An emotionally heavy story about a young girl struggling with anorexia, skin picking, body image and depression who is institutionalized against her wAn emotionally heavy story about a young girl struggling with anorexia, skin picking, body image and depression who is institutionalized against her will. While this is a quick read it tackles some truly important topics that is sure to be relatable for many and possibly difficult to read for others. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Louder than hunger by John Schu. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A single, divorced mother rushes to try and clear her son's name when his school bully goes missing on a class trip. This was a twisty, darkly funny, A single, divorced mother rushes to try and clear her son's name when his school bully goes missing on a class trip. This was a twisty, darkly funny, domestic suspense novel set in Britain and featuring a washed up rockstar that does not fit in with the other school moms. I really enjoyed this debut and found it especially well done on audio narrated by Georgina Sadler. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was a standout fiction debut about an anonymous best-selling author and the three very different lives (and loves) she's had over the years.
W4.5
This was a standout fiction debut about an anonymous best-selling author and the three very different lives (and loves) she's had over the years.
Well written, moving and at times heartbreaking, this Sapphic second chance love story tackles the cost of being out as a famous actress while also dealing with the bonds of female friendship and guilt/grief over past mistakes.
Great on audio with a full cast of narrators and perfect for fans of authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid. I really enjoyed this and can see it becoming a favorite for readers in 2025!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @simon.audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A fun debut opposites attract, dual POV, travel romance that has Vietnamese American poet, Evie going on a matchmaking tour in Vietnam to satisfy the A fun debut opposites attract, dual POV, travel romance that has Vietnamese American poet, Evie going on a matchmaking tour in Vietnam to satisfy the requirements of her inheritance after getting let go from her teaching job. While on the tour Evie meets, Adam, the tour company head's brother who reluctantly agree to go along on the inaugural tour to help make sure things run smoothly. While Adam is attracted to Evie right away, he knows they could only ever have a fling since they live on different continents. Steamy and full of heart, this was entertaining and perfect for fans of books like Two for the road by Chantel Guertin. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
An incredibly moving debut about an anonymous popular children's author with early onset dementia who is struggling to finish the last book in the serAn incredibly moving debut about an anonymous popular children's author with early onset dementia who is struggling to finish the last book in the series.
Faced with a harrowing diagnosis and a spiraling ability to remember ordinary day to day things, Libby gets the idea to pair up with one of her young super fans, travelling to her small town with her loyal canine companion.
What follows is a family drama, a heartwarming friendship and a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption. Perfect for fans of books like The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
A moving YA debut featuring Lucy, an out and proud trans senior high teen girl and her best friend, Callie who try to produce and star in a queer schoA moving YA debut featuring Lucy, an out and proud trans senior high teen girl and her best friend, Callie who try to produce and star in a queer school play only to have it get censored and banned by their transphobic small town school community. Frustrated and excited to escape to college where they can be more openly themselves, the two embark on a road trip to check out an all-girls liberal arts college hoping it will provide a safe place of acceptance. Tackling some tough topics from transphobia, gender identity and sexual assault/violence, this book is an eye-opening but ultimately uplifting #ownvoices story by a new sister writing duo. Good on audio too with an author's note included at the end. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
This small town romance debut FAR exceeded my expectations!! I loved that the MMC, Preston Jones is an autistic librarian and guardian to his younger This small town romance debut FAR exceeded my expectations!! I loved that the MMC, Preston Jones is an autistic librarian and guardian to his younger autistic, nonverbal sister. When fat, conwoman Harmony Hale blows into town trying to organize a 'fake' music festival, she can't help being intrigued by the shy, seemingly grumpy Preston. This was a great opposites attract romance with emotional depth and a love letter to all the librarians out there fighting against book banning and censoring!! Great on audio and HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Talia Hibbert or Olivia Dade! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to reading what L.A. Schwartz writes next!...more
A cute, feel-good rivals to lovers small town romance debut that sees a baker and the woman who works for his new competition falling in3.5 rounded up
A cute, feel-good rivals to lovers small town romance debut that sees a baker and the woman who works for his new competition falling in love as they are forced to spend time together over the holidays participating in a cookie competition. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like The cookie wars by Eliza Evans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
I had really high hopes for this cozy fantasy mystery debut featuring a traveling fortune teller and a quest to find a missing child. While it was fulI had really high hopes for this cozy fantasy mystery debut featuring a traveling fortune teller and a quest to find a missing child. While it was full of found family, fantastical beasts and lots of tea, it was overall just an okay read for me. Nothing super standout or exceptional unfortunately but I would recommend it for fans of the Monk and Robot series. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review....more
