jaihook's Reviews (389)

What the heck did I just read. 

A Legend in the Baking brings all the deliciousness you’d expect from a sweet contemporary romance featuring football players and cupcakes—sign me up! This is the second book in the Fake It Till You Bake It series, and while you don’t need to read the first book to enjoy it, doing so adds depth to the story.

August, the MMC, is a football player who prefers to stay out of the limelight in Sugar Blitz, the bakery business he shares with his friends and teammates. But his viral feminist rant about the importance of women bakers, claiming that baking cupcakes doesn’t threaten masculinity, is the kind of passion you can’t ignore! Sloane, the FMC and his best friend's little sister, is a social media expert who adds spice to the mix. The tension between them is hotter than a bakery oven, and when things finally heat up, it’s more than worth the wait. This book perfectly blends romance with a dash of humor and heartwarming moments.

Thyme and Trouble by Carly Winter was another fantastic addition to this series that I’m really loving! I had the chance to listen to the audiobook, and overall, the narration was enjoyable. While the male voices could have been a bit stronger, it didn’t detract from my experience, especially with the narrator’s perfect take on Annabelle’s voice. 

In this book, it was wonderful to continue uncovering more of Sam’s past as a former actress, which added depth to her character. This cozy mystery was a delightful weekend listen and another win in the Heywood Herbalist series! 

Until We Touch by Lilly Henderson is a fantastic addition to the Until Series—book 4 is as captivating as the previous ones! I loved reading about Jack, the tattooed MMC, and Emma, an ER nurse. Watching Jack work through his trauma and even seek therapy was both comforting and inspiring. Despite his struggles, his commitment to being with Emma made him a memorable character, and Emma’s patience and kindness were heartwarming. Their slow-burn romance was intense and perfectly executed, making every moment worth the wait. 🔥

While the surprise pregnancy trope usually isn’t my favorite, Henderson handled it well enough that it fits naturally into the story. I didn’t mind it here, which says a lot!

One recurring theme in romance books is my strong dislike for certain parents—and this time, it was Emma’s mom. Emma's mom annoyed me but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. Overall, I loved Jack and Emma’s journey and would recommend this book to anyone following the series or craving a meaningful romance with a bit of spice.

The ending 🤯😳🥴

This isn't quite what I thought it would be. I thought there would be more of a balance of dark romance, smut, and plot but there wasn't. It was mostly smut. I listened via audiobook. I could easily listen at 2x speed so it went by quickly. I did not enjoy Jafar's narrator voice nor did I enjoy the overuse of the word "daddy". 

I am not sure if I will read more in the series or maybe I'll go into it knowing it may be mostly smut. I do still want to read Neon Gods by the author. 

Meghan Quinn delivers a hilarious holiday rom-com with How My Neighbor Stole Christmas! The cover is adorable and perfectly captures the fun, festive vibe. The audiobook version was a standout, making the story even more entertaining—honestly, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much without the full cast narration! The narrator at the beginning of each chapter added the best banter with the characters, adding an extra layer of humor that had me laughing out loud.

This small-town Christmas competition between rivals Cole and Storee brought the perfect mix of enemies-to-lovers tension and laugh-out-loud moments. While Storee occasionally got on my nerves, I loved Cole and his best friend, Max (seriously, Max needs his own story!). If you’re looking for a cozy, funny, and festive holiday rom-com, How My Neighbor Stole Christmas will get you in the holiday spirit!

Read this if you love:
🎄 Rom-coms
🎄 Holiday spirit
🎄 Enemies-to-lovers vibes
🎄 Small-town Christmas competitions
🌶️🌶️/5 spice level