Eva Kitt isn’t exactly where she’d like to be. As the host of Sausage Talk —a talk show where she interviews B-list celebrities over subpar hotdogs, her dream of a career in journalism is heavily on the back burner. Frustrated and a little drunk, Eva calls out Rylie Cooper, a popular social media talent for ghosting her during college. When the video goes viral, Eva’s superiors attempt to capitalize on that attention by having her interview Rylie live on the show. In confronting the past and her first real relationship, Eva is on edge until Rylie sits down and proposes something truly outlandish. He’ll take her on six dates to attempt to make up for his behavior during college and they’ll debrief together on his show after the fact. It’s unconventional, but Eva isn’t above making Rylie squirm. Bonus, the continued publicity could launch her out of Sausage Talks’ unfortunate shadow. As Rylie kicks off his apology dates, Eva is more than sure he is above redemption. But the dates, while a little contrived, only make her more interested in righting their shared past that is not quite done with them yet.
If you witnessed the insane levels of chemistry on Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date interview this past fall and found yourself asking “Is there a book like this?” boy does Mazey Eddings come through. With her signature knack for crafting unusual romantic circumstances, Well, Actually is a quintessential modern love story of effortless humor, second-hand embarrassment, and pop culture references served with mediocre hotdogs and a quest for redemption. It’s messy, so bisexual, and the kind of book I was always going to fall for. Well, Actually introduces Eva, a down on her luck journalist with black cat tendencies, and Rylie Cooper social media’s darling and golden retriever to his core. They seemingly have nothing in common besides the five dates they went on in college before Rylie unceremoniously ghosted Eva. Well, Actually brings exactly the kind of romance setup I go for: heavy on the mess with imperfect protagonists finding love and meaning in their lives. Mazey Eddings has a grasp on the finite ledge between the humorous and emotional situations and she employs it deftly in her strongest romance to date.
In Well, Actually, Mazey Eddings proves the past is never truly past as two chaotic individuals reach for love in spite of their tense history. Eddings brings Rylie and Eva together via an unfortunate PR nightmare that initiates a journey of rediscovery and forgiveness around their complicated past. Eva as someone desperately wanting to be chosen —having been pushed to the side in her family, and Rylie whose grief made him unable to participate fully in their relationship in college is a perfect unsteady foundation for this second chance arc to blossom. Eva Kitt, fashionable and opinionated is everything I want in my romance protagonists. She’s determined and mean when she needs to be and I love her so much. The only person who (maybe) loves her more than me is Rylie Cooper who opens up a space for her to be entirely herself. From the start Rylie was giving Nick Miller energy as Eva being mean to him just made him fall even more in love. As a lover of mean women myself I could not find blame in this.
Mazey Eddings hones her dialogue to perfection and Well, Actually is a pinnacle of her talent for witty, sharp banter. There were so many moments where I laughed, screamed, or put my kindle down out of sheer frustration. Eva and Rylie’s antagonistic, snappy interactions evolving into their deeper arguments and romantic moments was the true highlight of this novel. I’m firmly of the opinion that dialogue can make a romance and nowhere is that more on display than in Well, Actually. Rylie and Eva had so much to unpack as they embarked on a new relationship and Eddings grounds that in open and honest communication. Even though it is difficult and our leads shirk from it at points, that communication opens up an avenue for reconciliation and a true second chance. The individual journeys Eva and Rylie are on are personal, yet grounded in their shared history. Loving the idea of someone is something Rylie confronts as he tries to win Eva over despite not really knowing her, and Eva has to decide if she can move past the hurt Rylie caused. The conversations surrounding anxiety, grief, and forgiveness as these two work to surmount obstacles and reach for a relationship together are outstanding and truly some of the best I’ve read within the romance genre.
Mazey Eddings brings humor and hunger (for connection and hotdogs) in her latest romance that has all the wit, heat, and depth to send you spiraling. Well, Actually is perfection captured and bottled in a second chance romance of awkward manners and resolute natures. Through her leads Eva and Rylie, Eddings initiates a discomforting journey of reconciliation and everything caught up in forging through conflict. Haters of the third act breakup can rejoice because as far as Mazey Eddings is concerned it doesn’t exist and I praise her for it. Well, Actually emphasizes change for the right reasons and loving without conditions. This story is hilarious, it’s tender, and everything my bisexual heart needed to stay sane this winter. Mazey Eddings is still the romance author I turn to for hilarious and grounded contemporary love stories and I encourage everyone to do the same.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Something about the winter season just screams fantasy to me so as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter I have been settling into reading more and more from the genre. This winter, the sheer number of fantasy books really popped off so this entire list simply reflects my inability to pull myself away from anything resembling fantasy or romance. But I’m mostly focusing my attention on underrated fantasy gems – books that I haven’t seen enough people talking about for my liking that should definitely be on everyone’s lists for the remainder of the year and beyond. A snapshot of these recommendations includes a rivals to lovers light academic fantasy, a fated reincarnated duo who can’t stop killing each other, a time travel do-over, a new twist on fae romantasy that includes talking daggers, and two brilliant academic fantasy novels.
Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
A magical dagger that talks to you and thirsts for the blood of your enemies? Say less.
As a proud romantasy enjoyer I am always on the hunt for my next obsession and Sarah Hawley’s romantasy debut is my latest. After managing to navigate the treacherous bogs that separate the fae and mortal lands, Kenna, a young human, is bound in servitude to the illustrious Earth House. Forced to assist the heir as they compete for immortality and control over their power, Kenna must outwit the members of the other fae houses while securing her place in their violent world. From the moment Kenna discovers a magical dagger in the bog with a thirst for blood and a tendency to beg for violence I knew this was going to be a unique romantasy. Playing off of some standard tropes, Servant of Earth is anything but typical. Our protagonist Kenna is clever and outspoken, as she navigates the fae court, unsteady alliances, and several romantic paramours (I am here to put forth the Kallen agenda). All I wanted for Kenna was to witness her rise after her struggle and it was so incredibly iconic to get to that point. She’s a legend, your honor!! I love the books that lean into the brutality of the fae lands and this is very much doing that while also exploring the longevity of war and living under tyranny. Book two is certain to be bloody and nothing short of brilliant and I await it most eagerly.
With one of the most fraught opening chapters, M.L. Wang signified the true excellence awaiting in her academic fantasy standalone, Blood Over Bright Haven. From those first moments I knew this book was going to wreck me, but I didn’t know to what degree. Sciona, a young mage, has become the first woman to take on the mantle of highmage, but when she enters her new ranks she discovers more than the expected animosity with her peers but a flawed reality behind her city’s power that could cost her everything if acknowledged. Unflinching in its look at exploitation at the heart of progress and academia, Blood Over Bright Haven flawlessly details the descent into disillusion and Sciona’s rebirth as she resolves to bring the fetid truth to light. Part of what makes this book so brilliant is how frustrating it is to read from Sciona’s perspective – someone who while marginalized as a woman in academia, still benefits from the system in place and struggles to decenter herself when she learns the price of that power. The connection between her ambition, her underlying biases, and the desire to be seen made for a fascinating character arc, one that culminates in a rage nothing short of spectacular. In the face of this masterpiece, words really do fall short but it is brutal, powerful, and a necessary piece of fiction for modern times.
Ever since she bargained with an eldrich entity, Karys Eska has been able to commune with the dead. Her latest job to uncover a ship gone astray leads her to the only survivor of the wreck, a young man named Ferain. Moments from dying, Karys binds him to her shadow, a choice that sets them on a collision course with the beings that caused the wreck and their divine allegiances holding sway – as she and Ferain become further entangled with the chance they can never separate. Perhaps the most underrated of the books I have chosen here, Asunder by Kerstin Hall is a fantasy triumph. With one of the most confounding and intense opening sequences, Kerstin Hall frames a world caught against a violent past and the uncertain future of a young woman turned Deathspeaker fighting for a future entirely of her own making. Its protagonist Karys, grasps for power in a world that has resisted her and rages against a terrible fate that awaits her when her contract is up. Karys’ vulnerability clouds the narrative and her fear of real connection, while frustrating, lends itself to her growing romance with Ferain and friendships with our main crew. The ending is SOOO diabolical and I need it to mess up more people!
