So I enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, but wasn’t really into Love on the Brain, and it’s been a *long* time since I’ve read a vampire or werewolf book, but this was so fun! Definitely my favorite Ali Hazelwood book so far. Misery’s voice totally pops—both light and relatable, and I found the dynamics of this world to be super interesting. I also really liked Lowe’s character and enjoyed watching them grow together. Overall, just a light, fun read (with werewolf-flavored steam, so beware) that I would definitely recommend to romance fans, and I’m totally hoping for a sequel!
So I picked up this this book on the recommendation of a friend and it is *exactly* what it says it is. If you can’t stomach darky-dark scenes, unhinged main characters, stomach-turning gore, or intense spice, turn back here. This book is like a super R-rated Dexter meets a RomCom and it states its trigger warnings up front.
All that said, I surprisingly enjoyed the read. I thought the concept of two serial killers of serial killers meeting up with romantic sparks, banter, and deranged creepy little competition. This book did *not* shy away from the darkness of the main characters, but at the same time balanced those super intense moments with super sweet ones and intense passion. The narration was fantastic, and interesting in that the male narrator reads all the male dialogue in both POVs, and the female narrator reads all the female dialogue in both POVs.
I’m a “could take it or leave it” spice person, but while, um… intense, the frequency didn’t overwhelm the plot, and I liked the tension leading up to it. So all that said, I recommend this book (especially the audiobook) for those looking for a super dark (but also kind of weirdly light?) quick romcom read. And though this book is satisfying on its own, I think I’ll be picking up the sequel too.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yes, it was bizarre… but in a way you that made your weird friend recommend it to you… and then made you recommend it to your other weird friend.
**Note, I picked up the sequel and had to DNF. It just didn’t work for me. It also didn’t work for weird friend #1, so it wasn’t just me.*
A Castle of Broken Memories was such an awesome addition to this series! I loved this spicy Jack and the Beanstalk retelling with werewolves, vampires, magic, and of course, my personal favorite—the irreverent Tenebris. Since this book focuses on a different MC than book 1, it could be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first book so you can get the full background and arcs of these characters as they change and develop. As usual, Stavs’s banter and fun characters are a stand-out as she blends old fairy tales with a modern, fast-paced flavor. I totally recommend this series for anyone looking for spicy fairytale retellings peppered with pop culture references, and I’ve got my fingers crossed for a book 3!
Apparently, I’m very hot or cold on Emily Henry books, so I definitely approached this one with trepidation. My current EH Tally looks like:
Absolutely Loved: Book Lovers, Beach Read
Absolutely Not for me: People We Meet On Vacation, Happy Place
However, I definitely enjoyed this heartwarming romance, and I flew through it. The characters were likable, their chemistry and tension felt real, and I loved the premise. The ending felt a little rushed for me, so it wasn’t quite as satisfying as I was hoping, but I would still put it in the “highly recommend” category (behind Book Lovers and Beach Read.) Also, the narration was fabulous, so definitely try the audiobook!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars from me. Gotta love a book that lives up to the hype.
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Ladies Most Scandalous, #1): 4.5⭐
What I liked: – Fun Characters – Quick Pace – Downton Abbey Vibes – Cozy Mystery with Romance – Could be a stand-alone – Solid audiobook narration
What I didn’t like: – I felt like quite a few elements weren’t as fleshed out as I’d like. Both the romance and the ending developed very quickly.
Overall, a quick, fun read with romance and mystery that gives Downton Abbey vibes. Will be reading the sequel!
An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire (Ladies Most Scandalous, #2): 4⭐
While it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is similar to book one with light second-chance enemies to lovers dynamic, Bridgerton vibes, and a mystery to solve. I found though that I didn’t quite like the main characters as much as I did in book one, and there was quite a lot of mentions of the uneven power dynamic between men and women in the time period. While I enjoyed the read, I don’t know if I would read another book in this series.
Overall series rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Needed just a bit more mischief, mayhem, deception, & desire I think.
What I liked: – Justin – The side-characters – The curse premise
What I didn’t like: – Emma
While I’ve read all of Jimenez’s books, I’m more of a “The Friend Zone” trilogy fan then “Part of Your World.” In general, I’ve like the banter and the characters, but I feel like in each of the Part of Your World books, we’re focusing on the trauma of the FMC, and I feel like the MMC’s arc gets a little shorted as he pines for her and waits for her to heal. In general, they’ve just been a little too heavy for me. But if you’re looking for a romance with deeper themes on trauma, familial relationships, and recovery, this is the book for you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Do you ever wish you liked a book more than you did? I’ve got those feels.
I saw this floating on bookstagram and was looking for something light, fun, and different to get me out of epic bookslump of 2024. And even though this isn’t my typical read (I think this is my first alpha/omega book), it fit the bill in many ways.
What I liked: Dual-POV romance Fake Dating Likable Characters Fast read Rom-Com feel
What I didn’t like: Dirty talk always feels awkward to me The spice:plot ratio was more skewed to spice than I prefer Fated mates isn’t my favorite trope The 3rd act break-up felt a little forced
But like I said, this was a light, fun read, and I would recommend for anyone looking for a spicy shifter rom-com.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yep, we went there. Strangely, not as awkward as I was expecting, but not really my cup of tea either.
Aw this was such a cute (surprise pregnancy) romance, and I loved the audiobook narration.
What I liked: – The characters- both Win & Bo were super likable, I enjoyed the development, and the side characters really popped off the page too – Lots of light banter – Just in general, a cozy, feel-good romance – The disability rep (I especially appreciated the author’s forward)
What I disliked – I felt like the tension in the last third of the book flagged a little bit and in general, this book felt a little longer than it needed to be.
Overall, if you’re looking for what I would classify as a cozy pregnancy romance with spicy bits, I highly recommend this one (especially the audiobook!)
So, I loved Beach Read, I *adored* Book Lovers, and I very much did not like People We Meet on Vacation. That said, this ranks as my least favorite Emily Henry book and I can now say with confidence that her books are truly hit or miss for me.
The writing was beautiful of course, as always, but this book just plays against a lot of my personal preferences, so I probably should’ve DNF’d it around the 20% mark. In general though, this book is just so very *sad.*
It’s split between flashbacks of two people falling in love and fast-forwarding to present day where they are broken up and heartbroken. Honestly, the rest of the book is just background for the sadness, and it does not let up until about the last 2%. And Harriet’s career resolution just… didn’t quite land right for me.
Mostly this book felt like watching your best friends break up in slow motion, and I felt I was marinating in a downer, so I actually charged through the last 40% at like warp speed so I could put it behind me. But there are plenty of other people who loved this book, so if you’re an Emily Henry fan, this might be for you!
Geez. I REALLY need to read something light now.
⭐⭐⭐
This is a reminder that if you think you should DNF a book, you probably should.
This is another of those books that wasn’t really for me. There are two stories in this one—present day and 1940s, but we already know from the start that the 1940s story ends tragically, and for me, it felt like watching a tragedy in slow motion. While well-written, both stories had elements of insta-love. While I did enjoy the twist at the end, this one overall was just too bittersweet for me. But if you like historical fiction with a bittersweet ending this could be for you!
⭐⭐⭐½
Okay, I’ll admit, I’ve had a hard time finding my cup of tea lately, but it’s not one with a bittersweet flavor for sure.
Hayley Reese Chow 