ੈ♡˳ summary: lowen ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of fi“some secrets are meant to stay buried.”
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ੈ♡˳ rating: 4/5 stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: lowen ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. jeremy crawford, husband of bestselling author verity crawford, hires lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. arriving at the crawford home, lowen stumbles upon an unfinished autobiography verity never intended for anyone to read. page after page, bone-chilling admissions unfold, including verity’s recollection of the night their family was forever changed. lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from jeremy, but as her feelings for him begin to intensify, she realizes the truth could destroy them both.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: i’ll be the first to admit i’m not a colleen hoover fan, but verity genuinely surprised me. this book hooked me from the very first page and didn’t let me go until the end. i felt myself falling deeper into the story as i read, to the point where i had to stop a few times because it felt too real. the atmosphere is unsettling in the best way, and the tension builds so gradually that by the time the big reveals come, you’re completely consumed by the story.
i had an idea of how it might end, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. in fact, the execution was so compelling that i didn’t even care if i had guessed parts of it correctly. that’s how i know a thriller is good — when the journey itself is as satisfying as the ending.
that said, the sex scenes were a miss for me. they felt unnecessary and out of place, almost like they were thrown in just to check a box rather than add anything meaningful to the plot. this isn’t a smut book, and the spicy scenes didn’t bring much value to the story.
still, the pacing was fantastic, the tension was constant, and colleen’s simple writing style made this a super fast read. i can see now why so many people rate this one so highly. it’s dark, twisted, and full of moments that make you question everything you think you know. this book might just make me rethink how i feel about colleen hoover as an author.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ psychological thriller ꕥ unreliable narrator ꕥ forbidden love ꕥ secrets and lies
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “some secrets are better left untold.” ➼ “some secrets should never be unearthed, especially those capable of destroying everything you thought you knew.” ➼ “some secrets refuse to stay buried, no matter how deep you try to hide them.”...more
“sometimes the person you think you know the least is the one you should fear the most.”
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༉‧₊˚❀ rating: 5/5 stars
༉‧₊˚❀ summary: whe“sometimes the person you think you know the least is the one you should fear the most.”
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༉‧₊˚❀ rating: 5/5 stars
༉‧₊˚❀ summary: when dawn moves into her new job at an executive firm, she hopes for a fresh start. her coworker connor seems normal enough, but odd occurrences begin to surface—things go missing, odd remarks are made, and dawn starts to wonder who she can trust. as paranoia creeps in and hidden agendas unravel, she’s forced to confront darkness in the people she works with and the secrets they hide.
༉‧₊˚❀ spice rating: 0/5 — all tension, no romance
༉‧₊˚❀ thoughts: frieda mcfadden kills it with the coworker. i love her books, but this one felt different in a so-good way. she hooked me from the beginning and i stayed because the suspense never let me go. what really made it stand out is that i didn’t see it coming. often in thrillers you can guess who’s lying or playing dumb, but here even the little innocuous characters kept me second guessing. that surprise ending? chef’s kiss. even though some characters didn’t deserve redemption, i respected how the story gave consequences.
and yes, this book taught me i know absolutely nothing about turtles, and i don’t feel bad about not learning more. weird side note, but it cracked me up every time. that small detail is the kind of weirdness frieda throws in that makes the story feel grounded in reality while everything else spirals.
the pacing was tight, the tension was real, and i never once considered putting it down. even when things got dark, the writing felt sharp enough to keep me engaged. the coworker is proof that frieda can still surprise me after all this time.
༉‧₊˚❀ fave quotes: this is not an arc (which i do not provide quotes for), so quotes are valid, but i’m skipping them here to let the story speak for itself....more
“it’s the only thing i’ve never been a hundred percent honest about. the only thing i’m guilty of. that night in your bed, i told you that i was falli“it’s the only thing i’ve never been a hundred percent honest about. the only thing i’m guilty of. that night in your bed, i told you that i was falling for you, but the truth is i’m already in love with you, rory st. james. so fucking in love with you that sometimes it feels like i can’t breathe.”
