'Dungeons and Drama' by Kristy Boyce

5 stars!!

Book Blurb:

"When it comes to romance, sometimes it doesn't hurt to play games. A fun YA romcom full of fake dating hijinks!

Musical lover Riley has big aspirations to become a director on Broadway. Crucial to this plan is to bring back her high school’s spring musical, but when Riley takes her mom’s car without permission, she's grounded and stuck with the worst punishment: spending her after-school hours working at her dad’s game shop.

Riley can't waste her time working when she has a musical to save, so she convinces Nathan—a nerdy teen employee—to cover her shifts and, in exchange, she’ll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous.

But Riley didn’t realize that meant joining Nathan's Dungeons & Dragons game…or that role playing would be so fun. Soon, Riley starts to think that flirting with Nathan doesn't require as much acting as she would've thought..."


My Review:

Talented Theater Kid, Riley, and Gamer Nerd, Nathan, have the sweetest YA slow-burn relationship I’ve ever read. They begin fake-dating when they become co-workers at Riley’s father’s game store, and as they come closer to achieving their original goals for the fake relationship, Riley’s real feelings for Nathan catch her by surprise.

'Dungeons and Drama' is a YA coming of age novel in which we follow Riley as she learns that there are more important things in life than driving to a musical theater show without a driver’s license, in the dark.  We get to watch Riley join Nathan’s Dungeons & Dragons game and learn that role-playing is quite similar to singing and acting, and like all the musical shows she so enjoys. This brings her some relief as she endeavors to convince her high school to not cut the funding for their Spring musical.

Riley and Nathan have been living in my head rent-free since I finished reading. I couldn't put this one down, it's so very good! This is my favorite book by author Kristy Boyce, and I love all 3 of her Contemporary YA novels.  Releasing on January 9, 2024, grab a copy!

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

'‘Reign’ (American Royals #4) by Katharine McGee

5 stars!!

Book Blurb:

"A queen's life hangs in the balance, and her siblings’ decisions—about what to do, and most of all, who to love—could change the course of history. Romance. Duty. Power...only one can triumph in this stunning conclusion to the New York Times bestselling American Royals series.

America's royal family is in shambles. Queen Beatrice is in a coma and Princess Samantha has gone missing—from the look of things, she ran away with her boyfriend, Lord Marshall Davis. Which means that Prince Jefferson is currently on the throne. For some in America, it's exactly what they wanted: a King ruling the country. And for Daphne Deighton, who has tricked Jefferson into dating her again, it's the ultimate dream come true.

Surely this is all just temporary. Won’t Beatrice wake up and reclaim her rightful place? Samantha can't really be gone…can she? And Prince Jefferson will never truly be over his childhood crush, Nina Gonzalez. Right?

For the Washington family, the stakes are higher than ever. Love might save the throne….if secrets don’t destroy everything first."


My Review:

As the final entry in the ‘American Royals’ series, ‘Reign’ brings us to the end of a year in the life of America's royal family. We've followed them closely from one December to the next, with detailed glimpses of the June before and the June after. We've learned a lot about their lives prior to when the narration begins, and we have detailed accounts of the June prior to this series beginning, the fateful night of the Washington twins high school graduation party where so much changed. The epilogue gives us a glimpse of where our beloved characters end up the following June, and provides hints of where they're heading.

But it's that year in the life of the Washington royal family that we follow closely. The year that so much changes for each of our narrating ladies, and for the royal family at large.

I really enjoyed this fourth and final installment in the ‘American Royals’ series! It was great to be back with these characters and to watch (even more) drama, secrets, and young romances unfold. My favorite parts were the growth for so many of these beloved characters; both the narrating ladies and the gentlemen in their inner circle.

Though we follow the same four ladies as narrators, readers also get to spend quite a lot of time with Prince Jefferson in this book, and that might be my absolute favorite part of ‘Reign’ – that Prince Jefferson is on the page nearly as much as any of the narrators, and that we get to watch him grow and mature, too.

