Let Me Love You by Alexandria House was heartbreaking, build you back up romance that I couldn’t put down. Whenever Everett serenaded Jo I swooned so hard! The intimate scenes between them have a bit of kink which just helps make them feel even more like real people and creates some steamy scenes! It was heartbreaking to see Jo and Everett trying so hard to get away from the toxic people in their lives, but being forces to interact with them since their kids are connected to those people. I loved that Everett and Jo supported each during the moments of interaction with those toxic people. Everett’s family was so warm and funny. The drama that they go through had plot twists I didn’t see come, and man do Jo and Everett deserve their HEA! I can’t wait to read more about the other McClains finding love!

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers was such an amazing emotional story. I loved every second. I felt like each of the characters were my friends too. The way they support and love one another is heart warming. Yuki and Grace’s relationship was sweet and honest. The way Rogers evokes emotions was masterful. I absolutely loved her writing style and can’t wait to read more!

This story by Charles Yu is a commentary on the life of Asian Americans and the struggles they deal with on a general basis. I loved that it takes about escapes roles we have been forced to play by writing the novel as a screenwriters format. That being said, they style made it hard for me to get into in the beginning and made it a bit hard for me to follow at certain times.

I found the commentary on immigration and assimilation for Asian Americans to be extremely eye-opening. Some of the history that Charles Yu discusses are things that are not typically explored in American History studies during school. The use of TV / Movie roles was an ingenious way to explore Asian stereotyping and the social roles that are often expected of Asian Americans. Once I got past the screenwriting style of this novel, I truly enjoyed it and appreciated the style for how it emphasized the content being explored.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas was a marvelously spooky and nail biting read. I enjoyed the paranormal elements. They were varied (the way the spirit in the house was haunting it) and the powers that Andres had were perfect for this tale. The friendship that Andres and Beatriz strike up was honest and fun to watch blossom. The reason behind the haunting wasn’t hard to figure out, but the way the troubles around the house was resolved was surprising. I do wish more about the secondary characters had been developed. Overall, I enjoyed this story and it makes a great autumn read.

Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith had something for everyone, mystery, suspense, supernatural, history, drama, and even a smidgen of romance. The way that the book is pieced together bothered me in the beginning few chapters. But then as things started to come together I really enjoyed being able to say oh this character was that one from that earlier chapter. The timeline was pieced together masterfully. The descriptions were vivid without being wordy. However, some of the things that transpire are not for the faint of heart. There were some disturbing scenes. I really enjoyed the writing style of this story and the way it was crafted.

The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is a masterfully written story about two-egg twins in 1970s India. The story delves into the intricacies of the caste system, Marxism, and how one moment can change your life (in this story several different singular moments change Estha and Rahel’s lives). While I struggled with the plot of this book, I found the writing style to be beautiful. This is not a book you can speed read. Each sentence is crafted to pack the most optimal punch and if you speed read you will miss parts. Overall, I struggled to want to read this book because the plot just didn’t pull me in, but the language and writing style were amazing!

Under The Whispering Door by T.J. Klune was a hilarious, emotional story about one man finding his place in the world after his death. I absolutely love the writing style and humor in this story. The emotional stories surrounding death were impactful and thoughtfully written. Wallace’s growth during this story was amazing to watch. I found the world building around reapers, ferrypeople, and the afterlife to be unique and interesting. The relationships between the characters was heartwarming and believable. I didn’t want to leave Charon’s Crossing when the story was finished, it was just so good! This is definitely one of my favorite books this year!