Can't Wait Wednesday: The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... The Storm

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Series: n/a

Blurb:

St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.

When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.

As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…

Explanation:

I really enjoyed her other book The Villa. I have not read any other thrillers where I think there would actually be some value to read it again in the future knowing the ending. That alone has solidified her as an author I am happy to give another try. 

It has the book writing element that The Villa has as well. I know she has mastered that concept so seeing it in another context is fascinating. It also provides me with another opportunity to read a book set in the past which is pretty rare for me.

I received this book as an ALC so I should be reviewing it pretty soon!

 Top 5 Tuesday: Authors I Am Thankful For

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

This week's prompt is..... authors I am thankful for

These are in no particular order

1. Harriet Ashford
2. Erin FitzGerald
3. Jennifer Lynn Barnes
4. Bindi Kennedy
5. Dani Galliaro

Happy Thanksgiving season to those who celebrate! While I am against the holiday in terms of its heavily falsified history, I do like that it encourages people practice gratitude. As such, I'm expressing gratitude for authors I love. Most of these are people I now consider friends. The only exception is Jennifer Lynn Barnes who I do not know personally. She is on this list because her books got me back into reading for fun in high school. If I hadn't picked up The Naturals my freshman year, I would probably not be writing this blog post right now. 

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

I am looking forward to all of the family time this time of year lends itself to. Crazy that the next time I do this list it will be December aka my birthday month! Does anyone have any fun ideas of what I could do for it?

 Free For All Friday: My Picks for the Goodreads Choice Awards Round 1

Intro

Am I sharing a Friday post on a Tuesday? Yes, yes I am. I wanted to post this last Friday but honestly needed more time to brew my thoughts so here it is now.

It is once again that time of year for book awards. The one where I can actually have a say in is the Goodreads choice awards! While I am not a huge fan of the ethics and morals of Goodreads, it is a must for supporting indie authors. I'll share my deeper thoughts at the end. Let's dive into my picks!

The Categories

• Fiction
• Historical fiction
• Mystery & thriller
• Romance
• Romantasy
• Fantasy
• Science fiction
• Horror
• Debut novel
• Audiobook
• Young adult fantasy and sci-fi
• Young adult fiction
• Nonfiction
• Memoir
• History & biography

My Picks and Explanations

Fiction: The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

I have not read any of the books in this category yet but multiple are on my TBR. I decided to pick the book that included representation I found important. In the time of unhealthy beauty standards, a cover with a "chubby" girl on it says and lot and says what I want to see more of.

Historical Fiction: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Another category where I have not yet picked any up. I decided to pick the book I have seen the most of my fellow bookish friends enjoy. When this one came out, I saw a ton of praise for it. 

Mystery & Thriller: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

I read this one and had a good time with it. Sutanto writes a comedic mystery better than most. Every book of his I have picked up I enjoyed. This one was no exception. You can find my complete review of it here.

Romance: Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn

Unsurprisingly, this is the category I struggled the most with picking a book for. I love many of these authors and their stories. I ended up picking a 5-star read of mine which is a contender for my top of the year! I highly recommend it and you can see my review here.

Romantasy: Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Admittedly, this is a genre I flat out do not read. I do not like fantasy and do not have opinions on it. That said, there are multiple authors here who are awful human beings that deserve way less popularity. As such, I decided to choose Ali Hazelwood's book as I do like other books she has written (her STEM romances specifically).

Fantasy: King Sorrow by Joe Hill

This one is written by Stephen King's son. While King is not a great person, from what I know his son is okay. I do not read fantasy at all so again no strong opinions. That said, I actually did just received this book so that is why I picked it. If you like incredibly chunky books, this may be for you.

Science Fiction: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

You may not have guessed this, but I also do not really read sci-fi. (I promise I read a variety of genres, just not these last few). The only one of these books I am familiar with is by an author I have learned has said hateful rhetoric so I will not be supporting that. As such, I truly just picked a book with an interesting cover. I also just discovered it is published by a creator I enjoy which makes this even more exciting!

