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CHECK AND MATE BY ALI HAZELWOOD // spoiler-free book review: this book has me in a chokehold and we don’t talk about this NA rivals to lovers chess rom-com enough!!!
I just can’t stay quiet any longer. I must stand up and speak my truth: you are all wrong if you disliked this book and yes I have an argument to back myself up. What can’t of an amateur do you think I am? Anyways, let’s just get right into it!!! Title: Check & MateAuthor: Ali HazelwoodPage count: 325Date published: 7 November 2023Genre: New adult contemporary ♟️ Synopsis: Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess. Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist…. As she…
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BEGIN AGAIN BY EMMA LORD // spoiler-free book review: you 1000% need this friends-to-lovers NA contemporary romance that’ll also make you cry in your life!!!
IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING BUT, IT’S YOU AND ME, THAT’S MY WHOLE WORLD. Had to start this one off with a Taylor Swift reference, I just couldn’t pass it off hehe Let’s dive right in! Title: Begin AgainAuthor: Emma LordPage count: 352Date published: 24 January 2023Genre: New adult contemporary 🌳 Synopsis: As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together. But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack…
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MARCH, APRIL & MAY RECAP // i’m a corporate girlie who hasn’t figured out a routine yet but hey let’s talk books!
Need to get my shiz together fr but first, we should catch up. Because a girlie has been slammed crazy busy,,, Let’s just right in *wink wink* — Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon {★★★★☆}: maybe I didn’t read this at the right time or something? Because I love these characters and Rachel’s writing, but I remember next to nothing about this book? It’s also been a hot second since I read it but still? I had a great time with it, and I think it’s a really sweet sequel to a story that I love a lot but not as memorable as book one for me. Tysm to Simon & Schuster for the eARC via Netgalley, more thoughts in my GR review here xoxox The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce {★★★★★}: she’ll be getting her own review at some point but this book broke my heart and put me back together again and I’m still in recovery a little bit. Jessica Joyce is a star and I adore her and her writing and go read it RIGHT THIS SECOND AND WEEP WITH ME,,,,, Yelling thoughts here! Big thank you to Berkley for the eARC via Netgalley ilysm *sobs*…
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WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE BY EMMA LORD // spoiler-free book review: need a YA contemporary romance that’s also a mamma mia retelling with rivals to lovers AND is set in NYC? i got you.
In the wise words of Lizzo, IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME,,, Let us not waste any more of that and dive right into it! Title: When You Get The ChanceAuthor: Emma LordPage count: 320Date published: 4 January 2022Genre: YA contemporary romance 🎤 Synopsis: Nothing will get in the way of Millie Price’s dream to become a Broadway star. Not her lovable but super-introverted dad, who after raising Millie alone, doesn’t want to watch her leave home to pursue her dream. Not her pesky and ongoing drama club rival, Oliver, who is the very definition of Simmering Romantic Tension. And not the “Millie Moods,” the feelings of intense emotion that threaten to overwhelm, always at maddeningly inconvenient times. Millie needs an ally. And when a left-open browser brings Millie to her dad’s embarrassingly moody LiveJournal from 2003, Millie knows just what to do. She’s going to find her mom. There’s Steph, a still-aspiring stage actress and receptionist at a talent agency. There’s Farrah, ethereal dance teacher who clearly doesn’t have the two left feet Millie has. And Beth, the chipper and sweet stage enthusiast with an equally exuberant fifteen-year-old daughter (A possible sister?! This is getting out of hand). But how can…
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH DREAGEN // chatting to the author of the Born of Fire series about all things writing, fantasy & dragons!!!
Long time no post apparently,,, But I am absolutely thrilled and honoured and ecstatic about today’s post!!! Wanna know why? BECAUSE I GET TO TALK ABOUT DRAGONS!!!!! And who doesn’t want to talk about dragons all day every day? I have had the priviledge with speaking to the wonderful author of the Born of Fire series who so kindly has collaborated with me for my very first blog promotional post. So let’s just ‘ride’ right on in, why don’t we… Ha get my dragon pun? Click for more info on each of the series <3 🔥 Book 1 Title: The Dawn of LegendSeries: Born of FirePage count: 736Genre: YA high fantasy Synopsis: On a night tinged by a red sky, a mysterious figure, while being pursued by an armored conclave of dragons, whisks a baby away to the halls of a natural history museum. There, the baby is found by a museum guard who, after a violent explosion, finds himself the father of a strange boy with red eyes. Naming him Rex, their lives become intertwined for the next fifteen years. Shunned as a freak by humanity, Rex’s life is filled with cruelty and violence, with his father being the…
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FEBRUARY RECAP // the month of love aka teensy bit of reading, some new books & getting a job in publishing!!!
Look at me! I’M ON TIME FOLKS OMG THIS IS CRAZY. Be in shock with me. Imma not beat around the bush anymore and just dive right in!!! — How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang {★★★★½}: I think you’ll be seeing a post closer to release date from me so I’ll keep it short. This book is freaking hella sad and a lot but very romantic and I have no words. Emily Henry loves and we need nothing else. Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton UK for the eARC via Netgalley! Click right over here for the GR review <3<3<3 I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang {★★★½☆}: I was lucky enough to join the blog tour for this one so I’ll send you over there for the full review. But if you’re looking for a stellar YA academic rivals to lovers contemporary romance, then she’s got you. Tysm to the author, Scholastic Press and Colored Pages Tours for the eARC via Edelweiss!!! The Someday Daughter by Ellen O’Clover {★★★★★}: You’ll also be seeing a full review from me on this one because I need to GUSH. Ellen is an absolute force to be reckoned…
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ONE OF US IS BACK BY KAREN M. MCMANUS // spoiler-free book review: i’m just so happy to back in this psycho murdery town ft. a side of addictive writing & the bestest romance
Didn’t originally think I was going to do a review but you’re all in luck hehehe Let’s get right into it! Title: One of Us Is BackSeries: One of Us Is Lying book #3Author: Karen M. McManusPage count: 360Date published: 27 July 2023Genre: YA mystery thriller 🔍 Synopsis: Ever since Simon died in detention, life hasn’t been easy for the Bayview Crew. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation had to outwit a vengeful copycat. Now, it’s beginning again. At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad joke: Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the crew disappears, it’s clear this ‘game’ just got serious – and no one understands the rules. Everyone’s a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things are starting to get deadly. The thing is, Simon was right about secrets – they all come out, eventually. And Bayview has a lot it’s still hiding. 🔍 Big thanks to Penguin Random House SA for the review copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🔍 STAR RATING: (4 out of 5 stars) Almost had this finished on the last day…
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JANUARY RECAP // ya contemporary reads, rare book shopping, all the films & life updates
Only a TEENSY bit late this time. Just a smol week. Not helpful crying over spilt milk folks, let’s just get right into it!!! One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus {★★★★☆}: gosh I love me a McManus book because I just KNOW I’ll have a great time. It’s a guarantee at this point. This was no exception. Didn’t beat book two for me but it was still a blast and I highly enjoyed my time with her. Still deciding if I’m doing a full review for this one, so I’ll send you over to GR for now!!! Ty to Penguin Random House SA for the review copy! When You Get The Chance by Emma Lord {★★★★★}: finally got off my lazy ass and have mostly caught up with my fave Lord and saviour *sighs* I have a whole review coming very soon so stay tuned for that but yes I am incredibly stupid for doubting this author AGAIN GAHHHH. This book was literally everything and I’m so excited to yell about it. Big thanks to Pan Macmillan SA for the review copy and Wednesday Books for the eARC via Netgalley! Click here for the GR review xoxox…
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I HOPE THIS DOESN’T FIND YOU BY ANN LIANG // blog tour book review: the fiercest academic rivals to lovers you’ll ever see!!
Gah I’m a day late with this post because I’ve been having it rough lately,,, anyways hopefully getting back into it now. Big thanks to Colored Pages for having me on the blog tour, let’s dive right into the review! Title: I Hope This Doesn’t Find YouAuthor: Ann LiangPage count: 320Date published: 6 February 2024Genre: YA contemporary romance 🎓 Synopsis: Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a “pleasure to have in class.” It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She’d never send them of course — she’d rather die than hurt anyone’s feelings — but it’s a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie’s work. All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. “You’re attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you’ve been using to make your hair…
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DECEMBER 2023 RECAP // wrapping up the last reading month of the year ft all the romance, austen addiction, great films & job searching
Once more I am fashionably late but you all know the drill at this point. Let’s jump right in! — Betting On You by Lynn Painter {★★★★☆}: when she said When Harry Met Sally inspired YA rom-com, suddenly I appeared. Out of nowhere. Can’t explain it. But living my best life and she was cute as heck. Now I just need to catch up on Painter’s previous YA release so I can come out of shameville. Tysm to Simon & Schuster for the eARC via Netgalley. More thoughts in my GR review here <3<3<3 If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane {★★★★☆}: Finally got back into my McFarlane groove and she truly is a genius!!! And men suck hardcore. Whilst this one does not top Mad About You for me, I loved it nonetheless. I related so deeply to Laurie’s insecurities and adored her as a main character. I do think I wanted a bit more from the romance? Read more in GR review here xoxoxo Persepolis Volume 2 by Marjane Satrapi {★★★★★}: Finally finished this one after having to put it down for thesis writing. Ugh Satrapi is a GENIUS and I have so much appreciation for her.…
