Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book

Listen. I freaking adored this book.
Here's what you can expect: A fierce chinese-american lesbian protagonist, a caring and fiery bi protagonist, lots and lots and lots and lots of pining.

Isn't that what we all need in our lives? Fierce women who are so very clueless and chaotic when it comes to having a relationship? Let me tell you, I knew that this book was going to be a five star read for me at about chapter 3. Hands down. And I was not disappointed.

The book is written from the viewpoint of both protagonists (so you get double the pining, double the chaos and double the disaster) and each of them has such a distinct and lovely voice that it's hard not to absolutely fall in love with Jo and Emma. When rumors about them start up after they have been photographed laughing at each other at an awards ceremony red carpet, they slowly start falling for each other while simultaneously trying to keep up a professional work relationship and avoid gossip from the press and their co-workers.

It is an absolute delight to read and I actively paused after a couple of chapters so that I could drag reading this out - that is how much I loved it.

I heartily recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance and strong characters (so basically, everyone).

Happy reading!

So I got this picture as part of a subscription box (How Novel) so I didn't know what I'd get until it was here. Since I am not the biggest fan of Rom Coms, I was a bit suspicious from the start but I was soon completely sucked in and this book came to me at a time where all I wanted and needed was a book which would worm its way into my heart. And this is it.

It's about twenty-five year old Hannah who is a bit directionless. She wants to become an English teacher - out of convenience. She actually wants to become a writer but her self-esteem in that (and other departments) have recieved such a blow that she settles on teaching until she goes to an interview and is told that she is completely unfit for the job. With no plan B or other prospects on the horizon, She fears the reaction of her family and her successful sister.

Even worse, she will have to face her extended relatives as well because her grandmother's estranged brother, whom Hannah has never met, invites them all onto his grand estate. Hannah actually finds that she gets on well with Donald. Sadly, his absolutely gorgeous but rude PA seems to be more of a challenge. Soon after, Donald dies and at the reading of the will, he has a special challenge for Hannah: if she completes tasks he has set for her in the company of his PA Alec, there will be an undisclosed reward after.

Soon, Hannah finds herself doing things she never thought possible and enjoying herself, as well as getting to know Donald piece by piece through the letters he's left her. And then there's Alec, who seems to warm up to her the more time they spend together...

This book was absolutely wholesome. And weird. GOSH there were things in there that were so weird I laughed out loud. And there's pining. And so much space for Hannah to find herself and to develop the person she wants to be. There is space for her to write and experience and feel without any outside pressure and it is exactly what everyone needs in my opinion. The romance was absolutely lovely and I couldn't have wished for a better romantic development. Sometimes, the romance plot overshadows everything else but this was not the case here. There were so many things that were important and rightfully so. Hannah met new friends, defied her family, stood up for herself and it was an absolute joy to be able to go on this journey with Hannah.

I will treasure this book forever and if you don't know what to read one day? There is no way you can go wrong with this.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Date Me, Bryson Keller

So listen. I have thoughts. Prior to any kind of review I want to say this:
I have seen a lot of critisism around for this book because of it's similar concept to the manga Seven Days. Let me just say this: That similar concept is precisely why I desperately wanted to pick this up in the first place. Because I have loved that manga for years and my copy at home is absolutely battered because I've read it so often.
I don't see why the similar set up (for the rest of the book goes into a different direction afterwards), should evoke any kind of criticism in anyone. At the end of the day, every work has been inspired by another. We all have tropes that we love that we know from multiple works we've read. Enemies to lovers? Fake Dating? Oh my god they were roommates? Bedsharing? These are things that aren't original. They're cliché and I for one LOVE them. Half of the classics have taken parts of other classics and written around it. Mr van Whye has honestly written an amazing book that should be on everyone's bookshelf.

Now on to the review itself. You might have noticed but I absolutely adored this book. The premise was adorable, both Bryson and Kai are extremely likable and I honestly enjoyed sibling dynamics of Crystal and Bryson and Kai and Jazz so. freaking. much. Jazz is my hero of this story, hands down. I also loved the three musketeers and their unwavering friendship and support.

