'Alchemy of Souls' by Adriana Mather

5 magical stars!

Book Blurb:

"From New York Times-bestselling author Adriana Mather, comes the next big YA dark academia Alchemy of Souls, following two magically bound teens as they race to solve the mystery of an ancient magical key before it’s too late.

Grayson Stone is no stranger to deception. Under the watchful eye of his uncle, the High Chancellor, he has been well-trained in all four types of magic, all while secretly working against his uncle’s corrupt rule. Years of plans depend on him being marked Gifted during his University entrance exam, proving that he is the perfect heir and gaining his uncle’s trust. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned, and he has only one person to Eloise Belrose.

Raised by a family of Laborers, Eloise is the most unlikely student to become a Mage, but through her hard work and long hours spent practicing she is finally admitted to the prestigious Mage University, guaranteeing safety and security for her whole family. Until things go very wrong, and she somehow becomes magically linked to Grayson Stone, the school’s arrogant, annoyingly attractive, golden boy, putting not only her University acceptance, but also her and her family’s lives at risk.

Eloise and Grayson are given less than two weeks to solve an impossible mystery–one that will give the High Chancellor even more power and control—or face the consequences. Forced to room together, with all the same classes, while pretending to date to hide their secret quest, sparks definitely fly. As their feelings grow more real it becomes harder to live the lies they’ve had to tell to survive. With time running out, will they be able to trust the bond between them or will their lies tear them apart forever?"


My Review:

This is a captivating fast-paced YA Fantasy / Dark Academia featuring enemies-to-lovers. Readers get to see inside the minds and motivations of both Grayson and Eloise, as they alternate narrating chapters. 'Alchemy of Souls' is a great book to get lost in, highly recommended!

Releases August 4th, grab a copy here!

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

'Bodies of Magic' by Freya Marske

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Grey’s Anatomy meets A Deadly Education in this dark academia fantasy from USA Today bestselling author Freya Marske.

At the Academie of the Grand Duchy of Sieuxerr, every mage with the healer’s gift has five years to master their power and to prepare for the infamous Grand Exam—a five-day trial whose results will determine their entire future.

The list of exam rules includes:
• You will perform five practical cases.
• Your exam group is chosen at random.
• You pass together, or fail together.

It does not include:
• On the first day, your exam group will find a classmate's dead body in the exam hall.

And as they will soon discover, this particular group all have something to hide... and all have a connection with the dead girl, a brilliant scholar who would have been first in their class.

Five scholars. Five secrets. Five days in which to solve a murder, pass the most important exam of their lives, and uncover a secret larger than all of their own combined. One with the potential to change the world.

Are you ready?"


My Review:

An enjoyable stand-alone Fantasy novel, 'Bodies of Magic' goes deep into the ways a body can malfunction and fail, and gets rather dark with its themes and imagery. This is a great novel for mature readers who heed the content warnings.

Told over the 5 days of Final Exams in magical school for Healing mages, we get to spend time inside the minds of all 5 main characters, with 5 POV's. Author Freya Marske does a great job of weaving together a complex tale of magical healing, politics in academia, a murder mystery, and coming-of-age for each of the narrating characters.

Releasing September 15th - grab your 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 Summer of Second Chances' by K.L. Walther

4.5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Olivia Lupo feels stuck. All her friends have gone on to their first year of college while she's still at home with her family. There's a good reason though, her beloved grandmother, Annie, has dementia, and Olivia can't bear the thought of being so far from home when Annie needs her the most.
So when her stepmother asks the family to spend three weeks of the summer on Martha's Vineyard, Olivia plans to say no...until she discovers an old box Annie filled with photos and memories from her own time there. Olivia decides to follow in her grandmother's footsteps and spend some time on the island that Annie describes as magical.

When she arrives, she meets Connor, a boy from her past who really wants to be a part of her present... and future. Olivia's never thought about forever with someone until meeting Connor...and it scares her. How can she make plans when all she wants to do is keep close to her grandmother before she's gone forever? As she recreates the memories Annie made a lifetime ago, she has to decide if she's finally willing to give someone her heart, just when she needs it the most."


My Review:

Another great YA Contemporary read from author K.L. Walther!  It's a perfect beach read, and it's full of summer vibes to get readers through the months until it's beach season.  'The Summer of Second Chances' is narrated by Olivia Lupo, first love of Connor from 'A First Time for Everything.'  Readers follow Olivia for a summer as she reluctantly joins her family on Martha's Vineyard for a few weeks for her stepmother's parents' wedding anniversary.  Feeling like an outsider in her own family, her focus for the trip is to re-trace her grandmother's steps, in hopes to learn more about her grandmother's time spent on the island. 

Since this book is in the K.L. Walther-verse, we know there is so much in store for Olivia once she gets there - kayaking and boat rides, cliff diving and exploring.  And of course, an all-star cast of familiar faces.  Readers *do not* need to read the 3 companion YA novels prior to this one, but it's truly lovely to see the main characters from the early Walther books here, a bit more grown up and hanging out together.  (Especially for Nana and Grandad Carmichael's wedding anniversary.) 

Releases on May 5th, 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.

'Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights' by Celeste Dador

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A swoony, patriotic romance with Gilmore Girls charm—follow First Daughter Abby as she dives into a summer of surprises, small-town magic, and sparks with the boy who shakes up her world.

What if the person who turns your world upside down is exactly who you're meant to find?

All First Daughter Abby Alzona wanted was one normal night. But one impulsive pizza order later, she’s front-page news—and officially exiled to a Wi-Fi-free country inn for the summer, along with her little sister Elle.

The inn belongs to Gabriel Calabrese’s he’s sarcastic, camera-obsessed, and definitely not dazzled by presidential perks (also, kind of the reason for the whole pizza fiasco). But Abby’s determined to make the most of her time away from the White House—with a summer bucket list full of things real teens get to do. Pool parties. Picnics. Maybe even a first kiss.

As she and Elle dive into small-town life, Abby starts to see what makes Gabriel tick. And maybe, just maybe, she’s falling for him. . . ."


My Review:

This is a great YA Contemporary debut, packed with small town charm, a clean YA romance, and a sheltered teenager's first summer adventures. We follow First Daughter, Abby, as she navigates her younger sister's shenanigans, her first taste of freedom, and her growing feelings for a guy who seems all wrong for her, at first. 

Highly recommended reading!  Pre-order a copy here to begin reading on release day, May 12th!

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

'Big Stick Energy' by Sarina Bowen - New York Legends #2

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A hockey team captain and a bubbly staffer mix business with pleasure when they start fake dating through the wedding season in this hot sports romance perfect for fans of Mariana Zapata​ and Elle Kennedy.

Darcy Kendrick is used to putting out fires. As an overworked admin to a hockey team, she’s seen it all. But nothing prepares her for accidentally DMing her very private, very NSFW fantasy to the subject of this fantasy: team captain Eric Tremaine. Nobody actually dies of embarrassment. Right?

But when a wedding invite puts them on a collision course with her chaotic family and his emotionally fraught past, Eric suggests a plan: they fake-date their way through the “Wedding Experience.” It’s mutually beneficial. Totally strategic. And definitely not real. Except between mini tacos, slow dances and lingering glances, Eric starts to wonder if the sharp-tongued assistant with a bottomless to-do list might be the one person who truly sees him. And for Darcy? The fire in her heart might be the only one she can’t put out.

It’s supposed to be fake. It’s supposed to be temporary. So why is it so hard to walk away?"


My Review:

'Big Stick Energy' works great as a stand-alone, with a smart, independent, and self sufficient leading lady in Darcy, and a gold retriever hockey Captain love interest, Eric.

That being said, it's been so much fun to be back in Sarina Bowen's world of the New York Legends hockey team with a hilarious cast of nosey teammates and their potty mouth GM. I really enjoyed following Darcy and Eric. From trauma-bonding their way through ridiculous 'Wedding Experience' weekends and dealing with their families, to finally giving in and acting on their mutual crushes on each other, 'Big Stick Energy' is wild ride, and a must-read for sports romance fans.

'Big Stick Energy' releases on June 30th, pre-order 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.

‘Rolls and Rivalry’ by Kristy Boyce – Gaming and Romance #3

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D&D with the camaraderie of band camp--from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!

Hazel’s senior year at band camp is set to be epic—until Max, her childhood crush turned drum-playing troublemaker, waltzes back into town. Their sections have always been rivals, but a shared love for Dungeons & Dragons pulls them together, sparking a romance Hazel never saw coming.

Just when things feel perfect, rumors Did Max ask her out because of a lost bet? With band drama mounting and her first D&D game spiraling, Hazel must prove their love—and her leadership—are the real deal. A swoony, nerdy romance full of rivalry, redemption, and roll-the-dice chemistry from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!"

My Review:

This sweet, swoony YA rom-com was a delight to get lost in. Full of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns and clean band camp shenanigans, our childhood friends-to-YA-lovers in forced proximity are so much fun to follow.

Full of witty banter, flirting, and some lovely tender moments, ‘Rolls and Rivalry’ is a must-read!

Releases on May 5, 2026 - pre-order a copy here!

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