Mercy Birdsall is keeping her family business afloat through sheer force of will. She views it as her duty to honor and care for all the bodies that come to her family’s undertaker business. Hart knows undertakers to be opportunistic and cold. From the moment they meet, they get off on the wrong foot and continue that way. When Mercy receives a letter entitled to “A Friend,” she writes back. Unbeknownst to them, Hart and Mercy have more in common than they might think. Will they ever be able to overcome their first impressions? As more drudges flood the towns, will Hart and Mercy find who their pen pal is? 

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a sweet and soulful love story. Mercy and Hart are both vivid characters that simply leap off the page. I loved the creativity of the world-building, it felt completely open to anything and very grounded at the same time. This is a world filled with demigods, drudges (basically zombies), and magical creatures delivering the mail. It is simultaneously filled with complex family relationships, an undertaking business, and excellent librarians. Mercy and Hart are surrounded by a fantastic cast of characters, including Mercy’s siblings, her father, and Hart’s brand-new apprentice. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a story about long-held grief, the courage to be open to new relationships, and that family comes in many different forms. I absolutely loved it and it is one of my new favorite books! 

I would recommend The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy for fans of Neil Gaiman and Under the Whispering Door. I would really recommend The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy to anyone! Thank you to Megan Bannen, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All of our Demise is one of the sequels that I was most excited for this year! The tournament has always taken place in Ilvernath, to determine which family will control the majority of the magic in the city. Yet this year, the tournament has gone horribly wrong. While relationships have blossomed and broken, there are now two factions within the competition. One side is committed to ending the tournament forever; while the other side seeks to gain personal power. As reporters encroach on competitors, a mysterious figure joins the fray, and the champions must choose who and what they will fight for.

One of the things that stands out to me the most in the writing is the outstanding portrayal of character growth. All of the competitors have undergone immense growth and change since the beginning of the tournament, which I love to see. My favorite characters remain Isobel and Alistair. Both of them are complex characters who have been raised with serious expectations about who they will be and what they will do for power- yet only they can truly decide. I also really enjoyed seeing more from Gavin’s point of view and learning about what he values. I loved the twist that Foody and Herman pulled off romantically, it felt realistic and earned. The narrators for the audiobook did an excellent job with the multiple characters that they embodied.

I already can’t wait to reread this story; I didn’t want it to end. Isobel, Alistair, Gavin, and many of the other characters will live on long after the last page for me. This is a heartbreaking and hopeful ending to the duology and I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you wanted more LGBTQ+ rep in the Hunger Games, enjoy magical tournaments, and seek magic that comes with a price then you need to read All of Our Demise.

Thank you to Amanda Foody, Christine Lynn Herman, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for a free audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When a canceled flight forces Georgia to delay her trip, she is stunned to realize that the handsome stranger across the lobby is her former childhood neighbor. Alec Kim is as gorgeous as ever, offering to help Gigi when all of the hotels are booked. A scorching one-night stand ensues, but both are resolute that it will go no further. Gigi soon learns that Alec is one of the most popular K-drama stars, making a romance seem impossible. Yet Alec and Gigi aren’t free of each other just yet…and do they want to be? 

Scandalized was spectacular! It opened with a great meet-cute and immediately embraced the steam and romance of a celebrity/journalist pairing.  Gigi’s journalistic work was grounding and created a meaningful secondary plot. Alec was delightful!! He was thoughtful, protective, and enchanted with Gigi. Meanwhile, Gigi has had a crush on Alec for as long as she can remember. It was so satisfying to see this come to an epic conclusion as they find each other again years later. I would definitely recommend it for fans of Tessa Bailey and Rosie Danan. I can’t wait to see what Ivy Owens writes next! 

Thank you to Ivy Owens, Gallery Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Robin Swift is brought to England by the mysterious Professor Lowell after his mother dies of illness. He has left Canton behind, but carries language with him wherever he goes. And that is what interests Professor Lowell- training Robin in Ancient Greek, Latin, and Chinese. Robin is destined for Babel, the translation center that powers England. Babel uses silver bars and other country’s languages to activate them. As Robin grows older, he is contacted by the shadowy Hermes Society, who aims to take down Babel once and for all. When Robin learns of a manipulative conspiracy to spark war with China, he must choose whose side he is truly on.

R. F. Kuang weaves a compelling and unputdownable tale of dark academia and colonialism. The characters are lovable and it is impossible not to be filled with fury at the injustices and discrimination that they experience at Oxford. Sadly, this is not a matter of fiction and instead a reality. I particularly loved Robin, Rami, and Victoire. Kuang’s prose is elegant and witty; I highlighted so many fantastic quotes while I read. The humor is dry and unforgiving, which I loved. Kuang has filled this book with history and anecdotes; I frequently found myself researching more about the real-life people and facts presented in footnote form.

The concept of silver-working was such a well-designed and insidious magic system. The system requires a native language speaker to create and use the bars. In this way, language is stolen and used against the people it belongs to. Kuang highlights real-world issues in academia such as racism, discrimination, and the effects of colonialism. She builds the story to an incredible and heartbreaking climax. I can’t wait to get my hard copy and reread everything; I know this is one of the books that will only gain deeper meaning and detail with every reread. Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution is unquestionably a masterpiece. I couldn’t put it down! I would highly recommend it to anyone. Kuang is such a talented writer and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you so much to R. F. Kuang, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake is a quirky, chaotic, and joyful story. Lizzie is a creative baker who struggles to manage how ADHD impacts her life. While she is routinely labeled as “lazy,” Lizzie simply has a difficult time taking her meds and staying on time. When Lizzie meets a sexy Australian named Rake, they have a fantastic time together. Two weeks later, Lizzie takes a pregnancy test after intense nausea. Lizzie must choose how she wants to proceed and try to track down Rake. Can someone who’s always been told she can’t do anything right handle this latest twist?  

I really enjoyed Mazey Eddings’ writing, she has a very funny and vivid way of setting the scenes. However, I learned that the “accidental pregnancy” trope is not really one I enjoy. This would have stressed me out so much in real life, that I struggled to relax. I did try to stay open to it though and I think Mazey definitely pulled it off. I loved the ADHD rep and how Lizzie deals with toxic family members who do not understand or accept neurodivergence. Lizzie is filled with sunshine and I loved seeing her grow in confidence and agency. I also appreciated all the little nods to romance authors throughout the books! 

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