Hello everyone! I’m back!!! I started the year with so much motivation and passion for reading and blogging and then the worst reading slump of my life started in February and got a lot worse in March. I keep saying reading slump, but honestly, it was more generalized than that. For almost two months, I didn’t want to know anything about book-related things, so I wasn’t reading, blogging, or reading blogs, I didn’t go into Bookstagram and I still haven’t, and something that has never happened before, I even stopped watching Booktube videos for a while. It was terrible!
I’m grateful that the slump has finally passed and today, I bring you my wrap-up for February and March, most of this was read either at the beginning of February or the last couple of days of March.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood(5 stars): Ali Hazelwood could write a grocery list and I would read and love it. She makes me feel invested in her characters and stories. This book is set in an interesting world, I always love stories about humans, vampires, and werewolves co-existing in the same world, and I appreciated that there were things about this that made it feel unique. I loved the romance, a marriage of convenience, but the hero is secretly pinning for the heroine, it’s kind of slow burn, and they are fated mates. I loved all of it. Also, I liked the side characters and after that ending, I NEED the next book about the couple that gets introduced.
Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake (4 stars): I really liked the main characters in this story, and I liked that we got to see the things they were each struggling with and how they worked through them and grew. Especially, the storyline about Stevie’s anxiety. The character development of both protagonists is one of my favorite aspects of this book. I also liked the romance, from the fake dating, to the sweet moments and the steamy scenes.
Office Hours by Katrina Jackson (4 stars): I really liked that this book was about two people getting to know each other, going through everyday life, and falling in love. The romance was sweet but there were some very steamy scenes as well. I appreciated the discussions in this book about burnout and women of color being pushed out of academia by the unfair and unreasonable demands and expectations that are placed on them. Overall, a very solid read.
Sabbatical by Katrina Jackson (4 stars): I liked the first book a little more but this was still a solid romance. I loved both of the main characters, the friends to lovers, slow burn romance was fantastic and the steamy scenes were great. I also appreciated the commentary on how it is to be in academia as a person of color.
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire (4 stars): Another solid installment of this series. I always love the way these books are written as if they were fairytales, and it was no different with this book. I love that we got to see old beloved characters in an adventure together, visiting different worlds. Both the story and characters were great. I think the dinosaur on the cover is a bit misleading since they are only a small part of the story, but it was nothing that detracted from my enjoyment.
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson (4 stars): This was a really good sequel. It felt like a golden age mystery, with the isolated setting, all the different suspects, each one with a good motive and keeping tons of secrets. There were so many interesting reveals and the solution to the mystery was a good one. I also appreciate that this keeps the same narrative style where the main character is the author writing the story for us, but they added so many new characters and dynamics that it keeps the story interesting.
A Game of Cones by Abby Collette(2 stars): I didn’t love the first book in the series but I don’t remember it being this bad. The main problem with this is that the main character’s best friend, Maisie, has a big role in this book and she is so annoying, she feels like a caricature and does so many dumb things, which left me so frustrated. Also, the main character, Wyn, is so naive and bad at figuring things out. Lastly, the writing is not very good and the mystery is so obvious, there was no subtlety at all, I knew the who as soon as they were introduced early on in the book and I also knew the why.
A Killer Sundae by Abby Collette (3,5 stars): I almost DNFed this series because book two was so bad. But surprisingly, this was a lot better. My favorite of the series so far. The main character, Wyn, is a lot more self-aware in this book and a bit better at figuring out the mystery, and Maisie, her best friend, is not in this that much, and her ridiculousness was toned down a lot. But the main thing that made this better is that the mystery was stronger and more interesting. While I suspected who the culprit was, there were enough people with motives to make me doubt if it was really that person who did it. The one thing that didn’t work out so well in this is the romance, Wyn and O have zero chemistry, and I’m not sure if this heading for a love triangle, which I don’t think I would like, so it worries me.
The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie (3,5 stars): The mystery was interesting, I love seeing Poirot solve cases so I had fun with this, and I appreciated that various POVs were telling the story. The ending was okay, even if some things felt like they came out of nowhere at the end and I didn’t like the romance, that guy did not deserve that woman.
The Under Dog and Other Stories by Agatha Christie (3,5 stars): This was entertaining and I liked the different cases, but I’m not sure if the short story format works for me because I felt like the resolution to the mysteries came out of nowhere most of the time.
What Feast at Night by T. Kingfisher (3,5 stars): When this book was announced I was excited because I loved What Moves the Dead. Unfortunately, this sequel was neither as entertaining nor as unnerving as the first book. Still, the writing was wonderful as always with T. Kingfisher, I liked the characters that returned from the previous book, and the setting -this isolated and probably haunted hunting lodge- provided the right atmosphere for the book. So I didn’t love it but it was an okay read.
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor: This book will make you feel uncomfortable, the story is terrible and grotesque but captivating. It deals with poverty, violence, sex work, drugs, homophobia, desperation and so many other things that go on in a small rural town in Mexico. The story is violent and gruesome and the writing amplifies that, it’s crude, raw, and urgent, and it feels like you are reading a nightmare. The story is not that complex but the way the book is structured is, while still being easy to follow, which makes the story more interesting.
I struggled a bit with this because I feel like a lot of the terrible things that happened in this book were described in a lot of detail, there’s nothing left to the imagination and, sometimes, it wasn’t necessary, it didn’t make the story better. Especially since there is a lot of the child SA that takes place on the page and that’s pretty graphic.
What’s the best book you read in lately? What are you currently reading?
My movie and tv show reviews are back for another year and I’m already behind because while I haven’t been reading that much in 2024 so far, I have watched so many things. So, expect another of these posts soon.
