Hello! Now that I’ve finally posted my favorite book of June, I can start talking about all of the advanced copies I was able to read in the month of July. I never cease to be grateful for the arcs I win / receive / am approved for across all outlets, and acknowledge my privilege in getting to read books before their release. As always, here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.

The post will be talking all about the contemporary romance RomeAntically Challenged by Marina Adair, which all sites and documents continually tell me I’ve spelled wrong (the cover says it’s right, Google, chill). I was able to trade in my points for this book on BookishFirst, after writing first impressions every Monday and reviewing books that they’ve previously featured on their site. I was really excited to see an adult romance on there, and that excitement grew when I was able to read the first few chapters and see the chemistry between our two main characters. It was a lot deeper than I initially believed, however I was on board almost immediately.

Adopted from China by a white family and growing up in America, Anh Nhi (Annie) Walsh has always felt out of place. She has tried to make a family of her own, but always finds herself “not enough,” in some way. It doesn’t help that every guy she’s dated has found “their person” immediately after they break up. After her ex-fiance calls off their wedding, Annie needs a change of scenery and accepts a job in Rome, only to find herself working at a hospital in Rome, Rhode Island (instead of, you know, Italy) renting out a cabin whose owner may or may not have returned unexpectantly. Photojournalist Emmitt Bradley has been sent back to Rhode Island after covering a legitimately explosive story in China, only to find his his daughter all grown up, and he’s worried that she no longer wants him to be a part of her life. He also finds his cabin rented out to a stranger, a rather cute stranger. Emmitt and Annie may be able to help each other gain the confidence they need to fight for what they want, and they can definitely achieve their goals without falling in love. Or can they?

My first impression of this book was that it was going to be a cute rom-com with the “there’s only one bed” trope that would end with a happily ever after. There is absolutely nothing wrong with those kinds of books, and I’ll read them any day of the week. There was just so much more substance to this novel than I had expected. Yes, the chemistry between Anh and Emmitt is undeniable from their first unexpected encounter, and yes, there are a few steamy scenes, but I’d have to agree with other reviewers that the romance doesn’t seem like the main focus of this novel. Anh and Emmitt are both struggling with different aspects of their lives, and find themselves leaning on each other to come to much needed realizations. Anh has grappled with her identity every since she was little – feeling too “white” in some circles, too “Asian” in others. She also finds it difficult to understand how every ex-partner has seemingly found “their person” immediately after breaking up with her. Emmitt, on the other hand, feeds off his image that he is a womanizer, but actually only has room in his heart for Paisley, his daughter. He so desperately wants to be a part of her life, but it’s hard with a job that requires constant lengthy travel, and the fact that she already has a stepdad and uncle who would do anything to make her happy. They both yearn for a sense of belonging, in the town, in their family, in their society, and maybe, just maybe, through self-depricating humor, roommate agreements, and sticky note arguments, they’re able to work through their feelings and achieve just that.

If you’re looking for a book with “small-town sweetness, endearing characters, and a unique quirky flair,” (in the words of NYT best-selling author Carly Phillips whose blurb is on the back), then I’d definitely recommend picking up RomeAntically Challenged. Marina Adair has crafted a novel with adult characters who are still trying to figure out where to belong in the world, and that’s something we love to see. I can’t wait for the next installment, Hopeless RomeAntic, when I can dive back into this world surrounding Rome, Rhode Island. RomeAntically Challenged releases on July 28th, 2020 (which should be the day this post goes live if everything works out), and a quick thanks to BookishFirst and the publisher, Kensington Books, for the copy – all thoughts and feelings are my own.

Places to find RomeAntically Challenged:
Amazon
Goodreads
Marina Adair’s site

Hello! I believe we’re up to the last review of the arcs I read in June! I’ve already racked up several that I’ve read and need to review in July, but I’d say I’m making some good progress. As always, here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.

