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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)

Scythe & Sparrow

Brynne Weaver

4.0

adventurous challenging dark lighthearted fast-paced

Ruinous Love: A Trilogy

Genre: Dark Romance

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 2.11.2025

Pages: 416

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“It's okay to love your darkness and still love yourself. It doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you a whole one.”

I promised myself I’d wait to read Scythe and Sparrow since it’s the final book in the trilogy, and I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye. But once it was released on February 11, I couldn’t resist — I dove right in. No self-control whatsoever.

While this book felt slightly different from the others, it was still a highly enjoyable (and very dark) read. Even though I’m incredibly squeamish when it comes to anything involving eyes, the content didn’t bother me as much this time around. Does this mean I’ve finally gotten used to the dark romances that flood bookstagram? Definitely not, but I can’t deny how much I enjoy reading them.

Scythe and Sparrow was the perfect escape to distract my mind, and the author was right — you absolutely need to read the epilogue (don’t worry, there were no babies involved).

___

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Junie

Erin Crosby Eckstine

5.0

dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

F I V E ⭐️ S T A R S

Thank you, PRH Audio & Ballantine Books, for the gifted copy of June {partner}

Genre: Historical Fiction

Trope: Fantasy

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 2.4.2025

Pages: 368

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"I think the things left behind by the people we love got bits of their soul left in them."

Just thinking about Junie brings tears to my eyes. I knew it would be a powerful read, but I wasn't prepared for how deeply this story would resonate with me. June truly reminded me of the immense power of storytelling and how it can touch your heart in unexpected ways.

While reading Junie, I felt every emotion imaginable — anger, sadness, love, hatred — all woven into the narrative. There were so many moments when I cried out of anger, overwhelmed by the harsh reality that any person had to endure such suffering at the hands of others.

was captivated by Erin Crosby Eckstine's storytelling. Her ability to paint such vivid, beautiful descriptions of a land filled with darkness was breathtaking. What made it even more poignant was that Junie was inspired by a story passed down by Eckstine's great-great-great grandmother, which added a layer of profound significance to the entire narrative.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

Junie is narrated by Angel Pean, and what a narration it was - I could hear the emotion in Pean's voice as she told the story of Junie. Her voice was a gift, and I can't wait to listen to more audiobooks.

Read if you enjoy:

💛 Vivid details

📖 Pre-Civil War

🖤 Supernatural Element

😩 Complicated Friendships

😭 Emotional Reads

Juniee will be one of those books that stays with me for a very, very long time. If you choose to read it, I highly recommend (and insist) that you read the Author's Note at the end.

______

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The Other Side of Now

Paige Harbison

4.5

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

A must read for Summer 2025 ☀️

Thank you, St Martin's Press, for the gifted e-galley of The Other Side of Now {partner}

Genre: Fiction

Trope: Time Travel

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 6.3.2025

Pages: 320

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

I think the sliding door trope might be one of my favorites to read — I've always been fascinated by the idea of alternate lives and the paths we didn't take.

At first, I thought The Other Side of Now would lean more toward romance, but it was so much more. It wasn't just about romantic love; it explored familial love, friendship, and self-love. And woven throughout all of those were powerful themes of grief and forgiveness.

My heart ached for Meg more than once as she seemed so unhappy with her life. I really wanted her to find her own version of a happy ending, no matter which path she chose. While the ending didn't quite give me everything I hoped for, it did leave me with a sense of hope.

Read if you enjoy:

🫶🏼 Found family

🥹 Forgiveness

❤️‍🩹 Love & loss

🥰 Second chances

🏘️ Small town settings

I highly recommend adding The Other Side of Now to your TBR, especially if you enjoyed Rebecca Serle's One Italian Summer.

______

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The Hawthorne Legacy

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

4.5

mysterious fast-paced

Book 2 down!!

Genre: Young Adult

Trope: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 9.7.2021

Pages: 380

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

The Hawthorne Legacy picks up right where The Inheritance Games left off, diving straight back into the world of puzzle-solving with the Hawthorne family.

While this book felt a bit different from the first, I was prepared for that after hearing so many people say it would be. They assured me that book three takes off, and book four is the real standout!

I’m already hooked on this series, and it’s shaping up to be one of my new favorites. I can't wait to jump back into it next month!

