“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis
Author: Neide
Hi there, I’m Neide!
I spend way too much time on Youtube, I dance my little heart out way too often and, of course, I like to read really cool books. I read mostly YA, romances, non-fiction and thrillers. Also, I’m a professional cat lover and a Slytherin by heart.
Feel free to follow me on Goodreads. Let’s be book buddies!
“Love is friendship, but it is friendship with fire in its belly.” – 3/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: breakfast burritos, lessons, glasses, cucumbers, and cute cats.
She says she needs some help … in the bedroom.
Come again? No, really come again.
Sweet, nerdy, lovable Keaton.
She’s my best friend and has been for years. Sure she likes numbers and math, and thinks doing other people’s taxes is fun. And I like … none of that stuff. She’s obsessed with her cat and reads novels I’ll never understand, and yet we just click. There’s no one I’d rather share breakfast burritos with or binge watch hours of Netflix. She’s my person. And so when she takes off her glasses and asks me to help her improve her skills in the bedroom, I barely have to think about it.
Of course I’ll help her. There’s no one better for the job.
I’ve been there for her through everything, why should this be any different?
But what happens when she’s ready to take her new-found confidence and move on?
I love romance books… but this in particular was not very memorable to me – I read it one or two weeks ago, and surprisingly I can’t remember the details! After some thought, I believe I’m being nice to give it a 3-star rating. The characters were bland and had no chemistry. The guy is the popular type and the girl is the nerdy one. After peer judgment, she becomes self-conscious about her sex skills and asks her best friend to help her improve them. Of course, they eventually develop feelings for each other, and that’s what the story is about. As you can probably tell, this has a friends-to-lovers trope – they became friends in college and have been friends ever since -, and also a sex ed kind of trope as well. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind cliché – but I really didn’t care about these characters and plot. I just couldn’t connect with them. On a positive note, it’s a book that is easy to digest and go through. It was entertaining to some extent, but I didn’t feel a lot. I like Kendall Ryan’s books, so I’m going to keep reading from her. But this was mostly a miss from me.
“A part of intimacy is trusting someone enough to let go of that control a little. And that can be very difficult sometimes.” – 4.25/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: university visits, body image issues, sleepovers, final exams, and a lot of texting.
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the fifth volume of the much-loved HEARTSTOPPER series.
Nick and Charlie are very much in love. They’ve finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick’s house … But with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?
By Alice Oseman, winner of the YA Book Prize, Heartstopper encompasses all the small moments of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.
Contains discussions around mental health and eating disorders, and sexual references.
Oh, how I love this cute series. It was so nice to revisit these characters! I love them so much, and it was a joy to see them going through puberty and figuring life out! They are so adorable and I love their love for each other and how they express their feelings. I’m positive this is a common feeling among “Heartstopper” readers! This volume in particular has a specific focus on them figuring out their sexual relationship together, Nick’s dilemma with picking a university and possibly moving far from Charlie, and also Charlie’s issues with body image. It’s not that it’s a heavy book, but it’s a little more serious than the previous books! With that said, it was still very fun and endearing. In case you don’t know, there’s still one more book coming! Originally this was going to be the last book in the series, but the author decided to publish one more! It will be the last one so I’m excited to see what it’s all about when it finally comes out.
“When I met him in person at a fan meeting, I became addicted to seeing him in real life. It started after that.” – 3/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: sasaeng fans, threats, surprise trips, flower bouquets, private lessons, Korean food, PTSD, and a lot of scary situations.
Chloe Gibson’s dating the man of her dreams-a talented and gorgeous K-drama star. But there’s just one catch: they have to keep their relationship secret. This isn’t the ideal romance Chloe used to fantasise about.
Fortunately, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The couple have an agreement that after one year of dating in secret, they’ll front up to the South Korean media and go public with their relationship.
But the year won’t be smooth sailing.
When a mysterious package shows up, Chloe’s life is thrust into chaos. Soon she’s being plagued by creepy anonymous messages and the unsettling feeling she’s being followed.
The question is no longer whether the relationship will survive, it’s will Chloe survive?
It was okay? I think I prefer the first book a little better if I’m being honest. In this book, we follow Chloe once again, but this time she is dealing with a different struggle. We know from the last book that they started dating but decided to keep it a secret from the public since he’s a well-known actor. In this book, the story continues with Jinseung leaving for Jeju island to film another drama (and is gone for most of the book) and leaves Chloe to deal with a crazy sasaeng alone. It was a little nerve-racking to see her getting threats and being stalked because I’m sure fans do crazy things to idols’ family and friends in real life, so in that aspect, it felt real – but other than that, the story felt a little silly to me. I thought this would be another romance book, but it was more of a thriller with almost no romance, so I was a little disappointed. Sure, this still gives K-drama vibes as a thriller, but I think the theme changed a lot compared to the first book and that is something the reader is probably not expecting. With the first book we get a cute love story – which, if I’m being honest, is the only reason why I even decided to read this series in the first place -, but in the second book, things get way darker. And I have to mention the “big plot twist”. There was a plot twist in the story that was very obvious and you see it coming very soon in the book – not sure if the author meant for it to be this obvious, but it was. I was hoping I was wrong and that the tables would turn at the end, but that didn’t happen. I wanted to be surprised! I still liked it for what it was and it was entertaining – but like I said, I was hoping this would be more focused on the love story! I’ve already read the synopsis for the third book in the series, and I decided I probably won’t pick it up.
One more month means a new Wrap Up – and that’s exactly what I’m bringing you today! This month I really tried to focus on reading the books from my monthly TBR and the books I’ve already started in the previous months.
That means I tried not to seek spontaneous reads this month! I really wanted to finish all the books I already started to have a clean slate for August. I ended up reading the 6 books I planned on reading from my TBR and I was also able to pick 1 random book – so if you ask me, I think it went pretty well!
Ok, let’s take a look at the books, shall we?
This is the list I have to share with you today! Let’s take a closer look:
1. The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegmund-Broka: 3/5⭐
To be honest with you guys, this book was a little disappointing. I probably hyped it up too much in my head because of how popular it became and being inspired by Taylor Swift – but it was a very mediocre book. What I disliked the most was the way the book progresses with so little action. There’s a lot of internal dialog and introspective from both main characters, and, consequentially, the action is missing. Also, there was so much room and inspiration to add details and to develop the story to make it rich, but the authors kept it very superficial. I honestly was expecting more from this story. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good as well.
Synopsis
“A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft. Riley Wynn went from a promising singer-songwriter to a superstar overnight, thanks to her breakup song concept album and its unforgettable lead single. When Riley’s ex-husband claims the hit song is about him, she does something she hasn’t in ten years and calls Max Harcourt, her college boyfriend and the real inspiration for the song of the summer. Max hasn’t spoken to Riley since their relationship ended. He’s content with managing the retirement home his family owns, but it’s not the life he dreamed of filled with music. When Riley asks him to go public as her songwriting muse, he agrees on one he’ll join her in her band on tour. As they perform across the country, Max and Riley start to realize that while they hit some wrong notes in the past, their future could hold incredible things. And their rekindled relationship will either last forever or go down in flames.”
2. Death Note Vol. 3 by Tsugumi Ohba: 3.5/5⭐
I don’t have much to say about this book other than I liked it. I feel like the series is being very cohesive and the quality of each book is very similar to one another. So far I’m enjoying the story.
Synopsis
“Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal…or his life?”
3. The Fine Print (The Dreamland Billionaires #1) by Lauren Asher: 4/5⭐
I’ll admit I was afraid this would be a overhyped book, but I actually enjoyed this story a lot. This book has the enemies to lovers trope, which is one my favorite tropes! It’s not the most amazing romance I have ever read, but it was entertaining and I had a good time reading it.
Synopsis
“Rowan I’m in the business of creating fairy tales. Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels. Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland. My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her. Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias. By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late. People like me don’t get happy endings. Not when we’re destined to ruin them. Zahra After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, I should have been fired. Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job. The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I’d ever met. Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn’t care. At least not until I discovered his secret. It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn’t fix everything. Especially not us.”
4. The Dating Drama (My K-Drama Life #2) by Sara Martin: 3/5⭐
Another book I finished this month was “The Dating Drama” by Sara Martin, the second book in the “My K-Drama Life” series. It was okay, I guess? I think I prefer the first book a little better. I thought this would be a true romance book, but it was more of a thriller with almost no romance, so I was a little disappointed. It was entertaining at the end of the day, but like I said, I kind of hoped this would be more focused on the love story.
Synopsis
“Chloe Gibson’s dating the man of her dreams-a talented and gorgeous K-drama star. But there’s just one catch: they have to keep their relationship secret. This isn’t the ideal romance Chloe used to fantasise about. Fortunately, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The couple have an agreement that after one year of dating in secret, they’ll front up to the South Korean media and go public with their relationship. But the year won’t be smooth sailing. When a mysterious package shows up, Chloe’s life is thrust into chaos. Soon she’s being plagued by creepy anonymous messages and the unsettling feeling she’s being followed. The question is no longer whether the relationship will survive, it’s will Chloe survive?”
5. The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté and Daniel Maté: 5/5⭐
I absolutely loved this and can confidently say this is one of the best books I’ve read this year! It’s a book written by a doctor talking about how trauma and illness develop when you are living in a toxic culture. It was fascinating and I saw myself a lot in it. Worth reading!
Synopsis
“By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing. In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health? Over four decades of clinical experience, Maté has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of “normal” as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society—and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Co-written with his son Daniel, The Myth of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.”
6. Love Machine by Kendall Ryan: 3/5⭐
This was the book I picked up randomly during the month! I had this paperback on my shelf looking at me, so I thought why not? In essence, it was a mediocre read: not great, not terrible – just meh. As you can probably tell from the cringy torso cover, this is one of those fast-paced new adult romances I like to pick occasionally. I didn’t go into it with high expectations, so I’m not really disappointed with the reading experience. It was entertaining for what it was and fast to read!
Synopsis
“She says she needs some help … in the bedroom. Come again? No, really come again. Sweet, nerdy, lovable Keaton. She’s my best friend and has been for years. Sure she likes numbers and math, and thinks doing other people’s taxes is fun. And I like … none of that stuff. She’s obsessed with her cat and reads novels I’ll never understand, and yet we just click. There’s no one I’d rather share breakfast burritos with or binge watch hours of Netflix. She’s my person. And so when she takes off her glasses and asks me to help her improve her skills in the bedroom, I barely have to think about it. Of course I’ll help her. There’s no one better for the job. I’ve been there for her through everything, why should this be any different? But what happens when she’s ready to take her new-found confidence and move on?”
7. The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2) by Julia Quinn: 4.25/5⭐
I finally finished the second book in the “Bridgerton” series! I actually liked this book waaay more than the first one. I was afraid all the books were like the first book, but this book proved me wrong! I’m excited to keep going, I hope I’ll like Benedict’s story next.
Synopsis
“1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better… —Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814 Anthony Bridgerton needs a wife. Having spent his twenties in a rakish pursuit of pleasure, he knows it’s high time he settled down and ensured the continuation of the Bridgerton line. Edwina Sheffield is considered the most beautiful debutante of the current season. She is also sweet, innocent and eminently biddable – Anthony is sure she’ll make a perfectly acceptable wife and vows to make her his. The only obstacle in his way is Edwina’s older sister, Kate. Kate is determined to do all she can to allow her sister the chance to marry for love rather than convenience. And the roguish viscount is beginning to think he may have met his match in Kate’s keen wit and sharp tongue. Until, that is, he makes the mistake of kissing her…”
As usual, I’ll be posting the reviews for these books soon.
What about you guys? How was your reading month? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading friends, I’ll catch you guys later!
Once again, I’m bringing you my TBR for the next month: August. I’m slowly getting back to reading again, so I made sure I picked good and interesting books this month!
If you read my post onHow I Create My Monthly TBR Lists, you already know my magical formula to create a reading month. This is the formula I’m planning on keeping for the new year, so the monthly goal is to read 2 paperbacks, 2 audiobooks, 1 ebook, and 1 manga volume. And that’s the plan for August as well!
So without further ado, here are the books I’m planning on reading:
Yup, this is the list I have to share with you today! Let’s take a closer look at each book:
1. The Big Bang Theory by Jessica Radloff
This is a book that has piqued my interest since I first laid my eyes on it! As you can already tell by the title and cover, this is a book about “The Big Bang Theory” tv show! I love this show with all my heart for a few different reasons – not only did this show make me company on way too many occasions, but it felt relatable as a fellow nerd and former scientist, as well as it often uplifted my mood. So of course this is on my TBR list! I’m excited to take a peak behind the curtains and learn more about a show I adore so much! I’m sure I’m going to love this.
Synopsis
“The definitive, behind-the-scenes look at the most popular sitcom of the last decade, The Big Bang Theory, packed with all-new, exclusive interviews with the producers and the entire cast. The Big Bang Theory is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety. The Big Bang The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation, with the blessing and participation of co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, executive producers Steve Molaro and Steve Holland, as well as Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, and more. Glamour senior editor Jessica Radloff, who has written over 150 articles on the series (and even had a cameo in the finale!), gives readers an all-access pass to its intrepid producing and writing team and beloved cast. It’s a story of on-and-off screen romance told in hilarious and emotional detail, of casting choices that nearly changed everything (which even some of the actors didn’t know until now), of cast members bravely powering through personal tragedies, and when it came time to announce the 12th season would be its last, the complicated reasons why it was more difficult than anyone ever led on. Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the sitcom’s major players, Radloff dives into all this and much more. The book is the ultimate celebration of this once-in-a-generation show and a must-have for all fans.”
2. Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher
I’m continuing the Dreamland Billionaires series this month! I’ve been wanting to read this trilogy for a while now, and since I read the first last month, I want to keep going. I hope I’ll like this story a little more!
Synopsis
“Declan I’m destined to become the next CEO of my family’s media empire. The only problem? My grandfather’s inheritance clause. Fulfilling his dying wish of getting married and having an heir seemed impossible until my assistant volunteers for the job. Our marriage was supposed to be the perfect solution to my biggest problem. But the more we act in love for the public, the more unsure I feel about our contract. Caring about Iris was never part of the deal. Especially not when breaking her heart is inevitable. Iris My plan to marry Declan was simple in theory. Move in together. Throw a wedding. Have a baby. We set rules to prevent any kind of issues. Ones that were never meant to be broken, no matter how much Declan tempts me. But what happens when our fake relationship bleeds into our real one? Falling in love was never an option. At least not for me.”
3. Death Note, Vol. 4 by Tsugumi Ohba
Also continuing my current manga “Death Note” in August. So far so good – nothing too crazy to say about this one!
Synopsis
“With two Kiras on the loose, L asks Light to join the task force and pose as the real Kira in order to catch the copycat. L still suspects Light and figures that this is the perfect excuse to get closer to his quarry. Light agrees to the plan in order to have free access to the task force resources. But when Light manages to contact the new Kira, he discovers that his rival is anything but as expected. Will Light escape from love unscathed?”
4. The Guncle Abroad (The Guncle #2) by Steven Rowley
Oh, I’m so ready for this! I picked up the first “Guncle” book a few months ago randomly and I ended up loving it so when I found out there was going to be a sequel I was so happy! So this month I’ll be listening to this as an audiobook. Very excited for this one!
Synopsis
“Patrick O’Hara is called back to his guncle duties… This time for a big family wedding in Italy. Patrick O’Hara is back. It’s been five years since his summer as his niece Maisie and nephew Grant’s caretaker after their mother’s passing. The kids are back in Connecticut with their dad, and Patrick has relocated to New York to remain close by and relaunch his dormant acting career. After the run of his second successful sit-com comes to a close, Patrick feels on top of the world . . . professionally. But some things have had to take a back seat. Looking down both barrels at fifty, Patrick is single again after breaking things off with Emory. But at least he has a family to lean on. Until that family needs to again lean on him. When Patrick’s brother, Greg, announces he’s getting remarried in Italy, Maisie and Grant are not thrilled. Patrick feels drawn to take the two back under his wing. As they travel through Europe on their way to the wedding, Patrick tries his best to help them understand love, much as he once helped them comprehend grief. But when they arrive in Italy, Patrick is overextended managing a groom with cold feet; his sister, Clara, flirting with guests left and right; a growing rivalry with the kids’ charming soon-to-be-launt (lesbian aunt), and two moody young teens trying to adjust to a new normal, all culminating in a disastrous rehearsal dinner. Can Patrick save the day? Will teaching the kids about love help him repair his own love life? Can the change of scenery help Patrick come to terms with finally growing up? Gracing the work with his signature blend of humor and heart, Steven Rowley charms with a beloved story about the complicated bonds of family, love, and what it takes to rediscover yourself, even at the ripe age of fifty.”
5. An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3) by Julia Quinn
The time for Benedict’s story has come! I’m a little sad because I know the moment I finish this book the TV show won’t surprise me anymore – but it’s fine, I’ll survive! I’m excited to read his story and see Benedict fall in love. Fingers crossed it’s good!
Synopsis
“Sophie Beckett never dreamed she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball—or that “Prince Charming” would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight. Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid’s garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?“
6. Letters to the Lost (Letters to the Lost #1) by Brigid Kemmerer
This will actually be a reread! Fun story: this was one of the first books I read when I started getting more serious about reading more, so it holds a special place in my heart! But I never read the sequel, so I want to reread this first to revive my memory and then I’ll read the sequel next! I’m curious if I still like the story.
Synopsis
“Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope. Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past. When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can’t resist writing back. Soon, he’s opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they’re not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.”
Aaaand there you have it friends, my TBR list! As usual, I hope you liked this post! Let me know if you have any recommendations for me. You know I’m always grateful for those!
“Darkness was always drawn to light, but I wasn’t just drawn to her; I was fucking obsessed. I would throw myself into her flame and let it burn me alive if it meant her warmth was the last thing I felt before I died.” – 4.25/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: green dresses, cybersecurity, surveillance cameras, plant watering, social media, stalkers, dark curls, and… butterflies.
He’ll do anything to have her…including lie.
Charming, deadly, and smart enough to hide it, Christian Harper is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman.
He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he can’t deny the strange pull he feels toward the woman living just one floor below him.
She’s the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he can’t solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer her a deal she can’t refuse.
Every monster has their weakness. She’s his.
His obsession. His addiction. His only exception.
**
Sweet, shy, and introverted despite her social media fame, Stella Alonso is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage.
Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship.
But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms—and house—of the most dangerous man she’s ever met, she’s tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time.
Because despite Christian’s cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she’s with him.
Passionate. Protected. Truly wanted.
Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies…and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.
Twisted Lies is a steamy, medium to slow burn fake dating romance. It is the fourth and final book in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.
WARNING: Contains a morally gray male MC, explicit content, violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Please see inside the book for a detailed list. Recommended for 18+
For a romance series… not bad! I think all the books from the series are fairly close in quality but I would say this is probably my favorite. If I were to order the books in the series from best to worst, I would order them this way: Twisted Lies > Twisted Hate > Twisted Games > Twisted Love. This book, the final installment of the series, is about Stella! We get to see Stella here and then in the previous books, but here we get a true glimpse of her personality. She’s a really fun character, with a love for fashion, plants, and social media! We also have Christian Harper, the dark and mysterious love interest who owns a cybersecurity company and the building she lives in – and I dare to say, is one of my favorite male love interests from the series. I liked them a lot as characters and how their romance developed slowly! The story is good, easy to keep up with, and engaging! You keep wondering who the stalker is and what’s going to happen next, so you’ll want to keep turning the pages! Sure, it took me a while to finish this book because at the beginning I felt like I was losing my interest in the series – and I have commitment issues with book series in general -, but I’m glad I kept going because I ended up having a good time reading this last book. Not the best romance series I’ve ever read, but it was enjoyable and entertaining! There was depth, romance, character development, and good storylines. Worth checking out!
“Melodies hold memories, Like nothing else on earth, they recall feelings, places, moments– the needle dropping into the groove of the soul’s record player.” – 2.5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: tour buses, pianos, bunk beds, breakup songs, wedding dresses, superstars, songwriting, glitter bodysuits, divorces, and a ton of inspiration.
A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft .
Riley Wynn went from a promising singer-songwriter to a superstar overnight, thanks to her breakup song concept album and its unforgettable lead single. When Riley’s ex-husband claims the hit song is about him, she does something she hasn’t in ten years and calls Max Harcourt, her college boyfriend and the real inspiration for the song of the summer.
Max hasn’t spoken to Riley since their relationship ended. He’s content with managing the retirement home his family owns, but it’s not the life he dreamed of filled with music. When Riley asks him to go public as her songwriting muse, he agrees on one he’ll join her in her band on tour.
As they perform across the country, Max and Riley start to realize that while they hit some wrong notes in the past, their future could hold incredible things. And their rekindled relationship will either last forever or go down in flames.
While I was writing this review I realized I was being too generous with my rating, so I ended up lowering it to the 2-star tier. To be honest with you guys, this book was disappointing. I probably hyped it up too much in my head because of how popular it became and because it was “inspired” by Taylor Swift – but at the end of the day, it was a very mediocre book. Buckle up, because I have a lot to say! The characters were so boring and had zero personality – especially Max. We get it, the retirement home is your only priority… but what does he like and what is he like? I couldn’t tell you, because I have no clue. I really wish there was some character development because it was seriously lacking in this book. Now the romance… yawn! It was very boring and they had no chemistry. The story has a second chance romance trope – which is not my favorite, but I kind of hoped we would get a Taylor Lautner relationship inspo. But nope! Sure, they share musical talent and a love for music, but other than that… They were together for 9 months like 10 years ago, and suddenly she decided she liked him all along and they rekindled their romance that easily and fast? Also, if Riley is such a big pop star, do you really think he could get a ticket last minute? *laughs in The Eras Tour* I also think there were a few elements added to the book that could have been developed, but they were left unfinished – or even just removed, if I’m being honest. Like for example the retirement arc was so weird. What was even the point of adding it to the story in the first place? At first, we get a scene of him playing there for the residents, but other than that, the retirement home is mostly forgotten. So Max leaves the retirement home, the only thing he cares about in his life… to be part of a tour. We didn’t even get a conclusion for this! Another example is Riley’s mom who was recently divorced. What was the point of her having that long conversation with Riley at the beginning of the book? Sure, she “contributes” to the main relationship OK, she gets with the tour bus driver… and? It reminds me of the saying “This meeting could have been a call”. It was such a weird addition. But not all was bad! There were a few fun elements here and there that I liked, like for example there were a few song lyrics I recognized throughout the book from Taylor, and I also liked how the “easter eggs” thing was incorporated into the book. I feel like the book needed more fun elements like this to be enjoyable because it lacked action and details. Now let me tell you what bothered me about this book. The book progresses with so little action. There’s a lot of internal dialog and introspective from both main characters, and, consequentially, the actual action is missing. Also, there was so much room and inspiration from Taylor’s tour to add details and to develop the story to make it rich, but the authors kept it very superficial and it wasn’t fun to read about. Also, I know this is probably a personal ick, but I’ll tell you anyway: couldn’t they just thank Taylor in the acknowledgments? I know they mentioned her in the dedication, but they’re literally marketing this book as a Taylor Swift-inspired book and profiting from her story. I don’t know, it rubs me off the wrong way because it feels like an easy cash grab and only that. I guess the biggest issue for me is that the book continues to perpetuate the image that Taylor is trying to escape. It felt invasive and disrespectful to make the character a person who tries to capitalize on her romantic relationships and sees other people only as “new good songs”. I honestly was expecting more from this story. I was disappointed, bored and I wouldn’t recommend this to other swifties.
“If I had a heart to give, it would be all yours. Free of cost.” – 4/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: drawings, pins, princess castles, beauty boutiques, PowerPoint presentations, text messages, streaming service passwords, snow, Pride and Prejudice movies, mentorship programs, carved pumpkins, takeout food, book signings, and haunted houses.
Rowan I’m in the business of creating fairy tales. Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels. Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland. My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her. Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias. By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late. People like me don’t get happy endings. Not when we’re destined to ruin them.
Zahra After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, I should have been fired. Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job. The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I’d ever met. Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn’t care. At least not until I discovered his secret. It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn’t fix everything. Especially not us.
The Fine Print is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones following three billionaire brothers.
I finally read the first book in the “Dreamland Billionaires” trilogy! If you haven’t been sleeping under a rock, you know this book was way too overhyped on BookTok -, and now I finally got the opportunity to read it for myself and draw my own opinion.
To be completely honest I went into this book without knowing what the story was about. The only thing I knew was that this is a romance trilogy following three billionaire brothers – and their respective romantic interests, of course -, so I was very excited when I found out this was like a Disneyland Parks-inspired series! The theme surprised me because I never read a book with a theme like this, and I thought it was very unique and creative. It was so obvious it was inspired by these parks in particular because of the small details mentioned here and there – like the beauty boutique, the similarity to real Disney movies, etc. So it was cool to read about the “Dreamland” park!
The romance between Rowan and Zahra was cute! I liked their banter, but mostly, I really liked how he fell for her first. I would describe the romance as an “enemies to lovers” trope because they hated each other (mostly) the entire time. This is one of my favorite tropes, so I had no problem with that! There are a few sex scenes here and there, but I still wouldn’t consider this a very smutty book like I thought it would be – from 0 to 10, I would give this a 5 or a 6 on a “smut scale”.
I liked them as main characters – but as it often happens in these romance novels, they separate at some point for dumb reasons. With that said, don’t be afraid – the story has a happy ending. The writing is good and easy to follow. One thing I always appreciate authors doing is small chapters, which is the case for this book. It helps a lot to digest the story and it’s easier to take breaks. Also – and I could be completely wrong -, but I think there were a few references to Julia Quinn and the Bridgerton books, but with different names. If I’m correct, how cool is that?
I wonder if the next books will also have the theme park as a background? I’m guessing not as much since Rowan didn’t cross paths with his brothers often… but we’ll see!
I’m excited to keep going with the series! I hope the next book is a secretary-boss romance. From the small tip we got from the first book, it sure seems like it! We’ll see, but I think I’m going to be a fan either way!
“One last dance, my lady, before I am never to see you again?” – 2.5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: invisibility cloak, magical teeth, silver, hidden romances, dance slippers, suitors, underground worlds, and secret passages.
Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it’s taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.
Yeah, this was not for me! I personally didn’t love this story if I’m being honest. This is a retelling of the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” story – which I’m not the biggest fan of in the first place. In this retelling, in particular, twelve princesses were forbidden by their father to stop dancing for one year because their mother died and they had to spend the year mourning. Their father soon abandons them to go to war, and they are left sad and alone. But when they find a secret magical passage to a place where they can secretly dance all night, they decide to break the rules and dance the nights away! From all the things I could point out from this book, this is the main critique: this could have been way shorter – it dragged out so much and it was very unnecessary! The pacing was really slow, and I quickly lost interest in the story because nothing engaging ever happened. The characters were also pretty bland and uninteresting. Azalea was an okay character – not super likable, but not insufferable as well. In general, I think the characters lacked development and personalities. They’re all named alphabetically and after flowers, which I thought was cute. I’m not sure if this is part of the original story or not, but I thought it was a fun detail. There’s a bad guy in the story that was really creepy, so it was uncomfortable at times to read when he came up. He was from the underworld, where the girls would dance all night to exhaustion. At first, he seems nice, but he turns out to be very dangerous to them and the kingdom. Also, I guess there was some romance? Although it was mostly nonexistent – not a single spark was spotted -, which was a little disappointing to me because I thought this retelling screamed romance, but that’s on me. Yeah, overall this wasn’t for me. The story wasn’t terrible, but the slow pace, lack of character development, and the overall plot didn’t make me a fan. I’m sure there are better retellings of this fairy tale out there, so I would skip this one!
“Love is the most powerful healing force there is. You can take this love out into the world and silently share it with everyone you meet. Love yourself. Love one another. Love the planet and know that we are all one. And so it is.” – 5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: meditation, healing, hard work, and a ton of mirror work!
AN ESSENTIAL SELF-CARE GUIDEBOOK FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE
LOUISE HAY’S 21 DAY SIGNATURE DAILY PRACTICE FOR LEARNING HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF BASED ON HER MOST POPULAR VIDEO COURSE, LOVING YOURSELF
Mirror work has long been Louise Hay’s favorite method for cultivating a deeper relationship with yourself, and leading a more peaceful and meaningful life.
The Mirror Principle, one of Louise’s core teachings, holds that our experience of life mirrors our relationship with ourselves; unless we see ourselves as loveable, the world can be a dark and lonely place.
Mirror work—looking at oneself in a mirror and repeating positive affirmations—was Louise’s powerful method for learning to love oneself and experience the world as a safe and loving place.
Each of the 21 days is organized around a theme, such as monitoring self-talk, overcoming fear, releasing anger, healing relationships, forgiving self and others, receiving prosperity, and living stress-free.
The daily program involves an exercise in front of the mirror, positive affirmations, journaling, an inspiring Heart Thought to ponder, and a guided meditation.
Packed with practical guidance and support, presented in Louise’s warmly personal words, MIRROR WORK—or Mirror Play, as she likes to call it—is designed to help
• Learn a deeper level of self-care • Gain confidence in their own inner guidance system • Develop awareness of their soul gifts • Overcome resistance to change • Boost self-esteem • Cultivate love and compassion in their relationships with self and others
In just three weeks, you will establish the practice of Mirror Work as a tool for personal growth and self-care, and a path to a full, rich life.
MIRROR WORK CHAPTERS
WEEK ONE · Loving Yourself · Making Your Mirror Your Friend · Monitoring Your Self-Talk · Letting Go of Your Past · Building Your Self-Esteem · Releasing Your Inner Critic
WEEK TWO · Loving Your Inner Child – Part One · Loving Your Inner Child – Part Two · Loving Your Body, Healing Your Pain · Feeling Good, Releasing Your Anger · Overcoming Your Fear · Starting Your Day with Love
WEEK THREE · Forgiving Yourself and Those Who Have Hurt You · Healing Your Relationships · Living Stress Free · Receiving Your Prosperity · Living Your Attitude of Gratitude · Teaching Mirror Work to Children · Loving Yourself Now
“Mirror work—looking deeply into your eyes and repeating affirmations—is the most effective method I’ve found for learning to love yourself and see the world as a safe and loving place. I have been teaching people how to do mirror work for as long as I have been teaching affirmations.
The most powerful affirmations are those you say out loud when you are in front of your mirror. The mirror reflects back to you the feelings you have about yourself.
As you learn to do mirror work, you will become much more aware of the words you say and the things you do. You will learn to take care of yourself on a deeper level than you have done before.
The more you use mirrors for complimenting yourself, approving of yourself, and supporting yourself during difficult times, the deeper and more enjoyable your relationship with yourself will become.”
Love, Louise Hay
I absolutely loved this book! This is one heck of a book, my friends – you have to read it! You know when you start reading a random book without thinking too much, and you didn’t even know how much you needed it in your life? That’s what happened to me! In “Mirror Work”, the author Louise Hay shows readers how we can heal ourselves by taking her 21-day journey of mirror work. The days are divided by chapters, so the goal is to read a chapter each day to complete the 21 days. Each day focuses on a specific topic, such as healing the inner child, letting go of anger, letting go of fear, etc. It is a very well–structured book, and the chapters are fairly short, so you can take 10 minutes of your day to read it! Another good thing is that each chapter always ends with exercises to do in front of the mirror and meditation, so you’ll be practicing what is preached every day! I enjoyed this book a lot and I took a lot from it – so that’s why I will always recommend it to other self-development readers. I know it sounds cliché, but I’m not the same person I was when I first started reading it. Now I feel more comfortable looking at the mirror, I talk to myself more and I appreciate myself more after reading this book. This ended up being a life-changing book for me, and I can’t recommend it enough! I loved it so much that I still read a chapter once in a while to start my day the right way. If you’re into self-development, this is a must!
Sprayed Edges 