July 2025 Reads

  July 2025 Reads 

This month, I read 8 books 

These books were 100% fiction

They were 13% physical, 38% digital, and 50% audio

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and childrens

My average rating was 4.28 stars

My longest reading day was the 13th

The Books

➽ The Brave Bats of Congress Avenue Bridge by Sandra LJ

➽ Sara's Game by Erine Lindsey

➽ One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

➽ Nights with Him by Lauren Blakely

➽ Forbidden Nights by Lauren Blakely

➽ Citlali and the Spiny Lizard by Sandra LJ

➽ Icebreaker by Ariel Dawn

➽ Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Free For All Friday: 2025 Reading Firsts

 

Free For All Friday: 2025 Reading Firsts

Describing the Tag

The 2025 Reading Firsts tag is all about discussing which book you read (or other milestone) first in various categories. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to look back at some of my earlier reads and reminisce. I saw A Knight's Reads do this and knew it would be perfect for me. 

If you see this and feel like you wanna give it a try, consider yourself tagged! 

The Prompts

• First book read in 2025
• First book reviewed in 2025
• First debut novel read in 2025
• First new-to-me author of 2025
• First book that slayed me in 2025
• First book of 2025 I wish I could get back the time I spent reading it

My Picks and Explanations

If any of these books fit multiple prompts, I would choose the next book to have all different reads

First book read

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

I had mixed feelings about this one. I had a lot of trouble keeping up with the different perspectives, which didn't help my experience. If you pick this one up, maybe try physical or digital because the audio didn't work out.

First book reviewed

Recommended Reading by Paul J. Coccia

My first review on my blog of the year! You can check it out here. Spoiler alert, I quite enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes LGBTQ+ YA stories.

First debut novel

Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George

This is a bit of a cop-out answer, as it is certainly not Dolly's first book. That said, it is Rachel's first book. Admittedly, I only listened to the audiobook, so I cannot speak to the recipes personally, but I am confident they are fantastic. 

 

First new-to-me author

When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

The real answer is Mark Kubica, but as discussed earlier, I'm not repeating. Well, Dustin was my second and... I wish he weren't. I did not like this book very much. I haven't heard anything better about his other stories either. The cover art is by far the best part about his books. 

First book that slayed me

Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

I wasn't entirely sure what this prompt meant, so I took it to mean my first 5-star read of the year. This book is incredible, and Bindi is an incredible human who deserves all of the love! If a hockey romcom is at all of interest to you, this is a must-read!

First book I regret reading

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

I normally enjoy the books by Christina Lauren, but unfortunately, this was not one of them. The miscommunication in it is so monstrously bad. The book would be significantly shorter if even a single productive conversation had happened. 

Final Thoughts

Wowie, this was quite the adventure down memory lane. We had some highs and some lows. I liked this challenge and how simple it was. Have you read any of these? I'll see all of you again next Free For All Friday, where who knows what we will end up discussing. Fridays will always be my favorite blog day because I get to show the most of my personality in my posts. 

April 2025 Reads

  April 2025 Reads 

This month, I read 18 books 

These books were 89% fiction

They were 6% physical, 22% digital, and 72% audio

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and LGBTQ+

My average rating was 4.17 stars

My longest reading day was May 1st

The Books

➽ Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter

➽ The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (reread)

➽ Punt in the Dark by Ariana St. Claire

➽ Three Tainted Teas by Lynn Cahoon

➽ The Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely

➽ Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire

➽ Outdrawn by Deanna Grey

➽ Bridesmaid by Chance by Meghan Quinn

➽ When Ivy Met Adam by Jennifer J. Coldwater

➽ Heartbreak Beach by Bailey Thomas

➽ Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

➽ We Did Nothing Wrong by Hannah Jayne

➽ How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

➽ All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow

➽ However You Want Me by Amelia Wilde and Willow Winters

➽ Family Face-Off by Devon Glenn

➽ Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

➽ Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

This month, as part of the Magical Readathon by Book Roast, I had to read a few books outside of my comfort zone. As such, my average rating decreased a little bit as I didn't love the books I read. See you next month with hopefully even more great reads!

What This Week March 31st - April 6th

 

What This Week: March 31st - April 6th

Now that I am out of the hell we all call March, I'm very excited to be fully back in the swing of things

What books I finished:

• 
  

What books I started:

• The P*ssy Next Door by Amy Award

What I'm listening to:

• My spring playlist (if anyone wants the link I will share it)

What I'm watching:

• Abbot Elementary season 2

What I'm playing:

• Business Cat

March 2025 Reads

March 2025 Reads 

This month I read 15 books 

These books were 93% fiction

They were 13% physical, 47% digital, and 40% audio

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and LGBTQ+

My average rating was 4.28 stars

My longest reading day was the 28th

The Books

➽ The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy

➽ Just Complicated by Evie Sterling

➽ Overturned by Lamar Giles

➽ A beta read (sorry can't discuss it)

➽ Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger

➽ A Mark On My Soul by Jordon Greene

➽ Never Lie by Frieda McFadden

➽ Shot for Mercy by Shae Ruby (no review because this book is getting rewritten)

➽ Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

➽ Hired By My Rich Highland Husband by Beatrice Bradshaw

➽ About That Kiss by Harper Bliss

➽ Again!! Volume 1 by Mitsurou Kubo

➽ Again!! Volume 2 by Mitsurou Kubo

➽ The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford

➽ The P*ssy Next Door by Amy Award

What This Week: March 24th - 30th

What This Week: March 24th-30th

I'll be honest, March is always really difficult in my personal life every year for reasons I'm not going to share here. As a result, I read less, and that's okay. I'm still getting reading done and being sure to fill my time with love and relaxation whenever I can

What books I finished:

• Shot For Mercy by Shae Ruby
• Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
• Hired By My Rich Highland Husband by Beatrice Bradshaw
• The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford
• About That Kiss by Harper Bliss
• Again!! (volume 1 & 2) by Mitsurou Kubo

What books I started:

• The P*ssy Next Door by Amy Award
• 
  

What I'm listening to:

• My spring playlist (if anyone wants the link I will share it)

What I'm watching:

• Abbot Elementary season 1 & 2
• No Hard Feelings

What I'm playing:

• Traveler's Rest
• Business Cat
• Genshin Impact

The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Sports romance

➮ Romcom

➮ Secret relationship

➮ Found family

➮ Forced proximity

Blurb

April Baird is determined to finish an Ironman—even if it is 140.6 miles of misery in the form of swimming, cycling, and running. The distance would be daunting enough, but April is certain she has an Ironman curse. What else could explain the events that have caused her to DNF the last three years? Now, her coach has even bailed.

When Gabriel Torres discovers his rival, April’s former coach, has dropped her mid-season, he has a choice to make: stick with the plan and a team that’s sure to win or add April to his roster. She’s a risk—one that may cost him his chance at making the dream team of his coaching company, and yet, he sees a spark in her—something he’d pay good money to bottle and add to his other athletes’ electrolytes.

As training heats up, their relationship slips from professional to casual to something else entirely, and they soon realize there is more at stake than just a race.

Best Quote From the Book

“Years of evolutionary coding told me to jump him and continue the bloodline."

My Thoughts

    I already knew from the first page this was going to be a 5-star and I was so right! I don't know what magic you dump into your stories Harriet, but never stop because I will read and love every single one. 

    This paragraph is solely dedicated to appreciating the magesty of Harriet and her writing. This is her second published book. You read that correctly; she's only published one book before this. I can truly say that I have never read such a talented author who doesn't have a large back catalogue. Both books are absolutely perfect, zero complaints. She is just that good, y'all. A bonus thank you because she is also one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She shows so much gratitude to her street team (Team Trouble) to go as far as weaving in a nod to us in this book. Even with the shout-out, I wouldn't lie about liking this book; that's not the reviewer I am. 

    Now, back to the review. Okay I will admit I do have one complaint. I wanted even more of the adorable pup, Johnson. You cannot introduce such an adorable character and not include him on nearly every page. In all seriousness, he is wonderful, and better find his way into other books in this series. 

    Harriet did a fantastic job of implementing the concept of wandering minds. The characters' internal tangents felt very realistic and naturally propelled the story. Seeing them try too hard to control their thoughts and utterly fail was relatable in an endearing and entertaining way. 

    She also tackled grief beautifully. April is still grieving over her mother, as grief isn't linear. I loved how it shaped her character arc but didn't take it over entirely. As someone who has dealt with grief (as I am sure most of us have), this portrayal felt like a warm hug telling me it would all be okay. April doesn't succeed in spite of her grief; she succeeds because of how much she cares about who she lost. I cannot convey how much that seemingly subtle difference means. 

    Oh man, the ending of this book brought me to tears for sure. For good reasons, I promise. That said, I will not elaborate to avoid spoilers, just know that it will make you feel. You will feel sad, proud, and elated all at once if your experience is at all similar to mine.

