Book Review: Set On You

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Crystal Chen has spend the majority of her life proving people wrong and learning to embrace who she is without changing for anyone else. She has built up a incredible fitness career shattering stereotypes and promoting body positivity as a curvy fitness influencer. Reeling from a recent breakup, she is ready to prove thats he doesn’t need anyone than herself but things become complicated with a new man walks into her life, Scott Ritchie, a firefighter who is looking to get back into shape. The two are at odds at first but the more they get to know one another, the more sparks begin to fly leaving Crystal to wonder if second chances are worth it.

This was such a fun and super cute debut! First off, I’m glad that Crystal was plus sized because there isn’t enough rep in books especially romance. It was nice to see and Crystal won me over as I felt her personality and how she presented herself were endearing and empowering. She very much owned who she is and fully embraced that which is always very relevant as there are so many people who struggle with feeling secure and confident in who they are. I enjoyed reading about her journey of being a fitness influencer and how she and Scott first started out as enemies turned lovers. This is one of my favorite and it was really well done here. The romance was very believable and I was rooting for both of them throughout the entire book, they were so cute with each other! All in all, it was a great book to read!

BOOK review: The Map of Salt and Stars

“Stories are powerful, but gather too many of the words of others in your heart and they will drown out your own. Remember that.”

The Map of Salt and Stars tells the stories of Nour and Rawaya, two refugees who share similar paths even if years apart from one another. Having lost her father, Nour can’t imagine her life getting any worse but all that changes when her mother decides to move them from NYC to Syria so they can be closer to friends. But, the country that her mother once knew has changed and before they know it, they’re caught up in an ongoing war and soon their home is destroyed leaving them in a bind. They can either stay or flee with other refugees across parts of North Africa and the Middle East in search of safety. Nearly a thousand years earlier, Rawaya is a young sixteen year old who is running out of options to help her impoverished mother and while she doesn’t want to leave her mother, she knows it’s the only choice in order to give her a better life. Disguising herself as a boy, she eventually finds herself thrown into an epic journey across North African and the Middle East as an apprentice, for Al-Idrisi who has been commissioned by King Roger II of Italy to create a map of the world.

This is one of those stories where you may not want to read it but you need to read it as it was incredibly moving, powerful, heartbreaking while informative and educational. Not everyone will want to read this book simply because of the content discussed throughout the book as this is a very sensitive topic and one that can cause lots of discourse. The stories of Nour and Rawaya were moving, sad, and inspiring at the same time as the two both showed courage, resilience, and unwavering hope that kept them going even when they felt like they couldn’t. While reading this, it made me feel humbled that I have such privileges that I do and I will always have those and the struggles that I face seem so simple compared to what others face.

Along with this important content, The Map of Salt and Stars is also beautifully written so I highly recommend cheeking this out even if it’snot your usual genre because I think everyone needs to be more aware of this issue.

Book Review: Kamila KNows Best

“Shit. Was there supposed to be a Breakfast At Tiffany’s theme tonight?”

Kamila Hussain lives a life of comfort. She is the go friend for advice especially with love, has a supportive network full of friends and family that care for her, access to all the bollywood parties that she wants, and a dog with that has more followers on Instagram than most people do. While she spends more time giving her friends advice on love, she can’t be bothered to think of her own love life. But, when she hears of an old rival who has eyes for her longtime friend, Rohan who has been a rock for her throughout her life, she can’t bear losing him to someone else. The more Kamila tries to plan, the more things start falling apart and if Kamila doesn’t think of something quick, she may lose the one person who means the most to her.

I absolutely love Austen retellings as she’s one of my favorite authors so this book was a real treat! It was such a fun and heartwarming tale and I found all the characters especially Kamila and Rohan to be unique and flawed in their own ways. I could definitely feel the chemistry between them so that was good because there’s nothing worse than when it’s not developed or seems forced. Another thing that I liked is that even if there wasn’t a romance factor, the two were very unique on their own with interesting backstories and their dynamics were very fleshed out. I apprenticed the focus that Heron did on Kamila’s work life and how she felt so much pressure due to her culture and being the woman that she wanted to be. That is something that rang true for me so I felt for her and I appreciated that focus because I think there are times where authors focus too much on the romance and not enough on the heroine and it’s important that stories don’t put so much focus on the romance and being your own person in addition to be in a relationship. This was a very fun book so I highly recommend that you check it out!

