Thank you to Netgalley for granting me an ARC of this!

4.5/5 Stars

General Description: One day, Rebecca saw a young Ethan get dropped off at her neighbors'. They've been friends for years. However, Ethan's mom always comes back for him, and then brings him back every few months. however, after years pass, Ethan's back and Rebecca is not the same person she was. Rebecca has suffered a traumatic event related to a car crash, and Ethan is handling the trauma of living in a drug-riddled home. The two try to reconnect on their old friendship, but nothing is the same. Can they come together, accept their pasts, and attempt to move forward in the future? Will they do this together, or as their own people?

The good:
- The reasoning for going back and forth between timeframes was justified and I think it was necessary context to enjoy the book.
- I feel like you fully got to understand the complexities of both Ethan and Rebecca. My heart broke and was put back together multiple times with the descriptions of both their current and past lives.
- This standalone wrapped up at a perfect spot for a YA book for me (I would. not be against a sequel either, but it wraps up extremely well)
- The side characters are absolutely gorgeous and the side characters you're meant to dislike are also done extremely well. They add plot twists as well, which I enjoyed.

The loss of a half-star: 
For me, sometimes the perspective switched too quickly or I'd get lost on the timeline. It happened maybe five times but it left me disengaged for a bit while trying to read.

Overall: If you're looking for a deeper, contemporary YA romance book, this is it. If you need a happier read with less trauma, this book may not be for you right now.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Plot Twist.

3/5 Stars

General Description: Erin has never been in love, except she's a romance writer. Problem right? Well, it gets even worse when her confession goes viral on TikTok. Her neighbor/landlord, Dash, sees the viral video and suggests that Erin does what she suggested in her response: go speak with her exes to figure out where it went wrong. Dash and Erin begin to work together on this project, but Dash quickly discovers he may not be ready for the socialization this requires. Dash is recently sober, and he's keeping it a secret from anyone. Will Erin be able to fall in love, will Dash be honest about his sobriety, and how will their relationship change?

The good:
- I LOVED the concept
- I liked Erin's growth throughout the book
- I think the book resolved clearly and definitely had a lot of subplots that I felt got wrapped up nicely, which I enjoy.

The loss of two stars:
- The main reason it lost two stars was because I could not get past the writing style, To me, it felt juvenile for an adult book, especially for the main characters being in their later 20s. If it was more early 20s or very late teens, I might have let it slide, but I definitely had a different expectation for the writing style. It also felt very modern, not just contemporary, where I feel like the verbiage will quickly become outdated in the next five years.
- The spicy scenes, TO ME, were a bit cringy at points? I am not one to add humor to a spicy scene, and that happens multiple times in this book.

Overall: If you can handle the writing style (maybe check out a preview on Google Books or read the first few pages in the book store) AND you enjoy rom-coms, you'd probably enjoy this book, but if you're sticklers for beautiful writing, this is not the book for you.

4.5/5 stars

Description: It's the end of an era, and almost the end of the year Avery is required to stay in the house in order to actually gain the Hawthrone Inheritance. However, with the clock ticking down, there are people trying to mess that up for Avery, by directly affecting the people she loves most. Can Avery keep everyone she loves safe while solving one final mystery before she gets her inheritance?

The good:
- The complexity of the mystery as always impressed me thoroughly
- This felt like a series final, the end of an era type book, and it felt wrapped up enough while also letting us know this universe is not being closed.
- I liked Avery's maturity and growth within this book specifically
- Talk about side characters galore! I loved the fun and serious moments each side character was able to have in this book.

The loss of a half a star:
- Honestly, the beginning was weird. I felt the time gap between book 2 and book 3 really threw me for a loop. I want the book of what happened over the half-year-ish between books 2 and 3 lol.

Overall: If you're read the other 2 books, how could you not finish the series?!

