Let’s Talk: Spring Reads

Friends! It’s been a while since I did a proper book wrap-up for my notable reads and with spring practically in the air I can think of no better time to close the loop on some of the books I’ve read recently. With my move to the UK just around the corner, I have been focusing my attention on ARCs on my physical TBR and books on my shelf I have not read yet. Spanning a variety of genres here, this is your one-stop shop for your next spring (or summer) read, all endorsed by me!

Lady Scandal by Laura Lee Guhrke

A Haughty, newly titled viscount, and a widowed countess and determined event planner butt heads over the management of The Savoy Hotel, courting scandal and unexpected romance as they fight to get their way. Reading Lady Scandal was simultaneously the best time ever and renewed my faith in the historical romance genre. Everything about this book from start to finish is sheer perfection, from the flowering wit to the punchy back and forth between leads Simon and Delia. Guhrke certainly knows how to elevate the chemistry to deliver an outstanding love story with characters that feel like they could leap off the page. Lady Scandal is a refreshing testament to the genre and an excellent addition to the Scandal at the Savoy series. I really just had the best time with this one and will absolutely be keeping up with the next book from Guhrke. 

Trigger warnings: death, miscarriage

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A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

A Letter to the Luminous Deep blends mystery and a light academic romance between two scholars as their correspondence uncovers a secret long buried about their world. Like dense fronds of seaweed unfurling, Sylvie Cathrall untangles a beautiful epistolary academic romance between shy but inquisitive “E” and esteemed scholar Henerey Clel who find a connection deeper than the boundless depths in which they reside. Split between their initial correspondence and the two siblings left behind to unravel the mystery through the letters they penned, A Letter to the Luminous Deep instills a quest for the truth, while providing insight into both the past and the present. Including discussions around mental health, academia, and scientific exploration, this magical underwater adventure leaves plenty to investigate. A wonderfully curious debut that completely enraptured me!

Trigger warnings: death, grief

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The Ornithologists Field Guide to Love by India Holton

In this fresh and absolutely absurd romance adventure, two rival ornithologists become the victims of an elaborate marketing plan … and suffer intense yearning, birding mishaps, and mixed variations of there was only one bed trope – all for the chance of becoming Birder of the Year. One thing about India Holton is that she will have you cackling one moment, and swooning the next. The reluctant team-up between rivals Beth and Devon was EVERYTHING, comprised of snarky banter, near misses, and a healthy dash of yearning. The Ornithologists Field Guide to Love will entangle you in a clever repartee between two rivals (who maybe aren’t), dangerous magical birds, hijinks, and most importantly, tea! This historical romance with a delightful fantasy twist is a new favorite.

Trigger warnings: animal captivity

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The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

A Napa Valley wedding rekindles the sparks between Georgia and Eli, once lovers now strangers, who may just have a chance to get back what they lost while building something altogether new. Filled to the brim with the bittersweet, The Ex Vows is a second-chance romance that encapsulates all of the joyous and painful parts of reuniting and reconciling the past. Georgia and Eli have both been through a lot, together and apart, and the focus on these experiences in mending what went wrong in their relationship made for a truly exceptional romance. The yearning, the underlying tension between the two leads, and the wonderful moments of rediscovery along the way completely bowled me over. Jessica Joyce’s sophomore novel expands on her talent and craft as she interconnects the past and present, focusing on mental health, and the power of love in finding healing. The Ex Vows is astonishingly vulnerable and its resolution will undoubtedly have you close to tears. Jessica Joyce supremacy!

Trigger warnings: grief, anxiety

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Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

A jewel thief, a former assistant, singers, rebels, and spies converge in a spaceship hotel that traverses the galaxy to meet its clientele. Floating Hotel is a genre-bending, distinctly period drama-esque romp through space with the most delightful crew of characters and past and present timelines. Like elements of a secret code, Curtis reassembles the past to make sense of the present as time winds down for the Grand Abeona Hotel. This feels like a cozy mystery with an intense heart as victims across planets desperately seek a new home in the face of an empire destroying worlds. I enjoyed filling in the pieces and its bittersweet final destination. 

Trigger warnings: blood, death

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My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley

No recommendation list is complete without a historical romance, and My Rogue to Ruin is my latest favorite. Part of an ongoing series from Erica Ridley, My Rogue to Ruin melds classic romance tropes with one untraditional family and their ensuing antics. Ridley returns to the Wild Wynchesters, this time taking on a massive forgery scheme. Armed with prickly hedgehogs and mixed with a bit of blackmail, My Rogue to Ruin takes the word chaos and reaches beyond to deliver a fresh and exciting historical romance. Locked in a room with the most rogueish and arrogant scoundrel, Marjorie Wynchester takes it upon herself to solve the family’s latest case. Forced proximity, a diverse cast, and swoony moments are what you can expect with this one, as Marjorie and Adrian realize they might be on the same side. Erica Ridley’s books are always the most entertaining romps and I know both seasoned and new readers to the genre will love this one!