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༉‧₊˚❀ rating: 5/5 stars
༉‧₊˚❀ summary: kill cairney, a british rugby bad boy whose career ends in scandal, lands one final chance at redemption playing for an ivy league team in new hampshire. his only path forward involves earning the trust of rory st. james, the coach’s daughter, rugby obsessed and totally off-limits. they strike a deal to help each other but as their walls come down, feelings rise and rules start to break.
༉‧₊˚❀ thoughts: i loved red card. it was such a fun, emotional read that surprised me in all the best ways. kill isn’t just a stereotypical broody bad boy, he has layers and a real redemption arc. rory is more than just the coach’s daughter, she’s smart, funny, and trying to find her own footing. their chemistry was off the charts but also heartfelt. the slow burn worked perfectly and when the payoff finally came, it felt earned.
what pushed this to five stars for me was the fact that there was no third act breakup. finally a romance that lets the couple be grown ups, communicate, and stay together instead of falling apart for fake drama. it made their relationship feel stronger and made the ending so much more satisfying.
i loved the mix of romance and rugby too. it gave the story texture without drowning out the emotional beats. i laughed, i swooned, and i felt for both of them as they tried to rewrite their own stories. i’ll definitely be picking up more maren moore books after this one.
༉‧₊˚❀ fave quotes: ✿ “it’s the only thing i’ve never been a hundred percent honest about. the only thing i’m guilty of. that night in your bed, i told you that i was falling for you, but the truth is i’m already in love with you, rory st. james. so fucking in love with you that sometimes it feels like i can’t breathe.” ✿ “i love you, rory. you breathed life into me again, and now i just… i can’t live without you.” ✿ “no, st. james. you’re wrong. i want you so fucking bad that i’m losing my bloody mind. you think i haven’t stopped thinking about kissing you?”...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: the anthropocene reviewed is a collection of deeply personal essays where John Green reviews different aspects of theੈ♡˳ rating: 5/5 stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: the anthropocene reviewed is a collection of deeply personal essays where John Green reviews different aspects of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale. From the marvel of sunsets to the heartbreak of pandemics, from the complexities of love to the joy of scratch-and-sniff stickers, Green takes readers through moments that shape our shared existence with curiosity, grief, humor, and wonder.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: this book cracked me open in the gentlest, most john green way possible. like yes, it's literally a book of reviews, but it's also a love letter to being human. every little essay felt like a quiet moment of connection—some of them made me laugh, others had me tearing up out of nowhere. but the one thing they all did was make me feel seen.
john green has this incredible ability to take something small and seemingly random—like canada geese or teddy bears—and turn it into a reflection on the human condition. it’s poetic without trying too hard, philosophical without being pretentious, and honest in a way that just hits different.
i know some people say it's just him rambling, but honestly? it’s the kind of rambling that makes you feel a little less alone. it made me nostalgic, hopeful, and more okay with the messiness of being alive.
as someone who lived through the “lost years” of the pandemic as an adult, i felt this book deep in my soul. it captured so many emotions i didn’t know how to name. and even now, long after finishing it, i keep thinking about the little lessons tucked in between reviews of viral meningitis and hot dog eating contests.
if you’re looking for a book that’ll remind you why you care, why you love, why it’s okay to be soft in a hard world—this is it.
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “we all know how loving ends. but i want to fall in love with the world anyway, to let it crack me open.” ➼ “hope is the correct response to the strange and terrible miracle of consciousness.” ➼ “what i love about science is that as it takes your breath away, it also grounds you. it reminds you that you are small, but also that you are connected.” ➼ “attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: i’m glad my mom died by jennette mccurdy is a raw, unflinching memoir that details her life growing up as aੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: i’m glad my mom died by jennette mccurdy is a raw, unflinching memoir that details her life growing up as a child actor, her rise to fame on nickelodeon, and the deeply abusive relationship she had with her mother. from being forced into acting at a young age to dealing with disordered eating, anxiety, and the long-lasting effects of emotional manipulation, jennette’s story is heartbreaking and brave. after her mother’s death, she begins the painful process of figuring out who she is without the control that defined her entire childhood.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: i loved this book. it’s powerful and heartbreaking and somehow also funny in the darkest, most honest way. i grew up watching jennette mccurdy on tv, and reading this memoir knowing what she was going through behind the scenes was wild. i never would’ve imagined any of this.
