thisteacherlovestoread's Reviews (544)

**audiobook and ebook review**

OMG, you guys HAVE to read and or listen to this book! Morgan Elizabeth totally crushed it. I'm officially obsessed with Harper and Wes, especially Wes! Seriously, protect this man at all costs. The he falls first trope was done so well. I could feel his attraction to Harper and feel their chemistry and connection! Wes is so patient, attentive, and swoony. I was a goner from page one. Harper's friend group is awesome too. I loved seeing Ava and Jules again! Harper's character growth was so good. Plus, the whole revenge on an ex storyline was perfectly done. I did an immersive read and read and listened to the audiobook. The narrators were Amazing! Wes's deep voice made me swoon and Harper's narrator totally captured her sweet personality. If you're into marriage of convenience, he falls first, and hilarious revenge plots, this book is a MUST READ. Get ready to laugh, swoon, and basically fall in love with these characters.

Thank you to Valentine PR for an ARC of this book and Morgan Elizabeth's team for an ALC of this book. I voluntarily read and listened and gave an honest review.

If Hannah Gray writes it, I'm going to read it. Seriously, I'm consistently blown away by her books. I devoured this one. I don't know her secret, but she creates these characters I just instantly fall in love with, and the stories are so engaging. I'm OBSESSED with Gemma and Smith. They deserve all the happiness. I loved watching their story unfold. What's so great about Hannah Gray is that she tackles tough subjects, but she does it in such a realistic and heartwarming way. Thank goodness her books are done in dual POV because I live for getting inside the characters' heads, and Hannah Gray nails it. You can't help but connect with these characters and feel invested in their lives. This book delivered all the feels, taking me on an emotional rollercoaster. This whole series has been a five-star read for me, and this book is amazing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go impatiently wait for the next one.

Thank you Hannah Gray and Wordsmith Publicity for an ARC of this must read book. I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

I finally read my first Ali Hazelwood book, and I'm officially hooked!  I'm a sucker for sports romance, so when I heard this one was about a swimmer and a diver, I was immediately in.  Bonus points because I was a diver in high school, so I totally connected with the FMC.  Scarlett and Lukas were perfect for each other. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I loved how well they communicated with each other and understood what each other needed. What I really appreciated was that they weren't just your typical jock and girl; they were both super smart and dedicated to their sports and everything else. Scarlett was so relatable. She's amazing at so many things, but she also has this mental block she's working through, and she's not afraid to be vulnerable. Lukas was so supportive of Scarlett and just balanced her anxiety perfectly. I read the book and listened to the audiobook at the same time, which was awesome. The narrators, Therese Plummer and Ben Holtzmuller (both new to me), were fantastic! They totally brought the story and the characters to life. I'm definitely going to be checking out what else they've narrated, too. Basically, if you like sports romance, or just a good, solid romance in general, you should definitely give this one a try! There is a note in the beginning of the story about some things to know before you dive into the book. You may want to read that so you know what you are getting into.

I just finished Parents Weekend by Alex Finley, and it was a decent, quick read.  I definitely flew through it, which is always a plus.  It's a thriller, and it kept me entertained, though I didn't quite love it.

My main issue was that there are way too many characters!  Seriously, it took me a while to get everyone straight, and even then, I was sometimes like, "Wait, who's that again?"  The short chapters were a bonus, they helped keep things moving.

As for the plot, it wasn't super twisty or mind blowing, but there were a few surprises here and there.   Since there were so many characters and points of view, I didn't really connect with any of them on a deeper level.  I also didn't realize FBI agent Sarah Keller was in other books, but honestly, it didn't matter.  You can totally read this one on its own.

If you want an enjoyable quick thriller to read or you are a fan of Alex Finley I would still give this one a read. 

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

Best Friends for Never is a second-chance, best-friends to lovers story, which I'm always a sucker for, and it's set in a small town, which is even better. We've got Noel, a big time Hollywood actor, and Parker, designing and restoring the local theater. They were childhood besties, but haven't spoken in ten years!

Now they are reunited and lots of feelings are stirred up. I loved that we got both Noel and Parker's points of view. It really let me into their heads and I could see how much they still cared for each other. Plus, the side characters were great too. Parker's friendship with Axel and Gran was adorable, and Noel's connection with Parker's mom, Astrid, was so heartwarming. I'm a sucker for found family stories.