I read How to Be Remy Cameron back in February, and I fell in love with Julian Winters’ writing style. So when I heard he was writing a book that was essentially a love letter to nerd culture, that takes place in a bookstore in the summer in California, with a best friends to lovers romance? I knew I had to try and read it. I requested it on a whim on NetGalley, and honestly was not expecting much, but was incredibly excited when I was approved (so I’d just like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Interlude Press, for a copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own). Again, I was absolutely captivated with this novel, from the characters and their struggles to the setting and the discussions it sparked. Please excuse me while I gush about this book a bit.

Wesley Hudson excels at two things – ignoring his responsibilities and pining after his best friend, Nico. He spends the summer before college working his dream job at Once Upon a Page, writing lists of ways to confess his feelings and trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life after high school. When the future of the bookstore is threatened by an expanding coffee shop, he must team up with his misfit group of coworkers to try and come up with ways to save the store. To top it all off, his brother, Leo, is trying to plan a wedding, and needs Wesley to help with wedding duties. Can Wesley save the store, get the guy, and assist with the wedding all in just a few months? It truly shapes up to be the summer of everything.

In true Julian Winters’ fashion, this book packed a punch while having an underlying message of hope. It tackles topics such as grief, death of a parent, privilege, first love, and figuring out your future in a way that felt natural and necessary. The diverse cast of characters was refreshing to see – so many racial identities, sexual orientations, and genders are explored and unquestioned. Personally, I started tearing up when a character comes out as aroace (aromantic and asexual), because it’s how I identify and we don’t often see characters portrayed as such, and I believe so many people will be able to experience that same feeling while reading this book – Winters does not shy away from writing the rep on page, so if the character has no questions or hesitations about their identity, the reader will not have any as well. The plot itself was fun to follow, and I appreciated the crazy shenanigans Wesley and his friends engage in to try and save the store – it shows that when you’re passionate about something, and it’s threatened, you really will try to do anything to save it. Platonic love, friendship, and found family play such an important role, and it’s something I absolutely love to see. Leo felt like a realistic older sibling, and while him and Wesley feel disconnected for most of the novel, they are still family and Leo will do anything to help his little brother. And I must say, the best friends to lovers trope was so well done, I was rooting for Wesley and Nico to sit down and talk about their mutual feelings – it also felt nice that romance wasn’t rushed, and the characters had conversations about boundaries and no one did anything that made them uncomfortable.

*this next paragraph may have minor spoilers, so please read at your own risk*
Wes is having a hard time figuring out the direction his life should be going in after high school. He knows he’s going to UCLA with his best friend Ella who will be studying communications, and will be separated from Nico when he’s at Stanford pursuing biology and medicine, and it seems like even Zay, who’s a year younger, has his life planned out and is doing 60 mph in the driver’s seat while Wes is stuck on his bike with a map in his hands reading the road signs. What I appreciated about this book is that Wes didn’t magically find an answer at the end – he made a deal with his parents that he would do his best and try his hardest for one year at UCLA, and if that didn’t work he could transfer or quit, or really do what he thinks is best. And while yes, I agree that the first few years of college are for discovery, and some people do figure out what they want to do with their lives during this time (myself included), college isn’t for everyone, and for some people the decision not to go to college, or to drop out, is the right decision for them, and should absolutely be respected as a valid option.

All in all, I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can purchase a finished copy and add it to my Julian Winters collection on my shelf. His books just have a way with words that make me want to revisit them for comfort, and The Summer of Everything is no exception. This book truly is a love letter to nerd culture, summers in California, found family, and first love. If you’re looking for an enjoyable read, I highly recommend picking this one up when it’s released on September 8th, 2020.

Where you can find The Summer of Everything:
Amazon
Goodreads
Julian Winters’ site
Interlude Press

Hello! It’s new release Tuesday, which means that some of the books I read as review copies are being released out into the world for everyone to read! I want to make sure this review, as well as Inheritors are posted so I’m more caught up. As always, here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.

I’ve taked briefly about BookishFirst when I reviewed the copy of Heiress for Hire I redeemed back in April. It’s a cool site that allows you to read snippets of a new book every week that is being released sometime in the next few months, write a first impression of it, enter to win it in a raffle, and rack up points so you can redeem a copy from this week’s raffle. I’ve been using the site consistently since February, and with writing reviews and first impressions, and sharing them on sites like Amazon, Goodreads, and this blog, I’ve been able to collect quite a few points. And the book I’ll be reviewing here, The Friday Cage by Andrew Diamond, was actually the first book I won through the weekly raffle! I received an electronic copy, so thank you BookishFirst and the publisher, Stolen Time Press, and I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts about the book.

