WPS Author Interview Day 2: Kai Jennex

 WPS Author Interview Day 2: Kai Jennex

Welcome to day 2 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Kai Jennex. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Kai's Book

• Cold Fire

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Yes, gender fluid, pansexual and demisexual."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"All of my books have representation. I only write MM romance, or MM+ romance."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Because I know what it's like to crave reading a story that you can see yourself in. There was nothing for so long, and when the dam finally broke and LGBTQ+ books became more numerous, I decided to publish some of my work and share it with others."

4. What got you into writing?

"I've been writing since I was in elementary. I struggle with it because of my ADHD and dyslexia, but working twice as hard to create my stories feels so rewarding that I can't stop. I needed a place to escape, and instead of daydreaming elaborate plots in my head, I started putting words to paper. There was nothing specific that started it, I just wanted a place to feel like I was home."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Ian Mckellen is always at the top of my list. He's so unapologetically himself that I find it inspiring."

WPS Author Interview Day 1: Xan van Rooyen

 WPS Author Interview Day 1: Xan van Rooyen

Welcome to day 1 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Xan van Rooyen. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandlpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Xan's Books

• Second Soul (releasing January 2026)
• Waypoint Seven
• Silver Helix
• My Name is Magic
• By the Blood of Rowans
• The Other Me
• I Heart Robot

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I don't love labels and if I had any choice I probably would use any to describe myself - I'm just me afterall, but I understand how helpful labels can be in letting others know who I am so I describe myself as nonbinary and bisexual (meaning that I'm attracted to more than one gender) but I'm also more demi-ace, and these days I find myself drawn more and more to 'autigender' as my experience of gender and autism seem inextricably entwined."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"All my books have LGBTQ+ characters in them. My most recent novels feature nonbinary protagonists with an array of queer side characters. My two new novels also both feature nonbinary main characters as well as various other queer side characters. It might be easier to say which of my characters aren't queer!"

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Because despite how hard certain politicians might want to erase queer people, we are here - we have always been here, and LGBTQ+ people should be seen and heard just like every other person. We should be able to read stories about all identities and their various intersections, and young readers especially deserve to read books where they can see themselves reflected in the pages."

4. What got you into writing?

"I've always been an avid reader and started telling stories before I could hold a pencil. I used to dictate them to my mom before I could write. I can't ever remember a time I wasn't reading or writing. I had a really wonderful English teacher in high school who encouraged me to take writing a bit more seriously, but it wasn't until I was at university studying music, that a friend introduced me to NaNoWriMo, which is when I actually managed to write my first novel."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and all the other trans people, especially the BIPOC trans community, who fought for queer rights during Stonewell and who have never stopped fighting despite the many layers of discrimination they face.  In particular, writers like bell hooks, Audre Lorde, and Octavia Butler are figures I look up to for their valuable work challenging the status quo through their work in education, activism, and fiction."

Free For All Friday: Spring Cleaning Book Tag

Free For All Friday: Spring Cleaning Book Tag

Intro

Hello loveslies! As the spring weather is coming to a close, what better time to finally complete a bit of bookish spring cleaning? Of course, this is just a book challenge. I actually managed my shelves not that long ago. I saw this tag on Dini Panda Reads' blog. Anyone who sees this is welcome to give the challenge a try! Let's get to cleaning!

The Prompts

• Getting started: A book series you've been wanting to read (Beartown)
• Cleaning/organizing closet: the best way to organize books (by author and series)
• Getting rid of unnecessary things: book/series you no longer need (Skink No SUrrender)
• Get some air: your favorite lighthearted read (Beg, Borrow, or Steal)
• Clean out the kitchen cupboards: your favorite food-themed read (Sweet on You (on a peach farm))
• Dust the shelves: the fifth book on your shelves (Unsteady by Peyton Corinne)
• Wishing for the end: a 2025 release you are excited about (Caught Up)
• Long but satisfying: the longest book series you've read (Wolf Mountain Ranchers)

My Picks and Explanations

Getting Started: I have really been wanting to try reading the Beartown series by Fredrik Backman. I've heard fantastic things about it, and I am a big hockey fan, so I think it would be totally up my alley!

