stephsbooktalk's Reviews (915)

Audiobook: 4.5 - This has been a bookstagram darling and I was super excited that the waitlist was not very long from my local library!  And it did not disappoint. 

Florence is a ghostwriter in New York who doesn’t believe in romance anymore. Florence and her father both had the gift of seeing/communicating with the death. After solving a crime as a teen, she vowed that she would not remain in North Carolina. After her father passes away, she is brought back to her family's funeral parlor when one night she gets a visitor at the door. After spending time with this ghost, she begins to have feelings for him and doesn't even care that he is a ghost. 

This book had SO MUCH HEART! It made my heart happy and hurt all at the same time. I was a little lost in the beginning (could be my own distraction with work) but once Florence was brought back home, I was sucked into this world of this quirky family. I did not cry while listening but I know it made a lot of my bookstagram friends cry. So have a kleenex handy! 

I have not read a book this quickly in so long. I just loved the flow of the writing and the mixed media with the Instagram posts and text messages.

Crystal is a fitsagrammer and makes that her full time job; promoting body positivity and self love. 
Crystal works out at a gym (1 hour a day) when another gym go-er starts using her machines without any sort of apology. Their tension gets to an all time high when she thinks he takes his phone after she had taken his phone hostage previously. They had a hot moment in the locker room before being interrupted. Then a shock to both of them, they appear at the same dinner celebrating their grandparents engagement. Crystal's grandmother does small pushes to play matchmaker between Crystal and Scott.  I love the timeline of the relationship and how normal it seemed. Them staying at home and watching tv and him always falling asleep - is so accurate (at least in my house hold). I also love how he helps her with her content and even when a photo of them goes viral, he just wanted to help fix the situation. 

As someone who is an active plus size woman, I really enjoyed that aspect of it and reminded me of my gym days pre-Covid.  After reading friends reviews it was determine that the MC was more midsize as oppose to plus. As much as I would have LOVE for the female MC to be plus size, it did not change the fact that I still enjoyed the characters and the plot of the story.  Also sad for the publisher to market it that way. 

The conflict that arose in this in the shocking 3rd quarter of the book is relevant to the tik toks that come up on my FYP where girls would show off their hot husbands/boyfriends in a "trend." One influencer in particular is CONSTANTLY having to stand up for her marriage to her high school sweetheart because trolls behind their phones cannot accept the fact that a curvy/plus size woman has a muscular spouse. 

Also Scott is ultimate swoon worthy book boyfriend material and I could not stop thinking about him. I just love them so much together! 

I am super excited for the second book in the series which will focus on Crystal's sister and I'm guessing her new roommate which was Scott's prior roommate, Trevor. Okay honestly I just want updates on Crystal and Scott. 

I absolutely loved this book! I just wanted to keep on listening to the audio. I absolutely loved the female MC, Veronica. She just seemed like such a cool person to be around. What I also loved was the representation within this book. I have never read any book YA or adult where the main character had hip dysplasia. I love how Veronica doesn't let that slow her down. Her dream was to be a  mermaid at the local Mermaid Cove. A position had open up and she audition and got it. As majority of teenagers go through, there was a lot of conflict with her parents. They were very protective of her and she was not allowed to do a lot of things. One way she defied her parents was starting to date a boy in their apartment complex. One thing that I thought was refreshing for this YA is that there wasn't any conflict with the boy. They just simply were. 

Thank you to the BBBC & Steamy Lit's Summer of Steam for introducing me to this book and to this author! I highly enjoyed it! I love that it was told from past and present dual perspectives focusing primarily=== on the present. 

This is classified as a taboo romance which I guess it is taboo but it wasn't something that lingered for me throughout it even though it was constantly brought up. Sloane is a widow and Dominic was her husband's best friend. 

As a reader we learn that Dominic and Sloane met prior to her meeting her husband and from that moment on Dominic was head over heels in love with her. Sloane's husband had died 4 years prior and she was finally ready to start dating again  but she couldn't avoid this hate/love attraction to Dominic.  

I always try to highlight in my reviews when miscarriages are brought up in books as it is something close to my heart. And once again I related so much of the feelings that Sloane was going through. I will subconsciously know when anniversaries are approaching and I can feel my mood shift. 

How could I forget about the romance and the spice?! I am fairly certain this is my spiciest book that I have read this year, maybe even ever? It almost became too much which I never thought I would say. 

I would definitely read more of Seegars work and I am looking forward to the next one in the series. 

Thank you so much to Farrah Rochon, Forever Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for an advance copy of my book in exchange for an honest review. 

This book will be published August 2nd. 

Oh my goodness!!!!! I absolutely loved this book!!!! Now I didn't get a chance to read the first book and I really loved Taylor's story in the second but this one takes the cake. 

The book starts off at a class reunion for the class of 2007 (made me feel old) where London put herself in charge of everything. Even paying extra for the fanicer hors d'oeuvres. All was going well until her nemesis appears - Drew Sullivan. 

They immediately pick up where they left off in high school with the back and forth banter. It wasn't until they found themselves at the bar together and then suddenly in Drew's hotel room where London made the move and wanted him to be a one night stand. She didn't think she would need to see him again until the following Monday, Drew appeared at her hospital to help with an audit as the hospital had a chance of being bought.  

Knowing that she was going to see him on a daily basis, London changed her one night stand into her daily stress reliever. Drew was determine to make this into something more and knew that he eventually would win her over.  

I really loved this whole book! I laughed; I yelled; I rooted for London. Drew was so swoon worthy that I just couldn't stop smiling anytime him and London were together. He always wanted was best for her and always tried to impress her.  They just came off the pages as such a hot couple.

I was so happy that London stood up to her dad and I actually hope that she keeps her distance from him. Seperating yourself from a toxic relationship even if it is your parent, is so hard but very needed to do. And especially with her health condition and the already added stress of her profession. I love that London was able to talk about her issues with not only Drew but with her two best friends Samiah and Taylor. They are such a solid bunch that had X happened, I would have been very sad. 

This book made me really happy and I think others will enjoy it too! 

Audiobook:  Thank you to Harper Collins Audio for an advance copy of the audio! 

This book will be published on July 12. 

I have to admit that I have not read a lot of sapphic books but I will say this probably was my favorite of the ones I have read. 

Amy is the owner of Amy Mays (Maes?) a struggling restaurant that had been her dream to own. Sophie is the head chef and a prior contestant on a food competition show who was sought after by Amy. But Amy sought after Sophie not just because of her cooking style and skills but because she had a crush on her.  Amy thought Sophie was straight so her admiring Sophie was all she thought she could do as she was with a male previously. Sophie acknowledges that she doesn't just have feelings for males but also for females as well. 

Amy knows that the restaurant needs some updates with the food menu but is nervous to give the full reins over to Sophie who only wants to cook. Slowly throughout the book, Amy lets loose on her control and allows Sophie to be more creative. One way Amy thought her restaurant could be saved would be to sign up for a food TV show. Sophie is not keen on the idea because she would be working with her ex, putting herself back on tv after trying to work past that exposure. 

The one thing in the beginning that was hard for me to get past was there was suddenly interest between the two female MCs. Like we just jumped in the middle of them crushing on each other. I am so used to books showing the relationship from start to finish. Also the first time they get together was rather rushed in the sense that they should've picked a different location. 

THE SPICE! There was no shortage of sexy time in this. Definitely had me blushing. 

I just loved the relationship between the two females. Sophie was there to help Amy when her dad was being a complete jerk while dining at the restaurant with his friends. And Amy was there to give Sophie the confidence she needed in the kitchen. 

This book made me hungry for poutine. Give me all the cheese curds! 

Audiobook: I had taken a break from working through Riley's backlog but after getting to meet him, I decided to start back up. 

I like that this was told from a past and present POV. What was also interesting was that the "past" was really just days prior to the present. 

I thought the concept of this was very different. A woman with no family or really friends condo sitting in this luxury condominium in NYC where the sitters prior all turned up missing. 

I was not expecting it to go the route that it did. It actually reminded me of a plotline that CW's Riverdale used a few seasons back. 

