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.
Happy pub day! What are you looking forward to that comes out today or this week?
A note on the gift boxes: some of these books got on my radar because I was offered a widget on Netgalley that I did not end up accepting because obviously this is wayyyyy too long of a list for one pub day. I feel like it’s more honest to say that I was gifted a copy even if I didn’t download the free copy.
🎁 ARC/ ALC / free publisher mail
🎁 How You Get the Girl, by Anita Kelly @readforeverpub Sports Romance | Workplace romance | LGBTQ+
🎁 At First Spite, by Olivia Dade @avonbooks Contemporary Romance | Enemies to lovers
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.
Do you ever rate a book 5 stars and then see the Goodreads rating is like…3.5…and question both your taste in books and the taste of everyone on Goodreads?
Well, that’s currently how I feel about this book. I’m going to write my review before I dive in to see what everyone else has to say about it, so you’ll get my fresh, unfiltered opinion…
The Marriage Game By Sara Desai 🎧 Narrated by: Soneela Nankani Marriage Game, Book 1 Book 11 of 2024
I thought The Marriage Game was so much fun. It definitely gave me The Hating Game vibes, because our main characters were forced to share an office and started out enemies!
Layla has just returned home to her family in San Francisco, and wants to start a recruitment company. Her father says she can use the office space upstairs, but isn’t able to communicate with the person he was going to rent it to before he is hospitalized. So Sam Mehta, CEO of a corporate downsizing company, moves in. And they decided to make a bet – the winner gets the office.
They have the perfect enemies to lovers set up – everything about them clashes but they also are super attracted to each other the second they meet. I absolutely loved their banter.
Layla has also decided that she is done looking for true love through modern dating, and agrees to go on a series of dates with men that her father found on an online matchmaking website. Since it is tradition for her to be accompanied by a male relative, and her father is hospitalized and her brother has passed away, Sam decides to go with her on all of these dates.
Is it a bit silly, goofy, and cheesy? Absolutely. Kind of far fetched? Sure. Absolutely cartoonish villains? Yeah. But I absolutely eat up all of those things, I like my romcoms ridiculous. I love when there’s a bet and they watch each other on dates. This book is basically all of my favorite things.
In conclusion, I will not be reading the less than 5 star reviews, because it will hurt my feelings.
QotD: Do you ever read negative reviews of books that you love?
[book synopsis]
A high stakes wager pits an aspiring entrepreneur against a ruthless CEO in this sexy romantic comedy.
After her life falls apart, recruitment consultant Layla Patel returns home to her family in San Francisco. But in the eyes of her father, who runs a Michelin starred restaurant, she can do no wrong. He would do anything to see her smile again. With the best intentions in mind, he offers her the office upstairs to start her new business and creates a profile on an online dating site to find her a man. She doesn’t know he’s arranged a series of blind dates until the first one comes knocking on her door…
As CEO of a corporate downsizing company Sam Mehta is more used to conflict than calm. In search of a quiet new office, he finds the perfect space above a cozy Indian restaurant that smells like home. But when communication goes awry, he’s forced to share his space with the owner’s beautiful yet infuriating daughter Layla, her crazy family, and a parade of hopeful suitors, all of whom threaten to disrupt his carefully ordered life.
As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.
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 post is a friendly reminder for me and anyone else who needs it that Black History Month does not have be focused on Black pain, but can (and should) celebrate Black joy and Black accomplishments!
Last year when the #23for23 challenge began, I learned that while BIPOC authors are underrepresented in publishing generally, the romance genre is especially underrepresented. Across all genres, just 11% of traditionally published books in 2018 were written by BIPOC authors. However, romance novels only had 7.8% written by BIPOC authors (2021). Since 2021, there have been 0 Black romance authors on the NYT print and e-book bestseller lists.
My goal this year is to read at least 4 romances by BIPOC authors each month, with at least one being a book published this year! I would love to get more recommendations so I can continue to build my tbr!!
Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters are some of my all time favorite romcoms. I would start at the beginning, because I feel like you get to know the whole family unit and that just builds your enjoyment of each book. So, start with Get a Life, Chloe Brown!
Rebel was my first book that I read by Beverly Jenkins, and I can’t wait to read more of her backlist! If you like historical romance, she is an absolute must read.
I usually stick to less emotional romances, but when you want to have your heart cracked wide open in the best of ways, Kennedy Ryan is the writer for you. Before I Let Go might be the most optimistically heartbreaking book I have read. Her backlist is also on my TBR!
I am enough of a sap that The Wedding Date made me cry with joy. Twice. I’ve only read two of the books in this series so far, but I look forward to reading more!
