Enemies to Lovers | Review: The Crimson Moth / Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

I’m not usually a fantasy reader, but I’ve been giving the genre a try after enjoying Divine Rivals and What the River Knows. In September, our book club decided to read Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter, which also goes by The Crimson Moth. It’s a fantasy romance duology inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, about a witch and a witch hunter that makes for a captivating read. 

Rune Winters has been secretly helping witches like her escape capture and persecution ever since the New Republic ended the Reign of Witches. She evades suspicion while putting on a facade as a socialite, while hiding her true identity as a vigilante known as the Crimson Moth. After an attempted rescue goes wrong, she catches the attention of notorious witch hunter, Gideon Sharpe. He suspects Rune to be the Moth, while at the same time, she needs information from him to rescue a powerful witch. In their attempts to thwart the other, the two pretend to be courting. The closer they get however, the more it entangles them in a dangerous game that will put their loyalties into question and their hearts on the line.

This is how you do enemies to lovers. For a book that is considered YA, it is steaming with tension, both in romance and plot, with an ending that has me anxiously waiting for the next book. Rune and Gideon really are enemies and their motives for what they do are valid the more we get to know them. And yet, their undeniable attraction and the genuine connection that forms are what makes their relationship simmer until it boils over.

The writing is good as is the world building. There are grand balls, spells cast, surprising character reveals, and life threatening incidents that raise the stakes. The only part I got confused by is why there was a revolt against the witches before the start of the book. It begins to make sense as information is revealed, but I wish Ciccarelli delved into it some more. 

Right now, this is my favorite romantasy. It’s a fast paced read that is well balanced between story and the enemies to lovers romance. And look at how gorgeous this edition is from Fairyloot. I’m obsessed!

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In Honor of Saint Agnes | Review: Sugar, Baby by Celine Saintclare

As the year begins to wind down, I’ve been looking back at some of the books I’ve read. This debut novel by Celine Saintclare was different from what I usually read, but left an impression that has made me curious to see what she writes next.

Sugar, Baby follows Agnes, a twenty-one year old cleaner working alongside her very religious mother and living in what she calls “The Wasteland” just outside of London. When she meets Emily, the daughter of one of her wealthy employers, Agnes is introduced to the world of “sugaring.” Although the lifestyle offers her more money than she’s ever had and the affection she craves, it also begins to make her question what exactly it is she wants out of life.

I picked up this book after first seeing it on Aardvark Book Club, and it’s a pretty good read that I almost read in one sitting. Despite what the title may suggest, it is more about identity, touching on race, privilege, and religion, and about finding yourself in your twenties. The premise however is there, and is a central part of the character’s journey. 

What I like most is how Celine Saintclare does not turn this into a cautionary or purely salacious tale. Instead, she looks at all facets of Agnes’s new lifestyle and how it affects her — the luxuries she gets to experience for the first time, her relationship with her friends and family, the situations she gets herself into, but all as she tries to figure out her life. The connection to religion as well, especially her namesake Saint Agnes, is an interesting note that aligns with some of the themes and what Agnes goes through. The ending left me wanting to know more, but actually works in giving some closure to where this part of her life ends and where she may go from there.

If you’re looking to read something different that is messy, complex, and falls into the genre of navigating your twenties, Sugar, Baby is worth checking out.

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Saddle Up | The Chestnut Springs Series by Elsie Silver

The other day, I finally finished reading Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs series and I AM OBSESSED! These books were so fun to read back to back this month that I wish I had read them sooner after I finished the first book earlier this year. Who would have thought I would be into cowboy romances?  

My Chestnut Springs Ranking: 

1. Reckless 

2. Heartless 

3. Hopeless 

4. Flawless 

5. Powerless 

All the books are great in their own way, but my favorite has to be Reckless. Everyone was right when they said it’s the best one in the series (“Te vivo”). Heartless and Hopeless are also in my top 3 for the story and chemistry. I like Flawless and Powerless too, with Flawless being a good introduction to the series and the characters.

FLAWLESS

This is a great introduction to the series beginning with bull rider, Rhett Eaton, and his boss’s daughter, Summer Hamilton. It started off a little slow for me before it gets going, but nonetheless I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the ones that appear in the next books.

HEARTLESS

Cade Eaton. That’s it, that’s the review. No but seriously, I can see why so many people love this book. I went into it a little apprehensive because I was worried I might not like Willa, but ended up adoring her. She’s so honestly funny and down to earth, and her chemistry with Cade and his son, Luke, are what made this book special. Sometimes single dad romances are a hit or miss for me, and here it's definitely a hit. The story also gradually builds and takes its time to breathe before major events happen. 

POWERLESS

This takes a different route in comparison to the first two as it follows hockey player and honorary Eaton brother, Jasper Gervais, and childhood friend, Sloan Winthrop, who is a cousin of the Eatons. Their story feels a little out of place for me in the series, however, I do like how Jasper and Sloane go on a road trip together through the Canadian Rocky Mountains as they contend with their pent up feelings for each other. There is also a nice epilogue for Eaton patriarch, Harvey.

RECKLESS

Everyone was right - this is the best one of the series! Bull rider Theo Silva stole my heart just as much as he did Winter Hamilton’s. This was actually the first book I read with a surprise pregnancy trope, which I didn’t expect this to have, and it's handled so well. I like how Theo and Winter start off on the wrong foot but with an attraction that leads into an unforgettable night. It's then followed by a small time jump that has them picking up where they left off. The character development and well-rounded story also add on to why this is my favorite of the series. Te vivo! 

HOPELESS

Just when I thought it couldn’t get better after Reckless, in comes Beau Eaton’s own romance. Beau was the brother that I was the most curious about throughout the series, but worried what his story would be after his appearance in Reckless. Here, a sensitive side to him is shown as he decides to help bartender and town outcast, Bailey Jansen, by pretending they are engaged. They are both outsiders in their own way and there’s a deeper kind of love that’s shown rather than said. The story is more centered on them with less cameos from the Eatons, which I think works, along with the epilogue, in concluding the series.

Have you read the Chestnut Springs series? Do you have a favorite?

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Strangers at a Wedding | Review: The Wedding People by Alison Espach

I think I’ve been reading less compared to last year, but in return I’ve discovered a lot of great books that have become new favorites. The Wedding People by Alison Espach is one of them. 

Phoebe Stone is a professor who has run off to the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. Her husband has left her and she’s decided to have one last getaway before ending it all. When she arrives however, she finds herself in the middle of a weeklong wedding celebration. She ends up forming an unexpected friendship with the bride Lila, while also getting to know the other people in attendance. As the week carries out, Phoebe begins to have a new outlook on life, rediscovering parts of herself that she never knew existed, but might have always been there.

I know I have been saying this a lot, but I really love this book. It’s humorously honest and introspective featuring a cast of characters that could exist in real life. I was hesitant to pick it up at first because I worried that it might be too dark, but it ended up pleasantly surprising me as I found myself laughing and relating to much of what Phoebe and Lila were going through. Once I neared the end, I wanted to go back and read it again.

I love Phoebe and Lila’s relationship throughout, especially the conversations they have. I think the fact that they are strangers, with or without judgment, is what made them want to confide in each other rather than go to the people who know them. Lila is young and entitled, but I could see there is a loneliness to her that Phoebe connects with or at least understands. For Phoebe as well, Lila bolting into her life throws her in for a loop, but also brings her back to life (quite literally too). They make an impact on each other’s lives more than they realize.

Then, there’s Phoebe and Gary. I don’t want to spoil too much on what happens between them because it’s some of the best parts of the book that align with its themes. I’m already smiling just thinking about that “Free the books” scene. 

This is a 10/10, 5 star read for me. It’s everything all at once about life and chance encounters and how much that can change or affect us.

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Main Character Energy | Review: Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

Dawson’s Creek was one of my favorite shows as a tween (Team Pacey always), as well as the movie Pleasantville. So, when I found out that Kate Robb’s Prime Time Romance is a fun combination of both, I just had to read it. 

Brynn Smothers is recently divorced and still reeling from the end of her marriage. Her source of escape is her favorite show Carson’s Cove, a teen drama with a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that never got resolved due to the show’s abrupt cancellation. Meanwhile, her roommate and local bartender, Josh Bishop, is dealing with his own regret over the sale of his father’s bar he once ran. 

After Brynn makes a wish on a mysterious birthday cake she receives, she and Josh are transported into the world of Carson’s Cove. However, they are not there as themselves, but as the characters from the show: Brynn as girl next door Sloan and Josh as town bad boy Fletch. It’s up to them to finally give the series the happy ending it deserves and maybe find their own in the process.