For now, here are my thoughts on some of the things I watched at the beginning of the year:
Anyone But You (4.5 stars): I don’t care what anyone says, Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell have fantastic chemistry. The sexual tension, the flirting and the banter were all there. Also, this was really funny, I laughed multiple times, and overall this movie was such a blast to watch. More importantly, some solid song choices were made, I haven’t been able to get Unwritten out of my head since I watched this. The montage at the end with the entire cast signing that song made the movie even better.
There are a few very cringy scenes (they were supposed to be funny but weren’t) that happened while they were pretending to date but hated each other, and I wish that part of the movie was a little shorter. Also, some of the dialogue was really, really cheesy. But overall, a very fun romcom.
The Bear – Season 1 and 2 (4.5 stars): I can’t believe that took me this long to watch this. I loved it, I enjoyed season 1 a little bit more than season 2 because the main cast spent more time together. But I loved all of it. The characters are these flawed, complex people and watching them develop this relationship between them and become a found family even when they dislike each other often was captivating and probably my favorite part of the show. The ups and downs in the development of the characters is incredible to watch and I can’t believe by the end of season 2 they made me like Ritchie, that was completely unexpected. I also love the rhythm of the show, how each episode is intense and there are points were it’s almost a frenzy. Episode 9 of season 1 is one of the most intense episodes of television I have ever watched.
Welcome to Samdalri (4.5 stars): I loved this from beginning to end. The performances of the entire cast are so good, the small town setting adds so much warm to the series and this quiet story of personal growth of the main character but also of people around her was so beautiful to watch. I was completely invested in the second chance romance, the two main characters have such a powerful connection and it’s so evident whenever they are together, the male lead is such a green flag, and there are some non-cringy, romantic scenes that I loved. Slowly getting to discover why they broke up was so engaging, the angst was real and there were some truly heartbreaking parts. The side characters were fantastic, especially the sisters, and their romances were also so adorable. Also, the relationship of one of the sisters with her daughter was incredible and one of my favorite parts of the show.
There was a plotline revolving unrequired love that didn’t add anything to the story and felt pretty unnecessary. Also, after having a pretty slow pace for most of the series, the last episode felt rushed and crammed. But overall, it was such a good show.
Daisy Jones and the Six (4 stars): The casting was perfect, everyone delivered amazing performances, the characters were flawed and complex, the music was fantastic, the leads have so much chemistry and they are captivating. Watching this you truly felt like it was set in the 70s in the music scene of the time. It was a thoroughly entertaining series. And the ending is so bittersweet.
Gyeongseong Creature (4 stars): This series has a slow start, but when it picks up the pace, it doesn’t let up. The performances of the entire cast were incredible and the setting was so realistic, it truly felt like Korea in 1945. It has a lot of memorable, complex characters and in particular the main characters goes through an incredible journey of character development. While the romance stars a little instalovey, the two protagonist have so much chemistry and the characters go through so much together than by the end I was sold on their romance.
This shades light on a very important topic, while I have heard about Japan’s occupation of Korea and about comfort women and the horrific things that were done to them, I had never heard about the medical experiments performed on people by the Japanese. These events were depicted with a lot of care and, while the speculative element that was added was very compelling, it never took away from the horror of the real life events. The ending was sad and very confusing, but I’m looking forward to season 2.
My Demon (4 stars): I have to state the obvious, the two leads in this drama are so good looking that it was distracting. Also, they had fantastic chemistry and they were so cute together, their relationship was my favorite part of the show. There were also some memorable side characters. I really enjoyed the fantasy plot and how the shows slowly unravels more and more of the secrets and mysteries around the connection between the two main characters. But the plotline that revolved around the power struggle within the female leads family’s company wasn’t that interesting to me.
My Man is Cupid (4 stars): I started to watch this without any expectations, I just wanted another romance kdrama to watch and I was pleasantly surprise. The chemistry of the two main characters was really good. The plot revolves around cupids, reincarnation and a serial killer, and it was pretty compelling. Also, the love story was really angsty and beautiful. The romance between the side characters didn’t made sense to me and felt unnecessary, those were my least favorite parts of the show, but it was just a small part of the story. There were a couple minor details that are spoilers that I didn’t love but nothing that truly affected my overall enjoyment of the series.
The Story of Park’s Contract Marriage (3.5 stars): I loved the first few episodes, I was so invested and it was really funny watching the main character, who time travel from the past, learning about how everything works in the present. The main characters had solid chemistry and both actors delivered good performances. The plot was focused on the power struggles in a company, which I found compelling at first but then lost interest, and since the characters get together early on in the show, there wasn’t much keeping me engage. They were cute together but that wasn’t enough. The resolution of the company/grandfather storyline was silly and not in a good way and the resolution to the time travelling plotline was unexpected and bittersweet, in a good way. Overall, I was happy with how it ending and this was a good enough show.
This may sound very cliche but I can’t believe that the first month of the year is already over. My reading in january was very inconsistent, in the sense that I had a few books I loved but also I don’t usually give books under 3 stars and this month I had 2 books that got 2.5 stars.
Here are my thoughts in the books I read this month:
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (4.5 stars): For the most part, this is a cozy fantasy with a slow pace, told in an academic and epistolary style, and with a few darker and violent elements since it’s a book about fairies. The story revolves around two scientists exploring a town, forming connections with townspeople and nearby fairies, and going in many entertainint mini side quests to help them. The main characters are so different from one another, Emily is serious and scholarly while Wendell is charismatic and talkative, their dynamic and bickering is entertaining. I’m here for the romance and I can’t wait to read more of their adventures together. This also has a wonderful cast of characters, the townspeople are so endearing and their relationship with Wendell and Emily is lovely.
