Doing Jólabókaflóð a little different this year, exchanged books yesterday but read them all today. :) Mine was okay! Not a fan of the comma splice and run-on sentence style this author writes with. I think I‘ll read the sequel, just to see where we‘re going. It‘s giving big COD vibes with the skull masks, though.

2.5 stars | #darkromance #romance

I didn‘t love this one. I think it reads as a mystery/thriller with a dark romance undertone, which…m/t has NEVER been one of my preferred genres. The pacing was off, and the characters are…fine. I think I‘ll read the next one, but if that one doesn‘t hit….

3 stars | #darkromance #mystery #thriller

So I liked this one more than The Kiss Quotient but rated it lower. Why? Well, there‘s a scene towards the end that made me feel really icky about the MMC, and I can understand where he‘s coming from but that doesn‘t make it right. And it bothers me a little bit that everyone goes back to calling Esme Mý except Khai. And with Mý being her real name, her Vietnamese name, continuing to call her Esme just felt disrespectful.

3 stars | #romance

This was cute! The miscommunication plot is famously my least favorite trope, but I had a good time! Stella and Michael had hella chemistry, even as I was cringing on their behalf‘s through several scenes.

4 stars | #romance

I‘m not gonna lie, Nolan was starting to piss me off so bad with how he was pushing Harriet, esp considering her abuse and trauma responses, but it‘s fine. I‘m fine, they‘re fine. I have a lot of questions tho that I hope are answered in subsequent books, but I guess I‘ll find out next Sept. In terms of Christmas vibes? Immaculate.

3.5 stars | #paranormalromance

Realized I hadn‘t posted this one but I LOVED it. Buddy read with a friend (who likes historical fic/fantasy) and then found out it‘s Simon Snow fanfic! Río and Benny are just…I love them, your honor. The found family aspect of this book is so heartwarming and I can‘t wait to see what‘s next from Vida Kelley (she‘s going to continue in this same line with different elements! I think air is next?).

4.5 stars | #historicalfantasy

I‘ve FINALLY finished the Ruinous Love trilogy. I was putting this one off bc I hadn‘t heard great things and I agree, it was a tad too long imho. Rose and Fionn were unhinged, and I liked Rose‘s more sporadic take compared to Sloane and Lark‘s careful planning. The ending (after we catch up to the events of L&L) did seem rushed, and I wish we could‘ve known what was yadda yadda‘d out of Fionn‘s time in Croatia, but alas.

3 stars | #romance

The best Ali Hazelwood books are when she returns to her fanfic roots. Yes, I know TLH is legit published AU fanfic but shhhhh I don‘t mean that one. I mean the golden days of Wattpad, that one Supernatural fic that started ABO on AO3. That‘s the magic that fuels these books, and that‘s why I like them. Are Koen and Serena the most unserious characters? Sure. But I‘m here for the wild Were cult, the knots, and a good time.

4 stars | #romance

I don‘t think this is a book for everyone. It‘s much slower, and the characters felt way more complex than other Schwab books, perhaps bc it was more of a study and less of a story. Schwab does a fantastic job of letting all three women have their own voice, and I think it helps as the timelines cross back and forth. If you liked books like the Night Circus, more vibes and less substance, then I think you‘d like this one.

4 stars | #vampires

Cute little book. I wanted more ghosts, and the ending felt a little rushed. I‘m not the intended age audience, but also the sheer amount of Harry Potter references in this 5 hour audiobook was ridiculous. This book was published in 2018, so around a time where more folks were becoming aware of That Woman‘s bigotry (which she‘s always held), and it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

On this page, we recognize and support trans rights.😤🏳️‍⚧️🖤

These two ✨infuriated✨ me. I expected an arc for Piper, but her hard switch from spoiled, ditzy little rich girl (who is I think almost or in her 30s???) to “I understand the power of a dollar” deeply emotional independent woman was…a snap. No lead up, just there. Also, how did she and her sister rennovate the bar with no money and only Hannah‘s part time minimum wage job?? AND Brendan continues to be an asshole the whole time? Yeah. No thanks.