Grab a copy!

Book 1 - 'American Royals'

Book 2 - 'Majesty'

Book 3 - 'Rivals'

Book 4 - 'Reign'

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

'The Borrow a Boyfriend Club' by Page Powars

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A feel-good, coming-of-age rom-com from debut author Page Powars that follows a trans teen who joins a boyfriend borrowing service masquerading as an Italian Club to prove that he’s one of the guys, especially to its frustratingly handsome leader.
Noah Byrd is the perfect boy. At least, that’s what he needs to convince his new classmates of to prove his gender. His plan? Join the school’s illustrious (and secret) Borrow a Boyfriend Club, whose members rent themselves out for dates. Once he’s accepted among the bros, the “slip-ups” end.

But Noah’s interview is a flop. Desperate, he strikes a deal with the club’s prickly but attractive president, Asher. Noah will help them win an annual talent show—and in return, he’ll get a second shot to demonstrate his boyfriend skills in a series of tests that include romancing Asher himself.

If Noah can’t bring home the win, his best chance to prove that he’s man enough is gone. Yet even if he succeeds, he still loses . . . because the most important rule of the Borrow a Boyfriend Club is simple: no real boyfriends (or girlfriends) allowed.

And as long as the club remains standing as high as Asher’s man bun, Noah and Asher can never explore their growing feelings for one another."


My Review:

Greatly enjoyed this coming-of-age story in which we follow Noah as he tries to prove himself 'man enough' to everyone in his life, and learns to accept himself along the way. His new high school's Borrow A Boyfriend Club fronts as a Football and Lamborghini Club, and it's so much fun to watch all the ways they hide its true purpose from the teachers.

Noah starts out on the wrong foot with the club's President, the prickly Asher Price. Unfortunately, it's Asher who will decide if Noah can join, and one of the challenges on the way to achieving membership is 'Romancing the President'.

How will Noah come to accept that he is, in fact, man enough? How does he win over the club's members and president? Grab a copy - it's a lot of fun to follow along and find out!

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

'What Happens After Midnight' by K.L. Walther

5 stars!!

Book Blurb:

"Lily Hopper has two more weeks until she's officially finished with boarding school. With graduation quickly approaching Lily is worried that she's somehow missed out on the fun of being in high school. So, when she receives a mysterious note inviting her to join the anonymous senior class Jester in executing the end-of-year prank, Lily sees her chance to put her goody-two-shoes reputation behind her.


When Lily realizes the Jester is none other than Taggart Swell, her ex- boyfriend, she's already in too deep to back out. Lily might've dumped Tag, but she still has major feelings. Plus, his brilliant plan to steal the school's yearbooks, targets none other than Lilly's prom date: the Senior Class President, Daniel.

As the group of pranksters hide cryptic clues across campus for Daniel to find, Lily and Tag find themselves in close quarters. As the exes dodge Campus Safety guards, night owl teachers, a troop of freshmen, and even Daniel himself, new sparks fly. But old hurts and painful secrets refuse to be ignored. And with graduation on the horizon, Lily can only hope that breaking the rules will help mend her heart."


My Review:

Author K.L. Walther knocks it out of the park, yet again! I had a wonderful time following Lily and Tag on a guided tour of memories as they (the Jester and his Fools, including Lily) spend from midnight-until-dawn hiding clues for their Senior Class President to follow in order to recover the stolen yearbooks. Watching what happens next, as they go through the last 2 weeks of senior year, including prom, is lots of fun.

Don't miss this one!  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.

'Going Bicoastal' by Dahlia Adler

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A queer Sliding Doors YA rom-com in which a girl must choose between summer in NYC with her dad (and the girl she's always wanted) or LA with her estranged mom (and the guy she never saw coming).
In Dahlia Adler’s Going Bicoastal, there’s more than one path to happily ever after.

