I didn’t know much about Strange the Dreamer or Muse of Nightmares before I dove into this duology (which was chosen for me to read by my friend Kelly a couple of months ago), except for a few key elements: a dreamer name Lazlo Strange, and a city now only known as Weep. In truth, I think that the best way to experience this story is without any preconceived ideas about the plot. But if you’re the type who would prefer even the barest hint of what you’re going to get with Laini Taylor’s most recently concluded series, I will say this: it is a story of gods and of monsters, and what it truly means to be one or the other, and it is about knowledge and identity and truth as well.

I’d been warned more than once that Strange the Dreamer starts off slow, but even with my expectations tempered, it still felt as unhurried as I’d been promised. This is likely due the fact that the book is largely driven by the characters and not the plot, which is understandably not every reader’s cup of tea. But it didn’t put me off the book, and instead contributed to the growing fascination I developed as I got to know the characters more intimately with every chapter. The pace does pick up in the second half, culminating in an action-packed series of events at the end that left me unsettled and unsure of what direction Taylor would take next.

I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for other readers who waited a year between books, but I was comforted knowing that I could dive straight into Muse of Nightmares. I also know that reading these two titles back to back really enhanced my experience of Taylor’s work, as they just feel like two separate parts of a much bigger story. Unlike its predecessor, this novel is action-packed right from the start. I can honestly admit that I had no clue what direction the story was going to go in (nor am I fond of all the elements introduced by the end), but I was fine just being along for the ride, towed right along by Taylor’s signature lyrical prose up until the very end.

The experience of being vividly immersed in an incredibly imaginative world, guided only by the lovely writing style Taylor employs and willingly allowing myself to be directed towards the end – it was something special and incredibly unique, and I am glad to have experienced it. While this duology does not quite eclipse the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy as my favorite series I’ve read from Laini Taylor so far, I’d definitely say it was worth the read.

Emily has relocated temporarily to the small town of Willow Creek to help her sister out as she recovers from an accident. This works out very well for her, as she’s still trying to figure out what she wants to do going forward after the future with her ex that she’s been planning for and working towards has fallen apart. But the summer appears to have more in store for Emily than she bargained on, including being roped into the local Renaissance Faire alongside her niece and finding herself attracted to Simon, the teacher in charge of the faire. Even as Simon and Emily butt heads in real life (over the faire and Shakespearean theories, to name a couple of things), their characters at the faire are flirting and falling in love. But is it all just for show? Or will Emily be able to figure out if she really has a place in Willow Creek and in Simon’s life? 

A rom-com set at a Renaissance Faire – that very basic description of Well Met was what caused me to add the book to my TBR immediately after I learned about it. I’m happy to report, this contemporary romance is an utter delight! Well Met has so many elements that I love, including:

• a relatable main character in Emily, who is at a personal crossroads as she determine what to with the rest of her life now that her former dreams have been dashed (and she’s also bookish, clever dedicated to hard work and helping out and is game to do new things) 
• a swoon-worthy love interest in Simon, who is not only bookish and smart, but also happens to be extremely dedicated to and passionate about the tradition of the Renn Faire, capable of handling the variety of people involved in the production… and surprisingly vulnerable due to parts of his past that are revealed as the novel goes on 
• a hate-to-love romance that was so easy to root for, and between the banter that they exchange as themselves and as their Renn Faire counterparts and the moments that they share, you will be hard-pressed not to giggle or swoon as you read (and I know I did plenty of both) 
• a set of lovable secondary characters who popped off the page just as much as the main couple did (and I would totally read about them in future books)
• a small town setting, which felt cozy and familiar to me as someone who grew up primarily in a small town too and I loved the fact that this small town happened to boast of a local Renn Faire (and though I’ve never been to one, this novel just further convinced me that I need to go at least once someday) and their own indie bookstore 

I really and truly had the best time reading Well Met (which I buddy read with Melanie)! It brought me such joy to read all about Emily, Simon and the rest of the residents of Willow Creek as the summer flew by. It made me laugh, it made me swoon, it even brought me to tears, and the fact that I felt all the things really confirmed just how much I adored this book. I’m thrilled that this one lived up to my personal expectations, and that I can say with confidence that Well Met is one of my favorite romances I’ve read this year. Add this one to your TBR if you haven’t already – I’d highly recommend it! 