Horror: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

I am only now dipping my toes into horror. I do not like scary things and am a total scaredy cat, so be patient with me for any horror reviews. I picked the book by the only author I have read from before. I enjoyed Bury Your Gays by him, at least as much as I will ever enjoy true horror. You can find my review for that here. 

Debut Novel: The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill

Somehow I have not heard of a single book in this entire category. Not once... There have been so many fantastic debut releases this year, but nope, these feel truly random. As such, I closed my eyes and picked one. Let me know if there are any good books in this category that I should give my love to!

Audiobook: Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver

I had a couple of potentials for this category but decided to go for the author whom I loved the most books for. I loved her Ruinous Love trilogy. You can find my review for the second of these here.

Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

I haven't read any of the books in this category. I picked the book that a few of my best friends quite enjoyed. As they don't use bookish social media, I feel like this vote is for them. 

Young Adult Fiction: Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This one was a super easy choice to make. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is my favorite author ever. My only auto-buy author as someone who spends almost nothing on books. Anything I can do to support her, I gladly will. 

Nonfiction: Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

I have not picked up any of the books in this category yet, but I have heard fantastic things from loved ones about this and have it on my TBR. I used to read his fiction books when I was younger. 

Memoir: 107 Days by Kamala Harris

I've been reading more memoirs this year, of people I find fascinating. I like to audiobook them while being productive. As a proud Kamala voter, you know I had to pick this one up. (If you are Trumpie, get the actual fuck off my blog, there is no space for your disgusting views here). 

History & Biography: Sisters in Science by Olivia Campbell

I am not much of a history reader, that is my father's thing really. I picked the one that sounded the most fascinating that is also clearly feminist-coded. 

The Problems

Goodreads is an Amazon created platform. As such, it is incredibly capitalist-coded and is the most mainstream book review platform. The authors and books nominated are very clearly based on who Amazon wants to promote.

I wish there were way more POC, queer, and disabled nominees. It's very white-washed and cishet unfortunately. The diversity of the world and books released in 2025 is not at all reflected well in these nominations. I am genuinely outraged by it, but simultaneously not at all surprised given Goodreads' history. 

Outro

We made it! There were a lot of categories that I was going in blind for. If you have any recs for those categories, I am happy to vote for them in the coming rounds! Are any of our picks the same? How do you feel about the lack of diversity in this opening round?

 Top 5 Tuesday: Modern Books I Think Will Become Classics

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

This week's prompt is..... modern books I think will become classics

These are in no particular order

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
5. Becoming by Michelle Obama

I have a terrible radar for classics so these are all honestly shots in the dark. I have read The Hate U Give, which was a very important story. I absolutely adore Becoming so this one is honestly just aspirational. I feel like The Hunger Games is the only pick I am confident about. It is relevant enough to the zeitgeist for me to believe in it becoming a classic of today. Do you agree with my picks? Why or why not?

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

In terms of personal updates, I can share that my Indie Author Advent is in the works and shaping up to be a lot of fun! I'm super excited for all it will offer in December!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Better Not Pout by Maren Moore

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Better Not Pout

Author: Maren Moore

Publisher: self-published

Release Date: November 14th

Series: n/a

Blurb:

She’s the vintage candy store owner who writes a letter to Santa asking for her dream man for Christmas...

He's the grump, retired hockey player who moves in next door and opens a bar.

Explanation:

I am a HUGE fan of Maren's writing so admittedly I am hyped every single time she releases something. She also has aesthetics on lock. Being on her street team is such a fun time.

Her holiday novella from last year, The Christmas List (you can find my review here) was such a fun time. Maren is a pro at mixing sugar and spice, quite literally. Having another one to dive into has me tremendously excited! I have just started it and am already so so in love!

