mrsalwaysreading's Reviews (624)

The Wrong Sister

By Claire Douglas 

Pub date: August 5, 2025

(But it was published in the UK a couple years ago)

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for my advanced copy. 

All opinions are my own. 

The layers of intrigue and deception are heavy in this story. At times it gets a little clunky and there is a pretty big gap of info that gets forgotten. 

The ending sees everything explained, but I was left was a “huh” moment. 

The red herrings could have been done so much better. 

Overall, this one took me an embarrassing amount of time to get through, and I don’t know if it was worth it. 

Truly, Madly, Deeply

By LJ Shen

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I rated this book 3.75 but rounded up because (1) I don’t have a matching graphic for 3.75 stars and Goodreads (stupidly) only offers whole numbered ratings. 

I don’t know what I really expected from this book. I think I was expecting more “dark” by way of dark romance. Except zucchini. And candy canes. Oof. *fans face*

It was a spicy it-was-you-all-along. 

I did enjoy the journey Dot went on to take back her power, and her bent-knee moment. 

Overall, it was quick and steamy. 

That’s what she said. 

Rook & Rebel

By Kate Crew

⭐️⭐️⭐️

There isn’t much to the story. 

Enemies to lovers, motorcycles, underground crime syndicates, dual pov, and so much spice. 

I was hoping for a little more by way of plot, hoping that this would have just a splash of romance to give valentines vibes -as the cover implied. 

The story was underwhelming but the whole book in totality was mildly amusing, thanks to the spice. 

Scythe And Sparrow 

By Brynne Weaver

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ruinious Love trilogy, final book. 

The book follows Kionn, the steamy doctor brother of Rowan (book 1) and Lachlan (book 2) and his love interest, a carnie named Rose. 

Like the other 2, this dark romance book was predictable and spicy. 

I appreciate that this book concluded all of the other stories that were left in cliffhangers. 

The Fake Mate

By Lana Ferguson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shifter romance called “fake mate” is exactly what it sounds like. Shifters. And. Fake. Mates. 

It’s a cookie-cutter spicy romance, mate-of-convenience trope. 

The story was cute and the spice was spicing. Not depraved. But solid B-grade spice. 

This is not the book to read because you want something to think about, ya know? It’s  the book you read to shut off the thinking and just read the story. 

No One Can Know

By Kate Alice Marshall

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Every time I thought I had the whole thing figured out, some other twist popped off and made me rethink everything. 

The twists were good. The story telling was great. I really empathized with the characters but they also made me suspicious AF. 

Overall, this was a good read. 

Queen Of Fives 

By Alex Hay

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Release Date: January 20, 2025 

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advanced listener copy of this book. 

This is the story of a confidence scheme set in Victorian-era (1898) England. 

The story was VERY slow to get going in the first half, and I had to re-listen the beginning twice to cement the characters in my head. 

At one point I was so frustrated that I bought the Kindle copy to follow along. 

And THAT is when this book catapulted from a 2 star to a 4 star read. The back half of the story was SO GOOD. I settled on 3.5 stars, but rounded up. 

The unraveling of the game, the deals made, the reckless women and secretive men… whew!! 

Beg, Borrow, or Steal

By Sarah Adams

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I bought this book as a back-up option for my book club’s February “pink cover” theme, and grabbed it on my way out the door this morning. 

Mostly because it was sitting on the top of the pile of books I need to put away. 

It took the car dealership about 2 hours to update a recall on my vehicle, and by the time I left, I was done with the book. 

This book was cute. Nothing inherently wrong with it, just not my speed- know what I mean? 

While I typically enjoy a fair amount of spice in my books, the only thing that really struck me as subpar with this book is the title. It really has nothing to do with the plot. 

I’d file it under “meh”. 

From Here To The Great Unknown

A Memoir

By Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough

Read by Riley Keough and Julia Roberts

There are little snippets of Lisa Marie’s voice, from tapes she left for Riley, telling her story in her own words. 

I understood on some level that Lisa Marie was damaged. Fragile and broken by trauma and the cost of her father’s fame. 

But wow. 

This was incredibly sad. Heartbreaking. 

I didn’t know about Ben Keough and listening to Riley’s experience with his suicide gutted me. It’s an experience I wish we didn’t share. 

In Nov 2023 I listened to Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley and saw the movie with my daughter. I’m not an Elvis fan, but I enjoyed the full circle moment in hearing some of Lisa Marie’s memories. 

The Ghostwriter

By Julie Clark

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

What if everything you thought you knew was a lie? 

And the person who might have the answers is suffering from an illness that eats away the memories? 

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a psychological thriller that will have you guessing from page 1. 

There are no clear villains and not one clear path to the truth. 

 The beginning sets the scene and introduces the characters in such a tragic way… the middle of full of discoveries that leave you breathless… and the ending is SHOCKING. 

Every time I wanted to set it down to digest what I thought was happening, something new would come to light and I wouldn’t be able to stop reading. 

Add this to your summer TBR. 

Thank me later.