Willa. The mental gymnastics she does to convince herself that Ryder has wronged her and not to really communicate is super frustrating. Especially when she’s relatively aware she’s the problem, but continues to be the problem.
The “frenemies” thing here didn’t quite work for me, since I thought it was pretty clear they were friends/into each other from the start.
In general, there were lot of good elements here that just didn’t quite gel for me. If you’re looking for a new adult college romance with some spice though, you might want to give it a try.
Okay, this one is really tough for me to review, because this was one of those rare instances where the audiobook narration really bothered me. And in some cases, it was nearly impossible for me to tell whether it was the writing that was throwing me off or the weird cadence of the narrator.
What I liked:
The premise. Combining high fantasy with a workplace comedy a la The Office. YES.
What I didn’t like:
The characters didn’t connect for me, and I felt like we covered not a lot of ground for the length of this book, and the, (in what is a huge pet-peeve of mine) we got an abrupt cliffhanger in an ending that didn’t give much satisfaction.
So, I won’t be reading the sequel, but lots of people loved this book, so it could just be me! If the premise intrigues you, definitely check it out, but as much as I love audiobooks, I recommend you go print for this one.
⭐⭐⭐
Not for me, but it could be for you! (Just pass on the audiobook)
Another super popular book, that just wasn’t quite for me. Actually, I think I felt very similar to how I felt about Dead Romantics, so if you like that, you’ll probably like this one.
What I liked:
The premise. A time-traveling apartment that takes you back 7 years. Awesome!
What I didn’t like:
Eh, I just didn’t feel like I really connected to the characters, and the tension wasn’t really there for me.
So although I liked it (and would totally watch the movie), I didn’t love it. Audiobook narration was great though, and if you’re looking for a solid romance with a thought-provoking premise, check this one out!
Okay, Christina Lauren, you have outdone yourself. This one is my absolute favorite. Lovable characters, amazing voice, great fun premise, and chemistry that totally sizzles. Romance exactly the way it should be. 5 glowing stars and really hoping we get another book in the world titanium and Diamond matches! Hollywood, for the love of all that is holy, MOVIE NOW!!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m still catching my blog up, but this was a top 6 read for me in 2023.
Enjoyed it, but probably my least favorite of Abby Jimenez’s books so far. (And I’m pretty sure I’ve read them all.)
What I liked:
The banter and dialogue. Very fun.
Jacob. All the fabulous good-guy vibes.
The sending notes to each other in the first half. OMG. ADORBz.
Jacob’s narration on the audiobook
What I didn’t like:
The relationship drama at the 85% point felt a little contrived for me and very abrupt
The miscommunication
Brianna’s narration on the audiobook
While the first half was everything I love about Jimenez books – the cuteness, the banter, the fun. I felt like the 2nd half dipped too far in the drama, and I felt like Bri did Jacob wrong. Still a fun read for those looking for a cute romance, but if this is your first Jimenez book, I wouldn’t start here. Will still definitely read the next Jimenez book for sure though!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not my favorite Jimenez, but I’m still excited for the next one.
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!
I love Abby Jimenez’s writing and will probably be reading everything she ever writes. It’s fun and fast and filled with banter, and I absolutely inhale it. This was the fourth book I’ve read by her and it doesn’t disappoint. Sloan is still deeply grieving her fiance’s death two years later when a dog jumps through through her roof. The dog helps her start to heal, and she starts texting with his owner (who is secretly a famous musician) while he is out of the country.
This book sucked me in and didn’t let me go. I loved the characters and Jimenez’s writing is just the right balance of hilarious and heartfelt. While I did feel the second half stumbled just a little bit when Jason’s tour began, the final scene made up for everything.
If you love fun romance, read this one. Actually, read the whole series. They stand-alone, and Life’s Too Short is my far and away favorite, but they’re all fantastic. Did I mention the audiobooks are also incredibly narrate. Can’t say enough good things so just:
I’ve really been craving a solid historical fiction lately so I had high hopes for this one – a story following an aspiring archaeologist as navigates two wars as a nurse. While I appreciated the writing style, the subject matter, and the historical attention to detail, unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. (Warning. Spoiler below.)
The story goes back and forth between the events that led Betsy to the first war and the events that led her to the second, and I actually enjoyed the second war story. However the first one was difficult for me, just because it had a lot of elements I really dislike: age gap romance, cheating, and < spoiler>
.
.
.
a secret baby she gives away, ugh. < /spoiler> While I appreciated Betsy’s growth as a character between the first and second war, I found her character in the first war timeline and her friend Ava’s really difficult to root for. I did though, enjoy some of the other characters like Holt and Kit.
Overall, this one wasn’t for me, but if you enjoy well-researched historical fiction, you might want to check it out!
Weirdly, I felt very similarly about this book as I did my last one (A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver.) A girl (Audrey Rose) interested in forensic medicine gets mixed up in the Jack the Ripper investigation along with a very flirty Holmes-like teenager (Thomas Cresswell.) While there were some interesting elements here I enjoyed, unfortunately, I couldn’t abide Audrey Rose. Her relationship with Thomas seems needlessly hot and cold, and I felt like he didn’t have the depth he should’ve had. Audrey Rose felt more like a tag-along little sister railing against the patriarchy, than the main character, and I feel like that prevented me from enjoying the storyline. But I know a lot of people enjoyed this one, so if you’re interested in a YA hist-fic mystery with a Holmes-like character, I recommend you give it a try!
After enjoying Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard, and on a romance kick, I wanted to try some of her earlier books. The premise here is a Sam is a librarian at a quirky little school that gets a tough new principal who wants to change everything and take away the school’s unique color. Sam has worked with him in the past when he was fun, so she tries to change his mind.
I enjoyed Sam’s character, the light, breezy writing style, and the fun, quirky town the story is set in, but ultimately the chemistry between Sam and Duncan wasn’t quite there for me. Would recommend to fans of Katherine Center or someone looking for a light, sweet romance.
Hayley Reese Chow 