• Book Reviews

    FAKE SKATING BY LYNN PAINTER // spoiler-free book review: if you haven’t read this YA childhood friends to lovers sports romance with alllll the yearning then idk what you’re doing with your life,,,

    Before we get into the pterodactyl screeching that will be this review, I figure this is a great time to shoutout the interview I did with Lynn a while back, in case you missed it: Title: Fake SkatingAuthor: Lynn PainterPage count: 448Date published: 30 September 2025Genre: Young adult contemporary romance ⛸️  Synopsis: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies Lynn Painter comes a heartfelt and banter-filled “feel-good rom-com” (School Library Journal) about childhood sweethearts whose icy reunion in their hockey-loving hometown unexpectedly thaws when they fake a romantic relationship. Growing up, Dani couldn’t help but follow around the adorable son of her mom’s best friend. Funny, kind of nerdy, and a little soft, Alec was always down to hang with Dani when they were little. From play dates to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable. Until Dani moved away. Alec promised they’d stay in touch—except, they didn’t. Flash forward and Dani is back in Minnesota for her senior year, she and her mom living with her grandfather. Dealing with the fallout of her parents’ devastating divorce, Dani wouldn’t mind a nerd-out with the cozy and comforting Alec (and maybe a chance…

  • Book Reviews

    FORGIVE-ME-NOT BY MARI COSTA // spoiler-free blog tour book review: you absolutely need this YA sapphic romantasy graphic novel in your life yesterday!!!

    Hello, and a warm welcome to my tour stop that is like 2 days late, but Toppling Stacks is forgiving of my chaos, and I’m very grateful! I also am absolutely THRILLED to talk about this little gem that you must all certainly read so without further ado, into the review xoxo Title: Forgive-Me-Not Author: Mari CostaPage count: 320Date published: 14 April 2026Genre: YA fantasy graphic novel ⚔️ Synopsis: A queer “enemies to lovers” journey of a lost princess and a changeling who was made to take the heir’s place as part of a fey scheme. Aisling is many things to many people: princess, heir to the throne, teenage daughter of two loving parents… She’s also about to learn a lot more about herself: changeling. Fey creature. Hunted. Feared. Loved? Forgive-Me-Not is the name given to the true princess — the lost teenage biological daughter to the king and queen, who’s grown up in the chaotic and untrustworthy realm of Faerie. When Forgive-Me-Not breaks into Aisling’s room the night before their 18 th birthday looking for revenge, the two embark on a long and arduous journey. And what starts as a confrontational and adversarial pairing grows into a bond of mutual…

  • Book Reviews

    CHASING LUCKY BY JENN BENNETT // spoiler-free book review: need your next childhood friends to lovers YA romance? look no further

    Nobody is more shocked than me that you’re seeing me again so soon? Might need to get my head checked? But hey, can I get some credit for trying here… Anyways, technically I read another of this author’s books before this one, but I have a ~VISION~ for the photo, so you’ll have to wait on her! Enjoy in the meantime <3<3<3 Title: Chasing Lucky Author: Jenn BennettPage count: 432Date published: 10 November 2020Genre: Young adult contemporary romance 📸 Synopsis: Sometimes to find the good, you have to embrace the bad. Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown years later to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there. What she doesn’t plan for is a run-in with the town bad boy, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend. Lucky makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the newly returned Josie. But everything changes after a disastrous pool party, and a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in some big-time…

  • Book Reviews

    BETTER HATE THAN NEVER BY CHLOE LIESE // spoiler-free book review: the feisty childhood enemies to lovers romance you didn’t know you needed in your life!!!

    This one definitely *wasn’t* read some time ago,,, no idea what you’re talking about! Here let me divert your attention to THESE Moving on and into this scrumptious little book gem that I have been waiting a while to shove in your faces <3<3<3 Title: Better Hate Than NeverSeries: Chloe LieseAuthor: Chloe LiesePage count: 336Date published: 10 October 2023Genre: Adult contemporary romance ❤️‍🔥 Synopsis: Childhood enemies discover the fine line between love and loathing in this heartfelt reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Katerina Wilmot and Christopher Petruchio shared backyards as kids, but as adults they won’t even share the same hemisphere. That is, until Kate makes a rare visit home, and their fiery animosity rekindles into a raging inferno. Despite their friends’ and families’ pleas for peace, Christopher is unconvinced Kate would willingly douse the flames of their enmity. But when a drunken Kate confesses she’s only been hostile because she thought he hated her, Christopher vows to make peace with Kate once and for all. Tempting as it is to be swept away by her nemesis-turned-gentleman, Kate isn’t sure she can trust his charming good-guy act. When Christopher’s persistence and Kate’s curiosity lead to an impassioned…

  • Book Reviews

    ARCANA: THE LOST HEIRS BY SAM PRENTICE-JONES // spoiler-free book review: say hello to your next fantasy graphic novel obsession!