This was a 5-star read up until the 75% mark, but the final part of the book felt very disconnected and a bit discordant with the rest of the story, it gets a lot darker, and while I still liked it, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the rest of the book.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (4.5 stars): Amina is a character with a strong voice that it’s very captivating, which is one of the strongest elements of the book. Another one is the endering found family made up of this ragtag group of characters. This is plot-heavy and full of adventures, it mixes real historical details with magical creatures, sea monsters, sorcerers, and magical artifacts, which was the perfect combination to make this interesting. I had so much fun discovering this world. The only reason this isn’t 5 star is that it’s very plot driven and I wanted a little more character and relationship development.
VenCo by Cherie Dimaline (3.5 stars): I really liked the characters in this and getting to read all their stories. The compelling relationship between the main character and her grandmother captivated me, while the relationship between the coven was fun and heartwarming. I appreciated the indigneous, trans and queer representation in this. Also, the last part of the book picks up the pace and it was highly entertaining.
However, while I was interested throughout the reading experience, I was never truly invested. Mainly due to the pace and the fact that not a lot happens for most of the book. Thematically, the narrative falls slightly short, there are some contradictions between the intended messages and whats depicted in the book. Furthermore, this book has light and vague worldbuilding, which I didn’t mind for the most part. Except for the fact that this talks often about this coven solving all the problems of the world but it’s never clear how since the powers the witches have are pretty limited or why this particular coven, when they are other covens all over the world.
Taste like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma (4.5 stars): This was entertaining and fun to read. I really liked both main character, they were loyal, hardworking and passionate. They had so much chemestry from the very beginning and I loved to see the evolution of their relationship from animosity to love. The friend group is fantastic and I really appreciated the way this discussed complicated family dynamics and the toll that family obligations can have. While the thrid act conflict was a bit frustrating, I could undestand where the hero was coming from so that made it easier to handle, and the fact that it wasn’t dragged out also helped.
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura (3.5 stars): I enjoyed the rivals-to-lovers romance, the push and pull, and the chemsitry between the main characters. Also, the steamy scenes are good. The adventure storyline revolving around the Aztect expedition is well executed. I was entertained the whole time while reading it and I think the Lara Croft and Indiana Jones vibes are there.
But I had a few issues: 1) the heroine acts out of character and completely forgets her valid anger with the hero SO MANY TIMES just for the sake of having more sex scenes. 2) the main characters, but especially the heroine, think way too much about sex and about wanting to have sex with each other, it happens in all situations even if it’s in an entirely innocent context that has nothing to do with that and I wish that was tone down. 3) this book brings up a few concerns around ethics in archeology that are not explored deeply enough. 4) the villain is a very “mustache-twirling” villain.
Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan (2.5 stars): this didn’t work for me for a couple reasons: First, the fact that the main character is a curse breaker but the book is not fully a paranormal book and it’s not the whimsical, slightly magical type of book either. The only “paranormal” element seems to be curses and there’s no real explanation as to why, which is frustrating since the main character has a very “scientific” approach to curse breaking. It’s like the author couldn’t decide how to handle that element of the story. Second, the characters had a lot physical chemistry but I didn’t fully buy their emotional connection, which is why the i love you’s didn’t feel realistic.
I did like some things: I liked the characters individually and the few scenes where they had real conversations were actually good, I just wished there were more of that. The steamy scenes were really well written and the Scottish castle was an interesting setting.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett (4 stars): This was a solid mystery. I was invested, wanting to figure out what happened, having theories and trying to tie the different clues together. There were a couple times where I started to get a little bored because there were a lot of clues but no way to connect them, so it felt like the book wasn’t moving forward. But it was just a small portion of the book.
Overall, this was entertaining and compelling. The use of multimedia (text messages, emails, news) worked really well, except for the excerpts of two fiction books about the case because they were mostly not interesting, too long and the excerpts of one of the books were truly cringe worthy. Lastly, I didn’t 100% love the ending, it was just ok.
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano (2.5 stars): This was ok. I enjoyed seeing more of Vero and Javi together. But honestly, this didn’t feel like the Vero we have come to know in the rest of the series. While I know the Finlay Donovan books are known for their absurd plots, this was absurd without the fun and charm of the rest of the series, I was annoyed at some points with how dumb this was.
What’s the best book you read in January? What are you currently reading?
February is Black History Month and while I read books by Black authors all year around, every year I like to put together a tbr list of books by Black authors to read during this month and I always have have so much fun doing it. This year cozy mysteries seem to be what I was in the mood for, so there’s a few of them, but I still have books from other genres to read from.
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin: this really needs to happen this year, I read the first book in 2018 and the second book last year for Black Heritage Month, so I need to read this before more times passes.
Long Women by Victor LaValle: This was in the favorite books of 2023 lists of a couple of people I trust, so I’m hoping I’ll love it and I’ll have a new horror author I enjoy.
Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola:I have heard nothing but good things about this romance book and this author, so I’m excited to finally give it a chance.
Do you have any books by Black authors that you want to pick up in February?
For the third year in a row, I decided to put together a tbr based on the lists of favorite books of 2023 posted by bloggers, bookstagrammers and booktubers. I have found that this is a great way to discover new authors and read books that are outside my comfort zone, so I’m excited to do it again.
To pick the books for this tbr, I used the same rules from the past two years:
It had to be on the list of favorite/best books of 2023 of more than 1 person
It had to have good reviews from my goodread friends
It had to sound interesting to me
After going through so many lists of best books of the year and thinking about it for weeks, I finally have a tbr of 6 books that I’m looking forward to reading:
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies byHeather Fawcett: This sounds like something I would like but I wasn’t sold on it, nonetheless, after seeing it’s the book that appeared in the highest number of best of 2023 lists I finally decided that I need to read it.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson: I have only read one Brandon Sanderson book in my life and it was over 5 years ago, I have been tempted to read more of his books and I think a standalone that was included in so many favorite lists is a good place to start.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty: I haven’t read that many books with pirates on them, so I’m intrigued. Also, it has a older protagonists which is also something I don’t see often in the fantasy books I read.
