I didn’t really know what to expect from this book when I started, and at first I found the large cast of characters somewhat confusing. But I kept reading because I was intrigued, and I’m so glad I did. The protagonists and their friends really grew on me, and I loved all of the character dynamics between them.

I also loved the vibes of this book—the small town, the magic, the mystery—it was very atmospheric and at times eerie, perfect for spooky season but not scary. It was fun to get sucked into. I rarely knew what was actually happening, but it felt intentional rather than poor writing or a badly executed plot.

This story is definitely character-driven, but it was so easy to get attached to the characters. There was quite an intriguing mystery afoot as well, and lots of unexplained occurrences. The final third of the book ended up being quite a ride, with a couple of different plot twists I absolutely did not see coming.

I wouldn’t call this a favorite, mostly because there was just some sort of missing piece, if that makes sense? For me, when a book ends up a favorite of mine, there’s this feeling, this vibe, that I didn’t have as I read this. Even though I did a crappy job explaining it, I think most readers will understand what I mean.

Nonetheless, I did really enjoy this book, and I know for sure that I want my own copy. I definitely recommend it, and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author!

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*As someone who’s recently gone deaf in one ear and has used a hearing aid in the past, this rep meant a lot to me. I’ve never read another book with it, and although it’s not a significant part of the story, it warmed my heart.

I liked the idea of this book, but overall found it rather boring and a bit repetitive. Violet kept repeating the same few things over and over, and I really don’t understand why she was so attached to the house. She talked to it like one would talk to a child, and loved it more than her found family, and for what? There’s sentimentality, and then there’s whatever this was.

The concept of sentient houses and mortar magic could’ve been cool, but I think Weymouth spent too much time focusing on the wrong parts of the story. I never got attached to Violet; I think Wyn or Esperanza would’ve been better protagonists. And speaking of Wyn, that romance really felt like it came out of left field. I couldn’t make myself care about that, or the house. I did like Esperanza though, and Frey. MVPs.

I considered DNFing, but pushed through because a small part of me was curious to see how things would play out. The takeaways here, I think, are that Weymouth’s writing isn’t my cup of tea, and if my instincts are telling me to put a book down, I need to listen. Not that this book is bad; I just didn’t connect with it.

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I love Clue, both the game and the movie, so I knew I had to read this! It was a super fun, quick read, and the killer’s identity totally took me by surprise. Great suspense, great character development, and an intriguing set-up for the next book. Highly recommended!

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The story was very slow and bogged down with world-building that would’ve been better received if it had been more spread out over the course of the story. I don’t usually mind slower books if I like the characters, but this book didn’t even have that in its favor. I have a lot of library books to read and not a lot of time left to read them, so I’m not wasting time or energy on anything that can’t hold my interest. 🤷🏼

I didn’t have high expectations for this book or even really know what it was about when I started reading. I certainly didn’t expect reading it to be such an emotional experience. I’m not sure how they did it, but Audrey Coulthurst and Paula Garner co-wrote one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching contemporaries I’ve ever read.

I can truly say that I’ve never related to a book more. Sam’s relationship with her father, the delicate and exhausting balance of supporting a mentally ill family member but also trying to live your own life, Zoe’s constant efforts to be an “easy” child and not add any more stress to her parents’ plates… I felt these things in my soul. I empathized so strongly with these two girls, because even though our situations are drastically different, the internal struggles that come from such unpredictable external factors are very much alike. This book brought me close to tears more than once as I read, as did writing this review. I don’t think I’ve ever connected so personally, so deeply, to a book before, and honestly, I’m not sure I have the words to explain all of my feelings.

Sam and Zoe’s friendship was so beautiful and wholesome, and I loved seeing it grow. It warmed my heart to see them open up, and give one each other the hope they both desperately needed in their lives. Not only that, they created a safe haven for themselves, a dream world where they could escape for a while and anything was possible. Starworld was for them what books are for me, and they got to share it with each other. A small part of me is almost envious, in a way, because while I have a few friends, none of the people I was closest to in the past are still my friends now, and that kind of hurt stays with you for a long time. Reading about their deep, unwavering platonic love was bittersweet, because I loved what they had but was also kind of sad that I don’t have anything similar.

