Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2021

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Almost summertime! And another big month of reading. I love a good mash-up of all the genres and just choosing what fits my mood. I always feel like I read more that way!

Favorites: The Temporary Roomie, Life’s Too Short, Cast in Firelight, The Cruelest Mercy, All Rhodes Lead Here, Furia, Charming as a Verb, To Sir, With Love

Least favorites: Daughter of Sparta, An Unexpected Peril, The Crown of Gilded Bones, Once Upon A Quinceañera

  • [ARC] Daughter of Sparta (Daughter of Sparta #1) by Claire M. Andrews – (☆☆☆)
  • Temporary Roomie (It Happened in Nashville #2) by Sarah Adams – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Rule of Wolves (King of Scars #2) by Leigh Bardugo – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Lore by Alexandra Bracken – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Life’s Too Short (The Friend Zone #3) by Abby Jimenez – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • [Graphic Novel] The Okay Witch (The Okay Witch #1) by Emma Steinkellner – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Storm from the East (Glass Alliance #2) by Joanna Hathaway – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Cast in Firelight (Wickery #1) by Dana Swfit – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Carry the World by Susan Fanetti – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Falling for Your Best Friend’s Twin (Love Cliches #1) by Emma St. Clair – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell #6) by Deanna Raybourn – (☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] The Cruelest Mercy (The Kinder Poison #2) by Natalie Mae – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #2) by Holly Jackson – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • [Graphic Novel] Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story by Lauren Myracle – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – (☆☆☆)
  • World’s Worst Boyfriend (Fake it #3) by Carina Taylor – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Rustic Hearts (Poplar Falls #1) by Amber Kelly – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira – (☆☆☆)
  • [Graphic Novel] Paper Girls Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne – (☆☆☆☆☆)

How was your reading month? Lets talk in the comments!

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ARC Book Review: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 4th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door.

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar—and maybe snag him as a prom date—even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love—and rethink her own ideas of what Happily Ever After should look like.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own!

ADORED THIS.

Whole-heartedly. Such a cute young adult contemporary romance y’all.

This was utterly full of romantic cliches and I didn’t mind one bit. It was written beautifully and conveyed everything so well that I leaned into all of the obvious platitudes and felt myself breaking out in continual smiles over Liz and Wes.

Ohhh Liz and Wes. What chemistry from the get-go. You knew exactly where things were going and I appreciated the ride. Their witty banter, and soft moments made my heart flip and I love how things worked out for them. Liz definitely grew over the book and anything I was frustrated with her about was resolved. It made for a very quick read, I suprised myself at how fast I devoured this because the story kept making me want more.

I love the addition of movies and music. It was fun picturing this book with a movie flair and I think it’ll be fun to look up some of the songs mentioned throughout. I’m such a lover of love and the childhood friends / enemies to lovers vibe was perfect here. This is a happily ever after you should add to your TBR if you’re looking for something to give you warm fuzzies.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult contemporary romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses and make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent by car accident

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Book Review: Fire Study (Poison Study #3) by Maria V. Snyder

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: New adult Fantasy
Length: 441 pages
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: February 26th, 2008
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The apprenticeship is over—now the real test has begun.

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena’s unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena’s fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before…

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.

IT WAS FINE.

Not gonna lie. I’m glad I can be finished with these books (yes, I know there was more added and a spin-off series as well, I’m stopping here though). I just, struggled with these y’all!? It’s okay, it happens.

I fell more out of love with Yelena this time. Her character growth happens so late in the book that I’m no longer enamored with the concept. I was tired of her shoving others away to “protect them,” instead of allowing them to help her. Yelena also continually ran off to danger without a second thought. There comes a time to be brave and then just reckless and repetitive.

But don’t worry, our elusive love interest shows up in the nick of time to save her time and time again. Yet also, where was he for the first 200 pages again?! I hate that. Don’t introduce a love interest and then not even utilize him for the story. Ugh.

I enjoy the writing and the world itself. The plot may still be confusing to me (where’s the endgame here?), but there’s a lot here about recovering and working towards a place a peace after awful things have been done to them. I liked these aspects and how it was approached.

Maybe this series wasn’t for me, but I know plenty who enjoyed them. They’re a bit older, so could be a good backlist title!

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses; a closed door scene
  • Violence: swords, magic, physical altercations, fires, torture

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Book Review: Acting Up (Wayfair Witches #8) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 292 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 9th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wanda Wayfair does not believe in prophecies…

There’s a murderer on the set of Be My Witch, and Wanda is afraid that all the wrong people are being killed. Because in the vision she saw, Mandy Parker was the one who died.

With the help of the victims’ familiars, Wanda races to solve the case. But can she find the killer before Mandy becomes the next victim?

Wanda really hopes so – because if not, she might have to admit that prophecies can come true, after all …

LOVED THIS.

This is my favorite installment yet. Namely because of one scene that I needed to happen, DID. And don’t you love it when you get what you asked for?

The mystery for this was also interesting. I keep wondering if I’ll eventually get bored of the murder mystery aspect and I still haven’t. Each one has it’s own tone and plays back into the true over-arching plot of the entire series. I’m easily wrapped back in each time wondering who is actually the murderer and for that matter, WHY.

I love all of these side characters. Max, Finn, Melissa and more. They are just the epitome of friends with Wanda. I would definitely read spin-off books about them (HINT HINT).

Now that all of these instances have occurred I am even more into this. I want to know how it ends and I can’t wait to finish this series too. I’m even planning on reading the Melissa side stories too!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: murder, physical altercations

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