• Book Reviews

    IMMORTALITY BY DANA SCHWARTZ // spoiler-free sequel book review: my new fave YA gothic historical fiction series that you all need to read!!!

    Eeeep so excited to finally rave about this book with you all. I’ve been holding it in for a hot second and it’s finally my time! Warning: since this is a sequel, the synopsis does contain spoilers for the end of book one aka Anatomy by Dana Schwartz! The spoiler-free section shouldn’t be too spoiler-y so you’re good there, but maybe skip the synopsis if you haven’t read it yet. Without further ado, let’s get right into it <3<3<3 Title: Immortality: A Love StorySeries: Anatomy Duology book #2 Author: Dana SchwartzPage count: 389Date published: 28 February 2023Genre: Young Adult gothic historical fiction 🧠 Synopsis: Hazel Sinnett is alone and half convinced the events of the year before—the immortality, Beecham’s vial—were a figment of her imagination. She doesn’t even know if Jack is alive or dead. All she can really do now is treat patients and maintain Hawthornden Castle as it starts to decay around her. When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison until a message intervenes: Hazel has been specifically requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte, the sickly granddaughter of King George III. Soon Hazel is dragged into the…

  • Book Reviews

    FOUL LADY FORTUNE BY CHLOE GONG // book talk: a show-stopping spectacular 1930s shanghai adventure that blew my mind into a million pieces and i need the next book right now!!!

    IT HAS BEEN 84 YEARS AND I HAVE FINALLY READ THIS FREAKING BOOK ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOLKS It’s honestly embarrassing it’s taken me this long. Like truly. Hate myself for that. But I finally finished it and off its the way this book FINISHED ME!!!!!!!! I shall now cry about it for eternity,,, Title: Foul Lady FortuneSeries: Secrets of Shanghai book #3Author: Chloe GongPage count: 528Date published: 27 September 2022Genre: Young Adult historical fiction 💀 Synopsis: It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country. Code name: Fortune. But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people…

  • Book Reviews

    A LADY FOR A DUKE BY ALEXIS HALL // spoiler-free book review: this regency romance will solve all of your problems and maybe melt your heart along the way

    Let’s see if I can get through this review without crying. Because I probably will. This book is my new everything and I shall now commence with the shoving and the faces and down the throats. You’ve bene forewarned. Onwards we go!!!! Title: A Lady For A DukeAuthor: Alexis HallPage count: 460Date published: 24 May 2022Genre: Adult historical romance ✉ Synopsis: When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become. As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again. ✉   ✉…

  • Book Reviews

    THE DEAD ROMANTICS BY ASHLEY POSTON // spoiler-free book review: you need this crazy romance book with ghostwriters that can see ghosts but also deals with grief in your life!!!

    Today’s post is an incredibly exciting one because I finally get to cry about one of my favourite books this year!!! I read this one back in July actually, but ugh it was so good and I’m back to shove it down all of your throats *sighs* Let’s just get into the screaming!!!! Title: The Dead RomanticsAuthor: Ashley PostonPage count: 368Date published: 28 June 2022Genre: Adult contemporary romance 👻 Synopsis: Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father. For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself…

  • Book Reviews

    KILL JOY BY HOLLY JACKSON // spoiler-free novella review: a short but so deliciously sweet mystery prequel you need to devour

    I am absolutely never going to shut up about this series and you just have to deal with it. I actually read this a while ago now and to be honest, didn’t plan on doing a full review for this very short book but you only live once, so we’re doing it anyway! Let’s get started < 3 Title: Kill JoySeries: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder book #0.5Author: Holly JacksonPage count: 130Date published: 18 February 2021Genre: Young adult mystery 🔎 Synopsis: Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town, Little Kilton, is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder. But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind … 🔎   🔎 Big thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for review! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🔎  STAR RATING: (5 out of 5 stars) It’s official: I’m a Holly Jackson simp.…

  • Book Reviews

    TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT BY CHLOE LIESE // blog tour book review: the perfect romantic shakespeare retelling ft. opposites attract fake dating for revenge slow-burn gloriousness

    Hi hello friends I apologise for this delay and for taking so long with this but I must admit I was scared to read this book. I didn’t want it to destroy me with its cuteness and be eternally damaged. But of course, it did and I have no regrets so let’s get into this! Big thanks to Berkley for having me on the blog tour <3<3<3   Title: Two Wrongs Make A RightSeries: The Wilmot Sisters book #1Author: Chloe LiesePage count: 352Date published: 22 November 2022Genre: Adult contemporary romance 💌 Synopsis: Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge. Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the…

  • Book Reviews

    DEMON IN THE WOOD BY LEIGH BARDUGO // spoiler-free book review: the darkling origin story in stunning graphic novel format that you need to read

    Just realised I have never actually reviewed a graphic novel on here before and idk why this is notable but there you go. And you’re getting two posts in a row, I’ll call that a miracle! Anyways, really excited about today’s post and you have my personal permission to publically shame me if I don’t FINALLY read the Grisha trilogy after this. Seriously. Come back in like idk 3 months? A reasonable amount of time. I’ll stop now so we can get into the post!!! Title: Demon In The WoodSeries: Grishaverse book #0Author: Leigh BardugoIllustrator: Dani PendergastPage count: 200Date published: 27 September 2022Genre: Young Adult Fantasy 🖤 Synopsis: Before he led Ravka’s Second Army, before he created the Fold, and long before he became the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy burdened by an extraordinary power. Eryk and his mother, Lena, have spent their lives on the run. But they will never find a safe haven. They are not only Grisha—they are the deadliest and rarest of their kind. Feared by those who wish to destroy them and hunted by those who would exploit their gifts, they must hide their true abilities wherever they go. But sometimes deadly secrets…

  • Book Reviews

    HEART OF IRON & SOUL OF STARS BY ASHLEY POSTON // spoiler-free series review: an action-packed sci-fi Anastasia retelling i didn’t know i needed in my life

    I didn’t know that I’d be bringing you this post today but I actually just could not come and yell about this series that I have devoured over the last few days. Really colour me surprised but it was a great time and I want more people to read these gems! I read these back to back, hence this is a double review as my thoughts are sort of intermingled. But without further ado, let’s get into the review < 3   Title: Heart of Iron // Soul of StarsSeries: Heart of IronAuthor: Ashley PostonPage count: 467 // 400Date published: 27 February 2018 // 23 July 2019Genre: YA sci-fi 💫 Book One Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him. Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all…

  • Book Reviews

    LOVE ON THE BRAIN BY ALI HAZELWOOD // spoiler-free book review: an adult romance sizzling with chemistry ft. neuroscience geekiness, enemies to lovers & cats

    Hi hello wonderful friends I’ve been sitting on this review for a hot minute and I’m so ready to finally talk about it because I LOVED this book so so so much. Like a huge amount. Like a ‘Bee and Levi could step on me and I’d let them’ amount!!!! Imma stop wasting time and just get to it! Title: Love On The BrainAuthor: Ali HazelwoodPage count: 368Date published: 23 August 2022Genre: Adult contemporary romance ✉ Synopsis: Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuro-engineering project – a literal dream come true – Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward. Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school – archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away. But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas… devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all…

  • Book Tags

    MID YEAR BOOK FREAK OUT TAG // 2022 edition ft. lots of new favourites, backlist books & exciting upcoming releases

    Eyyyyy it’s that wonderful (belated) time of the year and here in book world, maybe better than Christmas. I don’t know what I’m saying either, but at least I’m getting this post up (semi) on time. Lmao, imagine this is future Ruby speaking to you because apparently, I’ve deemed this bookish Christmas in July in past tags AND I FORGOT. Ahaha at least I find this funny,,, Anyways, I shall stop babbling and just get into my second favourite post of the year!!! Though please ignore the fact that I’m behind on my reading goal, I am *trying* to catch up but it is a slow process friends. Absolutely love doing this tag, so let’s just get into it. If you’re keen to read last year’s for whatever reason, then here you go: Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag 2021 edition LET’S GO!!!! BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ THIS YEAR SO FAR ✯ Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett There are multiple options for this category, but I’ve managed to squeeze them in elsewhere and I also just love this book a whole lot omgggggg. I don’t even remember what finally pushed me to read this book, but boy am I slapping…