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judeinthestars's reviews
1384 reviews
The Freezer by Kim Hunt
The Quarry, which I read in 2023, stayed on my mind for months after I finished it and is still a book I recommend often. As usual, I don’t remember much of the story but I remember the feelings it caused. So when I got the opportunity to review the third Cal Nyx book, The Freezer, as part of New Zealand Book Month, I agreed without hesitation. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one haunted my dreams for a while too, now.
The word that first came to me for this book is the same as for the previous one: gritty. It fits the story, the MC, the environment, the air. As a Park Ranger in the New South Wales bushland, Cal is in prime position to stumble upon dead bodies and I almost wish I hadn’t read the description of the one in The Freezer. From what I’ve read so far, Kim Hunt isn’t prone to gratuitous gore or violence. If it’s in the book, it’s moving the story forward.
While the official investigation into what quickly turns out to be a rather old murder is led by her lover DI Liz Scobie, Cal looks into getting information from locals who might be wary of the police. At the same time, her foster brother Dif is still the target of transphobic attacks by the police officer against whom he lodged a complaint.
Neither storyline lends itself to levity, both are rough and raw and real. Hunt brings humour in flirty banter between Cal and Scobie, and these brief detours are enough to give Cal greater emotional depth.
Some descriptions of Dif’s work on cars or of Cal’s survival skills felt a tad long and slowed down my reading but I otherwise rather enjoyed the pace of the story.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Quarry, which I read in 2023, stayed on my mind for months after I finished it and is still a book I recommend often. As usual, I don’t remember much of the story but I remember the feelings it caused. So when I got the opportunity to review the third Cal Nyx book, The Freezer, as part of New Zealand Book Month, I agreed without hesitation. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one haunted my dreams for a while too, now.
The word that first came to me for this book is the same as for the previous one: gritty. It fits the story, the MC, the environment, the air. As a Park Ranger in the New South Wales bushland, Cal is in prime position to stumble upon dead bodies and I almost wish I hadn’t read the description of the one in The Freezer. From what I’ve read so far, Kim Hunt isn’t prone to gratuitous gore or violence. If it’s in the book, it’s moving the story forward.
While the official investigation into what quickly turns out to be a rather old murder is led by her lover DI Liz Scobie, Cal looks into getting information from locals who might be wary of the police. At the same time, her foster brother Dif is still the target of transphobic attacks by the police officer against whom he lodged a complaint.
Neither storyline lends itself to levity, both are rough and raw and real. Hunt brings humour in flirty banter between Cal and Scobie, and these brief detours are enough to give Cal greater emotional depth.
Some descriptions of Dif’s work on cars or of Cal’s survival skills felt a tad long and slowed down my reading but I otherwise rather enjoyed the pace of the story.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
For Love and Blood and Fury by J.J. Arias
For Love and Blood and Fury isn’t the first poly romance novel I’ve read, but it’s the first I believe. Told through the points of view of the three main characters, it follows Elena, a many-centuries old vampire; Zuri, the witch that got away; and Marisol, a young nurse with powers she is unaware of until an attempt on Elena’s life brings them together.
All three are strong, independent women, with very different personalities, and they all stand on their own two feet. Together however, they’re more. Together they form a new whole.
J.J. Arias manages the tour de force of making most of the scenes involving the three of them at once super hot and super sweet and tender. If I, at times, wished there’d been more getting to know one another and maybe a tiny bit less sex (sacrilegious, I know), I now hope it will happen in the second book (Blood From the Marrow, announced for release on October 17th). In this one, they’re still in the lust-dominated discovery phase, full of wonder and desire. I loved how Arias wrote the various relationships—Elena/Zuri, Elena/Marisol, Zuri/Marisol, Elena/Marisol/Zuri—and the impact they each have on the others. I can’t wait to see how they develop.
As usual, I focused most of my review on the characters, but spice isn’t the only kind of action happening. As the head of Miami’s vampire cartel, Elena has enemies and competition, and the line between loyalty and betrayal is sometimes thin. Zuri has her own issues with her coven, and Marisol… Well, Marisol finds herself in an identity crisis, and trying to understand who you are while running for your life and having a lot of sex isn’t easy, apparently. But it is exciting.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and am looking forward to reading the next one in October. The audiobook of For Love and Blood and Fury will be released in June, and I plan on refreshing my memory with it before the sequel comes out, though I don’t know if I’ll be able to listen to it in public…
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For Love and Blood and Fury isn’t the first poly romance novel I’ve read, but it’s the first I believe. Told through the points of view of the three main characters, it follows Elena, a many-centuries old vampire; Zuri, the witch that got away; and Marisol, a young nurse with powers she is unaware of until an attempt on Elena’s life brings them together.
All three are strong, independent women, with very different personalities, and they all stand on their own two feet. Together however, they’re more. Together they form a new whole.
J.J. Arias manages the tour de force of making most of the scenes involving the three of them at once super hot and super sweet and tender. If I, at times, wished there’d been more getting to know one another and maybe a tiny bit less sex (sacrilegious, I know), I now hope it will happen in the second book (Blood From the Marrow, announced for release on October 17th). In this one, they’re still in the lust-dominated discovery phase, full of wonder and desire. I loved how Arias wrote the various relationships—Elena/Zuri, Elena/Marisol, Zuri/Marisol, Elena/Marisol/Zuri—and the impact they each have on the others. I can’t wait to see how they develop.
As usual, I focused most of my review on the characters, but spice isn’t the only kind of action happening. As the head of Miami’s vampire cartel, Elena has enemies and competition, and the line between loyalty and betrayal is sometimes thin. Zuri has her own issues with her coven, and Marisol… Well, Marisol finds herself in an identity crisis, and trying to understand who you are while running for your life and having a lot of sex isn’t easy, apparently. But it is exciting.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and am looking forward to reading the next one in October. The audiobook of For Love and Blood and Fury will be released in June, and I plan on refreshing my memory with it before the sequel comes out, though I don’t know if I’ll be able to listen to it in public…
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
The Black Bird of Chernobyl by Ann McMan
We’re living through some pretty fucked up times (yeah, I know, understatement), but Ann McMan might be the antidote to (at least some of) it. In a world led by idiocy and ignorance, McMan’s wit is at once refreshing and therapeutic.
Lilah Stohler is a lot more interested in death than she is in life. I mean, life sucks, right? As the new director of the family funeral home, she excels “downstairs”. To help with dealing with the living, her dad, just before leaving the business to his daughter, hired Sparkle Lee Sink, who, at least on the surface, is everything Lilah isn’t. She’s warm, she’s kind, she cares, and she bakes the most delicious ginger chews. Lilah hates her at first sight, obviously. Add to that undesired Instagram fame after a smartass teen dubs Lilah the Black Bird of Chernobyl and hard decisions regarding whether to sell or keep going, and a trip to the National Funeral Directors Associations in Las Vegas feels like the perfect break.
I am such a huge fan of Lilah Stohler. She’s intense, she’s clever, she wields the driest sense of humour like a shield, behind which she hides her fear of being loved, of being seen, as much as she hopes for it. And sure, I love Sparkle, but Sparkle’s easy to love. Lilah, however, is an acquired taste, and I love that McMan didn’t simply write her as misunderstood. She’s a lot mellower than she wants people to know, but she’s also not a complete stranger to bitchiness.
While The Black Bird of Chernobyl is a romance, and the Grumpy/Sunshine interactions are a lot of fun (that’s where the narration shines), my favourite parts include the beautifully-written secondary characters. From death’s delivery man Dash and his Ford Transit Van to the Freeman brothers (who aren’t brothers at all), from Rita Kitty, hairdresser to the dead, to Lilah’s family (including her younger sister Frankie, whom we met in The Big Tow), they’re all delightful. My absolute favourite, however, is Kay Stover, the funeral home business manager, who calls out Lilah on her BS while always having her back. All these relationships are infused with so much love, mixed with the best banter and sarcastic retorts.
Is it too much at times? Yes. Did I mind? Hell no. I needed the laughs, I needed the quips, I needed the smarts. And I needed the gentleness and the vulnerability Lilah had been fighting to ignore until she got wiser. My heart rejoiced in the warmth (despite one completely heartbreaking twist) and my brain in feeling its wheels in action.
If I believed in star ratings, I’d acknowledge that I’m probably slightly overrating this book, but since I don’t, I’ll overrate if I want to.
Video review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHEU2zCIa82/
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
We’re living through some pretty fucked up times (yeah, I know, understatement), but Ann McMan might be the antidote to (at least some of) it. In a world led by idiocy and ignorance, McMan’s wit is at once refreshing and therapeutic.
Lilah Stohler is a lot more interested in death than she is in life. I mean, life sucks, right? As the new director of the family funeral home, she excels “downstairs”. To help with dealing with the living, her dad, just before leaving the business to his daughter, hired Sparkle Lee Sink, who, at least on the surface, is everything Lilah isn’t. She’s warm, she’s kind, she cares, and she bakes the most delicious ginger chews. Lilah hates her at first sight, obviously. Add to that undesired Instagram fame after a smartass teen dubs Lilah the Black Bird of Chernobyl and hard decisions regarding whether to sell or keep going, and a trip to the National Funeral Directors Associations in Las Vegas feels like the perfect break.