the way she writes is so vulnerable but sharp—there’s no sugarcoating what she went through, and she doesn’t ask the reader to pity her. she’s just telling her truth. her voice is so clear and real that i felt like i was sitting with a friend while she told me the most painful parts of her life.
the relationship with her mom is obviously the heart of the book, and wow. it’s disturbing and complicated and so well-articulated. jennette captures that feeling of loving someone who’s hurting you, of not knowing where they end and you begin, and of slowly realizing you have to let go to save yourself. this memoir doesn’t pull any punches.
it talks about abuse, trauma, healing, and the impossible messiness of grief—especially when you’re grieving someone who caused you harm. and jennette never lets herself or anyone else off the hook. she’s honest, and that makes this book incredible.
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “i feel like the world is divided into two types of people: people who know loss and people who don’t.” ➼ “mom didn’t get better. but i will.” ➼ “i was conditioned to believe any boundary i wanted was a betrayal of her, so i stayed silent. cooperative.”...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: love in 280 characters or less by ravynn k. stringfield is a beautifully written debut that follows a youngੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: love in 280 characters or less by ravynn k. stringfield is a beautifully written debut that follows a young black woman as she navigates love, ambition, social media, and self-discovery. set against the backdrop of an academic world and the chaotic, vulnerable space of online connection, this is a coming-of-age story about what it means to be seen, to choose yourself, and to create a life on your own terms.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: first off, a huge thank you to the author ravynn k. stringfield and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book. i feel genuinely honored to have read it early because this story matters.
this book was so tender and raw and thoughtful. it perfectly captured what it feels like to be a young black woman trying to carve out space for joy, creativity, and love in a world that constantly demands so much of you. the main character’s voice was so real—sharp when she needed to protect herself, soft when she finally let someone in. i loved how social media was integrated into the story in a way that actually felt meaningful and true to how we experience connection today.
it’s about more than just falling in love—it’s about figuring out how to love yourself, how to fight for the life you want, and how to hold space for softness even when the world tells you not to. i truly adored this book and can’t wait to see what ravynn k. stringfield writes next.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ coming of age ꕥ online-to-real life connection ꕥ academic setting ꕥ slow-burn romance ꕥ self-discovery & identity
------ pre-read: got the arc for this and it’s been so long since i’ve read a book with a black fmc so this book is skipping all the others on my tbr for now....more
ੈ♡˳ summary: lost and lassoed by lyla sage is the third book in the rebel blue ranch series, and it follows teddy andersੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: lost and lassoed by lyla sage is the third book in the rebel blue ranch series, and it follows teddy andersen—an artist who’s feeling stuck and a little lost—as she returns to her hometown of meadowlark, wyoming. when she ends up working alongside gus ryder, her best friend’s older brother (and longtime nemesis), sparks start to fly in a very unexpected way. gus is grumpy, broody, and a single dad just trying to keep things together for the summer. teddy’s sunshiney chaos is the last thing he thinks he needs… but maybe it’s exactly what he’s been missing.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: okay—i loved the first two books, but this one?? this one took the cake. teddy and gus have this perfect grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers energy that had me hooked from the very first page. teddy is chaotic in the best way, and gus is such a gruff, protective, soft-on-the-inside kind of guy, and together?? absolute magic. their banter?? elite. the slow burn?? delicious.
what really got me though was how emotional and real their journeys felt—both of them dealing with fear, change, and figuring out what they actually want in life. gus’s daughter added the sweetest layer to the story, and the entire small-town vibe of meadowlark just made me feel so cozy and connected to the world lyla sage is building.