I came into this book with a few expectations, but by the end had a great time reading it. I love all the Easter eggs to various TV shows, Dawson’s Creek especially, and how Kate Robb plays around with the soapy teen drama tropes while still paying homage to it. Beneath the fun, I also like the deeper themes regarding Brynn and Josh that relate back to the idea of rewatching a favorite series. 

Brynn sees Carson’s Cove as her comfort show because after each episode’s dilemma, it all turns out alright in the end. She wants that for herself too, but may have stopped believing in it since her divorce. As Sloan, she begins to see that just as these characters find a way forward, so can she. The same goes for Josh while being Fletch. As he runs Fletch’s bar, he starts to reconcile with his own self-doubts. 

The romance could have been built up more as there is something missing before it gets there. I will say though that I really like their chemistry. It’s like what Joey Potter said on Dawson’s Creek: “You got to learn to read between the banter.” 

Thank you so much NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC!

Pub Date: September 3, 2024 - Out now

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A Summer Place | Review: This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

If I had to pick a book that encapsulated my summer, it would be This Summer Will Be Different. It’s a book I fittingly read while visiting Prince Edward Island, where the book is set, and it’s a book that brought me to joining my first book club. It’s also the first book I read by Carley Fortune that now makes me want to go back and read her backlist.

Lucy and Felix met summers ago on Prince Edward Island. Their first meeting was ignited by an attraction and inexplicable draw that leads into an unforgettable night. That all changes however, when they learn the next morning that Felix is the brother of Lucy’s best friend, Bridget, and that Lucy swore to never fall in love with him. In the summers that pass, Lucy and Felix try to control their feelings for one another for Bridget’s sake and their own hearts as well. Yet, each summer as all three of them grow and change as they get older, it becomes harder to deny what has always been there.

I love everything about this book. It has a dreamy summer vibe to it with Anne of Green Gables undertones. It’s a romance, but it’s also about friendship and life’s bittersweet moments. The flashbacks juxtaposed with the present add on to this nostalgia, while also showing Lucy and Felix’s relationship grow and progress. Their relationship may have started hot and fast, but what is revealed overtime is a vulnerability that the two share and an openness that feels like coming home. It makes the ending even more rewarding because of what they must do before they could be together than just each other’s escape.

Lucy’s friendship with Bridget meanwhile is held dearly with love. While my Capricorn side found it a little too close for comfort at times, I still got it. They are more than just tight knit friends - they’re bonded for life. It’s hard to explain, but when you read it you’ll see it.

I can’t say enough how much Carley Fortune perfectly captures PEI. I have a whole post on Instagram of the places she mentions that I got to visit. If you ever considered visiting PEI, especially after reading this book - you absolutely must! 

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A Different Kind of Romance | Review: Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood has been an auto-buy author for me since her first book, The Love Hypothesis. Her romances are mostly set in STEM and sometimes have a standard formula. Lately though, I love how she’s been expanding her range with books like Check & Mate and the paranormal romance Bride. Not in Love is another example of this that leans more into a different genre: erotic romance. 

Rue Siebert is a biotech engineer working in food preservation under the tutelage of Florence Kline. When Florence’s company is about to undergo a hostile takeover, Rue is reunited with Eli Killgore. Rue and Eli met on an online dating site, specifically for seeking intimacy. The takeover is personal for both of them, but neither cannot deny the attraction and connection they share, complicating matters of the mind and heart.

Not in Love is not a romcom. It’s an angsty and mature romance of its kind that’s emotionally raw and lives up to what Ali Hazelwood explains in her Author’s Note. I couldn’t put it down and consider it my favorite of her books so far. I think knowing that this wasn’t a typical romance prepared me for what to expect (or not to expect). 

Rue and Eli have been through some difficult stuff in their lives that have greatly affected them. Intimacy is their way of communicating or expressing all those complicated feelings they have kept within them. To be honest, while the intimate scenes were descriptive, it didn’t feel completely salacious in that they were just spicy scenes. It added another layer to understanding how they felt and why they are both so guarded, but could also trust each other. The scenes showed more than they tell about Rue and Eli, and it is where I thought Ali Hazelwood had significantly changed as a writer. She handles those story beats and character developments well, tied with the corporate takeover, and carries it throughout the entire book. 

I’ve always liked Ali Hazelwood’s books, but this is one I really love because it felt real. It also seems like she’s having more fun and freedom in writing whatever she wants no matter how different, which has made me look forward to what else she has to share.

