I loved everything about this book and this is the second time I've picked up a book by Emily Henry and haven't wanted to put it down until I finished.

Not only are the characters in this story real and likable, but their story is one that had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen for them. I'm probably going to be purposely vague only because you shouldn't read it all here - you should definitely go grab the book!

Poppy and Alex met their freshman year of college and despite a bumpy start, their friendship became something they both depended on. It's clear they are very much opposites of each other but that's what makes things work and I loved their banter and the way their relationship evolved.

Every year they plan a week long summer trip and they had a really good run no matter where they were in their lives but when something happens during their trip to Croatia 2 years ago, things change for both Alex and Poppy and they don't really have a plan for coming back together. Until...Poppy reaches out again to reconnect and plan a getaway.

It is such a relatable story - everyone has that friend (or friends) that could be something more but the question on the table is what are you willing to risk to find out? It was clear to me that both Poppy and Alex had feelings for each other but they always seemed to be too afraid to take a chance. When Poppy finally realizes that the last time she was really happy was when they were last together, she takes a chance to reconnect and although they don't pick up exactly where they left off, there is still some of that old relationship there. Add to this the fact that they are in a rough situation travel wise (crappy car, horrible apartment, Alex's back) and they finally push each other and confront what has been in front of them the whole time. Let's just say...the last day in Nikolai's apartment was fantastic!

As their vacation wraps up, they both have to face some truths and really truly figure out what they want/need. It's not all perfect but I'm happy to say I loved the ending and how they were both able to realize not only what they needed for themselves but also what that meant to the other.

I highly recommend picking this one up. The characters are great and the story is engaging and realistic. I can't ask for anything more for a contemporary romance. Emily Henry has officially made it onto my auto-buy list and I can't wait to read what she writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review!

Gah!! That ending!!

Gilded Serpent is book 3 in the Dark Shores series and I have been waiting so long to read this book that I'm not sure whether I can do it justice or not. The thing about this book that I loved was that it had Lydia, Killian, Marcus, and Teriana in it. We get a lot more of their stories and not to mention having just read Tarnished Empire right before picking up this book, I got to find out more about a certain soldier and while it wasn't all good, it was still good to know what happened with him.

Sooooo much happens in this book and I can't talk about much of it because I don't want to ruin the story for anyone. Just know that you should definitely pick this book up as soon as you can and if you haven't had a chance to read the first two books, you should! . Keep in mind that there is another book after this one and I'll be the first to admit that I really wished the ending had some more closure than it did but I'm here for the rest of the story and I can't wait to read what happens when they all cross paths.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for a review.

I loved everything about this book! Erin Bowman does such a fantastic job with building out the worlds her characters inhabit and from page one (really...the cover) Delta of Dead River had my attention.

A lot happens quickly in this book and I could feel the tension throughout. Delta is our main character and she lives with her mother and sister (along with her pack) in a world where it's thought their Gods will save them from the challenges they face just trying to survive.

The character development was done well in this story. Not only is there Delta, but we know who her family is and how they balance her out. I also appreciated the backstory of how their pack came to be what they are now because it sets the stage for the introduction of some additional characters and clarity further into the story. I know I'm being vague but I don't want to give anything away here...

As the story progresses, we learn what truly happened to the people on the planet and what they have had to do to survive. There is plenty of action and there were some twists and turns that I didn't necessarily see coming so kudos to Bowman for throwing them in and keeping me guessing!

I'll definitely be adding a copy of this book to my shelves and can't wait to read more books from Bowman. She knows how to write a great post-apocalyptic tale and get me invested in characters that I don't want to let go of. Consider picking this one up when you can - I promise you won't regret it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review!