'Stardust in Their Veins' (Castles in Their Bones #2) by Laura Sebastian

5 magical stars!

Book Blurb:

"Immerse yourself in the second book in a fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Pricess series. The sequel to Castles in Their Bones is the story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.
Princesses Beatriz and Daphne have lost their older sister, but their mother's grand scheme of taking the continent of Vesteria is far from complete. With the country of Temarin now under the Empress's control, only the nations of Cellaria and Friv remain free from her rule. What's worse, an ominous prophecy has begun to shine through the constellations: the blood of stars and majesty spilled.

Usurped by conniving cousins Nico and Gigi, Beatriz fears for her life, while in icy Friv, Daphne continues her shaky alliance with the rebels even as she struggles to stay a step ahead of them. But when an unlikely ally offers Beatriz a deal, she finds herself back in her mother's sights.

With enemies around every corner and the stars whispering of betrayal, Daphne and Beatriz can't trust anyone--least of all each other. If they've learned anything, though, it's that the Empress's game is constantly changing. And the arrival of surprise visitors from Temarin just might tip the scales in the princesses' favor . . . if they manage to avoid meeting their sister's fate before they can make their next move."


My Review:

'Stardust In Their Veins' is a solid second entry in the 'Castles in Their Bones' series, featuring even more twists and turns, uncovered secrets and court intrigue, and a new POV to follow. Eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

I highly recommend this series for fans of YA Fantasy books with magic, royals and court intrigue.

Grab 'Stardust in Their Veins' on February 7th, 2023!

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

'You Wouldn't Dare' by Samantha Markum

5 stars!

Book Blurb:


"A rom com about trying to have the summer of your life before everything changes – only to realize change might be exactly what you need…

When Juniper Nash Abreheart kissed Graham Isham for the first time, she had no idea it would nearly be the end of their friendship.

More specifically, she had no idea that the terrible, unforgivable thing she did to keep their summer fling a secret wouldn’t just ruin their friendship, but also Graham’s entire life. Now, months since the fallout, Junie and Graham spend most of their time sidestepping conversational landmines on the journey back to normalcy.

Junie is sure the strangeness between her and Graham is her biggest problem – until her mom hires Tallulah, her boyfriend’s surly teenage daughter, to work at their family café, and then announces they’ll all be moving in together at the end of the summer. The only bright spot ahead is Junie’s dad’s upcoming visit, just in time for her community theater production. And then poor turnout soon threatens that.

But when Junie starts to realize the feelings she swore to take care of last summer have lingered, saving her production and managing her hostile relationship with Tallulah might be the least of her problems. Graham isn’t just off limits – their friendship has been mended to barely withstand a breeze, and the gale force of Junie’s feelings could be just what breaks them.
Samantha Markum’s You Wouldn’t Dare is about the risks and triumphs that come with being brave enough to take a chance at what you really want, including love."

My Review:

This is a lighthearted YA Contemporary, full of beachy summertime vibes, in which we follow Junie through a summer full of strong friendships and changing family dynamics. She is an enthusiastic theater kid and is involved in the summer's Community Theater program, to which she and her friends recruit lots of people from their high school to fill the cast of the Shakespeare comedy. Between the cast and crew, there's enough drama and comedy to create a whole second play.

Junie's busy summer also includes working at her mother's restaurant, where she is forced to spend time with Tallulah, the mother's boyfriend's daughter, as a way to manipulate the girls into getting along. Junie does get to enjoy the beach, and theater rehearsal, with her closest friends, including the handsome and witty Graham; her long-time friend and the previous summer's summer fling. Graham's family changed in a drastic way the previous summer and he and Junie are still ironing out the details of their 'friendship' or 'relationship' and it is so much fun to read!

Grab a copy on March 28, 2023!

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

‘The Do-Over’ by Lynn Painter

5 stars!


Book Blurb:

In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.

After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

My Review:

This is a fun and fabulous time-loop YA Contemporary read, highly recommended!

Readers follow our narrating main character, Emilie, as she re-lives Valentine's Day on a loop, trying desperately to reach February 15th. First, four major things seem to fall apart that day; with her car, her boyfriend, her summer plans, and her family. So the first time she gets to re-live the day, she tries a different approach, tries to fix something. Then she tries to fix all of the big things. Emilie is already a people-pleaser and a straight-A student, so she's resourceful and she has ideas, but it seems that the universe, and the time-loop, are out to teach her that not everything is within her control to fix.

Emilie's friends, family, and a fellow student named Nick, play major supporting roles in her day and it's really fun to watch the different interactions she has with them all. Emilie is really easy to root for.

Grab a copy on November 15th!

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

'Begin Again' by Emma Lord

 5 stars!

Book Blurb:

“As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together.

But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack at a time.

But sometimes, when all your plans are in rubble at your feet, you find out what you’re made of. And when Andie starts to find the power of her voice as the anonymous Squire on the school’s legendary pirate radio station–the same one her mom founded, years before she passed away–Andie learns that not all the best laid plans are necessarily the right ones.

Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Begin Again is an unforgettable novel of love and starting again.”

My Review:

It has been an absolute joy to get lost in this world with these relatable, easy-to-root-for characters. As always, I love Emma Lord's writing style and will gladly read anything and everything she ever writes.

'Begin Again' is a coming-of-age story in which we follow Andie through Spring semester of her freshman year at college. She arrives at the school of her dreams with a boyfriend, a plan, and a ton of determination to make everything work. This college is where her parents met and where they left their mark, and Andie is determined to become part of the secret society that her late mother belonged to. For Andie, it's personal, it's about connecting to her past, and she has a plan to achieve it all.

Immediately, her careful plans start falling apart. But her roommate Shay becomes her BFF and their grumpy, coffee-addicted RA helps connect her with a much-needed Work Study job, and Andie discovers fun and found-family in places she wasn't expecting.

'Begin Again' is a heartwarming, fun read and it gave me all the feels. Highly recommended YA Contemporary read.  Grab a copy by January 24, 2023!

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

'Always the Almost' by Edward Underhill

5 stars

Book Blurb:

"A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution on a frozen Wisconsin night to win regionals and win back his ex, but a new boy complicates things in Edward Underhill's heartfelt debut YA rom-dram, Always the Almost.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Year’s resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally beat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest’s biggest classical piano competition. But that’s not going to be so easy. For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane’s stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other. Plus, Miles’ new, slightly terrifying piano teacher keeps telling him that he’s playing like he “doesn’t know who he is”—whatever that means.

Then Miles meets the new boy in town, Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks his pronouns, cares about art as much as he does—and makes his stomach flutter. Not what he needs to be focusing on right now. But after Eric and Miles pretend to date so they can score an invite to a couples-only Valentine’s party, the ruse turns real with a kiss, which is also definitely not in the plan. If only Miles could figure out why Eric likes him so much. After all, it's not like he’s cool or confident or comfortable in his own skin. He’s not even good enough at piano to get his fellow competitors to respect him, especially now, as Miles. Nothing’s ever been as easy for him as for other people—other boys. He’s only ever been almost enough.

So why, when he’s with Eric, does it feel like the only person he’s ever really not been enough for...is himself?"

My Review: 

This is a lovely coming-of-age story in which Miles, our main character, finds queer joy with the help of his piano teacher, love interest, and his friends.  He begins the New Year with two goals; to win upcoming piano competitions and to get back together with his ex-boyfriend.  Readers follow his narration as he learns more about what makes him happy and what music means to him, all while stumbling through messy friendships and relationships, as all teenagers do.

Highly recommended LGBTQIA YA Contemporary read. Out February 14th, pre-order here.

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

'Those Summer Nights' by Laura Silverman

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"After recovering from a life-changing injury, a teen girl must navigate a new summer job, an ex-best friend, and two surprisingly attractive coworkers in this romp of a rom-com for fans of Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian.

Hannah used to be all about focus, back before she shattered her ankle and her Olympic dreams in one bad soccer play. These days, she’s all about distraction—anything to keep the painful memories of her recent past at bay, including the string of bad decisions that landed her at boarding school for a year.

Enter Bonanza, the local entertainment multiplex and site of Hanna’s summer employment. With its mini golf course, bowling alley, and arcade—not to mention her hot, flirty coworker Patrick—Bonanza seems like the perfect way to stay distracted. Until her boss announces the annual Bonanza tournament, a staff competition that brings her past Olympic nightmares crashing back into her present.

