readandwright's reviews
473 reviews

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

4.0

Thank you Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

In case anyone is wondering, I will read anything Julie Soto writes. This is also a fantastic audiobook that will hold your attention and keep you driving, doing chores, or whatever hobby you choose to keep your hands busy. It’s fantastic, thrilling, juicy, and a little bit heartbreaking. 

Synopsis: 

“Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.

They’re everything everyone wants to be.

Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in.

Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself.

But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Stakes—As someone who was in high school during the height of the OG Gossip Girl mania, I will forever be attracted to books about elitism in high school, friend group dynamics, and adolescents facing real world consequences for the first time. 
2. The Mystery/Thriller elements—I was on the edge of my seat and didn’t see the twist coming at the end.  

What Didn’t Work: 

1. I think this was due to me listening to the audiobook vs reading with my eyes, but some of the flashbacks were hard for me to follow and I needed to backtrack. Like I said, mainly a me problem but something to be aware of! 

Character Authenticity: 4/5         Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings: 

suicide, alcoholism, bullying, death of a parent, fire/fire injury, toxic parent, grief 

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

5.0

Thank you Forever Publishing for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

I have been a fan of Abby Jimenez for a number of years now. My favorite part about her writing Is that she isn’t afraid to discuss topics that are heavy within the confines of the Romance genre. This was a book that I think pushed a lot boundaries and will test the endurance of a lot of readers. It deals with quite heavy topics. I had seen some reviews that thought the things her characters went through were “too much.” But the more I sit and think about the book, I think it was painfully real. 

Even if someone is experiencing grief, depression, job loss, etc, they deserve love. They deserve a partner who endures these seasons with them. They deserve somene who stands by them, supports them, cares for them and allows themselves to cared for. I think I loved this book, personally. It has everything fans of her books will love, but it is definitely truly heavy and I encourage you to proceed with caution if any of the trigger warnings are something too close to home for you right now. 

Synopsis: 

“There might be no such a thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong…

. . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date—possibly the best in living history—Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be.

Only no amount of distance or time is nearly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Characters—I loved Xavier and Samantha. I loved their personalities and how they complemented each other. While insta-love may not be a trope I am a fan of, this didn’t feel like the cheesy insta-love I have come to loathe. It was an instant connection. The beginning of the story felt so cinematic with how they connected. Their flirtations felt natural and I believed it right away.  
2. The Banter—Abby’s writing is really great in this book.. I laughed, I swooned, I ached with them. I loved how they leaned on each other but nothing felt too much. 
3. The Endurance of the Characters’ Love—As someone who has gone through a lot in the last five years, I truly felt how they loved each other. These characters experience a lot of hardship together and separately. But that is how life is sometimes. Bad things happen and sometimes those things pile on and on until it feels like you’ll break. They helped each other put the pieces together. 
4. Discussion of Long Distance—I did long distance with my now husband for quite sometime and everyone wants to believe it’s not possible. it’s HARD. But not because you resent the person. It’s hard because you want them there so badly but circumstances have you living separately. It’s not easy. But for the right person, you’ll do anything to make it work.  

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

1. Is it “Too Much?” —I saw some reviews claiming that Abby hates her characters and what they went through was too much. I don’t think it is, because sometimes every bad thing happens in succession. It’s heavy to read about, especially if you’re expecting a banter filled silly romance. But what I love about the genre is that it is expansive and inclusive. No matter what you’ve endured or life throws at you, you deserve love. 
2. The Ending…—I was wondering how she was going to wrap up or find a solution to their separation. I liked it, the mroe I think about it. The only thing I didn’t like (spoiler warning!) was that Sam gave up her job offer. Now, I have never had to be a primary caretaker so I don’t judge them. But it did make me a little sad and I hope wherever she is now, she still gets to do work she loves. 

Character Authenticity: 5/5      Spice Rating: 1/5       Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings: 

Severe dementia, being a caregiver, grief, death of a loved one, mentions of animal abuse (one past, one on the page), illness, child abuse (past), emotional abuse, abandonment

Crash Landing: A Novel by Annie McQuaid

2.75

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

I get very excited to read debut authors and I was very excited, as a LOST lover, for this concept. Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me. Overall, it felt underwritten and overwritten at the same time. Some of the writing didn’t feel natural and it made it difficult for me to get lost in the story. It’s a relatively easy read so hopefully it finds the right audience! 