Another swing and a miss for me. I‘ve been so in love with T Kingfisher this year, so no one was more shocked by this than me. I was just very bored, and things from the blurb didn‘t start happening until like 60% in? Also just not a fan of this main character, idk. She felt like a watered down version of Grace from the first Saint of Steel book. And don‘t get me started on the romance that came out of NOWHERE…

3 stars | #fantasy

Idk why I expected more ghosts in this ghost book? 🤔 I think Sage played a little too fast and loose with the supernatural rules here, and this felt less like a first in a series and more of a segue between Rebel Blue and this new town (while revisiting old friends). I‘m not sure it stands on its own as a story.

3.5 stars | #romance

Oh Lalo and Carolina, y‘all are. Something. I kept having to remind myself that she‘s 18 and he‘s 19 and sometimes, older teens just be like that. The pacing was off, and the kiss to love confession gave me whiplash, but I really liked the writing and the world building. Also the cover?? 😍 I‘ve already stacked Montoya‘s upcoming circus book that sounds real fun!

3.75 stars | #historicalfantasy #romance #hauntedshelf #screamteam #twowitches

Ooooh I love this series. I think this one earned its 16hrs more than Paladin‘s Strength, and Marguerite and Shane are just too cute. I know there‘s 7 books planned in this series so PLEASE Kingfisher we need an update on Judith! And some happiness for Wren!

4 stars | #fantasy #romantasy #cozyromantasy #hauntedshelf #screamteam #twowitches

Too bad the male narrator is apparently a garbage human being, bc this audiobook was fun. I‘m rereading so I can finally get to Scythe and Sparrow, so after MONTHS wait, I liked the audiobook. Now to wait for Leather and Lark.

4.5 stats | #romance #darkromance #hauntedshelf #screamteam #twowitches #twowitchessamhain

I only finished this book because I was annotating it. The magic system is never explained and also makes 0 sense. Ivy is the WORST detective ever, and also has no growth as a person. All of the adults (except for maybe Mrs. Webb and definitely Rahul) deserve jail.

A very generous 2 stars | #mystery #thriller #magicalrealism #hauntedshelf #screamteam #twowitches #twowitchessamhain

These two. These. Two. Anyway. I loved it, but that ending?? KINGFISHER when I CATCH. YOU. Piper was fantastic, I love him. Galen was frustrating, and I love him. The yearningggg almost made me cry at work. Also the gnoles??? Big fan, I keep picturing them as red pandas meets raccoons. 10/10 fantasy creature, and much better than the gnolls of Baldur‘s Gate.

4.5 stars | #fantasy #lgbt #romantasy #cozyfantasy #hauntedshelf #screamteam

He might not have dignity, but at least he would have tea.

I‘m rereading the Mead Mishap series for reasons, and the second one will always be my least favorite. The love potion storyline just rubs me entirely the wrong way, and I think it would‘ve been better without it. That being said, Kimberly Lemming, you have my whole heart.

2.5 stars | #romance #hauntedshelf #screamteam #twowitches

I finished two books on vacation but I will not talk about the first one to anyone LOL srry. Anyway! I wanted this one to be like a book I loved in high school and it…kinda was? In a bad way. Very insta-lovey, and I feel like we didn‘t get to know any of the characters very well, or the world they lived in, with the exception of Tess, whose story was told with care, but just not very well.

2.5 stars | #romance #hauntedshelf #screamteam

No way I‘m getting through all of these BUT I like options! About to board a couple flights so I‘m very ready for #HauntedShelf. Go #ScreamTeam!!

+25pts

Thought this would have more Halloween than it did but it is, in fact, set in December (so maybe a good pick for the #wintergames?). Cute, but towards the end I was losing steam. Hex and Coal are very sweet, and I thought the next book would be about Iris and Kris but alas…

3 stars | #romance

Okay that was cute as hell 😭😭 Is Aidan lowkey annoying? Sure. But hey, that‘s on character arcs. I keep reading books with single moms looking for love tho, and I‘m not sure I‘m a fan.

…this posted without me finishing the review or adding the picture, huh.

4.25 stars | #romance

This is absolutely the worst of this series oh my GOD. I found Cam to be insufferable, and if you‘d told me I‘d feel bad for a MAN right now?? I know Dusty‘s fictional but good lord he deserves better, even if he was starting to annoy me a little too.

