Monthly Archives: January 2024

Fantasy Review: The Bone Season

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Bone Season
Samantha Shannon 
🎧 Narrated by: Alana Kerr Collins
Book 3  of 2024

This is one of my good friend’s FAVORITE books, so when she decided to put a readalong together for the 10th anniversary edition, I jumped at the chance to read it with her!

I have been meaning to read this book for…years. Lucky for me, Dominique let me know all about Shannon’s plans to rewrite the books in this series and rerelease them, starting last year. So, if you don’t have a Dom in your life to keep you updated, what you need to know is that the new editions have a lot more added to them than the original books. So the 10th Anniversary edition isn’t just pretty…it’s kind of mandatory reading if you want to continue with the series!

The Bone Season has one of the most unique worlds I have read. It is complex and a little dense, but filled with absolutely fascinating characters. 

As is often my complaint…I could have used a little more romance – some pining, some longing looks, some grand gestures, SOMETHING. But that is not what Shannon was going for, so if you’re into books with lots of action, then you’ll love this one!

It kind of gives me Six of Crows meets Red Rising vibes, so I should probably give it to my husband to read…

[ book synopsis ]

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: is to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant, and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

It is raining the day her life changes forever. Attacked, drugged, and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine and also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

Debut Review: The Curse of Penryth Hall

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Curse of Penryth Hall
By Jess Armstrong
🎧 Narrated by: Emma Love 
Book 2 of 2024

Thank you to Minotaur books and Dreamscape Media for my review copies!

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a gothic historical murder mystery with a sprinkling of magic. This was a strong debut, and I loved her heroine, Ruby Vaughn. As a primarily romance and fantasy reader, I could have done with a little more of both. 

The relationships felt a little surface level, with either the backstory doing a lot of work or having a magical connection between them. Since I thought each of the characters were really interesting, I wished I had a little more “show, don’t tell” to show how the characters grew together. (Or back together.) 

The mystery definitely kept me guessing, but the pieces seemed to all come together with the big reveal at the end! 

🎧 The audio was fantastic. Emma Love’s accent is the perfect amount of atmosphere without losing clarity. She created a world of characters with her performance, and I enjoyed listening to her!

[ book synopsis ]

An atmospheric gothic mystery that beautifully brings the ancient Cornish countryside to life, Armstrong introduces heroine Ruby Vaughn in her Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall.

After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and house mate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her. When Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, she is brought back to the one place she swore she’d never return. A more sensible soul would have delivered the package and left without rehashing old wounds. But no one has ever accused Ruby of being sensible. Thus begins her visit to Penryth Hall.

A foreboding fortress, Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s once dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. It’s an unsettling place, and after a more unsettling evening, Ruby is eager to depart. But her plans change when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward is dead; he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. It also brings Ruan Kivell, the person whose books brought her to Cornwall, the one the locals call a Pellar, the man they believe can break the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses—or Pellars—but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next victim: Tamsyn.

To protect her friend, Ruby must work alongside the Pellar to find out what really happened in the orchard that night.

Romance Review: Say You’ll Be Mine

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Say You’ll Be Mine
Naina Kumar
🎧 Narrated by: Soneela Nankani 
Book 1 of 2024

Thank you PRH Audio & Berkley Romance for my review copies!

Say You’ll Be Mine was my first read of 2024 and it was an amazing start to my reading year! Author Naina Kumar utilized my current favorite trope – fake dating/engagement – to tell a sizzling and swoony story full of rom com hijinks. I absolutely adored the two main characters, as well as their surrounding cast of friends, and hope we get more of their stories! 

One trope that you quickly find out about is one that rarely works for me, but did in this circumstance. When the main character has a friend or romantic partner who is clearly using them or somehow just being toxic, I have such a hard time reading about it. In this case, you get to know about Meghna’s relationship with Seth, and you can see how she missed the signs that things had gone awry. This plot line was SO satisfying!

The romance was fantastic! You have a little grumpy/sunshine, a little opposites attract, and a lot of fake dating (but he is definitely falling fast). 

🎧 Narrator Soneela Nankani was an excellent choice for this book. Her narration brought life to all of the characters. 

[ book synopsis ]

In this utterly charming debut romance, a teacher with big dreams joins forces with a no-nonsense engineer to survive an ex’s wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Their plan? Faking an engagement, of course.

