The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Fake dating

➮ Professor x student (not in a class)

➮ STEM romance

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

➮ BIPOC FMC

Synopsis

Olive doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships–but her best friend does. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. Like any biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor. Olive is floored when Stanford’s reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep a secret and be her fake boyfriend. When a science conference goes haywire, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding abs. Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Best Quote From the Book

“I'm starting to wonder if this is what being in love is. Being okay with ripping yourself to shreds, so the other person can stay whole."

LGBTQ+ Representation

5/5 🌈

Two notable side characters end up in a gay relationship. Said relationship is totally accepted and even celebrated. While minor, their representation is very positive. In addition, Olive considers herself demisexual. This part of her identity is explored within the story and shapes her view on romance. 

My Thoughts

This is my first dive into Ali Hazelwood's books and I can say with passion that I was not disappointed. This book wonderfully balances comedy, science, and romance in such a way that kept me entranced from beginning to end. 

Hazelwood does an excellent job of covering the challenges involved with being a BIPOC woman in science. Olive struggles to be taken seriously and constantly has to prove herself worthy of being in the field with many white older men. This book provides the depth of day-to-day challenges that help make the representation worthwhile and rewarding. This book is excellent at the concept of being a mirror for some and a window for others. (If you have not heard of this concept let me know and I will gladly explain it in more detail).

The tension Hazelwood is able to create feels palpable. I truly adored the moments when Olive and Adam were forced together. Their passion and chemistry (pun intended) worked so well. By the end, they became a functioning couple with communication and all. Seeing the moments where Anh encourages them to act lovey-dovey was incredibly hilarious. Particularly the sunscreen scene (I seriously almost listened to that one twice). 

Every character in this book was fantastically written. From best friends to the antagonist, they all contributed to the plot and entertainment value of the story. I wish I could've seen even more of them and how their presence and meddling impacted things for the fake couple.  

The one area I thought was lacking was more of Adam's feelings. At first, he was not particularly expressive so it was hard to get a read on how he felt. There is a lot of getting to know Adam with everything except for how he feels about things. 

This book had way more actual plot than I was expecting. As I was listening to the audiobook I kept assuming I must be near the end because so much had already happened but no. There was more! I love that Olive and Adam had to really go through some trials and tribulations to get to the point where they knew they needed to address everything.  

One of my favorite parts was the great roasting of Tom by all of the characters. I found myself quite literally laughing and fist-pumping because all of it was so well-deserved. I won't dive into why he is so unlikeable but trust me, he absolutely is!

This book does contain open-door spice. That said, it can be skipped without missing anything particularly important to the plot. 

Overall, this is one of the top romances in my eyes. While not quite at the level of giving me that 5-star feeling, I highly highly recommend it. All of the characters are fantastic and there is so much plot for readers to immerse themselves in. It is also genuinely funny a lot of the time which adds to the appeal!

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuinston Review

 

3/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ LGBTQ+ rep

➮ Romantic mystery

➮ Miscommunication

➮ Childhood friends to lovers (not the FMCs)

Synopsis

Chloe is close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she spent four years dodging gossipy classmates at Willowgrove Christian Academy. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler. A month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes. On a hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith and Rory. Thrown into an unlikely alliance, Chloe suspects there might be more to this small town than she thought.

Best Quote From the Book

“Shame is a way of life here. It’s stocked in the vending machines, stuck like gum under the desks. Spoken in morning devotionals. She knows now that there’s a bit of it in her. It was an easy choice not to go back in the closet when she got here, but if she’d grown up here, she might never have come out at all. She might be a completely different person."

LGBTQ+ Representation

5/5 🌈

This book has a large variety of LGBTQ+ rep in it. For all of the characters being in a Christian school, I was surprised with how many people were chill with the LGBTQ+ community. Some of the representations include lesbian, nonbinary, genderqueer, gay, and bisexual. All of these attributes heavily shape the characters and their actions within the story. This book does a great job showing both the inherent community amongst LGBTQ+ people and the varying scope that people are comfortable and safe to come out. 

My Thoughts

I will be honest, my reading experience with this story wasn't great. I have seen a lot of mixed reviews of this book over the years and I think said reviews are warranted. A lot of my not-so-great feelings are because I could barely stand both of the FMCs. There is also just no worthy plot. The entire book could've been one page of Shara just communicated. I will try to keep my commentary for this review constructive and not just a rant. 

The entirety of this book's plot is centered around finding Shara who ran away and is now leaving clues. If this happened to me in real life, I am not going on such a wild goose chase, whether she kissed me and dipped or not. Chloe has zero real reason to put up with this massive tomfoolery from Shara and yet she does. It seems at some points the reader is supposed to feel bad for Shara. I am not sorry that I will never feel bad for a spoiled rich girl throwing a tantrum. 

The whole book reads quite stereotypical. There are mean homophobic jocks, many of the queer kids have dyed hair, the pastor's daughter is a disappointment, etc. This aspect of it takes away from the message and diminishes the unique elements of the book. A girl going missing of her own accord could've been transformed into a greater mystery with more depth and important discussions about mental health. 

The only characters I liked in this book were the two primary side characters. Watching them interact and see their strained relationship morph into a budding romance should've just had a book of its own and cut the girls out entirely. I will also say Chloe's moms are lovely and deserve a shoutout for the maturity they bring in an attempt to share the story. 

Overall, while I did stick around to finish the story, I would not suggest others do the same. The entire premise is purely ridiculous and the FMCs are barely tolerable. I want a rewrite of this book that focuses on Smith and Rory.

When in Rome by Sarah Adams Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Mental health rep (depression)

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Found family

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

Amelia, aka Rae Rose, is burned out from years of maintaining her "princess of pop" image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome... Kentucky. When Noah finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn't have time or patience for celebrity problems. He's running the pie shop his grandmother left him. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room. Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose, kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. Soon she'll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she's been missing, and she'll help him open his heart. Amelia can't resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.

Best Quote From the Book

“I think we'll get hurt a lot in this life, but maybe it's worth it because sometimes we will experience really amazing things, too. Maybe not everything will end in hurt. But we'll never know if we don't try."

My Thoughts

I will be honest, I don't have a ton to say for this one beyond expressing that I really enjoyed it. I loved Noah and Amelia, especially when they were together. All of the side characters were amazing. Particularly the nosy neighbors and Noah's even nosier sisters. Mabel in particular is so funny. My mom and I listened to this story together and found ourselves giggling at her commentary and meddling multiple times. They all fit so well together naturally. You could tell Rome is a small town where the love and protection run deep. 

I think what kept this book from being a 5-star was that Noah's perspective didn't seem that realistic. It didn't feel like it was a guy talking. Not to be promoting gender norms but it really felt like both perspectives were written with a similar way of thinking and receiving the world which doesn't fit two characters who are clearly very different. Particularly the high level of detail Noah uses to describe Amelia's appearance at many points. If he was so wrapped up in his feelings, he wouldn't be overanalyzing her makeup or sweater especially given he is a guy who claims to not care about any of that.

Every other character and aspect of this story felt realistic. Of course, Amelia is going to be burnt out and in a rut. Of course, his sisters are going to want in on every detail of his love life. It all just fits so well together. 

Noah has officially landed himself on my book-boyfriend list. He is so adorable and you gotta love a man who cares deeply about his choice of sleepwear (if you know, you know). He also loves to bake and read so we would get along swimmingly.  His bluntness was often quite amusing to witness and added exponentially to his charm.

This book only has closed-door intimacy. 

Overall I really loved this story for its characters and interconnectedness. If Noah's POV was more realistic, it would've been perfect. I highly recommend this book to all romance fans and cannot wait to dive into book two!

Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

3.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Neighbors to lovers

➮ Slice-of-life

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Instalove

Synopsis

When Laura Costello moves to LA to escape her overprotective family and the memories of an accident, she doesn’t expect to be homeless after a week. She also doesn’t expect to find herself adopted by a rogue bookseller, installed in a lovely but completely illegal boardinghouse, or challenged to save a losing trivia team… but that’s what happens. Add a regretful landlady, a gorgeous housemate, and an ex-boyfriend determined to put himself back in the running and you’ll see why Laura is so frazzled. Luckily for her, her new friends Nina, Polly, and Bob aren’t sure either, but maybe if they put their heads (and hearts) together they’ll be able to make it work.

