JUNE '23 WRAP-UP

 

  

Time for another wrap up!

Hello everyone! I can't believe June is over. It wasn't a particularly good reading month as I only had two five stars but I did read a lot. I also graduated college so there's that!

Time to talk about the books I read this month.

PHYSICAL BOOKS

 

The first physical book that I read was The Love Wager by Lynn Painter. I have only read one of Lynn Painter's previous novels but I really liked it so I decided to pick her new one up. This is about Hallie who decides to turn over a new leaf after a one night stand. She gets a new wardrobe, haircut and apartment but when she decides to join a dating app who does she see? Jack, the guy who she had a one night stand with. The two decide to become partners in their own searches for The One. Becoming discouraged by the lack of prospects they make a wager to see who can find true love first however, when they agree to fake date for a weekend wedding everything changes. This one was so fun and I had such a great time. I ended up rating it 5 Stars. 

The second physical book that I read was Melt With You by Jennifer Dugan. Jennifer Dugan's books have been a hit or miss for me but I will always pick them up. This one is about two girls who are on a summer road trip in the ice cream truck owned by their moms. Chloe and Fallon used to be best friends until last summer when they hooked up and then after a series of misunderstandings they now don't speak. There was way too much miscommunication in this book and I felt like even though it was such a short book it could have been shorter. I will still read from this author but I didn't enjoy this one. I rated it 3 Stars.

The third physical book that I read was Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert. I've read adult books by Talia Hibbert but this was a young adult romance from Talia Hibbert and I was excited to try it. This was a cute young adult contemporary but I feel like it read a little bit too young for me and i only ended up rating it 3 Stars. 

The fourth one that I read was An Improbable Season by Rosalyn Eves. This is a cute young adult historical romance about three girls who set off to Regency London for their first Season and they think they know exactly what they want. I thought this was cute even though I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. I rated it 3 Stars. 

The fifth one that I read was Queen Bee by Amalie Howard. This was another young adult historical romance but I enjoyed this more than An Improbable Season. This is basically Bridgerton meets The Count of Monte Christo where an eighteen year old girl seeks retribution against her backstabbing former best friend during London's social season. It's so cute and I ended up rating it 4 Stars.

The sixth one that I read was Duke Most Wicked by Lenora Bell. I'm having such a good time with this series by Lenora Bell. This is about Viola who is the music instructor to a duke's five younger sisters. Brandan, the duke, is famous for his scandalous behavior but he realizes that he must marry for. money in order to support his sisters and help them secure matches and futures. Viola strikes a bargain with him, and asks him to allow his sisters to attend the Season and in exchange she'll chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal. However, it might actually be Viola and Brandan who cause a scandal. I loved this one and rated it 4 Stars. 

The seventh one that I read was The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten. This was by far my favorite read of the month. This is an adult fantasy book about a woman named Lore who has the power to raise the dead, and she's taken by a group of warrior monks to work for the Sainted King, when a job of hers goes wrong. She is instructed to use her magic to find out what is happening to villages on the outskirts of the country which have been dying overnight, or she will die herself. I loved this one and it is such an interesting set up to a series. I rated it 5 Stars. 

The eighth one that I read was I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston. I will always read what Casey McQuiston writes. This is a cute sapphic romance about a high school senior named Chloe Green, who four years ago her moms moved them from Southern California to Alabama. She attends a very conservative high school and competes with it-girl Shara Wheeler for valedictorian. She is so close to beating Shara but on the weekend of senior prom Shara kisses Chloe and then vanishes. Shara leaves behind a series of letters for Chloe and two other people she kissed and it's up to them to solve her riddles. This is a lot more than a romance, it also tackles a lot of hard topics and I ended up really enjoying it. I rated it 4 Stars. 