Well Met was released on September 3, 2019 from Berkley. 

I received an ARC from the publisher for review.

I’m a Christina Lauren fan, so I was incredibly excited when I was able to pick up an early copy of Twice in a Blue Moon this year. This second chance romance story, while certainly not perfect, made me cry, and because it’s a rarity for a romance to hit me in the feels that hard these days, I have a rather large soft spot for it. Tate and Sam meeting as young adults when they are both on trips to London, end up falling in love hard and fast but falling apart over a large betrayal. The story picks up years later when Tate has become a famous actress and ends up cast as the lead in a movie that, surprise twist (and I say that with loving sarcasm because if you read a ton of romance, it’s not really a surprise twist), written by Sam. You can likely imagine what goes on from there, friends. Now, the truth is I’m not usually a big second chance romance reader. I don’t have anything against the trope, but it’s not the one I tend to gravitate towards in my romances. But I did really like how it was done in Twice in a Blue Moon, as it was well-done (with the bonus of celebrity and movie star life in there). There were details that didn’t sit too well with me, and I did feel like we could have used a touch more of the secondary characters and relationships outside of the romance in it as well (which is why this one doesn’t rank quite as high as the Wild Seasons series does for me). But I did like it a lot, and it definitely hit me right in the feels, so I still think Twice in a Blue Moon was a great new novel from Christina Lauren. 

Twice in a Blue Moon will be released on October 22, 2019 by Gallery Books.

I picked up an ARC at BookExpo 2019 from the publisher.

There are a lot of things that I really liked about The Friend Zone. Kristen and Josh both felt very real, as Jimenez did a very good job in showcasing their personalities and their struggles. She also did well in developing the relationship (from antagonism to friendship to romance), with their banter being a real highlight of the reading experience. But I was not a fan of the emotional cheating early on, though I could understand how the couple got there, nor was I fond of the big dramatic turn of events towards the end. What really frustrated me, however, was the stonewalling centered around the main reason they couldn’t be in a real relationship because it felt completely unnecessary. I’m still glad I read it, and I liked Jimenez’s writing style enough to know I’ll read more of her work, but sadly, The Friend Zone was ultimately just a slightly-above-average read for me. 

The Friend Zone was released on June 11, 2019 from Forever Romance. 

I received an e-galley from the publisher via NetGalley for review.

I had so much fun reading Fix Her Up (which I buddy read with Kristin)! It has two of my favorite romance tropes (fake dating and the love interest being the main character’s brother’s best friend) done extremely well. While the plot isn’t particularly original, Bailey did manage to make it come to life in her own unique way by having two well-fleshed out main characters (and interesting secondary characters too), as well as copious amounts of banter, sexytimes and romance (that really had me giggling and swooning). It’s a delightful new addition to the world of literary rom-coms, and I would highly recommend checking it out. (Be warned, there is a fair amount of the nickname “baby girl”, which was not for me, but it might not bother other people.) 

Fix Her Up (Hot and Hammered #1) was released on June 11, 2019 from Avon. 

I received a finished paperback copy from the publisher for review consideration.

While this novel has been getting a lot of buzz online, I was still so surprised by how much I ended up enjoying There Will Come a Darkness. The basic set-up of this fantasy series starter is that there are five individuals tied together by a prophecy that seems to indicate they will be involved in either the salvation or destruction of the world as they know it. Sounds great, if not anything particularly new in the fantasy genre, yes? And, fortunately, I really ended up enjoying this one! What I found most impressive has to do with the juggling of POVs. It’s no easy feat to juggle multiple perspectives for an ensemble cast tale, but I think Pool did her characters and their individual narratives justice. I was able to easily distinguish between the characters, and I was genuinely interested in the outcome of all their narratives – which isn’t always the case with these types of stories. It kept me zipping through this tome (which is just under 500 pages) without pause, as I really needed to know what happened next! The plot might have reflected bits of other fantasy stories that I’ve read before, but I think Pool puts just enough of her spin on them to keep things interesting. I did find the world and lore a bit confusing, since readers are dropped right into the thick of things with the first chapter, but once the ball gets rolling and things start getting pieced together, it all started getting a bit clearer. While I didn’t necessarily love every little thing about this story, I do think it was well-done, and I am curious to see where the author takes us with the next installment. 

