Alana's bookshelf: all en-US Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:57:23 -0700 60 Alana's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[King of Envy (Kings of Sin, #5)]]> 210825471 He had everything he could’ve wanted…except her.

Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.

Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.

His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.

He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she’s engaged to his oldest friend—and the closer the wedding looms, the more he’s torn between loyalty and desire.

She should be his…and he might just risk it all to have her.

***
Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous.

To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she’s engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.

What people don't know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.

Pretending to be in love should be easy—until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé’s enigmatic best man.

Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he’s the only person she finds comfort in�

Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.]]> 530 Ana Huang Alana 0 currently-reading, romance 4.21 2025 King of Envy (Kings of Sin, #5)
author: Ana Huang
name: Alana
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: currently-reading, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy, #3)]]> 214151222 Paedyn and Kai are reunited but face a terrible decision in this thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling romantic fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and The Red Queen.

Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya�

And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate—and the fate of those around her—forever.

In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?]]> 608 Lauren Roberts 1665955465 Alana 3 fantasy 4.30 2025 Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy, #3)
author: Lauren Roberts
name: Alana
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/29
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves: fantasy
review:
I need to go lay in a dark room for 5-7 business days to recover from whatever the hell happened in the second half of this book.
]]> <![CDATA[Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love, #2)]]> 228691356 What is wrong meets what feels right in this romance set in Italy by the New York Times bestselling author of Deep End.

Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.

Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.

But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.

When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.]]> 416 Ali Hazelwood Alana 0 to-read 4.62 2025 Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love, #2)
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Alana
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, #1)]]> 210428052 What do you get if you mix Harry Potter with Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, a dash of Arthurian legend, and lots and lots of vampires? Bloodwing Academy.

I didn't sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.

I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they've awakened.


Bestselling epic fantasy author Briar Boleyn returns with a new series perfect for fans of hate to love romance, heart-pounding action, and dark magic.

On Wings of Blood is a dark academia fantasy romance featuring a bully villain with Draco Malfoy energy who (eventually) gets the girl, all the tension and banter, and a tantalizingly dangerous blend of court and school intrigue all set in an intricately crafted world with unique vampire and dragon lore. Bloodwing Academy may have crossover characters from the world of Blood of a Fae, but can be read completely independently. If you're a fan of original mythology, unique world-building, and character-driven romantasy books such as Crowns of Nyaxia, From Blood and Ash, and A Court of Thorns and Roses, you won't want to miss out on this riveting new saga. ]]> 523 Briar Boleyn Alana 4 fantasy
I don’t even care that this reads like a wattpad version of Harry Potter x Zodiac Academy because the vibes were just so FUN. I genuinely cannot wait to start the next one.]]> 4.01 2024 On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, #1)
author: Briar Boleyn
name: Alana
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: fantasy
review:
You know what? Hell yeah.

I don’t even care that this reads like a wattpad version of Harry Potter x Zodiac Academy because the vibes were just so FUN. I genuinely cannot wait to start the next one.
]]> <![CDATA[The Wings That Bind: A Dark Academia Fantasy Romance]]> 222829858 The night's chaos left us breathless. Now the real nightmare begins.

A second dragon has awoken–her heart tainted and her power commandeered by two ruthless highbloods whose cruelty knows no bounds.

My dearest friend teetered on the brink of death. A dragon saved her, but now she's tied to him in a way I can scarcely understand. What will this new bond do to the woman I've come to love as a sister?

And then there’s Blake. Once my relentless tormentor—he betrayed me again, nearly condemning Nyxaris to a cursed, stone-cold fate. Now something has shifted in him. His gray eyes hide a secret he’s desperate to keep.

I saved Blake’s life, despite everything. Yet now my every heartbeat questions where we go from here.

With Bloodwing Academy in turmoil and a new headmaster no one saw coming, only one thing is This is going to be one hell of a term.

At Bloodwing Academy, power comes with blood, and betrayal is as common as ambition. This dark fantasy series tackles mature themes. Readers are advised to consult the trigger warnings before embarking on this intense, morally gray/black journey through the realm of Sangratha!]]> Briar Boleyn Alana 0 to-read 4.50 The Wings That Bind: A Dark Academia Fantasy Romance
author: Briar Boleyn
name: Alana
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Bond That Burns 221210824 At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon's legacy is priceless–and as dangerous as fire.

I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing's deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.

I accidentally woke a dragon–a creature of myth, of death, of fire.

Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon's legacy I carry. But here's the I have no control. I'm bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I'm not the one pulling the dragon's strings.

And then there's Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I'm his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.

In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends–and the darkness it takes to make them.


Set in a richly crafted world of vampire courts and dragon lore, On Wings of Blood blends dark academia, a brooding bully with Draco Malfoy energy, forbidden romance, heart-pounding enemies-to-lovers tension, banter, and dangerous intrigue. A full list of Trigger Warnings may be found in the book's interior. ]]> 395 Briar Boleyn Alana 0 to-read 4.21 The Bond That Burns
author: Briar Boleyn
name: Alana
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Cash (Lucky River Ranch, #1) 216734941 Butting heads leads to knocking boots in this wildly sexy enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, small town cowboy romance by Jessica Peterson.

My dad and I have been estranged for years. But as his only living relative, it’s no surprise I inherit his massive cattle ranch when he dies. Something that is a surprise? The stipulation in his will, which requires me to live on the ranch and actively manage it for a year before I can access my inheritance money.

I haven’t stepped foot in Hartsville, Texas, population one thousand, since my parents split when I was six. Now a city girl through and through, I never imagined having to move back to cowboy country. But I need the money to invest in my company, and a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

There’s just one giant roadblock to my plan: the ranch’s foreman, grumpy cowboy Cash Rivers. I don’t care how good he looks in his Wranglers and chaps. He’s rude, he’s growly, and he wants me gone. I’d fire him in a heartbeat, but I need this cowboy to teach me the ropes of running a ranch.

We’re enemies from the get-go. But turns out, Cash is really good at this ranch thing. He’s got strong hands, an intelligent mind, and let’s just say everything really is bigger in Texas. Working alongside him leads to conversations beneath the stars. Throw in some cheek-to-cheek dancing at the local dive bar, and it all feels so right that I start to fall in love with life on the ranch. And maybe with him, too.

But my stay in Hartsville is only temporary. And you know what they say about cowboys: they may break horses, but they also break hearts. If only Cash hadn’t already lassoed mine�

CASH is the first standalone book in the brand new steamy, interconnected Lucky River Ranch Series.]]> 423 Jessica Peterson Alana 0 to-read 4.00 2024 Cash (Lucky River Ranch, #1)
author: Jessica Peterson
name: Alana
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> What Fury Brings 220908944 #1 New York Times-bestselling author Tricia Levenseller makes her adult debut in What Fury Brings, a sexy, empowering romantasy featuring a warrior general who must kidnap and train a husband in order to take her rightful place as queen.

There's a shortage of men in the kingdom of Amarra. After a failed rebellion against the matriarchy, most noblemen in the country are dead. Now the women of Amarra must obtain their husbands (should they want one) by kidnapping them from other kingdoms.

Olerra, a warrior princess vying for the throne, is determined to prove her worth by kidnapping a husband. And not just any husband. To outmaneuver her treacherous cousin, she needs the best. Fortunately, the second-born prince of their greatest enemy is widely known for both his looks and his sweet, docile temperament. He's the perfect choice to secure her claim to the throne.

Sanos, heir to the Kingdom of Brutus, has nothing but contempt for the idea of a society run by women. Trained from birth to fight, lead, and follow in his father's overbearing footsteps, his path has always been set. Until he takes his younger brother's place in a drunken prank and finds himself kidnapped, carted off to the Amarran Palace, and informed that he is to become the husband of Queen Potential Olerra. Sanos needs to escape before anyone learns his real identity, but the more he gets to know his captor, the less sure he is of what he truly wants.]]> 368 Tricia Levenseller 1250379377 Alana 0 to-read 4.38 2025 What Fury Brings
author: Tricia Levenseller
name: Alana
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Out of the Woods 209220944
But Sarah has begun to wonder... Who is she without her other half?

When she decides to take on a project of her own, a fundraising gala in memoriam of her late mother, Sarah wants nothing more than to prove to herself—and to everyone else—that she doesn’t need Caleb’s help to succeed. She’s still her mother’s daughter, after all. Independent and capable.

That is until the event fails and Caleb uninvitedly steps in to save the day.

The rift that follows unearths a decade of grievances between them and doubts begin to grow. Are they truly the same people they were when they got married at nineteen? Are they supposed to be?

In a desperate attempt to fix what they fear is near breaking, Sarah and Caleb make the spontaneous decision to join a grueling hiking trip intended to guide couples through rough patches.

What follows is a life-affirming comedy of errors as two nature-averse people fight their way out of the woods in order to find their way back to their roots.]]> 336 Hannah Bonam-Young 0593871863 Alana 3 romance Out on a Limb so much. This was gearing to be either a 2 star or DNF for me but the wholesome moments between Caleb, Sarah, Bo, and Win convinced me to stick around. Plus, the pining for each other while at the retreat and the spice once it happened was fun so I threw on an extra star for that. ]]> 3.98 2025 Out of the Woods
author: Hannah Bonam-Young
name: Alana
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/10
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: romance
review:
Kinda bummed about this one because my hopes were high since I loved Out on a Limb so much. This was gearing to be either a 2 star or DNF for me but the wholesome moments between Caleb, Sarah, Bo, and Win convinced me to stick around. Plus, the pining for each other while at the retreat and the spice once it happened was fun so I threw on an extra star for that.
]]> Shield of Sparrows 217171544 Shield of Sparrows is a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros―where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.

The gods sent monsters to the five kingdoms to remind mortals they must kneel.

I’ve spent my life kneeling―to their will and to my father's. As a princess, my only duty is to wear the crown and obey the king.

I was never meant to rule. Never meant to fight. And I was never supposed to be the daughter who sealed an ancient treaty with her own blood.

But that changed the fateful day I stepped into my father’s throne room. The day a legendary monster hunter sailed to our shores. The day a prince ruined my life.

Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me as much as I despise him―bound to a future I didn’t choose and a husband I barely know.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.

But what if I refused the role chosen for me? What if I made my own rules? What if there’s power in being underestimated?

And what if―for the first time―I reached for it?]]> 528 Devney Perry 1649378513 Alana 0 to-read 4.72 2025 Shield of Sparrows
author: Devney Perry
name: Alana
average rating: 4.72
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Broken Country 214151202 “The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.�

Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.

As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.

A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.]]> 320 Clare Leslie Hall 166807818X Alana 3
I couldn’t put it down but come the end of this I feel like I’m left with a bitter taste in my mouth for every single character except Frank. ]]> 4.41 2025 Broken Country
author: Clare Leslie Hall
name: Alana
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/08
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves:
review:
Suuuuuuuper conflicted over this one.

I couldn’t put it down but come the end of this I feel like I’m left with a bitter taste in my mouth for every single character except Frank.
]]> Untitled (Emerald Lake, #1) 230897009 Elsie Silver Alana 0 to-read 0.0 Untitled (Emerald Lake, #1)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Alana
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Wild Card (Rose Hill, #4) 227948548 Sebastian Rousseau is a grumpy, hot as hell fire pilot who is too damn good with his hands.

It’s the perfect combination. But unfortunately for me, he’s also my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

A chance meeting brought us together and a missed connection has kept us apart.

One year later, a stroke of fate has us living under the same roof—which makes everything between us downright messy.

Because even after all this time, he’s still the man I think about when I fall asleep. The one I can’t get over no matter how hard I try.

He’s working on mending a fragile relationship with his son and we both know acting on these urges would be the ultimate betrayal.

But I see the heat in his eyes. That look of need that never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

The mutual longing is borderline unbearable and the simmering heat between us is downright palpable.

We both know there are rules when it comes to situations like this.

But then again…following the rules never has been my strong suit.]]> Elsie Silver 1464247862 Alana 0 to-read 4.23 2025 Wild Card (Rose Hill, #4)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Alana
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Manacled 52122096
Fanfiction for Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling.
Words: 370,256]]> 925 SenLinYu Alana 4 fantasy
I’ll probably never recover from this.]]> 4.64 2019 Manacled
author: SenLinYu
name: Alana
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/25
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: fantasy
review:
“She was a non-active member of the Order of the Phoenix and did not fight.�

I’ll probably never recover from this.
]]> Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3) 217271595
But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises—ones he won’t talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he’s not talking, he’s staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.

The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.

I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who’s fierce and protective. The one who’s gentle and patient. The one who shows up for us when we need him most.

He’s not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder� and loving him just a little too easy.]]> 464 Elsie Silver 1464237522 Alana 4 romance Thank you, Elsie 4.15 2025 Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Alana
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/27
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: romance
review:
Thank you, Elsie
]]> <![CDATA[Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)]]> 68428 What if the whole world were a dead, blasted wasteland?

Mistborn
For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Then Kelsier reveals his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

Brandon Sanderson, fantasy's newest master tale-spinner and author of the acclaimed debut Elantris, dares to turn a genre on its head by asking a simple question: What if the prophesied hero failed to defeat the Dark Lord? The answer will be found in the Mistborn Trilogy, a saga of surprises that begins with the book in your hands. Fantasy will never be the same again.]]> 541 Brandon Sanderson Alana 0 fantasy, to-read 4.48 2006 Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Alana
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: fantasy, to-read
review:

]]> Beautiful Ugly 211004123 The million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists Alice Feeney returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage. . .
. . . and revenge.

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.

A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible � a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.]]> 306 Alice Feeney 125033778X Alana 0 to-read 3.63 2025 Beautiful Ugly
author: Alice Feeney
name: Alana
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Fly Away (Firefly Lane, #2) 16044981 Once, a long time ago, I walked down a night-darkened road called Firefly Lane, all alone, on the worst night of my life, and I found a kindred spirit. That was our beginning. More than thirty years ago. TullyandKate. You and me against the world. Best friends forever. But stories end, don't they? You lose the people you love and you have to find a way to go on. . . .

Tully Hart has always been larger than life, a woman fueled by big dreams and driven by memories of a painful past. She thinks she can overcome anything until her best friend, Kate Ryan, dies. Tully tries to fulfill her deathbed promise to Kate---to be there for Kate's children---but Tully knows nothing about family or motherhood or taking care of people.

Sixteen-year-old Marah Ryan is devastated by her mother's death. Her father, Johnny, strives to hold the family together, but even with his best efforts, Marah becomes unreachable in her grief. Nothing and no one seems to matter to her . . . until she falls in love with a young man who makes her smile again and leads her into his dangerous, shadowy world.

Dorothy Hart---the woman who once called herself Cloud---is at the center of Tully's tragic past. She repeatedly abandoned her daughter, Tully, as a child, but now she comes back, drawn to her daughter's side at a time when Tully is most alone. At long last, Dorothy must face her darkest fear: Only by revealing the ugly secrets of her past can she hope to become the mother her daughter needs.

A single, tragic choice and a middle-of-the-night phone call will bring these women together and set them on a poignant, powerful journey of redemption. Each has lost her way, and they will need each one another---and maybe a miracle---to transform their lives.

An emotionally complex, heart-wrenching novel about love, motherhood, loss, and new beginnings, Fly Away reminds us that where there is life, there is hope, and where there is love, there is forgiveness. Told with her trademark powerful storytelling and illuminating prose, Kristin Hannah reveals why she is one of the most beloved writers of our day.]]> 400 Kristin Hannah 0312577214 Alana 0 contemporary, dnf Firefly Lane about a week ago and wanted to jump right into this. So far it's been recap, after recap, after recap, after recap of the book I JUST read. Not at all what I was expecting or hoping for.

DNF for now but maybe I'll revisit it in the future.]]> 3.93 2013 Fly Away (Firefly Lane, #2)
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Alana
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: contemporary, dnf
review:
I think I'm going to sit this one out because the writing just isn't working for me. I read Firefly Lane about a week ago and wanted to jump right into this. So far it's been recap, after recap, after recap, after recap of the book I JUST read. Not at all what I was expecting or hoping for.

DNF for now but maybe I'll revisit it in the future.
]]> Fairydale 58411935
August 1955,

When Miss Darcy O’Sullivan, an orphaned English teacher from Boston, receives a letter that her biological father passed away, she is surprised to find herself included in his will.
There is only one condition.
She must travel to Fairydale to attend his funeral.
With the promise of a sizable inheritance, Darcy decides to journey to the small coastal town that holds the secrets of her birth. But the moment she steps foot into Fairydale, things start to go amiss.
Odd residents. Odd rumors. Odd…deaths.
Everything about Fairydale is odd.
Including brooding Caleb Hale—part of the infamous Hale family.
During the day, she falls deeper and deeper under his spell as he forces her to step out of her comfort zone and embrace her inner sensuality.
But at night it’s another man who haunts her dreams—Amon d'Artan, a nobleman who lived two centuries ago.
Amon is sweet and suave where Caleb is intense and dangerous, and Darcy feels more torn than ever. Soon, she finds herself embroiled in a web of lies, deceit, and inexplicable events that make her question her sanity.

When an ancient evil threatens the town and everything Darcy holds dear, she must make the ultimate choice.

But will she survive it?



Fairydale is a dark gothic historical romance with horror, paranormal & fantasy elements. This is NOT a traditional love triangle. It features a villainous love interest that would end the world for his beloved and an all-encompassing love story spanning millennia. This is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. Please check the triggers before reading.]]> 772 Veronica Lancet Alana 3 dark-romance, fantasy
]]> 3.89 2022 Fairydale
author: Veronica Lancet
name: Alana
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: dark-romance, fantasy
review:
Reading a 750+ page love story that spans centuries, multiple worlds and identities and having their "big conflict" wrapped up in about 20 pages is....something for sure.


]]> If It Makes You Happy 210521813
I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out.

Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.

Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.

Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe.

Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards.

So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.]]> 510 Julie Olivia Alana 0 to-read 4.36 2024 If It Makes You Happy
author: Julie Olivia
name: Alana
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying, #1)]]> 220061020 Game of Thrones meets Outlander in This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me

When Maggie wakes up, cold, naked, and filthy in Kair Toren, a city in the kingdom of Rellas, she recognizes it immediately. It’s the world she knows intimately from the pages of an unfinished dark fantasy series she’s been obsessively reading and re-reading while waiting years for the final novel. With no idea how or why she landed in this gritty, violent world, she’s determined to survive until she can figure out how to get home with her only tools � an encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, setting, and the characters� actions, motivations, and fates: information she can sell to the highest bidder � all while staying under the radar so as not to change the very information she plans to barter.

Soon Maggie discovers another surprising “skill�: she cannot be killed (though many will try.) And as she becomes more attached to the motley band she’s somehow gathered � which includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, a dangerous soldier, and various outrageous magic creatures � she abandons all thoughts of lying low for her own good. Instead she finds herself trying to save them, and the Kingdom of Rellas from the cataclysmic war she knows is coming.]]> Ilona Andrews Alana 0 to-read 5.00 2026 This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying, #1)
author: Ilona Andrews
name: Alana
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Blood Over Bright Haven 208430658 Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling.

An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist.

(Content warnings for gore, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation)]]> 430 M.L. Wang 0593873351 Alana 0 to-read 4.40 2023 Blood Over Bright Haven
author: M.L. Wang
name: Alana
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane, #1)]]> 3524297 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780312537074.

From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novelof love, loss, and the magic of friendship. . . .

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world� moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness.

Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship---jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you---and knows what has the power to hurt you . . . and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget . . . one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.]]> 499 Kristin Hannah Alana 4 contemporary Ouchie 4.15 2008 Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane, #1)
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Alana
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: contemporary
review:
Ouchie
]]> My Friends 217163697 #1New York Timesbestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their difficult home lives by spending their days laughing and telling stories out on a pier. There’s Joar, who never backs down from a fight; quiet and bookish Ted who is mourning his father; Ali, the daughter of a man who never stays in one place for long; and finally, there’s the artist, a boy who hoards sleeping pills and shuns attention, but who possesses an extraordinary gift that might be his ticket to a better life. These four lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be put into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. As she struggles to decide what to do with this bequest, she embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn the story of how the painting came to be. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more she feels compelled to unleash her own artistic spirit, but happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this fresh testament to the transformative power of friendship and art.]]> 448 Fredrik Backman 1982112824 Alana 0 to-read 4.58 2025 My Friends
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Alana
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Wild Dark Shore 211004089
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty of life here, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, eighteen and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, seventeen, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; nine-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic can’t stop turning back toward the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.

Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, the characters must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.]]> 303 Charlotte McConaghy 1250827957 Alana 0 to-read 4.27 2025 Wild Dark Shore
author: Charlotte McConaghy
name: Alana
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> A Killing Cold 211004079 A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

A whirlwind romance.
When Theodora Scott met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he’s brought her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives.

Stay away from Connor Dalton.
Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can’t ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something impossible: a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood.

I’ve been here before.
Theo has almost no recollection of her earliest years, but now she begins to piece together the fragments of her memories. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo is in terrible danger. Because the Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.]]> 291 Kate Alice Marshall 1250343054 Alana 2 thriller 3.79 2025 A Killing Cold
author: Kate Alice Marshall
name: Alana
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: thriller
review:
Started out interesting but then turned pretty predictable and the ending felt unsatisfying.
]]> <![CDATA[Fallen City (Fallen City Duology, #1)]]> 222376635 In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate's daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casoeria was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.]]> 416 Adrienne Young 1250794196 Alana 0 to-read 4.12 2025 Fallen City (Fallen City Duology, #1)
author: Adrienne Young
name: Alana
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> I Who Have Never Known Men 60811826 Deep underground, forty women live imprisoned in a cage. Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only a vague recollection of their lives before.


As the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl—the fortieth prisoner—sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others' escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground.