Every part of this book, every up and down, was perfect. The ending was so hopeful, so lovely, but still realistic; the perfect balance. I’m going to leave this review here because, despite that, I feel emotionally gutted after finishing this book. Not in the same way I do after a fantasy book I loved ends on a brutal cliffhanger, or the way I end up stewing in now-familiar feelings every time I reread Vampire Academy and revisit the unique pain those books bring. It’s different in a way I’m not sure I can articulate. But I know I won’t stop thinking about this book anytime soon. *buys a copy of my own, hugs it to my chest and loves it forever* 🖤

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This was already on my TBR, but I moved it much further up after one of my favorite bookish content creators read and loved it. I’m so glad I did, because it’s a hidden gem in the adult fantasy genre.

As soon as I started reading it, I was enthralled. Whitten’s writing is beautiful, the world and lore she created intriguing and easy to become immersed in. Although the slower pace is consistent throughout nearly the entire novel, my interest never wavered because I always wanted to know what happened next.

The best part of the story was undeniably the characters. Red and Eammon are two people both cursed to bear something started by prior generations, and even though her brazenness is quite a contrast to his quieter nature, they shared the same determination to uphold their bargains. From that, a tentative friendship blossomed, and then came a tender, heartwarming slow-burn romance. GOOD GOD I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! ❤️❤️❤️

You know that moment in books when a character addresses the protagonist one way, and then the love interest is like “that’s my spouse”? This book has that and it is so amazing, so satisfying. I didn’t know I needed that specific trope in my life until this moment.

‘I’m for you.’

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO JUST DEAL WITH THAT? MY HEART’S GONNA COMBUST. 🥺🥺🥺

The ending went in a couple of different unexpected directions, and the pace definitely picked up in those final chapters. I can’t say much without spoiling, but it was a mix of entertaining and nerve-wracking, and I would just like to thank Hannah Whitten for not breaking me with the cliffhanger I fully expected we’d get. So thank you, Ms. Whitten. You’ll never see this, but thank you nonetheless. :)

I knew something was up with Kiri almost instantly. I had a feeling she poisoned the queen, and it didn’t surprise me to find out she’d also poisoned the High Priestess. She’s messed up, in more ways than one, and I have a bad feeling about her. The fact that she’s not dead…. she won’t accept defeat that easily. I have a feeling she’ll be back.

And also, maybe this is bad of me, but I don’t really care that Neve is trapped in the Shadowlands. I lost interest in her chapters after a couple of them, as they took me away from Red and Eammon and that was the story I wanted to read. Like, I’m glad she’s not dead, she doesn’t deserve that, but god, she was manipulated so easily. And it’s honestly her own fault that she’s in the situation she’s in. So. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So yeah, Red and Eammon and Lyra and Fife have stolen my heart—although it was mostly the first two—and this is now one of my favorite adult fantasies. I want my own copy, and I want everyone to read this. Also, the sequel comes out two days after my birthday, so that’ll be a brilliant present to myself. Love that for me!!

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As soon as I finished Dugan’s book Some Girls Do last week, I knew I wanted to read more from her. Lucky me, my library had an ebook of Verona Comics readily available, so I checked it out. I don’t even remember if I read the synopsis; I just guessed from the title it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling and went from there. I’m a bit impulsive when it comes to books, haha.

Anyway, here I am, having read two of Dugan’s books out of three. While Verona Comics didn’t have quite the same effect on me that Some Girls Do did, I still really enjoyed it. I immediately loved both Jubilee and Ridley, and related to the latter much more than I thought I would. The self-deprecation, the bad relationship with his father…. just call me out, Ms. Dugan, why don’t you. Startling similarities aside, Ridley must be protected at all costs.

I also really liked Jubilee’s friends, and her moms. All of the relationships were so well-written, and seeing her parents lowkey adopt Ridley made my heart happy. I’d like to be first in line behind Jubilee to punch Ridley’s father in the face. With a chair. I’m glad that the poor boy had his sister, at least. I liked Gray, and their bond.

I really like modern retellings of classics, and Dugan did a great job with this redone R&J. Although I occasionally thought some aspects of the feud were a bit too dramatic, it mostly worked out. The indie store vs corporation theme also felt very prevalent to today’s society.

