readandwright's reviews
458 reviews

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

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

I can safely say I have definitely never read another book like this before. I added it to my TBR based off loving the author’s debut but this book surprised me. I have never read a shifter romance! And I’m not sure if it’s the right subgenre for me…

I really don’t know how to rate this book. I did the audio and I loved the performances and the characters, but then there were moments that made me a little uncomfy and I had a hard time processing the moments. I know so many people who love Omegaverse/Shifter Romances! So there’s definitely an audience, but again, not sure it’s for me. So, please take my review with this in mind: I didn’t realize this was a shifter romance until I did more research, I have never read a shifter romance and didn’t intend to, others love it and I still will read more from this author. 

Synopsis: 

“Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.

Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the same day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right?
 
Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Noah will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Work Place Setting—I love a workplace romance! I loved that this took place in a hospital and thought it was interesting that everything was so out in the open. I wasn’t expecting it!
2. The Side Characters—I really liked everyone in this book! The dialogue was fun and I liked their relationships. 
3. The Protective Hero—While I wasn’t ready for an Alpha…I understand the appeal. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

1. The Subgenre—I don’t know if I’m this kind of romance girlie 😭 
2. The Spice—I’m sorry, I’m sorry but it just didn’t work for me. I am not a prude or screamish reader when it comes to spice but it just did not work for me. 
3. The Feeling Like I was Missing Something—I am a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was kept from being scared off once I learned this was a shifter romance. But I felt like I was thrown in to world with little to no explanation (which is probably my fault!). 

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

Content Warnings:

abandonment, medical content, death of a parent

One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In by Kate Kennedy

5.0

Thank you to the publisher for my copy! All thoughts are my own.   There is nothing more exciting to me than seeing the continued success of people I admire. I have been a fan of Kate Kennedy and the Be There in Five Podcast for the longest time. She helped get me through many sunday chores and mental health walks during the pandemic. I was thrilled to see her get a book deal and I’m even happier now that I’ve read the book. It is masterful. Even though I am on the end of the millennial spectrum (1992/1993 babies, where are you?) I still could relate to so much of what Kate wrote about. I was a little too young for the Spice Girls but I was very much an American Girl girlie. There was so much I could relate to and so much I learned, amidst Kate’s signature clever and thoughtful dialogue.   Synopsis:   “One In a Millennial is an exploration of pop culture, nostalgia, the millennial zeitgeist, and the life lessons learned (for better and for worse) from coming of age as a member of a much-maligned generation.Kate is a pop culture commentator and host of the popular millennial-focused podcast Be There in Five. Part-funny, part-serious, Kate navigates the complicated nature of celebrating and criticizing the culture that shaped her as a woman, while arguing that great depths can come from surface-level interests.With her trademark style and vulnerability, One In a Millennial is sharp, hilarious, and heartwarming all at once. She tackles AOL Instant Messenger, purity culture, American Girl Dolls, going out tops, Spice Girl feminism, her feelings about millennial motherhood, and more. Kate’s laugh-out-loud asides and keen observations will have you nodding your head and maybe even tearing up.” —NetGalley  What I Liked:   The Essay Structure: I love how Kate structured this book. It’s an essay collection instead of a tradition memoir, but it still has a memoir feel while staying fresh and fun.   The Writing: I was constantly surprised by how clever the writing was. I shouldn’t be, since Kate’s podcasting has always been quippy and brilliant, but seeing it all in written form was even more more exciting.   The Feelings it Evoked—In the audiobook, Kate opens up in such a beautiful, vulnerable way. I was moved by the emotion in her voice numerous times.   What Didn’t Work:   Nothing! I really thought this was such a well thought out, emotional, funny, relevant book.   Character Authenticity: N/A       Spice Rating: N/A       Overall Rating: 5/5  Content Warnings:  Infertility, pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, mass shooting, mental health

Right on Cue by Falon Ballard

4.0

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

adventurous emotional lighthearted slow-paced

3.75

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad

3.5

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

When I saw this book’s cover back over the Summer, I immediately filed it under, “That looks cozy and I like the vibe.” It definitely was a cozy read set in Ireland, but it also was so much more in terms of seeing two people struggling with their individual mental health come together. I deal with pretty severe anxiety that has just increased as I’ve gotten older and I found a lot of comfort in Jack’s storyline. It was intense, don’t get me wrong, but there is nothing as validating as hearing someone articulate the thoughts that have been swirling in your brain for a long time. 

