bookish_selkie's Reviews (2.14k)

Margaret Dashwood has always found herself pulled between her two sisters. Sensible Elinor and romantic Marianne seem pretty black-and-white to her. When Marianne unexpectedly crashes the cruise that Elinor and Margaret had planned, Margaret worries that she will find herself copying the wrong sister. Margaret hatches a plan with a friendly crew member named Gabe to find her sister a date. Sister chaos and cruise ship dating shenanigans ensue!

Amanda Quain has a gift for modernizing Jane Austen stories. I enjoyed this contemporary take on Sense & Sensibility. Margaret finds herself haunted by past mistakes and wants to try and take care of her big sisters for once. Margaret and Gabe have a very sweet romance, but my favorite part was definitely the relationships between the sisters. Readers who enjoy Jane Austen retellings, complex sister relationships, and a sweet YA romance should check out Dashed. I’m looking forward to seeing what Amanda Quain writes next! 

Thank you to Amanda Quain, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Double Apex is the story of a race engineer and F1 driver who form a steamy connection. Phaedra is the head race engineer for team Emerald and is determined to make her father (the team owner) proud. Attraction to Cosmin, the new and cocky Romanian driver, is not in her plans. When Cosmin and Phaedra are forced to bond for PR purposes, a deeper relationship sparks. Can their connection be maintained when the heat is turned up at the track? 

Double Apex is a spicy romance novel with a strong element of F1 racing. I enjoyed how the F1 racing was written- it felt accessible and realistic. My favorite part was the F1 drama and the exploration of power dynamics and romance between a race engineer and a driver. However, I did struggle with the romance at times, especially their more intimate encounters. I would have liked to see more of a bond between them first. Cosmin grew on me, though parts of his backstory felt a little contrived for the plot. Phaedra deals with a family health crisis in a way that feels realistic and thoughtful. Josie Juniper clearly has a deep love of F1 that shines through. 

There was a mix of positives and negatives for me with this book. For example, I liked that there was poly rep in a side character, but it felt like it was inserted as a plot point. I enjoyed that Phaedra is a woman in STEM who occupies a position traditionally held by men and is incredible at her job. In contrast to this, at times she behaved very childishly in her personal relationships and this was frustrating. Overall though, I enjoyed this F1 romance and I will definitely be curious to read the next book in the series, which will follow Natalie and Klaus. 

Thank you to Josie Juniper, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

The Lost Story follows two boys who went missing long ago and then turned up without a scratch. Where were they? Years later, the men are reunited when the sister of a lost girl asks for their help. As they search the mysterious forest, they are reminded of their own adventures long ago. Can they find Emilie’s missing sister? What truly happened to them in the woods? 

This was my first book from Meg Shaffer and overall I enjoyed it! This was a lighthearted, fast-paced book with inspiration from the Chronicles of Narnia. I enjoyed the portal fantasy element and the queer relationship that unfolded between Rafe and Jeremy. One of my favorite parts was how Rafe and Jeremy were able to find a safe space to be together in the forest. Emilie is a sweet character who is very motivated to find her sister. I didn’t necessarily love the interjections from the Storyteller, but it was a unique storytelling move. Readers who enjoy lighthearted portal fantasies and LGBTQ+ rep should check this book out!

Thank you to Meg Shaffer, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

The Gilded Crown is an intriguing debut from Marianne Gordon. This is a fascinating tale about what would happen if a girl was able to bargain with Death. Of course, magic always demands a price and Hellevir must pay the cost. When Hellevir saves a royal, she puts herself on the radar of the queen. How will Hellevir choose who is worth sacrificing for? 

The Gilded Crown is a rich and complex fantasy. Based on the cover, I initially thought it was a romantasy. While romance is a storyline, it is definitely not the main story. I enjoyed the dynamic between Hellevir and Death. I felt there were some issues with pacing and at times it struggled to keep my interest. I enjoyed the LGBTQ+ rep. I’m looking forward to seeing how Sullivain and Hellevir’s bond progresses. This was a great debut from Marianne Gordon. I’m curious to see what happens next!

Thank you to Marianne Gordon, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

These Deathless Shores is a dark and riveting return to Neverland. As a former Lost Boy, Jordan must return to Neverland to fight her addiction to Dust. When she has the chance to face Peter Pan one last time, Jordan must use all her knowledge of the Island to survive. How far will she go to succeed? 

These Deathless Shores is a compelling and gritty retelling. P.H. Low does not shy away from the gruesome price of magic- from addiction to illness to sacrifices. This was one of the most unique Peter Pan retellings that I’ve read. Jordan is a morally gray character who must make tough choices. As the tale unfolds, Jordan is unafraid to become the villain if it allows her to finally have the vengeance she was denied. 

With a strong cast of supporting characters, especially Chay and Baron, this is an action-packed tale. I loved the complex LGBTQ+ rep. These Deathless Shores is not a book for the faint of heart, but instead will be a book that keeps readers thinking about it long after the last page. What does it mean to be the villain in the story, to leave childhood behind? P.H. Low is definitely an author to watch and I’m excited to see what they write next. 

Thank you to P.H. Low, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream is the delightful latest story from Tehlor Kay Mejia. I really enjoyed this cozy and queer romance. Cash is a single mom who runs a bar with her best friend Inez. One night, Cash has a steamy dream of her best friend and starts to question whether she is truly straight. When an ex comes back to town with a plan to put the bar out of business, Cash and Inez must work together to save their jobs and their friendship. 

Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream is a queer late coming-out story, with incredible characters and realistic issues. Cash and her relationship with her daughter was so heartwarming.  I loved the thoughtful details woven in: like how Inez takes care of her grandmother and lives on a cooperative farm with kind and caring members. Of course, there is excellent LGBTQ+ rep in both main and side characters. While Cash questions her identity and faces a real threat of being put out of business, Mejia simultaneously crafts a cozy and lovely story. It was fun to see the cameos from Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review. I can’t wait to see what Tehlor Kay Mejia writes next! 

Thank you to Tehlor Kay Mejia, Dell, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.