Top 5 Tuesday: Books I Enjoyed Outside of My Comfort Zone

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

This week's prompt is..... books I enjoyed outside of my comfort zone

These are in order with most recently read first

1. My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich
2. Meant to Burn by Shae Ruby
3. You Too?: 25 Voices Share Their #MeToo Stories by Janet Gurtler
4. The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
5. Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death by Caitlin Doughty

For the most part, all of these are in one genre I am comfortable in, and one (or more) that I am just starting to dip into. This blend makes them less intimidating to pick up an give a chance. I'm proud of myself so far this year with how much I have given various genres a try. Hopefully I can keep it going in 2026! What genres are outside of your comfort zone?

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

This past week has been so relaxing and healing. Being able to actually get a decent night's sleep definitely helps. I've been bale to read a lot more and am becoming a content machine due to my upcoming Indie Author Advent. I'll see you again tomorrow for some gushing!

 Indie Author Advent 2025 FAQ

Thank you for your interest in my indie author advent leading up to 2026! I am so excited to spotlight some of the indie book releases of the year before the new year begins!

What is the Indie Author Advent?

The Indie Author Advent is my excuse to feature 2025 indie releases in a cute and fun way. People love the surprise of an Advent calendar, and a book rec is always welcome in the bookish space. 

Does this cost money?

It is totally free to participate. The only "cost" is a bit of your time to fill out the form and do the interview if you signed up for it.

Is this related to Christmas?

It is not related to any holiday. It is simply a countdown to the new year. The only reason it has the advent component is to emphasize the reveal and it feels like a prize each day to get a new rec.

How does it work?

Every day (or every other, depending on sign-ups), I will feature an indie author and their 2025 release[s]. They will be featured here on my blog, my Instagram, and my Bluesky. 

The posts will tag the author (if they are on that platform), include their cover images, showcase how to purchase your releases, hype the rep in the book[s] (if applicable), and my blog post will include a short interview if that author signed up for that. 

TDLR: It is a fun, themed way of getting free promo for indie authors

How do I sign up?

Fill out the Google form with your author information and keep an eye out for an email from me (readintowonderland@yahoo.com) if you are selected. 

When does the event run?

It is from December 1st to December 31st!

What do you need from authors?

I need all of the responses to the questions in the Google form, along with highly quality cover images of all of your 2025 releases.

If you signed up for a brief author interview, I will send those questions to you via email.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Yule Be Mine

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Yule Be Mine

Author: Piper Rayne

Publisher: Piper Rayne Inc.

Release Date: November 13th, 2025

Series: n/a

Blurb:

When workaholic best man Carter arrives in Mistletoe Falls for his best friends’ Christmas wedding, a town-wide Santa Festival and a misplaced motel reservation leave him with one option—beg the woman he once rejected for a room at her bed-and-breakfast. Unfortunately, that woman also happens to be the bride’s sister…and the maid of honor.

To make matters worse, the bride and groom are delayed, turning Ashley and Carter into last-minute wedding planners, forced into a truce neither of them wants. But late-night checklists, a blizzard of holiday activities, and a charming small town turn their snark into sparks.

When they get snowed in and every near-kiss feels dangerously close to something real, Carter realizes there’s more to December than year-end deadlines.

As their truce melts, one question remains—is this a holiday fling, or the start of forever?

Explanation:

I recently got accepted for the ARC for this one and am totally in the mood for all of the holiday romances! Right now, holiday novellas are all I desire. This one sounds both cute and funny. As you all know, I am also a huge fan of wedding settings in books. You should see my thoughts on this one on review platforms soon!

 Top 5 Tuesday: Books Randomly Picked from My Shelf

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

This week's prompt is..... books randomly picked from my shelf

All of these will be pulled from one of my TBR shelves. As such, I cannot share my thoughts on them. Let's see what I find!

These are truly in a random order this time.

