There were aspects of this book that I initially liked. However I will be DNFing the series after this. Overall, I found the way sex was portrayed in this book to be problematic. Most obviously are the lines in this book about a sexual master/slave dynamic with a black FMC that made me uncomfortable, have made me decide to not continue with this series. I’m not commenting on that specific sexual dynamic. I am not going to yuck anyone’s kink, even if it’s not for me. However, a white author writing the inner monologue of a black woman that way set off some warning signals. Even putting that aside, the possession Dante had towards Simone felt like a major red flag, especially given her complete lack of experience. I understand that the characters in mafia romance generally tend to be walking red flags, however the second and third novels in this series had some softness to them still even despite the violence. That wasn’t the case with this book.
Then, shortly after reading this, some things about Sophie Lark making racist comments about immigrants and glorifying Elon Musk in her newest release came to light. As an author, I usually try to stay away from overly negative reviews. However I am not going to support authors whose views so clearly do not align with mine.
This book was less violent and had less red flags than the previous two books. I loved Nero and Camille together. The way Nero fell for Camille so easily despite how closed off he kept his heart was both sweet and heartbreaking. However I will no longer be reading this series or anything by this author. I detail this in my review of Bloody Heart, which I read shortly after this and before I got a chance to write this review. Some things came to light about the views held by the author, and although I don’t usually like to negatively review another author’s work, I also can’t in good conscious support someone whose views to not align with mine.
“On vacation, you can be anyone you want. Like a good book or an incredible outfit, being on vacation transports you into another version of yourself.” - People We Meet On Vacation
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the eARC.
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Only One Bed, Vacations, Opposites Attract, Non-Linear Storytelling, Slow Burn Representation: Mental Illness (Anxiety) Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶 CW: Death of a parent
Okay, so I absolutely loved this book—like truly loved it. From the first page, I was sucked in. The storytelling is captivating, alternating between flashbacks to previous summers and the current summer. Usually, I’m not a big fan of narratives that rely on this time-hopping style, but for this, it absolutely works. The way the flashbacks give a view of how loving their friendship was in the past contrasted against the strain in their friendship now is just haunting and makes you want to keep turning the page to find out where it all went wrong. And that was my question throughout the whole book: what went wrong? Once I’d gotten that glimpse of their dynamic in the first scene, I was desperate to find out how two people who fit together so well and have a connection that is just pure and raw and full of love could just fall apart. I can’t answer that question without spoiling it, but let me just say that how Emily Henry got to that answer was just beautiful. She really explored the depths of Poppy and Alex’s friendship, looked at the messy bits and the fun bits, and took me on a rollercoaster until I got the whole picture. One moment I was laughing, and the next moment I just wanted to wrap Poppy and Alex up in a blanket to protect them from the world (and sometimes each other). So, if you’re looking for a book that has witty banter, a beautiful friendship, just the right amount of steamy scenes, and that will give you travel envy, look no further than People We Meet on Vacation.
“Have you guys ever gotten the impression Dex is in love with Tripp as much as Tripp is in love with him, but he just doesn’t realize?” - Irresponsible Puckboys
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Sexual Awakening, Fake Dating, Marriage of Convenience, Accidental Marriage, Pining Representation: LGBTQ+ (Gay, Pansexual) Spice Scale: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ CW: Homophobia, Outing, Toxic Relationship
When I finished Egotistical Puckboy, my first thought was that if Tripp and Dex aren’t the protagonists of the next story, I’m going to be very sad. Thankfully, Eden and Saxon didn’t let me down on that front! I loved the slight twist on the marriage of convenience trope and how well it worked with their relationship. The Collective makes another and more prominent appearance in this, which was endlessly entertaining. I can’t wait to see more from them as a group. This book also had a bit more of an external conflict/villain, which worked really well. I adored both Tripp and Dex. The pining on Tripp’s end was sweet and heart aching at the same time. But Dex stole my heart. He was such a sweet, oblivious pansexual himbo. He was sincere, kind, and caring. He wore his feelings on his sleeve, even if he didn’t understand them all the time, and loved without hesitation, which made me melt. I think he is officially my emotional support himbo now. I’d protect him with my life.
