the_cover_contessa's Reviews (1.75k)

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really enjoyed The Lost Bookshop by Woods. I'm not much of a historical fiction person but she intertwined it with modern day magical realism and that really drew me in. The same can be said with this book. Though the magical realism isn't quite as prominent in this one.
I loved the idea of an American abroad in Ireland learning about the culture through the locals and a diary hidden in a tree! It was fun to jump between the present of 2010 and the past of 1911. And the folklore of the fae as related to Ireland was really fun.
The prose is eloquent and easy to read. Each chapter easily moved the story along. Woods inserted the historical parts at just the right times to ensure the reader understood the story line. This made it easy to see the story unfold.
The modern romance was nice enough but not really a huge part of the story. I liked watching the FMC, Sarah Harper, grow and learn about herself. It was interesting to see how she was able to come into her own while being in another country and trying to learn their traditions and understand their culture.
Going into this book, I was not aware of the Irish folklore associated with fairies. I know about them from reading some paranormal books. But never in the context of Ireland the the superstitions that go along with them in that country.
I will admit the pacing was sometimes a bit slower than I would have liked. Mostly with the chapters set in 1911. But overall I enjoyed the story and I really enjoy the way this author writes. I will be picking up future books by her! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves stories by TJ Klune and/or Meg Shaffer.
3.75 stars rounded to 4

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The blurb for this book drew me right in. Dystopian? Check! A little romance? Check! Male narrator? Check! I was excited to see what it was all about. Plus the blurb was giving me Seeking a Friend for the End of the World movie vibes and I really enjoyed that film.
I want to let the author know that I loved how he took his own experiences with work and sewed them into this book. I loved that he had that first hand knowledge and was able to use it to build his main character's personality. It made the character much more authentic and real. I was able to connect with this character so well as he was flawed in ways that were concrete and genuine. He wasn't a super hero and he knew it. He was straight forward about who he was and what he could do. But despite his flaws, he still put himself out there and tried his hardest to be better and do better.
The other characters were developed well. I loved all the different personalities Wassmer wove into the book. It was really important to the theme he created. And he used so much humor in a situation that was quite dire. I definitely had laugh out loud moments. But the author was also able to create a lot of tension between the characters. And he demonstrated well how each character played off the others emotions and reactions.
The theme of the sun exploding and the characters' world coming to an end gave the book a very tense feel. This is not the first book I've read these past months that has taken place on a secluded island. As a matter of fact, it's my fourth. The plot gave an almost Lord of the Flies quality to the book. A testament to what humans will do when put into a position where they must defend themselves and their lives against other humans. The book dug down to basic human needs.
The pacing in this book was hard for me. If there was something I didn't like about the book it was that. This being Wassmer's first book I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall, he did a good job moving the book along. However, I did find it a bit slow. And while I liked the characters and the theme, I didn't feel an extreme pull to continuously have it in hand to see what would happen. It dragged a bit after the first 20% or so. I will say the last 25% really picked up and I tore through that much more quickly than the rest of the book.
The twist was great. I did know there would be one somewhere. There had to be. But I wasn't sure how it would play out and I really loved where the author took it.
Overall, this was a fun story and I'd love to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this title for and honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I will pretty much read anything Elle Kennedy writes. And I know this is a re-release but I've actually never read this series so I wanted too jump in. And when she combines her writing with Bowen, it's even more fun. I loved their Him and Us books. I wasn't expecting a spin off of that series but they did it and I'm all about reading it.
The plot line is typical of a fast and quick romance. I love the friends to lovers aspect. And it's fun to see it grow in the presence of a little bit of a sorted past between the two characters. The plot heavily relies on humor, which I really like. Blake Riley and Jessica "Jess, J-babe" Canning could not be more different. But their chemistry does sizzle. And the plot grows that chemistry but also their growing attraction to each other as people.
