danielghurst's reviews
412 reviews

Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson

5.0

I love everything Shaun David Hutchinson writes, and BEFORE WE DISAPPEAR is no exception. Jack and Wil are such sweeties despite their dark lives. I enjoyed the magical love story and the historical setting with its anachronistic flair.

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales

5.0

NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER is the reality show sapphic romcom of your dreams. Sophie Gonzales knows how to tell a good story and always manages to find the humor in the heartache. Her latest book is no exception. The central story is a lot of fun, and I love how the supporting characters fall neatly into stereotypes but reveal layers and build nice relationships throughout the book.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

5.0

Emily Henry writes top tier banter! This book is very funny and has a compelling story...a twist on the Hallmark romcom.

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

5.0

I loved this! It really captures that Raymond Chandler/Dashiell Hammett style but much gayer. Without spoiling much, it has potential to be the start of a series, and I'd definitely read whatever's next. :)

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall

PARIS DAILLENCOURT IS ABOUT TO CRUMBLE by Alexis Hall is a romantic comedy that takes place over the course of a television baking competition. The story starts as a standard Alexis Hall delightful romcom with the perfect balance of rom and com. I appreciated reading Paris's highly  anxious perspective, but some readers may find it frustrating. This book also breaks genre conventions in some important ways FYI!

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

This is a really interesting story. It's a missing person story and also a family drama told in multiple timelines from several points of view. It starts a little slow to where you start wondering where it's all headed, but everything comes together in the second half. The writing is solid, and the themes are strong.

Season of the Witch by Sarah Rees Brennan

5.0

SEASON OF THE WITCH does a great job capturing the tone and themes of the series on which it's based. A solid read full of teen angst and witchy adventures. The narrators of the audiobook are fantastic too!

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

KISS HER ONCE FOR ME by Alison Cochrun is a sapphic Christmas romcom that cleverly uses the fake dating trope as a backdrop for a second chance romance. It has lots of classic Christmas moments, like a snowball fight, baking, skiing, and getting snowed in, which will give readers the vibes their seeking. We also meet several quirky but lovable characters and get references to at least a dozen Christmas songs as well as pop music from the aughts. Go into this book expecting a full, unironic embrace of millennial culture, including music, slang and phrases, and even what the characters refer to as a "normcore" lifestyle.

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

5.0

So cute and a bit spooky! Perfect Halloween read for middle graders!

The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park

THE CHRISTMAS CLASH by Suzanne Park is a mash-up of ROMEO AND JULIET and a Hallmark Christmas movie, all centered around a struggling mall. It's a cute and breezy read featuring an enemies-to-lovers romance and an underdog story of small businesses standing up to big landlords. I especially loved reading Chloe's reflections on her Korean immigrant parents and being a first generation Korean-American.