Tag: get underlined

ARC Book Review: A Queen’s Match (A Queen’s Game #2) by Katharine McGee

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Katharine McGee
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: November 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the sequel to A Queen’s Game, broken hearts and secret loves lead three princesses to their final marriage matches, and their rightful places in the history books–from the New York Times bestselling author of the American Royals series.

As Queen Victoria tries to match her grandchildren with powerful marriages across Europe, matters of the court and matters of the heart collide for three princesses as they close in on the end of their marriage seasons. 

Exiled French princess Helene d’Orleans had no choice but to break it off with Prince Eddy–but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a broken heart. And now her parents have their sights on another prince for her…but his heart is already taken. 

The queen finally understands that her beloved granddaughter Alix of Hesse isn’t interestd in a match with Prince Eddy…but the Queen does not approve of Alix’s true love. So where does that leave her? 

And May of Teck? She’s just looking for a crown. So with Eddy back on the marriage market, she’s biding her time, letting his heartbreak settle, before she makes her move.

Set in the last glittering decade of the monarchies, A Queen’s Match is the thrilling conclusion to the story that began in A Queen’s Game.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GOOGLE IT.

That was my biggest takeaway here. I spent a few minutes googling and reading historical documents about these people and learned all that I needed to know that made the book feel superfluous. I think if you go in with little knowledge or are their for the drama then maybe it would hit better.

I don’t think this book is bad by any means, it felt more like a pitfall that historical fiction can occasionally fall into. The characters were fine, the romance was fine, and I’d still read more from this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of life, illness, discussion of plague

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Book Review: The Weaver Bride (The Weaver Bride #1) by Lydia Gregovic

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Lydia Gregovic
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A sweeping fantasy about a witch who must navigate a ruthless marriage competition—and try not to fall in love along the way. Part twisting mystery, part thrilling romance, The Weaver Bride is an unputdownable romantasy steeped in a lush magical world.

Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch. Like all girls of her kind, she holds a rare magic—a magic that can be harnessed only through marriage to a Weaver. But finding a Weaver husband requires status, refinement, and money, all of which Lovett sadly lacks. Her one secret ability, to open any door, is her saving grace. Hidden in plain sight, Lovett spends her days using her gift to steal from wealthy families and her nights avoiding the fate imposed on all unwed silkwitches: a life confined to the cloisters.

But opening doors can be dangerous, and when Lovett steals from the wrong person, she finds herself face to face with Eliot Lear, the notorious son of a prominent Weaver. It turns out Eliot’s been watching Lovett. He knows she’s a silkwitch, and he offers her a life-altering opportunity: entrance to the Vainglory, a competition with the ultimate prize—marriage to Noé Alaire, heir to generations of Weaver wealth. The catch? Last year, the Vainglory ended in tragedy. The winner died. And the winner was Eliot’s sister.

The arrangement is simple: If Lovett solves the mystery of Ophelia Lear’s death and unmasks her killer, Eliot will ensure she has her pick of Weaver suitors, regardless of who wins the competition. Yet unraveling Ophelia’s murder proves far more complicated than either of them anticipated. And Lovett should know better than to take a Weaver at his word.

After all . . . what is love without betrayal?

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and GetUnderlined for the final copy.

GIMME BOOK TWO.

After enjoying Lydia Gregovic’s debut I knew I had to get my hands on this one and it was a solid upper YA/NA fantasy romance! I liked the world building a lot and the complexity of the silkwitches and how they functioned in society. It set up the perfect atmosphere for rebellion and takedowns that I hope to see in the sequel.

The romance is a good heated enemies to lovers that pushes and pulls as the pages turn. I enjoy betrayal plotlines and I liked the ruthlessness that their story gave off. I do recommend the audiobook as the narrator did a great job voicing Lovett and the other characters (single POV).

I wasn’t 100% convinced by the competition storyline but it’s an easy book to consume. I like LG’s writing style and the way the romances are crafted. Looking forward to more!

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA/NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Family of Liars (We Were Liars #2) by E. Lockhart

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: E. Lockhart
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: May 3rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The prequel to We Were Liars takes readers back to the story of another summer, another generation, and the secrets that will haunt them for decades to come.

A windswept private island off the coast of Massachusetts.
A hungry ocean, churning with secrets and sorrow.
A fiery, addicted heiress. An irresistible, unpredictable boy.
A summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes.

Welcome back to the Sinclair family.
They were always liars.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

I WAS BORED.

While I don’t think there was anything WRONG with this book I was just so bored I found very little enjoyment in reading it. After We Were Liars and knowing the twist and the family dynamics in that book it made this one seem very predictable. Of course there was more drama and chaos, but nothing I couldn’t see from a mile away.

Maybe I read these two too close together? I’m not sure. I do have book three so I’m going to read that too and maybe that’ll make me feel differently about the series as a whole.

I did like the audiobook so if you wanted to read this, I’d recommend that format!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Mystery
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: attempted r*pe, alcohol consumption, prescription drug use, grief/loss depiction, loss of a sibling, murder, drowning recounted

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Book Review: We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1) by E. Lockhart

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Mystery
Length: 242 pages
Author: E. Lockhart
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: May 13th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

WELL WELL WELL.

Honestly this book didn’t have a lot going for it but I will give it up for the twist, that one got me (and now I understand more why there’s over a million ratings for this on goodreads). The writing style is definitely unique and I actually enjoy an unreliable narrator so those were all good points for me.

Somehow for 250 pages though there were scenes that dragged or didn’t feel totally necessary. As previously mentioned though, the twist was interesting and gave me a better view point of the whole book.

I’m curious how this has a sequel?? I’m going to pick that one up soon.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Mystery
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: traumatic brain injury, loss of loved ones, arson

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