While this book is mainly light hearted, super cute and funny, it also deals with the enormous burden of coming out and if that was not enough prejudice to face; coming out as a mixed-race teen. Of course, this presents more of a difficulty for some than it does for others. The book shouts "OUTING SOMEONE IS NOT OKAY" from the rooftops and I am so here for it I could not be more here for it. What Kai goes through? Even though there are statistically worse cases? Is one of the most horrible things in the world. Not knowing if your family will still love you just because of who you love. Kai's feelings are beautifully and heartbreakingly displayed and I felt my insides clench from feeling with him.

I am so happy that this novel is out there. That it adresses bullies, that it adresses how it's sometimes safer to be in the closet, both mentally and physically. And I hope that everyone who needs this in their lives will find this and will hold it as close to their hearts ans I already am.

This is a truly beautiful story.

As a sidenote: I also loved the author's note at the end. This is an Own Voices novel that obviously means a lot to the author and reading the author's note made it mean even more to me. And I absolutely adore that van Whye does list his influences and he doesn't just list the Seven Days Manga, but he also lists Skam. Which is only one of my favourite things in the world.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of Aix Marks the Spot in exchange for an honest review.

I love novels in which a character comes to another country and experiences the culture for the first time. And it was so refreshing to see a character going to another part of France that is not Paris. I am also a huge fan of the other language sprinkled in - in this case, French. I am also a huge sucker for everything art, lettery, road-trip-y and of course romantic.

So you can imagine that I went into this book expecting to absolutely adore it. The summary had me absolutely hooked and I was super here for this story line and plot.

My actual feelings were indifference and/or annoyance. I read that the author wrote from their own life and I am not here to discredit the experiences because as I said, the experience itself sounds lovely. This is also not meant to be a personal review on what I think of the author's life but simply of the way the book was structured.

There were things I liked but they were very few. I loved the descriptions of the places Jamie and Valentin went to. Loved the descriptions of nature and the towns themselves. I also liked Valentin. He seemed thoughtful, kind and overall sweet. Everything else, though? Besides of the concept? I disliked.

Starting with the French. Listen. I am a French learner and I found mistakes in this book. Up to the point that I avoided reading the sentences in French in fear that they would get stuck in my head as correct. I wasn't sure at first and even asked my French friend who immediately thought I was the one who'd copied it wrong because sentences like that can't possibly come from a published book. Yeah, well.

Jamie I didn't warm up to at all. From the first page on I was annoyed and frustrated with how whiny she was, how egocentric and self-absorbed she was. The worst thing was when I found out how her mum had the accident because all of her wallowing in self-pity about being the reason for almost killing her seemed to very pathetic to me at that point. She is overly dramatic and incredibly hypocritical e.g. She wants to give up everytime a bus or train doesn't show but gets mad and screams at Valentin for being a coward whenever they hit a seemingly proper dead end. Pot Kettle much? The fact that she spoke to "you" as in - her mother - drove me up the freaking wall as well... and... she is just so very American.

Which in itself is of course not a bad thing. But in a book which criticizes American tourists for being loud and for just stomping all over the culture they find themselves in, her characterisation has a flair of "She's not like the other girls" when in actuality, she is definitely, absolutely like those girls. She knows absolutely nothing about France and half-asses her French even though she is in the country for the foreseeable time. It's just... I was so very frustrated. The descriptions of cultures e.g. the American tourists being annoying, the French being rude to her because they want her to learn/speak French, was a little strange. I would even go there and say slightly racist. At least in Mamie's case (who is a bitch. Short and simple). She is of the opinion that American woman just come into the country, leave their American mark all over and take the French men away. It feels very much like the well liked reasoning of racists that "foreigners take all of our jobs". And I am not at all here for it. So I was offended in both ways and I am neither American nor French.

I'm not even going to talk about Mamie further because she was just... yeah.

Let's talk about the love story. I will be short on that because if I let my thoughts run free you will all be way too bored of my bitchfest. Because I was honestly cringing the entire time. I did not see the chemistry to begin with even though it was quite obvious from the start where this would be going. We have to remember that they fell in love (with Jamie actually saying those words on the phone) after a week. That's ridiculous. Even if you spend all of your time together. Then there was Jamie's annoying jealousy of Valentins other female friends and her RELIEF when they turned out to be gay with each other. I mean?? There was not even a hint of a threat there and Jamie was just being her annoying overdramatic self in this situation and she was even debating just leaving their conversation because of the way she didn't feel as pretty as the other girl. I. Was. Frustrated. The whole romance from Jamie's POV just seemed so childish and ridiculous that I did not care at all and was even sorry that Valentin ended up with her. As the only character I liked in this novel, I would've liked to see him end up with either no one or off screen with an amazing girl (or guy or non-binary pal).

That but not least - and this is a personal pet peeve for me, I do not think most readers will have an issue with it - the descriptions of meat. Why. why. why. Did Jamie need to eat meat and dairy everytime she stuffed her face? I don't expect books to cater to vegan readers (much to my dismay) but it's 2020. Do we really need in-depth descriptions of meat and dairy literally everywhere all the time? Can it not just be: they had crêpes for lunch? Nope, it's always the crêpe with the delicious amazing gorgeous ham and OMG let's put an egg in there. Excuse my outburst but I am just sick and tired of neverending food descriptions that are for me, ethically, not endurable and made me feel sick to my stomach. And for everyone thinking about how the French cuisine is based on these things: I had the very best time in France when I went there last time. Because they do actually have vegetables and potatoes and chickpeas as well you know? Yes they love their cheese. But it's not the only thing they eat all day every day. (Except the baguette. That's always there)

Bottom line is. I wish I had enjoyed this book. I didn't. I guess for some people this is a cute romance. If you have issues with any of what I wrote above I don't think this book is for you. If you don't I suggest you give it a try.

I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC from netgalley/Hodder & Stoughton for an honest review.

Friends. Today is the day where I give up trying to write coherent and structured reviews.
Because I CANNOT with this book.
This book is, simply put, a pining extravaganza featuring a fluff fest, some kick ass characters and... actually more fluff. Also awkwardness. A lot of it.

So listen, here is the thing. The main character, Nick? I want to wrap him up in a thick blanket and tell him that he's going to be okay forever. He is hilariously funny, he is relatable (what does it say about me that I actually don't have ADHD and still ramble like him?) and he is an absolute adorable FANBOY. He writes fanfiction, he makes a total arse of himself when he finally meets his "celeb-crush" and his tumblr page is dedicated to all kinds of SFW and NSFW fanart of said celeb-crush. Sound familar? If so, hello my friend, YOU are a nerd. And I don't know why you are still reading my review when you could already jump on the website of the indie-bookshop of your choice and pre-order this loveletter to fandom-ism? Fangirl/boy/by-ism? Anyway, that. You know who you are!

If one character to stan isn't enough for you, I have fantastic news! Because there is also Seth Gray. Who is the most adorable young man you will ever come across. Yes, I said young man like an aunt. But he wears bow ties y'all, BOW TIES. And he may or may not be a bisexual pathetically pining mess. Which we love. And which Nick may or may love, too, even though our main boy Nick is a bit thick about these things. So. Prepare for the most excruciating pining. Which i am capital H Here for, son!

But hold on, two guys being bros and also slightly queer don't make up a whole group of friends, right? That's why I would love to introduce you to Gibby and Jazz. Two girls who are in the most wholesome, loving and disgustingly sweet relationship that you may or may not have cavities by the time you have finished this book. I just highkey love them.

Now that I have introduced you to the main gang, let's talk about Owen. We don't love Owen because he gets in between Nick and Seth's pining. He also is Nick's sort-of-ex-boyfriend, which, as we know, Seth is not here for. Hence, neither am I.

As far as adults go, they are FAN TAS TIC. Nick's dad? An absolute Gem. Police officer, totally indulges his son's obsession with the vigilante who thinks it's his duty to "save Nova City". The Police Captain? FABULOUS. His wife? Perfection. Seth's aunt and uncle? GIMME. Honestly, the adults in this book are as fantastic as the teenagers are, which gives you a feeling of complete satisfaction. At least that's what happened to me.

And in between all of these fab characters? Prepare for romance. Prepare for pining. Prepare for AWKWARDNESS and lots of it. Prepare for cheesy superhero lines that are cryptic and make you shake your head at the page. Prepare for supernatural fighting. Prepare for action. Prepare for FEELINGS. Because they are coming for you. Good, bad, all of them. You will laugh, you will cry, your heart will beat faster and you will put this book down and feel like you've just come from the very best journey you could ever have gone on.

And if you're still reading this instead of hastily (pre-) ordering, I would like you to imagine my as Terry Crews and... *clears throat* WHY?!?!?!?!?!

