endless_tbr_list's Reviews (537)

Brother's best friend with a side of small town romance. Anna Rivera hasn't seen Max Cooper in years - not since the summers she'd spent in Rainbow Cove when they were growing up - so he's the last person she expects to see walk into the NYC bar where her burlesque troupe is having it's farewell party. One utility closet hookup later, and he's out the door before she has a chance to reconsider their 'no-strings' agreement. That should have been it, but it seems fate has other ideas, because when Anna finds herself back in Rainbow Cove to take over her grandmother's diner for a few weeks, Max Cooper once again walks through the door.  

This was a quick, fun, and spicy romance, with two easy to like main characters - I especially loved Anna's passion for dance and her eagerness to teach anyone that wants to learn. The small town aspects were heartwarming, with both Anna and Max dropping everything to come back and help their grandmothers, and the rest of the town's willingness to chip in where needed. Overall a sweet read, but with plenty of sexy too.

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

Roos Beckman has been assisting her mother with séances ever since she was young, pulling strings and making noises to set the scene. But there came a day when the fabrications were no longer needed because, below the house's floorboards, Roos met her spirit companion. Dead for centuries and now bound to her with blood, Roos is no longer along alone, she's safe, for she has Ruth. 

Years pass and after a séance attended by Agnes Knoop, a young widow, Roos is invited to live with Agnes at the manor left to her after her husband's death. Although the building is decaying and crumbling, and also home to Mr. Knoop's ailing sister, Roos finds she does not regret her decision. She's no longer starving and exhausted, Ruth remains by her side, and Agnes is now part of her life.  

But out there, alone in that manor, something goes wrong. Someone dies and Roos is caught and put on trial for murder. Presumed by most to be mentally unstable or lying, she is forced to meet with Dr. Montague, a psychologist, to recount the events of the past months. The novel is interspersed with these interview transcripts, giving an interesting feel to the story by showing Dr. Montague's thoughts and by hinting at events that have not yet been shared. 

A wonderfully unsettling novel, My Darling Dreadful Thing is a tale of just how far people will go for those they love. 

An absolutely mesmerizing, gorgeously written, heartbreakingly beautiful story set in the world of 90s-00s pop music and told through the eyes of pop star hopeful, Amber Young. From the discovery to the auditions, from the scandal to the triumph, the novel shows all sides of Amber's journey and is frank about the early and oversexualization that these girls face. Everything they do is scrutinized, they're judged for their music, their clothes, their existence! Yet Amber can't imagine being anywhere else - singing is what she loves.

In a book where the Amber's hypersexuality is never far from her mind (or the reader's), the true female friendship made me want to cry. Gwen and Amber are there for one another, ready with encouragement, advice, and love, even in a world where they're in direct competition for survival. Having that support, surviving its tests, gave Amber the confidence to grow and progress from a - not necessarily naive, but definitely young - girl, to a more surefooted artist who knows what she wants from her music and has the determination to go after it.

I devoured this debut novel and truly cannot wait to see what Isabel Banta does next!

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