Two sisters end up entering the same competition in New Orleans. That competition is a haunted house run by demons that prey on the contestants' fears and it's hosted in a huge mansion they aren't allowed to explore for the first week but that shouldn't stop them, right? I had so many theories of my own reading this book and they were all wrong. I loved the intrigue, the thrill, the creativity of the challenges and how the characters overcame.

Wren (FMC) is outspoken and bubbly. She meets Alioth (water alien MMC) at his spa where she convinces him to give her swim lessons to get over her fear of water. Clever girl, Wren! The characters are not only relatable but lovable, the plot keeps things rolling, and it was just plain fun to read. This novella reads like a jacuzzi- hot and bubbly- and I loved it.

The characters are well-rounded and realistic. I've always had a soft spot for Galinda's journey, but the main focus is on our beloved Elphaba. She has a rough start but learns how to accept herself, her flaws, and her knack for being labeled a trouble-maker. This book deals with heavy content such as racism and genocide. It had me pulling out a dictionary several times, and I've read this multiple times- a sign of a truly good read.

This starts with a classic fantasy premise of a commoner wanting more out of life. Castillo put her characters into difficult situations and surprised me with how the characters moved forward. Cleo and Dex challenge each other and the progression of their relationship feels realistic. When the setting is fantasy, it is the characters' flaws that bring the story back down to earth and make it believable. This book is spicy with a high-stakes plot.

In this urban romance, Astasiya stumbles into a world within her world, revealing secrets about characters in her past and present life. The plot and magic are well-developed and rich with detail. The next book focuses on different characters (both part of this book) and I'm looking forward to diving deeper into this world by Lexi C. Foss.

Georgie is abducted by aliens, dumped on an ice planet, and rescued by a seven-foot-something blue guy who is both frustrated and fascinated by her. The dual POV format works SO well. There is a language barrier for most of the book. I was impressed by how Dixon wrote the communication between Georgie and Vektal as they learn how to understand each other. This is low-stakes but oh-so-spicy. I am officially hooked.

The White Queen follows Elizabeth Woodville as she rises to Queen of England and tries to hold the throne with her husband throughout the War of the Roses. Though it is historical fiction, Gregory again proves her prowess by making historical figures feel like relatable flesh and blood. Reading this once was enough for me but I'm looking forward to the next book following the queens of England throughout the War of the Roses.

Violet is a bored prophet toeing the line with Prince Cyrus. She knows she should hold her tongue around her future boss, but he is insufferable and threatens to do away with her position until a curse emerges from the country's borders that make Violet more valuable than ever. The premise is so promising, but I found the “twists“ predictable and was left wanting more development out of the characters.

Mix's characters are lovable and real- their dreams, their yearning, their experiences are so well-written. The story follows Ary out of the terrarium and your favorite characters meet new people and creatures as they navigate joining a larger community. The characters are flawed and emotional and real. I recommend this duology to all of my teacher friends for their students, and all of my friends for themselves.

Addie is deliberate in her deal with a devil and refuses to regret the deal she has made. Everything changes when she meets Henry- somebody who can't forget her. Pay attention to the heading of the chapters as this story skips between Addie's past and her present. The weaving of time and apathy and hope is masterful. The deliberate timing of reveal makes the book so hard to put down.

Philippa Gregory does a fantastic job of planting you in a character's shoes- what thoughts they might have had or why historical decisions may have been made. Jacquetta is a character that history does not know much about. Kudos to the author for delving into and developing a life that feels plausible and real.