en-US Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:16:07 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 214152260
A stunning debut middle grade fantasy about a girl caught between the realms of the living and the dead who gets lost in the Underworld—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan.

Senka lives between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead. As ward to Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, Senka assists in ferrying recently departed souls across the river and into their afterlife. Although Charon has taught her many Rules about life in the Underworld, there is much he avoids telling her. Though she ��DZ����’t understand why the Rules are so important, she listens—she must heed them in order to become an official Ferryer, just like Charon.

Then a Living girl, Poppy, enters the Underworld to plead for help in finding the ghost of her brother. Poppy’s grief tugs at Senka’s heart—but helping Poppy goes against the very Rules Senka is so desperate to follow. When Poppy is yanked away by the river’s current, Senka leaps to save her, and she and Poppy are swept downriver, far from everything Senka has ever known.

Lost in the Underwild, Senka and Poppy encounter malevolent spirits of lore and eccentric ghosts—and not all are willing to let souls slip through their grasp. Senka knows the Living can’t stay in the realm of the Dead for long, and if Poppy isn’t returned home soon, she will risk becoming lost to the Underworld forever. But as Senka travels deeper into the Underwild, she discovers there are secrets her guardian has kept from her, including the mystery surrounding her own existence. As Poppy and Senka dodge angry demigods, hungry wraiths, and terrifying dragon chimera, Senka gets closer to learning the truth of her own past. Soon, Senka won’t just need to save Poppy’s life—she’ll also need to save her own.]]> 432 Shana Targosz 1665957638 Zelos 0 4.23 2025
author: Shana Targosz
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: currently-reading, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:

]]> 208840711 For fans of AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS and THE MARVELLERS, Alby C. Williams' debut middle grade fantasy is a sweeping adventure filled with monsters, mysteries, and mischief.

Eleven-year-old Glory Brown is desperate for adventure far from her family’s quaint, quiet life at The Light Inn. Generations of Browns have been stewards of this humble hotel, which acts as a sanctuary in the stretch of monster-filled land called the Seam. But Glory wants nothing more than to learn how to use her Moxie, a special magic only kids have, and to train to become a Spherinaut like her mother, exploring and documenting the perilous depths of the Outersphere.

When a mysterious boy named Marcus appears one day on a top-secret mission for the Parliamentarium �� the school for aspiring Spherinauts �� Glory packs up her beloved books and sets off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey that will shuttle her across time and space…and reveal new dangers lurking in the worlds beyond the Seam.

For there’s mischief afoot that’s threatening the balance between the worlds, its magic, and its monsters. And it’s up to Glory to find a solution before it’s too late.]]> 352 Alby C. Williams 1250866332 Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
There was way to much in the book to follow everything just kinda turned into a mess of information to the point I felt like to even follow the plot I needed to pull out a notepad and keep notes.

Personally I want to relax and enjoy a book while I read it not have to stop and write down information to keep track of what is what and what is going on.

I find it hard to believe that the demographic that this book was written for would be able to follow this book without getting heavily confused.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for the arc.]]> 4.10 2025
author: Alby C. Williams
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book had so much potential and I was hoping for so much more than I got from it.

There was way to much in the book to follow everything just kinda turned into a mess of information to the point I felt like to even follow the plot I needed to pull out a notepad and keep notes.

Personally I want to relax and enjoy a book while I read it not have to stop and write down information to keep track of what is what and what is going on.

I find it hard to believe that the demographic that this book was written for would be able to follow this book without getting heavily confused.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for the arc.
]]> 55143103 240 Amy Sparkes 1406395315 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I feel like this book would be a lot of fun for elementary and junior high kids to read, the author has a great imagination and I would love to read more of their books

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books]]> 3.68 2021
author: Amy Sparkes
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/21
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book was so much fun to read, I sped through it and was left wanting to read more about Nine, the mc orphan girl.

I feel like this book would be a lot of fun for elementary and junior high kids to read, the author has a great imagination and I would love to read more of their books

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books
]]> 219441104 When the mayor of a small Alabama town starts targeting Pride events, bad boy Zeke begins hosting a series of “Pride Speakeasies�� in this joyful queer coming-of-age!

There’s nothing Zeke Chapman wants more than to tarnish the perfect reputation his father is so obsessed with. He quit the baseball team, started fighting at school, and nearly flunked junior year. Newly out as gay, Zeke isn’t sure where his queer identity fits in with his bad-boy persona. His father has always told him to stay quiet and not attract attention, but his friends are pushing him to be just as out and proud as they are. Most days, Zeke isn’t sure how to be a “good gay�� or what that even means.

When his best friend, Sawyer, begs him to help the QSA plan Pride Day, he obliges—mostly to piss his dad off. But then the mayor announces an ordinance that cancels all LGBTQ+ celebrations. Angered by the injustice—and his father’s support of it—Zeke decides to put his rebellious ways to good use and plans a series of underground “Pride Speakeasies��.

As the speakeasies grow, and the community comes together to declare him “King of Pride��, Zeke finally feels like he’s doing something that matters. But friendship drama, a mysterious cyber-crush, and rising tension with his rival and ex Cohen “Coco�� Fisher threaten to undermine his newfound pride. When his final party ends in near-disaster, Zeke must ask himself what he’s really trying to do. After all, there’s a reason that the first pride was a riot.]]> 315 Matthew Hubbard 0593707230 Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
It’s not that it’s a bad book, it’s a good book and well written I just am not a huge fan of the way it’s written .

That being said I love the representation in this book, I wish there had been more books about the lgbt community when I was growing up, books I could of turned to when I was first discovering myself and having lots of questions like the MC in this book.

I feel like this book is so so important for the queer community and I believe it will be loved among a large majority of those who read it even though it wasn’t personally a book I enjoyed.

If you get the chance to read this book I do still recommend picking it up and giving it a try.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for the arc.
]]> 4.65 2025
author: Matthew Hubbard
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.65
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/21
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Ok where to start, I had a really hard time getting through this book, I had to keep putting it down and picking it up again and I found myself really not wanting to pick it up again.

It’s not that it’s a bad book, it’s a good book and well written I just am not a huge fan of the way it’s written .

That being said I love the representation in this book, I wish there had been more books about the lgbt community when I was growing up, books I could of turned to when I was first discovering myself and having lots of questions like the MC in this book.

I feel like this book is so so important for the queer community and I believe it will be loved among a large majority of those who read it even though it wasn’t personally a book I enjoyed.

If you get the chance to read this book I do still recommend picking it up and giving it a try.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for the arc.

]]> 210411871 A story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they can imagine

2019: Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales hoping Jess can help explain the vivid dreams that preceded the attack—but her sister is missing. As Lucy waits for her return, she starts to unearth strange rumours about Jess’s town—tales of numerous missing men, spread over decades. A baby abandoned in a sea-swept cave. Whispers of women’s voices on the waves. All the while, her dreams start to feel closer than ever.

1800: Mary and Eliza are torn from their loving home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As the boat takes them farther and farther away from all they know, they begin to notice unexplainable changes in their bodies.

A breathtaking tale of female resilience, The Sirens is an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea.]]> 337 Emilia Hart 1250280826 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
It wasn’t that the writing was bad, it was good I just had a hard time connecting to it and the characters which made it incredibly hard to focus on the story.

Definitely not for me and honestly I don’t feel like I could recommend this book

Thank you Netgalley and st Martin’s press for the arc
]]> 3.81 2025
author: Emilia Hart
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/04/21
date added: 2025/04/21
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book�� was not for me, the characters where impossible to connect to and I found myself constantly wanting to DNf the book all the way through it.

It wasn’t that the writing was bad, it was good I just had a hard time connecting to it and the characters which made it incredibly hard to focus on the story.

Definitely not for me and honestly I don’t feel like I could recommend this book

Thank you Netgalley and st Martin’s press for the arc

]]> 217476745
Estella Ecker has returned to Rockfall House, the last place on earth she wants to be. Years after she ran away from her overbearing father, she has been forced back home to walk in his footsteps, teaching at the college he dominated and living in the fabulous home where he entertained artists and scholars for decades―and perhaps she owns it now, because her mercurial mother has disappeared. At the center of everything―the whispers, the rumors, the secrets―is her father's library of rare books, which she had been forbidden to touch while he was alive to stop her.

Everyone in town is watching Estella, with her dead father's name on their lips, and no one seems to care about her missing mother. Who were her parents, really, and is the answer hidden somewhere in the depths of Rockfall House? And who will Estella be, if she gathers enough courage to find that answer? What she will discover is that no one can escape the secrets hidden in this dark library.

Suspenseful and unsettling but ultimately triumphant, The Dark Library by acclaimed author Mary Anna Evans is a compelling tale of mystery, family secrets, and the quest for truth.]]> 384 Mary Anna Evans 1728293677 Zelos 1
I would not of picked this book up to read if I had known that the book covered the topics of SA and rape as a survivor myself I do not like reading about that kind of thing.

This book is about a woman during ww2 who’s father dies and mother goes missing and her attempt to try and track down her mother and find out what happened to her.

Like I said it was good until it wasn’t, this book needs warnings as there are subjects in it not everyone may be ok with.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned pen press for the arc ]]> 3.76 2025
author: Mary Anna Evans
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/04/21
date added: 2025/04/21
shelves: dnf-d, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I was enjoying this book but DNF’d it about 75% in as they started bringing up the topic of rape.

I would not of picked this book up to read if I had known that the book covered the topics of SA and rape as a survivor myself I do not like reading about that kind of thing.

This book is about a woman during ww2 who’s father dies and mother goes missing and her attempt to try and track down her mother and find out what happened to her.

Like I said it was good until it wasn’t, this book needs warnings as there are subjects in it not everyone may be ok with.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned pen press for the arc
]]> 220458674 From the author of Hearts Overboard comes a swoony mystery-filled romance in which a girl on a school trip to Venice gets swept off her feet by a mask-wearing stranger...but does she know him already? Lose yourself in the masquerade—because sometimes, the greatest adventure begins when you unmask your heart.

People pleaser Evie Whitmore can’t believe her art and architecture class trip has brought her to Venice—home of gondolas and crumbling palazzos, and the inspiration for both her art and her hidden passion, Elven Realms, a series of novels set in the very city she’s about to explore.

Rumors about an underground Elven Realms fan club swirl, and Evie, wearing a costume and mask, sneaks out at night to find it. There’s no way she can tell anyone what she’s doing—not her friends, and certainly not Gabriel Martinez, the bad boy loner she’s been partnered with on the trip.

But Evie’s not the only one on this clandestine quest. She collides with someone else in disguise—a stranger whose eyes hold secrets. He calls himself Angelo, and he too loves the novels. Venice is a labyrinth, and as they unravel clues together, their connection deepens. Who is Angelo, really? And who does Evie want him to be?]]> 384 Becky Dean 0593647874 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I can’t begin to explain how much I love this book and honestly it may be my new favorite book of all time.

I loved the plot , and the characters and I really connected to the mc Evie as she has a lot of the same fears and thoughts we I do .

I am genuinely sad this book is over and wish there was more to read, guess it means I’ll just have to read more of the authors books.

Seriously though if you’re in to cosplay, larping, fantasy books and adventure pick this book up and hopefully you’ll love it as much as I did .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc


Merged review:

Love unmasked is a story about the MC Evie and her adventures as she sneaks out every night to go to a fan event for a book series where she meets a boy that helps her be more herself.

I can’t begin to explain how much I love this book and honestly it may be my new favorite book of all time.

I loved the plot , and the characters and I really connected to the mc Evie as she has a lot of the same fears and thoughts we I do .

I am genuinely sad this book is over and wish there was more to read, guess it means I’ll just have to read more of the authors books.

Seriously though if you’re in to cosplay, larping, fantasy books and adventure pick this book up and hopefully you’ll love it as much as I did .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc]]> 3.89 2025
author: Becky Dean
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Love unmasked is a story about the MC Evie and her adventures as she sneaks out every night to go to a fan event for a book series where she meets a boy that helps her be more herself.

I can’t begin to explain how much I love this book and honestly it may be my new favorite book of all time.

I loved the plot , and the characters and I really connected to the mc Evie as she has a lot of the same fears and thoughts we I do .

I am genuinely sad this book is over and wish there was more to read, guess it means I’ll just have to read more of the authors books.

Seriously though if you’re in to cosplay, larping, fantasy books and adventure pick this book up and hopefully you’ll love it as much as I did .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc


Merged review:

Love unmasked is a story about the MC Evie and her adventures as she sneaks out every night to go to a fan event for a book series where she meets a boy that helps her be more herself.

I can’t begin to explain how much I love this book and honestly it may be my new favorite book of all time.

I loved the plot , and the characters and I really connected to the mc Evie as she has a lot of the same fears and thoughts we I do .

I am genuinely sad this book is over and wish there was more to read, guess it means I’ll just have to read more of the authors books.

Seriously though if you’re in to cosplay, larping, fantasy books and adventure pick this book up and hopefully you’ll love it as much as I did .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc
]]> 214438337 RED QUEEN meets SHADOW AND BONE in this explosive start to a YA romantasy trilogy about dangerous magic, forbidden love, and a cut-throat competition for the throne in an empire where crowns are not inherited -- they're won.

The very day Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it. A Rain Singer born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire, Blaze's birth summoned a devastating storm that left thousands dead. She's been hidden away ever since with a dark secret: the same torrential power that branded her an outcast disappeared that fateful day. And she’s not sure she wants it back.

When an unexpected invitation arrives for Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, to compete as future rulers of the empire, she’s suddenly thrust into the limelight again -- and into battle. Threats abound at the Golden Palace, where intrigue and romance await with not one but two handsome suitors: the enchanting Crown Prince and a dangerously alluring newcomer at court.

As Blaze explores her untapped power, she discovers the throne may be within her grasp. But in order to take it, she’ll have to leave behind the stories that others have told about her, and find the courage to write her own.]]> 416 Lauryn Hamilton Murray 1250348153 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I have already personally pre ordered the book and plan on buying a few of my friends the book along with recommending it to a few other people I know

Seriously if you have the chance to read this book do it.

Thank you Netgalley Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for the arc]]> 4.29 2025
author: Lauryn Hamilton Murray
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I absolutely loved this book, I could not set it down I enjoyed it so much.

I have already personally pre ordered the book and plan on buying a few of my friends the book along with recommending it to a few other people I know

Seriously if you have the chance to read this book do it.

Thank you Netgalley Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for the arc
]]> 208840732 As endearing as it is humorous, this debut middle grade novel by Jess Callans is a tender, queer coming of age story about the courage it takes to find your own voice and choosing to just be. Puberty, AKA the ultimate biological predator, is driving a wedge between soon-to-be 13 year old Ollie Thompson and their lifelong friends.Too much of a girl for their neighborhood hockey team, but not girly enough for their boy-crazed BFF, Ollie ��DZ����’t know where they fit. And their usual ability to camouflage? Woefully disrupted.When a school project asks them to write an essay on what it means to be a woman (if anyone’s got an answer, that’d be great), and one of their new friends is the target of bullying, Ollie is caught between the safety of fleeing from their own differences or confronting the risks of fighting to take their own path forward.]]> 256 Jess Callans 125033134X Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I started out really enjoying this book but the ramblings of the MC through inner monologue quickly became unbearable for me.

I think this book is vital for the younger generation especially those around Ollies age who are also going through self discovery and I really wish there had been books like this when I was younger.

Thank you Netgalley Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the arc
]]> 4.53 2025
author: Jess Callans
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A book about a neurodivergent queer main character trying to discover who they are.

I started out really enjoying this book but the ramblings of the MC through inner monologue quickly became unbearable for me.

I think this book is vital for the younger generation especially those around Ollies age who are also going through self discovery and I really wish there had been books like this when I was younger.

Thank you Netgalley Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the arc

]]> 219838767 A new romantic comedy in which a young woman embarks on a summer adventure—and summer fling—in Ireland, perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens and Beth O’Leary.��

Boston has everything Chelsea her best friend, her family, a great job. She’s worked and lived at the same bed and breakfast since graduating college, and she relishes the sense of stability. That is, until she’s informed that O’Shea’s Bed and Breakfast is being sold and she has less than a month to find a new job and apartment. Desperate, she takes a summer gig at the B&B’s sister hostel in Galway, Ireland. It’ll be an adventure, she convinces herself, and it’ll give her some time to plan her Next Act.

As it turns out, Galway has everything Chelsea nonstop rain, no iced coffee, shared bathrooms. Working at The Wanderer might grant her time and a few extra lines on her resume, but Chelsea can’t help but feel like she left her life back in Massachusetts. Her new coworkers, however, are determined to change her mind, especially the handsome and charming tour guide Collin.

Collin and Chelsea strike up a he’ll show Chelsea everything Ireland has to offer, and only then can she pass judgement. Sure enough, Chelsea finds herself warming up to the hostel and Irish lifestyle�� and falling for her charismatic new friend. But as the summer comes to an end, she finds herself torn between the familiarity of home and the tantalizing adventure of life abroad.

An Irish Summer��is a heartfelt, transporting story perfect for readers looking for the thrill of moving away from home and the unique magic of summer love.��]]> 320 Alexandra Paige 0063316560 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I am going to be honest I had a super hard time reading this book as I have someone close to me with the same name as the FMC which made reading this book very uncomfortable for me especially during the more spicy scenes.

The writing is ok, it’s not great but it’s not terrible either, I do enjoy the plot but I just felt like there was something missing and like it was dragging on.

I do think there are a lot of people that would enjoy this book it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc

]]> 3.90
author: Alexandra Paige
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book is about a girl who loses her job and ends up moving to Ireland for a job opportunity there.

I am going to be honest I had a super hard time reading this book as I have someone close to me with the same name as the FMC which made reading this book very uncomfortable for me especially during the more spicy scenes.

The writing is ok, it’s not great but it’s not terrible either, I do enjoy the plot but I just felt like there was something missing and like it was dragging on.

I do think there are a lot of people that would enjoy this book it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc


]]> 212125655 SPINNING SILVER meets HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE in this beautiful debut Slavic folklore fantasy.

Marisha's life is not going as she expected. With the sleeping plague only a few months away, she's as desperate for money as she is to escape her aunt's torturous marriage prospects. Leaving all that she's known behind, Marisha accepts a job working with the notorious koldunya, Baba Zima in her house that glides on chicken feet through the snow.

But Baba Zima is renowned for being both clever and cruel. And most difficult of all is her current apprentice, Olena, who wants nothing to do with Marisha. Despite her fears and Olena's cold demeanour, Marisha finds herself drawn into the magical world of koldunry and delves further into Olena's research - a cure for the sleeping plague.

Accompanying Olena on an increasingly dangerous, seemingly impossible search for a cure, she finds hidden connections between the sleeping plague, her own family's history, and her bizarre, recurring dreams: dreams of a masked ball where the deep sleepers are trapped endlessly dancing - and a monstrous beaked man haunts her every step . . .]]> 432 Lauren Wiesebron 1399723197 Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I feel like the plot sort of dragged on and was really slow moving which is hard for me when I’m reading because it makes me lose focus and get distracted when storylines move to slow.

This book was not for me but I still recommend it because I am sure there will be a lot of people that don’t mind the pacing issues I had an issue with.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager]]> 4.00 2025
author: Lauren Wiesebron
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/22
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book was not for me it could not keep my attention through the book, I am not sure if it was the writing style or the characters but I could not get into the book for the life of me.

I feel like the plot sort of dragged on and was really slow moving which is hard for me when I’m reading because it makes me lose focus and get distracted when storylines move to slow.

This book was not for me but I still recommend it because I am sure there will be a lot of people that don’t mind the pacing issues I had an issue with.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager
]]> 217453283 In this coming-of-age survival story in verse, a fire lookout-in-training must find her courage when a wildfire breaks out on her watch.

Twelve-year-old Opal is deathly afraid of fire. Still Opal is preparing to become a fourth-generation lookout on Wolf Mountain, deep in the New Mexico wilderness. She, Mom, and Gran live at ten thousand feet in a single room at the top of a fire tower. They are responsible for spotting any hint of smoke before it becomes an uncontrollable blaze.

Instead of training for the lonely life of a lookout, Opal wishes she could be starting seventh grade in Silver City, attending real classes with kids her own age and even going to afterschool clubs like FFA. But Wolf Mountain has other ideas. When Mom makes the long trek to town for supplies and Gran goes missing, Opal is the only one to spot a tell-tale spiral of smoke moving up the mountainside. She’ll have to be braver than she’s ever been as she heads into the woods, beyond Wolf Ridge’s old blackened burn scar, to face down a fire on her own. But when a fire is what took her father away, and Opal herself knows the sting of smoke and lick of flames, how can she be brave enough when it really counts?]]> 249 Caroline Starr Rose 0593617940 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I personally did not like this book, it is impossible for me to understand or get into a book that is in verse the writing style is just not for me personally.