Cleaning/organizing closet: I admit I don't have the best shelf organization due to very limited shelf space. That said, I always keep series and authors together. Otherwise, it is just based on what fits. 😬 Hopefully, in the future, I also have room to sort by genre.

Getting rid of unnecessary things: The only book on my shelves that I don't know if I would actually read is Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen. I used to love his book growing up. I had gotten this one and even started it, but never got the chance to finish it. 

Get some air: I had a bit of trouble deciding what book I've read recently that would actually be considered nearly entirely lighthearted. That is when I landed on Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams. I remember it being quite lighthearted and a fun read. If I am incorrect and forgot something notably heavy, my apologies.

Clean out the kitchen cupboards: There are very few food-themed books I've read, which feels like a fail on my end, and I will do my best to remedy this in the near future. That said, I did recently read a book set on a peach farm, so I think that counts. Right? That book is Sweet on You by Dani Galliaro.

Dust the shelves: After referencing my shelves, the fifth book on it is Unsteady by Peyton Corinne. Which I admit I saw in Barnes & Noble one day, and totally fell in love with the cover. Needless to say, I really want to read it when I have the time. It appears to not be too long. 

Wishing for the end: Admittedly, I have a whole series on my blog called Can't Wait Wednesday, so I had a lot of trouble deciding which I wanted to choose for this challenge. In the end, Caught Up by Navessa Allen won out. I cannot wait to experience more of her dark comedic writing later this year!

Long but satisfying: This prompt seems to really be made for the fantasy reader girlies, so this isn't really for me. I am also generally not a fan of super-long series, so the longest I could remember reading in recent memory was the Wolf Mountain Ranchers series by Erin FitzGerald. 

Outro

Well, lovelies, we have come to the end. Do you feel cleaner? I don't know if I would go that far, but I do feel productive, so that is worth something. I absolutely love doing book tags like this one, so if you discover any in the book blogging world, feel free to send them my way! I will see you all on Sunday for the start of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight interviews!

 Wonderland Pride Spotlight Lineup

Hello lovelies! Today, I'm here to share all of the authors involved in the Wonderland Pride Spotlight project this year! You will get to see interviews with them every single day of Pride! Thank you to everyone who is participating and giving this project love!

The Lineup

• Xan van Rooyen
• Kai Jennex
• Adrienne Lothy
• Any
• C.J. Tuma
• Kimm Topping
• Sonia Blue
• Paul Coccia
• Jo Morgan
• M.E. Samm
• G. L. Rueda
• Gabriel Hargrave
• R. Dawnraven
• Logan Sage Adams
• Rachel O’Rourke
• D.C. Emerson
• Rochelle Wolf
• A.E. Jensen
• Diahanna Aurora Hampton
• Kree Sullivan
• Lacey Ray
• Bree Wiley
• Dakota Jackson
• Marlon Yelich
• Rian Durant
• Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith (an author duo)
• Christopher Hartland
• Kelly Brocklehurst
• Heather Leighson
• Rayne Hawthorne
• Iris Retzlaff
• Ryan Hamshaw
• Alek L. Cristea

Outro

Isn't this lineup incredible? Each person listed here is an indie author who includes LGBTQ+ characters in their work. Many of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community themselves. See you this Pride month!

Free For All Friday: The Wonderland Pride Spotlight Project

 

Free For All Friday: The Wonderland Pride Spotlight Project

Discussing My Project

Over on Instagram, I'm starting a project called The Wonderland Pride Spotlight project. All of Pride month, different LGBTQ+ authors and authors who include rep will be featured each day. All of these authors were personally interviewed by me as part of the project. I will be including the full interviews on my blog each day (I apologize for the spam in advance).

The project is designed to showcase books with representation in hopes that it becomes more normalized. The real world has many queer people in it, the literary world should too. 

If anyone is interested in participating, just let me know! 

Behind the Scenes

The existing support for this project has been overwhelming! It is truly a wonderful feeling to see just how many people are as passionate as I am about using their platform to uplift marginalized voices. I am so very thankful for everyone who has given me the chance to make this project the success I'm hoping it will be!

