⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Quick, Cute, and Everything I Love About Accidental Pregnancy Romances!

Unexpectedly Ever After was such a delightful surprise; it was sweet, steamy, and so much fun to read. I might be in the minority, but I love a well done accidental pregnancy trope, and this one hit all the right notes for me!

Clover and Banks had incredible chemistry right from the start. I loved Clover’s type A energy, her hilarious rules, and the chaos Banks brings into her perfectly organized world. Their dynamic as roommates was just the right amount of tension and slow burn heat, and once the power goes out... whew, things escalate fast in the best way.

Banks was SUCH a standout book boyfriend to me. He was sweet, steady, and protective without being overbearing. He wasn’t just a hot firefighter (though, let’s be real, that didn’t hurt), but he was truly all in from the moment Clover found out she was pregnant. The way he cared for her, supported her, and dove into planning their future made me swoon. Literal hero energy.

I also really appreciated that there was no third act breakup. The emotional depth and conflict came from a real, relatable place (Clover learning to trust and let someone in) and not from unnecessary drama.

If you're into brother’s best friend + forced proximity + surprise pregnancy with a side of cinnamon roll alpha hero and small town coziness in a big city setting, then Unexpectedly Ever After should absolutely be on your TBR!

I feel like I am in my baseball era (literally watching a game as I type this) and I loved this book.

Crew completely delivered on the steamy, emotional, slow burn goodness I was hoping for. If you’re into MM romance, baseball, and second chances (with a healthy dose of secret longing), then this one’s going to hit you right in the feels. And if you are already a fan of the Off the Field Duet or Dibs, you're in for a treat because a few familiar faces make an appearance! I love when we get to see characters from past books make cameos! That is always my favorite.

Crew and Knox have ridiculous chemistry. Every stolen glance and late night text had me kicking my feet and giggling. The whole fling to love tension was so perfect. And even though their relationship starts as something casual, it quickly becomes clear that it’s so much deeper for both of them.

I really felt for Crew and the way he struggled with being closeted, especially as a pro athlete. The pressure, the fear, the sacrifice was all written so authentically. Then there is Knox, who’s just all in from the beginning and willing to do whatever it takes to be with Crew, even if it means keeping things quiet. The emotional push and pull was so well done.

Also, can we talk about the single dad angle? Loved that added layer to the story. It gave Crew so much depth and brought even more heart to the book.

The ending was amazing and I need the next book. Let’s just say I need Knox (the sequel, not the man... okay, maybe both) yesterday. I am dying to see how it all plays out.

If you love sports romances with real heart, believable tension, and characters you’ll root for from page one, then Crew is for you.

Thank you to Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams, and The Author Agency for the eARC of this book. 

As someone who loves seasonal reads, especially anything cozy, magical, and romantic for spooky season, I went into Hopelessly Teavoted with high hopes. And while there were elements I genuinely enjoyed, overall the story left me wanting more.

This paranormal romance brings together Azrael and Victoria, childhood best friends turned estranged lovers, who reunite after six years of silence. The spark is still there, but so is the lingering fallout from a mysterious (and miscommunicated) incident in college. Their reunion coincides with an evil presence stirring in their hometown, and together, they attempt to uncover its source while navigating unresolved feelings.

I felt like the magical setting was delightful. Azrael’s family home, with its Addams Family vibes and sentient personality, practically leapt off the page. His parents reminded me of a gothic, whimsical version of Gomez and Morticia because they were deeply loving, slightly eccentric, and endlessly endearing. The magic system was also clever. It involved witches who must snap to activate their powers. It’s a quirky detail that adds charm, though the word "snap" might be burned into my brain forever because it appears quite a lot.

As for the romance itself? That’s where things fell flat for me. The summary hinted at an awkward falling out, but the "incident" was far more intimate than expected, and the consequences felt out of proportion. The main obstacle between them was pure miscommunication, the kind that could’ve been cleared up with a single honest conversation. Instead, they avoid each other for six years, and then… immediately fall back in love within days? I struggled to buy into the depth of their connection. The chemistry was described, but I didn’t feel it. And while I’m thankful there was no dramatic third act breakup, it all felt a little too easy, considering the years of unresolved tension.

