Book Review: The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Autumn Krause
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this sweeping WWII historical romance threaded with magic and myth, two star-crossed Japanese American teenagers find a love more powerful than the gods — inspired by the author’s true family history of internment and resilience.

A divine favor can change everything.

1942. War rumbles across the world, gods stir in the wind, and two lives are set on a collision course that will change them forever.

Seventeen-year-old Ren Hamada has always been defined by his troubled past, while Violet Aratani has only ever worried about keeping her straight-A grades and helping her parents run their beloved print shop. The two have little in common beyond the old magic that thrums in their worn family relics—and the fact that they’re Japanese American in a country determined to cast them as the enemy.

Forced out of their homes and into ramshackle wooden barracks in the California desert by the US government, Ren and Violet collide. In a barbed wire world where everything they thought they knew is upside-down, the magnetic pull between them is the only thing that makes sense.

But there’s more than just desert dust swirling in the air. A god walks among them, his mortal form tethered to the camp, and only Violet and Ren hold the key to freeing him—an act that would earn them an immeasurable reward. Yet with tensions rising and their lives on the line, is even a divine favor powerful enough to save them?

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

IMPACTFUL STORY.

I happened to read this on audio before my physical copy got here and I really enjoyed the duel narration between the POV’s of Ren and Violet. Don’t leave out the author’s note either. It added crucial information about the history and construction of the book and how her family’s story was included.

I appreciated broadening my understanding of the internment camps during WWII. It’s an important part of history that isn’t discussed enough and it was heartbreaking knowing the lasting trauma that came from this time period. Alongside the hard were moments of strength infused with hope.

The romance between Ren and Violet was fast and sweet. I liked the connection between them and learning to communicate and support each other through the trials they were facing. There was a magical element to the book that I was never sure was truly needed but it does add an extra element if you like the combination of a historical with magic.

An impactful story with characters you want to root for. I look forward to reading more books from this author (I also recommend Grave Flowers!).

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: racism, grief, loss of life, weapons/physical violence, internment camps

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Book Review: Throne in the Dark (Villains & Virtues #1) by A.K. Caggiano

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: A.K. Caggiano
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: November 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

His dark destiny awaits, and nothing will stand in his way. Except her.

Dark lord
Demon spawn
Prophesied realm destroyer

With a demon for a father, Damien Maleficus Bloodthorne’s destiny could be nothing but nefarious, and with the completion of his most vicious spell, Damien is on the cusp of fulfilling the evil inevitability all of his dark machinations have led to.

And then, her.

Bubbly
Obnoxious
Blonde

Harboring secrets of her own, a tiny yet troublesome thief calling herself Amma completely upsets Damien’s malevolent plans when she mistakenly gets chained to his side through magic, forcing him to drag her across the realm. Killing her would fix things, of course, but the nauseatingly sweet Amma proves herself useful on Damien’s unholy crusade and then proves herself the source of something even more sinister: feelings.

Will Damien be forced to abandon his villainous birthright to help the tender thorn in his side? Or will he manage to overcome the virtue Amma insists on inspiring and instead cut it out at the heart?

THIS WAS FUN.

If you’re looking for something with the same vibes as Assistant to the Villain x The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy (but with way less innuendo and spice) then I would put this one your radar too. It’s one of those books that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is filled with snarky banter and quirky characters.

I liked the audiobook and would definitely recommend that format because this book has been sitting on my TBR for a long time and I’m grateful that the audio added to that quality.

There’s some misalignment with the world building and such but like I said, this became a vibes book for me and something I needed to disappear into for a bit. I liked the relationship dynamics and the side characters. The story line is pretty good and that was all enough for me to decide I’d want to read book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses; light innuendo
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Pick Me by Victoria Schade

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Victoria Schade
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: November 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A delightfully sexy romantic comedy about a romance writer determined to learn how to play pickleball to impress her crush, only to fall for her coach.

As a cowboy romance ghostwriter, Brooke Murphy knows a thing or two about happily ever afters. But following her last breakup, Brooke is feeling fresh out of hot and steamy vibes.

