'The Rules of Royalty: A Novel' by Cale Dietrich

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Two princes from neighboring countries fall into a whirlwind royal romance in this sparkling spin on The Princess Diaries by Cale Dietrich.

Jamie Johnson has never been the centre of attention, and he’s perfectly okay with that. His entire world unravels as a hidden truth he's the heir to the throne of Mitanor, a sun-drenched southern European country, and the press is ready to expose this secret to the world. An invitation to spend the summer in his father's palace arrives, giving Jamie a chance to get to know the man he never thought he’d meet.

Meanwhile, in a northern European kingdom known for its cold climate and stoic royals, Erik Von Rosenborg, the spare prince, grapples with the upcoming marriage of his golden-boy elder brother. With the country’s spotlight trained on his family more than ever, Erik feels sidelined and tightly controlled. So when he receives an offer to tutor the newly found American prince in the ways of royalty, he accepts without hesitation.

At a magnificent summer palace, Erik guides Jamie through the intricacies of royal etiquette, politics, and history. What neither prince anticipates is the connection that sparks between them—one that challenges both of their futures. Now each must make a follow their hearts, or the time-honored royal path where crown and country reigns supreme, no matter the personal cost."


My Review:

I enjoyed this light, fluffy LGBT spin on 'The Princess Diaries'. Author Cale Dietrich did a great job of letting readers into the minds of both narrating princes, and I felt fully immersed in their feelings and experiences. Highly recommended!

Out now! Grab a copy!

@WednesdayBooks #TheRulesOfRoyalty #NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'The Rival' by Emma Lord

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again!

At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival — her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb — by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.

But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one."

My Review:

Author Emma Lord knocks it out of the park again with this highly entertaining academic enemies-to-lovers YA rom-com!  Highly recommended for YA rom-com and YA contemporary readers.  Can't go wrong with an Emma Lord YA book!

'The Rival' releases on January 21st, grab a copy!

#TheRival #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Playing Flirty' by Shameez Patel

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A board game designer is forced to work alongside her nemesis in this charming and geeky rivals-to-lovers romcom perfect for fans of Olivia Dade and Jen DeLuca.

 
For Rose Marie Jones, risks are a hard no–except for Game Night. For one precious evening a week, Rose can forget about her demanding boss and her lackluster sex life and focus on beating the pants off her friends. But none of them brings out her hyper-competitive side quite like William Ashdern.

Her best friend’s half-brother, William is the paragon of a sexy nerd. The tall, dorky, and handsome game designer is Rose’s playing nemesis. But when Rose decides to enter a contest with the board game she’s secretly invented, there’s only one person who can help her win.

Now what has always been a game between Rose and William is getting a lot more serious. And after spending her entire life trying not to lose, Rose might finally be ready risk it all–and play to win."


My Review:

Absolutely loved this slow-burn Adult Rom-Com, full of gaming and geek culture and a silent, broody love interest. 'Playing Flirty' is all about found family and shenanigans, while also about discovering who you are, and unlearning some of the bad stuff from childhood. Highly recommended!

'Playing Flirty' releases on January 14th - grab a copy!

#PlayingFlirty #NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'While We're Young' by K.L. Walther

4.5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A whirlwind romance inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off about four friends whose hearts are broken and mended over the course of an epic senior skip day—from the bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules!

Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. For starters, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, who used to go out with Isa before breaking her heart in the infamous Freshman Year Fracture. And, oh yeah, no one knows that Isa has been hanging out with James, Grace’s brother—and if Grace finds out, it could ruin their friendship.

With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. All she has to do is convince Isa to help her kidnap Everett and outmaneuver James, who’s certain his sister is up to something.

In an epic day that includes racing up the famous Rocky steps, taste-testing Philly's finest cheesesteaks, and even crashing a wedding, their secrets are bound to collide. But can their hearts withstand the wreckage?"


My Review:

Author K.L. Walther does a great job seamlessly interweaving 4 POVs and some flashbacks. All 4 of our main characters get to narrate, and 'While We're Young' is all the better for it!

Miss Student Body President and everyone-loves-her, Grace, is the mastermind behind an unofficial Senior Skip Day during which she goes joy riding all around Philadelphia with her two best friends, Isa and Everett. Though the trio's friendship did not heal in the aftermath of Everett breaking up with Isa, years ago, Grace has remained close with both. She designed their Philadelphia itinerary with the goal to heal the friendship between them. 

This is simultaneously a light and fluffy, feel-good read while also touching upon heavy topics. The secrets these teens keep from each other are fairly minor, and make for some really good witty banter and heartfelt friendship reconciliation - Grace's crush on Everett kept from Isa because of girl-code, and Isa sharing kisses with Grace's brother, James. The heavier topics involve death of a parent, potentially losing a house they grew up in, and cheating on a spouse.

'While We're Young' releases on March 4th - grab a copy!

