BOOk Review

“It occurred to Delilah that this was probably the longest she’d ever really looked at her stepsister. She’d spent years perfecting the art of avoidance, of protection, of never letting Astrid see how much Delilah was hurting. If eyes were the window into the soul, Delilah’s had long been shuttered.”

If Delilah Greene had it her way, she would never go back to that dreadful city that is Bright Falls where her distant and cold step family are and memories of a childhood that she never had. Her life is in New York City where she is making herself out to be a skilled photographer and while she does want a relationship, being with a different girl each night is fine with her. Until the day she gets a phone call from her estranged sister, Astrid who ends up guilt tripping Deliliah into coming home for wedding and although she wants to say no, the five-figure check would be nice to have. Delilah ends up going but is not going to enjoy it. Or so she thinks.

This was an emotionally packed roller coaster from beginning to end and also hit me really hard as I related to Delilah’s heartache and pain from how her cold and distant family treated her. I really felt for her and found her to be a very real and relatable character and not just because of her trauma. In addition to that, I did enjoy seeing her relationship with her stepsister Astrid get better as things were discovered that the two girls didn’t know and ended up becoming closer because of it. Although, I wasn’t a fan of one of Astrid’s friends, Iris who was flat out a bully and treated Delilah like a child and I found myself speed reading whenever she was present. On the other hand, Delilah does become close with Clarie and I found their chemistry very real and loved the dynamics between them! Overall, an enjoyable book with a few bumps in the road but I highly recommend it.

Book Review

“Maybe the universe is filled with introverts?”

Shizuka has made a deal with the devil and she only needs one more soul so she can trade their souls for success and she doesn’t have to wait long to find her final victim, Katrina Ngyuen as she can almost feel the curse lifting. But when chance and fate decide to intervene when she meets Lan Tran in a donuts shop, her mission soon moves to the back of her mind as she finds Lan Tran’s smile and personality are making her wonder if success is what she really wants and if not, is this finally the right time for her to open her heart? Follow the lives of Lan Tran, Katrina, and Shizuka as they find themselves connected through a journey of identity, hope, curses, magic and most importantly love.

This was such a fantastic book!!! I loved every bit of it, I wish I’d read it sooner as I found the plot, characters, and how it progressed very engaging. Lan Tran, Katrina, and Shizuka were all unique in their own way while also feeling so real and their dynamics were well done and that’s always a plus. It’s such a drag when the characters are so underdeveloped and for me it makes me less interested in the story. How the characters fit in with the plot and how it developed until the end flowed very nicely and nothing really felt out of place and I have always loved the found family trope and I felt that it was really well done in the book. There are times where it can be overdone and under developed but it wasn’t here so I was very happy about that. While the book does have a lot of heart-warming and fun moments, it also shows the unpleasant horrible, and dark moments especially for these characters. Lastly, the LGBT representation was fantastic and not used as plot devices but actually human beings because sometimes it can be disappointing when the rep is there but they’re only there as a plot device. So, this book was fantastic all around so I highly recommend it.

JUNE TBR

Hello, I can’t believe it’s June!! I’m super excited to share my tbr for this month because I’ve picked out some really good ones!

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
Genre: Adult, Fiction, Mystery

Cover Story by Susan Rigetti
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Change of Heart by Clare Lydon
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman
Genre: Adult, Horror, LGBT

Deliah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Romance

From Bad To Cursed by Lana Harper
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Fantasy

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, LGBT

Like A House On Fire by Lauren McBrayer
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Romance

Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Akoi
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

My Heart To Find by Elin Annalise
Genre: Adult, Mystery, LGBT

No Strings Attached by Rachel Lacey
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Romance

The Queer Principals of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Romance

Scorpica by G.R. Macallister
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, LGBT

So Happy For You by Celia Laskey
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

The Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood
Genre: Adult, LGBT, Romance

Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Mythology

Book Review: Iron Widow

“Men wants us so badly for our bodies, yet hate us so much for our minds.”

While the boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with the girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant robots that defeat the mecha ailens that lurk beyond the great wall where the girls dread it as they often die from mental strain. But, not all the girls dread pairing up with the boys, there is one girl who is more than ready to take on the challenge in an attempt to have her revenge on the man who killed her sister. When Zietan is chosen, she ends up getting more she’s bargained for as she is successful in killing the man who killed her sister but comes out of it unscathed thus dubbing her the iron widow. Now, she is set on understanding how the pilot system works in hopes of preventing more girls from being sacrificed.

This gave me pacific rim vibes as soon I read the summary on Goodreads and it did have that vibe while getting into the novel even though it started a little slow. But, I’ll get to that in a bit as I did enjoy the characters as they were all deeply flawed with good development to understand their motives even if I didn’t like the character. But, the big flaw that made me less invested in it was the lack of development with the magic system and world-building as there were times where I was confused and needed a little more information. I love good world-building and sadly this one didn’t have it and I do feel if the author had done more with the magic system then maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more than I did. The themes that are discussed throughout the novel are very relevant to what is happening now and I felt as though Zhao does a good job of connecting them to the plot. Overall, it was a good book even though I felt a little disappointed but feel free to check it out if it sounds enjoyable to you!

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.

FEBRUARY TBR

I can’t believe it’s February! Very excited to share my tbr for this month, I have some good ones picked out.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, & YA

Deliah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel
Genre: Mental Health, Non-Fiction, Self-Help

Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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

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

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

House of Earth & Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

House of Sky & Breath by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

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

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

John & Hazel’s Guide To Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Make It Sweet by Kristen Callihan
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Not The Witch You Met by April Asher
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

The One Night by Meghan Quinn
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Novella

Opposites Attract by Camilla Isley
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

One True Loves by Elise Bryant
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake by Alexis Hall
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Sincerely Confusingly, Yours by Hailey Gonzales
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, YA

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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

When You Get The Chance by Emma Lord
Genre: Adult,Contemporary, Romance

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