Claire Chastain has recently moved back to Washington D.C. with her grandmother from New York City. She picks up a data analytics job, does good work, and doesn’t make very many friends. After hearing about the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a childhood friend, Claire starts to notice a few things out of place – a Lincoln Continental tailing her to work, a spreadsheet that should have never made its way to her hands, a window open in her basement, mail missing out of her mailbox. It seems she’s been thrust into a dangerous game she has no interest in playing, but Claire needs to keep the upper hand in order to make things right and stay alive.

I’ll start off by saying that Claire is an incredibly unlikeable character, from start to finish. We learn a bit of her background – father ran off, mother died in a car crash, grandmother emotionally and physically abused her when she was young. I suppose it’s supposed to make you simpathize with Claire, but her actions and thoughts towards others were occassionally unnecessarily malicious. The story sometimes gives you flashbacks to the past – examples include Claire’s childhood and conversations with her grandmother, her job interview at the office in D.C, and the moment she found out about her friend Gavin’s death – and a few times I found it a bit difficult to tell the difference between the past and present. There were some definitely fast-paced moments, and I did enjoy how some little tidbits of information mentioned for a split second became very significant later in the novel. I did like how everything came together in the end, but sometimes I felt like any problem encountered was solved with little to no difficulties, which may be due to the length of the novel but it made things feel a bit unrealistic.

Overall, I’d say this was a pretty average read, and not something I normally would have picked up on my own but I’m still glad I gave it a chance. I believe some others books by Andrew Diamond, Wake Up, Wanda Wiley and Gate 76, was also featured on BookishFirst, so I might give those ones a go as well. If you’re a fan of unlikeable main characters, short reads, and perhaps a few laughable villains, I recommend checking out The Friday Cage, out July 14th, 2020 (which is today if all goes well).

Places to find The Friday Cage:
Amazon (it’s only $0.99 for Kindle)
Goodreads
Andrew Diamond’s site

Hello! It’s new release Tuesday, which means that some of the books I read as review copies are being released out into the world for everyone to read! I want to make sure this review, as well as The Friday Cage are posted so I’m more caught up. As always, here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.

Here is another instance of entering a bunch of giveaways for books and forgetting I did so until I get an email saying I won. Back in May I received an email from Doubleday Publishing telling me I had won an electronic copy of Inheritors by Asako Serizawa. I typically don’t read historical fiction or short story collections, so I was surprised that I had entered in the first place, but I am still incredibly grateful to the publisher, Doubleday, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy. Even though I am not obligated to review a book I won, I still would like to share my thoughts, which are all my own.

Inheritors by Asako Serizawa is a collection of stories in various styles and perspectives spanning over 100 years, that paint a kaleidoscopic picture of the effects of loss, imperialism, and war.

As previously stated, this book is extremely out of my comfort zone, both in writing style and genre, but it certainly was an interesting read. When I picked it up, I was unaware it was actually a collection of short stories, so the plot felt very disjointed and I didn’t get much satisfaction out of each individual section. I did appreciate the linearity of the stories, and I found the concept of following multiple generations of people through their struggles of war, loss, and societal influence intriguing. A variety of writing styles (interviews, first person perspective, third person perspective, etc.) are riddled throughout, and while I connected more to others, and did find myself confused several times throughout the novel, I thought the message of each story was clear and I had a general understanding of what it was trying to convey. I found the book as a whole extremely well-written, immersive, and I think the strongest aspect was the character development, because sometimes we’re only following a character for a few pages, but in that short amount of time we learn their struggles and are able to form connections. Each character has a purpose, and signifies a certain aspect of the time in which they are placed, so the reader has a view into the period, and form a connection even if they previously held no bonds to that era. The book truly took me on a journey, and I will forever respect it for that.