There were some other prevalent discussions and themes too, like Jubilee wondering if she can be bi/pansexual even though she’s never dated a girl, and co-dependency in a relationship. Just like with SGD, I felt the balance between this heavier content and lighter moments was perfectly done, making for an emotional but not overly devastating read.

Not gonna lie though, the last third of the book really hurt my heart, and had me worrying. I know suicidal thoughts are mentioned in the content warnings, but I want to mention again that they’re there. I don’t know that I’ve read any other books with a character presently having such blatant thoughts like that, so while I do want more people to read this book, bear that in mind if you do.

I was so relieved that this book had a better ending than the story that inspired it. I won’t say much, but it was good, and it was hopeful, and I liked it.

It’s safe to say that Dugan is creeping her way up my favorite contemporary authors list. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what she does in the future.

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Not gonna lie, I had really high expectations for this book since so many people online love it so much, and it barely met any of them. While the first few chapters were intriguing, they were also slow, but I dismissed that because plenty of books, including some of my favorites, have slower starts. But then the pacing didn’t pick up, and I was halfway through the book when I realized that I didn’t give a crap about what was happening. If not for this book’s popularity, there’s a very good chance I would’ve DNFed it.

I was so excited when I found out that it was historical fantasy, as that’s my favorite genre. To be quite honest, the world-building was the only part of this book that didn’t let me down in some way. I loved the setting: a small, magical Italian island that had so much more to it than what was visible to human eyes. I loved the lore of the witches and demons, and all the magic, both light and dark. I was a bit confused when a vampire showed up and there was discussion of werewolves and shifters, but that must be something we learn about in the sequel.

As for everything else…. well. I wasn’t immediately attached to Emilia, but I figured she would grow on me soon enough. She didn’t, and honestly, I think the story would’ve been more interesting if Vittoria had been the twin to live. I never got attached to Wrath either, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve seen so many characters like him or I’m too gay to fall for his broody dark prince act or both.

Then there’s the promise of an “intoxicating romance” (this was taken directly from the synopsis) that nearly everyone hyped up as a brilliant enemies to lovers story. Did we read the same book? I was expecting a slow-burn, some sort of spark, but there was about as much of a spark as you’d get from a pile of soggy wood chips. Emilia and Wrath’s taunting and name-calling (“demon” and “witch”) gave me Jurdan and Helnik vibes, and I was hoping for a similarly emotional, dramatic relationship, but no. Not even close. My favorite slow-burn romances have more tension than a taut rubber band, and you can feel it through the pages even as they continually deny their feelings. These two were a limp noodle in comparison.

Shifting focus to the plot, it wasn’t awful. I love a good murder mystery, and I never was able to guess who the killer was. Props to Maniscalco for that. But everything else seemed…. not predictable, exactly—though a few parts did seem like things I’d seen before—but kind of bland. I didn’t feel any intensity as I read, no eagerness to turn pages or desperation to find out where the story was going. It was just a story I read.

And what was that ending? Did Emilia marry Wrath or Pride? Isn’t she already partially married to Wrath? Also, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes when she made a deal with Pride and had to sign a paper that literally said she agreed to sell her soul to House Pride. Seems a bit ridiculous, especially for the king of Hell. Shouldn’t there be more fancy jargon? I figured there would be, but what do I know.

So, yeah, this book was an experience, and not the thrilling one I’d hoped it would be. I’ll read the second one purely out of curiosity, and maybe (hopefully) I’ll like it more. I’m not going to say not to read this book, since there’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but I will say that there are other historical fantasy books I found much more enjoyable. Try Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers for a story about assassin nuns, or The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh for one about a murder mystery with vampires and werewolves. And both of those have enemies to lovers romances. *chef’s kiss*

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I’ve been hearing good things about this book for months now, and I’m so glad I finally read it. I sped through this book because, even in its more emotional moments, it was a joy to read. Lee’s debut was the perfect blend of fluff and heavier stuff, and eir definitely an author to watch.

I loved Noah from the very beginning. Although he’s sometimes romantically misguided, he’s a total sweetheart. Becca and Devin ended up seriously growing on me. The friendships here are top tier. I also really liked Noah’s relationship with his older brother Brian, and how determined Brian was to be supportive. It was heartwarming.