When you’re cursed to obey your greatest rival who you maybe want to kiss a little.
A brand new fantasy duology that feels like a mashup of Ella Enchanted and light academia, Sorcery and Small Magics is a delightful foray into spells gone wrong and forced proximity between two rival sorcerers who team up to break a curse. Tethered closer and closer together despite their animosity due to an unexpected curse, Doocy brings together an adventure into an enchanted forest where two rivals learn just how much they can accomplish together as they work to break it. Our protagonist Leovander was an unmitigated disaster (affectionate) and I love him so much. Characters constrained by insurmountable family expectations who rise above them to cause chaos and write their own stories will never not be loved by me. This is the first in a duology that serves to set up the larger framework for the remainder of the series but it is a thoroughly charming start. Lot’s of bickering, romantic tension, and external issues to make it so that you never put this one down.
A water nymph annoys the local exorcist so much he falls in love.
Escape into a whimsical fantasy with a smidgeon of meddling, and a heck of a lot of heart. Gisela is a river nymph, cursed to forever wander the river in which she drowned. The only way back to her human form is a kiss from a willing human. Luckily, the spa town nearby is full of potential suitors, but Gisela can’t get past Kazik, the grandson of a witch determined to excise the troublesome creatures in the town. After a failed attempt at exorcising Gisela, Kazik agrees to help her regain her humanity, yet neither of them expects to fall for the same man and the intended receiver of Gisela’s kiss. This Fatal Kiss has a cozy fantasy atmosphere that ensnares you in its depths as nymphs, witches, and demons wander and revel in the delights of a small spa town, and something darker lies in wait. The character dynamics are what truly set this one apart. We’ve got a fantastic grumpy sunshine dynamic with Kazik and Gisela as they begrudgingly agree to help one another, and Aleksey rounds that all out with his mischievousness and secretive demeanor. The friendships among the different water nymphs were also so sweet. I went in thinking this was a standalone, but there are several loose ends I imagine will be addressed in a later sequel.
When you’re tethered across every lifetime but you just can’t stop killing each other.
For as long as she’s remembered, Evelyn has not lived to see beyond her eighteenth birthday. Across lifetimes Evelyn has been hunted by Arden, a young man whose very soul is tied to hers. Evelyn has never been able to surmise why Arden hunts her, nor why they are connected in this way, but her current life has never needed her so badly – with her sister in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant that only she can provide. To bargain a way out of her established fate, Evelyn will turn to her murderer across lives for one final stand-down that may prove far deadlier than their connected pasts. Our Infinite Fates was an addictive thrill ride across various lives, and loves, of two complicated people tethered together by an unknown fate. Narratively layered with Evelyn and Arden’s past lives counting back to the truth behind their curse, Steven bridges a love story for the ages that stands against the fabric of time and asks whether love truly can win out against the weight of the past. The twists in this keep coming, unburied even as they seem fully excised against the truth behind this fated connection. Admittedly the final scene in this was enough to make me cry and the entire resolution was so wonderfully wrought you’ll be thankful for the tears.
What if you were one of the angels responsible for destroying a city built up over centuries by a demon and she cursed a bit of herself to follow you forever
I am never shocked by Nghi Vo’s brilliance so this intimate expose into the lives of two immortals endeavoring to rebuild a city after its destruction was never not going to be an unforgettable story. Writing in the face of some truly iconic angel and demon duos, Vo flips the script with angels descending on a city to destroy its people and a demon who built the city up over centuries enacting her revenge and laboring to restore what was lost. The beauty in The City in Glass is in the passage of time and the resolve of a demon not wanned in the face of centuries. Nghi Vo brings together two immortal beings meant to forever bear the weight of the past and witness the hurts and triumphs of humankind. Vitrine, a demon, grapples with impermanency in contrast to her own permanency as an immortal beholden to time. The writing is a reflection of this, as years pass by and the city is restored but inevitably falls prey to violence and change. The love between Vitrine and the angel ostracized by his own kind and cursed with a part of herself was really the icing on the cake. I promise you will never be able to predict where the story ends but it feels altogether fitting for two immortals who have both hurt and loved in their own ways.
Cats, time travel, friends to lovers to enemies to lovers??? A triple threat.
Cozy apocalyptic time travel fantasy is a heck of a combination but Shoestring Theory pulls the threads together to create a unique and oddly hopeful queer fantasy standalone. Many years future, an aging Grand-Mage hides away from his kingdom now in ruins. His husband, King Eufrates Margrave, now rules with an iron grip and has descended into paranoia. As his days dwindle, Cyril casts a powerful spell that pulls him back to the days of his youth – before the death of the princess pulled Eufrates to the throne and madness blossomed, but unfortunately, that is not the only thing he brought back with him. Overhung by a dark future, Shoestring Theory feels like a one last shot kind of plot as cat transformations, old bonds, and future tragedy intertwine with one mage’s search for reconciliation. Rarely do I see friends to lovers to enemies that hinge back to lovers and Eufrates and Cyril were serving that to the extreme. The hatred was so powerful that I really believed these two were too far gone to ever reconcile, but Costa proves just how the past can be healed and these two, and others, can move forward. I really enjoyed the conclusion and who was really pulling the strings of fate all along. Very cozy and armed with a poignancy that had me floored.
Oh no, the hot bisexual man with an impeccable sense of style and a tendency to announce himself in the worst possible way is tasked with keeping an eye on me!! Whatever shall I do??
Rewitched, part cozy fantasy, part bookstore love letter, and part romance is the coziest book I read this fall. I felt swept up in the magic as Belladonna Blackthorn, a young witch newly turned thirty realizes she must prove her worth to maintain her magic or lose it entirely. With the month of October to train Rewitched sparks a journey of rediscovery, with Belle’s interconnected past, her family, and her connection to her power reenlivening her way forward. Lucy Jane Wood thrilled me with a magical atmosphere that travels throughout London from the magical to the mundane spaces – all rendered with a remarkably vivid hand. The slow-burn romance kindling on the sidelines and the family bonds and close friendships really built up a foundation for the narrative and cultivated that sense of community. This was quite simply the coziest fall fantasy with a dash of romance to round it all out and you bet I will be continuing with the next novel set in this universe next fall!
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H.G. Parry
Good soup: another book exploring exploitation at the heart of academia
Four friends reunited in secret scholarly pursuits are torn apart when experimentation takes a deadly turn and old secrets bring it all crashing down. It’s 1920 and as England recovers from one the deadliest conflicts in its history, Clover Hill, a commoner, is admitted on scholarship to Camford a secret magical academy that exists to raise the next generation of magic users. She tells herself she does it for her brother – one of the only survivors of a deadly faerie attack on the battlefield during the war, but soon Clover is drawn into her own ambitions and plans that could wreck her newfound world. A dark academia similar to Babel in its narrative breadth and core friend group united and then scattered to the winds, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door intertwines the worlds of the human and fae to expose the wounds of an established system built upon exploitation and the price of dissent. H.G. Parry adds new layers to this overarching conversation of scholarly pursuit in academia with class and gender unifying around the true cost of magic in this world. This character driven academic fantasy certainly stands on its own and should be talked about in conversation with other pillars in the genre.