It’s no surprise Inheritors won’t end up on a list of my favorites – I chalk that more up to me than the book. Not every book I pick up is going to be a favorite, and it’s fine to have preferences on what you want to read. However, I still believe that Inheritors is a collection of stories that will heavily impact its projected audience, and I will be glad to see those people enjoy every second of this book when it’s released on July 14th, 2020 (which should be the day this is posted, if scheduling works out).

Places to find Inheritors:
Amazon
Goodreads
Asako Serizawa’s site
Penguin Random House

Hello! I’ve been slowly but surely catching up on all my blog posts, and the next few will be ARC reviews (or reviews of books that I received advanced reader copies of), whether through NetGalley or physical copies I’ve won in giveaways. As always, here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.

I finally get to geek out about Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, and I am so excited. So one thing to note about me is that I enter a lot of book giveaways – whether through publishers, Goodreads, Twitter, or book conventions. I don’t win very often, but I have gotten an occasional book in the mail from a giveaway. In late April, an email popped up in my spam folder saying “Congratulations, you’ve won an ARC of Cemetery Boys as a part of the YALLSTAYHOME Sweepstakes.” I didn’t think much of it, but I was a bit skeptical since I didn’t remember entering anything for YALLSTAYHOME, and it showed up in my spam folder. Lo and behold, a few weeks later, a physical arc of Cemetery Boys shows up on my doorstep, and people, when I say I was excited that is such an understatement. So please join me on this journey where I gush about magic and brujx and boys who stole my heart.

Yadriel’s family is having a hard time accepting his identity after he comes out as transgender. When they deny him his quinces, a ceremony where brujx receive their blessing from Lady Death, he recruits his cousin, Maritiza, to help him perform the ceremony himself. After hearing that their cousin Miguel has died, Yadriel wants to prove he’s a true brujo by summoning his spirit, finding out what happened, and releasing him into the afterlife. There’s only one problem – the spirit he summons isn’t Miguel; it’s resident bad-boy Julian Diaz, and his spirit refuses to be released so easily. Julian has some unfinished business to attend to before he can move on, and while the three of them try to uncover the mystery behind Miguel’s disappearance, and Julian’s death, Yadriel comes to realize that maybe he’s not ready to rid himself of Julian just yet.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. It’s definitely one I plan to reread in the fall after it’s released, maybe closer to Halloween to bask in all the fall vibes. The magic system surrounding Day of the Dead is thought-out and intricate, and while it plays off the trope of “women do this, while men do that” it allows for the inclusion of transgender individuals, and those who may not fit into any binary “category,” and highlights the issues that can arise from a society following these strictly gendered roles. Yadriel is someone who has to fight to be seen, and as a reader you feel his struggle and frustration with every down fall, and you understand his quest to be accepted and understood by his community. Then you throw Julian into the mix, a guy who knows who he is, knows people are not going to understand him because they automatically stereotype him, but he would die (maybe quite literally) for those he cares about in a heartbeat. Watching the two of them come together throughout the novel and help each other in ways I cannot quite explain without giving too much away was wonderful to see. Add in Maritza, the cousin & best friend who always wants to be along for the ride to either laugh with you or at you (and fight for you wholeheartedly), and you have the perfect cast of characters for this special young adult fantasy. I did not expect the ending the first time around, and when I read through it a second time I see all of the bread crumbs that are expertly laid out, just adding to my satisfaction of the book. Watching all of the puzzle pieces fit into place, just as the author had planned, was so satisfying to see.

Cemetery Boys releases inot the world on September 1st, 2020 (after being delayed due to COVID-19), and I’ve already preordered myself a copy since I’ve passed my ARC onto a friend. This was an incredible debut, and I cannot wait to devour each and every novel Aiden Thomas puts out in the future. The story is intriguing, the magic is complex, and the characters are captivating – what more could you ask for? I’m counting down the day until everyone gets the chance to read it, so if you’re at all interested, I highly recommend picking up this incredible YA fantasy novel this fall.