Synopsis: 

“Piper Adams is completely, totally, one hundred percent over Wyatt, the former love of her life. At least, that’s what she tells herself. After he broke her heart, she stopped taking risks and focused instead on building a perfect—and perfectly safe—life. But bumping into Wyatt at the airport on the way to her best friend’s destination wedding wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was a canceled flight nor Wyatt’s offer of a ride on the tiny plane he’s flying to attend the same event. Desperate to make it on time, she accepts his offer, but things go from awkward to full-blown nightmare when their plane crashes in the Caribbean, stranding Piper on a deserted island with the last person she ever wanted to see again.

At first, rule-following Piper clashes with adventure-driven Wyatt, but as the days tick by, she can see the boy she once loved has grown into a man. A man who makes her laugh, knows his way around a fire, and is annoyingly hot shirtless. A man she could love again. As the chemistry still simmering between them boils over, Piper begins wishing Wyatt was more than just a survival partner. But for their love to survive a second chance, she’ll have to not only trust Wyatt again, but also learn to trust herself and find the courage to let go of her carefully curated life for the chance at something far greater—if they can survive the island long enough for rescue.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Trope—I love second chance romance so much and I haven’t read one in quite some time. 
2. The Dual TImeline—Second chance romance with a dual timeline is one of my weaknesses! I really liked how the author used the device in this novel. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

1. The Writing—It just felt clunky and unnatural. 
2. Character’s Dialogue—It felt like they just kept having the same conversation over and over again without there being miscommunication, just a refusal to hear each other. I also found the execution of their initial break up kind of cruel, making it hard to redeem the characters. 

Character Authenticity: 3/5      Spice Rating: 2/5      Overall Rating: 2.5/5

Content Warnings: 

blood, plane crash, injury, hospitals

Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine

4.5

Thank you Atria Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

I was SO excited to read this book. I’m glad I read it during one of the last (hopefully) cold spells of our Winter but it’s a delight. It’s about a Romance writer whose true thoughts about happily ever afters, a staple of the genre, are released to the Internet at large. It felt like a realistic set up! As someone who in the book reviewing space, lover of Romance, and chronically online…yeah I could see this happening. 

I laughed, cried, and swooned reading this book. It’s a perfect transition from Winter to Spring! 

Synopsis: 

“Beloved romance author Margot Bradley has a dark secret: she doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. Not for herself, not for her readers, and not even for her characters, for whom she secretly writes alternate endings that swap weddings and babies for divorce papers and the occasional slashed tire. When her Happily Never After document is hacked and released to the public, she finds herself canceled by her readers and dropped by her publisher.

Desperate to find a way to continue supporting her chronically ill sister, Savannah, Margot decides to trade meet-cutes for murder. The fictional kind. Probably. But when Savannah books Margot a six-week stay in a remote Alaskan resort to pen her first murder mystery, Margot finds herself running from a moose and leaping into the arms of the handsome proprietor, making her fear she’s just landed in a romance novel instead.

The last thing Dr. Forrest Wakefield ever expected was to leave his dream job as a cancer researcher to become a glorified bellhop. What he’s really doing at his family’s resort is caring for his stubborn, ailing father, and his puzzle-loving mind is slowly freezing over—until Margot shows up. But Forrest doesn’t have any room in his life for another person he could lose, especially one with a checkout date.

As long snowy nights and one unlikely trope after another draw Margot and Forrest together, they’ll each have to learn to overcome their fears and set their aside assumptions before Margot leaves—or risk becoming a Happily Never After story themselves.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Setting—Give me a book set in Alaska, and I will read it with glee. I also am a sucker for any book that takes place at a lodge or hotel. It’s so fun to catch the characters out of the “real life”. 
2. Breaking the Fourth Wall of Romance—I feel like there’s been an influx of writer romances but this might be my favorite in how they handled the tongue and cheek nature of pointing out tropes while also leaning into the best parts of the genre. 
3. The Emotional Depth—I love a good popcorn book, but there’s something about a book that can make you laugh and also examine how you view the world. The depth of these characters didn’t overshadow the fun, tropey moments. They enhanced them! 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

1. Long Chapter Length—I feel like a picky monster, but oof a long chapter can take the wind out of my reader sails.

Character Authenticity: 5/5      Spice Rating: 2/5      Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Content Warnings: 

chronic illness, cancer, death of a parent (past), injury/injury detail

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

5.0

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my copies! All thoughts are my own. 

