This is a mixed-bag book for me. So we'll split this review into the good and the uncomfortable:

THE GOOD
- I loved the premise
- I really liked Noora as a character. I liked how she wasn't perfect and made difficult decisions.
- I liked Noora's family side characters and her work BFF.
- I liked the representation.
- The main scenario of the book (Noora being an executive assistant at a magazine, one that's fighting between the print and digital sides) was entertaining.

THE UNCOMFORTABLE:
- The LONGGGG descriptions of New York. I've traveled there and was getting bogged down by the descriptors, I can't imagine what someone felt like reading this book who was from NYC.
- The romantic aspect. I wish it honestly didn't exist. It was uncomfortable for me.
- The slower pace of the book, and clunky pacing near the end was also uncomfortable for me.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, definitely have to be in the right mood to read it.

To me, this would have been a 2 star book, but the use of the R-word a number of times was unacceptable to me.

We follow Collin as he is broken up with for the 19th time by a Katherine. Him and Hassan, his best friend, decide to take a road trip as Collin has just graduated high school. Hassan is a year older and is debating starting his second gap year. They find the grave of Franz Ferdinand in Gunshot, a small town in Tennessee. There, they meet Hollis and Lindsey, a mother-daughter duo who run the town. Hassan and Collin get jobs for Hollis, and all three teens (Hassan, Collin, and Lindsey) go through a 'life-changing' summer.

The beginning was charming, but once they were in Gunshot, it went downhill for me. Collin was a flat character for me and I didn't like his character arc. Hassan and Lindsey were okay, but not very interesting. I felt none of the major revelations or plot twists land for me.

I know John Green has apologized for Paper Towns, but have not seen an apology for the use of the R word in this book, which is disappointing.

I first off have to give props to Janina Edwards, the narrator of the audiobook because she does a FANTASTIC job with any book she's given and I enjoy listening to her.

Next, Olivia Matthews, what a great book! I was so happy when researching background information on the book prior to this review to learn that there will be a second book in the series because I want to come back to the Spice Isle Bakery universe again!

We follow Lyndsey (or Lynds) as she finally opens a family owned bake shop! However, the competitor from a few blocks away is trying to ruin this. Lynds stands up for herself, and everyone is happy: until the competition turns up dead, with Lynds named as the prime suspect.

For me, this book was a bit slower paced at the beginning than I prefer books, which is the main reason for my 4/5 star rating. However, after we get past the initial neighborhood descriptions, the action and mystery picks up!

I also loved learning all about currant rolls, West Indies culture, and seeing the family aspect at the forefront of this cozy mystery. I'd highly recommend and can't wait for the second on to come out later this year!

For my first cozy mystery, I was thoroughly impressed! My instinct is a 4.5/5 star only because I don't believe I'll gain anything from re-reading but really enjoyed the book. Plus, I was a bit confused, but that's on me for not reading the first book in this series before delving into this Advanced Reader Copy.

We follow Daisy as she goes on the show "Bake My Day", a competition show meant to be like the Great British Bake Off, but is an American knock off. While Daisy is there, she investigates two deaths that happen during the filming of the show!

Did I mention she also bakes murder pies and has delivered some in this book too? 

It was very fast paced, a lot of characters, great queer representation, and I found myself laughing half the time. I was also very hungry, the description of the foods in this book were amazing!

I really liked Daisy as a main character. I thought she was charming, quirky, and had good intentions throughout. I definitely want to read the first book after my experience with this!

For me, I enjoyed the fast paced nature of the book that I feel is inherent with all of Christina Lauren books. The fact that this book came out in the same year as Love and Other Words blows my mind because it feels like 4 different people are writing their books.

We follow Millie, a closed off professor/author (I really don't remember what she does) and her friend group of guys: Reid, Ed, Alex, and Chris, all join a dating app looking for a plus one to bring to an event.

After the guys tease Millie for her initial profile, she makes a new one: Cat. Cat then catfishes Reid when it turns out how compatible they are.

For me, it was just lackluster, I did not care about any of the characters, it was just a 'meh' read. I was not sold on Millie actually doing this, and Reid seemed a little too oblivious then a little too all-knowing. 

I feel like Christina and Lauren have stepped up their game since this book.

Thank you to Leanne and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy.

To me: this is a slow burn thriller. You heat up a lot at the beginning, then leave the book to simmer in the middle, then it lights up again at the end. If you like that style of book, you will like Every Missing Girl (I would recommend picking up the first book too then to get fully immersed in the Kendall Beck world). However, if that's not your jam, you may not enjoy this book. Slow burn thrillers are okay to me, which is why I give this a 3/5 stars.

We follow Kendall Beck, an FBI special agent for missing children, and Adam, a detective on the Denver PD. They worked together in the first book I believe, but it's not necessary to read the 1st book to enjoy this one.