1. Bookish People by Susan Coll
2. In It to Win It by Sharon C. Cooper
3. Too Wild to Tame by Tessa Bailey
4. The Handsome Girl and Her Beautiful Boy by Henry Holt
5. What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey

To pick these, I found my TBR shelf in this house (not my main home at the moment) and used a random number generator. There's some fiction, romance, and I think some suspense. The variety that is hopefully ahead of me is quite fun! Who knows when I'll get to these, so don't get your hopes too high for reviews soon 🤣

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic

Have you read any of these? Happy to say I've had the opportunity to spend my time with family, which is healing in and of itself. I also now have a bit more time to read, which I am ecstatic about. See you tomorrow for some gushing!

 Free For All Friday: 10 Before the End

Intro

As this year comes to a close, I wanted to recap the books I still hope to read before the end of the year. That is where "10 before the end" comes along. It is a trend that encourages us to make a TBR with a new year's due date. Can you believe there are only 2 months left in 2025?

A lot of these I am currently in the middle of. A couple are ARCS. I am hoping I end up loving every one. Let's get into them!

My Picks

1. Merry Little Kissmas by Lauren Blakely
2. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
4. The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy by Clara Törnvall
5. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
6. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
7. My Roommate from Hell by Cale Dietrich
8. Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel
9. Dolls of Our Lives by Mary Mahoney and Allison Horrocks
10. Yule be Mine by Piper Rayne

Outro

I have a nice variety of reads in my future (assuming I actually get to these.) I am hyped for each and every one. Have you read any of these? If not, what is on your ten before the end? I will see you again next week!

Can't Wait Wednesday: My Roommate From Hell

 

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... My Roommate From Hell

Author: Cale Dietrich

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Release Date: November 11th, 2025

Series: n/a

Blurb:

Owen is not going to college to have fun. Nothing is going to stop him from achieving his goals: study hard, get a good job, and set himself up for the rest of his life. The last thing he needs is to have a loud, obnoxious, and infuriatingly hot roommate. Especially since said roommate just so happens to be the prince of hell.

Prince Zarmenus has come to Point University for the first-ever Earth/hell exchange program, and he's determined to make the most of it. Which may or may not include wild parties, bringing in random boys to his and Owen's room, and accidentally setting Owen's furniture on fire. Sparks fly (literally) as Owen and Zar clash, but Zar's actions threaten to not only ruin Owen's peaceful college life but demon-human relations as well. To clean up his image, he asks Owen to be his fake boyfriend and teach him how to be a better human in exchange for an internship that will secure Owen’s future. That, and Zar will consider being a better roommate.

A deal is struck, and the two start pretending to be in a relationship where they each have agendas of their own. Only Owen has a secret―dating his mortal enemy, even if it’s fake, is the most fun he's ever had.

Charming and fun, My Roommate from Hell is a rom-com with a magical twist. Think just one bed, but that bed is in hell, surrounded by fire and brimstone.

Explanation:

I have the ARC for this one, and it seems like a fun and funny time. It is a smidge outside of my comfort zone, which is honestly exactly what I am looking for at the moment. The fun and twsited blurb alone has sold me.

Top 5 Tuesday: Halloween Reads

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

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

These are actually in order by my favorites this time

1. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
2. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
3. Meant to Burn by Shae Ruby
4. Summoned by Shae Ruby
5. Three Tainted Teas by Lynn Cahoon

I will be truly frank here... these are the only books I have read as an adult that could at all count for Halloween. Spooky and/or paranormal generally are not my vibe. Neither is fantasy as a whole. Some of these are my current reads, but some of these are completed. I am really scraping the bottom of the barrel, but I wanted to participate a bit in being seasonal. 

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

My day-to-day has been a major struggle. I have also struggled to get much reading done amongst everything else on my mind. That said, being here and talking about books... this is the most coherent I have felt all week. So even with my personal life trying to blow up, I will be here getting my slice of happiness with my bookish friends. I hope all of you are having more peace. See you tomorrow!

