The final Maxwell sister’s time has come! I was looking forward to reading Olive and Bax’s romance. Bax is a dreamy guardian angel who isn’t allowed to have a personal connection with his protectee- who just so happens to be Olive. Bound to secrecy, Bax isn’t sure why his crush has been placed under his protection. As Olive tries to break out of her comfort zone by making a list of activities she wants to try, Bax and Olive grow closer. Will they maintain their connection when Bax's assignment ends? 

Olive and Bax have a sweet romance! I liked the witch x angel pairing and how they worked through the issues that came up. Olive learns to become more confident in herself and stand up for what she wants. At the same time, Bax learns to define meaning in his own life even when his family has strict expectations. I enjoyed seeing the other sisters and the magical forces that guide them- their grandma is a force of nature. Readers who enjoy magical families, lighthearted fun, and sweet romance should check out this series. 

Thank you to April Asher, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

The Other Lola returns to Cam and Blair, who are reeling in the aftermath of Missing Clarissa. Both girls must decide where they want to go next- Cam is applying to MIT and Blair is contacted by a literary agent. When freshman Mattie enters their lives, both girls find their story suspicious. Mattie’s missing sister Lola has returned- only Mattie is sure that the girl in the house isn’t their sister. Will Cam and Blair be able to help Mattie or is Mattie simply grieving? 

The Other Lola is a fast-paced and inclusive thriller. I really enjoyed Missing Clarissa but I liked The Other Lola even more. Cam and Blair are paying the price for some of the journalistic choices they made while uncovering the truth about Clarissa. Mattie is such an engaging and interesting character. They are absolutely certain that the person in their house isn’t their sister, but not even Lola’s twin believes Mattie. As a reader, all the facts initially seem against Mattie, but doubt slowly seeps in. I love how masterful this shift was as Mattie wins Cam and Blair over and clues are revealed. 

As they try to help Mattie, Cam and Blair are graduating and have to make hard choices about the future. The Other Lola deals with themes of grief, life’s impermanence, and the power of found family. I especially loved how Ripley Jones writes such witty and clever dialogue. Cam and Blair explore who stories belong to and whether something is theirs to report on. It was nice to see more of Cam’s home life and her relationship with Irene and Brad. As the tension builds, I couldn’t put it down! Looking forward to what Ripley Jones writes next! 

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

Never Blow A Kiss is the story of a woman named Emily determined not to be bound by the rigid rules of society. In her adventures, she meets a railway magnate who is intrigued by how a supposed governess has come to know so many street skills. As Zach and Emily stumble into each other on the streets of London, they soon realize they have a similar goal- uncover who is responsible for the murders of multiple women. Zach and Emily must work together to survive the cutthroat society of the ton and identify the killer who lurks in shadows. 

Never Blow A Kiss is a delightful romance with a compelling mystery at its heart. Lovise displays plenty of clever writing as she blends regency romance with a more modern heroine. Emily is a strong and heartfelt character, who will do whatever she needs to achieve her goals. While she’s had some rough life experiences, Emily never lets fear or convention stop her. Emily and Zach have good chemistry and truly understand each other based on similar life experiences. I really enjoyed their romance! 

As far as the mystery, there was a good amount of suspense and red herrings about who the real killer was. I definitely appreciated the twists and final reveal! I liked the Secret Society aspect and hope to see more stories about other ladies from this book. Fans of Bridgerton, Sarah MacLean, and readers seeking regency romance with modern twists should check out Never Blow A Kiss. 

Thank you to Lindsay Lovise, Forever, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf is the excellent sequel to That Time I Got Drunk and Saved A Demon. This story follows Cinnamon’s best friend Brie. When Brie tosses a glass, she has no idea it contains a love potion. And it has an unintended target- Felix, the werewolf. Brie and Felix must now work together to solve the mystery of missing girls in the village. As they deal with the potion aftereffects, Felix realizes that Brie is his fated mate. While Brie wishes that were true, she doesn’t trust that Felix isn’t being influenced by the love potion. Will Brie have a happily-ever-after or lose Felix once the potion wears off? 

I loved Brie!! All of Kimberly Lemming’s characters have a relatable and hilarious energy, but Brie felt special to me. Lemming writes the type of characters that you wish you could hang out and get dinner with. Brie has impeccable taste in both cheese and smutty romance books. I loved how she used that knowledge when defeating the evil luring the girls from the village. Felix is a sweetheart and I enjoyed having his POV. The world-building was expanded in this book and more magical creatures were introduced. I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator really brought the story to life. I would recommend this book if you love fated mates, strong heroines, forced proximity, great ensemble characters, and lots of witty dialogue. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series! 

Thank you to Kimberly Lemming, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Violet Everly. Raised by her uncles, Violet is also a dreamer who finds solace in fairy tales. When a strange woman named Penelope comes to the house, her uncles are forced to reveal the Everly family curse to Violet. It’s the curse that claimed her mother and which will doom them all. Yet Violet isn’t going down without a fight. With the help of a mysterious boy named Aleksander, Violet tries to retrace her mother’s search for answers before her time runs out. 

The City of Stardust is a luscious, beautiful story. Georgia Summers’ writing reminds me of Erin Morgenstern. It is transportive, magical, and so imaginative. Violet and Aleksander remind me of Celia and Marco from The Night Circus- two rivals who could easily have been true friends in another life if they weren’t held apart by circumstance. Violet is a compelling and fierce heroine who is determined to retrace her mother’s steps. Aleksander is beholden to the mysterious and vicious Penelope, who is trapped by the magic of a story long forgotten. Even as Penelope makes villainous choices, she has the air of a doomed Persephone who will do anything to accomplish her goals. I was intrigued by her story and found the ending very satisfying. 

In this stunning debut, keys and curses have a great and terrible power. Summers deftly weaves together a gorgeous tale of dreamers, magic that comes with a price, and the power of stories. Once you start reading, you’ll want to cancel all your plans and stay in the magic of this world. If you love beautiful writing, imaginative world-building, and Erin Morgenstern then you will love The City of Stardust. I’m looking forward to what Georgia Summers writes next! 

Thank you to Georgia Summers, Redhook Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a classic romance trope and this story is the epitome of it. Alfie is a retired footballer who is a certified grump. The last thing he wants to do is write his memoirs, yet here he is. Mabel is a sassy and sweet ghostwriter who seems to bring sunshine with her when she enters the room. They immediately clash, with Alfie accidentally insulting Mabel. But to Mabel’s shock, Alfie has taken a liking to her and wants Mabel to be the one to write his story. As they get to know each other, they also get roped into a fake dating scheme. But once the memoir is over, will their relationship continue? 

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a hilarious, slow-burn romance. Mabel and Alfie have excellent chemistry and they are simply a fun couple. The fake dating scheme adds some delightful forced proximity that leads to only-one-bed shenanigans. When the romance hits, there are some scorching steamy scenes. I enjoyed how Mabel manages to reveal a side of Alfie that he’s never shown to anyone. When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a sweet romance that I devoured. I would recommend it if you enjoy grump/sunshine, fake dating, and forced proximity. If you like witty banter and wish romances had more of it, you need to read this book! 

Thank you to Charlotte Stein, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.