Trigger warnings: ableism, confinement, misogyny

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Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B Poranek

We love sentient houses, strange forests, and Howl’s Moving Castle vibes!!! Entangled in Polish Folklore, Where the Dark Stands Still follows a young woman determined to undo the magic she possesses by bonding herself to the demon warden of the spirit wood, who promises her a trade: one year in his service for the ability to remove her magic. With dangerous bargains, folklore, and a house full of secrets, this debut wholly ensnared me even before I stepped into the bones of the story. The intrigue around the Leszy and the woods that are his domain, as well as the growing romantic connection with Liska played off of one another in increasingly devastating ways. With a final act bringing the conflict between immortality and older bargains smashing together, Where the Dark Stands Still has one of the best endings in a young adult novel I have read in years!! Sheer perfection in a book!

Trigger warnings: violence, blood, gore, death, animal death

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Review: A Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Ever since the fire that almost claimed her life, Farrin Ashbourne has guarded her heart and her power over others. The fire that inevitably consumed the Ashbourne estate was set alight by none other than the Bask family, the great enemies of the Ashbourne’s. Long after her mother’s flight and the departure of her younger sister, Farrin has placed herself unflinchingly in the role as head of the family, and even with the curse dividing the Basks and the Ashbournes now broken, she finds no end to her restlessness. Now the Kingdom is on the brink of war with unseen forces and the barrier of the Middlemist is weakening. United, the Ashbourne and Bask families may be the only hope of fighting back. Unfortunately, this means Farrin will come face to face with Ryder Bask, the eldest son and handsome thorn in her side. With new magic blooming and many now missing, their list of allies grows thin. Worse, whispers of a city hidden in moonlight unable to be reached by prying eyes. As they join forces, Farrin finds an ally and friend in Ryder Bask, who carries a burden of his own. Finding the truth may mean finally taking off her well-worn armor and forging something different– for their adversaries bleed the old gods, and the new.

Claire Legrand has long been a legend in the fantasy genre and A Song of Ash and Moonlight is her stretching her skill in a wonderful blend of romance, action, and expansive fantasy. In this brilliant sequel, Claire Legrand elevates her foundations to create a beautiful slow burn enemies to lovers romance between steadfast sister Farrin Ashbourne, and the eldest son of the Bask family, Ryder. Ever since I read A Crown of Ivy and Glass last year and Claire gave us the most delicious crumbs between these two I have been aching to read their story. (The scene where her music causes him to approach her on stage while speaking an old forgotten language sustained me for a whole year if you could believe it). Farrin was easily one of my favorite characters coming out of the first book, and I’m such a fan of the guarded older sister archetype that this couldn’t be anything but the best book ever.

Claire Legrand returns to her Middlemist Trilogy and a world on the brink of change as the Ashbourne siblings set aside old grudges and work to rebuild a relationship with their family’s sworn enemies, the Basks. A Song of Ash and Moonlight weaves a cunning mythos and romantic arc in a sequel that showcases its characters at their height and brings old gods and new smashing together in cataclysmic ways. The stakes are the highest they can be with old barriers breaking down, and new horrors descending on the Ashbourne family and the world entire. Calculating and precise, Farrin Ashbourne is the essential perspective for this secondary chapter. Fighting old wounds and attempting to stave off the dangers while closely guarding her heart, she’s a heroine one can struggle with and heal through. Farrin stands at the front of everything Legrand has built in the series thus far and has earned her status as chief of the Ashbourne sisters. As always, I love the balance of plot and romance Claire has captured in her writing. It’s enough to have you chasing the next interaction with Farrin and Ryder while aching to break through that outer shell to unveil the truth. There are so many clever moments woven in that allow Farrin to confront her traumas and work to build something new for herself. Ryder Bask intersects this journey at exactly the right time, fighting wounds of his own and the perfect outlet for somebody like Farrin. There are fight scenes, quiet conversations, and a deep understanding they find with one another against the chaos. Amidst their developing romantic relationship, the continued focus on consent and sexual compatibility was excellent. It’s not something I see often intertwined in romantic fantasy and I loved how much of that was a core focus. This sequel is undoubtedly taking the crown for best in the series. Legrand expertly layers her character development, plot, and twists, and the final confrontation is one of the finest I have read from a fantasy novel in some time. A Song of Ash and Moonlight is exactly what I wanted from a sequel, revealing hidden ancestry and an unexpected connection to the gods while flawlessly merging high-stakes fantasy and devastating romance. The Middlemist Trilogy is an incomparable fantasy series and this sequel only has me more excited for its conclusion next year.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing the review copy.

