bookish_selkie's Reviews (2.14k)

When city girl Dahlia receives an SOS message from her sister, she immediately sets out to find her. Rose’s last known location seems to be a treacherous mountain. Dahlia immediately enlists local hermit Winston Dane to help find her. As the two begin to hike up the mountain, they get to know each other better. Dahlia must balance her worry for Rose with her attraction to Winston.  

Fish Out of Water was unfortunately not my cup of tea. On the surface, it had a lot of tropes that I enjoy: forced proximity, grump/sunshine, cinnamon roll hero etc. However, the pacing of the book felt too fast to be believable. The dialogue between the characters did not work well for me. At one point, their romantic dialogue seemed ominous and I began thinking about how this dialogue could also be used in a stalker/thriller book. Not quite the suspense that I think the author intended! Fish Out of Water is a lighthearted, fast-paced, forced proximity wilderness romance. While this wasn’t my cup of tea, I am sure some readers will love this. 

Thank you to Katie Ruggle, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How You Get the Girl is my new favorite contemporary queer romance! This was my first book from Anita Kelly but will definitely not be my last! Julie is a high school basketball coach. When her newest student Vanessa arrives, Julie is shocked to recognize Vanessa’s foster parent is Elle Cochrane- former basketball star. As Julie and Elle get closer, Julie decides to ask Elle if she would be her assistant coach. Elle agrees but neither of them are prepared for how close coaching will bring them. 

I absolutely loved this book and it is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of 2024. I really identified with Julie and how she struggled to find a label that fit her experience. I appreciated how Elle never pressures Julie to pick a label and instead fully embraces her. I love how positive the relationship is with Elle and Julie- even when they struggle, it is so well-written. Anita Kelly thoughtfully explores the complexities of foster care and how no situation is black and white. 

This book feels like a hug and a warm cup of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. The writing feels so inclusive and heartwarming. It is seriously delightful and I would recommend it to anyone! Readers who enjoy sapphic sports romance, thoughtful identity exploration, and lovable characters must read How You Get the Girl. 

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

Disciples of Chaos is the action-packed sequel to Seven Faceless Saints. Damian and Roz may have stopped Ezra, but their problems are far from over. War is looming on the horizon and they both have a central role to play. As Damian and Roz navigate treacherous politics and shadowy magic, they must attempt to help their people and prevent the rise of Chaos. 

This book was a fast-paced and action-packed book. I enjoyed how Damian became more morally gray and had to battle chaos within himself. Roz and Damian have a searing romance filled with obstacles that they must work together to overcome. The ensemble cast was strong and I appreciated how willing Roz and Damian were to do anything for their friends. Lobb’s writing is filled with descriptive details that create a vivid atmosphere. Sometimes the pace felt a little too fast, but overall I enjoyed this sequel and found the ending satisfying. I’m looking forward to seeing what M.K. Lobb writes next! 

Thank you to M.K. Lobb, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

A Fate Inked in Blood is an outstanding Viking romance. Freya is shackled to a terrible husband when she is revealed to have a drop of blood from a goddess. Freya is immediately viewed as a valuable commodity and forced to wed a jarl. The jarl decrees that his son Bjorn become Freya’s bodyguard. As Freya works to navigate her godly heritage, she must also battle her attraction towards Bjorn. 

I love Danielle Jensen and this is one of my favorite books from her yet! Freya and Bjorn have excellent tension and chemistry between them. They have a forbidden romance and forced proximity, which makes it impossible to put this book down. Freya is a very smart character who refuses to let the jarl dictate her place in the world. Jensen’s writing is evocative and witty- at times literally making me laugh out loud. Readers who enjoy Adrienne Young (A Sky in the Deep) and Tricia Levenseller will enjoy A Fate Inked in Blood. Readers who seek strong heroines, forbidden romance, and forced proximity will love this romance! I can’t wait to see where Freya’s adventures take her next!

Thank you to Danielle Jensen, Random House Childrens, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.