The ninth one that I read was Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta. I am always looking for more science fiction young adult stories to fall in love with and I was hoping this one would be one, however, I didn't end up enjoying this one as much as I thought. This is about Godolia, a place that wished for gods so much that they eventually decided to create them. They created giant mechanized weapons piloted by cybernetically-enhanced individuals. There are those who resist Godolia's tyranny who are called Gearbreakers. These rebels are tasked with crippling Windups from the inside and bringing Godolia to its breaking point. One such Gearbreaker is Eris who one day on a mission gone wrong is captured and brought to a Godolia prison. There she meets a newly enhanced windup pilot with loyalties of her own, named Sona. They share a common goal which is to destroy Godolia's tyrannical reign from within. This felt more like a young adult romance sprinkled with science fiction elements rather then a full young adult science fiction which is why I didn't love it like I thought I would. I rated it 3 Stars.  

The tenth book that I read was Black Water Sister by Zen Cho. I have had this on my physical tbr for years and I am so glad that I finally got to it. This is about Jess who has just graduated from Harvard and has no idea what she is doing with her degree as she has no job prospects. She also finds out that her family is in debt because of her father's cancer treatment fees which forces them to move back to Malaysia to live with their extended family. Jess is not happy with these sudden changes and she also has a girlfriend she has been keeping a secret from her family. However, those are not the only problems she has as she's also been hearing a voice in her head. The said voice is the voice of her deceased grandmother Ah Ma, and she can also connect with a mysterious deity known as the Black Water Sister. Jess becomes a pawn in her grandmother's plan to settle a score against a business magnate who did something offensive against the god. I really liked this book and I actually lived in Malaysia at one point in my life so this was so fun to read. I rated it 4 Stars. 

The eleventh book that I read was Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. I wanted to love this book so much but it had one of my least favorite romance tropes which made me end up not enjoying it and rating it pretty low. This book is a little hard to explain but it's about Persephone who during her childhood/teenage years, spent most of her summers in a home on a lake, where she met a boy named Sam and the two became inseparable. Their friendship turned into something more before it fell completely apart. Now she spends her summers in the city, and hasn't seen him in years until one phone call sends her running back to the lake home. I rated this one 2.5 Stars. 

AUDIOBOOKS READ

NONE

ARC'S READ

The first ARC that I read was Playing for Keeps by Tristen Crone. This is a book about a young woman named Farren who is a substitute teacher who aspires for more. She meets Sebastian in a coffee shop and he's a workaholic who is "married to his work". This was a cute book but it should not solely be marketed as a romcom as it is a lot more than that. I think that is what I struggled with because when I requested to read it, it was marketed as a rom com and that is not what I got. I ended up loving the characters though and rated it 3 Stars. 

The second ARC that I read was Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey. I read book one of this companion series a couple months ago and absolutely hated it so I was nervous to pick this one up. However, this one was miles better than the first one. This is a marriage of convenience book where a Napa heiress, Natalie loses her job and fiance and has to return home. Natalie wants to access her trust fund to help finance her new business venture but the terms require her to marry before she gets the money. This leads Natalie to propose to a man she doesn't like. This man's name is August and he owns a vineyard but doesn't know anything about making wine and he wants to do his late best friend proud. However, no bank will give him a loan in order to turn the business around until Natalie knocks on his door and proposes this marriage. This book is hilarious and so fun. I rated it 4 Stars. 

REVIEWS IN JUNE: 

NONE

WEEKLY WRAP-UP:

NONE

DISCUSSIONS/OTHER:

Summer '23 Anticipated Releases

May '23 Wrap-Up

FAVORITE COVER OF THE MONTH:

NEW FICTIONAL MEN: 

Jack from The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

Bastian from The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

Gabe from The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

NEW FAVORITE FEMALES: 

Hallie from The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

Lore from The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

Chloe Green from I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

NEW FAVORITE BOOK RELATIONSHIPS: 

Hallie and Jack from The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

Gabe, Bastian and Lore from The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten (friendship)

TV SHOWS I WATCHED THIS MONTH:

MOVIES I WATCHED THIS MONTH:

WHAT BOOKS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

There's so many more but these are the main ones! 

NEW BLOG FINDS

NONE

SONGS ON REPEAT

Haunted - Taylor Swift 

You're Losing Me - Taylor Swift 

Never Ending Song - Conan Gray

What's Up Danger - Blackway and Black Caviar

Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift 

The Little Mermaid Live Action Soundtrack - Disney 

The Last Time - Taylor Swift and Gary Lightbody 

History of Man - Maisie Peters

If This Was a Movie - Taylor Swift 

Spiderman Across the Spiderverse Soundtrack 

BOOKS I RECENTLY PURCHASED OR ADDED TO MY COLLECTION

BOOKS I WANT TO READ NEXT MONTH

 

The graphics at the top belong to me. The background pictures for them, however do not. 

MAY '23 WRAP-UP

  

Time for another wrap up!

Hello everyone! Here we are with the May wrap up for 2023. I didn't read as much as I usually do but this was my last month of undergrad and I was extremely busy with coursework. Also, I saw Taylor Swift this month so I was busy with that as well. 

Time to talk about the books I read this month.

PHYSICAL BOOKS

 

The first physical book that I read was This Cursed Crown by Alexandra Overy. This is the sequel to These Feathered Flames which I read last year and rated five stars. I really enjoyed this sequel and thought it was a good wrap up of the storyline. I ended up rating this one 4 Stars. 

The second physical book that I read was Broken Bonds by J. Bree. This has been hyped up and promoted all over the internet and I went into it knowing basically nothing. I ended up not really enjoying this one like I thought I would. I don't really know how to explain this book honestly and I am not sure if I will continue on with the series. I rated it 2.5 Stars. 

The third physical book that I read was A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan. This series is so cute and I've enjoyed reading all of them. This is about a girl named Hailey who has a salad shop called By the Cup and she is currently trying to make it a success. She finds herself in a disastrous meet cute with Wes, who wants companionship but not really love as the pain from his parents' divorce still follows him. This is so cute and I had a great time reading it. I rated it 3.5 Stars. 

The fourth one that I read was Otherwise Engaged by Avery Keelan. I actually read this on my kindle but it was not an ARC so I didn't list it in that section. I loved this book so much. It was such a good palette cleanser between some of the other books that I read this month that I didn't love as much. This is about Thayer who invents a boyfriend in order to stop her family from bothering her but now she has the problem with actually finding someone to be her fake boyfriend at a wedding. Enter her ex friend Bennett who's business is in peril and he needs to fake an engagement to save it and his reputation. They decide to enter into a fake engagement/relationship that mutually benefits them. I loved this one and rated it 5 Stars. 

The fifth one that I read was When A Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare. This is a historical romance about a woman named Madeline who is certain that she'll be failure on the London marriage mart so she invents a Scottish sweetheart and she writes to this imaginary man. Eventually she decides to pretend he gets killed in battle in order to avoid the pressures of London society. However, years later, the man that she invented turns up on her doorstep. This was so fun and I rated it 4 Stars. 

The sixth one that I read was For The Throne by Hannah Whitten. This is the sequel to For the Wolf which I read earlier this year and really enjoyed. It's a mix of Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood and is such a good adult fantasy novel. I rated it 4 Stars. 

AUDIOBOOKS READ

NONE

ARC'S READ

The first ARC that I read was Earls Rush In by Jennifer Haymore. This was a historical romance that begins with Finneas Jones who is the Earl of Trevelyan, kidnapping his deceased best friend's younger sister after he learns that she is about to be betrothed to a man with bad intentions. Charlotte has only a few months before her aunt and uncle kick her and her younger sister out and she thinks Mr. Bagshaw will be a good match and save her from that fate. She is shocked when Finn hijacks her carriage as she hasn't seen him since her brother's death. Then when their carriage crashes during a perilous blizzard, Charlotte and Finn have to pose as husband and wife while they shelter at an inn. This was so good and I had such a good time reading it. This one released on May 8th. I rated it 4 Stars. 

The second ARC that I read was Marry Me By Midnight by Felicia Grossman. This was another historical romance that I read this week. This is set in the 1830s and is about a rich girl named Isabelle Lira who is searching for a rich husband in order to help preserve her dead father's investment business. However, she falls for Aaron Ellenberg who is the janitor at a local synagogue instead. It's such a cute book and there's Jewish representation (although I can not speak to it being good or bad as I am not Jewish myself). I had such a good time and I rated it 4 Stars.

The third ARC that I read was Tall, Duke and Scandalous by Amy Rose Bennett. This was an interesting one as I didn't really love it and I expected to love it a lot. I really liked the main heroine but I didn't care much for the hero or the romance. There was also a lot of talk about children which I didn't love. I ended up rating it 3 Stars.

The fourth ARC that I read was Kiss The Girl by Zoraida Cordova. This was my favorite book that I read in the month of May and is definitely going to make it onto a favorite books of 2023 list. This is a Little Mermaid retelling about a girl named Ariel who with she and her sisters are a band called the Siren Seven. They've been a pop culture phenomenon since they were kids, however after their farewell tour Ariel wants to spend her summer living a normal life. But her father has other plans as he wants to begin her breakout solo career, beginning with an announcement on a morning talk show. The night before her appearance, she and her sisters sneak out to a rock counter and it's there where Ariel crosses paths with Eric Reyes who is the lead singer of an up and coming band. He's unaware of her true identity and invites her on the road with him for the summer and disobeying her father, she goes with him. This was so cute and so much fun. I ended up rating it 5 Stars.

REVIEWS IN MAY: 

NONE

WEEKLY WRAP-UP:

NONE

DISCUSSIONS/OTHER:

NONE

FAVORITE COVER OF THE MONTH:

NEW FICTIONAL MEN: 

Bennett from Otherwise Engaged by Avery Keelan

Eric from Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova 

NEW FAVORITE FEMALES: 

Thayer  from Otherwise Engaged by Avery Keelan

Ariel from Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova 

NEW FAVORITE BOOK RELATIONSHIPS: 

Thayer and Bennett  from Otherwise Engaged by Avery Keelan

Eric and Ariel from Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova 

TV SHOWS I WATCHED THIS MONTH:

 

MOVIES I WATCHED THIS MONTH:

WHAT BOOKS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

There's so many more but these are the main ones! 

NEW BLOG FINDS

NONE

SONGS ON REPEAT

Haunted - Taylor Swift 

Hella Good - No Doubt 

Long Live - Taylor Swift 

Angel of Small Death - Hozier 

The River - Daisy Jones and the Six 

Through Me - Hozier 

Francesca - Hozier 

I Think He Knows - Taylor Swift 

Dance the Night - Dua Lipa 

Hits Different - Taylor Swift

You're Losing Me - Taylor Swift 

Never Ending Song - Conan Gray

BOOKS I RECENTLY PURCHASED OR ADDED TO MY COLLECTION

BOOKS I WANT TO READ NEXT MONTH

The graphics at the top belong to me. The background pictures for them, however do not. 

SUMMER '23 ANTICIPATED RELEASES

There are so many interesting releases coming out in 2023. In this list, I have my Summer 2023 anticipated books (which includes the months of June, July and August).

JUNE

 

1. Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey ~ June 11, 2023

I will basically pick up any contemporary romance that Tessa Bailey writes and I am very excited for this next one. It follows a Napa heiress who loses her job and fiance and in order to get her trust fund to finance her new business venture, she must marry.  I didn't love the first in this series, however, this is a marriage of convenience which makes me very intrigued to try this one.

2. A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting ~ June 13, 2023

I haven't read many of Helena Hunting's books, however, I have a couple on my want to read list. I did read Kiss My Cupcake awhile ago and I ended up enjoying it immensely. I don't know much about this book except that it's a romance which follows a cat sitter and a man who doesn't like cats. 

3. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood ~ June 13, 2023

I have read two of Ali Hazelwood's books so far, and one has been a hit while the other was a miss. I don't know much about this one except that a lot of people like it even more than The Love Hypothesis. 