Trigger warnings: fire, blood, violence, death

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Review: Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Truly Livingston has always believed in happily ever afters, owed to her parents’ successful marriage of 33 years, and her career as a historical romance novelist. When she catches her fiance cheating and her parents soon after announce their separation, her world is shaken and she finds herself in a writing rut for the first time. In the middle of all this is a podcast Truly agreed to record in which she and a self-described realist give dating advice live to viewers. The self-described realist is family lawyer Colin McCory, whose views on love and dating are polar opposite to Truly’s, made clear when he calls her out during the recording of their first episode. Though she fully expects to not continue with the podcast, Truly returns after Colin makes an unexpected apology, and from there the show takes off running. In between recording and writing, Truly and Colin strike up an unlikely friendship lingering on the border of something more, and it could be, if Truly can convince herself she is worthy of writing her own love story.

Alexandria Bellefleur reaches soul-deep to deliver the romance novel of the year, filled with scorching levels of heat, podcast arguments, social media mishaps, and all the awkwardness in taking charge of your own love story. Truly, Madly, Deeply is hands down one of the best romance novels from Bellefleur since she departed from her Written in the Stars series. I initially had my doubts since that trilogy holds such a special place in my heart, but I’ve since learned never to doubt Bellefleur and this is further proof. I reread this almost immediately after reading through it for the first time, and I really can’t wait to do so again. Truly, Madly, Deeply is everything I’ve come to love from Bellefleur, open, honest, and so bisexual. 

Truly, Madly, Deeply features two characters, a realist and a romantic, falling in love and reexamining their set ideals and agency in their own lives. It’s a beautiful story that burrows down deep and takes time to settle before consuming every waking thought thereafter. Bellefleur has written an up close and personal love story for the hopeless romantics out there, the people who have found themselves adrift for the first time and are seeking a solid landing place. The setup for this one was everything I was hoping for, a snarky back and forth between two opposites on a podcast, that introduces a raw honesty that is just what each character needs. Now Truly Livingston is a total icon and not even her embarrassing social media mistakes could have me not backing her up (because yeah, Colin is the hottest man to ever exist. next question). Her struggle with feeling like she’s not a good enough version of herself to jump back into dating was certainly relatable and it was a kind of reward to see her go after what she wanted and be proactive in creating her own happiness. I’m a big fan of right person, right time, even when our characters can’t see that at first, and this book absolutely delivered on that. All the little moments between Colin and Truly fueled me, from the impromptu coffee hangs, to late-night drinks, and impassioned conversations about biphobia. I just love them dearly. Truly and Colin were the epitome of bisexual chaos and their bickering turned full arguments turned back around to understanding was all-consuming and seriously entertaining. Truly, Madly, Deeply has reminded me of the power of connection and the strength that comes from our close relationships – of the happiness we can’t wait around for and must create for ourselves. It left me with a truly debilitating crush on a fictional character and a massive book hangover and I wish I could do it all over again.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance copy.

Trigger warnings: infidelity, biphobia

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Review: Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

All her life Yeeran has known bloodshed. Raised to inherit a war responsible for countless deaths, Yeeran now ranks as Colonel. In opposition is her sister Lettle, who spends her days divining the future and a way out of their troubles. After a routine patrol ends in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers, Yeeran is exiled from the elven lands and left to wander the wilderness beyond for the remainder of her days. Intent on rejoining her sister, Lettle ventures into the harsh landscape, and when the two finally reunite it is in a death that puts them face to face with the fae, beings that have been believed dead for centuries. Taken into their hidden world against their will, Yeeran, and Lettle shoulder the harsh reception of the fae court as Yeeran is put on trial for the murder of their prince. Instead, Yeeran awakens a legacy that has long awaited her as a half-fae, an individual who can bond to beings of immense power, and harness their abilities as Faebound. With her origins still a mystery, and many who want her and her sister dead, Yeeran and Lettle will have to gather their allies and discover a truth that will fracture an already unstable world.

Curses, prophecies, and magic intersect with devastating romance in this sensational sophomore series debut from author Saara El-Arifi. Faebound is everything I’ve been yearning for from fae-centered fantasy – rooted in compelling quests for truth, an end to generational traumas, and the altering of history and its power over entire civilizations. Bonus for its intricately developed relationships between women, romantic and familial. Saara El-Arifi is quickly becoming a fantasy author to watch, as she debuts a brand new trilogy here and is wrapping up her Ending Fire Trilogy this coming summer.

