G. Bianco, 2019
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Rebecca Yarros’s dragon riding fantasy romance novel Fourth Wing. And while there are probably a gazillion reviews about this book already, I’m going to dogpile on with another gushing review because yes, this book deserves it! Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. I don’t even know where to begin with this review because I’m trying to think of stuff that hasn’t already been said… Ok I’ll just start with this: if you haven’t read this book yet, GO AND READ IT NOW!! I absolutely adored this romantasy book and BookTok had it right when they said this book was addictive and a smash hit, because it is both of those things and more! I went into this book completely blind and I’m really happy I did honestly! Every plot twist and development just heightened the already amazing book and I was so engrossed in Violet’s story from chapter one. Aside from the fantasy aspects of this book (including the badass dragons), the romance in this book was so lovely to read. There was also a healthy dose of villains and amazing side characters to help round out this phenomenal book. I laughed, I cried, and I gasped soooo many times while reading this book that I’m immediately about to go and pick up the second book and continue reading because I’m so obsessed with this story and invested in these characters. If you don’t trust BookTok, then trust me when I say that this book is a must read! I’ve read my fair share of fantasy/romantasy books and this one is just a delightfully delicious read!
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It's almost the holiday season and David Valdes is delivering with his new book which came out on November 7th! If you’re looking for a cute YA holiday romcom, then Finding My Elf is the book for you! Escaping to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way Cameron planned—he’s about to lose his scholarship and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid talking with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers. But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it? This book was a cute and quick Christmas-themed read, but I felt like it was missing something to give it more depth. I know it’s a YA novel and maybe I wasn't in the target demographic, but Cameron was kind of annoying in the beginning of the novel for me and some of the plot felt underdeveloped. That being said, I was very invested to see who would win the Mall Elf competition and found the book easy to read! This book did have all of the Christmas-y vibes so if you’re looking for a holiday read, then look no further! *I received an ARC from Epic Reads in exchange for my honest opinion. Ali Hazelwood has quickly risen to prominence in the romance world, but now she's taking her first dip into the YA world with her newest romance. Check & Mate, which comes out on November 7th, is the new book you *need* to add to your TBR, whether you’ve read one of Hazelwood’s books or not. Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess. Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist.... As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…) I honestly shouldn’t be too surprised that Ali Hazelwood’s YA debut was a smash hit! Brimming with her usual witty and diverse characters, amazing dialogue, a swoon-worthy romance, and nerdiness galore, this novel not only makes me want to learn more about chess, but also reminds me why I love reading and learning about different hobbies and interests! This story had everything from funny side characters, a relatable sibling dynamic, a bit of struggles for Mallory, and an overcoming of fears and doubts for our main character in order to learn how to live life on her own terms. While I think this novel might be geared towards an upper YA/New Adult audience, this novel perfectly blended the angst of growing up with finding yourself which made the book that much more relatable. Fans of Hazelwood will adore this book just as much as her past adult romances and if you haven’t read any of her prior books, then this book is a great place to start! Overall, I loved this book and cannot recommend it enough! *I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion. I’m probably the last person to read this book but IT WAS SO GOOD THAT YOU’RE GETTING A REVIEW ANYWAY! Honestly, I’ve become such a big fan of Ali Hazelwood that I’m shocked I haven’t made time to read Love Theoretically sooner, but here we are. The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills. Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job. Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice? I ADORED this book! Another top tier read by Ali Hazelwood!! I absolutely loved Elsie and Jack and their nerdiness! The setting of academia filled with politicking in the background was really interesting and I loved learning a bit more about the different disciplines of physics. Both Elsie and Jack have amazing character development as they help each other realize past mistakes and how they have developed coping mechanisms for them. Both grow to be better people and seeing them fall in love in the process is amazing. Filled with the usual one liners and banter we all love from Hazelwood (and a few Easter eggs from past novels!), this book is a must read! I know it’s not even Halloween yet, but we can start talking about Christmas books… right? Anyway this Tana Stone book, which is aptly titled Christmas with an Alien, which comes out on October 30th was definitely an interesting way to kick off the holiday reading season! The weeks leading to Christmas are not Caroline’s favorite. The personal shopping department where she works is insanely busy and the clients have crazy requests. Plus, this is her first holiday after a bad breakup. When her last client of the day is a gorgeous, blue-skinned alien, she isn’t too surprised. After all, everyone knows that aliens are real since a species of interstellar warriors revealed themselves. What does startle Caroline is that Griff isn’t looking for unique Christmas presents. He’s on Earth to find a mate. Although she agrees to help him, finding a bride for an alien isn’t easy, especially when word gets out that the hottie is on the market. Between the alien-obsessed women swiping right on his new dating profiles and the paparazzi dogging them, Griff is no closer to finding a bride. He is much closer to his personal shopper, though. If only she didn’t think loyal guys were as much of a fantasy as flying reindeer. Can Griff melt the ice in Caroline’s heart and convince her that good things do come in big, blue packages? The whole reason I read this book was because I thought the concept of an alien romance set around Christmas was way too interesting of a topic to pass up. And if there’s one word to describe this book, it’s “interesting”! Do not expect heavy plot lines or a lot of background into the alien culture and lore going into this book, because you’re not really gonna get it. You’ll get just enough info to help you understand that this giant blue alien needs a bride and that’s about it. If you’re looking for a fluffy (and kinda steamy) Christmas binge-read that doesn’t have too much substance and has a linear and straightforward plot, then this is the novel for you. *I received an ARC from Literally Yours PR in exchange for my honest opinion. Erin Hahn returns to the adult romance scene with another amazing book about longtime friends who try to deny their feelings for each other. Set to be released on October 17th, Friends Don’t Fall in Love is the feel good friends-to-lovers romance you’ll want on your TBR. Lorelai Jones had it all: a thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. Then she played one protest song at a concert and ruined her entire future, including her impending marriage. But 5 years later, she refuses to be done with her dreams and calls up the one person who stuck by her, her friend and her former fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate, Craig. Craig Boseman’s held a torch for Lorelai for years, but even he knows the backup bass player never gets the girl. But now Craig owns his own indie record label and his songwriting career is taking off. If he can confront his past and embrace his gifts, he might just be able to help Lorelai earn the comeback she deserves―and maybe win her heart in the process. But when the two reunite to rebuild her career, Lorelai realizes a lot about what friends don’t do. For one, friends don’t have scratch-that-itch sex. They also don’t almost-kiss on street corners, publish secret erotic poetry about each other, write songs for each other, or go on dates. And they sure as heck don’t fall in love... right? This book was super cute! I immediately fell in love with the main characters and was rooting for them from chapter 1! There was a lot of back and forth in Lorelei and Craig’s relationship and fans of friends-to-lovers romances will love the way these characters go from friends to something more to “it’s complicated” to lovers. But the music industry’s backdrop for this novel was super interesting and I always love when there are songs written by the author that intertwine with the plot of a book. I especially loved the cameos of Shelby and Cameron from Hahn’s previous novel Built to Last and all of the side characters that tried to knock some sense into the main characters. If you’re looking for a friends-to-lovers romance to cozy up with this fall, then this is the book for you! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion. New York Times bestselling author David Arnold returns to the YA world with a story of grief, healing, and music. Set to be released on October 10th, I Loved You in Another Life is truly the unique book you need to add to your TBR this year. Evan Taft has plans. Take a gap year in Alaska, make sure his little brother and single mother are taken care of, and continue therapy to process his father’s departure. But after his mom’s unexpected diagnosis, as Evan’s plans begin to fade, he hears something: a song no one else can hear, the voice of a mysterious singer… Shosh Bell has dreams. A high school theater legend, she’s headed to performing arts college in LA, a star on the rise. But when a drunk driver takes her sister’s life, that star fades to black. All that remains is a void—and a soft voice singing in her ear… Over it all, transcending time and space, a celestial bird brings strangers together: from an escaped murderer in 19th century Paris, to a Norwegian kosmonaut in low-earth orbit, something is happening that began long ago, and will long outlast Evan and Shosh. With lyrical prose and original songs (written and recorded by the author), I Loved You in Another Life explores the history of love, and how some souls are meant for each other—yesterday, today, forever. This book was so engaging and had me following the plot lines as they threaded into one another. I loved the way everything in this novel connects to one another and how you don’t even realize I’m the connections until the chapters are over. I also loved the character development of Evan and Shosh. They are both grappling with losses and big life events in their own way, but the way the universe or some cosmic being brings them together to heal and grow is beautiful to see. Aside from Evan and Shosh’s relationship, I also loved the different relationships shown in this story: Evan’s relationship with his brother, Will; Evan’s friendships, Shosh’s relationship with her teacher Ms. Clark; Shosh’s friendship with Ruth; all of these show just how much the people we surround ourselves with impact our lives, no matter how big or small, and it’s a beautiful thing to see. The poetic and lyrical way this book is written and how the timelines and storylines mirror and overlap with one another makes this a truly unique book. I cannot recommend it enough. *I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion. The only thing I love more than a good enemies-to-lovers romance, is a workplace romance that I can relate to. And Clare Gilmore’s debut romance, Love Interest, (which is set to be released on October 10th) definitely fits the bill! Casey Maitland has always preferred the reliability of numbers. Now a twenty-four-year-old finance expert working in Manhattan, she wonders if the open project manager position at her company―magazine powerhouse LC Publications―is a sign from the universe to pursue a career with a little more sparkle. That is, until she’s passed over for the job in favor of the board chairman’s son. Alex Harrison is handsome, Harvard-educated, and enigmatic. Everybody loves him―except for Casey. But when the two are thrown on the same project, what they discover about their company might change everything―including the dreams each of them is chasing and their mutual love interest. This debut romance was really cute! As a native New Yorker, I loved the setting of a NYC corporation for this workplace romance. Plus having a nerdy finance girl be the main character was super fun and different. I also loved the way both Casey and Alex grow into their relationship and also try to get to the root of why their ambitions are the way they are. Additionally, having such descriptive settings of Manhattan, Nashville, and London really helped the novel come to life. If you love workplace romances and want to feel like you’re experiencing a NYC 9-5 job and all of the antics that come along with it, then this book is for you! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange from my honest opinion. Known for her witty comics on the internet chronicling her life as a Muslim woman, Huda Fahmy is back in the YA circuit with the sequel to her debut book Huda F Are You? which comes out on October 10th. In this laugh-out-loud story, aptly named Huda F Cares?, Huda and her family go to Disney World and get into many shenanigans while there! Huda and her sisters can’t believe it when her parents announce that they’re actually taking a vacation this summer . . . to DISNEY WORLD! But it’s not quite as perfect as it seems. First Huda has to survive a 24-hour road trip from Michigan to Florida, with her sisters annoying her all the way. And then she can’t help but notice the people staring at her and her family when they pray in public. Back home in Dearborn she and her family blend right in because there are so many other Muslim families, but not so much in Florida and along the way. It’s a vacation of forced (but unexpectedly successful?) sisterly bonding, a complicated new friendship, a bit more independence, and some mixed feelings about her family’s public prayers. Huda is proud of her religion and who she is, but she still sure wishes she didn’t care so much what other people thought. I loved this sequel graphic novel! While I am not Muslim, I *do* have sisters so I definitely resonated with this story and the value of sisterhood and family. My sisters and I fight, tease, and annoy each other all the time; however, when push comes to shove, we have each other's backs and would do anything for each other. Also, my parents taught my sisters and I that we were each other's built-in best friend, so the fact that Huda’s mom shared a similar sentiment throughout the novel and Huda eventually realizes how appreciative she is of her sisters was really sweet to me. A quick and binge-worthy read, Huda F Cares? is a great YA graphic novel for those looking to view a story centered around family and growing up, while also highlighting Muslim culture. *I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion. A book that literally came out today (September 26th) and has already been optioned for a movie?!?! If that doesn’t convince you to read Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis, which is honestly the heist book you need in your life right now, then I don’t know what will! At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother’s life hanging in the balance. In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn’t exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world—a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined. Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win. Honestly, this book took me a bit to get into and I found myself having to force myself to keep picking it up. But once I did pick it up, I became enthralled with the story! The cast of characters was just as entertaining as the plot itself, which is filled with thrilling adventures and tasks for the characters to take part in. And the ending!?!?! I won’t say anything (because spoilers) but holy goodness I was not expecting that ending!!! If you’re a fan of heist movies or shows, then you’ll absolutely love Thieves’ Gambit! I sincerely hope this isn’t the last we see of these characters! *I received an ARC from Penguin Teen 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
February 2023
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