Jacqueline Harpman was born in Etterbeek, Belgium, in 1929, and fled to Casablanca with her family during WWII. Informed by her background as a psychoanalyst and her youth in exile, I Who Have Never Known Men is a haunting, heartbreaking post-apocalyptic novel of female friendship and intimacy, and the lengths people will go to maintain their humanity in the face of devastation. Back in print for the first time since 1997, Harpman’s modern classic is an important addition to the growing canon of feminist speculative literature.]]> 184 Jacqueline Harpman 1945492600 Alana 4 4.11 1995 I Who Have Never Known Men
author: Jacqueline Harpman
name: Alana
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves:
review:
Brb, need to go stare at my wall for a few hours.
]]> Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, #2) 222139748 Duty. Blood. Honour. Power.

Saeris Fane doesn't want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court's lips, but now that she's been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she's discovering that a queen's life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders.

Her ward - and her brother - need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . .

'Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.'

Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.

A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them.]]> 624 Callie Hart 1538774224 Alana 0 to-read 4.36 2025 Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, #2)
author: Callie Hart
name: Alana
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Academy 223541020 #1 bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand teams up with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, to deliver a dishy, page-turning novel following an intertwined cast of characters over the course of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school.

It’s move-in day at Tiffin Academy and amidst the happy chaos of friends reuniting, selfies uploading, and cars unloading, shocking news America Today just ranked Tiffin the number two boarding school in the country. It’s a seventeen-spot jump � was there a typo? The dorms need to be renovated, their sports teams always come in last place, and let’s just say Tiffin students are known for being more social than academic. On the other hand, the campus is exquisite, class sizes are small, and the dining hall is run by an acclaimed New York chef. And they do have fun—lots of parties and school dances, and a piano man plays in the student lounge every Monday night.

But just as the rarefied air of Tiffin is suffused with self-congratulation, the wheels begin to turn � and then they fall off the bus. One by one, scandalous blind items begin to appear on phones across Tiffin’s campus, thanks to a new app called ZipZap, and nobody is safe. From Davi Banerjee, international influencer and resident queen bee, to Simone Bergeron, the new and surprisingly young history teacher, to Charley Hicks, a transfer student who seems determined not to fit in, to Cordelia Spooner, Admissions Director with a somewhat idiosyncratic methodology � everyone has something to hide.

As if high school wasn’t dramatic enough...As the year unfolds, bonds are forged and broken, secrets are shared and exposed, and the lives of Tiffin’s students and staff are changed forever. The Academy is Elin Hilderbrand’s fresh, buzzy take on boarding school life, and a thrilling new direction from one of America’s most satisfying and popular storytellers.]]> 544 Elin Hilderbrand 0316580775 Alana 0 to-read 3.92 The Academy
author: Elin Hilderbrand
name: Alana
average rating: 3.92
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Deep End 212808709 A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...]]> 464 Ali Hazelwood Alana 4 romance 3.93 2025 Deep End
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Alana
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/21
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves: romance
review:
Not gonna lie, that was pretty hot. I really thought when I started this it was going to be a 5 star read but once we got further into the story the ex drama just pissed me off. I fully believe if Pen was never a part of the story I would have enjoyed it just as much...if not more.
]]> Katabasis 210191773 Two graduate students must set aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor’s soul, perhaps at the cost of their own.

Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality—her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world—that is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.

Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands, and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams. Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the same conclusion.]]> 560 R.F. Kuang 0063021471 Alana 0 to-read 4.26 2025 Katabasis
author: R.F. Kuang
name: Alana
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Sunlight (Haven River Ranch, #2)]]> 205963763 From USA Today bestselling author Devney Perry comes a sweeping Western romance about undeniable attraction, unforeseen circumstances, and seemingly unbeatable odds.

My first day in Montana, I got into a tug-of-war over a grocery store shopping cart. The most handsome man I’d ever seen broke up the scuffle before he asked me on a date. I was seconds away from accepting but then he told me his name.

As an owner of the Haven River Ranch, Jax Haven wasn’t my boss. But he wasn’t not my boss either.

Obviously, my only option was to turn him down, scurry away, then pretend like he was a stranger on my first day of work. And obviously, I could never, ever admit that he was my secret crush.

For as hard as I work at my job, I work twice as hard to pretend Jax doesn’t exist. I don’t let myself think about his dazzling eyes or charming smile. I refuse to acknowledge how good he looks in a pair of faded Wrangler jeans. And as tempting as he is in a cowboy hat, Jax is a distraction I cannot afford.

Everything was going according to plan until the annual holiday party. Until I drank one too many flutes of champagne and let him sweep me off my feet. After a night in his bed, there was no more ignoring Jax Haven. Not when I’m pregnant with his baby.]]> 300 Devney Perry Alana 0 to-read 4.13 2024 Sunlight (Haven River Ranch, #2)
author: Devney Perry
name: Alana
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Crossroads (Haven River Ranch, #1)]]> 203420369 A sweeping small-town romance about love, loss, and a Montana legacy from USA Today bestselling author Devney Perry.

I met West Haven when I was eight years old. He taught me to play poker when I was nine, and we made paper airplanes together when I was eleven. He kissed me when I was sixteen. He was the best part about my family’s summer vacations to Montana. He was the boy who stole my heart. I was twenty-three when life ripped us apart.

Years later, I’m breaking my vow and returning to the ranch, not as a guest but its new owner. West might want me gone, but even he has to admit the only way to save his family’s legacy is with my help.

It’s not easy working side by side and facing those old memories. But this situation is only temporary. We’re at a crossroads. And as long as I don’t let myself fall in love with West Haven again, maybe this is our chance to put those ghosts to rest. Maybe this time we’ll finally be able to say goodbye.]]> 300 Devney Perry 166251879X Alana 3 romance 4.12 2024 Crossroads (Haven River Ranch, #1)
author: Devney Perry
name: Alana
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/14
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: romance
review:
Somehow second chance romances are starting to grow on me.
]]> The Favorites 211399784 To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER � An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

“P Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six, this novel is as brilliantly choreographed as a gold medal performance and will keep you guessing until its last page.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship.

Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.

As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the “real story� through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary, but she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.]]> 448 Layne Fargo 0593732049 Alana 4 contemporary
So fun, couldn’t put this down but also kinda want to slap just about every character in this book.
This would have been a 4 maybe even 4.5 star book if certain events in the last 100 pages never happened. And I can't help but feel a little sad for Kat and how this ended, she may have been happy but I certainly was not happy for her. Iykyk.]]> 4.17 2025 The Favorites
author: Layne Fargo
name: Alana
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/11
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves: contemporary
review:
3.5 stars

So fun, couldn’t put this down but also kinda want to slap just about every character in this book.
This would have been a 4 maybe even 4.5 star book if certain events in the last 100 pages never happened. And I can't help but feel a little sad for Kat and how this ended, she may have been happy but I certainly was not happy for her. Iykyk.
]]> Small Things Like These 58662236
Already an international bestseller, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers.]]> 128 Claire Keegan 0802158749 Alana 4 4.13 2021 Small Things Like These
author: Claire Keegan
name: Alana
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/07
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[All Shall Mourn (None Shall Sleep, #3)]]> 220127403 The third and final book in the None Shall Sleep Sequence.

Simon Gutmunsson is on the loose... Since the disastrous events of the College Killer case, the FBI is coming to terms with the fact that while catching one sociopath, they've released another. Chillingly manipulative, frighteningly intelligent, and wholly insane, Simon Gutmunsson is the worst of the worst. Now he's free, and on the run with his twin sister Kristin, and nobody in the FBI is smart enough to keep up...


Travis Bell's last investigation for FBI Behavioral Science nearly killed him. Supported by family and his partner Emma Lewis, now Travis just needs to get back on his feet. But Emma has been recruited to help the FBI hunt the ultimate sociopath, Simon Gutmunsson, and there's no way Travis is letting her go into this battle alone...


Emma Lewis has gained some perspective on life, and as her emotional walls come down, she realizes that only by working as a perfect team will she and Travis have any chance of beating the Gutmunsson twins at their own terrifying game. So in a journey that will take them from Moroccan souks to Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations, the stage is set for Simon and Kristin and Emma and Travis to meet up in an epic final showdown.

]]> 372 Ellie Marney 0648425835 Alana 0 to-read 4.06 2025 All Shall Mourn (None Shall Sleep, #3)
author: Ellie Marney
name: Alana
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Crash 216223604 The nightmare she’s running from is nothing compared to where she’s headed.

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.

But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.

A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.
]]> 384 Freida McFadden 1464232989 Alana 0 dnf 3.58 2025 The Crash
author: Freida McFadden
name: Alana
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/02
shelves: dnf
review:
I have too much pregnancy trauma to stick around for this one
]]> PS: I Hate You 209455843
Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a farewell trip that spans thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.

After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.]]> 432 Lauren Connolly Alana 3 contemporary, romance ]]> 4.06 2024 PS: I Hate You
author: Lauren Connolly
name: Alana
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/01
date added: 2025/02/02
shelves: contemporary, romance
review:
I love the idea of this book but unfortunately it didn’t live up to the hype for me. Maddie was insufferably immature about her feelings towards Dom and I also wish there was a little more of an emphasis on the places Maddie and Dom visited for Josh. They all felt so rushed. I did enjoy the epilogue and liked how it wrapped things but I still feel like I wanted so much more from this.

]]> We Used to Live Here 199798006
As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

This unputdownable and spine-tingling novel “is like quicksand: the further you delve into its pages, the more immobilized you become by a spiral of terror. We Used to Live Here will haunt you even after you have finished it� (Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender Is the Flesh).]]> 312 Marcus Kliewer 1982198788 Alana 3 horror 3.66 2024 We Used to Live Here
author: Marcus Kliewer
name: Alana
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/09
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: horror
review:
The first half was so good and creepy but the ending kinda killed this one for me
]]> <![CDATA[The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year]]> 199531989 Knives Out gets a rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers Christmas romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:
She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.
He’s Mr. Big-Time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.]]> 293 Ally Carter 0063276682 Alana 3 mystery 3.92 2024 The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
author: Ally Carter
name: Alana
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/28
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: mystery
review:

]]> Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3) 209439447 THE STORM IS COMING . . .

Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.]]> 527 Rebecca Yarros 1649377150 Alana 3 fantasy
I’m confused and underwhelmed and yet somehow still excited for the next one ]]> 4.23 2025 Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)
author: Rebecca Yarros
name: Alana
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/26
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: fantasy
review:
3.5 stars

I’m confused and underwhelmed and yet somehow still excited for the next one
]]> <![CDATA[The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom]]> 214151420 From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.

Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface—Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined.

As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime.

Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: “Finally.�

For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, “ConneXions.� No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.]]> 320 Shari Franke 1668065398 Alana 0 to-read 4.42 2025 The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom
author: Shari Franke
name: Alana
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Verity 41957126
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

A standalone romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.]]> 324 Colleen Hoover Alana 4 thriller, dark-romance *Trigger warnings are very spoiler-y so if you have concerns let me know and we can talk about them privately!