I‘ll probably read another Lyla Sage book, but this was a bad ending to a decently entertaining series.

1.75 stars | #romance #cowboyromance

Probably my favorite of the Rebel Blue Ranch series so far (although I only have one more to go, and I think I‘m mostly going to be angry on Cam‘s behalf thru that one). Teddy and Gus are just so cute, and abbbbsolutely made for each other. I think things concluded a little too quickly tho bc wdym 🤨 y‘all started dating like two weeks ago, what do you MEAN?

3.25 stars | #romance #cowboyromance

Oooooh boy I didn‘t remember how little of the Quarter Quell there actually was.

“Katniss, there is no District Twelve.” Suzanne Collins, when I catch you —

5 stars | #dystopia #ya

Was it too long? Yes. Was I annoyed with the constant interruptions? Also yes. But would I read this again? A third yes. Listen: I love my little guys, paladins and nun-bears both, and I just want them to be happy. Istvhan and Clara both need a NAP, STAT. The ending reminded me a LOT of the Six of Crows duology (parts of both).

3.5 stars | #fantasy #romance #romantasy

STOP these two were the cutest omg. I had such a good time in this world. Kingfisher really knows how to build the setting without you even really realizing it. I like that I can recognize her writer‘s voice from horror across to this cozy fantasy, and I know I can trust her lol. Anyway, if you like Baldur‘s Gate, read this book.

4.5 stars | #fantasy #cozyfantasy #romantasy

Idk what it is about these cowboy romances but they just kinda fall out of my head the minute I‘m finished. They‘re short, sweet, and a little smutty, so they‘re fine if you‘re looking for a romance hit, but I don‘t think they‘ll get anywhere near my favorites of the year. That being said, I liked Ada and Wes, they were cute. I wished Ada spent more than 8 months on her dream tho, that‘s such a short time.

3 stars | #romance

Meh. I like bodyguard romances, but this one just felt… I think maybe if I‘d read the first book, I‘d be able to follow better, but I am not interested in backtracking. It‘s fine, but certainly not the best rom I‘ve read this year.

2.75 stars | #romance

This was just the sticky-sweet I was looking for from Mandanna, and I had such a good time UNTIL the very end (spoilers in the comments). The strength from this one, and the first Mandanna witchy romance I‘ve read, are the side characters that fill out the story behind the romance. It‘s so colorful and cozy and the settings are so lovely. Good time, and a perfect cold-weather read.

?? stars (I‘m sitting on this one a minute | #romance

Oh my GOD UGH. This one almost had me crying at work. Just…the way the characters interact, you can *feel* the history between them. Shanghai is described in ways where I can see the tensions rising between all the groups, and while I had the main antagonist lowkey spoiled for me (my fault, I went snooping), it was still such a satisfying end to the duo. Can‘t wait to continue on with the others!!

5 stars | #historicalfantasy #romance

This one‘s been on my physical TBR for a while, and I finally read it! The movie was okay (but that ART STYLE OMG!!), but of course the book is better. You get more nuance behind the characters that just couldn‘t be fit into an hour and a half. Feels like a timely read, where maybe the “bad guys” aren‘t really the enemy, and the people who make the rules are never the ones to stick to them. Hmm.

4.5 stars | #graphicnovel #fantasy

Same goes for this one!! I was rooting for Cal until he punted Iris under the bus for a man who has done nothing but belittle her and order her around. Declan getting wooing and begging forgiveness advice from ROWAN is laughable bc neither of these men has respected a “no” in their life, nor has either of them truly groveled for the women they “love.” And none of the Kane brothers believes in therapy!! When I catch one of them in a dark alley !

😐 I hate these men. God, where do I even begin?? The saying “there are no ethical billionaires” applies to the fictional ones too. Zahra was…fine. But Rowan? Rowan wouldn‘t know consent or boundaries if they hit him. The amount of times he just steamrolls thru to get his way is infuriating, and it always works??? Someone has GOT to knock his ego on its ass. Don‘t get me started on the age gap and he‘s her BOSS??? UGH.

1 star | #romance ???

