Posted on by hrchow12

Where to find free books (Legally)

Okay friends, I get it. When you read hundreds of books a year, books can be expensive. If I go look at Sunrise on the Reaping, for example, It’s currently $19.17 for a hardcover (list price $19.17), and $18.99 for an ebook.

If you read 100 books a year. Then we’re talking $1899/year… and that’s if you don’t DNF (do not finish) some. Over the course of a lifetime (which Google tells me is about 78.4 years here in the states), that’s $148,882.

But… let me tell you a secret. I read about ~50ish books a year (and I probably DNF three times as many), and I get 95% of them for free.

How?

I use the library.

The library doesn’t have the books you want? You can request the library order them. You’re an ebook reader? Most libraries now have a library app called Libby in which you can download ebooks (for free.) All you need is a library card number. Ditto audiobooks. They don’t have what you want? You can request them. And Libby lets you check out a book for up to 21 days, and (for my library), I can have as many as 10 books on hold. If one becomes available before I’m ready, I can delay it’s delivery for a certain number of days in order to stagger my reads.

Libraries are an *incredible* resource.

However, they’re not the only option for free books. Every day, *hundreds* of ebooks are listed for free on Amazon. How to find them? Go to your favorite book. (Let’s just say it’s Sunrise on the Reaping.) Scroll down to the Product Details and check out the best sellers rank. Sunrise on the Reaping is currently in the top 100 best seller ebooks on Amazon. You can click on that. Amazon will show you their best sellers in two lists: top 100 paid and top 100 free. If you click on free, voila! 100 free ebook recommendations.

Looking for a specific genre? More books like Into the Churn, for example? Well, Into the Churn is currently in the top 100 for Teen & Young Adult Space Opera Ebooks (once again this is in product details under the best sellers rank.) You can click on that genre, and it will show you the top 100 paid and top 100 free in the Teen & Young Adult Space Opera Ebooks genre! If you click on Top 100 Free then voila! 100 free recommendations in Teen & Young Adult Space Opera Ebooks! And bonus, if you own the (free) ebook, then you can buy the audiobook at a discount, and whispersync keeps your place so you can switch between listening and reading.

But wait there’s more!

If you want access to giveaways (specifically of hard copies), I highly recommend following your favorite authors on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to their newsletters. These are where I see the most giveaways posted. (Personally, I post my giveaway opportunities on Instagram)

Or, if you’re willing to leave an honest review, you can sign up to apply for ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) via BookSirens or NetGalley. It costs nothing to sign up, and NetGalley has both ebooks and audiobooks available. These are often books that aren’t even released yet. Free Audiobook Codes and Audio Freebies are two other sources where you can apply to receive free Audible codes in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I’m sure there are other sources as well, but these are the ones I’m most aware of. Kindle Unlimited is also a popular service because it’s $10 a month for as much as you can read (as long as they’re enrolled in the program.) For example, my Into the Churn series is available on Kindle Unlimited, so if you wanted to binge all 5 in a month, it’s cheaper for you to buy KU for the month ($10) then to buy all five ebooks ($24.95.)

So yeah, if you want to read on the budget, there are some awesome free ways to do so. And since we’re here, I might as well mention where to find my books for free or at budget prices:

Odriel’s Heirs & The Gatekeeper of Pericael: Ebooks Permanently Free Everywhere

Burning Shadows, Idriel’s Children, Night of Ash: Ebooks are 0.99 on Amazon and permanently free everywhere else (B&N, Kobo, Smashwords, Apple Books etc.)

Time’s Orphan: Available on Kindle Unlimited & Free Ebook Promotions run four times a year

The Odriel’s Heirs Series & The Gatekeeper of Pericael also have bargain paperback prices ranging from $3.58 (for the novella) to $8.99

Into the Churn Series: Available on Kindle Unlimited

You can also use my discount code (CHOW) to get a discount on hard copies from Whimsical Publishing’s website. They also have deeper discount promotions throughout the year.

Anyways, hope that helps, and thanks for reading!

Support your local libraries because they’re basically like the best things ever!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Best books of 2024

So far in 2024, I read (and by read, I mean, mostly listened to, as I’m primarily an audiobook listener) 82 books! Like last year, I scrolled through my Goodreads reviews and tried to pick out the reads that were a cut above the rest, and tried to bin them in a genre.

For the record, I usually love fast-paced books with likable characters and satisfying endings. Throw a slowburn romance in there, and you’ve got me completely hooked. That said, sometimes the books I like the most are those I had no idea I was looking for. This year, I feel like my 8 favorites were all over the map.

Without further ado (and in no particular order):

Favorite Middle Grade read

So I read a lot of good middle grade this year, but this one was truly just a magical, cozy adventure. This book started me on T. Kingfisher reading binge, and I absolutely just adore the way her characters pop and her unique stories unfold. Can’t recommend this one enough. Full review here!

Favorite Young Adult Read

The show was amazing, and yet the graphic novel was somehow better. This series sucked me in so much I basically put everything else on hold so I could devour them. The characters are lovely, the art is fantastic, and the story just feels so poignantly YA, it’s really just jaw-droppingly good. I blew through the first five books, and you can find the full review here!

Favorite Fantasy

This one was so completely atmospheric and transportive. The writing was fantastic, the characters were delightful, and months later, I’m still thinking about this book. Quite frankly, this may have been one of the best fairy tale retellings I think I’ve ever read. And this was her debut!?! Seriously, I can’t wait for more from Poranek. Full review here.

Favorite Series

I’d file this under: books I didn’t know I needed in my life. Apparently this a LitRPG, and six audiobooks later (each of which are about 20 hours long), I still can’t get enough. Action-packed, hilarious, and with incredible world-building, if this series could actually never end, that would be awesome. Impatiently waiting for the seventh audiobook in 2025. Full review of books 1-6 here!

Favorite Children’s Book

I have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, so I have read *a lot* of picture books in the last five years, and it’s very rare that one sticks out. Really have to give it this one for being the full package with lovely illustrations, writing, and message. Full review here.

Favorite Horror

This was my first read of 2024, and I knew pretty much immediately that it would make this list. Hilarious, disturbing, and deep all at once, with turns that keep you guessing, I basically ran to recommend this to my friends. I definitely need more smart horror like this. Full review here.

Favorite Romance

This one legit jumped out of nowhere at me. Like seriously, I think I was aimlessly scrolling through the Libby app when I stumbled upon it. But it was just a such a sweet romance (with a little spice), I can’t even. I get a warm fuzzy feeling just thinking about it! Full review here!

Favorite Paranormal

I read a *lot* of books that didn’t live up to the hype this year. This was not one of them. Ali Hazelwood books have been hit or miss for me, but this was a big hit. A vampire, werewolf world with the feel of a romcom? Um, yes please. Fingers seriously crossed for a sequel. Full review here.

2024 was another fantastic year of reading! I’m still catching my blog up on my Goodreads reviews, but if I missed some of your favorites from this year, definitely drop them in the comments and I’ll check them out on Goodreads! Please remember to support your favorite authors with ratings and reviews to spread the word about their amazing books, and as always, thanks for reading! 😊

Cheers to a 2025 filled with even more awesome books!

Posted on by hrchow12

How to get started with Audiobooks

So, I’ve been hooked on audiobooks for years now, and I recently got a question from reader trying to get into them, so I figured I’d drop some tips.

I was first inspired to read audiobooks by Stephen King’s book, On Writing. With two elementary-school kids, a full-time job, and trying to write my own books, finding time to sit down and read was challenging.

But audiobooks opened up a whole new world of multitasking. Not to mention I was completely blown away by how much a narrator could bring the story to life, adding a completely new dimension. (And, as a bonus, I know how to pronounce all of the characters’ names right. 😂) Now, years later, I read 50-70 books a year, and about 95% of them are audiobooks.

So here’s a little guide to getting started in this format!

Where to find audiobooks (for free)

When most people think of audiobooks, they go straight to Audible. But… at $8 or $15 per month (as of this writing), Audible’s kind of expensive. While I recently got a subscription for a specific book series, I don’t have any intention of maintaining it. But, if you don’t have an Audible subscription, individual audiobooks can run you $20 a pop (eek!) Thankfully, there’s a better way!

Most local library’s now allow you access their audiobook collections with your library card number & the free app, Libby. This is where nearly all of my audiobooks come from.

If you’re a NetGalley reviewer (or would like to sign up to be one), you can also grab free audiobooks from their site in exchange for an honest review. Their audiobook selection pales in comparison to their ebook listings, but I’ve snagged a few listens.

Also, there are a few sites where you can grab free audible promo codes posts by narrators and authors. I have used a few of these as an author, but not really as a reader. Some of them also require that you leave a review in exchange for the code.
AudioFreebies.com
FreeAudiobookCodes.com
AudiobooksUnleashed.com

The last reliable audiobook source I can think of is Spotify. A Spotify Premium subscription gets you access to their library of audiobooks, but as Spotify is also expensive ($11.99 a month) and I can’t speak to the size of their collection, I’d only recommend this if you already have a subscription.

Bottom Line: Your best bet is to get a library card from your local library, download Libby on your phone, and BOOM. So many free audiobooks at your fingertips.

A note on the listening skills & listening Speed

When I first started listening to audiobooks, it was legit hard for me. I consider myself a visual learner and honestly I would rather read a transcript than watch a video. But, as someone who was looking down the barrel of a 24-hour out-and-back roadtrip, I was desperate.

So I persisted, and lo and behold, my listening skills improved. And when I got better at absorbing information through listening, it actually helped my professional life too. (Think meetings and telecons.)

But, if you’re a podcast listener, good news, you’re already there, and it’s only a small jump to the world of audiobooks!

One thing that did *DRASTICALLY* improve my audiobook listening experience was figuring out I could adjust the narration speed. I quickly learned that one of the reasons I was having trouble concentrating was the narration speed was just too slow for me. When I upped it up to 1.5x, it felt much more natural and kept my attention. And, after many years of my listening skills improving, I now comfortably read audibooks at 2.5-3x (depending on the narrator.)

Basically what I’m saying is, be sure to adjust the listening speed until it’s comfortable for you! (You can even make it slower – everyone is different!)

Bottom Line: Be sure to adjust the narration to a comfortable speed, and give your listening skills 1 or 2 books to get warmed up before you give up on the audio format.

When do I listen to audiobooks?

Basically anytime I can pop my earbuds in or when I don’t have anyone else competing for my listening-attention. In order of time spent listening:

  • Driving to & from work
  • Traveling (roadtrips or flying)
  • Watching my kids’ sports practices (they love when I watch them, but don’t mind if my earbuds are in.)
  • Chores! Mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, cleaning/tidying the house, doing the dishes… etc.
  • Exercising (especially running & lifting weights)
  • Walking the dog (Tula loves when I’m listening to a good book, because then we go on lots of walks 😂)
  • Waiting in line anywhere (seriously, as long as I have my earbuds, I’m happy)
  • Grocery shopping (or really any kind of shopping.)

Bottom Line: I’m so hooked on listening to audiobooks during my commute I actually start to get antsy when I don’t have one downloaded.

But what audiobook do i start with?!

Okay, well now that’s a seriously hard question. My advice is start with your favorite genre, and pick one you’ve been dying to read or that sounds absolutely amazing. If you’re still fresh out of ideas, here’s a few recommendations to get you started. And if I missed your favorite genre, let me know in the comments, and I’ll see if I have a recommendation to add in. Or you can check out my book reviews links here (which I try to update annually) to peruse one that sounds good. Good luck with you audiobook journey, and I sincerely hope you love them as much as I do!

Middle-Grade Fantasy: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

YA Fantasy: Where the Dark Stands Still
YA Sci-fi: Illuminae
YA Romance: Today, Tonight, Tomorrow

Fantasy: Swordheart
Sci-fi: Dark Matter or Recursion
LitRPG: Dungeon Crawler Carl

Contemporary Fiction: Anxious People
Romance: Book Lovers
Romcom: The Soulmate Equation or Life’s Too Short
Mystery/Romance: A Bad Day for Sunshine

Historical Fiction: Small Mercies
Nonfiction: Outliers: The Story of Success or The Devil in the White City

Posted on by hrchow12

Should I write a stand-alone book or a series? Pros and Cons.

