“You’re going to love Puffin Island.” – 3.25/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: long lost families, journalists, beaches, birds, new names, swimming lessons, cute dogs, waffles and chocolate milk.

Windswept, isolated and ruggedly beautiful, Puffin Island is a haven for day-trippers and daydreamers alike. But this charming community has a way of bringing people together in the most unexpected ways…

It’s been a summer of firsts for Emily Donovan. From becoming a stand-in mom to her niece Lizzie to arriving on Puffin Island, her life has become virtually unrecognizable. Between desperately safeguarding Lizzie and her overwhelming fear of the ocean—which surrounds her everywhere she goes!—Emily has lost count of the number of “just breathe” pep talks she’s given herself. And that’s before charismatic local yacht club owner Ryan Cooper kisses her…

Ryan knows all about secrets. And it’s clear that newcomer Emily—with her haunted eyes and the little girl she won’t let out of her sight—is hiding from something besides the crazy chemistry between them. So Ryan decides he’s going to make it his personal mission to help her unwind and enjoy the sparks! But can Puffin Island work its magic on Emily and get her to take the biggest leap of trust of all—putting her heart in someone else’s hands?

My first ever Sarah Morgan book and to be completely honest, it was a little underwhelming. I liked the story and the island/birds elements, and I truly believe it had potential to become a great romance book… but it felt underdeveloped. Neither the characters or the romance were explored to their max. I would say a lot that happens in this book is just too “perfect” or convenient for the story. I’ll give you a few examples of why I felt this way:

• Lizzie, the little girl, behaved in a very unrealistic way. She literally had just lost her mother and she was an angel the entire time: there was no sign of trauma by living in a different place without a single person she knew; she trusted everyone and was open to people, she didn’t cry… nothing! She threw no tantrums and just had an instant connection with her aunt – convenient to the story, right? I’m not saying that would be impossible to happen, but I would think it’s extremely unrealistic for a kid who lost everything to be so trusting and calm so instantly.
• The romance was underwhelming. The main characters’ interactions were mostly sexual, and that would have been fine if the author sold it like that in the story. The problem is that the author sells it like it’s a really deep, soulmate connection and it never feels like that.
• The quick change of heart of the main characters. They both had very strong beliefs and trains of thoughts that they keep defending throughout the book… until they change their thoughts in a heartbeat. This was confusing to me and made the book too “perfect” and convenient. Not a fan of this as well.
• Following the last point: I was a little disappointed with the ending. If you also read the book, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m not going to talk about it because I don’t want to spoil anything, but It didn’t feel realistic knowing it didn’t align with the characters’ backgrounds and personal beliefs, so I personally think the ending didn’t make sense.

Now with all of this said, one curious thing happened: while I wasn’t super invested in the main characters and romance, I’m now really curious about the future relationship between Sky and Alec! I found out the third book in the series is about their romance, and for that reason only… I’m continuing the series!

Another thing I found surprising about this book is that I didn’t know it was going to be so steamy. I definitely judged the book by the cover, and I thought this would be more of a sweet kind of beach read. If that is important for you to know, keep in mind that this is steamier than it looks!

I still think the atmosphere was beautiful and inspiring, but the characters/relationships felt a little off in this one.

“To be a writer, to be a good writer, you need courage. You need to be prepared to expose yourself.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: old photographs, mysterious books, lingerie, beach days, drugs, motherhood and toy boats.

A brilliantly conceived, deeply unsettling psychological thriller— already an international sensation—about a woman haunted by secrets, the consuming desire for revenge, and the terrible price we pay when we try to hide the truth.

Finding a mysterious novel at her bedside plunges documentary filmmaker Catherine Ravenscroft into a living nightmare. Though ostensibly fiction, The Perfect Stranger recreates in vivid, unmistakable detail the terrible day she became hostage to a dark secret, a secret that only one other person knew—and that person is dead.