4. Dance of Devils and Daylight by Indiana Rose ~ June 17, 2023

This is the sequel to Scars of Salt and Silver which was a pirate fantasy story and one of my favorite books that I've read so far this year. I am very excited to see what happens with the characters in the sequel. 

5. Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould ~ June 20, 2023 

If I'm being completely honest, I added this book to my most anticipated list solely because of the cover. However, I know this one is a horror/thriller young adult novel set in a small town where everyone has no idea how they got there. I am very excited to get into it.

6. And Break The Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong ~ June 20, 2023 

This is another book that I know virtually nothing about except that it is a fantasy book inspired by Korean history and myths. I think this is a book that I'd like to go into knowing not much about it but I am excited nonetheless.

7. Starlings by Amanda Linsmeier ~ June 27, 2023

This is another young adult horror fantasy that is said to be perfect for fans of House of Hollow, which is one of my favorite books.  It's about a girl who's father told her that he had no remaining family but when he suddenly dies, she is invited by the grandmother she never knew she had, to visit her father's hometown. When she's there, she discovers that something is off about the town and her family. It sounds very spooky and I'm ready to read it.

JULY 

1. Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long ~ July 11, 2023

If you know anything about me it's that I will always read a pirate novel. This is about a woman who is a stormsinger, which is a creature that closely resembles sirens. She is faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr and in exchange for protection she offers her skills to his arch-rival in hopes that he'll help her send Lirr "to a watery grave". It sounds so good and early reviews are making me even more excited. 

2. Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith ~ July 11, 2023

This is an ocean horror novel which is one of my favorite types of horror settings. It's about a girl who is on a semester-at-sea program and her best friend disappears on their first night on board. It sounds so spooky and I'm excited to read it.

3. The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem ~ July 18, 2023

This is an Egyptian inspired political fantasy book about a fugitive queen who has to strike a bargain with her greatest enemy and not reveal her true identity. I have recently discovered that I really enjoy adult political fantasies so I am excited for this one. 

4. Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong ~ July 25, 2023

Chloe Gong wrote one of my favorite YA books, These Violent Delights, and this is her adult fantasy debut. It's supposed to be a fantasy inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, with a set of deadly games reminiscent of The Hunger Games. It sounds so good. 

5. One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus ~ July 25, 2023

One of Us is Lying is a favorite YA mystery book of mine and I am so excited to read the third book in the e series. The synopsis doesn't give much away so I am excited to go into it somewhat blind. 

6. House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig ~ July 25, 2023

This is the sequel/companion novel to House of Salt and Sorrows which was a horror/gothic twelve dancing princesses retelling which I loved. I am very excited to read from the perspective of a different sister in this one and I have already preordered it. 

AUGUST 

1. Zhara by S. Jae-Jones ~ August 1, 2023

This is another book that I don't know much about but I love one of the author's other books so I am excited to read this one. I just know that it is a fantasy book set in a realm where magic is forbidden. 

2. The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley ~ August 1, 2023

This is the companion novel to Would You Rather which I read last year and really enjoyed. This is about two of the minor characters in that book and I am excited to read it. 

3. Foxglove by Adalyn Grace ~ August 22, 2023

Belladonna was one of my favorite books of 2022 and I really need to read this sequel as soon as possible. This is a gothic fantasy series which I highly recommend.

4. House of Marionne by J. Elle ~ August 29, 2023

This is supposed to be Dark Academia mixed with Bridgerton with female rage and honestly that is all I need to know. It's also a mix between fantasy and fantasy romance. 

5. Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas ~ August 29, 2023

I haven't read The Hacienda by this author yet but I am very excited to read it soon. This is another horror gothic novel but this time with vampires and it sounds so good. 

6. Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim ~ August 29, 2023

I love Elizabeth Lim's books so much and I am very excited to read this one. This is a spin-off prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes series about two sisters and it sounds so good. I am very excited to get to it.