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll: I’m not the biggest fan of true crime, but I have heard nothing but good things about this, so I’m excited to give it a chance.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano CĂłrdova: out of all the books in this list, this feels like the one that it’s the farthest away from my comfort zone. If I simply heard what this book is about without knowing all the praise for it, I probably wouldn’t pick it up. But I’m hoping I’ll be surprise and love it as much as other people seem to.
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang: a short literary horror book that explores beauty standards sounds like something I would enjoy and I’m intrigued because a lot of people I trust really loved this.
Have you read these books and did you enjoy them? What were some of the best books you read in 2023?
This is technically part two to my list of anticipated releases of the first half of 2024 which I posted a couple days ago. This is focused only on romance because I read too many romance books and I have a never ending list of romances that I want to read.
Without further ado, here are some upcoming romance books I want to read:
Frustrated with her life, she makes a wish on a birthday candle to find her soulmate. Instead, the universe delivers her hate mate, Nami’s old high school nemesis, Jae Lee, the most popular kid from high school, who also narrowly beat her out for valedictorian. More than a decade later, Jae is still as effortlessly cool, charming, and stylish as ever, and, to make matters worse, is planning a hostile take-over of her start-up. Cue: sharp elbows and even sharper banter as the two go head-to-head to see who’ll win this time. But when their rivalry ignites a different kind of passion, Nami starts to realize that it’s not just her company that’s in danger of being taken over, but her heart as well.
Why do I want to read it? I have been waiting for this couple’s second chance at love for SO LONG. This is going to be so angsty and I can’t wait.
Release date: February 06, 2024
Synopsis
West, the Marquess of Weston, and Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell, have lately been spending a considerable amount of time together. But West and Sophie are not new acquaintances. In fact, years ago, they had once been nearly engaged until West’s almost fatal curricle accident and his meddling father threw them off course.
Now recently widowed, Sophie has put aside all thoughts of romance. But when her widowed sister, Alexandra, mentions a fondness for an earl, Sophie realizes that she may be holding her sister back. Alexandra won’t move forward with an engagement until Sophie, too, settles down again, and so Sophie approaches West with a plan. They will announce their engagement and break things off once Alexandra is happily married. It’ll be simple. After all, it’s not like she is going to fall for West a second time, not when Sophie has sworn not to risk her heart again.
Why do I want to read it? I love Ali Hazelwood’s books and this is a romance between a vampire and a werewolf which sounds fun.
Release date: February 6, 2024
Synopsis
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
Why do I want to read it? I really liked the first book in the series and I’m interested in going back to this small town full of cowboys.
Release date: March 25, 2024
Synopsis
The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.
When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.
Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?
Why do I want to read it? It has a fun premise and I’ve loved the last two Abby Jimenez books I have read.
Release date: April 2, 2024
Synopsis
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.
Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
Why do I want to read it? Chloe Liese is one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read the final book in this series that introduced me to her.
Release date: April 9, 2024
Synopsis
Viggo Bergman, hopeless romantic, is thoroughly weary of waiting for his happily ever after. But between opening a romance bookstore, running a romance book club, coaching kids’ soccer, and adopting a household of pets—just maybe, he’s overcommitted himself?—Viggo’s chaotic life has made finding his forever love seem downright improbable.
Enter Tallulah Clarke, chilly cynic with a massive case of writer’s block. Tallulah needs help with her thriller’s romantic subplot. Viggo needs another pair of hands to keep his store afloat. So they agree to swap skills and cohabitate for convenience—his romance expertise to revive her book, her organizational prowess to salvage his store. They hardly get along, and they couldn’t be more different, but who says roommate-coworkers need to be friends?
As they share a home and life, Tallulah and Viggo discover a connection that challenges everything they believe about love, and reveals the plot twist they never saw happily ever after is here already, right under their roof.
Why do I want to read it? I need more sapphic romances in my life and this one is anopposites-attract romance which I love.
Release date: April 16, 2024
Synopsis
Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin’s’s life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes.
With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.
But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Smith is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt-heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?
Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.
Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?
Her first impression of Colin McCory is…hot. But then he opens his extremely kissable mouth. Colin’s view on love just pisses Truly off, even if he does have an annoyingly attractive face. Bickering with a cynical divorce lawyer is the last thing she needs—so she walks out, with no plans to return.
A few days later, Truly is surprised when Colin tracks her down, asking for a fresh start. Truly can’t deny the little thrill she gets from Colin begging, so she reluctantly agrees. As they go from enemies to friends to something else entirely, Truly discovers they have more in common than she ever imagined, including their shared queerness. He’s a genuinely good guy—charming, sweet, and equally as unlucky in love as herself—and there’s something about Colin that drives Truly a little wild. When their attraction reaches a fever pitch, Truly is happy for the first time in years. Yet she can’t help but wonder… is Colin truly, madly, deeply in love with her? Or is it all too good to be true?
Why do I want to read it? This is fake dating in a small town and that sounds perfect for me.
Release date: May 21, 2024
Synopsis
Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She’s learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.
Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.
A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like…
Jaiman Patil can’t help but be enamored with Jia and her meddling spirit. They’ve known each other since childhood, playing while their fathers bonded over business. Now he’s an honorary part of her family, ever since his own moved to America, leaving Jaiman behind to pursue his dream of running a local pub. Life with the Deshpandes is chaotic and loud, but it’s more love than he had growing up. It’s also a lot to lose, so confessing his deep feelings for Jia is completely out of the question.