This book was a quick, feel good read with low angst, which was exactly what I needed. It was enjoyable from beginning to end. Parker was super relatable, and Noel was a total sweetheart. I was rooting for them the whole time! If you're looking for a sweet, low angst romance, definitely check this one out!

Thank you Valentine PR for an ARC of this book. I voluntarily read and gave an honest review.

Out of the Woods was a really good, emotional read!  It's about Sarah and Caleb, these high school sweethearts who are now married and kind of in a rut. Their marriage looks fine, but Sarah's having a a hard time finding herself, and it's putting a strain on their marriage. They decide to go on a week long wilderness retreat to try and fix things.

I thought the book handled the topic of marriage in crisis really well. It felt realistic and vulnerable.  It definitely deals with some heavy stuff, but it wasn't all doom and gloom.  There were some genuinely sweet moments and some laugh out loud parts that kept it from being too heavy.  What I really liked was how maturely Sarah and Caleb dealt with their problems.  Even though they were struggling, you could still totally feel the love between them, which was nice.  Oh, and bonus, we get to see Bo and Win from Out on a Limb again!  Definitely recommend this one if you're looking for something that's both emotional and heartwarming.

Totally obsessed! Seriously, Hutch is a cinnamon roll and must be protected at all costs. I mean, I was hooked on him from the start. It took me a little while to get into the story at first, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I was a little worried it was going to be all about Katie hating her body, but it was actually really relatable to see her grow and change. The side characters were great too, especially Rue! I want to be Rue when I grow up. She's so vibrant and loves life and her friends. I wish we saw more of Hutch and Katie together as a couple. OMG, I would have loved to get Hutch's POV! The things he said to Katie were so sweet, and I just know his inner thoughts would have been amazing. Seriously, read this book! You won't regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

**Audiobook review**

I just finished My Dark Prince by L.J. Shen and Parker S. Huntington and I really enjoyed it! Think Sleeping Beauty, but make it dark and steamy. Briar wakes up with no memory, and her billionaire childhood friend, Oliver, takes advantage of the situation, convincing her they're about to get married. As Briar's memory starts to come back, she realizes Oliver's been playing her, and he's got some serious secrets.

I jumped into this one without reading the first two books in the series and while I wasn't lost or confused, I kinda wish I had read them because I get the feeling I missed out on some backstory. I'm definitely going back to read them now! Usually, I hate the miscommunication trope in books, but honestly, it totally worked here. It was a great way to slowly reveal Oliver and Briar's complicated past.

Narrators Christian Fox and Andi Arndt nailed the audio. They brought these characters to life, and the chemistry between them was on point. Told in dual narration, their narration made the story even better. If you're looking for a dark, sexy read with some serious tension, definitely check this one out!

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook of this book. I voluntarily read and gave an honest review.

WOW. Just WOW. This first book in The Blackwells of Montana series absolutely blew me away. I legit could not put it down. I was sneaking in pages whenever I could and staying up way too late just to finish it. I connected with Dani, the main character so much. She's been through the wringer, but she's so strong. As a teacher myself (former kindergartener, current 2nd grade!), it was awesome to see a teacher as the lead. Dani and Bridger are perfect for each other. Bridger just brings out this amazing side of Dani, and she fits so perfectly into his life with Berdie. I love the way Bridger made Dani feel. He builds her up, makes her feel like she matters. And their communication is total relationship goals. I felt all the feels reading this book. I was thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it, and honestly, I'm still thinking about it now! I'm so hyped for the rest of the series!

What to expect:
* firefighter x teacher
* single-dad
* friends-to-lovers
* small town romance
* past trauma (FMC)
* adorable daughter
* found family

Thank you Valentine PR for an ARC of this amazing book! I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

I was SO pumped to get my hands on this ARC! Rebecca Jenshak is an auto-buy author for me, and I was super curious about this new YA romance. The characters feel incredibly real and mature, even though they're navigating the high school scene.

Claire and Austin- absolutely adorable. Their romance is sweet and believable, and their glitter bomb meet-cute is chef's kiss. I could totally relate to both of them – their feelings, their thoughts, the whole deal. Even the side characters were awesome.

I'm already craving more of this series and can't wait to see what happens with Claire and Austin in the future.

For fans of:

Rebecca Jenshak
YA romance
Sports romances (especially soccer!)
Friends-to-lovers
Secret relationships
Soccer star & former figure skater
Teammates' ex-girlfriends (the drama!)
This book has something for everyone!