Blake really is your stereo-typical athlete dude. He's cocky and very sure of himself. But underneath there's this sweetness too him. And even though he comes off not as smart as you think he might be, he actually has so much more going on underneath. His biggest asset is his heart and how he puts himself in the way of those he cares for (or cared for) so they won't get hurt. It's a bit detrimental to him. He's very worried about hurting people but it is hurting him for much of the book. I'm glad he's able to come to terms with this. The one thing he never waivers on is his love for Jessica. And his determination to show her they are right for each other is a bit over the top, because he is that cocky, but sweet at the same time. And his sisters are so much fun. I would have loved to see a bit more about them but what I got from his family is the women are big and bold and not afraid of opening their mouths.
Jessica was a fun character. I love that she's Jamie's sister. They have a big family and Jessica has always felt like she is the screw up. But she's actually so much smarter than she gives herself credit for and it takes her the entire book to realize that. She's very busy comparing herself to others for most of the book and when she finally realizes there is so much more she can give than what she thinks she can, it's fun to watch her see it in herself. I do wish there was a little more substance to her than her being super insecure. It took up her whole personality and I really would have liked to see more from her as a character.
The pacing is easy and light with this one. The chapters flow well and it's a pretty fast pace getting you from beginning to end.
If you're looking for something fun and funny, this is that book. I will say the actual plot is very light. There's not all that much there but it didn't detract from the relationship between Blake and Jessica growing and just being a joy to watch. I'll definitely continue to read this series to see what other character relationships Kennedy and Bowen grow!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
What happens when your childhood best friend who you crushed on in high school suddenly reappears in your life? June is struggling to make her business work after her sister died and her boyfriend broke up with her very publicly shooting her into internet stardom. When her childhood best friend Levi has a similar experience with his girlfriend, they end up in each other's orbit and hatch a plan as revenge-exes to help Levi win his girlfriend back and June get her business where it needs to be so she won't lose it. Along the way, old feelings come back to the surface and June realizes she never truly got over Levi. And the fake dating is just showing her that her heart may be broken all over again. But Levi is holding on to a secret of his own about June. Fake dating doesn't mean falling in love, right?
This is my first Emma Lord book. I have always heard great things about this author and I was excited to jump in and see what her writing was all about. Plus, I love a second chance romance and a friends to lovers trope!
Right from the start I knew I was going to fall in love with these characters. Their chemistry shows through in the first pages of the book when their friendship is rekindled. And, of course, their past is crucial to how they act together while fake dating. There's no denying they both are holding on to the secrets of the past which, of course, they don't talk about.
June is a great character. She smart and not afraid to go after what she wants, or at least what she thinks she wants. But her heart is tied up in her business because it was the one she and her sister Annie, who died two years ago, built together. June is insistent on keeping the business just as Annie wanted it and is afraid to move forward or change things in a way that may help her business thrive. She holds on to the past because she feels if she lets go, she's forgetting Annie and not living up to what her sister would have wanted for her. I felt for June the entire book. She had such a hard time doing things that would make her happy because she felt beholden to the things of the past. At times, I wanted to give her a little nudge and a "snap out of it" smack so she could see what was right in front of her. She settled for so much with her ex and how they lived their lives. She never let herself live the way she wanted to. Always conforming and worrying about not being what others wanted her to be. Such a hard mold to break out of.
Levi was similar in how he was living his life. Doing things he needed to make sure his family was ok. Settling for someone he thought would make him happy. But he, too, was holding on to things from the past. Things he never told June. Annie was his best friend and that relationship was so special for him. But she was angry with him for choosing the path he took.
I did adore Sana, June's best friend. She pushed June to do better and be better. She helped June find herself a bit and wasn't afraid to point out June's flaws. She was the perfect BFF.