However I know that kids absolutely looooove in verse books and I think that this will be really popular with them so I do recommend picking up a copy especially for kids that enjoy in verse books.

Thank you NetGalley PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the arc ]]> 4.27
author: Caroline Starr Rose
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I missed that this was an in verse book, I can not stand in verse books but read it anyways because I requested the book

I personally did not like this book, it is impossible for me to understand or get into a book that is in verse the writing style is just not for me personally.

However I know that kids absolutely looooove in verse books and I think that this will be really popular with them so I do recommend picking up a copy especially for kids that enjoy in verse books.

Thank you NetGalley PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the arc
]]> 217044874 A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art from Lauren Wolk, the Newbery Honor-winning author of Beyond the Bright Sea.

Lucretia Sanderson has a secret.

Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine ( Summer, 986; Winter, 315) to escape—escape memories of the car accident that killed her father and escape the journalists that hound her mother, a famous and reclusive artist. The rocky coast and ocean breeze are a welcome respite for Lucretia, who dedicates her summer days to painting, exploring the island, and caring for an orphaned osprey chick.

But Candle Island has secrets of its own—a hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice—and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake.

With an unforgettable New England setting and a complex web of relationships old and new, Candle Island is a powerful story about art, loss, and the power of being true to your own voice.]]> 352 Lauren Wolk 0593698541 Zelos 0 4.26
author: Lauren Wolk
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: currently-reading, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:

]]> 219334752 A high school field hockey star must choose between her love of the game and her new, distractingly beautiful rival in this queer YA romance perfect for fans of She Drives Me Crazy and Cleat Cute!

Evelyn was raised to see field hockey as war.

Before she could write her own name, her family’s legacy on the field was already spelled out. Every step Evelyn takes toward glory is within a footprint her mother left behind. And no step matters more than this next one, with Evelyn about to lead her varsity team into their final battle season. Evelyn is beyond ready to score the Nationals title and win the critical scholarship to her mom’s alma mater that comes with it.

This year, she’s out for blood, and nothing can stand in her way...

...except for Rosa Alvarez, the highly talented new recruit on her biggest rival’s team.

After a humiliating homecoming game and follow-up prank leave the two enemies in a stalemate, they grudgingly strike a deal to help each other overcome their weaknesses on the field. But the more time Evelyn spends with Rosa, the more she finds herself casting her hardened armor aside, until she begins to wonder what life might be like if she left the battlefield behind and fought for love instead.]]> 320 Kit Rosewater 0593898451 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Don’t get me wrong this Author is a good writer I just have some personal issues with this book that main one being the descriptive sexual scenes between minors .

This book is marketed towards younger teens which makes me feel like this book isn’t really appropriate, I also wish that if the author was determined to be so descriptive with the sexual scenes that they would of made the characters 18 or older.

Once again don’t get me wrong I love a good spicy scene just not between minors . Please please please add some trigger warnings to your book for stuff like underage sexual stuff .

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc]]> 3.74
author: Kit Rosewater
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.74
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I wanted to love this book so bad, I love lgbt representation and this book is full of it.

Don’t get me wrong this Author is a good writer I just have some personal issues with this book that main one being the descriptive sexual scenes between minors .

This book is marketed towards younger teens which makes me feel like this book isn’t really appropriate, I also wish that if the author was determined to be so descriptive with the sexual scenes that they would of made the characters 18 or older.

Once again don’t get me wrong I love a good spicy scene just not between minors . Please please please add some trigger warnings to your book for stuff like underage sexual stuff .

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc
]]> 217223362 ����dz���New York Times��bestselling author Christopher Moore comes a hilariously deranged tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter, and an undead woman’s electrifying journey of self-discovery.

Vienna, 1911. Gustav Klimt, the most famous painter in the Austrian Empire, the darling of Viennese society, spots a woman’s nude body in the Danube canal. He knows he should summon a policeman, but he can’t resist stopping to make a sketch first. And as he draws, the woman coughs. She’s alive!

Back at his studio, Klimt and his model-turned-muse Wally tend to the erstwhile-drowned girl. She’s nearly feral and ��DZ����’t remember who she is, or how she came to be floating in the canal. Klimt names her Judith, after one of his most famous paintings, and resolves to help her find her memory.

With a little help from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, Judith recalls being stranded in the arctic one hundred years ago, locked in a crate by a man named Victor Frankenstein, and visiting the Underworld.

So how did she get here? And why are so many people chasing her, including Geoff, the giant croissant-eating devil dog of the North?

Poor Things meets Bride of Frankenstein in Anima Rising, Christopher Moore’s most ingenious (and probably most hilarious) novel yet.


]]> 400 Christopher Moore 0062434152 Zelos 2
I tried to read this book anyways because I requested it not knowing that there was going to be SA in it and the talk about SA quickly became to much for me resulting in me having to DNF this book.

That being said the writing was well written and I can tell that people who aren’t sensitive to the topic or SA will more than likely really enjoy this book.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the arc.]]> 3.96
author: Christopher Moore
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.96
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
I am going to start off by saying I wish there would have been a warning of SA in the information about the book before requesting it and not just the warning at the beginning of the book after I requested it or I never would of requested this book.

I tried to read this book anyways because I requested it not knowing that there was going to be SA in it and the talk about SA quickly became to much for me resulting in me having to DNF this book.

That being said the writing was well written and I can tell that people who aren’t sensitive to the topic or SA will more than likely really enjoy this book.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the arc.
]]> 215805896 Rear Window meets The Ring in this sinister YA thriller, in which a teen girl witnesses the livestreamed murder of a popular online streamer by a paranormal entity . . . and could be its next victim.

After surviving a car accident that claimed the life of her best friend, Teresa is now terrified to leave the safety of her bedroom. Since then, her only solace and window to the outside world has been the online community she found through streaming.

But one night, the safe world Teresa created starts to break down. A shadowy figure appears in the background of her favorite's streamer's video, and his behavior mysteriously changes over the next few days before he dies in front of thousands of viewers. Teresa finds herself at the center of a life-and-death investigation as the world tries to figure out what or who this figure could be . . . especially as it begins appearing in the other people's streams, compelling them to "open the door" and let it in—including Teresa’s own. In order to save herself and the rest of the internet from this relentless entity, Teresa must venture outside of the mental and physical walls she’s created. But will she be able to conquer her fears before anyone else loses their life?]]> 320 Mar Romasco-Moore 0593691881 Zelos 1
The writing style isn’t for me the constant chat conversations of the what I assume is twitch or some other streaming platforms followers is annoying to say the very least .

On top of that the writing is mediocre at best in my opinion almost like it was written like a middle schooler.

I am sure there is an audience that will like this book but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc]]> 3.64 2025
author: Mar Romasco-Moore
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
This is a DNF for me, only made it to 20% before having to put it down.

The writing style isn’t for me the constant chat conversations of the what I assume is twitch or some other streaming platforms followers is annoying to say the very least .

On top of that the writing is mediocre at best in my opinion almost like it was written like a middle schooler.

I am sure there is an audience that will like this book but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc
]]> 214268996 From New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies comes a new southern gothic supernatural thriller about a teen girl in a small Ozark town who can hear the bones of the dead.

The past three years have been tough for Lucifer’s Creek, Arkansas, a small town quietly tucked away in the Ozark mountains. More than two dozen people have disappeared on the local hiking trails; there one moment, gone the next, not a trace left behind, until their buried bodies are discovered.

17-year-old Dovie ��DZ����’t believe in magic even though she comes from a long line of women who can hear the bones of the dead sing, and for the past few years the bones have been crooning nonstop, calling out to Dovie to dig them up.

Some of the old-timers believe that it’s the monstrous Ozarks howler snatching people off the Aux Arc Trail. Well Dovie ��DZ����’t believe in the howler, and she ��DZ����’t believe her best friend Lo when he tells her he is being haunted by dark shadows. All she believes in is her talent that guides the local sheriff to the bones when they begin their song, then reuniting the dead with their families to give them some peace.

Lo ��DZ����’t know peace, though. The shadows follow him everywhere. He soon learns they’re the murdered hikers and they want answers. But the truth of their deaths isn’t buried with their bones; it’s hidden somewhere deep in the hills. And Lo and Dovie must unearth it before anyone else is killed.]]> 342 Ginny Myers Sain 059362548X Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Usually I’m really good at predicting who the killer is early on but this book had me guessing through the whole thing and I never truly guessed who the killer was until it was revealed.

I can’t begin to explain how much I adore this book, and how much I recommend picking up a copy of this book and reading it. The moment I finished reading this book I bought a copy for my girlfriend and have already recommended it to several people.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the arc
]]> 4.04 2025
author: Ginny Myers Sain
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This murder mystery had me on the edge of my seat I could not read it fast enough it was that good.

Usually I’m really good at predicting who the killer is early on but this book had me guessing through the whole thing and I never truly guessed who the killer was until it was revealed.

I can’t begin to explain how much I adore this book, and how much I recommend picking up a copy of this book and reading it. The moment I finished reading this book I bought a copy for my girlfriend and have already recommended it to several people.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the arc

]]> 221251819 Welcome to the most magical bakery -- Witchycakes! Little Blue, a witch-in-training, delivers baked goods all over their town, and finds things are magically changing all around them, whether they like it or not. Cozy up with this sweet chapter book perfect for early elementary school readers!

In a magical bakery called Witchycakes there's a young witch-to-be named Blue. It's Fall now but Blue doesn't want to let go of the sunshine from summer. Does everything have to change? Then, Blue discovers they aren't the only one who's not ready for change. As they deliver magical baked goods all over town, Blue helps their neighbors get used to new things. . . and in the process finds the magic of change!��

Cook up some love with Blue as they use magic and problem-solving to be the best helper they can be in their whimsical little town!

Fresh from the oven. . . another WITCHYCAKES book! Don't miss Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic!]]> 80 Kara LaReau 0593812298 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This time the story follows Blue once again helping the people in their community, this time however they are helping them handle change, showing them that not all change is bad, that it can be good and sometimes change can take time and not happen over night.

Highly recommended for any parents with young kids especially if they may be dealing with some kind of change in their lives.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Random House Books for Young Readers for the arc.]]> 4.67
author: Kara LaReau
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.67
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Another absolutely adorable read from the Witchycakes series, I love everything about it from the storyline, to the characters all the way to the art.

This time the story follows Blue once again helping the people in their community, this time however they are helping them handle change, showing them that not all change is bad, that it can be good and sometimes change can take time and not happen over night.

Highly recommended for any parents with young kids especially if they may be dealing with some kind of change in their lives.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Random House Books for Young Readers for the arc.
]]> 221251807 Welcome to the most magical bakery -- Witchycakes! Little Blue, a witch-in-training, delivers baked goods all over their seaside town, and helps their neighbors with just a touch of magic. Cozy up with this sweet chapter book with irresistible full-color art on every page!

In a magical bakery called Witchycakes there's a young witch-to-be named Blue. Blue's Mama bakes with magic and Blue makes the deliveries! They ride their bike all over town with their basket filled with magical scones, tartes, and pies to deliver. There's always something going on in Shelville and Blue loves to help their neighbors -- especially if helping them means they get to use a little bit of magic.

Cook up some love with Blue as they use magic and problem-solving to be the best helper they can be in their whimsical little town. And there's a special magical recipe��at the end of the book!

Fresh from the oven. . . another WITCHYCAKES book! Don't miss Witchycakes #2: Changing Magic]]> 80 Kara LaReau 0593812263 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I loved this book, the story is good and the art is beautiful, the book even managed to touch on the sensitive subject of losing a loved one.

I am curious if the writer took inspiration from Kiki’s delivery service as this book reminds me a lot of that only for a much younger audience .

I will be recommending this book to everyone I know that has kids.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Random House Books for Young Readers for the arc]]> 4.00
author: Kara LaReau
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Witchycakes is an adorable children’s story that follows Blue, the main character on their adventures delivering baked goods from their and Mama Moons bakery while helping out the people they are delivering to.

I loved this book, the story is good and the art is beautiful, the book even managed to touch on the sensitive subject of losing a loved one.

I am curious if the writer took inspiration from Kiki’s delivery service as this book reminds me a lot of that only for a much younger audience .

I will be recommending this book to everyone I know that has kids.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Random House Books for Young Readers for the arc
]]> 211003839 Love, family, and food collide in this sparkling Romeo and Juliet-inspired romance.

Julie Wu and Randall Hur used to be best friends. Now they only see each other on Saturdays at the Pasadena Farmers Market where their once close families are long-standing rivals.

When Julie and Randall are paired with ultra-rich London Kim for a community-service school project, they are forced to work together for the first time in years. It quickly becomes obvious that London has a major crush on Julie. But Julie can’t stop thinking about Randall. And Randall can’t stop thinking about how London is thinking about Julie. Soon, prompted by a little jealousy and years of missing each other, school project meetings turn into pseudo dates at their favorite Taiwanese breakfast shop and then secret kisses at the beach—far from the watchful eyes of their families.

Just as they’re finally feeling brave enough to tell their grandmas, the two matriarchs rehash their old fight and Julie and Randall get caught in the middle and Julie’s brother finds out they are dating. Their families are heartbroken.

But it’s the Year of the Dragon, an auspicious time to resolve disagreements and start anew, and Randall isn’t going down without fighting for what—and who—they love. Could the Lunar New Year provide not only a second chance for Randall and Julie, but for their families as well?

Jennifer Chen’s Hangry Hearts is a funny, big-hearted romance about friendship, family, and first love—and being brave enough to have it all.]]> 320 Jennifer Chen 1250374405 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Some parts seemed to be rushed through unfortunately it can be hard to find a balance between either rushed or dragging on.

Loved loved loved the descriptions of the food it was like the food was being brought to life right in front of me.

Thank you Netgalley St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the arc]]> 3.27 2025
author: Jennifer Chen
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.27
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
It’s a fun and cute romance definitely targeted for YA I loved the trans representation I wasn’t expecting it but it was a nice bonus.

Some parts seemed to be rushed through unfortunately it can be hard to find a balance between either rushed or dragging on.

Loved loved loved the descriptions of the food it was like the food was being brought to life right in front of me.

Thank you Netgalley St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the arc
]]> 220160649
As Joan and her children grow older and their circumstances evolve, she makes a drastic change by opening the Satisfaction Café, a place where people can visit for a bit of conversation and to be heard and understood. Through this radical yet pragmatic business, Joan constructs a lasting legacy.]]> 352 Kathy Wang 1668068923 Zelos 1
Thank you Netgalley and scribner for the arc]]> 4.21
author: Kathy Wang
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/09
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
DNF’d at 30 percent, the book was not for me, the pacing was incredibly slow the mfc hard to relate to.

Thank you Netgalley and scribner for the arc
]]> 219446158 A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes!

Truyan Saigas didn't choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father's disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .]]> Elizabeth Lim 0593650638 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I was glued to the book and could not put it down I love the characters and how it’s written I love the detail the author puts into her books and how much it draws me into the story.

I have already recommended this book to several people I know and I will keep recommending it because honestly this book needs awards for how good it is .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for the arc]]> 4.49 2025
author: Elizabeth Lim
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Yes yes yes a thousand times yes I can not explain how much I love this retelling of beauty and the beast.

I was glued to the book and could not put it down I love the characters and how it’s written I love the detail the author puts into her books and how much it draws me into the story.

I have already recommended this book to several people I know and I will keep recommending it because honestly this book needs awards for how good it is .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for the arc
]]> 199743724 ����dz���New York Times��bestselling author Lori Wilde comes her newest story about three generations of women, an island with an air of mystery and magic, and one summer that changes everything—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

In the Gulf of Mexico, near South Padre, sits a private island with a bit of a magic about the colors are brighter, the food tastes better, and turtles and cranes find sanctuary there. The billionaire heiress who built the thriving resort on Hobby Island exclusively for crafters, Eloisa Hobby, is as much a mystery as she is a mentor. Those with troubles are invited in the aftermath of an emotional turmoil, and with help from the other crafters on the island Eloisa acts as a sounding board while she gently and unobtrusively guides the visitors toward healthy resolutions in their lives. Only a few receive the honor of a golden ticket.

Luna, ever the pragmatist, is reeling in the wake of she’s just moved with her fierce, opinionated teenage daughter Artemis to her mother’s house, after they lost their husband and father. But her mother, Jeanie, artistic and sensitive, has faced her own troubles recently, and her home may not be the stable sanctuary the three women so desperately need.

When Jeanie receives one of the coveted tickets, inviting her and her family to Hobby Island, the blessing is one they can’t turn down, though both Luna and Artie remain skeptical of their eccentric host and benefactor. Together, the three of them will have to learn to trust one another again, accept help from those who love them, and embrace life—during a summer they’ll never forget.]]> 352 Lori Wilde 006335215X Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
There didn’t seem to be much of a plot at all or maybe I just missed it, the writing was bad to the point it was painful and the characters had little to no personality and where quite dislikable from the beginning.

I really tried to give this book a chance but I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc ]]> 3.50
author: Lori Wilde
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/09
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book was not for me, it was very hard to read and keep my attention on I constantly found myself looking at the clock and the page numbers annoyed that the book just seemed to be dragging along and not enjoyable to read at all.

There didn’t seem to be much of a plot at all or maybe I just missed it, the writing was bad to the point it was painful and the characters had little to no personality and where quite dislikable from the beginning.

I really tried to give this book a chance but I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc
]]> 216269037 A funny and heartwarming debut romance about two exes forced to reunite when a plane crash leaves them stranded on a deserted island.

Piper Adams is totally, one hundred percent, completely over Wyatt, the former love of her life. After he broke her heart, she stopped taking risks and focused instead on building a perfect—and perfectly safe—life. Bumping into him at the airport on the way to her best friend’s destination wedding wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was a canceled flight nor Wyatt’s offer of a ride on the tiny plane he’s flying to attend the same wedding. Desperate to make it on time she accepts his offer, but things go from awkward to full-blown nightmare when their plane crashes in the Caribbean, stranding Piper on a deserted island with the last person she ever wanted to see again.��

At first, rule-following Piper clashes with adventure-driven Wyatt, but as the days tick by, she begrudgingly admits that the boy she once knew has grown into a man. A man who makes her laugh, knows his way around a fire, and is annoyingly hot shirtless. As the chemistry still simmering between them boils over, Piper begins wishing Wyatt could be more than just a survival partner. But for their love to survive a second chance, she’ll have to not only trust Wyatt again, but also learn to trust herself and find the courage to let go of her carefully curated life for the chance at something far greater—if they survive the island long enough for rescue.]]> 304 Annie McQuaid 0063374862 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I adored the characters and the depth to them, they where well written and easy to connect to which honestly I am super happy to see, this book was impossible for me to put down.

The only thing I sort of didn’t like was the back and forth between the present and the past, I understand why it was necessary for the character building it’s just not a style I am a fan of.

All and all I adored this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc]]> 3.60 2025
author: Annie McQuaid
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/09
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Oh my god I can not begin to explain how much I love this book, it is every trope I love, forced proximity , second chance romance, enemies to lovers. This book basically had me salvating.

I adored the characters and the depth to them, they where well written and easy to connect to which honestly I am super happy to see, this book was impossible for me to put down.

The only thing I sort of didn’t like was the back and forth between the present and the past, I understand why it was necessary for the character building it’s just not a style I am a fan of.

All and all I adored this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc
]]> 217245610 Sparks fly between an amateur blacksmith and an outspoken professor with a passion for archery in this heartfelt contemporary romance from the author of Getting His Game Back and Not the Plan.

Mo Sarda carefully guards his peaceful life from other people's messy feelings. He coparents his daughter with no drama, sits quietly at family gatherings, spends plenty of time alone tending to his plants, and volunteers to teach blacksmith��skills��at the local folk school. No one seems to get him, except for his family, and that’s completely fine with Mo—there’s no one else he needs. Then along comes Jessica Anderson and her damn crossbow.

After the unexpected death of her sister, Jess has moved to Michigan to move forward with her life. Her grief still stings, but she’s excited to start her new professorship job and continue pursuing her passion for archery. Luckily, her new town has a folk school with ample practice space. Then Jess has a combative run-in with Mo Sarda and all her plans to avoid complicated feelings start to crumble. No one should look that hot banging an anvil.

