 Have you ever read a book that just hits you and leaves you wanting more? That was me with A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy by Jeff Bishop. This YA novel, which comes out July 12th, mixes reality with a touch of the supernatural to weave a gorgeous, moving, and funny story. The summer after senior year should have been a time for Cam to party and hang out with his friends. It should also have been a time for him to win back the love of his life, Allison Tandy, who'd dumped him so brutally the year before. But it quickly becomes clear that this summer is going to be worse than a failure for Cam. It's going to be a tragedy. Ally is left comatose after a terrible car crash, then Cam tears his ACL in a basketball accident. The operation leaves him in agony, confined to his couch and ruminating over the fact that his ex may not survive. But when (after taking his medication) Cam starts seeing Ally, he starts to think: 1. He may be headed for a complete mental breakdown and 2. This summer might just be interesting after all. Wow wow WOW was this book one of the best books I’ve read in a while! I absolutely adored Cameron’s narration. It made the story that much more relatable and entertaining, especially when he spoke directly to the reader. The supernatural element gave this YA coming-of-age contemporary novel a fun twist that will have you flipping the pages to see what is going to happen next. However, this book isn’t just about teens ending high school and one guy still dealing with the breakup with his ex from months earlier; it’s about first love, heartbreak, and living life despite knowing things could go wrong at any moment and weaving your way through the unpredictable. This story is so much deeper than two exes trying to get over one another and Bishop really makes you feel invested in the story and I’m not ashamed to admit that I bawled like a baby during certain parts of the story. Simply put: I adored this novel and I’m very happy that a sequel seems to be in the works! For anyone looking for a unique and fantastic YA book this summer, READ. THIS. BOOK! *I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion. 
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 A small-town romance that can never work? Mental health representation? All set around bingo games? As unique as it sounds, Jamie Wesley’s Bet on It features all of the above and you can read all about it when the book comes out on July 12th! The first time Aja Owens encounters the man of her dreams, she’s having a panic attack in the frozen foods section of the Piggly Wiggly. The second time, he’s being introduced to her as her favorite bingo buddy’s semi-estranged grandson. From there, all it takes is one game for her to realize that he’s definitely going to be a problem. And if there’s anything she already has a surplus of, it’s problems. In Walker Abbott’s mind, there are only two worthwhile things in Greenbelt, South Carolina. The peach cobbler at his old favorite diner and his ailing grandmother. Dragging himself back after more than a decade away, he’s counting down the days until Gram heals and he can get back to his real life. Far away from the trauma inside of those city limits. Just when he thinks his plan is solid, enter Aja to shake everything up. A hastily made bingo-based sex pact is supposed to keep this…thing between them from getting out of hand. Especially when submitting to their feelings means disrupting their carefully balanced lives. But emotions are just like bingo callers—they refuse to be ignored. This book was a great read. I liked the emphasis it put on mental health and how both our MCs have issues that they’re dealing with yet are able to realize how sharing their burdens with others and letting themselves feel things and embrace the unknown can make them stronger. In addition to the romance, the small-town southern charm in this novel was fun to read about and I’m kinda a sucker for a good bingo game, so I totally understood Aja’s love of attending the bingo hall! There were a few things I was missing in terms of plot. For example, there wasn’t much of a backstory for Aja and some of the time jumps were all over the place. Additionally, I wanted more vulnerability for Walker with his grandma. Besides those little one offs, I thought it was cute! While the plot was a little predictable, the mental health rep made this book a bit more interesting! Ultimately, I think this was a quick and cute summer read that any romcom lover will appreciate! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.   Cupcakes and romance? Say no more! Jamie Wesley’s Fake It Till You Bake It, which comes out on June 21st, is the sweet romance you need this summer! Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. When she comes home to lick her wounds, Jada finds herself working at San Diego's newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, alongside the uptight owner and professional football player Donovan Dell. When a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item, they realize they can use the misunderstanding to their advantage to help the struggling bakery and rehabilitate Jada's image. Faking a relationship should be simple, but sometimes love is the most unexpected ingredient. This romance was so cute and honestly worth reading just for the drool-inducing descriptions of cupcakes in the story. Fake dating has always been a favorite trope of mine and this one was done so well and just made me love this trope even more! I loved the different personalities of the main characters and how Jada and Donovan complemented each other. Plus the fact that Donovan is a stern grumpy pants while Jada is a sassy sunshine makes this story even more delicious! Add in a few amazing bestie side characters and you have a recipe for a great romcom! I seriously need to read August’s book ASAP so I hope it comes out soon! But in the meantime, Donovan and Jada’s story is so much fun and is definitely one to add to your Summer TBR! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.  We all love a good retelling, so when I heard about Priscilla Oliveras’s newest romance being a Romeo and Juliet retelling it’s safe to say I was VERY excited! West Side Love Story, which comes out on June 1st, is a celebration of music, culture and love that any romcom lover will enjoy! Having grown up in the nurturing household of Casa Capuleta, Mariana will do anything for familia. To solve her adoptive parents’ financial problems amid their rapidly changing San Antonio comunidad, Mariana and her younger sisters are determined to win the Battle of the Mariachi Bands. That means competing against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and escalating a decades-old feud. It also raises the stakes of Mariana’s forbidden attraction for a certain dark-eyed mariachi who sets her heart racing. To Angelo Montero’s familia, Mariana is also strictly off-limits. But that doesn’t stop him from pursuing her. As their secret affair intensifies and the competition grows fierce, they’re swept up in a brewing storm of betrayals, rivalries, and broken ties. Against the odds, they vow to bring peace. But sacrifices must be made and consequences weighed for two star-crossed lovers to make beautiful music together. This may be my favorite Priscilla Oliveras book so far! I loved this Romeo and Juliet retelling and really appreciated learning more about mariachi music and Latin culture. As with all of her romance novels, Oliveras deftly weaves an engaging romance with Latin culture and phrasing that really engrossed a reader in the story. Reading this story made me want to hop on a flight to San Antonio and visit Casa Capuleta myself! Alongside the themes of familial loss and gain, the foster system, and what it means to follow your heart, Mariana and Angelo’s story was so wonderfully written and I cannot wait to read more about the Capuleta Sisters in future books! This is a must-read romance for your summer TBR that is sure to tug on your heartstrings! I cannot wait for the sequel to be released next year! *I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.  From bestselling author Sarah Henning comes a new book set in the same universe as her prior YA contemporary novel, Throw Like a Girl. Brimming with all of the summer vibes, It’s All In How You Fall (which comes out May 31st) is the perfect book to read this season! Gymnast Caroline Kepler has three state balance beam titles, a new trick even most elites can’t do, and chronic, undeniable back pain. While she might never be an Olympian, she has dreams of leveling up to elite, making Nationals, and competing in college. But when one epic face-plant changes all that and Caroline’s back pain goes from chronic to career-ending, her dreams are shattered and her life is flipped upside down. Enter Alex Zavala, a three-sport athlete who’s both incredibly cute and incredibly off-limits. He offers to give Caroline a crash course in all the sports she’s missed, and she has an offer for him in return: For every sport Alex teaches her, she’ll play matchmaker for him. Deal done, Caroline “dates” new sports with Alex for the rest of the summer, which is loads more fun than wallowing in despair. Just as Caroline starts to see herself as more than her past athletic successes, she picks up something she didn’t bargain for: a big fat crush on Alex. Turns out life was way easier when it was just layout-fulls and beam burns.... This book reminded me why I love YA novels! The summer-y vibes of this romcom novel were so much fun to read about. I also loved the way Henning wrote this brother’s best friend romance and how Caroline and Alex learn from one another that life is about balancing what the universe throws at you. Supported by an awesome cast of characters, this book is the perfect book to read poolside or inspire you to try something new (athletic or otherwise)! If you love YA novels, then add this one to your Summer TBR! *I received an ARC from LBYR/TheNovl via a giveaway win.  Chloe Liese gives her fans what they’ve been waiting for with the fifth installment in her The Bergman Brothers Series which comes out on May 10th. Everything for You, which centers around the youngest brother of the bunch, may be Liese’s first LGBTQ+ romance, but still has all of the heart-warming inclusive themes that make her books so binge-worthy. Oliver Bergman and Gavin Hayes have been teammates for two years, but it feels like a lifetime that they’ve been on each others’ last nerve. A demanding captain and veteran player, Gavin is feared and friendless, while Oliver is the beloved rising star, all sunshine smiles and upbeat team spirit. Avoiding Oliver has been Gavin’s survival tactic on and off the field. But when their coach drops the bomb that they’re now co-captains and it’s either end the enmity or say goodbye to being captains, avoiding each other becomes impossible. It also means that keeping the truth of their attraction to one another and fighting their feelings becomes even harder than ever. Did I actually binge read this book in a few hours? Yes. Did I stay up until 3:30am to finish it? Also yes. Honestly, just when I thought Chloe Liese’s books couldn’t get any better, she goes and writes Oliver’s books and makes me fall in love with her writing all over again. This book had queer representation, anxiety and mental health rep, and chronic pain rep all wrapped up into the most delicious enemies-to-lovers grump/sunshine romance ever. Not only are Gavin and Oliver amazingly written characters, the cameos from the rest of the Bergman Family is just the icing on the cake. The plot was so perfectly paced out and the romance was simultaneously slow-burn, but not. Liese teases the reader along with the tension between our two main characters just enough to make the build up amazingly peak at the perfect point in the story. I think I’ve reviewed all of the books that Chloe Liese has published to date and this one might be one of her best. All I can say is go read this book immediately and I’m not quite sure how I’m supposed to wait until 2023 to get the next book in this amazing series. *I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.  Bestselling romance author Helena Hunting is back with her newest rom-com that is sure to be a fan-favorite. Set to be released on May 10th, Starry-Eyed Love brings readers back to Spark House and the party-planning sisters who find love in the most unexpected places. Having just broken up with her boyfriend, London Spark is not in the mood to be hit on. Especially not when she’s out celebrating her single status with her sisters. So when a very attractive man pays for their drinks and then slips her his number, she passes it right back to him with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’. As the business administrator for their family’s event hotel, the Spark House, London has more important things to worry about, like bringing in new clientele. As luck would have it, a multi-million-dollar company calls a few months later asking for a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and London is eager to prove to her sisters, and herself, that she can land this deal. Just when she thinks she has nailed her presentation, the company’s CEO, Jackson Holt, walks in and inserts himself into the meeting. Not only that, but he also happens to be the same guy she turned down at the bar a few months ago. As they begin to spend more time together, their working relationship blossoms into something more. It isn’t until their professional entanglements are finally over, that London and Jackson are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship. But between Jackson’s secretive past and London’s struggle with her sisters, London must question where she really stands - not just with Jackson, but with the Spark House, too. This romance was such a fun and quick read. First of all, who doesn’t love a good millionaire romance? But have that millionaire be a business associate who you are trying to keep things professional with while you’re both feeling the chemistry between you??? Sign me up! I liked the alternating POVs and the way the story progressed. I also really enjoyed London’s character, since we first met her in When Sparks Fly as Avery’s sister whom she was constantly butting heads with. The beginning of this book was really fun, especially with all of the tension between London and Jackson, but I found myself finding the ending a bit predictable. I also really didn’t like Avery in this book, which was kind of disappointing considering how much I enjoyed her and Declan in the previous book in the series! While the slow-burn kinda-workplace romance was really well done, this book wasn’t anything super profound. However, I still look forward to reading the next book in this series, which I hope will feature Harley! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.   Hi everyone!
