Shan's bookshelf: all en-US Fri, 02 May 2025 08:30:25 -0700 60 Shan's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 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 Shan 4 4.08 2023 None of This Is True
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Shan
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/02
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves:
review:
I actually have no idea what happened. I couldn’t tell you. I’m so confused.
]]> The Princess Knight 62792284 A princess desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart follows him to his kingdom's prestigious military academy—and in doing so, falls in love, saves the realm, and continues to look fabulous in this delightful debut fantasy.

Domhnall and Clía are an ideal match—or so everyone says. They are prince and princess of neighboring kingdoms. An alliance the gods will smile on. Until Domhnall ruins everything by refusing to propose.

Heartbroken but determined, Clía makes the perfect plan: Follow Domhnall to Caisleán Cósta, the military academy he’s attending. Show she can protect her kingdom. Secure the betrothal. Sure, the castle has a brutal reputation. But how hard can dueling really be?

Warrior Ronan promised himself he’d never lose his focus. He fought and sacrificed for his place at Caisleán Cósta, and he has no time for blonde princesses who waltz intro arenas like they’re attending a ball. Even if she and her otter-like pet are…well, cute.

He doesn’t want to be intrigued by Clía. But her hunger to prove herself is something he understands. He tells himself there’s no harm training her. Even if his heart does race around her. Even if Domhnall is his best friend.

But as they say, love is a battlefield—and unfortunately for them all, a very real war is looming on the horizon. It’s a fight that will threaten all their kingdoms…and test all their hearts. ]]> 400 Cait Jacobs 0063321157 Shan 0 to-read 3.99 2025 The Princess Knight
author: Cait Jacobs
name: Shan
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![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 Shan 0 to-read 4.65 2025 Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love, #2)
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Shan
average rating: 4.65
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)]]> 214619719 The final book in the Lakefront Billionaires series by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Asher.

LORENZO
Five months. Two people “in love�. One fake relationship with an expiration date.
Sounds simple enough.
The problem is, Lily Muñoz and I have history.
So, when she volunteers to date me so I can improve my public image, I should say no.
Our past complicates everything, but since my future depends on her, I agree to her plan.
Faking it for the public is expected, but falling in love in private?
That isn’t part of our arrangement.

LILY
Using a dating app sounded like a great idea, up until I discovered Lorenzo Vittori was my match.
My sister’s boyfriend hates him. My mom is wary of him.
And me? I’ve spent the last year avoiding him.
But when my business is threatened, I’m forced into teaming up with Lorenzo to save it.
All I need to do is help him win the mayoral election, and he promises to protect my shop.
It doesn’t take me long to learn that I’m not cut out for fake relationships, but Lorenzo?
He isn’t capable of a real one.]]> 0 Lauren Asher 1964990009 Shan 0 to-read 4.21 2025 Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)
author: Lauren Asher
name: Shan
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heart Strings (A Love in Galway, #2)]]> 221473129 A sizzling exes-to-lovers second- chance romance from the author of Morbidly Yours, the “sweet, spicy, and fabulous� (Abby Jimenez, #1 New York Times bestselling author) TikTok sensation

She doesn’t do second chances. But he's not done writing their song.

Cielo “Lo� Valdez doesn’t believe in second chances. Surviving cancer taught her life is too short to spend time on someone who wronged you. But Aidan O’Toole is determined to show her life is best spent together.

When the tough-as-nails Texan moved to Galway for medical school, she wasn’t looking for love. Aidan, a gorgeous, tattooed, mandolin-playing lawyer, slipped past her defenses. They each fell hard and fast. But when Aidan was given the opportunity of a lifetime—to move to London and record an album—he took it, breaking Lo's heart. Yet more than two years and a successful album later, every song he writes is still about her, the one he let get away. And every time Lo hears his voice on the radio singing about love, it’s an arrow straight to her soul.

Now they’re on a collision course as maid of honor and best man at a weekend-long Irish castle wedding. Are some mistakes worth forgiving? Can Aidan convince Lo their song wasn’t meant to end?]]> Ivy Fairbanks 0593851897 Shan 0 to-read 3.95 Heart Strings (A Love in Galway, #2)
author: Ivy Fairbanks
name: Shan
average rating: 3.95
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Daddy Issues: A Novel (Dial Delights)]]> 227912786 Sometimes love shows up where you least expect it—right next door.

A jaded twenty-something is stuck living at home, her life on pause, when a single dad becomes her new neighbor, and unexpectedly sets her life—and her heart—into motion in this modern love story from the bestselling author of You, Again.

At 26, Sam Pulaski expected to be thriving in her academic career, living on her own in some exciting city. Expectations, meet reality. She has massive student loans from studying art history, a dead-end service industry job, a situationship that’s equal parts intoxicating and toxic. And she’s been crashing in her mom’s condo—at least it’s not a basement?—for the last five years. If she can finally get accepted into a PhD program and get out of Ohio, the adult life that’s been on hold for half her twenties will finally begin. 

Her mom’s new neighbor, Nick, is the ultimate grownup. His adult life began the moment his nine-year-old daughter, Kira, was born. Her happiness is Nick’s only priority, especially in the wake of divorce. There’s nothing he won’t do for Kira–including giving up his globetrotting career for something more stable…like managing a chain restaurant. 

Sam has zero interest in an ultra-dependable guy pushing forty; frankly, she’s a little afraid of kids. But with just one thin wall separating the two condos, Nick proves difficult to avoid. His quiet confidence forces Sam to grapple with the other men in her her emotionally derelict friend-with-benefits and her actually-derelict father. As her unexpected connection with Nick heats up (and steams up his minivan windows), Sam finds herself falling fast for a man whose life is steady and settled–while hers is anything but.]]> 352 Kate Goldbeck 059373081X Shan 0 to-read 3.67 Daddy Issues: A Novel (Dial Delights)
author: Kate Goldbeck
name: Shan
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Good Spirits (Ghosted, #1) 222279220 “Good Spirits is an absolute knockout. A new Borison book feels like coming home in the best way. She's truly in a league of her own.� � Hannah Grace, New York Times bestselling author of Icebreaker

The USA Today bestselling author of Business Casual, B.K. Borison is back with a whimsical new holiday romance—this time with a magical twist—that will have everyone falling in love with the Ghost of Christmas Past.

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together� and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm, this swoony romance is B.K. Borison’s best yet!]]> 384 B.K. Borison 0063430401 Shan 0 to-read 4.61 2025 Good Spirits (Ghosted, #1)
author: B.K. Borison
name: Shan
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Dominicana 43263696
As the Dominican Republic slides into political turmoil, Juan returns to protect his family’s assets, leaving Cesar to take care of Ana. Suddenly, Ana is free to take English lessons at a local church, lie on the beach at Coney Island, see a movie at Radio City Music Hall, go dancing with Cesar, and imagine the possibility of a different kind of life in America. When Juan returns, Ana must decide once again between her heart and her duty to her family.]]> 323 Angie Cruz 125020593X Shan 0 to-read 4.09 2019 Dominicana
author: Angie Cruz
name: Shan
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Flatshare 48715812 here.

Tiffy and Leon share an apartment. Tiffy and Leon have never met.

After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap.

Desperation makes her open-minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night-shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll be there only when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.

Of course, since they live together, sometimes they do need to share information. Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes—first about what day is garbage day, then politely establishing which leftovers are up for grabs and debating the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Soon, they're sharing details of their lives: their work, their families, their romances. And it's amazing how much they learn about their flatmate just by sharing a space.

Even though they are complete opposites, Tiffy and Leon soon become friends. And then maybe more.

But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea . . . especially if you've never met. What happens when you finally bump into each other?

A joyful, quirky romantic comedy, The Flatshare is a feel-good novel about finding love in the most unexpected of places—under the same roof.]]> 328 Beth O'Leary 1250295637 Shan 3 3.98 2019 The Flatshare
author: Beth O'Leary
name: Shan
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2020/10/01
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves:
review:

]]> Unromance 212924099 not a meet-cute but a chance encounter with a charming man whom she will sleep with exactly once and go on her way. Easy enough...until she runs into him again at a Christmas market straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie. ]]> 343 Erin Connor 153875942X Shan 0 to-read 3.78 2025 Unromance
author: Erin Connor
name: Shan
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Sky Beyond the Storm (An Ember in the Ashes, #4)]]> 213075289 Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?

Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...

The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.

By his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.

Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory--or to an unimaginable doom.

And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life--and love--he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save--or destroy--all that he knows.]]> 544 Sabaa Tahir 044849454X Shan 0 to-read 4.23 2020 A Sky Beyond the Storm (An Ember in the Ashes, #4)
author: Sabaa Tahir
name: Shan
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2020
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/21
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]]> <![CDATA[A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes, #3)]]> 213075365 BOOK THREE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES
An Entertainment Weekly Summer Reads pick and New York Times bestseller!

Beyond the Martial Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.
Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is desperate to protect her sister's life and the lives of everyone in the Empire. But she knows that danger lurks on all sides: Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable and violent, while Keris Veturia, the ruthless Commandant, capitalizes on the Emperor's volatility to grow her own power--regardless of the carnage she leaves in her path.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But in the hunt to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would help her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she'd have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that demands his complete surrender--even if that means abandoning the woman he loves.]]> 480 Sabaa Tahir 0448494515 Shan 0 to-read 4.04 2018 A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes, #3)
author: Sabaa Tahir
name: Shan
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2018
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)]]> 213075476 This is an alternative cover edition for ISBN-13: 9781595148049.

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.]]> 480 Sabaa Tahir 1595148043 Shan 0 to-read 4.18 2015 An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)
author: Sabaa Tahir
name: Shan
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2015
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2)]]> 213075405 Elias and Laia are running for their lives.

After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars' survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus's will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape...and kill them both.]]> 460 Sabaa Tahir 110199889X Shan 0 to-read 4.18 2016 A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2)
author: Sabaa Tahir
name: Shan
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2016
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Heir (Heir Duology, #1) 206780522 An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.

And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she's willing to give up.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives―and their hearts. Literally.]]> 484 Sabaa Tahir 0593616944 Shan 0 to-read 4.24 2024 Heir (Heir Duology, #1)
author: Sabaa Tahir
name: Shan
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, #1)]]> 203956681 NATIONAL BESTSELLER � An exiled princess teams up with the last man she thought she could trust in the start of a dazzling and unforgettable epic fantasy romance series.

As a child, Elowen Atarah was ripped away from her dragons and imprisoned by her father, King Garrick of Imirath. Years later, Elowen is now a woman determined to free her dragons. Having established a secret kingdom of her own called Aestilian, she’s ready to do what’s necessary to save her people and seek vengeance. Even if that means having to align herself with the Commander of Vareveth, Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms of Ravaryn.

Cayden is ruthless, lethal, and secretive, promising to help Elowen if she will stand with him and all of Vareveth in the pending war against Imirath. Despite their contrasting motives, Elowen can’t ignore their undeniable attraction as they combine their efforts and plot to infiltrate the impenetrable castle of Imirath to steal back her dragons and seek revenge on their common enemy.

As the world tries to keep them apart, the pull between Elowen and Cayden becomes impossible to resist. Working together with their crew over clandestine schemes, the threat of war looms, making the imminent heist to free her dragons their most dangerous adventure yet. But for Elowen, her vengeance is a promise signed in blood, and she’ll stop at nothing to see that promise through.