Can I please start by absolutely fawning over this GORGEOUS cover? Like ?? This is amazing.
Honestly. Showstopping. Spectakular. I love it so much.
I could look at it all the time.

Anyway! Onwards!
I really really liked this book! It was intense and funny and romantic and cute and sad and... just all of the feelings.
Due to Matt's disposition and especially his feelings towards the family business, I sometimes was surprised when the Mafia came back into play again, like I'd just completely forget about that while reading about the relationship before something family related would happen again but in the end I found that I didn't mind. Because it was probably how Matt felt, too. He concerned himself with things that he liked such as music (he btw. has my exact music taste so I am here for it), films and books and to forget about this other side of his life. Which I think is quite fair if you have an uncle who enjoys torturing people, eh?

So, all in all, big fan of this book and am very excited about it :)

Honestly my only issue with these short stories is that I WISH THEY WOULD BE LONGERRR! I could have read this for ages! It was awkward and funny and I feel so terribly sorry for Ali... he deserves the world! And Tanner would hands down not deserve him!

We cannot but stan Harry! The purest of beans while also being such a nerd. I just love him :) This story was adorable!

Reading this book was an experience.
I actually finished this a couple of days ago and wasn't able to properly sort my thoughts and feelings about this book into a coherent review and I still fear that this is going to end up all over the place, so sorry about that.

Lona as a character was frustrating. I was frustrated with how much I could relate to her in some instances, how much I wanted to be like her in others and then there were some scenes where I was just downright annoyed at her and couldn't believe how she managed to have any relationships - romantic or otherwise at all.

But, and this is I think important, despite her many flaws and issues, she is so deliciously human that I sometimes even forgot she wasn't actually real. That was achieved through the truly fantastic writing.

I'll be honest, it took me a while to actually get into the writing. The very short sequences with the strange headlines were... new. Not what I am used to. But oh my god, it works so well. It is so damn Lona, it's infuriating. And I mean that in the best possible way.

Was this book life changing? Probably not. But it definitely did something to me. It made me think, about humanity and about myself and about how each and every one of us has baggage and we don't know about when we first meet another person. How there is always a deeper water under the surface.

And this is why I love this book. These thoughts and musings completely sneaked up to me and I was surprised by the amount of thinking I did while reading. I honestly thought this was going to be a fairly quick read about a new adult girl who is different but not really and who has lost her way a little. It was so much more.

I recommend this book to... literally anyone. Go get Loner!

Not your #LoveStory was a genuinely lovely read.

This is a story about a girl who grows up with social media. All positive and negative sides included. This is also a girl who feels trapped in her tiny hometown where everyone knows everything about everybody else. She is constantly subjected to her mother's own fears for her and her grandma and her friends. So there are opinions and advice coming from all directions. The lovely thing about that though, is that it is so very obvious how much everyone cares for each other.

I loved Macy and her love for old movies. I loved her group of friends, who were as chaotic and odd as she was and at a first glance, they didn't even necessarily fit together. But it worked. Paxton was charming through and through and I was just happy whenever he came on. Her mum and grandma and the entire sewing club were just a delight, honestly. The whole town (with a few exceptions) just felt like a community and I loved it.

The thing is this. As positive and amazing the internet is (I mean, I honestly love it for being able to share my love for books alone), it has it's dark patches. One of those is that we're all able to take pictures of anyone at anytime and for some reason it's become acceptable to post these on the internet. Publically. Without consent. (Remember Alex from Target? Imagine having someone take a picture of you at your work and posting it online. For whatever reason. #nightmare).
So I was all for this premise. I was all for being mad and being furious and I loved how this was dealt with. That it's deeply problematic how we as a society get roped into discussing the lives, actions and looks of people who have been photographed without their consent. Our ability to cyberstalk so well that someone will always find their house and their work and their school. It's deeply unsettling and this book dealt with it beautifully.

Because a false claim leads to turning this online love story into a tirade of slut shaming for Macy and it becomes very obvious how deeply she is affected. As she should be. As we all should be.

I think this is a very important book to read. Not only for the adorable love story which I enjoyed very much, but because it makes you think about our online culture in general.

I literally urge everyone to read this. And to have a think about how you personally behave online. It's what I did and I had to face some truths that were a little uncomfortable. So a huge thank you to Sonia Hartl for this unapologetically honest book. What a great read.