Two ex-best friends, a murder mystery, and ghosts that have come back to haunt them. Six years ago three Long Island teenagers were murdered, their drowned bodies discovered with sand dollars placed over their eyes. Nobody knows who killed them and the murder is still popular to this day. Evelyn Mackenzie’s father was the main suspect... but his charges were dropped when Evelyn summoned a ghost to clear his name with the help of her then best friend who also happens to be a medium, Mina Zanetti.... but that summoning was the straw that broke the camels back and the reason their friendship ended. Evelyn had promised never to summon another ghost after what it did to Mina, causing her to become sick, throwing up for days, and landing in the hospital... but what Mina didn’t tell her was that from that day she has had nightmares of ghosts and it has left her with a permanent scar of a sand dollar on her arm. But years later... Evelyn has once again summoned a spirit, this time to help her clear her name after she got caught stealing and cheating on an exam for her boyfriend. Mina Zanetti comes from generations of mediums who use the ocean’s power to guide the dead to their final resting place. Mina dreams about not only taking over the family duties but helping her mom and getting into fashion school... but one night of trying to help her mom leads her to being nearly choked by ghosts and her sand dollar scar lighting up again, Mina knows that Evelyn has broken their promise and has once again summoned a ghost... and that Mina and Evelyn are in far more danger than they realized. Now both girls will have to face each other after years of silence and broken friendship to solve the murder mystery that broke apart their friendship if they want to make it out alive because ghosts have begun haunting them and things are only going to get worse. That means opening both of them up to each other again... and opening up the feelings that they might have for each other. I’ll be the first to say I really didn’t like either of the characters that much. the mystery was okay at best, but overall this one did not live up to my expectations, especially since I’ve liked the authors previous works so much. This was suppose to be a dark murder mystery with sapphic romance but it just felt kind of like an episode of Nancy Drew (from the CW). Overall, it was an okay summer read, though I definitely will be reading the author’s future work.

A PhD candidate working on her dissertation on her favorite topic of true crime is in for more than she ever thought when she moves into her dead father’s home to get it ready to sell and finish her dissertation. Phoebe Walsh is obsessed with true crime, she’s even made it her dissertation. So spending a summer in Florida clearing up her childhood home and getting to spend time with her distant but very cheerful brother while working on her dissertation should be a nice way to spend the summer yet the moment she steps into her home she is faced with not only complicated feelings of mourning her father, with whom their relationship had fizzled out during the later years of her life but her own complicated feelings on romance and vulnerability when she finds herself falling for the cute ( not serial killer) music teacher next door, Sam. Studying crime and facing the gruesome acts of people can be easy to handle for Phoebe but actually examining her own fears about relationships and opening herself up is a whole other hurdle. Can Phoebe overcome her fears or is it just not meant to be? This was a cute story about being vulnerable and opening yourself up. I adored Sam, he’s so sweet and precious, seriously, what a sweetheart. Their relationship was cute and honestly I had a blast reading this book.

Two scientists co-leading a major Nasa project... the only hiccup? They have a history and one of them is pretty sure the other is her biggest nemesis. Bee Königswasser loves Dr. Marie Curie, dying her hair, piercings, and cats... what she doesn’t like is cheaters, liars, and particularly Levi Ward. Bee and Levi met in graduate school and you could say that’s where their hate-ship began. Bee would try to be nice but no matter what Levi would ignore her, state icily at her, refuse to work with her on projects, and be anywhere but near her. Years later when Bee is given the chance to work for a major project she couldn’t be happier... until she finds out that her co-lead is the one and only Levi Ward, the one person who hates her guts... or does he? Years of misunderstanding are finally coming to a head as both Bee and Levi start to spend more time together and begin to clear the air and actually get to know one another. From Star Wars movie nights, vegan food, cute cats, and running into exes, these two will begin to see that maybe just maybe they’re more than just enemies, they’re perfect for one another. This was such a cute read and I adored the progression of their relationship and how the misunderstanding between the two of them is cleared. Bee has been hurt before and she’s working on finding her own home, a place to settle, and a person that just fits her. Levi is a super sweet and wonderful guy, he’s just working on how to express himself and his emotions. They’re both going through stuff but they both find that, by working together they can get through a anything.