An immersive fantasy filled with a sizzling reluctant-allies-to-lovers romance, a world to get lost in, dangerous quests, dragon bonds, and an entertaining band of characters to root for, Fear the Flames marks the stunning debut of Olivia Rose Darling.]]> 384 Olivia Rose Darling 0593873890 Shan 0 currently-reading 3.76 2022 Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, #1)
author: Olivia Rose Darling
name: Shan
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune, #2)]]> 101138075
Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the second book in the captivating Foul Lady Fortune duology following an immortal assassin in 1930s Shanghai as she races to save her country and her love.]]> 560 Chloe Gong 1665905611 Shan 0 to-read 4.33 2023 Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune, #2)
author: Chloe Gong
name: Shan
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2023
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune, #1)]]> 57190453
It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.]]> 528 Chloe Gong Shan 0 to-read 4.22 2022 Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune, #1)
author: Chloe Gong
name: Shan
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2022
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: to-read
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]]> Thorn Season 222006772
Alissa Paine, heiress of a noble lineage, daughter of a Hunter family... is also a Wielder. As she approaches her 18th Season, Alissa knows she has escaped execution so far only through painful self-control, and the fragile efforts of her beloved father. Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of hidden intentions—and between two equally dangerous men. One is a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairytale prince, who would see her destroyed in an instant if the truth were known—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but Alissa knows that survival will depend on being the most vicious of the thorns.]]> Kiera Azar Shan 0 to-read 4.53 Thorn Season
author: Kiera Azar
name: Shan
average rating: 4.53
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Tales of Arcana Fortune 228225552 Seven nights, Seven tales

Young healer Serena Rose has always dreamed of fairytales, but the chances of finding true love living alone in the a cottage by the wood are� slim. Instead, she spends her days chasing down mischievous woodland critters, brewing tonics, and taking care of her family's ancient records of fairytales, many of which have been outlawed in the kingdom of Lumina where she resides.

However her quiet life is upended when she is approached by a dark haired stranger searching for a book in her family’s collection, The Tales of Arcana Fortune. In between searching for more information on the book, and fighting their budding attraction, they accidentally free a malicious immortal sealed with an ancient spell.

Cursed to be trapped in a different fairytale each night, Serena must find a way through her trials all the while trying not to lose her life, her freedom, and her heart.
]]> Hafsa.A. Jawad Shan 0 to-read 4.40 The Tales of Arcana Fortune
author: Hafsa.A. Jawad
name: Shan
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/06
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]]> <![CDATA[Wildwood Dancing (Wildwood, #1)]]> 13929
But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he's there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena's sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom--an impossible union it's up to Jena to stop.

When Cezar's grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can't imagine--tests of trust, strength, and true love.]]> 407 Juliet Marillier 0375833641 Shan 0 to-read 4.10 2006 Wildwood Dancing (Wildwood, #1)
author: Juliet Marillier
name: Shan
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2006
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/06
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review:

]]> The Neverending Story 27712
The story begins with a lonely boy named Bastian and the strange book that draws him into the beautiful but doomed world of Fantastica. Only a human can save this enchanted place by giving its ruler, the Childlike Empress, a new name. But the journey to her tower leads through lands of dragons, giants, monsters, and magic, and once Bastian begins his quest, he may never return. As he is drawn deeper into Fantastica, he must find the courage to face unspeakable foes and the mysteries of his own heart.

Readers, too, can travel to the wondrous, unforgettable world of Fantastica if they will just turn the page...]]> 396 Michael Ende 0525457585 Shan 0 to-read 4.16 1979 The Neverending Story
author: Michael Ende
name: Shan
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1979
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Heartless 18584855 Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.]]> 453 Marissa Meyer 1250044650 Shan 0 to-read 4.10 2016 Heartless
author: Marissa Meyer
name: Shan
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom, #1)]]> 60788099 Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.

To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.

The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.

Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi.]]> 528 Tahereh Mafi 0062972456 Shan 0 3.98 2022 This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom, #1)
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: Shan
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/03
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves:
review:
DNFing at 35%. I cannot do 4 books of a love triangle.
]]> 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 Shan 0 to-read 3.76 2025 Our Infinite Fates
author: Laura Steven
name: Shan
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
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]]> <![CDATA[Drowned in the Name of Love (Piracy for Lovers, #1)]]> 222014486
The tragic murder of her father, the famed Pirate King - and the revolutionary waves it left behind - bound Donna Balboa to a life of privilege within the oppressive walls of Tidia’s court. For years, she’s felt trapped in the place she once called home, secretly breaking a forbidden law that keeps nobles from the shore and ships from the sea. Yet each night, she risks everything to chase her only dream: to sail the seas as a pirate, just as her father once did.

But the call of the waves is undeniable, whispering of something greater beyond the horizon. And after years of praying to the heavens, an unexpected twist shatters what should have been the most important day of her life, entangling her with the crew of a notorious ship - and its infamous, wanted captain. A captain haunted by a past that even the Gods seem unwilling to forgive, and as their bond deepens, so do the nightmares and omens that threaten to expose secrets which could doom any chance at what Donna believes could be love.
Pursued by Kingdoms for embracing the pirate code, Donna Balboa must navigate treacherous waters, caught in tides of vengeance and ancient mysteries. When she discovers she holds the key to unlocking a power the Gods themselves seem to fear, Donna must decide where her true allegiance lies.

BUT THE GODS AND THE SEAS ARE FICKLE, AND LOVE, VENGEANCE, AND SURVIVAL DON’T ALWAYS SAIL THE SAME COURSE.

Pirates of the Caribbean meets Once Upon a Broken Heart in this spellbinding romantic fantasy of adventure, curses, betrayal, and forbidden love on the high seas.]]> 481 Rut S. DĂ­az 8409675951 Shan 5 4.41 Drowned in the Name of Love (Piracy for Lovers, #1)
author: Rut S. DĂ­az
name: Shan
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves:
review:
Piracy is indeed for the lovers. For those who aren’t afraid to dip their feet in the frigid waters of the universe. For those who dream, big and bright and aren’t afraid to go after what they want.❤️�
]]> <![CDATA[Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (Aristotle and Dante, #2)]]> 56980548 Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, two boys in a border town fell in love. Now, they must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence.

Ari has spent all of high school burying who he really is, staying silent and invisible. He expected his senior year to be the same. But something in him cracked open when he fell in love with Dante, and he can’t go back. Suddenly he finds himself reaching out to new friends, standing up to bullies of all kinds, and making his voice heard. And, always, there is Dante, dreamy, witty Dante, who can get on Ari’s nerves and fill him with desire all at once.

The boys are determined to forge a path for themselves in a world that doesn’t understand them. But when Ari is faced with a shocking loss, he’ll have to fight like never before to create a life that is truthfully, joyfully his own.

The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an achingly romantic, tender tale sure to captivate fans of Adam Silvera and Mary H.K. Choi.]]> 516 Benjamin Alire Sáenz 153449619X Shan 0 to-read 4.11 2021 Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (Aristotle and Dante, #2)
author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz
name: Shan
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Idol Effect 222132446
SAILOR PARK is South Korea’s golden boy, known for his flawless image and mesmerizing voice. But he’s been on hiatus since a tragic scandal. Idol life has left him jaded and weary, though he keeps his struggles hidden behind a practiced smile. A master in the art of performing. But from the moment he meets Katayi, her unfiltered authenticity shatters the mask of the facade he’s built.

Katayi and Sailor have to spend the entirety of the holiday together, but everyone knows that things get uglier up close. Sailor has a secret and Katayi isn't telling the whole truth, and the matter of the fact is that things haven't been the same since that summer. They aren't the same people they used to be. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here, we have to go back to where it began, somewhere off the coast where two worlds collided.]]> M.C. Sakala Shan 0 to-read 3.65 The Idol Effect
author: M.C. Sakala
name: Shan
average rating: 3.65
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Immortal 211642122 A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

“What the gods did not give us, I would take.�

As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.

Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.

But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal� even if it means losing her heart.]]> 464 Sue Lynn Tan 0063267616 Shan 0 to-read 3.88 2025 Immortal
author: Sue Lynn Tan
name: Shan
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/17
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]]> People Watching 222684223 In this sexy and emotional romance from the acclaimed author of Out of the Woods and Out on a Limb, a small-town woman’s journey to spread her wings intertwines with the arrival of an adventurous newcomer who brings out the best in her.

Prudence Welch has found solace in her introverted life in Baysville, a charming tourist town in Northern Ontario. Despite once dreaming of a life beyond its borders, she now finds contentment in her working at her father’s gas station, writing poetry, and caring for her mother, who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's shortly after Prue’s nineteenth birthday. But as her mother’s condition worsens and her father’s concerns about her future intensify, Prue feels her world slipping further out of control.

Enter Milo Kablukov, an enigmatic wanderer whose beat-up van covered with ill-advised bumper stickers rolls into town just when Prue needs a change. It’s all too easy to let go with him, and Prue can’t help but strike up an unlikely friendship with Milo, which leads to a wild and sexy agreement between them.

Milo, a man of many adventures and countless stories, is not one to settle down. However, his brother’s urgent need for help has brought him to Baysville, and now the intriguing Prue has given him more reason to stay. Especially once they start spending more time together, their chemistry intensifying, and casual-sex lessons start at Prue’s request.

But as their temporary arrangement blossoms into something deeper, Prue and Milo discover that getting out of their comfort zones is one thing . . . taking that leap together is something else entirely.]]> Hannah Bonam-Young 0593871898 Shan 0 to-read 4.19 2025 People Watching
author: Hannah Bonam-Young
name: Shan
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/14
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Fortunate Misfortune (Clear Lake #1)]]> 210623011
Until it suddenly isn’t. On top of grieving the loss of her father, a crumbling relationship with her mother, and a recent type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Mallory realizes her perfectly constructed plans are at risk of unraveling if she doesn’t find an internship by the end of her junior year. And of course, the one thing standing between Mallory and a secured future is Kenneth Gray.

Kenneth Gray, a former nationally ranked swimmer, is everything Mallory isn’t. The neutral to her vibrant. The spontaneous to her rigid. The only sparks that fly between them aren’t the good kind, which is why it might be best they’re nothing more than rivals.

But Kenneth has a secret. Unbeknownst to Mallory, the game they created together, the Brain Bowl, is at risk of ending. In one semester, Kenneth must not only secure his own future, but also find a way to keep Mallory in his life. Outside of their game.

Suddenly, the line between rivals and something more seems thinner than ever before.]]> 386 Miah Onsha Shan 0 to-read 4.24 Fortunate Misfortune (Clear Lake #1)
author: Miah Onsha
name: Shan
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Wicked 219231659 Alternative cover edition of ISBN 9781035421060

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

]]> 512 Gregory Maguire Shan 0 to-read 3.11 1995 Wicked
author: Gregory Maguire
name: Shan
average rating: 3.11
book published: 1995
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/09
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review:

]]> Restore Me 59970541 Dominic Alexander is my late husband's best friend and the last man on Earth that I should want. He's arrogant, dismissive, and up until recently has only ever used those dark eyes of his to look right through me. For the last twelve years, he's taken a sick pleasure in making me feel paper thin, like my entire existence is of no consequence to him at all.

But now, things are different.

After one drunken night, and a surprisingly sexy act of heroism, he's started to be...nice. Treating me like something other than the physical embodiment of his annoyance, which would be nice if it didn't make me feel all the things I swore to never feel for another man after my husband died.


Dominic
Sloane Kent is going to be my undoing.

What's worse: I think I'm going to enjoy being unravelled by the gold flecks in her hazel eyes and the adorable little way she scrunches her nose up when we're arguing, which we've done a lot of over the past decade. She thinks it's because I hate her, and I've always let her think that because the alternative is...untenable.