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The Magic of Time Travel | Review: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

This is the kind of book I want to reread multiple times because I know I’ll always find something new or discover something I may have missed.

It’s hard to put into words how much I love The Ministry of Time. It has a little bit of everything and is written so well. I had been curious about it after @em_jacobs_reads recommended it and the idea of time travel being at the center of it. 

Stories about time travel always fascinate me, whether it be in books or in movies, because of what it unravels. In this case, The Ministry of Time explores what it would mean to bring someone from the past (who was already meant to die in history, so there’s no disruption to the space time continuum) and immerse them into our modern world? What would it be like for the person in the present helping them adjust to the displacement and what would their relationship be because of it? 

My first thought upon that is the movie Kate and Leopold, but Kaliane Bradley pushes it further into a realistic perspective. Through her prose, prolific vocabulary, and grounded storytelling, she’s able to explore and ponder on society, race, gender, and technology in both the past, present, and even the future that had me contemplating for days what I had read.

At the heart of this novel is an unnamed British-Cambodian female narrator, who is assigned to be a “Bridge” for Commander Graham Gore from 1847, who actually did exist in real life. I really liked seeing their relationship play out between Gore’s larger than life presence that also exudes sensitivity, and the Bridge’s complex history while being torn between duty and her own affections for Gore. Humorous at times and subtly beautiful and thought-provoking in between, especially in the later half.

The story does take an action-packed turn near the end that may remove some readers from what is initially presented, but it didn’t really bother me. The final moments round it all back. 

This is not the kind of story you would expect, but becomes much more. Time travel isn’t just about time, but is also a journey within yourself and who you can choose to be from it.

- Favorite Excerpts -

A few scenes and quotes that I love and had to save while reading

(I love this scene below. I've been listening to the song on repeat.)

(This part below is my favorite)

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"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" | Review: Wild Life by Opal Wei

“April showers bring May flowers.” I was thinking about this the other day, even though May is almost over, and I remembered this photo and this book that I read earlier this year.

Inspired by the film Bringing Up Baby starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, Wild Life follows Zoey Fong, a cancer researcher, who ends up stuck on a private island animal sanctuary in Vancouver with Davy Hsieh, a former C-Pop star, and his pet cougar, Baby. 

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The Magic of the Movies | Review: The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

When it comes to Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I will read practically anything she writes. I love her writing and how she is able to dabble into different genres so seamlessly from speculative to science fiction or, in this case, historical fiction. The Seventh Veil of Salome is one of my most anticipated books this year. Now having read it, this may just be Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s best work to date.

In 1950s Hollywood, the biggest production in town is “The Seventh Veil of Salome.” It’s bound to be a sword-and-sandals Biblical epic on the heels of other hit films alike with every actress clamoring for the lead role. After the studio casts an unknown Mexican ing​​énue named Vera Larios, much to the envy of bit player Nancy Hartley, she is thrown into the spotlight of celebrity and scandal alongside the whirlwind production of the film. At the same time, Salome’s story is also at the forefront and her love for a prophet who foresees her stepfather Herod’s demise.

There are so many things I love about this book, but I don’t want to give too much away. What I can say however and praise, is how Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves together a tale of Hollywood and the myth that is Salome. With the story told through multiple perspectives, including Vera, Nancy, and Salome’s (or so we think), there is a build up that will have you anticipating what is in store.Through this narrative, the three women are seen or scrutinized in a certain way when there is actually much more to them than what we think we know. It all converges into a cinematic climax about dreams, desire, and identity.

I love movies. Everything about them is fascinating along with what is projected on screen. The history, the behind the scene stories, the allure of Hollywood, the artistry that goes into a film, are all pieces of how the silver screen is a place where dreams are made and come to life. Then, when you combine that with Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s impeccable writing, you get a novel that brings together the Golden Age of Hollywood, the magic of the movies, and the truth within the fantasy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the ARC, and Silvia Moreno Garcia for the giveaway ARC.

Pub Date: August 6, 2024

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A Valentine's Day to Remember | Review: The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

If you’re looking for a book to buddy read with a friend that has romance and is most wholeheartedly about love, then I would recommend Beth O’Leary’s The No-Show.

While I suggest going into The No-Show blind, its basic premise is that it follows three women, Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane, who have each been stood up by the same man on Valentine’s Day. As we get to know each of them and their relationship with him, it is gradually revealed how they are all connected and that there is so much more to the person they have been falling in love with.

