Tag: macmillan audio

ALC Book Review: Unapologetic Love Story by Elle McNicoll

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Elle McNicoll
Publisher: Saturday Books
Release Date: October 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The dazzling debut new adult romance novel from bestselling author, Elle McNicoll. For fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers, this is big-hearted and full of bite!

An unapologetic celebration of love, relationships, and the women who have historically been shut out of such stories, until now . . . Elle McNicoll is about to become everyone’s favorite new name in new adult romance.

Enter Raina Lewis, London’s hottest It Girl – effortlessly cool, endlessly intriguing, and beloved for her smash-hit podcast spotlighting autistic women. But not everyone’s convinced by the hype. Investigative journalist and ‘King of Cancel Culture’, Tom Branimir is sure there’s more to Raina than meets the eye. He’s determined to uncover her secret. That is… if he can just manage not to fall for her first.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GREW ON ME.

I loved the way this story was approached. There were a lot of important themes and topics touched about for neurodiverse women. And I liked that at the forefront of the plot. The writing is good and I would be interested to read future books from this author. I also thought the audiobook narrator did a great job but I do wish there had been a separate narrator for Tom’s occasional POV’s. While I can’t speak to every thing in here there were moments where I was like YES THAT’S HOW IT FEELS and I love when a book does that. Raina was a great FMC.

As someone who is kind of tired by everyone having a podcast I didn’t love the continual conversations with podcasts, media, socials, etc. The amount of podcast content that comes across my feed already is plenty. But if you like these things, totally go for it. I think it will hit the spot.

I definitely needed a slower burn. 50%? Nah. I don’t feel like Raina and Tom actually had enough conversations and moments together to start adding spice. He’s very infatuated from the get go which felt insta-love adjacent? Though like I mentioned, it did grow on me. I did not like the third act whatsoever. The usual. BUT I did like the groveling from Tom and the grand gesture worked for me. That at least felt genuine to the plot in place.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: moderate-high
  • Romance: 3ish+ open door
  • Content warnings: ableism, misogyny, bullying, body shaming, eating disorder, toxic friendships

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Lost and Found (Spunes, OR #3) by Tarah DeWitt

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Tarah DeWitt
Publisher: Platkus / Macmillan Audio
Release Date: August 4th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stunning novel of romance and redemption filled with heartbreak and hope from the ‘master of emotion’ (Rachel Lynn Solomon) Tarah DeWitt

Bea always wanted to be a mom, but she never expected she’d have to lose her best friend to do it. Armed with nothing but her best friend’s eggs and a bucket list to complete, Bea’s world is a sea of changes.

When Silas steps in to give her a place to live when she needs it, Bea is half-relieved she has a longtime friend in her corner. A firefighter living in the wake of an accident, Silas has his own challenges to work through that have left him cautious and vulnerable in equal measure. At first, they expect nothing. But as these two former sunshines knit together in a love that has been unfulfilled till now, a new beginning comes out of the ashes of the past. One that will lead to a love that can withstand all the slings and arrows, joys and triumphs, that life can throw.

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the audiobook and St. Martin’s for the ebook.

HOW DO I CONVEY MY LOVE.

Oh gosh y’all. This one had me BROKEN UP. AND THAT EPILOGUE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Honestly this book consists of MULTIPLE triggers that make my anxiety spiral and give me a case of the hives, but for Tarah DeWitt I had to try. And grateful I stuck it out!! Please be mindful of the content warnings though before going in. This is on the heavier side.

Any who. I am obsessed with Silas and Bea. I loved the long time friends to lovers trope mixed in with grief and pain and hope and pockets of joy. It’s the definition of how life isn’t linear and it’s okay to take a few steps backward before being able to move forward. I think there were a lot of difficult conversations and character relationship themes that were approached well and felt realistic and vulnerable. The banter was playful and sweet and oh my goodness is Silas just a smitten man. I liked the flashback chapters too and loved that they moved the plot forward in meaningful ways.

I adore this whole family and loved getting a bunch of glimpses of them throughout too. The Byrd’s added that layer of compassion and humor as the siblings took care of each other. Even if the focus was on Silas and Bea this go round.

I really just can’t recommend this book enough. Or any of Tarah DeWitt’s books. They are beautiful and full of genuine characters making mistakes, and falling in love, and living life. Another favorite!!

🎧: The audiobook is STELLARRRRR. I listened and eyeball read this one but you can’t go wrong with the narrators!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4ish open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: grief/depression depiction, losing a loved one to cancer, IVF journey, panic attacks (on page), mentions of body injury (from a fire)

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ALC Book Review: The River She Became (River & Salt #1) by Emily Varga

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Emily Varga
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: June 30th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A high stakes, action-packed romantasy from bestselling author Emily Varga where a relic-hunter searches for an ancient fae object to restore the magic to her world, but must learn to trust her own powers—and her heart.

I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.

Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire—or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret to restore magic to her dying land.

Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin—especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn’t what he seems—under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema seeks: the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.

With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.

To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of losing their heart to each other.

Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, this thrilling start to a new fantasy duology bursts with dangerous romance, heart-stopping twists, and a heroine who dares to steal back her future.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the audiobook and CPBT and Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

TIS A GOOD BOOK.

After loving Emily Varga’s debut I had to get my hands on her sophomore book. It did not disappoint. And I’m so excited we’re getting more books in this series!! (duology??? I never know.)

This felt like the kind of young adult fantasy I’ve been missing. The little pieces that can be frustrating fell into the back because I was enamored by this story. Emily Varga does a great job of writing feminine rage that fuels the FMC without overwhelming the plot. I enjoyed Yaseema’s journey. It has the coming of age vibes and a woman who knows what she wants.

And I liked the world and magic too!! Magical objects, there’s fae! There’s a river. I mean, it just all worked. I appreciated the flow of the story and the side characters we met along the way.

The romance?? Solid. An enemies to lovers flare who realize they are actually reluctant allies?? Please. I’ll eat that up all day. Our captain is holding secrets of his own and was incredibly endearing. Bonus points because we got his POV too!!

Ending was cliffhanger heavy and I’m here for it. GIMME BOOK TWO.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA fantasy romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: vague fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones, battle themes, torture, kidnapping

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ALC Book Review: Seek the Traitor’s Son (The Burning Empire #1) by Veronica Roth

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Dystopian Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor’s Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

WHO KNEW?

Reading a Veronica Roth book wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card because I swore to never read another after Allegiant. The power of friendship compelled me to try this one out and you know what? It went well. I will read the sequel. BUT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN I QUIT FOREVER.

Anywho.

I loved the dystopian + magic vibes in this book. The fever idea was intriguing and the world building is grand. Some of it did get a bit confusing but hopefully that’ll shake out in the sequel. There were two POV’s that I’m unsure of why they were there? And that tends to bug me as a reader. I’m counting on a good explanation soon.

I did like the romance. The set-up felt more unique than the usual I’ve read and it’s got a good slow burn quality as well. The time jumps and flashback memories were a little meh for me. Actually the time jump didn’t bug me, the flashbacks did. I think that slowed down the pacing more than necessary in the dreaded middle zone.

The complicated relationships and character to character dynamics was the best part of this book. I like the non linear nature of these moments. Combining that with the dark world and intense clawing for survival and you’ve got a good book on your hands.

Also, the audiobook is great!! I love having multiple narrators for multiple POV’s and blessed be, that was here.

Overall audience notes:

  • Dystopian Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2ish vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: war themes, blood/gore, loss of loved ones, imprisonment, deadly viruses

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