*I received an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Carlota Moreau is the daughter of a researcher, a researcher who is part genius part madman... who has been experimenting on creating hybrids between animal and human genes. In the beautiful estate in the Yucatan peninsula lives Carlota, her father, and his experiments... and then comes along Montgomery, an english researcher with a tragic past of his own. But everything changes when the son of her father’s sponsor and his cousin arrive at the estate.. and soon Carlota finds herself falling for the beautiful eyes of Eduardo Lizalde, an impulsive, careless, and charming man. Moreau does not discover his daughter in her infatuation, instead he encourages it because it would then give him more funding for his research..., yet Montgomery and Eduardo’s cousin Isidor are against it because they both know that Carlota and Eduardo will only ruin each other. Things only spiral further as Carlota begins to discover her father’s secrets, secrets that pertain to her... and when things reach a peak and Eduardo’s father comes to stop the engagement and seize all his property, i.e. the hybrids, it is now up to Carlota and Montgomery to save them before it is too late. This is a story based off of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.gG. Wells. The story really builds on how childish, naive, and young Carlota is. The vast majority of it occurs when she is 20 years old, as a sheltered obedient daughter who gets her first taste of rebellion and romance things definitely begin to spiral for her. Overall a happy ending, yet something felt like it was missing for me. I generally really enjoy this author’s work but this one fell a little flat for me and I guess I was just a bit annoyed by Carlota as a character, but I can understand why she acted the way she did and why she made certain decisions. This is a coming of age story, with magic. This is a story about a young woman who takes her first step into being an adult, who realizes there are consequences, who has responsibilities, and who learns to speak up for herself and to have the strength to stand up for those she cares about. It’s a story about a girl falling in love for the first time, experiencing heart break for the first time, and finally growing out of her younger self. Though it wasn’t perfect for me, definitely give it a go. I will definitely be reading the author’s future works and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Two people who were never really suppose to meet find themselves entangled in a journey to find a magical artifact, trying to break deadly curses, and possibly falling in love. Robin Blyth is a young baronet who was just given a new minor governmental post... or at least it was suppose to be, instead he finds that he’s been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. The next thing he knows, he’s attacked by mysterious magicians, cursed, and now plagued by visions and the only person who can help him is the grumpy but attractive magician and said magical parliamentary liaison, Edwin. Edwin wants nothing to do with Robin. But he just can’t seem to not want to help him break the curse that’s been placed on him, and it doesn’t help that there is also the mystery of why Robin was given his new position to Edwin’s office. Throw in rude exes, terrible family, murderous hedge mazes, and a potential new romance between the two and you get a pretty cute murder mystery set in an alternative Edwardian England. Robin and Edwin are practically polar opposites, Edwin reeling from the treatment and hurts of his family, making him very closed off, while Robin is overflowing with affection and love for those he cares about. The story really works with the trope of sweet himbo/grumpy librarian. The story really focuses on how Edwin is closed off and how hard Robin works to break his walls. Overall, a pretty cute murder mystery with queer romance and magic.

A deadly contest, 6 rulers each with their own curses and powers and kingdoms all at stake, and the opportunity to break their curse... if they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. The story follows Isla, one of the six rulers, who is a Wildling and a ruler, however, her darkest secret is that she has no powers. Every 100 years the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that invites the 6 rulers to play, and the game offers the rulers a chance to break their curse.... except this might be the final chance for any of them to break it. Isla has no powers, and she is entering into a deadly game with more seasoned players with even deadlier powers, who can she trust and what is truly going on? Alliances will be broken, hearts will be broken, and there will be one ruler dead by the end of it. The story hooked me, I am always down for a deadly contest with magic, and I did enjoy how Isla had to navigate the game and her alliances when she is the player with the least advantages. What I didn’t enjoy and was baffled by was the love triangle, the one between her, Oro, and Grim. See the Grim and Isla thing is definitely prominent and understandable, however the Oro and Isla relationship came completely out of left field in the last 20% of the book that had me scratching my head and asking myself what I missed???? I am always down for angsty betrayals, revenge, and complicated villain gets the girl trope, but this love triangle with her switching over to suddenly wanting Oro, who she never really wanted or mentioned wanting earlier in the story while it was so heavily focused on Grim left me a bit baffled by the ending of the book. Oro didn’t feel like. a love interest, he barely felt like more than a side character, so when he is suddenly moved into love interest territory I was left scratching my head. I definitely was having fun with the book until the entire twist and the love triangle, and as you can tell, the love triangle aspect was what really lowered the star ranking for me. I enjoyed the game and the alliances and even the romance between Grim and Isla., however I just was so thrown off by the ending that it definitely changed how I rated the book. I will definitely be reading the second book because I just have to see how this all plays out, I am especially invested in seeing how the entire Grim storyline plays out. Despite everything I am still rooting for him, even if it’s just for him to survive because honestly, he was the most fascinating and fun character in this book.