MAY TBR

Well, it’s a few days behind but better late than never! Here is my list for this month and I’m excited to share my picks with you.

A Magic Stepped in Poison by Judy L. Lin
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, YA

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, YA

Angelfall by Susan He
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, YA

The Chosen and The Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Genre: Autobiography, Memoir, Not-Fiction,

Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh
Genre: Fantasy, Retelling, YA

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, LGBT

Kamila Knows Best by Faith Heron
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

The Map Of Salt And Stars by Zeyn Jorkhadar
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical-Fiction

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, YA

Set On You by Amy Lee
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She Who Became The Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT

Squad by Maggie Tokud-Hall
Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, LGBT

Thief Of Souls by Brian Klingborg
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
Genre: Memoir, Mental Health, Non Fiction

April 2022

Here we go! Very excited for this month’s selection!

The Boy From The Woods by Harlan Coben
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Dark Across The Bay by Ania Ahlborn
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller,

Erebus Dawning by AJ Super
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

A Fate Of Wrath & Flame by K.A. Tucker
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

Fevered Star by Rebecca RoanHorse
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, LGBT

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Of Arrows & Anarchy by Morgan Perryman
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, LGBT

Promised in Fire by Jasmine Walt
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

The Resting Place by Camilla Sten
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical-Fiction, LGBT, Romance

Spear by Nicola Griffith
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, LGBT

Tell Me An Ending by Jo Harkin
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Tired as Fuck by Caroline Dooner
Genre: Mental Health, Non-Fiction, Self-Help

To Bleed A Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Verity by Coleen Hoover
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Thriller

MARCH WRAP UP

Yaaay! March was a good month for me so here are the reads I finished!

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fiction
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Genre: Fantasy, Retelling, YA
Review: Here

Rating: 5.5

From Salt To Skye by Adriane Leigh
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 3.5

Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, YA
Review: Here

Rating: 4.5

The Goddess Of Nothing At All by Cat Rector
Genre: Fantasy, Historical-Fiction, Mythology
Review: Here

Rating: 5.5

Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Sci-Fi
Review: Here

Rating: 2.5/5

A Hunt of Shadows by Elise Kova
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Review: Here

Rating: 4.5

Hunt The Stars by Jessie Mihalik
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Review: Here

Rating: 4.5

A Master Of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Mystery
Review: Here

Rating: 5.5

The Quarter Storm by Veronica G. Henry
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery
Review: Here

Rating: 3.5

River of Shadows by Karina Halle
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4.5

Seven Devils by Laura Lam
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Sci-Fi
Review: Here

Rating: 3.5.5

Seven Mercies by Laura Lam & Elizabeth May
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Sci-Fi
Review: Here

Sisters of The Vast Black by Lina Rather
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Sci-Fi
Review: Here

Rating: 3/5

Star Father by Charlie N. Holmberg
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Sci-Fi
Review: Here

Rating: 5.5

Star Mother by Charlie N. Holmberg
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 5.5

What Lies Beyond The Veil by Harper L. Woods
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Review: Here
Rating: 2.5.5

MARCH TBR

Wow, I can’t believe it’s March already! Excited for everyone to see what I have picked for this month, it’s gonna be a good one!

Ashes Of Gold by J. Elle
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, YA

The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Sci-Fi

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tann
Genre: Fantasy, Retellings, Romance

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Genre: Adult, Fiction, Mystery

Flames Of Chaos by Amelia Hutchins
Genre:Adult, Fantasy, Romance

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Gallant by V.E.Schwab
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA

The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector
Genre: Adult, Fiction, Fantasy

Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

How High We Go In The Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

A Hunt of Shadows by Elise Kova
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA

Hunt The Stars by Jessie Mihalik
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

The Quarter Storm by Veronica G. Henry
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Mystery

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance

The Reunion by Meghan Quinn
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

River of Shadows by Karina Halle
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Star Mother by Charlie N. Holmerg
Genre: Adult, Fiction, Romance

Second Star To The Left by Megan Van Dyke
Genre: Fantasy, Retellings, Romance

Seven Devils by Laura Lam & Elizabeth May
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Romance

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

What Lies Beyond The Veil by Harper L. Woods
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

The Winding by Avi Datta
Genre: Adult, Fiction, Sci-Fi

The Woman In The Window by A.J. Finn
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Yes and I Love You by Roni Loren
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

FEBRUARY WRAP UP

Hello, I can’t believe Feb is over!

