Tag: young adult romance

ARC Book Review: Rebel Heiress (The Diamonds #3) by Amalie Howard

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Amalie Howard
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A young heiress must disguise herself to attend a prestigious, all-male university, where she unexpectedly falls for her handsome tutor, in this swoony historical romance by the USA Today bestselling author of Queen Bee.

Lady Rosalin Chen has a secret—she isn’t as vapid as she pretends to be. In fact, she’s a computing genius and smarter than most of her peers in the ton, including her own cousin, Ansel. It’s a secret she’s kept for years, not that hiding her intelligence has done her any favors in the marriage department. 

In fact, after several dismal social seasons in London, she’s practically considered a spinster. With little to lose, she decides to set her sights on getting a proper education rather than finding a husband. Disguised as Ansel, who truly could be her twin, she attends Cambridge University while he galivants around Europe on a secret Grand Tour.

There Rosalin crosses quills with the Trinity College’s mathematics prodigy and her tutor Tarik St. Clair. For the first time in her life, Rosalin is genuinely intrigued by a boy. His mind seems to be as sharp as hers. Unfortunately, as a commoner, Tarik doesn’t fit her parents’ expectations. But what if he could? What if she concocted one more audacious plan that could raise his station and finally take her off the market? She just has to hope that her lies don’t catch up to her.

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

IT’S CUTE.

I don’t have a lot to say because it kind of went in one ear and out the other? But I also didn’t hate reading it so? I will say it’s another genuine teen friendly read and I always love when I find a book I can add to that list. It does a good job of feeling historical and also adding a touch of modern phrases. I don’t think it’s overdone and once again, makes it work for the age group.

I was worried with how this plot was going to play out and I ended up liking the way it was handled. The romantic aspects were able to play out on a different playing field and I liked the contrast. Rosalin and Tarik had great chemistry and I loved the way they discussed science and the stars and all the things they held common ground on.

Most of this I read via audiobook and I liked the narrator! It’s a good format to pick up if you want to try this series. It’s complete now!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Spur of the Moment (Willow Creek #1) by Juliana Smith

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Juliana Smith
Publisher: Bloom Books
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This beautiful edition of Spur of the Moment will include spot gloss and a gorgeous inside cover design.

“This might just be my favorite summer yet at Willow Creek. Lottie doesn’t know it, but I’m determined to make it her favorite too.”

Seventeen-year-old Lottie Turner was born to ride bulls.

Rodeos, big dreams, dusty boots—bull-riding was her whole life. Until the accident. Until the diagnosis that changed epilepsy. Now her doctor and her family have grounded her for good. No bulls. No danger. No freedom.

Then Walker—her former best friend, first crush, and the boy who once knew every piece of her—returns to town for the summer. Walker’s supposed to be chasing stars with NASA, not mucking stalls, even if he really does want dirt, sweat, and saddles. He wants Lottie Turner and all of her wildness.

When Lottie makes a summer bucket list to find herself again, Walker’s the first to volunteer to do it with her. One item at a time, they tumble back into laughter, heat, and everything they left unsaid.

But as the sparks between them reignite, Lottie has to face the hardest truth of some risks can break you, but others are worth taking anyway.

Thank you Bloom Books for the gifted ARC and audiobook.

ADORABLE.

Alright Juliana Smith officially has my attention. I really liked this book and can’t wait to see what couple is next at Willow Creek! I loved the epilepsy rep and all of the conversations surrounding it. The loss of things you can no longer do, the worry for yourself, the worry from your loved ones, and so much more. It made the book have a real rawness to the emotions and journey a new diagnosis can take.

I loved seeing Lottie push, learn, and grow. Two things can be true, you can be upset and what’s happening and be hopeful for new opportunities on the horizon. I loved where she ended up and the lightness brought in.

The romance with Walker was filled with just the right amount of tension. I loved having his perspective too and seeing where he was coming from on the decisions he had to make as well. I thought Walker and Lottie were a beautifully match pair and the chemistry between them sang towards that young love in the summertime vibe.

