thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

Having read books by Adler in the past, I thought I knew what I was getting into with this book. However, it was a bit heavier than her previous novels. Home Field Advantage tells the age-old story of the quarterback/cheerleader romance, but makes it queer. Both girls, Amber and Jack, experience horrible misogyny and homophobia from their peers and community throughout the story and lean on each other for support. I just wish the book had been advertised differently so readers knew it was a more serious story. It is definitely not a fun, queer romance like many would think based on its cute rainbow cover.

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this book as it is out of my comfort zone genre-wise. However, I could not help but relate to this story and its descriptions of what it is like to have clinical depression. The haunted forest setting and the magic present in this story gave me serious “Alice in Wonderland” vibes and really contributed to my overall enjoyment of this title. This is a 2023 release that you are not going to want to miss. 

(PUB DATE: 01/10/2023)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I absolutely loved listening to this novel. If you can get your hands on an audiobook copy of  How Not To Drown In A Glass Of Water, I highly recommend going that route. The narrator who reads Cara Romero’s parts, Rossmery Almonte, did a fantastic job bringing her character to life. This title deals with some difficult topics, like gentrification and loss, in a way that I have not seen done before. My only complaint was that this book was not long enough. I could have listened to Cara Romero’s stories for many more hours without getting bored. 

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

While I appreciated the artwork in this graphic novel, the story itself was not great. I might have liked this title more if I was a fan of horror films, especially slashers, as there were a lot of references to those. With some more background knowledge about that area of pop culture, I think this book would have been a more enjoyable read. Overall, Sacred Lamb just wasn’t for me. 

(PUB DATE: 04/04/2023)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I am a sucker for reality tv and any novels with similar formats. Books about cooking competitions, house flipping, or find love on television are too tempting for me to pass on. The Charm Offensive resembles the historic Bachelor franchise. However, unlike other fictional takes on The Bachelor (there have been a few), The Charm Offensive focuses more on what goes on behind the scenes. We, the readers, are exposed to the producers and the other staff that are involved in creating a romance competition show. I highly recommend this heartwarming, witty read if you are also a reality tv junkie! 

Ashley Schumacher is one of the greatest YA writers of our time. I have enjoyed every book that she has written and The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is no exception. Schumacher’s ability to write well-rounded, realistic characters is remarkable. I continue to care deeply for her protagonists no matter what settings she puts them in. This novel would be a great addition to any library’s collection and I encourage readers of all ages to give her writing a try! 

(PUB DATE: 03/14/2023)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.) 

Oh. What. Fun. is a humorous holiday novella that focuses on who is behind all the magic of Christmas. No, it’s not Santa, but rather moms. Claire, a mother and grandmother, has finally had enough of not getting recognition for all that she does during the holidays. Read this funny, seasonal novella to find out what happens when the person behind all of the Christmas magic disappears. 

As this is the fifth book in the Bromance Book Club series, I am thoroughly invested in this friend group and their love stories. This time, it is Colton’s turn to find love. I have liked Colton in the previous books, but we really got to see his personality shine in this one. Of course, this romance has the grumpy/sunshine trope (one of my favorites) so that played a big role in how much I liked this one. I can’t wait for the next story in this series! 

As much as I wanted to love this novel (Julie Murphy is one of my favorite authors), A Merry Little Meet Cute fell flat for me. The story itself was fine and is certainly a great book to read to get you in the holiday spirit, but it was missing the extra depth that I have come to expect from Murphy’s writing. If you are looking for a funny, mindless seasonal romance with some spice, this is the book for you. 

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)