Note (March 2025): Some things came to light about the views held by the author, and although I don’t usually like to negatively review another author’s work, I also can’t in good conscious support someone whose views to not align with mine.
“They brought me into a dark and dangerous world, and then they armed me with books, dresses, ballet slippers . . .” - Stolen Heir
Tropes: Mafia Romance, Dark Romance, Fairytale Retelling (Beauty and the Beast), Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Dancing, Age Gap, Foreign Languages Spice Scale: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ CW: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic Relationship, Suicide, Rape, Death, Grief
Stolen Heir was a surprisingly sweet and tender love story wrapped up in a dark, gritty, and captivating bow. Nessa is naïve but really comes into her own through this and discovers an inner strength without losing her kind and generous nature. I enjoyed how her love of dancing was woven throughout the story. It added a nice contrast to the revenge and murder. I loved the friendship she developed with Klara and how it allowed them both to grow outside of their shells. Miko may be tough on the outside, but his backstory is truly heartbreaking. Deep down, he is obviously a person who cares deeply and has just been hardened by immense trauma. However, throughout the book, you can see him really soften around Nessa. He is still a violent criminal, but he’s a cinnamon roll for Nessa, which I couldn’t help but love. I'll admit, I was a little on the fence about mafia romances after reading Brutal Prince (I'm a fluff girly at heart). However after this book, I’m starting to get it and am cautiously excited to continue reading the series.
Note (March 2025): Some things came to light about the views held by the author, and although I don’t usually like to negatively review another author’s work, I also can’t in good conscious support someone whose views to not align with mine.
”I’m going to take control of Chicago’s most wealthy and powerful district. And then I’m going to parlay that into mayorship of the whole damn city. Because that’s what Griffins do. We grow and build. We never stop. And we never get caught.” - Brutal Prince
This was my first mafia romance, so I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. Some things that would usually be red flags for me (toxic relationship, overly-controlling hero) were a little jarring, however not unexpected. That said, Brutal Prince was a fast-paced, easy read, and I was entertained while reading it. I loved the strong heroine, and her chemistry with Callum was great. It was definitely an escape from what I usually read, and I’m intrigued enough by the mafia setting and the writing style to continue exploring the series to see if I like it.
“Her life was about to change, in an amazing and magical way, but still. Change was big. Change was difficult. And Hunter wasn’t sure if she was ready.” - Spells Trouble
Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for the ARC.
Tropes: Witches, Paganism, Chosen One, Twins, Coming of Age Representation: LGBTQ+ (Lesbian) Spice Scale: 🌶🌶 (This may be surprising for YA. I explain in my review.) CW: Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Sexual Content, Toxic Relationship, Bullying
When I was a teenager, I fell in love with The House of Night Series, so, when I saw that P.C and Kristin Cast were coming out with a new series focused on witches, I knew I had to read it. The thing I liked most about Spells Trouble is the world-building. Now, anyone who’s studied the Salem Witch Trials knows that the women accused of witchcraft were not “actual” witches, but in the case of Spells Trouble, at least one was: Sarah Goode. And that’s where this book starts. The prologue opens with her imprisonment and subsequent escape using magic. As someone who both read and was in a production of The Crucible in high school, I loved this nod to historical events. The magic system seemed to be heavily inspired by modern Wicca, paganism, and witchcraft. The way the Casts describe spell work and the Goode girl’s connection to magic felt very real to me. It was well thought out and well researched, and it made reading it really enjoyable. There was only one real warning I have. It’s a bit of a spoiler, but there’s a surprisingly in-detail sex scene in the middle of the book. It wasn’t terribly graphic, but this is marketed as a young adult book, and the characters are teenagers. So as an adult reading it, I felt uncomfortable. It especially didn’t help that Mercy’s boyfriend is misogynistic, and I spent more time than I would have liked waiting to find out if she would end up kicking him to the curb.