With her next deadline looming and desperate for inspiration, Brooke says yes to every possible romantic opportunity, including a mixed doubles pickleball game, where she meets a tall, dark, and handsome guy taking his pickleball very seriously. A couple of dates with this stranger would be all she needs to crank out her next trope-tastic novel. She just needs to learn how to play. Fast. So what if she’s the least athletic person alive?

Enter Owen Miller, aka The Big Gripper, the secret weapon of Manhattan’s most competitive finance bro pickleball players. The surly coach doesn’t look like a former elite athlete—with his bucket hat, oversized basketball shorts, and flip-flops—but the man can move when the ball heads his way. With enough shameless begging, she convinces him to take her on.

As her game improves, her muse comes back in a big way. Could it be that her feelings for the grump who taught her the difference between a dillball and a dink shot run deeper than just student and coach?

Thank you Avon Books for the gifted copy.

IT WAS OKAY.

Ironically enough the day I finished this book was also the day I played a pickleball game for the first time in 8 years. The pickleball game was more fun than this book.

I DO appreciate that this had plenty of pickleball content. You can call this a sports romance easy because it’s always a pet peeve of mine to not have the sport actually included in the book.

Owen was sweet, I liked his personality and he was cute. I was mostly bugged that much of the book was focused on Brooke trying to meet another man through Owen. That + the awkwardly thrown in innuendo made for a forced sexy atmosphere rather than natural. I was tired of hearing about Brooke’s characters and what they were doing.

I like the cover of the book? But I need to find another pickleball romance to try.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door; innuendo throughout
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Unbound (The Undone #3) by Peyton Corinne

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Peyton Corinne
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: June 9th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A new “angsty, sexy, emotional” (Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author) lyrical romance by Peyton Corinne that follows a college couple through first love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come together again.

Paloma Blake is, at best, antagonistic. But beneath the hairspray, attitude, and promiscuity is a scared girl whose trauma runs deep. Still, the walls she’s built are strong, ensuring everyone only sees Paloma’s sexy façade. Everyone except for Bennett.

Bennett Reiner, the carefully controlled, neurodivergent goalie, has his routines and sticks to them, which helps him keep a hold on his OCD compulsions and the crippling anxiety that comes with them. The quiet and meticulous Bennett sees everything, especially the girl beneath Paloma’s ever-present masks. And he always has.

Unbeknownst to their friends, Bennett and Paloma were each other’s first real love, which ended in crippling heartbreak. Bennett still doesn’t know what happened, and Paloma is determined to stay away from the comfort she used to find only in his arms. For years, Bennett has remained her protective shadow, coming to Paloma’s rescue whenever she asked, keeping her as close and safe as she’ll let him. But, like a tumultuous sea to a constant shore, Bennett and Paloma find each other once more.

Alternating between scenes from their past and present, Unbound contrasts the tentative tension and passionate beginnings of first love with the devastating loneliness and deep yearning of having that love ripped away from you without truly knowing why. As Bennett discovers the truth about Paloma’s past, the threads to his careful control start to come unbound, and both begin to realize that letting go of everything else might be worth it, if it means they both get the real love they once shared again.

WELL I’M STILL HERE.

I kind of can’t believe I’m still reading this series?? Maybe because I really love a redemption arc so I am super excited for the audiobook of book four to come out. Maybe because I miss hockey season and it’s unbearably hot right now?? IDK. But alas, book three has been completed.

I do genuinely like the core of these stories and the characters. This one was no different. I liked Bennett the most. He was endearing and loving and had some very relatable moments to someone who also has OCD and anxiety. Paloma on the other hand, kind of bugged me? I don’t love the “you don’t deserve me so I’m going to break up with you” kind of thing. Let Bennett make that decision. The flashback chapters were honestly fine though and I did like what they added to the story.

Now once again, the spice becomes so out of pocket it becomes annoying to flip past it on the audiobook. It constantly rivals spice > plot. Still love the all things hockey. Love the friendships.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: gahlee I gave up counting
  • Violence: moderate+
  • Content warnings: panic attacks, adult/minor relationship, grooming, sexual assault, child abuse, parental abandonment, drug/alcohol use

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