    The fact that I had this down in my calendar a month late tells you how my life has been lately but hey at I did realise the my error and feel bad about it so hopefully you can forgive me? Big thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for having me <3<3<3 Title: Arcana: The Lost HeirsSeries: Arcana #1Author: Sam Prentice-JonesPage count: 384Date published: 24 June 2025Genre: Young Adult fantasy graphic novel 🃏 Synopsis: Debut author/illustrator Sam Prentice-Jones explores fighting against your destiny and reconciling the actions of your ancestors in Arcana: The Lost Heirs, a tarot-inspired fantasy graphic novel for young adults. James, Daphne, Koko, and Sonny have all grown up surrounded by magic in the Arcana, an organization of witches that protects the magical world, run by the mysterious and secretive Majors. Eli Jones, however, didn’t even know other witches existed . . . until he stumbled into James. As James introduces Eli to the world of the Arcana, he finds the family he never had, and a blossoming romance with James. The five new friends soon realize that sinister things are afoot and everything may not be what it seems at the Arcana. When the group delves…

  • Book Reviews

    THE FAVOURITES BY LAYNE FARGO // spoiler-free book review: the angsty figure-skating romance of my dreams, you need to read it!

    If you think about it, I’m only a few months late to this one! Look at the pub date, the book only *just* came out… she says as they drag her away. Cue the tears in this review,,, Title: The FavouritesAuthor: Layne FargoPage count: 464Date published: 16 January 2025Genre: Adult contemporary romance ⛸️ Synopsis: To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession. An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end. As the ten-year anniversary of their final…

  • Book Reviews

    RUTHLESS VOWS BY REBECCA ROSS // spoiler-free book review: this sequel took me out and i am still in recovery,,,

    Not really ready to the write this review but I can’t keep avoiding it so here we go. Wish me luck. Imma need it,,, You can check my review of the first book if you’re feeling curious 👀 Title: Ruthless VowsSeries: Letters of Enchantment book #2Author: Rebecca RossPage count: 419Date published: 26 December 2023Genre: Young Adult fantasy 🗞️ Synopsis: Torn apart by war. Reunited by love? Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again – but this time for the enemy. When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious… and strangely familiar. As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war. 🗞️ 🗞️  STAR RATING: (5 out of 5 stars) You know that meme from Family Guy where the dude goes “time to get some sleep,” rolls over and just cries? If you looked for my…

  • Book Reviews

    DIVINE RIVALS BY REBECCA ROSS // spoiler-free book review: was the internet right or did this book give me anxiety? click to find out!

    Wow I know. Couldn’t have been more clickbait if I tried. But thought I’d try a game of trickery on you, just for funsies. I really don’t have to tell you much about this post seeing as you’ve most likely read the book already. Or were hiding under your rock like mwah. You’re valid babes, I promise. Without further ado, into the review we go! Title: Divine RivalsSeries: Letters of Enchantment book #1Author: Rebecca RossPage count: 368Date published: 13 April 2023Genre: Young Adult Fantasy 🖋️ Synopsis: When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris…

  • Book Reviews

    SEE YOU YESTERDAY BY RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON // spoiler-free book review: finally reviewing this genius new adult time-loop romance book that you needed in your life yesterday,,,

    Not me having a weird time thingy right now and yes I am very proud of the above pun lmao. Whilst it may look like I’m a million years late to this book, your assumption would be EH wrong. I actually read this book a while ago and only JUST found a physical copy. Pretend to hear my evil laughter in the background!!!! Lol I’m crazy actually, fully aware of that. Before we jump it, you can check out my review of TODAY TONIGHT TOMORROW from this author by clicking on the image below because I love that book also and you need to get off your butts to read if you haven’t already,,, Title: See You YesterdayAuthor: Rachel Lynn SolomonPage count: 419Date published: 17 May 2022Genre: New adult contemporary sci-fi 🕐 Synopsis: Barrett Bloom is hoping college will be a fresh start after a messy high school experience. But when school begins on September 21st, everything goes wrong. She’s humiliated by the know-it-all in her physics class, she botches her interview for the college paper, and at a party that night, she accidentally sets a frat on fire. She panics and flees, and when she realizes her roommate locked…

  • Book Reviews

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING BY JULIA WHELAN // spoiler-free book review: took me long enough but i adored this book about audiobook narrators falling in love from the queen herself!

    Look at me posting semi-regularly? I so appreciate all of your undying and heartfelt faith in my posting capabilities,,, C’mon folks, you know the drill. It’s sarcasm for everyone in Ruby’s house. I’ll stop talking and jump right in! Title: Thank You For ListeningAuthor: Julia WhelanPage count: 432Date published: 2 August 2022Genre: Adult contemporary fiction 🎧 Synopsis: For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger. On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book–with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling–not after her own dreams were tragically cut short–and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision…