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bookishends's reviews
465 reviews
A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley
4.0
A Legend in the Baking was so fun! I had no idea it was the second in a series, so I definitely want to go back and read about the origins of Donovan and Jada’s love story and get more background information on Sugar Blitz. The story works well as an interconnected standalone, though, because I never felt like I was missing information that was vital to me understanding Sloane or August.
I thoroughly enjoy books where the main character has to decide what’s most important to them, and Sloane’s eagerness for a job definitely conflicted with her romantic feelings. I wish I had a rich sibling because I would take all the handouts with no complaint unlike her. August’s unresolved feelings from his divorce also laid great groundwork for his romantic hesitancy and his desire to step in the spotlight. Sloane was very headstrong while August was the laidback, stay-to-himself type, so I enjoyed seeing how they clashed, but how they also were able to lean on each other because of their differing strengths and weaknesses.
The teasing of the past early on made me interested to keep reading to find out what really happened between them. The flashback chapters were well-balanced and gave just enough of August and Sloane’s history to help us understand how close they had been and where everything went wrong. I did wish they were slightly longer though. I love a good will they, won’t they, especially because Slone and August both thought they knew what the other was thinking when they absolutely didn’t, but some of their thoughts about the relationship got a bit repetitive at times. August also got sexually harassed by his fans a lot, and I wish that had been addressed because it’s just skated over and accepted.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, and I would read more by the author. I would recommend it for readers who love forced proximity and main characters trying to work through their issues.
I Think They Love You by Julian Winters
4.5
Julian Winters’ adult debut did everything it needed to. It was funny and heartfelt, and the brown paper bag scene absolutely sent me. Sometimes it’s hard to write reviews for books I enjoyed so much because what else is there to say besides read it? But seriously, a trad romance with a Black, queer, male MC feels rare, so I need people to tap in so we get more of these. I really appreciated the moments in the story of Denz being aware of how the world sees him.
Second chance romance is my bread and butter, so I ate up Denz and Braylon’s attempt to navigate their relationship based on who they are as adults versus who they were in college. The scattered flashbacks were nice to give more context into their past relationship and how things went awry. One of the best parts of these kinds of romances is how often the characters get met with a similar situation from their first time together, and they can either course correct when they face it again or allow themselves to make the same mistake. Denz’ growth was wonderful to witness, especially because he spent so much of the book in conflict with himself and pushed it onto the people close to him.
There were so many elements of the book that I enjoyed, like the one bed trope, when characters who love romance lean into the big gesture, and the Carter Family Group Chat text messages. Denz’s family was large and in charge, so it was easy to understand why Denz felt so much pressure to present himself in a certain way. Even though his family can be the fun kind of messy, their support did make me tear up at one point.
Overall, if you like rom-coms, I would add this one to your TBR. You might also find yourself craving a french toast grilled cheese.
Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
5.0
Kennedy Ryan, the writer that you are. The woman that you are. The inspiration that you give. If I could just touch the edge of your keyboard *praise dance*. But seriously, I loved Yasmen and Soledad’s story, but without a doubt Hendrix’s was my favorite. As a childless 26-year-old, I related to and understood her the most.
Hendrix stood for nothing and no one getting in the way of her dreams, but I loved how she reassessed the best way to make her dreams come true without sacrificing the parts of herself that needed to be nourished and fulfilled. Black women are worthy of having it all, and Hendrix’s journey really emphasized that.
What a man Maverick was. And when I say a man, I mean a man. His interactions with Hendrix had me blushing and wishing I had a Black rich man to sweep me off my feet. He was so much more than his money though, and I admired that the attention and care he gave to his business extended to every interaction he had with Hendrix.
What I always love about the books in this series is that beyond the romance, the characters are dealing with real-life stuff. And boy did I cry a few times with what life was throwing at Hendrix. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that showed the realities of caretaking and how far-reaching the effects of Alzheimer’s are, so I appreciated getting that perspective. The ripped from the headlines plotline was also a great opportunity to show more of the real-life battles Black people are facing. But all those hard moments made the characters getting their HEA that much more satisfying.
Overall, Can’t Get Enough was one of my favorite books of the year so far. I cannot wait to dive into Kennedy’s backlist because her writing always delivers when I need it. I would definitely recommend this book for people who love to read about the independent MC finally letting someone take care of them and for those who love seeing the variety of the Black experience.
Hendrix stood for nothing and no one getting in the way of her dreams, but I loved how she reassessed the best way to make her dreams come true without sacrificing the parts of herself that needed to be nourished and fulfilled. Black women are worthy of having it all, and Hendrix’s journey really emphasized that.