One day, after a hockey game, Adam's niece, Frankie, goes missing. Adam, however, has to focus on a double homicide investigation instead of his niece's disappearance (this is the heat at the beginning). The middle is a ton of investigating scenes with not much hope until the last 2 hours of listening to the book. For 5 hours it was all investigating that seemed to be dead ends and for me, I prefer there to be at least a nugget of movement here and there in a thriller.

The investigation in the middle also involves A LOT of people, considering there are two investigations happening at once yet Adam is involved in both. It can get a little muddled. However, the ending does wrap everything else up nicely (which I love) and I was left actually WANTING a 10 year in the future epilogue (which never happens for me).

DEFINITELY check the content warnings for this book, it handles some very heavy topics. Overall, a slow burn thriller read that I'm sure fans of the thriller genre in general will enjoy.

This book had me in tears, but those were quickly snatched away by anger half the time. This book was a major roller coaster.

We follow Poppy as she meets a boy named Run when they are five. At eight, Poppy's grandmother dies and gifts Poppy with a jar of 'a thousand boy kisses'. A thousand paper hearts Poppy gets to fill up in her life. Who starts to help Poppy fill this out? Rune!

The beginning: super sweet, I loved every minute of it.
The 1/4- halfway through the book: I was infuriated with how Poppy and Rune were interacting. I felt like it did not match the characterization that was set up for us in the first quart of the book. I know they grow up, but still, I feel there was no consistency, especially for Poppy.
Halfway through the book - 3/4: I was vibing, though it was cute.
3/4-epilogue: TEARS STREAMING DOWN MY FACE
Epilogue: I wish it was cut. 

In general, a good read to cry to, but not one to think too deeply about. I would recommend if you're looking for a sad read!

I personally had a tougher time getting through the first 100 pages of Blood Like Magic, but NOT with Blood Like Fate! I was invested from the beginning, 300 pages seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye, and I could NOT have predicted how this ended in a million years.

If you haven't read the first book, this would be a good point to stop reading this review. No major spoilers, but with this being the second book, there are some inherent ones!

We are still following Voya, who is now the Thomas Matriarch with TWO gifts. Justin is trapped in a NuSap body in the Thomas's basement, along with Keis being trapped in the house. Luc is not speaking to Voya still, the family doesn't trust Voya in the Matriarch role and then something happens: She looks into the future and sees ALL witches in turmoil, with Luc wishing it wouldn't have happened.

What I thoroughly enjoyed with this book was seeing the other witch families, going to their homes, learning their personalities, and seeing how they each felt about Voya's vision. I feel like their backstories were fleshed out and I was invested in every single character (good and bad of course).

I thought the ending with twisty and perfect, lovely, and a wonderful way to close out the duology. I would HIGHLY recommend :)

Thank you to Alcove Press and Annie for allowing me to read an ARC of "The Friendship Breakup."

As someone in their mid-twenties with no kids, a husband, and two dogs, I was sold on wanting to read this book because of the main character, Fallon's, love of chocolate. However, I ended up connecting with her on more levels than I was expecting.

Fallon is on the brink of turning 40. She has a kid named Maya and a husband named Matt who she's been married to for 15 years. Now that Maya is 7 and old enough to go to school, Fallon is reaching a turning point in her life: her mommy BFF won't speak with her, she's looking to start a new business, and her family history gets turned on its head as Fallon begins self-reflection the closer she gets to her birthday.

There are SO many storylines in this book that get wrapped up with a neat bow at the end, which I thoroughly enjoyed. If you've ever had a friendship break up, regardless of age, you'll enjoy this book. You'll be rooting for Fallon to catch a break after each quirky/clumsy/human mistake she makes along the way.

I wish privilege was addressed a bit more in this contemporary book, but otherwise, a sweet, cozy read that will have you gasping at the twist and turns it takes.

I am a huge thriller/mystery book junkie and with all the hype around this book I thought I'd love it. Unfortunately, this was on the lower end of my thrillers rated this year.

We follow Sarah and Adam Morgan. Sarah represents Adam in the murder he's accused of causing. Adam's mistress, Kelly Summers, was found dead in Adam and Sarah's vacation home outside of the DC area. Sarah is a renowned defense attorney. 

The premise: super interesting to me. What I wasn't expecting: a lackluster ending, the terrible mother of Adam, and Adam himself.

Adam is a writer, a creative, and I didn't think he'd make such poor choices. However, his character growth was extremely annoying throughout the back half of the book.

Adam's mother, Eleanor, is a terror to Sarah and a devoted mother to Adam. This was fine of course, but the way Eleanor treats Sarah throughout the book crosses a boundary for me that I wasn't expecting to create. I know she's supposed to be overbearing and slightly unlikeable, but her behavior in a few scenes was just unacceptable.

Lastly, I feel like the ending of this book is starting to be a trope we see in many thriller books. Not everything was tied up, even though we get a giant monologue attempting to tie up the book, and I just feel the ending based on how the characters progressed was not believable and I feel key details were lacking.

I would recommend this if you have not read The Silent Patient before. But if you've read The Silent Patient, this may not be the book for you.