en-US Fri, 02 May 2025 10:25:11 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7531265099 Fri, 02 May 2025 10:25:11 -0700 /review/show/7531265099 booked.with.julia gave 5 stars to The Bright Years (Hardcover) by Sarah Damoff
Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC!

This book wrecked me in the best way.
This is the kind of debut that makes you double check it’s actually a debut. It’s raw, lyrical, and quietly explosive.
From secrets to generations trying to break free from cycles…this story is real.
The audiobook? Chef’s kiss. 💋 The narrators didn’t just read the story, they breathed life into it. Every emotion, every pause, every shift in tone…it was all there.
This book is about love, loss, addiction, motherhood, and finding a way to rewrite the story you’ve been handed. It hurts. But it heals too. This one will stay with me for awhile. ]]> Review7531246651 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:24:34 -0700 /review/show/7531246651 booked.with.julia gave 4 stars to The Best Worst Thing (Paperback) by Lauren Okie
The Best Worst Thing surprised me in the best way…sharp, heartfelt, and so deeply human.
Nicole’s journey through heartbreak, infertility, and rediscovery felt raw and real. I was frustrated with her at times with indecisions but I felt for her. Stuck between pain and possibility.
And Logan? I adored him. He’s soft, gentle and patient. A walking green flag wrapped in empathy.
This isn’t a neat romance. It’s messy, emotional and full of hard choices but it works.
Be sure to check any trigger warnings. ]]> Review7531229076 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:19:08 -0700 /review/show/7531229076 booked.with.julia gave 5 stars to The Man Made of Smoke (Hardcover) by Alex North
“Nobody sees. And nobody cares.��

Another amazing thriller from Alex North!
The Man Made of Smoke is a psychological crime thriller that gets under your skin, and stays there.
Dan is a criminal profiler haunted by trauma, grief, and a monster from his childhood that may not be as dead and buried as everyone believed.
Back on a remote island after his father’s suspicious disappearance, Dan finds himself unraveling more than just an old crime and peeling back memories that were never as safe as he thought.
With sharp writing and an unsettling chilling atmosphere, this one will grab you and not let go. ]]> ReadStatus9368935867 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:55:59 -0700 /review/show/7530262021 booked.with.julia wants to read Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin
]]> Review7526779517 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:16:46 -0700 /review/show/7526779517 booked.with.julia gave 5 stars to This Vicious Dream (Kingdom of Death #1) by Stacia Stark
Huge thanks to @thenerdfam and Stacia Stark for the gifted copy!!

This one wrecked me in the best way possible! I went in mainly blind and at that ending?!?! I need book 2 now!!!
This book is a spin off from the Kingdom of Lies series but can be read as a standalone. But now I’m definitely ordering the first book in that series!
⚔️ Rivals to Lovers
💀Touch Her and Die
🏰 Forced Proximity
🖤 Dual POV
🔥Slow burn
�� Banter
Madinia is a force. She’s clever, stubborn and feisty. And when a man comes crashing into her world she’s forced to choose…protect the grimoire she’s sworn to or take a gamble. ]]> Review7520217449 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 07:50:01 -0700 /review/show/7520217449 booked.with.julia gave 5 stars to Julie Chan Is Dead (Kindle Edition) by Liann Zhang
Thank you to @atriabooks for the early copy!

You guys!!! I read this book in one night. No breaks. Just chaos.

Imagine slipping into your dead twin’s influencer life, only to realize it’s a hellscape of cult like friendships, chilling secrets, and absolutely unhinged characters. It is dark, juicy, and absolutely addicting!!!
This book is for those that enjoy a messy narrator. Think dark humor, influencer satire, and a psychological spiral all wrapped up that makes you question everyone.
I definitely had moments where I said “what the hell is happening.�� And loved it.
]]> Review7520196797 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 07:31:44 -0700 /review/show/7520196797 booked.with.julia gave 4 stars to A Study in Drowning (A Study in Drowning, #1) by Ava Reid
]]> Comment289919546 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 07:28:40 -0700 /review/show/7428037266 booked.with.julia's review of Great Big Beautiful Life
by Emily Henry

I hope you enjoy it Charles! ]]> ReadStatus9349093859 Thu, 24 Apr 2025 18:46:34 -0700 /review/show/7516559845 booked.with.julia wants to read It's Not Her by Mary Kubica
]]> Review7513585824 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:55:01 -0700 /review/show/7513585824 booked.with.julia gave 5 stars to Dead of Night (Paperback) by Lisa Gray
I completely devoured this book. I’ve been a bit slumpy lately with reading and this book brought me out of it!
Lisa Gray really nailed the isolated atmosphere and creeping dread feeling.
Dead of Night follows Serena Winters, a mystery author grieving the sudden loss of her partner. She flees New York for a quiet, cliffside house in small town California. But the house has a dark past, and the town? Let’s just say, secrets don’t stay buried here for long.
This story hooked me with this slow burn of suspense and major twists. Secrets, tension and a cold case that won’t stay quiet…this one had me up late flipping the pages. ]]>