**Thank you to publsiher Swoon Reads and YALLSTAYHOME for hosting this giveaway, and even though I didn’t have to leave a review, all thoughts and opinions are my own**

Places where you can find Cemetery Boys:
Amazon
Goodreads
Aiden Thomas’ site
Swoon Reads

It may come as no surprise that T.J. Klune is one of my favorite authors. After discovering his How to Be series, I dived into many of his other worlds, and wrote a review of his newest release from Tor, The House in the Cerulean Sea, for my favorite book of January post after winning it in a Goodreads giveaway. When I heard he was coming out with a new YA release from Tor Teen titled The Extraordinaries, and it was about superheroes (or “superqueeros, as T.J. has phrased it) I was intrigued. I decided to press my luck and request to read an early copy of it on NetGalley, and wasn’t really holding out much hope, because I was pretty new to the platform and am still coming into my own book review style. Imagine my surprise when on March 17th, I get an email saying I’ve been approved. So I’d just like to first extend my thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. The original release date for The Extraordinaries was set to be May 5th (the day this review should be posted, if all goes well), but due to the current state of things in the publishing world (and, well, the rest of the world in general), it is now set to be released on July 14th, 2020.

Nick Bell is the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom. As a high school teen living in Nova City, his daily routine includes taking his pill to help manage his ADHD in the morning, swoon at the television as newsanchor Rebecca Firestone recounts the latest heroic deed of local Extraordinary, Shadow Star, try to survive his junior year alongside his eclectic group of friends, and steadily come to terms with life After, as opposed to life Before, alongside his dad. When Nick has a real-life encounter with Shadow Star, he launches a three-phase plan to become an Extraordinary himself, to one day work alongside his greatest hero, and protect the city from his arch nemesis, Pyro Storm. The only problem is, his best friend, Seth, has been elusive all summer, and isn’t too keen on Nick joining the life of fighting crime. Will Nick be able to convince him to help?

I thought this was incredibly well done – I can’t wait for the remaining two books in this series to be released, and I’m upset that T.J. is making us wait all the way until 2022 for the conclusion. Nick is such a fascinating character. He may or may not be extraordinary, but he’s been able to overcome so much in his life, and he deals with an attention deficit disorder that oftentimes makes sitting down to think straight absolutely impossible. He’s also absolutely oblivious to anything and everything around him, and I can’t help but love him more for it – starting with his best friend’s obvious feelings for him and ending with, well, things I can’t say because of spoilers, but you as the reader will definitely be able to figure them all out before Nick does. Classic T.J. wit and charm is riddled throughout this book, and no doubt you’ll fall in love with at least one of the side characters. From Gibby and Jazz (a baby butch and her cheerleader girlfriend), to Officer Rookie (whose real name is Chris, but Nick can’t shake the nickname), and even Bob and Martha Gray (Seth’s aunt and uncle who have cared for him since he was little), the banter and personalization of each character will have you begging for more of their presence. I’m not the biggest fan of superhero stories, but falling in love with the characters made me interested in piecing together how they all fit alongside each other in this story of heroes, villains, things not being quite as they seem, and wanting to protect the ones you love at any and all cost. I am very intrigued as to how this story will progress.

I do want to highlight a specific relationship in this book: Nick’s relationship with his father, Aaron Bell. Aaron Bell is extremely protective of his son, for two main reasons. First, he is a police officer. As a former detective, Aaron has seen the worst the town of Nova City has to offer. On top of typical crime, there’s also the addition of Extraordinaries, of superheroes that, in his mind, pose as much of a threat as they do relieve it. Second, they have both experienced tragedy when Jen Bell, his wife and Nick’s mother, was killed in a bank robbery gone wrong prior to the start of the book. He’s already lost so much of his family, he’s trying to hold onto Nick tight and protect him as much as he is capable of. Sometimes he makes mistakes. He’s not perfect. Neither of them are. They both say things they don’t mean and accidentally hurt each other in the process. But they’re trying. Each and every day they’re trying to adjust to this new After. I believe it’s also the reason Aaron chooses to make certain decisions towards the end of the book. And Nick shares the same protective instinct as his father – one of the main reasons he even wants to become an Extraordinary in the first place (besides working along side his major crush, Shadow Star) is to make his dad’s job easier, to make sure he never falls within the line of fire. It was really fascinating to see their relationship develop throughout the book, and I’m excited to learn more in upcoming novels.