______

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Trust Issues: A Novel

Greg Wands, Elizabeth McCullough Keenan

3.0

medium-paced

A Con Man + Two Entitled Siblings - what could go wrong?

Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of Trust Issues {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 1.28.2025

Pages: 336

Star Rating: ☆☆☆

I really struggled with the characters in Trust Issues. They were all morally grey and entitled, which made it tough to connect with anyone or really root for them. Based on how they were acting, I honestly thought the two main characters were in their 20s, not their 40s. It’s honestly a miracle they’d made it that far in life! Strangely, they reminded me of Alexis and David Rose but with way less charm or likability.

That being said, the ending caught me off guard. In the end, it felt like everyone got exactly what they deserved. And, in a twisted way, that was pretty satisfying!

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

The audiobook is narrated by Beth Hicks (who has also narrated A Shoe Story, Dirty Diana and Diana in Love). Her narration style is definitely what kept me hooked and listening!

Read if you enjoy:

🤫 Family secrets

💥 Sibling rivalry

🍿 Popcorn thriller

💰 Inheritance drama

______

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Dead Money

Jakob Kerr

4.0

mysterious medium-paced

Here’s a new debut novel to add to your reading list!

Thank you, PRH Audio and Bantam Books, for the gifted copy of Dead Money {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 1.28.2025

Pages: 416

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"Everything in our society - from the smallest thing to the biggest thing is driven by money. How long you live, how well you live, who you're friends with, what you eat, where you can go, how you get there. All the way down to the smaller stuff, like whether your son gets kicked off the team. All of it. It's driven by money."

I wasn't sure what to expect from Dead Money, but I knew I needed something fast-paced and gripping to break me out of my reading slump. Well, it did that — and then some.

At its core, this book explores one universal truth: our world is fueled by money. It explores the sacrifices, moral lines we cross, and consequences we face in our relentless pursuit of wealth. There were moments when it made me uncomfortable because it felt all too real. The author, with a background as a lawyer and communications exec in the tech industry, infuses the book with a sharp, authentic energy that truly stands out.

What made the story shine for me, though, was Mackenzie. Her character added the perfect depth to the plot. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way, hoping she'd see the redemption she so desperately sought.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆

The audiobook is narrated by Rachel Music, a narrator I wasn't familiar with before, but I enjoyed her style overall. There were moments when I struggled with how she handled a few of the characters, especially the pacing of their voices.

Read if you enjoy:

✌🏼 Dual Timeline

🧐 Complex Plots

📖 Debut Novels

👩🏽‍💻 Silicon Valley Tech

I recommend reading Dead Money if you think a whodunnit in the tech world would be enjoyable!

______

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The Snowbirds

Christina Clancy

3.5

slow-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It’s time to fly some place warmer! ☀️

Thank you, St Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy of the Snowbirds {partner}

Genre: Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 2.4.2025

Pages: 304

Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

“Women excel at remaking ourselves because we do it all the time. As women get older, they want men to change while men just want women to stay the same. We change all the time because we actually think about life as we go through it and we respond to it, we experience many Renaissances.”

I really wanted to love The Snowbirds, but something just felt off. I’m not sure if it was the characters, the storyline, or a combination of both, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The story had a very slow build, and it never really picked up the pace. I did connect with the FMC, Kim—her fear of being abandoned by her husband resonated with me. I genuinely felt for her. While I didn’t want Grant to die, I also felt that Kim deserved so much more than what she ended up with.

By the time the book concluded, I was left with a bit of a sour feeling. The ending just didn’t sit right with me.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

The Snowbirds is narrated by one of my absolute favorites, Karissa Vacker (seriously, she’s the best!), along with Graham Halstead, who’s also lent his voice to The Favorites, The Charm Offensive, and Eight Perfect Murders. I really enjoyed their narration, and I have to say, Graham’s portrayal of Grant was exactly how I imagined his voice to sound.

Read if you enjoy:

✌🏼 Dual timeline

‼️ Marriage in crisis

🫶🏼 Mature characters

🐌 Slower pace

___

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A Sea of Unspoken Things

Adrienne Young

4.0

slow-paced

Guaranteed to pull at your heart strings 🤍⁣
Thank you @delacortepress & @prhaudio for the gifted copy of A Sea of Unspoken Things {partner}⁣
⁣
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲⁣
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 🎧📖⁣
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏.𝟕.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓⁣
𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝟐𝟖𝟖⁣
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ☆☆☆☆⁣
⁣
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.”⁣
⁣
I always look forward to Adrienne Young’s books because they offer the perfect atmospheric escape. While her storytelling might feel slower for some, I genuinely enjoy how her plots unfold gradually and how she weaves together a rich tapestry of sights and sounds. A Sea of Unspoken Things was exactly that, and I admire how much Young managed to pack into just 288 pages.⁣
⁣
The only thing I felt was missing from A Sea of Unspoken Things was the usual magical element I’ve come to expect in her books. Instead, she focused on the unique bond between twins. While some may interpret this as magic, I believe it’s a deeply real and powerful connection.⁣
⁣
𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: ☆☆☆☆☆⁣
The audiobook is narrated by Christine Lakin - who has also narrated The Siren, The Heir Affair, and The Royal We. Lakin’s voice matched the mood of A Sea of Unspoken Things perfectly and added to the book’s overall atmosphere.⁣
⁣
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲:⁣
💛 Slow burn⁣
🌳 Atmospheric⁣
✨ Tiny bit of magic⁣
💞 Sibling connections⁣
⁣
I recommend reading A Sea of Unspoken Things if you enjoyed Spells for Forgetting.⁣

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story

Pagan Kennedy

4.0

emotional fast-paced

First up on my non-fiction reads of 2025 - The Secret History of the Rape Kit.

Thank you, PRH Audio, for the free copy of this book {partner}

Genre: Non-Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 1.14.2025

Pages: 237

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“When we drive through a tunnel or climb a flight of stairs, most of us don’t think about who designed the path that we’re traveling and how that person intended to shape our behavior and yet the infrastructure we use every day is constantly feeding us messages about who is important and who is not.”

Having worked with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault for six years, I found this book deeply compelling. I realized, with a sense of humility, that I had never really thought about the origins of the rape kit—who advocated for its development or where it came from. While I’ve reviewed evidence from these kits in the past, I never paused to consider the individuals who fought for its creation and use.

What I found particularly difficult to come to terms with, while listening to The Secret History of the Rape Kit, was the realization that much of what is discussed occurred in the not-so-distant past. And, if we’re truly honest, many of these issues continue to persist in our society today, especially in the way survivors of sexual violence are treated. It’s heartbreaking that being treated with respect and dignity after such an unimaginable violation is still seen as a privilege, rather than a fundamental right.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

Claire Danes narrates The Secret History of the Rape Kit with a calm, measured tone that balanced the emotional intensity of the story. Her voice makes the often difficult subject matter more accessible, allowing listeners to engage with the content while still feeling the weight of the narrative.

I recommend reading The Secret History of the Rape Kit if you’re looking to learn more about an overlooked moment in history.

____

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Say You'll Remember Me

Abby Jimenez

5.0

fast-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

F I V E 💎 S T A R S

Thank you, Forever Books, for the gifted copy of Say You’ll Remember Me {partner}

Genre: Romance

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 4.1.2025

Pages: 416

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Wow, Abby, was it really necessary to make me cry that much? I swear, I was sobbing through the last 50 pages, but in the best way possible. This book was something truly special.

The characters, their dynamics, and everything they went through to be together—there was just so much depth and heart.

Xavier Rush might just be my new favorite book boyfriend. He’s the ultimate cinnamon roll MMC: a sweet, caring vet who fell first, and had so much respect and love for Samantha and her family. Samantha was just as incredible—strong-willed, intelligent, compassionate, and trying her best to balance being a good daughter while navigating her own emotions and challenges.

I’ve read that this is Abby’s most emotional book to date, and I completely agree. There’s a lot of trauma woven throughout, but Abby handled it with such care and sensitivity. I do want to note a few triggers for anyone considering reading it: Alzheimer’s is a major theme in the story, and there are instances of parental neglect, child abuse, and animal abuse leading to death (which, though difficult, is a key part of the narrative). If anyone has concerns, I’m happy to point out where these moments occur.

Read if you enjoy:

❤️ Family dynamics

👏🏼 No third act break-up

🥰 Meet cute

✈️ Long distance relationship

🥹 All the emotions

I genuinely can’t wait for all of you to read Say You’ll Remember Me - it will be a favorite of mine for 2025 and for a long time to come.