lyla is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. she writes book boyfriends like no one else and gives her characters so much heart. i already can’t wait to reread this, and i’m counting down the days for whatever she writes next.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ grumpy/sunshine ꕥ enemies to lovers ꕥ forced proximity ꕥ single dad ꕥ best friend’s brother
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “life had begun to feel bittersweet, and i was getting all of the bitter and everyone else was getting the sweet.” ➼ “i didn’t know what i wanted, but i knew it wasn’t this.” ➼ “sometimes, the things we need are right in front of us, but we’re too stubborn to see them.”
overall: this one was everything. it had heart, heat, humor, and so much emotional depth. i loved every second of it. 5/5 stars, no question. —— pre-read: since this series is starting to become my favorite... it's time to read the next book over the course of the next 24 hours....more
ੈ♡˳ summary: in everything is tuberculosis, john green takes us on a personal, historical, and global journey through the wੈ♡˳ rating: 5 out of 5 stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: in everything is tuberculosis, john green takes us on a personal, historical, and global journey through the world’s deadliest infectious disease: tuberculosis. blending memoir, public health education, and fierce advocacy, green highlights the stories of those affected by TB—both historically and today—and shines a light on how inequality, pharmaceutical greed, and global neglect have kept this curable disease a crisis.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: this book was not what i expected from john green, but it was everything it needed to be. i was honestly shocked at how many reviews tried to drag this book for “pushing a racial agenda”—like be serious. if you think talking about african countries struggling with healthcare access is controversial, maybe take that as a cue to reflect and read more, not less.
green never said tb only affects african nations. he literally talked about european royalty dying from it, the u.s. public health response, and even how tuberculosis played a role in his own family history. what he did do was emphasize the fact that a huge percentage of TB cases and deaths still happen in countries that have been economically exploited and underfunded in healthcare. and he didn’t shy away from calling out big pharma either. honestly, the way he laid out how pharmaceutical companies hoard patents and prevent affordable access to life-saving drugs was infuriating—and something more people need to understand.
this book is as much about the disease as it is about inequality. and i love that green used his platform to center global health justice without turning it into a white savior story. it felt like he was genuinely learning and sharing as he went, not trying to be the voice of anyone else's experience.
also, can we talk about how he made all of this readable? like somehow it’s both deeply informative and still very “john green” in its storytelling style. it reminded me why i loved his writing in the first place.
if you’re into public health, social justice, or just want to learn something important while feeling a million things—this is worth picking up.
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “this is a book about tuberculosis, but it is also about how we understand the world around us—and how that understanding might shape the world for the better.”
➼ “the problem is not that people with tuberculosis are poor. the problem is that people are poor, and that poverty makes them vulnerable to tuberculosis.”
➼ “if you can be cured, you should be cured. that is the simplest moral proposition i know.”...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow follows a dynamic group of creatives as they navigate liffull review: ੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow follows a dynamic group of creatives as they navigate life, love, and art over decades, capturing the beauty and messiness of growing up and evolving together without any major spoilers.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: omg, this book is an absolute whole vibe. sure, the characters made me roll my eyes at times, but that's only because they're so real and human – flawed, messy, and dealing with genuine problems. i loved that their imperfections made them relatable and the story even more immersive. the narrative is cinematic, like you're watching a movie of your life, and every page just pulls you in deeper. honestly, i can't think of a single thing wrong with this masterpiece. if you're into stories that mix creativity with raw, heartfelt emotion, this one is a must-read.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ multi-decade narrative ꕥ found family ꕥ creative collaboration ꕥ art as life ꕥ transformative journey
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes:
➼ “this is what time travel is. it’s looking at a person, and seeing them in the present and the past, concurrently. and that mode of transport only worked with those one had known a significant time.” ➼ “what does love even mean when you can find it with so many people and things?” ➼ “this life is filled with inescapable moral compromises. we should do what we can to avoid the easy ones.” --—
what a book! omg! rtc! i loved this book so much. ...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: joan goodwin has always known her destiny lies in the stars. as one of nasa’s first female astronauts in the 1980s, sੈ♡˳ rating: 5/5 stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: joan goodwin has always known her destiny lies in the stars. as one of nasa’s first female astronauts in the 1980s, she’s trained for everything—except falling for a fellow astronaut. balancing ambition, duty, and the terrifying beauty of space, joan’s journey becomes one of self-discovery, heartbreak, and the kind of love that changes your entire orbit.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: this book was everything. i’ve missed taylor jenkins reid so much and atmosphere is exactly what i’ve been craving. joan?? she owned me. she was complex and flawed and painfully real—ambitious but human, strong but not invincible. her story didn’t just feel like a love story, it felt like a life story.
