smiley_kylie's reviews
330 reviews

My mouth was literally hanging open at the end of this book! It started a little slowly for me, taking me a few chapters to get a feel for the setting and all the players. By the end, though, I was 100% engaged! I loved all the characters and exploring the varying relationships between them. I definitely need a pal like Tip in my life! That twisty cliffhanger had me absolutely scrambling for book two. 

This story is such a perfect balance of romance, mystery, tenderness, and adventure! 

I'm so glad to get to know Verity's story, after meeting her in A Heart Worth Stealing. She is a fun and daring character who skirts the bounds of tradition, while maintaining her caring heart and femininity. She feels like a person who would easily become a best friend.

And can we talk about Nathaniel!? 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 He is kind and chivalrous, and I just love his honest and straightforward style of communication. 

Together, they are perfection. Their meet-cute is more like a meet-collision, and from there, their banter and chemistry are on point! The forced proximity and varying levels of rescues/keeping each other safe had me swooning!

You're going to want to read this one!

I received an electronic ARC of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Well, now I feel like I need to get into better running shape, because what if I find myself needing to run through a raging storm to save the planet? 

This is a super intriguing story, and it is surprisingly brutal. It gives me Hunger Games vibes with its annual deadly event and media influenced relationship dynamics, but in a more sci-fi world.

There are a few instances where either I questioned what was going on and had to re-read a section or that are a bit jarring and pulled me out of the story. Overall, though, I enjoyed it! I was certainly entertained, it's easy to root for Foster and Ezren from the very beginning, and I like how everything comes together in the end. 

This is such a sweet story! I can totally relate to Capri daydreaming up stories about her secret crush growing up. She has some self sabotage tendencies, but I enjoyed the insight into her vivid imagination. And Tristan...👌🏼. Need I say more? This is a single POV, but you honestly don't even need his perspective to see how much he cares for Capri.

Some other things to love:
☀️ Friend "outings"... definitely not dates
☀️ Heath the matchmaking brother-in-law 
☀️ Secret identity
☀️ Childhood crush 
☀️ Knowing each other's favorite snacks/drinks

Another adorable installment to the Falling for Summer series!

Pip is spiraling. Is she being stalked, or is she just too in her head? I was a little less invested in the final installment of this story, but it still has the same Veronica Mars vibes I love. Each book has gotten progressively darker, and I was a little surprised the author "went there" with certain plot points. Overall, I did really enjoy the story and appreciated certain things coming full circle, even all the way from book one. 

That was pretty weird! It's labeled as horror, but it wasn't really scary...just strange and icky. 

**Mildly Spoilerish Comments Ahead**

Hardly anything happens for the majority of the book except wandering the creepy mansion with its overbearing residents and vivid and slightly rapey dreams. I can see how some might appreciate the story for the Rebecca vibes, but I didn't like any of the characters and nothing really made sense. Immortality thanks to moldy mushrooms and a sprinkle of incest doesn't really compute with me. 

I don't usually seek out the billionaire romance trope, but this one is sweet! Noah is freakishly rich and successful and is staying on the island while on sabbatical from work. Cat is in desperate need of some financial help and reluctantly agrees to be Noah's assistant for the summer to earn some money. 

I love how hard Noah has been crushing on Cat. And how gloriously nerdy he actually is. It's adorable. There are quite a few moments that had me grinning (sandcastles, blackberries, the cove...). Their chemistry is great and had me turning the pages.

Another cute, clean, fluffy HEA story in the Falling for Summer series!

Call me a popsicle on the Fourth of July because I think I just melted. That was absolutely adorable. 

Jane has had a secret crush on Walker since her school days, but he moved away and she had to move on. Now, Jane is determined to find love by putting a few of her favorite romance tropes into practice with the eligible men on the island. When Walker, now a pro-golfer, comes for a visit, however, her well-laid plans are put to the test. 

Name a romance trope, and this book probably has at least a version of it! I love the clever way tropes we're acknowledged and used as a way to propel the story forward. Everything about this book is *chef's kiss* 🤌🏼. The flirting, the chemistry, the banter, the angst, the yearning, those kisses! I caught myself smiling so many times! I even learned a little bit about golf! How to waggle, for example.

If you're looking for a sweet summer read with a best friend's brother, secret childhood crush, self-inflicted forbidden love romance...look no further!

This cute rival neighbors to lovers story was like a modern day Romeo and Juliet (with a better ending 😉) in a small town island setting. A little forbidden love? Count me in!

Beau is kind, caring, and swoony. Gemma is headstrong and in denial about her feelings for Beau. Grams (Gemma's grandma) is a sassy troublemaker. It's the makings of a fun and light summer read.

"I'm not sure if she's mine, but I'm definitely hers."

The single POV narration is very nicely done and really helped me get into the story even more!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my gifted ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Sweet and kind of heart breaking. Not totally ground breaking, but I enjoyed getting to see Adena's side of the story (something I missed in Powerless) and getting to know her better.