Before long, the two are drawn to work together to save the beloved folk school from closing its doors. The heat is on them to��plan a��Renaissance Faire��to raise the much-needed funds, but the more worthy pursuit could be the fire growing between them—if only they��would be��willing to��give each other a shot.]]> 320 Gia de Cadenet 0593722760 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I cannot personally recommend this book I disliked it that much. This book was not for me.

Thank you netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the arc]]> 3.83
author: Gia de Cadenet
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/04
date added: 2025/03/04
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I did not like this book, it was not well written in my opinion, I love a well written neurodiverse person but this one was clearly Autistic but just claiming to be sensitive? Yikes, it also felt like the whole book was centered around the fact that this person was neurodivergent and or sensitive which once again I love a well written neurodivergent person but let that be in the background instead of constantly bringing it up .

I cannot personally recommend this book I disliked it that much. This book was not for me.

Thank you netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the arc
]]> 217388071 Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam.

A few rules for the international superspy:

(1) Never blow your cover.
(2) Never accept the first plan.
(3) Never fall for anyone at the agency. Especially if she’s your ex-girlfriend.

Second-generation spy Yardley Whitmer, code name “the Unicorn,�� can do no wrong. With her combination of debutante-style charm and expert spycraft, she’s become an instant legend in the field. If only finally moving out of her girlfriend’s home were as easy as rappelling off the Eiffel Tower. But living a full-time cover story has slowly eroded her relationship with KC until there’s nothing left but lies.

KC “Tabasco�� Nolan, hacker extraordinaire, can crack anything—except the code that would tell her the right moment to confess her secret job to Yardley. Now it’s too late, and she’s in danger of losing the best chance at love she’s ever had.

When an undercover shakedown goes wrong, Yardley and KC discover the unbelievable truth—that they are Unicorn and Tabasco, and they’ve both been working with the agency for years. To salvage the mission, they’re compelled to partner up and fly across oceans, race through winding European streets, and give in to inconvenient passion while hiding in an ambassador’s linen closet. But can they throw away their Plan A and fight through the betrayal and secrets to fall in love with each other’s true selves?]]> 352 Mae Marvel 1250894700 Zelos 0 3.80 2025
author: Mae Marvel
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: currently-reading, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:

]]> 215363234 Business meets pleasure at a family-owned theme park sexy, fun-filled debut from the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist, as a thrill ride designer shows a straitlaced suit the lighter side of life—and discovers a whole new perspective of her own . . .

From Nerdist Editor-in-Chief and “Queen of the Geeks��

Charlotte Gates grew up in a land of fairytales and mythological creatures—literally—spending her childhood at her aunt and uncle’s theme park, Lands of Legend. It’s no surprise that she eventually landed her dream job designing thrill rides for a massive, global company. The surprise comes when she’s laid off—and catches her now ex-boyfriend cheating. With her boss. Worse, back in her Ohio hometown Charlotte finds that Lands of Legend is struggling. To stay open, they’ll have to work with an investor . . .
��
To Charlotte’s horror, Gregory Binns not only ��DZ����’t know the difference between a theme park and an amusement park, he’s also never been on a roller coaster.��Even more troubling, she’s certain his ideas will ruin Lands of Legend’s uniqueness.��So, Charlotte sets out to make sure buttoned-up Gregory experiences the magic firsthand. Opening the new roller coaster, The Thrill Ride, is the perfect opportunity—which brings Charlotte to her next surprise . . .
��
As Gregory loosens up—even ditching his tie—Charlotte begins to see him in an attractive new light. She even catches herself fantasizing about what a life with less work and more Gregory would be like. But when her old job makes her a tempting new offer, she’s faced with a decision. Reclaim the career she worked her whole life to build, or sit tight for a thrilling new shot at love . . .
��]]> 336 Amy Ratcliffe 1496750845 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
The characters were easy to connect to but the romance was very mild throughout the whole book and was very clearly not the focus.

When I finished this book and I thought about everything I had read I just sort of said “meh�� it was ok , not bad but definetly something I didn’t enjoy all that much either .

Thank you Netgalley Kensington Publishing | Kensington for the arc
]]> 3.64
author: Amy Ratcliffe
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.64
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
It was cute but it seemed more focused on the technical sides of running a theme park and I don’t read to read about how a job is done.

The characters were easy to connect to but the romance was very mild throughout the whole book and was very clearly not the focus.

When I finished this book and I thought about everything I had read I just sort of said “meh�� it was ok , not bad but definetly something I didn’t enjoy all that much either .

Thank you Netgalley Kensington Publishing | Kensington for the arc

]]> 199743711
Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, will grow to have a feisty and somewhat uncompromising character in adult life. But she is always a one-off, from her infancy; Elphie is the riveting coming-of-age story of a very peculiar and relatable young girl.

Young Elphie is shaped and molded by the behaviors of her promiscuous mother, Melena, and her pious father, Frex. She suffers ordinary childhood jealousies when her sister, saintly Nessarose, and brother, junior felon Shell, arrive. She first encounters the mistreatment of the Animal populations of Oz, which live adjacent to but not intertwined with human settlements, haunted by a Monkey and receiving aid from Dwarf Bears. She thrashes through her first bruising attempts at friendship, a possible lifeline from her tricky family life. And she gleans the benefits of an education, haphazard though it must be—until she arrives at the doors of Shiz University, about to meet the radiant creature that is Galinda.

Elphie is destined to be a witch; she bears the markings from childhood—most evidently in her green skin but more obscurely and profoundly in her cunning and perhaps amoral behaviors, as she seeks to make do, to slip by, to sneak out, to endure, and to aspire.]]> 288 Gregory Maguire 0063377012 Zelos 1
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc .]]> 3.16 2025
author: Gregory Maguire
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.16
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
I DNF’d at 20%, I love wicked and was so excited to read this but I could not get past the writing style , it was almost like a mix of old English and poetry (but not) and made it impossible to follow or understand what was going on.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc .
]]> 218153839 USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV punchline who has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash-course with her past, spending a week in Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Rules for a love story: There are none. It’s all a lie.

Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth—you can’t fake a belly laugh. Jane should know, she spent her adolescence as "Poor Janey Jakes," the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punchline on America's fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and she’s living by a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.

Except, she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she opened her mouth and a big fat fib fell out. She claimed that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the soundtrack. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.

Now, Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan while facing down her past is Jane's idea of hell, but Dan just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?]]> 368 Annabel Monaghan 0593714105 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I did however have a hard time connecting or enjoying the MC, she was a bit unbearable a lot of the time with her low self esteem and her deprecating comments towards herself. Very immature and made me roll my eyes at her actions more than once

SEMI- SPOILERS// WARNING
I was enjoying this book until the end, the ending of this book really killed the whole thing for me , I really really hate when authors put in a huge fight between main love interests just to stir up drama and then to pretty much instantly have one forgive the other when what the other did was honestly pretty terrible it truly killed the whole mood of the book for me.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc
]]> 4.30 2025
author: Annabel Monaghan
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I am a huge fan of enemies to lovers and I was enjoying the book, not loving it but enjoying it enough to where I didn’t have the desire to stop reading.

I did however have a hard time connecting or enjoying the MC, she was a bit unbearable a lot of the time with her low self esteem and her deprecating comments towards herself. Very immature and made me roll my eyes at her actions more than once

SEMI- SPOILERS// WARNING
I was enjoying this book until the end, the ending of this book really killed the whole thing for me , I really really hate when authors put in a huge fight between main love interests just to stir up drama and then to pretty much instantly have one forgive the other when what the other did was honestly pretty terrible it truly killed the whole mood of the book for me.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc

]]> 218695891 Popular bookstagrammer Chip Pons's gay rom-com about two men who impulsively pose as a couple to compete in a reality show contest just minutes after meeting at an airport, and their run-in��with��the very real feelings that start to simmer between them.

Catching flights...& feelings...has never been more complicated.

Asher Bennet thought his relationship was just fine. Until he’s unceremoniously dumped at the Boston airport ahead of the world-wide travel competition reality show, The Epic Trek. Armed with only a ticket and righteous indignation, Asher finds the closest solace he can: a mimosa and mozzarella sticks combo��at an airport TGI Fridays. Still, Asher is determined to find a new partner and luckily, right in front of him is a smooth-talking airline pilot ready for takeoff.��

Theo Fernandez has been grounded. He’s the only pilot that has never taken a vacation and the edict has been passed prove you're prioritizing a work-life balance or say goodbye to your wings. As he struggles to bask in his new downtime, without reconnecting��with his family, he stumbles upon the perfect opportunity. The handsome guy who "stole" his mozzarella sticks at his favorite terminal eatery has a sudden opening for a partner . . . on a nationally televised reality show.

Theo and Asher��buckle up to��fake date for the cameras,��but as they do��the undercurrents of attraction make them wonder if��their on-screen chemistry hints at something bigger. Do they have the courage to leave behind their baggage, and wing it together for another chance at love?]]> 384 Chip Pons 0593853504 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc
]]> 4.34 2025
author: Chip Pons
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I absolutely adored this gay rom com, fake dating and a competition they compete together in? It itched every scratch for me and left me wanting more because of how much I adored it can’t wait to see what else chip comes out with.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc

]]> 209628245 Welcome to Tenderness!

A quaint seaside town in Kitakyushu, Mojiko is full of hidden delights. And one unexpected treasure is the 24/7 convenience store, Tenderness.

At first glance, it’s a store like any other.

Sure, it’s a bit odd that the handsome manager has his own fan club. And perhaps the customers are somewhat eccentric. But there’s a warmth about Tenderness that draws you in.

The bright lights are always on. The employees know you by name. And the shelves are stacked with delicious treats, from strong hot coffee to sweet parfaits, egg sandos to ramen, crispy fried chicken to refreshing soba.

After a while, you get the feeling that whatever you need might just be waiting for you here��

Celebrating the joy of connection and community, The Convenience Store by the Sea is the heartwarming international bestseller from award-winning Japanese novelist Sonoko Machida.]]> 304 Sonoko Machida 1398722782 Zelos 0 3.76 2020
author: Sonoko Machida
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: currently-reading, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:

]]> 216971926
Teagan, who is busy finishing her law degree, needs a break from the stress of living up to her parents' expectations. Heath is following his passion and starting his career as a physical therapist, but his family's drama is tearing his life apart behind the scenes.

As members of the same friend group, Heath and Teagan will be around each other plenty during wedding season, whether they like it or not. With no time or desire to date, the two come to an agreement: pre-scheduled hookups through the summer or until something real comes along. A situational relationship, otherwise known as a situationship.

Their arrangement seems perfect. If their past doesn't come back to bite them.]]> 352 E.M. Wilson 1998341194 Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books for the arc
]]> 3.55
author: E.M. Wilson
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.55
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book is a big ol nope for me, there was a lot of things I did not like about this book, I’m not a fan of the mysogony and homophobia from the friend group. I am also not a big fan of hookup culture and also couldn’t stand the fmc and the mmc, that being said it was well written it just wasn’t for me but I know that there are people out there this book is perfect for and who will love it

Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books for the arc

]]> 219334750 When a fashion influencer with a luxe Parisian life and a fake musician boyfriend meets a “normal�� guy and begins��to��date him on the sly, she must rethink all of her lies—and consider whether they might have a little too much truth in them.

Seventeen-year-old Aurie McGinley lives an envied life as a fashion influencer in��Paris, sharing a manager with, and fake dating up-and-coming musical god Remy St. Julien. Girls throw themselves at Remy, but he’s always just been her best friend. She ��DZ����’t have time for a real boyfriend.

Until she bumps into��normal guy, Kylian, while fleeing��paparazzi. Kylian is the type of guy her mother wants her��to date. In fact, her family would rather she focus on school and getting into��an elite college than showcasing the latest runway haute couture. Aurie begins��to��think Kylian is the guy for her,��too.

She’s fake dating one guy, while actually dating another—all��while keeping up a constant, live video diary. But then a fake kiss with Remy turns steamy and her head is scrambled. Could her best friend really be the one for her? Aurie must tune out everyone else’s expectations��to��focus on herself and discover what she really wants.]]> 336 Sabrina Fedel 0593900278 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc]]> 3.94
author: Sabrina Fedel
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.94
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Cute romance and a fun read I am a huge fan of the whole fake dating trope . My only issue and what made this book a bit unbearable was the hyper focus on the mc’s Dyscalculia and how she kept calling it a disability and using it as an excuse which really rubbed me the wrong way .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc
]]> 214988484 Things Pippa her job, airplanes, synonyms and tropical fish.

Things Pippa does not enjoy: repeating patterns, tight clothes, people asking why she's single and school reunions.

After six months of only speaking over intercom, when air-traffic controller Pippa Edwards finally meets pilot Andrew Boyce-Jones face-to-face, they discover they've got much more in common than simply working at the same airport. In fact . . . they both need a date.

Tired of every relationship ending before it's even begun, Pippa wants to evade the inevitable questions at her dreaded ten-year school reunion in Cape Town. And Andrew needs to get his well-meaning family off his back about settling down.

The solution seems simple. A pact - a fake dating pact - for as long as it's mutually beneficial. It's perfect.

Or at least it would be if their very real attraction wasn't about to make Pippa question everything she thought she wanted. . .]]> 384 Jo Watson 1998854604 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I was excited for this book there is so little Autism representation in books but this book was impossible to pallet .

The MC constantly droned on and on and there was so much over explanation that I was constantly getting bored .

This book ended up being a hard no for me, despite a few cute moments neither character where likable and no matter how hard I tried to get into the story I couldn’t

Thank you Netgalley Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | W by Wattpad Books for the arc ]]> 3.92 2024
author: Jo Watson
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Love at first flight is possibly the worst book I have ever had the displeasure of reading.

I was excited for this book there is so little Autism representation in books but this book was impossible to pallet .

The MC constantly droned on and on and there was so much over explanation that I was constantly getting bored .

This book ended up being a hard no for me, despite a few cute moments neither character where likable and no matter how hard I tried to get into the story I couldn’t

Thank you Netgalley Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | W by Wattpad Books for the arc
]]> 214269390 A swoony romance between driven, practical Lynda Fan and her rich, arrogant classmate, Angela Wu. When Angela offers Lynda the chance to design characters for her otome game, Lynda discovers things she never knew about herself…or her heart.

Love is an art.

Sixteen-year-old Lynda Fan has the skills and the drive to get into the Rhode Island School of Design—but not the money. Her parents are too busy paying for her stepsister’s violin lessons to help Lynda get into art school.

So when her rich and arrogant classmate, Angela Wu, offers to hire Lynda as a character designer for an otome game—a love story-based video game—she jumps at the opportunity.

Lynda isn’t exactly a romantic, but in pursuit of her dreams, she discovers things she never knew about herself while also finding love with every heart she draws.]]> 320 Alice Lin 0593814827 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This is one of those stories that isn’t horrible but it also isn’t great, I didn’t have trouble reading it but I have no desire to ever read it again and honestly probably could of gone without reading it.

I don’t know how to explain it but this book just wasn’t drawing me in, I don’t know if it was the story or the writing but I just wasn’t clicking with it at all.

One of the things I Really didn’t like was the MC’s father, after remarrying it was very clear that he was picking favorites and treating his daughter like absolute trash but that may be a sore spot for me because I went through that myself when I was younger .

All and all I give this book a 2.5 but am rounding up to a solid 3.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc

]]> 3.67 2025
author: Alice Lin
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Love points to you is a coming of age romance between two girls Angela and Lynda.

This is one of those stories that isn’t horrible but it also isn’t great, I didn’t have trouble reading it but I have no desire to ever read it again and honestly probably could of gone without reading it.

I don’t know how to explain it but this book just wasn’t drawing me in, I don’t know if it was the story or the writing but I just wasn’t clicking with it at all.

One of the things I Really didn’t like was the MC’s father, after remarrying it was very clear that he was picking favorites and treating his daughter like absolute trash but that may be a sore spot for me because I went through that myself when I was younger .

All and all I give this book a 2.5 but am rounding up to a solid 3.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the arc


]]> 214986262 From the acclaimed author of A Heart in a Body in the World comes the gripping story of a girl living a lie in order to find the truth about her family and herself.

Eleanor, like so many others, is used to watching her famous father from afar. To the world, Hugo Harrison is the brilliant and charismatic tech genius whose AI inventions seem to create a new, better reality. But to Eleanor, whose mother had an affair with Hugo years ago, he is something even more intriguing, and dangerous—a secret.��

When Eleanor’s spying leads her to a posting for a live-in summer nanny job for Hugo's young son��her half-brother��she knows she has to apply. This is finally her chance to learn about her father, his family, and the life that could have been hers. She only has to do one ��become someone else. With just a few well-placed lies, Eleanor is catapulted into an unfamiliar, intoxicating whirlwind of money and ego, and into a new romance with a cute boy who works for Hugo. But in a place where image is everything and reality can be rewritten, is anything real—even the Harrisons themselves?

Caught between her own secrets and the ones she’s uncovering about her father and his latest invention, Eleanor faces a question that technology can't what is your true self, and how do you know when you find her?]]> 416 Deb Caletti 0593708628 Zelos 1
I did not like the characters especially the MC I did not like how she was basically stalking her biological dad in order to get a job babysitting her half brother and how she felt entitled to be around him.

I DNF’d this book at 25% because of how uncomfortable it made me to read.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Labyrinth Road for the arc
]]> 3.59 2025
author: Deb Caletti
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
True life in uncanny valley , I can not begin to explain how much I did not like this book.

I did not like the characters especially the MC I did not like how she was basically stalking her biological dad in order to get a job babysitting her half brother and how she felt entitled to be around him.

I DNF’d this book at 25% because of how uncomfortable it made me to read.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Labyrinth Road for the arc

]]> 219301793 A princess with a mostly useless magical talent takes on horrible monsters, a dozen identical masked heroes, and a talking lion in a quest to save a kingdom—and herself—in this affectionate satire of the Grimm Brothers�� fairy tale The Twelve Huntsmen.

Someone wants to murder Princess Melilot. This is sadly normal.

Melilot is sick of being ordered to go on dangerous quests by her domineering stepmother. Especially since she always winds up needing to be rescued by her more magically talented stepsisters. And now, she's been commanded to marry a king she’s never met.

When hideous spider-wolves attack her on the journey to meet her husband-to-be, she is once again rescued—but this time, by twelve eerily similar-looking masked huntsmen. Soon, she has to contend with near-constant attempts on her life, a talking lion that sets bewildering gender tests, and a king who can't recognize his true love when she puts on a pair of trousers. And all the while, she has to fight her growing attraction to not only one of the huntsmen, but also her fiancé’s extremely attractive sister.

If Melilot can't unravel the mysteries and rescue herself from peril, kingdoms will fall. Worse, she could end up married to someone she ��DZ����’t love.]]> 416 Ry Herman 0593733088 Zelos 1
I tried really really hard to get into this book but I just could not get into it or the retelling of the stories .

I DNF’d this book at 40% because of how bored I was and because it felt like a chore reading the book.

One of my main issues was that while being a retelling they constantly found moments to make fun of and badmouth the original fairytales which I didn’t much like, another big issue I have is nothing in this story was ever taken seriously which isn’t really for me I’m not a big comedy fan and much prefer the original fairytales.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for the arc
]]> 4.25 2025
author: Ry Herman
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
This princess kills monsters is a retelling of the Grimm brothers “the twelve huntsman��

I tried really really hard to get into this book but I just could not get into it or the retelling of the stories .

I DNF’d this book at 40% because of how bored I was and because it felt like a chore reading the book.

One of my main issues was that while being a retelling they constantly found moments to make fun of and badmouth the original fairytales which I didn’t much like, another big issue I have is nothing in this story was ever taken seriously which isn’t really for me I’m not a big comedy fan and much prefer the original fairytales.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for the arc

]]> 221207874
The cute, seaside town of Portneath has been the home of Capelthorne’s Books for nearly a hundred years��

The shop, in the heart of a high street that stretches crookedly down the hill from the castle to the sea, may be a tad run-down these days, but to Jules Capelthorne, the wonky, dusty world of literary treasures is full of precious childhood memories. When her great-aunt Florence gets too frail to run it alone, Jules ditches her junior publishing job in London and comes home to make the bookshop’s hundredth birthday a celebration to remember.

Jules quickly discovers things are worse than she ever imagined: The bookshop is close to bankruptcy, unlikely to make it to its own centenary celebration, and the lease on the building is up for renewal. With a six-figure sum needed, the future looks bleak.