This is my current backlist TBR – I think Pride and Protest will be up first because I just got the sequel sent to me from Berkley Romance.
These are my top 2024 releases. Do you have any recommendations for me to add to my backlist or 2024 release TBRs? I’d love to hear about them!
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.
Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for my review copies!
Bride By Ali Hazelwood 🎧 Narrated by: Therese Plummer Book 9 of 2024
I love Ali Hazelwood, and was super curious about what I was getting myself into with this vampyre & werewolf arranged marriage romance. It is somehow so quintessentially Ali Hazelwood though.
If you haven’t dipped your toe far into the paranormal romance scene, this is a great place to start. The worldbuilding is basically just our world but vampyres and werewolves. Our female MC, Misery, introduces you quickly to what you need to know about vampyres, but she has spent most of her time with humans and doesn’t know a ton about them herself.
I always fall in love with Hazelwood’s whole cast of characters – and they were extra fun as paranormal creatures.
The book does start with us finding out that Misery’s best friend and roommate has gone missing. I feel like this mystery element was balanced pretty well, while also giving us the paranormal worldbuilding and the romance!
The 3rd Act conflict was stupid but needed to exist, and the end was very satisfying.
🎧 Therese Plummer also narrated Love on the Brain, and her voice fits so well with Ali Hazelwood’s writing.
PS – Don’t worry, Misery is very knowledgable in computer science (and hacking), so we still have a STEM FMC.
PPS – I know I had a complete meltdown in my stories about a joke centered around a child doing things that developmentally were weird for her age. And I stand by that being a stupid joke, but overall I enjoyed the book.
[ book synopsis ]
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.
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.
Unladylike Lessons in Love By Amita Murray 🎧 Narrated by: Aysha Kala The Marleigh Sisters, Book 1 Book 8 of 2024
Thank you to Bibliolifestyle and Avon for my review copy!
Have you ever read a book that you *could not put down* but also weren’t sure you really liked it at all?
That is a very dramatic question to start this review, since I did not dislike this book overall! I absolutely could not put down Unladylike Lessons in Love, but there were a few moments that I truly disliked the book. And other moments that I really loved it.
What I loved:
-Lila, the main character, is fiercely protective of the people in her inner circle and has relatively modern sensibilities about romantic relationships and women working
-The author does not shy away from difficulties in the time period due to race, class, and disability
-The central mystery and conflict
What bothered me:
-The writing at times, especially during the romantic scenes. Some of the descriptions felt very odd to me.
-While Lila is helping Maisie and cares for her, she is also extremely judgemental and disgusted by the way Maisie has made a living for herself (s3x work)
Amita Murray has written many contemporary mysteries, and this is her first historical romance, so it makes sense that the mystery element was so strong. This is my first book from her, and I would love to read future Marleigh Sisters books!
QotD: What element of a book is most important to you?
📚 Character – dynamic, lovable, interesting, BA…?
📚 Setting – unique, realistic, vivid…?
📚 Plot – fast-paced, twisty..?
📚 Writing style – clear, poetic, unique…?
AotD: I like my characters to be sure of themselves and lovable!
[book synopsis]
Amita Murray takes us on a journey from the pleasure gardens of society to the dangerous streets of 19 th century London, in this spectacular romantic debut by an unforgettable new voice.
“Women mind their reputation if they want to marry. I don’t want to marry.”
As the eldest daughter of an English earl and his Indian mistress, Lila Marleigh knows what it’s like to be an outsider from “polite” society. As children, she and her sisters were wrenched from their home and sent to England, never quite accepted by those who claimed to care for them. Now Lila has set herself up as hostess of an exclusive gaming club, charming the ton that flocks to her establishment each night, though it shuns her by day.
One night, Ivor Tristram comes barging through her door, accusing her of being his father’s mistress. Lila defies his expectations at every step and convinces him to navigate London’s rat pits and pleasure gardens with her, in her quest to solve a violent crime.
As they set out together to uncover the truth, an irresistible passion ignites that will shake them to the core. Lila must fight to protect those she loves, yet the biggest threat is to the sanctity of the heart she has guarded so carefully all her life.
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
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.
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen Contemporary romance | Rom Com
From the publisher: In this charming rom-com about two star-crossed lovers, a woman whose life is guided by her belief in the red-string of fate finds her perfect match—but his skepticism about true love puts a knot in their chances.
From the publisher: A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance in which two debutantes distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents, and instead find their perfect match in each other—the lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap you never knew you needed!
From the publisher: THERE’S NOTHING AS GOOD AS THE RICH GONE BAD.
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
From the publisher: After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
Jana and Books 