The pacing of the book is great. I will admit, the first few chapters are a little slow to build. But I liked that Lord didn't jump right into the meat of the relationship between the FMC and MMC. She gave us some background to help build it up. Lord easily transition from one chapter to the next as the relationships between the characters are revealed. I didn't want to put the book down because I was invested in how June and Levi would make their relationship work. Each chapter revealed more of their past together which helped shape their current relationship. Lord easily incorporates all the what ifs many adults face in life. What if I wasted my time with this person? What if I chose the wrong career path? What if you cannot find a place where you belong? These are all compelling and important aspects of being an adult and choosing a path that makes sense for you. While Lord does incorporate some rom-com into her book, this one is definitely has a more serious tone to it. The exploration of life and the questions that come with it are of great importance in how the story plays out.
So why did I not give this book 5 stars? A few reasons. First, I would have seen more build up of the relationships outside of Levi and June. I would have liked to see more flashbacks of June and Annie, considering how close they were, to solidify their relationship. Rather than June telling us how close they were. I also would have liked to see more of a relationship build between June and her brother Derrick. June touches on the fact that she doesn't really allow Derrick to get close to her. That even though one of her siblings has died, she neglects to see the other one who is standing right in front of her and going through the same struggles of grief she is feeling. My second reason this does not get 5 stars is I really would have liked to see Levi's POV. We get his whole personality and character development from what June tells us and I just feel like there could have been so much more to him if we saw things through his eyes. Finally, I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope. I know it happens, that's life. But it was stretched through the entire book and it kind of annoyed me that these once best friends could not come to terms with how things went down in high school. Even after 10 years. They buried it under the rug and I felt like they almost refused to bring it back to the surface, even though they both know it's what has been holding them back for 10 years from being happy. They both know it but it takes until the end of the book for them to talk about it. I just felt this was a bit childish and would have liked to see it brought out into the open earlier and then worked through to help their characters heal through the story.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this. It made me laugh, cry, hurt my heart a bit. And I liked that Lord did not make it easy for the characters to be together. She puts many obstacles in their paths along the way that help show their growth and development. Readers who love Christina Lauren and Tessa Bailey and a solid heart-warming story will enjoy this title.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Josie  Moore has given love a chance and failed, many times. When her estranged father decides to announce his retirement very publicly, she realizes she may cause him a PR nightmare. Matthew Flannagan is out of a job and trying to find himself. When he gets stuck in the mud, literally, he goes in search of his best friend's sister. But he falls into her orbit and gets drawn into a fake fiance scheme. Matthew doesn't mind helping Josie out by becoming her fifth fiance. But neither realize their fake arrangement might very easily turn into something very real.
If you read the first book in this series, The Long Game, you met both Josie and Matthew. It's no wonder Armas wanted to tell their story after introducing them to us!
I enjoy Armas's books. They are cute and fast reads. The romance is always fun with good chemistry and just the right amount of angst. Her pacing keeps me wanting to turn the pages and find out exactly what happens next. And her stories do not rely only on spice, there are emotional aspects that she always hits on that are important to the characters. She also knows how to weave in a good amount of comedy, making me giggle throughout the story. But she also has a knack for giving you realistic drama and characters that are relatable. 
Josie is definitely wounded when it comes to love. She's fighting abandonment issues which have lead her to leave a few fiances at the alter in the past. I really enjoyed watching her realize what her needs are when it comes to love. She's also fiercely independent. She's made her way in the world without a father, since he did not acknowledge she existed until recently, and essentially without a mother since she died when Josie was quite young. Matthew is our golden retriever main man. He's the perfect mix of sexy, smart, and protective. He is very tender and yet, underneath his good boy exterior lingers this seductive and spicy side that is brought out when he and Josie are together. And his patience, oh man does he have that when it comes to Josie. So willing to let her take the lead and give her whatever she needs to be comfortable with him.
One thing I will mention is Aramas's writing style. Even though I've read several of her books, I fell like every time I start one I have to get used to it. It comes across as just a bit choppy at times which is hard on a romance for me. I was happy she included a chapter from Matthew's POV at the end. However, I'm not really sure what the point of it was. I wish we had his POV the entire time. I feel like I would have gotten to know him much better if I were inside his head a bit.
The story was a delight to read. It's not my favorite by Armas but I'd would recommend it to anyone who loves a slow burn, quirky romance.