Hi Friends,
I thought I would share the books that I bought this summer. I have been buying too many books, so I definitely need to go on a book-buying ban. However, this is probably not going to occur. What can I say? I am a realist. Nevertheless, these are mostly all the books that I bought during the summer months.
Something interesting that I noticed about my book buying this month is how I’ve been gravitating towards more adult books. From adult thrillers to smutty romances, it is interesting to see how my book taste is starting to change. Let me know in the comments about what books you bought this summer. Alternatively, if you read any of these books. Do not forget to follow my blog to get notified whenever there is a new post.
About The Book
A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous palace nearby. Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from wrongful imprisonment. But the more time they spend with him, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3sSCDQ2
My Rating
If you are looking for a romantasy book series, then this is a perfect read. Since this is the sequel to ‘Belladonna, ’ I am going to try and not spoil too much of the first book. However, this review may contain a few spoilers. The sequel beings right where the first book left off with the duke having been murdered, and Elijah Hawthorne being accused of that murder.
We are immediately introduced to Fate, who is apparently the brother of Death. For years, Fate has been searching for the love of his life, which happens to be Life. He believes that Signa is a reincarnation of Life. However, Signa is hopeless in love and devoted to death. Therefore, in addition to trying to clear Elijah’s name, she deals with Fate trying to win her heart and keep her away from her love, Death.
This time, we also get Blythe’s pov, which I loved. She quickly became my favorite character throughout the book. She is determined to prove her father’s innocence and is still curious about her brother’s disappearance. And let me just say the enemies-to-potential lovers vibe that her and Fate were giving was amazing. I ship them even more than I do Death and Signa, but what can I say I am all about enemies-to-lovers relationships.
The book was so well written, and you got sucked into the story in the first chapter. I could not put the book down and had to know what was going to happen next. I love the magical elements of this book and the fact that we learned more about Signa’s parents. In the first book, she was just discovering her powers, but in this one, she really owns them.
“You may have reign over the dead and dying, but let’s not forget that it’s my hand that controls the fates of the living.”
As mentioned earlier, Blythe was a force of nature in the book. She was smart and cunning, which is a part of her personality that we had not seen before. It made me happy that the author chose to include her perspective in this book, especially since she was important to the plot of the first book. However, it is great that this is a fantasy romance that follows two smart, strong, and magical female characters.
The end was incredible and welldone. It set up the third book perfectly, and now, I cannot wait for it to be released. However, I did see exactly where the plot was going in the first few chapters of the book. However, I am not made about that since I was really hoping for that outcome and I am glad that the author went the route she did.
Overall, this series hooked me, and I think my love for it will continue to grow. If you are not a fantasy reader or do not like romance, you will probably not love the series. However, I still think that this is a wonderful gothic fantasy with romance. However, it could have used a bit more spice, but this is just my opinion.
In the comments, let me know which book you liked better ‘Belladonna‘ or ‘Foxglove.’ Do not forget to share and like this post. Before you leave, please feel free to support my blog by hitting the follow button.
About The Book
Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when Meredith forms an assassin alliance with a cute groomsman, she finds herself getting distracted. And as the week progresses, she realizes she’s not only at risk of losing the game, but also her heart. Buy The Book:https://amzn.to/45KQ8jl
My Rating
This book was everything I wanted in a summertime young adult contemporary. The story follows Meredith, who returns to Martha’s Vineyard for the first time since her sister, Claire’s, death. Meredith and her family are there for her cousin’s wedding. But, things get complicated when Meredith connects with one of the groomsmen, Witt.
I loved the plot, because not only were we watching as Meredith and Witt fell for each other over the course of a week, the majority of the plot was about the characters engaging in a game of assassin. It was such an easy to read summertime story.
Although, the romance was super cute, it was a little insta-lovey. Can you really fall in love with someone in just a week? I am typically a hater when it comes to instant romance plots, yet this one didn’t bother me as much. I liked both Meredith and Witt’s personalities. Also, the romance really worked for me.
