I'm in such a weird place with this book because there's some stuff I really liked about it but I also think the marketing gave me false expectations. To start with the good stuff, I think this is what I really wanted Motor City Love Song to be. Both books wrestle with the idea of that one great love with whom you were in a semi toxic relationship, but Long Island Girls uses that fixation as a way to evaluate our own flaws. Is that person really the one or does that obsession allow us to avoid taking risks and growing. I thought that exploration was really interesting, especially the idea that we can tie our nostalgia to a person or relationship. I think I would have been much more receptive to this focus if the blurb and tags for this book didn't lead me to think it was more romance focused and set in the early aughts.

I want to make it super clear that this book is not a romance. Susan has many fleeting relationships but they act more as a vehicle for better understanding who she is at each stage of life. They also serve as a comparison for Eliza, her one that got away. I thought that we were going to spend like 50% of the book with Susan and Eliza working through their damage and falling in love in a lit fic style. That does not happen. I don't hate where things went, it felt very real, I think it just wasn't what I was in the mood for. Also if you're reading this book for a story set in the early 2000's you'll get a bit but the substance of the story is set in the 2010's and up to like 2023. If you want a head on look at nostalgia both good and bad then this will probably hit for you. If you're looking for a second chance romance or a book solely set in the indie music scene of the 2000's then this won't meet those expectations.

CW: date rape, lesbophobia, workplace sexual harassment, drug and alcohol abuse

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

No shock, Vasti executes another regency romance that strikes a great balance of silly and heartfelt. I just love the way that she writes heroines that are competent and intellectual. They always have their little quirks but we never get a damsel in distress. The smuggling/pirate element gave Ruby and her gang lots of opportunities for snooping which I loved. Vasti did a great job making me root for Ruby and Asher to get together. Specifically I really enjoyed how Ruby’s love of history, which made her a pariah in the ton, is what sparked Asher’s interest in her. You just believe these two are going to work out because of how much they respect each other.

I will say I’m much more excited for the prospect of a Tam/princess book but I think it makes sense for Alice to be next. Whatever happens with the princess is going to be dramatic and likely involve some political crisis, that’s just the stuff meant for a series finale. Also I’m a big fan of that evil dog I hope it keeps fucking shit up in the best way.

This was so wonderfully spooky and I had a great time. Having grown up Lutheran I've always had a fascination with Catholicism, the aesthetic elements and the whole saints thing is very cool. I really liked the way that religion was integrated into this story and the way that our characters wrestled with the schism between Catholicism and Protestantism. (Also I don't know a single thing about Calvinism, are y'all really taught that humans are inherently sinful shameful beings? Everyday I'm thankful to have been raised in the kumbaya weed smoking hippy religion that is the ELCA.) There were also great moments of our characters wrestling with the notion of religion while dealing with the horrors of war. How does one remain faithful when the world around them seems to show that there cannot be a just god? If you're not a fan of books that explore religion this one probably isn't for you, but if you've undergone a faith deconstruction then I think this will be some fun genre fiction to ponder.

CW; Multiple discussions and depiction of rape, gore, murder, sexual assault, suicide by hanging

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It took me a really long time to figure out why this book just didn't quite work for me and I think it comes down to our love interest Jacob. Since this is a second chance romance we don't watch Owen get to know Jacob which meant I didn't really understand his personality and why these two should be together. By the time I sort of figured out who Jacob was as a person I was around 70% into the book. I'm generally a big fan of a third person limited single POV romance, but I think that having dual POV would have really helped this story. There were some small hints about Jacob feeling unmoored and wanting to settle down but it wasn't addressed until the resolution at the end of the book. As a reader, I wasn't able to connect with the couple and root for them to get back together. When it comes to a second chance romance I need both characters to work through the fundamental flaws that led to the break up. We had a little bit of that with Jacob admitting he wanted to settle down and Owen acknowledging that he struggles to do hard things that may result in failure. I just kept comparing this book to The Pairing because of the slightly similar set ups. Comparing a book to CMQ is generally going to lead to disappointment, but it really stood out when it comes to the character growth. Theo and KIt have a reckoning with their flaws and both attempt to do a grand gesture to demonstrate that change. If you're fine with two pretentious leads, then I would recommend The Pairing over Ship Happens. Hopefully Deaver's next book is more of a hit for me because I really did enjoy his adult debut, The Build A Boyfriend Project.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think I've read three or four books this year with a similar premise or aesthetic to this book, Apparently Sir Cameron Needs to Die probably shares the most elements with Nemesis Mine. If I was to compare the two I would say the romance in Sir Cameron was more effectively executed, however the worldbuilding and plot of Nemesis Mine came together better. I've never read Assistant to the Villain, but the tone and setting are pretty comparable. If you're a fan of that kind of anachronistic middle ages setting then I think that this will be right up your alley.

This book feels very campy and the whole system of towns electing a champion is very silly. I'm a big fan of a curmudgeonly villain that deep down has a good heart and this book delivered in that department. Cyrus gets up to no good but it's more in a mustache twirling Batman TV show sense. The romance element of this story was also quite cute and I don't have any real gripes about it. What kept this from being a totally success for me were the couple of miscommunication scenes that made the story feel cyclical. Still I had a great time and this is definitely worth the read.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.