the way the book explored space as both a physical place and a metaphor for isolation, grief, and hope? insane. i was clinging to every page. and frances??? literally mvp. her dynamic with joan was just as impactful as the romantic subplot, if not more. i want a whole book about her.
joan and vanessa’s relationship had me in my feels. soft but powerful. subtle but undeniable. it never felt like a forced romance, but something inevitable—written in the stars (literally).
this book isn’t just a romance. it’s about legacy. about chasing big dreams. about what it means to come back down to earth after you’ve been to the edge of the universe. i cried, i highlighted, i stared at the wall after finishing.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ women in stem ꕥ sapphic romance ꕥ found family ꕥ ambition vs. love ꕥ grief and healing ꕥ slow burn ꕥ love through time
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “but i want to go somewhere so few people have ever gone that you could name them all—and when people do name them, i want them to name me.” ➼ “being human was such a lonely endeavor. we alone have consciousness; we are the only intelligent life force that we know of in the galaxy. we have no one but one another.” ➼ “because the world had decided that to be soft was to be weak, even though in joan’s experience being soft and flexible was always more durable than being hard and brittle.” ➼ “i can’t imagine you ever being lonely,” she said. “i can’t imagine that everyone’s not begging to stand next to you all the time.” ➼ “i can wake up every single day and choose you, over and over and over again… i will seek you out. i will spend the rest of my life, if i get that lucky, seeking you out.” ⸻ this one is going on my i will think about this forever shelf. it’s not just about space—it’s about the people who risk it all to reach for more, and the ones who tether them back to earth....more
ੈ♡˳ summary: king of envy by ana huang is book five in the kings of sin series and follows vuk markovic, a guarded, hypeੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: king of envy by ana huang is book five in the kings of sin series and follows vuk markovic, a guarded, hyper-private billionaire, and ayana kidane, a rising supermodel stuck in a glamorous but suffocating engagement. when their paths cross, what starts as flirtation quickly escalates into something much deeper—and much more dangerous. with secrets, reputations, and emotions on the line, vuk and ayana have to decide whether what they feel is worth the risk.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: i was fully obsessed with this book from start to finish. vuk and ayana’s connection is magnetic—the kind of slow burn that simmers until it finally explodes in the best way. the chemistry?? off the charts. but it’s not just lust. this book dives deep into emotional tension, longing, and the fear of being truly seen.
ayana was everything i love in a heroine: smart, vulnerable, and deeply underestimated by the people around her. i loved watching her fight for herself in a world that constantly tried to define her. she deserved a love that saw her completely, and vuk gave her that—no matter how hard he tried to pretend otherwise.
and vuk… don’t even get me started. cold and emotionally unavailable? yes. but he chooses ayana over and over again in quiet, meaningful ways. i loved watching his walls come down slowly, piece by piece, because she was the one person who made him feel safe enough to be real.
ana huang knows how to write tension—whether it’s in a look, a sentence, or a near kiss. i found myself rereading scenes just to feel that spark again. and even with all the heat and angst, there’s a softness to this story that made it so special. it’s a book about choosing vulnerability, about rewriting the rules of love, and about healing even when you didn’t think you needed to.