For those of you who follow me on Instagram (I’m @the.overflowing.bookshelf on there if you don’t 😉), you probably saw that at the beginning of the year I started a buddy-read with my good friend Courtney (@courts.book.nook on Instagram). We’ve done buddy-reads in the past and decided that we wanted to do one to start 2022 off on a fun note! So we compared bookshelves to figure out what book we both owned already that we could read together. The book we decided on? Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick The Set Up For those of you who are unfamiliar with the book, it is a young adult supernatural fantasy novel that was considered a YA classic in the mid-2000s/2010s. It was actually kind of surprising that neither of us had ever read this book before because we were directly in the target demographic for this book at the time of its release and it had been on my bookshelf for so long that I totally forgot that I even owned it! 😂 {Just to judge how old this book is, the little fake sticker on the cover of my copy says to preorder Becca Fitzpatrick’s newest book called Black Ice, but that book came out in October 2014…. 😬 So basically this book had been on my bookshelf for a minimum of 7-8 years} Before starting this buddy read, I also made the choice to NOT read the back of this book (aka read the summary) and go into reading it fully blind! Now I had a vague idea that this book was about a girl in high school and angels existing in the real world, but besides that I was in the dark. This left me with a few questions: -Is this a stupid move? Probably but I think that it’ll definitely make things more interesting… 🤔 -Will we like this book from the peak of YA fantasy fad? -Does this 2009 book stand the test of time? -Will two adults in their 20s feel nostalgia while reading this book or just cringe-y? So off we embarked on our reading journey, and boy was it a rollercoaster… Basic Book Info But before I get to my actual reviews of each book, let me share a brief description of the first book: For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life. TL;DR: The series follows Nora, a regular teen, and Patch, a fallen angel, as they try and grapple with the supernatural world and the tensions between fallen angels and Nephilim (half-angels). So the plan was to buddy-read the first book and be done with it, but we had so much fun with it and reading comments that we said “let’s just buddy-read the whole series!” And let me just say: it was a whirlwind! I don’t want to give away too many spoilers, but the mini reviews of each book will probably spoil just a bit of the events that take place in prior books. Mini Reviews Book 1: Hush, Hush I have had this book on my shelf for about 7 years and finally decided to read it and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it! This YA fantasy novel from the 2010s is a little dated with its lack of modern technology and tropes that were very popular back in the day; however, my middle school heart still fell in love with Patch and his broody and mysterious vibe. And while I spent most of the book mentally yelling at Nora for all of her stupid decisions, I still found the plot engaging and thrilling. I think if I would’ve read this book when I originally bought it (aka 2015), it might’ve ended up being a 4 or 5 star read for me, but I think since I’m no longer a teenager, and therefore not in the target demographic for this novel, it was just good and not amazing! That being said, I am definitely still going to check out the rest of this series because I’m interested to see what Becca Fitzpatrick has in store for these characters and this fantasy world! TL;DR: This book screams YA 2010s nostalgia and despite being out of the target demographic, I still enjoyed this book! Book 2: Crescendo I was so frustrated by this book until I got to the end… I found Nora so stupid and annoying and I constantly found myself thinking “how is this girl not dead yet??” She’s very wishy-washy throughout the whole book, makes TERRIBLE decision, and is so spiteful yet oblivious to everyone and everything. I legitimately said out loud while reading “No sh*t, Nora!” at a major revelation. I honestly thought that I probably wouldn’t want to continue the series after this book. And then I read the end and this was the series of events that followed: -I put the book down -I said “Goddamnit…!” -I went on Amazon and ordered the next (and final) two books Despite my annoyance with most of the characters and the whiplash the plot/Nora’s opinions gave me, Fitzpatrick just has a way of hooking in readers and I got so caught up in the dramatics at the end of the plot that I was like I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!! *sigh* so yeah I’ll be continuing this series so wish me luck 👍🏻 Book 3: Silence I swear every time I start reading a book in this series I go through the same emotions: -I hate all of these characters -Why is Nora so stupid/whiny -I’m gonna DNF I swear -Patch!! 😍 -Finally, something interesting! -Ok more confusion… -Action and adventure -DAMNIT BECCA! Now I need to read the next book!!! So yeah… I will be reading book 4 so wish my luck Book 4: Finale Well I finally finished this series…. Yay? I’m honestly shocked I made it this far tbh I was getting very frustrated with the characters by the end and honestly there were too many random “plot twists” that just seemed like cop outs or laziness on the author’s part. If I wasn’t buddy-reading this I probably wouldn’t have had much motivation to finish this book (not that I had much to begin with), but I honestly only liked about 2 characters (aka Patch and Scott). As I said in the rest of my reviews of each book, I’m sure 15 y/o me would’ve loved these books but 23 y/o me? Not so much… The plot was just too all over the place, the ending felt abrupt, and this series as a whole could’ve literally been 3 books shorter. Overall Thoughts I can see what’s appealing about this series: -the forbidden romance -the bad boy male lead -the action and mystery interwoven into the plot However, reading this book series in my 20s was not as exciting as it probably would’ve been in my teens… I really regret not reading this book when I first bought it and while I didn’t love the way this series ended and got frustrated with certain characters and plot points, I am still glad I finally crossed this book off of my TBR. What's the Point of this Post? Now you may be wondering why I’m telling you all of this? For two reasons:
Anyway, I applaud you if you actually read this entire blog post! It was quite the long one lol! If you have any other book recommendations for me, have strong thoughts about this series, or just want to say hi, comment below or DM me on one of the various social media platforms I’m on! Bye for now and happy reading! -Elisa  Get ready for a tale as old as time with a modern twist in Jasmine Guillory’s latest rom-com (which is also the second book in Disney’s Meant to Be Series)! Set to be released on May 3rd, By the Book shows that sometimes all you need is for someone to believe in you. Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing after college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, still living at home, and one of the few Black employees at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves. All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a pep talk or three. How hard could it be? But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and―it turns out―just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn’t there before. This was my first Jasmine Guillory book and it definitely won’t be my last! I adored this Beauty and the Beast retelling!! It was so well written and I loved how it delved into the publishing industry and what the writing process can look like for some people. The nods to the original Disney movie were subtle, but definitely there if you were looking for them, which just made this story even cuter. Between remarks about furniture, a publishing company called Maurice, and Beau’s assistant being nicknamed “Kettle”, the Easter eggs are endless! While this book isn’t very steamy, it makes up for it with the tender moments and the building up of Izzy and Beau’s relationship. Both of them have lost the spark that comes from living a happy life and it’s so wonderful to watch them rediscover it within one another! Overall, this Beauty and the Beast retelling is phenomenally written and I cannot wait to explore more of Guillory’s backlist! This is definitely one to add to your TBRs this spring! *I received an ARC from Disney Hyperion in exchange for my honest opinion.  Saddle up, folks! A new cowboy romance has just been published and its action-packed plot is one you’ll definitely want to read this summer! That Cowboy of Mine is swoony, exciting, and a book to definitely get your hands on when it comes out on April 26th. Dillon Young is proud that she inherited her aunt’s ranch. The problem: someone is trying to run her off and is willing to do whatever it takes. Strange, dangerous things keep happening. So, when the irresistible Cal Bennett is found passed out drunk on her property, Dillion is on high alert. Until someone takes a shot at her and Cal springs to her rescue. When the hard-bodied, no-nonsense-talking cowboy points out that she may need some help, Dillion is inclined to reluctantly agree. His proposal: pose as lovers until they find out who is after her ranch. As the danger rises and secrets are revealed, the passion explodes between them and there is no turning back. I don’t know if I’ve actually read a cowboy romance before, but consider me a fan of them now! This book jumped right into the thick of action and mystery and it had me hooked from page one! Between murder attempts, missing horses, and the mysterious appearance of a hot bull rider, the activities on Dillon’s ranch will leave readers curious about what will happen next and when the truth will eventually come to light. This story took a bit of a suspenseful turn with danger lurking over Dillon and the ranch, but this book was still a fun and quick read. Plus who doesn’t love a little sexy tension between a hot cowboy and his new boss?? If you're looking for a quick read, this cowboy romance is definitely one to add to your TBR this summer! I am definitely excited to explore more cowboy romances, as well as Donna Grant’s extensive backlist! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion. |
AuthorHi! My name is Elisa and my bookshelf is quite literally overflowing! Join me in my journey of reading as many books as humanly possible! Archives
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