This book deals with ADHD and OCD/anxiety rep, which were my favorite parts of the book. Sadly the romance didn’t quite land for me as it has in other of this author’s books, but I still think it is well worth the read. Especially on audio! 

Synopsis: 

“Raine Hart is used to the challenges of living with ADHD. It’s why she ditched her life in Boston to busk around Europe as a traveling musician. No boss. No schedule. No one to disappoint but herself. But when a careless mistake in Ireland leaves her unable to perform, she sees no other option but to give up her nomadic life.

Since inheriting the Local, Jack Dunne has wanted to make the pub his own. But the baggage of running a family business and the intrusive thoughts that stem from his OCD make changing things a challenge.

Over a pint with handsome, tattooed Jack, Raine accidentally insults him and the pub. Instead of taking offense, Jack, impressed by her vision of what the pub could be, offers her a job bringing it to life.

But when Raine and Jack develop feelings for one another their opposite lifestyles won’t accommodate, it becomes clear the pub isn’t the only thing that needs reinventing. As the end of their business collaboration draws near, they’ll have to find a way past the limits they’ve placed on themselves or let go of a love that could last a lifetime.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Setting—I love Ireland so much and I thought this was a great peek into “regular” life after the last two books took place on the boat more. Plus the pub was so charming! I just loved it. 
2. The Audio Production—I read this on audiobook and it was so well done! Excellent accent and character work. 
3. The OCD/Anxiety Rep—While I do not have OCD, so I can’t speak to that, I do have severe anxiety and intrusive thoughts so I could so deeply relate to Jack. It was honestly a little intense for me at time because I felt his anxiety so deep but I rarely see those thoughts represented like mine so that was comforting. 

What Didn’t Work For Me: 

1. Pacing—I was just kind of lost with the pace of this book and struggled to connect with what I was supposed to care about when it came to the romance. 
2. Chemistry—I didn’t feel it with these characters sadly but I wonder if it was a me problem and being overwhelmed by the anxious thoughts on the page. 

Character Authenticity: 3.5/5      Spice Rating: 1/5      Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Content Warnings:

panic attacks/disorder, mental illness, ableism, 

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

4.5

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

I saw this cover and heard “ballerina + hockey player” and I was immediately sold. It was so much more than I could have imagined from the cute cover and tropes. I was particularly happy to read the therapy representation in this book and loved that it was a juicy, sexy, sweet romance paired with fully realized characters going through very real things in their life. I love a good frothy book but there’s just something a book that can give you both! 

Synopsis: 

“Once upon a time teenage Aurora Evans met a hockey player at the Mall of America. He was from Canada. And soon, he was the perfect fake boyfriend, a get-out-of-jail-free card for all kinds of sticky situations. I can't go to prom. I'm going to be visiting my boyfriend in Canada. He was just what she needed to cover her social awkwardness. He never had to know. It wasn't like she was ever going to see him again...

Years later, Aurora is teaching kids’ dance classes and battling panic and eating disorders—souvenirs from her failed ballet career—when pro hockey player Mike Martin walks in with his daughter. Mike’s honesty about his struggles with widowhood helps Aurora confront some of her own demons, and the two forge an unlikely friendship. There’s just one problem: Mike is the boy she spent years pretending was her “Canadian boyfriend.”

The longer she keeps her secret, the more she knows it will shatter the trust between them. But to have the life she wants, she needs to tackle the most important thing of all—believing in herself.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

1. The Internal Dialogue—I loved the individual journeys both Rory and Mike went on. The grief, dealing with parents, the self discovery, therapy representation, Rory’s disordered eating and relationship ballet were all so powerful in their quietness. It was a great example of two characters working through their own things and working through things together. 
2. The Concept—I thought it was such a fun idea! I wish there had been a few more letters or maybe a few more flashbacks to young Rory and her letters. 
3. The Setting—I’m a sucker for lakes! I don’t think I’ve read a lot of books set in Minnesota and I loved it. Plus I thought the Little House references were fun too. It made me want to watch the show! 

What Didn’t Work For Me: 

1. The 3rd Act Break Up—I kept looking at my reading percentage on my kindle, dreading when the 3rd act break up would happen. Now that I’m writing this, it’s not that I hated that it happened, it just felt like Mike’s reaction was really out of character. Still had a great time reading the book! 