Okay, obviously this is a very personal decision, but this is a question I’ve wrestled with several times since I started publishing in 2020, and my opinion has changed over the years! So I figured I would write what I wished I had known when I started putting books out into the world.

So you’ve written a book! Congrats! Now how do you decide if you should write a sequel or leave it as a stand-alone? When I wrote my first book, Odriel’s Heirs, I had the series more or less planned out in my mind. I remember telling my husband if even *one stranger* liked it, I would write the sequel. This… is a low bar. But at the time, as a brand-new self-published author, I had exactly zero confidence anyone would read it.

Fast-forward to when I wrote Idriel’s Children, my second novel, and I thought I had made a mistake. While I had been at peace with publishing Odriel’s Heirs after attempting to query the book, it felt like a let-down to not be able to query agents with it.

Adding to that, I quickly realized that the audience for a *true* sequel (dependent on the events of book one) is extremely small, because you’re essentially only marketing it to the readers that enjoyed the first book. Therefore, if you look up nearly any series on Amazon, book 2 will have MUCH fewer reviews than book 1, and book 3 will have even less!

Now, luckily for me, each novel in the Odriel’s Heirs series has a different main character, takes place after a generation gap, and can stand alone, so I didn’t have to grapple with that particular problem. But just the very idea of it floored me.

Secondly, if the second book bombs, it would be very difficult to get readers to pick up book three. So there’s a lot of risk in writing all the books up front before you publish and see the reaction.

It was with all these thoughts swirling around my head that I decided that after I completed the Odriel’s Heirs series, I would never again self-publish a sequel.

It was that thinking that led me to leave The Gatekeeper of Pericael as a stand-alone and not pursue a sequel which would not have stood alone. (Along with the fact that I found a creepy MG fantasy incredibly difficult to market.)

Okay, well let’s fast-forward again to now when I’m marketing a completed YA Fantasy series (which feels incredibly satisfying, by the way.) And… I realize two things very quickly. Whereas previously I was thinking that I *can’t* market books #1.5, #2, #2.5, and #3… now I’m thinking I don’t have to. Because when I market book 1, there are many readers that will go ahead and pick up the whole series! Then, there are other readers, who will immediately buy the next book after finishing the previous one.

Which is to say, basically in marketing only book one, in reality, I’m marketing *5* books. This means, suddenly, my BookBub promos are actually turning a profit. And did I mention that people love series? The more time they spend in a world, the more invested they become in it, and the more likely they are to shout it out the rest of their reading friends. Plus, every time another book is released, it only reinvigorates interest and sales in book one, which of course means, more readers! Also, there’s a whole other section of readers who won’t pick up a series until it’s officially complete, which opens up even more possibilities after all the books are released.

If a stand-alone is a *really good stand-alone* that just means you’re leaving people wanting more.

Which is all to say, I get the series train now. Disney, I understand.

That said, I still prefer for each entry to end on a satisfying note. (I’m anti-cliffhangers.) So that, in case it bombs, or due to marketing reasons, it doesn’t make sense to finish the series, the fans of the books aren’t left dangling and unfulfilled.

And despite my general lack of knowledge, I don’t regret how my publishing journey has progressed. I’m SO glad I completed the Odriel’s Heirs trilogy. From a marketing standpoint, it was the right thing to do, and I wanted to prove to myself I could to it.

However, it was also the right move not to pursue the Gatekeeper series. As a self-published author, I wasn’t able to reach an upper MG audience effectively through social media (my primary mode of marketing.) The book stands alone well, and it allowed me to focus my brand on Young Adult books.

Similarly, Into the Churn started out as a stand-alone, and when sales struggled at first, the publisher and I weren’t sure if we move forward with a series. However, the second book reinvigorated both interest and sales in a way that allowed us to greenlight the full trilogy! Now that I’ve seen the 5 for 1 BOGO (buy one get one free) marketing deal with my Odriel’s Heirs series, I’m excited to be able to market the completed Into the Churn series in a similar manner.