The pacing also felt off. There’s an evil force in town stealing souls which is such an exciting idea! But despite the supposed urgency, entire weeks pass without progress, making the conflict feel more like background noise than a driving force. The curse from the devil meant to complicate Azrael and Victoria’s relationship felt random and underdeveloped and more of a gimmick than a meaningful obstacle.

That said, the atmosphere was cozy, and the other characters really did shine. The side characters brought humor and heart, often outshining the leads. The setting of Hallowcross was vivid and full of potential, and I’d definitely be curious to return to the town in future books, maybe through the eyes of those compelling side characters.

In the end, Hopelessly Teavoted was a quick and entertaining read that had a lot of potential, but the uneven pacing, lack of romantic tension, and convoluted subplot kept it from truly enchanting me. If you’re in the mood for a witchy fall romance with cozy vibes and a quirky town, it might still be worth a try. Just manage your expectations and prepare for a lot of snapping.

Thank you to NetGalley, Audrey Goldberg Ruoff, and Atria for the eARC of this book.

First of all, the cover is gorgeous and gives the best fall vibes; it would be the perfect book to read in the autumn season.

It’s Different This Time by Joss Richards is a beautifully written, deeply emotional second chance romance that completely swept me away. I devoured this book in a single day and went on a full rollercoaster of emotions; I laughed, I teared up, I fell head over heels. This story just got me.

The book is set in New York City, and is packed with all the autumn vibes I love. The city feels like a character in itself because it feels so alive, vibrant, and brimming with memory and meaning. The dual timeline format was so effective at unraveling June and Adam’s past while slowly rebuilding their present. Watching their connection shift from estranged best friends to something more again had me hooked.

June is a TV actress who has been feeling the sting of change and loss, and Adam is a chef with a steady, quiet kind of devotion that made my heart ache. Their unexpected inheritance of the brownstone they once shared forces them to confront everything they’ve left unsaid, which is years of heartbreak, longing, and unresolved feelings.

This book was such a rich blend of tension, tenderness, and hope. I especially loved the theme of returning, not just to a place, but to yourself, your passions, your people. The chemistry between June and Adam was perfection, and the pacing of their emotional journey felt so natural and real. Yes, there’s a third act breakup (which normally is not my favorite trope), but here, I felt like it worked well. To me, it feels earned, and the payoff is so worth it.

Read if you love:
🍂 Friends to lovers
🍂 Second chances that make your heart hurt (in the best way)
🍂 NYC in the fall
🍂 Banter, Broadway, and a cinnamon roll chef love interest

I’ll be picking up anything Joss Richards writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Richard, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book. 

Okay… this book gripped me from the first page. I am new to MM dark romance specifically and I was not sure how I would feel about this, but it was so good and I was glued to each and every page. 

Imagine a world where a shadowy organization called The Firm can make any wish come true: money, revenge, even murder. Sounds wild, right? But the real twist? You don’t find out the price until after they grant your request. Such a unique concept and something I really have not read before. 

Enter our main character, who swore he’d never mess with The Firm. That is, until his brother's life is on the line and he needs help. When the price finally comes due? It’s not what you think. No crime, no bloodshed. Nope. He has to marry his worst enemy. Yep, cue the forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and second chance angst we all live for. Let me just say, I was seated for this because that was such a twist that I did not expect.

The tension between Wyatt and Matt is absolutely delicious. There’s so much emotion simmering beneath the surface, like old wounds, betrayal, and unspoken feelings. And then being thrown into a fake marriage with the one person you’d never want to share a toothbrush with? Perfection. 🔥

Covenant is equal parts dark and tender. The stakes are high, the world is morally gray, and the romance is messy, complicated, really satisfying. If you love MM romance with intense chemistry, a twisty plot, and characters who feel, this one is perfect.