*Thanks Netgalley and PiqBooks for sending me an arc in exchange an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Academic rivals, magic, and a dash of romance as they try to figure out who is trying to kill them and if they can stop arguing long enough to trust each other... and maybe... possibly, fall in love. Aurelia Schwartz has keeping her life in a carefully maintained way, separating her magic powers from her very human best friend and roommate. All she wants to do is defeat her academic rival, gain academic prestige, and hang out with her best friend.The only hiccup is that her powers are fading and it’s getting harder and harder to control and keep hidden from humans. So when she runs into another witch, which is very rare for her, she finds herself being threatened and the only person there to help her is the last person she ever expected or wanted... Theodore “Teddy” Ingram... and he just happens to possess magic of his own. Soon Aurelia is forced to the one person she can’t stand because he has a better grasp on what is actually happening and he is the only one she can turn to but Teddy is hiding his own secrets. Forced to spend the holiday with Teddy at his own home while trying to figure out why a witch is hunting them down and what she wants, Aurelia and Teddy will have to face their past hurts and answer the question of why they dislike each other so much and if they can even live in the same house together. It does not help that despite how much they argue and bicker, there is something else there growing between them. Magic, slow burn romance, enemies to lovers, angst, academic rivals, and a touch of Howl’s Moving Castle and what you get is a fantastic start to a series. To say I fell in love with this book is putting it lightly, it’s got everything I could ask for and the way Isa writes is just beautiful. The chemistry between Aurelia and Teddy is PALPABLE. This was an amazing slow burn romance, filled with so many memorable moments and honestly, I WOULD DATE BOTH OF THEM. I HAVE TWO HANDS, LET ME DATE BOTH OF YALL. I can’t wait to see where the second book goes and how Aurelia and Teddy grow!

A new take on Carrie? SIGN ME UP. First off let me say this: this book went above and beyond what I could ever want in a Carrie retelling. I adore Carrie and so this was such a unique take on the classic horror story. The story follows Madison “Maddie” Washington, an outcast in her small town Georgia high school. In the town of Springville, Geogia...things are not as pleasant as they seem, the town still hosts segregated proms, residents still heavily behave with racist and frankly, disgusting behaviors and beliefs. Maddie’s own father has forced her to pretend to be white since her skin is so light she is white-passing. Yet when her secret it is revealed it only begins to set off a change of events and of course Maddie’s own personal powers begin to awaken after an incident in which white students threw pencils at her natural hair. This small town is about to get a reckoning and one event after another is going to end in the bloody massacre at prom. Maddie is abused by her father who is adamant that Maddie “dress appropriately” and behave innocently, he forces her to live as if she is back in the olden times, cutting her off from everything else... yet Maddie yearns for more, so when her powers awaken... this might finally be her chance to protect herself and stand up. While this is all occurring the school’s practices of segregated proms and treatment of black students has gone public and viral leading to them announcing their first integrated prom... and the students who tormented Maddie: Jules and her friends, including Wendy all will play a role in what happens next.... Wendy wants to make it up to Maddie and thinks that by having her boyfriend take Maddie to prom everything will be okay... but as we all know, things are not going to be okay. What is unique about this story is that it is told through a podcast format, interviews, and of course various character POVS. It goes between the past and present of the event as nobody has found Maddie’s body and the there were only two survivors of the event... but as we get closer to the end the story gets even more amazing ( yes its true) and it leaves it a bit open for a second book ( WHICH I AM BEGGING FOR BECAUSE THIS ONE WAS SO AMAZING). So yes, if you are a fan of Carrie this book is absolutely going to win you over. I loved this one so much and I am begging the author for a sequel or even a bonus epilogue cuz I NEED MORE.

*Thank you Katherine Tegen Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*