CWW: Our Perfect Storm

 

This week's book is.... Our Perfect Storm

Author: Carley Fortune

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 5th

Series: n/a

Blurb:

Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.

Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.

Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.

Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good.

Explanation:

I have loved each and every single one of her other books so far. They are true peak summery reads for me. As such, I have massive levels of hype for whatever she puts out next. Do you like her books too?

FFAF: Spring Cleaning Book Tag

   

Intro

I am so happy that spring is upon us! At the time of writing this blog it's in the 80s outside which is so warm! As such, I've got the cleaning bug. That's where the spring cleaning book tag comes in! I found it on the Book Cheshire Cat blog. The tag is originally from Between the Shelves. Let's clean up!

The Prompts and My Picks

Getting started: a book series you've been wanting to read

The Addicted/Calloway Sisters series by Krista and Becca Ritchie

I absolutely adore the Webs We Weave series that these sisters also write. I've heard amazing things about this series. The only reason I have read it yet is that I want to read it physically. As I am trying to maintain a book buying ban, I am only very slowly able to obtain the series. So far, I have collected the first two books.

Cleaning/organizing the closet: the best way to organize books

The simplest answer is, however they fit and works for you. 

I think in my official library I hope to have once I move, I would sort by genre and keep series together. Other than that, just a vibe really.

Getting rid of unnecessary things: book/series you no longer need

Let Me Count the Ways by Laurel Osterkamp

I have read this book and don't think I would ever reread it. As such, I do not find the need to keep it.

Get some air: you favorite lighthearted read

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This was one of my top reads of last year. It was oh so good and perfect for me during the time I listened to it. I loved it on so much. Highly recommend! 

Clean out the kitchen cupboards: favorite food-themed read

Café con Lychee by Emery Lee

This was such a nice YA read. It's got queer rep and portrays culture so well! You should absolutely check it out if given the chance.

Dust the shelves: what's the fifth book on your bookshelf

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

As she is my favorite author, her books come up first on my shelves. This series is currently ongoing so I look forward to finishing it!

Wishing for the end: a 2026 release you are excited about

Game On by Navessa Allen

I have just read the second book in this series. While I did not enjoy it as much as the first book in the series, I still enjoyed my time with it. I'm curious to see if book three works better for me.

Long but satisfying: the longest book series you've read

The Wolf Mountain Ranchers series by Erin FitzGerald

I am not counting any of the series that I read as a kid and know I never finished (as some are still getting books added). As such, this series with 5 main books and a novella is the longest series I have finished as an adult.

Outro

Are you feeling cleaner? I know I am! If you are interested in doing this one, consider yourself tagged!

T10T: Book Titles The Feature Numbers

 

Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday, following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! I have to slightly bend the prompt, as I have listed every book I read featuring an ordinal number and that was only 4 books lol

This week's prompt is..... book titles that feature numbers

These are in no particular order

1. The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
2. The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
3. The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
4. The Second Wave by Krista Street
5. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
6. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
7. Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg
8. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
9. The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
10. Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Clearly I nee to prioritize more books with specifically ordinal numbers. I feel like they may be more common in the genres I do not read much of? I feel like I need to read a lot more books so I have more to talk about.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

I am happy to take suggestions for any books you know of that fit this category. At least I had 10 books with numbers. See you next week where I hope I'll struggle less!

FFAF: My Life in Books 2025

Intro

This is a fun bookish challenge that involves a number of life-milestone related prompts. I will see how many of these make sense versus are a bit of a stretch. I got the prompts from Secret Library Book Blog whose list can be found here. I also referenced Dini Panda Read's prompts which can be found here. Let's see how I do.

The Prompts and My Picks

In high school I was: Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

People might be surprised by: Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart "Brittlestar" Reynolds

I will never be: Secretly Yours by Stephanie Rose

My fantasy job is: Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong

At the end of a long day I need: Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

I hate: The Flirting Game by Lauren Blakely

I wish I had: A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard

My family reunions always make me wonder about: The Wages of Silence by Erin FitzGerald

At a party you'd find me with: Annie, Juliet, and the Great-Tailed Grackle by Sandra LJ

I've never been to: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

A happy day includes: Nights with Him by Lauren Blakely

A motto I live by: The Bad Boy Rule by Maren Moore

On my bucket list is: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

2025 was the year of: Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

In 2025 I wanted to be: Unapologetically ADHD by Pete D. Wright and Nikki Kinzer

In 2025 I was the: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

In 2025 I gained: Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton-George

In 2025 I lost: The Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely (this one is because I got engaged, not due to a break-up).

In 2025 I loved: Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia

In 2025 I learned: Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell

In 2025 I missed out on: The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas

In 2025 my family were: Will the Drama Ever End? by Karyl McBride

In 2026 I hope it will be: Runnin' No More by G.T. Dípè

Outro

This was a lot of fun! While most of the answers to these prompts are pretty truthful, there are a few that I just had to pick a book to fit the prompt and call it a day. I highly recommend giving challenges like this a go! I hope to do many more in 2026 as they are honestly my favorite kind of blog post. 

Top Five Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026

 Top 5 Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday, now following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! As always, I do a top 5 instead of a top 10 because I tend to struggle to find 10 books for prompts.

This week's prompt is..... most anticipated books releasing in the first half of 2026

These are in no particular order

1. All the Little Houses by May Cobb
2. Just Friends by Hayley Pham
3. In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
4. Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
5. It's Not Her by Mary Kubica

Unfortunately this does sort of spoil a but of my upcoming Can't Wait Wednesday posts, so try not to mind that. We can all pretend to be surprised when they come up! Other than Hayley, I have read and enjoyed at least one other book by these authors. Hopefully all of these will be great. Do we have any in common?

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

What are some you are looking forward to this year? I would love to gush together! See you next week!

 Top 5 Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2025

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday, now following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! As always, I do a top 5 instead of a top 10 because I tend to struggle to find 10 books for prompts.

This week's prompt is..... best books I read in 2025

These are in no particular order

1. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
2. Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy
3. The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford
4. The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
5. We All Fall Down by Erin FitzGerald

I took a break from these in December for my Indie Author Advent, which I really enjoyed. That said, I am very happy to be back to this fun little challenge. I had a lot of trouble picking my top 5 our of my 5-star reads so this is a smidge of a random pull from them. Just know there are a ton of honorable mentions I wish I could've included (which I could if I did top 10, but shhhhh, I do not normally have 10 picks for a prompt).

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

Again so happy to be back to this. What were some of your top reads you think I should give a try? Here's to many fun lists in 2026!

 Free For All Friday: Roll the Dice Challenge

Intro

I found the roll the dice challenge on Twirling Book Princess blog and put it in my back pocket for a rainy day. This is that rainy day.

If you would like to do this challenge, consider yourself tagged!

The Prompts

• Favorite standalone
• Favorite sequel
• Favorite trilogy
• Favorite four-word title
• Last 5-star read
• Six books I recommend

My Picks

Favorite Standalone

Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell

This is a beautiful and relatable poetry collection.

Favorite Sequel

Destructively Mine by Krista and Becca Ritchie

The first book in this series is one of my favorite books of all time. The sequel just gave me even more of what I have been desperately craving. I loved every moment and the new reveals. 

Favorite Trilogy

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Absolutely nobody should be surprised that books by my favorite author are on my list. I found this series to be a lot of fun. Is it technically longer than 3 books... maybe... but the core story is a trilogy, so shush.

Favorite Four-Word Title

We All Fall Down by Erin FitzGerald

While I cannot explain why, this title is absolutely perfect for this series and book in particular. I love its simplicity while simultaneously telling so much. Erin, you know I love you and your books so much! Y'all should support her!

Last Five-Star Read

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This book was exactly what I needed when I read it! It's quintessentially summer and a quick feel-good read.

Six Books I Recommend

Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn

The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Bridesmaid by Chance by Meghan Quinn

The Wiener Across the Way by Amy Award

Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

Outro

This was the absolute perfect and quick challenge! To my fellow bloggers, you should totally try it! I am also ecstatic that I was able to include all of my 5-star reads so far this year! It worked out so wonderfully.

Unfortunately, I have a super-long workday next Friday, so I won't be back then. That said, you can still catch me here earlier on that week!

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

Top 5 Tuesday: Beachy Reads

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday, now following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! I finally got my stuff together enough to follow the official prompts! 

This week's prompt is..... beachy reads

These are in no particular order

1. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
2. The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
3. Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
4. The Trouble with Love and Ink by Harriet Ashford
5. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Honorable mention to Beach Read by Emily Henry, but that felt like a way too obvious choice. Only One Golden Summer (a 5-star read) was read this year because, unfortunately, my reading this year has lacked that fantastic beachy reading vibe. This is something I really want to fix through the rest of this year. 

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

I'm sorry I've been very inconsistent about posting here. In truth, my personal life has been incredibly busy with travel, a new job, and a health scare. Things are all good now, but I am trying my best to adjust to my new normal. Hopefully, I will see you back here for another Top 5 Tuesday next week!