A spoiled princess with a failed elopement now trapped in a castle, a poor girl willing to con and swindle her way through life, and a assassin/secretary who must face the goddess of Death. Told through dual timelines, the story follows three individuals: Ida, a poor girl who has spent her life swindling and conning people to get what she wants, Elysia, the spoiled daughter who falls for a prince and in an attempt to get out of her marriage tries to elope but ends up in a different marriage with a killer for a husband trapped in a enchanted forest, and Telhani, an assassin/secretary for his lord. The story follows the three characters giving context to how they each got to where they are and then having them all meet at the same place and the outcome of that. This was not a good book or even a fun one to read, all the characters were lackluster and honestly the only one I really liked was Telhani and the guy barely even got a storyline with it only getting interesting at the end. Elysia was a spoiled, selfish, coward who had her head in the clouds and I couldn't care less for her story honestly. I enjoyed how quick on her feet and adaptable Ida was in her storyline and how she did everything she could to survive. Overall this one was a miss for me, I was so intrigued by the cover and the premise but the actual story itself was lacking. Also please be warned of the triggers before going into this, there is a lot to take in so do be cautious.

*Thanks Netgalley and Ghost Orchid Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

What if you suddenly found yourself with a magical genie who can grant you three wishes and the only thing you ever really wanted was to find Mr. Right? Well for Iza, being raised by a mom who thinks all men are trash, finding a guy to meet her mom's standards has been difficult. Iza longs to find Mr. Right but she's had no luck until suddenly one day after opening a bottle of nail polish suddenly a very cute but frat boy genie appears named Beckett, who tells her he is here to grant her three wishes. Iza wants to find Mr. Right and the only Mr. Right she can think of to ask for is a modern day Mr. Darcy, but when she gets her wish granted he is not what she thinks at all... and maybe her Mr. Right has been next her all along wanting to grant her heart's wishes...if only she could pay attention. This one was such a let down for me, I truly wanted to like it so much but Iza constantly got on my nerves. She goes on and on about how she's tried everything when in fact she has not, she went on one dating app and then went on a date with an actual prince who liked her and dipped. She has serious mommy issues and when someone calls her out on it, she immediately says nah. Iza is whiney, judgmental, and for someone who says she wants Mr. Darcy and says her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice but freaks out when Mr. Darcy just acts like Mr. Darcy and has to have her own friend explain it out for her, it's baffling. I loved Beckett, the genie and love interest and honestly wanted him to end up with someone else because the way she treats him the entire book is not it at all. Sadly this did not come off as a cute rom com and missed the mark on growth for Iza. I really just did not vibe with her at all.

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

A sweet and heartwarming sapphic love story between two high school girls, a pianist and a girl who has lost her hearing. On a rainy night, Saki is rushing home from her piano lesson when she crashes into a beautiful girl who helps her with her sheet music. The girl doesn't say a single thing but on Saki's first day of high school the following morning, her new seat mate is none other than the gorgeous girl she crashed into. Her name is Kanon and she is not completely deaf but is hard of hearing. Kanon is mysterious and pushes people away, yet Saki can't help but be drawn to her. Soon begins a very charming and sweet friendship that could be something more as Saki begins to feel herself falling. This was such a sweet first book in the series and I can't wait to read the next one. Saki and Kanon were adorable and this is such a heartwarming story!!

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

A poor girl is forced to pretend to take on the identity of a dead princess-priestess, her new role will give her wealth and a better life... but at what cost to her own identity? Nina is a girl who has lead a rough life, living in the slums, trying to survive. But one day she is abducted by Prince Azure who tells her that she'll be given the life of a princes... but she'll have to pretend to take on the role of the recently deceased princess-priestess because they have the same eyes. This could be a whole new opportunity for Nina, but this new life will come with it's own costs. She'll have to survive court politics, assassins, and the feeling of losing her own identity and past. This was an interesting beginning to the story, I know that the books themselves have up to 10 volumes and the author still plans on writing more and I have read the next few books, and can say if you like light romance, love triangles, and princess stories then give this a go!

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

A sapphic enemies-to-lovers retelling of Jekyll & Hyde with a touch of dark academia, rituals, and murder! At the elite school called Carvell Academy of Arts, four students died in an infamous unsolved case that happened ten years ago, forcing the school to shut down. Now, ten years later the school is open again....

