A reimagining of Wizard Of Oz. Evelina‘s trying to find her sister‘s killer as she works as her father‘s secret weapon. She has a 1-night stand w/ Nicholas, who‘s an undercover trying to take down her family‘s drug trade. How will they hide their attraction to each other & Nick‘s secret?

I really enjoyed this. It had a good amount of spice & story. I liked the characters. The only thing was I wasn‘t too familiar w/ the WoO universe so I got lost.

Indy & Ryan never imagined living together or even fake dating, but that‘s what it‘s come to. What happens when it doesn‘t feel fake anymore? Will they tell each other how they feel? How will they tell Stevie?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a great read. Top 10 this year. It was hilarious. There was a good amount of spice & story. There were character arcs. Better than the 1st book. Definitely recommend.

#romancebooks

Johnny‘s recovering from an injury that keeps him from rugby, but could bring him closer to Shannon. Shannon has to deal w/ CPS in keeping her family together. How will they juggle spending time w/ each other & deal w/ family stuff?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this one a little better than the first one. There‘s a little more romance & Shannon had a bit of a character arc. There was also less DV & bullying. The ending was cute.

The Naturals are faced with another case. 3 bodies in 3 casinos in 3 days; all in public, but no footage. The bodies come w/ a code. Who‘s the killer? How does this relate to Cassie‘s mother‘s case? Will they able to figure it all out in time?

This one was ok. It didn‘t tie really well w/ the second one. There was no relevance to her mother‘s case until the end. The puzzles were still great; kept me guessing. The romance was there; a must.

Summer moves in w/ her brother‘s hockey mates. Her eyes are immediately set on Fitz, but he‘s in denial of their connection b/c she‘s from a different world than him. But what happens when his best friend & roommate, Hunter, takes an interest in her? What would her brother think of them together?

I liked this one. There was spice, could‘ve been a little more. There were a lot of funny parts. The little misogynistic scenes just triggered me a bit.

Shannon changed schools b/c she was bullied at her old school. She collides w/ rising star rugby player, Johnny. He‘s supposed to be focused on rugby, but he feels drawn to her, especially when she‘s being bullied again & faces DV at home. Will they be able to be together?

This 1 was ok. I don‘t like reading DV & bullying; it should be a TW. The writing wasn‘t that great. It was kinda funny. The main characters got on my nerves, mainly Shannon.

A crash during a race destroys Santiago‘s career, so he mostly stays in hiding. That‘s until Chloe breaks into his house when looking for her father. They fake-date to keep his family off his back, but after a while it doesn‘t feel fake. Will they give into their emotions? Will Santi get back into racing?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one was my favorite out of the series. I enjoyed the banter, the spice, & the characters.

Darcy & Tori were raised in the mortal world. They‘re told they‘re changelings & have to return to the fae world to attend an academy & claim the throne. They can control all four elements, which puts them at the top of the celestial heirs‘ kill list. How will they survive?

I was disappointed by this one. There was no romance or spice like I was told. I didn‘t like most of the characters. The ending was what kept me hooked to read the next one.

After Mallory has a traumatic family event, she stops playing chess. That‘s until she beats world chess champion, Nolan. He convinces her to enter competitions, & as she moves up the ranks, she realizes her passion again. Will she win World Champion?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This is one of my favorites of hers so far. I loved the character chemistry. It was funny, cute, & deep. I also liked that the MC was lgbtq.

#yabooks lgbtqiabooks

Jessica was banned from the World Council of Witches for dangerous magic. So, when Derrick tells her she‘s the Chosen One to save the town from evil, she‘s skeptical. Can she learn to trust herself & others, especially Derrick, in time?

This was kinda boring. It was slow for most of it. I liked that the MC was plus size, but she kinda got annoying. I wanted more romance, spice, & comedy. The magic was ok.

Celine & Brad sign up for the same challenge for a prize. They‘re ex-best friends b/c Brad made a mistake when they started high school. They‘re forced to work together on the challenge. Will it force them to be something more than just friends?

I really enjoyed this one. It was funny & cute. I liked the diversity in characters & inclusion of neurodiversity. I liked the characters, their chemistry, & their arcs. A bit slow in the beginning.

Cassie & the other Naturals are brought back on another serial killer case. This time it hits close to home when they copycat Dean‘s incarcerated father‘s style. Who will Cassie finally fall for, Michael or Dean? Will she find her mother?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This one‘s my favorite of the series so far. The mystery & action kept me on the edge of my seat. There was a good balance between romance & mystery. The plot & writing were great. Definitely recommend!

Stella‘s farm‘s struggling, so she enters an insta-influencer‘s contest to save it. She says she runs the farm w/ her boyfriend, which she doesn‘t, so when she‘s selected as a finalist, her best friend, Luca, steps in to pretend. Then it doesn‘t feel like pretend anymore.

I like fake-dating, so I really enjoyed this one. It was written beautifully, but Stella‘s character got annoying. The plot was great. Definitely recommend as a Christmas read.

Marcus‘s famous, but also secretly a fanfic writer. April‘s post causes a plus-size controversy. M publicly asks her out not knowing she‘s also his beta reader. After their date, he wants more of A, but will the hypercritical public get in the way?

This one had its cute & funny moments. I just didn‘t enjoy April kept negatively looking at herself; I know it‘s supposed to be an arc, but I don‘t enjoy those. I also wanted a little more spice.

Bree moves to a small town to find peace. She‘s transfixed by the quiet outsider, Archer, who hasn‘t spoken since a traumatic childhood incident. He‘s interested in her also well. Will Bree be able to help him find his voice again?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed this book. It had a good balance between story & spice. The characters‘ chemistry & their arcs were great. The plot & writing were also good.

Elsie‘s an adjunct professor by day & a paid fake-girlfriend by night. Sweet deal, until one of her clients‘ brother, Jack, catches her in the act. He & her mentor have beef. She‘s trying to get a job at MIT, but he‘s on the hiring committee. How‘s she still drawn to him?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my favorite of hers so far. It was cute, hilarious, & kinda spicy; everything. I loved the chemistry between all the characters. The plot & writing were great.

Cassie‘s a natural at reading people. When a serial killer appears on the FBI‘s radar, they ask her to join the other Naturals. Her past catches up w/ her pertaining to her mother‘s murder. Could it be related to the case?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The clues kept me guessing throughout the book. I didn‘t like the MC very much, she was kind of annoying. I did like her chemistry w/ Michael & Dean. It had the right amount of romance w/o overpowering the mystery.

YA rom following the Davenport girls, 1 of the few wealthy black families, & their friends‘ love stories in 1910 USA. They will fall in love w/ the men they aren‘t supposed to. How will they tell their parents?

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had high hopes 4 this book. It ended up being mostly boring. I didn‘t like most of the characters for most of the book. The girls‘ character arcs tho are great examples for how arcs should be in books. I also liked the diversity.

This is a retelling of The Lion King. Tristin‘s father dies. His brother, Michael, wants to take the throne, so Tristin starts a rebellion. Sara B‘s betrothed to Michael, but plans to take down the kingdom. Her & Tristin‘s plans aren‘t the only things they have in common. Will they be able to resist each other?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my favorite of the series so far. I liked the characters, the plot, and the spice & story balance.

Sabrina has her whole life planned out, but 1 night w/ hockey player, Tucker changes everything for her. Tucker‘s trying to find a business to finance. He finds out he‘s going to be a dad, so he has to step up more. Will Tucker undo the chains Sabrina locked around herself?

I liked Tucker because of his arc. I didn‘t like Sabrina. There was some spice; I just wanted a little more. There was also a little unnecessary boring parts here & there.

Willa plays soccer, so usually professors would work with her schedule, but not her math professor. He suggests that she get tutored by his grumpy lumberjack-looking TA, Ryder, who also has a hearing deficiency. How will they overcome their negative perceptions of each other?

This one had its cute moments. I felt like the characters didn‘t have enough romantic chemistry. I did like the inclusivity of a character w/ a hearing deficiency.

The Fates have been released & Legend has taken the throne. Caraval is over, but a new challenge has begun for Tella. Will she find a way to take down the Fates? Does Legend really love her or was it all pretend?

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one was ok. I didn‘t really expect some of the events leading up to the ending. I‘m glad there was a happy ending tho. It was a bit boring here & there. Overall, this series is overhyped. I was kinda disappointed.

Allie‘s longtime boyfriend breaks up w/ her. She doesn‘t plan for a rebound 1night stand, but that‘s what she gets w/ player, on & off the ice, Dean. After, she strictly states them to be just friends, nothing more, Dean won‘t have it. Does he want something more w/ her?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book! It‘s my favorite of the series. The couple chemistry was perfect w/ spice & comedy. Great character arcs, writing, & plot.

Hook, aka James, is trying to take down Peter‘s empire. Peter‘s daughter, Wendy, enters Hook‘s bar. That‘s when he plans to seduce her & get to Peter. The more time they spend together, his feelings start to affect his plans. Will Wendy find out about his scheme?

This one was ok. It was a bit overhyped. I liked the plot, but the writing could‘ve been a bit better. I wanted a little more romance & spice.

Lily starts writing lyrics on her desk and someone finishes them. They start to exchange letters where they open up to each other. Could her secret pen pal be her crush, Lucas, or her enemy, Cade?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one was a cute ya romance. The mystery wasn‘t really a mystery; it was obvious who it was from the beginning. The banter was cute, but I wanted more of it, and a little more romance.

#yabooks #romancebooks

Prince Harry‘s memoir goes from his earliest memories to his grandfather‘s funeral in 2021. He discusses his love and grief of his mother. Meeting, falling in love, and having a family w/ Megan. He also includes leaving the crown.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one had its boring moments & crazy mind-blowing moments. It was interesting some of the interactions he included. He definitely had a character arc. It was also a bit repetitive.

Sophie works for a local florist shop & is applying for fashion design after high school. She has to attend all the events in town, but so does Andrew, the new chef‘s son. He tends to get on her nerves in the beginning, but throughout the year, she starts to not mind it.

3.5⭐️ This 1 was a little boring and I didn‘t like the characters very much. It was cute & funny here & there, & I liked the ending. I wanted a little more romance.

Stevie‘s a flight attendant for Zander‘s NHL plane. Zander‘s a player, so he‘s used to girls striving for his attention, but Stevie‘s not giving it to him, b/c she doesn‘t want to date another athlete. The longer they‘re on tour together, the more their feelings get blurred.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was probably my 2nd favorite book of 2023. It had a great balance of story & spice. I loved the character, the plot, & the writing. Definitely recommend.

Tori Spring‘s just trying to get through high school when she comes across the mysterious Solitaire. Michael Holden joins in on her search to unmask Solitaire.

I really liked the voice for the audiobook b/c it‘s the girl that‘s casted as Tori in the show Heartstopper. This one did have a darker tone compared to Heartstopper; maybe that‘s why it‘s not my reading vibe. Also, the mystery was kind of obvious.

Beatrice‘s obsessed w/ crime solving, but she has to keep it a secret b/c it‘s deemed inappropriate for a lady. When wealthy bachelor, Edmund, is murdered at a ball, she takes it upon herself to solve the mystery.

This 1 was really extremely for me up until the last 50 pgs. The comedy was a little cringy. I only liked one character & they weren‘t an MC. The murderer was obvious. The ending was ok, there was kind of a happy ending for everyone.

Declan has to get married in order to take over his grandfather company. His assistant, Iris, volunteers. They thought it would be simple to pretend to be in love while married. They didn‘t expect to actually grow feelings for each other.

This 1 had some funny parts and some cute parts. I wanted a little more spice. The writing could‘ve been better. I liked the first one better; I liked the characters just a little more.

Hannah doesn‘t like Logan, and he also has a dismal future after he graduates, so Grace‘s a good distraction. When it becomes more between them, he makes a mistake that drives them apart. Grace makes him work her forgiveness.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one was ok. There was this really boring part in the middle. I wanted a little more spice & romance. There were a couple hilarious scenes tho. Their character arcs were also really good.

Wren‘s the good girl w/ good grades and Crew‘s the rich bad boy. They get paired on an assignment that brings them closer than they imagined. Will Wren be able to look past his bad rep and let herself go? Will Crew be able to settle down?

I really surprisingly liked this one. There was a good balance between spice, romance, and story. I also enjoyed Crews character growth. Definitely recommend.

It‘s the summer before college, Hannah & Sam meet, hit it off, but they don‘t exchange names/contacts. They don‘t think they‘ll see the other again, but they keep running into each other. Each time, it‘s filled w/ mishap & miscommunication.

⭐️⭐️💫 I didn‘t really enjoy this book. It was kind of boring & cringy. I didn‘t really like the characters & the writing could‘ve been better. There were a couple funny lines tho.

Jax‘s bad boy actions have gone too far. To improve his rep, Elena‘s assigned as his overpaid babysitter. As they spend more alone time together, their feeling surpass business. Will they learn to accept each other?

3.5 ⭐️ This one was ok. I just wanted a little more spice and romance. There was more comedy in this one.

Persephone‘s betrothed to Zeus. To escape the unwanted marriage, she crosses the River Styx for protection. Before, she thought Hades was a myth. Now, she‘s living under his roof & his rule. Will she return home or stay w/ the 1 she has grown unexpected feelings for?
This 1 was good; it was a bit overhyped. I enjoyed the romance & Hades‘ character growth. I just wanted a little more spice. I didn‘t like the audio version, read physical instead.

It follows Twilight, but told in the point of view of Edward.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I surprisingly really enjoyed this one. It was better than Bella‘s POV. I loved the connection Edward and Alice shared, and how they communicated through their special abilities. It included some cool details, but also a couple boring scenes the book could‘ve done without. If you like Twilight, I would definitely recommend.

They barely survived the first battle. Grace has 2 build an army to defeat the King‘s & save not only her kind, but also everyone else. Jaxon‘s becoming someone she doesn‘t recognize & Hudson‘s closing himself off. Will the gargoyle army fight w/ her?
This 1 was good. Grace just really got on my nerves w/ her self-centernedness; assuming they‘re all fight b/c of her, even though they‘ve stated more than once they‘re not. I did like the ending tho.

Anna is a burnt out violinist whose boyfriend springs on her he wants an open relationship. She searches for a 1-night stand & comes across Quan. While he helps her get over her sexual & personal anxieties, their feelings grow past casual. Will they become more?

I liked this one better than the 2nd one. It had a tiny bit more spice & I liked the characters a little more. I also still liked the diversity in characters.

Hannah has a crush, but she can‘t get past physical touch b/c of her past. She agrees to tutor Garrett in exchange for his help in getting her crush to notice her. They end of fake dating, but one kiss ends up leading to more. Will Hannah still want to be w/ her crush?

4.5 ⭐️ This 1 was so good. I liked the plot, characters, & spice. Disclaimer: includes rape. It doesn‘t go in full detail, but it‘s the reason for her physical touch issue.

Donatella returns to Caraval as a player. She bargains w/ a criminal 4 information on her mom, & as payment they request Legend‘s real name. Dante offers to help her, but their feelings begin to get in the way. Will Tella win? What will she win? Who‘s really Legend?

This 1 was better than the 1st. There was more romance & mystery. It also had a great transition from the 1st. I‘m still not a big fan of the characters, but Tella‘s a little better.

Liz‘s forever crush, Michael, moves back home. She asks her boy-next-door Wes to help her in being Michael‘s date for prom. The more time they hang out, the less she imagines Michael as her prom date.

This book was ok. It was a bit overhyped. I liked the plot, writing, & ending. Also, their chemistry was cute & there were visible character arcs. I just didn‘t like the non-communication between all of the characters. It annoyed me throughout.

A world where the children of the Greek gods inherit their powers. Io & her sisters are descendants of the Fates. She & her soulmate, who doesn‘t know he is, must save them & other women from the person severing life-threads.

I didn‘t enjoy this one very much. It was kind of boring. The plot was good, but the writing wasn‘t. I didn‘t like all but one of the characters (her soulmate); they had little to no arc.

Sophie‘s traveling w/ her dad‘s F1 team. She has a bucket list that Liam, driver for her dad‘s rival, wants to help her w/. Their feelings for each other grow past friendship throughout the tour & the list. Will they become more than friends? What will it cost them?

I enjoyed this 1, but I liked the 1st one better. It had more spice, but I wanted more chemistry; they weren‘t as cute as the other couple. The plot is good, I love friends to lovers.

Ivy, Mateo, & Cal ditch school, but they‘re not the only ones. They follow their classmate, only to find him dead. They spend the rest of the day uncovering clues as to who murdered him.

This one was a good pallet cleanser. It was a quick read. I liked that it all occurred in one day & there was some romance. I just didn‘t like the additional ending, & I wished there was more diversity in characters.

Yazmen & Josiah recently separated after a certain event, but are co-parenting & running a restaurant together. Lately, though, they‘ve been drawn to each other again. 1 kiss leads to more than they expected. Will they get past their complications? Is it too late for their love?

5⭐️ This 1 I surprisingly enjoyed. I‘m not a 2nd chance person, but this was executed very well, in my opinion. There was connection, communication, therapy, & spice.

Scarlett & her sister, Tella, attend the magical competition Caraval, but they get separated. Later, Scarlett discovers that whoever finds Tella wins the game. She has to differentiate what‘s real & what‘s not.

3.5 ⭐️ This one was a little overhyped. I thought the magic and plot were good. All the characters were an annoying & I wanted a little more romance.

Maya‘s traveling w/ her brother‘s F1 crew. Bad boy Noah catches her eye; he‘s also her brother‘s rival. They decide to keep their relationship a secret. How long will that last?

I enjoyed this one. I liked the chemistry between Maya & Noah; they were cute & funny together. The plot is good. I just wanted a little more spice between them. It also gives a good hint at who are in the next book.

Harriet & Wyn were the perfect couple, until they broke up 6 months ago. Their friends think they‘re still together. They have to keep up their relationship in front of them, but will it become real again between them?
This was the biggest disappointment of 2023 so far. I didn‘t enjoy the romance, plot, or story because it was boring. 3/4 of the way I didn‘t really care how it ended, I just wanted it to be over. I‘m just not a 2nd chance girlie.

Persephone & Sam used to spend every summer together in Barry‘s Bay for 6 yrs. They got closer than ever in more ways than 1 over the yrs. But one weekend, she makes the biggest mistake of her life & never returned. Now she‘s been called back.

This book was a bit overhyped. The plot was good. There was some funny & cute parts, but I wanted more. The characters didn‘t seem like they were very much in love w/ each other.