Meghna Raman’s parents wanted her to be an engineer, but instead she’s followed her passion, becoming a theater teacher and aspiring playwright. But when she discovers that her beloved writing partner, best friend, and secret crush, Seth, is suddenly engaged—and not to her—she realizes he’s about to become the one-that-got-away. Even worse, he’s asked her to be his best man. And worse than that, she’s agreed. Determined to try and move on and relieve a bit of the pressure she feels, Meghna agrees to let her parents introduce her to a potential match. Maybe she’ll even find the engineer her family wishes she became. . . .

Grumpy, handsome engineer Karthik Murthy has seen enough of his parents’ marriage to know that it isn’t for him. He only agreed to his mother’s matchmaking attempts to make her happy, never dreaming he would meet someone as vibrant as Meghna. Though he can’t offer her a real marriage, a fake engagement could help Meghna soothe the sting of planning Seth’s wedding festivities and Karthik avoid the absurd number of set-ups his mother has planned for the next year.

But as they find common ground, grow protective of one another’s hearts, and learn to fall for the flaws they thought they hated, an undeniable chemistry takes shape. Soon, Meghna and Karthik’s expectations and insecurities threaten to risk something that’s become a lot more real than they hoped.

Say You’ll Be Mine is a delightful trip back to the heyday of swoony romantic comedies from the nineties, but with a deep and poignant look at the effects of culture and family in our most intimate relationships.

3 for Thursday: 23 for ’23 Reviews

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For today’s 3 for Thursday, I wanted to give you 3 mini reviews for my last (non-holiday) 3 books that I read for the #23for23 challenge.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Tastes Like Shakkar 
By Nisha Sharma
🎧 Narrated by: Soneela Nankani, Vikas Adam 
If Shakespeare Was an Auntie, Book 2
Book 174 of 2023

This is the follow up book to Dating Dr. Dil, which I loved. I would encourage people to read the books in order, because you meet the side characters and get some set up for each book. (Speaking of which – I cannot WAIT for the next book!!)

My one small complaint is about the enemies to lovers trope. And truly, I don’t know if it’s this book in particular or if I’m burnt out on the trope after reading 10 in October & November. There’s a fine line between too much hate and too little, and this had too little for me. I say I like when she hates him but he likes her, but I needed a little more tension, the relationship seemed too easy. This might be because a lot of the drama centered around familial obligations, which hasn’t been something I’ve had to deal with much in my life. 

Perfect for: When you’re in the mood for something cozy and spicy. 

🎧 Narration was fantastic! 

A Lot Like Adios
By Alexis Daria 
🎧 Narrated by: Seraphine Valentine 
Primas of Power, Book 2
Book 164 of 2023

This could be read out of order, but I absolutely LOVED Book 1, so don’t skip it entirely! (I’m a sucker for a romance on a tv/film set.) Our couple is off in their own little bubble for most of the book, so while our FMC checks in with her cousins, we don’t have a lot of focus on the events of book 1. 

Gabriel is opening a new location of his incredibly successful LA gym. He finds out his dream marketing expert for his campaign is actually his ex-best friend, Michelle. When he reaches out, she agrees to work on his campaign – but only if he’s willing to stay with her in New York. You know, normal business stuff if you’re in a rom com. 

I adored the characters but the plot dragged a little. I almost enjoyed them more when they were working on their business project and actually talking to each other. Which might say more about myself as a reader than the book itself, but that’s where we really saw the character growth. 

🎧 Excellent on audio. 

Long Way Down
By Jason Reynolds
🎧 Narrated by: Jason Reynolds
Book 171 of 2023

Ok – something completely different! Lit fic, YA, and a novel in verse. I read this to complete the PopSugar Challenge, but it has been sitting on my shelf since it was published in 2017. 

After his brother is murdered, fifteen-year-old Will knows the rules: no crying, no snitching, revenge. The entire book takes place during his elevator ride down from his apartment. On the way down, he talks to the ghosts of victims of gun violence that he knew or knew of. It was beautiful, and powerful, and sad. 

🎧 I love listening to novels in verse by audio, and I loved listening to it read by the author so we got to hear how he wanted his work spoken. 

QotD: (pick one or both)
– Did you participate in the 23 for ‘23 challenge to read books by BIPOC authors with a BIPOC main character? If so, how did it go? 
– What was your most read genre last year? 