To make matters worse, the owner of the property is the insufferable Roman Montbeau, from the posh, local family who owns half of Portneath. The Montbeaus and Capelthornes have feuded for years, and Roman has clearly not improved since he tormented Jules as a child. Fresh from a high-flying career in New York, he is on a mission to shake things up, and—unforgivably—proves his point about Capelthorne’s being a relic of the past by opening a new bookshop directly opposite—a shiny, plate-glass-windowed emporium of books.

Jules may not be able to splash the cash on promotions and marketing like the Montbeaus, but she’s got some ideas of her own, plus she has a tenacity that may just win the hardest of hearts and the most hopeless of conflicts.

Let the battle of the bookshops commence…]]> 336 Poppy Alexander 0063340674 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I don’t mind a good retelling but this was not a good retelling, the similarities in names where awful and clearly forced which made me cringe every time I read it

The book was incredibly slow going and the inserts of “clues�� the author put in throughout the book to try and “hint�� that this was a Romeo and Juliet retelling (as if it wasn’t already obvious) was over the top and annoying.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc]]> 3.15
author: Poppy Alexander
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.15
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book is painstakingly bad, it is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet which I was unaware of because it wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the information about the book.

I don’t mind a good retelling but this was not a good retelling, the similarities in names where awful and clearly forced which made me cringe every time I read it

The book was incredibly slow going and the inserts of “clues�� the author put in throughout the book to try and “hint�� that this was a Romeo and Juliet retelling (as if it wasn’t already obvious) was over the top and annoying.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc
]]> 219520676 They say be careful what you wish for��

For Lydia, Jenny, and Selene, au pairing in Seoul is the opportunity of a lifetime. Lydia wants nothing more than to transform into a leading lady; Jenny is determined to swear off love for good 5,955 miles away from her ex; and Selene is convinced working in Korea will finally lead her to her biological mother.

During a combined family vacation with their host families, the women visit an enchanted waterfall on Jeju Island and make a wish under a full moon. Overnight, everything changes. Suddenly, Lydia is the girl everyone wants—except, strangely, her mysterious art class partner from Spain. Jenny is having secret, no-strings-attached fun with her host mom’s irresistible younger brother. And Selene is finally getting somewhere in her search for her mother thanks to a research-savvy photographer.

But when Jenny’s romantic feelings begin to deepen, she realizes her wish is standing in the way of true, lasting love. Her decision to return to the waterfall will have unexpected consequences and force the au pairs to confront a new question altogether: Could it be that their friendship was the real magic all along?]]> 368 Leesa Cross-Smith 0593476182 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This is a cute story well written but really not my personal taste I am really not a fan of each chapter being a different characters point of view, it really takes me out of the whole story and makes my brain register that I’m reading which kills the whole mood of the story for me.

That being said I still think it’s a good story and worth picking up just not my personal cup of tea.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Tiny Reparations Books for the arc]]> 3.79
author: Leesa Cross-Smith
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
As you wish is a story about three young women who move to Korea to become Au Pair for different families but end up as friends. All three make a wish together for different things which leaves them wondering whether or not the wishes are coming tru.

This is a cute story well written but really not my personal taste I am really not a fan of each chapter being a different characters point of view, it really takes me out of the whole story and makes my brain register that I’m reading which kills the whole mood of the story for me.

That being said I still think it’s a good story and worth picking up just not my personal cup of tea.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Tiny Reparations Books for the arc
]]> 218153674 To become the first queen in centuries, a powerfully blessed blacksmith must use her wits and fire magic to overthrow the corrupt powers ruling her kingdom—while also fighting her growing desire for one of her dragon-riding adversaries—in the first book of a sizzling Celtic-inspired fantasy romance duology.

Once a territory built on matriarchal rule and values, Tìr Teine has since grown frail from a long line of fruitless kings. The most recent of which have ruled under the influence of the True Religion, an oppressive group who have steadily poisoned the region with their anti-magic teachings.

Born to rule and blessed by fire, Aemyra has begrudgingly lived in hiding rather than risk her life in court, waiting in anticipation for the current king’s death so she can bond to his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. But when the king dies and Aemyra is ready to take what is rightfully hers, her ambitious plan is foiled and she is thrust into a game of vicious politics and plots.

Her biggest adversary is Prince Fiorean, a dragon-rider and one of the most powerful fire wielders in the territory. Cold, arrogant, and blindly supportive of his corrupt family, he is everything Aemyra despises. But as chaos engulfs the court, they find themselves reluctantly entwined, forced to forge an uneasy alliance—one that quickly ignites into something more dangerous than either of them expected.

Behind enemy lines and slowly falling for her so-called adversary, Aemyra uncovers just how far the rot of corruption has spread, and what she may have to sacrifice to claim her throne.]]> 416 Hazel McBride 0593972945 Zelos 1
Thank you Netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the arc]]> 3.87 2025
author: Hazel McBride
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
The MC was completely unbearable I DNF’d I totally understand what the author was trying to do with the MC but I’m afraid in an effort to try and make her strong willed instead made her unbearable, the whole cocky I’m better than you attitude and the immaturity of the MC made this book unreadable for me.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the arc
]]> 217453534 Everyone wonders about the one that got away . . . and thanks to an alternate reality tech project, one woman will get the chance to actually find out.

When Laurel Everett finds a ring in her longtime boyfriend Ollie's sock drawer, she should be thrilled . . . so why is she left wondering "what if?" Specifically, what if she'd taken up her work crush, Drew, on his offer of a date just after she and Ollie got together? Thanks to her job at tech giant Pixel, she might have a way to answer that question through the AltR project, which promises users a glimpse of alternate realities. Or it will, once the quantum computers it relies on get more powerful.����

When the program actually works and Laurel wakes up five years into her life with Drew, she's fascinated . . . then increasingly horrified as she continues to slip between that world and her "real" life seemingly at random. As she moves back and forth between the two worlds, Laurel realizes choosing the right life might not be as simple as deciding between two men and the different��visions of happiness they offer. And if she doesn't find a way to untangle herself from the quantum mess she's unleashed, she might wind up stuck in the wrong life, or worse, deleted entirely like a faulty line of code. . . .]]> 304 Jilly Gagnon 0593722981 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I loved this book, truly and fully devoured this book in only a few hours it was that good . I’ve always loved the idea of multiple universes , outcomes and versions of yourself and the idea of what would happened if you end up in one of those universes always fascinated me.

I love the journey Laurel goes through, the love, pain and all the emotions she goes through in this amazingly written book.

I highly recommend this book, if you have the chance pick up a copy and give it a read.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the arc ]]> 3.68
author: Jilly Gagnon
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.68
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
What if it’s you, quantum physics, multiple universes , the multiverse and personal growth all packed into 254 pages.

I loved this book, truly and fully devoured this book in only a few hours it was that good . I’ve always loved the idea of multiple universes , outcomes and versions of yourself and the idea of what would happened if you end up in one of those universes always fascinated me.

I love the journey Laurel goes through, the love, pain and all the emotions she goes through in this amazingly written book.

I highly recommend this book, if you have the chance pick up a copy and give it a read.

Thank you Netgalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the arc
]]> 215583253
Spring is in the air and Mylie has everything she could ever want: her tackle shop is thriving and employs a third of Clay Creek, Arkansas, and she lives with her beloved Granny and little sister Cassie, who both keep her on her toes. As tourists pour into town for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie is in her element and ready to bring her all-women team to victory.

After moving to Chicago, Ben never thought he would return to Clay Creek. But with both his grandfather and mother gone, he’s left to deal with their estate. His plan is simple: come in quietly, fix up his lakeside childhood home, sell it quickly, and get out. He underestimates how quickly his arrival will stir up the local gossip, and how intensely his unresolved feelings for Mylie, his childhood best friend, will resurface.

Amid the buzz of competition and the rhythm of small-town life, Mylie and Ben find themselves unable to ignore their shared history. They tentatively explore a future together, despite the impending sale of Ben’s house and Mylie’s insistence on staying put in Clay Creek. Flings are easier said than done, and Mylie and Ben will have to address their clashing lifestyles before their feelings get away from them.

Told with Annie England Noblin’s signature wit, cozy charm, and a dash of spice, Spring Fling is the perfect friends-to-lovers read.]]> 304 Annie England Noblin 0063222280 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This book wasn’t bad but it wasn’t amazing either it was just sort of meh, I didn’t have trouble reading it but honestly wouldn’t have been bothered if I’d never read it either.

I wasn’t a big fan of Miley and Ben’s relationship either which was a huge plot of the book, they constantly seemed to be arguing over one thing or another and honestly their comparability seems awful like that couple you know in ten to 15 years will absolutely despise and resent each other .

The book wasn’t for me but I do feel like there’s a large group of people that really will enjoy it.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc.]]> 3.38
author: Annie England Noblin
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.38
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book was mediocre at best, it’s got the whole childhood friends trope and second chance romance which I’m usually a big fan of but this book just felt like it fell short for me.

This book wasn’t bad but it wasn’t amazing either it was just sort of meh, I didn’t have trouble reading it but honestly wouldn’t have been bothered if I’d never read it either.

I wasn’t a big fan of Miley and Ben’s relationship either which was a huge plot of the book, they constantly seemed to be arguing over one thing or another and honestly their comparability seems awful like that couple you know in ten to 15 years will absolutely despise and resent each other .

The book wasn’t for me but I do feel like there’s a large group of people that really will enjoy it.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc.
]]> 220140302 Always each other’s plus-ones, but never each other’s real dates, two��childhood best friends have one last summer wedding to fall in love in this��dual-narrative debut.

“Left me feeling desperately romantic. Prepare for a book hangover—I loved it.”��—Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of Summer Romance

Best friends Joni and Ren have been inseparable since childhood. So when Joni moves across the country for her job, the two devise a creative way to stay in they’ll be each other’s plus-ones every year for wedding season, no matter what else is happening in their lives.

It’s a tradition that works, until a line is crossed and the friendship they once thought was forever is ruined.

Now Joni is back at their families�� shared summer home for her sister’s wedding, and she’s determined to make the week perfect, even if it means faking a friendship with Ren—and avoiding the truth of why they have to fake it in the first place. How hard can it be to pretend to be friends with the person who once knew you best?

But as sunny beach days together turn into starry nights, Joni begins to question what her life is without Ren in it. And when the wedding arrives, bringing past heartaches to the surface, she’ll be forced to decide if loving Ren means letting him go, or if theirs is a love story worth fighting for.

“Your heart will explode when you read this book. I��defy you not to fall in love with Joni and Ren.”��—Tessa Bickers, USA Today bestselling author of The Book Swap

Perfect for fans The Summer I Turned Pretty��and��People We Meet on Vacation Reunion romances Forced Proximity Dual narratives & Single POV]]> 351 Sally Blakely 0369762053 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Absolutely adored this book and everything about it, I highly recommend picking up a copy and reading it .

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press ]]> 4.06 2025
author: Sally Blakely
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/18
date added: 2025/02/18
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I’m going to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of going back and forth between timelines the shift tends to take me out of the immersion of the book that being said I love second chance romance it’s one of my favorite tropes if done right which in this book it was done right .

Absolutely adored this book and everything about it, I highly recommend picking up a copy and reading it .

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press
]]> 212431564 "Whip-smart, subversive, and infinitely charming. An ode to the beautifully messy work of falling in love on purpose." —Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Emma Moskowitz and…someone��

When couples therapist Emma Moskowitz is unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé six months before their wedding, her world comes crashing down: her thriving private practice, her status as a popular online creator, even her book deal all hinge on the fact that Emma is an expert when it comes to romantic relationships. Not to mention her heart is ripped in half.

It isn't fair. She worked so hard to be ready for marriage. If only Emma could find a different groom by her planned wedding day, nothing would have to change....

So commences Operation: Save My Date.

As Emma publicly shares her untraditional journey to the altar online, things get complicated quickly. She finds herself caught between Will, a charismatic podcast producer who is not interested in being a replacement groom; and Matt, a sweet, recent divorcee eagerly looking to settle down.

As the wedding day approaches, Emma must decide what future she truly wants for herself. After all, her family, her book editor, and a large portion of the internet are watching...]]> 304 Allison Raskin 1335081321 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I was not a big fan of this book, I thought I would enjoy it by the synopsis I read but something about Emma rubbed me the wrong way.

I still like the concept of this book and enjoy the synopsis I just couldn’t connect to the book in the way I wanted to and felt like it fell short .

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press]]> 3.64 2025
author: Allison Raskin
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/18
date added: 2025/02/18
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Emma’s finance leaves her right before the wedding claiming he’s wanting to find something else, stating that something is missing, which leaves Emma scrambling to find someone else to marry because she wants to keep her wedding date.

I was not a big fan of this book, I thought I would enjoy it by the synopsis I read but something about Emma rubbed me the wrong way.

I still like the concept of this book and enjoy the synopsis I just couldn’t connect to the book in the way I wanted to and felt like it fell short .

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press
]]> 218171628 In this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer’s muse suddenly comes to life, but can they create their own happily-ever-after?

Legal secretary by day, aspiring novelist by night, Ziya Khan pours herself into writing stories featuring the kinds of diverse characters she loves. In exchange, she’s got a growing pile of rejection letters. When yet another “thanks but no thanks�� arrives on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Ziya decides to throw her novel and her dreams in the trash. End of story.

Except that when Ziya wakes up, there’s a flesh-and-blood version of her muse standing in her kitchen. His name is Aashiq, and it’s his job to inspire Ziya to write again. From singing karaoke to standing up for herself at work, he’s pushing Ziya out of the sidelines and into the world, showing her how to live and love fully.

Even more impossibly, something starts to blossom between them. But as Ziya rediscovers the joy of writing, Aashiq starts to disappear. His job is almost done. And it seems soon Ziya will have to choose: her art…or her heart?]]> 304 Alina Khawaja 0778368661 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I honestly wasn’t a big fan of her falling for her muse…I loved the characters but the whole falling for a part or herself gave me the ick .

Well written , likable characters, different plot would recommend at the very least giving the book a chance.

Thank you netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the Arc
]]> 3.85 2025
author: Alina Khawaja
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/17
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Cute story , it was different than what I was expecting I honestly thought it was going to be about a character she wrote coming to life and was a bit disappointed to realize it was actually only her muse which felt a bit weird to me .

I honestly wasn’t a big fan of her falling for her muse…I loved the characters but the whole falling for a part or herself gave me the ick .

Well written , likable characters, different plot would recommend at the very least giving the book a chance.

Thank you netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the Arc

]]> 123209602 Titanic meets Aliens in this tense YA science fiction horror series by #1 New York Times bestselling author E.K. Johnston.

Celeste knows every inch of this ship.��She's��proud of her work as apprentice engineer. And as the maiden voyage of the Titan launches, she's optimistic for the promises of this new journey from Earth to Mars �� this new life.

Dominic arrives at his suite where his valet is busy unpacking his things. His chest is tight, already feeling anxious inside his dad's precious new ship. Once it launches, he's trapped, inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him���� a life that will leave his dreams of art school behind.��

Discovered under melted ice caps, ancient aliens have been brought onto the Titan as well, and stored in display cases for the entertainment of the passengers . . . until an act of sabotage releases them into the ship, with zero discrimination for class, decks or human life . . .]]> E.K. Johnston Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
There was a lot of description and a lot of talking with very little advancement to the story and I felt like it just kept droning on and that half of the dialog and plot thus far wasn’t even necessary.

30 percent through the book I was literally having to fight my own urge to stop reading with how bored I was.

There is a point when a writer needs to realize that while description is helpful there is a point where you can write to much description and forget to write the actual story.

I noticed a lot of the same points where brought up through the story only written in a slightly different way but even so it felt like a lot of repeated information especially when discussing their past, the rupt and the goverment.

Onto the characters, there were a lot of characters to follow, that being said I could not connect to anyone at all and the constant back and forth got really hard to follow at times. The only character I even had a slight fascination in was Dominic.

Thank you netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books for the arc
]]> 3.69 2025
author: E.K. Johnston
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Wow, and not wow in a good way this book was hard to get through , I kept waiting for the story to pick up .

There was a lot of description and a lot of talking with very little advancement to the story and I felt like it just kept droning on and that half of the dialog and plot thus far wasn’t even necessary.

30 percent through the book I was literally having to fight my own urge to stop reading with how bored I was.

There is a point when a writer needs to realize that while description is helpful there is a point where you can write to much description and forget to write the actual story.

I noticed a lot of the same points where brought up through the story only written in a slightly different way but even so it felt like a lot of repeated information especially when discussing their past, the rupt and the goverment.

Onto the characters, there were a lot of characters to follow, that being said I could not connect to anyone at all and the constant back and forth got really hard to follow at times. The only character I even had a slight fascination in was Dominic.

Thank you netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books for the arc

]]> 213483406 A woman wronged and the detective investigating her husband’s suspected crime must work through a chilling and puzzling case in this twisty dual-narrator thriller where nothing is as it seems, perfect for fans of Hayley Scrivener and Lisa Jewell.

Natalie Campbell loses time. She’ll wake up in different places with no memory of how she got there. The blackouts are a symptom of her PTSD, which began after she was sexually assaulted by her boss, who was found not guilty. But she found ways to cope by setting up routines and marrying her supportive husband, Ryan. Then one day, her husband is accused of committing the same crime that ruined her life.��

Natalie desperately wants to believe he is innocent, but when Alice Lytton, the young woman who accused him, is found murdered in the woods near their house, she begins to doubt the man she married.

DI Helen Stratton is also healing from old wounds. Her older sister disappeared when she was 16, and the police didn’t bother to investigate. Vowing to help other lost and vulnerable girls, she joined the force. Stratton is ready to do whatever it takes to catch the killer and bring justice to her sister and Alice.

Tightly plotted, fast-paced, and addictive, Believe will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering if anyone is to be believed.��
]]> 0 S.M. Govett Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I had a very hard time with this book, the pace was slow especially at the beginning and the immediate thrust into the topic of rape was a bit jarring for me.

As well written as this book was I had to keep putting it down because I personally have trauma in that area myself and hadn’t expected the topic of rape to be such a large part of the book.

I think this book would be a great read for many people but for me it was a miss. I would however would love to read some of the writers other work as I do feel they are a good writer.

Thank you netgalley and crooked lane books for the arc]]> 4.22
author: S.M. Govett
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Trigger Warning: this book talks about and has discussions about SA, something I am warning potential readers about.

I had a very hard time with this book, the pace was slow especially at the beginning and the immediate thrust into the topic of rape was a bit jarring for me.

As well written as this book was I had to keep putting it down because I personally have trauma in that area myself and hadn’t expected the topic of rape to be such a large part of the book.

I think this book would be a great read for many people but for me it was a miss. I would however would love to read some of the writers other work as I do feel they are a good writer.

Thank you netgalley and crooked lane books for the arc
]]> 156727073
Seventeen-year-old Jamie Taher-Foster has big plans for Senior Year. She's made a list of things and places in Toronto she and her boyfriend of three years, Ben Cameron, need to check off before graduating. And the biggest plan of all: a very special night for the two of them at the upcoming Winter Formal. But then Ben arrives back home after a summer away with an unthinkable announcement: he wants to break up.

And when Jamie discovers him with Olivia Chen the next day, she is determined to get him back. Even if that means fake dating the younger, curly-haired, TikTok dancer, Axel Dahini, whose bicycle she accidentally ran over.

Though she and Axel have nothing in common aside from their shared Arab heritage—she’s a messy, type A with anxiety, he’s carefree but meticulous—their forced time together brings them to better understand one another. And for Jamie, it just might mean learning that not all experiences or people need to be crossed off a list.]]> Jackie Khalilieh Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I picked up and put down this book multiple times but reading this book felt like a chore and I just could not get into it nor could I connect to any of the characters. I love enemies to lovers so I was sure I would enjoy this book but one of the main things besides the characters personalities that turned me off at the beginning was the cheating I hate hate hate cheating in stories especially when the character who chests continues to be a big part of the story.

This book was not for me

Thank you Netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books]]> 4.17 2025
author: Jackie Khalilieh
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/12
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I tried so hard to finish this book but ultimately DNFd it at 50% I cannot stand the characters Ben and Jamie they drive me up the wall, I hate Ben’s attitude and the way he treats Jamie and Jamie oh my god, it was like being in High school again with every second being some sort of drama over one thing or another and quite frankly I hated the way she treats Axel�� Honestly Axel is the only likable character in the book.

I picked up and put down this book multiple times but reading this book felt like a chore and I just could not get into it nor could I connect to any of the characters. I love enemies to lovers so I was sure I would enjoy this book but one of the main things besides the characters personalities that turned me off at the beginning was the cheating I hate hate hate cheating in stories especially when the character who chests continues to be a big part of the story.

This book was not for me

Thank you Netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books
]]> 216752408 A scrappy TV director lands her big break only to go head-to-head with the surly yet sexy director of photography, in this page-turning romance perfect for fans of Ava Wilder and Tessa Bailey.

Up-and-coming TV director Cali Daniels knows sex. Well, okay, she knows how to shoot sex scenes, and she’s been hired to direct a highly anticipated steamy episode of the popular series The Demon. This job is her chance at a big-time career in the film and television industry—all she has to do is deliver an unparalleled show using her hard-knocks know-how and ample creativity.

If only the director of photography—effortlessly sexy Jory Blair—would stop shutting her ideas down at every turn. Jory has spent years cultivating his career as an A-list director of photography, but a recent health scare has him rethinking his life and craving the director spot. Now this creative newbie, who he can’t get out of his mind, wants to change the look of his show. Even worse, the friction between them is sparking into blistering chemistry.

As collaborating takes on a whole new meaning, and the show’s producer not-so-subtly suggests that Jory sabotage Cali in order to achieve his own goals, they’ll have to decide if chasing their dream jobs is worth losing the dream of a future together.

Fans of How to Fake It in Hollywood and Plot Twist will devour this steamy, enemies to lovers, workplace, debut romance.]]> 336 Noel Stark Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I was excited about this book I am obsessed with enemies to lovers and work place romance but no matter how hard I tried I could not get into or seem to enjoy this book.

The characters are impossible to connect to and honestly hard to like at all cali comes off as whiny and Jory comes off as a complete jerk, don’t even get me started on their romance the first time they hooked up Jory was basically taking advantage of her emotional and mental state like what?.

This book was not for me though I would love to see some of Noel’s other work as I can tell she’s a good writer and would love to give her another chance.

Thank you NetGalley and alcove press for the arc
]]> 3.42
author: Noel Stark
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.42
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/03
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Could you ever tell a writer was good but you ended up absolutely hating the story? That is how I felt about this book.

I was excited about this book I am obsessed with enemies to lovers and work place romance but no matter how hard I tried I could not get into or seem to enjoy this book.

The characters are impossible to connect to and honestly hard to like at all cali comes off as whiny and Jory comes off as a complete jerk, don’t even get me started on their romance the first time they hooked up Jory was basically taking advantage of her emotional and mental state like what?.

This book was not for me though I would love to see some of Noel’s other work as I can tell she’s a good writer and would love to give her another chance.

Thank you NetGalley and alcove press for the arc

]]> 214537793 For fans of FIVE FEET APART, this emotional and romantic YA offers an unflinching look at not only the realities of heart failure, but at memory, grief, guilt, and what it means to live—in spite of another, because of another, for another. For yourself.

Sydney Wells��should have died. She was supposed to die.

She never expected, after years of waiting, to receive a heart transplant. Now, seventeen-year-old Sydney ��DZ����’t know what to do with her life. Her daily routine consisted of staying indoors, eating heart-healthy foods, and posting about her transplant list experiences on TheWaitingList with her long-distance BFF (and heart failure buddy) Chloe.��

Now, Sydney latches onto the one thing that gives her learning as much as she can about the person whose heart she inherited. After finding the family of her likely-donor, Mia,��Sydney falls deep into her world—and may also be falling for Mia's best friend, Clayton.��

But��Sydney isn’t the only one hiding something. Mia’s brother Tanner won’t talk to Clayton, and Clayton won’t tell Mia why. And hundreds of miles away, Chloe’s health has taken a turn for the worse.��Sydney needs to face what’s in her heart—the truth, the guilt, and the future—before it’s too late.]]> 352 Erin Stewart 0593710665 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This book is beautifully written taking you along on a journey with a teenage girl who just received a heart transplant as she tracks down her supposed donor and inserts herself in to the donors family and friend’s lives.

This story is heartbreakingly beautiful and I highly suggest it even if you’re not usually one who likes books that fall on the sadder side.

Thank you netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for the arc
]]> 4.13 2025
author: Erin Stewart
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/26
date added: 2025/01/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Wow just wow, I usually avoid sad books but I am so glad that I read this book.

This book is beautifully written taking you along on a journey with a teenage girl who just received a heart transplant as she tracks down her supposed donor and inserts herself in to the donors family and friend’s lives.

This story is heartbreakingly beautiful and I highly suggest it even if you’re not usually one who likes books that fall on the sadder side.

Thank you netgalley Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for the arc

]]> 215149259 The Walking Dead meets Yellowjackets in If We Survive This, a tense and emotional young adult horror novel from award-winning author Racquel Marie about a teen girl leading a group of survivors on a perilous journey during the apocalypse.

Flora Braddock Paz is not the girl who survives. A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, she’s always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up―their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again.

The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: No matter how far you run, death is never far behind.]]> 336 Racquel Marie 125035269X Zelos 0 4.32 2025
author: Racquel Marie
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: currently-reading, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:

]]> 214988485 Fake dating, enemies to lovers, and a wonderfully unique forced proximity debut romance, perfect for fans of Elena Armas’s The American Roommate Experiment and Drew Barrymore’s classic rom-com Fifty First Dates.

Elle’s grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her, as long as she can remember. But remembering is just the problem. With Lovie’s Alzheimer’s progressing fast, it’s Elle’s turn to step up.

Leaving Chicago behind, the last thing she expects when she walks through the door of her childhood home is Adam Wheeler—in her bed. Live-in nurse and pain in the ass, Adam is here to do his job. Eat, sleep, nurse, repeat.

Thrown together to care for Lovie, tensions rise and lines are drawn, but there’s a bigger problem: in her Alzheimer’s riddled mind, Lovie’s convinced that Elle and Adam are madly in love.

Certain she’ll forget by morning, Elle and Adam play along. The only snag? She ��DZ����’t.

Lovie is the only person who thinks this fake dating scheme is real…so why is Elle fantasizing about Adam when he’s not around? And why is it getting harder to pretend?

Fake It Like You Mean It is the perfect blend of romance, laugh out loud comedy, and heartbreaking, beautiful moments.]]> 336 Megan Murphy Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This book is a slow burn fake dating romance that covers the topic of what it’s like to watch a family member struggle with Alzheimer’s. A beautiful balance between comedy and heartbreak which Megan captured beautifully.

This book made me laugh and it made me cry, a lot, I recommend this book to anyone that has the chance to read this beautifully written book I promise you won’t regret it if you’re a fan of slow burn fake romance enemies to lovers books.

Thank you Netgalley and alcove press for the arc]]> 3.84 2025
author: Megan Murphy
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I knew this book was going to be difficult for me to read because of it dealing with the topic of Alzheimer’s when I just lost my mother to Alzheimer’s 11 months ago. That being said this book is so beautifully written.

This book is a slow burn fake dating romance that covers the topic of what it’s like to watch a family member struggle with Alzheimer’s. A beautiful balance between comedy and heartbreak which Megan captured beautifully.

This book made me laugh and it made me cry, a lot, I recommend this book to anyone that has the chance to read this beautifully written book I promise you won’t regret it if you’re a fan of slow burn fake romance enemies to lovers books.

Thank you Netgalley and alcove press for the arc
]]> 218431675 Eat Post Like��is a heartwarming debut novel of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of food.

Cassie Brooks has her life all figured out.

Make partner at the prestigious law firm she works at by age 35Prioritize making plans with friends on the weekends�� not workingSpend as much time as possible with her boyfriend, James ColwellWork might be exhausting, but for now she’s satisfied making good money and enjoying New York City with James. He’s an accountant but has surprisingly eclectic taste in food. Cassie is starting to think he could be the one when her life flips upside down with one James has died tragically.

Months into her grief, she uncovers a worn diary belonging to James and stumbles upon a remarkable James was the mastermind behind the hottest, anonymous foodie account in the city. With detailed food reviews, lists of new restaurants, and a tantalizing plan to involve Cassie, James had been preparing for an adventure of a lifetime.

When Cassie unwittingly accepts a dinner reservation on behalf of James’s viral account, she embarks on a whirlwind journey filled with unforgettable meals and unexpected connections. She goes from endless hours on-call as a lawyer to savoring exquisite pasta in Italy and indulging in the finest French cuisine in Paris.

But as Cassie navigates the demands of being an influencer and embracing her newfound passions, she struggles to find balance. Does she have what it takes to maintain her secret identity while pursuing her own dreams? Can she balance her grief of losing James with the thrilling possibilities that lie ahead?]]> 384 Emily Arden Wells 006330743X Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This book was honestly pretty difficult for me to get through, it wasn’t a terrible book, it just seemed like a chore to read it.

Cassie wasn’t a very likable person for me, I wasn’t very fond of the way she spoke about her deceased boyfriend and how quickly she seemed to move on to flirting and kissing other people.

The descriptions and over explanation of things in this book was mind boggling to me. I get it, it’s a book about food and food critics and to an extent there needs to be good description of the food but honestly I feel like 75% of the book was either describing the food or describing something else instead of actually telling a story .

This book wasn’t for me personally but I feel like maybe someone who really loves those cooking shows or anything that’s super descriptive with food would love this book.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc]]> 3.52
author: Emily Arden Wells
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.52
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/17
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Eat post like is a story about a woman who loses her long time boyfriend to a tragic accident only to find out he lived a double life as a food critic, and then taking his online personality becoming a food critic herself.

This book was honestly pretty difficult for me to get through, it wasn’t a terrible book, it just seemed like a chore to read it.

Cassie wasn’t a very likable person for me, I wasn’t very fond of the way she spoke about her deceased boyfriend and how quickly she seemed to move on to flirting and kissing other people.

The descriptions and over explanation of things in this book was mind boggling to me. I get it, it’s a book about food and food critics and to an extent there needs to be good description of the food but honestly I feel like 75% of the book was either describing the food or describing something else instead of actually telling a story .

This book wasn’t for me personally but I feel like maybe someone who really loves those cooking shows or anything that’s super descriptive with food would love this book.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc
]]> 219235409 One night in the woods
A party gone wrong
A body discovered at sunrise

He murdered her at the folly on their wedding day, left her body for the crows. They say she haunts the woods now, a girl in a white dress ��
��
Everyone in the small town of Thorncombe knows the tales of the haunted woods where the birds don’t sing and a girl in a white dress roams, luring people to their deaths. But when a girl in white is found dead the morning after Halloween, her body carefully arranged at the bottom of an old stone folly, the community is thrown into turmoil.
��
With a teenage daughter of his own, police detective Ben Chase knows how high the stakes are. Was the girl the victim of a party prank gone wrong, or does her death represent something more sinister and ritualistic?

As the investigation unfolds and the noose tightens around Chase’s own family, the only thing anyone can be sure of is that no one is safe until this violent killer is caught.]]> 419 Hannah Richell 1761421778 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I personally really enjoyed this book unfortunately I figured out really fast who the actual murderer was.

The Arthur did do a very good job with twists and turns through the story though making me question a lot if I was really sure I knew who had done it.

This book was a fun read and I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys thrillers and murder mystery’s .

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the arc]]> 4.06
author: Hannah Richell
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/15
date added: 2025/01/15
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A murder mystery where lives are upheaved and unraveled in a small village when the body of a teenage girl is found murdered at the Folly.

I personally really enjoyed this book unfortunately I figured out really fast who the actual murderer was.

The Arthur did do a very good job with twists and turns through the story though making me question a lot if I was really sure I knew who had done it.

This book was a fun read and I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys thrillers and murder mystery’s .

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the arc
]]> 209352163
Thus begins THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET, a sapphic romance between recently widowed Charlotte Lucas and grown-up scientist Mary Bennet. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder at the sheer sturdiness of a well-built pianoforte.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod will be available Apr 29, 2025.]]> 298 Lindz McLeod Zelos 1
The book moved incredibly slow and I felt like I was trying to read a book in a foreign language because even when I got through half the book I was still so disinterested that I had no idea what was going on.

For those reasons and several more I had to dnf this book at 56%. I am sure a lot of people will love this book it just wasn’t for me .

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores for the arc]]> 4.05 2025
author: Lindz McLeod
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley, dnf-d
review:
The unlikely pursuit of Mary Bennet oof this book was not a winner for me I had an incredibly hard time reading it and no matter how hard I tried to get into it and like it I couldn’t .

The book moved incredibly slow and I felt like I was trying to read a book in a foreign language because even when I got through half the book I was still so disinterested that I had no idea what was going on.

For those reasons and several more I had to dnf this book at 56%. I am sure a lot of people will love this book it just wasn’t for me .

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores for the arc
]]> 211003860 Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again!

At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival �� her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb �� by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.

But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one.]]> 320 Emma Lord 1250904021 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I loved this book, absolutely loved it, it is a book I am going to actively go out and buy after it’s published I enjoyed this book so much.

The book was well written and kept me reading to the point where I just didn’t want to stop reading it, honestly if you get the chance to pick this book up it’s a fantastic read.

I loved how easy it was to connect to the characters and fall in love with them not only for their positives but also for their flaws

Jesse vilinsky absolutely killed at the narration of this book, she did such a fabulous job bringing the characters to life especially Sadie .

Thank you Netgalley Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for the arc
]]> 3.55 2025
author: Emma Lord
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
The Rival is an enemies to lovers slow burn Romance where the main character Sadie and Her childhood friend Seb go from best friends to enemies after a misunderstanding causing their need to compete over everything to grow stronger.

I loved this book, absolutely loved it, it is a book I am going to actively go out and buy after it’s published I enjoyed this book so much.

The book was well written and kept me reading to the point where I just didn’t want to stop reading it, honestly if you get the chance to pick this book up it’s a fantastic read.

I loved how easy it was to connect to the characters and fall in love with them not only for their positives but also for their flaws

Jesse vilinsky absolutely killed at the narration of this book, she did such a fabulous job bringing the characters to life especially Sadie .

Thank you Netgalley Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for the arc

]]> 214998716 A novel-in-verse about life after loss, 13 Ways to Say Goodbye beautifully renders the power of sibling bonds, the depth of grief, and the strength of learning to love again, perfect for fans of Everywhere Blue and The Distance to Home, from the author of The Song of Us.

Nina always followed her older sister, Lily. But just before her thirteenth birthday, Lily died, leaving Nina behind forever.

In the three years since she lost her sister, Nina has completed Lily’s secret Before Birthday lists to continue in her footsteps. But now Nina is catching up. When Nina flies to Paris, France, and completes tasks that Lily never finished, Nina finds herself magically transported inside of her own memories, face-to-face with the ghosts of her past.

With her birthday looming and the last list running out, Nina is torn between visiting her sister in her memories and adventuring in the present, including crushing hard on her art classmate, Sylvie. Should she follow Lily’s instructions or try something new? And what happens when she finishes the list?]]> 304 Kate Fussner 0063256983 Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I had a very difficult time following this writing style I don’t know if it was because it was in verse or because it just didn’t seem very cohesive to me.

I understand the deep meaning of it and it’s a beautiful story it’s just very hard to follow the writing style

Thank you Netgalley HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for the arc]]> 4.07 2025
author: Kate Fussner
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I learned very quickly that I am not a fan of in verse story telling but that is on me. I wanted to read this book because I was hoping that maybe it would help me be able to cope with the loss of my parents this year.

I had a very difficult time following this writing style I don’t know if it was because it was in verse or because it just didn’t seem very cohesive to me.

I understand the deep meaning of it and it’s a beautiful story it’s just very hard to follow the writing style

Thank you Netgalley HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for the arc
]]> 215493618 It’s Formula One—getting revved up is all part of the fun in this sizzling high-octane rom-com for fans of Rush and The Hating Game.

When the curves are�� this ��dangerous, only a race car driver will do��

Mia Neal is a champion overthinker.��Find something, fixate on it and spiral down. Fortunately, she puts that energy to good use: in a podcast about Formula One, her favorite sport in the world. There’s nothing about racing Mia����DZ����’t��adore. The speed. The drivers. The fierce competition. The single-minded ambition. Ironic for a woman who’s changed careers more times than she can count.

Only now her salty takes on gorgeous Brit driver Xander Bishop have gone viral, and the podcast feels more and more like what she’s meant to do�� Then Xander’s teammate invites her to the Miami Grand Prix to see F1 up close—and get in Xander’s head. He’s not exactly delighted at all the shade she’s been throwing his way.

It should be all-out war. Instead, Mia and Xander are stunned by the sudden crackle of��something sexual arcing between them. It’s irresistible,��unbelievably��hot—all Mia’s warning flags are waving. Because this reckless attraction is coming at Mia all too fast��

From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles��

Swap and Smell the Roses by Karen Booth

Fake Flame by Adele Buck

Meet Me in a Mile by Elizabeth Hrib]]> 288 Karen Booth 1335574980 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This is a cute enemies to lovers f1 racing romance, admittedly I’ve been a bit obsessed with romance books about f1 racing lately so every time I see a new one I just have to pick it up.

This book did not disappoint, I really enjoyed the story and the characters and there was just enough spice to keep it extra interesting.

I recommend this book for anyone searching for a cute enemies to lovers romance and people who enjoy sports romance.

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the arc
]]> 3.70 2025
author: Karen Booth
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Not so fast follows Mia, a woman that has a hard time finding where she belongs and a job interesting enough to make her stay. In that search for a perfect job she settles down making a podcast about one of her favorite things f1 racing.

This is a cute enemies to lovers f1 racing romance, admittedly I’ve been a bit obsessed with romance books about f1 racing lately so every time I see a new one I just have to pick it up.

This book did not disappoint, I really enjoyed the story and the characters and there was just enough spice to keep it extra interesting.

I recommend this book for anyone searching for a cute enemies to lovers romance and people who enjoy sports romance.

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the arc

]]> 213291405
Cambridge University, 2005: Student Joe Greene scribbles verses in the margins of his notebook, dreaming of a future where his words will echo through the ages, all while doubting it could ever happen.

Then, the future quite literally finds him—in the form of Esi. She’s part of a time-traveling tour, a trip for people in the future to witness history’s greatest moments firsthand. The star of this tour? Joe Greene. In Esi’s era, Joe is as renowned as Shakespeare. And he’s about to meet Diana, a fellow student and aspiring actress, who will become his muse and the subject of his famous love poems.

But Esi is harboring a secret. She’s not here because she idolizes Joe—actually, she thinks his poetry is overrated. Something will happen at Cambridge this year that will wreck Esi’s life, and she’s hell-bent on changing it. When Esi goes rogue from her tour, she bumps into Joe and sends his destiny into a tailspin. To save both their futures, Esi becomes Joe’s dating coach, helping him win over Diana. But when Joe’s romantic endeavors go off-script—and worse, he starts falling for Esi instead—they both face a crucial question: Is the future set in stone, or can we pen our own fates?]]> 320 Catriona Silvey 0063206447 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
The story follows Joe the main character whose life is thrown into chaos when Esi shows up in 2005 from 2044 via time travel.

I absolutely adored this book, I love time travel tropes, though I’m not the biggest fan of love triangles this one was written in a way that wasn’t horrible so I really enjoyed it.

I did have a bit of an issue with the end, without going into to much detail or spoilers although cute I wasn’t a fan of how the ending played out I felt like it was a bit rushed and I would of liked to see it go in a different direction.

I highly recommend this book though, if you have a chance to read it you should pick up a copy and read it.

Thank you Netgalley William morrow and William morrow paperbacks for the arc.]]> 3.72 2025
author: Catriona Silvey
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/05
date added: 2025/01/05
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Love and other paradoxes is a story about time travel self discovery and love.

The story follows Joe the main character whose life is thrown into chaos when Esi shows up in 2005 from 2044 via time travel.

I absolutely adored this book, I love time travel tropes, though I’m not the biggest fan of love triangles this one was written in a way that wasn’t horrible so I really enjoyed it.

I did have a bit of an issue with the end, without going into to much detail or spoilers although cute I wasn’t a fan of how the ending played out I felt like it was a bit rushed and I would of liked to see it go in a different direction.

I highly recommend this book though, if you have a chance to read it you should pick up a copy and read it.

Thank you Netgalley William morrow and William morrow paperbacks for the arc.
]]> 215344152 PREORDER SPECIAL REGULAR PRICE ON PUBLICATION $9.99

"Dawn’s experience as a music writer comes through in her vibrant, authentic portrayal of the band’s sound and interpersonal dynamic. This fresh spin on favorite urban fantasy tropes will delight fans of Charles de Lint. "�� Publishers Weekly

Childhood friends Patrick, Ciaran, and Malachi would've been happy to play music for coins on the streets of Dublin, but when their sound �� a blend of traditional tunes and rock styling �� lands them a record deal, they also get their first tour of America. As they gather fans, however, they also get the attention of three sídhe, fairies straight out of Irish tradition who play by their own rules.

Mal finds himself beleaguered by a prankster whose malicious tricks make him think he's losing his mind, while Ciaran falls hard for a hanger-on whose primal sexuality saps the life from him. Patrick can save them �� if he's willing to trust the superstitions he learned during a painful childhood he thought he'd left behind long ago.

But the only thing that matters more than music to Patrick? His friends.

The Only Song Worth Singing is an upmarket mythic novel about blood, craic, and rock and roll. Set in the 90s at the height of the Celtic rock boom, it should appeal to fans of Alex Bledsoe and Alice Hoffman alike.

"The heart of Daisy Jones and the Six with the soul of A Court of Thorns and Roses��. A scintillating plot and an emotional wallop."��Aidan Prewett, author of Woodstock at 50: Anatomy of a Revolution

"Blends myth with the power of music and a brotherly bond to tell a story that's suspenseful and extremely romantic in all possible directions. I loved it!"��Delia Sherman, award-winning author of The Porcelain Dove

"Randee Dawn’s rich Hiberno-English narrative—interspersed with Irish Gaelic—brings The Only Song Worth Singing a vibrant dimension without affectation. Music is a living thing that makes magic feel real �� and Dawn knocks this elusive aspect out of the park. Her story of a touring band provides an authentic illustration of the hardships and joys of the road, including the interpersonal tension between band members. Her story proves that whether in speech, song �� or a work of fiction �� words have tremendous power." ��Beth W. Patterson, award-winning recording artist, road warrior, film music infiltrator

"A dark, parasitical fairy tale, The Only Song Worth Singing is sex, myth, and rock and roll all the way down to its bass-beating heart. It’s a story of faith, friendship, and brotherhood �� of learning your roots, and finding your place, even if that means standing between one world and the next." �� C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death’s Daughter

"With The Only Song Worth Singing, Dawn has crafted a sweeping epic that takes you from a thatched cottage in the countryside, to the bustle and glam of New York, to the green and magical place where it all began, against the backdrop of Irish folklore. Truly a magical, musical, must-read."��Jennifer Allis Provost, author of The Poison Garden

"When you hear a song you love so much that you wish you could live inside it for weeks, feeling it rush through you and touch you in ways only art can, this book can scratch that itch with long nails.]]> 252 Randee Dawn 1647101573 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
It really needs a companion page to go with it that has the translations on it that someone can easily refer to.

I restarted this book about five times at different stages of the book just trying to get a better grasp and understanding of what was going on and to try and get more into it but I really think this book just isn’t for me.

The story moves very slow and it’s hard to connect to the characters, I feel like I don’t even know what’s going on half the time because it either lacks explanation or is written in a way that confuses me further.

Thank you Netgalley and Arc Manor | CAEZIK SF & Fantasy for the arc ]]> 3.67 2025
author: Randee Dawn
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book was incredibly hard to follow, unfortunately I couldn’t understand some of what was being said because I don’t know Irish and I didn’t want to stop throughout the book to try and google what certain things meant because it would just take me out of the flow of the story.

It really needs a companion page to go with it that has the translations on it that someone can easily refer to.

I restarted this book about five times at different stages of the book just trying to get a better grasp and understanding of what was going on and to try and get more into it but I really think this book just isn’t for me.

The story moves very slow and it’s hard to connect to the characters, I feel like I don’t even know what’s going on half the time because it either lacks explanation or is written in a way that confuses me further.

Thank you Netgalley and Arc Manor | CAEZIK SF & Fantasy for the arc
]]> 212339337
Unfortunately, pushing outside her comfort zone is (surprise!) uncomfortable. Maisie struggles to connect with her eccentric new flatmates, feels farther away from her best friend than ever, and hates every art course she signed up for—especially photography, where her talented but prickly partner, Eli, is not afraid to point out her every mistake on their semester-long project. Maisie is already questioning all her life choices when a crime strikes Glenna’s, reopening old family wounds she thought she’d long healed from. It’ll take even more discomfort, as well as help from Eli, her older brother, Calum, and his earnest boyfriend, Benji, to confront the layers she’s painted over the past. But maybe, just maybe, the keys to finding herself lie closer to home than she realized.]]> Sabrina Kleckner Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I fell In love with this book, there was something so comforting about the story and characters. sure Maisie hadn’t found herself yet but going on that journey with her as she discovered more about who she truly was , was an absolute delight.

I recommend this book to everyone but most of all older teenagers and young adults, I think it is a book that most if not all people will truly enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley northstar editions and flux for the arc.]]> 4.06
author: Sabrina Kleckner
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
The complex art of being maisie Clark , this was a absolutely beautifully written story where we follow Maisie and her Journey to London to attend university and find herself.

I fell In love with this book, there was something so comforting about the story and characters. sure Maisie hadn’t found herself yet but going on that journey with her as she discovered more about who she truly was , was an absolute delight.

I recommend this book to everyone but most of all older teenagers and young adults, I think it is a book that most if not all people will truly enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley northstar editions and flux for the arc.
]]> 209770889 Charming fairy tale meets spicy bedtime story in this deliciously enchanting age-gap LGBTQIA+ romance

When Taylor Frost’s boss, Amy, flies him across the country to prep for her daughter’s sweet sixteen at the Storybook Endings Resort in the Catskills, the solo mission is well within his wheelhouse. Taylor is excellent at his job—except, he’s probably not supposed to flirt with the resort’s mountain man of a manager, Ethan Golding. Because the rugged older man is also the birthday girl’s father, aka Amy’s ex-husband. Oops.

For Ethan, his divorce seemed like the bad ending to his romantic story. And now, making his daughter’s sweet sixteen dreams come true is the closest he’ll get to the kind of magic happiness in fairy tales. Until adorable Taylor has him wondering if maybe this is just the beginning of a more erotic kind of bedtime story��

The only problem is Amy. And how very not okay she’d be with the chemistry between her assistant and her ex.

If only forbidden flings ever led to happily-ever-afters…]]> 288 Timothy Janovsky 1335574964 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I can’t begin to describe how much I love this book, had it not currently been the holidays I am absolutely sure I would have devoured this book in one sitting.

This book had just the right amount of romance and spice and was incredibly well written and Timothy Janovsky will be being added to my list of favorite authors.

If you get the chance to read this book I highly recommend it, I am positive you will enjoy the book

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the arc]]> 3.89 2025
author: Timothy Janovsky
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This age gap romance stole my heart Once upon you and me is a story about a divorced father who falls in love with his ex wife’s younger assistant .

I can’t begin to describe how much I love this book, had it not currently been the holidays I am absolutely sure I would have devoured this book in one sitting.

This book had just the right amount of romance and spice and was incredibly well written and Timothy Janovsky will be being added to my list of favorite authors.

If you get the chance to read this book I highly recommend it, I am positive you will enjoy the book

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the arc
]]> 216632597 184 Dana Robertson 1803417501 Zelos 1
I’m going to be honest the beginning of the book was hard to get into, I kept picking up the book and putting it back down, it wasn’t until about 20 % into the book that I actually started to enjoy it enough for it to keep my attention .

Unfortunately that didn’t last long and by about 40 % the book had lost my attention again, I struggled through this book every page I read I wanted to set this book down more and more and never pick it up again.

I am not sure if it’s the writing style that I was having such a hard time with because the plot interests me and is clearly a good plot I just could not get into this book for the life of me.

I ended up DnFing this book at 50% read I tried but the amount I was struggling to get into it was stressing me out because I disliked the book that much.

I think this book has a cute plot and that a lot of people will love it but this book was a miss for me, I do hope however that this finds the audience that I know will adore it .

Thank you NetGalley, collective ink limited, and our street books for the arc ]]> 4.14 2025
author: Dana Robertson
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/29
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: dnf-d, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
The abandoned theater, this book follows the MC Beth as she investigates the disappearances that happened at the theater.

I’m going to be honest the beginning of the book was hard to get into, I kept picking up the book and putting it back down, it wasn’t until about 20 % into the book that I actually started to enjoy it enough for it to keep my attention .

Unfortunately that didn’t last long and by about 40 % the book had lost my attention again, I struggled through this book every page I read I wanted to set this book down more and more and never pick it up again.

I am not sure if it’s the writing style that I was having such a hard time with because the plot interests me and is clearly a good plot I just could not get into this book for the life of me.

I ended up DnFing this book at 50% read I tried but the amount I was struggling to get into it was stressing me out because I disliked the book that much.

I think this book has a cute plot and that a lot of people will love it but this book was a miss for me, I do hope however that this finds the audience that I know will adore it .

Thank you NetGalley, collective ink limited, and our street books for the arc
]]> 217432747 When a spate of bad luck upends her meticulously planned life, Eliza moves to a charming—and mysterious—Midwestern lake town, where she just might find herself while trying to find the truth. Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary, Kate Clayborn, and Sophie Kinsella.

Eliza has always had a plan…until her seamlessly plotted life implodes, and her engagement falls apart. At thirty-two, she suddenly finds herself second-guessing the picture-perfect future she had always envisioned—one that included raising 2.5 children nearby her tight-knit Italian family in San Francisco.

Then Eliza is offered the chance to start in Juneberry Lake, a small Midwestern town eager to lure remote workers to their picturesque community. Shocking her family and friends (and herself), Eliza packs up her apartment and buys a lake house sight unseen.

Juneberry Lake is as delightful as it looked in the pictures. And the pictures didn’t even include Joel, a fellow new arrival who works alongside her every day in an adorable coffee shop. But if Eliza is hoping to spy her uncertain future in the shimmering waters of Juneberry Lake, she’ll find herself out of luck. Because her friendly Midwestern neighbors are keeping a marvelous secret—one that will help Eliza see that her recent spate of bad luck was never her fault…and that the tide can turn when you least expect it. With the help of her friends and family, new and old, Eliza is finally ready to build a new future that’s entirely her own.��]]> 352 Jaclyn Westlake 0063340763 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I want to start off by saying this book is very very slow moving, but in my opinion that isn’t a bad thing, at least not for this book. I really enjoyed getting to know the town and the people, the background of all the characters it really helps me connect more to the characters and gave the book a more nostalgic feel to it.

Secondly I went into this book thinking it was a romance , my mistake that being said it does have notes of romance but I soon discovered it was a thriller which also excited me since thriller is one of my favorite genre along side romance.

I loved this book, I loved the characters I loved the story, it did take me a bit longer to read than I would of liked because of how slow going the book was but I full heartedly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for the Arc
]]> 3.89
author: Jaclyn Westlake
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/29
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Lucky break is about MC Eliza who after a nasty breakup decides to move to a small town where she soon finds out secrets are being kept and everything might not be as it seems.

I want to start off by saying this book is very very slow moving, but in my opinion that isn’t a bad thing, at least not for this book. I really enjoyed getting to know the town and the people, the background of all the characters it really helps me connect more to the characters and gave the book a more nostalgic feel to it.

Secondly I went into this book thinking it was a romance , my mistake that being said it does have notes of romance but I soon discovered it was a thriller which also excited me since thriller is one of my favorite genre along side romance.

I loved this book, I loved the characters I loved the story, it did take me a bit longer to read than I would of liked because of how slow going the book was but I full heartedly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for the Arc

]]> 211306881 zero words to show to their respective editors.

With deadlines looming, Allie and Martin decide to switch plots and tell each other’s stories. In the writing process, Allie not only gains a father-figure in Martin, but also meets gorgeous events caterer Will, the answer to the leading man-shaped hole in her life and her lack of spicy material.

Caught between love and her career, what could possibly go wrong?

Readers LOVE Eleanor ��Add this to the list of my favorites! LOVED this. It made me laugh so much�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐��

‘I adored this!! Loved it so much I stayed up late reading it�� Can't wait to read more by this author�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐��

��A perfect read for lovers of romance, comedy and stories of unrequited love. I've fallen in love with it, I hope to read more from this author�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐��

‘Eleanor Goymer did not disappoint with this book!�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A�� adorable novel and a great beach read!!�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐�ձ�> 368 Eleanor Goymer 0008656592 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I absolutely adored this book, there was a few slow points where I wasn’t sure if I would love the book as much as I do but by the end of the book I had completely fallen in love with the story.

I love the premise of the book, it’s not the first book where I’ve seen two writers working together but this is definitely a very different spin on it, and was a fun and exciting read.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, one more chapter for the arc

]]> 3.08
author: Eleanor Goymer
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.08
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/28
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
The plot twist is a book following the mc Allie who is a writer. Allie is struggling with the ability to write another book having developed severe writers block when she meets Martin another writer going through a similar circumstance and decide to help each other out with plot ideas.

I absolutely adored this book, there was a few slow points where I wasn’t sure if I would love the book as much as I do but by the end of the book I had completely fallen in love with the story.

I love the premise of the book, it’s not the first book where I’ve seen two writers working together but this is definitely a very different spin on it, and was a fun and exciting read.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, one more chapter for the arc


]]> 216970868 An immersive, sultry, heart-pounding historical reimagining of the Robin Hood ballads, told through the piercing eyes of one of his spies

Jane Crowe is an ordinary peasant girl who never dreamed she would work for the infamous Lord of the Greenwood. But when she’s forced out of her home, she has no choice but to turn to Robin Hood for help—and he makes her an irresistible offer. He needs a pair of eyes in the King’s Houses, and quiet, unassuming Jane—who has spent her whole life going unnoticed—will be the perfect spy.

At first, Jane’s work for Robin seems straightforward. She whispers to him about the nobles at King’s Houses and all their secrets, including the new Sheriff of Nottingham, who would like nothing more than to see Robin Hood’s head on a spike. But the more Jane is drawn into Robin’s world, the more she’s drawn to Robin himself—a man as charismatic as he is cunning, capable of plucking at her heart as easily as he notches an arrow. As Robin’s tricks grow increasingly dangerous, and shockingly violent, Jane starts to suspect that her hero cares more about his own legacy than helping the common people—and that despite his declarations of affection, he sees her as just another object to be stolen.

When Robin’s schemes implicate Jane in a brutal murder, she must decide: is she prize to be won, a pawn to be used and discarded—or is she an equal player in the game between nobles and thieves?]]> 416 Amy S. Kaufman 014313812X Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I tried to get into this book, kept reading it hoping it would get better or pick up speed but no matter how much I tried I just could not get into this book.

I am not saying this book wasn’t well written it clearly is, I am just not into the direction the writer took Robin Hood’s Character.

Do I think others will enjoy this book? Oh absolutely , was it a book for me? Absolutely not .

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin group Viking Penguin and penguin books
]]> 3.64 2025
author: Amy S. Kaufman
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/27
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
The traitor of Sherwood Forest. A retelling of Robinhood, except where Robin Hood is basically a complete jerk .

I tried to get into this book, kept reading it hoping it would get better or pick up speed but no matter how much I tried I just could not get into this book.

I am not saying this book wasn’t well written it clearly is, I am just not into the direction the writer took Robin Hood’s Character.

Do I think others will enjoy this book? Oh absolutely , was it a book for me? Absolutely not .

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin group Viking Penguin and penguin books

]]> 209781132
At first, it seems like he died by heart attack, but by the time she returns to the body with help, it looks like a broken neck. Had she just imagined him sitting upright a few minutes ago? It's as if someone is trying to pin his death on her, and she has one night to figure out who is really responsible before she is blamed.

Billie recruits the help of her friends to sneak around the park after-hours and search for the truth. But as the night stretches on and more people wind up dead, Billie realizes she may not make it out of Murder Land alive. And her friends may know more than they're letting on.]]> Carlyn Greenwald Zelos 2 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I wanted to like this book, I really did but it was hard to follow, there seemed to be a lot of weird information that didn’t really help the plot and it seemed to jump around from idea to idea like the writer didn’t really seem like they knew how they wanted the story to go.

I figured out who the killer was fairly fast let’s just say through pattern recognition and a love for 90’s thrillers I won’t say more than that because I don’t want to ruin the book for others who might enjoy it.

Overall this was a miss for me but I also expect a lot from thrillers I read so this thriller might be better suited for people just getting into the genre.

Thank you Netgalley and sourcebooks Fire for the arc ]]> 3.76
author: Carlyn Greenwald
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.76
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/27
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Murder Land is an almost 90’s style murder mystery with a setting of a theme park as they try to figure out who is killing people.

I wanted to like this book, I really did but it was hard to follow, there seemed to be a lot of weird information that didn’t really help the plot and it seemed to jump around from idea to idea like the writer didn’t really seem like they knew how they wanted the story to go.

I figured out who the killer was fairly fast let’s just say through pattern recognition and a love for 90’s thrillers I won’t say more than that because I don’t want to ruin the book for others who might enjoy it.

Overall this was a miss for me but I also expect a lot from thrillers I read so this thriller might be better suited for people just getting into the genre.

Thank you Netgalley and sourcebooks Fire for the arc
]]> 219401059 After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer.

When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra knows better than to expect�� justice from the hands of the police department. With the investigation already dying its own slow death, Cyra follows the blood trail and finds her own way forward.��

Using insider information–don’t ask–Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers by pretending to be one herself in the hopes of finding the person who ended her sister’s life. Proving herself to them comes at a cost–but it’s one Cyra is willing to pay in the name of revenge.

Unfortunately, the dangerous men in the group aren’t the only obstacle in Cyra’s path for vengeance, and the further Cyra descends into the deadly world of serial killers, the harder it becomes to hold on to her own humanity.��

This dark, witty debut novel is a cunning homage to women’s wrongs that will have you wondering exactly exactly how many monsters walk unseen among us.
]]> 320 Saratoga Schaefer Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
This book is probably one of the best Murder Mystery/ Thriller books I’ve ever read, I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. Normally I am very quick at figuring out who the killer is in these kind of books so I was caught by complete surprise by the ending.

Saratoga Schaefer , although this is the first book I’ve read of hers has quickly flown to the top of my favorite authors list .

If you like mysteries and thrillers you have got to read this book I promise you won’t regret it.

Thank you Netgalley, Saratoga Schaefer, and crooked lane books for the arc
]]> 3.74 2025
author: Saratoga Schaefer
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/25
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Serial killer Support Group is a book that follows Cyra the main character after finding out that her sister was murdered she gets upset that the cops aren’t being faster or more helpful so she decides to try and find her sisters killer on her own ending up at a support group for serial killers where she is convinced she will find her sisters murderer.

This book is probably one of the best Murder Mystery/ Thriller books I’ve ever read, I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. Normally I am very quick at figuring out who the killer is in these kind of books so I was caught by complete surprise by the ending.

Saratoga Schaefer , although this is the first book I’ve read of hers has quickly flown to the top of my favorite authors list .

If you like mysteries and thrillers you have got to read this book I promise you won’t regret it.

Thank you Netgalley, Saratoga Schaefer, and crooked lane books for the arc

]]> 211004040 The #1 New York Times bestselling author spins an epic tale of loyalty, treachery, murder, and the long shadow of war��

His passport read Giovanni Rossi. But decades ago, during the Urban Wars, he was part of a small, secret organization called The Twelve. Responding to an urgent summons from an old compatriot, he landed in New York and eased into the waiting car. And died within minutes��

Lieutenant Eve Dallas finds the Rossi case frustrating. She’s got an elderly victim who’d just arrived from Rome; a widow who knows nothing about why he’d left; an as-yet unidentifiable weapon; and zero results on facial recognition. But when she finds a connection to the Urban Wars of the 2020s, she thinks Summerset―fiercely loyal, if somewhat grouchy, major-domo and the man who’d rescued her husband from the Dublin streets―may know something from his stint as a medic in Europe back then.

When Summerset learns of the crime, his shock and grief are clear―because, as he eventually reveals, he himself was one of The Twelve. It’s not a part of his past he likes to revisit. But now he must―not only to assist Eve’s investigation, but because a cryptic message from the killer has boasted that others of The Twelve have also died. Summerset is one of those who remain―and the murderous mission is yet to be fully accomplished…]]> 359 J.D. Robb 1250370795 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
It took me a little bit to figure out what was going on but even though I haven’t read any of the previous books this was an amazing read and I cannot wait to go back and read all of the previous books

Murder, mystery, betrayal and thrilling this book kept me on the edge of my seat leaving me wanting more.

I was not a fan of Susan Eriksens narration of the book at 1x speed it’s absolutely unbearable she is speaking so slow.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc ]]> 4.40 2025
author: J.D. Robb
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I want to be truthful going into this review that I have not read the previous 59 books of this series , I somehow missed that this book was part of a very large series.