On top of that, the Bonanza staff includes Brie, the ex-best friend she cut off last year, and Ethan, her brother’s best friend who became unreasonably attractive in her year away and who accepts her, even knowing her worst secrets. Under the neon lights of Bonanza, Hannah must decide whether she can find a way to discover a new self in the midst of her old life."

My Review:

Excellent YA Contemporary read, full of fun summer vibes. We follow Hannah as she picks up the pieces of the previous summer when she lashed out at everyone around her after losing both her grandmother and the sport she lived for. She sets out to achieve the four goals outlined by her parents, so that she can complete her senior year of high school at her old school, rather than being sent away again.

At first, Hannah just goes through the motions; she gets a job, she's nice to her family and co-workers, and she plans to basically 'fake it' with her parents' list. Until her job and co-workers turn out to be lots of fun, and reconnecting with her brother and old friends turns out to heal the soul. And her brother's best friend? He grew up in the year she was away.

Out now! 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.

'The Make-Up Test' by Jenny L. Howe

 4.5 stars

Book Blurb:

 
“In this smart, swoony, rom-com debut from Jenny L. Howe The Make-Up Test, two college exes find themselves battling against each other―and their unresolved feelings―for a spot in a prestigious literature Ph.D. program.
 
Allison Avery loves to win. After acing every academic challenge she’s come up against, she’s finally been accepted into her dream Ph.D. program at Claymore University, studying medieval literature under a professor she’s admired for years. Sure, grad school isn’t easy—the classes are intense, her best friend is drifting away, and her students would rather pull all-nighters than discuss The Knight's Tale—but she’s got this. Until she discovers her ex-boyfriend has also been accepted. Colin Benjamin might be the only person who loves winning more than Allison does, and when they're both assigned to TA for the same professor, the game is on.

What starts as a personal battle of wits (and lit) turns into all-out war when their professor announces a career-changing research trip opportunity—with one spot to fill. Competing with Colin is as natural as breathing, and after he shattered her heart two years ago, Allison refuses to let him come out on top. But when a family emergency and a late night road trip—plus a very sexy game of Scrabble—throw them together for a weekend, she starts to wonder if they could be stronger on the same team. And if they fall for each other all over again, Allison will have to choose between a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and what could be a twice-in-a-lifetime love.
 
Charmingly bookish and unequivocally fat positive, The Make-Up Test embraces the truth that people can sometimes change and grow, even when you least expect it.”

My Review:

This is a delightful New Adult Contemporary, set in graduate school where Allison and her ex, Colin, must work together as TAs (teaching assistants) for the same professor. Competing against is each other is nothing new, but as time goes on, Allison's old feelings for Colin start coming back, and maybe he's no longer as awful as she remembers.

Grab your copy by September 13^th  

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

'The Liar’s Crown' by Abigail Owen

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

“One born to rule. One to forfeit…

Everything about my life is a lie. As a hidden twin princess, born second, I have only one purpose—to sacrifice my life for my sister if death comes for her. I’ve been living under the guise of a poor, obscure girl of no standing, slipping into the palace and into the role of the true princess when danger is present.

Now the queen is dead and the ageless King Eidolon has sent my sister a gift—an eerily familiar gift—and a proposal to wed. I don’t trust him, so I do what I was born to do and secretly take her place on the eve of the coronation. Which is why, when a figure made of shadow kidnaps the new queen, he gets me by mistake.

As I try to escape, all the lies start to unravel. And not just my lies. The Shadowraith who took me has secrets of his own. He struggles to contain the shadows he wields—other faces, identities that threaten my very life.

Winter is at the walls. Darkness is looming. And the only way to save my sister and our dominion is to kill Eidolon…and the Shadowraith who has stolen my heart.”

My Review:

This is a beautiful YA Fantasy read with rich world building, complex and well-developed characters, and a PG slow-burn romance. So well done, this gets all the stars! Highly recommended!

Pre-order your copy before it's release on August 30, 2022!

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

'The Wicked Remain' (Grimrose Girls #2) by Laura Pohl

5 enchanted stars!

Book Blurb:

“At Grimrose Académie, the fairy-tale deaths continue. And unless the curse is broken, one of the girls could be next.

Nani, Yuki, Ella, and Rory have discovered the truth about the curse that's left a trail of dead bodies at Grimrose. But the four still know nothing of its origins, or how to stop the cycle of doomed fates.

