Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: Off the Wall (Only Magic in the Building) by Julie Christianson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 328 pages
Author: Julie Christianson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 9th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s in search of her soulmate. He avoids love at all costs. These neighbors are a total mismatch … until serendipity steps in.

Nori Sinclair has two goals in find the husband of her dreams, and purchase the beloved tea shop in her hometown, Serendipity Springs.

So when Nori finds herself short on funds to land a business loan, she joins a dating app that pays her to be their featured single in a month-long ad campaign.

Per her contract, all men are off-limits, except those matched for her by Swipe Rite.

This seems simple enough… until she keeps seeing herself in every mirror holding hands with Cash Briggs.

AKA her aloof, unavailable neighbor.

After a career-ending injury, ex-baseball player Cash is on a mission to help others who’ve been shattered like he was, inside and out. With his sights firmly set on a job in Los Angeles, he doesn’t have time for family or friends, let alone a relationship where he’d only get burned. Again.

Continually having to rescue Nori—his flustered neighbor, who seems desperate to avoid him—was not part of his plan.

While Cash and Nori fight their growing attraction, magnetic elements in their magical building draw them together, until they’re forced to choose between breaking all the rules or breaking both their hearts …

REALLY SWEET.

This book just made me smile. I feel like all of these books have brought the smiles. This series has been such a delight!!

I loved both of the main characters, Nori and Cash. I thought there was charming banter and chemistry from the beginning. The way Cash constantly found ways to be around Nori (even when he was resisting his feelings) was my absolute favorite. I love when a man is GONE.

The mirror aspect didn’t quite click for me, I felt like I never understood what was happening? I’m not sure it was needed for this book. (**I’ve also noticed that this is the third book in this multi-author series with the same dating a bunch of guys format and that felt a little repetitive**).

I enjoyed the Cash and Nori overcame their problems and started to lean on each other. There were really great characters ARCs. This was sweet and romantic and easy recommend.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content warnings: loss of parents (off page, brief)

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Book Review: Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Tashie Bhuiyan
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: January 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of Counting Down with You  and  A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.

Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father. Maybe if she succeeds, he’ll finally give her the time of day instead of drowning himself in work to distract from the grief of her mother’s passing.

When Liana accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band, Third Eye, she makes it her mission to steer them towards success—without them discovering her role in their setback. But as she gets closer to Third Eye, especially their enigmatic leader Skyler Moon, it becomes harder to hide the truth.

With both her heart and their futures on the line, will Liana be able to undo the damage she’s caused?

ENJOYABLY MESSY.

When I read YA contemporary I can get frustrated with decisions and the attempt at problem solving. But sometimes it comes off really well and just feels human. This had that quality. I felt for the main character battling depression, an absent father and a mistake she truly didn’t mean to make. I loved the positive therapy rep and acknowledging the need for help and having the support system around you to make it to the next day. I LOOOOVED this found family with the band. They had ups and downs and you could clearly see how they came together to make it to those final pages.

I loved all of the music content and lists of songs throughout the book. There’s an obvious theme of the power of music and the effects it can have in someone’s life. The quiet moments were sweet and I loved how the romantic relationship developed. This was a solid young adult contemporary I thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: absent father, mentions of loss of a parent, depictions of anxiety and depression

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2025

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New look who this?

I feel like this month got wildly out of hand. I even had MULTIPLE two star books sooooo that was fun. Anywho, here’s the list!

Version 1.0.0
  • Debt of My Soul by K.P. Haven
  • The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane #2) by Cassandra Clare
  • [ALC] Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
  • [ALC/ARC] The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants #1) by Julie Johnson
  • Clean Out of Luck (Only Magic in the Building) by Carina Taylor
  • Out with the Tide (Never Harbor #2) by Julie Olivia
  • [ALC] The Love Haters by Katherine Center
  • Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin #1) by Sable Sorensen
  • [ARC] The Haven, the Hallow, & the Highborn (Roots of Magic Novella) by Jessa Grey
  • Daisy Haites (Magnolia Parks Universe #2) by Jessa Hastings
  • Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy #3) by Lauren Roberts
  • [ARC] Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #8) by Misty M. Beller
  • [ALC] Enigma by RuNyx
  • Just Our Luck by Denise Williams
  • Off the Wall (Only Magic in the Building) by Julie Christianson
  • [ARC] The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy #2) by Chelsea Abdullah
  • The Shadow Bride (The Scarlet Veil #2) by Shelby Mahurin
  • I Knew He Was Trouble (Sweeter Than Fiction #1) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
  • The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor
  • A Proper Governess (Hearts of Harewood #2) by Kasey Stockton
  • The Book That Held Her Heart (The Library Trilogy #3) by Mark Lawrence
  • Signed, Sealed, and Smitten (Only Magic in the Building) by Melanie Jacobson
  • The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues #1) by Alwyn Hamilton
  • [ARC] Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry
  • Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch #4) by Lyla Sage
  • Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche
  • [ARC] Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
  • The Splendor of Fire (The Hebridean Shield #2) by Ashley Worrell
  • The Wolf King (Wolf King #1) by Lauren Palphreyman
  • The Escape Plan (Only Magic in the Building) by Katie Bailey
  • His Mortal Demise (The Last Bloodcarver #2) by Vanessa Le
  • Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
  • Nightshade (Sorrowsong Duology #1) by Autumn Woods
  • Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
  • [ALC] Jilted by Vi Keeland
  • [ARC] Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) by Gabrielle Meyer
  • [ALC] The Thrashers by Julie Soto

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Book Review: Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building) by Savannah Scott

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 324 pages
Author: Savannah Scott
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 26th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When your nemesis is your next-door neighbor, falling for him is not part of the plan … but fate may have other ideas.

Olivia Pennington has spent her whole life competing with Logan Alexander—and losing. From spelling bees to science fairs, he’s always been one step ahead, snagging the trophies, titles, accolades, and now … he’s after the promotion she desperately wanted. As if that’s not bad enough, Logan also moved into the apartment she had her heart set on.

Logan’s been secretly falling in love with Olivia since the third grade. His strategy? Stay close, win her over. But, the more he foisted himself on her, the bigger mess he made. Now Logan’s back in town, and he’s determined to settle the score. He’s over his crush, so he thinks. And he just wants to bury the hatchet, preferably not by Olivia chucking it at him.

When a string of mysterious fortune cookies starts appearing, hinting at a match between Logan and Olivia, Logan’s all in. Olivia? Not so much.

But in this building, fate isn’t merely a suggestion—it’s practically written on the walls. If you thought Mr. Darcy had a hard time convincing Elizabeth of his good intentions, just wait until you watch Logan attempt to win Olivia’s heart—one stubborn, banter-filled battle at a time.

Enemies-to-lovers meets a sprinkle of magic in this laugh-out-loud, heartfelt romcom with a Pride and Prejudice vibe.

LEGIT SURPRISED.

I have read three previous Savannah Scott books and I have not loved any of them. Something has just never clicked with the writing and yet I found myself determined to read every book in the series leaving me worried about picking this one up.

BUT. I will say, this is the best book I’ve read of hers. If you’ve been wanting to try her books, start here (all of these books can be read as standalones).

I really adored Logan. He was such a sweet heart and had some Mr. Darcy vibes I could get behind. I liked his gentle nature and his passion too. He really looked out for others and had genuine self reflection. I didn’t mind Olivia either. I do think she was a bit childish at times about things that happened years ago, but I suppose it all worked out well enough.

There were still a few plot/writing quirks that didn’t sit well with me. And the third act based around miscommunication had me hitting my head against a wall. I am grateful that this was more of a win than anything else though.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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