 Free For All Friday: Did I Read It? Popular Romance Releases of 2024

Intro

This is my first-ever edition of Did I Read It. Where I will break down a list of Popular book releases in 2024 by month. I'll let you know if I read it and my rating, if I DNFed it, or if it is on my TBR. 

This emoji means read ✅

This emoji means DNFed 💀

This emoji means TBR 😁

January

• Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat
• Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker
• Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen 😁
• Thoroughly Pucked by Lauren Blakely 😁
• Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan
• The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky 😁 (physically owned)
• Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday 😁 (physically owned)

February

• Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey 😁
• Bride by Ali Hazelwood
• When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein 😁
• The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn 😁
• The Catch by Amy Lea
• Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy 😁

March

• Expiration Dates By Rebecca Serle 💀
• This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan 😁
• If You Hate Me by Helena Hunting
• Happily Never After by Lynn Painter 😁
• The Almost Romantic by Lauren Blakely 😁
• Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

April

• Bridesmaid for Hire by Megan Quinn 😁
• The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
• Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang  ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Wild Love by Elsie Silver ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings 😁
• Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh
• Funny Story by Emily Henry ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• King of Sloth by Ana Huang

May

• This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• My Not So Perfect Summer by Phoebe MacLeod
• You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian 😁
• Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
• The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The One I Left Behind by Piper Rayne 😁
• The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 😁

June

• Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• Daydream by Hannah Grace ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake
• Triple Sec by TJ Alexander 😁
• All My Kisses For You by Monica Murphy
• Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center ✅ (⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The P*ssy Next Door by Amy Award ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy
• One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin 💀
• The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson
• Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher 😁
• A Thousand Broken Pieces by Tillie Cole
• Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath 😁
• A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)

July

• Dishonestly Yours by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) BEST BOOK OF 2024
• Body Check by Elle Kennedy 😁
• The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
• The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin ✅ (⭐⭐⭐)
• The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez
• Until Next Summer by Ali Brady 😁
• Play Along by Liz Tomforde 😁
• Business Casual by B.K. Borison
• The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey 😁
• The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce 😁
• Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto 😁 (physically owned)
• A Thousand Broken Pieces by Tillie Cole
• Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
• The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

August

• The Pairing by Casey McQuiston 😁
• The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart
• The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava 😁
• Worst in Show by Anna E. Collins
• The Bonus by T.L. Swan
• Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly ✅  (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord ✅  (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn 😁
• Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
• Cash by Jessica Peterson
• Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer 😁
• The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

September

• Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb
• Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver 😁
• You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane 
• Caribbean Crush by R.S. Grey 😁
• The Royals Upstairs by Karina Halle
• The One I Didn’t See Coming by Piper Rayne
• Hex and Hexability by Kate Johnson
• All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow ✅ (⭐⭐✨)
• My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine
• Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan
• A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
• Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen 😁

October

• Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter 😁
• Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
• One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
• The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay
• The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch 😁
• Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot 😁
• Mistletoe Season by Sheila Robert, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham
• Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner
• Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon
• The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy
• How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn 😁
• Love & Lattes by Beth Reekles

November

• Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage 😁
• Mistletoe Mischief by Codi Hall
• Hexed by Emily McIntire ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley
• Pickleballers by Ilana Long 😁
• Merry Kissmas by Piper Rayne 😁
• Variation by Rebecca Yarros (FUCK HER)
• The Mirror by Nora Roberts
• The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

December

• Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson 😁
• PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly
• The Mistletoe Mix-Up by Codi Hall 😁

Can't Wait Wednesday: Get Over It, April Evans

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Get Over It, April Evans

Author: Ashley Herring Blake

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: February 3rd, 2026

Series: Clover Lake #2

Blurb:

April Evans’ life is in shambles. She’s had to close her tattoo shop in Clover Lake and she’s subletting her house just to make rent. And her love life? Nonexistent ever since Elena, her ex-fiancée, left her for a younger woman three years ago. When she is asked to teach a summer art class at the town’s new resort called Cloverwild, April jumps at the opportunity, especially since the job comes with boarding. She’s sure that this is the silver lining she needs . . . until she meets her Daphne Love, the woman who stole her ex-fiancée. And even worse, it’s clear Daphne has no idea who April is.

Daphne Love is cursed in, well, love. She thought she’d found the unconditional love she craved in her girlfriend, Elena, but now she’s single again and utterly brokenhearted. When her friend hooks her up with a summer gig as an art instructor at a swanky resort in New Hampshire, Daphne feels optimistic for once. If only she had a roommate and coworker who didn’t seem to hate her on sight.

Their already-tense relationship gets even shakier when April and Daphne find themselves competing for a rare opportunity to showcase their art in a London museum. But slowly, barriers begin to fall, and an inexplicable allure keeps drawing them closer, leaving them to wonder if the perfect picture they’re looking for can only be painted with each other.

Explanation:

I am always down for a queer romance, and honestly need to read more of them! Seeing this kind of representation is so essential, especially with all of the attempts at censoring. The summery vibe is also totally up my alley. The most fun part of me is that I am actually doing a blog tour for this book! When it releases, it will get a lovely feature here on my blog! I am hoping to crack open this one soon to have a lovely time with it. 

Have you read a book with queer rep recently? I would love to hear all about it. What book are you hyped up for today?

 Top 5 Tuesday: Cozy Reads

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

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

These are in no particular order

1. In Love's Key, Reprised by Guri Nojiro
2. Ringtail Bedtime by Sandra LJ
3. Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell
4. The Lion in the Library by Amy Award
5. Sweet on You by Dani Galliaro

There is quite the variety of reading reccomendations here so there should be something here for every reader. From poetry, to manga, to romance, to children's, everything that I read that could be called cozy is here. I do not read fantasy so for cozy fantasty recs you should check the recs of others.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

Oh gosh things in my personal life are an utter mess not gonna lie. A lot of big changes and depressing things, but books are my happy place through this all. Thank you for sticking with me and see you tomorrow for some gushing!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Half-Light Harbor

 Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Half-Light Harbor

Author: Samantha Young

Publisher: Samantha Young

Release Date: October 23rd, 2025

Series: Scottish Isles

Blurb:

I went to Scotland looking for answers about my past. The last thing I expected was getting trapped on a private island with my stoic, brooding, gorgeous contractor.

Ramsay McRae is a man with secrets. He prefers the company of his dog to people and silence to any semblance of politeness. He says I’m too young, too sweet, too innocent.

Only he doesn’t know the truth. That I’m haunted by a crime that tore my life apart two years ago. I’ve come to Half-Light Harbor not just to start over, but to bring the monster who killed my parents to justice.

The last thing I need is a tortured Scot distracting me from my mission. But when his restraint snaps and my walls crumble, the results are explosive.

We say it’s only a no-strings-attached affair. A temporary moment to burn out this fire between us.

However, when my search for the truth brings danger to my door, it’s Ramsay stepping in to protect me. But it might be the secrets from his past that tear us apart forever…

Explanation:

I am a huge fan of Young's books. Her blend of romance and comedy is practically perfect and oh-so-entertaining. No joke, her banter is my absolute favorite. Now that she is starting a new series, I am so hyped for it! It should be a fantastic read. I have the ARC, so stay tuned to see my review for it!

 Top 5 Tuesday: Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time 

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

This week's prompt is..... books I wish I could read again for the first time

These are in no particular order

1. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
2. How to Keep House While Drowning by K.C. Davis
3. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
4. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
5. You Will Get Through This Night by Daniel Howell

All of these books are my 5-star reads that have left an impact on me to this day. I would love to get the magical feeling from them again. What is somethin you would love to read again for the first time?

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

Look at me here again for another week! Go me! I liked how easy this prompt was honestly. It was nice to recall all of these wonderful stories again and consider a reread. See you tomorrow!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Big Nick Energy

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Big Nick Energy

Author: Kristen Bailey

Publisher: Storm Publishing

Release Date: October 21st, 2025

Series: n/a

Blurb:

When librarian Kay bumps into her ex-boyfriend Nick at a Christmas market, she thinks fate is finally giving her a second chance with her first big love. But then she gets spectacularly tangled in a Christmas tree-netting machine and meets another Nick entirely. One who cuts her free, dresses her wounds, and makes her pulse race in ways that thoroughly confuse her.

Finance Nick is successful, settled, and ready to talk five-year plans. Farmer Nick makes handcrafted furniture, supports local charities, and sees the creative spirit Kay has kept hidden behind her library desk. But how is a girl to choose?

Soon she’s spending her days delivering books to children’s hospitals and care homes with farmer Nick, before dashing home to whip off her reindeer onesie and glam up for romantic dates at the ballet with finance Nick.

But the countdown to Christmas is on, and Kay can’t keep this up forever. Somehow she must navigate London’s most complicated love triangle, avoid getting any more pine needles stuck in her hair – and work out once and for all which Nick has her heart.

Explanation:

I have the ARC for this one and am oh-so-ready for the holiday book vibes. Perhaps it is that the weather is still so warm, but seriously, I want to feel genuinely cozy. 

Both of the MCs in this one seem like the sweetest people, which only makes me more excited for it!

Top 5 Tuesday: Satisfying Book Series

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

This week's prompt is..... satisfying book series

These are in no particular order

1. The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
2. Wolf Mountain Ranchers series by Erin FitzGerald
3. Orleans University series by Maren Moore
4. So Not My... series by Evie Sterling
5. Streams and Schemes series by Rebecca Kinkade

I am admittedly not the best at finishing series, but here are a few that I did finish that I feel like were bangers all the way through. All are romance series apart from The Naturals. I know there are a lot of series currently in progress that I am reading and loving. I would be happy to include those if a similar prompts comes up again when those series are concluded.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

It took me a minute to find all completed series, but I did it! All of these have different vibes, but all are ones I loved. Have any of y'all finished any of these series? See you tomorrow!

Can't Wait Wednesday: In Your Dreams

 Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... In Your Dreams

Author: Sarah Adams

Publisher: Dell

Release Date: January 6th

Series: When in Rome #4

Blurb:

A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the New York Times bestselling author of When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to prove she could make it in the culinary world. But after years of chasing success in New York, all she has to show for it is a shattered confidence and a desperate need for a fresh start. Coming home isn’t part of the plan—until an unexpected job offer lands in her lap, giving her a chance to rebuild everything she’s lost: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother’s best friend... and the last person she wants to work for.

James has always played it safe, keeping his head down and doing what’s expected of him in the family business and never contemplating anything different—until now, when Madison’s happiness is on the line. He’s loved her quietly for years, knowing she’s never seen him as more than an annoyance. Now that she’s back, he’s determined to change that–even if it means he can only ever be her friend. The one problem? His charming, wildly successful younger brother, Tommy, seems determined to win her over first.

Then Tommy is called away on business, and Madison and James are tasked with launching the dreamy farm-to-table restaurant on their own. But as the town starts meddling in their relationship, Tommy’s pursuit of Madison grows more relentless, and Madison’s fears threaten to hold her back, keeping things strictly professional becomes impossible. And when an unexpected disaster on opening night collides with a long-simmering sibling feud, both Madison and James will have to face their biggest insecurities—and decide if love is worth the risk or if some dreams are safer left untouched.

Explanation:

I have absolutely adored the When in Rome series. It has a wonderfully meddling town that honestly reminds me of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. (Let alone that James looks like Luke on this cover.) As such, it has such a special place in my heart. Any excuse to go back again is a win in my book. So sad that this release is so far away 😢

See you all again next week to give even more love to upcoming releases!