“You should be wary of setting rules with me. you know I live to break them.” – 3.75/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: modeling, debuts, practice sessions, radio shows, phone calls, restaurants, and secret romances.

New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh’s ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.

Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

I loved this book! When I started reading it, I had no idea this was the second book in the “XOXO” series – more specifically, a companion novel series. This was a very pleasant surprise because I had no idea the books would be in the same Universe! And if I’m being honest, I think this story is even better than “XOXO”. With that said, I’m sure you can read this as a standalone… but my advice for you would be to read “XOXO” first because you will understand the story a little better and know what happened before that led to the “now”.
One aspect of this book that I really liked was the characters, in particular Kim Sori! She was a very interesting and different character: not only she was very talented and about to debut, but she was also a very likable character. I also really liked Nathaniel as a main character and romantic interest. They had really good chemistry and cared deeply about each other, and it showed through the pages. In case you are curious about the tropes that are present in the book, I would say the main ones are the “second chance romance” trope, the “friends to lovers” trope, and the “forbidden romance” trope (the last one is related to Nathaniel being an idol).
Also… can we talk about this cover? This is absolutely stunning! I hope the author continues to use this style for the covers (at least for this series).

This was a really fun book, and I am PRAYING we get more storylines for this series. I wonder if the author will continue this series for the other members? I can guarantee I would read it! I guess we’ll find out sooner or later.

“When you find love, you take it. You grab it with both hands and you do everything in your power not to let it go. You can’t just walk away from it and expect it to linger until you’re ready for it.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: dinner dates, terrible parents, drama, scars, novelists, and life changes.

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

It has been a while since I’ve picked up a Colleen Hoover book! It’s not that I don’t like them, I just don’t grab them anymore – but I had this on my shelf for a very long time and it was time to finally give it a go.
I liked it! It’s not my favorite book from her, but it’s also not at the bottom of the list. The concept of the book was really interesting and unique: the characters meet on the same day, every year for 5 years, and each chapter is a different year! They have no contact the rest of the time, just that one day per year. It was interesting to see how their lives changed so much from year to year, and I thought the portrait was very realistic and believable. Sometimes they were dating other people, other times they were not – and that made it difficult for them to be together.
For me, this story made me think about how some people don’t get together because the timing is not quite right – and sometimes it will never be right. But I also believe that some people are meant to be together, and will eventually find their way to each other.
I really liked this story and how creative it was – I mean, it’s Colleen, so of course the story is very creative and different. I wonder if November 9th is a special day for her?

I enjoyed this a lot, and in true Colleen fashion, this had a few plot twists in the mix! It was fast-paced, and every year something dramatic happened so I was always invested in the story. This was the only Colleen Hoover book I was missing from her older books, so now I’m (mostly) up to date! I still have a few books to read from her that are more recent, but we’ll get there eventually.

“A man with charm is an entertaining thing, and a man with looks is, ofcourse, a sight to behold, but a man with honor – ah, he is the one, dear reader, to which young ladies should flock.” – 4.25/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: bee stings, fresh air, marriage plans, invitations, the diamond of the season, debutants, sharp tongues, pall mall, funny siblings, and rakes.

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…

Oh, Kanthony!
I actually liked this book waaay more than the first one from the series. I’ll admit I was a little afraid the rest of the books were like Daphne’s story, but this book proved me wrong! There wasn’t a dull moment in this book – I truly had a ton of fun reading Anthony and Kate’s story.
For starters, the characters had depth and good backstories – which is one precious ingredient to make a good story. Anthony had this shell he created to protect himself from the pain love could bring – and Kate was solely focused on her sister’s happiness and getting her a good husband (not a rake like Anthony).
This story also has probably my favorite trope of all time: enemies to lovers! I loved their banter and how they kept provoking each other – it made the story way more exciting. Not only that, but they had great chemistry together.
As a side note, I like Whistledown’s insights at the beginning of the chapters, because it shows what the outsiders know about the events portrayed in the book. Also, the rest of the Bridgertons are super funny and their interactions add a good, fun layer to the story!
After this book, I feel like my opinion on the series is changing. It seems like I’ll find some great books here, and others will be a miss – and that’s okay. I’m excited to keep going and to get to the other siblings. I hope I’ll like Benedict’s story!

“We’re all united by grief, and somehow divided by the same thing.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: grief, understanding, judgment, self-acceptance, photography, fixing cars, mowing lawns, unexpected pregnancies, yearbooks, advanced English classes, and… of course, love.

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.

I actually read this book for the second time in August! And funny enough… I still love it!
The book follows a girl named Juliet Young who always wrote letters to her mother when she was photojournaling all over the world. But after her mother died in a car crash, she kept writing letters to her and left them in her grave as a way of coping. Until one day, Declan – a bad boy serving community service – reads and replies to one of her letters. Juliet gets angry, but writes back to him – and slowly they start exchanging more letters telling more about their lives and how they cope with their losses. Of course, they fall in love and get to know each other on a deeper level. Juliet feels guilty that she asked her mother to come home earlier and believes she died for that reason. Declan feels guilty for her sister’s loss since he let his father drive drunk with her in the car.
I don’t really pick sad YA books like this anymore, but I have to say that this book is special.  When I first picked this book up, I didn’t think it would be that deep, but I’m thankful it turned out like that. It was sad, but at the same time inspiring and wholesome!
I also appreciate the writing. We have alternating first-person perspectives of both main characters throughout the book, which makes the book very interesting and fun to read! Also love the side characters, especially Declan’s best friend Rev, who suffered from a cruel past as well. The book is beautifully written and is very rich, with some poem quotes and real references, such as the picture taken by Kevin Carter of the child and the vulture – yup, I even looked it up.
It’s not a fluffy book because the topics are heavy, but you still get that YA feeling. It’s a stunning book! Read it in one sitting for the first time and I have no regrets! Now I want to get to the next book about Rev! I guess you can consider this part of a 2-book companion novel series? I’ll be reading that one soon!

“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.

“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!