When Jia’s attempts at office matchmaking go haywire, risking new friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she must reevaluate her own thoughts on love. For the first time, Jia Deshpande doesn’t know how to juggle the obstacles ahead of her. Love may be a bit more complicated than she thought, but luckily, happily-ever-afters are never in short supply in Mumbai.
Why do I want to read it? I’m always anticipating a new Ali Hazelwood book, and this one is a forbidden, secret affair which sounds so good.
Release date: Jun 11, 2024
Synopsis
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through—and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who’s off-limits to him.
Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business—one that plays for keeps.
What are your most anticipated romance releases of 2024? Do you want to read any of the books I mentioned?
This post was so fun to put together, I have so many books I can’t wait to read in the first half of 2024 and I enjoyed putting together this list with my top most anticipated books. This list doesn’t include romance because I wrote a separate post with my most anticipated romances that it’s coming in a couple of days.
This list is posted as part of top ten Tuesday, which is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. I tried to make it my top 10 but I failed, so instead is my top 15.
Wihtout further ado, my most anticipated releases of the first half of 2024 in order of their release date:
Why do I want to read it? I love this series and there are dinosaurs in this one, which is so unique.
Release date: January 9, 2024
Synopsis
Antsy is the latest student to pass through the doors at Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children. When her fellow students realize that Antsy’s talent for finding absolutely anything may extend to doors, she’s forced to flee in the company of a small group of friends, looking for a way back to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go to be sure that Vineta and Hudson are keeping their promise.
Along the way, temptations are dangled, decisions are reinforced, and a departure to a world populated by dinosaurs brings untold dangers and one or two other surprises! A story that reminds us that finding what you want doesn’t always mean finding what you need.
Why do I want to read it? I loved the first book in the series and I can’t wait to know what happens next in Emily and Wendell’s relationship.
Release date: Jan 16, 2024
Synopsis
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.
And she also has a new project to focus a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.
Why do I want to read it?: I love locked-room murder mysteries and in this one all the suspects are mystery writers, which is cool.
Release date: January 30 2024
Synopsis
When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each other. Obviously, that didn’t pan out.
The program is a who’s who of crime writing royalty: the debut writer (me!), the forensic science writer, the blockbuster writer, the legal thriller writer, the literary writer, and the psychological suspense writer.
But when one of us is murdered, the remaining authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime. Of course, we should also know how to commit one. How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?
Why do I want to read it?: It sounds like something I would love: dark academia, Carmilla retelling and queer relationship.
Release date: February 13, 2024
Synopsis
Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua’s College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold.
On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla.
But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and dark magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.
Why do I want to read it?: The first book in the series was one of my favorite books of 2022, so I can’t wait for another gothic tale by this author.
Release date: February 13, 2024
Synopsis
After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their home country, Gallacia.
In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton’s home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams.
Why do I want to read it?: two queer women solving mysteries in Jupiter… do I need to say more?!
Release date: February 13, 2024
Synopsis
Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight.
Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case could be found in the outer reaches of the Jovian system—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements. But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.
Why do I want to read it?: while I didn’t love the last book in this series, I’m still excited for another installment because I need more cozy mysteries in my life.
Release date: March 5, 2024
Synopsis
Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are―seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car―it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.
Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.
But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco’s already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay’s night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.
If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?
Why do I want to read it?: This is an incredible historical mystery series with one of the best romances I have read. Can’t believe this is book 9!
Release date: March 12, 2024
Synopsis
Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. But when Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why?
Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—a man who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body of the woman he loved. Will they unmask him in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors?
Why do I want to read it?: I have never read a book by this author but I love cozy mysteries and this one sounds so good!
Release date: March 26, 2024
Synopsis
It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends. But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder. Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer?
As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.
Why do I want to read it?: This author wrote one of my favorite books of 2022, I love the way she mixes horror and sci-fi, so I can’t wait for this.
Release date: April 9, 2024
Synopsis
Space exploration can be lonely and isolating. Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS—a space-based condition most famous for a case that resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. When she’s assigned to a small exploration crew, she’s eager to make a difference. But as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, it becomes clear that crew is hiding something.
While Ophelia focuses on her new role, her crewmates are far more interested in investigating the eerie, ancient planet and unraveling the mystery behind the previous colonizer’s hasty departure than opening up to her.
That is, until their pilot is discovered gruesomely murdered. Is this Ophelia’s worst nightmare starting—a wave of violence and mental deterioration from ERS? Or is it something more sinister?
Terrified that history will repeat itself, Ophelia and the crew must work together to figure out what’s happening. But trust is hard to come by… and the crew isn’t the only one keeping secrets.
Why do I want to read it?: This is set in the Spanish Golden Age, which I think gives it a different vibe from other historical fantasies.
Release date: April 9, 2024
Synopsis
In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.
Why do I want to read it?: This is such a fantastic series of novellas and I can’t wait to read about Cleric Chih’s new adventure.
Release date: May 7, 2024
Synopsis
The Cleric Chih accompanies a beautiful young bride to her wedding to an aging lord at a crumbling estate situated at the crossroads of dead empires. But they’re forgetting things they ought to remember, and the lord’s mad young son wanders the grounds at night like a hanged ghost.
Why do I want to read it?: I really enjoyed Our Wives Under the Sea last year, and this sounds equally haunting.
Release date: June 6, 2024
Synopsis
It’s been raining for a long time now, for so long that the lands have reshaped themselves and the cities have retreated to higher storeys. Old places have been lost. Arcane rituals and religions have crept back into practice.
Sisters Isla, Irene and Agnes have not spoken in some time when their estranged father dies. A famous architect revered for making the new world navigable, he had long cut himself off from public life. They find themselves uncertain of how to grieve his passing when everything around them seems to be ending anyway.
