> childhood bestfriends to strangers to lovers
> different forms of grief / ptsd
> religion based magical abilities
> angst
> i will do anything for you type of romance
> reincarnation & saints

I went in not knowing a single thing about this book tbf, I do think the enemies to lovers should not be equated to this book. I loved the MMC he's absolutely down for his girl, I lived for it. I loved the setting and religion mirroring that of the Vatican and Roman Catholicism. The story seems heavy on reincarnation. There's a murder mystery involving those of the Palazzo, and Damien is meant to solve it. Roz is part of a rebellion and grieves for her father. Both haven't seen each other in years, but come together to figure out the culprit of the murders at hand. If you're not down for distant lovers straight out the gate, don't pick this up. 

This one was good, but not necessarily a fave of mine. Although, I love the chaotic romance between the bridegroom, Azure, and Indigo. This book was super slow crawling even for me and I love slow gothic reads. It felt like the plot barely moved for over half the book and then it abruptly ended. Very fairytale like plot but make it mysteriously wild.

To be fair if it weren't for the pacing, this would have ended up being a fave. But, it really did impact my enjoyment. 

I enjoy Hur's mysteries for sure, but this one had me not entirely enjoying it. It may have been that this was one of her first books, but it felt like some things were being repeated in dialogue every few pages which was hard to get through.

However, I love the historical setting and the mystery. You can definitely tell Hur did a lot of research on this period and made it into an interesting story despite the issues I had with it.

I would recommend this to people who enjoy his-fic murder mysteries set in early 1800s Korea with a touch of Kdrama vibes. I absolutely love how she writes her settings and mysteries, if it weren't for the repetitive dialogue, it could go up a star. I'm still willing to check out her other works from the past and in the future! 

This was an okay book. It entirely relies on just vibes of Vivien the Orc starting up a coffee shop after being battle weary and wanting to retire. 

If you need a low stakes fantasy that's easy to read/ listen to, pick this one up!

> chaotic & messy vampires
> chaotic & messy sapphics
> strangers to lovers to enemies & lovers?
> found family / sister wives vibe

I loved Year of the Witching by Henderson, but this one I utterly consumed. I love anything to do with vampires and this one just hit perfectly. The atmosphere is there, with a grandiose and maze like mansion. Lots of gore & body horror. 

When I tell you I'm obsessed with this book, I'm obsessed. The absolute chaotic and toxic vibes between Marion and Lisavet, or really just Lisavet being chaotic and toxic lol If you want the vibes of Louis and Lestat from iwtv the series, run and grab this book. If you just love gothic vamp stories with horror, grab this book. Idk, just grab this book. But check trigger warnings if needed. 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of my fave classic gothic stories and I thought this was a great retelling of the story.  

It begins with Gabriel going to the same college as Henry, watching their relationship grow as time goes on. Gabriel leaves for the summer and comes back with Henry inaccessible. He then finds out about Hyde and begins to question what's really going on. 

CW: This book deals with deals with racism, homophobia, and attempted sexual harassment / assault.

Most of the books in the classic remix series does end a bit more hopeful than the classics for sure, My Dear Henry included. 

 The Adventures of Amina al Sirafi is a pirate tale of pirate tales. Very embellished and over the top type of adventure of a retired pirate who also happens to be a mom.

I feel that story got a little repetitive with the character's dialogue and inner monologue, but I dealt with it. I tended to like the side characters more and I enjoyed the last half where there were more mythical and fantastical elements to the story. Amina girl bosses, ya know, she's a mom, but she's more than that obviously and she still loves being a pirate and wants to be infamous. That's the whole thing lol uh, yeah, I mean this was a cool read and I thought Dunya was rad af and the reveal at the end, absolutely loved it. Also, sorry I liked the chaotic dilf.

I do like this historical context and being that it's during the age of pirates, there's references to many places and I'm thinking of picking up some of the books the author suggest for non-fic reads. 

I rarely hear about this book and it may have been the time it was published, which the author knew going in although she stated she had began writing this way before Covid was known.

This book was so easy to fall into especially writing wise, with a medieval setting during the Black Plague and inspired by Princess Joan of England. Although, some things go unanswered or not super in depth, this story was fun to read. With two characters, including the main character Cas, suffering from PTSD.

It was shocking, yet refreshing to have a YA book focus on a male main character for once. A little bit of a second-prince/bodyguard romantic tension with a historian. Cas finds himself home long enough to get himself entangled in a web of lies that happened years ago.

I really enjoyed this one and I would recommend it if you're looking for a standalone with a medieval feel to it! 

IM BEGGING ALL ROMANCE AUTHORS TO QUIT WRITING UNECCESSARY THIRD ACT CONFLICTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This could've been a decent academic rivals to lovers. The conflict between Bee and Levi, Levi having a POS guy in stem just like Adam. Just ugh.

I'm just aggravated. Also, I enjoy how Ali describes intimacy and steamy makeout scenes. But, it was a lot of the same of Levi is "so big" and Bee's "so small". and look I read monster romances where size kink runs rampart. But, ugh.

If you loved The Love Hypothesis, you could or could not like this one. I'm in the half of not liking this one, even tho it's the same formula and same beat as Love Hypothesis. 

I had fun with this one, especially for it being a YA standalone fantasy??? Look at me all of a sudden liking standalones this year, who woulda thought??

No but in all seriousness, this book is definitely a "I'm not like other girls" type of vibe and chosen one vibes. Which is a given since this is pitched as a Caraval meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I've never read Caraval, however I love Buffy and I do have to say it plays on the tropes of the tv show for sure. If anything, that's probably why I enjoyed it so much. With a looming dark lord, secrets, a magic system that links vampires and magicians - it was a fun ride. I do wish this could've been aged up a bit, but it was pretty grim and dark at certain bits which was cool too. I also wish there was more romance, but given that it was a one shot - it's pretty decent.

Also, I love how Ava, Willow, and Xander mirror Buffy, Willow, and Xander lmao

Um, so yeah if you enjoy a book that sort of gives off early 2000s vibes with magic, then give it a shot for sure.