I didn’t expect Drew to be such an asshole, and honestly, it was kind of sad to see that side of him come to light. I’d been shipping him and Noah since, like, their second meeting. But Drew is a manipulative bumwaffle that can choke on a cactus, and Devin is so much better. It’s not even a contest, really. E’s such a sweet person, and e and Noah together are basically a recipe for cavities, but whatever. They’re adorable together and I’m happy for them. The scavenger hunt was super cute. ❤️

This is the first book I’ve read that features a character experimenting with gender and pronouns, and also the first I’ve read where a character uses neopronouns. Figuring out those parts of yourself isn’t always easy, and that should be represented in YA. Props to Lee for doing so.

Lastly, I just want to say that I loved the Meet Cute Diary. It’s such a cute idea for a blog, and the message alongside it—that trans kids are just as deserving of love stories—is important and lovely.

I definitely want to buy a copy of this book, and I could see myself rereading it both as a pick-me-up and because I miss my cinnamon rolls.

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I’ve literally never read a horror book in my life; the only one I picked up prior to this ended up being too scary for me and I never finished reading it. I only picked this one up because I mistakenly thought it was a thriller. It took a few chapters for me to realize what I’d done, but at that point, I was already intrigued and didn’t want to stop reading. So I decided, even though I didn’t know exactly what I was in for, to push through.

I’m glad I did. I’m not about to read Stephen King or anything, but maybe some of the tamer horror books could be fun to try. As long as I didn’t read this too late at night, I actually enjoyed it. I already love psychological thrillers, so this wasn’t too far off, just more physically creepy as well.

As for this book specifically, I think Jackson did a great job across the board. I really liked the protagonist Mari and her younger brother Sammy, and I found all of the characters to be well-written and developed. Their mom was a decent parent as well, which was nice to see, even though it was quite frustrating to see her take her new husband’s side over her daughter’s. Said husband was also frustrating but even more so, and for a different reason: even when presented with evidence that his bratty daughter did something wrong, he did absolutely nothing about it. He’s quite possibly the most spineless father. Massive facepalm.

And then there’s Piper, the bratty daughter in question. I don’t think I’ve ever found a child so insufferable. I just— *muffled screeching* Ahem. Anyway, despite my sizable list of reasons why I despised this child—which I can’t share because spoilers—her involvement in the story wasn’t what I’d expected it would be. She took the story in a unique direction and I liked it. And, shocking as this was…. I even ended up kind of liking her?? Who knew that was possible??

And the house? That’s one big, overflowing bucket of NOPE. Creaky floors, slamming doors, awful stenches, objects moving after they were set down or disappearing entirely, disembodied voices…. I would like to say again: NOPE. Add in the psychological thriller aspect, where Mari’s family doesn’t believe her and we don’t actually know if any of this is happening, and it’s quite a tumultuous, unsettling time.

As if that wasn’t creepy enough, the neighborhood the house is in isn’t right either. Everyone is suspiciously happy until things start going wrong, and plenty of things go wrong. Cedarville isn’t as idyllic as they’d like you to believe, and the residents have a bit of a mob mentality….

The only good people in town are Erika and Yusef, Mari’s new friends. Yusef was super sweet, and Erika was hilarious. I was really glad that Mari had at least a bit of something resembling normalcy in the midst of all this paranormal chaos. I was also glad that there was no romance, despite both of her friends being single. While I’m sure I could’ve been convinced to ship either couple, it felt right to focus solely on the horror aspects of the novel.

I think my one complaint would be the ending. At the very least, I wish we’d gotten an epilogue, if not another chapter or two talking about what happened next. As it is, I feel that the book ended kind of abruptly. I turned the last page, saw the acknowledgments, and was like, “Wait… what? There’s gotta be more.” Turns out, there was no more, unfortunately. The end. Curtains.

All in all, slightly disappointing ending aside, I was surprisingly impressed by my first horror novel. Dare I say, this won’t be my last…? We’ll see. But I definitely recommend this book, both to seasoned horror lovers and those looking for a little something different this spooky season.

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