I am so grateful this series exists because I needed a book that would totally take over my brain and this was just the ticket. I’ve loved this series since the first book came out but I think this is my favorite in the series so far! It’s fun, full of mystery and romance, and addresses things like domestic violence. Overall, it’s an extremely entertaining series so if you’re looking for something to get your mind off the world at large, this is the series to pick up. 

Synopsis: 

“Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Pacing—I only stopped reading this book to sleep and I was so sad to have to take a break. It is SO fun and engaging. 
2. The Audio Performance—Equistate, as always. 
3. The Tension—I am forever a fan of the “hot cop” Nicholas Anthony but more than the romantic tension, the mystery elements and tension are top notch. 
4. The Cinematic Storytelling—The pacing makes it feel like a movie and I could clearly see it all In my head. Obsessed. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

1. Nothing—I think this was my favorite one in the series so far! 

Character Authenticity: 4/5      Spice Rating: 0/5      Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings:

death, murder, domestic abuse (off the page), bullying, misogyny

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

3.0

Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

This was my first alien/monster romance and while I don't think I'll dive more into the subgenre, I really liked the author's humorous writing style. It was entertaining, even if the content is not what I'm usually drawn to. I don't know if I'd recommend this to anyone who reads mostly contemporary romance, but if you've dabbled in omegaverse, ice planet barbarians, or romantasies like ali hazelwood's "bride" you might enjoy it! 

Unromance by Erin Connor

5.0

Thank you Forever for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

New five star romance loading! I loved this book. I am a sucker for famous person/normal person but I loved that this was actor/writer. I loved how the author used the cliches for good and commented on them while still being true to the rom com genre. The dialogue is smart and hilarious, the characters are soft and dreamy and sexy and fun. It’s the perfect Winter read as it takes place Thanksgiving-Valentine’s Day but it doesn’t feel like a holiday book. I am obsessed and will be downbad for Mason West for the rest of time. 

Synopsis: 

“Sawyer Greene knows romance. She’s a bestselling author of the genre—or she was, until her ex left her with nothing but writer’s block and a broken heart. But when she gets stuck in the elevator with a handsome stranger, she sees their meet cute for what it is: just a one-night stand. It might have worked, too, if they could stop running into each other.

Actor Mason West sees Sawyer’s reappearance in his life as a sign. Obviously, they’re meant to cure each other. Him of the hopeless romanticism that only ends in heartbreak—and tabloid trainwrecks—and Sawyer of her writer’s block. Their agreement is simple: 1. No (more) sex, and 2. No matter how swoony the circumstances, absolutely no falling in love. 

It’s a foolproof plan–until Sawyer and Mason find that, once set in motion, some plots can't be stopped—and that they might be hurtling towards a happy ending...” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Writing + Dialogue—This book was SO funny and smart, everything that I love about a Rom Com. 
2. The Tropes—So fun, so juicy, and totally made sense. 
3. The Characters—I fell in love with Mason so hard. Nothing like when a man is down bad but the FMC isn’t quite ready yet. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

1. Nothing—I really loved this book. I loved the setting of Chicago, I loved the time period it took us through, and I loved the characters. All around, a fantastic read for romance lovers and even some skeptics. 

Character Authenticity: 5/5      Spice Rating: 3/5     Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings:

biphobia, toxic relationship, abandonment

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars

4.0

Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

I am a huge fan of Ru Paul’s drag race, which was one of the first pieces of media that introduced me into the beauty of drag, so when I saw this title in my inbox I had to read it. And it was so much fun! I switched from the e-copy to the audio and loved it so much. I found it so much fun, engaging, and entertaining. It also touches on identity, the beauty of true expression, and vulnerability. All things that drag really celebrates! 

“By day, Joe is a hotel accountant, invisibly sitting behind their desk and playing by the rules. By night, donned in sequins, they take to the stage as Misty Divine, a star of the London drag scene.

