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paiges_on_pages's reviews
194 reviews
Don't Be a Drag by Skye Quinlan
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had such a fun time reading this story! While I think I’m a bit older than the intended audience, this is a great book for older teens who are interested in learning more about the drag community.
In this new novel by Skye Quinlan, eighteen-year-old Briar Vincent spends the summer with her drag queen brother, Beau, in New York City. Provoked by the arrogant drag king Spencer Read, she enters a drag king competition despite having no experience. With Beau’s and her new friends’ help, she transforms into Edgar Allan Foe, aiming to conquer her anxiety and win the competition, while discovering there’s more to Spencer than she thought.
While I wish the book had dug down a bit deeper into the push and pull between Briar and Selene, this is still an entertaining summer read! If you love found family, enemies to lovers, and a competitive book, this is the YA Novel for you!
Thank you to Page St YA for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this new novel by Skye Quinlan, eighteen-year-old Briar Vincent spends the summer with her drag queen brother, Beau, in New York City. Provoked by the arrogant drag king Spencer Read, she enters a drag king competition despite having no experience. With Beau’s and her new friends’ help, she transforms into Edgar Allan Foe, aiming to conquer her anxiety and win the competition, while discovering there’s more to Spencer than she thought.
While I wish the book had dug down a bit deeper into the push and pull between Briar and Selene, this is still an entertaining summer read! If you love found family, enemies to lovers, and a competitive book, this is the YA Novel for you!
Thank you to Page St YA for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Triple Sec by TJ Alexander
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
TJ Alexander hits it out of the park again with their well-balanced novel, Triple Sec!
NYC bartender Mel is convinced love is a myth—until Bebe, a charming customer with a love for whiskey and an open marriage, walks in and offers her a date. Through her deepening connections with Bebe and Kade, Mel discovers that love can be more complex and fulfilling than she ever imagined. With new experiences on the rocks and a cocktail competition that could fast-forward her dreams of owning her own bar, Mel discovers that love, much like a perfect drink, can have unexpected and delightful twists.
The best part about three romances in one book means you can fit in all of the tropes! We’ve got a meet-cute that turns into a meet DISASTER, opposites attract but then there’s a “secretly alike all along” trope. Oh, and a forced proximity in Banff. BANFF! I’m sure you can see where that plot point is headed.
Every character in this novel- from our three heroes to their close circle of friends- are all people I would want to hang out with in real life. They all scream NYC cool, which makes sense, since they’re all bartenders, unstoppable lawyers, and artistic folks. While I found the end was missing something, I can’t quite put my finger on it. In the defense of Triple Sec, it could be due to the fact that I’ve been hit with a ton of “secretly meaningful” romances.
I also had fun listening to the audiobook copy! Jeremy Carlisle Parker narrates this quick and hilarious romance so seamlessly that you forget Mel, Bebe, and Kade are being voiced by the same person. When I would take an audiobook break and pull out my physical copy, I still could hear Parker’s bold yet bubbly Bebe. It’s the perfect book to listen to while multitasking; I very rarely had to back up to determine what was happening.
If you’re looking for a romance that’s just an all-around fun time, grab a copy of Triple Sec today! Who knows, maybe you’ll have your own meet-cute if you pair it with a visit to your local cocktail bar.
Thank you to Atria for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet by Molly Morris
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.75
Molly Morris may have just become one of my few auto-buy authors thanks to this book because HOLY APPLE PIE IN THE SKY, was “Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet” just what I needed!
As a fan of magical and paranormal realism, I was instantly intrigued by the plot. In Morris’s newest novel, Wilson Moss wins a contest to bring her ex-best friend Annie back from the dead for thirty days in the quirky yet mysterious town of Lennon, California. As Wil tries to find a way to keep Annie alive permanently, she must also confront unresolved issues involving their former mutual friend, Ryan, and the painful truths about Annie's past.