3/5

Description: Annie O'Sullivan was taken from her open house, kept in the woods for almost a year, but makes it back. The question was never if Annie would survive, but who would put Annie through this situation? Why was she chosen? Why was she treated so terribly? Told through therapy sessions, can Annie truly have a chance at peace after all she went through?

The good:
- The tensions throughout this book made me unable to read it some nights because i would get so freaked out.
- Hearing Annie's story the first half of the book was both heartbreaking and yet I was rooting for her the entire time
- There is a clear resolution at the end of the book (i just do wish it was a bit longer)

The bad:
- Jumping through time is just not my favorite writing style and the time is all over the place the first half of the book.
- The pacing of the overall mystery was weird? It was as if there were 2 separate novellas combined into one? Like there were no hints as to where the 2nd half of the book would go based on the first half

Overall: I mean, I feel like if you like true crime you'd like this book, but I'm not sure if it would hit it out of the park for you.

4.5/5 stars

Description: Kiara just wants to keep those she loves above water. Her brother Marcus wants to start a rap career and Kiara wants to support him. The nine year old across the way has an absent mother and Kiara wants to keep him fed. She also has to look after herself. However, she's only 17 and can't get a job due to her age. After trying every avenue she can, she ends up in a dangerous situation where people in positions of authority take physical advantage of Kiara for money. When a scandal comes to light, Kiara is at the center of it. How will she come out on the other side?

The good:
- While writing about such heavy topics, the writing (to me) was absolutely gorgeous. I am thoroughly impressed as I don't usually resonate with beautiful writing.
- I think Kiara's character was consistent throughout everything that happened to her. She just has such a big heart and I felt for her the entire book.
- The reality the book drives home felt extremely real (I know, repetitive) but it didn't feel like a fiction book, which definitely made me sad.
- The storyline kept me on my toes and engaged the entire time while listening.

The loss of half a star: the beginning world building in the real world part was a bit slow for me, but that's it.

Overall: If you want to get into more literary fiction, this should be your first read.

4/5 (once again, this was an audiobook read, I'd recommend the physical book instantly)

Description: Coming back to their family's summer place for a family wedding, Meridith is still trying to find herself after losing her sister Clare. Mere is going back to people she hasn't really talked to since losing her sister. It's a lot to handle. Once learning that there will be a game of Assissan, something Clare loved, Mere is determined to win. And to do that, she pairs up with one of the groomsmen. Will this man be able to bring Mere back to life, or break her heart all over again in a new way?

The good:
- I loved the idea of the game Assassin being such a plot point, it was unique to read it when I've played it myself before!
- The way grief is handled in this book was done beautifully.
- I loved Mere's character arc throughout the book. I felt I could completely relate to her journey.
- The relationship Mere gets to explore (while quick) does seem genuine.

The loss of a star: 
- There are just SOOOO MANY PEOPLE and SOO MANY NAMES, and the audiobook narrator did not differentiate enough for me to smoothly follow along.
- Outside of that audiobook complaint, even though I loved the game Assassin, I do think the conflicts over the game were taken way too seriously.

Overall: If you're looking for a fun summer-vibes read, this is the next book you should pick up.

5/5 stars

Description: All Dylan wants it to help his aunt achieve her dreams. He helps out any way he can, including going from the kitchen to be the delivery boy. After a terrible delivery with a snobby boy, Theo comes to Dylan's aunt's place to apologize. Their connection is instant, but Theo has money Dylan cannot even imagine. However, Theo can't get Dylan's aunt's place on a famous cooking TV show, Dylan has to do that himself with a mooncake competition. However, as Theo and Dylan's worlds start to collide, will Dylan want to stay in Theo's orbit, or continue on his own?

All the good:
- Dylan as a character was amazing. His love for his family, his culture, and his perseverance felt extremely on-brand for his backstory and age.
- Theo's own self-growth in this book was beautiful to me. A bit hesitant but what teenager isn't hesitant to a bit of change?
- The side characters were phenomenal, I want a spin-off for each of them
- It wrapped up LITERALLY perfectly. The last hour of the book on audiobook was one big happy scream from me.
- While a bit unrealistic in the scenarios, I feel like that was set up from the beginning and set the tone for the entire book, which is the consistency I love to see!