It is a scientific fact that if CoHo writes it, Alana reads it. There's no arguing, no debate, it's just pure facts. She's one of my "drop everything and run" authors, meaning I will put my entire life on hold when she releases a new book. So, I'm not really sure how I missed that she was working on a ROMANTIC THRILLER?!While it is out of the realm of a normal CoHo book, I didn't for one second doubt this would let me down. In fact, I began to see reviews talking about how disturbing this book was and I was even more on board, because I love disturbing things. I mean, you're talking about a girl who reads about serial killers in her spare time. Which only means I was going into this wondering how disturbing it was going to get and y'all... IT'S FUCKED UP.

This is absolutely one of those cases where less is more. Do not go chasing down reviews for this book. Do not prepare yourself for this book...because honestly, no amount of preparation will help you. This book will consume your life until you are finished and will then most likely keep you up at night trying to figure out what you just read. I've read a lot of books in my life, but I have never been so thoroughly mind-fucked by a book before. I always have a lot to say about the books I read, but I am just speechless about this book. I'm hurt, numb, happy, sad, angry, disgusted- so fucking disgusted, and relieved. Like, how does one cope with experiencing all those emotions in just about 250 pages?! Let a girl know.

The only thing I will say is that Lowen's POV flowed so well with the chapters that were Verity's manuscript. I was not reading quickly to find out what new horrible thing Verity did or what creepy thing would happen next to Lowen, I was SCRAMBLING. I couldn't read this fast enough. I needed answers and I needed them fast, and boy did we get them.


Favorite Quotes

A writer should never have the audacity to write about themselves unless they’re willing to separate every layer of protection between the author’s soul and their book. The words should come directly from the center of the gut, tearing through flesh and bone as they break free. Ugly and honest and bloody and a little bit terrifying, but completely exposed.


It’s what you do when you’ve experienced the worst of the worst. You seek out people like you� people worse off than you� and you use them to make yourself feel better about the terrible things that have happened to you.


And that'swhat love at first sight is. It isn't really love at first sight until you've been with the person long enough for it to become love at first sight.



A woman knows if she wants to keep a manforever, she has to act like she could get over him in a day.


This is the point where other authors would paintthemselves in a better light, rather than throw themselves into an X-ray machine. but there is no light where we're going. This is your final warning.


I'mbeginning to think Verity writes from a villainous point of view because she's avillain. Being evil is all she knows.


All in all, the only thing I can say is brace yourself. This was not an easy read, but it's easily one of my favorite CoHo books. I would do anything for another romantic thriller from her, but also if you have any other romantic thriller recommendations please send them my way!

]]> 4.32 2018 Verity
author: Colleen Hoover
name: Alana
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/12/16
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves: thriller, dark-romance
review:
*Trigger warnings are very spoiler-y so if you have concerns let me know and we can talk about them privately!

It is a scientific fact that if CoHo writes it, Alana reads it. There's no arguing, no debate, it's just pure facts. She's one of my "drop everything and run" authors, meaning I will put my entire life on hold when she releases a new book. So, I'm not really sure how I missed that she was working on a ROMANTIC THRILLER?!While it is out of the realm of a normal CoHo book, I didn't for one second doubt this would let me down. In fact, I began to see reviews talking about how disturbing this book was and I was even more on board, because I love disturbing things. I mean, you're talking about a girl who reads about serial killers in her spare time. Which only means I was going into this wondering how disturbing it was going to get and y'all... IT'S FUCKED UP.

This is absolutely one of those cases where less is more. Do not go chasing down reviews for this book. Do not prepare yourself for this book...because honestly, no amount of preparation will help you. This book will consume your life until you are finished and will then most likely keep you up at night trying to figure out what you just read. I've read a lot of books in my life, but I have never been so thoroughly mind-fucked by a book before. I always have a lot to say about the books I read, but I am just speechless about this book. I'm hurt, numb, happy, sad, angry, disgusted- so fucking disgusted, and relieved. Like, how does one cope with experiencing all those emotions in just about 250 pages?! Let a girl know.

The only thing I will say is that Lowen's POV flowed so well with the chapters that were Verity's manuscript. I was not reading quickly to find out what new horrible thing Verity did or what creepy thing would happen next to Lowen, I was SCRAMBLING. I couldn't read this fast enough. I needed answers and I needed them fast, and boy did we get them.


Favorite Quotes

A writer should never have the audacity to write about themselves unless they’re willing to separate every layer of protection between the author’s soul and their book. The words should come directly from the center of the gut, tearing through flesh and bone as they break free. Ugly and honest and bloody and a little bit terrifying, but completely exposed.


It’s what you do when you’ve experienced the worst of the worst. You seek out people like you� people worse off than you� and you use them to make yourself feel better about the terrible things that have happened to you.


And that'swhat love at first sight is. It isn't really love at first sight until you've been with the person long enough for it to become love at first sight.



A woman knows if she wants to keep a manforever, she has to act like she could get over him in a day.


This is the point where other authors would paintthemselves in a better light, rather than throw themselves into an X-ray machine. but there is no light where we're going. This is your final warning.


I'mbeginning to think Verity writes from a villainous point of view because she's avillain. Being evil is all she knows.


All in all, the only thing I can say is brace yourself. This was not an easy read, but it's easily one of my favorite CoHo books. I would do anything for another romantic thriller from her, but also if you have any other romantic thriller recommendations please send them my way!


]]> Not Another Love Song 201627074 Two string players fight their attraction for each other as they compete for center stage in this spicy and emotional romance.

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies, but each has had very different paths to success. Xander was born into classical music royalty, while Gwen had a natural ear for music that was nurtured by a kind shop owner.

After Gwen performs at his friend’s wedding, she’s mortified when she realizes Xander has no clue who she is—despite having worked together for a year at the Pops Orchestra. But she’s more furious that he arrogantly critiques her performance.

When Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of the orchestra, something Xander had secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other's music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry off the scale. As they begin to explore their feelings for one another, suddenly they're box office dynamite and the fragile romance that's growing between them is in danger of being crushed beneath a publicity stunt...]]> 384 Julie Soto 1538740915 Alana 3 romance 4.05 2024 Not Another Love Song
author: Julie Soto
name: Alana
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/21
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: romance
review:
Didn't love this one as much as Forget Me not but the steamier scenes DELIVERED
]]> <![CDATA[Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)]]> 49296032 Two sisters.
One brutal murder.
A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself...
And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked—princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia's side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women's murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems...]]> 13 Kerri Maniscalco 1549184059 Alana 3 fantasy, paranormal, mystery Rating: 3.5 stars

I definitely liked this more than the SJTR series. I mean how can I not when it has so much of everything I love? Witches, murder, snarky demon princes, and magic. The world-building and writing was so, so good, however, Emilia did get on my nerves more than I would have liked. I'm here for the vengeance she's ready to deliver but some of the choices she made in this book were just....baffling. Either way though, I'm looking forward to how this series will continue and hopefully it won't pull a SJTR and get worse with each book.]]> 3.91 2020 Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)
author: Kerri Maniscalco
name: Alana
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2020/11/10
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: fantasy, paranormal, mystery
review:
Rating: 3.5 stars

I definitely liked this more than the SJTR series. I mean how can I not when it has so much of everything I love? Witches, murder, snarky demon princes, and magic. The world-building and writing was so, so good, however, Emilia did get on my nerves more than I would have liked. I'm here for the vengeance she's ready to deliver but some of the choices she made in this book were just....baffling. Either way though, I'm looking forward to how this series will continue and hopefully it won't pull a SJTR and get worse with each book.
]]> <![CDATA[Cemetery Boys (Cemetery Boys, #1)]]> 52339313
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.]]> 344 Aiden Thomas 1250250463 Alana 5 fantasy, from-publisher “Just because we follow the ancient ways, does not mean we can’t also grow.�

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

My heart!

Aiden Thomas� debut Cemetery Boys was absolutely incredible and I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. Before we even start talking about this book can we just talk about how MONUMENTAL of a moment this author had being the first trans author to hit the NYT Bestselling List?! We love to see it and I hope that a book like this continues to inspire more authors to fight for their stories to get out into the world because there is just so much to love within these 350 pages.

I’m going to keep this review on the shorter side because I pretty much loved everything about it so there’s not much to say in that sense. From the culture, to the world building, LGBT+ rep, Latinx rep, fall/Halloween vibes, lovable characters, family dynamics, action, and heartfelt moment this story truly has so much going for it. It’s most definitely one of those books where you want to carve out a good chunk of time to read it because once you start it you’re not going to want to put it down. Seriously, take my word on it and thank me later. Yadriel is one of the most admirable and lovable characters I’ve read in such a long time that reading his story felt so refreshing. I also absolutely adored how well the author blended fantasy elements and culture into the story. It never once felt overwhelming and I think for those who don’t really venture into fantasy stories but enjoy contemporaries this will still be a big hit for you.

All in all, just do yourself a favor and pick this up. It’s perfect for this time of year and such a meaningful story. My heart was so, so happy reading this so I can’t even imagine how impactful of a read this would be for readers who can finally see themselves represented in a story like Yadriel’s.

]]> 4.26 2020 Cemetery Boys (Cemetery Boys, #1)
author: Aiden Thomas
name: Alana
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2020/09/08
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: fantasy, from-publisher
review:
“Just because we follow the ancient ways, does not mean we can’t also grow.�

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

My heart!

Aiden Thomas� debut Cemetery Boys was absolutely incredible and I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. Before we even start talking about this book can we just talk about how MONUMENTAL of a moment this author had being the first trans author to hit the NYT Bestselling List?! We love to see it and I hope that a book like this continues to inspire more authors to fight for their stories to get out into the world because there is just so much to love within these 350 pages.

I’m going to keep this review on the shorter side because I pretty much loved everything about it so there’s not much to say in that sense. From the culture, to the world building, LGBT+ rep, Latinx rep, fall/Halloween vibes, lovable characters, family dynamics, action, and heartfelt moment this story truly has so much going for it. It’s most definitely one of those books where you want to carve out a good chunk of time to read it because once you start it you’re not going to want to put it down. Seriously, take my word on it and thank me later. Yadriel is one of the most admirable and lovable characters I’ve read in such a long time that reading his story felt so refreshing. I also absolutely adored how well the author blended fantasy elements and culture into the story. It never once felt overwhelming and I think for those who don’t really venture into fantasy stories but enjoy contemporaries this will still be a big hit for you.

All in all, just do yourself a favor and pick this up. It’s perfect for this time of year and such a meaningful story. My heart was so, so happy reading this so I can’t even imagine how impactful of a read this would be for readers who can finally see themselves represented in a story like Yadriel’s.


]]> Goblin King (Permafrost, #2) 45046687 In this stunning sequel to White Stag, Janneke must find how far she's willing to go to save her world from destruction--even if it means sacrificing everything she's fought for.

The Hunt is over but the War has just begun.

Against all odds, Janneke has survived the Hunt for the Stag--but all good things come with a cost. Lydian might be dead, but he took the Stag with him. Janneke now holds the mantle, while Soren, now her equal in every way, has become the new Erlking. Janneke's powers as the new Stag has brought along haunting visions of a world thrown into chaos and the ghost of Lydian taunts her with the riddles he spoke of when he was alive.