One of my favorite things about the book was how the author handled the grief aspect. Yes, loss and grief was a part of the story but there weren’t a ton of sad moments, and it felt more like a summer romance, than someone trying to get over a loss. I liked how the grief aspect was more subtle, and not an overwhelming part of the plot.
“Our time together was unraveling like a ribbon.”
Meredith went through a lot of character development throughout the book. It was interesting to see her character grow and change in just a week. I think it shows that everyday we can open our eyes to things we didn’t realize about ourselves, and what we want.
Of course there was a romance conflict close to the end of the book. But, the author didn’t make it cheesy, and it was resolved very maturely. Personally, I didn’t find the characters to actually be immature at all, which I found refreshing in a young adult book.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book, and recommend it as a great summer read. The ending was nice, and I liked how we got an epilogue. I’m for sure interested in reading more by K.L. Walther in the near future.
In the comments, let me know one of your favorite summer romances. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified for more book reviews like this one.
About The Book
Gracie Reed’s barely holding it all together. But when a mysterious SUV pulls up beside her, revealing Chinese cinema’s golden couple Wei Fangli and Sam Yao, Gracie’s world is turned on its head. Fangli so desperately needs her help. Readers will delight in this glamourous, swoon worthy enemies-to-lovers romance that is as hilarious as it is heart-wrenching. Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3QoG5f0
My Rating
This is a fun romantic comedy with the ‘The Prince and the Pauper’ trope. In the book, we follow Gracie balancing an uncomfortable work situation, getting her mom into a top-notch nursing home, and trying to create the best planner app. But, her life is flipped upside down when she gets approached by Chinese star Wei Fangli, and her supposed boyfriend Sam Yao, and asked to be her stand-in.
Now this isn’t a doppelganger story, because throughout the book- it is mentioned that the two don’t look completely alike. However, with the right makeup, clothing and lighting- they look almost identical. And, I loved every second of this book – because this is one of my favorite plot devices.
Gracie is a very shy and non-confrontational person, so she rarely, if ever, stands up for herself or goes after what she wants. I am not a fan of characters that are pushovers, but I did love seeing Gracie’s character development throughout the book. Even though the ending was a little too far fetched and happily-ever-after for my liking.
“No one else can be you. No one else can tell your story like you. You are unique. So write the movie you want to see.”
There were so many great side characters within the story, such as the love interest, Sam. You could almost call this a grumpy/sunshine romance, since Sam was much more serious than Gracie, but they did help bring out a different side of each other. Gracie was able to speak her mind to Sam. And, he let her show him how to be a regular person despite his stardom.
Although she wasn’t shown much, Wei was another great character. Her storyline was a nice addition to the plot. This is, first and foremost, a full romance plot, but mental health does play a role as well. Struggles with depression and anxiety are talked about throughout the story. I appreciate how the author let it be known that it’s okay to seek help and get on medication.
Overall, the writing was phenomenal, and really kept me interested. However, I did find that the book was a bit long, and slow at times. But that ending was amazing! I didn’t see it coming, yet it worked well and wrapped everything together. Looking back on it, however, there was a lot of foreshadowing, so one could probably figure out the twist.
In the comments, let me know if this book is on your TBR. Don’t forget to hit the follow button to get post notifications. Every week you can find new bookish posts on the blog.
Hi Friends,
It’s TBR time again! Just like last month, I’m using a prompt list I found off Pinterest to help me pick my prompts. There are 50 prompts, and I use a random number generator to help me pick the prompts. I started off by using the same random number generator to help see how many books I’ll be reading. I only do 1 – 10, because I usually don’t read more than 10 books in a month. This time around, I got 9, so I’ll be reading 9 books and picking 9 prompts!
However, just like last month I can only pick books off my physical TBR or audiobooks I own/have on the Libby app.
My first pick was number 23 and the prompt is ‘Read a Historical Fiction Novel’. Honestly, I struggled with this prompt, because I don’t really gravitate towards historical fiction, but with my husband’s help, I ended up choosing ‘The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ by Stuart Turton. I don’t know much about this book, except that it’s a murder mystery set in the 1920s.
