What I Read: April 10-30

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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry: This hasn’t dethroned Book Lovers as my favorite Emily Henry book, but I did like it more than Beach Read. (The verdict is still out on Happy Place, but i’ll be reading that at some point in May!)

A medley of historical romance: Did another historical romance readathon (just me, myself and I…) and this one was absolutely WILD compared to the first. More details here.

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson: This was SO cute. Elements of found family and figuring things out after life throws you a major curveball. Bonus points for thoughtful commentary on social media addiction. Thank you Thomas Nelson for the ARC!

Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher: This was a little bit too long (what’s with these 500 page romance books!?) but WOW was it romantic. Declan gives off Mr. Darcy vibes (icy on the outside but oh-so-soft and gooey inside) which is always a plus. I’ll definitely read book three even thought it’s almost 600 (!!! seriously, stop it!) pages.

The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3) by Richard Osman: Absolutely perfect. No notes. These books can be read as standalones, but I highly recommend starting from the beginning of the series to get fully acquainted with the crew.

Curated by Nellie Wilson: Dr. Ryan Andersson is a hot dinosaur-loving nerd, and I feel like that’s enough. I’m pretty confident that another book with the museum crew is coming eventually, and it had better feature a certain best friend and her tattooed bartender…

Need S’More Time by Nellie Wilson: One teacher struggling with career burnout plus one socks-with-sandals-wearing camp director equals a cozy book that will make you anxious for warmer weather and camp fire dinners (hot dogs and s’mores are a MUST).

Soft Flannel Hank (Elements of Pining #1) by Eliza MacArthur: Oh HANK. A gentle giant with a LOT of baggage. Tuck him in with a bowl of apple crumble and a forehead kiss. This has some paranormal elements but they never feel heavy-handed. Eliza is also an absolute gem of a human being, so this is worth your time for that reason alone. She also sets up book two in the BEST way, and I cannot wait to have more time with those particular characters.

What I Read: March 19-April 9

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The Hellions of Halstead Hall series by Sabrina Jeffries: I read all five books in this series right in a row, and it was an EXPERIENCE (more details here). Needless to say, I had a lot of fun with it, and I’ll be more open to reading complete series back-to-back in the future.

Keyed Up by Sarah Estep: Easily the best book I read in March! A fun romantic comedy with the most lovable cast of characters. PLUS, it’s going to be a series and I CAN’T WAIT. Keyed up is available May 4. Thank you Sarah for the eARC!

Flow (Grip Trilogy #1) by Kennedy Ryan: This was…fine? A prequel to a two-book series about Marlon and Bristol’s relationship. There wasn’t anything wrong with this, it just wasn’t a memorable read for me.

Beauty and the Baller (Strangers in Love #1) by Ilsa Madden-Mills: I loved parts of this and was a bit “meh” on some other parts, but overall it was a decent enough read (it kept me interested while on a few flights, so that’s a plus).

Throttled (Dirty Air #1) by Lauren Asher: Formula 1 is a thrilling sport, but this book captured absolutely none of that excitement. The characters felt immature (I really need to take my own advice and avoid books with characters who are fresh out of college) and the plot was bland. Watch Drive to Survive instead for your motorsport fix.

Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson: A more character-driven historical fiction, with QEII’s coronation as a grounding element. I enjoyed the perspective of each character (I particularly liked Jamie) and although the main conflict felt a bit pushed to the background (until the last few chapters), this was a quick, atmospheric read. It’s a shame that the Blue Lion is purely fictional! Thank you UpLit Reads!

What I Read: March 13-19

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Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum #2) by Janet Evanovich: The early Stephanie Plum novels might have some issues (they were written almost 30 years ago, after all…) but I still laughed out loud and fully plan on reading MOST of this series over time. These books are reliable, quick reads and they’re easy to find at the library or the used bookstore!

The House on Mulberry Street (Blue Cedar Falls #3) by Jeannie Chin: I’m always sad to wrap up a beloved series, but I really enjoyed my time in Blue Cedar Falls. Elizabeth and Graham are besties-turned-roommates-turned-lovers and their story is sweet and funny. Thank you Forever for the finished copy!

What Happens in the Ballroom (Designing Debutantes #2) by Sabrina Jeffries: I have a few Sabrina Jeffries books on my tbr shelf, but this is the first one I picked up. Eliza reconnects with her late husband’s best friend Nathaniel, who is looking for help introducing another young widow to society. There are a LOT of secrets, twists and turns in this story, but it’s not without humor. Thank you Kensington/Zebra for the ARC!

