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MOST ANTICIPATED 2025 RELEASES // adding 80 books, 20 movies & 4 shows to my list and yours
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL POST OF THE YEAR… almost. One of the most wonderful if we’re dealing with the nitty gritty details here *sighs* Anyway, love how I say every year that I’m limiting my list to books I only genuinely want to read. But when I looked at what was on last year’s post,,, yeah hah not sure how many I did read.. But I mean it this year. I pinky promise. Speaking of how I did this post last year, we’ll be chatting all things books and films, and I do think I’ve gathered QUITE the list this year. We’ll call it a comprehensive list, because I think I’ve picked what will be the best of the best. I know, smug much. But I’m only being honest folks. Lol with that, I think we should drive right in! books — JANUARY Audrey Lane Stirs the Pot by Alexis Hall (1 January 2025): have I started this series? No. But do I love this author and want to read all they write? The answer would be yes. A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young (7 January 2025): I’ll pose an almost similar question because have I read ANYTHING…
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MID YEAR BOOK FREAK OUT TAG // 2024 edition: fashionably late and very few books read but a couple stunning gems & new releases i’m excited about!
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I actually think I’m right on time with this. Wouldn’t you agree? Like what do you mean this post is not due in September? Your calendar must have got confused. Not that we have all the admin out of the way, look! It’s that time of year again! Where we’re alllll talking about the books we love. Without anything else holding me back, let’s get into it! BEST BOOK YOU’VE READTHIS YEAR SO FAR ✯ Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood Even I’m shocked that this book is here but ya know what? My serotonin levels flew sky-high and haven’t come down yet, so this spot is well deserved. I have yelled about this book just about everywhere so I won’t say too much here. But my brain did actually explode. Like I mean it. Not even exaggerating there. I was so obsessed with the book I coerced my coworker into reading the dang thing and I WILL MAKE YOU DO THE SAME. OR ELSE. Yes, that was a threat,,, Actually no I can’t threaten my lovely followers, I’m sorry. I just love this book a lot and get carried away. Please with…
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JUNE, JULY & AUGUST RECAP // oops i disappeared again but let’s catch up on work, reading & other life updates!
Oops I missed another 3 months. We were doing so well and then I got a corporate life and it went downhill of a sudden. But I shan’t be taken down. Let’s catch up and we shall end on my blood oath to never disappear again. Sounds fun right? — Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane {★★★★½}: I have actually reviewed this one already (!!!!) so I shan’t say all that much. Idk how I went about my life thinking this was some typa of tragic romance and I do fully blame the synopsis for that. Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and worship the ground Mhairi McFarlane walks on. Go read the book kay. Ty to William Morrow Books for the eARC, full blog review over here *sighs* Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan {★★★★½}: I’m on fire with reviews lately because same as before, you can find a full review. Also, I put off reading this for far too long and deserve to be whacked over the head for it. Julia Whelan is an audiobook goddesss and I am obsessed with this book!!! Ty to Harper Collins for the ALC, more thoughts here <3<3<3 Heartstopper Volume 5…
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JUST LAST NIGHT BY MHAIRI MCFARLANE // spoiler-free book review: another banger from my fave that’ll make you laugh and swoon and sob uncontrollably… have fun!
Hush you with your judgement. I shall not be taking it as this time otherwise we shall run out of time. Into the review! Title: Just Last NightAuthor: Mhairi McFarlanePage count: 393Date published: 1 April 2021Genre: Adult contemporary fiction 🪴 Synopsis: Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday pub trivia night is sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe she should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed still thinks about it, too. But then, in an instant, their lives are changed forever. In the aftermath, Eve’s world is upended. As stunning secrets are revealed, she begins to wonder if she really knew her friends as well as she thought. And when someone from the past comes back into her life, Eve’s future veers in a surprising new direction… They say every love story starts with a single moment. What if it was just last night? 🪴 🪴 Big thanks to William Morrow Books for the eARC via Netgalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own.…
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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.…
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JULY RECAP // movie theatre mania aka going to barbenheimer, publisher events, back to school & cute reads
Quite chuffed with myself for being mostly on time with these lately. Who knows if it’ll stick because I have a big fat deadline at the end of August. You have been warned of my potential upcoming hibernation. Let me stop freaking us all out (lmao) and jump right in! — Nothing More To Tell by Karen M McManus {★★★½☆}:I FINALLY picked up this one and ugh Ms McManus always manages to sweep me away with a great time. Unfortunately, this was not my favourite of hers, I usually tend to love her characters but they weren’t my fave in this one. But the cold case was fun and I kept going, so it’s definitely worth a read if you’re a fan like me. Big thanks to Penguin Random House South Africa for the eARC and physical copy. More thoughts in GR review right over here You, With A View by Jessica Joyce {★★★★½}: I mean wow. Round of freaking applause for this DEBUT that literally knocked my socks off. Jessica has pure talent in those finger tips and this book was just absolutely everything. From the writing to the romance to the settings and the gut-wrenching grief conversations THIS…