The next prompt is 21, which is ‘Read a Book Set in NY ’. I had a few options for this, but I decided to pick an adult thriller that I’ve been dying to get to, ‘Not a Happy Family’ by Shari Lapena. I’m not really sure what this book is about, but it does take place in New York, so it fits the prompt.
Then I got prompt 27, which was ‘Read A Book with a Happily-Ever-After ending’. The book that I will be reading for this prompt is ‘When In Rome’ by Sarah Adams. I’m not entirely sure if this has a happy ending, but it’s a romance, so I’m going to assume it does.
The next prompt was number 48, which is ‘Read A New To You Author’. I had a few options for this but I ultimately decided it was time for me to read my first Simone St. James book. I own ‘The Book of Cold Cases’, which is a thriller with a true crime element.
Next up I got prompt 20: ‘Read a Book that Starts with The’. So, the title has to begin with ‘The’, which is pretty easy, considering a lot of book do that with their titles. I’m going with a book that I’ve been wanting to read for a while, which is ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman. This is apparently a funny mystery book series that takes place in a retirement home.
Yay, I got prompt number 2, which is ‘Read a Book that is More Than 300 Pages’. This book is just barely over 300 pages, abut it makes the cut at 318, and that is ‘The Housemaid Secret’ by Freida McFadden. I read the first book and loved it, so I can’t wait to see if the sequel is even better.
The random number generator was nice to me and gave me number 15, which is ‘Read a Retelling’. I love a good retelling, and have quite a few on my shelf. I went with ‘The Shadow in the Glass’ by J.J.A. Harwood, a gothic retelling of Cinderella.
Luckily, I got prompt 41, ‘Read a Book you Bought’ that’s pretty simple since I have a book buying problem. Although, I’m not actually in the mood for this book, but it’s part of a series and I really want to start finishing some series. The book is ‘Daughter of the Siren Queen’ by Tricia Levenseller. I bought the beautiful special edition hardback copies of this series. I read the first book in June, so I want to get to the second book while the first one is still fresh in my mind.
Last but certainly not least, I got number 7 ‘Read a Thriller, Mystery or Suspense Novel’. This couldn’t be more perfect, because that’s one of my favorite genres. I had a lot of options, but my mood is leaning towards ‘56 Days’ by Catherine Ryan Howard. This is a suspense novel that takes place during the time of Covid and lockdown. I can’t wait for it!
Now for my book club pick! If you don’t know, I have a book club called ‘The Reading Rabbits’ over on the Novellic app. This month the book is ‘You Shouldn’t Have Come Here’ by Jeneva Rose. This is an adult mystery thriller about a woman that falls for a man that starts to become obsessive.
There you have my August TBR! I have many more books that I am in the mood to read, so we’ll see what I actually end up reading. Don’t forget to hit the follow button to get notified whenever there’s a new post.
Hi Friends,
This is the last weekend in July. I have been reading like crazy, and now I am kind of in a reading slump. However, I hope that these books will pull me out of my reading slump. The Legacies by Jessica Goodman
I am 30% into this YA thriller book and hope to be done with it soon. Right now, I am not loving it, but I am hoping that it will start to pick up.
When In Rome by Sarah Adams
I have been in the mood for a cute rom-com style adult romance. This book has been on my radar for a while and I own it, which is awesome since I am trying to read more books off my physical TBR. Hopefully, I will get to it by the end of the month.
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
This book has been on many Friday reads and TBRs. I just need to finish it! Since I am becoming more of a fantasy girlie, I think that I might finally be able to binge read the last 50% of this book.
In the comments, let me know what you are currently reading. Do not forget to like this post and follow this blog before you go.
Hi Friends,
July is coming to an end, so it’s time to share the books that I bought this month. I do have some super exciting pre-orders that haven’t come in yet, but these are the majority of the books that I purchased in July.
So, now I have even more books on my physical TBR, but who’s counting, right? Honestly, book buying is just as much as a hobby as reading is for a bookworm. In the comments, let me know which of these books I should make a priority. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified about all future posts.
About The Book Adriana Russo is figure skating royalty. With gold-medalist parents, and her older sister headed to the Olympics, all she wants is to live up to the family name and stand atop the ice dance podium at the Junior World Championships. That means training on the same ice as her first crush, Freddie, the partner she left when her growth spurt outpaced his. For the past two years, he’s barely acknowledged her existence, and she can’t even blame him for it. Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3K7mYCc
My Rating
Here’s a little fun fact about me: I love ice skating! That’s right, when I was a kid (and teenager) I thought figure skating was the coolest sport. I even took an ice skating lessons for a year. And, to this day, Ice Princess is probably still my most watched movie. So, when I heard about this YA contemporary following a figure skater, I couldn’t have been more excited for it!
Unfortunately, this book was a total letdown. Now that’s not to say I didn’t like to story, because I found the plot to be really good. And, the book is very fast paced. Honestly, it gave me those Ice Princess vibes that I was hoping for.
However, the major plot of this book was this second chance romance love triangle aspect. I was not a fan of that at all. I typically don’t like second chance romances, so it’s not a big surprise when they fall short for me. In this book, we get four tropes in one. Second chance romance, fake dating, love triangle and unrequited love. And let’s just say I didn’t like the outcome.
As for the characters, I found most of them to be immature and annoying. Although, the side characters were great. and I wish that we had gotten to know them better. I was way more interested in them then the main character, Adriana.
“There are no guarantees in figure skating.”
The book does give a good look into the intense world that is professional figure skating. It made me want to watch a whole series following figure skaters, because it’s a lot of pressure. When you’re part of a duo, you really have to trust your partner. And, I think the author did a good job relaying how competitive it is. Also, partner romances can make things messy.
Overall, I wished that I had liked it more. It wasn’t necessarily a bad book, just not one that I would necessarily recommend or think of in the future. Honestly, I was not a fan of how the love triangle ended. Let’s just say I would have preferred the author to go the unexpected route.
In the comments, tell me what sport of hobby did you find fascinating as a teenager. Don’t forget to share this post with others. And, feel free to follow my blog before you go.
Hi Friends,
The Barbies movie is out! So, I thought it would be fun to give everyone’s favorite doll some book recommendations. These are books that I think Barbie would thoroughly enjoy.
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
First off, the cover of this book is pink, and we all know that Barbie is a pink lover. Secondly, Barbie would love this fun, lighthearted young adult romance. The main character is usually so put together, just like Barbie, so I think she’d like seeing someone with a similar personality playing the rebel, for once. Related Post:The Do-Over // Book Review
So This Is Love by Elizabeth Lim
Barbie has got to be a fan of Disney Princesses, right? Out of all the Twisted Tales books I’ve read, I think that the one featuring Cinderella would interest Barbie the most, since like Barbie she is hard working and kind. Related Post:So This Is Love // Book Review
12 to 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future! by Jen Calonita
Not even going to lie – this book screams Barbie. It has tons of pop culture references, and is a modern day remake of a beloved teen film. Something tells me that Barbie would enjoy reading a new version of ‘13 Going On 30’. Even though the book might cater to a younger audience, it would be a book she’d read in one sitting. Related Post:12 to 22 // Book Review
The Prince and Pauper by Mark Twain
I had to recommended this book, if only for the fact that I was obsessed with Barbie’s ‘Princess and The Pauper’ movie. However, I do think Barbie would enjoy this classic story of two look-alikes swapping places. She’d might even wonder if she has a double out there somewhere.
In the comments, let me know if you’re excited for the live-action Barbie movie! Personally, I think it’s going to be pretty cheesy and cringey, but a good time. Don’t forget to share this post with other book lovers.
