4.5 ⭐ ARC provided by NetGalley & Elodie Colliard ❤️ thank you so much!! 💌 This was my first ever Elodie Colliard book and OMG I’m obsessed 😍 I am definitely in my small-town fake dating romance era, and I devoured this one!! Also the cover has my heart!!! Its so beautiful 😭😍 I can stare at it every day🤭 The story had everything I adore: small-town charm, heartfelt moments, and chemistry that made me melt. Matt’s bond with his town folks — especially with his sister Daphne — completely warmed my heart. The autism rep with Daphne was beautifully done and added so much depth and authenticity to the story. I adored their sibling dynamic, the way he cared for her, and how it showed such a softer, protective side of him. On the other side, Zoey’s journey was so powerful. The way she constantly felt like she had to prove she was “good enough” really tugged at my heart. Watching her struggle, stumble, and then slowly grow into her own was so inspiring. She deserved all the love and belonging she found in the end. And can we talk about Zoey + Matt together?! Their chemistry was the perfect mix of tension, tenderness, and comfort. Every scene they shared felt electric in a sweet, small-town way 🥹 the kind that makes you root for them with your whole heart. 🥹💖 Elodie didn’t just give us a romcom, she gave us a story with heart. A balance of laugh-out-loud moments, emotional struggles, and a romance that feels both swoony and real. Her writing was so addictive, I swear I didn’t even realize how quickly I was turning pages until I was done. Overall, Hoax and Kisses was such a wholesome, heartwarming romance that made me laugh, melt, and ache in the best way. I’ll 100% be picking up more of Elodie’s books after this 💖 If you’re craving a small-town, fake-dating romance with cozy feels, family bonds, and meaningful rep 🎀 this one’s for you!

My MOST anticipated read of the year and I was lucky enough to get an ARC ❤️ thank you so much Lauren Asher and Valentine PR 🥹💖 This boooookkkkk >>>>> Lily and Lorenzo!!! I was already intrigued by the little crumbs we got in Love Redesigned and Love Unwritten, but nothing could’ve prepared me for how much their story would steal my heart. Lorenzo… my pookie, my shayla, my misunderstood king 😭 He’s been through so much, and reading about his struggles, especially his OCD diagnosis and the way it shaped his world, broke me in the best way. I just wanted to wrap him in the biggest hug. And don’t even get me started on his love language being acts of service 🥹 Every little thing he did to show Lily he loved her made me cry 😭 that kind of devotion is EVERYTHING. And Lily!! My sweet, pink-loving cutie. “My favorite neutral is pink” ICONIC. She’s so full of love and passion!! For her family, for her business, and for Lorenzo. The way she stood by him, encouraged him, and matched his every broken piece with patience and warmth… it was beautiful. Lauren’s writing style in this book felt extra special🥹 soft yet powerful, emotional but also comforting. She wove family, mental health, grief, and romance together seamlessly, making every page feel alive. The grief element especially hit me hard. Lily grieving her father while still carrying his love forward, and Lorenzo grieving both his parents, gave the story such a raw, human depth. Their love story wasn’t just about finding each other, it was about finding healing, learning to live with loss, and creating something new and beautiful together. Speaking of family! the dynamics had me sobbing. From the Lopezes to the Muñozes, everyone added richness to the story, but the way they embraced Lorenzo? My heart exploded. And the sister bond between Lily and Dahlia was such a highlight 🥹 it gave the story even more warmth. And that epilogue… oh my god. I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. It was the perfect bow on their love story, leaving me both emotional and ridiculously happy. Honestly, Love Arranged might be Lauren Asher’s best book yet. It’s swoony, heartfelt, emotional, and healing! everything I could ever want in a romance. One of my top reads of 2025 already, and I’ll be screaming about it forever.

This book had such a good start. The setup felt sharp, the whole con-artist angle had me intrigued, and I was like “ohhh this is about to be good.” For a while, it really gave me that fun cat-and-mouse vibe I wanted. But then… around the 40% mark, something shifted. I kept waiting for that aha moment to pull me back in, but instead I found myself drifting. The twists didn’t hit as hard, the pacing slowed down for me, and I just couldn’t fully get hooked again no matter how much I wanted to. It wasn’t a bad book at all! Ashley Elston’s writing is easy to follow and I totally get why people are hyping it. But personally, the hype didn’t hype me. I wanted a sharp, clever, twisty ride and ended up feeling a little underwhelmed instead. Still, if you’re into slow-burn cons and layered identities, you might love it more than I did.

4.5 ⭐ THIS ONE HAD ME GASPING. I thought I was smart. I thought I figured it out. I was sitting there all smug like “oh yeah I know where this is going” and then BAM. Freida McFadden pulled the rug out from under me at 3:40 AM and I was sitting straight up in bed like 👁️👄👁️ The tension??? So good. The mystery??? Twisted in all the best ways. And that final reveal??? Chef’s kiss. This book had my brain spiraling and my jaw on the floor. Every time I thought I had it, something else would throw me off again. Short, fast-paced, and impossible to put down!! Never Lie is the kind of thriller that messes with your head and makes you question everything. Freida really said “no sleep for you” and honestly I respect it.