In the late 1950s, Nick and Andy were never meant to meet. At least they were never meant to be more than colleagues. When Nick takes Andy under his wing at the newspaper, they’re crossing boundaries that were never intended to be broken. But Nick somehow finds himself smiling more than ever when he’s around Andy. Clumsy Andy is certain that he’s never felt more grounded than when Nick’s around. As an engagement is broken and Andy’s mogul father contemplates retirement, Nick and Andy must decide what they are to each other. How much will the world allow them to have and how much will they simply decide to take? 

I couldn’t put this book down! It felt like a fever dream of a book where I couldn’t stop reading once I started. The raw emotion and longing in the book permeates every page. Nick and Andy share a special connection every moment they are together; I enjoyed watching it deepen and become more. Cat Sebastian doesn’t shy away from the realities of being queer in the 1950s and how difficult and violent that was. I loved how Nick and Andy were able to find each other and create a safe space where they could be who they are. I especially enjoyed how Andy came to be curious about his identity later in life and was able to explore that on page. 

We Could Be So Good is a queer, slow-burn historical romance. It has both a grump and a sunshine, only-soft-for-you trope, a determined cat, and the vibes from Newsies. What more could you want? I would highly recommend this to anyone and especially fans of Newsies, Alexis Hall, and KJ Charles. 

Thank you to Cat Sebastian, Avon, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Mortal Follies is the story of Maelys, a young lady who seems to be cursed. When her gown unravels at a ball, Maelys is forced to consider unusual methods for taming said curse. Who would want to curse her anyway? Enter the Duke of Annadale, real name Lady Georgianna, so nicknamed due to the unnatural way her father and brothers died. Is she truly a murderess? How is she always coming to Maelys’ rescue? And unbeknownst to Maelys, she has a narrator observing her. The narrator is a curious and at times capricious fae whose purpose is to document the story and ensure that (almost) all of the reader's questions are answered. Will the mysterious fae have documented a comedy or tragedy in the end? 

Mortal Follies is a witty and whimsical historical romance from Alexis Hall. I adored it!! I would unabashedly read Alexis Hall's grocery list, but fortunately this book exists. The sense of humor is so droll and even as Hall writes the simplest sentence, a joke is somehow worked in. Maelys and Georgianna have a complicated and swoonworthy romance. It is thrilling to watch as they appease goddesses, defeat villainous men, and simply try to decide what they might mean to each other. Hall never ignores the realities of what it meant to be queer during this time period, yet somehow one is certain of a happy ending. I thought the narrator was hilarious and eloquent. I appreciated the hidden world of the fae that was revealed through their eyes. 

Mortal Follies is a must-read for Alexis Hall fans (of course),  Lex Croucher (Infamous), and  KJ Charles (The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen). If you enjoy witty, queer historical romance tinged with a hint of magic then you need to read Mortal Follies! 

Thank you to Alexis Hall, Del Rey, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Shadows of the Lost is the new book in the Guild of the Night series, featuring Gaige and Kost. While they appear in the previous Beast Charmer trilogy, this book can be read as a standalone. Gaige is struggling with his new life as an immortal assassin. He finds it impossible to control his shadow powers, which will soon lead to dangerous consequences if he can’t master them. Meanwhile, Kost is trying to show Gaige that life as one of the immortal assassins isn’t as miserable as he fears. When a destructive and strange new power manifests, Gaige and Kost will need to work together to stop it and reveal who is behind it. 

Gaige and Kost have a very sweet romance and I enjoyed watching them form connections while trying to unlock Gaige’s control of his power. Gaige is mourning the loss of his beasts, which I really liked learning more about. Kost was able to help him create a beautiful solution to his loss. There are plenty of supporting characters from the previous trilogy and also intriguing new ones. I’m hoping to learn more details about the villain in the next book, because they felt a little over the top at times. 

I loved the tight bond between the band of brothers; even when Gaige was having the most difficulty with his powers they never gave up on him. I also loved the acceptance of the queer-norm world. It seems clear that Ozias and Calem have future romances to come, which I’m looking forward to. The world-building excels in creating types of creatures and their powers. Shadows of the Lost would be perfect for anyone who enjoys stories about magical creatures, shadow powers, and sweet queer romance. 

Thank you to Maxym M. Martineau, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Her Good Side is the joyous and sweet story of Bethany and Jacob. Branded as an emotional crier during her freshman year of high school, Bethany has struggled to find a date to a dance…much less a boyfriend. Jacob just got dumped again. He agrees to go to the dance platonically with Bethany, where they strike a deal- fake dating to practice while they wait for the real thing. An adorable and romantic comedy begins…

I LOVED Her Good Side!! Bethany is hilarious and I related to her feelings of being known as emotional/quick to cry for all sorts of reasons. Jacob and Bethany have incredible chemistry and I loved whenever they were on the page together. Both Bethany and Jacob have loving and flawed families that are trying to do their best, which always shines through. The dialogue was witty and filled with banter. I appreciate how Jacob was trying to learn how to both be his authentic self and also be in a relationship. I absolutely melted over some of the sweet moments Jacob and Bethany have together!  

If you love excellent YA contemporary romance, you need to read this book!! Her Good Side includes fake dating, friend groups that feel like family, two sweet cinnamon rolls, queer rep, and a hero that is utterly captivated by his heroine. Readers who enjoy Talia Hibbert (Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute), Emma Lord (Begin Again), and Sophie Gonzales (Never Ever Getting Back Together) need to check this out! 

Thank you to Rebekah Weatherspoon, Bookish First, and Penguin Teen for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Girls Like Girls is based on the iconic music video and song from Hayley Kiyoko. I was immediately drawn in by the gorgeous cover. The story follows Coley and Sonya, with Coley forced to live with her estranged father after the death of her mother. Coley must wrestle with romantic feelings about Sonya, as Sonya must decide whether she accepts herself. There are no easy answers and the girls must choose whether they can continue their friendship/relationship… 

The story felt very surface-level. I struggled with the lack of depth in both plot and characters. While Coley absolutely had tragic things happen in her backstory, they felt a little underdeveloped. If you’ve seen the music video, you’ll have a good idea of where the story is going. However, the pacing felt a bit off as the climatic moment occurs and then the book wraps up. I would have expected more about what happens next or what happens  between them in the future. 

I enjoyed the relationship between Coley and her dad. It was nice to see Coley form genuine connections outside of her somewhat toxic friendships and relationship. Girls Like Girls has an important message about being true to yourself and not worrying about the expectations of others. I do think this book will really mean a lot to some readers, especially those who love the titular music video and song.   

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

Perilous Times is the gripping futuristic retelling of Arthurian legend. It follows Sir Kay, Arthur’s brother and knight of the round table. But Arthur is dead, the planet is in a climate crisis, and Kay is summoned to help when Britain is in dire peril. Kay meets Mariam, a young activist who is attempting to save the planet. Can Kay and Mariam work together to save Britain and the planet before the damage is irreversible?  

I loved how inventive and creative this book was. The magic system was fascinating and I really liked the lore behind how the knights were able to be summoned back to life if Britain was in peril. The dragons, fae realm, and deals with the devil were incredibly fun. I especially loved the inclusion of queerness and the challenging of legends that readers feel they know by heart, such as what truly happened between Lancelot and Gwen. The book really reminded me of the writing style of Good Omens (Gaiman & Pratchett), especially the excellent sense of humor. 

Thomas D. Lee writes the characters with so much wit and skill. In particular, I loved his take on Merlin, Morgan, and Lancelot. Lee excels at taking a piece of the legend that readers think they know and creating something entirely new. Perilous Times is a wild ride of Arthurian knights brought back to life, fierce battles, and people trying to do the right thing for the planet.  I loved it and can’t wait to see what Lee writes next!  Readers who enjoy Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and inventive Arthurian retellings need to check out Perilous Times.

Thank you to Thomas D. Lee, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.