Speaking to the authors has been nothing less than inspiring. To see why each and every one of them got into writing, why they find rep important, and what queer figures they look up to has truly been fascinating. I've found the entire experience surprisingly enlightening. The kindness and compassion they have expressed to me warms my heart. 

I'll admit, setting up this project has been a ton of work, but it is a labor of love to be sure! I've had to do a lot of speaking to strangers to make this happen, which was definitely a hurdle with my social anxiety. That said, I've done it and I'm massively proud of myself. 

This year, I've created a guide to help posters have all of the information they need in one place. My goal is to simplify everything related to the project for the participants. I assessed what went well and what didn't to make big changes from last year's version of the project. It was a lot to assemble, but I benefit from it as well. I still have to get to work on my own posts, but that is my plan for the rest of today. 

Here's to hoping the project runs smoothly come June! I've got to get back to work!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Till Summer Do Us Part

 

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Till Summer Do Us Part

Author: Meghan Quinn

Publisher: Bloom

Release Date: June 3rd

Blurb:

Scottie Price just started a new job, and it's a real sausage fest. She's the only woman on a team filled with Brads and Chads. Expecting a bachelor pad atmosphere, she is quickly corrected when she finds out everyone is happily married.

In an effort to impress her boss, Scottie mentions her nonexistent husband in a company meeting. But eagle-eyed Chad points out her lack of wedding ring. Panicked, Scottie creates a story about her unhappy marriage. Unfortunately for Scottie, her boss has a solution—a one-on-one session with the best marriage counselor in the Northeast, who happens to be her boss’s husband.

With no way out of her lie, Scottie agrees to see him. Frantic, she calls in help from her best friend, who sets her up with his brother, an improv-obsessed millionaire.

Enter Wilder Wells. More than happy to take on the job, he teaches Scottie the main rule of improv: always say yes. But the rule backfires during the session when Wilder signs them up for an eight-day summer marriage camp with all of Scottie’s co-workers, where she’ll have to share a cabin with her way-too-handsome fake husband.

Explanation:

I loved her book, Bridesmaid by Chance. You can see my thoughts on it here. I am so incredibly in the mood for a summery romance book. They are all such a vibe, and I am here for it! With the dreary weather I've had lately, I have to read about sunshine to make up for it.  Luckily for me, I have the ALC and so far I'm really loving it! Stay tuned for my thoughts on it.

 

Top 5 Tuesday: Books with Hearts on the Cover

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday! This week, I'm feeling the love, and what better way to celebrate than with hearts

This week's prompt is..... books with hearts on the cover

These are in no particular order

1. Wild Love by Elsie Sliver
2. The Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely
3. Punt in the Dark by Ariana St. Claire
4. The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford
5. Overturned by Lamar Giles

These are all books I've read in 2025. Admittedly, there may be some higher-rated books in previous years, but I try to keep my picks as recent as possible on here. These are all books I enjoyed and would recommend. 

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

I'm so happy I got a chance to get this up for you all this week. Yay me for pre-planning! I'll see you all next week for even more fun!

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. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Problematic Summer Romance

 

 Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Problematic Summer Romance

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 27th

Series: Not in Love

Blurb:

Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.

Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.

But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.

When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.

Explanation:

I have enjoyed all of Ali Hazelwood's releases to date, excluding Bride (I will not be reading that one because I know it is not at all for me). I am so incredibly ready for a summery romance story, and I know this one will fill that craving. I am also super excited to go back to the characters of Not in Love. It should be a fantastic read for me!

What new release are you hyped for?

Top 5 Tuesday: Reading Spots

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday! This week, I'm gonna talk about where I love to read

This week's prompt is..... reading spots

These are in order, for once

1. My bed
2. In a beach chair at the lake
3. In my headphones while on a walk
4. At my desk
5. Curled up in a corner with many pillows and a blanket

I like to be comfortable and love some pretty sights. What are your favorite reading spots?

