Book Review: Devil in Disguise

I've had an overall positive experience reading The Ravenels  historical romance series from Lisa Kleypas, but the latest installment Devil in Disguise  is by far one of my favorites! In this novel, romance blossoms between Merritt Sterling, a widow who has taken charge of her husband's shippi…

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Abbreviations #135: What's Not to Love, Dial A for Aunties + Luck of the Titanic

I picked up What’s Not to Love for two reasons: 1) I’ve enjoyed the other novels from Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka and 2) this is a rivals-to-something-more romance. Alison and Ethan have been competing at everything since high school began, each one determined to outdo the other in all things inc…

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Abbreviations #132: The Song of Achilles, Black Sun + How to Stop Time

It’s really hard for me to summarize Black Sun . I started reading it without any real knowledge of what to expect -- and that really worked for me. Feel free to check out the synopsis on Goodreads, but I’m just going to dive straight into my review. This multi-narrative adult fantasy series starter…

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Abbreviations #123: Night Song, A Notorious Vow + The Highwayman

I finally read my second Beverly Jenkins novel! Night Song is all about the romance between the young teacher Cara Lee Henson and the handsome, capable Sergeant Chase Jefferson. While Cara does her best to resist the temptation to give in to Chase, and while Chase insists he cannot commit to a true…

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Abbreviations #111: The Vanishing Half, How the Duke Was Won + Destiny's Embrace

I don’t read a lot of literary fiction novels, so The Vanishing Half isn’t something that would have been on my TBR were it not for the book club I do with my sisters and cousin. The novel centers around black twin sisters who can pass as being white, a characteristic highly prized in the small tow…

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Book Review: These Violent Delights

There is an exquisite joy in reading a book that hits the mark for you as a reader and that, my friends, was my experience with These Violent Delights . This debut young adult historical fantasy novel from Chloe Gong is set in 1920s Shanghai (!) and draws inspiration from Romeo and Juliet (!!). Thro…

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Friends with ARCs: Chasing Lucky + Rebel Rose

Chasing Lucky is the newest contemporary young adult novel from author Jenn Bennett. The story centers around Josie St. Martin, who returns with her mom to their family hometown determined to simply get through her senior year and then get out of this place to go and live with her father. But when …

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Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (out tomorrow, 10/6!) is a deliciously immersive new story from author V.E. Schwab. It centers around a young woman named Addie who, in her most desperate moment, winds up making a deal with a 'god' that only comes out after dark. She's granted the gift…

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Series Review: Bridgertons (+ Thoughts on Each Book)

I read the entire Bridgerton series years ago, when I wasn’t yet involved in the online book community and when it was harder for me to acquire books since I was still living in the Philippines. But I persisted and succeeded in completing the series eventually, and I have fond memories of reading (…

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Book Review: The Downstairs Girl

The Downstairs Girl is about Chinese-American gal Jo, who is simply trying to find a way to make ends meet. But her gender and her race make it difficult, especially living as she does in Atlanta in the late 1800s where people like her being vocal is frowned upon. She finds an outlet for her voice …

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