Book Review: Past Present Future (Rowan & Neil #2) by Rachel Lynn Solomon

August 11, 2025July 14, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: June 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

They fell for each other in just twenty-four hours. Now Rowan and Neil embark on a long-distance relationship during their first year of college in this romantic, dual points of view sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow .

When longtime rivals Rowan Roth and Neil McNair confessed their feelings on the last day of senior year, they knew they’d only have a couple months together before they left for college. Now summer is over, and they’re determined to make their relationship work as they begin school in different states.

In Boston, Rowan is eager to be among other aspiring novelists, learning from a creative writing professor she adores. She’s just not sure why she suddenly can’t seem to find her voice.

In New York, Neil embraces the chaos of the city, clicking with a new friend group more easily than he anticipated. But when his past refuses to leave him alone, he doesn’t know how to handle his rapidly changing mental health—or how to talk about it with the girl he loves.

Over a year of late-night phone calls, weekend visits, and East Coast adventures, Rowan and Neil fall for each other again and again as they grapple with the uncertainty of their new lives. They’ve spent so many years at odds with each other—now that they’re finally on the same team, what does the future hold for them?

LOVED THIS.

There was something so true to life in this book that spoke to my previous college aged self on multiple levels. I loved that I got to see Neil and Rowan struggle. It was the good kind of struggle, the one where you know they’ll make it, they just have to tousle with some things. And tussle they did. Exploring the depth of their relationship, making long distance work, learning to communicate, figuring out college, it’s all there and it’s all beautiful. I feel like we don’t get many books of a couple after they get together and I didn’t find this story boring or slow in any context. The plot was exactly as it should be to see Neil and Rowan and that invisible string between them.

I loved both of these characters together and separate. And those are the best kind of books for me. Neil’s depression was such a hit to my soul and the representation of that was so well handled. Seeing both of them navigate friendships and new cities brought back a lot of the same things I used to feel in school. I loved this book (the audio is great) and it’s definitely worth picking up if you enjoyed the first.

Overall audience notes:

NA Contemporary Romance
Language: low-moderate
Romance: 3 vague open door
Content Warnings: parent who’s incarcerated, depression depiction

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Book Review: Into the Abyss (Into the Churn #3) by Hayley Reese Chow

August 10, 2025July 2, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Sci-FI Romance
Length: 312 pages
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: March 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It was never just a race…

Four months after dark syndicate interference in Crion’s inaugural race royale, Ezren and Foster have settled into their roles as ambassadors on the BRR council.

Though begrudgingly working beside their would-be murderer, Ezren and Foster have struck an uneasy truce as Calderon mentors them in Casollan politics for the upcoming BRR. While Foster counts down the days until they can walk away from the council, Ezren is conflicted as she weighs their ever-growing positive impact.

However, when a high-profile murder upends the whole system, Casolla’s fragile peace balances on a knife blade of disaster. As the deadly conspiracy unfurls, a new race begins, and blood spills among the stars. With both their lives and Casolla’s future hanging in the balance, Foster and Ezren will have to decide who they’re meant to be or risk losing their world to the darkness forever.

Run. Drive. Fight. Rise.

I’M GOING TO MISS THEM.

I have adored this series so much and didn’t expect this last book to pack such a punch for me but that goes to show how incredible HRC has crafted these characters and story. I loooove Ezren and Foster so much. They have beautiful chemistry and a strong desire to work together (rather than petty problems pull them apart, BLESS). They fought for each other in multiple ways and my heart was in my throat throughout many chapters because things got INTENSE.

And I love this whole cast. The found family trope was executed to perfection where I felt drawn to everyone and emotionally invested in where they landed (praise the epilogue).

The antagonist aka the final boss was predictable, yet I was still drawn to how the plot unfolded. Seeing how they got there, what caused the fallout, and the eventual demise were exactly what this book needed. I loved how the entire series got wrapped up, it feels complete and I can put it down knowing I enjoyed the heck out of every page.

Overall audience notes:

YA Sci-Fi Romance
Language: none
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Content warnings: moderate blood/gore depiction, physical & psychological torture, loss of life, murder, kidnapping

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ARC Book Review: The Legacy of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #5) by Nicole Platania

August 9, 2025August 1, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 750 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 7th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A forgotten myth resurrected. A legacy to conquer them all.

Ophelia and Malakai have been ripped from their loved ones and are at the mercy of a vengeful god.

But they quickly discover that in order to uncover secrets buried among realms, that may be precisely where they need to be. Even if it jeopardizes all they have fought to become.

Meanwhile, their friends receive a surprise visit from a potential ally that spurs them to rekindle partnerships, deny the bounds of power, and push love to the brink of destruction.

With myths resurrected and the very fabric of Ambrisk at risk, can the warriors survive their final battle against the deities? Or are they fated to become the legends stories are written of?

Everything culminates in this high-stakes, realm-shattering conclusion to the Epic Romantic Fantasy series, the Curse of Ophelia. With a loveable found family, scorching slow burn romances, and inspiration from Greek mythology, this series introduces a universe full of twisted lore and ancient battles that is perfect for fans of Chloe C Penaranda, Sarah J Maas, and Melissa K Roehrich.

MADE IT.

I miss the era of longer series and I loved that this has five books (+ a novella) with so many characters to love and appreciate. Each book was genuinely solid. NP crafted an incredible world with an amazing magic system and storylines I was deeply attached to reading.

I won’t go into much detail here because I don’t want to lead into any spoilers. But I’ll be CLEAR, you should absolutely read this series. Especially if you’ve been chasing the high of Throne of Glass ever since you finished the series. It is in no way a copycat, it just has the vibes in all the best ways.

The length of this one got to me a little bit (which could have been a mood thing so take that with a grain of salt). Otherwise, I don’t have any complaints. I loved seeing where all of these pairs ended up, there were so many memorable, soul-binding scenes and the antagonist got their due. The roller coaster of emotions was stellar. I can’t wait to read NP’s next series.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: mild – moderate
Romance: 4-5ish open door
Violence: high
Content notes: abuse (mental/emotional), loss of loved ones, mild blood/gore, torture, assault, PTSD

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Book Review: A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

August 8, 2025July 11, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Ashley Poston
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.

Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.

But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…

Because it is.

This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.

Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.

Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.

Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.

NOT MY FAVORITE.

Well, this is officially my least favorite of Ashley Poston’s books. I’ll definitely be reading the next one, this one just fell into the miss category.

I think there was too heavy of a focus on the fictional town. I don’t mind that these books have magical realism, but a whole town that was derived from the FMC’s favorite book series, while charming, was the only thing Eileen could focus on. She felt like a side character in her own book. I will say that Eileen did have some decent character growth overall and she had a good journey.

And THEN, there was this twist involving the romance towards the end that had me fully stop in my tracks while listening. Like why???? It took the romantic aspects out of this book even more. While there were sweet moments and I kind of thought they had some chemistry, I am meh about this book.

Overall audience notes: