Thank you Wednesday books for the eARC!

WELCOME TO NEW YORK.

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Every time I read an Emma Lord book I think about how much I would have loved reading these when I was the characters age (18/19). There’s so many good themes about growing up, finding your path and making those life long connections that will hold you up when things get rough.

I was very much smitten with the friends to lovers romance. It was reallllly sweet and the clear chemistry between them is there from the GET GO. While this is not full romance (more sub plotish), there’s a lot to learn from Riley and Tom. I loved the dynamic between them and also how you could see both growing up, making mistakes and learning to communicate.

And I adored the friend group. This found family of new and old friends that just accepted everyone as they were, but yet found ways to push each other into new things when the time was right. I love these kind of powerful friendships and there’s even cute side romances between them too.

Filled with all the New York things, some good Taylor Swift references and those hard but necessary conversations with your parents, I highly recommend to pick this one up.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong (I will say this was the only issue I had for the YA audience)
- Romance: kisses 

Thank you to Orbit books for the ARC.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS ONE.

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I finally finished this and it was not what I was expecting. This weird combination of curses, demons, vampires, historical, movie stars, romance, and more. I wanted it to all work together and it just…didn’t.

For the initial 40-50% I felt pretty invested. I was rolling with the slow nature and curious how things were going to start connecting. And when they did is when this book lost me. It gave me the sense of things being added to solve the plot that’s been created rather than a natural movement through the story. The random romance did not fit and for a horror book I never once found myself creeped out.

Neither of the main characters were remarkably memorable. Everything was okay. That’s the best way I could describe it unfortunately. The ending worked out well enough (though I still have some questions??). This was my first book by the author and I was really excited for it and now I’m honestly not sure what to think.

Overall audience notes:
- Horror/Historical/Paranormal
- Language: a little strong
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: substance abuse, mentions of suicide, loss of a parent, multiple deaths 

4.5 stars

THOUGHTS.

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I have seen reviews ALLLLL over the place for this finale, let’s throw mine into the ring.

The first have was a bit of a struggle, with the addition of two more POV’s I don’t think it worked as well as I hoped in the context of a short book (9 hours audio time). ESPECIALLY when you’re dealing with a love triangle we all know has only one ending. I was tired of wasting my time with the other guy when he was handing out red flags to everyone who walked by him.

BUT. Jacks was next level. I looooved the protection he provided, the way he was always there and how he cared for Evangeline every step of the way. The second half was incredible and I loved how things worked out. The confessions of love was IMMACULATE and I was losing my cool in the middle of Costco because of the emotions.

A bit of an up and down journey but ultimately one I was a fan of. I mean, I binged this book because I needed more more more, just wish there were a few more Jacks moments to really bring it home.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate-high 

LOVED.

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I try to not review a memoir but rather add a few thoughts I had while reading. I loved that this felt like Britney. That the tone and story telling seemed to be authentic to what she wanted and how she wanted to tell her story. It was a tough read at times and I appreciated the enlightening about many different hot topics from her past.

If you’ve been a Britney Spears fan, highly recommend reading this one. I hope she continues to find strength and healing and can finally have some peace in her life.

Overall audience notes:
- Memoir
- Language: some strong
- Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of multiple types of abuse, discussion about her conservatorship, abortion 

 SOLID STANDALONE.

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I needed something quick, fantasy and enjoyable and this hit all of those marks for me. It’s a 6-hour audiobook that brought some swoon, is in the sweet category and had some naughty fae causing chaos.

The main characters were great and I loved that it was dual POV. There’s not an over complicated plot and just enough happening that it works well within a short book. Definitely recommend for those wanted to mix things up and need a good slow burn.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate 

Thank you to Bibliolifestyle and Harper Voyager for the gifted copy.

GREAT STANDALONE.

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I looooved how fast paced this was. It really added to the intensity of the heist and I had a hard time putting this down because I just wanted to know what would happen next. This is my first book by this author and I am very much intrigued to read more now!

What helped me too was knowing that there isn’t any romance. It’s focused on the found family and finding a way to survive when meddling gods start to cause chaos and threaten where the crew lives. I loved the push and pull and highs and lows this group went through to find a way to end things.

I loved that it was dual POV and we got to see Tass and Balthazar’s views. They both gave great insight into thoughts and maneuvers from opposite angles. I loved the growth in Tass and seeing her find a new place to land.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: some strong
- Romance: one closed door
- Violence: moderate-high 

LOVED.

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Jill has always been one of my favorites and I remember watching a lot of this show growing up. I loved the way she wrote about her experiences with her family and the show and how that played into so many aspects of her life.

I also loved how she talked about her changes in faith and how much healthier her relationships are and that Jill has found ways to work on the healing she deserves. I loved hearing about her relationship with Derick and that they seem like a strong foundation.

This was an enlightening read that broke my heart a bit and I appreciate the insights and comments to her growing up years and where she is now.

Overall audience notes:
- Memoir
- Language: none
- Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of past sexual abuse, difficult childbirth (near death experience for baby/mom) 

 

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

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The cover of this book gave me some haunted gothic mansion vibes. And while that was there a little bit, ultimately this book wasn’t what I thought and didn’t keep me interested enough to want to read book two.

What this mostly consisted of were two brothers getting to know this tiny town that had “secrets.” And all of the townspeople kept repeating the same phrases of just get to know us and I’m sitting here thinking I still don’t know them. There were some convoluted family lines and bad blood scenarios and Spencer and Preston naively walked in thinking they could fix it all???

Not to mention the whole shadow plane + religious aspects didn’t pan out either. I was fine with the combination but the execution was lacking. I thought some thoughts didn’t quite work and pulled me out of the story.

This wasn’t a hate read by any means, just a not for me book that saddens me because I have been looking forward to picking this up for the fall.

Overall audience notes:
- Mystery
- Language: a little
- Romance: flirting
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, near death experiences, ghost encounters

 

Thank you Harper Voyager for the gifted copy.

WELL I LOVED IT.

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I can tell y’all right now, not everyone will love this. I get that, but I was here for it all and I am obsoletely committed to getting my hands on the second book as soon as I can. I adored the banter between Talasyn and Alaric. It made me smile and swoon. I loved the way Alaric’s character was crafted too. He was this dark shadow daddy type who has no concept of wooing a woman and the thought process made my day.

This is heavily romance focused and yet, I thought the world building and magic system was crafted well! I followed what was happening and understood that different politicking dynamics between the nations. I have no major Reylo knowledge, but I did see a few nods and I loved those too.

It is a fast paced and entertainment wise, was everything I needed. I loved reading this (the audiobook is GREAT and the ending gave me all the things I love. BOOK TWO WHERE ARE YOU.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: one open door
- Violence: moderate-high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, war themes 

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

VERY LONG.

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I could see the good bones in this book. There’s some coming of age and being the chosen one and all that comes with when your thrust into something so young. I liked the learning moments and I didn’t mind the main character, Lisa, or Gaius. I liked their mentor/mentee relationship and the growth there. And the prince is cute too! I loved his addition and think that will play a much bigger role in the future books.

What brought this down for me was the length. With 600 pages and only 300-400 of those truly necessary. There were a lot of tangents and world dumping explanations. And I found myself skimming more than I wanted. The plot lost a lot of speed and I this book felt completely dedicated to Lisa working on her power, that’s it.

A mixed bag of thoughts for this one.

Overall audience notes:
- Middle grade fantasy
- Language: none
- Romance: none
- Violence: moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life