**edit July 2020 – With the book releasing soon, there has been much discussion among readers about the glorification of law enforcement officers in the novel. With everything going on in the world, specifically regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, the focus on police in the book might not sit well with many. I completely understand and respect that, as well as take into account my privelege as a white reader. While reading the novel, I was looking through Nick’s lens – his dad is a cop, he’s been one his entire life, the force has become such a family to him over the years, especially after his mom died, and he looks up to his dad, so it makes sense for him to want to follow in his footsteps. The problem arises when I use that lens to excuse what might be problematic representation in the book, and not take into account how that might make other readers feel, especially when it was mentioned how Aaron Bell assaulted a detainee when provoked after his wife’s death. I still stand by this review, I still like this book and what it offers and can recommend it, but it’s important to be critical, so we are not simply blinded by the things we love and become unable to see their flaws. I hope this can be handled better in further installments of the series**

According to a recent tweet, TJ said that he wanted to give a voice to people like him [people with ADHD] so they can point to a character and say “Hey, finally someone like me.” As someone who has felt incredibly seen by another one of his books, I hope that neurodivergent queer kids and teens (and adults who may stumble upon this book) are able to see a little bit of themselves in Nick. As Aaron Bell tells his son, you don’t have to be an Extraordinary to be extraordinary. And, as the tagline says, some people are extraordinary, some are just extra. I can’t wait for The Extraordinaries to be out into the world on July 14, 2020, so everyone can pick up and enjoy T.J. Klune’s YA debut.

Places you can find The Extraordinaries
Extended preview
Amazon
Goodreads
Macmillan
T.J. Klune’s website

So back in February, I found out that a site called BookishFirst was hosting a giveaway for one of my most anticipated books of the year, The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. All you had to do to be entered was create an account for the site, read the preview provided, and write a first impression. I did not end up winning, but I was still very interested in the site itself. You earn points by writing reviews, and every week previews for several upcoming books are released, so you can enter a raffle by writing your first impression of the book. Rack up enough points (2000 to be exact) and use them to claim a copy from the current raffle. So that’s how I came across the book I’m talking about today, Heiress For Hire by Madeline Hunter, which is being released on April 28th, 2020 – the day this should be posted, if everything goes as planned.

When I finally earned 2000 points, I had two misconceptions – 1.) that I had to spend my points right away, and 2.) that I could claim a book from a previous raffle. Since I discovered I couldn’t pick a book from a previous raffle, I looked at the three books to choose from that week: a historical romance, a literary fiction, and a sci-fi/fantasy. Normally I would gravitate towards the literary fiction, but the premise really did not appeal to me, and so ultimately I decided to go with something completely out of my comfort zone – the historical romance. It arrived as a mass-market paperback arc on my door a few weeks later, and now I get to tell you what I thought about it!

One day, an intruder breaks into Minerva Hepplewhite’s home, and she responds in the only way she can – by hitting him over the head, tying him up, and questioning him while pointing a pistol in his direction when he regains consciousness. Said intruder, Chase Radnor, informs Minerva that she has been written into the will of the late Duke of Hollinburgh, and has inherited a large sum of money. Chase, nephew of the Duke, believes the circumstances of his death to be suspicious and decides to conduct a discreet inquiry – since no one in his family has ever heard of Minerva, he can’t help but add this peculiar, alluring woman to his list of suspects. Minerva and Chase find themselves wrapped up in this mystery, uncovering family secrets and trying to escape past events, and somewhere along the line the two of them discover that perhaps they wish to partake in a much deeper alliance.