And each girl harbors her own secret. One is learning why she was brought to the school. One struggles to keep her new and deadly power under control. One knows exactly how much time she has left.

And one, trying to escape her dark destiny, will come even closer to fulfilling it.

Can the girls change their own stories and break the curse? Or must one of them die to end it forever?“

My Review:

'The Wicked Remain' contains a satisfying conclusion to the 'Grimrose Girls' duology, after our four narrators learn much more about the curse and those around them.  After the events in 'Grimrose Girls,' the wicked do, indeed, remain.  While one piece of the puzzle was resolved, the four friends have much investigating left to do, in order to discover the greater mystery of the curse that affects them all.

Once again, I enjoyed the variety of representation: F/F pairing, characters who are pan, on the ace and aro spectrums, and also chronic illness, mental health, and neurodiversity rep.

Pre-order your copy before it's release on November 1, 2022!

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com

'Violet Made of Thorns' (Violet Made of Thorns #1)

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

“A darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.”

Author’s Message:

“Violet Made of Thorns is my fairytale love story for cynics. It isn't very pretty sometimes, kind of messy all of the time, but hopeful despite it all—or at least, I think so.

I wrote Violet for those who feel they only relate to the "unrelatable" characters—the ones who are too cold, too proud, too much and not enough at the same time. Violet isn't your role model or your #girlboss (one of my peeves is ambition being uncritical shorthand for "strong" among heroines, when power is complicated and rarely scrupulous); she is her own contrary character: a prickly girl carving a place for herself in a world she doesn't believe in.

That aside—the story is fun! There's banter and dramatics and princely shirts torn asunder! It borrows elements from fairytales, nods to them, and gets kind of meta with them (but it's not a retelling). As for the romance, it's a bit of an...intense love/hate situation. Think childhood it's complicated-to-it's still complicated.

Well, you'll see.”

My Review:

Excellent fantasy read, highly recommended.

This beautiful YA fantasy tale incorporates elements of the fairy tales we know and love into a unique and original magical story where it’s the not-so-charming prince that needs saving.  ‘Violet’ kept me on my toes, with a snarky, relatable narration style and a few surprise twists.  I’m excited for the next book in this series, and am looking forward to seeing what author Gina Chen writes next.

Pre-order your copy of 'Violet Made of Thorns', releasing on July 26th!

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

‘The Starburst Effect’ by Kelly Oram

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

 
“Lily Rosemont lives next door to the biggest jerk in high school. Noah Trask has bullied Lily for years, and now he’s ruined her senior year by making her a target and turning the whole school against her. On top of that, her parents are getting divorced, and her world is falling apart around her.

After an accident on the football field leaves Noah with a traumatic brain injury, shattering his life as he knew it and leaving him with a whole heap of new disabilities, he’s no longer at the top of the high school food chain. In fact, he’s right down at the bottom with Lily.

In a cruel twist of fate, if Noah wants to graduate high school on time, he needs Lily’s help to complete a project—a book he wants to write about his experience. Lily’s not sure she can put aside her anger and hate for the boy who destroyed her senior year, but she desperately needs this project to get a scholarship to college.

It doesn’t take long for Lily to realize that the Noah who got injured is not the same Noah who survived the accident. He’s different. Way different. Slowly, Lily softens to this new Noah, but can she find it in her heart to forgive him? Can the two most unlikely people find friendship in adversity and help each other pick up the pieces of their broken lives? “

My Review:

What happens when the school’s quarterback and biggest bully is shunned by the in-crowd and made fun of after a football injury?  What happens if the girl next door was his biggest bullying target, but everything changes after his injury?  Dig into this well-written YA Contemporary to find out!

The Starburst Effect is both the title of the book, and another way to say concussion, or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  Noah, the love interest, was the captain and quarterback of his high school football team until he got knocked down really hard during a game, resulting in a concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury.  Author Kelly Oram does a great job showing how serious the TBI is and the many ways it creates challenges in Noah’s daily life.  The concussion is handled realistically and it respects the fact that Noah has retained his knowledge, it’s just being accessed differently.

The TBI, and all its cognitive and psychological challenges, give Noah a new perspective on everything in his life, and he doesn’t mind that his former friends turn on him.  The in-crowd and top bullies in the school, his ex-girlfriend and fellow football teammates, now laugh at his expense, at how different he seems.  But it doesn’t bother him.  It’s when Noah gets close to Lily, the girl living next door to him, that the bullying bothers him – because his former friends are bullying her.

Lily has never done anything to the high school jock living next to her; she has no idea what won his attention and contempt.  It seems that being neighbors put her at the disadvantage of being nearby when the school’s most popular crowd comes and goes from Noah’s house, and Noah himself starts the most vicious of all the bullying – right before getting injured on the football field.

Lily is facing multiple challenges all at once, she’s losing friends due to the bullying and she’s taking care of her younger brother, all while trying to pretend that her parents deciding to get divorced doesn’t bother her so much.  She may even be losing scholarship opportunities for college because she’s closed herself off in order to cope with it all.  She desperately wants to go away for college and escape all the bad things happening all around her, so she joins forces with Noah in a school sanctioned Independent Study, to help him write a book about his TBI experience.

As Lily gets to know post-accident Noah, she realizes that his values and priorities have truly changed.  Despite her best efforts, sparks fly between the two of them, and the PG romance that follows is sweet and heartwarming.

Grab a copy on June 20^th!

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

'Fireworks' by Alice Lin

4 stars

"A pitch-perfect K-pop rom com! Fame and friendship can get complicated, especially when there are more than platonic feelings at play.

Seventeen-year-old Lulu Li has her last summer before college all planned out. But her plans go awry when she learns that Kite Xu, her old next-door neighbor and childhood friend, will be returning home from South Korea.

Lulu hasn't seen Kite since eighth grade, after he left the country to pursue a career in K-pop, eventually debuting in the boy group Karnival. When Karnival announces that Kite will be taking a break from K-pop activities for mysterious reasons, the opportunity to rekindle their friendship arises.

Star-struck and nostalgic, Lulu tries to reconnect with Kite. As they continue to bond and reminisce over the past, Kite's sister, Connie, warns Lulu not to get too close to her brother. The harder Lulu tries to deny her feelings, the stronger they get. But how could a K-pop star ever fall for a nobody from home? And even if he did, is there any way for their relationship to end but badly?

Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it."

My Review:

Very cute YA contemporary about when the boy next door becomes a K-pop star in another country and then comes home for the summer. Childhood best friends and neighbors, Lulu and Kite have not seen each other since the end of eighth grade. Kite is now firmly established as a member of a K-pop group and Lulu and her friends just graduated from high school. I enjoyed watching as they caught up on all the things they missed over their years apart, and how their friendship turns into something more, slowly and sweetly.

‘Fireworks’ lights up bookshelves on June 7, 2022.

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

'Misrule' (Malice Duology #2) by Heather Walter

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

“Did they break the curse, or begin one? Sleeping Beauty's dark sorceress reclaims her story in this sequel to Malice.

The Dark Grace is dead.

Feared and despised for the sinister power in her veins, Alyce has spent 100 years wreaking her revenge on the kingdom that made her an outcast. Once a realm of decadence and beauty, Briar is now wholly Alyce's wicked domain. No one escapes the consequences of her wrath.

Not even the one person who holds her heart.

Princess Aurora saw through Alyce's thorny facade, earning a love that promised the dawn of a new age. But that love came with a heavy price: Aurora now sleeps under a curse that even Alyce's vast power cannot seem to break, and their dream of the world they would have built together is nothing but ash.

Alyce vows to do anything to wake the woman she loves, even if it means descending into the monster Briar believed her to be. But could Aurora ever love the villain Alyce has become?

Or is true love only for fairy tales?”

My Review:
 
What if Sleeping Beauty *did* sleep for a hundred years? What if Maleficent spent that time trying to wake her? Author Heather Walter has crafted a detailed High Fantasy novel to help us find out. Once again, we follow Alyce's lovely and flowing narration as she allies herself with Demons, Shifters, Imps, and other Vila to transform Aurora's Kingdom of Briar into the Dark Court. When Aurora is finally awakened from her hundred years' slumber, everything about her world has changed around her. Oh, and there's a pesky Prince.

Highly recommended for fans of all fairy-tale retellings and F/F pairings. ‘Malice’ and 'Misrule' will also likely appeal to readers who enjoy vivid descriptions of palaces, court wardrobes, makeup, and food, such as in ‘The Selection’ series.

