Category: Book Review

Book Review: Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Jeff Zentner
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: July 9th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two young artists have a chance meeting on the last night of summer arts camp in this YA novel in verse and dialogue cowritten by acclaimed authors Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro.

Jude loves photography, and he’s good at it, too. Between his parents’ divorce and his anxiety, being behind a camera is the only time his mind is quiet.

Florence is confronting the premature end of her dance career as a degenerative eye disease begins to steal her balance. She’s having a hard time letting go.

The two meet at Sunrise Night, their sleepaway art camp’s dusk-to-dawn closing celebration, and decide to take a chance on each other. Their one rule: No contact for a year after the sun has risen. Over the course of three Sunrise Nights, will Florence and Jude find a deeper connection and learn who they are—and who they could be together?

GREW ON ME.

I don’t know how to explain that something about the characters annoyed me? Maybe it was the “we’re not going to have a miscommunication but then we actually do causing the book to drag out another year” that sent me over the edge. Looking past that, the rest of the book is solid.

It’s written in a short, choppy dynamic that goes back and forth quickly between the two MC’s. I thought the whole idea was fun and all of the unique late night things they got to participate in. There’s something about those late night conversations that really creates a bonding atmosphere. And this definitely had the right person, wrong time vibe throughout.

The book is fast and easy to fly through. I thought it had good themes and reminded me of why I enjoy Jeff Zentner books so much.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: cheating/gray area cheating

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Book Review: Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 8th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In her forties, newly single in the Windy City, and reeling from a major life shake-up, Claire Karadec finds a reset in the most unlikely of places–a dating profile set up by her adult daughter. From New York Times bestselling author Courtney Walsh comes a refreshing, lighthearted, sweet novel, perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan and Sarah Adams.

Claire did not plan to end up mid-forties with a daughter studying in London and the unfortunate discovery that her husband is not the man she thought he was. In fact, he’s the exact opposite of a faithful, loyal, kind, and good-hearted spouse. And the discovery of his real nature and lack of remorse leads her to do what she never thought she would–divorce him.

After a year of wallowing before hitting rock bottom . . . in public, unfortunately, Claire realizes she needs to finally answer the question her therapist asked her all those months “What do you really want?” It was a question she couldn’t answer then, but now she knows it’s time to figure it out.

It’s the turning point that leads Claire to change her life. And not just a little–a lot. She sells her house in Denver and moves to the city that’s always had her heart–Chicago.

With the help of nosy neighbors, new friends, and a daughter who sets her up on a dating site from across the ocean, Claire begins to answer that big, important question by figuring out what she wants and how to live life on her own terms.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook and Thomas Nelson for the gifted copy.

LOVED EVERY MINUTE.

I could sing the praises of this book all day long y’all. I was smitten from the get go and the story telling was absolutely fabulous. I loved that this had an older FMC who had to unexpectedly start over. I loved the realistic journey of being angry and upset and working towards that sense of peace and belonging that comes in time. Claire’s relationship with her daughter was also magical and something I aspire towards as my kids get older. Honestly this entire book felt like an inspiration. I haven’t been in Claire’s situation but the bigger lesson of finding a passion, doing something for you, and letting go of past grievances are very relevant to everyone.

To sing some love towards the romance because STOP IT RIGHT NOW. It was amazing. I adored Miles. He was just the right type of golden retriever energy for Claire and I loved seeing their strangers to friends to lovers romance develop. It’s soft and light and really gives you the second chance love so many crave.

The audiobook is perfect. No notes. I don’t think you can go wrong with any format for this book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content warnings: infidelity, divorce

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Book Review: Seeing Other People by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: December 9th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two people haunted by their exes find that love isn’t dead in this heartfelt romance from the beloved authors of The Roughest Draft.

Morgan is being ghosted by her ex. No, really. It’s sad Zach died and became a ghost. But Morgan and Zach only ever went on the one date, and now she’s being haunted by him. Zach has no desire to spend eternity with Morgan, but he can’t recall his past and doesn’t know how to move on.

At a support group for humans and their haunters, Morgan and Zach run into Sawyer, whose fiancée-turned-ghost has started to fade. Unlike Morgan, Sawyer isn’t ready to part ways with his ghost. Although they face opposite issues, Morgan and Sawyer decide to work together to solve their problems.

As Morgan and Sawyer try to solve their paranormal conundrums together, they find something even more surprising—a tender, growing affection between them that threatens any unfinished business they’re seeking to close. The ghosts of their past might be there in spirit, but the connection between Morgan and Sawyer is as alive as anything they’ve ever felt.

SURPRISED IN THE BEST WAY.

I don’t usually read contemporary books that center around loss of a partner/spouse because my anxiety kicks into overdrive, but as someone who’s continually loved Emily & Austin’s books I wanted to give it a go. Y’ALL. This one gutted me in so many ways and was incredible. I loved it. You must read it too!!!!

I loved both of the MC’s. Struggling through their respective paths and coming together over the most unlikely of circumstances. There’s raw emotion and anger and grief and woven in-between those heavier moments are laughter, love, and the hope of the next day being just a little bit easier. Everything just worked for me in this book and I had the best time reading it.

The journey for the paranormal characters worked for me too. There’s this awful understanding that sometimes you’re not going to have all of the answers and sometimes you won’t have the closure you’re after but that things can still be okay. The loads of impactful moments here would take too long to write down.

It’s a beautiful story. Go read it!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Paranormal Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2ish brief open
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: depictions of grief and depression, loss of a loved one

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Book Review: The Robin and the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #2) by K.A. Linde

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 642 pages
Author: K.A. Linde
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: June 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The only thing worse than fearing a monster is falling for one…

Kierse McKenna just shattered the Monster Treaty. Again.

It wasn’t entirely her fault. The job was supposed to be steal a goblin-made bracelet off of the Queen of the Nymphs in her own palace. Trade the bracelet for a way to uncover the truth about her past. Except everything goes sideways.

And then he shows up to save her.

Graves—the warlock who ensnared her, betrayed her, and left her to fend for herself. He’s a villain. A monster draped in charm and shadows. And gods help her, he always knows exactly what she wants.

But Graves never does anything for free. He has a job for his favorite little thief. One that will pit her against the most powerful monsters in existence, including his mortal enemy, the Oak King.

An ancient artifact has been located, and only together can they hope to steal it. She just has to let him in.

But once she lets a monster in, he’s impossible to forget…and even harder to resist.

BEFUDDLED.

We’ll get to the good stuff first. I do think this book progressed well off of book one. I liked the expansion of the plot and world, getting to see more settings and characters, and the romance had good developmental moments too. I genuinely had a good time listening to this audiobook and the cliffhanger brings the damage.

BUT.

Y’all, there was like 8? Maybe more (idk I lost count)? open door scenes and that kept taking away from the story. They started to feel out of pocket and used to call the book *spicy*. Not to mention there was a k!nk involved that is not my cup of tea and I felt meh over it all.

This has turned me off of wanting to pick up book three if this is the way things will continue to progress.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance; way too many scenes
  • Violence: high

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