Thanks to Entangled: Red Tower Books for the ARC!

This was such a fun sci-fi romance read, and my first read in this genre! We follow a band of misfits through space in the best spaceship ever - one that thinks for itself and honestly became such a lovable character. While the page count is long, Star Bringer is so worth it and I can’t wait to see where this series goes. I loved every character aboard the Starlight, enjoyed gasping through multiple twists, and can’t believe we were left with that ending!!! This is pretty light sci-fi, so if you’ve been scared of the genre but love other fantasy (including Tracy’s CRAVE book series), try this out! Red Tower Books is killing it with these book releases this year and I’m so excited for what’s coming next!

Read if you:
- like The Breakfast Club / a band of misfits
- enjoy cheering for fun side characters
- like romance with your sci fi / fantasy
- can handle a cliffhanger at the end of a book

3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to Atria for the ARC and Simon Audio for the ALC!

Jason has just become the #1 suspect in his boss’s murder when he suddenly gets into a car accident and ends up in a coma. His wife and sister, Julia and Sienna, try to uncover what really happened to clear his name.

I enjoyed this read, told in dual POV from Julia and Sienna. While they aren’t the most likable characters and Sienna made some questionable decisions, it was interesting to watch the story unfold. Since Jason was in a coma, a lot of the reveal comes at the end, but I’d still say this is a medium-paced thriller. It’s also a great listen on audio!

Thanks to Flatiron for the ARC!

“Sometimes bad things happen to good people, so good people have to do bad things.”

A story centered around very Sally Hepworth-esque family drama, Good Bad Girl is a fun puzzle to put together. There’s a stolen baby, bad blood between a mother and daughter, and a shady care home with a murder. I loved how this was told with the past timeline from an “anonymous” POV and then in the present from multiple POV. Alice Feeney is such a talented writer and I always love trying to figure out the twist she’ll have in a story!

Thanks to Atria Books for the ARC!

Alice Hoffman is a very talented writer. I love her lyrical prose and the enchanting feelings surrounding her words. The dual timeline situation surrounding Nathaniel Hawthorne was clever, but overall, this book just didn’t hold my attention.

Thanks to Uplit Reads and Book Club Favorites for the copies of this book!

The Summer of Songbirds was my first Kristy Woodson Harvey read (I know, I know!) and it was absolutely perfect for summer. This was full of drama with multiple POVs and a slowly unfolding storyline centered around Camp Holly Springs. I loved the overlap of themes in the past and present, and the realizations and growth that happened in all the characters. While there are good romance storylines, there's also a dilemma with attorney/client priviledge, a narrative on trauma and being like your parents, and a single mom storyline. This was complex and engaging, and won't be my last from KWH!

Thanks to Berkley Romance for the ARC of this book!

An absolutely STUNNING debut from Jessica Joyce. This book has so much heart, relatability (especially if you are a recovering perfectionist like me), and depth. It’s also a tender but fiery romance, a sweet visit to the love of past generations, and a fun, adventurous road trip. I absolutely absorbed this book and didn’t want it to end - it’s one of the best and most captivating love stories I’ve read in awhile.

Read if you:
- want to cry while reading a romance book
- have a soft spot for a grandparent
- love to travel to new places
- love an angsty male lead who loves to rile her up

Thanks to Gallery Books for this ARC!

A fast-paced, drama-filled book about the life behind a self-help influencer and what it really takes for them to get all of their content online. This is perfect if you’re obsessed with cults or scandals, or love to hate very popular “hey girl!”-type influencers. I basically felt like I was seeing a behind-the-scenes of Rachel Hollis’s life.

4.5 ⭐️

Brought my June BOTM pick with me to the beach and finished it in less than a day. If you’re looking for a beach thriller, look no further! This story is a wild ride, so even though I guessed the major twist pretty early, it was really entertaining to watch this all play out and there are lots of smaller twists throughout!

Read if you like…
- the bachelorette with friends who haven’t spoken in awhile from IN A DARK, DARK WOOD
- the stormy, isolated island setting in DAISY DARKER
- the wedding-themed murder mystery in YOU’RE INVITED
- the “no cell phones allowed” trope in EVERY VOW YOU BREAK
- the girls trip weekend told in multiple POV from ONE OF THE GIRLS
- the high school drama of ONE OF US IS LYING

Thanks to UpLit Reads for the copy of this book!

This is such a heartwarming and endearing story, full of family, found family, friendship, and growth. Esme Cahill feels like she’s a complete failure: she’s newly divorced and loses her “dream job” in NYC. She’s forced to move back to her hometown when her grandmother also passes away, and finds out their lakeside retreat is in danger of closing. While deciding to rehab the property, Esme meets people who are absolutely lovely, has time for a lot of great introspection, and finds out that life had a different path for her. I ADORED her grandpa, George - I think because he reminded me of my own grandfather - but really this is full of just wonderful characters.

Read this if you’re looking for a feel-good and heartwarming story this summer!