Grab a copy on May 10^th

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

'Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake' (Untitled series #2) by Mazey Eddings

4 stars

 
Book Blurb:
 

“Lizzie has made endless mistakes. Kitchen fires, pyramid schemes, bangs (of the hair and human variety), you name it, she’s done it… and made a mess of it too. One mistake she’s never made is letting anyone get closer to her than a single hook-up. But after losing yet another bakery job due to her uncontrolled ADHD, she breaks her cardinal rule and has a two-night-stand that changes everything.

Once burned, twice shy, Rake has given up on relationships. And feelings. And any form of intimacy for that matter. Yet something about charming, chaotic Lizzie has him lowering his guard. For two nights, that is. Then it’s back home to Australia and far away from the pesky feelings Lizzie pulls from him. But when Lizzie tells him she’s got an unexpected bun in the oven, he’ll do whatever it takes to be a part of his child’s life… except be emotionally vulnerable, obviously. He’s never going to make that mistake again.

Through a series of mishaps, totally “platonic” single bed sharing, and an underground erotic baking scheme, Lizzie and Rake learn that even the biggest mistakes can have the most beautiful consequences. ”

My Review:

Really enjoyed following Lizzie and Rake as their lives change forever from their two-night-stand.  Lizzie has untreated ADHD and often feels like her brain works against her.  Though her family and previous employers misinterpret this and assume she is lazy, Lizzie puts a lot of effort into conforming to neurotypical standards, such as not forgetting things and to sticking to schedules.  It’s not her fault that her neurodiverse brain doesn’t easily fit society’s strict mold of neurotypical behavior.  But years reactions to her being ‘late’ and ‘forgetful’ and ‘different’ have chipped away at her confidence and self-esteem.

Her closest friends see the real Lizzie, and so does Rake.  He is instantly understanding and supportive of Lizzie, and he’s fascinated and curious about how her mind works.  Rake is drawn to her energy, enthusiasm, and creativity and appreciates the way her mind interprets the world around them.

Though they set out to be platonic co-parents who live together, their biggest challenge becomes fighting their attraction to one another. 

This wonderful rom-com can be enjoyed by Adult Contemporary and Romance readers, and also upper Young Adult Contemporary readers. The characters are in their mid-twenties and juggle their careers with family expectations and interference by hilariously nosey friends.  There are lots of relatable moments for neurodiverse readers whose brains don’t work the same way neurotypicals’ brains do.

Pre-order here.

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

'Three Kisses, One Midnight' by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, Evelyn Skye

5 magical stars!

Book Blurb:

“Three New York Times bestselling authors—Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, and Evelyn Skye—craft a delicious concoction of storytelling about best friends who discover that love is the most powerful magic of all.

This Halloween, magic will reawaken in the town of Moon Ridge, and any love forged that night will last forever. At least, that’s what the founder’s fable says, and best friends Onny, Ash, and True—better known as “The Coven”—aren’t taking any chances.

After brewing a supposed love potion from a recipe passed down by Onny’s grandmother, each member of The Coven sets off to try to charm the love of their life. One falls for an unexpected suitor. Another paints himself into a corner. And the third refuses to believe in magic at all… until true love proves her wrong.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before meets Gilmore Girls: Three Kisses, One Midnight will put you under its spell and keep you reading long past the witching hour!”

My Review:

'Three Kisses, One Midnight' is beautiful, atmospheric, and full of magic. It is comprised of three novellas, told one at a time, by each of member of 'The Coven' - besties Onny, Ash, and True. The novellas are set in chronological order and easy to follow.

The events occur around a masquerade ball in a castle-like mansion on Halloween, and magic is in the air. This is the perfect book to get readers in the spirit of all things Halloween, magical, and spooky.

I love how different the three friends are and how supportive they are of each other. Onny, Ash, and True each learn something about themselves as the night unfolds and plans go awry in rather humorous ways. I also enjoy the nods to 'Hocus Pocus' and the minor fairy-tale vibes throughout.

Pre-order links here.

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

'Stealing Infinity' (Stolen Beauty #1) by Alyson Noel

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

"My life goes completely sideways the moment I meet the mysterious Braxton. Sure, he’s ridiculously hot, but he’s also the reason I’ve been kicked out of school and recruited into Gray Wolf Academy—a remote island school completely off the grid. I never should have trusted a face so perfect.

