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ARC/ALC Book Review: If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 448 pages
Author: Julie Berry
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: Septemer 16th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From Printz Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling author Julie Berry, a true-crime-nailbiter-turned-mythic-odyssey pitting Jack the Ripper against Medusa. A defiant love song to sisterhood, a survivors’ battle cry, and a romantic literary tour de force laced with humor.

It’s autumn 1888, and Jack the Ripper is on the run. As London police close in, he flees England for New York City seeking new victims. But a primal force of female vengeance has had enough. With serpents for hair and a fearsome gaze, an awakened Medusa is hunting for one Jack.

And other dangers lurk in Manhattan’s Bowery. Salvation Army volunteers Tabitha and Pearl discover that a girl they once helped has been forced to work in a local brothel. Tabitha’s an upstate city girl with a wry humor and a thirst for adventure, while farmgirl Pearl takes everything with stone-cold seriousness. Their brittle partnership is tested as they team up with an aspiring girl reporter and a handsome Irish bartender to mount a rescue effort, only to find their fates entwine with Medusa’s and Jack’s.

Thank you to Simon Teen for the ARC and Simon Audio for the audiobook (gifted).

WELL.

I feel like my thoughts are kind of scattered on this book y’all. The Lovely War is one of my all time favorite historical fantasies and I was ecstatic to get my hands on Julie Berry’s next book, but this one left me wanting on some fronts.

The feminist rage was a heavy theme throughout. And while I often don’t mind it I think it lacked some balance. I do remember some really great sentiments surrounding being a survivor, where does religion fit in, and helping friends through dark places. There was an interesting crossing of multiple topics that did start to make sense as the story went on.

I wish the romance had been a bit more prominent. I don’t mind no romance/low romance stories because when it works, it works. If Looks Could Kill felt like it needed a little more depth to that plot line rather than it feeling wayward. I did enjoy Tabitha’s romance, just gimme mooooore.

The multiple POV’s lent to seeing many different sides of the characters actions, thoughts and various story lines. I loved seeing each of them. The darkness, suffering and revival allowed each character to land where they should be. I liked the ending and appreciated the closure it gave to the main characters. The Medusa x Jack the Ripper combination was very unique and the clear research and dedication that went into crafting this novel was amazing as always from Julie Berry.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting (maybe a kiss?)
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: religious bigotry, racism, death, sexual assault and r*pe, drug and alcohol use

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Book Review: The Maid and the Crocodile (Raybearer) by Jordan Ifueko

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy + Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Jordan Ifueko
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Release Date: August 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The smallest spark can bind two hearts . . . or start a revolution.

In the magic-soaked capital city of Oluwan, country bumpkin Small Sade needs a job—preferably as a maid, with employers who don’t mind her unique appearance and unlucky foot. But before she can be hired, she accidentally binds herself to a powerful god known only as the Crocodile, who is rumored to devour pretty girls. Small Sade entrances the Crocodile with her secret: she is a Curse Eater, gifted with the ability to alter people’s fates by cleaning their houses.

The handsome god warns that their fates are bound, but Small Sade evades him, launching herself into a new career as the Curse Eater of a swanky inn. She is determined to impress the wealthy inhabitants and earn her place in Oluwan City . . . assuming her secret-filled past—and the revolutionary ambitions of the Crocodile God—don’t catch up with her.

But maybe there is more to Small Sade. And maybe everyone in Oluwan City deserves more, too, from the maids all the way to the Anointed Ones.

Fans of the Raybearer series, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Beauty and the Beast will enjoy The Maid and the Crocodile–no prior knowledge of the Raybearer series necessary.

GREAT AUDIO.

I loved being back in this world and getting this spin-off story. It has the aura of a folk tale and listening to it as an audiobook really brought everything to life. I loved had strong Sade was and the journey she undertook. I love a non-linear path and seeing all of the pathways taken to forge your own way when the world feels like it wasn’t made for you.

You don’t have to read the previous two books but I do think it will spoil some key aspects of that story and you won’t have as much background knowledge to the world and magic system already in place.

The subtle romance was really sweet and I loved the curse aspects to it. I loved the way they came together and the slow and tenuous interactions between them. It’s a great read and if you enjoyed the Raybearer duology you should absolutely pick this one up too.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: self-harm, ableism,

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ARC Book Review: Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 440 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What if you’ve been through hell?
How difficult can it be to start over?

Sarah Atwater is seeking a fresh start. When an opportunity arises that she can’t refuse, the single mom is ready to leave her painful past behind—and perhaps her old self along with it. But sometimes, new beginnings are like learning to walk again, struggling to put one foot in front of the other.

Slade Bennett enjoys his quiet, simple life. The blunt grump is perfectly content running his mechanic shop and working with his best friends. Or is he really? When the sister he raised decides it’s time to move out, Slade may have to admit he’s a bit too closed off.

Will past trauma and grief continue to dictate his life when a sassy professional strolls into his garage and challenges him at every turn? Or will Slade finally be forced to confront the fears he’s avoided?

Stuck With You is a poignant love story that reminds us that only when we’re held to the flame do we discover what we’re truly made of.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

HAPPY TO BE BACK.

There’s something about reading a new book from one of your favorite authors that just hits the spot. And all of the autumn vibes with some glimpses of holidays set the perfect atmosphere for this time of year (so go read it now!!!).

I love the incredible slow burn each time. It’s reminiscent of Mariana Zapata where the pay-off is worked for and the journey is a few steps forward, back, and filled with growth and tender moments that make you crave the next chapter.

Slade and Sarah were absolute gems. Both holding on and moving through a lot who found each other. AND found a way to do life together. I loved all of the sentiments and quiet conversations they had. You KNOW they were in love in the deepest ways.

And all of the side characters?? Can’t get enough. The love and banter with tough conversations throughout really bonded me to these characters. There’s a lovely balance of heavy and humor that genuinely made for a read that I kept wanting to pick up. I loved how everything came together and there was such a sweet epilogue.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, I am STOKED for the future books in this series!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), infidelity/cheating (recounted in multiple situations)

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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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