 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. 
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 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.   Elissa Sussman has written many best-selling books, but her most recent novel is sure to be a show-stopper. Set to be released on April 12th, Funny You Should Ask shows how sometimes timing can mean everything and oftentimes the universe has bigger plans for us. Then. Twenty-something writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing high-profile book deals, all she does is churn out puff pieces. Then she’s hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker: her number one celebrity crush and the latest James Bond. All Chani wants to do is keep her cool and nail the piece. But what comes next proves to be life changing in ways she never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has the tabloids buzzing—and Chani getting closer to Gabe than she had planned. Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a healthy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles as a successful writer with the career of her dreams. Except that no matter what new essay collection or online editorial she’s promoting, someone always asks about The Profile. It always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she’s forgotten about the time they spent together. But the truth is that Chani wants to know if those seventy-two hours were as memorable to Gabe as they were to her. And so . . . she says yes. Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word. This book was a fabulous binge read for me. I quickly became emotionally invested in the plot and loved how the story was told in alternating timelines. The emotions run so high in this book and there's so much tension in the beginning that readers will be devouring this book like I did trying to figure out just what happened 10 years earlier and how our main characters will come to terms with it in the present. The way Chani's emotions are conveyed is so well-written and the way fame and its relationship with the media is explored is so well done. You really get a glimpse at both the celebrity side of things, as well as the journalistic viewpoint of trying to do your job, while also being the force that can impact someone else’s life. The way the past and present parallel with one another yet differ so much only highlights the theme of timing and “what ifs” this stroy offers. Additionally, readers can’t help but root for Chani and Gabe to finally give into the feelings, both the good and the bad, they’ve been holding onto for a decade. I basically felt every emotion while experiencing Chani and Gabe’s story. I laughed, I cried, and I just couldn’t stop reading this book. This was a five star read for me and I cannot wait to see what Sussman will write next! *I received an ARC from Dell/Penguin-Random House in exchange for my honest opinion.  From the author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay comes a novel about being queer in the public eye. Set to be published on March 22nd, Adib Khorram’s Kiss & Tell is a fun and binge-worthy book that still tackles tough topics that many teens can relate to. Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend--leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all--and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens. But Hunter isn't really sure what being the perfect queer kid even means. Does it mean dressing up in whatever The Label tells him to wear for photo shoots and pretending never to have sex? (Unfortunately, yes.) Does it mean finding community among the queer kids at the meet-and-greets after K&T's shows? (Fortunately, yes.) Does it include a new relationship with Kaivan, the drummer for the band opening for K&T on tour? (He hopes so.) But when The Label finds out about Hunter and Kaivan, it spells trouble—for their relationship, for the perfect gay boy Hunter plays for the cameras, and, most importantly, for Hunter himself. This book really dives into what it’s like to always be in the spotlight and I loved how honest it was about fame and what it can do to a person. Readers see the way Hunter has to grapple with figuring out who he is as an artist and person, while the media, his record label, and his fans all try to tell him who he should and shouldn’t be. Not only does Hunter struggle being young in the public eye, but also with being queer in the public eye. The focus of this novel was more of a coming-of-age-in-the-spotlight story and how the media, the internet, and all these external people are now influencing and picking apart everything you do and Khorram does a great job of showcasing Hunter’s experiences in a fun, but also real, way. Despite the tough topics, readers can’t help but root for Hunter and want to see him discover his true self. The little bits of romance sprinkled throughout the story were fun and seeing Hunter want to make things work with Kaivan, his friendships with his bandmates, and his grasping onto his Canadian Roots makes him such a fun and relatable character to read about. What makes this novel really unique is the mixed media aspect of it. While most of the novel is in Hunter’s POV, there are snippets of news articles and transcripts from interviews that showcase the influence of the media on Hunter and the rest of his bandmates' lives. If you were ever a fan of a boy band (or still are) then this is a great peek behind the curtain of what it’s like living the rockstar life and having everything you do picked apart. However, the glitz and glamor of stardom still shine and you’ll be wanting to go to a Kiss & Tell Concert by the time you’re done reading this book! *I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.  