But the reality of why Gray Wolf wanted me is what truly blows my mind. It’s a school for time travelers. Tripping, they call it. This place is filled with elaborate costumes and rare artifacts, where every move is strategic and the halls are filled with shadows and secrets.

Here, what you see isn’t always what it appears. Including Braxton. Because even though there’s an energy connecting us together, the more secrets he keeps from me, the more it feels like something is pulling us apart. Something that has to do with this place—and its darker purpose. It’s all part of a guarded, elaborate puzzle of history and time…and I might be one of the missing pieces.

Now I have all the time in the world. And yet I can’t shake the feeling that time is the one thing I’m about to run out of…fast."

My Review:

Captivating read about a mysterious school for time travelers where everyone has secrets. This book is fun and full of intrigue.

I really enjoyed following Natasha's narrating as she is swept up in this new world of luxury and mystery. She is recruited to a fancy boarding school located on a private island and trains to catch up to the rest of the students, for time travel missions. Along the way, she tries to fight the chemistry sizzling between her and the "ridiculously hot" Braxton.

Releasing June 28, 2022 - grab a copy!

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

'Home Field Advantage' by Dahlia Adler

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

“In this sweet and funny new f/f romance from the author of Cool for the Summer, a cheerleader and the school's newest quarterback are playing to win, but might lose their hearts in the process.

Amber McCloud’s dream is to become cheer captain at the end of the year, but it’s an extra-tall order to be joyful and spirited when the quarterback of your team has been killed in a car accident. For both the team and the squad, watching Robbie get replaced by newcomer Jack Walsh is brutal. And when it turns out Jack is actually short for Jaclyn, all hell breaks loose.

The players refuse to be led by a girl, the cheerleaders are mad about the changes to their traditions, and the fact that Robbie’s been not only replaced but outshined by a QB who wears a sports bra has more than a few Atherton Alligators in a rage. Amber tries for some semblance of unity, but it quickly becomes clear that she's only got a future on the squad and with her friends if she helps them take Jack down.

Just one problem: Amber and Jack are falling for each other, and if Amber can't stand up for Jack and figure out how to get everyone to fall in line, her dream may come at the cost of her heart.

Dahlia Adler's Home Field Advantage is a sparkling romance about fighting for what - or who - you truly want.”

 
My Review:
 
Cheerleader Amber 'Loud' McCloud is disappointed in her small-minded football team for not welcoming or following their new quarterback Jack (short for Jaclyn) Walsh. Things get interesting when the girls find themselves falling for each other, and author Dahlia Adler made the excellent choice to give us both girls' POV.
 
Excellent LGBTQIAP+ inclusive YA Contemporary read!  Available on June 7th.
 
#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'My Mechanical Romance' by Alexene Farol Follmuth

 5 stars!

 
Book Blurb:
 
“Nerds are so hot.
Especially battle robot building nerds.

Bel would rather die than think about the future. College apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel—and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesn't seem to like her either.

Enter Mateo Luna, captain of the club, who recognizes Bel as a potential asset—until they start butting heads. Bel doesn’t care about Nationals, while Teo cares too much. But as the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize they've built more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they’ve made space for each other and themselves.

This sharply funny, academic rivals to lovers romance explores both the challenges girls of color face in STEM and the vulnerability of first love with unfailing wit and honesty.”


My Review:
 
Really great YA Contemporary read!  Robotics, check. WOC in STEM, check. Smart main character and love interest, complete with witty banter, check. Parental and societal expectations causing realistic and relatable issues, check.  This one is lots of fun.

Available on May 31st.

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

‘So This Is Ever After’ by F.T. Lukens

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

“Carry On meets Arthurian legend in this funny, subversive young adult fantasy about what happens after the chosen one wins the kingdom and has to get married to keep it…and to stay alive.

Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.

As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.

With his eighteenth birthday only three months away, and only Matt in on the secret, Arek embarks on a desperate bid to find a spouse to save his life—starting with his quest companions. But his attempts at wooing his friends go painfully and hilariously wrong…until he discovers that love might have been in front of him all along.” 

