endless_tbr_list's Reviews (537)

Nonfiction can be tricky and isn't always for everyone, but if you're in the mood for some Roman history and true crime, this just might be the book for you. Many people are familiar with Romulus and Remus and Julius Caesar, so it's probably no surprise to most that Ancient Rome saw it's fair share of killing, but what may surprise you is the Romans' views on murder, including when it was considered a crime and when it wasn't. In A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Emma Southon delves into the world of Ancient Rome and looks at the culture surrounding life and death, often specifically focusing on the ordinary peoples' attitudes towards murder. From parricide to crucifixion to gladiators, this novel looks at murder in it's many forms, comparing those times when society viewed the loss of life as a crime, and when it might simply have been a punishment. 

Although a heavy topic, this novel's tone is on the lighter side and the chapters are sprinkled with humorous commentary and more than a few swears. I chose to listen to the audiobook version and absolutely loved Sophie Ward's narration! I thought she did a wonderful job and, paired with Southon's entertaining way of writing, this book flew by to the point where I honestly wish it had been longer. Despite its polarizing subject (and possibly tone), if you choose to stick with it, I do think you'll enjoy yourself and learn quite a bit in the process!  

Born blessed - with the goddess's own mark tattooed on her body - Bria Radcliffe has always known luck. She is a Charm who encounters no inconvenience or danger in life, finding buried treasure and escaping disastrous storms with not a scratch, and sharing that luck with all those around her. But as much good as the mark does, it has left her feeling like an object more than a person. 

There is only one man who has always treated her as herself, as Bria and not as an endless fountain of luck, and now he is the only man in the town who has not bid for her hand. Weston Wildes is both her brother's best friend and a Null, one of those to whom bad luck and misfortune clings. Yet he is also the man she loves, and one of the few people who can give her what she wants - freedom - for should they touch, both their marks will be erased and their luck along with it. 

An tale of love, loss, and luck of both kinds - this was an exciting and steamy read. The premise was quite interesting and, I thought, executed well. Bria and Weston were enjoyable characters, and I very much appreciated the fact that their love did not feel rushed or hallow. Overall a quick read with a clever and unique magic system that made for some spicy romance.

Thank you The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. 

What's more fun than a fake-dating couple wading into an over-the-top Italian wedding featuring a Capulet and Montague style family feud? How about two fake-dating couples!
 
After a childhood of continuous moves, Nora D’Amato has finally found her place - she's got her own apartment, a solid job, and she's making real friends. When one of said friends needs to get his overbearing family off his back, Nora steps into the role of (fake) girlfriend for his sister's wedding. Playing the part of a happy couple for the next week should be no problem, or at least it wouldn't have been if Nora didn't run into her new crush, Sebastian, at the check-in desk. But it turns out Nora and Benji aren't the only ones with something to hide this week. Sebastian and his date Alessia, the groom's twin sister, have chosen to undertake a fake-dating scheme of their own. Now the only way both couples will survive this wedding with their 'relationships' in tact, and keep the family drama from escalating even further, is if Sebastian and Nora refrain from acting on the feelings that are blossoming between them.
 
The Great Dating Fake Off is a delightfully entertaining and dramatic good time! Double the fake relationships means double the potential for disaster, adding a fun level of risk to an already chaotic story. Nora and Sebastian as both great friends - it was so easy to see why they'd fall for one another, which really added to the romance I thought. I also really loved seeing their interactions with the other characters, particularly Nella who was a delight all her own, and the family drama was as crazy as you would expect, but I was very pleased the resolution. I'll say it, Alessia was a true MVP. Wonderfully paced with a sweet and spicy romance, this was a great read! 
 
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A deliciously slow burn thriller that had me hooked from the beginning. The Van Laar family has owned the Camp Emerson for generations. Set up in the Adirondacks, for 9 months out of the year the grounds are largely home only to the family and their guests, but come June, Camp Emerson transforms into a summer camp - and in 1975 it's a temporary home to 91 campers, including the Van Laar's thirteen-year-old daughter, Barbara. 

June bleeds into July bleeds into August and the campers are settling in, being taught to build traps, make fires, and find shelter, learning to survive in woods that are unforgiving and yet generous in their way. When one morning Barbara is discovered missing from her bunk, a search ensues as panic sweeps the camp, for Barbara is not the first Van Laar child to go missing. Fourteen years earlier, her brother, Bear, vanished from the same woods, and neither he nor his body have never been found. 

By jumping between years and timelines, as well as points of view, the story expertly builds a mounting sense of fear as new pieces of information come to light. Filled with a well written, complex, and varied cast of characters, this story will leave you furious and heartbroken, frustrated and proud. Touching on family, community, acceptance, and love, The God of the Woods is an intense read, and - perhaps at its core - simply a tale of survival.

Thank you to Riverhead Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

Life never goes according to plan, you can't always do everything on your own, and sometimes, one night truly can change everything.

Win McNulty is a strong, independent woman who is determined to show the world that she can get along just fine on her own. A limb difference might mean she needs to make adjustments or take a little longer, but it absolutely does not mean she's helpless. When she meets Bo at a friend's party Win is expecting nothing new, maybe a few minutes of chitchat before he makes his leave, but small talk leads to flirting which leads to a one-night stand that changes Win's life forever.

From page one I was completely enamored with Win and her wit. She's a pure delight and her banter with Bo left me smiling so wide I could feel it in my cheeks long after I'd finished the book. As for Bo, thoughtful, kind, and charming, he was the perfect pairing for Win and I really just wanted to give him a hug. Miscommunication can be incredibly frustrating in novels, so it was refreshing to have characters who actually communicated. Sharing concerns, asking for help, simply talking to one another - it was so lovely to see! Honestly everything about this story felt so real, not exaggerated or overdone, making it even easier to fall head over heels for everyone involved.

Out on a Limb was such a wonderfully funny, sweet, and heartwarming story that I simply did not want it to end! Please do yourself a favor and give it a read.

A Hurricane Irma evacuation turned spontaneous family road trip is just the start of what's shaping up to be a stressful senior year for Luciana. Her older sister is off in DC living her best college life, her mom is constantly harping on her about one thing or another, and her love life is nonexistent aside from a hopeless crush on the hot female bartender she can't make herself actually talk to. But when her Abue receives a possibly devastating medical diagnosis, all that gets pushed to the back-burner. Now Luciana's life is no longer filled with skate parks and visits to the local bar's Ladies' Night courtesy of her fake ID, instead she's dealing with her Abue's crazy demands, playing translator at all their hospital visits, and being blindsided by family secrets far too often. Suddenly thrust into the center of all her familial drama, with no older sister to lean on, Luciana has no choice but to step up.

Told entirely via dialogue from one-sided phone calls, Oye is truly one of the most interestingly written novels I've read. At first a bit jarring, I soon came enjoy the style and the way it helped to convey the chaos of Luciana's life and really highlighted her emotions. We still get insight into the lives and thoughts of her family members, but all through the lens of a younger sister who is missing her sister, frustrated with her mother, and scared for her grandmother. Funny, relatable, and moving, this was a beautiful and unique read. 

Single mom Evie Granger has been doing all she can to hold her life together since her ex walked out 16 years ago, but recently she's felt not unlike she's drowning. Her father's illness often leaves him too drained to work, her family's coffee shop is in the red, and her ex just dropped a bombshell that's going to devastate their daughter. Not to mention her mother and best friend are determined to meddle in her (non-existent) love life, which apparently includes posting far too many videos of her on ClickByte, one of which goes viral and thrusts Evie into the middle of a bizarre Bachelorette situation involving far too many men showing up at the coffee shop to present her with roses and a list of their best qualities. Despite the good business, Evie really needs it to stop - she's not looking for love, she's just trying to get through the day! 

In a last-ditch effort to regain some control, Evie turns to neighbor and makes a deal, she'll help him get his home back in order if he'll pretend to date her to get the crowd of suitors off her back. But between the mess from having to lie to their families and the clear chemistry Evie and Jonah share, what begins as a straightforward arrangement doesn't stay that way for long. 

This was such an enjoyable and heartwarming romance that, despite some of it's more outlandish moments, felt wonderfully realistic. While it had it's spicy moments, I particularly loved seeing Evie and Jonah give support and comfort to one another. Single parenthood is no easy feat and both of them were struggling in their own ways, so it was lovely watching them (particularly Evie) learn to ask for help. A feel-good love story rooted in family, You've Got Male was a delight to read.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.