emmreadsbooks's Reviews (1.28k)

Am I officially in my hockey romance era? Because I am INTO it. I'm so excited to go into her backlist to read Brent and Mitch's stories, but I'm even more hyped for the books to come in the Pregame series. I have a sneaking suspicion that Jack, Luke, and Asher will be the male leads in future books and I can't wait to see how their romances unfold. Aiden and Kenzie have instant chemistry, but their preconceived notions about the other definitely cause some chaos at first. That and an unfortunate dare... (I would PAY to see the video of it, for the record)

What I loved most about this story was how they grow into their relationship. There was a lot of will they or won't they, but I feel like that's the general trend of college romances. And even when there were miscommunications, we got to see them resolved on screen like 2 real humans would. It doesn't just naturally fall into place, but they don't necessarily hold a grudge either. Also it's H O T HOT HOT steamy - indoor, outdoor, public spaces, you name it. Basically if you want some steam, some realistic characters, and the feel of a Midwest university in the fall, check this one out.

*Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

So pure, so funny, and just so touching. This is like a mix of Pinocchio and The Brave Little Toaster, with a bit of The Wizard of Oz tossed in. I was a bit intimidated with a 15 hour audiobook, but it just flew by! Rambo had me laughing the whole time, easily my favorite character. We get this intricate society of machines, juxtaposed with their hidden family, and all of this adventure and chaos. It absolutely punched me in the feels though, so be ready with tissues for the ending.

Also we NEED to talk about what a phenomenal job Daniel Henning does. Each of the robots and characters had such distinctive voices and really brought character to the story. I tried switching back to the ebook so I could finish it faster, but it felt incomplete without him!

*Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an ARC and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

This series is so close to my heart, as it's what really got me back into reading. The book itself is bittersweet, being the last book that Rachel Caine worked on, but I think Carrie Ryan did a good job of carrying on the torch. Small town thrillers are a true guilty pleasure of mine, especially now that I live in the south. It was truly delectable and SO hard to put down. We get so many PoVs which really helped enhance the tension. So many plates are spinning and each character is in crisis. By splitting up the Proctor clan, everything feels deadlier. I did think that some of the twists were a little rushed, but the ending left me wanting the next book.

As a midwestern girlie, I'm no slouch when it comes to tornados. I loved seeing Violet, the Elle Woods of stormchasing, get in the field. The twister bros made excellent villains, misogyny included, but I really liked that Julian let Violet fight her own battles. At times I found the time switches confusing, especially since it usually switched PoVs at the same time. But the coat room! THE COAT ROOM. Violet and Julian absolutely wreck each other in the best way and it got me excited for her next novel.

*Thank you to Nellie for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Memoirs are hard to review, but here's where this one delivers... Culture, family, and food. And I think that these are just so relatable across people that you can't help but love it. This book is DEFINITELY enjoyed best on audio, as the author narrates it herself. It is a tough read, as Michelle Zauner copes with the death of her mother and its associated grief, but it's worth it.

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

This BOOK!!! I went in completely blind, just requesting it because I love Robbie Couch's writing. Man am I glad because the time loop threw me for a twist and made it just so much more fun. Imagine reliving the same day of your life for almost a YEAR before something dramatically different happened. But more than just the gimmick of being in a time loop, this book is about recognizing your feelings, experiencing loneliness, and struggling to make friends in the modern era. I loved how empathetic Clark became as the book went on and I was near tears toward the end. The narrator for the audio was also amazing at differentiating between the various characters' dialogue, all while leaning into the madness that is a time loop book. This is an ode to romcoms and time loop movies everywhere, but done in that special Robbie Couch way. Now don't mind me while I curl up with a blue velvet brownie.

*Thank you to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an ARC and Simon Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

This is like if you took The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and twisted it into a contemporary mystery. Needless to say, I freaking loved it. Advika is by no means the heroine you'd expect - she's an aspiring screenwriter bogged down in catering. But when she meets Julian, she's swept away in a whirlwind romance. As a reader, it was tantalizing watching Advika realize the truth about her husband and work out how to escape his grasp. I can't remember the last time I read a character-motivated mystery, but this one is amazing. For those who loved Dava Shastri's Last Day, the writing style and focus on celebrity is still consistent - I'd argue that the pacing of this book is better and the plot a bit more compelling. Really, just all around applause for Kirthana Ramisetti.

*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This story is pure, unadulturated, diabolical fun. From the concept of a academy devoted to murder to the downright absurd scenes we find ourselves in, it's a wild ride. Alternating between Cliff's journal (expertly narrated by Neil Patrick Harris I might add) and his fellow students' point of views, we begin to understand what truly drove them to attend McMasters. The dry wit is truly lethal and I worry for Rupert Holmes's search history. What's more exciting is that we might get more books in this world, as it's volume 1, and I would be SO down to read more.

*Thank you to Simon Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Derek is a precious cinnamon roll who needs to be protected at all costs. Between him just being all around sweet and his pure devotion to Midnight in Dallas and his passion for photography? Uh yeah, he was meant to be the lead in a romcom. It felt like all of the little breadcrumbs that Melissa Grace left in the previous books came to pass, in some cases somewhat explosively. And then we get Jo - the resting nice face anchorwoman, coming home to lick her wounds after a traumatic (but hilarious) experience in Chicago. This book is all about trusting yourself and chasing your joy at all costs, but also about realizing your true purpose in life. And as usual, the animal sidekick is one of the BEST characters - Izzy can do no wrong. These books keep getting better and better, so buckle up!

Oh BABY! Cash and Ella caught my eye in book 1, but I'm so glad that I didn't have to wait for their relationship to step into the spotlight. Between them getting a second chance at love after losing their spouses and seeing Grace fall head over heels, it's all just so precious. Compared to Home is Where You Are, Home Again is DEFINITELY more unputdownable, so be warned. I loved how supportive Cash is, contrasting nicely with Ella's sass. And the meddling, oh the meddling! It's worth noting that Bradley Cooper is the star of the show of course, but Cash and Ella play a great second fiddle.