My Review:

I really enjoyed this hilarious fantasy novel as we follow Arek in the months after he and his group (a mage, thief, bard, warrior, and fighter) fulfilled their prophecy and saved a kingdom from an evil sorcerer. These accidental heroes, with no background or training for ruling, stumble through the process of winning the loyalty of their local peasants and the nearby kingdoms, in spectacularly comical fashion. Driving the plot forward is the irreversible magical law that requires the person wearing the crown to be soul-bound by their eighteenth birthday. It's quite funny to watch Arek try to woo his friends, and his narration style is the height of comedy.

Excellent LGBTQIAP+ inclusive YA Fantasy read!  Grab a copy on March 29th!

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

'I Kissed Shara Wheeler' by Casey McQuiston

 5 stars!

Book Blurb:
 
“From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need...

Chloe Green is so close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she’s spent the past four years dodging gossipy classmates and a puritanical administration at Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that’s kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s perfect progeny.

But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes.

On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s longtime quarterback sweetheart, and Rory, Shara’s bad boy neighbor with a crush. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the annoyingly cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara’s trail of clues and find her. It’ll be worth it, if Chloe can drag Shara back before graduation to beat her fair-and-square.

Thrown into an unlikely alliance, chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe—probably not, but maybe—more to Shara, too.

Fierce, funny, and frank, Casey McQuiston's I Kissed Shara Wheeler is about breaking the rules, getting messy, and finding love in unexpected places.”


My Review:

This is a fantastic sapphic YA Thriller/Mystery! Author Casey McQuiston kept me guessing through quite a bit of this novel. There are some truly heart-warming moments and a wonderful LGBTQIAP+ cast.
 
Don't miss this one! – Grab a copy on May 3^rd.

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

'Lia and Beckett's Abracadabra' by Amy Noelle Parks

4 magical stars

Book Blurb:

“A star-crossed YA rom-com that has the charm of Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes and the magic of Now You See Me

Seventeen-year-old Lia Sawyer is thrilled to get a mysterious invitation from her grandmother to compete in a stage magic contest––even though her parents object. But she’s going to be judged by a bunch of old-school magicians who think that because she’s a girl, her only magical talents lie in wearing sparkly dresses, providing distractions, and getting sawed, crushed, or stretched. And Lia can’t ask her grandmother for help because she’s disappeared, leaving behind only her best magic tricks, a few obscure clues, and an order to stay away from Blackwell boys, the latest generation of a rival magic family. Lia totally plans to follow her grandmother’s rule––until the cute boy she meets on the beach turns out to be Beckett Blackwell, son of the biggest old guard magical family there is. Witty and romantic, Lia and Beckett’s Abracadabra is a YA rom-com with a magical twist!”

My Review:

This adorable YA rom-com was lots of fun. The plot centers around a few families of stage magicians and we follow our main character and narrator, Lia, as she attempts to solve a mystery. Her relationship with star-crossed love interest, Beckett, starts off slowly, as there is great distrust between the ladies of her family and the men of his.

Come for the stage magic, stay for the witty banter and teenage summer shenanigans.  Available on July 5^th.

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

'Castles in Their Bones' (Castles in their Bones #1) by Laura Sebastian

 5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens. And now, age sixteen, they each must leave their homeland and marry their princes.

Beautiful, smart, and demure, the triplets appear to be the perfect brides—because Margaraux knows there is one common truth: everyone underestimates a girl. Which is a grave mistake. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are no innocents. They have been trained since birth in the arts of deception, seduction, and violence with a singular goal—to bring down monarchies— and their marriages are merely the first stage of their mother’s grand vision: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.

The princesses have spent their lives preparing, and now they are ready, each with her own secret skill, and each with a single wish, pulled from the stars. Only, the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers.

Life abroad is a test. Will their loyalties stay true? Or will they learn that they can’t trust anyone—not even each other?"

My Review:

I greatly enjoyed this magical tale. I'm so glad readers can see inside the thoughts of each sister, as they alternate narrating chapters. I love how different each triplet's personality is, and how their betrothals sent them each into such different royal courts. It was great fun to watch how their training led them to maneuver the various obstacles and challenging people in their way.

Author Laura Sebastian keeps readers captivated with twists and surprises and some light romance with fairly fleshed-out supporting characters.

Highly recommended for fans of YA Fantasy books with magic, royals and court intrigue.  Grab 'Castles in Their Bones' on February 1st!

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