-
GOOD LUCK TO US ALL BY KAREN VERMEULEN // spoiler-free book review: you need this laugh-out-loud graphic memoir by this local artist in your life!!!
Can you believe I read this in 2026? An absolute CONCEPT!!!! But I adored this book and good luck to you all because she hits hard, into the review <3<3<3 Title: Good Luck To Us AllAuthor: Karen VermeulenPage count: 240Date published: 18 February 2025Genre: Adult non-fiction graphic memoir 🐈⬛ Synopsis: Trust her—Karen is trying really hard to be an adult. Harder than she should probably have to, as a thirty-something with a cat, a flat, and a job. She would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling influencers, always raising the bar of what it means to be a proper woman. Accompanied by her trademark quirky artwork and signature wit, Karen pokes fun at her attempts to “grow up”: whether that’s becoming a meditation girlie, getting Botox, faking self-confidence, using dating apps, going to therapy, or living the childfree life (unless you count her feline companion Sir Henry, which, of course, she does.) From emotional support pigs to ectopic pregnancies, cuticle care to under-boob chakras, the laugh-out-loud and deeply perceptive illustrated essays in Good Luck To Us All are a testament to these wild and crazy times. 🐈⬛ 🐈⬛ Big thanks to Catalyst Press for the…
-
THE EX VOWS BY JESSICA JOYCE // spoiler-free book review: this second-chance romance book broke me and brought me back to life and you NEED to read it,,,
What do you mean I forgot to review this book? I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, and how dare you accuse me of such things? Um, wait, sorry, that was aggressive. I think I just blocked this book from my brain because she was very emotional for me, and I’m not ever going to be okay about it. Here’s your formal warning that I freak out a lot for the rest of this post!!! But before we get into that, throwback to when I had the author on the blog for an interview: Title: The Ex VowsAuthor: Jessica JoycePage count: 399Date published: 16 July 2024Genre: Adult contemporary romance 🍇 Synopsis: Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance. Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago. With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best…
-
SERIOUS MOONLIGHT BY JENN BENNETT // spoiler-free book review: may I present this gorgeous YA contemporary workplace romance that deals with grief that you really need to read…
Took me a bajillion months to write this freaking review and then post this freaking post and I don’t even want to dwell on it anymore so instead we will get right into all the gushing!!! Title: Serious Moonlight Author: Jenn BennettPage count: 429 pagesDate published: 16 April 2026Genre: Young adult contemporary romance 🌙 Synopsis: After an awkward first encounter, Birdie and Daniel are forced to work together in a Seattle hotel where a famous author leads a mysterious and secluded life in this romantic contemporary novel from the author of Alex, Approximately. Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel. In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work.…
-
WHEN THE SKY FELL ON SPLENDOR BY EMILY HENRY // spoiler-free book review: this YA sci-fi (sorta) is extremely weird but oh so good and to the haters pls close the door behind you
I really do suck at consistency, and here’s my formal apology for the 1000th time, but cross your fingers and toes I can get back into the swing of things and on a schedule because I want to be back SO BAD! Anyways, this review is long overdue, and this time not because it’s been sitting in drafts, but instead because I FINALLY READ THIS BOOK!!!! So let’s get into it, and I will be yelling at all you haters today #sorrynotsorry Title: When The Sky Fell On SplendorAuthor: Emily HenryPage count: 384Date published: 12 March 2019Genre: Young adult science fiction 🛸 Synopsis: Almost everyone in the small town of Splendor, Ohio, was affected when the local steel mill exploded. If you weren’t a casualty of the accident yourself, chances are a loved one was. That’s the case for seventeen-year-old Franny, who, five years after the explosion, still has to stand by and do nothing as her brother lies in a coma. In the wake of the tragedy, Franny found solace in a group of friends whose experiences mirrored her own. The group calls themselves The Ordinary, and they spend their free time investigating local ghost stories and legends, filming…
-
BEHIND FIVE WILLOWS BY JUNE HUR // blog tour book feature: my body is ready for this Austen-inspired enemies to lovers historical romance!!!
Alas my short streak came to an end and I am entirely blaming it on moving. Which is the worst btw. I fully intended to present you with a review today because I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK ITS UNREAL. But instead I was packing boxes. So please excuse me, let’s just marvel at the book together instead! Welcome to my stop on the Behind Five Willows blog tour <3<3 Title: Behind Five WillowsAuthor: June HurPage count: 352Date published: 26 May 2026Genre: Young adult historical fiction 📚 Synopsis: As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber in order to make a little extra money. It’s dangerous work, but she loves it – especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favourite author, known as Black Lotus. When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn’t be so terrible, if it weren’t for the young man’s uptight and…
-
MYSTERIES OF THE MOUNTAIN MOON TRIBE BY JACK RUEDISUELI // blog tour book review: pls teleport me into this YA fantasy graphic novel right this second!!!
Very very excited to be joining this tour and this time only a day late! And I read the book! I’m being serious when I say you should be suspicious of a brain transplant… Okay enough yapping and 1) let’s give a big thank you to Colored Pages Tours for having me on this blog tour and 2) chat about this stunning book! Title: Mysteries of the Mountain Moon TribeAuthor: Jack RuedisueliPage count: 168Date published: 12 May 2026Genre: Young adult fantasy 🍄 Synopsis: A young girl’s adventure through a mysterious land full of giant creatures and dead machines from a time long forgotten… We journey to a distant land where we find a mountain that has no end, a mountain so tall that the people who live within its highest peaks know nothing of the world below the clouds. It is a mountain full of mystery and monstrous creatures the likes of which you have never seen. Hiding within the peaks, we find the mountain moon tribe and our main girl, Mia, the child elder and first of her generation. Born thirteen years ahead of her peers, she bears the huge responsibility of guiding them through life. But Mia is…
-
BRIDE BY ALI HAZELWOOD // spoiler-free book review: didn’t expect that this werewolf x vampire marriage of convenience romance would have me in a chokehold but here we are,,,
You know, you really should be proud of me. Like, look at me back again, maintaining an active posting schedule. I shall do little yapping today because instead, I want to word vomit about THIS BOOK BECAUSE I’M OBSESSED?!?!?!? Title: BrideSeries: Bride book #1Author: Ali HazelwoodPage count: 403Date published: 6 February 2024Genre: Adult paranormal romance 🩸 Synopsis: A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis. Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast-again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are she has been called upon to uphold an historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange. Again . . . Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he…
-
SAWADIKA AMERICAN GIRL BY DARIA SOMMERS // blog promotion book feature: happy pub day this YA coming-of-age historical fiction set in 1960s Bangkok you need to know about!!!
Experiencing a number of pinch-me moments lately. The first being my active posting schedule and then directly related to that is me being able to tell you about this book! Which I’m so very excited to read and I need you all to scream with me about it!!! Without further ado, let me tell you a bit more <3<3<3 Title: Sawadika American GirlAuthor: Daria SommersPage count: 304Date published: 5 May 2026Genre: YA historical fiction ❤️🔥 Synopsis: In 1968 Bangkok, Thailand, 17-year-old Piper Lewis’ world is changing in unsettling ways. The U.S. Military’s expansion into Thailand in support of the Vietnam War is reshaping the city she loves. Her USAID Official father’s mysterious absences fray their once-close relationship. Her stepmother’s obsession with appearances suffocates her. Worse, she can’t summon the passion to bring Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata to life. Only her beloved piano teacher, a Thai Prince, senses the depth of her disconnect. One night, Piper ditches the American Teen Club to party with an older crowd. Sparks fly when she meets Jack, a 19-year-old GI on R&R from Vietnam. Defying the Army’s non-fraternization policy, they pledge to spend his leave together. As the hypocrisy of the war closes in on them,…
-
A FAR WILDER MAGIC BY ALLISON SAFT // spoiler-free book review: long time no post, allow me to screech about this beautiful YA romantic-fantasy
insert meme: hey… hey… how ya’ll doing? Welcome to the unofficial series where Ruby tries to remember books she read a year ago and must now write a review. I have serious regrets. But please give me like 5 minutes of your time to shove this wonderful book in your face, that is beautiful both inside and out. Title: A Far Wilder MagicAuthor: Allison SaftPage count: 400Date published: 8 March 2022Genre: Young Adult urban fantasy 🍃 Synopsis: When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist. Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist—yet. He’s been fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, and his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret. She begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her. Although they make an unlikely team, they soon find themselves drawn to each other.…
-
2025 READING, WATCHING & BLOGGING RECAP // last year in review ft all the books i read, failed reading goal, all the charts & 2026 goals
Here is my formal plea for you to act very kindly towards an extremely delicate Ruby, who is writing this post right now. She is not feeling super proud, but also can’t resist making these, so maybe we can just ignore the low amount of books read, lack of posts appearing in a month etc. That will be all at this time,,, 2025 RECAP: READING Okay, so books… very low. But apparently, I read 11k pages last year, so at least I read big books, and for that,t I won’t feel bad. I’m also ~very~ chuffed with 3 books I finally read last year, which we’ll get into RIGHT NOW ALL THE BOOKS I READ IN 2025 Decided to be trendy AND update you on the small amount of books this year because on top of reading not a lot, I also threw monthly recaps out the window ̄_(ツ)_/ ̄ ̄ Yay me for reading SO MUCH YA, I went back to my roots in the limited amount of time I did spend reading and no regrets tbh. I mentioned just now, but Storygraph says the majority of books were over 300 pages, so one could say I was LOCKED…