i devoured this book. i’m still thinking about this book.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ forbidden love ꕥ billionaire x model ꕥ slow burn ꕥ reclusive/morally gray hero ꕥ "he falls first" ꕥ forced proximity
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “because she was his when she should be mine.” ➼ “but with ayana, there was no walking away. no negotiation. she was mine, and i would die before i lost her.” ➼ “it was stupid, but i collected his words the way i collected perfumes and shoes. they glinted like precious stones in the sand, proof that he trusted me enough to communicate with me openly when he didn’t have to. he simply chose to.” ➼ “if you were my fiancée, i wouldn’t look at another woman. entertainment or not.” ➼ “people who were that riled up about each other either ended up killing each other or falling in love.” ----- post read: vuk the man that u are. what a man what a man. full rtc. ...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: spiral by bal khabra is a fake-dating sports romance that brings together the worlds of professional hockeyੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: spiral by bal khabra is a fake-dating sports romance that brings together the worlds of professional hockey and ballet. elias westbrook, a newly drafted nhl player for the toronto thunder, is struggling under immense pressure, his career is just starting, but the media is already scrutinizing his every move. sage beaumont, a dedicated ballerina, is facing her own challenges, without enough social media attention, she might not get the roles she’s been working toward her entire life. to fix their public images, they strike a deal: a fake relationship that benefits them both. but as they spend more time together, the past comes creeping in, and suddenly, the line between fake and real isn’t so clear anymore.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: this book completely took over my brain. elias is the perfect book boyfriend—protective, patient, and just the right amount of possessive without being overbearing. the way he treats sage??? obsessed. and sage?? i loved her. she’s so strong, so determined, but still soft in a way that makes you root for her every step of the way. their backstories were so well developed, and i loved that the book didn’t just throw their pasts aside. it actually built on them to make their connection even stronger. also, the tension??? immaculate. every interaction between them had me fully invested.
this book had everything, angst, longing, undeniable chemistry, and a romance that felt earned. i loved how their past wounds weren’t magically fixed just because they found each other, but instead, they helped each other heal in a way that felt real. i already know i’m going to be thinking about this one for a long time.
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “does it look like i’m fucking jealous?” he says. “i don’t care about him. i care about you.” ➼ “what does it mean when your celibate fake boyfriend kisses you like he’d die if he didn’t?” ➼ “this is for me?” “it’s always for you.”
overall: this book fully delivered on everything i wanted and more. if you love fake dating, deep emotional backstories, and a hero who worships the ground the fmc walks on, you need to read this. 5/5 stars. ------ post read: ohhhhhhh mama ate with this book >>> 10x better than the first book. full rtc. ...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: daisy jones and the six is a fictional oral history that tells the explosive rise and eventual fall of a 70ੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: daisy jones and the six is a fictional oral history that tells the explosive rise and eventual fall of a 70s rock band. through a series of interviews and firsthand accounts, the book reveals the electrifying dynamics of the band, the creative magic behind their music, and the tumultuous relationships that both fueled their success and led to their eventual breakup.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: omg, this book is seriously amazing. it's easily the best of taylor jenkins reid in my book, and i never thought i'd actually find daisy jones likeable until now – she's full of surprises. every character in this wild ride brings something unique to the table, from the raw passion of the rockstars to the behind-the-scenes drama that makes the band feel so real. i loved how the story captures the messy, imperfect nature of creative genius and the way it dives deep into personal struggles and triumphs. even though the characters made me roll my eyes at times, that's exactly what made them relatable and human. the book is a total celebration of music, love, and the chaos of life – and i honestly can't think of anything wrong with it.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ rockstar romance ꕥ slow burn attraction ꕥ creative tension ꕥ band dynamics ꕥ bittersweet rise and fall
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes:
➼ “i don’t believe in soul mates anymore and i’m not looking for anything. but if i did believe in them, i’d believe your soul mate was somebody who had all the things you didn’t, that needed all the things you had. not somebody who’s suffering from the same stuff you are.” ➼ “i’m saying that when you really love someone, sometimes the things they need may hurt you, and some people are worth hurting for.” ➼ “all i will say is that you show up for your friends on their hardest days. and you hold their hand through the roughest parts. life is about who is holding your hand and, i think, whose hand you commit to holding.” ------ post-read:: stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this. tjr has done it again. this is possibly her best book. full etc. ✨ ——— pre-read: back in the tjr universe ...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: swift and saddled by lyla sage is the second book in the rebel blue ranch series, and it brings us back to ੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: swift and saddled by lyla sage is the second book in the rebel blue ranch series, and it brings us back to meadowlark, wyoming, with another swoon-worthy cowboy romance. ada hart, a city girl with big dreams, takes on a design project to renovate the rebel blue ranch, but things take an unexpected turn when she shares a steamy, impulsive kiss with a handsome stranger in a dive bar—only to find out he’s her new boss, weston ryder. what starts as a simple work relationship quickly turns into something much more complicated as ada and weston fight their growing feelings while working together at the ranch.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: i loved this book just as much as the first one. lyla sage is seriously doing an amazing job bringing these characters to life, and she has a way of making small-town romance feel so real and warm. ada and weston’s chemistry was off the charts, but what really made this book stand out was the depth of both characters. ada is strong and independent, but you can also feel her vulnerabilities and fears, and weston?? perfect book boyfriend material. he’s patient, he’s steady, he’s all in for her, and i couldn’t get enough of him.