#WhileWereYoung #NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'The Thirteenth Child' by Erin A. Craig

4 wicked stars

Book Blurb:

"Drawing on the Grimm Brothers’ dark fairytale, “Godfather Death,” this new novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows is a sweeping, fantastical saga of actions and consequences.

This is the story of Hazel, a young healer navigating a ruthless court to save the life of the king, grappling with a pantheon of gods with questionable agendas as she fights for agency and true love in her own life as the goddaughter of none other than Death himself.

All gifts come with a price.

Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.

When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.

But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?

From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love?"


My Review:

Really enjoyed this Fantasy read! Author Erin A. Craig does another fantastic job creating a gothic atmosphere in this fairy-tale re-telling.

Highly recommended Fall reading, with spooky vibes and great writing! Releases on September 24th

#TheThirteenthChild #NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'The Lies We Conjure' by Sarah Henning

5 thrilling stars

Book Blurb:

"Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games with magic in this standalone supernatural thriller by Sarah Henning: thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly game of Clue.

Ruby and her sister, Wren, are normal, middle-class Colorado high school students working a summer job at the local Renaissance Fest to supplement their meager college savings.

So when an eccentric old lady asks them to impersonate her long-absent grandchildren at a fancy dinner party at the jaw-dropping rate of two grand―each―for a single night… Wren insists it’s a no-brainer. Make some cash, have some fun, do a good deed.

But less than an hour into the evening at the mysterious Hegemony Manor, Ruby is sure she must have lost her mind to have agreed to this."


My Review:

Really enjoyed this one! And it's very spot-on to say it's 'Clue' x 'The Inheritance Games' x 'Knives Out' - with magic.

Two non-magical teenage sisters pretend to be an old lady's grandchildren, last seen ten years prior, in exchange for some much needed college funds. They marvel at the huge mansion, lush gardens and grounds, set in Colorado's mountains. They do their best to fit in with the other 6 teenagers, and each sister soon finds herself flirting with one of the boys who live at the sprawling estate.

Then comes a murder during dinner. Then comes the magic: a Soul's Truth from the murdered witch and a powerful spell on the property which physically forbids anyone from leaving until the killer is found and 4 magical relics are located. Then comes the rules to the game and clues to find each piece. Then come the attempts at sabotage and misdirection between characters. Then come the additional murders. It is all perfectly 'Clue' x 'The Inheritance Games' x 'Knives Out' - with magic.

Narrated by both Ruby, one of the sisters, and Auden, one of the teenage grandsons who lives at the mansion, 'The Lies We Conjure' has lots of 'YA Contemporary' feels, rather than 'YA Fantasy'. Auden makes for a wonderful book boyfriend, all good manners and knowledgeable about the grounds, magic, and family histories. Auden provides readers with all the background and context that Ruby wonders about and does not yet know.

Highly recommended!  Grab a copy here!

#NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Love, Life, and the List' series by Kasie West

5 stars to this entire series by Kasie West - 'Love, Life, and the List'. Highly recommended YA Contemporary reading!

'Love, Life, and the List' blurb and link:

"Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list, she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being.

But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems . . . and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself."

'Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss' blurb and link:

"Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part.

But Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture perfect as she imagined. She’s having trouble bonding with her costars, her father has hired the definition of a choir boy, Donavan Lake, to tutor her, and somewhere along the way she’s lost her acting mojo. And just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, it looks like someone on set is deliberately trying to sabotage her.

As Lacey’s world spins out of control, it feels like the only person she can count on—whether it’s helping her try to unravel the mystery of who is out to get her or snap her out of her acting funk—is Donavan. But what she doesn’t count on is this straight-laced boy becoming another distraction.

With her entire future riding on this movie, Lacey knows she can’t afford to get sidetracked by a crush. But for the first time in her life Lacey wonders if it’s true that the best stories really do happen when you go off script."

'Moment of Truth' blurb and link:

"At sixteen, Hadley Moore knows exactly who she is—a swimmer who will earn a scholarship to college. Totally worth all the hard work, even if her aching shoulders don’t agree. So when a guy dressed as Hollywood’s latest action hero, Heath Hall, crashes her swim meet, she isn’t amused. Instead, she’s determined to make sure he doesn’t bother her again. Only she’s not sure exactly who he is.

The swim meet isn’t the first event the imposter has interrupted, but a little digging turns up a surprising number of people who could be Heath Hall, including Hadley's ex-boyfriend and her best friend’s crush. She soon finds herself getting caught up in the mysterious world of the fake Heath Hall.

As Hadley gets closer to uncovering the masked boy’s identity she also discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself—like she might resent the long shadow her late brother has cast over her family, that she isn’t as happy as she pretends to be with her life choices… and that she is falling for the last guy she ever thought she would like."

'Beastly Beauty' by Jennifer Donnelly

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"From New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Jennifer Donnelly comes a revolutionary, gender-swapped retelling of Beauty and the Beast that will forever change how you think about beauty, power, and what it really means to follow your heart.