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MAD ABOUT YOU BY MHAIRI MCFARLANE // spoiler-free book review: meet one of the best adult contemporaries i’ve ever read aka a delightfully british rom-com that has me in a chokehold
Please say hello to this absolute gem of a book that you should be ashamed you haven’t read yet. Yes I do have the right and power to say that about you all and you are not allowed to say it back *hides* AHHH I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH IT HURTS AND IM SHOVING IT DOWN ALL YOUR THROATS FOR ETERNITY!!!!! Onwards with the crying/yelling/screeching about this author *wink wink* Title: Mad About YouAuthor: Mhairi McFarlanePage count: 432Date published: 14 April 2022Genre: Adult contemporary fiction 🏡 Synopsis: Two reluctant housemates.Two broken promises.One crazy plan… Harriet Hatley may be one of the most in-demand wedding photographers in Leeds, but she hates the idea of marriage. Cal Clarke is used to the world falling in line with his plans – apart from his own love-life, which has gone hopelessly wrong. When they become unlikely housemates, it’s clear they’re both running away from something bigger. Can they take a crazy risk to face the past and change everything? 🏡 🏡 STAR RATING: (5 out of 5 stars) Trigger warnings for previous relationship emotional abuse — My heart is so full and I am jumping for joy and Mhairi McFarlane is…
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DON’T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME BY MHAIRI MCFARLANE // spoiler-free book review: looking for a new laugh-out-loud british comedy with a smidge of romance to read? look no further!!!
Ugh stop what you’re doing right now!!!! Because IM IN LOVE WITH MHAIRI MCFARLANE AND NEED YOU NEED TO BE TOO. I’m literally never shutting up about her books ever,,, Welcome to part one of screaming Ruby *wink wink* Title: Don’t You Forget About MeAuthor: Mhairi McFarlanePage count: 433Date published: 1 January 2019Genre: Adult contemporary fiction 💌 Synopsis: If there’s one thing worse than being fired from the grottiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else. Reeling from the indignity of a double dumping on the same day, Georgina snatches at the next job that she’s offered—barmaid in a newly opened pub, which just so happens to run by the boy she fell in love with at school: Lucas McCarthy. And whereas Georgina (voted Most Likely to Succeed in her school yearbook) has done nothing but dead-end jobs in the last twelve years, Lucas has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but also has turned into an actual grown-up along the way, with a business and a dog. Meeting Lucas again not only throws Georgina’s rackety present into sharp relief, but also brings a dark secret from her past…
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MID YEAR BOOK FREAK OUT TAG // 2023 edition: i’ve read almost 30 books so far ft. stunning 5 star reads, new favourite authors & exciting new releases
Time for my overused Christmas in July joke once again? We all laughed right? Glad I can amuse you. Anyways, I always love doing this tag but I’m realising it’s been a minute since I did a tag. And there are more questions than I remember so hopefully you get this at a reasonable time and not in like November. I deserve a commandment if this post is early honestly. An entire ceremony if you ask me, Alright, I’ll shut up now and get into the questions!!! BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ THIS YEAR SO FAR ✯ Honourable mention: Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong ✯ Happy Place by Emily Henry The internet had me scared for a second there with all them bad reviews but turns out I should trust my gut. And also my mother Emily Henry. Because she never disappoints and I loved this one. As expected. God, I loved it so much. And hated it. Conflicting but in a good way. Emily Henry is writing my obituary at this point honestly. Not to be morbid or anything, but I do need her to do that. Anyways, yes this book destroyed me and brought me back to life.…
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APRIL RECAP // i am in my british comedy era, finally read a jane austen & sinking down the academic research rabbit hole aka life is great
Currently, my brain capacity is at 0.1 but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It just means I have a lot to say and no way to articulate it so this recap should be fun. If there’s one thing Ruby Rae Reads will always deliver, it is chaos and you can at least count on that. Let’s try and remember what happened this month before May is over *insert happy dance* Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane {★★★★½}: Don’t remember what finally gave me the push to read this author, maybe fate because I just KNEW I would love her and Ms McFarlane and I are now best friends. She doesn’t know that yet but it’s the truth. Maybe you’ll get a full review soon because I have a lot to say, but this was like watching a British comedy in book form and no-one does comedy like the British. The writing was whip-smart, the characters loveable and it’s just everything I want in an adult contemporary technically women’s fiction, but agh that term sucks. It was absolutely brilliant READ IT RIGHT NOW!!!!!! GR review here Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane {★★★★★}: I couldn’t tell you…