Now that the past is catching up with her, Catherine’s world is falling apart. Her only hope is to confront what really happened on that awful day . . . even if the shocking truth might destroy her.

This story was… wow. I can’t believe the turn it took!

This book was kindly lent to me by a reader friend and I got super curious when I read the synopsis. I really liked the concept behind the story: imagine mysteriously receiving  a book to your house and when you start reading it, you find out it’s about you! How creepy is that?

I admit I first thought the story was going in a different direction. I first thought the book was about her entire life, but it was “only” about a single event from the main character’s life. Still, I really liked how the story turned out and I was surprised until the very end – and needless to say I didn’t see that ending coming. Never in a million years.

All the characters were interesting and layered. They felt real and human, because as a reader we get so mixed feelings from them (and their actions). The characters and writing were executed to perfection.

Some people compare this book to “Gone Girl”, but I haven’t read it yet so I couldn’t tell you if the novels are similar or not!

Definitely recommend it, it’s worth it if you’re into mysteries!

“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.” – 3/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: the power of prayer, helpful tips, biblical references and a positive attitude.

The phenomenal and inspiring bestseller by the father of positive thinking. The Power of Positive Thinking is a practical, direct-action application of spiritual techniques to overcome defeat and win confidence, success and joy. Norman Vincent Peale, the father of positive thinking and one of the most widely read inspirational writers of all time, shares his famous formula of faith and optimism which millions of people have taken as their own simple and effective philosophy of living. His gentle guidance helps to eliminate defeatist attitudes, to know the power you possess and to make the best of your life.

“The Power of Positive Thinking” is a small self-development book, in which the author Norman Vincent Peale shares his lessons with readers on how to use the power of positive thinking to live a happy, successful life.

This book defends that there’s a strong connection between our mental state and habitual thought processes, so here you will find plenty of advice on how to start using a positive mindset to overcome worry and overall problems. It also shows a number of real-life examples that show how other people overcame their adversities by thinking in a positive way.

To be completely honest, I didn’t take much from this book. It’s not that the advice is bad, but the book wasn’t super impactful to me. Sometimes it gets a bit repetitive, so you keep seeing the same arguments being made over and over again. Not a terrible book, just okay.

A quick side note: if you don’t like books with a religious tone, you should probably skip this one. There are many references to religion that are used as arguments here. I personally don’t mind, but I can see some readers not liking the biblical/Christianity references that are frequently mentioned throughout the book.

I can see how this book could be impactful to some readers who are trying to better themselves, but personally for me it was just an okay book. Important message, but nothing too special about the book, in my humble opinion.

4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: job interviews, boy bands, cute puppies, classic novels, baking, photo booths, flower arrangements, Quidditch, Gryffindors and Slytherins.

Cuteness overload (once again)!

This mini-comic book is a collection of stories about Nick and Charlie, some of them being part of the timeline of the original series, some being in the future and some being part of parallel universes.

My favorite stories were the Harry Potter one, the Pride and Prejudice one and the one where Charlie was telling his friend that Nick may like him back. Those made my heart sing!

There’s also a mix of different art styles and illustrators, so you won’t just find the art style used in the original series. I personally loved this mix and It’s cool that there were different interpretations in this collection!

If you’re considering picking up this book, I would advise you to read the series first and then this mini-comic book. It’s not like there’s a major spoiler here, but you still get a sense of where the story is going and if you don’t want that, I would advise you to pick up the series first.

The only thing that I wish was different is that two of the stories felt unfinished… other than that, I loved this!

I swear Alice Oseman could publish 20 more books about Charlie and Nick, and I would still read them. Until then… I’ll keep waiting for the 5th volume to come out!

“Sometimes we have to break so we can recreate a stronger version of ourselves.” – 3.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: lucky charms, tiny bikinis, superheroes, nude models, hockey players, tutors, college dorms, puck bunnies, art classes and a lot of bird flipping.

I don’t want you.
You mean nothing to me.
I never loved you.

I turned my words into swords.
And I cut her down. Shoved the blade in and watched her fall.

I said I’d never hurt her, and I did.

Years later, I’m faced with all the little lies, the untruths, the false realities, the damage I inflicted, when all I wanted was to indulge my obsession.

Lavender Waters is the princess in the tower. Even her name is the thing fairy tales are made of.

I used to be the one who saved her.
Over and over again.

But I don’t want to save her anymore.
I just want to pretend the lies are still the truth.

A standalone angsty new adult romance.

Heroine: Lavender Waters (Alex and Violet Waters’ youngest daughter, PUCKED and FOREVER PUCKED couple origin, Pucked Series )

Hero: Kodiak (Kody) Bowman (Rook and Lainey Bowman’s son, A LIE FOR A LIE couple origin, All In Series)

I was in the mood for a nice new adult romance, and this was the first book I thought of picking up. It was an okay story, but definitely not my favorite.

The characters were okay, but a bit too immature for my own taste. One thing I thought about Lavender (by the way, that’s a cool name) is that she wasn’t just another typical main lead. She was surprisingly strong. You definitely get to watch her grow, coming from a place of insecurities and anxiety to a place where she became very sure about herself. With that said, she had a lot of flaws too. She was immature and she made stupid decisions without thinking about the consequences. Kody was more of a typical NA main lead. He was a bit too overprotective and a caveman sometimes, but he was… okay. 

The romance was good and the characters had chemistry, but there was something off about this romance that I couldn’t put my finger on. Maybe it’s because I feel like the interactions were limited, and they didn’t spend a lot of time together. There was a lot of inner monologue and sex scenes (mostly solo), but there was not a lot of interaction between them, so I guess there is where the romance failed for me. Also, what  kept them apart wasn’t even that bad, so the motive ended up being very silly and all that drama (and the plot basis) felt unnecessary.

One thing that got me confused was the amount of people this book had. My lord, it was hard to keep up with all the siblings and cousins when the book started. This book is marketed as a standalone, but apparently this is a book related to an already existing series that I didn’t know. Maybe I’ll pick it up one day? I don’t know yet.

I was entertained, so that’s what really matters to me. Not a perfect book, but it was okay for what it was!

“When we hate our enemies, we are giving them power over us: power over our sleep, our appetites, our blood pressure, our health, and our happiness.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: anxiety, prayer, happiness, getting busy, true stories and life-changing knowledge.

I’ve been struggling with anxiety for as long as I can remember, and in the past few years it has gotten worse. Luckily, a good friend of mine recommended this book to me, so I decided to give it a try! After reading, I can happily say that this book has completely changed my perspective on worrying and my mentality on the subject.

In this book, Dale Carnegie shares techniques to help us overcome worry in order to live with peace and happiness. The book is divided into eight parts: it goes from understanding and learning facts about worry, to how to analyze what is worrying us, to stop worrying and live a happier life. I could be here all day gushing about this amazing book because I took so much from it, but here are things that marked me the most:

• To not think too much about what happened in the past and what the future could bring, and focus on today instead;
• That there’s a difference between being worried and being concerned about something – this was a big one for me;
• To think of what is worrying me and what the worst case scenario is if the worry became true. After figuring that out, accept it and resolve it the best I can. And voilá, it doesn’t seem so bad anymore!
• To get clear and deconstruct what is worrying me;
• To get busy, constructive, improve myself constantly and focus on what I CAN control;
• That controlling my worries will have a tremendous impact on my health. I’m promising myself I’ll rest more to be energized, I’ll find new ways to relax and I won’t let others rain on my parade!

I feel like almost everything in this book is not ground breaking in the sense that it is mostly common sense. Now with that said, this book tells you exactly what you need to hear, in a very informative, structured and constructive way  – and that’s why this book is so special! Another great thing about this book is that it is packed with true stories that will help inspire readers by showing how others overcame worry.