Overall: If you even remotely like YA romances with a bit of unrealistic situations, this should be your next read.

3.5/5 (I would recommend the physical book over the audiobook. This was an audiobook read for me)

Description: 
Olivia is the oldest Davenport sister. She's meant to be engaged this season, but when an activist catches her eye, will the man her parents prefer be enough? 
The man Olivia's parents prefer catches the eye of the younger sister: Helen. Helen thought she'd love cars forever, but can she get the man she wants as well? 
Throughout both the girl's lives, they've always had Amy-Rose to support them as their maid, but Amy-rose has bigger dreams. She wants to open a hair salon, but when the Davenport's son advances towards her, she's no longer sure what she wants. How does she choose?
While the Davenport's son have their eyes elsewhere, Ruby has her eyes on him. However, when another man enters Ruby's life, will she be able to choose her heart or must she obey her parents?

Following these four girls as they navigate breaking the boundaries of 1910's Chicago high society.

The good
- I loved the four girls' unique situations and personalities and how each girls' resolution was not identical to the other. It felt very real.
- I think the history aspect is done extremely well, you can easily picture where you are in this book
- All the characters in this book were well-written, the good and the bad ones :) 

The loss of a star and a half:
- The audiobook narrator did this book no favors. I found it tough to follow who was speaking, and in a book with 4 perspectives, I feel like that has to be really clear in an audiobook
- It was a slower-paced book to me, definitely Bridgerton-level vibes but it's not my preferred pacing of a book.

Overall: If you liked Bridgerton, you'll enjoy this book immensely. 

2/5 stars

Description: Well, there are more mysteries in hell to solve every day. Emilia now has to solve 2 'murders': her sisters and one of the prince's generals. She also has to decide if she's marrying Wrath and what their relationship will look like. Oh and of course, what about Emilia's past? Everything has to come wrapped up in this series final, including everything newly introduced int his book. Does Kerri do it?

The good:
- honestly the world is fantastically interesting to me, the princes, the other creatures, all seem interesting
- I think this had some of the most interesting plot points throughout the entire series but...

The loss of 3 stars:
- ...the pacing was SO WEIRD. I almost wish we got some of the worldbuilding in book 2. It felt so RUSHED.
- I WISH there was more fade to black scenes, not because the spicier scenes were bad, but because i wanted the plot more fleshed out. The balance felt completely off.
- I am still a strong Emilia hater. I also feel the second mystery Emilia elects to solve in this book was unnecessary.

Overall: I don't know honestly. I'm glad it's over. Will I look into the adult book? Honestly, maybe because it's focused on a new perspective in the same interesting world...as long as Emilia is gone.

3.5/5

Description: Is stealing a love language? For Crystal, once her squat rack gets stolen, she begins a gym rival to lovers trope that could make anyone swoon. Crystal has to focus on her social media accounts and continue to build her platform while working with her clients, but Squat Rack Thief is a constant distraction. Once the two after able to move past their initial rivalry, will the world of Social Media be too much for the couple? Can they overcome what other people think to stand by their values?

The good:
- I thought Crystal has a good self-improvement journey. I feel like we'd be friends in real life (generally speaking)
- I think the family backstories were cute additions to the book, a nice depth to the novel
- The messaging overall was a message I feel I could relate to and stand behind, especially by the end of the book.

The loss of a star and a half:
- I know you see the MMC's name in the description.  You don't learn it for almost a fifth of the book, it was just a weird quirk I could not get over.
- I do book social media, my husband doesn't. The arguments over social media were handled so differently than how I would personally handle them in a similar situation, it didn't vibe in my head and i didn't really like it, even though I know it was used to further the plot.

Overall: It was a good rom-com vibes debut and I'm excited to see how Amy continues to evolve in her writing.