It took me a little bit to figure out what was going on but even though I haven’t read any of the previous books this was an amazing read and I cannot wait to go back and read all of the previous books

Murder, mystery, betrayal and thrilling this book kept me on the edge of my seat leaving me wanting more.

I was not a fan of Susan Eriksens narration of the book at 1x speed it’s absolutely unbearable she is speaking so slow.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc
]]> 212924210 Summer camp just got a whole lot hotter in this enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for readers of Tessa Bailey and Lucy Score.

Teddy Knight’s band has just broken up in spectacular fashion after his longtime bandmate and—he’d thought—closest friend decides to go solo. So when he’s offered a last-minute gig��to fill in as an artist-in-residence at a summer arts camp—which��comes with a lake cabin and��lots of free time��to work��on a revenge album—he takes it. No matter that he knows nothing about nature, dislikes kids, and is generally a grump.

Gretchen Miller is having a mid-life crisis. Luckily, her summer job as the dance teacher at Wild Arts summer camp will allow her to drop out of society for a while. Having sworn off dating, she decides she’ll go into the woods and become a crone. She might skip the “luring innocent children to their death�� part of cronedom, but she’s all for the “curse men�� aspect.

Teddy and Gretchen clash from the get-go when he mistakes her for a fan, and she relegates him to the “entitled jerk�� ash heap. Despite their determination to dislike each other, a wary friendship blooms as the magic of the woods starts to unwind them, and they spend long hours by the campfire talking about art, being stuck, and the idea of starting over.��But woods are often filled with monsters, and Teddy and Gretchen will have to��face their fears if they want to start over together.]]> 368 Jenny Holiday 1538724952 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Gretchen has all but given up on romance when an opportunity is given to her to help out at a camp where she meets Teddy who is there to try and get his inspiration back for his writing music after having a falling out with his bandmates.

I enjoyed this romance written by Jenny Holiday, it is my first book of hers and after this book will for sure be picking up some of her others .

I have always been a sucker for enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine characters which Jenny does a magnificent job of bringing to life in her characters Teddy and Gretchen.

Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton did an amazing job at bringing the characters to life making for an enjoyable listen.

All in all I highly recommend this book especially if you enjoy enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine .

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette audio for the arc ]]> 3.66 2025
author: Jenny Holiday
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Into the woods is A cute but spicy enemies to lovers romance set at a summer camp.

Gretchen has all but given up on romance when an opportunity is given to her to help out at a camp where she meets Teddy who is there to try and get his inspiration back for his writing music after having a falling out with his bandmates.

I enjoyed this romance written by Jenny Holiday, it is my first book of hers and after this book will for sure be picking up some of her others .

I have always been a sucker for enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine characters which Jenny does a magnificent job of bringing to life in her characters Teddy and Gretchen.

Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton did an amazing job at bringing the characters to life making for an enjoyable listen.

All in all I highly recommend this book especially if you enjoy enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine .

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette audio for the arc
]]> 215061111 36 Jennifer Maruno 1772783161 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
It covers the loss and grief of the event and brought me to tears, the story is beautifully written and the art on the pages are absolutely gorgeous.

I love this book but also would suggest parents read it first and see if it’s something your child will be able to handle because although it is beautifully written it also is very sad.

Thank you Netgalley and Pajama press for the arc]]> 4.41
author: Jennifer Maruno
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Chidori is a children’s story about the real life event of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Iwate prefecture Japan.

It covers the loss and grief of the event and brought me to tears, the story is beautifully written and the art on the pages are absolutely gorgeous.

I love this book but also would suggest parents read it first and see if it’s something your child will be able to handle because although it is beautifully written it also is very sad.

Thank you Netgalley and Pajama press for the arc
]]> 214537773 From the acclaimed author of Chef's Kiss, a groundbreaking trans Regency romance that's both delightfully witty and refreshingly iconoclastic.

The notoriously eccentric Lord Christopher Eden is a “man of unusual make�� and even more unusual habits: he prefers to live as far from the prying eyes and ears of the ton as possible, and would rather have the comfortable company of his childhood cook and his aged butler, Plinkton, than the swarm of servants and hangers-on befitting a man of his station.

But Christopher's pleasant, if occasionally lonely life is upended when he receives word from his lawyers that, according to his late father’s will, he must find a wife by the end of the Season if he intends to keep his family's fortune and the Eden's End estate. Christopher cannot imagine a worse fate: as he isn't attracted to women, his chances of making a wife happy are slim. Furthermore, if his quest to marry has any hope of succeeding, he must move to London posthaste and acquire some more suitable staff.

Enter James Harding, Christopher's new, distractingly handsome—if rigidly traditional—valet. After a rocky start, the two strike up a fragile friendship amid the throes of the London Season . . . a friendship that threatens to shatter under the looming shadow of Christopher’s impending nuptials—and the secrets both men are keeping.

With its heady combination of dry wit, slow-burn romance, and a nuanced, complex portrait of trans identity and relationships that’s as relevant now as it was during the Regency era, A Gentleman's Gentleman stands to transform the historical romance genre as we know it.]]> 336 T.J. Alexander 0593686209 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I can’t fathom why this book has such low ratings I absolutely adored this book, I loved the characters and the story, I loved the way the inner struggle of Christopher and being trans was portrayed throughout this book.

This book was so well written it nearly brought tears to my eyes and I have already recommended it to several of my friends to preorder .

I highly recommend this book it’s a beautiful story and will show you some of the struggles that come with being trans .

Thank you Netgalley Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage for the arc]]> 4.12 2025
author: T.J. Alexander
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A gentleman’s gentleman is a Trans Regency Romance that follows the main Character Christopher Eden after he receives a letter detailing that he must marry within a set amount of time or lose everything.

I can’t fathom why this book has such low ratings I absolutely adored this book, I loved the characters and the story, I loved the way the inner struggle of Christopher and being trans was portrayed throughout this book.

This book was so well written it nearly brought tears to my eyes and I have already recommended it to several of my friends to preorder .

I highly recommend this book it’s a beautiful story and will show you some of the struggles that come with being trans .

Thank you Netgalley Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage for the arc
]]> 211004350
Then she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day, and he has a proposition for her: Thirteen-year-old Alice Webber claims a witch is haunting her. Living with her family in the remote village of Banathel, Alice finds her symptoms are getting increasingly disturbing. Taking this job will give Mina some experience and much-needed money; Sam will get the scoop of a lifetime; and Alice will get better—Mina is sure of it.

But instead of improving, Alice’s behavior becomes inexplicable and intense. The town of Banathel has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways of…dealing with it. And they don’t expect outsiders to understand.]]> 304 Daisy Pearce 1250334381 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I did like some elements of the book like the possible haunting, and the ending of the book semi interested me from about 75% of the book on but honestly I wish I had DNF’d this book as finishing it made me feel like I wasted my time .

Overall this book was not for me and I honestly don’t think I could recommend this book to anyone else either.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio ]]> 3.36 2025
author: Daisy Pearce
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/20
date added: 2024/12/22
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Oh god this book was awful, I had an incredibly hard time getting through this book it was like slugging through the mud waist high trying to finish this book.

I did like some elements of the book like the possible haunting, and the ending of the book semi interested me from about 75% of the book on but honestly I wish I had DNF’d this book as finishing it made me feel like I wasted my time .

Overall this book was not for me and I honestly don’t think I could recommend this book to anyone else either.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio
]]> 214151557 Red, White, and Royal Blue meets The Goblin Emperor in this enchanting LGBTQIA+ Romantasy set in the mystical realm of Soeria, where a prince must choose between duty and heart.

In the heart of Soeria, where royal bloodlines carve the paths of destiny, Prince Darien Garros, the kingdom's beloved second son, faces the age-old clash between duty and desire. For years, Darien has dodged the court's expectations to find a suitable match, yearning instead for a love that values the man behind the crown. His longing seems answered in Tag Leara, whose charm and genuine affection ignite a hope Darien dared not admit.

Yet, fate is a fickle master. A sudden tragedy propels Darien into a role he never sought, challenging his deepest convictions. As the weight of legacy and the whispers of power threaten to suffocate him, Darien confronts the ultimate test. Torn between the call of his blood and the pull of his heart, he stands at a crossroads that could reshape the future of Soeria itself.

With every choice comes a price, and Darien must decide: Will he follow the stringent demands of royalty, or will he choose the perilous path of love? In a world where allegiance and affection collide, Prince Darien's story is a testament to the enduring battle between the crowns we bear and the hearts we hold dear.

"The Prince’s Heart is a poignant, queer romance set against a backdrop of political cut-and-thrust that will make you both cry and cheer. Chalfin perfectly balances the personal drama of Darien’s quest for true love with the terrifying consequences it could have on Soeria. He expertly broke my heart, healed it, and broke it again. I promise you’ll be rooting for Darien, Tag, and Soeria with all your heart, too.��

�� Althea Lyons, author of the Seer of York series ]]> 297 Ben Chalfin 199807692X Zelos 1
I honestly had a pretty hard time getting through this book, the writing style felt like it was meant more for teen/YA which isn’t an issue at all, it’s just not what I was expecting going into this book.

I had a hard time grasping the concept of them instantly falling in love it was like they were talking one moment and then were completely madly in love with each other the next second not even 1/4 of the way into the book and they’re already kissing and confessing their love for each other? I thought it was supposed to be slow burn ?

I am not a fan of forced arranged marriages and honestly had I known that was going to be a big part of the plot I most likely wouldn’t have chosen to read this book.

This book is not for me, I am sure there are people out there who would absolutely adore this book but I found myself getting more and more frustrated with the book and the characters as I read on .

Thank you Netgalley and rising action Publishing for the arc
]]> 3.10 2025
author: Ben Chalfin
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.10
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/22
date added: 2024/12/22
shelves: dnf-d, read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
I DNF’d this book at 50% I try so hard to not DNF even if I really dislike a book and have only ever DNF’d one other books in all of the books I’ve ever read in my lifetime.

I honestly had a pretty hard time getting through this book, the writing style felt like it was meant more for teen/YA which isn’t an issue at all, it’s just not what I was expecting going into this book.

I had a hard time grasping the concept of them instantly falling in love it was like they were talking one moment and then were completely madly in love with each other the next second not even 1/4 of the way into the book and they’re already kissing and confessing their love for each other? I thought it was supposed to be slow burn ?

I am not a fan of forced arranged marriages and honestly had I known that was going to be a big part of the plot I most likely wouldn’t have chosen to read this book.

This book is not for me, I am sure there are people out there who would absolutely adore this book but I found myself getting more and more frustrated with the book and the characters as I read on .

Thank you Netgalley and rising action Publishing for the arc

]]> 211642122 A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

“What the gods did not give us, I would take.��

As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.

Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.

But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal�� even if it means losing her heart.]]> 464 Sue Lynn Tan 0063267616 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I was excited about this book when I read the synopsis, I am a huge fan of romance and fantasy separately so I thought I would give it a chance together.

I was even more excited when I found out the main character was chronically ill, as weird as that sounds being chronically ill myself it is nice seeing representation at times.

I quickly got pulled into this story the Arthur being amazing at painting the picture of the characters, world and outfits making it come alive in my mind as I read.

That being said at around 30% into this book it did the one thing that makes me instantly lose interest in a book and it made me realize I may not be a fan of romance and fantasy together.

“Don’t let your grief turn inward, don’t let it hurt you.��

The next several chapters of the book focuses more on romance and Liyen trying to fight her feelings due to her lack of trust. admittedly her bratty attitude and inability to listen at all can at times become very grating and hard to handle.

“At the end of every night, no matter how long, comes the rise of the dawn��

Towards the end of the book it really pulled me in again with a twist and betrayal at times I felt like I couldn’t read fast enough because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

My final thoughts are that I really really enjoyed this book, there where a few things that kind of turned me off of the book but overall it was highly enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone that likes romance and fantasy.

Natalie Naudus did an amazing job at the narration of the audiobook, bringing so much emotion into each of the characters, completly bringing them to life.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Audio Adult and Harper Audio for the Arc


]]> 3.87 2025
author: Sue Lynn Tan
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/20
date added: 2024/12/20
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
“When your days are dark you forget the existence of dawn��

I was excited about this book when I read the synopsis, I am a huge fan of romance and fantasy separately so I thought I would give it a chance together.

I was even more excited when I found out the main character was chronically ill, as weird as that sounds being chronically ill myself it is nice seeing representation at times.

I quickly got pulled into this story the Arthur being amazing at painting the picture of the characters, world and outfits making it come alive in my mind as I read.

That being said at around 30% into this book it did the one thing that makes me instantly lose interest in a book and it made me realize I may not be a fan of romance and fantasy together.

“Don’t let your grief turn inward, don’t let it hurt you.��

The next several chapters of the book focuses more on romance and Liyen trying to fight her feelings due to her lack of trust. admittedly her bratty attitude and inability to listen at all can at times become very grating and hard to handle.

“At the end of every night, no matter how long, comes the rise of the dawn��

Towards the end of the book it really pulled me in again with a twist and betrayal at times I felt like I couldn’t read fast enough because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

My final thoughts are that I really really enjoyed this book, there where a few things that kind of turned me off of the book but overall it was highly enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone that likes romance and fantasy.

Natalie Naudus did an amazing job at the narration of the audiobook, bringing so much emotion into each of the characters, completly bringing them to life.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Audio Adult and Harper Audio for the Arc



]]> 202766416
Kian Walker has always been the golden boy of motor sport. The four-time Championship winner has racing in his DNA �� his father was a legend on the track, just don’t let him catch you comparing the two. As reckless and unreliable at home as he was behind the wheel, there’s nothing Kian wants less than to be just like his dad.

Enter Harper James. This year’s rookie called up to compete with the big boys �� and Kian’s new teammate. Cocky, hot-headed and with a reputation for breaking as many hearts as he does new track records, Harper’s the opposite of Kian in every way. But when the season starts, there’s no getting away from him.

This might be one of the most dangerous sports in the world, so why then does Kian’s heart feel safer flying around the track at 220mph than when he's anywhere near his teammate?]]> 367 Rebecca J. Caffery 0008684863 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Oh my god this book, if you read no other book this year read this book this one right here I can not give it high enough praises, it is so well written and the characters are so well developed I even love the side characters .

I know I will be buying this book and reading it over and over and over again, I love this story I love the characters, I love the narrators and the Arther please get this book you’re really missing out on an amazing love story if you do not get this book.

Thank you Netgalley Harper Audio and one more chapter for this amazing arc ]]> 3.58 2024
author: Rebecca J. Caffery
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/13
date added: 2024/12/13
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Pole position is an enemies to lover slow burn romance with hints of hurt/comfort and found family.

Oh my god this book, if you read no other book this year read this book this one right here I can not give it high enough praises, it is so well written and the characters are so well developed I even love the side characters .

I know I will be buying this book and reading it over and over and over again, I love this story I love the characters, I love the narrators and the Arther please get this book you’re really missing out on an amazing love story if you do not get this book.

Thank you Netgalley Harper Audio and one more chapter for this amazing arc
]]> 209635934
Curvaceous, clever, and an avid reader, seventeen-year-old Bobby Ashton never misses a main character moment. So when it comes to asking out his crush, he plans a romantic gesture grand enough to go down in local history. Unfortunately, though, his extensive knowledge of every rom-com trope ever ��DZ����’t prepare him for how tragically he misreads the situation. Suddenly Bobby’s very public romantic gesture turns into an ordeal so embarrassing it could be a villain origin story.

Having masterfully shattered every plan for his perfect summer before college, Bobby’s last resort is working at his uncle’s sleepy bookstore. Soon, Bobby is expertly recommending books for customers to perfectly cure what ails them. Attempting to rebound after a breakup? There’s a book for that. Trying to tame your crochety coworker? There’s a book for that too. Then a plot twist Bobby never saw coming walks through the door in the form of Luke, an unfairly attractive and staunchly anti-romantic lifeguard.

Bobby’s blossoming connection with Luke reminds him of some of his favorite tropes: grumpy-sunshine, quippy banter, and even forced proximity. But after his last romantic disaster, should Bobby use all the tricks in his arsenal to turn Luke’s head? Or is he misreading all the signs again? Do grand gestures really need to be so…grand?

Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, Kacen Callender, and Jason June, Recommended Reading is a big-hearted rom-com about discovering love beyond what’s in the books . . . but hey, the perfect recommendation can get you pretty far!]]> 320 Paul Coccia 1638931496 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I do not like to DNF books so I pushed through with finishing this book, it taking me longer to finish than books usually take me because it wasn’t until about half way through that I started to enjoy the book.

That being said I am glad that I finished this book, I did enjoy the ending and I came to appreciate the main character more.

If you decide to read this book, even if you don’t like it at first please try and finish it, I feel like the ending might change your mind.

Thank you Netgalley and Zando young readers for the arc.
]]> 4.05
author: Paul Coccia
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/05
date added: 2024/12/05
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book, how do I describe this book. I started out absolutely hating this book, I disliked the main character, how he acted the most flamboyant stereotypically gay and how a good portion of his personality dripped with borderline narcissistic tendencies.

I do not like to DNF books so I pushed through with finishing this book, it taking me longer to finish than books usually take me because it wasn’t until about half way through that I started to enjoy the book.

That being said I am glad that I finished this book, I did enjoy the ending and I came to appreciate the main character more.

If you decide to read this book, even if you don’t like it at first please try and finish it, I feel like the ending might change your mind.

Thank you Netgalley and Zando young readers for the arc.

]]> 203579024 Two princes from neighboring countries fall into a whirlwind royal romance in this sparkling spin on The Princess Diaries by Cale Dietrich.

Jamie Johnson has never been the centre of attention, and he’s perfectly okay with that. His entire world unravels as a hidden truth emerges: he's the heir to the throne of Mitanor, a sun-drenched southern European country, and the press is ready to expose this secret to the world. An invitation to spend the summer in his father's palace arrives, giving Jamie a chance to get to know the man he never thought he’d meet.

Meanwhile, in a northern European kingdom known for its cold climate and stoic royals, Erik Von Rosenborg, the spare prince, grapples with the upcoming marriage of his golden-boy elder brother. With the country’s spotlight trained on his family more than ever, Erik feels sidelined and tightly controlled. So when he receives an offer to tutor the newly found American prince in the ways of royalty, he accepts without hesitation.

At a magnificent summer palace, Erik guides Jamie through the intricacies of royal etiquette, politics, and history. What neither prince anticipates is the connection that sparks between them—one that challenges both of their futures. Now each must make a choice: follow their hearts, or the time-honored royal path where crown and country reigns supreme, no matter the personal cost.]]> 336 Cale Dietrich 1250887771 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I can not stress enough how much I loved this book, I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book and could not read the book fast enough to the point I was frustrated I couldn’t read faster because of how much I was enjoying this book.

I have already preordered a copy for myself and another copy for my girlfriend and highly recommend it to everyone that loves romance especially m/m romance.

The narrator’s Major Curda and Max Meyers did an amazing job, their voices fitting the characters so well that it only brought them more to life .

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc


]]> 3.40 2024
author: Cale Dietrich
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.40
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/04
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A prince that didn’t know he was a prince forbidden romance and the love between to men.

I can not stress enough how much I loved this book, I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book and could not read the book fast enough to the point I was frustrated I couldn’t read faster because of how much I was enjoying this book.

I have already preordered a copy for myself and another copy for my girlfriend and highly recommend it to everyone that loves romance especially m/m romance.

The narrator’s Major Curda and Max Meyers did an amazing job, their voices fitting the characters so well that it only brought them more to life .

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc



]]> 203578712 A gripping new novel inspired by a real place and events from the author’s family, Trouble Island is the standalone suspense debut from historical mystery writer Sharon Short.

Many miles from anywhere in the middle of Lake Erie, Trouble Island serves as a stop-off for gangsters as they run between America and Canada. The remote isle is also the permanent home to two women: Aurelia Escalante, who serves as a maid to Rosita, lady of the mansion and wife to the notorious prohibition gangster, Eddie McGee. In the freezing winter of 1932, the women anticipate the arrival of Eddie and his strange coterie: his right-hand man, a doctor, a cousin, a famous actor, and a rival gangster who Rosita believes murdered their only son.

Aurelia wants nothing more than to escape Trouble Island, but she is hiding a secret of her own. She is in fact not a maid, but a gangster’s wife in hiding, as she runs from the murder she committed five years ago. Her friend Rosita took her in under this guise, but it has become clear that Rosita wants to keep Aurelia right where she is.

