this took me a while to get through and almost put me in a reading slump but i still enjoyed it if that makes sense??? the angst between the characterthis took me a while to get through and almost put me in a reading slump but i still enjoyed it if that makes sense??? the angst between the characters was delicious but the story was a little too slow paced for me! had this book been a little more romance and less filler it would’ve been a 4 star read ...more
A Gen X romance between two introverts??? She’s the grump and he’s a cinnamon role hero??? I ate this book up!!!
This was a sweet, slow-burn romance bA Gen X romance between two introverts??? She’s the grump and he’s a cinnamon role hero??? I ate this book up!!!
This was a sweet, slow-burn romance between Maggie, a divorcée who has recently become an empty nester, and Aiden, a caregiver to his mother who has had his fair share of heartbreak. The pair form a fast friendship after meeting in a online gaming guild and quickly become important to one another despite not meeting in person. After a hilarious miscommunication, Maggie thinks Aiden is a 20 something college student and Aiden thinks Maggie is his mothers age, the pair realize that their IRL connection is just as strong as it is online.
This is a major slow-burn and I appreciated seeing the deep friendship form between Aiden and Maggie before their romance started. Maggie is fierce, strong, and isn’t afraid to stand up for Aiden and I loved seeing her go up against some of the toxic people in his life.
If you like small town romances, reverse grumpy x sunshine, and mature characters who practice honest and open communication (I mean, who doesn’t love that?), then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this author's previous book and had high hopes for this one, but I struggled with it. This book features a second-chance romance where the lI enjoyed this author's previous book and had high hopes for this one, but I struggled with it. This book features a second-chance romance where the leads are reunited after the heroine wins the lottery and needs a speedy divorce. The concept of a lottery win bringing a couple back together did not sit right with me, and I hoped the backstory would provide clarity and remedy this feeling. Unfortunately, it did not.
Overall, I had trouble rooting for the leads as a couple because the hero did not do nearly enough to redeem himself IMO.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say other than that this book blew me away. It was magical, heartbreaking, and full of intriguing family drama and a sweet slow-burn romancWhat can I say other than that this book blew me away. It was magical, heartbreaking, and full of intriguing family drama and a sweet slow-burn romance. This was by far one of my favourite reads of 2022 and it solidified Katherine Center as one of my must read authors.
I really struggled with this one and I had to DNF at 70% in. This books narration is predominately told via emails and texts which just wasn’t my cup I really struggled with this one and I had to DNF at 70% in. This books narration is predominately told via emails and texts which just wasn’t my cup of tea. The narration style and the slow pacing made this read a miss for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Enemies to lovers??? Grumpy x sunshine??? They’ve known each other since childhood??? He’s her brothers best friend??? Fake dating??? This book had ALEnemies to lovers??? Grumpy x sunshine??? They’ve known each other since childhood??? He’s her brothers best friend??? Fake dating??? This book had ALL of the best tropes and I adored it.
This book was sweet, emotional, steamy, and portrayed mental health and trauma in such a realistic way. Indira and Jude are childhood enemies who grew up alongside each other due to Jude’s friendship with Dira’s brother Collin. Fast forward to present day and Dira, now a therapist, and Jude, a surgeon, find themselves both living at Collin’s house leading up to his wedding.
Dira and Jude were everything and so much more. Seeing them go from bickering to opening up to one another about their struggles and trauma was beautiful. They re-found each other at the exact right time and fit like two pieces of a puzzle. I loved Dira’s determination to never give up on the ones she loved and how she helped Jude realize that his trauma doesn’t mean that he is unloveable. I really appreciated how the author didn’t make the characters go through a third act breakup and instead prioritized Dira supporting Jude through a low point. ALL of the stars for positive communication between these two.
This book was so inspirational and beautiful. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an emotional read with SO much heart and healing.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this up for the cover and stayed for the angsty second chance romance ✨ Elliot, a talented florist, and Ama, a dedicated wedding planner, areI picked this up for the cover and stayed for the angsty second chance romance ✨ Elliot, a talented florist, and Ama, a dedicated wedding planner, are thrown together for a wedding after going their separate ways years before. This book had dual povs (which I loved) but I wasn’t a huge fan of the dual timelines. This story goes back and forth between the present and past and we unfortunately didn’t see a lot of growth between the leads in the present. Luckily, the flashbacks highlighted the depth of their connection so they largely made up for it.