What a man Maverick was. And when I say a man, I mean a man. His interactions with Hendrix had me blushing and wishing I had a Black rich man to sweep me off my feet. He was so much more than his money though, and I admired that the attention and care he gave to his business extended to every interaction he had with Hendrix.
What I always love about the books in this series is that beyond the romance, the characters are dealing with real-life stuff. And boy did I cry a few times with what life was throwing at Hendrix. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that showed the realities of caretaking and how far-reaching the effects of Alzheimer’s are, so I appreciated getting that perspective. The ripped from the headlines plotline was also a great opportunity to show more of the real-life battles Black people are facing. But all those hard moments made the characters getting their HEA that much more satisfying.
Overall, Can’t Get Enough was one of my favorite books of the year so far. I cannot wait to dive into Kennedy’s backlist because her writing always delivers when I need it. I would definitely recommend this book for people who love to read about the independent MC finally letting someone take care of them and for those who love seeing the variety of the Black experience.
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
3.0
All About Love was a thought-provoking read, and I enjoyed talking to others about our opinions on hooks’ conclusions. I liked how she broke down the definition of love and showed how much it’s lacking in a lot of our relationships and how we choose to live our lives. There were some things that didn’t land with me, like her thoughts on Monica Lewinsky and Nicole Brown, but in general, I could tell that Bell spent a lot of time marinating on these ideas and her beliefs. There was a lot of emphasis on childhood and the way we’re raised affecting our understanding of love, but because I had grown up being loved by my family and not just cared for, those aspects weren’t as relevant as they were in hooks’ life. I really agreed with her on her take about people choosing relationships without love because it’s less risky. And I appreciated that the book didn’t just focus on familial or romantic love, but how things like culture and the patriarchy have a far-reaching impact on our ability to love and recognize it. Overall, I thought hooks was thorough in her examination of love, and though it might not be a book I go back to again, it did make me think about things differently.
A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander
5.0
This was my first TJ Alexander book, and I absolutely loved it. I never grow tired of Regency romance, but this was such a fresh breath of air compared to the books I usually read in the genre that I need more. I had no idea how hilarious this book was going to be. When I say I was laughing so much, I mean giggling and kicking my feet at one in the morning. I never wanted to put the book down. I should also say I didn’t expect to cry, but some tears were definitely shed. So if you want a book that takes you on an emotional journey, this is the one.
The characters were a delight, especially Étienne, and I loved how particular Christopher and Harding were. Each was set in his ways but had to learn how to compromise with the other. The tension and secrets and connection between them was amazing, and I was practically vibrating with excitement reading their every interaction. This was also a real slow burn! When I say slow, I mean slowest to the nth degree. Exactly what I love to see, and it made it more delicious and satisfying when the romance finally happened.
One thing I really appreciated about the book besides the pining was its conversation around masculinity. Christopher experiences jealousy around what he perceives to be someone looking more masculine than him and also worries that his sexual attraction affects his manhood. Other characters had great insights on the topic to assuage his fears.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for those who love historical romances because it has all the hallmarks of the genre with a good twist that’ll warm your heart and give you inspiration to keep fighting for the life you want for yourself.
*Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.*
*Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.*
Say a Little Prayer by Jenna Voris
*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.*
5.0
This book was so good! The chapter titles alone had me hooked, but the characters and plot are what really kept me turning the pages. Riley’s mission to complete the seven deadly sins during church camp felt like such a unique premise, and I was interested in finding out her reasoning for it. Her growth and realizations over the course of the book made her a very complex main character, and I loved how something she was forced to do morphed into something that helped her.
For anyone that’s been to church camp (although thankfully Black church camp differed a lot from this one lol), it was like a walk down memory lane. The friendships you make. The weird challenges and activities. The secrets and inside jokes. A little doom and gloom.
I couldn’t stand Pastor Young, so I was completely on Riley’s side of trying to dismantle his reign. He was the perfect villain because even his most outlandish statements and behavior felt like something you could see in real life. He’s the kind of religious leader that cares only about keeping people submissive and living in fear, so the conflict of Riley liking his daughter Julia added great tension to the story.
Overall, this was such a fun story with a realistic ending and a great message about searching for the truth and accepting that people aren’t the bad things they’ve done. I would definitely recommend this for readers who love mission-oriented protagonists and female rage. And it’s a great book for teens struggling at churches where they’re afraid to be themselves.
*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.*