Finding New Releases

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A friend on Instagram asked me the other day how I find the books before they are released in order to request them. (Referring to my ARC lists and “Out this week” posts.)

The short answer: I spend almost as much time scrolling book lists as I do reading.

The long answer: I feel like being a reader is a combination of hobbies:
-actually reading
-finding books to read / adding books to your TBR
-buying books
…not to mention all of the add-on hobbies you could collect: book journaling, shelf arranging and decorating, book clubs, bookstagram, BookTok, etc…

But, to answer the actual question, I have a number of ways that I find out about books before they are released.

My main way now is through influencer marketing. For the publishers who I am on an influencer mailing list for, some of them will send us catalogs of upcoming books that we can then request. (Which is basically my dream come true?) I add everything that looks remotely interesting to my Goodreads “Want to Read” – which is an exceptionally long list. I try to request a more reasonable number of books, to varying degrees of success.

Even if you are not on Influencer mailing lists, you can browse Netgalley, which is a free website where you can start reviewing books if that is something that you want to do. (I talked a little bit about Netgalley in my “Book Mail” post on January 4th –  but am happy to share more if y’all are interested!)

My other favorite way is, of course, from you! When my friends and other bookstagrammers post reviews/features/other posts, I add the ones that catch my eye to my TBR. 

Even more common than browsing are me & Dani’s ARC group chats. People are so amazing about sharing books as they get added to Netgalley or other places we can get review copies from. (If you want to join, we’re posting sign ups on Friday!) 

But, before I had those resources, I was still someone who tried to keep up with what was coming out. 

Goodreads has a feature where they’ll email you a list of books coming out in the next month by author’s you have already read. Which is kind of overwhelming, honestly. But I still click through it and make sure that I haven’t missed anything! 

I also look at lists that Goodreads puts out – they’ll often have things like “50 summer romances” or “Hot new Sci-fi and Fantasy.” And I add most of them to my Want to Read shelf. 

Hope this helps! What’s your favorite place to go to for book recommendations? (Feel free to shout out your own blog or a friend’s – I’m looking for more to follow!)

Jan 23rd – Out this Week

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

I am so excited for this week’s new releases!! While a lot of people have an ebook, audiobook, and physical book going at the same time, I like to have a contemporary romance, historical romance, and fantasy going at the same time. 

🎁 The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka, Berkley Romance  
Contemporary RomCom | Pop Star

🎁 Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru, HarperTeen
YA Fantasy Adventure | Twist on Treasure Island

🎁 The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera, Harlequin 
Contemporary Romance 

🎁 Gothikana by RuNyx, Bramble
Romantasy | Reprint | Sprayed edges 

🎁 Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise, Forever 
Historical Romance

🎁 My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy, Balzer + Bray
YA Contemporary romance | LGBTQ | Musical theater

🎁 The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky, Harlequin
Contemporary Romance | Fake Dating 

🎁 Diva by Daisy Goodwin, St. Martin’s Press
Historical fiction

🎁 ARC/ ALC / free publisher mail

Are any of these on your radar?

PopSugar 2023 Wrap Up, 2024 Thoughts, and a Review

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What motivates you to read? Are you someone who likes to do challenges with prompts, like the PopSugar Reading Challenge? In previous years, I tried to keep track of my PopSugar Challenge progress on this blog, but always lost steam at some point in the year. I did finish the past 3 years! Each year, I entered December with a daunting list of prompts to fill: always the ones that I hadn’t found books that I was truly excited to read. And every year, it made reading feel like a chore. In 2023, I had just 3 prompts left to fill. But when the 2024 list was posted, I almost quit just because the 2024 is SO HARD for me primarily as a romance and fantasy reader.

Now, I’m not trying to tell y’all that PopSugar is terrible and we should all complain about the prompts. The Facebook group has been full of complaints all year that the prompts have been catering to us romance readers. So this year is just not our year, and I’m ok with that. 2024 will be my break year where I don’t have to worry about challenges with specific prompts! To see what goals I AM setting for 2024, see my post from the beginning of the year!

If you enjoy having prompts to help you pick which books you want to read, I applaud you (and may end up back with you by March, we’ll see!), and wish you the best of luck with your Challenge!

This is the second time I’ve used Nora Roberts to fulfill a reading prompt for a specific year/decade, and both were very much products of their time. While this book was kind of fun, there were some problematic elements that kept me from fully enjoying it. 