I am such a huge fan of Lilah Stohler. She’s intense, she’s clever, she wields the driest sense of humour like a shield, behind which she hides her fear of being loved, of being seen, as much as she hopes for it. And sure, I love Sparkle, but Sparkle’s easy to love. Lilah, however, is an acquired taste, and I love that McMan didn’t simply write her as misunderstood. She’s a lot mellower than she wants people to know, but she’s also not a complete stranger to bitchiness.
While The Black Bird of Chernobyl is a romance, and the Grumpy/Sunshine interactions are a lot of fun (that’s where the narration shines), my favourite parts include the beautifully-written secondary characters. From death’s delivery man Dash and his Ford Transit Van to the Freeman brothers (who aren’t brothers at all), from Rita Kitty, hairdresser to the dead, to Lilah’s family (including her younger sister Frankie, whom we met in The Big Tow), they’re all delightful. My absolute favourite, however, is Kay Stover, the funeral home business manager, who calls out Lilah on her BS while always having her back. All these relationships are infused with so much love, mixed with the best banter and sarcastic retorts.
Is it too much at times? Yes. Did I mind? Hell no. I needed the laughs, I needed the quips, I needed the smarts. And I needed the gentleness and the vulnerability Lilah had been fighting to ignore until she got wiser. My heart rejoiced in the warmth (despite one completely heartbreaking twist) and my brain in feeling its wheels in action.
If I believed in star ratings, I’d acknowledge that I’m probably slightly overrating this book, but since I don’t, I’ll overrate if I want to.
Video review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHEU2zCIa82/
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Outsider by Jade Du Preez
Depending on how you’re doing, this impressive debut novel may be captivating, cathartic, or terrifying. Or a mix of all that, as it was for me.
Antoinette—Ana—Kutsuki is the daughter of a hideously rich Japanese businessman and a French Canadian ski instructor, whose death in New Zealand when Ana was a child is still very much weighing on her now twenty-seven-year-old daughter. Torn between two worlds, never feeling like she belongs, Ana is the epitome of the tortured artist, depressed yet sensing artistic possibilities in everything. Despite her wealth, despite being in a position to explore her art and let her talents flourish, despite the obvious love of her childhood friend become husband, her life feels incomplete, seldom worth living.
Ana’s character could have come across as self-indulgent. Excellent writing makes her relatable instead. And when she meets the star of a Tokyoite gender bending host bar, the volatile equilibrium slowly shatters as a nagging sense of déjà vu settles over her.
I rarely include content warnings in my reviews but since I’m wholeheartedly recommending this book, readers should be aware that it touches on topics such as suicidal thoughts, grief, death of a parent, depression… These and other important and challenging issues are also what make this story so good. One of the most complex and compelling aspects is the fact that Kyou is unregistered and as such, virtually nonexistent. Because of that, she’s stuck in the only job she could get, has no access to healthcare, no bank account, no passport, etc.
The title, Outsider, applies to Ana and Kyou both, the former as a biracial, tormented artist, the latter by law. Both outsiders in their own lives, in completely different ways, through opposite circumstances. While their story could fall under the opposites attract trope, it’s this shared condition that seems to bring them together.
The imbalance of power between Ana and Kyou is colossal but not always where it’s expected. The story is also told through the point of view of two other characters: John, Ana’s Australian husband who tries to forget his feelings of inadequacy through video games, and Miu, Kyou’s mother, who stopped talking some thirty years ago and lives on an island inspired by Naoshima, a fishermen village turned art gallery.
Outsider is a demanding book. It’s slow-paced, it’s sombre, it’s also dizzying at times. I don’t know if I would have made time to read it if not for Moni Henni Günther, as an admin of the Southern Cross Sapphic Readers and Authors group on Facebook, bringing to my attention that March is New Zealand Book Month, but I’m very grateful I did. I’m pretty sure it will stay on my mind for a long time while I examine what it means to exist—as a person and in a society—to love, to create.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Depending on how you’re doing, this impressive debut novel may be captivating, cathartic, or terrifying. Or a mix of all that, as it was for me.
Antoinette—Ana—Kutsuki is the daughter of a hideously rich Japanese businessman and a French Canadian ski instructor, whose death in New Zealand when Ana was a child is still very much weighing on her now twenty-seven-year-old daughter. Torn between two worlds, never feeling like she belongs, Ana is the epitome of the tortured artist, depressed yet sensing artistic possibilities in everything. Despite her wealth, despite being in a position to explore her art and let her talents flourish, despite the obvious love of her childhood friend become husband, her life feels incomplete, seldom worth living.
Ana’s character could have come across as self-indulgent. Excellent writing makes her relatable instead. And when she meets the star of a Tokyoite gender bending host bar, the volatile equilibrium slowly shatters as a nagging sense of déjà vu settles over her.