When Janneke discovers the truth of Lydian and his madness, she's forced to see her tormentor in a different light for the first time. The world they know is dying and Lydian may have been the only person with the key to saving it.]]> 320 Kara Barbieri 1250247608 Alana 0 “I couldn’t change the horrors of my past, but I could still fix the problems of the future.�

Rating: 3.5

Goblin King is a solid follow-up to the first book in the series White Stag. Initially, I was a little hesitant jumping back into this because it had been so long since I read the first book and while I remembered all of the big events that happened I was worried there was a good chunk of this book I forgot. Luckily for me though, the author did a fantastic job of recapping the events of book one without dragging this story down and I found myself quickly reminded why I loved this dark, gritty world and these characters so much. With that being said let’s dive straight into the breakdown of what worked and didn’t work for me in this sequel!

What I Liked

]]> 3.63 2016 Goblin King (Permafrost, #2)
author: Kara Barbieri
name: Alana
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2020/09/14
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: paranormal, fantasy, from-publisher
review:
“I couldn’t change the horrors of my past, but I could still fix the problems of the future.�

Rating: 3.5

Goblin King is a solid follow-up to the first book in the series White Stag. Initially, I was a little hesitant jumping back into this because it had been so long since I read the first book and while I remembered all of the big events that happened I was worried there was a good chunk of this book I forgot. Luckily for me though, the author did a fantastic job of recapping the events of book one without dragging this story down and I found myself quickly reminded why I loved this dark, gritty world and these characters so much. With that being said let’s dive straight into the breakdown of what worked and didn’t work for me in this sequel!

What I Liked


]]> Blanca & Roja 36952596
But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans' spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them. Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.]]> 375 Anna-Marie McLemore 1250162718 Alana 3 fantasy Rating: 3.5 stars

The writing was stunning and the overall message of the story was really enjoyable. My only issue was it was a little slow at times...and I hate swans ]]> 3.76 2018 Blanca & Roja
author: Anna-Marie McLemore
name: Alana
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/09/26
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: fantasy
review:
Rating: 3.5 stars

The writing was stunning and the overall message of the story was really enjoyable. My only issue was it was a little slow at times...and I hate swans
]]> Normal People 41057294
A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years in college, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Then, as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.

Sally Rooney brings her brilliant psychological acuity and perfectly spare prose to a story that explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship.]]> 273 Sally Rooney 1984822179 Alana 2 contemporary Normal People is a book that I picked up completely on a whim after seeing it float around ŷ for quite some time and honestly, I really don’t know what to make of it. It’s not very often I feel extremely conflicted over a book but here we are. There were things I liked and disliked about this book but mainly after finishing it I just feel…nothing? I feel like this is book that should make you feel something so profoundly and I definitely did not have that experience. Normally, when I sit down to write my reviews I try to avoid reading any others because I find it’s easy for me to change my rating once I do but with this book I’ve spent DAYS reading so many reviews, good and bad and I still don’t know how I feel. So please bear with me on this review.

My biggest issue with this story was that it has a character driven plot…with extremely unlikeable characters. If you’re looking for a fast paced type of read with a killer plot this isn’t it. Both Connell and Marianne felt so flat and two dimensional throughout this entire novel. Whether it be their high school days or every time they found their back to one another in college it just felt extremely awkward. For two people that are supposed to be their most “nǰ� around each other reading this just felt like overseeing a painfully awkward social interaction. I get that the reality of this book is two lonely people who are trying to find their way in life but they were just so unlikeable and not good for each other that that it felt maddening to read this. And don’t even get me started on the ending because it just made the entire story feel pointless.

However, on the other hand the writing in this book was so well done that it made it hard for me to put this down. I loved the timeline that the story was told through and I enjoyed that within the 4 year timeline there were even more flashbacks thrown in. If the story was written any other way this would have 100% ended up being a DNF for me but instead it was this weird un-putdownable story where I pretty much disliked it all but couldn’t look away. With that all being said, I’m just going to leave it at that because despite finishing this almost a week ago I still can’t find the right words to adequately describe this book. While it definitely wasn’t a story for me it seems like from the reviews I’ve read (and it’s been a lot) that it’s one of those books where you either love it or hate it and there’s not much in between.

tw: depression, suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence

]]> 3.81 2018 Normal People
author: Sally Rooney
name: Alana
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2020/09/04
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: contemporary
review:
Normal People is a book that I picked up completely on a whim after seeing it float around ŷ for quite some time and honestly, I really don’t know what to make of it. It’s not very often I feel extremely conflicted over a book but here we are. There were things I liked and disliked about this book but mainly after finishing it I just feel…nothing? I feel like this is book that should make you feel something so profoundly and I definitely did not have that experience. Normally, when I sit down to write my reviews I try to avoid reading any others because I find it’s easy for me to change my rating once I do but with this book I’ve spent DAYS reading so many reviews, good and bad and I still don’t know how I feel. So please bear with me on this review.

My biggest issue with this story was that it has a character driven plot…with extremely unlikeable characters. If you’re looking for a fast paced type of read with a killer plot this isn’t it. Both Connell and Marianne felt so flat and two dimensional throughout this entire novel. Whether it be their high school days or every time they found their back to one another in college it just felt extremely awkward. For two people that are supposed to be their most “nǰ� around each other reading this just felt like overseeing a painfully awkward social interaction. I get that the reality of this book is two lonely people who are trying to find their way in life but they were just so unlikeable and not good for each other that that it felt maddening to read this. And don’t even get me started on the ending because it just made the entire story feel pointless.

However, on the other hand the writing in this book was so well done that it made it hard for me to put this down. I loved the timeline that the story was told through and I enjoyed that within the 4 year timeline there were even more flashbacks thrown in. If the story was written any other way this would have 100% ended up being a DNF for me but instead it was this weird un-putdownable story where I pretty much disliked it all but couldn’t look away. With that all being said, I’m just going to leave it at that because despite finishing this almost a week ago I still can’t find the right words to adequately describe this book. While it definitely wasn’t a story for me it seems like from the reviews I’ve read (and it’s been a lot) that it’s one of those books where you either love it or hate it and there’s not much in between.

tw: depression, suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence


]]> Kingsbane (Empirium, #2) 40523458 In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller Furyborn, two queens, separated by a thousand years, connected by secrets and lies, must continue their fight amid deadly plots and unthinkable betrayals that will test their strength—and their hearts.

Rielle Dardenne has been anointed Sun Queen, but her trials are far from over. The Gate keeping the angels at bay is falling. To repair it, Rielle must collect the seven hidden castings of the saints. Meanwhile, to help her prince and love Audric protect Celdaria, Rielle must spy on the angel Corien—but his promises of freedom and power may prove too tempting to resist.

Centuries later, Eliana Ferracora grapples with her new reality: She is the Sun Queen, humanity's long-awaited savior. But fear of corruption—fear of becoming another Rielle—keeps Eliana's power dangerous and unpredictable. Hunted by all, racing against time to save her dying friend Navi, Eliana must decide how to wear a crown she never wanted—by embracing her mother's power, or rejecting it forever.
]]> 608 Claire Legrand 1492656666 Alana 4 fantasy “We are more than what’s been done to us. We are more then our anger.�

Never in my life have I been so thoroughly betrayed by an author. This review is brought to you halfway from the grave because that’s how much this book hurt and there’s a good chance once Lightbringer comes out I will fully be six feet under after I finish it. If you haven’t read Claire Legrand’s Empirium Trilogy…what are you waiting for? But also, prepare yourself because this is truly one hell of ride.

What I Liked

]]> 3.88 2019 Kingsbane (Empirium, #2)
author: Claire Legrand
name: Alana
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2020/10/06
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: fantasy
review:
“We are more than what’s been done to us. We are more then our anger.�

Never in my life have I been so thoroughly betrayed by an author. This review is brought to you halfway from the grave because that’s how much this book hurt and there’s a good chance once Lightbringer comes out I will fully be six feet under after I finish it. If you haven’t read Claire Legrand’s Empirium Trilogy…what are you waiting for? But also, prepare yourself because this is truly one hell of ride.

What I Liked


]]> <![CDATA[From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash, #1)]]> 52831200 A Maiden�

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty�

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom�

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.]]> 622 Jennifer L. Armentrout 1952457017 Alana 3 fantasy, paranormal, romance “Nothing is ever simple. And when it is, it’s rarely ever worth it.�

Today we’re taking on the INSANELY hyped book that is From Blood and Ash. Chances are you’ve recently heard everyone and their mother raving about Jennifer Armentrout’s latest fantasy series so, let’s talk about if this book (in my opinion) is truly worth all the raving reviews it’s been getting.

What I Liked

]]> 4.19 2020 From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash, #1)
author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
name: Alana
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2020/09/30
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: fantasy, paranormal, romance
review:
“Nothing is ever simple. And when it is, it’s rarely ever worth it.�

Today we’re taking on the INSANELY hyped book that is From Blood and Ash. Chances are you’ve recently heard everyone and their mother raving about Jennifer Armentrout’s latest fantasy series so, let’s talk about if this book (in my opinion) is truly worth all the raving reviews it’s been getting.

What I Liked


]]> <![CDATA[Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle, #1)]]> 26114463
Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?]]> 427 Jay Kristoff 1250073022 Alana 3 fantasy 4.19 2016 Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle, #1)
author: Jay Kristoff
name: Alana
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2021/02/02
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: fantasy
review:
I am...disappointed but still interested to see what happens in the next one
]]> <![CDATA[None Shall Sleep (None Shall Sleep, #1)]]> 50358134 A psychological thriller about two teenagers teaming up with the FBI to track down juvenile serial killers.

In 1982, two teenagers—serial killer survivor Emma Lewis and US Marshal candidate Travis Bell—are recruited by the FBI to interview convicted juvenile killers and provide insight and advice on cold cases. From the start, Emma and Travis develop a quick friendship, gaining information from juvenile murderers that even the FBI can't crack. But when the team is called in to give advice on an active case—a serial killer who exclusively hunts teenagers—things begin to unravel. Working against the clock, they must turn to one of the country's most notorious incarcerated murderers for help: teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson. Despite Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between Simon and the FBI team. But while Simon seems to be giving them the information they need to save lives, he's an expert manipulator playing a very long game...and he has his sights set on Emma.]]> 400 Ellie Marney 0316497835 Alana 4 horror, thriller, mystery ANY book as similar to Silence of the Lambs I'm all in - I don't need to hear another word.

The fact that I've only seen a few people talking about this on here is an actual crime. If you love books about serial killers you need to read this book.

]]> 3.93 2020 None Shall Sleep (None Shall Sleep, #1)
author: Ellie Marney
name: Alana
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/10/14
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: horror, thriller, mystery
review:
If you're going to pitch ANY book as similar to Silence of the Lambs I'm all in - I don't need to hear another word.

The fact that I've only seen a few people talking about this on here is an actual crime. If you love books about serial killers you need to read this book.


]]> The Nightingale 21853621 In love we find out who we want to be.
In war we find out who we are.

