thinking nah, Evangeline is so wrong for him – he needs someone with a little more fight in her. Maybe I’m comparing her to Tella? I don’t know…but maybe I’m wrong and it’s the naive girl that is perfect for Jacks. I’m not totally convinced though.

~ I have some questions about Apollo at the end….

Tropes: slow burn, naive heroine, good girl/bad boy, pining/longing, a kiss would kill, curses

Spice Level: 🌶 (some heated glances, some touching, almost kisses)

Why you should read it:

some good twists in the story
Jacks
more information about the Valors

Why you might not want to read it:

Evangeline to me is the weakest link in this book – she’s naive and frustrating at times

My Thoughts:

I think this was a solid sequel and we get more of Jacks and some moments when he lets down his guard. ❤️ I liked getting to know more about the history of the Valory Arch and the cursed books were interesting. There is always a mystery and it’s never one that’s easy to figure out. The clues include stories, ballads, and never all the information given at once. What I love about the series is Jacks – he is such a dark, cold, mysterious character. He shouldn’t be likable but just like Evangeline, we all can’t stay away from him. I don’t blame her for the attraction but that girl is a little too naive for my taste. The ending was not what I was expecting and makes me eager to see what will happen in book three. Will Evangeline get her dream happy life? Will Jacks ever find the love he can’t kill? I think we all want to see Jacks in love with someone that won’t die because of him…and happy.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Seoulmates by. Susan Lee | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Seoulmates

Author: Susan Lee

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 9/19/22

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Childhood Friends to Lovers

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

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

Her ex-boyfriend wants her back. Her former best friend is in town. When did Hannah’s life become a K-drama?

Hannah Cho had the next year all planned out—the perfect summer with her boyfriend, Nate, and then a fun senior year with their friends.

But then Nate does what everyone else in Hannah’s life seems to do—he leaves her, claiming they have nothing in common. He and all her friends are newly obsessed with K-pop and K-dramas, and Hannah is not. After years of trying to embrace the American part and shunning the Korean side of her Korean American identity to fit in, Hannah finds that’s exactly what now has her on the outs.

But someone who does know K-dramas—so well that he’s actually starring in one—is Jacob Kim, Hannah’s former best friend, whom she hasn’t seen in years. He’s desperate for a break from the fame, so a family trip back to San Diego might be just what he needs…that is, if he and Hannah can figure out what went wrong when they last parted and navigate the new feelings developing between them.

Content Warning: bullying

I love reading K-Pop romances and though the character in here, Jacob is Kdrama star through his acting and not singing, I still love that we get an inside look at the life of a Kdrama star. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ It’s great that we get Hannah’s perspective as a Korean-American who isn’t quite into or informed about her culture even though right now Korean culture is popular because the K-pop bands dominating the music charts. I found Hannah relatable. Also she’s going through some things about her dad working overseas and I thought it was nice to see her talk to her mom to work through her emotions.

+ Jacob’s character is really interesting because he used to live in America, then moved to Korea and tried his hand at acting and is now blowing up big. I like that he is still that vulnerable kid who used to be bullied and who still wasn’t confident about some things about himself even though his star is rising. Jacob has so many insecurities and pressures to deal with. He has to make decisions regarding his family, his goals, the people he works for and Hannah.

+ It’s a childhood friends to lovers romance so it’s really cute because they have history. Of course when Jacob leaves, Hannah feels abandoned again, but Jacob also feels like she ghosted him when he was going through all his acting training. Then trying to heal the past and go forward together was really cute.

+ ~ I was super surprised that this sweet love story had some emotional drama and…a spicy scene! It caught me off guard because I thought for the most part it was going with the sweet childhood friends theme but then boom – it got kinda spicy in one scene and a little descriptive.

~ Speaking of spicy if you aren’t into F-bombs in a story, you may not like this one.

Tropes: childhood friends to lovers, kdrama star falls for regular girl

Why you should read it:

I liked both Jacob and Hannah’s perspectives – they are both Korean but grew up in different places and experienced different things.
cute love story
getting an inside look of the Kdrama life

Why you might not want to read it:

some F bombs and a spicy scene that is a bit descriptive

My Thoughts:

This one is a cute read and though it’s not a Kpop kind of romance it still is a cute love story. It has the childhood friends to lovers trope, the boy is a Kdrama star who is only getting more popular and he falls in love with Hannah who is a Korean-American girl just being a normal teenager. I liked that we get both their perspectives and they deal with some emotional issues too. I look forward to reading more books from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bad Girl Reputation by. Elle Kennedy | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Title: Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay, #2)

Author: Elle Kennedy

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 10/4/22

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

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

When former bad girl Genevieve West returns home for her mother’s funeral, she’s prepared to keep her distance from her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Their history is rife with turbulence. And passion. A heck of a lot of passion… which she’s trying desperately to forget.

But it’s impossible not to run into Evan in the small coastal town where they once ran wild. And the moment she sees her gorgeous ex again, it’s clear to Gen that Evan is still as unruly, sexy, and irresistible as ever. This time around, however, she’s resolved to walk a new path. No more partying. No more foolish mistakes. Her plan is to temporarily remain in town to help her father run his business, but the second he finds somebody else, she’s out of there.

Evan has other ideas. He knows they can be good together, but he just has to convince Genevieve of that, even if it means turning over a new leaf himself. But can a bad reputation ever truly be shed? Do second chances really work? Genevieve and Evan are about to find out.

Content Warning: sexual harassment, drug use, death of a parent

This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series, and I enjoyed the first one, Good Girl Complex, a lot so was definitely going to read this one. Sadly, I wasn’t into Evan and Gen’s story like I was with Cooper and Mac. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ The beginning of the story is good – we get to know Gen and Evan and their history. Obviously these two cannot stay away from one another as much as they try. The physical attraction is undeniable but then the feelings part is when the trouble begins. They both have issues.

+ Gen has a lot going on and I do see growth. Evan also has some things to work on when it comes to Gen and his mom, Shelley.

+ Cooper and Mac make cameos in the story. Cooper doesn’t like Evan and Gen together but the heart wants what it wants!

~ I think I got bored with the story. It’s repetitive. It’s a constant back and forth between Evan and Gen, and the sexual attraction is easy for them. Everything else is hard. I think it felt flat on the emotional side of their relationship. They are also a bit toxic for one another. So I wasn’t invested with the second chance romance. Gen tries to date someone else, but we all know who is end game, so it felt like a waste of time.

~ I didn’t connect to any of the characters.

Tropes: second chance romance

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

you might like this better than the first one if you like second chance romances

Why you might not want to read it:

it hit a lull in the middle and never managed to suck me back into the story

My Thoughts:

This one was just okay. I did like Good Girl Complex more because it was the rich girl/poor boy trope. If you like second chance romances with a lot of spice, you will enjoy this one, because one thing is for sure and that is Gen and Evan can’t keep their hands off one another.