I had so much fun exploring the town of Lennon and the surrounding California towns with this trio! The tension between the three girls is strong throughout every scene, where either one is ready to bring back up the past at any moment. I particularly related the most to Wil, who finds herself unsure of so many aspects of her life as all of the few things she cannot control are changing yet again.
There was only one thing that struck me to be odd, and that wasn’t until after I had finished the book and went to write my review. It’s the fact that this “Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet”… is being pushed as a Romance!
Is there a happily ever after between a couple in this novel? Yes, absolutely. However, I wouldn’t consider it the main focal point of the story. Perhaps it’s because, for once, the MC is not the one who realizes it first, or maybe it was due to the fact that I was more interested in the aspects of Lennon’s “Welcome Back” ceremony, but if you’re only going in for a romance, you may be disappointed.
Either way, I love this book, especially its ending, which even I didn’t predict! (If you’ve read my reviews before, you know that I can often smell a trick ending a mile away.) I will be making sure everyone hears about this book for weeks to come!
As a fan of magical and paranormal realism, I was instantly intrigued by the plot. In Morris’s newest novel, Wilson Moss wins a contest to bring her ex-best friend Annie back from the dead for thirty days in the quirky yet mysterious town of Lennon, California. As Wil tries to find a way to keep Annie alive permanently, she must also confront unresolved issues involving their former mutual friend, Ryan, and the painful truths about Annie's past.
I had so much fun exploring the town of Lennon and the surrounding California towns with this trio! The tension between the three girls is strong throughout every scene, where either one is ready to bring back up the past at any moment. I particularly related the most to Wil, who finds herself unsure of so many aspects of her life as all of the few things she cannot control are changing yet again.
There was only one thing that struck me to be odd, and that wasn’t until after I had finished the book and went to write my review. It’s the fact that this “Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet”… is being pushed as a Romance!
Is there a happily ever after between a couple in this novel? Yes, absolutely. However, I wouldn’t consider it the main focal point of the story. Perhaps it’s because, for once, the MC is not the one who realizes it first, or maybe it was due to the fact that I was more interested in the aspects of Lennon’s “Welcome Back” ceremony, but if you’re only going in for a romance, you may be disappointed.
Either way, I love this book, especially its ending, which even I didn’t predict! (If you’ve read my reviews before, you know that I can often smell a trick ending a mile away.) I will be making sure everyone hears about this book for weeks to come!
Collide by Bal Khabra
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited to pick up this book, especially as someone who is a fan of Hannah Brown! I road trip romance is one of my favorite tropes, especially when to bring it some frenemies to lovers.
I was even ready to give this book an excellent review, what with the dual timeline allowing snippets into the previous mistakes of Emma, the chemistry between her and Finn, and the sensitive depictions of anxiety and panic attacks.
… But then I hit 80% of the way through the book.
Brown’s wrap-up of Mistakes We Never Made is disappointingly left open. It would be one thing if it was how Finn and Emma move past the weekend, or if Emma reaches out to her father again. But no. It’s the whole Runaway Bride set-up that gets us to open up the book, as well as parts of their high school past that she teases about revealing the entire 300+ pages.
Throw in a surprise cheating trope and I was ready to throw my ebook.
The beginning chunk of this book was so entertaining and well-written that I can’t help but wonder if maybe it’s just not the read for me. So if you’re okay with a book that leaves the ending wide open, this could be the one for you!
I was so excited to pick up this book, especially as someone who is a fan of Hannah Brown! I road trip romance is one of my favorite tropes, especially when to bring it some frenemies to lovers.
I was even ready to give this book an excellent review, what with the dual timeline allowing snippets into the previous mistakes of Emma, the chemistry between her and Finn, and the sensitive depictions of anxiety and panic attacks.
… But then I hit 80% of the way through the book.