the romance was the perfect mix of tension, longing, and those little heart-stopping moments that just get you. and the way they built on their pasts to create something real for their future?? obsessed. the pacing was perfect, the side characters added so much to the story, and honestly, i didn’t want to put this book down.
i’m so invested in this series now, and i cannot wait for the next one!
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “you’re the moon. and i’m the tides. you pull me in without even trying, and i come to you willingly. i always will.” ➼ “i followed my dreams, and they led me back to you.” ➼ “as far as friends went, i didn’t really have any—not because i didn’t want them, but because making friends as an adult is hard. honestly, i enjoyed solitude, but there’s a difference between that and being lonely.”
overall: lyla sage has done it again. she knows how to write book boyfriends that are top tier, and her storytelling just pulls you right in. this series is shaping up to be one of my favorites, and i already know i’ll be rereading this one. 5/5 stars. ----- post-read: i loved this book!! i thought it was so much better than the first one. such an easier read as well. wes has my heart right now, sorry ada. ——— pre-read: excited to get through this series!! ...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: done and dusted by lyla sage is a sweet, heartwarming romance that follows two imperfect souls as they naviੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: done and dusted by lyla sage is a sweet, heartwarming romance that follows two imperfect souls as they navigate love, personal growth, and a little bit of family drama in a world that feels both modern and timeless. the story is set against a backdrop of quirky traditions and everyday challenges, and it even drops clever nods to classics like pride and prejudice and the great gatsby, which add an extra layer of charm to the narrative.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: omg, i absolutely adored this book. it's so cute and perfectly paced, like a warm hug on a chilly day. even though the characters sometimes make you roll your eyes with their sass and stubbornness, that's exactly what makes them feel so real. their witty banter and slow burn romance had me hooked from page one. i loved how lyla sage shows that even when life gets messy, there’s beauty in every imperfection. the way she weaves in real-life elements and even references actual books gives the story a fun, intellectual twist that totally resonates with the booktok vibe. honestly, i can't wait to read the rest of the series – this book left me wanting more and more of those adorable, transformative love moments.
ੈ♡˳ tropes: ꕥ slow burn romance ꕥ friends to lovers ꕥ second chance vibes ꕥ witty banter ꕥ transformative love journey
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “you know, if you don’t like the road you’re on, you can always pave a new one.” ➼ “i couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and i got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as clementine ryder.” ➼ “some love stories burn hot and fast, but you two are more low and slow,” she said. “it’s a strong and steady kind of love.” ----- pre-read: super excited for this series!...more
ੈ♡˳ summary: the seven year slip by ashley poston is a breathtaking story that blends love, time, and fate in the most mੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: the seven year slip by ashley poston is a breathtaking story that blends love, time, and fate in the most magical way. clementine west, a dedicated book publicist, has always believed in keeping her heart guarded. after inheriting her late aunt’s apartment—a place filled with memories and rumored to have a unique connection to time—she soon discovers just how unpredictable life can be. one day, she walks into her kitchen and finds a man standing there. the only problem? he’s living in the past—seven years ago. as clementine and iwan build a connection across time, she is forced to confront the ghosts of her past and the possibility of a future she never expected.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts: i don’t even know how to put into words how much i loved this book. the writing is lyrical, emotional, and effortlessly immersive. the way ashley poston blends magical realism with raw, heartfelt storytelling is just stunning. this book is about more than just romance—it’s about grief, change, fate, and learning to let go. clementine’s journey of self-discovery was so beautifully done, and her character felt so real that i found pieces of myself in her struggles.