I rarely include content warnings in my reviews but since I’m wholeheartedly recommending this book, readers should be aware that it touches on topics such as suicidal thoughts, grief, death of a parent, depression… These and other important and challenging issues are also what make this story so good. One of the most complex and compelling aspects is the fact that Kyou is unregistered and as such, virtually nonexistent. Because of that, she’s stuck in the only job she could get, has no access to healthcare, no bank account, no passport, etc.
The title, Outsider, applies to Ana and Kyou both, the former as a biracial, tormented artist, the latter by law. Both outsiders in their own lives, in completely different ways, through opposite circumstances. While their story could fall under the opposites attract trope, it’s this shared condition that seems to bring them together.
The imbalance of power between Ana and Kyou is colossal but not always where it’s expected. The story is also told through the point of view of two other characters: John, Ana’s Australian husband who tries to forget his feelings of inadequacy through video games, and Miu, Kyou’s mother, who stopped talking some thirty years ago and lives on an island inspired by Naoshima, a fishermen village turned art gallery.
Outsider is a demanding book. It’s slow-paced, it’s sombre, it’s also dizzying at times. I don’t know if I would have made time to read it if not for Moni Henni Günther, as an admin of the Southern Cross Sapphic Readers and Authors group on Facebook, bringing to my attention that March is New Zealand Book Month, but I’m very grateful I did. I’m pretty sure it will stay on my mind for a long time while I examine what it means to exist—as a person and in a society—to love, to create.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Graceless by Ruby Landers
What a pleasure it is to have at last dived into this series! Every character is so special and layered, flawed but trying their best.
Savannah and Brynn are enjoying married life and being a family—with a new baby on the way—when Savannah’s half-sister suddenly shows up. Despite Savannah financially supporting her estranged family, Cassidy, mad as a kitten, seems to hold her responsible for ruining her life. Still, the star welcomes her into her home, intent on trying to understand the younger woman. As weeks and months pass, Cassidy gets to know her sister and her family better. A family that includes Savannah’s son Tucker’s nonbinary nanny, Lane…
Unlike Savannah and Brynn, who were decidedly adults in Falls From Grace, this second book has a more New Adult feel. Cassidy, in particular, appears—at least at first—both sheltered and bitter beyond her age. You know how it’s said that you can only make a first impression once? Lucky for Cassidy, Savannah and her family are willing to look beyond the petite and pretty but resentful young woman, whose sharp tongue doesn’t hide how lost she is. Once the feral kitten façade starts slipping, Cassidy turns out to be a more than decent person, and her character growth is heartwarming and inspiring. And then there’s Lane. When they first meet, Lane is unbothered, secure in Savannah’s support and Brynn’s friendship. They’ve just had top surgery and are still enjoying the feeling of freedom it gives them. They seem happy and well-adjusted, until they’re expected to interact with people their age. I really liked how Cassidy’s impressive capacity for adaptation offsets her inexperience, and the contrast with the way Lane’s own worldliness conceals their vulnerabilities from cursory glances.
In the background of Lane and Cassidy’s romance, Savannah’s pregnancy and the baby’s subsequent birth bring their own share of drama and add to the character development of both MCs. Between all four characters—Lane, Cassidy, Savannah, Brynn—there’s a lot of past trauma to deal with and manage, the perfect setup for Ruby Landers to illustrate the significance of friendship, found family, love.
I should probably say that while this book can probably be enjoyed as a standalone, I recommend starting with Falls From Grace anyway. I made the mistake of listening with my wife after summarising the first book for her. She was caught up on the story, but she didn’t know the characters like I did. Cassidy is the only new character, and the other three’s reactions to situations make complete sense when you’re familiar with them.
And do I need to mention that the narration is impeccable or is the name Quinn Riley enough?
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a pleasure it is to have at last dived into this series! Every character is so special and layered, flawed but trying their best.
Savannah and Brynn are enjoying married life and being a family—with a new baby on the way—when Savannah’s half-sister suddenly shows up. Despite Savannah financially supporting her estranged family, Cassidy, mad as a kitten, seems to hold her responsible for ruining her life. Still, the star welcomes her into her home, intent on trying to understand the younger woman. As weeks and months pass, Cassidy gets to know her sister and her family better. A family that includes Savannah’s son Tucker’s nonbinary nanny, Lane…
Unlike Savannah and Brynn, who were decidedly adults in Falls From Grace, this second book has a more New Adult feel. Cassidy, in particular, appears—at least at first—both sheltered and bitter beyond her age. You know how it’s said that you can only make a first impression once? Lucky for Cassidy, Savannah and her family are willing to look beyond the petite and pretty but resentful young woman, whose sharp tongue doesn’t hide how lost she is. Once the feral kitten façade starts slipping, Cassidy turns out to be a more than decent person, and her character growth is heartwarming and inspiring. And then there’s Lane. When they first meet, Lane is unbothered, secure in Savannah’s support and Brynn’s friendship. They’ve just had top surgery and are still enjoying the feeling of freedom it gives them. They seem happy and well-adjusted, until they’re expected to interact with people their age. I really liked how Cassidy’s impressive capacity for adaptation offsets her inexperience, and the contrast with the way Lane’s own worldliness conceals their vulnerabilities from cursory glances.