What makes a girl "beastly?" Is it having too much ambition? Being too proud? Taking up too much space? Or is it just wanting something, anything , too badly?

That's the problem Arabella faces when she makes her debut in society. Her parents want her to be sweet and compliant so she can marry well, but try as she might, Arabella can't extinguish the fire burning inside her -- the source of her deepest wishes, her wildest dreams.

When an attempt to suppress her emotions tragically backfires, a mysterious figure punishes Arabella with a curse, dooming her and everyone she cares about, trapping them in the castle.

As the years pass, Arabella abandons hope. The curse is her fault -- after all, there's nothing more "beastly" than a girl who expresses her anger -- and the only way to break it is to find a boy who loves her for her true a cruel task for a girl who's been told she's impossible to love.

When a handsome thief named Beau makes his way into the castle, the captive servants are thrilled, convinced he is the one to break the curse. But Beau -- spooked by the castle's strange and forbidding ladies-in-waiting, and by the malevolent presence that stalks its corridors at night -- only wants to escape. He learned long ago that love is only an illusion.

If Beau and Arabella have any hope of breaking the curse, they must learn to trust their wounded hearts, and realize that the cruelest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves."

My Review:

I really enjoyed this gender-swapped 'Beauty and the Beast' re-telling! I've wanted to read one of author Jennifer Donnelly's fairy-tale spins for a while, and was quite happy to find that this one was easy to read while being intriguing and engaging. Highly recommended fairy-tale reading!

Grab a copy or see if your local library has one!

'Prince of the Palisades' by Julian Winters

4.5 Royal Stars!

Book Blurb:

"Young Royals meets Red, White, and Royal Blue in this heart-pumping romance by award-winning author Julian Winters!

When roguish Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie is left in America to clean up his image after a horribly public break-up gone viral, romance is not on the table. Carefully planned photo ops with puppies? Yes. Scheduled appearances with the Santa Monica elite Absolutely. Rendezvous with a pink-haired, film-obsessed hottie from the private school where he’s currently enrolled? Uhhhh . . .

Together with his entourage—a bitingly witty royal guard, Rêverie’s future queen (and Jadon’s brilliant older sister), and a quirky royal liaison—Jadon’s on a mission to turn things around and show his parents, and his country, that he’s more than just a royal screw-up. If he doesn’t prove that he’s the prince Rêverie deserves? Well, he may not be allowed home . . .

But falling for a not-so-royal American boy has Jadon redefining what it means to be a leader. If he can be someone’s Prince Charming just by being himself, maybe that’s all it takes to win over a nation. Or at least a prince can dream . . ."


My Review:

Really enjoyed this coming-of-age story narrated by Prince Jadon as he tries to balance adjusting to a new high school in a new country with showing only the 'perfect prince' that his parents want him to be. It's hard to let his guard down and make new friends, nonetheless have a mutual crush, when you're the Prince of a foreign country and the international media is always hungry for a scoop; always trying to photograph and document less-than-ideal moments. Jadon gets by, with the help of his witty and sarcastic sister and bodyguard, and he even joins the school play!

Highly recommended YA reading, love the LGBTQIAP+ cast!

'Prince of the Palisades' releases on August 20th - grab a copy!

#PrinceofthePalisades #NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'The Bitter End' by Alexa Donne

4 mysterious stars

Book Blurb:

"When a winter storm traps eight teens in a remote ski cabin, they find themselves stranded with a killer—who may be one of their own. From the acclaimed author of The Ivies and Pretty Dead Queens comes a YA thriller that will make your blood run cold.
The trip of a lifetime might be the death of them all.

The students of LA’s elite Warner Prep can’t wait for their Senior Excursion—five days of Instagrammable adventure in one of the world’s most exclusive locations. This is not your average field trip.

Which is why eight students can’t believe their bad luck when they end up on a digital detox in an isolated Colorado ski chalet. Their epic trip is panning out to be an epic bore . . . until their classmates start dropping in a series of disturbing deaths. The message is clear: this trip is no accident.

And when a blizzard strikes, secrets are revealed, betrayals are exposed, and survival is at stake in a race to the bitter end."


My Review:

A teenage, modern 'And Then There Was None' by Agatha Christie x Clue

'The Bitter End' is a fun thriller, full of twists and turns. 8 wealthy, internet-addicted teens begrudgingly go on their school-mandated Senior Excursion, which includes a total digital detox. Instead of partying while their chaperone sleeps, they stumble upon the bodies of their classmates one-by-one, and have to figure out how to survive the weekend and incoming blizzard.

8 teens, 8 POVs, 2 different timelines - author Alexa Donne put a lot into this book, and it's well worth it. Most of the narration is split amongst only 3 of the characters, so it doesn't get confusing. The second timeline is of a party they all attended 3 years prior, so that's also easy to follow. I particularly love the representation, there's a character with OCD, another with anxiety, another with a little-known connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

Highly recommended for fans of thrillers and mysteries! Pre-order a copy here.

#TheBitterEnd #NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.