Review: Just when I think I’ve nailed down which Tessa Bailey book is my favorite (the answer is all of them), she releases a new one that completely blows me away. “The Au Pair Affair” is no exception! 

 

“The Au Pair Affair” follows Burgess Abraham, a battle-scarred hockey veteran, and Tallulah Aydin, an aspiring marine biologist, after she agrees to be his live-in nanny. But as boundaries are slowly crossed, Burgess finds himself himselfpulled between his tween daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah. 

 

From their very first interaction in “Fangirl Down”, I knew Tallulah and Burgess belonged together. Their chemistry radiates off the page with Burgess’ surliness perfectly complimenting Tallulah’s quirkiness. With the two of them living under one roof, they begin to open up, confide in, and lean on each other. I love how Burgess was respectful of Tallulah’s boundaries when he learned that her trauma left her feeling uncomfortable around men. He did everything in his power to help her feel safe and did not begin to pursue her until she gave him the ok. Burgess is very protective of her (*swoons*) and I really enjoyed watching Tallulah’s character go from being fearful of letting go to a courageous adventurer with him at her side to give her endless support. 

 

At the same time Tallulah is there to uplift Burgess when he feels insecure about where he is at in his hockey career. She catches on to the pain he masks to avoid being benched or forced into retirement and she reassures him that he does not need to shoulder his fears alone. Tallulah is nothing if not persistent and convinces Burgess (in a way that made my heart pound more than is probably healthy) to seek out medical attention and show him that he is valued by his teammates. 

 

Bailey does such a great job making their connection feel palpable and creating a conflict that had the two of them fighting for the love that blossomed between them without losing sight of Lissa’s needs. This is a story about healing, finding your happily ever after, and discovering your self-worth. It has consumed my every waking thought since I picked it up and I know I will be obsessing over it for a long time!

Review: This book got me into F1 romance and I’m never looking back! 

“Throttled” follows Noah Slade, Formula 1 royalty, and Maya Alatorre, the sister of his biggest rival. Their efforts to avoid each other throughout the season become futile when press tours, sponsor events, and black-tie galas spark a forbidden attraction. Developing feelings for each other was not part of the plan, but the more time they spend together, the harder it is to stay apart. 

When I say I am obsessed with this book, I mean it. At one point I had to get a composition notebook so I could write down my favorite pages and excerpts so that I could reread them over and over again. I honestly wish I had picked this up sooner because I was giggling, swooning, and kicking my feet with giddiness through each chapter. 

Both characters have very complex internal conflicts that we see play out through dual povs. Noah struggles to live up to the impossible expectations set by his famous father, who is constantly breathing down his back. His parents’ marriage is volatile and because that’s all he’s ever known, Noah gravitates towards a playboy lifestyle. I love how his negative mindset changed when Maya became a constant in his life. She put him in his place and reminded him of what kind of relationship she was looking for whenever he overstepped. This led to him seeking out help to work through what healthy, long term relationships look like and how to set boundaries with his parents. He does this not only for a shot with Maya, but more importantly for himself. 

Maya’s dream is to step out of her older brother’s shadow and make a name for herself. At first she is unsure of what kind of career she wants to pursue, but with Santi’s support she finds her passion. Their sibling relationship is so wholesome and I enjoyed their dynamic. 

Noah and Maya as a couple are everything! They tried their darnedest to keep their distance and I smiled every time they failed. I adore how they uplifted each other, kept an open line of communication, and was captivated by their flirtatious banter. I got a feel for Sophie and Liam’s dynamic in this one and l am looking forward to seeing how it develops in “Collided”. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Lu delivers on a thrilling and romantic follow up to “Stars and Smoke”! 

 

“Icon and Inferno” follows Sydney Cossette and Winter Young as they reunite to rescue a compromised agent, uncover an assassination attempt, and prevent a war from happening. To make it out alive, they’ll have to figure out how to be partners again—and if they can resist something more. 

 

The stakes are higher in this book with the threat of a world war on the horizon. I found myself holding my breath at all times as I tried to anticipate what would happen next and what forces would tear Sydney and Winter apart. The action sequences, fast-paced narrative, and jaw-dropping cliffhangers made it impossible to put this one down. What’s more, with Sydney and Winter having grown attached to each other after their mission in London, there is an added layer of pressure as they try not to let their feelings get in the way of their objective. The introduction of both Sydney and Winter’s exes only amplifies the tension between them. Their partnership is tested, but they ultimately come out stronger than ever in the end. Despite how different their lives are with Winter in the spotlight and Sydney in the shadows, they can’t help but gravitate towards each other and I could not get enough of their relationship. 