Lottie Fitzwilliam is sunshine personified, but her real reason for wanting to attend Carvell is to solve the murder cases and find out what really happened. Alice Wolfe just wants to focus on her career, but the only thing holding her back is her anger that keeps growing inside her, and her violent impulses. Alice and Lottie are made roommates but immediately get off on the wrong foot, especially when Alice nearly stabs a guy at Lotte's birthday party. No matter how hard Lottie tries, Alice wants nothing to do with her and Alice keeps indulging in her anger and violence. Things take a turn when Alice stumbles upon a sinister book in the library that offers to help her split her soul in a ritual... maybe that will finally be the answer to all her anger issues. Alice doesn't want to be angry and violent, so she takes the ritual and actually does it.... but then people end up murdered again... and now there's a killer on the loose. It doesn't help that Lottie is finding herself sleep walking with no recollection of whats happening to her and the fact that rubies have started appearing on her neck, literally embedded into her neck. Alice is also losing her mind, both girls are trying to figure out what is happening to them but they'll have to work together to solve the case, unless the killer finds them first.

I loved the idea of a sapphic enemies-to-lovers retelling of Jekyll and Hyde with a dash of dark academia, sadly however this one fell flat for me. I was so excited and ended up being disappointed by the actual book. Alice and Lottie don't have any chemistry at all and it was hard to believe they fell for each other. The overall mystery and resolution felt lackluster, I mean the story had murder, possession, secret society, and it still wasn't good (WHICH IS SO SAD). The plot felt all over the place and cluttered and the flow was clunky at best, I really wish I could like this more because it had all the pieces to being one of my favorite books ever and it just didn't work,

If you like dark academia stories with a bit of mystery and possession, then give this a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it then I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Taking place thirteen years after the first novel, the story follows a Major who is set to a become a Earl and his new secretary who happens to not only be the opposing heir to the earldom but also come from a notorious smuggling clan... who has his own motives for wanting to be in the manor, that's not even taking into account the undeniable chemistry between the both of them. Major Rufus d'Aumesty never really expected to become the Earl of Oxney, but now finds himself fighting for the title against his vile uncle who has done everything to try and deny him the title, including bringing in a potential other heir... by the name of Luke Doomsday, a man from a notorious smuggling clan. Rufus's uncle thought he was bringing in a bastard son that would deny Rufus of his right to become earl, but what he didnt realize that he was bringing in another potential claimer for the title of earl, someone who they believe Rufus's other uncle married a serving girl who had later had a bastard child by another man, making said bastard child still a legal contender to be recognized as the heir to the earldom. Rufus and Luke were meant to be enemies but find that they make rather good friends and Rufus hires Luke to be his secretary while they try and sort out the true heir to be earl, yet Luke has his own reasons for wanting to be at the Oxney manor, and that includes trying to search for something hidden in the manor. The closer Rufus and Luke become the more they can't deny the sexual tension between both of them and the growing feelings, yet Luke's lies and secrets could ruin his chance at a treasure greater than what he could have ever imagined he would find, love. This one was definitely a slower paced one and less plot heavy compared to the first book. This one takes place after the first one and involves the side character in the first book and we still get to see the couple from the first book but now time skipped forward for them. This one is a pretty simple plot and wasn't as interesting if I'm being honest, but it was an overall fun read. It definitely leaned in on the "family drama" in this one and I did love Rufus, he's a lovable grump and the romance was nice. I wish there was a bit more to Luke because we get to see and fall for Rufus, but Luke, was a bit harder to actually like. Overall, it was a nice read and the I did have fun reading it, the family drama was heavy and the trauma healing was nice, the romance itself was slower but sweet overall.

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A unique dark gothic fantasy take on the story of Johnny Appleseed? I am in! The story follows Catalina, a young woman in 1836, Wisconsin who lives with her father and brother in a cable in the wilderness. They have been struggling to just get by, crops failing, and hunger gnawing at them... but their father has always told them to be weary of the Sap Man and his apples, apples that will kill them. When her father suddenly becomes sick, a strange man covered in bark appears with sap dripping from his eyes and kidnaps her brother. Catalina knows it is the Sap Man and now she must find a way to get her brother back. Along the way she meets a lumberjack also hunting this man down... and together they journey deeper into the woods and encounter strange beasts and tortured souls. The story is also told from the point of view of Johnny, the Sap Man, detailing his life from before he became what he was and the deal with the devil that he made, and ultimately the cost. Catalina must find a way to save her brother but there will be a cost to getting what she wants and that might mean making a deal with the same devil that made Johnny what he is now. This was such a fascinating story and honestly so unique. I love the take on the story of Johnny Appleseed and the gothic fantasy tones in this were amazing. I really had a great time with this one and think it would make a great autumn read! If you like gothic fairytales, a little bit of romance, and good atmospheric writing, pick this one up!