Thank you to Cora Rose, Lark Taylor, and The Author Agency for the eARC of this book. 

The Waterbearers is one of those books that stays with you long after you finish the last page. Sasha Bonét tells the story of three generations of Black women; her grandmother, her mother, and herself and she writes with such honesty and power, that it felt like sitting down to listen to a family history that’s both deeply personal and universally important.

The book starts with her grandmother, Betty Jean, who raised eleven kids on her own in Texas after years spent picking cotton in Louisiana. Her strength and independence are honestly jaw dropping. Then there’s Mama Connie, Bonét’s mother, who tried to break away from her past but ended up repeating some of the same patterns. And finally, there’s Sasha herself, who is trying to make sense of it all while raising her own daughter and figuring out what kind of mother she wants to be.

Bonét’s writing is gorgeous. It is poetic without being overly flowery, and full of heart. The prose is really beautiful! She also brings in stories of iconic Black women like Nina Simone, Audre Lorde, and Oprah, showing how their lives connect to her own and the women in her family. It’s like a love letter to Black motherhood, resilience, and the way we carry our histories, sometimes without even realizing it.

This book isn’t just about one family, but about legacy, survival, and how women keep going, even when the world expects them to break. If you love memoirs that feel raw, beautiful, and important, you’ll want to add this to your list. I’ll definitely be thinking about this one for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sasha Bonét, and Knopf for the eARC of this book. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

The Brave and the Reckless is a cowboy romance set in the wild west and a theme park to boot, and the setting alone had me immediately intrigued. Between the costumed performances, dorm style cast housing, and a dose of enemies to lovers tension, it was giving drama in all the best ways. Think cowboy cosplay meets camp chaos. I mean that in the most fun way possible, and while I did enjoy this book, it was not without its issues.

Noah was easily the highlight for me. Broody, mysterious, and utterly smoking in his masked cowboy role, he was everything I love in a grumpy MMC. His rough around the edges charm and guarded heart made every interaction worth reading.

Esra, on the other hand, was a bit of a struggle. While I appreciated the attempt to give her depth through her chronic illness and her background of being overly protected, her immaturity and naive decision making didn’t fully land for me, especially considering she had made it as far as med school. I kept wanting her to grow more as the story went on, but her development felt a bit stunted.

Despite that, the romance had its moments. The tension between Noah and Esra was solid, and there were definitely some spicy, well written scenes that if you love oforced proximity and secret relationships, you will enjoy. Dyer’s writing style is engaging and easy to fall into, which helped balance some of the character issues for me.

My biggest wish? A little more cowboy grit and a little less behind the scenes acting drama. The setting had so much potential to lean into that Western vibe, and I would’ve loved more of that dusty charm.

This was a fun, unique take on the cowboy romance genre with an inventive setting and some memorable moments. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally, I can absolutely see this finding a happy home with people who do enjoy quirky, character driven romances with a touch of heat and heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dilan Dyer, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book. 

True North by Alexandra Banks is nothing short of a masterpiece and probably my favorite of this series. As the fourth installment in the Rosewood Ranch series, this story steps back in time to give us the emotional, tender, and downright unforgettable story of Harry and Louisa, who are the mother and father origin story that leads to books 1-3. While it can be read as a standalone, the emotional weight and beauty of True North are amplified if you've followed the journey of their boys through the previous three books.

Set in 1982 Montana, this grumpy/sunshine, second chance romance is everything I didn’t know I needed. Harry Rawlins is a man shaped by hardship; he is tough as nails on the outside, but all heart where it counts. And Louisa? She’s fierce, independent, and driven by a dream to become the next Julia Child. Watching these two find their way back to each other after ten years apart was both gut wrenching and satisfying.

I thought their chemistry was so palpable, like I could just feel how much they loved each other, despite their obstacles, time, and distance. The spice was also so good! Let’s just say Harry’s filthy mouth had me clutching my pearls in the best way possible. And yes… the fencing pliers. You’ll know when you know. 😏

This book broke me and healed me, sometimes within the same chapter. I laughed. I cried. I smiled and giggled and kicked my feet. Rosie, Harry’s mother, stole my heart. She has such unwavering love for Harry and her belief in his future with Louisa made me love her even more. The way she held their love story together in the background? It was really beautiful.

Harry has always loved Louisa. That "he fell first and never stopped" energy radiates through every page. Louisa is the kind of FMC who doesn't back down. She sees Harry’s pain, meets his insecurities head on, and still stands tall. Their love wasn’t easy, but it was real. Raw. Powerful. And deeply earned.

We don't have just tropes and drama. There's no breakup, but just two people determined to make it work through grit, grace, and a whole lot of love. The emotional depth is breathtaking, and Banks balances it with just the right amount of heat, humor, and heart.

If you're craving a cowboy romance with true emotion and a sweet but filthy cowboy, True North is it. And if you've read the rest of the series, this book will hit like a sledgehammer, in the best way possible. The Rawlins family saga has been an incredible ride, and this prequel is the perfect, poignant final piece.

Tropes & Vibes:
🤠 Grumpy/Sunshine
💙 He Fell First & Always Loved Her
🫦 Second Chance Romance/High School Sweethearts
🌶 Perfectly Spicy
🏡 Small Town + Montana Ranch
👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Close Knit Family
📞 Vintage Vibes (long corded phones)

I loved this book! The Faking Game was definitely long, but it never dragged and it gave Nora and West’s relationship the time and space to fully bloom. I was hooked the entire time, particularly because fake dating is my favorite trope. These two were absolute perfection together. Nora, with her people pleasing tendencies, needed someone like West, someone who encouraged her to speak up, stand firm, and go after what she really wanted. And he showed up for her in the most sweet, patient, and quietly powerful ways.

What made this story shine for me was how Olivia Hayle built Nora and West’s emotional connection. They communicated so well about everything except, well... their real feelings, which made the slow burn even more delicious. Their tension, their growth, and their banter was all so natural and compelling. I was smiling half the time and definitely highlighting way too many lines from West’s POV (seriously, the man is peak book boyfriend).

Also, I am already obsessed with the friend group. I need Rafe’s book immediately, and if Alex and Amber don’t end up together, I’ll riot. Their chemistry was too obvious to ignore.

Read this if you love fake dating, brother’s best friend, slow burn romance with heart, depth, and just the right amount of spice. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia Hayle for the eARC of this book. 

Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi 👻🖋️🔥

Ghosts, grumps, and golden retriever man? Yes. Please.

This book was a delightfully spooky hug with a spicy twist. We’ve got:
✨ A horror author with a ghost seeing secret
✨ A hot, broody, secretly soft actor with a dog named Fig (iconic)
✨ A haunted English manor full of sass, spirits, and sapphic Regency era ghosts
✨ Age gap + enemies to lovers slow burn

Rosemary was SUCH a fun character. She is clever, successful, and trying desperately not to fall for the man she publicly tried to get fired. And Ellis? He’s the definition of "grumpy on the outside, golden retriever on the inside" and is an MMC that I really liked. Their banter was hilarious at times and I really felt the tension between them. 

But what really makes this book shine is the balance of cozy paranormal vibes with real emotional beats. There’s depth behind the heat, and the way the supernatural elements are woven in, especially the ghost dog and the not so subtle lesbian ghost couple, made it feel fresh and funny in all the best ways. I do wish there was more ghost/paranormal aspects, as that sort of took a backseat as the romance took off, but I still loved it. 

Also, can we talk about how refreshing it is to have an age gap where the woman is younger and the more emotionally in control one? Loved that dynamic. Loved the cranky actor and chaotic author pairing. Loved how healing this romance felt despite the haunted setting.

⭐ Spicy ghosty fun with heart
⭐ Enemies to lovers + age gap + found family (but make it paranormal)
⭐ 4.5 stars and a ghostly tail wag from Fig

If you want something Halloween adjacent but still full of heart, Love at First Fright is absolutely worth your haunted time. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Nadia El-Fassi, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book.