What I Read: March 6-12

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A Most Intriguing Lady by Sarah Ferguson: This is an interesting historical romance, leaning more in the style of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer rather than your standard modern-day HR. I had a lot of fun following Mary and Tre’s story (this takes place over the span of a few years which was an unexpected but refreshingly realistic touch). Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Avon for the finished copy!

Exposed (VIP #4) by Kristen Callihan: This is a recommendation that I picked up from a BookTube video and it was…fine. I liked Rye and Brenna, but this book might have been more enjoyable if I would have read other books in the series first (which is completely my fault!) I would consider picking up some of the other books, but my tbr is so long already that i’m not sure this was compelling enough to bump other books out of the way.

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben: Harlan Coben is always a sure thing for me and I Will Find You was no exception. I read this book in less than twelve hours (which is pretty par for the course with any Coben novel). I mean, it has a boy (potentially) back from the dead, a VERY anxiety-inducing prison escape, and a plot that never stops. Harlan, i’m sorry you spent probably a year or more writing this, and I devoured it in half a day. One of the best things about his books is that they’re all set in the same universe, so you’ll start to notice little mentions and characters from other books. Thankfully, I have a LOT of Harlan Coben backlist to get through, so I won’t be TOO impatient waiting for his next release. Thank you Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

The Bribe (Calamity Montana #1) by Willa Nash and Devney Perry: This is a perfectly serviceable contemporary romance, but it felt incredibly insta-lovey and there is some intense melodrama introduced toward the end that felt a bit over the top. I still read it in a day, though, so maybe it wasn’t so bad. I do wish that the town of Calamity felt more like its own character, but i’m guessing it might play a larger part in subsequent books in the series.

Hang the Moon (Written in the Stars #2) by Alexandria Bellefleur: This was cute, but I’ll probably forget most of the details in a week. The book equivalent of cotton candy: enjoyable in the moment and a nice little treat, but ultimately it’s all sugar, zero substance.

What I Read: Feb. 27-March 5

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Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn: This was such a pleasant surprise. Georgie and Levi are some of the most lovable leads, and their journey is a delight to follow. I loved the chapters from Levi’s perspective because his thought process in some moments was fascinating and relatable.

Say Yes to the Marquess (Castles Ever After #2) by Tessa Dare: Easily one of the funniest historicals I’ve ever read. It’s not perfect, but it is entertaining.

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson: This is a THICK book but it reads fast. Based on a real underground library that existed during WWII, The Little Wartime Library is a hopeful story, but isn’t without its moments of sorrow and grief. The sense of community amongst the people living and working underground is easily the most impactful part of this story. Thank you Forever for the finished copy!

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan: It takes awhile for the plot and relationship of this book to be fully realized, but it’s worth it! Naomi and Ethan have wildly different backgrounds but their working-relationship-turned-somewhat-friendship-turned something-more made for a good story. Not nearly as good as The Roommate, but still worth a read. (And I can’t wait for Danan’s next book, coming out later this year!)

What I Read: Feb. 20-26

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The Heiress Gets a Duke (The Gilded Age Heiresses #1) by Harper St. George: I can’t really pinpoint it, but this was easily one of the best historical romances I’ve read thus far. I loved both August and Evan and I think the author did a great job of balancing romance and plot. The best indicator of a good book? I wanted to purchase the rest of the series before I even finished this.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston: This was SO GOOD. It was laugh-out-loud funny but also shed-actual-tears emotional. The dynamic between Florence and Benji felt realistic and while I figured out where the ending was headed early on (I think we’re meant to) it didn’t make the reveal any less impactful. Believe the hype with this one!

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries: I received this Miss Marple anthology a few months ago, but I wanted to read at least a few more Marple-centric books before picking this up. The stories are relatively consistent, and mostly capture the spirit of Agatha Christie’s iconic elderly sleuth. Thank you Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for the finished copy!

A Daring Pursuit (Ruthless Rivals #2) by Kate Bateman: This was a solid read that has a spicy premise on the surface but actually turns out to be incredibly sweet. Tristan is a charming lead and I LOVED the descriptions of some of Carys’ outfits. The plot gets a little bit absurd toward the end, but it’s pure fun. Watch for the Exit, pursued by a bear Shakespeare reference.

The Portrait of a Duchess (Society of Sirens #2) by Scarlett Peckham: The set-up here is great, especially since this book features older characters (particularly unusual in historical romance). She’s in her late 30s and he’s in his early 50s. While there was nothing glaringly wrong here, something just didn’t click for me. I didn’t fully buy the love between Rafe and Cornelia (I couldn’t help but think Rafe deserved better) and while she felt her age, he felt MUCH younger. The ladies in the Society of Sirens are interesting, but between this book and the first in the series, I think there are much better historical-girl-gang-themed series out there. Thank you Avon for the NetGalley ARC!