This book has: -Dual povs -A grumpy, tattooed hero who would do anything to protect the sunshine heroine -Tons of forced proximity -He falls first AND harder
Overall, this was such a cute read. If you want a fast-paced and steamy second chance romance, this is the book for you.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**spoiler alert** Tropes: good girl x bad boy, grumpy x sunshine
This is a new adult romance with the second chance romance trope between two former h**spoiler alert** Tropes: good girl x bad boy, grumpy x sunshine
This is a new adult romance with the second chance romance trope between two former high school classmates, Claire and Aiden. It took me a while to get into this book, mostly because the pacing was really quick and we weren’t given the chance to get to know the leads as individuals (they take off to Florida together on the same night they run into each other). The third act breakup was due to a major miscommunication and it led to my least favourite trope ever, cheating. IMO this trope is always used so unnecessarily and it’s frustrating because the miscommunication would’ve been conflict enough without adding that element to it.
Overall, some aspects of this book were enjoyable but by the end of the story I wasn’t rooting for the couple so this book definitely didn’t do it for me.
2 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
I love a good witchy romance and with the gorgeous cover, I couldn’t not request this book.
Essie is a witch living in Essex in a place called Beldam I love a good witchy romance and with the gorgeous cover, I couldn’t not request this book.
Essie is a witch living in Essex in a place called Beldam House, a magical disappearing house that everyone forgets about. Enter Josh, an American who has recently inherited property in Essex and is now the landlord of Beldam… if only he could locate it. Throw in a centuries old supernatural threat, time travel, and a quirky coven of witches and this book was a fun time.
While I enjoyed this book, I found myself more invested in the supernatural conflict than the romance between Essie and Josh. This book was heavy on the magical/fantasy elements and less on the romance which I was not expecting. Had the relationship between the couple been more fleshed out and not so back and forth (keep in mind the book takes place over a few weeks), I probably would’ve been more invested.
Overall, this was an interesting, spooky, and fast-paced read but the romance itself missed the mark for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a a sweet romance debut featuring the opposites attract and grumpy x sunshine tropes. This book fell a little flat to me, and I struggled to This was a a sweet romance debut featuring the opposites attract and grumpy x sunshine tropes. This book fell a little flat to me, and I struggled to root for the leads as a couple, especially after their third act argument.
This book has: •Grumpy x sunshine: Sebastian is our grumpy workaholic hero and Farren is the sunshine heroine who is struggling to figure out what she wants from life •Opposites attract: The leads couldn’t be more different but they both challenged one another to get out of their comfort zones which I was here for ...more
Tropes: one night stand to lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity, and good girl x bad boy
Rose Maxwell, the former Prima Apparent (basically the Tropes: one night stand to lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity, and good girl x bad boy
Rose Maxwell, the former Prima Apparent (basically the future Supreme Witch for any AHS lovers) is looking to find her new path in life after giving up her position. When she has a one night stand with Damian Adams, a grumpy half demon veterinarian, neither party thinks that they’ll cross paths again. Fast forward to Rose’s attempt to ‘rescue’ some horses from Damian’s animal sanctuary and the two are thrown together due to Rose’s mandatory community service.
Rose and Damian have magnetic chemistry from the moment they meet and they fight it at every turn which makes the angst SO good. There’s nothing I love more than characters agreeing to have a no strings attached fling only to fall head over heels in love.
This is the perfect spooky season rom com and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fun supernatural romance!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, and second chance romance.
This was such a fun fall read! It features a witch heroine, a merman hero, and a magTropes: fake dating, forced proximity, and second chance romance.
This was such a fun fall read! It features a witch heroine, a merman hero, and a magical little town in New Jersey where all types of supernatural beings live.
Lucy Caraway is a powerful witch who’s increasingly unsatisfied with how routine her life has become. She wishes for excitement and gets it in the form of Alex Dwyer, a merman who returns to town a decade after breaking her heart. Alex doesn’t want to settle in one place and isn’t planning to stay in town until his parents surprise him with a house that just so happens to be directly across from Lucy’s. Lucy and Alex can’t seem to stay away from each other and they soon realize that saying goodbye to one other this time around may be impossible.
This book gave me all of the spooky vibes that I needed to kick off fall and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: strangers to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden love
This was a sweet slow-burn romance with all of the autumn feels. Ellie is the property mTropes: strangers to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden love
This was a sweet slow-burn romance with all of the autumn feels. Ellie is the property manager of her family’s apartment complex and instantly hits it off with Cam, one of her new tenants. As getting involved with a tenant is off limits, Ellie and Cam spend the majority of the book fighting their growing feelings for one another.
While I enjoyed all of this books tropes, I did feel that it was a bit repetitive. Ellie and Cam got together only for Ellie to pull away multiple times throughout the book. Cam was a cinnamon role hero and I loved the growth he displayed when he finally put his foot down after Ellie’s constant back and forth. I wish the characters would’ve had better communication skills as that would’ve made this more enjoyable for me!
Thank you to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.