Emily Walker’s delicately balanced life is almost where she’d like it – she has a teaching job she loves, her historical romance manuscript is ready to query, and she feels perfectly content in her hometown of Rome, Kentucky. The only thing grating on this peace is Jack Bennett, her workplace nemesis and rival since college. The thing is, Jack only rears his ugly side in her presence while everyone else somehow falls prey to his invincible charm. She hasn’t been on the receiving end of that charm since he accidentally spilled coffee all over her on their first day of class. But Jack has gone off into the sunset with his less-than-perfect fiance leaving his classroom and their rivalry abandoned in the rearview, which shouldn’t disappoint her as much as it does. With spring term at its end, the last thing Emily expects to see is Jack Bennett hogging her unassigned assigned seat in their local coffee shop, or that he has just purchased the rundown house directly next to hers. Never one to back down from a fight especially where her nemesis is concerned, Emily wages a small-town standdown but with their professional rivalry in the offseason and their animosity at a tipping point, Emily and Jack might just have to reconcile their undeniable chemistry into something more permanent.
I knew Beg, Borrow, or Steal was going to be romance excellence from the second I read its title and incredible premise. Anything referencing Carly Rae Jepsen and Audrey Hepburn’s How to Steal a Million is high taste and I will drop everything to read it. Happy to report my initial impression did not lead me astray. Sarah Adams continues her immensely heartwarming When in Rome series with a rivals-to-lovers story between two second-grade teachers – Emily, the eldest sister in the Walker family, and Jack Bennet her selectively charming nemesis. Jumping past the bulk of their professional rivalry in action to the summertime, Adams brings us to these rivals with their guards down forced to interact as they navigate their now-shared small town. Beg, Borrow, or Steal has all the accompaniments of a romance that would ruin me for all others and it’s re-enlivened everything I love about this genre.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal burrowed its way into my heart with its small-town antics, rivals to lover’s romance, and use of bickering as a love language. Adams balances the razor-sharp edge of animosity and romantic tension with a finesse that left me gleefully turning the page and hanging on to every interaction between warring teachers, Jack and Emily. It’s rare to see a rivals-to-lovers romance structured quite like this one – skipping past the professional antagonism to a moment of quiet in the summer where Adams completely wrecks the roles these two individuals have comfortably settled into. Beg, Borrow, or Steal focuses on two rivals who just got off on the wrong foot and never quite lived down those first impressions navigating a new side of their relationship as they become neighbors and members of the same community. Adding to this wonderful narrative switch up is the unique way this book engages with tropes and conventions within the genre. There’s something about the sunshine character who is nice to everyone except one person that I absolutely adore. It is such an ingenious trope reversal and I thank Sarah Adams for representing that in Jack Bennet (everyone else take notes please).
As a proud defender of single point of view romance, it isn’t often I concede to the dual perspective, but in the case of Jack and Emily’s love story, it really works. Both protagonists were such strong individuals and I enjoyed relishing in their perspectives and cracking open the bulk of their shared history. Emily Walker is peak eldest daughter energy and very much the representation I didn’t know I needed. She’s the one who feels like she always has to have everything together and prefers to shoulder her burdens alone while throwing all of herself into supporting her family and those she cares about. I could really feel that in connection to Rome, a small town full of people who are Emily Walker supporters who will literally embark on a campaign to shun some random man just because she said so. But on the other side of that controlled world is Jack, truly the most patient man and dare I say the person who understands Emily and her extraordinary capabilities more than anyone. There is something so profoundly HOT about someone not only believing in your competence and approach but expecting that excellence, and that’s just Jack with Emily. Jack pushing her to query her book and the scene of him bursting into her living room holding her manuscript full of his notes was giving married couple and had me rooting for him from the very start. Adams encapsulates not only the tremendous chemistry between these two but the underlying affection and understanding that makes them all the more compatible.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal matches a workplace rivalry with an unmistakable chemistry rendered perfectly against the backdrop of a small Kentucky town. Jack and Emily shifted something foundational for me, in my appreciation for this genre, the execution of the rivals to lovers storyline, and the kind of relationships I want to see represented alongside these romances. I’m especially grateful for the representation of Jack, who grew up with a narcissistic parent and worries about becoming everything he has grown up fearing. It was very gratifying to read Jack owning up to his success as a mystery writer and officially cutting his father out of his life. The reconciliation of Emily and Jack’s unique upbringings in tandem with the romantic arc is yet another reason this novel has launched to the top of my favorites for this year. Beg, Borrow, or Steal has officially shifted the standard for rivals to lover’s romance and I know this will forever be one I recommend and return to often.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Lucie Stone has spent so much of her life convincing herself she is fine that she doesn’t know how to believe anything else. A talented mechanic and mother to a chaotic twelve-year-old, Lucie is content with her situation, yet she can’t help feeling stuck in place. Aiden Valentine has spent so much of his career steeped in romance that he has fallen out of love with it entirely. Working for Heartlines, Baltimore’s late-night romance hotline, Aiden fields calls from the infatuated and heartbroken citizens of Baltimore and offers up advice live on the air. Every late-night call drives him deeper into cynicism, and the passion he once had for his work is now gone. Everything changes the night Aiden receives a call from Lucie’s determined daughter Maya, seeking dating advice for her mom, and Lucie’s impassioned call for real romance and magic makes the segment go viral. Lucie’s words have resonated with many, and they all want to see where her search for real romance leads, including Aiden. Now Lucie and Aiden are getting up close and personal with a new Heartlines segment all about Lucie’s quest for romance. On air, Aiden and Lucie have an unmistakable chemistry and their joint quest only brings them closer. With Lucie piloting her love story and owning up to what she wants it could be that the love she’s been looking for is just one call away.
B.K. Borison calls forth the magic in her series debut, First-Time Caller, a romance that pays homage to Nora Ephron and the romantic comedy classic, Sleepless in Seattle. Featuring her signature banter and sizzling charm, Borison pits a cynical radio host against a dreamy romantic on a late-night radio dating segment to test if love without reservations is truly attainable. Main characters Lucie Stone and Aiden Valentine fight the growing sparks on the air and the fact that the love they’ve been denying themselves is just one seat away. If it’s possible to fall in love with a group of characters in just one book, left hopelessly hanging for more, then B.K. Borison has done that with First-Time Caller. I want to soak in all the workplace gossip at the radio station, hang out with the Heartstrings crew in the studio, and get far too caught up in Jackson’s antics and his feud with Delilah. First-Time Caller brings everything into focus for this brand-new romance series encapsulating all the best from classic love stories and it’s left me entirely too excited for what Borison is delivering us next.
First-Time Caller is a comforting and familiar romance that somehow feels entirely different – like slipping back into an old coat to find it still fits yet has nevertheless changed. After falling head over heels for B.K. Borison’s Lovelight series I was reluctant to say goodbye to Inglewild and trek into her new romance, but I needn’t have been. First-Time Caller completely stuns with that wonderful community atmosphere and charm that she captured back in her first series. The lesson here is to never doubt B.K. Borison’s ability to leave you lovestruck no matter which book of hers she is writing. First-Time Caller made my heart flutter, caught up in the endless potential of charting my own destiny as its protagonist Lucie rediscovers the dreams she had not even realized she left behind. On a dating segment with the unfortunately jaded Aiden Valentine, Lucie gets the chance to find love and chase the magic she’s been longing for if she can be brave enough to reach for it. The key with this romance is BANTER. Lucie and Aiden spend an inordinate amount of time recording their radio segment and tap into a repartee that is quite simply divine. The romantic tension builds and dissipates again and again as these two fight the feelings and remain caught in a constant state of denial of the fact that they could love one another.
