I've been a HUGE fan of Amanda Lovelace from her very first collection of poetry and it's been wonderful following her on her journey of self-acceptanI've been a HUGE fan of Amanda Lovelace from her very first collection of poetry and it's been wonderful following her on her journey of self-acceptance and love in this tenth book of deeply personal poems. Some resonated more than others for me but all are beautiful and heartfelt and contain nuggets of truth any reader should be able to ingest and celebrate in their own lives. The illustrations in the book are fabulous and I was sad to see this book end. Another must buy for me that I will go back to again and again over the years. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and the author for sharing her most vulnerable truths with her readers yet again. HIGHLY recommended, especially for fans of poets like Rupi Kaur....more
A definite must read for anyone concerned with the effect of 24/7 access to smart phones and social media that the youth today are growing up accustomA definite must read for anyone concerned with the effect of 24/7 access to smart phones and social media that the youth today are growing up accustomed to. Parents of girls and boys especially will be interested to learn about how this unprecedented access is negatively affecting their children in numerous ways, particularly the links to increased anxiety and depression. Good on audio and highly recommended!...more
I really enjoyed this emotional, feel-good holiday story that has wedding singer Mel Hart learning that her alcoholic mother has died and her long-timI really enjoyed this emotional, feel-good holiday story that has wedding singer Mel Hart learning that her alcoholic mother has died and her long-time boyfriend is leaving to go on tour with another band.
Stuck in her grief and not wanting to be alone for the holidays, Mel is surprised when an old friend of her mother's reaches out and invites her to come over and hear more about what her mother's life was like before Mel was born.
Full of family secrets, new beginnings, second chances and a bit of romance, this book delivers all the feels with a wonderful redemption arc of an ending. Forgiveness plays a big part in this story and what better time is there to forgive the ones we love than the holidays?
Great on audio read by Anna Caputo, a newish to me narrator. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was a beautiful and heartfelt dual POV, Sapphic sports romance between Caro and Amy, two high-achieving professional women's hockey players who sThis was a beautiful and heartfelt dual POV, Sapphic sports romance between Caro and Amy, two high-achieving professional women's hockey players who spend ten weeks together helping teach at an all-girls' training camp. I loved the mental health rep in this book (Caro has depression, sees a therapist, and has suicidal ideations in the past relating to her family's abandonment), the toxic family relationships and homophobia/biphobia in the book was hard to read but relatable and it was foiled nicely by Amy's very supportive and welcoming family. There was also neurodivergence and chronic migraine rep. To balance the heavy there was some great spice, a goofy sidekick dog and humor. Good on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Alison Cochrun, Sarina Bowen or Rachel Reid. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early newly released audio copy....more
A unique, spine-tingling and utterly chilling debut haunted house/locked room thriller novella from a new Canadian author that sees an agoraphobic manA unique, spine-tingling and utterly chilling debut haunted house/locked room thriller novella from a new Canadian author that sees an agoraphobic man and his pregnant wife trapped in their home with a couple guests and their out of control AI robot who has taken over control of the house!
Great on audio, this was a quick listen that completely creeped me out and had a shocking twist ending I didn't see coming! Fans of Stephen King will gobble this up!! Highly recommended especially for anyone who enjoyed the Woman in the window by A. J. Finn....more
An emotionally deep friends to lovers romance between a social media influencer and a best-selling author with anxiety. The mental health rep in this An emotionally deep friends to lovers romance between a social media influencer and a best-selling author with anxiety. The mental health rep in this book was excellent (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation)! And I loved the dual POV exchanges between the two main characters. Great on audio narrated by JD Jackson and Mela Lee and highly recommended for fans of authors like Tia Williams. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: suicide attempt, drug overdose/use of narcan...more
Rose Hill is quickly becoming a new favorite series. Honestly Elsie Silver can just do no wrong as far as I'm concerned! This latest book starts off sRose Hill is quickly becoming a new favorite series. Honestly Elsie Silver can just do no wrong as far as I'm concerned! This latest book starts off strong with an unwitting country music star, Skylar, stumbling upon a grizzly bear and her cubs and tries to film them for social media only to be rescued by single father, West.
I can’t get enough of the men and women Elsie Silver creates. This cinnamon roll single dad x anxiety riddled country singer romance was pure small town farm perfection.
West and Skylar quickly become friends when she chooses to hide out on his farm. The attraction and chemistry between these two sizzles and that canoe scene!! ...more
This was a good coming of age, queer awakening romance with amazing mental health rep (depression and anxiety), a pet chinchilla and amazing found famThis was a good coming of age, queer awakening romance with amazing mental health rep (depression and anxiety), a pet chinchilla and amazing found family.
Isobel takes a new job moving out of her mother's house with just her bet chinchilla Abigail to start living her best life in London with new queer roommates who help encourage her to start dating for the very first time, this 28 year old virgin, tries to find her own happily ever after.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! While I didn't love this one personally, it still has important representation and is sure to resonate with many readers.
An emotionally raw memoir about depression, disordered eating and the flawed psychiatric profession that all too often tells women they're crazy and dAn emotionally raw memoir about depression, disordered eating and the flawed psychiatric profession that all too often tells women they're crazy and doesn't take their conditions seriously. Great on audio read by the author and highly recommended for fans of books like Never been better by Leanne Toshiko Simpson or the memoir, Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold....more
Another standout, STEAMY, emotionally deep, dual POV romance between Dylan, a curvy, singer/songwriter trying to heal from a bad breakup and Brady, thAnother standout, STEAMY, emotionally deep, dual POV romance between Dylan, a curvy, singer/songwriter trying to heal from a bad breakup and Brady, the scarred firefighter suffering from the loss of his friend, his PTSD over the fire that almost took his life too and his hangups over his physically scarred back. I loved how the two MCs helped one another see past their individual insecurities and boy was this one SPICY!! It has everything you can want in a good romance and was excellent on audio too narrated by two favs, Andi Arndt and Sebastian York! While it is the second in the Malone brothers series it can be read as a standalone. That said I will be listening to Grant and Grayson's stories ASAP!!...more
This was a super fun, super steamy, gender swapped sex lessons/forbidden romance between a pro Rugby player and his friend's little sister. I loved thThis was a super fun, super steamy, gender swapped sex lessons/forbidden romance between a pro Rugby player and his friend's little sister. I loved that it was the woman who had to teach the guy how to properly please a woman in bed! This was hilarious and had emotional depth too. Book two in the series but it can be read as a standalone and it was good on audio too!...more
This was a creepy, atmospheric middle grade novel about bullying, loneliness and learning to stand up for yourself. Such a different type of ghost stoThis was a creepy, atmospheric middle grade novel about bullying, loneliness and learning to stand up for yourself. Such a different type of ghost story, with a ghost impersonating a lonely girls' friend and scaring off anyone who tried to really befriend her. Great mental health rep and good on audio! Highly recommended for #SpookySeason reading!...more
I adored this one night stand to friends to lovers dual POV romance!
Chelsea doesn't trust love or relationships after growing up in a broken home witI adored this one night stand to friends to lovers dual POV romance!
Chelsea doesn't trust love or relationships after growing up in a broken home with an abusive father and an alcoholic, neglectful mother. She has deep trust issues and is working on herself in therapy.
Luckily her best friend Elizabeth is her rock and with a list of dares, the two challenge one another to expand their horizons and go outside their comfort zone.
Dared to have an honest conversation with a stranger, Chelsea meets Bas, a Greek American chef who himself is floundering in a dead end career. With electric chemistry these two have to figure out how to be there for one another without hurting each other.
I loved the food, the puns, the Greek culture, the mental health rep and all the European travel in this tender, big-hearted and STEAMY romance!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
What an outstanding debut!! I loved this X-files inspired reality web series romance that sees a showrunner falling for the star of her new Cryptid huWhat an outstanding debut!! I loved this X-files inspired reality web series romance that sees a showrunner falling for the star of her new Cryptid hunter online show. It had great heat and chemistry between the leads and EXCELLENT emotional depth - the MMC was dealing with depression and the FMC struggled with self worth after being in a toxic workplace relationship. Steamy and full of great banter, this is a standout debut that was great on audio and I CANNOT wait to read more from Mallory Marlowe!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!!!! Don't miss this one!!...more
A heartfelt YA graphic novel about two teen gymnasts, Riley and Kota who both dream of going to the Olympics. I really enjoyed the disability rep in tA heartfelt YA graphic novel about two teen gymnasts, Riley and Kota who both dream of going to the Olympics. I really enjoyed the disability rep in this book (Riley is hard of hearing and Kota has anxiety). The friendship between the two is heartwarming and I loved how they found a unique way to communicate with one another that was all their own and help each other with their worries and grief. Riley is feeling lonely having moved from California and is also still grieving the death of one of her fathers. Highly recommended with good illustrations too! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
I absolutely LOVED this grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, dual POV, YA reality tv show story that sees two college students paired up to compete inI absolutely LOVED this grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, dual POV, YA reality tv show story that sees two college students paired up to compete in a competition race to hike the Appalachian Trail. The mental health rep in this book was outstanding! I
loved how much focus was spent on FMC, Natalie' anxiety disorder as she learns how to deal with negative thoughts, panic attacks and more. The chemistry between her and partner Finn was top notch and I loved that Finn was a nerdy, book-loving grump who does his best to encourage and build Natalie up once he realizes there's more to her than the superficial blonde Southern persona she projects.
Great on audio narrated by Amanda Stribling and perfect for fans of books like Grandma Gatewood's walk, Anita Kelly's Something wild & wonderful or Katherine Center's Happiness for beginners. Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for a complimentary digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was a great debut novella from a new Icelandic author and a perfect pick for women in translation month!
The chronic pain and mental health rep wThis was a great debut novella from a new Icelandic author and a perfect pick for women in translation month!
The chronic pain and mental health rep was my favorite part and I found it so relatable and well written.
Horror isn't my fav genre but this was more horror light/psychological women's fiction.
Good on audio too and perfect for fans of books like Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder.
I look forward to seeing what this author writes next! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: cat lovers might want to skip this one but there is no graphic on page violence...more
WOW!! A new classic perfect for fans of The hatchet by Gary Paulson or Alone by Megan E Freeman. This was a heartfelt, moving, California wilderness sWOW!! A new classic perfect for fans of The hatchet by Gary Paulson or Alone by Megan E Freeman. This was a heartfelt, moving, California wilderness survival story featuring a young nonbinary teen, Ash who hikes into the woods in search of their grandfather's remote cabin. They learn how to survive for 48 days with only their dog for a companion before wildfires chase them back to civilization. Important messages of acceptance, environmental activism, climate change and queer identity pervade in this graphic novel that has amazing illustrations and is spare in text. I absolutely loved it!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
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