FRANCE, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says good-bye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gaëtan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.]]> 564 Kristin Hannah 0312577222 Alana 4 historical-fiction
Did I finish The Nightingale or did The Nightingale finish me? ]]> 4.63 2015 The Nightingale
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Alana
average rating: 4.63
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
4.5 stars

Did I finish The Nightingale or did The Nightingale finish me?
]]> Alchemy of Secrets: A Novel 222706197 The HOTLY ANTICIPATED adult debut novel by the beloved, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series

It starts with a class in an old movie theater.

Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.

With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.]]> 336 Stephanie Garber 125078915X Alana 0 to-read 4.69 2025 Alchemy of Secrets: A Novel
author: Stephanie Garber
name: Alana
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy, #1)]]> 219551319 A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantasy series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy's enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?]]> 576 Elise Kova 0593726340 Alana 0 to-read 4.36 2025 Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy, #1)
author: Elise Kova
name: Alana
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Daydream (Maple Hills, #3) 198647119
Halle may not have the romantic pursuits of her favorite fictional leads, but she’s an academic superstar, and when she hears about Henry’s problems with his class reading material, she offers to help. But being a private tutor isn’t exactly ideal given her own studies, job and the novel she’s trying to write. New experiences are the key to beating her writer’s block, though, and Henry’s promising to be the one to give them to her.

They just need to stick to their rulebook. Oh, and not fall in love.

18+ content]]> 448 Hannah Grace Alana 0 romance, dnf
I am bored to tears and cannot fathom having to read another 300 pages of this. ]]> 3.98 2024 Daydream (Maple Hills, #3)
author: Hannah Grace
name: Alana
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: romance, dnf
review:
Dnf @ 35%

I am bored to tears and cannot fathom having to read another 300 pages of this.
]]> <![CDATA[Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #3)]]> 188563996
Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie� or “Stop that.�

Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,� and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.]]> 336 Hannah Nicole Maehrer 1529917778 Alana 0 to-read 4.47 2025 Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #3)
author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
name: Alana
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid, #2)]]> 62848145 As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can't risk losing this job � not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe . . .

It's hard to find an employer who doesn't ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want. It's almost perfect. But I still haven't met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I'm sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I'm doing laundry. And one day I can't help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything...

That's when I make a promise. After all, I've done this before. I can protect Mrs. Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe. Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It's simply a question of how far I'm willing to go...]]> 318 Freida McFadden 1837901317 Alana 3 thriller
This was pretty ridiculous though, not gonna lie.]]> 4.21 2023 The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid, #2)
author: Freida McFadden
name: Alana
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: thriller
review:
Reading this while getting my nails done was not the move because pls give me my fingers back so I can turn the pages faster.

This was pretty ridiculous though, not gonna lie.
]]> Variation 210482187 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing comes a new contemporary romance about the summer a celebrated dancer returns home and unearths years of family secrets with the Coast Guard rescue swimmer she never forgot.

Elite ballerina Allie Rousseau is no stranger to pressure. With her mother’s eyes always watching, perfection was expected, no matter the cost. But when an injury jeopardizes all she’s sacrificed for, Allie returns to her summer home to heal and recover. But the memories she’s tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under.

As a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hudson Ellis knows that hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. He’s always prided himself on being in the right place at the right time, especially when it came to Allie Rousseau…until the night he left for basic. After the biggest regret of his life, the secrets he keeps mean he can never be with the one woman he wants more than his next breath.

When Hudson’s niece shows up on Allie’s doorstep, desperate to find her birth mother, Allie finds herself in an unimaginable position. Allie and Hudson’s past and present might be endlessly complicated. The thread that tied them to each other all those years ago may have unraveled, but the truth could pull them back together, or drive them apart forever.]]> 459 Rebecca Yarros 1662514697 Alana 0 to-read 4.19 2024 Variation
author: Rebecca Yarros
name: Alana
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Skyshade (Lightlark, #3) 207003676 The pulse-pounding third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Lightlark Saga, by acclaimed author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

Love kills kingdoms�

Back in Grim’s castle on Nightshade, Isla is reeling in the wake of a brutal battle and the devastating truths it exposed. Her future—and the fate of the world—now hinge on a heart split in two.

Past Isla, who fell in love with the ruler of Nightshade, fights to resist feelings she considers treasonous. The Isla of the present, who has seen the ruin her powers can cause, will do anything to save Lightlark and its king.

As the line between enemy and friend is tested, Isla is more desperate than ever to understand the oracle’s final prophecy and change her heartrending fate. But a storm is coming. And with it, a long-buried evil greater than anything the realms have faced before.

With the clock ticking on her destiny and the survival of two warring kingdoms hinging on her own shattered heart, Isla Crown will either save the world—or destroy it.]]> 384 Alex Aster 141977378X Alana 3 fantasy 3.62 2024 Skyshade (Lightlark, #3)
author: Alex Aster
name: Alana
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves: fantasy
review:
The plot continues to be all over the place…probably more than ever at this point and the love triangle is starting to get old. I have to see this through til the end though
]]> The Wedding People 198902277 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781250899576.

A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.

In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.]]> 384 Alison Espach Alana 4 contemporary 4.11 2024 The Wedding People
author: Alison Espach
name: Alana
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/29
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: contemporary
review:
So glad I didn’t DNF this! The beginning was off to a slow start but once I switched over to the audiobook and got a little further I was hooked. I love a book that can make me want to sob one minute and crack up the next. Will definitely be checking out more of this authors work in the future.
]]> Promise Me Sunshine 214269328 Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not

Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Her best friend, Lou, recently passed away after a battle with cancer, and her death has left Lenny feeling completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with Lou, and the list of things she’s supposed to do to help her live again. The only thing she can do is temporary babysitting gigs, and luckily, she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. It’s not perfect: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of... a huge jerk. But if Lenny acts like she has it all together, maybe no one will notice she’s falling apart.

Miles sees right through her though. Turns out, he knows a lot about grief and, surprisingly, he offers her a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again� list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the Lou has left behind, but she begins to spend more time with Miles, Lenny is surprised to discover that, sometimes, losing everything is only the first step to finding yourself, and love, again.]]> 416 Cara Bastone 0593595734 Alana 0 to-read 4.23 2025 Promise Me Sunshine
author: Cara Bastone
name: Alana
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> One Golden Summer 217245639
I never anticipated Charlie Florek.

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.

Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.

Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.]]> 400 Carley Fortune 0593638913 Alana 0 to-read 4.52 2025 One Golden Summer
author: Carley Fortune
name: Alana
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet]]> 55145261 A deeply moving and mind-expanding collection of personal essays in the first ever work of non-fiction from #1 internationally bestselling author John Green

The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his ground-breaking, critically acclaimed podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet - from the QWERTY keyboard and Halley's Comet to Penguins of Madagascar - on a five-star scale.

Complex and rich with detail, the Anthropocene's reviews have been praised as 'observations that double as exercises in memoiristic empathy', with over 10 million lifetime downloads. John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection about the shared human experience; it includes beloved essays along with six all-new pieces exclusive to the book.]]> 304 John Green 0525555218 Alana 4 nonfiction
And perhaps if theres one takeaway from this book for me it's that maybe I shouldn't be so stingy with my 5 star ratings from here on out....maybe I'll work on that in 2022.

]]> 4.37 2021 The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet
author: John Green
name: Alana
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/12/20
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: nonfiction
review:
This was such a different read from anything I would normally pick up but I really enjoyed it. In typical John Green fashion it's witty, sweet, and can have you laughing one minute and ready to cry the next. Totally would recommend the audiobook since it's narrated by John himself and I think that made this even more enjoyable.

And perhaps if theres one takeaway from this book for me it's that maybe I shouldn't be so stingy with my 5 star ratings from here on out....maybe I'll work on that in 2022.


]]> My December Darling 218137764 A small-town Christmas novella by the New York Times bestselling author of LAKEFRONT BILLIONAIRES series that will make you want to pack your bags and spend the holiday in Lake Wisteria.

Catalina
Playing the part of my sister’s maid of honor is easy even if she’s marrying my ex.
But playing nice with the best man? An impossible task given our history.
Sure, Luke Darling may be suspiciously kind, incredibly handsome, and stubborn to a fault, but regardless of how hard he tries to make me see otherwise, I’m not interested.
It’s on me to remind him that he’s my ex-boyfriend’s best friend.
And the one I’m secretly starting to wish I met first.

Luke
My job as the best man is a simple one, except for one minor issue.
I’ve spent so much time avoiding my best friend’s ex that I didn’t consider what could happen if I started craving Catalina Martinez’s company instead.
She is only in Lake Wisteria for the winter wedding, but her January departure date won’t stop me from pursuing her.
Getting her to date me would be nothing short of a Christmas miracle, but I’m determined to make her mine.
‘Tis the season to fall in love…even if I’m the only one taking the risk.

My December Darling is a 50,000 word, Christmas-themed romance between a grumpy maid of honor and an outgoing best man who chases after what he wants. ]]> 252 Lauren Asher 1964990025 Alana 3 romance 3.72 2024 My December Darling
author: Lauren Asher
name: Alana
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: romance
review:
Short, sweet, and kept me entertained while wrapping presents.
]]> Nightbane (Lightlark, #2) 58410355 The seductive and action-packed follow-up to Alex Aster’s instant #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and internationally bestselling novel, Lightlark

Isla Crown has secured the love of two powerful rulers and broken the curses that plagued the six realms for centuries, but few know the true origins of her powers.

Now, in the wake of a crushing betrayal, Isla finds herself struggling to win respect as the newly crowned leader of two separate realms. Worse, her fellow rulers haven’t ceded victory quietly, and there are others in Isla’s midst who don’t believe her ascent to power was earned.

As certain death races toward Lightlark and secrets from the past begin to unravel, Isla must weigh her responsibility to her people against the whims of the most dangerous traitor of all: her heart.

Alex Aster’s intricate world expands after the riveting culmination of the Centennial games, delving more deeply into Isla’s memories of her past, as her future hurtles toward two possible fates.]]> 432 Alex Aster Alana 3 fantasy 4.10 2023 Nightbane (Lightlark, #2)
author: Alex Aster
name: Alana
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/20
date added: 2024/12/20
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is like the Temu version of ACOMAF…and yet I didn’t hate it.
]]> Atmosphere 220817728 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s Space Shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.]]> 352 Taylor Jenkins Reid 0593158717 Alana 0 to-read 4.45 2025 Atmosphere
author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
name: Alana
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch, #3)]]> 206673322 She thrives in chaos. He prefers routine. The only thing they have in common? How much they hate each other. From the author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the highly anticipated next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance featuring enemies to lovers and forced proximity.

Teddy Andersen doesn't have a plan. She's never needed one before. She's always been more of a go with the flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn't seem to be going her way this time. Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it's starting to change. Teddy's used to being a leader, but now she feels like she's getting left behind, wondering if the life she lives in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore.

Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn't know what's taking care of his family's 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he slips up, and he has to admit that he can't manage everything on his own. He needs help. His little sister's best friend, the woman he can't stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy's the only option he's got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he'll never find what he needs. Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether or not to act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned?]]> 368 Lyla Sage 1529436729 Alana 4 romance 4.19 2024 Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch, #3)
author: Lyla Sage
name: Alana
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/11
date added: 2024/12/12
shelves: romance
review:
I had a feeling this was going to be favorite so far and it absolutely delivered. The banter between Teddy and Gus was *chef's kiss*.
]]> <![CDATA[Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #2)]]> 220389465 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.

Tessa Bailey’s Merry Ever After is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.]]> 59 Tessa Bailey 1662528736 Alana 1 romance 2.79 2024 Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #2)
author: Tessa Bailey
name: Alana
average rating: 2.79
book published: 2024
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2024/12/12
shelves: romance
review:
This might actually take the cake in being WORSE than the time Tessa used the velvet helmet analogy.
]]> <![CDATA[Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #1)]]> 220389458 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.

Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.]]> 73 Ali Hazelwood 1662528396 Alana 4 romance 3.68 2024 Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #1)
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Alana
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2024/12/12
shelves: romance
review:
My expectations were pretty low but this was actually super cute.
]]> Pictures of You 197156017 If you knew then what you know now, would you make the same choices? Imagine having a second chance with the one you never forgot.

From the author of the global breakout bestseller The Last Love Note comes the story of a young woman struggling to piece her life back together in the wake of a tragic accident, and the man who gives up everything to help her.

When Evie Hudson wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she thinks she’s fresh out of a teenage party with her best friend, Bree. Except, Bree isn’t around anymore and high school was years ago. Evie had just survived the crash that killed her husband, Oliver—whom she can't remember either. After suffering a traumatic loss of memory, she’s left to connect the dots. But how?

Drew, a promising photographer whose chance encounter with Evie unravels the elusive details of her marriage and her husband’s death. As Drew watches Evie stitch the story of her life together, secrets emerge that might shatter both of their worlds.

This tangled second-chance romance leads Evie to question every decision she ever made. This time around, she’s seeing all the things she missed–and the life she gets to choose...again.]]> 416 Emma Grey 195850646X Alana 0 to-read 4.00 2024 Pictures of You
author: Emma Grey
name: Alana
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Spark of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, #1)]]> 123471760 When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn.

In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

Spark of the Everflame is the first book in The Kindred's Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers epic is perfect for lovers of magic, dragons, angst, and banter and will appeal to fans of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, Gild, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.]]> 438 Penn Cole Alana 0 to-read 4.20 2023 Spark of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, #1)
author: Penn Cole
name: Alana
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Lightlark (Lightlark, #1) 60310757 Welcome to the Centennial.

Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The invitation is a summons—a call to embrace victory and ruin, baubles and blood. The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm’s curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die.

Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling—a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised, and are counting on Isla to end their suffering by succeeding at the Centennial.

To survive, Isla must lie, cheat, and betray…even as love complicates everything.]]> 416 Alex Aster 1419760866 Alana 4 fantasy
I don't think this was the most perfect or unique fantasy novel but I genuinely enjoyed reading this so hopefully the next two will feel the same way. The marketing around this book though?! A bit unhinged if you ask me.]]> 3.84 2022 Lightlark (Lightlark, #1)
author: Alex Aster
name: Alana
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/07
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: fantasy
review:
Not me actually being intrigued by a love triangle! Normally I have my love interest nailed down from the very beginning but I truly don't know if I'm Team Grim or Team Oro yet.

I don't think this was the most perfect or unique fantasy novel but I genuinely enjoyed reading this so hopefully the next two will feel the same way. The marketing around this book though?! A bit unhinged if you ask me.
]]> None of This Is True 62334530
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?]]> 390 Lisa Jewell 1982179007 Alana 0 to-read 4.08 2023 None of This Is True
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Alana
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch, #4)]]> 213650748 She’s the one that got away. He’s the one that never let her go.

From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Camille Ashwood had always loved a plan. Her latest was her best yet. She was going to get married so she could secure her daughter’s future, get her overbearing parents off her back, and finally start building her own life in small town Meadowlark, Wyoming. Easy, right?

But when her groom doesn’t show up to the wedding, Cam’s life is turned upside down—she doesn’t even have a place to live. That is, until she finds out the house she’s loved since high school is available to rent. There’s only one problem: the neighbor.

Dusty Tucker has spent nearly all of his adult life running. Running from what, though? More like who: Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who was his first, well, everything has become a woman seemingly determined to keep him at arm’s length. And he was okay with that—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. She was getting married, after all. But now she’s single and living next door. Dusty wants to show her that they can be friends, and that he can stay put.

Despite her best attempts to stay far away from Dusty Tucker, Cam realizes that being close to him is like slipping on her favorite jeans. Easy. Comfortable. That is until past wounds start to open and feelings—both old and new—wreak havoc. Nearly ten years after they first met, Dusty and Cam begin to wonder if their first love can also be their last. And this time, will it be forever?]]> Lyla Sage Alana 0 to-read 4.04 2025 Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch, #4)
author: Lyla Sage
name: Alana
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Throne of Secrets (Prince of Sin, #2)]]> 204593559 A wicked prince determined to save his kingdom.

Gabriel Axton—infamous as the Prince of Gluttony, the self-proclaimed rake of rakes—has always lived for indulgence: in delicious food, in tantalizing women, and most of all, in the thrill of the hunt, where his love of danger can take over. But when his favorite adventure takes a deadly turn, he realizes something is very wrong in his demon court. With the clock ticking, he must turn to the only one who might uncover the truth: a journalist he has spent a decade avoiding�

A reporter hell-bent on finding the truth.

Adriana Saint Lucent has been on the hunt for years—if she could just report something damning enough about that no-good scoundrel Gabriel Axton, she knows others would finally see the demon as she does. But she never expected to turn up a rumor too terrifying to be believed: could the ice dragons to the north be growing restless? Drawn into the secrets of the Underworld, Adriana’s investigation leads her into the place she dreads most� Axton’s infamous court.

A dangerous rivalry—and deliciously twisted fairy tale.

To stop darkness from falling over their kingdom, Axton and Adriana will have to unite against an escalating danger. But with each holding tight to their own secrets, can they find the truth before it’s too late? And what will they do with an equally troubling rumor: that they might not actually hate one another, after all?

Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt—and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale—in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.]]> 502 Kerri Maniscalco 0316557544 Alana 2 fantasy
This started out promising but after the secret lovers reveal it just felt like it was a mess. The ending actually made me want to chuck my phone at a wall because it was rushed and stupid. ]]> 3.88 2024 Throne of Secrets (Prince of Sin, #2)
author: Kerri Maniscalco
name: Alana
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/26
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: fantasy
review:
2.5 stars

This started out promising but after the secret lovers reveal it just felt like it was a mess. The ending actually made me want to chuck my phone at a wall because it was rushed and stupid.
]]> This Book Will Bury Me 213570821 From the bestselling author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and Midnight is the Darkest Hour comes a chilling, compulsive story of five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches.

It's the most famous crime in modern history. But only she knows the true story.

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief. She becomes obsessed with true crime, befriending armchair detectives who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this morbid internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory...

So when news of the shocking deaths of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho takes the world by storm, and sleuths everywhere race to solve the crimes, Jane and her friends are determined to beat them. But the case turns out to be stranger than anyone expected. Details don't add up, the police are cagey, and there seems to be more media hype and internet theorizing than actual evidence. When Jane and her sleuths take a step closer, they find that every answer only begs more questions. Something's not adding up, and they begin to suspect their killer may be smarter and more prolific than any they've faced before. Placing themselves in the center of the story starts to feel more and more like walking into a trap...

Told one year after the astounding events that concluded the case and left the world reeling, when Jane has finally decided to break her silence about what really happened, she tells the true story of the Delphine Massacres. And what she has to confess will shock even the most seasoned true crime fans...


]]> 480 Ashley Winstead 1728270006 Alana 0 to-read 3.69 2025 This Book Will Bury Me
author: Ashley Winstead
name: Alana
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Our Infinite Fates 210395729 They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.

Evelyn remembers all her past lives. She also remembers that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being whose soul―and survival―is tethered to hers.

The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her for bone marrow transplants in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to:

1. Find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life―before they find her first.
2. Figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse.
3. Try not to fall in love.

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue meets This is How You Lose The Time War in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries.]]> 352 Laura Steven 1250333881 Alana 0 to-read 3.76 2025 Our Infinite Fates
author: Laura Steven
name: Alana
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Under Currents 42289976
Zane Bigelow grew up in a beautiful, perfectly kept house in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Strangers and even Zane’s own aunt across the lake see his parents as a successful surgeon and his stylish wife, making appearances at their children’s ballet recitals and baseball games. Only Zane and his sister know the truth, until one brutal night finally reveals cracks in the facade, and Zane escapes for college without a thought of looking back...

Years later, Zane returns to his hometown determined to reconnect with the place and people that mean so much to him, despite the painful memories. As he resumes life in the colorful town, he meets a gifted landscape artist named Darby, who is on the run from ghosts of her own.

Together they will have to teach each other what it means to face the past, and stand up for the ones they love.]]> 448 Nora Roberts 1250207096 Alana 0 to-read 4.04 2019 Under Currents
author: Nora Roberts
name: Alana
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Spectacular (Caraval, #3.5) 203578793 Welcome, welcome back to the mysteriously enchanting world of CARAVAL! Return to the legendary magic and the whimsical wonder with this beautifully illustrated holiday novella.

Snowflakes are falling.
Invitations are arriving.
And holiday magic is swirling in the capital city of the Meridian Empire.

It’s Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city. Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green. And Legend . . .

Well, sadly Legend is not fond of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve . . . surely there’s some holiday magic swirling around.

Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, where even holidays are not as they seem.

Set after Stephanie Garber's #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Caraval series, this delightful novella will take readers on the ultimate holiday adventure full of clockwork boys, poisoned candy, impish snow globes, merriment, and―if Tella gets her way―love.

Gorgeously illustrated by Rosie Thorns, SPECTACULAR is the perfect edition for collectors, readers, dreamers, and lovers of holiday magic.]]> 207 Stephanie Garber 1250893402 Alana 3 fantasy 3.71 2024 Spectacular (Caraval, #3.5)
author: Stephanie Garber
name: Alana
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood of My Monster (Monster Trilogy, #1)]]> 86246890 From the USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a new dark mafia romance.

I’m out for revenge. He’s out to rule the world.
Kirill and I are as different as day and night.
We shouldn’t have been in the same frame or universe.
But we meet under the strangest circumstances.
He’s my superior in the military and the man who’ll introduce me to carnage.
His charm and exterior perfection shouldn’t have tempted me.
Behind the smokescreen lurks a manipulative emotionless monster.
And that monster might find out all my secrets, including the reason why I’m pretending to be a man.
He might also lure me to the point of no return.

This book is part of a trilogy and is not a standalone.]]> 338 Rina Kent 1685450423 Alana 0 dnf
Lost interest. Too boring and I can smell the end coming from a mile away. ]]> 4.05 2023 Blood of My Monster (Monster Trilogy, #1)
author: Rina Kent
name: Alana
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: dnf
review:
Dnf @ 35%

Lost interest. Too boring and I can smell the end coming from a mile away.
]]> <![CDATA[The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1)]]> 58416952 At the elite Catenan Academy, a young fugitive uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets in this new fantasy series by internationally bestselling author of The Licanius Trilogy, James Islington.

