Don‘t let the cover on this book fool you! This is not a romcom, but a young woman‘s quest for self-discovery.

Durga moves to Ireland from India to pursue a new job and independence from her family. At her new home she finds love, friendship, but she‘s always questioning her choices.

There‘s a (very shocking!) twist in the story and it turns her world upside down. How will she deal with this new perspective?

Loved!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

I‘ve been hearing so many good things from early readers of this one and my ARC came today! This will be my first by Oates 😊

Current (2nd!) audiobook… Library hold came in and couldn‘t wait to start it!

Started this one last night and the format it‘s written in has taken me a bit to get used to, but I‘m enjoying the story, so far! #arc

Reached an unexpected twist on this story right before I had to put this book down and do some work. Had to put my Kindle in another room to avoid temptation! 😅 #arc

Current audiobook…Can‘t believe I didn‘t have to wait that long for my library hold to come through! 😊

This is my first Ali Hazelwood and it kept me entertained, but it was nothing memorable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The food lover in me was immediately drawn to this book and this debut did not disappoint.

I liked Isabella and Molly‘s dynamic, and all the supporting characters in the story (Jeannie!!). The food descriptions were amazing and how this author described landmarks and tidbits about the restaurant and food industries.

Very entertained by this one and I loved the cover!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Pub Date: 5/20/25 #arc #NetGalley

Very happy that I was approved for this #arc earlier this week! Plan to read it before I (hopefully) go see the author speak at a writing festival here in Santo Domingo next month 😊

Landed a huge work project last week and haven‘t been reading much. Started this audiobook and I‘m entertained, so far.

Also, trying to slowly finish all the Kindle books I‘m currently in the middle of before starting new ones…We‘ll see how that goes! 😅🤣

The depictions of single motherhood were very accurate and then adding to that mix becoming best friends with your Baby Daddy‘s other Baby Mama? 🤯

Was this messy? Of course, it was! But, the way these women rose to the challenge just because they wanted to support each other and have the kids grow up together was a beautiful thing to read.

Loved, LOVED this story!

Pub Date: 5/6/25

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Starting a new book at bedtime…Have high hopes for this one! #arc #NetGalley

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. I prefer lying down, but tend to fall asleep! 🤣

2. Tagged. I‘m loving this one because the premise is so unique.

Current audiobook…Loving the narration on this!

This book was wild! I even enjoyed the long chapters at the beginning, the storytelling was that engaging. We follow 4 characters and their intertwining stories.

I loved the writing on this. My only complaint is that I wished we'd gotten more of a story on Akari (the last chapter felt like it had too many things happening and I felt that some questions were left unanswered).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pub Date: 5/6/25 #arc

This was wonderful! All I knew going into this memoir was that Ina is “The Barefoot Contessa.” I‘ve never watched her shows or purchased her cookbooks.

I came out of this a fan! And being able to listen to Ina‘s voice telling her story made it so much more special.

Now I want to buy one of her cookbooks and start trying her recipes.

Loved! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started reading this one with a lot of expectations, since it has been listed as an anticipated release this year (that should‘ve been my first red flag…). The story was engaging for about 50%, but then it took a whole different turn (not for the better, IMO).

It became predictable, which in turn made it boring for me.

This being the author‘s first novel makes it a great effort and I will read her future work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

I‘m reading too many books right now (nothing new here 😅), but nothing seemed to be holding my attention…

…Enter this book: Rich people secrets, building staff who know way more than they let on, set in NYC…Yes, please!

20% in and very intrigued. #arc

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Yes. About 150

2. This one introduced me to Kennedy Ryan‘s writing and I loved it!

Play? @Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB @Sace

I wanted to read something a little less heavy than my normal reads and this is proving to be a good choice! #arc

I went into this one with such high expectations after loving the author‘s first novel. Unfortunately, I struggled with the story.

Too many POVs and backstories made it hard for me to keep everyone‘s story straight. It also made the book too long and all I kept wishing was for the story to end.

Will keep reading this author in the future, this one just didn‘t work for me.

2.5⭐️ #arc #NetGalley

Sometimes while reading this book you just feel like you‘re reading about the same thing over and over. But, then you remember that the narrator is a teen girl and she‘s telling you about her summer with her best friend.

Another unique thing about this one is the language. Written entirely in local slang, it took me a bit to get used to, but this just added to the richness of the story.

Loved! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Found myself putting this one down and forgetting about it. I‘m taking it as my brain can‘t handle this story right now.

Read this one on audio, and it was the best decision! These interconnected short stories were excellent and the narrators were superb.