But something is changing between us, and I don't know how to stop myself from breaking every promise I've ever made to myself regarding my best friend's wife. Promises that include never telling her that there's a long list of things I feel about her, but hate isn't one of them.]]> 490 J.L. Seegars Shan 0 currently-reading 4.15 2022 Restore Me
author: J.L. Seegars
name: Shan
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Man of the Year (The Brown Brothers Book 1)]]> 221354439
Zara Lyles is the hood Barbie that’s all about her family. She does what needs to be done for them to survive all while keeping a certain elegance. As usual, she has it all together without the help of a man.

They are two individuals from two different worlds that find a good time in each other. Obsession is another form of love in their eyes.]]> 189 Connie Easton Shan 0 4.31 Man of the Year (The Brown Brothers Book 1)
author: Connie Easton
name: Shan
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves:
review:
Crazy. Psychopath. Bat shit crazy. You name it. Xander was all the above. I don’t even know what to rate this book
]]> <![CDATA[The Official Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book]]> 220447128 256-Page Hardcover Book
Over 500 images, including never-before-seen performance photos from every era
In addition, exclusive rehearsal photos and behind-the-scenes images of instruments, costumes, set pieces and designer sketches]]> 256 Taylor Swift Shan 5 Lover 4.88 2024 The Official Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book
author: Taylor Swift
name: Shan
average rating: 4.88
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves:
review:
Lover
]]> The Art and Making of Arcane 216736098 Filled with gorgeous illustrations and concept art from the hit Netflix series, The Art and Making of Arcane is an immersive journey behind the scenes of the Emmy Award-winning Animated Series!

The Art and Making of Arcane takes readers through the visual journey of Riot Games� and Fortiche's revolutionary animated series. Featuring early art styles, evolving character designs, and jaw-dropping worldbuilding artwork, this volume is the definitive compendium of Arcane’s creative process and vision.

Arcane and League of Legends fans alike will be amazed by the visual development of fan-favorite champions, the breathtaking cityscapes of Piltover and Zaun, and the riveting inventions of hextech and Shimmer.

This book includes early designs showing how characters evolved visually, gorgeous vistas of sprawling background and setting art, and interviews with over 20 key animators, writers, directors, artists, game designers, musicians, and other creators.

EXCLUSIVE ACETATE The Art and Making of Arcane comes with an acetate jacket exclusive to this edition.

IN-WORLD This stunning tome will also come with a trove of in-world extras. All editions of the book will include a Jinx poster, a removable map of Piltover, an in-world blueprint, a Vander Letter, fold-out spreads showcasing content from seasons one and two, and more.

ORIGINAL Features beautiful, never-before-seen concept art that helped adapt the global blockbuster video game into a critically acclaimed animated series.

EXCLUSIVE Hear from the development teams at Riot Games and Fortiche on the groundbreaking process that brought the world of Runeterra into the cinematic limelight.

GO BEHIND THE Filled with both behind-the-scenes looks at the inspiration and iteration of the people and places in Arcane, breakdowns of key scenes, and a deep dive into Fortiche’s artisanal animation style, The Art and Making of Arcane chronicles the incredible work and talent that went into crafting such a dynamic and instantly iconic series.]]> 224 Elisabeth Vincentelli Shan 0 to-read 4.79 2024 The Art and Making of Arcane
author: Elisabeth Vincentelli
name: Shan
average rating: 4.79
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> This Could Be Forever 220160335 This compelling and complex romance about love across cultures follows a Black girl and Brown boy who find themselves—and each other—while pursuing their passions the summer before college.

Deja’s got a plan. The first in her large family to go to college, she wants to study chemistry and sell natural skin care products, like the ones she already creates from plants grown on her family’s North Carolina farm. It all starts with the Onward Bound summer program at the University of Maryland, the summer before school officially starts.

Raja’s got a dream. His traditional Nepali parents want him to study engineering and settle down in an arranged marriage, but his passion is art, and he wants to open his own tattoo parlor one day. In the meantime, he’s apprenticing at a tattoo shop in College Park, Maryland.

When Deja walks into the shop where Raja’s working, they both start crushing hard—over the course of the summer, they fall more and more deeply for one another. But the closer they get and the more their lives entwine, the more they find that dating someone who doesn’t match your parents� expectations is harder than they ever imagined.

Can they bridge the divide between the vision their families have for their futures and the lives—and love—that are starting to feel like destiny?]]> 384 Ebony LaDelle 1665948671 Shan 0 to-read 4.23 This Could Be Forever
author: Ebony LaDelle
name: Shan
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy, #1)]]> 221179254 This beautiful DELUXE EDITION hardcover featuring gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled art is only available for a limited first print run and while supplies last. This is a stunning special edition you will want to add to your collection.

YOUR NEXT ROMANTASY OBSESSION!

The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.

Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, Briony Rosewood knows that the world as she knows it is changed forever. The dark forces of Bomard have won and her people, the Eversuns, face imminent servitude, imprisonment or death. Her brother, fated to be heir twice over and unite the warring kingdoms, is dead.

Stripped of her Mind Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly auctioned off to the highest bidders in an auction � and as the heir-apparent’s sister, she fetches the highest price.

After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven a high ranking Bomardsun � and her long-time and ill-fated infatuation. Scion of a family known for their cruel control of Heart Magic, the Hearsts are ruthlessly ambitious, and Briony knows they will use her however they can to further their own interests.

Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help � and hope � may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…]]> 464 Julie Soto 1538771225 Shan 0 to-read 4.54 2025 Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy, #1)
author: Julie Soto
name: Shan
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> You, Again 75665887 Can they stop hating each other long enough to fall in love?

A commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again--until heartbreak and unexpected chemistry bring them together in this clever enemies-to-friends-to-lovers debut romance.

When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.

A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.

Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they're both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you're too sad to hate each other--and too sad for hate sex.

As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other's online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It's better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .

With sharp observations and sizzling chemistry, You, Again explores the dynamics of co-ed friendship in this sparkling romantic comedy of modern love in all its forms.]]> 448 Kate Goldbeck 059344812X Shan 5
“If we would’ve met in some other timeline, I couldn’t have gone back to my life like nothing happened. You would’ve fucking ruined me.�

I am diseased.]]> 3.55 2023 You, Again
author: Kate Goldbeck
name: Shan
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/14
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves:
review:
4.5 â­ď¸Ź

“If we would’ve met in some other timeline, I couldn’t have gone back to my life like nothing happened. You would’ve fucking ruined me.�

I am diseased.
]]> Time Loops & Meet Cutes 220161319 The “masterful, inspiring, and full of heart� (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) Jackie Lau returns with a thoroughly unique love story about a woman reliving the same Friday over and over again—and the intriguing man who can’t quite remember her.

Noelle Tom really shouldn’t have eaten those dumplings at the night market. But the old lady at the stall said they’d give her what she needed most, and what Noelle desperately needed after another long workweek was food.

Except now she’s reliving the same Friday over and over. Every morning her alarm goes off at 6:45 no matter what, the Wordle answer is always “happy,� and she watches a silly squirrel video go viral day after day. And no matter how much she works on the same proposal, it’s always erased when she wakes up. It seems Monday will never come in this workaholic’s worst nightmare.

Noelle has no idea how being trapped in a time loop is the “thing she needed most,� especially now that everything seems meaningless. Sure, three fancy meals in a row is a fun treat, but it’s getting repetitive. Noelle’s not sure what lesson the old lady was trying to impart. Even a trip to the dumpling stall doesn’t help…because there’s no sign of it.

But then she meets a young woman who also ate the dumplings, and good-looking Cam, who appears in multiple places on her Friday. While he seems to have no memory of their encounters, there are signs he might be the key to getting un-stuck. But Noelle will have to put work aside and live a little in order to make him notice her. As their flirtation progresses, Noelle begins to worry that if she ever gets to turn the calendar page, Cam won’t know who she is and her life may never return to what it was before that fateful Friday…]]> 352 Jackie Lau 1668030799 Shan 0 to-read 3.98 2025 Time Loops & Meet Cutes
author: Jackie Lau
name: Shan
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway, #1)]]> 123853225
Lark Thompson would rather get crushed by a falling anvil than stay next to a funeral home during her stay in Galway, Ireland. The vivacious American cartoon creator and animator came here to embrace life, not be reminded of losing her husband.

When Lark learns of Callum’s dilemma and aversion to marrying out of necessity rather than love, she agrees to help the introverted mortician. Although sworn off love herself, she is optimistic that Callum can find The One and secure his inheritance.

But as the dating project progresses and their friendship grows, so does a mutual attraction. The more time she spends with serious, sarcastic Callum, the more she dreads finding him a match. And the more disastrous dates he endures, the more he dreads Lark’s imminent return to the states.

If they think it’s possible to ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.]]> 328 Ivy Fairbanks Shan 0 to-read 3.86 2023 Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway, #1)
author: Ivy Fairbanks
name: Shan
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2023
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Ghosts of You and Me 208505489
In most ways, Larkspur Island is just like every other beach vacation destination.

Except, there are ghosts too. Alleged ones, anyway.

As the daughter of Larkspur’s local ghost enthusiast and ghost tour operator, no one knows the island’s haunted history better than Sage Murray. And while she isn’t a believer herself, she has no choice but to make it her life in order to keep her family’s livelihood afloat. She’s accepted the hand she’s been dealt, and is determined to make the most of it.

Until Dawson Aiken comes back into town. How can an old enemy turned flame that she hasn’t seen in ten years suddenly make her question everything?

What happens when the past comes back to meddle with the present?

There are some ghosts you have no choice but to believe in.]]> Miranda Valentine Shan 0 to-read 4.83 2023 Ghosts of You and Me
author: Miranda Valentine
name: Shan
average rating: 4.83
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Code Word Romance 214986181 Don't miss the next hilarious and gorgeously romantic romcom from Carlie Walker - out March 2025!
________

Two exes. One mission. A trip she'll never forget...

Max is just your average girl. She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt and just happens to have an uncanny resemblance to Europe's youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen . . .

So when the prime minister receives a credible death threat, the CIA approaches Max with a a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister's annual Italian trip.

It would be a dream if it weren't for those pesky assassins and Flynn, Max's ridiculously hot handler - the man who broke her heart years and years ago.

With her life now on the line, Max knows she has no choice but to lose herself in the role. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that's a risk that she isn't willing to take . . .

Red, White and Royal Blue meets Emily Henry in this opposites-attract, fake-dating romcom. Perfect for fans of Katherine Center and Ali Hazelwood.]]> 320 Carlie Walker 0593640411 Shan 0 to-read 3.86 Code Word Romance
author: Carlie Walker
name: Shan
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent]]> 197993505
Memorably introduced by Ishiguro himself, The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain collects the lyrics of sixteen songs he wrote for world-renowned American singer Stacey Kent, which were set to music by her partner, Jim Tomlinson. An exquisite coming together of the literary and musical worlds, the lyrics are infused with a sense of yearning, melancholy, love, and the romance of travel and liminal spaces.

Further exploring the notion of collaboration and interpretation, the collection is illustrated by the acclaimed Italian artist Bianca Bagnarelli, whose work perfectly captures the atmosphere and sensibility of the songs.]]> 98 Kazuo Ishiguro 0593802519 Shan 3 3.78 2024 The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent
author: Kazuo Ishiguro
name: Shan
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
Random grab at B&N because the cover pulled me in. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful, my favorite ones were postcard lovers, and the summer we crossed Europe in the rain. Song lyrics as stories
]]> <![CDATA[The Rule Book (The Cheat Sheet, #2)]]> 182484354 College exes break all the rules when they reunite years later in this enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, the highly anticipated companion novel to the viral TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet.

Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender, who happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it has come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent, and he’s holding a grudge.

Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh, he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is simple: make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.

Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship save their careers and spark the romance of a lifetime?]]> 356 Sarah Adams 0593723678 Shan 4 3.88 2024 The Rule Book (The Cheat Sheet, #2)
author: Sarah Adams
name: Shan
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/11
date added: 2024/12/21
shelves:
review:
I know books with low stakes, low drama, (and sometimes closed door, slow burn, little spice) are not for everyone, but they are for me. Sarah Adams is an auto buy author for me now. This was the sweetest, funniest book, and I simply couldn’t put it down.
]]> How to End a Love Story 63247365
“Emotional, relatable and binge-worthy." –Tessa Bailey

“I’ll read anything she writes. An absolute star." –Emily Henry

“I was hooked on the very first page. Don't miss this one!" � Carley Fortune

Two writers with a complicated history end up working on the same TV show. Can they write themselves a new ending? A sexy and emotional enemies-to-lovers romance guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings and give you a book hangover from brilliant new voice Yulin Kuang

Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.

Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. She’s even scored a coveted spot in the writers� room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writer’s block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there. Except�

Grant has done everything in his power to move on from the past, including building a life across the country. And while the panic attacks have never quite gone away, he’s well liked around town as a screenwriter. He knows he shouldn’t have taken the job on Helen’s show, but it will open doors to developing his own projects that he just can’t pass up.

Grant’s exactly as Helen remembers him—charming, funny, popular, and lovable in ways that she’s never been. And Helen’s exactly as Grant remembers too—brilliant, beautiful, closed off. But working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helen’s parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea he’s in the picture at all.

When secrets come to light, they must reckon with the fact that theirs was never meant to be any kind of love story. And yet� the key to making peace with their past—and themselves—might just lie in holding on to each other in the present.]]> 384 Yulin Kuang Shan 5
“I love the parts of you I haven’t even met yet.�

FUCKKKKKKKKK]]> 3.61 2024 How to End a Love Story
author: Yulin Kuang
name: Shan
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/09
date added: 2024/12/09
shelves:
review:
ABSOLUTELY AND UTTERLY DESTROYED.

“I love the parts of you I haven’t even met yet.�

FUCKKKKKKKKK
]]> 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.
â€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 Shan 4
- 911 what is your emergency?
- yes, hi. I need a doctor
- are you in need of medical attention? We are sending an ambulance
- no, I need � Dr. Darling �

How was this my VERY FIRST Lauren Asher book?? And how come you guys didn’t tell me about her pen game??? I feel betrayed.

I ADOREDDDDDDD this novella. Miss Asher, I’m gonna need at least 200 more pages pretty please ]]> 3.72 2024 My December Darling
author: Lauren Asher
name: Shan
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves:
review:
â­ď¸Źâ­ď¸Źâ­ď¸Źâ­ď¸Ź.5

- 911 what is your emergency?
- yes, hi. I need a doctor
- are you in need of medical attention? We are sending an ambulance
- no, I need � Dr. Darling �

How was this my VERY FIRST Lauren Asher book?? And how come you guys didn’t tell me about her pen game??? I feel betrayed.

I ADOREDDDDDDD this novella. Miss Asher, I’m gonna need at least 200 more pages pretty please
]]> <![CDATA[A Tale of Love and Curses (A Tale of Love and Curses Duology, #1)]]> 219541242 Princess Davina is locked in within the stone walls of her castle, cursed and destined to meet her demise on her 21st birthday.

Fate has different plans when Prince Cole arrives on that very day, insisting on whisking her away to his palace, claiming it will protect her from the curse.

Unaware of his intentions and wary of his notorious reputation, Princess Davina would rather face death than be taken away and locked up again.

Despite her reluctance, his message is clear—she has no choice.

Thrust into a world of secrets and revelations unknown to her, Davina discovers that Cole's mission is more than mere protection. He needs her help to defeat the very woman who cursed her.

As Davina struggles with her mistrust of Cole, he is haunted by his own demons and finds his growing feelings for Davina complicating his mission.

With danger looming and Cole’s initial plan unraveling, their courage, loyalty, and growing connection will be tested in ways neither could have foreseen�forcing them to discover if they can withstand the forces threatening to tear them apart.



*Please note: A Tale of Love and Curses contains depictions of graphic violence/adult situations and is therefore recommended for readers 17+]]> 409 Laura J. Robert Shan 5 3.91 A Tale of Love and Curses (A Tale of Love and Curses Duology, #1)
author: Laura J. Robert
name: Shan
average rating: 3.91
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/05
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves:
review:
Cole, Cole, Cole. The most pathetically, on the floor, down bad man I’ve seen TO DATE. God what a ride!!! This book was such a joy from start to finish. Davina was a brat, and a smart ass, and her attitude pissed me off sometimes, but I love her so much. I wanna protect her at all costs! AND COLEEEEE,
]]> <![CDATA[Passenger Princess (Evergreen Park, #1)]]> 216657877
Who knew applying to be the next Miss Americana while you’re drunk on tequila would actually
get anywhere? But that’s exactly what happened to Ava when she wanted an excuse to promote her best friends� new businesses. She never even expected to get past the first round of auditions, much less win the beauty pageant, and now here she is, wearing a silk sash and a crown on her head, trying to picture what the next three months is going to look like. As the newly crowned Miss Americana, she’s off on a three-month press tour, visiting all 50 states as part of her contract.

For a girl who loves adventure, it’s a dream come true, except for two hiccups. The first one being the morality clause and long list of rules the organization is forcing her to live by while wearing the crown. And second, and probably the worst one, is the delicious sexy, yet grumpy driver-slash-bodyguard assigned to keep her in line.

Jaime normally spends his days as head of security for the world-famous rock band Atlas Oaks, but when they take a break from touring, he’s excited for a change of pace. Until he learns his new assignment is the gorgeous and ever-frustrating pageant princess who gets under his skin in more ways than one.

When he learns Ava has made it her mission to drive him crazy—by constantly looking for a new hit of endorphins by toeing the line as well as by flirting with him endlessly—he realizes what he thought would be a simple assignment is anything but. Now if only he can survive the next ninety days keeping his hands to himself and off the woman he can’t get out of his head.]]> 324 Morgan Elizabeth Shan 0 to-read 3.75 2024 Passenger Princess (Evergreen Park, #1)
author: Morgan Elizabeth
name: Shan
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![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 Shan 0 to-read 3.92 2024 The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
author: Ally Carter
name: Shan
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Love Simulation 214268995 A passionate vice principal and a guarded science teacher compete for a grand prize, only to realize their budding relationship might be the real jackpot.

Brianna Rogers has been told a time (or six) she needs to stop jumping into things head first. But when the principal rescinds his approval for a library upgrade, deciding to spend the money on a football field instead, she sees red. Literally. Brianna throws her hat in the ring and joins a team of teachers who will spend their summer in a Mars simulation. As the sister of an astronaut, this should be easy, right? What she didn’t count on was the last-minute addition to the team—Roman: science teacher, son of the principal, and too handsome for his own good.


Roman and Brianna have been hot and cold all year, and living in close quarters intensifies their animosity and attraction. Brianna is sure he’s been sent by his father to sabotage them, foiling their chance at prize money that will cover all of the school’s actual needs. But each day, Roman proves himself to be a dedicated teammate—and Brianna finds herself falling harder and harder. While it’s clear the feeling is mutual, she can’t shake the sense that he’s hiding something. As the simulation nears its end, Brianna realizes she may have to make an impossible choice, between the school she’s dedicated herself to, and the man who has won his way into her heart.]]> 320 Etta Easton 0593640241 Shan 0 to-read 3.44 2025 The Love Simulation
author: Etta Easton
name: Shan
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Well, Actually 213831130
Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the scheme to advance her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. When these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.]]> Mazey Eddings Shan 0 to-read 4.14 2025 Well, Actually
author: Mazey Eddings
name: Shan
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Little Shop of Grand Curiosities (Tales from the Faraway North, #1)]]> 214108534 As the two of them embark on a long journey of self-discovery, Nepheli will soon realize that the most curious things in life lie right beyond the reach of one’s comfort zone.

The Little Shop Of Grand Curiosities is a lighthearted fantasy romance about the true meaning of love, the power of empathy, and the unremitting yearning to be extraordinary as an act of rebellion against the mundaneness of the world.]]> 371 Iris Lake Shan 0 to-read 4.07 The Little Shop of Grand Curiosities (Tales from the Faraway North, #1)
author: Iris Lake
name: Shan
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> A Cruel Thirst 60290692 A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together--against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

Carolina Fuentes has always wanted to join her family in hunting down the bloodthirsty monsters that plague her pueblo. But these days, her father wants her out of town with a husband of his choosing. That’s not happening. Carolina plans to show everyone that she’d make a better vampire slayer than wife. But when she runs into a sediento that is not only handsome but kind, she questions everything.

Lalo Villalobos doesn’t act on impulses. As the eldest of two, his duties were to carry on the family business, marry, and have children. But then he is turned into a sediento and must flee the city, taking lives as he goes north, where he believes the first vampire was made. Surely, the pueblo there will have the answers to reverse this curse or end sedientos altogether. Another unexpected turn? Lalo runs right into a beautiful young woman who’d gladly stake him.

Fortunately, mostly for him, they share a common enemy. They can stop these evil beasts. Together. And if along the way, Lalo and Fernanda discover what it is to truly live and love, then they’ll have won anyway.]]> 432 Angela Montoya 0593643372 Shan 0 to-read 3.84 2024 A Cruel Thirst
author: Angela Montoya
name: Shan
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed, #1)]]> 209753199 The first in a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world, perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally � such is the grim comedy of fate � the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.

Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick - so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for.

A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne's disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.

Romance tropes
Enemies to lovers
High interaction slow burn
Hypercompetent idiots
He falls first and harder
Evisceration as a love language]]> 416 Brigitte Knightley 0356524736 Shan 0 to-read 4.18 2025 The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed, #1)
author: Brigitte Knightley
name: Shan
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Wish Collector 42606944
When ballet dancer Clara Campbell arrives in New Orleans, lonely and homesick, she is immediately captivated by the story of Windisle Plantation and the tragic tale that is said to have transpired beyond its gate. Legend has it that it is abandoned by all living souls, but to Clara’s great surprise, it is not a ghost she hears through the stone wall surrounding the property, but a flesh and blood man. A scarred stranger with a pain deeper and darker than the churning waters of the Mississippi river that flows beside his self-imposed prison.

The ruined man behind the wall hides himself from the world. The last thing he expects is to find a friend in the selfless girl who speaks to him through the cracks in the rock. The girl who keeps returning week after week. The girl who makes him wish for things he has long since given up on. The girl who strikes both fear and hope within his wounded heart. But there can be no future for them, no life beyond Windisle, for no one knows better than him that monsters only live in the dark.

The Wish Collector is the story of shame and triumph, of loneliness and love, and the miracle of two hearts connecting despite the strongest of barriers between them.]]> 504 Mia Sheridan Shan 0 to-read 4.09 2018 The Wish Collector
author: Mia Sheridan
name: Shan
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Middle Ground 214017532
Jackson Vaughan knew his grandmother well. At least, he thought he did. But when he suddenly inherits her ownership half of some podunk inn he's never heard of before, he realizes that her scheming knows no bounds.