Character Authenticity: 4/5     Spice Rating: 1/5     Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Content Warnings:

Disordered eating, strained parent/child relationship, death of a spouse, grief, anxiety, panic attacks (on the page), death of a parent 

My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand

The Catch by Amy Lea

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-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? No

5.0

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

If there’s one thing about me, if the book takes place in a coastal town, I’m gonna read it. Now add in the grumpy hero trope mixed with fake dating? It’s gonna be a knock it. I LOVED reading The Catch by Amy Lea. It was everything I loved about It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (grumpy fisherman, influencer heroine, coastal town)  but felt a little more grounded in reality, which is my preferred style of romance. While i didn’t love Set on You, Exes and O’s and The Catch have quickly become favorites. It was such a fun read and I look forward to the next phase of Lea’s writing career! 

Synopsis: 

“In a last-ditch effort to rescue her brand from the brink of irrelevance, Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen finds herself in a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. The only thing scarier than nature itself? The burly and bearded bed-and-breakfast owner and fisherman, Evan Whaler—who single-handedly disproves the theory that Canadians are “nice.”

After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B&B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.

Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild?” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Setting—I LOVED being on the East Coast of Canada in this book. It was a stunning coastal setting that captured the feel of salt water spraying your face as you enjoy the view. Plus, it’s a perfect small town vibe. 
2. The Tropes—Fake Dating! Grumpy Hero! Small Town! Meddling Family! So many good tropes that still feel grounded in reality. 
3. The Characters—I fell in love with Evan and his family, so I can’t blame Mel at all for her attachments! 

What Didn’t Work For Me: 

1. Opening Pacing—It took a little bit to get into the story for me, but right at 25% I became super invested! I think I would have liked the inciting incident to come a hair sooner, but it didn’t impede my overall enjoyment of the book at all. 

Character Authenticity: 4/5        Spice Rating: 2/5        Overall Rating: 5/5

Liar's Beach by Katie Cotugno

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.25

enjoyable read, boring ending 

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka

emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

3.5

Thank you Berkley for my early copy  of The Break Up Tour! All thoughts are my own. 

This was one of my most anticipated releases for 2024 and I was so excited to read it! I loved Do I Know You? by this author duo so I was so excited to see what they did with this Taylor Swift inspired Romance. Sadly, I liked it, didn’t love it. I felt like it was missing some crucial connection. Even though it’s a second chance romance, I would have liked to see the characters connect in a new way. I felt like there was very little dialogue. On the plus side, this book is romantic and really pulls at the heartstrings, so I think it’s perfect for fans of the Rom-Dram vs Rom Coms. 

Synopsis: 

“Riley Wynn went from a promising singer-songwriter to a superstar overnight, thanks to her breakup song concept album and its unforgettable lead single. When Riley’s ex-husband claims the hit song is about him, she does something she hasn’t in ten years and calls Max Harcourt, her college boyfriend and the real inspiration for the song of the summer.

Max hasn’t spoken to Riley since their relationship ended. He’s content with managing the retirement home his family owns, but it’s not the life filled with music he dreamed of. When Riley asks him to go public as her songwriting muse, he agrees on one condition: he’ll join her band on tour.

As they perform across the country, Max and Riley start to realize that while they hit some wrong notes in the past, their future could hold incredible things. And their rekindled relationship will either last forever or go down in flames.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Premise—I’m a Swiftie since debut era, so I was HERE for this. Maybe I wanted more similarities to Taylor because I feel like they could have gone a step further but I thought it was such a fun idea. 
2. The Strong Emotional Pull—These two authors know how to pull at the heartstrings. I think it’s a huge strength of theirs! This book felt like a heartache from page one. 
3. The Writing—I really love their writing. It’s complex and full of feeling, the kind you don’t usually find in Romance novels. I love that they’re not afraid to “go there” instead of keeping things light and fun. 

What Didn’t Work for Me:

1. Lack of Dialogue—But I would have appreciated a little lightness and a little fun. I felt like there was next to no dialogue between characters! A little banter would have been nice. 
2. Disjointed Pacing—Things just did not flow for me and I had trouble wanting to keep reading. 

Character Authenticity: 4/5     Spice Rating: 0/5     Overall Rating: 3.5/5