I’ve adored quite a few of Casey’s books, and really wanted to love this book, too. The sumptuous descriptions of food, wine, and Europe were absolutely delicious, but I found the love story lacking.

The storyline (sleeping with lots of other people, all gorgeous and willing) didn’t seem to be a legitimate way to bring Kit and Theo back together. Theo's journey with bisexuality felt real and earned, especially when framed through Kit's reactions. Still, their connection wasn't as strong as I would have liked it to be. The break-up and the reconciliation seemed unearned, since most of the work was done off of the page.

Overall, I didn't find much emotional resonance in the, admittedly, lush and gorgeous travel story. I’ll keep reading Casey’s books; I usually love them. This one just didn’t hit for me.

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of ancient China's Four Beauties, this mesmerizing novel intertwines romance, palace intrigue, and the dangers of war. With gorgeous prose, author Liang crafts a riveting narrative.

Thanks to her beauty, Xishi is taken from her village of Yue and trained by military advisor Fanli to be a spy. She'll infiltrate the enemy kingdom and seduce its king. While he's preoccupied, her kingdom will attack.

I really liked the characters of this story--no one is all good or bad, just like in real life. Xishi and Fanli forbidden romance is also very well-done. Their connection was palpable.

Natalie Naudus does an amazing job narrating the dramatic and romantic moments of this story. The situations Xishi had to deal are presented in an engaging yet suspenseful way--I had to sit in my car to finish listening to certain parts (when I was supposed to be in work!).

If you enjoy historical novels with a dash of fantasy mixed in, you'll love this one. I really enjoyed it!

This clever, comical novel centers on sweet-but-skittish Tess Rosenbloom. After finding out that Blood Feud, the vampire book series she loves is real, she ends up stranded on an island with the vampires and gets immersed in their high-stakes world.

Tess is a great character. You feel for her, especially due to how well the subplot about past abuse is presented. It adds the perfect amount of emotional resonance to this campy, fun tale. The main romance between Tess and lead vampire Caleb is fun and swoony, while the sapphic romance for her best friend adds even more heart.

It's spooky season and the perfect time to dig your teeth into the funny, romantic, emotional novel!