A lot of people are saying that this gives off RWRB vibes, and I will admit that that is one of the main reasons I picked it up. But now that I’ve read it, I can say that the fact that an American falls in love with a Prince is the only thing these two books have in common. Playing the Palace isn’t trying to be Red, White & Royal Blue. It is entirely its own thing, and that thing is a wonderfully campy, messy, fairytale-esque tale of insta-love between two opposites. I don’t read a lot of insta-love stories (I’m such a sucker for a slow burn), and I will admit that I have a feeling that this book didn’t get a lot of royal protocol strictly correct. But sometimes, it’s nice to take a break from the tension and drama of real life, and that’s what Playing the Palace is. It’s an escape. Sometimes you just want to read a story about two people falling head over heels in love. Now, that’s not to say there isn’t any drama in this story—because there is. Carter and Edgar have to figure out how to navigate their relationship in the public eye, and there are many bumps along the way, mainly because, as I said, Carter is kind of a neurotic mess, and he doesn’t quite know when to keep his mouth shut. However, all of that drama that ensues is still lighthearted and is bound to make you laugh (sometimes from second-hand embarrassment). Overall, this story was absolutely adorable, and if you’re looking for a quick read that will make you laugh and has fantastic side characters, I definitely recommend it.
”But on the drive back the sun comes out and I’m feeling quite… positive. I wonder if I could live up here. Not forever, that doesn’t seem realistic. But I could definitely stay up for the summer, couldn’t I?” - The Bookshop of Second Chances
Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: Love After Divorce, Small Town, Vacation, Book Shop Spice Scale: 🌶 CW: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Mentions of Death
After a divorce and losing her job, a move to Scotland is exactly what Thea needed. She starts making friends with the locals, finds joy in restoring her great uncle’s house, and even convinces Edward, the grumpy owner of the local bookshop, to give her a job. Although he hides his feelings for quite a while under a prickly exterior, from the beginning, it’s easy to see that Thea has an effect on Edward that no one else has. He hires her at the bookshop, despite never hiring women, he takes her to his little beach shed, and he buys her little presents whenever he goes out of town to buy or sell books. Despite how banter-filled and sassy most of their interactions are, it’s obvious how smitten he is with her—at least to everyone except Thea. In terms of characters, I liked Thea, but I can’t quite decide how I feel about Edward. There were moments that I liked him, but there are some pretty significant red flags that are kind of hard to ignore and made it a little difficult to fully buy him and Thea as a couple. But overall, I liked to story. The plot is slow, but after reading a few fast-paced books, I enjoyed the change of pace. There are also several plot lines to follow besides the developing relationship between Thea and Edward—like Edward’s feud with his brother and Thea’s healing process dealing with the aftermath of her messy breakup—which made the book feel fully developed.
“This is what I never knew about loss—it’s also about what you gain. You carry a weight that you never had before. It’s never behind you. It’s alongside you.” - Just Last Night
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for the e-ARC.
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Love Triangle, Found Family, Best Friend’s Sibling Spice Scale: 🌶 CW: Death, Grief, Panic Attack, Past Abuse
This is one of those books that I think is going to stay with me for a while. When I read the blurb on NetGalley, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect—maybe some pining, intrigue, and uncovered secrets, a new love interest that changes the main character’s outlook on everything. And I did get that, but I also got a poignant look at loss, grief, and guilt and how those can affect even the tightest knit friendships and relationships. I think what I enjoyed the most is how powerful the relationships are in this story. While there is quite a bit of plot, the relationships between the characters really drive the narrative. The portrayal of the friendship between Eve, Ed, Susie, and Justin isn’t just a rose-colored view of friendship. Yes, their friendship is full of fun and laughter, but it’s also raw and honest and messy. When Susie’s brother Finlay enters the scene, we get a look at the complexity of sibling relationships and how two people living through what seems like the experience can come out of it with two completely different versions of events. The romance in this is slow to start, only really beginning in the second half of the book, but it’s set up well and resolves nicely. It isn’t what drives the book, which I actually really enjoyed. Just One Night takes a complicated and messy topic and manages to combine it with a sweet, slow-burn romance in a beautiful and powerful way.