An important note: if you’re not religious, don’t let the religious aspect of this book stop you from reading the book. I’m sure religious people will resonate more with what’s said here, but I believe this book is for everyone!

This is one of those books I will keep revisiting from time to time, because it helped reflect on my own attitude and actions. This is definitely a must-read for all my fellow anxious/stressed people!

“Emma Gladstone had learned a few hard lessons by the age of two-and-twenty. Charming princes weren’t always what they seemed. Shining armor went out of fashion with the Crusades. And if fairy godmothers existed, hers was running several years late. Most of the time, a girl needed to rescue herself.” – 3.75/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: handmade dresses, stray cats, long tables, cute nicknames, convenience marriages, desperate friends, theater nights, newspapers, old scars and a deal.

When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules…

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple:
– They will be husband and wife by night only.
– No lights, no kissing.
– No questions about his battle scars.
– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
– They will have dinner together every evening.
– With conversation.
– And unlimited teasing.
– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…

I’m a newbie when it comes to historical romances, but I wanted to dive deeper into this genre and a lot of people recommended Tessa Dare’s books. So here we are on book #1!

I really liked this book and I thought it was really cool how the author was inspired by “Beauty and the Beast” to create this story. I ended up really liking the overall plot and I thought it was very well-made. The only parts I didn’t love were the newspaper bits, because it felt a little too silly and unnecessary for me.

All the characters were likable, had great backstories and were special in their own way. Both main characters were hurt and were suffering, but they found love in each other. I really liked their chemistry, which was shown in their banter and funny arguments – especially when Emma was trying to find a cute nickname to call Ash, that was really funny. I also really liked how Ash wasn’t your typical prince charming. Not only was his face deeply scarred, but he was sassy and had an attitude! 

The romance was good, but I admit I wasn’t expecting this to be so steamy! I was kind of expecting some steaminess from this book, but I wasn’t expecting it to this level. Not necessarily a bad thing, though! Just surprising.

I think it’s difficult to come up with new and original stories when it comes to historical romance, but the author added special elements to the story – their personalities, the banter, the backstories – and that’s what makes this book stand out.

Like I said, I’m fairly new at historical romances and I only have read Valerie Bowman’s books for comparison. If this book is not an exception, you can count on a solid plot and a LOT of steaminess from Tessa Dare’s books.

Is this the deepest book you’ll ever read? Probably not, but that’s not what you should expect from this book. It’s supposed to be a fun and quick read to let your mind travel for a while. I’m excited to see what the next book from the series brings to the table!

“For as long as I could remember, I had been apologizing for existing, for trying to be who I was, to live the life I was meant to lead.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: bus rides, transphobia, diners, football games, teenagers, transitions, new friendships, supporting parents, prom nights, prayer and secrets.

A new kind of big-hearted novel about being seen for who you really are.

Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret, and she’s determined not to get too close to anyone.

But when she meets sweet, easygoing Grant, Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she realizes just how much she is losing by guarding her heart. She finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself, including her past. But Amanda’s terrified that once she tells him the truth, he won’t be able to see past it.

Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that at her old school, she used to be Andrew. Will the truth cost Amanda her new life, and her new love?

Meredith Russo’s If I Was Your Girl is a universal story about feeling different and a love story that everyone will root for.

This book… oh my God! You NEED this in your life! I just know I’m going to push this book to every reader I know – sorry in advance, friends!

This work of fiction is about a girl named Amanda, a transgender girl who went to live with her dad after suffering bullying not only in school but also in the community. And the story follows Amanda and her attempts to find new friends, being a teenager and fitting in, while keeping her secret.

This was my first time reading a story about a transgender character, so it was a very eye-opening experience for me. Amanda’s story was heartbreaking and I was rooting for her the entire time. There were so many aspects that made me reflect. This book definitely touches on some of the struggles of trans people: from not having parents that support the transition, to having people arguing with you for going to the bathroom, to deciding when (and if) to tell the people they’re dating. I can’t imagine what it’s like to keep apologizing and constantly defending who you are to other people.