That said, that was a lot of stream-of-consciousness. So for those who just want the straight pros and cons, here’s the TL;DR version:

Pros of a Series
– In marketing one book, you’re actually marketing the entire series
– It gives the readers more time to get invested in the world and characters
– Each release reinvigorates sales of book one
– Some readers greatly prefer series and some readers only buy complete series
– Because you’re marketing the same series over the course of years, it’s more like to gain momentum and attention

Cons of a Series
– The sequels, themselves, won’t attract new readers, so the sequel will always have less reviews than book one
– If you self-published book one, you can’t query a sequel
– You cannot enter sequels into awards contests unless they can stand alone
– If book one is hard to sell or market for any reason, selling book two will only be harder
– It takes more time/investment to write a series

Anyways, that’s just my two cents from where I stand right now—a small press author on submission, always planning trilogies but making sure each book has a satisfying ending. I’m also going to throw in the reminder that if you *do* love a series, make sure you shout it out and recommend it to your friends, because series *do* get canceled or postponed in the middle sometimes due to lack of sales, reviews, or perceived interest. So if you love a book, be sure to support it with your ratings and reviews!

Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions, just let me know!

Posted on by hrchow12

When to DNF a book

If you’ve been reading my review posts this year, you’ll have noticed that for (what seemed) like a long stretch, I was in a huge reading slump. Meaning that it seemed like I kept picking out and reading books that weren’t for me. Now, this is almost certainly due to several reasons: environmental factors, mood, and also my desire to read all the books on some random “most popular series list” I found.

And honestly… I probably should’ve DNF’d (do not finish, i.e. gave up reading) a lot of them. Before this year, I tried not to DNF. I have a Goodreads reading goal of 60 books a year. While I’m not married to it… it does still stick in my mind. So when I’ve already invested an hour-plus into a book, it’s hard for me to give up on it. And then there’s always the FOMO (fear of missing out) that MAYBE the book gets better and turns out amazing.

But, through my reading slump, I found that was *rarely* the case. So, I started trying to come up with a way to encourage myself to put down books I wasn’t enjoying. After all, there are SO many books out there, why spend time on the ones not for me?

At first I tried, “If I’ve thought about DNF’ing it twice, it’s time to DNF.” And I think this works well for when the book isn’t working for me somewhere in the middle, but honestly, I found that wasn’t strong enough. I was still reading books that didn’t HOOK me—books that didn’t make me WANT to read.

So recently, I’ve also decided 10% is my benchmark. (As a audiobook reader, this is easy to gauge, but it’d be easy for a print book too.) If at 10%, if I am not LOVING a book—if I’m not actively looking forward to reading it—then it’s not for me. It seems like a high bar, but honestly, I’m tired of reading books that aren’t a good fit. I want to get to the point where I *only* finish books I can rate at four stars or higher. Heck, if I only finish five stars books—even better!

Because there are millions of books out there, and thousands of books I know I will 5-star LOVE, so why settle for anything else?

That said, it means that I may not make my reading goal for the year, I might post fewer reviews (because I don’t review books I don’t finish), and it means that I will be starting a lot of books that I don’t end up reviewing. But that’s okay. I’m writing this to hold myself to the conviction that it’s not about the number of books you read in year, but finding the books you love.

And if you needed to hear this too, then let this be your sign. If you’re not loving that book you’re reading, put it down and move on.

Just my half a cent, but I seriously needed a change, so we’ll see how it goes!
Posted on by hrchow12

Favorite Reads of 2023!

So far in 2023, I read (and by read, I mean, mostly listened to, as I’m primarily an audiobook listener) 66 books! Instead of categories or a top 10, for this year’s favorite lists, I scrolled through my Goodreads reviews and tried to pick out the reads that were a cut above the rest of me.

For the record, I usually love fast-paced books with likable characters and satisfying endings. Throw a slowburn romance in there, and you’ve got me completely hooked. That said, sometimes the books I like the most are those I had no idea I was looking for. This year, I read three fantasies, three romances, and one wildcard that rose above the rest.