Shortly after the group of criminals, celebrities, and scoundrels arrive, Rosita suddenly disappears. Aurelia plans her getaway, going to the shore to retrieve her box of hidden treasures, but instead finds Rosita’s body in the water. Someone has made sure Aurelia was the one to find her. An ice storm makes unexpected landfall, cutting Trouble Island off from both mainlands, and with more than one murderer among them.

Both a gripping locked room mystery, and a transporting, evocative portrait of a woman in crisis, Trouble Island marks the enthralling standalone suspense debut from Sharon Short, promising to be her breakout novel, inspired by a real island in Lake Erie, and true events from her own rich family history.]]> 336 Sharon Short 1250292840 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I’ll be honest this is my first historical mystery so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved it from the very beginning.

The book immediately hooked its claws into me and made me want to keep reading more to know what would happen next, so much so that I finished the book in one sitting.

I loved that this book wasn’t predictable , sometimes I have a hard time with thrillers because I can immediately figure out what is going to happen but it wasn’t like that with this one, it kept me guessing until the very end.

I highly recommend this book and suggest picking it up for an enjoyable read.

One last thing I want to add was the narrator Jill Araya was very slow at reading so I had to up the speed so it wouldn’t be agonizingly slow.

Thank you Netgalley , Macmillan Audio and Minotaur books]]> 3.44 2024
author: Sharon Short
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A historical Mystery based off of a true story and real people.

I’ll be honest this is my first historical mystery so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved it from the very beginning.

The book immediately hooked its claws into me and made me want to keep reading more to know what would happen next, so much so that I finished the book in one sitting.

I loved that this book wasn’t predictable , sometimes I have a hard time with thrillers because I can immediately figure out what is going to happen but it wasn’t like that with this one, it kept me guessing until the very end.

I highly recommend this book and suggest picking it up for an enjoyable read.

One last thing I want to add was the narrator Jill Araya was very slow at reading so I had to up the speed so it wouldn’t be agonizingly slow.

Thank you Netgalley , Macmillan Audio and Minotaur books
]]> 201103088 Return to the land of Never After for the last time in the riveting conclusion to New York Times–bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz's hit middle-grade series perfect for fans of The Land of Stories books.

With the evil Olga drawing ever nearer, Filomena and her friends race to find the last surviving fairy, Sabine. For if Sabine perishes at the hands of the ogres, all of Never After will fall. Without a moment to lose, Fil, Jack, Alistair, Gretel -- along with friends old and new -- set off for Neverland to find Sabine and protect her at all cost.

But even in Neverland, there's mischief afoot. Not only does Peter Pan turn out to be an agent of chaos, but the crew discovers Sabine goes by another name in this mysterious land...Tinker Bell! Even more mysteries abound as Fil and her steadfast friends navigate mermaids, magical fruit, and prophecies with the help of some unexpected allies, like Captain Hook.

With Olga's forces closing in, will Fil find a way to protect the magic of Never After once and for all, and ensure a happily-ever-after for the End of the Story?]]> 0 Melissa de la Cruz 1250866324 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Everything lies on Filomena as she desperately tries to keep the past from repeating itself.

I will admit that I made a mistake and didn’t realize that this was the fifth book in a series , that being said however , I thoroughly enjoyed this book to the point that I plan on going back and reading the first four books that I have yet to read.

I highly recommend this book, especially for older kids and teenagers, but I also think a good majority of adults who enjoy magic and fairytales would also enjoy this book.

The narrator Imani jade Powers did an amazing job at bringing the characters to life

Thank you Netgalley McMillan audio for the arc]]> 4.09 2024
author: Melissa de la Cruz
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
��13 fairies born to the fairy king and queen when none live so shall never after die with them��

Everything lies on Filomena as she desperately tries to keep the past from repeating itself.

I will admit that I made a mistake and didn’t realize that this was the fifth book in a series , that being said however , I thoroughly enjoyed this book to the point that I plan on going back and reading the first four books that I have yet to read.

I highly recommend this book, especially for older kids and teenagers, but I also think a good majority of adults who enjoy magic and fairytales would also enjoy this book.

The narrator Imani jade Powers did an amazing job at bringing the characters to life

Thank you Netgalley McMillan audio for the arc
]]> 203194039 The Hating Game meets Beach Read in this sexy and hilarious contemporary romance from a debut Peruvian-Tennessean voice.

Rosie, an idealistic and passionate Peruvian-American who has grown up without strong ties to her culture, leaves her Tennessee hometown to pursue her dream of making it in New York as a writer. But her plan is derailed when she ends up in class with her arch-nemesis and ex-crush, Aiden Huntington—an obnoxious, surly, and gorgeous literary fiction writer who ��DZ����’t have much patience for the romance genre, or for Rosie.

Rosie and Aiden regularly go to verbal battle in workshop until their professor reaches her breaking point. She allows them to stay in her class on one condition: they must co-write a novel that blends their genres.

The reluctant writing duo can’t help but put pieces of themselves into their accidentally steamy novel, and as they slowly get to know each other, they try to put their differences aside. Meanwhile, their manuscript-in-progress provides an outlet for them to confess their feelings—and explore their attraction toward each other.

When Rosie and Aiden find themselves competing against each other for a potentially career-changing opportunity, the flames of old rivalry reignite, and their once-in-a-lifetime love story is once again at risk of being shelved—unless they can find a way to end the book on their own terms.]]> 320 Katie Holt 1639109757 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I am going to be honest I am not huge on romance but this is written so well and the characters are so easy to connect to that I found myself quickly being pulled into the story and wanting more.

I like that the sexual scenes weren’t there just for the basic plot of smut but that when it did get sexual it was actually adding to the storyline and to the characters themselves which is refreshing.

I highly recommend this book to everyone even to people that maybe aren’t so into romance or are just getting into romance, I immediately went out and bought a preorder for my girlfriend and myself.

As for the audiobook part of it Frankie Corzo did an amazing job at narrating the book and really brought the characters to life.

Thank you Netgalley, RBMedia and alcove press for the ARC
]]> 3.81 2024
author: Katie Holt
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/02
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Wow, just wow this enemies to lovers romance novel with forced proximity has to be the best romance novel I have read in a very very long time.

I am going to be honest I am not huge on romance but this is written so well and the characters are so easy to connect to that I found myself quickly being pulled into the story and wanting more.

I like that the sexual scenes weren’t there just for the basic plot of smut but that when it did get sexual it was actually adding to the storyline and to the characters themselves which is refreshing.

I highly recommend this book to everyone even to people that maybe aren’t so into romance or are just getting into romance, I immediately went out and bought a preorder for my girlfriend and myself.

As for the audiobook part of it Frankie Corzo did an amazing job at narrating the book and really brought the characters to life.

Thank you Netgalley, RBMedia and alcove press for the ARC

]]> 220228471 Can a dream-chasing human and a time-displaced dragon forge a bond in modern Japan?More than a year has passed since half-Japanese, half-American Yoshihiro Marlowe broke free of his controlling father and moved to Japan to pursue his dream of becoming a theater actor. But he still faces one daunting his own terrible acting. After failing 99 auditions, he begins to question whether his dreams will remain just that—dreams.

Just as he’s on the cusp of giving up, Yoshihiro’s life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters Tiamat, a powerful dragon and goddess, who has been sealed away for several millennia. She embodies everything he ��DZ����’t—she’s confident, powerful, and utterly clueless about modern life.

As Yoshihiro struggles with his own aspirations, he also takes on the challenge of helping Tiamat navigate the perplexing landscape of modern Japan. Can he leverage his newfound friendship to overcome his doubts? And can Tiamat resist the allure of anime and modern day conveniences, or will she succumb to temptation and become the first dragon NEET?

Join their journey in this slice-of-life harem romcom that blends mythical intrigue with the trials and tribulations of everyday life.]]> 273 Brandon Varnell 1963779517 Zelos 1 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I started to enjoy the book through chapter one but was immediately offput again by the extreme fatphobia at the beginning of chapter two referring to a person as a “meatball�� and “tub of lard��

This book should not be in the teen and ya section, I don’t know if it got mislabeled but between the descriptions and the sexual art this should definitely be in the adult section.

I personally cannot recommend this book and for that reason and all the reasons stated above I have to rate this book 1 star.

Thank you Netgalley and kitsune incorporated ]]> 2.93
author: Brandon Varnell
name: Zelos
average rating: 2.93
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2024/11/26
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
The prologue was truly awful and hard to get through with the way it was written, it almost turned me off of the book completely.

I started to enjoy the book through chapter one but was immediately offput again by the extreme fatphobia at the beginning of chapter two referring to a person as a “meatball�� and “tub of lard��

This book should not be in the teen and ya section, I don’t know if it got mislabeled but between the descriptions and the sexual art this should definitely be in the adult section.

I personally cannot recommend this book and for that reason and all the reasons stated above I have to rate this book 1 star.

Thank you Netgalley and kitsune incorporated
]]> 217223353 In this whimsical romance for fans of Ashley Poston and Erin Sterling, a woman confronts her past and her unresolved feelings for the boy next door as they work together to reverse a wish gone awry.

On the eve of Genie’s thirtieth birthday, her grandmother gives her an unexpected gift: a wish at midnight. Genie, forever the family skeptic, laughs it off and, after an evening fending off invasive questions about her nonexistent love life, returns home to her empty house and her golden retriever, Rory. Who needs a boyfriend when she has a loyal friend like Rory? As she hugs him and gets ready for bed, she wishes to herself that he were human�� at least then their conversations wouldn’t be so one-sided.

She really should’ve listened to her grandmother.

To her surprise, Rory is now a human with big Golden Retriever Energy—like a goofy, adoring Hemsworth. But he ��DZ����’t like being a human. He ��DZ����’t like wearing clothes or human manners, and he most definitely can’t manage a human job.

Genie needs to turn him back before it’s too late and enlists her oldest friend and boy next door, Miles, to help. Their quest brings them closer than they’ve ever been—and maybe, just maybe, her messed up wish is the key to granting her heart’s desire after all…]]> 320 Stella Hayward 0063416883 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I’ll be honest, I’m not really one for comedy especially romantic comedy but something about this book called to me and boy am I glad I gave this book a chance.

I absolutely adored this book, from the hilarious moments down to the more serious topics in the book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that comes across it, and I might even fare to say this is my new favorite book and I would love to see it turned into a movie one day.

Just a warning, this book does touch on some sensitive subjects one of those being miscarriage so if that is something you are not comfortable with you may want to avoid .

Thank you Netgalley , Avon and Harper Voyager

]]> 3.78 2025
author: Stella Hayward
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/25
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A romantic comedy with a freaky Friday esque flare to it.

I’ll be honest, I’m not really one for comedy especially romantic comedy but something about this book called to me and boy am I glad I gave this book a chance.

I absolutely adored this book, from the hilarious moments down to the more serious topics in the book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that comes across it, and I might even fare to say this is my new favorite book and I would love to see it turned into a movie one day.

Just a warning, this book does touch on some sensitive subjects one of those being miscarriage so if that is something you are not comfortable with you may want to avoid .

Thank you Netgalley , Avon and Harper Voyager


]]> 218270608 He spent twenty years in prison. She spent twenty years living a lie.

At 2:00 a.m. Sylvia Stone awakens to a letter on her doorstep suggesting the handsome carpenter, Rhett Cohen, who was convicted of murdering her mother twenty years earlier, is innocent. The anonymous letters continue, each one revealing details only the true killer would know, making Sylvia question her testimony years ago.

But as Rhett is released from prison, the fourth and final letter arrives with one chilling You’re next.
Then Sylvia disappears.

You may think you know how this story ends. Think again.

Cancel your plans and prepare for a sleepless night �� this is one twisty ‘I did not see that coming�� psychological thriller you won’t want to put down. Fans of Freida McFadden, Gone Girl and The Perfect Marriage will love When I Disappear.

Previously published as The Stone Secret, an Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal Winner - 2024. This version includes updated plot and new content.]]> 314 Amanda McKinney 1805088874 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Holy cow! This book is a wild ride and an absolutely amazing read. I can usually predict the ending of a book less than halfway through but I was pleasantly surprised to make it through the book without figuring it out before hand.

The way the author writes keeps you on the edge of your seat and constantly wanting to read more, I will be adding this author to the list of my favorite authors.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves thrillers, and mystery books, even to people that just love to read in general.

Thank you to Netgalley and storm publishing for the arc. ]]> 3.88 2025
author: Amanda McKinney
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/20
date added: 2024/11/21
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A murder mystery/ thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns that leave you wondering if the person who had been convicted of “names�� murder all those years ago was really the murderer after all.

Holy cow! This book is a wild ride and an absolutely amazing read. I can usually predict the ending of a book less than halfway through but I was pleasantly surprised to make it through the book without figuring it out before hand.

The way the author writes keeps you on the edge of your seat and constantly wanting to read more, I will be adding this author to the list of my favorite authors.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves thrillers, and mystery books, even to people that just love to read in general.

Thank you to Netgalley and storm publishing for the arc.
]]> 208840865 Based on a true story, this inspiring picture book is about a curious, tinkering girl who grew up to become one of the first Black female engineers for NASA �� for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist and Counting on Katherine.

Yvonne Clark had an engineering spark—an instinct for figuring out how things worked.

Broken lamp? She screwed, rewired, and wrenched until��light!
Wrecked radio? She twisted, snipped, and hammered until��music!
Clogged furnace? She picked, plucked, and cleared until��heat!

When she grew up, Yvonne’s problem-solving power took her to NASA, where fellow engineers had a serious problem with the Saturn V rocket’s F-1 It had hot spots—high temperatures in the engine.

Can Yvonne Clark and her engineering spark solve the problem?

In an electric tribute, Allen R. Wells artfully tells the life story of his favorite engineering professor who also happened to be one of our nation’s most influential African American engineers. DeAndra Hodge’s bright illustrations explode with energy, matching the vibrance of Yvonne as a creative child and following her rise to NASA and beyond.]]> 40 Allen R. Wells 0374391351 Zelos 5 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I absolutely adored this audiobook and I know that kids will enjoy it too, from the friendly narrator to the fun sound effects everything about this book will draw in the attention of little ones.

On top of all the fun this book goes along Yvonne Clark’s life and her interest in engineering , an amazing woman that used her spark and love for Engineering to better the world.

This book also shows the difficulties women and people of color faced in the past and how much harder they had to work just to be given the same opportunity as men and white people.

All in all I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for stories for their little ones.

Thank You NetGalley and Macmillan Audio]]> 4.33
author: Allen R. Wells
name: Zelos
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/21
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
Cute, engaging and fun.

I absolutely adored this audiobook and I know that kids will enjoy it too, from the friendly narrator to the fun sound effects everything about this book will draw in the attention of little ones.

On top of all the fun this book goes along Yvonne Clark’s life and her interest in engineering , an amazing woman that used her spark and love for Engineering to better the world.

This book also shows the difficulties women and people of color faced in the past and how much harder they had to work just to be given the same opportunity as men and white people.

All in all I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for stories for their little ones.

Thank You NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
]]> 217442566 On the anniversary of a teen’s disappearance, three friends face a deadly hometown reunion in this twisty suspense novel by a New York Times bestselling author.

On prom night, Caroline Winterfield walked away from the ruins of an abandoned mansion called Haven Cliff and into the woods…never to be seen again. Only her three best friends know what really happened. But a secret is a secret, and a promise is a promise—even when it shatters lifelong friendships.

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of that night, Midge, Kelly, and Talia reunite at Haven Cliff, now a gleaming architectural jewel. But they aren’t alone. Someone is watching. Someone who knows what really happened to Caroline—and to the man who now lies dead a stone’s throw from where she was last seen.

Police detective Midge knows she’s dealing with a murder the moment she sees the item clutched in his lifeless hand. Only three other people in the world would grasp its significance. That means Kelly and Talia are either involved or in danger, because Caroline is long gone…or is she?]]> 396 Wendy Corsi Staub 1662523807 Zelos 3 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
I tried so hard to like this book, but for me I had a really hard time getting into it. The beginning of the book starts out slow and is incredibly hard to follow with all the switching between timelines and point of views.

It started to pick up pace halfway through the story which made it a little easier to read but I found everything to be highly predictable in what was going to happen, easily figuring out the ending before even getting close to the end of the book.

The end of the book was lackluster and left much to be desired which is all I can say without giving away spoilers .

All in all this book wasn’t for me but I can say I can see a lot of people enjoying this book, so I recommend at the very least giving it a chance and seeing if it’s something you would enjoy .

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer ]]> 3.81 2025
author: Wendy Corsi Staub
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/26
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
A mystery thriller about four friends their lives and a secret kept for decades that has been eating them from the inside.

I tried so hard to like this book, but for me I had a really hard time getting into it. The beginning of the book starts out slow and is incredibly hard to follow with all the switching between timelines and point of views.

It started to pick up pace halfway through the story which made it a little easier to read but I found everything to be highly predictable in what was going to happen, easily figuring out the ending before even getting close to the end of the book.

The end of the book was lackluster and left much to be desired which is all I can say without giving away spoilers .

All in all this book wasn’t for me but I can say I can see a lot of people enjoying this book, so I recommend at the very least giving it a chance and seeing if it’s something you would enjoy .

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer
]]> 203579065 A new standalone legal thriller from the international bestselling author of GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

Charlie Webb is a third-rate lawyer who graduated from a third law school and, because he couldn’t get hired by any of the major law firms, has opened his own law firm, where he gets by handling cases for dubious associates from his youth and some court-appointed cases.

Described as “a leaky boat floating down the stream of life,�� Charlie has led an unremarkable life, personally and professionally. Until he’s appointed to be the attorney for a decidedly crackpot artist who calls himself Guido Sabatini (born Lawrence Weiss). Sabatini has been arrested �� again �� for breaking into a restaurant and stealing back a painting he sold them because he was insulted by where it was displayed. But as Lawrence Weiss, he’s also an accomplished card shark and burglar and while he was there, he stole a thumb drive from the owner’s safe. Not knowing what else Sabatini has stolen, Webb negotiates the return of the painting and 'other items�� for the owner dropping charges against Sabatini. But the contents of the flash drive threatens very powerful figures who are determined to retrieve it, the restaurant owner (Gretchen Hall) and her driver (Yuri Makarov) are being investigated for the sex trafficking of minors, and there are others who have a violent grudge against Sabatini. When a minor theft case becomes a double homicide, and even more, Charlie Webb, an insignificant lawyer assigned to an insignificant case, is faced with the most important, and deadliest, case of his life. Going back to his long-time bestselling roots,

Phillip Margolin returns with a brilliant standalone legal thriller in the tradition of John Grisham.]]> 304 Phillip Margolin 1250885825 Zelos 4 read-arc-s-for-netgalley
Phillip Margolin is an amazing writer, this thriller kept me on the edge of my seat with all of the twists and turns throughout it. Peter Ganim bringing the story alive with his perfect narration of the story.

That being said there where a few things that bothered me in the story, I had a lot of trouble with the writer going into detail about the SA and murder of minors, I get it’s an important part of the story I just wish the SA part wasn’t detailed .

My other issue with the audiobook is that there were a couple of comments the writer made about women in the book as the main character that came off as misogynistic.

All and all the book is amazing and I would highly recommend it, just be aware that the book contains SA and other abuse of minors so that you can make an informed decision on wether or not this is the right book for you .

Thank you NetGalley , Phillip Margolin, Macmillan audio and Minotaur Books for the audiobook arc they provided me. This is no way effects my honest review.




]]> 3.56 2024
author: Phillip Margolin
name: Zelos
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/27
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: read-arc-s-for-netgalley
review:
This book is a thriller about a Mentally ill artist/theif that wound up with an item that would prove important to a large criminal case and a subpar lawyer representing him.

Phillip Margolin is an amazing writer, this thriller kept me on the edge of my seat with all of the twists and turns throughout it. Peter Ganim bringing the story alive with his perfect narration of the story.

That being said there where a few things that bothered me in the story, I had a lot of trouble with the writer going into detail about the SA and murder of minors, I get it’s an important part of the story I just wish the SA part wasn’t detailed .

My other issue with the audiobook is that there were a couple of comments the writer made about women in the book as the main character that came off as misogynistic.

All and all the book is amazing and I would highly recommend it, just be aware that the book contains SA and other abuse of minors so that you can make an informed decision on wether or not this is the right book for you .

Thank you NetGalley , Phillip Margolin, Macmillan audio and Minotaur Books for the audiobook arc they provided me. This is no way effects my honest review.





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