It‘s official: Dahlia de la Cerda is now a fave author!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heading into my birthday weekend reading my favorite author!! ❤️ #arc

I loved this one so much! Set in Georgia in the 1960‘s, Doris is a very religious teen who needs to have an abortion and turns to her favorite teacher for help. The duo embark on a weekend trip to Atlanta for the procedure, which gets delayed. While waiting, Doris meets a cast of characters who completely change her worldview and broaden her life choices.

Definitely a favorite read this year!

5⭐️ Pub Date: 6/17/25 #arc #NetGalley

The weirdest thing just happened: I was watching a video on YT and the creator mentioned receiving an ARC of this book, and I thought it sounded like something I might like. Fast-forward 20 mins later and I received the ARC on my inbox! 😮 🫶🏽

Love this cover, and the story is great, so far! ☺️ #arc

Can‘t deal with the pressure of so many people waiting for this at the library, so I‘m starting it now 😅

Current audiobook… I‘ve never watched Ina‘s show or gotten her cookbooks, but her memoir is so interesting!

I loved the premise of this book and it started out like a very promising read. I loved how the author used a lot of stereotypes to portray racism and privilege. It started going down for me at around 60%, I just felt like it started to become predictable and the ending felt very flat. I wished the author had taken a few more risks with this one.

3.5 ⭐️ #arc #NetGalley

Currently reading… And unable to put it down!

Enjoyed this on audio. My heart goes out to her for all the suffering she went through before getting diagnosed.

Set in Atlanta in the 90's, Daniel and Jacob are employed by a developer who is trying to get government approval for new housing developments in the city in anticipation of the upcoming Olympics. These projects would mean displacement for the families in the area, who are mostly Black. In the story, we follow our protagonists as they navigate their values, ambitions and accepting who they are when it comes to their sexuality.

Out tomorrow! 4⭐️

Started this yesterday and already so invested! Will probably spend all day reading this today. #arc

Soft pick and ALL the trigger warnings for abusive relationship themes. Glad I read it, but it‘s a tough one to recommend, honestly.

Hello, it‘s me, starting a new book at bedtime… 😅🤦🏽‍♀️

Reading Zarna‘s memoir and everything she has gone through to get to where she is has made me even more of a fan. This book will make you laugh and at the same time tug at your heartstrings.

Loved! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#arc #NetGalley Pub Date: 4/29/25

Current audiobook… Loving Selma‘s narration!

3.5 ⭐️This started off with a bang, but as the story went on I just kept constantly checking how much more I had to go. It just felt too long.

I did like the autism representation, and that Soledad was biracial, but I felt that the author kept on hammering on the same things and it became repetitive.

This was OK overall, but I didn't love it as much as the first one in the series.

Ready for book 3!

I‘ve always liked Zarna‘s humor and she has been popping up a lot on my feed lately. Going through my lists of April ARCs this morning I discovered I have her new memoir. I‘m so excited! ☺️ #arc #NetGalley

Starting this…Seems like it‘s going to be all kinds of messy and I‘m here for it!!

There was a point while reading this novel where I almost gave up on it because I felt I was not getting it. But, I kept reading and it turned into one of the most beautiful examples of how the use of language can just turn your emotions into a rollercoaster.

Read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc #NetGalley

US Pub Date: 6/3/25

Current Spanish read…I‘ve had this on my TBR for a while and finally decided to pick it up.

A story about women rebelling about the cards dealt to them. These stories are not for the faint of heart, but you will not be able to look away.

We follow Justine, Eskedare, Flora, Zeinah and Dounia, who are very different from each other, but their lives get intertwined as they navigate life in the Gulf.

If you love stories about the power of the human spirit, and especially the resilience of women, read this!

5⭐️

Pub Date: 5/6/25 #arc

Current audiobook…This has started with a bang!

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

1. Sunflowers 🌻

2. Daughter, friends & family, books

Thanks for tagging me @Deblovestoread 🤗

I live in the vicinity of where the nightclub tragedy in DR happened on Monday 💔 Yesterday we had a 12-hour power outage to aid rescue efforts, and this book kept me company.

Friends, I can already tell you to put this on your radar!

And hug your loved ones a little more tightly today ❤️

#arc

I don‘t have the emotional bandwidth to handle this one right now…Might pick-up again in the future.

This was such a great book, I didn‘t want it to end! Yasmen and Josiah are possibly my fave fictional couple right now.

Loved Kennedy Ryan‘s approach to second-chance romance, and especially loved how mental health and therapy were such a central part of the story.

Can‘t wait to read the next book on the series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️