In the background of Lane and Cassidy’s romance, Savannah’s pregnancy and the baby’s subsequent birth bring their own share of drama and add to the character development of both MCs. Between all four characters—Lane, Cassidy, Savannah, Brynn—there’s a lot of past trauma to deal with and manage, the perfect setup for Ruby Landers to illustrate the significance of friendship, found family, love.
I should probably say that while this book can probably be enjoyed as a standalone, I recommend starting with Falls From Grace anyway. I made the mistake of listening with my wife after summarising the first book for her. She was caught up on the story, but she didn’t know the characters like I did. Cassidy is the only new character, and the other three’s reactions to situations make complete sense when you’re familiar with them.
And do I need to mention that the narration is impeccable or is the name Quinn Riley enough?
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee
I’m not gonna lie, I don’t know whether I’ll remember much about this story in the future, but I had a lot of fun listening to it. From the very beginning. I didn’t expect a super hot blindfolded threesome in the first chapter and it kept me entertained during my daily elliptical trainer session. I mean, I just had to know who the third woman was, or rather, get confirmation, and so my exercise stretch that day lasted longer than usual. So yeah, Zoe Brennan, First Crush starts with an almost literal bang. Since her mother’s death when Zoe was twelve, her dad has worked hard to keep their Georgia winery going, to keep the dream alive. Now thirty, Zoe is in charge of marketing, and doing her best to put their small vineyard on the map. Hosting this year’s edition of a huge wine festival would be an amazing opportunity and Zoe won’t let Rachel, her ex-BFF turned enemy, steal it from her. Alas, her father is suddenly called to Italy to be with his sick mother, and to replace him as vintner, he hires Rachel’s Napa-trained older sister and, more importantly, Zoe’s first crush.
The chemistry between Zoe and Laine is electric and I love that the one night stand to forever trope mixed with a dash of enemies to lovers turns temporarily into a very slow burn, testing Zoe’s limits as well as the reader/listener. The pacing is a bit uneven but the quick-witted dialogues sprinkled with slapstick comedy kept my interest up. The narration by Lindsey Dorcus works perfectly, each voice fitting its character well, in turns mischievous and vulnerable.
If you’re into quirky secondary characters, mad goats, sexy athletes turned vintners, and Nellie Oleson wannabes, this book is for you.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m not gonna lie, I don’t know whether I’ll remember much about this story in the future, but I had a lot of fun listening to it. From the very beginning. I didn’t expect a super hot blindfolded threesome in the first chapter and it kept me entertained during my daily elliptical trainer session. I mean, I just had to know who the third woman was, or rather, get confirmation, and so my exercise stretch that day lasted longer than usual. So yeah, Zoe Brennan, First Crush starts with an almost literal bang. Since her mother’s death when Zoe was twelve, her dad has worked hard to keep their Georgia winery going, to keep the dream alive. Now thirty, Zoe is in charge of marketing, and doing her best to put their small vineyard on the map. Hosting this year’s edition of a huge wine festival would be an amazing opportunity and Zoe won’t let Rachel, her ex-BFF turned enemy, steal it from her. Alas, her father is suddenly called to Italy to be with his sick mother, and to replace him as vintner, he hires Rachel’s Napa-trained older sister and, more importantly, Zoe’s first crush.
The chemistry between Zoe and Laine is electric and I love that the one night stand to forever trope mixed with a dash of enemies to lovers turns temporarily into a very slow burn, testing Zoe’s limits as well as the reader/listener. The pacing is a bit uneven but the quick-witted dialogues sprinkled with slapstick comedy kept my interest up. The narration by Lindsey Dorcus works perfectly, each voice fitting its character well, in turns mischievous and vulnerable.
If you’re into quirky secondary characters, mad goats, sexy athletes turned vintners, and Nellie Oleson wannabes, this book is for you.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Almost a year ago, I read my first book by this author, Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, and I almost immediately knew it would make my end-of-the-year list. I was very much looking forward to the next book, Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, but for some reason, while the publisher had granted my request for an ARC of the first book, they didn’t for this one. I have no idea how publishers decide but in this case, it meant I didn’t read the book before it was released (it probably would have also made my list if I had) and I ended up listening to the audiobook instead. How’s that for a silver lining? Kristen DiMercurio’s narration entirely made up for the wait and I’m not very far from regretting I didn’t listen to Delilah in audio as well.