For someone who does not typically pick up historical romance, I really enjoyed my time reading this book. I loved Minerva’s character – I found her to be a woman scarred by her troubled past, but able to heal and move on from it (through self-discovery and with the help of cherished friends, Beth and Jeremy) and learn to take care of herself. When she meets Chase and begins to feel some kind of attraction towards him, she doesn’t trust her instinct, as it had gotten her badly hurt in the past. But when she finally opens up to Chase, he isn’t perfect but is understanding of her boundaries and helps Minerva learn to trust him (and ultimately herself). Their banter was snarky and I liked it a lot. I also found the mystery plot around Minerva’s late husband, Algernon, to be an interesting addition to the story, and the outcome was a believable one (that had me saying “I knew it!” when I reached the point where things are revealed). I will say that what drew me in initially, and what made me want to pick this book up in the first place, was the investigation into the Duke’s death, and that was one point in the story I felt to be lacking, especially after the romance plotline had already been established. I found the conclusion of the investigation to be a bit unsatisfying (at least for me), but I do acknowledge that this is the beginning of a series, and we may revisit this aspect in future novels. Although I will say that I liked the fact that both main characters were conducting their own investigations, and with each person they talked to they gathered different information, so in order to paint the whole picture they just had to talk to each other about it – talk about a recipe for success. Overall, I found the romance between Minerva and Chase to be at the forfront of this book, and was not disappointed. I even enjoyed the sex scenes, while I’m typically not really a fan, and thought they were well written. I guess this means I’ll have to read more historical romance in the future to compare.

In conclusion, I found this to be an incredibly enjoyable historical romance between a strong female lead and the grandson of a lord. It was lighthearted and fun, and exactly what I needed to read during this period of uncertainty in the world. Madeline Hunter really did give me a nice introduction to a genre I would normally gloss over in recommendations, and hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some similar new reads soon. Happy book birthday to Heiress For Hire, and if you’re someone like me who needed a really simple introduction into the world of historical romance, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Places you can find Heiress For Hire:
Goodreads
Amazon
Madeline Hunter’s site

With all of the chaos going on in the world right now, and the anxiety-riddled news that comes with it, I figured the best way for me to survive cabin fever, and working from home (at least while my lab is still open), is to fully immerse myself in something I truly love: reading. I hope you’ve realized that by now. Since I’ve been more active on this blog recently, I decided to look more into NetGalley, and I noticed St. Martin’s Press – Wednesday Books was offering several of their titles as Read Now. One such title was More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn, a book whose synopsis caught my attention and whose cover solidified my desire to read it as soon as possibly could. This seemed to work out pretty perfectly for me.

Luke Greenly, son of former British punk rocker Charlie Greenly, would do anything to stay out of the spotlight. In fact, he’d much rather prefer anonymity. All he wants to do is co-host the locally-popular podcast with his twin brother Cullen, make fun of his brother for being sickly-sweet and adorable with his boyfriend Zack (who is also Luke’s best friend), and stay up in his room putting lyrics on a page while playing piano. Luke holds many secrets, and one of those is his [supposed] unrequited crush on music blogger, Vada Carsewell. Vada has just recently been accepted into Berkeley’s prestigious music journalism program on the other side of the country. She’s learned everything she could at the Loud Lizard, the bar owned by local legend Phil Josephs (who is also her mom’s boyfriend), and taken over his music blog. She’s got a five year plan, and maybe a [supposed] unrequited crush on one of the Greenly brothers whose podcast is recorded at the bar. When the two find themselves partners in a composer-dance collaboration at school, and coworkers at the bar, it’s almost impossible to deny their connection. And when another dive bar announces an opening in town, threatening the Loud Lizard, Vada’s five-year plan is in danger and she has to work together with Luke to save it.

First and foremost, I’ve noticed that so many female protagonists in YA these days have red hair, and, as a redhead myself, I find it hilarious and would very much like for the trend to continue. I have been in such a mood for heartwarming young adult stories, and More Than Maybe was an excellent addition to my ever-growing list of favorites. I loved how connected to music Luke and Vada were: Vada’s passion for reviewing and Luke’s for writing allowed them to both to understand the essence of each individual song, and that brought them together in a way not many of the side characters could understand. I felt that all of the relationships, not just the one that develops between Vada and Luke, were well established – the platonic relationships of Vada/Meg and Luke/Zack, romantic ones of Zack/Cullen and Mary/Phil, and even the dysfunctional dynamic of Vada/Marcus (her biological father). All of the characters had a pre-established history that Erin Hahn let us catch a glimpse of from start to finish. The novel does tackle some deeper topics – dealing with familial expectations that don’t align with your own dreams, learning how and when to distance yourself from toxic family members, and working so much towards your goal only to find that it may be unattainable after all, due to something you cannot control. But it’s also hopeful, full of people doing anything for the ones that they love. And maybe, just maybe, it has a sweet happy ending that will have you smiling down at your book.