Hi Friends,
Today, I’m going to be talking about my summer anticipated book releases! This years has been full of amazing book releases. I cannot wait to read all of these books! I’m hopeful that I will get to at least some of these new releases this summer, because they all sound so good. But, I do want to preface that I only have limited knowledge of what each of these books are about. What can I say, I like to go into books a little blind.
Summer Rental by Rektok Ross (June 13th): This book is tag-lined as Mean Girls meets Scream, which is all I need to know. I believe that it’s a YA thriller about a group of friends trapped on an island with a serial killer. I’m thinking it’s going to be more of a campy thriller, which I can get behind.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager (June 20th): I’ve been wanting to get into Riley Sager books for a while now, and this one sounds amazing. The book takes place in the 80’s, where we’re following Kit. She is a home health aid for Lenora, an old woman that is unable to speak or move anything but her left hand, due to polio. Here’s the kicker, as a teenager Lenora was accused of killing her parents and sister, yet she was never charged with their murders. Soon Kit starts to suspect that Lenora might be more dangerous than she thinks. My interest is piqued!
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (June 27th): I’m not sure how I feel about this book, because it’s giving off serious ‘The Lake House’ vibes. If you have no clue what I’m talking about, ‘The Lake House’ is a movie starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, in which they both live in the same house, but in different timelines, and somehow they end up communicating with one another. This book follows what seems to be a similar plot. Although, I didn’t love the movie, I know that Poston’s adult romance ‘The Dead Romantics’ was a big hit last year, so I want to give this book a chance.
Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon (July 4th): I’m actually very excited for this book, because the premise sounds really funny. This is an adult romance following a ghost writer and a C-list actor, who have a less-than-satisfactory one-night stand. Cue some “lessons in satisfaction” and it sounds like a winning plotline to me. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I’ve heard some good things about her books. Also, who doesn’t like mixing a little pleasure with business every now and again.
Ghosted: A Northanger Abbey by Amanda Quain (July 25th): As you can tell from the title, this is a Northanger Abbey by Jane Austin retelling. It is a young adult story about a high school senior, and there’s a ghost hunting element. That’s pretty much all I know about this book, which, according to GoodReads, has X-Files vibes to it.
One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus (July 25th): Why do I feel like I’ve talked about this book a lot? Probably, because it’s one of my most anticipated releases of the entire year. If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, then you know that Karen M. McManus is on of my favorite authors! She writes some of the best (at least, in my opinion) young adult mystery thrillers. This is the next, and possibly last, installment book is part of her ‘One of Us is Lying” series, and I could not be any more ready for it.
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard (August 1st): This is a psychological thriller set in Ireland. It follows Lucy, who is trying to uncover what happened to her sister Nicki that disappeared a year ago. The book is inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances that took places in the 90’s. The fact that there’s a real world element to these books makes the plot even more exciting.
Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine (August 1st): I was stoked to find out that Danielle Valentine was coming out with another horror novel. Last year, I read her book ‘How To Survive Your Murder’ in about a day. It was such a fun, campy, slasher horror book. However, this book is an adult thriller, which I’m typically more of a fan of. I also heard that it is the basis for the next season of American Horror Story. And, as a reader, I have to read the book before watching the show. It’s practically a law.
Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney (August 3rd): I’ve only read ‘Rock Paper Scissors’, which I did really like. But, she is known as the queen of plot twists, so I’m looking forward to picking this book up. The book follows two crimes which, despite happening twenty years apart, are somehow linked. This book is said to have a lot of twists, and let’s face it, the twists are what make a good thriller.
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace (August 22nd): This is the sequel to ‘Belladonna’, which was a fantastic YA fantasy. The first book ended on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. Honestly, ‘Belladonna’ shocked me with how good it was, so I’m hoping that the next installment doesn’t let me down. Other than the fact that it’s a sequel, I actually don’t know much about the plot, but I’m okay with that.
There you have my summer 2023 most anticipated book releases. of course there are a ton more releases I want to get to, but these are the ones at the top of my list. In the comments, share your most anticipated book release with me. Don’t forget to hit the follow button before you leave.