Brown’s wrap-up of Mistakes We Never Made is disappointingly left open. It would be one thing if it was how Finn and Emma move past the weekend, or if Emma reaches out to her father again. But no. It’s the whole Runaway Bride set-up that gets us to open up the book, as well as parts of their high school past that she teases about revealing the entire 300+ pages.
Throw in a surprise cheating trope and I was ready to throw my ebook.
The beginning chunk of this book was so entertaining and well-written that I can’t help but wonder if maybe it’s just not the read for me. So if you’re okay with a book that leaves the ending wide open, this could be the one for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Drug use
Happy Medium by Sarah Adler
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The spirits have spoken to me and have revealed… that I’m ending the month with ANOTHER Five Star Read! #BerkleyPartner
Thank you to Berkley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read if you 🩷:
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
👨🌾 Grumpy Tattoed Farmers
👻 Meddling, Matchmaking Ghosts
🐐 Baby Goat Yoga
In "Happy Medium" by Sarah Adler, fraudulent psychic Gretchen Acorn tackles a charmingly supernatural challenge when she investigates disturbances at a struggling goat farm. Teaming up with skeptical farmer Charlie Waybill, Gretchen discovers a real ghost and embarks on a mission to save the farm from a centuries-old curse. As their bond grows, Gretchen learns that honesty and hard work might be the keys to unlocking both the farm's potential and her own heart, all while navigating the spirit realm and her own insecurities.
Even for a slow burn, the chemistry between enemies Gretchen and Charlie is ON FIRE!🔥 I can assure you all the spice is worth the wait!
However, the true highlight of the story is Everett. This sitcom-obsessed, slightly pervy poltergeist is an excellent comic relief throughout the plot, and I was constantly wondering how his bantering ways were going to haunt the current scene I was reading.
While there is reference to a toxic family relationship, I appreciated that it was mostly off page, and not as predictable as that specific trope has come to be lately. Keep in mind there are also references to dementia and grief.
If you’re looking for a laugh out loud romance with an unpredictable plot, be sure to put Happy Medium on your TBR!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Dementia, and Emotional abuse
Blood on the Tide by Katee Robert
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Late Bloomer” by Mazey Eddings is a heartwarming story about newfound purpose and unexpected love. Opal’s journey from lottery winner to flower farm owner is filled with humor, chaos and heart, especially when she begins to fall for Pepper. Their unlikely partnership and eventual romance make for entertaining and heartwarming reading.
However, what sets Eddings apart is her portrayal of Pepper as more than just a character defined by her autism. While Pepper’s struggles with a large break in her routine and letting new people into her life are integral to the plot, Eddings focusing more on her estranged mother and how the flower farm is the only place she’s been able to call home goes beyond stereotypes to create a fully fleshed-out character with depth and complexity.
While some plot points may feel rushed towards the end, “Late Bloomer” ultimately delivers a satisfying and uplifting read that will leave readers rooting for Opal and Pepper long after they’ve turned the final page. If you’re looking for a fast paced read to welcome the beginning of Spring, this April 16th release is for you!
PS. If you have the ARC, read the author’s notes so you know why I picked this song for the post! I’ll admit I’m usually one to ignore these, but Edding’s notes were an excellent companion to the story!
However, what sets Eddings apart is her portrayal of Pepper as more than just a character defined by her autism. While Pepper’s struggles with a large break in her routine and letting new people into her life are integral to the plot, Eddings focusing more on her estranged mother and how the flower farm is the only place she’s been able to call home goes beyond stereotypes to create a fully fleshed-out character with depth and complexity.
While some plot points may feel rushed towards the end, “Late Bloomer” ultimately delivers a satisfying and uplifting read that will leave readers rooting for Opal and Pepper long after they’ve turned the final page. If you’re looking for a fast paced read to welcome the beginning of Spring, this April 16th release is for you!
PS. If you have the ARC, read the author’s notes so you know why I picked this song for the post! I’ll admit I’m usually one to ignore these, but Edding’s notes were an excellent companion to the story!