This was actually the first Beth O’Leary book I read and it was a good one to start with. When I read it with Mel @bruhasbookshelf earlier this year, we had a lot of fun theorizing and sending each other gift wrapped messages that hid potential spoilers as we tried to figure out where the story was going. 

With that in mind, this is a book where you have to let the story unfold as much as you want answers. It starts off a little slow, but in no way is it dull, especially as we learn more about Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane, and all the pieces start to come together. I really love getting to know them and found their characters to be very well developed alongside their relationship with the man they’ve been seeing. The story is more about them before it’s about him.

It’s a lovely and tender novel, which makes the ending all the more beautiful that Mel and I were left in tears (I say this hopefully without spoiling too much). I’ve actually considered rereading it again in a different way to see if there was anything I missed or to see the story in a new light. I read the physical copy of the book, but near the end I listened to the audiobook as soon as Mel told me it was narrated by multiple people, including Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood herself) and Luke Thompson (Mr. Benedict Bridgerton, I swoon!). 

💭 Have you read any of Beth O’Leary’s books? Which one would you recommend to read next?

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Rewriting a New Ending | Review: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

I love this book so much.

How to End a Love Story was my most highly anticipated read this year. It’s a romance that features an Asian FMC, which I always love, and it’s written by the very talented Yulin Kuang, who is also adapting Emily Henry’s Beach Read into a movie. After finishing it and taking a few days to process it, I can confidently say that it is my favorite romance and one of my new favorite books.

Helen Zhang is a best-selling author whose YA books are about to be adapted for TV. When she arrives in Hollywood to work with the showrunner and screenwriters, she is unexpectedly reunited with Grant Shepard - a popular classmate she went to high school with, who was involved in the tragic car accident that resulted in her sister’s intentional death. Helen wants nothing to do with Grant, while he hopes for them to at least work amicably together. As they get to know each other over time, growing close and reflecting on the past and their shared grief, there’s a chance and risk that they could be something more.

Grief is complicated, especially when it’s intertwined with love and accepting it back. The writing brings this through and handles it with as much care and honesty, as well as looking at all its intricacies through Helen and Grant. Both of them are bound by tragedy and are still trying to heal and mourn while reconciling with their own guilt. What’s unexpected is the love and trust that forms between them. Seeing how it plays out is the book's biggest strength with their chemistry being the best part of it. 

Their first meeting is met with ambivalence, but with curiosity. Then, as soon as they gradually become friends, reminiscing about high school (because how could you not after all these years) - all bets are off! It’s endearing, nostalgic and gets quite spicy though I can’t complain. 😏

With Helen, I found myself relating to her a lot and knowing what it means to be the eldest daughter. It bears a heavy weight alongside being the “good girl” or the responsible one, especially in an immigrant family. Much of my annotations for her were “this is me coded.” It’s also interesting in comparison to Grant, who is always held with such high regard because of his genuine charm, when he actually feels he doesn’t deserve it. He has his own pain and doubts apart from how people see him. I think it’s why he and Helen can read each other so well.

Every time I come across this book, I can’t help but harken back to everything I felt reading it. It had me head over heels to literally sobbing (more like ugly crying over Ch. 32 😖). After rereading it, I’m still not over it nor do I want to be. It’s too good to let go.

- A Couple of Favorite Quotes -

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"What comes first, the photograph or the memory?" | Review: Others Were Emeralds by Lang Leav

This is one of my new all-time favorite books. It completely broke my heart and put it back together again.

Lang Leav’s novel, Others Were Emeralds, is a poignant coming-of-age story that follows Ai, a Cambodian-Australian teenager living in Whitlam, Australia in the late 90s. Her neighborhood is home to other Asian immigrants and refugees who have fled war-torn countries as her family did when they escaped the Khmer Rouge. Though Ai and her friends, Brigitte, Bowie, Tin and Sying try to live ordinary lives away from the horrors of the past, it still continues to haunt them along with the racism they face in Australia. It all comes to a head when a horrible tragedy changes their lives forever.

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Tell Me Lies | Review: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

This cat and mouse thriller is just begging for a reread. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston follows Evie Porter, a con artist who is given her latest assignment by the mysterious Mr. Smith to get close to her mark, Ryan Sumner. Everything goes according to plan until Evie meets a woman who has assumed her real identity. At the same time, we get flashbacks to her past and her previous jobs that all culminate and connect back to her present con.

