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Book Review: The Love Playbook (Boys of Ann Arbor U #1) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 404 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A brand new reverse grumpy sunshine, college football romance in a new series of standalone romances.

Charlotte Baker is the grump to my sunshine and the star of all my unrequited fantasies.

She checks all my boxes while all I seem to do is piss her off.

But I’m a wide receiver in the Big Ten. I’m used to winning, and my golden retriever personality is sure to wear her down.

Those cutting looks she gives? Just a cover. Secretly she wants me; she’s just loathed to admit it.

Those snarky comments? They’re simply a way to hide her attraction; she just can’t see it yet.

Oh, and did I mention I just discovered her father is engaged to my mother?

Now she’s saltier than normal.

But I won’t let this forbidden romance get me down. I have a plan, a way to win her over and secure my mother’s engagement to her father at the same time.

On paper, my plan is I’m going to show her what it’s like to be romanced. I’m going to woo her. I’m going to throw the Love Playbook right at her.

Lettie might have made it clear that she’s not interested in me, but I’m nothing if not persistent.

All she needs is a little persuasion.

Right?

I LOVE FOOTBALL.

I love a good Gracie Graham book and I am so happy to have this spin off series! It was incredibly swoony and I love golden retriever MMC’s and black cat FMC’s.

There’s a lot of family drama that’s complicated and brings the contention. I liked how things worked out in the end though and that some good resolutions were found. The found family text chains and group dynamics are so fun and I love the college setting.

Great chemistry and banter. It’s heated and an easy read to fly through. Looking forward to the next one!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Content warnings: divorce, a parent with depression (theme throughout)

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Book Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novel: Part 1 (Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novels #1) by Shannon Messenger

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 352 pages
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: November 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series is being reimagined as a graphic novel with the first half of the epic novel adapted to this new format with beautiful artwork!

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…

But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

This stunning graphic novel retelling of the first half of the thrilling first novel comes to life with all the adventure and epic worldbuilding the Keeper of the Lost Cities series is known for.

Thank you to Simon Kids for the gifted copy!

THIS WAS FUN.

I have enjoyed reading this series over the years and think it was fun to see Keeper of the Lost Cities transformed into a graphic novel. I think it covered the necessary points from the beginning of book one (though I admit that could be because I have prior knowledge since I read book one before the graphic novel). I like that this makes it more accessible for younger readers who may not feel up for 600+ page books just yet.

I thought the art was amazing and it still held that same charm from the series. I look forward to seeing the future installments in this format.

Overall audience notes:

  • MG Graphic Novel
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Backtrack by Erin La Rosa

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 304 pages
Author: Erin La Rosa
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Release Date: July 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Life, rewound …

Nearly twenty years ago, Sam Leto left her small hometown of Tybee Island, Georgia, to pursue her dreams of becoming a pilot. While she’d prefer to keep flying away from her painful childhood memories, her beloved grandmother Pearl decides it’s time to sell the family home. Reluctantly, Sam is summoned back to pack up the house.

The 2000s nostalgia from Sam’s old bedroom hits Fall Out Boy posters, drawers of roll-on body glitter and even her favorite CD player with a mixtape from her best friend, Damon Rocha. Damon was always a safe place and Sam often wonders what if her teenage self admitted her feelings for him back then…

Mysteriously, the CD player still works all these years later. And somehow it has the power to show Sam an alternate version of her life.

Song by song, Sam receives flashbacks from her past—senior prom, graduation, leaving home. But the memories aren’t as she remembers them; they show what could have been. Suddenly, Sam knows exactly what would have happened if she’d taken a chance with Damon—and she can’t help feeling she made a terrible mistake leaving Tybee all those years ago.

I TRIED.

I really wanted to enjoy this one, but it felt very lackluster in the romance department. I thought the idea was clever and wasn’t bugged by the magical realism aspects (like I am known to be at times). I loved the nostalgic vibes this gave me and how seeing the flashbacks of what could have been didn’t show a “better” path, just a different one. I loved that message and theme throughout.

The romance was missing something. I didn’t feel that swoon and chemistry between Sam and Damon. They had this chance for reconnection, and did take it and I thought that would create some more heat.

The audiobook production was good and I liked that it was a quick listen. I also enjoyed that this was less spicy than the author’s previous books (personal preference). But I do find myself on the fence now about reading whatever’s next. I’m starting to have more misses than hits.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1 open door
  • Content Warnings: brief mention of miscarriage, depression, parental abandonment

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ARC Book Review: You and Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: You and Me, For Real
Publisher: Lighthearted Reads Publishing
Release Date: August 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She swore she’d never be in front of the camera again, but now she’s falling for a Hollywood heartthrob with a tabloid-worthy secret.

Former child reality star Ashton Reid is done with fame and dreams of a quiet life and finally opening her own animal rescue. But establishing a non-profit requires funding and, therefore, publicity. For Ashton, this means facing her crippling anxiety anytime a camera is pointed in her direction. Despite her best efforts to avoid all things Hollywood, when celebrity Griffin Ford rushes into her shelter carrying an injured dog—with his impossibly muscled arms and notorious abs—she’s helpless against those almond eyes. The dog’s eyes, that is.

Actor Griffin Ford is desperate for his first meaningful role. Tired of being seen as nothing more than washboard abs on an angsty teen drama, he’s agreed to a fake relationship with his co-star to guarantee the lead in her father’s next movie. But when the contract requires more than he’s bargained for, he begins to question the future he always imagined. To take back some ownership of his life, Griffin adopts a new dog—despite being clueless about pet ownership.

Drawn to Ashton’s authenticity, Griffin recruits her to train his new rescue. In return, Griffin helps her navigate publicity and social media for her foundation. Outside the glow of Hollywood, it doesn’t take long for Ashton to see that Griffin is more than the hunk he portrays on TV. As their professional and personal lives intertwine and their attraction grows stronger, their chemistry becomes undeniable. But when the heat of the spotlight threatens to expose Ashton’s past and Griffin’s secret, the two must fight for what’s real between them, or risk becoming another casualty of fame.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

HOW CUTE.

That’s the vibe. It’s a ultra sweet rom-com that is meant to be light hearted and I always enjoy picking up one of these books. All of the dog content was fun too. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this much dog information and as someone who used to work with them, it was a nice throwback.

Griffin and Ashton were just flipping cute together. I loved the depth of the moments they had together alongside the humorous and flirty texts. There were some solid friendships too that I think added to the plot and made this an easy read.

There was some pieces of the drama that aren’t my favorite type to read about and I wish played a smaller role. All in all though, I think this was a wonderful debut and I look forward to future books from Hayley!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: strained parent relationships

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