endless_tbr_list's reviews
331 reviews

"I guess something rose from my ashes, after all. Makes me wonder if maybe those phoenix stories were never really about birds in the first place."

Witches are long gone from the cities and towns - wiped away by fire and those who felt threatened by women with power of their own. Many years later, James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna, the Eastwood sisters, find themselves in New Salem, a city seemingly on the brink of...something. When Juniper sets her sights on joining the suffragist movement, only to realize their goals are not enough for her, the Eastwood sisters set in motion a movement of their own. Witches might not exist - but they will. All they need is the words, the ways, and the will. 

This is one of those stories that's so beautifully written that I could tell I'd needed to pace myself. Separated for years, the Eastwood sisters have finally found one another again, as if by fate, or perhaps by magic. A tale of love in many forms, I was mesmerized. When I finally turned the last page my emotions were all over, I felt wrung out yet happy. Proud. The world-building was incredible and the use of the rhymes and songs - many I remember from my childhood - was perfection. 

When I find a good standalone fantasy novel I feel like screaming from the rooftops, but since I can't do that, I'll scream here instead! Though it's a long story, and may take some patience, if you choose to pick up this book, I hope it's as magical for you as it was for me.

A drunken bet between rivals leads to a whole lot of spice and feels. Edwina has finally arrived in the land of fae, and even better, she's there to lead her own book tour, things are looking up! Or, they were, until she's informed she'll now be CO-leading the book tour with William, a poet who makes it clear he thinks very little of her writing. Forced to compete for a new publishing contract, Edwina realizes she can't leave this decision up to fate and her books sales, and William - confident in both his sales and skills - agrees to a wager. Whoever seduces the most lovers by the tour's end will win the contract. 

This is a fun, flirty, rivals-to-lovers tale that gave me Pride & Prejudice vibes. I found the cast of characters to be charming and the bet was entertaining - overall an enjoyable read!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Rivalry of Hearts is out June 2024!

For all those like me who really only know one King Henry, Henry VIII, this book was a wonderful way to delve into the lives of the first seven - a crash course, of sorts, on the all eight Henrys that have sat on the throne during England's 1,000-year monarchical history. 

Although relatively short, this novel is not a quick read. Dense with dates, names, and facts, there is a wealth of information contained within these pages. While definitely a beneficial resource for those who know little about the kings, it can also be a bit overwhelming at times. Each Henry's life is it's own chapter, but there is no further separation within those chapters, resulting in 20+ pages of solid text. Overall, a comprehensive work and an interesting look into the lives of early English monarchs. 

Thank you to  Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

I learned so much about TV script writing while watching two people fall in love! From page 1 I really was not sure how this was going to work, but I ended up absolutely loving Helen and Grant's journey. 

Helen Zhang is a bestselling author whose work is being turned into television show, and the one person she hoped never to see again - Grant Shepard - is going to be joining her in the writing room. It's just 20 weeks and then Helen will move back to New York and they'll never have to see each other again. Easy.

However, Helen soon learns a writer's room is nothing like the quiet writing she's used to, it's loud, crowded, and spending all that time together means everyone is going to know everything about each other. Not ideal for trying to pretend someone doesn't exist. To make it worse, Grant is being nice, trying to help her settle into this new routine, but Helen has hated him for the last 13 years and that's  never going to change. But as the weeks march on, secrets come to light and Helen and Grant are forced to face the events of that past that have tied them together ever since that fateful day. 

Definitely one of my favorite romances so far this year! 

Such a cute romcom! I blew through it in one sitting and adore Sadie and Jacob ❤️ There’s just something about “do-over” stories that makes them fun to read, even though I’m repeatedly yelling “I told you so” in my head - on that note, the scenes with the fortune teller crack me up 😂

Sadie is determined to “fix” the last year of her life, but is it worth it if she loses herself in the process? This is a quick, sweet read, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Melissa in the future! 

The Genius of Judy is a wonderful mix of biography and social commentary, and despite discussing books published decades ago, is still incredibly timely. As Judy Blume tells us, her works - Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, Forever, Blubber, to name only a few - have always been rooted in honesty. They tackle topics that children and teens face in their real lives, including divorce, bullying, and yes, even sex, and they do so in hopes of teaching readers that they are not alone, that they are not strange or wrong for feeling what they feel.

Blume's career and her writing have been both lauded and attacked throughout the years. She has been involved with her fair share of book bans and has been questioned about her choices to include sex, masturbation, and even throwing up in her novels. Yet she remained undeterred, and readers (myself included) are better for it.

In today's political climate, I have to say, it is heartening to read about those who fought - and continue to fight - censorship, specifically regarding young readers. Bergstein did a wonderful job of not only telling Blume's story, but also of highlighting how impactful (and revolutionary) her works truly were.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.