AUDI. VIDE. TACE.

The Catenan Republic � the Hierarchy � may rule the world now, but they do not know everything.

I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus � what they call Will � to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.

I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.

But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.

And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.

To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.

And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me.]]> 639 James Islington 1982141190 Alana 0 to-read 4.60 2023 The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1)
author: James Islington
name: Alana
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #2)]]> 217338931
Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat� er, out-of-evil-office.

But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs—Kingsley’s included—point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies� including their nemesis, the king.

Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.

It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so� so� delightfully fun.

But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?]]> 352 Hannah Nicole Maehrer 1649377606 Alana 3 fantasy 4.15 2024 Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #2)
author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
name: Alana
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/31
date added: 2024/10/31
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> Wild Eyes (Rose Hill, #2) 209568782
As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press it’s hard to find any peace. But I find it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal my heart just as thoroughly as their dad.

Weston Belmont.

The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that’s downright distracting. And in bed? He’s addictive.

Everything with him is wild and impulsive and I’m desperate to regain some control.

But no one has supported me like West does. And no one has ever made me feel as loved as he does either.

So, while my brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible� my heart says I’m right where I belong.

Still, my life as a celebrity haunts me. It has the power to pull us apart.

I can see in his eyes that wants me to stay. And I want that too.

But I know better than anyone that we don’t always get what we want.]]> 464 Elsie Silver 1464220824 Alana 4 romance 4.24 2024 Wild Eyes (Rose Hill, #2)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Alana
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/31
date added: 2024/10/31
shelves: romance
review:
Definitely enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series. As far as all the talk about West dethroning Cade…it’s a no from me! But West may be a close second
]]> Belladonna (Belladonna, #1) 59227936
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each one more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.]]> 409 Adalyn Grace 0316158232 Alana 0 to-read 3.97 2022 Belladonna (Belladonna, #1)
author: Adalyn Grace
name: Alana
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2)]]> 218618838 Absolutely Exquisite. Just gripping!!!... I seriously could not put it down... GET THIS ON YOUR LIST, YESTERDAY.' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the multi-million-copy bestselling author and global sensation, Jeneva Rose.

Till death do us part. Yours. Not Mine.

It's been eleven years since high-powered attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband, Adam, against the charge of murdering his mistress. Sarah haslong since moved on, starting a family with her new husband, Bob Miller, and changing careers. Her life is back to being exactly how she always wanted ... or is it?

After discovering Bob engaged in a one-night stand, Sarah wastes no time filing for divorce. However, amid their ugly separation, new DNA evidence is uncovered in the case against Adam, forcing the police to reopen the investigation and putting Sarah right back in the spotlight. Everyone wants to know what really happened, most of all former Deputy Hudson, who is hell-bent on finding the truth.

But when the woman Bob slept with is reported missing, he and Sarah start to fight dirty, and a high-stakes game of cat and mouse ensues. Filled with page-turning suspense and Jeneva Rose's signature twists and turns, this sequel will have readers Can Bob and Sarah achieve the perfect divorce? Or will it be "'til death do us part"?

The Perfect Divorce is a thrilling read that can be enjoyed as a standalone, but a note for those intending to read The Perfect Marriage that this story reveals twists from that book.

What everyone is saying about The Perfect

'Even better than The Perfect Marriage!' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'This book was so ridiculously good!... I thought it was even better than the first. Dark, fast paced with constant twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Sarah is one savage character and I'm here for it!' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'If I could give it 6 stars, I totally would. This has been my favourite read in a very, very long time!' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'AHHHH!! I don't even know where to begin because this book was everything I could have wanted and more... Did I think I had it all figured out? Oh yes. Was I even close? Nope.' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'One SAVAGE!' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'Jeneva knocked this one out!!! I normally do not like the second books as much as the first, but this one I couldn't put down. Complete binge in one sitting. Wow!!!' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'INCREDIBLE' Reader Review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️]]> 277 Jeneva Rose 1398723649 Alana 0 to-read 4.22 2025 The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2)
author: Jeneva Rose
name: Alana
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Society of Lies 202102003 How far would you go to belong?

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion - it's been a decade since she graduated, and this visit is special because she will also be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.

But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on.

As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister's death, she begins to realise how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya's warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus - the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it.

Maya knows that her sister isn't the first person in the society to turn up dead. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past . . . and to the secret she's been keeping all these years.]]> 384 Lauren Ling Brown 059372335X Alana 0 to-read 3.48 2024 Society of Lies
author: Lauren Ling Brown
name: Alana
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery]]> 56179372 Set in Colonial New England, Slewfoot is a tale of magic and mystery, of triumph and terror as only dark fantasist Brom can tell it.

A spirited young Englishwoman, Abitha, arrives at a Puritan colony betrothed to a stranger � only to become quickly widowed when her husband dies under mysterious circumstances. All alone in this pious and patriarchal society, Abitha fights for what little freedom she can grasp onto, while trying to stay true to herself and her past.

Enter Slewfoot, a powerful spirit of antiquity newly woken ... and trying to find his own role in the world. Healer or destroyer? Protector or predator? But as the shadows walk and villagers start dying, a new rumor is whispered: Witch.

Both Abitha and Slewfoot must swiftly decide who they are, and what they must do to survive in a world intent on hanging any who meddle in the dark arts.

Complete with 8 pages of Brom’s mesmerizing full-color artwork and chapter illustrations throughout, his latest book is sure to delight.]]> 305 Brom 125062200X Alana 0 to-read 4.23 2021 Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
author: Brom
name: Alana
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> This Summer Will Be Different 197517090 This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different.

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.]]> 342 Carley Fortune 1405965460 Alana 3 contemporary
Carley Fortune always delivers the summer vibes and I LOVED the first half of this. The second half, however, just became so redundant and predictable. ]]> 4.08 2024 This Summer Will Be Different
author: Carley Fortune
name: Alana
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/13
date added: 2024/10/24
shelves: contemporary
review:
3.5 stars.

Carley Fortune always delivers the summer vibes and I LOVED the first half of this. The second half, however, just became so redundant and predictable.
]]> Drowning 60070034
More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.

Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent—Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife—who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.

There’s not much time.

There’s even less air.

With devastating emotional power and heart-stopping suspense, Drowning is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them—against impossible odds.

Flight attendant turned New York Times bestselling author T. J. Newman—whose first book Falling was an instant #1 national bestseller and the biggest thriller debut of 2021—returns for her second book, an edge-of-your-seat thriller about a commercial jetliner that crashes into the ocean, and sinks to the bottom with passengers trapped inside, and the extraordinary rescue operation to save them.]]> T.J. Newman 1398512915 Alana 4 thriller 3.99 2023 Drowning
author: T.J. Newman
name: Alana
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/28
date added: 2024/10/24
shelves: thriller
review:
Listening to this while having intense submechanophobia had my skin crawling and stress levels at an all time high. Still would recommend it though!
]]> All Rhodes Lead Here 57605091 572 Mariana Zapata Alana 0 to-read 4.24 2021 All Rhodes Lead Here
author: Mariana Zapata
name: Alana
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Assistant to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #1)]]> 123257687
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.]]> 342 Hannah Nicole Maehrer 1649375808 Alana 3 fantasy 3.88 2023 Assistant to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #1)
author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
name: Alana
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/19
date added: 2024/10/19
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) 204593914 Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game: Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart . . .]]> 497 Kaylie Smith 1538769255 Alana 0 to-read 4.05 2024 Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1)
author: Kaylie Smith
name: Alana
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Natural Selection 215950185
After a string of bad dates and no prospects, Sophia Othonos has finally hit the jackpot: an actual nice guy. When he suggests a romantic getaway, she’s sure they’re about to take the next step toward their future. A rustic cruise to the Galápagos Islands isn’t exactly her idea of a vacation, but Sophia is ready for anything…until her boyfriend has to cancel.

Now she’s all alone on a trip that was meant for two. Sophia finds herself at a crossroads about who she is, what she wants, and whether her relationship is really everything she thought. But if she’s going to suffer an identity crisis, at least she gets to do it amid the unexpected majesty of nature.

Eight days of wild, unobstructed beauty are enough to make anyone reevaluate their life. These islands are all about adapting to your surroundings—and change just might be what Sophia needs most of all.]]> 54 Elin Hilderbrand 1662521472 Alana 3 contemporary 3.63 2024 Natural Selection
author: Elin Hilderbrand
name: Alana
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/02
date added: 2024/10/15
shelves: contemporary
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Pumpkin Spice Café (Dream Harbor, #1)]]> 139391940 A spicy small-town romance and TikTok phenomenon, perfect for fans of Hannah Grace and Stephanie Archer.

When Jeanie's aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. But Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie's happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won't fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes�

The Pumpkin Spice Café is a cozy romantic mystery for fans of Gilmore Girls, with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

� grumpy x sunshine
� small town
� found family
� spicy]]> 373 Laurie Gilmore 0008610665 Alana 3 romance 3.5 stars 3.36 2023 The Pumpkin Spice Café (Dream Harbor, #1)
author: Laurie Gilmore
name: Alana
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/07
date added: 2024/10/15
shelves: romance
review:
3.5 stars
]]> Two Can Play 217108838
An enemies-to-lovers spicy romance set in the world of video gaming from the bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis—available only in audio!

Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.]]> 5 Ali Hazelwood Alana 3 romance 3.55 2024 Two Can Play
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Alana
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/13
date added: 2024/10/13
shelves: romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lights Out (Into Darkness, #1)]]> 201017011 “I don’t need another kink.�

That thought pops into my head whenever I pull up my favorite social media app, but alas, every time I scroll, I learn something new about myself, and another one is born. And yes, I know I’m responsible for what the algorithm shows me, but I’m trying to ignore that fact.

Lately, my feed has been dominated by masked men. I’ve favorited videos with them dressed in full cosplay, decked out in futuristic military apparel, and wrapped up like ghouls.

But more than anything else, my FYP is filled with shirtless men wearing ghost masks. Bonus points if they’re heavily tattooed, wielding a knife, or covered in fake blood. At night, I dream about being chased by them, of them catching me and doing deliciously dark things to my more than willing body.

I never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become my new reality.

Lights Out is a fast-paced dark romance with a morally grey male lead. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book. ]]> 338 Navessa Allen Alana 1 dark-romance 4.16 2024 Lights Out (Into Darkness, #1)
author: Navessa Allen
name: Alana
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 1
read at: 2024/10/07
date added: 2024/10/07
shelves: dark-romance
review:
I listened to it in three days but I’ll be cringing over this for the foreseeable future
]]> The Boyfriend 208503280 She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...

A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…]]> 368 Freida McFadden 1728296226 Alana 3 thriller 3.95 2024 The Boyfriend
author: Freida McFadden
name: Alana
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/02
date added: 2024/10/03
shelves: thriller
review:
This had a much slower start than usual for a Freida McFadden book but I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. I'll be the first to admit that I did not see the big twist coming at all and I was SHOCKED, however, I wasn't really a fan of the ending.
]]>