According to the author herself, this is a sunshine book about music nerds falling in love. It’s light, full of happiness, and scattered with pop culture references – the book earns an extra point in my book for the Panic! at the Disco reference. Things may not be the brightest in the world right now, but I’d like to thank Erin Hahn for bringing some sunshine into my life. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an early copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. If you’re in need of a YA read that will absolutely warm your heart, I highly recommend picking up More Than Maybe on July 21st.

Places you can find More Than Maybe:
Goodreads
Amazon
Erin Hahn’s website
Macmillan

ARCs, or advanced reader copies, are copies of books in their pre-published state. These copies are often distributed to reviewers who can read the book, form thoughts around it, and share those thoughts with their respective audience. This helps expose the book to more people who may not have otherwise heard of the title, and can cause them to pre-order the book, or at least spread the word to other readers and pick up a copy once it’s released. Publishers and companies can also hold giveaways of ARCs on platforms such as Goodreads or through Twitter so that ordinary readers have a chance at reader an anticipated title before it is released. I won a copy of The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune through a Goodreads giveaway back in December (and that book was my favorite of January if you want to scroll through to that blog post), and in February Tor Teen ran a week long OTP Sweeps giveaway for five new titles, which is how to came to receive a copy of Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington. I wanted to read the book before its release date, April 7th 2020, so I could share my thoughts, so allow me to do just that.

Sidney and Asher lead separate lives ten months out of the year. They’re not friends, not acquaintances – they might even consider themselves enemies. Once summer hits, both of their families spend 56 days in neighboring houses on the lake. Nothing can stop them from trying to find the ultimate way to prank each other. Well, almost nothing. When one fishy prank goes horribly wrong, and Sidney and Asher’s families are kicked out of their accommodations, Asher leaves a note for Sidney to find on her mirror: Meet me at midnight. They decide to put their feud aside and team up to retaliate against their one common enemy. But here’s the thing: they’ve spent nearly six years at each other’s throats, learning every secret and exploiting every weakness. Maybe, just maybe, something else has been brewing during this prank war, like undeniable attraction.

Out of all the books Tor was hosting giveaways for back in February, this was the book that I simultaneously knew the least about, but was most intrigued by. I had a really fun time reading it, and I think it is a perfect spring / summer YA read. Typically with summer romances, we really only get the perspective of one of the main characters (in a heterosexual romance, typically the female perspective) and once the summer ends, so does the book. So I was excited to see that we do get Asher’s perspective, and the story continues until they’re both at college as teammates on the same swim team. I just found the book extremely enjoyable and easy to read. The fact that Sidney and Asher felt like they were being so sneaky when the entire summer their parents pretty much knew they were together was so relatable — teenagers don’t give their parents enough credit sometimes (I certainly didn’t when I was a teen). It was a heartwarming story filled with pranks and love, but also important conversations about figuring out what you want to do after high school and dealing with familial expectations. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story as a whole there were a few things I wasn’t the biggest fan of. I thought some of Sidney’s friendships, aside from Asher, were underdeveloped, we could’ve spent more time with the parents, and, honestly, I wanted more pranking. I know the ultimate point of Sidney and Asher calling a truce was to realize they had been in love with each other the whole time, but I did miss the pranks a bit. Just a bit, though.

Overall, this book had the warm, cozy feel of a summer read, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. Highly recommend fans of Morgan Matson and Emma Mills to pick this up after it’s released in April 7th, 2020. You’re in for a roller-coaster of prank wars, painted rocks, 6AM swims, and summer love. Happy reading!

Here’s where you can find Meet Me at Midnight:
Amazon
Goodreads
Jessica Pennington’s Twitter
Excerpt