This is one of my top favorite books this year. At page one I was immediately intrigued wondering what in the world was going on that I was furiously turning the page to find out what would happen next. I really liked Evie as a character and was amused by how good she was at being able to read the people around her and act upon it. Then as the story got deeper into revealing more about Evie, her feelings for Ryan, as well as her complicated history with Mr. Smith and the assignments he would give her, my curiosity was piqued even more. This was no simple job or mystery, but a bigger game within a game.

What I really love is how I could not predict any of the twists and reveals. I think there are some stories where the twist can be so out there that it doesn’t completely make sense, or sometimes too easy to spot after closer inspection. First Lie Wins however, devotes time developing the story and its characters while leaving just an ample amount of breadcrumbs that are possible and come back into play as the book progresses. Once everything does come together, it’s surprising and unexpected yet makes sense. The pacing as well compliments this as it didn’t feel too rushed or too slow either.

I really want to go back and reread it again because it is a whirlwind of a ride. And here I was thinking my book hangovers were over for now.

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What Was I Made For? | Review: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

Pub Date: March 19, 2024 

“You don’t want to displease him do you?” 

This book affected me so much that I read it twice. I went into Sierra Greer's Annie Bot thinking it would be the sort of story in the vein of movies like Her, Ex Machina, or Westworld. Instead, what I got out of it is an intricate and intriguing study of power, dominance, control, purpose and humanity. It’s a short book but with a lot of themes explored that I am still left reeling and contemplating what I just read.

Annie Bot is a human-like robot custom made by Doug Richards. She is one of many bots in the Stella-Handy line with her functions suited to any of her owner’s needs in order to please him. After an encounter greatly affects Annie’s cognition, she evolves and grows in ways that change her relationship with Doug and how she views herself and her purpose.

From the start, there is already a look into the idea of the male gaze and objectification, and a tip in the scale in that balance of power through Doug and Annie’s relationship. Doug controls every aspect of Annie from her appearance and actions to whom she’s allowed to talk to. He irked me and gave me such a major ick, but oddly I also felt sorry for him. It’s interesting how Greer peels back layers of his character in that he feels pathetic or a fraud for having a “doll” as a companion after his divorce, and maybe even guilty about owning her, but he also feels superior in teaching and controlling her. 

Where the book takes a shift is how Annie perceives Doug and her own wants, affecting her sentience, and that it’s more complicated than how she feels about him, but how she is also tethered to him. She wants to please him, but she also wants more and in understanding herself. There’s a push and pull between them with intimacy used as a power play and where they stand with her as a bot and him as her owner. I felt concerned and empathetic of Annie’s plight that I couldn’t predict where the story would go.

I’ve only just scratched the surface, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I hope Sierra Greer continues to write more books like this and about the future because I want to read them.

⚠️ CW: body shaming, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, infidelity

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Every Heist Has Its Pros | Review: Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan

Pub Date: March 5, 2024 🎉 

I love a good heist, especially when it’s as fun as Sophie Wan’s Women of Good Fortune.

Lulu is about to marry Shanghai’s richest and most eligible bachelor, much to her dismay. She isn’t in love with Harv, but their marriage would be a financial gain to help out her family as well as avoid being considered a “sheng nu” (a woman passed the appropriate age for marriage).

Meanwhile, Lulu’s friends Jane and Rina are also in their own predicament. Jane feels like she’s in a loveless marriage forced upon her because no other man would marry her for her looks. Rina has put aside love and starting a family to focus on her career, but has been constantly passed up for promotion in favor of her male colleagues. If they had it their way and their own money, they would each go after what they really want. Together, they end up hatching a plan and forming a small crew to steal the red envelopes at Lulu’s upcoming wedding. 

I love Sophie Wan’s debut novel. It takes a cultural look into customs and expectations of women, but gives its three main characters a chance to break away and take back control of their lives through a heist. The whole idea and execution felt like something straight out of an Ocean’s Eleven movie. I liked seeing the details come together and was excited to see how it would all come through. The two additional members of the Leftover crew, as they called themself, also rounded out the team well. 

I also really like how Wan explores each of the women’s own dilemmas, including how the people they care about will be affected. Not everything is simple as planned and we see what is at risk for all of them, with even their friendship put to the test, as relationships begin to develop and what they each thought was so important is called into question.

I would have liked to have known more about some of the other characters in the end, but despite this I had a great time reading it. It’s perfect for fans of Ocean’s Eight, Bridesmaids, and Crazy Rich Asians.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House Books for the eARC!

