Tag: UpLit Reads

What I Read: May 22-28

Aimeeeliz

Ciao for Now by Kate Bromley: Take Emily in Paris but make it Violet in Rome (and throw in a dash of The Devil Wears Prada) and you have the overall vibe of this book. This was mostly enjoyable and really cute, but I felt like it could have gone a bit deeper. Nonetheless, it’s a really fun read for summer and it feels like taking a vacation (without spending any money, of course). Thank you UpLit Reads! Ciao for Now is available June 6.

Love, Lists and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz: This ended up being a lot different than expected but it was so delightful! I looooved Alex, and Jo was really doing the best she could while trying to manage unimaginable grief. I’m really looking forward to book two!

Midnight, Repeated (Movie Magic #1) by Dani McLean: This was fine – the premise is interesting but I found myself skimming the second half of the book. However, I would give McLean another chance because I think her writing shows a lot of promise.

Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards #2) by Sarah MacLean: I mostly enjoyed this book but wow did I LOVE Whit! A menacing man known as Beast who also keeps candy in his pockets at all times? I guess we all contain multitudes. The setup for book three has me INTRIGUED and I might be picking it up sooner rather than later (famous last words. Check in with me in six months and ask if i’ve read it yet…)

What I Read: March 19-April 9

Aimeeeliz

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: Sept. 19-25

Aimeeeliz

A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) by Sarah MacLean: I enjoyed the plot and characters in this, but it was just a little too long and repetitive and I found myself skimming the last few chapters. I do think MacLean’s writing has improved over time (this book is 10 years old) so i’m still interested in reading her more recent stuff.

That Summer in Berlin by Lecia Cornwall: It’s been a minute since I read (and enjoyed) historical fiction, but this was SUCH a fantastic read. If you’re tired of WWII historical fiction, this is a good compromise – it’s set mostly in Germany in 1936 during the Summer Olympics (the games do take a major backseat to the rest of the story). The overall vibe of this book was so tense and sinister at times that I was racing through certain chapters to find out what was going to happen. It does require a little suspension of disbelief at the very end, but is still a worthwhile read if historical fiction is your jam. Thank you Uplit Reads and Berkley for the finished copy!

Return to Cherry Blossom Way (Blue Cedar Falls #2) by Jeannie Chin: This series is like if Hallmark movies were rated PG-13. May returns to Blue Cedar Falls for work (she’s a travel writer) and can’t help but bump into her high school ex-boyfriend Han, who runs his family’s Chinese restaurant. This is an incredibly well-rounded book (the side characters are just as lovable as the main couple, and the small town setting is so vibrant I can’t believe it’s not a real place). I enjoyed the first book just a little bit more, but i’m excited to read more in this series!