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

I'm currently very wrapped up in planning my Wonderland Pride Project, so tbd on if there will be a blog post next week

Free For All Friday: The Folklore Book Tag

 

Free For All  Friday: The Folklore Book Tag

Intro

Hello lovelies! I'll admit, I'm not a huge Swiftie at this point. That's my sister. I liked her when she did country, but after that, I kept less track of her. In honor of my sister's love and how much I like this challenge's prompt, here is my take. 

If you are a Swiftie, how are my picks?

The Rules

• Link to the original creator: you can check her out here (she is no longer an active blogger, though)
• Tag at least 3 people.... well, the first three people to see this and want to do it... consider yourself tagged
• Declare the rules and list of prompts in your post
• Thank whoever tagged you and link to their post. I was "tagged" by Leslie at Books are the New Black, which you can check out here

The Songs and Their Prompts

• The 1: a book with an ending that left you speechless
• Cardigan: a book that makes you feel happy and sad all at once
• The Last Great American Dynasty: a book with a fascinating and extremely well-told story
• Exile: a book you wish you hadn't read
• My Tears Ricochet: a book that made you cry uncontrollably
• Mirror Ball: a book that feels like it was written just for you
• Seven: a childhood book that makes you feel nostalgic
• August: a book that reminds you of summer
• This is Me Trying: a book that deals with loneliness and sadness
• Illicit Affairs: a book that gave you a book hangover
• Invisible String: a book that came in your life at exactly the right time
• Mad Woman: a book with a female character you adore
• Epiphany: a book that is haunting
• Betty: a book couple that fills you with yearning
• Peace: a book character you'd die for because you love them so much
• Hoax: a book you thought you were going to love but didn't

My Picks and Explanations

The 1

Heartbreak Beach by Bailey Thomas

The ending of this one certainly left me speechless... but not in a good way. It took possibly the dumbest twist I've ever read. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but just know... I hated this book and do not recommend it. 

Cardigan

A Mark on My Soul by Jordon Greene

This one was a very endearing story initially. It then definitely made me cry by the end. I won't be explaining why (again to avoid spoilers). If you are looking for a queer story that will make you cry, I highly recommend. 

The Last Great American Dynasty

Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter

The way this book covers the impacts of social media in a thriller setting was truly fantastic. I loved how it flowed from thrilling to calmer moments. Seeing the current-day setting truly shape the book was incredibly fascinating.

Exile

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

This one was such a miss for me. I felt like the annoyingness and stupidity of the MC took away from the important message Kuang was trying to make. I ended up just annoyed by the end. I was better off sticking to just knowing this book from the reviews. (I know this one is super popular, but I am welcome to my opinion, as are all of you).

My Tears Ricochet

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I became wildly emotionally invested in this one and absolutely loved it. I absolutely bawled at the heartbreak and triumph at the end of it. (You guessed it, no elaborating to avoid spoilers). 

Mirror Ball

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Absolutely everything about this book (and the series as a whole) is perfect to me. When I first read it as a freshman in high school, I was super hooked. The way it blended psychology with a cast of interesting YA characters was peak for me. Unlike most people, who are the opposite, this book got me into Criminal Minds. 

Seven

Magic Treehouse #16: Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osbourne

This one was a true childhood favorite of mine in a series I collected and read as many as I could. I would find them at library book sales and see how large I could build my collection. I picked this one in the series in particular because it also plays into a special interest of mine: the Olympics. I've always been obsessed with it. (Yes, I know the ways it is problematic, it's part of my fascination).

August

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

Honestly, all of her books feel like the perfect embodiment of summer to me. I love all of them, but this one was my favorite. As a kid who would spend summer at a lake, it was the life experience I wish I had.

This is Me Trying

The Manicuist's Daughter by Susan Lieu

This book conveys familial and racial pressure quite well. She discusses how she always felt alone amongst her own people. 

Illicit Affairs

Destructively Mine by Krista and Becca Ritchie

I just finished this one, and honestly, all other books feel dull compared to it. As such, I am struggling to get through them. I highly recommend this series as I am truly obsessed with these characters. I will be UNWELL when this series ends. 