In Faebound, El-Arifi sketches a brutal landscape divided by war and two sisters on separate paths that must converge. Each must meet their destiny, Yeeran with her rough edges tested by her fate as a Faebound and her newfound abilities, and Lettle, a dreamer who must harness her innate power to divine. This is first and foremost a story of sisterhood and the power of that bond. Through Yeeran and Lettle, El-Arifi focuses on a younger generation growing up in a time of immense strife and the intergenerational consequences of war and colonization. These two have been dealt a lot of pain, but their bond underpins everything else and is a constant source of strength. Though there is more of a direct focus on Yeeran as she takes up the mantle of Faebound and comes to terms with her origins, it is Lettle who truly was my favorite to read from. Lettle is the outer perspective – the one who remains behind, the sister trying to hold it together when her loved ones have gone to war or passed on, and someone trying to make sense of her place in the world. Lettle seeks to read a world determined to sideline her. The themes of prophecy and divination are intrinsically tied into her arc of commanding divination and harnessing her own destiny. Separately, Yeeran is bonded to a snarky but loveable animal companion and set against a commander seeking vengeance for the death of her prince. There’s a bit of an enemies-to-lovers arc that evolved out of this and tied in very nicely with the focus on truth and the power of close bonds. Bringing in drum magic, legacies cast off and undertaken, and numerous twists it shall come as no surprise that this is a new favorite. This is a fast-paced, outstanding series debut and one I’ll be singing praises to for months to come. Faebound is a dark, glorious fae story empowered by love, sisterhood, truth, and an end to war.

Thank you to Del Rey for providing a physical arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: death, blood, violence, murder, war, grief

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Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

In a world beset by leviathans, investigative assistant Dinios Kol is far too occupied with his boss’s eccentricities and solving their next case. Magically altered to remember everything he sees, Din has been called to assist Ana Dolabra, an accomplished detective, who with his assistance can solve a case without ever having to visit the scene of the crime. Now a case arrives unlike anything they’ve ever dealt with before, and Din is thrust into the forefront of a murder with deadly ramifications. On the estate of a well-regarded family, an imperial officer has been found dead in his bedroom with a tree sprouting out of his body. Improbable, yet Din is tasked with discovering just how this murder was brought about. When several others turn up dead in the exact same way, Din and Ana must contend with the fact that this crime has roots far deeper than they initially expected – into the beating heart of the empire.

An unthinkable murder looms large in an empire beset by leviathans, strange contagions, and corruption blooming at its heart. In his new series, Robert Jackson Bennett takes all his wit and talent for crafting ingenious fantasy worlds and imbues them into a new fantasy setting with an eccentric detective and her disaster bisexual assistant solving an impossible crime. The Tainted Cup found me on a late-night train back from Philly last month and was the reason I was awake well into the wee hours of the night. Looking back at its transition from start to finish and the technical parts it’s no wonder why this held all my attention and has won the title of one of my top books of this year.

Undeniably humorous and brilliant in its craft, The Tainted Cup is a bold new murder mystery that reinvigorates the classic investigative pairing with a plot almost serpentine in the way that it twists and turns back upon itself in an act of reinvention. There were many times that I thought I understood the general playing field, but Bennett reassembles it endlessly, making for quite an entertaining reading journey. It’s not just the act of layering in elements to execute the overall mystery, but subverting it entirely to simultaneously construct and deconstruct the situation at hand. Characters Din and Ana are amusing individuals through which we are introduced to this new world and trust to uncover all that is hidden. Ana is persnickety and armed with a keen intelligence, whereas Din is just straight-laced and in desperate need of a break (but will he ever get one). While Bennett introduces an incredible duo, he also establishes a world teetering on the edge of destruction from outside and from within – one that I could not help but fall in love with. The descriptions of a city forever waiting for an attack from the leviathans felt both forlorn and striking, further shaped by the inner workings of the empire exposed with each passing page. Ana Dolobra really gets all the points for her silly little tricks and iconic monologue towards the end. It was very much giving Benoit Blanc, but fantasy. This was all around a hilarious and highly entertaining first book in a series. Robert Jackson Bennett has constructed a stellar fantasy world alongside an inventive magic system and I am curious to see where The Shadow of the Leviathan goes next. This is an unpredicable, but nevertheless brilliant mystery equipped with a duo to rival Watson and Holmes. The kind of story to settle in and take root in the most unexpected places.  

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this review copy.

Trigger warnings: body horror, blood, murder, violence

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Let’s Talk: Recent Reads

Basically, all the books I can’t shut up about.

So many good books, so little time to review them all individually so without further ado here’s a wrap on all the books I have read and loved in the past three months. For this chunk of the year I decided to focus on mood and curate a TBR for each month to check off according to what I was wanting to read. As we moved into fall I was in more of an SFF mood but have started reading some more seasonally appropriate books on my TBR. Several of the books here will be reviewed for the first time, but many will be in my blurb review format. This post introduces: a series that has become my new obsession, an upcoming historical romance, a stunning series finale, and a new favorite author. Happy reading!

My Recent Favorites

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Clark’s alternate 1912 Cairo, where djinn roam the streets and magic is a daily reality is my new favorite world to get lost in. Fatma el-Sha’arawi, an agent of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, is tasked with uncovering just who murdered the members of a secret brotherhood but discovers a plot that goes far deeper. This is my first P. Djèlí Clark and boy did it not disappoint. Not only is this a fantastic speculative debut, but it has a deep center of questioning that I really appreciated. The twists in this are so freaking good and Fatma and Siti are the cutest couple and badass team up EVER. Read for an amazing world, historical commentary, and sapphics uncovering a mystery together.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, racism, slavery

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The Duchess by Sophie Jordan

Sophie Jordan returns to her Scandalous Ladies of London series. Valencia, a recently widowed dowager, teams up with the new heir to usher his unruly sisters into London society but finds her past confronting her newfound connections. Like the previous installment, The Duchess brings a fresh take on historical romance tropes while staying true to the realities of marriage and life for women in this period. It’s deeply satisfying to see Valencia work to secure the life she wants after years of abuse and suffering (and VERY entertaining at certain points). I have been waiting years for a historical series focused on women who didn’t get their happily ever after the first time around and it is here.

Trigger warnings: misogyny, sexual harassment, abuse

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

An unthinkable murder looms large in an empire beset by leviathans, strange contagions, and corruption blooming at its heart. Assistant to a brilliant investigator, and magically altered to help her solve the crime, Dinios Kol is called in to lend his eyes to solving the murder in question. Undeniably humorous and brilliant in its craft, The Tainted Cup is a bold new murder mystery that reinvigorates the classic investigative pairing with a plot almost serpentine in the way that it constantly twists and turns back upon itself in an act of reinvention. Robert Jackson Bennett has constructed a stellar fantasy world alongside an inventive magic system. This is an unpredictable, but nevertheless brilliant mystery equipped with a duo to rival Watson and Holmes. The kind of story to seep in and take root in the most unexpected places.

Trigger warnings: body horror, blood, murder, violence

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The Will of the Many by James Islington

In The Will of the Many, Islington constructs a flawed world built on the backs of the many to benefit the few, centering on the one person who could expose a crack in the marble and bring down an entire empire. Orphan Vin Telimus is an heir to a kingdom overtaken by the very empire he now serves. Hiding in plain sight, resisting ceding his will to the hierarchy, Vin is taken in by an unlikely ally who will give him a way out if he infiltrates the academy training the next generation of upper citizens to figure out what is going on on the academy grounds. This book juggles so many different elements and executes them all flawlessly. Complete with a mystery, an inventive societal system, and a striking political landscape. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this absolute masterpiece and I cannot wait to continue the series.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, death, murder, body horror

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Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

The eternal question: did I finish this book or did it finish me? The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo is for sure one of my favorite novella series of the past few years, and every addition has become my new obsession. Mammoths at the Gates is no different. After the death of their mentor, Cleric Chih returns to the abbey to mourn the loss and lay them to rest with the rest of their community. Stories past and present merge as Chi and others mourn this loss and collectively grieve. Vo conceptualizes the diverse experiences with grief and memory and pays homage to the power of storytelling. Definitely teared up a little bit while reading this and can’t wait for more from this series.

Trigger warnings: death, grief, physical abuse (mentioned)

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The Fractured Dark by Megan O’Keefe

If you take nothing else from the books I am recommending here it is: read this series. Altered Carbon meets the Expanse in this inventive and action-packed interplanetary adventure. Megan O’Keefe takes her Devoured Worlds series to the next level with a mind-bending addition that tests already fragile alliances and humanity’s uncertain future. Naira and Tarquin confront deep-rooted power structures, enemies old and new, and a biological threat able to evolve in ways they never could have thought possible. Ingeniously layered with a deep sense of humanity at its core, O’Keefe questions identity, future frontiers, and families found. You won’t expect the twists and you will desperately wish you’d read this sooner.

Trigger warnings: suicide, blood, violence, emotional abuse

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The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

The Silent Companions is an eerie Victorian gothic novel that kept me up into the wee hours of the night, both because of a desire to reach its end, and the unsettling feeling it placed upon me. I stumbled upon Laura Purcell’s books at Waterstones back in March and took a chance on The Silent Companions for its gorgeous cover and intriguing premise. A widow is sent to her late husband’s family estate for the remainder of her pregnancy but is left to uncover the strange secrets of this ancestral home and its horrific legacy. Safe to say that judging books by their covers is good because I just loved this one. It’s gothic, spooky, and perfect. This book will have you looking into dark corners while coming to terms with the most ingenious twist!

Trigger warnings: blood, death, murder, poisoning, forced institutionalization

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Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake

So you’re a vampire real estate agent trying to sell your latest house, but it’s haunted by the ghost of its former occupant. And the only way to help the ghost move on is to contact a medium who just so happens to be the Godson of Death? Yes, this book is as chaotic as its premise, with a slow build and a snarky cast of characters who must team up to master death himself. Masters of Death is the kind of book that feels more rewarding the further you wade into it. I had no idea how so many of these moving pieces would come together, but Olivie Blake makes it all work. I love its patchwork method of narrative and break from linear storytelling. Masters of Death has all the trappings of a morbid and folkloric bedtime story as vamps, reapers, ghosts, and gods must team up for good or for ill. It’s easily the most unexpected and chaotic fantasy book I have read in ages. 

Trigger warnings: murder, death, addiction

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Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Two Twisted Crowns, the expansive and completely life-changing conclusion to the Shepherd King Duology is here and it is quite possibly the best sequel I’ve read all year. Maintaining her sensational gothic atmosphere and gutting prose, Gillig adds several new points of view and expands her focus to those left behind in the aftermath of the events from book one. Characters Elm and Ione pull focus and what emerges is a well-rounded conclusion that tests the bonds of family, magic, and the world that these characters hold dear. We get more lore with the cards and the Shepherd King as Elsbeth is trapped by the Nightmare, which I loved. Two Twisted Crowns is certainly an ambitious sequel, but altogether romantic and action-packed. Rachel Gillig is definitely a new favorite author and I cannot wait to reread this series down the line.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, murder, torture

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Review: Iris Kelly Doesnt Date by Ashley Herring Blake

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

After two failed relationships in two years, Iris Kelly has sworn off love. But as all of her close friends have settled into long-term relationships and her upcoming romance novel has hit a dead stop, her stance on love and dating may need an upgrade. Luckily for Iris, a one night stand with a beautiful stranger is the tell-all cure. Unluckily, her meet-cute with a stranger in a Portland bar ends in disaster. Just when Iris cannot think it could get any worse her new role in a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing leaves her pitted against Stefania, the very stranger from the bar that night and her failed one-night stand. Caught in a lie, Stevie begs Iris to pretend their meet cute led to a relationship, and Iris agrees in an effort to infuse inspiration into her manuscript. But between rehearsals and fake dates, reality and fiction start to blur, and Stevie and Iris are caught in so much more than a mutually agreed upon lie, but real feelings.

Desperately seeking: a shy theatre nerd who’s literally a total softy at heart or a closed-off romance author who deep down just wants to be loved unconditionally. Ashley Herring Blake is back with a queer take on Shakespeare, fake dating, and disaster one-night stands as cynical Iris Kelly finally meets her match. Iris has always been an intriguing character who stole my heart from the sidelines whilst being an absolute riot to read. Her one-liners were some of the funniest moments from the first two books, and I eagerly awaited her story. With all the breadcrumbs laid since the start of the series, my hopes were high and my heart was ready to be changed by another romance from Blake.

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date is a trope-filled romp that brings Iris’s struggles front and center while introducing us to her shy theatre nerd turned partner in crime Stevie, working through problems of her own. I really admire how Blake has been able to touch on so many issues across her series, with the time and care needed to truly explore each topic. Iris Kelly focuses on the struggles of living with anxiety and the fear of getting back out there after putting your life on hold. There’s plenty of wonderful moments of friendship, queerness, and chaos to keep the pace going as the romance unfolds and these issues come to light. I love a good disaster meet cute and this book gives a whole new meaning to the concept. Stevie and Iris had truly unhinged levels of chemistry from their very first meeting on page, despite their disastrous evening, and their flirty back and forth had me losing my mind. The lessons in seduction portion of the plot was an unexpected surprise and Blake kept it sizzling while focusing on consent and honesty between the two characters. I’m honestly so sad this series is over and I may or may not have cried a bit upon reaching the last page. This is by far one of my favorite romances out there. It’s hot as hell, especially vulnerable, and just so so lovely. I’m going to keep coming back to the Bright Falls trilogy now and forever.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this review copy.

Trigger warnings: anxiety, panic attacks, infidelity

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Review: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

On the edge of a small southern town, a house stands alone. Left to fester by the townspeople determined to move on from the town’s less-than-savory history, Starling House and its heir haven’t been seen for years. In a motel across town, Opal and her brother are just trying to survive Eden enough to one day leave it behind, but an innate curiosity keeps dragging Opal back to Starling House and its wrought iron gates. Opal can’t pull herself away, and one evening she finds herself at the gates of Starling House, only she’s not alone. The next day, she is given an opportunity that could get her brother out of Eden, but she will have to go back to the house. Opal returns to Starling House, where she explores its maze of rooms and discovers that all of the stories may have a kernel of truth to them. Outside parties are seeking entrance to Starling House as well, and they realize Opal is the way through. To stake her claim and build herself the home she has been longing for, Opal must return to Eden’s complicated history to discover what exactly lies buried underneath.

With Starling House, Alix E. Harrow captures a festering darkness in a small Southern town, and the strange house caught up in the center of it that refuses to let the past stay buried. It’s a gritty contemporary Southern Gothic that dragged me under from its very first pages. Now it should surprise no one that I’m an Alix E. Harrow enthusiast. I’ll read anything she writes at a drop of a hat and you’ll find me hunched over one of her books in my room for hours at a time until I reach the end of its pages. Her previous works drove me absolutely wild, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that her newest would inspire much of the same feeling. Starling House is a punishing gothic novel innately entangled with fairy tales and the undercurrent of truth that inevitably runs through them. Harrow ensnares readers in The Underland, a children’s fable depicting the monsters below the earth and one girl’s journey into the foul places below that ring more true than initially believed. Starling House is alive, a labyrinthian estate filled with twisting secrets and locked rooms that beg to be exposed. The house takes on a life of its own, much like the two focal points for this novel, Opal and Arthur. Harrow delivers a clever heroine and tortured heir, completely buried under the weight of their pasts, and unable to figure out how to drag themselves out of the surrounding dark. The romance is very much “we should rot in this old house together” and I was more than here for it. Starling House gives voice to two individuals who have just been trying to survive for so long that they no longer know how to do anything else but exist. The entire journey out of that is joyous, painful, and every emotion in between. Alix E. Harrow is a brilliant storyteller, reaching into those dark places that must be uncovered and exposing them to the light of day, all in her own time. Starling House feels like a reckoning as much as a journey toward healing and love, with a signature Harrow flair. This twisted story will drag you down into the depths of the earth where the truth lies, and leave you clawing for more. 

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, fire, grief

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Let’s Talk: New Romance Favorites

All my latest obsessions compiled in one convenient list

This year is shaping up to be one of the best for romance novels and I’ve been blessed by the publishing gods with early copies of some of my most anticipated releases. The romance genre is the gift that keeps on giving and today I’m sharing some of my favorite unpublished and published romance novels of late in this post. Per my reading taste, this is a mix of contemporary romance and historicals. Whether you’re looking for a bodice ripper, a steamy friends to lovers, or a slow burn I hope you find some new anticipated releases below.

What I’ve Been Loving

You With a View by Jessica Joyce

I have officially found my new favorite book and summer romance all rolled into one with Jessica Joyce’s heartwarming debut novel. You, with a View seamlessly blends the travel narrative with a slow-burn romance that left me aching for new connections and an extensive summer road trip. There are so many feelings explored within this novel and it’s not lost on me how Joyce makes you feel every single one. You, with a View, is hands down one of the best romances of 2023. With magnificent tension and a profound emotional journey, Joyce has established herself as a stellar new voice in romance.

Trigger warnings: grief, death of a loved one

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Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard

A talented ballerina and a grumpy duke with a passion for piano initiate a fake engagement that threatens to become real amidst growing feelings. Amalie Howard made me swoon with this one. Effortlessly beautiful writing and the kind of unhinged yearning you can only get from a really good historical romance. God I just loved the main pairing here. Geneviève was so honest and the way she took charge had me dying. Lysander seemed really cold and aloof, but he’s exactly the opposite. This book was just lovely. Perfect for those looking to re-experience Bridgerton season two or in search of a new romance favorite.

Trigger warnings: death, emotional abuse, violence, infertility

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Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese

Better Hate Than Never is an exemplary hate-to-love romance surrounding the misperceptions that come from protecting ourselves and those we care about, and how we can break down those barriers and better ourselves. Part Shakespeare retelling, and all things hot and vulnerable, Liese’s tremendous talent for portraying personal transformation and vulnerability is at its height. Kate and Christopher truly are the moment, with an open communication that is worth angsting over and longing for. Liese will give you standards you didn’t even know you needed, like a man who makes you pasta at the drop of a hat. Better Hate Than Never is not only a fantastic love story, it’s Liese’s best work to date.

Trigger warnings: chronic illness, grief, panic attacks

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Iris Kelly Doesnt Date by Ashley Herring Blake

The final book in the Bright Falls series and my absolute favorite! Ashley Herring Blake is back with a queer twist on Shakespeare and fake dating with cynical Iris Kelly finally meeting her match. Featuring a disaster one night stand and a queer production of Much Ado About Nothing. This luminous queer romance had me from its very first pages. I love disaster meet cutes and boy did these two have one. By far one of my favorite romances of 2023. It’s hot as hell, especially vulnerable, and just so lovely. I’m going to keep coming back to this one now and forever.

Trigger warnings: infidelity

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Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa

Erin La Rosa is quickly becoming a romance author to watch and Plot Twist is proof. This one’s got the unconventional pairing I didn’t know I needed: a romance writer on a deadline and her neighbor, a former star out of the spotlight. Plot Twist packs in the tropes while managing to engage in meaningful commentary on sobriety, harmful family dynamics, and modern relationships. The tension is off the charts between Sophie and Dash from page one and this is without a doubt the hottest romance I’ve read this year. Go forth and read, you’ll thank me later.

Trigger warnings: alcoholism, stalking, death, addiction

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An Earl to Remember by Stacy Reid

A retelling of Overboard with a historical romance twist. Getting revenge on the callous Earl who fired you just got easier: he’s got amnesia and it’s become pertinent that you pretend he is your husband (bonus points: you can put him to work fixing up your deteriorating estate). Stacy Reid is the queen of historical romances with bonkers plotlines that somehow leave you in all the right feels. I don’t know how to explain it, but An Earl to Remember made me feel like these two WERE married and it made every part of their developing relationship cut that much deeper. It’s hard to pull off amnesia trope and Stacy Reid did, and made me fall completely in love with the Heyford family. This one is for all the “my wife” fans out there!

Trigger warnings: misogyny

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When the Marquess Met His Match by Laura Lee Guhrke

A notorious rake finds love where he least expects it in the respectable matchmaker he hired to find himself a wife. When the Marquess Met His Match is by far one of my favorite historical romances of this year. When I say this book had me giggling and kicking my feet in the air I mean it. Nicholas and Belinda served a deliriously slow burn and their back-and-forth made for the best chemistry. These two made me insane in the best possible way and I cannot wait to reread this when I need a good pick-me-up. Laura Lee Guhrke is known for her unique twists in the genre and this is her best by far!

Trigger warnings: death

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Knockout by Sarah Maclean

Pyrotechnics-obsessed Imogen Loveless and inspector Thomas Peck confront mystery and danger in this explosive addition to Sarah Maclean’s Hell’s Belles series. Maclean delivers a whip-smart dynamic between her two leads centered around a spirited group of women taking charge in bringing about justice. A deeply satisfying addition to the series that feels as chaotic as its main heroine. Knockout packs a punch and will leave you craving more from its author. Truly one of the best romances of the year!

Trigger warnings: violence, blood

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Review: You, with a View by Jessica Joyce

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Unemployed and living with her parents, Noelle Shepherd’s life takes another unexpected turn when her grandmother dies. Adrift in her grief and desperate to connect with her, Noelle explores the pieces of her grandmother’s past, surprised to uncover a love letter and several photographs of Gram and a mysterious man from decades prior. In her desperate attempt to find answers, Noelle goes viral, leading her to connect with the grandson of the unknown man, none other than her high school nemesis, Theo Spencer. Despite her annoyance with having to face Theo, Noelle learns from his grandfather Paul that he and her grandmother had plans to elope, but were prevented, leaving their honeymoon road trip unfinished. The two form a plan to complete the honeymoon road trip, but not without Theo in tow. Between the picturesque landscapes and long car rides, the tension between Theo and Noelle escalates, and completing the long-lost road trip may mean admitting just how unfinished things between them actually are.

I have officially found my new favorite book and summer romance all rolled into one with Jessica Joyce’s heartwarming debut novel. You, with a View seamlessly blends the travel narrative with a slow-burn romance that left me aching for new connections and an extensive summer road trip. Noelle Shepherd’s search for connection after the passing of her grandmother leads her across the United States, where she reignites her passion for photography and finds a new link back to her family’s past. Not to mention a tension-filled relationship brewing with her handsome road trip companion. Joyce infuses this heartrending beginning with majestic landmarks and sweeping scenery that were visually stunning on the level of leaving me with an extreme case of wanderlust. With all that in mind, pretty much everything in this called out to me from the start. Noelle and Theo had far too much chemistry for me not to immediately adore everything about them and stay up all night trying to reach the conclusion of their love story. With my penchant for all the men down bad™ out there, Theo Spencer has certainly become one of my new favorite book boyfriends. There were several lines in particular that had me gasping out loud and fanning myself. Joyce gives us all the longing stares and forced proximity, that develops in the most satisfying way over the course of this novel. Something else I really appreciated in this romance is the way in which Joyce focuses on each character’s emotional arc. Both Theo and Noelle are in different stages on their journey toward healing and Joyce gave them their time to grow and process what they needed to. There are so many feelings explored within this novel and it’s not lost on me how Joyce makes you feel every single one. You, with a View, is hands down one of the best romances of 2023. With magnificent tension and a profound emotional journey, Joyce has established herself as a stellar new voice in romance. 

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: grief, death of a loved one

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