As a former camp counselor for GSCV (2017-2023, technically; Klutziana “Klutzy” Louise Pamunkey-Fallz-Peg-Cooke, head of archery) this scratched that camp itch for me. The camp names, the activities (even if they were far grander than my camp‘s), the vibe. Spot on. The story tho? Felt a little lacking for me. There was a ton of feelings in the beginning that…didn‘t have great payoff? Idk, I felt disproportionately angry for it to end like that.

Ooooh listen I had to read Romeo and Juliet in high school and this made me actually want to read it again?? I had a great time. I did have to keep reminding myself that Roma and Juliette are like 19 though, and it‘s the 1920s, bc they seemed so much older. I already have the sequel borrowed on Libby tho!

4 stars | #historicalfantasy

Second board! Now to the fall/winter colors. Thank you @Lauredhel for the #pantone2025 challenge, this is so much fun!

I think i forgot to post this when I finished it, and the other one‘s done too I just haven‘t updated it. Looking forward to the Fall/Winter colors!!

#pantone2025

Olivia Dade doesn‘t write stupid miscommunication challenge level: impossible. This pissed me off, probably bc it‘s EXACTLY what Lauren and Alex did in the last book, and I‘m tired of these 30yo people supposedly in therapy not talking to each other!! It‘s not that hard!!!

2 stars | #romance

Anyone who calls this a slow burn, we have beef lol. The audiobook is 7hrs; that‘s not slow burn. This romance happens over a matter of weeks; that‘s not slow burn. There are fanfics out there with 200k words and the main characters touched hands like 50 chapters in; THAT‘S slow burn. This was a cute lil romance romp, and I will be reading the second, but one thing it‘s not is slow burn 😭

3 stars | #romance

Somehow? The movie was better? Idk. I watched the movie a few months ago and then found out it was a book, so I went in knowing vaaaaguely what to expect. The ending of the book is better imho, but the movie overall is more memorable. There was too much about the sex lives of high schoolers, including some blatant assault that‘s just…not discussed?? And the killer‘s motives were better than movie killer‘s.

2 stars | #thriller #notYA

Ngl, these two stressed me TF out. I had to take a break from their miscommunications bc it was making me so anxiousssss. I wish Julia‘d faced more consequences, and if/when I listen to the sequels, I hope they follow thru on their plans with her bc JAIL. She deserves JAIL. Anyway, hope DJ and Trisha have a long and happy life together :)

4 stars | #romance #twowitches #twowitcheslammas

Mmmm I thought this was YA, since the MC is 16, but…maybe like older YA?? It was alright. The story felt a little half-baked, and it was a lot of sitting around and waiting for things to happen. Also, how in this small town has no one noticed a BASEMENT full of goths going missing???

3 stars | #vampires #ya?? #contemporaryfantasy

Well OBVIOUSLY this is a good book. I‘m rereading so I can go into Ballad and Sunrise with all the info I need. It took me a minute to get into Collins‘ writing style, and since the YA voice isn‘t something I‘ve read in a LONG time. But first one down! Four to go!

4.5 stars | #ya #dystopia #modernclassic

A pretty good reading month! Currently my most books read this year (thank you Libby and earbuds at work). At this point, I‘m one book away from my 2025 reading goal of 60, and Fable says I‘ll hit my stretch goal of 75 in September! 🥳 I‘m also one book away from beating my Most Books per Year record of 59 from 2023! Let‘s goooooo

The infantilization of a 39yo man gave me the BIGGEST ick. And the miscommunication? You are BOTH in your 30s, I need you to talk to each other like adults. I appreciate the continued emphasis on mental health, but oh my god. Y‘all need therapy, lots of it.

2 stars | #romance

I don‘t remember finishing this one the first time I read it about 3 years ago, but then I kept hitting story beats I remembered, so maybe I did? Regardless, wonderful little novella. The fish scene still hurts me on a personal level.

4 stars | #scifi

This was…okay. I was more intrigued with the character of Aeneas than either of our MCs, tbh. And some of the parts about cosplay and writing fanfic and being judged for it just…fell flat in the year of our lord 2025. As far as I know, you‘re only judged if it‘s bad, not if you do it at all. 🤷🏼‍♀️

3 stars | #romance