Natalya Fox has twenty-four hours to make the biggest choice of her life: stay home in NYC for the summer with her dad (and finally screw up the courage to talk to the girl she's been crushing on), or spend it with her basically estranged mom in LA (knowing this is the best chance she has to fix their relationship, if she even wants to.) (Does she want to?)

How's a girl supposed to choose?

She can't, and so both summers play out in alternating timelines - one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mom, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the girl she's always wanted. And one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mom, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the guy she never saw coming."


My Review:

This is a fantastic YA rom-com with a wonderful LGBTQIAP+ cast. We follow Natalya through the summer; both if she chooses to stay in New York City with her Dad, and also if she chooses to spend the time visiting her Mom in Los Angeles. In NYC, she gets to explore a relationship with her long-standing crush, a beautiful redhead named Elly, while going on adventures with Elly's friends and sees a whole new side of NYC. In LA, she she falls for Adam, the other intern at her Mom's office and has adventures with Adam, his brother, and their friends. Both scenarios offer a coming-of-age story and Natalya finishes the summer with ideas about college, a job prospect she's excited about, and she's really happy in her romantic relationship.

Grab your copy of this excellent LGBTQIAP+ inclusive YA Contemporary read!

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

'Something More' by Jackie Khalilieh

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"A contemporary teen romance novel featuring a Palestinian-Canadian girl trying to hide her autism diagnosis while navigating her first year of high school, for fans of Jenny Han and Samira Ahmed.

Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in color is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script."


My Review:

15-year-old Jessie is a fantastic and relatable neurodivergent teen. I had a blast following her through her freshman year of high school, the first crush who likes her back, and making new friends. It was great to able to see her thoughts as she tries to find her place - with all these new friends and within the high school setting itself - by adjusting her masking.

When she catches glimpses of herself without her mask in place, she realizes that she is growing into herself, even under all the masking. Jessie has to decide if she likes who she's becoming, as we all do.

Grab a copy on June 6th!

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

'Hot Dutch Daydream' by Kristy Boyce

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Rom-com lovers and fans of Elise Bryant and Jenna Evans Welch will adore this next summer read from Hot British Boyfriend author Kristy Boyce.

No one has ever accused Sage Cunningham of being easily distracted. She has a plan, and she won't be swayed. She'll spend the summer interning in her mentor's lab in Amsterdam, and then she'll be ready for college. All she needs to do to pay for the summer abroad is agree to serve as the au pair for Dr. Reese's three-year-old.

Sage has it all down to a science, but she doesn't anticipate the surprise arrival of Dr. Reese's teenage son. Ryland is spontaneous, flirty, and impulsive--everything Sage isn't. He's a talented artist, but he's desperately in need of someone to keep him focused. And as nannying proves harder than Sage had expected, it turns out she might need help too.

The two strike a deal. Sage will stop Ryland from going out with a different girl every day, and Ryland will pitch in with his little brother.

Spending the summer stuck together is the perfect way to keep distractions to a minimum. Right?"


My Review:

Excellent companion novel to 'Hot British Boyfriend' though readers do not need to read 'HBB' to enjoy this one.

Readers follow hard-working go-getter Sage as she spends the summer in Amsterdam, volunteering in her mentor's lab and preparing a poster for a prestigious conference, while babysitting her mentor's 3-year-old. When her mentor's teenaged son, Ryland, unexpectedly returns home for the summer, Sage is surprised by how distracted she is. Though she tries to concentrate on her daytime babysitting duties and evenings-and-weekends data entry for the lab, Sage soon finds herself appreciating Ryland's help with his brother and his companionship while they each work.

It's lots of fun to watch Sage fall for Ryland, despite her own best efforts. This is a very cute romantic comedy YA Contemporary with easy-to-root for characters and excellent character development. Highly recommended!

Grab your copy here!

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

'Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success' by Jessica Parra

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Graduation is only a few months away, and so far Rubi Ramos’s recipe for success is on track.