🎧 The audiobook is duet narration and is wonderful! Absolutely loved it and recommend that format for a great read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low, infrequent
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: epilepsy (mentions of seizures and one on page), distant parents, infidelity (FMC’s Dad)

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ARC Book Review: Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights by Celeste Dador

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Celeste Dador
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Named one of Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Reads of 2026, Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights is a swoony debut YA romance about First Daughter Abby Cary-Alzona’s summer of self-discovery, small-town charm, and unexpected love.

All Abby wants is one normal summer before college. No headlines. No drama. Just a chance to breathe.

But when a run-in at the White House with Gabriel Calabrese—a maddeningly carefree small-town photographer—spirals into a pizza delivery scandal that makes front-page news, Abby’s plans disappear overnight. To escape the fallout, she’s sent to a charming country inn run by Gabriel’s family.

Now she’s stuck with the last person she wants to see.

As Abby and Gabriel team up to save his family’s Fourth of July festival—and tackle Abby’s secret summer bucket list—sparks begin to fly. Especially when he helps her experience all the “real” teen moments she’s missed: parties, picnics… and maybe even a first kiss.

Perfect for readers who love:
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Reluctant royalty
• Small-town charm reminiscent of Gilmore Girls

A cozy, heartfelt story that explores familial expectations and what it means to choose a life—and love—on your own terms.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

THIS WAS SWEET!

What a lovely debut. I really enjoyed this story. And it’s a fourth of July romance?? I’ve never read one of those and it was utterly charming. The small town charm was highlighted just right and the atmosphere was full of everything summer. This had the first love summer romance quality I had a breeze flying through.

I liked the eldest daughter FMC, Abby. She slowly works through letting things go and taking advantage of the opportunities to feel more like a teenager than the FDOTUS. It’s not heavy on political things and focused much more on the coming of age story for Abby. I loved the relationship she had with her sister.

The romance too was incredibly sweet. It’s appropriate for teens with kisses only and low (if any) language. I can easily keep this on my shelves for when my littles are older. I liked the banter between Gabriel and Abby and the communication they worked towards. There is some miscommunication but it wasn’t dragged out and felt right for the age range.

All in all, it’s filled with fireworks (literally), good parent relationships, new friendships, and summer love. Easy recommend!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: none
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted)

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Rolls and Rivalry (Gaming and Romance #3) by Kristy Boyce

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kristy Boyce
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D&D with the camaraderie of band camp–from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!

Hazel’s senior year at band camp is set to be epic—until Max, her childhood crush turned drum-playing troublemaker, waltzes back into town.Their sections have always been rivals, but a shared love for Dungeons & Dragons pulls them together, sparking a romance Hazel never saw coming.

Just when things feel perfect, rumors Did Max ask her out because of a lost bet? With band drama mounting and her first D&D game spiraling, Hazel must prove their love—and her leadership—are the real deal.A swoony, nerdy romance full of rivalry, redemption, and roll-the-dice chemistry from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!

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

ADORED.

This might be my favorite of the series?? I was super into this y’all. I think it helped I had read eight fantasy books prior and really needed a contemporary break-up and this hit the spot. It was big on the nostalgia and even though I was not a band girlie it totally transported me back to high school.

I appreciated that the drama wasn’t wild. Yes, it’s a bit *high school* but it worked and made sense so I’m not going to complain about that. It’s even better that this series is true young adult and that it’s easy to hand it to the age group and not worry about the content.

The romance was sweet and genuinely went from an enemies to lovers vibe (with some childhood friendship mixed in). I liked that they bantered and bickered and how that moved into meaningful conversation and hashing out the past. It was a good show of communication.

This had the right level of D&D content without overwhelming the plot (I struggle when too much of the story is just the characters playing the game). I liked the friendships and all of the band things. It was just a genuinely great read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content warnings: separated parents

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