illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's reviews
736 reviews

 

Empresses of Seventh Avenue is an engrossing look into the women of the American fashion industry, with a focus on the mid-twentieth century. Honestly, most of these names were new to me, but I’m glad I know their stories now. 

 

With a brief foray into how Paris became the epicenter of fashion and then a turn into how fashion changed for America as Paris fell under Nazi control during the Second World War, this book not only details the trajectory of fashion as things pivoted from specially-tailored haute couture to a more ready-to-wear aesthetic but also presents the stories of fascinating feminist figures in their own right. 

 

Although the book does get into the weeds a bit with all the details, it kept my attention from beginning to end. 

 

This would be good for fans of Natasha Lester’s fiction, especially The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre and The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, who want to dig even more into the history of the fashion industry. 

 

If you prefer to take your reading on the go, I recommend listening to this one on audio. I was easily able to keep up with Gail Shalan’s measured narration. 

 

I received an advance copy of the ebook from St. Martin’s Press and an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own. 

A stern brunch daddy professor opens up his home to his star pupil in The Heartbreaker.

Sadie Green’s focus in life is to finish her business degree so she can open her own club similar to the one she currently manages. Having a baby wasn’t originally part of her plan.

When she becomes pregnant and wants to get out from under her parents’ roof, her English professor, Lucas Goode, offers her a place to live and some guidance along the way. (FYI: This is not his baby.)

Sara Cate certainly knows her way around a taboo romance, but I want to point out a few things about this one:
1. He’s in his 30s, and she’s 25.
2. They know each other before she becomes a student in his classroom.
3. He doesn’t intentionally invite her into his home for THAT. They just end up there. (We’re romance readers; we knew they would.)

Highlights for me:
- Y’all, the buildup of tension between Lucas and Sadie in this book is 🔥🔥🔥
- Their vulnerability with each other
- How they learn/unlock aspects of themselves through their relationship and interactions with each other
- The feelings of home and family
- How they both grow
- How gone Lucas is for Sadie and her baby

This is the third book in The Goode Brothers series but can be read as a standalone.

4.5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from Hambright PR. All review opinions are my own.

A case of mistaken identity leads to a situationship that ultimately leads to love in Adib Khorram’s I’ll Have What He’s Having.

As Farzan Alavi drowns his recent romantic woes in fries and wine, wine director, David Curtis, mistakes him for Kansas City’s top food critic. The wine and banter flow all night, and Farzan and David find themselves back at Farzan’s apartment after dinner wraps.

Their chemistry is scorching—and Farzan wants more—but David isn’t looking for anything serious. He has his sights set on restaurants in bigger cities after he passes his master sommelier exam.

When their paths cross again, Farzan and David strike up a friends-with-benefits situation, and as these things go, the more time they spend together, the closer they become.

Prepare to be hungry while reading this one, friends. Between reading about the food and wine at the wine bar where David works, everything that Farzan whips up, and the Persian cuisine from his family’s restaurant, I was salivating. 

Also, note that the spices in the food aren’t the only things bringing the heat in this one.

I liked how Farzan and David care for and support each other, how their goals and dreams evolve over the course of the story, and the found family that backs them.

I had advance copies of both the ebook and the audiobook. I enjoyed the dual narration by Shezi Sardar and Brent Billings. I feel like they each captured their main character’s POV well. This would have been even better with duet narration, but I did enjoy the audiobook as it is.

I received advance copies of the book from Forever and Hachette Audio via NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This gem of a book is filled with humor, heat, and healing. 

 

Bonus points for glasses + tattoos - yum! 

 

I can’t wait to see what Mallory Marlowe writes next! 

 

I loved this one so, so much. 

 

5⭐️ 

 

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own. 

This book is bonkers in the best way. 

 

A former child star discovers she's a Demon when several bounty hunters come after her and an unexpected bodyguard steps to her side. The combination of our heroine's sense of humor and quite the cast of characters had me cackling. 

 

Bonus points for having a 40+ heroine 

 

I highly recommend listening to this one on audio. Jessica Almasy's narration nails the comedic aspects of this paranormal romance. 

 

This is the first book in a series, so be prepared for this one to end in a cliffhanger. 

 

(Side note: Have you seen the titles of the books in this series? They're all fantastic.) 

 

4.75⭐️ 

 

I received copies of the ebook and audiobook from Hambright PR. All review opinions are my own. 

You know I love a bookish heroine. Good Duke Gone Wild features a bookseller, who also writes popular erotic romance novels under a nom de plume. She’s smart, insightful, and resilient. 

Our heroine falls for a widowed duke, who is on the lookout for a new wife—he does have a duty to beget an heir after all—but his dowager duchess has very specific guidelines for whom would make a proper wife to represent the duchy.

We get a forbidden love / love across classes and “We’ll do this with a known end in sight” situation with a bit of mystery thrown in and some strong, supportive friendships / familial relationships. This is the first book in the Bluestocking Booksellers series, and I’m eager to see where Bethany Bennett takes these booksellers next!

I received an advance copy of the book from Forever. All review opinions are my own.

As Delia Merriweather’s thirtieth birthday approaches, the women in her family keep pressuring her to help break a longstanding curse on their bloodline. As it turns out, though, Delia doesn’t believe she’s a witch.

Next door to the Merriweathers, Max Halifax is packing up his recently deceased uncle’s home (and keeping an eye on the Merriweather women). He’s been tasked by the powers that be to make sure Delia does not break the curse.

This book is such a cozy choice for witchy season.

Highlights for me:
- Nikki, Hartwells’s former (and now Max’s) familiar, an imp who can switch from his cat form to human form
- The funeral food restaurant (Prepare to be hungry.)
- Luc’s fascination with the non-magical world and its customs
- Some Southernisms—I’m looking at you, miscellaneous tea and the one-upmanship and competitiveness of hosting duties
- The growing feelings between Delia and Max

The audiobook has dual narration from Laura Knight Keating and Zion Jang. I preferred his narration but did enjoy her Southern accents. This would be a good one to listen to while putting out your fall decorations.

3.75⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from Forever and an advance copy of the audiobook from Hachette Audio. All review opinions are my own.

Gosh, y’all, I just really enjoy being back in Glimmer Falls. There’s nothing quite like Sarah Hawley’s whimsical town with its fantastical and paranormal residents. 

This time around plant-loving, sweater-vest-wearing, gentle werewolf Ben Rosewood finds love in the most unlikeliest of ways.

After drunkenly ordering a plastic crystal on eBay the night of Oz and Mariel’s wedding, Ben finds himself in possession of that crystal's resident, a vampire-succubus hybrid, who is spellbound to do his bidding.

Having been tied to a witch for the past several centuries and forced to serve as her assassin, Eleanore Bettencourt-Devereux is not inclined to trust anyone. Now she has a new master, who swears he does not want to order her around.

A fondness grows between them as Ben and his unexpected houseguest spend more and more time together, caring for each other in large and small ways.

He’s the “soft one”; she’s the “stabby one”; and I love how they work together.

I’m adding this one to my list of comfort reads.

This can be read as a standalone, but honestly, this series is so delightfully quirky that I recommend reading them in order to enjoy the full story arc and backstories behind each of the characters.

5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This is a fun one, y’all. Carrie Adams is constantly annoyed by her hot coworker, Nick Stokes. In her opinion, things come easily to Nick, and he doesn’t take anything seriously enough. 

One day, that annoyance turns to rage. She wakes up with a new muscular body and an especially stabby attitude towards her fellow bartender.

As it turns out, Nick is now a vampire, and the universe balances that change by creating a new Slayer from the people in Nick’s orbit. Nick had a choice in becoming a vampire, but the decision to have a paranormal upgrade is made without Carrie’s consent.

Much to her dismay, her new physique impacts her attempts to break into Hollywood and her new abilities put a potential target on her back for the entire vampire community.

This one will especially be a hit for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who loved Buffy’s romances with Angel and Spike but would have been happy to have less staking as part of the plot. 

I enjoyed Carrie’s friend group, the realizations she comes to along the journey, and watching her fall for Nick.

This one is told in single POV, and it works well for the revelations along the way.

I enjoyed Fiona Aarington’s narration. Her comedic timing captures the humor well, and I found her portrayal of Carrie to make the character even more relatable. I recommend popping your headphones on and enjoying this one for spooky season.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Dreamscape Media and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Estranged childhood friends-turned-lovers-turned-exes, Kit and Theo, unknowingly book the same European food and wine tour four years after they were originally supposed to take it together. They went from being childhood best friends to lovers to never speaking again, and now they’re stuck together on a tour bus for the next three weeks.

They’re full of hurt and pain, longing and tension, and four years’ worth of memories they didn’t make together.

This one has two tropes guaranteed to make my heart hurt—friends to lovers and second chance romance—so going in, I already knew I was going to spend a good chunk of the time with an ache in my chest.

Oh my poor heart.

The writing is beautiful.

The location descriptions made me want to pack my bags.

I loved the focus on seeking wonder and the bits of humor peppered throughout.

And don’t even get me started on how the food and drink descriptions had me salivating.

This one is dual POV, and whereas most books written in that structure have alternating points-of-view throughout the story, this one is written with the first half from Theo’s perspective and the second from Kit’s.

That change in perspective was a game changer for me.

Oh gosh, I sure do adore Kit.

There are definitely moments and decisions made that feel less than mature, but ultimately, I could see where each character is coming from and I was happy with the ending.

Additional highlights: all the Anthony Bourdain references, the other people on the tour, and Fabrizio, the gregarious tour guide

As for the audiobook, I feel like Emma Galvin’s narration captures Theo well, but I especially enjoyed how Max Meyers brings Kit’s sections to life. As a fun bonus, Casey McQuiston reads the interludes between the chapters, detailing the pairings for each location.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from St. Martin’s Press and an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️