What always stands out to me with B.K. Borison’s romances are their lived-in feel – it’s as if you could step onto the page and for a moment be a part of the community she has captured there. In First-Time Caller there’s the radio crew and the extended family unit with Lucie and her daughter, Maya. The unconventional family aspect oriented around Lucie, Greyson, and Mateo co-parenting Maya was really sweet as was their staunch support of Lucie throughout her romance journey. The task of searching for romance live on the radio is daunting enough, but Lucie is supported by so many people in her life. Lucie’s fear in putting herself out there was terribly relatable and Borison does an incredible job revealing all aspects of that vulnerability, the fear that comes with everyone knowing your business but also the courage in knowing that you have to change.
There’s a lot that stands out about Lucie, but it was her unshakable commitment to standing by her truth in all aspects of her life that I deeply admired. Lucie’s decision to raise a daughter and not marry Grayson alienated her from her family, who chose to force their daughter out of their home and sever all future connections. Knowing Lucie persevered and created an extended family of her own is comforting. Yet Lucie has gotten far too comfortable and must get back to finding the magic she’s been missing. Borison adopts “magic” as that rightness in romance, but exposes how magic isn’t just something you find, it’s something you create. The love Lucie discovers with Aiden is scary because it is imperfect, but it’s everything she has been looking for all the same. Aiden shows himself to be the right partner to Lucie almost without realizing it. The scene where he runs to the restaurant after she gets stood up, and the reveal that he keeps a list of her favorite things in his glove compartment in case he forgets were everything to me I fear. First-Time Caller expertly reimagines a Nora Ephron classic and twists it for the modern day while retaining all of its heartwarming charm and unforgettable chemistry. While it attempts a lot, its centering of change is so profound and is further proof that it is never too late for any of us.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Happy autumn! It’s officially the start of my favorite season and coincidentally the time of year with the best books being published. With so many books coming out over the next few months I’ve been wanting to share my curated list of fall book recommendations. I’ve been buzzing for months about some of these so here is my somewhat complete list of the books that should be at the top of your tbr for the fall season. It can be overwhelming to wade through the sheer amount of books making their debut, to the ones already published so I’m keeping it simple with just nine titles. Whether you’re craving a gothic romantasy, historical fiction, vampires, young adult, witchy romance, or an expansive fantasy epic I have you covered. Look no further for your next fall read!
Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Return to the world of An Ember in the Ashes, following a new generation of characters across the empire as they encounter a grave threat that could endanger their world. Heir is a bittersweet reunion with characters from books past and an introduction to those who are carrying the torch for the future. Come for the cameos of our old trio, and stay for this masterful expose into corruption and vengeance. Sabaa Tahir’s talent for storytelling across three intersecting points of view and unique timelines is undeniable – as is her penchant for putting the characters we love through the most horrific things imaginable. Expect the Sabaa Tahir standard of having the rug swept out from under you in the most ingenious way. Once I figured out what she was doing I had to close my book and stare at the wall for several minutes it was that good. Heir is not only an incredible book, it’s a timely one. The connection to justice being rendered immobile in the face of violence against innocents, particularly children was very clear. That the path to justice accomplished through further suffering is not justice at all. Centering one figure’s descent and others fighting despite, Sabaa Tahir gives voice to resistance and the power of those walking that path, and the task for those of us bearing witness.
The sequel to Ariel Kaplan’s, ThePomegranate Gate is out this October. Kicking off a slower pace than its predecessor, but aided by the momentum from its chaotic conclusion, The Republic of Salt brings further context to the mirrored mortal and mazik realms, on the brink of war with La Caceria. The Gate city of Zayit is predicted to burn unless the Cacador’s conquest can be brought to a halt, and Zayit’s salt trade could be the key. Deviating from book one, The Republic of Salt features a variety of perspectives across the realms like scattered pieces within the mirror fracturing and mending against an inevitable destruction. My favorite of these continued character arcs is certainly Toba’s. A buchuk of the original Toba now dead, Toba Bet struggles with her identity in the face of her creator’s beheading and her being the one that remains with those memories and experiences. Despite this, Toba is steadfast in her way forward and finds an unlikely path in allying with her sister, Tsifra, the very person who killed her prime self. Connecting two realms and building up to an irrevocable confrontation, Kaplan’s sequel is as immersive as its first installment, providing further context to a wonderous fantasy series.
With fall officially here I am retreating into fantasy worlds and there’s no better break from reality than with Olivie Blake’s upcoming collection of short stories, Januaries. Split into four seasons these fairy-touched tales strike at the monstrous, twisted, fetid, and endearing love and the magic and power-hungry beasts inside us all. The guardian of a magical bridge that grants wishes desires more than her stationary existence, vampirism allows a young woman agency and a way out of her situation, two spouses play a centuries-spanning game of murder, and more. Aided by Blake’s punchy flair and signature prose, Januaries has stories for every kind of fantasy reader. Journey through the year with stories that hit right at the heart of the seasons. While I loved all of these stories my favorites were probably Wish Bridge, The Audit, and The Animation Games. However, this entire collection is top-tier. There are certainly a lot of fantasy story collections coming out this fall, but Januaries deserves to be at the top of your list.
Saara El-Arifi is one of the best writers in fantasy right now and her Ending Fire trilogy has been one of my favorites to follow over the last few years. The Ending Fire, its conclusion, is just as gripping as its former two books and has only further solidified her as an epic fantasy writer pushing boundaries within the genre. Simmering with magic, blood, and sacrifice, the battle over the future of the Warden’s Empire has begun. Sylah, Jond, Hassa, and Anoor have all been set apart on different paths, but in this final fight, El-Arifi draws them back together to face their pasts and the hurts that have further sundered them. After three books we get some truly gratifying concluding arcs – Hassa standing in her place and having a leading position, Jond choosing the future he never thought he could have, and Sylah and Anoor finding their way back to one another. This trilogy is flawless, from its character journeys to the dissolution of a flawed empire. The commentary on history as a tool for control and the powerless becoming powerful was incredibly well done across this series. While I am sad to be putting this series to rest I will continue shouting about it because it is THAT GOOD.
Julie C Dao’s adult debut is a blood-soaked gothic delight that gives the character of Lucy Wenestra the depth and journey into depravity she so justly deserves. Vietnamese and queer, Lucy has always felt isolated in English society, playing a part she abhors and desperate to free herself from the inevitable confines of marriage and motherhood. But it is her fascination with death that leaves her sleepwalking through her family’s mausoleum and caught in a mist that seems to be beckoning her somewhere…or to someone. Unfortunately, her dreams are more than fiction and they have a price. Now Comes the Mist explores the darkness at the heart of immortality and the true cost of freedom for women at this time. Lucy’s desperation is palpable and it’s easy to understand her desire for agency in a world that seeks to confine her. Through vampirism, Julie Dao explores the flawed nature of this freedom, tying in purity culture and an individual who seeks to further limit her. Now Comes the Mist is the best Dracula retelling I have read in years and if you are deciding between the myriad vampire books published this fall, let it be this one.
Now this book has no bearing on the fall season, I just happened to read it in September and needed an excuse to talk about it. Elizabeth Kingston is at the heart of my September reading, from her medieval to regency historical romances something about her writing was scratching that itch for me. One Burning Heart is a continuation of her Welsh Blades series and follows William, the ambitious Lord of Ruardean, and his pious wife Margaret, whom he has not been able to stand since they were wed. But what he doesn’t know is that is by her design, as Margaret hides her true self so that she can undermine his plans to aid the king and the Church in funding a new Crusade. One Burning Heart is quite a hilarious novel, featuring a tempting blend of romance and history – specifically the deviations from the Church’s teachings and their consequences. Religious piety as a facade for many to prop up their agendas is central to the plot and the conflict between William and Margaret, who work to build trust while confronting the true nature of the church they serve. I really love how much of this was about moves and countermoves, up until the resolution. This has one of the most astonishing first lines I have read this year. Read it and tell me you don’t want to buckle in for this wild ride.
Descended from an ancient family known only to the secret society she fled from in childhood, Kidan Adane has spent her life avoiding her fate. In the aftermath of her younger sister’s disappearance, all clues lead back to Uxlay University and Susenyos Sagad, the vampire bound to her family’s bloodline. To unravel the truth, Kidan will enter the grounds of Uxlay and take on the mantle of the Adane heir, because someone took her sister for a purpose, and the plot for control runs deep into the heart of this ancient society. Immortal Dark is a stunning debut that laces vampires with dark academia and just a tinge of romance. With such a unique twist on the vampire mythos, this was already at the height of my list of vampire books to read this season and it did not disappoint. Prepare to delve deep into the history of this secret society, vampires, and family bloodlines as Kidan seeks to discover the truth and contends with the vampire companion determined to best her. There’s more of a focus on the academic aspect, but I fell in with the competing families, emerging friend group, and lore. The enemies-to-lovers romance was also a nice addition and really rounded out the story. Count me in for the sequel and anything else Girma writes!
A bloody, gothic feast of a debut, Phantasma will trap you inside its twisted walls and a manor full of secrets where bargains are struck and broken, and one necromancer will contend with its deadly competition to save her sister and receive the elusive wish granted to the surviving player. I have long been an admirer of Kaylie Smith ever since her young adult series debuted and Phantasma is quite possibly my new favorite gothic romance and book from her all in one. Combining a foreboding gothic atmosphere, a competition influenced by the nine circles of hell, and a cursed bargain with a mysterious stranger, Smith casts her shining romantasy with formidable claws. Ophelia Grimm confronts the seen and the unseen, what’s real and what isn’t, and Smith enmeshes this with some stellar OCD representation. Phantasma is the very definition of having your cake and eating it too, it’s smart, sexy, horrifying, rageful, and somehow all of those can coexist without being contradictory. I’m completely under Kaylie Smith’s thrall and not at all upset about it.
Author Nadia El-Fassi brews up a delightful blend of magic, wedding shenanigans, pesky hexes, and sizzling romance in one bewitching debut. In a magical cafe in London, a kitchen witch fends off a love hex by guarding her heart from potential love interests and focusing on perfecting magical bakes for her clientele. Too bad her handsome new customer is the best man at her friend’s wedding and avoiding him is impossible as they’ll be stuck together for the entire weekend. Best Hex Ever promises a twist on that classic witch story imbued with coziness and served piping hot with a side of chai. Dina and Scott have the kind of instantaneous connection that had me hooked on their every interaction. Best Hex Ever is a wonderfully magical romance with sparks that ignite into an inferno (seriously this book is so hot). Nadia El-Fassi proves that romance and magic are often intertwined and some connections are their own kind of magic. I’m certain many readers will find themselves in this miraculous romance novel about charting your path and opening yourself up to love again. Nadia El-Fassi brings together a one-of-a-kind witchy debut that I plan to read over and over again.
Folks we’re over halfway through the year and I still have so many books to talk about! As we transition into early fall, I’m focusing on some of the advance releases that have been wasting away in my inbox and steadily sharing my thoughts with you all on the titles that I’ve read from this summer. While I am currently in a science-fiction fantasy reading mood, I read quite a few romances this summer to balance out the heavier stuff. I have been reading so much fantasy, most of which was dragging me into a reading slump, so a lot of these were the books I picked up to drag me back out. I took a stab at the cowboy romance trend, read some sapphic recommendations from friends, and returned to my historical romance roots. Here are my thoughts on seven new favorites!
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
It’s Cowboy Summer
It was indeed all about the cowboys this summer and I decided to hop on this trend with the third book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, Lost and Lassoed. Lyla Sage is a fan favorite in this subgenre and this is the first I’ve read from her. Now all I want to do is double back and read the other two in this series because this was a wild ride. This hate-to-love romance between chaotic fashion-minded Teddy Anderson, out of a job and down on her luck, and far too dependable Gus Ryder, the one man she cannot stand, brought on the heat. I have always had a soft spot for forced proximity romances but I must say, forced proximity but cowboy is on a completely different level. Sage composes this quiet vulnerability as these two cohabitate and open up to one another in their shared evenings. Teddy is definitely my favorite, charming, but equipped with a rough edge to match. THE cowboy romance heroine of cowboy romance heroines. Lost and Lassoed is my first Lyla Sage and it certainly won’t be my last. Just the perfect summer read!
Never let your husband stop you from finding your wife.
There’s nothing I love more than a hidden folkloric fantasy gem, but make it sapphic, and the speed at which I will run to read it will shatter Olympic records. This was recommended to me by the lovely, Emily Hamilton (thank you, icon), and I had the best time reading it. A midwife living on the outskirts of her village discovers a woman in labor on the night of a terrible storm who seems determined to flee to the water and after helping her deliver the baby harbors her suspicions upon the arrival of the woman’s husband. Retelling the Selkie Wife, Sutherland weaves a seaside folktale centering around those isolated within their communities, domestic abuse, and the marginalized pushed to the outskirts. A Sweet Sting of Salt is a unique story that centers strongly around the unsettling mystery of what happened to Muirin – with a slow-burn romance to offset the strange forces at play. I found the focus on midwifery in a seaside town and the commentary on Jean’s skills & labor as what allows her to remain in her community after her “transgression” especially compelling. The ending with this one is fairy tale levels of perfect so don’t be afraid to wade into the strangeness.
A fallen god turned detective and his new assistant who is actually behind the murder of his most recent case solve a series of strange murders that could tear apart the city. Getting back at the insufferable trickster god who frequents your coffee shop by becoming his assistant to throw him off the scent of a murder you committed is only the beginning of this fabulous urban fantasy. Sophie Kim sprinkles some reluctant allies to lovers, hidden identity, and slow-burn romance into a plot to uncover a murderous demon. The God and the Gumiho is as bracing as that first cup of coffee in the morning, filled with delicious banter and the intersection of myth with a modern setting. This book has been compared by many to a Kdrama and that is absolutely spot on, with the humor and romance uplifting the darker elements, and those shocking emotional moments that cut to the core and send you reeling. The God and the Gumiho is a fun one, but don’t doubt you’ll be left in tears.
Ten Things I Hate About You but make it historical romance?? oh, I ATE THIS UPPPPPP. Amalie Howard is only getting better and this whole series is impeccable
The Worst Duke in London is a sublime historical romance twist on 10 Things I Hate About You featuring a financially destitute Duke and a headstrong wallflower brought into one another’s orbit by a sly bargain. Amalie Howard is at the top of her talent with her latest series twisting classic romantic comedies into sparkling regency love stories. Loved that the entire addition with this one was: what if there were animals everywhere and the duke was attacked by kittens. Now I have always counted on Amalie to bring that incredible heat, but this was somehow even steamier than I expected. Gage and Evangeline already have an incredible connection from their initial hatred to their mutual bargain, and that translates perfectly as they engage in a physical relationship. Historical romance that retells an iconic romantic comedy with animal activism and Bridgerton vibes? What more could you want. The Worst Duke in London is a delightfully steamy historical romance romp and a fitting nod to its source material. Lovers of animals, men undone, and scandalous agreements unite!
Happy HoliGAYS! Ashley Herring Blake is gifting us the holiday romance of the year. It’s cute, angsty, and hot as hell.
Reading a holiday romance in the dead of summer was a feat in and of itself, but for Ashley Herring Blake I will quite literally do anything, even wade into the holidays before it’s time. Make the Season Bright is a second chance romance between two ex-fiances invited to stay in Colorado for the holidays, only for them to end up being stuck in the same town, with nothing to do but deny they know each other. Ashley Herring Blake does an incredible job focusing on characters Brighton and Charlotte separately, particularly with the different perspectives of what exactly went wrong in their relationship and how those differing views can be reconciled. Make the Season Bright brings that holiday warmth and sapphic angst like a bittersweet Christmas cocktail with all the sweetness from the season meeting the lingering bitterness in acknowledging the past. Christmas is a time for memories old and new, and that is honored throughout this holiday standalone. With the past impacting the present even as these two try to give it another go, Herring Blake proves it’s never too late.