In this second Bright Falls book, Astrid, Delilah’s stepsister, is doing her best to not lose it after breaking her engagement to fake-nice Spencer. She’s focusing on her job and things aren’t going too well on that front either. Everything feels like it’s hanging on her acing the renovation of the Everwood Inn, a local landmark, which will be broadcasted on a home improvement show that could make Astrid’s career as a designer. So of course on the day it’s all supposed to begin, a woman bumps into her, drenching her lucky dress in coffee and triggering her inner bitch. And also of course, the woman happens to be the Inn’s owner’s granddaughter and the lead carpenter on the project.
The story starts as an enemies-to-lovers romance but it really quickly turns into something else completely. Attraction flares between the MCs and they soon accept the idea that they don’t really dislike each other, even though they try to keep pretending for the sake of the show (there’s also another reason they keep pretending but I won’t spoil). I liked both main characters a lot, I liked their insecurities, I liked how they are together, the sweetness of it all. I liked Jordan’s twin brother and her grandmother, and as in Delilah, I loved the group of friends. Kristen DiMercurio gave each character very distinct voices and I thought they all fit them well, especially the MCs’ but also Delilah’s, with all the snark I love her for, and Iris’s, brash and loud. I can’t wait for the third Bright Falls book, Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.
The Perfect Matchmaking: Another Valentine's Day Novella by Milena McKay
When I read The Perfect Match in 2021, a few days after falling in love with Milena McKay’s debut, The Delicate Things We Make, the fact that these two books were so different blew my mind. TDTWM showcased the beautiful writing and delicious angst that have since become the author’s trademark. While just as well-written, The Perfect Match is hilarious, a comedy of hot cupids and foolish gods and goddesses. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Milena McKay’s books, the angstier the better—I still can’t decide whether Reverence has replaced A Whisper of Solace as my favourite. Yet these Cupids stole my heart in a couple of hours and I’ve been hoping for four long years for a sequel. Okay, this might be a bit of an exaggeration since I got to read The Perfect Matchmaking way before its release (you’ll see my name among the editing team) but it’s not the same when you can’t share the joy and the love for a book with other readers, when you can’t delight in others’ enthusiastic reviews, when you can’t recommend it to your friends despite knowing they’ll adore it too. That time has come though and I’m so here for it.
The Perfect Matchmaking is Aphrodite’s book, Love herself fighting for the right to make her own choices. Even bad ones. When Zeus summons the whole Olympian family to the annual Cupid convention in Las Vegas, the goddess of Love in turn drags her former star Sabine Goddard out of retirement. Sabine and Abby are now married, still swooning on every occasion after three years, still so adorable that their very healthy sex life and the unabashed bragging aren’t even a tiny bit obnoxious. As she strives to reassert her freedom and independence, Aphrodite reluctantly falls for the silent, tweed-wearing goddess of Wisdom, Athena. Besides Sabine and Abby, her friend Erato also pushes her out of her comfort zone and into muscular arms and strong hands.
I wrote only one sentence while listening to Abby Craden narrating this story and basking in the delight that is this novella: “I love Erato”. I bet you will too. I loved a lot more than just the muse of erotic poetry, however. I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract back and forth between the two goddesses, Abby and Sabine’s sharp wit, their happiness too, all the spice, everything Apollo (thankfully no spice there), and yes, as stated earlier, everything Erato as well.
The humour that surprised me in the first Cupids & Goddesses book (and which I have since experienced many times IRL) is still here, but the underlying themes touch on more serious considerations. McKay finds the ideal balance between substance and lightheartedness, food for thoughts peeking from beneath layers of clever banter and endearingly silly puns. And in true McKay fashion, she drops hints here and there, teasing the next story. If you can’t wait, you might want to join her Patreon…
Video review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGBiTo...
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
When I read The Perfect Match in 2021, a few days after falling in love with Milena McKay’s debut, The Delicate Things We Make, the fact that these two books were so different blew my mind. TDTWM showcased the beautiful writing and delicious angst that have since become the author’s trademark. While just as well-written, The Perfect Match is hilarious, a comedy of hot cupids and foolish gods and goddesses. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Milena McKay’s books, the angstier the better—I still can’t decide whether Reverence has replaced A Whisper of Solace as my favourite. Yet these Cupids stole my heart in a couple of hours and I’ve been hoping for four long years for a sequel. Okay, this might be a bit of an exaggeration since I got to read The Perfect Matchmaking way before its release (you’ll see my name among the editing team) but it’s not the same when you can’t share the joy and the love for a book with other readers, when you can’t delight in others’ enthusiastic reviews, when you can’t recommend it to your friends despite knowing they’ll adore it too. That time has come though and I’m so here for it.
The Perfect Matchmaking is Aphrodite’s book, Love herself fighting for the right to make her own choices. Even bad ones. When Zeus summons the whole Olympian family to the annual Cupid convention in Las Vegas, the goddess of Love in turn drags her former star Sabine Goddard out of retirement. Sabine and Abby are now married, still swooning on every occasion after three years, still so adorable that their very healthy sex life and the unabashed bragging aren’t even a tiny bit obnoxious. As she strives to reassert her freedom and independence, Aphrodite reluctantly falls for the silent, tweed-wearing goddess of Wisdom, Athena. Besides Sabine and Abby, her friend Erato also pushes her out of her comfort zone and into muscular arms and strong hands.
I wrote only one sentence while listening to Abby Craden narrating this story and basking in the delight that is this novella: “I love Erato”. I bet you will too. I loved a lot more than just the muse of erotic poetry, however. I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract back and forth between the two goddesses, Abby and Sabine’s sharp wit, their happiness too, all the spice, everything Apollo (thankfully no spice there), and yes, as stated earlier, everything Erato as well.
The humour that surprised me in the first Cupids & Goddesses book (and which I have since experienced many times IRL) is still here, but the underlying themes touch on more serious considerations. McKay finds the ideal balance between substance and lightheartedness, food for thoughts peeking from beneath layers of clever banter and endearingly silly puns. And in true McKay fashion, she drops hints here and there, teasing the next story. If you can’t wait, you might want to join her Patreon…
Video review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGBiTo...
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Only Mostly Dead by Alli Temple
I was discussing zombies with one of my friends the other day, as one does, and I told her about this audiobook I was listening to, and how it was simultaneously funny and terrifying.
The plot: Before she died, Ember, 32, was an influencer turned successful and respected life coach. After she dies, though, the answer isn’t as clear… A glitch in the Afterlife system means no reaper is ready for her despite her assisted death being scheduled and therefore easily predictable (the book is set in Toronto, Canada, where medical assistance in dying is legal). A reluctant ghost, she tries to convince reaper after reaper to bring her to the other side. As all her efforts fail, she endeavours to haunt one of them until they surrender. Kelly, the aforementioned hauntee, reveals themselves to be highly stubborn, grim—they’re a reaper, after all—and dismissive of their human roommate, a young medium named Jupiter. Over the course of the story—which is the first one in Alli Temple‘s new series—Ember realises that the world, and especially the afterlife, is a lot more complex than she thought, filled with legendary creatures that actually exist. Adventures ensue and twists abound.
Joyfully Jay describes Only Mostly Dead as “sort of a dark comedy/urban fantasy mashup”, which is perfect. Knowing myself, the humour, the banter, Kelly’s sarcastic persona are what I’ll remember most, along with Ember’s wilful bravery, Jupiter’s kindness (and her sweet boyfriend), and Carrot Stick the cat. I love Kelly’s gender fluidity, the reminder that gender is a social construct—even more so for shapeshifters who don’t care about pronouns. And the chemistry between them and Ember is tangible, in what will probably be the slowest of slow burns.
This book, however, is not just a fun read. Some of my favourite moments are about grief, hope, end of life. I’ve come to realise that Allison Temple’s books are rarely as lighthearted as they seem. She excels at inserting gravity and realness in between bursts of laughter. Check the content warnings on the author’s website before diving in.
I listened to the audiobook and Emily Lawrence does a wonderful job of capturing the layered personalities of each character, big or small (even if some of the accents are a bit random). I’d never heard her before, but I hope she keeps narrating this series. The next instalment, Hate to Haunt You, should be released this year. I can’t wait to read/hear it and the next books in the Afterlife Incorporated universe. 4.5⭐️
Video review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFYF-jggB2f/?utm_source=ig_embed
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
I was discussing zombies with one of my friends the other day, as one does, and I told her about this audiobook I was listening to, and how it was simultaneously funny and terrifying.
The plot: Before she died, Ember, 32, was an influencer turned successful and respected life coach. After she dies, though, the answer isn’t as clear… A glitch in the Afterlife system means no reaper is ready for her despite her assisted death being scheduled and therefore easily predictable (the book is set in Toronto, Canada, where medical assistance in dying is legal). A reluctant ghost, she tries to convince reaper after reaper to bring her to the other side. As all her efforts fail, she endeavours to haunt one of them until they surrender. Kelly, the aforementioned hauntee, reveals themselves to be highly stubborn, grim—they’re a reaper, after all—and dismissive of their human roommate, a young medium named Jupiter. Over the course of the story—which is the first one in Alli Temple‘s new series—Ember realises that the world, and especially the afterlife, is a lot more complex than she thought, filled with legendary creatures that actually exist. Adventures ensue and twists abound.