    This book does have open-door spicy scenes. If that is not your thing, I do not recommend this series. 

    I created a playlist for both books in this series. You can find book 1 here. You can find this book's playlist here. If you want an immersive reading experience or just want to relive the magic of these books, I highly recommend. 

    I received this book as part of Harriet's street team. My review is honest and voluntary

January 2025 Reads

 January 2025 Reads

This month I read 15 books 

These books were 80 % fiction (my lowest ever)

They were 0% physical, 33% digital, and 67% audio

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and LGBTQ+

My average rating was 4.1 stars

My longest reading day was January 3rd

The Books

➽ Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

➽  The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas

➽ Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

➽ Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George

➽ Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kinkade

➽ When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

➽ Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

➽ Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia

➽ So You Want a #BOOKBOYFRIEND? by Ariana St. Claire

➽ The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

➽ Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeny

➽ Unapologetically ADHD by Peter D. Wright & Nikki Kinzer

➽ Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

➽ The Manicurist's Daughter by Susan Lieu

➽ Conflict Mediation by D.C. Emerson

What This Week February 10 - 16

 What This Week: February 10 - 16

Welcome to the first ever What This Week. This will be my chance to keep you all updated on what I'm consuming. Perhaps we have some things in common?

What books I finished:

• The Wiener Across the Way by Amy Award
• Unthinkable by Dani Galliaro
• The Party by Natasha Peterson

What books I started:

• On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young

What I'm listening to:

• Short n' Sweet (Deluxe) by Sabrina Carpenter

What I'm watching:

• Ghost in the Shell 2.0
• Paddington 2

Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.25/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Matchmaker

➮ Friends to lovers

➮ Small town

➮ Miscommunication

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

Blurb

In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma, a failed romantic gesture puts a damper on a queer teen bookseller’s summer of book matching and matchmaking until a handsome lifeguard and romance skeptic waltzes into his bookstore. Sometimes you get a second chance at happily ever after when you least expect it...

Curvaceous, clever, and an avid reader, seventeen-year-old Bobby Ashton never misses a main character moment. So when it comes to asking out his crush, he plans a romantic gesture grand enough to go down in local history. Unfortunately, though, his extensive knowledge of every rom-com trope ever doesn’t prepare him for how tragically he misreads the situation. Suddenly Bobby’s very public romantic gesture turns into an ordeal so embarrassing it could be a villain origin story.

Having masterfully shattered every plan for his perfect summer before college, Bobby’s last resort is working at his uncle’s sleepy bookstore. Soon, Bobby is expertly recommending books for customers to perfectly cure what ails them. Attempting to rebound after a breakup? There’s a book for that. Trying to tame your crochety coworker? There’s a book for that too. Then a plot twist Bobby never saw coming walks through the door in the form of Luke, an unfairly attractive and staunchly anti-romantic lifeguard.

Bobby’s blossoming connection with Luke reminds him of some of his favorite tropes: grumpy sunshine, quippy banter, and even forced proximity. But after his last romantic disaster, should Bobby use all the tricks in his arsenal to turn Luke’s head? Or is he misreading all the signs again? Do grand gestures really need to be so…grand?

LGBTQ+ Representation

5/5 🌈

This one has all of the rep you could possibly ask for. It has gay, lesbian, pansexual, drag queen, and ally representation. Every queer character in this book is unapologetically queer and it is a notable part of their character. Some are much more open about their identity while others are more quiet about it which reflects real life quite well. 

My Thoughts

This story was so camp which definitely grew on me as the story went on. At first, I will admit, Bobby's blunders felt like a lot and were a bit of a cringe factor but Coccia let the rest of the story unfold in such a way that it totally made up for it and made for a surprisingly well-rounded character. 

Bobby went from a bumbling idiot to someone who sometimes actually looks before he leaps. The genuine character development is what made this story special. I was genuinely nervous at first that the only redeeming quality about him would be how purely camp he was. Luke was a true catalyst for him to grow simply by showing him another perspective. Their eventual communication was genuine and refreshing. 

Seeing an unapologetically gay and plus-sized MC was refreshing. I hope this openness and pride continue throughout more releases this year. It can make many queer people feel more seen in literature. 

My favorite character by far in this story was Gladys (the OG, read the story and you will know what I mean). Her wit and quips towards Bobby were the best. Seeing her slowly warm up was the best. Characters like her are one of my favorite microtropes. 

I received this book as an arc from Hear Our Voices. My review is honest and voluntary.