When you’re determined to ignore your hot new wizard librarian but he keeps befriending all of the crows and obsessing over fountain pens.
Hidden identities and castle coziness combine like the most bewitching magic spell in this brand new romantasy series. In the vein of Ella Enchanted and Legends and Lattes, Stephanie Burgis delivers an unforgettable romantic fantasy that is uproariously funny and packs an emotional punch right among the coziness. A feared sorceress hires a wizard to aid her in the dark arts and straighten up her massive library, but little does she know he is actually an Imperial Archduke in disguise and the one she considers to be her greatest enemy. Combine castle antics with a bit of found family, intrigue, and romance and you get this book. Burgis traps two unlikely allies in a castle and makes them confront the facades they’ve upheld and the loneliness they could stand to leave behind. I love the focus on who people are behind the masks they wear and how it can be protective, or a lie to uphold to gain power over others. An all-around hilarious beginning that I will continue through for the other witches’ love stories. Read this for the massive library and crow companions alone.
Sophie Jordan I am familiar with your game, but with historical romance, so in a more real way I am unfamiliar with your game.
A Fire in the Sky brings together political intrigue, a marriage of convenience, and dragons in a fiery new romantasy series from author Sophie Jordan. Tamsyn, a young woman in the royal court, has spent her life in the palace raised alongside the royals to endure the beatings and punishments for their transgressions. Her life changes drastically when she is made to trick a feared warrior into marrying her instead of the princess he expected. Playing off of the marriage of convenience trope, Jordan stakes out the space for a new series featuring genre staples and brand-new elements intertwined. Having read an abundance of Sophie Jordan’s historicals I knew that the romance was going to be the star of the show, but considering how this ended I am even more excited to see where she takes the history behind this world and the dragon lore. A Fire in the Sky is a classic romantasy revitalized, with dragons and complicated characters meeting fate and a truth that could reshape their world. Utterly addictive and I cannot wait to read more.
Before heartbreak shattered her romantic notions, Juliet Wilmont was a fervid romantic ready to chart her great love story wherever it would take her. Seven months have passed since she called things off with her emotionally abusive fiance and yet Juliet cannot find it in herself to put herself back out there with love and dating. During a brief holiday in Scotland, Juliet meets Will Orsino, who invites her to dance with him in a pub where sparks inevitably fly. Despite their obvious attraction, Juliet walks away and never assumes anything more from their brief meeting. The last thing she expects is for Will to turn up fast asleep in her family greenhouse when she finds herself caught in a downpour over half a year later– or that he is the college friend of their next-door neighbor, Christopher. As soon as she gets over her fright of seeing him again the two form a friendship that they quickly realize could have mutual benefits. Juliet wants to put herself back out there, but needs a trial run, while Will needs a safe space to practice romance before he wades into a real relationship. Practicing a relationship that already feels real puts Will and Juliet at odds, with the relationships they’ve resigned themselves to, and the real imperfect beating thing between them.
Once Smitten, Twice Shy closes out Chloe Liese’s Wilmont Sister trilogy, a series where she entwines Shakespeare’s plays with modern-day romances. Reimagining Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Liese entangles two opposites in a practice romance that verges on something more real than they ever could have anticipated. Juliet Wilmont, once hopeless romantic turned cynic, and Will Orsino, a shy and reserved highlander lookalike chart an unexpected way out of their romantic blocks by agreeing to partake in a practical dating experiment together. From the moment I read the first book in this series, I knew Chloe Liese had created something special and that has not changed from book one to now. Chloe Liese has become one of my favorite romance novelists. Her surefire depiction of contemporary love meeting all aspects of life from mental health, to chronic illness and neurodivergence is both powerful as it is necessary. In her third and final book in this trilogy, Liese showcases her capacity for flawed characters driven to better themselves contained within an effortlessly swoony romance.
Once Smitten Twice Shy, the third and final installment in the Wilmont Sister series offers up an emotional opposites-attract story combined with a fitting homage to Shakespeare. After ending an emotionally abusive relationship, Juliet Wilmont heads to Scotland on a much-needed holiday where a meet-cute in a Scottish pub sparks familiar flames, but ones she can’t hope to fan – not even for a gloriously tall redhead. Hopeless romantics who have turned cynical is a particularly heartbreaking character archetype within the genre and one that Juliet unfortunately embodies. As she steps out after an emotionally abusive relationship she navigates conflicting ideals of love and dating – her innate belief in sweeping love stories clashing with the dark kernel of cynicism instilled as a result of her former partner. But Juliet still believes in love’s possibilities, evident in her extensive historical romance collection and love of the genre. What she doubts is her own notions causing her to overlook flawed behaviors in potential romantic partners. As she practice dates with Will she rediscovers herself and learns that real love doesn’t mean you have to compromise yourself. Will in turn is impacted by his belief that he is a lot to take on as a partner. These competing views are challenged the further they wade into their practice romance and find that for the right person no part of yourself is ever too much to handle.
The representation of chronic illness continues to be a bright spot across this series. I love that Juliet learned to lean on Will when she needed it and that it didn’t focus on diminishing her identity. Owning her chronic illness through the use of her cane and speaking up around her family made me so unbelievably happy. Liese’s depictions of chronic illness and what it means to live as a chronically ill person within the sphere of contemporary romance are profoundly important and I can’t wait to read more from her. Once Smitten Twice Shy is a resounding ode to romance readers and those still discovering exactly what they want out of life and love. My favorite love stories are the ones that celebrate love as discovery and Will and Juliet embody that in the sweetest possible way. Remember that it’s love if she wacks him with a giant shovel and he still has heart eyes only for her (it’s romantic okay). Once Smitten Twice Shy brings a bittersweet conclusion to the Wilmont sisters series. Getting to the end of this trilogy has been an emotional experience and one I am not quite yet ready to leave behind, but I do know that Chloe Liese will be there to deliver more exquisite romances now and forever.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for review.
Coming up on the Mid-year Book Freakout Tag so late, but better late than never to share my thoughts on the books I’ve read in this first half of the year. I’ll reflect on some of my favorites across genres and my overall reading goal as we move into the second half of 2024. At a glance, I have hit my midway count for my overall reading goal of 300 books and have been hitting heavy on the science fiction and fantasy genres which is so evident here. For those of you unfamiliar with how this tag works, this will be a little snapshot of some favorite reads ala bookish awards categories. All of these will have a singular title as an answer because I love mess and making myself choose between my favorites. This is one of my favorite tags and yet I’ve somehow never actually blogged about it on here. Would love to hear about your answers to these so be sure to comment yours below!
BEST BOOK OF 2024 (SO FAR)
If you’ve been keeping up with my reading over on Goodreads then it shall come as no surprise that a category sweep is Samantha Shannon’s Bone Season series. This was a series I attempted to reconnect with after picking up The Bone Season back in 2020. Twas simply a book I could never have connected to at the time (I was deep in finals season) so I didn’t end up continuing with the next book in the series. They say the right book comes at the right time and never has that been more true for this book series. In my transition into life in London I gave this series another shot and fell in love with it alongside my discovery of the city. It was like I was seeing the city through new eyes, Seven Dials, Soho, and the overall London atmosphere enlivened through the character of Paige Mahoney. The Bone Season is fantasy series excellence and taps into so much of what I love in the genre. The Dark Mirror is the fifth installment and is assuredly Samantha Shannon at her strongest. This fifth book is this series fully realized, in its themes, characters, and deftly constructed plot finally blossoming. After the intense events that concluded The Mask Falling, this sequel is as much a soul-deep reconciliation between Paige and Arcturus as it is an expansion in the fight over bringing the Republic of Scion to its knees. I can’t say more as we’re still 7 months out from publication but I will be reviewing this in November so stay tuned!
BEST SEQUEL OF 2024 (SO FAR)
Allow me to wax poetic about the Burning Kingdoms trilogy for a second. A series innately entangled in rage and morally grey characters uniting to transform an empire draws to a close in this final book that brings all the action and consequences from the end of The Oleander Sword and takes it to another level entirely. Priya and Malini have been further set apart with the cost of their connection blooming with astonishing sacrifice at the end of book two. On opposing sides of the incoming war with the mysterious Yaksa, they will have to sacrifice more of themselves than they ever realized. Alongside Bhumika, these women will fight for the fate of their world and their place within it. Ahead of this read and its publication in November I made an effort to sit down and dive back into the former two books and I really think it enhanced The Lotus Empire all the more (because I had truly forgotten so much). Getting to read the entire series in succession was such a pinch-me moment and it was given such a beautiful ending that connects across books one to three. Tasha Suri, you are a beautiful genius and I will be billing you for the cost of my tears.
New release I’m excited for, but haven’t read yet
The Spellshop is a book I swear I have been seeing everywhere recently. My amazing bookseller coworker and friend, Coco was raving about it in the months leading up to its release and she’s so rarely wrong I really think this is going to be the coziest book ever. So far all I know is that it includes jam, magic, and a little bit of romance, but this all sounds like a recipe for how to reach straight into my heart and make me fall in love. I know there are many other people in my circles that have been yelling at me to read this one so it’s certainly one I want to reach for before 2024 is out.
MOST EXCITED FOR IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2024
It was really difficult to narrow this down to just one title, but I’m sticking with An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson for the title I am most excited about in the second half of 2024. Something about the second half of this year feels perfect for all things dark academia and horror. I am definitely a reader influenced by the fall season so this is situated at the top of my reads for the season. Alexis Henderson is an author I’ve wanted to read more from since reading and loving House of Hunger the Fall before last. For some reason, I haven’t picked up Year of the Witching yet even though it’s been sitting on my shelf for an entire year, but I will likely be picking up this one before I get to Alexis Hendersons debut. This fall is unique because there are so many great dark academia/vampire books being published, which seems obvious for the time of year but we really are seeing an unprecedented amount of gothic horror and vampire reads emerging. I have two good friends who have assured me that this is excellent so all there’s left to do is fall right into it.
A BOOK THAT SURPRISED ME
Monstrous Nights by Genoveva Dimova is one novel that challenged my expectations and surprised me in the best possible way. This sequel concludes The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters Duology and throws us right back into the melee with the characters. Tonally I loved this book because it feels like a “where are they now” kind of story where you catch up with the characters after they defeated the BIG BAD, only to find out it’s not so glamorous. Monstrous Nights has that dark atmosphere married with self-deprecating humor and slow-burn romance that just worked for me. The humor was at its height here as all Asen and Kosara want is to rest but they keep getting drawn back into the craziness and the consequences of their actions. I loved everything about this fantasy duology steeped in Slavik folklore. Be sure to check my reviews for Foul Days and Monstrous Nights which are already up on my blog!
NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR
I am on the Sophia Slade hype train and I will truly not be shutting up about it. In fact, my review for Nightstrider will be up later this week, a notably quick turnaround considering that I finished the book just last week. But sometimes you read a book so good from an author so talented you’re left with so much to say. Nightstrider is a book I described as: “Reluctant allies to lovers core and just so bisexual” and I really stand by that initial statement in featuring it here. This debut promised a lot upfront, some of my favorite tropes and storylines intersecting in one dark fantasy, but it absolutely exceeded all of my expectations. Thematically this series is promising and Sophia Slade is not only an author to watch but a new favorite.
NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH
Alexandria Bellefleur wrote a fictional man so hot I considered jumping into the book just so I could date him myself. I settled for finishing the book and immediately flipping back to the start to read it all over again. Colin McCory the man that you are. Truly, Madly, Deeply was such a fun romance that at its heart is just bisexuality ✨ A theme I am clearly passionate about. I loved this bi-for-bi romance that draws off of first impressions and how they aren’t always accurate and the preconceived notions of life and dating that are actually holding us back from happiness. Truly and Colin were adorable (and so sexually frustrated) – if you’ve read the Instagram scene and immediately had to throw your phone across the room in embarrassment I see you. I feel you. I am you. In terms of fictional crushes, no one is really holding a candle to Colin right now and that’s so sad. I just want more bisexual men in romance who are comfortable with their sexuality and ready to lay it all down for one person. For more thoughts on this one, read my review.
FAVORITE FICTIONAL COUPLE & NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER
Is anyone shocked that this book is being mentioned in two categories? No? Great. If you’ve talked to me in the last two months then chances are this book series has come up at least once. And it was probably me begging you to give it a try if you hadn’t read it before. The Bone Season is winning a double feature for my newest favorite main character and favorite couple. I could write essays about how much I love Paige Mahoney individually and her love story with Arcturus Mesarthim that begins here in book one of the Bone Season. Samantha Shannon delivers a character that is arguably one of the best modern fantasy heroines (though this world is anything but modern) and begs you to try and not root for them. Paige, a young clairvoyant Irish woman escaped the fall of her country to the violent Republic of Scion to further fight for survival from the inside. She’s complicated, still figuring herself out, and makes plenty of mistakes in her journey as a revolutionary. But her tenacity and tremendous courage in the face of such violence is astonishing. Paige finds a connection she never anticipated with her Rephaim warden and effective jailer when she realizes they both are held prisoner by the powers at Oxford. There’s so much longing intertwined with gentle moments you will genuinely lose your mind and go grey as these two accept they have feelings but still somehow try and compartmentalize (I could go into heavy detail… and I will…I will go into heavy detail). But just not here definitely read my full review of The Bone Season if you’d like to hear more.
BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY
Second chance romance found at the scene of the crime? Fork found in kitchen. Jessica Joyce’s sophomore novel is a powerful romance involving the pain and joy in reconnection and how we can soldier that path back to a relationship that both hurt and fulfilled us in the past. I love mess so the concept of two exes that have to set up their friend’s wedding together while avoiding what went wrong in their own relationship immediately had me adding this to my tbr. You With a View, Jessica Joyce’s first novel was just all-around excellence and her emotional breadth astonished me. That is very much on display in her second book as well. Georgia and Eli had some serious issues that caused the dissolution of their former relationship but attempt to move past those things and return to their partnership built off of something wholly different. This entire book had me in the feels and I really think I came out the other side a changed person. Jessica Joyce supremacy!
BOOK THAT MADE ME HAPPY
Cozy science fiction is my new obsession and The Stars Too Fondly was the perfect book to delve into this emerging subgenre for the first time. Certainly, I’m a bit biased because Emily is a dear friend of mine, but this book is so incredible and needs to be on your list. Combine a little bit of discovery, found family, queer romance, and scientific hubris and you have this book. Emily Hamilton balances out those darker moments with her delightful crew of characters stuck on a spaceship and beholden to strange new powers. We’ve even got rom-coms and iced coffees in space! The Stars Too Fondly was just a delight to read and left me grinning.