Invisible String

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

It was when I read this book that made it a 5-star for me, and a book I will never forget. I absolutely pictured one of the main characters as my neighbor, and my brain absolutely latched on to the concept. I was in the perfect mood for a thriller like it, and I'm so thankful I picked it up when I did. 

Mad Woman

Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

Lotte (the FMC) is so sweet, and I could totally see myself being best friends with her. She had really human flaws that made me love her even more. 

Epiphany

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

I don't read almost any "haunting" books, so I had to pull a childhood favorite. It has a ghost who haunts, so I think it counts. It was a book my mom introduced to me, which means it has a special place in my heart. 

Betty

Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kinkade

The couple in this one is oh so hot! I love them and their banter so much. I just find them so dynamic that they have me hooked. 

Peace

Will from Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

I'll admit, I don't really feel like I'd die for any book character, so I just picked one I like and would love to know in real life. Will takes time to come out of his shell, and that is always endearing to me. 

Hoax

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

It turns out I didn't even actually rate it. I felt so meh about the book, I couldn't even form enough of an opinion to give it a star rating. Everyone raves about Jimenez's writing, but it is mediocre to me. 

Conclusion

Woo boy, I have a feeling some of the picks I have here are gonna ruffle some feathers. As a friendly reminder, everyone is allowed to have their own book tastes and discuss what did and did not work for them. I had a lot of fun with this challenge, and it reminded me about a lot of books I haven't thought about in a hot minute. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Caught Up

 Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Caught Up

Author: Navessa Allen

Publisher: Zando – Slowburn

Release Date: June 10th, 2025

Series: Into Darkness

Blurb:

I wanted this woman, and I was a man who always got what he wanted.

Nico 'Junior' Trocci knows Lauren Marchetti is off limits. She is sweetness and laughter, whereas Junior exists in a world of violence and depravity. Men like him don't get to have women like her. It's why he pushed her away back in high school and has kept his distance ever since.

But when Junior looks Lauren up online, he discovers the shy, bookish girl he remembers is gone. In her place is a strikingly beautiful woman whose social media is filled with scantily clad pictures of herself and a connection to a nearby play club. Junior's innocent curiosity quickly turns into a dark obsession. But watching Lauren from a distance isn't enough; he needs to make her his.

He's ruthless; a walking red flag. Good thing red is my favorite color.

Lauren is intrigued by the mystery man who keeps showing up at her club, who tempts her white-hot desires. But as their flirty online messages stir up a deeper form of connection, Lauren worries she's developing real feelings for this brooding stranger. As their combined desire ratchets up to a breaking point, who will seduce who? And will they survive the fall?

Explanation:

I was absolutely obsessed with the audio for the first book in this series. It was so funny despite being a dark romance, so when I discovered a second one is coming out soon, you just know I have to pick it up! 

I hope that the audio for this one lives up to the wonderful and funny vibes of the first. I've totally been in the mood for Allen's type of humor lately, so this book can't come out soon enough! Based on what she has revealed about it on socials, it should be a wonderful time just like Lights Out.

See you next week for another exciting upcoming release!

 

Top 5 Tuesday: Non-Fiction Books

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday! This week, I wanted to dive into a genre I often don't appreciate enough

This week's prompt is..... non-fiction books

I have read all of these books this year. I might go back at the end of the year and see if my list changes at all. They are in order based on my star rating. 

1. Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death by Caitlin Doughty
2. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
3. Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
4. The Manicurist's Daughter by Susan Lieu
5. Good Lookin' Cookin': A Year of Meals - A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George

Can you tell I like Caitlin Doughty? She has a YouTube channel called Ask a Mortician. It's where I first discovered her and fell in love with her style of storytelling. If you don't mind learning about death, I highly recommend her books and videos.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

Hopefully, I'll see you back here next Tuesday!

Destructively Mine by Krista and Becca Ritchie Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Blurb

As the daughter of a con artist, Phoebe Graves only knew a life of swindling the rich until her best friend and fellow grifter, Hailey Tinrock, proposed an idea to start a new, honest life in a wealthy college town of Connecticut. Once there, they decided to leave behind their deceitful tricks and be truthful for once. But you know what they say about best intentions. . . .