As the sisters come together to clear the grand glass house that is the pinnacle of his legacy, they begin to sense that the magnetic influence of their father lives on through it. Soon it becomes clear that others have also taken an interest in both his estate and in them, and that perhaps their inheritance may not be theirs alone.
Why do I want to read it?: Craig DiLouie wrote one of my favorite books of 2023, so I really want to see if this book will be as good as Episode Thirteen
Release date: June 18, 2024
Synopsis
Max Maury should be on top of the world. He’s a famous horror director. Actors love him. Hollywood needs him. He’s making money hand over fist. But it’s the 80s, and he’s directing cheap slashers for audiences who only crave more blood, not real art. Not real horror. And Max’s slimy producer refuses to fund any of his new ideas.
Sally Priest dreams of being the Final Girl. She knows she’s got what it takes to score the lead role, even if she’s only been cast in small parts so far. When Sally meets Max at his latest wrap party, she sets out to impress him and prove her scream queen prowess.
But when Max discovers an old camera that filmed a very real Hollywood horror, he knows that he has to use this camera for his next movie. The only problem is that it came with a cryptic warning and sometimes wails.
By the time Max discovers the true evil lying within, he’s already dead set on finishing the scariest movie ever put to film, and like it or not, it’s Sally’s time to shine as the Final Girl.
Why do I want to read it?: I have never read a Paul Tremblay book but I love the idea of a book that revolves around a “cursed film”.
Release date: June 25, 2024
Synopsis
In June 1993, a group of young guerilla filmmakers spent four weeks making Horror Movie, a notorious, disturbing, art-house horror flick. The weird part? Only three of the film’s scenes were ever released to the public, but Horror Movie has nevertheless grown a rabid fanbase. Three decades later, Hollywood is pushing for a big budget reboot.
The man who played “The Thin Kid” is the only surviving cast member. He remembers all too well the secrets buried within the original screenplay, the bizarre events of the filming, and the dangerous crossed lines on set that resulted in tragedy. As memories flood back in, the boundaries between reality and film, past and present start to blur. But he’s going to help remake the film, even if it means navigating a world of cynical producers, egomaniacal directors, and surreal fan conventions—demons of the past be damned. But at what cost?
What are your most anticipated releases of 2024? Do you want to read any of the books I mentioned?
I usually don’t write a “worst books of the year” post, sometimes I write a “most disappointing books” post, but overall I don’t spend too much time talking about the books I didn’t like. But, this year, there were a few books that I really didn’t enjoy reading or that frustrated me a lot and that’s why I decided to write this post. Only the first two books on this list got 2 stars, the rest are 3 stars that were almost 2 stars but I saw some redeeming qualities in them.
I disliked this book so much for so many reasons. I don’t usually read true crime books, but my library got this one and it caught my eye. Unfortunately, I didn’t know when I started to read it that it was a mix between nonfiction and fiction. The author takes the liberty of writing fictional accounts of the last few minutes of some of the victims and that didn’t work for me. When I’m reading nonfiction, I want just that, nonfiction. Also, it didn’t help that I don’t think these fictional accounts were well done, they felt exploitative towards the victims.
Moreover, the way this was structured was terrible, it jumped from one pov to another (victims, law enforcement officers, lab people, the serial killer’s family) without following a timeline or any other justification, and it jumped between years without any reason either. It felt disorganized and chaotic, and it made for a confusing reading experience.
This is such a big disappointment because the premise sounds right up my alley. This is not a long book but it dragged so much for me, that I couldn’t wait to be done reading it. There’s mainly one reason, the writing was not great, the dialogue was stilted and cringy, and it felt so unnatural sometimes. I have read other Jayci Lee books before and I knew I didn’t love her writing but in this book, it was worse than in any of the others. Also, the conflict at the end was really frustrating.
This book made me feel so deeply frustrated, but I also saw potential so I would read another book by this author. I wanted to love this, but unfortunately, I had a lot of issues with it. The main character is so unlikable, she is rude and mean to everyone around her, especially her friends. There is character growth but it happens almost 70% into the book, so it was hard to get into the story because there was no progress with the main character for so long.
Besides that, the love interest at the beginning was basically a saint because he was patient and understanding beyond normal levels, no matter how rude and hurtful the main character was. He didn’t have a personality beyond that, so I found him boring. And then, by the end, he became really pushy and, while I understand that he had been very patient before, it was annoying to see how when the main character finally started to work on herself and needed some time to grow, he wouldn’t give her the time and space to do that.
This is my last book of 2023 because I figured that it would be fun to read a romance by one of my favorite authors. But this ended up being more erotica than romance and it was not what I was expecting. Moreover, I had some issues with this novella. I didn’t mind the 15-year age gap too much but I did mind that the hero knew the heroine since she was a young girl and that’s always icky to me, even if they don’t get together until they are both grown-ups, also at the beginning she sounded so naive and young so that didn’t help. Sometimes the dirty talk in this was really cringy and also the amount of sexual displays in front of random people who weren’t willing participants and that a lot of time were people that were there to serve them (waiters or sellers) and couldn’t really say anything, didn’t sit right with
I saw a lot of good things in this book (read about it here), but unfortunately, I wasn’t sold on the romance beyond good sexual chemistry and good steamy scenes. Also, sometimes it was jarring the way this book went from serious topics to really steamy scenes and back again. The plot wasn’t that interesting and one of the main characters didn’t make the best first or second or third impression, she was controlling, didn’t listen to anyone but herself and she was rude. Overall, this wasn’t that memorable.
I didn’t hate the reading experience I had with this book but there wasn’t anything particularly good about it. The first half of the book is focused on introducing the characters and showing the day-to-day life of the protagonist in a very repetitive and not that-interesting way, and the “investigation” of the crime doesn’t really start until late in the book which makes this drag. But that isn’t even my main complaint about this book, I think the main character was such a bad sleuth, she asked obvious questions, didn’t connect the dots, and was very naive. The characters around win, especially her two best friends felt like caricatures. The ending was so anti-climactic.
Hello everyone! A couple of days ago I shared a post about the best books I read in 2023, but I did not include romance books on that list since it’s the genre I read the most of (40% of my reading) and I read a lot of incredible romance books in 2023, so I decided to write a separate post to shout out the best romances I read last year:
I love books where the guy falls first and spends a big part of the book pinning for the girl, while she is oblivious, and this book delivered that perfectly. It also did a great job showing the development of their relationship from dislike to like to love. It was believable, I was rooting for the main couple the entire time, and the hero is very swoony.
Also, this is set against the backdrop of academia and, as someone who works in academia even if it’s in a completely different field, I could relate to a lot of what was happening in this book and that was fun.
At first, I was a bit worried about the main character but I ended up loving her. She is carrying a lot of anger due to a trauma in her past as well as the racism and misogyny that she has experienced, so she was a bit abrasive at first, but I loved seeing her let go of her anger and slowly let her guard down. I also appreciated that it didn’t take too long for the character growth to start taking place.
Seeing the two main characters go from dislike to like was captivating and fun, the chemistry was there from the very beginning even when they didn’t like each other and they both knew it so it was funny to witness how hard they were trying to stay away from each other. The romance overall was sweet but it was also very steamy. Moreover, this book was so well written, the tiny sprinkle of paranormal elements gave it a unique touch, the complicated family dynamics were interesting to read about, and I appreciated the way it explored gentrification as a main plot point.
As always, Emily Henry’s writing is fantastic, she has the skill to make me like things I usually don’t. For example, I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romance, because it feels unrealistic sometimes, but in this case, it worked so well because the two main characters had been together for years and the break up was recent. Also, I normally don’t love a book that has a lot of flashbacks but I LOVED the flashbacks in this, seeing how the main character fell in love and how much they loved each other was captivating. I was so intrigued by what tore the main couple apart, and I was actually satisfied with the revealed. Both the relationship trouble and the friendship troubles felt so realistic to me. I LOVED the group of friends, seeing them struggle to stay friends despite the changes in their lives but loving each other enough to try. Also, I really appreciated that this book focused a lot on the personal growth of the characters.
While the premise of this book sounded like something I would enjoy, I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. The two main characters had so much chemistry, they made sense together and they had such an easy and fun dynamic between them. I love how their relationship transitioned from friends to best friends to lovers, it was very organic and it was so captivating to see them develop an intimacy between them and fall in love. Also, the forced proximity and the nursing someone back to health tropes were fun plot elements. One of my favorite parts of the book was the emails that Graham wrote to Claire and I loved how he used them to confess his feelings. I’m a big fan of more intimate gestures and this was so swoony. In terms of the conflict, it made sense to me but I’m glad they didn’t drag it out too much. Also, Claire’s gesture at the end was also really sweet.
It’s been a while since I read an Adriana Herrera book and this made me remember why I love her books so much. Luz Alana is a savvy businesswoman who faces all the obstacles in her way with courage and determination, Evan is so supportive and swoony, they have great chemistry from their first interaction, the banter is fantastic and this is so steamy. I also loved all the supportive characters. This isn’t higher on the list because there were some elements of the plot at the end that didn’t come together as well as I hoped, but nothing that prevented me from loving this.
This has great main characters that had a ton of chemistry and the tension between them was incredible I loved the time travel element, it kept me engaged the entire time wondering when the hero was going to find out and what was going to happen. It was a really sweet romance, particularly, their interactions in the past, and the hero was so swoony in both timelines but especially in the past. I also appreciated the journey that the heroine goes through dealing with her grief and deciding what she wants to do with her life. The only reason this isn’t higher on the list is that I wish the main couple had more moments together in the present timeline, but overall, it’s a fantastic read.
Honorable Mentions
*if you click the images, they will take you to the Goodreads page for the book*
Happy New Year!!! This is my first post of 2024 and I’m so excited to share my favorite books of 2023. These are books that I absolutely loved and that I would highly recommend. This post is posted for top ten tuesday, which is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
There are no romance book on this list because I read so much romance (about 40% of my reading) that I decided to do a separte post that it’s coming later this week with my favorite romance books of 2023.
Without further ado, here are the best books I read in 2023:
This was such a big surprise, I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. This book is about a Dominican immigrant in her 50s who tells her life story to a job counselor. The narrative voice is so distinctive and compelling, and the way the book is written fits the story perfectly with its simplicity, touches of humor, the mix of Spanish and English, and the stream of consciousness. This is a character study that shines because of the lack of artifice of the main character, who is caring and funny, flawed and complex, and feels like a real person. As a character-driven reader, this hooked me from the start.
I also loved how this explores the idea of letting all the pain, resentment, mistakes, and doubts out as an essential part of healing and living, and I appreciated how important subjects such as unemployment, immigration, poverty, abuse, and gentrification are integrated into the story.
This is a book that was translated from Spanish and the translation of the title is terrible and that cover is awful as well. So please, just ignore that because the book is brilliant. Sosa Villada’s writing is powerful, brazen, honest, and outstanding in every way. The use of every word felt intentional. I don’t think I have ever read a book where the writing impacted me as much as the writing in this book, which is the main reason I loved it so much. This is a book set in Argentina that shows the difficulties and indignities of the travesti (transvestite) experience, while also showing the beauty, the sorority, and the joy of it. One of the most powerful parts of the book is the depiction of the community that is built based on that shared experience. The touches of magical realism that are added to the story cement its otherworldliness.
This is the story of a ghost-hunting reality TV crew who explores a haunted house where experiments took place. This is entertaining, spooky, and surprising. I was invested from the very beginning and it kept me at the edge of my seat. All the characters are distinctive and captivating for their own reasons. I loved that this is told through transcripts of found video footage, journal entries, emails and text messages. This has such a cool premise and the execution delivers, the plot is fascinating and the pacing is just right. I never knew quite where the story was going but I enjoyed the ride.
The start of this book is an introduction to the two main characters and their place in 1993’s Mexican film industry as an actor and a sound engineer. So the beginning is slow, a bit too slow if I’m honest, which is why this is not higher on the list despite my love for the rest of it. But when the story takes off, it’s so interesting and captivating. I couldn’t stop reading. This has compelling characters; a fascinating plot that revolves around Mexican horror films, Nazi occultism, magic, and ghosts; a very strong sense of time and place; and some truly spooky moments. Thematically it does a good job of exploring the history of white supremacy in Mexico, which made it even more interesting.
This book follows a sixty-year-old Asian woman who is an amateur sleuth trying to solve a murder that took place in her tea shop. This has a very strong narrative voice and, at first, I wasn’t sure if I liked it because the main character is opinionated, judgy, and set in her ways. BUT I ended up loving Vera as a character with all her flaws. Moreover, I absolutely adored the found family in this. All of the characters with their secrets and mistakes were so different from one another but they were all lonely people that found each other and it was so beautiful. If a book gives me characters that I can be invested in, I don’t need anything else and this book delivered that. Also, the writing was good, the mystery was entertaining and I liked the resolution.
This was one of my first reads of 2023, and I thought it was going to be higher on this list because of how much I loved it, but it hasn’t been as memorable compared with the first 5 books on this list. This book tells the story of two friends with a complicated relationship who come together to design video games. The writing in this is incredible, and while I’m not a gamer, I found all the conversations about making games and the gaming industry fascinating. The characters are deeply flawed and sometimes made me want to scream at them to communicate and be honest with each other, but their struggles, insecurities, and mistakes feel so realistic that it is easy to root for them. I was so invested in each of them and their relationship. It’s their relationship, above everything else, the complicated, unbreakable bond between them that made me love this book. To me, this is a bittersweet story with a hopeful ending.
This is the story of an isolated witch who gets hired to teach three young witches how to control their magic, and I loved so many things about it. From the very beginning the narrative voice worked for me and the writing was really good. I loved the found family in this book: 1) the 3 girls were so sweet, seeing their antics was entertaining, and I loved the relationship the main characters formed with them; 2) The adults were great too, each one was very distinctive; and 3) The grumpy/sunshine dynamic worked so well and seeing the romance slowly develop and everyone root for the main characters to be together was lovely.
This strikes a good balance between the romance and the fantasy elements. I loved all the magic, potions, and general witchy vibe. This isn’t higher on this list because after something the hero said, the heroine deserved better than the almost non-existent apology that she got. So that decreased a little bit my enjoyment of this.
This is a magical realism story that follows three generations of Marte women, each of whom has a special ability. These abilities are varied and go from the bittersweet to the interestingly bizarre, and it’s delightful to slowly learn about each woman’s ability and the impacts that they have on their lives. Also, the writing in this is beautiful, while it’s not written in verse, it has a touch of poetic writing which I appreciated.
Acevedo managed to depict characters who are flawed and sometimes unlikable, but with so much depth and complexity that it’s possible to understand where they are coming from and root for them. This book does an incredible job of exploring sisterhood and mother-daughter relationships, as well as different types of romantic relationships, some of which are infuriating, some that are not meant to be, and some that are strong despite the obstacles in their way. All of those relationships between sisters, parents, and partners are the heart of this book and what makes it so special.
This book is a historical romance with speculative elements and strong Western vibes, while it’s very atmospheric and there are vampires, it’s not really a scary book. It’s a mix of different things and it executes them all so well, and the writing was fantastic too. From the very beginning, I found the characters and their relationship fascinating, I was completely invested, and I loved how the angsty romance was such a big focus of the book. I also appreciated the way this explored class dynamics and imperialism.
I enjoyed that Vampires were depicted differently than usual, they are much more animalistic which made them feel unique. I also loved the symbolic way vampires are used in the story, since this takes place during the US invasion of Mexico, so the vampires are a reference to the United States army. Overall, I loved this because it was both incredibly entertaining and at the same time very smart and thought-provoking.
This is a story about a young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society who discovers dark powers within herself. This book is atmospheric and a little gruesome. There are vengeful witches, a haunted forest, a lot of ritualistic acts, there are blights, sickness, and curses. Religious abuse, domestic violence, pedophilia, and the way women and girls are made to pay for the wrongdoings of men are themes that are really well incorporated into the story and are treated with the necessary care. The writing is fantastic, especially considering that this is a debut, and I also really enjoyed the romance which is a relatively small part of the story. The reason this isn’t higher on this list is because I understand what the author was trying to say with the ending, but I didn’t love it. Still, it’s a really entertaining and interesting read.
When I originally read this book it got a higher rating than some of the books that ended up higher on this list. My reading experience was so much fun. I loved this while I was reading it. This is not YA, but it gave me the same excitement for reading that the YA fantasy books I read back in the 2010s gave me. Nonetheless, this has been far less memorable than I expected.
When I was reading, I was so invested in all of the characters and the romance, the tension between the two main characters is so good, I also loved the dragons and I found the worldbuilding compelling. Still, I recognized even back then that a lot of the criticisms of this book are accurate: the special snowflake main character, the convenient reveals, and the plotholes. So I think this was probably the most fun I had reading a book in 2023 but this book is not better than the others I mentioned on this list, which is why this ended up on the 11 spot.
Bookish Wanderess 