Best Quote From the Book

“Someone once told me that anxiety lives in the unknown future, depression lives in the unforgettable past, and peace lives in acceptance of the present moment"

LGBTQ+ Representation

3.75/5 🌈

Every single character in the book is incredibly chill about people being LGBTQ+. Polly in particular is incredibly supportive of anyone and will ask about your sexuality and not just assume. It was refreshing to see a group of potentially straight people just be such open allies.

My Thoughts

This book feels like it truly does not know what genre it wants to be in. Most of the book honestly just feels like general fiction, a slice-of-life type story. Then it shifts back and forth to being a romance story. It is too much romance to be a subplot but not enough to really feel like a romance story. For some reason, this ambiguity really diminished my reading experience. I have seen this book described as chick-lit lit which is the best term I've seen to describe it so far.

The best part of this book was the Winnie the Pooh reference. For context, I absolutely adore Winnie the Pooh. Any moment it is so much as alluded to makes my heart very happy. It got at least a bonus quarter-star just for that. (Another example of my ratings being highly subjective). 

My favorite character in this story is Polly. She is just a hoot! I love her eclectic vibe and overall calm nature. She adds some much-needed kookiness to the story. I wish I could befriend her myself!

The family drama in this book feels quite generic. I would've loved to see some element of it to make this book more unique. Laura acts like her relationship with her parents is incredibly stilted and full of bad memories. Honestly, it just seemed like they were poor communicators. That said, it is very realistic for that reason. It is a delicate balance between uniqueness and realism.

I found myself getting frustrated when it was incredibly obvious Laura and Bob fancied each other. Neither of them was willing to make a move or even outwardly convey their feelings to the other. The plot couldn't propel forward because the characters did not have the guts to say anything. 

Overall, this story was quite cute. The side characters are what drew me in and made me want to keep reading. The romance elements and the story as a whole just didn't hit.

Puck Money by Dani Galliaro Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.25/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Hockey romance

➮ Workplace romance

➮ Friends with benefits

➮ LGBTQ+ rep

➮ Spicy lessons

Synopsis

You can be at the top of your game with no game? Nick Oberbeck is the young star goalie for the LA Princes. With money and prestige, he should be able to get anyone he wants. Why can’t the golden boy seem to make the connections he craves? Nick’s path collides with golden girl Annie Markham when they’re both at their friends’ wedding. Lucky for him, Annie’s fresh off a heartbreak involving a coworker. Nick tries his best to bag Annie and succeeds... kind of. They go their separate ways until Annie has a work opportunity in LA: an opportunity to be Nick’s sports agent. Neither of them wants to repeat their mistakes, but Nick asks Annie for a big favor. The catch? No one can know.

Best Quote From the Book

“I was so taken by the beauty of both your scars and your resilience"

LGBTQ+ Representation

5/5 🌈

Both MCs are LGBTQ+. This is discussed in earnest and heavily impacts their characters. Nick has to handle the struggle of being a pansexual hockey player. As a result, he keeps his identity hidden. There is still a lot of discrimination towards LGBTQ+ people in sports so it is often not safe to openly come out without risking your career. He also discusses how his parents had different reactions to him coming out. This book discusses the importance of relationships where a person is supportive of you but still doesn't really understand your identity. There are lots of people in that situation so it is amazing to see it represented with literature.

Annie identifies as bisexual. These experiences with people of various gender identities have shaped who she is today and how she approaches potential relationships. She is generally more open than Nick due to being in a safer situation but she does discuss the struggles of being unsure if/when to mention your identity when meeting new people while being out as a general concept. 

My Thoughts

At first, I truly did not like Annie's character. She continued to stay in a relationship with a married man even after discovering he was married. It was then a struggle to root for her for the first quarter of the book. After that, I started to like her a lot more and that aspect of her character became less irritating. 

I loved the little Scarlett Letter reference. It was the perfect little nod. Not too overt or forced but enough to be widely recognizable. 

These days I am really a sucker for any books at least partially set at a wedding. I'm not sure what it is about that setting that is so appealing right now to me but this book definitely hit the spot. Their blunder of a hookup at the wedding was quite funny and is what got me to start liking the characters more. 

Nick is one of the most pure characters I have seen in a spicy book. He well and truly had no idea how to please a woman and it somehow added to his charm. He was also a FANTASTIC babysitter which was heartwarming to see. Truly Nick is just so much better than Annie. He is such a simp for her I love it! He would change the rotation of the Earth for her if she asked. 

This book is very spicy. It is the plot, not just a big part, it is honestly most of the plot. No, this book is not erotica. If you are not comfortable with a healthy portion of open-door spice, this is not the book for you. I will say I was very happy the spice elements did not read in a pornographic way and truly developed the characters. 

If anything, I feel like this book could've been trimmed down a bit to be shorter. I'm not sure what exactly contributed to the slightly dragged-down feeling. It just felt like I was constantly wanting to fast-forward to the next plot point I suppose. 

A few of the dates Annie and Nick went on were so cute. Such as the Venice Beach-themed date or when they bonded over books. The moments they actually let themselves act like a couple flowed very well. 

Overall, this book was enjoyable if you like a spicy read that isn't dark. The hockey elements came into play at some points. I would've loved to see it be a tad bit shorter and to give Annie a redemption arc earlier on in the story. 

I received this book as an arc through Happily Booked PR. My review is honest and voluntary.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Mental and physical health rep (OCD, celiac, dyslexia, autism)

➮ BIPOC rep

➮ Curvy FMC

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Ex-best friend

➮ LGBTQ+ rep

Synopsis

Bradley Graeme is a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine. Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Her followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption. These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. When Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad. Forced to work as a team, these two teens trudge through their messy past. This adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship? 

Best Quote From the Book

“Even if neither of us ever did anything interesting in our entire lives, it wouldn’t matter. You don’t need to be special or significant to have value. You’re just important, always, and people either see that or they don’t. They either love you, or they don’t."

LGBTQ+ Representation

5/5 🌈

Bradley identifies as bisexual. This is positively represented and all characters are supported. It is not overly focused on but does impact him as a character.

My Thoughts

You name any kind of representation category and this book has it. BIPOC rep, LGBTQ+ rep, mental health rep, and more! I love how Hibbert wanted to have a truly diverse cast of characters. Thankfully this representation didn't feel like an obligation or something to earn brownie points with underrepresented communities. 

I love the chemistry between Bradley and Celine. It is so legitimately funny. I was laughing out loud at work multiple times while listening to it. Particularly the scene in which they are having a full-blown conversation with a tree. It really just spoke to their characters. Hibbert does an excellent job blending comedic moments with more serious moments. 

Celine and Bradley have a dynamic with justifiable depth. It makes sense why there is some discomfort they share and a level of awkwardness. With things getting so twisted in their past, they both have a chip on their shoulders. They actually work through it and learn how to effectively communicate with each other. It provides a good example of how people can discuss and work through things to build an encouraging relationship. 

Bradley is one of the most genuinely supportive characters I have read about. He wants the world for Celine and it is so sweet to see. He is also shaping up to be an excellent communicator. He is a high contender for a good book boyfriend. He is actually healthy and pulls his weight in their relationship in every form it takes. 

I liked seeing them have to go through challenges together during the survival course. It was clearly a long-established program. The one thing I felt was missing from the story was more about the history of the program. If it is really so important and illustrious, that should be tapped into. 

Overall this was a cute and clean romance and lots of comedy. I want to give Hibbert all of the awards for fantastic representation and naturally flawed characters. I have already recommended this book to a few people, and I stand by this recommendation. 

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Mean girl

➮ Sports (tennis)

➮ Unlikable MC

Synopsis

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. By the time she retires, she is the best player in the world. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. If you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach. Six years after her retirement, Carrie sits in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan. At 37, Carrie decides to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the 'Battle-Axe' and her body doesn't move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. 

Best Quote From the Book

“Grief is like a deep, dark hole. It calls like a siren: Come to me, lose yourself here. And you fight it and you fight it and you fight it, but when you finally do succumb and jump down into it, you can’t quite believe how deep it is. It feels as if this is how you will live for the rest of your life, falling. Terrified and devastated, until you yourself die.

But that is the mirage.

That is grief’s dizzying spell.

The fall isn’t never-ending. It does have a ground floor.

Today, I cry for so long that I finally feel the floor under my feet. I find the bottom. And while I know the hole will be there forever, at least for now, I feel as if I can live inside it. I have learned its boundaries and its edges."

LGBTQ+ Representation

4/5 🌈

The representation in this book is centered on the rival in the modern era of the story. Nikki Chan is a lesbian. This is mostly kept a secret from the world but the representation is positive and adds to the character and doesn't just feel like token representation.

My Thoughts

I want to start off this review by sharing that I got to enjoy this story as an audiobook alongside my mother. We both loved the story and found it highly engaging. Being able to listen along with her made it even more precious to me. 

Even without detailed tennis knowledge, I found myself able to follow the story. You can tell Reid did her research about the sport before writing. It was really a lot of show not tell in terms of how the game works in terms of specific rules and scoring. I appreciated this as someone who doesn't regularly watch tennis but understands the fundamentals of how to play it. I will be honest, at first I didn't think I would be interested in reading a book about a self-centered tennis player, but I was so wrong. If you are hesitant about the tennis, try the book anyways. 

My first experience with Reid's writing was with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This story was a very different experience but the storytelling prowess was the same. Both stories have so much emotional depth with their characters. I really enjoyed feeling their pain and triumphs throughout their lives. Reid excels at making readers invested in a character's life story. I wanted to watch Carrie win every match. I rooted for her to get back up and try again after a loss. I truly felt like a fan of hers. I cannot wait to enjoy even more of her writing in the future.

I appreciate how this book is a great example of a healthy father-daughter relationship. While daddy issues are relatable for many, it doesn't need to be in every book. 

One of the things that stood out to my mother the most was the plentiful life lessons. We can all learn a lot from Carrie's life. Carrie's father in particular was chock full of great advice. If I ever get a physical copy I will reread this story and highlight all of his advice. 

While it was pretty obvious that a certain plot point was going to happen. I still cried when it did. If you've read the book, you know what I am talking about. Otherwise, just prepare tissues for the last 10% or so. Even now over a month after I read the book, I am still depressed about it. My sadness is slightly dragging down my rating because my stars are always based purely on my enjoyment of the story. 

The narration of the story highly benefitted from having multiple narrators. The value of the audiobook was incredibly high quality. Particularly during the radio/TV broadcast segments felt real, with the production and all. It truly added to the immersion of the story.

In sum, this story is so solid and engaging from beginning to end. It excels at showing what happens instead of just telling it. Despite Carrie being a bit abrasive, I was still rooting for her to succeed at every turn. Our favorite character by far was her father. His advice touched us both and really felt like good dad advice. If I am going to recommend a book to someone who doesn't have a specific taste (or even those who do), I would recommend this one. 

Fake Dating and Matchmaking 101 by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Frenemies to lovers

➮ Brother's best friend

➮ Second chance

➮ Fake dating

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

Fake dating my frenemy to save a wedding? Not my most brilliant scheme because now I’m starting to want real kisses instead of fake. My brother’s best friend, Cole, has always been majorly annoying. He’s my opposite in every way, and we’re better at bickering than getting along. So, it’s super awkward when we have to fake date at a couples' yoga retreat. It’s the only plan I can come up with to save my brother’s wedding. Cole and I get on each other’s nerves and now we’re forced to do couples’ activities for hours a day! He can’t wait until the charade is over. When we rescue a baby goat together, I see his softer side. Add fake kisses to the mix, and I’m basically seeing stars. This insane chemistry is a fluke… right? He asked me out over a decade ago, and that was a total disaster. Should we give this a second shot? 

Best Quote From the Book

“Even out here in the middle of nowhere, with the sun sinking lower each passing minute, I feel completely safe."

My Thoughts

I loved the little feature of Gemma in a podcast episode. It reminded me of my time reading Game, Set, Matchmaker. This little nod is just the right level of callback to show that the books are set in the same universe but the characters do not have to know each other personally. It is a nice thing to see done right. 

I truly cannot believe I am reading another book prominently featuring yurts in such a short time period. The Trouble with Love and Ink also includes yurts as a major propellant of the plot. Are they trendier than I realize? Dear reader, have you ever heard of a yurt? 

The best part of this book by far is the goat. This adorable creature is named Blue. In the same way he snuck into all of the characters' hearts, he snuck into mine. Blue is a large part of the many funny moments in this book. A baby goat can cause a surprising amount of comical hijinks. This is my official petition for more authors to include baby goats in their work. 

I really like how the characters are written about in this book. Oliva is a curvy girl full of determination. Cole is much more reserved and is much less in tune with his feelings. Each of them has notable flaws that help add realism to the story. They aren't just perfect cookie-cutter characters. These flaws are a major component and are not ignored throughout the story. They also help ground both of them as they have to tackle their flaws head-on. 

I love how even though Cole is not the best communicator, he demonstrates his feelings through actions. He goes totally above and beyond for Oliva and Blue. I will not give specifics to avoid spoilers, but let's just say we would all be lucky to have a Cole take an interest in us. 

The one thing I thought was really missing was Oliva's brother Trent's reaction to them getting together officially and admitting their feelings. There is a lot of hype up throughout the book about his obliviousness for it not to be resolved. The perfect time to reveal it all is cut short and the book proceeds to the epilogue. I would've also adored to see Blue's further hijinks at the wedding as the ring bearer. Evie, girl, you held out on us which I am upset by. 

Overall if you are looking for a clean romance with a cute goat and characters with flaws, this is definitely a book to check out. I would've loved a few more moments described above but even without them, the story is endearing. 

I received this book as an arc and am part of the haylingsbookstorm street team for Evie Sterling. My review is honest and voluntary

April 2024 Reads

  April 2024 Reads 

This month I read 12 books 

These books were 100% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and sports

My average rating was 4.48 stars

The Books

➽ Love on the Scottish Spring Isle by Beatrice Bradshaw

➽ Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

➽ Number Thirty-Two by Cassie Steward

➽ The Trouble with Love and Ink by Harriet Ashford

➽ Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

➽ So Not My Mr. Wright by Evie Sterling

➽ Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman

➽ When in Rome by Sarah Adams

➽ The Karate Mouse by Geronimo Stilton

➽ Something Gained by Erin Fitzgerald

➽ Frisky Collections Volume 1: Frisky & Queer by Michelle Mars

➽ Puck Like a Girl by Wynter Ryan

Something Gained by Erin Fitzgerald Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Age gap

➮ Friends to lovers

➮ Single mom

➮ Reverse grumpy x sunshine

➮ Cinnamon roll MMC

Synopsis

My plans and dreams have been put aside in favor of survival. The cowboy who finds me walking home offers me a ride and food. He has demons of his own, stating he doesn't expect repayment as he understands the struggle. When my son and I are in danger, Jacob provides us shelter. Both of us are hiding dark pasts. After a lifetime of feeling like I'm not enough, the thought of not being enough for him scares me the most.

Best Quote From the Book

“With a little effort, I could pour all the anger, mistrust, and hurt into the snow to leave behind."

My Thoughts

The magic is back! I love the callbacks to the characters in the previous books. They still give Mark flack for how protective he is of Lana which was well-deserved. Both Jacob and Emily go to Ashley for therapy which is cute and very fitting. Fitzgerald is excellent and weaving the stories of characters together without making an overly complicated web. Not everyone has to know everyone incredibly well and she does this perfectly! That said, I would've loved to see at least a little cameo from Travis, not just Ashley.

I loved the character of an ass-grabbing old lady so much. There were truly moments where her boldness made me chuckle. She is one of a few side characters that bring a little bit of light to a much heavier story. Their inclusion is much needed. 

I will say, Erin... I hate you a little for killing off the cutie horse. That poor baby did nothing to deserve that pain and suffering. At least it actually propelled the story forward and gave Jacob the push he needed to confront his feelings. 

This story is absolutely filled to the brim with heartbreak and teary-eyed moments. I definitely sobbed more than a few times with all they went through. The trauma was so authentic. I am unbelievably amazed at Fitzgerald's ability to express raw and deep emotion through her storytelling. The way they had to work through it all and the setbacks they endured are very reflective of the real lives of people who went through challenging times. Fitzgerald creates characters with deep deep trauma and then actually makes them put in the work to grow and move on towards happiness. There is no fast-forwarding through Jacob and Emily's respective traumas, they confront it for the long term. 

By the end, I was incredibly happy for Emily's son Riley. He went through so much so young and he came out at the end all the better. The bond he creates with Jacob is so heart-warming and gave me the warm fuzzies. I really appreciate how while Emily is a single mom, she isn't desperate or trying to fling her responsibilities onto someone else. Riley isn't just a character that is there to be there. He gives depth and significance to the bond between Emily and Jacob. 

This book has some open-door spice. It does contribute to the plot and how the characters are growing. That said, it can probably be skipped without missing all too much. 

Overall this was another incredible cowboy romance. The characters and depth of the story are by far the best aspects. I loved the cameos from the characters in the earlier books. I highly advise looking at the trigger warnings before reading this book because there are many that can be very raw and deep for those with similar experiences. 

I received this book as an arc and am part of the author's arc team. My review is honest and voluntary

So Not My Mr. Wright by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.25/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Professor x student

➮ Age gap

➮ Fake dating

Synopsis

Fake-dating my hunky professor was not part of my story. He’s an older single dad. I vowed that for once, I’d become the heroine of my own fairytale. I drove my hot neighbor’s classic Cadillac into a cement barrier. It was accidental, but Micah didn’t agree. To avoid jail, I agreed to play his girlfriend while his family’s in town. That sounded harmless until I arrived at my neuroscience class and he was the teacher. Now I’m stuck in a faux relationship with my professor. I spend my days getting butterflies during his office hours, swooning over his cooking abilities, and feeling protective of his adorable son. A relationship between us is strictly forbidden by school rules. I feel guilty riding in his car, let alone sipping merlot with him. When flirting leads to kisses, we both know the situation is dangerous

Best Quote From the Book

“'You stormed the castle on the hill.' 'Stormed might not be the right word. With the shape that old car is in, it was more like I puttered up the road and hoped to reach the castle without having to hitchhike.'"

My Thoughts

This book was a very solid and sweet romance with some taboo elements. It is completely clean and wholesome. Evie Sterling is a master at creating sweet clean romances and this book is no exception. It is funny, authentic, gratifying, and very easy to read. The shorter nature of this book made it fly by easily. 

For the most part, their 16-year age gap shockingly didn't bother me that much. That said, when they were confronted with the consequences of their choices, the age gap and their professor-student relationship did feel a bit uncomfortable. They claim to be people who are trying to go about this ethically but barely consider that their power dynamic is not at all balanced and never will be. 

This book has amazing and adorable autistic representation through Micah's son. Sebastian is on the high-functioning end of the spectrum but never once does the book push away his autistic traits. Micah always wants to do his best for his son and make him as comfortable and accommodating as he can. It also portrays how people can have very different reactions to a child with autism and how that can lead to some very complicated and murky relationships. Having a brutally honest autistic character like Sebastian also propelled the story quite well. He was completely truthful about what he saw and felt which helped bring things to light for Clare and Micah. I loved this positive and realistic but not forceful example of autistic rep. I love seeing more and more books that include neurodivergent representation without expecting brownie points for it.

They hit their stride as a fake couple almost seamlessly. I loved seeing them play house together and just, fit. They naturally played well into each other's lives and stories. Especially with Sebastian in the mix, they got along quite well. The trust they built and how they meshed together was so sweet to see. 

I feel like their story didn't hit quite the way I wanted it to because the repercussions were shockingly minimal in the long run. People who would care suddenly and conveniently didn't care anymore. They didn't have to struggle with the taboo of their relationship for all that long at all. It was just boom, it's all okay, happily ever after. There was a lot of rising action and conflict with no crescendo. 

Overall if you are looking for a cute and sweet age-gap romance book with a cute kid, this is the book for you. I would've loved a bit more from the conflict inherent in the story. Even so, the characters and funny moments easily make up for it

I received this book as part of a haylingsbookstorm arc and street team. My review is honest and voluntary

The Trouble With Love and Ink by Harriet Ashford Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Fake dating

➮ Slow burn

➮ Office romance

Synopsis

Emily Lane was supposed to be on vacation but is instead meeting a new hire who steals the position meant for her. Needing an escape, Emily takes on her sister's calligraphy company, which fits her skills quite well. The only caveat to this arrangement is that she has to pretend to be her sister. This was all going well until she discovered her client's brother was Beckett Atteridge, the office promotion thief. He will keep her identity secret on one condition: she is his fake date at the wedding in Costa Rica. As lines are blurred between real and fake, the vacation will either become as escape or a heartbreak. 

Best Quote From the Book

“But when [my pen] finally connected with the page, that's when the magic happened. Heavy strokes going down followed by the lightest of up strokes. It reminded me of  following music in choir. Every downstroke belted a proud fortissimo, and every upstroke sang a delicate, hushed pianissimo."

LGBTQ+ Representation

3/5 🌈

While not at all prominent in the story, there is a small mention of a gay couple amongst the bridal party. They are portrayed as very fun and kind. Everyone is totally chill and accepting of it. 