But when Misty’s drag mother, Lady Lady, is found dead in her dressing room beside a poisoned box of chocolates, Misty and her fellow performers become the prime suspects.

Heartbroken by the loss, and frustrated by the clear biases of the police, Misty must solve the crime before the culprit strikes again. Among the drop-dead gorgeous lurks a cutthroat killer, and Misty Divine won't rest until she finds out who it is.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Mystery—I really didn’t see the twist coming at the end! Which I feel like is the mark of a successful mystery. 
2. The Characters—I loved getting to know all the characters. I was particularly moved by Miles and Joe’s relationship and the inner relationship between Misty and Joe. These are the books people need to read to understand people who are different from them. 
3. The Audio Production—It was SO good! The author reads it and the personal connection is so special. 

What Didn’t Work For Me: 

1. The Pacing—I switched to the audio and found it much more engaging than the e-book reading experience! 

Character Authenticity: 4/5           Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings: 

murder, death, transphobia, homophobia, grief

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

2.75

Thank you Putnam Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own! 

Lease on Love by Fallon Ballard remains one of my all time favorite books and made her an auto-buy author for me. So, I was very excited to read her latest! Sadly, it felt a little disjointed and I didn’t connect to the romance or characters’ chemistry at all. It’s a fun, quick read, but not one I’ll return to. 

Synopsis: 

“Campbell Andrews despises exactly three things in life: incompetence, tardiness, and love stories. Making partner at her law firm at thirty-four, she has no time for anything or anyone else. And certainly no respect for those who choose love over work. That is, until she wakes up in Heart Springs—her own personal hell.

The good news? She’s not dead. She’s been magically transported to a small town straight out of the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, and friendly townsfolk. Cam can’t stand it, but in order to make it back to her real life, she has to fulfill three tasks . . . foremost among them, experience true love. It seems impossible. But anything’s possible with a change of heart.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Premise—I loved Book Lovers by Emily Henry, which she said was inspired by what happens to the “icy, corporate girlfriends” male characters in Hallmark movies leave behind. I thought the premise of this one kind of captured that feeling as well!
2. The Self Awareness—It was funny and cute toin this fictional Hallmark-esque town. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

1. The Pacing—Everything happened very fast and very slow. 
2. The Characters’ Chemistry—I did not vibe with this Romance. It felt so forced and not natural at all. 
3. General Disconnect—Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I was sad, cause Fallon’s books are usually some of my favorites, but this one felt disjointed and forced in so many ways. 

Character Authenticity: 3/5      Spice Rating:1/5     Overall Rating: 2.75/5

Content Warnings: 

sexism, abandonment, toxic relationship

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

5.0

Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

Not gonna lie, when I saw all the hype around this book, I worried it wasn’t for me. I have enjoyed Ali Hazelwood’s writing a lot and most of her books have been 4 or 5 star reads for me. I wasn’t expecting much but my curiosity got the best of me and oh my goodness am I glad it did!!! I think this is the running to be a favorite book of the year because it explored so much of what makes me love the Romance genre. And if you’re worried that it will be “too spicy” for you, give it a chance. It actually had less open door scenes than I thought it was going to. 

I feel like I see a lot of comments that Ali Hazelwood writes the same story over and over. While this has characters who are younger than her previous adult novels, I feel like this felt more mature. Yes there are some nerdy science-y bits, but they didn’t feel forced or unnecessary. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! 

Synopsis: 

“
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.
 
Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
 
So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Intensity—These characters felt BIG and as someone who also has big feelings, i loved it. I loved their dynamic and the stakes. 
2. The Communication—Incredible. Hot. Powerful. I thought proper communication in a relationship was highlighted in such an affirming way. 
3. The Pacing—Couldn’t put it down. 
4. The Characters—LUKAS I LOVE YOU! Vandy, I adore you. Seriously loved them both and the adorable cameos of Olive and Adam. 

What Didn’t Word for Me: 

1. Nothing—A book like this is why I LOVE Romance and why it makes me so sad people demean it to “just smut”. It’s not that. It’s about falling in love, finding yourself, learning how to grow and communicate with a partner. 

Character Authenticity: 5/5       Spice Rating: 3/5       Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings: 

emotional abuse, toxic friendship, death of a parent, abusive parent, domestic abuse