First – consent. Remember during the MeToo era when we were like “no means no” and that was like…revolutionary? Books like this is why that was revolutionary. If someone says stop and their partner does not IMMEDIATELY stop…ew.

Second – the male lead was Native American, which is cool for diversity and inclusion except when it was stereotypical and borderline racist. Now, maybe I’m stereotyping the 80s, but I was mostly pleasantly surprised by the representation with just a few throwaway lines that raised my eyebrows. I think the current rule of thumb is to include diverse characters but not write about the experience of being marginalized unless you have also experienced it. 

Have you read a Nora Roberts book that you loved? Please tell me so I can give her a fighting chance! So far, I have been suggested The Awakening series and Inheritance.

Jan 16 & 18 New Releases

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

This month has SO many amazing books coming out! These are on my radar, and are mostly fantasy & romance – with a couple thrillers and even a nonfiction book thrown in! I missed posting last week so swipe to see last week’s new releases!

16th

🎁 Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa | YA Historical Romance | Pride & Prejudice Retelling | LGBTQ
🎁 The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews | Historical Romance
🎁 The Fury by Alex Michaelides | Thriller
🎁 The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein | Historical fiction | Dual timeline
🎁 Valley Verified by Kyla Zhoa | Contemporary Romance
🎁 Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar | Contemporary Romance 
🎁 Our Hidden Conversations by Michele Norris | Nonfiction | Journalism

18th
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi | Fantasy
I Wish You Were Mine by Jessica Peterson | Contemporary Romance | Kindle Unlimited  

🎁 ARC/ ALC / free publisher mail

Are any of these on your TBR?

YA Fantasy Review: The Forest Grimm

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Forest Grimm
By Kathryn Purdie
🎧 Narrated by: Sarah Ovens 
The Forest Grimm, Book 1 
Book 163 of 2023

YA is such an interesting age range. Some books feel like they are written for 13 year olds, some for 16 year olds, and some for actual young adults. This one felt like “true” YA to me – the characters and stakes felt like it was written for teenagers. There wasn’t a lot of moral gray area, but characters did have to make big choices and show a lot of courage. 

All images shown were taken by me, featuring the Fairyloot edition of The Forest Grimm.

The Forest Grimm itself is filled with fairytale characters that you might find in the original Grimm’s versions – creepy but less moralistic. It was a fun play on the stories I was so familiar with. If you are a ‘fraidy cat like me, the creep factor was pretty mild, think a Disney original Halloween movie, not something truly frightening that will give you nightmares. (If I was a kid it might though – just wait until you meet Hansel and Gretel.) 

I read this as a buddy read with a friend over on the clock app, which was really fun. I had a prediction that I was ABSOLUTELY convinced I was right about – and I usually am when it comes to YA Fantasy. But Purdie surprised me! The reveal was logical but more surprising, and I really enjoyed that aspect. 

Overall, I’m on the fence about continuing this series. It’s good, but it’s definitely YA, and I’m not sure how much of that age range I will continue to read as I get so far removed from that target age group!

What’s a genre that you are hoping to read more (or less!) of in 2024?

2024 Diverse Reading Challenge

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See all of the resources on my Instagram highlights “Read Diverse”.

It’s that time of year where Bookstagram starts thinking of our 2024 reading goals. I’ve really enjoyed taking part in the 23 for ‘23 challenge this year, and wanted to make a similar challenge for myself in 2024! If this sounds like something that you would find helpful, I would love to have you join me!

Four themes:

💖Read Diverse: Set your own goal for what reading diversely will mean for you

💖BIPOC Authors: Books written by authors who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color

💖LGBTQIA+: Books written by authors who identify as part of the LGBT spectrum. Read about several identities in the spectrum or choose one to focus in on!

💖Diversity of Mind, Body, and Spirit: Books that explore a range of diversities. This can include but is not limited to, neurodivergence, physical disabilities, chronic illness, size diversity, and religious diversity.

✨Own Voices: Books written by members of a community about that community. While not all authors are open about their many identities, I encourage reading own-voice books as much as possible for this challenge!

Pick your challenge size:
✨ 12 books: 1 book per month
✨ 24 books: 2 books per month
✨ 52 books: 1 book per week

See all of the resources on my Instagram highlights “Read Diverse”.