Without further ado (and in no particular order):

Favorite Middle Grade read

Okay, this one was a *complete* surprise. I’m not a huge middle grade reader, but I’m a sucker for a magical school. The writing in this one was so completely fabulous, and while the comparison to Harry Potter is unavoidable, I loved the family dynamics, the rich magic system, and the bigger themes here. Honestly, when I started reading this, I was like, why aren’t more people talking about this book?! Highly recommend, and I will TOTALLY be reading the sequel. Full Review here!

Favorite Young Adult Read

Defy the Night (book one of this series) was one of my favorite reads of 2022, and this sequel did not disappoint! More fast-paced action and fun romance. Though I didn’t necessarily enjoy the third POV added here, I really liked the plot development and will totally be reading book 3. Full Review here!

Favorite Fantasy

Normally, I find that incredibly hyped books rarely live up to expectations, but this one totally did. The writing, the characters, the unique setting… it was almost like You’ve Got Mail, in a WWII setting, with magic. I loved just about everything about it. (Except that cliff-hanger ending!) I’ve recommended it to pretty much everyone I know and currently have the sequel on hold at the library. Full review here.

Also worth the hype

Another book that totally lived up to the hype. After loving Beach Read, this one cemented me as a Emily Henry fan. Perfectly balanced between thoughtful and fun, with characters that just sizzle with chemistry. Even though this was one of my earlier reads in this year, it has totally stuck with me. And now I’m on hold for Henry’s next book, Happy Place as well! Full review here.

Favorite Romantic Comedy

Felicity Chen might be one of my favorite rom-com heroines. Her voice is so punchy and fun, the romance was perfectly executed, and the premise of a reality show in the world of titanium and gold matching technology was *chef’s kiss.* I would LOVE to have more books in this world, and a movie, pleassseee!! Full review here.

Favorite Historical Fiction

This was one I didn’t know I was looking for. A darker, more literary historical fiction outside of my normal reading wheelhouse, I fully enjoyed this masterpiece. It was actually only after reading this that I realized I’ve really loved most of Lehane’s work. This was no exception. Despite the grittiness of the tale and the instensely flawed characters, something about that ending was so satisfying. Highly recommend, and fully expect a movie. Full review here.

Favorite Romance

Another fantastic contemporary romance that totally sold me as a Jimenez Fan. (I’ve now read all the books she’s published so far and can’t wait to read her next release.) Her banter is always delightful, and her characters so loveable even as this one explores a deeper blend of themes. Reading a Jimenez book feels like easing into a hot bath, and I can’t wait to read more of her work! Full review here.

It was a such a great reading year! I’m still catching my blog up on my Goodreads reviews. But if I missed some of your favorites from this year, definitely drop them in the comments and I’ll check them out on Goodreads! Please remember to support your favorite authors with ratings and reviews to spread the word about their amazing books, and as always, thanks for reading! 😊

May your 2024 be filled with new and amazing books!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – What the Knocker-Upper Woke Up

What the Knocker-Upper Woke Up combines the darkness of both the modern era and times past into an atmospheric paranormal. The story starts in Victorian-era London as it follows a few characters who stumble upon the darkness awaiting in a derelict mental asylum. Fast forward to present day, and the evil of the place continues to cause trouble for the characters of the present.

The writing style here is both rich and evocative in describing the creepiness of the Sideways and its inhabitants. Tess and the other characters are likable and easy to root for, but I did feel like this one was a bit slower to develop. (However, as I usually prefer breakneck pace, I think this is definitely a personal preference. 😂) The ending was unexpected though, and I thought it perfectly wrapped up this spooky paranormal. Recommended for fans of unique, well-written YA paranormal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

As a fellow not-morning person, being woken up at an ungodly hour is probably my villain origin story too.
Just sayin.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – Dibs

Okay, when I say slowburn, I mean this book is SLOWBURN. Dibs follows Olivia 6 months after a rattling divorce as she goes on a work training trip notorious for hook-ups. Enter Adam, the incredibly attractive guy that her roommate has called dibs on, but who seems much more interested in Olivia.

But after Olivia’s divorce, she’s understandably loathe to trust again, and Adam is reeling from his own personal trials. Both of the characters are likable and definitely have the kind of chemistry that makes you hardcore want to will them together immediately. The slowburn is thick with tension, and ultimately leads to a satisfying ending, but there were times I found Olivia’s self-doubt and their interactions just a little repetitive.

