This is a hard book to review as parts of it left me gasping and others made me want to put it down. I enjoyed the shifting of PoVs, as well as unlabeled flashbacks. It left the reader to figure it all out, which I far prefer to exposition. The pace is slow at times, but you'll find yourself looking for clues in every interaction. The mystery itself was well done, though a few of the big twists were foreshadowed to the point of being obvious. On the bright side, the last twist caught me off guard and that's saying something. Overall it's a compulsively readable dark mystery set in Paris, what more could you want?

*Thank you to William Morrow for the gifted copy*

This is the perfect book for winter, when we're dreaming of all the warmth and sunshine of summer. Liv is stuck in a soulless corporate job when all she really wants is to design anything BUT graphics for health food. The book really gets started when she quits her job and jetsets off to South Africa. The vibes are IMMACULATE. I loved seeing the inner workings of their friendship group's dynamics, and especially the friends to lovers romance of Liv and Deiss. Give me the sex panther that is Lucas Deiss any day! The plot gets crazy at times, but I'm up for anything as long as it leads to a happily ever after. But dang, Lacie Waldon gives me wanderlust in a book every single time and I love her for it.

*Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is INSANE and I loved every minute of it. Blake Crouch has such a talent for blending science fiction with commentaries on humanity in an approachable way. The action is top-notch and keeps the pacing going at lightning speed. This is more than just a reinterpretation of Limitless - we get to follow Logan as he struggles with the upgrade. Imagine your brain and body unlocking to their highest potential... It's a lot to process. What's more interesting is that it's not ridiculous to imagine this playing out in our current reality! This book is best enjoyed in small doses, leaving you with plenty of time to think about the implications.

I'd recommend this to any science fiction, thriller, or dystopian fans or any readers in a slump. You won't be disappointed!

*Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I'm not usually one to go for historical fiction, but a genderbent retelling of The Three Musketeers? Uh yeah, I'm in! We follow Tania, a young woman who's a swordswoman in her own right, but suffers from a chronic illness (i.e. Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS)) that keeps her from living a "normal" life. This book is all about female friendships, the life and times of Victorian Paris, and coping with chronic illness. Plus it had enough pizazz with swordplay and espionage to keep me intrigued throughout! There are twists and turns and an overarching mystery, not to mention the fashion. Overall, this is a great book for fantasy and historical fiction lovers alike.

*Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside as an ace reader. Here Claire Kann shows new facets of asexuality that we don't usually see in fiction - she reminds us that asexuality is a spectrum with many nuanced subsets and that being ace doesn't mean you don't deserve or want to be loved. Joy is a perfect example of this. She's jubilant, flirty, and unashamed of herself or her sexuality. The only thing that has her down right now is that she's in love with her best friend and she's going on a retreat with his new girlfriend. I loved how we got to see Joy grow through this book and also explore her relationships with Fox, Summer, and Malcolm individually. While some may say it doesn't contain enough "romance" content or isn't steamy, I disagree. Growing deeper connections and exploring yourself is INCREDIBLY romantic and the slowest burn can sometimes be the hottest. (Also there's primo pie-making content)

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I've never craved beets before in my life, but here I am drooling over Sadie's food. This book is best categorized as a cooking competition novel with a splash of romance. And honestly? That splash was enough for me! I love Sadie and Luke as characters and the entire ambiance of Chef Supreme, it's really such a great combination. The cast of side characters was quite diverse and interesting, both in their personalities and their approach to food. I'd never heard of Appalachian food and now I'm salivating. Plus the plot of the book was so exciting with the behind the scenes access and rivalries. I do wish that we got to see Sadie grow more, but it's still such a satisfying book.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

The aunties are back and I was here for it! And this time they're across the pond for Meddy's wedding... A wedding already has plenty of craziness, but Jesse Q Sutanto really amps it up. I found myself laughing out loud at the general insanity of the plot and I loved how much the aunties care for Meddy. In this installment, I felt like Meddy was more along for the ride than in Dial A for Aunties and it made for a fun book. Plus the mere idea of the aunties being in the mafia has me ROLLING. Overall if you want a funny book that will keep you guessing, this is a great choice.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is short and sweet and absolutely perfect to listen to when you're in a creative rut. I loved John Cleese's narration and his discussion of creativity as a whole. Personally, I felt that this was kind of a pep talk for the artists out there (which was just what I needed in this instant). However it's QUITE short so you may want to read it from your library instead.

*Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is pretty hexing good! Audible Originals haven't let me down yet. I would love to see a full novel in the world of Isla Bruja - it has such a lush atmosphere and the magic just brings so many elements of humor to the story. Cat and Diego have palpable chemistry from the start, and hiding in a broom closet from a demon is a pretty amazing meet-cute after years apart. I loved Cat's spirit, her dreams of fashion, and her sharp tongue. Also just the mere idea of sex magic is HILARIOUS to me. What the Hex has cemented me as an Alexis Daria fan and I regret nothing.

This is classic Abbi Waxman banter mixed with callbacks to The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, massaged into a new contemporary that will make you smile. We follow Laura, a physical therapist new to LA, who moves into a co-op after a breakdown in a bookstore. Here we meet a giant cast of characters, including impossibly handsome Bob. I loved the match between Laura and Bob - a PT and a gardener doesn't make sense in the conventional romance, but here it was all coming up roses. While this book is certainly uplifting, it's not without tough topics. We discuss toxic relationships, PTSD, and more, all within what feels like a safe space. I'd recommend this book to anyone who needs a pick-me-up and loves a PoV that allows you to be in everyone's head at once.

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*