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1485 reviews
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
4.25
I normally have a pretty tough time visualizing things when I’m reading, but the setting was so vivid in this book that I couldn’t help but feel like I was in Việt Nam with Lan and Vivi. So much so that Sài Gòn felt like a third main character! I lasted about as long as I could—half way through the book—before googling bánh mì near me. I would’ve liked a few extra chapters at the end to wrap everything up, but overall it was such an atmospheric read and a wonderful sapphic, coming-of-age romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
I received an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
I received an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
The Witch Queen of Halloween by Kresley Cole
4.0
✨Legend tells that if you close your eyes really tight and listen really closely, you’ll hear a witch and a demon 69ing in a haunted mansion on Halloween night 🎃✨
As a Certified Demon Girlie™ I’m definitely very pleased with this novella! I was a little wary since I don’t think we’ve met Poppy or her sisters before, but that was actually really fun. They didn’t seem out of place at all and I liked seeing their past history woven into what we already knew of Rök. Because I didn’t really know her, it was nice to see Poppy turn into a bad bitch by the end! She was seeming like a bit of a damsel for a good chunk of the story and I was a bit confused, but never fear.
Plus this was a second chance romance!! It added some extra drama and structure to their story, since this was a novella with less room for things to develop. It’s also funny for me to think of Loreans going on dates and being semi civil about the whole “getting to know you” process. So naturally, their second “date” obviously escalated to being in a haunted house surrounded by murderous corporeal horror tropes. LOL I love this series!!
However, what I’m not is a Certified Horror Girlie™ so while I’m not an expert, I’d say this was more of an homage to horror tropes, so I really had a fun time. I’ll definitely make a point to read it during spooky season, just like I read Untouchable over the winter holidays. As it’s almost Easter right now, is it too much to ask for an IAD novella for every holiday?? Pretty please?? I’m sorry but Kresley could totally make an Arbor Day novella hot!!
I don’t think the voices in my head did Robert Petkoff justice, but it was fun to read them like him anyways. Plus it was a totally different experience reading Kresley’s writing, opposed to listening to it. Audio is still my preferred method, but I’m happy I got to experience it like this. This being my first ever real time launch of an IAD book! (I started reading the series a bit after Munro was released I think.)
Overall, while I enjoyed reading it on a rainy March day, I do think if I’d have had the willpower to wait until October, I would’ve enjoyed it even more. There was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end—not relating to the HEA—and I’m very curious to see how it plays into the Ascension as a whole. While you could try to read this as a standalone, I’d definitely read at least the first six or seven books in the series before jumping in!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I received an eARC from the author. All opinions are honest and my own.
As a Certified Demon Girlie™ I’m definitely very pleased with this novella! I was a little wary since I don’t think we’ve met Poppy or her sisters before, but that was actually really fun. They didn’t seem out of place at all and I liked seeing their past history woven into what we already knew of Rök. Because I didn’t really know her, it was nice to see Poppy turn into a bad bitch by the end! She was seeming like a bit of a damsel for a good chunk of the story and I was a bit confused, but never fear.
Plus this was a second chance romance!! It added some extra drama and structure to their story, since this was a novella with less room for things to develop. It’s also funny for me to think of Loreans going on dates and being semi civil about the whole “getting to know you” process. So naturally, their second “date” obviously escalated to being in a haunted house surrounded by murderous corporeal horror tropes. LOL I love this series!!
However, what I’m not is a Certified Horror Girlie™ so while I’m not an expert, I’d say this was more of an homage to horror tropes, so I really had a fun time. I’ll definitely make a point to read it during spooky season, just like I read Untouchable over the winter holidays. As it’s almost Easter right now, is it too much to ask for an IAD novella for every holiday?? Pretty please?? I’m sorry but Kresley could totally make an Arbor Day novella hot!!
I don’t think the voices in my head did Robert Petkoff justice, but it was fun to read them like him anyways. Plus it was a totally different experience reading Kresley’s writing, opposed to listening to it. Audio is still my preferred method, but I’m happy I got to experience it like this. This being my first ever real time launch of an IAD book! (I started reading the series a bit after Munro was released I think.)
Overall, while I enjoyed reading it on a rainy March day, I do think if I’d have had the willpower to wait until October, I would’ve enjoyed it even more. There was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end—not relating to the HEA—and I’m very curious to see how it plays into the Ascension as a whole. While you could try to read this as a standalone, I’d definitely read at least the first six or seven books in the series before jumping in!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I received an eARC from the author. All opinions are honest and my own.
The Mistress Experience by Scarlett Peckham
4.5
✨The Buttoned-Up to Completely Undone Earl Experience✨
Well this is by far my favorite book in the series!! It was really everything the summary stated it would be: A buttoned-up earl getting sex lessons from a notorious courtesan. He was so bumbling and earnest with his sexy spectacles and cooking abilities!! And she was a city girl trapped in the countryside trying to loosen him up.
I do love an alpha hero, but Alistair has got to be my favorite hero type. I had so much fun seeing his embarrassment slowly turn to confidence. Thaïs had a heart of gold and I loved her so much. She was so bright and fun. I think it could’ve been a bit steamier—hello, Chekov’s sex toys!!—but it was definitely a hot read. Sex lessons will ALWAYS hit different.
I will say, I do think Peckham phoned it in with the epilogue. It was more so an epilogue for the series as a whole rather than for the couple. Like it gave me a bit, but I wanted to see them at least a year out!!! It was practically expected from what we learned throughout the books and their wants for the future!!!
The third act hurt, but in a good way. I do think we needed like one more chapter??? Just to ease the heartache a bit and see them happy with nothing having over their heads. Also how did the scandal go??? This clearly seemed like the final book in the series, but hopefully Peckham will continue to write stories for some of the side characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️.75/5
P.S. She better have gotten a kitten!!!! These are the things I need to know!!! Chekov’s kitten!!
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Well this is by far my favorite book in the series!! It was really everything the summary stated it would be: A buttoned-up earl getting sex lessons from a notorious courtesan. He was so bumbling and earnest with his sexy spectacles and cooking abilities!! And she was a city girl trapped in the countryside trying to loosen him up.
I do love an alpha hero, but Alistair has got to be my favorite hero type. I had so much fun seeing his embarrassment slowly turn to confidence. Thaïs had a heart of gold and I loved her so much. She was so bright and fun. I think it could’ve been a bit steamier—hello, Chekov’s sex toys!!—but it was definitely a hot read. Sex lessons will ALWAYS hit different.
I will say, I do think Peckham phoned it in with the epilogue. It was more so an epilogue for the series as a whole rather than for the couple. Like it gave me a bit, but I wanted to see them at least a year out!!! It was practically expected from what we learned throughout the books and their wants for the future!!!
The third act hurt, but in a good way. I do think we needed like one more chapter??? Just to ease the heartache a bit and see them happy with nothing having over their heads. Also how did the scandal go??? This clearly seemed like the final book in the series, but hopefully Peckham will continue to write stories for some of the side characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️.75/5
P.S. She better have gotten a kitten!!!! These are the things I need to know!!! Chekov’s kitten!!
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase
4.5
4.5/5 This is very close to five stars I just think it was a liiiiiitle long in the last third of the book. And since I have a five star in this series to compare it to!
The One That Got Away with Murder by Trish Lundy
4.25
Okay so the red herring(s) got me but I also WASN’T surprised at whodunnit because a part of me was 👀👀👀 I’m considering this a win for me lmao.
When that second narrator popped in???? The chills! I definitely think the audiobook helped up my stress (in a good way, it’s a thriller!), especially at that moment. I was definitely creeped out. Lauren’s narrator was a good fit for the book as well.
The conclusion was a bit rushed and I wanted more of a “why”reveal moment, but overall this was a strong YA thriller with a few different twists that kept me guessing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
I received an ALC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
When that second narrator popped in???? The chills! I definitely think the audiobook helped up my stress (in a good way, it’s a thriller!), especially at that moment. I was definitely creeped out. Lauren’s narrator was a good fit for the book as well.
The conclusion was a bit rushed and I wanted more of a “why”reveal moment, but overall this was a strong YA thriller with a few different twists that kept me guessing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
I received an ALC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller
5.0
This was such a CUUUUUUTE YA lesbian romance!!! It makes me wish I stuck with volleyball, but alas. It even had some Mean Girls inspo. I’m also such a slut for Minnesota rep. I learned about this book and met the author at Steamy Lit (and got some cool swag) last year, so I can’t wait to tell her I read it when I go this year! Ooo maybe I can grab a signed copy at Tropes & Trifles 👀