Overall though, a solid romantic read that walks the line of steam, and one I would definitely recommend to fans of slow burn contemporary romances.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Whew. There is nothing that makes me want to shove characters together (in the best way) like slowburn.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – We Could Be Villains

I absolutely love when a book delivers on its premise, and this one is right on the money! We Could be Villains follows Rosemary, a huge Vigil & Ante (read: Marvel-esque) fangirl as she stumbles into the high-stakes reality behind her favorite movies. With her difficult home-life, cinematic passion, and quirky tagalong co-worker, Rosemary is definitely a character that you can connect with almost immediately, and it’s so fun to follow both her excitement and fear as she navigates the new and dangerous world of undercover superheroes. It was really interesting to see the Vigil & Ante world unfold before her, along with some twists that definitely caught me by surprise.

Interspliced with her narrative is an interrogation of Ironfall, the smooth villain of Vigil & Ante and Rosemary’s blackmailer. I absolutely loved seeing the contrast between his take on events and Rosemary, and the chemistry between them is intense! Let’s just say I’m a big Ironfall fan. The promise of a enemies-to-lovers romance is THICK and definitely has me checking for the release date of the sequel!

Definitely recommend for any superhero fans looking for a fast-paced romp through a world that you’ll definitely will want to jump into for yourself!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Throwback to that one time I was a superhero! It’s always a good time.🦸‍♀️

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Top 5 Favorite Reads of 2022

I feel like this is one of those personality tests I didn’t know I was taking! I completed my Goodreads challenge, and have managed to read 61 published (so not counting beta reads) books this year! I’ll probably squeeze in a few more before the end of the year, and if I’m lucky enough to stumble across another contender this late in the game, I’ll be sure to update accordingly!

For the record, I usually love fast-paced books with likable characters and satisfying endings. Throw a slowburn romance in there, and you’ve got me completely hooked. That said, sometimes the books I like the most are those I had no idea I was looking for.

Without further ado (and in no particular order):

BESt young Adult read

Not only is this the best Young Adult book I read this year, but this is probably one of the best young adult books I have read EVER. Yeah. A contemporary rivals-to-lovers romance with a fun premise that is paced to perfection. Seriously, give me the movie now!!! *Grabby hands* Full Review here!

Best Fantasy

Okay. I read Kemmerer’s A Curse so Dark and Lonely and enjoyed it, but not enough to read the sequel. THIS book, however, was on a completely different level, and I will DEFINITELY be reading the next book in the series. I adored the double POV here, the high stakes, the interesting world – basically everything I love about books. And I currently have the book 2 audiobook on hold! Squee! Full Review here!

Best Romance

Okay, you know I think highly of a romance when I recommend it to my mom, and I can definitely say we both loved this one. Emily Henry’s “People We Meet on Vacation” didn’t work for me, but I absolutely adored this one. I loved the emotional depth, and the progression of their relationship was just so sweet. Loved it, and I have the Book Lovers audiobook on hold now. Full review here.

Best literary

This one’s definitely not my usual read, but I’m so glad I picked it up. Nana’s voice is so strong, and lends a light, sardonic air to this bittersweet reflection on life. Heavy and yet so soothing at the same time. Yes, I loved this one too. Full review here.

Best series

Okay, generally speaking, I’m not a series person. If the first one is amazing, I often find the sequel disappoints. And if the first one wasn’t amazing, why would I want to read the second. It’s such a trap! However… sometimes they do suck me in, and this one was SO worth. The characters, the romance, their quirky little town, the mystery – I loved it all, and I would read a million more of these suckers. Please write more Sunshine Vicram novels! Pleassseee! Full review here.

A fantastic reading year over all! But if you think I missed some of your favorites, please feel free to drop them in the comments and I’ll check them out on Goodreads! I’m always on the lookout for new gems, and I’m excited to see what books 2023 brings my way. Please remember to support your favorite authors with ratings and reviews, and as always, thanks for reading! 😊

May your 2023 be filled with new and amazing books!