and iwan. he is everything. a charming, passionate chef with a heart so big it physically hurts. his love for food, his zest for life, his soft but steady presence—he’s the kind of love interest that stays with you long after you close the book. and the chemistry between him and clementine??? actual magic. the way their past and present intertwine is so well done, and their love story made me believe in fate all over again.
i can’t believe i’ll never get to read this book for the first time again. if i could erase my memory and start over, i would.
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes: ➼ “my aunt used to say, if you don’t fit in, fool everyone until you do. she also said to keep your passport renewed, to pair red wines with meats and whites with everything else, to find work that is fulfilling to your heart as well as your head, to never forget to fall in love whenever you can find it because love is nothing if not a matter of timing, and to chase the moon.” ➼ “sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.” ➼ “love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.” ------ post-read: this book was so worth the wait. i fell in love with it. i’m so sad i’ll never be able to read it for the first time again. ——- pre-read: i don’t think i’ve ever been more excited to finally read a book!...more
“people think that intimacy is about sex. but intimacy is about truth.”
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༉‧₊˚❀ rating: 5/5 stars
༉‧₊˚❀ summary: aging hollywood lege“people think that intimacy is about sex. but intimacy is about truth.”
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༉‧₊˚❀ rating: 5/5 stars
༉‧₊˚❀ summary: aging hollywood legend evelyn hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous yet scandal-filled life. she handpicks monique grant, an unknown journalist, to write her biography. as evelyn recounts her rise to fame, her seven marriages, and the secrets she’s kept hidden for decades, monique begins to realize her own life is more connected to evelyn’s story than she ever could have imagined.
༉‧₊˚❀ spice rating: 1/5 — not spicy, but emotionally intimate and powerful
༉‧₊˚❀ thoughts: this book completely took my breath away. evelyn hugo is one of the most captivating and morally complex characters i’ve ever read. taylor jenkins reid somehow manages to balance the glamour of old hollywood with the heartbreaking realities behind it, and the result is magic. evelyn is fierce, ambitious, and flawed in a way that feels deeply human. she does what she has to do to survive, and even when her choices are ruthless, you understand her.
what makes this book so special is that it feels like evelyn is sitting right in front of you, telling her story. the interview format through monique gives it a documentary feel that makes the story even more immersive. every chapter peels back another layer of her life and of the illusion of fame itself. the writing is sharp and emotional, and the pacing keeps you hooked until the very last page.
the twist towards the end caught me completely off guard in the best way possible. it tied everything together beautifully and made me rethink everything i had read. this book isn’t just about love; it’s about identity, power, and the price of ambition. it’s about how people reinvent themselves again and again to survive.
this story feels like it will stay with me forever. it’s dazzling, tragic, and hauntingly human. evelyn hugo doesn’t just tell her truth, she forces you to look at your own.
༉‧₊˚❀ tropes: ꕥ old hollywood ꕥ morally gray protagonist ꕥ found family ꕥ rags to riches ꕥ tragic love story ꕥ bi rep done beautifully
༉‧₊˚❀ fave quotes: ✿ “never let anyone make you feel ordinary.” ✿ “people think that intimacy is about sex. but intimacy is about truth.” ✿ “you do not know how fast you have been running until someone catches you.” ✿ “i spent half my life loving her and the other half hiding how much i loved her.”...more
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