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Explore honest, spoiler‑free book reviews across genres — from romance and contemporary fiction to memoirs and thrillers. Use the search bar or browse by category to discover books you’ll love.
General Fiction
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4
Have you ever wondered what you would do in case of the apocalypse? Dan Foster has not. And unfortunately, the end of the world has reached him. What was supposed to be a romantic getaway to the Bahamas, Dan and his girlfriend Maya find themselves trapped on an island and trying to navigate their safety, a newly imposed Island government, and somehow plan their escape.Wassmer’s writing is satirical, and he mocks nearly everyone in the situation. From Dan’s lackluster career to the power-hungry religious leaders to the “common” man rising against power, there is a lot of social commentary underneath the humor. The narration here was excellent. Some characters are over the top, and I particularly enjoyed them. Throne particularly excelled in his imitation of a Southern housewife.There was some good discussion about how to navigate the apocalypse and what decisions we need to make to survive. I liked how each character grappled with this ever-changing reality. Nothing in life or the world’s end is truly black and white.If you enjoy laughing out loud, self-deprecation, and parody, I cannot recommend this book enough!
Romance
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3.5
Amelia, if only. Thank you so much to Harper Children’s Group for the advanced copy of this book. Becky Albertalli is a master of the young adult voice. Her collections of characters feels like an ode to queer joy and normalizing individual paths to coming out. Amelia and her group of friends are no exception. Immediately, I was drawn into the way Amelia‘s feelings and thoughts jump off the page. One of the things I appreciate most about the writing in this book is how well it captures the teenage voice. The roundabout way they get to the point, the way they joke with each other, the pauses, and the inflection; you can feel the emotions, even just from reading the words. The writing here is wonderful and reminded me of her previous books. I enjoyed the idea of parasocial relationships and the way we discuss content creators in the online spaces. Both teens and adults need to think about how we perceive others online and how we cannot truly know someone just from engaging with their content. I did struggle with this book, as I felt the central conflict did not become clear until 85% of the book. By then, I felt we did not have enough time to wrap it up. I enjoyed all of the “Reddit”-like threads, the incorporation of text messages, and the way this friend group loved each other. I thought the connections to Imogen, one of my previous favorite characters, were really well done and did not feel forced. Overall, I enjoyed this one. Imogen, obviously, will remain my go-to author for those looking to read this author. I would recommend this one to those looking for experiences of queer joy, bisexual acceptance, and stories about the transition between high school and college.
Romance
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5
I must start this review by saying I read this book in 24 hours, as I absolutely could not put this down. From the opening lines, I was STRESSED by how these two men would make things work, and James certainly put them through the ringer.Told in three parts, with Travis’s POV dominating the first half, Jacob’s the second, and a combination of both for the third, the formatting of this book felt unique and completely drew me in. This is an incredible duet audiobook performance with infrequent POV shifts, which felt suspenseful as I waited to see what the other person was thinking. The book opens about a year into their relationship following a major F2 crash, and I found myself desperate to know how they got together and the depth of their relationship. Immediately, we see Travis all consumed by this relationship. The opening lines left me caught up in his emotions, the fallout of this crash, and the ANGST. I am not sure I have read a book that had me so desperate for a reconciliation between characters. Because these men yearn, ya’ll. My heart was pounding with apprehension over where this romance was headed.There are several trigger warnings for this book. Still, I would be remiss if I did not state that one of the better representations of ICU and trauma care. I felt James did the medical community justice in her portrayal. I love a book where the characters do the work for each other, and each character’s growth has an incredible arc. Previously a loner, Travis learned to let others in (and his found family is stellar perfection that brought me to tears several times). Then we have Jacob, who is unlikeable on the surface, but below that, filled with so much loathing, primarily directed at himself. The therapy representation was well done, and I loved seeing Jacob confront the idea that children “owe” parents. This audiobook!! I felt I was being held captive by this all-consuming audiobook performance. Patrick’s voice as Travis is bordering on one of the top performances I have listened to this year. The pain, anxiety, and loneliness he experiences are heartbreaking, and his performance was stunning. I feel that Gary helped bring Jacob to life. I especially thought his depiction of anger and the turbulent emotions Jacob experienced after his crash helped me understand his character better.Overall. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire performance of this book, and now I will be thinking about Jacob and Travis for months to come
Non-Fiction
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5
Gordon-Reed’s book is short yet imperative. It details the history of Texas, what Juneteenth represents and how racism impacted her upbringing.Growing up outside of Texas, I was unaware of Juneteenth well into adulthood. While this book focused more on the value of Juneteenth rather than the history of the holiday itself, I appreciated how Gordon Reed detailed the origins of US involvement in Texas. Specifically, how chattel slavery and racism were foundational, reminding the reader of all that has changed and the many things that haven’t. Despite having a bachelor’s degree in history, I find myself actively needing to relearn US history through a less white-focused lens. I find it frustrating at best and disheartening at worst. Yet, books (essays?) such as these make the process easier. Digestible in both length and approach, I powered through this audiobook in an afternoon. Chitton’s narration is clear and delivers the most turbulent parts of history with dignity and care. My favorite message of the book was the author’s reflection that, despite its flaws, she still loves Texas. Especially in this moment, it can feel difficult to be proud to be American. Yet despite her many flaws, I continue to believe in a version of America I have yet to witness. This weekend, I was reminded of how many millions of Americans believe in that version as well. So today, on Juneteenth, I will tell my children that my state was founded by people who valued money over human dignity. I will also explain that for many, the freedoms granted in our constitution are still provided conditionally, often not at all, and that we can move forward only through recognizing the evils of our past. So, if you are looking to relearn a little yourself, I highly recommend that you listen to or read this book today.
Romance
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4
Thank you SMP for the advanced E-Arc
Witty, warm, and containing some mystery mixed in with the spice, Ladies in Hating was a fun conclusion to the Belvoir library series.
Georgiana and Cat have a history, and, through a few misunderstandings, struggle to be in the same room together, all the while harboring long-standing feelings of attraction for each other. Their backstory was very well developed and helped the reader understand their current passion for each other.
Like her previous novels in this series. She does an excellent job of establishing roles for her characters that surpass the preconceived notions of what women can achieve. I loved that in this book, both women were writers and supporting their families. Something that was likely uncommon during that time.
Vasti writing, as always, is full of swoony declarations, intense pining, and prose that feels romantic without being cheesy. I feel that once again she has mastered the art of letting the reader experience such longing and desire through the characters.
Told in dual POV, I feel that here we gain a really good understanding of the basis for their infatuation, as well as where the rivals’ and enemies’ feelings originated. I particularly enjoyed the flashback as it allowed me to get to know Georgina better while simultaneously introducing a new character to the series, Cat.
I felt that the last third of the book deviated slightly from the initial plot, and while I enjoyed the mystery aspect, I wish it had been introduced earlier and had been a more driving force for the book. I feel like the first 2/3 were about relationship development, and then suddenly we had this mystery to solve.
I highly recommend reading the author’s note, as this book is incredibly well-researched and based on a few historical figures.
Overall, I absolutely adore this book and will continue to read anything Alexandera Vasti writes.
I would recommend this for lovers of pining-filled historical romance and highly romantic sapphic stories.
Fantasy, Romance
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4.5
32 Days in May by Betty Corrello, narrated by Joy Nash, centers around Nadia, who attempts to escape reality after being diagnosed with a chronic illness. Enter Marco, a former childhood TV star trying to separate himself from the past. Where she is meticulous, he is seemingly untroubled. Nadia tries only to give herself away in pieces, but Marco sees past her carefully crafted veneer. I loved Betty’s humor and the way these characters slowly revealed themselves. Despite the more frustrating parts of Nadia’s actions, you couldn’t help but root for her happiness. There was something extra special in the prose here.