BOOK TO READ BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT
I’m seated. the booksellers are scared and asking me to leave because it “hasn’t even published yet” but I’m simply too seated. Wings of Starlight being announced not two weeks out from my rewatch of the entire Pixie Hollow movie series where I and a friend talked at length over the Clarion x Milori movie potential and what the plot would consist of. I have the gift of prophecy. Feeling more than slightly vindicated that this book exists and that one of my all-time favorite authors is the one writing it. From their minimal screentime, Clarion x Milori serve that intense longing that I know only Allison Saft will be able to provide. Listen there’s something about lovers torn apart by a tragedy finding that they can be together after years of putting the other person behind them that will never not miss for me. Wings of Starlight just sounds excellent and there’s no doubt in my mind that this is going to heal my twelve-year-old self. Top on my list to get through before the year is out.
MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK BOUGHT
You’ve come this far only to see another title by Samantha Shannon….but do not fear because this is the last category on my list. I think the redesigned covers for The Bone Season series revisions are some of the prettiest things in existence and The Mask Falling is my favorite because of the green. Literally who is surprised. The gold foil, the raised lettering on the cover, and the rich endpapers have sold me on buying this entire series in hardback format. I love how each book features the predominant symbols and buildings from Paige’s environment. The language of flowers is very important across the book series and they bloom out from the edges. I am frothing at the mouth just looking at this and am scared to say how often I find myself staring at my copy.
Vivi Huynh has spent most of her life haunted by questions. As a second-generation Vietnamese American, she has never visited the country her parents fled all those years ago. The only thing that brings her comfort is her favorite food blog, A Bánh Mì for Two which focuses on street food in Sài Gòn by a local writer. Vivi dreams of visiting the city that haunts her family, and she is finally given an opportunity when a freshman study abroad allows her to travel to Sài Gòn for a semester to experience the sights, the food, and the truth for herself. Ever since the death of her father, Lan has had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Keeping their family-run bánh mì stall in operation and caring for her chronically ill mother has taken time away from her true passion – writing. Lan’s food blog A Bánh Mì for Two was a passion project started with her father but lately, she hasn’t been able to find the inspiration that used to drive her. Unexpectedly, Vivi and Lan meet in Sài Gòn and discover that they can help one another – Viv with Lan’s writing, and Lan with Vivi’s family. Between exploring the city, trying incredible food, and writing, Viv and Lan grow closer, but it is their respective histories that could make their connection untenable.
A Bánh Mì for Two is a sparkling sapphic romance set across the city of Sài Gòn centering around food, grief, and family. In her debut, Trinity Nguyen connects two young women desperately searching for connection – to writing, to family, to themselves – who unite around a common love of food in their city and find a love they never expected. Every part of this story loves loud, a book I wish had existed when I was growing up and one that will undoubtedly impact many in its telling now. Trinity Nguyen debuts a coming-of-age story that at its essence hinges on discovery and its role in bringing about healing and the power of connection in opening our eyes to new perspectives. A Bánh Mì for Two embraces the messy teen energy and romance with a deeper kernel exploring the traumas of Vietnamese immigrants and that impact on the second generation.
A Bánh Mì for Two will sweep you away with its vivid descriptions of a city both new and familiar for its protagonists as two Vietnamese teens find love and solace in their struggles. Vivi Huynh, a clever and opportunistic college freshman has spent most of her life with a gaping hole in her family history and she will do anything for answers – even lie about her study-abroad location so that she can visit Vietnam for herself. Once there she meets Lan, a Chinese-Vietnamese teen, and Sài Gòn resident drowning under the weight of her grief and familial responsibilities, and the two form an unlikely alliance. Across the city, in the bustling market stalls and motorbike rides through congested streets, Nguyen paints a brilliant journey of discovery and of coming home. The city comes alive under her vivid descriptions and profound view of two young women finding their way back to themselves. Lan charts a way out of her grief as she takes in new experiences with Vivi and picks up her writing for the first time since the death of her father, while Vivi finds the truth she has been yearning for so long. The relationship between Vivi and her mother and Lan’s fragile balance with her family responsibilities and personal passions rounded out these emotional arcs well. Vivi’s constant feeling of being torn between her Vietnamese and American identities and never feeling enough was especially heartbreaking. In A Bánh Mì for Two, Trinity Nguyen spotlights the inherent weight of trauma and the experiences of teens throughout the Vietnamese diaspora. I know so many people will relate to the experiences of Lan and Vivi and be empowered by the notion that their struggles are not just their own. Honestly, I spent most of this book either being far too hungry or crying when things got emotional and if that isn’t a glowing review I don’t know what is. A Bánh Mì for Two is a beautiful coming-of-age story encapsulating queerness, discovery, and familial and romantic love. Trinity Nguyen is a necessary new voice in fiction and I am so ready for more.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: grief, death of a loved one, generational trauma
Margot Rhodes, current high schooler and jack of all trades has never found a skill that she couldn’t hack, and then inevitably discard. But her latest foray into archeology may have taken it a smidge too far. After scheming her way onto a school archaeological trip to Italy while lacking all the necessary skills, Margot plans on following in the footsteps of Van Keane a teenage explorer from 1932 who mysteriously disappeared on the hunt for a mythical artifact. The Vase of Venus Aurelia has long been believed to hold tremendous power, but it hasn’t been seen in almost a century. Luckily, explorer Van Kean left behind a journal, and examining the last tie to this missing boy could help unite the vase. Walking in his footsteps one evening Margot finds herself in a room with an incredibly lifelike statue of Van Keane which then comes to life. The real-life Van Keane is the opposite of the romanticized version Margot had manifested in her head, prickly and driven by a sharp determination to right the wrong of a century ago. Margot and Van begrudgingly agree to team up to find the missing shards and restore the past to right. Spread out across Italy and guarded by intense challenges, the quest for the shards and the treasure won’t be easy and may come at the cost of their own hearts.
Falling in love with the statue you brought back to life while searching for the shards of a missing artifact that may grant you your heart’s greatest desire? It’s more likely than you think. Rachel Moore’s sophomore novel is for anyone who loves The Mummy, high-stakes adventures, and romance novels, all wrapped in an incandescent Italian summer. Margot Rhodes, A high schooler known to try everything and commit to nothing, schemes her way onto her school’s archaeological trip to Pompeii but gets more than she bargained for when she accidentally ignites an age-old search for the mythical Vase of Venus Aurelia. As a lover of romantic adventures, Moore is the author I’ve been waiting for. Us in Ruins brings together some of my favorite things across history, romance, and myth in one young adult standalone.
Us in Ruins follows the formulaic narrative for an adventure romance while carving out new paths for its two main characters. Framed in the architecture of Italy and its history, Us in Ruins centers on an unlikely partnership between soft-hearted Margot and stubborn former statue and explorer Van Keane, overshadowed by moments of yearning and keen understanding. I needed a fun romantic adventure in my life and this absolutely nailed that, while serving an unexpected amount of angst. Margot Rhodes, our protagonist, is searching for meaning in any way that she can after her mom left in search of bigger and better things. Pouring over Relics of the Heart, an adventure romance her mother left behind gives Margot inflated ideas of adventure and a love story of her own. The search for the shards of the Vase of Venus Aurelia and her grumpy companion in this endeavor ironically shatters those notions. Moore suffuses that classic grumpy sunshine pairing but in an adventure setting where their competing personalities could stand in the way of the treasure. I love how Moore developed trust between these two. Van may be the first person to see the real Margot lingering under the surface and he ultimately realizes that he judged her unfairly. Margot is a kind person who aches for love and affection from those she most cares for. She twists herself inside out time and time again to be something different, to be someone worthy of love – as if the person she was before her mom left wasn’t good enough. Moore highlights how misguided this is while an entirely different love story blossoms all on its own. Us In Ruins is for the people who want too much but don’t know how to reach for it, who are so scared of disappointment that they never settle for just one thing — who ultimately find solace in the love that they never expected to be granted. In her latest, Rachel Moore expertly balances adventure, cleverness, and heart, as two complete opposites realize the real quest might be winning over the other completely.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Literaryrobin 