 

I should have known better than to think I wouldn’t shed a couple tears…this is a Marie Lu book after all. I’ve grown so attached to Sydney and Winter as characters across both serials, so watching them experience hardships and undergo growth made me so emotional. In this book, we get more on their respective backstories with Winter’s manipulative father trying to blackmail his way back to into his life and Sydney reflecting on her own abusive father as her father figure prepares to retire from Panacea. Marie Lu handles tough subjects with care and manages to mold her characters into real people. 

 

The Warcross easter eggs in this book made me so happy, but perhaps not so much as the ending! I hope another installment is in the works. Keep them coming!

Review: I DEVOURED this opposites attract, study abroad romance! 

 

“If We Ever Meet Again” follows 19-year-old Farrah Lin as she falls a cocky blond athlete with the world’s biggest ego during her time abroad in Shanghai, all while knowing she's leaving in less than a year. 

 

This duet is tonally different from her “Twisted” and “Kings of Sin” series and I loved it all the more for that! 

 

Huang masterfully develops Farrah and Blake’s relationship from strangers-to-friends-to lovers across the span of seven months. The pacing was so natural with Huang skipping overly mundane moments in favor of focusing on the most integral parts of their relationship as it formed—like their first kiss, their first moment of physical intimacy, and the first time they said “I love you.” In doing so, Huang kept me engaged and further invested me in Blake and Farrah’s sweeping romance. Huang also perfectly balances steamier scenes with more wholesome ones, which I really appreciated. 

 

Just as I entered a stated of bliss, everything crumbled right before my very eyes. I knew it was coming (as made clear by the prologue), yet it still snuck up on me and left me feeling heartbroken. So much of the book is dedicated to their friendship and romantic chemistry that it just felt so wrong for everything to come undone as quickly as it did. The brief chapter written from Sammy’s point-of-view is what really wrecked me. Now I have no choice but to cling to Huang’s promise that there will be a happily ever after for Blake and Farrah when they meet again in “If the Sun Never Sets” because I’m convinced they are soulmates!

Review: A small town romance with a grumpy, farmer MMC? Say no more! 

 

“One Night” follows Sylvie King and Duke Sullivan, the oldest brother of her family’s hated rival, as they give into temptation after months of keeping their friendship hidden. Knowing their relationship could never be more than just one night, they agree to stay secret friends—until two pink lines change everything. 

 

I love a good forbidden romance and Hendrix does a fantastic job establishing the years long feud between the King and Sullivan families by creating a tense atmosphere in the town of Outtatowner. This foundation helps contribute to the deliciously slow pacing of Sylvie and Duke’s relationship development as they go from strangers to friends to lovers. I love their friendship dynamic via text as they pushed each other to act on their feelings! The whole time I was rooting for them to get together despite their families trying to force them apart. 

 

I enjoyed reading from Sylvie’s pov and watching her find her voice! At the beginning of the book, she lives her life living in the background to avoid inconveniencing her father. Even before Sylvie finds out she is pregnant, Duke prioritizes her and puts her first. He makes it clear that he is there to stay once she tells him that the baby is his and I swooned at him anticipating her every need. He is fiercely protective of Sylvie, but always makes sure to acknowledge how strong she is on her own. In turn, Sylvie makes sure Duke knows he is not alone. For years, he has shouldered the weight of taking care of his father, family, farm, and workers. Sylvie and the little family they form become a bright spot in his life, which made my heart so happy!

Review: I’ve come to the unfortunate conclusion that this series just isn’t for me and that’s okay. 

 

“Rule of the Aurora King” follows Lor as she teams up with Nadir, the Aurora Prince and her captor, to search for a lost item that holds the key to her past and her future. With the Sun King determined to reclaim her and the Aurora King looking to destroy her, Lor must keep on the move. But nowhere is safe and she soon learns that the future of Ouranos depends on much more than avenging her shattered legacy.  

 

I wasn’t really a fan of the writing in the first book and was hoping for a different outcome with this one, but that didn’t happen. As a fantasy reader that loves to experience the story through sensory details and actions, I got bogged down by the inner monologues, which were very heavy on exposition. Don’t get me wrong, this book definitely has its moments—I really liked how some chapters were written as flashbacks to show what happened to the Queendom of Heart—but they are ultimately overpowered by Lor and Nadir’s tumultuous relationship in my opinion, and I did not prefer their constant back and forth. I’m trying to get into the practice of putting down books that I’m just not loving, so I probably won’t pick up the next installment, but I think that those who are new to romantasy will enjoy this. 

Review: I loved every single page of this one! 

 

“The Paradise Problem” follows Liam West, the heir of a grocery chain, and Anna Green, his free-spirited artist ex, as they pretend to be married in order to receive a massive inheritance. 

 

Part of why I enjoyed this book so much is because I adored the characters and their starkly different personalities. Anna is very quirky, hilarious, and grounded. I admire her for abandoning a career path guaranteeing security to follow her dreams, even if that means living paycheck to paycheck. Liam, conversely, is an uptight, chronic overthinker who internalizes the pressure he experiences in trying to live up to his father’s expectations and make something of himself. They are truly opposites, but the circumstances surrounding their fake marriage only push them closer together. They learn to open up about their insecurities, acknowledge their irresistible chemistry, and eventually give themselves over to each other completely to survive Liam’s one-percenter parents. Christina Lauren outdid themselves in creating a paradise tinged by outlandish familial drama. The tense atmosphere only made Anna and Liam’s witty, humorous banter even more entertaining. When I tell you I audibly laughed out loud…this book was just so fun to read and I didn’t want it to end despite everything wrapping up nicely! 

Review: I found myself holding my breath at all times while reading this book! 

 

With the realm hanging in the balance “Fate Breaker” follows the Companions as they race to reunite while they rally old allies and seek unexpected new ones, in one final push against darkness. 

 

Though the Companions spend a majority of the book apart, Aveyard manages to create captivating storylines for each character that advance the plot of “Fate Breaker” forward. With the Companions separated, their different points-of-view allow the reader to explore different regions of the ward and see how they have been affected by Erida’s reign. As always, Aveyard completely immersed me in her complex world with her detailed descriptions of each region and its customs. At the same time, Aveyard further develops her characters. With war on the horizon, I really enjoyed watching Corayne step into her role as the Breaker of Fates. I was also fascinated by Erida’s character  as she descended into darkness to achieve her goals. Above all else, I LOVED chapters written from either Sorasa or Domacridhan’s perspectives. Their chemistry is top tier, their dynamic is entertaining, and the shenanigans they get up to only strengthen their bond. 

 

Once the Companions reunited, the epic battle at the novel’s end was everything I wanted it to be and more! The elaborate action sequences blew me away, the betrayals were a punch to the gut, and my poor fingernails went through it as the lives of favorite characters were threatened. In the end, I was left feeling satisfied (perhaps also a tad horrified). I cannot thank Aveyard enough for the bonus scene starring my favorite ship *squeals* in the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition. Enduring all the pain and one of the slowest burning romance subplots I’ve ever read was so beyond worth it. 

Review: I’m pretty sure this book broke me…if only you could hear my deep guttural sobs. 

 

“Powerful” follows Adena as she attempts to survive on the streets of Loot and navigate her newfound relationship with a mysterious—and dangerous—Elite. 

 

Having been introduced to Adena in “Powerless”, I was so excited to read from her perspective and gain more insight into her as a character. I absolutely adore her warm, bubbly personality in this novella. She is so loving and optimistic, a bright light in a world that is so cutthroat and corrupt. 

 

Adena’s love story with Mak is so sweet and I am so glad that she found her person! I did not want the book to end because of how much I loved watching their unexpected friendship bloom into something more. Roberts does a great job creating romantic tension through their banter and mutual pining, which further invested me in their relationship development. Despite their opposite personalities, they have such great chemistry and watching them come to that realization slowly over time was everything! 

 

Because I read “Powerless”, I knew how “Powerful” would end, but that did not stop the tears from falling. Getting to know Adena throughout the novella and how she has impacted Mak and Paedyn made what eventually happens even more devastating. I’m still holding out hope that there is more to her story.