What I Read: Feb. 13-19

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Reluctantly Yours by Erin Hawkins: I absolutely LOVED this hilarious, heartwarming read! Barrett gives off major Mr. Darcy energy. This is available on Kindle Unlimited, which makes it even better.

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati: This is well-written, emotional and intriguing. However, if you’ve already read a lot of recent mythology retellings (especially those centered on the Trojan War) you might find this a tad repetitive. Although my interest started to fizzle out, I would still recommend this to anyone looking for a complex “good for her” story. There are a LOT of content warnings for this one, so proceed with caution. Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the NetGalley ARC!

What I Read: Feb. 6-12

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For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding: This was a fun romcom featuring two lovable leads and a cast of delightful side characters (Nina’s friend group is ADORABLE). Thank you Kensington for the ARC!

The Duke Gets Even (The Fifth Avenue Rebels #4) by Joanna Shupe: When Joanna Shupe gets it right, she NAILS it. The Duke Gets Even was such an enjoyable read – you can’t help but feel bad for Lockwood (he shows up in a few other books in the series before things finally fall into place for him!) Thank you Avon for the finished copy!

Built to Last by Erin Hahn: This was…fine. The setup was interesting and the characters were likable, but there was something about this that just didn’t fully click for me.

Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort: A gender-swapped, modern-day, rockstar-themed retelling of Phantom of the Opera (with a few liberties, of course). There were some laugh-out-loud moments in this book (the members of Nachmusik are QUITE the fun crew!) and I love how the author took the rockstar stereotype and added her own flair (Christof is more into spreadsheets and not so interested in trashing hotel rooms, thank you very much). Thank you Wunderkind PR for the finished copy!

What I Read: Jan. 23-Feb. 5

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Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels #1) by Lisa Kleypas: This was basically just a prequel to Marrying Winterborne. I can’t even say that I liked or disliked the main couple in this book because they felt like an afterthought.

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen: This was hilarious and sweet and an absolute joy to read. The characters felt real and we love a man in a good sweater (Bennett, what a dreamboat!)

Tease (Cloverleigh Farms #8) by Melanie Harlow: I mostly enjoyed this, but it did start to lose my attention towards the end. A really straightforward friends-to-lovers story with a sweet male lead and a somewhat annoying but also endearing female lead.

Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman: Good but not great. A smidge too long, and doesn’t delve as deep into the mythology of Pandora as I had expected/hoped. Still a worthwhile read, and has one of the prettiest covers I’ve seen so far this year. Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Harper Perennial for the finished copy!

Mr. Impossible (Carsington Brothers #2) by Loretta Chase: This is The Mummy in book form and it was SO fun to read! Easily one of the funniest historical romances I’ve read so far – plus the vivid setting and adventurous plot make for an entertaining experience.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren: I am almost angry about how much I loved this. The main conflict is a touch melodramatic, but if you don’t think about it TOO much you’ll probably enjoy this emotional, heartwarming read. This is basically if puppy dog eyes were a book.

Four Leaf Cleaver (Country Story Mystery #11) by Maddie Day: My cozy mystery struggles continue – this had me interested at first and then slowly lost me. I found myself skimming towards the end. This is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.” Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!

What I Read: Jan. 16-22

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Off the Map (Beck Sisters #3) by Trish Doller: I was so excited for Eamon’s story and Off the Map didn’t disappoint! This was emotional and hilarious and sweet (it’s also the spiciest book of the series by far). Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the NetGalley ARC!

In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation (Halifax Hellions #1) by Alexandra Vasti: This was such a delightful historical novella! Henry is the sweetest male lead and Margo was a lot of fun. Some parts were a miss for me, but overall this is a worthwhile read. Matilda’s book is available as of today (!!) and the author has some full-length novels in the works for next year.

The Wolf Den (Wolf Den Trilogy #1) by Elodie Harper: This has been sitting on my shelf for a few months – I was excited to find a historical fiction read set in a completely different place (Pompeii!) and time period (the year is 74. For reference, Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79…) This was a really well-done story: the characters and setting were vivid, and although you don’t get to “explore” Pompeii much, it drives home the fact that our main character’s world is incredibly small. It started to lose me a bit in the middle, but the ending was INTENSE and included one of the most heartbreaking scenes I’ve ever read (which also convinced me to read book two).