bookish_selkie's Reviews (2.14k)

The Fiance Dilemma is the story of beloved town mayor Josie. She has experienced four failed engagements and this lands her on the radar of gossip columnists when her famous absentee dad steps back into her life. Under this pressure, Josie agrees to a fake engagement with literally the first man she sees- Matthew. Matthew is best friends with Adalyn, Josie’s sister. As their lies begin to grow bigger, Josie starts to fall for Matthew more. Will this engagement end like all the others or will Josie finally make it down the aisle? 

The Fiance Dilemma is a sweet rom-com! Josie is such a lovely character and it’s clear that she has given so much of herself to the town. When her father reappears on the scene, she is determined to form a connection with him. Fortunately for Josie, Matthew is more than willing to go along for the ride. This romance was surprisingly steamy and Elena Armas nails these scenes. I loved the cameos of Adalyn and Cameron and enjoyed seeing the town of Green Oak again. There is a cozy sense of town life and the supporting characters (Grandpa Moe!) are delightful. 

Readers who enjoy sweet rom-coms, steamy connections, and the fake engagement trope will devour this! 

Thank you to Elena Armas, Atria Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

The Sky on Fire is a triumphant standalone epic fantasy from Jenn Lyons. I am a huge fan of Jenn Lyons’ A Chorus of Dragons series, so I was thrilled to read The Sky on Fire. Jenn Lyons does such a fantastic job with character growth, world-building, and LGBTQ+ rep. Anahrod is a very lovable character who is fighting to stay alive and possibly save the world while she’s at it. The cast of characters is diverse, hilarious, and exist in a beautifully queer normative world. I loved the elegant system of rings to indicate status, preferences, and attractions. 

Lyons is well-known for world-building and she absolutely delivers. I’m almost disappointed it’s a standalone, because I would like more stories from this world. The amber harvesting was so creative and reminded me of the lightning pirates from Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. The politics and magic of the dragons was fascinating. 

Readers who enjoy excellent world-building, LGBTQ+ rep, dragons, and characters that will stick in your mind long after the last page should read The Sky on Fire. I can’t wait to see what Jenn Lyons writes next! 

Thank you to Jenn Lyons, Tor Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Beneath These Cursed Stars is a spin-off featuring Jasalyn, Brie’s sister. Jasalyn is sheltered as Brie’s sister, but is forced out of her apathy when scars begin to appear on her. Jasalyn realizes that this could be a sign that the evil king is back. Jasalyn teams up with shifter Felicity, who will take her place so Jas can find out more. Felicity, as Jas, is sent to the Wild Fae Lands and instructed to grow close to King Misha. Meanwhile, Jasalyn joins her old friend Kendrick and his group to try and uncover whether the evil king has truly returned. 

Beneath These Cursed Stars is a compelling and fast-paced adventure. I enjoyed how Jas has to work through mental health struggles and is genuinely impacted by her time in the dungeons. Jas being away from her sister gave her the ability to make choices for herself and grow. Felicity was also an intriguing character; I liked how she tried to impersonate Jas as faithfully as possible.  I’m looking forward to them (hopefully!) being reunited in the sequel. 

Misha and Felicity’s romance was my favorite, although it had a sense of inevitability to it since Felicity cannot portray Jas forever. Jas and Kendrick also have a strong connection and I’m excited to see where it goes. Jasalyn’s ring was a very creative and ominous piece of magic! The magic system is all about the vibes, instead of hard rules, and as long as readers can accept that then I think they will enjoy it. The final scenes and twist at the end were fantastic! I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

Thank you to Lexi Ryan, HarperTeen, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This was my first book from John Fram and it was impossible to put down! No Road Home is an atmospheric and gripping read. Toby is such a fierce and loving father, who is determined to do whatever it takes to save his son from the horrors of the house. Luca, his son, was a very observant and beautifully-written character. I loved how strong their relationship was and the amount of trust they had in each other. No Road Home kept me guessing with twists, reveals, and excellent pacing. 

Readers who enjoy locked-room thrillers, LGBTQ+ rep, and high stakes will devour No Road Home. Looking forward to what John Fram writes next! 

Thank you to John Fram, Atria Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Ex-best friends Caleb and Emma are both drawn to stunning new girl Juliet. Caleb is determined not to let Emma swoop in and steal Juliet, as she has many times before. Emma is equally as determined not to let Caleb win. But is it because she wants to be closer to Caleb or Juliet? 

I loved how much positive LGBTQ+ rep there was in the book, including bi, demi, non-binary, and ace rep. The vibe of Exes & Foes almost feels like a John Hughes movie, like 16 Candles or The Breakfast Club. While Emma and Caleb initially compete for Juliet, they soon realize that this isn’t very respectful to Juliet. Amanda Woody includes lots of banter and funny dialogue. 

Emma’s relationship with her mom was extremely toxic and my heart absolutely broke for what she was forced to do. Fortunately, Emma’s found family (Mrs. Daniels!!) and her scrappy attitude help bring her through this tough experience. Caleb also deals with an absent dad who is more interested in the idea of being one. I loved how Caleb and Emma eventually found their way back to each other in friendship (and maybe more- no spoilers!). 

Readers looking for a funny, YA rom-com with deep themes of queer found family and strong friendship should check out Exes & Foes. 

Thank you to Amanda Woody, Viking Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.