Favorite ensemble cast story? I'm really torn here because I want to choose both the Avengers film quartet and the TV show Friends, so I'm just going to take the opportunity to name drop both for my answers to this question.

There Will Come a Darkness was released on September 3, 2019 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR).

I received an ARC from the publisher for review.

Prior to The Lady Rogue, my only experience with Jenn Bennett’s work has been reading all her young adult contemporary novels (which have been truly enjoyable for the most part). I was mildly apprehensive, but mostly eager to start this one – and I’m happy to be able to say that it was a fun one, if ultimately not a new favorite. This novel is, at its heart, is a historical romp with a touch of the fantastical. It starts off with a mystery that is specifically centered around a bone ring that was said to give power to Vlad the Impaler and is the object that main character Theodora’s father was tasked to retrieve. But after her father’s disappearance and the unexpected reappearance of his former ward (and her former flame) Huck, they begin an investigation that results in an unexpected journey. I really enjoyed the first half, finding myself very interested in the Vlad the Impaler aspect, the set-up of the mystery and the likable (if ultimately not memorable) main characters. But I lost reading momentum in the second half, finding it to be less engaging and the mystery turning into something simpler than expected (which meant I could guess at how all the pieces would fall into place). Still, The Lady Rogue was entertaining (and I could imagine a film adaptation being very fun indeed). I’d particularly recommend checking this one out if you’re partial to lighter fantasy reads, or fantasy YA with a historical aspect incorporated into the plot, or Jenn Bennett’s writing style.

Favorite mystery? I actually don't indulge in a ton of mystery stories (they're not generally my cup of tea), but I really enjoyed the mysteries covered in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and I will always be extremely attached to Nancy Drew mysteries since they were my childhood faves.

The Lady Rogue was released on September 3, 2019 by Simon Pulse.

I received an e-galley via NetGalley from the publisher for review.

The truth about Daisy Jones and the Six is that readers are either going to love this book or hate it. This stems primarily from two facts. First, the story format itself is a departure from most of the previous novels by Taylor Jenkins Reid, framing the story of Daisy Jones and the band The Six through interviews and media coverage instead of a full narrative. And second, these characters are living the lives of rock stars, complete with copious amounts of bad decisions, sexual encounters and consumption of alcohol and drugs, which means they’re not always likable or easy to root for. So, unsurprisingly, this novel has had the most polarizing reactions from many folks who have read (or attempted to read) it. 

Personally, I was apprehensive when I started Daisy Jones and the Six. Did I think I would ever be interested in a tell-all type story about a rock and roll band? Not at all. Did I fret over the fact that this might turn out like Reid’s last novel release did for me? A fair bit. But it surprised me, this novel, and in a good way. 

It helps, I suppose, that I decided to listen to the advice of many other readers and listen to the audiobook. With a full cast (one voice actor for each role) and the incorporation of music, it made for an extremely engaging listening experience. It also made it easier to find the interview format a little less impersonal, since each narrator was excellent at making their given character stand out from the rest using mere inflections or affectations. So, before I go on, I must agree with others before and tell you that if you do get the chance to read this one via audiobook, I would also highly recommend it. 

I will say that I never expected to be as invested in Daisy Jones and the Six as I was, and I am confident in the fact that this happened because of the characters. These characters are all wonderfully complex, as readers will discover while getting to know each person involved in this tale with every succeeding interview. Reid certainly spotlights the many fine, admirable strengths these folks have, but she also doesn’t hold back in revealing their weaknesses and the terrible choices that lead to terrible circumstances. The interview format, in my opinion, worked well for this purpose, as it offered a multi-faceted perspective on each individual (based solely on who was talking about them at any given time). It all comes together to be a group of character studies, and I certainly admire Reid’s chosen approach in the telling. It’s not always easy to read about their ups and their downs, but there is a raw honesty to the portrayal of the series of events that make up the story of one Daisy Jones and her time with the band The Six before everything all falls apart. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was compelling, challenging and different from most of what I read this year, and I savored every single scandalous, intriguing second of it. While it certainly will appeal to a more niche set of readers and it still hasn’t eclipsed former novels of Reid’s to become my favorite, I thought Daisy Jones and the Six was well-done and one of my favorite reading experiences of the year. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was released on March 5, 2019 by Ballantine Books.