From the author of Running with Lions comes a new YA book about a last-ditch effort at summer fun between two best friends. Julian Winters’s Right Where I Left You, which comes out on March 15th, is light-hearted, fun, and a great book to add to your Spring/Summer TBR. School’s out, senior year is over, and Isaac Martin is ready to kick off summer. His last before heading off to college in the fall where he won't have his best friend, Diego. Where—despite his social anxiety—he’ll be left to make friends on his own. Knowing his time with Diego is limited, Isaac enacts a foolproof plan: snatch up a pair of badges for the epic comic convention, Legends Con, and attend his first ever Teen Pride. Just him and Diego. The way it should be. But when an unexpected run-in with Davi—Isaac’s old crush—distracts him the day tickets go on sale, suddenly he’s two badges short of a perfect summer. Even worse, now he’s left making it up to Diego by hanging with him and his gamer buddies. Decidedly NOT part of the original plan. It’s not all bad, though. Some of Diego’s friends turn out to be pretty cool, and when things with Davi start heating up, Isaac is almost able to forget about his Legends Con blunder. Almost. Because then Diego finds out what really happened that day with Davi, and their friendship lands on thin ice. Isaac assumes he’s upset about missing the convention, but could Diego have other reasons for avoiding Isaac? This book was a fun and quick read. This friends-to-lovers YA romcom leaned more on the side of coming-of-age story as Isaac navigates how the relationships in his life are changing and how he wants to move forward in his life before starting college. Additionally, this book also touches upon topics like sexuality, divorce, family relations, and more. However, readers definitely get their fill of relationship drama between Isaac, Davi, and Diego! I enjoyed the parallels between the comic book series referenced throughout the book and Isaac’s own life. I also appreciated the way this book tried to highlight LGBTQ+ voices and diverse love stories. This book will really resonate with anyone who is part of a fandom, relates to certain characters in their fandoms, and bonds and creates friendships with those with similar interests to them. Isaac can be a bit oblivious at times which can be frustrating, but I don’t think that there would even be a book if Isaac was as perceptive as I was while reading this book. Aside from Isaac, who highlights diversity as a gay, black/Latino teenager, this book is full of diverse characters of all ethnicities, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I think young adult audiences looking for books that highlight diversity will really enjoy this fresh and relevant read. *I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.  In her sophomore novel, Allison Saft brings readers into a mystical fantasy world filled with alchemy, prejudices, and love. A Far Wilder Magic, which was released on March 8th, is a captivating and enthralling story about two people who find comfort in each other despite their vast differences. When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist. Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist—yet. He's been fired from every apprenticeship he's landed, and his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret. She begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her. Although they make an unlikely team, they soon find themselves drawn to each other. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt—if they survive that long. Saft’s sophomore novel is brimming with alchemy, tales, and romance. While the plot got off to a slow start, the story picks up about a third of the way through and has you yearning to see what will happen next. Though it’s classified as a young adult book, I’d probably say it’s more on the mature side of YA. While I think 17 year old me would’ve loved this book, 14 year old me might have been a bit confused with all of the lore in the beginning (and a bit scandalized at some implied steam). Our main characters, Margaret and Wes, are both vastly different people on the surface, yet find more similarities as they get to know each other. Saft also makes it a point to show how religious prejudices play into a person’s life and how it shapes us and our dreams. This addition to the world-building of the story artfully crafts an allegory to modern day’s persecutions and injustices. Despite a slow start, this standalone fantasy novel is well-written and is sure to be a fan favorite in the book community! *I received an ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion.  Taking a chance at something you really want sometimes requires a risk. In Trish Doller’s new novel, The Suite Spot (set to be released on March 8th), our main character learns what it means to not only risk your career and life, but your heart. One of the few bright lights in Rachel Beck’s life is her job at a Miami Beach luxury hotel—until she’s fired for something she didn’t do. As a single mom, Rachel knows she needs stability, and fast. On impulse, Rachel inquires about a position at a brewery hotel on a tiny island in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island. When she’s offered the job, not even the grumpy voice on the line can dissuade her from packing up her whole life and making the move. What she finds on Kelleys Island is Mason, a handsome, reclusive man who knows everything about brewing beer and nothing about running a hotel. Especially one that’s barely more than foundation and studs. It’s not the job Rachel was looking for, but Mason offers her a chance to help build a hotel—and rebuild her life—from the ground up. The Suite Spot hits the spot!! This is the perfect book to pull you out of a slump and/or binge read. This novel toes the line between romance and women’s fiction and Doller does a great job of giving the readers a romance-forward book without letting it encompass the entire plot. At its core, this is a book about a single mother trying to make her dreams come true, while also caring for her child and those she loves. I almost wish this book had dual POVs so that we could hear more of Mason’s inner thoughts, but I still loved Rachel as a narrator. Another thing I loved was the little cameos of Anna and Keane from Float Plan (which if you haven’t read already, you must)! I appreciated the way Rachel and Mason’s relationship blossomed and how they acknowledged their rough pasts before just jumping into a new relationship. This single-mom, grump/sunshine, forced proximity romance was just so endearing and has instantly made Doller an auto-buy author for me. While I think I liked Float Plan a bit better, I still really enjoyed this book. I look forward to seeing what Doller will write next. *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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