Audiobook: Absolutely loved this book & the stories that Dave told! I had finished shortly before Taylor Hawkin's death which made it even sadder especially hearing the stories Dave shared about/with Taylor. 

Grohl truly is a living legend. 

I will not be rating Non Fiction books as it is based on real events and real experiences.

As I am sure was previously mentioned in the bookverse, this book is definitely a queer version of the brilliant To All The Boys I've Loved Before. 

Wren drunkenly sends out emails to all the boys that he almost kissed. The only one that responded was his HS crush and former friend Derrick who out of nowhere ghosted him while in college. Not only was Wren embarrassed at his admission, he now was going to be faced with Derrick for the remainder of the summer. They would both be working together at Wiley's Drive In. 

Wiley's is in danger of closing. People just don't want to come to the drive in anymore but Wren refuses to give up on the place. His big production that he thinks will help save the drive in, is to host a movie premiere for a movie that came out in the 1970s but never got its chance at a proper premiere.  He seeks out a local former movie star that is very elusive for her approval to make this premiere happen. 

I really loved this book! One thing that really stuck out was that Wren's identity he wasn't just labeled as "gay" or "bisexual" but queer and possibly demisexual. That is something we don't see enough in books. And then to have someone explain it to Wren and watch his light bulb go off as you're reading. 

I was always rooting for Derrick and Wren and loved how patient he was with Wren. Took things at his pace. I loved their flirting relationship via social media. Plus how creative was Wren's email/handles. 

I loved Wren's relationship with Alice Kelly. Their initial meeting was funny and I could feel how much Wren respected her. She had grown to care for Wren as well. I really think he brought the spark back in her life. 

I am super excited for Janovsky's Christmas book coming out later this year!! 

Also it was a bonus that I could pick out some of the familiar names and locations that were used in the book as Janovsky is a localish author.  

Thank you so much to Jodie Slaughter, NetGalley & St Martin Press for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review. 

This will be published on July 12. 

I will be honest and say I was advised that this book was just "okay" and "would not recommend" but after reading it, I have to say the opposite. I really enjoyed reading this and the biggest reason, I finally read a book with a plus size MC and her size was NEVER an issue. And as someone who is plus size, I kept waiting for it to happen and it never did. 

The opening of the book starts off with Aja grocery shopping when a panic attack comes over her. A young man sees that this is happen and stays with her through it until he knew she was okay. Fast forward to her big night out at the local bingo hall where she officially meets this young man as Walker, her bingo buddy's grandson. Walker left the smalltown after years of teasing and rumors haunted him; where as Aja longed for the slow down pace of a smaller town after living in DC. The attraction between the two was felt from the start but neither knew how to approach. Walker knew that he was not staying around and Aja didn't want to get attach. After Walker won his first bingo game, the sexual tension was too much and they decide that anytime either would win a game, that would be the reward. 

One thing that I loved was how there didn't need to be all the witty banter (which don't get me wrong I love) to understand that there were feelings between Walker and Aja. Casen point in this line: "The little intricacies of their time together didn’t need to be shared with everyone for his feelings to be understood."

I also loved how this book touched upon the idea the difficulty and nervousness of making friends as an adult. Aja had anxiety but knew she had to keep putting herself out there so she didn't continue being a hermit. She met Miri while doing some self care - getting her nails done which then led her to meet Miri's friends. One thing that Miri said towards the end of the book after Aja expresses that she is happy to have met her. She says "Me too, I'm glad you let us know you, Aja."  So many times we hide ourselves and miss so many opportunities because we do not give ourselves the chance to let people in. 

"Good friends could be the difference between being left splattered on the pavement or landing hard but steady on your feet."

Something that surprised me (but did not alter my ratings) was that we got to know a lot about Walker's background and the root of his anxiety. Whereas with Aja, we didn't know when or perhaps why it started. Wish we could have gotten to know more about Aja's past. 

I thought there was just enough steam in this. I thought Jodie did a great job in setting the scene. My only critique as being a plus size woman is trying to picture the mechanics of having sex in a vehicle but hey I guess it could happen!  Walker loved her body the way it is and never asked her to change and Aja never hide her body from him. 

Lastly, I am ready for more bingo romances! What a fun concept!