I debated posting these, but I DID read a lot of books during the interim and I wanted to get back on track, so why not. These are micro reviews because it’s been months… Mostly impressions and an impromptu rating system of 🍰
Read (listed from most recent)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters – 🍰🍰🍰
A long delayed read, but worth it. She’s creepy y’all. More so than Affinity and definitely a spooky read if that’s what you’re into.
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt – 🍰🍰🍰
My first Hoyt and likely not my last. This was fun. I think it’s her first novel, if I recall correctly, so it’s a little dated and some phrases made me giggle-snort, but fun time had by all. (The “prince” has the same name as the Boy so that made me giggle-snort 10xs more)
And then it became my summer of Sarah MacLean…
Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean – 🍰🍰🍰
Lady in pants! I love a lady in pants. I was super excited to get to this one (the big twist in the Scoundrels series), but I think I hyped myself up to hard and I felt a little meh about the heroine after seeing her character in the earlier books.
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
Oh, this was a good one! More angst (gah! I love it!). Lots of groveling. A woman with a past who is skilled at knocking men out, and a man with a reputation for doing the same. Also, see adorable troupe of meddling boys.
Bombshell by Sarah MacLean – 🍰🍰🍰🍰
We’ve reached the Victorians and it’s a hell of a ride. Girl gangs, secret identities, and a spot of explosives.
The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
This is the most “controversial” of Sarah MacLean’s books, but I ate it with a spoon! Complex second chance romance (because he done f*cked up) with a LOT of angst. This is my catnip.
TW: miscarriage and cheating.
A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean – 🍰🍰🍰🍰
Ward/Guardian romance with a ward who knows her mind.
Broke Millennial Takes on Investing by Erin Lowry – 🍰🍰🍰🍰
The Broke Millennial series is great if you’re interested in upping your finance game without Business Bro speak or convoluted finance jargon. The different “tracks” make it easy to learn what you need without reading material you know.
The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
The book that started me on this binge… The first in the Scandal & Scoundrel series. Sophie is everything that I love in a “wallflower” heroine – takes charge and isn’t afraid to handle a man (too often, writers use the “I’m a virgin and don’t know what a man is” trope and I HATE it – this book does not do that). Runaway adventure with a touch of second chance.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner – 🍰🍰🍰🍰
I started reading this and within days I learned that my mom and gran had covid… had to go on a hiatus until they recovered because reading about a dying mother and having a mother in peril was a little too hard.
Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – 🍰🍰🍰
One of those SEP classics that gets name-dropped on Fated Mates on a regular basis, so I finally had to read it. SEP does not shy away from weird, questionable plots. There’s some serious consent re: secret baby (and how she gets it), but it is what it is. You also get a trio of mountain women eschewing men with a firm hand (and maybe a shotgun).
Flirting with Forever by Cara Bastone – 🍰🍰🍰🍰
A sweet, sort of enemies-to-lovers because of a silly misunderstanding love story between a slightly older woman and an adorable lawyer who wants to help everyone. See also, man with cat 💖
The Queen’s Triumph by Jessie Mihalik – 🍰🍰🍰
The third in the Rogue Queen series. Space opera romance FTW! Also, one of my insta-buy authors 😉.
Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
This book is bonkers in the best way. It’s older, so beware dynamics and situations that wouldn’t fly today, but it’s such a random, fun read. Broke rich girl forced to marry circus performer by her Russian royalty obsessed father (I told you it’s bonkers).
TW: It came out in the mid-90s, you’re in for some dubious consent moments.
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
Vignettes and a very slow, unexpected romance between a salary woman and her former sensei.
First Comes Like by Alisha Rai – 🍰🍰🍰🍰
This may be my favorite in the Modern Love series. Influencer gets catfished by her celebrity crush (or does she?).
Taming Him by Kennedy Fox – 🍰🍰
This one’s on me. I wasn’t expecting a baby plot, so I kind of meh-ed on the latter half of the book. Want to read more of the series though, as cowboys are a thing I didn’t know I needed.
DNF
Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin – 🤷🏻♀️ I liked the concept, but it wasn’t for me. Give me this book with adult characters and less Magisterium style churchiness and I’m in.
Audiobooks
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – 🍰🍰
One of those canonical horror stories you have to read. Read it for the podcast, so you can hear my thoughts here
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