The town of Fraisier Creek has a way of sucking people in, but Jackson is determined to find a way out of this new obligation and get back to the city. The only problem? Meyer won't cooperate. At all. She doesn't want Jackson anywhere near her precious inn.

As the tension between the two business partners mounts, trouble lurks. When Meyer and Jackson are sent an anonymous threat, their battle for power doesn't seem to matter all that much anymore. Not when they're forced to put their differences aside to rely on each other. Even though it's the last thing they want to do.]]> 360 Bobbi Maclaren Shan 0 to-read 4.06 Middle Ground
author: Bobbi Maclaren
name: Shan
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[If This Was a Movie (Evergreen Park, #2)]]> 220222295
A year ago, Jules stumbled upon the man of her dreams in a bar on New Year's Eve. After a lifetime of watching romantic comedies, she was sure she had found her soulmate. That is, until she learned he has an entire family and blocked him.

A year later, she’s having the worst day she possibly could, leaving her stuck on the sidewalk outside her place in a ballet costume, watching firefighters condemn her house because of a water main break when a little girl grabs her hand and tells her she’s her Christmas wish.

When Nate’s daughter tells Santa all she wants for Christmas is for her dad to marry the real-life version of her favorite doll, he dreads having to tell her the truth. When they run into the spitting image of the doll, ballerina costume and all minutes later, he’s floored to find that it’s his dream woman who disappeared from his life last Christmas.

Nate’s meddling sisters offer his in-law suite and his contracting skills to Jules in exchange for watching his daughter, and he jumps on the opportunity. Now, he has just a few weeks to use Christmas magic to make her realize they are meant to be.]]> 292 Morgan Elizabeth Shan 0 to-read 3.78 2024 If This Was a Movie (Evergreen Park, #2)
author: Morgan Elizabeth
name: Shan
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> All She Ever Wanted 213308182
Aurelia Danby always loved fairy tales and heroes. But fanciful books made her ridiculous, so they were taken away, leaving her shackled to sensibility and high society.

She would have been hopelessly resigned to being a rich man’s wife were it not for William Kingswood, her handsome and very unavailable neighbor who once saved her life as a child. He's spent the last ten years writing to her of his adventures in exchange for keeping his secret—that while he’s a gentleman, he also rules the Atlantic as the infamous pirate, Captain Copson.

Aurelia is desperately in love with him, but sensible girls don’t fall for pirates. She’s also eager to escape her arranged marriage, and sometimes pirates are a ridiculous girl’s best (if not preferred) option.

When Captain Copson causes an international scandal by stealing Aurelia from her royal fiancé, Aurelia embarks on an adventure to rival her favorite tales, filled with treasure, poker games, mermaids, battles, sea monsters, grand theft, French people, and wild schemes—including thwarting her fiancé who will do anything to get her back.

Aurelia Danby’s heart has only ever belonged to adventure—and her very troublesome captain.]]> Sarah Limardo Shan 0 to-read 4.57 All She Ever Wanted
author: Sarah Limardo
name: Shan
average rating: 4.57
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Au Contraire 149955957 Arlo Kensington comes from an uptight, affluent family that's been well known in the country of North Indigo for years. After a major blunder with part of his inheritance, his older brothers, Gladstone and Pritchard arrange his marriage to Elonnie Wilhelm, a free-spirited ballerina who comes from a wealthy family of entertainers that are new to the high society scene, and feels that people must try to see things through the eyes of a child. Arlo is instantly disinterested in his whimsy bride-to-be, fearing that they're too incompatible to work.
Will these two polar opposites make this inconvenient union function? Will Elonnie contain herself to become an uptight Kensington? Or will Arlo learn to loosen up and see life through the eyes of a child?]]> 270 Alonna Williams Shan 0 to-read 3.00 Au Contraire
author: Alonna Williams
name: Shan
average rating: 3.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lessons In Faking (Hall Beck University, #1)]]> 210989710 480 Selina Mae Shan 0 to-read 3.82 2024 Lessons In Faking (Hall Beck University, #1)
author: Selina Mae
name: Shan
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Maybe This Time 211109423
Finding true love is only a matter of time in this heartfelt and hilarious romantic comedy, starring Zoë Chao (The Afterparty), Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek), and a full cast!

Romance can be a little complicated when you get sucked into a wormhole. Just ask high school English teacher June Flint. One little solar flare happens and suddenly you find yourself 85 years in the future. Eighty-five years from your dream job. Your ailing mother whose only companion in this world is you. Your favorite stuffed-crust pizza from DeLucia’s on Sunday nights.

But when June’s cell phone inexplicably picks up a signal, she’s able to call back to the present—more specifically, four weeks before she accidentally time traveled. Problem is, the phone can only call one number: her work nemesis, gym teacher Mikey Shannon.

Now future June must help Mikey befriend present-day June to keep her from disappearing. But present-day June doesn't even want to be in the same room as Mikey, let alone become besties. And Mikey isn’t exactly...talkie. Yet he’s spending hours a day with future June on the phone, and even more time trying to befriend present-day June. Volunteering with June at school, check. Facing his fear of roller coasters to make June smile, check. Adopting a puppy and letting her name it. Check.

But what does succeeding in the present mean for future June, and for the serious feelings she and Mikey are starting to catch for one another? Stopping time travel is one thing—but can they stop themselves from falling in love?

Full list of narrators: Zoë Chao, Noah Reid, Josh Hurley, Beata Pozniak, Jim Seybert, Emily Lawrence, Tina Wolstencroft, Petrea Burchard, Joel Simler, Aaron Shedlock, Christian Barillas, Eric Yves Garcia, Alex Picard, Lorrie Grant, Andy Garcia-Ruse, Dominic Russo, Ian Hackney.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.]]> 6 Cara Bastone Shan 0 to-read 3.84 2024 Maybe This Time
author: Cara Bastone
name: Shan
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Tress of the Emerald Sea 60531406 #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson expands his Cosmere universe shared by The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn with a new standalone novel for everyone who loved The Princess Bride.

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?]]> 443 Brandon Sanderson Shan 0 to-read 4.35 2023 Tress of the Emerald Sea
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Shan
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Audre & Bash Are Just Friends: a sweet, funny, electrifying story of first love and summer romance]]> 218668255 MEET AUDRE. Junior class president. Debate team captain. Unofficial student therapist. Desperately in need of a good time.

MEET BASH. Mysterious new senior. Everybody's crush. Tall, floppy, great taste in jewellery. King of having a good time.

It's the last day of school at Cheshire Prep, Brooklyn's elite academy - and Audre Mercy-Moore's life is a mess. Her dad cancelled her annual summer visit to his Malibu beach house. Now? She's stuck in a claustrophobic apartment with her mom, stepdad, and one-year-old sister (aka the Goblin Baby).

Under these conditions, she'll never finish writing her self-help book - i.e., the key to winning over Stanford's admissions board.

Cut to Bash Henry! Audre hires him to be her "fun consultant." His job? To help her complete the Experience Challenge - her list of five wild dares designed to give her juicy book material. She'll get inspo; he'll get paid. Everybody wins.

He isn't boyfriend material. And she's not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?

SCORCHING-HOT SUMMER. SCORCHING-HOT CHEMISTRY. But Audre and Bash can't forget-they're just friends. ]]> 385 Tia Williams 1529426227 Shan 0 to-read 4.40 2025 Audre & Bash Are Just Friends: a sweet, funny, electrifying story of first love and summer romance
author: Tia Williams
name: Shan
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[She's My Kind Of Rain (Rawlings Ranch #1)]]> 220264503 In the blink of an eye or the strum of a guitar, a person's fate can shift in an instant. One choice, one action, one melody can change everything.

Music has been the very essence of Daisy Holloway’s life for as long as she can remember. Driven by a desperate need to make her father proud, she throws caution to the wind and embarks on a journey to Nashville. Her dream is a long shot, but with no backup plan in sight, besides her entire life’s purpose, what does she have to lose?

After losing his Pops, Sawyer Mason is left with an empty heart and no real direction of where he wants to go in life. Deep down, he yearns for something more, but what? Singing is the one thing that has always felt right. Taking a chance to become a star, he finds himself chasing his passion, hoping to share music with the world.

There's just one problem, the gorgeous girl who caught his eye, just so happens to be the Rep for the biggest record label in Nashville, and relationships with clients aren’t allowed.

The right location brings them together but the wrong timing could ruin it all.

Will he choose music, fame, or the girl?



Set in early 2000's
Country Singer
Sunshine FMC/Reserved-Sunshine MMC
Small Town Country Romance
He Falls First
Workplace romance-ish (Record company)
Slow burn to Insta Love
Ends in Happily Ever After

She's My Kind Of Rain Is book 1 in the Rawlings Ranch Series and can be read as a complete standalone.]]> 328 Ella Embers Shan 0 to-read 3.91 She's My Kind Of Rain (Rawlings Ranch #1)
author: Ella Embers
name: Shan
average rating: 3.91
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Check & Mate 60683957 done with chess. Every move counts nowadays. After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning bad boy of chess.

Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone—especially Mallory. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and, despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....

As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce(-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)]]> 347 Ali Hazelwood 0593619919 Shan 0 to-read 3.93 2023 Check & Mate
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Shan
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Masked Flower 212691944
Iris Greene found her light at the end of the tunnel in a person–her brother, Kai. When her ray of sunshine is robbed from her in the blink of an eye, she loses a piece of herself, too. Two years later, she’s thriving as an Events Director, but she can no longer see the light.

Jasper Alcott considers himself an ambitious failure. After an unforeseen accident, he finds himself back in Chrysocolla Cove reluctantly managing his old man’s antique shop, resigned to a mundane existence–until they waltz into the coffee shop he’s visiting. At first glance, Jasper assumes the man trailing behind her is her boyfriend. However, not all is as it seems.

When a fundraising event at her marketing agency brings the two closer together, he realizes the man following Iris isn’t just a man. He is her supernatural guardian, and for some reason, Jasper is the only living human who can see him. As Jasper gets to know Iris better, he begrudgingly finds her difficult to resist. Likewise, Iris can’t help but feel drawn to him. Between her guardian angel meddling where he shouldn’t and the undeniable pull the pair feel toward each other, life has become anything but mundane.

In this modern-day emotional paranormal romance, their connection deepens as Jasper unveils the mystery of why he can see him when no one else can. He is determined to lift her up despite her insistence to bear it all alone. Little does Iris know, she hasn’t been alone for quite some time.]]> 344 Erin Halli Shan 0 to-read 4.25 The Masked Flower
author: Erin Halli
name: Shan
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The God and the Gumiho (Fate's Thread, #1)]]> 198563688 416 Sophie Kim 0593599667 Shan 0 to-read 4.05 2024 The God and the Gumiho (Fate's Thread, #1)
author: Sophie Kim
name: Shan
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Romance Rivalry 218587800
Irene Park loves romance novels—so much so she’s made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene’s real life dating story? Non-existent. So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands…romance book tropes.

If only it were that easy.

Enter Aiden Jeon, Irene’s online book review rival and biggest nemesis. When Aiden challenges her to see who can find love-by-trope first, he becomes the one person standing in her way to getting everything she wants both professionally and personally, too. So when the competition takes an unexpected turn, forcing the two of them to have to partner in the ultimate trope, fake dating, Irene is not prepared for everything she believed about romance, and Aiden, to flip on its head.

As Irene tackles the challenges of college life, struggles to figure out what she really wants for herself, all while trying to win the race for love, Irene realizes the answers may not be found in a romance novel. Happily Ever Afters seem so easy on page. But for Irene to find her ultimate HEA, she’ll have to get her nose out of the book and become the main character of her own story.]]> 368 Susan Lee 1335012877 Shan 0 to-read 3.97 2025 The Romance Rivalry
author: Susan Lee
name: Shan
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Two of Us 123160766
If there’s no place like home, that’s more than okay for Mara Makinen. In fact, she prefers it that way. Going back to the place where she made the worst mistake of her life? Not ideal.

So when a family emergency forces Mara to return home to her small lake town in Maine after seven years, she knows there’s only one way she’ll get through it unscathed: Avoid Ambrose King at all costs.

But that might prove difficult considering he lives right across the street.]]> 349 Taylor Torres Shan 5 can-t-stop-thinking-about
Taylor Torres may not know this, but she wrote this book for me. The moment I read the dedication, something in me shifted. I felt it in my bones, that this book was going to change me, and fuck, it change me alright. There are VERY few characters I wholeheartedly identify with, and Mara� my beautiful Mara. She is me, and I am her. I love her with everything in me, and I wanna protect her from everything bad in this world. I loved her, and not just her, but I loved every single character in this book. I felt everything so deeply, as if these were people I’ve known my whole life and it was such a special feeling. Ambrose, you beautiful man, I love you, and I love you loving Mara. But most of all I love Cat. This book is for friends who become family, for love that perseveres, but most importantly it is for those who feel the world around them so deeply it hurts—I see you, I am you, and I love you.

I am so so sooo grateful that this book exists. I sobbed the entirety of the last 10% but I wouldn’t change a thing. This book snuck up on me and stole my heart, it claimed the spot of my favorite book OF ALL TIME.

If you ever take any recs from me, please let it be this book.]]> 4.03 The Two of Us
author: Taylor Torres
name: Shan
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/31
date added: 2024/11/03
shelves: can-t-stop-thinking-about
review:
This book deserves all the stars in galaxy, and then some ♾️â­ď¸Ź.

Taylor Torres may not know this, but she wrote this book for me. The moment I read the dedication, something in me shifted. I felt it in my bones, that this book was going to change me, and fuck, it change me alright. There are VERY few characters I wholeheartedly identify with, and Mara� my beautiful Mara. She is me, and I am her. I love her with everything in me, and I wanna protect her from everything bad in this world. I loved her, and not just her, but I loved every single character in this book. I felt everything so deeply, as if these were people I’ve known my whole life and it was such a special feeling. Ambrose, you beautiful man, I love you, and I love you loving Mara. But most of all I love Cat. This book is for friends who become family, for love that perseveres, but most importantly it is for those who feel the world around them so deeply it hurts—I see you, I am you, and I love you.

I am so so sooo grateful that this book exists. I sobbed the entirety of the last 10% but I wouldn’t change a thing. This book snuck up on me and stole my heart, it claimed the spot of my favorite book OF ALL TIME.

If you ever take any recs from me, please let it be this book.
]]> Honey & Spice 62949028 Introducing internationally bestselling author Bolu Babalola's dazzling debut novel, full of passion, humor, and heart, that centers on a young Black British woman who has no interest in love and unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a fake relationship with the man she warned her girls about

Sweet like plantain, hot like pepper. They taste the best when together...

Sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo has just made a huge mistake. As an expert in relationship-evasion and the host of the popular student radio show Brown Sugar, she's made it her mission to make sure the women of the African-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University do not fall into the mess of "situationships", players, and heartbreak. But when the Queen of the Unbothered kisses Malakai Korede, the guy she just publicly denounced as "The Wastemen of Whitewell," in front of every Blackwellian on campus, she finds her show on the brink.

They're soon embroiled in a fake relationship to try and salvage their reputations and save their futures. Kiki has never surrendered her heart before, and a player like Malakai won't be the one to change that, no matter how charming he is or how electric their connection feels. But surprisingly entertaining study sessions and intimate, late-night talks at old-fashioned diners force Kiki to look beyond her own presumptions. Is she ready to open herself up to something deeper?

A gloriously funny and sparkling debut novel, Honey and Spice is full of delicious tension and romantic intrigue that will make you weak at the knees.]]> 368 Bolu Babalola 0063141515 Shan 0 to-read 3.92 2022 Honey & Spice
author: Bolu Babalola
name: Shan
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Launch Date 213344054
In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they're forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Grace Hastings’s dream job at the popular “true love� dating app, Fate, has turned into a nightmare. Her boss is a leech, her career is stagnating, and her fiancé has just brutally dumped her. Her hope for finding her own love story is waning, and she feels like a fraud for promoting a concept she no longer believes in. When the company’s CEO offers her an opportunity to earn a big promotion, she resolves to fight her imposter syndrome to show she deserves a seat at the table.

The opportunity? To launch a brand-new app focusing on IRL dating and genuine connection.

The problem? She must develop and test-drive a series of “first dates� with the other person gunning for the job: notorious socialite playboy and Grace’s biggest work rival, Eric Bancroft.

During their disastrous hikes, dangerous cooking classes, and steamy yoga sessions, they begin to realize their stark differences may just be surface level and Eric might just be the perfect person to challenge Grace’s perceptions of love, dating culture, and self-worth.]]> 416 Annabelle Slator 0063383624 Shan 0 to-read 3.81 2025 The Launch Date
author: Annabelle Slator
name: Shan
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Up Close & Personal 217182470
Jo De La Cruz should be on top of the world. As one of spin’s hottest instructors, her workouts stream into thousands of living rooms, her waiting list is harder to access than Area 51, and even her hair has its own social media page. But Jo’s struggling from a decade in the spotlight—which is when she meets the annoyingly handsome journalist who claims her job is just yelling at people from a bike.

Converting a hater is a challenge Jo can’t resist.

Only nothing about Silas Anders matches her expectations. He throws himself into her classes, he’s genuinely interested in Jo’s hobbies, and—most surprising of all—he knows what it’s like to struggle with mental health. Between all-you-can-eat-diner lunches, thrifting adventures, and sizzling summer nights, Jo might even be catching feelings. But as buzz for the article skyrockets, Jo discovers that the man she’s been falling for may, in fact, be the one scamming her.

Will trusting him break her heart—or lead to a love worth riding for?]]> 384 Ana Holguin 1538756889 Shan 0 to-read 4.01 2025 Up Close & Personal
author: Ana Holguin
name: Shan
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Bride (Bride, #1) 181344829 A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was�.

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.]]> 410 Ali Hazelwood Shan 5
FIVEEEEEEEE STARSSSSSS.

I LOVED IT???? IDK WHAT TO SAY?? This was sooooo fun and hot and sweet and �. LO MORLAND�. ]]> 3.98 2024 Bride (Bride, #1)
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Shan
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/26
date added: 2024/10/26
shelves:
review:
“You’re not a problem misery. You’re a PRIVILEGE.�

FIVEEEEEEEE STARSSSSSS.

I LOVED IT???? IDK WHAT TO SAY?? This was sooooo fun and hot and sweet and �. LO MORLAND�.
]]> Everlong 209617137 An eternal life.

Lily doesn’t remember her death, or even her reawakening, but she knows this: the sun is to be feared, words are her salvation, and—above all—the bench facing the playground is hers.

Every night, she writes stories about the broken and abandoned things she finds littering the park. As the decades pass and the city skyline grows, her body remains immortal and unchanged� even as her mind decays. She is the pin holding the hands of the clock, fixed and entirely alone as the world moves around her.

Until Sam de la Cruz, a young man of summer smiles, takes a seat beside her and an unlikely friendship blooms. Months pass and their relationship grows, but her mind and memories continue to fade until Sam realizes the strange, lonely woman he’s come to love is more than what she seems.

A story about love, loss, and what it means to live forever.

Gold Medalist 2022 Readers� Favorite for Literary Fiction]]> R. Raeta Shan 0 to-read 4.22 2021 Everlong
author: R. Raeta
name: Shan
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Left of Forever 217388096 An emotional, spicy, second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Tarah DeWitt.

This time, they'll get it right.

Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as kids, had their son Sam when they were only teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. They were made for one another…until they fell apart.

Now divorced and in their 30s, Wren runs the bakery in town, while Ellis works as a firefighter. They live separate lives, though they are hardly off each other’s minds.

When Sam gets accepted into college and the pair help him move in together, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip back to Spunes with him to see if they can give their relationship one last chance. Amid the gorgeous scenery of the California coastline, dreamy destinations, and a great deal of long-yearned-for proximity, Wren starts to think it just might be possible. But the two still have to contend with their tumultuous past in order to move forward. And when spoken words fail, sometimes the written word must bridge the gap.
Will they make the most of what’s left of forever? Or will they let each other go for good?

Brimming with big feelings and packed with steam, Left of Forever is bestseller Tarah DeWitt at the top of her game.]]> 336 Tarah DeWitt 1250329442 Shan 0 to-read 4.58 2025 Left of Forever
author: Tarah DeWitt
name: Shan
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Savor It 195790899
Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.

Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.

A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...

Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.]]> 336 Tarah DeWitt 1250329426 Shan 0 to-read 3.87 2024 Savor It
author: Tarah DeWitt
name: Shan
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> To Sway A Soul 218627300 A passionate painter's apprentice. An art thief without a soul. The bargain that brings them together.

Half a Soul meets your favorite historical C-drama in this Chinese folktale-inspired New Adult romantasy.

When Zhi Lan turned down the opportunity to become a nobleman’s concubine, she vowed to make her own fortune—not marry into it. But as a lowly farm girl, becoming a self-sustaining artist like her master Dan Li Chen is a lofty goal. Her meager fortune finally takes a turn when Master Dan’s recent masterpiece catches the attention of the city magistrate, who offers them both his esteemed patronage.

But when the prized painting is stolen, the magistrate issues an impossible ultimatum: paint a replica in three short days, or hang with the criminal who stole from him. Zhi Lan knows her only choice is to recover the masterpiece—even if it means joining forces with the uncommonly handsome thief who stole it.

It has been six years since Shao Qing made a foolish bargain with a lesser demon. The price? His soul. Since then, he has been traveling with a raucous band of art thieves, numb to everything but the thrill of their heists. But when an impassioned painter’s apprentice blackmails him into helping her retrieve her master's painting, his long dormant emotions begin to awaken. Compelled and unexpectedly intrigued, he accepts her bargain.

However, retrieving the stolen artwork proves more difficult than either of them anticipated. When the two are forced to conduct a heist of their own, Zhi Lan and Shao Qing must rely on one another despite their conflicting beliefs. Suddenly Zhi Lan is questioning the principles she’s always lived by, while Shao Qing begins to suspect he might have something left to lose.

As three days come to an end, the secrets they uncover will either bring them closer—or tear them apart.

Tempting Thieves is a multi-author romantasy collection featuring cunning thieves who outsmart relentless hunters, steal forbidden treasures, and find love along the way. With enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn longing, forced proximity, secret identities, only one bed, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, every story delivers an irresistible fantasy escape. Perfect for fans of forbidden romance, morally gray heroes, daring rogues, and clean yet sizzling chemistry.

Each book in the collection is a standalone. Read in any order.]]> Ireen Chau 1962634051 Shan 0 to-read 4.41 2025 To Sway A Soul
author: Ireen Chau
name: Shan
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Bound to You (Ruby Cove, #1) 216697658 A summer spent in paradise. No distractions, no overstepping boyfriends or parents. Three months dedicated to finding herself.
But when a handsome stranger rescues them from a break down and drives them into the picturesque coastal town of Ruby Cove, she quickly finds herself becoming attached. Not only to the place, but to the people. One handsome stranger in particular. The person who quickly becomes her anchor against the world around her.
Caio Marchetti is a self proclaimed workaholic. Owning the most popular hotel in Ruby Cove comes with a busy schedule, but he likes it that way.
When his work takes him out of town, the last thing he expected to find on his drive back was two American girls broken down on the side of the road.
Stopping to help them was a given. Giving them a ride into town was a courtesy, but giving them a room in his hotel free of charge? That was all due to the girl with the chocolate eyes that drew him in the moment they locked with his.

As the summer gets hotter so does their chemistry, and Caio quickly feels himself wanting to hold on and not let go.
When the summer comes to an end, Isla has to make the decision she’s been avoiding. Will she go home to her life in New York? Or is her connection with Caio strong enough to make her to stay?]]> 312 Bridie Charles 0473714892 Shan 0 to-read 4.02 Bound to You (Ruby Cove, #1)
author: Bridie Charles
name: Shan
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Bennett Turns Into a Cat (Witches of Olderea #2.5)]]> 206748887
Beauty Without Brains: How Will Lady Narcissa Wear the Crown?

When the most notorious gossip columnist in Olderea releases a scathing article about her, Narcissa is desperate to upkeep her image of a diligent princess-to-be, even if it means moving to the palace and leaving her kittens behind. Working with Bennett on the upcoming Ambassador’s Ball should've been the perfect opportunity, but Cissa can’t help but notice that her fiancé is too occupied with royal duties to pay her much attention.

One night under mysterious circumstances, Bennett turns into a cat. Magic is afoot, and no one knows if it's from a friend or foe. Down in Witch Village, Cissa must brew an antidote and find the culprit before the Ambassador’s Ball. Will Bennett be able to turn back in time? And most importantly, will the couple manage to heal the rift growing between them?]]> 120 Ireen Chau 1962634043 Shan 0 to-read 4.50 2024 Bennett Turns Into a Cat (Witches of Olderea #2.5)
author: Ireen Chau
name: Shan
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Herbwitch Princess (Witches of Olderea, #2)]]> 64416533
Lady Narcissa Greenwood has been haunted by her past since the disaster of last summer’s Season. The society she once reveled in now sees her as the traitor’s daughter. Narcissa fears she can never prove them wrong.

But when rising anti-witch riots lead to her betrothal to Crown Prince Bennett and a grand kingdom tour, Narcissa seizes the chance to atone her mistakes. She is determined to become the dutiful crown princess—even if her stoic fiancé is less than eager to play the loving couple.

However, the crown prince isn’t as unaffected as he seems. Amidst Olderea’s flax fields, bustling marketplaces, and whispers of rebellion, Narcissa must decide whether her past should hinder her future—and whether duty, love, and redemption are separate things after all.]]> 379 Ireen Chau Shan 0 to-read 4.46 The Herbwitch Princess (Witches of Olderea, #2)
author: Ireen Chau
name: Shan
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Herbwitch's Apprentice (Witches of Olderea, #1)]]> 61239775
In the kingdom of Olderea, dabbling in witchcraft is a sure way to the guillotine.

When sixteen-year-old debutante Amarante Flora finds out she’s half witch, all she wants is to get rid of her magic. After all, zapping Prince Ash in the midst of high society’s Season certainly won’t help her troublemaking reputation.

But the more her powers grow, the more she realizes magic—and the witches who possess it—are not as dangerous as she was led to believe. When the queen falls mysteriously ill, Amarante knows there are far more dangers lurking in the palace than in Witch Village.

Among potion-brewing and glittering receptions, Amarante joins Prince Ash in an investigation before innocent witches are condemned. However, uncovering the culprit’s schemes could mean exposing her magic. And exposing her magic would mean her very life—and the contempt of the prince she is trying to help.]]> 424 Ireen Chau Shan 0 to-read 4.02 2021 The Herbwitch's Apprentice (Witches of Olderea, #1)
author: Ireen Chau
name: Shan
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> If You'll Have Me 83817463 Heartstopper and Loveless

Momo Gardner is the kind of friend who’s always ready to lend a helping hand. She’s introverted, sensitive, and maybe a little too trusting, but she likes to believe the best in people. PG, on the other hand, is a bit of a lone wolf, despite her reputation for being a flirt and a player. Underneath all that cool mystery, she’s actually quick to smile, and when she falls for someone, she falls hard. An unexpected meet-cute brings the two together, kicking off the beginning of an awkward yet endearing courtship—but with their drastically different personalities, Momo’s overprotective friend, and PG’s past coming back to haunt her, Momo and PG’s romance is put to the test.]]> 336 Eunnie 0593403223 Shan 0 to-read 4.41 2023 If You'll Have Me
author: Eunnie
name: Shan
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 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 Shan 3 Cute, not memorable though. 3.55 2024 Two Can Play
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Shan
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/17
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves:
review:
Cute, not memorable though.
]]> Give Me a Sign 63024319 Lilah is stuck in the middle. At least, that’s what having a hearing loss seems like sometimes—when you don’t feel “deaf enough� to identify as Deaf or hearing enough to meet the world’s expectations. But this summer, Lilah is ready for a change.

When Lilah becomes a counselor at a summer camp for the deaf and blind, her plan is to brush up on her ASL. Once there, she also finds a community. There are cute British lifeguards who break hearts but not rules, a YouTuber who’s just a bit desperate for clout, the campers Lilah’s responsible for (and overwhelmed by)—and then there’s Isaac, the dreamy Deaf counselor who volunteers to help Lilah with her signing.

Romance was never on the agenda, and Lilah’s not positive Isaac likes her that way. But all signs seem to point to love. Unless she’s reading them wrong? One thing’s for sure: Lilah wanted change, and things here are certainly different than what she’s used to.

In her sweet and swoony debut, Anna Sortino delivers a poignant coming-of-age story and a revelatory exploration of Deaf culture, its vastness, and its beautiful complexities.]]> 303 Anna Sortino 0593533798 Shan 0 dnf
I had really high hopes for this book, but unfortunately I couldn’t connect with it. It read very juvenile and maybe it’s just that I’m not into YAs anymore, but I felt like some of the characters were acting like children. The romance aspect of this book and is what kept me going, but it’s not enough to hold my interest. I actually really liked Lilah learning ASL and navigating camp life, and I think that for the right audience, this book could really be something wonderful. I just couldn’t stick to it.]]> 4.08 2023 Give Me a Sign
author: Anna Sortino
name: Shan
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/31
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: dnf
review:
DNF at 60%.

I had really high hopes for this book, but unfortunately I couldn’t connect with it. It read very juvenile and maybe it’s just that I’m not into YAs anymore, but I felt like some of the characters were acting like children. The romance aspect of this book and is what kept me going, but it’s not enough to hold my interest. I actually really liked Lilah learning ASL and navigating camp life, and I think that for the right audience, this book could really be something wonderful. I just couldn’t stick to it.
]]> Twelfth Knight 198536668 Reese's Book Club Summer YA Pick '24

"YA is a feeling. It's a warm summer day reading in the sun, lots of nostalgia, gushing together over the characters in Twelfth Knight."—Reese Witherspoon

From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake) comes Twelfth Knight, a grumpy/sunshine YA romantic comedy and coming of age story about taking up space in the world and learning what it means to let others in.

Viola Reyes is annoyed.

Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, her best friend is suggesting she try being more “likable,� and school running back Jack Orsino is the most lackadaisical Student Body President she’s ever seen, which makes her job as VP that much harder. Vi’s favorite escape from the world is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren’t exactly kind to girls like her―girls who are extremely competent and have the swagger to prove it. So Vi creates a masculine alter ego, choosing to play as a knight named Cesario to create a safe haven for herself.

But when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is alarmed to discover their online alter egos―Cesario and Duke Orsino―are surprisingly well-matched.

As the long nights of game-play turn into discussions about life and love, Vi and Jack soon realise they’ve become more than just weapon-wielding characters in an online game. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline…]]> 320 Alexene Farol Follmuth 1250884896 Shan 0 dnf 3.83 2024 Twelfth Knight
author: Alexene Farol Follmuth
name: Shan
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/19
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: dnf
review:
DNF’ing at 5%. I’ve come to the conclusion YAs are just not for me anymore. Every YA book I’ve read this year has been disappointing and juvenile. This one lost me when I read 3 chapters back to back about the FMC playing D&D or whatever they were playing. I understand this plays a big part in the development of the story but I can’t sit through this. No more YAs for me� for a very long while.
]]> I Hope This Finds You Well 200987323 In this wildly funny and heartwarming office comedy, an admin worker accidentally gains access to her colleagues� private emails and DMs and decides to use this intel to save her job—a laugh-till-you-cry debut novel you’ll be eager to share with your entire list of contacts, perfect for fans of Anxious People and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

As far as Jolene is concerned, her interactions with her colleagues should start and end with her official duties as an admin for Supershops, Inc. Unfortunately, her irritating, incompetent coworkers don’t seem to understand the importance of boundaries. Her secret to survival? She vents her grievances in petty email postscripts, then changes the text colour to white so no one can see. That is, until one of her secret messages is exposed. Her punishment: sensitivity training (led by the suspiciously friendly HR guy, Cliff) and rigorous email restrictions.

When an IT mix-up grants her access to her entire department’s private emails and DMs, Jolene knows she should report it, but who could resist reading what their coworkers are really saying? And when she discovers layoffs are coming, she realizes this might just be the key to saving her job. The plan is simple: gain her boss’s favour, convince HR she’s Supershops material and beat out the competition.

But as Jolene is drawn further into her coworker’s private worlds and secrets, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble—especially around Cliff, who she definitely cannot have feelings for. Soon she will need to decide if she’s ready to leave the comfort of her cubicle, even if it means coming clean to her colleagues.

Crackling with laugh-out-loud dialogue and relatable observations, I Hope This Finds You Well is a fresh and surprisingly tender comedy about loneliness and love beyond our computer screens. This sparkling debut novel will open your heart to the everyday eccentricities of work culture and the undeniable human connection that comes with it.]]> 338 Natalie Sue 0063320363 Shan 3 3.74 2024 I Hope This Finds You Well
author: Natalie Sue
name: Shan
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/17
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves:
review:
This book is so incredibly human in the best way possible.
]]> A Love Song for Ricki Wilde 173404023
Leap years are a strange, enchanted time. And for some, even a single February can be life-changing.

Ricki Wilde has many talents, but being a Wilde isn’t one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she’s the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. Where they’re long-stemmed roses, she’s a dandelion: an adorable bloom that’s actually a weed, born to float wherever the wind blows. In her bones, Ricki knows that somewhere, a different, more exciting life awaits her.

When regal nonagenarian, Ms. Della, invites her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance for a fresh beginning. She leaves behind her family, wealth, and chaotic romantic decisions to realize her dream of opening a flower shop. And just beneath the surface of her new neighborhood, the music, stories and dazzling drama of the Harlem Renaissance still simmers.

One evening in February as the heady, curiously off-season scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air, Ricki encounters a handsome, deeply mysterious stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.

Set against the backdrop of modern Harlem and Renaissance glamour, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a swoon-worthy love story of two passionate artists drawn to the magic, romance, and opportunity of New York, and whose lives are uniquely and irreversibly linked.]]> 352 Tia Williams 153872670X Shan 5 can-t-stop-thinking-about
Perfect. Lovely. Pure and utter perfection. ]]> 3.97 2024 A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
author: Tia Williams
name: Shan
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/15
date added: 2024/10/16
shelves: can-t-stop-thinking-about
review:
This book is embedded in my soul. I loved the first time, and I loved it so much more now. No words, just tears. Proper RTC, when I stop crying.

Perfect. Lovely. Pure and utter perfection.
]]> The Gifted Society 205651685
While in transit, she meets Greta, a quirky antique shop owner who promises her safety with other Variens in a realm called The Grove.

Alexia is skeptical, but once she learns Sarai has been kidnapped from prison and taken to The Grove to be sacrificed by Revenirs, a secret society of hitmen, she becomes intent on finding and saving her from another dire fate.

Greta introduces Alexia to The Grove and her new home at Malveaux Prep Academy and Sanctuary—a premier school for Varien teens to study and hone their knowledge and skill. There, Alexia rooms with a pyrokinetic hot head who can’t stop kissing her boyfriend and takes tours with her assigned campus mentor—a wise-cracking morphing teleporter named Kyle.

With the help of her newfound friendships, Alexia delves deeper into The Grove’s hidden history for clues on the present. All she wants is to find Sarai and save her. But the closer she gets to the Revenirs, the more danger she and her friends are in. Alexia must decide if friendship is worth the wrath of war and suffering, and even worse ... betrayal.]]> 529 Tatiana White Shan 0 to-read 3.91 2024 The Gifted Society
author: Tatiana White
name: Shan
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Sounds Like Love 219301810 A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake, in the next sparkling, magical book from Ashley Poston.

Joni Lark is living the dream. She’s one of the most coveted songwriters in LA…and she can’t seem to write. There’s an emptiness inside her, and nothing seems to fill it.

When she returns to her hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, she hopes that the sand, the surf, and the concerts at The Revelry, her family’s music venue, will spark her inspiration. But when she gets there, nothing is how she left it. Her best friend is avoiding her, her mother’s memories are fading fast, and The Revelry is closing.

How can she think about writing her next song when everything is changing without her?

Until she hears it. A melody in her head, lyric-less and half-formed, and an alluring and addictive voice to go with it—belonging, apparently, to a wry musician with hangups of his own.

Surely, he’s a figment of her overworked imagination.

But then the very real man attached to the voice shows up in Vienna Shores. He’s aggravating and gruff on the outside—nothing like the sweet, funny voice in Joni’s head—and he has a plan:

They’ll finish the song haunting them both, break their connection, and hope they don’t risk their hearts in the process.

Because that song stuck in their heads? Maybe it’s there for a reason.]]> Ashley Poston 0593641019 Shan 0 to-read 4.27 2025 Sounds Like Love
author: Ashley Poston
name: Shan
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Great Big Beautiful Life 218559595 Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years--or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.]]> 432 Emily Henry Shan 0 to-read 4.19 2025 Great Big Beautiful Life
author: Emily Henry
name: Shan
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Audiophile: A Steamy & Healing Romance]]> 215798863 A jaded erotic voice actor.
Will they walk alone in darkness or follow the stars to dawn together?

Petra is buried in grief, closed off from reality. Only her headphones, spicy audios, and vivid imagination make life tolerable. When her fictional lover walks into her real life, she wakes up from her daydreams. She’s tempted by this traveler whose voice is intimately familiar. It’s almost better that he’s only temporary.

Reed, also known as Daddy Knight, hates the life he’s built. He's on the run from it all when Petra recognizes his voice. His instinct is to slam the door on their connection, until Reed discovers Petra is drowning in trauma of her own. They deserve more than their tragic pasts and bleak futures.
Vibrant joy. Soft touches. Real smiles.
But someone from Reed’s past refuses to be left behind. Will befriending Petra risk putting them both in danger?


A small town, strangers to lovers, famous/fan, spicy romance. Featuring supportive family relationships, reaffirming self worth, rediscovering sensuality, and finding love after thirty. Audiophile is a standalone romance with guaranteed HEA. This book handles dark themes and a healing journey through grief, the main relationship is sweet. Protect your mental health and check CW if needed.

CW include but are not limited to: depression, stalking, miscarriage, death, DV, and SA. Please visit the author's website for a full list.]]> 340 Emerie Hart Shan 0 to-read 4.04 Audiophile: A Steamy & Healing Romance
author: Emerie Hart
name: Shan
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)]]> 199719283
When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, they find something elusive―the friendship of two like-minded, pitch-black souls who just happen to enjoy killing other serial killers.

From small-town West Virginia to upscale California, and from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country.

But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love.

Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves?
Or have they finally met their match?

Tropes:
Golden retriever x black cat
He falls first
Touch him/her and die
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity
One bed]]> 351 Brynne Weaver 1638931739 Shan 3 4.15 2023 Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)
author: Brynne Weaver
name: Shan
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/12
date added: 2024/10/12
shelves:
review:
I’m throwing in the towel. I’ve been reading? Trying to read? This book since June. I liked it a lot at first, gore, cannibalism and all. However, every time I picked it up and heard the narrator with his “little bird� and the heavy breathing, I cringed. I also think the PIERCINGS ruined the story for me, sometimes there’s just TMI. And the smut was too much. I don’t think I will be reading the rest of the series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Perfect Marriage (Perfect, #1)]]> 53450790 Would you defend your husband if he was accused of killing his mistress?

Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. At 33 years old, she is a named partner at her firm and life is going exactly how she planned.

The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He is a struggling writer who has had little success in his career. He begins to tire of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working.

Out in the secluded woods, at Adam and Sarah’s second home, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers.

Then, one morning everything changes. Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder. She had been found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home.

Sarah soon finds herself playing the defender for her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress.

But is Adam guilty or is he innocent?]]> 337 Jeneva Rose 1913419657 Shan 2 3.90 2020 The Perfect Marriage (Perfect, #1)
author: Jeneva Rose
name: Shan
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/12
date added: 2024/10/12
shelves:
review:
What THE F DID I JUST READ???????
]]> <![CDATA[Cross the Line (Lights Out, #1)]]> 208516646 Her brother’s best friend sends her heart racing in this sparkling Formula 1 romance.

Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson’s career is on the line. After a social media disaster leaves him with an angry team and sponsors threatening to jump ship, he needs someone to help save his image. At a party in Monaco, he bumps into the woman who can fix it all. There’s just one problem: she’s his best friend’s little sister. And, okay, maybe there’s another problem—he kissed her last year and hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

Recent college grad Willow Williams needs a job. She may have a talent for seeing the bright side of any bad situation, but it’s hard to stay positive when she’s struggling to get hired. So when Dev offers her a temporary solution, she can’t help but say yes. Even if it means ignoring the crush she’s had on him since childhood.

Willow and Dev are determined to keep things strictly professional, regardless of old feelings and the blazing chemistry between them. But in the glittering and high-stakes world of Formula 1, some lines are meant to be crossed…]]> 416 Simone Soltani 0593818148 Shan 2 3.57 2024 Cross the Line (Lights Out, #1)
author: Simone Soltani
name: Shan
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/01
date added: 2024/10/08
shelves:
review:
Found it boring and repetitive, I don’t really think this should’ve been 400 pages. It was cute at times but overall, I wasn’t invested. Brother’s best friend is just not for me, and that’s okay.
]]> <![CDATA[You Deserve Valentine's Day Brunch]]> 61153459 15 Sarah Hogle Shan 0 to-read 4.44 You Deserve Valentine's Day Brunch
author: Sarah Hogle
name: Shan
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, #2)]]> 216536383 From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Paranormal skeptic Zelda Tempest is hoping for a much-needed creativity boost for a new paranormal mystery novel. But despite the alleged magic of her hometown, Moonville, Ohio, she’s as stuck as ever. 

With two witch sisters, not believing in magic is strange for a Tempest, but no one is more disappointed than Morgan Angelopoulos, the charming man next door. So, to cure her of her writer's block and her disbelief in magic, Morgan ropes her into a ghost-hunting romp, only for Zelda to discover something else bizarre, never-before-seen creatures that appear as ordinary pets to everyone else. 

Curious about what else might be lurking in Moonville's woods, Zelda and Morgan embark on a quest to uncover the true magic that lies in their midsts . . . and perhaps, just maybe, they will find that the magic they're searching for has been with them all along.]]> 397 Sarah Hogle 059371508X Shan 0 to-read 3.27 2025 The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, #2)
author: Sarah Hogle
name: Shan
average rating: 3.27
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Just Like Magic 59420717
Christmas, with its pressure to meet familial expectations, is looming when a drunk Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You� backwards and accidentally conjures Hall, an unexpectedly charming Holiday Spirit in the form of a man. Once the shock wears off, Bettie knows she’s stumbled upon the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true, plus a ready-made fiancé.

But as the wiles of magic lose their charm, Bettie finds herself set off-kilter by Hall’s sweet gestures. Suddenly, Bettie is finding her heart merry and light. But the happier she gets, the shorter Hall’s time on earth grows. Can Bettie channel the Christmas spirit and learn to live with goodwill toward all men? Or will her selfish ways come back as soon as the holidays are over?

From the author of Twice Shy comes a sprightly Christmas novel, a rollicking romp through the absurdity of family holidays and the hope of new love.]]> 368 Sarah Hogle 0593539850 Shan 0 to-read 3.48 2022 Just Like Magic
author: Sarah Hogle
name: Shan
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Summer Fridays 198137999
Summer 1999: Twentysomething Sawyer is striving to make it in New York. Between her assistant job in publishing, her secret dreams of becoming a writer, and her upcoming wedding to her college boyfriend, her is plate full. Only one problem: She is facing an incredibly lonely summer as her fiancé has been spending longer and longer hours at work . . . with an all-too-close female colleague, Kendra.

When Kendra’s boyfriend, Nick, invites Sawyer to meet up and compare notes about their suspicions, the meeting goes awry. She finds Nick cocky and cynical, and he finds her stuck in her own head. But then Nick seeks out Sawyer online to apologize, and a friendship develops.

Soon, Sawyer’s lonely summer takes an unexpected turn. She and Nick begin an unofficial ritual—exploring New York City together every summer Friday. From hot dogs on the Staten Island Ferry and Sea Breezes in a muggy East Village bar to swimming at Coney Island, Sawyer feels seen by Nick in a way that surprises her. He pushes her to be braver. To ask for what she wants. Meanwhile, Sawyer draws Nick out of his hard shell, revealing a surprisingly vulnerable side. They both begin living for their Friday afternoons together.

But what happens when the summer is over?]]> 432 Suzanne Rindell 0593473914 Shan 4
“Turns out, I’m addicted to the way you in particular make me nuts.”]]> 3.94 2024 Summer Fridays
author: Suzanne Rindell
name: Shan
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/06
date added: 2024/09/06
shelves:
review:
This is a REALLY hard book to review. I mean� the cheating was just hurting my soul THE ENTIRE TIME. But I couldn’t help it, I really really loved them together. This would’ve been a perfect book if not for the cheating (which is why I took off one star). Sawyer was such a good character, I saw myself in her, and Nick was just SO GOOD to her. I loved the you’ve got mail aspect. This book just made me really happy, I don’t know how to explain it.

“Turns out, I’m addicted to the way you in particular make me nuts.�
]]> 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 Shan 0 to-read 4.22 2025 Promise Me Sunshine
author: Cara Bastone
name: Shan
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>