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Fantasy, Romance YA
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

Catch and Cradle by Katia Rose
Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4.5

The Extra by Megan Walker & Janci Patterson
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 3.5

For The Love of Friends by Sara Goodman Confino
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

How To Fail At Flirting by Denise Williams
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here


Rating: 4.5

Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, YA
Review: Here


Rating: 4.5

Group Therapy by BB Easton
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 5/5

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

The Heart Principal by Helen Hoang
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 5/5

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 5.5

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

The One Night by Meghan Quinn
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake by Alexis Hall
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4.5

Sincerely, Confusingly, Yours by Hailey Gonzales
Genre: Fiction, LGBT, YA
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
Genre:Fantasy, Romance, YA
Review: Here

Rating: 2.5/5

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review: Here

Rating: 4/5

Romance wrap up #3

Here is the last wrap up for the month!

I finally decided to check this book out as there has been so buzz about it and I was glad the hype was real! I’m reading the second book right now so that will on next month’s wrap up but this was a very enjoyable and entertaining book. The characters especially Simon and Baz were very fleshed out which made it very easy to invested in the story.It was very heartwarming with fun and sweet moments mixed with twists and turns that makes you invested and eager for more!

This story had so much going for it with excellent writing, witty humor, intriguing plot and interesting dynamics between each of the characters. Unfortunately, the main character was very unlikable and was more annoying than anything else. The story follows Gabby, a young woman who is still trying to sort out what she wants to do with her life. She is ready to be in a job that she loves and feels passionate about. But, just as she feels like nothing will change, she gets cast as an extra on Passion Medical, a hit tv show, she finds herself being thrust into an adventure she didn’t see coming.

I really wanted to like this book but Gabby wasn’t a very engaging character. In fact, I found her vain, self-centered, and acted more like a teenager who doesn’t get what she wants than being an adult and trying to find your place in the world. She was more interested with flirting with Will and trying to get his attention than anything else. It was very hard to root for her and in fact, I found myself wishing that she would actually face consequences for her actions. It’s such a shame she was so unlikable because her family issues were very realistic with her brother dealing with a heroine addiction, parents divorcing, and sister separating from her husband.

Holy shit!! This book was so much fun, I loved it from beginning to end. This will for sure be in my round up of favorite books of 2022. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much during a book than I did with this one and I felt like it helped with developing the plot through till the end. The plot follows Lou and Thomas, the two of them are struggling with their own demons while trying to have success in their own lives. They were both intriguing, interesting, and unique and I felt invested in their lives which helps with staying invested in the story. There is nothing worse than a good plot but under developed characters cause it just makes you wanna stop reading it. This book was a real delight so I highly recommend it!

It can be challenging to bring in real life issues into a romance story as sometimes it’s done well and other times it’s not. But, this was not the case with this heartwarming yet moving novel about learning to trust and fall in love with someone who loves you unconditionally. The story follows Niya, who is doing her best to heal from a abusive relationship previously and while she isn’t interested in dating, her friends have other plans. She decides to give it a go to make them happy but soon finds herself falling in love with Jake, who makes her feel like herself again. What I loved about this particular story is how well the characters were written and the romance was very sweet and real. I appreciate how the author weaved in Niya’s prior relationship that was abusive. I thought the way it was done was very well and I was rooting for Niya the entire time! I would highly recommend this! Just be aware of the trigger warnings!

What a wholesome, heart-warming, fun love story from beginning to end. While it is a romance, it is so much more than that. It’s really a story about finding your true purpose, standing up for what’s right, and being content with who you are. The representation is so wonderful in this book and I took away a lot more than I anticipated. The friendship and romance between Adam and Zayneb was truly wholesome and very real. I was rooting for them from the beginning and I love how it developed to the end.