*Step 1: Get into the prestigious Alma University.
*Step 2: Become incredibly successful lawyer.

But when Alma waitlists Rubi’s application, her plan is in jeopardy. Her parents–especially her mom, AKA the boss–have wanted this for her for years. In order to get off the waitlist without her parents knowing, she needs math tutoring from surfer-hottie math genius Ryan, lead the debate team to a championship–and remember the final step of the recipe.

*Step 3: Never break the ban on baking.

Rubi has always been obsessed with baking, daydreaming up new concoctions and taking shifts at her parents’ celebrated bakery. But her mother dismisses baking as a distraction–her parents didn’t leave Cuba so she could bake just like them.

But some recipes are begging to be tampered with…

When the First Annual Bake Off comes to town, Rubi’s passion for baking goes from subtle simmer to full boil. She’s not sure if she has what it takes to become OC’s best amateur baker, and there’s only one way to find out--even though it means rejecting the ban on baking, and by extension, her parents. But life is what you bake it, and now Rubi must differentiate between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams she holds, and finding the path she’s meant for."


My Review:

This heartwarming tale of family, friends, and dreams gave me all the feels. When we meet Rubi, she is a hard worker, trying her best to fulfill her parents' dream for her. It was great to watch her start to prioritize what she wants, rather than what they want. With a little help from her family, her best friend, and the swoony surfer/mathlete she meets, we get to see Rubi achieve her own goals.

I highly recommend this fantastic YA Contemporary read!  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.

'Tilly in Technicolor' by Mazey Eddings

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings's sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.

Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.

Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.

As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end."


My Review:

This book and its lead characters are neurodivine! I love all of author Mazey Eddings' neurodiverse characters, but Tilly and Ollie are my favorite. Messy, larger-than-life Tilly is vibrant and practically vibrating out of her skin as her mind swirls and runs laps and is never calm. Oliver is quiet, tidy, and meticulous. They are (seemingly) total opposites thrown together for a summer internship involving frequent travel and a shared hotel room.

Their neurodivergence brings them together, via mutual sensory overload in a loud and crowded town center. As they each stim to self-regulate, they see parts of themselves reflected in each other, and their slow-burn romance takes off from there. They are so sweet and caring with each other, it's truly beautiful to watch their relationship bloom.

I hope this wonderful book reaches each and every single neurodiverse reader of YA Contemporary books.

Pre-order here - 'Tilly in Technicolor' releases on August 15, 2023.

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

'Cursed Crowns' (Twin Crowns #2) by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"The second book in the swoony and high-stakes fantasy rom-com series that began with Twin Crowns, about twin princesses separated at birth—from bestselling authors Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber.

Twin queens Wren and Rose have claimed their crowns…but not everyone is happy about witches sitting on Eana’s throne.

Coolheaded Rose plans a royal tour to establish goodwill throughout the kingdom. But Wren balks—how can they gallivant around Eana when their grandmother Banba is imprisoned in Gevra?

Impatient Wren steals away on a ship to the icy north, where King Alarik offers a deadly magical bargain in exchange for Banba’s freedom. Desperate, Wren agrees. But her spell has unexpected consequences….

Meanwhile, when Rose's royal tour is interrupted by a mysterious stranger claiming to be from the long-lost Sunkissed Kingdom, the strands of destiny pull her south to the ancient Amarach Towers, where only the Seers of Eana know why the Restless Sands are erupting—and why Shen-Lo himself might hold the key.

But back in Anadawn, rebellion is brewing. And if Eana is to stand a chance at peace, the sisters will need to reunite once more and convince their people to forsake old loyalties for new ones."

Non-spoiler review:

Really enjoyed being back in Wren and Rose's world! Readers get to see how Wren reacts to palace duties and how Rose manages in another adventure out in the world. We learn more about Shen Lo and King Alarik's families and past, and we spend time with Tor and Elske.

Pre-order 'Cursed Crowns' before its release on May 9, 2023!

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