Joyfully Jay describes Only Mostly Dead as “sort of a dark comedy/urban fantasy mashup”, which is perfect. Knowing myself, the humour, the banter, Kelly’s sarcastic persona are what I’ll remember most, along with Ember’s wilful bravery, Jupiter’s kindness (and her sweet boyfriend), and Carrot Stick the cat. I love Kelly’s gender fluidity, the reminder that gender is a social construct—even more so for shapeshifters who don’t care about pronouns. And the chemistry between them and Ember is tangible, in what will probably be the slowest of slow burns.
This book, however, is not just a fun read. Some of my favourite moments are about grief, hope, end of life. I’ve come to realise that Allison Temple’s books are rarely as lighthearted as they seem. She excels at inserting gravity and realness in between bursts of laughter. Check the content warnings on the author’s website before diving in.
I listened to the audiobook and Emily Lawrence does a wonderful job of capturing the layered personalities of each character, big or small (even if some of the accents are a bit random). I’d never heard her before, but I hope she keeps narrating this series. The next instalment, Hate to Haunt You, should be released this year. I can’t wait to read/hear it and the next books in the Afterlife Incorporated universe. 4.5⭐️
Video review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFYF-jggB2f/?utm_source=ig_embed
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Merry Weihnachten by E.J. Noyes
I’m apparently going to be in the minority for this audiobook, so please read more reviews. I’m a big fan of E.J. Noyes but Merry Weihnachten didn’t really work for me. Neither did Abby Craden’s narration, whose fake German accent for Annika threw me off from the beginning. Not only did it interfere with understanding her words and thoughts, which, in turn, made it impossible to adjust the speed, its thickness prevented any suspension of disbelief when Annika was interacting with her parents. Had it been lighter, I could have imagined they were talking and texting in German, and that her thoughts were as well. Even if she did think in English, she probably wouldn’t have the accent then (ask me how I know). If you’re set on listening rather than reading, I recommend checking out the narration sample first.
This book contains classic Noyes wit and sexiness, and goes into the author’s lighter books category. After the excitement and adrenaline of the Halcyon Division series, it felt a tad flat and uneventful to me, but that’s on me for expecting more from a Xmas romance. There are all sorts of far-fetched revelations about Evie’s personality and past, which would be over the top in any other genre but are the hallmarks of Christmas romances. As are the heartwarming scenes in which the MCs introduce each other to their respective holiday traditions. The multiple twists kept me entertained even as they hindered my perception of who Evie is—Annika is a lot more straightforward. While I liked the MCs well enough, my favourite characters are Evie’s best friend/brother-in-law Pete and her niece Chloe. Evie maintains wonderful relationships with them, one of platonic love and tenderness with Pete and a mutually adoring and teasing bond with the teenager.
All in all, Merry Weihnachten is a sexy, mostly lighthearted story, that, just this once, I recommend reading rather than listening to.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
I’m apparently going to be in the minority for this audiobook, so please read more reviews. I’m a big fan of E.J. Noyes but Merry Weihnachten didn’t really work for me. Neither did Abby Craden’s narration, whose fake German accent for Annika threw me off from the beginning. Not only did it interfere with understanding her words and thoughts, which, in turn, made it impossible to adjust the speed, its thickness prevented any suspension of disbelief when Annika was interacting with her parents. Had it been lighter, I could have imagined they were talking and texting in German, and that her thoughts were as well. Even if she did think in English, she probably wouldn’t have the accent then (ask me how I know). If you’re set on listening rather than reading, I recommend checking out the narration sample first.
This book contains classic Noyes wit and sexiness, and goes into the author’s lighter books category. After the excitement and adrenaline of the Halcyon Division series, it felt a tad flat and uneventful to me, but that’s on me for expecting more from a Xmas romance. There are all sorts of far-fetched revelations about Evie’s personality and past, which would be over the top in any other genre but are the hallmarks of Christmas romances. As are the heartwarming scenes in which the MCs introduce each other to their respective holiday traditions. The multiple twists kept me entertained even as they hindered my perception of who Evie is—Annika is a lot more straightforward. While I liked the MCs well enough, my favourite characters are Evie’s best friend/brother-in-law Pete and her niece Chloe. Evie maintains wonderful relationships with them, one of platonic love and tenderness with Pete and a mutually adoring and teasing bond with the teenager.
All in all, Merry Weihnachten is a sexy, mostly lighthearted story, that, just this once, I recommend reading rather than listening to.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars