The ultimate cozy fantasy-mystery.  Filled with sassy familiars, friendly ghosts, and suspicious humans.

I was so excited to hear that this book would get an audiobook version this year because that's my preferred medium for "cozy" stories and I think it will be accessible for a wider audience.

"fun for the whole family" literally because my mom, brother, and dad read it (and loved it) before me!

another smash hit! Rio finally gets some main character energy with this Brazilian Greta Thurnberg.

Venice, Scotland, DC, and New York City. (flashbacks in Rio de Janeiro)

This was such a fun audiobook!  My first listen from the Queer Liberation Library, and my first book by Max Walker.

The 2 narrators (Javi Wilder & Simon Dornet) crushed it. 1st person dual POV.

This book is horny af y’all.  Noah & Jake both love d!¢k, and we get to hear all about it. *not complaining* but like be warned.  It goes 0-100 many times.

Fast paced thrilling love story with lots of spice. It was a great time and I will be continuing with the series.

I really don’t have any complaints. I just wasn’t obsessed with it to the point that I’ll remember it in a week.

what I loved:
📍 set in Atlanta, Georgia
🌈 MM romance (bi & gay)
📚 [queer] book club found family
🤝 friends to lovers
🔎 mystery stalker storyline
🧮 accounts payable rep
❤️‍🩹 no third act break-up

what I didn’t love:
🔥 insta-love

Y'all. It's 3:30 in the morning and I just stayed up to finish this audiobook. We are throwing a T&T themed super bowl party tomorrow and this alpha-hero, NFL player with a famous girlfriend was the perfect romance to listen to while pulling the decorations together.

This was my first romantic suspense in A WHILE, and my first Tijan. I am definitely going to read more of her books and explore this genre more. I ate this shit up and want seconds. 

it's giving:
-good girl/bad boy
-NFL player
-she's the lone survivor of a serial killer (kinda notorious)
-romantic-suspense
-she's defo undiagnosed neuro-spicy (which we LOVE)
-insta-lust/insta-love, which we usually hate, but the #boyobsessed hits so hard it's completely forgiven
-LOTS of twists (predicted some, but definitely not all!)
-red herrings galore
-bone-chilling thrills
-HELLLLLLA spicy (some light bondage) and lots of domination
-possessive and protective af hero
-healthy communication standards
-goat yoga
-found family
-did I mention it's a steamy book?
-lines that were so cheesy but so hot I went from rolling my eyes to giddy giggles in the same breath

If you're looking for a spicy book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I 110% recommend this one.  My Kelce-Swift fangirl, true crime podcasting loving heart LOVED it so much.

ALSO, THE AUDIOBOOK?!
We all know and love and seek out Teddy Hamilton (and he delivers in this one). But Andi Arndt CRUSHED IT! I will now be looking for more books narrated by her. A new favorite voice for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Valentine PR, and Dreamscape Media for sharing this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

this book was soooo cute!
I binged the audiobook

-forced proximity
-found family (in the most literal sense)
-"I don't want to be your friend"
-grumpyxsunshine
-Deaf rep
-Anxiety rep
-no third act break up!
-the main characters are stepping up to take custody of their younger siblings in the system
-the spice was spicin
-midsize rep

This was my re-read in prep for HOFAS and ahhhhhhhhhh I’m so glad I did this.

I’m in love with Bryce Quinlan.

Re-read less than a year later in a binged audio format and it was even better the second time. No notes. Okay that’s a lie. One note. More romance please. But even so the slow burn is burning! We love a quiet love. 

The way I ran to binge Shiny Happy People on Prime video last night...

I was never really a TLC viewer, but wow. This is such a great listen and I learned a lot. I love Jill’s voice and how she’s able to share her story with nuance. I’m so grateful she and Doug found each other and have life to do together.