A wonderfully inclusive book that depicts families that have members with a variety of disabilities as they go about their lives and celebrate many foA wonderfully inclusive book that depicts families that have members with a variety of disabilities as they go about their lives and celebrate many forms of play. Great illustrations and an educational glossary of the disabilities shown in the story. This was written by two moms concerned about the lack of disability rep in children's books and is based on interviews they did with families who have disabled members. HIGHLY recommended!!!!...more
What a standout debut!! I love seeing more Jewish holiday romances out in the world and this one was exceptional. Not only does it feature a male mainWhat a standout debut!! I love seeing more Jewish holiday romances out in the world and this one was exceptional. Not only does it feature a male main character who is hard of hearing, but the romance between Leo and Andie was heartwarming and the family drama revolving around past mistakes and present hurts helped keep things real. If you're looking for a romance with great Jewish characters this is it! I learned so much about Chanukah and how to play with dreidels. HIGHLY recommended, especially for fans of authors like Lindsey Lanza. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I'm hopeful Leo's brother Dean's story will be coming soon!...more
Another FABULOUS 2024 debut that is absolutely perfect for any spooky season reading list!! This witchy, dual POV, British romance features a biracialAnother FABULOUS 2024 debut that is absolutely perfect for any spooky season reading list!! This witchy, dual POV, British romance features a biracial kitchen witch who finds herself falling for the best man at her best friend's wedding. Super steamy and full of great bisexual rep (her), this book is perfect for fans of authors like Sangu Mandanna. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!!...more
What a fantastic paranormal mystery debut featuring Kathy, a pregnant 40 year old woman in the midst of a divorce who works as a modern day Grim reapeWhat a fantastic paranormal mystery debut featuring Kathy, a pregnant 40 year old woman in the midst of a divorce who works as a modern day Grim reaper for S.C.Y.T.H.E. - (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences) a government division that collects souls. When assigned to collect the soul of a new client things don't go according to plan and Kathy finds herself becoming an amateur detective to discover what actually happened to Connor, a weed-smoking, video game playing teen boy who swears he was murdered. With unusual sidekicks and a twisty mystery, this was fun, great on audio and perfect for fans of books like the Finlay Donovan series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
I really enjoyed this witchy historical Sapphic romance debut!! Filled with a great cast of queer characters, a curse, an evil witch, a remote island I really enjoyed this witchy historical Sapphic romance debut!! Filled with a great cast of queer characters, a curse, an evil witch, a remote island and a tenderly beautiful forbidden romance!! A bit slow moving but Lottie and Marigold stole my heart and I really loved the beekeeping part! Good on audio with great Irish ish accents! Highly recommended for fans of books like The spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. ...more
**spoiler alert** This was a fast-paced, swash-buckling debut that follows the rise of Jacquotte Delahaye, a queer biracial female pirate as she sails**spoiler alert** This was a fast-paced, swash-buckling debut that follows the rise of Jacquotte Delahaye, a queer biracial female pirate as she sails the seas in the Caribbean. Told in three parts and based on true events, Jacquotte climbs her way out of indentured servitude to the ruthless pirate captain, Blackhand, until she and her motley crew of refugees and friends take charge of their own ship and later build their own island home. Filled with action, adventure, betrayals, sword and gunfights, Sapphic love and found family, this was a tender and hugely entertaining read from start to finish. It was also EXCELLENTLY narrated by Angel Pean, who does an amazing job with the full cast of characters in this story, making everyone's voice standout. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was a SIZZLING dual POV, forbidden workplace romance debut set in the fast-paced world of FI racing that is absolutely perfect for fans of LaurenThis was a SIZZLING dual POV, forbidden workplace romance debut set in the fast-paced world of FI racing that is absolutely perfect for fans of Lauren Asher or Cross the lines by Simone Soltani. I couldn't get enough of Phaedra and Cosmin as the try to fight the sizzling chemistry and attraction between them as they work as track engineer and race car driver. Steamy, full of heart and unputdownable, I loved this and can't wait for more by this new romance author!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
Meh, this debut cozy mystery book about a true crime obsessed divorced mom whose grandfather is a serial killer was just okay for me. There was a lot Meh, this debut cozy mystery book about a true crime obsessed divorced mom whose grandfather is a serial killer was just okay for me. There was a lot of potential but I honestly got bored midway through this. Recommended for fans of amateur detective stories and the Finlay Donovan series....more
A debut YA thriller by a new Canadian Indigenous author and while I really wanted to love this one I honestly found it a little slow and boring. I hatA debut YA thriller by a new Canadian Indigenous author and while I really wanted to love this one I honestly found it a little slow and boring. I hate to say it. Sadly this one wasn't for me. Recommended for fans of authors like K.A. Cobell....more
Still grieving his dead older brother, Elwood McGee discovers he has the gift of ghost-sight and goes on a quest to find his brother's ghost in order Still grieving his dead older brother, Elwood McGee discovers he has the gift of ghost-sight and goes on a quest to find his brother's ghost in order to have a last goodbye. In the end he helps a different family member move on and learns about one of the family secrets he's now a part of. This was a heartfelt middle grade debut that was good on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Gordon Korman or Brenna Thummler's Sheets trilogy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
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