I also really liked the writing! It was cool to get a deeper look on how Amanda’s life was before and after transitioning with Amanda’s and Andrew’s POVs. I’m also glad the romance was not the focus of the book, because a lot would be lost with the love story.

I wasn’t super satisfied with the ending, because it was a little too ambiguous and open for my own taste. I personally don’t agree with other reviewers on this book being a “too perfect” story. Sure, she found friends and a boy that liked her, but she still went through a lot before she got there.

It’s a very important read that describes perfectly what so many people go through. I really like the message the book sends and how informative it is to readers that don’t go through this experience. Very well executed and a must-read in my humble opinion!

“Our ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: centenaries, healthy eating, daily walks, life purposes, retirement, meaningful lives and longevity.

Bring meaning and joy to all your days with this internationally bestselling guide to the Japanese concept of ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy)—the happiness of always being busy—as revealed by the daily habits of the world’s longest-living people.

What’s your ikigai?

“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb

According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—the place where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy.

In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?

This little book is full of wisdom! It was exactly the dose of inspiration I needed to keep me on the right track habit wise.

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that says that everyone should have a reason for living in order to live a happy, fulfilling life. The authors visited and studied the villagers from a Japanese village known for having the world’s longest-living people, and came to the conclusion that all of them remained active and did what they truly enjoyed. They had a clear purpose in life by keeping themselves busy.

I personally found this book truly inspiring and there are a lot of things I took away from it, especially on how the centenaries keep their health. It was so interesting to know how they stayed active by going on walks or by taking care of their gardens… even being centenaries! It blew my mind.The retirement part was interesting as well. Many Japanese don’t even feel the need to retire! They just keep working on what they love for the rest of their lives. They also eat very healthy food and don’t fill up their stomachs to full capacity. All of this made me reflect on my own life choices, and it made me want to do better.

One story I particularly enjoyed was about the retirement of Studio Ghibli’s director. He just kept showing up for work to keep drawing because that’s what he loved to do! His commitment to drawing amazed me, and it made me think about finding my own ikigai.

The only thing I would change about this book is the depth of some of the topics, but I can understand how they wanted to keep the book on the lighter side. I would still read a full length book on the subject, because this was enough to inspire me.

I would definitely recommend it if you would like some tips and reminders on how to live a happier, meaningful life!

“I am Amora Montara, and I will no longer be a pawn. I will be a queen.” – 2.75/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: poison, legends, the dead, Gods, fate, bones and teeth.

Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.

No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she’s lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.

To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything―but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.

I’m changing my original rating from a 3 to a 2.75. Not a huge difference, but it makes more sense to me to rate this within the 2 star tier. I cooked that “Ferrick situation” in my head for a while, and I concluded that that particular situation made me go from an “it was okay” read to a “I actually didn’t like it that much” read.

Like I said, this was overall a very okay-ish read. To be honest I think I lost interest in the story in the first book, so I basically tried to read this one just to conclude the trilogy.

The plot was boring, the characters were boring and I wasn’t invested in anything from this second book.

I can’t pinpoint exactly what went wrong, because in theory this duology had everything to be a new favorite of mine: pirate themed, strong female lead and an enemies-to-lovers romance. Now that I think of it, I think the pace completely destroyed the potential of the book. The story dragged on for way too long, and added that to the rest of “meh” elements… you can imagine how underwhelming it became.

Also, the nail in the coffin for me was the “Ferrick situation” like I mentioned before. Even if Ferrick wasn’t my favorite character (because he was), the event that happened made no sense and it felt unnecessary. So… there’s my view on that.Just an okay story overall – I know I’m being repetitive, I’ll stop now! Not the best, not the worst either. Wouldn’t recommend it.