My Thoughts

I am shocked with how I genuinely have nothing negative to say about this book. There is always at least one thing I can critique in all of my reviews. That will not be happening here. This book is absolutely wonderful from cover to cover. 

From literally the second page, I was completely hooked on the story. It was nearly impossible to put down, I took every stolen minute to read the book, even standing in line at the store. For a debut novel, this book blew it out of the water completely! 

Ashford's writing style is naturally very witty. At times that can end up being rather grating, but not here. It just feels very natural and easily funny. There were so many moments I was legitimately laughing at this book. I kind of felt like a teenage schoolgirl giggling and kicking my feet at their dynamic and romance. There is one funny moment that involves aggressively floating that I want to shout out as a moment to look out for. The humor was exactly the kind I like with lots of inside jokes and references to each other. 

Both Emily and Beck are such endearing characters. Emily and I have a passion for calligraphy and letting. Having that in common with the FMC just added even more value to the story. I will also give a lot of love to Beck for his character design, meaningful tattoos, and casual elegance. We all have to appreciate a man who knows how to dress well and doesn't make a huge deal out of it. 

Ashford gives a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle nods to her home state of Texas. This includes Buc-ee's among other Texas staples. I admire how she puts herself into her book without literally just basing the FMC entirely on herself. It can be a difficult balance to incorporate special author's touches without making it overly personal. Especially for a debut novel, this line was totally respected.

I will note this book has a few spicy scenes, they are open-door. Don't bother skipping them; they add so much to the plot and give another peek into the characters. If you are uncomfortable with any spice, this book is one to skip. 

I am absolutely ecstatic that this book has a nearly non-ruined vacation. They don't have to run away entirely due to tragedy. They actually communicate and address things as they come up in a very supportive way. 

This was an absolutely smashing debut novel. This was the easiest 5-star I've given in years. Zero complaints. Go, run, and preorder this book so that you experience the magic and humor that is Emily and Beck. This hidden gem deserves to become a bestseller ASAP!

I received this book as part of a haylingsbookstorm arc team. My review is honest and voluntary

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

2.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Black and grey morality

➮ Book about books

➮ Unreliable narrator

Synopsis

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars, but Athena’s a literary darling, and June didn’t get a paperback release. When June witnesses Athena’s death, she acts on impulse and she steals Athena’s experimental novel about the contributions of Chinese laborers to the British and French war efforts during WWI. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song including an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this story deserve to be told, whoever the teller is? June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, but evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. 

Best Quote From the Book

“Reading lets us live in someone else’s shoes. Literature builds bridges; it makes our world larger, not smaller."

LGBTQ+ Representation

2/5 🌈

Athena is referred to as vaguely queer. I want to iterate that this is a completely valid identity and does not take away from the LGBTQ+ community so no negativity is needed. I would've loved to see this aspect of her character come into play more throughout the story. 

My Thoughts

This book is the cornerstone of the unreliable narrator trope. June is incredibly delusional and cannot be trusted. As the story progresses, she goes further and further off the deep end. It got to the point I could hardly stand to finish the book. June is just so insufferable the important message of the book just falls by the wayside as I was blinded by my distaste for her character. I acknowledge that June is not supposed to be likable, but rarely do I feel prickly about and character and June hit that mark. 

This book takes a powerful stance in terms of the state of the literary world and the inherent racism within it. I admire Kuang's strength it took to express such a bold viewpoint. That said, it did feel like Kuang made this book overly personal. It morphed into a misguided perspective on racism in the form of self-insert fanfiction. A lot of the criticism of Kuang's other works is thrown into the narrative of this one. 

I went into this book as blindly as I could given this book's popularity. In a way, I wish I hadn't. This book would've had more value to me if while reading it I was taking it as more of a literary commentary instead of a narrative. My perspective while reading definitely negatively impacted my rating of the book because my ratings are based almost purely on my enjoyment while reading. 

Overall, if this book lost its last portion where June becomes insane in her delusions to the point of neuroticism, this story would be a lot easier to get through and still get the message. I highly respect this book for its commentary aspects, especially in terms of what would slide in the publishing industry as it stands today. I recommend reading it for those involved in the publishing industry or highly interested in it. If that is not you, the annoyance you will feel while reading is not worth the hype.