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Lassoed and Wooed | Review: Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

Maybe it’s Beyoncé or maybe it’s all the rage. Either way, I finally caved and entered my cowboy romance era.

I recently read Done and Dusted last month and really enjoyed it. Although the brother’s best friend trope is not my favorite, I liked how the two main characters, Emmy Ryder and Luke Brooks, had a lot of love for each other. What I liked the most though was how authentic the book felt in depicting ranch life, rodeos, and capturing the beauty of Wyoming. So, once I got a copy of the second book, Swift and Saddled, I immediately read it and ended up loving it even more. Right now it’s my favorite of Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series.

Swift and Saddled follows Wes Ryder and Ada Hart. Wes is the brother of Gus and Emmy Ryder and has hired Ada for a renovation project on his family’s ranch. Ada has just recently gotten out of a bad marriage that affected her self-esteem and is not at all interested in starting a new romance, especially not with the man who hired her despite how attracted she is to him.

The chemistry between Wes and Ada pulled me in and kept me hooked. Their first meeting was already sizzling. Apart from that, the best moments were how they got to know each other, from the little quirks they noticed to the personal details they shared. They’re both dealing with mental health and find themselves opening up and trusting one another more than any other person could have. 

Ada is guarded and never really had any close friends. So, I loved how the Ryder family welcomed her in as if they had known her for years. She becomes an audience surrogate in a way as I got to know more about the Ryders and some of the other characters mentioned in Done and Dusted. Wes meanwhile is so sweet and attentive. I felt how much he cared about Ada, but the ways he showed it had me completely swooning. I’ve got the quotes to prove it 😉

Also, I have to praise Lyla Sage’s writing. You can tell how much she’s grown as a writer in this one.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like reading cowboy romances (I prefer the billionaires, but that’s the Capricorn side of me). I guess you can say I’ve been lassoed and wooed.

The Wes Ryder Quotes

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Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through | Review: Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon

One of the books I’ve been meaning to read for a long time is David Yoon’s Super Fake Love Song. My cousin had recommended it years ago and after a friend on Bookstagram gifted it to me, I just finally had to read it. And guys - this book is so fun! 

Sunny Dae is a nerd in comparison to his older brother, Gray, who was a popular musician in high school now trying to make it in Hollywood. When Sunny meets Cirrus, he’s smitten by how confident and worldly she is. What could she ever see in him? After she mistakes Gray’s old room, with its posters of rock bands and electric guitars, as Sunny’s, he decides to go along with it and pretend that he’s in a super cool rock band. He soon gets his friends involved and starts wearing Gray’s old clothes, but once Cirrus starts asking to hear Sunny play, well, he’s going to have to actually perform as if he’s done it before.

Remember that Boy Meets World episode when Cory and Shawn pretended to be in a band after they’re seen holding guitars? This book is just as funny, but also grounded and relatable for anyone who was ever a teenager or is still trying to figure themselves out.

I really liked seeing Sunny get out of his shell as he goes from an introvert afraid of the world to just letting go, even if he had to pretend to be someone else to get there. Yet, don’t we all pretend sometimes between who we are and who we want to be? It may have begun as a lie, but along the way he starts to rediscover himself that ends up changing his life and his outlook on it.

Despite the title, it didn’t cross my mind that this is also going to be a love story. Sunny and Cirrus’ relationship is wholesome, especially as they grow close and Cirrus shares some of her insecurities. It’s something Sunny is familiar with, making his guilt and what’s at stake all the more real. I was nervous waiting for the other shoe to drop, but don’t worry, it works out in the end.

This has easily become one of my new favorite YA books. There’s friendship, love, family, the trials of growing up and how it’s not all that different as you get older, and of course, the power of music.

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✨ 2023 Wrap Up ✨

✨ Happy New Year’s Eve and Happy New Year everyone!!! 🎉

It still hasn’t fully quite hit me yet that 2024 is just around the corner.

This was a good year when I think about the books I read. I didn’t set myself a reading goal (although when I noticed that I was 4 books away from reaching 50 books, I thought about trying to reach it) and I honestly felt more at ease in not pressuring myself and had fun reading whatever I wanted.

There were so many great books I loved and even more books I enjoyed because I got to buddy read them with some pretty awesome friends over on Bookstagram.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year and may 2024 bring everything you hope for and more - including more good reads!

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