*Thanks Netgalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink, Peachtree Teen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A sapphic soccer romance perfect for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own? SAY LESS. Grace Henderson is a famous soccer star, she's on the US Women's National Team and has been for 10 years despite being only 26 years old. Phoebe Matthews is a rookie 22 year old soccer player who has just been recruited into the team, and she absolutely adores Grace. Phoebe was recruited to be Grace's replacement, but things are about to get steamy. Grace is serious, she's determined to be the best captain for her team, and she's kept people at a distance and hasn't really dated anyone since the last bad breakup. Phoebe is a ball of energy, smirky smiles, jokes, and the exact opposite of Grace, and her favorite thing to do is tease Grace. Grace and Phoebe end up kissing during a bet and soon neither can keep their hands off each other, yet Grace isn't looking for a serious relationship and doesn't know if she's ready to open her heart up again and Phoebe has to deal with her own growing pains as she tries to find a place on the team and figure out where she stands with Grace. I had a blast with this one, I love Grace and Phoebe and they were so funny and cute. Phoebe loves to tease Grace and they both want to take care of the other so much and it was just so sweet. Seriously, this was peak rom com sports romance and I had so much fun!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A new take on When Harry Met Sally with a dash of You're the Worst (FX). A fun and romantic story featuring a commitment-phoebe comedian who is chaos personified and a hopelessly romantic chef who lives his life neatly, who both end up meeting only to realize they are both sleeping with the same woman. Told through different spans of time, the story follows free-spirited go getter Ari, who is working to become a comedian and Josh, an ambitious chef. They were never suppose to meet but end up meeting when the woman they're both sleeping with dips and they have a pretty bad first meeting. The next time they meet, they're again at another low in their own perspective love lives, Ari doesn't believe in true love and is always the first to leave... except now she's getting a divorce, while Josh wants nothing more than to find true love but keeps finding himself in relationships that end badly. Ari and Josh end up bonding and soon realize that they have connections and could be friends, and soon find themselves bonding, watching movies together, going furniture shopping, helping each other out... but something else is happening between them. Can they both work it out before it's a missed opportunity or will they break apart? This was such a fun twist on When Harry Met Sally, especially since the gender role reversals (which I loved), but it was also reminding me of a show I absolutely love called You're the Worst (FX) and it was just the perfect mixture of both and I had so much fun with this book. I couldn't put it down and I was laughing and also crying over these characters, Ari and Josh have their own issues, but they work together so well, their friendship is so sweet and they care about each other so much. Seriously, it was great that you got to see them fall for each other and the genuine friendship between them. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a fun romance read about two messy people with a dash of opposites attract, and enemies to friends to lovers!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

She's the poor girl who had to struggle to get everything she's wanted, he's the rich boy who doesn't want any of the thing's his wealth has given him, and a chance mistake at an airport in which they're mistaken for the other because they share the same name leads to the most unlikely summer internship while they take a chance and live in the other's life and possibly find romance. Jessica Lee has struggled financially all her life, budgeting and just trying to get by. She's finally found an internship that would give her the opportunity to make connections that would help her get recommendation letters to go to college. Elijah Ri is the son of the CEO of the Haneul Corporation and is expected to be the next future CEO despite how much he doesn't want it. Elijah grew up rich, throwing money at problems has been the way he was taught to deal with issues, but it's lonely being forced to live in this lifestyle, being seen as a disappointment by his father, and never being allowed to be himself. Elijah is meant to be working at his dad's company for the summer but when Elijah and Jessica have a mix up at the airport because they share the same Korean name suddenly, Jessica is being treated as the new executive-in-training and being flown first class while Elijah is being put in an internship in a tiny place living with 10 other interns. Elijah and Jessica realize the mix up but come up with the idea to keep up the charade as Elijah wants freedom from his father and wants to actually experience things while Jessica will get the chance to live like the other half for the first time. They both agree to help each other keep up the act but while doing so they begin to spend more time together and explore New York as romance blooms between them, but for two people who come from different worlds and live different lifestyles, can romance work? This was a really cute ya rom com about mistaken identity and two opposites attract. Elijah and Jessica are so different but they work perfectly together, they care about each other and balance each other out. I loved the ending for them and this was just a fun feel good read!

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