While Phoebe is fake-dating Jake Waterford, the third-born son to an uber-wealthy and influential family, she’s actually dating and falling deeper in love with Brayden “Rocky” Tinrock—Hailey’s older brother. To make matters more complicated, Phoebe’s mother shows up out of the blue with conniving match-making designs of her own.

Her mother’s arrival threatens to unravel Phoebe’s plans. To keep her love, her friends, and her newfound happiness, Phoebe will have to return to her old games . . . and win.

Best Quote From the Book

“Like I'm an open book, when I feel like I've always lived untouched and lost on a dusty shelf. How long has he held the pages of who I am? How long has he loved each messy line? How long have I loved the pages of who he is?"

LGBTQ+ Representation

4/5 🌈

This book does contain bisexual and pansexual representation via the main characters. I like that it is just part of them and isn't made a big deal. I do wish it were a bit more impactful for their storylines, but other than that, zero complaints. 

My Thoughts

I am well and truly obsessed with this book and these characters. Which should come as no surprise if you are at all familiar with my review of the first book in the series. I was obsessed with them then, I'm still obsessed now. They are the perfect morally grey characters that have me totally rooting for them while still questioning their choices. This one is even more twisted than the first, with more exciting and dark characters added to the mix. I don't think it is possible to be more invested in a group of characters than I am with these guys. I will be very impatiently awaiting the third book in the series. 

There is a delicious amount of tension throughout this story. Both between Rocky and Phoebe and the stakes they are in. This is masterfully interwoven with funny moments to create an addictive story. It has me swooning, laughing, crying, and everything in between. Which is a testament to how much these characters mean to me. 

My only complaint is that this story included another "event that shall not be discussed and will only be referred to by the location it occurred." Thankfully, the suspense doesn't last nearly as long in this one. 

This book does contain spice that is well-intertwined with the plot. If that is not your thing, I do not recommend this book because it is a key part of the characterization. I will also say, this was some of the most respectful and communicative spice I've ever read. I wish this were the norm in books because it was legitimately healthy in that way.

Overall, it sums up to the fact that this book has left me an emotional wreck, and I'm thankful for it. If you are looking for morally grey characters you are gonna care about, I highly recommend this series. 

I received this book as an ARC from Valentine PR. My review is honest and voluntary.

Friday Free For All: Rory Gilmore's Reading List

 

 Friday Free For All: Rory Gilmore's Reading List

How Many I've Read and My Thoughts

Hello lovelies! Fancy seeing you here for another week. I recently started watching Gilmore Girls for the first time, and needless to say, I am OBSESSED! Rory and her reading habits have totally stolen my heart. Dedicated fans have kept track of every book she's read throughout the show. In this blog, I'll get into the ones I've read, my thoughts on the list, and general thoughts on reading lists like this one. 

I'm sure we are all shocked to know I haven't read all that many books from the list. I was a newborn when the show started, and her reading taste is mainly before that. This is a judgment-free zone. If you want to check out the list and see how we compare, you can check it out here. 

I shall list out the ones I've read and some very brief thoughts

• 1984 by George Orwell (a must-read for everyone, especially in the current world situation)
• Candide by Voltaire (I was desperately waiting for this one to be over. Candide (the character) pissed me off at various moments)
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (another must-read, given the censorship currently occurring)
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (I actually enjoyed this one; we had to write poems inspired by the story for my English class in high school)
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (my absolute favorite classic. What can I say, I like reading about rich people making poor decisions)
• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (this one was so graphic but also so important for its time)
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding (I don't think I could've hated this book more. It grossed me out. The movie is worse)
• Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (I actually read this one at the request of my partner, while not my vibe, it was inspiring)
• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (we acted this one out in English class, I enjoyed it, but I had way too many parts to focus on any parts of the story that weren't mine)
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (another favorite classic of mine, it has truly stuck with me)
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (you'll be shocked to know I've read this one. It totally didn't inspire the name for my bookish persona at all...)
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (an iconic book that made my childhood. The movie is also adorable. 
• Eloise at the Plaza by Kay Thompson (Eloise is an icon that I aspire to be)
• Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol (my stepdad loved this series and passed on the excitement to me. While not my favorite children's mystery series, it is nice)
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett (I have to question who hasn't read this story, and the million adaptations of it)
• Horton Hears A Who! by Dr. Seuss (I feel like I recall enjoying the movie for this one. I read every Seuss book I had access to a million times as a kid. Unfortunately, the author isn't a great person)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (a Christmas classic my family reads (and watches) almost every December)
• Nancy Drew and the Witch Tree Symbol by Carolyn Keene (this was the mystery series my mother loved a lot. I read a lot of them as she had the whole collection)
• Stuart Little by E.B. White (the only children's story on her list I didn't love. I think I thought it was lame as a kid)
• Night by Elie Wiesel (I cannot convey enough how much this one made me sob. It's real and horrifying, and while set in the past, is starting to look like our future)
• Beowulf (I read this, but don't remember it at all)
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare (one of many of his plays I read)
• Macbeth by William Shakespeare (a classic for a reason)
• The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare (it was absolute chaos trying to read this aloud in class)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare (my favorite of his plays)
• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (we all know it, only some love it)

For almost all of these being notably older than me and not being a big classics fan, I feel I did quite well. 26 out of... well... many... I'm proud of myself. I also saw a few on my TBR, such as A Picture of Dorian Grey, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Middlesex. I don't think I'll be making a challenge of reading the whole list, but I hope to use it as inspiration.

Obviously, my main "issue" with the list is that there are none of the modern books I've read and loved. That is due to the show ending in 2007. I'd be very curious to see what books were on here if Rory were reading in 2025. I have to admire that the list is shockingly varied. Every genre is represented, and many of the books that are notable to the zeitgeist at the time are on the list. 

Most of the books on this list (apart from the children's books) were read as part of my school education. I'm actually pretty pleased by this because it shows that my education was making us read important books. A lot of these stories gave me perspectives about the world I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. While there were some I didn't love, they were still worth reading to expand my horizons. 

Lists like this are a blessing and a curse. They can introduce you to new stories and remind you of old favorites. That said, they can also literally shame, or feel like shame, people for not reading the books on the list. This list has 399 books on it. I've read 6% of that. I've barely scratched the surface. While I don't necessarily feel this in this case, there are a lot of lists that feel like they are mocking you for not having the elite reading from reading every book on the list (looking at you, Goodreads). So it really depends on the list on whether I feel animosity for it. Overall, this was a fun list, and I hope to check back in with it in a few years to see if I've read anything else on it. 

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!

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Greatest of These

 

 Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... The Greatest of These

(sadly, I only have the ARC cover, so just know that banner will not be on the normal cover)

Author: Erin FitzGerald

Publisher: Erin FitzGerald

Release Date: May 6th

Series: Colson Creek

Blurb:

After twenty-four years of marriage, I'm starting over. A colorless condo and a cat I never wanted, an empty existence that reminds me of everything I've lost. Work keeps me tethered to reality, but it's the distance from my teenage boys that haunts me the most. Agreeing to keep a custody agreement out of the courts is a decision I regret every day, especially now, as I haven’t seen them in almost a year.

Enter Charlize Campbell.

She’s the last distraction I need, one my boys encourage. A tiny blonde with a mouth like a trucker, and a lifetime of hard-earned strength to back it up. I've known her family for years, but I’ve never truly seen her.

Until now.

The pull between us is undeniable. But when strange, menacing signs begin to appear, I can’t ignore the gut feeling that someone wants her gone—and I'm the only one who seems to take the threat seriously. The deeper I get into her world, the clearer it becomes: she’s tangled up in a dangerous turf war that could cost her everything. 

Explanation:

How can I not be super excited for the upcoming release of a best friend of mine? I was her reader first and became fast friends after many wonderful conversations! Truly, she's one of the sweetest people ever. Sadly, this is not another blog just worshipping her, so I digress. 

This series's first book was the wonderful feeling that I've come to know and love from Erin. I just know this one will be no exception. This series makes me laugh, smile, cry, and everything in between. If you are looking for a hard-hitting romance where the characters will end up with a permanent residence in your heart, this one will exceed that expectation!

I am also super excited to have the chance to read another beautiful story, I know will be at absolute minimum a 4-star read. Her work really is a comfort experience for me, so it's always super exciting when she blesses us with more! I also know you are reading this, Erin, so hello, I love you, and never stop writing my favorite books, please and thank you! 💙

See you next week for another Can't Wait Wednesday! (with a book I don't have the ARC for, I promise)

Sister Buddy Read: Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

 Sister Buddy Read

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

Hello lovelies! My sister and I decided to do a buddy read of a graphic novel that was up both of our alleys! It was a ton of fun, and each of us wrote a mini review for the story.

Keep in mind my sister is only 12, and the book is age-appropriate for her. If you'd like to see us do more buddy reads on occasion, I'd love to make it happen!

Luna's Review

I love this book so much! I think that it is perfect for young readers who love a good adventurous graphic novel. As a scout myself, I love how the title is the motto "Be Prepared" for Scouting America. I'm not sure if this is on purpose or not. There are so many funny scenes in this book, too! Some of them had me cackling for days! Another thing I really like about this book is some of the scenes are very relatable.  The first time I went to scout camp, I was very nervous too! But just as the main character did in the book, I got over my fears and worries, too! This book is simply just amazing, and I think that a lot of you would like it too!

My Review

This was a fun middle-grade graphic novel heavily rooted in a true story. It was interesting to see a first-hand perspective of a Russian scouting camp in the US. It was a fascinating blend of a true story with embellishments. If you are a scout or know a scout, I highly recommend it. It's an easy and quick read.

I especially loved the beautifully limited color palette. The limited tones added to the cohesion of the story and gave the book an even more foresty vibe. I'd be happy to pick up another graphic novel in a similar style. 

I had a fantastic time buddy reading this book with Luna and would love to do more of this in the future. If you have any recommendations for us to read I am happy to hear them!

Friday Free For All: Magical Readathon Spring 2025

 Friday Free For All: Magical Readathon Spring 2025

How This Readathon Went for Me

Hello lovelies! Welcome to my first Friday Free For All. I made this series as basically a chance to ramble more about books and all things bookish that don't necessarily align with the content I am already doing. In this week's case, I wanna talk about the Magical Readathon created by G aka Book Roast. This is a fantasy-themed DND style readathon where you create a character and take "classes" that are completed by reading books that align with the prompts for the readathon. 

This year, G created an additional incentive for people to log the books they've read for the readathon, which seems to be working quite well. As "students" at Orillium Academy (the fake school for the readathon. As the participants reach more pages read milestones, dragons are unlocked! These dragons are all very unique, and your characters get to keep one at the end of the readathon. As of now, all of the milestones have been reached, but we are waiting on the final dragon reveal!

I completed all of my reading prompts for my calling (major) a week in advance of the end of the readathon. I am a Mind Mender. The classes I had to take are as follows: 

• Alchemy (all capitals in a book title)
• Spells and Incantiations (word from your last book title)
• Psionics and Divinations (book with witches or the occult)
• Restoration (book with a 4+ star average rating)
• Demonology (book with a missing person)

For alchemy, I chose All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow. Turns out this book was a miss for me, and I ended up giving it 2.5 stars.

For spells and incantations, I chose How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang, which I liked a lot better, and I gave it 4.5 stars. 

For psionics and divination, I choose Three Tainted Teas by Lynn Cahoon. Witchy books will never be my thing, so I gave it 3 stars. 

For restoration, I chose Punt in the Dark by Ariana St. Claire. It was a nice, quick read I gave 4.25 stars. 

Lastly, for demonology, I chose Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter. I was able to read this one entirely during the kick-off reading spirits and had a fantastic time. I gave it 4.5 stars. 

Overall, my actual ratings were a mixed bag, and that's okay. Readathons like this one get me out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing! I plan to do more readathons to keep up the fun and inspiration to branch out. In fact, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement about a readathon I want to create for June! I always go big for Pride, and this year is no exception. 

See you next Friday for more surprise ramblings!

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