bookish_aly_cat's reviews
330 reviews

Airabeth by Jojo Bee

adventurous dark fast-paced

5.0

I absolutely loved this book! Airabeth was the perfect dark fantasy that had me completely immersed in the world the author created. I loved the elements that seemed inspired by the seven deadly sins and the unexpected events that took place during the trials.

I really loved Nadia and Cruelty as characters and enjoyed how their stories entwined. I’m so glad that we got to see things from Cruelty’s perspective, even if it was only for a little bit. 

Read this you like:

🏹 Enemies to lovers

🏹 Underdog FMC

🏹 Slow burn

🏹 Sibling bonds 

🏹 Dangerous trials 

This book took me by surprise in the best way and I definitely need a sequel to this immediately. 

The House Hunt by C.M. Ewan

fast-paced

5.0

This book had me hooked from the very first page! This fast-paced thriller was intense and had me on the edge of my seat. I was so curious how the dual POV was going to play into the plot and it came together perfectly in the end. There were quite a few twists in this one that really had me flipping pages fast to see how it was all going to come together. 

Read this if you like: 

→ Psychological thrillers 

→ Tense atmosphere 

→ Dual POV 

→ Twists and turns 

I absolutely loved this one and if you are a thriller lover like me, you should enjoy it too. 

Thank you @grandcentralpub for sending me a gifted copy of the book. 

Never Keep by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

5.0

This book was outstanding! I couldn’t put it down! I was immediately drawn into the world and the story. I loved following Vesper and Everest and how their stories ended up coming together. Both FMC were layered and interesting, which had me highly invested and engaged the entire time. 

Read this if you like:

→ Dual POV

→ Enemies to lovers

→ Strong FMC’s

→ Romantasy 

The ending blew me away… It’s going to take some time to recover from the way the story left off. There is so much I loved about this book, but it’s hard to talk about any of it without give spoilers.

I highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out on September 24th. 

Thank you @thenerdfam for sending me a gifted copy of the book.

Daydream by Hannah Grace

4.0

This was a really cute, character focused read! I loved how relatable the characters were and I enjoyed seeing Halle and Henry’s relationship develop. 

It was interesting seeing how each main character had their own struggles and how it played into their relationship. 

Read this if you like:

→ Tutoring trope

→ Fake relationship

→ Bookish heroine

→ Opposites attract

→ Hockey romance 

If you are looking for a cute romance, I would check out the Maple Hills series if you haven’t already. 

Thank you @atriabooks for sending me a gifted copy of the book.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

4.0

This was such a fun and interesting read. I loved the mixed media format and the overall plot. The  characters and the complex storyline kept me completely engaged and the cult elements were entertaining to read about. 

In this book Amanda Bailey, true crime author, ends up looking for inspiration for her next novel from a 2003 case about the Alperton Angels.

Read this if you like:

🪽 Mixed media format 

🪽 Mystery stories

🪽 Cults 

Overall this was a fun read with lots of layers to the story and I was hooked until the end.

Thank you @atriabooks for sending me a gifted copy to review.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

4.0

This was a cute romance read. In this book you follow Cindy who ends up on a reality dating show only to realize that the suitor, Henry, is a guy she met on a plane.  

I loved Cindy as the Cinderella character in this reimagining. She was full of confidence and I enjoyed watching her find a way to follow her dreams in the fashion world. 

I liked the Bachelor style reality show setting and I found it to be interesting how it was  combined with the classic elements of the Cinderella story. 

Read this if you like:

→ Cinderella 

→ Fashion industry 

→ Plus-size rep

→ Reality show setting

If you are looking for a new spin on a Cinderella story, pick this one up. 

Layla by Colleen Hoover

4.0

Well, this was an interesting read. I went in completely blind so I had no expectations. That being said, it definitely kept my attention as I had no idea how it was all going to pan out in the end. Can’t say I’ve read a paranormal romance like this one. 

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

5.0

This was such a phenomenal psychological thriller! This dark and eerie story had me completely hooked from the very first page. The characters were so layered and believable and they really brought the story to life. Told through multiple points of view, this twisted story about family secrets is incredibly disturbing and hard to put down. 

Thank you @scoutpressbooks for sending me a gifted copy of the book.

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

5.0

This was such a fun, quick read. I loved how it was an original retelling of the classic story Beauty and the Beast, but it had small references to BATB throughout that made me smile. 

I really enjoyed the relationship between Izzy and Beau and how it felt like a natural progression, especially given their situation. It was paced perfectly. 

Izzy’s character didn’t feel very much like “Belle” to me, but I really didn’t mind. I think Beau’s “beast” character made for that. I loved the grumpy vs. sunshine dynamic. 

There was quite a few mention of snacks in this book. There were times this obsession they had with food was a little distracting from the plot, but it was amusing nonetheless. 

Read this if you like:

→ Beauty and the Beast 

→ Forced proximity 

→ Slow burn

→ Books about books 

→ Closed door romance 

→ Grumpy/sunshine

If you are looking for a book that will leave a smile on your face, pick this one up. 

Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne

4.0

This was a cute romance read! I enjoyed the astrological horoscope tie in and how it was all integrated into the plot. It was fun following the main character, Miranda, as she was on a journey to self discovery. The romance elements left me smiling, which is always a plus. 

In this book Miranda is declined tenure and is forced to take a sabbatical. She sublets her aunt’s place and decides to live her life following her astrological horoscope for the year, even though she has a career in science. This life change ends up being exactly what she needed.  

Read this if you like:

→ Slow burn 

→ Likable characters 

→ Grumpy/sunshine 

→ Women in STEM

→ He falls first 

I look forward to reading other books by this author. 

Thank you @gallerybooks for sending me a gifted copy of the book.