“This life is a loan. And truthfully? Knowing that keeps me sharp. I need the fear.”

Thank you to Scribner Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was really excited about this book after loving Bright Young Women (which I always cite as the right way to use true crime in fiction). This wasn’t what I expected and the story never quite pulled me in.

The story follows Faye who returns to her college when her beloved mentor passes. She finds herself back in the presence of Henry, her former boyfriend. There relations was tumultuous and intense, and there is a tension now that they’re back in each other’s orbit. They’ve both moved on and have established successful, and Faye used their breakup for inspiration for a TV show. But when she finds herself trapped with him, there is more to the story than she thought.

There is something that is overall eerie and strange about this story, which does make it intriguing. Faye and Henry have an unorthodox chemistry that makes everything about their relationship suspect. The entire time it’s clear that what Henry is doing is a bit much more than just an episode of television. It feels sinister and such a commentary on how wealthy people expect to get away with everything.

I just never felt engaged in this story. Even when the stakes were high I never felt that adrenaline spike that I love in a thriller. The relationship with Faye and Henry felt like too much at times and almost didn’t feel like it fit. For me it felt like two different stories smashed together that didn’t quite work. I think there are people who will really enjoy this, but it just wasn’t for me.

“We’re both living in the aftermath. These massive events that completely changed the trajectories of our lives.”

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy of the book and to Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

This was so cute and fun, even though I will say celebrity romances aren’t always my favorite. The characters are so well developed and endearing that it makes this such a great read.

I loved Ramona and her journey as she transitions from being a pop star to a college student. Years spent in the public eye have taken their toll on her and she wants to do something different. She’s determined and smart, and seeing her work hard and change hr trajectory in life is really satisfying. Her struggles and trauma are relatable and keep her feeling grounded in reality despite her celebrity status.

Her chemistry with Nick is excellent. The teacher-student aspect gives their relationship higher stakes, but nothing ever feels weird. Nick is such a swoon. His relationship with his niece is also such a bright spot in the book. He’s level-headed and smart, and a good complement to Ramona. The trust they establish between each other is so beautifully done, making it easy to root for them.

The audiobook is narrated by Nelson Hobbs, Ellie Gossage, and Erin Hobbs and it’s so excellent. There is great emotion and heart in the narration that truly brings the story to life. This was really a joy to read.

“Isn’t the best life the one where you’re happy?”

Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed The Friendship Fling and was excited to see this one pop up. I like Georgia Stone’s writing, particularly her banter between characters. They have complete personalities and feel so real.

Dylan and Max are opposites. She is on time and likes to stick to a schedule. He likes to go with the flow. She agrees to a last-minute trip to a cabin in Wales, which is unlike her, but she also has to share a cabin with Max who she barely knows. The forced proximity boils the tension as they get to know each other and find genuine chemistry. But they have agreed on rules and that anything is temporary, despite their growing feelings.

This is such a great opposite attract romance. That aspects highlights Dylan’s and Max’s personalities while not being a glaring plot point. They feel different but their connection feels so deep. The banter is excellent and there is this perfect dry humor that balances out the story. Both Max and Dylan struggle with different things. We learn a lot about Max in the first book, but it’s different to hear his perspective. The plot is a bit predictable near the end, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable.

The audiobook is narrated by Hannah Parker and Matthew Biddulph, and they do such a great job. They manage to bring Dylan and Max to life. It’s funny and heart-wrenching, and everything a romance audiobook should be. It was so good to be back with these characters and I can’t wait for whatever’s next.

“In these tiny moments, when the spectacle is stripped away, when there is no reason for the day, what’s left appears to be something true, something fundamental to being a person.”

Thank you go Avid Reader Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is so intriguing as it follows Travis who is Death as he deals with helping people cross over. There’s something soft and emotional in the way the story is written, making everything feel a bit heightened.

Travis meets and starts to spend time with his neighbor, Dalia, and her daughters. There’s a connection between Travis and Dalia, but he also finds himself bonding with her older daughter Layla. In between, Travis visits different people as they die, helping them through the moment. He has such a kind way of dealing with different people, and a compassion that feels a bit surprising. He spends time with Dalia before and after a tragedy, and tis clear that she is causing him to look a bit differently about his profession.

It’s a very emotional story that focuses on grief and what that does to people. Watching Dalia deal with the fallout is difficult at times, but especially difficult for Travis who has developed feelings he doesn’t know how to handle. It can be emotional and hard to read, but the writing is so beautiful that it feels like you can connect to it as a reader. Dalia struggles with moving on and how the rest of her life will be, and Travis struggles with how he feels about her and if he is crossing a line.

The only real issue I had with this was the format of the book itself. It’s told in parts without chapters, but also paragraph breaks that can be from different perspectives and it can feel a bit confusing. The parts from the people who are dying are so compelling, but they feel slotted in a way that makes the effective and out of place. This is such a stunning and emotional book, and I wish the format was a bit more traditional for the flow of the story.

“Fame is a funny thing. We all have these people we look up to, larger-than-life celebrities who guide us along like lighthouses in the raging storm of life. Their art is there for us when nobody else is. Sometimes, it raises us. Then, one day, we learn something terrible. We learn these people we admire are not at all who they seemed to be, and suddenly we’re left with this strange hollowness.”

Big thanks to Tor Nightfire for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t normally pick quotes that long but my god did that one resonate. I heard it while listening and went back because I needed to hear it again. As with Chuck Tingle’s other books, this is delightfully bizarre and unexpectedly poignant.

The story follows Poppy who’s an influencer by day and a grave-robber by night. One night she’s tasked with retrieving the body of Eddie Michaels, a queer icon and rockstar that she has always held in high regard. But everything turns upside down when Eddie wakes up. The dynamic that follows is incredible, throwing the reader off course as Poppy embarks on a wild, terrifying night.

This book is wild, campy, and exciting. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It reads like a movie, the imagery so vivid and detailed. The horror aspects are excellent and gory, but the story shines with its critique of celebrity culture. Poppy is initially devastated when she finds out Eddie Michaels died, but her feelings change drastically as the story goes on. She’s such a great protagonist and I loved reading her journey.

Mara Wilson narrates the audiobook and she does an absolutely spectacular job. There is just something about her voice and inflections the suited this story perfectly. I had an absolute blast reading this, just like with his other books. And I’m so excited for whatever he writes next.